Chapter 31
Naruto stood with his hands in his pockets. It was the day of the finals and he felt that he was prepared for the match. As he watched people file into the stadium, he couldn't help but think about what Anko told him. A group of S-rank shinobi was after him. It scared him a little to know that. Still, he decided not to worry about it too much. They had not made their move yet so he would cross that bridge when it came. Until that day came, he would train hard like he did before. He would even trust that moron Jiraiya even if he did not like the man.
He turned his attention to the finals and looked at the competitors. He was standing next to Sakura and gave her a look over. She looked ready to compete. He would have to change his opinion of Ebisu but it would not be by much. He then looked at Neji and glared. The prodigy did the same and Naruto couldn't wait to teach this guy a lesson. He was so going to mess him up. He then looked at Gaara. He thought about the red head often but he needed to deal with one thing at a time.
He faced forward and waited for the finals to begin.
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Hinata sat with Kiba who was watching over her. She was close to her family members as she watched. She saw the contestants leave the grounds with the exception of Neji and Naruto. Hinata was very concerned about this match. While she knew that Naruto would keep his promise to her, she still knew that he could get a little overexcited in a fight. She had seen spars between him and his surrogate sister. In that same instant, Neji would not hold back in punishing Naruto just to hurt her. She only hoped that things did not spiral out of control.
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Naruto and Neji squared off. No words were said between the two but Genma, the new referee, could see that the two wanted to tear each other apart. He was warned to step in if things got too serious between the two. He looked at the two and saw that they were ready. He gave the signal to start and the two charged at each other. Naruto threw a kunai quickly but Neji dodged. He lashed out with a palm strike but Naruto dodged it. He slipped out another kunai and spun, attempting to cut Neji. Neji dodged the slash and threw a kick. Naruto blocked it and pulled out a razor from his pouch. Neji quickly pulled his leg back just as Naruto attempted to cut him. Naruto attacked, using both weapons to do harm. Neji ducked and countered but Naruto would dodge him.
After a few minutes of non-stop action, Neji landed the first blow, a palm strike to the gut. It stunned Naruto but he quickly shrugged it off. Just as Neji was about to close one of his Tenketsu (chakra point), Naruto rushed in and slammed his forehead into Neji's face. Neji yelled out but was able to get some distance, dodging Naruto's stab. Naruto quickly did a hand seal.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto called out. Twenty-four clones appeared before him. Neji saw this and activated his Byakugan. He slipped into his stance as Naruto's clones charged at him. It was a may lay of limbs that attempted to crush Neji. The boy ducked and dodged every attack before countering. However, it was not easy to dispel the clones because they were just as good at fighting as the original. Neji only managed to dispel two.
Having enough, Neji shot forward and made his way toward the real Naruto. All he got was a smirk as Naruto did some hand seals before putting his hands on the ground.
"Doton: Yomi Numa! (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld)" Naruto shouted. Neji suddenly tripped up and nearly dropped to his knees. Neji looked to the ground to see that he was standing in a very muddy pool. He looked back up only to receive a kick to the face. He was then hit with a three hit combo and ended it with backflip kick. Neji's head cracked back as he was sent flying. He quickly recovered from the assault and slammed his palm into Naruto's chest, sending him back. Neji used his chakra to get out of the mucky swamp water and stand on the surface. He looked ready to charge when his feet were grabbed. He was then lifted into the air as the clones formed a chain.
The clones spun Neji around before launching him higher into the air. The original used the chain to climb toward Neji. He caught him with a knee to the gut before slamming his elbow into his back. That's when the clone surrounded him.
"U, zu, ma, ki, Naruto Rendan!" they all said and batted Neji around like a pin ball. It ended with an axe kick that sent Neji toward the ground. The original caught up with Neji and grabbed his ankles. He began to do a flip, holding Neji's ankles. He flipped in mid-air three times before throwing Neji. Neji hit the swamp hard. He gasped in pain as it felt like he hit solid ground. The group of Naruto descended on Neji, attempting to finish the fight. That's when Neji's Byakugan took on a harsh glow. Neji was on his feet and began to spin.
"Hakkeshō Kaiten! (Eight Trigrams Palm, Revolving Heaven)" Neji roared. All the clones and the original Naruto hit an invisible dome. They and the swamp were thrown away violently. Naruto hit the ground but was able to roll into the fall to avoid injury. His clones were not as lucky as they were all dispelled. Naruto stood up to face Neji who was breathing hard. Naruto dusted himself off before pulled out that razor that he took from Sakura.
"What's matter Neji? The match not going as you planned?" Naruto mocked.
"I've had enough of you! I am going to end you right now!" Neji said and charged at him, Naruto readied himself to fight.
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In the competitors' box, Shikamaru watched the match with Shino and Sakura. He could see that Neji was no longer playing games. Naruto was keeping up with him and getting his shots in but that would soon change. He hoped that his friend had a plan for getting Neji so worked up.
"Do you think that Naruto will win this?" Sakura asked Shikamaru.
"Naruto is too stubborn to lose. He'll pull something out of his ass to win. Then he will be as unbearable as usual." Shikamaru said. Sakura nodded and cheered for her teammate. Shikamaru just looked at the match. 'Prove me right Naruto.'
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Naruto dodged another blow but was kicked away by Neji. He was on the defensive as Neji was continuing his assault. He was not letting up and Naruto was getting no room. He needed to get some distance to plot his next move. Throwing his hand forward, he called out his jutsu.
"Sen'eijashu! (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)" Naruto called out. Snakes shot out of his sleeves and wrapped around Neji. Naruto tossed Neji away, slamming him into the wall. Naruto quickly did a few more seals and took a breath. "Katon: Karyūdan! (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet)". Naruto blew out a stream of fire. Neji was able to dodge it and flank Naruto. He slipped into a stance that Naruto recognized.
"Hakke Rokujūyon Sho! (Eight Trigrams, Sixty-Four Palms)" Neji shouted. Naruto was hit repeatedly by Neji and Naruto could only take it. Neji ended his attack and Naruto was sent flying into the wall. Naruto cried out as he fell to the ground. He laid there unmoving. Neji took a few breaths before grinning. "Now you see the difference between us. No matter how much you try, you can never change your fate!"
"You talk too much!" Naruto's voice shouted. Neji was shocked until he was suddenly blown away by a strong wind. As he was in mid-air, something hit him from the side. It sent him flying right toward a green and orange toad. He was wearing a blue kimono with a purple sash. He was holding a dosu (Yakuza sword) in his arm.
"Gamadosuzan! (Toad Sword Beheading)" the toad shouted. Neji could only widen his eyes as he was hit with the weapon. Neji cried out as he was flung into the air. He hit the ground and was not moving. He turned his head to see Naruto walk up to him. He was flanked by that green-orange toad and a blue-yellow toad. The toad had scales, a yellow gi and its wrists taped. Naruto looked at the two.
"Gamayashi, Ejji, thanks for the assist." Gamayashi, the blue-yellow toad, bowed while Ejji, the green-orange toad put some shades on.
"No problem Shitayaku (Underling). Just remember to give that cutie of yours a kiss for defending her honor." Ejji said. Naruto was red in the face as the toads left. In the crowd, Kiba was teasing his teammate while Hinata was hiding in her clothes. Hiashi narrowed his eyes and his Byakugan activated. Naruto could feel the sense of dread coming from the crowd. He ignored it for now and faced Neji.
"How?" Neji asked.
"When I used the last jutsu, I created a clone and changed positions just as the fire was about to hit you. I hid under my cloak, matching it to the ground. I just waited for you to drop your guard." Naruto said. He then gave Neji a hard glance. "You know, I really wanted to hurt you long before these exams. Hinata would talk about her home life to me and I would get really angry because of it. If it wasn't for Hinata asking me to leaving them all alone, I would have bombarded them with so many pranks that they would have placed a bounty on me."
"So because she told you not to hurt me, you didn't?" Neji sneered.
"Oh no, I was going to gut you open." Naruto stated, surprising everyone. "Yeah, I was going to kill you because you attempted to kill Hinata. Hinata is one of my precious people and if you harm my precious people, you forfeit your life. She spared you from death and I finally understood why.
"Why?"
"It's because you are her family, no matter how much of a dick you have been to her. It's not just you. The whole branch house is family to her. Why would she treat you all differently? Think about Neji. Has she ever used the seal that in on your forehead?" Neji did not answer him. "Either way, I've won, you've lost and that's the end of that. The next time you hurt Hinata; I will slice you open and spill your guts." With that said, Naruto made his way toward the competitors' box. Genma just smirked at the retreating blond.
"Well, there goes our first chūnin." He whispered. "The winner of the first match is Uzumaki Naruto." There was nothing at first but the silence turned into applause. Naruto was surprised by it but he was not going to ignore it. He pumped his hands in the air, shouting his name. Some the crowd followed his lead and Naruto had a big grin on his face.
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Kiba watched as everyone cheered before turning to Hinata who was smiling. He grinned at her and nudged her in the ribs softly.
"That's an overprotective boyfriend that you got there." Kiba said.
"K-Kiba-kun, stop teasing me!" Hinata exclaimed with a stutter. She then turned back to Naruto was still cheering with everyone. She smiled at the grin on his face. "I'm very happy for N-Naruto-kun. T-This is the acknowledgment t-that he deserves."
"Yeah, he actually looks cool. Still, he might what to lay low for a while. I mean, the words that he said out there sounded like he was courting you. I don't think your dad is going to allow that." Kiba said.
"D-Do you really, t-think that he w-was courting me?" Hinata asked nervously, poking her fingers together. Kiba just laughed at his teammate.
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Naruto arrived after three minutes of holding the matches up. He had a happy look on his face and pep in his step. He saw Shikamaru, Sakura and Shino.
"Yo, did you see me out there?" Naruto asked. He got his answer from Sakura with a bop on the head. He rubbed the spot and gave her a glare. "What the hell was that about?!"
"You idiot! How can you do that to Hinata?" Sakura exclaimed. Naruto looked confused so Shikamaru decided to speak.
"The way you spoke out there, it sounded like you were going to court Hinata." He said.
"Say what now?" Naruto asked confused. It earned him another bonk on the head.
"What he means, stupid, is that the words that you send down there sounded like the words of man confessing his love for a woman. You've creating more news in the village than ever. You know how shy Hinata is and now she's going to be hounded because of you." Sakura stated. Naruto looked at her with wide eyes.
"B-But that's not how I meant it! I'm already in trouble with the Hyūga! Oh man, Hiashi is going to murder me!" Naruto said with worry. Shikamaru just laughed at his friend and Sakura sighed.
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Authors' Notes: Here you go guys, a new chapter up and running. I just have a couple of things about this chapter. Naruto learning about the Akatsuki early was purposely done since Anko's battle with Orochimaru. Anko cares greatly for Naruto so she would warn him about it. I still kept the two toads from before and if you want to see a picture, I will put it up on my profile. The last thing I will mention, the celebration that Naruto had with the crowd, I took that from the WWE superstar Daniel Bryan. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter.
