Chapter - 52: The Chunin Exams Finals (Naruto vs Neji)

Sorry for the delay guys, I was busy with college work and study but this time it will be worth it. Here is Chapter 52 guys enjoy!

The day has come for the Semi Finals and the Arena around the Hidden Leaf was bustling with activity. Ninjas from different countries were gathered to watch the Semi Finals and also it was also another target for enemies in an element of surprise.

The Hokage was sitting alongside with the Kazekage, the leader of the Hidden Sand Village. The two greeted each other with a level of respect because of their leadership status.

"Greetings Kazekage, so you finally arrived this time. I'm sure the trip all the way here did not tire you at all?" The Hokage said with respect.

The Kazekage wearing a white cloak and hat with green markings and the Kanji for "Wind" as the symbol and his face hidden and only his eyes were shown also greeted the Hokage with respect. " That's right, I arrived now and the trip here was all well worth it. I'm happy also to hear that my son Gaara did well in the exams. But I also heard that there were also other capable candidates this season." The Kazekage added.

The Hokage nodded his head " Indeed, this time a new generation will see how well they will go far with their abilities."

"We'll see." The Kazekage said and as well as he had grin hidden in his face as well.

(On the Stands)

Mei Terumi as well as her bodyguards Zabuza and Chojuro arrived for the next phase of the battles.

Ao was not with her this time because he is taking charge in the forces in the mist so Zabuza substituted his role this time temporarily.

Borei's Family were glad and happy to see her once again and greeted her with the utmost respect.

"It's good to see you once more, Lady Mei." Borei said.

"The same goes for you Borei. I've heard the Land of Waves is also giving trades and supplies now as well as 2 teams including your son are participating the exams as well." Mei said with a soft tone.

"Indeed we are, and as soon as the exams are over we can both have an audience with the Hokage for an alliance." Borei said.

"Sure, I'm glad you work things out." Mei said.

"I try, I'm always travelling everywhere just to do what I can do best to other people in different nations." Borei said.

Mei pouted a little bit and was a little envious cause Borei was always going anywhere around the world and she also wanted to the same as well instead of just being in the Mist Village.

"Awww, It's so unfair. You always go anywhere around the world while I got stuck in the village doing paperwork almost or even all day long and a little time for travelling." Mei said dejectedly.

"Hey, Don't worry. If you got time or even a duty like any other shinobi you can always come with us. Even if you're the Mizukage you got a choice and how you make the decision about your life is what you do." Borei reassures her.

Then Miyuki joined in the conversation " My husband's right, Despite that you're the Mizukage looking out for your people and do the duty what a Kage should do, You are always given a choice."

Mei sighed and understood "Alright, I'll think about it." she said then asks another question "So how's my nephew going along."

Miyuki smiled "He's doing fine. He's one of the contestants who made it this far."

Nagato then approached his surrogate Aunty " It's good to see you again Aunty Mei." he smiled.

"It's good to see you as well Nagato. I'm willing to watch your battle this time." Mei said as she looked down at her own nephew.

"Thank's Aunty Mei. Wish me the best." Nagato stated.

"I will, do your best out there." Mei said as she ruffle her nephew's hair. Then watch Nagato proceed to the railings along with his squad.

"The kid's really did well and very good, and now a lot of the others had the same determination as well." Zabuza noted as he remarks about Nagato's performance and as well as the other contestants performances altogether.

"We'll see. Afterall, when they become greater they would give it everything they got." Mei added.

Zabuza nodded "Yup, that's right."

Nagato then jumps down to the arena below to join the other contestants.

In the other stands where the audience were watching the others seem excited for the upcoming events. Ninjas and citizens of the Leaf were watching the upcoming fight soon. The Foreign Shinobi were also in audience as well.

Anbu were watching in all sides, The Clan leaders of the village were also watching as well as the ones who were defeated in the preliminaries also supported the surviving ones to continue on.

The contestants below were gathered including a new referee named Genma Shiranui. He replaced Hayate Gekko which was reported that Hayate died recently of an incident.

The contestants who gathered there were Naruto, Neji , Nagato, Kenji, Shikamaru,Gaara, Shino, Kankuro, Temari, Ohyo, Yakkyoku, Haku,Seiichi, Kiheishi and Yuwaku.

The Audience were excited to see the battles soon, some were a little not, while some others are worried that something is wrong or maybe will go wrong.

The Yugure members from Sea Country gathered together in one area of the stand. The Jonin Senseis of the Leaf in another area, The clans of the leaf in various areas of the stands including the Hyuga clan, The Anbu in top, middle and bottom positions in the stairs, and finally the rest of the shinobi of the leaf who participated the earlier exams who were defeated got to join at different positions in view of the arena.

The Hokage then stood up in his seat and began to announced to the arena:

"Welcome all, and our deepest thanks for coming here in the village hidden in the leaves for this year's chunin selection. We have come to the final competition between the 16 candidates who made it through the preliminaries. We asked that no one leaves until all the matches have completely ended. Now everyone enjoy." The Hokage said.

The crowd cheered on.

"You said 16 candidates aren't you missing one?" The Kazekage asks.

The Hokage looked below watching the competitors.

Genma then said a reminder to the competitors.

"Oh there's one more thing before we get started." Genma then pulled out a paper of the new match ups to the competitors. "Look it over."

The ones who were surprised to see it were Naruto and Shikamaru while the others were relieved or just impassive.

"There's been a slight change in the matchups." Genma said " Now it's set so everyone take one last look of who you are facing."

Shikamaru was curious at seeing the new matchup ' I thought I'd be fighting an extra match. Hey, so that Dosu guy dropped out.' he thought.

Then Naruto raises his hand to ask a question "Question, Question?"

"What is it?" Genma said as he tuck back the paper in his pocket.

Being perceptive at his surroundings Naruto said " I was wondering what would happen if Sasuke - I mean if he doesn't show up?"

(In the Stands)

Sakura was seated alongside her close friend Ino and also wondered where is Sasuke.

'Where is Sasuke? Why did he sneak out of his hospital room?' she thought. She and Ino along with a nurse visited Sasuke's room and found out he wasn't there.

"But maybe he didn't leave but somebody took him." Sakura said.

(In the Arena Ground)

"If a candidate is not in the arena at the time the name has called" Genma ups his toothpick up and continued " he forfeits the match."

Naruto looked back at the gate and saw that Sasuke was still not yet coming ' It doesn't make sense. Sasuke's not the type to miss this, even if he had to drag himself here.' he thought.

Gaara was getting a little feisty internally and wanted to get it real done.

Nagato sensed that Gaara wanted to get things done as quickly as possible, He knew that Gaara was the Jinchuuriki of the One Tail Shukaku and so did his dad Borei. But looking at his own cousin the Sand Jinchuuriki, he noted to himself that Naruto wanted to take care of Gaara as well since he did watch them see each other eye to eye because of their similar burdens.

"All right,Listen up. The terrain is different but the rules are the same as before that there are no rules. The match continues to one candidate acknowledges defeat or dies." Genma said.

Naruto gulps down looking serious.

"That being said If I determine that a match is over I can step in and stop it at any time and no arguments permitted. Understood?" Genma continues.

"These are the first opponents for the first match. Naruto Uzumaki vs Neji Hyuga. Those two stay, the rest of you can go to the waiting area." Genma said.

So the remaining candidates went back up to the stands leaving only Naruto and Neji.

(In the Stands)

Kiba was walking down in the stairs along with Hinata " Hinata look, these seats are free." He said.

Hinata was walking down as well and acknowledges "Oh,thanks"

Kiba and Hinata sat together right next to the stairs in the front row.

"I think this is going to be an interesting match." Kiba remarks.

'Naruto.' Hinata thought about her crush.

(With Sakura and Ino)

"Hey Sakura" Ino turns her head to Sakura's direction

"Mhmm" Sakura still looks down worriedly and anxious.

" I know that you're worried about Sasuke but come on." She narrows her eyes a little "Don't be such a lump, aren't you gonna cheer Naruto on."

Sakura straightens up and smiled " You're right."

Ino smiles as well looking back to the arena direction "That's more like it. Not that the hopeless little runt has a chance of winning."

Sakura was a little stunned at that remark "He's not that bad." she replied.

Ino laughed a little at the joke "Are you kidding? Not that bad? Is that the best you can do?"

Sakura then turned her head attention back to the arena ground.

(With Hinata and Kiba)

Two Chunin guards Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane were seated together just the right of Hinata and Kiba and were also gonna be interested in the match coming up.

"Who would have believe that the squirt would survive this long?" Kotetsu asks.

"Yeah, He's been one lucky kid so far. But his luck's about to run out. He'll never survive this one" Izumo said.

"Yeah, It's gonna be up against the Hyuga clan, he doesn't had the chance." Kotetsu added.

Hinata heard the remarks of the two chunin guards and tensed up, she really never like it when her crush was talk like that but she also needed to see her crush to prove himself and the others wrong. So she stayed quiet.

Kiba also heard what the guards said and smirk as he looks at their direction with his eyes ' Yeah I thought that too at first. Look what happened. He's out there and I'm sitting here with my butt.'

He then heard Akamaru whimpers in his shoulder " Huh? Yeah Akamaru, what is it?" he asks his ninja dog partner.

Akamaru whimpers with nods in his head.

"What the-? Are you sure?" He replied as he narrows his eyes and look at the surroundings "Where? He asks.

Then he notices a figure up in the stairs above the seats and narrowed his eyes "Up there, What are the ANBU black ops doing here?" he said in a low tone not to caught attention.

Then Kiba thought ' Something's going on.'

(With Borei and Yugure)

Borei and Miyuki wished Naruto the best of his ability and skill of everything he has.

"Naruto really will put everything he has to avenge Hinata to win." Miyuki replied.

"Yeah, we will get to watch Naruto proves himself and his skill." Borei nodded and narrowed his eyes.

"Hmmm? Something wrong Borei?" Miyuki asks as she saw her husband narrows his eyes.

"There are ANBU black ops in the stadium. Something is going on, be prepared for anything." Borei replied.

Miyuki nodded and said "alright."

Borei and Miyuki notified their comrades as well as the Mizukage of the situation and be prepared for anything about to happen.

The Yugure members and the Mizukage got the message that something is going to happen and it's gonna be big, and they will not let their guard down for any unsuspecting events or occurrences that would take any time soon.

The Yugure and the Mizukage enjoyed their watch of the finals and at the same time looking after their comrades for anything that would happen.

(Back in the Arena Ground)

Naruto and Neji faced of each other in their upcoming fight about to go down.

"You got anything to say to me?" Neji asks with his confidence.

Naruto narrows his eyes and pointed his fist at him as he remembers Hinata's defeat in the hands of her own cousin. Naruto vow to win and avenge Hinata when he held Hinata's spilled blood in the preliminaries.

"I vow to win!" he shout out. Naruto was ready to go all out with righteous anger.

Neji closed his Byakugan eyes and reopens them showing the bulge veins in the eyelids showing his seriousness.

'He has the look. He's calmer now, more sure of himself' Neji thought.

Neji then put up his stance and said " So much the better for me, I can't wait to see the look of despair on your face when you learn of your foolish vow is impossible to keep." he taunted.

Naruto was angry at the words he said and gritted his teeth and said "Are we gonna stand here talking all day?" He said as a whirlwind engulf the two of them in the arena.

"Then let's get going! Show me what you got!" Naruto declared.

Genma sees the two adversaries ready to go out against each other as well as the bystanders and other competitors around them.

"alright , Now let the first match… Begin!" Genma announced as the crowd cheers.

It was silent at first, cause the two opponents were watching each other and not breaking eye contact. The two were waiting for each other for an opening before a strike would attack.

(In the stands)

The ones who were witnessing the fight were Neji's family, His Uncle Hiashi and his younger cousin Hanabi.

Hiashi noted that Neji has strong hatred for the main branch family which fuels himself to push him further as his strength.

(With Kiba and Hinata)

With Kiba and Hinata it was tense for them as well.

'Watch yourself, this is no pushover you're up against. Not with that Byakugan of his.' Kiba thought to Naruto. Then he turns his eyes to Hinata which she was worried for her crush then turning his attention back to the battle ' You don't wanna get to close with this guy.' Kiba thought.

(In the Arena Ground)

Neji shifts his foot in maintaining his balance at first while Naruto was still watching every move Neji was making. After another shift in the foot Naruto threw kunais at Neji's direction straight for him.

Neji deflected the projectiles with his own kunai and saw that Naruto was heading straight for him getting close.

(In the stands)

Kiba shouted at the stands "You idiot! A frontal attack will never work!"

(In the arena ground)

Naruto closes in to strike a punch at Neji as soon as he got close after the kunai was deflected and then Neji shifted to the left side to dodge the punch but as he was about to retaliate Naruto front flipped to escape.

Naruto got close again to engage Neji and tried to punch his face but Neji saw it and moved his head to the right and dodged it. Naruto then began punching multiple times at Neji but he saw all of the incoming attacks and block each blow with his palms. Naruto did an air kick to his head after the punches and once again Neji swerved to the right and as Naruto got close to land another punch Neji uses his palms to inflict a painful blow to the chakra points at Naruto's right shoulder

(In the stands)

Sakura stood up and shouted "Naruto watchout!"

(In the arena ground)

Naruto was hit by the blow and leapt back holding his shoulder and then he smirks back to Neji saying "Get real! I was just checking you out! I'm just getting started!"

Neji was caught a little surprised at that but maintained his composure.

Naruto held up his hands and fingers in a sign and said " Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Then 4 more Naruto's showed up ready to fight as each of the clone drew their kunai.

(In the stands)

Sakura was impressed a little bit ' That's using your head Naruto, That ought to confuse him.' she thought as she smile for her teammate.

The Chunin guards Kotetsu and Izumo were surprised as well.

"Wasn't he something?" Kotetsu remarked.

"That Shadow clone jutsu is a jonin level technique. Where did the kid picked up a technique like that?" Izumo wondered.

"This match is could be more interesting than we thought." Kotetsu said.

Borei and Miyuki were also impressed at the skill.

'So that's his Shadow Clone Technique. We'll played Nephew, Let's see more.' Borei thought.

' Keep on going Naruto.' Miyuki thought to her Nephew.

(In the Arena Ground)

The Naruto clones engaged towards Neji. the first 2 attack him left and right. Neji's Perception sensed the two incoming attacks and backflipped to dodge.

"Not bad. But let's see if you do that again." Naruto proclaimed.

The next 2 Naruto's engage in two directions to attack again. Neji put up his stance and as the 2 clones got near or close to him to attack Neji jumped upward and rotated himself in mid-air and kicked the two Naruto clones dispelling them.

The 1st 2 naruto clones who attacked Neji earlier came in from behind to land a stab on him but surprisingly Neji grabbed the two from behind without even looking and shoved them to the front and as the 2 clones were stunned Neji used his palms to strike them hard dispelling both of them as well.

(In the stands)

The bystanders who were watching the events were surprised mixed with impressed at the skill.

(In the Arena Ground)

Neji proceeded to taunt Naruto up.

"You thought you can be Hokage? It's absurd! Never!" He insulted.

Naruto gritted his teeth in anger.

"These eyes of mine show me many things. One thing they show me, People's limitations are set. Fixed. And Unchangeable. Only a fool's way this time to become something he could never be." He jeered.

Naruto retaliated saying " A fool huh? Here we go again! Who are you to judge a person what he can or can't be?"

"Do you think anyone can be Hokage? That all it takes is hard work?" Neji jeered.

Naruto reaffirms his anger.

"Open your eyes. Of all the shinobi in all the world, think how few ever become Hokage. They were born destined to be Hokage. It's not merely something trying to become, they were chosen by destiny. Each person was given a path to follow and they follow it obediently to the end" Neji closes his eyes and opens them again and said "There is one destiny we all shared equally, Death."

Naruto defied Neji's jeers and taunts and continues to fight back and he proclaimed " People always tell me I just don't know when to give up." he then put up his handsigns again "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

More Naruto clones twice as big than the first came and appeared.

The match was really one sided as the Naruto clones charged one by one to attack Neji in close combat. But with Neji's Byakugan's eyes inflict his Gentle Fist strikes along his palms to dispel each every clone that was sent against him.

One by one the clones vanished hit after hit and only the real Naruto was left. Naruto engaged Neji one on one but each time he gets close Naruto was thrown back.

Neji unleashed his powerful technique against Naruto He used the Eight Trigrams 64 palms, one of the hard hitting powerful attacks of the Hyuga clan's Gentle First Technique.

The attack hit critical blows at Naruto's chakra points and closed them off preventing the chakra flowing inside the body.

Naruto felt the blows hard and was crippled.

Hinata was distraught at seeing her crush get attacked at Neji's attacks like that and she knew why.

Naruto refused to give up or go down and kept on fighting even if he was on his last leg.

Naruto stood up albeit not straightly but defiantly against Neji.

Naruto asks Neji why does he hate so much of his own cousin like that as well as showing hatred against his own family.

Then Neji reveals his background history of the Hyuga clan's family branches, The main branch and the cadet branch altogether as how the cadet branch were treated as servants to the main branch to protect the secrets of their kekkei genkai. Neji reveals that his hatred to the Hyuga clan was because of his how he was born to the Branch family and how they received their seals to serve the head family altogether. Neji told Naruto on how his father was killed in order to protect the head family. On the day of the Hyuga incident when Hinata was kidnapped, Hiashi killed the kidnapper when he rescued his daughter as well as revealing the identity of the Cloud Ninja who was the ambassador of the hidden cloud and he died by Hiashi's hands. The Land of Lightning demanded recompense of the killer of their Ninja and demanded Hiashi's body. But instead of Hiashi it was Neji's father and Hiashi's twin brother Hizashi instead to offer in Hiashi's place. That made Neji angry and bitter when he realize how harsh his fate was begotten to him and his father on how he realize that it's the belief he believes what others are as well.

Naruto defied Neji's beliefs and retaliated and said that anyone can create their own destiny no matter whose hands they were in.

Borei and Miyuki as well as their son Nagato who were listening at the words understood and even knew all too well what it feels like to be that way.

Borei thought up even in his past as Percy Jackson that it reminded him on how the Fates in his previous world were always cruel to everyone including God,Demigod, mortal, immortal and every creature alike. He never liked the fates and despised them with every fiber in their being because of their ability to control anyone's life like a thread in needle. The Fates were responsible for the cause of everyone's own life and how the life of "Perseus Jackson" was long gone and Borei despised that. No one should ever have their lives to be in the hands of someone else because that life belongs to the person's own will and being and that's how each every individual take's care or even make their own story of their own life instead. Borei vowed that one day he would bring the Fates down once and for all for all the causes of each every life they did and when their gone nobody or anybody had to say or even tell what will their life will be because their life is their own life and how they make it in their own hands is up to them.

Naruto was still crippled in the chakra depletion as his chakra points were not flowing with enough chakra to continue.

Naruto called up his Tailed Beast inside and said ' Give me strength!'.

In a Heartbeat the Nine Tails which resided inside of Naruto responded and opened a new chakra network inside awakening a huge power.

"Proctor, This has gone long enough. I suggest you stop the match." Neji said to Genma. "If he is foolish enough to continue the fight, I will not be responsible for what happens to him."

"Hmmph, fine." Genma replied.

"Heh," Naruto wasn't still backing down as he puts up his hand signs.

"It's pointless I told you." Neji said.

Naruto defied Neji's words.

Neji then shook his head and asks "Why do you defy your destiny?"

Naruto looks at Neji with anger with his eyes "Cause people call me a failure. I'll prove them wrong!"

Neji activated his Byakugan and an unusual thing happened Naruto's Chakra came back in his chakra points but this time it was different, the chakra color was orange and it was demonic.

Neji was stunned and surprised ' Impossible! How did he regain his chakra points when I close them and stop them flowing?!' he thought as he saw the orange chakra formed like a fox inside of Naruto's body.

Naruto's body was now enhanced with the Nine Tails Chakra inside of him and it gave him more strength and stamina to continue.

The bystanders who were watching were awed and surprised of the new event including the Yugure members as well as Borei's family.

"So he called up to his beast, impressive." Utakata said.

Yagura was next to him "Yup, and the chakra he is giving off is huge and it really did fueled him up to continue." Yagura said and now things were turning up even more.

Tenten was Neji's Teammate and was shocked 'No way! This can't be happening?' Tenten thought.

' There's no mistake it's the chakra of the Nine Tailed Fox.' The Hokage said.

The other competitors like Nagato were impressed and a bit awed as well ' Naruto did it! He finally got more chakra with his tailed beast inside!'

Gaara was also stunned and intrigued at the same time.

The chunin guards Kotetsu and Izumo were also wondering how did the kid reopened his chakra again.

Borei and Miyuki were stunned a little bit seeing their nephew finally getting the power of his tailed beast inside.

Naruto charged fast at Neji which also made him less durable in time because this time the attacks are big and fast.

Neji quickly used his rotation to block Naruto while Naruto charges with his Chakra cloak to bring him down.

It cause an explosion when it collided. Neji was still standing up from the crater and he saw Naruto lied down, he was a bit relieved when he won it was over. Or so he thought.

The ground below him launched up and then Naruto appeared underground and used an uppercut punch at Neji's jaw literally punch him upward and landed in the ground. Naruto drew Neji's blood and now it was finally over.

Neji was finally down and exhausted, he could not move anymore " I can't move."

'Even if he was pounded on the ground, he never stop planning his best move. He never stop faith in his ability to win. Naruto knows instinctively that believing in yourself can give you the power to change your destiny. And on top of all he has one heck of a left hook.' Genma thought as he smiled at Naruto.

Naruto walked up to Neji. Neji said that he was careless because despite he knew that Naruto was using Shadow Clones, he was not aware of them unexpectedly like that.

Naruto then pants and looks at Neji and said to him that in his life he was filled with failures for failing the genin exams thrice. He also said to Neji "don't come to whine at me about destiny stuff and stop telling me you can't change what you are. You can do it too, cause after all unlike me you're not a failure." he said.

Genma smiled and then announced "The winner is Naruto Uzumaki!" the crowd cheers.

Everyone clapped and cheered on including the Yugure members as well as Borei and his family.

'You did well Naruto. Those words of yours are big and inspiring. You really do believe in yourself to kept on going.' Nagato thought as he watches his cousin win.

'Well done Nephew. Those were great words of yourself despite what life done to you but you kept on going no matter what.' Miyuki thought.

Borei was happy for his Nephew's match and inspiring way of proclamation ' Well done Nephew, you really do make an impact for every person you change. Your words can really make an impact to make someone else better.'

There you go guys the battle of Naruto vs Neji is over! Next battle is Borei's son Nagato and it will be another exciting chapter! See you next time!