Third Person's POV
It was finally the day. The day of the finals of the Chunin Exams. Konoha's arena was filled with the villagers of Konoha, Daimyo's and officials from different villages. Everyone were excited for the fight and picked battles with contestants that piqued their interest. All of the contestants were there, except for a certain Uchiha.
"Where the hell is he?!" Naruto complained for the unth time, Shikamaru sighed
"Calm down. He's probably late or something" Shikamaru said lazily as he put his hands in his pockets
"If he's late then I'm gonna kick his ass!" Naruto said as he held a fist. Shikamaru sighed
"I'm fighting Dosu but he's not here too" Shikamaru said looking at where Dosu was supposed to be.
"Hey you two, stand up straight and present yourselves properly to the spectators" Shiranui Genma, the proctor of the finals said as he gestured to the spectators.
Hiruzen proceeded to welcoming the audience to the Finals. Genma then took out a paper of the order of battles, all participants seem to notice the change which is a name of Dosu that isn't in the paper.
"If a participant isn't here the moment his name is called then he forfeits" Genma said as Naruto flinched, he looked to the entrance in hopes that the Uchiha arrives but there was no sign of him.
"Listen up, the terrain is different but the rules are the same as the preliminaries. The match continues unless one acknowledges defeat or dies, and if I determine the match is over then I will step in however I please. No arguments permitted" Genma explained as the participants prepared themselves
"These are the opponents for the first match. Uzumaki Naruto and Hyūga Neji. Those two will stay while the rest of you will go to the waiting area" Genma announced as the participants made theur way to the waiting area, Gaara glanced at Naruto nervously which Naruto noticed. Gaara gulped before mentally saying
'Good luck Naruto..' he said, Naruto grinned at his fellow Jinchūriki as he replied 'Just watch me!'
Naruto and Neji went into their positions as they gave each other a glare. Though Neji has a confident look on his face as Naruto wishes to wipe that smirk off his face, literally.
"You got anything to say to me?" Neji asked, Naruto held out his right fist as he looked at him
"I will win!" Naruto said aloud. Neji then activated his Byakugan as he analyzed Naruto's current state, 'He's calmer now and more sure of himself' he thought. He chuckled as he went into a fighting stance
"I see. I can't wait to see the look of despair on your face when you learn that your foolish promise is impossible to keep" Neji said with a smirk
"Are we just gonna stand here all day?" Naruto said in frustration as a strong wind gusted around them
"Show me what you got!" he yelled
"Now, let the first match begin" Genma announced as the crowd cheered.
The two opponents remained still waiting for the other to move. Neji made small movements as Naruto stood still, just as his sweat dropped he took out a few kunai and threw them at Neji which he swiftly took one of them and deflected the others. Naruto charges at him and attempts to land a punch, Neji threw the kunai at him which Naruto dodged and proceeded to his attack. Neji guarded as he guided Naruto's fist to the ground then Naruto put his hand on the ground as support when he gives a kick which Neji dodged. Naruto then used his hand to jump and turn in the air and land on the ground, he then charge at Neji wuth punches which Neji blocked, Naruto gave a kick which was blocked and turned to give another kick which was dodged. Neji went forward as he smirked, hitting a chakra point on Naruto's shouler, 'Crap!' he thought as he rolled backwards on the ground from the hit. He panted as Neji thought, 'I missed huh..' Naruto held on to his shoulder as he catched his breath, 'Damn I almost blew it. If I get hit then my chakra would be out of control!' he thought.
"Do you understand now? You can't beat me" Neji said as Naruto smirked
"Heh, I was just checking you out, that's all" he said as Neji raised a brow. Naruto stood up as he smiled
"Now that we're warmed up, we can get started" he said as he made a hand sign
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" four Naruto's appeared, each Naruto took out a kunai. Neji furrowed his brows for a moment but smirked
"No matter, you won't hide for long"
"Heh! We'll see about that!" all Naruto's said in unison. They all charged at Neji attempting to land a hit as Neji dodged all of them, they charged again which Neji attacked and got rid of all Shadow clones. Naruto gritted his teeth, 'Of course! Byakugan has a 360° vision!' he remembered as Kurama scoffed
"You just realized?"
'Shut it Kurama!'
Neji turned to Naruto after he rid of the last clone
"You think you can be Hokage? That's absurd" he mocked as Naruto gritted his teeth
"My eyes can see everything. Only a fool wastes his time trying to become something he can never be" he said as Naruto clenched his fists putting his anger in it.
"A fool? Not this crap again, who are you to judge what a person can or can't be?" Naruto asked, Neji talked about how those who became Hokage were chosen by destiny and how everyone sharss one destiny which is death.
"So what? Think that way if you want! People tell me I don't know how to give up! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he created another set of Shadow clones. They then attacked Neji as Neji got rid of all of them, he then set his eyes on a certain Naruto and went staight at him to hit a chakra point on his chest. Naruto coughed out a few blood as the clones started to dispel.
"It's pointless" Neji said as he stood up straight. Naruto laughed
"Oh yeah?" he said as he looked at Neji smirking, Neji widened his eyes as that Naruto disappeared. He then turned around to see two Naruto's in the air ready to punch him. In the audience, Kiba cheered.
"You think I'm a chicken to attack you myself?" he said as he thought he landed a punch, Neji smirked as he turned fast and that chakra was visible forming around him deflecting the two Naruto's, after deflecting them he stopped and a crater was formed from his jutsu. In the crowd, Hyūga Hiashi widened his eyes from the move.
"What the heck was that?" Naruto asked, Kurama sighed as he crossed his arms
"You see, in the Hyūga clan, it's called Hakke Shou Kaiten.. (Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation)" Kurama explained as Naruto listened to him. After Kurama's explaination, Naruto nodded as he stood up and made more clones
"Kit, what are you-"
'I wanna see that again so I'm attacking!' Naruto replied with a laugh as he charged at Neji. Neji used the Kaiten again to push away the Naruto's. In the waiting area, Gaara looked at Naruto in worry then furrowed his brows as he felt bloodlust from seeing Neji's move. Naruto grunted in pain as he wiped off a few dirt
"It's over" Neji said catching Naruto's attention
"You're already in my range" Neji said as Naruto looked at him with a puzzled look. Neji made a stance as he said
"Juuken Hou: Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou (Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams 64 Palms)" he then charged at Naruto with a smirk
"Two palms" he said as he hit a few chakra points
"Four palms"
"Eight palms"
"Sixteen Palms"
"Thirty-two palms"
"Sixty-four palms" Neji said aloud as he finished hitting the chakra points. Naruto was sent to the ground with a trickle of blood on his mouth. Neji exhaled as he deactivated his Byakugan. Naruto went all fours on the ground as he took in the pain. 'What.. was that?' he thought
"You see, in the Hyūga clan.." Kurama started explaining as Naruto tried to listen.
"I've struck 64 of your chakra points. You're lucky you're still breathing" Neji said, Narugo cursed as Neji smirked
"Must be frustrating to realize how utterly hopeless your dream is" Neji said and said more things about how it was an illusion and hard work isn't enough. Nauto groaned as he slowly stood up surprising the proctor and a few people. Even Neji was surprised.
"Imposible" he said, Naruto smiled in pain
"I told you I don't know how to give up.." he said as Neji furrowed his brows
"Stop this madness. You'll just get more of the same. I have nothing against you personally" Neji said
"Heh, that's touching. I got plenty against you" Naruto said
"I don't know what you mean"
"You don't?" Naruto then ranted about how he didn't like the way Neji degraded Hinata when she worked so hard and Neji replied as it is none of his concern. Naruto told Neji that he doesn't have the right to decide who's a failure and with that, Neji decided to tell him about the Hyūga clan's heritage of hatred and the Curse Mark of the family.
"It's your destiny to lose to me, that's it" Neji said as Naruto gritted his teeth
"We won't know that until you beat me, will we?" Naruto said as he panted. Neji tied his forehead protector back to his forehead as he activated his Byakugan and charged towards Naruto hitting his chest and sending him rolling backwards. Neji huffed
"It's over" he said as he turned but gave Naruto one last look
"You're a failure" he said before walking away.
"Don't.. walk away from me.." Naruto said as he stood up, Neji looked at him and furrowed his brows.
"I'm not done yet.. I don't quit.. and I don't go back on my word. That is my Ninja way" he said as he held his side from the pain.
"If you believe in this destiny crap then why are you the one walking away?" he asked,
"You impudent brat, why waste my breath explaining? We are given a destiny at birth and it's pointless to fight against it" Neji replied as he thought back to his father.
"You don't know what it's like to be branded with a mark that sets you apart, a mark that can never be wiped away!" he yelled as he pointed a finger at him. Naruto continued to pant as he thought back to the times when he was younger until now, the villagers giving him looks of hate, ostracized by them. He only had Kurama as his guardian and Teuchi, Ayame, and Hiruzen.
"Yeah. I know what that's like" Naruto said trying to smile. In the waiting area, Gaara could only grip his arm as he watched.
"Who cares?"
"You little.." Neji said as he activated his Byakugan
"Hah, you think you've got troubles? Well you're not the only one who's special here" Naruto said.
He then told him about how Hinata worked hard to improve and wanted his respect even thought he almost killed her and told him about the destiny he talked about, he was 'destined' to protect the Main household and not beat it up. Neji says that we can't fight destiny, it means that Neji also didn't believe in destiny from what he did.
Naruto coughed a bit as he held on to his side, Neji smirked at this
"I have struck all 64 chakra points of yours, you shouldn't be able to mold chakra. I see why you sympathize with Hinata-sama because you will share the same fate as her" Neji said, Naruto gritted his teeth gettig more annoyed from Neji's attitude
"You think you can see everything with that Byakugan of yours?" he yelled
"Yes. But if you wish to prove me wrong, then be my guest" Neji said as he activated his Byakugan
"Sure. I'll show you that you're wrong about a lot of things" Naruto said as he prepared himself. Feeling that his chakra is drained, he thought back to his training with Jiraiya, he took a deep breath as he composed himself and closed his eyes making Neji deactivate his Byakugan and look at him confused. Naruto was now in his mindscape, he opened his eyes to see his Bijū Kurama.
"Hey Kurama, I'm gonna have to use your chakra for a bit" Naruto said, Kurama narrowed his eyes at the blonde
"Kit, you know what happens if you use my chakra" Kurama said
"Yeah, but remember Ero-Sennin's training? I think I can do it" Naruto said as Kurama looked at him wuth doubt
"Trust me" he said. Kurama sighed as he looked at his host
"Just be careful kit.."
"Yeah!"
Neji scoffed as he looked at the proctor
"This has gone long enough, I suggest you stop this. I won't be responsible with whatever happens to him" Neji said, Genma was about to stop the match when Naruto scoffed catching Neji's attention. He did a hand sign as he yelled, Neji only smirked
"It's pointless. You can't mold chakra" Neji said confidently, but Naruto didn't stop. He continued to try to draw Kurama's chakra
"Hm, why fight a hopeless battle to defy your destiny?" Neji asked, Naruto grunted before opening his eyes
"Because people called me a failure who's weak. And I'll prove them wrong!" he said as Neji activated his Byakugan.
Naruto growled, small rocks around him started to lose its gravity as red chakra spiraled around him and spreaded out instantly healing his wounds. Neji couldn't believe it, 'It can't be.. where is he getting that chakra?' he thought as he sees the red chakra filling his chakra network. He notices a fox forming from the chakra which scared him. The Genin were clearly confused, except for Gaara, he only looked surprised as Naruto used Kurama's chakra but he then smiled to see Naruto getting a chance. Of course, the elder Shinobi knew what this chakra is.
After getting enough chakra he looked at Neji
"Here it goes" he said as Neji shielded his eyes from the debris. The red chakra now enveloped Naruto's whole body making him feel more power. Kurama smiled a bit happy to see nothing happened to Naruto. Naruto moved fast, Neji tried to find him and sees him in the air behind him holding shuriken. Naruto threw them at him as Neji used Kaiten to deflect them. Naruto used the walls of the stadium as a stepping stone to push him towards Neji, Neji took out a few shuriken and grabbed a few that Naruto threw and threw them at Naruto which he dodged fast. Naruto tried to punch him bit Neji dodged, he took out a kunai as Naruto did the same. As they jumped back they threw it at each other as it collided and changed its trajectory, then they jumped and took their kunai and hit each other's kunai then landed on the ground.
"You.. I hear you like close combat" Naruto said confidently as he charged at Neji. Neji prepared himself to counter it
"It may be the Hyūga way to cave in to destiny but it's not mine! If you think it's futile to fight then just stand there and take it!" Naruto shouted as he ran to him fast. Neji narrowed his eyes as he tries to quickly use Kaiten.
"I'll change the way of the Hyūga clan when I become Hokage!" he finally yelled as their kunais clashed and from the clash of chakras smoke covered them.
As it cleared out, two craters were formed. Everyone looked at it intensely when Neji came out of one crater coughing. He panted as he walked to the other crater and sees a passed out Naruto.
"This is reality.. you're a failure. The match is over" he says until a rumbling was heard, he gasps as he looked underneath him and a fist came out and gave him an upper cut. Naruto was the one who did that and came out, blood was dripping from his fingernails. The Naruto that passed out disappeared meaning tha it was a Shadow Clone and a hole was visible there. Naruto actually dug a hole and used a Shadow Clone to trick Neji into thinking he passed out. He walked to Neji who was laying on the ground.
"I should've guessed you'd use Kage Bunshin.. it's your specialty after all.. I was careless.." Neji said as he grunted in pain.
"I once was weak and I couldn't do anything, but I tried my best and trained everyday to improve" Naruto started
"Don't come whining to me with this destiny crap. And stop trying to tell me you can't change what you are. You can do it too" he continued. Genma smiled
"The winner is Uzumaki Naruto" he declared.
His Genin comrades cheered, he expected the crowd to cheer too but they mumured to themselves instead.
"He won huh.."
"That brat beat a Hyūga.."
"If he gets any stronger who knows what he'll do to the village?"
"He's a monster"
Naruto heard them, Kurama growled as Naruto clenched his fists and walked back to the waiting area. Shikamaru and Shino congratulated him and he thanked them. He walked to the railing and sighed, Gaara looked at him with a sad look. Naruto really is going through the same thing as him and his bloodthirst is rising from the urge of killing the villagers for making his fellow Jinchūriki like this.
"Gaara.." Gaara looked at Naruto who only looked at him with a smile
"It's fine. I'm okay" Gaara wanted to protest but he knows that Naruto loves his village despite the villagers hating him. Genma coughed as he announced
"The next match.."
Because Sasuke wasn't present they decided to have his battle for last. The next battles continued, Kankuro forfeited so Shino won. Temari and Shikamaru had a good battle but Shikmaru gave up in the end so Temari won. Then finally, at the last minute Sasuke appeared with Kakashi. Naruto cheered and gave insults to Sasuke as he arrived and Sasuke only gave him the Uchiha 'Hn'. Naruto wished Gaara good luck as Gaara went to the arena. Their fight started and it got everyone hooked, especially since Sasuke had a new jutsu to show. He manages to hit Gaara making him drip blood, this seemed to fill him with more bloodlust which worried Naruto, and with that, he nearly used Shukaku. Naruto was gonna stop him but Kankuro and Temari beat him to it, then an explosion was heard. He used his sensory jutsu to sense what's going on and he sensed Suna and Oto Shinobi infiltrating the village. Temari and Kankuro escaped with Gaara and Sasuke followed
"Oi! Sasuke!" he called but Sasuke left, he clicked his tongue in annoyance as he made his way to find Kakashi.
Yeeyy!! Done!! Okay, I know that the last paragraph seems rushed since we're currently packing for the province, I won't be here for a week, I think a few things here also doesn't make any sense so I'll have to recheck this once I'm back next week😅. And I'm sorry for the delay, Christmas break started last Friday and I've been catching up on sleep and meals since I wasn't feeling well for how many months already, but regardless, I wanted to publish this soon. Sooo anywayss, next chapter is the invasion and the battle between Naruto and Gaara! Look forward to the next chapter! Anndd..
Yep! Merry Christmas!!
Wifizone shutting down
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