Crimson Retribution

In an alternate timeline, the Valley of the End witnesses a different outcome-Naruto Uzumaki defeats Sasuke Uchiha in their fateful battle. Determined to fulfill his promise to Sakura and the village, Naruto carries Sasuke's broken body back to the Hidden Leaf. However, his actions come at a steep price. When Tsunade pronounces Sasuke dead (though he secretly clings to life), the village turns on Naruto, condemning him for his recklessness and labeling him a monster who brought ruin upon their "last Uchiha."

Even Kakashi's defense cannot save him from a harsh sentence: exile from the village he's fought so hard to protect. Betrayed and broken, Naruto is given a few days to recover from his wounds before his banishment. But within the shadows of the village, a faction of Jonin sees no reason to wait. They attack him in the hospital, aiming to finish what Tsunade's decree began. Barely surviving, Naruto escapes into the wilderness, his body failing him as blood pours from a grievous wound.

Collapsing under a tree, Naruto prepares for death, his mind consumed by betrayal and the weight of his dreams shattered. When he awakens, he finds himself in the Akatsuki hideout, his wounds expertly treated. Standing before him are the notorious figures of the organization. Pain, Itachi, and others offer him an ultimatum: vengeance against the village that discarded him in exchange for his cooperation with their grander designs.

For the first time, Naruto embraces the hatred festering within him. Stripped of his dream of becoming Hokage, he resolves to burn the Hidden Leaf to the ground. Under the tutelage of the Akatsuki, Naruto's once indomitable will of fire is consumed by a new purpose: retribution.