I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.
Preliminaries
Naruto opened his eyes and looked around seeing Sasuke and Sakura a distance away and Choji and Shikamaru sitting beside him trying to wake him up.
"Finally," Choji smirked. "You missed it, Sasuke beat the shit out of some team from the Hidden Sound Village."
Naruto rolled his eyes pushing himself to his feet and walked over to Sasuke and Sakura.
"You guys beat the Sound Ninja team?" Naruto questioned.
"Yes," Sasuke stated. "They gave us their scroll to keep their lives but Orochimaru burned ours so we still need a Heaven scroll now."
"I see," Naruto sighed. "I assume they all have Earth Scrolls."
"Both actually," Sakura stated. "But as thanks for saving us, we're letting them keep them."
"Alright," Naruto sighed. "Then let's go find the Tower. Eventually we'll find a team and if not, we can wait there for one."
"We could teleport to those Ame ninja," Sasuke suggested.
"No, remember, they were trying to get our Heaven Scroll," Naruto reminded him.
"So they have an Earth Scroll," Sakura finished. "Alright. Maybe we'll meet one of the other teams that are trying to get there to finish. Then we can take theirs."
Naruto nodded then teleported to his kunai which were still stuck in the tree above then returned to Sakura and Sasuke and they left the other teams to try to reach the tower.
"So, how long were we out?" Naruto questioned.
"Days," Sakura stated. "There's about twenty four hours left until the end of the exam. There probably aren't that many teams left."
"Great," Naruto groaned.
"Hey, is it true that you're the Fourth Hokage's son?" Sakura questioned.
"Yes," Naruto stated.
"Why did you never say that?" Sakura questioned.
"Two reasons," Naruto stated. "First, you never asked. Second, I don't want to be judged by who my family is. I want to be judged by who I am."
"Oh," Sakura stated. "I wouldn't have-"
"Sh!" Naruto said suddenly holding up a hand. "You hear that?"
They listened and faintly heard a scream in the distance. They rushed toward it and found a Leaf Village ninja beside his unconscious team trying to wake them up while Kabuto watched from beside them.
"Shame they opened them," Kabuto sighed. "The hypnosis seal knocked them out and you failed."
"Which do you have?" Naruto questioned.
"Both," Kabuto smiled holding them up. "I was separated from my team so I'm going to the tower to wait for them. Why?"
"We need a heaven scroll," Sasuke stated drawing a kunai.
"Wait," Naruto said catching his arm. "For one, let's not attack someone we know so little about. Remember Haku? And second, why don't we stick to our original plan and wait at the tower for another team. You'll help us with that, right Kabuto?"
"Sure," Kabuto smiled. "Shall we?"
Naruto nodded and they continued toward the tower, allowing Kabuto to lead as he was the best at tracking and telling direction. After about five hours, they reached a place where they were able to see the tower and Kabuto took a moment to gauge how far away it was. Just as they were about to continue, a massive centipede appeared beside Sakura and Naruto tacked it to a tree with his kunai.
"I'll retrieve it later," Naruto stated. "Shall we?"
They continued on their walk for several hours. Finally, when the moon was already high in the sky, they stopped to catch their breath, no closer to the tower than they had been the last time they stopped. Naruto realized how when he looked sideways.
"No fucking way!" Naruto groaned. "Please tell me that's not the giant centipede I killed."
They all looked and groaned.
"It's your kunai," Sasuke sighed.
"Genjutsu," Kabuto groaned. "That explains a lot."
Naruto teleported to his kunai then jumped back to the others and sighed.
"They want to attack us while we're tired and frustrated," Kabuto guessed.
"Like we are right now," Sasuke finished.
"Exactly," Kabuto sighed. "They'll be here soon."
Just then, black sludge began to rise around them on every surface. The sludge moved to the ground and formed clones of an Ame ninja with spiky brown hair, a black body suit, a cloth covering both eyes, a breathing mask, and each holding a kunai.
"Hey, it's our buddy!" Naruto laughed. "You suppose they have a Heaven scroll?"
"Definitely," Sasuke smirked. "I'll start this."
Before he could attack, one of the clones hurled a double-bladed kunai at Kabuto. Kabuto managed to dodge it but it cut his arm and stuck into his arm.
"The clones are a genjutsu but the weapon is real," Sasuke said in confusion. "Where are they?"
"Let's find out," Naruto grinned running forward and kicking a clone, splitting it in half then rolling under a second.
Both halves of the first grew into a complete clone and Naruto grinned.
"Wish mine did that," Naruto stated before jumping and teleporting to the seal on Oboro.
He appeared behind Oboro in the trees and punched him again, sending him crashing into a tree then caught him and teleported back to a kunai he had left with the others.
"Now you guys will listen," Naruto shouted to the other members of Oboro's team. "Either you come out, or Oboro dies."
"He's bluffing!" Oboro shouted. "Kill him!"
Naruto held his hand up, forming a Rasengan and then leveled it beside Oboro's head.
"He dies in three...two...one..." Naruto counted down waiting for a response. "Alright, Ras-"
"Stop!" another Ame ninja shouted as he and the one the clones were of landed a few feet away. "Don't hurt him!"
The third team member was dressed similar to his teammates with the tan bodysuit and breathing mask, but with one eye hole cut out of the rag over his eyes and with his forehead protector covering his entire head.
"How many scrolls do you have?" Naruto questioned.
"Six!" the ninja said. "We planned to have the other teams all fail! Here take them!"
Sasuke retrieved the scrolls then returned to the others, burning all but one of each. Then he turned to the other ninja and grinned.
"I'll take yours too," Sasuke grinned.
"I don't have any," the ninja swore. "Mubi had them all!"
"Three...two..." Naruto began to count again and the ninja shouted in frustration throwing another Heaven and Earth scroll to them.
Sasuke burned them too and Naruto grinned and let his Rasengan disappear. Then, he smashed his elbow into Oboro's neck, knocking him out. Mubi and his teammate both turned to run but Sasuke caught Mubi and Kabuto the other. They both knocked their captives out and they tied them to a tree.
"That went well," Naruto smiled. "Shall we?"
They continued toward the tower, finally arriving to find Kiba, Hinata, and another Leaf Village Ninja they had never seen before waiting at the door.
"Nothing personal guys," Kiba sighed. "But you'll have to give us those scrolls."
"Try and take them," Sasuke dared activating his Sharingan.
Kiba charged at him and threw a punch while Sasuke did the same but Naruto caught both of their fists and twisted until both boys were on their knees begging him to stop.
"We're not fighting each other," Naruto stated firmly. "Sasuke, give them the extra Earth Scroll."
"But-"
"Now!" Naruto growled twisting harder.
Sasuke shouting in pain then pulled the scroll out and threw it to Hinata. She caught it and put it in a bag with two Heaven scrolls and Naruto released Kiba and Sasuke.
"What the hell's your problem?" Kiba growled.
"Simple," Naruto stated. "Me and Sasuke had to fight a fucking Sanin. I don't feel like watching Sasuke kill you."
"I'd tear him apart," Kiba stated.
"He'd massacre you," Naruto stated. "Can we go into the tower now?"
"Sure," Sasuke sighed.
They all walked into the tower and handed in their scrolls then sat to wait.
Naruto leaned on the railing and looked down at the ring. They had been told that too many had passed the second test so they would hold preliminaries before the final phase. It was a tournament. Naruto grinned and looked across the room just in time to see Hinata look away. His mind drifted back to the proctor telling them about the preliminaries.
"Attention," the proctor, Hayate Gekko , shouted over everyone's talking. "Thank you. Now, the preliminaries will be a tournament. It will be one on one combat, ending when one side surrenders or is unable to continue. If anyone feels unable to continue, speak up now."
After a couple of seconds, Sasuke clamped his teeth shut and held his hand over his new seal. Naruto gave him a worried look and Sakura begged him to drop out but everyone fell silent when Kabuto raised his hand.
"Okay, you got me," Kabuto smiled. "I'm all used up. I'll try again next year."
"Alright," Hayate nodded before coughing. "You can leave. Now, as there are twenty remaining, there will be ten matches. s I said, the fights continue until one side dies or concedes defeat, or are rendered unable to continue. As proctor, I am allowed a certain amount of leeway judging the matches. If the fight seems hopeless, I may step in. I urge anyone who is losing to concede quickly to avoid a fatal outcome. Now, please move to the balcony so we can begin."
The balcony was a raised platform around three sides of the room. The fourth wall was across from the exit and was dominated by a statue of a pair of arms with the hands forming the Ram hand seal with five wooden panels in the wall behind it, two near each corner with one massive one in the middle directly behind the statue. The top left panel was now open displaying a screen that would read out the opponents for each fight at random. The name on it now was Sasuke against Yoroi Akado, a member of Kabuto's team with their clan's customary purple clothes and the cloth covering the bottom half of his face, and round black glasses.
Sasuke and Yoroi dropped into the ring and the proctor told them to begin. Yoroi instantly sprinted forward, his hand glowing, and grabbed Sasuke by the head, beginning to drain his chakra while pinning his head to the ground.
"My chakra!" Sasuke groaned. "What are...you're...stealing it?"
"That's right," Yoroi grinned as Sasuke fell limp.
After a couple of minutes of Sasuke struggling to move, he finally planted his foot in Yoroi's chest, sending him flying and shouting, "Get off me!"
"So, you've still got some strength left," Yoroi commented standing. "Impressive, for a guinea pig."
Whoa, that was close, Sasuke thought, struggling to stand.
"Don't worry, I'll make it short and sweet," Yoroi sneered charging forward again.
He began swinging at Sasuke but Sasuke managed to doge him for a moment until he brushed his hair. His strength left him and he stumbled past Yoroi nearly falling.
"What's the matter?" Yoroi sneered. "Is that really the best you can do?"
Sasuke spun throwing his foot out in a desperate kick but Yoroi easily jumped away from it.
I don't have the speed to keep away from him, Sasuke thought. And I don't have a chance at a close quarters fight. I need to think of something fast!
"Come on Sasuke!" Naruto shouted. "If you can handle that snake, you can handle this goon!"
Sasuke looked back at Naruto before seeing Lee and remembering the fight he had with Lee before the preliminaries began.
That's it! Sasuke thought.
"I'll teach you to turn your back on me!" Yoroi shouted charging forward again. "Big mistake, and your last!"
Again he struggled to hit Sasuke with Sasuke barely eluding his attacks. Then, he suddenly vanished, before reappearing below him and smashing him into the air with his foot, much as Lee had done to him during their own fight. Yoroi flew into the air and Sasuke flipped onto all fours before leaping after Yoroi leaving Lee and his sensei both speechless.
"Okay, I admit it, I kinda borrowed that move, but from here on in..." Sasuke said appearing behind Yoroi and placing two fingers against his back. "It's all original."
"The Dancing Leaf Shadow?" Yoroi questioned.
"Now take this," Sasuke said seconds before his seal began to act up again and send pain shooting through his body.
He stiffened, shouting in pain as the seal began to spread.
"No not again!" Sasuke growled. It keeps getting stronger and stronger.
The seal continued to spread and he struggled to slow it without success.
"Is that it?" Naruto shouted. "And you call yourself an Uchiha!?"
Shut up Loser, Sasuke thought. Don't write me off yet! No! I won't let this thing take over! No way!
After another moment, the seal retracted, returning to its dormant state and Sasuke grinned.
"Here we go," Sasuke grinned.
Sasuke placed his hand on Yoroi's back spinning himself and swinging a kick that Yoroi blocked.
"Ha!" Yoroi laughed. "You're no match for me!"
Suddenly Sasuke spun the other way and backhanded Yoroi with a fool fist to the chest sending him shooting downward.
Then Sasuke smashed his other fist into Yoroi's face saying, "Come back here! I'm not done yet!"
He flipped over and smashed his foot into Yoroi's stomach at the same time as Yoroi smashed into the ground.
"Lion's Barrage!" Sasuke shouted as Yoroi fell limp.
Then, Sasuke threw himself backward, sliding along the ground. After a moment, he stopped and lay there for a moment before pushing himself up.
"I'm declaring this match over," Hayate stated. "As the winner of the match, Sasuke Uchiha will be advancing to the finals."
"Much better," Naruto grinned. "Sakura, that seal, it spread over his body. That's how he beat the Sound Ninja right?"
"Yes," Sakura muttered. "It made him impossibly strong, but he broke one of their arms just to hurt him. He would have killed them."
"I see," Naruto nodded.
"We'll move right on to the second match now," Hayate called as Sasuke left the ring.
The screen cycled through the names eventually stopping at Shino Aburame and Zaku Abumi.
Naruto looked around the room, noticing Hinata looking away from him again as the teammate of hers that he didn't know dropping into the ring along with the Sound Ninja with the broken arm.
"Wonder what they can do," Naruto thought aloud.
"The Sound Ninja blows blasts of air out of his hands," Sakura stated. "The other one, Shino. I don't know."
"It said Aburame right?" Naruto questioned.
"Yeah," Sakura nodded.
"I think Dad told me they were bug breeders," Naruto stated. "Maybe they can summon them."
"Close," Kakashi stated. "They breed the bugs inside of their bodies. In exchange for homes, the bugs fight their battles for them. Well, anyway, I'll go make sure Sasuke's okay."
And with that, he left.
"Hey Sakura," Naruto said nudging her when he noticed Hinata look away again, blushing this time. "Who's Hinata?"
"Her," Sakura said nodding toward her.
"I know that, but who is she?" Naruto said rolling his eyes.
"She's heiress to the Hyuga clan," Sakura stated. "She's Neji's cousin. She uses the Byakugan, a Kekkei Genkai that allows the user to see other people's chakra networks and see over a large distance. At the same time, Byakugan users usually fight using the Gentle Fist style, where they barely hit their enemy but send pulses of their chakra into their enemies to damage internal organs or shut down their chakra flow, in the cases of the more skilled Byakugan users."
"Alright," Naruto nodded. "Now why does Hinata keep staring at me?"
"Idiot," Sakura snorted shaking her head and looking back down at Zaku and Shino as a swarm of bugs began to close in on Zaku along the ground from one side and Shino began to walk toward him with bugs swarming around him in the air.
Suddenly, Zaku pulled his injured arm out and aimed it at Shino then tried to blast both him and his bugs but suddenly, his arms practically exploded, chakra-laced wind spilling out.
"What...what did you do?" Zaku questioned.
"Like you said," Shino said. "It's good to have an ace in the hole. However, I prefer to have two aces. I plugged your arms with my bugs. Just to be safe, I plugged your broken arm too. I'm glad I did."
Zaku was carried away and the bugs all crawled back inside Shino's coat and Shino returned to his team.
"Uh, alright everyone, moving on to the third match," Hayate called as the screen began to select two more ninja again.
Just then, Sasuke got back and Naruto smirked.
"So, you seal the mark?" Naruto questioned.
"I did," Kakashi stated, surprised that Naruto knew.
Just then, the screen displayed Kankuro and Misumi Tsurugi. The other member of Kabuto's team dropped to the floor. He wore clothing similar to Yoroi's but black with white sleeves showing, and large round glasses.
Then, the Sand village ninja with the bandages with hair on his back dropped to the ground. He wore black pants, a black sweatshirt with a hood that looked to have cat ears. He wore purple warpaint on his face and set the object beside him, holding it at the top where it looked like there was brown hair sticking out.
"Begin," Hayate said and Misumi instantly shot forward, wrapping his body around Kankuro and constricting him like a snake.
"The more you struggle, the tighter I'll squeeze," Misumi stated.
"Jesus," Naruto whispered. "It's like Orochimaru."
Suddenly, there was a loud crack and Kankuro's head fell limp.
"I think he broke his neck," Lee stated.
"You're right," Naruto stated.
Suddenly, pieces of Kankuro's face fell off and Naruto grinned.
"Shame it isn't Kankuro," Naruto grinned.
Suddenly the head lifted and twisted around, its left eye revealed as Kankuro's puppet and the rest of the face cracked.
"Now it's my turn, so say goodbye," the puppet said.
It's arms suddenly shot out constricting Misumi as Kankuro stepped out of the bandages where he had been hiding on his puppet's back and pulled his hood back up. The puppet's arms began to squeeze and Misumi screamed in pain.
"I...give..up!" Misumi shouted.
"But if you're bones are all crushed, just think of how much more flexible you'll be," Kankuro sneered as his puppet dropped Misumi and wrapped itself up in the bandages.
Then, Kankuro returned to his team with his puppet and Misumi was taken away. The next two picked were Ino and Sakura. Unfortunately, Naruto couldn't watch because he needed to go to the bathroom, of all things. By the time he got back, Sakura was trapped with chakra hidden below hair that Ino had cut off at some point and Ino quickly caught her in her signature jutsu, the Mind Transfer Jutsu. Sakura stood up tall grinning.
"Did she...get her?" Lee questioned.
"Yeah," Naruto nodded as Ino's body fell limp but stayed on her knees somehow.
Sakura raised her hand grinning even wider.
"I...Sakura Haruno...would like to say, that I with-" Ino began, speaking with Sakura's body.
"STOP!" Naruto shouted going off a hunch. "COME ON SAKURA, YOU REALLY WANT ME TO TELL SASUKE YOU LET INO BEAT YOU!?"
"Yell all you want, there's nothing you can do now," Ino sneered.
Then, Sakura's body tensed and Ino's control began to slip. Both hands went to the sides of her head and she began to groan in pain.
"What's happening?" Ino screeched.
Naruto's so annoying!
Ino stiffened again in surprise recognizing the voice.
He's right, I can't let Ino beat me!
Ino began to struggle again.
"Sakura!" Ino cried. "This can't be happening!"
"What's wrong?" Hayate asked. "Are you withdrawing or not? Well, are you?"
"No I won't be withdrawing!" Sakura shouted retaking control. "Not today or any day!"
She struggled again before making a hand seal and saying, "Release!"
Chakra covered her body for a moment before shooting back into Ino. Ino stood stumbling away and Sakura grinned.
"Thanks Naruto," Sakura called. "Ino, you're dead!"
Both girls were breathing hard and barely able to stand but they charged forward anyway. The ending, however, could have been better. They punched each other in the face at the same time, knocking each other out ending the fight in a tie.
"This fight is a draw," Hayate finally said after waiting for one of the two to stir.
Next were Tenten and Temari, the girl in Lee's team and the girl in Kankuro's team. While they fought, Naruto caught Hinata staring at him three times and Sakura and Ino woke up, commending each other's strength and renewing their friendship.
"The winner is Temari," Hayate eventually called and Naruto realized he had spaced out during the fight.
Naruto looked down at the floor and saw that Temari's fan was open showing three purple dots and Tenten wa covered with scratches. There were two scrolls and several dozen ninja tools around and Naruto could guess how Tenten fought but not Temari. The next fight was Shikamaru and the Sound Ninja girl named Kin Tsuchi.
Both walked into the ring and and Shikamaru sighed, clearly not pleased about fighting a girl. The Proctor told them to begin and Shikamaru instantly tried to catch her with his Shadow Possession Jutsu with no success. Kin dodged sideways and threw two senbon at him, both having bells attached to the back ends. He ducked under them and they stuck into the wall.
"Bells?" Shikamaru questioned. "Let me guess, next you'll throw senbon with bells at the same time as ones without. I'll be supposed to react to the ones with bells but will be hit by the silent ones right? Thanks for the heads up."
"You sure do talk a lot don't you?" Kin questioned throwing more senbon, this time free of bells. Just as he stood, the bells on the first two senbon began to ring. He turned to look and saw a nearly unnoticeable string attached to each, making them ring.
Threads? Shikamaru thought then realized his mistake and began to turn back around. "Oh man!"
"Too late!" Kin said throwing two more senbon and hitting him with enough force to throw him backward.
"Shikamaru!" Ino shouted.
"Not yet," Naruto smirked. "He may be lazy but he's not weak. Up and at 'em!"
He stood and pulled the senbon out of his arm.
"One inch higher and that would have been a fatal hit," Shikamaru noted. "Okay now I get a turn."
"Sorry that was your turn," Kin sneered, tugging the threads again and making the bells ring.
Shikamaru didn't turn to look this time but this time, his head became clouded and he felt nauseous.
"What the...What's going on?" Shikamaru groaned before falling to his knees.
"You see, you don't ever ask for whom the bell tolls, because it tolls for thee," Kin stated cryptically. "This bell send off a peculiar sound vibration that travels to the outer and inner then directly to the brain. First comes paralysis, then you'll start hallucinating."
Shikamaru groaned and covered his ears.
"It won't work," Kin stated. "You can't block the sound out once it's in your head. It's useless."
Shikamaru looked up at her but suddenly there were dozens.
"I can't tell which one is real," Shikamaru groaned.
"You can't move your arms or legs," all of the Kins said at once. "And even if you could, you wouldn't know which one of us to throw your shadow at. Face it, you're cooked little man."
All of them held up three senbon and grinned.
"I'm going to cook you nice and slow over a hot fire," Kin said tugging on the thread again.
"You think it's that easy huh?" Shikamaru questioned.
Kin responded by throwing the senbon. Two stuck into his forearms, and one into his shoulder.
"That was three, next time I'll throw five," Kin stated. "Each time a couple more, till you end up looking like a hedgehog. Stop playing games why don't ya? If you're so tough, get it over with, stop wasting my time."
"I'm sorry, so you're not a fan of my slow and painful method huh?" Kin questioned tugging the threads again. "Fine, we'll do it the quick way then...And painful."
She held up three more senbon and grinned. Suddenly, Shikamaru gasped and Kin blinked in surprise, struggling to move her hand.
"Huh?" Kin gasped. "What's going on? Can't move my arm!"
"Heh, looks like my lame Shadow Jutsu was a success after all," Shikamaru grinned standing.
"What?" Kin gasped. "But you haven't thrown any shadows, I made sure of it!"
"You really still don't see it?" Shikamaru grinned.
"What do you mean?" Kin questioned.
"Look at that threat you're holding," Shikamaru stated. "Don't you find it strange that it would even cast a shadow at this height? Of course you didn't notice it because you were focused on other things, like killing me. I stretched my shadow out along the line of that thread and followed it all the way back. Now I'm attached to you."
He raised his hand pointing at her and she copied him, shaking with the effort to resist.
"And now?" Kin questioned. "So we mirror each other's movements, so what? A cute trick but what do you gain by it?"
"Man you're annoying, shut up an watch?" Shikamaru growled reaching down and drawing a shuriken, which she also did.
"You must be inside!" Kin gasped. "If you throw that shuriken at me, you'll just be attacking yourself!"
"Makes it kind of interesting doesn't it?" Shikamaru questioned.
"You wouldn't...You couldn't!" Kin shouted beginning to panic as both of them drew the shuriken back.
"Like a game of chicken, let's see who ducks first!" Shikamaru shouted throwing it.
"You're crazy!" Kin shouted also throwing it.
Just before it hit, Shikamaru bent over backward, quickly, catching himself on the floor as the shuriken passed under him.
Big deal, I'll do that too! Kin thought as she began to bend backward.
However, before she got even half way, her head smashed into the wall and the shuriken stuck into the wall above her.
"And that's what I call using your head," Shikamaru grinned. "The wise Shinobi carefully scouts the physical layout of the battlefield and never loses sight of his position on it. That was her problem. I kept her so focused on me, she didn't notice the wall inches behind her head. So when we both dodged backward, KABONG! Now who's hearing bells?"
"Winner of the sixth match, Shikamaru Nara," Hayate stated.
Ino began cheering and Shikamaru returned to his team while Dosu took Kin back to the other Sound Ninja. The screen began to cycle again and stopped on Naruto and Kiba.
"You've got to be kidding me," Naruto groaned. "Can't I even have a challenge?"
"Would you prefer Orochimaru?" Sakura questioned.
"Hell no," Naruto said paling. "I'll take the Suna kid."
Naruto and Kiba dropped into the ring, Kiba looking a bit nervous and Akamaru was shaking slightly.
"We can take him," Kiba reassured him. "This'll be fun."
"Speak for yourself," Naruto grinned crouching and placing his hand on the ground. "Whenever you're ready."
"Alright," Hayate said. "Begin."
Seals instantly shot out from under Naruto's hand, covering the floor in perfect alternating rows that formed perfect four-sided diamonds with one-inch sides.
"What the-" Kiba began but stopped seeing the interested look in Kurenai's expression. "Alright, be ready Akamaru."
"For those of you who recognize my jutsu," Naruto called. "You probably already know who I am. For those of you who don't, watch carefully. See if you can keep up."
Kiba hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and shooting forward in a blur. Just as he swung at Naruto, Naruto jumped, teleporting to a seal beside Akamaru and began to pet the dog. Akamaru jumped, crying out in surprise and spraying all over the floor, running over to Kiba as Kiba looked at Naruto in shock.
"But that's...no one is..." Kiba was at a loss for words while those on the upper level were even worse off.
"He's so fast," Lee gaped. "I didn't even see him move."
"And you won't," Guy muttered quietly enough that Kiba and Akamaru couldn't hear even with their heightened senses.
"Why?" Lee questioned, just as quietly.
"He's not moving," Guy stated. "He's teleporting to the seals. He put that many down so that Kiba couldn't escape anywhere on the floor."
"That's impossible," Shino stated. "My insects can't even track his movements. So it's that kind of jutsu."
"It's the Fourth Hokage's," Hinata whispered, barely loud enough for Shino to hear.
"That's right," Shino agreed. "You know how right?"
"I think so," Hinata nodded.
"That's not just a movement trick is it?" Kiba questioned.
"Maybe," Naruto shrugged before making several hand seals thanking Minato for teaching him the Teleportation Barrier.
Then, Naruto held a kunai out in reverse grip with the flat of the blade facing Kiba.
"Fetch doggies," Naruto grinned.
Kiba growled and charged at him, leaping at him and hitting a barrier as six lines of seals spread away from him a few feet. Kiba passed into the barrier instantly, disappearing and Naruto held the kunai out with both hands open and grinned as Kiba appeared behind Akamaru tackling him instead of Naruto and then looking around in shock and confusion.
"Was that a genjutsu?" Kiba questioned.
"No way," Lee gasped.
"You can't touch me," Naruto grinned. "Give up, my next move will be an attack."
Akamaru stood, now shaking badly and Kiba picked him up.
"I'll handle this buddy," Kiba smiled tossing him up to Hinata. "Alright Naruto. You're good. Let's see what you can do."
Naruto grinned and put his kunai away bowing. As he reached a forty-five degree angle, he jumped into a front flip, teleporting to a seal behind Kiba and bringing his feet down on Kiba's head, smashing him into the ground, then teleported back to the seal he had been at, finishing his bow. Kiba groaned and stood, looking around and seeing Naruto bowing. He instantly blurred forward and swiped at Naruto but Naruto leaned back out of the way and teleported to the ground, laying on his back and smashed both into Kiba's stomach, launching him to the ceiling. He crashed into it then fell and landed on his left shoulder. Everyone heard it break and Naruto winced and walked over, helping Kiba up.
"Ready to give up?" Naruto questioned as Kiba stood.
Suddenly, Kiba had him lifted off the ground by the throat and was grinning.
"You're a fool," Kiba grinned. "You should never let your guard down."
Naruto created a clone who shoved Kiba. The moment they were moving, Naruto teleported to a seal beside the wall and took Kiba with him. Both of them crashed into the wall, hard, and Kiba dropped Naruto who teleported away.
"Ow," Naruto groaned rubbing his head where he hit the wall. "Just quit Kiba."
"N...no," Kiba groaned. "One move left."
Kiba crouched growling then leapt forward, spinning and speeding up until he formed a long grey drill-like streak shooting toward Naruto much faster than he could before.
"Tunneling Fang!" Kiba shouted as he shot forward.
Naruto jumped back, teleporting out of the way and landed on his feet. just as he did, Kiba tunneled into the ground and the room began to shake. After a moment, Naruto jumped as Kiba exploded up below him. Naruto teleported out of the way, landing in a roll then pushed himself up in time for Kiba to his him, slamming into the wall and continuing to spin against his torso, his claws slashing most of his body, leaving massive gashes. Naruto finally managed to teleport out of the way, allowing Kiba to drill into the wall and began making hand seals, drawing his kunai just in time for Kiba to explode through the wall directly behind Naruto.
Naruto leapt forward, entering his own barrier and coming out in a seal on the far side of the room and hitting the wall beside the hole Kiba had made on his way out just as Kiba hit the barrier. Naruto sent him to a seal in the furthest corner and Kiba appeared there, first shooting toward the statue of the hands but spinning and shooting at Naruto again. Naruto finally groaned and teleported to a seal below Kiba, smashing his feet into Kiba and launching him into the ceiling again where Kiba began spinning again.
"Tunneling Fang!" Kiba shouted.
"Fine," Naruto growled swarming the floor with clones who began swarming around and past each other before stopping and all forming a Rasengan, barely strong enough to hurt Kiba but enough to slow him down enough for Naruto to knock him out. "Come and get us!"
Kiba shot into the swarm of clones, moving too fast to be hit. Finally, one of the clones managed to place a seal on Kiba and Naruto teleported to it, slamming his Rasengan into his back.
"Rasengan!" Naruto shouted as Kiba slammed into the ground, disoriented.
Then, the remaining Narutos swarmed him and all punched him once before disappearing. When they all left, Naruto staggered away, out of energy as Kiba staggered to his feet, about to black out.
"You...son of...a...bitch," Kiba growled.
"You would...know about...bitches...wouldn't you?" Naruto grinned and Kiba growled charging forward again.
"Let's finish this," Naruto said hurling his kunai at Kiba.
The kunai missed his head by millimeters. Kiba grinned, but suddenly, Naruto was above him and slammed both feet into Kiba's back, slamming him into the ground. Both collapsed and began to breathe hard and struggle to move. Everyone waited in a dead silence to see if either could stand and after a moment, Naruto managed to push himself up.
"I really hope you can't move," Naruto groaned. "I'm finished."
"Shame," Kiba panted. "So...am...I."
"As Kiba is unable to continue, I'm declaring Naruto the winner," Hayate declared. "You might want to get those cuts looked at."
"I'll be okay," Naruto panted. "Anyone have a soldier pill?"
One of the medics that came to collect Kiba tossed him one and he ate it, then walked up the stairs to his team. As he was passing Hinata and Shino, Shino spoke up.
"That was an impressive teleportation jutsu," Shino commented. "It's the Fourth Hokage's, isn't it?"
"Yes," Naruto nodded. "It takes a lot more chakra than I thought."
"You did well to defeat Kiba after being hit directly by that attack for that long," Shino stated. "Normally it would just be a glancing blow that throws you. You really ticked him off."
"Ain't I lucky," Naruto said sarcastically.
"C-congratulation N-Naruto," Hinata finally spoke up. "Y-You were a-amazing."
"Thanks," Naruto smiled. "Kiba was a lot faster than I thought. If not for my teleportation jutsu, I would have lost."
"I-I d-don't think s-so," Hinata stated blushing bright red.
"Thanks for your confidence, but you're wrong," Naruto smiled.
"Hinata may be right," Shino stated. "Had Kiba kept Akamaru with him, you would have been torn apart."
Naruto shrugged and returned to his team as the screen selected another fight. Neji and Hinata.
Naruto's stomach dropped when he saw the panicked look on Hinata and Kurenai's faces and the smug look on Neji's. Hinata was doomed.
The two Hyugas moved to the lower level, which Kakashi had largely repaired with Earth Style jutsus for the remaining fights.
"I never thought that you and I would have to face each other, Hinata," Neji commented.
"Nor I Brother," Hinata replied.
"Brother?" Sakura questioned. "Huh. I guess they're not cousins after all."
"They're both descended from the Hyuga clan," Kakashi stated. "One of the most ancient and honorable clans of the Hidden Leaf Village, not actually brother and sister."
"Okay, but they are related, right?" Sakura questioned.
"Yes, in the way that branches of a great tree are related to its trunk," Kakashi stated. "Technically, they're more like cousins."
"Hinata's from the main house and Neji is from a branch family," Naruto summed up.
"Pretty much," Kakashi agreed.
"So, it's like a family feud," Sakura stated.
"Kind of," Kakashi nodded.
"They're starting," Naruto stated.
"Alright, you may begin when ready," Hayate stated.
"Before we do this, a word of advice," Neji offered. "Hinata, listen to me. Withdraw now. You know you were never meant to be a ninja."
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise and hurt but Neji wasn't done.
"You're too kind and gentle," Neji explained. "You seek harmony and avoid conflict. You allow yourself to be easily swayed by others. Admit it, you have no confidence. You feel inferior to everyone else here. It would have been better for you to simply remain a genin. But to register for the Chunin Exams you need a team of three people. You never even wanted to take part in these exams but Shino and Kiba did, and you couldn't bare to let your teammates down, could you?"
"No!" Hinata practically pleaded. "You're wrong! You're wrong! I wanted...I had to find out...I did it because it I wanted to see if I could change."
After several moments, Neji said, "Hinata, you are the pampered offspring of the Hyuga's Main Branch."
"What?" Hinata said in surprise.
"People can't change no matter how hard they try," Neji stated coldly.
Hinata's eyes were instantly filled with hurt while her face showed shock. She believed him, at least in part.
"They can't run away from their true nature," Neji continued. "A failure will always be a failure."
Naruto gripped the hand rail tightly, nearing the end of his patience.
"People are judged by their true nature," Neji stated. "It is the way of the world. That is why we have an elite, and why we have outcasts. We can change our physical appearance. We can improve our skills with training and study. But ultimately, we are judged by what we cannot change. What can't be changed, must be endured. We are who we are Hinata. And we must live with it."
By now, Hinata was on the verge of tears, and Naruto was keeping his teeth clamped shut and using the Teleportation barrier in front of him that his father had set up as an excuse not to jump down and beat the shit out of Neji himself.
"Just as I must live with the face that you were born into the elite of our clan, while I am from a lesser branch," Neji stated. "I understand these things because I see the world clearly, with my Byakugan. Despite your brave words, what you're really thinking is that you'd like to run, run as far away from here as you can."
"No!" Hinata cried. "You're wrong! You're wrong about me!"
"Byakugan?" Sakura questioned Kakashi.
"It's the Kekkei Genkai, or Bloodline Trait of the Hyuga Clan," Kakashi stated.
Naruto turned back to the Hyugas in time to see Neji form a hand seals and say, "Byakugan!"
Veins began to stand out at the sides of his face and smaller ones in his iris and his pupils became more distinct. The simple act of him activating his Byakugan was enough to make Hinata shake in fear. After a moment, she looked away, unable to look him in the eye.
"My eyes cannot be deceived," Neji finally said. "A moment ago, in the slightest of movements, your eyes drifted to the upper left corner of the room. I saw, at that moment, you were thinking of your past. Bitter past. And then, almost immediately after your gaze drifted to the lower right. It was a mere flicker of the eyes but to me it revealed all of your mental and physical suffering. You're seeing your old self, and wondering if your life is prepared you for this moment. You're picturing the outcome of the battle. You see yourself losing!"
Hinata gasped and Naruto growled in frustration.
"And the way you're holding your arms in front of your body like that?" Neji sneered. "It tells me that you're trying to build a wall between us to keep me at bay. You want me to keep from reading the deepest recesses of your mind. And why? Because everything I've said is true! Shall I go on?"
Kakashi rested on hand on Naruto's shoulder, sensing just how angry he was getting.
"That familiar gesture of putting your finger to your lips," Neji continued. "I know that it's a desperate attempt to suppress your rising panic. Made all the more desperate by the fact that you know it's futile! It's all futile Hinata. You are what you are. Whether you admit it or not. You already know-"
"Enough already!" Naruto finally shouted. "Who the hell gave you the right to tell her what she can an can't be? Just shut the fuck up and mind your own damn business! You call her a coward but she's not the one who's trying to talk you out of actually fighting! Come on Hinata! Show him just how strong you are!"
Hinata stared at him for a moment before her head fell. Neji glared up at Naruto then looked back at Hinata and his eyes widened. A moment later, Hinata looked up at him with a determined stare.
"If you don't forfeit the match, you know what will happen," Neji warned.
Hinata responded by beginning to make hand seals.
I won't run away, Hinata thought. Never again. No more hiding!
She finished her seals and activated her Byakugan. Naruto grinned and gripped the railing no longer in frustration but in excitement.
She took a stance and said, "Defend yourself, my brother."
Neji mirrored her stance and said, "Very well then."
After a couple minutes, they both darted forward and Hinata thrust her hand toward her, palm open and Neji blocked it, careful not to touch her hand. As she threw her hand forward, chakra shot out of it in a small burst. They spent several minutes dodging and blocking each other's attacks until Neji slipped off balance and Hinata threw an attack instantly. Neji stepped backward, barely avoiding a shot to his side. They both took a step back and after a moment, they returned to trading blows, careful to avoid taking damage from each other. After several more seconds, Hinata very nearly hit him again and Neji jumped back. After a few more seconds, they continued and after a few blows, Hinata stepped forward for a blow to the heart and both of them stopped. No one moved but everyone could see that Neji had dodged or blocked the attack.
"Did she get him?" Lee questioned.
"Yes," Sakura nodded and was about to start cheering but stopped when she realized that Naruto was holding the railing in a death grip.
"You didn't see him attack too did you?" Naruto growled. "Who hit who?"
After a moment, Hinata leaned back, coughing up blood and everyone gasped, except Naruto who closed his eyes, having already seen how it had happened. Neji's left hand had two fingers against Hinata's attacking arm where he had used a blast of chakra to stop her attack while his right arm had delivered a direct hit to her heart.
"So that's it huh?" Neji questioned. "That's all there is to the Main Branch's power?"
I'm not done yet, Hinata thought using her left hand to knock Neji's right away and threw an attack at his head. However, before she could hit him, he caught her wrist and hit a spot beside her elbow. Then, he pulled her sleeve up and revealed several burnt spots along her arm. All perfectly round and bright red.
"But...you mean..." Hinata gasped. "All this time you-"
"That's right," Neji interrupted, voice cold. "I could see your chakra points the whole time."
"What's he talking about?" Naruto questioned.
"On the Chakra Network there are three hundred sixteen chakra centers, or chakra points, and each are only about the size of the head of a pin," Kakashi explained. "Hitting one directly can affect the flow of chakra either halting it or increasing it, depending on how the attacker strikes the chakra points. Theoretically, doing so allows one to gain complete control of their opponent's chakra flow. But these chakra points, they're undetectable, even to my Sharingan eye. And even beyond the ability to see the chakra points, he can target them accurately, even during intense battle."
Suddenly Neji hit Hinata again and launched her backward.
"Look Hinata, I'm completely out of your league and that won't change," Neji stated. "That is what separates the elites from the failures. You may not like it but it's a fact. From the instant you said you wouldn't run anymore, your fate was sealed. You were destined for failure. And now, you're consumed with hopelessness. Now this is your last warning Hinata. Forfeit this match."
"I...I..." Hinata, now on her hands and knees, struggled to say before pushing herself up, more blood running down her chin. "I never...go back...on...my word. Because that is my nindo, my ninja way."
Naruto blinked in surprise, remembering telling his class the same thing a long time ago. Naruto snapped back to reality to see Hinata look up at him and smile then lower her gaze to Neji as he Byakugan reactivated.
"Bring it on!" Neji said reactivating his own.
Suddenly she doubled over, coughing up more blood. Naruto gripped the rail tightly as Neji took his fighting pose again. Naruto looked around and saw that everyone was giving the Hyugas the same look. The fight was over. Hinata had lost. They all knew it.
"No," Naruto whispered to himself. "Don't risk your life to prove your point. You can't win."
Hinata sprinted forward again, attacking Neji as before but still couldn't hurt him. This time, she wasn't using gentle fist, she was simply trying to hit him. And still, she couldn't. Finally, after about five minutes, Neji hit Hinata's arm away then slammed his hand into the bottom of her jaw, launching her yet again. Hinata stood and they sprinted forward, attacking Neji again but he knocked her attack aside then delivered his own along with a massive blast of chakra to her heart yet again.
Hinata coughed up blood again as her knees gave out and she fell forward. Everyone gasped and Naruto finally released the railing, leaning back against the wall, feeling very queasy and not sure why.
"You just don't get it do you?" Neji questioned. "Your strikes were ineffective from the very start. You're finished."
He deactivated his Byakugan and stared down at her in disgust.
"It's too bad but after that blow to the heart, Hinata...is done," Might Guy stated.
"Don't say that!" Naruto snapped. "What the hell are the Medical Nin here for, huh?"
"They can only help if she concedes of Hayate calls it," Guy stated. "I'm sorry Naruto, but Hinata's either got to break her word, or die."
Hayate finally stepped forward and looked down at Hinata.
"Since she's unable to continue, the winner of this match is-"
"No!" Hinata managed to say as she began to push herself up again, barely able to move.
Finally, she reached her feet and stood, barely conscious.
"What do you think you're doing?" Neji questioned. "If you continue to fight, you'll die."
After a few minutes, Neji finally activated his Byakugan and Hinata began stumbling forward.
"I'm far from finished," Hinata stated.
"Give up the tough guy act," Neji ordered. "I can tell you're barely standing. You've been carrying a very heavy burden, having been born to the Main Branch of the Hyuga Clan. And you've cursed and blamed yourself for being weak. But look, people can't change the way they are. That's just how it is. Just accept defeat and you won't have to suffer anymore."
"No, you're wrong Brother," Hinata panted. "You've got it backwards. You see...I can tell...that you're the one...You're suffering much more than I."
"I what?" Neji questioned not understanding.
"You are the one...who's all torn up...about the fat of the Main and Side Branches of the Hyuga Clan," Hinata stated.
Neji suddenly growled in frustration and charged forward, shouting in rage.
"Neji no!" Hayate shouted running to intercept him but not able to run fast enough. "The match is over!" Oh man!
Kakashi, Guy, and Kurenai all moved to help Hayate but before anyone could take a step, Neji reached the last intact Teleportation Seal Naruto reached just as he threw his attack at Hinata. Naruto teleported to the seal, appearing between the two Hyuga's and catching Neji's hand, taking the attack full force from his arm into his torso. The jonin and Hayate all froze and after a moment, Naruto turned his head and spit blood onto the ground before glaring at Neji.
"The match is over," Naruto stated coldly. "You want to fight from here, you fight me."
"Neji!" Guy shouted. "Get a hold of yourself! You promised me you wouldn't let this whole Head Family thing get you riled up!"
"Get out of my way Naruto," Neji ordered, ignoring Guy.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and squeezed Neji's hand. Neji screamed as Naruto pressed his bones to the point that they were about to break. Neji responded by sending three quick strikes to Naruto's heart through his hand then hitting him directly in the heart with his free hand. Naruto grunted and kicked Neji sending him flying back before spitting out more blood. Guy caught Neji and Kurenai put him to sleep with a genjutsu just as both Naruto and Hinata collapsed, Naruto's heart completely stopping. The medics rushed forward and began to work on Naruto while Hinata was rushed off to the ER. After several minutes of trying and failing to save Naruto, the Medics all turned to Minato at the same time, their question clear.
"I did not have you given to him to be dormant," Minato said to no one in particular. "Do you intend to die?"
Suddenly, Naruto's body arched upward as a wave of red chakra shot off of it and his heart pounded so loudly that they all heard it. Then, the body fell limp again and a medic checked for a pulse, finding a weak one. He and another medic instantly began to keep Naruto's heart beating while he too was rushed away. Minato sent a clone to tell Kushina he was on his way to the hospital then the next fight was chosen.
Read and review. Sorry for the long chapter. I am extremely very sorry that I am skipping the rest of the fights(yes this include Rock Lee and Gaara) but I want to move on from the Preliminaries. I love that fight more than almost any in the entire anime but I am going to follow Naruto to the hospital this time. I will probably also skip most(if not all) of Naruto's month of training but we'll see.