The Fight Against Neji.

A/N: This chapter focuses on the Chunin Exams, and I'll do my best to capture everyone's reaction to Naruto while staying true to their personalities, though there may be some changes. As for Jiraiya, I'm still figuring out his role, but I definitely don't want Naruto to follow the original plot. And yes Naruto will not be a toad summoner. Kurama has a bad sense of humor.

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The morning breaks in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun. As the light spills across the village, the camera focuses on Naruto, walking with purpose towards the Chunin Exams venue, his thoughts lost in the weight of the day ahead.

'Even though I know the level Neji and Gaara are at, and I'm confident I can defeat them, I can't shake the nerves. After all, this is my first real interaction with everyone from the main cast.'

"You're an idiot. Why are you so scared of those extras?"

'Bakagou!!?.'

Naruto stared at Kurama in his mindscape, his expression unreadable. Kurama shifted uncomfortably, a hint of bashfulness in his tone. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Naruto's frustration deepened, his voice rising. 'Because a furball of a fox decided to go through my memories without even asking!' Kurama bared his teeth, his patience snapping. "Who the hell are you calling a 'furball'?!" he growled. "And for the record, I didn't think you'd be such a whiner. We're connected through our mindscape, damn it—I need something to pass the time!"

Naruto's anger flared once more as he clenched his fists. 'So, you just watch someone's memories to pass the time, huh? Without a care for their privacy?'

Kurama let out a mocking laugh, clearly amused. "Privacy? The only word that fits you is 'housewife.' Because a house is the closest thing to a wife you'll ever have. Ha...ha ha..."

Naruto quickly realized it was pointless to argue with Kurama and fell silent.

Flashback (2 days ago)~

Naruto was locked in a fierce spar with his clones, slicing through them effortlessly with his sword. But suddenly, Kurama's voice cut through his focus. "You're probably imagining Itachi while cutting through them, right?"

Naruto froze mid-strike, and before he could react, a clone landed a punch square in his gut. Grunting, he dismissed the clones and sat down, his expression turning solemn and guarded. With a cautious tone, he asked, 'How do you know about that?'

Kurama, completely oblivious to the shift in mood, answered casually, "I saw your memories. They were hilarious."

Naruto was taken aback, stunned into silence for a moment before he demanded, 'How much did you see?'

"Everything."

Naruto had a million questions swirling in his mind, but he took a deep breath, focusing on the most important one. 'What do you think?'

Kurama feigned confusion, a sly grin spreading across his face. "What do I think?" he repeated, clearly pretending not to understand.

Naruto's anger flared, his fists tightening as he growled, 'You know exactly what I mean. You saw my memories—'my' memories. The ones of Naruto included in it. This isn't a joke, Kurama. This is the literal future of this world!'

Kurama's tone shifted, the usual arrogance replaced by a rare solemnity. "So what? What am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to have an existential crisis? Feel sorry for my biological father, the Ten-Tails? Or should I be scared of the Otsutsuki? Huh?"

Naruto fell silent as Kurama continued, his voice losing its usual edge. "Memories? This or that, it doesn't matter anymore. The reality is, you and I are stuck together. Naruto might have had huge potential, but whether you like it or not, he stands no chance against monsters like Isshiki. And honestly, I don't want to die. I'm selfish in that regard, too."

Neither of them spoke, but an unspoken understanding lingered between them—a silent agreement to let time heal it all.

Flashback End~

Naruto stood at the entrance of the arena, his heart pounding with a mix of nervousness and excitement. "You're being so dramatic, nerd," Kurama remarked, his voice laced with amusement.

And just like that, Kurama killed the mood. Naruto shot back, 'Why the heck are you watching anime?'

Kurama smirked. "Why did you watch 'Naruto' then? It's an anime too."

Naruto kept real quite on this one.

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(A/N: I'm feeling a bit nervous about writing the reactions. I'll not show everyone reactions I would only show the reaction of some unique minded individuals )

(Naruto looks like the cover page)

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As Naruto entered the venue, his distinctive appearance immediately drew the attention of every shinobi present. Unfazed by the stares, he casually ignored the spotlight and quietly settled onto one of the benches at the back.

(While on the inside,But inside doesn't matter)

Every shinobi present was taken aback by Naruto's appearance. It wasn't just the Konoha ninjas who noticed; even those from Suna couldn't help but see the striking resemblance to Minato. With just a single glance, it was clear to everyone—Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son.

All the Jonin-level ninjas knew about what Naruto carried within him. Many were even aware of his heritage. However, his loudmouth, blonde hair, and love for orange had led most to underestimate him, gradually dismissing him as nothing more than an idiot. But that perception shattered the moment they sensed the aura Naruto was emitting—a powerful presence that couldn't be concealed, marking him as someone far more than they had imagined.

The ones most shocked were none other than the members of the Konoha 9. They couldn't believe it. The person standing before them, exuding a powerful and undeniable aura, was none other than Naruto. For years, they had known him as the loud, boisterous, orange-clad ninja who never seemed to take anything seriously. But now, seeing him surrounded by an air of quiet strength, it was as if a completely different person had appeared before them. The change was so profound that they couldn't help but stare, struggling to reconcile this new image with the Naruto they thought they knew.

Shikamaru was the first to snap out of his shock, muttering under his breath, "Troublesome..." His gaze remained fixed on Naruto as a thoughtful frown crossed his face. 'It seems my suspicion from years ago was right.'

The next to recover was Ino, who quickly shook off her shock. Her eyes sparkled as she couldn't help but fangirl over Naruto's new look. 'Is that really Naruto?. He looks so handsome.' she thought, her usual composure completely forgotten in the face of his transformation.

Shino and Choji, though clearly taken aback, remained quiet, choosing not to comment. Kiba and Hinata, however, were nowhere to be seen.

The only female member of Team 9 was more focused on the fact that the identity of the Fourth Hokage's son had remained a secret until now. She couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and curiosity at how something so significant had stayed hidden for so long.

On the other hand, Baki, an elite Jonin from Suna and the instructor of Team Gaara, was staring at Naruto with a murderous intensity. If looks could kill, Naruto would have been dead a hundred times over.

But the one most shocked by Naruto's transformation was his own teammate, Sakura. She stood frozen, her eyes wide as she took in the changes in Naruto, recognizing the unmistakable similarities he now shared with the Fourth Hokage. She remained silent, her mind racing through all her past interactions with him. Her thoughts turned to the time she had spoken about Naruto in front of Sasuke, calling him an orphan. Tears welled up in her eyes as the weight of her words hit her—realizing that she had unknowingly insulted the son of the very man she had admired.

Hiruzen had some mixed reactions on seeing Naruto, he was clearly displeased with seeing Naruto's identity become so obvious.

The Kazekage, now turned Orochimaru, showed little reaction. He had already known about Naruto's true identity and the implications it carried.

Hiruzen quickly gestured toward Hayate, who immediately recognized the signal. Without missing a beat, Hayate stepped forward and called out, "The match between Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga will begin now!"

His voice rang through the arena, signaling the start of what promised to be an intense and pivotal battle. The tension in the air grew as all eyes turned to the two combatants, ready for the confrontation to unfold.

Naruto rose to his feet, his every step towards the arena radiating confidence and unshakable strength. Each stride was purposeful, his presence commanding attention.

On the other side, Tenten approached Neji, her expression serious. "Neji, there's something different about Naruto. You need to be careful."

Neji's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it seemed like he might take offense. But with a quiet sigh, he swallowed his anger, his voice cold and unwavering. "You don't have to worry. Fate has already decided. Even if he's gotten stronger, it won't change a thing. Nah I'd win."

Naruto, on the other hand, remained impassive, unfazed by Neji's arrogant declaration. But Kurama, never one to hold back, spoke up with a hint of amusement. "He's asking for that KitKat treatment."

The remark made Naruto's lips curl into a smirk, a rush of excitement building within him at the thought of the upcoming showdown.

Neji leaped down from the venue, confident and ready for the battle. Without bothering to take a stance, he taunted, "This fight is meaningless. Fate has already declared me the victor. It's useless—why are you even trying?"

Before he could continue, Naruto vanished from his spot in an instant, appearing in front of Neji and landing a powerful punch to his cheek. The force of the blow sent Neji flying across the arena, completely catching him off guard.

Naruto's voice cut through the air, sharp and unwavering. "If you're just here to spout that 'fate' nonsense, then do us both a favor and leave. I'd be more than happy to fight someone else."

The entire audience was stunned into silence, their eyes wide with disbelief. Kurenai muttered, "Chakra..."

But Guy, overhearing her, quickly shook his head, correcting her. "That wasn't chakra. It was pure physical speed—he didn't rely on even an ounce of chakra."

If the crowd was shocked by Naruto's speed before, now they were absolutely flabbergasted, struggling to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

Asuma let out a shaky breath, his mind racing. "But how is that possible? It's only been a month... such a drastic increase in physical ability isn't humanly possible."

The Konoha 9 stood in stunned silence, too shocked to say a word, their minds struggling to process what they had just witnessed.

Neji growled in frustration, taking the stance of the Gentle Fist. Naruto, seeing this, wasted no time and immediately engaged him in hand-to-hand combat, his movements swift and precise.

As the fight continued, Neji's shock grew. He couldn't believe that Naruto's taijutsu was not only on par with his own but was steadily beginning to suppress it, forcing him to adjust his strategy.

The onlookers were stunned, but the one most shocked was none other than Guy. Having dedicated his entire life to mastering taijutsu, he knew just how lacking Naruto had been in the art. Yet, witnessing such a drastic transformation left him in stunned silence. The only thought running through his mind was that perhaps Naruto was a taijutsu genius all along—one whose potential they had failed to recognize until now.

Tenten muttered in disbelief, her voice laced with shock, "He's keeping up with Neji in taijutsu?!"

On the other hand, Hiruzen's suspicions were confirmed. He thought to himself, 'Naruto knows about his heritage.' As he watched the fight unfold, he recognized the taijutsu style Naruto was using—the Hummingbird Stance, a technique once perfected by Minato.

Neji quickly backed off, taking a few steps to adjust his stance into the 64 Palms. Naruto recognized the technique immediately, but his curiosity got the better of him. Without hesitation, he closed the distance and re-engaged Neji in a taijutsu spar, eager to see how his skills would hold up against the renowned style.

This time, the result was similar, with neither combatant able to fully overpower the other. Naruto's blows were skillfully redirected by Neji's 64 Palms, but Neji began to see an opening for victory. He increased his pace, hoping to outmatch Naruto. However, Naruto smirked, a flicker of confidence in his eyes. With a sudden burst of speed and strength, he landed a crushing blow to Neji's chin. Seamlessly flowing into a series of rapid combos, Naruto finished with a powerful, chakra-enhanced kick that sent Neji crashing into the arena wall.

Neji slowly regained consciousness, his body aching as he struggled to sit up. His eyes burned with a mixture of disbelief and hatred as he locked onto Naruto. Through gritted teeth, he shouted, "This isn't possible! How can you have improved this much in just a month? Fate has already declared you the loser—why don't you just admit defeat?"

Throughout Neji's outburst, Naruto's expression remained uninterested. He shrugged, his voice steady and dismissive. "All this talk about fate? It's just the words of a weakling. If you believe in fate so much, then why do your eyes show so much reluctance to lose? Shouldn't you just accept your defeat, like fate has already decided?"

Neji stared in shock as Naruto stepped back, his stance shifting as he pointed toward the sword sheathed at his side. "Do you know," Naruto said calmly, "I'm at my strongest when I wield this sword. You should be smart enough to realize why I didn't use it against you."

The arena fell into an eerie silence, quickly followed by hushed murmurs. Everyone was stunned beyond belief, struggling to process the fact that Naruto hadn't even gone all out against Neji—the genius of the Hyuga clan.

Initially, the members of the Hyuga clan were excited, impressed that the genius of the branch house had mastered the 64 Palms on his own. But as they watched Neji get outplayed by Naruto, their excitement quickly turned to fury. A wave of insult washed over them, their pride as a clan bruised by the unexpected turn of events.

In the arena, Neji's anger reached a boiling point—the most intense rage he had ever felt. His body trembled with fury as he began channeling every ounce of chakra, pushing himself to a temporary surge of power. With blinding speed, he lunged at Naruto, his voice a furious snarl. "I'll kill you!"

Naruto reacted instantly, sending a powerful punch toward Neji. As the punch neared, Neji's danger senses screamed at him, urging him to avoid the incoming attack. Recognizing the high concentration of chakra and the wind surrounding the blow, he quickly shifted his balance and spun, releasing chakra from his pathways to form a rotating, circular shield of chakra to deflect the strike.

The Hyuga members were too stunned to process what had just happened. Their minds struggled to comprehend the sight of a branch house member using a jutsu that even some of the main house struggled to master. Hyuga Hiashi stood from his chair, disbelief written across his face, while Hinabi, though silent, couldn't mask the trace of shock and astonishment in her eyes. The scene was something none of them had expected.

Naruto, on the other hand, wasn't disappointed to see his attack deflected. In fact, he had anticipated Neji's outburst. But as the fight dragged on, he found himself growing increasingly bored, no longer interested in continuing the battle.

Neji, seeing Naruto's attack deflected by his rotating chakra shield, smirked confidently. "I'm going to win," he declared, his voice filled with certainty. With renewed determination, he rushed toward Naruto, ready to claim his victory.

Naruto, unfazed, smirked as he began channeling a massive amount of chakra through his system. The chakra was dense, quickly enveloping his entire body. Within seconds, it began to transform into winds—winds with a golden tint, reflecting the unique color of his chakra. The air around him surged, forming a swirling vortex of golden winds that seemed to hum with a terrifying, razor-sharp power. As the winds intensified, the ground beneath Naruto was cleanly sliced away, and his body began to lift off the ground, floating effortlessly within the storm of chakra.

Whether it was the Hokage, Kazekage, the Konoha 12, Konoha Jonin, or Suna shinobi, they were all left in stunned silence. Even those unfamiliar with chakra nature transformations recognized that what Naruto had just done was something extraordinary. But the true gravity of the situation was understood only by two people: Orochimaru and Asuma. Naruto had not just manipulated his chakra—he had created a chakra cloak for Wind Style. This was something far more dangerous: a forbidden jutsu.

Asuma broke the stunned silence, his voice filled with disbelief. "This is unbelievable. That's wind chakra forming around Naruto—and it's completely under his control. Wind is known for its uncontrollable cutting power, yet he's managing to harness it. I can't even begin to understand how he's able to control it."

The Konoha 9 fell silent, their minds overwhelmed by what was happening, having long since stopped trying to understand the unfolding events.

Orochimaru, watching with interest, licked his lips. 'Interesting... to think Naruto-kun would improve so much in such a short time. It's a pity I didn't mark him with my cursed seal.'

Neji stared at Naruto blankly, his mind reeling from the whirlwind of events he had experienced in just one day. He had now resigned himself to his fate. Seeing this, Naruto's disappointment was clear as he spoke, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and disbelief. "So, you're just going to give up on me now? That's not what I expected from you, Neji."

Kurama, overhearing Naruto, snorted and retorted, "Look who's talking. You're the one who made him like this." Naruto sighed, the weight of the situation settling in, and decided it was time to end the fight. But before he could act, Hiruzen raised his hand and signaled to Hayate, declaring Naruto the winner.

Neji soon collapsed and was taken by the medics. Naruto returned to the venue amidst the respectful gazes of everyone.

To be continued~

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A/N: So, how was it? Please share your thoughts! If you've enjoyed it so far, I'd really appreciate a review.