~Scroll 42~

"Enough, Neji!" Gai gently scolded his student, "Before this began, you swore you wouldn't drag the issues you have with your family's main branch into this."

"Why is it that the other Jounin are getting involved?" Neji questioned, "Special protection for the main branch, eh…?"

Hinata subconsciously leaned against the Suna redhead before the last of her strength finally gave way.

"HINATA!" Kurenai cried, watching Kakashi's student and the Suna Nin gently lying her student on the ground.

The Illusionist Master watched in confusion as Yondaime's Legacy quietly guided the redhead Genin's hands to key pressure points along Hinata's slender wrists. Absently, she realized that those pressure points were for relieving heart palpitations; abnormalities of the heartbeat.

"Focus on her heart…" Kurenai heard the blonde order, "Get her heart in synch with yours while I'll unblock the Tenketsu."

"Oh sweet kami!" Kakashi's other student gasped, "She's so pale…!"

Neji finally shook off the Jounin instructors but kept his glare on the blonde and the redhead, both of whom ignored their surroundings.

"Once a failure, always a failure." The teen sneered, causing the pinkette to round on him.

"Shut up!" She snarled, "The only failure I see is you! She fought you with all her heart and strength and not once backed down! She matched you! Even beat you through sheer force of will! To me, she's the real winner!"

" 'nee-chan…" Naruto called as he placed a gentle hand on her arm, preventing her from attacking the long-haired brunette.

Sakura blinked, realizing her otouto by her side. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the medics had arrived and were finally taking Hinata out of the arena. The pinkette even saw the Suna shinobi glaring at the other teen with murder in his eyes. She shivered, finding that she preferred the emotionless look on the red-haired boy's face versus this look.

SLAP!

The arena echoed like thunder.

Sakura turned around and stared in surprise at her little brother, who had just slapped Neji across the face.

Naruto's hand was stained with Hinata's blood from when he had worked on unblocking the Tenketsu, and now, Neji's cheek was equally stained with her blood.

"Afraid to admit the truth," He began, "so you intended to kill her?"

Neji sneered.

"This is of no concern of yours."

"When you have hatred and anger in your heart and used it to attack your littermate, you've made it my concern, you blind fool!" Naruto countered, "Know this, I will finish what she started."

And with that he walked away.

The arena watched in silence as Naruto returned to the redhead's side.

"He is mine." Gaara growled; to which the blonde only titled his head to the side.

"You may share Hinata's Song." Naruto whispered, causing the redhead to blink, "But you have yet proven to be worthy of her."

The Suna Nin growled even deeper as he crowded the smaller boy; completely ignoring Mother's hissing of caution.

"And what makes you my Judge?" He quietly demanded.

Naruto just stared into Gaar's pale eyes, allowing a sliver of his holy chakra to brush against Gaara's own youki-tainted chakra.

Gaara's eyes widen a mere fraction as he heard Mother give out a yowl of surprised pain.

"Ask the one who sleeps within." The blonde simply said then walked away.

"Now then…" Hayate coughed as he witnessed the strange interaction between Yondaime's Legacy and the Suna shinobi, "It's time for the next bout!"

Only four applicants were left to fight; meaning that there were only two more matches left for the preliminary rounds and then they would have their contestants for the third portion of the Chuunin Selection Exam.

Up on the balcony, the two remaining Konoha contestants waited anxiously to learn if their names would be announced. Lee was sulking at being one of the two remaining Konoha applications while Choji was deciding on the merits of withdrawing should his name be announced. After all, as Shikamaru had pointed out, only the strongest were left: the creepy redhead from Suna and the equally creepy mummy-dude from Oto. However, as the large Genin came to a decision to withdraw, his sensei whispered a promise of an all-you-can-eat victory barbeque.

Shikamaru quickly scolded Asume for baiting his big friend with food. Asume just grinned at the Nara heir than promised Choji that if the fight got bad then he would jump in; 'just like with Hinata!' Of course, Choji and Ino completely forgot that out of all the Konoha Jounin instructors to have intercede on Hinata's behalf, Asume was NOT one of them.

Suddenly, a hush covered the arena as the message board turned on, and the next fighters' names appeared. The names were not posted for more than a second, and already Gaara of Suna was waiting in the arena.

Choji roared in delight that he was safe while Lee found his enthusiasm once more.

"Okay!" He cheered, "You caught me! As soon as I said I wanted to be last, I was thwarted! It's a natural law… you can throw a stone at a telephone pole time and again and never hit it, but the minute you aim to miss, you end up hitting the thing dead center."

"Lee!" Gai suddenly pulled his student to the side, "I've noticed something crucial that most people may have overlooked."

"Yes, sir!" The teen saluted.

"That gourd thing is quite suspicious…"

"I see…" The Genin muttered as he suddenly pulled out a notepad and pencil.

"Stop taking notes!" Gai ordered, "You won't have time to consult them in the heat of battle!"

"… I see…" Lee continued scribbling.

"All right! Go get him, Lee!"

"YES, SIR!" Lee cheered as he jumped from the balcony to the arena floor.

Lee stared at his opponent; feeling the thrill of finally proving himself to be a worthy shinobi not only to his sensei but also to his village.

"Facing you so soon," Lee smiled, "makes me very happy!"