Chapter 25: Sasuke's Susanoo
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The next match was the deciding round—Neji Hyuga versus Sasuke Uchiha!
On one side was the prodigy of the Uchiha clan, and on the other, the once-renowned genius of the Hyuga clan.
Neji faced Sasuke, his voice filled with determination. "Sasuke, I will defeat you!"
Sasuke responded with his typical arrogance, "You don't stand a chance."
Neji gritted his teeth. "Don't be so full of yourself!"
In an instant, the veins around Neji's eyes bulged as he activated his Byakugan, searching for Sasuke's weaknesses. However, Sasuke's eyes transformed, revealing the three-tomoe Sharingan, which then evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
A powerful purple chakra began to envelop Sasuke, forming a skeletal figure that quickly gained muscle and armor—the iconic Karasu Tengu-shaped Susanoo.
A towering, half-body Susanoo loomed before Neji, its presence overwhelming.
Neji's resolve faltered as he stared up at the colossal figure. "How... how am I supposed to fight this?" he muttered in despair.
Facing Sasuke's Susanoo, Neji felt utterly powerless. The realization hit him hard—he had no chance of winning this battle. His spirit wavered as the gap between him and Sasuke became painfully clear.
Once, they might have been equals, but now, Sasuke had left him far behind. Neji's heart sank as he thought of his father and uncle, who had always admired Sasuke's abilities.
In a voice heavy with defeat, Neji said, "I... give up."
The purple chakra around Sasuke began to recede as the Susanoo dissolved into dust. Sasuke looked at Neji with a calm, yet condescending gaze. "Neji, you are talented, but compared to me, you're still lacking."
With that, Sasuke turned and left the arena, leaving Neji frozen in place.
As Sasuke's words echoed in his mind, Neji's thoughts began to clear. 'Sasuke called me a genius...' he realized. If he compared himself to most others, he was indeed talented. But when compared to Sasuke, he felt like a failure.
'But why should I compare myself to him?' A new resolve sparked within Neji. 'Instead of seeing Sasuke as my opponent, I should view him as my goal—someone to strive toward, not to compete against.'
His eyes gleamed with renewed determination. 'Sasuke isn't my opponent; he's my target!'
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After the match, Sasuke approached Naruto. "Naruto, you did well out there."
Naruto, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, replied, "Haha, I'm not sure what happened, but I felt this incredible power suddenly surge from within me!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto seriously. "You should try not to reject that power. Instead... learn to accept it."
As Sasuke and Naruto chatted, Sakura couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. 'I fought too... I even got hurt... Why doesn't Sasuke come over to comfort me?' she thought, her heart sinking.
Sasuke, noticing her downcast expression, walked over and gently patted her head. "Sakura, you did great today. You're hurt, so make sure to visit the infirmary."
A member of the Uchiha clan, wearing a green vest, appeared and escorted Sakura to the infirmary.
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Moments later, four masked figures suddenly appeared, surrounding Naruto. Naruto's heart raced with fear as he recognized them—ANBU.
Sasuke quickly stepped in front of Naruto, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want with him?"
One of the masked men, wearing a fox mask, spoke firmly. "We've received reports that the Nine-Tails' chakra in Naruto is becoming unstable. We need to take him to the Hokage Building to reinforce the seal."
Sasuke's eyes flashed with anger. "The Nine-Tails is connected to the safety of Konoha. If the Nine-Tails were to break free, that would be a matter for the Konoha Security Force. What does this have to do with ANBU?"
The ANBU, an organization that followed orders directly from the Hokage, usually dealt with threats from other villages. The Konoha Security Force, on the other hand, was responsible for the safety within the village.
The fox-masked ANBU responded, "Lord Sasuke, please don't make this difficult for us."
Without a word, Sasuke snapped his fingers. Instantly, the space behind him began to warp, and a mysterious masked man appeared, wielding a tachi. His presence alone was enough to send a wave of dread through the ANBU operatives. This man was a true warrior, forged in battles of unimaginable brutality.
Even though Sasuke was powerful, he was still just a child. But this masked man... his mere existence was a threat.
The ANBU agents, now sweating under their masks, knew they were facing a formidable enemy. But before they could act, a voice called out, "Stand down, all of you!"
Hokage Advisor Mitokado Homura appeared, his expression stern. He addressed Sasuke, "You may not remember the devastation the Nine-Tails caused, as you were just a child then. But the consequences of another outbreak would be catastrophic. You don't want to regret not reinforcing the seal."
Sasuke met Homura's gaze with defiance. "Advisor, the safety of the village is the responsibility of the Konoha Security Force. I suggest you don't interfere with our duties."
Homura had intended to use his authority to lecture Sasuke, but when his eyes fell on the masked man behind Sasuke, his words caught in his throat.
'That man...' he thought, recognizing the danger. Swallowing his pride, he simply said, "I hope you know what you're doing," before turning and leaving.
As Homura departed, Sasuke felt a surge of satisfaction. 'This feeling...' he thought, '...of not having to fear the village elders, it's liberating!'
Thanks to the Uchiha clan's strength, Itachi no longer being a threat, and the alliance with the Hyuga clan, Sasuke felt more secure in his power than ever.
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The referee for the match, Genma Shiranui, watched the scene unfold. As a former guard of the Fourth Hokage, Genma knew who the masked man was—Obito Uchiha, the very person responsible for the Nine-Tails attack that cost Minato Namikaze his life.
'So it was the Uchiha clan after all...' Genma thought, his eyes narrowing as he suppressed a surge of rage. But he knew he was outmatched. Even Sasuke's brief display of Susanoo had been enough to nearly overwhelm him.
Taking a deep breath, Genma forced a smile. "The first-year team has defeated the second-year team. All three of you, report here tomorrow morning. I will introduce you to a senior in the ninja world."
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