Author's Note: Naruto nor the characters of the story belong to me unfortunately and belong rather to Kishimoto Masashi. All I am doing is writing another version of his story according to my creative vision.
"Yare yare dase. Looks like we have an angry snake here." A voice said and Kabuto and Orochimaru turned only to see Kyo standing near a tree.
"You..." Orochimaru growled.
"It's been a while, little Orochimaru." Kyo grinned as he walked up to them.
"Who is this man, Orochimaru-sama? I can feel tremendous chakra coming from him." Kabuto asked.
"That man...That man is none other than the one the legends call the Blue Dragon...His name is Uchiha Kyo, the brother of Uchiha Madara." Orochimaru said.
"Now little Orochimaru, we need to have a little talk." Kyo glared with his dragon-like Sharingan flaring.
Namikaze Hokage
Chapter 10: Destinies and Tragedies
"He's the brother of the founder of the Uchiha clan? But that makes no sense? How can he still be alive and look so young?" Kabuto asked.
"Yo, Orochimaru, tell the little baby to get lost. I don't have time to meddle with babies." Kyo said with a glare.
"Sorry but I'm Orochimaru's servant and thus my responsability to be by his side no matter what." Kabuto said, taking out a kunai in case of combat but then suddenly, he clutched his heart and fell to his knees.
'What is going on? I feel like my body is being crushed? Is he doing this simply by using his Sharingan?' Kabuto asked mentally.
"Like I said, I don't have to meddle with babies. Besides, you're 100 years too early in order to stand up to me boy, so GET LOST!" Kyo said with his Sharingan flaring.
"Kabuto, leave us." Orochimaru said. Kabuto, not wanting to stay one more second, left using shunshin, "So, what do you want to talk to me about?" Orochimaru asked, a bit nervous.
Kyo simply smiled and then reappeared behind Orochimaru.
"I saw that you tried to make Sasuke your new pet by giving that curse seal, Orochimaru." Kyo said.
"Of course, he is after all going to be very important to me in the near future. And I guess you're the one that got rid of it, didn't you?" Orochimaru asked with a smirk.
"My, you've gotten alot smarter than the last time we've met but it seems your greed hasn't subsided yet. Listen and listen closely, a dragon can only be controlled by another dragon. If someone other than a dragon tries to control a dragon then they will be devoured by the said dragon. Why do you think that the dragon is revered as the strongest mythical animal ever in legends and other cultures? It is because it has no equal, only God is stronger than a dragon, thus a small insignificant snake like you will never be able to control the dragon and since Sasuke is a dragon, you will never be able to get him in your clutches." Kyo explained.
"And how can you be sure? In case you've forgotten, he is an avenger and lives only to seek revenge." Orochimaru countered.
"He's not an avenger anymore, I made sure of that. Besides, he lives for more than just petty revenge, he represents the rebirth of the Uchiha Clan and also the dragon that will slay the corrupted dragon of darkness and give birth to a new Uchiha clan." Kyo said.
"You mean your brother? Hmm, I can't believe you actually believe that prophecy but then again, you're the one that failed to kill your brother all those years and thus set all of this in motion, isn't that right Kyo-kun." Orochimaru said but then quickly regretted as Kyo grabbed his neck and started to crush it.
"Where do you get off talking to me as if we're equals, Orochimaru. It seems you have forgotten the beating I gave you last time, would you want me to REMIND YOU? HUH OROCHIMARU" Kyo said, and when the snake sannin shook his head in fear, Kyo let go of his neck.
"I thought so. Anyway, Sasuke will never become your pet no matter what you do because he belongs to me and his destiny will be fulfilled. The world doesn't have time for your fruitless ambitions of power and grandeur anymore, Orochimaru. It needs peace and stability and both Uchiha Sasuke and Namikaze Naruto will provide the peace and stability that this world needs. " Kyo said.
"What? Minato had a son?" Orochimaru exclaimed.
"You didn't know? Yes, Minato has a son and his son is the one the other prophecy calls the yang, the one that will unleash a wind of peace and prosperity throughout the five elemental countries by defeating the yin of the red clouds." Kyo smirked. "However, if you feel like fighting against destiny then by all means do so but remember this, no one can escape their destiny. In one form or another, our destinies will happen and his will happen because like I said, no one can control a dragon except for a dragon and if a small snake like you tries to do, then you will end up dying in the process. Hmm, until next time, Orochimaru." Kyo said, and then disappeared.
"Uchiha Kyo...you may be stronger than me but you have forgotten that I am extremely resourceful. I do not care how I do it or what destiny he may have, UCHIHA SASUKE WILL BE MINE!" Orochimaru said.
Kyo reappears in a forest where the woman in cloak from the forest of death was waiting.
"Ohayo, Shina-chan!" Kyo grinned but then earned a bonk on the head from the girl.
"Don't call me Shina-chan!" Shina growled.
"Shina-chan, you're so mean..." Kyo said, with fake tears flowing out.
"So Kyo, why didn't you kill Orochimaru? You could have done it easily and saved us a bunch of trouble." Shina asked.
"You're right, I could have, but if there is one thing I have learned, it is to never mess with destiny and its plans. It's destined for Orochimaru to meddle in the affairs of the Leaf and I cannot go against it or else everything else will be in disarray. One should not dare to go against destiny or else they will reap a horrible judgement Shina, or should I call you Uzumaki Shina, younger sister of Uzumaki Kushina and also the aunt of Namikaze Naruto." Kyo smirked as he took out a cigarette and started to smoke, "Besides, everything will be alright since the pieces for the future have already started to grow." Kyo added.
"I hope you're right, Kyo, I hope you're right." Shina said.
"By the way, when are you going to visit your nephew?" Kyo asked.
"I don't know yet, he looks so much like his mother and father, I don't know if I'm ready to face him after not doing so all those years." Shina said with a saddened look on her face.
"I'm sure it will be okay." Kyo smiled.
"I'm sure you're right." Shina smiled back.
Meanwhile, back in the exams, Naruto was back with his team up in the stands, being healed by Sakura.
"Naruto-kun, I'm sorry I didn't you heal you properly. Maybe if I had healed you better, maybe you wouldn't be in this shape." Sakura said sadly.
"It's okay Sakura-chan, it wasn't your fault and besides, you are healing me now and I couldn't ask for anything more." Naruto said with a foxy grin.
"Arigato, Naruto-kun." Sakura said.
"Naruto, that Gaara guy, is he truly worse than Zabuza?" Kakashi asked, not believing that sucha genin can be that terrifying.
"Just wait until he fights then you will see." Naruto simply said.
Back in the battle floor, Kiba was put in the stretcher by medic-nins when Hinata suddenly came toward him with a something in a small bottle.
"You fought well Kiba-kun, I am very proud of you. Here, take some of this ointment I made." Hinata said with a smile.
'Kiba better not try anything stupid with Hinata or I'll castrate him.' Sasuke thought as he looked at the intereaction between Kiba and his girl...I mean Hinata.
"Arigato Hinata, but you should start worrying about yourself." Kiba grinned through the pain.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.
"Look at the remaining participants. The only ones left are you, that guy from the sand, Chouji, that guy from sound, and Neji. I don't know much about the others but if you end up fighting Neji, just give up." Kiba advised his teammate.
"But I can't." Hinata said.
"You have to, Hinata. I know how much you've improved but Neji, Neji won't fight you fair and square, he will kill you. Please, Hinata, if you do face him, just give up before it's too late." Kiba pleaded, not wanting his friend to get hurt.
"Now, we'll announce the next match." Hayate said followed by a cough. The next two names were Hyuuga Hinata vs Hyuuga Neji.
"Damn..." Kiba cursed under his breath.
'Hinata...' Kurenai thought.
'This should be an interesting matchup.' The Hokage thought.
"Hinata, I never thought I would be fighting you..." Neji said.
"Neji-nisan." Hinata said.
"Wait? They're siblings?" Naruto asked.
"They are members of the Leaf's oldest and most prestigious clan...the Hyuuga Clan. But they're not exactly siblings." Kakashi explained.
"Then what are they?" Sakura asked.
"They are members of the main house and branch house of the Hyuuga Clan. Hinata is in the main house and Neji is in the branch house. Those in the main house rule over those in the branch house, thus making them more like cousins." Sasuke said out of nowhere, earning a confused look from everyone.
"How do you all know this, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked. intrigued.
"I...hmmm...I read about it in the library, yep that's right, I read all about it there." Sasuke said and started to laugh nervously.
"Or maybe you're dating Hyuuga Hinata and she told you about it. Bah, who am I kidding, I forgot that you're a homosexual." Naruto said, causing the Uchiha to be enraged and lash out at him, only to be bonked by Sakura.
"Stop it Sasuke, Naruto is injured and you Naruto, stop provoking Sasuke." Sakura said, reprimanding both boys.
"Sasuke is right but many things have happened over the years between both houses and right now, they do get along very well." Lee added.
"That probably has to do with the fact that the branch house has to protect the main house at the cost of their own lives, probably creates alot of resentment among the two houses." Sasuke said.
"Now, let the match begin!" Hayate said as the two combatans were already on the floor.
"Hinata, you should give up now, you're too weak." Neji said, and then added on, "I know you've been training very hard to improve yourself but in the end, it will never matter because there will always exists an inrefutable gap between your skill level and my skill level. All of us are born with different skill levels, levels that indicate how proficient a ninja will become. Let's look at the last fight for example. It was obvious that the Namikaze was born with a higher skill level than the Inuzuka and despite all of the efforts of the Inuzuka boy, in the end Naruto won because he had the stronger skill level and thus a gap between those two existed. And the same goes for you and I, there's a gap that you can never overcome and this is why you will always lose against me. It's not fate, it's reality." Neji said.
"Even if there was no gap, you still wouldn't make a good shinobi, Hinata-sama. Do you want to know why?" Neji asked the girl.
"Why is he berating her so much?" Sakura said.
"You're too kind, you wish for harmony and will do anything to avoid conflict. Futhermore, you have no self-confidence. You even only took this exam only in order for your teammates to take it as well since the chunnin exam can only be taken in teams of three. You couldn't turn down your teammates' request in the end, could you?" Neji asked.
"You're wrong, Neji-nisan! I took this exam willingly so I can prove my strength to others, to show that I am not the little girl anymore, to anyone, especially you!" Hinata said with stern eyes.
"That's the way to say it Hinata!" Sasuke cheered, but then quickly calmed down when everyone looked at him.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" Neji laughed.
"Why is he laughing for?" Naruto asked.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. I never believed that you, Hinata-sama, would be this foolish! You really think you can prove anything with that miniscule strength of yours? Don't be so naive, this isn't a world where you can overcome everything through sheer willpower. There is a gap that always exists between individuals and one who is ignorant of that gap is a fool and that is why you are a fool, Hinata." Neji said.
"Why are you saying this? Why can't I be strong?" Hinata asked.
"Because it is the truth, Hinata, the irefutable truth. Why do you think there are victors and losers in battles? That is because there was a gap that existed between both warriors, a gap that one could not overcome. Even if you were to train for ten years, all I will have to do is train for five and I would still be stronger and that is reality, Hinata, and it's time for you to wake up and realize it." Neji glared.
"Shut the hell up! Hinata, don't let that asshole get to you, he doesn't know what's he talking about!" Sasuke roared.
"You should shut your mouth and stay out of your business if you know what's good for you Uchiha." Neji said.
"What did you say?" Sasuke growled.
"You heard me. After all those training sessions you and Lee took with Gai-sensei, and yet neither one of you can even beat me. That is the proof that the gap exists and that I am right and you are fantasies of overcoming obstacles through sheer will is truly a fantasy. However, Hinata-sama, if you want to continue, then by all means I will not turn down this challenge as I will be more than happy to show you the gap between you and I." Neji smirked and then activated his Byakugan
"Why you..." Sasuke growled as he was getting mad and so was Lee who ended up clenching his fists to hold his anger.
"Then I will and I will show that I have become strong!" Hinata said.
'Hinata...' Kurenai thought.
Flashback:
"Stand Hanabi." Hyuuga Hiashi said to his youngest daughter.
"Hiashi-sama. I was instructed to take Hinata under my wings. As you know, she will face many situations where death is possible and I wanted to..." Kurenai started to say.
"Take her. The Hyuuga have no need for someone who is even weaker than someone five years her junior in terms of abilities. Now, leave, you're in the way." Hiashi said coldly.
Kurenai stepped outside and then Hinata was by the door, crying as she heard everything her father said.
End Flashback
'But since then, Hinata has constantly tried to become stronger and thus has changed. She is no longer the timid girl she used to be.' Kurenai thought with a hint of pride.
'Sasuke-kun is right, Neji doesn't know what he is talking about. I have become stronger and I will prove it!' Hinata said mentally as she activated her Byakugan and got into a strange stance and so did Neji.
"What kind of stance is that? I've never seen it before." Naruto asked.
"This stance belongs to the Leaf's strongest Taijutsu-ryuu, the Jyuuken." Lee said.
Both siblings started to exchange open palm strikes at each other, each blocking and attacking the other. Hinata then struck Neji, pushing him back.
"Did she get him?" Sakura asked.
"No, it wasn't deep enough." Naruto said.
"No, just a slight touch is enough, Naruto-kun. That's what makes the Hyuuga clan so great." Lee said, correcting Naruto.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asks.
"The Hyuuga clan have a very special taijutsu-ryuu that has been passed down. The Taijutsu that me, Lee, and Sasuke use is a style that specializes in delivering hard external blows in order to break the opponent's bones. However, the style that the Hyuuga clan uses, the Jyukenryuu, is a style that focuses on delivering internal damage, destroying the inner organs of the opponent. It may not look impressive but you'll feel it afterwards." Gai explains.
"And because one cannot train their internal body, it can be a critical hit for even the toughest guy." Kakashi said.
Back in the fight, Hinata was starting to press down on Neji.
'Hinata is in control.' Shino thought.
"Come on Hinata, you can do it girl!" Sakura yelled.
"However, to be able to attack the inner coils system of the opponent, where chakra travels through so close to the organs and can also damage organs, just who the heck are those guys? Better yet, how is it even possible to do such a thing when the inner coils are invisible to the naked eye." Naruto asked.
"That's because they possess the byakugan, the doujutsu (eye technique) that allows them to see through an opponent's body and thus see their inner coils. And also, the attacks of the Jukenryuu are different from a normal attack. It's almost like what I taught you back in Wave about chakra control. They basically release chakra from their palms into the opponent's body and thus damaging their inner coils system directly." Kakashi said.
Then, Hinata struck Neji in the gut, or so it would seem but then she coughed out blood her heart started to get crushed and in reality, Neji had struck her in the heart as he had grabbed her arm before she struck. Hinata pushed Neji's other arm out of the way and tried to strike him but Neji was able to grab it and strike underneath it. Neji then showed Hinata that he had sealed all of the chakra points in her arm.
"So, from the beginning..." Hinata gasped in disbelief.
"That's right, my eyes can see the opening points." Neji said.
"The opening points?" Naruto asked.
"Above the inner coils system exists 361 chakra points, also known as opening points and if you press them accurately, you can either increase the flow of chakra or shut it off, basically do whatever you want. And another thing, to be frankly speaking, neither me or Sasuke's Sharingan can see those points." Kakashi explained.
Neji smirked and then struck Hinata with an open palm attack, knocking the girl down.
"Now, do you see it? Do you know see the gap between you and I, the gap that you can never hope to overcome no matter how hard you tried. This is the true reality that exists in this world and your failure of realising it has led to this. Now forfeit." Neji said.
"I...I can't...I can never give up while...he's watching me fight." Hinata said as she struggled to get back up, 'Sasuke-kun, it's because of you that I've changed
Flashback (2 years ago):
Hinata was training in one of the many training grounds in Konoha by herself, hitting the dummy post.
"Hey, that's my post." Sasuke said as he arrived.
"G...gomen, Sasuke-kun." Hinata apologized.
"It's alright. Wait a minute, you're that cute girl that always stares at me during class, right?" Sasuke grinned.
"G...gomen nasai." Hinata with a massive blush on her face as she realizes that she was caught.
'Works every time.' Sasuke grinned mentally as he saw the girl blush.
"Anyway, I've never seen you here before. Are you coming just now?' Sasuke asked.
"Y...yes I am. I wanted to train in order to become stronger." Hinata said.
"Oh really? Well, I like to use this post at the same time as you do so guess what? How about we train together, you know, you become my sparring partner." Sasuke asked.
"Train together? B...But I don't think it would be such a good idea..besides I would only slow you down." Hinata said but then blushed when Sasuke lifted her chin up with his hands.
"We won't know until we try now will we? Besides, I don't mind training with a cute girl like you." Sasuke said, inches to her face. This caused Hinata to blush even more and faint.
Hey hey, Hinata-chan!" Sasuke said as he tried to wake her up.
Ever since that day, Sasuke-kun and I trained together and for the first time in since the death of my mother, I felt happiness in my heart. With Sasuke-kun, I could be myself and I had someone that truly cared about me and that would always help me when I need him. That's why I started to change because for the first time in my life, I finally found someone very dear and precious to me.
End Flashback
'And this is why I will never give up!' Hinata yelled mentally.
Hinata rushed at Neji and try to hit him only to be struck in the gut by Neji's palm attack and falls to the floor.
"Hinata!" Sasuke yelled.
"Hmm, now do you see the futility of all this? Proctor, call the match, she's not getting...huh?" Neji began to say but then his eyes widened as he saw Hinata stand back up again.
"Why must you go on with this? Wht are you trying to prove?" Neji asked.
"I am trying to prove that you're the one who's wrong Neji, the one who's foolish. As long as one has the will to do so, they can become stronger and overcome all obstacles just like I did. I got much stronger than before because I trained and believed in myself that I could overcome all obstacles and that is something you will never Neji-nisan because you are too blind to see the truth." Hinata said, breathing hard.
"Why you little bitch!" Neji growled and then headed straight for Hinata in order to kill her but then was stopped by Kurenai, Kakashi, Gai, and Hayate.
"Neji! You gave me your word that you would control your emotions when dealing with the main house." Gai said.
"So, does the main house get special treatment in the exams as well?" Neji growled.
Then, Hinata's heart start to complicate again and she fell to the ground, coughing blood.
"Hinata!" Kurenai said.
"Hinata!" Sasuke said and jumped down, followed by Lee and Sakura while Naruto while still resting his injuries.
"Hmm, it looks like you were wrong, Sasuke. She is still weak and there is still a gap that exists between me and her." Neji said.
"Neji...You've just made a BIG mistake." Sasuke said, glaring at the Hyuuga.
"Oh, and what are you going to do about it?" Neji asked with a smirk.
"Crush you in the finals, that's what." Sasuke smirked back, pointing his fist to Neji.
"Hmm." Neji scoffed and then went back up.
The last two fights were total opposites of each other. The last one was between Dosu and Chouji, and even though the young Akimichi was fired up, he was easily defeated by the sound ninja who used the Akimichi's meat tank technique to his advantage by using his vibrations.
The one before it was a tragedy like the one with Hinata and Neji. Lee put on a display by not only bypassing Gaara's defenses using sheer speed, which helped Naruto concoct a plan to defeat the sand ninja, and was even able to wound the boy. Lee even was able to open all five gates in order to perform the ultimate move, the Ura Renge. But helas, it was all for naught as Gaara survived all of the onslaught and ended up crushing Lee's arm and leg using his Sabaku Sousou technique and was about to finish him off when Gai intervened, stopping the match and give the victory to Gaara. But what was worse is that the medics told Gai that thanks to Gaara's attack, Lee would never be able to continue as a ninja. This came as a shock to all as they came to respect the bushy-brow's hardwork and taijutsu skills.
But the show had to move on as the winners of the matches soon assembled on the arena floor.
"Congratulations on passing the preliminaries. (Cough) If you would all come and draw a number from this box," Hayate said and indicated to a box Anko was holding. After the nine finalists had drawn their numbers, each told Ibiki their number. He then scribbled something down on a note of paper. When he finished, he held it out for everyone to see.
"This is the match up of the main matches, which will be a tournament," Ibiki said, "Take a good look at the line up."
First match: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Hyuuga Neji
Upon hearing that, both boys smirked evilly.
Second match: Aburame Shino vs. Sabaku No Kankuro
Third match: Sabaku No Temari vs. Nara Shikamaru
Fourth match: Namikaze Naruto vs. Sabaku No Gaara
'Gaara...' Naruto thought.
'Namikaze Naruto...' Gaara thought
Fifth match: Dosu Kinuta will challenge one of the four remaining fighters.
"You have a month to train before the main matches," Hokage said, "I suggest you use that time well."
"Why a month?" Shikamaru asked.
"Because we have to send out invitations for everyone who has to be here to witness the exam," Hokage replied, "The judges will decide who becomes Chuunins and not."
"Judges?" Naruto asked.
"In this exam," The Hokage began to explain, "The ones who get promoted to Chuunins are those that show the judges that they have the qualities of a Chuunin. A ninja's true strength can only be measured in combat, and that's the purpose of the main matches. Judges are made up of important people from the villages, including the daimyo of the different countries."
"The second exam is finished," Anko barked, "Meet in the main arena in a month. Dismissed."
"Well then, I think it's about time I got to start training my dragon." Kyo said on top of a roof and then disappeared.
To be continued...
AN: Alright, the preliminaries are done and sorry if this chapter was short but we already seen these fights so many times and the only I truly changed a bit was Hinata vs Neji and that was because of Neji's personality change. The others would be similar to their original counterparts so I didn't really want to do it again. Anyways, ext will be the training phase and then the finals! Until next time!