Kiba (Naruto)

A sudden burst of wind signaled Sasuke's movement as he rushed forward, hands already weaving through a rapid sequence of seals. But before he could complete them, Kiba blurred into motion, his body flicker technique closing the distance in an instant.

Lightning Release: Lightning Bolt!

Sasuke halted mid-step and hurled the crackling bolt from his palm. Kiba twisted aside, the jagged energy barely grazing his temple as it seared past.

The moment Kiba skidded to a stop, he found himself face-to-face with Sasuke, who had already begun forming another set of hand signs.

Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!

Sasuke leapt backward, exhaling a massive sphere of roaring flames. The explosion engulfed Kiba, heat and force rippling outward.

Through the crimson lenses of his Sharingan, Sasuke remained wary. He knew better than to assume victory so easily. As the smoke dissipated, Kiba stood unharmed, arms crossed defensively over his face. His clothes had been reduced to charred scraps, but beneath them, a thick layer of hardened earth encased his body like armor.

Kiba let out an exasperated sigh. "Now I need a new outfit."

His lips curled into a smirk as he locked eyes with Sasuke. "Were you actually trying to kill me just now?"

Sasuke mirrored the expression, unfazed. "You wouldn't die from something that weak."

'An earth armor technique? One of his new creations, no doubt.' Sasuke's mind raced, analyzing the defense. Despite his surprise at Kiba's flawless condition, an idea sparked inspired by his opponent's own strategy.

Kiba lunged again, but this time, Sasuke stood his ground, hands moving into another sequence. Before he could finish, the ground beneath him shifted. Earth coiled around his legs like serpents, locking him in place.

'When did he weave the signs?' Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Abandoning his initial jutsu, he redirected his chakra, summoning a surge of lightning to shatter the earthen bindings.

But the momentary delay cost him. Kiba was already within striking range. Sasuke propelled himself upward, only for Kiba to match his movement mid-air. A hand shot out to seize Sasuke's ankle and passed straight through him.

'Genjutsu.' Kiba's instincts flared. Shutting his eyes, he disrupted the illusion with a sharp reset of his chakra flow.

Landing smoothly, Kiba kept his eyes closed, feigning vulnerability. Sasuke, convinced the genjutsu had taken hold, dashed forward, lightning crackling around his fist.

The moment Sasuke struck, Kiba's hand snapped up, clamping around his wrist. At the same time, a jagged blade of stone erupted from Kiba's other fist, stopping just shy of Sasuke's throat.

"I lose." Sasuke's voice was tight with frustration.

Kiba's smirk deepened. "Your taijutsu's still sharper than mine."

"Doesn't matter when you keep winning anyway," Sasuke muttered.

With a low chuckle, Kiba jerked his chin toward the house. "Let's head inside."

Without another word, Sasuke followed, the door clicking shut behind them.

The two ANBU operatives assigned to monitor Sasuke and Kiba stood frozen, utterly stunned by the fight unfolding before them. This was no ordinary spar, it was a clash that rivaled the skill of seasoned chūnin.

Exchanging a glance, they questioned whether their eyes deceived them.

They had anticipated the Uchiha's prowess, but the exiled Inuzuka matching him blow for blow? Unthinkable.

Having observed the boys' academy spars, neither ANBU could have predicted they would reach such heights in such a short time.

'Two genin fighting at this level?' one operative thought, his grip tightening on the tree branch beneath him. 'The Hokage must be informed immediately.'

They resolved to deliver their report as soon as the next shift arrived to relieve them.

While the ANBU processed their disbelief, Kiba scribbled notes, meticulously analyzing the cursed mark etched into Sasuke's skin.

Sasuke flexed his wrist, the dark sigil pulsing faintly. "How long until I can wield this power without consequences?"

Kiba didn't look up from his notes. "Five years, at minimum. Any sooner, and it'll kill you."

A muscle twitched in Sasuke's jaw. "Be straight with me. How long do I need to surpass Itachi?"

Finally meeting his gaze, Kiba exhaled sharply. "Impossible to say. One of the Sannin lost to him without Itachi even lifting a finger or so the rumors claim."

"Which one?" Sasuke demanded.

"Orochimaru." Kiba shrugged. "But given that Itachi slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan single-handedly, I'd believe it."

The revelation settled heavily between them. Sasuke clenched his fists, resolve hardening. If he wanted power, he would have to carve the path himself with Kiba's guidance.

Without the exiled Inuzuka's insights, Sasuke never would have honed his chakra release to this degree. It was Kiba who had pushed him, who had whispered the secrets of true strength when no one else would.

After a long silence, Kiba stared at his notes, his brow furrowing.

"Reverse-engineering this will be a nightmare," he muttered, tapping the page with his pen. "Orochimaru's obsession with you runs deep. And stay away from Mitarashi Anko, consider that a warning."

Sasuke tilted his head. "Who's that?"

"One of Orochimaru's discarded experiments. She bears the same cursed mark. If you get too close, the marks might resonate."

For a moment, Sasuke wondered where Kiba had gathered so much obscure knowledge, but he held his tongue. The exiled Inuzuka had proven useful, and questioning his sources now would be ungrateful.

"What does she look like?"

"Purple hair, wears revealing clothes, has a noticeable figure. You'll usually find her stuffing her face with dango."

Sasuke nodded.

"Go home, Sasuke. I need space to work through this."

Without argument, Sasuke turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Alone now, Kiba dragged his notebook closer, scanning the cursed seal's surface patterns. Even this superficial layer was a labyrinth of twisted fuinjutsu. He scribbled equations, crossed them out, then tried again, his frustration mounting with each dead end.

Hours slipped by unnoticed. Exhaustion eventually won, and his head slumped onto the desk, his fingers still curled around the pen.

But when he woke in the middle of the night, he dragged himself up and stumbled back to his bed, his mind still churning over possible solutions.

'How do I even begin unraveling this?'

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