Konoha: The Honored One

Naruto glared at Sasuke with suspicion, his voice low but firm as he turned to Sakura. "Sakura-chan, can you break through Susanoo?"

"As long as Susanoo's down, we've got a shot at beating Sasuke."

Naruto's plan was simple: rely on Sakura to crack through the impenetrable Susanoo, giving him just enough time to drop his Shadow Clone Jutsu, activate Sage Mode, and finish the fight in five seconds flat.

Simple in theory. The tricky part? That first step—breaking through Susanoo.

Sakura glanced at Naruto, her eyes filled with disbelief as she processed his calm, strategic demeanor. "Naruto… You're surprisingly calm for once. Are you even the same guy I know?"

Naruto tilted his head, slightly puzzled. He knew exactly what she was thinking—he might be dense, but even he had his moments.

"Sakura-chan, don't overthink it." He flashed his signature wide grin, giving her a thumbs-up. "We're gonna show that emo jerk what happens when he messes with us! Let's give him a beating he won't forget!"

Sakura froze for a moment, stunned. "Naruto…"

"Yeah?"

"...You're seriously calling this 'learning from each other'?"

Without waiting for an answer, she slipped on a pair of black gloves—Tsunade's gift to her, made from a durable, flexible material—and cracked her knuckles. Her face hardened with determination as she muttered, "What am I even hesitating for? Let's do this."

Naruto punched his palm with enthusiasm, a fiery grin lighting up his face. "That's what I'm talking about!"

From the sidelines, Gojo stood with his arms crossed, watching the duo with mild interest. "Not bad," he muttered with a smirk. "Sakura's stepping up. Let's see how far they can go."

Sakura didn't hesitate. With a fierce battle cry, she unleashed a burst of chakra, driving her fist straight into Susanoo.

CRACK.

The impact sent Sasuke flying, Susanoo shattering under the force. Its once-impenetrable surface splintered like glass, revealing just how much raw power Sakura could channel in a single punch.

But she wasn't done yet. Not even close.

"Take this!" she shouted, compressing chakra into her right fist as she leaped toward Sasuke's airborne form, ready to deliver a decisive blow.

Sasuke, however, wasn't one to be outdone. His Sharingan flared to life, locking eyes with Sakura as his voice rang out coldly. "Foolish. In front of my eyes, your tricks are meaningless."

Sakura froze mid-air, her body stiffening as her consciousness blurred.

"Pathetic," Sasuke sneered, forming hand seals with blinding speed. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

A barrage of fireballs erupted from his mouth, each one glowing with intense heat and carrying hidden shuriken within. The flames twisted the very air, creating a scorching vortex that engulfed Sakura.

The impact sent her crashing to the ground, her skin scorched and torn by shuriken.

Sasuke lowered his hands, smirking as he surveyed his handiwork. "One down."

But before he could bask in his victory, a faint light began to glow on Sakura's forehead. Rising slowly, she activated the Hundred Healings Mark, black lines spreading across her face as her wounds healed.

"I'm not the helpless girl you used to know," Sakura said, her voice steady.

Sasuke's smirk faltered. "How…?"

He narrowed his eyes at her, suspicion growing. How had she broken free of his Genjutsu? His gaze flickered to the sidelines, landing on Gojo, who was now casually twirling a finger in the air like this was all a game.

"Did you…?" Sasuke's voice was laced with accusation.

Gojo raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Me? Oh no, I'd never interfere in a fair fight. That's against the rules."

Sasuke's glare intensified.

"Alright, maybe I helped a little," Gojo admitted with a sly grin, waving off the protests from the Anbu in the crowd.

"Cheating again, Gojo-sensei?!" one Anbu member shouted.

Gojo shrugged. "Cheating's a strong word. I prefer calling it… creative support."

The Anbu erupted into groans, especially those who had bet on Sasuke.

From her place in the field, Tsunade watched Sakura closely, a small smile tugging at her lips. "She's using the full extent of the Hundred Healings Mark… Not bad. Gojo might be insufferable, but his teaching methods work."

Meanwhile, Sakura saw her opening. With Sasuke distracted, she surged forward, her chakra compressed into a devastatingly powerful punch.

"Sakura Blizzard Strike!"

The sheer force of her attack shattered Susanoo completely, the crystal-like fragments raining down as the wind carried them away.

Sasuke staggered back, his Sharingan flickering. Before he could re-summon Susanoo, pain flared in his eyes, forcing him to pause.

"That's my cue!" Naruto's voice rang out as he emerged from the ground in Sage Mode, natural energy radiating from him like an aura.

Sasuke's Sharingan darted to track Naruto's movements, but the Sage was already closing in.

Here's the revised paragraph with added details about Naruto adopting cat-like characteristics when entering Sage Mode:

"Sasuke, grit your teeth!" Uzumaki Naruto emerged from the ground, his appearance drastically altered. His eyes now glowed with a fierce, otherworldly intensity, the pupils narrowing into sharp, vertical slits like those of a predator. His whisker marks darkened, becoming more pronounced, and his movements gained an uncanny feline grace, as if he could pounce at any moment. A faint aura of natural energy surrounded him, making the air feel electric. The dark red eyeshadow framing his glowing eyes only added to his primal, untamed appearance. With every step, his body radiated an almost feral confidence, the kind that made it clear he was no longer just the class clown but a force to be reckoned with.

Naruto's fist shot toward Sasuke with an explosive force.

"Hmph, idiot." Sasuke stepped back, his Mangekyō Sharingan darting to read Naruto's movements with ease. But something was different—Naruto's attacks weren't just fast; they carried a fluidity and unpredictability that Sasuke hadn't seen before.

"I said, grit your teeth!" Naruto growled, his voice carrying a guttural edge, as his fist grazed Sasuke's face. A burst of natural energy followed, like the sharp swipe of a claw, and with a loud "Bang," Sasuke was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground.

The crowd gasped in unison, their jaws dropping.

Gojo whistled appreciatively. "Man, that's stylish."

Tsunade glanced at him suspiciously. "What just happened?"

"Simple," Gojo said with a smirk. "Naruto used natural energy to bypass his Sharingan. Basic Sage Mode mechanics. I taught him that."

"You taught Naruto Sage Mode?!"

The crowd stared at him in shock.

Gojo stretched his arms lazily, grinning at the stunned Anbu. "What can I say? I'm just that good. Now, who's next for a lesson?"

The Anbu collectively groaned, muttering about unfair odds and "that damn Gojo."