Chapter Six: Destined Battle
The past few weeks had been the happiest of Hinata's life.
Freed from the constant judgmental stares of her clan, of being nothing and nobody, she'd been able to be who she was. She and Naruto had been together, traveling. She'd learned things from Tazuna she'd never expected to. Things that no one among the Main Clan could or would tell her.
The practical experience and company had made the hardship seem insignificant.
But, flowing downriver in the rapids was a little much. She and Naruto fought desperately against the currents, fighting to get to shore. Little by little, they gained control as they neared something. It was a village but ancient and abandoned—many broken towers and buildings combined with falling masonry.
Fighting their way to shore, they got into the shallows. From there, they hauled themselves up coughing and sputtering onto cobblestones. Hinata was surprised the neighboring villages had not stolen the stones. Perhaps it was considered cursed.
That was... not good.
Crawling over to where Naruto was, she put a hand on his shoulder. "Naruto, Naruto, are you alright?"
"Yes, I uh..." Naruto pulled himself up. "That was really rough."
"I think it was supposed to be," said Hinata. "Let's have something to eat and rest. Then we can explore this place."
It brightened Naruto's expression, and that made Hinata's heart flutter. Quickly they dried themselves and their clothes with chakra exercises. It was all about radiating a little bit of chakra while making it circulate faster. Hinata could do it easily, being a Hyuga, and many of their special abilities were based around it.
"Where are we?" asked Naruto, eating some rations. "This place...
"It's a village. But it looks long abandoned."
Hinata looked toward a large building. It's sort of like the Hokage's Headquarters from the Leaf. Yet, at some point, it had been broken down, and the stones were cracked and broken. "I don't think anyone has lived in this place for a very long time," said Hinata. "Scorch marks, signs of an earthquake. Is this... the Whirlpool Village?"
"What was that?" asked Naruto.
"It was a village that was founded by a clan called Uzumaki," said Hinata. "They were well-known for their huge chakra reserves. But I'd been taught that virtually all of them had been wiped out."
"I guess that was where my Mom was from if Kakashi was telling the truth," said Naruto. "Do you think we could find something about them?"
"Maybe," said Hinata. "But-"
"So, you haven't done your research at all?" asked a voice.
Naruto looked up, and Hinata followed his gaze. Now she realized she was so deadset on Naruto; she hadn't checked around her. Neji was standing atop a wall, and a brown-haired girl was sitting next to him. At her side was a scroll. A dark-haired boy with a bowl cut and green outfit was below both.
"Neji," said Hinata. She had bad feeling about this.
"...Please tell me you're planning on letting us pass and are just here to say goodbye?" asked Naruto as he stood up.
"Get used to disappointment," replied Neji simply.
"How did you know we'd be here?" asked Naruto.
"Oh, we went downriver and waited," said the girl. "We kind of figured you'd outdistance the others and the logical way to throw off the scent if jumping into water.
"Kakashi was planning to intercept you, but he and the Jonin have taken a hands-off policy in this mission. I'm Tenten, by the way, and over there is Lee."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," said Lee.
Hinata considered what Neji might do next. It all depended on how his friends were aligned and if they knew. Best to stall and learn more. "Where is your Jonin-sensei, Neji?"
"Talking with your friend, Tazuna," said Neji. "He's just beyond the village, heading for the Land of Waves."
"We think he was hoping to run into you," said Tenten.
"What?" said Naruto. "You aren't going to-"
"No, obviously not," said Tenten. "Guy-sensei is just talking to him."
"So what do you know about this place?" asked Naruto, looking at the ivy growing up every wall.
"This place was the Whirlpool Village, a close ally of the Senju in ancient times," said Neji. "Until the day that Kakazu destroyed it. He and the Waterfall Village fell upon them and broke their armies. The walls were cast down; the people put to the sword.
"Those who survived were scattered throughout the land. Some died, some became slaves, and some came to the Leaf to become slaves. I would guess your Mother was one of them."
"And Kakazu?" asked Naruto, narrowing his eyes.
"No one knows," said Neji. "He sought to kill Hashirama and Madara many times and slew many of those close to them. Yet neither managed to kill the other."
"A very unyouthful person," said Lee.
Naruto shifted. "Did you know about this?"
"No," said Neji. "It never entered my thoughts that the Leaf Village would be cruel enough to bully the child of their savior. Let alone stupid enough to do it to one who could destroy them all if he got angry enough. That's how the seal works, you know.
"You become enraged enough, and the Nine-tails has the ability to filter through it."
"And that's why my grades were bad? It was interfering with chakra control?" asked Naruto.
"What?" asked Tenten. "No, you're just lazy and lacked a proper trainer. If you'd put the work in from the start, you'd be fine. As evidenced by the crash course you've had lately."
"You didn't have a proper trainer, Tenten," noted Lee.
"Yes, but I'm not lazy," said Tenten.
Who was she to say such things to Naruto? He'd never given up, no matter how much they threw at them.
"So, uh... what changed exactly?" asked Naruto, not offended.
"His plan to overthrow the Main Branch didn't work out," said Hinata simply.
"You knew my plan?" asked Neji, mildly surprised.
"You had a plan to overthrow the Main Branch?" asked Lee. "Why would you want to overthrow your own family?"
Neji gave him a flat look.
"Yes, I suppose the answer to that question is self-evident," said Lee.
"It was um..." Hinata shifted. "Really, the only reason you'd tell me Naruto was leaving."
"Wait, what?" said Naruto.
"You were Neji's unwitting pawn," said Hinata. "Neji's father was sent to die by the Main Branch to appease the Cloud Village. Hinata was then disinherited because Neji kept beating her. Hiashi assumed she was worthless because of that.
"What he didn't count on was that Neji was fighting below his true abilities."
"Well, I got the feeling he had an agenda; I just thought his arguments made sense," said Naruto. "What does this have to do with me anyway?"
"Hiashi insists on pitting me against Hinata to tougher her up or something to that effect," said Neji. "Since Hinata is no longer the heir, fighting her will do me no good.
"I believed that if I were put up against Hanabi, I could completely defeat her. That could get me a position of greater influence. Enough to take critical actions I deem necessary."
"Which is why he needed Hinata out of the way," said Tenten.
"So Neji convinced you to leave the village and then told me about it so I'd follow," said Hinata. "Meaning that Hanabi is Hiashi's only possible heir. This put Neji on a path to running the Hyuga."
Naruto shifted. "Well, that's uh... brilliant.
"Everybody gets what they want."
"Yes," said Neji. "It was my perception that the village would be glad to get rid of you. And that you would be glad to get rid of it, and I would be glad to be rid of Hinata. The only loser would be Hinata's abusive Father."
"So, what's the problem?" asked Naruto.
"Sarutobi is an idiot," said Tenten.
"Tenten," said Lee. "That is disrespectful."
"Everyone is thinking it; I'm just saying it," said Tenten.
"This have anything to do with me being the Nine-tailed Fox and Fourth Hokage's son?" asked Naruto.
"Yep," said Tenten. "We read your profile; it was a way to jumpstart your importance among your classmates. The fact of the matter is, Sarutobi could have been open about who you were from the start. Your noble lineage alone would have been enough to get you some respect and a trainer."
"Instead, he decided to make a law forbidding anyone from speaking on the subject," said Neji. "The adults in the village have all been sneaking around behind your back. They were spreading rumors and encouraging their children to make you a pariah. And all the while, the people who put you in that position are all congratulating themselves. They'll probably say something about it being 'for your own good.'"
"But why?" asked Naruto.
"My guess?" asked Tenten. "They knew someone with your bloodlines and abilities could be a god in terms of battle prowess. You are a Senju, an Uzumaki, and you have access to the Nine-tailed Fox. But you'd also be virtually impossible to control.
"Ever hear about Orochimaru?"
"Yeah, he was one of the greatest ninjas of his generation and tried to become Hokage," said Naruto. "I really admired him before he went rogue."
"And he had far more connections and much more accomplished career than your Father," said Neji. "And given how accomplished your Father, that is impressive. Orochimaru's experiments led to the invention of modern medicine. All while working in tandem with Tsunade.
"They stepped over him because he has his own ideas of how the village ought to be run. He'd have changed things up, for better or worse. And the Elders of the Village are terrified of change since it can only lead to the loss of their power."
"Indeed," said Lee. "They are most unyouthful."
"So they'd wreck your self-esteem, so you were a total doormat. Then train you up until you were the perfect puppet," said Tenten, drawing out a kunai to polish it.
The manipulation did not fool Naruto. "Why should I believe this? The Old Man was always nice to me, and he's got a lot of stuff on his hands. I don't think any of you have met the elders, and anyway, you did pretty much the same thing.
"What's the difference between you and then?"
"The difference is that I was operating on the assumption you were an ordinary person," said Neji. "I chose to manipulate Hinata using you to achieve my own ends while giving you a chance at the freedom I can never have.
"Meanwhile, the people who put you in this position were hurting you for things that were their fault. And they knew exactly who you were and what you were capable of."
Silence.
The wind blew through Neji's hair, sending it flowing around him.
"So what happens now?" asked Naruto.
"We're at an impasse," said Neji.
"We can't let you leave the Land of Fire. And you can't remain a fugitive out here forever," said Lee.
"But you can't seize Naruto by force, either," said Hinata, narrowing her eyes. "If you do, we might tell others what happened." What were they going to do here? Would they be willing to kill them?
"Precisely," said Neji. "When news of your status came out, I chose to volunteer for the mission. Doing so would get me out of the Leaf and away from being questioned. It would also give me an opportunity to come up with a plan."
"However, Neji's schemes were foiled. All by the youthful desire of Naruto's teammates," said Lee. He seemed pretty cheerful about the fact.
"I think you mean their youthful desire to not be on the bad side of royalty," laughed Tenten. She hurled a kunai into the air and caught it.
"The point is that I have come up with three possible winning strategies that could be taken on my part:" said Neji. "One, we could defect. Either join up with your group or go out on your own and seek service in some other area. From there, I could try to get the Caged Bird Seal removed.
"Unfortunately, this is not an option. The Caged Bird Seal has a tracker on it that can be utilized. And it is legendary for its ability to kill the one who wears it when trying to remove it. Branch Clan members have tried to flee before and been taken."
"Okay, so what's the second option?" asked Naruto.
"You don't want to know," said Tenten.
"The second option is killing us, Naruto," said Hinata.
And then two kunai shot past both their ears as Tenten moved. Hinata saw a strand of her hair fall from her ear to hit the ground. She went chill and saw the kunai sink between two cobblestones.
"What?" said Naruto, shaking.
Hinata knew Tenten could have killed them both right there and then.
"I didn't have to miss," said Tenten. "And I'm not a jonin. There are people who are a lot stronger than me out there. Like the Great Ninja Tsunade, she's kind of my idol."
"We could say that you went nine-tails as we tried to subdue you and killed Hinata," said Neji. "Everyone would believe it because it plays to their ego and is convenient.
"But, it could backfire. Others could observe the combat or find an inconsistency in our story. Or they might disbelieve that we could kill you if you are in the Nine-tails state. And even if they believed us, they might decide to kill me for failure.
"The Main Branch Branch is ruthless. Wouldn't you agree, Hinata?"
"Could you actually take the Nine-tails?" asked Naruto.
"In some of the lower forms, perhaps," said Neji. "Most Jinchuuriki are unleashed in stages. At best, I could goad you into becoming enraged and take you by surprise. We might be able to kill you in the lower levels. Without having seen it, I cannot make the judgment."
"But that would be really risky," said Tenten, brushing a bang of hair from her face.
"And also unyouthful, since this is all Neji's fault anyway," said Lee.
"So we would only use such tactics as a last resort when the other option is death," said Neji.
Naruto composed himself and smiled. "So uh, what's the third option."
"We convince you to come back willingly," said Tenten.
"Why would we want to go back?" asked Naruto, taking a stance, and Hinata did the same.
"Naruto, I do not think you have considered what this new information means," said Lee. "As the heir to the Uzumaki Clan, you have access to a substantial fortune. That is why you've received a generous stipend for your apartment when other orphans don't. In addition, given your lineage, you have a far greater likelihood of becoming Hokage.
"Especially given that you have within the power of the Nine-tails. Why do you think you outdistanced us so effectively?"
"So what?" asked Naruto. "I don't really want to be Hokage anymore. I never really did. I wanted people to respect me and treat me with dignity. If I went back now and people started doing it, it'd only be because of my blood. They wouldn't care about me."
Hinata thought about going back home and enduring the judgmental gaze of her Father. Of being pitted against her sister. To endure slathering false adoration mixed with hidden contempt from the Branch Clan.
"Perhaps so," said Neji. "But as the Leaf Jinchuuriki, you would surely be a target for anyone who hears about you. And due to your bloodlines, you would likewise be a target, to say nothing of the Byakugan.
"Tenten's demonstration was to make a point;
"If we could kill you both in an instant, what chance do you have against veteran Shinobi?"
"We've hidden pretty well so far," said Naruto. "And we've gotten stronger this whole time. We're way better at our basics now."
"Against mere genin," noted Lee. "You will fail against more experienced ninja. Not without training. As your match against Kakashi clearly demonstrates.
"The longer you stay out here, the more word will spread."
"Yeah," said Tenten. "Once you've beaten up a team of genin and jumped the border, the Hokage will escalate. He'll send out elite ANBU after you. And other nations will as well, for you and Hinata.
"You'll be hunted wherever you go for your entire life."
Naruto smiled. "Yeah, but being hunted is fun.
"I've been a lot happier these last few weeks than I ever have in the village."
"You do realize that they won't treat you as they did, right?" Tenten asked. "All the other genin have been showing a lot more respect. Sakura is the one they are taking things out on.
"Once you get back, everyone is going to fawn all over you.
"You'll probably get a Jonin-sensei and a field promotion."
"Who cares?" asked Naruto. "They don't want me; they want the Nine-tails, even as they abuse me for holding it."
"Okay, maybe I didn't make myself clear," said Tenten. "If you keep running, they will kill you. Or worse."
"Not if we get to another village, they won't," said Naruto. "We've got an unbranded Hyuga and a Jinchuuriki. Didn't you suggest the Village Hidden in the Waterfalls? Or I could head out to the Sand Village or the Stone Village.
"Not the Cloud, though. Those guys are jerks."
"Do you realize what you are suggesting?" asked Lee. "That's treason."
"No, it's not," said Naruto. "I never graduated the academy, and neither did Hinata. And Hinata has been all but disinherited. They made it perfectly clear they wanted us gone. We've made no oaths. And we don't owe them anything.
"Neji, you were right.
"Just because my bloodlines are different doesn't change the facts. If I were an Inuzuki, or an Akimichi, or just an ordinary person, nothing would be different."
"But it will be different," said Lee. "If you join another village, the Leaf may go to war with them. Many people could be killed."
"I could head to the Cloud if you want," said Naruto.
Hinata blinked.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Neji.
"Well, that's what you want, isn't it?" asked Naruto. "War with the Cloud so you can avenge your dad. That's why you're trying to get more power. You want to wipe out the people who sold him out.
"Then you want to wipe out the people who they sold them out to.
"That actually advances your goals a lot, doesn't it?"
Neji was silent.
"...You know, that actually makes sense," said Tenten.
"I don't want a war," said Lee.
"You're in the wrong line of work then, Lee," noted Tenten.
"And what about Tazuna?" asked Hinata suddenly. "A lot of people just like him could die in a war, Naruto." She didn't want to go back, but...
"Think about it," said Tenten. "You go back to the Village, and you instantly get a career boost. Neji is gonna have to support you or risk you telling people what happened. You're a logical political ally anyway.
"Once you're in charge of the place, you can do whatever you want, and people will have to acknowledge you. Isn't that why you became a ninja in the first place?"
Naruto halted. "...I didn't want to be acknowledged; I wanted to be liked and respected by other people. I wanted people to take me seriously and care about what I had to say.
"Well, if all you are saying about the Leaf is true, I don't think I want to be respected by people like that. I'd have to become like them."
"Have you considered that you could change the village from within?" asked Lee. "To change how things are done? Guy-sensei would approve of such a dream, and you could establish bonds with those who pursue you.
"Perhaps with hard work and cunning, you could change the Leaf. You might change the Hyuga and avert the conflict between Neji and Hiashi. If Hinata grows stronger, she might become the heir. That alone would grant you significant power."
"I guess it would," said Naruto. "And what you're saying would seem like the right thing to do if not for the warning."
"Warning?" asked Neji. "What warning?"
"You!" said Naruto. "Look at yourselves! You guys have a pretty good idea of how the Leaf works. You're both really smart, and look what it has done to you!
"You seriously considered murdering Hinata and me! We never did anything to hurt you, and we even helped you! But you considered killing us off!"
"We did discount it," noted Tenten.
"Yes, but you didn't refuse to do it because it was wrong!" said Naruto. "Only because you were afraid it would backfire. You didn't give a damn about whether Hinata or I might not want to die.
"You're so twisted up by hate and cynical indifference that you'd kill innocent kids who helped you! The Leaf Village turned you into this!
"If I worked with you like this, maybe I'd be able to create a new world. But it'd be nothing but a counterfeit of real peace."
"I see," said Neji as the winds picked up. "That's unfortunate."
And then he leaped into the air and landed behind them. Hinata turned to him while Naruto did as well, and he waited before them. His arms were crossed. "It occurs to me that if you cannot get past us, you stand no chance of making it against jonin. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Maybe so," said Naruto.
"Well then, I have a wager for you," said Neji. "To resolve this little impasse we have.
"I will fight both of you at once. If you can defeat me, we'll follow you. If you can defeat us, you will come back to the village."
"You're playing a pretty dangerous game, aren't you, Neji?" asked Naruto, smiling. "This could get you in serious trouble."
"Oh, we're not defecting," said Tenten. "We're acting as bodyguards and providing regular reports to the Leaf."
"And we're making sure you don't act contrary to the Leaf's interests," said Neji, taking a stance. "It will buy me time out of the village at least and give me a free hand for future actions."
Naruto smiled. "...Fair enough.
"Hinata, let's go."
And they shot forward in perfect unison, coming at Neji from opposite sides. However, even as they did, he dodged and weaved, and Naruto suddenly saw Hinata's fist coming for him. He narrowly veered off, but Hinata tumbled over him. As she did, she caught herself on her hands and spun away.
Naruto got to one knee and then was hit across the face by a leg from Neji. Sent tumbling head over heels, he slid to a halt against a wall. Pulling himself up, he saw Neji shooting toward him. Hinata rose up, but by the time she was half up, Neji was on him. Naruto spun away from the blow, but even as he tried to attack, Neji ran up the wall.
Kicking off it, Neji shot toward Hinata and floored her against the stones. Naruto shot at him, but Neji made a four-point landing. Then he dropkicked Naruto away to land next to Hinata before turning in midair. At the end of one smooth movement, Neji was in a stance.
Tenten and Lee had begun to eat popcorn.
"He's so fast..." said Naruto, pulling himself up.
"Yes," said Hinata. "I always suspected he'd been holding back all this time. Now I'm sure of it."
"Let's go together, Hinata," said Naruto.
Hinata nodded.
"So are you two about ready to stop playing around? Or is this really all you are capable of?" asked Neji, smiling.
"Hinata, follow my lead, just like with Sasuke," said Naruto.
Then he put together his hands and made the signs as Hinata did the same. "Clone jutsu!"
Naruto poured as much of his power into the clone jutsu as possible and created many of them. Hinata created several s well and charged at Neji from all sides. But one of Naruto's clones hovered a little behind Neji as he let them come.
"So, you seek to confuse me by creating many clone duplicates and coming at me all at once," said Neji as they neared. "But I know which one is the real you."
Then he grabbed Naruto as he moved and Hinata and spun them around by the collar. Then he hurled them into the shallows of the river. The water splashed over her face, and she spluttered to the top. "You might be interested to know that the basic clone jutsu creates an imperfect copy with tell-tale chakra instability. It can only carry out the most basic commands. There simply isn't enough physical presence for more complex commands.
"Only the perfected shadow clone technique is indistinguishable from the real thing. And even then, one can tell much from chakra levels.
"Most professional ninjas move up to a different variety, like mud...
"Or water."
And then Neji appeared behind Naruto. Another came up behind Hinata, and she turned to engage it. Seeing the strike coming, Naruto substituted himself with his clone. Hinata did the same. However, the clones were coming after them, and Naruto met it. Clashing with the clone, he found himself fighting like mad to hold his own.
Then, probably guessing that Neji would come at him from behind, he leaped back toward a wall behind him. Kicking off it, he landed behind the clone and brought around a leg to kick through it. It splashed into the water. Even as he did, Hinata finished her clone with a strike.
As she did, Naruto leaped over Neji. Making the hand signs. "Smoke no jutsu!"
Instantly a huge wave of smoke surrounded them, though it was illusionary. What was he doing? That wasn't going to do any good at all—a basic genjutsu to obscure movements. Naruto landed and prepared to rush into the smoke, only to find a hand on his shoulder.
"You seek to obscure my vision," said Neji behind him. "Such a thing was not possible. I was born with the Byakugan in my eyes and able to perceive the world without borders or boundaries. The concept of an opaque object is theoretical at best.
"My eyes pierce stone, earth, and flesh."
Naruto turned around as Neji struck and felt a brush against him. Moving his hands, he tried to perform a clone jutsu. Nothing, of course. Hinata positioned herself to strike.
"I've sealed your chakra points," said Neji simply.
"When? You didn't lay a hand on me," said Naruto.
"It took only a few movements you didn't notice," said Neji. "You waste energy on dramatic displays of bravado when you should be getting results. Speaking of which..."
Hinata came at Neji from behind, only for him to spin away from her. Both moved and took stances.
"You would attempt to contest me with gentle fist?" asked Neji. "Very well, if you wish to throw away all chance you might have had, so be it."
And then they went at it, using graceful, indirect, almost dance-like movements. Naruto watched, realizing he was watching two gentle fist masters going at it. They struck, attacked, and moved against once another.
"He's far better than I ever anticipated. But... I can read his movements; I can respond," thought Hinata. As she did, she fought faster and harder than she ever had. She was stronger than she'd ever been, and yet she felt she was still outmatch. Then she saw an opening. "I have him!"
Her hand struck an incapacitating stroke, and then... nothing.
"A futile effort, Hinata," said Neji. "Your chakra points were sealed before you ever made your move."
Hinata thought it had been too good to be true, but she had a victory of her own as she smiled. "Look down, cousin."
Neji realized then that his chakra points had also been sealed. His eyes narrowed. "...Back to basics, then."
And then he struck Hinata across the face. Reeling, she hit the ground hard and coughed.
"Hinata!" said Naruto, surging forward in ever greater speed. "You jerk-"
But his clumsy move was outmaneuvered, and he was tripped up and sent to the ground. Neji put a hand on his neck. "A word of advice;
"Never attack in anger.
"Now, are you two going to give up? Or shall I get serious?"
This was bad.
They couldn't take Neji like this. They'd done better than ever before, but he was just too far above them. Hinata pulled herself up and rushed at Neji, and he sprang back. Naruto began to stand up. "If you think...
"I'm going to give up just because of that; you're dead wrong."
Hinata thought about things. "...You can't jutsu and neither can we.
"That means we can win."
"Believe what you will," said Neji. "You forget, I am a taijutsu specialist in the service of the greatest taijutsu master in the Leaf. You've traded one area; you're completely outmatched for another."
"Maybe," said Hinata. "But it was in unarmed combat, wasn't it?
"Not kunai."
Then she sprang forward and snatched up one of the kunai Tenten had thrown. Grabbing the other, she spun it through the air to be caught by Naruto. The two-faced one another, and Tenten unrolled her scroll. Opening a seal, she drew out a long, straight-edged sword and hurled it spinning through the air.
"Neji, catch!" said Tenten.
Neji caught it without looking up.
"Sword on kunai, huh?" said Naruto. "Guess we'll just have to wear you down."
And then they went at him. Neji parried a blow from Naruto while avoiding one from Hinata. Making several sweeps, he turned their blows, even as they tried to envelop him. Hinata and Naruto began to move after him, forcing him to defend and trying to hem him in.
They struck faster, and it became apparent to Hinata that this was the right choice.
Neji was not a master of weaponry the same way he was hand to hand. He was very good, but they were closer in this. And both of them had to avoid killing blows to win. Which meant Neji was the more distracted since he was in a position to make them.
"I am an endurance specialist," said Neji. "Your attempt is doomed. It was your destiny to lose from the start!"
And so they continued, as Neji made defensive movements, avoiding risks. Hinata and Naruto were constantly searching for weaknesses to back him into a wall. And they fought in a stalemate, faster and faster.
However, the inevitable began to happen.
Hinata found her strength beginning to wane. She couldn't keep up as fast as the others. Neji showed some signs, but he kept on fighting. And once she dropped out, he could take out Naruto.
"This is..." said Naruto, during a pause in the fighting. "This is a lot harder than I thought it'd be. I figured we were pretty strong to beat Sasuke, but that extra year makes all the difference."
"What happened to beating me by endurance?" asked Neji.
"Naruto, I can't keep going like this," gasped Hinata. "Neji has the superior reach, and with his Byakugan he can't be taken off guard, not without our jutsu. If we keep attacking, we'll run ourselves ragged, and he'll win."
"I'm fine Hinata, I can do this all day," said Naruto. "You hang back and take it easy, and I'll attack more aggressively. Maybe we can wear him down.
"I do have the Nine-tails."
"Okay," said Hinata.
That strategy seemed to work better.
Neji's defensive tactics remained much the same as Naruto pressed him. And the two continued to fight while Hinata remained and looked for a weakness. Naruto had too short a range to bridge the distance, but his aggressive attacks kept ongoing. Neji was conservative and did not have to move nearly as much as when Hinata was helping.
"I gotta admit," said Naruto, smiling. "I figured, and Hinata and I were top tiers when we beat Sasuke. From that looks of things, though, we were nowhere close.
"I'm learning a lot from you, Neji."
And then, suddenly, Neji took the offensive. Surging toward Hinata, he raised his sword to strike her. Her kunai was knocked from her hand, and Neji's sword shredded through part of her fur coat. She fell back with a cry.
"Hinata!" screamed Naruto, rushing in sudden rage toward her. He was moving faster than Hinata had ever seen him and seemed to be radiating an orange light. And he seemed almost more a demon than a human.
As he came at Neji, he attacked with feral fury. Yet, although he was faster and stronger than ever, there was no rhyme or reason to the attacks. One of them neared Neji's shoulder, but he kept composed. Neji moved aside from them, and Naruto realized Hinata. Naruto halted as he saw only a shredded fur coat.
The energies faded, and he stared. "Hinata, you're alright."
"No," said Hinata. "He just slashed some of my clothes."
And then Neji knocked him over the back of the head from behind. His sword was then put to Hinata's throat. He'd exploited Naruto's protective instincts, made it seem like she'd been seriously hurt. It had driven Naruto into a rage and made him reckless. "I believe this constitutes a victory, wouldn't you?"
"...Yes, cousin," said Hinata.
And then everything caught up to her, and she fainted.