"That's not naivety, but a dream that will eventually become reality!"Naruto's roar pierced the silent battlefield. His body, exhausted to the brink of collapse, surged forward with an unstoppable force. Every muscle burned, every sinew screamed, yet he propelled himself toward Sasuke with a relentless determination.Bang—bang bang bang!Fists and kicks rained down like a violent storm, moving faster than the eye could follow. Each strike carried Naruto's unyielding spirit, his dream of surpassing Sasuke embedded in every motion.For a moment, Sasuke was caught off guard. His brow furrowed, and his dark eyes widened as he struggled to parry the torrent of attacks."Does a Diao Che Wei really think he can defeat a genius?" Sasuke muttered coldly."Not even close… it's far from enough…"Even as Sasuke adapted, deflecting the furious flurry, he sensed Naruto's unwavering resolve. Calculating quickly, Sasuke created distance and unleashed a familiar attack."Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"A massive ball of fire surged toward them, searing the air and forcing Naruto to dodge. Yet, before the smoke even cleared, two shuriken flew through the blaze, spinning at impossible speeds from opposite sides. Naruto barely rolled to avoid them.Sasuke's movements were fluid, precise—every attack seemed premeditated, each strike a part of a deadly choreography.Bang—A sudden, powerful knee slammed into Naruto's chin.Crack—Pain exploded through his face as his jaw fractured. Blood filled his mouth, and several teeth tumbled out. He was hurled violently backward, collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud.Sasuke landed gracefully, hands in his pockets, his dark gaze calm."Hmph… still so vulnerable," he remarked. "Come challenge me again after another ten years of training."Sasuke turned to leave, confident the fight was over. But Naruto's body, battered and broken, rose again."What…" Sasuke's expression shifted. For a fleeting moment, his cold demeanor faltered.Naruto spat blood onto the ground, clenched his fists, and drew a deep, rasping breath. "As long as I can stand… the battle isn't over yet!"With a roar that echoed through the night, Naruto lunged forward once more.Sasuke frowned, slightly annoyed by Naruto's persistence but not yet alarmed. He drew two kunai with a flick of his wrist, spinning them deftly in his palms, preparing for a final counterattack."Naruto!""Sasuke!"They collided in a desperate strike. Naruto's Leaf Whirlwind bloomed once more, energy whirling around him like a small tornado.Boom!He kicked away one of Sasuke's kunai, but the second, leveraging momentum, darted toward his throat. It was a precise, lethal attack—one that could have ended the fight instantly.Just as the kunai neared its target, Naruto's instincts screamed.Hiss—He thrust out his palm, letting the kunai pierce deeply through it. Pain shot through his arm like lightning. Blood gushed freely, dripping onto both fighters' faces. But Naruto didn't flinch. Instead, he gritted his teeth and chuckled through the agony."Does a Diao Che Wei never catch up to a genius?" he taunted. "Aren't I… right in front of you?!"With iron determination, Naruto's injured hand grasped Sasuke's wrist, while his other fist formed a lethal strike.Boom!!!The punch landed squarely on Sasuke's cheek, sending him flying backward. He crashed onto the ground, unable to recover.A system notification echoed coldly in Naruto's mind."Host wins. Congratulations! Your win rate against Uchiha Sasuke has increased to 50%. Achievement unlocked: 'I'm 50/50 with Sasuke.' From now on, battle intent and strength against Sasuke will be enhanced."Naruto froze for a moment, disbelief and exhilaration flooding him.A special ability against Sasuke? A weapon tailored just for him? He could barely contain his excitement. Sasuke—unaware of the system's intervention—would remain ignorant of this hidden advantage.Naruto's grin widened. He wanted nothing more than to awaken and challenge Sasuke in the real world, to test his newfound edge firsthand. Yet, the system denied him that wish, ushering in another round of dream battles.Still, even in the dream, this was a revelation. A 50% win rate against Sasuke granted such a reward. Naruto's mind raced: "If I reach 100%… hehe… then Sasuke won't know what hit him!"Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Compound, the night was eerily quiet. Under the star-speckled sky, Sasuke trained alone, his movements precise and deadly.Buzz… buzz… buzz—A thin wire sliced through the air as Sasuke's figure leapt across the trees. Shuriken flew, hitting every bullseye with pinpoint accuracy.But he wasn't satisfied. Tugging the wire deftly, he altered the trajectory of several more shuriken, striking another set of targets with lethal precision.Swish, swish, swish!Sasuke landed lightly, sweat coating his pale face. He had overexerted himself, yet he allowed a faint, satisfied smile."Wire-manipulated Shuriken Jutsu… a simple D-rank technique, but if used properly, it can be deadly."He quickly suppressed the smile, reminding himself:"No… it's not enough. Far from enough!"Sasuke slammed his fist into the tree, bark splintering under his force. The memory of that moonlit night haunted him—Itachi's cold eyes, the unbearable pain, the nausea that made him nearly collapse."U! Chi! Ha! Itachi! I will kill you with my own hands!"Sasuke forced himself to relive the trauma daily, allowing the hatred to sharpen his focus.Even now, the battle with Naruto lingered in his mind, the only thing beyond Itachi that could stir concern within him. And yet, he would never admit it."Damn it… if the Third Hokage hadn't intervened…"Sasuke's eyes darkened as memories of the past resurfaced. He recalled Naruto's terrifying aura during their previous encounter—a deadly, almost monstrous presence, fueled by unrestrained killing intent."That Naruto… hides secrets. He's not like the others. Everyone respects him, fears him… and yet…"Naruto, in contrast, was lonely. He sought approval from even a single person, yearning for understanding. That yearning—so visible, so raw—made Sasuke's heart ache in ways he could neither name nor accept.
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