llIVoice of Destiny/Inner Sakura

"Normal Talking"

Thoughts/Sound Effects

"Flashback dialogue/Japanese/Emphasis of words"

"Demon speak"

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Key Through the Heart

A fanfiction by Andrew J. Talon

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Kingdom Hearts, or any of the characters or properties mentioned in this story. The story's mine, the concept is mine, but everything else is not mine. And I'm certainly not writing this for profit.

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"Beautiful."

Sawada turned her head slightly, looking over to Kabuto standing on a tree branch near her own. The masked ninja was looking out over Konoha, the sun already climbing towards it's zenith above the wide, colorful village. At his partner's look he turned, and Sawada was sure he was smiling underneath his mask.

"What?"

"It's strange to hear you appreciate something as simple as this view," Sawada replied honestly. Kabuto shrugged and turned back.

"Beauty is fleeting, but best appreciated that way. So it is with Konoha," he remarked philosophically. Sawada slowly turned her gaze back to the village, gazing at its wide streets, scattered forests and ponds, and the Hokage monument, silent stone defenders gazing out over the community they had built. That they had died to protect.

That would fall today.

Sawada fought back tears, and nodded.

"Beautiful," she murmured, feeling heartbroken at the fact she was agreeing with this slime. This traitor.

Feeling even more heartbroken at the fact he was right. It was beautiful. So tragically, horrifically beautiful.

A distant, yet still loud roar of an audience caught her attention, and she looked out to the coliseum a mere mile away. Kabuto nodded from his branch.

"Sounds like the first match has begun," he stated, and she could here the smirk in his voice. "Let's hope Naruto-kun gives a good show."

Sawada nodded, following Kabuto as he leaped off the tree branch into the forest below.

One more world… What's one more world?

She'd thought the same thing several times in the past, but only now did she realize, sickeningly, that it no longer elicited feeling from her.

Sakura… Forgive me…

At least she meant that.

- - - - - - - - -

Naruto spun up his Keyblade, the weapon begin to glow with chakra. Neji smirked as his Byakugan activated. Naruto felt the Keyblade's prompt, and he let the weapon fly.

"STRIKE RAID!"

Neji ducked under the spinning projectile. It vanished and reappeared in Naruto's hand as he leaped into the air, throwing the Keyblade again at an even higher speed. Neji leaped to the side, forced into a cartwheel as the Keyblade once again missed him by scant centimeters. Recalling the Keyblade Naruto threw it a third time, the brightly glowing projectile meeting Neji just as he landed back on his feet. The Hyuuga's hand burned with blue chakra as he brought it up to meet the deadly weapon.

FWASH! A powerful burst of chakra reacted with the Keyblade's aura, snuffing Naruto's chakra like a candle by the wind, and the weapon sailed off course, slamming into the dirt.

Naruto landed from his jump, again summoning his weapon to his hand. He glowered at the smirking Neji.

Damnit! All right, plan B…

Naruto ran forward, Keyblade out and pointed for Neji's head as he charged. Up in the stands Kiba groaned.

"No, no, not a frontal attack!"

Sakura smirked nearby as Ino looked on in concern.

What is he…?

A few meters off the tip of the Keyblade began to glow.

"FIRE!" Naruto shouted, the Keyblade blasting out a shot of magically-enhanced flame. Neji nimbly dodged the blast, and the one that followed as Naruto closed in, red hot flames passing centimeters past his head.

Spinning the Keyblade by its chain like a flail, Naruto swung it for Neji's head, the Hyuuga prodigy ducking and swinging a chakra-charged palm for Naruto's stomach. Anticipating this, Naruto jumped and curled into a forward flip, swinging the Keyblade for Neji's stomach like a lumberjack swinging his ax. Missing by a hair, Neji smoothly moved up and turned, a chakra-charged pair of fingers pointing for Naruto's neck as he landed in a crouch.

Naruto flipped the Keyblade over his shoulder and slapped Neji's fingers away, smoothly stepping back up and gripping the Keyblade with both hands as he swung back for the Hyuuga. Neji stepped back, eyes narrowed, as he continued to just barely dodge Naruto's swings and thrusts.

He's better than I thought he would be, Neji conceded, channeling chakra into his hands to better block the blond's strikes.

However…

Neji slapped the Keyblade away as he smoothly stepped forward, fingers zeroing in on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto leaped back, and hopped backwards once more to get some distance between them. Both ninja paused, glaring at each other across the dirt-covered ground.

The blond then nodded and smirked.

"I've got you figured out!"

Neji raised an eyebrow and smirked back.

"Really?"

"Yeah. You're good against single opponents at close range, and even at a distance. But, how about several enemies at once? Kage Bunshin no jutsu!"

Half a dozen additional Narutos appeared on the field, and as one they raised their Keyblades like batons and pointed them at Neji.

"FIRE!"

They all shouted, and as commanded their weapons spat out bursts of flame right at the Hyuuga genius. Eyes wide, he instinctively spun himself around, charged chakra emitting from every pore.

"KAITEN!" Neji roared, the protective dome of chakra forming just in time. The fire blasts splashed harmlessly against the shield, as Neji slowly came to a stop. He smirked as Naruto glowered, and formed the ram seal again.

"Kage Bunshin no jutsu!"

Another dozen clones formed and as one they charged Neji, a few in front firing off more fire spells that Neji was forced to dodge.

"How…?" Hiashi gaped in shock. Uzumaki's performance against his nephew was truly mind boggling, but the added surprise of Neji displaying the Kaiten, supposedly a Main House-only technique, was nothing short of heart stopping. Hanabi stared at her father's shocked expression on her right side, before turning to look at her older sister. Hinata's eyes were shining, her mouth open in a broad smile. Hanabi couldn't help her own smile at how happy Hinata looked, and turned back to the match.

"Man, he's just overwhelming Neji, isn't he?" Sakura grinned.

"YEAH NARUTO! WOOOOO! KEEP IT UP!" She bellowed, standing up and cheering.

Ino leaned forward with a frown as Naruto's clones fanned out and began to either continue to fire flames at the Hyuuga Prodigy or closed in for close-range attacks. Despite the coordination Naruto was showing, his clones attacking in pairs and timed just after salvoes from the magic-wielding copies, Neji continued to evade or simply deflect the assault using either his incredible agility or his Kaiten.

"Well yeah, but Neji still hasn't taken a single hit…" Ino muttered, frown growing. When his clones were destroyed Naruto simply made more, every clone making the same hand seal in order to keep Neji guessing about which was the real one. After a few minutes of this continued bombardment, Neji seemed to falter, barely avoiding a blast of fire.

"He's getting tired!" Sakura cheered. "GO NARUTO! C'MON! TAKE HIM DOWN!"

Ino narrowed her eyes. She didn't know what it was, but something told her Neji was far from tired.

Further up in the stands, Tenten couldn't help a small, sad smile.

Naruto… You are my friend… But even you can't beat Neji. I'm sorry…

- - - - - - - -

In a small part of the Hyuuga Prodigy's mind, Neji was tempted to thank Tenten for her help after the match. Her constant training with him had massive increased his chakra control and stamina, and his reflexes had increased in speed by a fair amount as well. It was fated that he win this battle, but her work had doubtlessly contributed to it. Every fire blast, every clone-He dodged them all while hardly moving in the center of the field of clones.

Still, it was time to end this charade. The deadlast had demonstrated some considerable talent for his station, but in the end he would fail.

Neji stumbled, just a bit, and with the Byakugan he saw one of the Narutos grin in triumph outside the main mob.

So, he's the real one…

Sprinting forward, he bypassed all the other clones and made a beeline for the one who had given himself away. He was no longer grinning now, instead moving forward to meet Neji's charged with a snarl.

Handily Neji avoided the thrust and slammed a chakra-charged palm into Naruto's throat, making him choke and fall back. Six more Jyuken strikes and Naruto fell to one knee, panting hard as the clones within Neji's field of vision poofed out of existence.

"You stood back the most from all the other clones, and what's more you fell for my feint," Neji stated arrogantly. "This match is over."

To his puzzlement, rather than growling angrily at him in defiance, Naruto merely chuckled and looked up with a grin Neji was getting sick of. It was cocky, confident, and held a determination he felt the need to crush and break into little pieces.

"Says who?" Naruto asked, before poofing into smoke. Neji had no warning as three more Narutos converged on him from all sides.

How-?!

Neji instinctively switched to Kaiten right at the last second, catching the three Narutos' Keyblades and blasting them all away. Two poofed into smoke, while the third landed before him with a groan, sitting up and glaring. Neji smirked and settled back into a familiar stance.

"It's futile," he stated, "you're in range of my divination."

Just like with Kiba… Thought Ino, biting her lower lip. Sakura, next to her, was also wide-eyed and silent, but still wore a strange kind of smile.

This is it then, Hiashi nodded. The boy did well, but in the end…

N-No! C'mon Naruto-kun, get up! Hinata thought frantically.

"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!" Neji roared, charging at incredible speed. Naruto sprang back to his feet, perceiving the Hyuuga coming at him almost in slow motion.

Naruto summoned up his magic and cast the first spell he could think of.

"HASTE!"

"Too late!" Neji shouted while twisting his waist to bring his elbow back as his other arm lanced forward for Naruto's chest. He powered through some dust kicked up by a brief but powerful breeze, which slightly obscured the two ninjas from the audience. The most that could be seen were blurred shadows and flashes of burning chakra.

"Two palms! Four palms! Eight palms!"

Bursts of blue chakra boomed across the arena as Neji's strikes continued to hit their target. Hinata could only gasp in horror, while Tenten nearby wondered at how Naruto was able to just stand there and take the assault.

"Sixteen palms! Thirty-two palms!"

Sakura cried out in horror while Ino winced. Naruto!

"Sixty-four palms!"

The dust kicked up by the gust of wind had been further raised by the air distortions from the chakra blasts. All eyes in the stadium locked onto the two fighters as the dust began to settle around them. Gasps and shouts filled the air.

Neji glared in barely repressed rage, back in his usual stance, his fingers smoking lightly. Still standing, and what was more looking seemingly untouched in front of him, Naruto lowered his Keyblade. His brow was knit and his jaw set in determination.

Naruto seemed to blur, and Neji skidded back along the ground, arms raised protectively in front of his face, as though he'd blocked a strong blow. Neji lowered his arms just as Naruto blurred and vanished entirely.

"What the-?!" Tenten gasped, as many others in the crowd did, in the split second it took Naruto to reappear over Neji's head.

"YAH!"

He fell, swinging the Keyblade down for the Hyuuga prodigy's head. Neji barely avoided the blow, his eyes widening as Naruto again vanished and reappeared behind him, swinging his blade for his waist. Moving forward, Neji grit his teeth as the Keyblade grazed his back. The blond vanished again, only in Neji's enhanced vision he finally spotted what he had been missing.

The chakra signature of his opponent remained constant, but was moving so quickly it blurred in his senses.

He's not teleporting… He's… Accelerating!

"HA!" Naruto yelled, appearing in front of Neji and thrusting the Keyblade forward. It grazed Neji's cheek, cutting and drawing blood, but Neji used the proximity to push forward and land a Jyuken strike on Naruto's shoulder. It was a hollow victory as Naruto simply vanished again, accelerating and reappearing a few meters back before vanishing once more.

"How can he do that?" Sakura gasped in wonder, strange smile still on her face. Ino coughed a bit, choosing her words carefully.

"Well, it's like this. The jutsu Naruto's using lets him accelerate himself to extremely high speeds, but only while he's channeling chakra. So, he has to drop out of the jutsu to attack or change direction."

"But still, he's moving so fast!" Sakura gushed. "It's incredible!"

It is, Ino thought to herself with a smile. To think that he still hasn't mastered the spell yet. With the way Viv-senseii explained it the spell only has two components, the construct for the spell that shapes it and the magical power needed to make it work. It's supposed to be so simple, the first making the engine for the spell, and then creating the fuel for it. Even for something that simple he still screws it up. That idiot still can't pull out his magic well enough to get it to work right.

A flurry of Fire spells appeared right above Neji and he was forced into Kaiten to deflect them. The moment he came out Naruto was right there, slashing furiously with the Keyblade before leaping back into Haste once more when Neji went on the offensive.

'But of course, Naruto being Naruto, he figured out something else. Instead of just relying on a small trickle of magic, he pushed it in with chakra. And with them combined...

Neji had pulled back from his forward charge just in time to barely deflect another strike from Naruto and the Keyblade, but he was unable to block the kick that followed into his thigh, knocking him off balance.

He's a speed demon! Ino stood up and cheered with Sakura for Naruto to finish him off.

Unfortunately Neji recovered by spinning around, seemingly going into a partial Kaiten to slap a palm against Naruto's upper arm. The blond fell back but against escaped Neji's strike with Haste.Neji recovered by spinning around, seemingly going into a partial Kaiten to slap a palm against Naruto's upper arm. The blond fell back but against escaped Neji's strike with Haste.

Neji went for broke, engaging a full Kaiten, but even as he did Naruto appeared and reappeared several times around the dome, slashing against it on all sides seemingly at once. Gritting his teeth, he had an idea. If he could expel chakra from his body in one direction, he might be able to keep up.

Take THIS!

He abruptly ended theKaiten, but the burning blue chakra receded into and around him. So quickly no one in the audience could see Neji shot out a hand for Naruto, which the blond was barely able to block with the Keyblade. At the shock in Naruto's eyes, Neji glared.

"It's futile," he stated. Naruto growled and channeled chakra into the Haste spell again, leaping back at enhanced speed. According to Vivi, Haste worked by accelerating the passage of time around the caster. While it appeared to increase the speed at which Naruto moved, all it did was increase the rate of time's flow for him. Relative to him, everything else stood still.

Unfortunately, because he used chakra mixed with magic to power the spell, it was very unstable and required most of Naruto's focus to manage.

Definitely a bad thing, he decided, when Neji seemed to be moving almost as fast as he was, chakra pouring out from his body like the tail of a comet, racing him across the stadium floor.

"What the hell is that?" He yelled as he dropped out of Haste to quickly block two fast Jyuken strikes. Naruto scowled and leaped up into the air while using Haste again, back flipping and slamming his feet against the hard wall of the stadium.

Neji stood right where he was, chakra burning in his aura, as though waiting. Naruto growled and switched into Haste again, hoping he could hold the spell long enough to strike. The Hyuuga Prodigy, seemingly anticipating this, engaged his protective jutsu once more.

"KAITEN!" He shouted, the dome of energy forming at massively increased speed.

Shit! Shit! I'm going to crash against it! Naruto thought, his attention slipping causing him to fall out of Haste but continue to dive for his adversary.

A command prompt came from the Keyblade, only the feeling it sent him was gentler than other cues the weapon had given him.

Trust me said a voice that wasn't quite a voice. Naruto raised the Keyblade, eyes blazing with determination.

"ZANTETSUKEN!"

A blinding flash erupted as Keyblade met Kaiten. Naruto powered through the burst of energy that resulted, slamming the weapon into Neji's chest and sending him flying back.

"HURK!" Naruto cried out as Neji's palm found its way to his throat, the burst of chakra making his neck's insides feel like they were being microwaved He fell back, pushed by the dying waves of Neji'sKaiten, and it was only here he saw his opponent's triumphant expression that he knew he'd been had.

Neji had cut the Kaiten moments after he'd struck it, and allowed Naruto his shot just to lure him in. It was a good plan. Naruto, frankly, was kind of impressed.

"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"

Naruto cried out as the first strikes slammed into his tenketsu points, the same feeling of fire burning his insides as he'd felt in his match with Hinata.

"Two palms! Four palms! Eight palms!"

Like a puppet with its strings tangled Naruto jerked at every hit, slowly falling back.

"Sixteen palms! Thirty-two palms! Sixty four palms!" Neji finished, and with this final barrage Naruto fell, back slamming into the dusty soil of the arena floor. He coughed up blood, which leaked from his

"It's over," Neji spoke, standing salient while ignoring the pain inflicted on him by Naruto. The Hyuuga Prodigy looked down upon his vanquished foe, expression almost pitying.

"From the moment you were chosen as my opponent, you were fated to fall."

Naruto coughed up more blood, and with a few grunts and groans he struggled up to his feet. Neji's eyebrows rose in slight surprise, but his confidence reasserted itself. What could he do without chakra?

"Stop this madness. You'll only get more of the same. I have nothing against you personally," Neji stated.

"Ha! That's comforting!" Naruto spat. "But don't waste your breath… I'm not giving up!"

Neji narrowed his eyes, his irritation at the blond growing.

"You are beaten. Give up."

"Screw you!" Naruto retorted. Neji's eyebrow twitched.

"Fool! You can't use chakra anymore! You can barely stand! Stop stupidly trying to resist your fate! It is sealed!" Neji shot back. Naruto leaned forward on the Keyblade, using it as a cane, as he glared defiantly into the Hyuuga's grey eyes.

"What's with you…? And this fate crap again?" Naruto demanded.

Neji bristled.

"You are a dead last, I am a genius. These titles are given to determine our place in life. It is destiny that dead lasts cannot overcome geniuses, seen again and again. There is no escape!" The Hyuuga snorted.

"You yourself claim to wish to become Hokage, scream it for all to hear! But no dead last became Hokage, no fool. Those who became them were destined to from the beginning!"

Neji took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"The only true destiny we all share equally… Is death," he concluded.

Naruto stared in disbelief.

"How the hell can you believe crap like that? Do you even know what you're saying?"

Neji raised his hands to his forehead protector, and Naruto stared in confusion. His expression became more confused when Neji undid the headband holding the protective plate over his brow and lowered it. Naruto blinked at the strange green seal with a manji symbol on Neji's now bare forehead.

"I know… All too well," Neji returned coldly. "This is the mark of the Hyuuga clan's cursed seal. I have worn it since the age of four. It is given to all members of the Hyuuga Branch house to-"

"Huh? What's the deal with that?" Naruto asked. Neji sneered at the interruption.

"Since you asked… The Branch house members are expected to serve the Main house from birth. If we are captured or killed, a Main house member activates the seal to destroy our brains and any trace of the Byakugan, to keep it out of enemy hands. But it is also used to make us slaves to the will of the Main house! I was placed in it because my father, the twin brother of Hiashi-sama, was born second. To prevent a power struggle, he was placed in the Branch house. Due entirely to his destiny of being born second," Neji stated in a flat, angry tone that nevertheless reached the ears of most of the spectators.

"Some years ago, a ninja from Kumogakureone of Konoha's enemies during the last Great War, came on a good will visit to Konoha. However, his true intentions were to kidnap Hinata-sama, in order for his village to get their hands on the Byakugan. Hiashi-sama stopped him and saved Hinata-sama… But killed the ninja."

Neji sighed. "Kumogakure threatened war, but were willing to maintain the peace on the condition that Hyuuga Hiashi be killed and given to them. Konoha's greatest bloodline, at their command!"

Neji's face became dark, his killing intent released.

"But to save himself, he had my father killed and sent in his place. Just as he was fated to be! From the moment he was born, he was fated to die at a whim of my uncle's! Just as I will die for Hinata-sama's cowardice, to cover up her own weakness! There is no escaping fate, no escaping destiny, not for anyone! And that is why-"

"Honestly, would you just SHUT UP!"

If anything could have silenced the prodigy that was it. The audience would have cheered at the interruption if they weren't more interested at what the blond had to say. Neji was a little shocked. This was the second time this dead last had interrupted him, and no one interrupted him! Naruto pushed himself back up, standing as best he could, Keyblade raised.

"The old geezer up there is more interesting to listen to then you are! Hell, even Iruka-sensei!" The Leaf ninja winced at that in acknowledgment, and the Third Hokage sighed at the nickname.

"I've got something to say about your stupid philosophy." Naruto snapped. "Fate isn't something that you can predict. It was a twist of fate that your dad died. You say that people can't change, but that's completely out of whack! Look at your own teammate! He can't even use ninjutsu or genjutsu, and he practiced at what he was good at. In my opinion, he's a better man than you are, Neji!"

Naruto's voice rose in strength.

"I've been training with Hinata-chan this whole month, and I've watched her progress! She's not weak, she's no coward...she's strong." Naruto looked up to the sky for a moment, and spotted with his eye a bird flying overhead. He looked back at Neji, his eyes burning.

"Fate is not kind, I know that as much as anyone. The only thing anyone can do is make the best of it, or just collapse." He rose his arm and pointed the Keyblade straight at the Hyuuga prodigy.

"So, let's go. Prove to me that you can see destiny...or are you afraid that it's just a load of crap?" Neji's lip curled at the taunt. "Or are you just going to run away?

"I will enjoy crushing you." Neji had planned to just defeat him, but the blond's defiance brought his blood to a boil. He would do more than that.

He would break him completely, physically and mentally, so there would be nothing left.

"Your fate has been decided." Neji declared again. Naruto smirked.

"We'll see about that!"

Neji moved forward, again his aura flaring with blue chakra like a comet. At the Keyblade's urging Naruto swung his weapon, ignoring the agony that he incurred, and managed to block Neji's first blow. His second slammed into Naruto's shoulder, sending him stumbling back but still on his feet. Neji struck again, injecting a burning burst of chakra into Naruto's stomach. Naruto swung again, Neji dodging nimbly out of the way. Once more, the two glared at eachother.

"Fall, damn you," Neji growled. Naruto spat out more blood, but still he stood, Keyblade in hand. With a hoarse shout he charged, swinging as hard and as quickly as he could for Neji. The Hyuuga prodigy dodged or batted away every weak attack disdainfully.

The audience had fallen silent. Hanabi looked between her father and older sister. Hiashi was grim, looking unwaveringly at his nephew, while Hinata's eyes were locked on Naruto's, wide with concern, her hands wringing in fear and concern. Hanabi was frankly a little astonished at the intensity of Hinata's gaze.

She hasn't looked away once, has she? Hanabi realized. Like a wife watching her husband in a duel…

Tenten had bowed her head and closed her eyes. She couldn't watch this…

In his own seat, Kiba turned from fight with a wince and a sigh. Akamaru whimpered, and his master scratched him behind the ears.

He looked down his row. Chouji was also watching, eyes screwed up in sympathy. Sakura was gripping Ino's hand almost painfully, watching the fight in silence with a blank look on her face, as Ino, distraught, tried to shake her out of it.

I can't say it, Kiba decided. He couldn't gloat. Not now.

Naruto took another hit to the shoulder, panting hard, growling in the hopes of drowning out his pain with the noise as he again just barley avoided a killing blow. Neji was frustrated, just trying to catch him, but the Keyblade's prompts seem to come in even stronger. He dodged, he weaved, and he ducked, striking back, but his movements were becoming slower and slower.

Hayate shook his head.This won't last much longer…

At last, Neji, fed up, employed his strange boosting technique once more, and slammed two fingers into Naruto's collar bone. Choking, Naruto fell back, as Neji raised up a hand in the tradition Jyuken stance.

"It's over… You have nothing more. Give. Up," he ordered. Naruto had fallen to one knee, panting, and as he raised his head Neji expected that defiance to have burnt out. For that stubborn fire in his eyes that could have passed for nobility, to be gone.

Neji gritted his teeth, seething, as Naruto's eyes were still alight with determination, unyielding, unbroken.

He needed that fire to die. He needed to snuff it out, now!

"No… I will never give up!" Naruto returned, once again pushing himself back to his feet.

"Proctor, I am going in for a killing blow," Neji stated flatly to the nearby Hayate. "Stop me if you wish."

Naruto raised up the Keyblade, preparing to continue to fight despite every one of his muscles screaming in protest, as Neji charged. Naruto gritted his teeth, blinking sweat out of his eyes…

He blinked again. Everything had… Stopped? Neji was frozen in mid-step, Hayate opening his mouth to say something, the audience still as statues.

How? I'm not using Haste, Naruto thought. Warm breath blew past his ear, and he groaned as he felt a pair of feminine arms wrap around his waist.

"Use my power, Naruto-kun," the Kyuubi breathed into his ear, resting her chin on his shoulder. Naruto shuddered at the comforting warmth her body was producing.

"Use it… Show this upstart what a real burden is," she went on. "You are hated and despised, yet you use the same power that would destroy this village to protect it." She moved her lips even closer to Naruto's ear and chuckled throatily, making Naruto blush.

"What does a genius like him know about burdens anyway?" Kyuubi went on, chuckling. Naruto thought he saw something out of the corner of his eyes, and focused in on it. The Girl was here too, standing on the field, looking at him with a sad smile. She looked so heartbroken, her eyes shining with tears, and yet still she smiled.

"She can't help you now," Kyuubi snorted. "She would sooner let you die than use my power!"

The girl walked closer, still smiling sadly. Naruto locked eyes with her, and nodded. He shoved the Kyuubi off his back and turned back towards Neji. The Kyuubi snorted.

"You'll be back. You'll have no choice," she stated, and as the girl nodded, tears finally peeking out of her eyes, time began again.

Neji's chakra charged palm lashed out, and Naruto swung to deflect it. But just as his weapon touched Neji's hand, a burst of chakra left it, making Naruto yelp as the energy connected with Naruto's hands like live voltage. His grip loosened, Neji used his other hand to swat the Keyblade away, spinning up over his shoulder, before landing in the dirt behind the Hyuuga prodigy. Naruto fell back, panting, hand extended to try and recall the Keyblade.

"It's useless! Die with your delusions, Uzumaki Naruto! Your fate is sealed!" Neji roared, settling back into his stance as he prepared to deliver, at last, the final blow. He deactivated his Byakugan as he moved forward. Naruto gritted his teeth against the pain and tried to focus.

C'mon, c'mon! Come back! Come back, Keyblade!

Unseen by either Neji or Naruto, the Keyblade, stuck in the dirt as though being inserted into a door, began to shake. Hayate's eyes, and the eyes of every person in the stadium widened as the Keyblade jerked in the ground, as though pulled by an invisible hand, then jerked again. A final tug by an unseen power, and the weapon burst out of the ground, flying for its wielder hilt-first.

The flight path of the weapon, however, brought it slamming between Neji's shoulderblades, causing the Hyuuga genius to stumble as he was stepping forward to slap his fingers into Naruto's heart. Byakugan eyes widening in shock, Neji lost his balance, his white-hot fingers grazing Naruto's chest but missing the required contact by a hair.

With speed born from pure adrenaline, Naruto stepped forward, his extended hand closing into a fist that he brought up with a grunt, slamming into Neji's chin in a vicious uppercut. With the combined force from his fall and the Keyblade, the Hyuuga Prodigy was launched up and over Naruto, who had fallen into a crouch. His feet left the ground as he flew forward, teeth gritted and eyes wide in shock and pain.

THUD!

The impact seemed to echo throughout the arena. Gasps were uttered. Heads were shaken in disbelief. Every person there was in a state of shock.

The Sandaime Hokage, up in his personal box, let a wide grin come over his face, while the Yondaime Kazekage's eyes widened in disbelief under his hat.

For there stood Uzumaki Naruto, panting, battered, bleeding, but standing tall over the unmoving body of Hyuuga Neji, lying in an ungraceful heap behind him.

Sarutobi began clapping, a single sound that soon grew as more and more spectators stood and began applauding wildly, until it seemed every stand in the arena was exploding with cheers, whistles, and screams.

"HELL YEAH NARUTO! YOU KICKED HIS ASS!" Kiba bellowed, standing up and punching upwards. Chouji cheered through a mouthful of chips, spraying them over the people ahead of him (much to their disgust). Ino and Sakura were hugging eachother, jumping up and down screaming wildly.

"YES! GO NARUTO! GO!YEAAAAH!"

Hiashi couldn't help but smile, just a little, and clapped heartily for perhaps the first time in his life.

"YES! YES! NARUTO-KUN YOU DID IT! YOU DID IT!" Screamed Hinata, sobbing tears of joy, as she hugged Hanabi hard and jumped up and down. Hanabi waved her arms, initially in celebration as well, but now in a desperate attempt to get herself free.

"Onee… chan… Can't… Breathe!" She squeaked.

Tenten had stared, slack jawed, since Naruto uppercut Neji… But slowly a broad smile blossomed on her face, and she cheered as well.

"NARUTO! YES!"

Shikamaru shook his head and smiled, as did Shino, while Gaara stared intently at the victor, his siblings with him. Kin watched as well, smirking slightly.

Naruto looked up, as though hearing the cheers for the first time, confused. A few seconds more, and he was grinning broadly, holding up the Keyblade in triumph high over his head and laughing.

"How…?"

Naruto turned around in surprise, and saw that Neji was still conscious, lying in the dirt. His eyes stared blankly, like empty window panes whose glass has just shattered.

"How… Did you do it…?" He murmured. Naruto sighed with a wry smile.

"I decided… I wasn't going to be a loser… That I was going to prove the people who called me that wrong…" Naruto closed his eyes hard, before opening them again. Neji looked up, eyes fixed on the blond's, confused.

"But how…? How could you… Continue? Even after everything…" Neji trailed off. Naruto sighed again.

"You've gotta pick yourself back up again… Gotta keep going… No matter how hard it is, or rough… You can't give up." Naruto shook his head.

"You can figure it out on your own… You've got better eyes than me, after all," the blond finished with an honest, encouraging smile. Neji stared, and saw that same bird flying overhead, chirping happily in the warm sun.

Better eyes…

- - - - - - - - - -

Edit 12/13/07: In between finals and studying, as well as some random stories to keep myself writing, I've completed my edits to "Key Through the Heart". Chapters 10, 14-20, and 25-28 all have extended and additional scenes, marked with (New) at the end. Every chapter has also had several more spelling mistakes and grammar errors corrected, as well as modifications to catchphrases and use of Japanese. Overall, it should flow much better than before. The next chapter should be out by the New Year.

Thank you for reading, and if you have any comments or questions about the new scenes, please PM me.

- - -

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Once again, a big thanks to the The Fanfiction Forums for all their help on this chapter. And a big thanks to Captain Sarcasm for acting as an editor.

Next chapter: Shikamaru and Kin's match, Neji has a conversation with Hiashi, and Naruto learns a few things about Sakura's transformation. As well as some surprises. Until then, please read and review!

And now, some omakes!

By Andrew Joshua Talon: Sakura's Good Luck Charm:

"You can figure it out on your own… You've got better eyes than me, after all," the blond finished with an honest, encouraging smile. Neji stared, and saw that same bird flying overhead, chirping happily in the warm sun.

Better eyes…

"NARUTOOOOOO!"

The blond in question stood up, Keyblade flashing into his hand to repel the incoming attack.

Sadly, his defenses were no match for this threat.

"Sakura-MMPH?!"

WHAM!

Naruto felt a warm, curvey, and strong female body seemingly attach itself to his in a tackle that sent him and his assailant to the ground, his back hitting the dirt painfully. This was quickly forgotten in the warm, wild assault on his mouth by Haruno Sakura's own lips and tongue. His eyes stared at Sakura's, which were lidded and dark with erotic intentions.

His brain went completely blank.

For the second time in a matter of minutes, the arena fell dead silent... Before the catcalls and cheers rang out.

"YOU GO NARUTO! WOO HOO!" Kiba cheered with a sadistic grin. Next to him, Chouji was stunned, jaw hitting the cement below. Ino fumed.

Damnit, what the hell? Is she going to steal every guy in Konoha?!

Noooo! Naruto-kun's being seduced! Right in public! Hinata fretted. This soon led to resentment and anger.

Damnit Naruto-kun, you could resist a little more! Oh damn damn damn, why didn't I think of that?!

Hiashi just smirked slightly as he saw his eldest daughter slap her hands over her mouth, but continued to glare at the happenings in the arena below.

Just like her mother...

Spring is in the air, true love is-WAIT A TICK, GET THE HELL OFF HIM YOU BITCH! Tenten thought viciously. She had two kunai in her hands before she shut her eyes and attempted to calm herself.

Calm down, calm down, you like older guys. Older. Guys. Just because you can't remember why is no reason to murder that pink haired bitch...

"...I really didn't see that coming. Is Ino possesing her or something? Are they fighting over Sasuke again? What?" Shikamaru asked, shaking his head in disbelief. Temari nearby felt a little jealous, though she had no idea why. Shino raised both eyebrows.

Is this really Sakura-chan?! Has her brain been taken over by aliens?! This is not right! I really need to get her off me and do something about this... Well, not right away, Naruto finally got into his head.

Yeah, a LOT later... No, no! Something's wrong with her... HA! Take THAT, teme! No! No! Something's wrong... Must... Resist!

Neji just gaped in disbelief. Hayate smirked and coughed.

"Well, now we know why the caged bird sings, eh?" He asked Neji. The Hyuuga prodigy glowered.

"This is just fate, I guess."

"MMPH! MMPH! MWAH! Neji, if you start that shit again I'll kick your ass! Sakura, STOP! GIVE ME MY PANTS BACK!"

By Mental Productions: What if Naruto was a summoner class...

NEJI VS NARUTO

"Begin"

For some strange reason, the whole background shattered into a thousand pieces, rearranging itself seconds later to reveal Naruto and Neji standing across from each other. Neji looked around confused while cool techno music played in the background

A screen popped up with the words "ATTACK, MAGIC, SUMMON, ITEM and RUN" as options. Neji stared.

Naruto was already making his move, the small arrow on the screen moving down towards summon, which then opened up another screen containing a long list of names

Naruto proceeded to scroll past names such as "Mary Sue", "Jack Sparrow" or "Saber", finally picking the name ANIMA.

Oh, fuck yes.

Chains randomly appeared before pulling out some...thing from a black portal like object that had popped up out of the ground. These chains proceeded to pull out a weird venus flytrap (I suppose) kind of monster, bound in chains.

Zetsu randomly appeared and stared

"Mommy?" he called uncertain

Neji said a bad word as he took in the sheer size of it

Naruto grinned again, before pointing at Neji and commanding in a loud voice that rang across the stadium

"ANIMA! OBLIVION!"

Just two this time due to their sizes. More to come next chapter!