It had been 4 days since Naruto had collapsed and he was currently dreaming of something. It was really strange what he was dreaming about. One, he was perfectly lucid during this dream, two, he felt his consciousness leave his body and go to a far-off land, and three, it was just weird.
He had no idea what he was looking at. It was gray and made of metal. It was a spherical shape, and it had a metal version of a millipede rotating around it. In the center was a yellow glow that was partially blocked by the metal millipedes. It wasn't really a millipede, just something that looked like the body of one. And around that was its container. On the poles there were plus sign-like shapes with plus signs on the equator in the middle.
He felt drawn to the shape, or thing, or whatever it was. The slight hum coming from it was enticing. There was a faint warmth coming from it, contrasting the metallic chill it had. He felt a power coming from it. A power that felt like it wasn't supposed to be there. It was otherworldly. He wanted to touch it, but he couldn't because it was just out of his reach. It was then he heard a voice, a whisper, "you finally are here my child." A chill went down his spine, and he saw a shadow of something in his peripheral vision, then he felt something enter the cave, something familiar, then his dream ended, and he was back to dreaming of Ramen and 9-tailed foxes.
Sasuke had just reached the Cursed Valley of the Sage of Six Paths and when he stepped in the valley, all he saw was grass and trees.
This can't be right… there has to be people here, something, Sasuke confusedly thought.
He started looking around for anything. After hours of searching he found a cave and as soon as he looked at the cave he felt a force, the hairs on the back of his head and his arms stood up. He felt like he was being watched. it was almost as strong as the presence he felt 2 weeks ago. He immediately went down into the cave to see what it was. As soon as he went in he heard a noise, like a whisper, "you are finally here my child."
This creeped Sasuke out to the point where he froze. How could his child be here if I am the only one here? My dad and mother are dead, they can't be alive here… can they. It's just your imagination, get a hold of yourself. You're and Uchiha, nothing can scare you.
He delved deeper into the cave. Hours had passed before he found a deep expanse. It was huge. There were walkways to something in a dome. The ceiling had to have been 200 feet from his head. He walked to the middle of the dome, he wanted to see what was there.
As he entered the dome he felt small. It's vastness creep in on him, then saw something strange, yet enticing. It was gray and made of metal. It was a spherical shape, and it had a metal version of a millipede rotating around it. In the center was a yellow glow that was partially blocked by the metal millipedes. It wasn't really a millipede, just something that looked like the body of one. And around that was its container. On the poles there were plus sign-like shapes with plus signs on the equator in the middle. It was floating above a pool of water. Its light pulsed at the same frequency as his heart.
He was drawn to it, he wanted it, needed it. He felt the power coming off it. If he could harness it he could reach his dreams. He reached out for it, but when his hand was millimeters from it, it stopped. He couldn't move his arms anymore. His arm trembled, veins straining against an invisible force, as if even daring to touch it was forbidden. It was then he heard the voice again.
"You consider yourself worthy to wield such a tool as the Ironheart." A deep voice called out, curious and wary.
He couldn't think. All he wanted was what was in front of him. He was straining against the force, but he still couldn't move his arm.
The voice called out again, "Strength does not mean worthiness. Tell me Uchiha, why are you worthy to wield the Ironheart?"
Tension was heavy in the dome. Sasuwe thought why he was worthy to wield it. My vengeance? My ambition? His relentless drive to control his destiny? But, how could this… Ironheart possibly understands that. He steadied his breath.
"What drives me," Sasuke's voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed off the dome in the silence of the cavern,"is my blood, my will. I seek this power because I am the only one who can wield it. And I will wield it whether you approve or not!." His voice was now octave higher, declaring what he thought his destiny, his will, his ambition, his dream.
Silence filled the cavern, only filled by the hum of the Ironheart. The pressure on Sasuke's arm weakened. The Ironheart's glow dimmed, then it flared as if it was evaluating him. The voice then spoke up, colder than before, "Many have stood where you stand now, all certain of their own path, but only one has come out unscathed."
The Ironheart opened, showing its yellow core. Then a spark of electricity shot out at Sasuke, hitting him in his chest. An overwhelming presence filling his mind, going through every memory he had. Flashing shot his mind, but he couldn't make any out.
Then, through the haze of memories the voice spoke, "Prove yourself, or be destroyed, as they did, lost to time, forgotten to history."
Sasuke summoned every ounce of strength he had, steadied himself, and spoke, "Then test me then." His voice defiant, the Sharuingan flaring to life, "I'm not like those who have come before."
The Ironheart's core pulsed, bright this time, almost blinding. He felt a surge of power around him, drawing him in, and then he saw something. He saw Konoha, or what was left of Konoha. It was destroyed, buildings crumbled on the ground, nothing left. He saw the faces of people he used to call comrades.
"You have the Sharingan, but your path is full of contradictions, you seek to protect, yet you wield it with anger and vengeance." The voice echoed over him. "Are you truly willing to sacrifice your purpose to achieve your ambition?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, a flicker of doubt brushing across his mind. He knew his motives were twisted, veering between redemption and revenge. He had witnessed the destruction that unchecked power could unleash, yet here he was, compelled to reach for more. And now, something had forced him to confront that contradiction head-on.
"You misunderstand, ambition is just a tool to be used—one I'll use to my advantage. My purpose hasn't changed."
The voice, calm yet seething, spoke again, "Would you see this destruction through? Would you take power, knowing the cost?"
Sasuke clenched his fists, stealing his breath. He knew what this vision represented, and he refused to let it shake him. His sharingan flared to life, the vision disappearing, the cavern appearing once more.
"I know what I've sacrificed to get here. And I know the consequences of failure," he responded, his voice low and unwavering. "But that's why I have to go further—to see this through and bring justice to those who took everything from me."
For a moment, there was silence, as if the Ironheart was contemplating his words. Then the voice returned, softer, almost amused.
"It seems your words are true, Uchiha, you are not like the others who have come here before." The energy around the Ironheart stilled, and the tendrils retracted, leaving only the pulsing yellow light.
"Claim your trial," it said finally, "and prove that your resolve is more than ambition."
Sasuke steeled himself. He knew everything he had done to get here. Everything he had sacrificed. This time it was not just a physical test, but a mental one. A crucible, forcing him to look at every dark corner of his mind. And as he reached for the Ironheart once more, he resolved to prove that he would not break.
The moment his fingers closed around the Ironheart, a torrent of energy erupted from its core. Sasuke's vision was engulfed in a blinding red light, and an unbearable pressure crashed over him, leaving him gasping as he felt an unimaginable surge course through his body. The searing pain twisted within him, freezing and scorching his very being in chaotic waves that seemed to rise and fall, intensifying each time they cycled.
He fought to keep his footing, staggering as the energy rushed into him, his Sharingan flaring rapidly. The ground beneath him fractured, forming webs of cracks into the ground. They spread all around the cavern, and his mind teetered on the edge, visions flashing and shifting—distorted scenes of Konoha, the faces of those he'd left behind, friends, family, and foes alike. Each face, each memory, bore down on him, testing his resolve.
The Ironheart's voice returned, echoing in his mind, deeper and sharper than before.
"Is this your limit, Uchiha?" The voice resonated, piercing into his very thoughts. "Or will you allow this power to consume you as it did those before you?"
Sasuke's muscles tightened, refusing to let go despite the agony he was experiencing. He would not give in—not to power, not anymore—and not to fear. Each memory that passed seemed designed to dredge up his doubts, each a whisper of his own mind urging him to let go, to surrender to the Ironheart's power or be destroyed by it. His past mistakes, his regrets—they played on his mind like a relentless assault, tearing down the resolve he had spent so long building up.
"You don't understand…" he gasped, voice barely audible as he forced himself to stand straight. "I've come too far to fall now. No matter the pain, no matter the cost…"
His Sharingan sharpened, the red of his eyes cutting through the haze as he focused all his remaining strength on containing the power.
The Ironheart pulsed in response, the red light dimming and the searing pain ebbing, leaving an icy calm in its wake. Sasuke could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears, the silence thick and heavy as he steadied his breath, his muscles taut and trembling.
"Very well," the voice said finally, its tone soft but edged with an unfamiliar warmth, almost respect. "You have endured the trial, and your spirit remains unbroken."
The Ironheart's yellow core glowed once more, but this time it was no longer hostile. Instead, it emanated a warmth that spread through Sasuke, a calm yet powerful energy that settled within him, enhancing rather than overwhelming him. The weight of the Ironheart was now a part of him, a steady presence, amplifying his senses and connecting with the depths of his power.
Sasuke, now centered, released a shaky breath, feeling the power at his command without the burning need for control. The cavern seemed to have returned to stillness, yet he knew everything had changed. The Ironheart's presence had fused with his own, bound by his will and tempered by his unyielding resolve.
"You have claimed the Ironheart," the voice whispered, fading into the depths of the cavern. "But be warned: power exacts a price. Remember this, Uchiha… and wield it well."
The red glow faded completely, leaving only the faint, humming energy pulsing beneath his skin, a reminder of the trial he had faced and the power he had won. Sasuke turned, stepping out of the cavern and back into the Cursed Valley, his resolve steeled, his purpose clearer than ever.
Naruto had been awake for an hour now. His dream had not left him. he couldn't stop thinking about it. He was eating Ramen in his hospital bed, when his senses tingled with the strange pulse of energy that reached him from miles away, an aura dense with a peculiar mix of intensity and intent that he could only describe as hauntingly familiar. Pausing mid-bite, he glanced out of his hospital room window, a chill creeping along his spine. Kurama's voice, usually confident, sounded edged with concern.
"Did you feel that, Kurama?" Naruto asked, his grip tightening around his chopsticks. "It reminds me of my dream, yet it is different."
I don't know, brat, Kurama responded, the deep rumble of his voice unsettling in its uncertainty. But I'd bet my tails that it's nothing good.
Naruto swallowed, closing his eyes as he reached out, trying to trace the lingering presence of the energy. This was unlike anything he had sensed before—different from any foe he had faced, yet within its darkness lay a hint of something driven, even righteous, as if the bearer of that power wielded it not solely for evil, but with an unyielding will to protect, no matter the cost.
Whoever or whatever had unleashed this energy, Naruto knew one thing: it was no ordinary chakra. It bore a weight that spoke of trials, sacrifices, and the iron resolve of someone who had faced the depths of their own spirit and emerged forever changed. He clenched his fists, wondering if he'd soon have to confront the force that lingered just beyond his reach.
The silence in the room felt heavy, each heartbeat echoing in his ears, as if to mark the start of something he couldn't yet comprehend.