"I can't believe I pulled it off..."

Those were the only words that Sasuke Uchiha could say after his intense fight with Naruto Uzumaki.

"That red aura...the fox-like stance...and...how did I do it?"

"Well, maybe Orochimaru will tell me when the time comes."

As Sasuke slowly runs in the outskirts of the Leaf Forest searching for Orochimaru, he notices that the sun is starting to go down. It has been 3 days since Sasuke has defeated Naruto, and the pain has not weakened since then.

"Must I live with this forever!"

Only then, he realized that not only is his pain becoming stronger, but he feels that another force is weakening him as well.

"Where is this pain coming from?"

It was at this moment that he noticed his curse mark was acting up. Deciding on the best strategy, he found an abandoned hut to stay for the night in a burnt field along the path. He noticed that no life was growing, it was a barren land that was once a beautiful place; however, war has passed through these desolate lands.

After setting up camp, he studied his curse mark through a broken mirror found on the floor. The curse mark was growing, and it was forming a reddish-aura around the outline of the pattern.

"This cannot be right, the Sound Four told me that the curse mark in its second form would stabilize in my body, why would it cause me such pain?"

"No, this cannot be the cause of my pain. I must be strong till I find the truth."


Come on Naruto, give up, you cannot defeat me

Yes I can...and I will defeat you if my name isn't Naruto Uzumaki

Alright, you asked for it...Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!

Ahhh!!


"What? Huh? It was only a dream?"

"Then, why do I feel...oww... that pain again?"