The Katsuyu Sage

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Bang, bang, bang..."

High above Training Ground 19, two figures collided furiously, the clouds scorched by the flames already as red as the evening sky.

Every attack Might Guy unleashed was like an overwhelming torrent. His fiercely powerful Strong Fist offensive enveloped Shihōin Naraku, continuous shock waves battering Naraku's body, while his swift nunchaku whipped into view at unexpected speeds time and again.

Shihōin Naraku held Kurikara in his hand. Every swing of the pitch-black blade scattered sparks that instantly erupted into searing flames. An unstoppable, razor-sharp Blade Light constantly wreathed the flashing blade, gathering into an edge that could cleave through anything!

Although the speed and strength the Eight Gates Formation gave Might Guy were staggering, no matter how fast he moved, Shihōin Naraku always moved later yet blocked him first.

Gradually, Might Guy realized that Naraku seemed to have seen through his moves completely, which was why his attacks failed even as each grew faster and fiercer.

It felt just like his past battles with Kakashi Hatake. Sometimes, the Sharingan could see through his movements, but Kakashi struggled to keep up with his speed, so it made little difference.

Now, however, although Shihōin Naraku was slower than him, the gap was small, making it difficult for his taijutsu to land.

Even when he wanted to unleash a finishing move, Shihōin Naraku always stopped him at the crucial moment.

"Is this what battles between jonin are like?"

Naruto Uzumaki looked blankly at Sasuke Uchiha beside him. He could no longer understand whether this sort of battle was really something humans could produce.

Sasuke Uchiha, meanwhile, watched the two combatants with shining eyes, occasionally glancing at the unconscious Kakashi Hatake nearby. The desire for revenge in his heart was like wildly growing weeds.

"That's terrifying. Even Guy-sensei is no match for Lord Naraku!"

Rock Lee scratched his head, finding it somewhat hard to believe.

Tenten, meanwhile, wanted nothing more than to get away from the training ground. She thought it was far too dangerous here; that vast sea of flames had nearly reached them earlier!

"That's it..." Neji Hyuga had already activated his Byakugan. Watching the two fighters, he murmured to himself, "This kind of power can help me break free of my shackles!"

"Huff... huff..."

Before he knew it, Might Guy's breathing had grown labored.

The boost the Eight Gates Formation gave a ninja was terrifying, but the strain it imposed was even greater. Even Might Guy, who trained tirelessly year after year, could not keep using it without limit.

What no one knew was that Kurikara, held in Shihōin Naraku's hand, was constantly helping its master recover his stamina and chakra.

And now, Shihōin Naraku seized the instant when Might Guy gasped for breath.

"Getsuga Tenshō!"

A great amount of chakra gathered at the blade's tip, and Shihōin Naraku flung it out. In an instant, a black crescent of Blade Light shot forward, slashing down at Might Guy!

"Clang!!!"

The ringing of a blade resounded in the hearts of all things between heaven and earth!

This was Kurikara displaying its power to the world!

The oncoming Blade Light instantly made every hair on Might Guy's body stand on end. His muscles tensed, and he unleashed his full speed. At the very last moment, the Crescent-Shaped Blade Light flashed past before his eyes.

Tearing through the air, the crescent effortlessly cut a straight chasm through the earth, cleaving everything ahead of it until it reached the far distance and sliced a mountaintop in two.

Watching this, Might Guy's thick eyebrows twitched, and cold sweat poured from him.

"Get down!"

The voice came from overhead. Might Guy looked up and saw Shihōin Naraku, and then his body slammed uncontrollably into the earth. Amid the thunderous crash, a deep crater appeared.

"Shunk!"

Kurikara stabbed into the ground beside Might Guy's ear, frightening him into opening his eyes wide as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Suddenly, a hand reached out through the gradually dispersing dust. Smiling, Shihōin Naraku offered it to Might Guy.

The battle was over!

The green energy blazing around his body faded, and Might Guy's flushed skin gradually returned to normal. Gripping Naraku's hand, he struggled to stand.

"I'm a little drained..."

Although he had lost, a happy smile spread across Might Guy's face.

"Naraku, that strike of yours nearly killed me."

"No, it wouldn't have. I held back!"

Shihōin Naraku raised an eyebrow, pulled Kurikara from the ground with a clang, and sheathed it. Then Kurikara gradually faded out of sight.

"How much of your strength did you use?"

Might Guy looked questioningly at Shihōin Naraku. He had long since realized that his opponent had not used his full strength.

Before Shihōin Naraku could answer, however, Might Guy's legs buckled, and he nearly fell to his knees.

"All right, stop pushing yourself!"

Shihōin Naraku draped Might Guy's arm over his own shoulders and supported him as they walked out of the training ground, step by step.

The group outside the grounds was staring blankly at the terrifying scene left by Shihōin Naraku's final strike, remaining silent for a long time.

Only the occasional sound of falling boulders came from far away, where the mountaintop that had been cut in half was crumbling.

"Hey, what are you all looking at so intently?"

Shihōin Naraku called out as he approached, finally snapping everyone out of their daze. They all looked at him with complicated expressions, and only after a long while did they begin to speak.

"Naraku, you two really went overboard!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Just wait until you get chewed out. The old man definitely won't let you off."

"Naraku, even if you were sparring, there was no need to go that far. You've alarmed the entire village."

"Heh heh heh, hehe... Hungry? How about we all go get something to eat?"

Waving a hand casually, Shihōin Naraku glanced at the still-unconscious Kakashi Hatake and clicked his tongue a little. He had struck too hard, forgetting that Kakashi did not yet have the strength he would possess in the future.

After some thought, he asked everyone to spread out a little.

Then he addressed Naruto Uzumaki and the others, who remained at a distance without approaching, looking like a bunch of little fools. "You lot, go find two stretchers."

"Huh? Oh, oh, okay..."

The youngsters ran straight off. There was no telling whether they had actually understood.

Judging by their reactions, though, the earlier battle really had frightened them badly.

"Summoning Technique!"

Biting his index finger, Shihōin Naraku immediately performed the Summoning Technique.

With a bang, a Blue-White figure appeared in the smoke.

"Oh, it's little Naraku. It's been so long since you last summoned me."

A gentle, tranquil, even somewhat cute voice rang out as a five- or six-meter-long Blue-White slug appeared before everyone.

This was Shihōin Naraku's summon, the Katsuyu Sage, one of the Three Great Sages!

Everyone present gave a slight, respectful nod to show their reverence.

The Katsuyu Sage had once accompanied Tsunade and saved countless ninja of Konohagakure. All of Konoha held her in great respect.

After all, she had saved their lives!

"Katsuyu Sage, please help treat these two ninja!"

Shihōin Naraku pointed to Might Guy, who was leaning against something nearby, and the unconscious Kakashi Hatake.

"Oh, all right. Leave it to me."

The Katsuyu Sage agreed gently and kindly. Then her body split into two smaller bodies, which crawled onto Kakashi and Might Guy respectively and began treating them.