Kei-Kei Yuki: Almost done with the Chunin Exam arc! Yay! I'm making progress, though I still have a long way to go, before reaching Shippuden.

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

Drabble Twenty-Five

Final Exam: The Prodigy and The Failure

The night before the final exam Naruko first swung by Sasuke's apartment but left when she saw that no one was home, concluding that Sasuke was most likely still out training with Kakashi-sensei. After leaving Sasuke's apartment, the blonde was about to make her way home, yet instead found herself standing out in front of Iruka's apartment. Just before the blonde could place her hand on the doorknob, the door swung open.

"Naruko? Come on in!" Standing in the doorway, dressed in her civilian attire with her hair let down, was Iruka. Judging by the apron tied around her waist, the chunin must have been in the middle of cooking dinner. Iruka was caught off guard when Naruko suddenly flung herself at the woman, hugging her tightly.

"...Thank you, Ruka-nee," Naruko softly muttered. Iruka stood there confused and worried for the small blonde but nonetheless returned the hug.

"I know the exams must've been rough, but... Congratulations on making it to the third exam! Now come on, I'm making dinner." Iruka ushered the younger girl inside. Having come here so much, Naruko was by now familiar with the layout of Iruka's apartment. Growing up, Naruko spent many nights here, seeing how this place became more of home to her than her own apartment.

Though after she made genin and became a member of Team 7, the time she spent here dwindled. Walking passed the veranda where Iruka kept all the plants that Naruko had given her as presents-seeing how Naruko had no money to buy Iruka better things-Naruko was happy to see them all still in good health. Especially the asagao she had given Iruka last year as a birthday present.

Sitting down at the table, Iruka served some oyakodon that she had cooked up. She fixed herself some warm matcha tea while Naruko was fine with just some ice mango tea. The two ate in comfortable silence, no awkward tension to be found. After having her fill, Naruko patted her stomach and finished off the rest of her beverage.

"Maa, that was delicious, Ruka-nee~!"

"I'm glad you liked it. It's been a while since we last sat down and ate together. Maa, you truly are growing up on me, Naru-chan!" Iruka shot Naruko a teasing smile, riling the blonde up by the affection suffix she added onto her name.

"Like I told Kakashi-sensei, stop adding 'chan' to my name!" exclaimed Naruko, only to almost fall out of her chair at the threatening aura that surrounded Iruka.

"Kakashi." Whenever she heard that man's name, Iruka was reminded of their confrontation before the Chunin Exams. She resisted the urge to punch that smug mask-wearing face of his! She didn't give a damn about what type of reputation the man had; no one hurts her kids or her Naruko!

"R-Ruka-nee... Oi, Ruka-nee!" Iruka was finally brought back into reality due to Naruko calling out her name and saw the blonde hiding behind a chair as if she was shielding herself from some type of danger.

"Naruko, what's wrong?" Iruka worriedly called out to Naruko.

"The aura you were emitting earlier was super scary! Straight up terrifying like that time we fought that Zabuza-guy!" Naruko cautiously got back into her seat now that Iruka was back to normal. There were only a few times Naruko saw Iruka like that, such as back when she was young and some of the villagers called her harsh things while running her out of their stores.

The time that the Mizuki bastard had tricked her into stealing the Forbidden Scroll and called her a monster. There was also the time when Naruko painted the walls of Iruka's apartment bright orange. Let's just say, when Iruka got home that evening, only to be blinded by the loud orange paint that covered her walls, the fury that she unleashed on Naruko would've reminded many of a certain 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero'.

"Is that so...? So tell me how your training has been going. You know tomorrow is the big match!" Iruka wanted to change the subject away from Kakashi, seeing how that man did nothing but anger her.

"Not going to lie, at first I did want Kakashi-sensei to train me, but his style of fighting suits Sasuke-teme better than me. So I was okay when he picked out my trainer for me, only the trainer he picked was that damn pervy Ebisu! I was so mad, but despite being a perv, he wasn't that bad! Too bad he was knocked unconscious by this old pervy guy, who became my second trainer and even taught me how to summon toads and-Ah! R-Ruka-nee! You're doing it again!" screamed Naruko.

"He left you in the hands of two perverts?! Where is he?! I'm going to kill him!" Iruka stood from her chair, kunai in hand with the pure intentions of hunting down Kakashi and using his body as a practice dummy. It took Naruko the rest of the night to calm down Iruka.

Today was the big day; the third and final exam was finally going to take place as people from all over the village came and watched. The stadium was jam-packed with spectators, and classes at the academy had been canceled, so Iruka was here to cheer on Naruko, sitting beside her former students, Sakura and Ino, who were later joined by Kiba and Hinata. All of them intently watched the first match between Naruko and Neji.

"This match ain't looking too good for Naruko. Tch, that idiot better not lose after defeating me!" scowled Kiba, earning a bark from Akamaru.

"Kiba, that was your own fault for underestimating her. Idiot!" teased Ino, only to have that smile wiped off her face when Sakura spoke up next.

"Pot calling the kettle black."

"N-Naru-chan will get back up. Because that is her nindō. I believe in her!" The three genin were honestly surprised to hear Hinata say a word without Naruko around. Yes, everyone knew they were friends, but Hinata was still shy around most people and barely spoke in public if Naruko wasn't beside her. So this was a huge change from the old Hinata they knew from back in the academy.

"I agree with Hinata. I believe in her. Though whether she wins or not, I will be proud of her either way, just as I feel towards each of you," said Iruka, touching the hearts of her old students. The girls bashfully blushed, while Kiba proudly looked the opposite way to hide his feelings.

"Destiny this! Destiny that! Is that all you ever talk about? " The more Neji talked, his words only infuriated Naruko. The guy was an even bigger jerk than Sasuke, something Naruko once thought no one could surpass. Listening to him as he mocked people who worked hard in order to achieve their dream made her want to knock that smug smirk right off his face. Naruko hated this type the most.

"Give up; there's no way you can win this match."

"Listen to me when I say, I'm not the type to give up. Not today. Not tomorrow. Nor even into the future. So say what you want to say, 'cause at the end of this, I'm going to be declared the victor!" declared Naruko; that sparked something in the eyes of those watching. The way she constantly got back up again, too stubborn to admit defeat, deeply aggravated Neji.

"I can never forgive anyone who harms Hinata or anyone else that I cherish!" exclaimed Naruko. Her words prompted Neji to divulge his own painful backstory concerning the Hyuuga clan. After listening to Neji's story, Naruko would admit that she felt sympathy for the guy, but...

"What you went through must've been painful. It totally sucks, but you shouldn't think that a person's destiny is already set in stone! You think that you're the only one who's suffered but so did Hinata. She may be the Hyuuga heiress, but no one acknowledges her, and in the end, she was abandoned instead. Yet despite all she went through, Hinata did not give up! She got back up and strived to change herself! To become someone strong! ...I'll never allow someone like you to disrespect such a strong and beautiful person! Especially when they're my best friend!"

Sitting in the stadium, listening to Naruko's speech, Hinata felt tears come to her eyes. All she ever wanted was to become strong just like Naruko. The same girl who she idolized and loved. Yet to hear those words come from out of the mouth of her beloved idol and most treasured friend, how could she not become overwhelmed? Hinata's own clan had abandoned her and saw her as nothing more than a disgrace, but not Naruko. Only Naruko believed and encouraged her, that she too could change and become someone strong.

'The eyes speak to me, Hina-chan, and your eyes tell me that one day you will blossom into a beautiful and super strong kunoichi! Just like me, dattabayo~!' Recalling those words caused more tears to stream down her face. Ignoring Ino, Sakura, and even Kiba who were busy fussing over her, Iruka just smiled and gave Hinata a soft hug.

By now Naruko felt as if all her chakra was gone; that powerful palm strike from Neji left her breathless. Those watching probably already assumed that Naruko was just wasting her time. But if there was one thing those closest to her and those who had been defeated by her hands know about Naruko, it is that she loved proving others wrong.

Which she did by summoning forth the chakra of Kyuubi that lied dormant inside of her. 'This is a match that I can not afford to lose!' Naruko was already a formidable taijutsu opponent and equipped with the Kyuubi chakra, added with the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, made her a tough opponent to take on.

Just as Neji thought he had won, his chakra near depletion, the four kunai resting near his feet transformed into Naruko's that kicked him high in the air. While his body was falling, the real Naruko came charging straight at him. "Uzumaki Naruko makes her own destiny!" Doing the one thing she'd been dying to do since Neji first sent Hinata to the hospital, Naruko punched Neji straight in his face.

The impact was so strong that it sent him flying back. Standing over her defeated opponent, Naruko bent down beside him and said, "You're a jerk, but hear me when I say that when I become Hokage, I'll definitely change the way of the Hyuuga clan and break that seal. So just hang in there for me, ne?" smiled Naruko, touching his forehead protector, stunning Neji with her bold promise.

"Do... you promise?" It was a stupid question, yet for some reason, Naruko's words sparked something inside of him. Something which he hadn't felt in a long time. Ironic coming from a person who believed no one could change their own destiny.

"Of course! Uzumaki Naruko never goes back on her word. Dattebayo!" Naruko smiled brightly at Neji, lying on the ground, the defeated genin couldn't help but compare Naruko to that of the sun beaming behind her head. Influential, full of energy, and so blinding that people couldn't help but be drawn towards her. This girl who he mocked and called a failure was still kind enough to hold out her hand to him and give him hope that he too could change his destiny.

End of Drabble Twenty-Five