Nawaki Squad vs. Rasa Squad

"Here they come!"

At Hyuga Suzuran's quiet warning, the Sunagakure squad—Pakura, Karura, and Rasa—appeared on the battlefield. Pakura wore a faintly mocking smile as she stared provocatively at Nawaki, seeming to relish the confrontation.

"Round face, we meet again! This time, you won't be lucky enough to have the proctor protect you." Pakura watched her prey with an arrogant air, clearly amused.

"Hey! My name's Nawaki. Stop calling me round face! I should be the one saying that! This time, I'll show you just how strong the Konoha Ninja are!" Nawaki swept out one hand and pointed straight at Pakura.

Rasa quickly assessed the situation and assigned everyone an opponent. His tone carried unquestionable authority. "Hey, Pakura, take care of the little fatty. Karura, you handle the Hyuga Branch Family member. Leave the Uchiha to me. I'll finish him quickly, then come help you."

"I told you, don't put on that stinking squad-leader attitude in front of me!" Pakura was displeased with Rasa's orders, but she still chose to obey. After all, teamwork was vital on the battlefield. Karura silently accepted her assignment, her expression calm as she prepared for the fight ahead.

Faced with Rasa's provocation, Uchiha Yan laughed in fury, a defiant light shining in his eyes. "You think you can finish me quickly? Then show me what you've got!" He shot toward Rasa like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Hyuga Suzuran wanted to stop Uchiha Yan from acting rashly, but before she could finish speaking, he had already charged into battle. Knowing she had to face the enemy in front of her, she drew a deep breath and prepared to fight Karura.

"I won't let you interfere with their fight." Karura smiled as she firmly blocked Hyuga Suzuran's path.

The battle cry echoed through the forest. The six shinobi's clash was like a carefully choreographed dance, every move brimming with strength and cunning.

Pakura's Scorch Release was devastatingly powerful. The air around her shimmered from the heat, as though she controlled the very space around her. Her fireballs seemed alive as they streaked through the sky, leaving brilliant red trails and waves of scorching heat in their wake, their force enough to melt almost anything.

Despite facing such attacks, Nawaki remained remarkably calm. After all, he'd spent his childhood getting beaten down by the freakishly strong Liuxia and had learned how to stay alive. He might not be the best fighter, but dodging and staying safe were definitely his specialties.

His body weaved between the fireballs, every movement precise and fluid. He kept his eyes fixed on Pakura, reading the signs—the hand seals she formed, the slightest shifts in her posture, even the rhythm of her breathing—to predict when and where she would launch her fireballs.

The fireballs were powerful, but their speed and trajectory in the air were relatively predictable, giving Nawaki enough time to react. Using his excellent Taijutsu and well-honed Water Release, he leaped and rolled through the gaps between them like a nimble cat, deftly evading one attack after another.

"Damn it, round face! Are you a monkey? Fight me head-on!" After missing repeatedly, Pakura flew into a rage.

"Catch me if you can, idiot! Here I come! And now I'm gone! Nya-nya-nya!" Nawaki dodged while taunting Pakura, trying to throw off her rhythm. At the same time, his mind raced as he analyzed her attack patterns and searched for weaknesses. He knew that maintaining attacks this intense would drain a Scorch Release user's chakra. If he could find the right opening, he could counterattack.

Meanwhile, Karura's Wind Release Ninjutsu was incredibly powerful with the aid of her weapon. The trees seemed to tremble as leaves and dust were swept into the air, forming a massive vortex. The howling gale roared like it would swallow everything. Yet beneath the onslaught of this natural force, Hyuga Suzuran moved like an elegant dancer. Her long hair and clothes fluttered in the wind, but her steps remained firm.

Hyuga Suzuran's Byakugan let her see clearly through the chaos. Her eyes pierced the whirlwind's every subtle shift, tracking Karura's position and movements within it. She seemed to have reached an understanding with the wind, moving lightly with its changing currents and using its force to enhance her mobility.

Karura's attacks were fierce, but Hyuga Suzuran wasn't intimidated. She knew that although Wind Release Ninjutsu could whip up a mighty whirlwind, it also required the user to focus intently on controlling it. She searched for that instant of faltering amid Karura's assault—the inevitable moment of weakness while she maintained the technique.

Uchiha Yan, meanwhile, was locked in a tough fight. Rasa's Magnet Release was indeed both cunning and powerful. He could control Gold Dust with his chakra, making it an extension of his offense and defense.

Under Rasa's command, the Gold Dust coiled through the air like golden serpents and lunged at Uchiha Yan. It gleamed in the sunlight, but beneath its beautiful shine lurked deadly danger.

Uchiha Yan didn't give up in the face of Rasa's Magnet Release. Knowing that controlling it required Rasa's intense concentration, he began throwing Shuriken to distract him.

The Shuriken traced arcs through the air, forcing Rasa to split his attention and creating openings for Uchiha Yan to close the distance.

Uchiha Yan's Taijutsu was no less impressive. He moved swiftly and precisely, every leap and roll packed with force.

Drawing on years of Taijutsu training, he deftly weaved through the gaps in the Gold Dust. Though every step was a struggle, he never abandoned his goal of reaching Rasa.

However, Rasa's Gold Dust defense was simply too dense, and every step Uchiha Yan took carried enormous risk.

The Gold Dust whirled around him, sometimes brushing his clothes. A few grains even cut his skin, leaving thin streaks of blood. Uchiha Yan gritted his teeth through the pain, convinced that if he could get close, he could win with Uchiha Swordsmanship and prove the Uchiha's glory!

Rasa had the upper hand in his fight against Uchiha Yan, yet he still couldn't defeat this obscure young shinobi from the Uchiha Clan. He couldn't help admiring how Konoha Village was brimming with talent.

After all, he was the Third Kazekage's direct disciple! His opponent, on the other hand, was clearly just a wet-behind-the-ears rookie who had only just graduated. Yet this young man had managed to stubbornly withstand his attacks for so long. It was truly astonishing.

Looking toward his teammates, Rasa saw that they were also locked in stalemates, neither side able to claim victory. The battle clearly wouldn't end quickly, and if it dragged on, anything could happen. Knowing he had to act without delay, Rasa decided to use psychological tactics.

"Are all Uchiha shinobi like you, scurrying around like rats? You just keep dodging. How pathetic!" Rasa taunted him, trying to rile Uchiha Yan and throw him off balance.

Sure enough, provoked by the insult, Uchiha Yan—who had barely been holding on—flew into a rage and chose to force his way through Rasa's Gold Dust!