Chapter 28: Naruto and…Sasuke!
Sasuke began tearing through the Nine Paths of Naruto. He used his Sharingan to suppress their powers and began to dismiss the clones one by one. Naruto looked on in awe as the clones were each met and dealt with. Sasuke used a large Chidori Spear on the One-Tail Naruto. Then, he loosed a massive fireball at the Two-Tail Naruto. The Three-Tail Naruto unleashed its Three Tails Water Ball Jutsu, which Sasuke jumped up to dodge, then used Chidori to finish the clone. The Four-Tail Naruto spat lava at Sasuke, who jumped to the left, and pulled his sword on the clone. The clone, ready to respond to such an attack, jumped out of the way and fired a Tailed Beast Ball at Sasuke. Sasuke was struck by this jutsu and smashed into the ground with surprising force. Sasuke, to all of the remaining clones' surprise, just got up and dusted himself off. The clones, furious with the raven-haired man, all summoned chakra for their strongest attacks. The Four-Tails shot a massive ball of lava and chakra at Sasuke. The Five-Tails unleashed its own Tailed Beast Ball. The Six-Tails covered its Tailed Beast Ball in its corrosive acid and threw it at Sasuke. The Seven-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails combined their own powers together and fired a single Tailed Beast Ball at Sasuke, who coated himself with Susanoo's ribcage to protect himself. The attack shook the entire village, and even flattened a large area around Sasuke, but Sasuke was still standing. Naruto realized that this was due to the fact that Sasuke's Sharingan had suppressed the Tailed Beast Powers. The clones, having used up all of their chakra, dispersed. Sasuke smirked at Naruto.
Suddenly, Sasuke flew toward Naruto. Naruto barely had time to react as Sasuke slammed his fist into his gut. Naruto went flying back, but before he could catch himself, Sasuke was there, kicking into the air. Naruto felt yet another blow as Sasuke unleashed a new version of the Lion's Barrage. Naruto crashed into the ground, blood oozing from a wound on his head. He was sure his shoulder had been dislocated and his lower leg shattered. He sent fox chakra into the areas, but he suddenly felt himself being lifted from the ground by the same leg. Sasuke threw him into the air again, then formed hand signs and released a massive fire ball straight at Naruto. Naruto reacted by coating himself with chakra to protect himself. He couldn't fight Sasuke like this. If only he hadn't been caught off guard!
Meanwhile, Vallen grinned at the effectiveness of his plan. Naruto would die today, and yet another chakra would be his once more.
Sasuke slammed Naruto into the ground yet again. He grinned as Naruto rose again. He threw a punch toward Naruto, but Naruto caught it in his hand. Then, he punched Sasuke in the face. Sasuke, enraged, began using his lightning-fast taijutsu, even though Naruto still held his fist. As he hammered away at Naruto's defenses, Naruto eventually had no choice but to let go in order to protect himself. Sasuke and Naruto slammed punch after punch into each other's face and gut, neither willing to surrender. After a few moments, the two parted, obviously winded.
"Sasuke, I've wanted to see you again for so long, but I never thought that I would actually get the opportunity. And to think, we have to fight. What happened to those last words you spoke to me?"
"The Sasuke you know isn't here," said Vallen. "I had to seal away that side of him. This is just his body. A puppet, if you will. The jutsu, however, is permanent. You will have to kill him in order to stop him. Even if I die, he will still carry on my will to destroy you. It's perfect, really."
Naruto gritted his teeth in frustration. Bringing Sasuke back was one thing, but completely removing the real Sasuke from the equation was another. Naruto shook with fury. First, Vallen had attacked his ally, the Sand Village. Then, he attacked Naruto and the Leaf. Then, he attacks the Stone Village. Now, he brings back Naruto's dearest friend and forces him to fight Naruto like some puppet. Naruto reached down deep and summoned his true power.
Suddenly, he teleported passed Sasuke and slammed an Odama Rasengan into Vallen's gut. Then, he created two Shadow Clones to catch Vallen and hold him. He created a third Shadow Clone that ran toward Sasuke while forming hand signs. Vallen surrounded himself with fire and destroyed the clones. Then, he set his sights on Naruto. Naruto, who was forming hand signs, was distracted by the clone he sent after Sasuke, but when the clones dispersed, he instantly knew about Vallen and sped up the hand signs. The clone sent toward Sasuke had finished its hand signs and teleported behind Sasuke, slamming him in the back with his hand, which had begun to glow green. The attack disoriented Sasuke, who hadn't had time to react, and he fell unconscious at the clone's feet. The clone then dispersed, letting Naruto know that its job was complete.
Naruto was now in a fist fight with Vallen. He had had to stop the hand signs he was forming because of Vallen's approach and now it appeared that he would never finish the jutsu. Vallen drilled Naruto will multiple punches and kicks that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Naruto, after being kicked in the face, jumped away and formed a few hand signs.
"Fire Style: Burning Ash!"
The plume of smoke, ash, and fire flew toward Vallen, who formed his own hand sign and inhaled the attack.
"That can't be healthy!" said Naruto. Vallen smiled as smoke rose from his hands and nostrils.
"Now, I believe I should end you, Naruto. You've been too much of a distraction, and now you must die." Vallen formed more hand signs, these looking vaguely familiar to Naruto, whose eyes went wide when Vallen had finished.
"No! Not that again!"
"Ultimate Jutsu: Nature's Wrath: Wind and Fire Combo!"
Once again, Naruto watched as giant twisters touched down all over the Stone Village, but these were different. Each one was composed of both fire and wind. The twisters swept across the village, destroying anything that they touched. Naruto turned back to Vallen, only to see a giant twister heading straight for him. It was moving faster than the others, and the winds were picking Naruto up before he could even react. Naruto was swept into the storm and felt the energy that drove it. Flames licked as his face and debris crashed into his body with sickening crunches. This was terrible.
Naruto forced himself to open his eyes, and only a few feet away was Sasuke's body, which had also been picked up by the storm. He reached out and grabbed Sasuke's hand, hoping against hope that his jutsu had worked. He pushed a small burst of his chakra into Sasuke's hand, and Sasuke's eyes suddenly jerked wide open. He was slightly disoriented, but that didn't last long as he quickly grasped the situation. He formed a single hand sign, and the twister began to weaken. Sweat began to appear on his brow as he tried to exert his own will over the twister. Naruto saw this and fed his own chakra into Sasuke's arm, giving him the strength he needed to silence the twister. He and Naruto landed on their feet, both glaring at Vallen.
Vallen was surprised at this turn of events. He never would have believed that his jutsu could be broken; either one, for that matter. He formed his hand signs, but noticed that his movements were being perfectly mimicked by Sasuke, who had activated his Sharingan.
"Fire Style," they both said in unison, "Raging Flame Infinite Burning Jutsu!"
Naruto watched, stunned, as both ninja fired a large blast of white fire at each other. The two massive fireballs fought for control, but eventually, Sasuke's prevailed, and it consumed Vallen. Vallen screamed in agony as the flames seared his body. As he screamed, he fixed his tortured, furious eyes on Naruto and Sasuke.
"You will pay!" he screamed. "You will all die for your insolence! I promise you!"
Naruto and Sasuke watched as Vallen's body burned away, leaving nothing but charred remains. The battle was finally over.