I don't own Naruto or any other characters.
Naruto found himself pacing around in Tsunade's office. When he had been called to the office, a knot of excitement had begun to tie itself in his gut. "Come on Granny," Naruto muttered, "Hurry up. Hope you didn't get a sudden urge to try out the new slots downtown."
His words seemed to carry themselves across the room, knock on the door, and open it to reveal the Fifth Hokage standing in the doorway. She almost seemed surprised, "Naruto... your here early." She seemed to drag herself across the floor toward her desk, and as she passed Naruto, he caught a shadows arching under Tsunade's eyes.
He watched her pull out a bottle of sake and without grabbing the cup, began sipping it quickly. It was like she was dying for the drink, to let it cascade down her throat as she drank greedily, but was restrained by the bounds of common courtesy.
"I've been busy, Naruto," she said. Her words seemed to drag herself down, as the bags under her eyes became more visible. "The village elders, they've been as stubborn as ever. They say they won't let you go after Sasuke unless you at least become a chuunin. They will bend the rules no further for a 'special case' as they put it."
"Special case, huh...," Naruto growled. He could already almost feel a tiny drop of Kyuubi's chakra coursing through his veins. Though it seemed to pass by within seconds. "Wait a minute, how am I supposed to become a chuunin when I leave one week before the chuunin exams?"
His voice full of question, "Couldn't you just bump up the chuunin exams by a week?" Tsunade's voice was soft but stern, "Naruto, you know as well as any villager why we cannot 'bump up' the chuunin exams. It was the day, the First and the second Hokages were both appointed. That was when they were still building this village, trying to put it on the map."
"I know, I know," Naruto said, "And the chuunin exams also represent the continuity of the village the First and Second built, I know." "Well thats why you must take on your own chuunin exam to become one. That was all I could squeeze out of those old bags of skin," Tsunade said.
For awhile, silence was enveloped between the two, save for the busy cries of the village below the tower. "You will face one of our newly appointed jounins... or should I say, you will face him again, tonight."
Naruto face went blank for a moment, unable to comprehend what she meant. "Neji," he cried, "You want me to defeat Neji to become a chuunin!" Tsunade simply nodded, "Yep, thats pretty much it. Be at chuunin exams arena at sundown. And now if you'll excuse me, I have some more paper work to do." She added this last part with a groan that betrayed her of her actual age.
Naruto walked out of the office, and stared at his hand. Last time, he thought, I had to rely on the Kyuubi's chakra to keep up with Neji, but this time... Naruto started forming a Rasengan in his hand without his clone. ...If he dares get close to me, I've got the Rasengan on my side.
Naruto walked out of Tsunade's tower. Walking around town without even thinking, he wondered just what'd it be like to finally be officially acknowledged in his abilities. He knew he was an advanced chuunin, probably jounin. He wondered if worse came to worse he would have to unveil some jutsus he had learned that were possibly considered to be as strong as the Rasengan.
That was when he saw Lee, walking, but by walking he saw he was trying to move along on one hand! "Bushy-brows! What the hell are you doing now!" Naruto walked up, and Lee finally stood on his feet. "Naruto, it is very good to see once again. Are you looking for Guy sensei?"
"No, I was hoping I could talk to you about something," Naruto said. They continued walking, as people continued to shop, or have lunch in the afternoon sun, or parents having to pull some wailiing kid along. Naruto sighed, it was really good to be back, sometimes he felt forelorne to be leaving so soon... again.
"Naruto. Naruto!" Naruto broke the surface of his sea of thoughts as Lee shook his shoulder. "Are you alright Naruto?" Naruto shook his head a little, but answered, "Yeah I'm fine. Look, I'm going to fight Neji... again, tonight over at the chuunin exams arena, and I was wondering what you could tell me about him now after all this time?"
Lee stayed quiet, until, "You know Naruto, I never got to have a real match against Neji, especially since he knows I can open most of the Chakra Gates." Naruto quirked an eyebrow, "Are you telling me Neji is afraid to fight you because he knows you would open the Chakra Gates on him?" Lee expression was unreadable, it seemed even he didn't know what to make of it.
"Naruto, we are not here to talk about my rivalry with Neji, especially with you going against him tonight. To anser your question, Neji has become even faster than ever before. He can perform his Rotation techniques so fast you would've thought he hadn't moved until it hits you. His also quite possibly has one of the strongest Byakugans ever seen in the history of the Hyuuga clan. However, he does not seem to know any more jutsus as far as I know, but he has changed."
Naruto smirked, "Really, has he found a girlfriend or something?" Lee chuckled slightly, "Actually, started changing ever since his fight with you. He has come to realize that people can change there destiny, meaning he has become much more supportive toward his friends and family, among other things."
"Aah," Naruto said, "So, I won't be facing the same stuck up guy I beat last time huh?" "No Naruto, and from what I heard you've learned to actually open some of the Chakra gets in your training with Guy sensei." "Only two so far Lee, but Guy sensei did tell me how to open two more, just in case."
Lee nodded, "Well I must be off Naruto." Naruto hid his surprise, "Why, you haven't finished telling me about Ne-" He was cut off as Lee took off at fast pace. Jumping quickly from rooftop to rooftop.
Naruto looked toward the sky, it was almost sundown. He dashed quickly toward the Ichiraku's Ramen, for a nice dinner, before heading toward the chuunin exams arena. He arrived at the gate, and there was Sakura.
"Naruto." "Sakura." "Neji will be no easier this time, if not harder," she said. A wind blew gently. And the first rays of the sun were being hidden by the mountains. "I've grown too, Sakura." They nodded and walked quietly in. The small tunnel they were traveling in was dark, it had the smell of sweat and blood mixed with the dry earth.
They stepped out onto the arena, where Sakura hugged Naruto, "Good luck," she whispered. Naruto smiled softly, "I won't need to much of it Sakura, make sure to save some of it for yourself." She jumped into the stands, where he saw Kakashi, Tsunade, Hinata, and then Sakura who sat next to Hinata.
Naruto turned his attention back to the vast expanse of the battlefield. There, in the center, stood Neji. His face remained impassive, but Naruto could sense a change in Neji. Almost, like... a lightness. Lee was right, he thought, he has changed.
Naruto was soon facing Neji square in the face. Kakashi appeared right beside them. "I'll be the proctor for this match: Neji vs Naruto." All went still for a second, the turned as quiet as stone. Until, "Let the match begin."
Instantly, both Neji and Naruto dashed away from each other, throwing shuriken the whole time. They suddenly stopped and ran at each other. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," Naruto cried before two Narutos appeared on either side of him. All three drew kunais. Neji face remained hardened.
In a blur, he suddenly dashed to the left, taking out one of the Naruto clones. The real Naruto instinctively jumped into the air in the nick of time, as he felt the bruh of robes against his ankle, before throwing an exlopive tag with a kunai below him.
Neji was still for a second, and then the tag went off. A thunderous explosion shattterd the peaceful dusk, and when the smoke cleared, Neji stood unharmed. "Naruto," he said when Naruto had landed on the ground, "This time it'll be different." With a small smirk on his face, he charged Naruto, only to disappear in a blur right in front of him.
"Wha-" A heel dug itself into the side of Naruto's head before he could finish his sentence. He was sent flying several feet before hitting the ground. Naruto soon her a thud come from near by and desperately leapt into the air. Another exploion came and scrapd the heels of Naruto's feet.
He landed on the ground again, and there was Neji, watching impassively. "You've gotten much faster Naruto," he whipsered. Naruto did not speak, but formed a hand sign, "Whispering Wind Jutsu." A small wind moaned to life, and Naruto was gone with it.
"What!" Neji was cut off like Naruto was when a right fist plowed him into the ground. Only for a foot to meet his face as he was sent back into the air. Another kick followed and then Naruto was above him, "Uzumaki Naruto Rendan!" His heel dug into Neji's face, who with a grunt of pain went plummeting to the ground.
He stopped his fall with one arm, and then flipped to his feet. Naruto stood in front of him. "You're right, I am faster." Neji spat some blood from his mouth before saying, "Now let's see what you can really do." Naruto smirked, "Gladly, Neji." He started gathering the necassary chakra into his hand, until the blue orb of chakra was complete. "Rasengan!"
Neji's eyes widened slightly. He did not even need his Byakugan, which he had activated as soon as he'd hit the groudn, to see the chakra. He knew the technique must've been powerful. "Do you feel like using the Gentle Fist on me now Neji!" The blue org in Naruto's hand seemed to howl with agreement.
Naruto charged, utilizing all his speed. Neji though quickly got into a stance before crying, "Eight Divination Trigrams: Rotation.!"
Naruto did not hesitate and plunged the Rasengan right into the dome of chakra that began to swirl around Neji. Electricity began to crackle as the jutus collided. Naruto knew that Neji could keep that spin up for a long time, so he did the only thing he could. Unclenching his other hand from his wrist, he began to gather the chakra for another Rasengan. He noticed how the rotation of the dome was slowing. Neji could fight against the power of the Rasengan for long.
"Double Rasengan!" Naruto plunged the newly formed sphere into the rotating dome of chakra. And with a flash of light, Naruto broke through the barrier. Unable to control both Rasengans for much longer, he released the one in his left hand, and drove his other sphere into a stunned Neji.
Only for him to turn into a log. No way, Naruto roared in his mind, I wasted that much chakra just to hit a LOG! Unfortunately, he was driven painly out of his thoughts by a pair of gentle fists into his neck. Naruto's body went numb and was unable to catch himself as he fell to the ground.
Neji stood above him. What an unbelievable technique, Neji thought. To think he'd be able to brake through the rotation barrier... but it doesn't matter now, it appears I'm still just fast enough to beat him. That was when Naruto disapeared in the blink of an eye. A voice cried in the air, "First Gate: Gate of Opening... Release!"
A pari of fists slammed Neji upwards, and he knew his jaw was dislocated. He coughed up blood, before a knee to his gut caught him in mid air, and sent him flying forwards instead of upwards. Between flashes of pain. Neji could just make out Naruto, whose veins had started pulsing in his head.
Until, that is, he was right in front of him. "Second Gate: Gate of Rest... Release!" Naruto kicked Neji higher into the air, who was nearly unconcious from the pain he was enduring, and then began to free fall about thirty feet above the ground. "Not so fast Neji!" Naruto roared. He began to perform handsigns, "Wind Release: Demon's Breath jutsu!"
A howing train of searing hot air piledrived Neji into the ground. Leaving him in a hissing crater. He was unconcious. Knowing that he was defeated, Naruto, closed the gates, and fell back to the ground, though his landing wasn't too graceful.
Tsunade, and Sakura instantl started healing Neji, who was already starting to regain conciousness. While Hinata and Kakashi rushed over to Naruto who was about to fall over. "Good job Naruto," Kakashi said, "Let me be the first to call you a chuunin." Hinata merely blushed and hugged Naruto, making the hair on the back of his neck straighten like soldiers.
Minutes later, Tsunade came over, and Naruto stood up weakly. "Congradulations on your victory Naruto, and I hereby officially promote you to chuunin." Naruto felt hot tears well in his eyes... At last, he thought, I've done it.
Suddenly, everything went still, and an evil presence made the shadows the arena seem to grow. The sound of clapping hands rang through the still air... "Well... it's about time... Naruto." Naruto's eyes widened, and he felt his adrenaline go through the roof. He stiffened and searched the shadows. There, leaning against the stone wall... was Sasuke, his crimson Sharingan eyes glowing ominously in the shadow. "Yes," another voice said, a voice as cold as Sasuke's, though more sadistic. A pari of amber eys, and a pale face rose ominously out of the shadows on the other side of the arena, until Orochimaru stood in the shadows.
"Yes," Orochimaru said again, "Congradulations... Kyuubi."