I arrived at the combat chamber—one of Otogakure's exclusive dueling arenas. In the stands were only ten spectators: Kenshiro Uzumaki, Emi, Souta Kanbe, Ayaka Fuyutsuki, and Lord Masaru Ishida. Kuro and Mitsue were also present, clearly cheering for me. On the opposite side, Kabuto and Orochimaru watched with critical eyes, while Karin cheered eagerly for Sasuke.
My entrance was silent. I admit I was more nervous than usual. I wore a pearl-gray combat kimono with short sleeves and a practical cut, adorned only with a black obi and a small white feather tied to the hilt of Shinsei. I did my best to carry myself with the composed bearing of a princess forged for battle.
The silence before the match was denser than I had expected. The air inside the arena was dry. My fingers curled lightly around Shinsei, my reliable sakabatō. In front of me stood Sasuke.
Sasuke tilted his head. "You made me wait," he said calmly.
I smiled, a touch of mischief in my voice. "Can you blame me? This was the perfect moment to come. How about we make it interesting?"
Sasuke looked at me for a moment. "What do you propose?"
I couldn't help admitting my goal, with a playful tone. "A wager. A favor from the loser to the winner."
Sasuke thought for a moment, then added, "Nothing cruel. Nothing that dishonors the loser's identity."
I was briefly surprised... Honestly, I liked that clause. It showed that deep down, Sasuke still believed in something. "We have a deal, then."
Sasuke smirked, pride clear in his tone. "I still don't know what I'll ask for… when I win."
As he drew his katana, the intent behind his sharingan flared to life. The desire for victory was unmistakable.
The first clash began with him using chakra to enhance his already impressive speed—reaching a pace equal to my own when I give everything. But within the World of Intent, his actions were laid bare. His intentions revealed themselves even before he acted.
A strike from the left—evaded by stepping away before it even happened.
I countered with a swift draw of my sword, which he saw with his sharingan. His incredible reflexes and chakra mastery let him twist and spin to evade, countering with a feint followed by a high slash.
My response: an upward strike that forced him to block and step back several meters, the force of my blow absorbed through his strong body and his mastery of the blade.
"And here I thought my new speed might surprise you. That World of Intent of yours is terrifying," Sasuke admitted, clearly enjoying the match.
"You know me—I try to be pleasing. Though I admit, I expect more than just kenjutsu in our fight," I replied.
Sasuke smiled. Then I felt it—his chakra flaring like a sudden gust of wind.
Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu. A stream of fire rushed toward me, as fast as his earlier attacks. But his movement was clear to my World of Intent… and with it came subtle Genjutsu attacks.
Of course, it wouldn't be that simple—not from him. One step was enough to evade the blazing phoenix, and as for his Genjutsu… I could only respond in kind. One after another, my own Genjutsu began overwhelming Sasuke. From the stands, we appeared to be frozen, eyes locked. For nearly a minute, we exchanged silent attacks. His sharingan dissolved my illusions, while my spiritual presence shattered his.
Eventually, the fun had to end.
I moved toward him.
As our duel shifted, Genjutsu melted into close-quarters swordplay—each of us still casting illusions. A swing that came too soon. A blade shorter than it was. An arm just out of reach. We danced at breakneck speed, in a terrifying kenjutsu battle where the scariest part was invisible to most watching.
It ended—for the moment—when he suddenly kicked me away, gaining distance.
"I think I've had enough of Genjutsu. Doesn't look like it's taking me far. You counter too easily," I admitted.
"You're scarier," Sasuke said with a hint of respect. "I've never seen anyone do what you just did."
We both understood: Genjutsu was over.
Then came lightning. His aura crackled.
Chidori.
Not just raw power—this Jutsu heightened his speed past normal limits, combined with his natural speed and his previous chakra enhancement.
His intent and his blade arrived as one. The sword sparked with electricity. Only Kiba had done this before… but Sasuke's was far sharper. My spirit moved on instinct—my boost carried me to safety, evading his strike, one that without exceeding my own limits I would not have been able to avoid. I reappeared meters away, and he was already chasing.
I responded with something subtler.
A deep breath.
The world slowed.
Mirage Breath.
Now I could sense his attacks and respond to them in time.
Each of his attacks struck a copy. Illusory clones. Mirages of the original... Each identical in speed, in presence.
The battlefield shifted.
Then I felt it—his intent reflecting in the way his eyes tracked the floor.
He was reading weight, like Kakashi.
"Don't bother," I whispered. "That flaw's long gone—my fight with Kakashi taught me how to erase it."
His response… darker.
The cursed seal of heaven awakened.
I saw it clearly. The sliver of Orochimaru's soul, still embedded in him. Crude. Unable to influence someone with such a strong will—not directly.
Later, I thought. I'll deal with that later.
My blood quickened. He was taking me seriously.
That deserved a real response.
I channeled everything—not the Silver Stage, but the original Hinata forged in iron, under moonlight, between mirrors and tears.
To match his strength, I used my evolved boost—Micro Boost. This stage of the duel demanded precision.
Our swords clashed. Shinsei accepted the charge of his Chidori and guided it into me… and out again, transformed.
Mirage Breath – Flow of Water.
His energy twisted, spun, and flowed—not resisted, but reshaped.
Lightning and soul. Water and will.
My final response was a gentle touch to his chest, letting the energy flow into him.
The shock burst outward.
When the dust settled, he was on one knee.
I stood still.
"Your turn, Sasuke."
Sasuke looked up at me, breathing hard, and gave a brief nod. "I admit it... that was a hell of a fight."
He rose slowly, the markings of the cursed seal retreating beneath his skin, his form returning to normal as he brushed dust from his clothes. "I suppose if you asked for a favor, you already had something in mind?"
I smiled—warm, sincere, and just a little mischievous. "I do. When the time comes, and you decide to go after your brother... promise you'll take me with you."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, surprised. Then he chuckled lightly. "I'd be an idiot to say no to that. Though, if that's what you wanted, you didn't need to fight me for it."
I shrugged, still smiling. "Maybe not. But I promised you a real fight. And I keep my promises."