(Here's my next chapter. Hope you're all ready for the Chunin Exam Finals opening. Because things are going to be getting super awesome. Enjoy.)
It was the night before the day of the Finals, Naruto was at home and in bed. He was looking up at the ceiling while reflecting on his month of training with Jiraiya and his Bending instructors.
'This is it. Tomorrow I show the whole village exactly the kind of shinobi I am and what I am meant to do.' He thought to himself, 'But then there's also the matter of Orochimaru. Whatever happens I must be prepared.' he drifted off to sleep.
When morning came, Naruto woke up and was getting ready. After having breakfast and feeding Soreth, he grabbed his airbending glider staff and slipped into his boots.
"Soreth, I'm going," he told his dragon who nodded, "But stay on the roof. If something happens you'll be needed." the dragon nodded, as Naruto took off.
At the Konoha stadium, villagers and shinobi alike were pouring in eager to watch the Finals. Among the spectators included Feudal Lords from the greater nations and lower nations who're already placing bets on the finalists.
Up in the box seats sat Hiruzen with two Konoha guards. The Hokage looked to the side and saw four more people approaching with two guards each. The first was Rasa the Yondaime Kazekage, the second was Mei Terumi the Godaime Mizukage, the third was Ei the Yondaime Raikage, and the fourth was Oonoki the Sandaime Tsuchikage.
"Ah, welcome my fellow Kage. You're just in time." Hiruzen greeted them.
"Nice to see you, Hiruzen." Mei greeted respectively.
"I certainly hope the matches will be worth coming all the way out here for." Ei said, while taking his seat.
"I assure you, Raikage-dono, we have some excellent finalists that will as the kids say these days 'blow your mind'." Hiruzen joked.
"Let's hope so," Oonoki replied, "After all it's this generation that will eventually succeed us as it's been in the past."
"Quite so, Tsuchikage-dono." Rasa agreed, while Hiruzen squinted his eyes at the Kazekage knowing it was Orochimaru himself.
Throughout the spectators below the kage included the Feudal Lords and various other shinobi included the teams who did not make it to the finals. Jinora the rest of the last Team Avatar, along with Ming, Naomi, and Mitsuki were in the crowd looking eager to see the matches. Bee, Yugito, Omoi, and Karui were among them as they watched Samui and all the other finalists take position on the arena.
Naruto and Sakura looked around seeing no sign of Sasuke. They were snapped out of it as their new instructor spoke up.
"Welcome finalists to the third portion of the Chunin Exams. I am Genma Shiranui, and I shall serve as your proctor," the finalists gave him their attention, as he continued, "Just a quick reminder for the match ups of the finals." he put up the tournament chart for them to see.
Match 1: Naruto vs Neji
Match 2: Hinata vs Sakura
Match 3: Sasuke vs Gaara
Match 4: Kankuro vs Shino
Match 5: Shikamaru vs Temari
Match 6: Choujuro vs Samui
Match 7: Rinzu vs Kurotsuchi
After they committed it to memory again, Genma resumed, "Like the preliminaries you may use whatever you can in your match. Anything goes, but I am allowed to step in and call the match as I see fit. Any questions?"
Sakura spoke up, "What if someone fails to make it to the arena when their match is called?"
The proctor answered, "Then I'm afraid that participant will forfeit the match to their opponent." Naruto and Sakura were worried, while hoping Kakashi and Sasuke would make it in time, "Now then will Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga remain here while the rest of you go above where it's safe?"
So all but Naruto and Neji left the arena, with Genma announcing to everyone above, "The first match shall be between Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga."
The crowd cheered, as Neji spoke, "Anything to say?"
Naruto squinted his eyes, "Only that you're gonna be wishing you weren't facing me." Neji scowled at Naruto's remark.
"Begin!" Genma announced.
Neji quickly activated his Byakugan, while Naruto placed his airbending staff at the side and got into a stance, "Make your move, Hyuga." Neji ran at Naruto with the intent to kill.
As everyone waited to see who would make the first strike, Naruto stomped his foot to the ground causing a wall of earth to pop up before Neji making him run right into it.
"OOH!" the spectators groaned.
"That had to hurt." Naomi groaned.
Naruto undid the wall and saw Neji with a bruised face, "Sorry about that." he joked.
"I'll make you sorry!" Neji called, as he ran at Naruto and began using the gentle fist art against him.
To Neji's and the others surprise, Naruto was dodging all of Neji's strikes which was the same way how Naruto first bested Sasuke in the ninja academy on his first day.
"He's dancing?" Tenten pondered, as she watched the match.
Up in the Kage box, the five Kage watched with intrigue, "That blonde is putting on quite a performance." Mei noted.
"Especially against that Hyuga boy." Ei added.
Back at the fight, Naruto gained some distance and summoned some four shadow clones that took off and fought Neji together secretly using airbending to throw Neji off his balance, before Naruto tripped him up. Neji put his hand to the ground and spun kick the Naruto's. The clones dispelled while the real Naruto took the hit and recoiled.
After Neji got back to his feet and spoke, "You should've just forfeited when you had the chance."
"And just let you win without even doing anything? Yeah right." Naruto replied.
"You don't get it, do you? Fate had already declared me the winner when you were chosen to be my opponent."
"How long have you been under that delusion of fate and destiny?"
"It is no delusion, it's all facts." Neji replied, as he and Naruto continued going at it up close, before Naruto jumped up and used firebending on Neji who jumped away from all the shots.
Asuma and Kurenai were watching in surprise, as the genjutsu mistress spoke, "Fire jutsu without even using hand signs?"
"I don't think that was jutsu, Kurenai." Asuma replied.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Call it instinct."
Naruto used earthbending to hurl some rocks at Neji who dodged, until he saw multiple ones being launched at him, "Rotation!" he spun around like a top while chakra protected him like a shield. The rocks were deflected and reduced to smaller pieces.
Naruto frowned seeing his boulder barrage was countered. Neji stopped spinning and spoke, "Why don't you just give up already? You were not meant to win this match."
"You have no right to say that to me!" Naruto growled.
"You may not be interested but all shinobi who've become legends like our previous Hokage's were destined to be legends because that is what fate had decided for them. You were not chosen for that."
Naomi, Ming, and Mitsuki booed at Neji, while the older benders frowned at Neji's sour words. Naruto replied, "There's two things wrong with your claim Neji. One, fate never decided that for any of the Hokage's. They worked, studied, and trained their asses off to become the strong shinobi they were known as. Not to mention they had to earn the respect of the village itself. And second, you don't know anything about me. You have no right to declare who's meant to be a winner and who's meant to be a loser. You're doing it to me just like you did to Hinata."
"Because she was always the weak one, even at a younger age!" Neji retorted.
"And you think no one is capable of changing?"
"Precisely. That is the power of one's destiny." Neji declared.
"Since when did you seriously become so obsessed with fate and destiny?" Naruto inquired.
Neji scoffed, "Well, I'll humor you by explaining the Hyuga curse. Years ago the Leaf and Cloud had attempted to make peace, but one night the representative of the Cloud attempted to abduct Hinata. Her father Lord Hiashi stopped this and killed the shinobi. The Raikage claimed ignorance and to prevent a war a life for a life was demanded, specifically the head of the murderer." The Raikage flinched as he noticed the eyes of the other Kage turned on him wondering if he really was ignorant of what the representative was trying to do.
"Go on." Naruto listened in.
"However instead of Lord Hiashi his twin brother Hizashi, my father was forced to. All because he was born into the Branch family just as I was."
"Branch family?"
"Yes. The side house whose soul purpose is to defend and protect the Main house like sacrificial lambs. Being part of this branch family is but a curse and is our destiny. So as you can see there is no escaping ones destiny, just as there's no escaping yours to lose to me."
Naruto stood there in shock, "Wow."
"Have you finally accepted your fate?"
"No. I'm just shocked that you believe that bullshit!"
"What?"
"So your father was selected to sacrifice himself. Boo-hoo. Maybe it was hard, but you think he'd want you to live your life putting everyone around you down to make yourself feel good? Well, let me tell you a story of my own. About someone who started off as nothing but a poor man who strove to survive."
"You better make it worth my time." Neji said.
"Ten thousand years ago during a time when the world was entirely different. A time where spirits roamed the land, but kept themselves away from humans. A man named Wan lived in a village ruled by a corrupted family who oppressed him and all other villagers just to make boost their egos. Wan despite living in poverty did all he could to provide for his friends, even steal from the very family who oppressed them."
Neji and the rest of the spectators listened in, "One day Wan decided it was time to fight back, so he managed to trick the villages guardian to give him the ability to manipulate fire which was only to be used when venturing out into the wild, which after coming back must return said fire. Wan did not return it and used to against the Chou family to end their tyranny. Though he failed in his attempt and was banished, he was allowed to keep the fire to protect himself."
Bolin spoke to the others, "I know we've heard this story before countless times, but hearing it never gets old." Mako and Asami rolled their eyes.
"For years Wan had lived in the spirit wilds and befriended the spirits. Over time he learned how to use the fire inside him in ways the people of his village never knew about. He traveled the world until he came across two conflicting spirits who were in battle, a light spirit named Raava and a dark spirit named Vaatu. The dark spirit tricked Wan into separating the two, allowing Vaatu to be free and spread his darkness across the land. Wan pleaded the spirit of light to let him help her, but Raava refused and set off."
"Wan continued to travel the land in search of the other guardian spirits with the power of an element like the fire guardian. He first traveled to a floating island where the people could manipulate air. It was then he came across the two dueling spirits with Vaatu getting stronger and corrupted the smaller spirits into becoming dark ones. They almost destroyed the island, until the dark one fled. Wan pleaded again with Raava to let him help. She eventually accepted his help, and Wan pleaded with the islands guardian to bestow the power of air on him. Though he was warned no one could hold onto more than one element. So Raava offered to hold onto his fire element so Wan would master the art of air."
Up in the Kage box, Oonoki spoke, "That story the boy is telling. That's the tale of the Avatar."
"Indeed. Quite a story for him to use as an example." Ei stated.
Hiruzen glanced at them, knowing they would be in for a shock, while he and the others continued to listen.
"Wan and Raava set out to train, but to gain the other element Raava was forced to pass through his body and transfer it. The process took a toll on both, but mostly Raava. He eventually found the other two guardians and obtained the ability to manipulate water and earth. When they found Vaatu he had grown too strong from feeding off conflict between humans and spirits and nearly decimated Raava when she and Wan fought him as one. Wan despite his own injuries to his body carried Raava the rest of the way even when she was on the brink of destruction."
"The next time they met Wan and Raava fused together permanently and used their power to seal away Vaatu. And the two promised they would find a way to bring peace to the world between the people and the spirits. Sadly when Wan's time came to pass the world was no different. But Raava promised Wan that they would always be together through the rest of his lifetimes. Since then Raava would be reincarnated into another and guide them into becoming the next bringer of peace to the world. A bring known as the Avatar."
"So you're telling me this Avatar has been reincarnated into other beings for ten thousand years?" Neji asked.
"That's right. And every Avatar was tasked with bringing peace and order to the world. Even if war and such continued on; a new Avatar would be around to carry on where the other left off."
"Why tell me a story like this when it has nothing to do with you?" Neji spat.
"Oh, you're wrong there, Neji."
"What?"
"Wan's story has everything to do with me because I am his current successor!"
"Wait, then are you?"
Naruto nodded, "That's right. I am the Avatar! The bridge between the Human and Spirit worlds," everyone in the crowd was in shock upon hearing this. Especially the Kage. Naruto continued, "It's my job as Avatar to bring peace and balance to this world no matter how corrupted it is. And don't say it's my destiny to fail at being the Avatar because I cannot afford to fail! If I failed then the world itself would be no more. And I can't let that happen."
"Naruto." Hinata gasped seeing how serious he was, as did the others.
"And as the Avatar I have to face challenges bigger than the next. And right now, you are one of those challenges!" Naruto declared, as he charged at Neji releasing a full shot of airbending around him to blow his off his feet.
'He's faster than before. Has he been holding back since this match started?'
Naruto ceased using his airbending and summoned five clones that each earthbended a boulder at Neji. He dodged three but ended up getting hit by two.
"It's fire time!" Naruto used firebending on Neji. The Hyuga dodged, but got part of his leg burned.
Neji recoiled, but stood tall, "Avatar or not, I won't lose to you."
"And I'm not going to lose to you." Naruto retorted, as he popped open a canteen hanging from his belt and bended the water inside it to whip at Neji.
After calling the water back and put it into his canteen, Naruto propelled himself at Neji with airbending and punch Neji right in the gut. The Hyuga flew across the field before crashing onto the ground.
Naruto went over to Neji while Genma did as well, "I-I lost?" Neji asked in disbelief, while unable to move.
"Yes, Neji. You lost because you underestimated your opponent. And doing that could cost you more than a match. It could cost you your life. You let fate and destiny blind you into thinking you can read your opponents just by who they are. I pray you can overcome this trial and see we're more than capable of forging our own destinies. As for me, while it's my destiny as the Avatar to bring peace to the world, I still have other goals in mind. Like becoming Hokage of the village." Naruto smiled.
Genma announced, "Naruto Uzumaki is the winner!"
The crowds who were in shock at the matches outcome soon broke out into applauds and cheers. Naruto looked up at the spectators and smiled before waving a hand around.
'Admiration. I'm on my way of earning it.' he thought.
(And that's the chapter. Naruto defeated Neji, and now it's onto the others. Don't miss next time where a war breaks out, and a special someone makes their debut. See you around.)