Chapter 22 Final Round, Chunin Exams

Instructor: " That is the end of the preliminary exams. Next will be the final round of exams. You have one month to rest and prepare for the final battle, you are dismissed."

Hearing the announcement, all the genins left the area. The jonin and third hokage were watching their back as the genins left.

Third Hokage: " Naruto Uzumaki... he grew up interestingly haha. He seems to have learned some new techniques as well. Kakashi was it you that taught him?"

Kakashi: " No. His strength surprised me too. Before during our missions, Naruto was only able to use the shadow clone jutsu. However, after he left with Arata, it seems as though he received some form of training. It may be the result of RIki Senju."

Third Hokage: " Hmm, I see, although his personality has not changed much his fighting style has improved big time."

Kakashi: " I agree. I have more confidence in him now he has a grown a little more mature in the combat style area."

Third Hokage: " Arata's combat strength is phenomenal. I am pretty there are only a few people his age or a little older that can touch a hair on his body if they don't figure out his technique. He can also already use three jutsu of different chakra nature."

Kakashi: " Yes, I assume that he is getting tired of the little missions that they were assigned to and may leave the village soon to pursue his own goals."

Third Hokage: " Hmm if you feel that he is ready, then let him leave, although Riki Senju and Isamu Uzumaki has chosen to live in seclusion, they are still part of our village, let's not do anything that will make it otherwise."

Kakashi: " Yes."

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Arata quickly arrived in his room, sat down on the floor and started concentrating. During his battle with Shino, he realized that his way of attacking was a little too predictable. Although throwing his kunai to get closer to his target was a great move, he found that most of his opponents were still able to withstand his next sudden attack. He wanted to come think of of new battle techniques that can make him stronger. He started concentrating his chakra and ways to develop it for the next two days before the final round began.

Arata activated his lightning technique around his hand and slowly condensed it closer and closer into just his palm. Arata was trying his best to not lose control of the lightning chakra. His hand began to tremble as he held a small ball of lightning that was at the size of a small rock. The lightning in his palm contained a large amount of power as it was condensed lightning chakra. However, as he was about to try out the power of the move, quickly put away the thought as he was still inside his room. Instead of trying out the power, he was spend the rest of the days trying to manipulate the lightning ball so that he could become more familiar with the chakra usage and flexibility.

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One month later, everybody arrived at a large stadium like area. The Third Hokage and fourth Kazekage sat next to each other on a separate area.

The referee of the area stood in the middle of the area with the remaining ninjas qualified for the chunin exams. Standing left from right there was Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, Neji, Naruto, Shikimaru, and Arata. It seems like Sasuke was still recovering from the curse mark with Sasuke.

Referee: "You guys are the stars of the final round."

The group continued to stand there as the crown sent out their cheers and encouragements. Arata looked around and didn't see Dosu and thought that something must've happened to him.

The Third Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage both arrived in the high platform and spoke to congratulate the remaining contestants and announced that the final exam could now begin. It was at this time that the referee came up to them and told them of the change of plans.

Naruto then spoke up seeing that Sasuke wasn't here, " Um, what will happen to Sasuke, since he is not here right now?"

referee: " If the person doesn't show up by the time of his match, then he will be disqualified."

Naruto looked down at the ground and then looked at the gate as he thought that Sasuke wouldn't want to miss this chance no matter what.

Arata noticed that his opponent was Kankuro. He didn't know much about his opponent but he felt like it shouldn't be a problem.

The Referee continued and said, " The terrain is different, but the rule is that there are no rules, the same as the preliminaries. The matches will continue until one or the other dies, or acknowledges defeat. However, if I judge that it has been settled, I'll stop the matches there." " Naruto and Neji would be the first match. For those of you are not fighting you guys can go to the waiting room and wait for your match. "

Hearing his words, the rest of the people not fighting began to walk of the large area and into the waiting room.

Naruto and Neji were standing a bit far from each other staring at one another. Naruto glared at Neji with determination while Neji gave him a simple smirk knowing that Naruto was not his opponent.

Neji smiled as he said, " You seem like you have something to say."

Naruto held up his fist as he looked at it and then pointed his fist out, his body began to slightly tremble as he said, " I said it before, too, didn't I? I'll win no matter what!"

Neji smiled as he got into his battle position as veins began to pop out beside his eyes as he activated the byakugan, " I look forward to your look of disappointment, when you know the true reality."

Naruto grew angry as he said, " Stop whining. Let's get started!"

Referee: " Now then, round one. Begin!"

As the the referee announced the start of the match, the two didn't move at first as they still didn't move from their spot. Arata watched the match as he was surprised that Naruto didn't rush immediately in. It seems that Naruto is using his head for once and didn't charge in recklessly. Since the Hyuga clan was a clan that specialize in close combat and has the Kekkai Genkai: Byakugan and can easily handle Naruto with their technique.

With the tense atmosphere growing, Naruto finally made the first move as he threw three kunai's at Neji but the latter easily dealt with it and Naruto charge with a punch. Neji easily deflects the punch and the oncoming blows. Arata watched the battle with his head shaking. Naruto shouldn't have moved in so soon. If he was to fight Neji with Naruto's strength, he would try to outnumber him and try to find an opening to gather jutsu as quickly as possible. However, that was if he was Naruto, sense he has no limit in using different styles of chakra nature, he could always find a way to battle long distance against Neji and try to find a weakness. Within several clashes of close combat, Neji deflected one of Naruto's punch and used the chance to aim for one of Naruto's chakra points. It sent Naruto flying but Neji noticed that he has missed the chakra point.

Naruto: " Hmph I was just testing out your strength, the real battle starts now!"

Naruto brought his hand in front of him and made a simple hand sign and several shadow clones appeared and surrounded Naruto.

Arata saw that and finally sighed a breath of relief that Naruto did something else. With the shadow clone jutsu, Neji will have to focus harder as he won't be able to tell the difference from the real Naruto. However, Arata's expression soon changed as he continued to watch and knew that he had underestimated Neji's battle capabilities. Even with several shadow clones helping Naruto, he still stood no chance against Neji in close combat. Although the Byakugan couldn't read moves like the sharingan it still gave him the sight of nearly 360 view and basically had weak points in that aspect.

Arata had to think of a way to combat against Neji if he wins. From his last battle against Sasuke, he knew that he would be a tough opponent but Arata already knew how to fight against Sasuke sense they spar occasionally, unless Sasuke has improved his combat style vastly.

Arata continued to watch the battle between the two and Arata shook his head, Naruto continued to use the shadow clones and use it in close combat, it seems that Naruto is not using his wind chakra nature or the shadow clone shuriken jutsu at all yet. It is pointless to continue to use his shadow clone jutsu even if he continues to increase it in numbers. Neji didn't even break a sweat handling Naruto's straight forward attacks.

When it seemed like Neji was about to win, Naruto used the large number of shadow clones to his advantage as he finally caught Neji off guard and launched an attack from the air behind Neji. However, the next move that Neji used gave him a bad feeling for Naruto. Neji's body seemed to be moving at high speed as chakra leaked out from his body and soon a large chakra rotation appeared around Neji and blocked Naruto's sneak attack.

When Arata saw that move, he knew that it was no simple technique. Since it looked to be pure chakra which rotated at such a high speed, he knew that there was no simple way to counter attack it or break that defense unless it was a really strong technique. Unlike Gaara's defensive move which consists of sand which is virtually the element of earth, a strong lightning attack could break his defense but one of pure chakra with it's rotating speed was hard to to counter and it looked like it can even deflect some long range jutsu's since it possess a deflecting property instead of a wall-like property like Gaara's sand defense.

When Naruto landed on the ground because of his failed sneak attack, Neji took a battle stance and said, " Gentle fist Art, 8 trigram 64 palms!" Neji lowered his stance as he leaped towards Naruto and used his move, " 8 tetragrams 2 palms" Neji continued to attack Naruto with high speed and aimed at Naruto's chakra points. With the high speed attacks, Neji finished his move of the 64 palms and had Naruto sent flying and not moving for a split second.

Naruto struggled to get up as his whole body trembled with pain. Seeing Naruto in pain, Arata knew that Naruto has lost. With Naruto's chakra points temporarily damaged, it was useless to keep fighting as he couldn't move nor use jutsu's. However, Arata knew that Naruto wouldn't give up so soon. Arata saw that Neji was surprised at Naruto's determination and took off his headband and revealed a mark. The two began their conversation in a low enough voice that Arata couldn't hear anything. Then he heard Neji said to the referee, " Proctor, I'm going to fight with him with the intent to kill him!"

When Arata heard that, his expression grew fierce and determined. If Neji did do something to Naruto like ending his life, Arata will kill Neji immediately without holding back. Someone has dared to hurt his 'cousin' in his presence? Arata wouldn't stand by and let his mother lose a nephew. Arata slowly prepared in case he needed to move. Arata looked at Naruto as he saw that Naruto close his eyes and began to concentrate. Arata thought that Naruto must've thought of something he could use against Neji despite his chakra points damaged.

In the next few seconds. he heard Naruto scream in determination as he tried to gather chakra and saw a red aura of chakra leak out of Naruto. The red chakra that leaked out of Naruto seems overwhelmingly strong as it created its own pressure.

When Arata felt that chakra, sweat accumulated on his body as he felt that power. " What the heck is this chakra. It feels completely different from his usual chakra. It even feels a little ominous and evil."

Naruto: " Let's go!"