Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! Or any of the other characters in the show, but the fanfics are for the fans……..hence the name fanfiction……never mind I don't know where I was going with that one.

Chapter 10: I Grew Up a Screw Up! A New Heir is Chosen!

A few days passed and the moment of truth has finally arrived. Naruto and Hinata had vigorously trained together and made up a few new moves to tackle their opponents today. Naruto was psyched. Naruto wore his traditional half orange half black jumpsuit outfit while Hinata wore a jacket just like her old Genin outfit only the symbol that was on the shoulder it was on her back and it had the same fluff on the sleeves and at the bottom of the jacket.

Naruto clenched his fist towards the sky from the top of his apartment building. "Oh yeah! Today's the day I beat this Tetsuo guy and get that old fart to respect me and be one step closer to becoming Hokage!"

Hinata smiled and kissed Naruto on the cheek. "That's right Naruto-kun, and I'll be there every step of the way."

Naruto wrapped his arm around Hinata. "Wouldn't have it any other way." Naruto looked at his watch and noticed it was time to go. "Are you ready Hinata?"

Hinata clenched her fist and had fire in her eyes. "I was born ready!"

Naruto smiled at Hinata's courage. She had come a long way. It was kind of a turn on…."GAH! Perverted thought! Darn you Pervy Sage!" Naruto shook it off and bend over for Hinata to climb onto his back. "Hop on!" Hinata obeyed and piggybacked Naruto. Naruto dashed off into the distance, jumping from rooftop to rooftop as fast as he could. Hinata's purple hair blew in the wind as the brisk wind soothed her soul. Naruto flew past the villagers in what seemed like a yellow and purple streak.

Villagers couldn't believe what they saw. Was that the Yellow Flash of Konoha? They thought he was dead, but they he went just now. Many just blew it off for the fact that Minato was long gone, but some couldn't shake the fact that maybe he had returned. It sure seemed that way.

Naruto and Hinata reached the new Chunin Exam Arena in two minutes, which was pretty amazing. Naruto looked up and down at it and frowned at the same run down shack it looked like six years ago. "What the……It's still the same old arena from six years ago. I thought you said it was new and improved?"

Hinata walked up to the door and opened it. "That's because you're only looking at it from outside, check it out." A light opened through the doorway. Naruto blocked the light from his eyes and walked inside to find a huge landscape of trees and grass. The arena was ten times bigger than Naruto remembered and the stands were larger and it even had a skybox for The Hokage and other feudal lords of the five great Shinobi nations. Naruto was impressed. The terrain was perfect to do battle in, and it even had a dome! Naruto was more psyched than before.

"This is so awesome Hinata!" Naruto wondered around in amazement.

Hinata watched Naruto wonder around for the next four minutes as they explored this new makeover the old arena got. "Yep Naruto-kun, it was all Lady Tsunade's idea to remake the Chunin Exam Arena."

"Granny huh?"

"They even added a few slot machines here as well for out of towners willing to try their luck."

Naruto was pretty skeptical about that. "Yeah right, it's just a resort for Granny to come and gamble again!"

"What did you say you twerp!"

Naruto shuddered as he turned around to find Tsunade, Neji, Hanabi, Hiashi and Gedokuzai standing there behind him. Tsunade had a vein bulging in her head with her arms folded.

"Oh nothing Grandma Tsunade!"

"That's what I thought you said."

Naruto was curious at Tsunade's presence. "Whatcha doing here Grandma?"

Tsunade unfolded her arms and looked at Naruto. "I'm here on official business; I need to know who will surpass Lord Hiashi as the next heir to the Hyuga Clan."

Naruto put his hands behind his head. "More work huh?" Naruto looked around the crowd and didn't see an unfamiliar face. "So where is this Tetsuo character?"

"Did you call for me?" Said a voice behind Naruto.

Naruto got startled and fell over on his butt. He looked up and saw a pure red headed young man that had to be like a year or two older than Naruto. He had two large flips of hair hanging from his hairline and was wearing a red Leaf headband, a red long sleeved shirt that hugged his body like spandex, red pants, white boots and red gloves. This guy sure loved his red and plus he looked like he was ready to go to war at any second with the toothpick in his mouth and the cold stare in his green eyes. Naruto was impressed by this guy. "He hid his chakra level from me; I guess he's not the only special one here huh?"

Tetsuo helped Naruto up. "So you must be Naruto Uzumaki? I've heard much about you. A pretty impressive reputation you have. The name's Tetsuo Wameng, I just became a Chunin a few years back and just got promoted to Jonin a week ago. And I'm only 17! Can you believe that?" Tetsuo grinned and shook Naruto's hand.

Naruto raised his eyebrow. "He must be joking, he's seventeen? The guy looks older than me!" Naruto scoffed at Tetsuo. "Jonin huh? Not bad."

Tetsuo shrugged. "Yeah that's coming from a guy who's practically still a Genin."

Naruto grew angry at that comment. "What did you say punk!"

"Master Gedokuzai, this will be over in about five minutes."

"What! Why you!" Naruto stepped closer to Tetsuo only to be quickly greeted with a sharp and slender katana in his face.

Tetsuo had pulled out one of his two katanas from their sheaths and in a blink of an eye, he drew it out onto Naruto. Naruto never saw it coming. "If you would've taken another step, you would have lost an eye in an instant, kid."

"Kid!? I'm older than you!" Naruto was seeing red now and he practically hated the color red now.

Hinata pulled Naruto away from Tetsuo. "Ok Naruto-kun, let's go calm down over here ok?"

Naruto stared at Tetsuo and turned to Hinata. "Ok Hinata." Hinata kissed Naruto on the lips which calmed him down alot.

Tsunade pointed to the entrance to the stands. "If you follow me, I'll lead us to our seats."

Tsunade and the others were lead upstairs to the stands and sat down while Hinata and Hanabi stayed on the arena floor. Naruto screamed at the top of his lungs. "Go Hinata! Show them whose boss!"

Tsunade pulled Naruto back to his seat. "Sit down! I can't see behind you idiot!"

Tetsuo only shook his head and snickered at Naruto's immature behavior. "What could Hinata be thinking dating a talentless loser like him? The faster I kick his ass, the faster I can make Hinata see how strong I am compared to this sorry excuse for a ninja." Tetsuo had feelings for Hinata but didn't know she was hooked up with Naruto until a few minutes ago when he saw them kiss. That made Tetsuo colder in his heart. Tetsuo folded his arms and laid back in his seat with his legs cocked on the other.

Naruto was cheering like a crazed fan girl at her favorite band's concert and she was in the front row. "Go get her Hinata!"

Gedokuzai then stood up and cleared his throat. "Ok then without further ado, let the match begin!"

Hinata raised her hand up to Hanabi. "Wait a minute Nabi." Hanabi tilted her head and raised her eyebrow in confusion. Hinata took off her headband tied around her neck and tied it around her forehead very tight. "Ok I'm ready now." Hinata got in the Hyuga stance.

Hanabi was curious, why would her sister waste time for that? Hanabi already had her headband on her neck. "Why the delay, Hina? You already had on your headband."

Hinata didn't release her stare as she activated the Byakugan. "Cause wearing your headband shows your respect for the other individual and recognizes each other as equal shinobi."

That hit Hanabi hard. Hanabi remembered watching her sister train in the dark and cold night. It was something she hasn't seen her sister do ever. It was weird to watch Hinata punish herself to become stronger. By the cold look in Hinata's eyes, Hanabi knew her big sister was serious about this. "I've never heard you say that before."

Hinata didn't move from her stance. "That's because Naruto taught me, that strength comes from within you and with hard work and determination, you can achieve your dreams. That's why I'll never give up and run away again. Cause that's my nindo, my ninja way!" Hinata shifted her foot ready to strike. "Prepare yourself, sister!"

Hanabi got into stance and activated her Byakugan as well. "Bring it big sis."

Hanabi and Hinata charged each other and attacked each other palm to palm. A brawl broke between them as both sisters blocked each other's attack in blazing speed.

Naruto was amazed looking at Hinata's power. "Wow! Look at them go! I can barely keep up with them!"

Neji looked at them. "Yeah they are using the Eight Trigrams: 128 Palm technique."

Naruto remembered the Eight Trigrams. "Wait you mean there's more to that attack?"

Neji smirked at Naruto's question. "I see you remember the Eight Trigrams. Well there are actually 128 chakra points in the human body and attacking each one takes extreme precision and an innate sense of timing. It's a technique reserved for only the strongest of members in the Hyuga Clan and extremely powerful. If all 128 of the chakra points are gone, the victim is instantly dead."

"Dead!" Naruto didn't like the sound of that at all.

"Don't worry Naruto, they won't kill each other. It's a last resort technique, but they are using it to gain an upper hand on the other."

Naruto sighed. "That's a relief. But they are so fast!"

"That's the thing of the Gentle Fist Style and the Kekkai Genkai of the Hyuga Clan. To me and you they are moving in speeds that rival the speed of light."

"But how can they gain an upper hand if they are that fast?"

"With an Kekkai Genkai like the Byakugan, they are actually moving in slow motion. So they can calculate their next move before it happens."

"Whoa. That's so cool!" Naruto was even more impressed at Hinata's growth. "Go Hinata!"

Hinata and Hanabi seemed evenly matched until Hanabi got Hinata to turn around then she attacked. Suddenly Hanabi flew back as her body skidded along the ground. Hinata stood in a stance with her left palm aimed at Hanabi.

Hiashi was surprised at Hinata's move. "Neji was that….."

Neji nodded. "Yes Uncle. Hinata knows the Air Palm technique."

Naruto scratched his head. "Air Palm technique?"

Tetsuo spoke up to answer Naruto's question. "It's a powerful move that allows you to exert chakra from the chakra points in the palm of your hand to attack your opponent. It's like pushing the air to hit your opponent head on."

"Alright Hinata! You're winning!"

Hinata geared up to attack again. "Hyahhh!" A large burst of chakra zoomed towards Hanabi.

Hanabi dodged it as the attack crashed into the spot where Hanabi was. Hanabi ran around in a large circle and pulled out ten kunai in her hands and threw them one by one at Hinata in rapid succession.

Hinata spun and exerted chakra from her hand. "Rotation!" The large shield went up as it caught the kunai dead in its tracks. The kunai flew back into the air. "Nice try little sis."

"Hmph, don't get cocky Hina!" Hanabi raised up her hands revealing tiny strings tied around her fingertips to the kunai, but you could barely see them in the sunlight. Hanabi maneuvered herself to control the kunai to wrap them around Hinata and tightened a grip on her. "Gentle Fist!" The strings started to glow as the glow started it ascend from Hanabi's fingertips to around Hinata.

"If I get hit with that then its over! Think Hinata think!" Hinata started to spin again. "Rotation!" The rapid spinning causes the strings to tangle and swing Hanabi around the arena. Hanabi let go of the strings as she was sent flying into the ground. Hanabi landed on her right arm. She suffered a bruise on it but Hanabi paid it no attention. Hanabi put up both of her hands and aimed it at Hinata and closed her eyes. She then made hand signs and then clapped her hands together as the Byakugan bulged in her eyes. "Ninja Art: Eternal Darkness Jutsu!" Immediately it started to get pitch black dark all over the arena and Hanabi was nowhere to be found.

Naruto frantically looked around. "Where did she go?"

Tsunade folded her arms. "The odds are in her favor now, The Byakugan can't exactly see through pitch black darkness all that well. Now it's a Cat and Mouse game. Hanabi can do anything to Hinata now because she knows she can't see through it."

Hinata scanned the entire area but all she saw was darkness everywhere. She could barely see even with the Byakugan, five feet in front of her. Suddenly a shuriken went whizzing towards her. Hinata dodged it at the last second and suffered a cut on the left cheek. Two more came flying now, Hinata dodged both skillfully. Then another came, Hinata easily dodged that one but what she didn't notice was there was another in the shadow of the last one. It hit her square in the right thigh. Hinata grimaced in pain over it as she pulled it out.

Naruto clenched his fist. "Crap! Hinata couldn't see the second shuriken cause it was in the shadow of the first one and since its pitch dark, shadows are impossible to spot. Hinata hang in there."

More and more came flying at Hinata from all directions. Hinata did her best to dodge them and did a rotation whenever possible but the shurikens kept coming. Finally when it seemed like the shurikens stopped coming, another wave came towards Hinata's blind spot. Hinata noticed them but it was too late to react and do another rotation as they hit full force in the back. Hinata had a blank stare on her face as she fell to the ground bleeding profusely from the multiple wounds in her back. The darkness then dissipated as Hanabi walked up to her mortally wounded sister.

"No hard feelings Hina but I just won."

Naruto smirked, he noticed something Hanabi didn't.

Suddenly Hinata poofed into a log with the shurikens in it. A Substitution Jutsu.

Hanabi was taken by surprise as she turned around to find Hinata in the air aiming for her. Hinata lunged at Hanabi to poke out her chakra points. Hanabi shifted a bit before taking the impact. Hanabi flinched back in pain, but thankfully Hinata missed the chakra point in her left shoulder.

Hiashi was impressed by his older daughter. She had progressed further than he would've imagined. He had always known her as the timid failure that couldn't possibly have a snowball's chance in hell of being heir, but now that Hinata is gone. Hiashi coughed and looked at Naruto smiling and cheering on Hinata. "The nine-tails boy….he has done what not one teacher in this entire village could do. He turned my daughter into a full fledged shinobi. Naruto……" Hiashi had another coughing fit and then looked at his hand to find spots of blood on it.

Tetsuo noticed Hiashi's persistent coughing. "Are you alright Lord Hiashi?"

"Yes it's nothing Tetsuo. Don't worry about me." Hiashi lied right to Tetsuo.

Gedokuzai frowned. "This is taking too long! If this keeps up, Hinata might actually win."

Naruto cheered. "Get ready to eat your words Old Man! Hinata has this in the bag!"

Tetsuo rolled his eyes. Naruto was really annoying, but he did agree with Naruto. Hinata was sure to win now.

Hinata never broke her stance. Hanabi was frantic. No matter what she couldn't get a momentum changing blow on her. Hanabi closed her eyes and her mind went blank to calm herself down. Hanabi stood like that for a few minutes.

Naruto raised his eyebrow. "Did she fall asleep or what?"

Tetsuo spoke up. "No she's calming herself to formulate a new plan of attack."

Naruto stood up. "Hinata watch out!"

It was too late. Hanabi opened her eyes and set her Byakugan on Hinata. "Eight Trigrams: Twin Palm Strike!" Hanabi rushed Hinata head on and attacked. Hinata easily blocked it but an afterimage of Hanabi's attack caught her in the chest. Hinata flew back rolling on the ground then came to a screeching stop. Hinata clutched her chest as she panted.

"That's real lucky I missed your heart by mere centimeters but its amazing you can still stand." Hanabi closed her eyes and smirked. She then took off her headband and then tied it around her head. "You've gotten way better big sister." Hanabi pointed to her headband. "Don't hold back on me just because I'm your sister Hina."

Hinata grinned. "I don't plan to." Hinata dashed towards Hanabi to attack again.

Hanabi blocked the palm and maneuvered to the left and struck. Hinata blocked it but another afterimage popped up and struck her in the face. Hinata was running out of options quick. She couldn't get past the second attack. Hinata rushed Hanabi and this time aimed high, but Hanabi ducked it and struck at Hinata's lower abdomen. "Air Palm Technique!" The burst of chakra sent Hinata crashing into the arena wall.

Gedokuzai smirked. "It's over."

Naruto grinded his teeth. "No. I refuse to believe that!"

Tetsuo agreed with Gedokuzai. "He's right. After an attack like that taken at point blank range, it's over for Hinata-chan."

Naruto didn't lose hope. "Come on Hinata! Get up! You can do it!"

Gedokuzai sighed. "This is pathetic."

Naruto was pissed now. "What did you say!"

Neji grabbed Naruto by the jacket and pointed at Hinata. "Naruto look."

Naruto looked to where Neji pointed and smiled. Everyone else was surprised to see her still standing. Hinata was bruised all over her body with ripped clothing that dripped with blood. Hinata had her head bowed as she coughed and panted furiously. "I said I don't give up."

Hanabi was worried now. "This is crazy. If we keep going Hinata could very well die. I don't want to kill my sister." Hanabi looked at Hinata's wounds. The blood trickled down her arms, dripping off of her knuckles. Hanabi had a concerned look on her face.

"Why keep this up? She has no more chakra left to use against Hanabi. It's pointless to keep going." Gedokuzai asked.

"Cause when you never give up you can become stronger than you ever thought possible. I've never told of Hinata as a failure, sure she was shy and timid but she always had the guts to at least try. You may call her a failure, an outcast, a screw up or whatever, but to me she's an inspiration. She makes me want to get stronger so that I can achieve my dream of becoming Hokage. That's why she will win!" Naruto cried out his lecture.

Gedokuzai didn't say a thing but kept looking at Naruto's clenched fist. "This kid sure is a weird one. He looked at Hinata. "Maybe she could win."

Naruto put his hands to his mouth and yelled. "Hinata! Use that Jutsu we practiced all week on!"

Hinata heard Naruto's cry and smirked. "Got it!"

Hanabi had the same look of confusion on her face like everybody else. A new jutsu?

Hinata put her hands up and made up a plus sign with them. "Shadow-Clone Jutsu!" Another Hinata poofed up beside the original.

Everyone was caught by surprise, that was Naruto's signature jutsu.

Hinata extended her right arm, holding out her right hand as the clone began to swirl chakra around on top.

Gedokuzai's eyes widen. "Why that's the….."

Tsunade stood up shocked. "Naruto you mean to tell me you…."

Naruto smiled and giggled. "Yep! Hinata mastered it faster than I did. I mastered in a week. It took her three days! Isn't that amazing?"

Tsunade was impressed. "I can see why she could master it that quickly. With the Hyuga's Gentle fist technique, Hinata could already easily emit chakra from the palm of her hand. Then there's the matter of setting the perfect amount and controlling it which is not an easy task."

"Yeah but Hinata didn't have that much trouble with it like I did."

Everyone looked at Hinata and her clone. Hinata tightened her grip on the ball of chakra. "Rasengan! Spiral Chakra Sphere!" Hinata's Rasengan was different from Naruto's. Her Rasengan was a very colorful shade of Lavender in which Naruto's was Sky Blue.

Hinata finished making the Rasengan as it glowed a tint of violet. The clone poofed away and Hinata charged Hanabi full speed. Hanabi has never seen that technique before, but she knew it was more than just chakra compressed into a ball. Hinata then jumped up and shoved the Rasengan towards Hanabi. "Rasengan!" Hanabi quickly made a last ditch Rotation as it connected with the Rasengan. Chakra from both techniques scattered as the impact began to crush the ground surrounding them making a mini crater. Both girls struggled to gain momentum; this was the moment of truth. The two jutsu cancelled each other out causing an implosion to explode into a large cloud of dirt and debris. Naruto and the others shielded themselves from the gust of debris until it finally cleared seconds later. Naruto and the others in the crowd looked down to find to their surprise both girls sprawled out on the arena floor. They weren't moving an inch. Naruto and Neji jumped from the stands towards the two. Neji lifted up and carried Hanabi and walked to Naruto leaning towards Hinata. Hinata was bruised badly and the blood continued to drip profusely all over her body.

Naruto stroked Hinata's hair. "Hinata are you ok?"

Hinata slowly opened her eyes. "Hey…." Hinata was weak from the massive blood loss. "Naru...to-...Kun…..did…..did I win?"

Naruto knew it was a draw, but he couldn't tell Hinata that. It would break her heart, but he couldn't lie to her. Naruto sighed. "The match ended in a draw, but you impressed everyone here. I knew you could do it. You were amazing like always."

Hinata took a deep breath. "I guess that's all I wanted. Was the respect of my clan."

Naruto smiled and gave thumbs up. "And you totally did that! You were so awesome!"

Hinata smiled. "Oh stop Naruto you're gonna make me blush." Naruto and Hinata laughed.

After a few minutes, Tsunade used a healing jutsu on the girls to regain their strength. Hinata and Hanabi went back to wearing their headbands on their neck as they sat in the stands with Hiashi and Gedokuzai.

Hiashi stood up ready to make his decision. "Although the contest ended in a draw, I've made my decision on who is to be my successor. It's someone here who deserves it the most out of all members in the Hyuga Clan."

"If I may Lord Hiashi," Gedokuzai interrupted. "Hinata is a fine shinobi and it was wrong of me to think any different. The clan shall be glad to receive an honest heir as her."

Hiashi smiled. "Thank you Lord Gedokuzai, but she's not the successor, and neither is Hanabi."

Naruto and Gedokuzai got wide eyed. "What!!! Then who is it?"

Hiashi pointed to someone. "The person who deserves the title of leader of the Hyuga Clan is someone who wasn't even in the Main Branch in the beginning and yet he has surpassed the Main Branch completely and with his fist as gentle as his heart, I believe that Neji, my nephew should be heir."

Everyone was just shocked as Neji was. Neji couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Gedokuzai was the most shocked of all, he started to retaliate. "But Lord Hiashi, you know the Main Branch won't stand for this! They will kill him automatically!"

"Don't you think I've thought that out!" Hiashi looked at Neji. "Neji's curse is lifted from him."

Neji instantly remembered what Hiashi meant. He took of his headband revealing that there is no longer a curse mark there.

Gedokuzai was even shocked, any more surprises and he might suffer a heart attack. "Did you do that Hiashi?"

Hiashi nodded. Naruto stepped up to Hiashi. "So wait…you already had your mind made up from the very beginning?"

Hinata held onto Naruto's arm. "Its alright Naruto. Neji is most suited for this position. Besides I much rather be a regular shinobi like you." Hinata smiled and kissed Naruto on the cheek.

Naruto blushed and chuckled. "Oh Hinata, you're so sweet to me."

Tetsuo didn't like Naruto at all now. How Hinata could love him, he would never know. "Alright now that's all said and done, let's get to our fight shall we?"

Hinata let go of Naruto as he walked to Tetsuo and they met face to face. "Finally I've been waiting for this all day!"

Naruto and Tetsuo quickly disappeared and reappeared on the arena floor.

Hinata and the others sat down to watch the fight. Hiashi had another coughing fit as blood particles hit his hand, but paid it no attention. He wanted to see what Naruto could do and see if he was truly worthy of Hinata.

Tetsuo unsheathed both of his katanas and held them downward. His stance was similar to that of a praying mantis. "Now you shall experience the Wameng Clan's powerful sword mastery jutsu first hand!"

Naruto pulled out a kunai and pointed it towards Tetsuo. "Bring it on!"

Hinata stood up and cheered. "Go Naruto!"

Naruto wiped his nose with a smirk on his face. "Don't worry about me Hinata. I got this match in the bag! I'm just sorry you have to be my opponent Tetsuo."

Tetsuo put up his swords. "Whatever demon."

Naruto growled. "What did you call me?"

"You heard me! I know your little secret. You hold within you the Nine-Tailed Fox." Tetsuo got into a battle stance similar to that of a praying mantis ready to strike. "Show me the true power of the Nine-Tailed Fox!" Tetsuo charged Naruto head on.