Naruto : The ultimate Troublemaker

Sasuke, calm and methodical, drew his lightning-imbued katana, the sparks dancing along the blade, briefly illuminating his face marked by the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Facing him, Menma, his Sharingan active, was enveloped in a natural aura of hermit mode, his body strengthened by superhuman strength and endurance.

— "I'll finish you off here and now," Sasuke said in a cold voice.

Menma raised an eyebrow behind his mask.

— "You can try, Uchiha, but I doubt you're a match for my power."

Sasuke didn't waste a second. He formed a complex mudra before biting his thumb and striking the ground violently.

*Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Manda!*

An immense cloud of smoke engulfed the battlefield, revealing the appearance of the enormous purple serpent with its gleaming scales. Manda, the proud serpent, hissed in contempt as it fixed its gaze on the already imposing Kyūbi behind Menma.

"Who dares summon me! What is this insignificant beast?" hissed Manda.

"Take care of him," Sasuke ordered emotionlessly.

Manda, though arrogant, was already engaged in a dangerous battle with Kyubi's Bijudama. The two titanic creatures engaged in a fierce combat, their roars and attacks creating shockwaves throughout the region.

Menma took advantage of the chaos created by their summons to rush at Sasuke, his speed amplified by hermit mode. He struck with devastating precision and force, aiming directly at Sasuke's chest.

Sasuke dodged with agility, his Sharingan analyzing every movement of Menma. He counterattacked by sweeping his katana horizontally, but Menma parried the attack with his chakra-enhanced scythe.

Their blows came in rapid succession: Menma used his brute strength to crush Sasuke, while the latter focused on speed and precision. The clashing of metal rang out like thunder, and sparks illuminated the battlefield.

Menma delivered a punch reinforced with natural energy into the ground, creating a shockwave that destabilized Sasuke.

"You won't last long, Uchiha. I'm stronger than you!"

Sasuke responded with a mocking smile.

"Stronger? Maybe. But you're too predictable."

He took advantage of the opening to slip behind Menma at incredible speed, his katana aimed at his opponent's throat. But Menma, thanks to his enhanced senses in hermit mode, dodged at the last moment and counterattacked with a spinning kick, which Sasuke parried with his katana, causing another explosion of power.

*Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!*

A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, rushing towards Menma.

*Senpo: Palm of the Gale*

Menma countered by summoning an enormous wave of natural chakra mixed with wind, dispersing the flames with disconcerting ease.

Menma went on the offensive with a series of shadow clones in hermit mode. The clones scattered and attacked Sasuke simultaneously.

Sasuke remained motionless, his Sharingan tracking each of the clones. He drew his katana again, now imbued with his *Chidori Nagashi*, and, in a circular motion, dispersed the clones with a blinding electric discharge.

Menma quickly formed a Rasengan infused with natural chakra in his right hand. He leaped with astonishing speed, aiming directly at Sasuke.

*Senpo: Rasengan!*

Sasuke dodged at the last second thanks to his enhanced speed, counterattacking with a Chidori. The two techniques collided, creating a deafening explosion that made the ground tremble.

Menma quickly got back up, almost unharmed. His resistance thanks to hermit mode was impressive, but Sasuke, though slightly breathless, remained focused.

Menma smiled beneath his mask.

"You're faster than I thought. But it won't be enough."

Sasuke frowned. He felt that since the beginning of the battle, Menma had never attacked with the intention of killing him, as if he were fighting with a rival.

Menma concentrated his chakra, and his aura became even more imposing. He summoned an immense Rasenshuriken, whose shrill sound resonated like a war cry.

Sasuke, for his part, activated his *Susanoo*, a dark blue spiritual armor surrounding his body.

Menma launched his Rasenshuriken with all his might. Sasuke used his Susano'o to parry the attack, but the resulting explosion shook the entire valley.

When the smoke cleared, Sasuke was still standing, his Susano'o intact.

Sasuke took advantage of the opening created by the explosion to leap at incredible speed, appearing behind Menma. His katana glowing with raiton, he aimed directly at his opponent's back.

Menma turned just in time to block with an air wall, but Sasuke's blade pierced the barrier, slightly cutting his shoulder.

Menma turned to counter, but Sasuke activated his Susano'o again, grabbing Menma in a massive spiritual hand.

— "It's over," he said.

"Amaterasu!"

Before Sasuke could deliver the final blow.

Menma formed a hand sign.

*Fuinjutsu: Equivalent Exchange!*

Menma disappeared, leaving only his clothes burned by the black flame. Only his pants were preserved.

The two adversaries found themselves face to face.

"What? I..."

Sasuke was visibly disconcerted.

Kakashi's eyes were wide, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He wondered if he was even in a Genjutsu. But he wasn't the only one, everyone was shocked to see him.

"What's wrong? It's like you saw a ghost." He retorted with a slight smile.

Sasuke gripped his sword and assumed a stance.

"So it was you... NARUTO!"