Outside Konoha Village, the Forest of Death.
Sakura and Sasuke stood facing each other. On a tree trunk not far away, a group of Jonins including Naruto, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi were watching.
"Speaking of which, Tsunade-sama also came to watch these two kids fight. Aren't you busy with official business?" Kakashi tilted his head slightly.
Originally, he had just run into his three students from Team 7 on the road, but as they continued, more and more Jonins followed along, until even the Hokage was alerted.
"Hmph, think of this as one last relaxation before the war. Let everyone see the strength of the new generation." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively.
But in reality, the reason she appeared here was not as she stated. She mainly wanted to see what her disciple's so-called 'ability' really was, and confirm if it was truly a power completely different from Ninjutsu.
"Ugh, they're about to start!" Naruto's Observation Haki sensed the clash of spirits. He looked left and right. "Granny Tsunade, and Kakashi-sensei and the other seniors, retreat further, or you might get caught up in it."
The blonde boy warned them and then, following Jiraiya, made himself scarce.
In the center of the forest, the black-haired boy was the first to draw his long sword, made of Chakra-conductive metal.
"Sakura, I want to ask you a favor. Can you fight me using your Devil Fruit ability?" Sasuke took a deep breath and requested.
"You're seeking development of your Fruit ability?" Sakura, who had originally taken out a Flying Thunder God kunai, put it back into her waist pouch.
"Yes. If this Fruit can truly let me have the power of a dragon, I should be able to use it to master the powers of wind and lightning as well. But..." Sasuke gripped the sword handle so hard he almost crushed the bandages wrapped around it.
It was obvious he was very dissatisfied with his Fruit's development. And although his trip to Ryuchi Cave had let him learn Sage Mode, the lack of true life-and-death combat still prevented him from further merging with the will within the Devil Fruit, thus developing the Fruit to a deeper level.
"Alright, then come." Sakura stepped forward, scorching Armament Haki wrapped around her fists.
The flowing light pink coat was being dyed inch by inch by a pure white color. The surrounding heat was rapidly plundered.
The earth froze into frozen soil. Snowflakes fell from the sky. A bleak white radiance rose, transforming the entire world into a snowy country.
[Low Temperature Mode: Snow White Martial Body!]
"Then, I won't hold back!"
Sasuke had long maintained the stance of straight overhead cut. Natural energy had already accumulated.
The next instant, flame-like light ignited. After absorbing a large amount of Natural Energy, Sasuke grew horns and scales. A thick dragon tail slammed onto the ground, cracking it like a spiderweb.
"One-Sword Style: Lightning Strike Dance!"
Sasuke's figure was as fast as lightning.
However, faster than lightning was a thread of iron light that howled closely behind. Armament Haki condensed to its limit transformed the long sword into a black blade, roaming through the void as if to tear everything apart.
"Wrong!" Sakura frowned.
She decisively raised her arm and blocked the slashing long sword.
Crack!
The flowing Armament Haki, manipulated by Life Return, surged from her skin into Sasuke's sword.
Immediately after, the expensive Chakra-conductive metal long sword shattered into pieces. The fragments shot back like bullets.
Seeing this, Sasuke's pupils contracted. His Sharingan immediately spun to lock onto each fragment. The technique of Kami-e, one of the Rokushiki, was poised for action, preparing to dodge these fragments.
"This is all wrong! What exactly did the snakes of Ryuchi Cave teach you?" The girl's voice rang out sharply.
The sound of continuous stomps on the ground and air-breaking cries rang out simultaneously. Sakura's figure instantly appeared behind Sasuke.
Her jet-black fist grabbed his chin, lifting the partially-dragonified Sasuke up, ignoring his panicked flailing of fists and feet and the thrashing of his dragon tail.
"Developing a Devil Fruit ability, like Haki, requires a spirit that charges forward without looking back, and the courage to cast aside life and death!"
Sakura's arm exerted force. Steam gushed out, blowing her long hair, revealing a demonic smile. "Once on this path, there's no turning back. Otherwise, at best, your strength won't improve… at worst, all your skills will waste away, and you'll become useless!"
Savage, tremendous force dragged Sasuke and slammed him hard onto the ground. With her emotions stirred, Sakura even used some throwing techniques.
[Fishman Karate: Sea Drum!]
The impact, through the water molecules in the air, poured into Sasuke's body.
At the same time, amidst the violent shockwaves, the air was beaten as if emitting a roar. As ripples spread, the earth collapsed and trees were pulverized.
Even though the world had already transformed into a snowy country, a sense of dryness and restlessness lingered around everyone.
"Haki has risks like this?" Tsunade stroked her chin, pondering. "Looks like I'll have to raise its technique ranking by another level!"
Beside Tsunade, Kakashi looked up at the sky and scratched his cheek. "Speaking of which... I won't end up useless, will I?"
Jiraiya glanced at him, also becoming a little curious.
'With Kakashi's slacker mentality, how exactly did he learn Observation Haki?'
On the other side, Guy gave him a thumbs up. "My eternal rival! It seems the passion in your heart hasn't been extinguished yet. How youthful! Please accept my 103rd challenge!"
"Ah, what did you just say?"
"Damn! Truly worthy of being my lifelong rival!"
....
Center of the battlefield, Sasuke lifted a piece of rubble and crawled out of the pit.
With the aid of Sage chakra, he had softened all the rock and earth the moment he was slammed into the ground, thus avoiding being knocked unconscious by Sakura's blow.
But even so, his condition was now extremely bad.
Several bones were broken. His jaw was completely numb. His head was still spinning, accompanied by severe tinnitus interfering with his hearing, and he couldn't focus mentally.
Yet, despite being covered in wounds like this, Sasuke's heartbeat grew faster and faster.
The blood in his body seemed ignited, urging him to fight, to dominate, to turn everything into fuel under his feet, to rise above all things.
"Don't think you can defeat me that easily!!!"
The boy's roar echoed through the ruins. A cruel light abruptly erupted. A vast and mighty spirit spread, but without seeking any killing intent.
"As I thought, you have it too!"
A flash of astonishment passed through Sakura's emerald eyes.
Then, there was only undisguised delight and joy. She couldn't help but laugh loudly.
"Is it the strong who make the Fruit, or the Fruit that makes the strong?"
With this question, the girl's light steps trod on the snowy ground. Her scorching will gathered into an extremely powerful spirit.
Dark lightning surged, transforming into violent thunder, rushing through the void.
The two auras collided in the air, shaking heaven and earth with erupting roars.
The clash of Haki tore apart all mottled colors, causing two pairs of eyes, blazing with assertive brilliance, to appear in everyone's hearts.
Sasuke abandoned all fixed forms, crouching on the ground like a wild beast. He raised his face, filled with a heroic smile, and spoke:
"Then, this is round two!"