Out of patience

The referee announced the start of the match, but neither fighter moved from his spot or even took a fighting stance. The spectators below were baffled, with no idea what the two were up to.

"I'll give you one last chance, loser. Fate has already decided this. You're certain to lose today, so just surrender." The stern Hyuga boy sneered.

"What a coincidence. I've never believed in fate. My ninja way is to never give up and never admit defeat," Naruto declared.

"Fine. Since you won't listen to reason, I'll just have to beat you into submission." Neji gave a cold laugh and assumed the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.

"Bring it on!" The blond boy began forming hand seals.

Both moved at once. Neji activated his Byakugan and charged forward at full speed, while Naruto sent two Shadow Clones to intercept him and retreated himself.

Neji reached the first clone and drove a fist straight at him. The clone twisted aside just in time and swept at his legs, while the other clone seized the opening to punch toward the side of Neji's face.

Neji ducked beneath the attack by a hair, rolled forward, and spun around. Two precise Gentle Fist strikes hit the Shadow Clones, dispersing them instantly.

"Is that all you can do? Two clones, while you hide on the other side of the arena. A dead last will always be a dead last. That's your fate," Neji said coldly.

"Really? Looks like your Byakugan can't see everything after all!" Naruto shouted as he rapidly formed hand seals. "Wind Release: Air Bullet!"

Naruto took a deep breath and slapped his chest, firing several compressed air bullets in succession. Neji could only dodge again and again, forced entirely onto the defensive. Once Naruto exhausted that breath, he immediately formed more hand seals, giving Neji no chance to recover.

The Hokage's viewing platform

"Lord Hokage, this young Genin has boundless potential. He's done a perfect job of keeping the Hyuga Clan fighter out of close range. Against a close-combat master of the Gentle Fist, that was an excellent move," the Kazekage said.

"Yes. He's already become one of the most dependable ninja under my command, and one of the hardest to figure out," the Hokage told the Kazekage.

The spectator stands

"Wow, look! Neji can't even get close to him!" Choji clutched a handful of potato chips, his mouth stuffed full.

"Tch, he's just lucky. He won't win," Ino insisted, though she couldn't hide the shock in her eyes at Naruto's performance.

"Exactly. That idiot Naruto just lucked out. There's no way he can win. Only Sasuke-kun has what it takes to beat an opponent like Neji," Sakura agreed.

"What are you two thinking? I've fought Naruto, and he wasn't even going all out back then. I'm telling you, this match is going to be a lot harder for Neji than you think. Look, he can't even get near Naruto," Kiba said.

In the arena

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Naruto roared, took a deep breath, and unleashed a savage gale that tore branches clean off the trees beside the arena. Just as the gale was about to strike its target-

"Rotation!"

Neji shouted and spun at high speed, creating a massive round shield of chakra around himself that deflected the entire oncoming gale.

The spectator stands

"Father, was that just..."

"I know. Rotation is a secret technique passed down within the Main Family. To think Neji learned it on his own. He truly is a prodigy worthy of the Main Family," Hyuga Hiashi told his younger daughter beside him.

Damn it, that move can block all my ranged ninjutsu. Looks like I'll have to fight up close, but I should keep some ranged attacks in reserve, Naruto thought. He then created two Shadow Clones and charged toward Neji.

Naruto and Neji traded blows, neither giving ground. Although Neji held a slight edge in taijutsu, Naruto's clones kept finding openings to launch kunai or Wind Release ninjutsu at him, neatly canceling out his advantage.

The spectator stands

"This kid has improved so much. I'm definitely voting to make him a Chunin. His use of Shadow Clones is incredible, and his Wind Release ninjutsu is beautifully executed too," Izumo said.

"He's got my vote too. That Hyuga kid's Gentle Fist is impressive, but his tactics are nowhere near as good," Izumo Kamizuki agreed with a nod.

In the arena

Neji finally ran out of patience with the relentless pressure. A flicker of anger crossed his eyes, and he switched to focusing his attacks on Naruto's Shadow Clones.

Naruto seized the opening and hit Neji in the back with a Wind Release: Air Bullet. Neji staggered forward a few steps, dispelled the remaining clones, and crashed heavily to the ground.