44 Friend Of Naruto

[Last Chapter , Mistakenly I scheduled it 4 hours early than I intended, so just thought to drop another chapter to make it up only if I can Complete writing in time , Thanks...]

As Naruto's mind whirled with thoughts and strategies, he glanced over at Sasuke, who was now quite a distance away. He couldn't let Sasuke slip away, not after everything he'd gone through to get to this point.

"Naruto, focus!" Kimimaro's voice cut through his thoughts as the white-haired ninja charged at him again, his bone sword ready to strike.

Dodging Kimimaro's attacks, Naruto quickly formed a plan. "I need to get to Sasuke, but this bonehead won't let me pass so easily..."

Just then, a figure appeared in the distance. "Naruto, leave this to me!" The strong, confident voice belonged to none other than Rock Lee.

Naruto turned to see Lee running towards them, a determined look on his face. "Lee? What are you doing here?"

"I heard about the situation from Neji. He said you might need some help," Lee explained.

"But your injuries..." Naruto started, remembering the damage that Lee had sustained during the Chunin exams.

"I've recovered sufficiently to fight, plus I couldn't just stand by and do nothing!" Lee declared, his eyes burning with resolve.

Naruto couldn't help but smile at his comrade's spirit. "Alright, Lee. I leave him to you. I've got to catch up to Sasuke."

With that, Naruto dashed off in the direction Sasuke had gone, leaving Kimimaro to a very eager Rock Lee.

"Naruto, I won't let you down!" Lee shouted as he charged towards Kimimaro, ready to take on the formidable opponent.

Rock Lee found himself up against Kimimaro, while Naruto continued his relentless pursuit of Sasuke.

After a while, they found themselves staring each other down in the valley...

Standing on opposite sides of the valley...

"Naruto..." Sasuke called out, his voice echoing across the valley.

"Sasuke," Naruto responded, his tone light and teasing, a stark contrast to the heavy tension in the air. "Fancy seeing you here. I thought you had gone to chase some birds or something."

"I'm not here to play games, Naruto," Sasuke retorted, his eyes gleaming with a fierce determination.

Naruto chuckled lightly, "And here I thought we were playing hide and seek."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, "Enough with your jokes, Naruto."

Naruto shrugged, his smile never leaving his face. "Well, you've got to lighten up, Sasuke. Being all broody is so passé."

Despite Naruto's frivolous demeanor, his azure eyes were serious. "But let's get to the point, Sasuke. Why are you doing this? What are you trying to achieve by abandoning the village?"

Sasuke remained silent for a moment before responding. "I have my reasons, Naruto. Reasons you wouldn't understand."

"Try me," Naruto countered, "Or are you afraid that I might knock some sense into you?"

"Enough, Naruto!" Sasuke snapped, "It's not your problem."

"See, that's where you're wrong," Naruto replied, his voice suddenly stern. "When you left the village, when you abandoned us... you made it my problem."

Naruto halted in his tracks, his sarcastic smile fading into a serious expression. "You know, Sasuke," he began, "the stronger one doesn't always win. It's the one who wins that's strong."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Don't talk in riddles, Naruto."

Naruto shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not a riddle, Sasuke. It's reality. You're strong, sure. But you're letting your own bitterness and anger guide you. That's not strength. That's just being a puppet to your own emotions."

Sasuke's Sharingan blazed with intensity as he reacted to Naruto's words. "You dare speak, Naruto? You, who possess such incredible strength that you can bend the fabric of space itself. You faced Orochimaru one-on-one without breaking a sweat, effortlessly surpassing all challenges. You have been blessed with extraordinary abilities, and yet you persist in playing the joker, hiding your true potential behind a facade of jest."

Naruto's eyes never wavered from Sasuke's. "And you're choosing to be Orochimaru's puppet just to get stronger. Tell me, Sasuke, how is that any different from being a joker?"

"I'm not a puppet!" Sasuke shouted, his anger evident. "I'm doing this to obtain the power I need. Power that can help me achieve my goals."

Naruto sighed, shaking his head. "Sasuke, true power isn't about hurting others or seeking revenge. It's about protecting those you care about."

"And what would you know about my goals, Naruto?" Sasuke retaliated, his voice full of disdain.

"I know enough, Sasuke," Naruto responded calmly. "And I'm telling you this - I won't let you go down this path. I won't let you become a monster."

"And how will you stop me, Naruto?" Sasuke challenged.

"With everything I've got, Sasuke," Naruto replied, his eyes filled with resolve. "Even if that means beating you here and now and dragging you back to the village myself."

"Sasuke, you think seeking power from Orochimaru will make you stronger, but you're wrong," Naruto continued, his voice filled with conviction. "All it'll do is make you lose yourself. And what good is power if you don't even know who you are?"

Sasuke scoffed, "You're just afraid, Naruto. Afraid that I'll surpass you."

Naruto shook his head, "No, Sasuke. I'm afraid you'll lose yourself. That you'll become something unrecognizable, something not you. And that scares me more than anything."

"I don't need your concern," Sasuke shot back, his voice cold.

"But you do need a reality check, Sasuke," Naruto retorted. "You're so blinded by your desire for power that you can't see the destruction it's causing. Not just to you, but to everyone around you."

Sasuke's eyes widened, but he quickly masked his surprise with a scowl. "You don't get to lecture me, Naruto."

"Someone has to, Sasuke," Naruto replied, his tone firm. "Because this path you're on, it'll only lead to misery."

"I'll take my chances," Sasuke said stubbornly.

Naruto sighed, "Sasuke, you're my friend. And I can't stand by and watch you throw your life away."

"And I won't stand by and watch you play the hero," Sasuke retorted.

"Then we're at an impasse," Naruto stated.

"So it seems," Sasuke agreed, his eyes never leaving Naruto's.

"Then let's end this, Sasuke," Naruto said, determination burning in his eyes.

"Agreed," Sasuke replied, his Sharingan spinning wildly.

In a burst of speed, Naruto lunged at Sasuke, his fist aimed for the Uchiha. Sasuke reacted, barely managing to deflect the blow with his arm. The sheer force of Naruto's punch sent Sasuke skidding back.

"Come on, Sasuke," Naruto grinned, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously. "Is that all you've got?"

Sasuke growled, charging at Naruto with renewed vigor. However, Naruto effortlessly evaded Sasuke's attacks, his movements fluid and graceful.

"Naruto, why are you holding back?" Sasuke accused, frustration evident in his voice.

"Hmm?" Naruto shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm not holding back, Sasuke. I'm just trying to knock some sense into you."

As Sasuke lunged at Naruto again, Naruto sidestepped easily, his movements almost lazy. "Sasuke, don't you get it? Just by seeking power from Orochimaru, you're losing your own identity. You're becoming his puppet."

"I am not a puppet!" Sasuke retorted, his Sharingan blazing.

Ignoring Sasuke's outburst, Naruto continued, "Sasuke, you think strength is everything. But let me ask you something, what does it mean to be the strongest?"

Sasuke paused, taken aback by Naruto's question. But Naruto didn't wait for his reply. "Being the strongest isn't about overpowering others, Sasuke. It's about being able to protect those you care about. It's about standing up for what's right, even when it's hard."

Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly, "You think you're so strong? You think you're better than me?"

Naruto shrugged, "It's not about being better, Sasuke. It's about making the right choices."

"Enough of your lectures!" Sasuke shouted, charging at Naruto with all his might.

Naruto effortlessly dodged Sasuke's attack, his eyes never leaving Sasuke's. "Sasuke, I don't want to fight you. But if I have to, I will. I'll do whatever it takes to bring you back."

Sasuke's eyes widened at Naruto's words, but he quickly masked his surprise with a scowl. "I don't need your help, Naruto."

Naruto sighed, shaking his head. "Sasuke, you're my friend. I can't just stand by and watch as you destroy your life."

Sasuke was silent for a moment before he finally spoke. "Then we have no choice but to fight."

Naruto's eyes hardened, "If that's what it takes to make you see sense, then so be it."

The tension between Naruto and Sasuke hung heavy in the air, a palpable force that seemed to crackle with the anticipation of the imminent clash. Sasuke's skin began to darken, his hair growing longer as he activated the curse mark's first stage.

"Naruto," Sasuke's voice was strained, his eyes aflame with determination. "I will show you my power."

Naruto, his dark glasses obscuring his eyes, simply stood his ground. His voice was calm, almost indifferent. "Show me what you've got, Sasuke."

With a roar, Sasuke lunged forward, his speed enhanced by the curse mark. He aimed a powerful punch at Naruto, but Naruto effortlessly sidestepped it, his movements fluid and graceful.

Sasuke quickly turned and launched another attack, but Naruto suddenly teleported and reappeared behind Sasuke in an instant and kicked in his back sending him flying.

In response, Sasuke activated the second stage of his curse mark, his appearance becoming more monstrous. He lunged forward again, but Naruto, with his Naruto easily dodged or blocked all the attacks with his limitless which was again working.

"Is that all, Sasuke?" Naruto taunted, his voice light and teasing despite the seriousness of the situation.

Sasuke growled in frustration, launching another barrage of attacks. But Naruto effortlessly evaded them all, using his teleportation technique to confuse and disorient Sasuke. It was almost as if he was playing a game, toying with Sasuke.

Naruto then used a Wind Style technique, sending a gust of wind towards Sasuke that knocked him off balance. Before Sasuke could recover, Naruto appeared in front of him, his hand glowing with chakra.

"Sasuke," Naruto's voice was quiet, but firm. "I don't want to fight you. But if I have to, I will. I'll do whatever it takes to bring you back."

As Naruto's hand forcefully met with Sasuke's torso, the impact sent him soaring backwards, ultimately colliding with the valley's wall.

Sasuke rose to his feets somehow, but before he could react Naruto was suddenly standing in front of him "Rasengan" Naruto said as he thrusted the Rasengan in Sasuke's stomach and again hitting the same place and fall to the ground.

Sasuke attempted to rise, but his body defiantly resisted. His sight grew fuzzy before he succumbed to unconsciousness.

As Sasuke's body slumped to the ground, Naruto sighed, a mixture of relief and sadness washing over him. He walked over to Sasuke, his steps heavy.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," Naruto murmured, his voice barely audible. "But I had to do this. I had to stop you."

As Naruto stood there for some moments beside Sasuke's fallen body on the ground he looked up at the sky as momentarily it started raining...as if the heavens themselves mourned. The tears of the sky mirrored the pain in my heart, a silent testament to the bitter victory.

As the clock ticked on, Kakashi, guided by his trusty ninken Pakkun, made it to the designated spot.

"There you are, Kakashi-sensei..." Naruto greeted, his eyes drifting to the sky above.

After quickly briefing Kakashi on the current situation...

"Kakashi-sensei, you take Sasuke and get out of here, I'll go catch up with Rock Lee just in case." Naruto proposed, his tone laced with casual confidence.

With a decisive nod, Kakashi hoisted Sasuke and departed, while Naruto retraced his steps back to where his battle with Kimimaro had unfolded.

[A. N: Thanks for reading, drop Powerstones that will help a lot and drop reviews if you like the story and add to your library]