A/N: Alrighty so the song is "Ashley" by Escape the fate and I am literally begging you to not only listen to it but read the lyrics. I have never found such a fitting song for one of my chapters in my life. It literally applies to everything so perfectly I just about had a heart attack when I found it. Just interchange the name Ashley for Naruto of course and voila. Now onward! To the epic emotional battle of a lifetime :D Er.. I hope :D


Hinata POV

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata stuttered, her heart rising into her throat. How can I fight him? If I win.. he'll lose.. what if he gets mad at me? Not that I could win.. b-but.. I can't hurt him.. there's no way I can fight him.. maybe I should forfeit.. but then I'd be letting my team down.. after all Neji said and how hard Kiba fought.. for me to give up would just mean I'm proving brother Neji right.. I would be a loser.. but.. I can't hurt him.

"Hinata-chan! Come on, everyone is waiting!" Naruto grinned, waving at her from over by Hayate. He looks so happy.. maybe he thinks he's going to win for sure now.. That's probably it.

"Hinata.. you'll do fine.. Naruto is just excited it's his turn to fight. He won't be mad as long as you're trying your best.. even if he loses. Trust me." Shinobu smiled, ushering her towards the stairs.

"I-I.. b-but what if I forfeit..?" Hinata asked.

"Then I think he'll be disappointed, if anything he'll be cheering you on, Hinata."

"You can do it." Shino added with a small smile.

"Thanks guys.. I'll.. I'll try my best." She smiled making her way down to face Naruto, playing with her thumbs as Hayate announced the beginning of the match.

"We're both going to try are best, right? Hinata-chan?" Naruto grinned holding out his hand to shake Hinata's. Naruto-kun.. Thank you.. "I don't go back on my word.. that's my ninja way." I also.. won't run away..

"I.. I no longer want to run away." Hinata said grasping his hand, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I w-will try my best. Naruto-kun."

"Heh, alright Hinata-chan!" Naruto grinned, shaking her hand before drawing back to begin the match.

"Pfft.. acting like that before a match.. they are enemies.. yet they treat each other like comrades.." Kankuro snorted.

"I'm not sure how you are in the village of the sand.. but here.. wearing that leaf headband.. that bands us together.. as long as you are wearing that forehead protector.. you are an ally. No matter what battle you are in." Shinobu stated, watching the two with pride. No matter who won she'd be happy. They were both going to try there best.. and for Hinata to make such a big jump forward.. she was proud.

"Byakugan.." Hinata whispered, the veins around her eyes swelling as she slid back into her clan's stance.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

"Weird people here.." Kankuro murmured.. looking away from Shinobu and back at the match.

"I could say the same about you." She grinned. "Go Hinata-chan! Go Naruto! You can do it!" She shouted, grinning at both of them.

Hinata's eyes widened as ten Naruto's grinned back at her. I must stay focused. But which one of them is real? They all have chakra flowing through them...

Hinata looked through them all, trying to find some sign of difference. Something to indicate which one of them she was supposed to attack, but as she was looking he charged forward.

"What's with all of my friends being idiots? You're not supposed to attempt close combat with Hyuuga's... dear lord." Shinobu groaned watching as Hinata was quickly surrounded. She slid into her stance, swiveling her feet to attack and defend as they tried to ambush her. One by one they all disappeared in a puff of smoke until no one could see what was going on. It wasn't until she heard a loud 'thud' that Shinobu knew the real Naruto had been hit.

"Good one, Hinata!" Naruto grinned slightly standing back up, mentally wondering what effect her attack had on his organs. Is he ok..? "Don't get distracted though, I'm not out yet!" He shouted, a clone appearing behind her and kicking out her legs causing her to fall backwards. Expecting her to land on her back Naruto quickly got out a kunai so he could pin her and win without hurting her. Instead, however, the girl let her hands hit the ground so her feet went up, flipping over so she was standing a safe distance from Naruto.

"Y-you shouldn't get distracted either, Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled. Naruto-kun.. I've always watched you.. Watched you for all these years! Why is that..? Hinata thought entering a parry of punches with Naruto with him trying to knock her over while she tried to disable his chakra. Both of them simply aiming to disable, not hurt. The Hokage and surrounding leaf jonin all noticed this, smiling slightly. "But I can do it I'm incredible." I don't know why but.. when I look at you.. "I won't lose to you bastards!" ..I feel courage. I feel that if I try my best.. even I can do it.

"Aack!" Hinata let out a small cry when she went flying backwards. "G-good aim, N-naruto-kun."

"Thanks, are you ok?" He replied, grinning when she nodded. I begin to feel.. that I am worth something. Hinata grinned to herself, quickly darting forward and flipping around Naruto so she could hit him square in the back.

"You used to always be a quitter.. but you began to try to change yourself.. I know better than anyone the tough training you put yourself through." Kurenai smiled, watching Hinata get back up after another hit. "But you were weak when it mattered most.. and it caused you to lose confidence. Your team.. you started gaining it back with them.. they helped build you up make you stronger.. even so.. I have never seen such determination.. in your eyes." She murmured.

Hinata lay still for a moment, a particularily bad combo from Naruto had knocked her down. Naruto-kun.. in the past.. I was the only one looking.

"Alright this ma-" Hayate started.

"No! Don't stop it." Naruto shouted, watching Hinata. But right now.. you are..you're finally watching me.. In front of the person I admire.. I can't look bad.. I won't give up. She smiled to herself before struggling standing back up.

"I said I'd t-try my best.. I don't go back on my word.. that is also my ninja way." Hinata said firmly, sliding back into her stance.

"Alright, you can do it Hinata!" Naruto grinned, it felt a little weird.. for him to be cheering her on when he was supposed to be fighting her.. but she didn't mind either.

"You too." She smiled, dashing forward and knocking him backwards. He was already tired from his fights in the forest.. if she could just hold out.. maybe she could win this.

"I never knew.. Hinata was this incredible.." Naruto whispered to himself, watching the lavendar eyed girl in awe as he attempted to block her consecutive kicks. She wasn't slowing down or stopping her movements to give him a chance to get free.

"I can do this." She whispered, swerving on her foot and kicking his shoulder so he was trapped between her and the wall. Quickly pulling out a kunai she dropped her foot and closed the gap between them, gently pressing it to his neck.

"Uh.. Hinata? I think you won." Naruto grinned, watching the girl's face continue to turn a dark red. "Hinata? Hinata?"

"She just fainted didn't she.." Shinobu sighed with a small smile.

"Ya.. she did." Kankuro replied, dumbfounded.

"Winner.. Naruto Uzumaki.." Hayate smiled shaking his head as Naruto picked up the girl, bringing her back to her team.


Shinobu POV

"I'd say good job, but you just got your butt beaten by a girl." Shinobu teased, taking her teammate.

"What? She's stronger than people have been giving her credit for.. besides.. I might have gone easy on her." He grinned, scratching the back of his head.

"Naruto you idiot! You almost lost!"

"Sorry Sakura-chan!"

"Next match, Gaara verses Rock Lee."

"Wooot! It's finally my turn! Yes!" Lee grinned jumping down to meet an emotionless sand ninja.

"Seriously.. are all of the leaf ninja stupid? That kid is going to die if he doesn't watch it." Kankuro grumbled.

"He's stronger than he looks, we all are.. we're just.. a little happier than you and the other sand ninja. It's called smiling.. you should seriously try it some time." Shinobu smirked.

"Some people aren't meant to smile.." Kankuro shuddered.

"Why not..?" Shinobu asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"It looks wrong.. unnatural.. creepy as hell. A lot of the people in the sand have the smiles of nightmares." Kankuro chuckled.

"I don't believe that.. if you were honestly happy and smiling.. for a not so disturbing reason.. I don't think it would be creepy. Your smile just then wasn't creepy." Shinobu retorted, pouting slightly.

"Ya.. you keep thinking that, Onyx." Kankuro chuckled slightly before training his eyes back to his brother, watching with wary eyes as Lee darted around him, attempting to break his sand barrier.

"Onyx? Why did you just call me Onyx?" Shinobu asked, slightly confused and taken a back.

"Because you have onyx eyes and I don't know your name." Kankuro stated simply.

"It said it on the match box thing, didn't it?" Shinobu asked rolling her eyes. Onyx.. it sounded girly.. was this guy like Akio?

"I didn't care enough to pay attention." He smirked, eyebrows furrowing as Lee moved to take off whatever was under his leg warmers. Before Shinobu could go to respond a resonating boom echoed through the room as Lee dropped weights, causing everyone to stare in shock. Had he been fighting his way through the forest and the beginning of the match in those things?

"Holy shit.." Kankuro murmured with wide eyes.

"Like I said.. stronger than we look." Shinobu said, initially meaning to sound sarcastic but her own shock was clearly audible in her voice.

"I'll keep that in mind for the main events." Kankuro chuckled, forcing himself to look away from the match. The end was inevitable anyway. The fuzzy-brow'd kid would lose.

"But you're not going to remember my name?.. You have selective memory or something?" Shinobu asked, finally taking in the boys appearance. This would be a good chance to learn about him for the main event.. she may as well use it to her advantage. He's a puppeteer.. he knows a thing or two about strategy.. he's sarcastic.. and he wears purple facepaint.. that's really helpful Shinobu.

"I can just call you Onyx, it's not like knowing your name will help me any in a match, right?" Kankuro smirked.

"Well, that's not necessarily true. A name can tell you a lot about someone's linage. Take, for example, Hinata Hyuuga. It tells you she's a master in the gentle fist style, she uses byakugan and she's a main house member who is probably better trained. In a fight with her your best option is mid to long distance fighting." Shinobu retorted.

"How did you figure that one out?" Kankuro asked, honestly stunned.

"The last name implies she's from the famous Hyuuga clan of Konoha. It's a well known fact the Hyuuga specialize in the gentle fist style as well as using byakugan. As for her being a member of the main house all of- aagh!" Shinobu grimaced, a sharp pain in her chest cutting her off. Crap.. does that count as sharing a secret? It's not that hard to figure out.

"What? What's wrong? Onyx?" Kankuro asked in concern, or at least Shinobu thought is was concern. She couldn't really tell because her eyes kept blurring over from the pain.

"Uh.. leaf jonin lady? Your her sensei right? Ya.. uh.. I think she needs help." Kankuro said, trying to ignore the fact that Shinobu had taken to using his arm for support.

"What? Sh-.. Shinobu. Thank you.." Kurenai nodded before taking her and disappearing to the emergency room.

"How did you know she was a girl?" Shino asked, not looking away from the match.

"I don't know.. I've just never seen a guy act like that.. I assumed I guess." Kankuro muttered, still looking at the spot she disappeared from.


"You put your clan seal on my student?" Kurenai practically screeched when she had found Hiashi leaving Neji's room.

"Yes. It was a part of our arrangement to have her stay in the compound as well as train with Hinata and learn our style.. to which she completely agreed."

"Then are you aware of the extensive damage and scarring it's caused? Agreement or not she should have given you no reason to use it!" Kurenai retorted, hoping her loud voice wouldn't wake any of her students, three of which were sleeping in the room nearest them.

"That's a rather big misjudgement on your and my part, the person held responsible has already been punished." Hiashi replied calmly. "Had she not told you of the seal?"

"No.. she didn't.. I just found out now because she collapsed from it.." Kurenai muttered, more to herself than anything.

"She collapsed from it? But the only way it can activate is from the Hyuuga council, Hanabi or Hinata. Unless she went to tell someone something she shouldn't have.. but she wouldn't do that." Hiashi said, looking alarmed as he went to go wake her up.

"What? But Hinata was asleep.. she wouldn't have done it even if she was awake. It's nice to know you have faith in her though." Kurenai paused. "She was talking to a sand genin, he was the one who brought her to me when she collapsed.

"Of course I do.. she looked me right in the eyes and swore on everything she had. I have no reason to think she's a liar, she's given me none." Hiashi said, looking back at Shinobu as she winced, slowly sitting up. "Do you know what caused the mark to activate..?" He asked when she finally seemed more alert.

"I.. I was talking about the Hyuuga clan.. but nothing that isn't already well known or easy to figure out on your own." Shinobu mumbled, biting her lip.

"What was it that you said?" Kurenai prompted, kneeling down so she was at eye level with her student.

"That you could tell a lot from a person's name. For example Hinata's last name implies she's from the famous Hyuuga clan of Konoha. It's a well known fact the Hyuuga specialize in the gentle fist style as well as using byakugan. As for her being a member of the main house all of.. and then I got cut off." Shinobu recited.

"What were you going to say?" Hiashi asked, remaining calm.

"All of the main branch members in your immediate family has a name starting with the letter "H" no one else in the clan does. Simply by hearing their name you can tell their rank in the clan. Hiashi, Hinata, Hanabi, and then Hizashi." Shinobu stated. "But that's not a secret.. anyone could figure it out."

"You're right.. the Hokage and some of the Inuzuka clan have pointed that out before.. that alone shouldn't have activated the seal.. but then what did?" Hiashi questioned.

"I don't know..." She sighed.

"Alright.. thank you.. I'll try to review everything on the seal.. maybe I can figure out what's wrong with it." Hiashi said, standing up and leaving the room.

"Would you like to stay in here with Kiba and Hinata? Or go back out and watch the matches with Shino?" Kurenai asked, smiling gently.

"I'd like to go out and watch the matches. Sasuke hasn't fought yet." Shinobu explained, slowly standing up.

"Alright, I'm just going to check in with the doctors and see how Kiba is doing. I'll meet you out there when I'm done." Kurenai explained before walking off. Shinobu smiled at her teammates for a moment before making her way back to where she thought the matches were being held, she had been hoping to ask someone for directions but she hadn't seen anyone yet.

"Quick, bring him this way!" More people? Maybe I can ask now. Shinobu thought, moving towards the commotion. The people there weren't willing to stop and help her though, with good reason. Shinobu's eyes widened as she saw the stretcher pass by her followed by Gai who was sobbing.

"What happened to Lee...?" She wondered allowed, eyes never leaving the stretcher. His body looked completely destroyed.

"He fought with the sand kid.. they really are dangerous.." Shino stated. "I came here to see if you were alright, I got worried when you didn't come back right away." He explained.

"Is he going to be alright..?" Shinobu asked, looking over her shoulder before gasping as they reached the room where the matches were held. It was completely destroyed. The balconies stood intact but the ground was full of shattered and cracked cement. It looked like someone had decided to place explosives over the entire floor.

"I don't know.. It will definitely take some time to heal though." Shino muttered, looking up at the screen. "Look."

"Next Match! Uchiha Sasuke verses Tsurugu Misumi!" Good luck.. nii-san.


Sasuke POV

"Don't use your sharingan." Kakashi murmured loudly enough for Sasuke to hear as he walked by.

"So you know." Sasuke said, smirking once his initial shock was out of the way.

"If that curse seal on your neck becomes active.. you might lose your life." Kakashi explained grimly.

"Probably.." Sasuke muttered.

"If that happens, I'll jump in and stop the match.. got that?" Kakashi warned. Stop it? Damn it.. It seems this curse seal thing reacts to my chakra. If I try to release my chakra, it steals my mind and begins pulling out all of my body's chakra. So in this match.. not only sharingan.. but I can't even use my regular jutsu. Now.. what do I do?

"Well this wasn't supposed to happen.. Yoroi was supposed to fight him.." Tsurugu thought, frowning slightly. "Oh well, I'll have to do.. once he gets caught in my jutsu.. he'll need to use chakra to get out anyway."

"Now.. Please begin." Hayate nodded to the two before backing away.

"Are you ready?" Tsurugu grinned.

"Yeah." In a flash both Sasuke and Tsurugu had weapons out, Tsurugu throwing three consecutive shuriken while Sasuke blocked with his Kunai. Wincing from the pain of his curse seal he collapsed with a thud, looking up to see Tsurugu charging towards him. Crap. He just barely dodged when Tsurugu made a grab for his head. Quickly jabbing his kunai into the ground, Sasuke smirked, locking his feet around Tsurugu's knee he went to knock him down.

"That won't work Sasuke-kun." Tsurugu grinned, watching as horror flashed across Sasuke's face when his own leg melted under Sasuke's lock, bending away so he could still keep his balance.

"What?" Sasuke quickly pulled his feet back giving another kick, to his abdomen this time, and watched him go flying in the other direction. I don't know what his jutsu his but something tells me I don't want this to be a close-contact fight.. but then what am I supposed to do?

"Gr... Sasuke! Are you really Uchiha Sasuke? Is that the best you can do?" Naruto shouted from the balcony. Dobe.. wait..I know.. Lee..

"You don't have time for sight-seeing!" Tsurugu growled, running towards him. "This is over!" Not quite. Sasuke thought to himself, placing his back hand onto the ground and kicking Tsurugu's chin up sending him flying into the air. Quickly following him he jumped so he was behind him floating through the air.

"Though from here on I'm going original." Sasuke smirked while many of the leaf genin and jonin watched in awe.

"That's fuzzy-brow's technique!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Ugh.." The curse seal..! It's reacting again..! "Please.. Please stop!", "You Bastard! Stop acting all cool, idiot!" Having them worry about me.. I can't.. I can't let this thing.. CONTROL ME!

"Here it comes!" Sasuke grinned as the curse retreated, much to the shock of several knowing jonin in the room. He quickly flipped kicking his opponent towards the ground before landing in a crab beneath him, kicking him back up and pushing off the ground to land above him as he fell, waiting for him to hit the concrete before digging his heel in another kick into Tsurugu's abdomen.

"Like I even have to check.." Hayate murmured. The entire room was silent as Hayata made his way over to Tsurugu to check if he was conscious or not. "I am stopping this match here.. and thus.. the winner, who is passing to the prelims is, Uchiha Sasuke!" Hayate announced.

"YES!" Naruto grinned, cheering.

"Good job.." Kakashi grinned slightly, appearing behind him. "That move before the lion rendan.. was Gai's taijutsu." he thought to himself.

"Pfft.."

"Sasuk! Heh heh, what a lame way to win! You're all beat up!" Naruto kept shouting.

"That damn total moron.." Sasuke smirked. Lee.. thanks to you I was able to survive. If I hadn't seen that move earlier I would have been in trouble. "Ouch.." Sasuke winced, clutching his leg. But it's not a move I can rely on very often..

"Uchiha Sasuke.. let the medical team treat your injuries now." A man said as they took Tsurugu away on a stretcher.

"You guys aren't needed." Kakashi spoke, helping Sasuke up. "I'll take care of him." He nodded to them before leaning to whisper to Sasuke. "I''m going to take you to the back and seal up that curse."

"We will now start the next match!"

"Wait until after the prelims.. I want to see the other matches." Sasuke replied with a small glare.

"No!.. Don't get so mad. If we don't take care of it now, it will be too late. I won't listen to your selfishness anymore." Kakashi stated firmly, guiding him towards the exit.

"Zaku Abumi verses Yakushi Kabuto!"


A/N: For one, this is the last fighting chapter until the main even. I know there are two matches left but I feel they're rather un-important and I have no desire to write them.. my brain hurts.. you will find out who wins but I'm running out of different ways to see people get knocked unconscious or forfeit. Haha. So ya, next chapter will be Hokage's rambling and some Hyuuga stuff. MWAHAHAHA. Alrighty, so I don't know how many of you know this but today they decided to make some adjustments to the review database, because of that I couldn't see six of my reviews for the majority of today. That's why some of them weren't responded to until this chapter even though they were for the last chapter.


ThorongilAnime: Thank you :D


blackroselover (chapter 10): He can be a bit of a goof, but I think it's his constant effort and stubborn-ness that makes him so loveable to readers too. I hope you like my take on Naruto. :P


girl-of-anime: Aww ^^; well sorry for being cruel. Let's just say she has some very special circumstances with her kekkai genkai (if I spelt that right). Sasuke is in the arena, but he's often quiet for the most part. He was there for Shinobu's fight. He had his flashback and everything lol. Thanks for the review :P


BigSisterOf8: Thanks :D I really appreciate that, and I will er.. did XD


Alpenwolf: Thanks, I know it was definitely different, I was a little nervous about that but I'm glad that you liked all the different views. I thought it would be something interesting to show Sasuke's take on the sister he never knew. He knows she existed, but nothing more so of course he would have is own thoughts about her. The funny part is all of the memories were taken directly from past chapters and reworded into other peoples points of views. Little reminders and insight on how they view her. I figured it would be interesting and add nice touch to the 's lazyness.. I wish I could be like that all the time XD Only on holidays though.. even then I'm updating this like crazy instead of sleeping XD

Ah, the joys of a Neji fate speech XD I don't believe Neji is right, not at all :P You'll leave university, Hinata will become stronger. I will find my true calling in life. Lol. Common sense is definitely an illusion XD Worst? Or possibly the best. lol.I hope you like my take on the fight, I'm a tad nervous I made Naruto too weak.. but If Hinata can hold her own for that long in a fight with Neji, I imagine she could do the same with Naruto, especially with his support. Thanks for the review :D