Chapter 21End of the Preliminary Exam

Instructor: "Third match: Misumi vs Kankuro"

Watching Kankuro's battle, even though Misumi had a unique way of manipulating his body parts with his chakra, it stood no chance against Kanuro's puppet techniques which outnumbered him and eventually crushing Msomi's bones to where his manipulation of chakra had no way of confronting Kankuro and his battle.

Instructor: " Third match: Kankuro's victory!"

Instructor: " Fourth match: Sakura vs Ino."

Sakura and Ino used to best friends when they were children, however, because of their rivalry for attaining Sasuke's love, they became rivals. Sakura and Ino's battle was intense as they exchanged moves. However, Ino's trump card was the mind transfer technique which almost succeeded in making Sakura forfeited the match. However, with Sakuar's strong will, she managed to push out Ino which then they began their combat exchanges. As the battle continued, they both took one last punch as they both collapsed when their attack hit each other.

Instructor: " Since neither fighters are able to continue, by double knockout none of them are able to continue onto the final third round."

Instructor: " Fifth round: Tenten vs Temari."

This round was one sided as Temari's large fan was able to blow away Tenten's ninja tools no matter how many she sent out.

Instructor: " Fifth round: Temari's victory."

Instructor: "Sixth round: Shikimaru vs Kin."

Shikimaru had no strong attack however, with his manipulation of his shadow and his genius mind, Shikimaru landed a solid victory against Kin."

Out of all the fighters that made it so far, Arata found Shikimaru's mind most troubling. With just a manipulation of his shadow, he was simply brilliant. During nighttime, or a place with various shadows, he could utilize his technique and it will almost have no limit.

Instructor: " Sixth round: Shikimaru's victory."

Instructor: " Seventh round: Naruto vs Kiba."

When this battle was going to start, many of his classmates and people who do not know Naruto had assumed that Kiba would easily win this fight. However as time went by, they were surprised by the battle's outcome.

Since, Naruto's training with Riki, his combat ability went really high. Riki did more than just guide his fighting style, he basically remodeled him in one day. Instead of trying to outnumber Kiba with his shadow clones, Naruto made just enough so that they would pressure Kiba and his combat dog. Naruto made solid uses of his two new jutsu's that he overpowered Kiba after a duration of time.

Instructor: " Seventh round: Naruto's victory."

Everyone except Arata was surprised at Naruto's victory. Even Kakashi was astonished at Naruto's moves and powers.

Kakashi: " It seems like going to Arata's house gave him an improvement in his fighting style."

Instructor: " Eighth round: Neji vs Hinata."

Neji and Hinata walked to the battle area. When the two faced themselves.

Neji " Hinata, I suggest you surrender beforehand, you are no match for me. You're not fit to be Shinobi. You're too nice. You're always believing that you are inferior. The only reason why you are here is because Kiba and the others joined. Isn't that right?"

Hinata: " Th--That's not right. I also want to change myself."

Neji: " Lady Hinata, you are a spoiled one from the family. People can never change."

Naruto: "... that guy..."

Seeing Hinata hesitate and began to tremble in fear, Arata and Naruto was getting frustrated. But afterall, Arata will soon leave the place. He has no need to interfere in every little thing that happens in this village.

Naruto: " Give it to him, Hinata!"

When Hinata heard Naruto's words, she stopped hesitating immediately and activated her byakugan.

Arata: " So that is the Byakugan."

Kakashi: " Yes, however, unlike the sharingan. The byakugan is a kekkei genkai dojutsu of the Hyuga clan. This eye allows the user to have a near 360 view of their surroundings. Also unlike the Sharingan, it gives them the ability to see the chakra network of a person's body."

The battle began as the two clashed. With each strike chakra flowed out from their hands. The two exchanged their blows and deflected each other. A few minutes later, just as their strikes landed, Hinata spilled blood.

Arata: " The battle is over."

Naruto: " What, why, how come."

Arata: " Look closely."

Naruto looked closer and saw that there were spots all over her arms.

However, Hinata never stopped fighting as she rushed forwards.

Neji: " 'tch'"

As Hinata rushed forwards, Hinata stumbled and Neji landed a powerful blow. Hinata fell to the ground on the spot.

Neji: " This is the difference between the elite and failures."

As Neji walked away and the instructor was about to announce the winner, Naruto screamed, " Wait, don't announce the winner just yet. The match isn't over."

As Naruto said that, Hinata slowly got up.

Hinata: " It's not... over yet."

Neji: " 'tch' why do you stand. You could barely move yet alone attack."

Hinata: "..."

Seeing the battle intent in Hinata's eyes, Neji got frustrated and rushed towards Hinata. However, if Neji landed another attack in, then Hinata would die for sure. Just as Neji's attack landed he was surrounded by jonin leaders that stopped his attack.

Neji: " Why did you stop me, is this special treatment for the family head!!??"

Guy: " That's not it, the battle was already over. I thought I told you not bring the Hyuga family matters into this."

As Guy said this, Hinata finally collapsed to the ground. Hinata was breathing really hard as she struggled to gain some breath. Kurenai, one of the jonin leaders, went to Hinata to check her breath.

Kurenai: " Hurry what's taking you guys so long."

Medical Ninja 1: " Sorry, we are coming over right now."

Instructor: " Eighth round: Neji's victory."

After the fight was stopped and announced, Naruto and a few others ran down to Hinata to check on her condition.

Medical Ninja 1: " Quickly, we have to prepare the emergency room."

Naruto's face grew serious.

Neji: " Oi you, if you want to become a shinobi, then you have to stop all that useless yelling A failure is always a failure. That's the cold hard truth."

Naruto looked at the ground of where Hinata spit blood and touched it as he looked at Neji. " I will definitely win."

Neji: " hmph."

Instructor: " Ninth round: Lee vs Gaara."

Lee and Gaara immediately came down and begun fighting. Watching the fight, he noticed that Lee did not use any jutsu and only fought hand to hand.

Arata: " If this is all Lee could do, then he will lose. If he can't use any lightning technique or get inside of Gaara's sand then he is no match."

Kankuro: " hmph, that's right there has only been one person that has achieved that and it's you."

Arata smiled at Kankuro's statement.

Just then Lee flipped backwards dodging Gaara's attack and landing up on on a statue. Seeing the battle was going nowhere as Lee's attack couldn't land, Guy sensei said, " Lee, take them off."

Lee looked at Guy, " But you told me not to take them off unless it is to protect a large group of important people.

Guy: " It's okay, I give you permission."

Lee laughed as he began taking out weights that was attached to his legs. As soon as he dropped the weights it created a huge impact on the ground.

Lee: " Alright, now I can move freely."

As soon as Lee made a move he instantly landed by Gaara, by this strike landed on sand, but it almost broke through. It seemed as if the automatic sand couldn't keep up with Lee's increased speed. As this battle continued. Lee eventually gained the upper hand as he landed a solid hit on Gaara, sending him flying into the air. Lee eventually used his reverse lotus on Gaara and sends him flying down. However, this only resulted in Gaara covering his body in sand which cushioned the blow. Gaara now full of cracks began getting serious as he attacked Gaara with full force. Now, Lee was being suppressed and got injured. With no choice left, Guy allows Lee to use the forbidden technique of unlocking his gates which grants him with even more strength.

When Arata saw the increase in strength, he was surprised that such a technique could exist. Although the technique was strong, the drawbacks were huge. Lee at this state was stronger than he was. Unless he used his rinnegan at a critical moment, then he would not be able to keep up with Lee. Lee's speed with the weights off was about as fast as his speed when he coats himself with lightning so he could handle that, however, the speed with the gates unlocked, it surpassed him. But this was just taijutsu after all, Arata could always come up with ways to deal with this.

As the battle progress and Lee used his finishing move, just as he was about to relax, he was caught in Gaara's jutsu and had his leg and arm crushed. Just as Gaara was about to kill Lee, Guy interfered, saving Lee and ending the fight with Gaara's victory.

Instructor: " Ninth match: Gaara's victory."

Instructor: " Tenth match: Choji vs Dosu."

This match ended fast as Choji didn't have any tactics to fight against Dosu's sound attacks.

Third Hokage: " That is the end of the preliminary exam. Now, Ibuki will announce the final round that will happen in a one month."