Hey, Reason back after a long break with *gasp!* a real story. I randomly decided to read the Naruto manga. As I got to the big fight scene between Sasuke and Naruto, I got all emotional and the like. I then found a picture on deviant art titled: Perfect Ending. It was Naruto and Sasuke in an ending that I saw fairly befitting. From there I was inspired to write after a very long time. So without further ado, here is "Perfect Ending"

Perfect Ending

The two young men stared at each other intensely, never breaking eye contact. They stood unspeaking; there was nothing left to be said. They were tired and they both knew it. Yet despite their physical condition, their feelings were so passionate, emotion alone could have kept them going for days. Best friends or bitter rivals? Two ninja or two beasts? You could hardly tell.

Naruto had released the chakra from the nine-tailed fox. As proof, his whisker-like markings were etched deeply down his face and his canines were elongated into sharpened fangs, his nails into claws. The boy's once cheerful blue eyes were now bright red, his pupils, mere slits. His body was surrounded by a red haze and the essence of the fox could be seen over him. All in all, he looked like a monster, but then again, Sasuke was no better. The curse mark place by Orochimaru had taken over. Sasuke's skin was a dark, sickly color and his dark eyes appeared to have turned as red as Naruto's. His once 'prince-like' facial features had flattened out, and a black cross shape scarred his flawless face along with his long, jagged, faded hair. Most frightening of all, two large grey wings had sprouted from his back completing his twisted transformation.

Any random passerby who would have seen the fight would have sworn two other worldly creatures had decided the make the forest their battle ground. They would have run for cover and hope to erase the horrible image from their memory. No one would have noticed the cold sorrow in Sasuke's blood-colored eyes or the tears streaming down Naruto's scarred cheeks. Despite what the others would see, they were truly best friends, fighting for a last goodbye. Then again, no one would pass through there. They were fighting at the Valley of the End, and no joy could come from the road lying ahead of it.

"Whatever it takes, even if I have to break him." Naruto thought as his chakra swirled violently in the shape of an orb in his hand. The thrashing blue reminded him of how he felt inside. He had promised Sakura that he would seek out Sasuke and return him home, but he didn't depart for her. He had to bring Sasuke back. Sasuke was the only one who could complete him. Without Sasuke's acceptance, without his presence, Naruto was not sure what he would do. Sasuke was his teammate, rival, and best friend, no matter what the raven thought of him. Naruto knew. He just knew. "I won't give him to anybody."

"I have to do this. I have to do whatever it takes to become stronger." Sasuke's face was illuminated by a sharp blue haze given off by the lightning that surrounded his hand. The fight had taken a toll on him and he knew this was his last chance. Ever since that day, Sasuke knew what he had to do. The brother that murdered his entire family, entire clan, had given him his assignment. He would have to kill the golden-haired boy in front of him. Without killing his closest person, he could not reach Itachi's level. Funny the way Naruto grew so angry when it seemed that Sasuke did not reciprocate being friends. "If only he knew what this meant."

For a moment the air was still. The monotonous flow of the water fall hung over their heads. The whirling air from Naruto's hand intermingled with the piercing hum produced by Sasuke's. And for a moment, since the start of the fight, it was as if the earth stood still and they were the last two standing.

"This is it," they thought simultaneously. "I'll do anything."

With this, the two boys began charging at each other, gaining speed as they grew closer. This was all they had left. In one last attack, both were determined to stop the other no matter what.

Rasengan met Chidori in a clash far more violent than any of the previous ones. The power brought about by their transformations was overwhelming and encompassed them. Even if they had to destroy each other, obliterate their entire relationship at that very moment, they would to achieve their goals.

"I have him; if I just push a little harder I can get him." Naruto deduced how he would strike his comrade down. "If I just—" At that instant in time, Naruto realized he couldn't do it. He realized that dragging Sasuke back would not solve anything. He realized that if there, at that cursed cavern, he struck down his best friend, he would never recover. So he pulled back. He slighted his hand just so, still landing the spectacular jutsu on the boy opposite of him.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke. I can't save you, not yet"

"He's mine. All I have to do is put a little more power into it." Sasuke knew he had a slight upper hand. Naruto just wanted him to return to Konoha. He needed Naruto to die. That added intensity made Sasuke's attack all the more powerful. And painful. "Just a little –" It was then that Sasuke realized there was no way he could kill him. In his time spent with team 7, he had learned love could be a strength more potent than any jutsu, and he was not about to annihilate his most precious friend. He shifted his hand just enough to not strike fatally.

Finally, the force around the two ninjas pushed them back. For a moment, neither knew where they were. Their monstrous states had regressed, and they became two unfortunate young boys again.

"This is it. Goodbye, Sasuke." Naruto had the words on his lips but no longer had the energy to open them. He closed his eyes and let the unconsciousness take over.

"It's over. It's done." Sasuke flew towards the falls, but landed harshly to the ground in front of it. He stood up slowly. He was injured badly. The fight had been harsh and his victory felt empty. He had always wanted to fight his blonde companion, just not like this.

As if the gods were mocking him, the sky cracked overhead and water burst from the sky. The avenger looked up into it, embracing the refreshing shower as he collapsed over his fallen comrade. At once, he felt a strong, stinging pain rush through his body, coughing up a spurt of blood. His ninja headband that had once marked his loyalty to his birthright was now slashed through. It seemed appropriate it was marked by Naruto. On his knees, he leaned over the face of his best friend. He thought of how life would have been if they spoke to each other when they were younger. He thought of all the times they had shared together in their ninja day. All the battles and arguments and pranks. It seemed so far way now. He pulled himself up from the ground, limping badly.

"I will not be your puppet. I will gain power in my own way. I will surpass you in my own way." Holding tightly on to his arm, he left past the border, just out of reach of his pursuers. He looked back at his unconscious friend before slowly walking away.

Naruto and Sasuke's fight had ended. And with the conclusion, both boys were more broken inside than they ever imagined. They both had dreams. They both had kept a steady goal since they were younger. 'To be Hokage!' 'To kill a certain man.' Would their meeting undermine all they thought they had wanted? Would this battle forever change their aspirations? They didn't know. As the two young ninja increased the distance between them and the valley, it felt as though they were still stuck in that final moment. The cavern marked the finish of their physical altercation, but their inner turmoil still stood clear. Without thinking, both unconsciously looked back towards the river. There at the Valley of the End, they had left a long, painful ending that for them, only marked the beginning.