Naruto stood before the training ground where he became a shinobi by passing Kakashi test. He couldn't help but think back to the day he became a genin with the rest of team 7.
The test that did with Sasuke and Sakura will forever burn in his mind, a lesson that he'll never forget and one that will remain in his heart.
'Those who abandon their mission are trash but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash'.
"Naruto kun?" Hinata voice broke him out of his thoughts.
He looked back, a familiar voice echoing out to him. He saw the one person that he had an honest time to enjoy with, it was Hinata.
"Oh, hey Hinata. What are you doing here?" Naruto asked out of the blue as he grinned at the girl with an honest smile.
"I would like to ask you that, myself. Shouldn't you be at the stadium by now?" She asked, rather worried that he might not make his match. The blonde gave a small chuckle as he scratched the back of his head.
"I just thought that I take a detour and see these training grounds before I head to the arena. This is the place where I became a genin, a true shinobi of Konoha." He answered with a smile as he looked around. Hinata then answered him, "Kiba asked me to wait here so that we could go see the matches at the same time, we're cheering for Shino and I was hoping to cheer you on."
Hinata answered that last statement with a blush. Naruto's smile grew wider, "Thanks Hinata, you don't know how much that means to me. Though I don't understand why you always have my back."
'Because I like you…' "Because you were there for me to cheer me on when I fought against Neji nii san and I knew that you could win. When you cheered for me, I felt like I was able to become stronger than ever before. When the preliminary ended I finally I was able to like myself more than before."
Now it was Naruto's time to be taken aback by Hinata's statements. He never met someone who has had such faith in him before.
"Do you think that's true. I may look strong to you but all I ever do is mess things up. I act tough because I'm frustrated. Underneath it all I'm just a huge failure."
" BUT YOU'RE NOT A FAILURE!" Hinata refuted, she refused to let Naruto have this moment of self-doubt right before his match.
"Because I've seen you fall, I've seen you try so hard to get up and try again. To have that will to take a step forward even though other people try to put you down! I don't believe in you're a failure, Naruto kun! You try so hard to push yourself and prove to everyone that you're something! And you got somewhere because you continue to try! If you were to be called a failure, then I would gladly take it with you as well! Because even through all that, you still walk proud! You stand tall even after every setback!"
"You know, Hinata? You're an awesome friend. If it weren't for you, I'd be feeling awful just before I fought your cousin. You're one of a kind, you know that. I like you a lot, Hinata." Naruto turned his back to her as he began to walk away.
Unbeknownst to him, Hinata had a massive blush on her face, one thought was going through her mind 'I like you a lot, Hinata'. She couldn't help but stare at his back with a longing expression.
xxx
"Hey forehead, where's Naruto? Don't tell me he chickened out" Ino said not seeing Naruto in the line of fighters in the arena.
"Watch your mouth Ino pig, he's not the type to get cold feet. I wouldn't underestimate him, he's strong." Sakura shouted out confidently to Ino, defending her comrade.
On the inside she was a mess, she couldn't help but worry for Naruto. As much he annoys her with his antics, she was still her friend and her teammate.
Not being in the tournament meant Sakura didn't have much to do this month. She hadn't seen her team at all since there were no missions, as Kakashi sensei was dedicating his time to training Sasuke, and Naruto was training somewhere. Sakura wasn't really sure about the details of either of their training. However, she admitted she was more worried about Naruto than Sasuke. After all, Sasuke was receiving training from Kakashi and Sasuke was already an exceptional shinobi anyway. As much as she didn't like to admit it, she was concerned about Naruto. She hoped he was getting a good amount of training somewhere in the village.
"Wait is that Naruto? He looks so different." Ino voice broke her out of her thoughts.
She looked to the arena and saw Naruto in a different outfit, and she couldn't help but think he looked quite good.
It looks like Naruto is growing up quite well.
"Where's Sasuke at, you don't think he's late as well" Ino voicing her worry.
Sakura shook her head, muttered "I don't know," and returned her gaze to the arena. She couldn't shake the nagging desire to throttle Kakashi sensei when she saw him. If his laziness somehow got Sasuke disqualified, she wouldn't forgive him.
xxx
Down below, the proctor of the exam, Shiranui Genma, addressed the competitors. "Before we begin, let me explain the rules. This is a no-holds-barred, one-on-one match. Anything is allowed. You win by knocking out your opponent or making them forfeit. Obviously, killing is not allowed as much as possible." Genma glanced at the two competitors, noting that neither seemed particularly interested in his words. Both were intensely focused on the upcoming match. The jounin shrugged it off, knowing that the genin were already aware of the rules. This was just a formality.
The tension in the arena was palpable as Naruto and Neji stood across from each other, locked in a silent stare. Finally, Neji broke the silence. "That's a nicer outfit than the clown costume you wore last month, Uzumaki. Shame you wasted your money; it'll only end up ripped and tattered."
Naruto snorted. "As if you're going to touch me, guy."
Neji's eyes narrowed. "I assure you, it won't be hard. I know what a loser you really are. A slacker who barely graduated, who won his last fight with a fart. How you've made it this far is pure luck—nothing more. For people like you, Hinata, or anyone who hasn't been born into greatness, there's only one place: second. It is your fate to be so."
For a brief moment, Naruto felt a surge of rage course through his body. How dare this self-absorbed, senseless prick spew that "fate" nonsense and insult his cousin? He was used to people talking trash about him, but not about Hinata. She didn't deserve that at all, nor the beating Neji gave her last month. For a moment, Naruto was ready to shout back in anger, to let his rage take over.
But then, Naruto remembered what Hinata had told him about Neji's past. The tragedies and burdens Neji carried were heavy, shaped by a twisted fate and family history. Naruto felt a pang of empathy, understanding the pain of being treated as an outcast or burdened by expectations. But that didn't excuse Neji's cruelty, especially towards Hinata. He couldn't let Neji's arrogance and harshness slide, especially after what he'd done to her.
Naruto took a deep breath, calming the initial surge of anger. His expression softened for a moment, showing a flicker of understanding, but it quickly hardened with resolve. "I get it, Neji," he said, his voice steady but carrying an edge. "You've had it rough, and you've got a lot of crap bottled up inside. But that doesn't give you the right to treat people like they're beneath you. Especially Hinata."
He clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes. "You think you know everything about fate, but I'm here to show you that nothing's set in stone. I'm gonna give you the ass-kicking you deserve, not just for me, but for Hinata too. And when we're done, maybe you'll finally see that fate isn't as unchangeable as you think."
"The first match between Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji, BEGIN!"
Naruto hurled a flurry of shurikens at Neji, but the Hyūga prodigy easily deflected them with a swift, calculated movement. Undeterred, Naruto quickly formed a hand sign and summoned his Shadow Clones, a familiar smirk spreading across his face as he said, "You know what to do."
As the clones rushed in, Naruto's mind drifted back to his training with Rakuro.
xxx
Flashback:
"So, who's your first opponent?" Rakuro asked, his tone casual as they sparred.
"It's this guy called Neji Hyuga. Real douche in my opinion," Naruto replied, grinding his teeth at the memory of what Neji had done to Hinata.
Rakuro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, a Hyuga, huh? I haven't seen one in a long time."
Naruto looked surprised. "You know about the Hyugas?"
Rakuro chuckled. "I've crossed paths with them, back during the Warring Era. The Lion Clan and our summoners clan used to clash with them on the battlefield."
"Summoners? Who was the clan that summoned you guys?" Naruto asked, his curiosity piqued.
Rakuro waved the question off. "That's a story for after the Chunin Exams. Right now, we need to focus."
Naruto nodded, his expression serious.
Rakuro fixed Naruto with an intense stare. "I can give you all the information you need about the Hyūga clan, but knowing about them is one thing. Are you ready to use that knowledge to defeat him?"
Naruto grinned confidently, his determination clear. "You bet I am."
Flashback Ended
xxx
Back in the arena, Naruto's clones charged at Neji from all sides, each one moving with a clear purpose. The real Naruto remained focused, channeling everything he'd learned into this moment. "Let's see how you handle this, Neji," he thought, his eyes locked on his opponent.
Naruto knew better than to get too close. 'Neji's Gentle Fist paired with the Byakugan could disable my chakra points' he thought, assessing his opponent.
'I could re-open them with the fox's chakra, but I don't want to rely on that if I can avoid it.'
His clones moved toward Neji with a speed that was noticeably faster than what he'd shown during the preliminary round. The first clone lunged at Neji, aiming a punch, but Neji effortlessly deflected it, following up with a swift strike with his left hand.
However, the blow met only air as another clone intercepted Neji's attack, narrowly missing him with a spinning kick aimed at his left arm. Neji spun around, quickly shifting his focus to the clone that had attempted the kick. He struck out with his right hand, but just as before, a clone appeared from below, sweeping the ground with a low kick that forced Neji to retreat, jumping back twice to create distance.
xxx
Up in the stands, Sakura watched the fight unfold with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Naruto... he's changed so much," she muttered, her eyes never leaving the battle. "Before, he'd just charge in without thinking, headfirst into every fight. But now… now he's so different. He's being so careful, so strategic."
Asuma, sitting nearby, nodded in agreement. "He's definitely thinking a few steps ahead. He's forcing Neji into making predictable moves, setting him up for counters. Naruto's not just reacting—he's planning."
Kurenai, who was also observing the fight intently, added her own analysis. "His taijutsu has improved significantly. Before, it was rough, barely enough to get by. But now, it's much more refined, more precise. Whatever Kakashi did during his training, it's paid off in spades."
Sakura's eyes narrowed slightly as she focused on Naruto's movements. "It's like he's completely different from the Naruto I knew."
Asuma smiled slightly, impressed by the young genin's growth. "Naruto's always had potential, but now he's finally tapping into it. He's not just relying on brute strength or his usual tactics—he's thinking like a real shinobi."
'I see why the old man had such high hopes for him even saying Naruto will surpass him. At first I thought it would be due to him tapping into the fox power but it's not'
Kurenai nodded in agreement. "He's adapting to Neji's strengths, not just trying to overpower him. It's a sign of true growth. It's clear Kakashi has done an excellent job training him."
Sakura's concern slowly turned into a feeling of pride. Naruto had always been underestimated, always considered the underdog. But now, he was showing everyone just how much he had grown, how far he had come. Keep it up, Naruto, she thought, clenching her fists in silent support. Show them who you really are.
xxx
The clones maintained a chaotic formation around Neji, moving unpredictably. Naruto stood at the center of it all, observing calmly as if he, too, were a spectator to the unfolding battle.
As the chaotic dance of clones continued, Naruto maintained his calm stance at the center, eyes fixed on Neji. The clones circled and attacked with increasing intensity, each strike more calculated than the last. Neji expertly deflected and dodged each one, but Naruto could see the frustration beginning to build in his opponent.
*He's good,* Naruto thought, *but let's see how long he can keep this up.*
The clones pressed on, their movements growing more synchronized. One clone launched itself at Neji from the front, while two others attacked from the sides simultaneously. Neji deflected the frontal assault with a quick palm strike and pivoted to dodge the side attacks, but Naruto was ready.
Two more clones emerged from behind, striking in unison. Neji blocked one and spun to counter the other, but the relentless pressure from Naruto's clones forced him to act.
"Enough!" Neji growled, his voice filled with irritation. He activated his Byakugan fully, veins bulging around his eyes. With a swift motion, he unleashed his signature defense.
"Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!" Neji called out, spinning rapidly as a sphere of chakra burst from his body. The powerful rotation technique created a defensive barrier, blowing away all the attacking clones in a violent gust.
Naruto watched as the clones were sent flying, dissipating into puffs of smoke. But rather than being disheartened, a small smirk formed on his lips.
*Just like I thought,* he mused. *Now, he's used it.*
As the dust settled, Neji stood at the center, breathing heavily, his eyes still intense. The force of the rotation had cleared the battlefield, leaving him and Naruto alone once again. Naruto's clones were gone, but the original remained, unharmed and unfazed.
"You forced me to use that technique," Neji said, his tone a mixture of irritation and grudging respect.
"That was the plan," Naruto replied, his smirk widening. "Now I know you're not as invincible as you think."
Neji's eyes narrowed at the comment, but before he could respond, Naruto was already forming hand seals.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!" Naruto shouted, sending a powerful gust of wind directly at Neji.
Still recovering from his previous technique, Neji had no time to dodge. He raised his arms in a defensive stance, but the wind pressure was strong enough to push him back, his feet sliding across the arena floor.
*He's not giving me any time to recover,* Neji realized, gritting his teeth as he fought against the force of the wind.
Naruto didn't let up. As Neji struggled to regain his footing, Naruto charged forward, closing the distance between them in a flash. *I won't let him catch his breath,* Naruto thought as he reached Neji.
With a quick, precise movement, Naruto unleashed a powerful strike aimed directly at Neji's chest. Neji managed to deflect it at the last second, but the force of the blow sent him skidding backward.
"You're not going to win this, Neji," Naruto said, his voice steady and confident. "Not against me."
Neji glared at him, his frustration mounting. This wasn't the fight he had anticipated, and he was beginning to realize that Naruto wasn't the same "loser" he had once thought him to be.
"Know your place, fool. You haven't even begun to understand the power of the Hyuuga." Neji said, trying to steady his breath.
"You are a talentless loser, you serve as nothing more than a stepping stone for others. You are weak, insignificant, nothing in the eyes for those who have a greater destiny." Neji then performed a single handseal, and the Byakugan flared once more. The veins bulged even further as Neji looked down on the ground and prepared to attack.
"No matter what you do, no matter how you struggle, in the end, you are nothing."
xxx
"Impossible… how, Father? I thought that was only for the main clan," Hanabi whispered in shock as she watched Neji execute the Kaiten.
"Neji is a genius," Hiashi stated calmly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "He likely recreated the technique from mere theory. But for him to be pushed this far… it seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree—or should I say, the tomato?" He couldn't help but think of a certain fierce red-haired kunoichi, now long gone but never forgotten.
Asuma leaned forward, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Whoa, is Naruto using wind chakra? What kind of training did Kakashi put him through?"
Kurenai shook her head, equally astonished. "How did he manage to master chakra nature transformation in just a month? It usually takes much longer to apply nature transformation at that level."
Ino, who had been watching in awe, suddenly turned to Sakura. "Oi, Forehead! What happened to Naruto? He's gotten so much stronger."
But Sakura ignored Ino's comment, her focus entirely on the fight below. The disbelief in her eyes was clear as she watched Naruto battle with a level of skill and strategy she had never seen from him before.
'Is this really Naruto?' she thought, her mind racing. 'He's improved so much over this month… Can I really catch up to him?'
The shock and awe around her mirrored her own feelings. Naruto wasn't just the loudmouth knucklehead anymore—he was something much more, someone she hadn't fully understood until now. The gap between them had grown, and Sakura couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever be able to close it.
"I wouldn't underestimate Naruto, Ino. That's what I did, and he beat me," Kiba interjected, snapping Sakura out of her thoughts.
'Naruto… you're so incredible,' Hinata thought as she watched the battle unfold with a mixture of admiration and hope. 'I believe in you. I hope you can change Neji for the better.'
Xxx
Naruto stood firm, unshaken by Neji's harsh words. His resolve only hardened as he looked directly into Neji's eyes with an unwavering determination.
"I understand what you're going through, Neji," Naruto began, his voice steady but carrying a weight of empathy. "The pain, the burden of that mark on you." He paused, his hand clutching his stomach where the seal of the Nine-Tails lay, hidden beneath his clothes. "I understand it better than most."
Neji's eyes narrowed in anger, his fists clenching tightly. "You think you understand me?!" he shouted, his voice laced with bitterness. "As if you could ever comprehend the weight of this cursed destiny!"
Naruto shook his head. "Maybe I don't know everything about your life, but I know what it's like to be marked, to be treated like you're less than human because of something you had no control over." He thought of the years of isolation, the glares, the whispers behind his back. "But how could you hurt Hinata? She's someone who wants to change the clan, to break free from the things that keep you both trapped."
Neji's anger flared even more at the mention of Hinata. "She's weak! Just like you! Neither of you can escape your fate. It's predetermined!"
Naruto's eyes hardened. "I'm going to change that. I'm going to become Hokage, and I'll change the clan for the better! I'll change everything!"
Neji was visibly shocked by Naruto's declaration. The conviction in Naruto's voice was undeniable, and for the first time, doubt flickered in Neji's mind. "Hokage? You think you can become Hokage? That's something only those destined for greatness can achieve."
"Fate doesn't decide who becomes Hokage," Naruto replied, his voice filled with determination. "Hard work does. And I'm going to prove it to you right now!"
Neji's eyes narrowed again, but this time there was less anger and more focus. "Very well, then. I'll show you the power of fate!"
With that, Neji launched himself at Naruto, his hands moving in a blur as he prepared to unleash his most devastating technique.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Neji's hands struck out with lightning speed, each hit aimed at Naruto's tenketsu, the chakra points within his body. Naruto tried to dodge, but Neji's strikes were too fast, too precise. The first few strikes landed, and Naruto felt his chakra pathways being sealed off, one by one.
"Two palms!" Neji called out as his hands struck Naruto's chest.
"Four palms!" Neji continued, his strikes unrelenting.
"Eight palms!"
"Twelve palms!"
"Sixteen palms!"
Naruto gritted his teeth as the blows continued to rain down on him. Each strike sent a jolt of pain through his body, and he could feel his chakra being blocked with every hit. But despite the pain, he refused to back down.
"Thirty-two palms!" Neji's voice rang out as his strikes grew even faster.
"Sixty-four palms!" Neji finished, delivering the final blow with such force that it sent Naruto flying backward, crashing into the ground.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Naruto lay there, seemingly defeated. Neji stood over him, his breathing heavy but controlled. "It's over, Naruto. Your fate has been decided."
Naruto lay on the ground, his body aching from the relentless assault of Neji's Sixty-Four Palms. His chakra points had been sealed, and the pain radiated through his entire being. He struggled to move, his limbs feeling heavy and unresponsive. Neji stood over him, confident that the fight was over.
But as Naruto lay there, staring up at the sky, a familiar presence stirred within him, deep in his subconscious.
'I didn't want to use the fox's chakra,' Naruto thought, gritting his teeth. 'But I've got no choice.'
He closed his eyes and focused inward, reaching for the chakra of the Nine-Tails, the immense power that lay dormant within him. He could feel the dark, potent energy start to seep through his sealed chakra points, slowly forcing them open, one by one.
He allowed the fox's chakra to flow into him. The moment it did, he felt a surge of energy like nothing else—a dark, fiery power that began to course through his veins, reopening his sealed chakra points one by one.
Back in the real world, Naruto's body was surrounded by a faint red aura, the telltale sign of the Nine-Tails' chakra. His wounds began to heal rapidly, and his strength returned tenfold. Slowly, he pushed himself up from the ground, his movements steady and deliberate.
Neji's eyes widened in shock as he saw the red chakra swirling around Naruto. "What… what is this?" he stammered, his confident facade starting to crack.
Naruto looked up, his blue eyes now tinged with a hint of red. The pain was gone, replaced by an overwhelming sense of power. "You may have closed my chakra points," he said, his voice steady and strong, "but you can't stop me. I'll keep getting back up, no matter what."
Neji took a step back, uncertainty flashing across his face. He had never seen anything like this before. This wasn't the same Naruto he had been fighting just moments ago. This was something far more dangerous, far more determined.
With a burst of speed, Naruto charged at Neji, the fox's chakra fueling his every movement. Neji barely had time to react as Naruto's fist connected with his gut, sending him flying backward. The force of the blow was immense, far beyond anything Naruto had shown before.
Neji landed hard, skidding across the arena floor. He struggled to stand, the impact leaving him breathless and shaken. Naruto stood tall, the red chakra still swirling around him, his determination unwavering.
"I'm going to prove you wrong, Neji," Naruto said, his voice carrying across the arena. "Fate doesn't control us. We control our own destiny, and I'm going to show you just how strong that belief is!"
Neji, still reeling from the blow, looked at Naruto with a mixture of awe and disbelief. How could someone like Naruto, who had been labeled a failure for so long, possess such power and resolve? How could he stand up again and again, no matter how many times he was knocked down?
Naruto didn't give Neji time to ponder. With renewed energy, he closed the distance between them, his movements fueled by the fox's chakra. The red aura around him intensified as he prepared to deliver the final blow.
But before he struck, Naruto paused, his eyes locking onto Neji's. "You're not my enemy, Neji," he said softly, the anger in his voice replaced by something deeper, more understanding. "You're just someone who's been hurt, who's been told that you can't change your fate. But I'm telling you, you can."
Neji's breath caught in his throat as he stared back at Naruto. In that moment, he realized that Naruto wasn't fighting out of anger or hatred. He was fighting to prove a point, to show Neji that there was more to life than the rigid fate he had always believed in.
With that, Naruto drew back his fist, channeling the last of the fox's chakra into it. "I'm going to beat you, Neji. And when I do, I hope you'll see that you can change too!"
Naruto's fist shot forward, and with all the force of the Nine-Tails' chakra behind it, it connected with Neji's chest. The impact was immense, sending a shockwave through the arena. Neji was thrown back, hitting the ground hard, his Byakugan fading as he lost consciousness.
Naruto stood over him, breathing heavily as the red chakra began to dissipate. The fight was over. He had won.
Naruto walked over to Neji, who was lying on the ground, staring up at him.
"...I see…so destiny has decreed you the winner…I should've known…you mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu after all, what chance did I have?" Neji asked, his voice soft and resigned.
Naruto looked down at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You want to know something funny? I failed the Genin Exam three times," he said, noticing Neji's surprised expression. "Every time I failed, it was because I couldn't perform the one jutsu I needed to pass—the Clone Jutsu."
Neji's eyes widened slightly at the revelation.
"You keep saying that destiny can't change," Naruto continued, his voice growing more serious. "But I'm telling you, you're wrong. If I had believed that, I would've given up long ago. But I didn't, and look where I am now."
Naruto extended a hand to Neji, his expression sincere. "So don't say a loser like me can't change his fate. If I can, then you can too."
Neji stared at Naruto's hand for a moment before reaching up and taking it. As Naruto helped him to his feet, Neji nodded, his expression one of acceptance and, perhaps, a newfound understanding.
"...I see…" Neji sighed, finally acknowledging his defeat. Yet, despite the loss, he felt a strange sense of relief, a burden lifting from his shoulders.
In the stands, the crowd erupted into cheers, but Naruto's focus remained on Neji. The two stood there for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them.
Genma smirked as he raised his hand and announced to the stadium, "Winner of the first round…Uzumaki Naruto!"