As the crowd's murmurs quieted, the proctor's voice rang out, capturing their attention. "For the next match, the prodigious swordsman Uchiha Sasuke versus Subaku no Kankuro!"
Kankuro strolled confidently into the arena, raising his hand. "I surrender."
The audience erupted in outrage, boos and jeers echoing through the stadium. Some spectators hurled items in frustration, pelting Kankuro as he smirked and made his way back to his seat.
The proctor, unperturbed, continued. "Since Uchiha Sasuke has won by default, he will now face Subaku no Gaara!"
Sasuke shunshined into the arena, leaving the crowd gasping in surprise. His transformation was striking compared to a month ago. He wore a sleek, black, short-sleeved shirt and shorts one-piece, with bandages wrapped around his left arm and numerous small belts securing them. Similar bands adorned both legs. His blue cloth hitai-ate gleamed under the sunlight, and he gripped his sword in a reverse hold.
Gaara sauntered into the arena, a devious grin stretching across his face as he locked eyes with Sasuke. The tension in the air was palpable, and the audience leaned forward in their seats, eager to witness the clash between these two formidable opponents.
"Are both participants ready?" the proctor called out, raising his arm.
Sasuke gave a sharp nod.
"Hajime!" The proctor's arm sliced through the air, signaling the start of the match before he leaped out of the way.
Sasuke's eyes locked onto Gaara, watching as sand began to seep from the gourd on Gaara's back. However, instead of forming an immediate defense, the sand spilled onto the ground, and Gaara straightened, his devious grin replaced by an impassive mask.
"Come on," Gaara taunted, his voice cold and steady.
In a blur, Sasuke flicked two shuriken at Gaara. Instantly, sand surged up to intercept them, forming a barrier just as it had during Gaara's fight with Lee. The shuriken embedded in the sand were quickly absorbed, and the barrier shifted, molding into a clone of Gaara. The sand clone hurled the shuriken back at Sasuke with a swift, fluid motion.
Sasuke raised his sword, the blade catching the glint of the sun, and deflected the shuriken with a metallic clang. The sand clone darted toward him, and without hesitation, Sasuke swung his sword in a horizontal arc, aiming to cleave the clone in half. The blade embedded into the clone's chest, but the sand quickly collapsed around it, trapping the sword.
Sasuke yanked at the blade with all his strength, but it remained stuck. Gaara extended his arm, and the sand responded, surging toward Sasuke to ensnare him. Sasuke's left hand flashed through a series of hand signs. "Chishiohime: Chidorigatana," he murmured.
Lightning crackled and danced around the blade, the energy humming with power. With a swift pull, the electrified sword sliced through the sand, freeing itself. Sasuke leapt back, narrowly avoiding a fresh wave of sand. Gaara's expression remained stoic, but his eyes tracked Sasuke's movements intently.
More sand erupted from Gaara's gourd, hurtling toward Sasuke like a predatory serpent. Sasuke smirked and vanished, his speed blurring him out of sight.
'He's as fast as that one before!' Gaara thought, his eyes darting around the arena in search of Sasuke.
A sudden, familiar sound of chirping lightning behind him caused Gaara to spin around just in time to see Sasuke reappear. Sasuke flipped his sword, the lightning-infused blade cutting a diagonal swath through the air. Gaara's sand reacted instantly, shooting up to shield him, but Chishiohime sliced through the barrier, nicking Gaara's shirt as he jumped back.
YOU ARE READING
Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest
AksiUchiha Madara had one goal in his life: peace, but he was unable to accomplish that due to the struggles of his best friend, his little brother, and Madara's humanity. However, Madara didn't give up hope. He had a child, and hoped one of his descend...
