The battle began immediately, without warning, both jumped from Hashirama and Madara's heads, running towards each other at high speed.
They clashed, the sound of the sword colliding with the kunai was heard, they were so close they could see each other's eyes.
Sasuke seemed to remember the last time they fought there, when he told Naruto that when Shinobi are very strong, they can read each other's thoughts simply by exchanging blows.
"Naruto... can you hear?" Sasuke looked at Naruto, still in the air, thinking that he could hear his heart at that moment.
Naruto's eyes seemed to widen for a moment, seeing Sasuke's serious and indifferent gaze.
He felt a tightness in his chest, even without knowing why. That interaction lasted only a fraction of a second.
They both fell backward onto the water, looking at each other. Naruto put his hand to his chest, over his heart, looking at Sasuke sadly. - Sasuke...
But Sasuke didn't want to talk, not with words, he advanced again, sword in hand.
The sound of collisions continued to ring out. Sasuke could see Naruto's movements in slow motion. With one free hand, he used Naruto's free hand to form a hand seal. While Naruto was still confused, he formed another, and jumping back, he spat a huge fireball at Naruto.
Boom~~
The water evaporated immediately, creating a cloud of mist. Sasuke fell slowly backward, still holding his sword. He landed on the water easily, but the next moment, his eyes widened. Below him, two hands gripped his ankles.
Sasuke seemed to remember a scene, and just as he expected, Naruto formed a chain of clones, each holding the legs of the others, and used himself as a giant whip, throwing Sasuke down the waterfall in one swift motion.
Sasuke fell extremely fast, but above him, he saw dozens of clones chasing him directly.
In the air, Sasuke's eyes could still see the serious face in Naruto's clones. A smile formed as briefly as it vanished from his face.
While still in the air, the first clone punched him, but Sasuke managed to cut the clone with his sword, but they continued to come.
Sasuke continued to deal with the clones in the air, until his figure and the clones fell into the water with a great commotion.
The fall backward caused Sasuke to gasp for air for a moment, but he recovered quickly. However, Naruto was already ready, below him, five clones formed a pattern, each creating a Rasengan. In the next moment, a whirlwind swept Sasuke directly into the air.
Viewed from above, a large whirlpool began to form in the water, but it lasted only a moment before a gigantic purple figure emerged from the water, a powerful roar announced the arrival of the colossus, the half-formed Susanoo.
Sasuke spat out a mouthful of water, using two swords created by his Susanoo to attack the clones in the water.
Above him, Naruto appeared, his eyes serious, the markings of a sage already formed around them, and in his hand, a huge Rasengan quickly took shape, as the Ero-sennin once said, to defeat a Uchiha, you can't let him have time to think!
Sasuke noticed, looking up, he fixed his Mangekyou Sharingan on Naruto.
-Sasuke! - Naruto shouted as the giant Rasengan clashed against the Susanoo, the sage chakra making the Rasengan even more powerful!
Sasuke increased his chakra output, his curse mark entering its first stage. He wasn't unhappy with this fight, even though it seemed like he was losing, instead, he smiled slightly.
-Naruto... you've grown up.- His words were low, no one but him could hear them, but it was precisely because he noticed Naruto's growth that Sasuke felt more comfortable 'leaving'.
In the next moment, Sasuke's Susanoo grew rapidly, until it reached its complete state.
His eyes bled slightly, Zetsu's cells unable to heal as quickly as he used his eyes, but Sasuke didn't care.
Naruto's Rasengan was shattered instantly, throwing Naruto himself backward and screaming in pain.
Sasuke formed an arc in his Susanoo, an arrow of black flames forming in the next moment, still in the air, Naruto sensed the danger of it.
The arrow was fired, incredibly fast. Naruto didn't have time to think, a clone formed the next instant. Using each other's feet, Naruto and the clone threw themselves in opposite directions, dodging the arrow.
Still in the air, Naruto made hand seals again, pressing his hand into the air, and a huge cloud of smoke formed.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes as the cloud subsided. Three enormous toads appeared atop Gamabunta's head. Naruto stopped with Fukasaku and Shima on his shoulder, alongside Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro.
Sasuke let out a soft snort, and in the next moment, the Susanoo was unveiled. As it fell through the air, Sasuke made hand seals and pressed his hand just like Naruto.
With a huge cloud of smoke, Manda appeared above Sasuke.
Manda glared at Sasuke with irritation, but sensing Jugo's chakra nearby, he merely snorted slightly, ready to fight without demanding anything.
The next moment, Sasuke's pupils became dilated again. A purplish armor quickly formed on Manda's skin. Manda was surprised, but didn't stop it, a fusion of Susanoo and snake was created.
The field was silent for just a moment, the next moment, both sides moved.
The war had entered a heated stage.
//-//
(General POV)
Not far away, the figure of black/white Zetsu was observing the fight from afar, staying as far away from Jugo as possible. Black Zetsu's eyes were fixed on this new version of Indra and Ashura, both growing rapidly.
The next moment, a spatial vortex formed beside him, Black Zetsu looked at him, and Obito emerged from the vortex.
-How's it going?- Obito asked as soon as he emerged from the whirlpool.
-The nine-tailed jinchuriki has grown quite strong, but that bratty Uchiha could also be a problem.- Black Zetsu said, his eyes turning back to the battle.
Manda ignored the defense, sensing Susanoo's protection. He threw Gamahiro away while biting Gamaken's shoulder, making him scream in pain. Gamabunta tried to cut off her head with his sword, but didn't even leave a scratch on the armor.
-Yes... this could be complicated. - Obito agreed, then glanced at the forest in the distance. He could feel Jugo's pressure even from that distance, almost as if Jugo were warning anyone who tried to interfere in this fight.
-Let's leave the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki aside for now. How's Taki's girl doing?- Obito asked Zetsu.
It was White Zetsu who answered with a smile. - Taki's group is almost falling into the trap.
Obito didn't answer, they continued watching the battle.