Despite it All

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Sasuke's POV (Nearby The Den - Western River Plains of Irminsul)

Sasuke was really over this entire mission. The constant twists and turns were becoming tiresome, and the endless opponents even more so. This current one may have been the most shocking of all. Kiba Inuzuka, a less-than-notable Genin, one that both Naruto and Gaara had apparently defeated with ease, was pushing him, a Uchiha back.

His first blow had been sudden and managed to catch Sasuke off guard; the entire body of the Inuzuka had sent him careening away from his cousin. The next, a kick to his back sent him high up. But by then, Sasuke had recovered; as he rose into the air, he managed to draw two kunai. A glint of light off of Kiba's claws allowed Sasuke to weave his head around the claws and slash at his body; though he narrowly missed flesh, Kiba had to redirect himself away to avoid the counterattack sparing Sasuke another blow. Sasuke watched as Kiba seemed to kick off the air before blurring away. Retreating for now. Sasuke took the reprieve to regroup as he continued to fly through the air above the river plains.

'He uses his wind technique to make a platform out of the air, fang over fang to travel between hops, so he can rapidly attack from any angle.' Sasuke thought as he traced Kiba's path around him. 'He wasn't nearly this fast before, nor as skilled. If Kiba had been, Gaara may have actually been tested. I'm certain I can defeat him, but if he had this latent potential within, where was it before? Once again someone surpasses the limits I had set for them. Are my peers always been like this?'

Kiba laughed as he suddenly rushed in from behind. Sasuke scoffed as Ash Stepped out of the way, appearing just above Kiba and stomping for his head. Even if Kiba was stronger than he had gave him credit for, Sasuke would be damned before he allowed him to defeat him. However, Kiba pushed off the air, twisting as he unleashed a spinning kick for Sasuke's head as he dodged around the stomp. "Deceitful Dodge!" Sasuke cried before being batted away by the powerful kick. Or so Kiba had thought. Sasuke Ash Stepped in front of Kiba's shocked face, snapping his head back with a jab. Sasuke mercilessly followed up with a kick to Kiba's body, smashing his elbow into his face. Kiba began to descend, stunned by the blows; Sasuke blurred ahead, smashing his shoulder into Kiba's ribs. This was the difference, the dominance in combat provided Sasuke with the confidence that motivated him. Perhaps his eyes didn't always show him everything about his foes, they allowed him to surpass them all the same. As the two drew close to the ground with Sasuke slightly above Kiba, he spun as he prepared to finish the fight. The fall plus his finished spinning kick would break Kiba's bone and knock him out, but it wouldn't kill him… "Lion's Barrage!" He cried right as Kiba was about to impact the ground; however, he flinched as Kiba growled out his own technique.

"Wild Counter!" Kiba roared gleefully as his foot flexibly rose and took the brunt of Sasuke's blow. Sasuke watched with grim amusement as Kiba, somehow spun with the force of the blow, throwing a wild hook as he spun. Sasuke could only blink as it smashed into his face. Kiba had shocked him again.

His vision blacked as his body flew from the force of the blow. 'He uses his leg to prepare himself to spin. Using wind chakra, he spins with and maintains the force of a blow; he then lashes out, returning it. Not dissimilar from my Deceitful Dodge.' Sasuke blurred through the clearing, smashing into the river with a massive splash. He sank to its shallow bed, stunned as Kiba darted above him, stopping above him and standing in the air. Sasuke shook his head as he recovered, Kiba should've pressed his advantage. A power boost wouldn't change his mind.

"Bet you heard from Naruto how he kicked my ass!" Kiba spat venomously as Sasuke breached the water's surface with a gasp before climbing to his feet and glaring at Kiba. "I'll admit that bastard got the better of me, but had I shown everything I could do, he would've stood no chance!"

"I considered you weak before but respected your guts and loyalty. You were proud and determined, two things I consider myself to be. I now see you aren't nearly as weak as I had thought… It keeps happening recently. I can tell by your behavior you are ashamed of yourself and looking for redemption… a feeling I can relate to. The control they have you under must amplify negative emotions…" Sasuke monologues as he faces Kiba. "Either way, I cannot afford to lose anymore; just like yourself, I have fallen short of my expectations as of late. As such, I will not take you or anyone else lightly anymore. Besmirched Flambe!" Sasuke summoned his familiar blade of flames with a flick of his wrist.

"Now that's more like it, Uchiha! Once I kick your ass, I'll have finally proven myself!" Kiba retorted excitedly.

"You're strong now, fast as well… but far from being a true threat to a Uchiha." Sasuke calmly replied.

"A fallen clan; my legend will surpass theirs soon enough!"

"Blinded by the control of another and your own self-loathing," Sasuke said with a shake of his head. "I pity you, I shall free you, and hopefully, you grow from this."

"I've grown plenty! Allow me to show my full power!" Kiba roared, tossing up a beast pill. He savagely bit into it and Sasuke could feel his chakra pulsing from within.

'He wasn't using the unique soldier pill of the Inuzuka?' Sasuke thought, surprised. 'It allows them superb conditioning and beastlike strength, speed, and senses. That means he's due another boost…' Kiba laughed as he dropped to all fours, his voice deeper, and fangs grew from his mouth as his claws lengthened.

"Time to show you my final technique. My Air Platform, combined with Fang Over Fang and now my increased output of air chakra, allows me an absurd increase in speed and mobility. Combined now with my beast form and I'm on an entirely different level! Even your fancy eyes and teleportation will fail to keep up! I'll tear you to shreds!" Kiba declared before he stepped; a boom sounded as Sasuke blinked, and Kiba was gone. Another boom sounded behind Sasuke, who whipped around and caught a fleeting glance of Kiba. Another boom allowed Sasuke to catch Kiba as he continued to zoom around him at absurd speeds, each change in direction marked by a thunderous boom. Even now Kiba was playing with him, he was being enraptured by his own power.

"You are fast…" Sasuke announced. "Fast enough for even me to struggle with… at least before…" Sasuke's Sharingan whirled as he suddenly disappeared. Kiba gasped, stopping and landing where Sasuke had stood in shock. He now realized Sasuke had instantly reversed their position. For now, around him, a red line blurred in all directions. The fiery line moved so fast it created a perimeter of moving flames around him. So fast was Sasuke now he watched as Kiba helplessly whipped his head around. Even now he couldn't keep up. "This trip has proven worth the effort. We've found most of you, and I've managed to become stronger. Just like you, I won't hold back and face defeat, prepare yourself Kiba…"

"I won't be looked down on anymore!" Kiba roared as he raced around, attempting to match Sasuke's speed and catch him. However, each time he drew close, he was smacked away before he could see the attack. Sasuke not even bothering to use his Besmirched Flambe to tear him apart.

"I don't look down on you, Kiba Inuzuka!" Sasuke roared as the orb contracted around the now airborne Inuzuka. In truth Sasuke was simply moving closer and closer at speeds Kiba could scarcely perceive. "I didn't before, but now I recognize your strength. I simply have no choice but to be stronger… Fiery Reappearing Shadow Death!" The orb contracted, and Kiba screamed as Sasuke began a barrage of attacks.

So much faster was Sasuke that Kiba could scarcely react between strokes of Besmirched Flambe. Sasuke struck with care, shallow slices avoiding vital areas. But the pain and amount of blows caused Kiba to scream as he passed out. The human body's way of preserving itself when overwhelmed with intense stimuli. Sasuke caught the unconscious Kiba, ending the blows as soon as Kiba faded. He gently lowered him to the ground as he sighed. He needed to stop underestimating others; if Kiba had landed a more substantial blow earlier, Sasuke would've lost…