"Tears are ways to express yourself far better than words."


Hinata was crying.

The sight, in itself, was unusual to behold, seeing how emotionally strong Hinata was, not breaking down to tears when she almost met her demise challenging Pein, shedding none when her heart was blasted with Gentle Fist, back in the Chuunin Exams, not even when the entirety of Konoha was destroyed by Akatsuki. Yet she was crying.

Sakura reflected that now, it wasn't much of a big deal. She herself was crying equally as hard beside Hinata, sobs wracking their injured bodies. Rain drummed heavily on the wooden rooftop, as a single candle in the middle of their small cabin - a substitute for their destroyed Konoha homes - was the only light source. The rest of the Allied Shinobi Forces had been wise to leave the two girls alone; not even Ino was as saddened as the two of them at this point.

It was only a few days since Akatsuki had been defeated and Madara was gone for good, except -

"You two are just another generation in line, ready to fight as destiny."

Curse that fake-Madara. Obito, or whatever his name was. Sakura could care less about history.

Except that those words gave an impact stronger than anticipated on Naruto and Sasuke. Of course Sasuke had decided to ally himself with them - it wasn't as if he wanted to be controlled in an eternal genjutsu. But the moment Madara and Obito fell, he broke links and bared his fangs.

Three days. That was the condition he gave to Naruto. In three days' time, they would recover from their sustained injuries, in three days, they would meet again, at the Valley of the End, where Lord Hashirama and Madara had fought their legendary battle.

And they would fight to the death. That was their destiny, what their lineage said, what their curse gave them. And no one could stop them.

Team Seven. Once so tightly-knit, now two were preparing to kill one another, one was recuperating, and one was in a broken mess, helpless to watch as her comrades would fall.

She remembered Naruto's words to Sasuke after Danzo's death. Before, it had sent a chill down her spine. Now it gave her a sense of dread.

"You felt it in our clash too, didn't you, Sasuke? The next time high-level shinobi like us fight...we'll both die."

Her fingers clenched into a fist, and she slammed it into a wall, taking care to control her inhuman strength. "Dammit!" she screamed, breathing hard. The entire cabin shuddered slightly, creaking.

Hinata looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. It seemed that she had shed all the tears she could, and was wallowing in a grief far superior to that. "Sakura-san..." she asked softly, doe-like lavender eyes resting on the pink-haired girl. "Do you think Naruto-kun will die?"

As much as Sakura wanted to reassure the girl, even though she herself was torn between the two, she knew it in her heart that it would never end with a draw, leaving the two alive. Who would keep their life? Who would lose theirs?

Sasuke was her first crush, at age six. The moment she'd laid eyes on him, a tingle had traveled through her heart. Over time, that simple little crush had blossomed into a powerful love, even as he turned rogue and threatened the safety of Konoha.

Naruto was, at first glance, extremely annoying. She'd viewed him as a nuisance and an irritating prankster, getting between her and Sasuke, though after time, a strong bond had developed between the two. Hardships had been shared, and Sakura could admit fully that Naruto was one of her best friends.

Even as those thoughts traveled through her mind, her lips formed an answer.

"Yes."

The candle flickered and went out.


"A battle between blood is the ultimate battle of all."


Three days. Three days Naruto had waited, recuperating, with a growing sense of dread. His injuries had healed at an incredible rate thanks to Kurama, and he had no doubt Sasuke would use White Zetsu as his own healer. Three days the rain had poured steadily over the Land of Fire, the weather reflecting the mood of the citizens.

Sakura and Hinata had locked themselves up in a cabin. He couldn't bring himself to go there, and comfort them. What would he say? That he would kill his best friend? No - not his best friend, actually. Sasuke was much more than that.

Sasuke was his brother.

Despite Kurama's promises to aid him, Naruto left, on the third day, with a heavy heart. His traditional orange-and-black jumpsuit was donned. His black forehead protector was tightened. He stashed extra kunai and shuriken in his ninja pouch, knowing he would need them in the battle.

His hand shook as he left his apartment, he knew for the last time. Immediately, rain battered on him, downing his spiky blond hair. His once-cheery blue eyes were desolate, even as he jumped from one rooftop to the next, his feet drumming on the wood, something the villagers had built after Nagato had destroyed the village.

He sped up, the landscape blurring around him. He was aware of a faint red aura, misting around him. Kurama's chakra, boosting him, aiding him.

"If you do not kill him, Sasuke will destroy the Five Nations, Konoha along with it," Kurama's voice rumbled in his ears. "You are the only one who can stop him. You can't have any hesitation."

"I know 'tebayo!" Naruto declared stubbornly aloud. He had already sworn to take the brunt of Sasuke's hatred back at the Gokage Summit, anyway. He had given his word, and he wasn't going back in it.

That was his ninja way, after all.

The Valley of the End neared fast - too fast for Naruto to register. As soon as he burst out the forest, he planted his feet in the First's stone head and dug his heels in, skidding a bit before stopping. Across, sitting in a casual position on Madara's own gigantic head, a figure moved, red eyes glinting behind soaked black bangs.

"Sasuke," Naruto acknowledged.

"Naruto," Sasuke returned, glaring at the blond. "I recall you once said you would take on all the hatred I have in me." there was the sound of something sliding out. In the dim light, Naruto's eyes caught the flash of a katana.

"I'll make you regret that."

"Like hell!" Naruto snapped back, even as Kurama's sun-like Yang chakra engulfed him. The whisker marks on his cheeks went bold, and his outfit turned into brighter colors. The Orange Hokage. "Sasuke! It's not too late to turn back! We'll welcome you, as our friend!"

"Don't screw with me!" Sasuke spat back, his Sharingan eyes alight with burning hatred. "I can't stand Konoha - any of you - living in blissful ignorance thanks to something my brother did! And treating him like some sort of misfit!" his hand clenched over his sword. "I'll slaughter every last one of you, starting with you, Naruto!"

Naruto narrowed his eyes, sliding a kunai out of his ninja pouch. "I'm really sad this had to happen, Sasuke."

Sasuke didn't reply; he brandished his sword with a vengeance, and the two brothers pushed off of each stone monument, powerful chakra crackling between them. In a split second of silence, the two stared in each other's eyes, and Naruto realized that, for once, they had the same eyes; desperation, remorse.

Pain.

Lightning lit up the sky as their blades met in a flurry of sparks, the sheer force making the stone faces behind them crumble. Sword pushed off kunai. The second battle at the Valley of the End had begun.

In another life, we would have been brothers, Sasuke.


"People ruled by vengeance always die young."


Sasuke had been making excuses.

At first, the overwhelming fury and desire to crush Konoha was real, his hatred for his brother blinding him and urging him forward. Then, during the war, he met his reanimated brother, who flatly told Sasuke how selfish he had been, and how he would always love him.

His hatred had subsided then.

After that, he had hesitated. Where was he going now? He was an internationally wanted criminal, someone as low as to attack his own comrades should the situation demand it. The blood of countless people stained his ruthless hands. Where was the boy who was stubborn to get stronger, to prove himself? Who protected his comrades and friends without a moment's thought?

And then there was Naruto, shining like a beacon of hope among misery. The jealousy returned, fresh and sharp as ever, from the Chuunin Exams. He'd felt outcasted, even when he helped the Allied Shinobi Nations.

Because his clan and Itachi, living safe in sound in an illusion, was just that: an illusion. That was worthless. That was hiding from reality, refusing to move forward.

And after Madara had fallen, Sasuke followed his ancestor's footsteps.

Obito had told him about the Curse of Hatred, passed down from generation to generation. Even the first Hokage and Madara had battled it out in that twist of fate.

He didn't know what had compelled him to do it; maybe it was the bitterness, the jealousy, the confusion of where he truly stood. His declaration of becoming Hokage was a fraud. No one would appreciate his face carved in stone beside the rest of the heroes of Konoha.

He wasn't a hero. He was an antagonist. Like his brother. Sought out and to be weeded by a revered hero.

That revered hero was Naruto. And Sasuke would be a dark spot in history, his name used to keep naughty children in line by housewives and mothers. Just like the rest of his clan. And he would follow their footsteps.

So when he told Naruto he would give him three days to recover from injuries, and then battle where the fateful battle of Hashirama and Madara had once taken place, he had almost taken it back. The shock and pain on his face - on everyone's face, made them too innocent, too naive.

Black Zetsu had whispered in his ear in his moments of hesitance. Filled him with renewed hatred, enough to last that, on the third day, he met Naruto with a deep, contained fury that was soon to be unleashed.

He had sat himself on Madara's head, waiting for the pounding rain to subside. Fitting that he sit on the statue of a feared villain. He sat there, waiting calmly for Naruto to arrive.

He noticed a blur of orange, black, and blonde, and Naruto was suddenly skidding on Hashirama's head. Doubt filled Sasuke again, until Black Zetsu's words murmured in his head again.

"Why should the Senju get all the glory? All the time, it was your bloodline that was disgraced, put down by its own ancestor..."

His onyx eyes automatically slipped into the red of his Sharingan. Naruto's movements became painstakingly clear to him then, along with his chakra. It was flowing hesitantly, as if Naruto was doubtful about the battle, too.

"Sasuke," Naruto greeted, his once-irritatingly cheery voice dark and grim.

"Naruto," Sasuke said back. "I recall you once said you would take on all the hatred you have in me." Automatically, his hand went to his sword, sliding it out of his sheath. A growl sounded low in his throat, unheard over the battering teardrops. "I'll make you regret that."

"Like hell!" his former teammate suddenly yelled, the chakra of the Nine-Tails engulfing him. The Yang chakra made him seem even more what everyone portrayed him to be - a hero, and that infuriated Sasuke so much more. "Sasuke! It's not too late to turn back! We'll welcome you, as our friend!"

Naruto had taken to pleading with him, but Sasuke knew he would be treated with suspicious glares if he ever returned. Not wanting the blond to realize that, he yelled back, "Don't screw with me!" his voice sounded harsh, even to his own ears. "I can't stand Konoha - any of you - living in blissful ignorance thanks to something my brother did! And treating him like some sort of misfit!" his hand clenched tightly over his katana.

"I'll slaughter every last one of you, starting with you, Naruto!"

Even as the words left his mouth, Sasuke knew he had gone too far, and there was no turning back. He and Naruto had been caught in the endless battle between the Uchiha and Senju - brothers pitted against one another.

Naruto seemed to realize it too. He heard the kachink of a kunai sliding out his pocket, his blue eyes uncharacteristically narrowed for once. "I'm really sad this had to happen, Sasuke," was all he simply said.

Sasuke had time to adjust his grip on his sword as the two jumped off of the heads of the stone statues, closing in on one another. His Sharingan saw every last movement, and there was a split-second of silence where all façades were ripped off, and they could finally see one another for the first time.

And as lightning tore the sky, their blades clashing, Sasuke realized that Naruto was in just as much pain as he was.