Naruto : a hero's journey

The match began with Tatsuo taking the initiative. He lunged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant, his fist coated in chakra.

Sakumo met the attack with a quick sidestep, his short sword slashing down toward Tatsuo's exposed side.

Tatsuo barely managed to pivot out of the way, the blade grazing his arm as he leaped back.

"Good reflexes," Sakumo remarked calmly, spinning his sword in a reverse grip.

Tatsuo nodded, focusing his chakra. 'I need to keep him on the defensive,' he thought, forming quick hand seals. He extended his arm forward, releasing a concentrated blast of wind toward Sakumo.

Sakumo, however, didn't flinch. Instead, he quickly thrust his sword into the ground, channeling chakra through it. The wind jutsu dissipated around him as the chakra dispersed the air currents.

Tatsuo's eyes narrowed. 'So he knows how to handle ninjutsu defensively too.'

Wasting no time, Tatsuo darted to the side, flanking Sakumo while releasing another mid-range gust of wind.

This time, the wind aimed to knock Sakumo off balance. But Sakumo's eyes were sharp, predicting Tatsuo's movements as he dodged the attack with a fluid roll, his sword slashing toward Tatsuo's legs.

Tatsuo leapt back again, barely avoiding the strike. "You're fast," Tatsuo acknowledged, catching his breath. But he wasn't done. He charged forward, engaging Sakumo in close-range combat, switching to his preferred nin-taijutsu style.

Tatsuo's fists glowed faintly with chakra, amplifying the impact of each strike. He struck at Sakumo's torso, each punch carrying the force of his wind chakra.

Sakumo, caught off guard by Tatsuo's speed and precision, deflected the blows with his sword. But it wasn't enough—Tatsuo's wind chakra-enhanced strikes were hitting harder than expected, forcing Sakumo to step back with each hit. Finally, Tatsuo found an opening and landed a solid kick to Sakumo's midsection, sending him skidding back.

The crowd gasped as Sakumo wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. "Impressive, Tatsuo," he said. "But I think it's time I show you something new."

Without warning, Sakumo held his sword aloft and channeled a flicker of lightning chakra through the blade.

Blue sparks danced along the edge, crackling in the air. Tatsuo's eyes widened. 'Lightning chakra?!'

Sakumo lunged forward, his sword coated in lightning chakra, aiming directly for Tatsuo. Tatsuo had only a split second to react, his wind chakra forming a thin barrier around his arms.

But as Sakumo's blade met Tatsuo's defense, the lightning cut through the wind, shocking Tatsuo and pushing him back. The crackling energy left his arms trembling slightly from the impact.

"So, you were hiding this," Tatsuo muttered, shaking off the lingering effects of the lightning. He couldn't afford to take too many of those hits.

Sakumo didn't respond. He pressed the attack, launching a flurry of sword strikes. Tatsuo dodged and deflected where he could, but the added element of lightning made every clash more dangerous.

'His lightning chakra... it's hard to predict. I need to keep him at a distance,' Tatsuo thought, retreating to create space.

Focusing his chakra, Tatsuo unleashed a mid-range wind blast, stronger than the previous ones, aimed at keeping Sakumo at bay.

Sakumo slashed through the wind, dispersing it. The crowd erupted in cheers—no one had expected this from Sakumo.

"You're not the only one with surprises, Wind style: Gale boxing" Tatsuo muttered under his breath. He quickly performed another series of hand signs. This time, he combined his wind chakra with his fists, augmenting his next move with both speed and power. Tatsuo charged forward, faster than before, his fists glowing with intensified wind chakra.

Sakumo braced himself, The two clashed in the center of the ring—wind versus lightning.

Tatsuo's strikes came faster, more furious, but Sakumo's blade, augmented with lightning, parried each one, sparks flying as their chakras collided.

For a moment, it seemed evenly matched. But then Sakumo shifted his stance, drawing on his superior swordsmanship. With a sudden burst of speed, he sidestepped Tatsuo's punch and slashed downward.

The blade grazed Tatsuo's side, sending a shock of lightning through his body. Tatsuo stumbled back, his movements slowing as the lightning chakra disrupted his own.

Panting, Tatsuo gritted his teeth. "I won't go down that easily!" He prepared one final charge, gathering all of his remaining wind chakra into his fists.

But Sakumo was already ahead. As Tatsuo closed the distance, Sakumo pointed his sword toward the ground and released a low-level lightning jutsu. Lightning spread across the surface, zapping Tatsuo's legs and grounding him. Unable to avoid it in time, Tatsuo fell to his knees, the wind chakra dispersing from his fists.

Sakumo stood over him, his sword still crackling with electricity. "You fought well, Tatsuo," he said, extending his hand. "But it's over."

Tatsuo, exhausted and unable to move, finally nodded in defeat. He took Sakumo's hand, acknowledging his opponent's strength. "You're stronger than I thought... but I'll catch up," Tatsuo said, breathing heavily.

Sakumo smiled faintly. "I'll be waiting."

After the battle ended , the two boys left for the stands and and the ground was repaired for the next match.

"Who do you think will ? Satoru or Nawaki?" Tatsuo asked, wanting to know Sakumo's opinion.

Sakumo said, "Nawaki has eight gates , water and earth style jutsu and his sister's taijutsu style, he is already chunin level in sheer fighting capabilities, maybe even more.

I don't think Satoru has the advantage to counter all of it, not that Satoru isn't strong, but Nawaki has too many things going for him."

"Wanna bet?"

"50 bucks Nawaki wins!"

"If Satoru loses, I'll never use nin-taijutsu ever again!"

"WTF!?!"

The ring was repaired and Satoru and Nawaki walked to it.

Nawaki gave a big smile while telling him," Don't hold anything back! Even those weird illusion things."

Satoru then said, "Nah, you ain't built to handle my illusions, dawg! "

" I was warned not to use the right gates, but if you use your secret techniques then I'll use mine as well." Nawaki then suddenly hears a woman scream at him, telling him that if he uses it again then she will kill him.

" I'm not the honorable type of person , so It's better for me that you don't use it. I'll use the illusions if you make me! "

" Second match of second round , begin !!!" The principal declared.

Satoru rushed him choosing to start the confrontation, his punch aiming towards his chest, nawaki dodged it and aimed kicked Satoru's side.

The moment the kick neared Satoru, he raised his shirt and revealed a kunai, he made the leg hit the exact area where the kunai was, leaving a gash on his leg.

Nawaki had no time to pull his leg when he saw the kunai, he held his leg in pain.

Satoru took the chance and landed a spinning chakra-enhanced kick on his face.

Nawaki was stunned by the kick, Satoru landed a chakra-enhanced superman punch straight on his face. Nawaki fell down from the blow and Satoru tried to stomp him but was suddenly blasted away.

Nawaki had used Water Style: Water wave. Satoru was washed away completely drenched, Nawaki then weaved handseals for Earth style: Earth prison. Satoru was locked in position, Nawaki rushed towards and kicked him in the chest breaking the rock formation and sending Satoru flying.

'What the hell? Just how strong is this guy? Wait, is that blood!?' Satoru coughed and saw blood come out.

" All this suffering will end if you show me that illusion thing." Nawaki said, making Satoru feel as if he was showing mercy.

"I told you before and I'll tell again, you ain't built to handle it, you'll crumble and fall like a grandma with scoliosis." Satoru said, spitting out some more blood.

Nawaki rushed him again and landed a punch on Satoru, then grabbed his head and smashed his knee in his chest at the exact place where he was kicked.

Nawaki then smashed Satoru head on the ground and jumped with all his strength to land another chakra-enhanced stomp.

Satoru coughed out more blood.

Sakumo turned to tatsuo and asked him, "You still believe Satoru will win? He is getting manhandled by Nawaki."

"Satoru will win, I'm sure of it!" Tatsuo said still confident

Nawaki had his leg on Satoru's chest and was gonna punch him again but then he saw Satoru raise his hand.

Nawaki looked at the hand and suddenly the hands pointed towards to Nawaki's right. He looked to see another Satoru, who was panting and looked roughed up smiling at him.

"I told you bro, you ain't built for it."

The Satoru at Nawaki's feet poofed and left him confused, 'how did he do that? Shadow clones shouldn't be this durable and they don't bleed.'Nawaki was staring right at Satoru while thinking.

Nawaki was then punched and he again fell to the ground. He looked at where Satoru was and saw him exactly there.

He was then stomped in his abdomen by another invisible force, "How are you doing this?"

"You asked me illusions, I'm giving you illusions. Be careful for what you wish for Senju."

Nawaki then used Water Style:Wild Water Wave and washed everything away from him. He looked at a different place and saw a poof,

'Satoru is using invisible clones? How?' Nawaki couldn't contain his curiosity and asked him, " how did you do it?"

"When you blasted me with water you gave me a usable medium to use my special technique, I used it to exaggerate the damage you did to my clone, like the blood for example."

Nawaki saw no way he could win other than " inner eight gates: Gate of Opening, open !"

A green aura appeared around him, he dashed towards Satoru and tried a haymaker just for it to phase through him, he stumbled and the real Satoru appeared right above him and used his sword to impale his shoulder and lodge him into the ground.

Nawaki tried to move but Satoru stooped him, " if you move around you'll do more damage to yourself , I haven't stopped sharpening my sword afterall."

Nawaki was in pain and couldn't resist further and gave up,

" don't worry, I'll numb the pain for now." Said satoru as he injected a painkiller.

" And the winner of this match is , Satoru! "

Satoru watched as the medics rushed Nawaki off the battlefield, his gaze lingering on his opponent's weakened state. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, pulling out a small syringe.

He injected a painkiller into Nawaki, ensuring that his friend wouldn't suffer too much from the pain of using the Eight Gates. "That should help for now," Satoru muttered, watching the medicine take effect.

As the medics carried Nawaki away, Tsunade stormed onto the scene, her expression a mix of anger and concern. She grabbed her brother by the neck, scolding him loudly.

"What were you thinking, using the Eight Gates?!" she yelled, her voice sharp with worry. "You're not strong enough to handle that technique yet!"

Nawaki, barely able to keep his eyes open, grinned weakly. "Had to… , anything to win, right?" he muttered, but his sister wasn't having it. Her anger shifted into worry as she glanced at the medics, her grip on Nawaki softening.

"Let me heal him myself," Tsunade commanded the medics, her tone brooking no argument. They nodded, stepping aside as Tsunade took charge.

Her hands glowed with medical chakra as she began to tend to Nawaki's injuries.

Satoru waited for a moment before approaching. Once Tsunade had stabilized her brother, he walked up to Nawaki and asked softly, "Are you alright? I didn't go too hard on you, did I?" His voice carried genuine concern.

Nawaki, despite the pain, let out a hearty laugh. "You? Too harsh? Don't kid yourself, Satoru. You did what you had to do to win. I knew what I was risking when I opened the Eight Gates. We both pushed ourselves." His smile was wide, even if his body was still sore from the match.

Before Satoru could respond, Tsunade's fist came crashing down on Nawaki's head. "You idiot!" she scolded, her face red with frustration. "Stop acting like this was some kind of joke! You could've seriously injured yourself!"

Nawaki winced, rubbing his head, but his grin didn't waver. "Yeah, yeah, I know, sis. But I couldn't let Satoru have all the fun."

Tsunade sighed, her anger slowly dissipating. "You're lucky I'm here to fix your mess. Don't pull a stunt like that again."

Satoru chuckled at their interaction, relieved that Nawaki was still in good spirits. He glanced at Tsunade and nodded in thanks. "I appreciate you healing him."

Tsunade's expression softened as she looked at Satoru. "You fought well, Satoru. But next time, don't be so reckless with each other." Her tone was stern, but there was a hint of approval in her voice.