Naruto: Rebirth Of The Child Of Prophecy

The sound of steel slicing through the air cut the tension like a knife. Sasuke drew his sword in a flash and charged at Naruto with deadly precision. Naruto shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "The rain stops, and suddenly he thinks he's invincible again," he muttered.

From above, Nagato watched the unfolding scene through the eyes of the Six Paths of Pain. Sensing danger, Tendo Pain stepped in, raising a hand to shield Naruto with Shinra Tensei.

But Naruto stopped him. "No, senior brother. Let me handle this. It's been a while since Sasuke and I went toe to toe."

With that, Naruto summoned his senjutsu chakra, his hands forming the distinct orange marks of Sage Mode. As Sasuke's blade arced towards him, Naruto sidestepped with ease and countered with a punch that landed square on Sasuke's cheek. The impact sent Sasuke flying backward.

"Sasuke!" Karin cried out, startled.

Suigetsu and Jūgo exchanged surprised glances. Sasuke, their leader, wasn't one to lose ground so easily. Still, Sasuke steadied himself mid-air, reversing his grip on his sword to anchor himself into the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his crimson Sharingan gleaming in disbelief.

"I dodged that punch," Sasuke muttered, confused. Then his eyes narrowed as he noticed the orange pigmentation around Naruto's eyes. This wasn't the Nine-Tails' power—it was something entirely different.

"What's wrong, Sasuke? Already giving up?" Naruto teased, arms crossed in a carefree stance.

Sasuke rose, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You may have changed, but so have I."

Purple chakra surged from Sasuke's body, and his skeletal Susanoo unfolded with eerie elegance. Naruto whistled. "Still just skeletal, huh? Not even armored yet. Tsk, tsk. You've got a ways to go before reaching Crow Tengu form."

Sasuke's expression darkened. "Enough talk!"

The Susanoo surged forward, its massive arm swinging for Naruto. Naruto countered with a Rasengan, the clash sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The impact forced both to retreat, yet Naruto's grin remained unfazed.

"Let's see how tough your Susanoo really is," Naruto declared.

Summoning a hundred shadow clones, each clone charged forward with a Rasengan in hand.

Sasuke sneered. "Shadow clones again? Pathetic. A weak man's trick."

Naruto shrugged. "If it works, why change it?"

The battlefield erupted with explosions as dozens of Rasengan crashed into Susanoo's form. Sasuke gritted his teeth as the cracks began to spiderweb across the ethereal armor.

Finally, Naruto's Flying Thunder God maneuver brought him directly above Sasuke, a colossal Rasengan poised for impact. The moment it landed, Susanoo's defense shattered, sending Sasuke hurtling backward. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed into the ground.

"Sasuke!" Karin screamed again, only for Suigetsu to yank her back. "Relax. Sasuke's tougher than he looks."

Naruto dusted off his hands. "Really, Sasuke? This is the best you've got? It's like your brother went too easy on you."

Sasuke's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with fury. "You don't get to talk about Itachi!"

Naruto's tone softened. "Sasuke, Itachi asked me to look out for you. He didn't want you to throw everything away for revenge. You should honor his wishes instead of hanging out with Akatsuki."

"Honor?" Sasuke roared, the Mangekyō Sharingan bleeding in rage. "What do you know about Itachi? The same village you defend is the reason for his suffering—and mine!"

With a feral scream, Sasuke unleashed a torrent of dark chakra. Susanoo grew rapidly, muscles and armor forming over its skeletal frame. Now towering and complete, it exuded a menacing presence that made even Karin shiver.

Naruto sighed. "Guess I'll have to knock some sense into him."

Summoning a clone, Naruto began shaping his chakra, the air around him spiraling with violent gusts. Karin, sensing the danger, shrieked, "What is that?!"

"Get back!" Suigetsu barked. "Unless you want to be shredded, move!"

Sasuke, unfazed, stared at Naruto with renewed intensity. "Naruto, you've gotten stronger. But so have I."

The bow of Susanoo bent as Sasuke summoned his most devastating attack. The fiery arrow of Kagutsuchi flared to life, aimed directly at Naruto.

Their eyes locked—one filled with fiery determination, the other with unyielding resolve.

The battlefield was about to erupt in chaos.