The pressure fell squarely back onto Naruto and Sasuke.
"Naruto, it seems we underestimated Sister Yu from the very beginning," Sasuke said quietly.
"Yeah," Naruto agreed. "She's way stronger than we expected. Just from how she handled our clones, you can tell her movements are incredibly sharp. No wonder she's Sage Katsuyu's only direct disciple."
As he spoke, Sasuke observed Katsuyu's reaction.
"She used Shikotsumyaku and Scorch Release just now, yet Sage Katsuyu didn't even flinch. That means she's long been aware of her disciple's abilities."
Withdrawing his gaze, Sasuke said seriously,
"Naruto, let's get serious. Even if we go overboard, Sage Katsuyu will stop us. She won't let us kill her."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too!"
Naruto raised his left hand. With sharp whistling wind, a Rasengan transformed into a shuriken-like blade.
"To be honest, I'm feeling excited right now! It's like I've gone back to my younger days!"
Holding the Rasenshuriken in one hand, Naruto charged forward with youthful energy. Even as he ran, he kept an eye on Katsuyu in the sky.
The Sage didn't move.
That meant she acknowledged Yu could handle this.
"So… adding a little extra should be fine, right?"
Naruto grinned, clenched his right hand, and punched through the air.
"Time to prove that toad Sage Art isn't inferior!"
— Frog Kumite!
"Whoosh!"
Invisible fists formed from natural energy shot toward Yu's face.
Yu reacted instantly, raising her right palm and swinging it toward the incoming force.
— Shikkotsu Sage Palm!
"Boom!"
The collision of two natural energies detonated in midair, creating a sonic boom and shockwaves that rippled outward.
"Ugh!" "Ngh!"
Both Yu and Naruto were blasted backward.
Naruto was farther from the center and stabilized first.
He raised his left hand, gathered power, and hurled Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken at Yu, who was still sliding back.
"Sorry, Sis Yu! Looks like this exchange ends here!"
"Buzz!"
The whirling wind blades closed in, less than five meters away.
Yu was still being pushed by the aftershock.
It looked impossible to dodge.
But when Sasuke glanced at Katsuyu—still calm and unmoving—his heart skipped.
Could it be…?
Katsuyu smiled, dimples appearing on her cheeks.
"Don't underestimate Shikkotsu's poster girl~."
The retreating figure suddenly twisted.
Using the backward momentum, Yu swept her feet in a circular pattern.
Her hands grasped at invisible natural energy, pulling it into her palms.
Her black hair flared outward as her arms and waist rotated like a spinning top.
— Shikkotsu Living Scroll!
From afar, Naruto saw a familiar silhouette in her movement.
"That stance… it's just like Neji's Rotation!"
His fleeting melancholy was instantly replaced by shock.
The Rasenshuriken was caught in a vortex of natural energy—and flung straight back!
"No way! She reflected the Rasenshuriken?!"
Katsuyu explained cheerfully,
"Shikkotsu Living Scroll~. I developed it based on ancient Hyuga Gentle Fist. It's a defensive Sage Art that pairs with Sage Palm. It controls natural energy and reflects projectile techniques."
"Naruto, things aren't looking good for you now~."
"Hah! This is how a fight should be!"
Naruto's fighting spirit surged.
"Show me more of Shikkotsu Sage Art!"
He quickly formed another Rasenshuriken and hurled it at the returning one.
"Boom!"
The two Rasenshuriken collided, creating a storm zone over fifty meters wide.
At the rear, Yu shielded her face as her long hair whipped violently.
"Sis Yu, I admit you're amazing," Naruto called out.
"But now isn't the time to look around!"
He circled around the storm and charged in with overwhelming momentum.
"That move only reflects projectiles, right?"
"This one isn't a projectile!"
— Sage Art: Massive Rasengan!
"Whoosh!"
As Naruto roared, the Rasengan expanded wildly, like a mountain crashing down.
"Whoosh!"
Yu leapt back and rapidly formed seals.
— Water Release: Water Trumpet!
"Crash!"
A massive horn-shaped torrent blasted from her mouth.
The water halted Naruto's charge, yet he kept smiling.
"Sis Yu, you finally used a standard ninjutsu!"
"That's strong—on par with the old Mizukage!"
"But stopping me with this? Not happening!"
Just as he prepared to break through—
The Massive Rasengan began shrinking.
Rapidly.
A wave of exhaustion flooded him.
"My Sage Mode… is running out?!"
Deep inside, Kurama sighed.
Naruto… with your accumulated fatigue, this is your limit without my power.
"Naruto!"
Seeing his sudden collapse, Sasuke surged forward and caught him.
At that moment, Yu changed seals.
— Ice Release: Crystal Wall!
"Crack!"
The surrounding water froze instantly into an icy prison.
Chilling cold pierced through.
Naruto's pupils shrank.
"She… even knows Ice Release?!"
"Buzz!"
Blood trickled from Sasuke's right eye as veins burst across his sclera.
— Amaterasu: Kagutsuchi!
"Slash! Slash!"
Black flames were shaped into blazing spears, tearing open the ice.
"No… it's more than Ice Release…"
Sasuke looked up at the descending double assault.
"Magma Release and Corrosion Release… both infused with Sage Art."
"So this is it…?"
He gave a bitter smile and summoned skeletal Susanoo with one eye.
"Crash!"
The bones melted away but barely blocked the combined attack.
"To be honest," Sasuke said, draining his last eye power,
"I never imagined this exchange would go this far."
Even if it's just sparring… this is Konoha's pride.
"Crack!"
Dark-purple Susanoo reformed, wrapped in sinew, entering its second stage.
No more carefree youth—only hardened resolve.
"Crack!"
A glowing arrow locked onto Yu.
Katsuyu still hadn't moved.
So even this wasn't enough?
Sasuke pushed harder.
His right eye turned blood-red, veins spreading like spiderwebs.
"Boom!"
Purple flames surged.
Armor formed.
He reached the peak of partial Susanoo—
Crow Tengu!
A blazing black-flame arrow was drawn.
Just then, he saw Katsuyu move.
He smiled faintly.
"This should be—"
"Crack!"
Agony tore through his nerves.
"Ahhh…!"
The arrow dissipated.
Crow Tengu collapsed into bones.
Sasuke dropped to one knee, barely holding Naruto.
Three seconds later, the skeletal Susanoo shattered.
After laying Naruto down, Sasuke fell backward himself.
Katsuyu hovered silently.
She sighed inwardly.
Sasuke… I was trying to warn you. With your condition, using that move would knock you out too.
"Buzz."
Yu exited Sage Mode.
She walked calmly to them.
Both Naruto and Sasuke avoided her gaze.
It was too embarrassing.
Injured or not, holding back or not—
A loss was a loss.
When her slender hand reached out, they hesitated.
Then they looked up.
Into her clear black eyes.
"You…"
Her gentle yet earnest voice fell like moonlight.
"If you're hurt, rest properly."
"If you fall somewhere, get back up from there."
"Even a girl who's bad at fighting knows that."
"Surely two great war heroes… aren't worse than me?"
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