Chapter 66. Hinata

The matches continued.

Shikamaru won against the sound shinobi. The next match was Naruto's. Ryu was watching from upstairs.

Every Jounin there knew of Ryu's strength, however the Genins present didn't know who Ryu was. Each one of them inquired about Ryu, what their Jounin sensei said shocked them.

Ryu didn't mind them looking at him. His focus was on Naruto. The kid actually grew up a bit in these short few hours.

Kakashi came to Ryu's side " Here to see the match?"

Ryu " Yes and No."

Kakashi was confused, he asked " What?"

Ryu " Nothing, these kids ain't bad."

Kakashi laughed " yeah, they will become strong in the future, especially a few of them."

Ryu understood what Kakashi meant. There were Geniuses in this batch. Sasuke, Naruto, Lee, Tenten, Neji, Hinata, Shikamaru...The list goes on.

Hayate's voice interrupted Ryu and Kakashi " Next match, Naruto Vs Kiba "

Ryu looked down, Naruto walked up to the stage, so did Kiba.

Kiba taunted " Just give up. You can't beat me."

Naruto was irritated by his words " I am gonna beat you and that stupid puppie."

Hayate sighed seeing them like this. He signaled them to take stance " Start!!"

Naruto made four shadow clones and rushed to Kiba. He attacked from all sides. Every spectators were surprised seeing Naruto preform clone Jutsu flawlessly.

Kiba and Akamaru tried to dodge but as someone trained by Ryu, Naruto's Taijutsu was way stronger than his peers. Kiba got blown away by his barrage of attacks.

Naruto yelled " A Shinobi must never underestimate his enemy."

Kiba got up, Akamaru also suffered from that attack. He couldn't imagine how a weakling like Naruto can get this strong.

Kiba " Don't get cocky, we haven't even shown our full power yet."

Without hesitation he took out two black pills,he gave one to Akamaru and ate the other.

Akamaru's skin turned red, his meek attitude changed to a ferocious one. He got on top a Kiba's head.

Kiba " Let's go Akamaru,

Animal Mimicry Ninja Technique

Half-Beast clone!!."

Both Kiba and Akamaru were covered by smoke. A few seconds later, it cleared.. revealing two Kibas.

Naruto was shocked ' Akamaru transformed!! But why does it feel different from my shadow clone?"

Not giving Naruto any time, Kiba and Akamaru attacked. Both Kibas were very fast as they attacked Naruto. But Naruto was able to dodge every attack.

Shikamaru was shocked, he asked " Is that the same Naruto we know?"

Ino " Yeah!! How come he is so strong?"

Neji sneered at their remarks, Lee commented " Naruto was always strong!! You guys just failed to see it."

Hinata was happy to see Naruto do well in the fight. She was worried Naruto might lose.

Kiba got frustrated, his attacks were being dodged. He consumed a food pill to temporarily increase his fighting capability, if he couldn't capitalize on this then he will lose.

Naruto made a few hand signs " Wind style : Great breakthrough "

A blast of air wave shot towards the two Kibas. They got out of the way but Naruto got near one of them,

" Wind style : Vaccum bullets"

Two invisible bullets hit one of the Kibas, Naruto controlled the output so the damage was minimum. Kiba's Jutsu got undone.

Akamaru was on the ground unconscious. Kiba got angry at this, he charged straight to Naruto. But Naruto's hand was already prepared

" Lightning style : Paralyse "

His hand released lightning sparks. He countered Kiba's every move, each time Kiba made contact with Naruto his body would feel a numbing sensation.

After a few exchanges Naruto found a flaw in his defence, he got in a few critical strikes thus disabling Kiba.

Hayate quickly checked Kiba's condition and announced " Winner, Naruto."

Naruto raised his fist high and shouted " Dattebayo!!!!"

Sasuke and Sakura smiled. Every Jounin was shocked, they all had the same thought ' How did this twerp learn so many Jutsus? moreover his Taijutsu capability is amazing."

Shikamaru " This is quite the shock."

Ino nodded.

Neji watched on, Lee congratulated Naruto. When Naruto got back, Hinata was trying to say congratulations but she was just too shy.

Ryu came over " Not bad Naruto."

Naruto boasted " Of course, the future Hokage should atleast do this much."

Sasuke and neji snickered while Lee gave a thumps up to Naruto.

Naruto noticed someone behind his friends, this is Hinata of course. Naruto called " Hey Hinata, waccha doing back there? How was my fight? Cool, wasn't it?"

Hinata was even more shy seeing Naruto, still she answered " Coo..cool...You were cool."

But after she said that, most people in the room looked at her weirdly. Of course, most of them understood what was happening.

Kurenai showed an amused smile. Kakashi and Asuma looked at each other, they could imagine what the other was thinking ' How the heck did Hinata fall for him?'

Naruto beemed " See!!See!!I told you I was cool. Dattebayo."

Hinata just wants to find a hole to hide. She just replied without thinking, and now everyone was looking at her. Fortunately the matches were still going

Hayate " Next match, Hinata Vs Neji."

Hinata snapped back, she looked at Neji before walking onto the stage. Neji shook his head and followed.

Neji " I didn't think I would be fighting you, Lady Hinata."

Hinata " Neji nii san."

Naruto heard this, he asked Kakashi " They are siblings?"

Kakashi " No, but they are from the same family."

Lee spoke up " Yes, the Hyuuga family consists of Head and Branch families. Hinata comes from the former while Neji from the latter."

Sakura " Must be sad to fight among relatives."

Lee " Don't know, but a lot of things happened between the two sides.

A lot of family techniques are passed down within a family like the Hyuuga's. So rules have been set to learn these techniques but....

it seems like those rules are favourable towards the Head family."

Sakura was startled.

Before she could ask further, Kakashi spoke " It's starting."

They all looked down, Hayate " Start!"

Hinata looked away, Neji spoke " Before we start,

Lady Hinata, Give up.

You are not fit to be a ninja..."

Hinata was devastated hearing that, Neji continued " You are too kind,

You lack self confidence,

You just follow others opinion,

Frankly speaking, you are only here because you couldn't refuse Kiba or Shino"

Hinata " No...no..I just want to change myself."

Neji made a hand sign,

" Byakugan."

Veins bulged near Neji's eyes, he has activated the Kekkei Genkai of their clan. He observed Hinata's every action,

Neji spoke after analysing Hinata's movements. Each of his words were like a nail that pierced her heart. She was almost on the verge of breaking...

Naruto yelled " Damn you!!! Beat the crap out of him,Hinata!!!.

He is making everyone here angry, Beat him up!!"

Hinata's eyes teared " Naruto..."

She closed her eyes for a brief second before opening them Neji faintly felt a change in Hinata. Her hands made seals continuously.

Her thoughts trailed back to every moment she spent with Naruto, his unwavering will to move forward, she vowed ' I won't run away anymore! '

She took a stance " Neji nii san... let us fight."

Neji also took his stance, " Very well."

Both of them attacked.

Naruto and the rest watched on. Each of their attack was precise, it didn't look flashy but with how Lee explained about the Hyuuga style, They were able to grasp a basic understanding.

Ryu only watched from the sidelines. He had no intention of helping Hinata. What Neji said was a bit true, Hinata is too kind and she herself doesn't recognize her own talent.

If one doesn't believe in oneself then he or she will never achieve anything.

The battle continued, Hinata was in a bad shape. Due to Ryu training Guy's team, Neji and the rest are a lot stronger than in the anime.

Hinata panted, she couldn't even get a single attack in. She is analysing each move Neji is making

" Now!!"

Hinata decisively went for a hit, but Neji blocked it. He delivered a palm strike to her chest. Hinata coughed up blood as she fell back.

She was confused ' But how?'

Neji " Try to circulate your chakra in your arms."

Hinata tried to do it but no matter how hard she tried, her chakra was stagnant. She rolled up her sleeves, there were many red dot markings on her hand.

Hinata was shocked " You blocked my chakra points."

Neji didn't reply, he advanced for another strike. Form this point onwards, Hinata was one arm down.

Finally, she fell down. Hayate was about to announce the result when Hinata struggled up.

Blood was trickling from her mouth, her body was bruised and tired but her eyes showed resolve.

Neji got irritated seeing this, he recalled his father's death. He went all out and attacked. Hinata stood there without moving.

Before his attack reached, Kakashi, kurenai, Hayate and Guy stopped him.

Neji growled " Why did the Jounins interfere. Is this special treatment towards the head family."

Hinata fell down while they held Neji. Naruto and the rest quickly went to her side.

Neji said to Naruto " Hey, useless. I will say two things, first don't try to butt in others problem.

Second everyone has a destiny, no one can change theirs."

Naruto was angered " Wanna try?"

He rushed towards Neji but Lee stopped him.

Lee " Naruto, it would be better if you fight him in a match. Of course I will be his opponent but if you pair with him, that's also Ok with me."

Ryu interjected this time, he jumped down " He is right Naruto. Prove through your actions what you wish to say."

Naruto calmed down, he glared at Neji " Fine by me."

But Hinata suddenly coughed up blood. Kurenai checked her pulse ' This isn't good, she is going through a ventricular fibrillation.'

Kurenai yelled " Bring the medic!"

Ryu interrupted " No need."

He kneeled down, his index finger glowed with green colour, he tapped a few of her chakra points.

All of her sealed points were unlocked. Since chakra was now unobstructed, Ryu used his wood energy to heal her internal injuries.

Hinata's face regained some colour, Kurenai was relieved. She thanked Ryu.

Ryu replied "No need. I believe she will be family in the future."

Kurenai understood his meaning, she looked towards Naruto and smiled. Ryu got up before facing Neji

Ryu shook his head " Neji, I won't tell you what's right or wrong. I believe you have that ability to understand that but if you stubbornly cling onto your past then even if you become strong, it will be meaningless."