Chapter 344: 344 – Naruto vs Asuma!!

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“Is that… the Three-Tomoe Sharingan?”

Uchiha Inabi finally processed what he was seeing, genuine shock flickering across his face.

He had known Sasuke was gifted, but this—this was beyond anything he’d imagined.

With the Three-Tomoe Sharingan awakened, even an average Uchiha reached Jonin-level combat ability.

And yet Sasuke—only eight years old—had achieved what even Itachi, at the same age, had not.

Back then, Itachi only possessed a single tomoe.

Inabi had once believed Itachi and Shisui were the brightest flames of their generation.

But now, in the face of Sasuke’s awakened eyes, even those flames seemed to dim.

He inhaled deeply, steadying himself, and drew his ninja sword.

Fire Release, Genjutsu, and Sharingan—these were an Uchiha’s pride.

But Leaf-Style Swordsmanship was also a required art.

He wanted to see how far Sasuke’s eyes could truly read.

With a blur, Inabi closed the distance using Body Flicker.

Clang!

The blades collided—the thunder god blade crackling, Inabi’s sword humming.

Their Sharingan spun, reading and counter-reading, turning the duel into a battle of predicting the other’s predictions.

After a dozen exchanges, it became obvious—Sasuke was being pushed back.

His eyes were newly matured; Inabi’s experience showed in every sharp angle and subtle feint.

Realizing this, Sasuke shifted strategy instantly.

Lightning flooded his blade, arcs dancing down its length and surging toward Inabi along the edge of their locked swords.

Inabi reacted immediately—he released his grip and kicked his own sword.

The weapon spun like a shuriken, hurling toward Sasuke.

Sasuke had to raise his lightning blade to deflect it—the force halting his movement for just an instant.

And that instant was enough.

Genjutsu: Unknown Fire.

Inabi’s Sharingan flickered.

Sasuke’s world warped—but he didn’t panic.

Three months of daily training against Itachi had prepared him for this exact scenario.

Sharingan versus Sharingan.

Illusion versus illusion.

He shattered the Genjutsu—but in that brief delay, Inabi’s kunai attack was already upon him.

Sasuke flickered away, but one kunai grazed his shoulder, drawing a line of blood.

He didn’t even flinch.

Leaf Style: Willow!

Sasuke raised the thunder god blade—and Inabi froze.

Again, his Sharingan released him almost instantly, far faster than Sasuke’s.

The blade shot toward him like a bolt.

Inabi dodged—but the thunderclap came a heartbeat later.

Chidori.

Sasuke’s right hand turned into a blade of pure lightning as he lunged.

“Chidori…?”

Inabi recognized Kakashi’s signature technique instantly.

His experience saved him—He bent backward in a near-impossible angle, letting the strike whistle past.

But Sasuke didn’t stop.

Lightning surged across his body—

“Lightning Release: Chidori Nagashi!”

Electricity burst outward, engulfing Inabi in crackling light.

“Agh—!!”

Even as a Jonin, being caught in a full-body lightning shock was brutal.

The paralysis robbed him of movement.

Sasuke drew a kunai and pressed it to Inabi’s throat the moment the lightning faded.

Inabi, trembling and scorched, exhaled shakily.

“…I surrender.”

Kitazawa appeared in an instant to treat him.

Sasuke tightened his grip on the kunai, unable to hide the small, victorious smile tugging at his lips.

He had defeated a Jonin—an Uchiha Jonin—with his own strength.

A true Jonin-level victory.

“Inabi let his guard down. He didn’t anticipate Sasuke’s Lightning Release.”

Fugaku spoke calmly—too calmly.

Hiashi hid a smirk.

Fugaku was bursting with pride on the inside; anyone could see it.

Yes—Neji and Hinata had defeated Jonin too—but only with powerful ninja tools that Kitazawa had custom-made.

Sasuke had relied on his own power.

Lightning Release, Sharingan, swordsmanship.

That difference mattered.

“Inabi performed admirably.”

Shibi added. “But Sasuke’s Lightning Release… he’s grasped the essence of Kakashi’s style.”

“When did Chidori get that kind of transformation?”

Tsume wondered aloud.

“It didn’t.”

Itachi answered. “Kitazawa modified it and taught Sasuke.”

Shikaku sighed.

“Kitazawa again. If we’d met a teacher like him in our youth, who knows how far we’d have gone?”

No one disagreed.

Sasuke walked back, hands in pockets, looking irritatingly cool.

“He’s showboating again.” Kiba grumbled.

“With that skill? He deserves to,” Sakura shot back before rushing to greet him.

Tenten rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“Sasuke’s Lightning Release got sharper. Faster. Even his Genjutsu improved.”

Neji nodded.

“The boost from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan is enormous.”

Shikamaru added, “And he’s still growing. That dojutsu isn’t anywhere near its final stage.”

Neji silently clenched his fist.

He had narrowed the gap recently with his bow—but Sasuke was already pulling away again.

“Being in the Genius Class is too much pressure…” Ino whispered.

Tayuya silently agreed.

Every match felt like another reminder of how absurdly strong her classmates were.

“The seventeenth match—Kurama Yakumo versus Inuzuka Gaku!”

Iruka announced.

“Yakumo?”

Choza blinked. “Ah, the girl with the Kurama Clan’s Genjutsu Kekkei Genkai.”

Her instant kill at the Mist exchange had left a strong impression.

“Her Genjutsu is formidable.” Fugaku added.

“At least on par with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.”

Even Sasuke admitted he couldn’t break her illusions.

“But… her opponent is Gaku-senpai,” Shibi murmured.

A veteran Jonin of the Inuzuka Clan. Minato’s former teammate. A war hero.

The match could go either way.

“And every Inuzuka fights alongside their ninken.”

Shikaku added. “For them, Genjutsu is usually a minor inconvenience.”

The others—Fugaku, Shibi, and Hiashi—nodded.

This match should’ve been straightforward.

But the moment Gaku and Yakumo stepped into the arena…

Horror Illusion.

Yakumo unleashed her full power instantly.

She knew her Taijutsu and swordsmanship meant nothing against a seasoned Jonin.

Genjutsu was her battlefield.

In the blink of an eye, Gaku and his ninken collapsed into her illusion.

“…Huh?”

Shikaku’s brows furrowed.

“Gaku-senpai fell for it?”

Shibi murmured. “But… why hasn’t he broken out yet?”

Fugaku activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to see what they couldn’t.

And his expression changed at once.

Coiling inside Yakumo—dense, terrifying Yin Release chakra.

Enough to rival the birth of a monster like Satori.

Fugaku inhaled sharply.

This isn’t normal Genjutsu… this is Mangekyō-level power.

No wonder Sasuke had never defeated her illusions.

“How can a child have this kind of Genjutsu…?”

Tsume whispered, goosebumps rising on her arms.

The entire spectator area fell silent.

Even the Genius Class students were confused.

“Uh… is this right?”

Kiba scratched his cheek. “Why can’t even a Jonin break free?”

“Her Genjutsu must already be Three-Tomoe Sharingan tier.”

Ino whispered.

“More than that,” Shikamaru muttered. “A normal Sharingan can disrupt illusions, but only a full three-tomoe can dominate a Jonin so effortlessly.”

“No wonder we all lost to her.”

Tenten said, finally understanding.

“The Kurama Clan was once as renowned as the Uchiha.” Shino added calmly.

Sasuke scowled.

Yakumo’s illusions were even more troublesome than he remembered.

But he wasn’t the same boy who had lost before—he now had a fully matured Sharingan and had successfully countered a Three-Tomoe Genjutsu in his fight against Inabi.

He believed he wouldn’t lose to her again.

He didn’t know this was already beyond Sharingan-level.

“Winner—Kurama Yakumo!”

Iruka finally snapped out of his shock, announcing loudly.

Even he hadn’t expected such overwhelming dominance—a Jonin held helpless inside an illusion for that long.

Only Kitazawa remained unfazed.

He knew well—in the original timeline, Yakumo’s Genjutsu could distort reality itself.

“Eighteenth match: Uzumaki Naruto versus Asuma Sarutobi!”

The crowd stirred.

“Ah? Naruto against Asuma?”

Kosuke laughed. “Hiruzen, who do you think will win?”

Kakashi, Kurenai, and Chen Baojun leaned in curiously.

Hiruzen hesitated.

“With Naruto and Asuma… either outcome is possible.”

He had wanted to favor his son, but Naruto’s explosive growth made predictions impossible.

“Naruto’s strength is practically built on chakra and unusual ninja tools.” Kosuke analyzed.

“Asuma has superior experience and both Fire and Wind Release.”

“And don’t forget…”

Kurenai added, recalling the earlier fight,

“Asuma’s mastered the Fire Temple secret arts.”

“He’s improved a great deal since returning.” Hiruzen agreed.

“Asuma-senpai, you’re our last hope!” Kotetsu urged.

“That’s right—don’t lose this one!” Ebisu added nervously.

“Be careful of Naruto’s Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.” Izumo warned.

“He can use that?”

Asuma blinked. “Does he even have that much chakra?”

“You have no idea…”

Izumo muttered, remembering how casually Naruto produced armies.

Asuma suddenly recalled Naruto’s lineage—half Uzumaki. Unlimited chakra wasn’t surprising.

He steadied his breath.

“Relax. I’m still a Jonin. It won’t be easy to make me lose.”

He stepped into the arena.

“Uncle Asuma!”

Naruto waved enthusiastically.

“Good to see you, Naruto.”

Asuma smiled back.

“Let’s have a youthful spar!”

Naruto beamed, flashing teeth so bright Asuma instantly thought of Might Gai.

Why… why is this child like this?

Asuma sighed inwardly.

“Stay sharp, Naruto.”

He raised his chakra blades.

“Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

With a roar, Naruto summoned hundreds of clones.

Even expecting it, Asuma froze for a moment.

So many clones…and he was still just eight years old.

How much chakra will this kid have when he becomes a teenager?

“Leaf Whirlwind!”

“Dynamic Entry!”

“Great Whirlwind!”

The clone army charged like a tidal wave.

Wind Release: Hien!

Wind Release chakra flowed into Asuma’s blades—their edges glowing a fierce blue.

Both arms blurred, cutting through clones faster than they could reform.

Naruto watched in awe.

“Uncle Asuma, you’re amazing! My youth is burning!!”

“Naruto, if that’s all you’ve got, you’ll lose!” Asuma grinned.

Taijutsu clones alone wouldn’t pressure him—not against wind-infused chakra metal blades.

“Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

Naruto replenished them instantly.

But this time—

“Wind Release: Gale Palm!”

Hundreds of clones unleashed coordinated wind blasts.

A storm roared to life, shredding the ground.

Asuma’s face paled slightly.

He didn’t hesitate—“Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!”

He inhaled deeply and fired a massive ball of compressed wind.

The storm and sphere collided—the shockwave rattled the entire training ground.

Dust spiraled upward.

Rock fragments tore through the air.

A stalemate.

How in the world does Naruto have this much chakra?

But Asuma was still a Jonin.

He countered decisively.

“Wind Release: Dust Cloud Technique!”

Charging through the windstorm, he spat out a thick smoke screen—The thick smoke should have scattered in the wind—instead, it swelled unnaturally, spreading until it swallowed every one of Naruto’s Shadow Clones.

“Wind Release: Shuriken!”

A chorus of identical voices echoed through the haze.

Asuma froze mid-dash.

His original plan had been simple:use the smoke to blind Naruto, slip in unnoticed, and end the fight in a single strike.

But his ambush collapsed instantly as a storm of wind-infused shuriken burst from the fog.

These weren’t ordinary projectiles—their edges gleamed with Wind Release chakra, sharp enough to cleave steel.

Forced onto the defensive, Asuma swung his chakra blades furiously, deflecting one shuriken after another.

Each block pushed him back—each clash chipped away at his stamina.

Within seconds, he looked almost… disheveled.

“This… really is a fighting style only Naruto would invent.”

Shikaku muttered, torn between admiration and exasperation.

He had lived decades—yet never once had he seen someone weaponize Multiple Shadow Clones like this.

“When you have this much chakra, you can brute-force your way through technique.”

Choza sighed, thinking of the late Fourth Hokage.

Father and son… entirely different approaches, yet both absurd in their own ways.

“Is Asuma actually going to lose?” Shibi murmured.

It felt inconceivable.

“Asuma hasn’t used everything yet,” Tsume replied.

“Neither has Naruto.” Fugaku added.

He remembered Naruto’s battle against Chōjūrō.

Rasengan, Samehada—Naruto hadn’t even touched his strongest tools.

The metallic clang of shuriken against blades echoed endlessly.

Asuma gritted his teeth, sweat trailing down his temple.

Why do these shuriken never end? How much chakra does this kid have!?

If this continued, he would lose by attrition.

He had no choice.

“Raikō: Senju Satsu!”

Golden chakra exploded from his body.

A thousand-armed Kannon manifestation unfurled behind him, each arm forming a clenched fist.

With a thunderous roar, the statue punched outward—obliterating the incoming shuriken in a single sweep.

Now protected by a wall of golden fists, Asuma surged toward Naruto.

“Is that the Fire Temple Secret Technique?” Kosuke gasped.

“Incredible power,” Hiruzen acknowledged, nodding with pride.

“But… can Naruto stop it?” Chen muttered anxiously.

Kakashi showed no concern.

He remembered the weapon Naruto carried.

And indeed—Naruto reacted.

He unrolled a summoning scroll and pulled out Samehada.

“Everyone, give me a boost!”

His clones moved instantly.

“Wind Release: Gale Palm!”

Wind engulfed Naruto.

Two clones grabbed him by the shoulders and waist—and hurled him skyward.

Naruto angled his body, gripping Samehada, and dove straight at the Kannon statue.

“What!?”

Asuma’s eyes widened.

“Wind Release: Shuriken!”

He flung one reflexively—but Naruto, accelerated by Gale Palm, slipped past it with ease.

Samehada’s mouth split open—and bit into the Kannon’s head.

The golden construct shrank violently.

Asuma paled.

His chakra was being devoured at terrifying speed.

He dispelled the technique immediately—but the recoil hit him like a hammer, draining his body to its limits.

“That sword… Samehada?”

Asuma whispered, recognizing it instantly.

He remembered Kitazawa killing Fuguki to obtain it.

And now—he gave this monstrous blade… to a student!?

Naruto descended.

Asuma jumped back desperately—he couldn’t afford to touch Samehada again.

The sword slammed into the ground with a resounding boom, gouging a crater.

“Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!”

Asuma exhaled a thick cloud of incendiary ash. Heat distorted the air.

“Samehada: Flying Chain Slash!”

Naruto hurled the sword—a chain extending from the hilt as Samehada surged through the ash, snapping its jaws.

“Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!”

Asuma countered, firing rapid-fire blasts that forced the sword to stall mid-air.

Seizing the opening, he used Body Flicker to charge Naruto.

“Hien!”

Twin arcs of blue light tore through the air.

This is it—this time I win!

Samehada was in mid-flight.

Naruto had no guard.

He forgot about Naruto’s clones.

“Konoha Double Whirlwind!”

Two clones intercepted him from both sides.

“Tch—troublesome kid!”

Asuma sliced through them, dispersing the clones—but the hesitation was fatal.

“Konoha Gale!”

Naruto’s spinning kick slammed into Asuma’s abdomen.

His chakra blades flew from his hands.

A second kick came—“Wind Release: Dust Cloud Technique!”

Asuma spat dust, blinding Naruto and interrupting the combo.

But Naruto’s clones surged forward immediately.

Asuma attempted Raikō: Senju Satsu—and felt nothing.

No chakra.

Samehada had drained him dry.

He quickly switched signs.

“Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!”

Flames erupted outward, incinerating the incoming clones.

Panting, Asuma grabbed his blades and charged again.

But as he broke through the dust—

“Rasengan!!”

A swirling sphere of chakra filled his vision.

He reflexively raised his wind-sharpened blades.

They sliced through the Rasengan’s structure—

but not without consequence.

The diverted chakra tore open his hands, blood splattering the ground.

Ignoring the pain, Asuma swung both blades at Naruto—but his arms suddenly buckled.

His body collapsed.

He glanced down—Samehada was latched onto his thigh, chakra pouring into its scales.

“When did you—!?”

“Samehada. Stop.”

Kitazawa appeared beside them.

Obediently, the blade released Asuma’s leg.

Kitazawa placed a hand on the Jonin’s shoulder, healing chakra flooding out.

Asuma finally let his consciousness drift into darkness.

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