The training grounds of the Academy had never been so alive with anticipation. The entire class gathered around the sparring ring, their eyes filled with excitement and disbelief at the upcoming match. Naruto Uzumaki versus Sasuke Uchiha—arguably the two most surprising students of the day. The underdog and the prodigy, the loudmouth and the genius, both standing at the center, facing each other in the ring.

Iruka stood between them, his hand raised. "This will be a taijutsu-only match. No ninjutsu. No weapons. The match ends when one of you can no longer continue or I decide it should stop. Understood?"

Naruto grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Got it, Iruka-sensei! I've been waiting for this!"

Sasuke smirked, his eyes narrowing slightly. He still wasn't sure how Naruto had made it this far, but it didn't matter. He was still an Uchiha, and he would prove it here and now. "Let's get this over with."

Iruka exhaled, then with a sharp motion, brought his hand down. "Begin!"

The moment the word left Iruka's mouth, Naruto vanished from his spot.

Sasuke barely had time to widen his eyes before—

BAM!

A fist collided with his face, sending him skidding backward several meters. Gasps erupted from the gathered students.

"W-What was that?!" Kiba shouted, leaning forward. "Did Naruto just… move that fast?"

Sakura clutched her chest, eyes darting between Sasuke and Naruto in pure shock. "No way… Sasuke-kun didn't even see that punch coming!"

Sasuke wiped his mouth as he stood, rubbing his jaw. The pain was real. Naruto's punch had power. More power than he had ever expected from the class clown. But more importantly—

"He's fast," Sasuke muttered, his fingers tightening into fists. "Faster than before. Just like me."

A grin broke out on Naruto's face as he took a step forward. "What's wrong, Sasuke? That all you got?"

Sasuke didn't reply. Instead, he surged forward, his speed matching Naruto's.

Naruto barely dodged the first strike, stepping back just in time as Sasuke's fist flew past his cheek. But Sasuke wasn't done. He twisted his body and launched a spinning kick aimed straight for Naruto's ribs.

THWACK!

Naruto blocked, but the force sent him stumbling sideways. He barely had a moment to regain his footing before Sasuke pressed the attack. A barrage of punches followed, each faster than the last. Naruto ducked, weaved, and blocked as best he could, but Sasuke's strikes carried newfound power. Every hit that landed felt heavier than before, like being struck by a small boulder.

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"Damn, he's really gotten stronger," Naruto thought as he deflected another punch. "But so have I!"

Using his enhanced reflexes, Naruto sidestepped Sasuke's next blow and retaliated with a knee strike to the stomach. Sasuke grunted, stumbling back, but recovered quickly, swinging a kick at Naruto's head.

Naruto ducked and countered with a low sweep. Sasuke jumped, flipping over Naruto before landing smoothly behind him.

The class watched in stunned silence. They had expected a fight, but not like this. Not at this level.

"They're both moving so fast," Shikamaru murmured, eyes following the rapid exchange. "Faster than they should be able to. Something's different about them."

Hinata's hands clutched her jacket tightly, watching Naruto move with a sense of awe. "Naruto-kun… you've gotten so strong."

Sasuke and Naruto clashed again, trading blow for blow. Each hit landed with an audible thud, their movements becoming sharper, more refined. The thrill of the battle overtook them, and for a brief moment, they forgot the audience. They forgot the schoolyard rivalry. All that remained was the fight itself.

Sasuke swung a punch at Naruto's jaw. Naruto blocked it, but Sasuke used the momentum to twist, slamming his elbow into Naruto's ribs.

Naruto grunted, the pain flaring through his side, but instead of backing down, he grinned. Heh, not bad.

He retaliated, launching a powerful uppercut. Sasuke saw it coming and tilted his head to avoid it—but Naruto had already anticipated that. He shifted his weight and swept Sasuke's legs from beneath him.

Sasuke crashed onto his back but rolled away before Naruto could capitalize. He jumped to his feet, panting slightly. His eyes narrowed.

He's keeping up with me. No—he's actually getting ahead.

Sasuke rushed forward again, this time with a different strategy. He feinted a high kick, making Naruto raise his arms in defense, only to pivot and send a low, sweeping kick toward Naruto's legs.

Naruto saw through it. He jumped, avoiding the sweep entirely, and came down with a powerful axe kick.

Sasuke barely managed to roll away as Naruto's foot slammed into the ground, leaving a small dent in the dirt.

Sweat dripped from both boys. Their bodies ached, their breathing grew heavier, but neither of them would back down.

Sasuke wiped sweat from his brow, his pride refusing to let him lose. Damn it. I have to end this.

Naruto, on the other hand, grinned through the exhaustion. This is awesome. I've never felt this strong before!

The final exchange came suddenly. Sasuke lunged with a rapid punch, but Naruto sidestepped and countered with a kick to Sasuke's ribs, sending him sliding back. Sasuke clenched his fists, frustration building. I won't lose. Not to him.

In a split-second decision, Sasuke took a deep breath.

Iruka's eyes widened in horror. "Sasuke, stop!"

But it was too late. A surge of chakra filled Sasuke's lungs, and the next moment—

Fire erupted.

The flames surged forward, engulfing everything in their path. Iruka immediately moved to evacuate the students as the searing heat spread across the training field.

Naruto's eyes widened as he watched the inferno consume the air around him. Damn it, Sasuke! he thought, panic rising. I can't dodge this!

Just as the flames reached him, something dark stirred.

A shadow—deep, vast, and consuming—rose in front of Naruto like an impenetrable wall.

The fire met the darkness, but it did not consume it.

And Naruto, staring at the abyss forming before him, could only wonder—

Well, I will be damned!!!

What the hell was that?