Journey of Discovery

Chapter 17 - Final Battle

She watched, mixed emotions of horror and amazement, as the two teenagers battled for a second time at the Valley of the End.

They were using taijutsu, fighting hand to hand. Sasuke was fast, so much faster than Naruto that he couldn't even form hand signs. It was only when he was kicked over the cliff's edge that he could call upon his Shadow Clones. She watched as he threw them back up at Sasuke, who deflected every single one, before making his move. He caught him off guard, grabbing him by his ankles and throwing him into the rocks nearby. Sarada visibly cringed and half buried her face against Sasuke's side.

She couldn't believe how much damage they were inflicting upon one another but were still going strong.  Naruto's Shadow Clones began to surround Sasuke, attacking him as a group to overwhelm him. Sasuke was able to deflect each one, even split kicking two at the same time as he pushed one face down into the ground. When she saw the blazing red of his Sharingan, his arms stretched out to each side of him, she knew something was about to happen. The clones all froze in place before being pulled towards Sasuke violently and becoming skewered by black flames making them all disappear in a poof of smoke.

"That's the Amaterasu" Sasuke explained.

"I recognize it. Uncle Itachi used it. Did you inherit it from his eyes?"

Sasuke nodded and she turned her attention back to the fight. She watched as Naruto completely transformed and was glowing bright yellow, black orbs floating around his body. He formed a massive arm which was pushing back Sasuke's powerful fireball Jutsu.

"What is that Lord Seventh?!" she asked excitedly. She had never seen this version of him before or this kind of power in anyone.

"That's the amazing ability we told you about, that's what I received from the Sage of Six Paths" Naruto said.

Sasuke's Rinnegan transported him behind Naruto while the Fireball kept him occupied, he used this chance to use his Chidori and hit Naruto down to the water's surface below. He skidded across the water a few times before coming to a stop but he was quickly rushed by Sasuke in his Susano'o form. It fired arrows, one after another, at Naruto as he continued to jump and flip to dodge them.

One last flip and Naruto activated his Tailed Beast Mode, creating a giant chakra form of Kurama. Sarada's jaw dropped in shock as she turned to Naruto once again for explanation, "That power comes from my tailed beast, Kurama" he said as he laid his hand over the seal on his stomach. "I'm sure you saw some of his power when you saw us fight the first time."

She did remember seeing Naruto enveloped in a bright orange chakra but it had been put to the back of her mind when she saw Sasuke's Curse Mark transformation. She hadn't thought about it until now. Besides, he looked completely different now versus then.

The two giants clashed together, fists hitting one another as they fought for dominance. Naruto was finally able to slam Sasuke's Susano'o down onto the water's surface. The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. It was silent, until the crackle of electricity filled the air, and then Kirin raced down from the clouds to bite down on Kurama's neck. Naruto faltered, falling to his knee as Sasuke stood over him.

"If you stalling, you're doing to die" he said in an icy cold tone. All emotion drained from him.

"I don't want to kill you" Naruto struggled to say. The two raced towards each other once again, Sasuke's Susano'o armed with his Chidori and Kurama with a Tailed Beast Bomb. Sarada shielded her eyes as their clash resulted in a massive explosion.

The battle continued, one slightly getting the upper hand before the roles reversed. They even traveled high into the sky above the clouds, so high that Sarada couldn't see them. She could hear the sounds of their battle, like thunder in the distance. The clouds turned a bright orange as another explosion rang out over head. A moment later, the two fell limply to the ground where the base of the waterfall used to be.

Naruto was still desperately trying to get through to Sasuke but it wasn't working. He begrudgingly charged forward and fought hand to hand with Sasuke once more. They continued this as the sun set lower, and lower, and lower in the sky.

By the time the sun was barely peaking over the horizon the two boys were tattered, bruised, and exhausted. Their faces were distorted from the cuts and swelling from all the hits they took.

Sakura had her arm wrapped around Sasuke's, holding herself close to him. She had never seen or truly known the extent their battle went, she didn't find them until the next day, barely alive.

Sarada watched as Sasuke stood over Naruto, who was struggling to stand up on all fours, with an ignited Chidori in his hand.

"This is goodbye, to my one and only friend!" Sasuke yelled as he dropped his fist down, intending to pierce Naruto through the back. But at the last second, when it seemed that Naruto had all but given up, he leaped up and punched Sasuke into the cliff above.

He stood from the crater that was created from his impact, staring down at Naruto, pain and anger twisting his face. "Let me cut you down already!" he shouted, his voice broken and sharp.

A Chidori reappeared in his hand and he leapt down at Naruto. Naruto responded, jumping up to meet him half way to clash against him with his Rasengan. The two met in the middle pushing with all their strength and, just like before, erupted in the biggest explosion Sarada had seen thus far.