Crack!
Raikiri shot toward Sasuke, but Susanoo blocked it, giving Sasuke no chance to dodge.
"Oh no, Sasuke's in danger!" Karin shouted. She rushed forward to protect him
But suddenly, a hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.
"Huh?" Karin was confused.
Sasuke's expression was cold, cruel... unfamiliar.
He dragged Karin in front of him, using her as a shield!
Snap!
Raikiri pierced straight through Karin's chest without mercy.
"!" Kakashi's face darkened, but he didn't stop. He pushed forward.
Boom!
Jūgo rushed in and grabbed Kakashi around the waist to stop him!
But Kakashi was determined. He forced his way through.
Jūgo couldn't hold him back alone and yelled, "Suigetsu!"
Suigetsu sighed, shaking his head.
"Sasuke… or all of us… something's seriously wrong!"
With a splash, his arms turned into huge water fists as he pushed with all his strength.
Together, Suigetsu and Jūgo managed to slow Kakashi down
The three of them fell down Susanoo's front together.
"Sasuke, you…"
As he fell, Kakashi looked back at his former student with heartbreak in his eyes.
A cold wind passed through the hole in Karin's chest.
Tears streamed down her face. Her eyes were full of pain and confusion.
Her body trembled like she had fallen into an icy abyss.
"Sasuke, I…"
Before Karin could finish, she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Sasuke said coldly, "Karin, you're no longer useful. Just die as a stepping stone on my path to revenge."
He pushed her away, and she collapsed gently to the ground.
Even so, Karin whispered, "Sasuke, even if you hadn't done this… I would've still stood in front of you…"
Memories flashed through her mind like fragments of light
Their first meeting during the Chūnin Exams, in the Forest of Death…
The boy who once saved her was now the one pushing her into darkness.
"If only time had stopped back then…"
Thump!
She hit the ground, completely still.
Choza caught Kakashi with his large hand.
Kakashi said weakly, "Sorry… I failed."
Choza replied, "There's nothing we could've done."
Crack, crack, crack!
Susanoo's damaged forehead quickly repaired itself.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"I can destroy Susanoo if I go all out… but Kakashi has a Mangekyō too. I can't let him live."
Snap!
Susanoo raised its bow, aimed straight at Akamichi Choza and Kakashi!
The arrow shot through the air Choza's eyes widened in shock. "Not good!!"
—Daytime Tiger!
Boom!!
A roaring tiger of air flew across the sky, clashed with the arrow, and vanished in a fierce explosion.
Boom!!!
Might Guy, shrouded in the blazing blue aura of the Seventh Gate, landed in front of Choza.
Kakashi looked up at his comrade's back, exhausted.
"…Guy…"
On the other side, Suigetsu landed and drew his beheading sword. He bared his teeth and laughed,
"Well, if we're gonna die, might as well have a good fight!"
Swish!
Suddenly, the leader of the Konoha Anbu, codenamed Elephant, appeared with a flash
His Body Flicker Technique merged with swordsmanship as he slashed forward!
Whoosh!!
But Suigetsu's watery body ignored the attack completely!
"Huh?!" Elephant's masked face showed surprise.
"So that's it… you're from the Hozuki Clan."
"Too bad, physical attacks don't work on me!" Suigetsu sneered.
He grabbed his massive blade with one hand and swung it at Elephant's spine!
But Elephant reacted in time, pulling his sword behind his back and clanging it against the strike!
Suigetsu's expression shifted.
"Whoa, this guy's strong! He blocked my slash with those huge water wrists, without even looking!?"
Clang!
"Young man," Elephant said calmly, his back still facing Suigetsu,
"Don't underestimate Konoha's strength."
He formed a seal in front of his chest with two fingers, preparing for the next move.
—Lightning Style: Surrounding Lightning!
Crack...!
Fierce lightning burst from the hand gripping the sword and surged through Suigetsu's water body.
Suigetsu's face tensed.
"Damn it…! Lightning Style, the worst match for me…!"
—Ninjutsu: Super Beast Scroll - Fake Art!
A tiger drawn by Sai sprang from the ink and lunged at Suigetsu, biting down fiercely.
"Hahahahaha! Kill them! Kill them all!!"
Suigetsu landed, bloodlust pouring out as he prepared to attack again
But the man standing in front of him was none other than Hyuga Hiashi.
Hiashi calmly turned to face Jūgo. His Byakugan flared.
"I see… What intense chakra."
"Die!!!"
Jūgo roared and charged at him.
"Haaah!!"
Hiashi struck forward
—Eight Trigrams: Air Wall Palm!
Boom!!!
A powerful wave of air exploded outward, blasting Jūgo away violently!
Swish!
Hiashi rushed in, his eyes locking onto Jūgo's chakra points.
He pointed a sharp finger at Jūgo's chest
—Gentle Fist Technique: Chakra Point Strike!
Bang!
That single finger strike sealed Jūgo's chakra points.
Zi!
The curse mark faded, and Jūgo collapsed, unconscious. Konoha shinobi quickly moved in and captured him.
Hiashi stood tall and declared loudly,
"The Hyuga Clan is Konoha's strongest clan. Don't forget it!"
Rustle, rustle…
Katsuyu crawled over to Karin and spoke,
"Tsunade-sama, this girl is seriously injured. I can't save her with just my clone."
Tsunade, sitting cross-legged and performing the Katsuyu Technique, frowned.
"Sakura should be nearby. Let her handle it."
Sakura ran over and knelt beside Karin.
"Master Katsuyu, leave it to me."
"Sakura-sama, please help me," Katsuyu replied.
Sakura focused her green chakra into her palms and pressed them gently over Karin's wound.
"…Sasuke…" Karin murmured weakly.
Sakura paused for a moment, her eyes lowering.
"…So, you too…"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Susanoo's complete form was still running wild. If this went on, the village would be destroyed soon…
Nearby, Guy stood beside Kakashi, fists clenched.
"Nothing can stop that except the Eighth Gate of Death."
Kakashi's expression changed.
"Guy, no! Think of another way! This is a fight Konoha must face together. You don't need to sacrifice yourself alone!"
Guy calmly unbuttoned his shirt.
"No. If we hesitate, more people will die. The Death Gate is the fastest way to stop this. I wasn't here when Pain attacked. Naruto saved the village back then."
"But now… even Naruto is down. So this time, it's my turn."
Kakashi clenched his fist, eyes full of pain.
"…Guy, I'm sorry. I always let you…"
Guy smiled brightly.
"Don't look so down. Youth… means charging forward without fear!"
Clatter!!!
Just as Guy was about to open the Death Gate, a kunai struck the ground in front of him!
"What is that!?"
Guy and Kakashi turned around in surprise.
"It's Naruto-kun…!!"
Hinata, using her Byakugan, looked up at the figure standing in the wind on top of the Hokage Rock.
Inside Susanoo, Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"So… you finally came, Naruto."
The ancient bow, Tianzhimajia, formed in Sasuke's hands.
Black flames gathered into an arrow.
—Inferno Style: Flame Control!
"It's just like before… but this time, we're not fighting side by side."
Buzz!
In Naruto's raised hand, a massive Rasenshuriken took shape.
—Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasenshuriken!
Boom…!!
Wind and fire collided mid-air
An explosion of black flames and wind burst across the sky, creating a fiery storm over Konoha!
Swish! Swish!
The heatwave spiraled, shaking the entire battlefield.
Dust scattered against the Hokage Rock!
Snap! Snap!
A small crack appeared on Danzo's face carved into the stone.
As the storm settled
"This old place again," Naruto said quietly.
He looked toward the horizon, then turned, letting his cloak flutter in the wind.
Sasuke clenched his fists.
He understood, If Naruto was standing here now, it meant he had already defeated Masked Madara.
And if Sasuke didn't defeat Naruto first, he couldn't move forward with his revenge.
"Hmph, just what I wanted!"
Susanoo spread its wings and flew into the sky. After leaving Konoha's borders, Sasuke released the Susanoo and landed on the ground, running full speed
Chasing Naruto's back all the way to the Valley of the End.
Swish!
Sasuke landed atop the statue of Uchiha Madara.
Across from him, on the statue of Senju Hashirama, Naruto was already waiting.
Sasuke stood and said coldly,
"As you wished. I'm here, Naruto."
Naruto slowly turned around.
He had removed his mask, his eyes were now covered with a black cloth.
Yes, he was blindfolded.
This was Naruto's solution to prevent the crow that Itachi placed inside him from activating.
But Sasuke didn't know that.
To him, it looked like arrogance.
"What's the meaning of this, Naruto!?" Sasuke shouted angrily.
Naruto replied with a half-smile,
"You're really hard to deal with right now, Sasuke..."
Sasuke laughed coldly, furious.
"Heh... Fine. Naruto, you'll pay the price for mocking me!"
Naruto's expression turned serious.
"I've never looked down on you, Sasuke."
He raised two fingers to his chest and formed the Seal of Opposition, a symbol of ninja respect before a duel.
"..."
Sasuke stayed silent, then slowly returned the same sign.
"Come on, Sasuke!!"
"Come on, Naruto!!"
The wind howled, clouds rushed across the sky.
At the Valley of the End, the two shinobi, one light, one darkness, prepared to settle everything in their final battle.
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED
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