"Wind Release: Wind Cutting Technique!"
A powerful gust erupted across the battlefield.
Countless razor-sharp wind blades tore through the air, fueled by the raging currents left behind by the Great Breakthrough. They sliced apart wave after wave of white bone spikes, shattering them into fragments that scattered across the ground.
Yet even so, the terrifying forest of bones continued to spread.
Kimimaro's Dance of the Seedling Fern was relentless.
The earth trembled as more spikes burst upward like a field of spears, threatening to impale everything in their path.
Naruto gritted his teeth and quickly retreated, placing himself in front of Hinata and Shino.
"Stay behind me!"
The Last of His Strength
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"
Using the last of his remaining chakra, Naruto swung his arm forward. A concentrated blade of wind shot through the air, instantly slicing apart the nearest bone pillars.
But Kimimaro's attack had reached the level of desperation.
Even while Naruto guarded the front, new spikes erupted from the ground behind Hinata and Shino.
"Damn it!" Naruto shouted. "How are there so many?!"
Hinata's face turned pale.
Shino's usually calm expression tightened.
The battlefield had become a death trap.
Naruto stepped forward, breathing heavily.
"Hinata! Shino! Don't be afraid! I came here to save you!"
Kimimaro coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips.
"It's too late now…"
Naruto roared back.
"It's not too late!"
At that moment, Naruto formed a new series of hand seals.
This was the technique he had spent countless hours training in secret.
A high-level Wind Release jutsu he had only recently mastered.
The strongest wind technique in his arsenal.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
Pressure Damage
A dense sphere of compressed wind formed before Naruto's hands.
The air itself twisted violently around it, humming with destructive force.
Then Naruto thrust both palms forward.
The sphere shot ahead like a cannonball.
A second later—
BOOM!
The compressed wind exploded with overwhelming power.
A violent shockwave spread outward in every direction, carving a massive crater into the earth. Soil, rocks, and shattered bones were blasted into the sky.
The approaching forest of bone spikes was swept away in huge sections.
Even the battlefield itself was flattened.
Kimimaro's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What…?!"
He staggered back, blood dripping from his chin.
"What terrifying power…"
His breathing grew ragged.
"Why does Uzumaki Naruto still have this much strength?"
Hinata and Shino exchanged shocked glances.
"Unbelievable…" Hinata whispered.
Naruto took a slow breath and looked at the ruined field before finally relaxing.
He had done it.
He had stopped the spread of the Fern Dance.
He had saved them.
But the cost was severe.
Naruto's knees buckled.
He dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
His chakra was nearly gone.
Kimimaro's Final Resolve
Kimimaro trembled as blood continued to pour from his mouth.
His body was already failing.
Yet his eyes still burned with devotion.
"Orochimaru-sama…"
His voice shook.
"It seems I cannot complete my final mission…"
A shadow of despair crossed his face.
Then it vanished.
"But before I die…"
"I will remove these obstacles for you!"
His body suddenly merged into the surrounding bones.
Like a white serpent moving through the earth, Kimimaro surged forward with terrifying speed.
Before Naruto could react, Kimimaro emerged directly in front of him.
In his hand spun a deadly white bone flower, sharp enough to pierce steel.
"Orochimaru-sama is the only one who understands me!"
"You understand nothing!"
He struck.
Fast.
Merciless.
Naruto, exhausted and kneeling, could not move in time.
Hinata screamed.
"Naruto-kun!"
Even Shino lunged forward too late.
Everything seemed frozen for a single instant.
Naruto was about to die.
Then—
CLANG!
A sword flashed between them.
Kimimaro's final strike was blocked.
The Return of Sasuke
"The Kusanagi sword?!"
Kimimaro's eyes widened.
Naruto stared at the figure standing in front of him.
That back looked painfully familiar.
Yet strangely distant.
"Y-you…"
His voice trembled.
"Sasuke?!"
The one who had appeared at the final moment, taken Naruto's Kusanagi sword, and blocked Kimimaro's fatal blow—
Was none other than Uchiha Sasuke.
Hinata and Shino were stunned.
"Sasuke…?" Hinata whispered.
"How is this possible?" Shino muttered.
Sasuke stood silently.
The Curse Mark's power had almost completely spread across his body, covering him in dark markings. A chilling aura surrounded him.
He looked less like a boy from Konoha and more like something born from darkness.
Yet when he turned to Naruto, the emotion in his eyes was complicated.
"Naruto," Sasuke said quietly, "consider this repayment."
Naruto blinked.
"For saving me before."
Naruto's lips trembled.
"Sasuke… what… what are you now?"
Kimimaro collapsed to the ground, all strength leaving him.
But when he saw Sasuke, hope returned to his fading eyes.
"So… this is how it ends…"
He coughed weakly.
"Uchiha Sasuke…"
Sasuke's Choice
Sasuke spoke coldly.
"I successfully adapted to the Curse Mark's power."
"Ino failed to stop me."
Then he looked at Naruto.
"I know blocking that one strike cannot repay everything you've done for me."
He paused.
"But I will still follow Orochimaru."
"That is my decision."
"You cannot stop me."
Kimimaro smiled faintly.
"So the final mission… may still succeed after all…"
He exhaled slowly.
"Uchiha Sasuke… I leave the rest to you…"
"Orochimaru-sama…"
"I… did my best…"
The Curse Mark's second-stage transformation receded from his body.
His appearance returned to normal.
Then all life faded from his face.
The wind carried bloodstained leaves across the ground.
Kimimaro was dead.
Naruto's Silence
Naruto stared at Kimimaro's body.
His eyes filled with tears.
He knew Kimimaro had done terrible things.
He knew Kimimaro had chosen the wrong path.
And yet…
Naruto could not completely deny the feelings behind Kimimaro's words.
To protect the one you love most.
To defend the one you respect most.
Whether right or wrong…
The emotion itself was real.
Naruto understood that better than anyone.
Because no one understood loneliness more than he did.
If Iruka-sensei had never acknowledged him…
If Kakashi-sensei had never guided him…
If Jiraiya had never accepted him…
If only cruel people had reached out first…
Would he still have chosen the right path?
Naruto did not know.
That uncertainty silenced him.
So he said nothing.
A Sword Returned
Sasuke looked down at the Kusanagi sword in his hand.
"It truly is an excellent blade."
Then he casually tossed it back beside Naruto.
"But it does not suit me."
He turned away.
And began to walk.
Naruto tried to rise.
His body screamed in protest.
He had already fought the Sound Four.
Then battled Kimimaro in a life-or-death struggle.
His chakra was gone.
His strength was spent.
Even his incredible endurance had reached its limit.
But he could not let Sasuke leave again.
Not like this.
Not now.
"SASUKE!!!"
Naruto's desperate shout echoed across the ruined battlefield.
Sasuke stopped walking.
But he did not turn around.
Truth of the Path
Naruto clenched his fists.
"You know Orochimaru will take your body the moment you go to him, right?!"
"You know you'll die!"
"Then why are you doing something this stupid?!"
"The Sasuke I know isn't this foolish!"
Sasuke answered calmly.
"I know."
Naruto froze.
Sasuke's voice remained cold.
"So what?"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"You… you're willing to throw away your own life now?"
"Yes."
Sasuke's tone deepened.
"If I can kill that man…"
"If I can kill Uchiha Itachi…"
"Then even if it means death…"
"Even if it means offering my body to Orochimaru…"
"I accept it."
Naruto's face paled.
Sasuke continued without looking back.
"Naruto… I understand your feelings."
"I know you're trying to save me."
"And I am grateful."
There was pain hidden beneath his words.
But also iron determination.
"However…"
"For me…"
"It means nothing."
Naruto stood frozen.
Sasuke's shoulders tensed.
His voice became heavy with grief.
"I…"
"My life…"
"Was destined to be the life of an avenger."
The Distance Between Them
Silence fell.
The wind moved softly through the broken battlefield.
Naruto stared at Sasuke's back.
That familiar figure now felt farther away than ever before.
They had once been rivals.
Teammates.
Brothers in all but blood.
But now a wall stood between them—
A wall built from pain, hatred, and revenge.
Naruto's hands trembled.
He could not accept it.
He would never accept it.
No matter what Sasuke said.
No matter what darkness he embraced.
Naruto would bring him back.
Even if he had to drag him home by force.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)