Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor any characters or abilities created by Masashi Kishimoto. Original characters, abilities and bloodlines in this story (there will be) are mine. If someone out there thinks an ability or character of mine is cool and wishes to use it, feel free. I only ask that you give me credit.

Date: 04/25/09

Summary: While running from an angry mob on his birthday, seven-year-old Naruto finds himself in a strange land where a shinobi turned priest offers to train him as a ninja. Naruto eventually discovers there is more to the world then just shinobi when he unlocks his spiritual power. Not a super Naruto fic (I hate those ones) but more of a smart and wise Naruto fic.

Reviews: Please review. I enjoy reviews, even if its only one or two words. I do not appreciate flames. If you don't like this story, its concept, or my writing style then don't read it. Don't read it then complain to me about it.

Spiritual Fox
Chapter 20: The Light of a Fox

Naruto's plan seemed to be working, Lee hadn't been hitting him very often, but he hadn't been able to damage the 'youthful' nin as much as he'd hoped. I need to finish this fight quickly, Lee's still calm so he probably still has a couple of aces hidden up his sleeves. I need to beat him before he plays those cards. Once again, Naruto created a few Shadow Clones, three in all, but rushed in to fight Lee alone leaving the doubles behind.

The green wearing genin didn't have time to ponder Naruto's actions, at his current speed he needed to focus on the attacking blond. Naruto was an excellent opponent by Lee's standards, his Taijutsu was sound and he could read his movements as if they'd fought for weeks. Naruto surprised him by halting his attack and jumping back while making a hand signs, it was then that Lee realized the other blonds had surrounded him on three sides and they were all weaving the same signs.

As soon as the eyebrow enlarged genin thought that, the surrounding blonds all released their Wind Blasts. They may not have been deadly, but their wider ranges completely boxed Lee in, leaving him one option to escape the attacks. The teen jumped up as high as he could to dodge the winds while keeping watch on the opponents below him, he knew that an opponent in the air had a difficult time dodging so he needed to be ready for the blond's next attack. The wind jutsu collided below, causing an explosion of winds in every direction, but even in the confusion Naruto didn't attack, he didn't even try to use another jutsu. Then Lee's back was in pain as something attack him, he began to fall as he looked back to see another Naruto had punched him without warning.

When did he put one on the ceiling? Was it back during those first two clone waves? Did he think that far ahead? Lee didn't bother attacking the clone, instead he used it like a platform to jump away onto one of the statue's heads. If I stay in the air and fight the hidden clone, then I'll leave myself open for attack from the other four on the ground. This Naruto Uzumaki is a strong fighter, I don't think I can win unless I can open the gates.

On the catwalks, the remaining ninja were discussing the battle. "Naruto really is strong." Ino said, "But what about that Lee kid? Why isn't he using any ninjutsu."

Gai decided to answer that question, "Its because he can't." Everyone turned to look at the man. "Lee has never had any aptitude for ninjutsu or genjutsu, so he's never practiced them. All he can perform is taijutsu, and that's why he can't loose." Right before the two began fighting again, they were interrupted by Gai, "Lee, go ahead and take them off!"

Naruto looked over at the jonin, wondering what he was talking about. Lee was simply shocked. "Sensei, you said to never do that unless I'm protecting someone I love."

With a shiny grin and a thumbs up, Gai replied, "Don't worry, I'll allow it."

With a grin on his face, the bushy brow nin proceeded to pull down his leggings and reveal the weights there. Naruto knew he should attack with his clones, do something before the other boy's preparations were complete. Unfortunately, there was a curiosity within him that wanted to see his opponent at full power, so simply waited as Lee took off the weights and dropped them on the ground. He, nor anyone else in the room, could believe it when the weights made huge craters where they landed, "Now I can fight without restraint."

The only thing which save Naruto were his own instincts and the knowledge he'd gained from his Kage Bunshin, Lee had become so fast that Naruto could barely track his opponent. He couldn't even block, the only thing he could do was move himself in the direction of the attack to lessen the blow. As Naruto was sent back, he realized Lee had attacked him and destroyed all his bunshin in only a few seconds. This fight just got a hell of a lot harder.

Lee's attacks had become lightning quick, Naruto could only dodge and block half of the punches and kicks. What attacks he couldn't block, he was able to lessen the damage by moving into or with the strikes, but at that speed it was all instinct and incredibly tiring. I'm having to focus all my chakra into my legs to keep up my defense, but I can't do this forever. I have to find a way to attack or he'll eventually wear me down, but I don't have time to weave signs either. Then he remembered something that'd happened to him a long time ago, at this level of battle even the smallest error could make him lose. But I have to do something or I'll fail anyways. Naruto had enough experience to know his opponent's attack pattern, he'd found a few habits to exploit and hoped this technique would be effective against Lee. He had to take a couple of blows while weaving his hand sign, but that was a small price to pay.

Everyone thought Naruto was going to lose, Lee was just too fast and powerful a taijutsu user to be countered. Even if Naruto did use a jutsu Lee could simply dodge with his speed. Then the blond stopped and took a few hits while making hand signs. With their Sharingan, both Kakashi and Sasuke recognized the jutsu and wondered what the short fool was thinking. Those hand sings and that strange yellow chakra are components of that Lighting Jutsu, Sasuke thought. But what can a reading light do in this situation? Then something completely unexpected happened, Naruto threw up his hand right in Lee's face and created not a reading light, but a blinding flash which completely surprised everyone watching. Those who didn't have a doujutsu were slightly blinded by the light the blond had made, but none of that compared to Lee's reaction. The light was point blank in his eyes, even if he'd closed his eyes like Naruto he would have affected. Lee cover his eyes with his hands, a natural instinct of human, but he was in a fight and that left a wide opening for Naruto.

The blond began punching and kicking with all his might, knowing that strategy wouldn't work a second time. He needed to finish the fight while Lee was still blinded, so Naruto created a half dozed clones to fight as well. Everyone who could still see watched as the blond began his counter barrage of punches and kicks, he even attacked with Wind Blast at one point (Lee was able to feel the attack coming, but couldn't avoid it completely).

Eventually the green ninja regained his senses before Naruto could finish things, but he was in horrible condition. While the blond tried not to do anything lethal or carrier ending, he was pretty sure he'd broken a few bones and caused some internal bleeding. Both students were panting hard while the observing teams kept talking. "I never knew that Lighting Jutsu could make a flash like that," Sakura said.

Sasuke had seen the jutsu before, he'd even just witnessed it with his Sharingan, but he still couldn't copy the technique. It's that strange chakra, I need to figure it out how he makes it.

Lee knew he should quit, using the gates in his current state would be suicide and his leg was broken or fractured, either way he couldn't move like he had before. There was also the pain his body was in, probably caused by damaged organs, internal bleeding and all around bruising caused by Naruto's attacks. Gai, however, had never taught him to quit or give up. Such actions weren't in his nature, so Lee's mind began racing to figure out how to win. I know I hurt Naruto earlier with my attacks, but he's either already healed or able to block out his pain. In any event I'm at a disadvantage here.

Naruto was also trying to figure out how to end the fight. He hadn't bothered asking Lee to quit, the older boy was a strong and proud warrior, asking him to quit would be the same as asking him to cut off his own head. If I don't end this quickly, he'll be in serious trouble. Lee's body already has internal damage, any more could be life threatening. But I can't just knock him out, even in his injured state I can't underestimate him.

Then before everyone's eyes, Lee fell to the ground with his teacher standing right behind him and catching the boy. "This match is over." Gai announced, "Lee can no longer fight."

Everyone observing the fights was shocked, Naruto especially. Lee's own teacher had knocked him out so he wouldn't increase his wounds. "Are you sure it's ok to end it this way?" The blond asked.

"Yes. He's too hurt to continue, even if he did win this fight he could die from his wounds. As his teacher that's not something I can let happen even if he hates me for it."

Gai nodded at Hayate who nodded back and finally announced, "The winner of this fight is Naruto Uzumaki." Medics rushed out to examine the green wearing nin, leaving Naruto feeling dissatisfied. He was happy to have won, but he'd wanted to finish the fight under his own power and not have it handed to him by Gai.

Sasuke smirked on the balconies, "That fool couldn't even finish his own fight."

"You really should watch what you say, Sasuke." Kakashi replied. "Naruto was able to survive against Lee's true strength and even pushed him to the point of collapse. If your teammate had just been looking for a quick win then he could have gotten it when Lee was blind, but those methods would have been life threatening. Naruto was trying to win without endangering his opponent's life, that is a much more difficult task than just a win at any cost."

Naruto had returned to the balconies and it was clear, he was not happy with the situation. He really had wanted a true win, not something given to him by Gai. Sasuke didn't say anything to the blond's face, in his current mood it could easily start another fight and Sasuke was still sore from his own match.

Soon, Lee was rushed off by the medics and given a stable status. Soon, Hayate made his usual announcement and the next combatants were chosen, Hyuga Hinata vs. Kankuro, and the two looked at each other.

Kankuro wrote his opponent off as an easy win. Though a Hyuga, she'd been nervous since the fights began. She showed very little confidence, and even if his tricks didn't work on her Byakugan, she still wasn't powerful enough to fight him.

Unfortunately, Hinata was thinking the same thing. However, she was also thinking something else, Naruto is going to be watching, so I'll have to keep fighting. I don't want him looking down on me too. The two opponents jumped down to the ring and before the match could even begin, Hinata used her eyes and called out to Kankuro, "You realize that a trick like that is worthless against me."

Everyone except Kankuro's team and Negi was surprised when the pack the Sand Genin wore unraveled to reveal another Kankuro. Most of the jonin became more understanding when the skin on the first boy melted away to reveal a life-size puppet. The puppet wielder simply nodded and replied, "I am aware. The only way to fight you with my skills is head on."

Most of the genin looked on in confusion, and surprisingly it was Naruto who decided to showcase his knowledge. "Kankuro is a puppet user, he uses invisible chakra strings to manipulate his dolls to have them fight while he hides himself. However, Hinata's Byakugan lets her see chakra, as well as through objects. The Sand Genin can't use tricks like that against a Hyuga."

Kakashi nodded in agreement. "The Hyuga clan also uses the Gentle Fist technique, which lets them harm a person's internal organs as well as shut off their ability to use chakra by attacking their Tenketsu. They can also use Gentle Fist to destroy chakra constructs, such as chakra strings."

Gai decided to finish the pre-match analysis. "Kankuro will try to attack Hinata with his puppets, which do not have internal organs nor Tenketsu so Gentle Fist won't damage it directly. She can, however, see and cut the chakra strings which are used to manipulate the doll. It will be a fight of speed and skill, if Hinata can disable the puppets first, she'll win. If Kankuro can avoid having his puppet's strings cut and capture Hinata, then he'll win."

Hayate once again coughed and announced, "The 8th match will now begin."

And with that one word, both genin blurred into action, Hinata rushing forward to try and force Kankuro into a close range battle, while the puppet wielder was trying to keep his distance so he could use his dolls. Hinata was actually impressing her teammates, she usually never moved that fast. Her determination was surprising everyone, including Naruto.

Unfortunately, it still wasn't enough. The disparity between their skills was great enough that the Hyuga girl couldn't cut the puppet strings, but she could avoid it's attacks. After a few minutes of attacking, Kankuro did something unexpected, he took out a sealing scroll and unleashed a second puppet. It was difficult for the half-trained puppet handler to use two dolls at a time, but it was enough to do the trick. Hinata, while she was able to cut the strings of the attack puppet, left herself vulnerable to second. Hinata knew that if she'd been stronger, she might have been able to used the Kaiten to free herself, but lack of skill meant her father had taught her the technique.

Hinata, to her credit, didn't stop struggling. Even though she knew that with her strength she couldn't break free, she continued to fight against the puppet's grasp. Eventually, Hayate called the match in Kankuro's favor, and the puppet handler let the girl go. He had considered just killing the girl during the match, but had decided against it. It wouldn't do to have the Hyuga after him for killing one of their own, no matter how weak she was.

When they returned to the viewing area, Hinata was almost in tears. Frustrated with herself for losing in front of Naruto, she really didn't want to see disappointment or pity in his eyes. However, she wasn't expecting the boy to pat her on the back while saying, "Good try, Hinata." When she looked up, the only thing she could see in his eyes was pride.

"But… but I lost. Again." She couldn't help but feel like the failure that she was. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes.

Naruto could see her inner torment, and decided to offer her some advice. "So what?" Hinata looked up into her crushes eyes. "If you fail, there's nothing you can really do about that. But your still alive and have your limbs, and that's something to be proud of. You just need to figure out your mistakes and learn from them, then the next time you take the exam you'll be even better and you'll pass for sure!"

Naruto's words gave Hinata a little bit of hope, Hinata's team and their instructor looked on in approval. They often gave Hinata the same advice, but it never really seemed to affect her as much as the blonds words. In as soft a voice as she could, the young Hyuga replied, "Thank you."

She had no way of knowing that Naruto had heard her, especially when the blond pointed excitedly to the arena and said, "Look Hinata, the next match is about to start." The girl wiped the tears that had half formed and looked down to see the fighters had already been decided and were in position. The two standing there were Neji and Gaara.

The Hyuga male wanted to talk before the fight began. "They don't seem to teach the ninja very well in your village." Gaara silently looked at his opponent while he continued. "Your teammate should have killed that weakling of a Hyuga the moment he captured her."

Most of the people on the catwalks were stunned by Neji's words. Only Hinata, the jonin, and his own team found his words to be understandable, if not justified. Gaara was curious enough to ask his own question, "That doesn't really sound like something one would say about their family. What is making you so bitter." Gaara knew just how warped a person could get, but the teen in front of him didn't seem twisted.

Neji simply stared back at the sand user and replied, "It's not about bitterness, its just that she's a failure. She's suppose to be the next head of the Hyuga clan, but she had no skill or ability. She is simply a disappointment to the entire clan, she's better off dead."

Hinata looked like her entire world was about to crash down around her, it was bad enough to hear whispers and see cold stares, but to have someone simply say thing like that out loud was infinitely worse. What she wasn't expecting was for Gaara's expression to turn very dark, only the remaining Sand Shinobi and Naruto understood the red head's reaction. "So, your saying that if someone is a failure then they're completely worthless, is that it?"

Negi didn't really know why his opponent seemed to care, but he answered the question regardless. "Yes, that is my belief."

Naruto and Kankuro both knew it was the wrong answer to give, and soon everyone else knew it too when Gaara let off an impressive amount of killer intent, far more then anyone his age should be able to produce. Neji was momentarily paralyzed, and even began to fear his opponent. "I'll be sure to feed you those words after I tear off your arm and watch you bleed." The look on the red head's face was told everyone he was dead serious about his threat.

Hayate even took the precaution of jumping back as far as possible before saying, "The next match will now begin."

Neji activated his Byakugan and rushed forward, wanting to stop his opponent from using the Sand techniques he'd seen in the forest. However, Gaara didn't waste time either. The cork on his gourd flew off and his sand rushed out to attack his opponent, swiping at Neji while also trying to impale him in almost every direction, and the Hyuga was able to dodge it all.

The spectators couldn't believe the fight, the genin were surprised by Neji's skill, and Hinata explained how the Byakugan could see in a 360 degree radius. However, even the adults had never seen sand manipulation like Gaara's before. Unlike with Kankuro's puppets, the sand wasn't controlled by chakra strings so the Gentle Fist technique couldn't disable it completely, and when his attacks did break apart the sand it quickly reformed and continued it's assault.

Gaara then pulled his sand back and Neji let himself fall into a guarding stance, awaiting the next wave. The sand soon formed into small bullets which completely surrounded Neji in all directions, the sand ninja then held out his hand and smirked while mocking his opponent, "Dodge this." His hand closed and the projectiles closed in on the Hyuga on all sides, too fast for a replacement jutsu to counter. However, Neji didn't seem to need a replacement, his skin began to glow for a few seconds and he spun around, throwing all of the sand projectiles away and clearing the path between himself and Gaara.

"The- the Kaiten?" Hinata said aloud. Neji rushed forward to attack his opponent directly, but Gaara's automatic defense kicked in and his sand easily protected him from his opponent's attacks.

"Kaiten?" Sasuke asked out loud, Gaara had decided to simply let his defense work while he tried to figure out just how to break through Neji's own shield.

"It's the ultimate defense of the Gentle Fist technique." Explained the girl. "A Gentle Fist practitioner can expel chakra from their entire body to block an attac, and the spin repels the attack from their body. However…" The match was going nowhere fast. Neji kept trying to get through Gaara sand defense, but he wasn't nearly fast enough to make it happen.

Ino couldn't handle the sudden pause, "However?" she replied, trying to encourage her former classmate to continue.

"However, Neji is a branch member of the Hyuga clan. Kaiten is a technique only passed down in the Main branch. Cousin Neji really is a genius if was able to reproduce it on his own." Naruto decided the two Hyuga branches were an important detail to be filed away for later use.

Gaara had decided to continue with his offence and was attacking his opponent once again. It was the easiest solution he could come up with, Neji couldn't break through his automatic defense so eventually the Hyuga would run out of chakra and be unable to perform his own defensive shield.

Neji knew his situation was bad, he'd been so focused on taijutsu that he didn't have any ninjutsu attacks. He'd never thought that he'd face an opponent who he couldn't touch. He'd considered using a close ranged Kaiten to disperse the sand barrier, but discarded that idea. It would take him a moment to complete his rotation, and a moment was all that was needed for the sand shield to reform.

Gaara's sand closed in on him from all sides again and Neji was force defend with Kaiten for a third time. My technique is perfect for deflecting weapons or knocking back an opponent, but against this free floating sand all it does is waste my chakra. If I don't win this fight soon then I'll be out of chakra after another four or five Kaiten.

Then something completely unexpected happened, a few bullets of sand hit the Hyuga in the back, and he hadn't even seen the attack coming. Neji quickly used his defense again to push away the projectiles, but his back was already bleeding, and he didn't know any medical jutsu which could heal himself. "It seems your eyes aren't perfect." The Hyuga glared at Gaara while he continued. "You have a small blind spot where you can't see behind you. It was the one angle where you didn't react quite as fast to my earlier attacks. Not only that, but that's the fourth time you've used your defensive maneuver, and it seems to use a large amount of chakra so I doubt you'll be able to use it many more times." The red head's eyes darkened as he added, "I'll make you suffer for what you said about failures."

"Why do you care about some girl who isn't even from your village." It was something that Neji had been wondering since the fight began, but hadn't been able to figure out. Why does calling trash like her a failure rile him up so much. "She's weak, it's how she was born, it's her destiny. Just like It's my destiny to be a slave to the Main Branch of the Hyuga family."

"A slave?" Gaara voiced the question of most of the students in the arena.

"Yes, the Cadet Branch of my family are marked with a seal which enslaves us. If we try to defy the Main Branch, then they can use the Caged Bird Seal to torture or kill us. That is my destiny, just like it was my father's destiny to be murdered to protect the head of the family."

Most of the genin looked at Hinata, wondering if such a thing was true and were surprised to find such a sad expression on her face. Neji went on to explain their family situation, Hinata's almost kidnapping, and the subsequent death of his own father. Naruto, had seen the anger in Neji's soul since the beginning, but he hadn't know what exactly had been the cause of it.

Gaara quietly listened to the entire story, and at the end of it his reply was simple. "You've lived a tough life, and your place in this world isn't easy. And, so what?" Neji and most of the spectators stared in shock at the sand manipulator's words. "From what you've said, Hinata doesn't have a good lot in life either, and neither have I. My mother died giving birth to me, and my own father wrote me off as a failure and tried to have me killed. So I don't care what crap you've had to deal with in your life, nobody has the right to call someone else worthless and decide if they should die. And the only destiny I believe in is the one you make for yourself."

"You don't understand anything!" The Hyuga genius rushed forward again, his mind clouded by anger. Gaara was prepared and once again launched a barrage of multidirectional sand bullets. Neji tried to counter with the Kaiten once again, but Gaara had prepared for it. The red-head, instead of letting the sand be pushed away, pulled it away and spun it with the defense. When the barrier dropped, the sand simply rushed in to take advantage of the momentary weakness. If Neji had been better trained, he might have been able to make successive Kaiten, but at his current sill level to took him a second to reactivate it. A second which he didn't have, the sand collided with his unprotected body, not only bruising but also cutting and breaking a few bones including one of his legs. When the sand flew away, the boy fell to the floor in a heap, unable to stand on his damaged leg.

Gaara stuck his hand out and sand covered Neji's right arm. "I always follow through with my threats." The black haired boy couldn't do anything to defend himself, without the rotation to push back the sand his shield wouldn't do much.

Just before the Sand nin could implode the arm, someone shouted, "Stop it!" Gaara looked up to the catwalks, but it hadn't been Naruto. Hinata Hyuga looked down to him, "Please don't do it."

"This is the same person who only a little while ago, said you were better off dead because you were a failure, and you want me to spare his arm?" Gaara was curious about this kindness of the girl.

"Y- Yes. Because I feel the same way as you. 'Nobody has the right to call someone else worthless and decide if they should die.' Not even you have the right to make decisions about another's worth, no matter how awful your life has been."

Gaara continued to stare at the girl in shock, but eventually looked down at his opponent and removed the sand from his arm. "You're cousin may not be strong, but she is kind. You should be grateful for that fact, because it just saved your shinobi carrier." He began to walk away and Hayate decided it was time to call the match.

"The winner of this round is Gaara."

Everyone was shocked by the turn of events, nobody, especially the remaining sand shinobi, had expected Gaara to go back on his word and leave Neji with both of his arms. Soon the medics had carted the Hyuga off to be treated, leaving the ring empty for the last round, Neither Sakura nor Ino waited for their names to come up, they knew they were the only ones who hadn't been called. Hayate soon announced, "The last round will now commence."

(TBC)

A/N: Hello everyone. I decided to Hybernate for the winter, but now I'm back and ready to write. This one time, I'll accept flames for my laziness so go ahead and yell if you want.

I'll be skipping over the Sakura Ino battle, it'll be the same except for one minor yet crucial detail. Then the training will begin.