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Chapter 21 - Chapter 21

Chapter 21 

Amaterasu.

Sasuke's left eye burned, and so did the world.

There was no warning. One moment, Naruto stood firm in the snow. The next, black flames exploded across his body.

"Shit!" Naruto hissed, staggering backward as the heat swallowed him. "You're really going for the kill, huh?"

The flames clung like cursed shadows, igniting the air around him. Wind howled as the burning chakra distorted the atmosphere. It hurt. More than anything had in a long time. Skin blistered. His cloak curled into ash.

Sasuke stared coldly from beneath his bangs, the Sharingan in his right eye still spinning. His left eye, the Mangekyō, trembled with power.

"You're not even trying to block it? Or is your left eye just for show?" Sasuke said. "No matter. I'm not extinguishing it. Burn, Naruto. Burn until there's nothing left. Once you're gone, no one will stand in my way."

Naruto's fingers twitched toward his pouch.

In the past, I used Kurama's chakra to peel this stuff off... but now that bastard's locked the door. He's not giving me anything. So that's off the table.

He reached into his jacket, pulled out a sealing scroll and a brush. Ink splattered as he knelt in the snow, still burning.

Sasuke's eyes widened. "You're seriously trying to write seals while you're on fire?"

Naruto didn't answer. His hand moved in perfect, practiced strokes. The scroll unfurled across the snow, and as he finished the final brushstroke, he pressed both palms down hard.

"—Fire Sealing Method!"

WHUMP.

Amaterasu's black flames twisted unnaturally, pulled away from his skin as if yanked by invisible hands. The fire spiraled into the scroll like water into a drain, burning a black sigil into the center of the parchment.

Smoke rose from Naruto's arms, but the flames were gone.

He stood slowly, eyes never leaving Sasuke. "That all you've got?"

Konan blinked from her position at the edge of the clearing. "That was Jiraiya's sealing technique…"

Orochimaru chuckled low. "Even while being burned alive, he executed high-level fūinjutsu without a single wasted movement. How fascinating."

Obito's eye narrowed behind his mask. So he's mastered sealing, even without the fox. This isn't the same Naruto anymore…

Sasuke grit his teeth. "Tch… don't act so smug. That was just the warm-up."

Dark chakra surged from his body like a tsunami. It hit the air and turned it cold.

Karin shuddered. "That chakra… it's worse than before. Like being locked in a freezer with no escape..."

Skeletal limbs burst from Sasuke's back—ribs, arms, a skull. Susanoo formed around him, towering and purple, eyes glowing like twin stars.

Naruto's jaw tensed. "Here it comes."

He formed a seal. Smoke exploded beside him—a shadow clone appeared instantly.

The clone began shaping wind chakra into the Rasengan in Naruto's hand. The sound of shrieking air spun violently, sharpening into a buzzing blade.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "That technique again…"

The clone vanished.

Naruto gripped the Rasen Shuriken. "Catch."

He threw it.

The whirling shuriken cut the air apart, heading straight for Susanoo.

Sasuke didn't dodge. He stood tall, surrounded by the armored skeleton of his will.

BOOOOOOM!

The clearing vanished in a storm of slicing wind. Snow evaporated. Trees splintered and flew. Konan leapt back. Jugo raised his arms to shield Karin.

Bones cracked. The shockwave blew Suigetsu off his feet.

As the dust settled, Sasuke stood in the middle of it all, panting.

His Susanoo… was nearly gone. Only a paper-thin shell of purple light remained.

He lowered his head, breath ragged. "Again…"

Snap. Crack. Crack.

New bones erupted from his back. A second layer of chakra surged—stronger, deeper. Susanoo rose again, complete with muscle and armor.

"AAAAAARGHHHH!!!" Sasuke roared, and his Susanoo answered.

A longbow formed in its left hand. A shimmering arrow in its right.

Obito watched silently. Good. Let it out. Let it all out. He still needs to grow...

Naruto narrowed his eyes. That bow... the Heavenly Maga Bow. This is the real deal.

TWANG!

The arrow shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

Naruto launched backward, planting his feet and summoning chakra.

A massive Rasengan, glowing with sage energy, appeared in his hand. He hurled it upward as the arrow closed in.

BOOM!

The arrow deflected, veering off into the forest with an earth-shaking impact.

Trees exploded. Snow flew. Animals scattered.

Sasuke didn't pause. A second arrow formed—stronger than the first.

"I'll make this one count," he growled. "You won't deflect it twice!"

TWANG!

Naruto bit his thumb, slammed his hand into the ground.

"—Summoning Jutsu!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Three massive gates—demonic, iron-faced Rashomon—erupted from the earth.

The arrow tore through the first gate. Then the second. It slammed halfway through the third.

One meter from Naruto's chest.

Then—poof—the gates vanished, taking the arrow with them.

The snow fell again.

Sasuke dropped to one knee inside his collapsing Susanoo. His eyes blurred. Pupil power fading. Blood trickled from his left eye, painting his cheek red.

Naruto stood across from him, scorched and bruised, but calm.

Sasuke looked up, confused. Angry. Lost.

"...Naruto. Just what the hell are you?"

Naruto met his gaze.

"I'm your friend."

A pause.

"I was yesterday. I am now. I will be tomorrow."

Sasuke's shoulders trembled. He let out a breathless, bitter laugh.

"Friend…? Heh."

The laugh died.

"Then answer me. If I destroy the village... if I kill everyone in it... will you stop me? Or will you help me?"

Naruto tilted his head, thinking.

"…What if I used my right hand this time?"

Sasuke froze.

Their eyes locked. The snow stopped falling. The wind held its breath.

And somewhere, far above them, the future tilted—uncertain once again.

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