The tension in the air was thick. Everyone stood still for a moment, eyeing their opponents. The mist around the forest was slowly growing thicker, curling between the trees as if the air itself knew that a fight was about to break out.
For a second, Sukuna thought this was Zabuza's doing—but no, it was natural mist.
When Sukuna spoke to Karin, telling her to take part in this fight and to fight one-on-one, Naruto's eyes lit up instantly. "Yeah! I like that plan! Let's see who can win their fight first!"
'It's not a race.' Sukuna rolled his eyes. These guys really had good hearing. Or maybe it was just that he listened when it was something he wanted to? He was talking to Karin, not him.
Sasuke smirked slightly, crossing his arms. "Hmph. Works for me. At least you won't be there to hold me down, dope."
A tick mark formed on Naruto's forehead immediately. If it was an option, both Sukuna and Kakashi would have surely bet that Naruto would have chosen to fight Sasuke over these enemies right now.
And of course, just like Naruto, Sasuke too completely ignored Sukuna's intended opinion—only focused on getting to fight someone strong.
Kakashi, however, didn't look amused at all. "No. This isn't a game. These enemies aren't like the ones you've faced before."
"Before? When?" Naruto tilted his head, wondering what Kakashi was talking about.
Kakashi, at that, couldn't say anything. Indeed, the kids hadn't fought any 'real' enemies until now—only sparred at best.
And that was why he was worried.
Sukuna shrugged. "You don't have a choice, sensei. You need to focus on Zabuza. There's no getting out of this. So just believe in your team."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes under his mask, but Sukuna wasn't wrong. Zabuza was strong—deadly strong. If he didn't focus on the Mist Swordsman completely, it would be over in seconds. He sighed, pushing his forehead protector up to reveal his Sharingan. "Fine. But don't do anything stupid. You get one rule—stay alive."
"You don't have to say it, we know." Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto said in unison, seemingly used to their sensei's lectures by now.
Zabuza laughed, his deep voice echoing in the mist. "Ha! Let's see how long your brats can manage that."
And with that, both Jonin vanished from sight. Kakashi dashed forward, lightning-fast, meeting Zabuza head-on as their blades clashed with a loud clang that echoed through the forest.
That left the kids.
Suigetsu was the first to speak, grinning with a shark-like smile as he leaned his sword on his shoulder. "So, which one of you babies wants to go first? Let me guess—the shorty's the weakest. He looks like it. I call dibs on him."
Suigetsu stepped forward and pointed.
Naruto looked at the finger and blinked. 'Shorty…?'
He first looked to his right and then to his left, trying to see who he was talking about. Turned out—he was the shortest.
A tick mark formed immediately on his forehead. He stepped forward, pointing right back. "Oi, bastard! Who are you calling short, and what does that have to do with being strong?!"
Suigetsu laughed. "Okay, so he's an idiot too. I'll take him. Just look—it's gonna be an easy win."
"Like damn, it will! Don't underestimate me! I'm Uzumaki Naruto, the future Hokage!" Naruto shouted, already forming hand signs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In a burst of smoke, dozens of Narutos filled the area, all glaring at Suigetsu.
Suigetsu blinked, still grinning. "Huh… okay, not completely a useless brat."
Naruto and his clones charged, shouting as they attacked from every side—but Suigetsu's body turned watery the moment the clones struck him. The attacks passed right through.
Naruto's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
Suigetsu chuckled, reforming right behind him and giving him a light kick. "It's still gonna be easy. More zeros are still zero, my friend."
Naruto tumbled forward but got up again, fuming. He wasn't having it anymore. This guy—he was going down.
"Dattebayo…!" With the strangest battle cry, Naruto ran at Suigetsu again.
While Naruto charged, Sasuke was carefully watching his own opponents. Between the masked boy and the pale one with bones sticking out of his arm, his eyes narrowed on the latter.
"That one," Sasuke said, pointing at Kimimaro.
Karin blinked. "Why him?"
Sasuke's Sharingan spun slowly to life. "Because he's a bloodline user. I can see it in his body structure. If I'm going to test myself, I'll do it against someone like him."
Kimimaro tilted his head slightly, his tone soft and calm. "You wish to face me? Then be prepared to die." He wasn't cocky, nor was he arrogant—he said it with absolute confidence, like it was a fact.
Sasuke smirked. "We'll see about that." His own confidence flared, eyes glowing red with Sharingan as chakra surged through his body.
Both of them dashed forward. The ground cracked beneath Kimimaro's feet as bones extended from his arm, forming a blade. Sasuke moved fast, shuriken flying, fireballs following. Kimimaro deflected the attacks easily; even the fireball couldn't do anything to him. He just tanked it, his calm composure unshaken.
Seeing this made Sasuke even more excited. Yeah! This was what he wanted—someone strong to fight against.
Once he beat this guy, he'd go back and challenge that bastard Sukuna. He'd finally win against him—and then it was Itachi's turn.
Meanwhile, Sakura was left staring at the masked boy—Haku. Of course, neither of them knew each other's names yet. For her, this masked boy was just another enemy.
"So… I guess that leaves you," she said nervously.
Sakura felt something she hadn't until now—a sense of nervousness. She had faced her brother countless times and knew how strong Sukuna was—or at least she liked to believe she did.
Thinking that this masked boy could be as strong as her brother, or even stronger, was hard to believe. In fact, she didn't believe he was.
But still, there was a sense of unease. Because no matter how strong, she knew Sukuna would never harm her—but here, if she made any mistake, it could mean death.
It was a pressure that normal sparring couldn't replicate. She knew she was strong—she had become much stronger over the years—but still, she felt the weight of the fight.
Haku nodded politely. "It seems so. I hope you don't hold back."
Sakura gulped. "Oh, I won't," she replied.
Before she could move, Sukuna spoke from behind. "Karin, go fight with her."
Karin blinked. "Me? Why? Didn't you say one-on-one fighting?"
Sukuna looked at her flatly. "And do tell how I'm supposed to summon another enemy just for you to face. Just share him, okay?"
Karin's face lit up immediately. "Hehe, fine! I'll show you what I can do!"
She ran to join Sakura. Sakura smiled in relief; suddenly, the pressure on her lessened—fighting alongside someone was definitely better than being alone.
That left Sukuna standing beside Tazuna, who looked completely terrified. "A-Are you sure they'll be fine?" the old man stammered.
Sukuna didn't answer at first. His eyes stayed fixed on the fights—Naruto throwing wild punches at Suigetsu, which weren't going to work. In fact, Naruto currently had nothing that could bypass Suigetsu's hydrofication.
Sasuke trading blows with Kimimaro—and to his surprise, the match was a lot closer than he first anticipated. Sasuke had really come a long way. Though one couldn't overlook the fact that this Kimimaro didn't have the curse seal, nor did he look like he was in his best shape.
Without Orochimaru, his condition might be worse than before—but Sukuna couldn't say for sure.
Lastly, Sakura and Karin were trying to fend off Haku. He didn't care much about that fight—two against one were already good odds. Not to mention, if canon still held up, then Haku wouldn't go for the kill.
"I'm not sure," Sukuna finally said quietly. "But if they lose, then they sure have a beating coming their way."
Tazuna swallowed hard, gripping his flask tightly. "You sound just like their teacher."
Sukuna smirked. "Something like that."
...
A/N : I was a bit confuse about the match up, however, this what I ultimately settle in. This is the most naturally my logic says would have happened in this situation: Suigetsu annoying Naruto to the point they duke it out.
Sasuke going for the strongest one and who else could be there but Kimimaro outside Zabuza himself?
Last Haku, well, it was self-explanatory.
As for how they perform, it will be shown in the next chapter...
xxx
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