Chapter 5: Talent vs Hard work

3 days later...

The crowd buzzed with excitement, the anticipation thick in the air as the sun bore down on the arena. Spectators filled the stands, their eyes fixed on the center where two figures were about to face off. Among them, the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat with an amused smile. Also present were Naruto's friends, classmates, and several Jonin instructors. Hiashi Hyuga stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, while Hanabi and Neji watched with keen interest.

The proctor stepped forward, his voice echoing through the arena. "The next match will be between Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuuga!" He paused briefly, allowing the crowd's cheers and murmurs to settle. "Standard rules apply. No fatal strikes. Do you both understand?"

Naruto strode out confidently, his trademark grin in place, drawing a few scattered cheers and applause from the spectators. He waved enthusiastically, but as his gaze shifted to his opponent, his smile faltered. Across the field stood Hinata, fixing him with a fierce glare he'd never seen before. Her short hair was tied back in a neat bun, and she held a long staff in one hand, its end resting lightly on the ground.

Naruto blinked, murmuring under his breath, "What's her problem? Why's she looking at me like that?"

Hinata's face was set in determination, her posture relaxed but ready. The proctor raised his hand, signaling the start of the match. Naruto hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward, his hand raised in greeting. "Hey, Hinata! Good luck out there, y'know—"

"Save it," Hinata cut him off sharply, her tone cold and uncharacteristically aggressive. She twirled her staff in a wide arc, resting it across her back with one hand and beckoning him forward with the other. "Get ready, Naruto."

Naruto blinked, taken aback. "What the—? Alright, alright… fine! I guess you're really eager to fight, huh?" He cracked his knuckles, still puzzled. "Okay, Hinata, if you're so antsy to go, then I'm gonna—"

Before he could finish, Hinata's staff whistled through the air, catching him across the jaw with a loud thwack. The crowd gasped as Naruto staggered back, rubbing his jaw in shock.

"Ow! What the heck, Hinata?!" he shouted, looking bewildered. "When did you—"

But she didn't give him time to finish. With a fluid motion, Hinata struck him twice more in quick succession, her staff moving like a blur. Naruto stumbled, barely regaining his footing before swinging a kunai at her in frustration.

Hinata ducked under his wild swing, sweeping his legs out from under him with a sharp kick. Naruto crashed to the ground with a grunt, quickly rolling to the side just as Hinata's staff slammed down where he'd been.

In the stands, Sakura stared wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before her. "Whoa… what's gotten into Hinata?" she muttered.

Ino clenched her fists, a furious look on her face. "She's trying to cripple him! What's her deal?"

Sakura folded her arms, huffing. "Serves him right. Naruto's been slacking off instead of training. He deserves a good beating!"

Sasuke watched with a small smirk, his eyes never leaving the fight. "He's holding back because it's Hinata," he remarked casually. "He thinks he shouldn't go all out just because she's a girl."

Shikamaru, leaning back with a lazy grin, nodded. "Yeah, it's kind of… troublesome, but he's being a gentleman, I guess. Girls need to be handled with care."

Sakura whipped around, glaring at Shikamaru. "Oh, please. Did it ever occur to you that Hinata could be holding her own because she worked hard for it?"

Shikamaru shrugged, unbothered. "Eh, you wouldn't get it, Sakura. You're a girl and all."

Sakura's eye twitched, and she looked ready to throttle him. "What's that supposed to mean, you lazy—"

Back in the arena, Hinata's mind raced. She was winning. The fight was going much easier than she had imagined. But instead of feeling triumphant, there was a sense of disappointment gnawing at her. "Is this it?" she thought. "Is this all he's got?" She had pushed herself so hard, trained to exhaustion for this moment, but the person she'd been so terrified to face seemed almost… overrated.

Gritting her teeth, she continued her assault, striking Naruto repeatedly with her staff. "Come on, Naruto!" she yelled, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Fight me seriously!"

Naruto winced as he felt the air knocked out of him by another hit. "Alright, alright, enough already!" he muttered, stumbling back and creating some distance. "Guess I've been going too easy on you, huh?" His expression shifted from confusion to determination. "No more playing around!" he declared, forming a hand sign.

[Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu]

Instantly, several clones of Naruto appeared, surrounding Hinata. The crowd murmured in excitement, watching with renewed interest.

Hinata's eyes narrowed, and she gripped her staff tighter, preparing herself as the clones rushed toward her from all sides. With a graceful spin, she deflected the first clone's attack, her staff cracking against its skull, dispersing it in a puff of smoke. She moved fluidly, like water, shifting from one clone to the next, striking them down with pinpoint accuracy.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder, some gasping in awe at her movements. "Look at her go!" someone shouted.

Up in the stands, Neji's eyes gleamed with pride as he watched his cousin. "Well done, Hinata," he whispered, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

Kurenai, her hands clenched tightly in her lap, leaned forward. Her heart pounded as she watched Hinata fight with a confidence she hadn't seen before. "Come on, Hinata… you can do it," she muttered under her breath, a sliver of hope swelling in her chest.

Kakashi, standing beside her, seemed less enthused. He sighed, flipping open his novel. "Well, it looks like Naruto's finally getting what he deserves," he commented, his voice amused. He glanced at Kurenai, a small smile on his lips. "But I have to say, I'm happy for her. She's worked hard to get to this point."

Kurenai nodded, her eyes never leaving the arena. "She deserves this moment," she said softly.

Back in the arena, Naruto found himself flat on his back once again, staring up at the sky. "Ow… okay, maybe I should've taken this more seriously from the start," he grumbled to himself.

Hinata, panting slightly but still standing strong, fixed him with that same fierce glare. "Get up, Naruto," she demanded, raising her staff. "I'm not done yet."

Naruto pushed himself to his feet, a determined grin spreading across his face. "Alright then… let's do this for real!" he shouted, charging toward her once more.

And as the two clashed in the center of the arena, the crowd roared in approval, sensing that the real battle was just beginning.


Up in the stands, Ino flinched with every painful thwack of Hinata's staff against Naruto's body. The arena had gone eerily silent, the dominant sounds being the rhythmic whack of the staff and Naruto's groans of pain. Every time the staff connected, the audience collectively winced.

Sasuke, usually so composed, wore a look of genuine surprise. He leaned toward Sakura, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Sakura, is Naruto just... testing the waters? He has to be holding back, right? He's going to get serious any minute now."

Sakura placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, her face solemn. "I… I don't know what to tell you, Sasuke," she admitted quietly. She glanced down at Naruto, still struggling to regain his footing. "I think Hinata really has him cornered."

Ino, her frustration building, clenched her fists. "This is ridiculous! The proctor is totally biased! Why isn't he ending this? He's just letting Hinata beat on Naruto!"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at Ino's outburst. "Troublesome. Maybe the proctor's enjoying the show too much to stop it."

Ino shot him a glare. "Shikamaru, you can't be serious! Look at him! He's going to be bruised for days!"

Shikamaru sighed, crossing his arms behind his head. "Hey, maybe Naruto deserves a little humbling. He's been way too overconfident lately."

Back in the arena, Naruto dropped to the ground with a grunt, a sharp pain shooting through his side. The crowd gasped, murmuring among themselves. Even the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, raised an eyebrow, amused by the unexpected turn of events. Hinata stood above Naruto, her chest heaving with effort, her face determined. Yet, inside, she felt hollow, like she was being robbed of something.

"Get up!" Hinata barked, her voice trembling with frustration.

Naruto blinked up at her, wiping some blood from the corner of his mouth. "Why? You've practically won, Hinata. You should be celebrating."

Hinata's grip on her staff tightened. "Shut up," she snapped, her voice laced with an edge of fury. "Do you think so little of me?"

Naruto's confusion deepened. "What are you talking about?"

"Stop holding back!" Hinata's eyes were sharp, almost daring him to challenge her. "I'm not some helpless little girl you need to go easy on!"

Naruto lay there, speechless for a moment, staring up at Hinata's fierce expression. Her hands were shaking, and there were unshed tears in her eyes. He let out a sigh. "Okay, okay… maybe I was pulling my punches a little," he admitted, pushing himself up to his knees. "But why are you so mad about it?"

Hinata's face flushed with a mixture of anger and frustration. "Because… because I didn't go through all this training just to face someone too scared to properly challenge me!" she shouted. "You think you're doing me a favor? You should scrape together any dignity you have left and give me a real fight!"

Naruto frowned, taken aback by her words. He felt a wave of annoyance building inside him. "Alright, alright, calm down, geez! Maybe you need this more than I do, but who knows if your next opponent will be nice enough to let you win," he shot back. "I thought I was doing you a favor, but you're being such a pain about it."

Hinata's breath hitched, Naruto's words stinging like a slap. Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, her heart pounding. "I… I don't need your pity!" she shouted, louder than she intended. Her voice echoed around the arena. "I'm tired of everyone either ignoring me or pitying me! I'm a shinobi too, just like the rest of you! I'm not less than anyone else!"

Naruto stared at her, stunned into silence. The crowd shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension between them. Hinata's voice cracked slightly as she continued, "This… this was my chance to prove myself, to show everyone that I can improve, that I can be better… and the last thing I need is the village's 'golden boy' letting me win because he doesn't see me as an equal!"

Her chest heaved with emotion, her breath shaky. "If you have any dignity left, Naruto, then stop pitying me and acknowledge me as a worthy opponent!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed. Her words cut deep, and he could feel the anger bubbling up. "Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth. "You want a real fight? You got it."

He straightened, dusting himself off, his eyes now locked on hers with a renewed intensity. "I was going easy on you, but if this is what you really want… I'll teach you a lesson."

Hinata felt a mix of satisfaction and dread as Naruto prepared himself, adopting a more serious fighting stance. She swallowed hard, steeling herself as she realized that this was just the beginning of the real battle ahead.

Up in the stands, Kurenai leaned forward, her knuckles white as she gripped the guardrail. Her eyes were fixed on the arena below. "Come on, Hinata," she whispered, her voice tense with worry. "You can pull through this..."

Neji, seated a few rows away, kept his eyes on the fight. His usually unreadable face was tinged with concern. "Please, Hinata..." he thought. "Know what you're doing."

Hinata's breath came in short bursts. She clenched her staff tightly, ignoring the sting in her muscles. She charged at Naruto, her eyes filled with determination.

Naruto moved like a blur, effortlessly dodging her blows. Hinata gritted her teeth, frustration growing as her attacks continued to miss. "He's faster than before," she realized. "Much faster..."

She narrowed her eyes, sensing an opportunity. Hinata feigned an attack to Naruto's left, baiting him into a predictable dodge. Her pulse quickened as he took the bait, leaving his right side exposed.

"There!"

She thrust her staff forward, aiming for his unprotected side—only to see a swirling ball of chakra form in Naruto's hand.

[Rasengan]

Naruto grunted, driving the spiraling sphere towards her midsection.

Hinata's eyes widened in shock. She twisted her body, bringing her staff up just in time to block the jutsu. The Rasengan smashed into the staff, splintering it in two with a deafening crack.

"Damn it!" Hinata cursed, tossing the broken pieces aside. She let out a roar of determination and launched herself at Naruto with bare fists.

Naruto took a deep breath, readying himself for the oncoming assault. Hinata swung her fists with ferocity, but Naruto deflected each strike with ease.

From the stands, Neji's eyes narrowed. "Hinata…" he muttered, sensing her frustration. "Don't let your emotions get the best of you…"

Naruto's expression hardened as he parried Hinata's strikes. "She's relentless," he thought, annoyed. He caught one of her palms and retaliated with a powerful punch to her jaw.

The crowd gasped as the blow connected. The impact sent a shockwave through Hinata's body, and blood trickled from her mouth. Up in the stands, Shikamaru winced. "Ouch… that's gotta hurt."

Hinata staggered back, her vision blurring momentarily. But Naruto gave her no time to recover. He pressed forward, launching a series of brutal strikes.

"Is...this...what you...wanted?" Naruto barked between blows, his voice filled with frustration. "Is this making you happy?!"

He caught another weak attempt at a hit from Hinata, countering with a blow to her side. "Do you see now?" he continued, as he landed another strike. "Why I...was holding...back?"

Hinata stumbled, her breath hitching with every hit. She could barely keep her footing, struggling to find her balance as Naruto pummeled her.

"You never stood a chance!" Naruto shouted, delivering a final blow that sent Hinata to her hands and knees, blood dripping from her mouth.

Up in the stands, Sakura's face turned pale. "I... I don't know if I can keep watching this," she murmured, looking away.

Ino, however, was far more animated. "Come on, Naruto!" she cheered, leaning forward. "Kick her butt! Show that weirdo her place!"

Naruto looked down at Hinata, who was struggling to stand. She wavered, barely able to keep herself upright. "Stay down, Hinata," he warned. "Your fight is over."

But Hinata shook her head, determination burning in her eyes. She pushed herself back up to her knees, ignoring the pain coursing through her body.

Kurenai, up in the stands, gripped the rail so hard her fingers went numb. "End the fight!" she shouted to the proctor, her voice tinged with desperation. "What are you waiting for?!"

Hinata felt like she was drifting in a sea of agony. Her mind was hazy, her body screaming in protest.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the fog—a woman's voice, soft yet firm. "Get up, Hinata. Fight!"

Hinata blinked, her breath shallow. She forced herself to stay up, tears streaming down her cheeks as she fought against the pain. "Fight…" the voice repeated. "Don't give up!"

Her fingers began to crackle with electricity, the chakra in her hands growing brighter with every second. Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" he muttered. "Why are you still trying?"

Hinata ignored him, pouring more chakra into her hands. The light grew brighter, the energy humming with potential—only to fizzle out abruptly.

She gasped, her heart sinking as the electricity faded. "No… no…" she whispered, her body trembling.

The proctor finally stepped in. "Enough! The winner is Naruto Uzumaki!"

The arena erupted in cheers, and Naruto's classmates cheered for their friend. But Naruto's gaze shifted back to Hinata, sitting on the ground, bloodied and battered. His initial joy faded.

Hinata weakly lifted her head, catching sight of Hiashi and Hanabi leaving the arena. Her heart ached. "They're leaving… without a word…"

Naruto's heart felt heavy. He approached her cautiously, trying to find the right words. "Hinata, you… you fought well, I—"

"Congratulations," Hinata cut him off, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't even look up at him.

Naruto opened his mouth to speak but found no words. After a moment, he turned and walked away, heading back to his waiting friends. But his chest felt tight, and he couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at him.

As he glanced back at Hinata, now being attended to by medics, he felt a pang of guilt. "Why… why do I feel like this?" he wondered, the cheers of the crowd feeling oddly hollow in his ears.


[Author's note]

The chapters will be short like this for a while longer