Naruto stood on the edge of this battlefield, arms crossed, a playful smirk curving his lips.
Itachi and Shisui stood shoulder to shoulder, eyes calm, unreadable. They wore their traditional shinobi gear, with only subtle differences to distinguish them.
Sasuke stood next to Naruto, his expression tense yet excited. He wasn't just facing a rival now, this was a rare moment where he could push himself against his own brother, the person he admired more than anyone else.
Itachi raised a single hand to address the group.
"Rules of engagement," He said in a composed voice. "No lethal ninjutsu."
"Weapons and genjutsu are permitted," Shisui added, smiling. "And of course… taijutsu, transformation, shadow clones, and elemental jutsu are fair game."
"Victory condition: you touch the opponent's back or knock them unconscious," Itachi concluded.
Naruto's smile widened. "Perfect. I've been itching to move around."
Sasuke cracked his knuckles. "Let's do this."
With a nod from both sides, the match began.
Before the first leaf could fall to the ground, Naruto vanished.
Body Flicker!
A gust of wind tore through the clearing as Naruto blurred into motion. But Itachi was prepared—his Sharingan flared crimson, tracking the movement. A single step to the side, and Naruto's punch met air.
Sasuke followed right behind, a kunai already arcing toward Shisui's chest. Shisui parried it effortlessly, spinning into a low sweep that forced Sasuke to backflip away.
But Naruto wasn't done.
He reappeared above Itachi with a Rasengan in hand.
"You're wide open!"
"Am I?" Itachi whispered.
The moment Naruto brought the Rasengan down, Itachi dissolved into crows. The illusion dispersed as the real Itachi stepped from behind Naruto and drove a precise chop toward his neck.
Poof!
It was a Shadow Clone.
Naruto's real body emerged from behind a tree, already forming another hand sign.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
A concentrated burst of wind shot toward Shisui. He dodged with a flicker, only to see three Narutos launching themselves from different angles.
Shisui smirked. "Not bad!"
He activated his own Body Flicker, becoming a blur as he evaded each clone with almost supernatural ease. But just as he moved to strike the real Naruto.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
Sasuke intercepted with a stream of small fireballs aimed in a zigzag pattern, forcing Shisui to block instead of pursue. His eyes flicked to Naruto's position.
But it was too late.
Naruto had tagged the tree earlier with a Flying Thunder God seal.
Zzzzt!
He teleported instantly, palm outstretched, grazing Shisui's back.
Shisui barely twisted away, his body grazing a kunai as he moved.
"Close!" Naruto laughed, breathing hard. "You almost lost that one!"
Shisui chuckled. "You almost won it."
But the moment Naruto spoke, his eyes met Itachi's.
A crimson world consumed him.
Everything slowed down and the trees melted into shadows as the sky turned blood-red.
Tsukuyomi.
Naruto stood still, his breath caught in his throat. He was trapped.
Itachi stood across from him in this illusionary world, his voice echoing with detached sorrow. "You've improved, Naruto. But not enough to counter this yet."
But then, Naruto exploded into mist.
Crack!
It was another clone.
The real Naruto had closed his eyes right before the eye contact and allowed his clone to mimic his posture. Using chakra sensing alone, he stayed hidden and waited for the perfect chance.
He struck from behind, only for Itachi to grab his wrist mid-air without even turning.
"Impressive," Itachi said.
Naruto grinned. "Likewise."
Then came the surprise.
Sasuke's lightning-charged hand came from underneath—Chidori!—slashing upward in a narrow arc aimed at Itachi's shoulder.
Itachi blocked it with a kunai, but the force pushed him back.
"Teamwork!" Naruto said, tapping Sasuke's knuckles.
"Shut up and focus," Sasuke muttered.
Shisui appeared again, spinning into a flurry of attacks. Sasuke tried his best to match him, their kunai sparked in the air as the tempo of the fight rising.
But Shisui wasn't called 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' for nothing.
One second he was in front of Sasuke—next, behind him. Then above. Then diagonally to the left.
Sasuke could barely keep up.
"Sharingan!" Sasuke activated it fully, catching some of the movement.
But Shisui was too fast. A kick landed squarely on Sasuke's side, sending him flying into a tree.
"Damn it…" Sasuke coughed.
Naruto leaped in to cover him.
"You okay?"
"Shut up. Just stall him," Sasuke said, wincing as he stood.
Naruto nodded and spun forward with three clones beside him. Each threw shuriken coated in wind chakra. Shisui dodged two—but the third exploded into smoke mid-air, disguising Naruto who shot out of the mist with a lightning-style kunai.
Shisui parried but that's when he felt it.
He had been marked with a seal.
Flying Thunder God Seal!
Naruto teleported again mid-air, right behind Shisui.
"Gotcha."
A Rasengan was already spinning.
Shisui barely flickered out of range, but the shockwave sent him tumbling through the air.
Now it was Itachi alone against the duo.
He calmly stood, eyes locked on theirs. "Come."
Sasuke moved first—eager, almost too eager.
Itachi sidestepped him with ease and landed a knee into his stomach. Naruto dashed forward, a clone already prepping a Rasengan behind him.
Itachi blocked Naruto's initial strike, only to realize that the Rasengan wasn't aimed at him—but the ground.
BOOM!
The explosion lifted dust, making vision impossible.
Naruto vanished with Flying Thunder God.
"Where?" Itachi muttered.
Sasuke suddenly appeared from above, throwing two fireballs down to box Itachi into a space.
Then Naruto reappeared from underneath the ground like a mole, grabbing Itachi's ankles.
He twisted.
Just enough for Sasuke's kunai to brush Itachi's back.
Game Over.
Itachi froze.
"…Impressive."
The dust settled.
Itachi stood, breathing slightly heavier than before. A rare sight.
Shisui clapped from the side, walking over. "Bravo. That coordination. That timing."
Naruto grinned, sweat dripping down his forehead. "We won?"
Sasuke gave a faint nod. "Yeah. Barely."
Itachi offered a rare smile. "You two fought as one. That was the difference."
As everyone gathered near the clearing, there was a quiet understanding.
This match hadn't just been training—it was a testament.
Of Naruto's strategic brilliance. Of Sasuke's drive.
Shisui placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Your growth is astonishing. You fight with the mind of a seasoned jonin."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, grinning. "Heh, I just do what I have to."
Sasuke looked away, arms crossed. "Hmph. Don't get cocky."
But even he couldn't hide the respect in his eyes.
Ten minutes passed, and the adrenaline of battle slowly faded into a gentle silence.
The light of the setting sun bathed the clearing in hues of orange and gold.
Sasuke wiped the dirt from his cheek, his breathing still a little rough from the intensity of their sparring match. His Sharingan had faded, and his eyes looked normal again—yet the fire in them remained.
Naruto walked beside him, arms behind his head, his own clothes slightly torn, sweat drying on his skin. His lips curled into a calm but knowing smile.
"That was something, huh?" Naruto muttered, glancing at Sasuke out of the corner of his eye.
"Hn." Sasuke nodded slowly, not in agreement, but in quiet contemplation. He hated admitting it, but the match had pushed him—really pushed him.
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Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 169: The Chuunin Exam
Chapter 170: Team Guy
Chapter 171: Sasuke Vs Lee
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