Chapter 34 – Changes

Waking up more than once in a single day always caused some small amount of disconcertion, and this time was no exception. Hinata knew immediately where she was thanks to the constant rumble of the crowd, but remembering many other details proved difficult. She recalled the fight with Lee, emerging barely victorious, and then warmth. Warmth?

"Finally awake?" Sasuke asked from nearby, prompting her to ease both eyes open at last. They didn't feel heavy as she had expected. His features came into focus above her, lips pulled into a slight smirk, those dark eyes amused. "How do you feel?"

"Surprisingly good," she murmured, sitting up slowly and glancing back to where her head had been lying. A cloak lay bundled there, having served as a makeshift pillow during her rest. A second glance at Sasuke showed that his was missing. She smiled. "Thank you, Sasuke. How long have I been unconscious?"

"A little less than an hour. Genma just announced that our match will start in ten minutes, so you've got a little time to get oriented. Here," he added, extending a small paper-wrapped package to her. "I asked Pakkun to get us some omusubi. I know you're not a huge fan of seafood, so this one's apricot-filled."

"Thank you," she said again, returning his cloak and receiving the rice ball. "And thank you for getting it for us, Pakkun-san." She inclined her head to the ninken sitting nearby, who nodded without reply. It was an effort not to imagine how he had carried it to them, but hopefully it had been in a bag of some sort instead of directly in his mouth. The wrapper didn't feel slobbery, at least. "You'd better be careful, or else people might start thinking you're thoughtful," she teased before beginning to eat. It tasted wonderful, especially after expending so much energy fighting Lee.

"Blame Haku," Sasuke grimaced, though he didn't seem entirely embarrassed. Even after knowing him for so long, it was difficult to tell how her friend was really feeling sometimes. "I think his thoughtfulness is starting to rub off on me."

"You two have become really close, haven't you?" It was a rhetorical question, but he nodded anyway. Barring missions taking one or the other away from the village, they spent at least some part of every day together, so it was only natural. She was sad for the other boy that Sasuke couldn't reciprocate any deeper feelings, but such things were out of anyone's control. They couldn't help how they felt about one another the same as she couldn't change her feelings about Naruto. Naruto . . .

"We can think about Naruto later," Sasuke admonished before any question could leave her. Hinata gave a small smile in response. He had known where her mind had begun wandering. "How's your capacity looking?"

"About eighty percent, maybe a little higher," she said slowly after a bit of introspection. "Tsunade-sama did the healing herself, didn't she?" That was the only thing that made sense. Her injuries hadn't been incredibly extensive, but converting one's chakra for another's use was a delicate art, and to restore so much in such a short amount of time was an impressive feat.

"Yeah, she said something about wanting to see us both fight as near to full strength as possible." He seemed to consider something for a moment before shrugging and going on. "I'm about the same after spending the last forty-five minutes recovering; I checked you a few times to make sure we stayed even enough, relatively speaking."

"That thoughtfulness of yours might get you in trouble one day," she replied after finishing off the omusubi. At the moment it felt like she could have eaten a good dozen, but that had been enough for now. Fighting on a full stomach would be a bad idea anyway.

"Eh, I'll still take the match easily enough," he smirked, rising and offering a hand to help her off of the cold stone floor. She smiled again and accepted the gesture. There was the cockiness that she knew well.

Looking out on the arena felt a bit surreal this time. Her fight with Lee had done nearly as much damage to one side as Sasuke and Gaara's had, and it had apparently become impossible to make everything look completely normal again. Here and there it was clear that the ground had been churned or stripped away multiple times, leaving a grainy surface behind after being repaired one too many times. The sparse trees and bushes that had lined the edges at the beginning were nowhere to be seen, likely buried or disintegrated by some technique or another. The spectators were still buzzing, and a few cheers rose when she and Sasuke made their way to the railing. It was a little embarrassing, honestly.

"I take it you won't be putting those back on?" Sasuke asked after a moment, indicating the belt and skirt that had been set in a corner. Hinata blinked and looked down, not having remembered that her skirt was no longer present. She scolded her own rising blush, reaching into a rear belt pouch.

"Not that one, no," she said, stepping away from the rail for some modicum of privacy. It wasn't as if she was indecent, but it still felt odd to change in front of all of those people. She withdrew a folded skirt identical to the other, quickly stepping into it and zipping up the side. Sasuke raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

"Do all girls plan that far ahead with clothing?" he asked mildly, continuing without waiting for a response. "I'm glad I didn't bother with weights today. I had enough trouble with Gaara and Neji without them."

"Only because you underestimated them, I think, and even then you only had to use a lot of chakra. They were less battles of speed and more of strategy and ninjutsu." He shrugged again at her analysis, leaning forward on the rail as she rejoined him there. By her estimation, he actually seemed a little bit off of his normal demeanor, most likely anticipating the match ahead. It was probable that the same held true for her.

"Nervous?" he asked after a stretch of silence between them. Hinata shook her head.

"Excited." She looked aside at him and smiled again. He grinned.

"Same."

Genma flickered into view at the center a short time later, and the onlookers quieted. He looked around as if surveying the repairs, nodded once, and then clasped his hands together. "The final match will begin in a moment. Please make your way back to your seats as the contestants take the field." A single combined roar of approval was raised, and Sasuke and Hinata both turned together towards the ramp. Everything that had needed saying had been said. All that was left to do was to test their mettle against one another, and to give it their all.

The noise became deafening as the two of them emerged from the doorway far below, the voices of thousands supporting both of them equally. With it came thoughts of Naruto once again, of where he was and how he was doing, of what he would think if he were there to watch. Hinata shook her head, banishing those thoughts and willing them not to return until after the fight. Kakashi had been right: she needed to focus now more than ever. Naruto was fine. Everything was going to be alright. Right now, the best thing she could do for him was to engage Sasuke with everything she had, to leave it all on the arena floor without reservation. Surely it would be an encounter that neither of them would ever forget.

"For this match," Genma started as they arrived, his voice momentarily unamplified, "don't worry about the spectators. I've spoken to the Hokage, and we have jōnin positioned around the arena to cancel out or contain any large-scale jutsu. Normally we wouldn't have to worry about it, but this set of exams has been a bit . . . special." He actually smirked at that, a rare gesture from the serious man. "Get yourselves prepared. We start when you're ready."

"Thank you, Genma-sensei," Hinata said beside of Sasuke's nod. She stepped a few meters away before turning back to her friend, his Sharingan activating between one blink and the next. A few deep breaths cleared her mind, calmed her pulse, and settled her into a stance. Sasuke's chakra circulatory system came into view with the calling of her Byakugan. The rest of the world faded away, the whole of her concentration on him, knowing the incredible dōjutsu and raw talent that she was up against. But no longer was she a little girl who did not believe in herself. Now she knew her own strength, that she could stand on equal footing with her friends and protect them as ably as they could her. Sasuke's lips twitched into the barest grin as they stood facing one another, and she gave one of her own before setting her features into a blank mask, giving away as little as possible to an incredibly perceptive opponent.

"Looks like we're ready," Genma announced to the audience, apparently finding the need to excite the already overly enthusiastic crowd. He raised an arm and looked between them for a few seconds, seconds that stretched until they felt like minutes. "The final match between Hyūga Hinata and Uchiha Sasuke . . ." The hand fell sharply, and he vanished with it.

"Begin!"

"Katon: Great Dragon Fire!"
"Suiton: Water Dragon!"

Hinata felt the tug of Sasuke's Sharingan instantly, trying to subtly suggest her next actions. She shrugged it off, instead expelling water from her mouth in the shape of a dragon, though one much smaller than his crafted with flames. Fire could overcome water if it was strong enough, so she made certain that her technique had just the right amount of chakra put into it to barely cancel his out. The air became damp and hot as the serpents writhed and clashed between them, exploding in a hissing cloud of torrid steam. It washed over the arena floor, shrouding everything from sight – at least from normal eyes.

Ethereal Senbon. A handful of the gleaming needles streaked towards Sasuke, unseen through the haze, but she would have been a fool to expect them to go uncountered. A blast of wind – likely a Great Vacuum Sphere – expelled a large section of fog, serving a second purpose by incidentally deflecting a few of the senbon. Sasuke spun easily through the others despite how close they had been before becoming visible, creating two shadow clones at the same time. Hinata thought he might have switched with one, but it had been done so fast that she couldn't be sure. The Byakugan couldn't differentiate, so she would need to improvise.

Each of the clones and Sasuke himself released a fūma shuriken as they charged, and it was clear that something was amiss as soon as they were launched. The three whirring projectiles tore towards Hinata, rotating around one another in a peculiar pattern. She dropped and placed both hands on the ground before the blades made it halfway, realizing Sasuke's intent even before electricity sparked to coat the oncoming shuriken, the current running between near-invisible wires that tied the weapons together. Using this much chakra so quickly was a gamble, but catching Sasuke off guard was a necessity.

"Doton: Cataclysm!" Another of the Sandaime's techniques, this one was far from what Hinata was known for, but that was the point. Rather than knead a precise amount of chakra for the jutsu, she instead simply pushed through a third of her capacity and let it run wild. The oncoming shuriken collided with a huge stone pillar that broke free from the ground, the first of many that began jutting upwards in no discernable order. Once again the arena floor quaked and split, buckling underfoot and sending showers of dirt and rock everywhere. More protrusions were jutting towards the sky, no two alike, eventually numbering in the dozens before everything settled once again. The landscape had been completely changed – in Hinata's advantage.

"Damn," Sasuke mused, flickering into view atop one of the rises. He surveyed the area, apparently unconcerned. It was the real one, Hinata knew; the clones had been crushed or thrown into a wall to be dispersed. "Straying a bit from your style, I see."

"It wouldn't be much fun if we were predictable," she smiled, alighting atop a nearby column of earth. He smirked back, tugging the swords from their sheath on his back as a response. She gripped the handles of her trench knives, already channeling chakra into the blades for what was to come. He did the same, and then they danced.

To most of the onlookers it might have been boring when compared to the frenzy of Hinata's fight with Lee, but in some ways this fast-paced skirmish could be more deadly than a fourth gate-empowered punch. They sped through the broken landscape, chakra blades blurring into brief clashes before separating, and then only to circle a jagged pillar or jump a crevice before reuniting. As predicted, Hinata's superior speed was perfectly matched by Sasuke's Sharingan, able to predict and react quickly enough to keep the bout even. Neither of them landed a single blow for minutes, interspersing arcs of lightning and slashes of water between each encounter. They were matched evenly, as expected, but Hinata hadn't changed the layout solely for fun.

As the fight wore on, she broke away sooner and sooner, to the point that each melee lasted mere seconds before she escaped once again. With the Byakugan she could see through everything, tracking Sasuke's movements while he could only react when she came into view. Several times she vanished from his line of sight around a boulder or crag, sending a sharpened blade of water straight through or curving a fist of shuriken around towards his back. She ricocheted kunai off of one another at precise angles while attacking from the opposite side, each time met with her friend's incredible alacrity. Most often he would predict the subversion, and other times he would create a water clone to watch his back the instant she disappeared. He knew how to fight against a Byakugan.

The landscape continued to change as they fought, weapons abandoned for taijutsu and elemental techniques. Fire consumed half of the floor at one point, doused by a hail of water bullets. Lightning skittered up and exploded a whole peak, and shortly thereafter she broke apart another to send it crashing down towards him. All the while spectators cheered and swelled with every conflict, even when a few stray techniques flew towards the stands and were cancelled by one of the jōnin standing ready. In fact, they sounded more excited whenever something of the same occurred. But this wasn't a fight that Hinata could maintain, and Sasuke knew it.

He's just trying to outlast me, she thought after using a Body Flicker to outdistance him again, landing on a small rock on the opposite end of the arena. Sasuke couldn't see her from where he stood, already expelling a clone from his mouth for the umpteenth time in preparation for what was to come. He had more chakra and could afford to keep using it through an extended fight. But there was one thing she could use that might be too fast for him to react to, given the right circumstances. It would take even more chakra to accomplish, but it was worth the risk. She only hoped that he wouldn't take a direct hit.

Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. Hinata's clone immediately took off with its instructions, flickering to another corner of the arena as she prepared the next technique. Hakke: Seven Moon Spear. The javelin elongated and set itself pointing towards Sasuke, who stood as he had been, waiting for her attack. She waited as well, watching him and preparing a Mountain Crusher while planting herself behind the projectile. Her clone was in position, its shuriken circling one side of the pillar that Sasuke stood near while it threw a single Slicing Wave to cut through. Hakke: Mountain Crusher! She slammed her palm into butt of the spear, launching it at a breakneck pace straight towards Sasuke. It ripped through stone as if puncturing wax. She watched closely as his clone deflected the shuriken and he bent backwards to avoid the wave that would have taken him at the torso. The spear had been aimed true, and timed perfectly – too perfectly. She took in a sharp breath. "Sasu—!"

Sasuke was consumed in a brief flash of light as the spear struck; it had pierced straight through several layers of stone faster than thought, connecting with his left shoulder as he had straightened. Hinata followed in its wake, knowing that she should have been doing so in order to ensure victory but much more worried for his safety. She had not held back, and although she knew that Sasuke had been infused with a great deal of chakra at the time, it still might have caused much more harm than intended.

"Sasuke!" she called, landing lightly a few meters from the perfectly circular hole in the ground. The technique had liquefied the rock five meters down, and Sasuke was at the bottom of that pit, unmoving. "Sasuke!" she repeated, worried but not so much now that she could focus on his form. He was still in one piece, breathing, and surprisingly still circulating a huge amount of chakra. Had he truly absorbed the blast to such a degree?

"Fucking . . . ow." He groaned, finally struggling to his feet after a few seconds and walking slowly up the side. "I even avoided a direct hit, and . . . ow." She blinked, stepping back and readying herself as he stepped up and straightened, left arm hanging limply, clothes burned clean away around the shoulder. It really should not have been so baffling that he had been able to see and avoid the brunt of the damage so promptly, but it always was.

"I'm sorry," she said, and she truly was. It was hard to injure a comrade in good conscience despite the circumstances, and harder still a close friend. But backing down would be an insult to him as her friend and adversary, and Naruto would most certainly disapprove.

"Don't worry about it," he shrugged, glancing at the lame shoulder and frowning slightly. "My fault for getting hit. Guess it's time, though." He gave a fierce and somewhat devious grin, then set his stance. Hinata tensed, but more because his chakra flow abruptly changed than anything else. It was focusing around his head, at a particular point that should have been useless to him, unless . . . "First Gate: Kaimon," he growled, very clearly under an immense amount of strain. Hinata's eyes widened of their own accord. "Release!" There were no visible effects like when Lee opened higher gates, at least none to the naked eye. Hinata could see the surge of chakra though, and it was plain to anyone else when Sasuke's left arm twitch and flexed, forced into movement as the potential for every muscle was brought to its maximum limit.

"Man this hurts," he grunted, visibly shivering before getting control of himself. "Can't believe Lee can open five of these damn things." Hinata's mouth worked to come up with something to say, but it only ended in a proud smile. She doubted that Sasuke would ever be able to open more just as Kakashi could only release one, but it was an incredible accomplishment nonetheless. "You were saying something about unpredictability?" He grinned again, and then rushed forward.

Sasuke was not about to allow her to retreat and utilize her Byakugan like before, not with his newfound strength and speed. It was nowhere near the same level of oppressiveness as Lee's, but he had other tools to work with that the older boy did not. Aside from his lightning-fast reflexes and powerful strikes, every set of attacks came with a new genjutsu to ward off. The Byakugan made his eyes visible to her at all times, which meant that he could affect her with illusion after illusion while in the midst of a melee. They were not difficult to cancel after so much training and experience, but they added an extra element to worry about beyond only taijutsu and the occasional weapon thrown in.

Now is the time, she thought, interrupting her chakra flow for the eighth time as the Sharingan tried to take hold, turning aside a punch and blocking the following kick nearly at the same time. There had hardly been any opportunities to strike at tenketsu, but even when she had tried his reflexes were too honed, her movements too anticipated. Having to constantly counter his genjutsu was trying enough without adding in the melee. This next technique would drain nearly half of her remaining chakra, but it would turn the fight back in her favor if executed properly.

Hinata took a glancing blow to one arm while forming the proper seals for three water clones, not wanting to sacrifice the energy for shadow clones. They flashed away on the instant, racing a good distance off and out of sight. She pushed herself then, trying and succeeding in keeping Sasuke too occupied to attempt to destroy them. He growled in response, attempting to catch her in yet another genjutsu while sweeping a rapid series of kicks towards her torso. She flipped backwards, feeling the seals from the clones settle into place. The only thing left was to activate them, and so Hinata closed her eyes as Sasuke charged, allowing the Byakugan to recede.

"Kekkai: Spider's Lair." The effect felt just as eerie as it had the first time she had accomplished it under her father's tutelage. She could feel the barrier spring up, knowing from experience that it would be pyramidal in shape originating from her three seals. Chakra began filling the space immediately, but not as a single mass or indistinct pieces. Three hundred and sixty-one strands finer than a spider's silk extended outward, one from each tenketsu on her body. They flowed out and branched into more and more strings, continuing until the whole space within the barrier became a web of invisible chakra threads. Not being able to see with her eyes was disconcerting, probably more so as a Hyūga than it would have been otherwise, but she could still "see" in another sense.

Sasuke moved then, pursuing her, and every minor twitch was felt through her connection to the threads. They showed her the surroundings in perfect detail, a three-dimensional map within the barrier fixed in her mind's eye. Sasuke was there moving towards her, right fist raised and traveling fast for her jaw. She raised her left hand, feeling the blow rather than seeing it, turning it aside as easily as she might have with full vision. Without the concern for genjutsu taking over her senses at every turn, she pivoted the fight back into her favor immediately, using superior alacrity and the lack of ulterior distractions to land a chakra-laced strike to his side. She smiled and pressed on.

If only Naruto could see me now.

"Okay, that's cool," Sasuke admitted, wincing back to reset after she was able to land a clean hit on his side. The spot tingled, but only from minor internal damage; she couldn't close tenketsu without the Byakugan to see them, but that hardly mattered. Too many more of those and he would be toast. Some kind of sensory barrier. He hardly had time to think as she sprang forward again, Byakugan gone and eyes completely shut, effectively countering half of his dōjutsu. Even with the increased speed from the first gate and the Sharingan together, Hinata was just too damned fast to keep up with. Unable to ruin her focus with genjutsu, he was forced to go on the defensive and start giving ground. Maybe I can maneuver out of here or outlast it. This has to use a lot of chakra.

Unfortunately it seemed that Hinata knew the boundaries of her own ability well, deftly keeping Sasuke penned by constantly circling and preventing any attempt at retreat with overwhelming speed. Several attempts with kunai and small fire techniques proved that she could feel those as well, dodging or deflecting everything while maintaining the assault. Even the one lightning jutsu he tried was countered, and there was only one thing that moved faster than chakra-made lightning: the real thing.

Sasuke began sacrificing hits in order to get powerful fire techniques off, pretending to aim them at her or just haphazardly. This was going to expend a huge amount of chakra, but it was the only thing quick enough to work. She avoided the Great Fire Dragon that he sent at an intentional angle, and he then guided the working until it roared out of the tinged barrier and into the sky. Several Great Fireballs and Flame Lances followed, all deceptively crafted to miss and then be controlled after exiting her range of perception. The desired storm clouds began to gather as the intense heat began changing the local atmospheric pressure. But this would still take time to prepare, and Hinata was not letting up her attack in the slightest.

Soon, he thought doggedly, ignoring the various pains pulsating across his body. Her chakra strikes had been getting through, ripping several muscles and bruising a few bones while he had been busy with the preparation, but soon it would be worth the effort – or so he hoped. No matter how fast Hinata was, there was no way she could contend with a force of nature. The air was thickening adequately, and a rumbling in the clouds above signaled the time was nearing. All he had to do was catch the right moment, use his Sharingan like Kakashi had demonstrated, and the fight could conclude in a literal flash. He had only done this once with any real success, but confidence was key. Almost . . . Raiton: Lightning Rod!

The effect was instantaneous. Frightened cries from the stands were drowned out by the deafening roar of thunder, the arena shaking along with the tremendous sound. A jagged bolt of lightning struck Sasuke's raised arm simultaneously, sending an incredible surge of power scorching through him, threatening to burn him from the inside out if not properly contained. He flung the other arm towards Hinata, who had skipped backwards as soon as the technique had begun. But only a Hiraishin might have been able to outpace this.

Arcs of wrist-thick lightning ripped away from Sasuke's palm, barely controlled as it forked again and again, tearing molten furrows into the churned earth as it flashed by. Even the Sharingan couldn't trace its path perfectly, making it that much harder to guide to its target. He growled with the effort as the last of the violent energy left him, forcing it to split into two forks. One went immediately into the nearest pillar of stone, causing half of it to explode outward in a shower of rubble, but the second found its mark. Hinata was still traveling backwards when the strike made contact with her left shoulder, the raw power causing her a momentary spasm as she tumbled to the ground, now gripping the smoldering shoulder with the opposite hand. Her eyes remained closed, expression unreadable.

"So I can hit you if I strike in one one-thousandth of a second," Sasuke gasped, lowering the shaking arm that had ejected the jutsu. "I'm not sure if that should be comforting or insulting."

"I wish I had been watching that with my eyes," she replied, breath coming almost as labored as his. "I figured out what you were doing too late. That was amazing, Sasuke."

"Not amazing enough," he shrugged. Hinata was already on her feet again, right hand raised and ready, the left hanging limply. She hadn't tried to heal it. Low on chakra. He wasn't in much better condition in that regard. It was hard not to feel bad for burning her shoulder like that; it must have been extremely painful, but medical ninjutsu could fix it later. Minus one arm or not, it looked like his friend was ready to continue. In fact, despite her disadvantage, she raced towards him without a moment of hesitation.

After today, nobody would dare challenge Hinata's fortitude ever again.

Sasuke found himself being pushed back as Hinata burst into a series of taijutsu forms adapted on the fly, incorporating a great deal more kicks to compensate for her useless arm. He saw through the bluff soon enough, however. The unused arm threw off her balance and slowed each movement noticeably, and the flurries of kicks and flips over his head were meant to fool him into thinking she was still able to keep up the previous pace. That was an impressive tactic coming from Hinata; using the art of deception as a normally disarming person had definitely been unexpected. It was time to turn the tides.

Over the next several minutes, Sasuke managed to match her pace, and then began ramping his up beyond her current capabilities. It still took a great deal of pushing given how insanely fast she moved, but with the new injury he could be faster. They blurred throughout the battle-worn arena, scaling rock columns, racing along the cement walls, flitting over one another's heads and even going airborne a few times by vaulting off of some outcrop or another, all the while trying to edge out a real advantage. It was Sasuke who was able to create the first real opportunity after a long string of intense combat.

In a split-second gap between clashes, he brought both hands together into a clone seal, creating a shadow clone behind himself that immediately vaulted over both of their heads. Hinata could feel it, of course, but he threw himself into a frenzied melee before she could react, pushing his speed to the very limit. The bunshin started a Chidori mid-air, landing behind Hinata and thrusting towards her exposed back. Sasuke lunged forward at the same time, the technique flaring to life in his own hand. But this was only the first step.

Raiden! The Sharingan always gave the perception of slowed time, allowing a clear view of what happened next, and if not for that then he would not have believed Hinata's reaction. As the lightning from each Chidori sprang outward and attempted to connect to the other, Hinata raised both hands, heedless of the marred shoulder that should have prevented movement.

She had been playing him the entire time.

"Shugohakke: Celestial Mirror!" The words escaped Hinata even as the twin currents reached her open palms, which now gleamed a brilliant white similar to the Chains of Light technique. Rather than making contact and connecting the current through her, each jutsu halted at her hands, little sparks and arcs scattering for that one instant. Then, without warning, Sasuke was sent careening backwards with the jolt of his own lightning technique, the whole of his left arm numb. He hit the ground hard and rolled, ineloquently toppling over himself once more before gaining a kneeling position. Surprisingly, Hinata was just regaining her footing as well, having tumbled after him a decent ways. Had she messed up the jutsu, then?

"The hell," Sasuke panted, swallowing once and wavering upright, "was that?"

"Not perfect," she winced, shaking back to her feet. He blinked. Her eyes were open again, and the barrier had faded. Her vision was very carefully focused on his feet, however. "I misapplied the chakra in my left hand, and, well . . ." She tried to shrug the arm in question, the same that had been hit with the lightning bolt, but this time it truly had been rendered unusable. In fact, it had turned an angry red wherever it wasn't charred black. It hurt to look at.

"Sorry," he said gruffly, forcing jellied legs to cooperate. He really was sorry; it looked much more painful now than it had. But rules were rules.

Sasuke took a deep breath and assessed the situation. Hinata was getting dangerously low on chakra, and so was he. That Lightning Rod technique had taken a lot out of him, especially considering its preparation, but she had been maintaining a wide barrier that had undoubtedly been flooded with chakra. A glance showed her levels lower than his, but only just, and that hardly meant anything. Hinata could do a lot more than he would have been able to with that amount. Given her earlier expenditure, she was in no condition to take another soldier pill; death would be a real risk then, and he knew that wasn't something to be risked in an exam.

"You can take one," she smiled from a few meters off, making him realize that his hand had been hovering by the appropriate belt pouch. Sasuke frowned, flexed his fingers a few times, then returned the hand to his side.

"I forgot to bring them," he lied, prompting an exhausted laugh from his teammate.

"I don't think they even believe you," she replied, nodding towards the spectators. He was too focused on the match to be worrying about what they thought, but he tuned in long enough to hear choruses of thrilled mirth and absolutely maddened cheers. He shrugged, testing each limb in the process. Well, at least he had use of all of them, if barely. He wasn't quite as spent as Hinata, fully proven by the fact that her eyes flicked upwards for a fraction of a second.

In that moment he caught her in an illusion utilizing the Sharingan, imprinting the image of himself suddenly sprinting forward and using a Great Fireball technique. It worked as intended, with her being too tired to realize the trick quickly enough and trying to counter with a Water Blast that passed harmlessly by the real him. Her eyes widened as he sprinted to close the gap, shoving chakra into his legs for stability and speed alike. There wasn't much to spare, but it was enough. He felt the genjutsu break on arrival, ducking into a crouch to avoid her reflexive palm-strike, then bringing his leg up in the hardest vertical kick that he could manage. With luck and given her current state, it would be enough to end the match with her unconscious.

Luck was not entirely with Sasuke today.

Hinata's small frame was lifted from the ground by his kick, her jaw popping as it dislocated. She fell hard several meters away, bouncing once and rolling twice before sliding to a halt. For only a moment did Sasuke think it was over, but then she twitched, and twitched again before placing both palms down and pushing slowly back. She sat for a long moment on her knees, appearing disoriented and dizzy, before finally rising again.

"Gods, Hinata," he gasped, trying to suck in air by the liter.

"Gods yourself," she mumbled back, pressing her jaw back into place with a small effort, hardly even showing the pain. "I'm not sure how you're standing with so little chakra."

"Me? What about you?" He hoped that sounded as incredulous as intended. She only shook her head, looking desperately drained but determined as ever. What the hell was he supposed to do with that attitude? It was like beating at a wall that refused to break down.

"I have enough in me," he started, settling into a ready stance, "for one more technique. You?" He gripped his left wrist, concentrating what remained of his chakra there. Come on . . . There's enough for one. I know it. A single spark began the process, and then more gathered, racing around his hand until it became obscured by crackling light. Raikiri and one charge. That was all he had left, but it would have to be enough. What he really wanted was to take a nap, but priorities were priorities.

"About the same," she said, extending a hand. She looked to be struggling as much as he had to begin the jutsu, but after a few seconds one of those damned spears began coalescing. Hinata took it in a firm grip after it formed completely, and it was easy to see why. It looked like she had only a sliver of chakra left to work with, meaning there would be no Mountain Crusher to spur the ethereal weapon on. She would have to thrust it to meet him by hand.

They stood facing each another for a time, taking deep, calming breaths before the final encounter. The onlookers must have realized that this would be the end, every section quieting in turn. By the end it was only the two of them staring at one another in near complete silence, only the soft patter of rain and the cold cutting wind as company. His Sharingan met her Byakugan evenly, acknowledging one another, and then they surged forward as one.

Sasuke brought his arm back, sharpening the chakra in his palm, forcing it to the finest point. It would never compare to Hinata's control, but the Raikiri's purpose was different than her Seven Moon Spear. His was an ability capable of cutting through lightning itself, to pierce any defense in a flash. There would be no dodging under the spear and going for her; she could detonate the technique early and catch him in the blast, or react fast enough to dodge his straight thrust and whirl to finish him off. She was dealing with similar risks, most likely guessing that he would be able to detect any change in direction. No, she would meet him straight on knowing that he would be required to do the same. It would be a fitting and dramatic end to the match, with no certainty of which technique would win out.

Time slowed as Sasuke sprinted forward to meet Hinata. He could see every drop of rain falling sluggishly around them, bursting into showers of tiny droplets as they struck her arm, hissing into steam as they passed through the electricity crackling around his. He could see the vibrant swirling colors in each of the little orbs hovering at the spearhead, seeming like minuscule multicolored Rasengans at first glance. He could see every detail of her expression, set in grim determination and somehow managing to smile despite the pain, despite the incredible strain, and despite fighting against a friend. No, not despite it, but because of it. Sasuke grinned, throwing the remainder of his chakra into the thrusting arm and both legs as the techniques connected. It was all or nothing.

At first the jutsu only appeared to stop one another. The Raikiri oscillated as it ground against the tip of her spear, which began humming in response to the pressure. Her grip tightened as it became more difficult to hold steady, keeping it driven forward. He strained against it with every scrap of strength that he possessed, meeting those intense white eyes with a determined stare. She knew that he had absolutely no chakra to spare for genjutsu, but now wouldn't be the time to use it even if he could. They had both made the choice to confront one another here, and it would be a poor show of character to use such tactics now. Instead he watched as arcs of lightning began breaking off at an increasing rate, lashing wildly at anything nearby. Flashes of light began pulsating from the spear, flickering faster and faster. The tension grew, the air itself becoming thick as chakra ran wild, pressing down on them with its own incredible force.

All at once the ground impacted, the center directly beneath their locked techniques. Clumps of dirt and rubble burst upwards and remained airborne instead of falling, whipped into a rotation by violent winds that cropped up on the instant. The screaming sound of the Raikiri intensified right alongside the hum of Hinata's jutsu, which had risen to a clear and ear-splitting tone like nothing he had ever heard before. It felt as if the cacophony was beginning to resonate in his bones, shaking him to the core.

Pillars shattered, the earth trembled and the crater impacted yet again, creating a smaller depression within while widening the one already in existence. At this point the effects had nearly reached the arena walls, scouring the surface flat where it hadn't been compressed downward. Boulders were pulverized by stray lightning strikes, a pulse from the spear causing fissures to erupt from below. The cyclone winds built, ripping at everything outside of the eye, inside of which Sasuke and Hinata continued their battle, both refusing to relent. The flashes of light came at an ever-increasing rate, finally reaching a point where it simply bloomed from the spear as a constant, too bright to look directly at and tolling like a colossal bell.

Sasuke couldn't wipe the smirk from his lips even as his forearm splintered under the pressure, the skin searing off from fingertips to elbow. He couldn't see Hinata anymore, but it didn't matter. He could feel her, that incredibly focused chakra overcoming the Raikiri like floodwaters finally breaching a dam. A little disappointment slipped through first, but it was washed away without a second thought by pride, in honest recognition of how strong Hinata had become, of how hard she had fought to arrive at this moment. He had held nothing back to fight her on equal footing, and they had been so closely matched the entire way that it could have gone either direction. But she had been the one to think further ahead, to predict and react more appropriately, and to use her advantages to greater effect than he had been able to. In the end this was her day, earned through years of hard work and struggle – not only against the destiny which her father had once prescribed her, but against inner demons the likes of which Sasuke would never fully understand.

I can be alright with that . . . The thought came dully as light consumed him, preceding the darkness soon to come. You're one of two that this fool Uchiha can be proud to lose to. Just look how far we've come together . . . Consciousness faded with all sound and sensation, one last thought echoing in the recesses of a contented mind.

Here we come, Itachi.

Waking up more than once in a single day always caused some small amount of disconcertion, and this time was no exception, though as the third instance and accompanied with a tremendous amount of pain, it was definitely the worst so far. Why was the sky spinning like that? Then again, why was she staring at the sky? Wasn't this the middle of a match?

That's right . . . Sasuke? Hinata's thoughts were muddled, impossible to keep straight. She was on her back, struggling to keep both eyes open. Everything hurt. Both arms felt like dead weights. Her surroundings were oddly quiet and wet. Cold rain pattered mercilessly on her face. The prospect of getting up seemed more daunting than taking on all of Akatsuki alone, but she couldn't give up now. She had come so far, and what would Naruto say? He would say he was proud of me anyway, but . . .

The seconds it took to roll onto her front felt like ages, and then longer still to get one arm's assistance in forcing herself up to her knees. The other looked to have been severely burned, all red and black. Her head bobbed as it tried to fall, allowing her a glimpse of the rest. The half-working arm was patterned with the distinct red markings of a lightning flower, flowing from her palm to halfway up the same bicep. The telltale burst capillaries were another gift from Sasuke, then. Sasuke? Where was he?

She scanned around blearily, squinting all the while. Everything was a bit blurry, and both eyes felt like they had been coated with film laced with weak acid. Hinata kept blinking, taking in the surroundings, trying to find her friend. She was on the upper slope of a broad crater, and the spectating areas were visible over its crest. Trying to hear proved mostly fruitless; her ears were still ringing from the explosion.

There. Her gaze fell on Sasuke at last, lying at the bottom of a second impression in the center of the larger. He was on his back as she had been, eyes half-lidded and no longer containing the Sharingan. The short rise and fall of his chest proved that he was alive, alleviating some amount of concern, but his left arm looked to have been horribly mangled. Several shards of bone protruded from his forearm, which looked to have been crushed back into the elbow. Blood was flowing freely from the horrible wound, though not so rapidly that he would be at risk of dying. Despite it all, a tiny smile held on his otherwise blank expression. That seemed odd, for some reason, but she couldn't work out why.

"Hinata!" somebody yelled into her ear, causing a few blinks before she swivelled her gaze over. Genma's voice had sounded far away even from so close. He asked something else, but she shook her head, unable to hear clearly. The man straightened from kneeling next to her, waving to something or somebody outside of her field of view. That was odd; shouldn't her Byakugan have been active?

"Uchiha Sasuke is unable to continue. Hyūga Hinata is the victor, and the champion of these Chūnin Exams!" Though amplified many times, the jōnin's voice still sounded like it was coming from very far away. Something else overpowered whatever he was saying afterwards, the tremendous sound of countless voices maybe, but it was difficult to tell for sure. A moment later Hinata found herself blinking at the sky again, wondering when she had gotten onto her back and why she was moving. Somebody carrying her, maybe?

I hope Sasuke is okay . . . She supposed it was wonderful to have won, but making certain that her friend was taken care of took precedence over any victory. They had both fought their hardest, and it had been both challenging and thrilling every step of the way. She hoped Sasuke felt the same way. Considering that silly grin of his at the end, it was a pretty good bet.

A hand took hers and held firmly, prompting her eyes to flutter open. When had they closed? Her father's concerned eyes met hers then, a broad smile unlike any she had ever seen on the man splitting his serious features. Tears welled in the corners of her own eyes, but she willed them not to fall. She smiled back and tried to squeeze his hand, but only managed a feeble twitch. He shook his head and leaned down to kiss her forehead, then mouthed the words 'rest now.' Hinata managed a nod, allowed her eyes to close, and then surrendered to fatigue for the second time that day. Maybe she would be allowed to sleep for a little bit longer this time.

~§~

Naruto jolted awake in an immediate panic, images of the last few seconds of consciousness flashing in his vision: a translucent barrier, his friends sprinting towards him, Genma trying to break through. The gravity hadn't stopped, and the chakra drain had gone out of control. He had been trapped, and so had Kinōda. Now he was sitting in a bed in a dimly-lit sterile room, heart racing and with no memory of how he had gotten there or what had happened and if his friends were still okay or if Kurama had helped him or—

"Calm down, Naruto." Kakashi's voice caused Naruto to jump, and then to realize that he was sweating and breathing hard. His lips were dry, his throat tight. Where was Kurama? He could barely feel the Fox, like a vague notion buried in the depth of thought. Normally the mindscape popped up when he passed out, at least for a little while, but not this time.

"What," he began, licking his lips and trying to adjust to the darkened room. "What happened? Where are we and why?"

"Lie back and take a few deep breaths," Kakashi instructed, a hand pressing gently but firmly against his chest. Naruto complied, closing his eyes and trying to steady his breathing. It was then he realized that there was a hand holding loosely to his left, those small and slender fingers comfortable between his own. He let out a long breath, opening his eyes to find Hinata sleeping in a narrow hospital bed that had been pushed up against his. Both of her arms were covered in bandages, the ones on her left particularly thick like they were covering poultices and wrapping halfway up her neck. There were no other visible injuries, but those were enough to cause a feeling of nauseating dread. He hadn't caused that . . . had he?

Kurama? Kurama, can you hear me? A restless shift in the bowels of consciousness proved that his thoughts had gotten through, but it seemed that the bijū would be asleep for some time yet. "Please, Kakashi-sensei . . . I need to know what happened. I felt Kurama's chakra just before I blacked out, and . . . and now I feel just like I did during the second stage. Did I lose control again? Did I hurt anyone?"

"You're supposed to let the injured rest," Sasuke grumbled from his right. Naruto turned to see the other boy propping himself up on a few pillows, grimacing down at a fat cast and sling supporting his left arm. "So much for the greatest medical ninja. She couldn't even fix a broken arm in one go."

"I think mending a pulverized forearm is a bit different than fixing a simple break," Kakashi said dryly. "It shattered into thirty-one pieces and splayed back towards your elbow. You're lucky she got it back into one piece. And you didn't do that, Naruto," he added after a moment, most likely because Naruto's mouth had been working to ask the sickening question.

"Yeah, your girlfriend did. Hell, I might have died with any less chakra in that Raikiri."

"Wait, Hinata did that? What?" Now Naruto's head was spinning with even more questions. The remaining matches had played out without him, then.

"Mm . . . Naruto?" the girl in question murmured sleepily, eyes blinking open at the mention of her name. "Naruto!" she gasped then, moving to fling both arms around his neck and bury her face in his neck. She said nothing else for the time being, now simply sharing his bed and lying halfway on top of him. It seemed that her injuries were less severe than Sasuke's. Did that mean . . .?

"It's been about thirty hours," their sensei went on, lowering himself backwards on a seat at the foot of Naruto's bed and leaning over the chair back. "Your match was nullified after what happened, and you were transferred to the hospital after the finals were concluded."

"Can you tell me what did happen, then? Why does it feel like everybody's afraid to give me a straight answer?" It was impossible to keep his tone anywhere near light. He knew that the question sounded demanding and somewhat angry, but he couldn't help it. Sasuke kept staring at the wall, Hinata shivered and held on a bit tighter, and Kakashi looked tired as he surveyed Naruto with that one dark eye.

"We think somebody interfered from beneath the arena floor and altered your techniques before putting up the barrier," he said at last, maintaining eye contact. "We tried to break the barrier before you lost consciousness, but it was too strong. Kurama must have given you some of his chakra to keep you alive, and then he went wild like before. Kinōda is dead, but Tsunade-sama and the ANBU tailing you stepped in to handle containment. Nobody else walked away with serious injuries." Sasuke's eyes flicked to Kakashi for only an instant, but that told Naruto enough. That wasn't the whole truth.

"What did I do?" he asked quietly, staring down at his hands.

"Naruto, it wasn't your—"

"What did I do?" Naruto cut him off, his voice hard and fighting off the thickness of emotion. It didn't matter if it was him, Kurama, or someone manipulating either one. At the end of the day, it was his body and therefore his responsibility. One person was already dead because he had been careless, a boy who had been trying to prove something to the world. Kinōda had been strong, and he had been fighting for his own ideals and village – to be recognized. And now he was dead.

Kakashi sighed, but he did as Naruto had asked. It wasn't a long explanation, keeping to the specifics and dwelling on nothing for long, but by the end Naruto felt like throwing up. He stayed silent for a long while, struggling to find the right words, but none were to be found. He had gotten into a situation that required Kurama's help, and somebody had died because of it. Not only that, but he had impaled Tsunade; he could have killed her, one of the few people left in the village that had any faith in him. What did she think now? How could she trust him after this?

"She knows that it wasn't your fault, Naruto. Hiashi vouched for you personally, stating with confidence that you had no other choice but to use the Kyūbi's chakra to stay alive. He was watching the match closely, and says he saw something suspicious beneath the arena floor." That did assuage his guilt some, but it wouldn't go away completely. This was a blow not only to his self-confidence, but to his feeble reputation as well. The villagers and older generations of shinobi already feared or looked upon him with distaste after the last exams. What now? How in the world could he convince anyone that he only wanted to protect people, to serve the village as best he could? It was like watching his dreams slowly unravel.

"How . . ." Naruto started finally, gruffly. He shook his head. It wasn't fair to focus so much on himself. Hinata and Sasuke were still there by his side, and so was Kakashi. Hell could freeze over and the world could burn, and they would always be there with him. That was more than enough to carry on with. "How did the rest of the exam go? How were your guys' matches?"

"This doesn't tell you enough?" Sasuke asked, expression bland as he lifted the busted arm. "Hinata beat Tenten, Lee, and me back to back to back. Those new techniques she's been practicing in secret are lethal, I swear."

"I still don't agree with the decision," Hinata grumbled, finally loosening her hold to slide back and sit beside Naruto. Her hand slid into his and held on. He tried to smile; she looked cute when pouting, after all, but it was hard to muster joy at the moment. "We were both unconscious afterwards."

"Yeah, but you were up for about a minute longer. In a real fight that could mean you survive on your own power or have time to get help from an ally. I was toast."

They detailed the whole thing after some light banter, interrupting one another frequently to embellish when the other failed to give themselves enough credit. Sasuke filled in most of Hinata's other fights, making a point to note just how much chakra she had used and the close calls with Lee and Tenten, both for different reasons. By the end Naruto had swelled with pride for both of his friends, hating himself for not being as happy as he should have been. Those plaguing thoughts wouldn't go away.

"I wish I could have been awake to see it all," Naruto sighed, quickly covering for the morose thought by pulling Hinata into a tight hug. "I'm proud of you. Thanks for beating this guy up for me," he added with a wink over her head at Sasuke. The other boy scowled appropriately, though didn't quip back as expected. He looked distracted.

"I'm proud of all of you," Kakashi intoned as Hinata settled back at Naruto's side. He surveyed all three of them for a moment, examining and weighing before speaking as he often did. Naruto knew that it meant something serious was about to be discussed. "All three of you took the initiative to learn techniques on your own, some kept secret since long before these exams began." He eyed Hinata at that and looked to be smirking beneath the mask. She only flushed lightly and smiled back, and Naruto gave her hand a squeeze. "Each of you fought tough battles and came out on top because of your dedication to training and to one another. No other team performed as well as you three, and that's not just my bias talking.

"We won't have any training or missions until after the results come in," he continued, rising with a casual stretch. "The deliberations on promotions will take a few days, so use that time to rest and recover fully. They should be able to finish mending you two by then."

"What about me?" Naruto asked quietly, no longer looking up at the man. He studied the pseudo-claws on the end of his fingers instead. The question's intent didn't need explaining.

"We have a meeting with Tsunade-sama after the results are decided," Kakashi replied after a few seconds, folding his arms and appearing to consider his next words carefully. "She forbade me from sharing much with you, but . . . you should be prepared for bad news." He grimaced and half-turned away before stopping, growling something under his breath about protocols and consequences before returning his gaze to them, voice low and . . . solemn. It was an unnerving thing to hear from the normally nonchalant man.

"Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata," he started, looking seriously at each of them in turn. "I won't tell you not to worry about what's to come in these next few days. I won't coddle you and say that everything will be fine. This week will be one of the hardest you will ever have had to get through together. Things will feel terribly unfair because they will be. The only advice I can give you is to stick together and to live up to the shinobi name: endure, and then come out stronger for it, both as individuals and as a team. The souls of the mighty are forged in the fires of adversity, tempered by hardship and sharpened through trials. There will hardly ever be an easy path for you, but as the Sandaime once told me, nothing worth doing is ever easy." He left it there, nodding to them once before departing, a heavy silence left in his wake.

"Well that was fucking depressing," Sasuke muttered, snapping Naruto out of his spinning thoughts. Hinata was chewing worriedly on her lower lip, lost in her own mind. "What's the worst that can happen? We don't get promoted? It'd be bullshit, but whatever. It's just a title."

"You two will be promoted," Naruto said, trying not to let his tone turn heavy. "There's no reason for them not to. I won't be." That was a simple fact, clear as day, but they either genuinely disagreed or just wanted to make him feel better.

"Don't say that, Naruto," Hinata chided, giving his hand a fretful squeeze. "You showed deference the same as we did during the second stage, they saw how strong you are, and Kakashi-sensei said that they know you didn't mean to use the Kyūbi's chakra like that."

"He said that Tsunade-sama knows that," he corrected, shaking his head. "He also said to expect bad news. She isn't the only one to decide who gets promoted to chūnin, and it feels like it would be a bad idea to suggest the kid who can't control his own powers."

"So you'll get promoted when we figure out what's going on," Sasuke shrugged. "I know it probably doesn't mean much to you, but you could kick any chūnin's ass any time you wanted. They all know it, too, so you're as much as one already." Naruto did manage a real smirk then. It did mean something, at least more than what Sasuke suggested. His friends' trust and confidence meant more than confirmation from anyone else. That would be enough for now, and forever after if necessary.

"I think there's something else." Hinata spoke softly, carefully, as if trying to navigate the idea before forming the appropriate words. "Kakashi-sensei wouldn't be that grim unless something serious were about to happen to us, and he was clearly frustrated or upset about it. He's never been like that before."

"There's no use worrying over the unknown," Naruto shrugged, settling back against his pillows, staring at the ceiling. He tried contacting Kurama again. Nothing. "All I know is that I need to find out what's getting to Kurama, or else I won't be safe to be around anymore. And there's no point arguing that," he went on, glancing aside at Hinata, who closed her parted lips in response. He smiled again, fondly and sadly, running his thumb across her bandaged fingers. "I could have killed either of you in that state and not remembered it, the same as I don't remember killing . . . killing Kinōda or stabbing Tsunade-sama. I need to figure this out, or else I might as well lock myself in that cell Gaara was in."

"Well that's not happening," Sasuke said shortly. "And quit saying 'I' you ass. We're a team, and we're your friends. We're going to figure it out together. Remember what you told me years ago, about Itachi? We'll do it the right way, and we'll do it together."

"Thanks, Sasuke," he replied wryly, quieting for a moment before saying in a lower voice, "Thanks. I just . . . I don't know what to do. I don't like feeling powerless and like I'm being manipulated. It's . . . maddening, and it's scary."

"We're here, and we always will be," Hinata soothed, touching his cheek before leaning over to kiss the same spot. He swallowed and nodded, shifting to lie facing her. She closed the distance between them without pause, pulling his head gently to her chest and cradling it there. He nestled closer, closing his eyes and taking deep, calming breaths, making himself focus on Hinata: her fingers running through his hair, her hand resting on his back, her gentlest murmurs warding against troubled thoughts. A wonderful, comforting scent came with every inhale, like standing in a field of lavender covered with a crisp predawn dew. They were all safe, and they were all together. That was all that needed to matter right now.

Unfortunately, dreams were far less forgiving than reality.

~§~

Three days passed without word from Tsunade, though Kakashi stopped by the hospital several times to give what updates he could. Apparently the public outcry about Naruto had been less severe than expected, most likely dampened by the successful completion of the exams. That didn't mean it was absent, however. A petition to lock him up circulated the village and found its way to the Hokage within the first day, and there were many more high-ranking officials demanding audiences than usual. According to Kakashi, someone had even tried to submit a mission request – A-rank, no less – to 'address the problem.' Tsunade had apparently ignored or furiously refused all of them, making several proclamations in Naruto's defense, or at least in neutrality. That was heartwarming for certain, but it didn't quite outweigh the entire village being against him.

Naruto spent most of the time away from the hospital, taking long walks or training to keep his mind off of things, but mostly just trying to stay out of the way and out of sight. He had been entirely healed after the first day, and the medical staff had been more than willing to discharge him early. The muted conversations and frequent glances had been enough on their own to make him want to leave. Nobody there seemed to hate him necessarily, but the constant undertone of fear pervaded in its place. Who could blame them? After Kurama had come out and incidentally killed a handful of villagers and destroyed whole blocks, then after two incidents during this exam, it was a wonder they had given him a bed.

Iruka had only been overflowing with concern, of course. He didn't care what the villagers, other ninja, or even Tsunade thought. He expressed complete confidence and support for Naruto, fussed over him as always, and made lunches and snacks to take to Sasuke and Hinata every day besides. It was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult time. Teuchi and Ayame at Ichiraku were much the same, only informing Naruto just how proud they were that he and his teammates had done so well, and that they could all eat free for a week as a proper reward. It was another instance to remind him that he wasn't alone, that not everybody thought the same things about him, and that circumstances could get better.

It wasn't until halfway through the second day that Kurama woke up at last. Again the Fox was in a brief fury before simmering down to cold rage, though the haunting thing was that he hadn't seen anything this time.

Nothing? Naruto asked, using the Hiraishin to move from his bedroom to Training Ground Three, fingers brushing the seal he had placed on the centermost post. Last time you saw an eye at least.

Nothing. One moment I was forcing my chakra into you, and the next I was waking up today, the Kyūbi spat. It was the same feeling, however, so it would be safe to say that it was the same technique. It could have been a delayed-activation genjutsu, or maybe you weren't looking directly at the Sharingan this time.

The stands were packed; it could have been anyone above the spectating area. That's the last place I was looking, wasn't it? A grunt of confirmation was all he got in response. Kurama wasn't up for much conversation, preferring to brood for a time while trying to work things out on his own. Naruto left him to it, opting to practice the Hiraishin with changes in inertia. That could keep his mind off of anything, since the slightest distraction could still cause some real problems. Tasks that required heavy focus had taken up a good portion of the days recently.

Hinata and Sasuke recovered swiftly enough, with his taking markedly longer for the severity of the injury. According to him, the last medic-nin to do a round of healing had expressed wonder that he had recovered so completely, stating that such a wound could easily have rendered the arm permanently lame, or at least the hand. Hinata had gone completely white after he had informed them during a casual conversation, apologizing so many times in a short timespan that Naruto wondered if she might ever recover from the guilt.

"Hinata, seriously, for the last time I'm fine," he grumbled as they walked together towards the Hokage's tower, raising the hand in question and flexing every finger in turn before making a tight fist. "Check with your Byakugan if you have to, but it's all in one piece, and bones grow back stronger after a break. So really: you only did me a favor in the long run."

"But I could have—" she began in protest, but Naruto gave her hand a squeeze to put that train of thought to rest.

"I think you were the one who told me not to dwell on 'what ifs,' remember?" She looked a bit put out at that, but did give a reluctant nod. "You fought Sasuke with everything you had, and that's what he wanted. Right Sasuke?" The other boy raised an eyebrow and nodded as if that should have been obvious. "So technically, it's his fault. See? Nothing to worry about." Sasuke punched his arm in response, and Hinata smiled and gave another nod.

"Sometimes I think people just need a good solid punch in the face," Sasuke muttered after a while. Naruto glanced aside, catching a glimpse of the Sharingan as his friend glared at anyone caught watching the trio. At first it looked like he was just using it to look more intimidating, but it became clear what he was doing after a sour-faced woman gasped and fell to her knees, now trembling and staring horrified at Sasuke.

"Sasuke!" Hinata whispered sharply, drawing a scowl from the boy. "They might be rude and misguided, but that doesn't mean you should use genjutsu on them. That's against the law!"

"Whatever. They deserve it." His eyes remained the same, but it looked like he stopped using illusions to intimidate passersby. Naruto said nothing, keeping his gaze forward and trying to ignore everyone who scowled or literally spat in his general direction. He would have pulled his hand away from Hinata's if not for the knowledge that she would have scolded him and taken it back immediately. He didn't want them to be so closely associated with him in the villagers' minds, but there was nothing else for it but to appreciate what they were doing for him. After a time, Hinata activated her Byakugan, though without scowling at every other person. He suspected she only did it to make more people avert their eyes, basically doing what Sasuke had been without treading into illegality. Naruto squeezed her hand. Friends like these were impossible to come by, and the reason he pushed himself so hard every day. He knew it was the same for them as well.

They weren't made to wait at all upon arrival at the Hokage's office, which had only been expected; this meeting had been set up for days, and most likely planned around by all parties involved. An ANBU agent let them pass after announcing them inside, and Kakashi was already standing in front of Tsunade's desk when they came in. Naruto lined up with his friends beside their instructor, facing an exceptionally tired-looking Godaime who for once had no stacks papers on her desk. Instead there was one scroll, two medium-sized wooden cases, and three sets of nearly identical documents. Shizune was absent, and in her place Jiraiya stood just behind and to the right of Tsunade's chair, frowning out the window.

"Thank you all for arriving punctually," she started, hard eyes studying them for a moment before going on. "I'm sure Kakashi told you already, but just to be certain that you know: it was by my order that he did not tell you the nature of this meeting. Jiraiya and I personally saw to the warding of this room against every conceivable threat to security, and there are more ANBU hidden around the tower right now than you probably thought existed." That caused Naruto to blink, but it wasn't yet time to ask questions. Severe security measures only meant severe matters to discuss, and they had expected as much. "I say all of that to preface this: aside from the announcement of promotions, everything said, heard, observed, or even perceived within this room today will not be revealed to anyone outside of it. The six of us will be the only ones privy to this information henceforth. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama," they said together, eliciting a nod from the woman.

"Good, then we'll start with the results from the chūnin exam. As you likely expected, all three of you scored highest among your peers – that includes you, Naruto," she added, prompting a him to blink away a startled look. That couldn't possibly mean what he thought it could. "However," she went on, "as you also likely expected, only Sasuke and Hinata have been given clearance for promotion as a result of the disturbances during the second and third portions of the exam. I will stress, however, that this was my decision, not theirs. Judgements are mostly a formality, and the final decision on whether or not a genin becomes a chūnin is mine to make regardless of what those fools say.

"The situation stands thus: the visiting nations don't trust you, Naruto. The villagers don't trust you. A good portion of our own forces don't trust you. If I were to grant a seemingly unstable jinchūriki higher rank, it would cause political and civil outrage. It could quite literally cause a small-scale war, and that isn't something I am willing to risk for the sake of a title."

"I understand, Tsunade-sama," Naruto put in, keeping his features placid. Kurama was growling in the back of his head, but he ignored it. They had known that this had been coming.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," she continued, and it was clear that she meant it. "I know what promotion means to you, and so I did the next best thing." She lifted one set of documents and held them out, waiting until he reached out to receive them before speaking again. "Those are papers detailing your promotion to chūnin following an investigation into the cause of your 'instability.' If it is found that there was foul play involved, you will be promoted immediately. The arbiters were willing to allow that much, though only because they think an investigation would result in confirmation of their own beliefs."

"I . . ." Naruto swallowed, struggling to find the right words to express his appreciation. Tsunade only smirked at him and shook her head, and he quickly bowed. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama. Really – thank you."

"Hinata, Sasuke." Tsunade slid the two lacquered cases forward, indicating one for each of them. "These are standard-issue flak jackets, and the mark of rank for a chūnin. You can use them, modify them, or decide not to wear them at all. It's really more of a custom than a rule. The paperwork has already been processed, and these are notarized for your records." She slid the other sets of documents forward as well, and both Sasuke and Hinata stepped forward together to receive both items before bowing and offering their thanks.

"Now, the reason for all of this secrecy . . ." With the official business concluded, she leaned forward and gained a more severe tone, propping her elbows on the desk. "I have reason to believe that whoever is causing these disturbances is acting from within Konoha itself. I believe that they are among those we consider our allies, perhaps in the heart of our organization itself, perpetrating these incidences for their own purposes. I can't tell you why I think these things," she added, "but just know that I'm fairly confident and working on getting to the bottom of it.

"In the meantime, I need you out of the way, Naruto. As things lie, you're a liability and could accidentally impede our efforts to discover the source, or worse they might find a way to bring Kurama out more fully next time, and that isn't something we can afford to have happen. As such, I'm sending you on an extended mission outside of the village. Don't worry – all three of you will be going."

"An extended mission? Doing what?" Sasuke asked, glancing aside at his teammates. "You're just going to send us away while Naruto's at risk?"

"I'm sending you away because he is at risk – greater here than out of the village, I believe. Jiraiya has agreed to lead the mission, and there's no safer place than under the constant watch of one of the Sannin." Jiraiya grumbled something under his breath, but she ignored it. "He will oversee your training as chūnin using recommendations from Kakashi, who will need to stay here in order to help me with the investigation. He's one of the few I can trust for certain, and knows more about what we'll be looking into than most."

"What about Akatsuki?" Hinata ventured. "Aren't they searching for Naruto? This could be playing into their hands."

"We've considered that," Tsunade said with a dismissive wave. "Jiraiya?" The man grunted before turning fully towards them, squinting at the trio as if scrutinizing before heaving a sigh.

"Akatsuki works in two-man cells, and each of them is usually assigned to one task at a time so far as I can interpret from my intel. My toad contacts keep an eye out for their activities, and so I have a rough idea of where most of them are at a given time. If they start acting suspicious or heading our way en masse, we'll know."

"There's also Orochimaru to worry about," Naruto pointed out, nodding towards Sasuke. "He still seems pretty intent on getting Sasuke, and the two of us too according to those Sound guys."

"He's a wildcard, true, but we shouldn't be too worried about him if we stick together and remain aware. I'm stronger than he is, and you three are nothing to scoff at when working together. I hear you actually beat Kakashi once," Jiraiya smirked. Tsunade blinked and glanced back at him, then raised an eyebrow towards Kakashi to ask the silent question.

"It's true. With their rate of progress, I wouldn't be surprised if they surpassed me individually in just a few years." He broke rank to step directly behind Naruto, placing a hand on Hinata and Sasuke's shoulders on either side, smirking down at all three of them. "It was a bit short-lived, but these last seven months were as rewarding for me as I hope they were for them. They were the first team to pass my test, and exceeded expectations every step of the way since. It was my privilege to have been their instructor, and I'm indescribably proud of them."

"I hadn't really thought about that," Naruto remarked, looking up and back at Kakashi. "This means you're not our instructor anymore, doesn't it?" A bit of tightness took hold in his chest. It had felt like a lifetime training and doing missions with Kakashi; had it truly only been seven months?

"Sasuke and Hinata are chūnin now, and you will be as well when you return to Konoha. You'll go on more challenging missions, maybe lead your own teams, and serve the village in different ways than you have been. My role in your development is complete, but I'll be around in case you need help with anything." He winked his one visible eye down at them, and they each smiled back to varying degrees. A lot of things were changing, but life had to go on.

"I'll be sending Haku with you, by the way, to serve as a go-between for the purposes of communication. I want a trustworthy line of contact in case something happens, and he's been proving himself extremely adept at similar tasks. Jiraiya will give you the mission details, but on paper – and what you will tell everyone else, including Haku and Iruka – you're on an extended border patrol mission. If anyone asks which border specifically, just say that you don't know yet; we don't want to give potential spies any information that might be useful." Tsunade leaned back, nodding towards the door. "I have to speak to Jiraiya and Kakashi alone now. Prepare to leave in a week's time, on the first of the new year. You're dismissed."

Naruto bowed alongside his friends, turning to lead the way from the room. As he reached for the doorknob, Tsunade's voice stopped him once again. "Oh, and congratulations, Team Seven. You led the way in showing the world what Konohagakure has to offer, and for that you have my thanks. Mission requests are already beginning to flood in, and I can only attribute that to you and your peers for doing your very best for the village – and for each other. Well done." Naruto cast a grin back at the Hokage, then opened the door to file out with Hinata and Sasuke just behind.

"Guess everybody's getting called in this morning," Shikamaru yawned, his voice halting Naruto just outside of the door. The boy was leaning against the wall opposite the office, looking bored as usual. Almost everyone who had been in the finals was there. Team Gai was together a bit down the hall talking amongst themselves. Sakura and Shino were sharing the bench beside Shikamaru, keeping to themselves until Sasuke emerged, at which point the kunoichi hopped up and made a beeline for him.

"Looks like it," Naruto remarked, glad to see everyone in good spirits. There were a few missing, however. "What about Kiba, Ino, and Chōji?"

"Not getting promoted, I would guess," he shrugged, not looking overly concerned about it. "It's troublesome, but it makes sense given how the exams played out."

"Kiba was surprisingly understanding," Shino said in his quiet monotone, adjusting his sunglasses before continuing. "His temperament has improved considerably as of late, and he merely took it as motivation to work more vigorously."

"Chōji got taken out too early to get evaluated properly, and my guess with Ino would be her performance against Tenten in the finals. She's made a lot of improvements over the last few months, but not enough to make the cut." As usual the boy was cool and calculating, not allowing emotion to get in the way of reason.

"Do you think they'll be able to get on a team together for the next set of exams?" Hinata asked. "I think Kiba-san would make a nice addition with you away." Shikamaru made a face, but nodded after a moment of consideration.

"With Ino and Chōji's recent training regimens, they're both much more flexible with team composition than they used to be. I expect all three will be able to adapt well enough. What about you guys? The Godaime have any specific—?"

"You're leaving?!" Sakura exclaimed over Shikamaru, causing every head to swivel their way. "When? For how long?" Sasuke looked particularly annoyed at her outburst, but answered levelly enough.

"Some time next week, and we don't know how long yet. It's just border patrol crap; nothing particularly exciting about going between and checking in on our outposts."

"Those types of missions can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the territory you will be assigned to," Neji put in, approaching with Tenten and Lee. "Not considered particularly dangerous in the current era, but I was under the impression that you three are being targeted by a few dangerous groups."

"Yeah, weren't those five from the Sound after you? And what about Orochimaru or those two guys who showed up while Naruto was gone?" Tenten asked, flashing a grin at Hinata before going on. "Seems to me that some other group could do that just as well without the same risks."

"Hey, don't ask me. Take that up with Tsunade-sama." Naruto tried to laugh in a convincing enough manner. They weren't allowed to tell the real reasons, after all. "I'm sure we'll be fine; Jiraiya-sensei is going with us too." That seemed to assuage most of the group's concerns, though Sakura was still speaking to Sasuke in low tones off to one side, and Neji didn't look wholly convinced. "We've gotta head out and do some planning, and probably some resupplying. Lots of stuff to do before a long trip."

"We'll definitely all get together before we leave," Hinata assured as Naruto started making his way down the hall. "I wouldn't be able to go without spending some time with everyone first."

"You'd better come by later," Sakura muttered to Sasuke as he slipped away from her. "We've got a lot to talk about."

"Yeah, yeah. See you around sunset." He scowled while catching up to Naruto and Hinata, but it was clear that he wasn't actually upset. It was plain to see that the separation would cause at least some amount of displeasure.

None of the trio spoke as they exited the tower, all walking slowly and deliberately eastward. There was no need to exchange words at the moment; they moved as if of one mind, feet carrying them along a rarely-trodden path around the mountainside. It wound steadily upward, circumventing the great stone faces and eventually arriving at the very top, above and behind all of Konoha.

Naruto found himself staring down at it, at everything he had ever known. Sure, they had been outside of the village on missions and for the exams, but this was different. This was to be a true departure, one whose length was so far indefinite. They could be leaving for weeks or years; it all depended on how long the investigation took. This was where he had grown up, where he had fought for and ultimately failed to earn the village's trust. This had been the place of so much pain, so much joy, and everything in between. This was where he had been brought into a family, where he had made his first friends, where he had fallen in love. Maybe it was silly to be so sentimental, but he couldn't help it.

"I feel like more is changing than just our ranks," Sasuke remarked quietly, Sharingan glinting in the light of the rising sun. "Kind of feels foreboding, doesn't it?"

"Not foreboding," Hinata said after a moment, her hold tightening on Naruto's hand. "Just . . . uncertain. But a shinobi's future is never certain, is it?"

Do humans make everything dramatic? Kurama sighed. Naruto couldn't help but grin.

Shut up, you dumb Fox. He continued aloud, squeezing Hinata's hand in return. "Maybe not, but there's one thing I am sure about: we're going to figure this out, stick together, and come back a lot stronger than when we left. I bet if we work hard, we can make jōnin in just a few years." Hinata smiled, and Sasuke scoffed.

"A few years? Not sure about you, but I'll get there in one. I don't intend to waste an opportunity to train under one of the legendary Sannin."

"Do you really think we'll be gone for that long?" Hinata asked quietly, the simple question enough to shut their banter up. Sasuke shrugged, and Naruto mimicked the action. No one knew. She seemed to shake and steel herself, a smaller smile finding its way to her lips. "The Sandaime told me about some interesting places throughout the Fire Country. I think I would like to visit some of them if we get the chance."

Conversation lapsed, but it felt right as each of them went to his or her own thoughts. They had lived through a great deal as a team within Konoha, and a great deal more as individuals. Naruto had been given a second chance, family and dear friends. Sasuke had gone through hell and conquered his demons. Hinata had risen above her imposed fate and changed the Hyūga for the better. They had saved each other's lives more times than could be counted, and now they had made chūnin together. Well, close enough to count at least.

"So much has changed, and keeps changing," Hinata voiced for all of them after a time. She took Sasuke's hand, who for once didn't protest the gesture. He only stared ahead, beyond the gates of Konoha now, looking out towards the seemingly endless forest. Naruto gave her hand a squeeze, and she passed it on.

"But one thing won't ever change," he said quietly, taking a deep breath. "We're sticking together, no matter what." Neither of them cared how juvenile that might have sounded, instead only nodding in firm agreement. Naruto gave himself a shake, ready to move forward despite all of the uncertainty. He started back down that long path, walking purposefully towards their unknown future. Hinata and Sasuke were right there with him, every step of the way.

Author's Note:

Heya folks.

We've reached the end of an arc, and the beginning of an adventure. Lots of things in the plot pipeline for this next long stretch that I'm pretty excited about!

Nothing in particular to note about this chapter, only a heartfelt thanks to the reviewers who've posted since last time – and of course the follows and favorites that have kept my writing going. I'm pretty sure I say as much every other chapter or so, but your encouragement and love of the story is what keeps these fingers moving every day.

Thank you Rhi for the splendid and invaluable editing; my scribbles would be a mess without you~

See you next time!

- Wes

P.S. I'm working on a new fic now that I have more spare time, and might even post the first chapter before the next CFKD installment. Check the profile in a few weeks if you're interested!