1 Prologue

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A battle that started lifetimes ago was now reaching the end.

Two fates clashed with each other.

Two beliefs and two entities.

Yet one of them must perish for the other to flourish.

One must make way for the other to move forward.

..

The two of them faced each other in silence, hesitant yet more determined. Silence persists as sound was unwilling to intervene.

A forebonding breeze blew softly. Unseen, unheard yet felt.

The two jumped down and landed onto a body of water. Miracle followed as they both ran on the water as if on land.

Gravity did not pull them down, liquid offered a foothold and the deep waters refused to swallow them.

They ran towards each other, meeting right at the space in the middle. Their forearms collided and sound was enthusiastic to announce its presemce.

*BOOM*

Shockwave erupted from the clash and the water below caved in and spread waves.

Then the world waited as the battle ensued.

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The destruction of land. The splitting of the sky. And the demolition of mountains.

Only after all these, did the fight neared its end.

What first started off as a battle of strength, technique and power was now a clash between faith and sheer will.

In the beginning, they used their spirit and body to fabricate their assults.

 Now, their hearts fueled their attacks

The two fought, throwing punches and kicks which were nothing but a disgrace to the power they displayed before.

The punches looked insignificant compared to the catastrophic attacks they had displayed before - like seeing an ant after a blue whale.

But the eye only sees, so it did not know...

The belief held in those seemingly insignificant punches. 

The determination behind those minor kicks.

The pain and promises contained in those mundane attacks.

It was an argument that transcended beyond words. Both telling the other to move and both answering no.

They were stubborn, the other even one more so.

Both of them were in excruciating pain and unbelievable exhaustion. But it was simply not enough to make them give up and stop.

'The only way to make me stop..' they thought '..is by killing me.'

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[Unknown POV]

Pain was an old friend that had accompanied me most of my life. But it was never welcomed.

I struggled to get up because of it and received a punch in the face. I was shaken and fell down some distance away.

My opponent was determined to not let the opportunity pass. I see, even as his body pleaded him to just lie down, he pushed through it and approached me wobbly with a ball of blue energy in his right hand.

I tried to get up as soon as possible, fearing that the next attack might be my end.

But my fears were unnecessary as I saw my opponent trip himself. His body had let him down and he fell face first on the stony ground.

*Pakh!*

...

What a dumbass, it was so much like him.

It was funny, but given the situation it does not tickle my funny bone.

I dragged myself on top of him as he was turning on his back. I brought my hands up and threw them down on his face with all my strength. I did this again and again.

I pummeled him many times. My fist connected, the blood was proof of that.

But it felt like my attacks never reached him. At least not the place I wanted it to reach.

And I think my feeling was right considering he was able to grab me by the collar and headbutt me. I was dizzy and he slipped out from me and kicked me right at my stomach, making me stagger back.

Ouch.

That hurts.

Not only because of his headbutt but also because he did not use the shuriken beside him to slice my throat while I was dizzy.

He ignored the chance to kill me. Instead of a killing blow, he gave me a very lame kick which I barely felt. But that lame kick was a devastating attack to my pride.

Here I am - fighting with all I have - what I considered to be the greatest and most important battle in my life. And my opponent was going easy on me.

I would`ve contributed the incident at his supernatural idiocy if not for the fact that I never felt any killing intent from him throughout the battle.

I am not a fool nor an egoist. I am a shinobi who walked with death everyday. I know attacks with the intention to kill me.

Which did not mean that his attacks were not strong enough to kill me though, it was. They were probably strong enough to blow up the moon.

Instead, what it meant was ; his attacks - no matter how strong - lacked the desire to kill me. They held no hatred towards me.

Maybe they held anger and maybe a desire to hurt me. But not to the extent of killing me.

He was looking down on me, on my belief and on my determination.

That may not be his intention, but that`s what he did.

"Why you!!" I said and rushed at him with a lighting covered hand.

I swiped at him, my intention was clear - to separate his head from his shoulder.

But at the last moment he ducked and gave me an uppercut to the chin.

I was aware of the incoming counter attack even before he was. I saw it coming clearly, his body was too weak to hide its intention.

But I was weaker, not being able to move a single muscle even though my mind was clear about my next action.

*Bam!*

His fist met my chin and the force sent me flying. I crashed at the side of a  rocky hill and it made a deep crater that cradle my broken body.

I felt pain and exhaustion throughout my whole body. My muscles felt like they were eating themselves

I felt too much, I couldn't bear it. So I just stop feeling altogether and just act.

My body was moving even with all the burden, I don`t know how, it didn`t know why.

I got up, angry, frustrated but most of all confused.

I asked.

"Why.." Why was he not willing to kill me when I was prepared to do so?

"Why.." Why was he willing to go so far for me?

"Why.." Why was he so stubborn?

I beat the rocky wall as I asked, " Why? Why? Why?.."

"WHY are you doing this? Why won`t you just let me cut you down?! NARUTO!!"

I looked down at him, he looked up. His face was decorated with blood but his blue eyes stole my gaze. His eyes hid no dagger.

He shakily stood up and puffed out his chest to not look as he was - tired and weak. 

His eye twinkled with childlike honesty. " It`s because.." he said "..I am your only friend, Sasuke."

..

Silence.

..

The words made me feel things I should not feel. 

Unfamiliar emotions bubbled up from within me. Fellings I thought I forgot.

They told me to stop, but I couldn`t.

I have gone too far.

I have done too much.

I have dived too deep.

Its too late for me to stop and turn back. So I pushed those feelings down and buried them to the deepest part of my soul.

Then, the hatred I had always cherished in my heart bloomed and devour its confines which was my heart.

I did not reply further. I did not comment on how stupid his answer was nor how it made me feel. But that just revealed exactly how I feel.

My silence tells nothing but said everything. 

..

I gathered all the chakra I had. Everything, every little bit I could muster.

Lightning came alive in my left hand. The lightning was concentrated and cut everything in its vicinity, even the air.

A chilling sound broke the silence and took its place.

*Chiii~* 

It was like the chirping sound of a thousand birds. A tune of terror, a song of death.

"Chidori." I called out its name. The sound was soothing me, telling that whatever happens next - good or bad - it would be quick.

And I sincerely hoped it would be quick.

Naruto also gathered chakra in his right hand. The energy revolved around above his palm at blinding speed, creating a ball.

"Rasengan." I heard him mutter the name.

We stood there, looking at each other. Preparing the attacks we both knew, would be the last.

Then..

And then.

We both leaped at each other`s direction. I jumped down from my place and he jumped up to meet me.

As I fall towards him, I didn`t know if it was real or if its exhaustion playing tricks on my mind, but I saw people behind naruto.

One by one they appeared behind him, supporting him. Wishing him the best, giving him their love and will.

They were too many and too bright. I was overwhlemed. I was alone. I was unsure.

But then, I felt a presence behind me. One that was..big.

His presence...love, was as much as all the other people behind Naruto combined, I feel.

A whisper echoed in my mind, 'I will love you always.'

I knew I was no longer alone, I was no longer overwhelmed. I was sure.

Without holding back. I gave it my all.

"NARUTO!!!"

"SASUKE!!"

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*BOOM!!*

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The battle of brothers...

The world mourned for both.

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