Looking up from his hospital bed Naruto could only sigh. First, Hinata was giving him the coldest look he's ever seen. Shino seemed to be enjoying the situation as he was sporting a ghost of a grin. Iruka and Anko were scolding him like parents do to their young, as Kakashi and Guy were getting details out of the fight. That didn't bow well with Anko who was beyond pissed that Orochimaru was back, let alone that her little brother fought him.
"So you developed a new ability?" Kakashi asked as he ignored Anko's failed attempt to drop the subject.
"Yeah it is amazing," Naruto said as he smirked. "I can redirect projectiles and Jutsu's to anywhere I see. It happened after I unlocked some of the fox's power."
"Wait you unlocked the Kyubi's power?" Asked a new voice. Everyone turned and looked at The Hokage as he walked in to check on his favorite grandson. "It seems that you will need extra training."
"What for?" Naruto yelled as he leaned up in bed. "The fox gave me his Chakra freely. He said that I can use it when needed."
"You would still like to be better at controlling its power, correct?" Kakashi asked with an eye smile. Naruto nodded and the Hokage smirked.
"I know just the man to train you," The Hokage said with a smirk. "But first you have to get past these exams."
"We passed this test Jiji," Naruto said as he smirked. "Now we wait for the finals right?"
"Wrong," the Hokage said as he puffed on his pipe. "We can only allow a set number enter the finals. As it stands we will need to do preliminaries first."
"Great as soon as I'm rested, I can't wait to wipe the floor with some of these guys," Naruto said as he slammed his fist into his palm.
"Well you have a day to rest," The Hokage said as he walked out of the room.
"Naruto I suggest you rest as much as possible. That goes for all of you," Kakashi said as he stood and started to walk out. "For now the tournament is no longer team based. It will be one on one matches."
"So I could be paired to fight Shino-san or Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked looking as his teammates with a raised eyebrow. Guy just gave him the nice-guy thumbs up as he followed his rival out.
"May the Power of Youth be with you young one!" Guy called out as he too disappeared. Anko just huffed and crossed her arms glaring daggers at the young Uzumaki.
"Yes it does," She answered his question. "That means each of you should rest and get ready. Tomorrow is the final day of this part of the exam."
"Alright," Naruto said as he looked at his teammates. "You hear that guys! We will be able to really show what we got coming up soon. Hopefully we all can make it to the Finals!"
"That would be nice," Shino said as he adjusted his glasses and gave a slight nod. "Get better quick, I don't want you to use this as an excuse when I wipe the floor with you if we fight."
"WHY YO…"Naruto started but was cut off by Hinata who covered his mouth with her hand and gave him a sickly sweet smile.
"Just pray to whatever Kami you believe in," Hinata said softly and leaned forward and whispered into his hear. "That you don't get picked to fight me. If we fight, I will be sure to punish you for your stupidity!"
Shino was beside himself as he watched Naruto's face pale. Naruto gulped and nodded his head as Hinata gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and walked out of the room. Shino turned back to Naruto and made a quick whipping motion, only to dodge a jello cup that was sitting on Naruto's bedsides table. Shino followed suite and walked out of the room leaving Anko, Iruka and Naruto.
"I like her!" Anko exclaimed with a wide grin. Iruka just sighed and turned to his little brother.
"You got a handful there," Iruka said with a grin. "But I can vouch, those are the keepers."
"And who just do you think you're talking about?" Anko yelled not getting the clue. "I will cut her to pieces and feed her to my snakes. Then…"
"Point taken," Naruto said as Iruka moved Anko out the door as she was still explaining different torture techniques. Iruka flashed a grin over his shoulder and with that Naruto was alone to rest.
"Shino you better not lose!" Naruto yelled. After watching Sasuke steal a technique from Lee and use it against his opponent to win, Naruto was hoping to see an actual decent fight. Sasuke winning left a bad taste in his mouth and he was a bit upset that he didn't get to fight him, but hey hopefully in the finals. Shino looked up at the stands and sighed. His teammate was beyond annoying. Turning towards his opponent Shino just tilted his head.
"I suggest you surrender now," Shino said with a tiresome tone. "You will not fair well against an opponent like me."
"Shut up!" Yelled Zaku in anger, already upset by Shino's statement. "I will show you!"
"Begin…cough," Hayate coughed out causing Zaku to blast two streams of air towards Shino.
Shino dodged out of the way just in time as the wall behind him was shattered from the air blast. Pulling out his sword Shino rolled forward and slashed towards Zaku. Zaku jumped back and was charging for another blast. Shino threw a set of Senbon at Zaku who dodged most of them. The ones that hit him got him in both of his arms causing him to curse out loudly. Shino smirked as he closed in the distance and cut him across his stomach. Zaku kicked forward catching Shino in the stomach only for him to explode into bugs covering Zaku's entire leg. Pain struck every nerve that was in his leg. Zaku screamed and fell back desperately trying to get the bugs off, only to relies that his arms where growing steadily more and more numb.
"What did you do?" Zaku yelled as the bugs started to slowly climb their way towards his chest and face. Fear was shown on his face as his impending doom was inching closer. Shino appeared next to him and placed the tip of his blade onto his neck.
"You've been injected with seven different types of poisons," Shino said with a small smirk. "Three of which I can't recall if I have an antidote…(Shino adjusted his glasses)…oh well. I did give you a chance to surrender."
"What?" Zaku said panicking.
"You might want to calm down," Shino said. "If your heart beats faster it just pumps the poisons faster throughout your body."
"What does that mean?" Zaku asked trying to be calm, but was scared beyond belief.
"You die faster," Shino said bluntly. "Now you know that when and assassination specialist tells you to surrender, you should. Well, that advice will pay dividends in you next life."
Shino walked away from a crying Zaku with a smirk, after being deemed the winner of course. Naruto clasped a hand on his shoulder as the medics carried away Zaku.
"You only hit him with a numbing poison didn't you?" Naruto asked with a sly smirk. Shino looked over at him with raised eyebrows.
"Why would I waste my good poisons on such meaningless fights?" Shino asked as he turned back to the fights. Kankuro from sand was beating some no name using Puppets.
Shino was intrigued on by the way he used the puppets and made note to see if there was a way to offset the ability. The fights after that were kind of boring as Temari from sand beat Tenten rather easily. Sakura and Ino fought next and their fight was a bit more entertaining, but Sakura edge the victory using one of her new Genjustu's to cause Ino to become blind for a few moments. Shikamaru easily took out the Sound's Genjustu's specialist as he caused her to bash her head against the wall using his shadow possession. Naruto was growing more and more impatient by the moment, but breathed a sigh of relief as his name was called.
"Finally!" Naruto sighed as he jumped down into the arena. Kiba followed shortly after and landed across from him. "I hope you're ready for this Kiba!"
"Just bring you're A-game," Kiba said as he pulled out some solider pills and tossed some to Akamaru. Kiba smirked at him baring his teeth and released his dragon claws causing a slight ringing sound to emit in the area.
"Oh it's like that is it?" Naruto asked as his eyes glazed over and he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Begin!" Yelled Hayate.
Naruto 'Bamfed' forward and throwing a punch at Kiba's stomach. Kiba catching this in time brought up his claws in an X blocking the bone breaking blow but causing him to slide several feet back. Kiba smirked over his claws at Naruto. Naruto's image began to whisp away causing the smirk on Kiba's face to disappear as he felt Naruto's fist connect with his side causing him to take a quick intake of air and fly into a wall. Akamaru took after Naruto causing him to go on the defensive as he dodged a spinning fang passing attack. Naruto smirked as he 'Bamfed' behind the now stopped Akamaru and grabbed him from the scruff of his neck.
"Bad dog!" Naruto scolded holding him towards his face. Akamaru growled at him causing Naruto to growl back. Kiba took this chance and punched Naruto, well what he thought was Naruto. The frag clone exploded causing both Kiba and Akamaru to be launched in opposite directions. Naruto landed in the middle of the arena wiping his hands as he looked at Kiba and Akamaru who were struggling to get off the floor.
"Damn frag clones!" Kiba cursed as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Try this on for size," Naruto said as he 'Bamfed' all around Kiba leaving a clone at each area.
Kiba gulped as he saw all the clones share the same grin. Kiba yelped as he jumped out of the ring of clones just as they exploded. In the air he looked back at the destruction of what just happened and let out a sigh of relief. The moment of was short lived as Naruto appeared behind him and struck him square in the back with his fist sending him crashing back towards the arena's floor. Kiba bounced a couple of times then his body came to a hault. Kiba slowly lifted his head and gave a toothy grin.
"That was a good one," Kiba coughed out as he layed his head back down. Hayate called the match and Naruto just smirked as he went and helped the medics cart his friend off the floor.
"Now it's my turn," Hinata said as she looked back at her teammates. She looked down to see her opponent was none other than her cousin, Neji. "I hope I can do this."
"Yeah lets make the hat-trick!" Yelled Naruto as he picked her up and gave her a quick kiss, much to her embarrassment. "You can do it Hinata-hime, you're much stronger than you let on."
"Thank you Naru-kun," She whispered for only him to hear, he groaned in protest to his nickname. Shino heard blackmail opportunity and he couldn't hide his smirk on his face. "I will do my best."
"You will win," Shino said with confidence. "And then we can both take turns beating on our residence idiot."
"I'd like that," Hinata said with a shy grin that caused Naruto to sigh and pull out his book. Hinata made a huffing noise, and turned on her heels towards arena. Tempered by her boyfriend's blatant display of his perverted side, her she stomped up towards arena floor, her thoughts filled with ways of destroying all copies of that book.
"Hinata," Said a stoic voice from in front of her. She came out of her daze and smiled at her cousin.
"Niji-san," Hinata said cherry. "You've made it quite far."
"Hinata the time for games is over," Neji said as he assumed his stance. "You're fated to lose this battle. Once a failure, always a failure."
"Shut your face Hyuga!" Yelled Naruto from above. "Kick his ass Hinata-hime!"
"You haven't always been this way Neji-nii-san," Hinata said with a small grimace. "I'm sorry I have to do this."
"You may have improved," Neji said as he watched Hinata slowly pull out her Tanto. Neji's hands lit up in chakra and a small grin appeared on his face. "But I'm still years beyond your skill."
Hinata and Neji's eyes flared to life and the battle was on. Hinata used her tanto to stay out of Neji's range keeping him at bay with quick slashes and parries. Neji's face remained emotionless the entire time, as if he was waiting for something. Hinata was quick to react to an opening and slashed clean through the side of Neji's stomach. Neji grimaced and jumped back holding his left side with his right arm. Looking down he noticed the blood coming through his fingertips and down the side of his shirt. Neji looked up in time to see that Hinata didn't give him the time to adjust. Her blade almost hit him but he ducked under the wild swing, and struck five times delivering three shots to her lungs and close to her heart. Hinata was caught by surprise by this and kicked square in her chest launching her back. Hinata coughed up blood and struggled to breath as she looked down at her closing lungs. She was beyond hurting, and cursed herself for being so foolish. She thought finishing it off while he was distracted would have been the correct move, but Neji wasn't considered a genius for nothing.
"I have to say that your sword work is good," Neji said as he slowly got back into his fighting position holding his side. "But you are still no match for fate."
"Neji..Cough…You can't keep thinking people are confined to fate!" Hinata said as blood trickled from her mouth.
"Prove me wrong then," Neji said as he waited for her to strike. Dodging her strikes he noticed that she was getting sloppy and a bit distracted. He could keep playing on her emotions. Neji smirked as he pushed back her strike and kicked her side. "You were a loser in the academy."
Hinata's eyes widen as she had flashes from her past flood her mind. Neji hit her twice before she snapped back to reality. Hinata lost feeling in her left arm.
"Then you get put on a team full of losers," Neji said as he swept kicked her and she fell back in shock. She was slowly being sucked back into herself conscious ways. Neji stood tall and waited for Hinata to pick herself off the floor. Struggling to get back to her feet, Hinata reached for her Tanto, only for Neji to kick it aside.
"I said it at the beginning of the match," Neji said coldly as he looked down at his cousin. "You were fated to lose. You can't fight destiny."
"HINATA!" Naruto yelled from up top. "SHOW HIM WHAT YOU ARE REALLY MADE OF!"
Hinata's eye's narrowed deadly as she glared daggers at her cousin. She flipped back, painfully, and assumed her clan's stance. Hinata and attacked Neji who went on the defensive using his one arm to fight of both of Hinata's. Neji was displaying his true genius stature as he started to turn from defensive to offensive and landed several hits on Hinata's arms. Hinata jumped back from his next attack and rubbed her arms, willing in vain for the feeling to come back. Hinata looked up and met her cousin's cold eyes and resumed her stance.
"It's pointless now," Neji said. "You can't use any chakra. You lose, as is what was destined."
"I can't give up now," Hinata said blood slowly trickling down the sides of her mouth. "I won't lose!"
"Too late," Neji said as he released his side. "You are in range. 8 Trigrams Sixty-Four palms!"
Two strikes, Hinata tried in to block but only opened more spots for him to hit.
Four strikes, Hinata grimaced his strikes snuck through her defense yet again.
Eight strikes, Hinata tried to jump back but his attack pressed on.
Sixteen strikes, followed closely with Thirty two strikes caused Hinata to gasp in pain and let out a small shriek of pain. Naruto's eyes widen and as he jumped on the railing, eyes swirling in deep pools of mercury.
"SIXTY FOUR STRIKES!" Neji yelled as he went to finish Hinata off once and for all. He was surprised when his last strike hit nothing but air.
"YOU…"Naruto yelled anger and a red aurora covering his body as he cradled a broken Hinata in his arms. She grimaced in pain before blacking out. Naruto's eyes moved from Hinata's broken body to Neji.
"Why did you interfere?" Neji asked as if he did nothing wrong. Naruto almost lost it but was restrained by a slight movement in his arms.
"IF YOU SAY ONE MORE WORD I WILL GUT YOU LIKE A FISH…" Naruto started as he took a step forward. Red chakra flaring a bit as if trying to reach for Neji.
"I will overlook your interference," Hayate said as he stared at Neji with killer intent. That caused uproar in the crowd of people that were watching.
"How can he be overlooked for interfering with a fight?" yelled Sasuke. "That's a rule violation!"
"I am protractor and as such I can overlook what I feel is justified," Hayate said turning his death glare to Sasuke who gulped a bit. "Naruto, please take her to the Medic Nin."
"You can't be serious," Naruto yelled as he took another step forward. "I demand blood!"
"And you will have your chance," Said as calm voice from behind him. Naruto turned to see an equally pissed off Shino who placed a hand on his shoulder. Though he looked calm his hive could have been heard from miles out. "For now we need to take care of our teammate."
Naruto stared down Neji emitting his KI. Neji just cocked his head to the side as Hayate called him the winner and smirked down at Naruto.
"Hope to Kami that you will not face me," Naruto said as he turned and started to walk away. Neji let out a chuckle which caused Naruto to stop.
"Fate will not be so kind to you as it was to her," Neji said with a sly smirk. "I took it easy on her…I won't be as forgiving on you. Remember that!"
"Walk away," Shino said as he heard a growl escape the throat of Naruto. "You can't go on if you fight him now. Hayate-san gave you a chance already by letting your previous actions go, he won't be able to help again."
Naruto looked over his shoulder at the smirking Hyuga making sure to get a good mental picture. Naruto wanted rip him apart limb from limb, saying screw the chunin exams. His inner Anko was screaming for blood, but Shino's words were true. He walked forward towards the medic nin's. They went to take her from him, but Naruto growled causing the Medic Nin's to back off and point towards the doors where the gurneys waited. Naruto set Hinata on a bed and watched from the other side of the bed as the Medic Nin's went to work on her. Naruto looked up to see Shino nodding his head giving Naruto as much reassurance as he could. Naruto just sighed as he sat down on an empty gurney and waited.
"Well good news," Said one of the medic nin's as she cleaned her hands. "She is stable. Bad news, she has some lasting damage to her lungs which will be keeping her off active duty for a couple of months. Can't get her too excited, it could reopen the cuts on her lungs that we repaired."
"So she will be fine then," Naruto said with a sigh of relief lowering his head and closing his eyes. The medic nin nodded as she turned and walked away. Shino sat down on the gurney next to him and they both sighed. "She will be fine."
"Everyone out!" Yelled the Medic nin as she carted in a struggling Lee who looked worse for wear.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" Naruto asked as he got the bed they placed Lee on. His left arm and leg looked to be crushed and bleeding. Naruto's eyes went wide as he turned and saw his Uncle who looked on with a lost look. "GUY!"
"He fought so well," Guy said as he looked down at Naruto with a grave smile. Sakura appeared at the door and rushed past Naruto to Lee's bed side trying to help out. Feeling helpless, she made a silent vow on the operating table. "That boy is…. he was going to kill him."
"WHO?" Naruto yelled as he charged out the doors and looked to the arena. Gaara of Sand was standing in the arena breathing heavy with a disturbed look in his eye. Something was different and now Naruto knew, he was a . Naruto's eyes honed in on his second target that was crackling madly, demanding blood like he was…just moments before.
"Was I no different?" Naruto asked Shino who walked up next to him.
Hello!
Well i have to say I'm back! Yaaaaaayyy! Sorry had a massive load of home work to make up for from my sick time a while ago. But then amazing news happened! MASS EFFECT 3 came out and i disappeared from the world to save the universe. But now I'm back and here's another chapter as promised! I would like to thank all the people who took the time out to review the last chapter. You guys rock. Please do the same for this one, let me know how you guys like it. As always Read, Review and of course Enjoy!
Thanks again,
Take-It-Easy