Sasuke and Mufasa stepped out of the ramen shop, the steam and aroma still clinging to their clothes.
The streets of Kumogakure buzzed with activity, but Sasuke's mind was already on their next move.
"My lord," Sasuke asked, glancing sideways at Mufasa, "why don't we just go see the Raikage directly?"
Mufasa grinned like someone who already knew the ending of the story. "Because, Sasuke, this is about letting you feel the essence of a real fight between men."
He tapped his chest with a knuckle. "Men have to meet each other head-on—real blades, real fists. Muscles trembling, sweat pouring, skin bruised. That, my boy, is what makes a warrior."
Sasuke blinked. "...What did you just say?"
Mufasa ignored the look and glanced up at the towering peak where the Raikage's Hall sat like a fortress in the clouds. It loomed over the village, a monument to power and pride.
"People like him... if you don't give him a little taste of your strength first, he won't treat you as an equal," Mufasa muttered. Then, with a smirk: "Come on. Rest well tonight—we storm the gym tomorrow."
The Next Day
Their plan was simple: on each mountain, find the strongest dojo, walk right in, and challenge the master.
Kumogakure was obsessed with martial arts—taijutsu, kenjutsu, you name it—and every peak had its own champions.
On this mountain, the top dog was the Extreme Speed Hand Gym, led by Gosaburo, a taijutsu master whose strikes were said to rival lightning.
As Mufasa and Sasuke approached, a gatekeeper stepped forward, blocking the entrance.
"Registration's over. Come back at the start of next month if you want to join," he said, sizing them up like unworthy recruits.
When they didn't move, the guard added with a smug smirk, "Not that it matters. If you're not talented enough, the Extreme Speed Hand Gym won't take you. Maybe try a smaller place."
Mufasa smiled politely. "Sorry, we're not here to sign up."
The guard frowned. "Then what are you here for?"
"We heard your master, Gosaburo, is a legend of speed. We came to... ask for some guidance."
The guard's eyes narrowed. Everyone knew what that meant: they were here to kick the hall.
He looked them over again—ordinary clothes, no flashy headbands, no weapons in sight—and chuckled. "You know the rules?"
"Not really," Mufasa replied casually.
The guard scoffed. "To face the master, you've got to beat the disciples first. Defeat enough of them, and maybe—maybe—you get a chance."
Mufasa shrugged. "No problem. One fight or ten, it's all the same to me."
The guard bristled. "You talk big for someone who might leave here in a body bag. This isn't just sparring—we mix taijutsu with chakra. Lightning Style, Earth Style—you name it. A hand strike here isn't just muscle, it's chakra. You've heard of the Third Raikage's Hell Stab, right? Or the Fourth's Lightning Chop? Those techniques can slice steel."
Mufasa nodded as if hearing about grocery prices. "Don't worry. We'll hold back. We won't kill anyone."
The guard nearly choked. "What did you just say?!"
"Go call your master," Mufasa waved him off.
Inside, Gosaburo sat cross-legged at the far end of the dojo, watching his students train. The guard rushed in, breathless, and exaggerated the story.
"Two outsiders at the gate, calling our style trash. They said they'll 'be polite' so they don't kill us."
The hall erupted.
"Kill them!"
"No one insults the Extreme Speed Hand Gym!"
Gosaburo raised a hand, silencing the room. His eyes narrowed. "Bring them in."
The dojo was wide and polished, lined with disciplined students on each side. All eyes locked on Sasuke and Mufasa as they walked in.
"You're not from the Land of Lightning, are you?" Gosaburo asked.
"Does it matter?" Mufasa replied. "Do I have to be local to challenge you?"
Gosaburo's expression eased slightly. If they weren't from Lightning Country, the threat level dropped. "What school are you from?"
"Electromagnetic Gate. My master is Sun Tzu."
The name meant nothing to Gosaburo, and he snorted. "Never heard of it."
"I hear you think you can hold back against my disciples?" Gosaburo said slowly.
Mufasa nodded. "No point killing people over a friendly match."
The dojo roared in anger. Gosaburo waved them quiet again. "Then pass my Ten-Man Gauntlet. Beat ten of my disciples, and I'll face you myself."
Mufasa turned to Sasuke. "Problem?"
Sasuke crossed his arms. "No problem."
"Which of you fights first?" Gosaburo asked.
"Principle of fairness," Mufasa said. "Beat my disciple, and then you can fight me."
The dojo burst into laughter.
"Your master's sending you to die," Gosaburo told Sasuke.
Sasuke lifted his chin, eyes like cold steel. "Are you going to fight, or are you just going to talk? Afraid?"
The insult struck home. Gosaburo slammed a palm into the wooden floor. "San! Step forward!"
A burly disciple approached, cracking his knuckles.
Sasuke smirked and wagged a finger. "One's not enough. I'll take on all ten at once."
"What?!"
Sasuke's words hit the Extreme Speed Hand Gym like a thrown kunai, sharp and loud.
The tension in the air instantly snapped.
The disciples shot to their feet, weapons and fists ready.
"Master, let me take him on!" one shouted, rolling his shoulders.
"No! I'll crush him myself!" another barked.
Gosaburo's eyes narrowed in anger. "Master Hayato, isn't your disciple a little too crazy?"
Mufasa tilted his head, pretending not to understand. "Crazy? Where's the crazy part in that?" He scanned the hall, roughly fifty fighters watching. Then he smirked. "If it were me, I'd just say… all of you should come at once."
The gym fell silent for a second, then exploded into shocked murmurs.
Gosaburo burst out laughing. "Heh! As expected from a master—even bolder than your own student."
Mufasa bowed slightly. "You're too kind."
"Hmph. Fine then. Let's see you handle this. Ten fighters, my best." Gosaburo snapped his fingers. "Bull Five! Bull Six! Bull Seven!" He called them out one after another until all ten stood forward.
These weren't ordinary warriors.
They were the top ten powerhouses of the Extreme Speed Hand Gym, built like titans from Kumogakure.
Dark-skinned, tall, muscles like forged steel, each one carried the dangerous air of someone who'd survived countless battles.
They surrounded Sasuke the way a pack of Sea Kings might circle a small ship.
Mufasa stepped back, gesturing. "Your move, Kenichi."
Sasuke didn't even activate his Sharingan. "I won't need to try hard for them."
That arrogance made the ten bristle with rage. They didn't bother with one-on-one etiquette—they attacked together.
"Lightning Release: Horned Stampede!" they roared, channeling Raiton chakra into their arms until their fists sparked like Luffy's Red Hawk igniting mid-swing.
They lowered their stances and charged like a herd of rampaging bison, lightning dancing across their bodies.
The ground trembled with each thunderous step. The air filled with the smell of ozone.
Spectators shouted from the sidelines.
"Crush him!"
"Split him in half!"
Gosaburo smirked. 'Let's see you survive this, brat.'
Mufasa muttered dryly, "What is it with Cloud ninja and bulls? First it's horns, now it's plowing fields."
Sasuke watched calmly as twenty lightning-charged fists came straight for him. At the last second, he jumped high.
The horns and fists scraped his clothes, missing by a hair.
"Gale Legs!" Sasuke spun midair, copying Lee's Konoha Whirlwind and driving his heels into the backs of all ten.
The fighters had reinforced their spines with Lightning Release, thinking they could absorb the blow—but Sasuke's strike cut through their chakra armor,
BOOM!
The Lightning armor shattered in crackling bursts, and the ten were sent flying, crashing into the floor one after another.
The hall went dead silent.
Gosaburo shot to his feet. What the hell just happened?!
The ten groaned, humiliated, but they weren't done yet.
"RAAAH!" they roared, charging again.
It didn't matter. Sasuke weaved through them like water flowing between rocks, every strike precise, every counter ruthless.
In moments, the ten strongest fighters in the gym lay defeated.
The crowd stared, stunned.
Sasuke crooked a finger at Gosaburo. "Your turn."
Minutes later, loud crashes echoed from inside the gym. When the dust settled, Mufasa and Sasuke stepped out. Mufasa carried the gym's plaque like a trophy.
"You drag things out too long," Mufasa said to Sasuke. "We still have ten more challenges today. You're wasting time."
Sasuke shrugged. "Fine. Next time, I'll end it faster."
"That's better."
Passers-by saw Mufasa walk away with the plaque and instantly knew—they were kicking dojos, and doing it in the most brutal way possible.
Excited brawlers called their friends, following Mufasa and Sasuke like fans chasing celebrities.
From mountain to mountain they went, collecting plaques and fans with every victory until the crowd behind them was so big it looked like a parade.
Word spread quickly: the two warriors from the Electromagnetic Gate were challenging all ten great gyms, with Raikage as their final target.
Of course, it wasn't long before Raikage's Anbu took notice.
"Lord Raikage," an Anbu reported, "Mufasa and Kenichi have already taken nine mountains. Only one remains."
Raikage A's grin widened. "Perfect. I've been itching for a fight. Tell them I accept their challenge."
When Mufasa and Sasuke left the tenth gym, the crowd outside was massive. People had skipped work just to see the man who dared to fight Raikage.
Mufasa tossed all ten plaques onto the ground. "Guess it's time to visit Raikage's tower."
Anbu dropped from the rooftops. "Hayato. Kenichi. Lord Raikage is waiting."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
In the sea of faces, Darui muttered to Yugito, "Isn't that Mufasa the Kazekage? Why's he going by someone named Hayato?"
Yugito shrugged. "Maybe an alias."
The streets of Kumogakure were lined with villagers shouting encouragement.
"You have to beat Raikage!"
"End his winning streak!"
Mufasa sighed. 'Looks like a lot of these people have been on the wrong end of A's fists.'
The Raikage's tower dominated the mountain like a fortress-palace, its walls crackling with constant lightning. Ropeways stretched out like webbing from the structure.
Raikage A stood on a balcony, arms crossed, watching their approach with a predator's grin.
Mufasa smirked. "Let's go."
Ignoring the cable car, he and Sasuke sprinted straight onto the steel ropeway. The abyss yawned below, wind howling around them.
The crowd gasped at the reckless display. Raikage's grin only grew.
'Now that's a man worth fighting.'
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Word count: 1732
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