The Gap Is Too Big

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Before long, everyone had gathered behind the Fairy Tail guild hall.

"I'm betting 1000J on Natsu!"

"Same here, 1000J on Natsu!"

…..

...

Cana quickly started a betting pool with a 1000J limit. "Big bets are dangerous, but small bets keep things exciting," she said with a grin. For the guild members, 1000J was just the cost of a meal anyway.

Most people were betting on Natsu to win. After all, he was one of Fairy Tail's strongest wizards, famous for his Fire Dragon Slayer magic.

In contrast, Uchiha Kitaro was a total rookie—he hadn't even joined a guild yet and had openly admitted he couldn't use magic. Sure, he carried a sword at his hip, but the idea of him beating Natsu was laughable.

"I'm putting 1000J on Kitaro!"

A voice suddenly spoke up. Everyone turned to see Mirajane smiling mischievously.

"Mira?"

Mirajane waved them off casually. "Gotta take a gamble! If I win, I'll rake in a nice profit!"

Natsu rolled his wrists, his face lighting up with excitement. Fighting was his favorite thing.

"Since you told me not to hold back, I'm going all out!"

"Of course!" Kitaro replied with a calm nod.

"Begin!" Master Makarov announced, raising his hand.

"YAAAHHHH!"

With a fierce shout, Natsu launched himself forward. Flames swirled around his fists as he slashed toward Kitaro with a fiery claw.

Kitaro took a small step back, effortlessly dodging Natsu's attack.

Then, in one smooth motion, Kitaro countered with a swift kick to Natsu's side.

THUD!

"Argh!" Natsu yelped as he was sent flying.

"What the—?!"

"Natsu just got kicked away!"

The guild members gasped in shock.

Natsu scrambled to his feet, rubbing his side. "Okay, so you're not all talk. Let's see you handle this!"

He leaned back, inhaling deeply as his chest puffed out.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!"

A blazing inferno erupted from Natsu's mouth, surging toward Kitaro.

But Kitaro was ready. With a single hand sign, he shouted:

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A massive fireball, about three meters in diameter, shot out from his mouth and collided with Natsu's flames.

BOOOOM!

The resulting explosion sent shockwaves through the area.

"He can breathe fire too?!"

"Isn't that… what Natsu does?!"

The guild members were dumbfounded. Natsu's Fire Dragon Slayer magic was unique, but Kitaro had matched it with ease.

"How the heck can you breathe fire?!" Natsu demanded, pointing at Kitaro in disbelief.

"Fire breathing? That's nothing special. I can spit water too," Kitaro replied with a smirk.

"Water Style: Waterfall Jutsu!"

A massive torrent of water surged from Kitaro's mouth, crashing directly into Natsu.

"WHOA! GAH—glub glub!"

The water engulfed Natsu, drenching him from head to toe.

When the deluge ended, Natsu stood sputtering, looking like a drowned cat. He shook himself, igniting his flames to dry off.

"That's it! No more holding back!"

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

Flames roared around Natsu's fist as he charged forward, aiming a powerful punch at Kitaro.

But Kitaro didn't flinch. His own fist, cloaked in an ominous black aura of Armament Haki, met Natsu's head-on.

BAM!

"Ow! What the—?! It's like hitting steel!" Natsu cried, shaking his aching hand.

"Fire Dragon's Claw!"

Natsu swung a flaming kick at Kitaro's face.

But Kitaro caught Natsu's leg mid-air with ease and slammed him into the ground.

CRASH!

"UGH!"

The impact shattered a nearby boulder, sending dust and debris flying.

"He's incredible!"

"Is that really a rookie?!"

Gray and the others stared in stunned silence. They knew Natsu's strength, yet this newcomer was treating him like a child. The only person they'd ever seen dominate Natsu this thoroughly was Gildarts.

"Not done yet!"

Natsu leapt into the air, gathering fire in both hands.

"With a flame on the right hand...and a flame on the left hand..."

"Combine the flames together..."

"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"

Natsu hurled a massive fireball down at Kitaro.

But Kitaro remained calm. He quickly formed a glowing, spiraling sphere in his hand.

"Big Ball Rasengan!"

He hurled the oversized Rasengan upward.

BOOOOOOM!

The two attacks collided, resulting in another massive explosion.

"WHAT?!" Natsu exclaimed as his flames were overpowered once again.

Before he could react, Kitaro appeared above him in a blur.

"Gotcha."

With a powerful downward kick, Kitaro sent Natsu crashing into the ground.

THUD!

A large crater formed where Natsu landed.

Kitaro landed lightly beside him, pressing the sheath of his sword against Natsu's neck.

"It's over. You've lost."

Though reluctant, Natsu groaned and admitted, "I… I lost."

Kitaro sheathed his sword, stepping back as Makarov announced:

"The winner is Uchiha Kitaro!"

The crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and stunned murmurs.

"That was insane!"

"He crushed Natsu like it was nothing!"

"Who is this guy?"

"And didn't he say he can't use magic?!"

Makarov stroked his beard, nodding thoughtfully.

"The gap… is just too big."

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