Standing opposite him, Sasuke was soaked to the bone. His expression was as dark as the stormy sky above. He suddenly lifted his head, and beneath the flash of lightning, his Sharingan burned crimson, glaring and ferocious. His voice trembled with barely restrained rage and confusion.
"Naruto! Why?!"
"Why do you keep doing this?! Why won't you stop chasing after me?!"
"Because you're my friend, damn it!"
Naruto shouted through tears, rain and tears blending together as they streamed down his face.
He poured every ounce of strength he had into that roar, screaming out the bond buried deepest in his heart.
"You're the first person who ever acknowledged me! I won't let you throw yourself away by going to Orochimaru! I'm taking you back to the village!!"
"Friend… acknowledged…"
Sasuke repeated the words softly. A flicker of complicated emotion crossed his face.
But it was immediately swallowed by deeper coldness and resolve.
"I'm not going back."
"Why?! Why not?!" Naruto demanded in anguish, unable to understand.
Sasuke's eyes sharpened, yet at the same time grew hollow. It was as though he was looking past Naruto—at the figure that haunted his nightmares. His voice carried bone-deep hatred, laced with a sorrow even he might not have noticed.
"Why? Because you and I are different…"
"You're lucky. You have a legendary mentor. You have people who teach you… people who care about you…"
His voice suddenly rose, filled with bitterness and fury.
"And what about me?! I have nothing! Nothing but these eyes! Nothing but this body that craves power! I need to become stronger—no matter the cost! I'm going to find that man…"
"…and take revenge!!"
"But you'll die like that!!" Naruto shouted.
A nearly deranged, ice-cold smile appeared on Sasuke's face. He spread his arms wide, as if embracing the torrential rain and the hatred that consumed him. His voice was calm—so calm it sent chills down the spine.
"It doesn't matter…"
"As long as I gain the power to kill him… this body—this life—doesn't matter at all."
That resolve—to cut off every path of retreat and burn even his own life as fuel for revenge—was transmitted clearly through the Sky Screen and into the hearts of every viewer.
Faced with Sasuke's declaration, where even his own life was offered up for vengeance, Naruto wiped the rain and tears from his face. His eyes hardened with unshakable determination as he stepped forward.
"No! I won't let you fall into darkness! I will bring you back!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto's stubborn expression. The last trace of emotion vanished from his eyes, leaving only pure coldness and killing intent.
Slowly, he raised his hand. A kunai gleamed sharply beneath the lightning.
"You can't do it, Naruto."
"I say what I mean, and I mean what I say—that's my ninja way!" Naruto shot back without hesitation, even forcing out his signature grin—foolish, stubborn, and unwavering.
But this "ninja way," this desperate attempt to cling to their bond, only sounded unbearably grating to Sasuke now.
His Sharingan locked onto Naruto, his voice seeping out like ice from a frozen abyss.
"Naruto… don't force me."
"I don't want to kill you."
This was the last restraint Sasuke could muster amid the raging inferno of hatred.
If Naruto backed down now, then maybe—
But Naruto would never retreat.
"I don't care about any of that! Come back with me!!"
With a roar, Naruto stopped talking altogether. His chakra erupted violently as he shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, charging at Sasuke without hesitation.
He would drag his friend back—even if he had to do it his own way.
"Hmph. You're asking for death."
Seeing Naruto rush toward him without fear, the final shred of hesitation in Sasuke's eyes was completely extinguished, replaced by razor-sharp killing intent.
He didn't want to kill Naruto—but if Naruto insisted on becoming an obstacle on his path of revenge…
Then removing him didn't matter.
Bang!
Their fists collided violently, releasing a dull, thunderous impact!
The battle at the Valley of the End officially erupted amid the torrential rain and crashing thunder!
Though still young, the power the two displayed already far surpassed that of their peers—enough to shock even many seasoned adult shinobi.
Relying on his vast, violent chakra and his reckless, life-risking fighting style, Naruto pressed forward relentlessly. Shadow Clone Jutsu after shadow clone flooded the battlefield as he tried to overwhelm Sasuke with sheer numbers and momentum.
Sasuke, on the other hand, moved like a precise hunting leopard. With the Sharingan's superior dynamic vision and insight, he narrowly evaded Naruto's attacks time and again, countering from sharper, deadlier angles.
Every movement was efficient and lethal. Kunai, shuriken, and basic Fire Release techniques flowed effortlessly from his hands, showcasing the solid foundation and terrifying combat talent of an Uchiha prodigy.
The rain-soaked death match at the Valley of the End—and the desperate, heart-rending dialogue between the two—finally made the entire shinobi world understand the truth behind Sasuke Uchiha's defection.
Not for power.
Not for ambition.
But to gain the strength needed to take revenge on the man who slaughtered his clan—
Itachi Uchiha.
Outside an Akatsuki Hideout
"Hisss… hisss…"
When Orochimaru heard Sasuke openly declare on the Sky Screen that he intended to "go to Orochimaru" for power, excitement made him nearly tremble.
His long tongue slid unconsciously across his face, golden slit pupils gleaming with extreme greed and delight.
He instinctively glanced toward Itachi Uchiha—and met the cold gaze of Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Their eyes locked briefly, invisible killing intent and vigilance spreading between them.
Rather than feeling fear, Orochimaru only grew more exhilarated. His hoarse, eerie laughter echoed softly.
"Hehehe… how unexpected. Truly unexpected…"
"So the future 'savior' who stands at the peak of the shinobi world—Sasuke Uchiha—was taught by me?"
"How fascinating… how utterly beautiful."
In his mind, Orochimaru was already envisioning how he would "sculpt" that perfect piece of jade.
And yet—he had failed. He hadn't been able to claim Sasuke for himself.
Meanwhile, alarm bells rang loudly in Itachi's heart.
No matter what, he would have to prepare in advance.
He could never allow Orochimaru to lay a hand on Sasuke.
The Hokage's Office
"Sigh…"
Watching the two children on the Sky Screen fighting with everything they had, Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a deep sigh, an unprecedented headache gripping him.
"Problem children… both of them. One wants to destroy the world, the other defects for revenge…"
"Hmph."
Tsunade snorted without mercy, arms crossed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"And whose fault do you think that is? Didn't you people bring this on yourselves?"
Hiruzen's expression stiffened. His lips moved as if he wanted to argue—
But in the end, all that remained was powerless silence.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789