After the Hokage's speech the preliminary matches were underway. Team Gai was surprised that all of the rookies had made it. The first match had the Uchiha, who was decidedly less impressive than he had been in the forest even though he had won.

"Hey Neji-kun, what do you think is up with Sasuke?"

"It would seem that the last few days have been rough for him. Mayhap that power he used was a double edged sword"

The next few matches were none too spectacular, although the truth behind the kikaichu the Aburame used was somewhat disconcerting. The fifth match, between Ino and Sakura was different.

"GO SAKURA-CHAN!! YOU CAN DO IT!! THE POWER OF YOUTH IS WITH YOU!!"

"Lee, you needn't yell quite that loud. She is only a small distance from us"

Lee gave an apologetic smile to his friend before returning to cheering on the pink haired kunoichi, only slightly less loud. Despite herself Sakura blushed at Lee's actions. Something Ino picked up on.

"Oh? What's this, you ditching Sasuke-kun for that big eye-browed dork?"

"Shut up Ino-bunta! What would you know?"

"Enough to know that a new outfit doesn't make him any less of a dork! Sasuke-kun is way cooler!"

"Lee-kun is too cool! And he's nicer than Sasuke could ever be!"

"Sasuke-kun is too nice! You take that back Forehead-girl!"

"Not a chance you sow!"

"Now you're asking for it!"

From there it devolved into a catfight complete with hair pulling, face scratching and name calling. Lee was overjoyed that Sakura stood up for him, and continued to shout encouragements to her. Tenten and Neji were less taken with the display.

"Is that their limit? Pathetic"

"Oh get off your high horse Neji-kun. They just aren't fighting like kunoichi that's all. But that Sakura sure changed her tune about Lee-kun. Guess my skill at makeovers is not to be underestimated, ne?"

"It would seem that way"

"You're never going to be less taciturn are you?"

"No"

Tenten glowered at Neji, feeling rather irritated at him. Secretly Neji loved the look on Tenten's face when she was annoyed, happy, or when she was being mischievous. Not that he would let on about that. Lee was crushed when the match was decided a tie; the two kunoichi having rolled into the wall and knocked each other out. The next two fighters were Temari and Tenten.

"Alright! Time to show you what a real kunoichi can do. Wish me luck Neji-kun!"

Neji almost dropped his façade when Tenten winked at him. He breathed a silent sigh of relief when she hopped over the railing to the floor below. Once on the floor Tenten started the fight with a volley of kunai. Temari appeared to just stand still as the kunai faltered halfway to their target. Tenten, as well as her team was shocked. She tried again to no avail.

'What is going on? I never miss! How is-of course! I can't believe I didn't see it before! She's from Kaze no Kuni and is carrying a fan! She can block my projectiles with wind!'

Temari's smirk fell a bit when Tenten smiled brightly. She saw the pink clad girl pull out a large scroll and summon a weapon from it. Temari blanched. It was a forked spear.

'No! She's caught on!'

"Let's see how you like close quarters combat!"

"Kamataichi!"

Temari's attack rushed Tenten's way, forcing the girl back. It didn't last forever and as the wind died down Tenten charged, forcing the Suna kunoichi to block with her fan. Tenten kept pressing her, driving her into the wall. Temari cursed her luck.

'Damn! She's too close to use my fan properly!'

'Almost got her now!'

Tenten slid back, just enough to get the room needed for a charge. Temari took the opportunity and lashed out, getting Tenten off balance. She then blasted Tenten with her wind jutsu. She smirked thinking she'd won, only to see that a ruined straw target dummy was where Tenten should have been. Suddenly a garrote wire was around her neck and a kunai pointed at her left kidney.

"Gotcha"

When Hayate declared Tenten the winner Neji let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He managed to put his usual face on but the time Tenten returned.

"So what do you think of that?"

"Hn. Adequate"

"Mou! You are such a jerk!"

Neji restrained himself as Tenten pouted. The next match distracted both of them. It was amusing to see Naruto trick Kiba by biting him. And they were impressed by his grit to keep on going after eating those Gatsuga attacks. Tenten turned to Lee, who was fully absorbed in the fight.

"He certainly has come a long way from being the dobe of his year"

"Yes. He is much like myself in that regard"

The fight ended with Naruto taking advantage of a lucky break. Neji watched as his cousin attempted to give Naruto something. He didn't hate her so much as he did what she represented. But he didn't have time to think long about it, as the next match was him versus his cousin.

"Will cough Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata come down"

Neji noted how Naruto expressed his ignorance of the Hyuga clan, not that he cared much. It was plain to all present that Hinata was not looking forward to this match. Neji decided that a verbal assault was prudent.

"Give up. You cannot win this fight Hinata-sama"

"What? No I-"

"You are nothing more than the weak, spoiled heir of the main branch. Even now you are desperate to convince yourself otherwise. You are here simply because the chunin exams can only be attended in teams of three and your two teammates pressured you into it"

"Y-you're wrong, I-I w-wanted to change myself…"

"You cannot change yourself. The reason we have terms like 'elite' and 'failure' is because of our inescapable destinies. It is your fate to be a failure. Even now you are trying your best not to run. My Byakugan reveals everything about you"

Hinata paled under the intense stare Neji sent her. Her breaths shortened as panic began to set in. Neji was about to continue when Naruto intervened.

"Don't listen to that asshole! No one can just decide if you're a failure or not! Just stop listening to that jerk and show him what you can really do!"

Hearing those encouraging words from Naruto revitalized the young Hyuga. Hinata activated her own byakugan and got into a ready stance.

"Come, Neji-niisan"

"Very well"

Neji sank into his own stance and mentally thanked the blonde. He had almost let his hate for the main branch get the better of him. But now he was back in control. Hinata took his inaction as opportunity and struck the first blow. Neji reacted and sparked off for what was for the spectators an intricate flurry of strikes, counterstrikes and blocks. Back in the upper level Gai and Kakashi had finished describing juken to Naruto. Even during the explination Naruto never took his eyes off Hinata.

"Man. I had no idea she was that tough"

But despite Hinata's determination it could not make up for the difference in skill. She and Neji went for identical strikes to the chest. But only Neji's worked. Hinata tried again with her other hand but it was caught and poked by Neji. He slid her sleeve back revealing several small red sores.

"N-no… f-from the beginning"

"Yes. I can see and target the 361 tenketsu in battle"

Uppin the upper level Naruto demanded to know what happened.

"It's over. Now that Neji has shut off the chakra in her hands she can't use juken"

"No way! There has to be something…"

Back on the floor Hinata threw caution to the wind and poured everything she had at Neji. Time and time again she was knocked down, only to get back up and resume her assault. Finally the toll on her body was too much and she stumbled, coughing up blood.

"This is the difference between us"

"cough n-nno. I wo-won't cough I-"

Another bout of coughing sent Hinata back to her knees. Neji turned away and Hayate was about to call the match but was interrupted by Naruto.

"Don't call it! Look at her!!"

Sure enough Hinata was standing. Neji glared at her.

"Enough. You, suffering between the fate of the main and cadet branches-"

"M-moreso than me, i-it is you w-who is suffering, Ne-neji-"

"SHUT UP!!"

Neji furiously turned to charge Hinata. The jonin Hayate, Kakashi, Kurenai and Gai all hold Neji in place preventing his attack. Hinata falls to her back. Naruto and Kurenai are at her side in an instant. As they call for the medics and Kurenai attempts some first aid Neji was torn. He hadn't meant to take things that far. But when Naruto glared at him, he smirked.

"A failure is always a failure. You should learn that lesson, loser"

"You bastard!!"

Lee stopped Naruto's charge. The medic came and took Hinata off for emergency treatment. Naruto wipped up some of Hinata's blood and pointed his fist at Neji.

"I swear. I will take you down!"

Neji did nothing to respond to that threat but move back to the upper level. Once there he was confronted by his best friend.

"Neji what was that?"

"I don't know what you mean"

"You know full well that your action were uncalled for"

"You don't have time to lecture me. Look"

Sure enough the screen has his name and the name of his opponent; Gaara.

zzzzzzzzz

Kamataichi – cutting whirlwind; blast of wind that can push the opponent back while cutting them with blades of wind

Gatsuga – twin piercing fang; double version of the Tsuga, users spin around making a drill like shapes as they charge toward their target