The fight dragged on longer than Sasuke wanted.
Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra was problematic. Not because it was dangerous—Sasuke knew how to counter it. But because it gave Naruto a healing factor that made ending the fight cleanly difficult.
Every hit Sasuke landed healed within seconds. Every injury closed up almost instantly. It was like fighting a regenerating target dummy.
Annoying.
"Why won't you talk to me?" Naruto demanded between exchanges. "We're supposed to be friends!"
"We're not friends." Sasuke deflected a chakra-enhanced punch. "We never were."
"That's not true! We're teammates! We—"
"Were teammates. Past tense." Sasuke caught Naruto's wrist, twisted, and drove his knee into his stomach. "That life is over."
Naruto flew back, crashed into the water. The Nine-Tails chakra flared brighter, forming a cloak around him. One tail appeared. Then two.
This was getting tedious.
Sasuke needed to end it. The Sound Four would arrive soon—they were probably already watching from somewhere nearby. He needed to win decisively. Show Orochimaru he was worth investing in.
Time to get serious.
His Sharingan spun faster. He analyzed Naruto's movements, predicted three steps ahead. Saw the opening he needed.
Naruto charged with a roar, Nine-Tails cloak swirling around him. Fast. Strong. Relentless.
But predictable.
Sasuke waited until the last moment, then moved. Not back—to the side. Let Naruto's momentum carry him past. Formed Chidori in his hand and thrust forward.
The Lightning Release caught Naruto's shoulder. Not the heart. Not fatal. But it pierced through the Nine-Tails cloak like it was paper, disrupted his chakra network at the contact point.
Naruto screamed. Collapsed to his knees.
"Stay down," Sasuke said coldly.
But Naruto tried to get up. Of course he did. That's what Naruto did. Never quit, never gave up, never—
Sasuke hit him again. Palm strike to the temple. Precise. Calculated. Just enough to knock him unconscious without causing permanent damage.
Naruto dropped. Out cold.
The Nine-Tails chakra faded immediately. The fight was over.
Silence fell over the valley. Just the sound of water and Sasuke's breathing.
He looked down at Naruto's unconscious form. Part of him—the part that remembered being someone else—felt guilt. This was a kid who just wanted his friend back. Who'd come all this way to bring him home.
But the rest of him felt nothing.
Sasuke Uchiha's memories were too strong. The drive for power. The need to be strong enough that no one could hurt him again. It overrode everything else.
"Impressive."
Sasuke turned. The Sound Four stood on the surrounding statues. Jirobo, Kidomaru, Tayuya, Sakon. They'd been watching.
"You beat the Nine-Tails jinchuriki," Kidomaru said with genuine respect. "Not many could do that."
"He was weak." Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan. "Are we leaving or not?"
"Eager, aren't you?" Tayuya grinned. "Orochimaru-sama is going to love you."
They formed up around him. Sasuke spared one last glance at Naruto.
Kakashi would arrive soon. So would Sakura, probably. They'd take care of him. Naruto would survive.
And Sasuke would move forward.
He turned and left without another word.