"I'm right here!"
Kiyosuke's voice suddenly echoed from behind Sasuke.
Sasuke reacted instantly, lightning flashing from his hand as he thrust backward.
"Too slow!"
Kiyosuke was even faster. He caught Sasuke's arm and kicked him hard, sending him flying.
"Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Illusionary energy burst forth.
Kiyosuke's body froze for an instant, giving Sasuke a moment to steady himself on the water's surface. He exhaled deeply and wiped the sweat from his face.
So this is the power of the strongest man in Konoha…? How terrifying. If this were a real fight, I'd already be dead eight times over.
While marveling at Kiyosuke's strength, Sasuke forced himself to focus. Even the slightest mistake could mean defeat—he had to think of a way to withstand him.
But Kiyosuke, having already broken free from the illusion, wasn't about to give him the time.
"Stop overthinking and just fight! In battle, you won't get time to plan things out! Go all in! You've got Susanoo, so what the hell are you afraid of?!"
Right—Susanoo!
Sasuke's eyes brightened as the reminder reignited his confidence. With Susanoo, how many in the ninja world could even touch him?
He cast aside all hesitation.
Swinging his arm, Susanoo mirrored his movement—the half-formed, skeletal upper body raising a purple chakra blade and cleaving down toward Kiyosuke.
Boom!
The lake split in two under the force, a violet arc of energy slicing through the air and cutting Kiyosuke in half—only for the attack to have no effect.
Kiyosuke's body reformed seamlessly.
"Not bad," he said, calmly analyzing the strike. "Using genjutsu to bind your enemy before unleashing a decisive blow—that's a solid tactic."
Sasuke's combat instincts were far sharper than Naruto's.
Naruto fought like a reckless brawler—relying on chakra and flashy Rasengan variants, falling back on the Nine-Tails when he couldn't win, and ultimately talking his way out when all else failed.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was ruthless and quiet—the complete opposite extreme.
Seems like both Asura's and Indra's reincarnations turn out the same way...
"Hahaha! Sasuke, hiding in that turtle shell doesn't make you invincible. Remember—Susanoo can't protect you completely!"
As Kiyosuke spoke, his skin flushed red, waves of heat radiating from his body. The surrounding air distorted from the intensity, shocking Sasuke.
"What's going on? That heat… that chakra!"
Sasuke watched as Kiyosuke's chakra, once flickering around his body, condensed inward. The temperature spiked, and the water beneath his feet began to steam.
"He's coming!"
Kiyosuke shot forward like a thunderclap.
The water exploded where he'd been standing, towering waves rising behind him as he appeared before Susanoo in an instant—so fast that even Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan couldn't keep up.
Impossible. How can any human move that fast?!
Kiyosuke's fist drove forward—a raw, unrefined punch. No technique. No flourish.
Pure strength.
The blow crashed into Susanoo's defense.
Crack!
Sasuke's supposedly impenetrable barrier split.
A heartbeat later, Susanoo's armor shattered apart, and Kiyosuke's fierce grin appeared right before him.
Sasuke's eyes widened as blood trickled from the corners.
"Kagutsuchi!"
Black flames erupted, forming a second layer of defense around him.
Kiyosuke immediately withdrew, flipping backward and landing not far away.
"Huff… huff…"
Sasuke panted heavily. If Kiyosuke hadn't pulled his punch just now, he might've been dead already.
How could a human possess such strength and speed?!
"Tch. Amaterasu's flames, huh? What a pain."
If he'd stayed physical during that strike and those flames touched him—it would've been trouble.
"So, Sasuke, how's your chakra holding up?" Kiyosuke asked with a teasing smile.
After awakening his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke's chakra reserves had more than doubled. Even so, compared to monsters like Naruto and Kiyosuke, he was still far behind.
"I can still go," Sasuke replied firmly.
Susanoo reformed once again—this time not just bones, but with visible muscles and armor plating, its defense greatly enhanced. A bow and arrow appeared in its hands.
He drew the string back and fired straight at Kiyosuke.
"Oh? That's a rare attack style!" Kiyosuke narrowed his eyes. "Mirror Fire Flame!"
He punched forward, releasing a sea of fire that collided with the arrow.
An explosion tore through the air, waves surging and the lake rolling violently under the shockwave.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
Their jutsu collided midair, roaring against each other.
Standing firm, Sasuke kept Susanoo firing arrow after arrow, relentless in his assault.
Meanwhile, Kiyosuke dove into the water, silently closing in beneath Sasuke.
How many times does this kid have to get hit before he realizes Susanoo's weakness? Stop using half-body form already!
Without a sound, he surfaced behind Sasuke, forming a hand seal.
"Konoha Secret Taijutsu Ultimate Technique—Thousand Years of Death!"
The sudden, sharp pain sent Sasuke's expression twisting in disbelief as he was launched forward, skidding across the ground.
Half-crouched, he glared at Kiyosuke—who was casually washing his hands.
"Damn it… Kakashi…"
He'd seen Kakashi use that move on Naruto before—the result being Kakashi injuring his own fingers on Naruto's butt-guard plate.
So why the hell did Kiyosuke know it too?!
The pain was unbearable—but worse was the sheer humiliation!
Do all you Jōnin know this technique?! What kind of trauma did you guys go through to make this standard practice?!
Shaking the water from his hands, Kiyosuke said calmly,
"Sasuke, I didn't want to use that move, but you left me no choice. Never expose your back to the enemy. Consider that a little lesson—remember it well."
I'll never forget it for the rest of my life!!!
"Now then," Kiyosuke continued with a grin, "let me show you what real combat looks like!"
He raised his palm.
Countless flames materialized, forming long, orange-red spears that surrounded Susanoo.
With a clench of his hand, the spears fused together, striking Susanoo's armor and sending sparks flying.
"Pretty tough, huh?"
An arrow streaked toward him.
Kiyosuke leaped high, gripping a magnificent flaming spear in his hand.
The spear shot forth, exploding the instant it struck Susanoo, the impact shaking the entire lake and forcing the massive chakra construct backward.
Sasuke, still reeling from the blow, could only grit his teeth and hold on. Maintaining Susanoo drained his chakra rapidly, and as the battle dragged on, his breath grew ragged.