Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Hey! I'm updating before my family heads to the Grand Canyon.

Did anyone else read the little one-shot chapter for the Road to Ninja Movie? Go to . It's just Naruto Road to Ninja or something like that. It didn't update as a Naruto chapter; it was on its own.

Since yesterday was Shiranui Genma's birthday, he'll do the disclaimer.

Genma: Do I have to?

Me: Yes. Unless you want me to kill you.

Genma: You can't. You like me too much.

Me: I can always make you a tranny.

Genma:...Fine. Epic Otaku Cherry doesn't own Naruto. If she did, she'd know who "Tobi" was among other things. Don't forget to review.

Me: Good! Now, review, my lovelies!


Chapter 7: End of Hyuuga Match!

Hinata POV

"Akh…!" No… That's where…Neji had struck me last time. Near my heart.

"Give up; once a failure, always a failure. Where is your confidence now? Huh?" Neji was sneering, preparing for another strike.

Well, now's as good time as any for my Naruto-inspired-me-speech.

"Well, are you ready to give up? Do you want to run away like you always have?" I looked up into the stands, seeing some shake their heads, knowing I would lose; pain in Kurenai-sensei's eyes, seeing her young student so beat up; seeing sadness in some eyes; interest in Neji's power in others.

I stood up straight and went into another pose, coughing up blood. I won't be able to keep this much longer. I need to end this… and soon.

"No cousin, I no longer want to run away! I vowed to myself to prove myself against you, whether or not I would win this match. And I will never go back on my word, because that too is my nindō, my ninja way." I saw Naruto lighten up, recognizing his famous line and nindo.

"How about I prove you wrong then! Show you that you can never go against fate because it is decided for you; one's destiny is predetermined and there is nothing to be done about it!" Neji was charging at me, his hand up for one last and final closing of a tenketsu.

(A/n: sorry if that didn't make much sense. I wanted Hinata to say those lines so I copied them straight from one of her quotes. And sorry if the way Neji's speaking pisses you off: that's the best I can do for now.)

However, before he can get to me, he was stopped.
The senseis and Hayate had stopped him, holding his hands. Sai-kun and Kurenai-sensei in front of me, ready to protect me if Neji had somehow gotten through.

Normal POV

"*cough*!" Everyone turned to see Hinata collapse to her knees, coughing up blood.

"Hinata-san!" Sai had said, alarmed at the amount of blood she was coughing up. Quickly he got a scroll, paint brush, and ink out.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Kurenai had pulled Hinata closer to her, inspecting her and wary of what the ROOT child was doing.

"Relax. Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!" A…lion with a flat and soft back, almost like a mattress had emerged from the scroll and looked at its master, waiting for orders. (1)

Sai picked up Hinata and placed her on the flat back of the ink beast to avoid jostling.

"Take her to the infirmary, or just follow the medics who just walked in." Everyone watched as the animal followed its creator's orders and followed the medics.

After Kurenai got over her initial shock, she turned to Sai. "Thanks, really."

"No problem." With that said, Sai went back up into the stands to his place between Sakura and Ino. The senseis followed behind him.

"Alright, with Hinata unable to continue, Neji is the winner of the match." Hayate stated.

"Let's see the participants for the nex-" "WAIT!" Hayate turned to the interruption. He found Naruto, his fingers covered in the blood Hinata left over, saying something to Neji. He caught the last part of it.

"…and I vow, on my ninja way, that I will beat you Neji Hyuga."

The Hyuga smirked, amused. "I'd like to see you try." And he went back to his place in the stands, ignoring Naruto's glower. Soon, Naruto went back up too.

"Like I was saying, let's see the participants for the next battle." Hayate continued.

Everyone looked up to the screens.

Lee, however was telling Gai that he doesn't care if he goes at all. "…I've waited so long I just don't care if I go or not anymore."

"WHAT!" Gai proclaimed. Lee was just about to reply when their proctor announced, "Match 9: Rock Lee of Konoha vs. Gaara of the Sand."

Silence.

. . . .

Then…

"WOO-HOO! I knew it would work!" Lee was jumping up and down in excitement. "I knew that if I acted indifferent that I would go next! It's a form of reverse psychology! YES!"

"Genius, Lee! I knew you were going next! Now get out there and show them your youth!" Gai was now full of energy, confident in his student's performance.

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Le-"

"Oh, just get out there already!" Kankuro shouted, tired of the back and forth motions with Gai and Lee.

"Of course!" Lee turned to his sensei again. "Watch me win, Gai-sensei!"

When Lee and Gaara were finally facing each other, their proctor took this as his cue.

"*cough* The match of *cough* Rock Lee vs. Gaara may begin!" With that, he jumped out of the way, ready for another intense battle as Lee charged at Gaara.


(1): I merely wanted Sai to demonstrate his jutsu, and even when I wanted to take it out, it was too much work to re-do that whole part of the chapter. Just think of one of his lions with a soft, mattress/trecher back. Weird, right?

I better see some reviews! I might update next Monday along with a one-shot since it's Sasuke's b-day (July 23rd) but if I don't see any reviews, no chapter!

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You know you want to do it...

Grand Canyon, here we come! (You'd think that since I live in the same damn state it wouldn't be such a long drive...I didn't know it would take 6 hours from Tucson...oh, how I hate long car rides...)

Movie Countdown: (Road to Ninja) 10 days!