EXT. FOREST — CONTINUOUS — DAY
They collide like two different storms arguing over the same patch of sky.
No warm-up.
No "test jab."
Just speed and intent and the forest politely volunteering to be destroyed.
FIRST EXCHANGE — a BLUR.
Killua is at Sasuke's flank before the air finishes noticing he moved.
A knife-hand strike aimed at ribs.
Clean.
Practical.
The kind of hit that ends fights without being flashy.
Sasuke parries with his forearm and pivots like he's been expecting the exact angle.
Not reflex.
Prediction.
Killua's fingers skim Sasuke's sleeve—
—then Sasuke's hand flashes forward, lightning snapping around his palm, not a full thrust, not a full technique…
…but the promise of one.
A warning shaped like a weapon.
SFX (CHAKRA LIGHTNING): tk—TK—TK—
Killua's body jerks back—
Not fear.
Data.
The air between them detonates with sparks as electricity kisses electricity.
SFX: KSHHHT—!!
Killua flips away and lands light, silent, already recalculating.
Sasuke doesn't chase.
He tracks.
His gaze is a scope.
Killua's eyes narrow.
KILLUA (V.O.)
Fast… but not like Whirlwind.
He's reading.
Sasuke's Sharingan flickers again—quick, clinical.
Not "I'm showing off."
"I'm measuring you."
SASUKE (V.O.)
He's moving before I commit…
They rocket into the canopy.
Branches become stepping stones.
Leaves become static-charged confetti.
Killua moves like his muscles don't need permission from time.
A stutter-step in midair.
A pivot off nothing.
A blur that makes the shadows lag behind him.
Sasuke follows like a curse.
Chakra control perfect.
Angles ruthless.
Every landing is silent, every launch is violent.
SFX (LEAVES): shh—SHH—shh—
SFX (BARK): KRK—KRK—
Sasuke flicks his wrist.
SHURIKEN fan out—clean lines, practiced trajectories.
SFX: fweep—fweep—fweep—
Killua doesn't dodge.
He doesn't need to.
He bats them aside with electrified fingertips.
Metal flashes.
Edges hiss.
One shuriken spins past with its blade half-melted, embarrassed.
SFX (METAL): tssss—!
Killua lets out a quick, surprised laugh.
Not mocking.
Not mean.
Just… amused that this world's default solution is "throw sharp objects at the problem."
KILLUA
You really like throwing stuff.
Sasuke doesn't answer.
He's already behind Killua.
Killua's Whirlwind triggers—
His body moves BEFORE his mind finishes forming the thought.
A hair's-width dodge.
A twist.
A step that shouldn't fit on the branch, but does.
Sasuke's hand cuts through empty air where Killua's throat was.
Sasuke's eyes sharpen.
For the first time, there's a micro-flicker of irritation.
Not because Killua's fast.
Because Killua is fast in a way that makes the Sharingan feel… late.
SASUKE
What are you?
Killua's smile is thin. Honest. Almost bored with the label, not the truth.
KILLUA
An assassin.
Sasuke's expression barely changes, but something in him clicks into place.
The slightest tilt of respect.
The kind killers give each other without meaning to.
SASUKE
…Hn.
They clash again.
Forearm to forearm.
Fist to palm.
Elbow check.
Knee feint.
The kind of close-quarters exchange that's less "martial arts" and more "two people trying to erase each other's breathing room."
Every impact spits sparks.
The forest flashes like it's being photographed by lightning.
SFX: KSHH—KSHH—KSHH—!!
Killua presses in—speed and precision, trying to end it fast.
Sasuke doesn't give ground—he redirects, angles, denies.
Sasuke's lightning chakra stays tight.
Surgical.
Killua's electricity crawls and lashes.
Alive.
Wild.
Two different dialects of the same threat.
They separate by a single branch-length.
A half-second pause.
Both staring.
Both listening.
Both deciding what to say, if anything.
Killua breaks it first, breath a little ragged but voice steady.
KILLUA
You fight like you don't care if you live.
Sasuke's eyes stay cold.
No denial.
No offense.
Just truth sharpened down to a point.
SASUKE
I only care if he dies.
Killua's expression flickers.
Recognition he doesn't want.
A familiar shape behind Sasuke's words.
A brother-shaped shadow.
KILLUA
For revenge?
Sasuke doesn't blink.
SASUKE
For justice.
Killua exhales a laugh that isn't amused.
More like… tired.
KILLUA
I'm doing this for someone too.
Sasuke's gaze tightens, like "someone" is an alien concept he refuses to treat gently.
Killua doesn't look away.
KILLUA (CONT'D)
To protect him.
Even if he never forgives me for hovering.
Sasuke hears "protect" like it's a language he can understand but refuses to speak.
His mouth barely moves.
SASUKE
Someone weak.
Killua's voice lowers.
Simple. Stubborn. Unashamed.
KILLUA
Someone kind.
A beat.
Not a sentimental one.
A dangerous one.
Because that difference is… the whole fight.
They square off on opposite branches.
Sasuke's lightning is knife-thin intent.
Killua's electricity is storm-light, crawling over his shoulders like living snakes.
The air between them is charged enough to sting the teeth.
SFX (LOW, GROWING): krk—krk—KRK—
They launch simultaneously—
Two streaks of light slam together midair.
The shockwave rips through the canopy.
Bark EXPLODES.
Leaves become confetti.
A flock of birds that didn't exist a second ago suddenly remembers it has somewhere else to be.
SFX: WHUMMMP—!!
CUTAWAY TO: EXT. HEBI HIDEOUT — DAY
The sky above the hideout flickers.
Not clouds.
Not weather.
Light.
Like the horizon is having a seizure.
SUIGETSU steps outside, squinting upward like he's watching fireworks he didn't pay for.
SUIGETSU
Whooooa… Sasuke's doing the cool lightning again.
KARIN bursts out behind him, already panicking, hands to her head like she's trying to keep her brain from escaping.
KARIN
That isn't normal!
That chakra— no, that's not chakra at all!
JŪGO steps out last, calm and eerie, listening like the forest is talking to him in a language only he respects.
JŪGO
He's excited.
Karin whips toward him, horrified.
KARIN
Sasuke is WHAT?!
Jūgo tilts his head, serene.
JŪGO
Sasuke… is enjoying this.
Karin looks like her soul just dropped its groceries.
KARIN
That's WORSE!!
CUT BACK TO: EXT. FOREST — CONTINUOUS — DAY
FINAL FLURRY.
Killua's speed forces Sasuke to rely on prediction.
Sharingan clicking like a metronome.
Sasuke's precision forces Killua to respect angles and traps.
Even Whirlwind can't dodge what it doesn't understand.
Killua darts in—Sasuke's elbow blocks.
Sasuke counters—Killua slips under.
Killua feints high—Sasuke doesn't bite.
Sasuke feints lightning—Killua's body dodges anyway.
They trade blows that almost land.
Almost is the worst kind.
Because it means you're close enough to die.
Electricity glances off forearms and blasts upward into the canopy in brief, violent halos.
SFX: KRAK—!!
SFX: KSHHHT—!!
SFX: WHIP—!!
Then—
They separate.
Landing on opposite branches.
Both breathing hard.
Both looking wrecked.
Killua's hoodie is torn. His hair is a mess. His eyes are bright with adrenaline and something dangerously close to fun.
Sasuke's cloak is shredded at the hem. His wet hair sticks to his cheek. His expression is flat… but his gaze is sharper than it was at the waterfall.
A beat.
Not hatred.
Not peace.
Something in between.
The kind of silence that only happens when two predators realize the other one isn't stupid.
And might not be lying.
And might be… familiar.
A beat.
Then the forest holds its breath again.
CUT TO BLACK.