Chapter 82: The Finals Begin The Hidden Leaf Village, the stadium filled with anticipation for the first match of the Chūnin Exams finals. The crowd is buzzing with excitement, and the tension is palpable. In the private viewing box, Malik sat surrounded by his allies, all eager to witness the upcoming match.
In the special viewing box prepared for the Hokage and other dignitaries, Malik sat with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, and the disguised Orochimaru. The seats offered a perfect view of the arena below.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: The Third Hokage, with his wise and calm demeanor, observed the competitors with interest. His eyes were kind but sharp, missing nothing.
Danzō Shimura: A stern, older woman with a piercing gaze and an authoritative presence. She watched with a critical eye, always evaluating.
Orochimaru (disguised as the Kazekage): An enigmatic figure, with a keen interest in the proceedings. Her eyes, though masked by the disguise, were filled with a predatory curiosity.
Malik: Sat comfortably, his attention focused on Neji and Naruto. His expression was a mix of pride and concern, knowing how much this match meant to both of them.
Hiruzen: "This is a significant match. Both Neji and Naruto have much to prove."
Danzō: "Neji's skills are exceptional. I'm curious to see how Naruto plans to counter her."
Orochimaru: (with a sly smile) "Naruto's unpredictability might be his greatest asset. This should be interesting."
Malik nodded, his eyes on Neji. "Neji has trained hard for this. I hope she remembers what I told her about creating her own fate."
As the competitors were introduced, the atmosphere in the stadium grew even more charged. Neji and Naruto stood facing each other, ready for the match to begin.
Malik's focus was on the arena, where the competitors were about to be introduced. He had a vested interest in this match, knowing how much it meant for both Neji and Naruto. - Physical Description: Neji stood gracefully, her long black hair tied back, her pale lavender eyes reflecting determination. She wore her usual Hyūga attire, but today she also had a delicate silver necklace with a jade pendant in the shape of a bird, a gift from Malik, hanging around her neck. Her large bosom was noticeable, but it was her aura of confidence and strength that truly defined her presence. Physical Description: Naruto, with his spiky blonde hair and bright blue eyes, was the epitome of youthful energy. His orange jumpsuit stood out, and his expression was one of fierce determination mixed with his usual exuberance. Malik watched Neji with a mix of pride and concern. He knew how much this match meant to her and hoped she would remember his words about creating her own fate. He was also aware of Naruto's potential and his unyielding spirit. --Malik's pink private viewing row--- Mitsukihime: "This is going to be an interesting match. Both are incredibly determined." - Takumi: "I hope Neji doesn't get too angry. She can be quite fierce." - Kiyoshi: "Naruto has a lot of heart. It will be a battle of wills." - Ryo: "We should keep an eye on the crowd. Emotions might run high." In the arena, the tension between Neji and Naruto was palpable. They stood facing each other, the proctor Hayate Gekkō ready to start the match. Neji: "Naruto, you should have quit while you were ahead. Failure remains a failure." Naruto: "You're wrong, Neji. People can change their destiny." Neji shrugged, her expression indifferent. "Let's see if you can back up those words." The arena, filled with the deafening roar of the crowd. The match between Neji and Naruto is about to begin. Hayate Gekkō stepped forward, raising his hand to signal the start of the match. The crowd fell silent, the anticipation building to a fever pitch. Hayate: "Begin!" With a swift motion, Neji and Naruto launched themselves at each other. Naruto, full of energy and determination, charged at Neji, his fists ready to strike. Neji, with her Byakugan activated, effortlessly dodged his initial attacks, her movements fluid and precise. Naruto threw a series of punches, but Neji deflected each one with ease, her hands moving in a blur. She countered with a quick palm strike to Naruto's chest, sending him skidding back. The crowd gasped at her speed and precision. Neji: "Your attacks are predictable, Naruto. You'll never hit me like that." Naruto gritted his teeth, determined not to back down. He quickly formed a hand sign and created multiple shadow clones, surrounding Neji from all sides. Naruto: "We'll see about that, Neji!" The clones attacked in unison, but Neji remained calm. Using her Byakugan to see their movements, she effortlessly dodged and countered, dispelling the clones one by one. Her strikes were swift and powerful, each one landing with pinpoint accuracy. Neji: "Your clones are useless against my Byakugan. You need to do better than that." Naruto's mind raced as he tried to come up with a new strategy. He knew he had to break through Neji's defenses somehow. He charged at her again, this time with more determination, throwing punches and kicks in rapid succession. Neji: "You're wasting your energy." She continued to dodge and counter, her movements a blur. With a swift kick, she sent Naruto tumbling across the arena floor. Naruto quickly got back on his feet, his determination unwavering. Naruto: "I'm not giving up, Neji! I'm going to prove you wrong!" The crowd watched in awe as the two competitors continued their fierce exchange. Neji's movements were graceful and precise, while Naruto's were driven by sheer willpower and determination. It was a clash of ideologies as much as a physical battle. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, watching the intense clash between Neji and Naruto. Each strike and counter was met with gasps and cheers, the energy in the stadium palpable. Naruto's mind raced as he struggled to keep up with Neji's superior skills. Despite his best efforts, Neji's precision and agility seemed insurmountable. It was then that an idea struck him—one that would turn the tide of the battle but at a significant personal cost. Naruto took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say. He knew it was risky, but he needed to break Neji's concentration. Naruto: "If failures remain failures and can never change, then Malik is the biggest failure of all!" The crowd fell silent, the shock of Naruto's words hanging in the air like a tangible force. Even Neji paused, her eyes widening in surprise and confusion. In the private box, Malik's voice rang out clearly. Malik: "What the hell, man?!" Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Naruto rushed forward, landing a solid punch on Neji. The force of the blow sent her staggering back, a look of disbelief on her face. Naruto wasn't done. He reached out and snatched the delicate silver necklace from around Neji's neck, holding it up for everyone to see. Naruto: "Anyone who doesn't believe in the will to change destiny or the power of dreams doesn't deserve something so beautiful—the necklace or Malik's love." He threw the necklace to the ground, the jade pendant shattering on impact. The sound of it breaking seemed to echo through the silent stadium. Neji's initial shock quickly turned to fury. Her eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and hurt, directed not just at Naruto, but at the insult to Malik, someone she deeply loved and respected. Neji: "First of all, my husband isn't even a ninja. Second, anyone worthy of winning my heart isn't a failure. Third, the mere fact that he is with me should be enough inspiration for him to never fail again. Fourth, I'm going to break four of your ribs." Her declaration was met with a mix of gasps and murmurs from the crowd. Neji's stance shifted, her resolve hardened by her anger. She moved with renewed vigor, her strikes faster and more forceful. Naruto realized he had awakened a formidable opponent. He braced himself as Neji launched her attack, her four arms twisting and merging into powerful strikes. The intensity of her assault forced him to rely on the demon fox's chakra to keep up. The arena, charged with the heightened intensity of the battle between Neji and Naruto. Neji's anger fueled her movements, each strike precise and devastating. She moved with the grace of a dancer and the power of a beast, her four arms merging and twisting to deliver blows that left Naruto reeling. Naruto barely managed to dodge a particularly fierce attack, the wind from Neji's strike whipping past his face. He knew he had to find a way to turn the tide back in his favor. Drawing on the demon fox's chakra, his eyes flashed with determination as he faced Neji head-on. Naruto: "I'm not giving up, Neji! I'm going to prove you wrong about destiny!" The two clashed again, their movements a blur. Naruto's shadow clones appeared, surrounding Neji and attacking from all sides. Neji's Byakugan activated, allowing her to see and counter each clone with pinpoint accuracy. Neji: "Your clones are nothing to me, Naruto!" She dispelled the clones with swift, powerful strikes, her movements fluid and relentless. Naruto gritted his teeth, pushing through the pain and exhaustion. He needed to dig deeper, to find a way to reach Neji. In a desperate move, Naruto created more shadow clones and had them charge at Neji from different angles. As Neji expertly dispatched each clone, Naruto used the distraction to gather more of the demon fox's chakra, feeling its power surge through him. With a roar, Naruto launched himself at Neji, his fists glowing with the red aura of the fox's chakra. The impact of his punch sent a shockwave through the arena, and Neji was forced to brace herself against the force. Naruto: "Believe it, Neji! I can change my destiny, and so can you!" Neji's eyes narrowed, her anger giving way to a grudging respect for Naruto's tenacity. She felt the weight of Malik's words in her heart, reminding her to create her own fate. The battle raged on, each competitor pushing themselves to their limits. Neji's strikes became more calculated, her anger now a controlled fire. Naruto, drawing deeper on the demon fox's power, met her blow for blow.