Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

Duy and Han were matched, both high-speed, explosive ninjas.

The two locked eyes, their gazes brimming with fighting spirit.

"Again!" Duy shouted, his right foot surging with power as green chakra erupted from him.

The ground beneath them shattered, crumbling in a circular pattern. With this power, Duy became like a green shooting star, enveloped in a massive blast of air as he charged toward Han like a missile.

"What are you afraid of?" Han's expression remained unnervingly calm.

Behind him, a chakra tail whipped around, and red steam armor unleashed a torrent of vapor from his back. In an instant, his power and speed surged to terrifying levels.

The figures of Duy and Han vanished from sight as their violent chakras clashed with the wind. Before the gusts settled, they launched into a furious exchange of blows.

Their speed rendered their moves invisible, each punch and kick radiating raw intensity. Only the afterimages, flying rocks, and swirling dust bore witness to the ferocity of their battle.

Fist met fist, leg clashed with leg, and every collision sent shockwaves through the air.

This was pure, unrestrained power. For Duy, Han was the most exhilarating opponent he had ever faced.

Duy's mastery of the Eight Inner Gates had drastically enhanced his speed and strength. In the original story, with all eight gates opened, he had defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, reducing their legend to mere remnants.

Han, a genius from Iwagakure, wielded Boil Release to amplify his strength with bursts of steam. This ability, along with his title of "Steam Ninja," made him a formidable adversary. In the original story, he even managed to kick away Naruto in his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.

Though neither of them had yet reached the peak of their power in this timeline, they were far from ordinary.

The endless roaring of their battle reverberated across the battlefield, a clash leagues beyond ordinary ninja confrontations.

"The Jinchūriki of Iwagakure is so strong," Shinku Yūhi muttered, drawn by the deafening noise. He was stunned by Han's overwhelming performance.

He couldn't predict who would emerge victorious. Resigning himself to the outcome, Shinku focused on the Iwa ninja in front of him. Whatever happened in that clash was beyond his control.

As a Genjutsu specialist, he knew his small frame wouldn't survive a single punch from warriors of such devastating power.

After a fierce exchange, neither Duy nor Han gained the upper hand. The two finally withdrew, parting after landing one final blow.

"Awesome."

"Catch this move—Morning Peacock!"

Duy's face lit up with exhilaration. It had been ages since he fought with such abandon. His high-speed punches unleashed waves of fiery flames hurtling toward Han.

"So fast," Han muttered, flames reflected in his eyes. He managed to block a few punches at first, but as they came faster and faster, he was forced into a purely defensive stance, unable to counter.

With a fiery punch from the Morning Peacock technique, Duy sent Han staggering, and a follow-up kick launched him into the air.

Duy finally seized the upper hand. With a flash of movement, he closed the gap between them.

So what if you're a Jinchūriki? You're still going to get beaten by my fists, Duy thought.

Before Han hit the ground, he saw Duy's sole enlarging in his vision, a clear sign Duy intended to stomp his head.

"Ah~!"

A furious roar erupted as even more violent chakra surged from Han. The tail behind him vanished, and his form became barely human. A blazing conical hat crowned his head, and his body transformed into a humanoid figure the color of red fire, now sporting five swirling tails.

Han had entered a half-Tailed Beast transformation. His strength and recovery abilities soared to new heights, though a trace of savagery gleamed in his eyes. This transformation represented his current limit; a full Tailed Beast transformation would mean losing himself to the beast's will.

Duy sensed danger brewing but couldn't stop his attack. If he held back, it would leave him vulnerable.

"Die for me!" Han growled, his voice hoarse from the strain of maintaining the half-Tailed Beast form.

Duy's foot collided with Han's scarlet fist, and the impact sent an invisible shockwave tearing through the air, stirring up clouds of dust.

As expected, Duy's strength fell short. He was sent flying by Han's transformed state.

Then Han opened his mouth, and an enormous amount of chakra began to condense.

The next moment, a massive Tailed Beast Ball shot straight toward Duy.

"Gate of Wonder, open!"

Duy didn't care that his injuries had just healed. If he didn't open the seventh gate, he knew he would die.

"Daytime Tiger."

Blue steam radiated from Duy's body as he punched the Tailed Beast Ball with all his might. The air cannon, shaped like a ferocious tiger, shot forward at incredible speed, biting into the Tailed Beast Ball.

"Boom~!"

The collision of the Tailed Beast Ball and Daytime Tiger unleashed a massive explosion, sending a mushroom cloud billowing into the sky. The resulting shockwave swept across the battlefield, knocking weaker ninjas off their feet.

Duy, though battered, still had strength left. His eyes glinted red, and his hair bristled from the force coursing through him.

"I underestimated you," Han's voice rang out clearly. As he spoke, he charged at Duy in his half-Tailed Beast form. He couldn't maintain this state for long either.

The clash seemed to reset their fight, bringing them back to an even footing.

Duy didn't respond. He was painfully aware his time was running out. Once he could no longer sustain the seventh gate, his body would give out, and he would die.

Guy is still young. He needs me.

That thought steeled his resolve. He had no choice but to use his final move.

With a surge of blue steam, Duy launched himself forward, moving so fast that the air cracked with the sound of shattering. The two warriors clashed in close combat once again.

Feigning weakness, Duy sold a broken move.

Han seized the opportunity, striking with all his strength as his five tails roared with power.

But in that instant, Duy's lips curled into an enigmatic smile.

Dodging the attack, he appeared behind Han.

"What?"

Han realized too late that he had fallen into a trap. He tried to turn, but Duy had already prepared his counter.

"Konoha Hidden Hiden Taijutsu Secret Art: One Thousand Years of Deathh."

Duy folded his hands into a Tiger Seal, retracted his arms, and thrust forward with precision.

His target: Han's rear.

This technique was the sole reward Sakumo had ever given him, along with strict warnings: never use it unless absolutely necessary, and never in front of Kawakaze—lest something truly unfortunate occur.

At this moment, with Kawakaze absent, Duy had no reservations about his actions.

"Oww~!"

Han's scream echoed as he shot into the air like a rocket. The chakra within his body rioted uncontrollably, and his lower half lost all coordination. Tremendous pain radiated from his back.

"Damn you, Konoha Ninja!" Kokuō's voice roared in fury.

As the Tailed Beast residing within Han, Kokuō shared the excruciating pain of the strike.

"Let me take control you, and I will avenge you," Kokuō urged, sensing Han's will faltering.

"No way," Han gritted out, clinging to the last shred of his consciousness.

With a final surge of resolve, he rejected the beast's offer and broke free from his Half-Tailed Beast state. His body fell heavily to the ground, limp and battered.

At the same time, Duy's body succumbed to exhaustion. Unable to sustain the Seventh Gate any longer, he collapsed, his eyes regaining their clarity but dulled by pain.

Both combatants were utterly spent—a lose-lose outcome for them.

"Finish him off and save the others!" Shinku Yūhi shouted as he charged toward Duy. Behind him, Konoha Jōnin surged forward to deal with Han, while Iwa ninjas rushed in to eliminate Duy.

Shinku managed to repel a few Iwa ninjas before reaching Duy's side. Upon the slightest touch, Duy winced in agony.

"I'll keep watch over you," Shinku assured him, deciding not to move Duy in his fragile state.

Joining the reinforcements of Konoha ninjas who arrived shortly after, Shinku stood guard, ensuring Duy remained protected amidst the chaos.