Is This Really a Student Fight? (Please Read)

Sasuke's movements were crisp and precise, every punch and kick delivered with exact force. Naruto's attacks were far more imposing, but in an actual fight, his wild momentum only made him look clumsy.

"Taijutsu really is where they differ." Qiushui watched the match unfold. "But it's not over yet. It's too early to say who'll win."

Taijutsu took years of steady training, with no shortcuts. That was why, over the past week, he had spent most of his time having Naruto practice ninjutsu.

The Shadow Clones Naruto had just shown were nowhere near the limit of what he could do, and that was without even bringing up his trump card, Gale Palm.

Matsumoto Mie shook her head slightly and didn't argue further. In her view, Qiushui might have a talent for teaching, but his judgment was still too shallow.

The students watching whispered among themselves. To them, the moment Naruto's clones disappeared, the match had already lost all suspense.

But what happened next left everyone stunned.

Uchiha Sasuke knocked Naruto back with a punch, then immediately kicked at him. Naruto hadn't even regained his footing, and it was too late to raise his arms and block on instinct. The kick sent him crashing to the ground, but he quickly used the momentum to roll away and open some distance. Then he formed Hand Seals again, and in an instant, twelve identical figures appeared out of nowhere.

"Holy crap..." One student stared blankly and tugged at a classmate's sleeve. "Pinch me. Is this real?"

"This has to be a genjutsu. I demand a card check." Another student stared at the mass of Narutos on the field, unable to believe that the Clone Technique they practiced over and over in class could produce an effect like this.

"Th-This really is Naruto?" Ino Yamanaka murmured, disbelief written all over her face. "Could it be someone else disguised as him...?"

"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura Haruno clenched her hands, her expression growing tense. "Is he really going to lose?"

"Naruto-kun... You can do it." Hinata knew Naruto could use this ninjutsu.

"Get 'em, guys!" Naruto shouted. All twelve Shadow Clones sprang into action, hurling shuriken and Kunai from every direction, their cold gleam flashing in the sunlight. Then all the clones charged at Sasuke in the center.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he instantly assessed the situation. The attacks were coming from every angle, and with his current abilities, there was no way he could block them all.

But he had already prepared for this.

Sasuke flicked his wrists, sending eight Kunai flying from between the fingers of both hands. They shot precisely toward several Narutos behind him. At the same time, he rapidly formed Hand Seals. His chest heaved as chakra surged through his body and gathered in his throat like a rushing tide.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A massive fireball burst from his mouth, sweeping toward the Naruto ahead in a wave of scorching heat.

One after another, the clones vanished with a series of pops, while Kunai and shuriken clattered to the ground.

Naruto Uzumaki stood at the back, watching his clones burn away in clouds of smoke. A faint ache spread through his body, and he sucked in a sharp breath, wincing. A wave of relief washed over him. Good thing he'd kept his wits about him and hadn't blindly charged in with his clones.

His gaze settled on Sasuke, who was panting slightly in the distance, and a smile tugged at Naruto's lips.

How could he possibly let such a great opportunity slip by?

Naruto formed Hand Seals again. As chakra surged, fifteen Shadow Clones appeared one after another, surrounding Sasuke.

Uchiha Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly. He hadn't expected Naruto to be able to keep summoning clones nonstop.

Still, surprise didn't make him think he would lose. Everyone had a limit to their chakra, and those clones had to be all Naruto could manage for now. If Sasuke could withstand this next wave, victory would be his.

"Is this really a fight between students?" one of the watching students exclaimed.

Many of them hadn't even mastered the most basic Three Basic Techniques, let alone learned any new ninjutsu.

But the two on the field had already taken things to another level. One had used a genuine offensive ninjutsu like Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu, while the other was even more outrageous, using the B-rank Shadow Clone Technique as casually as could be, with so many clones it was as if chakra cost nothing.

Someone muttered, "I still think Naruto's going to lose. He's got a lot of clones, but they can't possibly withstand that fireball."

A student beside him immediately disagreed. "Not necessarily. What if Naruto knows ninjutsu too?"

As soon as those words left his mouth, Naruto moved.

He didn't direct his clones into another melee like before, nor did he throw Kunai to test Sasuke. Instead, he stood where he was, raised his hand, and gathered chakra in his palm.

"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

More than a dozen waves of air blasted out simultaneously from every direction, sealing off nearly every possible escape route for Sasuke.

Uchiha Sasuke's expression finally changed.

He had never imagined that Naruto could not only use the Shadow Clone Technique, but had also mastered an offensive ninjutsu on par with Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.

That Fireball Jutsu had already consumed nearly half his chakra. He could barely manage to use it one more time, but even if he did, it wouldn't stop the shock waves crashing in from every direction.

Against ninjutsu of this magnitude, Kunai were no better than toys.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, and his eyes instantly turned crimson. Sharingan, activate!

He frantically scanned every clone around him, trying to pick out Naruto's real body. If he could find it, he could charge through, even if it meant taking several hits from Gale Palm, and might still have a chance to turn the tables.

But in the next instant, Sasuke's heart sank.

His One-Tomoe Sharingan couldn't tell which one was a clone and which was the real Naruto.

As Sasuke stood frozen, the dozen-plus waves of air were already howling toward him, only inches away. It was too late to dodge, and there was no way to defend himself. All he could do was shut his eyes on instinct, clench his teeth, and brace for the blow.

At the last possible moment.

Qiushui, who had been ready for this, vanished from where he stood and appeared beside Sasuke. He grabbed Sasuke by the collar with one hand and flashed away with him just before the shock waves struck.

Uchiha Sasuke felt no pain. When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing beside Qiushui. He looked toward the spot where Gale Palm had struck. Dozens of shallow craters, large and small, now pocked the ground.

"Thank you, Sensei." Uchiha Sasuke thanked Qiushui. He might have been cool and quiet, but he wasn't ungrateful. If Qiushui hadn't stepped in just then, he would probably be lying on the ground, unable to move.

A notification appeared in front of Qiushui.

When he saw it, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.