"Wind Release: Gale Wind!"
Sasuke soared through the sky on the back of an eagle when a sudden gust of wind erupted, forcing him to shield his eyes with his hands.
Before he could grasp what was happening, a fireball hurtled toward him from behind!
Feeling the intense heat against his back, Sasuke activated his Sharingan and spun around, slashing the fireball apart with his sword.
"No wonder you dare to strut through the forest alone, you really do have some skill!"
A shirtless, muscular man leaped from the ground onto a tree, sneering as he looked at Sasuke from afar. A Sunagakure forehead protector gleamed on his brow, confirming his identity as a Sand Village ninja.
"Wind Release: Air Current Wild Dance!"
Just as Sasuke was strategizing how to confront this bold challenger, another sneak attack came from behind, further fraying his patience.
He leaped high into the air, dodging the wind release attack, and split into two shadow clones in mid-air.
"Swordsmanship: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
The three Sasukes vanished under the sun's rays, reappearing simultaneously around the attacking ninja. Three swords pierced the enemy's vital points at once!
"Guh…"
The Wind Release ninja from Sunagakure didn't expect Sasuke's speed. He tried to speak, but only managed to spit out a mouthful of blood.
"Damn!"
The muscular man was shocked to see his comrade fall so easily. Filled with grief and rage, he turned and fled.
Sasuke, uninterested in pursuing him, dispelled his shadow clones. His goal wasn't to hunt other competitors but to find Kazuki of the Gekko Clan.
Ignoring the fallen ninja, Sasuke leapt back onto his eagle and continued his search. Yet, the journey ahead was anything but peaceful.
More assailants appeared, though weaker than the two from Sunagakure. Sasuke dispatched them effortlessly, leaving no survivors.
Then, he encountered Gaara!
Although Gaara attacked, Sasuke held back. As much as he wanted to fight, his priority was finding Kazuki, so he reluctantly retreated.
Gaara's strength was undeniable. While other genin fell to Sasuke in a single blow, Gaara stood his ground, clashing with Sasuke three times and forcing him to withdraw.
Watching Sasuke depart, Kankuro sneered, "He's not so tough if Gaara can scare him off."
"That's not it," Temari speculated. "He seems to be urgently searching for a companion."
Kankuro raised an eyebrow. "Who could possibly endanger his companion?"
"Who knows? Maybe they got separated, or someone stronger intervened," Temari said thoughtfully.
"Stronger? Only a Kage could surpass him. Could a Kage really be here for the Chunin Exams?" Kankuro grumbled. It was unheard of for a Kage-level fighter to appear in such a test.
"Let's go," Gaara said coldly, turning toward the central tower. He didn't dwell on Sasuke's retreat, though he regretted not being able to kill him.
Sasuke, meanwhile, retraced his steps, searching for Kazuki. However, during his delay, Kazuki had encountered Karin and veered towards the direction of the Kusagakure ninja, causing Sasuke to miss him multiple times.
Where could he be?
Sasuke frowned, knowing Kazuki's strength. Even if he lost, there should be evidence of a fierce battle. But all Sasuke saw were faint traces that didn't match the fighting style of a strong ninja like Kazuki.
This didn't sit right. That Kusagakure ninja couldn't be this weak!
Just as Sasuke pondered, he spotted a familiar figure moving through the forest.
Kazuki!
Sasuke quickly commanded his Summoning Beast and pursued, but the figure vanished into a patch of grass before he could catch up.
Perched on his hawk, Sasuke's brow furrowed. Something felt off.
With Sharingan spinning, Sasuke noticed subtle signs that pointed to a trap.
Realizing he was being lured, Sasuke formed a hand seal.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A massive fire dragon roared toward the grass where Kazuki had disappeared, incinerating it instantly. Explosions rang out—not from Sasuke's jutsu, but from Explosive Tags hidden in the grass!
Someone had set a trap to kill him!
The moment the trap detonated, a figure darted out from the trees on the left.
It was that bald man!
Sasuke hadn't expected him to return, but since he dared, he would face the consequences.
"You were spared once, but now you've sealed your fate!"
Sasuke's voice was icy. He didn't know how the man had figured out he was searching for Kazuki, but anyone wasting his time now would pay dearly.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Sasuke unleashed his own fire jutsu, encircling the bald man in a searing inferno. Sasuke leapt down from his hawk, landing right before his trapped enemy.
"You've succeeded in angering me."
"N-No… this is a misunderstanding…"
The bald man's voice shook, drenched in sweat, his earlier bravado completely gone.
Sasuke drew his sword, ready to end him.
"Uchiha Style…"
Sasuke moved next to the man, slashing with precision. But just as the blade was about to strike, a figure cloaked in black appeared behind Sasuke.
Moving silently, the newcomer was incredibly fast. Even with Sasuke's Jounin reflexes, he couldn't fully evade the attack, suffering a cut on his arm.
To Sasuke's shock, instead of blood, a dark mist oozed from his wound, and his chakra began draining rapidly.
This opponent's jutsu was something he had never encountered before!
***
(Dark Mist: Not directly from the main canon, this would be a fictional technique where the user creates a dark, chakra-draining mist that saps the victim's chakra and leads to their demise within minutes.)
-------------
+75 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
Unlock exclusive access to more fanfic chapters and support my work by joining me on Patreon! Your support helps bring your favorite stories to life!