Naruto: Shoton of Konoha Chapter 30: Chunin Final Exams Act: 1, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto

Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23

So sorry for the delays folks, life being life it likes to keep so you damn busy…

Chapter 30: Chunin final exams Act I

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The skies were clear as the sun shone over the shinobi village of Konohagakure, which had garnered a much busier crowd than normal roaming its dirt streets. Numerous people ranging to citizens from the land of fire, wind, and some surprisingly from water had gathered to the village within a month's time. All were buzzing in excitement as the finals of the Chunin exams had begun.

In the streets, traveling vendors had set up stands to make quite a bit of profit during today's event. Amaguriama, Ichiraku, the Dango shop, and many other establishments were busy with orders as the crowd made their way to the enormous open dome arena with three massive stone buildings which held the seats for the audience, including private areas for nobility who came to observe as well. Inside the arena was an open grass area for the hopeful Genin to show their skills and advance to Chunin.

The day had finally come, the final test to prove they were ready for the title and responsibility of being a chunin.

Naruto took a deep breath through his nostrils and slowly exhaled. The blonde stood in a line along with the other chunin candidates, his pink haired teammate was at his right, and his gaze briefly went over her to peer at Lee who stood at the other end of the line.

The bowl cut haired boy was unusually still, but there was no mistaking the smile on his lips. Lee was eager, and so was he if he was being honest.

His eyes eventually up towards the multiple rows of the arena, there he saw his relatives sitting amidst his other friends and fellow ninja of his age. Uncle Same had somehow fashioned a large flag that had 'UZU FOREVER' written on it, waving it around, uncaring that he was making the people around him uncomfortable. Lyn waved at him, cheering him on. While Kya sat perfectly still next to her, seems his aunt really managed to get her to come.

On the row behind them he managed to spot a woman who looked vaguely familia- He blushed as the memories came back. Right, the woman he had collided with all those days ago. Kuro... Kuro-something.

Man, so there were so many people in the arena, watching them...

"Nervous?" Sakura prompted.

"Pfft" He snorted, "Who me? ...Maybe a bit"

"Me too" She confessed, "But just wait, Team 7 will all make it to chunin" Sakura said with outmost confidence.

Naruto gave her a beaming smile.

"If Sasuke shows up that is" Sakura gloomily added.

And just like that his smile was obliterated. Right... Sasuke had yet to show up. Oh what the hell were you doing, Kakashi-sensei?

"The Chunin exams are not something you can arrive FASHIONABLY late dattebane!" Kushina's voiced roared at the entrance to the arena. The Genin prospects looked curious before sweat dropping at the sight of Kakashi being dragged on the ground by a golden chain from an irritated Kushina Uzumaki who wore her old Konoha Jounin gear with short sleeves. Her Hitai-ate wrapped around her head with two bangs coming down from both sides and the rest of her hair in a high ponytail.

Walking beside her in a black shirt and white shorts was Sasuke who dryly glare ahead. Kakashi weakly chuckled as the Uzumaki redhead kept dressing him down as if he was a child. "It's for the dramatic effect Kushina-sama."

"Drop the 'sama' already! And do you want me to show a dramatic effect on your head?!"

Naruto only rubs his hand over his face while Sakura weakly sighed. They just had to have the weirdo for their sensei didn't they? The two said nothing as their teammate soon stood beside them

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"Hard to believe that man is the Thousand Jutsu Kakashi;" Saito droned beside his son while Lyn and Samenosuke laughed at the sight. Kya remained impassive merely glancing over to see Karin coming with that Yamanaka and Hyuuga girls and their teams. The bifocal wearing Uzumaki grinned; "Guess who I found."

Ino gave the peace sign to them beside a shy Hinata; "What's up guys!"

Samenosuke grinned; "More the merrier, come on and sit down you lot."

"Glad you think so" Said Team 10's sensei as he took a sit next to his male students; he gave Kurenai a teasing glace as she sat next to Hinata. "Shame your team couldn't make it to the finals eh Kurenai?"

"Your team didn't either" She dryly pointed out.

Asuma snorted, "Oh they'll be ready for the next exams, and this was just a trial run. Right guys?"

He turned to his students, but not of them payed him any mind. Choji was too engrossed on his junk food, Shikamaru had already falling asleep, and Ino was more focused in talking to Karin about some subject that eluded his male mind.

"You could show me more support when I'm trying to brag here" He grumbled.

"Oh don't worry sensei" Ino waved it off as she poked Shikamaru into wakefulness with a well-placed jab at his head. "Next time the exams will be right in the bag for us" Ever since she decided to take her career more seriously, she felt a newfound sense of drive.

"Confidence is good" Came Kushina's voice as she approached their stands with Kakashi in tow, "But pay attention, you kids are gonna learn something"

"Indeed" Said Gai, who stood with his arms and legs crossed a few seats away from them, "Keep your eyes well open, for you are about to witness my student's flaming spirits!" He grinned with a twinkle in his eye.

"Here I thought you only had one student" Kushina dryly commented with her hands on her hips, "So far I have only seen you pay attention to Lee, Gai" She admonished.

"Um..." The Taijutsu master awkwardly muttered, "Well, Lee required more focus given his circumstances. Tenten is very adept at keeping up and learning on her own, plus Neji's a..."

"Total asshole?" Kiba supplied Akamaru barked in agreement on his head, which got him a smack in the arm courtesy of his teacher.

"I was going to say a touch reclusive and solitary" Gai tactfully said.

Kushina groaned before rubbing her mouth with her hand; "Regardless of Lee's circumstances you should have been more involved with Neji's and Ten-chan's training. You know better Gai."

The Green Beast mulled over her words in silence. He hadn't brushed Tenten and Neji aside, but Lee required more attention, and he had been doing everything in his power in order for his student to reach his goals. His other two students were very talented, and could catch up on their own terms, so they did not need as much instruction as Lee did.

But… then the image of Neji, always full of anger and resentful, nearly killing his cousin came to mind, and Gai couldn't help but think that perhaps he should have tried harder to reach out to the boy.

"...Well you are not what I expected, Red Death." A feminine voice caught their attention as they all look up behind them to a row above behind the Uzu. Kuro smirked at all of them; "Then again, you have a reputation of surpassing expectations, I don't think anyone was expecting your miraculous return. It's caused quite a stir."

Kushina eyed the woman; "Afraid you have me at a disadvantage."

"Forgive me, my name is Kuroreimei, or Kuro for short. I ran into your son several weeks ago...Quite literally." The raven haired women dryly toned as she could still not believe that happened.

"Oh my" Kushina said with concern, "He didn't get into trouble did he?" She asked with overly concern as a mother would do.

The raven haired women laughed it off, "Oh it's nothing to be concerned about. Now, the exam is about to begin. Why don't we just sit back and enjoy the show?"

"Would like to watch it with you guys" Kushina said, addressing her friends and family. "But I got assigned to be with the old man and the other Kage" She made a half ram sighed and waved her free hand cheerfully at them, "Later!" And disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Kuro watched as the rest of the Konoha natives and Uzumaki fell into idle conversation as they waited for the final test to begin. She could tell the jounin were keeping an eye on her, and she could not blame them. It was healthy to be suspicious of strangers.

Her focus shifted to the redheads. It had been such a long time ago, but she still recalled multiple lineages of people with bright red hair, people who shared indomitable spirits along who would smile and laugh even at the face of overwhelming adversity, though distant they would also share blood through going back all the way to a particular ancestor. Truly, there could be no mistake that they descended from him...

Her red eyes went over to the blonde haired boy in the arena.

She wondered if the prophecy was true, if any of these Uzumaki had truly inherited 'it'.

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Sitting amongst the Konoha civilians and well hidden, a hooded princess Maiyuri took in the sight of everyone here to see the finals. She was spellbound seeing so many cheering the Genin prospects for the exams. Her surprise was genuine seeing Kirigakure shinobi and few citizens, never had she thought the former Bloody Mist village ever venture from beyond their lands.

But it showed even they could change from who they once were. And as she was told by the ANBU Tenzō, the new Mizukage actually agreed to becoming allies with Konoha. This had to be the first time since the treaty with Suna that such a thing happened.

Her eyes went down to the arena and the Genin; she wondered what they had in store for them.

Her lips pursed in apprehension. In Maiyuri's eyes they were still children... No, it wasn't just in her eyes. These kids couldn't be older than thirteen. And here they were in a 'test' that by all intents and purposes was just a proxy war. Already the exam had faced multiple casualties and it continued on like nothing had happened.

It sickened her that they would still throw children to the fire like this.

But seeing the determined faces of the genin, the enthusiastic looks of the people as they waited for the final phase of the exam to start, it made her think that perhaps she was in the wrong. This was nearly a century old tradition, who was she to question it?

But that line of thought was quickly squashed the moment she looked at Gaara of the Sand. That boy... he was twisted beyond imagination, turned into a creature that craved nothing but bloodshed and destruction. A mistake, an atrocity allowed by his village because he was to serve as a weapon. It made her question Hashirama's judgement when he first gave the other villages their own Bijuu.

Granted, she did not know how bad things were before Hashirama quelled the clan wars. But the sight of seeing children fighting in battles meant for adults sickened her. And seeing children like Gaara and Naruto turned into weapons... Her hands clenched into fists before letting out a calming breathe.

Yet presently there was nothing she could about it. Not at her current position and station, even as a highborn. So all she could do is watch as the exams play out.

And pray...

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Hiashi's eyes never left his nephew's form as he gazed down at the arena below. Beside him, his youngest daughter Hanabi sat a good distance away from the Uzumaki. Near the Hyuuga clan head and daughter were the Hyuuga elders. One of note was the elderly man who resembled a much older version Hiashi, Haruka Hyuuga.

Throughout the years Hiashi had developed a stone faced facade that betrayed no emotion. Hiding it all behind a stern frown. In a clan where everyone could anything, keeping one's true feelings guarded was second nature to them.

But if Hiashi was a wall no one could look through, then his father Haruka was an island on the far horizon, where only a small patch of brown and green could be seen. The man's capacities to remain stoic surpassed even his own.

Hiashi did not remember his father letting out even a small smile, not since...

A pang of guilt throbbed in his heart as he gazed at Neji once more.

Loyalty to the clan above all else, their secrets to be preserved at any cost. Haruka understood that very well, and made sure the clan did what needed to be done.

If his father ever mourned Hizashi, then he made certain that nobody would ever know.

"Father" Thankfully, his youngest voice brought him back from that dark line of thought, "I don't know much about who Neji's opponent will be"

Truthfully, neither did he. Sakura Haruno, the daughter of shopkeepers who quit the ninja line after their mandatory first year as genin was over, like many civilian born ninja often did.

Hiashi knew Sakura was a part of team 7 with Kushina's son and the surviving Uchiha. His oldest Hinata has been becoming friends with the pink haired girl a month ago. But other than that, nothing, which was rather frustrating.

A low grunt came from Haruka who overheard his granddaughter; "She is of no consequence Hanabi." The elderly man spoke with a cold sternness. "The girl is a civilian born; her skills and talent are not of any significant note."

"I must agree with Haruka-dono," another elder chimed in; "Even with Neji being a member of the branch family, his skills are more than enough to best this girl."

Hanabi only nodded while Hiashi clenched a single fist.

A young member of their clan, a man in his twenties, spoke up to the side to another fellow kinsman. "Though I heard Uzumaki-dono has been training her. I've worked with Yugao-san before; I can attest the woman is a capable teacher"

"Are you honestly suggesting the girl has a chance against Neji?"

"All I'm saying is that sometimes a clanless ninja can surprise you, Jiraiya-sama is proof of that"

This and other words Hiashi heard being exchanged amongst his fellow Hyuuga. Some pondering if the civilian born actually had a chance thanks to her training under Kushina, others staunch in their belief that their own prodigy would not have any difficulty in facing someone of such a lackluster lineage.

Hiashi had no doubt in his mind Neji thought the same thing. That his opponent was someone barely worth his attention. His victory against her was 'fated' after all.

Hiashi loathed that word... almost as much as he loathed himself.

A coward he had been, for not having the courage to actually open up to his nephew, to tell him how his father had given up his life in spite of his own protests. To actually try and talk to the boy, connect with him...

But how could he do that when he barely could connect with his own children?

Neji was trapped in his fatalistic belief; he needed something that would challenge it, to break it even.

And what better way than to have a 'no name' ninja defeat him?

'Haruno-san' He mused to himself as he looked at the pinkette in the line of chunin aspirants. 'For Neji's sake... please win'

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Kushina whistled as she stood beside the Hokage's seat beside Jiraiya. "I think this is the biggest crowd I've ever seen for an exam."

Hiruzen lit his tobacco pipe and blew out some smoke; "They have come for several reasons my dear. One is obviously to see the Genin of this current generation."

"The next reason is Kirigakure," Jiraiya took over crossing his arms; "This is the first time in ages since they ever allied with anyone."

"Any other reason?" Kushina asked with an arched brow.

"That would be your return of course," the voice of Mizukage garnered their attention as she and a middle aged man with blue moused hair dressed in a striped, grey suit, with a green haori that had white trimmings that stop halfway down. On each ear are Talismans with the Kanji 'to hear', and finally an eye-patch over his right eye. "And then there is your son, people are curious Kushina-dono." Mei gestured to the man beside her; "This is Ao."

The redhead gave a small nod in greeting to the eye-patch wearing man, who returned it, before looking at the Mizukage. "Really? Is he that interesting to people?"

"By now most are aware of him, the child of a Namikaze and an Uzumaki who awoke a kekkei genkai out of nowhere, not only that but the bearer of the Kyuubi no Kitsune" She said, merely stating the facts. "That number of traits is bound to garner... attention"

There was an underlying message that was all too clear for the Uzumaki. Her son possessed multiple characteristics that would make him highly valuable for different parties. If it wasn't his Uzumaki lineage and the sealing mastery behind it then it'd be his Namikaze heritage and their secrets, the Shoton power would only further entice others to get their hands on him even more.

And that wasn't even going over the fact that he was a Jinchuuriki, one of the highest priority targets for enemies of the village...

Kushina could not lie; she feared for her son, she truly did. Because of that she made sure to train him to the best of her ability, so he would be able to stand up to anyone that would try to harm him. Of course, they'd have to get through her first... but Kushina knew she wouldn't always be there to protect him.

Memories of when Kumo kidnapped her surged to the forefront her mind, it was only thanks to Minato's heroic rescue that she escaped their clutches.

"It'd be best for you to keep a close eye on him, Uzumaki-dono" A new different voice made itself known as the newcomer approached the Kage seating area.

Unlike the Mizukage, he actually wore the Kage robes just like Hiruzen, only the colored parts of his were a dark green instead of red. With the kanji for 'wind' written over the white front his conical hate. Though his face was hidden by a veil, there was no mistaking those eyes, Kushina had seen them before once. On the battlefield.

"Lord Rasa" Hiruzen spoke the Kazekage's name with respect. "It's good to have you here"

"Hiruzen-dono," Rasa gave a nod to the wizened Kage as well as to Mei who returned it. "It has been a long time Kushina-san, welcome back."

The redhead smirked; "Good to be back. And ready to watch my son kick some ass."

A long sigh came from Jiraiya and Sarutobi, Rasa cocked his head; "I would not count my children out so quickly." The Kazekage took his seat; "They might surprise you." He gazed down to the arena below meeting Gaara's intense glare of hate with an apathetic stare.

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Naruto rubbed the back of his head; "Man this is a lot of people."

"Don't tell me you're nervous?" Sasuke commented with his arms crossed. "Are you chickening out before we start?"

"Hell no," Naruto grinned; "I got to kick your ass at the end of this."

The Uchiha chuckled; "Like to see you try."

"Please save the trash talking for the fights" Sakura muttered, "Not that anyone would hear you with how big this place is..." Her voice was distant, trailing of as she eyed the other competitors, a bead of sweat dropped down her check as she felt the byproduct of Gaara's killing intent which he seemed to direct towards the kage seating. "Careful Sasuke, that guy is... insane" She whispered to her dark haired teammate.

She tried ignoring him (easier said than done) and looked over at her opponent out of the corner of her eye. Neji was his ever stoic self, unflinching, unmoving, seemingly ignoring the great buzz of the crowd, not even Gaara's presence seemed to affect him. Gods was he even breathing? He was so still she couldn't even tell.

He didn't even pay attention to her, like she wasn't even worth it...

Sakura tried steeling herself, taking deep breaths. She had a strategy, she had a plan, and all she needed to do was execute it on the fight. Remember what Kushina-sensei said... Oh gods what did she say? She said so many things, most of it being senseless rambling followed by crazy schemes for future pranks. There were sometimes wisdom and useful advice in her words, but right now she couldn't remember any of it. Oh what was she going to-?

"Stop worrying" As though somehow he could feel her growing unease, Sasuke said in a... well it wasn't exactly a comforting tone, but it was a big improvement for him. "You'll be fine"

Both Naruto and Sakura blinked in surprise. "Was that... empathy, from you?" The blonde said in bewilderment.

Sasuke snorted but said nothing. At that same moment a man in a standard Konoha Jounin uniform appeared in front of them via Shunshin. He has brown, shoulder-length hair which hangs about his face and brown eyes. On his head he wore his hite-ate like a bandanna with a senbon in his mouth.

"My name is Genma Shiranui; I'll be your proctor for the final exams." He spoke in calm, laid-back manner.

Up with the Kages, Hiruzen took notice that it was finally time to begin. He gave a nod to the other Kages before rising from his and walked to the podium; "I bid you all welcome." His voice rang out throughout the arena silencing the crowd.

"Today is the finals of the chunin exams! I would also like give welcome to Kirigakure for which their Mizukage has joined us for this event." A cheer came from numerous people in the crowd from the land of water, both civilian and Shinobi.

Mei only smiled as the elder Kage spoke again; "And our allies from Sunagakure and their Kazekage." People of the desert nation cheered with pride as Rasa gave a nod of approval.

"You stand here as the most fitting candidates to achieve the rank of chunin" He spoke loudly, addressing the young shinobi in the arena. "To become chunin is not a reward, it's a responsibility. The rank carries with it a great responsibility, as you graduate from novices you are expected to lead. Your performance today will show if you truly are ready for what it means to be a chunin"

"Alright, listen up." Genma took over getting the attention of the Genin prospects; "This pretty much goes like the preliminaries. Fights do not stop unless your opponent is unconscious, dead, or too incapacitated to continue or I say stop. You all got that?" The genin nodded; "Good, now I'd like Sakura Haruno and Neji Hyuuga to remain with me for their bout. Rest of you head up to the fighter's section in the stands.

Naruto gave Sakura a quick hug which she returned; "You got this." The blond grins while Sasuke gave a nod before him and the rest left the arena. In the rows the rosette's parents cheered their daughter on as the crowd begins to roar.

A long sigh came from the young kunoichi as she put her hair in a ponytail much like Kushina's and puts on her gloves. Sakura stood before Neji a good foot away, enough distance to see the Hyuuga giving her a dismissive look. He didn't think she would be a challenge, all he could see was a civilian-born, a barely capable ninja who was not even worth his time.

That was exactly what she needed.

"You should give up now Haruno-san, and save yourself the humiliation" Neji stated with blank apathy.

Taking a reassuring breath, the rosette shook her head; "Afraid not Hyuuga-san. I intend to prove this civilian born is not some disposable tool." Sakura takes the second stance of Nenshou Tsuki.

Neji only closes his eyes; "At least I gave you the option."

In the stands Hinata held her hands together as she gazed at both Sakura and Neji. Silently praying they wouldn't hurt each other too much in the coming fight. Beside her Ino was more vocal; "Kick his butt Sakura!" she cheered wildly making Shikamaru roll his eyes and a chuckle come from their sensei.

Kuro leaned forward in her seat with mild interest; "I've heard of Hyuuga's prowess in battle. Not something to underestimate."

"And it's not," Kakashi spoke up as he sat beside Asuma and Kurenai. "Sakura will be in for a fight, but I have faith in my student. She will pull through."

"Don't count for victory so easily Kakashi," Gai retorted his opinion into the conversation. "Neji was rookie of the year for a reason."

Lyn snorted with a predatory grin; "hope you're in for a surprised 'Green beast'."

Sitting in the stands with several Kiri Shinobi, Zabuza and Kouhei watch on; "This should be interesting if nothing else." The swordsman muttered. A few Jounin and Chunin agreed with him with mild nods and words.

Kouhei said nothing as he watched on. Not too far away Samui and Omoi sat observing. "She's going to be annihilated," the buxom blond teen stated in cold reasoning.

Omoi only shrugged as he chewed on his lollipop. "Unless she gets a punch in."

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Genma eyed both youngsters; "First Match; Sakura Haruno vs Neji Hyuuga, begin!" he leapt out of the way as the crowd roared anew.

Neji rushed in like a bolt of lightning, eager to get this over with and advance to worthier opponents. His Byakugan activated as he advanced, his hands rose prepared to hit her chakra points closer to her head and render her unconscious in an instant.

Naruto and the others in the stands held a breath as Neji charged. Up in rows Hinata held her hands tightly.

Paralyzing fingers like the fangs of a snake ready to strike. Sakura did not move, instead, she slipped a hand into her pouch, pulling out three small bombs and throwing them to the ground.

What followed was a very large explosion of purple smoke, at least seven feet in length and width, covering their location. Nothing could be seen in the dense smoke. Suddenly, Sakura back flipped away from the cloud, looking unharmed.

As the cloud dissipated, the spectators saw Neji slouching, a hand pressed tightly to his chest while he coughed violently. His whole body shaking, angry pearly eyes that now had a soft red tint, indicating irritation in them, glared at her. "W-What did you do?" He tried to regain his failure but nearly faltered, one leg suddenly feeling very weak before he managed to stand up straight once more.

"Poison" Was Sakura's sole reply.

Coughing through the poison smoke in his lungs, the Hyuuga glares at the rosette. "Poison? That's a dirty trick"

Grabbing a few Kunai with tags, Sakura smiled as she lit the slow fuse "Ninja don't play dirty; they strategize and take down their opponent's. By any means necessary..." Tossing her tagged kunai at the Hyuuga she rushed to the side, getting more distance.

Kushina and Jiraiya nod approvingly while Naruto kept a steely expression watching; "You got this Sakura-Chan."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Good strategy." Kuro applauded with a nod.

It was the only way to overcome a superior of opponent, strategize around any possible weakness. And she doubted the Hyuuga carried any antidotes with him, or that he knew any healing techniques.

"Your damn right sister," Lyn cheered with a smirk. "Kushi has been putting that girl through hell preparing to face Mr. Frowny Face down there."

Saito nodded; "Indeed. Kushina, Kakashi-san, and Jiraiya-sama did not pull any punches for the month they spent training Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke."

Ino only cheered on loudly much to Shika's chagrin while Chouji ate his chips. Kiba and Shino both looked surprised, well more Kiba since you really could not tell what Shino was thinking. Hinata only kept her eyes on Sakura and Neji.

Hiashi leaned forward with his hand over his mouth, 'Clever move.'

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Neji felt his body heavier than it should be; his reaction and speed were slower due to the poison spreading through his body. He willed himself to respond quickly, and managed to back away as the kunai hit the ground and lit up. The explosion didn't reach him, but he was still close enough to feel the heat.

He tried to concentrate on the girl who kept running around the area. His vision, despite having the Byakugan activated, blurred slightly. He couldn't focus properly, his head swarmed by tiredness and dizziness. He shook his head and tried to focus, Neji noticed the pinkette had not been affected slightly by the poison, despite having been caught in the blast when she had dropped the bombs between them.

"How are you not affected?!" He demanded.

"I've been dosing myself with the antidote!" She called, stealthily dropping a paper tag as she circled around him.

Before he could react in time an explosion of blinding light hits full force. Neji screams holding his eyes. "Those eyes are deadly, but dōjutsu have weaknesses." Sakura's voice coming from everywhere.

Hinata, Hanabi, Hiashi, along with the rest of the Hyuuga in attendance unconsciously winced.

Closing his eyes from the blast, Neji tries to figure out where the sound was coming from. "This display won't stop me Haruno-San! You can't stop the Byakugan that easily!"

Sakura chuckles as she stealthily places a few more traps around. "Except you can't use your Byakugan if you can't see!" As the effects of her flashing explosive started to wear off, she see Neji growling and turning every way, trying shaking himself of the headache he must be receiving.

A blurry mirage of pink haired opponent was all Neji could focus on, as the light and the poison were throwing off his ability to process information. Though he could barely see Sakura, he was sure he could fight the effects of the poison long enough to reach her. Rushing, pumping his legs, the Hyuuga branch house member storms right for the pink haired woman, flaring his chakra in an attempt to push back the poisons seemingly zapping effect on his system. Unknown to him, the poison was only disorienting his chakra the more he uses it, causing massive fatigue through his attempts to fight it.

As he strikes with his right palm thrusting forward, his movement too sluggish for it to be effective, Sakura quickly sidesteps and grabs his arm, flipping him over her shoulder and into the ground.

His body protests in pain as his back collides with the arena's soil, though his vision was still somewhat blurry, he saw her standing over him, rearing a fist back to attack. He managed to move quickly enough to hit a few points over her torso and arm, he missed some chakra points but his attack was enough to force her to jump back.

Sakura coughed as he held her left side, it was burning with pain, her arm felt stiffer now, and it was hard to move it.

Slowly rising with a long painful groan to his feet Neji huffs. "You will find your arm will be useless for some time. While I hit nothing fatal on your torso, you will find it hard to move as fast as you were Sakura-San."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"So much for that punch," Samui droned as she crossed her arms.

With the Genin prospects Sasuke lightly cursed under his breathe while a growl came from Naruto. Haku stood beside the blond; "This will make it much more difficult for her."

Yugito rubbed her chin before looking to Naruto; "What do you think?"

The blond Uzumaki said nothing for a minute; "Don't count Sakura-Chan out."

"Hell of a hill for her to climb with her left arm being of no use Uzumaki," Karui muttered at Chojuru's side.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Sakura, however, was feeling confident despite her recent injury. She knew it was not going to be easy, as prepared as she was she had learned not to trust plans too far into the final result. This was why she bought some insurance. Smiling, she held a few more bombs in her hand. "I may not move fast anymore, but you'll find you won't be able to get away..." Throwing the smoke bombs around the arena, she reached for more paper bombs.

Seeing her start to distract him, he kept his focus on her. Moving forward, fighting his sluggish nature as best he could, he found himself in the center of several Kunai bombs in an instant. Trying to jump back, Neji could barely react fast enough before the explosions blasted him back, causing another trap to activate around where he first hit Sakura, more poison entering his system, making him disorientated.

Taking this as her chance, the Rosette activated the low power bomb she placed on Neji's back during her throwing move that took him to the ground, making him scream in pain and hit the floor. It was almost over, as Sakura still had one trap left on the field. Running to it as fast as she could, she watches Neji stand up, glaring at her from the side. Standing around the final trap, she held another smoke bomb in her hand. "I'd stay down if I were you..."

Neji stood up, groaning in pain but gritting his teeth to fight it. Walking towards his opponent, the Hyuuga glares menacingly to her. "You won't beat me, I cannot lose."

"Yes... You can."

"I'm telling you it is impossible!" He snarled, rage consuming him. "Do you know why? Because fate already dictated so!"

That makes the rosette stand still and look at him with a mixture of confusion and exasperation. "Fate?"

"Everyone's fate is already decided for them since birth. Yours, mine, everyone's, there is no escaping it" He seethes. He reaches out for his headband and pulls it away with a forceful tug. Sakura's eyes widen at 'ban' shaped seal on his forehead.

"Is that...?" She mutters.

"The Cage Bird Seal" He spats the name with loathing. "My chains, the chains of the entire Branch Family. All of us are branded since birth to serve the Main Branch. This accursed thing can inflict pain and death on a mere command" His hold over his headband tightens. "This seal is a symbol of our inescapable fate, the same fate that befell my father and so many others... Nothing but death and despair awaits us"

In the stands, Hiashi clenches his fists, he could remember the last time he saw his brother. He was smiling at him... 'No Neji... You deserve to know what happened. I will not hold this from you any longer'

Down with the other fighters, Naruto placed a hand upon his stomach. 'It doesn't have to be like this Neji...'

"Neji..." Tenten muttered with sadness. Lee could only feel remorse that regardless of their attempts, his team had failed to pull their comrade from that abyss.

Gaara briefly looked over, but then closed his eyes once more without paying it any mind.

The Hyuuga took a step forward. "And you, a simple civilian born ninja, share the same fate of many others like you. Cannon fodder, a sacrificial pawn that will be cast out for the sake of those stronger... So you can stop holding others back"

Sakura clenched her fist tightly, she remembered those times she could have been more useful, how her teammates seemed to move far and beyond her own progress, how it seemed there would come the day they'd just leave her behind...

She wasn't going to let that happen, she would keep going forward. Always training and learning more, so she could walk at their side, so she wouldn't be a load but rather so she could help them carry their burdens.

She wouldn't leave them, just as she knew they would never leave her.

Jade eyes full of determination snapped open. "You talk too much"

She threw the smoke bomb; the density of the cloud would normally not be a problem for the Byakugan, even with the Hyuuga's weakened state. But the purpose wasn't to blind him with it.

The purpose was to distract him.

As Neji tried to move away from the smoke, not knowing if it carried more of that cursed poison, his blurry dōjutsu's vision began noticing several chakra signatures lighting up... all around him. His turned left and right with growing dread, dozens and dozens of paper bombs were activating, so many and so close.

He willed his body to act despite the pain, he rotated quickly on his fist, hands channeling chakra and forming a fast moving barrier. The poison kept acting up, putting even more strain to his body. "Kaiten!"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Impossible!" a Hyuuga clan elder yelled as he stood from his seat. "How did a member of the branch family learn the Kaiten!?"

Haruka said nothing as his eyes stayed focus on the battle, while his son's Hiashi's eyes had widened with disbelief.

Neji had never been taught that technique, nothing in his instructions had ever gone over these particular branch of techniques from the main house. And none of his teachers would ever show him how to perform that defensive technique.

The only way Neji could actually do the Kaiten… was that he learnt it by himself.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Suddenly, one by one they began exploding all around him. The chakra sphere which he used to defend himself disappeared under blasts of fire and thick clouds of smoke.

The entire arena watched in silence as the dust settled, the smoke slowly cleared away, the still standing form of the Hyuuga, battered and bruised, looking like a soft wind could knock him out.

He was staring at her with so much anger, but most of all, disbelief. He couldn't even process his defeat was at hand.

Kuro only smiled; 'She did well...'

Hinata cupped a hand over her mouth; both in relief and concern flood her as light tears rim her eyes. 'Neji-Nii.'

"Y-You…" He seethed. "You are just another nameless civilian..! There's just no way you can actually defeat me!" It almost sounded he was trying to convince himself.

"…Are you kidding me?" Holding her side while her left arm dangles lifelessly, Sakura walked over to the fallen Hyuuga. Neji tried to move, but his body would not respond as the rosette walked with an angry gait to her steps. "After everything I did, after I clearly showed I won just by outsmarting you, you have the gall to still call me a futureless cannon fodder? You're just gonna keep whining about how unfair the world is when you have so many people that for ungodly reasons actually worry about you?!"

She couldn't take it anymore, she had enough of his ranting.

Her fist tightened as the anger reached the boiling point.

"YOU IDIOT!"

And struck him with a solid uppercut.

His body fell backwards.

For a moment, there was silence.

Neji's soot covered face turned to her slowly and painfully. "Y-You..." He coughs. "You were supposed to lose"

"If I hadn't prepared myself to fight you, I would have" She acknowledged, her anger slowly receding, she didn't have it in her to stay mad anymore, and it just wasn't worth the effort. "I still have a long way to go before being able to fight against someone like you directly"

His breathed are short and shallow. "This makes no sense... You're just a civilian born..."

"That has nothing to do with how I won" She insisted. "I was able to outsmart you wasn't I?"

The Hyuuga did not respond.

Sakura sighs. "I'm sorry for what happened to you" She spoke earnestly. "I can't hope to understand what you went through... But I won't let that make me any less than I am" Sakura looked at him in the eyes.

"People like you..." He retorted. "Can't change their fate"

"I don't really know if there is a fate, or how it is, but one thing I know for certain is that I won't fall behind my team, I will keep getting stronger so we can face everything that comes our way. Together" Her gaze goes to the fighter's and the upper stands. "You have people who really care for you, you know?"

Neji remained silent once more, taking in her words.

"So maybe... you could be happier if you try. I know I'll give it my all to. So I can always stay by my teammates' side" She smiled softly and gazed upwards to the sky. "So I think a talented guy like you won't have much trouble as me with that, you already are pretty strong, and you have really good friends"

The Hyuuga's gaze fell, the disappointment of his defeat and his will shook so much by someone who by all rights shouldn't have been able to defeat him weighted heavily on him. He barely noticed when the medics took him away.

"Winner!" Genma announced. "Sakura Haruno!"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Haruka along with the elders stared in utter shock. A civilian born beat a Hyuuga? The mere thought was inconceivable, but the reality of the event that unfolded spoke otherwise.

Hiashi sighed while his youngest felt her jaw go slack. 'Thank you Haruno-San.' The clan head of the Hyuuga soon frowned. There was something he needed to do, and it could no longer be put off. "Hanabi." The young girl composed herself as she gazed to her father; "Go to your sister, I must attend to another important matter."

"Yes father."

Near them Ino, Karin, Samenosuke, and Lyn cheered the loudest amongst them as the others applauded. Even Kya was faintly impressed at the feat showing via a lifted brow. Kuro stood from her seat as she applauded with a smile. 'That girl has more talent than she knows.'

Not too often could Omoi say he ever seen Samui looked genuinely shocked. He almost wished he had a camera seeing the expression of disbelief on her face. Near them was the rousing laughter of Zabuza; "Well that took the Hyuuga down a peg!"

Kouhei only rolled his eyes.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The Jounin proctor knelt down beside the rosette; "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah," the rosette nodded as she slowly gets to her feet with Genma's help. "Would be nice to have a working arm though." She looks to limp left.

"Doesn't look that bad" He mused as he took a look. "It should be fine by your next match" He smirked reassuringly at her. "But if you ask me, you're already chunin material girl"

She gazed at him as he continues; "Your strategy was excellent, and you kept your composure throughout the match. Far as I am concern kiddo, you're Chunin in my eyes."

Slowly, Sakura bowed respectfully to Genma, whispering a thank you fighting light tears in her eyes. She strolled back to the fighter's box.

She is immediately received by cheers. "Sakura-chan, you were awesome!" Naruto cried in excitement.

Karui smirked; "Damn good fight!" Yugito nodded in agreement with a smile.

"I can't believe it, you did it!" Tenten was pretty much hopping in place. "I feel kind of bad for Neji, but you were great!"

"Indeed Sakura-chan, perhaps this defeat will prove to be more beneficial to our youthful companion in the future!" Lee gave her thumbs up, accompanied by blinding (literally, the glint of his teeth was too much) grin.

"Hmm" Sasuke grunted, looking at her and slowly nodding. "Not bad... not bad at all"

Only a tired rueful grin came from the rosette as she looked over to Haku who walked over. The Hyoton user lifts her limp left arm inspecting it. "An hour maybe less before your arm will function again. You will be fine Sakura-Chan."

"You did amazing" The kiri Nin finished with a sincere smile. "Well done"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

With the Kages and Jiraiya, they do their best ignoring Kushina, who is dancing around them cheering. "Hell yeah~!" She sang.

"That was a splendid match" Mei said, impressed at the display. Ao only looked on with sheer shock in his eye.

"Unbelievable," the Kiri Nin muttered.

"To think the unknown girl like her could defeat a prodigy like the young Hyuuga" The Kazekage noted.

"Never doubt the power of a good strategy Rasa-dono" Hiruzen said sagely. "Neji was overconfident, and Sakura's strategy to face him proved quite effective as we have seen"

The Kazekage nods; "Very true and no small feat. It is a well-earned victory." He was actually impressed a civilian born defeated the Hyuuga. Rasa gave the still cheering Uzumaki an appraising look, "You were partly responsible for her development for this fight as I heard, isn't that right Kushina-dono?"

"Partly? I molded that girl!" The redhead folded her arms as she let out a smug grin, "When it comes to kunoichi, ain't no better teacher than me"

"Quite humble I see" The Mizukage dryly muttered as she rested her cheek on her fist.

"After all, all my students have been amazing" Kushina continued, her chin raised high in pride.

"You've only had one student" Hiruzen felt the need to point out.

"Well, that just means I need my own all girls squad to turn into badasses! Cause from what I've seen of this generation of teachers, they don't know crap about how to train girls"

The Hokage, in a very grave and distant voice, said; "The thought of you molding an entire group of young ladies into what you consider 'ideal' is both intriguing and terrifying"

There is a reason he never assigned Kushina a team...

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The chunin aspirants had little time to comment further on the previous fight when Genma already started calling for the next participants. "Haku Yuki and Yugito Nii, step forward!"

Chocolate and sapphire stare into each as Haku gives a respectful bow; "It will be an honor to face you Yugi-Chan. And becoming your friend was also a bonus."

The Nibi Jinchurriki chuckles putting her hands on her hips; "We might be friends Haku-chan, but don't expect an easy fight." Her adrenaline building for the coming bout. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't looking forward to facing the Hyoton user, next to facing Naruto.

The two came down from the stands, cheers and words of encouragement coming from most of their fellow competitors as they did so.

Mist and Cloud stood off facing each other; the proctor smirked as he felt the intensity of their fighting spirits clashing right in front of him.

Genma slowly raises his hand to the sky. "The match between Haku Yuki and Yugito Nii is about to..." He swiftly brings down his hand in a chopping motion. "Begin!" And he quickly distanced himself from the fighters.

The Kumo-nin wasted no time and darted towards her opponent and great speed. Haku swiftly threw various senbon aimed at her joints, but Yugito zig-zagged them with cat-like grace and agility. She leaped into the air and spun in a great display of acrobatics, delivering a sweeping kick upon the Kiri-nin.

Haku blocked the attack with her forearms guarding above her head, she staggered back slightly from the force of the strike. She pushed Yugito away who back flipped in the air, landing gracefully on the ground with a spin. Her catlike eyes widened when she saw Haku quickly going through some hand seals. "Sensatsu Suishō!"

The air around Haku grows cold as dozen upon dozen of ice senbon form around her. Quickly, the Kumo blonde jumps back with incredible force to gain distance, flipping her way away from the ice-user as the Senbon stat to build up a path right to her from where she once stood to where she stopped flipping. Yugito jumps into the air as the last few fly under her, flipping towards Haku and spinning.

Seeing this, the Kiri Genin jumps out of the way of the cat-like moves of her opponent, whom lands on both hands and spins like a top with two snap kicks. The attack quickly dodged, Yugito pulls her feet under her and jumps with all her might as grabs for a Kunai, spinning in the air to dodge the next attack the young ice user dispatched against her.

Though it was foolhardy to be as quick as she was, as Haku pulls several of her real senbon from her pouch and throws a line of them right one Yugito's path, forcing Yugito to take the ones that were going to hit her in the back before throwing her Kunai right down at her opponent, ignoring the pain from the needles.

Haku easily evaded the kunai, but the hissing sound it brought with it alerted her immediately. She jumped and the paper tag on the kunai exploded, momentarily blocking her view as Yugito landed behind the smoke, landing on all fours.

The jinchuuriki growled as a small bit of her tenant's chakra flowed throughout her body. Her sharp nails dig into the earth as her muscles tenses and hardened, pushing the needles off from her body and quickly regenerating the small wounds. She brought her hands together and went through quick handsigns. She inhaled deeply, her cheeks puffing. "Nezumi Kedama!"

She then spat a small blue fireball with the dark shape of rodent inside the flames. The fireball cleaved through the leftover smoke, and flew straight at Haku, who was caught off guard by the sudden attack. Her reflexes allowed reacting in time for her to quickly grab a kunai and imbue it with ice before throwing it at the fireball.

The kunai and the fireball collided; the elemental attack was split into pieces. Yet to Haku's shock, the fireball hadn't dissipated, rather it had split into numerous smaller blasts of fire which homed in directly at her.

"That's not your average fire Haku," Yugito yells. She hears Matatabi snickering.

Without thought, Haku jumped out of the area of effect that was going to be her demise if she stayed any longer, only just getting out of the way of three of the blasts, one clocking her in the hip and blasting her back as the rest flew up the wall before slipping and looking to flank her as she rolled on the ground.

Groaning in pain, the Ice wielder got up and concentrated. She was hoping to not use her more advanced abilities just yet, but she was backed into a corner. "Hijutsu: Makyō Hyōshō!" With a flash, the area around her was covered in smoke as the incoming blasts flanking her from above hit her jutsu head on. As the smoke slowly clears, the audience could only look in amazement at the large dome wall of ice surrounding the Kiri-Nin with holes created all around from the blasts hitting it full on, though it managed to stop them regardless.

The kiri-nin then gathers her chakra and molds it through a series of handsigns. Icy mist gathers around Yugito, crystallizing in the form of dozens of mirrors suspended in the air around her. Yugito frantically looks around for a way to escape, but all the mirrors were too close to each other for her to find a spot to quickly sneak out.

Suddenly, Haku's reflection appears on all the mirrors, looking at her with a calculating gaze. Yugito realizes this was more a complex ninjutsu and not a genjutsu, meaning that her opponent most likely had the capacity to strike from everywhere in this dome of hers.

So the Kumo-nin did the most sensible thing she could do in this situation. Before Haku had a chance to strike, Yugito began spinning high velocity, her form becoming a blur and disappearing inside blue flames that suddenly lit up all over her body. Haku decided to strike before she could finish whatever it was she was doing. Dozens of copies jumped out of the mirror and straight at the jinchuuriki, senbon in hand ready to strike.

But unfortunately for her, the blaze of blue fire increased in size greatly, erupting as if someone had thrown oil at it. Dozens upon dozens of fireballs were shot in every direction, striking the various copies of the ice ninja, the mirrors began to melt due to the intense heat, and the continuous strike of various fireballs managed to shatter them.

Haku was forced to jump out of the way as her special technique had been destroyed due to the sheer raw power of the Jinchuuriki's flames. Yugito stopped spinning, and looked at her with a predatory gaze while giving a wild smirk. Her features seemed a bit more savage as well.

Without another word, the jinchuuriki lunged at the kiri Nin, nails increasing in length and sharpening. Each attack was like the strike of a wild wolverine, but Haku kept dodging and evading the strike, occasionally countering with a quick attack of her own to stop the claws from reaching her.

'Matatabi-San, she's helping you isn't she' Haku mentally muses while dodging Yugito's strikes.

Narrowly missing the Kumo Kunoichi's attacks, a fingernail from the Jinchurriki cuts through Haku's sleeve, only to hit ice. Yugito's eyes widen as her nails rasp against something cold and hard, she realizes the Kiri kunoichi was surrounding her limbs with a thin coat of ice to protect her body. Her nails manage to break through the place she had stroked, but they weren't able to pierce deeper into the flesh, only managing to graze the skin.

She was forced to dodge as Haku slashed at her with a kunai, but quickly dived in once more with a flurry of her claws. A few of her strikes managed to tear through the clothes over Haku's chest, briefly showing a portion of her undergarments.

Naruto held his nose to stop the blood. Sakura noticed this and glowered.

The Kiri-nin back flipped to gain distance, going through handsigns with one hand while using the other to propel herself from the ground. Yugito tried to close in the distance before she could do whatever she was planning.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Up in their seats, the three Kages watch with highly calculating eyes along with Kushina. "Neither wastes any movement. They keep calm and strike well," the redhead comments.

"It is a close fight" The Kazekage noted with a tip of his head. "They appear to be evenly matched"

Mei only smirks; "Haku will succeed. Out of all my Genin, she has more combat experience than anyone. She is without a doubt one of our most gifted in Kirigakure."

"A Genin of mine speaks highly of her," Hiruzen quips.

"I am not surprised" The Mizukage said with just bit haughtiness in her voice, crossing her legs. "She is one of my shinobi after all"

The redheaded Uzu recalled the few times Naruto brought Haku and her Genin team over. Hard to believe such a polite, kind, and levelheaded young girl stayed sane living with Zabuza for so long. And her son had nothing but praise for the lass, still; "With all due respect my lady" Kushina intervenes with a good-nature smirk. "You still haven't seen what our ninja can do"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Fire gathers around her claws and Yugito leaps forward with all her strength, bringing her nails down in a sweeping motion. A cross of eight arcs of blue fire shot forward at great speed towards the ice ninja.

Haku just kept doing handsigns and finished the sequence with a clap of her hands. But the fiery attack had managed to reach her, she barely dodged as the blast stroke her right arm, burning away the clothes and ice around it, the force of the impact managed to send her to the ground.

Yugito smirked confidently as her attack had seemingly taken her down, now all she had to do was get close and-

"Ugh!" Her left arm feel limp and felt most of her torso burning with pain. A good number of senbon had somehow embedded into her shoulder and the left half of her back, hitting the nerves and depriving her of the use of her arm. She frantically looked back to see and ice mirror behind her, with one of Haku's copies coming away from it, hand held in a throwing motion.

She quickly jumped back, but a new pain suddenly paralyzed her other arm as new senbon found their mark. This time the attack had come from above, and saw another with Haku's clone having done the same thing. More and more mirrors began to form, but Yugito wasn't going to let them finish. She snarled and channeled chakra through her legs, blue flames coating them. She flexed her muscles tightly as she crouched, before launching herself at great speed.

She flaming legs shattered every mirror they made contact which, jumping from one after the other, obliterating them and the clones before they could strike again. She must have broken over a dozen by how quickly they were forming, it was if the Kiri Nin was trying to trap her into that mirror dome again, but this without her arms she couldn't replicate her previous escape without their strength adding to her spinning fire technique.

As she was about to crush another mirror, Haku's, the real Haku's, feet planted itself against her cheek, sending her flying away. Yugito's first mistake was lowering her guard when her attack had seemingly brought down Haku for a time, now she realized the Kiri-nin had intended for that to happen. Her second mistake was losing herself in the task of destroying the mirrors, her vision clouded by the desperation and anger brought by the loss of mobility in her arms, making her forget about Haku who had been wounded by her technique, allowing the ice ninja to get close.

As Yugito painfully landed, Haku launched more senbon at her, this time aimed at her legs, effectively paralyzing her.

The Nibi Jinchurriki snarls to herself, making such a rookie mistake before looking up to Haku who stands beside her. "Please forfeit Yugito, I do not wish to prolong this further."

At those words the blond woman scoffs/chuckles; "I really have to train better don't I?"

"Don't sell yourself short" The kiri Nin smiled sweetly. "I think you were great, a little more and I would have lost"

Yugito lets out a breath, a bit of laughter still present in her voice. "Still I lost... Proctor!" She called for the Jōnin. "I can't fight anymore"

Walking over, Genma could not help but whistle before looking to Haku; "Winner, Haku Yuki!"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The crowd roared in cheer while Naruto absently winced remembering how it felt being hit by Haku's senbon. Even with his crystal armor it still hurt! "How I beat Haku-Chan was a damn miracle."

A questioning brow rose from Sasuke as he looked at the blond; "What about that jutsu you used against her turning everything to crystal?" Speaking of which he has not seen Naruto use that jutsu since Nami.

The chuckle that came from the blond Uzumaki was weak; "Honestly what I used is still an experimental jutsu." The deadpan glare from the Uchiha and Sakura spoke volumes; "I was running out of ideas and Haku-Chan is a beautiful badass!"

"Beautiful eh," Naruto froze at the rosette's dry words.

Karui only looked on in sheer shock, only Samui was ever able to beat Yugito and that was no easy feat. Speaking of the busty blonde teen, Karui could feel that cold glare digging a hole straight into the back of her head. Even if she wasn't visible, Samui had that much of a presence that the young swordswoman of the Cloud knew she was being judged.

She was the last member of Kumo that could become a chunin, the honor of her village depended on her now.

Oh sweet Raijin why...

She could see it now, the Raikage screaming up a storm if she were to fail. Or worse, B-sensei giving her encouragement in a form of a horrible rap song.

UGH! Why was she so negative, since when did she turn into Omoi?!

"Hah! Suck it Kumo!" The bun haired Konoha girl exclaimed before wincing at Karui's look, "Not you, you're good. You're one of the good ones"

Well, that was only mildly insulting...

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Damn," Asuma sighed as he lit a cigarette. "That Kiri girl is good."

Karin cleaned her glasses as a shudder escaped her lips; "Naruto said Haku-chan is a dangerous person. But never thought she was that ruthless."

"She was holding back," Saito commented garnering the others attention. "And it wasn't because they see each other as friends."

"Standard for a ninja, really" Kakashi said, his tone bland and seemingly uninterested. But those who knew him understood the man was ever focused into that was going on around him. "The chunin exams are about winning to the best of your ability, raw power doesn't get you far. Fighting smart, now that's what the Kage want. Part of it involves making sure you don't show all your tricks" He lazily waved a hand, motioning the arena in general. "In a place as large as this, where civilians talk and potential enemies are present, it's best if you keep some aces up your sleeve"

He remembered the battle at the bridge, the fact that Haku could perform hand seals with just one arm had stunned him. Her versatility and creativity with her ice techniques (those mirrors of hers being the prime example), her precise taijutsu and general knowledge of multiple fields. So young and yet... If the girl continued improving at her current pace, then she'd be an S class in just a few years.

"How's a girl like her even here?" Samenosuke mumbled, his chin resting on his palm as he leaned forward. "She clearly doesn't want to be"

"Huh?" Kiba replied in disbelief, "What are you talking about?"

"You blind boy?" The long haired Uzumaki man snorted, "Look at her eyes, that girl doesn't like to fight..."

"He's right Kiba," Shino spoke up as he watched Haku return to the fighter's area and Yugito being taken to the medical bay to be looked over. "During the prelims and my bout with her, I looked into her eyes, she is not a warrior by choice." Shino looked over to Karin; "I'd imagine she has expressed as much to you and Naruto-san."

Karin only shrugged with a retort; "If anyone knows it's Naruto, she speaks to him the most. And Aunt Kushina a bit."

"So why is fighting then?" Hanabi raised her voice beside her older sister who looked down at the Hyoton user. "Why would she fight if she hates it?"

"Uh," Chouji paused mid-eating; "National pride?" That was his guess. Shikamaru only rolled his eyes.

"That girl does not remotely care about such things," Lyn countered as she leaned against her chair. The buxom Uzumaki pointed to Hinata; "She's like her."

"Are you insulting my sister?" Hanabi demanded sternly, jumping out at the defense of her elder sibling. True, she may not be a fighter worthy of inheriting the clan title, but she was still her sister. She had a duty to defend her family.

The wild maned woman shrugged, "Just pointing out the obvious, pipsqueak"

The younger Hyuuga glared angrily at the Uzumaki. Or at least she thought she did, it ended up looking more like a childish pout.

"Excuse me" Kurenai spoke up, mildly irritated at Lyn's attitude, "My student is very strong and driven, and I would appreciate if you don't make any assumptions about her"

"Strong? Perhaps. Driven? Only by what other people want" Lyn said, "That's not a good trait for a warrior to have"

"Lyn!" Saito admonished her with a reproaching glare; it did not have any effect.

Kiba growled, "Take that back! Hinata's a real fighter!"

"If you all really believe that" The Uzumaki woman droned, "then why aren't you letting her speak for herself?"

Kurenai and Kiba both froze before looking back to the girl in question. Hinata said nothing as she merely looked to the ground. Hanabi turned to her sister who glanced at her. Kya sighed; "Lyn's right." It was the first time the Namikaze spoke surprising everyone. "The Yuki will only fight because she has her own belief that drives her. I don't see that in the Hyuuga here."

Hinata felt a pang in her heart at the harsh words but did not reproach either two older women. They were right after all. Having recounted the sparring session where she met the Kiri genin per Naruto's persistence, Haku was driven by protecting those she loves. Even if she hated fighting as much as Hinata did, the Kiri kunoichi will rise to battle for her those who are precious to her.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder she saw Shino looking at her. Though he barely expressed much if any emotion, she knew he cared for his team. Hinata gave a small smile and nod for his quiet concern.

Samenosuke sighed; "Well this got dreary. At least Naruto is up next." On cue they all saw the blond Uzumaki along with Lee heading towards the proctor.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"I am very excited to finally face you Naruto-Kun," Lee said bouncing on the balls of his feet. "So please don't hold back when fighting Me." the spandex wearing teen smiled widely as his teeth shined.

Naruto winced a bit as he swore the sun was reflected right at his face. "Yep, same to you Lee"

He had been planning with his mother the whole month on how to take on Lee. And the solution was simple... even if he did find it a touch distasteful.

He needed to exploit Lee's weaknesses, and after seeing him push himself so hard to achieve his goals, something Naruto immensely respected, it brought a bad taste on his mouth. But the exam required him to fight smart to impress the judges.

'Sorry Lee' Naruto thought a touch ashamed, 'But there's no 'fair' in this line of work' their enemy wouldn't give them the same courtesy after all.

"Next match, Naruto Uzumaki vs Rock Lee" Genma called, bringing up his arm, "Begin!" And jumped out of the way.

Lee wasted no time; he was nearly a blur as he dashed forward, spinning on his feet to deliver a powerful sweeping kick. Underneath Naruto's clothes was already a thin sheet of crystal, he parried the blow with both his forearms, feeling the material protecting them crack.

Tch, one blow from Lee was enough to do this kind of damage.

The taijutsu specialist did not relent on his assault, sending a flurry of punches to which the blonde parried and dodged. His palms deftly blocking Lee's attacks, yet he was still pushed back little by little.

Naruto fell for a feigned blow to his face, blocking on instinct, only for Lee's punch to bury itself into his stomach instead.

The wind left the blond's lungs, even with his crystal armor that felt like being hit with pure steel! Skidding back with his feet carving through the ground. Rubbing his stomach for a second he re-entered the fray. He knew fighting Taijutsu against taijutsu against someone like Lee was insanity, but there was no choice if his plan was to work.

Not to be outpaced in some capacity he went into his mother's Taijutsu. Though his flurry of punches and kicks were spot on and had some speed and strength to them, against someone like Lee it was a glaring divide of skill as he dodged and blocked at a lightning pace.

"Your skills have improved greatly Naruto-Kun!" Lee cheered blocking Naruto's attacks.

Naruto could not help but chuckle back; "If I could actually land a hit on you I would agree!" Throwing a punch he over extended his reach as the Lee caught his wrist; "Oh crap..."

A grin formed on the spandex wearing Genin as he twisted the blond arm enough to elicited a painful growl before turning and flipping the Uzumaki over his shoulder. Before Naruto knew it his back hit the ground with extreme force as the crowd unconscious winced.

"Ow..." The blond groaned out.

Well, he was pretty sure his muscles were turning into mush by now. But if he still wanted them semi-intact he had to step up his defense.

Like dodging Lee's kick aimed at his head.

Naruto rolled out of the way, Lee's strike hitting the ground where he used to be. The Uzumaki got back up to his feet and summoned two crystal formations around him as defense.

"Will not you change to offensive, Naruto-kun?" Lee questioned as he raised his leg and pulled up his arms in a stance. So far the blonde had done very little to attack him, seemingly content to focus on defense. He took in a deep breath, a thin trail of sweat running down his brow.

Naruto rolled his neck, "Nope. Doing just fine Lee" He smirked, "Come on, try and hit me"

Lee didn't need to be told twice.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Hmm, Naruto's staying on defense an awful lot" Hiruzen commented while he stroked his beard.

Kushina gave a not so subtle giggle as a wide conspirational grin formed on her face.

"And of course, you know what he's planning" The Hokage dryly commented.

"Yep" She beamed, "Not telling though~"

Hiruzen shrugged, "Alright" And resumed watching the fight.

"...Really, I'm not"

"I know"

She fidgeted, "I mean, I guess I can share it with you a little if you ask me"

"I wasn't going to"

"But now I wanna tell you!"

"Too bad then" Long years of experience had taught him how to deal with Kushina's childishness.

The less experience Mizukage could only sweatdrop, "And this is the famed line of Uzu..." Her visible eye returned in to the arena. "Though pure defense won't win him the fight, so why..."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"...isn't he doing anything?" Ino wondered aloud. "He's just standing there letting Lee hit him!"

Shikamaru noticed the knowing grins from few of the Uzumakis beside him. Choji looked to his longtime friend; "Is that Lee too much for Naruto?"

It wasn't that, Shika looked back while Ino started shouting words to her fellow blond in the arena. 'It's not that. He has to get close to Lee...But why?' The lazy Nara sighed; "Naruto's planning something."

"Like what, getting his ass kicked?" Kiba bluntly while Akamaru barked on his master's head.

Hinata cupped her hands together as Shino glanced to Kiba but said nothing. Hanabi looked to her sister before looking back to the fight. "He's going to lose." The young Hyuuga stated.

A chuckled came from Samenosuke; "Oh I wouldn't be so sure, pipsqueak."

"What's he up to?" Omoi asked out loud though Samui remained silent as she watched on.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Naruto could feel his crystal armor cracking more and more as Lee kept on the pressure. Close by the proctor rose a brow as he watched on.

He had to hand it to the second Green Beast; most people would have fallen over by now. Part of him expected Lee to be running on fumes by now. Goes to show how much of a giant ball of energy Lee was after all.

Naruto just wished his punches didn't hurt so much.

He was starting to feel sore in places he was sure Lee hadn't hit, just by virtue of being near the places where Lee had hit, THAT'S how strong his attacks were.

At least Lee hadn't gotten a good punch to his head; otherwise he'd be seeing smells and hearing colors by now.

The fastest member of Team Gai kicked up a cloud of dust as he dashed forward once more; Naruto summoned a wall of crystal just in time for Lee's fist to collide with it, even from the other side Naruto saw it crack and splitter.

His hands went over two handsigns, and the crystal exploded outwards, sending Lee back, momentarily bouncing off the ground before he regained his footing and stood up once more, his stance resumed like nothing had happened.

Though damage to his body was superficial, Naruto could see the sweat seeping through his clothes, how Lee's chest rose and fell in quick steady breaths. The blonde grinned, now we're talking...

Lee ceased his assault momentarily to regain his breath, which already was sending alarms. He knew his limits, Gai-sensei made sure pushed them regularly. His intense training regime wasn't enough to tire him this much anymore, and his fight with Naruto-kun wasn't nowhere near long enough yet for his body to start feeling taxed.

And yet somehow, his limbs felt heavier, to the point he was considering dropping his weights. His breathing was labored, as though he had been training with Gai-sensei. More and more he could feel himself losing speed and strength.

"What's wrong Lee," Naruto asked with a positively smug grin, "feeling tired?"

The bowl-haired teen huffed before shaking his head; "I am fine Naruto-Kun. Let us continue."

Genma's brow rose as Lee charged Naruto once again. 'He's gotten slower...' It was also noticeable as Naruto was dodging the strikes slightly better. Then there was the not too subtle grin from the young blond.

It was about that time as Lee attempted several strong punches Naruto caught his wrist of his left hand. The wind escaped his lungs when the blond brought him forward planting his knee into the older teen's stomach. Naruto did it a second time causing Lee to lightly hack out some spit before a strong right hook was connected to the taijutsu expert's jaw.

Lee groaned as he stumbled back a bit holding his jaw for a second. That was a very good punch, having more bite no doubt to Naruto's crystal armor. Still, Lee could not shake something was amiss.

Naruto leapt at him, spinning through the air as he delivered a powerful kick that connected painfully with his right side.

Lee saw it coming, he could have dodged it, he should have dodged it but... his body just didn't react in time.

Why was he so tired?

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Oooo-kay what the hell is going on here?" Tenten wondered as she and the rest of the candidates watched the fight unfold. "I saw that kick coming from a mile away. Lee shouldn't be having this much trouble"

"Eyebrows had the edge at the beginning of the fight" Karui noted, "Why is he so slow now?"

Kankuro frowned, "Is it something Whiskers did?"

"You two don't remember their names, do you?" Haku muttered dryly, which went ignored by the others.

Neither Sasuke nor Sakura could fight the smirk growing on their lips; they knew full well why Lee was growing weaker. After all, Naruto had been practicing with his mother day-in day-out to use this particular craft against Lee.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Naruto kept on the pressure with strong punches and kicks as Lee tried to evade and block sluggishly. 'What is going on,' Lee felt a ping of frustration. His thoughts were interrupted by a strong round-house kick connected to his chin sending him mid-spinning before hitting the ground hard.

The young taijutsu specialist groaned as he struggled to stand up, his limbs felt like they were on fire. 'I just don't understand why-! Huh?' Lee's thoughts screeched to a halt as he noticed something on his right arm, near the elbow, a bit to the right. There was a line of kanji inside a circle.

Lee's eyes widened as he understood. He quickly looked at his other arm; right underneath his forearm he saw another marking just like the previous one. He frantically checked his legs, to his shocking realization he found two more, one in each limb.

Seals... Of course. Naruto's defensive stance during the beginnings of their match, merely dodging and blocking. He let him get close just so that he could press his palms over his body, giving the blonde the opportunity to place the seals on him without him realizing.

"See that you realized now huh?" Naruto said with a grin, "Yep, weakening seals. Nothing fancy, they're designed to sap away stamina and strength over time"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

From his place on the stands, the Inuzuka stared with wide eyes, "Lee has seals on his limbs?!" Kiba asked incredulously.

"Y-Yes!" Hinata replied with a nod, veins bulging at the corner of her eyes as her peerless vision perceived what regular eyes could not. Every chakra point on Lee's body was as clear to her as roads on a map, and there on his arms and legs she saw lines that shouldn't be there, overlying chakra threads that had been weaved intricately to interfere with the energy of his body.

Naruto had placed seals on Lee.

Lyn only giggled while Samenosuke chuckled; "You do know what Uzumakis are famous for?" The roguish redhead smiled at the teens.

Ino gave a confused look; "But when did he-" Her eyes lit up with realization. "That's why he stayed on the defense!"

"Correct Ino-San," Saito gave a nod along with his son. "Given Lee's teacher we knew Naruto could not compete with Lee's skills in taijutsu. But there are ways to leveling the playing field."

Gai stayed focused to the fight of the fight as Naruto was gaining more ground against his student.

Soon a tug came to the Mizukage's beautiful red lips "Very clever."

Ao gave a small nod glancing to the Uzumaki redhead; "It seems your son have a gift for seals like a true Uzumaki Kushina-Dono."

The former ANBU captain grinned with pride beside a smirking Jiraiya. "Now all that left is taking Gai's brat down." None of them was noticing the pleased gaze from Rasa's eyes as he watched the fight continue.

In the fighter's box Tenten only looked on in shock; "That sneaky little-"

"You that surprised?" Karui asked with a lifted brow; "He's an Uzumaki, seals are kind of their thing." She glanced over to Sakura and Sasuke who never stopped smirking as they watched on.

"Naruto-Kun had to let Lee-San close in order to put the seals on him. He knew he'd take some punishment but worth it for this." Haku smiled. 'You can win this Naruto-kun.'

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

As Lee slowly got to a vertical base, though painfully, he regarded the blonde with an intense stare "Well played Naruto-Kun."

"I remembered those spars we had when I was training with Ten-Chan. And you completely destroying me every time," Naruto kept his grinned; "Knew I can't compete against because I'm just not at your level yet. So... brought you down to something I can manage now."

Lee rubbed his chest as he soon smiled back; "Ingenious plan! So it would not matter even if I took of my weights or not, I'd still get weaker."

"Yup." The blond crossed his arms; "Rather now drag this out Bushy-Brow. Wanna give up now?"

"Afraid I cannot," The spandex wearing genin shook his head. "I have much to prove, not to the people here but to myself. That hard-work can match natural talent."

At those words Naruto felt a light pang. Remembering his talk with the others about why he originally liked the thought of fighting Lee. Part of him still felt a bit like a hypocrite for all the things he said, but he had come understand that indeed had a lot of natural talent. From his lineage, parentage, and his bloodline limit, only coming out thanks to Shoton awakening. A late bloomer as Ero-Sennin put it, would he have still been the same knucklehead had his Shoton never came out?

He shook those thoughts away before taking a stance, respecting Lee's determination; "Alright, but you will keep getting weaker with those seals."

"That is fine, I work better under pressure," Lee got back into his fighting stance as well.

The two drew close again in an exchange of blows.

To see Naruto land his strikes on Lee, parry Lee's attacks and counter faster than Lee could react was surreal to Tenten, it spoke of how much weaker Lee was at the moment, and those seals Naruto placed on him allowed him to truly fight on even grounds.

And even then, the tide was slowly turning to Naruto's advantage, as Lee's stamina was being drained more and more which each passing moment. She winced when the back of Naruto's hand connected to his jaw, followed up by a series of quick jabs at his open midsection, finished off by a roadhouse kick.

And yet Lee fought on.

It was something to be admired, Lee's determination, despite his inability to perform jutsu. If he could actually mold his chakra properly then he could perhaps break off Naruto's seals. Of course, Tenten as a dutiful teammate would make seal-breakers for him to use, seals placed upon scrolls designed to dispel other seals. Lee could still use ninja tools just by applying chakra to them.

...But he had refused to carry any of them for this fight, no matter how much Tenten had insisted on it.

That stubborn knucklehead, so determined to prove he could be a great ninja with taijutsu alone his mind closed itself to other avenues and strategy.

Yugito, who now sat beside Samui and Omoi lifts a brow; "Why isn't that guy trying to use any ninja tools or seal-breakers?"

"Didn't Naruto say that Lee guy was a Taijutsu nut?" Omoi brought up watching the bout intently.

At that Samui shook his head; "He won't win by simply using Taijutsu." A ninja should be more versatile and adaptive with their skills for any enemy that comes for them.

Having gained some good distance Lee caught his breath after Naruto barrage of strikes. The older teen had to admit his blond opponent has improved a great deal in his Taijutsu. Naruto had come a long way from when they first sparred months ago. His eyes narrowed as the blond went through several hand seals. Soon a dozen or more crystal hummingbirds soon appeared around the young Uzumaki.

The crystal constructs flew with fierce speeds towards the bowl haired teen. It was glaring how Lee sluggishly dodged receiving a least several sharp cuts on his limbs and face. However Lee let his focus lax on the blond Uzumaki as a crystal chain shot through the hummingbirds and wrapped around Lee's wrist.

With a sharp tug the young Taijutsu specialist was swung through the air before being slammed to the ground with such violent force he coughed up blood. But he wasn't staying down, Lee groaned as he pushed himself off the ground with shaky limbs.

"Honestly, how hard is it to knock you out?!" Naruto called out with actual worry in his voice. He didn't want to hurt Lee this badly.

Round eyes looked at him with fierce determination, "I'm not about to lose, Naruto-kun. I have much to prove yet" He removed the weights of his legs, these two cracking the ground with sheer pressure as they fell to the sides. "They told us we would never amount to anything, but here we are... I'm going show to everyone what a genius of hard work can do"

"Lee..." Was defeating him that important to Lee?

Yes, Naruto soon realized. It took his teammate drilling common sense into him, but Naruto finally understood that Lee was as similar to him as he was different. They both wanted to prove themselves to others, but whereas once Naruto thought himself pitied against unfortunate odds concerning his own talents, the truth was that all along he had been born blessed, he just didn't know it back then.

Lee on the other hand...

"Isn't that what you always say, Naruto?!"

Chakra became visible as sheer pressure emanated from Lee in waves, the ground around him cracking as heated air picked up around him.

"This is my nindo, my ninja way!"

The Uzumaki's blonde eyes widened.

Lee's skin reddened, his pupils disappearing as he let out a howl of pure power.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Woah!" Choji exclaimed wide eyed, a gesture shared by many of the people sitting in the stands close to him. "What's Lee doing?" He had only seen so much power being released like this with his family's Butterfly Mode. And that was at the expense of converting their own body mass into chakra. He couldn't begin to imagine what Lee's body was going through to expel chakra in such incredible quantity.

The adults seemed to understand what was going on better, "No way" Kakashi breathed out in disbelief, turning sharply to look at an uncharacteristically stoic Green Beast. "Gai, you didn't!"

The taijutsu master closed his eyes, "I will do anything for Lee to achieve his dreams"

Kurenai's hands slammed over her legs as she directed a gravely reproaching glare at him, "Gai that was very irresponsible from you!"

Hinata's and Hanabi's had their respected Doujutsu active as they saw Lee's chakra network become flooded with pure energy. "So much chakra!" the youngest Hyuuga spoke up in shock.

"Are you mad Gai?!" Asuma's voice booms surprising and starling the kids and some people around them. "You know what that can do to a person!"

The older Uzumaki and lone Namikaze glare with strong disapproval shone in their eyes. Gai met all of their glares with one of his own; "None of you understand what that boy has been through to get where he is now."

"Can someone tell the rookies here what's going on!" Ino screeched pointing to Lee; "What the hell is he doing?!"

Kuro only kept her unflinching gaze at the scene.

Up at that the kage's box all three shinobi leaders along with Jiraiya, Kushina, and Ao were shocked before anger surged through the Uzumaki redhead; "I am going to wring Gai a new one!"

A sigh came from Hiruzen as he tipped his hat forward; "Unbelievable."

The Gama Sannin only glared with a deep frown on his face. Ao only shook his head; "To think a child could actually use the inner gates."

"It's irresponsible," Mei retorted harshly as she glared; "That technique is dangerous even for adults. The damage he will inflict to his chakra network and internal organs will be severe."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Naruto only looked on with shock as Lee's body radiated with pure chakra. 'What is this?!'

"He can use the eight gates!" Matatabi's panicked voice rang in the blond's mind surprising him. "The gates are unique tenketsu within people's body that keeps a person's chakra from overflowing and killing them. I encountered a few people who can unleash them. It gives a person unrivaled power but at an extreme cost! Those seals you used are worthless now, be careful!"

Kurama snorted and scoffed at his sister's concern; "Don't expect to use my power brat. Defeat this simpleton on your own."

The feline Bijuu growled at her brother who did nothing but watch on. Naruto was quiet before frowning; 'Alright furball, I'll stop Lee with my own strength.' The moment, the 'second', he finished thinking that, Lee's fist was already being buried on his cheek.

It hit him with such force he was sent flying.

He bounced off the ground once, twice, thrice before his body rolled to a stop.

"You were saying, brat?" Kurama drawled out

'Hi mom!' Naruto thought back, his gaze unfocused as everything around him kept spinning, 'What's for breakfast?'

Well, the green brat's fist sure did a number on him, but the fox just went along with it. "Well, your ass handed to you on a platter"

The blonde Uzumaki stood up groaning, slowly shaking off the mental cobwebs and regaining his footing. He tenderly rubbed his cheek, if not for chakra enhancing one's body his jaw would be dust by now... Was that a loose tooth he felt?

Naruto tried to think of how to fight his now much more powerful opponent, Lee's speed and strength had gone up so fast that his seals vaguely made a difference now. Heh, that Bushy Brows was something else, to push himself to such heights all to win against him. Breaking the limits of his body in order to achieve a power to be feared, no doubt it had taken Lee soul crushing training to be able to achieve it.

His praise for his opponent was cut short as Lee charged forwards once more, actually banishing from sight and reappearing behind him in a burst of speed.

"Shi-!" He hastily formed a shield of crystal from his hands, but Lee's kick crashed it immediately and sent him flying once more, this time the force behind his attack softened somewhat by having to break through his shoton first.

The moment his feet touched the ground again, Lee was waiting for him, attacking him with such velocity he was a blur. Naruto had to call up sheet over sheet of crystal across his body in order to resist Lee's relentless attacks.

Any type of counter attack was impossible, Lee was simple too fast. He blinked from one side to the other in a never ending barrage of punches and kicks, each carrying so much force that Naruto felt any of those strikes could end his defense faulted for even a second.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The eyes of everyone in the stadium darted from one place to another in an effort to keep up with the green spandex wearing genin, almost like one would follow the ball of a pinball machine.

"Okay seriously, what the hell?" Kiba blurted, eyes wide in disbelief, "I had no idea Lee could do something like this"

"To have actually opened enough gates like that at his age" Saito mused, awe laced in his voice, "Unbelievable..."

Gai smiled with pride, something that the other teachers felt he shouldn't really be feeling considering what he taught Lee was very much life-threatening. "That is the power of my dear student's hard work"

"This is more than hard work, Gai" Kakashi felt the need to correct him, "Opening the gates at his age? Possible. Opening more than one and be able to resist the sheer power and being able to fight like that? That is more than hard work that is talent, pure in-born talent"

"A costly talent," everyone's attention was drawn to Kuro's steely voice as she watched on; "regardless of the outcome your student will be badly injured because of this."

Slowly a glare crept from the green beast; "Lee is aware of this as am I, which is why he only uses the Gates for a short window of time."

Hinata felt a knot in her heart as she saw Naruto being beaten around the arena. "Come on Naruto kick his ass!" Ino's shout caught the Hyuuga sisters by surprise as she looked at the Yamanaka who glanced at them; "What? I became his friend last month too you know, I want him to win!"

At the fighter's box Sakura and Sasuke mild glared at Tenten who glared back; "We all got trump cards." She huffed as she crossed her arms; "Just did not expect Lee to pull that out on Naruto."

Haku was silent as she gripped the railing watching on. She felt a cold knot each time as Naruto was flung around by the young Taijutsu expert. "Uh... Haku." Karui's voice had gotten her attention as the Kumo kunoichi looked a bit wary. "You're freezing the railing over."

Looking down and indeed the steel railing was coated with ice from her hands. Which soon vanished by an embarrassed brunette; "Sorry."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Genma felt his eyes started to hurt as Naruto was doing his impression of a pinball. 'That kid can't take much more. Jinchurriki or not, he's got to end this quick or he's done.'

Unbeknownst to the proctor, Naruto was following a very similar line of thought. Lee simply did not let up, he gave him absolutely no breathing room, no time at all to form a single handsign. He couldn't even spam his beloved clone jutsu.

He was being battered from every single angle, his body sustaining more and more damage from Lee's speed crazed onslaught, he just wasn't fast enough to counter, much less plan a comeback.

He needed to get Lee still, if he could do that for just one moment then-

The second Green Beast broke Naruto's footing with a sweeping leg strike, and before his widening blue eyes the bandages around Lee's arm unwrapped and coiled around him as though they had a mind of their own. Soon his entire body was incased into material, holding tight against him, unable to move.

Lee leapt high in the air, a long strip of his bandage connecting his arm to Naruto's trapped form. The blonde's mind swirled, knowing he was at Lee's mercy.

Lee tugged at the strip, and Naruto felt himself be pulled towards him.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline, the sheer desperation that leads him to act purely on instinct, regardless, his body moved. Crystal gathered in his arm, growing outwards into a cutting edge, freeing his arm. Naruto wasted no time and gathered chakra in his palm.

The taijutsu specialist's fist tightened so hard his knuckles popped, and screamed; "Hidden Lotus!"

With this one strike he'd finish the match and claim his victory, showing everyone the strength of a genius of hard work.

Too late did he notice the spiraling sphere of chakra in Naruto's hand.

"Rasengan!"

People outside the arena covered their ears as what sounded like the loudest thunderclap ever heard erupted. Everyone in the arena only saw a blur as the explosion rang their so loud some wondered if their ears were bleeding.

Two figures separated from the explosion going in the opposite direction with such violent force they skipped on the ground before Naruto and Lee slammed into the arena wall with such force both cratered.

All were silent as they lowered their hands from their ears and saw the two young Genin peel off from the wall and fall to the ground at the same time. One could hear a pin drop within the arena save Kushina being held by the waist by Jiraiya. The woman was practically a wild bear clawing at him as she tried to jump down to her son.

The kids in the fighter's box held their breath along with the Uzumakis and the people beside them.

Rubbing his ears, Genma looked at both combatants. "Must have been a reaction to all the chakra coming off Gai's clone." he muttered looking back and forth at the two Genin. At the moment he started to raise his hand to call it a draw, until he heard a cough from the Uzumaki.

Actually several more coughs came from the blond as he stirred and groaned. Felt like all his bones were broken yet he painfully got to his feet. He spat out some blood and saw how torn and beat up his clothes were before gazing around him. "...Lee?" It was then he noticed his spandex wearing friend was still unconscious and face down on the ground.

His typical clothes were a mess, he could make out how the fabric around his midsection had been badly torn up. The proctor knelt next to him and checks him over. "Winner by knockout, Naruto Uzumaki!" He declared loudly for all the audience to hear.

The cheers from his friends and family were deafening, his mother had to be the loudest of them. But Naruto's focus was solely on Lee, Genma ordered the medics to carry him out and immediately treat him, the use of the gates no doubt would take a heavy toll on his body.

'You went to so far... to prove you didn't need a bloodline or anything to win. And yet...'

Part of him felt ashamed for having won, almost like he had proven Lee wrong, and in a way reinforced Neji's hateful arguments. It made him feel sick...

"Oh spare me the self-pitying" Kurama snarled in disgust, "that brat nearly beat you, just a few seconds and you would have been done for. So don't give me any of that crap"

"As crass as my brother puts it," Matatabi growled out before calming down in the blond's head; "You earned this victory kitten. Rest up and get ready for the next match."

So wrapped up in his thoughts he failed to notice Genma beside him; "Kid?" The Jounin's voice snapped the blond out of his head as he looked up to the older man; "You okay?"

"Y-yeah," Naruto breathed out with a sigh as he watched Lee being taken away; "How bad is he?"

"Don't know, docs will figure that out. He wasn't using the Gates too long, but it still would have done havoc to his body." Genma pats the blond's shoulder; "Well fought kid."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

He groaned as she entered the fighter's box, his friends thankfully did not crowd him much and let him sit down. He was too sore to even care about Gaara's murderous glare.

"Sorry I beat your teammate Ten-chan..." He said apologetically to the bun haired girl.

"Honestly" Tenten sigh, "I made seal-breakers for Lee to use in this fight, but he did not want them"

"That was his mistake then" Sasuke bluntly stated, though not unkindly for once.

"Seals or not" Sakura said, checking his arm, paying no mind to Naruto's hiss of pain. "Lee really tore you a new one"

"That's okay, I heal fast" Ahhh the actual benefits of being a jinchuuriki, he should be good enough for the next match. "Really, all the crap he gets for just using taijutsu? Pfft, those idiots have no idea what they're talking about" Haku rolled her eyes while looking the blond over with Sakura.

At that, the young weapon mistress smiled brightly, a gesture the blonde returned.

That smile did not go unnoticed by a pale, raven haired woman in the stands next to his family. That smile was... all too familiar.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

See ya soon!