A/N: Yo! Sorry it took so long. Been dealing with some schtuffs, but I'm back, baby! Right. Reviews. So general one to start: I don't claim to be an expert on anything. My interests are many and varied, and that means I can really only devote enough time to them to get a surface understanding. Therefore, I do sincerely appreciate when people correct me on things, as long as it's done politely, when I make a mischief. For instance, I was corrected on when I said Poker and Blackjack are the same. I never addressed it, but I do thank you. Like I said, I really only have a surface understanding. I try my best with what I do know and hope to Gaia I don't sound like a fucking moron.
and the first person to successfully guess the quote is! Kurama's Final Nightmare! Congratulations! Other than that, only a few responses I want to do.
HeroCrafter: I appreciate the attempt, but never mention that piece of rejected kindling ever again. That is not Eragon. If you want Eragon you can buy it for 12 dollars at your nearest Barnes & Noble. It's great, lots of big words and a pretty picture of a blue dragon on the front. That 'movie' (term used loosely) is notEragon. All they did was take the names from the book and super-impose them on a really shitty 'film'. And this is coming from a guy who actually enjoys a lot of book-to-movie or videogame-to-movie adaptations. That, though? That is an abomination.
Polaruspax: Take it up with the fans,not me. Poll determined that shit.
Sanabalis: I do apologize for some of the disjointed-ness. I try my best, I promise.
Ideadlyx: ah, yes, well that comes from something that happened when I was a wee lad. See, when I was still about six months to a year, I somehow (me mam won't tell me how) cracked basically every rib at the spine. Somehow, instead of healing normally, cartilage set in (doctors are like wtf?!) so, technically, all my ribs are jointed, hence, I can pop my ribcage. Nice little anecdotal factoid about me for ya.
New Guest Kouhai: Senpai must have his secrets.
That's... about it, really. Once again, a lot of support and love from ya'll. And now I'm thinking about how my friends laugh whenever I use Texas slang, because it comes out hilariously with my Scots-Irish accent. (Grandma Scottish, Grandpa Irish). Anywho, thanks for all the feedback, love you guys!
Chapter 49: Hyuuga Showdown
The stadium was eerily silent as the two Hyuuga strode into the arena. When finally they stood across from each other, both in a relaxed, non-combat stance, Hayate raised his hand, coughed into his other fist, and sliced his hand down with a cry of 'Hajime!'. Neither teen moved for several drawn-out moments. Finally, Neji shifted into his jyuuken stance with a smirk.
"I would give up now if I were you, Hinata-sama," he spat venemously.
"Then I'm glad you aren't me, because I have no intention of giving up. I trained too hard for too long to not at least show what I can do," Hinata replied calmly, settling into stance, mirroring Neji. He frowned.
"It is futile. You are fated to lose. As you are always fated to lose."
Hinata stared at him a few more moments, then straightened, and began laughing. She heard several discontented murmurs from where a group of Hyuuga spectators were sitting.
"In that case, indulge this losers' challenge if you would."
"Why should I give you anything?" Neji snarled. Hinata merely grinned.
"What difference does it make? I ask no more of you than I would any other opponent of the same set." Neji scowled mightily, finally lifting from his combat stance.
"And what do you want, exactly?"
"Fight me with all you have. Attempt to kill me if you so desire. Just let it all go here, today." a loud gasp echoed throughout the stadium as her words rang forth, clearly.
Kage Booth
"The girl is suicidal!" Onoki cried as he sat forward. "I've read both their files, she doesn't stand a chance!"
"Ah," Hiruzen sighed, taking a pull from his pipe. "But I hear from my grandson she has been training with Naruto-kun for quite some time."
"What's so special about training with that brat?" A asked, cocking his eyebrow as he lounged to one side in his own chair.
"From what Gaara has told me of the boy, it seems his training regimen is something to be utterly feared."
"Very true, Kazekage-dono. My understanding is that Naruto-kun severely limits himself while training inside the Village walls, and even then, he's made Mito Gai envious once or twice."
"You can't be serious," Mei gasped. "From what I hear, Mito Gai is your foremost Taijutsu expert."
"That he is, Mizukage-dono. That he is."
Contestant's booth
"Why is everyone suddenly short of air?" Gaara asked no-one in particular.
"They're gasping in shock, Gaara."
"Why?"
"Because Hinata-chan basically said 'fuck the rules, try to kill me.'"
"Why is that an issue? She seems able to defend herself."
"Thank you!" Naruto cried as he stretched his arms toward the red-head. "Seriously guys, he doesn't even know her and he can see she's gonna kick ass."
Hyuuga Spectators
"The girl has learned nothing," scowled one elder of the clan, a wizened old man with his forehead covered. "She speaks folly to the clan genius."
"My oneechan is stronger than you think," Hanabi muttered under her breath.
"What was that, Hanabi?" Hiashi asked calmly.
"Nothing, father."
"Then let us watch this match unfold."
"Hai."
"Hiashi-sama, she has gone too far!"
"Shut up, sit down, and compose yourself. We are in public, Elder Kizu. And as for Hinata's actions, there is nothing we can do but watch."
Back in the stadium
"You... want me... to... kill you?"
"Actually, what I believe what I said was 'attempt to kill me if you wish.' that is different from asking you to kill me."
Neji looked dumbstruck for several moments, before a savage grin started to settle on his face. He moved back to his ready stance, his feral visage a sight of terror for most.
But not for who it was intended for. Without another word, Neji lunged forward, immediately starting into a flurry of palm strikes and finger jabs, expecting the heiress to fall before the onslaught.
So imagine his surprise when she was nowhere to be found.
Competitor's balcony
"What happened?" Shikamaru asked, his eyes glued to the battle.
"What do you mean, 'what happened?' Neji overshot her," Temari scoffed, pulling a guffaw from the other blond present.
"Not exactly," Naruto chuckled. He got quizzical glances all around. He just waved at the arena. "Just watch."
The fight
Neji spun to locate his target, only to find her casually standing behind him, her back to him as though she had not a care in the world. With a snarl, he lunged again, aiming to plant a chakra-laced palm square into her spine, but instead of the satisfying thud he expected, his hand met only air. A few seconds later, he felt weight on his shoulders and looked up with astonishment.
Hyuuga Hinata was lounging upon his shoulders as casually as though she were on her bed, one foot pulled up to rest on his back, the other dangling freely around his waistline. She had her chin rested on her hand, which in turn rested on her elbow, and she smiled down at him serenely.
"Lovely weather, isn't it?"
Neji snarled and tried throwing her off violently, only for her to gracefully dismount and whirl to face him, her hands clasped behind her back, and her legs crossed demurely.
"Did I say something wrong?" Neji whipped to face the insolent girl with a feral snarl.
"That you speak at all is more than you deserve!" Hinata quirked an eyebrow cutely at his reaction.
"Does the fight displease you, Neji-niisan?"
"This is no fight!"
Hinata sighed tiredly, then took her ready stance, the one she had been training with Naruto.
"Very well. Come, face me." Neji regarded her warily, her stance unfamiliar, unsettling. He couldn't place why for several moments, then it hit him like a brick wall.
"You modified the jyuuken!"
"Modified is such crude wording. I prefer 'refined', if I'm honest."
"You no good, main branch, hussy! You defile our sacred forms!"
"Ooh, such foul language. Never would have thought you capable of cursing, Neji-niisan."
With a roar, Neji lunged at the lavender-haired wretch who dared to alter the greatest taijutsu form in history. Only to watch, as though in slow motion, as she ducked under his palm-thrust. Her hands shot up and flowed around his guard, hitting his shoulders, before he felt a flowing sensation spread from the places she'd touched. He couldn't tell if it was hot or cold. All he knew was it hurt.
No choice! he thought, before throwing himself in a circle, expelling chakra from his whole body.
"Hakkeshō Kaiten!"
Hinata was thrown back with a cry of shock, slight chakra damage appearing on her arms, revealed as they were without her usual jacket. She'd been feeling men leering at her all day, her tight, form-fitting shirt not leaving much to the imagination.
Damn Naruto-kun for making me wear this... although it is incredibly comfortable and breathable...
The bluenette picked herself up off the ground and looked at her cousin, who was slowing to a halt.
"So, you really are a genius. Reverse-engineering a main branch move like that."
"For all you know, I could have been taught," Neji sneered.
"Unlikely. Not many in our clan would go against tradition like that, but that just makes you and I unique."
"I am nothing like you!"
"Oh? I guess I'll have to prove you wrong then." with that, Hinata took a new stance, her right foot directly behind her left, her back straight, and her arms curled at ninety-degree angles, her fists fingers up.
"Wha..." Neji's worlds fell short as his byakugan picked up enormous amounts of chakra flowing to the girls' hands, more than she should logically have available to begin with. Hinata breathed in once, then released the air slowly as her fingers uncurled, and she had two downward palms before her.
With a loud fwum two blue faces appeared over her arms, the chakra physically manifesting, expelling the air around Hinata at high speed.
"Jūho Sōshiken! (Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists)" Hinata rushed forward, swinging her arm in a palm thrust, which Neji jumped backward to avoid, but she followed him, bending like a reed in a current. He began counter-attacking, but every time he made a move to strike her, she would bend backward or sideways, sometimes kicking out her leg to maintain her balance. He had to admit, begrudgingly, that she did look graceful while she beat him to a pulp. Finally he'd had enough, and jumped back some ten feet, before planting his feet, and leveling his arms, palm-up, at an angle down his shoulder.
"You are within the area of my divination," he ground out, preparing to end it. Only for Hinata to take a similar, but adjusted pose, her chakra lions disappearing in a flicker of blue.
"Hakke Rokujūyon Shō! (Eight Trigrams: Sixty-four palms)"
"Shugohakke Rokujūyon Shō! (Protective Eight Trigrams: Sixty-four Palms)"
Competitor's Balcony
With a shout Naruto gripped the railing so hard, a loud squeal came forth from the metal.
"HINATA YOU IDIOT!"
"What's the big deal?" Shikamaru asked, straightening. Whatever set Naruto on edge was not good.
"She hasn't mastered that move yet! If she does it wrong, she could seriously hurt herself!"
"What exactly is it?" Temari asked. Rock Lee, strangely, just stared down at the fight wordlessly, an intense stare on his face, his mouth set in a hard line.
"It's a variation on the Hyuuga technique of sixty-four strikes. Instead of attacking, it's meant as a defensive barrier. It takes incredible amounts of chakra control and flexibility."
"Never heard of it," Kurotsuchi scoffed nonchalantly.
"That's because Hinata made it. Just like her Jūho Sōshiken. The difference is, she's mastered the Lion fist, if only just." all the time, the blond hadn't taken his eyes off the arena, nor his gloved hands from the railing.
Back to the fight
For several seconds, no-one could see a thing. Then, finally the dust cleared, to reveal both Hyuuga flat on the ground, covered in numerous cuts and chakra burns. Hayate stared for several moments, before raising his hand to declare a double-knockout, only to hear a groan. He snapped his eyes over as his mouth fell open.
Hinata sat up, holding her head.
"Did someone catch the number on that bolder?"
"WINNER: HYUUGA HINATA!" silence reigned for several moments, before thunderous applause broke out, the roar drowning out several outraged cries from the Hyuuga.
Hinata moved to stand up, only to find a black glove in her face, offering help.
"That was incredibly stupid, you know."
"Oh, shut-up Naruto-kun."