Hey guys! Back to my normal schedule, thanks for the reviews and I hope you all enjoy this chapter, which includes pissed off Naruto! Gotta love it when people piss her off.
To the reviewer who asked if this is a Sasuke bashing fic, it really isn't, he's getting a lil bit of a hard time at the moment but I don't think his behavior is too far from cannon Sasuke at the moment-he's a traumatized kid at the end of the day, also at this point in time Naruto is very much stronger than him, and he's very aware of that which he wasn't in cannon-and he's still desperate to get strong enough to beat Itachi and in his eyes he's not getting much stronger-though he is. He doesn't really see it because of the fact that he's still nowhere near Naruto's level which is what he's comparing himself to and he's kind of using her as a measuring stick-also a lot more of his feelings about everything will be explained in the near future, which is one of my favorite chapters because of the emotion driving it and I hope that chapter will prove I'm not bashing.
Like I said, he's a traumatized kid who's a bit of an asshole at times, and has a lot of issues that were never actually addressed.
Seriously I doubt he ever talked to anyone about what happened so is it any wonder he was so fucked up? Like, therapy people.
Naruto watched as Neji and Hinata stood face to face and Hayate gave his usual little talk before leaping back, and at once the two of them were moving-and the difference in skill level was laughably obvious within minutes of the fight beginning.
Neji was good. Really good, his form was near flawless and Hinata was outmatched-oh she had a lot of potential, but she lacked the confidence to live up to it.
Naruto gripped the railing tight, staring down with gritted teeth as the two family members fought-only looking away when she heard Gai murmuring, "I hope Neji-kun doesn't go too far." to Hinata's sensei. Her eyes narrowed and she turned away.
"Why would he take it too far Gai-san?"
"Ah, Naruto-san." Gai's expression was worried, his gaze flitting back to the fight-she didn't know him well but it was easy to see that that much concern wasn't exactly common for him. "Neji-kun is a prodigy, Hinata-san is skilled but-"
"There's no bit." the red eyes sensei frowned, "She's strong, you're underestimating her."
"Neji-kun holds some resentment towards the main house-"
"Wait." Naruto's brows furrowed, "Main house-I remember reading something about the Hyuuga's, there's the main house and the branch house right?" her eyes widened, "And the branch house members have a seal-that's where I was reading it in a Fuinjutsu scroll."
"Yes." Gai nodded, "The Caged Bird seal-"
"It should be destroyed." Naruto interrupted bluntly, a gleam in her eyes, "Something like that-that's wrong. It forces members of their own family into literal servitude." she scowled, shaking her head, "I understand a seal that destroys the eyes after death-that's practical but it should be used on everyone or on no one and no one should be allowed to create a seal with the other abilities of the Caged Bird seal." she stated firmly.
"Naruto-chan." Kakashi's voice was singsong, "Remember what I said about Diplomatic incidents-"
"Eh when have I ever listened to you Kakashi-sensei." the blonde waved a hand dismissively, eyes flicking back to the fight "So, how are they related."
"They're cousins." Gai looked as if he wasn't sure how to respond to her little rant. "Their fathers were brothers-"
"And Neji's father was younger." Naruto finished, "Which meant he gets treated like a servant and gets a nice seal on his head that can kill him if he steps out of line." she sneered the words. "If a clan is so worried of an uprising among themselves that they feel the need to control half of it using such disgusting techniques then perhaps they should look at their own behavior in order to understand why they're having so many problems-"
"Mah, Naruto-chan." Kakashi chuckled, "Are you planning on waging a war against the Hyuga clan?"
"No, no just on abolishing immoral seals."
"You're going to cause complete and total chaos." Kakashi's voice was torn between resignation and amusement and he paused for a moment before adding "I can't wait to witness the explosions." after all, if you couldn't beat them then why the hell not join them?
"Kakashi-san!" that was the red eyed teacher, "You can't encourage your student to try and mess with the clans do you want her to destroy her career."
"Kurenai-san." Kakashi's voice was deadpan, "Naruto-chan is many things, but the one thing I do know about her is that only a fool would bet against her. If she decides that she's going to wage a one woman war against the Hyuga's to get the Caged Bird seal banned then I have no doubt that she'll pull it off."
"Besides." Sakura spoke up from where she was leaning against the railings between Gaara and Haku, "Naruto-chan wouldn't be waging a one woman war, where she goes I'm gonna follow ready to help kick ass and heal any injuries-"
"As if you could kick ass foreh-"
"Did you not watch my match?" Sakura shot Ino a dirty look, "I'm not the weak little fangirl I was back in the Academy. I'm a Kunoichi now."
"Hmph." Ino snorted, "Just because you did a bit of training and you're not a total weakling now-"
"I spend at least three hours a day training." Sakura spoke up, "Usually I'll do a basic work out then at least half an hour of taijutsu practice with Naruto-chan, then an hour dedicated to practicing with my elemental jutsu-earth in case you hadn't guessed from my fight, and another hour or two doing training with Rin-san with medical ninjutsu. I don't do stupid diets anymore and I take my job seriously. I don't have any stupid immature crushes anymore Ino-san. I grew up. Maybe you should join me." she flipped her hair over her shoulder as Ino's face turned a bright red.
"Why you-"
"Ino!" that was one of the sensei's, he had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and he grabbed Ino's arm-that might not have worked to stop the fight if it hadn't been for the loud cry of pain that rose up from the arena below, and everyone rushed to look.
Hinata was on the ground, clutching a clearly broken arm and trying to drag herself to her feet.
Naruto had to give her her due, a lot of Genin would have given up the match by that point, Neji's superior skill was painfully obvious but Hinata seemed to be a stubborn one.
"You're pathetic." Neji was clearly continuing a previous conversation that Naruto had missed most of. "You shame the main house. I am a branch house member and yet you are nothing compared to me. Hinata-sama. You aren't fit to be a shinobi." he hit her again, and Hinata dropped to the ground, gasping in pain and shaking violently, and for just a moment it looked like she was going to give up, and Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"You're doing great Hinata-san!" she called out, "You're awesome ignore that dumbass!" that made the girl's eyes widen and she staggered to her feet, lurching forward again a determination in her eyes, she was knocked to the ground again by an undoubtedly painful blow that had her gasping for breath.
Then Hinata was trying to rise yet again, and Neji was rushing forward-she was injured, badly, and Naruto could see where he was aiming, see what would happen and the world around her almost slowed.
She could see the moment Gai and Kurenai realized it too, but she was already leaping off the railings and landing between the shy girl and Neji, letting his blow catch her shoulder, she saw his eyes widen, and then Gai was behind him grabbing him from behind, trapping the boys arms to his side, and Kurenai was landing next to Hinata just behind Naruto, and the blonde's eyes were glued to Neji, and her voice was a growl
"You would have killed her if you landed that blow!"
"I told her to stand down." Neji's voice was cold. "Perhaps if you hadn't been cheering her on she'd have accepted that it was her fate to lose to me-"
"Oh shut your fucking mouth." Naruto snarled the words, "She's stronger than you-you beat down an opponent who's weaker than you and you mock them when they keep trying to stand. It takes more strength to stand when you know you're going to lose and to keep fighting anyway than it takes to belittle someone who isn't on your level." she clenched her fists, her eyes shining with anger, "I'm sorry for the shitty hand you've been dealt I really am-I can't imagine how horrible it must be having a seal you hate." there was an undercurrent of sarcasm in her voice-after all as much as she didn't hate the seal keeping Kurama inside of her she'd had zero choice in it-she knew if she'd stayed in Konoha she'd have likely been mistreated-based on how the people who were supposed to care for her had acted anyway, she had often considered what it would have been like if she'd stayed, would she be as angry as Neji? As full of resentment for the lack of choice, of freedom?
No. No she wouldn't. She didn't think there was ever a word where she'd let herself become that.
"But that doesn't justify this-" she gestured behind her, and she could hear two others leaping down from the balcony, could hear Sakura's soft voice, she had no doubt that her friend was healing Hinata as much as she could.
"She's going to need to get to the hospital."
"Can she be moved?"
"Once I've healed her a bit more." Sakura spoke firmly.
The other medics were busy seeing to the injured Kin and the unconscious Yoroi, Naruto was actually kind of pissed that they couldn't see that Hinata was
more injured than the other two. Clearly they needed more training than they'd gotten.
"Good." Naruto turned her head slightly when she felt someone moving to stand beside her and her eyes widened slightly. "Sasuke-kun?"
"You can't fight him right now-"
"What?" Naruto's eyes narrowed, "He nearly killed her-"
"You would lose against me in any case." Neji spoke up, "You aren't even from a clan. You're no one-" that made Naruto's mouth drop open and she let out a growl-and Sasuke grabbed her arm tightly.
"Don't."
"He needs to get taken down a peg or two-"
"An arrogant child like you-"
"You can't be more than two years older than me!" Naruto yelped, "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"You act like an immature brat." Neji shot back, Gai still holding him back, "I am a prodigy you-"
"That's i-" Naruto ripped herself free of Sasuke's grip only to have Kakashi leap in front of her, hands on her shoulders pushing her back.
"Naruto!" his voice was sharp, "Calm down!"
"He nearly killed her and he doesn't even care!" Naruto yelled, "He doesn't even care-"
"I told her she'd lose-"
"There were a dozen ways you could have ended that fight without a blow that would kill her!" Naruto snarled, "I swear if we don't get matched up during the exams I'll hunt you down after them and kick your ass."
"And if we are matched up during the exams then I will show you your place." Neji's voice was cool, and god but Naruto wanted to pummel the ever loving crap into him.
"If everyone can calm down." Hayate coughed, "And return to the balcony while the medics take Hinata-san to the hospital we'll continue with the preliminaries."
And Naruto watched Neji turn his back on her and head back to the balcony, resisting the urge to just launch herself at him and strangle him-for one thing that would be undignified, for another, it would be better if she did it right, in an official match where she was actually allowed to pummel the giant stick out of his ass.
Then she turned as the medics laid Hinata out on a stretcher, "Will she be okay?"
"I stabilized her." Sakura looked tired, after all medical jutsu required a lot of focus and perfect chakra control and Sakura was still learning. "She'll be able to get to the hospital and they'll be able to heal her up just fine."
"Good."
"C'mon dumbass." Sasuke grabbed Naruto's arm, not meeting her eyes, "Let's get back up there so they can call the next match."
"Fine." Naruto hesitated, "Are you talking to me again?"
"I was stopping you from getting yourself disqualified that doesn't mean I've forgiven you."
"Right." Naruto's shoulders slumped slightly, "You know I'm not gonna say sorry right."
"Of course you're not." Sasuke's voice wasn't surprised, "It's not who you are." he was letting go of her arm and moving towards the stairs again.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing-"
"Sasuke-"
"Leave it Naruto-chan." Sakura was frowning as she gently grabbed Naruto's hand, "We should go up and join everyone else, people will be wanting to get on with their matches."
"I- fine." Naruto gave her friend a slightly forced smile, and she let Sakura drag her up the stairs again. "Kurama how many times do I have to say-" "I mean, the boy's an arrogant little bastard I would enjoy eating him." "Is this your way of being protective?" " "And you don't like the fact that he's upset me." "Hmph. You read too much into things brat, I could care less what your feelings on the matter are I just want to eat him." "Thank you. For caring." "Don't mention it. Literally, don't mention it, you'll ruin my reputation." "I love you too Kurama."
"Brat are you absolutely sure you don't want me to eat him?"
The faint response was barely there, but Naruto heard it anyway;
"I love you too Naruto-chan."
Of course at that point they'd reached the balcony, and the screen flickered through names once more before the next two came up on the screen.
Gaara VS Rock Lee.
