Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing some bonding moments between Naruto, Magik, and Raven, as well as the start of the finals with Naruto's match against Neji. So, without further ado.
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"Rasengan!" Naruto shouted, slamming the Rasengan into a tree, the attack grinding into the tree before it soon snapped in half and went flying away.
"He's gotten…really strong." Stated Magik. looking at Naruto in worry, with Raven nodding in agreement while looking at the Uzumaki in worry as well.
"Maybe. I just wish he'd rest more often before he drives himself into the ground." Raven replied, given how they saw Naruto looked close to passing out, yet he refused to stop training and just kept pushing himself.
Something he's been doing for nearly two weeks now, ever since he saw his parents memories and learned what had happened the night he was born. With Naruto having begun training extensively and intensely, barely even taking the time to stop and rest. Reaching the point where Raven and Magik had to remind him just to eat and sleep; which Naruto only did the bare minimum of, before getting back to training.
And despite the exhaustion he's felt, his training has paid off as Naruto was able to get his Chakra Control up to the point he could form a Rasengan with one hand, having originally needed the help of a clone. With him having managed to do this, while he still had the Five Pronged Seal over the Eight Trigrams Seal. Which is also when the Uzumaki had the girls remove it, seeing how good his Control has become with it on, before moving onto the rest of his training.
With Naruto training in Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Fūinjutsu, and Kenjutsu, as well as working on mastering his Mokuton and Adamantine Sealing Chains. The latter of which are currently in their incomplete form, as the Adamantine Attacking Chains. In addition to all this, Naruto's also worked on mastering his Elemental Affinities, which he learned were Wind, Earth, and Water; the latter two being a result of him unlock the Mokuton, given those are the two elements it's made from.
That's not even counting his lessons in using magic and recreating it with Chakra, which Illyana and Raven were forced to stop, as a means to get him to have some time to rest. Only for Naruto to simply use the time to train even longer.
But while Naruto was getting stronger, the amount of training he was putting himself through was beginning to worry the girls. Seeing that it was getting to the point of it being workaholism, that he needed to be reminded just to rest and recover. Even more worrying, was when he began using more Shadow Clones to get more training done, now using fifty clones. Thankfully, it seems like his Meditation Exercises, as well as having the Kyūbi's Chakra to enhance his healing factor again, has allowed him to handle the memory feedback from the increased number of Shadow Clones, without any negative repercussions.
Though they can understand Naruto's reasoning for pushing himself so hard, especially after learning from the Kyūbi that the Masked Man was an Uchiha. An exceptionally powerful one, since he was able to control the fox, without his Mangekyō Sharingan to reinforce his control. Showing that if Naruto had any hope of taking him down, then he'd need to be much stronger and master everything he has access to. Something that worried the girls, seeing at the rate the whiskered blonde was going, he could end up overworking himself, leaving him unable to compete in the finals.
"It needs to be stronger. And I need to start working on adding my affinities to it." Naruto said, wanting the Rasengan to be stronger than it is now, as well as planning to add his Elemental Affinities to it, like his father planned to do.
Hearing this, Raven and Illyana immediately went over to Naruto and stopped him before he could start even more training.
"Okay, that's enough; time for a break, a very long break." Illyana stated, stopping Naruto from going off or trying to make more clones.
"For the last time, I'm fine! I have plenty of energy and stamina to train even longer than this!" Said Naruto in annoyance that they kept trying to make him take breaks and rest when he needed to get stronger.
Though despite his claims, he couldn't even shake off the girls' hands from his shoulders, keeping him in place.
"We don't need to feel your emotions to know you're lying, Naruto. You're exhausted, you're basically forcing yourself to keep moving and training, and it's not healthy." Said Raven, trying to get him to see he's only doing more harm to himself at this point.
"Because I have to keep training and getting stronger! If I don't, then how am I supposed to find that bastard and make him pay?!" Naruto demanded since he refused to stop, not until he's mastered everything he can, so he can find the Masked Man and kill him.
"And what will you do when you find him?! You can't even stop us right now, what hope would you have against him?! Even if you do find him, you'll be too exhausted and tired to so much as even throw a punch! Is that what you want, to find the Masked Man and die before you can even try to fight him?!" Retorted Magik, with Naruto flinching at her words.
"I have to do it, after everything he's done, I can't just sit back and do nothing." Naruto said lowly, knowing he can't stop now, not while the Masked Man is out there, having gotten away with causing that night and taking away any chance he had at a normal life.
The girls looked at him in sympathy, aware how much seeing those memories affected him and learning the truth. That he wasn't just randomly chosen to become the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki, that his parents weren't just nameless Ninja that died fighting. He was the only one who could contain the Kyūbi, thanks to his Uzumaki heritage, while his parents were famous and powerful Ninja that were killed and he didn't even know why it happened in the first place.
"We know you're angry, Naruto. But that doesn't mean you have to devote your entire life to getting stronger and hunting the Masked Man down. As what would you even do afterwards? You'd have no goal left, the only thing you'd be left with is feeling empty at achieving your revenge and having nowhere else to go. Is that really what you want, to try so hard only to be left with nothing?" Said Raven, wanting him to see what will happen if he focuses his entire life on getting revenge.
"We're not asking you to give up on finding him, we'd never ask that. Not after seeing what he took from you, as well as the pain and loneliness you've experienced your entire life. We're just asking that you don't forget to live your life, as if you forget to do that, then he will win in the end. Besides, don't forget that you'll have us there beside you, helping you along the way." Illyana added comfortingly, with Naruto looking at her in surprise.
"You'd help me?" Naruto asked, not expecting that, having been ready to hunt down and kill the Masked Man alone.
"We both will. That's what friends are for, right? Helping each other when they need it the most, even if that help is hunting someone down." Replied Raven, both of them wanting to help him, both for the help he's given them and because they were friends.
"Especially if it's hunting someone down." Magik stated with a smirk, which did make Naruto laugh slightly, before he sighed and nodded.
"Alright, I'll take a break." Said Naruto reluctantly, still wanting to keep training, but was willing to do it if it'd make them happy.
"Good. Also, it'll be a break that lasts the next three days." Said Magik, making Naruto's head snap towards her with wide eyes.
"Bu-" Naruto said, about to protest, only to be silenced by Raven covering his mouth with her finger.
"No buts. You've been training nonstop since you saw those memories, and now it's time you took a long time to rest and relax. Besides, the finals will be in three days, so you'll need all of your energy to be ready for them, that means no training at all. And don't even think to weasel your way out of this." Raven said, looking at him warningly, with Illyana nodding in agreement, both of them refusing to have Naruto be anything less than his best for the finals.
Naruto looked at them in disbelief, seeing neither girls was going to be deterred in making him relax for the next three days.
"…Fine." Naruto muttered, seeing he didn't have a choice.
"Great! Then let's go see what else Wave has to offer." Said Illyana, smiling as they grabbed Naruto and began pulling him along towards the town.
*Later*
Before arriving in town Naruto put on a Transformation to avoid being recognized, making it so he had smooth white hair, purple eyes, and no whisker marks. With the trio exploring town seeing everything it had to offer, along with Naruto seeing how much better everything and everyone looked with Gatō gone and the bridge being built.
Eventually they stopped at a small café for lunch, sitting at a booth away from the other patrons to avoid being overheard, as well as keeping them from finding out who they are.
"Naruto, something we've been meaning to ask is, what exactly was your mission here?" Questioned Illyana, with Raven nodding in agreement.
"Yeah. You told us that you and your team went on a mission here, but you didn't tell us everything that happened. So, what else happened?" Raven asked, both of them curious on the Wave Mission, given that something big must have happened for the country to name a bridge after the Uzumaki.
While Naruto did tell them about it, he only told them the main details; like them being hired to protect Tazuna from Gatō, encountering Zabuza and Haku, the battle on the bridge, and Zabuza killing Gatō.
"Oh. Well originally, we believed that we were just escorting Tazuna back here to the Land of Waves, so we didn't know anything about Gatō or him wanting to kill Tazuna. It was only after we were attacked by the Demon Brothers, two accomplices of Zabuza and Haku, that we learned the truth. But…during the encounter I froze up, since it was my first time actually encountering enemy Ninja, ones I believed killed Kakashi. It was only because of Sasuke that none of us actually died; which I hated, along with how he taunted me for being a "scaredy cat". I had also been cut and poisoned by their chains, so stabbed myself in the hand to bleed out the poison and swearing to never let that happen again." Naruto explained, surprising the girls at hearing this, before he continued.
"After that, we arrived in the Land of Waves, where we encountered Zabuza and I…froze again, since he was much stronger than the Demon Brothers; along with being a lot more ruthless, having been known as the Demon of the Mist. Then he and Kakashi started fighting, overwhelming me at seeing just how strong they really were. But I remembered that I swore I wouldn't freeze again and worked together with Sasuke to free Kakashi, after he'd been trapped in Zabuza's Water Prison Jutsu. Leading to Kakashi almost killing Zabuza, if not for a Hunter-Nin arriving, who I later learned was Haku. Before we headed for Tazuna's house, where we met his daughter Tsunami and his grandson Inari. Though Kakashi had been suspicious of Zabuza's "death" and that revealed he was still alive, so began teaching us the Surface Walking Exercise to improve our Chakra Control." Said Naruto, making Illyana and Raven frown at hearing this.
"Surface Walking? I'm guessing that's like Water Walking, except walking on any surface." Magik said, with Naruto nodding.
"That…sounds like something you should have already known." Stated Raven, feeling something like that should have already been taught to them.
"I said Kakashi was strong, not that he's a good teacher." Naruto replied, having seen from his parents memories on how Kakashi originally was more by-the-books until his teammate's death, leading to him copying Obito's mannerisms and beliefs; including being late all the time and putting teamwork above everything else.
"Anyway, Sakura was the first to get the exercise down, since she didn't have as much Chakra as me or Sasuke, leaving her to guard Tazuna while we trained. It was during that time we also learned about Kaiza, Tsunami's husband and Inari's step-father, who was seen as a hero to the people of Wave, until he was killed by Gatō for standing up to him. Something that left Inari cynical and not believing in heroes, anymore. Though when he said that we'd lose and be killed by Gatō, believing that we could only win because I didn't suffer like he did. And with my life, I snapped at him and called him a coward, that he should stop feeling sorry for himself and crying all the time. Something I learned wasn't going to change anything or make things better, that I had to learn to grow up." Said Naruto, with Magik and Raven looking at him sadly.
"After that, I trained for an entire night and was woken up by Haku, who was out collecting herbs for Zabuza's recovery. Though I wasn't aware of this at the time, and only knew she was gathering them for someone she cared about, so I helped her. Then we started talking and she asked me if I had anyone precious, something Haku believed made someone truly strong; when they have someone important to protect." Naruto explained, while smiling sadly at thinking about Haku and how she helped develop his Nindo.
"Eventually the Battle at the Bridge came, except I ended up sleeping in, which was actually a good thing, since I was able to stop some of Gatō's men from taking Tsunami and Inari hostage before going to help my team; working with Sasuke to fight Haku. Only she was much stronger and would have killed us if she was just slightly more ruthless and willing to kill. Though I actually believed she did kill Sasuke, leading to me access the Kyūbi's Chakra for the first time and overpowering her. Where I would have killed her, if her mask didn't break and I saw that it was the same girl from the forest. That's when I learn about her life, how she was born with the Hyōton Kekkei Genkai in the Land of Water, where Kekkei Genkai are seen as evil and forcing those who have them to either run or hide their abilities. But Haku's father found out before gathering a mob and killed his wife, he would have killed Haku too, if she didn't use her Hyōton to kill him and the mob. Then she was left alone, an orphan no one wanted and even had to rummage through trash for food, until Zabuza found her and raised as his "tool". A Ninja dedicated to following him, something Haku eagerly accepted as it gave her a purpose and someone precious to protect. But…after I beat her, she believed she was a broken tool and was useless to Zabuza, even asking me to kill her, something I couldn't do. She still died, taking an attack meant for Zabuza from Kakashi." Said Naruto, looking down at the memories, making Raven and Illyana frown sadly at hearing this, along with anger at what Haku's father did.
Killing his wife and trying to kill his own daughter simply because they were different, reminding both girls of their own lives and pasts.
"That's when Gatō arrived with all his men, revealing he planned to betray Zabuza and kill him, even kicking Haku's corpse; something that I was angry about, even more so when Zabuza didn't care. I shouted at him, telling him how much Haku care about him, while he didn't even care she was dead, despite how long they'd been together. That's when he finally admitted he did care about Haku, before he asked for kunai, which he used to cut his way through Gatō's men until finally killing Gatō himself, at the cost of his life. The rest of his men were going to attack the Land of Waves, until all the villagers arrived with Inari at the lead, finally believing in heroes again, helped drive them all away. After that, we buried Zabuza and Haku before leaving once the bridge was completed." Naruto said as he finished his story, with the girls looking at him in amazement before they smiled at him.
"You really are something else, Naruto." Stated Illyana, seeing how strong he can really be.
"I didn't really do much, all I really did was save Tsunami and Inari; Zabuza's the one who took care of Gatō, while the villagers helped drive away his men." Replied Naruto, doubting he did much.
"And none of that would have happened without you. You're the one who helped remind Inari that heroes do exist, helping him gain the courage needed to gather everyone together to stand up to Gatō. And you're the one who made Zabuza realize how much Haku cared about him and how much he cared about her; leading to him killing Gatō. Even if you didn't fight much Naruto, you still showed how strong you were by changing people for the better, helping to free the Land of Waves." Raven said, with Magik nodding in agreement.
"It's not just being able to change people for the better Naruto; it's your kindness. You helped Haku, even if you didn't know her, only offering your help to a stranger. Even when you believed she killed your teammate, you didn't kill her and still refused to when she asked. Then you even helped us, two people who literally appeared out of nowhere; having absolutely no reason to trust us, yet you still offered anyway. Telling us about this world, giving a us a place to stay, and defending us from the villagers." Added Magik, putting her hand over his, with Raven putting her hand on top of theirs, while Naruto looked at them in surprise.
"Well…you both are really kind too. Since neither of you had any reason to trust me either, especially with everything you've both been through, which is even worse than what I've been through. But you still trusted me and even offered to help train me; even showing me my parents' memories. Without either of you, I doubt I would have even learned who they were or anything else that I've learned during the last month. So, thank you both for all your help." Naruto replied, smiling at the girls, with them returning the smile.
Though they were pulled from this at someone clearing their throat, looking to see a waitress looking at them in amusement.
"Are you three ready to order, or should I come back later?" She asked, making the three blush at realizing they were still holding hands and quickly pulled them away.
The trio managing to give their orders, before waiting for their food to be delivered; while making small talk the rest of the time.
*Timeskip-One Day*
The next day Illyana had dragged both Naruto and Raven to the beach, needing to drag the Uzumaki after he tried sneaking away to continue his training. And Raven, since she wasn't a big fan of the beach or the sun. But first they had to go shopping for swimsuits, with Illyana once again refusing to let them leave, until they picked out at least three different ones.
Afterwards, they headed for a less used beach, allowing Naruto to drop his Transformation while all three got changed into their swimsuits. With Naruto having gotten a pair red swim trunks with black flames along with bottom of them.
'Maybe I could try to practice my Water Style Ninjutsu.' Naruto thought, wondering if he'd be able to use his Shadow Clones to sneak in some training, without Magik or Raven realizing it.
"Don't even think about it, Naruto! I just know you're thinking of trying to get some training done!" Said Magik, being able to sense his emotions and what he was planning.
"I wasn't think of…of…" Said Naruto, only to trail off when Illyana came out from the trees after changing into wearing one of her swimsuits.
It was a two-piece swimsuit that was black in color with yellow edging, with the top being tied around her back and a metal ring connecting it together in front, sitting right between her growing C-cup breasts. While the bottom part having two knots on either side keeping them held up and hugging her rear.
"Well, what do you think?" Illyana asked, while mentally smirking at Naruto's dumbstruck expression and growing blush as he looked her up and down.
Which part of the reason Illyana had gotten this one, aside from liking it, she knew it'd help keep Naruto's mind away from training. And if that meant his mind would instead be on her, then that was merely a bonus.
While Illyana was also looking at Naruto as well, seeing his training was certainly paying off, making the mutant gain a light blush of her own, which she hid by doing a twirl.
"Oh wait, before you say anything; Raven, come out now!" Said Illyana, knowing Raven's already gotten changed, but is refusing to come out.
"Can't I just go back to the base and read or meditate!" Raven said, not wanting to come out in the swimsuit Magik made her buy.
"You can either come out on your own or I'll come back there and carry you out! But do be aware, that if I have to come get you, you'll also be going straight into the water!" Magik said with a smirk, as she could just feel Raven's annoyance.
"F-fine!" Retorted Raven as she reluctantly came out, only to be wearing her cloak wrapped around her body and her hood pulled up.
"No, no, lose the cloak." Said Illyana, crossing her arms under her bust.
"You only said I had to wear this…thing! You didn't say I couldn't wear anything over it." Raven stated, while refusing to remove her cloak.
"Your leotard is basically a long-sleeved swimsuit, and yet you're embarrassed at wearing an actual one? That seems truly strange. Besides, don't you want to show Naruto how you look?" Questioned Magik with her smirk growing, while Raven's face started turning red before glancing at Naruto.
This giving Magik the chance to grab Raven's cloak and quickly rip it off her, making the half-demon let out a surprised "Eep!" sound, and showing her own swimsuit.
Just like with Illyana, Raven was wearing a bikini, with it looking even more revealing than the mutant girl's. With top part having several strings tied behind her back and around her neck, along with three smaller ones holding it together over her growing B-cup breasts. While the bottoms only covered her crotch and her ass, while having three strings on either side holding them.
"Illyana!" Raven growled, while trying to cover herself up and glaring at the mutant.
"Oh relax, like I said, it's basically the same as your leotard. Besides, I believe Naruto enjoys seeing you like that." Illyana stated, looking at Naruto, who was looking at both girls with wide eyes and his face turning red, with Raven's own blush growing.
With Naruto unable to deny that Raven's shy demeanor while wearing such a revealing and sexy bikini, made her look very cute as well. Forcing him to quickly turn around, before either girl took notice of just how much of an affect their swimsuits were having on him.
"Now then, what do you think of us Naruto?" Illyana asked.
"Uh…uh…you…you both…look…" Stuttered Naruto, having trouble answering, since he couldn't deny both girls looked really great.
"I believe we can take that as a positive. And you look amazing as well, Naruto." Said Illyana while looking Naruto up and down, with Raven giving a few quick glances of her own, before quickly looking away.
"Th-thanks. U-uh, l-l-l-le-let's g-g-g-go i-in th-the wa-water! Naruto stuttered as he eagerly jumped in the water.
The sight making Magik, and even Raven, giggle slightly before joining the whiskered blonde in the water. The three of them soon being able to relax and enjoy their time at the beach for the rest of the day.
*Timeskip-One Day*
Naruto, Magik, and Raven all sat within their temporary base, making small talk as all of them have decided to relax for the day and get to know each other better. With Naruto telling them about some of the pranks he pulled growing up, Magik talking about her time with the X-Men and her brother before being taken to Limbo, and Raven talking about growing up in Azarath and her training with Azar.
"Hey, I just…I wanted to apologize for worrying you both with me training as hard as I was." Naruto said, looking at both girls, wanting to apologize for worrying them.
"You don't have to apologize Naruto; we know it must be hard for you to learn what happened." Replied Raven, with Illyana nodding in agreement.
"Agreed. You not only learned who your parents were, but saw their entire lives, only to then learn how they died and why you became a Jinchūriki. It's understandable that you wanted to get stronger to make this Masked Man pay." Illyana added, not blaming him for getting obsessed with training.
"I still wanna say I'm sorry. It's just…for my entire life, I never even knew who my parents were, only learning that they were dead. Something that actually seemed easier than learning the truth, as at least then I could just believe they were Ninja that died out on a mission or died during the Kyūbi Attack. Then I suddenly learn not only is my Tou-san the Yondaime Hokage, my Kaa-san was also a Jinchūriki, like me, and one of the strongest Kunoichi in the world. I could have accepted that, knowing they at least died as heroes and did care about me. But then I learn that they would still be alive, if not for that man." Said Naruto, with the girls looking at him in understanding and sympathy.
"I know the feeling." Stated Illyana, understanding what Naruto was feeling.
"We both do." Raven said, also knowing what he's going through.
"I'm guessing you mean your own father?" Naruto asked rhetorically while looking at Raven, who nodded in response.
"Yeah. It was something that I always wanted to know, ever since I learned who he was, wanting to know why I was born in the first place. What use would some all-powerful demon have for a half-human daughter? I never got an answer, knowing how it would be seen if I was trying to find information on Trigon. But after Azar died, when I was plagued by prophetic dreams, I couldn't stop myself from wanting to get answers. That's what lead me to finally confront him, which is exactly what he wanted. The only reason he spared me and my mother was because he already believed that when the time came, I would join him. He believed he'd already won, simply because I went to him, that I'd do it again when the time came." Explained Raven as she let out a sigh.
"Just like me, and my focus on the Masked Man. That if I focused only on hunting him down, he'd win in the end." Naruto stated, remembering her words, with the half-demon nodding.
"I know what it's like to obsess over something to the point that it's all you can think about, along with learning the hard way that when you finally get what you want, you're left feeling empty and alone. Something I don't want to happen to you, Naruto." Raven said, wanting to help him not end up like that, if she could.
Naruto nodded at this, before looking at Illyana, wanting to hear her story as well.
"While I don't know the feeling of obsessing over something like that, I'm more than familiar with wanting revenge. It was in Limbo, the one who took me there was Belasco, he kidnapped me in order to use me to create Bloodstones; items that he could use to open portals between my Earth and Limbo, with them also allowing him to control me. While there I was also constantly beaten by his servant S'ym, until I was rescued by the Limbo counterparts of the X-Men Storm and Shadowcat. Storm trained me in magic and Kitty trained me in combat, I had to battle demons and even some of Limbo's version of the X-Men to survive. Eventually I tried returning to my dimension, only for me and Kitty to be captured by Belasco, where Kitty was turned into a literal house cat and I had to become Belasco's apprentice. Storm kept training me with her astral form until she was captured as well, then I…I was forced to kill Kitty when she was possessed by Belasco and to save Storm. Only, I had to kill her as well to save her from becoming a sacrifice. After that, I escaped and was on my own again, until I was able to manifest my Soulsword and finally defeat Belasco, taking over as the new ruler of Limbo along with claiming all his knowledge on magic. Though when I prepared my portal to return to my Earth, S'ym interfered, causing it to destabilize and instead sending me here. But it cost him his life, as the unstable portal exploded killing him." Magik explained before looking at Naruto.
"So you see why neither of us will try and stop you from finding the Masked Man. We both know what you're feeling and we do want to help you, but we also want to make sure you aren't left with nothing once you finally achieve your goal." Said Magik while taking Naruto's hand in hers, with Raven doing the same, the whiskered blonde looking at both of them.
"…Thanks, that really means a lot. And besides, I doubt I'd have nothing, since I'm pretty sure neither of you would leave me alone, even if I tried to run away." Naruto stated with a small smirk, which Magik and Raven returned.
"Nope. Sorry Naruto, but you're stuck with us." Magik replied, with Raven nodding in agreement.
"Yep, and don't forget we can teleport and sense emotions, so we'll find you wherever you try running." Added Raven, since neither had any intention of abandoning their new friend.
"I know. As long as you both remember I'm gonna be learning to teleport eventually, which will be straight to both of you." Said Naruto, given he planned to learn the Hiraishin and make sure he both girls had a marker that he could teleport to.
Having no intentions of letting anything happen to his new friends, something both girls felt the same about.
*Timeskip-Two Days*
It was finally the day of the finals, the trio having spent the previous day in town buying supplies, clothes, and anything else they'd need or wanted to get. With them now having sealed away everything they had gotten, and were now ready to return to Konoha.
"So, are you ready for your match?" Raven asked, while looking at Naruto.
"Yeah, as ready as I can be." Replied Naruto, knowing that even with his training, he still had to be careful against Neji with his Jūken and how easily it could render him helpless.
But he's sure that he'll be able to defeat the Hyūga, along with any other opponents he faces off against.
"Good, we're looking forward to seeing you crush the competition. After all, we'd expect nothing less than victory with all the training you've done." Stated Illyana, eager to see Naruto put everything he's learned to the test and come out the winner.
"And I'm looking forward to taking that sword from your corpse! Senbon Shower!"
Hearing the sudden shout, the trio tensed before Raven quickly raised a shield when an umbrella was thrown above them and unleashed a hail of senbon needles. With the senbon bouncing harmlessly off the shield, which Raven lowered when they stopped falling, while they got ready for whoever attacked them.
Their attacker soon jumping out, revealing to be a man wearing a sleeveless bodysuit, with it being dark blue down the center and inner legs, and periwinkle on the outer sides. With him having dark green hair, purple eyes, and also having an Amegakure headband around his forehead.
"Uh…who are you exactly?" Naruto asked, raising a brow at this person, as now that they could see him and get a feel for how strong he was, they were pretty underwhelmed that he barely had enough Chakra to be considered a Chūnin.
"Aoi Rokusho and I'll be taking that sword. Hand it over and maybe I'll kill you quickly, refuse and die in pain." Said Aoi with a smirk, having come to the Land of Waves to take Zabuza Momochi's sword, only to learn someone else took it before him, leading him to searching the entire island until he found these three brats had it.
Naruto traded looks with the girls, before looking back at Aoi.
"Do either of you wanna take this, or do you want to leave it to me?" Naruto asked, doubting all three of them needed to face this guy.
"Hey! I said hand over the sword now!" Aoi demanded angry that they were now ignoring him.
"You can take him; he'll probably be a good warmup at least." Replied Raven, feeling it'd be good for Naruto to have a warmup before his match.
With their words only angering Aoi further, that he's being considered a "warmup" for some stupid brat!
"If you think can take me you little shit, let's see you handle this!" Shouted Aoi, pulling out a sword hilt before a blade of lightning emerged from it.
"Be honored I'm even using this on you brats! The Raijin no Ken, created and used by the Nidaime Hokage, with this I'm invincible!" Aoi declared with a smirk, believing that with this sword he's unbeatable.
"Wow, nice sword. Too bad it's being used by someone so…pathetically weak." Stated Magik, seeing it was a nice sword, only being used by a poor wielder.
"I'm not weak!" Aoi screamed, enraged at them daring to call him weak, when he had the Raijin, as he charged towards them.
Looking at the Missing-Nin, Naruto grabbed the Kubikiribōchō's handle and waited until Aoi was close enough. Once the Jōnin had gotten close enough and raised the Raijin to bring it down on Naruto, the Uzumaki drew the large sword and swung it.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! FUCK!" Screamed Aoi in pain and agony as he clutched the stump where his right arm used to be, with said arm hitting the ground, along with the Raijin.
"No, you're not weak, just stupid and easily manipulated." Naruto said, picking up the Raijin as it activated again, before immediately cutting off Aoi's head, killing him.
"That was…rather anti-climactic." Raven stated, while Naruto pocketed the Raijin.
"I only heard about this guy a few times, where he apparently tricked someone into stealing the Raijin for him, before defecting to Amegakure. He wasn't anything special though, barely qualifying as a Chūnin, he was only dangerous because of the Raijin. Outside of that, there was nothing really noteworthy about him." Said Naruto, the girls nodding in agreement, given how confident he was in his strength, simply because he had the Raijin.
"Are you going to return that sword?" Questioned Illyana, with the Uzumaki shaking his head.
"No. I beat him, so it's mine now. Besides, I've had plenty of secrets kept from me, it's time I started keeping some of my own." Naruto replied, refusing to return the Raijin or tell anyone he had it, wanting the Hokage to know what it feels like to have information kept from him.
"Well either way, let's get going, we still have the finals to get to." Said Magik, with Naruto and Raven nodding in agreement, before Raven surrounded them in a dome of darkness, teleporting them away.
*Konoha*
The trio reappeared not far from the stadium, in an alleyway to avoid being seen, with Naruto making a Shadow Clone before dispelling it so the clone he left here would know to dispel now. After getting the memories back from his Shadow Clone, they headed for the stadium.
"Good luck, Naruto." Said Raven, once they reached the arena and went their separate ways.
"Make sure, you show everyone what you can do." Magik said as they headed up to the stands to get some seats.
"Thanks, and I will." Naruto replied as he entered the arena, seeing that all the finalists were already present, except for Sasuke.
"What the hell happened to you?" Shikamaru asked, looking at Naruto with a raised brow at both his attire and the fact he had the Kubikiribōchō; especially since yesterday, he looked completely different.
"I got some new clothes, what about it." Replied Naruto while mentally smirking, knowing his sudden change in appearance will draw some attention.
"…You know what, I'm not even gonna bother; it's way too troublesome." Stated Shikamaru, deciding to just accept the sudden change in appearance.
"Hey Temari, does that runt seem…different?" Kankuro said lowly to his sister, while looking at Naruto and feeling he was really different from the preliminaries, and not just in appearance.
Given how long they've been around Gaara, they've learned to tell when someone's taken a life and from they could see, the Uzumaki now held himself like an actual Ninja and killer.
"Yeah. And I doubt he'd be carrying around that sword, if he didn't know how to use it; let alone actually being able to lift the damn thing." Replied Temari, seeing how huge the Kubikiribōchō was, doubting anyone but an adult could carry it.
'Uzumaki, mother is calling for your blood.' Gaara thought, looking at Naruto with a demented look, feeling he was different from before, stronger than at the hospital.
'Tsk, he can change his clothes to anything he wants; no matter what, his fate has already been decided.' Thought Neji, dismissing Naruto's clothes and weapons, believing that a failure will still be a failure.
*Stands*
Meanwhile in the stands, Raven and Magik had found some seats to give them a good view of the arena, with them already seeing everyone looking at Naruto and his change in appearance. Along with hearing some of the spectators starting to talk as well.
"Hey isn't that Zabuza Momochi's blade?"
"I think it is. How'd that kid get it?"
"Wait, didn't Zabuza die facing a team of Konoha Ninja."
"Don't tell me that kid helped kill someone like him?!"
"If he did, then I can't wait to see what he can do now."
This made both girls smile at seeing that some of the spectators were already getting eager to watch Naruto fight and see what he can do. Though both of them noticed that these comments were only coming from foreigners and clients who came to the village to see how strong the Genin are for the different villages. While the comments from those from Konoha and knew Naruto…
"I hope the Hyūga beats the brat into the ground."
"The freak thinks it'll stand a chance with new clothes and a giant piece of metal."
"I already put a bet that he won't last two minutes against the Hyūga."
"Two minutes? The brat will be lucky if he lasts a second."
"Maybe he'll do us a favor and finally kill the monster."
"If only, the Hokage likes the freak too much to let it die."
These comments made the girls scowl, angry at how dismissive they were of Naruto, some even hoping that Neji will kill him.
"I can't wait to leave this village." Raven muttered, since they planned to leave Konoha after Naruto's finished all his unfinished business here.
"I can't wait to leave this dimension." Said Illyana, as after Naruto's dealt with the Masked Man and his allies, they planned to leave the Elemental Nations entirely.
Making them glad that they placed some bets on Naruto winning against not just Neji, but the entire Chūnin Exams as a whole before they took their seats. Something that will definitely make those idiots eat their words, with all the money that they'll lose to them.
They then looked to see that the Genin and their Jōnin Senseis were sitting together, also talking about Naruto's change in appearance.
"Where the hell did he get that sword and those clothes? He didn't have any of that before." Said Kiba, frowning at Naruto's appearance.
"M-maybe he got th-them f-for the finals." Hinata suggested while looking down at her crush in worry, not wanting to see him or her cousin get hurt.
"What about you Sakura? Did you know anything about Naruto's new appearance?" Questioned Ino, while looking at the pinkette.
"N-no, I didn't. I've barely seen him the entire month and he just…seems really different." Sakura replied, worried at Naruto's change in demeanor and appearance, especially at seeing he somehow had the Kubikiribōchō, remembering their encounter with Zabuza.
The pinkette feeling that more than just Naruto's outward appearance has changed.
With the Jōnin having their own discussions.
"I get the feeling that Neji's going to be in for a very painful experience." Said Asuma as he looked at Naruto and sensed that he's gotten much stronger than he was in the preliminaries, as well as carrying himself differently.
"Are you kidding? Just because he has a different outfit and a sword, which I doubt he can even use properly, doesn't mean he's going to stand a chance." Kurenai said, having doubts that Naruto will be able to beat Neji, given the difference in their skills.
"Don't get all judgy Kurenai, the blonde brat did beat your student remember." Said Anko, while leaning down between the two Jōnin.
"By farting in Kiba's face, that's not skill, that's luck. If it hadn't been for that, then Kiba would have won." Argued Kurenai, with the purplette rolling her eyes.
"Luck tends to play a big factor in battle, some times. And don't forget that he was able to trick dog boy into taking out his own partner with a Transformation, so I'm sure he would have thought of something. Besides, deception is a Ninja's greatest tool, so I'm sure he's gotten a few more surprises." Anko said, looking down at the arena, eager to seeing what Naruto can do.
Both, because a lot must have happened over the last month for him to change so suddenly, and she may have also put down a large bet on him kicking the Hyūga's ass.
*Kage Booth*
While in the Kage Booth, the Sandaime couldn't help but look at Naruto in worry, both for his sudden change in attire and that he now had the Kubikiribōchō. Given as far as he knew, Naruto hadn't been seen leaving the village nor did he get permission to train outside the village, either. Not knowing that the Naruto that's been in the village was just a Shadow Clone.
'First Orochimaru showing up and marking Sasuke, then Jiraiya acting like an unhinged, spoiled child, and now this. What else could happen?' Thought Sarutobi, since this was just another in his growing list of problems, he had to worry about.
Thankfully, he got a distraction when he saw the Kazekage arriving with his bodyguards.
"Ah, it's good to see again Kazekage-dono." Hiruzen said, smiling at his fellow Kage.
"You as well Hokage-dono. I'm looking forward to seeing how this newest batch of Genin fair against each other. Though if I'm not mistaken, is that Genin carrying the Kubikiribōchō that was last in the possession of Zabuza Momochi?" Said the Kazekage, looking at Naruto with narrowed eyes.
"Yes, it is. That's Naruto Uzumaki, who appears to have gone through some…changes." Replied Sarutobi, with the Kazekage nodding slowly.
'Yes, he certainly has, hasn't he.' Thought Orochimaru beneath his disguise, looking at Naruto with a calculating gleam, being able to tell he's a far cry from the brash Genin in the Forest of Death.
Making the Sannin intrigued to see how much he's changed in the past month, and if he'll prove to be a problem.
*Arena*
"Alright, before we begin, there's been a slight change in the brackets." Said Genma, pulling out a piece of paper and showing the new brackets.
'That Dosu guy was taken off. Did he forfeit?' Naruto thought, seeing there were now only eight competitors rather than nine, though was glad he's still facing Neji.
'Troublesome, I have to fight that Fan Girl now. Just great.' Thought Shikamaru, seeing he's fighting Temari rather than Dosu.
"The matches are set so take a good look at who you'll be fighting." Genma said, letting the competitors see who they'll be fighting.
"Now then, the terrain's different, but the rules are the same; meaning there are no rules, the match continues until some forfeits, dies, or is knocked out. But keep in mind, if I decide a match is over, then it's over. If you try to keep fighting, I'll step in and stop it. Understood?" Genma said, looking at the Genin, particularly Neji and Gaara, while seeing none of them speak, making him nod.
"Alright then. Here are the opponents for the first match, Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyūga. Those two stay, the rest of you head up to the Competitors Booth and wait your matches." Said Genma, with all the Genin, except Naruto and Neji, went up to the Competitors Booth, while the two competitors walked away and stood across from each other.
"You got anything to say to me?" Neji said with a smirk at Naruto's expression.
"Only that you're about to become very intimate with the ground." Stated Naruto, with Neji's expression not faltering.
"Intimate with the ground? Is that what you think is going to happen? And why, because you got some advice from Gai-sensei?" Said Neji, making Naruto frown at how he knew that.
"I saw you speaking with him, I went to inform him I wouldn't be needing his help in training, having already made my own regimen. You think, just because he gave you some advice to try and improve, that you can beat me? Like I said before, once a failure always a failure, no matter what." Neji stated, doubting that whatever training he's done will help him.
"I don't think, I know I'm going to beat you. But if you're so confident that you'll win, then how about a bet." Naruto said with a smirk, having planned something special for Neji.
He didn't want to just beat the Hyūga, Naruto wanted to knock him off his pedestal and tear his pride apart for what he did to Hinata.
"Oh? And why would I make a bet, when the outcome of this match has already been decided?" Questioned Neji, slightly intrigued at this proposition.
"Because, if you win, then I'll quit as a Ninja and admit that you were right; that fate can't be beaten." Naruto said, knowing that was the only thing that'd get Neji to agree, to be proven right.
"Done. I hope you enjoy your last day as a Ninja." Neji said immediately, only to see Naruto's smirk widen.
"You didn't let me finish, if I win; then you have to wear the same green spandex as Lee and Gai, for the next ten years." Said Naruto, making the Hyūga immediately freeze, momentarily horrified at the idea of having to wear those spandex, even worse with how Gai and Lee would see it as him finding his "Flames of Youth".
Neji felt a sudden shiver go down his spine at the idea, before quickly shaking it off and smirking at Naruto.
"Then it's even better that my victory is already assured." Said Neji, while activating his Byakugan and getting into his stance.
"Then we're done talking, hope you like the color green." Naruto stated, while getting into his own stance.
"Alright! Then let the first match, begin!" Genma declared, starting the first match.
For a few moments, Naruto and Neji stared each other down, waiting to see who would make the first move, until finally Naruto charged towards Neji. Throwing a punch towards the Hyūga, Neji batted the attack away, only to grunt in pain when Naruto immediately placed his hand on the ground and slammed his foot into Neji's face.
The kick knocking Neji back, while Naruto flipped away and began going through handsigns.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Naruto shouted before releasing a powerful gust of wind, forcing Neji to raise his arms to shield himself, gritting his teeth before he blown into the air.
Naruto landed on the ground and went through handsigns again, before slamming his hands on the ground.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spear!" Said Naruto as multiple spikes of earth rose up right below Neji.
Seeing this, Neji quickly pulled out a kunai with an Explosive Tag and threw it at the spikes, the tag detonating and destroying the spikes. Along with creating a cloud of smoke that Neji landed in, vanishing from sight. With Naruto looking into the smoke, before more kunai with Explosive Tags came flying out, with the Uzumaki quickly drawing the Kubikiribōchō and knocking the kunai away as they exploded around him.
Before he grunted when he was hit by a palm strike from behind, while the smoke cleared, revealing Neji used a Substitution to get behind Naruto. The Jinchūriki immediately moving his sword behind him, blocking Neji's attempts to strike his Tenketsu.
The two looked at each other warily, waiting to see what the other will do.
*Stands*
"Come on Naruto! Kick his ass!" Magik said, wanting to see Naruto beat Neji into the ground.
"Make sure to avoid his strikes!" Said Raven, knowing with Neji's fighting style, he could easily shutdown Naruto's Chakra Network and leave him vulnerable.
"I don't know why you're cheering; he's going to lose either way." Someone said, getting the girls attention as they looked to see Tenten, who they knew was Neji's teammate.
"You never know who's going to win a fight." Retorted Illyana while narrowing her eyes, while Tenten shrugged.
"Maybe, but I know that Neji's going to win this one, even if that Uzumaki kid improved, it won't be enough to beat Neji. He's known as a prodigy for a reason." Stated Tenten, fully believing Neji's going to win.
"You can believe that all you want, just like we know that Naruto's going to win." Raven said, looking at the brunette with a frown.
"Say that again, when he's on the ground and knocked out." Said Tenten, knowing that even before the month break Neji would have won, with his new techniques he's trained in there's no way he could lose
Her words making Illyana and Raven look at her with narrowed eyes.
"Big words, coming from a fangirl that couldn't even make it through the preliminaries; much less touch her opponent." Illyana said before she and Raven turned their gaze back to the arena, ignoring Tenten glaring at them for being called the very thing she hates and the humiliating loss that she suffered being brought up.
Knowing that they must have heard about it, from Naruto.
*Arena*
Naruto and Neji continued to stare each other down.
"Hmph, be thankful; if it wasn't for that sword, this match would already be over. But let's see how long it can protect you." Neji stated, only to see Naruto smirk.
"You think I'd need my sword to beat you? No, I just wanted to get a feel for your abilities. Now let's see you handle this! Shadow Clones Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, before he created dozens of clones around the arena.
"Shadow Clones? I suppose even a failure can be clever, every now and then. I may not be able to find you with my Byakugan, but you can't hide forever." Stated Neji, unable to tell where the real Naruto was, but knew he couldn't hide forever.
"You talk too much. Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" One of the clones shouted before the ground beneath Neji suddenly turned into a muddy river that sent him sliding across the arena.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!" Said another clone as it unleashed a barrage of mini fireballs at Neji, the Hyūga's eyes widening before he quickly used a Substitution again, not wanting to reveal his ace just yet.
Getting back up, Neji saw four clones charging him with their swords, with him quickly jumping over two of them before delivering palm strikes to their backs, dispelling them. While the other two attacked him from the sides, leading Neji to deflect their strikes before destroying those clones as well.
Though hearing the ground crack beneath him, Neji only had a moment to backflip away to avoid another clone bursting out of the ground to uppercut him. Only for the Hyūga to grunt in pain, when another clone appeared behind him, delivering a spin kick that knocked Neji back.
"Wind Style: Air Bullet!" Several clones shouted, before releasing multiple air bullets that slammed into Neji, knocking him around the air, before three more clones appeared above him.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" Said the clones, thrusting their palms forward, unleashing blasts of air that sent Neji crashing into the ground.
With the audience being shocked at all the Jutsu Naruto was showing off, especially those that knew the Uzumaki and how he didn't know any of these Jutsu before. While Neji panted as he got up, starting to get angry at all the clones and how he couldn't find the original.
"Stop hiding and show yourself, coward! Or are you truly that scared, that you'll only send clones to battle me while you hide?" Neji shouted, trying to goad Naruto into revealing himself.
"Why would I do?! The result will be the same!" Said a clone.
"Yeah, you're gonna lose either way!" Another clone added.
"Besides, I said you'd become intimate with the ground!" Said another clone.
"As long as that happens, I'll be satisfied!" Another clone stated from among the clones, making Neji grit his teeth.
"Fine! If you won't reveal yourself, I'll just destroy every one of these clones until you have to come out!" Yelled Neji intent to destroy all the clones.
"Before that, you'll have to survive this! Fire Style: Grand Fire Ball Jutsu!" Shouted a clone, releasing a massive fireball at Neji.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Ball!" Another clone said, creating multiple balls of lightning that were launched at Neji.
The Hyūga's eyes widened at the sight of the two Jutsu coming towards him. Mentally cursing since he wouldn't be able to dodge them all or leave himself open with a Substitution.
'No choice.' Neji thought before began spinning around and expelling Chakra from his body, the sight of it shocking all the Hyūga's in the audience.
"Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation!" Said Neji as a spinning dome of Chakra formed around him, repelling both the Grand Fireball and Lightning Balls away from him.
*Stands*
"And that's why Neji's not going to lose no matter what. The Rotation is an absolute defense, repelling any attacks or Jutsu launched at it." Tenten stated, with a smirk seeing Neji reveal one of his trump cards, while feeling vindictive at how they called her a Fangirl.
"Geeze, with how much you're wanking him off, why don't you just go up to Neji and ask him if you could suck his dick? Like a good little fangirl." Magik stated, ignoring Tenten's glare, since while she can understand wanting to have faith in your friends and comrades, Tenten was just verbally wanking Neji off and overhyping him.
"There's no such thing as an absolute defense, every defense has a weakness and Naruto will find this ones." Said Raven, knowing that there's a weakness for every defense.
"Not this one. That dome covers all around Neji, even above and below; there's no opening, no weaknesses, no way to get through. Naruto's done for!" Tenten said confidently, while getting rather heated at how they kept referring to her as a fangirl.
"Wow, are you even hearing yourself right now? But since you seem so confident, are you confident enough for a little bet?" Raven said, now wanting to knock this girl down a couple pegs.
"What bet?" Tenten asked, looking at her warily, with the half-demon smirking.
"Simple, if Naruto loses, then I'll get him to hand over the Kubikiribōchō to you. But if he wins, you get the same punishment as your teammate." Replied Raven, while internally smirking.
"Done!" Said Tenten immediately, refusing to lose the chance to get one of the Seven Swords of the Mist added to her arsenal, while proving to them that she was right and isn't a fangirl, with the latter part of the bet not even registering for her.
With Raven and Magik sharing a smirk, eager to see her reactions when Neji loses, and that they both will now be forced to wear green spandex.
*Arena*
Once Neji stopped spinning, he smirked with his confidence restored at his use of the Rotation, knowing he's now completely safe from any attacks.
"As you just saw, your attacks have no affect against me. The Rotation is a secret Taijutsu passed down through the Hyūga Clan's Main House, known only by the clan head and clan heir. Yet I was able to recreate it simply by observing its use. That is what true talent is capable of, a failure like yourself could never hope to match up against me." Neji stated, looking around to see if he could find where Naruto is.
"Do you even realize you just contradicted yourself, right? You enjoy talking so much about fate and how no one can fight it, yet you just contradicted that belief. You say that everyone has a set fate, and yet here you are, a member of the Branch Family learning a technique only the Main House knows." Said Naruto, wiping away Neji's smirk as he scowled.
"Everyone does have a set fate! I learned the Rotation through hard work and observation, rather than being taught to use it!" Retorted Neji, angry at his words.
"And that's going against your own fate! You should never have been able to learn it, if it belonged to the Main House, no matter what! The only thing you've done is prove how much of a hypocrite you are!" Naruto shouted, before jumping out from his clones and slamming his foot into the back of Neji's head, sending him stumbling back.
Turning around quickly, Neji didn't find Naruto as he hid among his clones again.
"Lightning Style: Electromagnetic Murder!" Several clones shouted before unleashing streams of electricity towards Neji, making the Hyūga start spinning around again.
"Rotation!" Neji said, using the Rotation again to repel the lightning back at the clones, destroying many of them.
"There you go again going against your precious fate! If you truly believe in fate, then you wouldn't have even bothered trying to learn the Rotation, believing it would be impossible or that it wasn't you place to learn it! Yet you still tried and learned it!" Said Naruto, making Neji growl.
"Shut up! It was decided that it was my fate to recreate the Rotation, due to being fated to be born as a prodigy of the Hyūga Clan!" Yelled Neji, getting angrier the more Naruto spoke.
"Now you're just making excuses! Why don't you just save us the trouble and admit you were wrong and that fate doesn't exist!" Naruto retorted, getting tired of the Hyūga making excuses.
"Fate is real! Everything we do in life, everything we learn, everything that happens, it was decided from the moment we are born! Just like it my fate to bear this mark!" Neji shouted ripping his headband off, revealing the Caged Bird Seal underneath, the mark that he was branded with as a child, just like every other member of the Branch Family.
"This mark is what every member of the Branch Family bears, to show that we are forever subservient to the Main Family, no matter what. My father had this same mark branded on him, simply because he was the younger twin brother of the current Hyūga Clan Head; and I was fated to be marked as well, from the moment I was born. I was branded with this seal when Hinata-sama turned three-years-old, it was also during this time that Kumo had sent an ambassador to Konoha for peace talks. But that was a lie, the Head Kumo Ninja was only here to kidnap Hinata-sama, so Kumo could gain the Byakugan; but Hiashi-sama stopped that by killing the Kumo Ninja. With Kumo blaming the village for their Head Ninja's death, denying any involvement in the accusations, and demanded Hiashi-sama's body as compensation. Instead my father was sent in his place, being identical to Hiashi-sama; except that upon his death, the Caged Bird Seal would seal away his Byakugan, keeping it out Kumo's hands. That was the day…when I learned that you can't fight against your fate!" Said Neji as he put his headband back on, while Naruto stepped out from among his clones and looked at the Hyūga.
"I am sorry for what happened to your father Neji, and for what the Branch Family goes through with that seal being branded on them. But the only thing you're doing is making yourself out to be more of a petty, self-righteous hypocrite by using that as an excuse!" Naruto said, while glaring at Neji.
"Hinata was three-years-old with no training, yet you expected her to be able to fight off a Jōnin?! It could have just as easily been you that was kidnapped if things were different and it could have ended the exact same way! Yet you choose to hate your cousin for what happened! If you want to blame someone, then blame Kumo for staging the kidnapping in the first place; blame your uncle for killing the ambassador, rather than incapacitate him to be captured and interrogated; blame the Hokage, for not having the balls to stand up to the Raikage for trying to kidnap a little girl and Clan Heiress; hell, even blame those in the Main House that made your father into being a sacrificial lamb! You want to be angry, then be angry at them; not the cousin that still cares about you, despite you trying to kill her! And why?! Because you knew that no matter what you did to Hinata, she'd never stand up to you and fight back!" Shouted Naruto, angry at Neji for blaming Hinata for what happened, because she was a convenient scapegoat, rather than the ones actually responsible.
Naruto even hated Kumo, given how they tried doing the same thing with his mother, only being saved thanks to his father. As well as their hand in the Uzumaki Clan's destruction; so he hated Kumogakure as much as anyone could.
"And if you really believed that crap about fate, you would have forfeited to Hinata in the preliminaries! But you didn't; instead, you just saw a convenient excuse to tear down her verbally and physically, without suffering any consequences! That's all it was, and you know it!" Naruto said as the two boys glared at each other, before Neji shouted and charged at Naruto.
Leading to Naruto creating even more clones that rushed Neji, and began going through handsigns.
"Wind Style: Air Bullets!"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
"Lightning Style: Lightning Ball!"
Several clones unleashed multiple Air Bullets towards Neji, with others releasing dozens of fireballs that became even stronger when they merged with the Air Bullets. While the rest created dozens of Lightning Balls, that all converged towards Neji.
Seeing the wind-enhanced fireballs and Lightning Balls coming towards him, Neji began spinning again while expelling even more Chakra than before just in case any of the attacks managed to get through.
"Rotation!" Neji shouted as all the attacks were repelled, with the brunette soon stopping, before he was forced to sidestep a slash from Naruto's blade, only to then have to raise his arms to block a kick from the Uzumaki.
"Got you now!" Said Neji jabbing several of Naruto's Tenketsu in his leg, making the whiskered blonde grunt as he lost feeling in his leg.
"You talk too much and left yourself open, as now you are within my range of division! Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Neji said, before he began striking Naruto's Tenketsu.
"Two Palms!"
"Four Palms!"
"Eight Palms!"
"Sixteen Palms!"
"Thirty-Two Palms!"
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Said Neji, delivering a final palm strike to Naruto's chest, sending him flying back before hitting the ground unconscious.
"Proctor, call the match. He won't be getting up any time soon." Neji stated, knowing he's won.
*Stands*
'Neji, you truly are a once in a lifetime genius. Recreating the Rotation and Sixty-Four Palms simply by observing them. Your talents are wasted within the Branch Family.' Hiashi thought, lamenting how his nephew is unable to truly reach his full potential in the Branch Family, having never expected he'd learn let alone master the Rotation and Sixty-Four Palms.
Meanwhile, Tenten was smirking smugly at Raven and Magik, pleased to see she was proven right.
"Just like I said it was going to end. And don't forget our deal." Tenten said, eager to get the Kubikiribōchō.
"Hold your horses, fangirl; the match isn't over, yet." Stated Raven, having taken to the nickname that Illyana has given Tenten; momentarily angering the brunette, while also confusing her before she looked back into the arena, only for her eyes to widen in shock.
*Arena*
Before Genma could say anything, "Naruto" suddenly popped out of existence, revealing that it was nothing but a Shadow Clone. While the real Naruto jumped down from one of the trees around the arena.
"I have to say, you certainly enjoy proving yourself wrong. Let me guess, that was another Main House technique you recreated." Naruto stated, much to Neji's anger.
"How did you escape my attack?! That had to be the real you!" Said Neji, knowing it had to be the real Naruto, given a Shadow Clone would have dispelled after the first strike.
"I reinforced that clone with more Chakra, and I'm glad I did; since now I know all your tricks." Revealed Naruto, making the Hyūga tense up.
"What?!" Neji demanded, not believing what he just heard.
"Yeah, I wanted to see what tricks you had up your sleeves and get a feel for your Fighting Style. All the clones and long-distance Jutsu were to make you expose them; while relaying any and all information of your Fighting Style to me, upon them being dispelled. Which you did, and after you revealed the Rotation, I double-downed to see if it had any weaknesses or just tire you out from using too much Chakra. Then I just had to get you angry enough to reveal any other trump cards you had. While me, I've made sure to keep all my cards close to my chest. And you wanna know something else, I'm not even at my best." Naruto said with a smirk, much to Neji's anger.
"WHAT?!" Shouted Neji, not believing that he was actually tricked and that Naruto wasn't apparently fighting at his best.
"That's right. See these nice rings I have, they're my Training Weights." Naruto said, holding up his hands showing the golden rings around his wrists, with matching ones around his ankles.
"I have these set to sixty pounds now, each." Revealed Naruto, with Neji's anger growing even more at hearing this.
"But I think that's enough talk, and that I should end this right now. Though before that, tell me something Neji, how do you think your Rotation will hold up against the Yondaime Hokage's original Jutsu?" Naruto asked as he formed a Rasengan in his hand, the sight shocking the entire audience, especially those that saw Minato use the Rasengan in the Third Ninja War, or those that have seen Kakashi or Jiraiya use it.
*Kage Booth*
'How…how could Naruto have learned the Rasengan?' Sarutobi thought in disbelief, knowing neither Jiraiya nor Kakashi had taught him it, let alone shown it to him.
'This…may be a problem.' Thought Orochimaru in worry, seeing Naruto somehow learned his father's signature Jutsu, now beginning to see him as a potential threat to his plans.
*Stands*
While in the stands, the shock at seeing the Rasengan began wearing off, with the Konoha spectators now getting angry at seeing Naruto using the Yondaime's Jutsu.
"How dare he use the Yondaime's Jutsu!"
"The freak doesn't deserve to know the Yondaime's Jutsu!"
"The monster is insulting the Yondaime's legacy!"
"He should pay for using that!"
The Konoha spectators even began "Booing" Naruto for using the Rasengan, much to the confusion of the Konoha Twelve and the disgust of their Senseis; except, Kakashi, Sasuke and Neji. Since the former two still hadn't arrive yet, while the latter was more focused on making sure he wasn't hit by it if that really was the Rasengan.
'What the hell is with these people and their problem with this kid?' Thought Kin Tsuchi from hiding spot in the stands, who Orochimaru originally intended to use as a sacrifice for the Edo Tensei, but after something came up, she became more valuable kept alive than used as a sacrifice.
*Competitors Booth*
The Sand Siblings were also confused by this behavior, figure that Konoha would be ecstatic at someone knowing the Yondaime Hokage's signature Jutsu.
"Temari, you don't think…" Kankuro said, silently motioning to Gaara and Naruto, with the fan user looking between them as well.
"It's…that would make sense." Said Temari wondering if it was possible that Naruto and Gaara are the same, as that'd explain why the villagers hate him.
'He is…like me…yet he doesn't kill…why?' Thought Gaara, looking at Naruto with wide, crazed eyes; realizing they must be the same, they both have a Bijū sealed inside them.
Something that only made Gaara want to kill him more, to prove his existence by killing someone like him.
*Arena*
"You're…you're bluffing, that's not the Yondaime's Rasengan." Neji said, believing that Naruto was bluffing, with the Uzumaki merely smirking in response.
"Then you have nothing to worry about." Replied Naruto before rushing Neji, making the Hyūga's eyes widen, realizing he really wasn't bluffing as he immediately started spinning.
Managing to form the Rotation, just as Naruto slammed the Rasengan into the dome.
"Rasengan!"
"Rotation!"
The two spiraling Jutsu collided against each other, Naruto pressing the Rasengan into the Rotation, while Neji continuously expelled more and more Chakra to keep it stable. Until finally the two techniques triggered an explosion, consuming both Naruto and Neji.
With Naruto jumped out of the smoke, having used the Kyūbi's Chakra to take the brunt of the explosion, leaving him with only a few scratches. While the rest of the smoke began clearing, revealing Neji lying on the ground unconscious, having taken the majority of the damage from the explosion.
Jumping over to Neji, Genma checked him and saw he was knocked out, making the Jōnin smirk slightly as he looked at Naruto.
'This kid…' Thought Genma.
"The winner of the first match of the Chūnin Exam Finals, Naruto Uzumaki!" Genma declared, with Naruto smiling and heading up to the Competitors Booth, while the spectators burst into cheers for Naruto's victory, at least the foreigners and those in Konoha that cared about Naruto or were at least neutral to him.
*Stands*
"YEAH! Way to go Naruto!" Sakura cheered for her teammate, happy at his victory and managing to put up a great fight.
"YES! That's my best student!" Yelled Magik cheering loudly for her friend/student, and growing crush; smiling brightly at his amazing victory and fight.
"I…I don't believe it. Neji…lost." Tenten muttered in disbelief that Neji actually lost.
"Let that be a lesson. Neji may be a prodigy, but Naruto works hard to get where he is. He doesn't rely on natural talent, he trains himself every day, pushing himself to grow stronger than he was before. That's why he won because he refused to accept losing and kept his promise to win." Said Raven while looking at Tenten, who could only lower her head in horror and shame at how she was acting like Temari in looking down on someone simply for who they were facing; as well as how Magik and Raven were right, with how she was acting like a fangirl.
"Also I'm sure you'll look lovely in green spandex." Raven added with a smirk, before smiling down at her friend/student/crush.
Tenten immediately froze in horror at remembering the bet they made, and her punishment was the same as Neji's. Meaning…she had to wear green spandex for the next ten years!
'NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!' Tenten mentally screamed in horror.
*Kage Booth*
"My that was…certainly one way to start off the finals, Hokage-dono." Orochimaru stated in concern and intrigued at how much Naruto's improved in just a month.
The Snake Sannin secretly making a handsign to Kabuto, signaling him to hold off activating the Temple of Nirvana. Orochimaru wanted to see what other surprises Naruto had up his sleeves, knowing if he's anything like his parents, or had any other of their Jutsu and abilities, then he needed to see everything he could do.
"Yes, Naruto always has had a reputation for being unpredictable, but I believe this certainly is something none of us expected." Replied Hiruzen, also concerned, but proud as well at how far Naruto's come, knowing his parents would have been proud of their son's strength.
*Stands*
Though hidden in the arena was Jiraiya, having come to see Naruto get knocked around by the Hyūga and "humbled" enough to be grateful for his help, when the Sannin decided he deserved it.
Only to be angered that not only did Naruto win, but he wasn't even fighting at his best against the Hyūga and wearing weights to boot! But to the Toad Sages growing anger, the damn brat actually somehow knew the Rasengan!
'How did that stupid runt learn the Rasengan?! No one should know that, except for me and Kakashi!' Jiraiya thought, knowing Kakashi wouldn't teach Naruto the Rasengan and would have seen him as not being ready to learn it, while he'd been planning to hold it over the brat's head to bribe him into becoming his apprentice.
But now that plan was ruined!
Though Jiraiya then spotted Naruto, and to his growing anger, the brat was actually looking right at him, due to Naruto having sensed his Chakra and Negative Emotions. The brat then even having the nerve to smirk at him and wave mockingly at him, before flipping the Sannin off. Something that only angered Jiraiya more, that he somehow sensed him and knew where he was, but showing in his own way that he didn't need the Toad Sage.
'Fine runt, if you want to play it that way, you'll see just how easily I can find another apprentice to make into the Child of Prophecy; instead of some spoiled brat.' Thought Jiraiya, wanting to show Naruto just how easily he could be replaced and that he was nothing special without him there to teach him.
And he already had an idea for the perfect apprentice he can mold into the Child of Prophecy and use as a means to get back at Naruto.
Sasuke Uchiha.
'Let's see how you like it, when the Uchiha becomes stronger than you'd ever hope to be.' Jiraiya thought, smirking before Shunshining away to find Sasuke and Kakashi, while keeping his senses open for their Chakra Signatures.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto obsessing over getting stronger to hunt down the Masked Man, with Raven and Illyana there to thankfully stop him from overworking himself, leading to some bonding moments between the three as they grow closer. Then we see that before they return to Konoha for the finals they ambushed by Aoi Rokusho who came to Wave for Zabuza's sword, only for him to be child's play for Naruto, with him also claiming the Raijin. Then it's onto the finals, with Naruto getting plenty of attention due to his sudden change in appearance, given how everyone had been seeing his Shadow Clone for the rest of the month. Before then going onto his match against Neji, with things going very differently as Naruto gets a feel for Neji's abilities while also taunting him, all the while Tenten's verbally sucking him off, to the annoyance of Raven and Magik. Eventually leading to Neji revealing his backstory and while Naruto's sorry for what happened to his father, he's also not having any of his excuses. With Neji ending revealing all his trump cards against Naruto, who reveals he planned that along with how he's still wearing his weights, before revealing the Rasengan as well getting plenty of reactions, along with seeing Kin is still alive. Finally we get a clash between the Rasengan and Rotation, with Naruto coming out the winner of the match, to mixed reactions, where we also see Jiraiya having watched the match and is angered at Naruto's progress and him knowing the Rasengan. Even more so when Naruto senses him and shows the Sannin he doesn't need him or his "training", leading Jiraiya to decide to find someone else to mold into the Child of Prophecy, with Sasuke being the (un)fortunate candidate. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out