Scarlet: Oh my god! Thank you so much for all the reviews and helping me with the outfit. I'm sorry if I don't pick yours, but Ari only one person and she can't wear multiple clothes at the same time. Anyways, to make things a little better, I hope that you don't mind that I took what clothes you all suggested and put it together so it'll be like Ari is wearing a part of each one of your clothes! I'm sorry if yours is not in there.
Mistake in Chapter 20: Ari said that the matches were the 'Day after tomorrow'. It was a mistake cause she was suppose to say that the matches were tomorrow. Sorry about the typo!
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Chapter 21: Rivalry, The Reason I Fight
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I woke up early the next morning and got fresseed in my new outfit that I was saving for a very special occasion.
"Well, I guess that today is that special occasion" I stated as I took the outfit out of the box I had carefully placed it in, "I'm going against Sakura..."
The outfit was a knee legnth blood red chinese style sleeveless dress with a high neck. Two slits ran up the sides of the dress stopping at the waist with an ice blue phoenix covering the back. Near the edge of the dress covering my left leg was the picture of a wolf howling at the full moon. I also had on fishnet shorts that ended abover my knee and black fingerless gloves. Around the my waist was a black belt that held a pouch behind my back. My weapons were within that pouch. Instead of my usual blue sandals, they were back. Letting my hair down, I completed my look with the bell collor around my neck and my charm around my left wrist over my gloves.
Even though Sakura and I still go at each others throat once in a while, she has also became somewhat a friend in on the journey's we had. Still, I will not lose to her. My dream is to become the best Kunoichi and I wasn't going to let this stop me.
After everything was done, I left my house and walked towards the arena where the final roundswere to be held. As soon as I got there, I found Naruto and the rest of the finalist present except for Sasuke and Onii-chan
'Maybe they'll be a little late' I concluded as I walked up to the others
"Hey Ari-chan!" Naruto greeted as Sakura just look at mewith a look that said, 'I'll be the one to win'
'Heh, we'll see about that' I returned her look with a smirk
A few minutes late, Genma, the judge/examiner for the finals announced the first round. The match between Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji.
'What happened to the other examiner, Hayate?' I wondered as I took my seat next to Hinata who was next to Kiba. Hinata was wearing a light blue jacket and Kiba was wearing what he always wore with his hood down and Akamaru on his head. Sakura had decided to sit next to Ino and I had no idea where Naruto went.
"Hey!" I greeted them getting
"Ko-konnichiwa, Ari-san' Hinata said shyly, "I-I l-like y-your outfit"
"Hey Ari!" Kiba smirked and Akamaru barked a hello
"Hinata, I said that you didn't have to put 'san' after my name, okay?" I smiled at her, "And thanks for the complement"
"O-okay" she answered quietly
"Anyways, I know that you'll root her Naruto, right?" I asked with a smile as she played with her fingers, blushed and started stuttering
I was gonna watche the match when I heard a voice from my right that I hadn't heard in a long time. (Scarlet: Can you guess who it is?)
Turning around, I couldn't stop the smile appearing on my face as I saw two of Onii-chan's fellow jounin standing there
"Kotetsu nii-chan! Izumo nii-chan!" I gasped as I hugged them both (Scarlet: If you guessed Sasuke, you were wrong this time )
"It's a surprise to see you here Chibi-Neko" Kotetsu ni-chan greeted me using my nickname that he had given me when we first met due to the fact that I always wore my cat collar. (Scarlet Um...if you have another nickmane that is better then this one, please tell me so I can change it. The nickname that I came up with was a last second thing)
"Don't call me that!" I glared at him as he sat to my right and Izumo ni-chan sat next too him
"Konnichiwa Ari-chan" Izumo gave me a friendly smile
"See! Why can't you be nicer? Like Izumo ni-chan" I whined a bit
"I'm nice!" Kotetsu ni-chan defended himself as we all laughed stopping only when the first match began. Naruto and Neji had stepped into the arena.
"Begin" Genma announced as Naruto charged at Neji. It wasn't hard for Neji to dodge everything that Neji threw at him.
Suddenly, Naruto shouted, 'Kage Bushin no Jutsu!' and charged straight at Neji with all his clones. Neji's byakugan appeared and he countered all the attacks from Naruto and his clones. Taking them out one by one. Suddenly, Neji charged straight at one Naruto and I couldn't help but worry if that was the real one.
Hinata gasped when Neji hit Naruto straight on with his tenketsu and the rest of the clones disappeared
'Naruto, you better not lose!' I started at the battle before me
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata murmured as Naruto choked up some blood
"That's for him" Kotetsu ni-chan stated
'Come on Naruto. I know you can get out of this' I thought
Naruto was bent over as Neji said, "That's why I told you that it was useless
"Naruto-kun...don't lose..." Hinata started coughing
Naruto started chuckling as he said with his head bent, "I told you...not to come to conclusions on your own" surprising Neji as he disappeared in a puff of smoke
"Could it be...?" Neji gasped as two Narutos appeared and aimed straight at him
"ALRIGHT!" Kiba cheerred loudly as Akamaru just laid on his shoulders, "Go, Naruto!"
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata sighed in relief as she held her hands infront of her heart
'Good job Naruto' I couldn't help but smirk
"I've been attacking you with everything I had!" Naruto shouted as he pulled his fist back and punched Neji dead on only to be stopped by something. Neji then spun around and created a chakra barrier around him
'Kaiten...' I thought. I've heard of it but never thought I'd see it today
"What was that...?" Naruto asked surprised
"Did you think you had won?" Neji smirked
"That's..." Hinata looked shocked
"Damn you..." Naruto growled as he stood up, "Don't underestimate me!"
He then created more kage bushins and surrounded Neji on all sides as Neji just got into a stance. As all of the Naruto's rushed in, Neji began his Kaiten, also known as Divination Whirl and pushed all the Naruto's backwith one shot. His kage bushins disappeared as Nauto laid on the ground
"Damn it" Naruto sat up and wiped his mouth
"This is it" Negi stated opening his eyes, "You are withiin the range of my divination"
Naruto got up cautiously
"Jyuuken Move, Hakke Rokujuuyonshou" Neji stated as he took another stance. He then ran at Naruto with with speed and shouted, "Two Strikes" while punching Naruto. It kept going on with "Four Strikes!" "Eight Strikes!" Sixteen Strikes!" "Thrity-Two Strikes!" "Sixty-Four Strikes!" and hit Naruto so hard he flew back a few feet.
Genma walked up to them and said, "I guess that's the end"
'Come on Naruto" I prayed
"I hit all 64 tenketsus in your body" Neji stated as Naruto struggled to get up, "You cannot stand up anymore
"Damn it..."Naruto breathed out
"Mortifying, isn't it?" Neji smirked, "You are on your knees against a power you cannot face, finding out how truly powerless you are. It is only an illusion that hard work makes dreams come true"
Hinata then started coughing violently. Kiba and I both turned and asked her what was wrong
"Hey, Hinata, are you okay?" Kiba asked
'She must not have recovered from her last match agaist Neji' I thought as her coughing stopped
Naruto stuggled and surprised us alll when he got shakingly back up on his feet and started to breath hard
"This guy..." Neji muttered, "This can't be"
"I told you that I don't give up that easily" Naruto breathed out
"This can't be" Neji stated
Hinata then started coughing harder then ever
"Hey, you're bleeding" Kiba sterted patting her back
"What's wrong?" Kotetsu nii-chan asked
"Hinata is recovering from her last battle" I answered
"You're still hurt from that match..." Kiba murmured, "Hinata, hold on"
Just then, a guy wearing a black cloak with an anbu mask appeared next to Kiba, "I'll take a look at her"
"Who are you?" Kiba asked
"No one suspicious" the guy replied
'That's makes you sound suspicious' I sweatdropped
"Stop fighting" Neji stated, "It's going to be the same even if you comtinue. I have no grudge against you"
"Shut up" Naruto laughed, "Even if you don't. I have one against you"
"What are you talking about?" Neji glared
"Why...when you're so strong..." Naruto started, "Why do you have eyes that seem to say you know everything...why did you mentally attack Hinata like that when she was trying her best!"
"That's nothing to do wioth you" Neji stated
The black cloak guy carried Hinata to the back of the seats and Kiba went with him, not before saying, "Good luck on your match"
"Very well, I'll tell you since you seem to care so much..." Neji started, "About Hyuuga's fate of hatred. Hyuuga has a secret ninja technique that is passed on within the head family. And that is the cursed seal technique"
'Cursed seal technique?' I wondered
"That cured seal symbolizes a caged bird..." Neji continued, "And is also a symbol of those who are bound within an inescapable destiny" Neji began to untie and remove his headband revealing and 'X' mark on his forehead with two lines right next to it in green
"One day, when I was four..." Neji continued his story, "this detestible seal was carved into me with that cursed seal technique. That day, there was a big ceremony going on in Konohagakure. It was the day when the Country of Lightning which had been at war with Konahagakre for a long time, had thier Hidden Village of Cloud's head ninja...come to conclude the alliance treaty. But in that event where everyone from Konoha includhing the Jounins to the Genins participated. There was one clan who did not participate. The Hyuuga Clan. That day was the long awaaited day when the head family's successor turned three. It was Hinata-sama's third birthday." Neji turned and faced someone in the stands before continuing, "My father, Hyuuga Hizashi, and Hinata-sama's father up there, Hyuuga Hiashi-sama, were twin brothers. But Hinata-sama's father, Hiashi-sama, was born first. A head family member. And my father, the second son, became a branch family member. When the head family's successor reached the age of three. I was engraved with the cursed seal, and became a caged bird...A Hyuuga brach family member"
"Why do they have to do that?" Naruto asked, "Why seperate the head and brance families? What kind of meaning is there to that weird seal?"
'That's my question too' I wondered
"This seal on my forehead is not a decoration" Neji glared as he went into a flashback before answering, "The cursed seal is the absolute fear of death that the head family gives to the branch family. The secret seal that the head family forms easily destroys the branch family's brain cells. Needless to say, killing is easy as well. And this cursed seal will only disappear after my death...and it seals up the Byakugan ability. The Hyuuga family has the most unique Bloodline Limit. There are many who are after their secrets. So, this curse seal means that brance family only lives to protect the head family. It is an efficient system to protect the Hyuuga's Bloodline Limit, the Byakugan, forever. And...That incident accorded. My father was killed by the head family. One night, Hinata-sama was almost kidnapped by someone. Hiashi-sama caught up to the perpetrator immediatly, and killed him. He was wearing dark clothes and hid his face with a mask. Who do you think it was? It was the Country of Lightning's head ninja, who just signed the alliance of treaty. It was appeartend that they came here to seek the secfrets of the Byakugan. But the Country failed in their scheme and ended up with a dead ninja...so they claimed that Konoha brooke the treaty, and made an unfair demand. Of course , the relationship between Konoha and Lightning worsened, and a was almost broke out. But Konoha wanted to avoid a war, so they made a secret agreement with the Lightning. The Lightning wanted a Hyuuga head family member with the Byakugan Bloodline, in other words, Hiashi-sama's dead body. And Konoha agreed. And war was avoided. Thanks to the Hyuuga Hiashi's double, who died to protect the head family...My father! Death is the only way to escape from this detestable cursed seal. They were twins with almost the same strength...but when thet were born first and secong, their fates were sealed. And in this match, your fate was decided when I became your opponent. Your fate said that you will lose to me. That, I can guarentee"
"You don't know until we actually fight" Naruto argued
Neji retied his hitai-ate as Naruto stated, "I don't know how tough you've had it with your dad getting killed long time ago...But you've got the wrong idea by using that alone to decide fate is predeterminded"
"You are hopeless" Neji stated as Neji charged at Naruto and punched him in the stomach, "Examiner, It's over. You dropout" Neji turned away from Naruto
"Doh't run away" Naruto struggled to stand up, "I'm not going to take back my words...That'smy way of the ninja"
"I've heard that somewhere" Neji chuckled
"I won't lose to a guy like you" Naruto stated growled, "A coward who blames everything on fate and other crap!"
"You know nothing" Neji stated angrly, "Don't lecture me! People are born carrying an unchangeable fate. To carry a seal that can never be removed. A guy like you will never understand what it means!"
"No..."Naruto stated, "I understand. So what about it?"
"This guy...!" Neji's Byakugan activated again
"Stop acting cool" Naruto said, "You're not the only special guy here. Hinata...was suffering like you. She is from the head family but she tried her best to change herself because no one would acknowledge her. That's the determination she had, and she faught you even after she was injured. That goes for you as well. The branch family is suppose to protect the head family yet you did that to Hinata when it was only an exam. You were only trying hard to fight agaist fate, weren't you!"
Naruto started to cough as Neji smirked at him, "All 64 of your tenketsus are closed. How are you able to fight now? You won't be able to use your Chakra for a while. In the end, you are going to follow the same fate as Hinata-sama"
"SHUT UP!" Naruto shouted, " Stop talking as if you know everything with that Byakugan of yours!"
"Then show me if what you say is true" Naruto laughed
"Sure, I'll beat you and and prove it to you" Naruo growled as he closed his eyes and concentrated on something.
"The chatting ends now" Neji stated, "Examiner, I intend to kill him. If you're going to stop me, stop me whenever you want"
"Gezz" Genma tched
Naruto made a sealand shouted as Neji only said, "It's usless. I hit your tenketsus"
"Why do you fight against fat that hard?" Neji asked shaking his head
"Because..." Naruto glared, "You called me a dropout"
Suddenly, a huge amount of orange chakra surround Naruto surprising Neji
'Could that be? The Kyuubi...' I gasped
"The hell? His tenketsus were hit!" Kotetsu nii-chan stated
"Don't underestimate my teammate, Kotetsu nii-chan!" I smiled at Naruto
"Let's begin" Naruto stated as his chakra flew around the stadium and wrapped around Naruo's body
Naruto attacked Neji with some shurikens but Neji used Kaiten and threw then back at hiim. Thankfully Naruto dodged and they both pulled out a kunai, clashed and threw it at eachother only to dodge them and grabbed the kunai's again.
"You..."Naruto looked at Neji, "...are confident about close combat right?" before charging straight at Neji
"I don't know abou the Hyuuga's fate of hatred, but..." Naruto kept charging, "If you think it's impossible, then don't do anything!"
"This isn't good! I need to start the Whirl" Neji's barrier started to form
"After I become the Hokage" Neji and Naruto collide, "I'll change Hyuuga for you!"
A big explosion took place and dust flew everywhere. As the dust cleared, you large holes could be seem on the battlefield. An arm popped up and Neji got up from the hole.
'Naruto...' I kept looking for him, 'This can't be over!'
Neji staggered and walked over to where Naruo was laying out cold.
"Sorry dropout boy, this is reality" Neji stated, "This is truly the end..."
Then the rocks underneath Neji began to give way and and arm came up and punched Neji in the chin and Naruto popped up from the ground. Neji laid on the floor unmoving. The Naruto that was in the hole disappeared.
"My body..."Neji gasped
'Good Job Naruto' I smiled
Naruto walked over to Neji who was lying on the ground and they started talking and then Neji looked and saw a bird fly away
"Winner, Uzumaki Naruto" Genma stated as the stadium cheered
"See!" I turned towards Kotetsu nii-chan as he only mock glared at me
"YEAH!" Naruto did a victory pose and ran around the stadium. The medics came and took Neji away as Genma announced the next match, " Hatake Murai Ari verses Haruno Sakura"
'Finally' I thought as I got up from my seat and proceeded to walk towards the stadium door. I didn't get far when I heard Kotetsu nii-chan call to me
"Good Luck, Chibi-Neko" Kotetsu nii-chan smiled
"We'll be rooting for you Ari-chan" Izumo nii-chan said
"Thank you Kotetsu nii-chan, Izumo nii-chan. I'll ake sure to win!" I waved at them before walking to a door that lead me towards Genma. Sakura was right ahead of me.
"Ready?" Genma looked at the both of us. We nodded, looked towards each other and got into our stances, "Begin!"
As soon as we heard that word, we charged straight at eachother and our kunais clashed and flew a few feet from us
"Bushin no Jutsu" Sakura immediatly made 4 clones of herself and ran towards me
'Damn, Ino was right, she has gotten faster" I thought as a tried to find the real her only to get punched in the stomach and flew a few inches back
Arg...!...Th...that wasn't...bad for...you...but..." I began coughed a bit and wiped a bit of blood from my mouth before smirking at her, "I will not lose to you!"
Charging I went through my hand seals before shouting, "Kenkaze!" The blade of whirlwind appeared around Sakura and began to give her deep stratch marks, "Give it up Sakura. It's gonna hurt the more you struggle. As the saying goes, 'No one can stop a blade of wind'. I don't want to kill you"
Something happened then. The Sakura within the blade of wind turned into a tree branch as the wind stopped
'Tch! Sakura's been studing on my fighting style' I thought as I looked around for her. I then heard running behind be and turned just in time to see her running at me with another kunai. Thinking fast, I went through another set of handseals before shouting, "Doku Gasu!" and blew a cloud at her causing her to stop in her tracts and disapper to somewhere else.
I concentrated and as soon as the cloud of gas disappeared, I shouted, "Haritsuba!" and blew a string of needles from my mouth at a certain sopt on a certain tree.
"Ah!" I heard a gasp and a bundle of pink fell from the tree
"Sakura...what is your reason to fight?" I asked as I stood there looking at her
She was breathing hard when she answered me, "I'm fighting because I'll prove to Sasuke that I'm better then you!"
"You fight for someone else" I stated as I shook my head
"Why do you fight!" Sakura asked angrily
"I fight for myself. To prove to myself that I can do this. To be the best Kunoichi I can" I took a breath, "To fufill my dreams...and you will not stop me!"
Quickly going throw my final hand seal, I ran at her with four bushin who were all holding a kunai.
"Mikazuki no Mai!"
Confusing her with the clones, I was able to knock her down with out hurting her too much. Just enough that she could not get up.
"Winner, Matake Murai Ari" Genma stated as the medics came and took Sakura away
'You did good Sakura' I thought making my way back towards my seat, 'I hope to fight you again and I know you''ll be stronger'
"Good job Chibi-Neko/Ari-chan" Kotetsu nii-chan and Izumo nii-chan said as I sat down again.
"Thank you" I replied as I awaited the match that everyone came here for. Uchiha Sasuke verses Sabaku no Gaara
Looking towards Ino, I was surprise to see Sakura there with only a few bruises and cheering for Sasuke
'I should have known she would be up and waiting for Sasuke. I didn't hit her that hard anyway' I shrugged and waited for the appearence of Sasuke and Onii-chan as Genma said, "Third Match. Uchiha Sasuke verses Sabaku no Gaara"
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Scarlet: Wow...I think that was the longest that I've typed after festival. Mostly cause of Naruto's fight, but I hope you still review! I love you all for giving me almost 200 reviews! Also, I was wondering, if so much of you guys want that birthday part. What about a date for it? Probably after July 23 right? Anyways, I'm working on it but have yet to come up with a title, so if you know one, tell me okay? It's gonna be a side chapter.
So I'll need your help for this:
1.If you want to come to the birthday party, just let me know and how you look like. What kind of present ('if you want to bring one) would you give Ari
2. Who should come and what kind of present they should bring
3. If you want any fluff/special moments between Sasuke and Ari and what kind of present should he give her
4. Any specific outfit that you want Ari to wear
5. What flavor cake you think is best
6. Party games that they can play
Okay? Thanks for reading again!