Chapter 17 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 17 – The Boy Who Defies Destiny

'You should give up now and escape while you can, or I will humiliate you. It is my destiny to win here today.' Said Neji arrogantly.

'Wow you genius types always have massive egos. I can't believe the stadium can hold it.' Replied Naruto mockingly.

'You will pay for you insolence, Byakugan.' Said Neji, as he took up the gentle fist Taijutsu style.

Neji charged his opponent while Naruto simply stood there waiting for Neji to attack him with the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms technique. As Neji went to strike the first chakra point, Naruto channelled chakra around himself and let it burst from him all at once, sending Neji leaping back and partially shielding his eyes.

'Now that you've made the first move, I think it's my turn.' Declared Naruto, as he vanished in a burst of speed.

Neji eyes rapidly swivelled, as he frantically looked around, trying to find Naruto, but he was unable to find him.

'Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!' Shouted Naruto, blurring directly in front of Neji and slashing his sword out, which released many thin, yet wide, blades of wind at Neji.

Neji was too close to dodge, so he quickly rotated and emitted chakra from all of his points.

'Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation.' Shouted Neji.

The crowd was rather surprised; the collection of Hyuuga at seeing a branch member know their most powerful main branch techniques and the rest of the crowd at Naruto, a so-called loser, pushing the Hyuuga prodigy so fast.

'Well, I have to admit that was a pretty good move, otherwise there was a good chance you would have been split in half.' Said Naruto smiling cheerfully, before adopting a serious expression.

'However, this isn't over yet.' Finished Naruto, as he started going through hand signs.

'Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu.' Said Naruto, unleashing a large ball of fire that barrelled towards Neji.

Neji didn't hesitate and made a quick substitution, saving himself from a very likely fiery death. Once the fire and smoke had cleared, a pile of ashes were all that remained in his previous location.

Naruto couldn't find Neji, so he made four clones and sent them out to the corners of each stadium, while Naruto closed his eyes and waited.

After a few moments, four kunai struck and dispelled all of his clones. The memories he got back from the trajectory from which they were hit told him where Neji was. Naruto disappeared again and appeared behind Neji and punched him to the ground.

'Neji, I truly pity you. You talk about destiny controlling everything, but you are desperately trying to fight against it.' Said Naruto softly, before sighing.

'*scoff* What would you know about destiny, you're just a loser?' Stated Neji arrogantly.

'If that's the case, then I guess you're worse than a loser, because I know much more about it than you.' Said Naruto, before pausing in thought.

Naruto tapped a finger on his chin, showing he was thinking, before snapping his fingers.

'Aha I got it. I was trying to think what you call a person who is losing to a loser. Know what I call a person who is losing to a loser? Neji.' Laughed Naruto.

Neji angrily stood up and charged at Naruto and once again tried to use the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but due to Naruto's impressive speed, he only managed to close off sixteen points on each of Naruto's arms.

'I have sealed the points in your arms, and you can't do jutsu anymore, you're finished. Proctor, call the match, or I will kill him.' Said Neji looking at Genma.

Genma was about to call it before Naruto laughed. Neji turned to look at him and growled.

'You think that would stop me. I could open my points right now, but instead I will show you not to underestimate people by using only the skills your teammates use, Taijutsu and weaponry.' Said Naruto, as he drew his blade slowly, allowing everyone to get a good look at it.

Those more proficient with weapons realised this sword was something special and was able to conduct all types of chakra, including elemental chakra, to a very high degree.

Neji scoffed and drew a kunai and charged. Neji aimed directly for Naruto's left shoulder, but Naruto parried the blade off and kicked Neji in the stomach. Neji flew back and looked up, only to see Naruto wasn't there. Instinct was the only thing that saved him as he rolled to the right, avoiding Naruto who had dropped from the sky and slammed his sword directly where Neji's stomach was before rolling away. A three-metre-deep hole, about one metre wide was left in his wake, as Naruto pulled his sword out of the ground.

Naruto charged chakra and forcefully reopened his chakra points using some of the Kyuubi's chakra mixed into his. Naruto then resheathed his sword and went into the Demon Fox fighting style opening stance, which had him with his back leg, which was his left leg, bent and his front leg, which was his right, curved in front of him, facing to the front and left, while he had his left arm held at his side and his right arm held part way between his body and head with his fist being directly in front of his neck allowing him to be able to attack or defend at a moment's notice.

Neji used his eyes and analysed the stance and couldn't find any weak points. Neji was now slightly worried, as he realised his opponent must be reasonably skilled in Taijutsu to have such a strong guard. Neji lowered himself into the Gentle Fist style and both stared each other off.

-line break-

'Wow, Naruto is doing pretty good, don't you think, Shikamaru?' Asked Choji.

'*sigh* So troublesome.' Replied Shikamaru, but he was also watching the match with a keen eye and couldn't help but wonder how and when Naruto had become so strong.

'Yes, it appears that Naruto has excelled rapidly since the academy and has now become someone who it would be illogical to underestimate, which it seems is what his opponent is doing.' Spoke Shino, saying the greatest number of words many people ever heard him speak.

'Yes, it appears that Naruto is too much for Neji, do you not agree Tenten?' Commented Lee.

Tenten nodded but kept her eyes on the match.

Gaara stared with his normal impassive face, but inside he was excited and curious.

"So this is the power he spoke of. I will kill him if he cannot beat me, as it would mean he is weak just like everyone else and his power is nothing compared to mine." Thought Gaara.

-line break-

'Let me tell you about the Hyuuga clan's hatred. You and almost all of these villagers are unaware of what happens, but the Hyuuga has a special mark, a curse mark, which it puts on all branch members. This mark is used to keep the branch members in line. You and everyone here have no idea what it is like to be branded with a mark that controls your life.' Said Neji angrily.

Naruto gave a small smile of understanding before speaking.

'Neji, I want you to listen to me now, you are the one who has no idea about me. You may choose not to believe it, but I have a mark that has singled me out my entire live. This mark has been the bane of my existence for almost my whole life until I changed my view. I realised that while I may be isolated and looked down upon by most others, there are a select few who do care for me. While that number may be small, it is where my vast strength grows from. If I had never had anyone...' Said Naruto, as his eyes drifted to Gaara in the stands, who simply stared back unflinchingly.

'If I never had anyone… I would have fallen into despair and darkness much like you have and I probably would have tried to place the blame somewhere else, much as you curse destiny. The difference is I was not happy to simply fall into the darkness and descend into madness and that is why, as hard as it is for you to believe, I am able to defy destiny, which is also why I will win here, because... I make my own destiny.' Finished Naruto.

Neji was stewing in rage, unable to fathom Naruto's audacity to speak such things and as such he charged with a battle cry.

'Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!' Shouted Neji once he was in range.

Naruto spoke as Neji approached and said to him, 'Now let me show you how perseverance and hard work makes one capable of defying destiny.'

Naruto got into his stance and parried every strike Neji tried and threw fifty shuriken at Neji, ten at a time in rapid succession, each throw three seconds apart. Neji used the Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation to deflect the waves of shuriken and kept spinning as he saw Naruto charging at him. Naruto gathered chakra in his right hand and quickly formed a dense sphere of chakra and slammed it against Neji's defence.

'Rasengan!' Cried Naruto, shocking almost every Jounin and anyone who knew of the Fourth Hokage's legendary technique.

The chakra battle caused a horrible sound that had some people reaching to cover their ears, as both spheres of energy grinded against each other, before Naruto begun to push through. With one last push of chakra, Naruto broke through Neji's so called "ultimate defence", the discharge of which sent him flying back into the stadium wall, with his torso smashing into it hard enough to fracture the wall on impact. Neji's form slumped down like a puppet which had the strings controlling it cut, while the Hyuuga also noticed breathing had become painful, feeling a few ribs fracture on impact.

'I failed the Genin graduation exam three times. I could never do the Clone Jutsu.' Said Naruto.

'However, I found a way around that and learnt the Shadow Clone Jutsu instead. Don't come whining to me about this destiny stuff and telling me you can't change who you are. I did it, and you can do it to, because after all, you're not a failure like me.' Finished Naruto.

'Winner, Naruto Uzumaki.' Announced Genma.

Everything went silent until after a while some clapping begun, which soon increased in volume. Naruto helped Neji up as the medics came out and Naruto smiled at the crowd before walking away.

"Naruto Uzumaki, the boy who defies destiny." Thought Neji as the medics took him away.

-line break-

Naruto walked up to the contestant area and received a fair bit of congratulations from Lee and Choji, a lazy thumbs up from Shikamaru before he mumbled troublesome, a wary eye from Temari, and an intensely focused glare from Gaara.

'You did really well, Naruto.' Said Sakura.

'Yeah, it seems I'm really going to have to step up my training to beat you.' Said Haku with a small smile.

'Naruto, that was amazing I don't think I've ever seen anyone beat Neji and you absolutely dominated.' Commented Tenten.

'Naruto, I will win my match and then I will fight you in the next round!' Said Lee excitedly.

At this Naruto gave a small frown.

'Lee, be careful. I know you are strong and want to prove yourself but...' Started Naruto, before he lowered his voice slightly, his eyes momentarily darting to the side.

'Your opponent is very dangerous, and you need to watch yourself in this fight.' Finished Naruto seriously.

Lee nodded in seriousness, but all the same replied, 'Do not worry about me, Naruto, I won't lose.'

Naruto took a seat and got comfortable, as Lee and Gaara walked down to the centre of the stadium.

Lee stared at Gaara with determination and Gaara stared back impassively.

'Second match, Lee VS Gaara. Begin!' Shouted Genma.