The forest around them was alive with the sounds of rushing wind, crashing branches, and the rhythmic pounding of fists against the air. Sakura and Naruto were breathing heavily, their bodies sweating from exertion, but their determination was unwavering. They had no idea who this masked man was, but they could feel the sheer power emanating from him. Their training with Yami had pushed them to new heights, but facing this mysterious opponent was unlike anything they had experienced.

Yami—though they didn't know it—had been watching them closely, studying their every move. His eyes were always a step ahead, anticipating their attacks before they could even finish executing them. His mask hid any emotions, but the movements of his body told a story of someone in complete control.

Sakura, her muscles burning from the intensity of the fight, gritted her teeth as she clenched her fists. She had learned how to combine strength with precision, but this was different. The masked man was like a force of nature. As she launched herself forward with explosive speed, her fist aimed directly at Yami's head, she could feel her chakra surging through her arm, her Hundred Healings technique pushing her strength beyond human limits.

But Yami was already gone.

He sidestepped with inhuman grace, his body moving like liquid, flowing effortlessly out of her reach. He didn't even seem to be trying, his speed and reflexes so precise that Sakura's attack seemed to slow down as it neared him. Before she could react, Yami shifted positions again, his foot sweeping low to catch her off guard.

Sakura was forced to leap backward, just narrowly avoiding the kick that would have knocked her off her feet. But she didn't give up. She spun in mid-air, launching herself back to the ground with a powerful landing, pushing herself back into the fray.

"Damn it!" she muttered under her breath, frustration creeping in. "This guy's impossible!"

Naruto, watching from the side, wasn't faring much better. He'd been waiting for his moment, his body surging with the glowing aura of his Kyuubi Chakra Mode (KCM). He focused, summoning the energy of the Nine-Tails within him as he aimed to strike.

"Let's finish this!" Naruto yelled, his eyes blazing with the same intensity as when he faced down his toughest opponents. He charged forward, the power of KCM intensifying the speed and strength in his limbs. The air around him seemed to crackle as he moved faster than the human eye could follow, launching a full-force Rasengan aimed directly at Yami's chest.

Yami's eyes flicked toward him—his body already reacting before Naruto could even finish his charge. In a move that seemed almost too fast to comprehend, Yami dodged to the side, just enough to avoid the brunt of the attack. But there was no stopping the force of Naruto's Rasengan.

The massive swirling ball of chakra crashed into Yami with a thunderous sound. The blast sent him skidding backward, his feet dragging against the forest floor. The ground shattered beneath his weight, a massive crater forming in the dirt.

Naruto's eyes widened, and for a split second, he thought he might have actually landed a hit. "Did I get him?" he muttered, his breath coming in sharp gasps as he took a cautious step forward.

But Yami was already back on his feet, completely unharmed, save for a few scratches on his cloak. His mask remained impassive, his body barely winded. He wiped the dust from his chest, looking at Naruto and Sakura with that same calculating gaze.

"You're strong," Yami said, his voice calm, almost admiring. "But that won't be enough."

Naruto growled in frustration. He was giving everything he had, but Yami wasn't even breaking a sweat.

"We're not done yet!" Naruto yelled, his confidence unshaken. His KCM chakra flared once more as he rushed forward, his body propelled by the immense power of the Nine-Tails. He slammed his fist into the air, causing the ground to shake beneath their feet as he prepared for another attack.

But this time, Yami didn't wait for him to come to him. He exploded forward, moving at an incredible speed. Before Naruto could react, Yami's fist collided with his chest, the force of the blow sending him reeling backward. The impact was enough to force the wind out of him, but Yami didn't stop there.

He spun, his leg extending in a wide arc, catching Naruto in the ribs and sending him spiraling through the air. Naruto crashed into a tree, splintering the trunk with the force of his impact. He was winded, struggling to catch his breath as he tried to push himself up.

Sakura wasn't far behind, charging forward with a powerful battle cry as she lunged at Yami with her fists raised. But he was already prepared.

In one smooth motion, Yami dropped low to the ground, dodging Sakura's strikes with a grace that made it look effortless. He rolled under her next punch, his body twisting as he rose up behind her in an instant. With a fluid motion, Yami grabbed her from behind, his hands gripping her face with unyielding strength.

Sakura's eyes widened in shock as he pressed his palm against her forehead, the overwhelming power behind the movement forcing her to the ground. Her body slammed into the dirt with enough force to crack the earth beneath her. She groaned in pain but remained conscious, her body aching from the brutal hit.

Yami stood over her, his masked face looking down with an almost pitying expression. "You're strong, but you're still too slow," he said softly.

Sakura's eyes flickered as she struggled to get up, but the pain was overwhelming. She gritted her teeth, trying to push through it. She wasn't done yet.

Meanwhile, Naruto had just regained his footing, his vision blurred from the force of the earlier blow. He wasn't about to give up. He dashed forward once more, his body surging with renewed energy, fueled by his indomitable will.

But as Naruto rushed toward Yami with another Rasengan, Yami was already moving, anticipating his every move. With a flash of speed, Yami met Naruto's lunge head-on.

Naruto's Rasengan came dangerously close, but before he could land the blow, Yami shifted his weight, slamming his open palm into Naruto's stomach. The sheer force of the impact sent Naruto crashing backward, his body lifting off the ground as if struck by an invisible force.

Naruto soared through the air, his body crashing through tree after tree, splintering the trunks as he flew, each hit harder than the last. His mind spun as he tried to regain control, but the pain was almost unbearable. Finally, he came to a screeching halt, his body crashing through a massive boulder before finally coming to a stop, buried beneath the rubble.

Sakura's heart stopped for a moment, her eyes wide with fear. "Naruto!" she cried out, struggling to push herself off the ground.

Yami stood still for a moment, watching the destruction unfold before him. His breathing was steady, almost calm. He knew they wouldn't be able to keep up with him forever. But this was a test—he wasn't trying to kill them. Not yet. He wanted to see their resolve, their determination to push beyond their limits. But there was a limit to what even they could endure.

As he turned his gaze back toward Sakura, who was still struggling to get to her feet, he paused for just a moment. Her eyes burned with unwavering determination, but he knew she, too, would eventually fall.

Yami stepped back, his arms folding across his chest as he surveyed the damage. His mask remained as impassive as ever, hiding his emotions, but a small thought flickered in his mind: They're not quite there yet. But they will be.

For now, the battle was over. But this encounter—this test—had been just the beginning.