Our story starts in a manmade valley, deep in the vast country known as Hi no Kuni. The historical site's very existence on the landscape was entwined with the event that created it. The Valley of the End was gouged into the earth by a battle between the two men memorialized in stone. They stood as tall as the valley was deep, opposing each other and locked in a gesture indicating ninja conflict. Madara Uchiha, and Hashirama Senju.

Up until today, it would've been hard to believe it had been a battleground only nine decades prior. Madara, the man with his brother's eyes and revenge in his heart, had branded the legendary nine tailed beast with his will. He directed this power at the leader of the hidden leaf, and the Senju had returned fire with every bit of nature's power he could muster. Perhaps that was why the valley looked almost natural today?

Or rather, it looked that way yesterday. A battlefield once more, the serene nature was disturbed by two new titans. A twist of fate had brought two young boys into opposition in the valley, and they both shared blood with the original creators of the valley.

The first was Sasuke Uchiha, aged thirteen. His messy black hair, usually clumped into thick black bangs, was gray thanks to his transformation. His skin was equally gray, and a star shaped black marking decorated his face. Dark sclera and red irises burrowed into his foe. Two corrupted extensions stretched from his back in the shape of webbed grasping hands, the cursed seal's imitation of wings.

Across the river was a boy with shocking blond hair. His eyes matched the red of his friend's, but where Sasuke's had black marks orbiting his pupil, this boy's eyes were slit and looked feral. The very beast that helped create the valley fed him a slither of its crimson power from somewhere within. The result was a viscous, bubbling shroud of energy that vaguely resembled the fox spirit. Thick whisker marks stretched across his snarling face, and a lone tail flicked with frustration.

His left arm hung limp due to the corrosive nature of his power and the still-healing muscles hidden beneath unnaturally healed skin. His tattered neon jumpsuit had a fist-sized hole through the back and front of the chest, a reminder that mere moments ago he'd had a similar hole through his body. His name was Naruto Uzumaki.

We join one of our heroes on this day, at this time, because this was the day Naruto Uzumaki vanished from the face of the Elemental Nations, never to be seen again.

—

The two teens stood on opposite sides of the river. The ferocious energy between them drove the wildlife to flee or hide, leaving the valley silent save for the waterfall.

Sasuke forced a bored look as he contemplated the possibility of ending his 'friend'. "I'm not going back, Naruto. I've made my choice. Leave, before I'm forced to kill you." He was determined, despite the mix of anger and regret for what he might do.

A deep, pained growl came from Naruto. He didn't want to believe Sasuke would kill him.

"Don't you get it, asshole? I'm taking you home, even if it kills me."

Naruto grimaced as a chaotic whirlwind of purple energy began to shine over his palm. Sasuke, true to form, looked unfazed by the jutsu.

"You've become strong, I'll admit. You can't match me, but who knows, if you leave now you might still become Hokage. Just give it up." There was a hint of fondness. Not that Sasuke would say it, but he was proud of his teammate's growth. Who'd have thought the loser would be the only one able to stand on equal ground with him.

The Jinchuuriki was oblivious to his foe's words. He tensed up. His attention was solely on the black lightning coming to life in Sasuke's hand, screeching as it bit and tore at the ground.

"Give up...on telling me...to give up."
Naruto's voice came out in a strained whisper that couldn't possibly carry over the rushing waterfall and chaotic jutsu. A voice rolled down his cheek before evaporating in the chakra cloak. It dawned on him that he may have to kill the boy he saw so fondly as a teammate. A ninja had to deal with threats..

"Sasuke!" Naruto roared and pushed off with enough force to crack the cliff face. Sasuke merely screamed as he pushed off with just as much force, beating his wings to build up speed. Both teens flew at each other faster than most could track, their respective techniques held in front of them.

"Chidori!" Sasuke thrust out his arm, a torrent of black lightning covering it.

"Rasengan!"

Sasuke shifted at the last second, aiming to bring his move past Naruto's guard and finish the job. Naruto twisted awkwardly to deflect it with his jutsu. The world distorted as they collided.

Silence held the valley for a mere second before the blast rocked the valley. It sounded as though the heavens were torn asunder. The collision formed a black, purple and white mass of energy to envelop the teens struggling to overpower each other within. Black and blue lightning arced off into the trees and ignited them, whilst swirling purple energy tore trenches in the cliff beside them.

His Rasengan wasn't going to hold out much longer! His arm throbbed as the beast's chakra surged through it. The energy was really taking its toll, damaging more than it healed at this point. This was it. After two seconds of struggling it gave out. He tried to redirect the blow with the same hand, only to guide it a little lower. What was left of the chidori ate into him, partially piercing the bottom of his left lung and an upper extremity of the seal holding the Kyuubi.

The orb of energy around them became unstable without the Rasengan fueling the balance. Lightning tore terrible paths between the land and sky. Water slowly rose into the air in weightless blobs as wind roared above the valley. And then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone. The sphere, the water that had been levitating around it, the lightning, all gone.

That's the first chapter rewritten! I'm giving fanfiction another whirl after so long away!
Keep an eye on this story if you want to see more, and don't forget to review and let me know how I did!