A deliberately oppressive atmosphere filled the tower. Mottled green walls and large slabs of blue-gray paving stones blended together, making the enclosed plaza feel like a cage.
"I hope you won't misunderstand the purpose of the allied joint exams," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his expression stern. "To deepen friendly relations? To strengthen the ninja?"
His voice suddenly rose. "Neither! The essence of the Chunin Ninja Exams is to recreate, on a smaller scale, the wars between allied nations! Throughout history, neighboring countries have been bitter rivals competing for resources. Even when we're allied, we still have to compete."
"They sent their finest Genin to Konoha not merely to take the exams, but, more importantly, to earn the trust of the great nobles and the leaders of the ninja villages."
"Many prominent figures will come to watch the third exam, and time is limited, so only ten people will advance to the one-on-one matches. Before that, you'll need to go through another elimination round."
A ninja with deep dark circles under his eyes and a long sword strapped to his back stepped out of the crowd and knelt on one knee. "Lord Hokage, allow me, Gekko Hayate, the judge for this round, to explain the elimination rules."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
Gekko Hayate walked up to the twenty-four Genin in the plaza and coughed violently a few times, as if he had consumption.
"Starting now, all teams are disbanded. Everyone will draw lots and fight as individuals. Those who are seriously injured or lack confidence in themselves may withdraw now."
After the scroll competition in the Forest of Death, which had whittled seventy-eight candidates down to twenty-four, most of the examinees were covered in wounds. The team from Kusagakure, who had arrived last, was especially battered.
After hearing the rules, the two male Grass Ninja in the group ordered the red-haired girl in oval glasses to raise her hand and withdraw.
Then they shouted, "For the glory of the Land of Grass!" Grabbing the girl by both arms, they bit through her skin and greedily sucked her blood.
The girl endured it blankly, her expression unmoving. Once the two had drunk their fill, she walked to the edge of the steps, leaned against the wall, and fainted, her face pale.
Still covering his mouth as he coughed, Gekko Hayate looked over the examinees. "So, twenty-three people are participating? Good. We'll start with a group battle, eliminate three, and then draw lots for the matches."
At his words, the examinees split into two camps. The confident predators prepared to attack, while the frightened prey readied themselves to defend or evade.
A "10" appeared on the pixel screen in the wall, and the countdown began. Gekko Hayate said, "Everyone, spread out. The fight begins when the countdown ends."
Figures flashed as the contestants took up positions around the arena.
Though it was an individual battle, most still stuck together in groups.
Naruto naturally had no interest in the pointless task of picking off the weak. He drew his sword and stepped forward.
Haruno Sakura hid behind Naruto, feeling completely safe.
The two remaining Grass Ninja naturally became the first targets. Five groups threw shuriken at them at once.
But Gaara was the fastest. His cruel green eyes gleamed with the thrill of killing as sand surged around him, rushing forward to coil around the two Grass Ninja and lift them into the air.
"Sand Burial!"
Pfft!
The sand compressed with crushing force, spraying blood in every direction. The two were pulverized without a trace.
"One more to go." Gaara coldly surveyed the arena, as if choosing a toy. When his gaze fell on Naruto, who carried a sword, his pupils suddenly contracted.
A familiar scent. A sense of unease.
Naruto didn't like Gaara's showy way of killing, but he had to admit the boy was strong—a promising student of the Heavenly Martial Killing Path.
As they stared each other down—
"Uzumaki Naruto." Neji walked openly to the center of the arena and assumed the starting stance of the Gentle Fist. "I've come to make good on what I said."
"This is fate. I'm going to eliminate you here."
Neji had obtained a scroll on the first day. He'd spent the next two days searching the forest for Naruto's team, which was why he'd only reached the tower on the third day. But by then, Naruto had already arrived.
"Ridiculous." Naruto strode forward and accepted the challenge without hesitation.
The other examinees were glad to see it. Once Neji eliminated Naruto, they could move on to the matches.
Among the ninja on the viewing platform was Might Guy, who looked like a larger version of Rock Lee, with a bowl cut and thick eyebrows. He folded his arms and glanced sideways at Kakashi.
"The fiery setbacks of youth will only help these boys grow! Neji is just like you were as a genius, while I was just like the dead-last Naruto. Even after being beaten time and again, I kept growing stronger!"
Kakashi slowly turned his dull eyes toward him. "Huh?"
Might Guy assumed Kakashi had, as usual, failed to hear a word he'd said. His excitement faltered for a second, then he grinned, baring his teeth. "Don't worry. Neji knows his limits and won't go too hard on him."
Kakashi didn't reply. He looked toward the arena.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was watching too. He sighed helplessly. There was no reason for him to interfere with the Hyuga clan, powerful from top to bottom. He could only hope Naruto wouldn't lose heart after facing a true genius.
Hinata pressed her lips together. She knew she couldn't stop them now. She took a deep breath, meaning to cheer Naruto on, but before she could speak—
"Go, Naruto! You've got this!" Haruno Sakura shouted, raising her arms, bright and full of energy.
Every eye in the arena focused on Naruto and Neji. To almost everyone watching, this was a completely one-sided fight.
But the next moment, Naruto did something astonishing. He stuck the Kubikiribōchō into a crack between the paving stones, then clenched his fists.
Was he going to fight Neji, who had inherited Konoha's strongest Taijutsu, with his fists?
Neji frowned. "Pick up your sword."
Naruto shook his head. Just as Neji was confident he could beat a sword with his fists, Naruto believed he could beat Neji at his own game!
He wanted a fair fight on equal terms, and to crush his opponent completely in the very skill he was proudest of.
"My fists can hit just as hard!"
Without a hint of courtesy, he charged first. His waist twisted as he gathered power, and his arm whipped forward in a blur, driving straight at Neji's face.
The floor cracked beneath him. His fist tore through the air, and behind Naruto, the faint silhouette of a black-and-white killer whale seemed to open its toothy jaws and roar.
A sense of danger flooded Neji's mind, and his irritation at being underestimated vanished in an instant.
Instinctively, he swung his palm across Naruto's wrist with the Eight Trigrams Palms, trying to knock his arm away.
Thump!
Palm met fist, and blue and orange Chakra burst with a loud crack.
Neji felt as if he'd struck a solid iron pillar. He'd barely shifted Naruto's fist an inch or two. Pain exploded through his palm bones, spreading to his upper arm and ulna as his arm began to tremble uncontrollably.
But Naruto's fist was still heading for his left eye, carrying the threat of death.
At the last possible instant, the veins around Neji's eye bulged. His pupil looked like a shattered jade bead as a burst of Chakra erupted from the tenketsu in his left cheek, forcing his head to turn aside.
Naruto's fist stopped beside his ear.
Neji quickly leaped backward, gasping for breath, his hand trembling.
The sight was beyond anyone's expectations. The examinees' faces showed a range of emotions, but none could hide their shock.
"Is Neji really the genius everyone says he is? He doesn't seem all that strong," Kiba Inuzuka asked Hinata.
Hinata clasped her hands in front of her chest. The worry she'd felt for Naruto a moment ago had turned to concern over her brother's injuries.
On the battlefield, Naruto would never go easy on an enemy. Until they fell, he would keep attacking! Again and again!
The arena seemed to become an ocean, with Naruto surging forward like a whale charging through the waves.
Neji could feel that Naruto had at least four times as much Chakra as he did! And unlike the force behind his Gentle Fist, Naruto was using every bit of it to strengthen his muscles and bones.
"Brute strength? How could I, Hyuga Neji, lose to Taijutsu based on brute strength!"
As Naruto charged at him again, the veins around Neji's eyes grew even more pronounced. He decided to use a secret technique he'd learned by secretly watching the Main Family practice.
"Eight Trigrams Palms! Rotation!"
Pure blue Chakra flowed with Neji's movements, pouring out from all 361 tenketsu around his body. He spun rapidly, creating a semicircular barrier that surrounded him.
Naruto's eyes blazed. "Oh, yeah! Whale Killer Hegemonic Fist!"
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