Chapter 40 - Who is the Best?

Next day.

Ishizu POV

I stood in a clear area on the training ground 43. I gave both of them a message to arrive at noon.

Both of them arrived at the same time, which made me believe that someone was manipulating the events.

I made two wood clones beforehand with equal strength for the fight.

"Good, you are here. It is time to see who of you is the strongest.

I made two special clones that won't be destroyed after one hit like the shadow clone.

The task is to defeat the clone, but I will evaluate you based on your performance.

Both of these clones are strong to harm you so fight as if your life depends on it, give your best, as they will see you as an enemy.

Now, the fight between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha will begin. I will be the proctor of this fight. You can do every Jutsu you know to destroy the clone."

I looked at them.

"Ready? Go!" I shouted and both attacked.

Sasuke POV

I activated my fully m.a.t.u.r.e Sharingan and fired a massive fireball at Ishizu-sensei's clone.

The clone made hand signs and fired a massive water bubble into my fireball. They came into contact and the water evaporated, leaving a mist behind.

Out of the smoke came Ishizu-sensei with a kunai aiming at me. I took my own kunai and blocked his attack. I attacked him with my Uchiha Taijutsu style, but he blocked it easily.

"Come Sasuke, you can do better. I memorized the Uchiha-style so that won't help you," said the clone as he expected more of me.

I frowned as I kicked him away and made several fire phoenixes that flew toward Ishizu-sensei.

"Boring, Earth style: Earth wall," yawned Ishizu.

I started to get angry no matter what I did I couldn't hit him. Taijutsu was out of option. My fire techniques were useless.

Let's try Genjutsu.

I sprites toward him and tried to punch him. He blocked it but I wanted him to do that.

"Now I have you, Genjutsu: Sharingan."

I took my kunai and aimed for his neck, but a log was broken and not the person.

"I must say that was good.

I didn't expect the Genjutsu and most people would be trapped in it but I am not 'most people.'

The fight continued with me using every option I had available but the clone was strong.

I had to find an opportunity.

"Now show me your strongest attack," challenged Ishizu.

Naruto POV

"What is the reason for this fight Ishizu-sensei?" I asked my Sensei as I attacked him.

He smiled: "So you looked beneath the simple fight, did you? See, Sasuke wanted to fight you in a 1vs1 but that would be boring."

'And would either be the same as canon or you would beat his a.s.s,' though Ishizu.

"Instead, I made you both fight my clones. I will value your effort on how you decide of fighting an opponent stronger than you while you can't flee.

Of course, it matters how strong you are, but even a weak Genin can defeat a Jonin if he makes the right choices. Power is not everything, but it is part of us.

The same goes for the information you gather from your enemy. But enough with the taking.

You are in no advantage as Sasuke is also smart and would figure it out and I also won't go easy on you. Instead, I will make it harder for you because you talk before you fight," explained Ishizu.

I nodded and summoned 50 Shadow clones and attacked him.

"A good choice to use number advantage but if you all are weak, then it doesn't matter," mocked Sensei.

Ishizu-sensei destroyed my clones, but I could see through the clone's memory and look for an opening.

I knew I had to go all out or I won't beat him with just Shadow Clones.

Then I got an idea. Sensei would never expect such a nice combination.

I summoned two more clones, took some shuriken's out and infused them with a bit of wind chakra.

"Let's do it," all three of us said.

The 3 of us threw them at our Sensei.

"Shuriken Kage Buchin no Jutsu together with Wind style: Windshruriken.

Combination Jutsu: Massive Windshuriken."

General POV

Hundreds of shuriken flew towards Ishizu as he fought against Naruto's clones. Ishizu's eyes widened as he saw the massive amount of shuriken but the small amount of wind chakra was overlooked as the Shadow Clones were disrupting him to see the threat clearly.

"That is one hell of an attack but still not enough. Begone, Wind style: Great Breakthrough."

Unfortunatly, the wind generated from Ishizu not only slowed them down but also increased the shurikens which looked like Fuma shuriken.

Seeing that it didn't give him the d.e.s.i.r.ed attack but the opposite Ishizu substituted to avoid the dangerous things.

"Ah, substitution is always a good jutsu," smiled triumphantly Ishizu, but he didn't expect a voice to be heard behind him.

"Yes, it is, but as every jutsu, even this has a flaw and even a massive one.

It is easily predictable."

Behind Ishizu made his new Rasengan.

Sasuke POV

I made my Chidori, but I knew that if I blindly attacked him, he would avoid it.

I had to set up my plan. He was mocking me to get angry, but he is underestimating me.

I will use this as an advantage.

"Oh, you finally think before you attack? I am proud of you Sasuke," Ishizu's voice sounded from behind the smoke.

'Let's see if you can handle this.'

General POV

Sasuke's fight

Ishizu saw as Sasuke came out of the smoke, attacking him with his Chidori. He was confused as to why he attacked him directly, but he just threw some kunais at the Uchiha to see what the kid would do.

Sasuke dodged and tried to hit Ishizu. Ishizu was experienced in the assassination technique and with a quick hand motion he just grabbed the Uchiha's hand, breaking his attack and looked at him curiously, wondering what Sasuke had in mind.

"Why would you do something so stupid?" asked Ishizu.

Sasuke smirked: "Because you would fall for that."

The ground behind Ishizu moved and another Sasuke came forth.

The one in front of Ishizu was a clone made to disturb the Jonin.

At the same time, both Genin attacked their Sensei with their strongest jutsu.

"Wind Style: Rasengan/Chidori."

The attacks hit the clones and both resulted in a different defeat. The clone who was hit by Sasuke had his lower abdomen ripped apart.

Sasuke smirked as the clone fell down and disappeared. As he looked at Naruto's side he was first shocked, then started to get frustrated.

Naruto's attack completely obliterated the clone as well as some trees behind the clone.

The real Ishizu came back, clapping his hands.

"Wonderful. You both amazed me and I am proud to be your teacher. You actually destroyed the clones at the same time.

Both of you engaged in a battle where the opponent had the upper hand and you couldn't overpower him with brutal strength.

You had to use your mind to find the flaws in the opponent and you both did it.

Remember that strong opponents usually have a tendency to miss the simplest things so make use of it.

I am no exception.

The winner of this fight is..."

Naruto and Sasuke listened to their Sensei closely.

Somewhere drums were rolling.

"Nobody. You both impressed me and you made the right decisions.

Congratulations, you both won."

Although Ishizu said it like that, he knew that Sasuke was angry that he lost in power to Naruto's Rasengan. His Chidori was nothing against the wind-powered Rasengan. So he watched as Sasuke thanked him for the fight and left without saying anything to Naruto.

'Good, with that done he will accept the invitation but not without me having a chat with Sasuke. I can't let him leave without saying goodbye.'

Sasuke left the fighting ground. As he was running he had flashbacks when his brother nearly killed him and that made his anger stronger.

Ishizu, on the other hand, activated his Rinnegan and summoned some wood clones.

"Find the Sound 4 but don't attack them. Observe from afar and listen to the conversation between them and inform me before Sasuke leaves."

"Understood." The clone vanishes.

Ishizu cracked his neck a few times as he looked at the moon.

"Finally, the plot is rolling and I can't wait for the next fight. I am one step further to get you.

Just wait for me, Kaguya."