The Tale of the Cursed Namikaze

by Datura7

Jinchuuriki, scapegoats of the village and society. And the jinchuriki of Konoha, a dumb blonde with an optimistic view on life. But what if, that boy was not dumb? What if he was our normal average intellect guy, with some curses or rather gifts? What if his parents were alive? What if he was still alone? How would he proceed? PS: The story will be a bit slower than average.

15. Chapter 15 - Finals

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other characters, Masashi Kishimoto and studio pierrot does.

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Chapter 15:Finals

Naruto was sitting on the Hokage monument, specifical on the Yondaime's head. He looked at the night landscape of Konoha below and the cosmos up above.

It had been three weeks since he was training under Jiraiya. He had just finished his training with the sanin for the day, with his ever-so-hateful ice bath. But he nowadays accepted what the sanin said about training. Because little by little he felt the change in his body. First, his speed did increase. Then his stamina too had increased indirectly as Jiraiya had said. Then with the cliff climbing, weights always being increased, also built his forearm strength. And lastly, his endurance had too taken leaps, as he was able to take strikes from the sanin and resist the urge to grunt out. It still hurt a lot, but not as much as it used to.

Naruto was looking down at the lively streets of Konoha. At night the village looked quite splendid from up above. But the image in front of him started to change. The same village was in his sight. But then the scene in front of him was utter chaos. Eruptions lighting the night sky. Houses blowing up and the inhabitants in it vaporizing with one last scream. Other people running madly trying to save their lives.

Naruto just looked at the chaos calmly, knowing it was one of his delusional visions. He just pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes, and thought, 'These visions are becoming quite frequent. But I am able to throw it away with thoughts of the relations I have made. The thoughts of me not wanting to severe them, helps me to push these sights away.' Naruto then opened his eyes to find the chaotic scenery fading back to the normal Konoha night view.

Naruto looked at the faraway dark area of the night sky. He just thought, 'I wonder what is there? Far beyond in those dark abysses.' His marvelling of the night sky let one person find him and creep closer. Naruto sensed the person and recognized who it was, so he didn't find the need to move.

Kiyomi sat beside him. Kiyomi too then looked at the beautiful sight in front of her. She then nagged Naruto, "The view is so beautiful from up here! You never told me the view was this majestic!"

Naruto instead asked, "How did you even know I was here?"

Kiyomi shrugged and said, "Mere instinct."

Naruto just shook his head and looked at the girl who sat beside him. He recollected the fact that he didn't let her tell anyone about their decision. But there were two who figured the bondage out.

Mikoto had one night accidentally found them holding each other's hands. The woman took it upon herself to tease the two. They told the truth to her. Which did kind of stun her as she really hadn't expected them to confess to each other. She had a chat with the two and ensured that she wouldn't stand in their way, but also explained to them the boundaries they needed to keep. The two kids were left embarrassed by the woman in the end.

But in the end, Kiyomi was overjoyed in getting the informal permission. Naruto showed a smile but inside was still thinking about a few things. His doubts about his feelings. He reiterated to the two Uchiha that he didn't want this relation to be entirely public. He said he didn't want to deal with drama from others. But the true reasons were that he didn't want his status to affect Kiyomi. Also, initially because he was confused about whether what he did that night was right or not.

But that doubt was erased by Jiraiya. Being the information-gathering master, he was able to catch a glimpse of Kiyomi hugging Naruto and lightly peck him. He being the man he was, got excited but also noticed the slight reluctance of the blonde. The next day Jiraiya constantly teased Naruto about the kiss till the time Naruto opened how he truly felt.

Flashback

Jiraiya while pestering Naruto said, "Come on confess it. I am your master! And I am proud that my apprentice stole the Uchiha heiress's heart."

Naruto who was sitting with a red face said, "Shut up! Damn you, ero-senin! Always looking at things you aren't supposed to."

"Hehehe…look at my boy. So proud of you…", Jiraiya stopped his teasing. He took a thinking pose and said, "But tell me this, why were you hesitant when she pecked you?"

Naruto's blush retreated and he quietly said, "You even noticed that?"

Jiraiya too sat down and said, "Yeah, I did. So, what's the matter?"

Naruto sighed and said, "I think I acted too fast. I let my mind shut off and let things happen. But now I don't know if going forward with this kind of relationship with her is a good idea or not."

Jiraiya hummed and said, "Naruto do you like her or love her?"

Naruto with a confused face asked, "Aren't those supposed to mean the same?"

Jiraiya calmly said, "Absolutely not! I have a perfect sentence for this. A wise Buddhist monk has stated this sentence. See the difference is similar to when you are in a garden and you like a flower, you pluck it and keep it. But when you love it, you nurture it, let it live, watch it grow, as you want it to live and spend time with you…You get what I mean?"

Naruto hummed and said, "Maybe kind of. But I think that definition works for a materialistic thing like flowers, not for humans or anything like that."

Jiraiya shook his head and said, "Nah I think that is exactly the thing. People nowadays treat other humans as materials. It is this coarse yet fine line that a person makes in thinking who is a human being to him and another just a fellow living being. I too am kind of flawed to this. See me I like all women. But I love only one."

Naruto snorted and said, "Love only one? Coming from your mouth, you have to be joking with me!" Jiraiya had classic anime enraged eyes and was about to bonk Naruto's head, but stopped when he heard, "But I get what you are saying now. I guess you mean whom do you want to grow and spend your life with. These things are not meant just for fun or recreation."

Jiraiya let a smile grow on his face and said, "Yeah, I think you have got the answer. So do you like that girl or love her?"

Naruto took a moment to think. He with a somber smile then said, "She is one of the few who can handle me for eternity and I would also want to spend all of eternity with her…I guess, I do love her!"

Jiraiya then chuckled and said, "That's my boy. Claiming the Uchiha heiress!"

Naruto just lightly grumbled and said, "Stop it now…Ero-senin, who was the woman you loved? What happened to her, why isn't she with you?"

Jiraiya just lightly smiled and said, "Gaki that's a story for another time. I will tell you but not now. Let's not talk about a failed undertaking while yours is about to fly."

Naruto noticed the small sorrow within the man, which he didn't hide. But the sanin neither let it affect him too much.

Jiraiya then got a big perverse smile and said, "Since now you don't have any doubts. Go give that girl a big lustrous kiss. Add the tongue and also…"

Naruto with a red face and a nose bleed yelled, "Ero-senin shut UP!"

Jiraiya just giggled at the reaction of Naruto and continued to tease the boy.

Flashback End

Naruto just chuckled and then said, "Mere instinct?! Well, I guess I can't do anything behind your back. You ought to catch me with those instincts."

Kiyomi gave out a grin and said, "You can't do anything, my whiskers. I will always know where you are and what are you doing. I will not leave your shadows. Run as much as you want, I will either be behind you or by your side."

Naruto with sincerity in his eyes and a gentle smile said, "Thank you…I love you."

Kiyomi also gently smiled and said, "Yeah, I know that. Love you too." With that, she simply moved her hand on Naruto's hand and rested her head on his shoulder. She just embraced the beauty of the night landscape now.

On the other hand, Naruto blushed a bit. But he didn't do anything to push her away. He too now looked at the serenity of the view in front of him. But the serenity did flicker to chaos for one moment. He just internally sighed and then looked at the Uchiha so comfortable on his shoulder and hands intertwined. In the sweet environment, his bitter thought was, 'From Kiyomi to all the other with who I have been able to get close. They think me of as a good person with no major flaws. But will they all still see me as the sun when they get to know about the darkness in me?'

---

Many who were enjoying the serenity were oblivious to how short-lived it would be. But our sanin who had been doing some late-night research was now strolling through the deserted streets of Konoha.

Jiraiya in the corner of his eyes saw something out of order on the roof of a building. He first checked out if anybody else was there. He did sense one person, but the person was making it evident he wanted to be found out. So, he jumped on the roof and looked down at Hayate's dead body. He just brought out a cloth and covered the now-fallen Konoha shinobi.

His acquaintance jumped in front of him. Jiraiya with uninterested eyes just looked at him and then sat down. He just said, "You will have to wait Kabuto. I first have to finish some prayers."

Kabuto just smirked and said, "Sure, by all means, take your time."

Jiraiya just said his prayers. He still now standing, opened his eyes and looked at the spy. He asked, "Not in a hurry to attack me?...Clone!"

Kabuto chuckled and said, "It is true I am just a clone and no I would be stupid to attack a sanin while being alone. I know the level where the three of you stand. I am just here to ensure you understand the meaning of his death?"

Jiraiya said, "You and Orochimaru are showing quite some guts. Though I know it was not you that killed him. It was that Suna jonin and there on that other building, your sound pawn was killed by Ichibi's jinchuriki. You just want me to know that, don't you?"

Kabuto with his evergreen smile said, "Bingo! I am glad I didn't have to explain. You are true to your espionage skills in deducing such things just by looking at the cold bodies. So, I have no use in being here. Bye!"

Before the clone could poof Jiraiya said, "Tell the snake that he is slithering too much. I will personally make sure he is skewered and roasted."

Kabuto just said, "Huh, sure I will convey your message." With that, the clone pooffed out of existence. Jiraiya got up and just said, "All hell is gonna break loose here."

---

"So basically, we play on our backfoot."

Hiruzen sighed and said, "Jiraiya I can't think of a counter without having a hint of their plan." They were discussing the recent confirmation of the Suna and Oto pack.

"Let me travel to Suna or Oto I can get out something."

"That might not be wise Master Jiraiya. This might be Orochimaru's trap to lure you out of the leaf village for information. What other reason could there be that Kabuto's clone waited for you? Even if your power is too high, I won't underestimate Orochimaru. He has an exceptional mind. He must have a plan to capture or stall you. And we need you here in the village to defend it." Said the third person in the Hokage's office. He was Konoha's jonin commander Nara Shikaku, arguably the best strategist in their possession.

Jiraiya sighed leaned back to his seat and said, "Fair point. So, what do you think Shikaku, do you have any plan?"

Shikaku immediately said, "Well first I think we need to focus on allotting jonins to area to guard and protect. Identify their main deterrent."

Hiruzen interrupted and said, "That will be Orochimaru himself, the Kazekage too, and his son Gaara and also the snake summons. The number of snake summons easily outnumbers any summons. They can cause a lot of damage."

Jiraiya interjected, "I know this much that Gaara can transform into his bijju but to a very diluted version. It is just a percent of the bijju's power. I have seen full bijju transformations. In those cases, it is a thing to fear. In my opinion, any two to three jonin together shouldn't have a problem with Gaara."

Hiruzen said, "Kakashi and Gai can handle the Kazekage, honestly only one of them is enough for the man but let's not take chances. Jiraiya you will handle all the summons. And I will handle Orochimaru myself."

Jiraiya seriously said, "Sensei let me handle Orochimaru."

Hiruzen just held out a hand and said, "You can locate him but I will fight him. It was my mistake to be oblivious for too long while not noticing the changes in his nature. I will end my mistake. I won't hear any arguments about it."

Jiraiya just grumbled a bit knowing the old man won't listen to him and quarrelling was not something they could do now.

Shikaku then said, "That all is good, but we also need to identify their targets. Like you two, for the position and power you hold. Kakashi for his name and his sharingan. The Uchiha family for their sharingan. The Hyuga's for the byakugan. And lastly Naruto for his bijju in him. And their main objective of attacking. It may be believable that Orochimaru is just out to finish off what he doesn't like, or after the sharingan which he wants so badly. But Suna I don't know why they would break the pack?"

Jiraiya said, "I think you have got the Orochimaru part right. And as of Suna. They are financially struggling so maybe a good monetary opportunity came to the Sand village leader, which they weren't able to refuse."

Hiruzen said, "Well let's not dive deep into that now. Let's make a rough idea of where to allot which shinobi on the day of finals, so I can give the jonin forces this info by morning. I want them to be mentally prepared."

What followed next was the three men making a very crude plan. Jiraiya leaned back on the chair and just grumbled out, "This is too crude. There are too many variables. Places they may destroy, people they are after, or just plain destruction. Where their main shinobi will be? Too many uncertainties."

Shikaku too sighed and said, "It can't be helped. This is all we have got to work on."

Hiruzen just had a stern face and said, "Jiraiya this is the only thing we can do now. Assign locations to the jonin's to fight. Chunins to fight and move the civilians and the feudal lords. And genins too helping the evacuations and taking cover for themselves." Hiruzen then had a small sly smile, "But of course, we can't let some just do the evacuation duty irrespective of rank…Especially our ace."

---

Naruto woke up to the sound of his door opening. He just groggily looked at the time on the clock. It was not unusual for him to wake up at midnight at the sound of lighting or a blast when a drunken or dumb civilian would try to vandalize the outside of his apartment. He would at those times motivate himself to get out of bed and laugh at the person's face to anger them more and rub salt in their wounds. And he loved seeing some of their stupidity as they tried again and again, only to get hurt and insulted.

But since his door was opened, he knew the small list of people who could be at the door. He in his mind yelled, 'Why the hell is any of them at my apartment at two in the morning!' But he got off the bed in his pajamas and walked towards the now-lighted living room.

As he entered the room. He saw Hiruzen sitting on the sofa and Jiraiya making some instant ramen. Naruto seeing his stash being plundered, in a little irate voice said, "Ero-senin, that is my ramen! And I don't share ramen!"

Jiraiya shouted back, "Gaki, shut up and let me eat! I need something to stuff my stomach. Stay quiet for a few moments, hear what sensei says, and let me eat!"

Hiruzen to calm the two down said, "Naruto let Jiraiya eat, and sit down, I have something important to say."

Naruto followed what he was told and asked, "What's the matter Jiji, that you two had to come here now?"

Hiruzen with a serious expression said, "Your Nara friend was absolutely on the spot."

Whatever remaining sleepiness he had, all left. He too now posed a serious expression. He just said, "I see, so are they alone or with Oto?"

Jiraiya in between his slurps said, "It seems the Kazekage and Orochimaru have made some deal or pact."

Hiruzen nodded and said, "And we suspect an invasion on the day of the finals."

Naruto just asked, "Do you have any idea why Suna is taking part?"

Both Hiruzen and Jiraiya, who had noodles halfway hanging by his mouth, shook their heads. Though Hiruzen added, "We are not sure but our guess is that they might be getting some financial gain from this. Their economy is running somewhat dry."

Naruto just hummed and said, "How did you come to this conclusion that Suna is in it?"

Hiruzen said, "The jonin I assigned to spy at the suna jonin was found dead a few hours ago by Jiraiya. And Kabuto openly said it to Jiraiya."

Naruto's eyes widened and asked, "Kabuto, had the guts to enter the village again. And yet again went unnoticed till then."

Hiruzen nodded and said, "Well we can't deny his spying skills. He is very good at it. For all we know he still might be here."

Naruto could only mentally curse at the enemy spy. He then asked, "So what are my instructions? I very well know you didn't just come here to tell me about these things."

Hiruzen said, "Firstly you and Jiraiya here are to use these remaining nights to put barrier seals on important buildings, like the hospital, academy, and a few others. It is up to you both which barrier seal you two use."

Jiraiya who just completed his ramen, said, "Well I was thinking those seals with a security check and need one of us at the place to activate, should work best. As others can be breached."

Naruto said, "While that is true, marking the security key in all of the populous in a week will be a big task."

Jiraiya said, "Naruto both of us are spies, we can manage to pull this off unnoticed even if we have enemy spies here. That is the only thing stopping us from exploiting your kage bunshin ability, as for sure we will be noticed using it."

Naruto just nodded. Hiruzen then said, "Well then, I guess Naruto will be the one to activate the seals as you are needed elsewhere. Naruto after you are done, I am giving you the freedom to fight where you think they are the most vulnerable or the most crucial to them. I want you to break what you find is important to them. You are to play this important role."

Naruto hummed and nodded but said, "Won't Ero-senin be more fit to complete that job, or any other jonin like Kakashi sensei or Gai?"

Jiraiya who was taking a seat said, "Gaki what will it take you to say sensei or my name?"

Naruto scratched his head and then said, "Maybe a trillion ryo."

Jiraiya yelled, "You disrespectful brat!"

Hiruzen interjected, "Now, now, you two let's not bicker…Naruto, the reason I can't assign this work to Jiraiya is because he is the only one who can take on the army of snake summons that will come. While I will handle my student, I want my best two shinobi, Kakashi and Gai, to take care of the Kazekage and his bodyguards. Moreover, they must have made a plan against us. And I will be assigning jonins areas to protect. Chunins and genins will be the inner layer of defense. They will act if necessary. Expect for few who are caught in fights."

Naruto hummed and asked, "Who all know about this, and to whom are you planning to reveal all this? And you are forgetting about their jinchuuriki."

Hiruzen replied, "No I have not. He is one of the biggest uncertainties as we don't know how much he can transform or use the bijuu's power. So, we will have to observe a bit and then attack him. For that, we will have to let him be free for a while. All the jonin will have the freedom to leave and take him down if he turns out to be a danger…As of who all know now, it is only us three and our jonin commander. I will only disclose this information to my jonins and the elders. As the others won't be able to live properly if they know from now. Due to already fearing the entire week resulting in a bad fight is all they will be able to give. They will end up dead before they die, due to the fear they give birth to. Leaving the information for the end will make them fight for wanting to live more."

Naruto nodded and got up. He with a smirk said, "Well I can't deny that. So, I will change into my shinobi gear, and let's start out work, erooo-seniiiiin."

Jiraiya knew he said this now just to irritate him. And he was irritated, with a tick mark on his head. He yelled, "Just wait for today's training you blonde brat!"

Naruto yelled back, "Hey no fair! I am entitled to this as you ate my ramen!"

Jiraiya bellowed back, "Shut up! I was hungry. What kind of apprentice are you? Can't let your master eat some ramen."

Naruto shook his head and said, "The whole world and everything at one side and ramen the other. I will choose ramen without hesitation."

Jiraiya knew how to shut the boy. He with a smirk said, "Even Kiyomi?"

Naruto's face lit red and in an irritated voice he said, "You don't bring her into this."

They both now heard the third voice say, "Wait, wait, wait! When did this happen?"

Naruto with wide eyes looked at his grandfather figure. He while scratching the back of his head then said, "Damn you ero-senin and your big mouth!...Well you see Jiji, it kind of happened two weeks ago, but I was unsure about my feelings. It got cleared only a few days ago."

Jiraiya interjected, "By your truly Jiraiya-sama!"

Naruto grumbled and said, "Yeah, yeah, I accept you cleared the haze away…Jiji I hope you aren't mad that I didn't tell you this. Honestly, even he wasn't supposed to know. He somehow found out."

The toad sage said, "You really expected that you could hide something like this from me, Jiraiya the great toad sage?"

Naruto grumbled yet again. Hiruzen just chuckled and said, "No Naruto I am not mad. I am rather happy that you are living your life to the fullest. It is fine to have uncertainties and some apprehensions in telling such things. Now go get ready and have some filling food before you meet us in the Hokage's office, in ten minutes."

With that, Naruto nodded and left to get into his gear while a kage bunshin went to make food. While he walked back, he thought, 'I took the information rather too smoothly…Do I even care about what happens? Or do I like fighting so much now that I kind of looking forward to it?...Well time will answer it.'

---

Both Hiruzen and Jiraiya shunshined back to the Hokage's office. Hiruzen sat back in his chair and looked out at the village. He then asked his student, "Jiraiya what is the progress of Naruto with that jutsu?"

Jiraiya with a satisfied voice said, "Ahhh, that he will get it down with a day or two before the finals. He is just refining the spawning speed of it. It was truly a prodigy's work to get it down in nearly just a week, while also putting considerable time into other trainings. And God! He is just as bad at naming a jutsu as his dad. Thankful Kushina gave a great name to it."

Hiruzen hummed and thought, 'He could have got it down in few moments if he could use the sharingan like Kakashi. But neither Naruto nor even the other three Uchiha are able to use the sharingan at that level when it comes to copying a jutsu. I don't think any of the Uchiha even from the past could use the sharingan like Kakashi. The Hatake's observation skills are on another level pushing his ability of using the sharingan to copy far beyond what most of the Uchiha that existed could do…Would he be ready to take this political post?'

Hiruzen then said, "True. And it is good he learned it quickly, that jutsu will come in handy to him. It will bring the parallels between him and his father closer but that has to be risked for him to get better." Hiruzen again focused back on the village and then on the Hokage monument. He just thought, 'We humans are truly like dirt. Sometimes we are moist and nutritious and let other people, villages, or anything, grow and flourish. But when we turn dry and harsh, then we truly stunt that growth and end up witling a person or even an institution.'

He then looked back at Jiraiya and continued, 'Every human can display those two opposites, no one is an exception here. But well God has made us human in a quite wearisome way.' He then asked Jiraiya, "And what about the messaging seal you two were making? How far has that come?"

Jiraiya said, "That too can be solved with some chakra transmitters. We can use some metal pieces and engrave them with the proper seal and embed them in the ground or trees. They will be the nodes that can ensure our transmission. But we are yet to imply it. The theory is done but experimentation may or may not end this week."

Hiruzen just hummed and then started to prepare his pipe and look back at the village. His last thought was, 'How I wish that I could predict the future!'

---

Shikamaru looked around at the energetic place. He stood on the ground of the arena. Though he very much wanted to be in his bed, unluckily he had to come here due to the fear he boarded against his mother. The woman woke him up and forced him to fight with all his might or else a good punishment will be awaiting him. And now here he was. Looking at the people celebrating the finals like a fest, up in the stands. Almost all of the populous except for a few with work, were here. Feudal lords from many nations sat in one pristine area. The Hokage and Kazekage too sat taking their place at the kage booth, from where they could look at everything.

He looked at his fellow contestants all in a serious and determined mood. Starting from Shino, the boy was as stoic as ever. Then the puppet shinobi, Kankuro, stood tall but he could see some hesitation. The same was the case for his opponent, Temari. But the third from the sand stood extremely calm and collected.

And that scared Shikamaru. He had seen the true thoughts of the boy and also his cruelty. Gaara was the one who sat at another power level. He then looked at the Hyuga prodigy, rookie of the year, like the Uchiha of their batch. He wondered if this prodigy could hold his ground against the force he would be facing. He noted neither of the team 7 members had arrived yet but knew they would be here shortly as neither of them was a person who would miss their fights.

Shikamaru now raised his head and looked up at the drifting clouds. He just thought, 'These all people are here to either see the Uchiha or Hyuga prodigy…Man, their bets are going down in drains, the winner will be either Gaara or Naruto…Look at those clouds with all the leisure. What would have it taken for me to be a cloud? Being a human, a shinobi no else, is such a drag! All I wanted was an average life. And here I am dragged into this troublesome world of shinobi.'

Up in the stands at the area near the competitor's box sat all the others from rookie nine and Gai's team. Even Lee had come from the hospital, the boy was too adamant and came to see the fights. Their sensei stood behind them. Even Kiyomi and Mikoto, in her jonin outfit, were at that section, Kiyomi wanted to interact with the other genin, so she sat next to Tenten and Lee. Mikoto had to discuss a few things with Kakashi, but the man was nowhere to be found.

Ino noting his teammate looking up at the sky asked Choji, "Hey do you think he is praying to perform well? Finally, I think he will show what he is made of today!"

Choji in between his munches said, "Nahh, he is just wishing that he could be a cloud!"

Ino retaliated, "That is so wrong!"

"We will see." Said the Amikichi.

Amongst the talking it was Sakura, sitting next to Ino, who said, "Where the heck are Naruto and Sasuke-kun!"

Tenten from the seat behind mockingly said, "Well it doesn't matter, Naruto may be good, but he can't beat Neji."

Kiyomi with a bit irate voice said, "Do you even know Naruto's level? There is no way he will lose to that Hyuga."

Tenten retorted, "Do you know about Neji's level while you state this?" Both of the girls just shared an electric glance due to their unwavering support of opposite sides.

Behind the jonins too had a small discussion on the first match. Kurenai asked, "Well Gai what do you think of the match?"

Gai hummed and said, "Well I don't know who will win but it sure will be interesting. I say whosever youth is stronger should win!"

Asuma added, "I happened to hear a rumor that it wasn't Kakashi who trained Naruto this month, it was someone else."

Mikoto just said, "Well I wasn't in the village for the most time. But I was present long enough to know few things."

Asuma asked, "So, is that rumor true?"

Mikoto sighed and lowly said, "I don't know about that, but I can only hope it is false! It is not that I hate that man. I just don't want Naruto getting some of that man's characteristics and amplifying it."

Kurenai with a sweat drop said, "I can understand!"

Gai cheerfully said, "Well for a fact I know it is true that Master Jiraiya has taken it up to himself to train Naruto. Kakashi confirmed this to me. I just hope Master Jiraiya is as youthful as ever!"

Asuma hummed. On the other hand, Mikoto cried out comical anime tears, while Kurenai soothed her. Asuma just said, "Well let's see what he has got for us. Though he doesn't seem in any hurry."

All now focused on the figure that walked toward the center of the ground. The blonde boy walked slowly with his hands in his pocket. He saw how his normal but late arrival got everyone's attention, but most of the crowd started talking again, while a group of civilians started to boo. And he recognized that group. With a smirk, he thought, 'Yeah bark whatever you want now, because you are at the last moments of your pitiful life…Well, this is far from a peaceful way of dealing with things. But alas, I am not the person who gives a flower to the one that assaulted me, when I did no wrong. I am the kind of person that will ensure that I put that flower on their grave.'

He had purposely left a few selected people out of the security key of the seals around the hospital, bunkers, and structures like that. He was able to convince Jiraiya to mark the shinobis while letting him take care of the civilians. So, he did 'forget' to mark a few civilians who hated him with passion and used to make his life miserable when he was a powerless child.

As Naruto reached near the other contestants, he saw the change in the proctor. He looked quite similar to the previous one. He wondered if they were brothers. The proctor looking at him asked, "Why are you a few minutes late?"

Naruto dully answered, "Huh that, I got lost in the path of life." But the truth was Naruto and Jiraiya had been doing some last-minute checks, and also, he made kage bunshins, who hide with the transparency jutsu near the important structures.

Shikamaru at Naruto's side on hearing this excuse thought, 'Shit! Why couldn't I have thought of something like this and not come here!'

Up in the stands, everyone cringed at the reply Naruto gave. Sakura just groaned and said, "I swear if he takes up Kakashi-sensei's habit then our team is done for!"

Even Hiruzen who probably knew the reason, still facepalmed at the famous excuse. After a few moments, he got up seeing that it was already time, he went to the rails and announced, "I welcome you all today to the finals of this year's chunin exams. I know all are excited to see what the future holds for us…With this excitement in me too, I announce the commencement of the finals!"

There was a loud cheer following that. Down in the arena the proctor introduced him as Shiranui Genma and said, "The rules will be similar to the preliminaries you all went through. So now the contestants of the first match stay here, while the rest go to the contestant box."

Shikamaru before leaving just whispered to the blonde, "Don't destroy him. He too is a Konoha shinobi."

Naruto just smirked back and said, "I will keep that in mind."

With that, the other five went away. Naruto just turned to look at his opponent. His hands were still in his pockets. He looked at the determined pupilless eyes. Naruto just thought, 'Well he is not loose like me. I wonder what he interprets of my behavior. I bet the same as others.'

Neji seeing his opponent looking at him said, "I suggest you give up and spare yourself some pain."

Naruto just chuckled and said, "How kind of you to think about me! I am humbled, I may now not beat you too hard. And another question where was this kindness when you dealt with my classmate?"

Neji snarled and answered, "Fate has deemed her weak. You are good, but not good enough. I won't lose to the likes of you."

Naruto with a sly smile just taunted, "Fate this, fate that! Is that the end of your vocabulary? I say you are too petty to even know what God must have woven. And here you leave everything to fate not knowing there are holes in that cloth which we fill. You are too feeble-minded. So, increase your vocabulary and say more words. If you want, I can lend you a brilliant book. It will also give you some extra education."

Neji replied, "I don't need to talk to an ignorant brat like you. You are insufferable. I will show you how fate deals." With that, he took Gentle Fist taijutsu's stance. Naruto didn't even bother to remove his hands from his pockets.

Genma spared a glance at both fighters. One seemed ready, while the other too kind of seemed ready. He took in the silence as confirmation and with that, he said, "Hajime!" And jumped back.

Naruto still with his hands in his pocket took a few steps back. Neji smirked at seeing this. He just said, "Well at least you have some brain. Fighting a Hyuga close-range is bad for anyone. But you see it is good to fight at a distance when you are fighting an equal. But I can close the gap any moment."

Naruto tilted his head and said, "Why don't you then?"

Neji smirked and said, "Now do you…", Neji in a blink of eyes was now standing where Naruto was. Yes was. Because Naruto was standing where Neji was. Neji with wide eyes could only complete his sentence, "…believe?"

All in the stands too looked at this with wide eyes. Many thought the two genin might have used shunshin, but the chunins and jonin saw the line of dust. They knew it was pure speed.

Neji turned to look at the Uzumaki who was showing his back. Naruto turned his head halfway. He asked, "Weren't you supposed to close the distance?"

Neji snarled and said, "You have got speed. So, what, are you planning to keep running like a coward cat?"

Naruto just laughed and said, "You call me a pussy…Look at you and the males of your clan. All bearing long manes. And also, all you Hyuga are too scared. I know what you all are scared of. The question should be are you all pussies…or have it!"

Neji snarled, "Why you!"

Up in that stand too Naruto had rattled quite a number of people. Mainly most of the Hyugas who were present. All thinking how dare the brat insult their tradition. But he had also rattled Mikoto a bit. With irritation, she thought, 'That mouth needs some cleansing! Kushinaaaa, your boy is getting way out of my hands. He is becoming just like you a trouble magnet. I blame your genes for this!'

Down in the arena, Naruto turned to look at Neji who had again taken his stance. He finally removed his hands and said, "Give me a good warm-up for the next match, will you?"

Neji just said, "I will give you something better than warm-up. A ticket straight to bed rest."

Naruto smiled and replied, "Well I would like to see you try."

With that Neji ran to close the distance. This time Naruto stood in his place with a smirk on his face. As Neji came close, Naruto just unsheathed his katana and held it straight at waist level.

Neji immediately tried to halt but skidded a bit forward till the katana just touched him. He just snarled seeing the Uzumaki with a taunting smile. Naruto then lifted his katana so the flat side of the blade just touched Neji's chin. He then mockingly said, "It is good you know how to halt, pretty boy. Or else we would be having skewered Hyuga today."

Neji jumped back and brought out kunais and shurikens and started to throw them at Naruto. Naruto deflected all the thrown weapons with his katana and noticed Neji coming for an attack with kunai in both of his hands.

Neji went for a stab to the guts which Naruto blocked with his blade. Neji attempted an upward slash, while Naruto jumped back and Neji followed by throwing the kunais toward the blonde, which were deflected. The Hyuga again attacked with kuanis in his hands. This went on for a while with Neji attacking and Naruto defending.

Up in the stands, all were having a few thoughts on this approach. It was Sakura who verbally asked, "Why is Naruto on his backfoot? He can't go like this for all day."

Beside her, Ino answered, "Maybe it is best to stay away from a Hyuga like Neji in a battle. Don't you remember the preliminaries? His taijutsu is very good."

In the seat below them, Hinata could only spare a few concerning thoughts about Naruto. While Kiba paid good focus on the fight, he after the preliminaries had been humbled, at least towards the blonde. Lee too didn't jump to conclusions just yet. While Tenten was taking the reproach of the blonde as a win. While Kiyomi thought, 'Why is he fighting like this? And how long will this defensive approach last?'

The jonins too were on a similar page to Kiyomi trying to wonder if there was a reason behind this approach or just a precautionary retreat. Shikamaru saw the expression everyone had. He then noticed the growing grin on Neji's and a few others' faces. He too grinned and thought, 'Well the fish has caught the hook now. It is doomed unless a miracle happens.'

In the Kage booth too Hiruzen graced a small smile. He thought, 'Even if people knew your skill set, I doubt many would figure out what you are trying. But I know you too well.'

Naruto seeing Neji's grin also wanted to smile but only showed a hardened face. He purposely made Neji think that he would have the upper hand in close combat and that's why Naruto was running away, Naruto was confident he could hold his ground against the gentle fist. He just wanted Neji to think about what was an evident conclusion in a normal case. And Neji was right on the path where Naruto wanted the Hyuga to be.

Neji seeing Naruto's constant retreat believed that it was due to the fact that the blonde didn't want to engage in taijutsu. He was getting closer in cornering Naruto, that is what he thought.

Neji now let the grip on his kuani a bit loose and went for a stab toward Naruto's shoulder. Naruto using his katana swept the blade off Neji's hand with a diagonal upward slash. Though Neji lost his weapon, he smirked, as the upward slash resulted in giving him a large unguarded area.

Naruto too grinned seeing the grin on Neji, and the predictable palm strike coming toward his unguarded upper body. Naruto let his sword fly high upwards to the sky and swiftly held Neji's incoming arm with both of his hands.

Neji's snarl reappeared as he hadn't expected Naruto to defend. Naruto just mockingly asked, "Made a wrong assumption?...Don't worry everyone has their presumptions about me utterly wrong. To lighten your mood, I will give you what you want. I will give you a hand-to-hand combat."

Neji scoffed and said, "It will be very unwise of you to do that."

Naruto just said, "Normal logic doesn't work on me." With that Naruto released Neji's hand and jumped back. Neji just asked, "Already contradicting yourself?"

Naruto said, "Hymn maybe, but if I were you," he pointed upward and said, "I would be looking up."

Neji scoffed and said, "Your cheap tricks won't work on me." He then activated his byakugan and said, "These eyes don't miss anything." Naruto just crouched a bit and grinned even more while Neji's expression had immediately changed. Neji was barely able to dodge the katana that came falling down with great speed. The katana had embedded itself in the ground, while looking at it, Neji thought, 'This guy…is not normal!'

The next thing he witnessed was Naruto executing a roundhouse kick that connected perfectly. Neji was sent flying away. Naruto removed his katana from the ground and sheathed it back. Neji got up and dusted himself. He took his clan's stance and reactivated his byakugan. Naruto too reciprocated by taking his stance.

The next moment Neji had closed the distance and went for a hit towards the guts. Naruto dodged and attempted a jab. Neji moved slightly and dodged the punch. Neji gave back a similar reply, which Naruto blocked. Thus started a taijutsu battle whose attack and reaction speed kept increasing with time.

Up in the stands, everyone was enthralled by the speed of both genin's attacks. It had come to a point that their arms and legs, when moved were blurs to most present there. Kurenai could only mutter, "At their age, I was only able to hope for this kind of speed."

Asuma with surprise in his voice said, "They surely are the best of the best present here."

Mikoto too with joy and delight thought, 'Naruto, you really are progressing too fast!...The little blonde is catching up to us jonins huh?...Splendid!'

All the other genin could only see the fight with wide eyes. Kyomi too knew her speed was not close to what was being displayed. She could only think, 'Are the genin of this lot stronger than chunins?' Lee thought feeling a bit apprehensive, grinned, and merrily said, "Na, Neji, Naruto, you both have caught up to my speed…That's great. Just wait you two. Once I am out of these crunches. I will train hard to push myself and you all to reach new heights."

Gai laughed his heart out and said, "That's the spirit Lee! The flames of youth burn strong in you and the two down below. This fight might be the best display of taijutsu we will get today. Yosh give it all you two!"

In the Kage booth the 'Kazekage' said, "Hokage-dono, you have some skilled kids, don't you?"

Hiruzen hummed and said, "Yes, they both have worked hard to reach this level. Though I have to ask Kazekage-dono…do you have a sore throat?"

The Kazekage looked at the old kage, glaring directly into his soul. The Kazekage only said, "A bit. Is my voice that bad, that you noticed it?"

Hiruzen refocused on the fight and said, "Nah…I just have a hunch."

At another location from where the arena was visible but a person standing there would barely be visible. There stood the remaining two members of team 7 looking at the fight. Kakashi looked with delight at the growth of the blonde in under one month. He just mused, 'Well he did train under one of the best teachers possible.'

Sasuke was getting more and more irritated. First due to his sensei's antics and making him late. But now his irritation and anger rose from the display he was seeing now. He in his mind could only rant, 'Damn you, you yellow-haired bastard. Speed was one of the few things I was better at. And now you equate me in that. Even after I increased it by leaps this month! Win this match Naruto, as the next round will be between us.' He now activated his sharingan, which now had two tomes. 'I will make sure that I will pulverize you. I can't let you move closer to Itachi before I do. I know you must be wanting to avenge Shisui. But I can't let you have that. I will be the avenger, not you.'

Down in the arena, Neji blocked one of Naruto's high kicks. He went for a sweep kick. Naruto executed and front flip over the Hyuga. As soon as he landed, he immediately turned to kick Neji in the head. But the Huyga saw it via his byakugan and rolled away from it.

Neji while in motion threw four shuriken at Naruto. Naruto dodged the weapons. He was forced to bring his hands to an x in front of him and block a palm thrust from the Hyuga. Unknown to Naruto, Neji had packed quite some chakra to expel Naruto with the attack. On contact, Naruto skidded back a few feet. Neji halted to take in some breaths.

Naruto disjunct his arms and chuckled a bit. He then said, "Well, well not pulling any punches, are we fate guy? I am sure your fate must have told you to use this much power."

Neji while going back to his stance said, "You have no right to talk or mock about my beliefs."

Naruto brought his hand to a tiger hand-seal and said, "I guess you have a point. But who will stop me…fate boy?" He in his mind continued, 'Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu (Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique)'

A fire dragon head raced towards Neji. The Hyuga calmed his breath, gathered chakra to one of his palms, and then trusted his palm in the air. The next second a translucent beam of chakra originating from his palms went straight through the fire dragon's head. The dragon head dispersed and still, the beam travelled towards Naruto.

Naruto just tilted a bit and let the beam pass behind. Naruto saw the small crack it had made on the arena wall behind. Naruto now looked at the Hyuga, who had the similar rage-filled eyes that he had while fighting Hinata. Naruto thought, 'Huh, that really made him angry! Let's push him past his limits.'

Naruto then asked, "Yo, fate boy, what got you so riled up? You have the eyes with which you looked down at your sister. Is it because fate is not on your side?"

Neji snarled but also said, "Fate was never on my side."

Naruto then smiled and said, "Oh, so you use fate as the one to blame, your troubles on. That's rich."

Neji's face had an absolutely bitter expression. He in a low and enraged voice said, "Shut up, you bastard. You don't know about the things that made me believe in this…Just know this, your attacks can't reach me, this pinpoint release of chakra will nullify it. My attack speed is one of the best. And with my defences, you can't defeat me."

Neji retook his stance and was about to attack. But he suddenly saw something blue which moved extremely fast. It hit him and then Neji felt electrocuted and his body went numb. He saw Naruto charge towards him. The next moment Naruto gave a perfect punch to Neji's face. The Hyuga was sent flying towards the wall.

Up in the stands too, no one was able to decipher what was the attack. All they saw was Naruto go through a few hand-seals and then a blue mass getting collect at Naruto's hand which he threw towards the Hyuga.

Even in the Kage booth both the leaders too were watching closely, as they had never seen this particular attack. Hiruzen thought, 'This isn't the jutsu I and Jiraiya were talking about. Is this one of his new creations?'

The rest two members of team 7 looked at the fight with their sharingan active. Sasuke thought, 'What was it? It was a lighting jutsu that's all I was able to infer.' Besides Kakashi could only give an eye smile, possibly smirking underneath his mask. He thought, 'I never felt the necessity or need of removing the one and only problem of my jutsu. But with that enhancement, you do remove it. Well, done. But you do sacrifice an aspect of the original one.'

Neji got up and could only think, 'What the hell was that?'

Neji saw the blonde smirking and then asked him, "You want to know what this was right?"

Neji was on his back feet and keeping his defenses on and didn't answer. Though everyone in the stands wanted the boy to say yes. Naruto just asked, "Whaaat, don't want to know about the jutsu I will use to beat your pinpoint chakra release?"

Neji scoffed and said, "You live in delusions."

Naruto said, "Why scared to find out that your technique is weaker?"

Neji's only reply was gathering chakra in his hand. While Naruto went through a series of hand seals and then bule lighting chakra gathered on his hand. Neji released his beam. Naruto smirked as the Chidori had formed on his hands, he in is mind said, 'Chidori washi (Chidori eagle)'

With that Naruto did a throwing action and the blue lightning chakra in his hand turned into an eagle, deep blue in colour and with sharp edges. The lighting eagle flew with such speed that it was perceived as a beam. And this jutsu clashed and pierced through the translucent chakra beam. This caused the lighting eagle to lose some chakra and speed. This allowed everyone to see the lightning-made eagle.

Neji jumped out of the way to evade being electrocuted again. Thinking he was out of danger Neji started to gather chakra in his palms again. Naruto just raised a half ram-seal and the eagle changed its path and tagged behind Neji.

All gasped at the change in the path as no one had witnessed a long-range jutsu change its trajectory. From the genins it was Kiba who asked, "What kind of jutsu is that? And it changed its path!"

Hinata looked at the fight with admiration at the fight. Choji munched on his chips even more rigorously. Lee looked down at the fight with increasing eagerness. Tenten had surprise written on her face. She hadn't expected Neji to have a stalemate kind of taijutsu battle and now he was on the back foot with Naruto using ninjutsu.

Ino asked her rival, "Sakura what is that jutsu that Naruto is using?"

Sakura just scratched the back of her head and said, "I don't know. I never could. Naruto is extremely good at surprising people."

In the competitors box too this thing had caught attention. All except Shikamaru looked with intent to gather everything they could. While Shikamaru just yawned and thought, 'I hope this fight goes on for the whole day. Then this event will get canceled. I won't have to fight that blonde troublesome girl. And the best, I can peacefully sleep on my bed. Yeah, this would be great.'

Ino just hummed and then turned to look at her sensei. Being from a clan that used their jutsu for digging out information, she couldn't hide her curiosity and asked her sensei, "Asuma-sensei, do you know what this justu is?"

Kiyomi just thought, 'So he has finally decided to show everyone his variation of the famous Chidori. Well, he has been working on this variation for more than a month now. I guess he has deemed it right for usage now. He had only told me and his master about this variation which he worked on by himself. I wonder if any of them will know what this is.'

Asuma puffing out some smoke said, "No I don't. All I can say I have never seen a long-range projectile change its trajectory. So, it is probably something new."

Kurenai too was intrigued at what she saw. She looked at her fellow female jonin beside her. Mikoto too looked down with interest. By now Naruto had made two more of those lightning eagles and Neji kept dodging them. She then saw a smirk on Gai's face. She then asked, "Oi Gai, what's with the smirk, isn't your student in a bad position now?"

Gai chuckled and said, "I am excited to see this fight between two genin who are very talented in ninja arts. If you think Neji is at his limit then you are wrong. He is a genius in the style that the Hyugas follow. And Naruto showed his geniuses in ninjutsu, creating this variation of the Chidori is proof."

Kurenai gasped and asked, "Chidori?! Why is a genin taught an A-class assassination jutsu?"

It was Gai who seriously replied, "What is the problem with that? Kakashi must have felt Naruto was ready and passed on his own jutsu. Yes, it may be dangerous, but I too have taught Lee to open the inner gates. In this world, if you set limitations on usual standards then you are not fit to be a shinobi. I stand by my rival's decision…If you can, then you must."

Mikoto then said, "Quite odd to hear such wise words from you. Though I agree with what you say…How did you know it was a variation of Kakashi's Chidori?"

Gai said, "I paid close attention to the hand seals our Uzumaki used. And it was of the Chidori. Then he molded it into an eagle and set it gliding swiftly towards its target. But I have no idea how is he able to change the direction. I must say this enhancement does nullify the problem with the original one. But this jutsu too has its problem."

From the seated group, it was Kiba who asked everyone's question, "I don't get what you say. At one point you say it removes a problem while next, you say it has another problem. Stick to one side."

Gai just smiled and said, "Well the problem with the original is that when you commit, then you can't turn back easily. As you gather a very high speed. You have to wholly believe you can execute the jutsu. If you fail it will leave yourself completely unguarded. And for the setback with this jutsu, look at the fight and you will understand."

Down in the arena Naruto had increased the number of eagles to quiet a large number. Neji was barely able to dodge all of them some of the eagles hit the ground or the walls as Naruto wasn't able to control all of them.

Up in the stands, the jonins understood what Gai had said. This version, on impact acted as a splash rather than the precise attack like its parent jutsu. So, it could at max stun and paralyze you for a while, not kill off the victim.

Naruto again went through the hand-seals and sent the jutsu towards Neji while thinking, 'Chidori washi. That makes it fifteen actively on Neji. Most of the intellectual people here must have already guessed that this is a variation of sensei's jutsu…However, I doubt anyone would get that I am using a very small, nearly invisible electric line that connects me to the eagle, which allows me to control the trajectory of it. It's like a puppet, via that small electric connection I send signals to the eagle.' Naruto turned his head to look in the direction of his sensei and Sasuke were.

He continued his thoughts, 'They both think no one has noticed them up there, but I do. No one can hide from me...' Naruto turned his head towards a certain Anbu and mentally said, 'Not even you.'

Neji snarled as he saw all the electric eagles coming from all sides. He thought, 'I have no choice. I guess I will have to use it…' He saw all the eagles now coming at him together. He just took a deep breath and then said, "Hakkesho Kaiten (Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation)"

Neji started to spin. In moments he was surrounded by a blue dome of chakra. All the electric eagles collided with the dome but could neither penetrate it nor have any kind of effect on it. Naruto showcased a shocked expression on his face. Keyword showcased.

Up in the stands too all had stun written all over their faces on seeing such a good defensive jutsu. But none we more stunned than the Hyugas. Even Hinata couldn't hide her shock. Hanabi sitting next to her father asked, "Tou-san is that the…?"

Hiashi could only say, "Yes, it is." His train of thoughts went wild, 'There is no way a branch member could enter that section of the library. Their seal would activate immediately.' A few drops of sweat rolled down his forehead as he realized how his nephew had learned the jutsu reserved for the Hyuga main household. 'H-he learned it solely by observation! And no formal training either! And he executes it so well. He is too talented…This proves it. Hizashi, your son has the strongest byakugan in our clan.'

In the Kage booth, Hiruzen was surprised by this move. In his mind, he had nothing but praise for the boy. But the only bad point he thought was, 'The only thing stopping him from being a chunin is his vulnerable emotional state regarding what had happened all those years back. But he can't solely be blamed for such an reaction.'

Besides him, the Kazekage said, "The byakugan is certainly powerful, isn't it? But could it beat the sharingan, the best dojutsu? What is your say Hokage-dono?"

Hiruzen looked at the Kazekage. He just said, "It depends on the user." 'Ain't it, Orochimaru? Well, you saved me some time. I don't have to locate you now in that chaos. You won't slitter away from me now.'

The Kazekage said, "Maybe you are true but matching a top-notch Uchiha is one of the most difficult standards."

Down in the arena, Neji stopped spinning. Standing in the middle of a small crater he looked around and then noticed the shock written on everyone's face. Especially on every Hyuga's, mainly the stunned face of his uncle was the cherry on the icing. He even liked the shock on Naruto's face. He couldn't help but smugly smile.

Naruto still showed his shock face. He wanted Neji to see it. If his opponent didn't see it then the show was for nothing. As he saw the smirk on his opponent, he constantly repeated in his mind, 'Don't laugh. Don't laugh. I need to wait a bit more. All is going according to my plan. I need him to break past his current limit and hit me with his strongest attack. I know his every trick. This last week I spent more time on spying others without anyone noticing. Just don't smile or laugh now. Let him think he is winning. Then I will break him, and then build him. Forcing him to break his limit.'

Neji thinking, he had caught Naruto off guard said, "You are in my range. I will finish this fight now…Hakke Rokujūyon Shō (Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms)."

Neji in a blur closed the distance and attacked Naruto. The blonde Uzumaki knew what was coming so he activated his sharingan under the genjutsu. Neji started with, "Two palms." The blonde easily dodged.

"Four palms." Dodged again.

"Eight palms." Dodged by the blonde by continuously bending his body.

"Sixteen palms." Same result.

'I won't let you dodge now!' "Thirty-two palms." But Naruto again dodged all of them. Neji could only look at the Uzumaki, who smiled slyly right in front of him. Naruto just chuckled in Neji's face and said, "What happened fate boy? Your best attack was not fast enough?"

Up in the stands, all Hyugas were yet again astonished. Many choked on their own saliva. And when they saw the Uzumaki easily dodge their best attack, it deeply scared their pride.

Naruto kicks Neji in his guts. Making the Hyuga skid a few feet back. Naruto deactivated his sharingan and then laughed even more and asked, "Tell me Neji was this too written in your fate that you will get your ass handed to you?...No wait, you said that your fate deemed you as the stronger and winner? Is it true now fate boy? Who was the fool who filled you with this ideology?"

Neji was getting more and more enraged by what Naruto was saying. But regardless he answered one question, "The fate ideology is true and accepted by most of Hyuga. And all from the branch house know the fate they are assigned to from one fateful day."

Naruto was now gonna play a gamble. He wanted Neji to get enraged so he could break his limits and hit him even stronger. But why Naruto was so fixated on getting himself hurt? That may be answered later.

Naruto hummed and asked, "The day you all are branded with the bird-cage seal indirectly become slaves to the main house, in the name of protecting your precious byakugan."

Neji snarled at being called slave but said, "Well you seemed well-informed about the Hyugas."

Naruto taking his stance said, "Well this kind of shit rule stays in my head. I have got to say your clan is full of shitheads to keep following this thing. Mainly the fucked up main house and the ass-kissing branch houses."

This had yet again rattled most of the Hyugas sitting in the stands, even Hinata was a bit upset of how Naruto thought of them. But she knew what the blonde said wasn't much far of the truth. Though Neji wasn't angry he too retook his stance and said, "I can't disagree. But as you are saying this, don't you fear making enemies of this clan. We are the strongest clan present in Konoha."

Naruto chuckled and said, "I have a long list of haters. Adding a bunch of shitheads won't make much of a change. And strongest you say?" Naruto now burst into full-out laughing. He then mockingly said, "Your main house doesn't even believe in the others that they can protect their precious byakugan. Your clan has no confidence or trust in themselves. And you say you all are strongest. Tell me how many died just due to someone thinking, yeah this is the main house, we need to protect them at all cost, as they are not branded with the slave seal…And then deeming this all was fate. You are in the most stupid clan I know! Calling you all the strongest is such a sham."

Something snapped inside Neji. He was now shaking in anger. Up in the stands Gai just said, "This doesn't look go."

Besides Mikoto with some anger of her own said, "The child is earning himself a big punishment. That's no way to talk." 'Especially when he know about the stuff. I know you Naruto. I know you know about it.'

Gai just said, "Trash talk like this goes on. But how will certain lines affect Neji?"

Hinata too was now scared with how much anger seemed to emit from Neji. Hiruzen in the Kage booth too thought, 'What the hell Naruto! I very well know that you recall about that incident. What the heck are you scheming?'

In the arena, Neji now removed his Hitai-ate and kept it in his pocket. Showing everyone the caged bird seal on his forehead. Neji in an angry voice said, "See this…It is the caged bird seal. You may notice my anger. Fear not, it isn't directed at you. It is just a result of your true words. The Hyuga main house is filled with cowards to put such law into action even to date. They at times abuse that power bestowed on them. I have nothing but anger and hate towards them. You may know about the Kumogakure kidnap incident."

Naruto just nodded. Neji continued, "But not many know how my father, twin of the current clan head had to sacrifice himself, even if he had no fault other than being born mere moments later. My uncle should have taken responsibility as the killer and as the clan head. But that wasn't the case. Now tell me wasn't it fate that let my father be the second one born and die just to protect his brother? Everyone is born with a predefined fate."

Naruto just scoffed and said, "If everything is predefined then why do we dream? Why do we wish? Why do we work? Why do we exist? Do you have an answer to that? Does your fate give you those answers?"

Neji re-tying his Hitai-ate said, "I don't have an answer to that."

Naruto just said, "Yeah of course you don't. You have let that main house set your limit. You can't be anything more than a branch house Hyuga. What a pity you let yourself rust due to just this!"

Neji again with anger said, "Don't slump me up with the others. And you don't know how this feels. Being caged. Singled out. Tainted by a seal. You know nothing. You are just an ignorant boy. Don't talk anymore."

Naruto just laughed and said, "Believe me I can understand it better than anyone else. I thought you were a genius. But I guess you can't think. After all, you are nothing but a Hyuga branch member with a predefined destiny. Just sit by and let the main house and others do whatever they want and sit like a weak helpless person, who doesn't make his own decisions. Just like the rest...slaves to the Main House."

Neji was vigorously shaking in anger and now yelled, "Shut up! I won't stand any of this anymore! I am not just gonna sit at the side and let things happen. I will defeat you. I will break past the cage that the main house has kept. The hell with the main house. Hell with my pride. Hell with my beliefs. All I want now is to defeat you and crumble that main branch. I accept that victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price. And I will pay for it. Even if it means scattering my damn LIMITSSS!"

With that, Neji blurred and the next second Naruto received a perfect punch on his right cheek. Naruto's sharingan got activated by itself, but it wasn't able to help the blonde. Nevertheless, even while being punched Naruto had a big grin. The punch was powerful enough to send Naruto flying back, crashing to a wall and cracking it a bit.

While getting up, Naruto just thought, 'Good, I wanted him to break his limits. But I didn't want him this angry. I thought he could help during the invasion, but with such anger lingering, it is better I send him to the hospital where he can be safe. I just need him to hit me with that attack. I need it so I can fool all those invaders.'

He then looked at Neji who came to attack him with a kunai in his hand. In just the nick of time, Naruto was able to dodge the strike by rolling away. He kicked Neji's leg forcing the Hyuga to kneel on that leg. But using that leg as a pivot Neji turned and aimed a kick at Naruto's waist. Naruto blocked it with one hand and went to punch with the other. Neji tilted his head and evaded the punch. The Hyuga then packed chakra in his hand and thrust his palm with the chakra right at Naruto's guts.

Naruto was sent skidding back a few feet. When Naruto stopped, he saw Neji in his stance and say, "Now I will break my damn limits and display a feat no Hyuga had ever achieved…Hakke Hyaku Nijūhasshō (Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight)"

And this time from two palms to sixty-four palms all were executed properly as Naruto couldn't dodge. Or rather didn't try.

As the attack was completed Naruto was yet again sent skidding back toward the wall. On impact, he slumped to the ground, he let his head fall down a bit, and spit out some blood. Neji slumped a bit and his stance shaky, but he still stood while catching his breath.

Up in the stands, all were lost for words at the display below. Neji was now showing how formidable a Hyuga could be. While on the other hand the Hyugas, mainly the elders from the main house were having their eyes widened in disbelief. Most of them used years of formal training to get the sixty-four palms right. And now they were seeing a genin, from the branch family surpass every Hyuga ever to exist. Neji was arguably in the top spots of Hyuga power ranking now.

But there was one extra thought in Hiashi's mind, 'My brother Hizashi, your son is incredible. Just incredible. Forgive me that you can't see it yourself. I don't think he will let me any close to him. Like he always does, he will stay away from me. But I have accepted it. I know I have troubled you by saying this line in my prayers again and again. Forgive me for what I have caused.' Though the man had an impassive expression on his face, internally he was a bit happy at seeing the level his nephew was.

It was Ino who said, "Damn, this fight is on another level."

Sakura could only nod while mentally saying, 'Come on Naruto you can get up. You can win it.'

Hinata was quite concerned as she knew how formidable this jutsu was. It not only blocks your chakra points but can also damage internal organs.

Lee just watched with astonishment in his eyes as for the first time he had seen his teammate talk about shattering limits and stuff like that. Gai was also on a similar page.

Tenten in her mind said, 'This was a great fight. Naruto you were very good you pushed Neji to his absolute, actually beyond his limit. But Neji was stronger.'

Kiyomi had subconsciously stood up on seeing Naruto spit out blood. Her hands grabbed the railing a bit too hard that it started to deform a bit. She wanted to jump and check on her blonde. But was stopped when she felt her mother's hand on her shoulder. Mikoto just said, "You are a shinobi. Be calm and trust Naruto."

Even Shikamaru now for the first time looked at the fight with shock. He had never imagined that he would see Naruto in such a state.

In the Kage booth, Hiruzen just hummed and scratched his chin. While the Kazekage said, "Is there a chance for the Uzumaki now when all his chakra points are locked?"

"Let's watch my fellow kage." That was all Hiruzen said.

In the hidden place, Kakashi watched quietly knowing the unpredictable ninja would do something. While Sasuke was very unhappy with the current state of Naruto. He couldn't yell from there. So, in his mind, he said, 'Get the hell up Uzumaki! I will not allow you to accept defeat. I know you can get up and fight. We are the forerunner. We are the strongest. We will show that in round two. So, get up and win.'

Down in the arena the proctor, Genma asked, "Can you stand and fight Uzumaki Naruto?"

Naruto then slowly lifted himself up and started to chuckle. He then stopped and lifted his head to see Neji, who had regained some strenght by now. Naruto said, "I can still defeat this Hyuga." Naruto wiped the blood off his mouth and started to do alternating one-legged spot jumps.

He internally had a big sly smile and his thoughts were, 'Ero-senin's endurance training did work. I feel little pain. And it also increased my toughness of muscles. Neji thinks his attack was successful but there are still minute gaps in the locks he performed, but remarkable for a first attempt nonetheless. I know it as I can still feel the flow, though very little it still exits. This is perfect! It is the exact way I wanted things to go. Now I will just dramatically show I was able to unlock chakra only to my right hand. And this jutsu will force all to focus on this particular area, while the rest still dangerous but no one will think of looking at anything other than my right hand.'

Neji just scoffed at the blonde's attitude. He then said, "I have blocked all your chakra points. And damaged your internal organs. It is commendable enough that you are able to stand and jump. Give up. There is no need to continue."

Naruto stopping his jumps said, "Aghh I can unlock my chakra at least for one hand. And that is all I need. Even if I can't use hand seals properly, I still have a hand seal-less jutsu that can break your Hyuga's ultimate defense."

Neji scoffed again and said, "A hand seal-less jutsu! Are you fine? I don't remember hitting your head."

Naruto chuckled and said, "I guess I am not fine, but I am crazy from the day I was born. But first, let me supply all my chakra to one point. It ought to break that clog."

Neji just scoffed and said, "You can't. It's an absolute clog. You will blast orifices in your arm. I suggest…"

Naruto not waiting to listen to what the boy had to say started to shift a heavy amount of chakra towards his right hand. At the same time, he was giving just enough chakra to break the other closers on his body. His right palm started to glow with a deep blue aura.

Suddenly a potent beam of chakra was released from his hands which made a hole in the ground. Neji just snarled in distaste at the success of his opponent. Naruto's right palm was still glowing with a deep blue aura. Naruto while showing his sly smile thought, 'All went according to my plan. I can access chakra everywhere. But no one will spare a second to think of that possibility due to the fear of my next jutsu.'

Naruto directed Neji to look down. Neji just reactivated his byakugan and he was barely in time was able to move to evade to beam of chakra that Naruto had released coming out of the ground. Naruto before giving Neji time, threw five kunai with explosive tags tied to it. Neji knew he was in a pickle now because he wasn't in a posture that allowed him to jump far enough. Therefore, he executed Hyuga's ultimate defense.

Naruto seeing Neji perform rotation smiled. He first started to walk and then ran towards Neji. While doing so he thought, 'Now is the time to make everyone bulge their eyes out…' He focused pure chakra to his right palm while thinking, 'First rotation… then power…and lastly containment.' Naruto smirked at the deep blue spiralling ball on his hand now.

Up in the stands, all the genin had a confused expression. Can a simple chakra sphere, that too without any seal, really break Neji's defense? Even Kiyomi was a bit unsettled with the rather simple-looking jutsu.

While on the other hand, all the jonins were at the other end of the spectrum. Asuma's cigarette had fallen out of his mouth. Kurenai was rooted to her place with an agape mouth. Mikoto too was shocked to see Naruto wield the jutsu that his father had created. Gai just muttered to himself, 'Just what pace is this? When Kakashi had mentioned that Naruto had an accomplice to master a strong jutsu within one week, I would never have guessed it was this.'

Kakashi from his place just watched with a gleeful eye. Sasuke besides him too was first doubtful of the jutsu, but he saw Kakashi at ease. He knew it must have been a formidable jutsu.

In the Kage booth, Hiruzen couldn't hold back his grin at seeing the successful Rasengan. While Orochimaru was genuinely shocked. He could only think, 'This proves it. The rumor that the pervert taught him is true. Whatever I say, I can't deny the teaching abilities of that toad. This boy has come too far. I can't allow him to live, even at the expense of dropping all the exciting experiments I had thought for him. He has to die. The fiasco with Akatsuki will be seen later due to the killing of a vessel, but this Namikzae spawn can be an even more problem in the future. I will just have to keep myself content with some samples and keep his cells alive.' He then secretly started to give signals to his right-hand man.

Down in the arena, the explosive tags had just exploded. Neji still kept the defense on, just in case the blonde was devising something. Naruto before smashing his jutsu just said, "Rasengan!"

What followed next was a loud bang sound and the area of impact being filled with dust. Flying out of the dust clouds was Neji. Neji got up with some pain in his body. He stood up and thought, 'What the hell was that? How could he possibly have something to disrupt my Kaiten!'

Up in the stands, everyone saw this with their eyes bulging out. Choji had choked himself with a bunch of chips. Hinata was shocked at seeing her clan's best defense just crumble. Lee could only whisper, "Damn." While Tenten openly gawked at seeing her teammate's ultimate defense break. Her only thought was, 'How?! Just how?!'

Kiyomi too now watched with her eyes bulged out. The only question ringing in her head was, 'What jutsu was that?! I never knew he wielded something like this.'

Sakura just thought, 'Ne, Naruto will you even wait for me, or you and Sasuke-kun plan to leave me for the dust? Within just one month, I feel you have improved much more than I can imagine. Well, normal logic really doesn't work on you. Now win this fight.'

Shikamaru thought, 'The hell this troublesome bastard now has a jutsu that can explode loudly. What if he uses it to disturb my sleep? What a drag!' But then the Nara grinned and thought, 'On a serious note, well done you blonde bastard…And don't end this fight. I want to have that cancelation of exams and sleep.'

Down in the arena the dust clouds thinned, and in the middle, stood Naruto with his left hand grabbing his katana. Naruto just grinned and in a smug tone said, "Ahhh, I see it was good that I used less than thirty percent of the maximum power I can deliver using the Rasengan. If I had gone all out maybe you would be on a stretcher or already dead…But now I have an offer for you. The one you had initially given me…Neji, surrender. I don't want to hurt you much. Save yourself some pain."

The thirty percent was a bluff. In truth, he had used around fifty percent of the maximum power he could. He just wanted to intimidate all the invaders in the crowd.

As a reply Neji snarled, took his stance, and said, "I still have some fight left in me."

Naruto grinned even more and said, "As you wish." With that, both the boys again became blurs and re-engaged in close combat. Sounds of metal clashing and punches reverberated throughout the arena.

Up in the stands, Ino fearfully muttered, "Thir-thirty percent only?! What jutsu was that?!"

All of the genin and Kiyomi turned to the jonins for an answer. Kurenai genuinely asked, "You all really don't know what it was?" All of them shook their heads.

Asuma just had a sweat drop on his forehead as he thought, 'Why am I not surprised?' He then proceeded to say, "That justsu is called the Rasengan. It is a jutsu made of pure chakra, with no nature transformation. No hand seals. It packs a lot of power in it. It is a high A-class jutsu. It can be turned into a borderline S-class jutsu with how much chakra you can handle. It was a jutsu created by the Yondaime Hokage. Only known users are the creator himself, Master Jiraiya, Kakashi, and now Naruto."

The only word that rang in all's heads was, 'Yon-Yondaime!'

Choji while opening another packet of chips asked, "If it is a no-hand seal jutsu then why are there only four known users? I mean we use hand seals to aid us in chakra manipulation and control. If there are no hand seals doesn't that mean it should be easy to execute it?"

Mikoto was the one who said, "On the contrary, it is much harder to execute this. It had allegedly taken three years for the Yondaime to create the Rasengan. Many must have tried to copy it. But all must have failed miserably."

Gai just grinned while thinking, 'And to think young Naruto learned it in a week. His flames of youth burn wildly. I can't say this aloud. These guys are already shocked enough.'

Down in the arena, the close combat was going on, but the pace had slowed a bit. That is due to Neji having taken many cuts and blows near his vitals. He was nearing his chakra limit. He had used up a lot of chakra-packed moves. Many of them did hit Naruto, but the blonde would only be affected for a small time. And then again go back to fight.

Naruto swept Neji's kunai away with a reverse upward slash. Neji gathered all the chakra that was left within him. While doing so he thought, 'I have to hit him with everything I have got. I may not get a better chance.' With that Neji gave one last palm thrust, directed toward Naruto's head. If he wanted to win, he had to knock out Naruto and this was the only way.

But alas, Naruto tilted his head just at the right time. Internally Neji sighed seeing this and feeling a few things internally. He had nearly exhausted his chakra and was now experiencing severe chakra exhaustion. First, his byakugan deactivated and then he lost balance and was falling face forward towards the ground.

But before his face could make contact with the ground Naruto grabbed Neji by his shirt and stopped the Hyuga from falling. Neji just snarled and said, "Let me fall Uzumaki. I have exhausted my chakra. This is the end of the fight."

Naruto just hummed and turned Neji, so now the Hyuga's back was towards the ground. Naruto then said, "It is not very honorable to fall on your face. As an opponent and shinobi, you have my respect from the time you were determined to break your limits. You fought every second with honor, don't lose it now." With that, Naruto sheathed his katana and let Neji fall to the ground.

As Neji fell, he thought, 'Honor, huh? From the moment I wanted to break my limit. That was the moment of anger, but I guess now when I think of it, leaving my pride and letting my anger out lets me see myself better…' , Neji contacted the ground. 'I guess, I have a lot to work on.'

Genma announced, "Winner: Uzumaki Naruto."

There was a round of claps from the shinobi sitting all around the stands. Naruto let the moment sink for a while then quietly walked towards the competitor's box, while behind a stretcher came to take Neji to the hospital.

While Naruto walked up the stairs he stopped before climbing up the last two flights of stairs. He said aloud, "You are not supposed to be here. This is the competitor's area. You have already passed a year ago, Kiyomi."

Kiyomi came out of her hiding spot on the upper flight of stairs. Naruto smirked seeing the pout on the girl's face. Kiyomi in an irritated tone said, "You are no fun. I wanted to surprise and congratulate you." She continued to pout in irritation.

Naruto just chuckled and started climbing the stairs and stood near Kiyomi. Kiyomi thought Naruto was gonna peck her but Naruto just played with her cheeks like she was a chubby kid, while saying, "So my little kitty cat wanted to surprise me, huh? Sorry Kiyomi but that is not possible. My guard is always up. I know who is where always. Especially you."

Kiyomi had a healthy blush due to Naruto playing with her cheeks. She took hold of Naruto's hand and stopped it. Kiyomi in an irritated voice said, "Oi, stop it. I am not a small child that you are doing this."

"I know. I just felt like doing it."

"Huh, and you don't like it when I rub your whiskers when I want, and now you do this?"

Naruto had a sweat drop at an accurate point. He just said, "Agh let's go from here and continue our little quarrel sometime afterward. Or else there will be no end to this."

Kiyomi in an annoyed voice said, "You are saying this because I am right." Naruto just rubbed the back of his head, gingerly smiled, and said, "Okay you win."

Kiyomi now with curiosity asked, "When did you learn the Rasengan and why didn't you tell me?"

"I just got the jutsu down to this level just a day before. And when we met, I didn't want to recall or talk about training, I just wanted to relax. That's why it didn't come out of my mouth."

Kiyomi just nodded and hummed. She then asked, "So you are gonna ask your classmate Hyuga to open the locks on your chakra coils?"

Naruto lied, "Yes, I will." He knew there were ears everywhere. And he knew he had made himself a target, so it was imminent that he was under someone's eye. He knew meeting Kyomi meant she too would become a bigger target than before. But he couldn't stop everything.

Kiyomi narrowed her eyes and in an assertive tone said, "I will allow it. But don't get too comfortable when she touches you. Or else I will beat the crap out of you."

Naruto just raised an eyebrow and asked, "Quite possessive, aren't you?...Relax no one will waver my feelings, and no one else likes me that way to steal me from you. Especially not Hinata."

Kiyomi just looked at the blonde in a deadpan expression and said, "You are an idiot."

Naruto just dismissed it by saying, "You always say that. Now let's go I don't to miss Sasuke's fight." With that Naruto left walking up the remaining step, with Kiyomi replacing back with her clone that sat in her place allowing her to meet Naruto with no one noticing anything.

Naruto didn't go out of the competitor's box to meet the genins and jonins. He just bowed his head in respect to thank for the congratulations and good work remarks he got. From the competitors, Shino in his rare moments of speaking said, "It was a great fight. Congratulations."

Naruto just said thanks. The ninja from Suna just stared at the blonde. Gaara outwardly showed himself to be calm, but he was very excited with the prospect of killing the Uzumaki. While the other two siblings thought the opposite. They had ticked Naruto out from the list of ninjas they would fight. As they knew in the invasion if they stood against the Uzumaki they would be killed.

Naruto then went and stood near Shikamaru. The Nara with a smile only asked, "Couldn't have you fought longer. Longer enough that my match doesn't come."

Naruto said, "Hymn I guess I wanted to be in the shade and rest up here that's why."

Shikamaru just snickered, "You are such a lazy person."

Naruto snorted and sarcastically said, "Look who is talking about laziness."

Down in the arena, Genma announced, "Sabaku no Gaara and Uchiha Sasuke, come to the arena for your battle."

Gaara went down the stairs and stood in the middle of the arena. All waited in silence for a few moments. Everyone waiting for Uchiha Sasuke to enter the ground. Unknown to them the boy had his hands and legs tied and pinned to the ground with his sensei sitting on him.

The boy while struggled and yelled, "The hell Kakashi, it is my match. Let go of me!"

Kakashi while turning a page in his book said, "Hymn it is quite noisy here. Can't read properly. Hymn maybe some duct tape will help."

Sasuke with anger spat, "I will kill you Kakashi."

And with that last sentence, the Uchiha's mouth was shut with duct tape.

In the genin section, all wondered where was the Uchiha, with his two fangirls being quite vocal with their concern. On the other hand, Kiyomi sat with her irritation growing, and Mikoto too was a bit unhappy but was more concerned about where her son was.

In the Kage booth, Hiruzen held a frown and thought about what was Kakashi up to. But he didn't like this one bit. He started to write elimination on his paper, which would have been given to Genma for announcement. But before he could send the paper, he heard the man in the Kazekage robes say, "Hokage-dono, I disagree with your decision. There are many feudal lords sitting to see the Uchiha."

Hiruzen said, "I hope you as a leader know the importance of time."

Orochimaru showed no signs of being offended and said, "I do, but I have a selfish request to you, I want to see my son fight the Uchiha. I want to see how he holds up against someone strong and of his age."

Hiruzen replied, "Didn't my Uzumaki show that he is more than capable of your request? As Sasuke's elimination results in their match."

Orochimaru swiftly replied, "But won't that be unfair on the Uzumaki? He has fought once. I believe in a fair chance to all."

Hiruzen just said, "Oh is that so…" 'Even if there was some doubt before, all is cleared. Orochimaru wants Sasuke in the middle of chaos. I will let him play with his cards now' He continued to say, "Fine, I will postpone this match now. But if he doesn't arrive later then I will have no other option."

Orochimaru said, "That's generous of you." While inside he thought, 'This old goat didn't argue much…Something is off. I need to be more careful in talking with him.'

A paper was handed to Genma. After reading it he announced, "This match has been postponed. We will continue with the other two matches of this round."

This had got a lot of talking amongst everyone. Shikamaru while looking at the clouds paid a little attention. Naruto said, "Did you hear what they announced?"

Shikamaru said, "Yeah, I was hoping they would wait a bit more for Sasuke to arrive. It would helped me push forward with the possibility of me not fighting. Man, lady luck is against me today. What a drag!"

Naruto just said, "I wonder what will happen when you fetch a lady for real. As you will be too lazy to move in and out?"

Shikamaru though cringed at the sentence said, "Who said that I even want a troublesome lady?"

Both of them stopped their nonsense as they sensed the anger emitting from Gaara who had returned back to the box. The postponement of his match really got to the boy.

Down in the arena, Genma yelled, "Sabaku no Kankuro and Aburame Shino, please come down to the arena."

Shino was ready to go down but then all heard Kankuro say, "I forfeit." He said no reason for it. The whole crowd started booing. Genma just sighed and said, "Well by forfeit, winner: Aburame Shino…Now, Sabaku no Temari and Shikamaru. Enter the arena for your fight."

Temari used her huge war fan to create a torrent of wind, she jumped onto her war fan, and with the help of the wind, she gracefully arrived at the center of the arena.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru frantically said, "Oi, what the hell?! How did my turn come so early? I don't have the energy to fight. I forfe…"

Before he could complete his sentence, he felt something on his upper back. It was Naruto's foot. Naruto said, "You have to fight. If Sasuke doesn't arrive, then I have to go for a back-to-back fight. I have no intention of doing so. So sorry Shikamaru, you have to fight." He then whispered, "If you trust me, then don't deplete much chakra. You will need it for survival. All hell is going to break loose." With that, Naruto kicked Shikamaru past the railings.

Shikamaru being the opposite of his opponent, crash landed very ungraceful to the ground. Still, on the ground, he thought, 'The hell Naruto! You and your mysterious talk. But you did seem serious. Besides I can still forfeit. That's the best option.' Shikamaru raised his hands to say what he wished out aloud. But his procrastination prevented him from hearing Genma ask, "Nara, can you fight?"

Genma taking the raised hand as a yes just said, "Fine…Hajime!"

Shikamaru cursed in his mind. He had to immediately jump out of the way of a few shurikens. He raged in his mind, 'Naruto this is all your fault.' The fight progressed with little to no contribution from Shikamaru. The Nara took shelter behind the trees and enviously stared at the clouds.

After a while, Shikamaru started to lay his trap and diversions. To most, it seemed the Nara boy was just throwing things frantically. But few knew, that there was always an opening with each step a Nara plays. Eventually, everything fell into place as Shikamaru used the kunai shadows as repeater points and the holes created during Naruto's fight. He was able to catch the girl in his shadow possession jutsu behind her back.

All in the stands looked intently at the match as it took a one-eighty-degree turn. This turn had caused all to reconsider what they thought of the Nara.

Temari after feeling her body go stiff could only widen her eyes and think, 'How the hell could I lose to this slacker? I was careless.'

Shikamaru just made Temari and himself walk closer to the center. Shikamaru raised his hand, which Temari against her will, had to reciprocate. She waited for her humiliation to start.

But Shikamaru said, "The hell with this. I don't have much chakra left. I give up!"

Temari could only stutter, "Wh-what?!"

Shikamaru immediately said, "It was either advance with chakra exhaustion or sit calmly. It was a no-brainer."

Genma just smirked and said, "By forfeit, winner: Sabaku no Temari."

Before anyone could say anything Shikamaru started to walk back towards the competitor's box. He had something to ask. Temari too went back with a snarl and a bad mood.

The jonins had varied reactions. Starting from Asuma facepalming his face and laughing to Gai shouting out how unyouthful this was.

Sakura had to hold Ino back from attacking Shikamaru. The pink-haired girl even covered the Yamakana's mouth to stop the slurs. It was evident Ino had not liked how the match ended. Choji knowing something like this would happen, just ate his chips with satisfaction.

Hiruzen took down some points while Orochimaru said, "Hokage-dono, you have some interesting genin this year."

Hiruzen just said, "I can't deny. The genin of this year are quite different than the usual."

Naruto just greeted Shikamaru with a smile and said, "Well it was a good way to go out of this tournament."

Shikamaru jumped straight to the point, "Leave all that. What did you mean by those words that you whispered?"

Naruto while tilting his head towards the Suna group, said, "Nothing that I can say aloud. It was just a warning that your opponent..." Naruto with a sly smile proceeded to remove his right fingerless glove. He showed the writings in his hand to Shikamaru. The blonde continuing his sentence said, "…Was a strong one and to be cautious."

Shikamaru's eyes widened at what he read. He thought, 'The hell?! Is it true? If yes then, why? My doubt on that Suna jonin was right!' He wanted to ask many questions but he could only say, "I see…Not that it matters now, nor I can do anything."

Naruto covered his hand back and said, "Depends on how you want to act and see it. Your skill has caught people's eyes. Want it or not you seem to make it into the list."

Besides them, Temari was hearing what the boys were talking about. She didn't like how they were talking, it sounded like Shikamaru was the victorious one. Temari yelled at Naruto, "Listen up you whiskered brat. He was only able to capture me in his jutsu due to my carelessness. Moreover, he was out of his chakra. He wouldn't have been able to do anything significant."

Naruto just chuckled and with a mocking smile said, "Sure princess. If that will help you sleep better, you can think of it like that. And if you still can't sleep, I can help you by singing a lullaby."

Temari snarled grabbed her war fan and swung it to hit Naruto, who stood still with a sly smile she yelled, "You insolent bastard!"

The metallic fan just stopped a centimeter before it would hit Naruto. Naruto smiled as he knew the others would stop this. Shikamaru had again caught the girl in his shadow possession jutsu. Shino sent many of his bugs to stop the fan. Kankuro had entangled a fine string to stop the war fan. But the most surprising was that Gaara had used his sand to stop the war fan. The girl could only snarl. While Naruto smiled.

But her anger soon turned into horror when she heard her little brother say, "Temari, I dare you to touch Uzumaki. He is mine to kill. He is strong and his death will prove my existence." Gaara turned to look Naruto straight in the face. He then eagerly said, "I will kill you Uzumaki Naruto. And unlock your chakra to all of your body back quickly. I want to kill you at your strongest."

Naruto simply said, "Hymn but first you will have to defeat my teammate."

Gaara withdrawing his sand back said, "If he arrives, don't worry I will first send him to the afterlife and then you will join him soon."

Naruto said, "Sure, sure."

Shikamaru, Shino, and Kankuro also withdrew their jutsu. With that Temari went to the railings silently to stand beside Kankuro.

Shikamaru snarled and said, "Why do you want to create a mess?"

Naruto just said, "They are already a mess. I don't need to create one."

This created a tick mark on both Temari's and Kankuro's heads but they stayed put as Gaara glared at them, refraining from doing anything.

Genma below sighed and asked, "Are you all done? If yes then Sabaku no Gaara come down to the arena…If Uchiha Sasuke doesn't arrive within a minute. You will win by default."

Gaara quietly went down again. Shino in the competitor's box said, "Naruto you shouldn't act like that. They are children of the Kazekage, and you too are close to the Hokage. We don't want strained relations with allies."

Naruto while looking at the boy said, "Hymn I guess the bomb will tick off. I will tell you something Shino but let the match start." With his hand, he signalled that he didn't want the Suna kids to hear what he was saying. That's why when the noise of the match comes to a high level, he would say it out. Shino just nodded.

From the jonin, Mikoto could only facepalm and say, "He used to be such a lovely boy. Nowadays he only causes trouble."

Kurenai to soothe the woman said, "I guess he is in his rebellious phase. He will turn back to the lovely person he was. Just give him some time."

As time ticked by most people thought that the last Uchiha wouldn't show up. As the last ten seconds came Genma was getting ready to announce his decision. But then in front of him and Gaara, a swirl of leaves appeared.

And the next second there stood Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Sasuke. Kakashi while giving an eye-smile asked Genma, "I hope we are not late."

Genma after a snarl said, "You are late, yet just in time. What took you two so long?"

Kakashi just chuckled and said, "Well I and Sasuke here just got lost in the path of life."

Sasuke just snarled as Kakashi clubbed his name too while he had nothing to do with being late. While everyone else except Naruto just looked at the jonin in a deadpan manner. Genma could only say, "Sure you did."

Kakashi walked away from the center of the ground while saying, "Well that's enough from me. I am going to the stands. And yeah Sasuke, try to win, will ya?" He then pointed towards Naruto, who smiled in anticipation, "Or else you know what that will imply."

Sasuke stared at Naruto who gave him back a challenging smile and look. Sasuke just said, "Yeah, I know. I will win."

Now only Genma, Sasuke, and Gaara stood on the ground. Genma seeing both the genin more than ready said, "Hajime!"

Sasuke immediately jumped back and threw shurikens. Gaara controlled some sand to block the weapons. Sasuke threw some more weapons and ran towards Gaara. Though not at his full speed. Gaara blocked the weapons and easily kept blocking Sasuke's attack.

Up in the stands, Kakashi had just arrived where his other fellow. He had to immediately catch a kunai with two fingers, which was aimed at his face. Kakashi just said, "Maa, maa, does anger run by default in the Uchiha blood?"

It was Mikoto who had thrown the kunai and now replied, "Why the hell were you so late? I was beginning to think something awful happened."

Kakashi tossed back the kunai and said, "Relax, Sasuke is strong. And I have trained him well. You don't need to fear his safety even afterward."

In a barely audible voice, so only the jonin could hear. Mikoto said, "Are you sure? I still think all these kids so be sent as quickly safe in the bunkers."

Kurenai followed by saying, "To be honest I stand with that decision."

Kakashi just said, "I don't. Maybe some need to avoid fighting, as they would die. But there are some like Sasuke and Naruto who can make a world's difference. You simply can keep those two out of this. Moreover, you too know the enemy won't let either Naruto or Sasuke escape and hide in safety. And that if they will try to run. They would rather fight than run."

Mikoto could only ball her fists as she didn't want to accept but knew what Kakashi said was true. She knew both of her boys would be high on the target list and neither were the type to run away. She glanced at Kiyomi, who was watching her brother fight, and occasionally shouted better moves to do. The mother knew she was the most logical thinker of the three but, she too would rather fight than run.

The genins looked in the stands, looked at the fight closely. With Sakura and Ino cheering the boy every second. The three Konoha genin in the competitor box looked at the fight in relative silence. Shikamaru just said it out aloud what the three were thinking, "How much stronger has he become that he is faking this much?"

Naruto just said, "No idea, but it does seem interesting to think maybe he may defeat Gaara." Shikamaru just said, "I doubt it."

Down in the arena, after blocking another punch Gaara calmly asked, "If this is all you have got then you will lose. And die on top of that."

Sasuke again jumped back to a good distance. He activated his two tomed sharingan. He just smirked and said, "I was waiting when you will ask for your beating. And die me…Nah, not today. I still have an aim to complete."

With that Sasuke now closed the distance by running at his max speed. The speed was now held by four genin, Naruto, Lee, Neji, and him. Gaara's eyes widened as Sasuke almost blurred out of sight and gave a clean punch on his left cheek. And the punch was packed with power, sending the jinchuuriki flying a few feet. It had also created a crack in Gaara's sand layer on his face.

All in the stands gawked at seeing such speed yet again. The jonin apart of Kakashi looked at the boy in shock. And so were the genin. Even Sakura and Ino stopped their cheering for a moment due to shock. A stunned Kiyomi could only think, 'He-he too is faster than me now! And he too now has two tomed sharingan like me. He has caught up to me!'

Mikoto could also only watch in amazement and pride, while thinking, 'I guess I really don't need to worry about any of the three.'

Gai and Lee were even more shocked as they saw the Uchiha execute some of their moves. Kakashi noticing it just said, "I taught Sasuke some taijutsu that might be useful. Hope you don't condemn it."

Gai said, "I don't think I can."

In the competitor's box, all looked at the display with shock. While Naruto chuckled in glee at seeing this. He had also activated his sharingan under the genjutsu to see the fight better.

In the Kage booth, Hiruzen was truly impressed by the boy and Kakashi's teaching skills. Besides him, Orochimaru also loved seeing his vessel get better.

Down in the arena, Sasuke continued his assault, giving Gaara no time to recover. Sasuke ended his combo by giving Gaara a heel kick to the guts and directed downwards. Sasuke took a few steps backward and gave his opponent some time to recover. He didn't fight just to win, he fought to show his dominance.

All thought Gaara would say something out of anger. But the jinchuuriki still lying down, laughed his heart out. He then started to stand up while also reinforcing the sand layer on his body. All saw the crazy smile the boy wore.

Gaara in glee said, "Fun, this is going to be fun! Killing you will prove my existence. Won't it, mother?" With that Gaara gathered a good amount of sand behind his back. He then yelled, "I am gonna kill you!"

The sand grouped into many projectiles and raced towards Sasuke. Sasuke didn't falter back. He kept dodging and also moving towards Gaara with excellent agility with the great speed he had. The Uchiha would reach his target but would have to lean back or move back to dodge an immediately formed spike formed by Gaara's sand, which danced around the Suna genin's feet.

All in the stands were again musing at the agility that Sasuke showed at that speed. Asuma couldn't help but ask, "Damn Kakashi what training did you give the boy?"

Kakashi, who had now lifted his Hitai-ate to see the fight clearly lazily said, "Nothing much. Just exhaustive body training."

Kurenai could only mutter, "How much did you use to exhaust the boy?"

Kakashi shrugged and said, "I don't recall much other than reading the perfect Icha-Icha series."

Mikoto wanted to hit the Hatake for reading such a book in front of her boy. One was already corrupted, she didn't want the other one to get a habit of it too. But she was also grateful to the jonin for making her son as strong as possible. She in a normal tone first said, "While I am grateful to you Hatake Kakashi for making my boy as strong as he could be…", now in an overly sweet tone she said, "…I would really like it if you stopped reading that book. Especially in front of Sasuke. You have already corrupted Naruto."

Kakashi immediately said, "Oi, I didn't corrupt Naru…"

Seeing the overly sweet smile on the lady, he knew any true reply wouldn't work. So, with a sweat drop, he said, "I may take this suggestion into consideration."

Ino, Sakura, and many others in the stands cheered for the Uchiha. Naruto thought the noise level was high enough and the Suna siblings were engaged in watching the fight. He pulled Shino and Shikamaru a bit back.

He before anything could be asked showed Shino the writings on his hands. Shino didn't show it but he was shocked to the core. He didn't know if the words written, 'Oto+Suna Konoha invasion', were true or not.

Naruto said, "It is true. I am not pulling any prank. All the jonins know about this."

Shino fixing his glasses asked, "But how do you know?"

Naruto lied, "They needed me for some of my prank routes for jonins to launch surprise attacks."

Shino nodded buying the lie. But Shikamaru didn't buy it. He knew the jonins had an ego they stood with. Most would fight head-on. Very unlike a shinobi, but sadly that was the case with most. But he chose not to point it out.

Naruto continued, "I have a gut feeling it is going to start pretty soon. Shino, I want you to…"

Shino said, "Already done. I have kept one of my insects attached to both of them. We will have their location always."

Naruto nodded, "Great."

Shikamaru said, "Keep it in the others amongst us so we track each other too. But honestly, we should run or play dead. We are not at that caliber yet."

Naruto sternly said, "Run, then someone will die protecting you. And it is usually a close one. Just remember that."

Shikamaru snarled and said, "Great you bastard. Now I can't even leave after you say such words."

Naruto just said, "Well I just spoke facts."

Shino readjusting his glasses said, "All genins including you Shikamaru have my insect now. But I can't sneak up a jonin yet. And also, you Naruto, my insects die as soon as they attach to you. It may maybe because your chakra is blocked. My insects need chakra and your chakra is blocked till now. Before the mayhem starts unlock your chakra from Hinata."

Naruto just nodded while knowing exactly why the insects were dying. He just took out two slips of paper and one each. Naruto said, "These are some message-transmitting seals I and my master made. Just write the message. It will appear on my slip. And yeah, the range for now is till the outskirts of Konoha."

Both nodded and kept the slips with them. Naruto just said, "It's a waiting game now." They both nodded and refocused on Sasuke still trying to reach Gaara. The Uchiha getting closer and closer with each attempt. In the corner of the blonde's eye, he saw the certain Anbu move.

He took a few more steps back and quietly went through a few hand seals, in an inaudible voice he said, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Jutsu)"

In front of him were two small toads. Gamakichi and his yellow-skinned younger brother, Gamatatsu. Before any could speak Naruto said in a whisper audible enough, "Don't loudly announce yourself you two."

The two only nodded. Though Gamakichi in a similar tone asked, "Has it begun?"

All the toads knew about the situation as Jiraiya had told all to be ready as they could be summoned at any time. Naruto said, "Not yet I just have a gut feeling it is gonna be soon?"

Gamatatsu just asked, "Is it going to be terrifying?"

Naruto plainly said, "Yes it will. But I believe in the two of you. I have important jobs for you. Gamakichi, you will always follow and keep an eye on the Gaara. He is like me, in some sealing aspect. You understand what I say?"

Gamakichi nodded and gave a salute. Naruto then turned to Gamatatsu and said, "And you will always keep an eye on Kiyomi. That beautiful black-haired girl sitting there." Gamatatsu nodded and saluted while Gamakichi snickered and said, "Quite a protective boyfriend you are."

Naruto just sighed and said, "Who even told you that she is my girlfriend?"

Gamakichi said, "Come on, I know we are toads, but we all summons do have a good enough cranial capacity to deduce this much."

Naruto just taunted, "Wow, that's news to me."

Gamatatsu being the tube light said, "Naruto has a girlfriend?"

Gamakichi recorrected his statement, "I stand corrected. Most of us, not all."

The crowd erupted into cheers as it seemed Sasuke was able reach to his opponent and land a powerful kick to Gaara's face.

Naruto just handed similar slips to both toads and a cylinder with a string attached to one end. Gamakichi said, "I know what these slips are but, what are these other things?"

Naruto said, "They are to be used if you want to signal if any of you end up outside the messaging range. Which is on the outskirts of Konoha. These have more direct and simpler signals, so they have a much larger range. Just pull the string and direct the other side upwards. A red beam of smoke will ascend the sky and I will know it has been triggered. I will be able to locate you…Now go."

Both the toads saluted and went to do their job.

Naruto now paid attention back to the fight where again Sasuke showed his superior speed and taijutsu and Gaara was being beaten around the ground.

After a series of attacks, Gaara stood again re-making his cracked sand layer. While glaring back at Sasuke he said, "Now try to break this defence." With that Gaara surrounded himself with sand and enclosed himself in a sand sphere. Inside the sphere, Gaara went through hand seals, and the next moment outside of the sphere a third eye made of sand appeared.

Sasuke just clicked his tongue at such a move. He thought, 'Defence after defence, when will you start to give some actual offense.' He readied himself to go for the hardest punch. And Sasuke went for it. But as he reached very close to the ball, the side towards him grew spikes. He had to dodge.

Sasuke tried another few times but the result was the same. He even tried the famous Uchiha fireball but that too was of no use. All including Sasuke, were wondering how the defence would be breached. Sasuke who now with the help of his chakra stuck high up the arena walls thought, 'Huh, I guess I will have to use it.' Sasuke went through a series of hand seals and said aloud, "Chidori!"

Lighting chakra gathered around Sasuke's left hand and formed a blade. Sasuke at his max speed ran towards Gaara while leaving a trail behind due to the Chidori cutting the wall and ground.

All in the stands were yet again shocked at seeing the Uchiha use the Hatake's jutsu. Kurenai could only mutter, "Even Sasuke!" All looked at the silver-haired jonin who only gave his famous eye smile.

Ino with amazement said, "Woah, that a real Chidori. It looks very strong!"

Sakura only said, "It is." She had seen Naruto and her sensei use it many times and knew how formidable that jutsu was.

Sasuke dodging as many spikes as he could went and impaled the lightening blade in the sphere. Though being scratched by some spikes he had successfully penetrated Gaara's defence and he knew he had got the boy.

Gaara inside his sphere in a dumbfounded state asked about this new feeling he felt, "What is this feeling? Mother what is this warm and wet thing I feel across my shoulder." He glanced at his attacked side. And saw red liquid dripping where Sasuke's hand had reached.

At the moment of realization, he started to take deep breaths. He gave out a shrilled and loud fearful scream reaching every single ear, "AAAAAAH…BLOOD…IT'S MY BLOOD!"

Sasuke's danger senses rang. He immediately took out his arm and dodged a weird sand hand with purple makings just by a millimeter.

Apart from that there was an explosion in the kage booth and everyone saw white feathers falling. The Invasion had begun.

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AN: Thanks for reading and criticism is welcomed.