Author's Notes: Amazing what 50 hours of 'Naruto: Hundo Marathon' can do to a person (as well as one hell of a sense of procrastination and writer's block) :p I was gonna ask everyone who I should pair Naruto with but after talking with a cool friend on DA I've decided to pair him with Kakashi. It won't be obvious at first but it will later on. So let's hurry and get through the Chuunin exams already!

I would like to point out that yes, Neji's speech does come from manga chapters 78 to 81. However, instead of Naruto coming to Hinata's defense it's gonna be Haku. So on with the fic:p

Disclaimer/ Warnings: From now on I will only post these on the first chapter. I don't want to fill up the chapters with these things and annoy you, the readers. Sound fair?

"Family Ties"

By: Beloved Shadow of Light

+ Hyūga vs. Hyūga +

A wide array of emotions made themselves known as everyone gazed at the screen proclaiming the next match. Fear, anger, shock, worry, anticipation. Neji was already moving to down the stairs and entered the arena with Hinata following quietly behind. While Neji looked calm, confident, with an air to prove himself the sky young lady was trembling very slightly, eyes lowered but an air of extremely low self-esteem and fear. Everyone could feel it and almost everyone was worried sick. This young man would not hesitate to hurt his own family relative is only it meant to prove his worth.

"I never thought I'd be facing you... Hinata-sama," he said coldly. Though his words were respectful the same could not be said for his tone, the malice behind it causing the young girl to flinch.

She trembled as she gazed at him, her heart beating painfully hard in her young chest. "... Neji-neesan..." she said so softly it was almost impossible for anyone in the stands to hear her.

Naruto looked puzzled at this. "I thought you said they were cousins?"

"They are."

"Then how come they're talking like that?"

"Allow me to explain," a boy dressed in a green body suit spoke up. One thing that stood out above everything else was the abnormally large eyebrows he bore. "Both are from the same clan known as the Hyūga but Hinata-san is the heir to the Main House where as Neji comes from the Branch House of the clan."

"What does that mean?" Haku asked as he felt a knot begin to form in his stomach.

"They're following old traditions," Hidama pointed out calmly but in a tone tinted with ice. "Those who are first born inherit everything should anything happen to the father. The members of the Main House are those who follow the one who was born first while the members of the Branch House are those of any siblings there after. It's a narrow way of thinking that has caused strain between both houses and among all family members."

"So its family feud. Man, this is gonna be hard for both of them," Naruto added bitterly. Lee sadly shook his head, a worry look coming to his eyes.

"Yes but... I have heard that recently there was a situation between the houses. You see, in traditions with old houses such as the Hyūga, in order to protect the blood of the original Hyūga family... there have been many rules to put the Main House in advantaged situations... because of this the Branch House has felt slighted."

"That would be a serious understatement," Haku interrupted gently. If Neji represented the Branch House, then he also represented all the animosity all his kin felt towards Hinata, as the unfortunately heir of the Main House.

"Now begin the match!! cough "

"Before we fight, let me warn you about one thing, Hinata-sama. Give-up," Neji said with such coldness it took the young woman back. "You're not suited to become a ninja. You are too kind, you seek harmony and avoid trouble, and you just go along and follow someone else's idea. And..." He frowned as he noted her trembling. "You have no self-confidence. You always feel inferior. That's why you thought it would be fine to remain a Genin. But you cannot register for the Chuunin Exam unless there are three people. You couldn't refuse the offers from Kiba and your teammate... And the truth is that you are taking this exam unwillingly. Am I wrong?"

"I-Iie... I... I just wanted..." Hinata tried to voice her reasons but it was hard. Maybe her cousin was right. Maybe, she truly wasn't meant to be a shinobi after all. She could still hear her father's voice, of how he called her useless when compared to her own sister who was five-years her junior. She tried so hard to succeed, to prove she could do it, that she could be just as strong as everyone else! "... wanted... to change myself... do it myself..."

The young man frowned as he stared her down, watching as she averted her eyes. "Hinata-sama... as I thought, you are a spoiled brat of the Main House... people cannot change themselves!" That comment was like a slap to the face, making her eyes grow large but he didn't stop there.

"Losers are losers... Because people cannot change differences are born... Expressions like elite and loser are created. Looks, brains, ability, size, personality... All people judge and are judged in these values. Based on these unchanged factors, people discriminated and are discriminated against. And they suffer within their own means. Just like the fact that... I am from a Branch house and you are from the main House cannot be changed... I have seen through many things with this Byakugan... so I know... you are just acting strong... deep inside you just want to run away from here."

"I-Iie... I really..." she stammered but even she knew the ring of truth in his harsh words.

"Byakugan..." Naruto whispered mostly to himself but was heard.

"The Hyūga are the reason the Uchiha clan is alive with their well-known Sharigan," Hidama spoke up as she slowly dug her nails into her upper arms. "It's a kekkei genkai that has been passed down through the generations. Like the Sharigan it can only be used via the eyes but there are those who believe that its abilities of insight, that is surpasses the Sharigan."

Sasuke stared at the strange woman who called herself the dobe's mother and wondered how the hell she knew so much about his clan. Even Kakashi was impressed but he said nothing. All he knew was this woman was housing a lot of secrets.

In the arena below Neji said nothing but as he closed his eyes he activated his clan's bloodline, viens slowly appearing beneath the skin around his eyes. Snapping them open his eyes were harder and more cruel looking than before. Hinata treid her best to stay calm and focused but she couldn't; her trembling grew worse and her own eyes kept darting from here to there, refusing to look him in the eye. The poor girl looked ready to either faint or run away.

"You can't fool my eyes."

"...!"

"Against my pressure just now... you float your eyes to the upper left. This is a sign that you are remembering your past experiences... your painful past. And after that you looked to the lower right... that's a sign that you are imagining physical and metanl pain... Basically, you are thinking about yourslef and from all the experience until now you are imagning the results of this match. Imagining that... you'll lose!!

"The action of raising your arms in front of your body... that shows that you are trying to created a wall between us, create distance from me... That you are trying to prevent me from figuring out how you are truly feeling. Because everything I have said is totally right.

"Furthermore, touching your lip is a personality trait revealing a disturbance... it's a defensive mechanism to soften the nervousness and worrying. So basically, in reality, haven't you already realized...? That you cannot change your-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!!"

"!!"

"..."

Everyone looked up at the stands where Haku had shouted as loud as he could. His voice still echoed around the large room, startling everyone there but it had the desired effect. His brothers openly stared at him as did everyone else but he didn't care. His knuckles were white from clinging to the railing tightly but what the boy had said, was unforgivable!

"Stop deciding things such ridulous things!! She is your family and yet you insult her and claim to know what is best for her!!" he shotud down at him before looking up at the young woman. "Hinata! Onegai, stand up for yourself! Prove that you can change and that you took the Chuunin exams because you wanted to! Live your life the way you want to and not what everyone else says! Don't give up!!"

"... Haku-kun..." she whispered softly, his words filling her with a sense of warmth she hadn't felt in such a long time.

'... Kami, he's annoying,' Neji thought to himself but as he looked at his opponent he was taken back. She was no longer trembling and her stance wasn't as weak as before. She looked more confident and even her eyes had changed.

'... Haku-kun... arigato...' she thought softly.

"So... you won't forfeit. I'm not responsible for what happens."

"I no longer..." She took a deep breathe, closing her eyes but just as Neji did she activated her own bloodline and snapped her eyes open, the veins apparent beneath the fragile skin. "... I no longer... want to run away!" she said with such fierce determination that she shocked everyone, including her own teammate and sensei up in the stands. Slowly she moved into a battle ready position, hands help up as her feet slowly moved into position.

"Neji-neesan... we fight."

Neji wasted no time as he moved into a similar position while facing her. "Fine."

"... I thought so, she uses the same Hyūga style; her stance is exactly like Neji," Lee murmured but Sakura overheard him.

"Hyūga style?" Sakura asked.

"... the Leaf's strongest taijutsu style..."

"Huh!?"

"I said it before... that "the strongest Leaf genin is most likely on my team". That is... Hyūga Neji."

As if a switch had been turned on within the two of them, both Hyūga members--one Main and one Branch--came at each other with full intent on winning. What made this match different from the others so far was the fact that they only used open palms to strike at one another, not a single fist or kick was thrown. Up in the stands it resembled a powerful dance.

Zabuza frowned as he studied their movements. Never had he seen anything like this sort of fighting before but he watched as the girl's hand began glowing with chakra and she made a direct hit on the boy's chest, causing him to skid back almost a foot.

"She got him!?" Sakura said in disbelief.

"No. Not deep enough," Lee pointed out with furrowed eyes. "A slight touch is not enough. That's what makes the Hyūga clan so great."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"The Hyūga have a special taijutsu that has been passed down... the taijutsu that Lee and I use causes damage by injuring the body and breaking bones. It's a fighting style that aims to cause damage to the outer body; you could call it a Gōken style.

While Hyūga causes damage by flowing their chakra into the opponent's "inner coils systems". It's a technique that destroys the inter organs, a Jūken style. It may look impressive... but you'll definitely feel it afterwards."

"It doesn't matter how hard you train, you can't make your insides any stronger to avoid such a attack," Zabuza pointed out quietly. "Even if I got hit with something like that... chances are I would be useless for the rest of the fight."

Down below everyone watched as the two Hyūga continued to match blow for blow, but it would seem that Hinata was holding the upper hand. She kept striking at Neji, causing him to stumble back and stayed on the defensive when he came at her. Truth be told, it actually looked like Hinata would win this match if she kept this up. Haku was cheering her the entire way, gripping the railing so hard he could feel his knuckles popping but he didn't care.

Sakura was amazed at what they were doing, the way they fought but she blinked and looked at the strange youth in green. "How do they know where to hit? I mean, it's not like the "inner coils system is visible. So how do you attack them if they're inside the body?"

Kakashi sighed as he spared his student a glance. "With the eyes of those two... with the Byakugan, you can see it all. As Gai mentioned, the Gentle Fist is different from a normal attack. You release chakra from your palms and flow it into your opponent's body. This will cause direct damage to the "inner coils system".

Neji's eyes widen as he noticed Hinata's hand glowing. It was hard for anyone to see anything but both froze once the attack connected. Everyone watched with baited breathe, some of the gazes hopeful but it quickly turned to shock and fear when Hinata, her eyes wide, began to cough up blood. Neji's wrapped right palm laid flat against her chest as his left hand was twisted, pressing two fingers into the ball-and-socket joint of her right shoulder.

"So this is it... the extent of the Main House's strength," he said with distaste.

"N-Nani?! Hinata's attacks have been landing perfectly!!" Haku shouted with disbelief.

Panting hard the young lady refused to give in though as she knocked his arm away and made to strike with her other hand. Her aim was true as it sailed for her cousin's face but at the last moment he dodged it and instead, caught her arm and jabbed it with two fingers. Now her entire arm felt numb but with pain. In the stands, everyone--including the Sandaime--watched with mixed emotions. Stilling holding her arm in place, he pushed the sleeve of the jacket back to reveal dark bruises dotting the length of her arm.

"I-Iie... so from the beginning..." she whispered weakly.

"Exactly... my eyes can see the opening points," he explained calmly.

"What is he talking about?" Naruto asked.

"Pressure points," Gaara said quietly, startling more than one person. Everyone had almost forgotten he was there until he spoke up. "There are certain points in the body that when pressed, can cause different effects. They range from pain to hyper-extension to energy but this, this style deals solely with chakra. By knowing what to press, he just locked the chakra away from certain parts of her body."

A burst of chakra was felt and everyone watched as the bleeding heiress was sent flying backwards with a cry, her pale form hitting the tiled floor before sliding to a stop. Neji continued to look upon her with no emotion in his eyes except for hatred and anger as he slowly lowered his arm.

"Hinata-sama... this is the difference in talent that can never change... the difference that divides an elite from a loser. This is the reality that cannot be changed. At the point you said "I do not want to run" you were setting yourself up for regret. You should be overcome with desperation right now."

"..." Hinata couldn't say anything except but pant for breath, struggling to get to her feet but her body was hurting. Her heart was beating irregularly in her chest; and it hurt. It hurt so much but his words cut into her deeper than any kunai ever could.

"Forfeit," he demanded.

Slowly she pushed herself to her feet, trying to speak but every time she forced herself to say something she kept hacking up some blood. She was in pain and it would be so easy to just give up but she had come so far to be here right now. "I..." she panted, forcing herself to stand. "I... don't... go back... on my word..."

"...!"

'Hinata...' Seeing her give him such a kind smile, even with blood still on her porcelain skin made Haku's heart clench.

"That... is my nindo... my ninja way..." she said softly.

"... Come."

Hinata said nothing but as she slowly dropped into the battle stance her heart clenched and she nearly doubled-over as she began coughing up more blood. Her body was trembling and it looked like any moment she was going to go into cardiac arrest. Her sensei watched worriedly, debating whether or not to go down and get her. But if she did, Hinata would automatically be disqualified on the spot. No one noticed how Gaara's sand was shifting, the scent of her blood slowly and finally reaching up to him. He gritted his teeth tightly as he reined in his emotions. Haku was watching intently, ignoring everything around him that he leaned over the railing as much as he could and cupping his hands around his mouth, shouted out to her some words of encouragement.

"You can do it, Hinata!! You've come so far already; don't give in to his words or anyone else's for that matter!! I believe in you!!"

'Haku-kun...' she whispered to herself and readied herself to continue fighting.

Neji frowned as he also readied himself. 'Strength has returned to her eyes again.' He barely had time to bring up a defense as she lunged at him. Even with all her chakra points shut down, leaving her unable to use the Juken she refused to give up. Even Neji could sense this but he was more than determined to prove her wrong.

'I know I haven't known you very long, Haku-kun... but your words right now, they've given me the courage, the strength to continue fighting.' She continued to throw punch after punch, aware that she was missing and that she knew that she was going to lose but she would not forfeit. 'When I saw your eyes, I saw you shared the same past I did... people shunning us for different reasons but you had your brothers and parents to help you along the way... you said you believe in me. That, makes me feel like I'm actually worth something... if I can just do me best, then maybe I will be able to prove that I can be a shinobi...'

She threw her palm out but watched as it was knocked down and felt her cousin's palm strike her in the jaw. The chakra infused strike hurt more than she expected as she staggered back, coughing harshly at the blood falling past her lips. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, watching her intently but she refused to give up. Even if it meant her life, she would never give in to anyone's words!

'I'll never give up!' she thought determinedly, rushing forward with a final lunge but it was no use.

Neji barely moved to the side just an inch, before thrusting his Juken right into her chest. He could feel the chakra quickly shut down the opening points throughout her chest but he didn't feel the least bit of remorse. He watched as she began to hack up even more blood, slowly doubling over as a pained cry left her pale, blood-coated lips.

"Gaaha!!"

She had lost.

Neji said nothing but silently drew his arm back and let her collapse onto the floor, gasping for breathe as blood continue to spill forth. "You don't understand anything... from the beginning your attacks have done nothing... You have lost."

Kurenai watched her student from above but she couldn't be more proud of the young woman. She pushed herself well past her limit and still continued to fight. 'Hinata, that's enough... you may have lost but you have changed...' She allowed a soft smile to grace her painted lips. 'Great job...'

"A deciding blow to the heart, I feel bad for her but she will not get up..." Gai said quietly, a great change from his usual loud and booming tone.

Hayate frowned and began to raise his arm in the air. "Continuing is impossible and thus-"

"Don't stop it!!" Naruto shouted, beating Haku to the punch, but even he was having trouble holding back his feelings for the soft-hearted girl.

"What are you saying, baka!! She's at her limit, she's unconscious!!" Sakura yelled at the blonde but stepped back when she felt a sharp and vicious slap hit her cheek. Unlike the one Ino had given her during their match, this one had caused a thin trickle of blood to escape the corner of her mouth and creep down her chin. She looked up, tars threatening to fill her eyes as the enraged look Haku was giving her.

"Don't you dare say such a thing," he told her in a deadly calm tone, ice coating each and every word falling from his lips. "Hinata is a strong, determined young woman and I, will not let someone like you belittle her or insult my brother." The pink-haired kuniochi couldn't help but stare at him, her voice gone but the stare was broken off when someone gasped.

Hinata heard every word and with that, found the strength to slowly push her body up to stand and finish the match. Every inch of her body was trembling, her muscles begged her to lie back down, her heart beat irregularly in her chest, and her resolve was wavering but she refused to give up. Even as she stood, holding her side and breathing heavy, she refused to give up.

The genius prodigy of the Branch House frowned as she continued standing. "Why do you stand... if you keep pushing yourself, you'll die..." She just looked up at him, and gave him a small smile. His frown grew deeper. She was dead set on continuing the match even at he cost of her own life.

"It's not over..." she whispered softly in a voice wracked with pain.

"Acting tough is useless. You can barely stand, I can see that." He narrowed his gaze at her trembling form. "You have always hated yourself for your own weakness... but people cannot change... that is destiny. There is no need to suffer anymore... Let it go!"

She frowned at his words and it was in that moment, she knew that the insults he was saying were not directed at her... but at him. "That's not true... Neji-neesan. Because... I can see it... it's not me at all... I..." she trailed off, gasping for breathe but refused to give into her body's demands.

"You what?" he demanded in cold, emotionless tone.

"I can tell that you're the one... you're suffering much more than I... You're the one who's all torn up... about the fate of the Main and Branch Houses of the Hyūga clan." For the first time ever, she watched as his walls crashed down at her words. She watched as his eyes burned with rage, watching as he charged at her but she braced herself for the sudden assault.

Hayate's eyes widen as he realized that this young man would actually kill his opponent even though she was already critically injured. "Neji!! This match is over!!" he yelled, his feet already taking him to protect the young woman from his attack.

Haku always counted himself as a very calm shinobi, just like the waters of the sea but something just snapped and before he knew it, the senbon needles left his hands at an alarming speed. Around him he was aware of the adults moving but he didn't care.

A sudden, sharp prick struck him and but before he could hit the ground he felt himself be surrounded by the jounins. He glared angrily at them but he knew that if Gai-sensei released him right now, he would fall to the ground. His legs refused to bear his weight and he could feel something sharp digging deeper into the back of his neck, making him lose almost all control over the rest of his body.

"Get a hold of yourself!" Gai said with suppressed anger at his own student for acting so ruthlessly. Especially against his own family! "You promised me you wouldn't let this whole Head Family thing get you riled up!"

"Tch. To have the other jounins jump in to protect Hinata-sama... more special treatment for the Main House," he spat with distaste.

Hinata looked at the back of the examiner as he stood before her, protecting her but she felt a painful ache in her heart. He was really going to kill her. She wanted to say something but the only thing to come out of her lips was more blood as she cried out in pain. Within her chest, her heart gave a painful lurch that was strong enough to send her to her knees. She tried so hard to keep it in but it was too much.

"Gah!! Gahha!!" The painful cries echoed around the arena as she coughed up even more blood from before, clutching at her chest. Was this what it felt like to die?

"Hinata!!" Kurenai cried out, releasing Neji's arm and turned to her fallen student. As carefully as she could she moved her onto her back but was shocked at the pain marring her snow-white skin. "Kami..."

"Hinata-chan!!" The sound of hurried footsteps were heard and soon Naruto and Haku were both kneeling at her sides. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, feeling the warmth leaving but he almost lost it when she gave him a small smile.

'Haku-kun...' She could feel her world darkening but the last thing she saw was his worrying face, feeling his warm hand gently try to wipe the blood away; 'was... I able... to change a little?'

He cringed as he watched her soft lilac-colored eyes drifted shut, cringing inwardly at how the blood stained her soft skin. He couldn't help it but the sight reminded him of his parents' death. A death that felt like an eternity ago. 'Crimson blood staining the pure white snow...'

"Hey you, loser!" Neji waited until Haku looked over at him, ignoring the murderous intent that was fully revealed in his darken gaze. "I have two pieces of advice for you. First of all, if you intend to call yourself a shinobi, stop that stupid cheering of yours. It's disgraceful! And second, once a failure always a failure. You can't change that!"

Naruto growled low in his throat, feeling the chakra swell and threaten to release for even thinking about insulting his brother like that. "...! You wanna repeat what you just said?" he demanded in a fierce growl. The young man looked over at him; and smirked. Snarling he charged right at him, his full intent on making this bastard suffer but skidded to a halt when lee stepped in front of him, holding his arm out. "Get out of my way, Lee!"

"Naruto, I understand the feelings of you and your brother so much that it hurts, but the fighting should only occur in the matches. Whether a loser can defeat an elite through the power of hard work. That's something to look forward to in the main test... though his opponent might be me. But even it it's either you or Haku-kun, then there will be no heard feelings."

Oh how both young men wanted to push their friend aside and beat the living hell out of that smug bastard they knew that he only spoke the truth and that going against the rules would mean instant disqualification. The only thing holding both of them back was the fact that one of them was going to face Hyūga Neji in the final match.

"GAAHH!!" A sound like that was never good news. Hinata coughed up another mouthful of blood. Haku wasted no time as he unzipped the heavy coat as quickly yet as carefully as he could and placed both his hands on her chest. His eyes widen as he looked up at her jounin instructor.

"Her heart stopped and she's not breathing." That caused everyone to go into a panic. He heard someone shout for a medic but he ignored it all and looking down at the young lady, gently tilted her head back, pinched her nose shut, and began to breathe into her. Naruto saw this and pushing Kurenai away he began to gently push down her chest, timing it between the breathing. The two had never been more thankful for Hidama-kaasan for teaching them these lessons until now but even doing this he could feel the chakra flowing form his bother's hands and into Hinata's body. He was trying to heal her. By the time the medics arrived Hinata gave a shudder and began breathing on her own, her heart weakly beating. It was shallow but at least she was alive.

The medics worked quickly, carefully moving her onto a stretcher but they had to hurry. Silently, everyone watched as they took her away but it was hard not to show any emotions. Haku slowly got to his feet, staring intently at the blood staining the ground; as he walked back to the stands his gaze met Neji's and he frowned.

'You had better pray I don't fight you in the final match... or you'll wish you had never been conceived,' he thought to him, unknowing casting a killing aura that was making almost everyone around him nervous. Naruto seemed unfazed as he gently pushed Haku before him.

"C'mon ane, we can see Hinata-chan and Shiruba-ane after the matches." He could only nod quietly and allowed himself to be guided forward. Silently they went up the stairs, to join their family but Haku couldn't hold it back anymore. He could feel the tears slowly begin to fall, creeping down his cheeks. He sniffed and reached up to rub at his nose with his sleeve but when he heard someone approach him he tried vainly to stop. A large hand rested on his shoulder, gently squeezing but it was the feeling behind it. He smiled a tiny bit as he struggling to rein in his emotions. Zabuza continued to say nothing but be there for his adoptive son.

Several yards away a pair of hazel eyes with a tinge of red watched them all. His thoughts were going a mile a minute, coming up with plans and strategies but it wasn't enough just watching. He knew that this Hyūga Neji was much more powerful than he revealed today. Even the strong boy with the strange kekkei genkai and the blonde one held so much potential but right now, he wanted to know more.

"Kankuro-kun." The yoouth dressed in black with the kabuki paint looked over at his teammate with a bored expression on his face.

"Nani?"

"Go find out more about the Hyūga boy from that blonde one."

He blinked and scowled at him angrily. "Are you crazy? If you want answers go yourself!" he said angrily.

Sasori merely looked at him, his expression bordering on that of looking tired/bored but his eyes flashed at the promise of excruciating pain of he didn't obey his command. "Are you defying me?"

"... Fine." Looking away he slowly made his way to where Naruto was slowly walking up the stairs, pausing now and then as he continued to gaze at the blood staining the floor of the arena. Honestly he wanted to do with that bastard but orders from the kazekage. Hell even their sensei, Baki, had to follow his orders--or else.

'Damnit Gaara, why did you leave us?' he mentally asked as he gazed up at his younger brother. Taking a deep breath e he approached the blonde with a fake grin plastered on his painted face.

"Yo!!"

"Hm?" Naruto turned and saw a boy a few years older than him stop at he base of the stairwell, grinning and acting like they were buddy buddy. He frowned and knew that he instantly didn't like him. "..."

The young man continued grinning as he placed his hands in the pockets of his jumpsuit. "You're a funny guy... I like you," he told him.

'... what a freak!' the blonde thought to himself as he continued to glare at him. "You're not funny... and I don't like you," he said bluntly.

'Bastard.'

"What do you want?"

"Well, its about that Hyūga Neji guy."

"... Why the hell are you talking to me about that bastard? If you're so interested then go talk to him and leave me the hell alone!" he snapped angrily.

"That wasn't what I was asking, baka!"

Hayate sighed, coughing a bit behind his hand he decided to go ahead with the preliminaries. "And now cough cough we will begin the next match." Everyone could only watch anxiously. The only people left to fight were Rock Lee and Shikamaru from Konoha; Kankuro, Sasori, and Temari from Suna; and Gaara. It was a toss up on who would fight next but as everyone watched with baited breathe the next match was revealed,

Nara Shikamaru vs. Sabaku no Temari.

The young man sighed as he rubbed the back of his head in a bored manner. "Mendokusē."

Author's Notes: God I have been sitting on this chapter for way too long. I finally got through this and well, I like it. I was crying when I was typing out Hinata and Haku's feelings though (and listening so some seriously sappy music) so if you all start crying then I give my apologies in advance! Next chapter will reveal the final two matches so stay tuned. I promise to try and have the next chapter out much sooner than this one took

Gōken:  Strong Fist ("Ferocious Fist Taijutsu Style" aka Gai and Lee's fighting style)

Jūken:  Gentle Fist

Mendokusē:  "how troublesome" or "what a drag"