Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

"Is the Susanoo Arrow you mentioned the one I'm thinking of?" Kirito asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.

The wood clone smiled and held up an empty hand. "That's right. I was surprised, too, so I grabbed it and checked it carefully.

"By the way, what's happening outside now? Isn't the Five Kage Summit already over? Did Sasuke go and attack them again?"

Kirito didn't answer verbally. Instead, he extended his fist. The clone sighed and bumped fists, syncing their memories instantly.

"...Great. Jail again," the wood clone muttered, slumping to the ground in mock defeat. "What do we do now? Clearly, Sasuke's joined forces with Obito to fight the Five Kage.

"Will things still play out like the original timeline? If Naruto completely opposes Sasuke, the Sage of Six Paths might not grant his power to either of them."

Kirito shrugged. "We'll have to take it one step at a time. Trust in Naruto's cunning... and his stubbornness. As long as he doesn't give up on Sasuke, it'll work out."

With that, the space-time portal began to close, shrinking into nothing.

Whoosh!

Kirito jumped back onto the treetops and continued his rapid journey toward the Five Kage's battlefield.

The sun had completely set, and darkness had consumed the land. Outside the battlefields, the world was eerily silent, as if holding its breath.

Boom!

A distant explosion shook the ground, disturbing the creatures hidden in the forest. Kirito narrowed his eyes, looking ahead.

The sounds of battle have reached this far... Obito and Sasuke must be preparing for a final stand.

Without the reanimated forces for support, Kirito knew Obito would struggle to face the Five Kage head-on. Losing Kamui had stripped him of his greatest advantage, leaving him exposed.

Suddenly, Kirito stopped. He landed silently at the forest's edge, staring ahead.

A massive wall of black fire—Amaterasu—stretched across the land, dividing the forest. On one side stood lush greenery; on the other, charred remnants smoldered under the ever-burning flames.

"Leaving Amaterasu like this at night is reckless..."

Kirito extended his hand into the black flames without hesitation. Instead of burning him, the flames slithered up his fingers as if drawn to them, disappearing into his pale skin like water into a sponge.

Within moments, the raging wall of fire was gone, leaving only scorched earth in its wake.

This is Sasuke's Amaterasu, Kirito realized. He must've left this here to warn off intruders.

It seemed Sasuke hadn't fully lost his conscience yet. Kirito's thoughts turned to Naruto. If Sasuke still has this much restraint, then Naruto might still be able to bring him back.

Kirito's sharp eyes picked up flashes of movement ahead. He was close to the battlefield.

"We... can't win," Mizukage Mei Terumi said bitterly, her gaze locked on the towering purple giant before her.

"Don't give up, Mizukage!" Tsuchikage Onoki shouted hoarsely, his body battered and bruised. "Can you stand there and watch us—the shadows of the Great Villages—be defeated by a brat?!"

But despite his words, even Onoki couldn't think of a strategy.

The Five Kage had already faced formidable enemies: reanimated versions of their predecessors and the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki army controlled by Obito. They had barely managed to hold the line against the onslaught.

When the Impure World Reincarnation was undone, the tide had turned in their favor. For a brief moment, victory had seemed within reach.

Then Sasuke Uchiha appeared.

Now wielding the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan after transplanting Itachi's eyes, Sasuke's strength was overwhelming—on par with Madara Uchiha himself during the Warring States Era.

His attacks were devastating: the unrelenting Susanoo Arrows, the unyielding half-body Susanoo, and the black flames of Amaterasu. Exhausted and battered, the Five Kage could only hold on with sheer willpower.

And then Sasuke unveiled his full Susanoo—a towering, indomitable purple warrior that loomed over the battlefield like a god of destruction.

"This is... the Perfect Susanoo I've heard about..." Onoki wheezed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Only Uchiha Madara, who fought evenly with the First Hokage, ever reached this level of power..."

Obito, standing atop the massive Gedo Mazo behind Sasuke, raised his voice, projecting it across the battlefield.

"Your struggles are meaningless!" Obito shouted. "Hatred and conflict will never disappear from this world. The dream of mutual understanding is a lie. Infinite Tsukuyomi is the only salvation!"

The Gedo Mazo roared, unleashing a shockwave that sent dozens of Allied shinobi flying.

Sasuke, still inside his perfect Susanoo, cast a brief glance at Obito before turning his full attention back to the battered Five Kage.

"I didn't think he'd grow this strong..." Tsunade murmured, her heart sinking.

She had once believed, for Naruto's sake, that Sasuke could be saved—that his cold exterior hid a warmth Naruto could rekindle. But seeing Sasuke now, standing alongside Obito and attacking the Allied Forces, her hope faltered.

Her Creation Rebirth technique, which had kept her alive thus far, was nearing its limit. One more strike could be her last.

Suddenly, Kakashi appeared, standing defiantly between Sasuke and the Kage.

"Sasuke!" Kakashi called, his voice steady. "Is this really what you want? You're siding with that man? Have you forgotten our days in Team Seven—Sakura's concern for you? Naruto's trust in you?"

Sasuke's expression remained cold as he stared down at Kakashi with his gleaming Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

"All of that is meaningless now," Sasuke said. "To end the hatred in this world, the Five Great Nations and their shadows must be destroyed. This is my will."

Black flames danced along Sasuke's blades as his Susanoo stepped forward, its massive swords raised.

Boom, boom, boom...

Each step of the giant echoed like a war drum, shaking the earth and the hearts of everyone watching.

"Sasuke!" Kakashi shouted desperately.

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive orange fox—Kurama—charged into the battlefield, ramming into Susanoo's side with bone-crushing force. The collision shook the ground as the towering giant stumbled backward.

(End of Chapter)