Chapter 17: The Finals

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

A/N: Here is another chapter. Sorry for the long wait and also I won't be writing Neji's rant about fate.

"Well, today is the chunin exams gaki. I only taught you about the Deva path but it should be enough. Hiruzen sensei will be declaring your parentage today. There will be many visiting dignitaries so I expect you to show as many manners as you can." Jiraiya looked at Naruto who just shrugged and carelessly said, "I'll try."

Jiraiya sighed and said, "Well that's the best I'm gonna get out of you. Off you go then. If you need me I will be beside sensei as a bodyguard."

Naruto nodded and both of them shunshined off to the stadium.

At the stadium

Naruto appeared in a swirl of leaves next to Sasuke. The crowd was surprised at the 'demon child's' sudden appearance and booed.

Sasuke muttered, "Show off" making Naruto smirk.

Genma announced "First match Naruto Uzumaki vs Neji Hyuga. All contestants please go up to the contestant box except these two."

All the genin went to the contestant box except Naruto and Neji.

"Before we start, Hokage-sama has something to announce," Genma stated

Hiruzen stood up and cleared his throat, "Citizens of Konoha, I would like to announce that Uzumaki Naruto is the sole surviving member of the previously great and feared Namikaze and Uzumaki calm. He is the son of the yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato a.k.a the yellow flash, and Kushina Uzumaki."

The crowd became still and the visiting dignitaries looked shocked. All the adult citizens of Konoha had the same thought, "Yondaime-sama put the kyubi in his son! The child whom we treated as a demon was Yondaime-sama's son! He put it in his own child!"

"Adults of Konoha, I hope you will treat Naruto better now. Now let the fight begin." Stated Hiruzen.

Everyone in the stadium was shocked. Naruto didn't react and just slipped into a fighting stance.

Neji said, "It doesn't matter, your fate is to lose."

"Fate is stupid. Everyone can change their destiny." Replied Naruto.

"Let me tell you my story of fate and you may understand."

"I know you are just going to talk about your dad."

"How do you..."

"Tou-chan told me."

"Well even if you know about that, you don't know about this," Said Neji and removed his headband, "The caged bird seal."

Seeing the seal Naruto got mad.

Elsewhere in the stands

Hiruzen and Obito had the same thought, "Naruto's gonna be mad."

Back to the fight

Naruto couldn't believe it, the Hyuga were punishing their clan members by using an Uzumaki seal used to punish traitors and criminals.

"Just shut up and let's fight." Said Naruto angrily. A stranger would look at Naruto and consider him calm but inside Naruto was fuming. "Elite clan, my ass! Not only did they steal my clan's seal but they branded their own family with it!"

"Hmph," said Neji and charged at Naruto with his Byakugan activated.

Naruto just stood there. Neji rushed towards him and tried to hit him with an open palm strike. Naruto waited until the last minute and ducked. Neji looked down and saw Naruto reaching for his forehead. He was too slow to dodge. Naruto touched Neji's forehead and shouted out, 'Uzumaki caged bird seal release!'

Immediately Neji started writhing in pain, he fell to the ground. The Hyuga were shocked and started yelling at Naruto, but one piercing gaze from Naruto shut them up. Elsewhere, Hiruzen smiled.

"Are you okay?" Asked Naruto while helping Neji up.

"What, What did you do to me?"

"I freed you from the cursed seal."

Neji immediately tried to see his forehead in the reflection of his headband. He shouted "RELEASE!" a lot of times and looked back to the reflection but his forehead was clear.
Neji fell to the ground and started crying. Naruto went and tried to comfort him.

"Thanks Naruto." Said Neji, "Proctor I wish to quit."

Genma simply nodded, "Uzumaki Naruto wins the match."

Slowly, the shocked crowd started clapping until several of the Hyuga elders came down to the field, "What do you think you are trying to do?" they asked, "That seal is our clan's culture!"

"YOUR CLAN'S CULTURE!? THAT SEAL IS AN UZUMAKI SEAL! YOU USED IT WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT YOU BRANDED YOUR OWN FAMILY WITH IT? SUCH AN ELITE CLAN, YOU GUYS ARE!"

Several of the elders winced but said nothing knowing he was right. But they didn't seem to back down anymore.

Naruto said nothing more, he quietly made shadow clones and then threw a Shiraishi kunai at them.

One of the elders caught it with ease, and said, "What are you trying to do?"

Naruto again didn't reply. Genma on the other hand tried to get the elders off the field.

Suddenly Naruto disappeared with a yellow flash and reappeared in front of the elders. Each clone caught one of the elders and forehead and shouted out "UZUMAKI STYLE: PERMANENT CAGED BIRD SEAL"

Immediately, the elders screamed and fell to the ground and screamed as the mark appeared. Naruto seemed to be putting in more chakra in the seal to make it hurt until Hiruzen shouted, "Naruto. That's enough!" Naruto stopped but first again touched them and said, "Uzumaki style: Kekkei Genkai Seal."

Again they screamed, this time many fell unconscious. Naruto helped Neji up and made his way to the contestants' box without a word. Neji was surprised someone dared to take on the great Hyuga elders but he could have sworn he saw Hiashi smile at him for a single moment through the corner of his eye.

Neji wasn't wrong, Hiashi had smiled. He thought of the yondaime and thought, "Like father, Like son.

" Will this be your first major contribution on your path to becoming Hokage, Naruto?" thought Hiashi again as he saw Naruto being congratulated by his peers an Obito.

"Umm, could Shino Aburame and Gaara come down please." Said Genma hesitantly.

In the kage box, however, the disguised Orochimaru signaled to kabuto to wait, "Let's see till the final round, this is getting interesting."

Gaara came down but Shino didn't. "Proctor I would like to quit. My insects are… acting weird. I do not think I will be able to fight."

Genma nodded and declared, "Winner: Gaara"

Gaara didn't look pleased and gave Shino a piercing glance before finally going up to the contestant box.

"Next, Would Haku and Temari come down please?"

Haku and Temari came down and stared at each other.

"Begin!" Said Genma.

Immediately Temari reached for her fan and blew a gust of wind at Haku who dodged and countered with senbon. Temari shielded herself with her fan. She rushed at Haku and tried to hit him with the fan but Haku was faster and narrowly avoided her attack and kicked her in the gut. Temari stumbled back. She withdrew and got ready to use some wind jutsus but Haku kept on pushing her.

Finally, Haku materialized an ice rod and smashed Temari on the head. Temari became disoriented but managed to counter with a punch of her own. Both then retreated.

The crowd cheered awestruck. In the first few minutes, the fight had picked up a lot of pace.

Haku and Temari panted. Haku thought to himself, "I can't use my ice mirrors yet, I have to store it for the next round. For now, this will be enough."

Temari on the other hand was pissed that not only was Haku fighting back but he was succeeding. She tried to think of a plan when she saw Haku creating an ice shield and sword. Seeing this Temari taunted, "Going on the defensive?"
and blew a huge gust towards Haku. Haku simply smirked and blocked with her shield. The wind hit and immediately and turned to ice.

Temari could barely registered what happened when Haku ran at her and bashed her in the head with the shield. He then proceeded to break the fan with her ice sword and held it at her head. "Ice is a mixture of wind and water, Baka. You just strengthened my ice release with your technique. You can't win anymore. Forfeit." Haku simply stated.

Temari tried to think of a way to get herself out of the situation but couldn't. She sighed, "I give up." Gloomily Temari made her way back to her siblings. The crowd cheered on Haku after seeing the amazing spectacle.

"Next would Sasuke Uchiha and Rock Lee please come down?"

"You got this, Show them what Kakashi taught you this month." Said Naruto to Sasuke as he made his way down. Sasuke absentmindedly nodded and went to the field.

As Sasuke left, Naruto was left with Kakashi when he saw Lee coming towards him.

"Hey, Bushy Brow, it is your turn. Go already." Remarked Naruto but the man simply laughed and said in a high voice, "I am not Rock Lee, youthful Naruto, I am Konoha's sublime, green beast, Maito Guy!"

Naruto sweatdropped, "Ok?"

"Oh it's you," Kakashi replied calmly without a care.

"Damn you and your hip attitude Kakashi!" Said, Guy. "No matter, I will not let you extinguish my youthful fire. Lee will defeat your most youthful student. If not, I will run a 1000 laps around Konoha with Lee!"

"Oh, you are still here?" Said Kakashi in a flat tone.

Naruto snickered as Might guy shouted with a smile, "Ah, it seems you will never change your unyouthful way. Nevertheless, I can't bicker with you and lower my flames of youth. I must make haste to my position for that." Said Guy

"Do you know when it will be Kakashi." Said Guy in a normal and serious tone this time.

Kakashi looked serious as well and shook his head. Gai nodded and left silently.

Naruto who had been watching looked at Kakashi curiously. Seeing his look, Kakashi just said, "Let's say that Haku's info on Kabuto being a spy gave us valuable information. Anyway, you will see soon enough, I am not authorized to tell you."

Naruto seemed like he wanted to pry more information but luckily Haku appeared just then and Naruto ran to congratulate him.

Kakashi just averted his gaze back to the field where the fight would start.

"Are you both ready?" Asked Genma

Both simultaneously said, "Hai!"

Genma nodded and said, "BEGIN!"

Immediately Lee rushed forward and tried to kick Sasuke who blocked but was sent flying.

"Damn it that kick packed a lot of strength." Thought Sasuke. "At least, he seems to have the same speed as me."

Sasuke rushed forward to lee and shouted Fire style: Phoenix fire. Several balls of fire shot towards at Lee who avoided with relative ease but he missed Sasuke creeping up behind him. Raiton: Lightning needle. A single stream of lightning almost pierced through Lee who twisted in mid-air just in time so that it only grazed his shoulder but Sasuke didn't give him time to recover and kept on pressing him. He punched Lee in the face and tried to kick him as well but Lee caught his leg and jumped back putting some space between them.

"What's the matter, giving up?" Sasuke sneered.

"I must admit this is a good fight Sasuke-san."

Sasuke didn't say anything but replied after a short while, "Same goes for you."

"I didn't want to this till the next but it seems I have no choice, Sasuke-san. I must show that my flames of youth burn the brightest."

"Uhhhh…. What?" Asked Sasuke puzzled.

Lee didn't reply and instead took off his shoes and belt.

"Why are you taking those off?"

Lee just smiled and threw his shoes and belt at Sasuke.

Sasuke was surprised at the speed it came, he barely ducked and then heard a loud clank behind him. He looked behind and saw two craters.

"What the hell!? Were those weights?" Asked Sasuke.

Lee smiled and said, "Yes, they weighed about 300 kg each."

Sasuke looked dumbfounded but quickly got out of the various thoughts racing through his mind as Lee suddenly appeared in front of Sasuke and Kicked him in his chest sending him flying.

Sasuke got up shakingly and activated his Sharingan, "That was pure taijutsu!"

"Yes!" Said Lee. "I can't use Ninjutsu and Genjutsu but I have not let it extinguish my flames of youth, I have kept on developing my Taijutsu and Speed."

Saying this Lee again rushed at Sasuke and tried to punch him, this time Sasuke could see Lee even if it was only by a bit, but it was no use, Lee quickly brought his elbow down and smashed it into Sasuke's. Sasuke gasped for air as he bounced off the ground. He narrowly dodged Lee's following kick and put some space between the two of them

"Man he is way too fast, I have no choice but to finish it as fast as I can." Thought Sasuke

Raiton: Lightning Barrier. A barrier enclosed Sasuke and Lee. Then Sasuke again cried out, Raiton: Lightning coat. A coat of lightning surrounded Sasuke.

"I can only keep this up for 5 minutes but it should be enough. I have to make it count." Thought Sasuke as his body shuddered.

Sasuke now matched Lee's speed and kicked him, Lee blocked but Sasuke kicked Lee at the back of his head and brought him crashing to the ground. Lee winced in pain but jumped back, Sasuke again rushed but was blown away this time as Lee yelled, First gate: OPEN!"

Lee was enveloped in green, He rushed and kicked Sasuke and then punched him several times. Sasuke could no longer see Lee.

"Ok, I have to give it my all. This is going to be my last move."

CHIDORI! Cried out Sasuke. Seeing the jutsu Lee got more serious and also made up his mind to finish it right now. Sasuke charged but Lee was faster and got behind him. Sasuke expecting this turned his Chidori backward. Lee's eyes widened as he tried to dodge but wasn't entirely successful. The Chidori grazed his hand and gave a very deep cut.

Lee wanted to scream in pain but didn't get distracted. He caught Sasuke from behind and slammed him into the ground. Sasuke Writhed in pain but couldn't move.

"Winner: Rock Lee!"

The crowd erupted in applause but many, (including Sakura and Ino.) muttered about how it was impossible that the 'great Uchiha' had lost.

Naruto too clapped but was rather downcast. He looked at Obito and was surprised to see him applauding Lee happily. Seeing his look Obito said, "Now, now Naruto, I know you feel sorry for Sasuke but you can't win every battle. You have to know when someone's stronger than you. Plus this is just a tournament and not a real battle. Shouldn't you feel happy for your other comrade though?"

Naruto nodded and then gave a wide smile and started cheering. Elsewhere, Guy was crying tears of happiness. Even Kakashi was impressed.

Naruto jumped down while Sasuke was being carried away, "YO!" He said. Sasuke didn't say anything.

"Don't worry." Added Naruto, "You don't have to win to become chunin ya'know."

"I know but I'm a bit… sad."

Naruto nodded and left him be.

As Sasuke was being carried away, he shouted, "Hey Lee!"

Lee stopped his celebrations and looked at Sasuke.

"That was a good match. Let's fight again another day!"

"Of course! It is wonderful to see your flames of youth burn so brightly even after losing." Lee cried out with tears, "Of course I will fight with you again but I will first do a 1000 push-ups for not congratulating upon a good fight!"

Elsewhere Guy cried tears of happiness while crying about the wonderful youth of the two and became unconscious from his happiness and had to be awakened by Kakashi.

"Ok listen up." Said a voice. Hayate came into the ring. "Seeing your fights, the judges have decided that the first semi-final will be Haku vs Gaara and the second Naruto vs Rock Lee. You have an hour-long break to rest."

All 4 remaining contestants nodded in understanding.

A/N: And done. Phew! That was my longest chapter yet. I hope you liked it and don't forget to leave a review. Also, check out my other fanfic.