Hi Readers, I am inspired to keep going with this fic due to recent chapters of the manga and the upcoming movie. Let me say first am I happy about Naruhina finally being confirmed ? yes. Am I thrilled about some of the other pairings and children...meh. So I want to continue with this fic. Note, Masashi Kishimoto owns the Naruto franchise , not me.
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((((FLASHBACK)))))
"Just wait Dad! I'm gonna work really hard! I'm gonna be a gutsy ninja! Just like you and Mom!" A 5 year old Toba boldly exclaimed to his parents.
Naruto and Hinata smiled with pride.
" Just remember son, hard work is the key to happy living, there is no substitute. Naruto said.
" Just do your best honey, if you do that's all you will need. " Hinata said.
(((((END FLASHBACK))))))
The crowd roared with with excitement. This is the fight they had been waiting for.
" Give me Akimichi 3 to 2!" A spectator yelled to one of the bet takers.
" It's Uzumaki Vs. Akimichi! And the crowd around me estatic! Both shinobi are close-range fighters! This is going to be one of the greatest clashes of styles we have ever seen!" Ami and Miki head over the radio.
Ami's face fell pale. " Toba-kun..."
Back at the tournament...
Chouji's knee shook nervously. " What was I thinking? Toba's even more of a prodigy than Neji was when we were kids." Chouji looked amongst the Akimichi clan, seeing that many of them were on edge as they watched. He saw the worry in many of their faces for the young Uzumaki, including his wife and 2 sons. He looked back down at Toba who was facing off against Chojo. " But against Chojo...it was wrong of me to have all that placed solely on him."
From another part in the stands Hiashi watched with the Hyuuga clan. " Toba, remember what I said. I don't think the Hyuuga standard techniques will work well with this boy."
Down at the battle grounds.
Chojo smiled across at Toba who was only looking straight ahead with no expression.
" Wow, you must really wanna kick my ass."
Toba didn't reply.
Anko walked up between the 2 with her hands in her pockets. She was far more serious about this match for obvious reasons. Though as a referee she was not allowed to be partial to either competitor, deep down she wanted Toba to beat some sense into the Akimichi brute after what he did to poor Ami.
" Gentlemen." Anko said sternly. " The rules are the same, there are no rules. This match is over when one of you gives up or is unable to continue.
Toba and Chojo maintain their gaze at one another.
" Obey my commands at all times. Chojo, are you ready?"
Chojo nodds as his fists tighten.
" Toba, are you ready?" Anko asks.
" Hai." Toba said.
Anko raised her hand in the air. " And..."
The anticipation silenced the crowd.
" Begin.." Anko swiped her arm down.
At first neither one moved. Their eyes were locked. Finally it was Chojo who broke the silence.
" Wanna know what's funny?" Chojo brought up. " I almost turned down these exams." He began walking over to Toba.
" Toba stay on your guard!" Hinata thought.
"At first I didn't think it would be anything interesting. But then I found out alot of elite Genin were gonna be here, including the Hokage's son." Chojo was now within a foot of Toba, who didn't flinch even in the slightest, he just maintained his gaze.
" You must really be something special, being a descendant of the Uzumaki clan and even having the Byakugan from the Hyuuga clan. Bet life was pretty easy for you, All you had to do was walk into a room and everyone would fall all over you telling you how great you are."
Chojo continued.
" But I got a secret, I could give a rats ass over the Hyuuga clan." Chojo said.
Kato's eyes narrowed as he looked down from the balcony.
Chojo's sensei smiled from the stands.
" Mainly 'cuz I fought a Hyuuga a year ago in combat, and that gentle-fist form your clan has...I'm not impressed. I crushed him in less than 2 minutes."
Members of the clan looked abruptly.
Naruto was becoming concerned. " He fought a Hyuuga before?" he said to himself.
" So pardon me if I don't bend over and kiss your as-" Chojo was stopped, Toba performed an upward sidekick straight to his mouth.
Chojo back up a few steps.
" Didn't you hear the ref!? The match started, so shut the hell up!" Toba dashed toward Chojo as he was off balance.
" I didn't ask for a resume! And I don't give a crap who you fought in the past 'cuz whoever it was , it wasn't me!" Toba yelled performing a flying kick to Chojo's midsection.
Up in the stands Chojo's sensei wore a shocked and concerned look on his face.
" No Toba! I said don't get in close right away!" Hiashi thought worriedly.
" And Toba Uzumaki has come out swinging, landing some crucial blows to the Akimichi!" Kichi said.
" Uzumaki..." Chojo said looking over at him. " I really hope for your sake, those were just warm ups. Because if that's seriously all I can expect from you, you better give up now, you won't beat me."
"He's not even hurt." Hinata said next to Naruto.
Toba smirked. " I haven't even begun warming up."
Toba got into his Sui-ken stance. Chojo's eyes narrowed as he came in at an impressive speed, shocking Toba.
" He's fast." Kurenai said.
Chojo threw a straight punch which Toba dodged. Toba launched a palm strike towards Chojo's throat but was stopped when Chojo threw an elbow to block it. Without warning, Chojo head-butted Toba send him to the ground.
" OW! Uzumaki receives a devastating head-butt !" Kichi said over the radio.
Toba rolled quickly back to his feet and back to his stance.
" Geez, that felt like a boulder hit me." Toba thought. "Hiashi 'jii-san was right. I need to study him first. I know he's got a lot more up his sleeve."
" Ok Uzumaki, are you ready to get started now?" Chojo asked.
" Let's go.." Toba responded.
Chojo and Toba circled eachother.
"Akimichi and Uzumaki are more careful with eachother now, they are now feeling eachother out." Mae said.
Toba unleashed a barrage of strikes against Chojo. He even took tried cutting him down at the leg with kicks, his attacks however did nothing to harm the large Akimichi.
Chojo tried to reach in to grab Toba, Toba ducked under and tried an upward kick which Chojo dodged. Suddenly Chojo rushed Toba clasping his hands over the back of his head and squeezing his arms around his neck. Toba unleashed a barrage of strikes to Chojo but to no avail. Toba attempted kicking Chojo's shins but could not get within reach.
" I can't get out!" Toba thought.
Without warning, Chojo delivered a monumental knee strike to Toba's mid-section.
"Gah!" Toba yelled.
With a sadistic smile Chojo wound back and punched Toba clear across the stadium. Dirt kicked up along the path which Toba slid.
" Toba!" Chouji yelled.
((((FLASHBACK))))
7 year old Toba had finished one of Lee's grueling work outs since his own daughter blew him off stating it was "insane."
" A fine job today Toba!" Lee said. " The fire of youth burns within you!"
" Arigato Senpai!" Toba gave a thumbs up.
" You truly have a talent for Tai-jutsu, but always remember, talent will only get you so far. To be a true shinobi you must understand the value of hard work! Just like your mother and father!"
" Ne?" Toba said.
" Oh yes, your parents had to work really hard to be as strong as they are! " Lee said giving a thumbs up and smiling. : You are very strong, so if you work hard you will be even stronger!"
Toba looked up at Lee " H-Hai" Toba said with a smile.
((((END FLASHBACK))))
Toba opened his eyes to a ringing in his ears. " What the hell? That punch felt like a freight train."
" Oh god." Ino said with much concern.
"Uzumaki is down! That was an incredible punch!" Kichi said over the radio.
Ami placed her hand over her heart in fear. " Toba-kun..."
" I don't understand." Gaara said to Naruto and Hinata. " Hinata-san, Toba has your Byakugan from the Hyuuga clan. Why doesn't he attack the Akimichi internally?"
Hinata's Byakugan was activated as she watched the fight. " Gaara-sama, you don't understand." Gaara, his wife and Naruto looked to Hinata.
" He's been attacking the Akimichi internally the entire time!"
Naruto, Gaara and Matsuri were stunned.
" But how..." Naruto said.
" I don't know how, but the Akimichi just takes it!"
Down at the stands...
" Neji..." Hiashi said.
" Hai, I saw it too." Neji said.
Down in the stands Chouji was talking to his clan. " Toba must have been trying to attack him internally, but it didn't work, I think Chojo knows the body density jutsu from the Akimichi clan."
"What the hell is that?" A random spectator who overheard Chouji asked.
" It is a technique that allows an Akimichi to use their fat and muscle almost like a suit of armor to allow the body to take greater damage without getting badly hurt. Chojo probably has a lot more fat and muscle than is noticeable." Chouji said.
On the battleground, Toba jumped to his feet ready for more action.
" You recover pretty quick I see." Chojo said walking over.
Toba charged Chojo performing palm strikes to his side. Chojo swung but Toba was far too fast to hit. Chojo went for an uppercut only to miss by a mile. Chojo went in for a strike only to find Toba's foot buried in his face. Chojo stepped back a few steps. Toba ran up to him, Chojo wound back but by then Toba had jumped off Chojo's knee and delivered a grueling knee to his face, which prompted his nose to bleed.
" Little shit!" Chojo yelled.
" Though the Akimichi boy clearly has the advantage of brute strength, Toba has far superior speed." Hiashi said.
" If he can make the Akimichi continue to miss, he could tire him out." Hanabi said.
Chojo looked across at Toba. His lips snarling, this little bastard had made him bleed his own blood.
" And Uzumaki draws first blood!" Kichi said.
Chojo runs in, he expands his arm several fold and swings hoping to hit Toba. Toba ducks under to his side.
" What the hell?" Chojo looks to his side as he tries to bring his arm back in time.
" End of the line!" Toba said.
Suddenly an 8 Trigrams seal appears around them.
" 8 Trigrams..." Toba started getting into position.
" Shit!" Chojo's sensei said.
" 64 Palms!" Toba yelled.
Chojo brought his arm back but it was too late.
" 2 Palms!" Toba struck Chojo's points.
" 4 Palms!"
"8 Palms!"
"16 Palms!" Toba was backing Chojo up with the technique.
" 32 Palms!"
"64 Palms!" Toba delivered an astounding barrage of strikes.
" I think Toba might have just won it." Hanabi said.
" It's over." Toba said. Suddenly he found a giant fist bashing against his head, slamming him to the ground.
" NANI!?" Naruto yelled.
Hiashi was baffled. That was one of the Hyuuga clan's most devastating techniques, and Toba executed it flawlessly.
" During that technique, the chakra strikes become far more precise and focused! Even this boys Tenketsu is protected!?" Hiashi said as the Hyuuga clan looked in astonishment.
" I can see why now that boy defeated a Hyuuga as he claims!" Neji said.
"Uzumaki is down again! Chojo Akimichi just withstood one of the Hyuuga's most sacred techniques!" Kichi said.
" No good kid, but if it means anything to you, that shit stings."
" Who the hell is this kid!?" Naruto said.
Outside the stadium, Team Suigetsu and Karin were walking along the road through town.
" Our work is not finished." Said a voice from across.
" Who the hell are you?" Suigetsu said.
The cloaked figure wore a hood covering his face, but Karin knew the voice.
" S-Sasuke?" Karin asked.
" No, I'm simply using this man as my surrogate. It appears, we may have someone in there who can succeed where the 3 of you have failed."
The Team looked down shamefully.
" This mission is not over."
Back at the hospital, Ami was growing concerned.
" Miki-chan..." Ami tried getting out of bed.
" Whoa what are you doing? You can't get out of bed!" Miki said.
" I want to go to the stadium..." Ami asked.
((((FLASHBACK)))))
" Hi, my name is Toba Uzumaki, one day I wanna be a gutsy ninja! Just like my Mom and Dad!" 5 year old Toba said to someone as he stood between his parents. His mother smiled sweetly as his father just gave a goofy grin of a proud father.
((((END FLASHBACK))))
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Next Time...
A Gutsy ninja!