Hinata of the White Lotus

by froznx

On the verge of death in her fight against Neji, Hinata awakens an advanced version of the Byakugan. Now with the power of an ancient ally on her side, she begins to unravel the truth of their world and her place in it. As her powers and confidence continue to grow while facing off against increasingly dangerous foes, she becomes known as The White Lotus. This is her legend.

35. Hinata vs Naruto

Hinata: Byakurenden

Hinata vs Naruto

---

Hyūga Hanabi stood next to her father, her sharp eyes trained on the Forest of Death, where her sister had disappeared alongside the Fifth Hokage and Uzumaki Naruto. The massive gate loomed before her, but it felt more symbolic than physical. It was a threshold her sister had crossed, one that Hanabi was eager to see for herself.

She wasn't afraid for Hinata. No, her sister was far from the timid girl she had been two years ago. Hanabi's heart swelled with pride at the thought of how far Hinata had come. She had transformed into a figure of strength and grace, someone Hanabi could admire without reservation. Her sister had left as a disgraced heiress burdened by expectations, but she had returned as something far greater: the White Lotus, a protector not just of their clan but of the entire village.

Hanabi's admiration was boundless, and her anticipation burned brightly. She couldn't wait to see Hinata show everyone, including Naruto, just how much she had grown.

A chorus of voices around her broke her thoughts, each carrying their own expectations for the match. The gathering of Konoha's strongest shinobi was an event in itself, and Hanabi found herself quietly observing them, a mix of respect and curiosity guiding her gaze.

"I'm telling you, this isn't even going to be close!" Jiraiya, the legendary Toad Hermit, boomed with a laugh, folding his arms confidently. "That kid's got talent that even Minato would envy. He might be loud and reckless, but when it comes to fighting, he's a genius. I don't care how strong the Hyūga princess is—Naruto's going to wipe the floor with her."

Hanabi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a small frown forming. Princess? The way he dismissed Hinata so easily irked her, but she kept her thoughts to herself. Her father, however, answered with his usual composed demeanor.

"Hmph," Hiashi said, his tone cool but firm. "You underestimate the Hyūga, as outsiders often do. My daughter is a testament to our clan's strength. She will show you the true power of the Byakugan."

Hanabi couldn't help but grin at her father's calm confidence. For someone who rarely showed emotion, his pride in Hinata was unmistakable. It filled her with a fierce sense of family pride.

Tsunade's voice joined the conversation, tinged with reluctant agreement. "As much as I hate to say it, I'm siding with the pervert on this one. Naruto has something… intangible. I don't know if it's luck, sheer will, or something else, but he always manages to pull through in the end. That kind of determination makes him dangerous."

Hanabi listened closely, her excitement mounting rather than fading. Her sister would need to overcome Naruto's tenacity, but Hanabi had no doubts that Hinata was capable. She'd seen her sister's determination firsthand.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, turned his attention to Yugao, who stood quietly among the ANBU. "Yugao, you've been closest to Hinata these past two years. What can you tell us about her growth?"

Yugao hesitated, her gaze steady but thoughtful. "Hinata has grown into someone… remarkable. If you were to ask me whether anyone here in Konoha's ANBU could defeat her, I would have to say no. She has trained relentlessly and honed skills that go beyond even my expectations."

Hanabi's chest swelled with pride. She could feel her father's approving gaze settle on Yugao, but Hanabi didn't need anyone to tell her what she already knew: Hinata was unstoppable.

"Well, this isn't exactly about winning or losing," Kakashi added casually, though his visible eye showed he was fully focused. "It's about how they perform under pressure. We'll learn more from their choices than the result."

Hanabi tilted her head thoughtfully at that. She didn't completely agree. She knew her sister—and she knew Naruto, too, from what she'd heard. Neither of them were the type to accept anything less than victory.

"Try telling that to Naruto," Sasuke said dryly, his words mirroring Hanabi's thoughts. "He's been waiting for this for over two years. He's been itching to prove himself to her. He'll take this seriously."

"Well, Hinata's not going to back down either," Kurenai countered with quiet certainty, her hand absently resting on her growing stomach. "She's always had this quiet determination. And now? She's stronger than anyone here realizes."

Asuma shifted slightly closer to her, standing protectively at her side as his eyes remained fixed on the Forest of Death. "She'll need every bit of it," he muttered, his tone contemplative. "Look, the match is starting."

Hanabi's gaze snapped back to the Forest of Death. Her Byakugan activated instinctively, giving her a glimpse beyond the massive trees. Just as Asuma murmured that the match was starting, Itachi's form dissolved into a flurry of black feathers and shadows. The murder of crows exploded outward in a graceful, almost eerie motion, scattering into the canopy of the Forest of Death. The faint sound of their wings beating against the thick, humid air sent a shiver down her spine.

Even from where she stood, Hanabi could see the tension radiating off both Naruto and Hinata. They stood side by side, unmoving, their gazes locked on the space where Itachi had been a moment ago. Neither had made the first move yet, but the air between them crackled with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.

"She's got this," Hanabi whispered to herself, a wide grin spreading across her face.

The battle had begun.

A tense silence filled the air as Naruto and Hinata stood motionless, both locked in a moment of hesitation. The spectators, hidden beyond the Forest of Death's imposing boundary, held their collective breath. This was what they had been waiting for—a clash that had been two years in the making. The stillness broke as both shinobi moved in unison, a burst of energy propelling them toward each other like drawn arrows released from their bows.

Naruto's first attack was instinctive and unrefined—a wild, backhanded fist swung with deceptive casualness. He didn't even turn to aim it properly. By contrast, Hinata's movements were precise and deliberate. Her open palm rose smoothly to intercept, deflecting the blow with a sharp clap. Naruto's fist sailed harmlessly over her head, redirected by her touch.

Though the exchange seemed simple, it carried volumes. Hinata could feel the sheer strength in Naruto's attack, even in a move as haphazard as this. He was holding nothing back, and that alone spoke to his respect for her as an opponent.

Hinata leapt to the side, her body moving with the fluidity and grace of someone who had trained endlessly for this very moment. She knew she needed a brief window to compose herself, to activate her Byakugan and ready the advanced techniques she had honed over the past two years. Distance was her ally in the opening stages of the fight.

Naruto, however, had other plans. Instead of retreating or regrouping, he pursued her with reckless determination, his unorthodox style on full display. Most shinobi would have used this moment to assess their opponent, to set up a strategy. But Naruto wasn't like most shinobi. He was unpredictable and gutsy, charging forward when others might hesitate. And Hinata knew this better than anyone.

His fist shot out again, this time in a direct jab aimed straight at her face. The lunge was powerful and fast, closing the distance in an instant. For a fleeting moment, it seemed like Hinata wouldn't be able to avoid the blow. But appearances could be deceiving.

At the last possible second, Hinata let herself fall backward, her body collapsing as if she had tripped. Gravity did its work, pulling her beneath Naruto's outstretched arm. His fist whistled harmlessly through the air, missing her nose by mere centimeters. Hinata's movements were deliberate, though they appeared almost clumsy to an untrained observer. This was the art of deceptive combat, something she had perfected during her pilgrimage.

As Naruto flew over her, propelled by his own momentum, Hinata struck. Her left hand latched onto his outstretched arm, and her right pressed firmly against his shoulder. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she positioned the soles of her feet against his stomach. Then, like a coiled spring, she unleashed all the stored energy in a single explosive motion. Naruto's body was sent careening through the air, crashing toward the trunk of one of the forest's colossal trees.

The force of her counterattack sent a corresponding shock through Hinata's own body. Her back hit the ground with a solid thud, the impact jarring her lungs and knocking the wind from her. She coughed, her breath ragged, but didn't let it stop her. Using the bounce from the ground to her advantage, she flipped onto her feet in one smooth motion, landing with barely a skip to steady herself. She couldn't afford even a moment of vulnerability.

Meanwhile, Naruto had regained control midair. Twisting his body, he landed feet-first against the tree's massive trunk, the balls of his feet absorbing the impact. The power and balance in his movement were unmistakable. He showed no frustration at being outmaneuvered—in fact, he seemed delighted, a grin spreading across his face.

"That was awesome, Hinata!" Naruto called, pounding his fists together. His tone was bright and eager, his excitement palpable. "I knew you wouldn't make it easy for me!"

Hinata didn't respond right away. She allowed herself a brief moment of stillness, standing with her eyes closed as she reached out to the world around her. In that instant, her focus shifted inward, connecting to the natural energy that surrounded her. The air seemed to hum, an almost imperceptible vibration signaling the flow of power into her body. A faint warmth radiated from her core as Kali, her past self, stirred within her consciousness, guiding her hand.

When Hinata opened her eyes, they were no longer the soft, pale lilac that Naruto had always known. Within their depths, a faint white lotus bloomed, a mark of her awakened Nichiren Byakugan. Her vision expanded, not only revealing the chakra pathways within Naruto but also allowing her to perceive the currents of natural energy that intertwined with his own power. This was no ordinary Byakugan—it was a step beyond, a gift inherited from her lineage as Ōtsutsuki Kali.

"There it is," Naruto said, his grin widening as he noticed the transformation in her gaze. He pounded his fists together again, his stance shifting as he prepared for what was to come. "Now we're really fighting."

Hinata allowed herself a small smirk, her confidence bolstered by his praise. For years, she had dreamed of standing on equal footing with Naruto. This was her moment to prove herself—not just to him, but to herself as well. She wouldn't waste it.

As Naruto's chakra surged, Hinata settled into a defensive stance, her hands raised and ready. She didn't move to strike first. Instead, she waited, her calm, calculating demeanor a stark contrast to Naruto's exuberant energy. She wanted to see what he would do, to learn from his movements and adapt accordingly.

"Shuton: Moku Bunshin!" Naruto's voice rang out, clear and commanding, as his chakra flared.

Hinata's sharp eyes widened. The word hadn't been Mokuton—Wood Style—but Shuton—Seed Style. It was subtle, but the difference sent a ripple of unease through her. She had never heard of such a technique.

Naruto's wooden arm—wrapped in white bandages—extended outward like the branch of a tree reaching for sunlight. The arm flexed, the wood beneath the wrappings shifting faintly as it pulsed with life. From the gaps in the bandages, seeds flew like projectiles, streaking through the air in tight arcs before splitting apart.

The seeds didn't just sprout—they exploded outward, roots unraveling into limbs, trunks twisting into torsos, leaves curling into flesh. Twenty clones emerged mid-flight, their bodies fully formed before they even touched the ground.

Hinata's breath hitched. She had always known Naruto had unlocked Wood Style after she helped him reconnect with the remnants of Asura's chakra. But this… this wasn't Wood Style. It was something more.

Earth. Water. Wind.

Not just a Kekkei Genkai, but a Kekkei Tōta—a fusion of three elements.

The clearing filled with Naruto's grinning doppelgängers, their energy palpable and intent clear: surround and overwhelm her.

Hinata exhaled, steadying herself. The natural energy around her pulsed in rhythm with her breath, the world coming into sharper focus through her Nichiren Byakugan. Chakra began to swirl around her hands, taking form as twin lions, their manes rippling like living flames of blue energy.

"Hakke: Juhō Soshiken," she whispered, readying herself for the onslaught. This was the first time Naruto had seen Hinata wield such a technique—something entirely new, entirely hers.

It wasn't just a jutsu. It was a declaration.

The chakra lions roared around her, their forms rippling with raw energy, vibrant and alive. Naruto's eyes widened, sensing the weight of the chakra radiating from her hands. It wasn't just power—it was control, precision honed to perfection. Even without the Byakugan, anyone could see it, the intensity of her chakra made visible by sheer force of output.

Hinata stood firm, her stance rooted like the earth itself. The lions encircling her hands snarled, their jaws snapping with vibrations that cracked the ground beneath them. This wasn't something inherited or passed down through her clan—no, this was something Hinata had created with her own two hands.

It was shape manipulation taken to its peak. The lions weren't just projections of chakra; they were extensions of her body, each movement a seamless blend of grace and destruction. By opening the tenketsu around her palms, she had transformed her hands into conduits, flooding them with chakra so dense it bent the air around her.

Hinata had turned her gentle fist into something primal, something unstoppable. These weren't weapons of precision alone—they were tools of domination, forged from her resolve.

The first wave of clones rushed her head-on, six charging in unison. Hinata's hands moved in a blur, her chakra lions meeting their attacks mid-strike. One clone's punch collided with the lion's maw, only for its energy to drain rapidly, the clone staggering back as though its strength had been sapped entirely. Hinata didn't hesitate, channeling Earth chakra into her lions.

"Doton: Kajujishi!" she called out. The lions grew dense, their chakra weighted like solid stone.

Naruto's sharp gaze caught the shift, the subtle weight of something more. The faint tremor in the ground. The jagged stones that seemed to quake in response to her presence. She had fused her technique with elemental manipulation—earth.

It made sense now—the lions weren't just absorbing chakra. They were grounded, fortified by the raw strength of stone and soil. Their claws sparked as they scraped against the earth, feeding off the natural energy beneath her feet.

Hinata had turned her gentle fist into something primal, something unstoppable. These weren't weapons of precision alone—they were tools of domination, forged from her resolve.

With a heavy swing, she struck the nearest clone, her chakra lion smashing it into two others. The weight and force of the blow sent all three careening into the shattered remnants of a nearby tree, their forms splintering into lifeless wood.

But the clones weren't deterred. Another group of six approached from multiple directions, encircling her and launching coordinated attacks. Hinata adjusted her stance, pivoting with precision as her Byakugan tracked their movements.

"Raiton: Shishinari!" Lightning chakra surged through the lions in her hands next, sparks flying as the energy built to a crescendo. At the last second, she detonated the technique, a blinding flash of light accompanied by a deafening thunderclap that could have been mistaken as the roar of a lion. The sheer force knocked three clones off their feet, the closest one obliterated as the lightning carved through its chest.

The remaining clones leapt into the fray, their movements faster and more erratic. Two advanced from her left flank, while another pair attacked from the rear. Hinata pushed off the ground, flipping backward to create distance.

"Fuuton: Kazetsūga!" Compressing Wind chakra into swirling drills within her lions' jaws, she unleashed them with a sharp thrust. The twin bullets of compressed air tore through four clones at once, the impact scattering splinters and bark across the battlefield.

Her breathing quickened as she landed lightly on a branch, surveying the thinning ranks of clones. Only a handful remained, but their movements were sharper now, more calculated, as if learning and adapting from their fallen comrades. Hinata felt a flicker of respect for Naruto's ingenuity; even in overwhelming numbers, he never allowed his clones to be mindless.

The clones leapt toward her all at once, aiming to force her into a corner. Two came from below, targeting the branch she perched on, while another lunged directly at her from the front, his fist cocked back. Hinata's Byakugan caught the feints instantly, but the sheer coordination was enough to force her into action.

The branch splintered as the clones struck it simultaneously, sending shards of wood scattering. Hinata flipped gracefully into the air, twisting her body to avoid the third clone's punch as it swiped through the space she had occupied moments before. She landed softly on the forest floor, but the clones were already pressing the attack.

One feinted toward her left side while another leapt high, aiming to pin her in place. A third slid low, sweeping toward her legs in a calculated attempt to throw her off balance. Hinata crouched low, twisting her body in a fluid motion to evade their strikes, the chakra lions in her hands glowing brighter as she prepared her counterattack.

She couldn't retreat any further. It was time to end this.

"Suiton: Ashika!" she called out, summoning Water chakra into her palms. A concentrated burst of pressurized water erupted from one lion's maw, striking two clones with enough force to send them hurtling into the trees. They shattered on impact, reduced to puddles of wooden debris.

The remaining clones hesitated, realizing they were all that was left. But Naruto's determination burned through them, and they regrouped, rushing Hinata from all sides in a final coordinated assault.

Hinata held her ground, her Nichiren Byakugan tracking each movement. She waited, her heart pounding as the clones closed in. Five meters. Four. Three. Two—

"Katon: Bakushi!" At the last possible second, she thrust both palms outward, detonating the lions in a fiery explosion. The blast engulfed the clearing, the intense heat and force disintegrating the last of the clones before they could reach her. The shockwave rattled the trees, sending leaves and ash cascading through the air.

As the fire dissipated, Hinata dropped to one knee, her hands now bare and trembling slightly. The chakra lions were gone, their energy expended entirely in the self-detonation. Her breathing was labored, but her resolve remained unbroken.

Despite her exhaustion, a small smile graced Hinata's lips. She straightened, her eyes meeting Naruto's with renewed determination.

All five forms of elemental manipulation. That was what Hinata was now capable of mastering, a feat that elevated her beyond the limits of most shinobi. Each of the five elements had been learned and refined during her pilgrimage to the sacred shrines across the Land of Fire. Each shrine held unique teachings, trials, and guardians that tested her physical endurance, chakra control, and resolve. The knowledge she gained was not merely a gift but something she had earned through dedication and unrelenting effort.

What made these techniques extraordinary wasn't just the mastery of the elements but how she wove them into her signature Juhō Soshiken technique. Inspired by the second dance of the White Lotus, she reimagined the iconic Lion into twin fists, infusing them with elemental chakra to create a fusion of Hyūga precision and elemental devastation. Each element added its own unique properties to the lions, transforming the once-simple enhancement technique into a deadly arsenal of original jutsu.

Naruto had unknowingly given her the perfect opportunity to display her growth by pushing her to use these techniques in rapid succession. This wasn't just about showcasing power—it was proof of how far she had come and how deeply her journey had shaped her. It demonstrated not only her ability to wield the five elements but her ingenuity and adaptability in crafting techniques uniquely her own. Hyūga Hinata was no longer merely a practitioner of traditional Hyūga techniques; she was a force to be reckoned with, a kunoichi who had carved her own path.

"You're awesome as always!" the original Naruto praised, his voice brimming with genuine excitement. He hadn't moved from where he had landed on the tree, standing perfectly still. But it wasn't just stillness—it was as though he had become a part of the world around him, blending seamlessly with nature itself. "Now it's time for me to show you what I've been learning." His tone carried both pride and anticipation as an explosion of energy began to ripple around him.

This wasn't ordinary chakra. It was something far deeper and more primal—the natural energy of the world itself. Just as Hinata had achieved her connection to nature through the teachings of the Hinoshita Clan and Kali's guidance, Naruto had unlocked a similar power in his own unique way. This was Sage Mode, but it bore his unmistakable imprint.

When he opened his eyes, they were no longer the vivid sky blue Hinata had always adored. Instead, they glowed a striking autumn orange, vibrant and alive. His pupils had shifted as well, forming an unusual cross shape. The horizontal slit was wide and thick, reminiscent of a toad's eyes, while the vertical slit was thin and sharp, evoking the piercing gaze of a fox. The combination was both unsettling and mesmerizing, a testament to the strange harmony of his powers.

Hinata relied on the presence of Kali, her previous life, who maintained perfect stillness within the Eight Gates of Nature to mold the natural energy she used. Kali's spirit was her anchor, allowing Hinata to stay in motion without breaking the flow of natural energy. But Naruto's approach was different, tailored to his unique circumstances.

Naruto couldn't draw upon a past incarnation to aid him in this way. Asura's bond with him didn't grant the same kind of spiritual presence that Kali provided for Hinata. But Naruto had found another source of support: Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Though Kurama and Naruto weren't yet close enough to call each other true friends, they had reached a tentative understanding. The seal that separated them restricted Kurama's full power, but it didn't stop the Bijū from gathering and molding natural energy for Naruto to use. This cooperation allowed Naruto to maintain Sage Mode with unparalleled efficiency. Even more impressively, it gave Kurama the chance to funnel small amounts of his own chakra into Naruto, further amplifying the already immense power of the natural energy.

Hinata's mind raced. She had spent years perfecting her ability to combine natural energy with the Eight Gates, pushing her physical and spiritual limits to new heights. But Naruto had bridged an entirely different gap, merging the power of Sage Mode with the overwhelming strength of the strongest tailed beast. It was a convergence of forces that seemed insurmountable.

The two stood at opposite ends of the battlefield, the air between them heavy with the weight of what was to come. Naruto's aura radiated a potent mixture of power and resolve, his chakra intertwining with the natural energy around him in a way that was raw and untamed, yet somehow perfectly balanced. Hinata's Nichiren Byakugan glowed faintly, the white lotus in her eyes blossoming with light as she took in every detail of his transformation.

In her heart, she felt a swell of pride. The boy she had admired for so long had grown into someone truly remarkable—a force of nature in his own right. But that pride was quickly tempered by her resolve. This wasn't the time for admiration. If she wanted to stand beside him as his equal, she had to prove her own strength.

"Let's go, Hinata," he called, his voice echoing with excitement and determination. "Show me everything you've got!"

She met his gaze, her expression calm but resolute. Hinata's hands slowly rose, settling into a defensive stance as her chakra steadied and the faint glow of her Nichiren Byakugan intensified. Her posture spoke louder than words, conveying her readiness and determination. She didn't need to respond—her resolve was unmistakable.

Across the battlefield, Naruto's grin widened, clearly understanding the unspoken message. "Alright, then," he murmured to himself, his energy surging as he prepared to meet her challenge head-on.

He dropped from the tree like a coiled spring releasing its tension, his wooden arm bracing his descent as he landed with a loud thud on the uneven forest floor. Dust and debris scattered outward from the impact, the force of his arrival shaking the ground beneath him. He straightened, his autumn-orange Sage Mode eyes locked on Hinata with sharp focus.

Hinata adjusted her stance, her Byakugan glowing faintly as she tracked the flow of Naruto's chakra, her vision catching the swirling energy around him as it mingled with natural energy. She could feel the intense power radiating from him, a combination of his sheer will and the natural force Kurama helped him channel. Her own chakra pulsed in response, the white lotus blooming faintly in her irises as she braced herself.

Without a word, Naruto launched forward, the ground cracking under the force of his first step. Hinata met him mid-stride, her feet gliding over the earth with the grace and precision of her training. Their palms clashed with a resounding crack, the impact reverberating through the clearing.

Naruto's other fist came from below, a textbook Sage Mode-enhanced uppercut aimed directly for her chin. Hinata pivoted on her heel, deflecting his attack with an open-palm Jyūken strike that sent a ripple of chakra into his forearm. He staggered slightly, but immediately retaliated with a powerful elbow strike from his wooden arm. Hinata twisted her body to avoid the blow, the wood slicing through the air just inches from her shoulder.

The battle turned into a blur of movement. Hinata's hands glowed faintly with the chakra of the Jyūken as she pressed her advantage, aiming for Naruto's tenketsu with pinpoint precision. Naruto, in turn, used the enhanced reflexes and strength of Sage Mode to counter her strikes, his fists surging with raw natural energy that matched the Jyūken's power.

As they clashed, Hinata noticed how strikingly similar their techniques were. The Jyūken relied on precise chakra control, using minimal motion to create maximum effect by disrupting the internal flow of energy. Senpō, or Sage Art, relied on natural energy to enhance the user's strikes, delivering devastating force with each blow. Though the origins of their techniques were different, they mirrored each other in their subtlety and explosive power.

Naruto's fist shot forward, but this time Hinata caught it with her palm, absorbing the natural energy flowing from his strike and redirecting it into her own counter. Her chakra flared as she aimed for his chest, but Naruto spun on his heel, using the momentum to evade and deliver a backhanded strike with his wooden arm. The blow glanced off Hinata's shoulder, forcing her back a few steps, but she recovered quickly, her feet sliding into a stable stance as she prepared to reengage.

The two locked eyes, a silent challenge passing between them. Then, as if responding to an unspoken signal, they surged forward again. Naruto led with a sweeping kick, his Sage Mode reflexes allowing him to transition seamlessly into a spinning elbow strike. Hinata ducked low, her Byakugan tracking the flow of his chakra as she stepped inside his guard, aiming a palm strike at his ribs. He twisted his torso to deflect her blow, countering with a lightning-fast jab that she narrowly dodged. Their movements grew sharper, faster, as they pushed each other to their limits.

Hinata's open palm met Naruto's fist again, the resulting shockwave rippling through the air around them. The ground beneath their feet cracked with the force of their collision. She stepped back to regain her footing, only for Naruto to close the distance again with a barrage of quick strikes, each one enhanced by the swirling natural energy flowing through him. Hinata responded in kind, her chakra-infused strikes precise and relentless. Their techniques collided with such intensity that it seemed the very air around them was vibrating.

Then, just as suddenly as the exchange began, Naruto leaped back, his wooden arm raised defensively. Hinata's chest heaved as she steadied her breath, her Nichiren Byakugan still tracing his every move. She tensed, expecting another charge, but instead, Naruto extended his right hand.

"Rasengan!" he called, his voice carrying through the forest like a challenge.

Hinata's Nichiren Byakugan flared as she observed the chakra in his palm twisting into a tightly packed spiral. The air around Naruto began to change—shifting, moving. The swirling chakra orb disrupted the environment around him, whipping up a gust of wind that sent leaves spiraling into the air. His hair and clothes rustled violently in the currents, the sheer energy of the Rasengan transforming the clearing into a chaotic storm. The glowing sphere in his palm pulsed with life, casting a flickering blue light across his face.

Hinata's breath hitched as she took it all in. She had never seen anything like it before. The chakra compressed into that small, spinning vortex felt infinite, its rotation pulling at the natural energy around it. Her instincts screamed at her, warning her of the destructive power contained within that perfect spiral. But instead of backing away, she straightened her posture.

With a determined expression, she pressed a finger to her temple, activating one of the body's key tenketsu. "First Gate: Gate of Opening—Release," she whispered. A surge of energy coursed through her, her chakra flaring visibly as her muscles tensed in response to the sudden boost in power.

Naruto's Rasengan crackled ominously in his hand, the spiraling orb of chakra growing denser and more intense with every second. The ground beneath him trembled as the swirling mass displaced the air around them, creating gusts of wind that tousled his hair and sent leaves scattering in every direction. The energy in the air felt alive, almost feral, as if the Rasengan itself was daring anyone to come near it.

She shifted her stance, her palms glowing with focused chakra. Her breath steadied as she made her decision. If the Rasengan had a natural tenketsu point—like all other forms of chakra did—then perhaps she could disrupt it. If successful, she could destabilize the attack and neutralize its threat.

Hinata darted forward, her movements a blur as she closed the gap between them. Naruto's eyes widened briefly, but he didn't retreat, instead bracing himself as if daring her to try. Her palm thrust forward with precision, aiming directly for the swirling core of the Rasengan.

The moment her chakra-infused palm connected with the orb, she felt an immediate resistance, like trying to strike the center of a spinning hurricane. The Rasengan's energy coiled violently against her, resisting her attempt to disrupt it.

Then it happened.

Instead of collapsing, the Rasengan exploded outward, its tightly coiled energy unraveling in a catastrophic release. A violent vortex of chakra and wind burst forth, engulfing both combatants. The howling winds tore through the clearing, uprooting smaller trees and scattering debris in every direction. The ground beneath them fractured, the shockwave creating deep fissures in the earth.

Naruto was the first to be caught in the blast. The unleashed energy hurled him backward like a leaf in a storm, sending him crashing through a line of trees. Each impact shattered thick trunks, the splintered wood raining down as he finally disappeared into the distance, obscured by a cloud of dust and smoke.

Hinata fared no better. The vortex caught her mid-strike, lifting her off her feet and spinning her through the air like a doll caught in a whirlwind. She was thrown far, the world around her a blur of motion as her body slammed into a jagged hillside, the force carving a shallow trench in the ground. She gasped sharply, the impact driving the air from her lungs as she lay still for a moment, disoriented.

The vortex dissipated as quickly as it had formed, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Smoke and dust blanketed the battlefield, turning the once-clear air into a dense haze. Hinata coughed, forcing herself onto her hands and knees, her body aching from the landing. Her Byakugan flickered as she scanned her surroundings, searching for any sign of Naruto.

He was gone.

Her gaze swept across the fractured landscape, the swirling trails of natural energy still faintly visible in her vision. She could see the path of destruction the vortex had carved, but Naruto was nowhere in sight. The distance they had been flung apart was staggering, leaving her momentarily isolated.

Hinata exhaled shakily, pushing herself to her feet despite the pain coursing through her body. Her Shrine Maiden robes, though soot-stained and torn in places, remained intact. She steadied her breathing, calming the adrenaline that surged through her veins. Her gaze sharpened as she focused on her surroundings, the world around her feeling eerily quiet.

"Naruto-kun…" she murmured under her breath, scanning the haze for any sign of movement. The sound of cracking wood in the distance caught her attention, her heart leaping as she turned toward the source. She couldn't tell if it was him or just the aftermath of the explosion settling, but her focus tightened as she prepared herself.

The swirling energy from the Rasengan had thrown them apart, but she knew Naruto wouldn't stop until the fight was decided. And neither would she.

Her vision stretched far beyond what the human eye could perceive, reaching into the dense canopy and smoke-choked paths ahead. Though she couldn't see Naruto directly, something else caught her attention—an ethereal glow, faint but unmistakable.

The chakra of Asura.

Naruto's reincarnation of Asura left an imprint on the world, a ripple in the natural energy that lingered wherever he passed. It wasn't something most could notice, but with the Nichiren Byakugan, Hinata could see the trail of chakra as clearly as footprints in freshly fallen snow. The golden energy, tinged with a subtle green, wove through the trees, beckoning her forward.

Hinata leapt into motion, silent and deliberate as she pursued the trail. The forest grew darker as the broken terrain gave way to towering trees and shadowed paths. The echoes of their earlier clash lingered in the air, the destruction evident even here. Her movements were fluid, her mind sharp and focused, each step carrying her closer to her target.

The trail led her to a clearing, where a figure stood still amidst the trees. His stance was relaxed, as if unaware of her presence, bathed in the fading glow of Asura's chakra. Naruto.

Hinata slowed her approach, slipping into the shadows as she prepared to strike. Chakra gathered in her palm, coiling tightly as she honed her focus. The moment was perfect. She lunged forward, her palm aimed with precision at his tenketsu.

Her strike landed, but the figure splintered apart like dried wood. A clone.

Before she could react further, the ground around her pulsed with energy. Her Byakugan caught a sudden surge from all directions—seeds hidden beneath the forest floor, bursting with elemental chakra. Wind and water filled the air, freezing the forest floor and transforming it into something far more dangerous. The seeds sprouted, forming a shimmering dome of ice mirrors, encasing Hinata in a perfect circle.

She turned slowly, her breath steady as her Byakugan scanned the mirrors. Each surface reflected her image and that of Naruto, his reflection staring back with a mischievous grin. The mirrors pulsed faintly with chakra, and the reflections moved—independently and unpredictably, as though alive.

From within the mirrors, Naruto's voice echoed, each reflection speaking in overlapping tones. "Welcome to my newest trick. It's called the Demonic Ice Mirrors. Pretty cool, huh?"

The reflections shifted, darting from one mirror to the next with impossible speed. It was as if Naruto himself was leaping between dimensions, his figure blurring into streaks of orange and gold. The chakra flowing through the mirrors warped the natural energy in the area, making it difficult to sense where he truly was.

"You're probably wondering how I'm pulling this off," the reflections teased, their voices ringing from every direction, layering over one another in an almost mocking chorus. "It's not as complicated as it looks. Ice Style is just a combination of wind and water. My Shuton seeds do all the heavy lifting, just like they did with my clones earlier. Those were earth and water—simple Wood Style. But this?" His grin widened across every reflection, sharp and triumphant. "This is on another level."

The reflections flickered faster now, their movements blurring as they darted from mirror to mirror, their orange tones glowing against the icy surface. Naruto's voice then grew more pensive, though the teasing edge remained. "You know, I remembered this technique because it almost killed me and Sasuke once. Back then, a kid named Haku used it to trap us, and we barely made it out alive. We were two-on-one, and it still felt impossible to break through." His reflection leaned back, folding its arms with an exaggerated air of confidence. "You're strong, Hinata, stronger than we were back then. But let's see if you can do any better."

The taunt lingered in the air, carried by the shifting reflections. The mirrors pulsed faintly, the chakra within them swirling like frost-coated veins, creating a chilling atmosphere that felt stifling even with the open sky above. The forest around her seemed to fade, leaving only the icy prison and Naruto's omnipresent voice.

Hinata didn't respond. She simply adjusted her stance, her eyes narrowing as her Byakugan focused on the seeds embedded in the ice. Each one pulsed faintly, their natural tenketsu glowing like beacons. The mirrors might have been intimidating, but they weren't unbreakable.

Naruto's reflections darted between the mirrors with dizzying speed, each movement a blur that sent faint ripples through the chakra-infused ice. The still air of the dome grew oppressive, the faint hum of energy vibrating just at the edge of hearing. Hinata remained motionless in the center of the formation, her Byakugan scanning every surface and tracking every flicker of motion.

Then, without warning, the mirrors shuddered. From every direction, sharp wooden needles erupted, the splinters glinting in the faint light as they sliced through the air toward her. They were fast—too fast for most shinobi to react to—and came in waves, raining down in unpredictable patterns.

Hinata's feet shifted, her movements subtle but deliberate as she twisted her body to evade. The first volley whistled past her shoulder, splintering harmlessly against the ice behind her. Another volley arced toward her leg, and she leapt, twisting midair to narrowly avoid them.

Her Byakugan was pushed to its limits. While she could track Naruto's movement within the mirrors, the sheer volume of incoming projectiles combined with their erratic patterns made dodging a desperate struggle. Worse, the natural energy in the dome seemed warped, the reflections distorting her ability to read the subtle flow of nature around her.

The first gate gave her speed, but it wasn't enough. The needles came faster, forcing her to dart, twist, and roll, each motion draining her stamina. A splinter grazed her sleeve, tearing the fabric as it passed, and she felt the faint sting of another scrape her leg.

Hinata's breath grew heavier, each movement requiring increasingly precise timing and control. She realized she couldn't keep this up. The oppressive energy of the dome, combined with Naruto's relentless attacks, would overwhelm her eventually.

Her eyes narrowed as she planted her feet firmly on the frozen ground. She pressed her index and middle fingers to the side of her temple, activating the next gate.

"Second Gate: Gate of Rest—Release!"

A burst of energy surged through her, radiating outward in waves that cracked the frozen surface beneath her feet. The strain on her body lessened as her movements became faster and sharper, her chakra flowing more freely.

The next volley of wooden needles shot toward her, but this time Hinata was ready. She darted forward with blinding speed, the needles striking the ground where she had been standing moments before. Her newfound strength allowed her to close the distance to one of the mirrors, her palm glowing faintly as she raised it to strike.

But as she approached, Naruto's reflection leapt to another mirror, his taunting laugh echoing around her. The mirror she targeted remained untouched, forcing her to retreat once more as another barrage of needles came her way.

Her frustration flared, but she forced herself to focus. She had one chance to break free from this technique, and she would need more than just speed and agility to do it.

Naruto's reflections darted faster and faster, the wooden needles raining down in relentless waves. Even with the second gate open, Hinata could feel the strain on her body. Every step, every dodge came with the tearing of muscle fibers, her body pushed beyond its natural limits. The influx of natural energy from the open gate coursed through her, healing the damage almost as quickly as it was inflicted. It was a cycle of pain and repair, each movement a test of her resolve as her body adapted to the overwhelming demands of the battle.

The chakra flowing through her was unlike anything most shinobi could handle. With each pulse of energy, her muscles screamed in protest, only for the regenerative properties of natural energy to soothe the pain a heartbeat later. It was as if she were walking a razor's edge, her every movement a gamble against her own limits.

Her focus was entirely on the natural tenketsu glowing within the mirrors now, each one a seed pulsing with Naruto's chakra. They were the foundation of this technique, and to destroy them, she would need to unleash the first dance of the White Lotus in its entirety.

The blooming lotus in her irises flared as the reflections of the Eight Trigrams appeared faintly across the icy dome, overlaying the mirrors like a luminous blueprint. The pattern guided her vision, highlighting the eight key points anchoring the technique—the points of natural tenketsu that held the entire structure together.

Her stance shifted. Her hands glowed with visible chakra, the intensity building with every passing second. She darted forward, weaving through another barrage of needles with graceful, almost otherworldly precision. Among the countless mirrors surrounding her, the glowing trigrams aligned her strikes, drawing her toward the first seed. The first mirror loomed ahead, and she struck.

"Byakuren: Some no Mai," she began, her voice low but resolute.

Her open palm hit the first seed embedded in the ice. The chakra from her strike surged outward, disrupting the mirror's structure. A faint crack spread across its surface as the seed's energy unraveled. The mirror flickered but didn't shatter completely—not yet.

Naruto's reflections retaliated, needles raining down from above. Hinata ducked, her movements fluid and deliberate as she spun toward the second mirror. Her palm strike hit the next seed, sending another ripple of chakra through the structure. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ice, and the faint glow of the mirror dimmed.

The third strike came mid-dodge as Hinata twisted her body to avoid another volley of needles. Her palm struck true, hitting the seed in the third mirror. The energy in her strike surged outward, fracturing the icy structure. Shards of ice fell, glinting like diamonds in the air, but the surrounding mirrors remained intact, their reflections still darting and taunting.

The fourth and fifth strikes followed in rapid succession. She moved seamlessly through the dome, her Byakugan pinpointing the precise locations of the seeds even as the needles came faster and more erratically. The seeds in those mirrors shattered entirely, their energy dissipating into the air. With each strike, the lotus pattern began to take shape—a glowing design etched into the battlefield itself, radiating from Hinata's position.

The sixth and seventh strikes brought her face-to-face with the overlapping reflections, their movements chaotic as they sought to disorient her. The needles whipped past her, some grazing her robes, but she pressed forward. Her palm found its target with unerring accuracy, disrupting the seeds and sending cracks rippling through the icy dome. Even with the precision of her Byakugan, the constant barrage of needles and the strain of maintaining her gate made each strike harder than the last.

Finally, she reached the eighth seed. The mirrors around it flickered with desperate energy, their chakra surging erratically. Her body trembled under the combined stress of the gates and the cycle of damage and healing, every movement accompanied by sharp bursts of pain. With one final surge of chakra, she delivered the eighth and final strike.

The moment her palm connected, the lotus seal activated. Glowing lines of chakra erupted from the eight targeted seeds, forming an intricate pattern that spread across the icy dome. The seal's energy surged outward, consuming the remaining mirrors in a radiant burst. The untouched mirrors—dozens of them—shattered instantly, their chakra destabilized and obliterated by the completed seal.

The dome collapsed in a cascade of ice and chakra, the shards falling like glittering rain around her. Hinata stood in the center of the clearing, her breath heavy but steady as the glowing lotus slowly faded into the earth beneath her. Her Byakugan scanned the area, searching for Naruto.

From somewhere in the forest, his voice echoed once more, carrying a mixture of admiration and excitement. "You actually broke out of it! Not bad, Hinata. Not bad at all."

The ground beneath Hinata trembled, the glowing tendrils of natural energy through her Nichiren Byakugan catching her attention in every direction. Dozens upon dozens of wood clones erupted from the earth, their movements swift and precise as they surrounded her in a tightening circle. Each clone radiated natural energy, their wooden bodies surging with vitality. These were not the same simple constructs she had faced earlier—they moved with an unsettling purpose.

Hinata's breath hitched as realization dawned. Naruto's earlier banter, the teasing reflections, the deliberate taunts—it had all been a calculated distraction. He had kept her focused on the mirrors while the real Naruto had worked tirelessly in the background, planting seeds across the battlefield. He had been preparing for this moment.

The clones advanced rapidly, their synchronized charge kicking up debris as they closed in. They raised their right hands in unison, spiraling orbs of energy forming in each palm. The swirling chakra glowed with an ominous intensity, the magnetic pull of the orbs causing tiny fragments of metal from the debris to hover around them.

"Jiton: Rasengan!"

The clones shouted in unison, their overlapping voices creating a deafening cacophony. Some were perfectly synchronized, others slightly out of sync, the resulting echoes amplifying the chaos of the scene. The air itself seemed to warp under the oppressive pull of the Rasengan's magnetic field, the orbs humming with raw power.

Through her Nichiren Byakugan, Hinata tracked the flow of energy within each Rasengan. The unique composition of the technique stood out immediately. Wind and earth chakra intertwined within the orbs, their rotation creating a magnetic force that bent the natural energy around them.

The clones surged toward her, their movements a flurry of speed and coordination. Hinata's eyes flickered between each of them, calculating the angle of their charge. Her body tensed as the closest clone lunged, its Rasengan primed to strike.

Without hesitation, she brought her hands together in a sharp seal.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

A shadow clone materialized at her side, and in one seamless motion, it leapt forward and intercepted the nearest wood clone, driving a palm strike into its chest just as the Jiton: Rasengan connected. The swirling orb expanded on impact, black magnetic seals unfurling across the clone's body in a split second. The clone froze, its chakra locked in place, before the vortex tore it apart in a burst of energy.

The memory of the destruction flowed into Hinata's mind. The magnetic seals not only immobilized their target but also destabilized their chakra, leaving them vulnerable to the Rasengan's destructive force. A single touch was all it would take to end the fight—and with dozens of these clones closing in, the odds were overwhelmingly against her.

The swirling masses of chakra gleamed with an ominous light, their magnetic fields crackling with energy. She remembered the earlier transformations: earth and water for Wood Style, water and wind for Ice Style, and now wind and earth for this magnetic element. The versatility of Naruto's Shuton seeds was unlike anything she'd ever seen.

The clones moved relentlessly, their coordination making it impossible to find an opening. Hinata darted backward, twisting and pivoting as the magnetic orbs tore through the air where she had stood moments before. She had to act quickly; every second brought her closer to being overwhelmed.

Her feet skidded against the cracked earth as she dropped low, twisting her body slightly to press her hand firmly against her lower back, just above her waistline.

"Third Gate: Gate of Life—Release!"

The energy within her surged, an explosive burst of power flooding her body. Her muscles screamed in protest, the influx of chakra tearing through her tissue with every movement. Yet as quickly as the damage appeared, the natural energy flowing through her repaired it, the simultaneous cycle of destruction and healing pushing her body to its absolute limit. Each step was agony, but the power it granted was undeniable.

The clones pressed closer, their Rasengans glowing brighter as they coordinated their final charge. Hinata's glowing eyes traced the flow of natural energy beneath the battlefield, pinpointing a powerful tenketsu deep in the earth. It was a convergence point of immense energy, buried far below the surface. It was risky, but it was her best chance. Her muscles tensed, her chakra surging toward her palms.

Hinata crouched low, dodging the nearest attack by a hair's breadth before slamming her palm into the ground. Her chakra surged downward, striking the tenketsu with pinpoint precision.

The earth roared in response to Hinata's strike, its fury unleashed in a cataclysmic shockwave that radiated outward. The ground buckled and tore apart with violent force, splitting into massive fissures that snaked across the battlefield like veins of destruction. Entire sections of the forest floor heaved upward, creating jagged pillars of rock that jutted into the air, while others collapsed into sudden sinkholes that swallowed everything in their path.

Massive trees swayed dangerously, their roots wrenched free from the trembling earth. One by one, they toppled with deafening crashes, their immense trunks slamming into the ground and crushing anything beneath them. The clones, mid-charge, faltered as the chaos erupted around them. They tried to adjust, leaping across the unstable terrain, but the earth itself seemed to conspire against them. Rocks the size of boulders surged from below, slamming together like the jaws of a titan and pulverizing the clones caught between them.

Entire sections of the forest had been uprooted, trees ripped from their foundations and flung like broken spears. The once-stable ground had transformed into a jagged wasteland of shattered earth and fragmented wood. The clones desperately scrambled to reform their ranks, but the relentless quaking made it impossible. Chunks of debris exploded from the ground, smashing through groups of clones, while collapsing fissures dragged others into the depths.

The destruction escalated further as the natural energy unleashed by Hinata's strike continued to ripple outward. Great slabs of rock shifted and collided with thunderous booms, sending shockwaves that rippled through the forest. Streams of water burst from underground reservoirs, creating muddy torrents that swept away anything in their path, clones included. Above the cacophony, the groaning and creaking of trees sounded almost mournful as they gave way to the relentless assault of the earth. It was as though the entire forest had turned against its invaders, exacting a violent toll on everything within its reach.

The last of the clones made a desperate attempt to retreat, leaping toward higher ground, but a massive tree trunk, dislodged by the tremors, swung downward in an unstoppable arc. The wood splintered and shattered as it collided with the earth, crushing the remaining clones beneath its weight. Their forms flickered for a moment before splintering apart, the magnetic Rasengans they carried extinguished in a final burst of fading light.

The dust began to settle, revealing the aftermath of her technique—a battlefield transformed into a jagged wasteland of raw destruction. What was once a serene expanse of towering trees and lush undergrowth was now an unrecognizable scar on the earth. Massive craters marred the ground, their jagged edges glowing faintly from residual chakra. Splintered tree trunks jutted out at odd angles, their roots ripped from the ground, while shattered boulders and piles of debris were strewn everywhere. Streams of water from burst underground reservoirs pooled in the low points, creating muddy rivers that twisted through the ruins. The air hung heavy with the acrid scent of smoke and churned earth, a testament to the sheer force of their battle.

Amidst the devastation, Hinata stood atop a fallen tree trunk, her form silhouetted against the fractured landscape. Her breathing was heavy, her muscles quivering from the strain of the gates, but her stance remained firm. The faint glow of her Nichiren Byakugan still lit her pale eyes, scanning the desolation for any sign of Naruto.

And then, through the haze of dust and smoke, he emerged.

Naruto stepped into the clearing, the ground crunching beneath his sandals as he halted at the far edge of the battlefield. His vest and pants were streaked with dirt and soot, remnants of the chaos they had unleashed on the forest. The faint breeze tugged at his tousled hair, and his blue eyes scanned the destruction before him, taking in the jagged craters, shattered trees, and splintered rocks littering the ground.

His gaze shifted to Hinata, and for a moment, his smirk faltered. Her violet shrine maiden robes, though singed and dusted with soot, still flowed elegantly around her frame, the faint moonlight filtering through the broken canopy catching on the lavender trim. Her hair, longer now and tied with the orange kumihimo cord he had given her, fell gracefully down her back, swaying faintly as she stood her ground. Her pale eyes, glowing with the distinct mark of the Nichiren Byakugan, seemed to pierce right through him. She was radiant, an image of power, determination, and beauty that made his breath hitch.

Naruto quickly buried the thought, clenching his fists at his sides. This wasn't the time to get distracted. This fight was too important—for both of them. He'd been waiting for this, preparing for it in his own way. Over the past two years, he had trained harder than ever, not just to grow stronger, but to make sure he could keep up with her. This wasn't just a spar. It was a chance to show her, to show everyone, that he hadn't fallen behind.

His smirk returned, wider this time, fueled by the anticipation of what was to come. The ground beneath him cracked faintly as he shifted his stance, his body loose but coiled with energy. The air between them buzzed, thick with the unspoken tension of everything that had led them to this moment. This wasn't just another fight—it was a culmination of their growth, their determination, and their connection.

Naruto steadied his breathing, his resolve unwavering. He flexed his wooden arm, the weight of its potential clear in his mind. His gaze sharpened, and he tilted his head inward. "You ready for this, Kurama?"

A deep, rumbling chuckle echoed in his mind. "Am I ready? I've been ready since the moment you decided to drag me into this ridiculous spar." Kurama's voice was laced with mock irritation, but there was an unmistakable edge of pride beneath it.

Naruto rolled his eyes, his smirk widening. "You sure? Don't go slacking off on me now."

Kurama's tails swished lazily in the recesses of the seal, the motion reverberating through Naruto's core. "Slacking off? You're the one who takes my power and flails around like a kid with a new toy. Try not to embarrass yourself."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto muttered aloud, his grin never fading. "Let's just do this."

Over the past two years, their relationship had shifted. They weren't exactly friends—Kurama still found plenty of opportunities to needle Naruto, and Naruto wasn't above throwing a jab right back—but they had grown into something like roommates. They annoyed each other endlessly, but when push came to shove, they worked together like an unstoppable team.

With a deep breath, Naruto called on Kurama's power, feeling it surge through him like a tidal wave of molten energy. The natural energy he had gathered blended with the fox's chakra in a volatile mix, raw and untamed, roaring to life within his body. His wooden arm began to twist and contort unnaturally, sprouting roots and vines that coiled around his torso. The living wood pulsed and expanded, consuming him in a relentless, creeping embrace. It felt both protective and oppressive, as if his own jutsu had turned into a force of nature, trying to crush and remake him simultaneously.

The transformation was anything but smooth. The heat of Kurama's chakra coursed through his veins, burning hot and acidic. Naruto winced as the corrosive energy seared his skin, peeling it away in patches. The pain was sharp and relentless, but before he could register the full extent of the damage, the Mokuton surged in response. The wood fused with his body, regrowing what had been destroyed, smoothing over the raw burns with new flesh and bark-like texture. It was a constant cycle of destruction and restoration, the two forces locked in a delicate and agonizing balance.

Roots erupted from his feet, anchoring him to the cracked earth as the transformation intensified. The wooden arm expanded further, engulfing his frame in a labyrinth of twisting branches and gnarled vines. His body disappeared within the construct, swallowed by the growing mass of wood and chakra. The air around him grew heavy, humming with the unnatural fusion of Mokuton and Kurama's energy. Every movement of the wood felt alive, each creak and groan resonating with the primal force of the transformation.

The fox avatar began to take shape, its massive wooden limbs extending outward like ancient tree trunks. Each step of the transformation felt like a battle, Kurama's corrosive chakra scorching through the wood only for it to regenerate and strengthen in response. The wood creaked as it thickened, veins of glowing red chakra snaking through its joints like molten lava, pulsing with life and intensity.

At the rear-end of the avatar, four enormous flowers bloomed, their petals dark and veined with crimson light. The eerie blossoms echoed that of something prehistoric, each petal shimmering as though carved from obsidian and laced with raw energy. From the pistils of these blooms, pitch-black tails sprouted, their surfaces rippling like liquid shadow. The tails moved with a terrifying grace, swaying in unison like a predator's calculating gaze. Each tail emanated a dense, malevolent aura, their tips crackling with concentrated chakra.

The fox's head, carved from interwoven roots and branches, loomed overhead. Its eyes burned with a predatory glow, twin pools of red that pierced through the destruction around them. Its jaws parted slightly, revealing fangs made of jagged wood reinforced with Kurama's fiery chakra, steam hissing from the corners of its mouth.

Naruto's senses expanded as he settled into the heart of the avatar, his connection to Kurama and the natural energy around him deepening. The weight of the transformation was immense, and every second within it was a test of his endurance. The relentless cycle of damage and healing kept him grounded in the pain, but it also fueled his determination. He gritted his teeth, his smirk returning despite the strain.

Hinata's gaze flickered, her Nichiren Byakugan tracing the intricate flow of chakra within Naruto's towering fox avatar. Despite the awe-inspiring sight before her, she remained calm, her resolve unshaken. Her fingers moved with precision to the proper tenketsu in her spinal cord, just below the heart. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she pressed down, activating the fourth gate with practiced resolve.

"Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain—Release."

The effect was immediate and violent. A surge of chakra erupted from her body, the torrent so intense that the ground beneath her cracked and splintered further. The air warped around her, the overwhelming energy distorting the light into shimmering waves. A pale-blue aura enveloped her, its brilliance pulsating like a living flame. The energy didn't dissipate—it grew, spiraling upward as it began to take form.

Pain coursed through Hinata's body, sharp and unrelenting, as if her muscles were being shredded from the inside out. Her veins pulsed with unnatural intensity, her very cells pushed to their limits by the surge of energy. Yet, even as her body began to break under the strain, the influx of natural energy flooded her, healing the micro-tears in her muscles almost as quickly as they formed. It was a brutal cycle of destruction and renewal, her body caught in a constant state of collapse and restoration. The process was agonizing, but Hinata's expression remained calm, her focus unwavering.

The chakra spiraling around her coalesced rapidly, taking on a definitive shape. A massive lion emerged, its form sleek and ethereal, yet brimming with untamed power. Its mane flowed like rivers of glowing light, each strand rippling with natural energy that shimmered in hues of blue and white. The lion's body was muscular yet elegant, its movements fluid as it stretched its limbs, radiating an aura of fierce majesty. Its paws, each the size of boulders, pressed into the shattered earth with a quiet but imposing weight. Claws of radiant energy extended, carving faint trails into the ground with every shift.

The lion's eyes blazed with an otherworldly brilliance, their intensity reflecting the very essence of Hinata's determination. Within those glowing eyes, patterns reminiscent of the Eight Trigrams pulsed faintly, a testament to the Nichiren Byakugan's influence. The beast's chest rose and fell with every breath, its form seemingly alive as it emitted a low, resonant growl that reverberated through the battlefield.

This was no ordinary construct—it was an extension of Hinata herself, forged through her mastery of natural energy and the brutal power of the Eight Gates. Its movements mirrored her own, precise and deliberate, yet filled with the raw, untamed spirit of the White Lotus. The lion exuded a sense of balance, its radiant form contrasting against the chaotic, hybrid composition of Naruto's fox avatar.

Hinata's body trembled slightly within the heart of the lion, her hands raised in perfect control. Each movement sent ripples through the construct, the energy responding as if it were an extension of her very soul. The pain was ever-present, her body pushed far beyond its limits, but the healing energy coursing through her ensured that she endured.

The lion stood tall, its massive frame towering almost as high as Naruto's fox. The once-vast clearing felt smaller now, compressed under the overwhelming presence of the two colossal constructs. The ruined terrain around them, with its jagged craters and fallen trees, only emphasized the sheer scale of the battle. The remnants of the forest loomed in the distance, their shadowed canopy now a mere backdrop to the titanic confrontation.

Across the battlefield, Hinata's lion locked eyes with Naruto's fox, its glowing gaze filled with unwavering resolve. The energy between them crackled, heavy and oppressive, as if the world itself held its breath. The ground trembled beneath their weight, the tension between the two avatars radiating outward in waves. For a brief moment, the destruction around them seemed insignificant, the focus narrowed entirely on the monumental clash that was about to unfold.

"Byakuren: Tsugi no Mai—Akejishi!"

"Kurama: Mokuton Mode!"

The two voices rang out simultaneously, their cries resonating across the battlefield as the colossal chakra lion and the towering wooden fox surged forward. Their massive forms collided with an earth-shaking crash, the impact sending a shockwave rippling outward. The ground beneath them fractured further, great fissures spreading like spiderwebs. Trees far beyond the immediate clearing swayed violently, their trunks groaning under the force of the collision.

Naruto grinned within the fox avatar, his hands gripping the interior roots that connected him to the construct. The wooden fox lunged, its massive claws swiping downward with enough force to cleave through the earth.

The chakra lion leapt away at the last second, its nimble frame twisting in midair, leaving only a crater where it had been moments before. Naruto's grin widened as he adjusted the fox's stance, driving its weight forward and sending another titanic blow toward the lion. He felt every step, every swing, every rumble of the earth beneath Kurama's wooden paws. The sheer weight of the beast's movements was exhilarating—a primal, unrelenting power that resonated with the deepest parts of his being.

The forest around them became a chaotic storm of destruction. Each swing of Kurama's massive wooden limbs sent shockwaves through the air, toppling trees as if they were twigs. Massive roots burst from the earth as the fox's tails lashed out, their sheer force uprooting everything in their path. Even the towering trees of the Forest of Death—normally so resilient—splintered and fell like dominos under the fox's onslaught.

Naruto laughed, his voice echoing within the construct. "This is what I'm talking about, Hinata!" he shouted, though he doubted she could hear him over the deafening roars of their avatars. The fox charged forward, its massive wooden frame creaking as it pushed through the dense forest, each step carving massive craters into the ground. It felt as if the entire forest quaked beneath Kurama's advance.

From within the avatar, Naruto could feel Hinata's movements through the way her lion evaded him. The chakra construct was fast—almost impossibly so—its fluid movements more akin to a flowing river than a living beast. Each leap was a blur of light, its form darting through the trees with an elegance that seemed at odds with its immense size. Yet, Naruto could sense its strikes lacked the raw force that Kurama wielded.

"Gotcha!" Naruto growled as he sent the fox's claws slamming into the earth again. The resulting impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, uprooting a cluster of trees and sending them crashing into the lion's path. The chakra beast twisted and bounded away with a grace that left Naruto momentarily awed.

But he was reveling in this battle—every second of it.

Hinata's lion darted back into the thick of the forest, disappearing among the towering trees that still stood untouched by their rampage. Naruto adjusted his grip on the roots connecting him to the fox, his grin turning feral. "You're not getting away that easy," he muttered, willing Kurama forward.

The wooden fox let out a guttural, feral roar, its tails lashing behind it as it barreled through the dense forest. Its bulk crashed through the towering trees, splintering them like matchsticks. Naruto felt the vibrations of every shattered trunk, every massive footfall that left craters in its wake. The destruction was intoxicating.

Each step brought him closer to Hinata's retreating lion, the chase igniting a thrill in Naruto that he hadn't felt in years. The battlefield—the Forest of Death itself—was transforming into their personal arena, its ancient trees falling one after another as the fox pursued its prey. Kurama's wooden claws tore through the undergrowth, each footfall shaking the earth and leaving deep craters in the ground. But then, without warning, the lion darted into an especially dense thicket, vanishing into a labyrinth of towering, tightly packed trees.

Naruto urged Kurama forward, but the thick web of ancient trunks and massive roots slowed their pace. The fox's wooden limbs groaned as they twisted and strained to maneuver through the natural maze. Unlike the clearing, where Kurama's sheer size and weight dominated, the forest canopy now favored Hinata's agility and precision. The towering trees were too tightly packed to simply knock aside.

Hinata's lion suddenly emerged from the shadows, attacking from the side. It darted low, its claws striking Kurama's hind leg in a sweeping motion. The attack left a deep gash in the wooden limb, chakra sparking and flaring as the damage pulsed through the fox's body. Kurama let out a guttural roar, his massive frame trembling as the blow forced his weight to shift awkwardly.

The fox stumbled, his hind leg buckling slightly under the force of the strike. To regain balance, Kurama reared up onto his hind legs, his wooden body groaning under the strain. His front limbs stretched wide for stability, his claws digging into the cracked earth beneath them.

Before Kurama could fully recover, the lion appeared again, this time from the front. It charged head-on, its glowing mane flaring with intensity as it leapt upward, its claws aimed at Kurama's chest. The lion's strike landed squarely, sending splinters flying and carving a jagged groove into the fox's wooden torso. Kurama staggered back, his limbs creaking under the force of the blow. Naruto felt the impact resonate through their shared connection, his jaw tightening as he fought to maintain control.

By the time Kurama adjusted, the Akejishi was gone. It appeared again a moment later, darting behind them, targeting the base of the massive wooden tails. With a ferocious swipe, its claws raked across the chakra-imbued flowers, sending bursts of red and black chakra scattering like embers in the wind.

Naruto clenched his fists, his irritation mounting as the lion struck faster than they could react. "She's fast…" he admitted, his voice laced with grudging respect, trying to adapt to the lion's guerilla tactics.

Kurama snarled in agreement, his wooden limbs creaking as he shifted to cover his weakened flanks. But the Akejishi reappeared almost instantly, leaping onto a massive fallen tree trunk and using it as a springboard to launch itself at Kurama's face. The fox barely managed to tilt his head in time, the lion's claws grazing one glowing red eye before it vanished yet again into the forest's embrace.

"She's playing us," Kurama growled, his tone equal parts frustration and grudging admiration. "That lion's got the whole forest on its side."

"Damn it, where is she?" Naruto muttered, gripping the roots that linked him to the fox avatar. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest through Kurama's glowing red gaze. The fox's massive wooden ears twitched, straining to pick up the faintest sound of movement.

The thrill of the chase was giving way to mounting irritation as the Akejishi struck again—this time from above. It leapt from the canopy, crashing down onto Kurama's back with enough force to send the fox staggering. The impact echoed through the forest, splintering nearby trees and leaving deep cracks in the earth.

Naruto gritted his teeth as Kurama roared, thrashing to shake off the lion. The wooden fox spun, its massive tails whipping through the air, but the Akejishi had already disappeared again. Hinata's precision was unnerving, her strikes calculated to weaken without overcommitting. The lion's sleek form darted through the shadows, its chakra mane glowing faintly as it circled Kurama like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

Naruto winced, gripping the roots tighter. "Kurama, enough waiting around. Let's end this."

"Gladly," the fox growled, his wooden body beginning to tremble. Bubbles of chakra emerged from the glowing red joints and tails, a volatile mix of blue, red, and black energy swirling chaotically. Naruto felt the heat intensify, Kurama's power surging to its peak.

The fox's massive wooden jaws creaked open, the sharp edges splintering as they unhinged further to accommodate the swirling mass of chakra forming in front of their maw. The energy condensed into a dense sphere, far more potent than any Rasengan Naruto had ever created. They consumed it, the sheer weight of the Bijū-dama compressed Kurama's mass, causing the ground beneath them to collapse slightly under the pressure.

Naruto gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his brow as he guided Kurama's movements. The fox's ears twitched, picking up the faintest rustle from their right flank. "There!" Naruto and Kurama's voices overlapped as the massive wooden neck craned just enough to aim.

"Bijū-dama!"

The sphere exploded outward, releasing a beam of pure orange energy that carved a burning path through the forest. The sheer force of it flattened everything in its trajectory, the shockwave preceding it uprooting trees and tearing apart the earth. Naruto felt the immense power radiating from the attack, a stark reminder of how far he had come since the days he could barely manage a simple Rasengan.

Hinata's lion dropped low, barely evading the attack as it roared overhead. The beam struck the old central tower of the Forest of Death—once the stage for their Chūnin Exam preliminaries—and obliterated it in an instant. The structure vanished in a blinding explosion of light, the shockwave ripping through the surrounding forest.

Naruto shielded his eyes from the brilliant flash, feeling the heat wash over him even from a distance. When the light faded, half the forest was gone, replaced by a massive crater that stretched for miles. Smoke and ash billowed into the air, and the once-proud tower was nothing more than a memory. The fractured earth glowed faintly, the heat from the explosion still palpable. Half the forest was gone, its towering trees reduced to jagged stumps and smoldering debris, the scene a testament to the power they had unleashed.

Naruto scanned the battlefield, searching for any sign of Hinata's Akejishi amidst the wreckage. But it was gone. No glowing mane, no sleek form darting through the shadows—just silence and emptiness where she had been moments ago.

A small grin tugged at his lips, not out of relief but anticipation. He had seen her Akejishi narrowly dodge the blast, its movements just fast enough to escape destruction. By the time the light had faded, it had vanished completely, leaving no trace behind.

"Now that's more like it," the fox said, his tone laced with amusement. "Bet she's rethinking that hit-and-run strategy now."

Naruto's smirk faded as Itachi's stern warning echoed in his mind: If your attacks reach beyond the Forest of Death, you'll both be disqualified. No exceptions. He sighed, placing a hand to his face in exasperation. "You do remember what he said, right? Disqualifying both of us isn't exactly how I want this to end, you know."

Kurama snorted, his deep voice tinged with dry humor. "And what was the alternative? Sit back and let her run circles around us? Besides, if you're both so worried about the rules, maybe she shouldn't have started this forest-clearing contest."

Naruto rolled his eyes, scanning the smoldering battlefield for any sign of Hinata's lion. "Yeah, yeah. Just… try not to completely level Konoha, alright? We've still got a match to finish."

"Then stop whining and focus," Kurama shot back. "If she's still standing—and she will be—you'd better believe she's about to bring her own version of hell."

Naruto nodded, his confidence renewed despite the weight of their destructive exchange. The tension in the air was palpable, and he couldn't deny the exhilaration coursing through him. This wasn't just a fight—it was a reckoning, and the next move was already in motion.

Kurama crouched low, his massive wooden frame groaning as the Bijū-dama began to form once more. Red, blue, and black chakra bubbled and swirled, condensing into a dense, volatile sphere between his jaws. The energy radiating from the growing orb warped the air around it, creating shimmering waves of heat that rippled across the battlefield. The oppressive power pressed down on everything, suffocating and undeniable, as if the very atmosphere held its breath.

The sphere grew denser with every second, the mix of natural energy and Kurama's chakra coalescing into a weapon of unimaginable destruction. As the vibrations of its creation spread outward, a sudden surge of motion drew Naruto's gaze. From deep within the trench carved by their last attack, a streak of white light erupted—a blazing comet tearing through the smoky haze of the ruined forest.

It was the Akejishi.

The lion's form was majestic, its luminous mane trailing behind like flowing stardust as it surged across the fractured terrain. Each step was thunderous, the sheer force of its momentum sending tremors rippling outward, shattering already fragile earth. Trees cracked and toppled under the weight of its passage, the ground itself seeming to buckle under its titanic strides.

But as it neared, the Akejishi's form began to shift. Its body shimmered, the glowing mane scattering into fragments of radiant light. The chakra began to unravel mid-stride, its elegant shape dissolving into brilliant streams of energy that flowed upward, converging on a single point.

Hinata.

Emerging from the heart of the dissipating lion, she was a streak of motion, her figure propelled forward by the very essence of the Akejishi. The streams of chakra coiled around her like a tempest, fueling her movements as her speed surged to impossible levels. The air cracked and fractured in her wake, the deafening shockwaves of her sonic booms rippling across the battlefield. Each crack was a testament to her immense power, the very sound of her approach tearing through the chaos.

Naruto's eyes widened in alarm, his focus shifting to the rapidly approaching blur. "She's using the Akejishi to launch herself!" he shouted, his voice barely cutting through the roar of chakra.

Kurama's growl reverberated in Naruto's mind, tinged with urgency. "She's insane! Finish the shot—now!"

But Hinata moved too fast. Her speed was no longer human; she was a streak of light, a force of nature closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

Before they could adjust their aim, she was upon them. With an explosive burst of chakra, Hinata landed with precision on Kurama's open maw, her form poised and unyielding. Standing directly before the glowing, unstable Bijū-dama, her Nichiren Byakugan flared to life, the faint bloom of a lotus in her left eye radiating with an otherworldly brilliance.

A spectral shield erupted from her left eye, shimmering into existence like a divine apparition. Its surface was smooth and reflective, swirling with faint patterns that seemed to echo the flow of the universe itself. The Yata Mirror wasn't merely a tool of defense—it was a weapon of perfect precision, its ethereal energy crackling as it met the chaotic spirals of the unfinished Bijū-dama.

"Yata no Kagami," the silent invocation of its name reverberated through the battlefield like an unspoken truth.

Naruto and Kurama froze, the realization striking like a thunderclap. Hinata's strategy had become terrifyingly clear—she hadn't just planned to block the attack. She had waited, timing her move for the exact moment the Bijū-dama's energy reached the point of no return. The orb had grown too volatile, its swirling chakra a chaotic storm that could no longer be contained. It had surpassed the threshold where it could be safely dispersed. The energy, coiled and frenzied, was a ticking bomb, and it could only be released in one direction.

The beam erupted out of their control, a searing column of orange and white energy tearing through the air with devastating power. The ground beneath them buckled, the force of the release creating shockwaves that rippled outward, shattering the already ruined terrain.

The Bijū-dama never left Kurama's maw. Instead, it collided directly with the Yata Mirror.

The spiraling energy of the Bijū-dama met the shield's reflective power, and for an instant, it seemed as though the attack might stabilize. But the balance of energy was too fragile. The chaotic chakra, trapped in the confined space, collapsed inward, compressing to a critical mass before detonating with catastrophic force.

The explosion was instantaneous, a blinding flash of orange and white erupting from Kurama's maw. The force consumed everything in its immediate vicinity, obliterating the ground beneath them and sending shockwaves that rippled outward for miles. The battlefield vanished in an instant, the towering trees of the forest disintegrating into ash and debris. The roar of the explosion was deafening, its power shaking the heavens and the earth alike.

What happened next, neither of them could say. There was a flash of pure white light, brighter than the sun, and then… nothing. No sound, no sensation, no awareness. It was as if they had been swallowed by a void, floating in an infinite sea of darkness. There was no sense of self, no connection to their previous lives, no physical forms—just an overwhelming nothingness.

For a moment, Hinata thought the void might not be so bad. It was quiet, free of the crushing weight of expectations, responsibilities, and the looming threats she knew awaited her in the real world. But even in this emptiness, something stirred deep within her—a reminder of the people she loved, the promises she had made, and the things she was determined to protect. That resolve called her back, and soon after, so did a voice.

"Nee-sama!" Hanabi's desperate cry pierced through the void, dragging Hinata back into reality. The return to consciousness was immediate—and excruciating. Pain erupted in every fiber of her body, an unrelenting reminder of the sheer force of the blast.

Hinata gasped, her eyes snapping open as she struggled to breathe. Each inhale sent sharp, stabbing pain through her ribs, and every exhale was accompanied by a wet, rattling sound. It felt as though her lungs had been crushed, her chest tight and unyielding. Her body trembled with every shallow breath, and for a moment, even moving her fingers seemed like an insurmountable task. The air around her was thick with the acrid stench of smoke and scorched earth, every scent an assault on her senses.

Her surroundings slowly came into focus, blurred at first, but sharpening with the faint light of the moon. The once-vast forest where the fight had begun was now an unrecognizable wasteland. Massive craters pockmarked the scorched earth, their edges jagged and raw. Steam and smoke curled lazily into the night sky, rising from the charred remains of ancient trees that had been uprooted, vaporized, or reduced to skeletal husks. Jagged rocks jutted out of the ground at odd angles, some fused together as though melted by the sheer heat of the blast.

Above her, the sky had darkened completely. The sun had long since set, leaving only the pale, cold glow of the moon to illuminate the devastation. The silvery light reflected off the broken landscape, giving it an otherworldly, almost ethereal quality. Yet the destruction was all too real, the Forest of Death reduced to ruins. By some miracle, the chaos and destruction had stopped just shy of the forest's boundaries, leaving the towering chain-link fence intact. It was as though the clash of their powers had been contained by an invisible force, sparing the world beyond.

Through her Nichiren Byakugan, Hinata forced herself to focus inward, scanning her own body first. Her muscles felt like they had been shredded apart and stitched back together haphazardly. Her chakra network was frayed and weak, like a delicate web on the verge of breaking. Yet, somehow, she was alive. The Yata Mirror, its spectral form still faintly lingering in her left eye, had absorbed much of the Bijū-dama's energy. The Akejishi's remaining chakra had also shielded her, acting as a final buffer. But even with these protections, the blast had thrown her like a ragdoll, slamming her into the fractured earth and leaving her sprawled at the edge of the obliterated battlefield.

Every inch of her body screamed in protest as she tried to move. Her muscles felt locked in place, her joints stiff and unresponsive. Her arms trembled as she pushed herself up slightly, coughing violently. A hot, metallic taste filled her mouth as bright red blood spilled from her lips, splattering across the scorched grass beneath her. The taste of iron clung to her tongue, and she grimaced, her vision swimming. Her Shrine Maiden robes, though singed and coated in soot, had miraculously remained intact, their reinforced threads holding firm against the destruction.

She wasn't alone. Through the haze of pain, she spotted Naruto just a short distance away. He was slumped against a tree—a blackened husk barely recognizable as once having been alive. His breathing was shallow and labored, his chest rising and falling unevenly. The Chũnin vest he had worn was gone, incinerated in the blast, and the black spandex beneath was riddled with burns and tears. Patches of raw, red skin glistened in the moonlight, his wounds slow to heal as Kurama's chakra and the natural energy they had gathered were nearly depleted.

"Nee-sama!"

Hanabi's voice shattered the eerie silence, drawing Hinata's gaze toward the chain-link fence in the distance. Her younger sister stood pressed against it, her small fists clenched tightly around the links as though she might tear her way through. Her wide, panicked eyes reflected the faint glow of the battlefield, and her voice trembled with desperation. Behind her, the other spectators stood frozen in awe, their faces pale with disbelief. Even the most experienced veterans among them seemed shaken, their composure cracked by the overwhelming display of power they had just witnessed.

Hinata tried to answer, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, a fresh wave of pain racked her body, forcing her to collapse back onto the ground. Her hands curled into the dirt, clawing at the earth as she struggled to push herself upright. The effort sent a burning agony through her arms and legs, her muscles barely obeying her commands. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she coughed again, blood staining the corner of her mouth.

Forcing herself through the pain, she finally managed to sit up. The healing effects of the gates were gone, leaving her body to recover at a painfully slow pace.

Naruto stirred, his body shifting against the tree for support. He gingerly stepped away, his movements slow and unsteady. His legs wobbled beneath him, but he managed to catch himself before falling. His burnt-orange eyes, glowing faintly in the moonlight, locked onto Hinata's. His expression was tired, the exhaustion evident in his every movement, but his resolve remained unbroken.

For a long moment, the two of them simply stared at each other, the distance between them reduced to nothing by the intensity of their gazes. They were battered, broken, and barely standing, but neither of them was willing to stop. Both knew the fight wasn't over, and despite the toll it had taken, their determination burned as brightly as ever.

Itachi, alone, stood inside the fence with them, his figure still and unreadable as he observed the aftermath. When Hinata's gaze met his, there was a silent question in his eyes—a choice offered without words: Do you wish to forfeit? She shook her head slowly, pushing herself further upright, her body trembling with effort.

Naruto mirrored her, his stance steadying as he straightened his back. The two of them nodded at each other, a silent promise passing between them. There was no retreat, no hesitation. Only one final act remained to decide the victor.

Neither had the strength for grand, devastating techniques anymore. Their most powerful weapons had been spent, leaving them with only their will and what little chakra remained. Now, victory would come down to precision, to determination—and to the final, decisive blow.

Strength returned to their battered bodies, if only just enough to move. Slowly, both Naruto and Hinata raised their right hands, extending their index and middle fingers in the seal of confrontation. Their movements were shaky, each motion a struggle against the weight of exhaustion. They held the pose for several seconds, waiting for a signal that might never come.

Then, as if the battlefield itself decided to intervene, a sudden gust of wind blew through the night sky. The air was no longer crisp; it carried the acrid tang of ash and smoke. The leaves that had once danced with vibrant life were now little more than burnt crisps, scattering like blackened confetti across the scarred terrain. The gust ruffled their clothes and blew strands of hair across their faces, lifting embers from the charred earth.

That was the signal. Without hesitation, Naruto and Hinata moved, their bodies driven more by sheer will than by strength.

"Moku Bunshin!" Naruto's voice rang out as he threw down six seeds with trembling hands. Each seed struck the ground and sprouted instantly, forming wooden clones that emerged like specters from the earth. Though his movements lacked the explosive energy of earlier, there was no hesitation in his actions. The clones charged together, their coordinated steps pounding against the fractured ground with the weight of determination.

The original Naruto hung back slightly, his focus on forming his trump card. Hinata, however, had no time to analyze. The clones came at her in waves of two, their movements deliberate and relentless.

Two charged her from the front, their wild haymakers aimed at her head. Hinata's Nichiren Byakugan flared as she crouched low, reading their trajectories with practiced precision. She twisted her body sharply, her arms shaking with the effort as she dodged their fists by mere inches. The clones barrelled past her, but there was no reprieve.

Two more lunged at her from the sides, aiming to catch her in a pincer. Hinata forced chakra into the soles of her feet, the effort making her legs feel like they were on fire. At the last second, she pushed off the ground, leaping high into the air and twisting her body mid-flight to narrowly avoid their grasp. The clones skidded to a halt below her, their momentum momentarily throwing them off balance.

As Hinata ascended, the two remaining clones sprang into action. They used the first pair as springboards, leaping off their shoulders with practiced synchronization to pursue her in the air. Their fists swung upward in an arcing strike, aiming to intercept her mid-dodge.

Hinata spun sharply, her body straining against the effort. Though her movements lacked the fluidity of earlier, they were still precise enough to avoid the attack by a hair's breadth. She completed her rotation with a backflip, propelling herself just out of their reach.

Her feet hit the ground with a heavy thud, the impact rattling through her battered legs. The earth beneath her felt unstable, and her body screamed in protest as she struggled to stay upright. Every movement cost her dearly, her muscles trembling under the strain, but she forced herself to hold her ground. Yet, the clones didn't falter.

From behind, the first two clones were already charging again, their wooden arms outstretched. Hinata pivoted, her feet skidding on the scorched ground as she dropped into a sweeping kick. The motion wasn't as smooth as it should have been, but it was enough. The clones stumbled and fell, momentarily thrown off balance.

Before she could catch her breath, two more clones rushed her, coming in low and fast, their strikes aimed at her midsection. From above, the final pair launched themselves, aiming to pin her from both directions. Hinata slid toward one of the low clones, her trembling hands just managing to grab its arm. With a desperate burst of strength, she twisted and flipped it into the air, sending it hurtling into the descending pair. The three forms collided in a chaotic tangle of limbs before crashing to the ground in an explosion of wood fragments and fading chakra.

Hinata's breathing was ragged now, her body moving on instinct alone. Her muscles screamed in protest, feeling as though they were tearing apart with every motion. Her chakra reserves were dangerously low, her vision flickering with the strain. But still, the clones didn't stop.

The original Naruto had been hanging back, his movements deliberate as he worked to complete his attack. Now, with the swirling vortex of energy finally stabilized in his hand, he stepped forward, the sheer magnetic force of the spiraling chakra crackling in the air around him. The glowing sphere hummed with power, its presence a threat that could not be ignored.

"Jiton: Rasengan!"

The clones redoubled their efforts, their movements syncing perfectly with Naruto's advance. They rushed at her from all directions, their coordinated assault leaving no room to maneuver. Hinata's mind raced as her Nichiren Byakugan tracked their paths, but they were closing in. There was no opening, no escape.

One clone lunged at her from the front, forcing her to twist and flip over it, her body aching with every movement. She landed hard, her knees buckling slightly under the impact, but she pushed forward, determined not to lose momentum. Before she could catch her breath, another clone came at her from the side, its fist swinging in a wide arc. Hinata ducked low, the effort sending sharp pain through her legs, and retaliated with a palm strike that sent the clone staggering back—but it didn't dispel.

As she straightened, another clone closed in from behind, its hand just grazing her shoulder. She pivoted sharply, her foot catching loose gravel that slid beneath her. The momentary slip gave the remaining clones their opening.

She found herself directly in their path, their arms outstretched to grab her. She stumbled, her footing faltering for the first time as her strength began to waver. She barely dodged another set of hands reaching for her, her body twisting awkwardly to avoid capture. A lone thought pierced the haze of her exhaustion: There was no way out of this.

The original Naruto stood at the edge of the chaos, the spiraling Magnetic Rasengan humming ominously in his hand. The glowing vortex pulsed with volatile energy, the seals within it ready to bind her completely. It was the trump card to end this battle. Meanwhile, Hinata had nothing. Her energy was nearly depleted, her body screaming in protest with every movement, and her mind reeled at the sheer impossibility of her situation.

No energy. No strategy. No path to victory. What could she even do now?

Her Byakugan tracked the advancing clones, their coordination tightening with every step as they closed the distance. Her gaze flicked to Naruto, his presence commanding and his eyes blazing with focus. He had always been the one to surprise his opponents, the one to turn impossible situations on their heads with sheer ingenuity and willpower.

When had she ever been the one to surprise him?

The thought struck her like lightning. Could she? Would that even work? The idea seemed absurd, but as the clones lunged at her once more, she had no time to second-guess herself. She spun back, just narrowly avoiding their grasp, her feet skidding against the scorched earth.

There was no more room for hesitation. She was a kunoichi of the Leaf, and that meant using every tool, every ounce of willpower to achieve victory—no matter how impossible the odds.

Hinata came to a halt, her legs trembling but steadying beneath her. Her hands rose to a defensive stance, the resolve in her gaze hardening. She wasn't going to run anymore. She wasn't going to back down.

Naruto tilted his head slightly, the Rasengan in his hand casting flickering light across his face. He seemed to catch the finality in her stance, the unyielding determination in her eyes. His lips curled into a small, knowing smirk.

They both knew this was it—the last exchange of a battle that had pushed them both to their limits.

And then, she felt it. A pair of hands erupted from the ground beneath her feet, a hidden clone having burrowed silently into position while she was preoccupied. Its grip was iron, locking onto her ankles and rooting her in place. She gasped, trying to pull free, but the other clones closed in from all sides, their hands seizing her arms with unrelenting force.

Hinata's heart pounded in her chest, panic threatening to overtake her. She was utterly trapped. Her Nichiren Byakugan flickered as she searched desperately for an opening, but there was none. Naruto's grin wasn't mocking—it was filled with determination and respect. He was going to win.

The original leapt, the Rasengan in his hand blazing like a small sun. The fight was about to end, and Hinata was out of options.

Or so she allowed him to believe. The Nichiren Byakugan could see everything, even underground. She had known the clone was tunneling toward her and had been ready for this exact moment.

"Jyūken!"

Chakra exploded outward from Hinata's palms, arms, and legs in a full-radius burst. The invisible energy rippled like a shockwave, striking the clones around her. Their bodies seized as the pulse disrupted their chakra pathways, loosening their grips and sending them staggering. The strain of releasing so much energy in her weakened state caused her knees to buckle slightly, but she remained upright.

It wasn't enough.

Naruto had already closed the distance. She could feel the heat and magnetic pull of the Rasengan as it whirled in his outstretched hand, ready to strike. Her body screamed in protest as she struggled to raise her arms to defend herself—but she was too slow.

Yet she didn't retreat.

Instead, Hinata leapt forward. It wasn't to dodge or counter, but something far more audacious. With one final burst of resolve, she closed the gap between them and captured Naruto's lips in hers.

The world seemed to freeze.

The battlefield fell silent, the distant rustling of burned leaves and the smoldering remains of the forest fading into nothingness. Time itself seemed to pause, and for the briefest of moments, there was no battle, no destruction, no audience. Just Hinata and Naruto, their forms locked in a gesture so unexpected and intimate that even the ever-unpredictable Naruto stood paralyzed.

His mind went blank, the heat of the Rasengan fading into irrelevance as the emotions behind her kiss overwhelmed him. It wasn't desperation that drove her. No, he could feel it—the weight of two years' worth of feelings poured into this singular moment. The love, the hope, the pain, and the longing. It wasn't something he could ignore, nor something he had ever been prepared to face in the middle of a fight.

Hinata's own heart raced, but not with fear or hesitation. She felt no shame, no embarrassment, no second-guessing. Her actions, though bold, felt natural—as if this was always how it was meant to happen. The warmth of the moment sent butterflies soaring through her chest, yet her mind remained focused, her body moving with deliberate intent.

As Naruto froze, Hinata's palm found its mark: his navel, right over the seal that housed Kurama. Chakra surged from her fingers in precise waves, targeting the natural tenketsu around the seal. With one decisive motion, she disrupted the pathways, locking the seal temporarily and cutting off Naruto's access to Kurama and the natural energy that had been sustaining him.

The kiss broke, and Hinata pulled back, their eyes meeting for a fleeting second. Naruto's lips parted as if to speak, but she silenced him with a soft smile, sweet yet resolute. There was no malice, no regret in her expression—only a quiet determination and the satisfaction of finally catching him off-guard.

"Senpō: Jyūken."

The chakra gathered in her palm erupted. The burst of energy struck Naruto like a tidal wave, sending him hurtling backward. A trail of white chakra remnants lingered in the air, dissipating like faint mist in the moonlight. The force of the strike drove him into the same charred tree he had leaned on earlier, the impact splintering its blackened husk and forcing blood from his mouth.

Hinata stumbled slightly, her legs trembling beneath her, but she stayed standing. Her Nichiren Byakugan flickered, the lotus dimming as her chakra reserves reached their limit. She didn't need to check the damage to know that this was the end—for both of them.

Naruto, battered and gasping for breath, managed to brace himself against the tree. His knees buckled, but he refused to fall. His autumn-hued eyes, now fading back to their familiar sky blue, met hers across the ruined clearing.

Even now, the fire of competition burned brightly within him. He tried to step forward, but the tree behind him bore most of his weight.

Before either could make another move, a new presence appeared between them.

"That's enough."

Itachi's voice rang through the clearing, calm yet commanding, cutting through the haze of pain and exhaustion. Naruto's eyes flicked toward the Fifth Hokage, his brow furrowing in defiance even as his body screamed at him to stop. Hinata barely managed to remain upright, swaying slightly as her trembling legs struggled to keep her standing.

Naruto, however, wasn't ready to concede—not yet. "I can keep going," he wheezed, each word forced out with painstaking effort. His chest heaved, and his knees wobbled, but the fire in his eyes burned just as brightly as ever.

"And how do you plan to do that?" Itachi asked, one eyebrow raising slightly. His tone carried a quiet skepticism, as if to remind the blond that he no longer had access to Kurama or the natural energy that had fueled him throughout the fight. Not that such details had ever stopped Naruto before.

"Watch me," Naruto declared, pride coloring his voice as he pushed himself off the tree he had been leaning on. For a moment, it looked like he might actually pull off the impossible—until his legs buckled beneath him. He wobbled once, twice, and then collapsed face-first into the dirt with a loud thud.

There was a long pause. Naruto, ever the picture of stubborn determination, continued to struggle against gravity, his arms twitching as he tried to push himself up. "…Yeah, alright," he finally muttered, his voice muffled against the ground. "I think you might have a point this time."

Even in defeat, Naruto couldn't help but be Naruto—the unpredictable, hyperactive knucklehead Hinata had always admired. A small, exhausted laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Itachi let out an exasperated sigh, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his otherwise composed expression. "Stubborn as always," he muttered, stepping toward the fallen Naruto. With a single glance, Itachi confirmed that the blond's chakra reserves were well and truly spent.

Satisfied, he turned to Hinata.

Her legs gave a faint tremble, but she stood tall, her white lotus eyes meeting Itachi's calm gaze. It was only when their eyes locked that the weight of the moment truly began to settle over her.

Had she really…?

"Winner: Hyūga Hinata."

Itachi's declaration was calm yet firm, echoing across the smoldering battlefield. The words hung in the air for a moment, the reality of them sinking into the hearts of everyone present.

She'd fought harder than she ever had in her life. She had stood against Naruto—her inspiration, her guiding light—and somehow, she had prevailed.

---

Chapter End

---

AN: This is the second time the Akejishi (明獅子）debuted in the story, but the first time it really got shown in action, so I want to talk a little more about the inspiration behind that, which is the Lion Dance (獅子舞い Shishi mai) that can be seen at traditional Japanese festivals, and in other Asian cultures. The motive behind its movements and fighting style was loosely based on that and it seemed appropriate for the second "dance" of the White Lotus.

A few other new techniques unveiled this time, original creations of Hinata that were built on her canon technique: The Twin Lion Step. All of these techniques in-story were inspired by the Akejishi, but metatextually it was the other way around and I was inspired to make the Akejishi and all these elemental lion techniques by Hinata's canon Twin Lion Step.

The first was the Earth style Kajujishi (加重獅子）which can be read both as "aggravated lion" or "added-weight lion". The name and pun is inspired by the technique Ōnoki uses to increase the weight of his opponents, just in this case Hinata increases the weight of her chakra to correlate with the strength of the strike.

The next was the Lightning style Shishinari（獅子鳴り）which could be translated as Lion's roar, but is also a play on Kaminari（雷）the Japanese word for lightning. As per the description in the story, the thunderclap is supposed to sound akin to a lion's roar, like the name implies.

After that was the Wind style Kazetsuga（風通牙）which can be read as "wind passing fang", the name and style of the technique inspired by Kiba and Akamaru's Gatsuga techniques.

Then was the Water style Ashika (海驢）the Japanese word for sealion. With this one she stores a massive amount of water in a small space with the lion's maw as the focus point. Then she releases it all at once, causing the water pressure to enhance the power of her palm strike.

The final technique was the Fire style Bakushi（爆獅）which can be translated as exploding lion, but has the same reading as（爆死）meaning death by explosion- a technique where Hinata self-destructs the twin lions to either cause crazy up-close damage or propel herself forward, like she did in the chapter.

Meanwhile, I've also unveiled more about Naruto's new abilities. Like how the Seed Style allowed him to fake Mokuton in part now, it now lets him fake ice and magnetic styles as well. This is because his Seed Style is a combination of Wind, Water, and Earth, so by mixing them in different patterns, he can grow different elements with his seeds. While he didn't use them for the basic elements in this fight, there's no reason he really couldn't for that either.