Naruto was defeated, completely overpowered.
"Damn it…"
He lay sprawled on the ground, struggling to get up, but his body felt drained. He couldn't rise, not because his stamina was exhausted, nor because he lacked chakra.
The reason was much subtler, Kirito, skilled in assassination arts, had targeted key pressure points on the body. With precise strikes, he'd temporarily disrupted Naruto's motor control.
"This kid… doesn't even have the Byakugan, does he…?"
Kakashi muttered in surprise.
Kirito's technique resembled the Hyūga clan's Gentle Fist, focusing on internal disruption rather than surface-level damage.
"No way… Naruto actually lost like that?"
Sakura stared in disbelief. As far as she understood, there was no way someone labeled a failure like Kirito could possess such astonishing strength.
"Hoh~"
Just then, Sasuke calmly stepped forward.
"Damn it… Sasuke… don't you dare steal my spotlight… I'm not done yet…"
Seeing Sasuke move, Naruto panicked, trying desperately to stand again.
Kirito glanced at Naruto with mild surprise. Although he had held back, the strikes he'd used should've left Naruto unable to move for a while. Yet somehow, he was already forcing himself up again.
So this is the powerful constitution of the Uzumaki clan… Kirito murmured internally.
"Ugh, "
Naruto barely stood before his leg buckled again, and he toppled back to the floor.
Sasuke frowned as he looked at Naruto.
Having been teammates for a while, he knew Naruto's physical resilience well. That kind of light injury shouldn't have incapacitated him. His gaze shifted, locking onto Kirito.
"Hyūga Gentle Fist, huh? So, you're not quite what the rumors say. If anything, you're much stronger."
Kirito didn't bother explaining.
"Then, Sasuke, are you still planning to continue?"
"Don't kid yourself."
Sasuke sneered.
"Let's get one thing straight. I'm not like that loser over there."
"You can say that again… once you've actually proven it."
Kirito replied calmly.
"…Tch."
Sasuke didn't respond. He simply crouched slightly, body taut like a predator preparing to strike. Gathering chakra to his feet, he launched himself forward with impressive speed, noticeably faster than Naruto.
But Kirito's eyes remained steady.
Of all his core stats, the highest was Agility. Even without equipping the concept-weapon Gale Boots, his raw speed was already well above average for a chūnin.
"Whoosh!"
Kirito's figure blurred. In an instant, he moved faster than Sasuke could follow.
"Too fast!"
Sasuke's pupils shrank as a rush of air screamed behind him. He reacted instinctively, turning and raising his arms to block.
"Bang!"
Despite bracing for the hit, a heavy kick landed squarely in his abdomen, sending him flying.
"Whump! Whump!"
Though Kirito hadn't used his full strength, and his raw power wasn't high to begin with, the blow was enough to knock Sasuke back. But Sasuke twisted midair, rolling once before landing with a knee to cushion the impact. He crouched for a moment, then rose again, slightly shaken.
"Damn it… he's that fast? Then I guess i'll- !"
Just moments after talking big, he'd been knocked away with a single strike. Sasuke's face turned grim. He wasn't going to hold back anymore. His eyes snapped open wide, and with a flicker, his black pupils burned into a bloody red.
Sharingan.
"Tch."
With his dōjutsu active, Sasuke's vision became sharper than ever. Every detail of his surroundings leapt into clarity. Confidence surged within him. He stomped forward and rushed Kirito again.
"Smack!"
This time, he managed to block Kirito's first punch.
But before he could be pleased with that, Kirito's second strike was already on its way.
"Hmph! "
A solid hit landed on his abdomen, making him grimace.
Sasuke countered with an elbow strike, only for it to be easily deflected.
"Damn it… my body can't keep up with my eyes!"
His Sharingan saw everything, but his reactions were still too slow.
Suddenly, his eyes widened. Through the enhanced perception of his Sharingan, he clearly saw Kirito's fingers clench into a sharp, cone-like thrust heading straight for his chest.
Sasuke couldn't tell what would happen if that hit him squarely, but recalling what had happened to Naruto, his instincts screamed danger.
He was convinced that Kirito's Gentle Fist-style attacks would disrupt his chakra flow and incapacitate him.
There was no way he could fully dodge the strike… but maybe… maybe he could shift enough to avoid a critical point!
"Hmph!"
The blow hit, pain flaring in his chest.
Gritting his teeth, Sasuke forced himself backward, creating distance between them.
"…Impressive,"
Kirito remarked with some surprise.
"You managed to shift your body just enough to avoid a vital point. It's true, if I can't strike the exact tenketsu, my attacks lose much of their effect."
Sasuke pressed a hand against his bruised chest and muttered,
"You call that weak? That punch hurt like hell."
"That's no good,"
Kirito replied casually.
"My goal was to leave you lying beside Naruto."
He stared Sasuke down, tone calm and emotionless.
"With strength like that? You're still not quite there."
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