Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke

Chunin exam is underway.

During the second stage, they had confronted Orochimaru who had interest in Sasuke!

'Just as I thought... I want you...'. Orochimaru licked his lips with clear greed in his eyes.

"Sasuke-kun, you will seek power from me". Orochimaru stretches his neck, like a cobra slit through and bite Sasuke's neck!

"Aaahhh!".

Sasuke fell to the ground in pain.

"What did you do to Sasuke-kun?!". Sakura screamed at the creepy guy.

'I have him a going away present'. Orochimaru spoke shortly before leaving.

Wuuuu... Sasuke-kun. Wuuuu...

Sakura cried hearing Sasuke gasping in pain.

'Wuuuu... Naruto... Sasuke-kun is...'. Sakura turned his head to see where Naruto was before

Her eyes widened seeing Naruto had passed out from his own injury.

"Uu...uu..." She felt as if her whole world spinning. She had relied on Sasuke, and even relied on Naruto after. But now they are both down, and she felt she can't do anything.

What should I do?!!

***

Sound ninja come to kill Sasuke as instructed by Orochimaru. Sakura had tried her best, but almost failed. Thankfully Lee, Shikamaru, Ino and Choji come to help!

But it was all for nought and they are desperate.

Suddenly a powerful chakra appears.

Turning their heads, they see Sasuke standing; half of his body is filled with strange black markings!

'Sasuke-kun, your body...'. Sakura is worried since Sasuke was injured before and shouldn't move.

"Don't worry... Not only that I feel power overflowing me".

"I feel... Great...".

"He gave it to me".

Huh? Sakura is trying to process what the f*** is going on with Sasuke-kun.

"I finally understand it... I am an avenger..."

Even if I must eat the devil's fruit, I am on a path where I must gain power...

At this point in time, a part of Sasuke changed...

***

"We did it!!". Naruto is so happy passing the second test that he jumped and hugged Iruka-sensei.

"H...hey Naruto. Listen until the end-".

'We did it, we did it! I am so happy!!!".

Iruka looked softly at Naruto. Seeing this kid happy makes him happy as well.

Naruto was jumping around in excitement after everything that had happened. He felt like he's close to being a Chunin hihi.

***

The third test is on. Now they would be fighting one on one to eliminate some extra participants before the official final test.

Sakura sees Sasuke had been struggling and had hide his pain. The invigilator asked if there's any more quitting.

"Umm. Now, there no more retiring right?".

Sakura look at Sasuke wincing in pain secretly.

"Sa-Sasuke-kun! You also quit this prelim!!".

Gasp! Even Naruto was too stunned to speak at Sakura's words.

"You have been strange since that orochimaru guy attacked you. That mark still hurts, right?! If you continue...".

Sakura remembered how different Sasuke had become when that mark appears on him... He feels really... Scary...

"Please...". Sakura pleaded.

"Please... Quit... I am... Afraid...". Sakura shed few tears worrying for him.

Sasuke went quiet.

...

"You are no condition to fight right now!!!".

Shut up...

"You have been hiding the pain all this time!".

'Be quiet', Sasuke don't want Sakura to keep blabbing.

"Whatever you say I am going to tell sensei about that mark. Then...".

Sasuke immediately snatched Sakura's hand.

'Shut up about this mark'.

'This has nothing to do with you, and stay out of my business'. Sasuke coldly says the words.

'Sakura, I have told you before... I am an avenger'.

'I couldn't care less about Chunin or whatever. I just want to know..., am I strong? I just want the answer to that, to fight these strong people here'.

'I couldn't forgive you if you take that away from me, Sakura'.

"You bastard! Stop acting all cool! Sakura is worried for you and..!". Naruto felt annoyed at him.

'I also want to fight you...'. Sasuke looks at Naruto. Perhaps when he first know him he thought he's an unreliable person. But he sees his determination and his improvements all this time. And he can see, Naruto is had become strong. Maybe his brain a little under... but he is someone who he also wants to fight!

Naruto is quite stunned hearing it... He felt touched that Sasuke could see him as an opponent. He had thought Sasuke is this cool guy, popular, strong, and he felt jealous and want to beat him. But for Sasuke to see him as someone he wanted to fight, he felt acknowledged. There's always people who can see him... even Sasuke...

Naruto carved a huge smile;

"Mm! I get it! I will win against you for sure!".

'Heh. You speak so loud. Let's see later'. Sasuke smirked in disdain.

***

While Naruto is training with Ebisu, Ebisu-sensei found someone peeking at the woman bath!

This can't do!

The figure with white hair summoned a huge toad and slapped Ebisu away.

It's the legendary sannin, Jiraiya!

Naruto is impressed that Jiraiya movements are swift as he jumps over the rooftops. He looks awesome! It's just that he's a pervert... But he's awesome and seems powerful!

He pestered him because he caused Ebisu-sensei to faint and now he can't train anymore.

Naruto had to use his secret technique that can even defeat God, Sexy Jutsu!

Jiraiya eyes widen as he oggled at fem Naruto. Those melons, that slender legs and plump peach.

"Ehehe. Okay I have a condition... You must... Stay like this... Hehe...".

Poof! Naruto undoed his transformation from the disgust.

"You really are an Ero-sennin!!".

But after pestering him for sometimes finally Jiraiya agree to teach him.

Naruto shows him the problem of walking on the water, he sees Naruto can't properly control his chakra and fell into the water.

"Naruto, do a banzai for me".

? Naruto raised his hands. Jiraiya look at the seal on his stomach. I see... Something is disrupting the chakra. 4th Hokage made a dual seal but there's another one, that's quite rough and disrupting his chakra.

It must be Orochimaru.

With 5 chakra points on his finger, he slammed it onto the seal made by Orochimaru, letting Naruto chakra flow more normal letting himself walk on water again.

Afterwards, Jiraiya taught him summoning jutsu with contract from Mount Myoboko. The strength of summon beasts you could conjure is based on the amount of chakra you poured on it; and for Naruto who have inhuman chakra capacity, this jutsu is a bug much like shadow clone jutsu coupled with that high amount of chakra.

Naruto failed however and only summon a tadpole...

Eventually Jiraiya reached a conclusion he needs to let Naruto learn how to access the 9 tails chakra.

First, emotional stimulation... And he planned to let him experience death to let him access 9 tails chakra. Thinking about it, he feels quite bad and went to had a nice soak in hot bath with him.

Naruto felt something weird is going on...

Jiraiya went to treat him ramen too! Except, he left and make him pay for it!

He gets mad and is angry at him.

"Weren't you treating me to a meal!? You bastard! Weren't you an adult?! Bastard!!!".

"By the way Naruto-kun, do you have a girl you like?". He asked him to shift his focus away.

"Uhh?".

"I asked if you have a lovely girl?".

Naruto gets all shy and fiddled his finger. He stroke the back of the head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Well... You could say there is... (⁠｡⁠・⁠/⁠/⁠ε⁠/⁠/⁠・⁠｡⁠), and, I like her... [in quiet voice] It's Shou-chan...".

'So there is...?'.

"It's Shou-chan dessu!!!". Naruto is gets started when Jiraiya leaned forward and asked him again.

'Yosh! Then go and hug that girl tight!'.

"W-What!!???". Naruto jumped out of embarrassment. His face flushed red just thinking about it.

"B-but... She's not here... And...>3<, she already...". His face flushed more red remembering it. He don't think about it that way at time but after he gets really embarassed in just thinking it.< p>

***

Shou back in Kiri felt chill crawled down his spine. What was that? Is there something I forget? Is there an enemy? Shou felt something bad is going to happen but had to attribute it to nothing but his own mind playing tricks.

***

'Hoo? She already what? Tell me tell me'.

"No! But well... Shou-chan is just a nice friend... No... Uh... Well... she really understands me... Emm... But Shou-chan won't talk to me if she knows... she's so far away too...". Naruto was squiggling while babbling things.

Jiraiya slapped his back while raising his eyebrows. He shook his head. Haih. This is a part of being young.

"Then other girl you like?".

'Well..., there was Sakura-chan... but Shou-chan is cuter and much nicer... and kind too. But what if Shou-chan sees... Sakura-chan wont talk to me too...'.

Jiraiya shook his head.

He asked Naruto to follow him out of the village.

"Is there anything you have left undone?".

Huh?

"Nothing huh". Jiraiya punched Naruto in the stomach, making him passed out.

He brought him to a steep ravine ravine to help him access 9 tails.

When Naruto wakes up, he's confused. Where is this.

"Stand up!".

'Whats going on?'.

"Your training ends here".

'Haa? What did you mean?'.

"Go die and come back".

"From within depth of death, squeeze out the chakra. Experience it with your own body. If you don't want to die, do something about it yourself... Got it?"

Jiraiya pushed Naruto with a finger, sending him flying until he fell down the ravine.

If I go like this... I will really die!

...

Die...

...

Naruto suddenly finds himself in an empty dark corridor. He walk along it and feel that feeling... That chakra...

He finds a huge gate, with a seal closing it.

He can visibly sees the huge eyes and red evil aura from behind the huge gates.

It's huge... What is it?

"Hey kid, come closer!".

Naruto come closer. But suddenly the huge claws slammed onto the ridges of the gates making Naruto startled and fell down.

"I want to eat and kill you, but this gate won't open...".

"The damned seal...".

'Y-You are... Kyubi!'.

I see... The red chakra was this guy's. This is Kyubi... The monster...

Naruto remembers what Shou said before. That he wasn't actually a monster either.

"For you to approach me, what business brought you here?". Kyubi asked menacingly.

'You... Lend me your chakra!'.

"Hahaha. Why would I agree to you?".

'Shou-chan says you aren't a monster. You must a nice fox right! Then help me!'.

He's taken aback. A nice fox?? This kid...

Naruto didn't show hatred to him even though they met for the time. Other jinchuriki has always despised him and only demand him to give his chakra. And they always tell him he's filled with hatred and need to quiet down or something. Hearing something new it's quite refreshing.

Not to mention, he even asks for his help.

"Hahahah. Fine. But I am only giving you because if you die, I would die too. Take it as a reward for coming here". But he's sure this kid too would soon change once he's blinded by his power. He had seen it in his long life after all.

'Waaa!-'. Naruto felt the red chakra leaking out from the gaps in the gates enveloping him.

This is it!

He returned to reality feeling the enormous chakra he have access to.

Kuchiyose no jutsu!

Poof! A super huge toad clinged to the walls and cushioned Naruto free fall.

"Wow!!!".

Naruto felt really surprised he can summon such a huge toad!

"Big fox! Thank you!".

Kurama was taken aback. Thank you...

...

Its a little difficult to process. He remembers this kid parents eventually sealed him into this brat.

This kid would hate him if he knows about it. Thinking about it, he had a plan. He wants to escape and for that he needs to erode the seal. He had let his chakra leaks out whenever Naruto gets agitated or emotional so the seal weakens. Now... once he is consumed with hatred he can make Naruto open the seal himself!

He waits for the next time he comes to him, and at that time, Naruto would be filled with hate and just be the same as other jinchuriki before him. Humans are the same in the end.

***

Naruto sees how lonely Gaara's eyes are... The same as him.

This guy is also turning into a monster... The same as me.

He remembers the scornful looks from the people around since he was a child.

I hated every last one of them...

I didn't understand who I was, why I was so hated, why I even existed. I don't know why.

When I... Learned that the Kyubi was inside me, everyone in the village seemed even more cold hearted...

I was really, in pain...

But...

He had flashbacks of everyone who are there. Iruka-sensei, Sasuke, Shou-chan, Sakura-chan although she's a bit mean, Kakashi-sensei also takes care of him at times...

People that acknowledge me appeared. They saved me from my loneliness.

That's why, I became all right.

Because I wasn't lonely anymore.

I never imagined how happy and fortunate I would feel... I really... I really feel glad to be here, to be alive.

That's why, it scares him to think about the past before he had them. It was all heavy and, hopeless. As if he would always be in that hell. If he had stayed that way all alone, he would have ended up like the person in front of him.

He's afraid seeing Gaara, and that he feels certain he would lose because Gaara is... Lost in that pain, that darkness.

However... Despite the fear, this feeling in his heart...

Seeing Sasuke and Sakura-chan, he wants to keep fighting for them.

No, he thought Gaara was strong because he fought for himself, by himself. But that's not true strength...

He remembers what Haku had said.

When a person wants to protect those who are precious to them, they would become strong.

Even if it means he would die! He would protect them! His heart firmed, his chakra explodes!

"He's releasing so much chakra!! That's... Naruto!?". Sasuke exclaimed in surprise.

Naruto summoned close to a hundred clones, shocking everyone.

'Sasuke, get some rest. Leave the rest to me, Uzumaki Naruto!'.

Ikuzooo!!!

He beats Gaara with Naruto Barrage!

He thought he had won, but-

Gaara has transformed into a huge beast, destroying all clones!

"W-what... is that?". Sasuke was beyond horrified.

"Naruto!". Sasuke sees Naruto are being attacked by sands right after.

'Sand Burial!'. The Shukaku-gaara is about to clasp his hand, wanting to end Naruto-

Kuchiyose no jutsu!

Boom! A huge monster toad appears from the smoke. Naruto stood proudly on it, facing the monster Shukaku directly!

"How can this be...". Sasuke's eyes shaken. How, when did Naruto become this strong? He felt his hand shaking. He felt, weak compared to Naruto. Even Naruto has surpassed him, someone he assumed it be unreliable at first even surpassed him.

Sasuke felt the darkness and weakness in himself... He can never reach Itachi like this... Why he's so weak...

Naruto eventually manage to beat Gaara, strucking a blow to Sasuke mentality at the same time.

The 2 beasts fought. Naruto used transformation jutsu, transforming Gamabunta into a fox.

At the last moment, Naruto need to wakes up Gaara, but hes out of chakra.

Big fox, please! Just a little is fine!

Naruto tried his best to gather chakra from that place, while asking the fox for his help.

"Hmph! I am not giving it to you to help you, but it's to weaken the seal". Kurama grumbled. Red chakra flowed out of Naruto, giving him the last bit of power he needed.

Of course, Kurama's words never reached Naruto and thus Naruto thought he help him for the sake of helping him and not for something else.

Naruto rushed to Gaara but the sand stopped him. But he will not give up! He use his head to wake him up! Shukaku returned to the subconscious space in Gaara, unable to go out again.

In the end, they won.

***

Sasuke felt frustrated. He's weak. He's too weak. He remembers all his loses. He lost to Haku, he lost Lee, to Gaara, to Sound 4. Despite learning Chidori from Kakashi, who he tells is an A rank Jutsu capable of killing... He lost to Naruto who had Rasengan! Naruto's power is stronger than he is!

He felt so, pathetic. How can he defeat Itachi like this...

Orochimaru, is a sannin. A powerful person like Jiraiya who had taught Naruto.

By following him, he can be strong! Oro has given his the curse mark, giving him the strength he needed. And he needs more strength, and for that only Orochimaru can help him! Staying in this village will only make him stays weak. Everyone are just playing ninjas, and there's nothing he can learn. Even Kakashi can't make him stronger...

...

He decides to leave the village, and follow Orochimaru. He knows Oro coveted his body, but he never planned to give it to him. He just wants to use him to get power to kill Itachi...

***

[Valley of the End]

Narutoooo!!!

Sasuke!!!

Naruto with kyubi cloak form his final Rasengan.

Sasuke is shaking. His body is beaten up. One of his wings are bent and broken. Multiple bones cracked and broken from Naruto's assault. Like he says, he really wanted to stop him.

Even with 3 tomoe Sharingan, he can only keep up toe to toe with Kyubi chakra cloak Naruto with one tail. Unlike in original timeline, the butterfly effect built up lead a change. Kurama being more open to lend chakra (he's tsundere about it), Naruto training with his shadow clones earlier, and his heart and spirit that are stronger with the care he gets;

Sasuke even with curse mark stage 2 and three tomoe Sharingan, he can't get an upper hand!

Sasuke gritted his teeth and release his final Chidori, turning black with the nasty chakra from cursed seal.

Why. Why. Why! Why am I still weak?!

Sasuke screamed in pain in his heart.

Why... Even after all the power he has...

You need to kill your best friend. Only then can you attain my eye!

Itachi words resonated in his mind. He gritted his teeth; no! He don't want to follow his method.

But... there's no other way. He is still weak. He can never get to Itachi.

...

Naruto... You... I need to kill you...

He needs, he needs to kill Naruto! His only friend, the only one he considered a true bond, he will need to kill him to become truly strong!

Naruto!!!!

Sasuke!!!!!

They both release their final attack.

Sasuke pierced through Naruto's heart with his hand, while Naruto, before his Rasengan could hit Sasuke he dispelled it and only scratched Sasuke's head protector.

You won't even be able to put a scratch on my forehead!

...

As their power collided, they enters a sphere where each of them share and know each other's true thought. And at that time, Sasuke knows Naruto had seen him as a friend, just as much as he sees Naruto.

...

The light faded.

...

Blood dripped to the ground from Sasuke's right arm.

His whole arm had pierced through Naruto's heart.

...

Naruto look into Sasuke's eyes, and into the arm that pierced his chest.

"Sa...Suke...". Naruto was still standing. His vision faded, the pain in his chest slowly subsides.

Why... our bond... don't you care for our bond at all...?

Tears blurred his eyes from the fact that Sasuke had truly attempted to kill him. This pain in his chest, it hurts both his body and soul.

Seconds as he lost words. The loss of blood, the loss of spirit, and eventually he lost his consciousness.

Naruto fell into Sasuke's arm, and he caught him.

Naruto...

Sasuke eyes had tears in them. He pulled his shaky hand out of his body, making Naruto fell flat to the ground.

...

The blood pooled beneath him, staining his feet.

I... Killed him...

A tear fell from Sasuke's eyes.

The shaky 3 tomoe eyes spins rapidly, his chakra growing thicker, and pain filled his heart with deep anguish.

The Mangekyo Sharingan formed in his eyes!

This power... Sasuke touched his eyes, and felt the power contained in them.

...

Sasuke stood in silence... Feeling the surging power inside power after the transformation. Feeling the pain of killing Naruto.

Haha...

Hahahah!

Itachi is right, he needed to kill his best friend to gain this power. Hahahaha!

Rain starts to fall down.

...

He turned his head to look at the sky, and back to Naruto. Sasuke felt the deep heartbreak he had and a sense of emptiness after what he had done. His scratched forehead protector was untied, and fall off to the ground.

Urgh!

The pain caused him to fell to his knees, facing Naruto's face one last time. His only friend... Has died...

He looks at Naruto's corpse one last time. Naruto, I admit, you are my only true bond. I am sorry Naruto. You are in my way, and still, thank you for giving me another step to strength. I won't waste what you had given me, Naruto.

...

He stood up leaves quickly, wanting to go to Orochimaru. With his new eyes and Orochimaru, he will definitely kill Itachi!

***

Shou back in Kiri felt his heart heavy suddenly. As if... something happened...

Naruto... How are you doing? Is it alright out there?

Shou asked it in his heart. He don't know why, but, he wanted to ask and want to know the answer.

...