Pov: Shikamaru.

  What a drag... I yawn and hop walk down to the arena to face Shino, my jutsu won't be able to corner him like most- his bugs are quite tricky to mess with... should I forfeit?

  The arena is also cking shade and unfortunately I am first up so I can't rely on making the arena messy without being obvious about it.

  The biggest hurdle would be the fact that Shino is smart and powerful, a combination that is very unfortunate for me.

  And so... what a drag, damn this outfit is itchy, I scratch at my neck and watch the light at the end of the tunnel.

  I sigh and make my way outside to the arena floor, opposing me is Shino.

  I scan the environment and try to find exactly where I could pull some tricks but it is pretty barren... maybe if I use this tree to my advantage? Get some light behind it and cast a good shadow... just need a way to get light.

  Probably should have brought a torch... or maybe got someone to seal a bright fme jutsu for me.

  Haaa-

  "Shikamaru Nara versus Shino Aburame starts now!" The examiner... who is different from the st one starts the match.

  I study Shino and my surroundings, intent on keeping the bugs at bay while performing hand seals that move my shadow forward.

  *Woosh!*

  My shadow reaches the end of its length but does its job of keeping Shino away from me, he can hide many bugs on me in close quarters, I y on one knee and keep my hands close.

  Five seconds... I spend five seconds thinking in my favourite pose before looking up again and chucking a kunai at Shino- *Thunk* it pnts itself in the ground and the shadow of the Kunai allows me to move my own shadow further forward.

  *Step*

  Shino takes slow steps back and I watch as he slowly spreads his bugs across the entire stadium... I cannot keep my eye on them if they surround me, but I understand that those type of bugs need a scent to follow, primarily the female bug scent if I remember correctly... they are scattered randomly so the scent is hidden until he needs to apply to me I bet.

  I throw another kunai and another, amplifying my shadows reach and slowly pushing him back- I take steps forward and slowly kite him in a circle... I pass by many bugs but make sure none nd on me.

  Soon we have switched sides of the arena and every st one of my Kunai form a [D] shape having followed Shino through the centre and around its edges.

  "I see, there is ninja wire threaded into the kunai... you can send your shadows backwards despite the kunais shadows travelling towards you now" Shino says and I tsk as his bugs eat away at very fine and thin wire that was connected into the loops of the Kunai.

  My shadow jutsu can no longer push backwards as the kunai shadows point to me and give me less reach... but he is behind the tree and I need to stall until the shadows stretch.

  The kunai on the outer edges don't need string as they are closer together as I pnned... but Shino certainly knows that so he will try to rush me.

  *Bzzzz~* suddenly all the bugs rush me from the arena- what? When did he- he left the female on the wire.

  I kick off my shoes and watch as the bugs horde around them- he acted as if he didn't see the wire and pced the female on my trap to pnt on my shoes as I walked by the wire... tch, I hate fighting smart people.

  The hive of bugs bite at my shoes and Shino sends a few my way, most likely bugs capable of being controlled with a jutsu rather than pheromones- I start to sprint backwards as the bugs get close and I hold my shadow jutsu as I creep around the area of my shoe.

  I just need to buy time... how do I do that?

  I pull out some smoke pellets and chuck them all around the area where I am, before rushing into the pile of bugs that surround my shoe... after using my shadow jutsu to freeze the female and trap it in my shoe I throw my shoe at Shino.

  The bugs travel out of the shadow and I rush with them.

  The mass of bugs cover me as I run and burst through them to tackle Shino- I am bitten by a bug but that's fine...

  He flies to the ground and I grab a kunai before throwing it upwards.

  *Sm*

  Shino knocks me off of him and I feel the bugs crawl across my body as he controls them to keep me down.

  With my final movements I perform the shadow jutsu once more and use the leaf I cut down with that kunai a moment ago to cast a shadow near Shino and get him by surprise.

  *Catch*

  And then both of us freeze... me from the poison~ and him from the jutsu.

  ......

  Haaa- Haaa- Haaa-

  Both of us stand opposite each other, he can use his bugs to surprise me but can't move himself... and I can't move... well, that's a lie actually.

  I stand straight and so does Shino.

  "What...?" He asks and I smile as I use both our hands to gesture to the smoke, the bugs on my body fall to the ground one after another.

  "They aren't filled with smoke... that is a paralyzing gas for your bugs, and I made sure to wear some thick skin to cover for your bug bites..." I pull at the skin on my neck and reveal I am wearing a second set of skin... itchy and sweaty, I would have preferred packing some fire seals...

  "I did not notice... the kunai and wire- the constant focus on keeping me near the tree... that was a distraction" Shino states.

  "Correct" I say and raise both of our hands.

  "I forfeit" I surrender.

  ...

  "Are you sure?" The examiner asks and I nod.

  Shino tilts his head as I let go of the shadow jutsu and step over his bugs.

  "That I do not understand" Shino says.

  "I'm too zy to fight, and I only prepared to fight you while revealing my jutsu here... I will only make a fool of myself if I continue" I mumble as we walk back up.

  "Hn" Shino agrees.

  ...

  ---

  Pov: Naruto

  ...

  "What was that Shikamaru! You could have won! You were so close!" I shake him.

  "Stop- oi stop your up next" He says.

  I let go of him and step up to the railing.

  "What a drag..." Shikamaru mumbles as he itches his neck.

  I hop onto the railing and before I leap off Hinata steps up to me and bows a little.

  "Good luck N-Naruto!" She bows deeper.

  "Hehe- no problem, sorry but I am going to beat your family dattebayo!" I scratch my neck cheerfully but with a hint of awkwardness.

  "Th-that's fine... I- uhh..." She silently scoots away and I leap away from the weird atmosphere.

  Landing on the dirt I see Neji who had already walked from the hallway down into the arena waiting for me.

  "Neji Hyuga versus Naruto Uzimaki begins now!" The examiner states and I rise up from my nding position to pull out three kunai and enter into my taijutsu pose.

  Neji does the same and focuses his gaze on me.

  I crack my neck and suddenly we burst into action- I throw three kunai all with different tags on them.

  First one is deflected and sptters paint all over the wall, second one is thrown in front of him and spreads saw dust... hopefully terrible for his eyes, and the st kunai is deflected once more and sprays a horrid smelling gas at the edge of the arena... the guests are not gonna like that when it rises.

  I watch as Neji sprints at me past my kunai and rushes to point at my chest using his gentle fist.

  *Woosh* *Woosh*

  Luckily I have been attacked and trained by Kenzo who fights aggressively like this to enhance my defensive taijutsu and evasive.

  I dodge out of the way with ease and jump up into the air, Neji waits below as I throw three more normal kunai and he deflects them to the side one after the other.

  I pull out seven smoke pellets belled 2 - 8 and throw them all at once, scattering across his body.

  But with one move- one spin.

  *WOOSH!*

  Every pellet flies into the wall and sprays many of my most useful tools... from gasses to paints and sticky horrid stuff.

  I nd and he pushes his fingers into my shoulder.

  "One" he starts.... but revs up more, hitting each and every chakra point as I slide back and further into the wall.

  *Sm!*

  My back hits the wall as he strikes me twice and backs off a bit... my chakra is sealed but I throw two pellets belled 9 - 10 at him.

  *Puff* *BOOM!*

  One expels a gas that makes his eyes tear up- which he quickly disperses with that spinning technique and the other was jammed full of explosive seals that send him flying across the arena.

  ...

  I take heavy breaths as I stand up and Neji walks out of the smoke dusting off his shoulder.

  "You are cking, you should give up now" he cims.

  "Getting afraid now?" I quip.

  "Nonsense, a natural born loser like you could never beat me, it is fate" He replies.

  "Fate? This? Clearly you don't know me because I am not a natural loser" I say and pull out the pellet belled number 1.

  "I beg to differ, down to your st trick" he states and watches my hand.

  "Psh- st pellet, not trick- and you can beg all you want, I am a hard working loser not a natural" I reply and weakly chuck the pellet... it doesn't pop and rolls right up into his foot.

  ...

  "Doesn't change the fact that you are a loser... like fate required you to be... like fate needed you to be in order for me to beat you" He frowns and picks up my pellet as I breathe heavy.

  "Fate this- fate that! Fate doesn't matter, and I can prove it to you!" I say and scrunch my fist.

  "What would you know of fate? You are nobody... a loser like you yourself stated" He spits back quickly.

  "Oh yeah? And what would you know anyway!?" I chant back.

  "Me...? What do I know?" He chuckles and slowly unties his headband... revealing a seal on his forehead.

  "I on my third birthday was marked by fate to be a sve- I am forced to serve the main house of the Hyuga who killed my father!" He growls and the arena goes silent.

  "What...?" Clearly stepping on a nd mine of emotions I stop purposefully angering him and ask genuinely.

  ...

  "Let me tell you a story... one day the nd of lightning decided to hold peace talks with Konoha... they sent delegates and ninja to talk and create a treaty... but on that same day was Hinata Hyuga's birthday... the ninja from lightning kidnapped her that very night and the head of the house, my fathers twin brother killed the kidnapper... when the nd of lightning threatened war for killing the ninja Konoha offered the head of the Hyuga's corpse in reconciliation... but instead of doing that the cowards used this damn seal to force my father to take his pce... so that the main family could live" He tells me and my eyes open wide.

  "All I am fated to be is a sve- and all you are fated to be is a loser... do not compare me to you" He states and throws my pellet back at me.

  *Pop!*

  The red mist sprays from the pellet and I take in a deep breath... sm my hands together and shout.

  "If you want to compare seals then don't come crying to me! what happened was messed up sure! But just because you had a terrible past didn't mean no one else did! And that's why when I become Hokage...!" The adrenaline powder rushes through my body and allows me to easily dip into the fox's power.

  "I will fix the Hyuga!" I shout and burst from the mist to attack Neji who with great shock barely blocks my enhanced attacks.

  *Smash* *Boom* *Crash!*

  I smack away his hand and punch at his deflections which cause him to wince and pull back... my taijutsu training allowing me to use the full scope of this temporary upgrade from the fox.

  *Smack* *Sp* *Catch*

  I smack away his kick and our hands sp together as I catch both of his attacks and hold his hands down tight.

  "You get all that Neji!?" I yell as I headbutt his forehead and he stumbles backwards.

  He rotates and I jump out of the way as he tears up the ground with his jutsu- I pick up one of my thrown kunai and throw it at him so he is forced to keep the jutsu up- and then I flicker to the next... and the next.

  I keep up the rhythm and throw all my kunai over and over again at my faster speed- that jutsu has to drain on his chakra and make him dizzy... and out of the two of us I can stay standing way longer Dattebayo!

  Are you listening O? This is the start of my promotion to Chunin!

  I unch at Neji when his defence goes down and punch him square across the face... as he falls he raise his legs to spin kick me across the face as well.

  I stumble back as he flings upwards and kicks me in the stomach, I sm my hands down onto his shins and pull his colr up making him stand before kicking his legs and pushing his back into the ground.

  *Catch* *Swirl!*

  He catches the ground with his hands and spins his legs back into my side leaving an impact.

  He gets up and proceeds to hit me with the gentle fist all over- but I grit my teeth and step forward.

  *Bang!*

  A strike across the chin, and I step forward.

  *Sm!*

  A jab into my chest, and I step forward.

  *Crunch*

  Breaking my rib, and I step forward.

  *Sp!*

  A strike across my face, and I step forward.

  *POW!*

  I punch through his block and strike his face- sending him into the floor... I take a few breaths and watch as he doesnt get up.

  The fox's chakra disappears and I smirk.

  "Victory for Naruto Uzumaki!" The examiner calls and the crowd goes wild.

  I jump up and run around the arena blowing kisses to the audience and looking around for Kenzo.

  Even though I cannot find him my smile doesn't fade and I cheer on and through to the hallway alongside Neji as he gets taken by the medic ninja.

  ---

  Pov: Lee

  "Good work Naruto! You beat him! You beat Neji!" I chant and hug him tight as he runs up the stairs.

  "Hahaha! Yeah I did! Did Sasuke get here yet?" He asks and I drop him.

  "No he hasn't arrived" Shikamaru sighs and I nod along.

  "Ah- how is he more te than you!" Naruto points at Shikamaru and ughs.

  "Next challengers!" The next match is called and I turn to the railings before jumping off them.

  "Good luck Lee!" I hear Naruto chant and I run on the spot to pump myself up.

  "The power of YOUTH shines through you Lee!" Gai-sensei yells and I raise my arms as the crowd goes wild.

  We had great previous matches so we cannot stall that hype!

  "Rock Lee versus Temari of the Sand!" The examiner cheers and I drop down into my taijutsu stance.

  As my arm is pced behind my back and the other outstretches, Temari unfurls her fan and brandishes it by her side.

  I unch at Temari immediately and rush around her first attack of wind- *BLAST* the dirt kicks up and I get hit in the side.

  *Woosh*

  I rush up to her and kick at her, she blocks my attack with her fan and sends out another bst of wind.

  *Woosh!* *Sccchhh*

  I nd at the edge of the arena and slide across the dirt before darting forward and aiming at her left side this time- *WOOOOOOHH* The wind hits me and I raise my hands as the cold air sms me backwards even more... I am too slow.

  I gnce at sensei and he gives me a thumbs up.

  Time to lose some weight!

  I duck down and start untying my ankle weights- Temari leans on her fan and raises her eyebrow.

  "A few weights aren't going to change much" She decres and I pick up both weights as I stand.

  *Fwoosh!*

  I drop my weights and sprint in her direction, punch her twice and the weights fall.

  *CRACK!*

  The ground cracks as my weights fall and I uppercut the surprised Temari before kicking her three times as fast as possible- sending her higher.

  *Tok* *Tok* *Tok*

  My feet sm into her and make heavy sounds before I lower my body to its lowest point.

  ...

  She flies through the air and spreads her fan open to perform more jutsu- *Bst!* *Woosh!*

  I jump up and barely push through the strong winds only to be met with another bst sending me back down to the floor.

  I jump to the side and back dodging many wind based attacks as they focus in on me- Temari of the sand nds and I smirk.

  "RAAAAHHH!" I yell loudly as the ground breaks around me and I push through the first gate- I won't need the others... all I need is to get one good hit in.

  *Flicker!* *Boom!*

  I fsh forward and dodge oncoming winds.

  *Flicker* *Boom!*

  I get closer and closer.

  *Flicker* *Boom!*

  I slide under her third attack and spin kick upwards... hitting her in the chin- she flies upwards again... but this time I am fast enough to leap after her before she can steady herself.

  *Woosh!*

  I leap behind her and my arm wraps loosen... as we fly through the air I smile with glee and grab her.

  "Lotus-" I start.

  "I forfeit!" She yells and I stop attempting my technique... we nd on the ground and she takes a breath as she looks over her injuries.

  "Rock Lee of Konoha wins!" The examiner announces and the crowd cheers for me.

  Ill take that!

  I smile and give thumbs up to the crowd as I spin around and cheer towards everyone, in a few more rounds I can fight Naruto!

  Thanks for reading :)