Naruto vs. Sasuke

"Now, everyone, enjoy the match!" the Third Hokage declared.

His powerful voice, carried by Chakra, reached every ear in the arena.

"Sasuke!"

"Naruto!"

They looked at each other, their eyes blazing. The last time they had faced off was at the Ninja Academy.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

Naruto Uzumaki opened with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Dozens of Shadow Clones surrounded Sasuke Uchiha and rushed him at once. It looked as though sheer numbers would overwhelm him.

"Chidori Stream!"

Brilliant blue arcs of electricity burst from Sasuke Uchiha, destroying every Shadow Clone around him.

"Where's Naruto?"

Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and scanned the area without letting down his guard.

"Rasengan!"

Highly concentrated Chakra took the shape of a sphere in Naruto Uzumaki's hand as he plunged toward the ground.

"That Ninjutsu is..."

The Jonin in attendance stirred with excitement. Some even stood up.

The Rasengan was an A-rank Ninjutsu invented by the Fourth Hokage. Combined with the Flying Thunder God, it had earned Minato Namikaze the name Yellow Flash.

None of them had expected to see it here.

Naruto Uzumaki's Rasengan blasted a huge round crater into the ground. When the dust cleared, Sasuke Uchiha was nowhere to be seen.

How strong have you gotten, Naruto? Sasuke was stunned that Naruto could use Ninjutsu of this caliber.

But I've grown even stronger than you!

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

A massive dragon of flame roared toward Naruto, threatening to swallow him in a sea of fire.

Naruto Uzumaki leaped aside.

"What the—!"

Steel Wire was hidden within the huge dragon of flame, allowing it to change direction. It reared up toward Naruto in midair, leaving him seemingly nowhere to go. The Jonin nearby prepared to intervene at any moment.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

A Shadow Clone appeared, grabbed Naruto Uzumaki's hand, and hurled him away. Naruto narrowly escaped the dragon fire.

"You idiot, Sasuke! You're going way too hard!"

Naruto Uzumaki shouted at him.

"Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Several small fireballs cut off every route Naruto Uzumaki could take.

Sasuke Uchiha watched Naruto panic. He knew the guy had hardly learned any defensive Ninjutsu. In a situation like this, Naruto had no way to block the attack.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Idiot! Fire Release beats Wind Release!" Sakura Haruno cried from the stands. She didn't even know whom to cheer for anymore. In the end, she could only hope they put on a good match.

A fierce gale erupted from Naruto Uzumaki's mouth. The small fireballs had no chance of reaching him and were blown apart.

Even the spectators in the stands were buffeted, staggering from side to side.

"I suppose a Ninjutsu like that almost counts as the strongest defense."

Kakashi broke into a sweat. That wind would hinder anyone who faced it, and smaller Ninjutsu had no chance of getting through.

As if by unspoken agreement, the two charged each other and began trading brutal, close-range blows.

Do these two have to fight so viciously? They don't look like friends at all. They look more like mortal enemies! Ino Yamanaka thought.

Sasuke Uchiha had the edge in Taijutsu. He drove a fist into Naruto's stomach, and Naruto dropped to his knees.

"Lightning Release: Chidori!"

The shriek of a thousand birds rose from Sasuke's hand. Chaotic blue arcs of electricity seemed to herald Naruto Uzumaki's defeat.

Sasuke Uchiha raised his arm. "Naruto, surrender! I'm still stronger than you!"

"Surrender? Never!"

Black markings crept from Naruto Uzumaki's neck across the left side of his body. Finding strength from somewhere, he grabbed Sasuke with one hand, jumped, and kicked him under the jaw.

Sasuke Uchiha went flying backward. Matching markings spread across half his body, and he immediately righted himself.

"Great Fireball Technique!"

He used the fireball to block Naruto's view and keep him from pursuing.

"Sasuke!"

"Naruto!"

Even the Kazekage in the stands felt a chill. "Do your village's Ninja always go this hard against their own?"

The Third Hokage silently scolded them too, but aloud he said, "Well, we do have an audience. It's a chance for them to understand Ninja better!"

"Are you sure?"

Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki struck each other in the face at the same time, both spitting blood.

"You'd think they had a blood feud!"

It hurts. Everything hurts!

Naruto Uzumaki's vision blurred. He was on the verge of collapsing.

Sasuke was in little better shape. He could barely make out Naruto's position. With the last of his Chakra, he formed a Chidori in his hand that held only a few sparks, then staggered toward him.

But in the end...

Sasuke's own Ninjutsu cost him. Naruto Uzumaki was already at his limit. If Sasuke had stayed on his feet just a little longer, he would have outlasted him. Instead, he had insisted on forming a Chidori to claim victory.

The two fell together, locked in each other's arms.

Watching from the shadows, Uchiha Yoru thought, This isn't a bad outcome. Maybe Sasuke will finally take Naruto seriously.

Deep down, Sasuke Uchiha had always seen Naruto as the so-called Dead Last. Even after Naruto Uzumaki had grown much stronger, Sasuke still believed Naruto could never be his match.

After fighting Naruto, the Dead Last, perhaps Sasuke Uchiha would finally cast aside that contempt and look him in the eye.

"Naruto and Sasuke are both unable to fight. This match is a draw! Cough, cough!" Gekko Hayate announced weakly, adding Chakra to his voice so everyone could hear.

Even so, he could not hide how frail his voice sounded.

Medical Ninja hurried over and carried Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke away on stretchers.

"So these are Konoha's Genin? They're way too strong!"

"Our safety is guaranteed!"

Only some of the Chunin and Jonin present felt uneasy. What am I supposed to do? Even the Genin seem stronger than me!

The Daimyo in the stands applauded again and again. "Now that was a fight worth watching!"

Neither contestant had won, but the match had caused a sensation. There were no losers here. Naruto and Sasuke were both victors.

"The next match is about to begin. Dosu and Gaara, please enter the arena!"

Dosu stared at Gaara with a bloodthirsty smile. His black robe concealed his body completely.

Let's see how you like the pain I've endured these past few days!