Chapter 32: Chunin Exams (4): Fighting against Fate.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto. Naruto is the work of Masashi Kishimoto.

Pang—pang—pang!

Two… Four… Eight… Sixteen… Thirty-two… Sixty-four…

"Ha… Ha…"

By the time both Hyuga finished the sixth step of the eight trigrams, their bodies were already soaked in sweat. Their bodies felt numb, and their eyes felt sore, but neither of them stopped.

The Sixty-Four Palms and the One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms have two main differences. The first is the most obvious, which is the doubled number of strikes. But it is the second difference that is crucial.

When performing the One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, not only do you have to do twice the amount of strikes as the Sixty-Four Palms, but you also have to do it twice as fast!

"HA!"

"RAA!"

Although both of them had already launched hundreds of strikes, barely a minute has passed in reality.

"Seventh step, One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms!"

Both Hyuga yelled, their faces filled with indignant expressions. One hated the fact that he still hadn't won yet, and one hated the fact that she didn't train harder.

By the end of their technique, both of their eyes glowed in a brilliant silver light as the result of a bucket of chakra being poured into their eyes.

"Ha… cough—ha…! Cousin, you…"

On the balcony, "Wow, Hinata won!" A loud cheer echoed in everyone's ears, making them look at the girl in the arena, and the boy clutching his eyes with an ugly expression. Medic ninjas can be seen hurrying to the boy's side, while the proctor announced Hinata as the winner of the match.

Hiroko's face was shining like a star, his fingertips were trembling, and his heart was racing. 'She did it!' he thought.

Truth be told, Naruto hadn't expected this growth rate from Hinata.

The girl could barely be called a ninja when he last saw her, but now, she was capable of matching the "greatest genius" of the Hyuga clan.

With a chakra level nearing the jonin rank, and skills adequate for an average jonin, all Hinata needed was real experience, and this flower would receive the greatest fertilizer to exist!

'Can I take her away?'

Hiroko thought, his eyes glued to the blue-haired girl climbing up the stairs. His palm was itchy, and he was already holding a scroll under his shirt.

'Naruto. Wake up.'

Hiroko flinched, but everyone's eyes were on the winner. No one cared about the sweat-soaked Hiroko.

With a frown, Hiroko asked, even though he already knew the answer, 'Why?'

His hands have already released the scroll containing the Living Body Imprisonment Seal.

'Did you forget the plan? You're supposed to make chaos in Konoha, and then steal the sealing scrolls in the process.'

'Yeah, but…'

His frown deepened.

Both the fox and the host knew that it was an excuse. His real purpose was to observe Hinata. To see if she kept her promise, before going to the Hokage tower and secretly borrowing some scrolls.

Hiroko went silent, his mind turning and spinning, recalling his purpose and his goal. The more he thought, the darker his face got. His frown could touch the ground, and his brows were intertwined, his eyes narrowed to daggers.

'I've been muddled, my steps unsteady,' Hiroko apologized to his tailed friend, 'the world will not tolerate sleeping sloths. I've been waiting for long enough, it's time to act,' Hiroko paused and entered his mindscape.

'Kurama, do you remember the first time we met?'

The fox snorted when he heard his question. How could he forget?

'I'd never forget the face slapping I received back then,' Kurama growled, his eyes narrowed at his human friend. What was he up to?

'Back then,' he paused and watched Kurama look at him with questioning eyes, 'I forced you to submit with nothing but my willpower.'

'HA! That wouldn't have happened if the seal didn't restrain me!' Kurama roared, his teeth shimmering in a dangerous light, his claws digging deep into the earth, and his body arching to make himself look taller.

The seal had long been torn off, and the beast was free to rampage as he wants.

'You may be right, but the seal didn't restrain you completely,' Hiroko smiled, 'yet I still managed to make you kneel,' Kurama scoffed.

'This time, my friend. I won't use such methods.'

'This time, I want to ask you not as your jailor, but as your friend.'

'Kurama, will you help me achieve my dreams?'

Hiroko clenched his fist.

'Konoha is only the beginning. For betraying my clan and my father and mother. I'll make them suffer as the Uzumaki had suffered, and I'll make them taste the wrath of the thunder god and the red death.'

Hiroko gritted his teeth, his eyes shining in an inexplicable light.

'Naruto…'

In the real world, Akemi saw his expression. Hiroko looked like a demon. A demon of temptation and a demon of wrath. His delicate figure was trembling, blood dripped from his palms and lips, and his eyes were filled with enough malice to turn blood-red.

With such a beautiful face, I wondered, how can you show such an expression?

'No way. Only a smile should grace that face of yours.'

"Hiroko. Cheer up, why are you so angry? After the preliminaries are over, let's go to a ramen shop."

". . . fuuuuu…"

Hiroko flinched when I touched him, but his face brightened up in less than a second afterward. My heart shuddered, and my brows furrowed a little.

"Okay, Akemi-chan! After we go to the ramen shop, I'll treat you and Ken to dango and barbecue," Hiroko said, hitting his chest with his hands and giving out the brightest grin.

'Now's not the right time. Let's begin after the exams.'

It would've been perfect if not for the blood on his lips and palms.

"Sasuke Uchiha and Ken Sato, please come down to the arena!"

Hayate called out after the two Hyuga left the stage. When he saw two boys slowly stepping out of the stairs, he nodded and backed away slightly, letting the two boys get close to each other.

Tap.
Tap.

When the two stopped walking, Hayate looked at them and asked, "Are you ready?"

When both nodded, Hayate jumped away before yelling, "BEGIN!"

"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!"

Seeing the dozens of bullets hurling toward him, Sasuke scowled and dodged to his right.

"Water Style: Water Whip Jutsu!"

But before he could land, water tentacles suddenly appeared below him.

"Damn!"

Sasuke shove his hand into his kunai pouch and threw four kunai in a flash.

Because he couldn't use chakra, he used all his strength to throw the kunai, nearly turning them into thunderbolts.

When the kunai slammed into the water tentacles, they dispersed and Sasuke had the chance to land.

'Even if I can't use chakra, it's actually a blessing in disguise.'

Because chakra can supplement as energy, and his opponent was using chakra, it meant that Ken will tire out faster than him.

While he, who can't use his chakra at all, will be full of energy!

"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!"

Sasuke saw Benjiro shoot out dozens more water bullets, but this time, they were scattered.

If he dodges to the left, he would be hit. If he dodges to the right, he would be hit. If he ducks, he would be hit.

'I have no choice, but don't think that I'll be passive!'

Sasuke smirked and took out a storage scroll before hopping into the air like a kangaroo.

WOOSH—

As soon as he was out of the water bullet's trajectory, he threw a total of sixteen kunai in two breaths!

"Damn. What a terrifying shurikenjutsu. Water Style: Water Wall!"

BANG!
BANG!
BANG!

Ken gritted his teeth. He spammed ninjutsu to get an initial advantage, but it was useless in the end!

When all the kunai slammed into the water wall, it dispersed, letting Ken see another dozen kunai heading straight his way!

'How the hell does he have so many kunai?!'

Meanwhile, Sasuke was smirking.

'Thanks to Benjiro, I have more than a hundred kunai and shuriken. All hail rich people!'

Seeing Ken take a deep breath, his forehead covered in sweat, Sasuke took out eight shurikens and threw them at Ken.

'What?'

Seeing all of them miss, Ken raised his brow and started weaving hand seals. His eyes felt a little itchy, and Sasuke's figure seemed a little… obscure.

'I don't know what that's about, but it's time for taijutsu…'

Wooosh! Ting—ting—ting!

"Sasuke Uchiha wins!"

The proctor announced, but why did he do it behind me?

"Eh?"

I blinked, my eyelashes fluttering like a dumb butterfly.

What happened?

Meanwhile, Akemi buried her face in her hands, her ears a little red.

Ken didn't see it, but when the shurikens passed by him, they suddenly made a U-turn and shot toward his back.

Before they could hit Ken, the proctor jumped behind him and deflected all of them, while at the same time announcing the Uchiha's victory.

Rub… rub… rub…

Akemi sighed when she felt a hand rubbing her back. She turned, seeing Hiroko next to her with a wry smile.

"I can't believe… that Ken didn't see the ninja wires…"

"Well," Akemi shrugged, "Ken has a special talent," Akemi said, "His chakra naturally enhances his eyes, and as long as he has plenty of chakra, he can see like an eagle. But when he starts running out of chakra, his eyesight becomes worse and worse until he becomes blind…"

Hiroko's eyes widened a bit and he asked, "Permanently?"

"No, he'll regain his sight when he recovers his chakra," Akemi shook her head.

Oh, so that was it.

Ken didn't see the ninja wires because his eyes were terrible.

"Such a double-edged sword."

'I wonder if I can replicate it. Should I ask…?'

"Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka, please step into the arena!"

Hayate shouted, only to see two girls already making their way to the center of the arena.

'That… was fast,' Hayate raised his brow, but when he saw the two girls getting ready to fight, he jumped off the arena and began the match.

"Ino, I've changed," Sakura said before tying her forehead protector on her forehead, "I'll defeat you today and prove that I'm no longer the same as before!"

Ino snorted, "Hmph, forehead-Sakura, you wish! I'll defeat you today!"

Sakura didn't react and charged at Ino, her pink hair fluttering in the wind. Similarly, Ino charged at Sakura…

The battle between them could be described in two words. "Anti-climactic."

While Sakura had the advantage during the entire battle thanks to her medical ninjutsu and her overall good use of chakra, Ino managed to trick her by using hers and Sakura's scattered hair on the ground, trapping her in place and allowing Ino to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu.

Ino was like a cat that entered the tiger's den, and she wanted to leave the moment she entered, but the tiger suddenly blocked the exit.

Naturally, she had no choice but to fight… in the middle of her struggle, she suddenly forgot about everything and fought Sakura's subconscious like her life depended on it, knocking both of them on the spot.

As expected, the wheel of fate isn't so easy to change.

"Both contestants are eliminated!" Hayate shook his head and mentioned for the medics to move away the two kunoichis on the ground. "Akemi Yamada and Tenten, please come down to the arena!"

When Akemi was about to head down, she suddenly felt a hand touching her shoulder. She looked back and saw Hiroko's dumbfounded look as if he saw the sky turn red before turning back to blue.

"Nothing."

"Oh," Akemi smirked, "I'll be careful, then. See you later!"

". . ."

Ken gave them a sideway glance and chuckled.

He asked, "Why did you stop her?"

"I don't know," Hiroko shrugged, but the fox inside knew to think otherwise. Hiroko's heart was currently moving between shock and curiosity.

'That Tenten… there's so much sealing chakra around her!'

In other words, she was a fuinjutsu expert.

'I wonder what her level is,' Hiroko wondered before shaking his head, 'Well, she's not an Uzumaki. I don't think her level will surpass two or three.'

Skill in fuinjutsu increased with age, and Tenten was still young. Hiroko refused to believe that her skill rivals his. After all, he could barely be called a level four sealing expert with his current skills.

"Begin!"

When Hiroko woke up from his inner thoughts, the match had already started.

"DO YOUR BEST, A–KE–MI–!"

"Ha, what a cheeky guy," Akemi laughed.

"Do you like him?" Tenten smiled and entered a battle stance.

"A little. I mean, he's cute. Don't you agree?" Akemi whispered, but her eyes glanced over Hiroko's figure. When she saw Hiroko having a dumbfounded look, she smirked.

"Just kidding. I like him like a younger brother. You understand, right?"

She winked at Tenten.

"Oh, is that how it is?" Tenten raised her brow and glanced at the confused Hiroko.

Girls, I tell you, Hiroko thought.

"Well," Akemi gazed at Tenten's hand, which was tucked under her shirt, "let's start?"

"Sure," Tenten smirked and threw a scroll high in the air.

"Unseal!"

POOF—WOOOOSH—!

She yelled, and immediately, a giant shuriken appeared in her hands, which she threw at Akemi with uncanny strength. Akemi jumped with eyes wider than plates.

"Wow! You have noodle arms, but how can you be so strong?"

"Heh, just some tricks," Tenten smirked and threw out another scroll.

"Unseal!"

WOOSH—WOOSH—WOOSH—!

Before Akemi could land, a rain of senbon, shuriken, and kunai fell on her, forcing her to weave hand seals in a panic.

"How?! Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu!"

How do you have so many weapons?!

Was what Akemi wanted to ask, but defending came first. Talking was useless if you were dead.

SHHHHH—!

When the water wall rose in front of her, she was already hit by at least a dozen kunai, senbon, or shuriken.

Looking at her body, she grimaced.

It seems that this battle is not going to be easy.

"Water Style…"

"Oh no, you don't! UNSEAL!"

WOOOOSH—!

Seeing Akemi weave another set of hand seals, Tenten took out another scroll. This time, the scroll released a massive gust of wind, forcing Akemi to stop her jutsu.

"Tsk," Akemi took out two kunai, one in each hand, and threw them at her enemy.

"Hehe," Tenten chuckled and took out two senbons, throwing them at the kunai and changing their direction. The kunai tilted just enough so they wouldn't graze her skin.

"YOU?!"

Akemi's mouth hung open, but only for a second. She already finished weaving a set of hand seals. The kunai was just a distraction.

"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!"

Ken was physically better than Akemi, but Akemi was better at ninjutsu than Ken. It's all thanks to her affinity to water being higher than Ken's.

Seeing at least a hundred water senbons coming at her, Tenten's eyes widened, and she quickly opened a scroll.

"UNSEAL!"

POOF! TING—TING—TING—CRACK—CRACK!

"This…" Tenten shook her head and took out another scroll, unsealing it and creating another iron wall in front of her. The result was a little better than the first iron wall. At least, the second iron wall didn't become a honeycomb, like the first.

"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!"

This time, Akemi didn't make countless water senbons.

SHOOOOOO—!

This time, she spat out a violent torrent of water, making its way toward Tenten like a mad snake.

"Damn," Tenten smirked before opening another scroll.

"Unseal!"

She whispered, and immediately, a large amount of mud gushed out of the scroll before landing on the ground.

Tenten took another scroll and threw it into the mud, "Fuinjutsu: Earth Wall!"

On the balcony, Hiroko was smiling like a clown.

'Finally, she used a "proper" fuinjutsu!'

When he saw Tenten unsealing large amounts of weapons or defensive walls, he got annoyed.

Not because he disdained Tenten, but because he had never thought he could use fuinjutsu that way. When he saw Tenten use a "proper" fuinjutsu, he oddly felt relieved.

End Banner has something to say: I hope you had fun reading the chapter! Also, there were some parts here that are inconsistent with the story because of the rewritten chapters. I hope you don't mind that too much. I'm working on editing other chapters so everything becomes connected in the future, until then, please be patient with me.

If you want to read more chapters in advance (up to chapter 42) and influence the story, you can check out my Pátreón!

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