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Chapter 3: Reunion of Two Lovers
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Back at the Hokage's office, Yugao and her Anbu squad delivered the unsettling report of their encounter with the mysterious dark figure in the Forest of Death. The room fell silent as the gravity of the situation settled in, the only sound was the steady drip of water from their wet gear onto the wooden floor.
"The Prince of Darkness," Sarutobi muttered, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he listened to Yugao's report.
"It's unmistakable, Lord Hokage," Yugao said firmly, her eyes never leaving his. "The energy was too powerful to be mistaken for anything else."
"I see... And you're sure it was Naruto that caused this disturbance?" Sarutobi questioned, his gaze sharp despite the weariness that lined his eyes.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Yugao affirmed. "Though his appearance and demeanor... It wasn't his usual self. Something is very wrong."
"...Explain." The Hokage's voice was firm, demanding clarity amidst the confusion.
Yugao took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving his. "He was...different, Hokage-sama," she began, her words chosen carefully. "The aura was unlike anything we've ever encountered. And when he spoke, his voice was deeper, more...commanding."
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed. "What did he say?"
"He claimed to be the Prince of Darkness," Yugao replied, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "He didn't act hostile, but there was a clear warning in his words. He said we weren't his enemies unless we chose to be."
"The Prince of Darkness..." Sarutobi echoed, his eyes narrowing. 'Is he being influenced by the Nine-Tails, or has something else occurred?'
"What about the rest of Team 7? Where were they during this?" Sarutobi inquired, his gaze piercing through Yugao's mask.
"We didn't see any of them, Lord Hokage," she replied, her voice carrying the weight of her guilt. "There were no signs of Yukino, Sasuke, or Sakura in the vicinity."
"So, Naruto was just standing there, alone, without his team?" Sarutobi's voice was filled with concern.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Yugao nodded gravely. "We found no trace of them. It was as if they had abandoned him."
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "What!? Why would you make such an assumption? Did he say something that led you to believe he was abandoned?" he questioned, his tone a mix of concern and accusation.
Yugao swallowed hard, knowing she had to be careful with her words. "No, Lord Hokage," she replied. "It's just that, considering the circumstances and that there were no signs of them around, it's...possible they left him behind."
Sarutobi's face grew stern, his eyes flashing with anger. "That's unacceptable," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If this is true, there will be consequences."
"Understood, Lord Hokage," Yugao responded, bowing slightly.
"Find Kakashi and tell him to report to me immediately," Sarutobi barked, his voice echoing in the tense silence of the room. "He needs to know about this at once!"
The Anbu nodded and dashed out of the office, leaving Sarutobi and Yugao alone with their thoughts.
Naruto and Yukino walked in silence, the rain slowly tapering off as they moved deeper into the forest. The tension between them was palpable, the weight of the recent events a heavy burden on their shoulders. Yukino's mind was racing, trying to piece together the puzzle of Naruto's transformation and her own feelings of guilt.
Since childhood, Yukino had been aware of the whispers surrounding the demon fox sealed within Naruto. The villagers' fear and the way some of her own classmates had shied away from him. Yet, she had always seen past that, to the kind, earnest boy beneath.
She even promised him, once, that she'd never leave his side. That she'd protect him, no matter what. But she had broken that promise. She had allowed fear and doubt to consume her, leaving him to face his demons alone. And now, he had changed. The light in his eyes had been replaced with a darkness she didn't recognize, yet she felt a strange pull towards it, as if it was a part of her too.
"If you wanna say something, just spit it out," Naruto said, his eyes still on the path ahead.
"I just... I don't know what to say," Yukino admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't know what to talk about, or even if she should talk at all. The silence was unbearable, but she was afraid that any words she chose would only make things worse.
The relationship they had was now a tapestry of shredded promises and unspoken fears. The silence grew heavier with each step they took, their footsteps muffled by the sodden earth beneath them.
Naruto looked at her for a moment before speaking, his emerald eyes piercing through the gloom. "You can start by telling me where Sasuke and Sakura are."
Yukino's face fell. "They... they're currently in a tree trunk with my ice clone," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I had to leave them to find you. To make sure you were okay."
"Then you can lead the way to them," Naruto said, his voice still cold and distant.
Yukino nodded, not daring to argue, and she began to guide them back through the forest. As they moved, she couldn't help but steal glances at him, trying to find any trace of the boy she had known. His eyes remained green, glowing slightly in the dark, and the aura of power around him was undeniable. Yet, she could feel a sadness in his presence, a loneliness that seemed to resonate with the emptiness in her own heart.
Naruto didn't take notice of Yukino's stare and just kept on walking, going through his thoughts of the recent events. The power he had unlocked was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was as if he had tapped into a part of himself that had been buried for centuries, and he wasn't quite sure how to handle it.
His thoughts were also on the Queen of Light. He can feel her presence, her warmth, her love. It was like a beacon guiding him through the darkest of nights. He knew she was out there, looking for him. He could feel her concern, her fear for his well-being. It was strange, but he felt more connected to her than anyone else.
'I need to find her,' he thought.
Suddenly, Naruto's steps faltered as he sensed something amiss. His heightened awareness picked up on the presence of three figures, hidden among the dense foliage.
"Naruto, what's wrong?" Yukino asked, noticing his sudden stillness.
Without a word, Naruto's arm shot out, pulling her behind him as a barrage of shurikens and kunais sliced through the air where she had just been standing. Her eyes widened in shock because she didn't sense anyone, but his reaction was swift and precise. He had protected her again, just like he had always done.
"You three," Naruto's deep, resonant voice echoed through the forest, the emerald in his eyes scanning the shadows. "Come out now!"
Three figures slowly emerged from the dense underbrush, their eyes wary. They were all wearing the distinctive garb of the Hidden Rain Village, their faces etched with a mix of anger and surprise at their failed ambush.
"Damn, it failed," one of the Rain ninjas hissed, their frustration clear.
"Who are you?" Yukino demanded, her hand poised for a counterattack.
"We are shinobi of the Hidden Rain Village," the leader spoke, his voice tinged with contempt. "And you two are in possession of something we need."
"Give us the scroll and you two might just leave this forest alive," the Rain ninja leader snarled, his eyes greedy as they fixated on the pair.
"We don't have any scrolls at the moment. One of my teammates foolishly gave it to someone else," Naruto said calmly, his eyes never leaving the Rain ninjas.
"Oh really? That's unfortunate for you," the Rain ninja sneered, taking a step closer. "But I think you're just bluffing. Give us the scroll, or face the consequences."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, the power within him pulsating with each heartbeat. "You don't know who you're dealing with," he warned, his voice low and menacing.
The Rain ninjas laughed, mistaking his warning for a bluff. "We know who you are, you're that blonde Idiot. Nice try changing your hair color but we're not that stupid to not recognized you."
"And your that smoken hot kunoichi," the second Rain ninja added, eyeing Yukino with a leer.
Yukino's cheeks flushed with anger at the ninja's lewd remark, but she remained silent.
Naruto didn't like that remark either, his hand twitching slightly. "I'm giving you one last chance to leave," he said. "Or face what comes next."
Yukino unintentionally stepped back. The way Naruto was speaking, it sent a shiver down her spine. But it also made her cheeks burn with a mix of fear and excitement that she couldn't quite understand. The power he exuded was both terrifying and alluring, and she found herself drawn to it despite the danger.
"And what are you planning to do, huh?" the Rain ninja leader scoffed, his eyes glinting with malice. "Nothing a couple of kids from the Leaf can do to stop us."
With that, the single rain ninja charged at them, the two other's just watched with smirks, but their smugness was short-lived. Yukino, who was ready for a fight suddenly gasped in horror at what she saw. The rain ninja was suddenly stopped in his tracks, a look of shock on his face as he stared down at the hilt of a massive sword protruding from his stomach. The sword was unlike anything they had seen before, a deep black color that seemed to absorb the light around it, with crimson runes snaking along its length.
Naruto stood behind him, his eyes still glowing emerald, his hand gripping the sword's hilt firmly. He had moved so fast, it was almost as if he had teleported. The rain ninja's eyes went wide, gurgling sounds coming from his mouth as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.
"It's unfortunate you didn't head my warning," Naruto's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion as he watched the rain ninja's lifeblood spill onto the forest floor. He then yanked the sword from the ninja's body, blood splatted onto the ground with a sickening splash. "Now, you three are going to die," he announced, pointing the sword at the remaining two.
Yukino watched in horror as the scene unfolded. This wasn't the Naruto she knew. The boy who once had a never-give-up attitude and a heart of gold was now speaking of death so casually. It was as if he had become someone else entirely.
"You bastard!" the remaining Rain ninjas roared in unison, their grief and anger overtaking their fear. In a flash of movement, they drew their weapons and charged at Naruto.
Yukino watched, paralyzed, as the two ninjas approached, their movements swift and precise. But Naruto was ready. He stepped aside with an unearthly grace, the sword moving in an arc that was almost too fast to follow. The first attacker's charge was met with a spray of crimson as the sword sliced through him, cutting him in half with a clean motion.
The leader's eyes wide with shock and fury, launched a series of shurikens at the unrelenting figure before her. Yet, as if plucking fruit from a tree, Naruto caught each one with ease, his hand a blur. He flung them back with such force that they embedded themselves in the ninja's chest before he had time to react. He staggered back, a look of disbelief on his face before crumpling to the ground.
"N-no...you monster!" the leader stuttered, his eyes flickering between the lifeless forms of his comrades and the green-eyed boy who had felled them.
"Call me what you want, doesn't matter to me one bit. I will at least give you the courtesy of a swift death," Naruto said, raising the sword, ready to end the leader's life.
"P-please, no!" the Rain ninja begged, his bravado gone, his eyes wide with fear.
But there was no mercy in the eyes of the Prince of Darkness. With a flicker of shadow, the sword arced down, and the leader's scream was silenced. The forest fell quiet once more, the only sound the patter of rain on the leaves.
Yukino stared at the carnage before her, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen such brutal efficiency, such coldness in battle.
"Naruto..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
He didn't look at her, his eyes still on the lifeless body of the Rain ninja leader. "It was necessary," he said, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"But-"
"There's no 'but' here, Yukino," Naruto said, turning to face her, the rain washing away the crimson from the blade. "We all signed a contract when we stepped into this exam. We knew the risks. Killing is part of this exam, especially if we want to survive."
Yukino knew he was right. The rain ninja had attacked first, and in the world of shinobi, there was no room for mercy. It was kill or be killed. But seeing it from someone she had known for so long, shook her to her core.
"You're right," Yukino said, her voice shaking as she stepped closer to him. "It's just, seeing you be the one to do it... it's not easy."
Naruto nodded solemnly. "I know. But sometimes, we have to make tough decisions to protect those we care about."
He then turned to the lifeless forms of the Rain ninjas, his eyes hardening as he approached. Meanwhile, Yukino looked up at him with slight surprise and then gave a small smile, happy that at least some part of the old Naruto remained within him.
Naruto bent down and began searching through their gear, his movements swift and efficient.
"What are you looking for?" Yukino asked.
"Our team doesn't have any scrolls, remember?" Naruto answered back. He then pulled out two scrolls from the dead Rain ninja's pouches, each one marked with the kanji for "Heaven."
Yukino's eyes went wide. "Two Heaven scrolls," she murmured in amazement.
Naruto nodded.
"We just need the Earth Scroll and we're set," he thought, tucking the two Heaven scrolls into his own pouch.
"We're taking both?" Yukino asked, her voice tentative.
"Yes, it's incase we lose one, or if we can negotiate with another team for the Earth scroll," Naruto replied.
Yukino understood and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, you're right. That would give us-" Yukino's words were cut off by a sudden, thunderous sound that seemed to shake the very ground beneath their feet. A massive soundwave echoed through the forest.
"What was that!?" she shouted over the rumbling.
Naruto's eyes snapped to the horizon where the sound originated. "Someone must be fighting over there." He then narrowed his eyes as he felt a dark presence, one that was eerily familiar yet vastly different.
"Let's go," he said, turning on his heel, and began to sprint towards the disturbance.
Yukino didn't argue, her instincts screaming at her to follow his command. Her legs pumped, trying to keep up with Naruto's inhuman speed. She didn't know what was happening at the moment, but she knew it couldn't be good.
"You seem pretty proud of these arms of yours."
Sakura, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji all stared in stunned silence as the once calm and cool voice of Sasuke Uchiha grew cold and unrecognizable.
His appearance surprised all of them, including Neji and Tenten who were just watching from the trees. Sasuke had flame like markings that wrapped half-way across his face and dark purple chakra surrounding him menacingly.
Sakura never seen Sasuke like this before, his usual cool and collected demeanor replaced by something darker, something almost...unsettling. His eyes, once a deep and unyielding black, had transformed into a whirl of red and black. The Sharingan, the legendary dojutsu of the Uchiha clan, had been activated.
Just a moment ago he was unconscious, and now he was standing before them all with a newfound power that sent chills up Sakura and Team 10's spines. He was currently facing against two of the three Sound Ninja's, Dosu and Zaku. The third member, Kin, was lying unconscious on the ground, due to Ino's Mind Transfer Jutsu.
Zaku was currently binded by Sasuke who was behind the enemy ninja, locking him in place by grabbing both arms and stepping on his back, looking like he was about to break them with ease.
"Release me, you bastard!" Zaku snarled through gritted teeth.
Sasuke smirked darkly, his eyes never leaving the bound Zaku. He didn't say anything and just gripped tighter, and with a vicious pull, he broke the Sound Ninja's arms with a sickening crack. The latter howled in pain, his body writhing in agony.
Sakura and Team 10 all looked on in shock, not believing how brutal Sasuke had become.
"W-what happened to Sasuke?" Ino stuttered, her eyes wide with horror at the sight before her.
Shikamaru, equally shocked, whispered, "I don't know, but something is not right with him."
Choji gulped, "We need to get out of here, now."
Even though Choji was the one who suggested they leave, none of them could take their eyes off the terrifying spectacle before them. Sakura felt her heart sink as she watched Sasuke's cold efficiency. He was a completely different person from the one she had known and crushed on for so long.
Lee's team looked on mostly passive at the scene.
"Sasuke looks like he has it from here, we should grab Lee and go," Tenten suggested.
"No, not yet," Neji said firmly, his eyes never leaving Sasuke's battle with the Sound Ninja. "I want to see this through. Besides, If you get close he may mistake you for an enemy."
"But Neji-"
"Quiet, Tenten," Neji's voice was urgent, cutting off her protest as he held up a hand to silence her. His Byakugan, the all-seeing white pupils of his clan's Kekkei Genkai, had activated, casting veins around his eyes. His gaze was focused on a spot in the distance, and his body had tensed up.
"What is it?" she whispered, her eyes searching for the threat Neji had spotted.
Neji's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "Someone's coming. And they're fast," he said tersely.
"Who is it? An enemy or an ally?" Tenten whispered.
Neji squinted, trying to make out the figures through the dense foliage. "One of them is definitely Yukino... but someone else is with her, I can't tell who," he murmured, his voice tense.
"What do you mean? Can't you tell who it is?" She asked, confused.
Neji shook his head. "No, all I can make out is that it's Yukino. The other one... it's like they're surrounded by a void of darkness. It's so dark I can't even see their Chakra network." He finished as Tenten stared at him in surprise.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by Sasuke's next words as he stared at Dosu with an evil smirk.
"Looks like it's just you now. The only one left standing," Sasuke said, his voice dark and foreboding as he stared down Dosu, who was visibly shaking.
"T-this wasn't supposed to happen?!" Dosu stuttered, his eyes flicking from the unconscious Zaku to the eerie glow surrounding Sasuke.
Sakura watched in horror as Sasuke began to approach Dosu, his eyes glinting with an unsettling hunger. "Sasuke, please!" she called out, her voice shaky with fear and desperation. She didn't know what was happening to him, but she couldn't stand by and watch him become a monster.
Without warning, she rushed forward and threw her arms around his waist, her eyes pleading. "Please, stop this! You're not like this!"
Sasuke's body went rigid, his eyes gazing over at Sakura. For a moment, it seemed as if the world had paused around them, the only sound being the heavy patter of rain on the leaves.
Then, in a swift motion.
Slap!*
The sound of skin meeting skin reverberated through the tense silence of the forest. Sakura's eyes widened in shock as she stumbled backward from the force of Sasuke's palm. Pain exploded across her cheek, and she felt hot tears of confusion and hurt spring to her eyes.
"Sakura!" Ino gasped, her hand shooting to her mouth as she watched Sakura crumple to the ground. Shikamaru and Choji couldn't believe what they just saw, but neither made a move to interfere.
Even Neji and Tenten couldn't believe their eyes as Sasuke slapped Sakura, their expressions mirroring the shock of Team 10.
"Don't interfere," Sasuke said coldly as he just brushed passed Sakura, his eyes turning to the frozen Dosu, "This doesn't concern you."
Sakura's hand went to her cheek, her eyes watering as she stumbled backward, the sting from the slap burning on her face. "What have you become, Sasuke?" she whispered, her voice shaking with pain and disbelief. For a second she thought she saw his eyes flash green, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Now, where were we?" Sasuke's tone was one of sadistic amusement as he turned back to Dosu, who had taken a few steps back. His Sharingan was fully activated, the whirl of red and black spinning like a twisted hurricane in his pupils.
But before he could make another step, a deafening sound split the air and something hurtled down from the sky, slamming into the earth with tremendous force. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, knocking everyone off their feet and creating a thick smoke screen. The noise was like a sword being swung at breakneck speed, echoing through the forest.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, and he pushed himself off the ground.
"Who's there?" He demanded, his Sharingan peering through the dense smoke, searching for the source of the interruption.
The smoke began to dissipate, revealing not a figure but an object that sent a jolt of unease through everyone present. The Sword of Darkness, a legendary blade that was said to be forged by the first King of Darkness himself, was embedded in the earth. Its ominous presence was palpable, the crimson runes along its black steel gleaming with an eerie light, as if basking in the blood that had been spilled moments ago.
"W-where did that sword come from?" Ino stuttered out.
"I'm more curious on who threw it," Shikamaru murmured, his eyes narrowing as he studied the sword from afar.
"Neji?" Tenten's voice was barely a whisper as she asked the unspoken question that was on everyone's mind.
"Their here," he answered back, not needing to say any more than that.
As if on cue, two familiar figures dropped down from the trees, landing next to the sword. One was Yukino, her eyes wide with shock at the carnage before her, and the other was Naruto. His green eyes searched the area, and when they fell upon Sasuke and Sakura, his expression grew colder than the rain-soaked earth beneath them.
Team 10 stared at the newcomers, their eyes wide with shock and relief. When they arrived at the scene of Sakura battling the Sound trio, they had noticed immediately the absence of both Yukino and Naruto. Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji had exchanged confused glances, their thoughts racing with questions about their whereabouts all this time.
Yukino rushed over to Sakura, who was still on the ground, nursing her cheek.
"Sakura, are you okay?" Yukino whispered, her eyes flashing with anger towards Sasuke.
"I-I'm fine," Sakura managed to say, her voice quivering as she gently touched her stinging cheek.
"Sasuke," Yukino spat out his name, her voice filled with anger. She saw what he had done to Sakura when she and Naruto had arrived and like everyone else, she couldn't believe it. "What's gotten into you?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed at Yukino. "This doesn't concern you," he said, his voice a deadly whisper.
"Like hell it doesn't," Yukino shot back, her voice filled with fire. "Why did you suddenly slap Sakura?"
Sasuke's eyes remained cold, not bothering to look at the trembling kunoichi on the ground. "She was in the way," he said simply.
"In the way of what?" Yukino demanded, her hands clenching into fists.
Sasuke's gaze then switched to Dosu. "In the way of me finishing this," he said and began moving towards the terrified Dosu again.
However, he was stopped again when Naruto was in front of him, the sword of darkness in hand, and a fierce look in his expression. "That's enough," he said, his voice firm and filled with an authority that none of them had ever heard from him before.
"What happened with Naruto? He looks..." Ino trailed off, unable to find the right words to describe the transformation.
Shikamaru frowned deeply, his mind racing. "His hair is black, his voice is deeper then what it was before. And the way he speaks, it's so... authoritative," he murmured.
"It's like he's not even the same person anymore." Ino whispered to herself as she stared at the new Naruto.
Choji nodded in agreement, "Yeah, it's like he's... changed."
Neji and Tenten looked on as the scene unfolded, their eyes reflecting a mix of shock and confusion.
"Neji... Is that...?" Tenten's voice trailed off as she stared at the transformed Naruto, unable to fully comprehend what she was seeing.
"That blonde Idiot from before." Neji murmured under his breath.
'What is this? He's totally different from when we saw him last. And that power... it's definitely more powerful then what the Uchiha is showing right now. But how? I'm certain he never had that kind of power before... Unless, he was hiding it all along?' Neji thought to himself as he studied the new Naruto.
Silence fell over the clearing, the only sound the steady patter of raindrops on leaves as Naruto and Sasuke faced off, their eyes locked in a fierce stare down.
"Naruto," Sasuke spoke first, his voice low and filled with malice, "You planning on getting in my way?"
Instead of answering back, Naruto's gaze remained locked onto Sasuke, his voice never wavering as he spoke to the only Sound Ninja left.
"Hey, you," he called out, his eyes never leaving Sasuke's, but his voice carrying a clear message to Dosu, "Go and grab your unconscious teammates and leave. Now."
Dosu was surprised when Naruto addressed him. He didn't know what happened to the blond genin he faced earlier, but the figure before him was no longer the same person. Did Orochimaru give him some sort of power-up like he did Sasuke and just didn't notify them? He glanced over at the unconscious Kin, then at Zaku, whose arms were twisted and useless. Dosu knew he couldn't take on this new threat alone, especially with his team in such a state.
He made a swift decision, grabbing his teammates and started backing away. As he did, he couldn't help but throw one last remark over his shoulder. "This isn't over," Dosu spat out, glaring at both Sasuke and Naruto with anger. "You may have spared us this time, but make no mistake, we are still enemies."
Naruto's eyes didn't leave Sasuke, but he nodded slightly at Dosu, acknowledging his words without breaking the intense gaze between them.
"Take this," Dosu grunted as he tossed the Earth scroll at Naruto's feet. "Consider it a parting gift. But remember, this doesn't change anything between us."
Naruto's gaze never left Sasuke, but he bent down to pick up the scroll with his free hand.
Dosu then took one last look at the transformed figures before disappearing into the woods with his team, leaving the remaining shinobi in a tense silence.
Sasuke took a step closer to Naruto, his hand tightening into a fist. "You just let them get away." he snarled.
"And? Your point is?" Naruto's voice was as sharp as the blade he wielded.
Sasuke glared at Naruto for a moment before smirking coldly. "You're not the same either, are you? You've changed like me," he said, his eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and challenge.
"So, what if I have?"
Naruto's words hung in the air, the weight of his newfound power palpable as he held the Sword of Darkness in a firm grip.
"Well... If that's the case, then let's see who's the stronger one now," Sasuke said with a malicious glint in his eye.
"Sasuke, stop it," Yukino said, stepping in front of the two of them. "What's gotten into you? This isn't the time or the place for this."
Sasuke's eyes didn't leave Naruto's, his voice like ice. "Get out of the way, Yukino."
Yukino's own eyes flashed with determination. "No, Sasuke, you need to calm down. You're not thinking straight."
Sasuke glared at Yukino, his eyes never leaving hers for a second, his voice like a serrated knife slicing through the tension. "Move. Now."
Yukino held her ground, her voice firm. "I said no, Sasuke. This isn't the time for this."
Sasuke's eyes flickered with irritation, his patience for her interference wearing thin. Without warning, he lunged at Yukino, his fist a blur as it shot towards her face. She had no time to dodge or react, her eyes wide with shock at his sudden hostility.
But before the blow could land, a shadow moved.
With a swiftness that seemed almost supernatural, Naruto stepped between Yukino and Sasuke's fist, and he caught the blow with a clenched hand.
"What the-" Sasuke's eyes went wide in surprise, the momentum of his punch coming to a sudden halt as his hand connected with the much stronger grip.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, and with a swift twist, he sent Sasuke reeling backward with a powerful blow, the Uchiha slammed against a tree trunk with a resounding thud. The impact was so great that it echoed through the forest, leaving the others staring in shock as Sasuke's body remained pinned to the tree, his eyes glazed over with pain and disbelief.
"What... what was that?" Ino whispered, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"S-so strong..." Choji murmured, his eyes wide as he took in the scene.
Shikamaru nodded in silent agreement, his mind racing to understand the power dynamics that had shifted so dramatically.
"I'm not going to tolerate your behavior, Sasuke," Naruto spoke, glaring at the Uchiha. "You've gone too far."
The words seemed to snap something within Sasuke, and the rage that had been building inside him boiled over. With a roar, he pushed away from the tree, his Sharingan blazing madly. "You think you can beat me?" he spat out, his fists clenching and unclenching as he took a fighting stance.
"I'm not looking to fight you," Naruto said, his voice eerily calm. "But if you keep acting like this, I'll have no choice but to end it."
"You think you can?"
"I know I can," Naruto replied calmly, he placed the sword back into its sheath on his back. He didn't need it for this type of battle, not yet anyway.
Sasuke charged at Naruto, trying to land a powerful kick, but it didn't connect as expected. With a blur of movement, Naruto had sidestepped and countered with a swift punch to Sasuke's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
"What...?" Sasuke staggered back, trying to catch his breath.
Naruto took this chance and kneed Sasuke in the face, sending him flying through the air and crashing into another tree. Sasuke coughed out blood and slammed his feet into the ground to stop his momentum, glaring at Naruto with pure hatred in his eyes.
The spectators could only watch as the two former teammates clashed, Sakura, not knowing what to do but fear the worst when this fight ends. Team 10 can only stare in shock at the display of power.
Naruto's movements were fluid and precise, a stark contrast to Sasuke's rage-filled, almost erratic attacks. Every blow Sasuke threw was met with a swift counter from Naruto, each hit landed with precision and power that seemed to stun the Uchiha with each impact.
"You're holding back," Sasuke snarled through gritted teeth, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Only because you're not worth killing," Naruto replied. His eyes remained fixed on Sasuke's, unwavering despite the blows exchanged.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his pride stung. He knew Naruto was holding back, but the truth in his words was undeniable. "You're going to regret this," he spat through clenched teeth.
"Oh really?" Sasuke's eyes widened as he heard Naruto's voice right beside his ear. Before he could even react, he felt a sharp pain at his neck. His eyes rolled back and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he even had time to comprehend what happened.
The cure mark began receding from Sasuke's neck as he collapsed, revealing the depth of the transformation that had taken hold of him. Sakura rushed over to check on him, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and confusion.
Yukino was left frozen from when Sasuke tried to hit her to the moment she saw him fall unconscious at Naruto's hand. She felt a mix of emotions, fear for Sasuke's condition and relief that he had been stopped. Her eyes darted to Naruto, whose calmness was unnerving amidst the chaos.
"Thank you, Naruto," she said, her voice shaking slightly as she approached him.
Naruto's expression didn't change as he watched Sakura tend to the unconscious Sasuke. "For what?"
"For protecting me," Yukino said. "You didn't have to, but you did... So, thank you."
Naruto nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving the unconscious Uchiha. "It's nothing," he murmured.
But before anyone could say another word, something strange happened. A sudden, piercing light from the heavens shone down on them, so intense that everyone, minus Naruto, had to cover their eyes.
"What's going on now?" Choji asked, squinting through his fingers.
"Can't we get a break?" Ino complained, shielding her eyes from the sudden light.
But the light grew stronger, and as the glow began to dissipate, a figure with dazzling white wings descended before them. The rain around them seemed to part for the angelic being, and a soft, yet powerful voice resonated through the forest.
"My love, It's you..."
Naruto's eyes widened with shock as he saw the figure with dazzling white wings, white-silver hair and beautiful purple eyes descending before him. Despite the blinding light, he knew exactly who it was and yet he didn't at the same time. As the glow receded, Celeste, the reborn Queen of Light, stood before him, her eyes filled with tears of joy and relief as she saw him.
"Love," she whispered, her voice filled with a love so profound that it seemed to resonate through every atom of his being.
Naruto was utterly dumbfounded by the sight of Celeste, her ethereal beauty piercing through the chaos and darkness that had enveloped him since his transformation. Her embrace was warm, her touch gentle, and it brought a sudden calm to the storm that had been raging in his soul.
"Y-you..."
"Shh, rest now okay? We have much to discuss," Celeste whispered soothingly as she gently cradled the transformed Naruto in her arms, her wings wrapping around them like a protective embrace.
Calida Lux, Puram Lucem*
The ancient words rolled off Celeste's tongue, her voice a melody that seemed to soothe the very fabric of the forest itself. The air grew thick with energy as she chanted, her eyes never leaving Naruto's face.
In a burst of light, Naruto's figure was enveloped in light. The black aura that had coated him melted away like shadows before dawn, revealing the familiar sunny yellow hair and the orange and blue jumpsuit of the boy they had all once known. The Sword of Darkness clattered to the ground as he collapsed in Celeste's arms, unconscious.
It was at this moment everyone noticed the new arrival of Celeste with Naruto in her arms. They all stared in shock and awe, not knowing what to make of the sudden turn of events.
"Naruto!" Yukino noticed how Naruto was back in his original form, the tension in her body dissipating slightly. "What happened? What was that?" She stared at Celeste, the Queen of Light, who had just appeared.
Celeste, her eyes filled with a warm, loving gaze, looked down at the unconscious Naruto. "Naruto... So that's your name," she murmured, stroking his hair gently. "My love, you've been through so much. But you're safe now."
"Um, excuse me," Yukino spoke up again, her voice shaky, "who are you? And what just happened to Naruto?"
Celeste looked up, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth as she addressed them. "It's nice to meet you. I am Celeste, the Queen of Light, and you don't have to worry about Naruto. I've just returned my love to his original form," she explained.
"L-love? What do you mean?" Yukino's eyes searched Celeste's, desperation lacing her voice.
Celeste smiled up at her and then looked down at Naruto brushing his hair away from his face and said the words Yukino was afraid to hear.
"Me and Naruto...are lovers."
_
Alright that is the end of Chapter 3, hope you all enjoyed.
I think I got a bit impatient at the end here but please let me know how I did.
Okay, the changes that I have made to this are down below.
1: Celeste appears way more earlier then in the original. In the old one, at first I wanted her to appear towards the end of the Sasuke retrieval ark, like near the explosion of the Rasengan and Chidori clash. But, then I switched it to where she was going to appear during the search for Tsunade ark.
2: No Keiran (Kanata) and Iris spirit companions. Catra is still here though.
3: Regarding the ship. Do not ask about it. The tag is Naruto X OC. If I do a harem, It's not going to be mentioned like last time with, I forgot how many I added. If you were to ask if it is a harem or no. My answer is going to be "We'll see how the story goes."
4: This is still Naruto X Shironeko Project, letting you guys know.
5: Naruto's Chakra Nature: We can do the poll like I did last time where you all choose which Affinity he will get. Same thing applies like last time. Naruto will have the Wind Affinity and you all can choose two more he can get.
6: Will Naruto have a Dojustu of his own?
Yes or No?
That's all I can think of at the moment. If I think about something new I'll let you guys know at the end of the chapter.
Anyway, I'll see you all in the next one.
Bye bye;)