"It's amazing just how powerful a motivator true love is. It's almost as powerful as true hatred." ~ Ino
Aimee Gakinjo vs. Hinata Hyuuga
Everyone was stunned by the match-up, their memories recalling the fan girl who had made every other female's life hell in the Academy, Hinata's especially. On one hand, a majority of them hoped she was utterly thrashed, but on the other hand, she could be pretty vicious with her words, and Hinata wasn't known for her killer instincts.
Almost as one, they turned to see the bluenette's reaction, only to not see her anywhere nearby. Thankfully, one had seen where she went.
"I think she's outside, I'll go get her. Be back a few minutes." Naruto said; Hayate nodding in the ascent as Aimee took her place on the stone floor. Her arms were crossed and her eyes spoke of a defiant spirit.
Her clothes had changed from the short skirts and plunging necklines of the Academy, replaced by a near black top that left her naval visible, along with a fishnet undershirt. Covering her legs was a pair of bike shorts, leaving very little to the imagination. In many ways, her current attire was even smuttier since an adolescent with minor curves to her body.
Meanwhile, Naruto exited the walkway through a small door to find Hinata standing outside, her fingers pressing against each other in a nervous manner, a signature look for Hinata.
"Hey, you alright?" He asked, placing his hand softly on her shoulder, the girl jumping as she hadn't heard him get near her.
"Ye-Yeah, I-I'm fine. I-I just-" She started, only for Naruto to lean over the rail with her, his eyes searching the horizons as the burnt vermillion globe began to touch the Earth in the distance.
"I know, I was there. If you don't want to fight her, just don't. I'm well aware that you only did this so Sasuke and me could try and raise our ranks. Well, my rank." Naruto said; Hinata's shocked look greeting his sideways glance.
"What n-no, I wanted t-to fight." Hinata assured the blonde, who's only response was a soft chuckle.
"Lying doesn't suit you, Hinata. You abhor conflict. We were in the same class for four years, plus the same team since then, and you think I don't know that about you by now. In fact, if I could be permitted to be totally honest, I'd say you didn't actually want to be a kunoichi in the first place, but as the clan heiress, you're judged by higher standards." Naruto said, and silence was his answer to the supposition.
"No, I-" Hinata started, only for Naruto's kind, caring blue eyes to stop her as she noticed him looking at her face. She felt her cheeks beginning to flush without warning.
"But if I'm going to be honest, I suppose I should add this. That's why I love you." Naruto said, his amendment making Hinata's eyes widen as her face reached a new shade of red, not yet discovered.
"L-L-Love!" Hinata sputtered as she fought to remain conscious, and yet she felt like she was floating on air.
"I've cared for you for years, always watching in class as my first real friend, other than Jiji, of course. However, it wasn't until recently that I realized that my feelings were love and not a schoolboy crush." Naruto continued, as Hinata felt her heart thundering her chest. If this was a dream that Neji had sent her into when he finished her off, or real life, she didn't care.
"Of course, I understand if you don't feel the same. I didn't expect you to after all and-" Naruto said, rambling on as Hinata smiled.
"Naruto, shut up." Hinata said, surprising the blonde as she pressed her lips to his, the sunset turning it into a moment worthy of a fairytale as thy pulled away, gasping at how their hearts were racing.
"Umm, well, umm." Naruto spluttered, not really knowing what to say now.
"Let's go back inside. There's something I need to do, and I'm not going to back down now. I'm going to fight her Naruto, and I'm going to win, because I will stand beside you every step you take." Hinata said, a confident that out of place on her soft face, and more on Naruto's hardened expression.
All the same, he followed her back inside in silence, only stopping just before they entered to slip something into her pocket, whispering in her ear.
"Are both combatants ready?" Hayate asked; both females nodding in the affirmative before Hayate leapt back, previous fights teaching him what to expect.
"Hajime!"
Both girls just seemed to glare at each other, the spectators silent as they await the clash to begin. It was a forgone conclusion that tensions were high at this point, and both girls were coiled springs, waiting to be released as a person, identity unknown, coughed and both girl shot at the other, clashing with kunai as they tried to gain the upper hand.
Every few seconds, one would hop back, only to reengage before either could catch their breath. Any second, one could slip up and first blood would be claimed. In a twisted sense, the spectators were like dogs in a pit, or sharks in the water; they sat waited for blood to be spilt before they cheered, and called.
"Hello there, Slut!" Aimee called, Hinata able to do nothing other than grit her teeth as she pushed against Aimee, sending her skidding back as Hinata leapt away, trying to put some distance between them. As she landed, her hands had already formed the seal as her veins around her eyes bulged, signifying her clan's Dojutsu.
However, Aimee wasn't going to let her in close now that she had her eyes active, and so pulled a whip from her pouch, letting the brown leather unroll on the ground, the grip resting comfortably in her hand as she gave it an experimental swing, the whip snapping in the air.
However, it wasn't the familiarity with the weapon that served unnerve her opponent, it was the tip of the whip, replaced by a crystalline tip with sharp shards jutting out, just waiting to rip into her, just like Aimee's tongue.
"Like I'm going to let you near me with those hideous eyes. You'd probably give me some disgusting blind disease!" She called, and even Neji above tensed as he awaited Hinata's response. While he may rip into her with cruel words and putdowns, insulting a Hyuuga's eyes was tantamount to treason to the clan. The same could be said of not claiming retribution.
"Shut up you dumb cow! Just because I'm an outcast to my family, doesn't mean you can say such things and not expect vengeance!" Hinata said, throwing a flurry of kunai at the brunette, who merely smirked, her whip flashing through the air to deflect the kunai, the tempered metal no even chipping the crystal tip.
"Ha, that's rich! You calling me a cow, I call pot and kettle on that, and maybe if your clan was worth anything, people wouldn't curse you!" Aimee cackled, her whip flashing out unexpectedly, Hinata barely managing to leap back as it slash through the air, returning to Aimee's side seconds later.
"We are worth their praise; we are the noblest clan in Konoha! And I am the clan heiress besides." Hinata said, mumbling the last part before charging at Aimee, weaving around her attempts to catch her with the whip. However, her numerous attacks were just as easily blocked by the lacquered leather of the whip as Aimee, actually managed to wrap the weapon around her wrist as she pulled tightly, the razor sharp crystal slicing through Hinata's flesh before she could get free.
"Yes, all praise the Hyuugas, the most inbred clan in all of Konoha, and all praise their Princess!" Aimee said with such venom that Hinata paused momentarily. Big mistake.
Aimee sent the whip straight forwards rather than from the side, the crystal ripping into Hinata's jacket, and her stomach which began to bleed. However, before the bluenette could escape, Aimee had swung once again, the whip encircling the Hyuuga's neck as the slack was pulled, the tip digging painfully into Hinata's neck.
"Bow down to me, and maybe I'll let you go with some shred of worth left." Aimee said, sending Hinata to the floor when she resisted, the girl colliding sharply with the stone as she felt her teeth rattle from the impact to her chin.
"Do it, bow down to me, Princess, and say my name." Aimee commanded, and despite the growing pain, Hinata still managed to egg out another retort.
"At least my own father didn't use me for his pleasure, and sell me on the streets! You're nothing more than a cheap corner cocksucking cumdump!" Hinata shouted, her moth burning from the insult. It was enough that Aimee looked at her in confusion for a few seconds, her expression mirroring that of a majority of the spectators.
However, had anyone looked, a certain blonde would be back to his old tricks, the metal pipes around him glowing cherry red once again.
"Huh, I didn't think you had it in you, Princess, but it seems the dog has some bite left." Aimee said calmly before slamming Hinata into the floor once again, pulling the whip tight enough that Hinata gasped out from air. "Good thing I know how to handle a rabid bitch." Aimee said; releasing Hinata as she let the girl gag on the air filling her lungs.
"*gasp* Just because *gasp* you let one screw you, *gasp* doesn't mean you know how to handle a dog." Hinata gasped out, Aimee growling as her whip swirled I the air, popping every few seconds.
"One of these times, you'll stay down, once you learn what's god for you. Although you Hyuugas have a thing for pain, how could not with the massive stick in your arse!" Aimee screeched, her whip slashing at Hinata, who couldn't stand under the repeated attacks, her blood flowing freely now as the crystal ripped out some flesh with every hit until her body was littered with gashes.
"Now, I want to hear you beg for mercy." Aimee called, bending down to wrap her whip around Hinata's neck once more, planting her knee in the girl's back as she pulled upwards, Hinata's neck protesting the force.
"All you have to do is beg me for release, and I'll give it to you, Princess." Although, the whip-wielding civilian didn't let her have enough air to respond with, probably having learned her lesson by this point. "Fine, you glutton for punishment, I'm bored of playing with this broken doll anymore." Aimee said, slamming Hinata's face into the concrete one last time, giving it a swift stomp for good measure.
Aimee stood, walking away from the fallen, defeated, broken, Hyuuga doll. Her jacket was in tatters from the multiple whip attacks, her once beautiful midnight hair was tinged red from the blood pooling on the floor. She didn't even bother to pick her whip back up as she headed towards Hayate to receive for reward.
Hayate looked down in remorse, fearing for the Hyuuga safety due to the numbers of wounds the civilian had gifted upon her. Wanting to end this quickly so she could get medical attention, he cleared his throat.
"Ehem, the winner is-" He started only to stop at a raspy cry behind Aimee, both people looking at the owner in surprise.
"No." Hinata said, pushing herself to her feet, a water of blood trailing from the corner of her mouth.
"Why won't you just stay down!?" Aimee screeched, and Hinata grinned, her hands undoing the whip around her neck.
"I made a promise to win, and I don't go back on my promises. Besides, I can't let you beat me, not when my precious person is watching me!" Hinata said, pulling a scroll out of her pocket, unrolling as she unsealed the contents, the accompanying smoke concealing the girl.
When it dispelled, her appearance was changed, her look more confident than Neji could say he had ever seen it. Gone was her own tattered jacket, but it was replaced by the signature zipped up jacket of Naruto.
The spectators glanced at the blonde for the first time since he had returned to see his smug look, and his distinct lack of jacket. The way he looked at Hinata seemed to answer the unasked question. Although it brought up a new one.
"Just how long have you two been…?" Kurenai trailed off, Naruto's grin relieving all the tension she seemed to have moments before.
"When I went outside to get her, I told her my feelings. I was more than shocked that she shared my devotion. But just watch, things are about to get good." Naruto said; his former gritting teeth now upturned in a face-splitting grin as his arms hung loosely at his side.
Below, Hinata gripped the handle of the whip that only minutes prior had ripped into her body, courtesy of the fiendish girl opposite her now. Grinning softly, she wound the whip around her waist, using it as a belt to draw Naruto's overly large jacket in.
Finishing, she leaped away as Aimee struck at her, her hands flying out to knock away the metal projectiles that accompanied Aimee's futile attack. Landing silently, she danced around Aimee's next few attacks, her hands striking Aimee's body fluidly while not taking a hit.
She finished the one-sided clash by getting behind the brunette, hooking her foot around Aimee's as she shoved her forwards, the civilian's face meeting the floor as Hinata jumped back, her hands behind her back in an innocent manner.
"I don't get it," Aimee said, clambering to her feet, her hand ghosting over her face to make sure nothing was broken. "Just moments ago, you couldn't even get near me, and now you're beating me like it's nothing. What did you do?!" Aimee demanded, beating her fists on her thighs in rage.
"It's not fun being pitied, is it? But if you must know, it wasn't anything I did." Hinata admitted, making Aimee's face go crimson in rage.
"You, pity me, how dare you-you little tramp! And obviously it has to be something you did, I'd never help you." Aimee yelled, throwing out more kunai which Hinata leaned to the side to avoid, the metal sliding across the ground loudly, although Hinata didn't seem to notice.
"No, my help came with this gift." Hinata said, fingering the material of her new jacket.
"What, that ratty thing. I've seen better material on sewer rats. And as for its owner-" Aimee started, only for Hinata to appear in front of her, her palm shoving into Aimee as the smaller girl was sent hurtling backwards like it was nothing.
"You sleazy peasant! You've insulted my family, me, and given civilians all over a bad reputation, but I will not sit here and let you insult my Naruto!" Hinata snarled, and although nobody but Aimee could see it, her Byakyugan eyes shifted. Like a ripple across a pool, her once pearlescent eyes turned opalescent, giving her the appearance of a true blind person.
As Aimee stumbled to her feet, a small line of blood coming from her mouth, she glared at Hinata. "I don't know why you're defending that demon. It isn't like you really love him, how could anybody love that, that, that thing? The village doesn't, the Council doesn't, and not even his own parents loved him enough to stay with him, abandoning him in some ditch, a worthy place for demon spawn like him!" Aimee screeched before noticing that Hinata's attention wasn't on her; instead she was looking at Naruto.
The blonde nodded; a saddened expression on his face which was mirrored by Hinata as she turned back to the civilian. Slowly, she brought her hands together as if praying, her head dipped reverently.
"Do you know what she is doing, Neji?" Gai asked his student, assuming that the prodigal Hyuuga would recognize the technique Hinata was using.
"No, it isn't like anything I've ever seen, Gai-sensei, but something tells me, it is one of the techniques usable only by the Main Branch. This also means I'll have a new technique to learn before Finals." Neji added under his breath, although Gai still heard him, frowning at the hatred inside the boy's voice.
"What are you doing, you reject, praying ain't going to help you any." Aimee yelled, charging at the Hyuuga recklessly.
"Forgive me Mother, for this deed I do. I only hope Father approves of my reparation claimed from this treasonous witch." Hinata whispered; a single tear trailing down her face as time seemed to slow down.
"Eight Trigrams: Grand Trigram Palm!" Hinata called out, her open palm slamming into Aimee's exposed chest region, the civilian freezing as Hinata seemed to rotate on her heel, slamming a second open palm into her stomach, a force equal to a cannonball hitting her emanating from the impact.
This continued as Hinata struck five more points before using both hands to slam into the girl's temple.
"Final Trigram!" Hinata yelled, the civilian's eyes rolling into the back of her head, her body bending backwards, colliding painfully with the ground as Hinata swiftly shoved her hands into her pockets, hiding them from view.
"Winner Hinata Hyuuga." Hayate called out as Hinata nodded, bowing to the referee, before running back to Naruto's side on the walkway overhead, tears streaming behind her; Naruto held her tightly, the girl's sobs echoing as she burrowed into Naruto's chest.
A/N: Hey guys, I finished it. Sorry for the late upload, but I had technical difficulties. I was up last night finishing this chapter when the power went off suddenly, and stayed off, until around 4 p.m. today. I jumped back on as soon as possible, and finished this, adding in a little bit more since I had the time and wasn't being put on a deadline. Anyways, the fight seemed rather dark to me and maybe to you guys so I may end up editing it at a later date. One last thing, when I write the next chapter, I won't be including the match-ups, other than I'll say that the first fight will follow canon. This is because I want things to end a certain way in the Finals, and need to work on which fight would be most entertaining for me to write.