One More Light

Chapter 20:Epilouge

Sasuke wasted no time bringing out his Susanoo and attacking Naruto. It only took Naruto a moment to enact the tailed beast transformation with Kurama. 'Since this is our first transformation, it might only last about 15 minutes. Don't let him waste your time. We need to make this quick and clean. Even with my strength, your body is weak and won't last a long battle." 'Understood Kurama. We can do this.'

Naruto returned his focus to the battle before him. He started forming a tailed beast bomb while Sasuke was aiming his Susanoo's arrow. Both ninjas' released their attacks simultaneously and created a huge explosion when they met, ripping trees out of the ground and levelling the wall protecting the Leaf village. Naruto took a moment to survey the wreckage and decided he needed to move this fight further away. Thanks to his sage mode he could tell that Sakura had defeated Karin and Kakashi had dealt with Jugo. Sai was still fighting Zugetsu but Ino-Shika-Cho were also helping him out. Naruto felt comfortable moving further away knowing that his village and his friends would be safe.

Kurama took a huge leap, landing 2 miles outside the village wall, taunting Sasuke to follow. Honestly, he was full of so much bloodlust he would've followed Naruto wherever he went. Kurama started to form a plan that would, in theory contain and trap Sasuke. 'Kit, switch with me for a minute, I have a plan. I'm gonna lay a trap for Sasuke, something the Senju clan used to trap me." 'Sure thing Kurama. You do what you think is best. I can feel my strength going. We need to finish this quickly.' Naruto let Kurama take over. The fox began dragging his tails over the trees and through the stream, leaving a trail of energy forming the symbols for the Blooming seal. It was an ancient technique that draws in negative energy and traps in it a flower. All that was left was to continue the fight until Sasuke entered the seals range. 'Alright Kit, it's up to you. Keep fighting him till the last possible moment. Once our connection breaks, make sure you collapse within the seal. As long as you keep thinking about the positive future you have ahead of you and don't let him drag you into despair, the seal will not affect you but will seal away his power.' 'I'm good Kurama. I can do this. He doesn't have the power over me that he used to thanks to you and Gaara. Time to end this.'

Sasuke finally cleared the distance as Naruto regained control. He started to taunt Naruto, really expressing his disdain. "You really think you can beat me Dobe? You are so weak. Look at you, you can barely stand. You have become so pathetic. And to think I thought you to be an equal to me. You are so pitiful." The way he spoke those words made Naruto's skin crawl. It was the way he had spoken to himself before Gaara helped him.

"I am what I am Sasuke but you have no power of me anymore. Nothing you have done is my fault. I am not responsible for you even if everyone thinks I am. You may be the prized Uchiha no matter what you do but I am the son of the fourth Hokage and I have so much more than you will ever have including friends who will pull me out when I am drowning. What do you have Teme?" Naruto threw the words at him with as much strength as he had. He meant what he said. He had people in his life that cared about him. He hadn't always and he might still not be able to handle some affection, but he has a purpose now and someone to go home with.

"Power! It's all I need. I don't need pathetic people to care about me or anyone to save me. I am powerful!" Sasuke yelled maniacally before hurling an Amatsarasu at Naruto. It was dodged by a side jump before he threw a Wind-Rasen-Shuriken back in his direction using a shadow shuriken jutsu. Predictably, Sasuke deflected the first attack with his Susanoo but didn't account for the second shuriken being a transformed clone carrying a rasengan. It landed a hit on Sasuke's shoulder, rendering his left arm useless. Sasuke become furious, his sharingan started spinning and dripping blood.

Naruto could feel his connection weakening. He had maybe two minutes left. 'It's time Kit. Head back towards the trap. This won't last much longer and it's our only chance to catch him without using deadly force.' 'Understood. I am feeling very weak Kurama. I don't think I can last much longer anyway. Can you amass some more chakra just in case? I can't do this alone Kurama.' 'Don't Worry Kit, I've got your back.'