What if Naruto had a hidden power that came to be when he fought Mizuki, a bloodline he never knew of? Then he would be known as the Kaze no Arashi, the Wind Storm!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Those rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Kaze no Arashi

Chapter 29:

The Inevitable Clash: Shock and Despair: The Truth of the Mission Revealed!

Naruto glared at Sasuke, no… This being in front of him was no longer Sasuke; he was Orochimaru, a shell of what he used to be. Naruto just kept his glare on Sasuke as Sasuke just smirked at him and began to cackle, shocking and almost disturbing the blonde chunin. Sasuke looked at Naruto, seeing his green Chunin vest, felt slightly proud that Naruto had become a chunin even if he was angry that he hadn't officially become a chunin.

"Why… Sasuke…?" Naruto asked as if this was all just a dream, a nightmare that didn't have to come true.

"Does it matter why?" Sasuke asked Naruto as Naruto merely growled, thinking of everyone that had sacrificed themselves for the purpose of getting Sasuke back to Konohagakure.

"What about all of those that were trying to get you back? Lee, Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, Choji… Is their sacrifice nothing to you? Is Konohagakure nothing to you anymore?" Naruto screamed almost like it was his battle cry and jumped into the air, chains drawn from his fingertips. "I'm going to bring you back to Konoha even if I have to break every single bone in your body!"

Sasuke glared at Naruto until Naruto wrapped him in chains, shocking him as he pulled him toward him. Naruto had a fist pulled back as did Sasuke, but Sasuke was able to knock Naruto into the water below. Sasuke finally realized the power he held as he looked at his hand and, then, down at Naruto. He could feel that Orochimaru's stranglehold on him was stronger than he thought. He looked down at Naruto, his curse markings disappearing from his body for now as he chuckled.

Naruto rose from the water and looked at Sasuke as he began to think. He playfully smirked at Sasuke and wiped the blood from his lip as he ran up toward Sasuke. "That was quite the punch…, but let me show you mine!"

Naruto glided on the water and ran up the statue of Madara as Sasuke smirked and ran down the figure of the Uchiha and jumped down toward Naruto. Sasuke went and kicked Naruto to the side, only for the blonde to form shadow clones to grab him and allow him to hit Sasuke. "Did that wake you up any?"

Sasuke chuckled as he got up and spit out some blood. He stared at Naruto. "I have been awake this whole time, Naruto… It's you that has been asleep, asleep to the facts that I would leave... not knowing anything about me!"

Naruto grew pissed at this. "Well, I told you everything about me that I knew but you never let me or anybody know anything about you! I had to find out myself!" Sasuke flinched slightly, but didn't let it show as he growled at Naruto.

"I have no reason to tell you anything about me! Stay out of my business!" Sasuke yelled at Naruto as he made handsigns and launched out balls of fire upon Naruto.

Naruto used the wind to levitate and dodged the balls of fire as Sasuke jumped at him and put his hands together and pulled them down on Naruto. Naruto fell from the impact of Sasuke's strike and Sasuke fell to the water, standing there, looking at the rising Uzumaki. Sasuke glared at Naruto as the chunin rose.

"You say you've said everything about you to me, right, Naruto? Well, then, explain to me about why Itachi is chasing you, explain to me why he thinks you are stronger than me when you used to be a dumbass, explain to me how you are this strong while I'm barely getting stronger!" Sasuke was growing even angrier as his Sharingan blazed into life, into action and he made hand signs. "Your dreams have always been in the future, Naruto, since you don't have a past to look at, a family that you lost, you don't know whether what was said about them is true!" Lighting started to appear on his palm as Naruto glared at Sasuke. "Explain to me how you think you know everything about me when you know nothing!"

Sasuke charged at Naruto, who had two clones at the ready, helping him form the Wind Release: Rasengan. "I'm being chased because of the demon, the burden I carry, not because of our strength, bastard! I got this strong by not just my kekkai genkai, but also me learning things like fuinjutsu and training my butt off to not rely on them! I may not fully understand how it is to lose my family and I don't even know what they really thought of me. All I can do is hope that they cared for me as much as your parents supposedly did! I know things about you because we have been through so much pain, we have scars that are tearing at us and you just want to open them." Naruto charged with his Wind Release: Rasengan at the slightly shocked Sasuke. "We are like brothers, Sasuke!"

The two stared into each other's eyes, seeing their feelings all clashing at once. Sasuke begin to feel the Wind Release: Rasengan push him back and was shocked when Naruto overcame his Chidori. Sasuke was pushed back as the Rasengan expanded into nothing, blowing Naruto back as well. Sasuke began to realize what Naruto was feeling and vice versa for Naruto. Sasuke felt something happen to his Sharingan as Naruto had wind go around him. Naruto looked slightly surprised at Sasuke's eyes, a new third tomoe appearing on the Sharingan. They looked at each other breathing heavily and rushed at each other.

Fists began to be exchanged and blocked kicks began to blocked and dodged. They just kept at it as they just had a taijutsu bout on the water. Then, Sasuke began to take advantage with his stronger Sharingan and punched Naruto into the water. He jumped onto a ledge of the rocks as Naruto got up and raced toward Sasuke. Naruto had his kunai with tags on them in his hands as he threw them near Sasuke. Sasuke smirked in that they missed, but was puzzled when Naruto smirked and made a handsign.

Little embers went out of the tag, launching at Sasuke who dodged them and landed near the other one. The other one sent out an explosion where Sasuke was barely able to dodge it as Naruto appeared in front of him and punched him into the rocks. Sasuke coughed blood as the curse markings started to form on his body, covering him in darkness. Sasuke rushed at the surprised Naruto as he hit him right in his stomach, causing the blonde to regurgitate some blood from his body and fall into the water.

Naruto got up and looked at Sasuke with sadness. Can you really attack me like that this calmly, Sasuke…?

Naruto tried to rush in and get punches but Sasuke was faster, getting punches in faster than Naruto could throw them until finally grabbing him by the collar of the chunin vest Naruto wore. Naruto scowled at Sasuke's expression of accomplishment.

"Just end it, Sasuke! After all, I am nothing to you! Just end this and abandon all of your friends! Go to that snake bastard and lose your body for this revenge you want that you will realize is not what you really want only after you complete it! There's more to your life than this!" Naruto yelled catching Sasuke's attention as the Uchiha suddenly stared seriously at his teammate, a hint of sadness in his eyes and expression. Naruto was shocked by this sudden change in Sasuke as he looked seriously into Sasuke's melancholy eyes.

"Let me tell you really why I am going to Orochimaru, Naruto…" Sasuke started as looked seriously into Naruto's eyes. "The mission I was given…, the mission only I can complete…, a mission to eliminate Orochimaru from the inside…"

XXX

Bushido Kisuke cursed as he rushed to the location of Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, only being told about the retrieval mission and need for backup about a few hours ago, not having that much time to get to the location of where they were at, the Valley of the End. Kisuke focused chakra to his feet to allow him to go faster as he rushed to get there in time to stop Sasuke from retreating to Orochimaru.

I won't let that bastard get more power! Kisuke thought as he rushed to the location of their clash. I absolutely won't let that creep have any more power!

XXX

Hatake Kakashi was glaring at the wind as he rushed to the entrance to the Village Hidden Among Tree Leaves and bit his thumb. The reason being is that he found out that Tsunade sent two chunin and three genin to track down one Uchiha Sasuke. The one person in the group sent that Kakashi worried about that most was Uzumaki Naruto. He went through hand signs at a rapid pace and summoned a set of ninja dogs.

"Go; track the scent of Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto! Pakkun, you stay with me!" Kakashi said in a strict tone as Pakkun and the other dogs nodded and the other dogs departed.

They could kill each other… I need to get there as fast as I can… Kakashi thought as he rushed to the location his ninja dogs barked. I need to get there in time!

XXX

"A… mission… to eliminate Orochimaru…?" the Uzumaki asked the Uchiha, looking at him as the Uchiha nodded.

"Yes..." Sasuke replied as he looked at Naruto, thinking about what Tsunade with the advisors and elders told him. "A mission that only I could accomplish… I would have to leave Konohagakure as if I am a rogue shinobi on a quest for power from Orochimaru of the Sannin, but in actuality I am a spy to infiltrate Orochimaru's lair that will play as the boy that ran for revenge against his brother. The only thing is that I am actually there to use what I learn from Orochimaru to defeat the Snake Sannin." Sasuke laughed at the thought of destroying Orochimaru with his own techniques. "It's ironic that the thing he wants so much will be the thing that destroys him."

Naruto growled at Sasuke, "There is no way Tsunade obaa-chan would give you that kind of mission! There's no way!"

Sasuke looked at Naruto. "Then, the higher-ups of the Shinobi Council, the elders and the advisors outvoted her vote and the others at the meeting. She tried to get a way around it, but they just had to give me the mission. There were already a lot of signatures and the document says that this is only known to a few people, the Hokage, Shimura Danzo of the Elders, the advisors and the higher-up of the council, Nara Shikaku, and lastily, me and you, Naruto… Most of them thought that this would be the perfect strategy of defeating Orochimaru while Danzo seemed to have something hidden about this plan. He looked the most suspicious of them all next to the advisors."

"Then, why exactly did Tsunade send out a team to retrieve you if she knew that you were leaving on that mission you were given? Even if she didn't want to, which it sounds like she didn't, wouldn't she want to let you escape to Orochimaru without anyone…" Naruto passed as a realization came to his mind. "It was so nobody would suspect why you left and everybody would think it was just you going to Orochimaru for power, the power for revenge against Itachi, the power you have always dreamed of gaining."

"Exactly, Naruto…" Sasuke said as he had a Chidori in his hand, chirping as the lightning brighten. "So, no one would suspect something. Everyone would go with the story that the Last Uchiha besides my brother went out to the very person that gave him a Curse Mark in order to gain power instead of living a life in Konohagakure with friends and family. I sacrifice these bonds in order to eliminate one of Konoha's worst enemies. I get my hands around that bastard that gave me this mark and is tempting me to come to him. I'll come to him, just like he wants, in order to end his life." For some reason, Sasuke looked into Naruto's cerulean eyes at that moment and stopped his Chidori, as if regretting ever thinking of what he was about to do with that technique.

Naruto wondered why Sasuke had said what he had earlier about his dream if he didn't truly want to go to Orochimaru. "Why did you talk about your dream earlier, then? Why did you say you have to go in order to accomplish your ambition, your dream?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto, "I can't deny that I wouldn't like to get stronger and track down Itachi to kill him for what he did to my family, but this is mostly to get rid of that damned annoying snake."

Naruto was still shocked as he looked at Sasuke. "Then, why are you fighting me… Why didn't you just take out of here?"

"I want to make me leaving more believable, so give me your all, Naruto! Bring it on to make it convincing that we had a battle of the ages here and you couldn't get me back to Konohagakure!" Sasuke said with a slight smirk as he held a vicious fist back and then forced it forward to hit Naruto right into his stomach, making Naruto become pushed back and feel weaker than he has ever felt before. Naruto felt the injuries and bruises on his body, his chakra getting fainter and fainter.

Naruto could barely even move, laying on the surface of the water as he heard the dark, deep chuckle of the Kyuubi, the Nine Tailed Demon Fox. Naruto just listened to the fox mock him, not wanting to deal with him, not wanting to move his weak body.

Even if you have kekkai genkai, you are still weak and pathetic, human… Just feel glad that I don't want you to lose to that Uchiha kid… Here, take some of my chakra to heal yourself and fight back… Show this brat who is stronger.

The Nine Tailed Demon Fox looked at Naruto as Naruto merely nodded and faded from where he laid in the damp, smelly sewer floor. The fox laughed as he sent only a tiny sliver of his chakra to the Uzumaki, seeing the boy's eyes change from melancholy blue orbs to fierce red pools that called for destruction.

Sasuke was shocked as he saw Naruto open his eyes, barely silted red eyes of a fox and darker whisker marks. He also saw all of Naruto's cuts and gashes begin to heal faster than usual, almost instantly.

Was Naruto tapping into a little of the fox's power? Is he able to do that?

Naruto growled and rushed at Sasuke. Sasuke rushed forward as they went through another round of taijutsu. Punch, grab punch, elbow, duck under elbow, elbow the gut, knee opponent in the stomach, punch them in the face, rush at the blonde with a punch, hit the Uchiha with a fierce kick. It was a spectacle to see the two teammates battle it out with just their physical abilities. Sasuke saw that this wasn't getting anywhere faster as he backed away from the blonde Jinchuriki.

Sasuke flashed through handsigns as he looked fiercely at Naruto, who rushed at him. Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Naruto merely made a handsign and used the Kyuubi's chakra he had gained and his kekkai genkai to make his wind chakra come out with his voice. Naruto sent out a roar that made Sasuke shake a little at the sound. The fire faded into nothing as a blast of wind hit Sasuke, causing the Uchiha to back up against the rocks, spitting out some blood from his mouth, landing on the rocky ground underneath his feet.

Naruto… Sasuke thought as his curse markings began to spread over half of his body, his eyes growing fiercer, his teeth clenching tighter. He went through handsigns as did Naruto.

Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!

A fierce stream of fire went toward Naruto, hitting him in the chest. Sasuke grinned at getting a hit, but scowled at Naruto when he saw what the chunin did. A field of wind chakra surrounded the Jinchuriki, growling at the Uchiha that was looking in his direction. Naruto roared once again, a strong breeze of wind about to crash into Sasuke. Sasuke barely maneuvered away from the deadly attack when Naruto rushed on the water and punched Sasuke back into the rocky background.

Sasuke rose up and looked angrily at Naruto as he approached, but his fully matured Sharingan were getting in on the action, predicting Naruto's movements. Naruto watched as Sasuke grabbed his fist and head butted him. Naruto pulled back from the head butt Sasuke did as Sasuke smirked and charged on, hitting Naruto with his knee and a kick to the face. Naruto cursed at how Sasuke was getting the upper hand, rushing at the Uchiha who was smirking at him, almost taunting him. Naruto saw as Sasuke evaded the punch and cocked his fist back.

Sasuke rushed in toward Naruto and landed a hard punch on his face, a knee to his stomach and then, a kick to send Naruto in the air. Naruto's eyes widened when Sasuke appeared behind him in midair and was about to kick him. Naruto blocked the kick only to be punched and kicked with Sasuke's other leg. Sasuke was above him as he sent his leg up, smirking at the shocked blonde chunin. Sasuke sent his drop kick right into Naruto's chest and stomach area, causing blood to come out of Naruto's mouth. The two shinobi were shocked that hadn't lost enough blood to die; it shocked them how much blood they thought they could be losing yet it seemed to not be enough to kill them at all.

Sasuke stood on the water, looking down at the still alive Naruto. He scowled at Naruto and was about to take off when he felt a strange aura coming from Naruto. Naruto heard the fox laughs and taunts again.

You still can't defeat him? The fox laughed from behind the seal, the cage that kept him inside the shinobi of Konohagakure. It looks like you need even more of my help, human… His chakra started to appear out of the cage, bubbling around Naruto in a crimson, blood red color. Be thankful of that father of yours, that damned Fourth Hokage for sealing me inside an idiot like yourself… Even if you have two kekkai genkai, that does not mean you can beat every opponent you face… Learn, human…, for I don't wish to keep helping a brat like you at every turn.

Shit! Naruto thought as he felt like he was dying yet there was this feeling of something rising inside of his body, something like power, like hope. Why do I feel like I am dying yet I feel more alive than ever? Why?

Naruto gasped at this feeling, this feeling of almost dying. Naruto had a shocked gasping mouth until violent crimson chakra began to cover him in a cloak of a fox, bubbling onto the surface of his body. He began to rise with the bubbling chakra that was covering him like a protective cloak and it turned into fox ears on his head. His wounds began to heal even faster, almost instantly, as he roared out a battle cry with Sasuke becoming shocked.

So, this is some of the power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that Naruto carries within himself… This chakra is intense! Sasuke thought as Naruto's roar caused waves to appear on the water and the transformed Naruto rushed at the Uchiha.

Sasuke started dodging Naruto's movements, thanks to his fully matured Sharingan. Over to right, to the left, behind. Right as Sasuke dodged the one that was behind him, he saw Naruto's chakra branch out toward him and knock him back away from him. Sasuke was totally shocked at what was happening, almost like his Sharingan was playing tricks on his mind.

That chakra… Sasuke thought, feeling bewildered at these abilities that the transformed Naruto had with only one tail of the Nine Tailed Demon Fox. He looked shocked at the still Naruto. That chakra from the fox has a mind of its own and its own will… The fox must be controlling those actions… That's why I can't anticipate his movements with my stronger Sharingan anymore… Sasuke got into stance, looking at the one-tailed Naruto. Close combat will be really dangerous then… Sasuke made really quick handsigns, inhaled a breath, and unleashed his Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique on his teammate.

The colossal ball of flame went toward Naruto only for the fox's chakra to protect him like a force field, surprising Sasuke slightly. Naruto pulled his hand back as if to attack as Sasuke told himself to relax.

Just relax, dude… If he attacks from that distance, he won't even be able to reach me at all.

Sasuke's eyes widened when Naruto lowered his hand to attack. The chakra extended to his location in the form of a hand as Sasuke was pushed back violently near the statue of Madara. Sasuke was up as Naruto came toward him. The Curse Mark was spread on him as Naruto growled at Sasuke.

I can finally change! Sasuke thought as Naruto sent his chakra out at Sasuke, gripping his body and draw him in toward him. Damnit!

Naruto pulled his fist back and then forward to hit Sasuke right in his face, making Sasuke land right by the statue. Sasuke just chuckled at Naruto as he got up, his Curse Mark going into Level 2. His skin was darkening to a dark tan color, his eyes were still the Sharingan, his hair was the same, except it seemed lighter in color and longer in length, and his lips were now blue, curved into a smirk.

"It seems I've gotten a power-up as well, Naruto…"

XXX

Bushido Kisuke was getting into Land of Fire, approaching where they said Sasuke and Naruto were. He cursed himself when he felt a strange chakra coming from the Valley of the End, quite a bit of a distance away. He put even more chakra into his legs, rushing in the direction of the battle ground where Sasuke and Naruto were fighting.

XXX

Sasuke chuckled and made a gesture. "Bring it, Naruto…"

Naruto rushed at Sasuke and swiped at him with his fox-like hand, making Sasuke land on Madara's ankle. Naruto rushed at him and striked to attack only to land on this weird wing like appendage Sasuke had grown out of his back. Sasuke smirked as he sent Naruto back by flipping him with his newly formed wing. Naruto landed roughly on Hashirama's ankle, cursing the pain he felt from Sasuke's attack as he pulled himself up. Sasuke was crouched as another wing popped out of his back, causing him to scream at the pain he felt.

Naruto was shocked with what was happening to Sasuke. After all, it isn't every day you got darker skin and wings that were shaped like hands, right? But that goes the same as having a cloak of red energy in the shaped of a fox. Sasuke winced in pain as he felt the curse mark begin to corrode his body like Sakon told him.

This change in my body… I won't be able to use my time with it… I've got to end this fast with Naruto…

Naruto felt something or rather nothing as he looked at his left hand which was limp. Damnit,Ican'tfeelmylefthandatallrightnow…

"So, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's powers come with strengths and weaknesses after all, it seems." Sasuke said looking at Naruto's hand. This got Naruto's attention as Sasuke looked up. "Did you know, Naruto… ? This place is the one of the borders of Fire Country; the Valley of the End is what it is called." Sasuke chuckled a little. "This is ironically the perfect setting, don't you think, Naruto?" Naruto just stared at Sasuke. "Yes, right… We should just end this 'fight,' right here and now, Naruto…"

Sasuke made handsigns as Naruto extended his right arm. Sasuke had a Chidori, chirping to life as usual, while Naruto began to form a Rasengan with the fox's chakra, able to do it one handed with its help. The Rasengan was a lot bigger than it originally was and had a violent red color to it. Sasuke's Chidori became black and was discharging around Sasuke's hand. The two rushed at each other, each of their techniques in their hand until they eventually… clashed!

XXX

Hatake Kakashi was shocked when he saw the impact of his two students' jutsu and started to panic slight, increasing his speed.

Damn it, I need to make it in time!

XXX

An orb surrounded the two ninja, almost dense and dark, like an eclipse in the sky. Naruto and Sasuke looked fiercely at each other. Sasuke went for Naruto's neck, causing Naruto to slightly flinch in pain. Naruto hit Sasuke's forehead, landing his attack on Sasuke's Konohagakure forehead protector. A mark appeared on the metal plate of the headband as Sasuke flinched at the attack.

The two looked each other in the eye. Naruto's bubbling crimson chakra started to disappear, bubbles of chakra bursting softly as the red chakra faded. Sasuke's curse mark began to vanish slowly, turning from Level 2 to its regular form until it slowly went back to the seal, disappearing from Sasuke's body completely. Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, envisioning their younger selves.

Naruto smiled at Sasuke, extending his hand out for Sasuke. Sasuke flinched in shock of Naruto's extended hand at first, but then, smiled at Naruto kindly. He pulled his hand out and reached for Naruto's until the two tiny hands met each other. Their hands went into the Sign of Harmony as they smiled at one another. As they did this and stood still, smiling at each other, the white background vanished into black darkness, the image fading in the dark black that covered them now…

The only white left there was the small light in between them… The light that was heading toward Naruto's and Sasuke's chests, their hearts, splitting into two beams, faint yet powerful all the same…

XXX

Bushido Kisuke saw the big explosion, heading even faster toward the two shinobi that had just finished their bout. He kept on going, knowing if he stopped for a second, he would be too late.

XXX

Hatake Kakashi had widened eyes as he felt this surge of chakra colliding.

This chakra! I need to get there in time! Please let me make it!

The jonin rushed with his ninja dog, Pakkun, hoping that everything hadn't turned out for the worst.

XXX

Uchiha Sasuke stared down at Naruto as clouds surrounding the sun like Naruto's clones surrounded Sasuke in the two fights that they had had. Sasuke began to feel his headband loosen from Naruto's strike, the mark being a scar, a reminder of the battle that they had here at the Valley of the End. Sasuke felt the cold wind on the openings on the back of his blue short sleeved shirt as he shook a little at the cold air. He heard the clang of his headband, but continued to look at Naruto, not caring about the noise his headband made or the headband at all as it lay by Naruto's head.

He looked down with his eyes, no longer Sharingan, but were his normal coal black eyes. He looked almost sadly at Naruto, saying his name softly as if Naruto will wake up at any moment to look up at him. He said it again softly as the clouds had fully covered the sun, not allowing the sun to shine on the two shinobi. Sasuke was about to say his name again a little bit louder, but the feeling of water falling on his neck caught his attention. He looked up at the gray sky that seemed to be letting these droplets of water fall upon him and Naruto.

Sasuke looked sadly up at the rain, the water that began to pour upon his body. He, then, gripped his arm tightly suddenly, a really fierce, stinging pain beginning in it. He kneeled by Naruto to cough violently until a splatter of blood flew out of his mouth. The spit out blood landed by Naruto's blonde, mountain range of hair that was beginning to slick back from the incoming rain. Sasuke's face started to lower as he opened his eyes to see Naruto's face, his eyes closed and his mouth slightly opened like a small crack on the sidewalk that you couldn't see unless you were really, really close to it.

Sasuke just stared at him for a little bit before rising up and looking at the forest ahead of him. He began to slowly walk, gripping his arm that still hurt. He walked on toward his future, his mission with only one thought in his head.

Sorry, Naruto…

XXX

Bushido Kisuke felt the rain as he reached the top of the falls located at the Valley of the End, breathing heavily when he could look down below. It was hard to see, but Kisuke could faintly make out a body a little distance from the river that the falls landed into. He was a green chunin vest and he just hoped as he jumped with chakra on his feet that this person, this shinobi was alive and well.

He landed on the water with his feet, water splashing onto the ground of rocks and other things as he landed. He looked to see who this ninja was and when he saw who it was; he gasped and rushed over to the boy. He could see the head of blonde spiky hair and knew exactly who it was.

It was Uzumaki Naruto!

XXX

Hatake Kakashi felt the downpour of rain and cursed at what Mother Nature was doing to him. He looked at Pakkun, hoping the ninja dog still had a trail to track Naruto and Sasuke down.

"Even in this rain, do you still have a scent to follow, Pakkun?" Kakashi asked, hoping, praying for Pakkun to say yes.

Pakkun glanced at his summoner and nodded, making Kakashi's eyes contain the hope that he could find his students and take them back, hope that they weren't dead and that they were fine, at least fine enough to take back to Konohagakure and heal. "I still have their scent! They're right here!"

Kakashi flipped with his summon, Pakkun, and landed on the water below. Kakashi looked in shock as the genin from Iwagakure that fought Sakura in the last part of the Chunin Exams carried a wounded, weak Uzumaki Naruto, his student. Kakashi's eyes lowered in sadness and failure as did Kisuke's.

"It seems we were both too late, Kakashi-san…" Kisuke said sadly as he gave Kakashi the marked headband. Kakashi stared at it sadly. "I believe that it is Sasuke's headband as Naruto's is still on his forehead."

Pakkun sniffed the headband and looked at Kakashi sadly, "It is Sasuke's…"

"It's quite ironic that the two fought here right, Kakashi-san? The place where Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama fought and formed this valley to be the place where they would battle is quite the coincidence, eh?"

"Indeed it is," replied Kakashi as he headed over to Kisuke and extended his arms. "I can carry Naruto for the rest of the way to the village. If you wish to come there with me, you can."

Kisuke nodded, handing Naruto over as Kakashi handled Naruto and put the headband into his pouch. He looked back to the forest for a moment, thinking of Sasuke as Kisuke went toward the wall by the waterfall. Pakkun told Kakashi to move on now that the rain was clearing up.

"I can't really track Sasuke's scent thanks to this damned rain that passed! Besides, it's of more importance to get Naruto to the village!" Pakkun said as Kakashi nodded sadly and went up the wall by the waterfall with Kisuke. The sun began to reach out of the clouds and shine upon them. Once they reached the top, they raced in the direction of Konohagakure, wanting to make sure Naruto would be alright.

As this happen, a shinobi that looked like an aloe plant popped from the ground, sporting the same black cloak with red clouds as Itachi and Kisame. Half of his face was dark black while the other half was pale white. "It seems things are only going get more interesting from now on…" The black half spoke as if he was another being altogether. "Indeed they are…" The white half spoke in reply, looking forward to what the future holds.

XXX

Uzumaki Naruto felt movement below him, causing his eyes to open slowly until he saw trees, lots of trees. Naruto could already tell somehow he failed to get Sasuke back, but at least he knew, looking into Sasuke's coal eyes before he passed out into sleep, that Sasuke was Sasuke, not Orochimaru. Naruto lightly smiled on his sensei Kakashi's back, knowing that Sasuke wasn't changing as he originally thought he was.

XXX

Uchiha Sasuke looked back from the direction from where he came as if he sensed Naruto awakening and he thought about Itachi and Mangekyo Sharingan.

In order to obtain the next level of the Sharingan, you have to kill your closest friend…

Sasuke glared at Itachi's words. Bullshit, I will obtain power my own way! I will get around that way of killing my closest friend to become stronger than you! He began to walk forward toward Orochimaru. I will not become like you at all!

Ironically, Sasuke didn't know how alike he and his brother were becoming with each action he made, step by step…