It had been a week since he had felt that enormous pressure—so vast that even in his enhanced state with the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, not even he could move even the tiniest muscle—he could not even use his chakra. After the last of the pressure was gone he had gone back to where Madara was keeping him before he escaped.
When he got there there were dead white zetsu everywhere, no doubt victims of that monstrous aura. He had to find out what or who made that because he was confident that no one—not even Madara—could do that.
The Aura had felt familiar to Sasuke, but there was something unsettlingly different about it. He could not put his finger on who or what it could be. But it had to be someone he had met before. That realization sent a chill through him; if this presence belonged to a former acquaintance who opposed his goals, it could jeopardize everything he was working toward.
A chill ran down his spine. Even thinking of the familiarity of it made him nervous, like something was watching him waiting to pounce. He even felt it in his dreams. He was a mouse , and he was being hunted by a cat, one that could be sensed, but not seen.
What he felt was not a predator, something he didn't realize at the time, but it was the complete opposite, considering what he felt was Naruto's will at the time—unbeknownst to him—it included Naruto's will to bring back Sasuke. But to Sasuke, it felt like a dark, oppressive force, contradicting his own sense of strength. How could he, the so-called apex predator, feel like prey?. How could something be stalking him like prey when he was the apex predator with his guess of Madara being gone. And yet, whatever this aura belonged to, it was a brutal reminder that he was still not the strongest.
He never had been. Itachi had always been better than him, in shurikenjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu, even the sharingan up until his death. When he left the village, he only bested Naruto because of the curse mark's influence. Even when he finally defeated Itachi, it was only because his brother was sick, their final fight tainted by illness rather than skill alone. Then came Madara, and now this presence—an elusive power beyond him.
As Sasuke mulled over the memory of the aura, something inside him stirred—a shadow of doubt, the kind he hadn't felt since he'd set out on his own path of vengeance and self-mastery. He had sacrificed everything, from his village ties to the bonds of friendship, to become stronger. But now, standing at the threshold of what he thought would be his ultimate power, he was faced with a chilling question: would it ever be enough?
With Madara gone, he had assumed the greatest threat in his way had been eliminated, but this aura—whatever it was—suggested otherwise. It reminded him of Naruto, but with a potency, a rawness, that went beyond the Naruto he'd known. Could it truly be Naruto? Or had his old friend awakened something else within himself, something that would drive Sasuke to push beyond his limits yet again?
Sasuke clenched his fists, feeling the burn of frustration. "It's like I've been standing in the shadows of others my whole life," he muttered under his breath. "First Itachi, then Naruto, and now… whoever this is."
Sasuke knew if he dwelled on this, it would get him nowhere. Tainting his thoughts till there was only the madness of curiosity left. He would want to find out who was better than him, and then destroy them like he has done with everyone who had been in his way. Whoever had wielded the power to paralyze him was, by that very act, an obstacle he would have to overcome. But Sasuke understood that, in his current state, he was no match for this new threat. He needed more power..
It was always the same: an endless need for strength. Ever since his clan had been massacred, everything Sasuke had done was to gain power. First, it was to kill Itachi, and then—when he learned the truth—it became about destroying the Hidden Leaf Village. Now, his target was Madara, though he wondered if he would ever have the chance to face him. He felt a new motivation take root, feeding his will.
"Whoever you are—be afraid—for I am Sasuke Uchiha, The Last Uchiha!" he declared into the forest, his voice ringing through the silence and sending birds scattering from the trees.
As the echo of his own voice faded into the depths of the forest, Sasuke felt a surge of fierce determination wash over him. He had voiced his resolve, drawing a line between his past and the path he would carve into the future. This unseen challenger, whoever they were, had sparked something primal within him—a need not just to surpass but to dominate, to rise above even the ghosts of the Uchiha clan's legacy.
Yet, even as his declaration lingered, doubt crept in. How many times had he felt this same drive, this consuming need to ascend beyond his perceived limits? First for Itachi, then to seek revenge against the Hidden Leaf, and finally to take down Madara. Each time, he'd believed that victory would bring him peace. But each battle had only drawn him deeper into an endless cycle, a pit where each triumph only demanded a greater one.
Was this the violence Itachi had told him about? He had no idea, but he didn't want to fall into it. It was what made Itachi kill their entire clan. But, he was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. I was in his very nature to destroy the competition. And he needed more power to destroy what challenge he had coming up next.
Sasuke took a deep breath, trying to steady the fire within. His mind raced with thoughts of new paths to power. There were still forbidden techniques, perhaps beyond even his mastery of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. He had heard whispers of legendary relics, ancient weapons of unimaginable strength, and forbidden jutsu that only the bravest—or most desperate—shinobi dared to pursue.
He paused, considering. Perhaps it was time to seek out something beyond even Madara's power.
His mind wandered to legends of chakra beasts and hidden places where energy pulsed so strongly that even the greatest shinobi feared to approach. The cursed valley of the Sage of Six Paths, the deadly Ruins of the Land of Ancestors—places he had once avoided in favor of more practical training. But now, they seemed to whisper to him. Could there be a source of strength there that would ensure he was never stopped again?
"I will become more than even the clan could have dreamed of," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Madara will be nothing compared to what I will achieve."
With renewed purpose, he took a final look back at the forest, a mere reminder of the man he once was. He began to walk, each step heavy with ambition, leading him deeper into the unknown. Sasuke Uchiha was ready to pursue the uncharted paths that would make him unstoppable—whatever the cost.
Sasuke set out to the cursed valley of the Sage of Six Paths. It would be a long journey, but he had overcome everything he had ever faced. He was a survivor—he had to be. Since the age of six, he had been alone, forced to rely solely on himself. He had learned because he needed to, and he would continue to learn and survive, no matter the cost.
Naruto was tired. Waiting for your friends to come to your hospital room while you have just woken up from a two day nap is exhausting. He prayed to Kami he would never feel this tired again. Sleeping for a long time is hard. Naruto had decided.
As the door swung open, Naruto's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of his friends streaming into the hospital room. First came Ino and Sakura, their expressions a mix of relief and excitement. Following them were Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru, each wearing looks of concern that quickly transformed into smiles upon seeing him awake. Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, Kakashi, and finally Hinata entered, filling the room with a vibrant energy.
"Wow, it looks like I've got a whole welcoming committee," Naruto jokes, trying to sit up but feeling a wave of fatigue wash over him.
Sakura looked at Naruto, her tone serious, "You need to take better care of yourself, Naruto. You can't protect everyone if you're always pushing yourself to the limit."
"Yeah, but it was totally worth it! I was so close to mastering that new technique!" he protested, a determined glint in his eyes.
"And you can't use whatever technique it was when you're in the hospital, Baka." Sakura chided.
"Fine, fine. I'll take it easy. I promised" Naruto said.
Hinata stood a little shyly at the back, her hands clasped together. "I'm just glad you're okay, Naruto. We were really worried."
Naruto's heart warmed at her words. "Thanks, Hinata. I'll be back on my feet in no time, don't worry! And I'll definitely need your support for my next training session."
Kakashi, leaning against the doorframe, watched the interaction with a smile hidden beneath his mask. "Just remember, the best shinobi knows when to push and when to rest. It's part of growth, Naruto."
With the laughter and chatter surrounding him, Naruto felt a surge of motivation. This wasn't just about him anymore; it was about the bonds he had forged and the people who believed in him. He would recover, not just for himself, but for his friends and their shared dreams of a better future.
As the day grew older, Naruto grew tired, eventually nodding off while they were still in there .When he did, everyone but Sakura, Hinata, and Ino quietly left, leaving a cozy atmosphere behind.
"He sure does find a way to get himself into trouble," Sakura remarked, shaking her head with a mix of exasperation and affection.
Ino chuckled softly, glancing at Hinata, who was watching Naruto sleep with a gentle smile. "You know, I think he thrives on it. It's like trouble finds him, and he just can't help but dive headfirst into it."
Hinata nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly as she replied, "He's strong, though. He always manages to pull through, no matter how tough things get."
Sakura's expression softened as she looked at Naruto, who was peaceful in his slumber. "Yeah, but he needs to learn to be more careful. We can't always be there to save him."
Ino crossed her arms, her tone playful yet serious. "You know, he doesn't always see how much we worry. Maybe that's part of his charm. But I wouldn't mind if he took a little break from the heroics every now and then."
Hinata chuckled softly, "As long as he keeps trying to get stronger, I think we can help him with that. We can train together when he wakes up. That way, he knows he's not alone."
Sakura smiled, feeling the warmth of their friendship. "Exactly. He's always been there for us, so now it's our turn to be there for him. And besides, he'll be back to his old self before we know it."
Just then, a soft snore escaped from Naruto, making all three girls giggle. They shared a moment of camaraderie, each feeling a deeper bond not just with Naruto, but with each other as well.
As the sun began to set outside, casting a warm glow into the room, they settled into a comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts of hope and friendship, waiting for Naruto to wake up and continue their journey together.
When Naruto woke up, he felt stiffer than a tree trunk. He could hardly move his back from being stuck in bed for the last day and after waking up from two days of unconsciousness. After a few moments of struggle, he managed to sit up, the white sheets rustling around him. Sunlight filtered through the hospital window, warming his face.
Kurama, what should we do today? He asked internally, hoping his inner partner would have a plan.
You are too stiff to do anything of use, Kurama replied dryly, so wait for the old hag to discharge and then we can get to that.
Naruto sighed, rubbing his stiff neck. Guess I don't have much of a choice then.
As Naruto lay in his hospital bed recovering, unaware of his friend's journey, Sasuke was nearing his destination—the Cursed Valley of the Sage of Six Paths. His path had taken him beyond the known lands of the Shinobi world, past the Land of Earth, to an ancient and unmarked territory. It was a place whispered about in legends but rarely confirmed by any who lived to speak of it.
This place had loomed large in Sasuke's mind since he first heard Itachi's story, an almost mythical tale of a land untouched by time. Itachi had described it as a birthplace, a far-off origin point for the most powerful clans. And years later, 'Madara' had spoken of the same land, claiming it as the ancient homeland of the Uchiha and the Senju clans—a place shaped by the origins of chakra and the will of the Sage of Six Paths himself.
With every step closer to the valley, Sasuke's resolve strengthened. If the legends were true, if this valley produced a being of such tremendous power, he needed to know how, and when he knew how, he would harness it, and create the world he imagined. It wasn't just about power for the sake of strength—it was about wielding control over destiny itself—ensuring no one had to undergo the tragedies he had to go through.
His vision went beyond mere vengeance now. Sasuke wanted to eradicate the corruption and endless cycle of conflict that consumed the shinobi world. A world without manipulation, free from hidden agendas, where death was no longer the currency of power. He imagined a revolutionized system, one where he would be its creator and ultimate authority—a god who could guide it, enforce justice, and shape it with unbreakable resolve.