A/N: Hello again, Mandalorian Jedi fans...
I had hoped to have another chapter out of one of my other fics, but it has not come to pass as of yet...
However, the TFF'ers at Hawk's "The Fanfiction Forum" have given me another small spark of inspiration. This time, Master of Magnetism brings you Magneto!Naruto taking on Neji in the Chuunin Exam Tournament. I may actually turn this into a fic, though if I do, I don't know if I'll use this fight scene, but who knows... ANYWAYS... Here is the latest entry of the Archive Rejects.
So now, for the rest of the Story...
Uzumaki Naruto, Master of Magnetism
"Will everyone except Hyuuga Neji and Uzumaki Naruto go to the competitors box," asked Genma, "The first match is set to begin."
Neji smirked. "Your fate was chosen when it was decreed that I was your opponent."
"Really... Fortuneteller as well?" asked Naruto intrigued.
"My Byakugan can see all things," said Neji, his eyes narrowing at Naruto's remark. "Even without it being activated I have been trained to see things others do- could- not."
Naruto's mouth twitched. "Oh, and what is it that you see when you turn your gaze upon me?"
"Confidence and slight amusement," said Neji, "But by the end of this match, that will change, once I've beaten you down, and have systematically torn down all of your defenses one by one. No matter what you do, no matter what you think you could come up with, you'll only delay the inevitable. Give up, honor is the least you have to worry about if you fight me."
"Gomen, Neji-kun, but I already promised... Swore even, on Hinata-chan's blood that I would defeat you," said Naruto, "For me to back down from you, would be to abandon my friend. I would not only be honor less scum, but I would be worse than that."
Naruto reached into the pouches on either side of his leg and pulled out three kunai from each one.
"The first match of the preliminary round... Uzumaki Naruto vs Hyuuga Neji... FIGHT!" shouted Genma. When he did Naruto tossed the kunai into the air.
"Kunai Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" he shouted and everyone watched as the sky above became filled with several hundreds of black dots that suddenly began a gradually increasingly fast decent towards both opponents.
"You are a fool." said Neji activating his Byakugan. "KAITEN!" he shouted. The dozens of kunai that threatened to turn the Hyuuga prodigy into a pin cushion were immediately repelled leaving the audience in a stunned stupor.
"Sugoi!" Sakura gasped.
"That jutsu is only taught to the members of the Main Branch of the Hyuuga Clan," said Tenten, "But Neji mastered it on his own. It's his ultimate defense, and it's even better than Gaara's sand."
Ino smirked. "My teammate isn't out of this yet. Look."
"W-What!?" shouted Sakura in surprise, "What the hell is that?"
"Naruto has powers that he hasn't even revealed to us, his teammates, yet," said Ino with a smirk, "Neji doesn't stand a chance."
"You have a lot of faith in your teammate," said Tenten, "But Neji is the strongest and most talented Genin in the village. He's even stronger than Lee, and the Kaiten isn't the only attack Neji has managed to pick up either."
In the arena, no one had noticed Naruto as they had been surprised by Neji's use of Kaiten. The only one who didn't seem surprised was Naruto, who was now leaving everyone, including his opponent, in a shocked stupor.
Around Naruto was a silvery dome that seemed to act as a shield. "It would do well you you to not underestimate my abilities Neji-kun."
"I will admit that I must re-evaluate your abilities. I underestimated you from the start, but your little display has alerted me that you are far better skilled than you appear. I will not underestimate you again."
"Good to see you're taking this seriously now," smirked Naruto. "Hyuuga Neji, I implore you to give up. You can not win, as even now you underestimate me."
"You stand against the elite of the elite in this village and you dare to ask me to concede?" Neji asked incredulously, "You'll be lucky if I don't end your life, for one can not fight against fate."
"Tell me, Neji-kun... Why do you place so much on fate?" asked Naruto curiously.
"Since you will lose anyway, I shall indulge you just this once," said Neji, "It is because, I bear a mark... the mark that represents the Fate of Hatred of the Hyuuga Clan."
Neji, as he took off his hitai-ite, then proceeded to tell all about the story of the Kumo delegation that had arrived in Konoha to negotiate a peace treaty and how it had all been a ruse from Kumogakure to gain the Byakugan. How is weak cousin, Hinata, had been kidnaped, only to be saved by her father when he killed the kidnapper. He spoke of how Kumo had demanded reparations by requesting the head of their representative's murderer and his own father's sacrifice because he was of the Branch Family, whose primary focus was to protect the Main Family.
"Such a sad tale..." Naruto commented.
"You think I'm lying?" asked Neji angrily.
"I said no such thing," Naruto snapped back, "I merely commented that it was sad. But, it is you, Neji, who is the fool."
"And what do you know of being marked with a burden that was forcibly thrust upon you!" Neji.
Naruto chuckled, though all amusement was gone. "Far more than you..." he said quietly and with the look in his eyes, Neji believed him. "You say one can not fight against fate, yet you ruthlessly attacked Hinata, the person whom your sole purpose is to protect. Hypocrite. You fight against your fate as much as I fight against my own. And I fight against my own, because if I didn't, this entire village would be smouldering ashes."
"To blame such an event on poor Hinata-chan makes you the same as them," Naruto spat out, his arm waving towards each of the villagers, "I've watched her as we grew up... A timid, frightened little girl... She was seemingly afraid of her own shadow at times... Yet... She's persevered, she's fought against the perceived weaknesses of herself and those of your clan and her own father. She's worked hard to change herself, make herself stronger, all for the sake of the clan, but for you especially. Despite what she suffers, she sees your suffering and wishes to put an end to it, yet you fight against her... She hates that cursed mark that you bare more than any Branch member and it is her goal, her dream and her ambition to abolish it, and for that she has my full support..."
Hinata could only stare at Naruto wide eyed, a bright blush adorning her face, 'He... He HAS noticed me... Have I truly changed... Y-Yes... and Naruto... Naruto-kun... He believes in me...'
Kiba looked to Hinata to see her reaction to Naruto's words. He smirked. 'Naruto... You have no idea what you've done for Hinata. No matter what we tried, we- her teammates- could never boost her confidence like this... Even if Neji still beats you, she will follow you to the ends of the world and back...'
Naruto looked around the entire arena. All eyes were on him, though many fidgeted in their seats. He looked Neji directly in the eye. "I too have been marked with a burden I neither wanted nor would wish on my worst enemies. Because of it, I have been neglected and ignored, whispered about when people thought I couldn't hear. 'Monster... Creature... Abomination...'. Your mark may represent the hatred of the Hyuuga Clan, but others respect and adore you because of your Kekkei Genkai... Whether you are Branch or Main House of the Hyuuga, it does not matter, for you bare the almighty Byakugan... MY mark is the hatred of Konohagakure no Sato, a place of tolerance and acceptance, redemption and absolution, peace and prosperity. Yet, a place that will tear down a mere CHILD because of something he could not control on the very day of his birth."
"Yes, Hyuuga Neji, I understand the heroic tale of your father... Far better than you," said Naruto. "If not for the acceptance of a small few... Either myself or Konoha would not be standing here today. But, it's BECAUSE of those few, the VERY few precious people that I have, that I work to protect Konoha, not only from outside threats, but from itself as well," Naruto solemnly told him.
"It is my dream to make this a place of tolerance, where people do not have to live in fear because they are different from all others. A place where people are not judged at birth, whether it is because of whom they were born to, or because of things their own parents did before they were born. It is my dream that the scorned and the disgraced, the neglected and the ignored are greeted with open arms, and treated as equals. Not only here in Konoha, but everywhere in this world. So I implore you once more, surrender, Hyuuga Neji. Join me in my fight to save humanity from itself."
The crowd waited on baited breath.
The self assured conviction was nearly enough to convince Neji, but he couldn't let it go. He would not let himself be swayed by his fellow Genin's silk tongue. Actions spoke louder than words. "Can you do it?"
"Yes."
"Defeat me, show me the depth of your conviction," said Neji as he slipped into a Jyuuken stance.
"I hoped it wouldn't come to this... But you've left me no choice..." said Naruto as he raised his arms. He shocked everyone further by levitating off of the ground.
"Long range attacks are useless against me, and it would be folly to attack a Hyuuga at close range," said Neji, "It will only be a matter of time before you have to land and then you'll be in range of my Divination."
Hiashi's eyes widened in realization of the implications of that statement.
'Not only does he know Hakkeshou Kaiten, but Hakke Rokujuuyon Shou as well without the proper instruction of the Hyuuga Main Branch to aid him... He's an exceptional shinobi... Incredible...' thought the Hyuuga Clan Head.
"Is that so...?" asked Naruto. Suddenly, Neji sensed movement. It was slight at first, but then became more gradual. A kunai ripped itself from the ground and sped towards Neji, who dodged. The kunai circled back and Neji deflected it with another kunai, before dodging a second one. Neji's eyes widened as two more kunai came out of the ground and sped right towards him. Neji ducked only to see the original two heading towards him. Neji jumped over then and twisted to dodge another kunai. Upon landing, he could only do one thing.
"KAITEN!" he shouted as a dozen more uprooted themselves and sped towards him. They were blown back as he started to spin.
Neji was just coming out of his spin when he saw more kunai coming towards him. He wouldn't be able to dodge in time. "KAITEN!"
Neji felt his entire body protest as he held this one even longer than the last. His tenketsu points burned with fury as he began to slow, hundred of kunai swarming him again. "KAITEN!" shouted Neji as he resumed his spinning.
As Neji began to slow, he stumbled. The spinning of the Hakkeshou Kaiten had left him dizzy as his Byakugan had deactivated due to the amount of chakra he was expending. The Byakugan was the only reason why a only a Hyuuga could use Kaiten, as a Hyuuga could see 360 degrees simultaneously, allowing them to be able to keep their equilibrium while in a high speed spin. There were chakra burns all over his body due to the amount of chakra had he been constantly expelling. Neji straightened as three kunai were held at his throat, he also felt several more pressing lightly, but firmly against his vitals.
"Eight points... Liver, lungs, spine, collarbone, jugular vein, larynx, kidneys, heart... While most assassins will choose the one of easiest convenience... As you can see I can attack all at once and more..." More kunai began to float and glided towards Neji. "I know you could easily protect yourself with Kaiten, as you create a thin shell of chakra, just moments before you active the spin."
"However, you're almost out of chakra, you've appeared to have burned out a good many of your tenketsu, and I doubt that even a prodigy of your caliber could create the chakra shell quick enough to cover all of your vitals and various other places on your body." When Naruto said this two kunai lightly pressed against both of Neji's Achilles tendons. "Surrender and join me to build a better tomorrow... Or you will never walk again..."
"Proctor... I concede..." said Neji pantingly.
"Winner... Uzumaki Naruto!" announced Genma.
In a puff of smoke all but six of Naruto's kunai disappeared, only two of which were pressed against Neji; one at his heal, the other at his spine. Naruto waved his arm and the flew towards him as he landed in front of Neji.
The two boys regarded one another carefully before Naruto punched Neji square in the jaw. The tired Neji could not block or dodge it and was sent reeling to the ground.
"I have shown you mercy on this day..." said Naruto glaringly, "But it was only at Hinata's request... You owe her your life and your livelihood as I would have left you either crippled or dead for harming one of my few precious people..."
Neji flinched back from Naruto's powerful glare that said 'Do NOT do it again'. What surprised Neji was the amount of hate and malice it contained, yet Naruto did not exude even the smallest fraction of killing intent.
Neji looked down somberly. "Understood."
Naruto then helped Neji stand.
The crowd could only look on in awe, mixed with excitement and trepidation, as they cheered. They knew, as one, that change was on the horizon, change brought about by Uzumaki Naruto, the Master of Magnetism. For better or worse, they would be unable to stop it. Events were already set in motion, and they dare not move against one with such power, lest they incur the wrath of one seemingly with the powers of a God. One could only hope prosperity, not destruction, lay in the fate of Konoha, as it seemed Uzumaki Naruto would have a large part to play in the village's destiny for many years to come.
'That boy...' thought a figure with narrowed eyes, 'He will be most problematic in the near future... I underestimated him in the forest... Yet, he underestimated me as well. His powers will grow to surpass even Minato's before long... Somehow, I must dispose of him... Or at least eliminate him as a threat... But how...?'
A/N: So... What did you think? Good, Bad, Ugly?