Naruto: One Eye Tenseigan

The group gathered in a small clearing just beyond the house. The cool night air carried the faint scent of the sea, mingling with the distant sound of waves. The moon hung low, casting a pale glow over the scene, while long shadows stretched across the forest floor. Tomaru stood at the center of the clearing, his posture relaxed but alert. Opposite him, Sasuke's Sharingan glimmered in the dim light, his focus unwavering.

Naruto leaned forward, his fists clenched in excitement. "Sasuke's really serious about this," he muttered. Mai crossed her arms, her usual playfulness giving way to intrigue, while Mina observed silently, her sharp gaze analyzing every detail.

Sasuke stepped forward, his Sharingan fixed unerringly on Tomaru. "I won't hold back," he said simply, his voice steady but charged with determination.

Tomaru twirled a kunai in his hand, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Neither will I," he replied, his tone calm and unbothered. The stark contrast between Sasuke's fiery resolve and Tomaru's detached demeanor heightened the tension.

What Sasuke didn't know was that Tomaru was actually happy about the challenge—something he would never let show. Beneath his calm exterior, he welcomed the chance to see how far Sasuke's abilities had come. He respected Sasuke's potential but chose to hide his satisfaction behind his composed demeanor.

In truth, Tomaru's combat skills, even without drawing upon his Tenseigan, were nearing the level of a Jonin. Against Sasuke, the fight presented no real challenge to him, yet it served another purpose. Tomaru wanted to evaluate Sasuke's progress before they participated in the upcoming Chunin Exam.

There were still more than two months remaining after this mission before the Chunin Exam would be officially announced. Tomaru knew Sasuke would be the pillar of Team 7 in that critical moment. Naruto and Sakura, in contrast, were far from ready. Naruto's development had stalled after the loss of his right arm, and his inability to learn the Kage Bunshin technique made matters worse.

The absence of the Kage Bunshin—a signature jutsu that defined Naruto's fighting style in the original timeline—had consequences. Without it, Naruto's growth as a shinobi had slowed considerably. One of the reasons Naruto was so formidable in battle was his ability to overwhelm opponents with coordinated, multi-directional attacks using his clones. Without this ability, his presence on the battlefield became far more vulnerable, and his contributions to the team were limited.

This left Sasuke as the de facto leader, the one whose skills had to carry Team 7 forward. Tomaru needed to know if Sasuke could handle that weight. The boy's current progress was promising, but there was still much room to grow. For Tomaru, tonight's fight wasn't about defeating Sasuke—it was about measuring him, understanding where his strengths lay and what gaps still needed to be filled.

For a moment, the clearing was utterly silent. The stillness stretched taut, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves in the night breeze. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Sasuke lunged forward, his Sharingan analyzing every nuance of Tomaru's stance.

The clearing was electric with tension as Sasuke and Tomaru faced each other, the moonlight glinting off their weapons. Sasuke tightened his grip on his kunai, his Sharingan spinning with determination. There was no hesitation as he dashed forward, moving low to the ground to minimize openings.

Sasuke initiated a rapid series of close-quarters strikes, his kunai carving precise arcs aimed at Tomaru's chest and flanks. Each movement exhibited deliberate calculation, his Sharingan working intensely to anticipate Tomaru's counter-maneuvers.

Tomaru's responses were fluid and elusive. He evaded and deflected with the precision of a seasoned combatant, weaving through Sasuke's strikes like a shadow in perpetual motion.

Adjusting his strategy, Sasuke escalated his aggression. He feinted with his kunai before pivoting low, sweeping his leg in an attempt to unbalance Tomaru. Anticipating the maneuver, Tomaru leapt gracefully, but Sasuke had already foreseen this. Seizing the moment, he twisted mid-motion, hurling two shuriken precisely toward Tomaru's predicted landing point.

Tomaru's body twisted in midair, narrowly dodging the incoming projectiles, which embedded themselves into the ground with a muted thud. The instant he landed, Sasuke was upon him.

Sasuke's forward momentum carried him into a downward kunai strike. Tomaru parried, and the sharp clang of colliding metal echoed sharply. Utilizing the impact, Sasuke pivoted, transferring his weight into a sudden elbow strike aimed at Tomaru's ribs.

Tomaru retreated swiftly, evading the blow, but Sasuke's relentless pursuit continued. The clash of kunai resumed with renewed ferocity, sparks flashing as metal met metal in rapid succession. The cadence of the strikes reverberated through the clearing, each impact a testament to Sasuke's unwavering resolve.

Beads of sweat traced paths down Sasuke's temple, but his concentration remained unbroken. His Sharingan captured and processed minute fluctuations in Tomaru's posture—the inclination of his counterattacks, the micro-adjustments in his footwork. Sasuke's attacks grew increasingly unpredictable as he adapted in real time.

Recognizing the futility of prolonged close combat, Sasuke disengaged with a backflip, gaining vital distance. His hand darted to his weapon pouch, retrieving a clutch of shuriken. With a flick of his wrist, he dispatched them in a synchronized volley, compelling Tomaru to reposition.

But Sasuke's true stratagem lay beyond the initial barrage.

Springing into the air, he launched a secondary wave of shuriken from an elevated angle. The unorthodox trajectory forced Tomaru into an evasive maneuver. While the first set missed entirely, the second cut close—two shuriken grazed Tomaru's sleeve, rending fabric but leaving him unscathed.

Upon landing, Sasuke's fingers deftly manipulated the taut wires affixed to his shuriken. The blades recoiled, reversing their course toward Tomaru with unerring precision. This time, the wires constricted into a snare, enclosing the space around Tomaru with the precision of a tactician's gambit.

Tomaru's response was instantaneous. He crouched low, accelerating with an explosive burst of speed that carried him clear of the encroaching trap. Sasuke's eyes tracked him, and with a sharp pivot, he aimed a sweeping kunai strike at Tomaru's midsection. Tomaru's sidestep was seamless, forcing Sasuke to reorient his stance in preparation for the next clash.

The rhythmic clang of kunai against kunai resumed, each strike resonating with greater intensity. Sasuke's muscles burned with exertion, his chakra pool steadily depleting. Yet he pressed forward, unwilling to relent.

"Tch," Sasuke muttered through gritted teeth, leaping backward to recalibrate. His hands blurred as he performed a sequence of hand seals. The atmosphere shifted—a sharp surge of chakra emanated from his core, causing the ambient air to shimmer with residual heat.

"Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

With a deep inhalation, Sasuke unleashed a monumental fireball. The spherical inferno surged ahead, its circumference expanding as it scorched its trajectory. The clearing was bathed in an orange glow, shadows flickering wildly as the ground beneath the flames hissed and cracked under the intense heat.

Sasuke's eyes remained fixed on the blazing sphere, kunai at the ready for any sign of Tomaru's emergence. The inferno raged for a moment longer before beginning its dissipation, the roaring flames giving way to smoldering embers and a swirling cloud of smoke.

His gaze darted through the residual haze.

From the edge of the vanishing flames, Tomaru's figure materialized with spectral grace. Unharmed and composed, he strode forth with an unperturbed gait. Sasuke's eyes widened in fleeting disbelief. His breath came in ragged intervals, his chest heaving as exhaustion settled in.

Tomaru halted at a measured distance. His stance remained loose, his breathing rhythm unbroken. Sasuke's fists trembled, his legs strained to maintain balance. His entire arsenal—his speed, precision, and calculated tactics—had been rendered ineffective.

Silence pervaded the clearing. The raucous symphony of combat had dissipated, leaving only the faint crackle of dying embers and the soft rustle of foliage stirred by the night breeze.

Sasuke's breath steadied, his resolve hardening. His fingers flexed around the handle of his kunai. His battered body protested every movement, but surrender was not an option. Even in stalemate, he would not yield his pride.

The fighters remained stationed at their respective positions, a vast chasm of ability and insight mirrored in the physical space between them. Long shadows cast by the moonlight stretched across the clearing, accentuating the battle's aftermath. Scorch marks marred the ground, silent witnesses to the ferocity of the encounter.

Sasuke's Sharingan flickered, its lone tomoe rotating slowly as his chakra dwindled to precarious levels. He straightened his back, his pride refusing to let him crumble, and locked his gaze on Tomaru—silent, but resolute.

The group watched from the edges of the clearing as Sasuke and Tomaru's battle reached its tense pause. The stillness that followed the intense clash lingered in the air, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the distant crash of waves. Sasuke stood tall despite his exhaustion, while Tomaru returned to the group with his usual composed demeanor.

Naruto, on the other hand, stood frozen at the edge of the circle, his wide eyes flicking between Tomaru and Sasuke. His fists trembled, not with excitement, but with a growing sense of inadequacy. "They're… incredible" he whispered, his voice barely audible. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Sasuke and Tomaru—both seemed so far out of reach. His stomach churned as he looked down at his missing arm, a stark reminder of his own limitations.

Mai leaned against a nearby tree, her arms crossed as she observed Sasuke. "He really gave it his all," she said, a faint smile playing on her lips. "But Tomaru's something else. Did he even break a sweat?" She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Still, Sasuke held his ground better than I expected. Not bad at all.""

Mina pushed her glasses up, her gaze analytical as always. "Sasuke's tactics were impressive," she remarked. "He used shuriken wires, feints, and even the Great Fireball Technique to try and outmaneuver Tomaru. But Tomaru's efficiency is… unsettling. He doesn't waste any movement, and his ability to read Sasuke's attacks is extraordinary. If Sasuke doesn't adjust soon, he'll—"" 

Sakura's eyes lingered on Sasuke, her expression filled with pride and encouragement. "He was amazing out there," she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet warmth. Her hands relaxed at her sides as she added, "I know he'll use this to get even stronger."

Mai glanced at Sakura and shrugged lightly. "That's Sasuke for you. He's got too much pride to let something like this stop him." Her smirk returned as she added, "It's like his whole personality, honestly."

Mina nodded slightly. "But it's not just pride. He's adaptable. Sasuke's the type to dissect every mistake he made today and use it to improve."

Naruto stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the ground. His thoughts churned as he replayed the battle in his mind, the gap between him and his teammates feeling wider than ever. The faint sounds of their conversation barely registered in his ears as he clenched his fists tighter.

As the group began to settle, the tension in the air eased slightly. The moonlight bathed the clearing in a soft glow, the quiet night offering a brief reprieve from the unspoken struggles each of them carried.

The moonlight cast a silvery glow over the clearing as Sasuke and Tomaru faced off, the tension between them palpable. Sasuke's breaths came in heavy, labored gasps, his legs trembling under the weight of his exhaustion. Yet, his grip on the kunai remained unwavering. Opposite him, Tomaru's stance exuded an unshaken calm, betraying no hint of exertion—a striking contrast to Sasuke's battered state.

With quiet precision, Tomaru advanced, closing the gap in an instant. Sasuke's arm shot up, his kunai barely managing to intercept the strike. His reactions, dulled by fatigue and drained chakra, lagged behind Tomaru's swift, calculated movements. Each blow forced Sasuke to retreat, the sheer force of Tomaru's attacks overwhelming his faltering defenses.

Sasuke clenched his teeth, willing his mind to keep pace with the flurry of strikes. Without his Sharingan active, Tomaru's movements blurred before his eyes, unpredictable and relentless. A sweeping kick from Tomaru caught Sasuke's ankle, sending him stumbling. He managed to recover, deflecting a follow-up strike with his kunai, but the strain showed in every trembling muscle.

Tomaru's attacks remained measured, his strength and speed deliberately restrained, yet Sasuke struggled to keep up. A precise jab toward Sasuke's shoulder forced him to twist his body, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. A follow-up slash grazed his arm, leaving a shallow but stinging cut. Gritting his teeth, Sasuke tightened his grip on the kunai, his resolve unshaken despite the odds.

How can he still be this fast? The thought burned through Sasuke's mind as he parried another blow, the impact jolting up his arm. Every movement felt heavier, his stamina dwindling with each passing moment.

A sudden kunai slash from Tomaru came dangerously close. Sasuke ducked instinctively, his body moving on reflex. He retaliated with a desperate upward swing, but Tomaru sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a quick jab to Sasuke's ribs. The blow sent Sasuke staggering, the air knocked from his lungs as he struggled to stay upright.

His vision blurred, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him. Yet, he refused to yield. Another strike came, and Sasuke barely raised his kunai in time to block. The force sent him skidding backward across the dirt, his knees nearly giving out.

Tomaru paused, lowering his weapon slightly. The act wasn't one of mercy—Sasuke recognized it as a deliberate reminder of the insurmountable gap between them. Tightening his grip, Sasuke forced himself upright, ignoring the pain coursing through his body.

The clearing fell silent, the weight of the encounter settling over them. Sasuke's chest heaved as he stared at Tomaru, the realization sinking in. This wasn't merely a defeat; it was a lesson—a stark demonstration of the level he needed to achieve.

Without a word, Tomaru turned away, his demeanor unchanged as he disappeared into the night. Sasuke remained where he stood, his pride bruised but his resolve burning brighter than ever. He would close the gap. No matter how long it took.