A year slipped by like a shadow through the trees.Naruto had grown taller, sharper, more controlled. Now a third-year at the Ninja Academy, his days fell into an easy rhythm—school, training, walking Hinata home, late-night practice. The same cycle, but it felt… right.Ordinary days, simple warmth.
And yet, beneath that calm surface, his strength was surging.Through relentless Mental Synchronization and the torment of Kyōmetsu, his chakra attributes had finally crossed the fifty-point threshold. His spirit reserves flowed stronger, his body sharper—he'd broken through another wall.
But even that paled next to another rising storm: Uchiha Sasuke.
After the night of his clan's annihilation, the boy had awakened his one-tomoe Sharingan. He barely understood its power, but his spiritual force had skyrocketed—nearly rivaling Naruto's. The pain of loss had hardened him into something dangerous.
And as always, when two stars burn too close, collision is inevitable.
The academy training grounds blazed with the roar of fire."Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"Two voices, two seals, two infernos.
Sasuke's flames flared bright red; Naruto's, streaked with gold. The twin fireballs screamed across the field, colliding midair in a thunderous blast. Heat rippled through the grass as the larger one—Naruto's—overpowered the other, scattering embers like falling stars.
But Sasuke didn't retreat."It's not over yet—Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"His second jutsu was larger, faster, born of rage and pride.
Naruto smirked, hands flashing. "Fire? Then I'll give it wind to dance with."
He spun his chakra, shaping the air itself. A gale erupted from his palms, merging with the flames—Wind Style: Gale Stream! The fireball expanded, doubled in size, and roared back at Sasuke.
The explosion lit up the sky like a second sun.
From the sidelines, the rest of the class gawked."Whoa! That's insane!" Kiba yelled."Keep your voice down," Choji muttered around a rice cracker. "You'll just make them go harder."Shikamaru sighed, watching the clash. "Troublesome idiots… but impressive ones. Naruto's not even using a pure ninjutsu—he's bending air pressure with chakra control."
That kind of finesse was rare even among full-fledged Chunin.
Hinata stood apart, her hands clutched tightly together. "Naruto-kun…" she whispered, her voice lost in the roar of fire and wind.
Down on the field, the combatants squared off again.Naruto grinned. "You're almost ready for the Genin Exams, Sasuke. Not bad.""Hmph," Sasuke huffed, panting. "Don't act superior. This time—I'll beat you."
Naruto tilted his head, smile widening. "Then you'd better break through first."
He launched himself forward, golden chakra flickering like sunlight off water. Sasuke met him head-on, Sharingan whirling, the two boys clashing once more amid heat, wind, and the deafening cheers of their classmates.
Somewhere above, unseen by either of them, Rikudō Shingon stirred.Its voice rippled like distant thunder.
[Host… still chasing light through fire, how poetic. You burn to surpass—but forget, even suns can die.]
Naruto ignored it, eyes blazing with resolve. The divine mockery only fueled him more.The next strike would decide everything.