Authors note: I own nothing.
Chapter 12: Finals and a major butt whooping.
The month for training went by very quickly. Needless to say the pair were pretty glad when the end of the month came. The training that they had been through was insane. Kushina had basically driven Sakura into the ground while they trained. The young Kunoichi had to run multiple laps, do a great deal of push ups and other physical exercises just for a warm up. After that the pair got down to stamina and Taijutsu training. While training Sakura learned a great deal of water jutsu which went along well with the water affinity she woke up during the time of training. Sakura had also taken to wearing weights while training to help her. She was progressing quickly, but she was only able to reach about twenty or so pounds on each leg.
Naruto's training hadn't been much better. His father, who had taken the place of his godfather in his training, had him learning jutsu left and right. Naruto was able to learn some for all of the main elements, but he wasn't able to learn any for Light and Dark jutsu. Elyon and Kyuubi said that they would teach him a few of those when he became Chuunin. Naruto started learning the Rasengan as well. Needless to say Naruto was surprised that the powerful technique that his father had invented was incomplete. The Namikaze heir took it on himself to complete his father's work. When Naruto asked about the Hirashin he was told he would have to wait until after he became a jonin to learn it. While training he also learned a few jutsu from Elyon called Dragon Release and Fox Release from Kyuubi. He only learned two from each of them, but they were special.
Currently at the arena…
Naruto and Sakura stood with their fellow combatants. While the others didn't really change their looks Naruto and Sakura did.
Naruto now wore a pair of black cargo pants with black sandals and a white shirt. Overt the shirt he had a trench coat that was pure white to got with his shirt. On the back it had written in gold Dragon of Konoha, while in red was written, Fire Fox. The sleeves were ripped off allowing the blonde free movement of his arms and had bandages wrapped around his forearms to hide his tattoos and finished off the look with some black gloves that had the kanji for Impact in blue on the top near the knuckles.
Sakura now wore a red shirt with a some black biker shorts. She had on a pair of black sandals and bandages wrapped around her forearms and shins. The shirt had Hawk's Fury written in black on the back of the shirt and a pair of fingerless gloves on her hands that had metal studs for added effect.
Around them were Neji, Dosu, Gaara, Shikimaru, Temari, Shino, and Kankouro. Sasuke was nowhere to be seen and neither was Kakashi.
Spectators came from all over the village to watch the fight. Most of which were there to see the Namikaze fight while others, more specifically Naruto-haters, since he still had some, came to see the Uchiha fight.
In the kage box the Kazekage joined Minato. Over the month Kabuto finally broke and spilled every last detail of the mission to the interrogators thanks to the efforts of both Anko and Ibiki. Sound and Sand were going to attack Konoha. The attack would be signaled by a genjutsu falling over the arena.
'Sasuke's probably betting that his status as an Uchiha will allow him to show up late and still fight,' Naruto thought, 'I really doubt that that is going to fly.'
"Okay kiddies," a man chewing on a senbon said as he made his presence known, "My name is Genma. Now then will Naruto Namikaze and Neji Hyuuga stay down here while everyone else goes up for their match?"
The other contestants left while Naruto and Neji stayed down in the arena.
"Okay the first match of the Chuunin exam finals. Naruto Namikaze vs. Neji Hyuuga. Begin!"
Silence.
The pair stared down at each other.
"You should give up now boy," Neji said glaring down at Naruto, "Fate has decreed that I shall be the victor. You may have gotten stronger, but you are and always will be a failure."
When Neji didn't hear a reply he took it as understandin g. he saw red, however, when he looked at Naruto to see him asleep while standing up.
Neji glared at the boy and roared, "WAKE UP!"
Naruto snapped awake and said, "Who? What? When? Oh sorry about that. What were you saying?"
Neji rolled his eyes and said, "I was just saying that-"
WHAM!
Neji's speech was broken off when Naruto slammed his fist into the white eyed boy's jaw. There was a slight crunch signifying that the blow had cracked a tooth or two. Neji stumbled back before having a knee slammed into his stomach and was then kicked in the head making the boy roll across the ground.
Neji rose up from the ground and looked at Naruto who was just standing there with a bored expression on his face.
"Dude I don't want to hear any of your "Fate controls everything," speech," Naruto said, "What are you trying to do bore everyone in the stadium to death? Just skip the annoying monologue and get to fighting already!"
Neji spat out some blood from his mouth before getting a Jyuken stance. Naruto got into a stance of his own to be specific the Hummingbird style stance.
The pair launched at each other. Neji aimed a strike at Naruto's shoulder. The blonde avoided the attack and slammed a strike into Neji's forearm. The young Hyuuga cried out in pain before crying out even louder when Naruto stomped down on his foot. Neji was then doubled over, yet again, by a punch to the stomach. Naruto drew back one arm and unleashed a brutal right hook that knocked Neji off his feet and sent him rolling again.
'How can this be happening?' Neji thought in pain as he rose up from the ground, 'Fate has declared me the winner in this fight. Why is this failure beating me?'
Neji growled his anger as his Byakugan flashed and the veins around his eyes pulsed. The boy glared at Naruto before charging. Naruto himself charged and ducked backwards to avoid a strike to the chest. Neji then sent a few more strikes that Naruto dodged. A few, however, managed to connect. Naruto gasped out as the strikes cut off his chakra before a sudden kick nailed him in the chest knocking him away.
Naruto grinned and said, "I have to say Neji you're better than I thought you were.
Neji smirked and said, "I told you before fate declared me the winner when we were pitted against each other."
Naruto shook his head and said, "Fate doesn't control everything Neji. If fate ruled the world I would be a carcass right now."
Neji stared at Naruto before returning to his original stance.
"I don't care your reasons to defy fate," Neji said, "You're within my divination."
Naruto knew that term because his father had told him about some of the moves that the Hyuuga used since he had plenty of fights with them before.
Neji charged at Naruto with the intent of sealing off all of his chakra points. Naruto prepared himself.
'Got to time it just right,' Naruto thought.
Neji unleashed his attack.
'Now!'
Naruto caught both of Neji's hands. Everyone, especially the Hyuuga clan members stared on in shock.
Naruto smirked at the shocked look on the Hyuuga prodigy's face. That shock turned to pain as Naruto started to apply pressure to the boy's arms. Neji fell to his knees a pained grimace on his face.
"I told you that I was going to make you pay for what you did to Hinata-chan," Naruto snarled, "and I always keep my word."
Naruto then twisted Neji's left arm to the point of breaking before unleashed a vicious round house kick. Neji rolled to the side before catching himself. Naruto charged at the long haired boy drawing back his left fist as the kanji symbol on his gloved glowed a slight blue.
"Impact!"
The fist slammed into Neji's chest. The Hyuuga prodigy immediately screamed in agony as the fist made contact with his chest. There was a freakishly loud crack signifying that bones had been broken in the impact. Neji stumbled back clutching his chest in agony before he fell over blacking out from the pain.
Genma went over to the fallen prodigy. After checking to make sure that the boy would live he announced, "Winner of the first match: Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze!"
The crowd roared in approval. Naruto grinned as the sounds of the people's praise reached his ears. Naruto walked up to the fighter's box where he was greeted by Sakura.
"Nice one Naruto," she said as she high fived the boy.
"Troublesome Naruto," Shikimaru said, "but way to kick that guy all around the arena."
Naruto grinned and gave the boy a thumbs up.
In the stands two Chuunin looked at each other.
"I have to admit that was impressive," Kotetsu said, "He managed to beat Neji in Taijutsu which is something in itself."
Izumo nodded before adding, "On top of that he showed maturity by not letting his emotions get the better of him, and some sense by not revealing all of his skills at once."
Back in the ring Genma announced, "Will Subaku no Gaara and Sasuke Uchiha please come down to the arena?"
Gaara appeared in a swirl of sand. After a few minutes Sasuke didn't show. Gaara growled with his sleepy eyes narrowing as a sign of impatience. He sand in his gourd was whirling around itching to get out.
After a few more minutes Genma called out, "Sasuke Uchiha if you are not here in 3 minutes you will be disqualified."
After three minutes Genma said, "Due to his inability to show himself Sasuke Uchiha is hereby-"
At that moment a huge swirl of leaves appeared in the arena. When it cleared it showed Sauske and Kakashi, who had his nose in his book.
"Are we late?" Kakashi asked though if one looked hard enough you could see that he was annoyed himself.
"Yeah," Genma answered, "I was about to disqualify your student here. Now then if there are no more interruptions. Let the second match between Subaku no Gaara and Sasuke Uchiha begin."
Kakashi and Genma immediately got out of the way.
Gaara formed a clone out of the sand in his gourd. Sasuke smirked before vanishing from sight and the clone burst in a shower of sand. Gaara's eyes widened in shock before his eyes hardened. He was just as fast as the boy he fought during the preliminaries.
Up in the stands the crutch using Lee and Gai looked down at the arena in anger as they immediately recognized the style as Lee's. Lee was furious because he had worked for years on that style, and Sasuke had stolen it. Gai was angry for similar reasons.
For a while it continued like Lee's fight during the preliminaries. Sasuke would attack, Gaara's sand would defend, and Sasuke would attack again, this time getting through. At last Gaara formed a large ball of sand around him.
Sasuke tried to attack the dome, and only succeeded and hurting his knuckles. Sasuke grinned at his chance to show off and jumped backwards before he went through three hand signs.
In the Gai glared at Kakashi. When he did he noticed Kakashi had an angry look on his face himself.
"I should have known he was watching," Kakashi growled.
"What do you mean my eternal rival?" Gai asked.
Kakashi hung his head and said, "While I was off training with my Chidori without my Sharingan eye. Sasuke must have copied it while I wasn't payi8ng attention! Stupid!"
Slowly a ball of lightning formed in Sasuke's hand. The Uchiha survivor charged at the dome of chakra. The drew back his arm and unleashed the assassination technique. The attack pierced the dome, but just as it did tendrils of sand wrapped around the boy's arm and twisted. Sasuke screamed in pain as his arm was broken. The boy was then thrown away by the sand ninja.
"Sasuke Uchiha is unable to continue," Genma said reappearing in the arena, "The winner is Subaku no Gaara."
Some people jeered at the match. This wasn't because of the Suna boy it was because that a lot of people had bet on the Uchiha winning the match and had just los at whole lot of money.
Gaara glared down at his fallen opponent. Normally, Gaara would slaughter his opponents. This time though was different. He knew from his senses that the Uzumaki boy in the arena was much stronger. His mother wouldn't have to suffer the horrible taste of such unworthy blood.
In the stands Kotetsu and Izumo shook their heads.
"Strong yes, but arrogant and stupid," Kotetsu said.
"I'm with you on that one," Izumo said, "Using an assassination technique in a match, and using when the target is clearly hidden. This guy must really think he's king of the world."
Kotetsu shook his head and said, "I don't think this kid is going to make Chuunin any time soon unless he gets rid of the huge stick he has shoved up his butt."
"Moving on," Genma said, "Will Shino Aburame and Kankouro Subaku come down."
Kankouro noticed a hidden signal from his sensei.
"Proctor I withdraw," the puppet user said.
People jeered at the sound of the boy refusing to fight.
"Why did you come here if you aren't going to fight you stupid clown?" somebody yelled.
Kankouro fumed at being called a clown. He kept himself mostly cool however and settle for some steam coming out of his ears.
"Okay since that was a complete and total let down," Genm said as the crowd calmed down, "The next match between Sdhikimaru Nara and Temari Subaku may begin. Will the contestants get their butts down here now?"
Temari floated down on her fan. Shikimaru was considering forfeiting before he was suddenly picked up by Naruto before throwing the lazy ninja over the railing and down into the arena.
"I hate that boy," Shalimar growled.
When Shikimaru looked up he found he had a view up of Temari's skirt. When Temari realized this she blushed bright read before leveling a glare at the man that would have made the Nara matriarch, Yoshino Nara, cower in fear.
"Pervert!" she yelled.
The young Nara was then sent flying by a vicious shot to the head by the iron fan that his opponent was wielding.
"Um…Temari Subaku wins," Genma siad after a few minutes of silence.
People muttered to each other at the obviously one sided fight.
"Now that that embarrassingly short match is over," Gnema said, "Let the next match between Sakura Haruno and Dosu Kinuta begin. Both competitors come down now."
Dosu cracked his knuckles under his sleeves while Sakura got into a stance.
"Ready? Begin!"
The pair charged at each other. Dosu tried punching the red head in the stomach, but Sakura actuall performed the limbo to avoid the strike and shot a leg up nailing her opponent in the chin. Dosu was sent upward before landing and rubbing his jaw.
"Is that all you can do punk?" Sakura taunted.
Dosu snarled before he slammed both of his arms together sending a powerful sound wave outward. The blast struck Sakura making her wince. In her disoriented state Dosu charged again. Sakura then came out of her disoriented state and slammed a powerful strike into the hunchback's stomach. The boy doubled over before he was the victim of a knee to the chin and then was slammed into the ground cracking the ground.
Dosu tried to get up, but was then lifted off the ground and was thrown headfirst into the wall.
A brief glow of green chakra came across her arms that was so brief only some of the jonin noticed it. Sakura then charged at the boy, who was now supporting himself on the wall from his disoriented state.
"Fury of the Banshee!"
Sakura unleashed a fury of earth chakra powered punches that made loud cracks on impact. Dosu found himself being pushed deeper and deeper into the wall with more and more of his bones being broken. Finally the wall couldn't take anymore of the beating and gave way. Dosu lay amongst the rubble his one visible eye wide and blank. Multiple bruises covered his face and a few blots of blood was on his clothes.
"Winner: Sakura Haruno."
The crowd cheered finally getting another good fight. A few people cursed seeing as they were betting on the girl losing since she was known to be a fan girl in the past.
Sakura grinned before she pulled out a pair of chakra enhanced ear plugs out of here ears that had protected her from Dosu's sound attack.
As she entered the booth she was greeted by Naruto.
"Sakura remind me not to get on your bad side anymore," Naruto said, "By the way awesome job out there."
Sakura smiled and said, "Thanks Naruto."
In the side Gaara was glaring at Naruto. He felt the power that kid actually had. He was looking forward to match.
In the medical wing Sasuke watched in anger as he saw his formerly weak female teammate decimate her opponent. He became even angrier when he saw the replay of Naruto's match and the vicious beating he had given Neji. He was infuriated when his impressive, yet embarrassingly short match was shown.
"All right everybody," Genma announced, "We'll be taking a ten minute break before we continue."
With that the contestants went to the food court to get something to eat. While the two members of team 7 and the final member of team 8 sat waiting for their food they were approached by the rest of a teams and smaller version of Tsume.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and asked, "Kiba?"
The woman huffed.
"So this is the punishment you had to be put through," Naruto said with a grin.
The woman huffed until she was slapped over the back of the head by Hana who appeared out of nowhere.
"So," Shino said managing to keep a straight face under his coat said, "How many times has a pervert tried to hit on you?"
The female Kiba huffed and turned away when Hana said, "About 453 times. All of them by civilians."
The female Kiba hung her head.
"Now then," Hana said, "Come on Kiba-chan…we have some stuff to take care of."
With that the two left. The rest of the team stayed and started to talk about stuff. Hinata enjoyed her talking with Naruto. To his surprise she didn't blush or stutter as often around him as he did. Naruto also noticed that her normally white eyes had a bit of a silver tint to them.
After the ten minutes wer just about up the group headed back.
As they did Naruto stopped Gaara.
"Hey sand man," Naruto said, "I got a proposition for you."
Gaara turned to the boy and asked what could you possible have to offer me?"Naruto grinned and answered, "A powerful opponent who can help you prove your existence."
Gaara froze at that moment and asked, "Who?"
Naruto grinned and said, "During the finals most likely in our match a man named Orochimaru will try to attack the village. In case you don't know he is an S-rank criminal and one of the Sannin. Surely an S-rank ninja would be able to help you prove how powerful you are Gaara."
Gaara grinned like a madman and said, "Yes that powerful blood would prove my existence."
Naruto grinned and said, "Just hold off until a genjutsu falls around the crowd. Then strike."
Gaara normally wouldn't take too kindly to following orders, but if it meant fighting a powerful adversary then he didn't really care.
After the conversation the pair went to the fighters box.
"Okay people," Genma announced, "The next match of the Chuunin exams will now begin. Will Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze and Subaku no Gaara come down to the arena now?"
The pair went down to the arena.
"Are you ready to die Namikaze?" Gaara asked trying to keep up appearances.
Naruto cracked his knuckles before saying, "I'm not going to die now, but you are going to knocked around like a rag doll you oversized sand bag."
Gaara glared at the silver-highlighted blonde for the insult.
"Ready? Begin!"
Just as the match between the two was about to start white feathers started to rain down on the arena. Civilains fell asleep while ninja veterans and other Shinobi managed to fight off the effects.
Gaara grinned insanely as he knew the tiem to prove himself had come at last.
Cut! Okay I know the matches were short, but I wanted to get this done and over with. Besides I wanted to ge ahead and get to the good part. Okay see you guys next time.