Two hours later, two figures lay side by side by the water in the Valley of the End's center. The water rippled gently. Naruto and Sasuke were utterly exhausted, unable to move even an inch. Blood dripped from their arms. The pooling blood where their hands touched seemed to rekindle the bond between them.
The sky gradually brightened as dawn approached. The first light of day fell on their faces. Sasuke turned his head to look at Naruto, his eyes filled with confusion and a mix of emotions. "Naruto..."
A weak smile curved Naruto's lips. His voice, rough from exhaustion, carried a note of certainty. "Sasuke, we're friends. I made a promise to Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, and all our comrades to bring you back to Konoha. I understand your pain. However, isn't it far more rewarding to journey ahead with everyone, jointly shaping a new world, instead of walking this path alone?"
Sasuke closed his eyes. Naruto's words hit him like a sledgehammer, cracking the cold wall in his heart. The image of Itachi flashed through his mind, and he remembered his brother's last words: "Sasuke, don't follow in my footsteps. Find your own path..."
At that moment, Naruto's memories flooded into Sasuke's mind. The arduous struggles, the unwavering protection of the village, selfless care for friends, and fearless bravery on the battlefield... All of Naruto's achievements, which Sasuke had never witnessed, were now vividly before him.
He sensed Naruto's steadfast pursuit of peace. It was a determination and belief he'd once yearned for but given up.
"I see..." Sasuke murmured. His gaze softened. "Naruto, you're the most foolish person I've ever met... But you're also the one who showed me what the future could be like."
Sasuke closed his eyes again, a relieved smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I lost, Naruto... I admit, I'd rather witness the future of the shinobi world with you than be alone."
Naruto turned his head with difficulty. When he heard Sasuke's words, he grinned, a weak but brilliant smile on his face. "Of course, Sasuke! Welcome back..."
Just then, in the direction of Lin Yuan, the tranquility of the forest was shattered by a sharp "bang." Sakura, boiling with rage, landed a solid punch on Lin Yuan's head, creating a prominent bump.
"Lin Yuan! Why didn't you stop them!" Sakura scolded Lin Yuan while bandaging Kakashi's wounds.
"I..." Lin Yuan rubbed his head innocently, his tone full of feigned innocence. "I passed out. Why should I stop two overpowered fighters from brawling?"
"You!" Sakura was so angry that veins popped out on her forehead. She glared at him.
Lin Yuan forced a smile, helped Kakashi up, and put one hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Okay, okay. Let's not talk about it. I'll take you to find Naruto and Sasuke. They're probably about to decide the winner." With that, he quickly formed hand-seals and teleported them to the Valley of the End using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
As soon as they landed, they saw Naruto and Sasuke lying there weakly. Sasuke's expression was no longer cold; instead, it was filled with relief.
Lin Yuan surveyed the scene, twitching the corner of his mouth. "Tsk, they're like bulldozers. Not a single patch of land is intact... They even created a small lake."
"Naruto! Sasuke!" Sakura rushed forward immediately, crouching down to use medical ninjutsu on them. Seeing that Naruto had lost his right hand and Sasuke his left, her eyes reddened. "You two idiots! Did you really have to fight so brutally?"
Grimacing from the throbbing pain, Naruto summoned a lopsided smile. "Sakura, Sasuke's yielded. We made it!" Eyes closed, Sasuke let out a remorseful whisper, "I'm defeated... I'm so sorry."
Sakura took a deep breath and focused on using medical ninjutsu to treat their wounds. Lin Yuan scratched his head. "Ah, you two are so much trouble." Everyone glared at him.
...
After some rest, Naruto and Sasuke stood in the middle of the battlefield. Together, they dispelled the Infinite Tsukuyomi and freed everyone. A bright light covered the land, and everyone woke up from their dreams, seeing the real world they had missed for so long.
At the same time, Sasuke released his control over the tailed beasts. The nine tailed beasts emerged from the ground, looking at Sasuke with mixed emotions. Gyuki and Kurama stayed in Killer B and Naruto's bodies, while the other tailed beasts returned to their habitats.
The war finally ended. Ninjas from each village began to count the casualties and held grand memorial ceremonies for the fallen. Naruto was heralded as the savior of the shinobi world. Countless individuals held him in high regard, singing praises for his heroic feats.
The water in the Valley of the End flowed quietly. Finally, the shinobi world welcomed long-awaited peace.
======================
两个小时后,两道身影并排躺在终末之谷,中央的水面旁,水波缓缓荡漾.鸣人和佐助都筋疲力尽,无法再动弹分毫.血水顺着他们的手臂滴落,而那对互相碰触的血水,却像是重新连接起了两人之间的羁绊.
天空渐渐转为黎明,破晓的微光洒在他们的脸上,佐助侧头看向鸣人,目光复杂而迷茫:"鸣人..."
鸣人虚弱地笑了笑,声音沙哑却坚定:"我们是朋友啊... 而且,我答应过小樱,还有卡卡西老师,还有大家,我一定会把你带回木叶.佐助,我明白你心里有多痛苦... 可是,和大家一起走下去,一起改变世界,不是比孤身一人更好吗?"
佐助闭上眼睛,鸣人的话像一记重锤,敲打着他心底深处的那堵冰冷的墙.他的脑海中闪过鼬的影子,想起了哥哥的临终遗言:"佐助,不要走我的老路,找到属于自己的道路..."
就在此时,鸣人的记忆涌入佐助的脑海.那些艰难的奋斗,对村子的守护,对朋友的无私关怀,以及在战场上不计牺牲的英勇... 佐助从未见证过的鸣人的种种成功,如今清晰地展现在他面前.
他感受到鸣人从未放弃过对和平的追求,那种执着与信念,正是他曾渴望,却又选择舍弃的东西.
"原来如此..." 佐助喃喃道,目光逐渐柔和下来, "鸣人,你是我见过最笨的家伙...但也正是你,让我看到了未来可能的模样."
佐助再次闭上眼,嘴角微微扬起一抹释然的笑意:"我输了,鸣人... 我承认,比起孤身一人,我更想和你一起见证忍界的未来."
鸣人艰难地扭头看向佐助,听到这句话后,他咧开嘴,露出一个虚弱却灿烂的笑容:"这还用说吗,佐助!欢迎回来啊..."
与此同时,林远这边,一道 "砰" 的声音回荡在平静的树林间.是小樱怒气冲天地一拳砸在林远的脑袋上,直接将他头顶打出一个大包.
"林远!你为什么不阻止他们!" 小樱揍完人后,一边给卡卡西包扎伤口,一边对林远劈头盖脸地骂道.
"我..." 林远一脸无辜地揉着脑袋,语气里充满了敷衍和委屈, "我晕了啊,干嘛要让我去阻止两个 "挂逼" 互殴?"
"你!" 小樱气得青筋直冒,狠狠瞪了他一眼.
林远只好讪笑两声,扶起卡卡西,一只手搭在小樱肩膀上:"好了好了,不说了,我带你们去找鸣人和佐助,他们可能快分出胜负了." 说完,他快速结印,用飞雷神之术将几人转移到终末之谷.
刚一落地,他们就看到鸣人和佐助无力地躺在一起,而佐助的表情不再冷漠,反而带着一抹释然.
林远打量了一下场面,嘴角一抽:"啧,真是推土机啊,没一片土地是完好的... 都打出小湖泊了."
"鸣人!佐助!" 小樱立刻冲上前,蹲下身开始为两人施展医疗忍术.看着两人分别断了右手和左手的模样,她眼眶微微泛红,忍不住骂道:"你们两个白痴!一定要打得这么惨吗!"
鸣人吃痛地挤出一丝笑容:"小樱,佐助已经认输了...我们成功了..."
佐助闭着眼,轻声说道:"是啊,我已经输了...还有,对不起..."
小樱看着两人的模样,深吸一口气,继续专注地用医疗忍术为他们治疗,而林远则在一旁挠了挠头:"唉,真是不省心啊..." ,众人给他一个白眼.
...
经过一番休整,鸣人和佐助站在了战场中央.他们合力解除了无限月读,释放了所有人.光芒笼罩大地,所有人从梦中醒来,见到了久违的现实世界.
与此同时,佐助也解除了对尾兽们的控制.九只尾兽纷纷从地面浮现,看向佐助的目光复杂.牛鬼和九喇嘛最后留在了奇拉比和鸣人体内,其余尾兽则各自返回自己的栖息地.
战争终于结束了.各村忍者开始清点伤亡,并为牺牲者举行了盛大的纪念仪式.而鸣人,则成为了拯救忍界的大英雄,被无数人铭记与歌颂.
终末之谷的水流依旧在静静地流淌,而忍界,却迎来了久违的和平曙光.