"Naruto: New Generation"
Chapter 7- "Resolve"
By- Tiny
Kakashi was sitting in his office tackling a mountain of paperwork, including listing several missions as successes or failures, when he first heard the loud cheering from over towards the academy. He paid it no mind at first, as there were always bound to be fights among the rowdy shinobi of the village and there was little he could do about that, but began to get curious as the screaming grew louder. Whatever was taking place was not your normal spar between two shinobi with a grudge, and Kakashi got a sinking feeling that he knew exactly who was fighting.
It was at that moment that the older of his two assistants, Shizune, burst into the room while trying to catch her breath, with Sakura and Kakashi's pug dog, Pakkun, following in short order. The sight of his two assistants as well as his trusted tracking hound did not bode well as the Hokage turned to face them, his eye gazing lazily over them while they took a few deep breaths. Sakura began to speak first, but it was so incoherent that Kakashi simply ignored her and turned his attention to the older woman, who was a bit more composed.
"Kakashi-sama, you have to come stop this!" Shizune panted, "Those two will kill each other if someone doesn't stop them!"
"What are you talking about, Shizune?" Kakashi asked, "Who's going to kill each other?"
"Naruto and Sasuke!" Sakura finally managed to squeak out, "They started fighting a few minutes ago, and Naruto's already drawing on the fox chakra!"
"My, that does sound intense," Kakashi chuckled, "But what do you expect me to do about it?"
"Kakashi, this isn't like you at all!" Pakkun barked, "Do you want your two students to spill one another's blood?"
"Of course not, but it cannot be helped this time," Kakashi sighed, gazing out the window, "Whatever happens, for good or ill, I cannot interfere with this fight."
"But they're going to kill each other!" Sakura sobbed, "How...how can you just...sit there and watch?"
Kakashi pondered the question for a moment as he looked out across the village as the sun sank lower in the sky, casting foreboding shadows across the rooftops as twilight began to set in. He had always favored Sasuke as a student, being able to better relate to the Uchiha's natural gifts and as a fellow Sharingan user, always putting his training before the other two in his squad. He knew it was wrong, as he had made a promise to Naruto's father that he would take care of him after his death, yet he had been distant and Jiraiya had come along to pick up his slack.
It had been the same with so many shinobi, such as with the Sandaime favoring Orochimaru over his other two students due to his natural gifts, while simultaneously overlooking the seeds of anger and hatred. It had ultimately led to the wise Hokage's death at the hands of his former student, just as Sasuke's own defection had nearly led to Kakashi's death several times. This was a fight that he had no place in, a fight between the two people who, above all else, wanted recognition for their talents, if not from the villagers than from each other.
"I will allow this fight because I care for both of them, and this is the only way there is for them to grow," Kakashi smiled, trying to comfort Sakura, "Sasuke was a prodigy, but Naruto became a standout. Above all else he's wanted to be recognized, and now the whole village is watching him...watching and seeing that he above all other's can stand against the Uchiha genius."
"And what about Sasuke?" Shizune asked, "Why does he chose to fight?"
"For the same reason, to be recognized for what he is, not who," Kakashi chuckled, "When you get right down to the heart of the matter, those two are two sides of the same coin. Naruto took the more upbeat path, while Sasuke chose a far darker one, yet both have become more powerful as a result. Now, they're going to settle once and for all just who is stronger."
"And who do you think that is, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, sniffling, "Sasuke or Naruto?"
"I don't know, Sakura," Kakashi frowned, shaking his head, "I just don't know..."
Naruto was lucky that he hadn't gotten impaled already as Sasuke used a particularly nasty Doton, forming rows of massive rock spires that had nearly ripped the jinchuriki a new one. The entire training ground had been covered in them for a while, but had flattened out once more as Naruto use an enlarged Rasengan to blow the spires to mere rubble. This, of course, had angered Sasuke as the Uchiha began to run through a familiar series of hand signs and fires his family's signature Katon at the blonde, burning through part of his clothing in the process.
The blonde was quick to recover from the attack, and emerged from the smoke in the four-tailed form of the demon fox chakra, which was supposed to be his limit last Sasuke heard. This was obviously no longer the case, however, as Naruto used the paw-like chakra claws to swipe at Sasuke and tear up a good sized chunk of the ground, all the while taunting his former teammate. He wasn't even bleeding constantly any more, indicating his body had become adjusted to the intensity of the demon fox's chakra and was no longer damaged by it.
Sasuke was about to come at Naruto with some taijutsu as a counter to the nearly impervious chakra shield he had formed around himself, but never got the chance as Naruto used an unknown attack. He had seen it once before, when the blonde had fired it at Orochimaru and Kabuto many years prior, but back then it was far less stable or as powerful. He was able to counter it by using a projectile Chidori, something that he was previously only able to do in Curse Seal form, showing Naruto his own improved strength as the blonde dissipated the chakra shield, while retaining four tails.
"Your full of surprise, just like always," Sasuke smirked, drawing Kusanagi, "But I haven't even begun to show you my full strength!"
"Neither have I, Sasuke," Naruto smirked, drawing a scroll from his pocket, "And if your going to begin using that toy, I guess I should summon one as well!"
"Pah, you can't withstand Kusanagi!" Sasuke scoffed, "There are only five in existence who can block it's strikes without shattering!"
"Exactly," Naruto laughed, spreading blood across the scroll, "Hence why I'm going to use this!"
Sasuke was confused until the scroll disappeared to leave an elegant, thin katana in Naruto's hand, sheathed in a painted wood scabbard that had the image of a many-headed serpent winding up it's base. It gave off an almost frightening aura that caused many in the crowd to begin backing away, though Ten-Ten could be seen visibly drooling at the sight of such craftsmanship. A blade of the caliber that Naruto or Sasuke wielded was a rarity to be treasured, and which would only be used in the most intense and decisive of all battles between shinobi.
"That sword...it can't be..."
"But it is, isn't it?" Naruto grinned, running a finger along the blade's edge, "The blade that was used to slay the Yamata no Orochi, found in the belly of the beast after it's death."
"Then it is, the Ame no Tsurugi," Sasuke growled, "No matter, it's not like some fool would so easily wield a legendary blade such as that."
"We'll see about that," Naruto smirked, "You can claim as much after your dead!"
Sasuke barely had time to parry as Naruto's sword came down to meet his, though the resulting burst of powerful wind sent the Uchiha sprawling, no doubt due to some kind of element manipulation. The Uchiha knew for a fact that using his own element manipulation in Kusanagi would be useless, as it was weak against wind, and resolved to simply overpower Naruto's blade. Almost as if he detected such a plan, Naruto charged at Sasuke again and sliced the blade upwards, nearly taking a slice out of his opponent's arm in the process.
The Uchiha could feel the blood trickling down his arm from where Naruto's blade had cleaved through his flesh, like a hot knife through butter, but tried not to focus on it as he took another swing at the blonde. Naruto managed to dodge the full force of the blade, though not without receiving a gash of his own for his trouble, and continued to assault his ex-teammate with renewed aggression. Very few could remember seeing Naruto take a fight so seriously, even those that had served with him in ANBU, but it was quite clear that he was enjoying every minute.
The two figures were moving so fast that, with few exceptions, many of the shinobi were unable to keep up with them and only knew what was going on from focusing on the sound of steel clashing with steel. The fight had progressed out onto the lake now, where many had expected Naruto to sink like a stone due to his considerably poorer chakra control. They were in for a shock, however, as the jinchuriki not only managed to stay atop the water, but was using it to execute multiple Suiton techniques while still conserving his chakra.
"You've fought quite well, far better than I ever expected," Sasuke huffed, using a high level Doton to block Naruto's attacks, "But the time has come to end this fight, before you embarrass yourself by continuing!"
"I'm not the one gasping for air," Naruto smirked slyly, "I haven't even begun to fight."
"Then perhaps I should stop holding back on you," Sasuke chuckled as his Sharingan spun faster and faster, "I was finally able to unlock this after eliminating my brother...the ultimate weapon of the Uchiha!"
Naruto was a bit shocked to see the pinwheel design in Sasuke's eyes as they finally stopped spinning, the mark of the fully matured and mastered Sharingan that so few had ever achieved. The last time he had seen this eye, Sasuke had been it's victim and it had left him in a coma for close to a month, putting Naruto on edge as he forced himself to remain at the fourth tail. He had a sinking feeling that there may come a time for him to use more of the fox's chakra, but he was trying to hold back against Sasuke because he inwardly wanted to embarrass the Uchiha.
Sasuke was likewise wanting to embarrass his former teammate, to make it clear to everyone present that it was he who was the strongest, not the blonde jinchuriki that had haunted his mind for so long. He quickly ran through some hand seals and an unusual chakra overtook his body as he breathed deeply, then spewed a burst of black flame towards a stunned Naruto. The blonde wouldn't have time to react to such an attack, and it hit with overwhelming force as Sasuke pushed more and more of his chakra into it, sending up a brilliant shower of black fire.
It was at this moment that Kakashi and his aids arrived on the scene, prepared to step in should they need to, with the current Hokage watching with amazement as Amaterasu scorched even nearby rocks to ash. If the flame had hit Naruto, then they were wasting their time, since the blonde was probably already dead and they wouldn't even be able to give him a proper burial. Such was the way of things when an Uchiha used the most powerful of all known fire jutsu, and Sasuke could be seen laughing with delight before a stunned crowd as the smoke began to clear.
"You all see?" Sasuke laughed, his red eyes almost glowing, "You see how weak and how foolish this so-called demon is?"
"Weak? Foolish?" a dark, almost wicked voice chuckled from within the smokescreen, "Sounds more like you for boasting without checking to make sure the kill was clean, Uchiha."
The crowd was dead silent as the smoke finally cleared when six flowing chakra tails pushed it out of their way, all protruding from behind the slightly burned, but otherwise fine, form of Uzumaki Naruto. His chakra was highly erratic at the moment as he walked across the water towards his ex-teammate, a slow swirl of chakra forming in his right hand. The difference was that the usually bluish-white swirling chakra was now a mixture of it's normal color and bright green, causing Kakashi's eyes to widen as he watched the green chakra flatten out into four curved points.
Sasuke didn't know what was going on, except that he was angry at Naruto for managing to survive what was supposed to be a certain-kill attack, but refused to accept that he had failed. Charging his own hand up with brilliant lightning chakra, the sound of chirping bird fluttered into the air while Naruto charged at the Uchiha, his own attack drawn back and ready. Within seconds they would collide, both attacks connecting and possibly killing the both of them, but that never happened as, once he was within a few inches, Naruto suddenly vanished.
The stunned Uchiha didn't even have time to register what was happening until it was too late, as Naruto's powerful chakra attack collided with the Chidori, canceling it out and sending Sasuke sprawling. The effects didn't stop there, however, as Naruto's attack nearly enveloped the Uchiha and began to tear him apart, and likely would have had Sasuke's guards not removed him by force. Still, he had sustained heavy injuries from the battle and was bleeding from nearly ever part of his body, with the only visible damage on Naruto being from where blows had landed and Amaterasu had burned him.
The crowd was dead silent as Naruto's red chakra dissipated, giving way to the normal Naruto with his bright blue eyes, who was panting heavily from drawing upon so much chakra all at once. The Futon: Rasengan was Naruto's ultimate move and was his last resort, next only to continuing to draw upon the chakra of the nine-tailed demon fox, and thus him using it meant he was nearly at his limit. This had truly been a fight that pushed both combatants to nearly their limits, draining their chakra due to the powerful attacks used and the frequency at which they were used.
Finally, the crowd began to roar with excitement as Ino rushed out onto the field and wrapped her arms around the jinchuriki, pulling him into an impassioned kiss while his other friends surrounded them. Many of the other villager's, even those who had doubted the blonde when the fight started, also cheered after seeing the prodigy of the Uchiha clan lying in tatters as his team tried to heal him. You could see the hatred in his eyes, but also could feel the sense of closure between the two shinobi as they glanced once more at each other, before both were taken their respective ways.
"Naruto...actually beat Sasuke, a genius," Shizune gasped, "How...is such a thing possible, Kakashi-sama?"
"Sasuke has always been a genius, but Naruto possessed something far more important in a shinobi," Kakashi smiled behind his mask, "The iron will to never back down and to never give up, the true Will of Fire. Sasuke always won in the past because Naruto doubted himself, doubted that he could defeat a genius, but to be honest, Naruto has a strength that may be greater than even his father's."
"Stronger than the Yondaime?" Shizune gulped, "What does that mean for his future?"
"It means that he has a bright career as a shinobi ahead of him!" Kakashi chuckled, turning to walk away, "We're done here Shizune, let's go back to the tower."
Shizune readily obeyed the Hokage as she took off after him, leaving Sakura behind to try and heal Naruto's wounds, only to be caught up in a screaming match with the jinchuriki's current girlfriend. Naruto's team were also hanging around their sensei, asking if there was anything they could do to help him and marveling at how powerful their sensei was. Watching him fight had been almost like seeing two supernatural beings go at it, their power sending shivers through the Genin's spines and exciting them all at the same time.
They were not the only one's watching, however, as a few dozen yards away two older shinobi could be seen standing atop one of the village's many high rises, both of them smiling at the outcome. One was an older looking man with white hair and red lines under his eyes, while the other was a young looking woman with bright blonde hair and rather ample cleavage, though she herself was near 60. They had watched the fight with particular excitement and were quite pleased with the outcome, now watching as the virtually uninjured blonde began to walk out of the training grounds.
"Naruto finally mastered his father's techniques, the Rasengan and the Haraishin no Jutsu," Tsunade smiled brightly, "I always knew the kid had potential, but he's progressed so much faster than expected."
"He has a knack for that, Tsunade," Jiraiya chuckled, "The boy has always been able to master things that other people considered impossible, and even improve upon the previous technique."
"He's quite a kid," Tsunade agreed, looking back at Jiraiya, "And now he's one step closer to reaching his dream."
"Indeed he is," Jiraiya agreed, turning to leave himself, "And when that day comes, Konohagakure will have it's greatest Hokage in history!"
Translations
Haraishin no Jutsu: Flying Thunder God Technique
Futon: Rasengan: Wind Release: Spiral Sphere
Chidori: One Thousand Birds
Ame no Tsurugi: According to legend, both it and Kusanagi are the same sword, but their origins are different in this story, so it's all good.
Kusanagi: Grass Cutter
Author's Notes; Whew, the fight is over and, as many of you predicted, Naruto was able to come out on top due to his improved intelligence and mastery over the demon fox's chakra! I usually don't like fight scenes because, to be quite honest, I'm not very good with them because I have a hard time with descriptions. Regardless, I hope you all enjoyed this story and I will catch you next time!
