Crackle!
Kakashi's Chidori thrust towards Sasuke, with no room for Susanoo's protective barrier to evade!
"Not good, Sasuke is in danger!" Karin realized and moved to protect him, but a hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back!
"Huh!?" Karin was stunned.
Sasuke's face was cruel, cold... unfamiliar!
Sasuke pulled Karin in front of him, using her as a human shield!
Crack...!
Chidori mercilessly pierced through Karin's chest!
"!" Kakashi's face hardened, and he continued to thrust forward!
Thud!
Cursed Seal Jūgo lunged, grabbing Kakashi around the waist...!
Kakashi's resolve was unwavering, pushing forward with determination!
Jūgo couldn't hold him back alone and shouted: "Suigetsu!!"
Suigetsu shook his head, sighing: "Sasuke, all of us, something must be broken!!"
Splash!
Suigetsu's arms transformed into water, pushing Kakashi forward!
The momentum was finally halted, and Jūgo and Suigetsu pushed Kakashi, falling off Susanoo together!
"Sasuke, you..."
As he fell, Kakashi looked at his former student with a pained expression!
The hole in Karin's chest let in cold air, and tears of despair and helplessness streamed down her face, her body trembling as if plunged into an icy abyss.
"Sasuke, I... ugh!!"
She couldn't finish her sentence, coughing up blood.
Sasuke said coldly: "Karin, you're useless now. Die as a stepping stone on my path of revenge..."
He pushed her away, and Karin fell lightly...
"Sasuke, even if you didn't do this, I would have stood in front of you..."
Cherished memories flashed through Karin's mind like a revolving lantern.
Their first meeting in the Forest of Death during the Chunin Exams.
The boy who saved her ultimately pushed her into the abyss!
"If only time had stopped then..."
Thud!
She hit the ground, motionless...
Choza's large hand caught Kakashi!
Kakashi: "Sorry, Choza, I failed..."
Choza said: "It couldn't be helped."
Crack, crack, crack!
The crack in Susanoo's forehead mended.
Sasuke squinted: "To damage Susanoo, Kakashi also has Mangekyō Sharingan. He can't be allowed to live..."
Swish!
Susanoo drew its bow, aiming at Choza and Kakashi!!!
The arrow shot through the air, and Choza's pupils contracted: "Not good!!"
Stolen story; please report.
— Daytime Tiger!
Boom!!
The air pressure tiger intercepted the arrow, disappearing in the storm...
Thud!!!
Might Guy, cloaked in the blue flames of the Seventh Gate, landed in front of Choza.
Kakashi, exhausted, looked at his friend's back: "Guy..."
On the other side, Suigetsu landed, drawing his Executioner's Blade, grinning: "If we're going to die anyway, might as well go all out!"
Swish!
At that moment, the ANBU squad leader 'Xiang' used Body Flicker and swordsmanship to slash...
Splash...!!
But Suigetsu's water body ignored the slash...!
"Hmm!?" Xiang's expression under the mask was surprised: "I see, you're from the Hozuki clan."
"Too bad, physical attacks don't work on me!" Suigetsu grinned, his water arm swinging the blade at Xiang's back!
But Xiang quickly reacted, blocking the blade with his own, with a clang!
Suigetsu's face changed: "Hey, this guy's strength is incredible? He blocked my water arm's slash in a hurry!?"
Clang!
"Young man, don't underestimate the strength of the Leaf!"
Xiang, with his back to Suigetsu, formed a seal with two fingers in front of his chest.
— Lightning Release: Surrounding Lightning!
Crackle...!
Intense lightning burst from his sword-wielding hand, conducting through Suigetsu's water body...
Suigetsu's face twisted: "Damn, this guy knows Lightning Release, my worst matchup...!!"
— Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!!
Sai's ink tiger pounced, biting Suigetsu.
"Hahahahahaha, kill them all...!!!" Jūgo, landing, unleashed his killing intent, ready to rampage!!
Unfortunately, he faced Hiashi Hyuga!
Hiashi, with his Byakugan, observed Jūgo: "I see, quite an impressive chakra!"
"Die!!!"
Jūgo charged at Hiashi, laughing maniacally.
"Ha...!!" Hiashi's palms struck out.
— Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!!!
Boom!!!
The air pressure sent Jūgo flying!!
Swish!! Hiashi dashed forward, his Byakugan locking onto Jūgo's chakra points, and struck his chest.
— Gentle Fist: Chakra Point Strike!
Chapter 69: Clash of Titans
Crack!
With a single strike, Hiashi sealed Jūgo's chakra points. Sizzle! The curse mark receded, and Jūgo collapsed, captured by the surrounding Leaf ninjas...
Hiashi declared: "The Hyuga are the strongest in the Leaf, remember that!"
Rustle, rustle, rustle...!
A slug crawled to Karin's side: "Lady Tsunade, what should we do? This girl is gravely injured. I can't save her with just this clone..."
Tsunade, sitting cross-legged and using the Slug Great Division technique, frowned: "Sakura should be nearby. Send her..."
Sakura arrived at Karin's side: "Lady Slug, leave it to me!"
The slug said: "Lady Sakura, thank you."
Sakura knelt down, her hands glowing with green chakra, covering the wound.
"Sasuke..." Karin murmured.
Sakura paused, her eyes lowering: "So, you care for Sasuke too..."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Perfect Susanoo continued its rampage. At this rate, the village's destruction was inevitable...
Beside Kakashi, Might Guy clenched his fist: "Daytime Tiger is useless against that! To stop him, I'll have to use the Eighth Gate!"
Kakashi exclaimed: "Guy... think of another way! This is an enemy the whole Leaf must face together. There's no need for you to sacrifice yourself!"
Might Guy, unbuttoning his shirt: "No, delaying will only cause more casualties. Using the Eighth Gate is the most direct way. I wasn't in the village when Pain attacked, and Naruto saved it. But now, Naruto is... so it's my turn!"
Kakashi clenched his fist in frustration: "Guy, I'm sorry, I always make you..."
Might Guy smiled: "Don't show such a gloomy face. Youth is about moving forward..."
Thud!!!
Just as Guy was about to activate the Eighth Gate, a kunai shot in front of him!!
"What is this!?"
Guy and Kakashi looked back.
"It's Naruto-kun...!!" Hinata, with her Byakugan, saw the figure standing atop the Hokage Rock, facing the wind.
Inside Susanoo, Sasuke stared at the distant figure: "So, you've finally come, Naruto..."
The Heavenly Bow formed, and black flames turned into an arrow!
— Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi!
"A familiar scene, but this time, we're not in sync..."
Buzz!
In Naruto's raised hand, a massive Rasenshuriken formed!
— Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasenshuriken!
Boom...!
Wind and fire clashed in mid-air, exploding into a black flame whirlwind over the Leaf Village...
Swish! Swish!
The hot wind swirled, creating a deafening roar...
Dust and sand struck the Hokage Rock!
Crack! Crack!
A small crack appeared on Danzo's Hokage Rock face.
After the clash.
"The usual place."
Naruto glanced deeply at the horizon, then turned and left...
Sasuke knew that if Naruto was here, he must have defeated 'Masked Madara.' Without defeating Naruto first, he couldn't continue his revenge!
"Hmph, just as I wanted!"
Susanoo spread its wings and flew towards the horizon. After leaving the Leaf Village, Susanoo dissipated, and Sasuke landed, chasing Naruto's shadow... arriving at the Valley of the End!
Swish!
When Sasuke landed on Madara Uchiha's statue, Naruto was already waiting atop Hashirama Senju's statue.
Sasuke stood up, coldly saying: "As you wished, I'm here, Naruto...!"
Naruto slowly turned, having removed his mask, his eyes covered with a black cloth...!
Yes, covering his eyes was Naruto's way of preventing the crow Itachi implanted from emerging!
But Sasuke didn't know this; he thought Naruto was looking down on him!
He was furious: "Naruto, what is the meaning of this!"
Naruto half-jokingly said: "I can't bear to look at you now, Sasuke..."
Sasuke laughed angrily: "Heh, fine, Naruto, you'll pay for underestimating me...!"
"I've never underestimated you, Sasuke..." Naruto said solemnly, raising two fingers to form the 'Seal of Confrontation,' a symbol of ninja respect!
"..." Sasuke was silent for a moment, then returned the Seal of Confrontation!
— "Come, Sasuke!!"
— "Come, Naruto!!"
The wind rose, the clouds flew, and at the Valley of the End, the two fated rivals prepared for their final battle!