What's good everyone!? This chapters starts the second half of the Chunin Exams Arc (I dunno about you all but I treat the Chunin Exams and Invasion of the Leaf Village as one arc TBH since they both take place during the same time frame) and I'm excited to get on it! =D
Let's get to it before I ramble on too much! XP
I AM SO SORRY! I THOUGHT I UPLOADED THE CHAPTER! XD
Logically, Team Konohamaru were taken aback as they processed all of the different events of the last memory.
"…I had no idea Uncle Gaara was so….bloodthirsty…." Boruto shook his head.
"Yeah…to think he would go as far as to kill Master Lee in his sleep…" Sarada gulped.
"I wanna believe it was part of the Shukaku's influence…" Boruto began with Mitsuki picking up on what Boruto was assuming.
"Unfortunately it was one hundred percent voluntary…" Mitsuki sighed with Boruto and Sarada also sharing a sigh.
"I knew you would say that….but do you think that actually happened? His own dad turning him into a weapon and trying to kill him?" Sarada asked, the latter portion of that question being ironic in a cynical type of way.
"He may be a murderous psychopath at this point in dad's history, but I don't think he's a liar." Boruto frowned before Sarada growled.
"I can't believe it! You basically take your child's chance for a normal childhood yet throw him away like an old shoe when he doesn't live up to your standards!? If that's not evil…" Sarada clenched her fists remembering how awful Naruto was treated as a mere toddler.
"I know….these people making kids Jinchuuriki really piss me off….at least dad had parents who love him but Uncle Gaara…." Boruto turned his head away…."And the fact it's portrayed as something noble with them being weapons is just…."
Sensing his friends' anger, Mitsuki decided to shift the subject to a light-hearted subject.
"Who would have guessed we'd finally meet Master Jiraiya?" Mitsuki offered as a change in subject. Sensing the hint, Boruto and Sarada decided to change the topic in hopes of not getting too animated.
"Yeah….but…is he really so grand?" Sarada asked, not even bothering to hide how unimpressed she was of seeing Jiraiya's shenanigans as the boys laughed, primarily Boruto who understood her baffled feelings one hundred percent.
"Believe me, I said the same thing too but he proved me wrong!" Boruto grinned.
"Yeah you said he was….messy and a goof?" Mitsuki chuckled.
"Yep!" Boruto cheesed.
"I can't wait to see the fruits of Lord Seventh's training." Sarada said and as if to grant her request like a Genie Lamp, the bluish-purplish mist suddenly enveloped the three before they found themselves in front of an arena in the dead of nighttime.
"Is this….the Chunin Exam Stadium?" Sarada marveled at the arena.
"Wow….everything sure was smaller back during when our parents were our age…." Boruto chuckled as the three saw a familiar blur of orange looking at the arena with a look of trepidation on his face.
"Hey, there's Lord Seventh." Mitsuki pointed out as Boruto and Sarada then took notice of Naruto.
"It is! But man…he looks spooked…" Boruto frowned as Sarada sighed.
"With the competition, can you honestly blame him?" Sarada asked her teammate who couldn't disagree.
Naruto continued looking at the arena before sighing heavily.
"Tomorrow, huh?" Naruto sighed before shaking his head as he decided to make his way to his favorite spot, Ichiraku Ramen. For sentimental reasons, it made sense why Naruto would choose this place. Naruto sat quietly at the table before Teuchi finally noticed the usually boisterous blonde.
"So what's up? It's been a while since you've come in." Teuchi asked Naruto as he continued cooking his noodles.
"Heh, well I was kinda in the hospital." Naruto half-heartedly chuckled as Teuchi and Ayame both stopped what they were doing to look at the blonde in surprise.
"The hospital?" Ayame asked, concern evident in her voice.
Naruto just chuckled in response, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Never felt better as a matter of fact." Naruto grinned as both father and daughter didn't look too convinced but decided that they would trust Naruto's judgement. As such, Ayame put a huge bowl of ramen in front of the young boy.
Naruto just looked at the two in surprise. Sensing his surprise, Teuchi just waved Naruto off.
"Just eat it. The final competition is tomorrow, right?" Teuchi asked as Ayame smiled reassuringly at the young blonde who grinned hungrily.
"Alright, thanks!" Naruto grinned as he eagerly ate the meal on the house as Team Konohamaru happily watched the whole proceedings.
"Those guys." Boruto grinned.
"They're always there for him when he most needs it." Sarada wiped her eyes as Mitsuki chuckled.
This seemed to perk up Naruto's spirit somewhat though not for long as Naruto had a pretty sleepless night though it was no one's guess as to why.
"Once a failure, always a failure. They don't change!" The voice of Neji Hyuga rang through Naruto's head as another voice soon followed.
"Make no mistake, I will kill you all…." Gaara promised without the shadow of a doubt as Naruto rubbed his sleepy eyes.
"Poor guy's spooked….." Boruto sighed.
"But can you blame him?" Sarada asked as Naruto half-heartedly ate his usual breakfast of instant ramen before getting dressed and walking the streets of the Leaf Village. During his stroll, he was able to pick up on conversations that some villagers were having.
"Neji Hyuga's in the first match, right?" One villager asked his friend.
"Oh yeah, that guy's the number one rookie from last year. We can't miss that match!" His friend grinned as Boruto and Sarada glared at them.
"Don't count out dad just yet!" Boruto scowled as Sarada's scowl turned into a frown.
"Poor Lord Seventh….Those jerks really didn't help…." Sarada sighed before Naruto started walking not to the Chunin Exam Stadium but to his old training field.
"Hey….this is where dad and the others had their Bell Test…" Boruto noticed with wide eyes.
"What's he doing here?" Sarada pondered.
"Chance, perhaps?" Mitsuki noticed before the others noticed a familiar strand of blue hair.
"Hey, it's mom!" Boruto grinned.
"And I'm happy she looks better and healthier!" Sarada smiled in relief that she didn't look like she did two memories ago.
It was then that Naruto noticed her, looking relieved as well.
"Hinata?" Naruto noticed as Hinata hid behind the log she was leaning on.
"Oh Naruto! Why…are you here? The….final competition?" Hinata was surprised that someone as eager as Naruto wasn't the first one at the arena.
"Oh….yeah, I actually came to check this plate it. This is actually the place where I became a Genin so….." Naruto looked down.
"Yeah…great memories." Boruto joked.
"Oh…but why are you here?" Hinata tilted her head behind the log she was behind as Naruto shook his head.
"Oh nothing, nothing at all." Naruto lied.
"Oh okay….sorry." Hinata looked down dejected as an awkward air passed between the two.
"So uh…Hinata….Neji's a brother of yours, right?" Naruto asked with Hinata nodding half-heartedly.
"So is he really strong?" Naruto frowned as Hinata merely nodded again.
"…Great…" Naruto sighed, disappointment evident in his voice, which Hinata instantly picked up on.
'But I mean you might be able to win, Naruto!" Hinata tried reassuring Naruto.
"Yeah, you're right. I am strong after all!" Naruto laughed, albeit very forcibly.
"He's clearly faking it…" Sarada looked at Naruto sympathetically.
"Yeah….those guys definitely ain't no joke." Boruto sighed as Hinata knew how fake Naruto was being.
"I know you can do it, Naruto….remember that time when you cheered for me?" Hinata asked as the memory of Hinata struggling against Neji along with Naruto cheering her on flashed through the memory before returning back to the present.
"To some it may look like nothing's changed about me but I feel differently…like I'm a better person….and I have you to thank for that…" Hinata gave Naruto a small smile.
"That's dad's influence….always changing people for the better." Boruto smiled, thinking of Haku and Zabuza.
"Hinata….you really believe that?" Naruto began as Hinata looked at her idol and crush in surprise as he continued, "I may look strong to you but all I ever to is mess up. I act tough because I'm so frustrated….but underneath it all…I'm just a huge failure…" Naruto looked down as everyone listening could feel nothing but truth radiating from Naruto's words.
"How can he say that!? Sure he's nowhere as strong as he is now but look at what he's done so far? He helped liberate a country from some tyrant dick!" Boruto exploded in anger.
"But he's nowhere on the level of Master Gaara, Neji and even Sasuke." Mitsuki reminded his friend.
"Sure but to see him belittling himself like this is just….surreal…." Sarada could hardly believe her ears. And if she was surprised, it was nothing compared to what Hinata was feeling.
"No, that's not true! Even when you messed up you were always a proud failure from my point of view." Hinata smiled at Naruto much to his surprise.
"Proud failure, huh?" Boruto smiled.
"Sounds pretty accurate." Mitsuki chuckled as Hinata's smile widened.
"When I look at you, you just fill me with such….admiration. Of course I'm not saying you're perfect but when you make a mistake you have the guts to pick yourself up and keep trying. I think that courage to keep on going is what real strength is. I just think you're an incredibly strong person, Naruto." Hinata finished her statement with the most confidence that anyone had heard from her since these memories had started.
"She's becoming more like the mom I know!" Boruto grinned broadly.
"And it looks like it's working on Lord Seventh." Mitsuki smiled as he noticed the doubt slowly leave Naruto's facial features.
"Thank god for her. I wonder if this is the start of their love story." Sarada giggled as Naruto grinned.
"Thanks, Hinata. I needed that. Even though I'm completely used to being the underdog, I guess the stress got to me but I feel a hundred percent better now!" Naruto flexed his arms with his confidence completely restored, all thanks to the Hyuga in front of him as Hinata was nothing short of elated to help.
"Alright, I'm off to the match, thanks again." Naruto was about to take his leave before turning back to Hinata.
"Oh yeah, Hinata. I kinda always thought you were gloomy, timid, always terrified and completely weird." Naruto bluntly stated as Hinata deadpanned.
"What the hell!? Way to ruin the moment." Sarada glared at Naruto as Boruto and Mitsuki chuckled.
"He isn't wrong." Boruto laughed remembering how awkward Hinata was.
"But someone like you, I really like!" Naruto declared as Hinata was practically stunned into silence as Naruto made his departure.
"Without even knowing, he's completely charmed her." Mitsuki smiled with the other members of Team Konohamaru.
"And that knucklehead doesn't even know it." Boruto snickered as Naruto ran the streets very briskly, even later than normal thanks to his side track.
As he was hauling ass, Konohamaru suddenly stopped him.
"What does he want?" Boruto asked as Konohamaru grinned at Naruto.
"My friend needs help so check it out!" Konohamaru gave Naruto a thumbs up as Naruto just stared at him.
"Konohamaru, what are you talking about?" Naruto blinked as Konohamaru shook his head.
"No time to explain!" Konohamaru said before realizing, "Actually I guess there is time! There's a shortcut that leads straight to the arena!" Konohamaru ran off as Naruto was nothing short of happy to hear about such a short cut.
"Really!? Thank you, Konohamaru!"Naruto cheesed hard. However, right as the two reached where the supposed short cut was, it was revealed the way was blocked off with a plank of wood.
"….Uh…looks like the short cut got a little longer…" Konohamaru sheepishly laughed much to Naruto's chagrin.
"Why did I know that would happen?" Sarada giggled as Naruto was ready to rip his hair out in frustration.
"Ugh! This is just great! I'm gonna be late for sure!" Naruto ground out as Konohamaru gripped his pant leg.
"No wait! I know another way, I promise!" Konohamaru giggled as Naruto reluctantly agreed just to humor the kid.
However, this way was a bit more….dangerous…
"Way, they're going through a sewer hole?" Sarada asked incredulously at such an asinine plan.
"And this ain't gonna end up well."Boruto snickered as the two ended up falling in the Hidden Leaf Hot Springs.
Well…Naruto did while Konohamaru was saved miraculously.
"Uh…hold on, it was a mistake!" Konohamaru sweated nervously as he noticed Naruto cracking his knuckles.
"What have you done Konohamaru!? And why did we fall out of the tree!? And we're even further away than we were before!" Naruto yelled at the literal end of his preverbal rope.
Searching for a way out, Konohamaru's eyes landed on what he thought would have made up for his first two failures.
"Oh no, you can't be serious." Sarada groaned with a face-palm.
"Oh yes, he is serious." Boruto snickered as Konohamaru got a bull from a nearby miraculous stable looking proud with his idea.
"Just ride this guy here and you'll get to the arena in no time!" Konohamaru grinned proudly as Naruto was far from impressed or proud.
"….Seriously…a bull?" Naruto deadpanned, obviously not impressed with Konohamaru's idea who was offended as he picked up on Naruto's obvious lack of enthusiasm with his plan.
"They're not just any bulls. The feudal lords' bulls aren't just like ordinary, everyday cows but they're like super bulls! Once they start running even horses grow deathly afraid. They know there's no way they can beat a feudal bull!" Konohamaru all but bragged.
"With you put it all like that, who can say no?" Sarada blinked as Naruto seemed convinced as he hastily got on top of the bull, eager to get to the Finals Arena.
"I'm counting on you bull! Okay, let's go!" Naruto grinned, kicking the bull on its side before the bull immediately got hostile before throwing Naruto off like a piece of meat.
"Well that was successful." Boruto snorted as Naruto rubbed his sore side before noticing the bull staring at him. Or rather….his back.
"Wait, what's it looking at?" Boruto asked.
"The spiral symbol on his back. But why is he-?"Sarada pondered before she noticed the bull's eyes slowly turn red.
"Looks like that's the equivalent of a toro." Mitsuki chuckled before the bull was on Naruto like cheese on Macaroni.
"Well that's just great! Now he has something else to deal with!" Sarada exclaimed in disbelief as Boruto and Mitsuki stared blankly before laughing.
"What's so funny? He has a bull on him!" Sarada snapped at her teammates who continued laughing.
"Yeah but it's not like he's in any real danger." Boruto snickered.
"And there's more of them." Mitsuki laughed, pointing at the rising number of bulls chasing the young ninja after him.
Sarada was ready to pull her hair out as there seemed to be at least a hundred of stampeding bulls ready to railroad Naruto. Thinking fast, Naruto used his Shadow Clone Jutsu in an attempt to try to ward off the bulls but he was unsuccessful in doing so but at least they eventually reached the arena with the bulls pushing all the clones away, sending him flying headfirst into the arena.
"At least he made it." Sarada giggled.
"Yes and look at the impression he made on everyone." Mitsuki chuckled as the contestants and audience watchers looked both confused and lost at Naruto's entrance.
As Shikamaru helped Naruto up, the blonde instanty picked himself up.
"Everyone! You gotta get away! There's these bulls and-"Naruto stopped himself when noticing everyone look at him in confusion alongside there being no bulls in the arena.
"I wonder how those bulls got stopped?" Boruto asked.
"Well those guys were Chunin so…" Sarada shrugged as it was Naruto's turn to look confused.
"Hey wait, where's Sasuke?" Naruto asked as Team Konohamaru then noticed the lack of an angry looking Uchiha.
"Yeah…where is dad?" Sarada asked.
"He definitely wouldn't miss something like this…so what's the big deal?" Boruto looked at Sarada.
"Yeah…I'm supposed to be fighting Dosu but he's missing too…" Shikamaru answered Naruto as Genma decided to get the two's attention.
"Hey, knock it off. Quit your fidgeting you two. Stand up straight and present yourself to the spectators….you're the heroes of the Final Competition." Genma said to the contestants as they all gulped and stood with dignity and grace.
"Talk about pressure…" Sarada muttered.
"I know….but this is the moment when dad probably gets to start making his mark on the world." Boruto grinned, a little excited.
"Welcome all and our deepest thanks for coming to the Village Hidden in the Leaves for this year's Chunin Selection! We have come to the final completion between the eight candidates who made it through the preliminaries! We ask that no one leaves the matches until the matches have been concluded." Hiruzen announced with Genma holding up a slip of paper that shows the matches which have been revised.
"There's one more thing before we get started. Look it over since there's been a slight change in the match-ups but now it's set so give a quick look over." Genma said.
"Huh…so dad's fighting Neji, first?" Boruto asked.
"And that Dosu guy's not fighting anymore? I wonder what happened…." Sarada asked as Boruto scoffed.
"Who cares? Good riddance." Boruto snorted in apathy as Sarada and Mitsuki couldn't disagree with their teammate.
"Alright, listen up. The terrain's different but the rules are the same as before. That is there are no rules. The match continues until one candidate acknowledges defeat or dies. With that being said, if I determine that a match is over, I'll step it and stop it with no arguments permitted. Understood?" Genma asked with everyone nodding their agreement as Genma decided to get to business, "These are the opponents for the first match; Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga. Those two stay while you rest go to the waiting area." Genma finished as everyone did just that as Naruto and Neji sent glares to each other. Or rather…Naruto did while Neji regarded him as coolly as always.
"Oh man….here it goes…." Boruto gulped in a mix of excitement and anxiety as both combatants stood across from each other.
Naruto continued glaring at Neji who smirked, finding amusement in Naruto's anger to him.
"You got something you want to say to me?" Neji asked bemused as Naruto grit his teeth before pointing his arm at him with his fist clenched.
As this happened the memory flashed to the Chunin Exams fight between Hinata and Neji.
"A failure will always be a failure." Neji spat with disdain to Hinata as the memory then flashed to Naruto looking over Hinata's defeated, bloodied body.
"Hey you, loser! I have two pieces of advice for you. First of all, if you intend to call yourself a Shinobi, stop that stupid cheering of yours, it's disgraceful. And second, once a failure, always a failure. You can't change that!" Neji said before the memory flashed to the present.
"You tell him, Lord Seventh!" Sarada cheered along with Boruto as Neji activated his Byakugan.
"I can't wait to see the look of despair on your face when you learn that your foolish vow is impossible to keep." Neji arrogantly proclaimed, no doubt a hundred percent assured of his victory.
"Does he ever shut up?" Boruto's jaw clicked as Naruto was just as annoyed as his son.
"We gonna stand here all day or are we gonna fight?"Naruto challenged as a huge gust of wind suddenly rang through the arena as Genma took that time to start the match.
Once the wind died down, Neji assumed his Gentle Fist stance as Naruto glared daggers at Neji, trying to find the right area to strike before Naruto threw a handful of Shuriken and Kunai at Neji as he charged at him.
"You idiot! A frontal attack will never work!" The voice of Kiba yelled from the arena stands.
"Oh, Uncle Kiba's here!" Boruto's eyes popped up.
"But what else can he do?" Sarada asked as Naruto tried punching Neji who threw him off.
Naruto tried pummeling Neji with several punches and kicks before Neji nearly got Naruto with a gentle fist poke.
"Oh no! Watch out!" Boruto said as Naruto was able to careen away, but only by the hair of his teeth.
"Do you understand now? You have no chance at beating me." Neji looked down on Naruto who smirked.
"Oh get real, I was just checking you out, that's all." Naruto grinned before pushing himself to his feet, "Now that we warmed up we can get serious. Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto summoned four Shadow Clones around him.
"Nice! And with his mastery, not even with Master Neji's Byakugan can he pick out who's real from who's fake!" Sarada pumped her fist happily.
"Looks like this match is really gonna get interesting." Mitsuki smiled as Neji scoffed.
"If you're coming then come on!" Neji challenged Naruto who didn't lose his smile.
"Hey! Don't ever!" One clone said.
"Don't ever!" Another clone said.
"And I mean never…" A third clone followed.
"Count me out!" The real Naruto finished as they all charged Neji with the Hyuga evading their attacks before one got him with an uppercut kick.
"He got him!" Boruto grinned with those in the audience looking quite impressed with someone they thought was a complete dunce.
"No…." Mitsuki's expression turned serious.
"What do you me-"Sarada tried asking before the grunts of Naruto's voice was heard.
Those watching were left speechless as Neji seemed to quickly recover from Naruto's blow as he sent two clones flying away, making them disperse.
"Wait, how the hell did that happen? Dad had them didn't he?" Boruto turned to his friends as Sarada sweated on her forehead.
"Maybe….his Byakugan is just that haxed…." Sarada frowned as Naruto calmly watched as Neji finished off his last remaining clones.
"This guy….it's like he has eyes in the back of his head…" Naruto's eyes narrowed as Neji shook his head at Naruto.
"You thought you could become Hokage? It's absurd, never." Neji cocked his neck at Naruto who growled at him.
"What the hell does he know anyways?" Boruto clenched his fists.
"These eyes of mine show me many things. One thing they've shown me…people's limitations are set, fixed and unchangeable. Only a fool wastes their time trying to become something they can never be." Neji almost sounded sad at what he was saying.
"Those eyes of yours must be defective since he does become Hokage, so there!" Sarada spat.
"I can't wait for dad to knock him down a peg!" Boruto agreed as Naruto was nearing his wits' end with this clown.
"A fool? Not this crap again! Who are you to judge what anyone can be?" Naruto asked, barely containing his rage as Neji was unperturbed with Naruto's anger.
"Do you think anyone can become Hokage? That all it takes is a little hard work? Open your eyes, of all the Shinobi in the world, only a few have become Hokage. They were born, destined to become Hokage. They were chosen by destiny. Each person is given their own path to follow and they must follow it obediently to the end. There is only one path we share…." Neji's eyes actually softened before they hardened again, "Death."
"Just what could have happened to him…to give him such a mindset?" Boruto asked as Naruto growled.
"Oh yeah? So what? You can think that way if you want!" Naruto growled before repeating the same gesture that he gave to Neji before they started their match, "People always tell me I don't know when to give up!" Naruto declared in a voice that he would walk away this match as nothing but the victor.
"You tell him dad!" Boruto cheered as Naruto summoned a horde of Shadow Clones before they all charged the Hyuga prodigy intent on pummeling the Genin. However, try all of his might, Naruto could land no hit on Neji before the Hyuga made short work of literally all of his clones before running to what he assumed was the real Naruto and struck him in the shoulder with his gentle fist.
"Oh no! Did he get him?" Sarada covered her mouth in horror as Neji jeered at his fellow Genin.
"It's over. I told you, it's pointless." Neji arrogantly reminded Naruto, assured his victory was all but assured.
Although….it was surprisingly Naruto's turn to smirk.
"Heh." 'Naruto' smirked before he flickered away, as that Naruto was revealed to be none other than a clone.
"He fooled him!" Boruto pumped his fist as two Naruto appeared right over Neji who looked up, no doubt astonished.
"Alright! Way to go, Naruto!" Kiba cheered, no doubt happy for his rival/friend as Naruto reeled his fist back.
"You thought I'd be too much of a chicken to attack you, head-on!? Well think again!" Naruto shouted, ready to bash Neji's face in but before he could make contact, he and his Shadow Clone were sent flying a good deal back.
"Wait, was that the rotation!?" Boruto's eyes widened in astonishment.
"I think it was!" Sarada nodded, remembering seeing Hanabi use it only a handful of times before.
"Did you think you had won?" Neji asked, finding amusement in Naruto's surprise on his face who grit, not willing to concede defeat. However similar to before, Neji made short work of Naruto's Shadow Clones but with the help of his rotation, it was done with even more ease.
As Naruto struggled to get back to his feet, Neji decided to formally address Naruto.
"Oh no….don't tell me he's gonna do that…" Boruto gulped as Sarada turned to her teammate.
"What do you mean? Do what?" Sarada asked but before Boruto could answer her, Neji spoke for her.
"You're in range and can't escape my Eight Trigrams." Neji said before assuming a stance of Yin and Yang. Before anyone knew anything, Neji suddenly struck two of Naruto's chakra points.
"Eight Trigrams-Two Palms!" Neji began his attack as Naruto was about to lose his literal footing before Neji continued his assault, "Four Palms! Eight Palms! Sixteen Palms! Thirty Two Palms! Sixty Four Palms!" Neji finished, sending Naruto flying several feet back as Naruto spat a mouthful of blood before hitting the ground with a hard thud.
"What did he just do to him!?" Sarada ran to Naruto's side with her teammates following after her.
"Basically…he sealed his pressure points…He remember what Master Lee and Kakashi said during the Prelims?" Mitsuki reminded his teammates as Boruto cringed seeing the state of his father.
"He's practically fodder now…" Boruto gulped.
"Boruto….can you do that?" Sarada asked with Mitsuki wondering the same thing.
"The Trigrams? No….back then all I was concerned was playing the latest video game…." Boruto looked away in shame. He wondered how powerful his Trigrams would be if he learned them. Especially given his Jougan eye….
But before his friends could console him, Neji decided to speak up.
"I have now struck all 64 of your chakra points. You're lucky to still be breathing…Although, it must be frustrating now with how pointless that little dream of yours actually is." Neji deactivated his Byakugan as Naruto grunted as he tried to get up.
"Atta boy….c'mon." Boruto urged his dad before the memory flashed.
"Congratulations! You graduate!" Iruka smiled at Naruto before the memory then flashed to Naruto and Sasuke's fight against Haku on the Great Naruto Bridge.
"I'm not giving up and I'm not gonna lose here….Cause I have a dream and no one's going to take it from me! Someday, I'll be respected in my village! That's my dream, to be the greatest Hokage!" Naruto growled, refusing to lost to Haku.
"You're one of the ones I wanna fight the most!" Sasuke acknowledged Naruto as a worthy rival for the first time ever before the memory returned to the present.
"He's remembering everyone…" Sarada breathed as Neji looked at Naruto in dismay that he could even still stand.
"How is he?" Neji was nearly speechless as Naruto chuckled at Neji's dismayed expression.
"Heh….like I said, I just don't know when to give up." Naruto smiled as best as he could.
"Yeah you can't keep that crazy knucklehead down." Mitsuki laughed while Neji was far from amused. He was nearly annoyed at Naruto's tenacity.
"Stop this madness. You'll only get more of the same. I have nothing against you personally." Neji urged Naruto to quit fighting what he assumed to be a losing battle.
"Heh, that's touching. You're gonna make me cry. But anyway, I've got plenty against you." Naruto glared at Neji as he was starting to regain his bearings.
"I have no idea what you mean." Neji gazed at Naruto much to Boruto's annoyance.
"Really? You don't?" Boruto shook his head, thinking that maybe Neji wasn't the sharpest kunai in the pack and apparently Naruto felt the same.
"And here I thought you were Mr. Know-It-All. You don't remember what you did to Hinata? The way you worked on her with your mind games, tearing her down when she worked so hard to get here?" Naruto spat, not even bothering to hide his anger as Neji was unfazed by it.
"Never mind that. It doesn't concern you." Neji scoffed off Naruto's grudge.
"The hell it doesn't! That was one of his first friends, you dummy!" Sarada spat, not believing how anyone could be that heartless against one of their own family as Neji's answer only seemed to infuriate Naruto all the more.
"You mocked her, called her a failure and all that house stuff. What a bunch of crap! It doesn't give you the right to decide who's a failure and who's not!" Naruto yelled, getting all the anger he held to Neji over the last month off his chest.
"You tell him!" Boruto smiled, happy his dad said everything he needed to say.
However, Naruto's rant actually made Neji's eyes soften. Something that no one but Mitsuki noticed and raised an eyebrow. This was unnoticed by Naruto at first before he started speaking.
"Very well. As you are so interested in it, I'll tell you all about it….The Hyuga Clan's heritage of hatred." Neji spat, not even bothering to hide the disdain in his voice.
"Heritage of hatred?" Sarada looked to Boruto who threw his hands up in defense.
"I'm not sure about it! At least in detail…" Boruto answered as Naruto gave Neji a quizzical expression.
"For generations, the main household of our clan has practiced a secret Ninjutsu known as the Cursed Mark Jutsu." Neji began his explanation much to Naruto's surprise.
"The Cursed Mark Jutsu?" Naruto asked as Neji closed his eyes, as if he was remembering a painful memory.
"The curse mark is the symbol of a bird locked in its cage. It's the mark of those who are bound to a destiny they cannot escape." Neji then removed his headband revealing a green, cross shaped symbol on his head.
"My gosh…." Sarada covered her mouth in surprise as Boruto was just as surprised.
"I remember hearing about it…but I never saw it before now…." Boruto's eyes widened as Mitsuki was silent while Naruto was just as surprised as his son.
"That's the curse mark?" Naruto asked as Neji began his backstory.
"I was four years old when the leaders of my clan branded this symbol on my forehead with their cursed mark jutsu…On that same day, a great celebration took place in the Hidden Leaf Village. After many years of war, a peace agreement had at last been reached with the Land of Lightning and they sent the Head Cloud Ninja to sign the treaty and join in the celebrations. Everyone was there to welcome our old enemies in the village. Every Genin and Jonin in the Leaf Village was in attendance except for one clan, the Hyuga Clan. Because this was the day to which the heir to the main household was to turn three….It was Lady Hinata's third birthday…." Neji's eyes softened as he took in Naruto's perplexed facial expression.
"Talk about ironic….." Boruto blinked not believing his mother's birthday was on the same day as one of the biggest turning points in the Leaf's History.
"Talk about disgusting! What kind of monsters would put something like that on a child so small!?" Sarada clenched her jaw, her thoughts going immediately to Orochimaru and him biting Sasuke.
Before anyone could say anything, Neji spoke again, "Her father, Lord Hiashi Hyuga, is sitting up there….He and my father, Hizashi, are twin brothers. And yet….he entered into the world first so he is head of the family, the first born. While my father, his twin brother, is banished to the lesser branch of the family." Neji glared at Hiashi with a look of pure hatred in his eyes.
"Whoa…..talk about bombshells…" Sarada could hardly believe her ears.
"Who would have guessed Lord Hiashi had a twin brother?" Mitsuki asked as Boruto looked in the stands for his grandfather only to raise an eyebrow.
"That's gramps? Hard to believe he's the same man…he looks so….serious…." Boruto blinked as Neji continued his tale.
"It was then, on the day that their heir to the main household turned three that the curse mark was put onto me by my own uncle." Neji added as it was Boruto's turn to be pissed.
"What the hell!? How could gramps do that to his own nephew!?" Boruto clenched his fist as a vein built on his forehead.
"It's like experimenting on your own kin….he better have a damn good explanation on why he did that!" Sarada nodded in agreement as those words stirred something in Mitsuki.
"You and this clan of yours? What's the point of it all? Why have a main family and a branch family? And this weird curse mark, what's it mean anyways?" Naruto asked as Neji's already hostile glare only seemed to amplify.
"I can assure you of one thing…it's not simply for decoration. You see, this mark is more than a mark that we wear…It is also the instrument by which they keep us in this place. We live with the fear they'll use this mark to turn our brains into jelly anytime they wish. Fear…that is what we live with…and we live with it every day…only in death are we free of it…This is how the Byakugan's power is kept sealed away. Only the Hyuga possess the secret of this unique form of Kekkai Genkai. And of course, there are many who would steal it. That's why we exist. It is the purpose of the Branch Family to defend that secret and defend the Main Family…That is our destiny….or was…until that dreadful night…" Neji clenched both of his fists.
"What night? What was it?" Sarada asked as Boruto's anger was clocking into overdrive.
"Those selfish bastards….all because of some bullshit notion of classism!" Boruto growled.
"I know…..all because of bloodlines….why can't we all just be equal!?" Sarada demanded more than asked.
"Because such a world really doesn't exist." Mitsuki sighed.
"Yeah but…" Boruto asked as Neji began to recount "that night".
"One night, someone entered the main household and abducted Lady Hinata." Neji began the tale much to Team Konohamaru's astonishment, especially Hinata.
"What!? Mom!?" Boruto exclaimed in both surprise and anger.
"How can they do that to a child so young!?" Sarada also exclaimed as Mitsuki shook his head.
"It's the Shinobi World where grand powers eclipse rationality regardless of anyone's age." Mitsuki sighed as Boruto and Sarada were too disgusted to say anything.
"Lord Hiashi quickly caught and killed the man. And who was this intruder? It was none other than the Head Cloud Ninja who signed the treaty." Neji answered with a bitter smile on his face much to the shock of everyone listening.
"My god…." Sarada's glasses nearly fell off from the news.
"How can someone be so…snakey?" Boruto asked.
"It's not just him but the leader of the Cloud Village." Mitsuki corrected his friend.
"It was obvious they were after the secret of the Byakugan. But the Land of Lightning professed shock at this willful murder of their ninja. They claimed that the Hidden Leaf Village was in violation of the treaty and they demanded recompense." Neji added as this was enough for Boruto.
"What a load of bullshit! They're the ones kidnapping a toddler after signing a treaty of peace and harmony! They're a bunch of hypocrites who just don't like the shoe being on the other foot!" Boruto spat, upset with the hypocrisy he was hearing.
"Yeah! If that asshat never tried kissing Miss Hinata, he wouldn't have died!" Sarada added as Mitsuki looked to the sun.
"This Ninja World….just what more chaos….is to come?" Mitsuki thought to himself.
"Things got worse and worse until it looked like war would break out anew. The Leaf wanted above all things to prevent another war so they made a deal. A life for a life. The Land of Lightning demanded the death of the person who had slain their ninja….For peace, Lord Hiashi must die." Neji's hand that clenched his headband, gripped the headwear even tighter.
"But he didn't die…." Sarada softly noted.
"Then…who?" Boruto asked as Mitsuki started to slowly put the pieces together.
"Wait…" Mitsuki breathed but before he could say anything Neji spoke up.
"But he didn't die…And so to avert a war, a man was killed but not Hiashi….My father….was killed…in his place! All to protect the main household!" Neji yelled, more so to Hiashi than Naruto as Team Konohamaru's eyes softened at Neji.
"So that's why….he hated Miss Hinata so much…." Sarada finally understood the chip on Neji's shoulders.
"I think it's more so the Hyuga Clan system itself than mom….it still doesn't excuse what he did to her…" Boruto frowned.
"But it's an explanation…" Mitsuki finished his friend's statement.
"Only in death was my father finally free of this evil curs mark. They were so much alike…twin brothers but their destinies were decided long ago when one was born a few seconds after another…" Neji looked down at his headband before meeting Naruto's confused eyes with his anger filled ones, "And this match is the same. Your destiny was decided the moment I was chosen as your opponent." Neji finished his tale as everyone let the information sink in.
"So that's why he's all messed up…" Sarada's heart went out to Neji despite her negative feelings to him.
"That's just awful….because of the Cloud's mess up, he lost his dad! I'd be negative too…." Boruto was just mad at everyone right now.
"Some parents do anything for their children, right?" Mitsuki asked as memories were unintentionally triggered by him as Mitsuki sighed.
"While his death was nice for the greater good of the Leaf…it wasn't that good in the long run for Master Neji…All for the selfishness of the Raikage." Mitsuki said.
"I mean….if they never went after the Byakugan…none of this would happen! It's all a bunch of hypocrisy bullshit!" Boruto growled at the frustration and hypocrisy of everything.
"Welcome to the Ninja World where bloodshed literally describes this world." Mitsuki replied before deciding to change the subject.
"Regardless, it would be nice to see him knocked down a peg." Mitsuki said as Naruto grunted despite the pain his body was in.
"Oh yeah? Well we won't know that until you beat me, now will we?" Naruto grunted as Neji frowned at him before putting his headband on.
"Okay, so your father was killed a long time ago and I know you're upset about that and that wasn't fair but that's got nothing to do with destiny. If you think I'm buying that, you're wrong!" Naruto spat as he got himself back to his feet, all the way.
"You think you understand but you're wrong." Neji finished putting his forehead protector on his head before deciding to end this nonsense as he gave Naruto a gentle fist palm straight to his chest as Naruto was pushed down back onto the ground.
Feeling like the victor, Neji jeered at Naruto.
"You're a failure." Neji scowled at Naruto before starting to walk away from Naruto.
"C-can…he take anymore?" Sarada frowned as she examined Naruto's nearly-limp form.
"I think it's only because of the Nine Tails that he's even still in the game." Mitsuki answered as Naruto was slowly standing up up.
"Wait…don't you…walk away from me….." Naruto weakly got up, staggering holding his side as he smiled confidently.
"I don't quit and I don't run…that's my Nindo….my Ninja Way…." Naruto smirked as Neji huffed while shaking his head.
"Hmph, I've heard that before." Neji scoffed off what he assumed was insincere bravado.
"All this destiny crap…well if you really believe it…then why are you the one walking away?" Naruto challenged Neji's assertion as that seemed to set something off within Neji.
"You impudent little brat, why waste my breath explaining anything to you? We are all given a destiny at birth and it is pointless to fight against it…" Neji quenched his eyes shut, "You have no idea what it's like to be branded with a mark that sets you apart…a mark that can never wiped away!"
"This asshat has no idea." Boruto glared at Neji before the scene literally flashed to a scene of a younger Naruto before ostracized by his peers.
"There he is…it's that boy!"
"Didn't I tell you not to say anything to him!?"
"Why don't you just die!? You freak!"
"Freak!"
The memory then returned to the present as Naruto smirked at Neji.
"Oh yeah…I know what's that like…all too well…" Naruto breathed as Neji raised a curious eyebrow as he thought Naruto was just blowing smoke.
"It's a damn shame that children have to go through that hell…." Sarada teared up as her teammates noticed before putting comforting hands on her shoulder.
"It's a real tragedy…" Boruto said.
"But it's okay….when you have loved ones…it makes the pain just a bit more bearable." Mitsuki smiled as Sarada seemed to reciprocate the facial gesture.
"Yeah….thanks guys…." Sarada softly smiled at her friends as Naruto continued.
"So what, big deal?" Naruto practically scoffed off Neji as this seemed to make him all the more agitated.
"You worthless little…" Neji's eyes narrowed as he contemplated killing Naruto right then and there.
"Man you think you've got troubles? Well I've got news for you Neji, you're not the only special one around here. Did you ever think that Hinata might be suffering as much as you are? It's not her fault her father was born ahead of yours but you resent her for it, you disrespect her even when she's trying so hard to improve herself. All she wanted was your respect and that was what she fought for even though it almost killed her. And what was all that about, anyways? I thought it was your duty to serve the main household, to protect it! After all you said about how you can't fight your destiny but you don't really believe that can you!" Naruto pointed, finishing his speech as he called out Neji's Hypocrisy though this didn't really seem to faze him.
"You tell him, dad." Boruto smiled, pumping his fist although his contentness lasted not that long as Naruto started to stagger and cough.
"Oh no! He's literally on his last leg." Sarada looked to Naruto in worry while Neji smirked arrogantly.
"I have blocked all sixty four of your chakra points. How do you plan on fighting me when you can't even use chakra? I find it fitting you sympathize with Hinata because you're about to share her fate. Although if you think you can prove me wrong then be my guest." Neji taunted Naruto who growled despite the condition his body was in.
"You got it! I'm gonna show you that you're wrong about a lot of things, starting right now!" Naruto proclaimed as he tried finding any way out of this current predicament before his mind flashed to his training with Jiraiya along with his first meeting with the Nine Tailed Fox.
Done with this match, Neji turned his attention to Genma
"Proctor, this match has gone on long enough. I suggest you stop this match as if he's foolish enough to continue this match, I will not be responsible for what happens to him." Neji turned to Genma who seemed receptive to this request. But before he could intervene, Naruto cut off both with a scream as he conjured a handsign.
"What are you doing now? It's hopeless." Neji arrogantly proclaimed as Naruto continued ignoring him.
"Does this guy ever shut up?" Boruto groaned, sick and tired of this clown and his constant trash-talking.
"Why fight a hopeless battle trying to defy your destiny?" Neji continued his taunting as Naruto finally decided to dignify his presence.
"Because people called me a failure. I'll prove them all wrong!" Naruto declared as Neji activated his Byakugan, taking this as a challenge.
As soon as Neji said this, a flurry of red chakra suddenly surrounded Naruto as the power of the Nine Tailed Fox started to envelope Naruto.
Although unlike Haku…it wasn't as…deadly.
"Whoa look at him! It's nowhere as blood-thirsty as last time!" Sarada marveled at the power Naruto was displaying.
"Yeah, it's amazing! Although why isn't the memory red like it was during the Haku fight?" Boruto asked.
"Probably because he's probably in more control that last time." Mitsuki theorized as everyone in the memory was speechless at the power Naruto was emitting.
None more…than Neji.
"Ha! Look at that face! What happened to all that crap he was talking a minute ago?" Boruto snorted as Naruto felt a huge surge of power and he loved it.
Before anyone could say anything, Naruto suddenly vanished away as he threw a handful of Shuriken at Neji who deflected them with his Rotation before he returned the projectiles at Naruto who vanished away.
Much to his shock, Naruto appeared right behind him as he punched at Neji who managed to narrowly dodge his punch. Both combatants took out a Shuriken as they threw their weapons at each other that clinked against each other before they caught their opposing weapons.
"So…you like close combat huh?" Naruto smirked before charging to Naruto, putting everything into this last attack.
"Oh man, this is it!" Boruto clenched his fists as Mitsuki nodded.
"The blow that will decide the victor of this match." Mitsuki said as he charged at Neji as the memory showed flashes of everyone Naruto idolized; Iruka, Kakashi, Sasuke, Haku, Zabuza, Rock Lee, Jiraiya and the Fourth Hokage.
"It may be the Hyuga Way to cave into destiny but it's not mine! If you think it's futile to fight than sit there and take it!" Naruto yelled, pulling his Kunai out as Neji tried to deflect Naruto's attack with his Rotation before the two collided with their powerful attacks.
"I'll change the way of the Hyuga after I become Hokage!" Naruto promised Neji before the arena was covered in a giant cloud of smoke as tremors and vibrations radiated through the arena with everyone speechless.
"Holy crap! That was just…wow!" Sarada adjusted her glasses.
"Hopefully that was enough to put that bastard down for the count." Boruto said as the smoke cloud died down with two craters being visible before a hand reached out.
Much to everyone's dread, it was Neji's.
"Wait, no! I don't get it! Lord Seventh used the Nine Tails' chakra!" Sarada didn't want to believe after all of that, Naruto would lose.
"No, this has to be a trick. He wouldn't lose after all that…No way!" Boruto said as Neji staggered over to where Naruto was.
"Sorry…but this is reality. You're a failure. This match is over." Neji gasped through his exhaustion although…there seemed to be a new look in Neji's eyes. One akin to almost…respect?
But before anyone knew anything, "Naruto" poofed away. Before any words could be said, Naruto cave through the ground below and gave Neji an uppercut, knocking him literally off his feet.
As he hit the ground with the effects of the battle overtaking him, Naruto staggered over to where Neji lay.
"So that was it….while the arena was covered in smoke, he took advantage of the distraction and used a Shadow Clone to fool everyone." Mitsuki chuckled as Boruto and Sarada couldn't keep the smiles off their faces.
"I should have guessed you'd use that Shadow Clone Jutsu…It's your specialty after all…" Neji huffed as he glared at Naruto who looked at the sky as the memory flashed showing how Naruto ended up failing the graduation exam for the third time alongside all the struggling it took for Naruto to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu after stealing the Scroll of Seals.
"For the record, I failed the Graduation Exam three times because there was this one jutsu that was always on the exam…I always tripped it up….I flunked the Clone Jutsu every single time. So don't you start coming to me with that victory stuff and stop saying you can't change who you are. Because unlike me…you're not a failure." Naruto finished his speech as everyone was impressed with Neji's words.
"Well said, dad, well said." Boruto softly smiled.
"And it looks like it's sinking in for Neji." Sarada chuckled as the look in Neji's eyes seemed to change.
Taking this as Neji's loss, Genma felt it was appropriate to announce the winner.
"The winner, Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto announced as the crowd went wild.
"That was freaking awesome! He brougth that asshole down a peg!" Boruto cheered.
"I knew he wouldn't lose! He wouldn't!" Sarada jumped up and down as Mitsuki smiled.
"And it's great to see the start of how he changed." Mitsuki pointed out as it took a while for all the praises to set in as he blushed awkwardly.
"Aww…look at him and how bashful he's being." Sarada giggled at Naruto's expression.
"Well can you blame him? This is the first time when they're not treating him like a leper?" Mitsuki reminded Sarada as the shock got over for Naruto fairly quickly as Naruto was more than happy to dwell and live in the praises as he sent high-fives and kisses to the crowd.
"That dork." Boruto snickered as Naruto's thoughts shifted to Hinata.
"Hinata! Did you see me?" Naruto asked as Team Konohamaru looked to each other.
"Where is she anyways? I can't believe she would miss that Neji guy getting put in his place?" Boruto asked as he watched Neji get carted away on a stretcher by two medics.
"Maybe internal factors are why she couldn't make it?" Mitsuki suggested as Boruto's eyes twitched as he heard a couple of girls call his dad "cute". He belonged to Hinata after all.
As Naruto made his way to where the other contestants were, he was greeted with a smile by Shikamaru.
"That was amazing, man! You've really come a long way!" Shikamaru praised his childhood friend as Naruto grinned as a flash of them giving Iruka hell flashed through the memory.
"Thanks, man."Naruto grinned as Shino gave Naruto a congratulatory nod with Naruto smiling in acknowledgement of the Aburame.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Naruto asked as he noticed the serious expression on everyone's faces.
"That Sasuke….what does he think he's doing? Forfeiting…" Shikamaru looked down at the arena with Naruto blinking, realizing that he was so busy he had forgotten Sasuke along with Boruto and Sarada.
"Yeah…where is he? Given how he was in the Prelims, you'd think he'd be first here…" Boruto muttered.
"I know…he wouldn't just ditch or quit." Sarada agreed.
"A wise man never courts danger, leading to a wise decision." Shino commented, as both Naruto and Shikamaru looked at Shino in question as Naruto huffed.
"What're you talking about? He'll totally be here, believe it!" Naruto reassured his two Academy friends as the crowd started to get quite restless as it was obvious they were mainly here to see Sasuke in action due to his standing as the rookie of that current year alongside being the last Uchiha alive.
As a ninja with a scar across his nose whispered something to Genma who nodded as he body-flickered away.
"Listen, everyone! One of the competitors from the next battle has not arrived yet and so we've decided to postpone that battle briefly and simply move onto the next match. So Shino and Kankuro, come down." Genma said to the two ninja before Kankuro announced something very shocking.
"I withdraw!" Kankuro announced much to the surprise of everyone.
"Wait what? Why is he dropping out?" Boruto asked.
"This is just getting weird now! First dad is MIA and now Master Kankuro is forfeiting?" Sarada asked while Mitsuki looked thoughtful on something.
"I withdraw so please advance to the next match." Kankuro stated much to the displeasure of the crowd as they felt like they were really getting cheated out of the potential long trips and days off work they took.
"Due to Kankuro's forfeit, Shino Aburame wins by default!" Genma announced though a crowd of jeers and boos followed though the Sand Siblings didn't look too disheartened with this.
With this in mind, Temari took her fan and in a gust of wind, Temari was down on the arena floor.
"Looks like she's ready to go!" Mitsuki laughed.
"I'll say…" Sarada muttered.
"And I thought Auntie Temari was scary enough as an adult…" Boruto gulped remembering the one time that Shikadai came to school with a red mark across his face along with the time he and Shikamaru were sent to bed without dinner.
"Alright then, the next match will start then. Hey you!" Genma sighed before looking up at Shikamaru, "Come down here!"
And before Shikamaru could do anything, Naruto literally ran behind him.
"C'mon Shikamaru, you can do it!" Naruto unintentionally knocked Shikamaru off the railings and made him fall to the arena ground hard.
"Well he sure gave him a friendly tap." Boruto snickered as Sarada couldn't stop her giggles.
"I know I shouldn't laugh but this is too funny." Sarada covered her mouth as Mitsuki shook his head in amusement at the reaction of the crowd who were far from amused as they continued their booing and even went as far as to throw trash, drink cans and other disposable products into the arena, some of which actually hit Shikamaru.
"What a bunch of jerks. I know they're here for Uncle Sasuke but c'mon, there are other talented ninja." Boruto shook his head in disgust and how uncouth people could be with Sarada grunting in agreement.
"What're you standing over there for!? C'mon!" Temari tapped the ground with her fan.
"C'mon, Shikamaru! Are you gonna begin sometime this year!?" Naruto yelled as Temari lost her already short patience.
"Well if you won't move, I will!" Temari roared, charging at Shikamaru.
"Hey! I didn't start the match yet!" Genma tried stopping Temari who ignored him completely.
"She's sure excited." Mitsuki chuckled.
"I'll say." Sarada muttered.
"Oh yeah I forgot, this girl's spunky….Man I hate spunky." Shikamaru groaned as Temari jumped in the air, intent on crushing Shikamaru's skull with the base of her fan which she slammed on the ground, covering Shikamaru's area with a cloud of smoke.
"Wait did she get him?" Sarada asked.
"Nope." Boruto answered as Temari looked to see a smirking Shikamaru look down on her.
"You know it really doesn't make any difference to me whether I become a Chunin or not. But maybe I shouldn't get myself beaten by a girl." Shikamaru teased Temari as the "girl" comment no doubt set off Temari as she blew another gust of wind.
"Funny how that works out like his son." Sarada snorted as Boruto tried locating the lazy Nara.
"He's over there!" Boruto pointed as he saw Shikamaru hiding behind a nearby tree.
"What is he doing?" Sarada sweat-dropped at Shikamaru's lazy expression.
"Tree-watching." Boruto nonchalantly answered as Sarada stared at him incredulously.
"What?" Sarada near deadpanned.
"Oh yeah, back in the Academy, Shikadai would do it all the time whenever we would ditch class to play our video games." Boruto laughed.
"I would also tag along." Mitsuki joined in the laughter as Sarada just sighed, not understanding them nor did she want to understand them.
Getting fed up with Shikamaru's nonsense, she readied her fan.
"Wind Scythe Jutsu!" Temari yelled, sending a powerful gust of wind, Shikamaru's direction which didn't seem to hit him as he was gone.
In his place was the shadow of the Shadow Possession Jutsu which extended to Temari as it suddenly retracted in place. Seizing this as an opportunity, Temari drew a line through the ground.
"So that's it. Aren't you clever with that Shadow Possession Jutsu of yours? You can manipulate the shadows of wherever you are like what wall behind you but there's a limit isn't there?" Temari practically mocked Shikamaru's Jutsu Kryptonite as Shikamaru laughed in frustration.
"You got me there." Shikamaru nervously chuckled.
"Damn, he was so close." Boruto cursed as Shikamaru adorned a peculiar stance.
"What is that? What's he doing?" Sarada raised an eyebrow as Boruto's eyes widened in realization.
"He's planning his next strategy and trying to find out Auntie Temari's weakness!" Boruto said as she looked at Boruto in question.
"I've seen Shikadai practice that with his dead." Boruto answered as the smile on Temari's face said she was ready to go another round.
"Looks like you've still got some fighting spirit." Temari said with a hint of respect in her voice before sending another gust of wind, Shikamaru's way who tried to get away as he grabbed a kunai.
"No use in running away!" Temari said as Shikamaru somehow managed to get away despite how fast and powerful her winds were.
"Come out coward!" Temari yelled, tired of how cowardly it seemed Shikamaru was being before a kunai was sent flying towards her as she managed to avoid it with relative ease but before she knew anything, she found herself assaulted by Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu.
"Got her!" Boruto cheered which Temari managed to get away by the skin of her teeth.
"Damn!" Sarada snapped her fingers in frustration.
"You're pretty quick on your feet." Shikamaru praised Temari who caught onto what Shikamaru was doing.
"I see what you're doing, you weren't hiding but waiting for the sun to get lower, weren't you? The longer the shadows, the farther your range, right?" Shikamaru asked as Kankuro noticed something ahead.
"Temari, ahead!" Kankuro yelled as Temari narrowly caught onto Shikamaru's Shadow extending towards her.
"Wait, how did he do that?" Sarada asked as Mitsuki finally noticed the culprit.
"Up there!" Mitsuki pointed at the sight of a kunai floating with the help of Shikamaru's jacket.
"That's brilliant! He used his jacket to carry that Kunai which would stretch the shadow which would then stretch the range of his Shadow…" Boruto marveled in awe of Shikamaru as Temari managed to get away through the hair on her teeth.
"She learns fast…." Shikamaru grunted as while Temari smirked at Shikamaru as she seemed to look at him with a look akin to….respect?
"This is bad….she's slowly figuring him out…what now?" Sarada asked, not liking the look on Temari's face as she no doubt was scheming something as she made a hand sign. But before she could do anything, she suddenly found herself paralyzed, something that everyone noticed.
"Wait, what happened?" Boruto asked before Mitsuki managed to figure it out.
"It finally worked." Mitsuki grinned which was confirmed with the smile on Shikamaru's face.
"It took a while but my Shadow Possession Jutsu finally worked." Shikamaru wore a triumphant expression as he practically savored the perplexed expression on Temari's face.
"But how?" Sarada asked as Mitsuki pointed to behind Temari.
"Behind her. See?" Mitsuki pointed to the hole behind Temari as Boruto and Sarada's eyes widened in realization as they realized what that hole was.
"That was the hole where dad gave Neji that uppercut!" Boruto pumped his fist in his hand in remembrance.
"And to think Master Shikamaru used that to hide his Shadow until Master Temari let her guard down. Ingenious!" Sarada exclaimed understanding how Shikadai had become a Chunin before any of his peers as his future father finally decided to explain his smart strategy.
"Remember that hole? It's where Naruto knocked Neji for a loop." Shikamaru explained as Temari growled at Shikamaru.
"Now I see….I never considered the shadows underground…." Temari grunted before Shikamaru made him walk to her thanks to his jutsu.
"And checkmate." Sarada smiled as Shikamaru raised an arm, making Temari do the same.
It was practically a long drumroll until….
"The hell with it! I give up!" Shikamaru announced much to the astonishment of everyone watching.
"…He…" Boruto began with wide blank eyes and a comically dropped mouth.
"….What?" Sarada finished Boruto's question with the same expression as Mitsuki merely chuckled.
Needless to say, the audience didn't share Mitsuki's feelings of amusement.
"He what!?"
"You suck!"
"Loser!" were some of the comments as Temari wasn't satisfied with her "victory".
"You what? What'd you say!?" Temari couldn't believe her ears as Shikamaru stretched his back.
"I used all my chakra on that Shadow Possession Jutsu and I'm good for about another ten minutes but that's it. Bummer, I'd planned out the next two hundred moves in my head but my chakra is running low." Shikamaru shrugged as Genma seemed somewhat amused with these shocking turn of events.
"The winner, Temari!" Genma announced though no one was impressed as the crowd rewarded the match with a lot of boos and jeers.
"I just can't believe it! He had the match in the bag!" Sarada exclaimed in disbelief as Mitsuki turned to Boruto.
"Hey, Boruto. That sure brings back some memories, doesn't it?" Mitsuki teased Boruto who sweated nervously.
"I wonder if this is the start of their love-story?" Mitsuki mused as Shikamaru yawned while Temari looked just….lost.
"Who cares about that?" Boruto asked with his father seeming to agree as well.
"That lazy son of a…I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind!" Naruto roared, jumping straight down as he stormed over to a stretching Shikamaru.
"Hey! I need to talk to you, you idiot!" Naruto pointed an accusing finger at Shikamaru who didn't seem fazed with Naruto pissed at him.
"Who're you calling an idiot, you idiot?" Shikamaru basically teased Naruto which seemed to set the blonde knucklehead off as Shikamaru decided to casually change the subject.
"Enough on me. Or have you forgotten there's another match?" Shikamaru yawned as Naruto calmed down instantly, remembering the third grumpy member of his cell.
"Oh…right!" Naruto grinned, remembering Sasuke's last words to him during the Chunin Exams.
"Yeah…where is he!? He definitely wouldn't miss something this big!" Sarada's anxiety started to slowly grow, the more impatient and agitated the crew got.
"I know….he better have a damn good excuse…" Boruto cursed as it looked like Genma was going to finally disqualify Sasuke once an unidentified amount of time had passed.
But before he could do anything, a flurry of leaves suddenly appeared where Naruto and the others was.
"No way…" Boruto's lips curled into a smile as the leaves started to slowly reveal who was under the leaves.
"Yes way…" Mitsuki smiled as the leaves revealed Kakashi and Sasuke, wearing a different outfit than the one they had gotten accustomed to over these last few memories.
"It's dad! And he has longer hair!" Sarada beamed as Boruto snorted.
"Really, that's what you notice?" Boruto teased Sarada who smacked him upside the head.
However, Naruto and even Shikamaru were happy to see Sasuke as Genma smirked down on the shorter boy.
"Your name?" Genma asked as he knew but decided to ask anyways.
"Sasuke Uchiha." Sasuke glared at the man as it was taking everything for Naruto to jump up and down like the boisterous lug he was.
"So you finally arrived after all! Here I thought you chickened out!" Naruto teased the Uchiha. However, rather than looking offended, Sasuke merely smirked in amusement at him.
"Heh, well don't get too full of yourself! You're still a loser." Sasuke teased Naruto back as the two gave each other looks of not jealousy and disdain but looks of utter respect, a complete contrast to their chemistry before the Chunin Exams.
"Um…I mean…how late are we? I mean it's not like Sasuke's uh…disqualified…uh…right?" Kakashi awkwardly asked as Genma huffed.
"Anyone else would've gotten the hook." Sarada chuckled.
"Like master, like student; even down to your lousy sense of time. You know, you were late, so late that we extended the deadline. You're fine." Genma cleared up any worry Kakashi had about being worry
"Looks like the Sasuke rule was put into effect!" Mituski joked, sending his teammates into laughter.
"Totally. He's just lucky they were so accommodating. I guess it's just Sasuke privilege." Boruto snickered as Kakashi was nothing short of happy as his anxiety were settled.
Sasuke then took that time to scope out Gaara who looked down on the Uchiha, almost as if he was sizing him up.
"Ugh….he really gives me the heebie jeebies…" Sarada gulped.
"This match is definitely gonna be interesting to see how strong Master Sasuke has gotten in the last month." Mitsuki nodded as Naruto looked at Sasuke before the memory flashed to the Prelims.
"Naruto, you're one of the ones I want to fight the most." Sasuke said with the utmost certainty as that was enough to bring a smile to Naruto's face.
"Hey Sasuke!" Naruto shouted getting Sasuke's attention before he continued, "Don't lose….because I wanna fight you myself!" Naruto threatened Sasuke as this was the defining moment in their relationship. Not anymore did Naruto see Sasuke as just an annoying obstacle to overcome but as a true equal.
It was obvious these feelings were double-sided given the smirk on Sasuke's face.
"Got it." Sasuke reassured Naruto who grinned his trade-mark foxy grin.
"I hope we get to see them fight!" Sarada pumped her fist, just as excited as Naruto.
"Right!?" Boruto grinned as he remembered Naruto and Sasuke talking about their "contest" once he had defeated Momoshiki.
Naruto was excited to see Sasuke in action as he excitedly made his way upstairs with Shikamaru tagging along closely behind. However….as they walked down the hallway, they all heard a disgusting squelching sound. The sound was repulsive enough to turn Boruto and Sarada's stomachs.
"What…is…." Sarada tried asking before her question was answered for her. From the darkest part of the hallway came Gaara who walked literally through Naruto and Gaara.
Both boys' hearts practically stopped as they remembered what had happened literally the day before. This anxiety only seemed to worsen as they noticed Gaara turn to them with a look before turning his head back around.
As Gaara's footsteps retreated, everyone was left shaken by what had happened, even Mitsuki.
"So was that because of…" Boruto could hardly find his voice which Mitsuki decided to help him with.
"Master Gaara? Yes." Mitsuki confirmed as that was not what Boruto wanted to hear.
"Oh my god…if they were a second earlier….that could've been them!" Sarada covered her heart in fright as Shikamaru repeated her statement.
"Oh man….had we came up even a second sooner…..that would've been us! Things don't look so good for your friend…." Shikamaru rasped out as Naruto seemed lost in thought almost as if he were in a trance as he remembered Gaara's words from the following day.
"To put it simply….my reason for living is in the killing of others."
"As long as there are people to kill in this crowded world, I will never disappear."
As the memory returned to the present, Naruto turned to Shikamaru in a nervous sweat.
"We gotta warn Kakashi-Sensei and the others!" Naruto suddenly announced and before Shikamaru knew anything, Naruto was gone.
"He sure is spooked….." Boruto muttered.
"Can you blame him!? I do wonder if what dad learned is enough to fight that lunatic…" Sarada put her hand to her chin in thought.
"The only way we can find out is going up there." Mitsuki nudged his friends who followed after the blonde. As they made their way to the top they noticed two things; one, some time had passed given Sasuke's condition and two, Lee was back.
"Hey it's Uncle Lee!" Boruto smiled a small smile.
"I knew he wouldn't let what that creep did to him keep him down." Sarada gasped happily as Naruto only noticed the former and not the latter.
"Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto yelled, getting the attention of Lee, Guy, Sakura, Ino and Choji.
"Naruto!" Lee happily greeted his once former rival who paid him no mind.
"Oh Naruto, congrats on winning your match." Kakashi casually greeted his student.
"Kakashi-Sensei, you have to cancel the match!" Naruto got straight into the details, not hiding or throwing any punches.
"And why would I do that?" Kakashi asked, still keeping his casual tone.
"Because if you don't Sasuke will die!" Naruto practically begged Kakashi as Ino looked ready to beat Naruto down for doubting Sasuke, Sakura actually looked questionable, Choji looked as apathetic as always while Lee and Guy looked at Naruto in confusion.
"Why is he being so casual?" Sarada asked as Kakashi's cool edge about the current situation was sort of bugging her.
"Wait, you said there was a good reason you and Sasuke were late….What were you doing?" Sakura asked the question for everyone as Kakashi kept his lazy disposition going.
"Well, it's kind of a long story." Kakashi shrugged as Naruto definitely reached his wits' end with Kakashi's apathy.
"Oh c'mon! Will you please do something!? This is no time for talking!" Naruto tried urging Kakashi who shook his head.
"You're right so shut up and watch." Kakashi bluntly told Naruto, taking everyone by surprise.
"That…was kinda harsh." Sarada couldn't believe how cold Kakashi was being.
"Just keep watching Sasuke." Kakashi said to Naruto as well as anyone else who may have been sleeping on Sasuke.
"Wait, what is that?" Sarada asked as Team Konohamaru finally looked down at the arena as she pointed at the sand-like cocoon at the base of the arena.
"It looks like…..a sandy cocoon?" Boruto blinked in confusion.
"And Master Gaara must be literally in the middle of it. No doubt planning something." Mitsuki assumed as everyone saw Sasuke jumped back several feet before literally backpedaling up on the wall.
"Wait, what is he doing?" Boruto asked before Sasuke quickly ran through several hand signs. As soon as Sasuke finished, the chirping of what sounded like a thousand birds chirping emanated through the air.
"Wait, is that the Chidori!?" Sarada realized as adjusted her glasses to see the Jutsu.
"Indeed. Huh, so it looks like that was the reason why they were so late." Mitsuki gave a small smile as the Genin watched the jutsu in awe while Guy was speechless before turning to Kakashi in question.
"You always wondered why I insisted I train Sasuke alone? It's because he's like me." Kakashi was no doubt smiling with pride under his mask as Sasuke cupped his left arm holding the Chidori before quickly making his way down the wall.
"Whoa! Look at him go!" Boruto marveled in awe at the speed Sasuke was granted thanks to the Chidori.
"A physical activation. I see….so that's what you were doing. You were building up his speed to the required level…." Guy observed with Kakashi grinning.
"Exactly." Kakashi confirmed as Sakura was as speechless as Naruto.
"Amazing…how is that possible? What is it?" Sakura found herself activating as Guy decided to answer.
"It's a jab…but this jab is a jab like no other….It's the only weapon in Kakashi's arsenal he didn't copy from others. It's the weapon of choice for assassinations. The secret of the jab is in the speed with which it is delivered and the ninja's ability to focus his chakra at the point of impact. Once the elements of speed and focus have attained a certain level, the Chakra actually becomes visible and gives off the distinctive sound of birds chirping…." Guy began his explanation as spikes suddenly appeared from the cocoon encasing Gaara.
"Holy crap! Get outta the way!" Boruto tried yelling as Sasuke was able to avoid the spikes with relative ease with Guy continuing.
"It is this sound that gives the technique its name; Chidori-One Thousand Birds!" Guy finished his explanation with his Jutsu slamming right into the opening of the hole where Gaara was.
"Wait, did he hit him!?" Sarada exclaimed with an ominous silence echoing through the arena as everyone was just…speechless at the power displayed by the last Uchiha.
"It's also called the Lightning Blade. It got that name because Kakashi used it to cut a bolt of lightning before it hit the ground. But whether called One Thousand Birds or Lightning Blade, it's a technique of unimaginable power requiring nearly inhuman levels of speed and power and once perfected, it transforms a person's arm into an indestructible and invincible sword. A dangerous technique not to be taken lightly." Guy sent a pointed look to Kakashi who looked unperturbed.
"Oh he is the last person to talk about teaching deadly techniques." Boruto snorted as Kakashi chuckled before kneeling down to Lee's level as he gave him a sheepish look.
"I dunno what any of that means but all I know is that it looks awesome!" Sakura beamed as Sarada also beamed.
"When we get outta here, I'm definitely gonna have dad teach me the Chidori! Just imagine me using it!" Sarada practically jumped at the thought of her wielding the Chidori.
"That'd be pretty cool! Maybe we can test your Chidori against my Rasengan!" Boruto grinned at Sarada who looked elated at that thought.
"I'd love that, Uzumaki." Sarada grinned back at Boruto.
"Although…look at Lord Seventh." Mitsuki noted as Boruto and Sarada then noted Naruto's conflicted expression as he gripped the railing bars.
"Oh dad….and I have a feeling why…" Boruto gave Naruto an empathetic look as the memory flashed to all the training Naruto underwent along with summoning Gamabunta.
"To go through all that only to find your rival in essentially a different league…" Sarada frowned.
"I wonder at this point in time who would actually win if they fought here…" Mitsuki wondered as both Boruto and Sarada were lost in thought as they actually had to think about the answer.
However they didn't have time to dwell on that for long as a loud yell nearly knocked them off their feet.
"BLOOD!? IT'S MY BLOOD!" Gaara yelled as Sasuke struggled to get his arm free from Gaara's cocoon before using his Chidori to free his arm.
However, Sasuke was shaken to see something no doubt horrifying as he nearly backed away as the sand cocoon slowly withered and dwindled away revealing Gaara with a bloodied shoulder as Gaara held his shoulder with a look of near insanity on his face.
"Oh…he's snapped…" Boruto thought Gaara from the previous day was scary.
"So that's the wound? It can be mended…" Sarada observed the full extent of Gaara's wound before feathers started to slowly fall down on top of the spectators.
"Wait what is that?" Boruto asked.
"Is it…some sort of jutsu?" Mitsuki asked.
"Genjutsu!" Sarada pointed as everyon started to slowly fall asleep, those including Naruto, Lee, Ino, Shikamaru and Choji for example.
However before anyone had time to say anything, a series of explosions rang throughout the entire Village Hidden in the Leaves…..
Invasion INCOMING!
Hard to believe how fast I'm going through the Naruto series! ESPECIALLY when compared to my pacing last year! XD Then again when I went through that Hiatus…yeah ^_^
But hopefully that won't happen again! And MAYBE I can even get to Shippuden by the end of this year! ^_^
HOPEFULLY!
But yeah please let me know your thoughts on this chapter and I will see you all in the final chapter of the Chunin Exams Arc on May 31st! ^_^ (Ironically on Memorial Day! XD)
P.S: I think I'll be releasing new chapters of this story at the end of the month! AT LEAST for the time being since I feel that gives me MORE THAN ENOUGH time for me to work on the chapter and make sure it's fine and all that jaz ^_^
Thanks again guys! ^_^