Thud.
Under the violent impact, huge waves churned up the water surface!
Colliding with each other, Naruto and Sasuke each retreated, landing on the still-undulating water surface to stare each other down from afar.
Just like many times in the past, they stood opposite each other once more, as if this was the bond and destiny between them!
Only this time, it was different.
The childishness had faded from Naruto's face, his gaze turning firm and powerful. Sasuke also restrained his pride, his eyes solemn and steady.
No matter what they said aloud, both of their hearts had already acknowledged the other's strength!
Swish!
Suddenly, Sasuke moved first!
As he charged toward Naruto, he began forming hand seals with both hands.
Naruto immediately took action as well, rushing to meet him.
Having finished his hand seals, Sasuke leaped into mid-air and shouted, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Rumble.
A massive fireball descended overwhelmingly toward Naruto. If anyone had been present at the scene, they would have found it hard to imagine that such a terrifying fire release was actually a C-rank ninja art that a mere chunin could easily master.
Facing the surging Great Fireball Technique, Naruto did not dodge or parry, directly activating Nine-Tails Chakra Mode to force his way straight through the scorching fireball, blasting a punch toward Sasuke.
Seeing this, Sasuke furrowed his brow, then threw a punch to meet it.
Bam, bam, bam.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them were locked in fierce combat, dragging out tangled, protracted afterimages across the churning water surface.
The speed of the two was extremely fast, and their force was astonishing. Every time their fists and feet intersected, a burst of shockwave currents erupted, churning the water surface so that it struggled to settle for a