The Other Two's Side 2

"I can't keep up!"

There's no way I can keep up with Sasuke! I thought she was taking it easy in Kakashi sensei's training, it turns out she really does!

She's trying way too hard! Is this how she usually train by herself?

"Gah... Haa...!" I was breathing so heavily, the air don't seem to enter my lungs properly now.

Guh... I feel like puking...

"What's wrong, Naruto?" Sasuke came up to me with a hand on her hip and asked.

As expected, she doesn't seem bothered by the training we did at all. She's as nonchalant and confident as ever.

"I-is this how you always train?"

"I guess so..." she tilted her head a little and answered.

Now that explains the 'genius' in her title...

"Say, how about we do a little combat practice?"

"Are you serious!"

Shucks! I really want to fight Sasuke, but I truly am too tired right now. I might just lose if my energy depletes mid-fight.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke suspiciously asked after seeing the hesitation on my face. "Don't tell me that you're backing off a fight now? That's not the Naruto I know," she taunted.

"What did you say!" I screamed.

She's really triggering me so much right now! After she wasted my energy with so much rigorous exercise, she's now going to challenge me to a fight?

Did she plan this all along? Kuh! As expected of my rival!

"Fine! Let's do it!" I fired myself up and accepted her challenge.

I don't like how she's taunting me, but she's right. I, the future Hokage, can't ever back down a fight.

"That's the spirit!" she excitedly nodded.

We each both took our stance after splitting up a distance between us.

Even though it's a simple one, Sasuke actually took a stance against me. She never takes a proper stance unless she acknowledges that her opponent is a worthy match-up. It seems she's finally taking me on seriously. She's even emitting strong pressure from her eyes, which in turn makes me want to back off.

Kuku...! I suppose I gotta' give it my all?

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

I opened up big right at the start.

I lined myself up with the four clones I summoned and immediately went running at Sasuke. I went in front to directly confront her, while my clones surrounded her to attack in multiple angles.

Sasuke surpasses me in Taijutsu, so this is the best thing I can do to close that gap between us.

We exchanged blows, but while my clones kept getting countered and hit, Sasuke never got even a single scratch on her skin.

"Kuh!"

I got too impatient and hurried to attack her, but she was able to quickly dodge and smoothly hit me back with a kick. She's way too fast and slick for me to catch.

I backed off to regain my composure, but I did not recall my clones as to prevent her from taking a breather.

"Shadow clone!" I summoned two more clones to help me prepare my next attack.

All at the same time, I ordered three of my clones to recklessly jump at Sasuke. They charged in defenceless, so all of them got hit with direct attacks, which poofed them out of existence.

That was obviously a stupid decision, but it payed off as it caused Sasuke to open up her guard. With no hesitation, the remaining clone closed in to hug her from behind and lock her in place.

"What?" she exclaimed.

"Keke! I got you!"

Just as planned, I used my newly summoned clones to yeet and throw myself straight at Sasuke's direction.

"I knew it!" she groaned in a panic.

Seeing how fast I was approaching, she hurriedly elbowed the clone holding her out of existence to escape. No matter, it was too late for her to move out, and she only managed to raise her arms up to block my attack.

I feel bad for drop-kicking a girl, but she's still Sasuke, and she pissed me off. I doubt I will regret doing this to her any time soon.

"Gah!"

Sasuke flew off her feet as my attack landed on her. She stumbled on the ground, dirtying her porcelain-white skin and well-washed clothes.

"Kuku!" I noisily giggled.

She got me once, but I got her big time this time. All the pent-up aggression I have on her has finally been paid off with that single attack.

I was celebrating internally in my head, but that was cut short when I noticed how Sasuke was not standing up.

"H-hey, Sasuke? Are you alright...?"

I said I won't regret hitting her, but I think I'm regretting it now. After all, even if it's Sasuke, she's still a girl, right?

Did I really just knock out a girl? I won't get the end of it if Sakura finds out...

I was about to check up on her, but then suddenly, she stood up.

"You got me good," she muttered while brushing off the dirt on her clothes.

"Fuu... You're alright..." I heaved a sigh of relief after seeing her stand up.

"That's what I get for underestimating you..."

Huh? Was she actually underestimating me all this time? Since she looked so focused at the beginning, I thought she was taking me seriously.

So is that how it is? She was just taking it easy on me?

Nah! That's definitely not the case, she really was fighting for real, I'm sure of it! She just don't want to admit that I beat her fair and square.

"Okay, let's start again. This time, I'll be giving it my all," and so she says, then she recited, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A harem of three girl Sasukes appeared and lined up in front of me. All of them were a perfect copy of her, from the dirt on her clothes to the sheen of her skin.

There were not as many of them as I can summon, but there's no doubt that they're all dangerous. That is to say, all of them have red eyes...

"S-seriously! That's petty, Sasuke!" I complained.