Episode 62 - A Failure’s True Power

We start with Naruto reminding us that he's a sympathetic character. While Neji believes everything is set by destiny, Naruto's determined to prove that it's not, and that Neji's father dying didn't (or shouldn't) determine anything for Neji, either. Neji goes for a finishing blow, and palm-strikes the heck out of Naruto's chest, sending Naruto sprawling. He tells the Proctor to call it, and calls Naruto a failure. Again. Our hero tells him it's not over just yet, standing back up and ready to prove his Ninja Way of never giving up. Neji's reminded of Hinata, but blows it off. More of Naruto not backing down, and Neji believing every one is locked into fate. Neji yells Naruto can't understand being Marked in such a way that seemingly chains you to a path in life, and... er, point of interest, Neji? Oh, nevermind. You'll figure it out. Naruto says he does understand, and what's Neji gonna do about it? Naruto awesomely calls Neji on wanting to fight destiny despite what he says - Hinata struggles to change herself so people will one day accept her as the Hyuga's heir, and then Neji, who is to be her protector, was trying to kill in her in a pathetic way of acting out who he thought should be in charge. Go, Naruto, go! Speaking of Hinata, the Anbu's still working his healing Chakra on Hinata, and it seems to be working. Whew.

Neji's done with bantering, and asks Naruto how he's going to fight without Chakra, but at least he can go keep Hinata company in the useless destiny pile. Naruto talks big, but he really doesn't have any Chakra left - just like when he was training under Jiraiya. Hey! Didn't the Pervy Sage say something about Naruto having another kind of Chakra? Yes, yes he did. Our boy digs deep and asks the Demon Fox for help. It's time to finish it, says Neji, and even the Proctor's annoyed with him. Naruto starts to channel the Nine-Tailed Chakra as we get scenes of Naruto telling Hinata to come watch him kick Neji's ass, and Lee saying how fine it would be to beat a genius with sheer effort. Neji asks what the point of this is, and Naruto says it's because Neji called him names. Neji turns on the Byakugan, and is freaked the hell out the red Chakra surging through Naruto. The spectators are suitably impressed, and also terrified. Gaara in particular looks shaken.

Filled with the Nine-Tailed Chakra, Naruto's ready to let Neji have it. So are we. The Nine-Tailed Chakra infuses Naruto, who promptly vanishes from sight to reappear overhead and fling some Shuriken at Neji. He uses Rotation to catch them and hurl them back at Naruto, who vanishes before they can hit. Then it's kunai, which knock each other out of the air, and both of them catch before they hit the ground. Holy crap! Naruto: "You're confident in close combat, right?" Naruto charges at Neji, and we get flashbacks on Neji telling Naruto how much of a joke he is, which only riles Naruto more. It's Naruto's destiny to kick Neji's ask, so if he doesn't want to struggle against it, he doesn't have to. Hah! Naruto says after he becomes Hokage that Hyuga reform is first on his list as there's an [i]exoplosion[/i] of Chakra when their blades meet in the middle. The crowd's agape, and nobody knows which smoking crater is Naruto's. Neji is the first one to pull himself out to the crowd's amazement, but he doesn't look very happy about it. He staggers over to Naruto's body, and Tenten says it looks like the Rotation battered Naruto with his own Nine-Tailed Chakra. Ouch. THEN THE REAL NARUTO ERUPTS FROM THE GROUND WITH AN UPPERCUT! MY GOD! He punched Neji so hard his [i]fingers[/i] are bleeding, and Neji can't seem to move. Neji admits he was careless, and should've expected the Jutsu Naruto's good at. Naruto says that's actually the Jutsu he always flunked out on, so give the destiny thing a rest, okay? Especially since Neji's not a failure, and could change if he wants to. Toothpick calls it in favor of Naruto to the roar of the crowd.

Next Episode: Naruto won, but Sasuke won't if he doesn't get his ass to the arena.