"So they really have started already!"
By the time Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Shino, Ino, and Sakura arrived at the eastern outskirts training ground, Naruto and Sasuke were already locked in combat. Sparks flew as their kunai clashed, and the dull thuds of their taijutsu exchanges rang out incessantly. Clearly, the fight had been raging for some time.
Hinata, whose home was the farthest away, arrived with little Hanabi even later than Shikamaru and the others.
The moment little Hanabi saw the two fighting fiercely, especially Naruto, the friendly big brother who had treated her to a meal, she grew excited.
She pulled free of her sister's hand, cupped her little hands around her mouth like a megaphone, and shouted toward the training ground with all her might:
"Big brother Naruto-go for it!!"
Her clear, childish voice stood out sharply amid the fierce sounds of combat.
After another fierce clash, Naruto and Sasuke used the impact to leap backward, putting some distance between them for the moment.
Sasuke panted heavily. He could feel his chakra running dry.
That was hardly surprising. They were still only Ninja Academy students, after all. Chakra reserves were directly tied to age and physical development, as chakra was a mixture of mental and physical energy.
Children had relatively little mental and physical energy, so naturally, they could not extract and store much chakra.
I'm almost out of chakra...
Do I have to use... that move?
Sasuke steeled himself. His hands flew through another sequence of hand seals, then he drew a deep breath, his chest swelling. The seals and the way his chakra flowed were distinctly different from the Great Fireball Technique.
Watching Sasuke prepare to strike, Naruto keenly sensed something was wrong.
The opening sequence for this technique seemed more complicated than the Great Fireball Technique.
"Naruto, watch out!"
Inside the sealed space, the Nine-Tails, who had once been forced to spend time under Madara Uchiha's control, immediately recognized the familiar technique.
"That's a wide-area fire release ninjutsu-Majestic Destroyer Flame! Those little fireballs from before don't even compare!"
Naruto's gaze sharpened at the warning. Without hesitation, he pulled a prepared sheet of white paper from his pocket, his hands moving just as quickly through hand seals!
The chakra inside him surged, flowing precisely into the paper. Black symbols rapidly formed and appeared across its surface as though coming alive!
Fire Sealing Method: Flame Seal!
Almost simultaneously-
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
With a roar, Sasuke unleashed every last bit of chakra he had left.
An overwhelming expanse of flames surged toward Naruto like a genuine wave of searing heat, threatening to destroy everything in its path.
Its range was so vast that it covered nearly half the training ground.
Everyone watching from the sidelines recoiled in shock!
A jutsu with that much range?!
"This is bad!"
Kiba Inuzuka's expression changed drastically. With a cry, he immediately charged toward Naruto in the center of the training ground.
Shino Aburame reacted even faster. He had already become a black blur, racing ahead toward Naruto with his kikaichū poised to intercept the flames.
Even if every insect he had raised died, he could not let Naruto get hurt.
"Damn it! That move has to be at least a B-rank jutsu! Has Sasuke lost his mind?!"
Shikamaru cursed under his breath. Forgetting all about how troublesome it was, he rushed after them.
"Naruto!"
"Naruto-kun!"
Ino and Hinata went pale with fright. Almost without thinking, they cried out and rushed onto the training ground together, their hearts filled with panic.
But then something astonishing happened that none of them had expected!
The enormous flames, surging like an ocean wave that could swallow everything, abruptly stopped less than a meter in front of Naruto, as though they had struck an invisible wall!
At the same time, the seemingly ordinary sheet of white paper in Naruto's hand floated into the air. Its black symbols suddenly expanded, giving off a deep, eerie glow as they formed what looked like a miniature black hole!
Like rivers flowing into the sea, the towering flames were sucked uncontrollably into the enlarged symbols, leaving not a trace behind!
In just a few breaths, the B-rank fire release ninjutsu capable of wreaking immense destruction was completely swallowed and sealed by a tiny sheet of white paper before everyone's eyes, disappearing without a trace!
Only faint wisps of rising heat and a crowd of dumbstruck onlookers remained on the training ground.
This was the sealing jutsu designed specifically to counter flames-Fire Sealing Method: Flame Seal!
It was so effective against fire release ninjutsu that it could even seal the black flames of Amaterasu, which were said never to go out.
Seeing Naruto unharmed, Kiba first breathed a sigh of relief. Then his anger surged again. He immediately turned, looking ready to charge at Sasuke, who had exhausted his chakra and collapsed unconscious. He looked as though he genuinely wanted to land a couple of punches.
"You bastard!"
But he had barely taken a step before Shikamaru and Choji grabbed him firmly from either side.
"Kiba, calm down! He's already unconscious!"
Choji blocked Kiba with his stocky body and spoke loudly.
"Kiba, settle down."
Shikamaru also pulled hard on Kiba's arm, urging him in a serious voice, "He's already passed out from chakra exhaustion. Whatever you want to do, wait until Sasuke wakes up!"
Shikamaru was looking further ahead.
Sasuke was extremely weak right now, and Kiba was too angry to hold back properly. If he lost control in his rage and accidentally beat Sasuke to death, the trouble would be enormous.
As a member of the Nara Clan, Shikamaru understood how important clans with kekkei genkai were to a ninja village, even though he personally hated getting involved in the schemes and deceit of the adult world.
The Sharingan's power was beyond question. It was an important strategic asset to Konoha.
And Sasuke was now the Uchiha Clan's only publicly known surviving child, its sole remaining heir.
If he died at the hands of the Inuzuka Clan's future heir, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Both Kiba himself and the entire Inuzuka Clan would face immense trouble and pressure.
"All right, Kiba. Calm down."
After rolling up and putting away the paper bearing the Fire Sealing Method: Flame Seal, Naruto quietly told the worried Ino, Hinata, and Hanabi, "I'm fine." Then he walked over to Kiba and placed a hand on his shoulder, which was rigid with anger.
Meanwhile, Sakura had taken the opportunity to hurry over to the unconscious Sasuke. She struggled to lift him onto her back, hoping to get him to the hospital as soon as possible.
Naruto looked at his friend's face, angry out of concern and anxious with worry. His voice remained calm, but carried a reassuring firmness. He patted Kiba's shoulder.
"Kiba, I know you mean well. But don't act rashly. Leave this to me!"
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious Sasuke as a sharp smile curled his lips.
"Besides... even if he really does deserve a good beating, I'm the one who should give it to him, don't you think?"
Kiba froze for a moment at Naruto's words.
Seeing the composure and confidence in Naruto's eyes, he gradually relaxed and stopped struggling.
Meanwhile, Shino Aburame, who had quietly made his way to Sasuke's side at some point and was helping Sakura support him, gave Naruto a long look through his sunglasses.
Without a word, he raised his hand slightly. The kikaichū that had already quietly spread across Sasuke's skin, poised to act, swiftly retreated like a black tide and disappeared beneath Shino's sleeves.
Since Naruto had told them to leave it to him, all they needed to do as his friends was trust him.