Welcome back to The Other Path To Power! This is a more battle focused chapter, and I hope it could live up to the hype of any Naruto vs Sasuke fight, but I will try!
In the Cannon story, Sasuke is miles ahead of Naruto, as shown during there "fight" in the Tenchi bridge arc. I know that stories where Sasuke is far ahead of Naruto get hate on the internet, but I just want you guys to know, during this time, this is the longest time where Sasuke is far ahead of Naruto during the story; so your torture will be short-lived. If you like when Sasuke is better then Naruto, then enjoy it while it lasts.
I like Sasuke more then I do Naruto, but I understand that Naruto can't be at the bottom level all the time. He is the main character, and he needs to grow, just like in the main series. Naruto will be the main character in this story as well, but Sasuke will also be the main character, as in part 1 or 'OG Naruto' Sasuke was shown to be a leader of team 7 with him sacrificing himself for Naruto, him being the first to break the Genjutsu before the Chunin exams and getting Sakura out of her sudden depression. More so in the Manga Sasuke was shown to be a leader and good teammate to both Naruto and Sakura, so that's my reason for Sasuke to be a main character with Naruto. But anyway,
Let's get into it, The Other Path To Power begins, NOW!
The Original team 7 were at training ground 7, the same one that they took there bell test together. Naruto stood, with his unmistakable grin on his face as he stared down his opponent, the emotionless face of Sasuke. They were a fair distance away, both wanting to make the first move.
Kakashi watched on impassively, as his two students prepared to fight. It wasn't as serious as the last two fights between the two, one where he needed to personally step in and the other where he needed to bring them both back to the village, but now it was a chance for Naruto to prove himself to Sasuke, to get his best friend to show that he has the potential to be an equal with Sasuke, and an a chance for Sasuke to get right of the high and mighty mentality that Kakashi had learned to deal with and slowly get rid of his students head, but a small part of it still remained in his head.
Sakura watched on, stuck between worry and eagerness. She had always hated when her two comrades fought with each other, but this time, it wasn't nearly as serious as the last time she had watched them fight, and she wasn't nearly as scared.
"I am glad we could get this over with, Naruto." Sasuke said emotionless, wanting nothing more then Naruto to learn his place. Naruto's grin widened.
"Why's that, Sasuke? Eager to fight me?" Naruto asked, wanting to get some mental jabs at Sasuke. Sasuke remained emotionless.
"Yes, Naruto, I am." Sasuke said, Naruto eyes widening. "Not because of your 'skill'," Sasuke said, Naruto narrowing his eyes at the familiar style of words in Sasuke mouth. "But because I want to settle this score of ours." Sasuke said, a small smirk at Naruto's angered expression.
"This isn't about a score, Sasuke." Naruto said, getting angry at the memories of Sasuke words during there fight 2 years ago. Naruto then made his signature plus style hand-sign, and Sasuke knew he had to turn on his Sharingan.
"Multi-shadow clone Jutsu!" Naruto said, a squad of five Naruto's flanking the original Naruto's sides. Sasuke started to run at Naruto, and then flickered to be right in front of the original Naruto, the clones not even having a chance to react to the rush.
'So fast!' Sakura and Naruto thought, staring in wonder at Sasuke. Sasuke punched Naruto in the stomach, Naruto groaning in protest from the hit. Two shadow clones popped out of existence around Naruto, the original Naruto losing some focus from being punched in the gut. The last three clones then chased after Sasuke, Sasuke jumping in the air to get away from there grasp. While flying, Sasuke formed familiar hand signs.
"Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke said, flames coming from his mouth, burning one chasing clone. Another clone flanked Sasuke and smashed Sasuke back down to the ground, overhead axe style. Sasuke hit the ground with a thud, and Naruto made more clones to gang up on the Uchiha. 20 Naruto's jumped at Sasuke, the last Uchiha not getting a chance to get out the way. The Naruto's dropped onto Sasuke, throwing fists and kicks, drawing up a massive white dust cloud.
"Uzuamki Barrage!" Naruto yelled as he beat the fuck out of a piece of wood, throwing punches and kicks, chipping and damage the wood. What, wood?! "Huh!" Naruto said, shocked at what as turned into his opponent. It was obvious that Sasuke switched his position with the log, like Kakashi had once did to him 2 years ago.
"You know Naruto," Sasuke said, confident in himself that this battle was already won. "I would think you have changed your fighting style, but I suppose people like you don't change much." Sasuke said mockingly, a few meters away from Naruto. The clones around Naruto all popped out of existence.
Naruto just ran at Sasuke with a kunai, Sasuke pulling out his sword at the sudden introduction of blades. Kunai and sword clashed, Sasuke and Naruto looked each other in the eyes, ocean blue and blood red looking at each. Sasuke then appeared behind Naruto, Naruto's eyes widening at the lost of Sasuke in front of him.
Sasuke gripped his sword tighter as he prepared to slice at Naruto's left leg. He did, Sakura's sighing in slight frustration at the need to use her medical ninja skills, and Sasuke smirking as he got the first hit. The Naruto he hit then pooped out of existence, only leaving a little bit of smoke behind him. Sasuke frowned as he started at the place where the clone of Naruto was, knowing he had been to caught up in getting a better position that he had lost the actual Naruto.
Sasuke saw Naruto to the right of him, 14 meters away as he had on his stupid grin, knowing that he had out smarted Sasuke. Two more shadow clones popped up to the right of Naruto, and started to form circles in the hand of the original Naruto. Sasuke knew what was happening, and he couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his face.
"You know Naruto," Sasuke said, getting Naruto's attention as Sasuke held out his arm in a similar way like Naruto. "I now know this Jutsu of yours, and its origin. Did you know that Kakashi-sensei's sensei was the fourth Hokage?" Sasuke asked Naruto, Naruto getting a confused expression.
"What are you getting at Sasuke?" Naruto asked, wanting to get to the point as his Rasangen was almost ready in his hand. Sasuke's smirk widened.
"The Jutsu your preparing, the Rasangan," Sasuke said, Naruto's eyes widening as Sasuke said the Jutsu. "It was made by the fourth Hokage. It is considered an A-rank Jutsu, so Kakashi-sensei taught me it." Sasuke said plainly, getting Naruto's shock as a blue ball of Charka formed in his hands. "It had taken me a while, about half a year, to get it controlled and working properly. But now, it's basically perfected. I don't like to use it, but I think this situation calls for it." Sasuke said, Naruto's Rasengan now finished, being noticeably bigger then Sasuke's. "But that's not all. I see this Jutsu to be more yours then mine, seeing as you learned it first. So I had to apply my own extra spin on it. It took me another 6 months, but I now know my Rasangen is far greater than yours." Sasuke said with a prominent smirk, Naruto watching closely as Sasuke's Rasangen was held in his hand, and then Sasuke flexed his right arm, the one the Rasangen was being held in, and it changed.
A blanket of fire took over Sasuke's Rasangen, and it wrapped itself over the Rasangen until it looked as if the Rasangen had turned into a fireball, the flames completely masking once blue glow of the Rasangen with the deep red glow of fire. "That's right Naruto. I have added my fire style to my own Rasangen. Now Naruto, let's end this." Sasuke said, preparing to run at Naruto. Naruto's face oddly gained his familiar grin as he ran at Sasuke.
"Rasangen!" Naruto shouted, moving his arm to push the ball of charka at Sasuke.
"Fire style: Rasanbomb!" Sasuke said, also shoving forward his fireball of charka. The two clashed, causing a big explosion of energy, charka, and fire. Sakura and Kakashi had to take multiple steps back so they don't go flying off. When the dust settled, Naruto was on the ground, the tips of his blonde hair was burned off and there was some burned spots on the bottom of his jacket. Sasuke was standing, completely spotless as if nothing had ever happened. Naruto looked up to see Sasuke, his emotionless face not giving away any of his feelings.
Naruto looked down at the ground sombrely. Orochimaru's and Kabuto's words ran through his head, about Sasuke being stronger then him, and not having anything on his Uchiha friend. 'They were right. I am so much weaker then Sasuke.' Naruto thought to himself regretfully. 'What's the point of trying tokeep up with him anymore. He is always one step ahead.' Naruto thought again sadly.
A white hand then filled Naruto's vision. The hand was opened, doing a gesture that Naruto interpreted that he should take it get to help him get up. Naruto followed the hand, and saw the familiar baggy white sleeve. He kept following the arm, up to the high collar on the shoulder, and saw the familiar black hair. Naruto stared in bewilderment at Sasuke's onyx black eyes.
"Get up, Naruto." Sasuke said plainly, knowing that this fight was over. Naruto looked back down at the hand of Sasuke, and couldn't stop the face-splitting grin that appeared on his face.
"Alright!" Naruto said happily, grabbing onto Sasuke's hand to pull himself back up on his feet. Once on his feet, Naruto wrapped an arm around Sasuke's shoulders, pulling Sasuke into Naruto making Sasuke scowl and mutter about Naruto being an idiot, which only made Naruto laugh even harder.
Sakura and Kakashi looked on softly at the two teens antics. Sasuke and Naruto walked over to Sakura and Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said, getting the Hatake attention. "Tomorrow, your going to show me how to add a charka type to my Rasangen as well!" Naruto shouted at his sensei, Kakashi, wilting at the mention of so much work.
"Really Naruto? I mean, you basically just got back!" Kakashi complained to Naruto.
"Nu huh! If Sasuke gets that training, so do I!" Naruto said with a prominent grin, wondering about what cool transformation his Rasangen would go under. With that, Naruto shinuned out of the trio's presence.
Kakashi then turned to Sasuke, a certain level of exspiecdentcy in his gaze, Sasuke not daring to look him in the eyes.
"Sakura." Sasuke said, turning his back to Sakura as she turned to face the Uchiha.
"Yes, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked innocently, her gaze more questioning as she looked at the back-turned Sasuke. Sasuke's shoulders tensed slightly as Sakura responded, and a beet of sweat came down from Sasuke's head. Sasuke's throat felt like it had a giant lump in it, and Sasuke both figuratively and literally swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Sakura." Sasuke said after a sigh. Sakura blinked quickly a few times, then her mouth turned into a small "o" at the statement. Sasuke saying sorry! That's crazy! "About what I said the night I tried to leave." Sasuke elaborated, the last Uchiha not daring to look over his shoulder. "It was wrong, and I was an asshole. I wouldn't ever say anything like that again." Sasuke said, Sakura still gaping at Sasuke apologizing to her.
"It's alright Sasuke-kun, we all make mistakes." A blushing Sakura said frantically to Sasuke, not really knowing what to do. Sakura looked between Kakashi and Sasuke, and really didn't know what to do. Sakura panicked, and shinuned away from the sensei and student. Sasuke still had his back turned to Kakashi.
"Are you happy?" Sasuke asked angrily, having to apologize of all things to please his sensei. Kakashi had a big eye smile.
"Quite, Sasuke-kun." Kakashi said with his non-sharingan eye closed and what appeared to be a big smile under his mask. Sasuke shinuned away, muttering something about his sensei being a slivered-haired bastard, and Kakashi left with his book in his hand as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop.
"Alright Naruto." Kakashi started, Naruto sitting on the ground impatiently. "There are five charka natures. Fire, water, lighting, earth, and air. The way you determine these charka natures is by doing the leaf test," Kakashi explained to Naruto, the blonde now practically rolling on the floor with boredom.
"Come on Kakashi-sensei! Would you get to the point already!" Naruto said, wanting to get his Rasangen better then Sasuke's as soon as possible. Kakashi chuckled.
"Well Naruto I suppose it is better shown then explained." Kakashi grabbed a passing by leaf swept up by the wind. "Here Naruto, put some of your charka into this leaf. It will determine your charka nature." Kakashi said, handing Naruto the leaf. Naruto grabbed the leaf from Kakashi, eying it close to his face as he examined it. Naruto put the leaf in his palm, then closing his fist to make sure it is a good fit. Naruto closed his eyes to focus, Kakashi watching him curiously as his student tried the exercise. After a moment, Naruto opened his eyes and opened his palm excitedly. Kakashi eyed Naruto's open palm.
"Hu. It cut in half." Kakashi said rather tiredly, having expected this result. Naruto wasn't as tired.
"That's so cool!" Naruto said holding the broken leaf close to his heart.
"That means that you have a wind style charka, Naruto." Kakashi explained to his student. "All right Naruto. In order to get a better Rasangen, first you need to have a better ability to control your charka." Kakashi said, Naruto moaning out in displeasure.
"Oh come on Kakashi-sensei! Do I have to climb trees again!" Naruto said, voicing his displeasure. Kakashi merely chuckled again.
"No Naruto. Your going to put your charka in your hands to make a Rasangen, so it would be pointless to do an exercise that puts your charka in your feet." Kakashi explained to Naruto. "What your going to do is trying to make those waterfalls stop by putting charka in your hands." Kakashi said, Naruto nodding his head. Naruto made some clones, and they all went out to the waterfall that surrounded the training ground that they were in.
"Your mission, team 10," Tsuande said, readying to declare the team there next mission. They had an extra member, and as you can expect, it was Sasuke Uchiha. The informationwas meet with just another smoke puff from Asuma, obvious concealed fangirling from Ino, a 'What a drag.' mutter from Shikamaru, and Choji just kept eating his bag of chips. "Is to escort this high-level noble across the land of fire." Tsuande said, giving Asuma the scroll detailing there specific route across the land of fire. With that, the team vanished from the Hokages office.
The mission wasn't difficult, having to go across the familiar land of fire wasn't that hard after all, and its not like they had to run into any trouble, no bandits or robbers coming after them. The noble himself was in a carriage being moved by a horse, and he didn't speak to the team of Shinobi.
Team 10 didn't talk to the noble either, each member outside of Asuma and Sasuke taking turns to be on the horse to ease the pain on there feet as they walked. Some may look at it as lazy, but it was actually smart, making sure that 3/5's of the team is in full condition if the case of any enemies come from the shadows. It was only when they came back was when they found any disturbing sites.
Team 10 were coming back from there mission now on foot, the sun starting to come down slightly as they walked. They were about 75% of the way back now, hoping to get back swiftly. Asuma led the group, puffing out smoke from his cigarette as he walks, looking at the forest around him. That's when Sasuke rushed past him, everyone's senses coming back to them as they watched the Uchiha clan symbol on Sasuke's back get farther away from them.
"Sasuke-kun?" Ino asked first, concern evident in her voice. Asuma merely grunted as he speeded up to catch the teen, Shikamaru closely behind him. Ino and Choji quickly caught up to the trio wondering what they were so speedy about.
Sasuke then stopped to look at what made him come so quickly to this spot, Asuma practically shadowing him as he stopped seconds after him. Asuma looked down at the mess that was in front of them, and grunted in both understanding and annoyance. Shikamaru also came behind him Asuma.
"I see. What a drag." Shikamaru said rather annoyed, looking at down and where both Sasuke and Asuma where looking at. Ino and Choji both caught up to the three ninja, and saw what was the rush.
Two bloody Akatsuki cloaks were on the ground in front of the team of Ninja team, and Sasuke quickly dropped down to his knees to see if there were any body parts that remained. He picked up the two cloaks, but nothing came out. Asuma turned dead serious.
"We need to bring these back to leaf immediately." He said, stating the obvious to his team. Sasuke took the two cloaks under both his arms, and jumped up to the trees, pausing slightly to let Asuma be there leader back to the village. The five ninja were jumping through the leaves as they were almost already at the village.
'They both seem to be too big for Itachi, and too small for Kisame.' Asuma thought as he looked back slightly at the two Akatsuki robes Sasuke was holding. 'Maybe they are a new duo? Whatever it is, I have to be weary as they could still be out here.' Asuma thought, now looking forward and around trying to take in every detail. Shikamaru was having similar thoughts.
'Finding bloody cloaks doesn't mean that they are dead, but where would the bodies be?' Shikamaru thought, practically groaning inside his head. 'Why can't this just be over already.' He thought. The team then entered the village, Asuma and Shikamaru not even glancing at Izumo and Kotenstu as they kept hurrying towards the Hokages office.
When they arrived at the door, Asuma only knocked once and then opened the door, deeming this very important.
"Lady Hokage!" Asuma said, wanting to at least lower Tsuande's wraith as he bursts into the Hokages office. Tsuande and Shiuzane both looked up surprised at the sudden income of the team of ninja.
"What is it Sarutobi? How dare you barge into the Hokages office like this!" Tsuande said, obviously pissed off at them. Asuma wilted slightly at the shout of the Hokage, so Shikamaru took over.
"We have something of up most importance, Lady Hokage." Shikamaru said, getting the Hokages attention. Tsuande turned to look at Shikamaru, and Shikamaru pointed to Sasuke, who in turn held out the two Akatsuki cloaks to Tsuande. Tsuande and Shiuzane were understandably shocked.
"We found them on our way here. They seemed pretty recent." Ino informed, Choji just munching on his chips. Tsuande took one cloak from Sasuke, Shiuzane taking the other.
"The blood isn't that dried." Shiuzane mulled to herself, her medical ninja knowledge taking over for a second.
"Shiuzane!" Tsuande yelled, startling the ninja, making her jump a few feet away on impulse.
"Y-Yes lady Tsuande!" Shiuzane said after her startle-meant, making the five other ninja in the room sweatdrop.
"Alert the medical team. We're sending both of these to them for inspection." Tsuande ordered to her subordinate. Shiuzane turned and ran out of the Hokages office, no doubt making her way down to the medical core to complete her new task. Tsuande turned to the still present ninja. "You've all done enough, go do what you please." Tsuande said, the team nodding and making there way out the office.
"Oh Sasuke-kun~" Ino started once the team got outside. "Why don't we go out and get something to eat together, I mean, we both have the time." Ino said, obviously still trying to get a date with the last Uchiha. Ino turned around, and wilted when she didn't see anyone behind her, the place where everyone once was.
Sasuke arrived at the training ground to find Naruto resting on the ground, snoring quite loudly with his shirt off and next to him was Kakashi, reading his book with what looked like a slight blush on his face, no doubt in the more, 18 section of Icha Icha Paradise. He but the book down as Sasuke approached.
"Was your mission a success?" Kakashi asked calmly, moving to an open area in the training ground with Sasuke.
"Yeah." Sasuke said plainly, not feeling a need to explain much more about it. Kakashi turned around once they were a good distance away from Naruto.
"Alright Sasuke. Let's get this going." Kakashi said, folding his arms and giving Sasuke the space he needs. Sasuke straightened himself, then hunched himself down and started to make familiar hand signs.
"Chidori!" He said, the birds chirping in his right hand as he gritted his teeth, trying his hardest to focus more charka in his left hand. The chirping of the birds awoken Naruto from his sleep, slowly raising his head as he looked towards the birds.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked through his drowsiness, wanting to know what his sensei is doing now. That's when Yamato arrived, already finding Naruto.
"Hey Naruto." Yamato said, looking down at Naruto slightly from his seated position a few meters away. Naruto looked up in confusion at his captain.
"Captain Yamato? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked confused. Yamato just smiled back.
"I'm here to help you train while Kakashi-sensei is busy training Sasuke-kun." Yamato explained, Naruto now looking back at the thousands chirping of birds.
"Sasuke?" Naruto asked, not noticing that it wasn't Kakashi's chirping of birds but rather Sasuke's. "Why is he here?" Naruto asked Yamato, not looking back as he watched Sasuke.
"He is trying to do a double Chidori." Yamato said simply, also looking forward to watch Sasuke and Kakashi train. Naruto got more confused.
"Double Chidori?" Naruto asked Yamato.
"Sasuke is trying to put in equal amount of charka in both his hands to make two Chidori's at the same time, like you do with your Rasangen." Yamato explained, Naruto still being confused.
"Well, why doesn't he just, you know, do it?" Naruto asked, seeing Sasuke only getting small sparks on his left hand. Yamato sighed.
"Unlike the Rasangen, the Chidori needs hand signs to get a perfect natural transformation. But if Sasuke but his hands together while he has one Chidori going in one of his hands, then he runs the risk of blowing the unChudori hand completely off." Yamato paused to let the process get into Naruto's brain. "That's why he learned the Rasangen, and then added a nature transformation to his Rasangen, to boost his abilities in making his charka go to his hands." Yamato paused again. "A basic Rasangen isn't a nature transformation, so Sasuke has to do a nature transformation without any hand signs. It's like him having to do a fire style Jutsu without any hand signs." Yamato explained, Naruto nodding his head in understanding at his captains words.
"So captain Yamato, do you want to get to that training now." Naruto asked, getting up to stretch while looking at his sensei. Yamato stood up straight.
"Of course. Now which do you want, a nice spar, or a more ... draconian style method." Yamato, having a terrifying face which made Naruto move a couple steps back in fear.
"S-s-spar p-please." Naruto said frightened for his life as he held his shaking arms up in fear.
The two teens kept training for hours, subtly taking looks at the other when one wasn't looking and trained into night fall as they didn't want to give up first, but it was only the surrender of both Yamato and Kakashi that made them stop.
3 weeks later the new team 7 of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Sai, and Kakashi all gathered in the Hokages office, being given there next mission.
"Your mission, team 7, is to find Itachi Uchiha alive," The glare Tsuande got from one teammate almost made her forget her line of thought, and as a master of glares herself, she had to pad Sasuke on the back for it. "Or," She added, making Sasuke lose the glare and gain a wide smirk. "Dead. It doesn't matter which, it just matter that he be eliminated as soon as possible. With that said, your dismissed." Tsuande said, getting 3 "Hai's" in return. The team then found themselves at the gates of Konoha, with there pack backs ready as they exited the hidden leaf village, but one thing was clear.
The fated battle between brothers had began.
Authors note:
Schedule:
I have been really unmotivated to write this chapter, and I don't think that I will continue to have this weekly schedule of mine. Having deadline hanging over your is quite debilitating, especially when it is something that you don't get paid for like this. You can't rush great things, so I will be abandoning the weekly schedule.
The writing process:
The Naruto vs Sasuke fight isn't as long as I thought it was going to be, but I still like the way it came out. I hope you like the Naruto and Sasuke moment at the end, and the following Sasuke and Sakura moment. I needed Team Asuma to get a mission with Sasuke, so just thought of something like that. I hope you guys don't hate me for killing Asuma in that mission, but his death will come. And what's up with those Akatsuki cloaks? Your answer will come.
Life:
It's Christmas! I hope everyone had a good Christmas, and a good holiday if you follow any other religion. I am trying to get my hands on Naruto Manga, as I already have 24 volumes, and I have 27 coming in the mail so I will definitely be reading it over this break. I also am looking at getting a lot more One piece manga, so I hope I can. I recently picked up this new Manga called 'No Guns Life' and I really enjoy it and it's MC. With that said,
Merry Christmas! And you will hear from me again on
The Other Path To Power Chapter 8
Finding the Lost Uchiha! The Battle begins!