Jump back whip around and spin! So let's Ninjago!

Neji Hyuga, pride of branch family of the Hyuga clan, the coughed up blood as Naruto's fist slammed into his chest once again as the crowd cheered on from above, around them. This was supposed to be his moment, a moment to show Naruto that fate was never going to help him raise his rank. That he Neji was fated to win this!

Yet how could be be struggling against the class loser who only had six months of training under the most lazy ninja Kakashi?!

Leaning back to avoid a cheap shot at his chin with Naruto's elbow, Neji attempted to strike back with the clan's taijutsu's, only for Naruto to one more spin around to avoid him. It was humiliating that Naruto was-

Lights flashed across Neji's face as Naruto suddenly had his staff he used to hit him. Collapsing to the ground via a fast substitution jutsu the older boy watched as Naruto flew to the ground to avoid the paper tags going off. Lucky for Naruto the blast only scorched his new cloths on the ends, but the metal plate on his shoulder was jarred and was damaged from protecting his shoulder.

'I need to remember to thank Wu for all his training.' Naruto thought as he staggered to his feet keeping a look out for Neji. Was it only minutes ago he was walking to the arena?

-Flash back no Jutsu!-

Naruto tugged on his sleeves as he walked towards the arena, adjusting the gift Wu had gotten him. He personally thought his memorable orange jumpsuit was far cooler than this Dogi, but it was getting worn out and old. Posing to look over his reflection, Naruto smirked as he pulled up the mask to mimic Kakashi-sensei. The sunset dark orange that turned darker depending on how the light hit it was cool. Add in the bamboo staff and grass weave hat Naruto looked nothing like what he was during the start of the exam.

The new chainmail and armor was also welcome as Naruto felt it shifted on his frame. While the chainmail was nothing new to Naruto, the armor shoulder pads only took a few minutes to adjust to. Naruto wasn't sure why he needed the armor, ninja weren't samurai from the land of Iron, but the red spiral etched into the metal did look sweet on him. On the plus side, having a better defense for the fight ahead of him to become chunin might be-

"Watch it brat!" Naruto jumped to avoid a merchant who was giving him the stink eyes. "Dam it brat! Your warding off my costumers!"

"Sorry." Naruto shouted as he hopped to the top of the building to continue on his way. He ignored the screams of the man when he accidently dropped Wu's roosting chicken on the roof on him. Chickens were amazing and the chicken that Wu had left for him was turning out to be the best ninja pet he could ask for. But evil, the lighting chicken was an evil training tool. Listening to the screams of the merchant as his wares were being electrified was the best payback he could do. That would teach that man to sell chicken noodle soup when Naruto the chicken master was there to save the day.

... Yeah he need to workshop a cooler name than chicken master.

Holding onto his hat, Naruto leapt from roof to roof as he thought over the plans Wu had made him consider when facing known opponents. Both he and Wu had agreed that everyone didn't so al their skills in the fight after the second exam and Wu had stated it was more likely each had been training for this fight, it better to use what knowledge they had than to let it go to waste. Sheer luck wasn't going to cut it in the exams, although it played a role so far in Naruto's case. But then again the skills he had learned were only the basic elemental transformations, a mockery of healing jutsu that was more of a killer and a helper Wu declared after murdered the fish. Spinjitzu and staff/spear weapon practice plus chakra control.

"Shame that Wu couldn't fix this." Naruto muttered as he flared his chakra to bring the seal into visibility. It glowed an angry red as it and the seal on top of it flared, a gifted from the snake that bite Sasuke-baka. Ochimiri or whatever seal had made his chakra control go kaput but Wu was able to show that his was a gift. Aft all, by learning how to mold his chakra in a reduced state Naruto could then learn how to do it when the seal was broken and he was back to full use of his power. "What do you think chicken-san?"

"Bawk?"

"Yeah, I need to focus on my fight with Neji." Naruto clenched his fist as he thought about what the older genin had did to his cousin. Hinata was out of the hospital he had last heard, but he wanted to avenge her. Her cousin was a jerk and Naruto was going to at least attempt to break his teeth if if he could do so. "So, want to help me defeat Neji?"

The chicken stared at Naruto like he was crazy before squawking and racing into the seating area of the arena. Clearly it wanted to watch him defeat his rival.

"Naruto!" Naruto glanced to his right to see Ino waving and Choji walking up with their teammate being dragged between them. Ino let go her her teammate to walk closer to him. "Hey Naruto, seen Sasuke-kun?"

"Nope, haven't seen him yet Ino." Naruto forced his smile into a large grin to hide his irritation of being asked about Sasuke. Ino and Sakura always seem to think about the duck haired bastred over anything else it seemed. But Naruto had to admit Ino at least had skills. Wu was stern and unwilling to let Naruto keep his crush on Sakura as it was not healthy. Then asshole had the idea to teach Naruto to pay attention by making Sakura decoys that were in reality his blasted chicken or himself.

"Oh ok, I'll see him later I'm sure." Ino battered her eyes and tapped her lips with a grin. "So Naruto, what were you up to this last month? Learn anything new?"

"Lots! Wu Sensei taught me a lot over the past month." Ino and the rest of team ten blinked. None of them knew of anyone called Wu.

"Mendokusē." Shikamaru sighed as he realized that Naruto might have learned something bothersome. 'Or got some serous training. Now I have to rethink any plans concerning him. Mendokusē.' "So what your wearing is because of this Wu sensei?"

"Yep. I wish it was a coupon for Ichiraku Ramen but I think Wu wanted me to look my best!"

'We can tell.' Team ten thought as they looked Naruto over. It was clear that it worked for Naruto. Before one of them could comment Choji noticed the time and grasped Shikamaru who was attempting to sneak away on the shoulder.

"We better get to our seats Ino. Good luck to you Naruto. You'll need it." With a nod of his head Naruto watched as the trio entered first with a muttering Shikamaru being shoved ahead of his friend. They were a good team, far better than team seven with trust and all members working together. But their squad was based off their father's success as a team, not a new combo. Naruto wasn't a fool or an idiot, growing up in a village were your next meal could be hidden or taken by an adult to be cruel, one learns to listen and pay attention.

Ino–Shika–Chō team did well together and Shikamaru's match showed that the shadow clan user had skill to fight alone-

Oh wait, this is Naruto we're talking about.

"Shikamaru! I'm going to kick your ass and take the title of Chunin from you!" Naruto yelled as he raced after the trio making his Konoha rival smile and shake his head. Unknown to Naruto others were watching and listening to his declaration.

"Idiot. Fate has declared I will win." Neji grunted as he watched from inside the arena before deactivating this bloodline. He did not bother to look at the section where the members of the main and branch family were gathering to watch his fight. The clan head was here too, along with the failure Hinata who was seated in another section with her squad leader.

'Today,' Neji thought to himself. 'I will break her crush and her spirt in one fight.'

Skyler smiled as she followed Naruto inside the arena before turning to go to a more private seating. Naruto reminded her a lot like Kai and Jay, the elemental masters of fire and lighting. Kai's impulsive personality and immense drive plus Jay's energy and light-heatedness to avoid facing his fear and anxiety was a good way think to think of Naruto Skyler was sure. Yet there were differences between them and him. Jay told bad jokes that were more of an annoyance than good comedy, yet the blue ninja was always there to help his team. Kai had a temper that matched his fire element, yet he was often over confident and didn't think about his actions but Skyler knew that her boyfriend was the one the ninja turned to to lead them in a pickle.

"I bet thirty thousand yen on Naruto defeating Neji." Skyler almost laughed at the man who was behind the betting stand who tried to convince her that she was wasting her money on Naruto. She didn't care about some Sasuke kid, only Naruto. Also, Skyler mused, the money she would win with this bet would cover her expanses for the next year. And the debt for repairing her shops from the last few battles in Ninjago city and outskirts.

The woes of being a business woman where your best friends destroy property value at least once a year.

With a glance at the center of the area Skyler ran to her seat. It seemed in her thoughts she had missed the opening speech from the third Hokage and now Naruto was going hand to hand with Neji!

-End Jutsu-

Biting his lip Naruto hissed as he fingered his kunai holder. So far the opening fight had been a draw with Neji letting him strike him to show that Naruto was too weak to win. If it wasn't for Wu training in spinning to redirected the energy of blows to the side instead of tanking them Naruto was sure that the gentle style would have sealed more than a few of this chakra points. But as it were, Naruto was not a master of Spinjitzu even after weeks of hard work. Sure he could use Spinjitzu to fight, but then would he be able to use it again in a later fight when an ace would be more important?

Holding his staff in front of him like a sword Naruto took a deep breath. Settling into a ready stance he waited. Charging ahead to fight Neji was more his style, but without his signature jutsu do to the seal all that would do was waste time and give Neji a chance to defeat him in close combat. The roars of the crowd and the cheers of the start of the fight were still ringing off the-

"HA!"

Naruto jerked to the side as Neji suddenly slammed his palm to strike his staff to the side before he jabbed several chakra points with his gentle fist. Off balance, Naruto swiped his staff to drive Neji off to get some breathing room, but the older boy ducked under to hit Naruto's kneecap.

'Crap!' Naruto thought as he felt his chakra sealed off in his leg. Hopping back Naruto was able to deflect a blow to his chest as Neji kept up the pressure on him, not letting Naruto use the staff to keep him at a distance.

"Did you really think that I haven't had training to counter a weapons user?" Neji scoffed as he battered away at Naruto's defense. "My teammate is a weapon's user, I have had training to counter many weapons under Guy's advice and Tenten's own training to use them. You clearly did not think. You many have gotten a few hits at the start, but in the end fate will let me be the winner as it should be!"

"Ah, shut up about fate this and fate that!" Naruto shouted as he let go of his staff after a nasty strike by Neji's fist. It was a mistake as Naruto's eyes widen with shock as Neji took a step back and went into a stance.

"Go on Naruto, pick it up. It doesn't matter if you use it or not, this match was always going to be your last." He said calmly with a flat face that pissed Naruto far more than if he showed an emotion. With anger burring his mind, Naruto launched several Shuriken at Neji who took out a Kunai to deflect each one away in a show of skill.

"It seems that he lives of to being called a prodigy lord Hokage." The fourth Kazekage said slowly behind his mask as Neji struck at Naruto's emotions while showing off his skills. "But I am not sure of this fate talk, nor what I heard happen during the fight between him and his cousin."

"And what of Naruto? So far he has shown an interesting tactic to attempt to counter the Hyuga gentle fist and has been able to avoid many of the strikes." The third Hokage said with a smile as he took a sip of tea.

"He is lacking in control over his emotions. While it could be excused for his age, it is a weakness that could lead to problems later on in his ninja career." Tapping his seat the Kazekage stared at Naruto. Joining him, Hiruzen winced as Naruto was forced once more to retreat as Neji slammed his palms into his chest in rapid order. "Does he know he has no chance of become a chunin if he continues this display? If he surrenders he would show that he knows his current limits and is wise enough to act on it."

"Naruto is not one to give up to a challange."

The kage of Suna snorted. "A ninja must know his or her strengths and weaknesses when engaged to an enemy. On a mission with a team or by yourself you face risks of facing defeat and death, knowing when to retreat to save your squad when outmatched is something a chunin must know. Other times they will have to sacrifice their lives, but this fight isn't one of them. Unless he does something soon, I would suggest that he should not make chunin until he grows some more."

Hiruzen nodded and went back to his tea. 'As if you would care my old student.'

"Cluck Cluck?"

"Is... that a chicken?" The kazekage (Orochimaru) asked as the bird walked across the balcony of the Kage viewing area. The bird looked at him before hopping down on onto his lap. Just why was there a chicken roaming the arena? Annoyed Orochiimaru almost pushed the fowl off but as he moved to do so the bird glowed blue and zapped a fly before eating it. 'A summoned chicken...?'

An explosion made him return to watching the fight. Under his mask he felt his lips purse into a dark smile. The seal that took away Naruto's ability to summon the chakra of the nine tails was still strong, without that power he was sure that Konoha's greatest weapon was out of the coming invasion. His old sensei, his spies reported he had no idea and while Jiraiya was in town, his former teammate was never around to interact with the boy. Mentally crackling, the snake wished he had something sweet to eat as he watched the two genin fight below.

It didn't matter who became chunin now, only the destruction of Konoha.

'Come on think Naruto.' Ducking under Neji's arm, Naruto made some distance between them using explosive tags once more. He was running out of options and his supply of tags was growing thin. Then there was his chakra. Neji might not have gotten his pathways to prevent him from using chakra, but each time he connected Naruto could feel himself weakening. Panting, Naruto could fell the eyes of everyone on him as he considered his options. Surrendering was a logical one, but that was a bitter choice that Naruto could not convince himself to take. He made a vow he wouldn't give up and he wasn't going to back down here.

His other option was risk a jutsu to force Neji on the back foot for a few minutes. It was a risk as if it didn't work Naruto would be low on chakra and with the seal getting it back up before the next time he fought would be hard. Not to mention a failure would mean he would have to show his ace...

"You should pay more attention in a fight loser." Neji hissed as his palms slammed into Naruto's back hard. "You think you have a plan, but fate has shown that I am the better ninja. Give up this pointless fight to prove yourself. You should be proud you made it this far. How many first year genin can claim they made it this far in the exam? Genin years older than you have failed with far more experience. No one will judge you if try again, your fate was sealed before you even entered the exam."

"... Shut up. I will not give up to an asshole like you who hurt Hinata just because she was in your way."

Neji shook his head as his eyes stared at Naruto with his bloodline active. "I don't need these eyes to tell your chakra is low. Only a few more hits and you won't be able to use a jutsu. You can't win."

"Yeah well take this!" Naruto shouted as his hands blurred into the seals he needed. Focusing as much of his chakra, Naruto finished his seals. "Fūton: Reppūshō!"

"Foolish."

Skyler spat out her drink as below Neji did something she did not expect. 'He knows spinjitzu!? Naruto, you really need to stop holding back, like now!'

What do you think? Leave a review and get ready for the real fight to begin next episode