It was the end. Naruto knew that it was the end. Finally, after all of these years spent training just to chase Sasuke... This was it.
He knew that Kakashi and Sakura had been surprised when he had declared his challenge to Sasuke; a final battle. They hadn't mentioned much else about it since then, especially about the part that Naruto couldn't stop thinking about. He was going to die. They would kill each other in the end. Senju against Uchiha, friend against friend, brother against brother. It was a fight that had been passed down from generation to generation. It was their destiny to destroy each other. He had always believed that you make your own destiny but this time, Naruto knew that this was how it had to be.
As the war raged on around him, all he could think about was that he was going to die by Sasuke's hand. Sasuke had stopped running. He had turned around to face Naruto eye to eye. Naruto had stopped chasing. His only role now was to fight for survival until that moment when he sees Sasuke once more. He would be ready for that day. He would be ready to kill and ready to...
He would think of Sakura as he fought. He loved her more than she imagined. He could never stop just as she could never stop loving Sasuke. It hurt him to think about her but it also gave him strength. She was a good friend. He felt a little bad when he thought of the children her and Sasuke would never have.
Naruto figured that Kakashi might try to stop him. He couldn't blame him. It would hurt to lose two precious students at once but Naruto knew the pain would pass. Kakashi would understand why it was Naruto's resonsibility to deal with Sasuke. He had always liked that about his dear teacher; his understanding. He had always admired him for his cool techniques too! Naruto smiled to himself at the thought of his younger self watching Kakashi fight. He had been too affected by that.
Shikamaru would understand too. He was sure that even if he were dead, the guy would still call him troublesome. He wondered when Shikamaru would noticed that it's him who is the troublesome one. Naruto also hoped that he would finally notice that he likes Temari. He figured that they must have something since he saw them walking together... more than once! He would have to ask Chouji later. He wouldn't mention his duel with Sasuke though. That fatass would never understand why Naruto had to go. He shook his head at the thought of his ragtag group of friends.
Kiba and Akamaru. Ino. Hinata. Shino. Neji. Fuzzy Brows. TenTen. Eight-tales. Fuzzy Brows Sensei. Captain Yamato. Iruka-sensei. Tsunade. Perverted Sage. The Third. Pein. Konan. Mother and Father. Kurama...
Everyone.
Naruto smiled warmly to himself. This was it. He had lived life to the fullest. He was loved, been loved, and shared his love with both friends and enemies. He had lived to be what he had wanted. This was it.
"I'm coming, Sasuke." He stood tall and proud, his face in the sun. "I'm ready."