Chapter 35: The Chunin exams (Part 2)

Seven teams managed to pass, which was more than twice as many as had been expected. To cut down the prevailing genin from the second exam, a preliminary round was staged before the third and final stage of the Chūnin Exams. The twenty-one people — or twenty, after Kabuto withdrew — were to be matched up with each other, in a fight that lasted until somebody gave in or was unable to continue fighting. The third task of the exams was single combat. So after the fights, the last contestants would know. The matchups at the end for the finals were Naruto against Neji, Sasuke against Gaara, Shino against Kankurō, and the last Temari against Shikamaru.

...

That day was a busy day for the medical staff of Konoha. Amongst the wounded were Lee, Hinata, Ino, and Tenten. Raven waited together with Saph until the doctors said they were allowed to visit. Tenten and Ino weren't as wounded as Lee and Hinata. Lee was so wounded that he maybe had to quit being a shinobi. But what made Raven almost fly in a rage was what he heard how it happened that Hinata was wounded. If Saph wasn't in the room he didn't know what he would do. After Yukino took Saph back home did Raven go to Anko?

...

"Sensei, I want your permission for something."

"Oh, What would that be?"

"I want to put Neji in the hospital for what he did to Hinata."

"And you want my permission? It would seem that your minds made up."

"It is, but maybe if you deny me. I wouldn't be storming at the Hyuuga compound."

"OH, you wouldn't hear a protest from me. From what Saph told me what happened to the sweet girl Hinata. You have all the permission you want, but before you storm out of here. Let me contact Guy first. Then you can knock him in the hospital under supervision."

Anko took out a message scroll and sends it to Guy. After waiting for an hour. Guy shows up at the window.

"Anko, you sent me a message? What you want?"

"Well, my student has a problem with how Neji treated Hinata. He wants to kick him in the hospital. I was wondering what your thoughts were?"

"Is this true, Raven?"

"Yes, Guy. His arrogance and attitude are fine, I can tolerate that. But not only did he attack her mind by assaulted Hinata psychologically, using her fears to convince her that she had no possibility of winning. He even tried to kill her and would have succeeded if he wasn't stopped. So can I have your permission to put him in the hospital?"

"I know the fight got heated, but he wouldn't have killed her. Neji is still from Konoha."

"You really believe that Guy, because I heard from Kurenai that it was the referee that had to stop the fight. If the punch he was going to do hit. It would have stopped her heart."

"Anko, I believe in my student he wouldn't have killed her. knocked out yes, but kill no."

"Then let me ask him tomorrow on the training ground."

"What you mean?"

"Well, tomorrow on the training ground I will ask him directly if the hit was to knock her out or to kill. If it was to knock her out, I won't put in the hospital. But if hesitates or says yes. Al bets are off. Is that ok for you, Guy?"

"I trust my student, so I will agree with this. But I will stay there to keep it safe, ok?"

"So long if you don't interfere when I'm kicking his ass, I don't care. I'm still sorry to have you do this Guy. I really hope he didn't try to kill her."

"Will see you tomorrow." Guy left conflicted because he didn't know the answer.

"You ready to fight him, Raven? You didn't beat him once in the academy if I'm not wrong."

"Oh, that I know. But the arrogant brat has too much fate in his superiority complex that he doesn't train as much. I've heard it from Lee and Tenten. But whatever. I'll try and we'll see you tomorrow. Who knows, maybe I'll be you, roommate, tomorrow. Bhahaha" Raven left all laughing.

"Cheeky brat, Hope you win tomorrow..."

...

The next day Raven was waiting for Guy and Neji on training-ground 7. He didn't need to wait long for them, a few minutes had past and he saw them coming. Neji still had no idea why Guy came to get him today. He didn't get it and when he saw Raven at the training ground, he still didn't get it. When they arrived Neji couldn't bear it anymore.

"Sensei, Why am I here? Or even why is he here?"

Before Gut could answer, Raven spoke.

"Oh Neji, that's actually very simple."

"Oh, then what's the reason?"

"It's very simple, I'm going to ask you a question and you're going to answer the question. Depending on the answer different things will happen. easy right."

"Let's hear the question then, I still have to train for the exams next month."

"Ok, I won't keep you long. Here is the question, think very well before you answer. Yesterday during the battle against your cousin Hinata, the LAST strike that the referee had to stop. WAS this attack meant to KNOCK her out or KILL her?"

Neji listened calmly to the question, but the longer he listened the paler he became. Guy saw this had already his answer. He really did try to kill her.

"No-nono, you can't blame me for that. She didn't want to quit, so in the heat of the moment, I did use a lethal attack. But the referee stopped the match."

Raven calmly looked at Guy, "Can I Sensei?"

Neji had no idea what the meaning was behind the question. But Guy did give Raven permission. After getting the ok, Raven walked to the side and started getting ready.

Neji was confused, but Guy then spoke to him, "Neji, You really have disappointed me today. You have tried to kill one of your fellow leaf shinobi and that for competition. You could have tried to knock her out, but no. What hurts me the most is that's she even your cousin. So what's going to happen now is you going to have a match against Raven. Because he thinks you deserve a beating. I'm going to the referee. So get ready."

Neji was getting angry. "Just because of a misjudgment during the match. Even for her. ARE YOU FOR REAL. I DESERVE A BEATING. hahaha, really Raven. You haven't beaten me since the academy. What makes you think it's my fate to get beaten by you. What the heck, you can be my warm-up training."

At the side, Raven was taking his weapons off. In the corner of Guy's eye, he saw Raven take off his weighted clothes even his weight seals. 'He's taking this seriously, Neji still isn't. let's see what happens'

When Raven was done, he was just wearing a simple training uniform and some protection around his shins and forearms. He stretched and then walked to Neji and Guy. "You ready?" he asked. "Are you?" was the answer Neji gave him.

Guy stepped out of the way, "Three... two... one... Start ..."

...