A/N Hello! I'm Irishauthor94 and welcome to my first Story! Now to address a few things: I like to believe that my literacy skills and writing style are at the very least decent. That being said I will make mistakes, (Knowing me I will make plenty of them.) however I am not doing this to flaunt my linguistic talents. I am merely a College Student with some free time and some decent ideas.

Now without further ado, on to the story.

An ominous crash rang out throughout the Valley of the End and its surrounding area, those who lived in this continent of Shinobi sovereignty, creatures both civilized and wild could discern the signs and sounds of a battle. They knew that the site of said battle was not where they wanted to be right now, and who can blame them for this reaction? After all, the Valley itself was formed by a battle, a battle of two talented, former comrades turned against one another, if the earth itself were sentient; it would be experiencing déjà vu.

Two young teenagers, both 13, both with hands outstretched towards each other, were positioned at the centre of the valley. their outstretched arms were obscured by blinding blue and white Chakra, the fast hum and whine of rotating energy, added to the chirping, crack of electricity. This being the only, deafening soundtrack to a stalemate of unrelenting power, the effort being made to at least maintain the stalemate for the time-being was clearly visible on both boys' faces. the water beneath them being was being turned to a roaring maelstrom by the force of their attacks. Their struggle continued for what seemed like an eternity. Then with an almighty CRACK the struggle ended. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha were both sent flying in opposite directions by the discharge of their now-overloaded signature attacks.

Both boys were sent tumbling head over heels, rolling over the surface of the water for at least 30 yards a-piece before both fell beneath the surface. As physics would dictate, neither stayed beneath for long. both boys were competent swimmers and had plenty of oxygen in their chests to be able to rise to the surface. Using the abilities inherent to Shinobi, Sasuke then climbed back on top of the surface of the water, having recovered faster than his former teammate.

Naruto simply lay there, floating on his back upon the lake's surface, taking a moment to absorb the ramifications of his situation. after everything that had occurred between them, he couldn't believe what was happening.
'there's no doubt about it, you're serious, serious about…killing me… aren't you Sasuke?'
Turning his head to the side the only response he got was a glare from piercing blood-red eyes and an arrogant smirk that was typical of the raven-haired prodigy.

Despite the failure of the full-powered version of his most lethal technique, Sasuke was completely confident.
'That Jutsu of his, it's too powerful to beat in a show of force, i need to outmanoeuvre him. All I need to do is create an opening, but I need more speed to do so,' and with that he released the restraint binding the cursed seal on his neck, Allowing this darker chakra to spread across his body, greatly increasing his physical attributes. 'I just need to psyche him out, then line him up, and hit him with another Chidori.'

Roughly 60 yards away Naruto had by now clumsily clambered back on to his feet. His heart wasn't in this fight, unlike Sasuke he had no intention of killing his teammate, the teammate whose voice now called out to him.
"Did you know Naruto?" the Uchiha prodigy began, Flame-like black marks adorning his face,
"Two Shinobi, when at a high enough level, are able to read each other's thoughts with a simple exchange of fists?" Naruto remained speechless.
"You're Naïve, Naruto"
at this, Naruto looked up once more, Defiance burning in his eyes. He looked up to see a face that he barely recognized. The curse marks weren't even the point that Naruto took in, it was his expression…

Even at his most arrogant, even at his highest boiling point of rage, Sasuke had never worn an expression like that, a look that suggested that not only was Naruto not worthy of his time, but that he'd be killed for such an offense as to even look at someone so far above him, and killed with sadistic pleasure at that.

"What do you think?" the brooding Uchiha asked, relishing in the thought that his ambition would soon find new ground, ready to carry out his plan.
"Were you truly able to read my mind?" Sasuke dropped into a more combat-ready stance
"WERE YOU ABLE TO READ MY INTENT?" Raising his voice to a guttural bellow, Sasuke weaved hand signs for his next attack.
"KATON: Housenka no Jutsu!" with that a flurry of small flames flew from Sasuke's mouth, directly at his blonde adversary, Naruto jumped over the onrushing attack comfortably.

'Perfect.' and with that the Uchiha Prodigy disappeared with a blur of motion, reappearing right next to Naruto's airborne frame,

'You can't dodge me in the air' Sasuke thought as he delivered a devastating hook to Naruto's jaw, which sent him soaring back down to the surface of the lake,

Landing hard but still able to keep his balance on the water, Naruto hardly had a chance to react as Sasuke landed behind him, rushing in to resume his assault. He doubled Naruto over and knocked the wind out of him with a solid punch to the gut, Before following up with a right hook to the blonde's face. reeling from the prodigy's assault Naruto's attempts to retaliate were cut short by a hand lifting him up by his throat.

Naruto opened his eyes only to see the white flashing and hear the consistent chirping that could only mean one thing. And he quickly attempted the only thing he could do to prevent it.
"IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT NARUTO!"
Sasuke's advanced vision had given him all the warning signs he needed as Naruto's Chakra began to rise from his body, visible as a deep orange flame.

"Chidori!"

Sasuke's lightning enhanced arm pierced into Naruto's chest, like a knife through butter, before blasting out through his back, eliticing a guttural cry of pain from the blonde jinchuuriki. The water beneath the pair was dyed crimson by the blood flowing out from the gaping wound, that went straight through Naruto's chest.

Naruto had managed to slightly knock Sasuke's aim aside to his left. But nowhere near enough for it to matter. half of his pulmonary arteries were now leaking life-blood, and with the hole in the left of his chest a major portion of his lung would be missing too. But Sasuke knew from a year's experience, he knew, NEVER to underestimate Naruto, that healing ability of his could still activate, so Sasuke kept his arm where it was...

Naruto as to be expected was in very visible agony, he could feel his chakra slowly leaving him. Sasuke's arm was still there to prevent the wound from sealing and lightning chakra was still surging through his nerves, and to top that Sasuke's arm was acting like a plug, slowing the rate at which Naruto was losing blood. his injuries were too severe for the Kyuubi's chakra to properly circulate, especially with the lightning rod-arm of a resistor in the way. meaning for all intents and purposes this was going to be a very slow, very painful death.

"I'll still…bring you…back, I promised…Sakura" Naruto growled out, swinging his right arm again, defiant to the last.

"In the condition you're in you'll only be going back alone, in a body bag!" Sasuke replied viciously, while merely tilting his head to avoid Naruto's feeble punch,
"So much for your ambition to become Hokage!"

"I can't... I can't be Hokage... What kind… of Hokage… can't even save one friend?" Naruto mournfully cut back, tears welling up in his eyes.

Sasuke's sharingan-enhanced eyes widened. Naruto was supposed to be unbreakable! He always had been, nothing ever got to him. He was an emotional rock. but it wasn't his own death he was mourning, it was the loss of his friend.

With that thought the curse marks on Sasuke's face turned red and began to recede back to his neck, the removal of the curse seal's influence became apparent immediately, Sasuke was not shocked, he was not horrified at what the corruption of such power had made him do, he had intended to do such things regardless, what shocked him was the manner in which he did these things.

Realizing this, Sasuke abruptly pulled his arm out of Naruto's chest, ending his long-lasting Chidori as he did so. Naruto began to feel weaker, and weaker, he could feel his consciousness slipping.
"I'm sorry... Sakura, I couldn't... bring...him...home, I... couldn't keep my...word."

Naruto's eyes closed. Never to open again.

Sasuke lost track of how long he stood there. Still holding on to Naruto by the collar of his jacket, he dragged Naruto to the bank of the Lake, on the Oto side. he owed Naruto that at least, he owed him more than to just let him sink to the bottom of a fathoms deep lake never to be found. Placing down his motionless team-mate softly on a large flat stone, Sasuke simply sat there half expecting the blonde spring back up. this being another of his elaborate pranks. This was not the case, Naruto was gone.

He had just killed one of the only people to consider him a true friend. Not as the good looking guy in their class, not as "The Last Uchiha". but as Sasuke, as a true friend. He could not see it himself, but as he sat there, there was vague movement in his still active Sharingan, as the pattern of his tear-ridden eyes shifted, Itachi had not lied, and the murder of his best friend, had yielded The greatest prize, at the very highest of costs...

Sorry for the length, but it's not the size that counts it's how you use it ;)

I'll see how this goes review wise before i go crazy on updates.

Jutsu Run Down:

Rasengan: Spiralling Sphere: Naruto's signature Jutsu, pure Chakra, condensed to ball form, rotating in many directions for each layer of chakra, Damage-dealer

Chidori: One-Thousand Birds: Sasuke's signature Jutsu, originally Kakashi's creation, elemental chakra in the form of lightning. named for the sound it produces.

Katon: Housenka No Jutsu: Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu: pretty standard fire jutsu, a barrage of small fireballs, not very powerful, usually a distraction.

Irish out!

Thanks to DreamOfStories for getting me to buck my ideas up grammar-wise. I hope this draft is better than the original.