Chapter 14 revised and edited. Review or PM me on what you think about this chapter now.

Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Naruto anime/manga all I own are my original characters and plot twists.

'Talking'

"Thinking"

'Heavily demonic voice'

'Fox talking'

"Fox thinking"

*expression*

Jutsu

Flashback

Chapter 14 – The Hardships of Life

'Good luck, Sakura.' Said Haku.

'Do your best.' Said Naruto.

Sakura walked down and defiantly looked Kin in the eye.

'You won't get the upper hand on me so easily this time.' Proclaimed Sakura.

'Hah yeah right. You're just a pretty little girl who should never have become a kunoichi.' Scoffed Kin.

Kin had very long black hair, almost reaching down to the ground, tied by a violet ribbon right near the end, and black eyes. She wore a forehead protector, a pale green vest, similar to a flak jacket, and snake patterned pants and scarf.

'Let the third match begin.' Announced Hayate.

Sakura pulled out three shuriken and threw them, but Kin deflected them with needles.

"Needles?" Wondered Sakura.

Kin pulled out two needles and threw them at Sakura. Sakura dodged only to have to dodge another two needles, except one had a bell.

"This is a Genjutsu." Thought Sakura. Sakura pulled out a kunai and cut the back of her hand dispelling the Genjutsu affecting her.

Sakura charged at Kin with the kunai in front of her. Kin pulled the string attached to the needle with the bell, expecting her Genjutsu to take a hold of Sakura and therefore was shocked when Sakura kept charging straight at her. Sakura punched her in the face with a chakra infused fist, sending Kin flying. While Kin was dizzy from the hit, Sakura got behind her and held the kunai to her throat.

'Surrender.' Said Sakura.

'How is it you weren't affected by the Genjutsu?' Asked Kin.

'Just look at the kunai pressed against your throat.' Said Sakura.

Kin looked and saw blood on it, but it wasn't hers.

'I may not be as strong as my teammates, but my strength is my knowledge and I knew straight away you had attempted a Genjutsu, so I inflicted pain on myself to break it knowing that you wouldn't expect a fan girl to know that, or to know how to break out of it.' Finished Sakura.

Hayate waited to see if Kin could get out of her predicament and after seeing she couldn't, called the match.

'Winner Sakura Haruno.' Announced Hayate.

Sakura walked back up to her team's area, where she was met with a lot of praise from Lee, a simple congratulations from Haku, and a small smile and nod from Naruto.

-line break-

'On with the next match.' Said Hayate, as the board started going through names before landing on the next batch of fighters.

Neji Hyuuga VS Hinata Hyuuga.

Both walked down, Neji with a purposeful stride, and Hinata with a timid gait.

'I never thought that we would have to fight each other, Hinata.' Said Neji.

'Nor I, brother.' Replied Hinata.

'Huh, brother. Are they brother and sister?' Asked Naruto, while slightly raising his left eyebrow.

'No, they're both members of the Hyuuga clan. Technically, they're cousins.' Answered Kakashi.

'Still, they're family, it must be hard for them.' Said Sakura.

'It may not be as hard you think, I heard that there is some bad blood between the main and branch houses. The branch family, which Neji is a part of, is upset with something the main family, which Hinata is a part of, did. Additionally, Neji is considered a genius of the clan, while Hinata is seen as a disgrace. Furthermore, Neji being a branch member is forced into being under the control of the main branch.' Finished Lee.

'Give up, Hinata. You can't deceive my eyes. When you looked up, you remembered your past, your bitter past. Then you glanced down and thought what would happen if you fought me and realised you would lose. Also, your habit of raising your arm up in front of yourself while touching your lip is your way of putting a wall between us. People can't change, once a failure always a failure. You never really wanted to be in the Chunin exams, but to apply, you need a team of three and you didn't want to let Kiba or Shino down, didn't you.' Said Neji with increasing intensity, causing the timid form of Hinata to tremble.

'N-no you're wrong, I wanted to see if I could change.' Said Hinata, shakily.

'Like I said, once a failure always a failure. People can't change.' Said Neji.

'Don't listen to him Hinata, me and Shino believe in you. You can change.' Said Kiba.

"Hmm, some fire has returned to her eyes." Thought Neji.

Hinata made hand signs before shouting 'Byakugan'. Hinata took a stance and said, 'Defend yourself, brother.'

Neji mirrored the stance.

'Let the fourth match begin.' Said Hayate.

Neji charged and shot an open palm strike at Hinata which she blocked with her own palm thrust to the inside of Neji's arm, which sent chakra flying out of their hands. This kept up until Hinata struck Neji in his stomach.

'Did she get him?' Asked Sakura.

Kakashi raised his headband and had a look 'Amazing.' was all he said, much to Sakura's confusion.

Neji pulled Hinata's sleeve back and there were a bunch of angry looking circular red marks on her arm.

'You mean, all this time… you were...' Mumbled Hinata.

'Yes, I have sealed all the chakra points in your arms. You can no longer use the Gentle Fist, as you can no longer eject chakra from your hands. Give up.' Commanded Neji.

Hinata trembled, unsure of herself, when Neji spoke up again.

'Hinata, you are the pampered offspring of the main branch. Despite this, you are too gentle and caring you should never have become a shinobi. As a shinobi, you are meant to be cruel, uncaring, and hold no sympathy for others in your way. You can't do this as it conflicts with your very nature and therefore you are suffering.' Spoke Neji condescendingly.

'Brother, while it is true I have been suffering, you have been suffering much more than I.' Hinata said softly.

Neji's eyes hardened in an instant and he sent two palm thrusts, one to her gut and one to her face, sending her form crashing to the ground. She then tried to raise herself off the floor, getting on her hands and knees, but coughed up a fair bit of blood after, causing her to drop back down for a moment, as she painted the ground red with her blood. After regaining herself, she attempted to get up again and managed to regain a vertical base, but Hayate could tell it was over and was about to say so. Before Hayate could end the match, Neji charged at Hinata with murder in his eyes. As Neji was about two metres away from striking Hinata, Kakashi, Kurenai, Guy, and Hayate jumped in to save Hinata.

'Neji! You told me you wouldn't let this whole main branch thing affect you.' Said Guy.

Hinata coughed up more blood and Kurenai called for medics. Kiba jumped down to attack Neji in a fit of rage, but Shino created a wall with his bugs, stopping him.

'You'll pay! You hear me? I'll get you!' Hollered Kiba.

'*Hmph* Stop cheering, it is embarrassing and there is no way you can beat me.' Scoffed Neji, before walking off.

As Neji walked back up, Naruto confronted him.

'I may not know what is going on in your clan, but to belittle and crush a person's self-esteem just because you have a grudge is childish. If I meet you in a battle during the Chunin Exams, I will show you people can change and that being a genius does not make your better than others.' Said Naruto quietly, walking away before Neji could respond.

-line break-

The board started going through names and landed on.

Haku VS Misumi Tsurugi

Both contestants came down when Misumi spoke up.

'As soon as the battle begins, forfeit once I activate my jutsu, or you will die.' Cautioned Misumi.

Misumi looked identical to Yoroi, with the only exception being he wore glasses which enabled others to see his eyes, in contrast to Yoroi's, which were tinted. Haku started at him with indifference before replying.

'My whole life has been a battle of life or death with questionable odds. I have survived through it all. I suggest you don't become arrogant, as in my life, those who were arrogant died!' Said Haku drawing a needle.

'Let the fifth match begin.' Announced Hayate.

Misumi charged at Haku, while Haku threw his needle right at Misumi's face. Misumi blocked the needle by crossing both arms in front of his face. Misumi lowered his arms and resumed his charge and punched Haku, who blocked with his palm. Misumi then laughed and dislocated all of his bones and wrapped himself around Haku.

'Give up or die.' Said Misumi arrogantly.

'Didn't I say don't get arrogant?' Questioned Haku, who appeared in front of Misumi while he was still wrapped around another Haku.

'How...?' Begun Misumi, before Haku launched seven needles all at Misumi's spinal column, making it so he couldn't dislocate his bones and joints at will anymore, effectively ending his shinobi career.
Haku had begun walking away before he momentarily paused to say one word 'Boom.' At which point his Ice clone exploded, sending ice shards into Misumi, knocking him out cold.

'Winner, Haku.' Said Hayate, before medics came out and took Misumi away.

'Nice work, Haku.' Said Naruto when Haku arrived.

'Thank you Naruto, but you should prepare, your match is yet to happen.' Said Haku humbly.

The board went through names again before landing on.

Gaara VS Onotsuchi