One month later.
Konoha Arena.
The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky.
The enormous arena was packed to the brim, waves of cheers rising and falling nonstop.
On the elevated viewing platform sat feudal lords, nobles, and envoys from various nations.
Kakashi sat in the spectator stands, eyes slightly narrowed as he surveyed the arena.
"The day has finally come…"
"Orochimaru is already in position."
"The Hidden Sound and Hidden Sand forces should be lurking nearby as well."
"The Konoha Crush plan… is about to begin."
His gaze shifted toward the contestants' waiting area.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood together, their faces showing both tension and excitement.
Nearby sat several jonin instructors—Kurenai Yuhi, Might Guy, and Asuma.
"Kakashi, your students look to be in great shape," Kurenai said with a smile.
"I hope so," Kakashi replied calmly.
"Hahaha! Youth means giving everything you've got!" Might Guy laughed loudly. "Their flames of youth will never be extinguished!"
Asuma took a drag from his cigarette. "I just hope that kid Shikamaru doesn't slack off and actually puts on a decent match."
At that moment, a ninja appeared at the center of the arena.
It was Shiranui Genma, the proctor for the third stage of the Chunin Exams.
"Everyone!" Genma's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"Welcome to the third stage of the Chunin Exams!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the stands.
"The rules are simple!" Genma continued. "One-on-one elimination matches!"
"The winner advances! The loser is eliminated!"
"The match ends when one side admits defeat or loses the ability to fight!"
"Now—let's begin with the first match!"
"Uzumaki Naruto versus Hyuga Neji!"
"Both contestants, please enter the arena!"
Cheers roared through the crowd.
In the waiting area, Naruto took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Across from him, Neji walked out with an unreadable expression.
The two stopped at the center of the arena, facing each other.
From the stands, Kakashi leaned forward slightly.
"Here it comes…"
Naruto and Neji locked eyes.
"Dead last," Neji said coldly. "I didn't expect you to actually make it here."
"Shut up!" Naruto snapped. "I told you I'd beat you!"
"I'll prove that destiny can be changed!"
Neji sneered.
"Naive."
"Destiny is decided from the moment you're born."
"You're a dead last—and you'll always be a dead last."
"Just like Hinata-sama. No matter how hard she tries, she'll always be a failure."
"And just like me…"
He reached up and touched his forehead.
"The Branch Family will always be the Branch Family."
"We exist only to obey the Main Family."
"That is destiny."
"It cannot be changed."
Naruto clenched his teeth.
"You're wrong!"
"Hinata works harder than anyone! She's trying to change her destiny!"
"And me…"
His fists tightened.
"It's true—I used to be dead last."
"My grades were the worst, and everyone looked down on me."
"But!"
He lifted his head, eyes blazing with resolve.
"I never gave up!"
"I kept training. I kept getting stronger!"
"Kakashi-sensei told me there's no such thing as absolute destiny in the ninja world!"
"As long as you don't give up, you can change it!"
"So I'll prove it to you!"
"A dead last can defeat a genius!"
"Destiny can be changed!"
Neji scoffed.
"Foolish."
"Then show me…"
His eyes sharpened as the Byakugan activated, veins bulging around them.
"Show me how a dead last plans to change destiny!"
Genma glanced between them.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready!" Naruto shouted.
Neji gave a brief nod.
"Then…"
Genma leapt backward.
"The first match—begin!"
The instant his words fell—
Neji burst forward.
With the Byakugan, Naruto's chakra points were fully exposed, and Neji struck out with rapid palm attacks.
But this time, Naruto didn't meet him head-on.
He quickly formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Flash Wind Step!"
Whoosh—
A sudden gust exploded outward, and Naruto's body shot backward like a phantom, instantly widening the distance.
"What?!" Neji froze in surprise.
"Heh!" Naruto grinned from over ten meters away.
"I'm not dumb enough to fight you up close, Neji!"
"Kakashi-sensei said to fight based on the enemy's weaknesses!"
"Your Gentle Fist is dangerous—but only if you can get close!"
"So I won't let you!"
He formed seals again.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
A sharp blade of compressed wind blasted toward Neji.
Neji hurriedly dodged. The attack skimmed past him and carved a deep groove into the ground behind.
"Tch…" Neji clicked his tongue.
He rushed forward again.
But Naruto used Flash Wind Step once more, instantly retreating.
Wind Release techniques followed one after another.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Neji was forced to dodge repeatedly, completely unable to close the distance.
Gasps spread through the stands.
"That blond kid… he knows that many Wind Release techniques?"
"And he's deliberately countering the Hyuga's Gentle Fist!"
From the stands, Kakashi nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. Naruto's learned how to adapt his tactics."
"Jiraiya did a fine job teaching him."
Down below, Neji's frustration steadily grew.
His Gentle Fist was useless, while Naruto harassed him nonstop from afar.
Worse still, Neji had almost no long-range options.
He could only throw shuriken.
But Naruto's speed and wind techniques made them completely ineffective.
"Damn it… this dead last…"
Neji hurled several shuriken.
Naruto dodged easily.
"Heh! You can't even touch me!"
Neji took a slow breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"…Then I'll draw you in."
He stopped moving and sneered.
"Dead last, is that all you can do? Run away?"
"Is this how you plan to change destiny?"
"Scurrying around like a rat?"
Naruto's expression darkened.
"What did you say?!"
"I said you're a coward," Neji continued calmly. "You only dare attack from afar. You don't have the guts to face me head-on."
"With that kind of resolve, how could you ever defeat me?"
"How could you ever prove destiny can be changed?"
"You'll always be a dead last."
"A weak, cowardly dead last who only knows how to run."
Naruto exploded.
"Shut up!"
"I'm not a coward!"
"I'll prove it to you—right now!"
He charged straight toward Neji.
Chakra surged into his right hand, spinning violently.
"Rasengan!"
In the spectator stands, Kurenai looked at Kakashi in shock.
"Kakashi… that's the Fourth Hokage's jutsu, isn't it?"
"You taught Naruto the Rasengan?"
"Hahaha!" Might Guy laughed. "As expected of you, Kakashi!"
"Naruto's youth is truly in full bloom!"
Asuma exhaled smoke slowly. "The Rasengan… the Fourth's signature technique."
"I didn't expect Kakashi to pass it on to him."
Kakashi nodded calmly. "Naruto has exceptional talent and is perfectly suited for the Rasengan."
"He was never a dead last."
In the arena, Neji's eyes gleamed.
"You fell for it."
Before the Rasengan could land—
Neji had already read Naruto's trajectory through the Byakugan.
"Gentle Fist!"
His palm struck precisely at Naruto's wrist.
Crack!
Naruto's arm was knocked aside, and the Rasengan flew past Neji.
"What?!" Naruto gasped.
"Before the Byakugan, your movements are meaningless!"
Neji closed the distance instantly.
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
"Two palms!"
"Four palms!"
"Eight palms!"
"Sixteen palms!"
Snap! Snap! Snap!
A storm of strikes landed on Naruto's body, sealing chakra points one after another.
"Thirty-two palms!"
"Sixty-four palms!"
The final strike slammed into Naruto's chest.
Bang!
Naruto was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.