"You bastard, I'm bringing you back no matter what!"
With a furious shout, Naruto launched himself over the water, dashing straight toward Sasuke.
Sasuke, standing across the river, narrowed his eyes with cold disdain. "If that's how it is... then I'll just have to kill you."
His eyes gleamed with icy resolve as he leapt forward to meet Naruto on the water.
The two rapidly closed the distance, stepping into each other's striking range. Sasuke flung a kunai with a swift flick of his wrist.
Naruto, who had improved significantly in recent times, dodged it with ease and charged forward, throwing a punch.
Sasuke raised his palm to block and immediately countered with a high kick.
Naruto crossed his arms to guard and was sent sliding backward across the water's surface with a loud splash.
Not letting up, Sasuke rushed forward and swung his fist, forcing Naruto to raise his arms again to block. After several swift exchanges, Naruto backflipped to widen the gap.
He then tossed a Pokéball out toward the water.
"Bulba!"
Bulbasaur emerged—only to find itself flailing in the middle of the water in confusion.
It stared back at Naruto with hesitation and dismay. Seriously? I was chilling in the Pokéball, and you dropped me into this mess?
Naruto blinked. "Wait... Bulbasaur, you can't walk on water?"
"Idiot!" Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He sprinted toward Naruto and launched another attack.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Quickly recalling Bulbasaur, Naruto formed the hand seals and multiplied into a sea of clones.
Sasuke activated his Sharingan and flung a kunai at the nearest approaching clone.
Though the clones weren't strong individually, their overwhelming numbers quickly cornered him. Just as they swarmed in, Sasuke struck a clone, then leapt back and formed seals in mid-air.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Fwoosh—
A massive fireball surged toward Naruto.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and leapt aside just in time, narrowly dodging it. Despite its intimidating size, the fireball lacked killing intent, allowing him to escape unscathed.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, Sasuke appeared beside him and kicked him square in the chest.
Bam!
Naruto was sent flying in a shallow arc, bouncing off the water like a skipped stone before crashing into a tree.
Sasuke didn't pursue, his voice low and frigid. "Dead last will always be dead last. No matter how hard you try. I'll spare you today, but next time—we won't talk."
"Sasuke!!" Naruto rose from the water, eyes blazing. "Why!? Why did you leave?!"
"Heh—" Sasuke scoffed coldly. "Why? Because I'm done playing house in Konoha. I never wanted to stay. Pathetic bonds... only fools like you believe in that crap."
Naruto clenched his fists, fury turning his eyes red. "I won't let you say that. I'm taking you back!"
Sasuke's gaze turned murderous. "Do you really think I won't kill you?"
But Naruto didn't hear him anymore. He kept muttering, "Take you back… I'll take you back…"
Then—chakra flared around him.
His aura twisted. Negative energy surged from his body.
Sasuke's expression hardened. He'd seen this transformation before.
It was dangerous.
Two tails of chakra sprouted from Naruto's waist.
He dropped low to the water, his posture like a beast ready to pounce.
Whoosh—
In a blur, Naruto vanished and reappeared in front of Sasuke.
"So fast!"
Sasuke's eyes widened, unable to follow his movements.
Naruto swung a ferocious punch.
Smash—
Sasuke was too slow to react. The punch slammed into his face, launching him across the river.
"Argh!!"
Crashing into the water, Sasuke howled in agony, pain surging through his entire body.
Naruto didn't relent. He charged again.
Sasuke barely managed to raise a defense, but even then, it only took a few moves before he was sent flying again.
Skidding to a stop on a floating log, Sasuke glared at Naruto.
"I saw his attack… but I couldn't block it."
"What is this chakra? It feels... alive."
"No, this isn't normal chakra."
As he tried to process it, Naruto attacked again. Sasuke rapidly formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
But this time, Naruto extended a red, chakra-formed arm, grabbed the fireball, and hurled it away.
Boom!
The redirected fireball struck the cliffside, sending massive boulders crashing into the river.
Sasuke's eyes trembled.
He never imagined Naruto could deflect his technique so easily.
Jealousy and bitterness stirred within him.
Why? Why is he this strong?
He was always just the loser. But now… I can't even beat him.
I'm the genius. I should be the strongest!
"No! I can't be afraid. I still have to kill Itachi. If I can't even handle this—how can I kill him?"
With that thought, Sasuke's killing intent surged.
The curse mark on his neck spread across his body.
His eyes turned blood-red.
Soon, his body mutated—skin darkened to a violet-black hue, and two grotesque, wing-like limbs sprouted from his back.
He looked like a monster twisted by dark power.
Though hideous, his chakra grew stronger—wicked and overwhelming.
The air trembled with his newfound might.
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