Konoha, training ground.
Chidori Sharp Spear!
A bright white beam shot from Sasuke's hand.
Across from him, a claw extended from Naruto's Nine-Tails Cloak.
The claw held a Rasengan, which swiftly collided with the Chidori Sharp Spear.
Though the Rasengan shattered quickly, Naruto had already changed positions.
The Chidori Sharp Spear merely grazed Naruto's Nine-Tails Cloak as it passed.
Sasuke frowned slightly, drew the Kusanagi Sword, and flashed toward Naruto like a streak of lightning.
Naruto's eyes changed slightly, and black markings appeared on his Nine-Tails Cloak.
Clang!
Naruto shifted aside by a hair's breadth, then struck the side of the Kusanagi Sword with a palm wrapped in the Nine-Tails Cloak.
Sasuke's gaze sharpened as he flipped around and engaged Naruto in close-quarters Body Technique combat.
Yet Naruto was able to twist aside and evade every one of his slashes by the narrowest margin.
Each of Naruto's palm strikes landed against the side of Sasuke's blade.
Kurama pressed his hands together and complained from within Naruto's body, "Brat, even without Sage Mode, Sasuke still isn't your match."
Though Naruto looked serious, he still had enough energy to speak with Kurama while fighting Sasuke.
"No. I have to give it my all in battle. Master is watching from the side."
"Winning or losing doesn't matter. The important thing is finding our own shortcomings."
Naruto was fighting Sasuke barehanded, only occasionally using Rasengan.
Yet Sasuke had been at a disadvantage throughout. The Mangekyō Sharingan's Observation Skill surpassed Sage Mode's.
But Sage Mode's perception was even more effective at countering Sasuke, whose attack intentions were obvious.
Natsuki stood with his arms folded, watching Sasuke get steadily driven back by Naruto.
And that was with Naruto refraining from casually forming Rasengan or using Rasenshuriken.
After learning that Naruto had shattered all the windows of