History Awesome / Team8

* Naruto vs. Sasuke during the Chuunin Exam preliminary battles. Naruto just watched Hinata get destroyed by a very spiteful Neji. Sasuke taunts Naruto, hoping he'll fight better than Hinata (this slams down hard on Naruto's BerserkButton). The "fight" lasts as long as it does for [[IHitYouYouHitTheGround Naruto to bullet-punch Sasuke once, sending him rag-dolling away into an unconscious heap]]. Sakura admits to herself that Sasuke ''[[AssholeVictim really]]'' [[AssholeVictim had it coming]].

'''Hinata:''' That's bullshit!

** Hinata manages to land a strike on Orochimaru. As Shino later points out, no one else but Naruto and Sasuke managed to do that.

-->"What variety of flowers would be appropriate?" he asked in the calmest, most matter-of-fact tone of voice he could muster.

* Naruto vs. Sasuke during the Chuunin Exam preliminary battles. Naruto just watched Hinata get destroyed by a very spiteful Neji. Sasuke taunts Naruto, hoping he'll fight better than Hinata (this slams down hard on Naruto's BerserkButton). The "fight" lasts as long as it does for [[IHitYouYouHitTheGround Naruto to bullet-punch Sasuke once, sending him rag-dolling away into an unconscious heap]].

* Naruto ''winning'' his bet with Tsunade by disrupting her genjutsu with the Naruto Majutsu: Chakra Pulse.

* Hinata's reaction to Naruto being told by a school doctor that he's a monster [[spoiler: in regards to making his first kill]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Naruto:''' Well, he told me he didn't think I'd have any problems at all... like I'm some monster that would probably enjoy killing.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Hinata:''' That's bullshit!]]

* The entire fight between Team 8 + Team 7 and [[spoiler:Orochimaru]]. As shown later in Chapter 21, [[spoiler:Orochimaru]] is quite impressed:

** Hinata manages to land a strike on [[spoiler:Orochimaru]]. As Shino later points out, no one else but Naruto and Sasuke managed to do that.
** When [[spoiler:Orochimaru summons a snake to capture Sasuke while he fights Naruto, Sakura manages to taunt and distract the snake from squeezing Sasuke into unconsciousness. She does this long enough to drive a kunai ''[[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice straight through its head.]]'']] Ouch.

* Naruto vs. Sasuke during the Chuunin Exam preliminary battles. Naruto just watched Hinata get destroyed by a very spiteful Neji. Sasuke taunts Naruto, hoping he'll fight better than Hinata (this slams down hard on Naruto's BerserkButton). The "fight" lasts as long as it does for [[spoiler: [[IHitYouYouHitTheGround Naruto to bullet-punch Sasuke once, sending him rag-dolling away into an unconscious heap]].]]

* Naruto puts his money where his mouth is and beats the stuffing out of the Hyūga prodigy ''in taijutsu''. He doesn't even use the Kyūbi chakra [[spoiler:until his final slash.]]

* When a spectator bad-mouths Naruto regarding his [[spoiler:brutal finishing blow on Neji]], Hinata openly and strongly defends him. This act actually changes some of the spectators' views on Naruto, and Kurenai is impressed by Hinata's boldness.

* It's revealed that [[spoiler:the Sound Four barrier was disrupted by Naruto's chakra pulse, allowing [[HeelFaceTurn Haku]] to go through and fight Orochimaru alongside the Hokage, easily keeping up with them.]]

** Without needing Gamabunta's help, Naruto [[spoiler:takes his fellow jinchuuriki to town.]]
** Kankurō is [[spoiler:able to hold his own against ''both'' Shino and Shikamaru.]] Even though Kankurō is shown to be at a disadvantage, and [[spoiler:the latter two aren't fighting to kill]], that's still quite impressive.
** [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels. [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Tenten) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited, but it still counted as his loss). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, she showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]] and [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack]]). Interestingly enough, this last point could be seen as a CallBack to Kurenai's lesson on deception, as Temari's dismissive, superior attitude and her impression of Hinata contributed to the success of the deception. And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

* Finding out the ''real'' reason Naruto ripped [[spoiler: Neji's]] face open at the end of their fight: [[spoiler: breaking the caged bird seal and preventing it from being reapplied!]]

* Naruto ''winning'' his bet with [[spoiler:Tsunade by disrupting her genjutsu with the Naruto Majutsu: Chakra Pulse]].
** He even uses [[spoiler:her]] ExactWords to his advantage. [[spoiler:Naruto vs. Tsunade, with Tsunade boasting she can win by using just one finger against him. Naruto quickly busts out his [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer Shadow Clone]] ZergRush. It's still not enough, exemplified with Tsunade causing a chakra-fueled fissure with her finger to decimate Naruto's clones. That's when Naruto busts out the Chakra Pulse, [[OhCrap destroying Tsunade's youthful genjutsu]]. Naruto points and laughs. Tsunade starts strangling him...which is more than just [[ExactWords one finger]].]] Check and mate.
** It's even better when you consider the entire thing is a BatmanGambit. [[spoiler: Tsunade]] could have refused to carry on with the terms of the bet or [[spoiler: just flicked him with her finger when Naruto disrupted the genjutsu, which would cause enough harm given her super strength]], but Naruto realizes that [[spoiler:her age and gambling habits are serious issues for Tsunade]] and [[FlawExploitation precisely uses them to his advantage]].

* Kakashi and Asuma [[spoiler:standing on either side of [[{{Jerkass}} Hyūga Hiashi]] and threatening him to keep him from punishing Hinata for 'breaking decorum' and comforting Naruto during Kurenai's funeral.]] Kakashi accomplishes this by [[spoiler: threatening to share his secrets for beating the Byakugan with the entire village]] while Asuma goes with the direct approach:
-->'''Kakashi''': I know you have no wish to do anything that might seem disrespectful to [[spoiler:Kurenai-san]]'s memory, so you'll stay right here and leave [[spoiler:her]] team alone to say goodbye as they wish to.\\

'''Asuma''': A few days ago, the two of us were fighting two of the most dangerous missing-nins in the world. We were out of position or too slow to save a valued comrade from being killed. Now here you are, someone [[spoiler:she]] clearly despised, trying to make an ass of yourself and disrupt [[spoiler:her]] funeral. How can we not?

* Naruto manages to [[spoiler:convince the Kyūbi to provide assistance in emergency situations against dangerous adversaries.]]

** [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels. [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Tenten) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited, but it still counted as his loss). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, she showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]] and [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack]]). Interestingly enough, this last point could be seen as a CallBack to Kurenai's lesson on deception, as Temari's dismissive, condescending attitude and her impression of Hinata contributed to the success of the deception. And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

** [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels. [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Tenten) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited, but it still counted as his loss). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, she showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]] and [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack]]). Interestingly enough, this last point could be seen as a CallBack to Kurenai's lesson on deception, as Temari's dismissive, condescending attitude worked to the favor of the deception. And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

** [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels. [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Tenten) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited, but it still counted as his loss). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, she showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]] and [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack]]). And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

* Finding out the ''real'' reason Naruto ripped [[spoiler: Neji's]] face open at the end of their fight: [[spoiler: breaking the caged bird seal and preventing it from being reapplied!]]

--> ''The girl was obviously of the Hyūga main family. For such a one to be attracted to a ruffian like the one who bore the kyuubi was an ineradicable smear on her family's honour.''

* Naruto takes out a Missing-Nin who can turn his skin into steel with one punch that goes right through his body, with help from Kyuubi's power. This can also be considered a CurbStompBattle.

* Shino, after figuring out that the Kyuubi had been sealed inside his teammate, verbally crucifies his clan's elders for their treatment of and attitude towards Naruto.
-->'''Shino:''' I was able to deduce the existence of Naruto's prisoner through sparring and training with him. When Uzumaki-san indirectly broached the topic with me, he merely confirmed my deductions. [[CallBack As I told him at the time, I am neither stupid nor unobservant]]. Moreover, it is highly likely that, without the Kyuubi's chakra to draw on, our battle with the missing-nin would have had a far less optimal outcome.\\

* Naruto puts his money where his mouth is and beats the stuffing out of the Hyūga prodigy ''in taijutsu''. He doesn't even use the Kyuubi chakra [[spoiler:until his final slash.]]

* Naruto manages to [[spoiler:convince the Kyuubi to provide assistance in emergency situations against dangerous adversaries.]]

--> ''The girl was obviously of the Hyuuga main family. For such a one to be attracted to a ruffian like the one who bore the kyuubi was an ineradicable smear on her family's honour.''

* Naruto puts his money where his mouth is and beats the stuffing out of the Hyuuga prodigy ''in taijutsu''. He doesn't even use the Kyuubi chakra [[spoiler:until his final slash.]]

* Kakashi and Asuma [[spoiler:standing on either side of [[{{Jerkass}} Hyuuga Hiashi]] and threatening him to keep him from punishing Hinata for 'breaking decorum' and comforting Naruto during Kurenai's funeral.]] Kakashi accomplishes this by [[spoiler: threatening to share his secrets for beating the Byakugan with the entire village]] while Asuma goes with the direct approach:

* Shino versus the snake. [[DynamicEntry Owned.]]
* Hinata manages to land a strike on [[spoiler:Orochimaru]]. As Shino later points out, no one else but Naruto and Sasuke managed to do that.
* Sakura does something useful during the fight against [[spoiler:Orochimaru. When he summons a snake to capture Sasuke while he fights Naruto, Sakura manages to taunt and distract the snake from squeezing Sasuke into unconsciousness. She does this long enough to drive a kunai ''[[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice straight through its head.]]'']] Ouch.

* Without needing Gamabunta's help, Naruto takes his fellow jinchuuriki to town.
* [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels. [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Tenten) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited, but it still counted as his loss). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, it showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]], [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack...]]). And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

* Kurenai a moral one, but awesome nonetheless.

* Shino's best CMOA in the entire series is during the preliminaries of the Chunin Exams, immediately following Hinata's harsh beat-down at the hands of Neji.

* [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels. [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Ten-Ten)) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited, but it still counted as his loss). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, it showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]], [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack...]]). And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

--->Glancing around, Shino noticed that both Rock Lee and Tenten were staring at him. Looking down, he realized that there was a fine spray of aspirated blood across the front of his jacket. Hinata's blood. He looked back up.
--->"What variety of flowers would be appropriate?" he asked in the calmest, most matter-of-fact tone of voice he could muster.
--->"What?" Tenten asked, rubbing a bruise on the side of her head that she'd sustained in her loss to Temari. To their credit, both of them appeared upset with the outcome of the last match, but Shino still had a point to make.
--->"For your team mate's funeral," he clarified.
--->Lee paled.

* Naruto puts his money where his mouth is and beats the stuffing out of the Hyuuga prodigy ''in taijutsu''.

* It's revealed that [[spoiler:the Sound Four barrier was disrupted by Naruto's chakra pulse, allowing [[HeelFaceTurn Haku]] to save Hiruzen]]

* Kurenai escapes Tsukuyomi by exploiting it's own tortorous mechanisms. In other words, she forced the genjutsu to help her escape from it.

[[AC:Chapters 17-18]]
* The entirety of the Sand/Sound Invasion is one for Naruto. First he, in the words of Temari, beats Gaara like an unwanted stepchild, literally draining him of chakra. Then he uses his chakra pulse to destroy Kabuto's genjutsu that put the arena to sleep. Said pulse envelopes Konoha and the surrounding area, disrupting the Sound Four barrier and the ritual that WAS going to summon the three giant snakes. [[spoiler: The barrier being disrupted allowed [[HeelFaceTurn Haku]] to save the Hiruzen]] while the ritual only saw a bunch of pissed-off little snakes summoned and promptly kill their summoners before disappearing. Then he leads the pursuit of Gaara and, without needing Gamabunta's help, promptly takes his fellow jinchuuriki to town.

* [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels:
** [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Ten-Ten)) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited but it still counts). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, it showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]], [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack...]]). And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

* In canon, Orochimaru and Kabuto attacked the Tsunade Retrieval Squad and came close to winning, even with the Snake Sannin unable to use jutsu. Here, he is only missing one arm and hasn't lost his ability to use jutsu. He refuses to attack. The change: Team 8 and Sasuke are present in addition to Naruto. Orochimaru deliberately states that Naruto should be a Chuunin (possibly Shino too) and that all of Team 8 was "impressive" in the Forest of Death. He pretty much implies that the four genin would clean Kabuto's clock. Oh, and Naruto hasn't even begun learning to use the Rasengan.

* Kakashi and Asuma [[spoiler:standing on either side of [[{{Jerkass}} Hyuuga Hiashi]] and threatening him to keep him from punishing Hinata for 'breaking decorum' and comforting Naruto during Kurenai's funeral.]]
** Kakashi accomplishes this by [[spoiler: threatening to share his secrets for beating the Byakugan with the entire village]] while Asuma goes with the direct approach:
--->'''Kakashi''': I know you have no wish to do anything that might seem disrespectful to [[spoiler:Kurenai-san]]'s memory, so you'll stay right here and leave [[spoiler:her]] team alone to say goodbye as they wish to.\\

* Team 8 taking down a rogue shinobi right within the village in Chapter 4, after the three of them had been doing only D-rank missions up until then.
** Kurenai tried concealing them with an invisibility genjutsu, but by the time she started it, Naruto & company took off completely on their own.
* Naruto defeating the Kaiten by turning part of the arena into swampy ground and letting Neji screw himself ten feet underground.
** [[StealthPun "Neji,"]] [[BilingualBonus "screw."]] [[FridgeBrilliance Beautiful.]]
* Naruto vs. Sasuke during the Chuunin Exam preliminary battles. Naruto just watched Hinata get destroyed by a very spiteful Neji. Sasuke taunts Naruto, hoping he'll fight better than Hinata (this slams down hard on Naruto's BerserkButton). The "fight" lasts as long as it does for [[spoiler: [[IHitYouYouHitTheGround Naruto to bullet-punch Sasuke once, sending him rag-dolling away into an unconscious heap]].]]
* After having all his tenketsu points closed by Neji's Jyuken strikes, Naruto blows them open with a technique he learned from sparring with Hinata. The resulting chakra pulse bowls over Hayate and sends Neji airborne.
** An unforgettable PreAsskickingOneLiner just after the above scene:
--->'''Neji:''' That's impossible.\\
'''Naruto:''' Just as impossible as fighting against fate. Just as impossible as fighting a Jyuuken user hand to hand.
* Naruto puts his money where his mouth is and beats the stuffing out of the Hyuuga prodigy ''in taijutsu''.

* The entirety of the Sand/Sound Invasion is one for Naruto. First he, in the words of Temari, beats Gaara like an unwanted stepchild, literally draining him of chakra. Then he uses his chakra pulse to destroy Kabuto's genjutsu that put the arena to sleep. Said pulse envelopes Konoha and the surrounding area, disrupting the Sound Four barrier and the ritual that WAS going to summon the three giant snakes. [[spoiler: The barrier being disrupted allowed [[HeelFaceTurn Haku]] to save the Hiruzen]] while the ritual only saw a bunch of pissed-off little snakes summoned and promptly kill their summoners before disappearing. Then he leads the pursuit of Gaara and, without needing Gamabunta's help, promptly takes his fellow jinchuuriki to town.
* Naruto [[CurbStompBattle curbstomping]] Gaara.

* in chapter 20, Kurenai escapes Tsukuyomi by exploiting it's own tortorous mechanisms. In other words, she forced the genjutsu to help her escape from it.
* Finding out the ''real'' reason Naruto ripped [[spoiler: Neji's]] face open at the end of their fight: [[spoiler: breaking the caged bird seal and preventing it from being reapplied!]]
* In canon, Orochimaru and Kabuto attacked the Tsunade Retrieval Squad and came close to winning, even with the Snake Sannin unable to use jutsu. Here, he is only missing one arm and hasn't lost his ability to use jutsu. He refuses to attack. The change: Team 8 and Sasuke are present instead of just canon!Naruto.
** It gets even better: Orochimaru deliberately states that Naruto should be a Chuunin (possibly Shino too) and that all of Team 8 was "impressive" in the Forest of Death. He pretty much implies that the four genin would clean Kabuto's clock. Oh, and Naruto hasn't even begun learning to use the Rasengan.
* Kakashi and Asuma [[spoiler:standing on either side of [[{{Jerkass}} Hyuuga Hiashi]] and threatening him to keep him from punishing Hinata for 'breaking decorum' and comforting Naruto during Kurenai's funeral.]]
** Kakashi accomplishes this by [[spoiler: threatening to share his secrets for beating the Byakugan with the entire village]] while Asuma goes with the direct approach:
--->'''Kakashi''': I know you have no wish to do anything that might seem disrespectful to [[spoiler:Kurenai-san]]'s memory, so you'll stay right here and leave [[spoiler:her]] team alone to say goodbye as they wish to.\\
'''Hiashi''': ''(seething)'' You have no right to interfere with my clan!\\
'''Kakashi''': No, I don't...but I ''do'' have a right to share any jutsu I've acquired. You know, '[[RedBaron Copy-Cat Ninja Kakashi]]' and all that. Bingo book says I know over a thousand. ''(nonchalant shrug)'' I know of at least two dozen that can neutralize or otherwise bypass eye bloodlines...like the Byakugan. Iruka's always after me to contribute some jutsu to the Academy curriculum, especially for their advanced jutsu workshops.\\
'''Hiashi''': ''(pissed)'' That's treason!\\
'''Kakashi''': No, not at all. I'm providing these to the village as a whole. Just because everyone else in the village learns how to fight against the Byakugan--if they have to--doesn't make it treason ''[[MyCountryRightOrWrong against Konoha]]'', does it?\\
'''Asuma''': I don't have anything half so elegant; I'll just kick your ass if you take one step towards those kids.\\
'''Hiashi''': [[TemptingFate Do you really think you can do that]]?\\
'''Asuma''': A few days ago, the two of us were fighting two of the most dangerous missing-nins in the world. We were out of position or too slow to save a valued comrade from being killed. Now here you are, someone [[spoiler:she]] clearly despised, trying to make an ass of yourself and disrupt [[spoiler:her]] funeral. How can we not?

* Naruto ''winning'' his bet with [[spoiler:Tsunade by disrupting her genjutsu with the Naruto Majutsu: Chakra Pulse]].
** He even uses [[spoiler:her]] ExactWords to his advantage. [[spoiler:Naruto vs. Tsunade, with Tsunade boasting she can win by using just one finger against him. Naruto quickly busts out his [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer Shadow Clone]] ZergRush. It's still not enough, exemplified with Tsunade causing a chakra-fueled fissure with her finger to decimate Naruto's clones. That's when Naruto busts out the Chakra Pulse, [[OhCrap destroying Tsunade's youthful genjutsu]]. Naruto points and laughs. Tsunade starts strangling him...which is more than just [[ExactWords one finger]].]] Check and mate.
** It's even better when you consider the entire thing is a BatmanGambit. [[spoiler: Tsunade]] could have refused to carry on with the terms of the bet or [[spoiler: just flicked him with her finger when Naruto disrupted the genjutsu, which would cause enough harm given her super strength]], but Naruto realizes that [[spoiler:her age and gambling habits are serious issues for Tsunade]] and [[FlawExploitation precisely uses them to his advantage]].
* [[spoiler:Hinata's]] fight against [[spoiler:Temari]] is great on several levels:
** [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Ten-Ten)) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited but it still counts). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, it showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]], [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack...]]). And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[NiceGirl gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.
* Hinata's reaction to Naruto being told by a school doctor that he's a monster [[spoiler: in regards to making his first kill]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Naruto:''' Well, he told me he didn't think I'd have any problems at all... like I'm some monster that would probably enjoy killing.]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Hinata:''' That's bullshit!]]

* In chapter 23, Naruto mastering the Rasengan in a week ''without using clones''.

* Hey, hey, what about Naruto [[CurbStompBattle pwning]] Gaara?

* Kurenai in chapter 20 manages to escape Tsukuyomi.
* Finding out the ''real'' reason Naruto ripped [[spoiler: Neji's]] face open at the end of their fight.
* Kakashi and Asuma [[spoiler:standing on either side of [[{{Jerkass}} Hyuuga]] [[AbusiveParents Hiashi]] and threatening him to keep him from punishing Hinata for 'breaking decorum' and comforting Naruto during Kurenai's funeral.]]

** He even uses [[spoiler:her]] ExactWords to his advantage. [[spoiler:Naruto vs. Tsunade, with Tsunade boasting she can win by using just one finger against him. Naruto quickly busts out his [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer Shadow Clone]] ZergRush. It's still not enough, exemplified with Tsunade [[CrazyAwesome causing a chakra-fueled fissure with her finger to decimate Naruto's clones]]. That's when Naruto busts out the Chakra Pulse, [[OhCrap destroying Tsunade's youthful genjutsu]]. Naruto points and laughs. Tsunade starts strangling him...which is more than just [[ExactWords one finger]].]] Check and mate.
** It's even better when you consider the entire thing is a BatmanGambit. [[spoiler: Tsunade]] could have refused to carry on with the terms of the bet or [[spoiler: just flicked him with her finger when Naruto disrupted the genjutsu, which would cause enough harm given her super strength]]. But Naruto realizes that [[spoiler:her age and gambling habits are serious issues for Tsunade]] and [[FlawExploitation precisely uses them to his advantage]].

** [[spoiler:First, it means that Hinata, [[HandicappedBadass a genin technically on sick leave]], beat a kunoichi who should have, by all rights, been made a chunin. Second, she beat a ninja who beat one of her seniors (Ten-Ten (stop laughing)) and the smartest ninja of her generation (technically Shikamaru forfeited but it still counts). Third, despite being the least threatening person in the cast, it showed off how swift and cunning she could be [[BewareTheNiceOnes if pressed]] (evading Gaara's sand claw [[SheFu with a backflip]], [[FakeWeakness using a downed clone to draw Temari in for an attack...]]). And... when the Sands surrender and it's all said and done, she goes back to being [[ShrinkingViolet quiet,]] [[TheMessiah gentle]] [[HumbleHero Hinata]].]] Awesome.

* [[TheLoad Sakura]] actually does something useful during the fight against [[spoiler:Orochimaru. When he summons a snake to capture Sasuke while he fights Naruto, Sakura manages to taunt and distract the snake from squeezing Sasuke into unconsciousness. She does this long enough to drive a kunai ''[[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice straight through its head.]]'']] Ouch.

* Implied awesome: in chapter 22, Gai explains he has the Turtle Summoning Contract, and calls their boss the Friend of All Children, implying he can call upon [[spoiler: ''Franchise/{{Gamera}}'']]. TurtlePower doesn't get much more powerful than ''that''...