Chapter Twenty: The Clash of Marks
Naruto dashed through the dense forest, his pulse racing. He had sensed a surge of malevolent chakra in the air and recognized it as Sasuke's. As he neared the clearing, the faint sounds of a struggle became deafening. He burst into the open to find Sasuke standing over a broken and defeated team of genin, their bodies crumpled and motionless.
Sasuke's body was shrouded in a dark aura, his curse mark pulsating and spreading across his skin. The Uchiha's eyes burned crimson, his Sharingan spinning wildly as if drunk on power. Team 10 stood nearby, battered and wide-eyed. Sakura was frozen, staring at Sasuke with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
Naruto skidded to a halt, his eyes narrowing. "Sasuke! What the hell are you doing?"
Sasuke turned slowly, his gaze locking onto Naruto. A smirk tugged at his lips, but it wasn't his usual confident grin—it was cruel, predatory. "They were in my way," he said coldly.
Naruto's fists clenched. "In your way? You're losing it, Sasuke. This power isn't yours—it's from that snake freak, Orochimaru!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "And what if it is? Power is power. That's the only thing that matters."
"Snap out of it!" Naruto barked. "This isn't you!"
Sasuke scoffed and stepped forward. "Don't preach to me, Naruto. You'll never understand. You don't know what it's like to have everything ripped away from you. To be weak. To be powerless."
"I know more than you think," Naruto said, his voice low and steady. "But this isn't the way, Sasuke."
Sasuke's smirk turned into a scowl. "Then show me, Naruto. Show me how strong you really are!"
---
The Fight Begins
Without warning, Sasuke lunged forward, his fist aiming for Naruto's face. Naruto sidestepped, his instincts honed from his training.
"Sasuke, stop this!" Naruto shouted, dodging another blow.
But Sasuke was relentless, his Sharingan predicting Naruto's every move. He spun low and swept at Naruto's legs, forcing him to leap back.
"You're in my way too, Naruto," Sasuke growled. "If you won't fight me seriously, then get out of here!"
Naruto's patience snapped. "Fine. If that's what it takes to knock some sense into you!"
Naruto formed a series of hand signs. "Lightning Release: Thunder Spear!"
A jagged spear of electricity crackled to life in his hand. He thrust it toward Sasuke, forcing the Uchiha to leap back. Sasuke retaliated with a stream of fire.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The fireball roared toward Naruto, but he countered with a burst of wind, dispersing the flames. "Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
The two clashed in a blur of strikes and techniques. Sasuke's movements were faster, more precise, but Naruto's raw power and unorthodox style kept him in the fight.
---
The Curse Mark Awakens
As the battle raged, Sasuke's curse mark flared, darkening his features further. His strength and speed increased, and Naruto began to feel the pressure.
"You're holding back," Sasuke taunted. "Afraid of losing?"
Naruto gritted his teeth. "I don't want to hurt you, you idiot!"
Sasuke smirked. "Then you've already lost."
Sasuke charged again, his fists glowing with crackling energy. Naruto barely managed to block, but the impact sent him skidding back.
"Enough of this," Naruto muttered, his own curse mark starting to burn. The black tendrils spread across his skin as he tapped into the dark power within.
"Let's see how you like this!" Naruto growled.
He formed a series of clones, each launching attacks in unison. Sasuke fought them off with ease, but it was a diversion. The real Naruto appeared above him, slamming down with a glowing fist.
"Tiger Strike!"
Sasuke blocked, but the sheer force sent him crashing into the ground. He stood slowly, panting, his Sharingan spinning furiously.
"You're stronger than I thought," Sasuke admitted. "But it's still not enough!"
The two clashed again, their powers colliding in a storm of energy. Naruto's movements became more feral, his strikes heavier and more precise. The power of the curse mark enhanced his abilities, and Sasuke began to falter.
---
The Final Blow
Sasuke charged one last time, his fist glowing with dark energy. "This ends now!"
Naruto met his charge head-on, their fists colliding in an explosion of power. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered. Naruto roared, channeling all his frustration into one final blow.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Crash!"
A surge of electricity engulfed Sasuke, sending him flying. He hit the ground hard, the curse mark receding as his body gave out.
Naruto stood over him, panting heavily, his own curse mark fading. He looked down at Sasuke, his anger giving way to exhaustion.
"You're my friend, Sasuke," Naruto muttered. "I won't let you destroy yourself."
---
The Aftermath
Team 10 and Sakura stood in stunned silence. They had known Naruto had improved, but this display of power was beyond anything they could have imagined.
Sakura ran to Sasuke's side, checking his injuries. "Naruto… what was that?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Naruto didn't answer immediately. He turned away, his gaze distant. "I've got a long way to go," he said quietly.
Ino whispered to Shikamaru, "When did Naruto get this strong?"
Shikamaru shook his head. "Troublesome. But it's clear he's not the same kid from the academy."
Naruto glanced back at Sasuke, his resolve hardening. "We're not done yet, Sasuke. But for now… rest."
With that, he turned his attention back to the forest. There was still a long way to go before the Chunin Exams were over.