Despite it All

Naruto's POV (Training Ground of Team Seven)

Naruto knew his various faults. He was a bit brash; some would even say impulsive. He thought himself friendly, but no one had ever called the blonde patient. Naruto had spent significant bits of time in meditation to gain self-control. It worked to some extent. The blonde often managed to rein himself in, but he could have been better. Not to mention Neji, they apparently knew each other in the three hours. They Had decided not only was Naruto "weak" but also a "peasant," not to forget a "doomed loser." Now Naruto realized he had jawed the man. Some level of hostility was to be expected. But to Naruto, it seemed that Neji had disliked him initially. Luckily for the Hyuga, Ino reluctantly filled the role of a mediator. At least until Neji landed a good insult towards her. But before either blonde could attempt to throttle Neji, Kakashi would appear to settle the dispute and then poof away once again. After this cycle had repeated itself three times, the Hyuga and Uzumaki reached some level of accord. Naruto figured it was an agree-to-disagree clause, but the Hyuga only communicated in insults and harsh glares. So he didn't bother to try and find out. Ino and he had gotten along so far. But she had gone silent because of how often Neji would engage negatively. But before the blonde could reconsider attacking Neji, Kakashi appeared again, but he now looked severe.

"Alrighty, then it appears you're all ready to go. The rules are rather simple. I'll let you know who goes, and the selected person will come to me with everything they have. No worries, I doubt it'll amount to much." He said with what Naruto could've sworn was an eye smile. "Is that understood?" The three echoed back with consent, all able to tell he meant business. Though Naruto did so out of wanting to fight already. "Excellent, girlie, your fist."

"Stop. Calling. Me. That." Ino said darkly. Kakashi was sure she thought she was intimidating. He had met many females who terrified them. Luckily, this one was not one of them. Though it would serve as sufficient motivation. Best to stroke the fire for now.

"I would… if you were impressive. I guess you can try to change my mind, but I doubt you can." Kakashi taunted, his voice soundly, much more polite than his words. The girl immediately charged, pulling a kunai and firing one off towards the Jounin. He caught it and slashed at her as she approached. The young woman matched it, attempting to block the strike. But the force behind it smashed through her guard and sent her rolling through. Ino growled from the ground as she stared a hole through him.

"Remember to consider physicality. I'm much larger and physically stronger than you, so blocking my blows is quite the task. Use your chakra to reinforce your muscles. This will allow bridging a physical gap between opponents at the cost of chakra. Also," He then appeared behind the girl stomping down. "An opponent won't allow you to whine." He said. But with a poof, a log was there. Kakashi was impressed with the substitution. As he thought this, he dodged a shuriken, caught a kunai, and used it to deflect the rest of the barrage of weaponry.

"TAKE THIS!" Ino called from behind. Kakashi turned and raised his guard. Ino didn't seem to mind, slamming a kunai into Kakashi's guard. The man must admit she had reasonable chakra control. Already, he could feel her increased strength.

"Ok," he said as he deflected her back. She threw her hands up in an attempted jutsu, but Kakashi knew of her clan. He quickly blitzed her, appearing behind her with a hand chop. But to his surprise, she poofed, seemingly predicting his move. A log appeared in her place with a shuriken with an explosive tag attached embedded in it. "Clever G-" Kakashi started before it exploded, sending a dust cloud into the area, hiding the result.

"That was genius!" Naruto called out cheering. Neji remained silent but seemed to be shaking his head yes, impressed with the strategy.

As the dust cleared, the clearing was empty. Just a crater remained where the Jounin had stood. Before anyone could doubt what had happened, Ino flew into the clearing from the surrounding woods. Dirtied and bruised.

"Impressive idea there. I was wondering why that one was sent so wide. If it was someone your age, that very well may have worked. Unfortunately, Ino, I'm experienced." He said his tone was much more gentle than before. The girl stood and nodded. Walking back over to the two other boys.

"Nice work, Ino! You almost had him!" Naruto congratulated her.

"It was more than I thought you had, though you must work on your taijutsu, endurance, and speed." Neji said his voice lacked a tiny bit of its previous edge.

"Naruto, it's your turn, runt." Kakashi called the blonde. Who stomped over angrily at the insult.

"Was that your attempt at being nice?" Ino said, bored.

"Not quite merely, acknowledging you a bit more. I thought you were useless, but at the very least, you're no fool." Neji said.

"Well, you're still an arrogant ass." Ino said dryly.

"Perhaps, but I carry the burden of lacking control of my fate. I cannot help but wear my hatred." Neji informed her. "I was destined to be a servant, destined to be a shinobi, born a rare genius, yet I serve those less deserving than I. It burns at me." Ino was shocked into silence. She had heard some of his situation, being the gossip bug she was. But the way he posed it, Ino could see how he might've turned out the way he was. She was conflicted about understanding a bit more. It was nice, but she wasn't sure it justified his behavior. Both were silent for a moment before they heard.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Instant half the clearing was filled with blondes. They all grabbed tanto's, shuriken, and kunai and smiled at the Jounin. "YOU CALLING US RUNT?!" The blondes hollered before charging.

"Are they all solid clones?!" Neji exclaimed Byakugan active.

"There are fifty of them." Ino said in disbelief.

Kakashi was an experienced shinobi. In his time, he'd battled countless battles. Fought men who had never tasted defeat. It wasn't easy to surprise a man like that. But when Naruto summoned fifty clones, he was admittedly surprised. Kushina had warned him she had taught him the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Sure, but he had yet to assume he would already be able to summon this many of them. Hell, he had never seen anyone weaponize them like this. It was a suicidal tactic; most would pass out if not flat-out die. But with their scream of vengeance, they charged. Kakashi had been outnumbered before and found it much easier to be on offense than defense. He met their charge immediately, beheading a clone who had gone for a sword thrust. Simultaneously catching another blonde's punch. He then spun, using the clone as a weapon to clobber three more, causing it and them to burst. He then ducked a kunai flying for his head, weaving hand signs as he slammed his palms into the ground as a group of blondes closed in.

"Earth Style: Flaking Ground!" The ground they stood on cracked and collapsed, unbalancing all the nearby clones and destroying some. Kakashi then moved at a quicker speed than before. Using it, he smashes through fifteen clones with ease before having to dodge what seemed to be a wall of shuriken. He backflipped and paused to observe his work. There were only twenty or so left.

"An overwhelming attack, but your speed, taijutsu, and kenjutsu limit you from finishing me off." Kakashi critiqued.

"I didn't know Naruto was that strong; he would clobber me," Ino said, still shocked.

"I'll admit it's quite the tactic. Even I would struggle. But they have yet failed to land a blow. The idiot must be running on fumes, and he's almost out of," Neji started.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" The blonde called again. He added twenty more clones to his army. He quickly hid among the identical army before more pops were seen, the blonde seemingly summoning even more. "Don't worry, that was a warm-up! Ready for some Uzumaki originals?" The clones charged again. Some jumped high up in the air in groups. The ground troops met the Cyclops' reaper head-on, but the man was simply too slippery, weaving around their attacks and even managing to destroy a clone now and then. Before he heard "Naruto Hammer!"

A clone slammed down from above, having been thrown by the two other airborne clones. Kakashi sensed the attack from above. The Jounin jumped back, narrowly avoiding it. Before his feet could touch the ground, he heard, "Uzumaki Reflect!" Three clones raced forward and kicked the would-be suicide clone toward the Jounin. Kakashi caught it sliding back from the momentum, but he heard yet another call, "Shadow Clone: Walking Landmine Jutsu!" the clone he caught seemed to glow for a second before the Jounin poofed away. The explosion missed anyone important, and Kakashi appeared in the air.

Kakashi pondered a nonlethal way to remove the clones. Selecting one, he weaved hand signs while the clones below looked around for the teacher.

"Water Style: Heavy Rain!" The sky filled with water droplets that seemingly grew as they approached. Becoming man-sized right as they landed. The resulting water flooded the clearing and destroyed and tossed around the remaining army. As the water drained, only one blonde remained, seemingly laid out against a tree. Kakashi landed and approached slowly to ensure Naruto was alright. But right when he got close to the blonde, two water puddles popped nearby, turning into Naruto's. One went for a horizontal slash white, and the other went vertical.

"Smashing of the waves!" they called. Kakashi ducked under the first and tried to dive away from the vertical slice, but it caught his vest, cutting a shallow line through it but not being able to harm his skin beneath. The blonde on the left poofed. Leaving the panting one on the right glaring at the Jounin.

"Are we done yet?" He asked before backhanding a clone attempting to sneak up on him.

Naruto merely smiled at this before saying. "Boom." Kakashi was caught off guard but hopped back. Seeing the blonde who said boom dispel with no explosion. This made Kakashi look back. To see a waiting Naruto prepare his stance for a tanto thrust. "Suck on Riptide!" Naruto cried as he attempted to end the fight.

Kakashi smiled underneath his mask before tossing a kunai at the blonde with a bit more speed than he had been using so far. It whipped towards the blonde, who narrowly dodged it, earning a cut to his face. Kakashi landed and blitzed the off-balanced Uzumaki. Naruto was fearless and met the charge, throwing a wild overhand. Kakashi quickly ducked under this, checking a leg kick combo the blonde had thrown. This failed attack left him open for a lightning-quick jab. The blow smacked the young man's head back, making him stumble momentarily. Kakashi needed this to land a crushing body kick and knee to the face that laid the blonde out. Kakashi quickly puts a kunai to Naruto's throat.

"I ask again. Are we done here?" Kakashi said playfully. Naruto growled but nodded, being helped to his feet. "First off, impressive display. You sent out the first group of clones to get a feel for my fighting style. It's a great strategy, but keep in mind that even with an army of you, if your speed, taijutsu, and kenjutsu can't catch me, then it's all pointless. In the second round, you did great, using the numbers to attack constantly and with coordination. But you need to plan your attacks in stages. Not just one or two, but multiple ways to put someone down, mid-fight if need be. Your use of the exploding clones was smart. Your fake-out after doing so is even better. But remember, if your opponent is faster than you. It's unlikely to work unless you restrain them. Good mix-up, finish, or ambush move, but it needs something to seal the deal. Good work overall, Naruto." Kakashi explained.

"You kicked ass! Blondes rule!" Ino yelled happily.

"Now it's your turn, grumpy." Kakashi called, turning his head to the Hyuga. Neji rose calmly and switched places with Naruto. Nodding at the blonde as he passed.

"I'll admit my teammates are more impressive than I assumed. You are as well. But they are very different from me. You'll need what's under your headband for it." Neji said, simply relaxing into his guard.

"My my, you might be my problem child, ne?" Kakashi said. For the first time today, seeming annoyed. The Hyuga suddenly closed the distance at a speed immediately greater than either of the two before. He seemed to focus on finger jabs. Which may seem like a weak blow. But the Hyuga are infamous in the village for the damage they could do with a mere poke. Neji jabbed at him at absurd speed for any Genin. Kakashi dodged these blows reasonably easily but was surprised that any Genin could be this skilled. Having enough of marveling at his speed, Kakashi dodged another finger thrust, kneeing Neji in the ribs. The Genin stepped back, holding them, and Kakashi launched another knee for his face. Deciding to test his defense.

Neji twirled in place, dodging the blow and jabbing for Kakashi's back. Kakashi interrupted this attack by flicking a kunai backward, nearly piercing Neji's hand. Both leaped back, seeming comfortable with resetting.

"I see why you're infamous now. I have fought many, most much stronger than I, yet none of them ever repelled my assault as casually." Neji told the Jounin with a frown.

"Ya, I get that every now and then." Kakashi retorted. Neji growled at the flex before charging again. But to his surprise, Kakashi maintained his distance, matching the Hyuga's speed. Neji stared intently before attempting to close the distance again. But Kakashi simply avoided him.

"You intend to run like a coward!" Neji screamed, now furious.

"Well, you lack range options and are quite good at hand-to-hand. Bombing you at a distance with jutsu just makes sense. In fact," Kakashi jumped into the air again and made familiar hand signs. "Let's try it. Sorry, by the way, I'm a bit of a spammer. Water Style: Heavy Rain!" Once again, the attack fell, but the Hyuga merely smirked.

"Never look down on a Hyuga!" Neji called as he started to spin. Chakra suddenly appeared around him as a visible dome. Each droplet that hit swirled around the dome but didn't damage or get into it. Kakashi landed nearby, having drifted a bit in the air.

"You're in range! One Palm!" Neji snaked forward, aiming for a jab. Kakashi dodged this easily. "Two Palms!" Kakashi dodged both but noticed an increase in speed. "Four Palms!" Kakashi backstepped as he weaved around the four strikes. The speed of the attacks was still increasing! "Eight Palms!" Kakashi backtracked and dodged them all but was surprised by the amount of effort required for this. "Sixteen Palms!" Kakashi dodged this again, but someone nearly caught him. "Thirty Two Trigrams Thirty Palms!" Neji called as he unleashed thirty-two strikes. Somehow, Kakashi snaked through most of these, but the very last managed to hit the Jounin's forearm. Neji panted as he stared at Kakashi.

"Do I need to beat you too?" Kakashi asked, bored.

"I concede." Neji growled. "You'll need me to unlock the chakra point."

"Well, that's just not fun." Kakashi stated matter of factly. As he did so, Neji could see him forcefully unlock the point. Doing so with ease, Neji found himself terrified. "Alrighty then. You were saying?"

Neji was starting to detest this man.