The morning of the finals arrived with a clear sky stretching over Konoha.

The stadium was already filled with thousands of spectators. Shinobi and nobles from all over the world had come to witness the strength of the next generation.

Naruto stood with his teammates in the waiting area, bouncing lightly on his toes.

"I'm so pumped!" he said, grinning ear to ear.

Sasuke smirked slightly, arms crossed. "Don't mess up."

Sakura smiled encouragingly. "You'll do great, Naruto!"

Up in the stands, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked down with a calm gaze. Beside him sat the "Kazekage" though in truth, it was Orochimaru in disguise, hidden beneath a mask and a deadly smile.

'Let's see how much these brats have grown' Hiruzen thought.

In the waiting area, the proctor Genma Shiranui stepped forward, lazy as ever, chewing on his senbon.

"Alright. The first match, Hyuga Neji versus Uzumaki Naruto. You two, to the field."

Naruto cracked his knuckles and marched out, full of energy.

Across from him, Neji stood calm, stoic, and silent. His Byakugan was activated, veins bulging around his eyes.

The stadium quieted.

Genma raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Neji immediately took a loose stance, one palm open and facing Naruto.

"You cannot change your destiny," Neji said coldly, his voice carrying across the field. "A loser like you has no chance against the genius of the Hyuga."

Naruto scoffed. "Tch, what destiny? Don't talk like you know everything!"

He dashed forward without hesitation, sending a punch at Neji's face.

Neji easily sidestepped and tapped Naruto's shoulder with pinpoint precision Gentle Fist.

Naruto stumbled, feeling his chakra momentarily disrupted.

"Give up," Neji said simply. "The outcome was decided the moment we were born."

Naruto growled and jumped back. "I decide my own fate, thank you very much!"

Without hesitation, he crossed his fingers.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In a huge puff of smoke, dozens of Narutos filled the arena.

The crowd gasped. Even many elite ninjas leaned forward.

From his seat, Hiruzen smiled. He's grown… so much.

Neji, for his part, remained impassive.

He spun suddenly in place, releasing a burst of chakra:

"Kaiten!" (Rotation)

The swirling dome of chakra blasted away the attacking clones, throwing them like rag dolls into the air.

Up above, Naruto smirked, clinging to the wall.

He had planned for this.

Gathering chakra into his hand, a wild whirling sphere formed:

"RASENGAN!"

'How is it possible!?' Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock.

Even Orochimaru stiffened slightly under his disguise.

A Rasengan? Impossible. That jutsu was…

Naruto launched himself off the wall like a bullet, Rasengan roaring in his palm.

Neji's Byakugan caught the danger at the last second.

He tried to spin another Kaiten, but Naruto was faster.

With a loud, violent impact, Naruto slammed the Rasengan into Neji's defense, shattering the chakra rotation.

BOOM!

The explosion of force threw Neji backward, crashing him into the arena floor, and tearing up stone and dust.

Silence fell across the stadium.

Naruto landed, panting, his hand still smoking slightly from the Rasengan's friction.

Across the arena, Neji struggled to rise, his robes torn, blood dripping from his mouth.

"You…" he said, eyes wide. "You're no loser."

Naruto grinned. "Told ya! I'm gonna be Hokage someday! And I'm not gonna let some 'fate' nonsense stop me! Believe it!"

The entire stadium erupted into cheers.

In the stands, Hiruzen chuckled softly, pride shining in his old eyes.

'I should have had more faith in you from the beginning, Naruto… 'he thought. He believed that Naruto didn't need to be specially trained but, it seems he was wrong.

'Well done, Kakashi. You've trained them well.' He thought.

Beside him, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes behind his Kazekage mask. His mind raced, analyzing.

'The jinchūriki… he was supposed to be a fool. Yet he mastered the Rasengan?'

'Fascinating. Kakashi… you've turned a clown into a real shinobi.'

Down on the field, Genma walked to the center.

"Winner! Uzumaki Naruto!"

Naruto punched the air, beaming at the cheers.

Back in the waiting area, Sakura jumped up and cheered, while Sasuke smirked faintly, arms still crossed. He knew without a doubt that Naruto would win, and he expected to have an all-out fight with him in the finals.

Kakashi, leaning against the wall outside, let a small proud smile escape his usually lazy face.

You've come a long way, Naruto.

As Naruto jogged back into the hallway, Genma called for the next match.

Meanwhile in the Stands.

Hinata Hyuga clutched the railing tightly, heart pounding.

Naruto had done it he had fought Neji and won.

Tears pricked her eyes.

He's amazing…

Across from her, Kiba growled low under his breath.

"Damn, Naruto… when did you get so strong?"

Shino simply adjusted his glasses.

"He has grown. Immensely."

Naruto came to the stands and gave everyone a thumbs-up and a bright smile.

It was the first time he was praised by so many people after being hated by everyone in the village and it made him very happy.

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei! I did it!" Naruto jumped up and down with joy.

Kakashi looked at Naruto who couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Kakashi chuckled and ruffled his hair. He knew Naruto had it rough growing up and Kakashi hoped he made it up during these times.

"You did well you have grown very strong, Naruto," Kakashi said to Naruto.

The other contestants who were looking at Naruto didn't expect this silly-looking kid would be so strong that even the known Hyuga Genius was defeated.