(Welcome to my latest installment.)
Naruto who had heard of Sasuke's defection, had taken this seriously so they rallied up Chouji, Neji, and Kiba to chase after him. However they hadn't counted on the fact Sasuke was being escorted by Orochimaru's top four Shinobi. Naruto was in his armor with helmet on and sword on back running through a cave as fast as he could, 'Dammit Sasuke, why did thinks have to go this far for you?!' He thought as he ran reaching the end of the tunnel.
"Good thing Lee took care of that unexpected Bone ninja." He added before exiting the cave and found himself at the Valley of the End. He looked seeing atop the Madara Uchiha statue was Sasuke, "SASUKE!" he shouted grabbing his attention as the Uchiha turned around to face him.
"It's about time you made it." He said smugly.
Naruto jumped from the Shodaime's statue and landed on the Madara statue staring Sasuke down, "I don't care if you want to go to Orochimaru on your own free will. I'm still bringing you back so you can face punishment!"
"I'd like to see you try." Sasuke said getting into a stance.
"Then this must be done." Naruto answered as he and Sasuke fought on top of the statue.
"Thanks to the power of Orochimaru, I'm stronger now," Sasuke began, "Strong enough to stand up to you oh mighty Shredder." He mocked.
"We'll see about that!" Naruto called as he and Sasuke grappled before Naruto jumped back and pulled Sasuke down with him as they plummeted into the water below. When they rose up they used their chakra to balance on top of the water and continued their fighting.
"Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sasuke spat his fireballs at Naruto, who dodged them and started attacking as well with Sasuke using two kunai to defend himself from Naruto's bladed gauntlet.
'What's going on? I should have him down by now,' Naruto thought, 'Don't tell me that container he was inside earlier actually made him stronger?'
Sasuke began fighting back at Naruto and was pushing him back until he kicked Naruto's gut and he fell back, "I said before things are the way they were before Naruto, this new power will be the key to beating you!" Sasuke shouted as he rushed to Naruto and the two went at it in hand to hand combat, but with Naruto's strength and agility he earned from the years of practice with the Foot of ninjitsu he was proving to have the strength and speed to block and counter Sasuke's attacks better than Sasuke could block Naruto's.
Naruto dashed to Sasuke using the blades on his gauntlet and arm putting cuts in Sasuke's shirt, while the Uchiha continued to try and fight back but kept getting cuts in his skin for trying to grab Naruto where the blades were located, "Sasuke!" Naruto called as he tackled Sasuke at a fast pace and pinned him to the wall of the valley. "I don't want to have to break every bone in your body and drag you back to the village, but I will. Sasuke you let your ambition go too far you're willing to go to a bad guy just to kill another one, is that really what your family would want?"
"SHUT UP!" Sasuke shouted, "You don't know anything about me, you've lived your life alone from the start with no idea what it's like to lose anyone!"
Naruto sighed unable to argue with that, "True I don't know what that's like. My dad was dead before I even knew him, and I never even know what to have felt because my mother was believed to have been dead from the start. However I know what it's like to be alone. I admit before I even found and learned the art of the Foot Clan I was envious of you because you had everything I wanted!" he said. "And even when you lost the family part you still were treated like a spoiled child!"
Sasuke glared, "Enough!" he kicked Naruto away from him and he started getting covered by the cursed seal markings.
"Let's do this Sasuke!" Naruto called as he powered up Kyubi's chakra and the two went at it like they were before, with neither one of them showing mercy. When they reached a stalemate, they forced each other back gaining distance.
"Arigato, Naruto. Now it's complete!" Sasuke called as his Sharingan reached its third tomoe. Naruto knew he'd have to continue going all out, so he summoned his clones and they all started attacking Sasuke, but he fought all of the clones knocking one out after another, and in hand to hand combat he was able to predict Naruto's body movements. Naruto jumps back forming hand signs and calls "Ninpo; Katana Misairu no Jutsu" he shouted firing the blades on his armor like missiles at Sasuke, who was able to predict where they would hit him so he quickly dodged them all.
With a launch of his fireball Jutsus Naruto was knocked backwards across the water and laid there seemingly unconscious. Naruto laid on top of the water tired from over use of his own chakra, "My body's just about had it." He panted.
'You can't give up Naruto!' Kyubi's voice called, 'We're gonna see this to the end. So let's take it up further!' he transferred more chakra to Naruto.
Sasuke turned and was ready to leave until, "Hold it right there!" Sasuke turned and gasped seeing Naruto getting up with red chakra consuming his body and it appeared he was surrounded by a red fox cloak made of chakra. And to make it more terrifying, his Shredder armor started morphing to a fox looking armor as well.
"What is this?" Sasuke began trembling at the mere sight of Naruto.
Naruto's eyes started turning blood red which glowed through his helmet, his finger and toe nails grew long and sharp which ended up busting out of the glove and footwear of his armor, he spoke with a distorted voice, "Your end is at hand Sasuke!" Naruto bellowed as he got down on all fours and rushed Sasuke with fast speed.
Sasuke tried firing more fireballs at Naruto, only for the Shredder to dodge them. When he was closing in on Sasuke, he shouted without using hand signs, "Ninja art; Shuredda Jiten no Jutsu!" he shouted as he spun with all his armor blades lengthening and tackled Sasuke, sending him rolling across the water.
"What is this power?" he strained while unable to keep up with Naruto even with his Sharingan.
Naruto quickly appeared behind Sasuke and delivered a roundhouse kick to him, sending him crashing into the wall of the valley on the Shodaime statue's side putting a huge dent in it, "Want some more Sasuke?" Naruto shouted and all on its own the chakra arms of the fox cloak stretched forward and grabbed Sasuke, pulling him forward to Naruto who threw a slug to Sasuke's face sending him right back to the area in which he crashed the first time.
When Sasuke fell down he felt something land beside him, he looked at what it was and gasped. He saw a black gauntlet with three small blades on it along with a twin long blade up front of it, 'This gauntlet, it's like Naruto's only different. Well if he wants to use spikes while fighting, then so can I!' he thought before attaching the gauntlet to his left arm and it started glowing and dark energy was being fed to Sasuke, 'This feeling. I feel more powerful than before!' he thought as he launched like a rocket for Naruto.
Naruto and Sasuke went at it, until Naruto noticed the gauntlet on Sasuke's arm, 'That gauntlet's like mine, only older. Where did Sasuke find it?' he thought but had no time to think about it for he had to fight against Sasuke who was using the gauntlet to fight against Naruto's one, 'Something's going on with Sasuke. I sense dark energy coming from him, and it's not because of the curse mark.' He thought until he felt it coming from the gauntlet, 'It's that gauntlet I have to get rid of it!' he thought as he struggled to fight Sasuke, but the Uchiha was proving to still be able to hold his own against Naruto.
"Looks like the gauntlets on the other arm Naruto!" Sasuke said as more cursed sealed markings covered Sasuke's face.
"A gauntlet is only as good as the wielder, Uchiha!" Naruto shouted as he grabbed Sasuke and threw him down crashing on the side the Uchiha founder stood.
Sasuke emerged from the rubble as the curse mark started covering more of his body until he looked like a dark human demon with gray skin, wings that looked like webbed hands and long bluish hair, "Let's finish this here and now, Naruto!" Sasuke called.
"Fine by me!" Naruto called as his bijuu chakra started powering a Rasengan into his palm while Sasuke mixed both the curse mark's chakra and the dark energy from the gauntlet to create a black Chidori.
The two screaming shinobi launched themselves at each other with their power up jutsus, resulting in a huge explosion. After the attack Sasuke was lying in the water unconscious while his body was returned to normal. The black Shredder-like gauntlet detached from his arm and floated down the valley's river. While from a far distance, Zabuza, Kakashi and his tracker hound Pakkun saw the explosion in the distance, "That's them all right!" Kakashi hurried with Pakkun and Zabuza.
Back at the valley, Naruto whose Kyubi chakra wore off and his armor which lost its fox form looked dented and broken in some parts. He got up off the ground and looked ahead seeing Sasuke unconscious. He approached his fallen comrade, "I've won." He declared until he looked at his arm seeing the gauntlet was missing, "Where'd that gauntlet go?" he asked as he looked around in the water, but gave up knowing there was no way he could find it now. He took Sasuke's arm and supported him up while carrying him back.
"Naruto!" a voice called.
Naruto looked up and sees Kakashi, Zabuza, and Pakkun land before them, "Kakashi-sensei, Zabuza thank goodness." Naruto sighed in relief.
Kakashi looked around the valley seeing so much destruction, "You two must've really gone at it."
"It was the only way to stop him." Naruto replied as he tried to support Sasuke.
"You're too exhausted master. Let me take care of that." Zabuza took Sasuke off Naruto's back while Kakashi helped Naruto along.
"Arigato," Naruto panted. "Have you heard the situation about Shikamaru and the others?"
"Not yet, but we will once we get back to the village." Zabuza replied as he and Kakashi help the two back to the village unaware they were being watched by five shrouded entities.
"So the one was the one who used our master's gauntlet?" one asked.
"Yes. He handled it very well."
"Could he be the one we've been seeking?"
"He must, and that one who dares take the masters name in vain. He must be dealt with!"
"Let's not act too quickly. Let's follow them and see what develops." The fifth ordered as they vanished.
Meanwhile back in Konoha, Ino, Kushina, Hun, and the Foot Ninja were waiting to hear what had happened, "I hope they're ok." Ino said in worry.
"We must have faith in the master, mistress." Hun reminded her.
Suddenly Haku appeared, "Haku what's going on?" Kushina asked.
"They're back!" Haku exclaimed.
"What?" They gasped.
"Naruto, and the others are back and they have Sasuke with them!" Haku explained.
"I knew it!" Hun cheered.
"We have to celebrate this victory." Ino cheered.
"Don't celebrate yet, they're all in the hospital." Haku added in worry.
"Hospital?" They gasped.
Haku nodded, "My baby!" Kushina gasped as she ran for the hospital with the others following her.
Upon reaching the hospital, they found Kakashi, Zabuza, Guy, Kurenai, and Asuma waiting with Shikamaru, Shikaku, Chouza, Hiashi, and Tsume, "Where are they?" Hun asked.
"Where's my son?" Kushina demanded.
"They're undergoing treatment." Kurenai sighed.
"How bad is it?" Ino asked.
"Chouji and Neji are in critical condition, but Tsunade and Shizune are doing all they can to bring their conditions down." Chouza explained.
"Kiba and Shikamaru should be fine, their injuries weren't as severe." Tsume added putting a sigh of relief on them.
"What about Naruto and Sasuke?" Ino asked worriedly.
Kakashi stepped in, "Naruto's extremely exhausted from over use of chakra, and his body had been weakened from fighting."
"Sasuke's unconscious as well. There's no telling if he'll wake up at all seeing as how he's just as worse off as Naruto." Zabuza explained and Sakura who had just walked in heard it all.
"Naruto, Sasuke." She gasped.
Meanwhile inside the hospital room, Naruto was lying on a hospital bed with his body covered in bandages, mind his head. His armor, helmet, and sword were hanging up in the closet with his armor still in disrepair. His eyes started slowly opening with his vision being a bit gazed until they became clear and he turns to see Tsunade looking over some stuff, "Tsunade-baasan?" he asks with a yawn.
The Hokage turned to Naruto, "Oh you're awake. Thank goodness, Naruto." She said in relief.
"Oh my body feels sore." Naruto groaned.
"It's no surprise with the injuries you've sustained." Tsunade replied writing down some stuff on a clipboard.
"How's everyone else doing?" Naruto asked.
"Everyone's slowly recovering thanks to our best efforts." She answered.
"And Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"Still unconscious I'm afraid," Tsunade answered, "Do I even want to know what you guys did?"
"Trust me, you really don't." Naruto replied.
"Well we're all going to have to know because once all of you have rested and healed you'll be having a trial on the mission." Tsunade explained.
"About Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"Yes. Even though he hadn't crossed the border he did attempt to go nuke-nin, and we'll find out what punishment is in store for him." The Hokage explained.
"But what if he doesn't wake up?" Naruto asked wondering about the consequences.
"Then we'll see what the council feels." Tsunade felt the worse with Danzo, and the civilian portion of the council.
"So what now?" Naruto asked.
"You just rest up for now and take it easy." Tsunade instructed.
The doors slid open and Kushina, Ino, Hun, and the Foot ninja come in, "Naruto!" Kushina cried as she made it in first, "OH NARUTO, OH MY SWEET NARUTO!" she cried, while climbing into Naruto's hospital bed and began kissing his cheek uncontrollably.
"Ma, whoa ma! Ma please!" Naruto pleaded as she kissed his cheek madly.
"Uh mistress, I think you may be…" Hun tried to tell Kushina to get off of Naruto.
"Back off, Hun!" Kushina ordered as she still continued kissing Naruto's cheek much to the boy's discomfort.
"Kushina get a hold of yourself!" Tsunade ordered as she pulled the woman off her own son.
"Arigato." Naruto replied with a pant.
Ino approached but kissed him regularly, "I'm so glad you're all right Naruto-kun."
"How do you feel Master?" Hun asked.
"I feel like I've been dropped off a mountain." Naruto replied
.
"At least you're breathing, that's a good sign." A Foot ninja noted.
"Yes." Naruto added while laying his head back.
"And the good news is you brought Sasuke back. Orochimaru has once again failed to obtain the Sharingan." Hun put in.
"We're still not out of the clear yet Hun," Tsunade explains, "There's still the trial for the actions of Sasuke."
"You're right, but what will we do?" Hun asked.
"Not much we can do except wait until we're healed up. Ino Hun, make sure my Shredder armor is repaired when I am released." Naruto instructed.
"As you wish master." Hun nodded as he collected Naruto's armor and helmet before heading off.
"Well I better rest up. I could be in here for a bit," Naruto said leaning back and sees his hands in casts as well, "And I'll need someone to help me with eating."
Ino smiled, "You can count on me to feed you, Naruto-kun."
"And if Ino can't I will, Naruto." Kushina added.
"Arigato everyone," Naruto smiled but then thought to himself, 'What was with that Shredder gauntlet Sasuke had, and where'd it go after our fight?'
(Don't miss next time guys.)