The Battle of The Valley
(Author's Note: Yes, this starts at the classic battle at The Valley of the End between Naruto & Sasuke. I did take a couple of small liberties with it, but since it's near the end anyway, I don't think it's a anything major. Just changes the outcome & goes off canon to make an entirely new series of story arcs. Lol.)
A blast of light, no, it was chakra. It was immense, the tremors it gave off could be felt through what would seem like most of the Land of Fire. Naruto Uzumaki, who everyone called a knucklehead, was holding his own against the genius Sasuke Uchiha. They each just felt the force of the others strongest attacks, Naruto's Rasengan & Sasuke's Chidori, a force that drove them to opposite sides of The Valley of the End. "So, how's the dumbass doing?", Sasuke asks as he walks back to Naruto's limp body, it barely floating on the surface of the lake. Sasuke smirks as he picks up Naruto, who seemingly out of nowhere grabs Sasuke. In an instant, he's swarmed by clones of Naruto, trying to fight them off but struggling, even in his Second State form. He escapes & flies into the air.
FIRE STYLE: HELLFIRE JUTSU!
Flame erupt from Sasuke's body, burning the clones to a crisp before they disappear in a puff of smoke. Sasuke settles back on the water, scanning for any signs of Naruto. A pair of hands grabs Sasuke's feet & Naruto climbs up his body, wrapping himself around his former friend. "Another clone? Pathetic.", Sasuke states as he tries to unfold his wings again. Naruto tightens his grips & fires back, "I only need one for this, bitch.".
Ninja Art: Clone Kamikaze Jutsu!
Naruto is standing on the statue of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, as his last Shadow Clone explodes, sending Sasuke's body flying into the air. He leaps & catches Sasuke in midair, landing on the bank below. He smiles down at Sasuke & says, "I told you so Sasuke, I won't let you go so easily. We're going home.". Naruto picks up Sasuke & hoists his limp body onto his shoulders before starting the long journey back to the Village.
As he makes it up to the path leading away from the Valley, he sees a person, a guy. He's a few years older, & has blonde hair with streaks of black & blue, carrying nothing but a small travel pack. He's unconscious & bleeding slightly as he leans against a tree. Naruto starts to walk over, when Kakashi & Pakkun appear. "Naruto, what happened?", he inquires.
Naruto kneels down under the weight of Sasuke's limp body, adding to his already weakened self. "Sasuke, he was heading towards...towards Orochimaru. I had to stop him Kakashi-sensei. I just...I just had to.", he replies wearily. Pakkun is sniffing the stranger's body when he chimes in, "What about this guy?", Kakashi takes Sasuke off of Naruto & slings the raven-haired shinobi over his shoulder before Naruto states, "I just found him, but I think...I think he got caught in the crossfire somehow.", Kakashi looks at Pakkun, who looks back at the Jonin & nods.
"Well Naruto, what do you want to do? You can carry him back, or leave him. If you can't...", Kakashi starts before Naruto interjects, "I'll be fine. I'll bring him back. We can't just leave him here.". Kakashi sighs & makes sure his grip on Sasuke is secure before saying, "He's your responsibility Naruto, remember that.". Naruto scoops up the stranger & nods before they start their journey back to The Village Hidden in the Leaves.