I don't own Naruto in an way shape or form.

talking: Ya' know

thinking: Ya' know

jutsu: Flying Raijin Jutsu

Summoning talking: You little runt

Summoning thinking: You little runt

Tailed Beast talking/slight possession: Damn you 4th Hokage

Tailed Beast thinking: Damn you 4th Hokage

**Warning: The end may piss some of you off. But please continue reading and following. Just a few more chapters and I will begin a side story with Haku, as well as a sequel.**

Chapter 26: Battle at the Final Valley, and the Dark Plan Takes Shape

Naruto was currently chasing after Sasuke through the forest near the border of the Land of Fire. Naruto couldn't understand it. Naruto had held his own against Sasuke, without his secret jutsu. Naruto didn't want to attract to much attention with either his smoke bombs, or the flashes caused by his jutsu. At the end of the fight, before they could hit eachother with their final jutsu, Kakashi intervened, ending the fight.

-Flashback-

The sun was about to set, and Naruto was heading home. Naruto had his mind on the fight he had earlier with Sasuke. Looking up when he realized he was close to home, he saw Sakura waiting for him.

"I need to talk to you, Naruto. So, if you want that date you've always wanted, you'll shut up and listen." Said Sakura, as she motioned for Naruto to follow him.

"Crap! I never expected Sakura to ask me for a date! Oh man, I got no choice but to go along. Hopefully, this won't go on any further than this." Naruto thought, as he followed Sakura.

Naruto and Sakura had gone to 'Ichiraku's Ramen'. While there Sakura had told Naruto all that happened after he fell unconsious, during the 2nd stage of the 'Chunnin Exams'. She also explained to him about the 'Curse Mark' on his neck, and that she believed it was what's effecting Sasuke's additude.

-The next morning, Hidden Leaf Gate-

Shikamaru and Naruto were called into the Hokage's office early the next morning. Tsunade had informed them that Sasuke had defected towards the Hidden Sound Village, and by extention, Orochimaru. Both Naruto and Shikamaru couldn't believe what they had just heard. Eventually, Shikamaru and Naruto were ordered to gather a team and leave within half an hour. Tsunade placed Shikamaru in charge due to his high intelect, but Naruto would be 2nd in comand.

Half an hour later, the team of Naruto, Neji, Choji, Kiba and Shikamaru, were at the Hidden Leaf Gate. Shikamaru came up with the line-up for their pursuit. From front to back it was: Kiba with Akamaru, Shikamaru, Naruto, Choji and then Neji. As they were about to exit the village, Sakura had shown up. Sakura had asked Naruto to fulfill her wish of a life time. She asked him to bring her Sasuke back to her. Naruto of course, couldn't let a friend look so sad. So, he promised that he'd do whatever it took. With that, they left in pursuit of Sasuke.

-Flashback End-

"Choji, Neji, Kiba and Akamaru, Shikamaru and 'Bushy Brow'. Thanks for all your help. Just hang on, I'll bring back that jerk!" Naruto thought, as he finally caught up to Sasuke. "SASUKE!" Naruto yelled.

Sasuke stopped at the other end of valley, standing on the head of a large statue. "Oh, it's you." Said Sasuke, as he slowly turned around.

Seeing Sasuke's face had shocked Naruto. Sasuke's left eye seemed to be golden in color, and he had black markings on his face. Pushing his appearance aside, Naruto tried to talk to Sasuke. "Sasuke! What do you think you're doing?! Why're you going to Orochimaru?!"

"What's it to you? My days playing ninja with you kids in the Leaf, are through." Sasuke replied.

"What?! You mean to tell me, that Choji, Neji, Kiba and Shikamaru all risked their live for nothing?!" Naruto yelled, angry that Sasuke was acting the way he was.

"Did they now? How thoughtful. Go home, Naruto. That village can't help me get stronger." Said Sasuke, as he began turning around.

Jumping across the valley, Naruto tackling Sasuke to the ground. After turning him over and grabbind his shirt, Naruto continued. "Are you crazy?! Orochimaru killed the 3rd Hokage and tried to destroy the village! You think he's going to give you any power for free?! He just wants to wear your body like a new set of clothes! The bastard is a triator to the village! And you want to get power from him, when he got most of his power from the Leaf Village?!" Naruto yelled, before he punched Sasuke in the face.

Sasuke just spat a little blood in Naruto's face, before replying. "If it's to kill Itachi, then I'll give up anything." With that Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the collar of his orange jumpsuit, and began to lift him up. Naruto placed a hand on Sasuke's hand, trying to get him to let go, but it didn't work. So Naruto settled for the next best thing. Once Sasuke was standing, he let go of Naruto and with the same hand, delivered a powerful punch to Naruto's gut. Naruto was sent flying off the statue and into the water, that eventually led to the waterfall.

"Ugh! What the hell? Since when could he punch that hard? Ow. It doesn't matter. I'll have no choice but to stop him by force." Naruto thought, as he rose back to the surface.

"There you are. Do you get it yet? I've been asleep the whole time I've been in the village. But thanks to Orochimaru, I'm wide awake." Said Sasuke, as he looked down on Naruto. "Still. Naruto has that jutsu. Luckily, he needs a tag or a tagged kunai to use it on me. Heh, It's a good thing I made extra sure not to have that tag on me. But I still have to keep my distance, just in case he's able to sneak one of those tags on me." Sasuke thought, as he began making handsigns. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" Said Sasuke, as he fired his strongest 'Fire' jutsu at Naruto.

Knowing that using his 'Wind' jutsu was too dangerous, Naruto dove out of the way and into the water.

"Huh? Not bad, diving underwater. Too bad you won't be coming back up." Said Sasuke, weaving more handsigns. This went on for another minute, and Naruto was running out of air.

"Shit! I've got no choice, otherwise I'll drown." Naruto thought, as he prepaired his 'Rasengan'.

Sasuke was prepairing handsigns for his next jutsu, when suddenly a yellow flash appeared right in front of him.

"Rasengan!" Naruto yelled, ramming his jutsu into Sasuke's gut. Sasuke was then sent flying, over the side of the statue and down the toward the water at the bottom of the waterfall. "Heh. Got him."

-Sasuke-

Sasuke couldn't believe that Naruto managed to use his 'Flying Raijin Jutsu', and hit him with the same jutsu that he had only seen during their fight on the hospital roof. "Damn it! That's impossible! How'd Naruto manage to use that jutsu?! I know for a fact that he didn't tag me. And I didn't even bring my weapons pouch with me. So how did he do it?!" Sasuke thought, after landing in the water with a large *SPLASH*. "Ugh. Damn that hurt. I can't move. I've got no choice, but to use my 'Curse Mark'."

-Naruto-

Naruto went to the edge of statue, looking down on towards Sasuke. "C'mon. I doubt that's enough to take you out." Naruto said, talking to himself as he waited for Sasuke to resurface.

Finally, Sasuke resufaced. This time though, he had black markings covering the skin on his body. Naruto could see the look on his face, the look of intense anger. "NARUTO! I'm going to kill you, for that!" Sasuke yelled, watching Naruto very carefully with his now activated Sharingan.

"Bring it on! That Sharingan and Curse Mark won't help you! AND YOU'LL REGRET LEAVING THE VILLAGE!" Naruto yelled, once again disappearing in a yellow flash.

Sasuke recieved a punch in the face the exact moment another yellow flash appeared right infront of him again. Skidding atop the water, Sasuke tried to stand up. Unfortunately, Sasuke was again punched in the gut, forcing him underwater. "Ugh, damn it. My Sharingan can't keep up with him." Sasuke thought, as he resurfaced once again.

"Had enough yet?" Naruto asked, as Sasuke's head rose above the water. "Just give up and come back to the village. You can't beat me." Naruto continued, as Sasuke finally stood back up.

"Don't get too COCKY! I still haven't been going all out. And it's you who can't beat me!" Sasuke replied. At that moment, Naruto noticed something change within Sasuke's eyes. The two commas in each eye, now became three commas in each eye.

"Then prove it." Naruto replied, as he went on another attack.

Sasuke could feel the change in his eyes. With it he believed he'd be able to see even a slight movement. But that theory blew out the window, as he was once again hit with out seeing anything but a yellow flash.

"Ugh. Not again. Since when does he not need a seal to use that jutsu?" Sasuke thought, as he stood up yet again.

"Give up, Sasuke. I told you, you can't win. Keep fighting and I'll have to really start hurting you." Said Naruto, prepairing another 'Rasengan'.

"Then br.. Argh!" Sasuke began, before he fell to his knees coughing up some blood. "Not again, not now! *Sigh* I've got no choice but to use 'Stage 2'." Sasuke thought.

"Looks like you can't fight anymore, Sasuke. Give up now, and then we can go back to the village and get you looked at. The more you fight, the more you'll get hu..."

"SHUT UP! I haven't fallen so low that I need you to worry about me!" Sasuke yelled, interrupting Naruto.

"You're right. You've fallen even lower than that. Going to a traitor for power. I never thought you could've fallen so low." Naruto replied, his jutsu still in hand.

"Why? Why are you going so far for me?" Sasuke asked, looking Naruto in the eye.

Glancing briefly down at the water, Naruto replied. "Because, to me you're like a brother. That's why I can't let someone like Orochimaru, get their hands on you. That's why I'll do whatever it takes, even if I have to break every bone in your body."

"A brother, eh? That's a powerful bond. If that's the case, I'll just have to sever that bond!" Yelled Sasuke, as the black marking began to glow red and began connecting to eachother, covering all of Sasuke's skin.

Once the glowing died down, Naruto could hardly recognize him. In fact he would've been fooled if it weren't for the fact that this happened right in front of him. Sasuke now had dark grey skin, with a black four-point star on the bridge of his nose. The whites of his eyes were now pitch black, allowing the Sharingan to 'pop' out even more. "S..Sasuke? What's happened to you?" Naruto asked, taken aback by this transformation.

"Heheh. I've become stronger, Naruto. Do you still think you can win?" Sasuke asked, a confident smirk on his face. Sasuke was answered almost immediately, as he took another 'Rasengan' to the gut. "What the?! DAMN IT! I forgot about that?" Sasuke thought, as he crashed on to the shore next to the river.

"Doesn't matter if you've gotten stronger, Sasuke. It means nothing if you can't see your opponents movements." Said Naruto, as he walked towards Sasuke.

"Ugh! How? How are you using that jutsu without a sealing tag?!" Sasuke asked, as he stoop up and sprouted wings that looked like giant hands, and took flight.

Naruto watched as Sasuke took to the air, before he answered. "Remember when you grabbed me by the collar, and I tried to pry your hand off?" Naruto asked. Getting a questioning look from Sasuke, Naruto continued. "Since I couldn't get you to let go, I settled for the next best thing. You've only ever seen me use the "Flying Raijin Jutsu!" with a sealing tag, whether it was attached to a kunai or not, or if my weapons had the seal etched on the the weapons."

Sasuke finally caught on, and took a look at his hand. But he didn't see anything there. Giving another questioning look towards Naruto, said person continued.

"I can place a seal on anything and anyone. The seal only appears where I placed it, and only when it's about to be put to use. At first I was inexpierienced, so the seal was only temporary. But now, the seal is permanent." Naruto finished, creating multiple Shadow-Clones with each one forming the 'Rasengan'.

Sasuke's eyes widened, as he looked back at his hand. Sure enough, just as Naruto said, the seal had appeared.

"Last chance, Sasuke! Give up, or I'll beat you till you can't move!" Naruto warned, as he and his clones got ready to attack.

Angry that he was at a loss, Sasuke abandoned all reason and formed his own jutsu. The 'Chidori'. This was different from the usual one he used. Due to the influence of the 'Curse Mark', the jutsu turned black. "JUST TRY IT, LOSER!" Sasuke yelled, arming his 'Black Chidori'.

"Alright, you asked for it! "Flying Raijin: Multi-Rasengan Barrage" !" Naruto yelled, beginning his attack. One by one the Shadow-Clones dissappeared and reappeared in front of Sasuke, ramming their jutsu into him. It didn't matter if they hit the gut, arms, legs or even the wings. After each hit, Sasuke would be sent flying from one side of the valley to the other before getting hit by the next Shadow-Clone. Eventually, the real Naruto was the only one left. Sasuke was sent directly to him by the last Shadow-Clone.

Sasuke was somehow consious through the whole attack. The whole time, Sasuke thought. "Impossible. How can this loser beat me? An Uchiha." Those were Sasuke's last thoughts, as he fell unconsious by Naruto's last attack in the barrage.

Naruto was standing on by Sasuke's side. That last attack had sent him in the direction of the Leaf Village. Naruto was worried that Sasuke might not make it back to the village alive, he bent down to pick him up when a hand grabbed his wrist. Looking to see who the hand belong to, Naruto saw his sensei, Kakashi Hatake.

"Kakashi sensei?"

"It's alright, Naruto. I'm sure you're exhausted, so I'll carry him back to the village." Said Kakashi, letting go of Naruto's hand and picking up Sasuke. "Let's hurry."

"Right." Naruto replied. With that, they both started up the cliff with the destination of the Leaf Village set in mind.

-Final Valley, 2 minutes later-

"To think that child possessed such a powerful jutsu." Said the white-half, of an Akatsuki cloaked, plant-like figure.

"In deed. He defeated the Uchiha boy without the Nine-Tails' chakra. Truely a worthy prize of our organization." Replied the black-half.

"We must report this battle to the other members." Said white-half.

-Hidden Leaf Hospital-

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune yelled, getting the attention of everyone standing in the hallway. Tsunade heself had just walked out of the operation room, which held one Choji Akamichi within.

"What is it?" Tsunade asked.

"Neji Hyuga's condition is 'stable'. There is no longer a threat to his life. I also have news of the other members of the team sent to retrieve Sasuke Uchiha. Kiba Inuzuka has suffered serious injuries, but are not life threatening. Naruto Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake have just returned, Naruto's injuries appear to be minimal at worst. Sasuke Uchiha however, is seriously wounded and is being treated as we speak." Said Shizune, finishing her report on everyone's condition and status.

"Very well. Go attend to Sasuke Uchiha, I'll be with you shortly to take over." Tsunade ordered.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade." Shizune replied, before carrying out her orders.

"Seems everyone from the team is alive. And you succeded in your mission. Congradulations, Shikamaru." Said Tsunade, as she walked after Shizune.

Shikamaru had been crying by this point. He was glad that the mission was a success, but even more so that everyone was alive. "Th..*sob* Thank you, Lady *sob* Tsunade." Shikamaru replied, as he continued to cry.

-The next day-

Sakura and Ino were at the receptionist's desk, coming to check in on thier teammate. "Going to check on Naruto?" Ino asked.

"Yea. And Sasuke too, if he's in." Sakura replied.

"Naruto Uzumaki hasn't been admitted, I'm afraid." Said the receptionist.

"Huh? Why not?" Sakura asked, with a confused look on her face.

"He only had a fist sized bruise around his stomach area, so there was no need to hold him here." Replied the nurse.

*Sigh* *Gasp* "What about Sasuke?"

"He is in room 306. He's somehow stable, despite the injuries he recieved."

"Thank you!" Sakura yelled, from down the hall. Sakura and Ino didn't bother listening once they heard what room he was in. Instead they started running as soon as they heard the room number.

"Uh, you're welcome?"

-Outside room 306-

Tsunade was talking to Naruto about what will happen to Sasuke. As Tsunade and Naruto were about to enter the room, she stopped when she heard. "Lady Tsunade!"

Seeing who it was that called her, Tsunade said. "Sakura. Ino. Here to visit Sasuke I see."

"Yes ma'am. Is he alright?" Sakura and Ino replied, simultaneously.

"Alright then, come on in. But be quiet, he's not awake." Tsunade informed.

"But, Lady Tsunade." Said an ANBU, no one noticed until now.

"It's alright, Cat." Said Tsunade, as she opened the door and let everyone in.

"What's with the ANBU, Lady Tsunade?" Ino asked, as the door was being closed.

"Precautions, just in case Sasuke or anyone attempts to aid Sasuke in leaving the village again." Tsunade replied, pointing towards the bed Sasuke was resting in.

-5 minutes later-

Sakura and Ino were sitting next to Sasuke's bed, on either side of him. Tsunade had explained to them Sasuke's condition, both in health and in life. Unless Sasuke had a lot of luck on his side, he'd be executed if not long-term imprisionment. Naruto ofcourse had immediately spoken against both options. Tsunade told him that, since he was an acting Chunnin on the squad, that his words MIGHT have some sway in Sasuke's final judgement. Naruto said he'd do whatever it took to keep Sasuke from either of those punishments.

Eventually, the whole room was quiet. It was Sakura, who broke the silence. "Naruto." She began.

"Huh? Yea, Sakura?" Naruto asked.

"Thank you." Sakura replied.

"Huh?"

"Thank you for bringing Sasuke back. I had faith that you'd bring Sasuke back, and I'm truly greatful that you did." Said Sakura, with tears running down her face.

"No problem, Sakura. I'm sorry I had to beat him up so bad though."

"It's fine. Lady Tsunade said he'll make a full recovery, in time."

*Knock knock*

"Who is it?" Tsunade asked.

From behind the door, the heard Shizune's voice saying. "It's me, Shizune."

In a loud voice, Tsunade replied. "Come in." Once Shizune had close the door behind her, Tsunade asked. "What is it, Shizune?"

"You, Naruto and Lord Jiraiya have been requested to a meeting with the Village Elders, in the 'Council Chambers. I've already sent word for Lord Jiraiya." Shizune answered.

*Sigh* "Alright. Everybody, out. Naruto, you're coming with me." Said Tsunade, as she began walking towards the door.

-In the Council Chambers-

Tsunade, Naruto, Koharu, Homura and Danzo were all present within the chamber. They were currently waiting on Jiraiya, so they could begin the meeting. Once Tsunade and Naruto had entered, Naruto was asked to sit in a chair in the middle of the room. When Tsunade asked what this was about, the elder's responded with "Once Lord Jiraiya has come, everything will be made clear". Needless to say, Tsunade didn't like where this was going.

Just when Tsunade's patience was running out, the door opened and in walked Jiraiya. "Sorry I'm late. But I nearly put an ANBU in the hospital for interrupting my research." Said Jiraiya, after he closed the door.

"It's about time you're here, Jiraiya. Now, what's all this about?" Tsunade asked, ignoring what Jirayia had said.

"Allow me, Princess." Said Danzo. Once he got everyone's attention, he continued. "We're here because, we, as in your advisors and I, believe that one Naruto Uzumaki has grown to be too powerful. And must be removed from the Shinobi Program, immediately."

After a moment's silence, Tsunade, Jiraiya and Naruto replied simultaneoulsy. "WHAAAAAAT?!"

Well there you have it. The longest chapter in a while. I know the ending as well as the cliffhanger has, more than likely, pissed you off. But PLEASE, keep reading. Besides, I did warn you. Anyway, thank you please review and keep following.