Chapter 28

The next match was Sakura versus Shikamaru.

The match started and Shikamaru immediately launched his Shadow Possession Jutsu. 'This is it.' Sakura thought as she watched the shadow stretch closer to her feet, unmoving. 'I'll show Karma and everyone else how hard I've trained in this month.' When the shadow was about to touch Sakura, and everyone thought she had given up, Sakura dashed out of the way and toward Shikamaru.

She revealed to everyone that her speed and perception had drastically increased, dodging Shikamaru's shadow at a moments notice as she ran behind him and punched him. Shikamaru was barely able to dodge, however, and Sakura left a small crater on the ground.

"So she's already climbed the first stair." Karma noted. "That's pretty impressive."

Shikamaru admitted defeat after barely dodging another punch. Karma clapped as Sakura arrived back to the viewing area. "Well done." He complimented her with a smile. Originally Sakura never would have even reached this stage. She was lacking actual motivation until Naruto failed to retrieve Sasuke, now she had already been given motivation and one of two tools she needed to rise in power to equal the original Naruto and Sasuke at the end of the 4th Great Ninja War.

"All right! It's my turn! Karma, Sasuke, I'll show you my own growth!" Naruto yelled as he jumped into the arena after Ibaraki.

"Ka-chan! Get ready! I'm gonna beat you in the finals!" Ibaraki called from the arena.

"Hey!" Naruto yelled. "I'll beat him!"

"All right, then!" Yoruichi cut in. "Two idiots, begin!"

The match began with Naruto being sent straight into a wall just like Kushina, however Ibaraki didn't want to give him a moment of reprieve since she did have some apprehensions towards the chakra chains. She assumed Naruto had them too, and wasn't going to take any chance. Thus, she ran into a cloud of dust, straight into a shadow clone ambush.

Naturally, Ibaraki had her Sage Mode on, so she was able to react in time, blocking and counter attacking while more clones appeared and surrounded her. This frustrated Ibaraki, so she waved her Nodachi in a circle around her, sending a wind blade through all the clones. When they got hit, there appeared a lot more smoke. Inside the cloud of smoke, the surviving Naruto clones launched another attack on Ibaraki, which she easily dealt with.

That is until a Naruto burst from the ground and hit her with an uppercut. Following that, while she was in a daze from the hit and in the air, the Naruto clones started kicking her around going, "U-ZU-MA-KI-NA-RU-TO-BAR-RA-GE-50!!"

Even after all that, Ibaraki rose to her feet and ran back the Naruto's, not taking notice of Kunai one of them threw, since it was slightly off target. Like in Sasuke's match, the Kunai turned into Naruto, and he sent a windmill kick straight into Ibaraki's jaw. She was unable to react with a proper block due to the proximity of the clones, even with her reflexes and speed, so she punched with her free hand instead.

The two fighters flew into opposite ends of the arena, and then they were once again clashing at the center. Eventually Naruto came out on top with his seemingly endless endurance and stamina. Though, he didn't actually defeat Ibaraki, she simply laughed, and, still full of energy, admitted defeat saying, "You work even harder than me. Okay, you fight Ka-chan, teach him how valuable hard work is. I admit defeat!"

Then Ibaraki left the arena smiling. "Ka-chan! Looks like you can't fight me now!" She joked as she left left behind a battered Naruto. Naruto seemed to have whispered something about Ibaraki being a demon, but nobody heard him.

"What a way to escape punishment for hurting Kushina..." Karma replied. "But that won't save you because I can always find you at home!"

Next match, Neji Hyuga versus Hinata Hyuga. The two stood a distance apart from each other in the combat stance for the Gentle Fist Arts. Once the fight began, the two rushed at each other and exchanged blows, one after another. They continued to block attacks and counter them, aiming for each others chakra points, eventually losing use of one arm each. Then, they both attacked each other aiming to disable their opponents remaining arm. The one who succeeded would ultimately win.

Hinata landed his blow first, disabling Neji's arm and slamming a palm on his chest, sending him flying a short distance. "That was a close one, Hinata. I only won because I have longer reach."

On the stands, "Hanabi, what do you think? Do you believe Hinata should still get to contract the summons of the Nekotsume Clan? Or should you?" Hiashi Hyuga asked his younger daughter Hanabi. She was 3 years younger than her sister, but considered more talented.

"Father, I believe Hinata should do it. She competed evenly with Neji. Plus, I can ask Karma, and he might let me." Hanabi said.

"No," Hiashi said, "Karma attracts too many women. I can't lose both my daughters to him."

"Unfortunately, you already have brother. Just be glad we have Neji. As long as he's taught properly, he can lead the clan in the future." Hizashi Hyuga, who sat next to them said.

"You're right. The only problem is the elders..." Hiashi sighed.

"Neji will prove himself more in the future." Hizashi encouraged.

"Father, does that mean me and Hinata can marry-" Hanabi started getting excited.

"No!" Hiashi said. "You two can't get married!"

"I'm not done yet." Neji rose from the dust suddenly. "Hinata. I have trained vigorously in this month. While the Hyuga style of taijutsu is indeed incredible, I have discovered my own techniques, derived from the Gentle Fist Arts. I call them, the Flying Feet Arts!"

Neji rushed at Hinata, jumping into the air and launching a series of kicks down at her. Hinata blocked several, but Neji was able to send short bursts of his chakra through his kicks in to Hinata's arm. He quickly disabled the arm, before he had even landed, and smiling, he gently tapped her with his right foot.

Surprising many, Hinata crumpled to the ground. Each of Neji's kicks aimed at different points in Hinata's body with his chakra. His chakra, once inside her body rebounded off of itself repeatedly, crashing into her chakra points and disabling them. Luckily, Neji only really targeted a few chakra points on Hinatas legs and remaining arm. He didn't have great confidence in using this technique to target more lethal points yet.

"Neji Hyuga wins!" Yoruichi announced. "Next match! Karma Nekotsume versus Gaara of the Sand!"

Authors Note: I know that Hanabi is 5 years younger, not three. Just a small change. She's number 1 waifu in Boruto Era. How does everyone feel about Neji's new style?