History Recap / Team8Chapter14PreliminaryMayhem

Naruto returns to Kurenai at the waiting room and nervously awaits news on Hinata. Gai, Lee (who lost to Gaara) and Shino arrive. Gai thanks Kurenai for the info on Gaara; since Lee did not have the means to defeat the Sand genin, Gai ended the match early for his safety. Kankuro gets a by into the tournament. Shino tells Naruto his next fight will be against Neji.

The team report their ordeals in the forest. Kurenai reveals the powerful snake-ninja was likely Orochimaru, one of the Hokage's former students turned traitor to Konoha. Naruto mentions his encounter with the Kyuubi, and Kurenai decides to ask the Hokage about the seal of the Nine-Tailed Fox. She tells Naruto to be cautious of the beast. Naruto just nods and says nothing.

Sasuke tries to get under Naruto's skin, calling Hinata pathetic in the process. Instantly, Naruto punches Sasuke so fast and hard that the latter gets a broken jaw and falls unconscious.

Returning to Kurenai at the waiting room, Naruto nervously awaits news on Hinata. Gai, Lee (who lost to Gaara) and Shino arrive. Gai thanks Kurenai for the info on Gaara; since Lee did not have the means to defeat the Sand genin, Gai ended the match early for his safety. Kankuro gets a by into the tournament. Shino tells Naruto his next fight will be against Neji.

When Naruto expresses surprise that all Konoha's rookies succeeded, Shino fears people may see it as collusion. Kurenai reminds Naruto that the exams showcase each villages' strengths, but the Hokage disapproves of cheating, partly due to threat of war. First round, Chouji fights one of Kabuto's teammates, Yoroi, who attacks with chakra absorption. When Yoroi calls him fat, Chouji furiously crush Yoroi with the Multi-Size jutsu.

After that, Hinata's name comes up along with Neji's. Neji tries to make Hinata surrender, but she refuses, and the fight begins. The fight between the two Jyuuken users is quick, and Naruto realizes that most of Neji's strikes are made with the intent to maim or kill. Neji cuts off Hinata's chakra in her arms, but she refuses to give up, managing to injure Neji by throwing her weights at him. However, Neji gets over the surprise and continues to fight, heavily injuring Hinata, who keeps standing up in spite of her injuries. Neji mocks her resolve as futile, but Hinata points out his hatred of his own situation. Neji tries to hit her with deadly intent, but Naruto swaps himself with Hinata and takes the strike for her. Medic-nins hastily take Hinata away, and Naruto is enraged at Neji. As Gai tells Neji off, Kurenai convinces Naruto to follow Hinata. Shino asks Lee and Tenten which flowers would be appropriate for Neji's funeral.

Returning to Kurenai at the waiting room, Naruto nervously awaits news on Hinata. Gai, Lee (who lost to Gaara) and Shino arrive. Gai thanks Kurenai for the information of Gaara; since Lee did not have the means to defeat the Sand genin, Gai ended the match early for his safety. Kankuro gets a by into the tournament. Shino tells Naruto his next fight will be against Neji.

* InSpiteOfANail: Although many of the matchups are different from canon, Temari vs. Tenten, Hinata vs. Neji, Sakura vs. Ino, & Rock Lee vs Gaara still occur, in broadly similar fashion. Hinata's battle has some key differences, however, and Gai ends Lee's match earlier due to warnings about Gaara, sparing Lee from disability.

Naruto and Kurenai follow Hinata to the hospital wing until their way is blocked, and Naruto mentally swears to destroy Neji if they fight. Kurenai tells Naruto to return to the auditorium, pointing out that staying would disqualify him and prevent him from fighting Neji, getting through Naruto's worry by mentioning Hinata's reaction to his disqualification. He arrives just in time to see Ino and Sakura being taken away after they knock each other out, and the next is Naruto against Sasuke.

Sasuke trash talks Naruto, insulting Hinata in the process.

One second into the fight, Naruto punches Sasuke so fast and hard that the latter gets a broken jaw and falls unconscious.

Returning to the waiting room with Kurenai, Naruto nervously expects news on Hinata, with only the arrival of Gai, Lee (who has fought Gaara) and Shino changing things. Gai thanks Shino for his information of Gaara, as Lee did not have the means to fight the Sand genin. Shino tells Naruto his next fight will be against Neji.

* CurbStompBattle: Naruto vs Sasuke. After the latter sees fit to stomp on the former's BerserkButton, Naruto sees fit to break Sasuke's jaw a second into the fight.

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Neji nearly kills Hinata during their combat.

After that, Hinata's name comes up along with Neji's. Neji tries to make Hinata surrender, but she refuses, and the fight begins. The fight between the two Jyuuken users is quick, and Naruto realizes that most of Neji's strikes are made with the intent to maim or kill. Neji cuts off Hinata's chakra in her arms, but she refuses to give up, managing to injure Neji by throwing her weights at him. However, Neji gets over the surprise and continues to fight, heavily injuring Hinata, who keeps standing up in spite of her injuries. Neji tries to hit her with deadly intent, but Naruto swaps himself with Hinata and takes the strike for her. As Gai tells Neji off, the Hyuuga sends a glare at Naruto, who answers with one of his own before leaving to check on Hinata. Shino asks Lee and Tenten which flowers would be appropriate for Neji's funeral.

* ShipTease: After Team 8 collects an Earth Scroll, Naruto excitedly lifts and twirls Hinata, to her embarrassment.

Next comes Shino against Kiba. Kiba and Akamaru attack together, but Shino uses his kamas to hold them off and hurt Akamaru. Kikai bugs drain Kiba of his chakra, winning Shino the match. Nara Shikamaru fights Tsurugi Misumi, who wraps himself around the Konoha genin with his rubber-like limbs, only for Shikamaru to bluff him about having a poisoned kunai in hand. This distracts Misumi long enough to allow Shikamaru to use his shadow jutsu to force Misumi to strike his own head against the ground, knocking the elder genin out.

After that Hinata's name comes up along with Neji's. Neji tries to make Hinata surrender, but she refuses, and the fight begins. The fight between the two Jyuuken users is quick, and Naruto realizes that most of Neji's strikes are made with the intent to maim or kill. Hinata gets burned, but refuses to give up and keeps up, managing to injure Neji by throwing her weights at him. However, Neji gets over the surprise and continues to fight, heavily injuring Hinata, who keeps standing up in spite of her injuries. Neji tries to hit her with deadly intent, but Naruto swaps himself with Hinata and takes the strike for her. As Gai tells Neji off, the Hyuuga sends a glare at Naruto, who answers with one of his own before leaving to check on Hinata. Shino asks Lee and Tenten which flowers would be appropriate for Neji's funeral.

When Naruto expresses surprise that all Konoha's rookies succeeded, Shino fears people may see it as collusion. Kurenai reminds Naruto that the exams showcase each villages' strengths, but the Hokage disapproves of cheating, partly due to threat of war.

First round, Chouji fights one of Kabuto's teammates, Yoroi, who attacks with chakra absorption. When Yoroi calls him fat, Chouji furiously crush Yoroi with the Multi-Size jutsu. Tenten then faces off against Temari. The latter easily counters and defeats Tenten's use of weapons with her Wind Release techniques.

Next comes Shino against Kiba. Kiba uses his jutsu to become a wolf-like creature, but Shino manages to hold him off and hurt Akamaru, using the distractions to send his kikai to drain Kiba of his chakra and winning the combat. Nara Shikamaru fights Tsurugi Misumi, who wraps himself around the Konoha genin with his rubber-like limbs, only for Shikamaru to bluff him about having a poisoned kunai in hand. This distracts Misumi long enough to allow Shikamaru to use his shadow jutsu to force Misumi to strike his own head against the ground, knocking the elder genin out.

Chouji fights one of Kabuto's teammates, Adakou Yoroi, who seems to have the advantage until he makes the mistake of calling Chouji fat, causing the Konoha ninja to use his family's special technique to become a large meatball tank and crush Yoroi. Tenten faces off against Temari, with the weapon specialist unable to get through the Sand genin's defences, losing the match when Temari throws her out with a wind blast.

After being checked up by the medic-nins (who only help Naruto at the insistence of his teammates), and resting, Team 8 joins the teams who have passed the exam: Teams 7 and 10, Gai's students, and Gaara's team. The Hokage congratulates the teams for passing and introduces the last test, officiated by Gekkou Hayate, who explains that it is a tournament and states there will be a preliminary round to reduce the numbers. Kabuto retires, leaving seventeen people in the tournament.

They claim the team's Earth scroll, and Naruto joyfully embraces Hinata. As they approach the tower, Shino speculates that other teams may be staking out to steal scrolls. Naruto creates a horde of clones, some disguised as Shino and Hinata, and uses them to conceal the team as they rush the tower. Two-thirds of the clones are destroyed, and Naruto gets headaches from the sheer number of memories sent by destroyed clones, such as those taunting Gaara and Neji. When they arrive, Iruka notes Hinata's bruises.

During the debriefing on the fights Team 8 was involved in, Kurenai reveals to her genin that the man who put the seals on Naruto and Sasuke was quite likely Orochimaru, one of the Hokage's students who turned traitor. Naruto mentions how he spoke with the Kyuubi, and Kurenai decides to ask the Hokage about the seals around the Nine-Tailed Fox.

After being checked up by the medic-nins (who only work on Naruto at the insistence of his teammates), and resting, Team 8 joins the teams who have passed the exam, a list including Teams 7 and 10, Gai's students and Gaara's team. The Hokage congratulates the teams for passing and introduces the last test, officiated by Gekkou Hayate, who explains that it is a tournament and states there will be a preliminary round to reduce the numbers. Kabuto retires, leaving seventeen people in the tournament.

Taking the Hidden Mist team's Earth scroll (which incites Naruto to hug Hinata in joy), Team 8 now has to plan how to reach the tower, since paths towards it are limited and people are going to be watching for them. Realizing that they can reach the tower by making it impossible to be picked up by others, Naruto summons more Shadow Clones and has them go for the tower from different paths, distracting other teams while Team 8 reaches the tower - although this causes him some headaches as he receives memories of how the clones die, such as giving Gaara a noogie or mooning Neji. When they arrive, Iruka notes Hinata's bruises.

As they advance, Team 8 encounters a group of Hidden Mist genin using a genjutsu, which Naruto dispels with his Chakra Pulse, later sending a dozen clones against them, countered with four clones that burst into acid after dying. Another in the group throws acid spheres at Team 8. Naruto bursts most of them, but one hits Hinata and Shino - who disappear, since they are Henged clones. In the ensuing fight, Hinata knocks one out with a Jyuuken strike, Shino uses his kikai to distract the second before kneeing him and Naruto punches their leader.

After the fight with Dosu, Kin and Zaku, Teams 7 and 8 reconvene. Kiba picks up the Earth Scroll left behind by Kin and Zaku, noting that Team 7 has a Heaven Scroll. Naruto tells them they have an Earth Scroll. He taunts Kiba and his team, and the two start wrestling. Shino and Sakura simultaneously ask each other whether they can control the two, and a few minutes later the two return, with both teams taking their own paths.

Naruto explains the reasoning behind his actions to Hinata and Shino: after he learned about the Cursed Seal from the Nine-Tails, he knows Sasuke needs a medic-nin soon, before the seal does irreparable damage, and secretly told Kiba during their wrestle. He made Sasuke think Team 8 had an Earth scroll because otherwise the Uchiha wouldn't have accepted it out of pride. Hinata and Shino agree with his reasoning.

In the aftermath of the fight against Dosu, Kin and Zaku, Teams 7 and 8 reconvene. Kiba picks up the scroll left behind by Kin and Zaku as they ran away and notes it is an Earth scroll - and Naruto tells Team 7 they are in luck and can take it, noting that they would be unable to hold off Konohamaru and his friends, setting Kiba off into fighting with Naruto. Shino and Sakura immediately ask each other whether they can control the two, and a few minutes later the two return, with both teams taking their own paths.

When Naruto reunites with Hinata and Shino, though, he explains the reasoning behind his actions: after what he learned of the Cursed Seal the Grass ninja put on him, he knows that Sasuke needs to be taken to a medic-nin soon, before the seal does irreparable damage to Sasuke, and wanted Sasuke to think Team 8 had an Earth scroll because otherwise the Uchiha wouldn't have accepted it out of pride. Hinata and Shino agree with his reasoning.

-->Shino winced as he witnessed the Uchiha's attempt at psychological warfare. While it was a valid tactic in many circumstances, this wasn't one he'd personally recommend.\\
When the examiner said "Begin!" there was a green blur of motion that ended in a loud crack.\\
Naruto was standing in the space formerly occupied by the Uchiha, fist extended. Shino noticed that his eyes were a much darker shade of blue than normal, almost a deep purple.\\
As for Sasuke, he was flying backwards, landing in a boneless heap three and a half meters behind his starting position. There was a large lump already forming on the side of his jaw as he bounced once before sliding to a halt. To Shino's untrained eye, it was quite apparent that the last Uchiha had sustained a broken jaw.\\
Gekkou Hayate stared at the clearly unconscious boy as the one who struck him turned and began marching towards the exit. Clearing his throat, he announced, "Winner, Uzumaki Naruto."

After that Hinata's name comes up along with Neji's. Neji tries to make Hinata surrender, but she refuses, and the fight begins. The fight between the two Jyuuken users is quick, and Naruto realizes that most of Neji's strikes are made with the intent to maim or kill. Hinata gets burned, but refuses to give up and keeps up, managing to injure Neji by throwing her weights at him. However, Neji gets over the surprise and continues to fight, heavily injuring Hinata, who keeps standing up in spite of her injuries, and Neji tries to hit her with deadly intent, but Naruto swaps himself with Hinata and takes the strike for her. As Gai tells Neji off, the Hyuuga sends a glare at Naruto, who answers with one of his own before leaving to check on Hinata. Shino asks Lee and Tenten which flowers would be appropiate for Neji's funeral.

* BerserkButton: Don't call Chouji fat. Seriously.

* TranquilFury: Shino's reaction to Neji's NoHoldsBarredBeatdown of Hinata is to calmly ask Lee and Tenten [[ImpliedDeathThreat what flowers would be appropiate for Neji's funeral]].

In the aftermath of the fight against Dosu, Kin and Zaku, Teams 7 and 8 reconvene. Kiba picks up the scroll left behind by Kin and Zaku as they ran away and notes it is an Earth scroll - and Naruto tells Team 7 they are luckin and can take it, noting that they would be unable to hold off Konohamaru and his friends, setting Kiba off into fighting with Naruto. Shino and Sakura immediately ask each other whether they can control the two, and a few minutes later the two return, with both teams taking their own paths.

* TakingTheBullet: Naruto uses the Substitution Jutsu to save Hinata by taking Neji's last punch instead of her.