The Future: Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter 64 BATTLE OF THE TRANSCENDENT

The Battlefield

Naruto and Hashirama stand opposite one another and the whole world seems to stand still. It is Naruto's first time understanding that expression. A silence has encapsulated the whole battlefield with Sarada's declaration that they will fight. People should be running but they are on their toes, electricity coursing through their body as they wait. Even Sarada's attention has now wavered slightly and come to focus on the two mightiest warriors to ever come from the Hidden Leaf village.

Naruto is the first to act; without shifting from the spot he activates six paths sage mode. The same orange chakra that Kurama controls surrounds his body. Flecks of orange chakra float for a few centimetres as they detach from Naruto's newly wielded aura before dissipating and becoming one with the atmosphere. The small whir of energy accompanies the orange light as the sole indicators of Naruto's incredible energy. Comparatively the light is dim, the sound quiet, barely any energy is wasted. It speaks volumes to Naruto's control, the insane power that he has mastered combined with the subtle façade with which he hides it.

Hashirama too is a sage. He need not wait for the minutes to pass, as he used to when he first learnt sage mode. With just a flicker of will, nature chakra comes flooding towards him at an alarming rate. A technique comparable with Naruto's six paths sage mode but perhaps even more subtle. The dark green markings on his face are the only change, dimmer than the orange glow, quieter than the mechanical whir. He wonders if perhaps he has superior control over nature chakra to Naruto but quickly dismisses the idea. This is not a man he can underestimate.

Not a single person on the battlefield is left to guess at the power the two of them wield. Even shinobi who have no conception of divine energy can feel it in the Hokages' chakra. In this moment, and perhaps forever, Naruto and Hashirama have earnt their titles as the mightiest wielders of chakra the world has ever seen. Yet their reactions barely account for the speed with which the fight begins.

Naruto kicks the ground, launching himself forward. The sound of him cutting through the air is just as before, and the awe of the shinobi who watch him only comes after he has skidded to a halt. He is just in front of his opponent.

Hashirama is not like the others though, the only person on the battlefield who can truly keep up with Naruto, he can follow these movements, he can react to them in time. He pivots backwards slightly on one foot, leaving Naruto with a lesser area to strike with the inevitably incoming punches, and putting his favoured right hand between the two of them.

Naruto sees this but doesn't change anything. He has the momentum with him from when he kicked the ground and he cares not to waste it. Furthermore, this is his opportunity to put Hashirama on the defensive. He throws the first punch with his left hand, arching his arm up into Hashirama's body as he aims for the Senju clansmen's protected chest.

Blocked. Hashirama lowers his hand beneath the pivot of the elbow and thrusts it downward to push the incoming punch away.

Just according to Naruto's calculations, for the next punch he jumps slightly, giving him the angle to throw a right-fisted punch down into the side of Hashirama's exposed head.

Hashirama is too quick though, pushing the same blocking arm as before in the reverse direction, he uses his elbow to protect his skull from the 'life' coated fist of his enemy. Punches like this come in threes, that is always how they are planned and there will always be an opening when the third comes. To that end he pivots back to his original position and anticipates the incoming blow.