Chapter 68 : Breath of Life (1)

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So much has happened… I'm mentally and physically exhausted.

My heart aches, for more than one reason. My tenketsu sting and my mind just wants to sleep.

Even Monsters have a limit, and I've found mine…

....

Everyone was silent. This was the match they all wanted to see. Just how powerful was the last Uchiha? He represented an entire clan, and most of the people going to the finals where going to see him specifically. What they didn't know was he now represented something far greater than his surname. He represented the Bringer of Hope. He represented Konoha's Monsters. They would not be disappointed.

Yoroi slowly made his way down to the arena floor, a confident smirk adorning his face. Sasuke's eyes met Naruto's, and for a split-second, the entire world was gone. For a split-second, the two of them were the only people alive. For a split-second, the Monsters of Heaven understood nothing but each other.

It's said that two warriors could express their emotions and feelings through combat. That may be true, but Naruto and Sasuke were Monsters, and all they needed was to meet each other's gaze.

Show them the strength we wield.

With pleasure.

Sasuke Shunshined (Body Flickered), now standing in front of his opponent.

Just what have you been doing with Sasuke-kun? Hiruzen asked. He had noticed the young Uchiha acting much different from the upset, confused little boy he knew. But when he entered the tower, the Sarutobi hadn't noticed him at first glance. The way he held himself, the way he walked, the look in his eye, it was all different, better. It was like he was a different person.

I showed him the truth.

… About?

The match began. Immediately, Yoroi's hand was coated in chakra, and the older Genin rushed the Uchiha. Sasuke's eyes were on the ground, so when they morphed from black to crimson, Yoroi didn't notice. The moment it looked like Yoroi was going to make contact with Sasuke's abdomen, he smirked. Sasuke went up in a cloud of smoke the second Yoroi's chakra absorption hit him.

Everyone present was confused, even the Jonin. No-one had seen him make a Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clone). Naruto was only able to teach him three things since Wave. The first was the Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clone). The technique had too many applications for him not to teach him it. The second was the Shunshin (Body Flicker).

Naruto had always seen the technique for what it really was. Shinobi only ever used it for transportation, but he showed him how useful it was in battle. And the third… Kakashi smiled under his face mask when he heard the chirping. He never thought Naruto would teach him that technique so soon.

More importantly, he didn't think Naruto had the time to teach that technique to him. He shook his head. Of course Naruto had enough time. He could do anything. He was even better at teaching than he was if when he lifted his head to look at the roof, and he saw his own technique within his students hand.

The scarecrow raised his head…

Sasuke took off at low Jonin-level speeds, the infamous Chidori crackling within his left hand. Hatake looked at his Otouto who returned his gaze with a smirk. Naruto wanted a Monster, so he made one…

Yoroi had no time to even begin to react to the blitzing form of his opponent. He was smashed into the wall of the arena, cracking it a little with the force he was hit with. Yoroi's breath violently left his lungs. His throat was within the Uchiha's right hand, his left holding the A-rank technique inches from him.

Naruto had told him of where this man's loyalties were. "You chose the wrong side, spy." Sasuke whispered into his ear. Yoroi's eyes widened.

He opened his mouth. "I-" No, he wouldn't leave this room without being marked by his most powerful technique.

"Chidori!" Sasuke shouted, thrusting Hatake Kakashi's only original Jutsu into Yoroi's right shoulder. His body convulsed for a moment before the Monster withdrew his bloodied arm, allowing the man's body to slump down the wall, unconscious.

The raven-haired Genin just looked at the wall for a moment, breathing heavily. He had just done the righteous work of Heaven, and he had never felt more awake. He was still, taking a moment to realize just who, and what, he now was. He didn't know why, but he could see everything with greater detail.

When Sasuke turned, and his Sharingan eyes met Naruto's, the blond smirked.

The Uchiha now had three tomoe in each eye, a fully mature Sharingan.

"Winner, Uchiha Sasuke." Hayate exclaimed. Medical-nin immediately took Yoroi to the intensive care rooms. He was severely injured, and the longer they took to start helping him, the more likely he was to die. They were too hopeful, because Akado Yoroi was already gone.

The arena was silent, everyone just looking at the Uchiha. The Genin had no idea what Sasuke had just done, or why most of the Jonin were so in awe.

"What did Sasuke just do to that guy, Sensei?" Kiba asked Kurenai. All the Genin turned to the Genjutsu Mistress, waiting for her to explain. She gulped and turned to Kakashi, asking for permission to continue. When he nodded, she began.

"That was the A-rank technique, Chidori. It was created by one of Konoha's greatest current Shinobi." She paused, looking at Kakashi. "Hatake Kakashi."

The Genin looked at Kakashi with wide eyes, finally understanding what their fellow Genin had just done. Was Sasuke really that different from them?

"Isn't that technique a little dangerous to teach a rookie Genin, Kakashi?" Asuma asked, not understanding why he would allow Sasuke to learn it so fast, if at all.

"I wasn't the one to teach it to him..." Kakashi admitted. "I didn't even know he knew it existed until I heard the chirping."

"So then how did he just probably kill someone with it?" Gai asked. This was a very serious matter. Firstly, how did the boy use such an advanced assassination technique without being taught by his Sensei? And secondly, how was he even able to use such a technique? Sasuke had just shown everyone how different he was from the other Genin.

He not only could use Jonin-level techniques, but he was willing to use them as well.

Kakashi didn't respond, instead looking at the person responsible. His fellow Jonin followed his eyes. "Naruto taught him that?" Kurenai asked. "Why?" The scarecrow chuckled.

"Sasuke's Naruto's student now." he looked back at the Jonin he was standing beside. "Apparently, one Monster wasn't enough." With that said, the Jonin went silent. Naruto was on a different level than they were.

He may technically be a Jonin, but he had higher clearance than any of them, even Kakashi. He was the Hokage's shadow, so whatever he did, the Hokage was the only one who could scold him for unsafe decisions like putting an A-ranked assassination technique in that hands of a twelve year old Genin.

Hiruzen noticed the fully mature Sharingan, and the look he saw within his Shadow's eyes within the Uchiha's. That's when Naruto answered.

Everything…

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