Chapter 237 : Seal of Reconciliation!

[Deprived of the bolstering force of Chakra, the duo reverted to the most primal form of combat: Taijutsu!]

[Their gazes locked briefly before they surged towards each other!]

[Review!]

[Fists connected with distinct impacts on different countenances.]

[Their movements mirrored one another, faces contorting with the force, and legs retaliating simultaneously!]

[BOOM!]

[Like marionettes with severed strings, they toppled backward.]

[Yet, they swiftly rose to resume the fray without hesitation.]

[Assaulting, lifting legs, extending—no superfluous motion, every ounce of strength precious!]

[Simultaneously, amidst the skirmish, the reawakened Chakra reverted to the simplest and most proficient ninjutsu to employ!]

[One minute, two minutes. Ten minutes, an hour!]

[Neither managed to clinch victory; energy reserves depleted, Chakra ceased condensing within exhausted cells!]

[Feeble fists, quivering limbs, teetering on the brink of collapse.]

[Yet, they persisted, akin to children brawling—either grappling and flailing with contorted fists or mustering strength for an opportune headbutt!]

A hushed intensity pervaded beyond the screen!

No laughter echoed in this quagmire of a moment.

Naruto's eyes showed his unwillingness to all observers!

Sasuke symbolizes the world of paranoia, while Naruto stands for Sasuke.

He faltered three years prior, yet three years hence, defeat is not an option!

[From noon to dusk, the skirmish rages on, Naruto and Sasuke barely able to remain upright, yet exerting themselves to deliver blows even a novice ninja would evade!]

[Hoohoo!]

[They gasp for breath, like bellows laboring violently.]

[After a brief pause, fists are launched simultaneously!]

[This time, it's different!]

[Sasuke's Rinnegan is unleashed!]

[In the ensuing instant, his other hand clamps onto Naruto, siphoning the Nine Tails' Chakra!)]

[This Chakra, freshly drawn from the Nine Tails!]

[His Rinnegan can only be sustained for fleeting moments, and he's been awaiting this precise juncture!]

[BOOM!]

[Naruto reacted instantly, his fist connecting with Sasuke who was absorbing his Chakra!]

[With the bolster of Chakra, Sasuke was no longer as feeble, ready to exhaust all of his Chakra in the next moment!]

[Lightning Style · Chidori!]

[This was his most proficient ninjutsu!]

[This ninjutsu failed to dispatch Naruto before, but this time, it would not falter. He aimed to sever the bond completely, even if the burden on his shoulders grew heavier!]

[Without hesitation, Sasuke descended, crackling with thunder in his grasp!]

[Observing this scene, Naruto's eyes held nothing but resolve. He leaped upward, fortified by faith!]

[Once more, he extended his arms as he had done in the past.]

(This time, however, he no longer required the aid of Shadow Clones to conjure Rasengan; he could manage it alone!)

[Yet, in the blink of an eye, an ethereal, phantom hand materialized.]

[Naruto appeared to recognize it, turning his gaze to meet it, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.]

[It was Jiraiya's hand, and within the intertwining of their palms, a faint Rasengan materialized!]

[But the scene didn't conclude there; following suit were Minato's hand, Kushina's hand, Kakashi's, Iruka's, Hinata's, Sai's, Killer Bee's—every hand that had stood by him!]

"A soul?" Kushina uttered, her voice tinged with emotion.

To which Jiraiya's exuberant voice retorted:

"It's not the soul, it's the faith!"

"Naruto ventured forth to rescue Sasuke fueled by the faith of all his comrades."

As the protagonists, Naruto and Sasuke remained oblivious, their attention riveted to the screen.

[Rasengan and Chidori, Naruto and Sasuke!]

[At this juncture, it felt akin to that moment in the past!]

[Naruto and Sasuke appeared to revert to their younger selves, bellowing with diverse emotions as Rasengan and Chidori collided!]

[Boom!]

[A violent explosion ensued!]

[Beneath the fusion of two disparate energies, a tremendous surge occurred, the impact rapidly distending their surroundings!]

[The statues of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, previously spared, were now utterly obliterated!]

[And Naruto and Sasuke found themselves engulfed entirely by the explosion!]

[No sound, no reality, no victory or defeat!

[The figures of the two remain intact in another shifting illusion, a scene constantly in flux.]

"Did they perish together?"

"Is this a postmortem reverie, but why are the two together?"

In the world of Demon Slayer, Tanjiro couldn't grasp the current scene at all.

[The illusionary tableau continues to shift; this time, another figure appears.]

It was a young Naruto and Sasuke, encircled by a malevolent throng, while the souls of the real Naruto and Sasuke observed the scene as if bystanders.

"It's so tragic. You were shunned by the village because of the Nine Tails, and I because of the Uchiha name."

"You call me a friend. Perhaps, in that sense, it's true."

Then Sasuke's voice, and the tableau evolves further, depicting two individuals with divergent fates yet sharing a pitiful past.

Off-screen, Kushina found it a little difficult to bear.

Naruto watched with awe as Sasuke was led away by Itachi.

This was a sight that shattered Kushina's heart.

And the same is true for Itachi.

He witnessed young Sasuke's envy towards Naruto's bravery and his mischievous antics to garner attention, while he could only weep in the dead of night plagued by nightmares.

[Tick.1

Suddenly, the screen quivered, and all illusions dissipated.

The rain cascaded down, and Naruto and Sasuke stirred from their slumber.

Perhaps it was their resilient bodies, or the intervention of the Sage of Six Paths; no one knew why, but the two returned from the brink of death.

This time, however, their bodies were so feeble that they could barely move.

"There is no victor or vanquished in this conflict."

Gazing at the raindrops descending from the sky, Sasuke finally posed the question:

"Why?"

"Why do you strive for this?" 

Naruto ponders for a moment, then bursts into laughter:

"Because we're friends!"

The words were undeniably simple, yet they struck Sasuke's heart like a thunderbolt.

Sasuke remains silent, but turns to gaze into Naruto's blue eyes.

[Naruto grinned, gazing up at the sky, embracing the cool rain that cascaded over his face, all the while maintaining his smile 

["Since I was a child, I can't recall exactly when, I've known that you've always been alone."

["I yearned to converse with you, and the mere thought of it brought me inexplicable joy."

["Yet, I refrained from doing so.

"I could only envy you, who seemed capable of anything, holding you as my rival in my heart."

["You became my… goal.

["So, with no past to speak of, I formed a bond, aspiring to become as formidable and charismatic as you, always trailing behind you."

[Sasuke was taken aback, then finally voiced the sentiments buried within:

["Truth be told, I envy you."

["For possessing the strength I lack, consistently forging ahead, much like an elder brother to me."

[In the next instant, Naruto's memories flashed before Sasuke's eyes!]

[He witnessed Naruto's journey, step by arduous step, from the brink of despair to the present!

[Enduring hardships, misconceptions, and revulsion, enduring pain and fatigue, yet none of it could sway Naruto.]

[In the following moment, Sasuke suddenly envisioned Itachi once more, witnessing Naruto inquire about why he chased after his younger brother.

[And Naruto simply smiled: "He's my friend; if you can't even save a friend, what kind of Hokage would you be."

[Naruto's tone was resolute, as though it were destiny, as essential as air and water, Sasuke needed to be drawn back.]

[In the next heartbeat, Naruto turned back, pressing their foreheads together, just like they did when they were young.

[Sasuke found himself drawn into this sensation, yet when he lifted his gaze, he met Naruto's beaming face and hopeful eyes, akin to the vast blue sky.]

[As if to say, return, Sasuke.

[tick~]

[Sasuke jolted awake suddenly, realizing he had nearly perished once more just now, having glimpsed Naruto's memories in a spiritual state.]

[Recalling that gaze, fixated on the golden locks in his memory, Sasuke smiled again after many years:

["In that case, I'll heed your counsel."

[The breeze whispered, and the first light of dawn broke through, casting its radiance upon the two of them, illuminating the space between them.

[There, their arms had vanished, leaving only the bond of blood connecting them.]

[And that form resembled... an unfinished Reconciliation Seal.]

****

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