Right now, everything was about to explode.
Naruto moved first.
As soon as the Encounter Seal was formed, he let out a roar, pushing both his chakra and his physical strength to the absolute limit. His determination burned brighter than ever.
"Until… Sasuke!" he shouted, charging forward like a cannonball. The sheer force of his explosive speed and power stunned everyone who watched.
Sasuke, however, remained completely calm. He understood Naruto better than anyone else—perhaps even better than Naruto understood himself. Every step, every movement of his rival was predictable to him.
"Hadi, Naruto!" Sasuke countered, striking like a bolt of lightning.
Naruto closed the distance without hesitation. His body blurred, turning into a near-afterimage, as he unleashed a rapid series of kicks, each one landing with tremendous force against Sasuke.
Iruka-sensei gasped in astonishment. "Bu… Might Guy'nin… But Naruto's execution… it's even stronger than last time!"
"Leaf Whirlwind!" Naruto yelled, channeling every ounce of his strength into a spinning, devastating taijutsu attack.
Sasuke had seen this move before, yet even with his preparation, the raw explosiveness of Naruto's assault was difficult to counter. Though Sasuke's physical strength and explosive power in taijutsu were slightly less than Naruto's, his fundamentals and technique were flawless. Relying on his instincts, he quickly lowered his body, dodging the brunt of Naruto's kick and landing solidly on the ground. With a swift elbow strike, he sent Naruto flying to the side.
Naruto's frown was brief; he expected this reaction. It was natural for Sasuke to anticipate his moves, especially since he had used them before. Without pause, Naruto landed gracefully, immediately pivoting and launching another attack—an upper kick followed by a lower kick, creating a relentless, unpredictable assault.
Sasuke flinched slightly. This was no ordinary match—Naruto's intensity had doubled.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!" Naruto roared.
A violent blast of air radiated outward from his spinning kick, the force so immense it felt as if the surrounding air itself had been struck by a hurricane. If this had been the old Sasuke, he would have found some way to counter every blow. Pride would have demanded it. But now, Sasuke had abandoned his old arrogance.
Landing firmly, he created distance between himself and Naruto, anticipating the next strike. Naruto's momentum carried him forward, missing his target, and Sasuke used the opening to execute a powerful ninjutsu.
"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive inferno erupted from Sasuke's mouth, flames roaring as they blazed toward Naruto. The fireball was enormous, capable of swallowing a person whole. Naruto, lacking a counter, had no choice but to evade.
But Sasuke wasn't finished. He prepared an even more devastating technique.
"Do this, Naruto… Fire Release! Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Iruka-sensei and the other spectators froze. This was beyond anything they had seen before. Sasuke formed rapid hand seals and inhaled deeply, sending out a torrent of red flames that blossomed like fiery phoenixes, raining down in a wide arc. The entire area surrounding Naruto was engulfed, locked down completely.
Naruto felt his chest tighten with both admiration and frustration. "Damn it, Sasuke… he even mastered this level of ninjutsu?!"
His pride surged. "I don't care how strong he is… I'm not losing to him!" With that, Naruto charged straight into the flames.
"Naruto!" Hinata, Iruka, and the others screamed, fearful for his safety. But Naruto ignored them, leaping and spinning through the firestorm, channeling all his power into one decisive strike.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
The technique collided with the flames, extinguishing them instantly. Naruto's right leg was scorched, heat searing through his skin, but he didn't falter. He quickly stamped out the remaining flames, wincing at the pain, but proud of his success.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.
"Taijutsu… he broke through my Fire Release using just Taijutsu?!" he thought. "Though the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique has a wide range, its strength wasn't enough. That's why he dared to strike."
Determined, Sasuke decided it was time to play his ultimate card. Naruto, however, wouldn't allow him the chance. He knew that giving Sasuke distance would make the Uchiha's ninjutsu far more dangerous.
Without hesitation, Naruto activated his signature technique.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Crossing his arms in the iconic seal, he unleashed multiple clones in a flash. Three Shadow Clones appeared in an instant, each attacking from a different angle, surrounding Sasuke. Naruto himself moved with them, a blur of motion.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried out, her worry evident.
Sasuke, however, remained composed. "So he's finally using that move," he muttered to himself. He understood its power and, more importantly, anticipated it.
In response, he unleashed his own ultimate ability.
"Sharingan!"
A soft hum filled the air as Sasuke's eyes flared crimson. The single tomoe in each eye spun rapidly, activating the legendary Uchiha bloodline limit. A surge of raw ocular power radiated from him, sending shivers through the spectators.
Sakura paled. "Sasuke-kun…"
Ino gasped. "This… this is the Uchiha Clan's…"
Hinata nodded silently. "Sharingan. It's similar to the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan, but in terms of perception, it might even surpass it. Activating his Sharingan means he's going all out…"
The arena fell into stunned silence. Naruto and Sasuke had transformed the match from a simple academy competition into a clash of titans. The spectators could do nothing but watch, awestruck by the display of power and skill.
Iruka-sensei whispered, "This… this isn't normal anymore. Their strength… it's at Chunin level!"
Even Choji, ever the opportunist, couldn't resist the scene entirely. He casually pulled out some potato chips, munching as he watched, muttering, "Who do you think will win?"
Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head. "Anyone could win… I would've given up long ago…"
Now, Naruto's Shadow Clones attacked relentlessly from all directions. Sasuke, with Sharingan activated, countered each strike with perfect timing and precision. The air crackled with energy as fists collided, fire roared, and movements blurred beyond comprehension.
Every exchange was a masterpiece of strategy and raw power. Naruto's relentless taijutsu and tactical use of clones pushed Sasuke to the edge. Sasuke's Sharingan allowed him to read every move, predict every strike, and respond with devastating ninjutsu.
The ground shook beneath them. Dust and embers swirled into the sky, creating a battlefield that felt larger than the academy itself. Each strike threatened to destroy everything around them, yet neither yielded.
Naruto's determination burned brighter than ever. Sasuke's focus was absolute. Both knew this battle wasn't just about victory—it was about proving who was stronger, who could surpass the limits they had always known.
And as the Shadow Clones surged, and the Sharingan whirred, the stage was set for a confrontation that would leave its mark on every student and teacher present. The clash of wills, strength, and skill had begun—and neither would back down.
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