Chapter 244: The Battle at the Valley of the End

Chapter 244: The Battle at the Valley of the End

Valley of the End.

Two statues stand here.

To commemorate the fierce battle between the founders of the Konoha Village, Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, their opposing statues were erected here.

Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke are resting here.

They had to rest and recover their chakra after a battle, in order to face the pursuing forces from the Konoha.

The Konoha's pursuers, sent to retrieve the rogue ninja Uchiha Sasuke, were only two people: Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto.

"Truly cold-hearted..."

Orochimaru glanced at Uchiha Sasuke, who was chewing on a military ration pill, and said softly, "I thought you would leave with that little girl named Haruno Sakura. She wanted to leave the village with you, but you slapped her..."

"There was no need."

Sasuke swallowed the pill to restore his chakra, and coldly replied, "A useless waste is of no help to me..."

"Then you should have killed her."

Orochimaru suggested another solution: "Now that she has reported your defection to Konoha, Jiraiya and his disciple are after us..."

"Killing a useless waste doesn't bring me any satisfaction..."

"Moreover, now I can deal with Naruto."

Sasuke glanced indifferently at Orochimaru, and said coldly, "Orochimaru, if you can't even handle Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, then following you would make me even worse than that loser Naruto."

"You really are a sharp-tongued brat..."

Orochimaru squinted his eyes and looked around the Valley of the End: "Then let's settle our scores here!"

"The Valley of the End?"

Sasuke frowned, recalling the legend of this place.

"Isn't it symbolic?"

Orochimaru looked at the statue of Uchiha Madara, then at the statue of Hashirama Senju: "This is where Uchiha Madara and Hashirama, the founders of the Konoha, severed their bonds..."

"Orochimaru!"

As Orochimaru was talking, a deep voice interrupted them!

"Sasuke!"

A youthful voice called out Sasuke's name loudly!

A tall, white-haired man stood with a blond-haired boy at the waterfall, across the river from Orochimaru and Sasuke. Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto had quickly caught up, finally confronting each other again.

"They came so fast..."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a scornful smile, ignoring Jiraiya, and looking at Sasuke: "Sasuke, are you ready?"

"Hmph, just a loser."

Sasuke snorted coldly, feigning indifference, and looked at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, I hope you don't disappoint me..."

"Hmph, just a loser."

Orochimaru laughed contemptuously.

At this moment...

Fate seemed to be repeating itself.

Orochimaru was the top student in the ninja academy, while Jiraiya was the class loser; Uchiha Sasuke was also the top student, while Uzumaki Naruto was the class loser.

"If you lack chakra..."

Orochimaru glanced at Sasuke and smiled: "You can draw on the curse mark I placed on you, it will provide you with chakra..."

"I understand."

Sasuke touched the back of his neck, where a black curse mark was placed by Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya looked at the familiar figure, his face stern: "Killing the Hokage, desecrating the dead, luring village ninjas to defect..."

"This is the path I chose."

Orochimaru smiled at Jiraiya and spread his hands: "And Sasuke wasn't lured by me. The Konoha simply couldn't provide him with enough power..."

"Sasuke!"

Naruto looked at Sasuke standing beside Orochimaru, puzzled: "Why did you leave the village? Why join Orochimaru?"

"It's none of your business."

Sasuke raised his head and narrowed his eyes at Naruto: "What I must do, you will never understand, nor do I need you to..."

For revenge...

For power...

You will never understand!

And...

I don't need your understanding!

Sasuke stared at Naruto, his thoughts drifting, seeing their potential futures.

That idiot who always dreams of becoming Hokage...

He will probably become Hokage, right?

A revenge-driven avenger cloaked in darkness...

This move distracted both Orochimaru and Jiraiya!

Seeing their teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen's jutsu used by a kid stirred their emotions.

"Hmph..."

Orochimaru saw Jiraiya's opening, throwing a shuriken: "Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!"

"Damn Orochimaru..."

Jiraiya had no time to counter, sinking into the water to avoid the shuriken barrage.

Naruto copied the move, his chakra disappearing from his feet, sinking into the water to avoid Sasuke's shuriken!

"..."

Master and disciple exchanged glances underwater.

Though they couldn't speak, both understood each other's thoughts. Jiraiya and Naruto simultaneously swam towards their respective opponents!

"Sasuke, be careful!"

Orochimaru warned Sasuke.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Sasuke leaped into the air, spitting a large fireball towards the water!

The flames hit the river, creating steam and raising the water's temperature, forcing Jiraiya and Naruto out!

"So annoying!"

Naruto was the first to emerge, immediately forming a hand seal: "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

With his technique, countless shadow clones appeared on the river, rushing towards Sasuke!

"Such chakra... It's terrifying..."

Orochimaru watched Naruto's clones and couldn't help but praise: "Almost comparable to Akihara Kagura..."

"Do you still have the time to comment?"

Jiraiya appeared before Orochimaru, dripping wet but resolute: "For Naruto's sake, I won't let you go this time!"

With that, Jiraiya spat out a stream of oil!

Using chakra, he condensed the oil, which didn't sink but floated on the water's surface, immune to water jutsu and enhancing fire jutsu!

"An old trick..."

Orochimaru shook his head disdainfully: "If it were Sage Mode, I might be cautious. But with just this..."

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

Jiraiya spat out a flame that ignited the oil on the river!

"Foolish..."

Orochimaru sneered, showing no fear of the flames, and formed a hand seal: "Jiraiya, did you forget? This is a river. The oil flows with the water. Water Release: Water Shockwave!"

The river surged, carrying the burning oil towards Jiraiya!

"..."

Jiraiya had to retreat swiftly!

His hard-prepared jutsus were countered by a single C-rank water jutsu from Orochimaru. It was not going well!

This bastard...

Was he here just to counter him?

"Snakes will always restrain toads."

Orochimaru spoke Jiraiya's thoughts, then looked at the other side of the battle: "Just like the Sharingan can control the Tailed Beasts. Even without the Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke can still restrain the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki..."

On the other side of the battle.

Naruto's shadow clones were obliterated by Sasuke's fire jutsu!

Naruto's body was covered by a red chakra cloak, his features becoming more feral, with two large fangs protruding!

"The Nine-Tails..."

Sasuke closed his eyes, recalling his conversation with the Fourth Hokage, Minato, about the red chakra cloak that frequently appeared around Naruto.

At that time, Minato had smiled brightly, seemingly placing all his hopes on Sasuke: "Sasuke, a Jinchūriki's life is different. All Jinchūriki are discriminated against. Naruto must have been ostracized by the village. Finding a companion like you isn't easy..."

"You idiot..."

Sasuke reopened his eyes and sighed inwardly.

Is that why...

Naruto doesn't want to see him leave?

But...

It's also why...

Sasuke chose to accept the Root's mission to defect, intending to compete with Karin for the future leadership of Root after his revenge, and remain Naruto's companion...

~~~

Emo Sasuke is /Bleam

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