Sasuke awoke, his gaze lost in the dark expanse of the rainy sky. Naruto's lifeless form lay beside him, a stark reminder of the irreversible choice he had made. His eyes fixed on Naruto, his expression a mixture of sadness and contemplation. For the first time, fate had chosen Indra's path over Ashura's. The world demanded darkness, not light.

As he sat up, memories of his journey with Naruto flooded his mind. Naruto had been a steadfast presence, even when Sasuke hadn't realized it. Now, he faced a future devoid of such companionship. He felt an emptiness within, a void impossible to fill. Memories spun like a film reel, starting with their days at the academy. When he witnessed Naruto engaging in pranks to grab villagers' attention, it began weighing on him. He too understood the craving for recognition; his father's preference for Itachi had left him unnoticed. Sasuke then recollected the moment they were assigned to the same team. He held mixed feelings about it – on one hand, Naruto seemed like a brain-dead idiot, yet on the other hand, he was glad to be on the same team with someone he could connect with and establish a bond.

Sasuke contemplated an alternate reality where they weren't teamed up. Would he even be alive today? Perhaps his existence owed a debt to Naruto. Strength surged within him due to their rivalry, their constant push to outdo each other. Their achievements were the fruit of this dynamic – a testament to their now forever-broken bond.

"Sometimes people who appear as complete opposites are actually two sides of the same coin and can only achieve success when they work together," he remembered. The memories echoed:

"Just what are you!?"

"I'm your friend!"

"Just what do you want!? Why are you so fixated on me?"

"Because we are friends."

"No matter what, I will love you always."

The self-sacrifice he'd made to save Naruto from Haku replayed in his mind. Back then, he couldn't bear losing someone significant again. A time when he was naive and love outshone his hatred. But hatred, too, was a poison. It blinded him to a broader perspective, making him a pawn in the village's game. The twisted shinobi system that required an endless stream of fresh bodies to fuel itself emerged as the culprit.

Sasuke dismantled the system, tracing its origins back to the villages designed to quell wars – a purpose they'd failed to fulfill. The Fourth Great Ninja War, fueled by Obito and Madara's agony, was a testament to this failure. The obsession with god-like power from the tailed beast had given birth to the Akatsuki, a precursor to future darkness. As long as the tailed beasts live someone in the future will attempt the same thing as the Akatsuki.

"I'm going to become Hokage, huh? I'm sorry, Naruto, but not everything goes as planned in this accursed world. Fate is a cruel mistress."

Sasuke and Naruto, Ashura and Indra, locked in a perpetual struggle. Their burdens were heavy – Naruto embraced them, while Sasuke's destiny dripped with hatred and despair. Yet, he remained proud of his Uchiha lineage. He sought to end the cycle – the Uchiha massacre, the Fourth Great Ninja War – to ensure a future without new versions of himself, Naruto, or Itachi. Stepping into shadows was his destiny, sparing others his suffering.

(Naruto, your death won't be in vain, I promise you that.)

"Huh? What happened?"

"Sakura, you were under a genjutsu."

"Where are Sasuke and Naruto?"

"Fighting their final battle."

"Oh," Sakura's words carried a heavy heart.

"I haven't heard from them in a while. Something doesn't feel right. We need to go there immediately."

"Okay," Sakura rushed to her feet.

"Wait, but first–"

Sasuke stood up in the cold, pouring rain, feeling a change in his body. It wasn't just an emotional transformation, but a physical one as well, accompanied by a surge in his chakra's strength. He recalled the words of the Second Hokage:

"The Sharingan taps into the power of that person's heart, rapidly increasing their strength along with the power of their hate. Many sensitive individuals emerged among the Uchiha, and almost all who were exposed to intense emotions succumbed to darkness and fell into malevolence. The deeper the darkness, the greater the visual prowess, until the individual becomes unstoppable – much like Madara."

(I see so that's how it is)

The profound loss and grief Sasuke felt after ending Naruto's life intensified his visual prowess significantly. Since his Rinnegan was interwoven with his Sharingan, the Rinnegan also grew mightier, amplifying the power it bestowed on Sasuke immensely. Sasuke had truly attained the full power of darkness. Many times, he allowed life to beckon him toward the light. He consistently tested his hatred against the love that was extended to him, pitting his darkness against the world's light – and invariably, his darkness triumphed.

As children, Sasuke extended a chance to Naruto during their battle at the Valley of the End. He listened and granted Naruto's resolve an opportunity to prove itself. However, his own darkness prevailed over Naruto's light. With every step he took deeper into the shadows, victory was achieved. This pattern persisted, even as seen in his victory over Danzo. During the Five Kage Summit, Sasuke abandoned Jugo and Suigetsu, ultimately overcoming Danzo's formidable challenge. The critical moment came when he struck Karin in a vital spot, enabling him to kill Danzo. If he had cared for Karin at that moment, Danzo might have managed to escape. Regardless of how often Sasuke attempted to embrace life's opportunities, the evidence pointed to darkness being the sole path to success. With Naruto's lifeless body lying at his feet, life seemed to once again endorse the notion that darkness was the inevitable route, rewarding him with renewed power.

"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted, with Kakashi following closely behind. She noticed Naruto's lifeless body, and both she and Kakashi rushed over to him. There, Naruto lay with a fatal wound through his heart. Tears welled up in her eyes; she couldn't believe it. Sasuke, the man she had loved, had killed Naruto – a vital member of their team. Naruto had served as the bond between Team 7 and Sasuke, but that link was now shattered. Sasuke had plunged too deeply into the abyss of darkness.

Sakura's affection for Naruto extended beyond friendship. In her eyes, Sasuke had transformed into a monstrous figure, and she felt foolish for ever having loved him. CHAAAAAAAA-With a surge of emotion, she swung her fist at Sasuke, only for him to grasp her wrist and overpower her with sheer strength, as if she were a weak genin. The expression on Sakura's face emanated pure disgust and hatred – reminiscent of how Sasuke used to gaze at Itachi.

"I can't believe you, Sasuke! Do you even comprehend what Naruto endured for you? Despite everything, he always saw you as a friend. He defended you when others criticized you. He went to great lengths for your sake. Does none of that mean anything to you!?"

Sakura's response aligned exactly with Sasuke's expectations and desires. Hatred converged upon him – hatred that would sever the lingering ties to his failed past. "Yes, that's it," Sasuke acknowledged, and then he swiftly delivered a powerful gut punch to her stomach, aiming to incapacitate her. However, Sakura dissolved into a puff of smoke.

"Kage Bunshin no jutsu – as clever as ever, Kakashi."

Kakashi bore a profound sense of sadness; he felt as if everything was his responsibility. He had endeavored to serve as a father figure for Sasuke, guiding him toward the light. He recalled the words of the Sage of the Six Paths, who had indicated that Sasuke's current disposition had been molded by a profound loss of love in the past – a transformation of love into hatred. Now, this transformation was evident in Sakura as well. Her love for Naruto had morphed into hatred toward Sasuke. Kakashi grappled with the feeling of having completely failed to steer his team in the right direction.

Sasuke cradled Naruto's lifeless body in his arms and began to walk away. Seeing Sasuke's retreating figure, Kakashi couldn't let the moment pass. "Sasuke," Kakashi called out, attempting to capture Sasuke's attention. He yearned for an explanation, a way to reach some resolution.

"Sasuke, why did you do it?" Kakashi inquired, his voice earnest. He sought to understand Sasuke's motivations, to grasp the reasons behind this tragic turn of events.

"To sever the ties to the past," Sasuke responded, his voice carrying the weight of his decision. "The tailed beasts only brought trouble throughout history. I intend to erase them from the future, including the tailed beast chakra within Naruto. And also, because Naruto obstructed my path. No one can impede my revolution."

Curiosity piqued, Kakashi probed further. "What is this revolution you keep mentioning?"

"I will rise as the sole Gokage, uniting every village under my dominion. I will channel all the world's hatred towards myself. I will bear the burden of the world's darkness and shoulder every responsibility. To cast aside the past, to sear away the shadows shrouding the Five Villages with my very blaze, and to continue living amidst the ashes – that is my ninja way."

Kakashi's thoughts drifted to his father, Sakumo Hatake. His father had pursued what he believed to be right, but it had only garnered hatred from those around him. Consumed by the collective animosity, he had chosen to end his own life.

"Sasuke, you can't endure the weight of the world's hatred. It will crush you entirely," Kakashi implored, his voice laden with concern. "I see it now – you're feeling the agony, aren't you? You're experiencing the pain. I know you possess a heart, even though you've acted out of anger. Everything you've done – it was all rooted in love. You still have a heart. If you persist on this path, it will only lead to your destruction."

...

Sasuke continued walking away, each step feeling like a heavy burden on his shoulders. The weight of his choices, the magnitude of his actions – it all pressed down upon him relentlessly.

"Before the Five Kage Summit, Naruto knelt before the Raikage, begging for your forgiveness," Kakashi interjected urgently, his words carrying the weight of truth. "Naruto truly cherished you as a friend. You can't deny your emotions now. If you truly feel nothing at this moment, then meet my gaze directly!"

Sasuke halted in his tracks, torn between his inner turmoil and Kakashi's unwavering words. He attempted to meet Kakashi's gaze, but his shame and sorrow caused him to avert his eyes slightly, avoiding a direct confrontation with his sensei's disappointed gaze. The revelation of Naruto's selfless act struck him like a dagger to the heart, a profound realization that pierced through the walls he had erected around his emotions.

Sasuke manifested the Perfect Susanoo, a manifestation of his determination and pain. With Naruto's body cradled within its protective embrace, Sasuke soared into the sky, his figure becoming a distant silhouette against the clouds.

As Kakashi watched Sasuke depart, a heavy silence settled around him. "You've disappointed me, Sasuke," Kakashi's voice resonated, tinged with a mixture of sadness and resignation. His form gradually faded into smoke, the remnants of his presence dissolving into the air.

The world was left with the echoes of Sasuke's choices, the weight of his burdens, and the questions that lingered – all swirling within the stormy clouds and rain that seemed to mirror the turmoil within his heart.