the valley of the end - clash of the titans

After Kakashi's talk with Sasuke, it really seemed as if Sasuke had understood what Chidori really should be used for instead of trying to kill his own friend with it. But soon after, the 4 Sound ninjas appeared to pay Sasuke a visit. Again they talked Sasuke into his initial ideals and persuaded him of the idea that the only way to kill Itachi is to gain power other than in Konoha. Basically, what they tried to make clear to him was the fact that if he intended to stay in Konoha, he wouldn't be able to fulfill his ambition of revenge. Simply because he had been and always will be weak.

As a result, Sasuke remembered his encounter with Itachi and all the times he could only watch Naruto from behind. Feelings of inferiority got the better of him once more, and thus Sasuke decided to leave everything behind - his old life, his emotions, his feelings and of course, all of his memories.

Naruto was shocked when he got to know this in the next morning, and immediately took off to chase his friend. On their way Naruto and the rest of his team, including Neji, Shikamaru, Chouji and Kiba, had to deal with all tricks of the Sound ninjas and without hesitating, all of them were putting their lives on the line in order to bring Sasuke, their fellow leaf shinobi, back.

Neji also told Naruto that he'd be the only one to retrieve Sasuke, since Naruto has even better eyes than he himself has- currently Sasuke might be in the darkness, but Naruto can enlighten this way of darkness and save his friend. Naruto was struck by those words, and also grateful to everyone around him and lending him their strength.
Shortly afterwards, Naruto was finally able to catch up with Sasuke, who coldly ignored him, until Naruto yelled if Sasuke planned on running away even further from him. This was when Sasuke stopped and turned around, only to face a horrified Naruto who didn't understand anything of all the happenings in the last hours.

"Why, Sasuke.. What made you like this?! Why..?" Naruto, chapter 218

But instead of an answer to Naruto's question, Sasuke only declared that all of this didn't concern Naruto at all and that he was finished with the childish games in Konoha. When Naruto reminded him of how all his comrades had risked their lives for him, Sasuke merely laughed and started walking away.

Outraged by such disrespect for his comrades, Naruto tackled Sasuke and tried to punch some sense into him. However, soon even Naruto realised, no matter what he said, Sasuke didn't listen and just claimed again he wouldn't become stronger in Konoha. In order to get a hold of his true life purpose, he had to go to Orochimaru's place - even if this meant giving up everything he had built up so far.

As the fight continued, Naruto slowly understood Sasuke was fighting for real. Completely mentally broken he asked Sasuke one more time if all the things they did together as Team Seven were meaningless.

"No...it wasn’t meaningless. To me, you have become my closest friend.”
Sasuke, Chapter 225


Naruto is utterly confused by Sasuke's words and still didn't get why and how he had become like this. The only thing Naruto knew for certain was that he'd use all his force in order to take Sasuke back. But the situation didn't seem really good for Naruto, as Sasuke was being completely serious about killing him. Shortly after Sasuke had gained the upper hand once more and while Naruto's thoughts and emotions were spinning around about how they became friends, Sasuke striked with his Chidori.
In the last second Naruto detected it, but nevertheless, it still hit his right lung making his right arm useless. As a result the Nine-Tails’ chakra took over and thus provided Naruto with new strength to break free from Sasukes grasp. He told him he'd bring him back, even if he had to break the bones in his arms and feet.

Naruto was litteraly exploding with the Nine-Tail's chakra and continued beating Sasuke up, and only answered to Sasuke's question what he really is, "a friend". Having pinned Sasuke then against a rock, Naruto vowed again he'd drag Sasuke back, by all means. By that Sasuke completely lost it and screamed that Naruto would never be able to understand him, because he had nothing to begin with. Thus, he also didn't know how it feels to lose bonds like those you share with your family.

Naruto admitted that he really did not know what it feels like to lose such bonds, but he also said that Sasuke was one of his very first bonds, and that is why he is willing to go this far for him. Whenever he was with Sasuke, he had wondered if this is it what it's like being with a brother.

To Naruto's surprise, Sasuke then put on his forehead protector, acknowledging that Naruto truly is strong. He also stated he'd break those bonds now for sure.

After the Nine-Tails' chakra again overflowed through Naruto, Sasuke stated that Naruto really was special, but that he himself was even more so. He then released his 2nd form of the cursed seal. They both charged their Rasengan and Chidori, and ran towards each other for their last final blow.


Sasuke aimed with his free hand for Naruto's stomach, while Naruto scratched Sasuke's forehead protector, as a prove that he was able to put a scratch on Sasuke's forhead, unlike Sasuke always told him he wouldn't be able to.

Then one sees Naruto lying unconscious on the ground, the last sunrays trailing over his face. Sasuke stood above him, and just as he was starting to say something, it started raining and through a pain in his shoulder, he fell onto his knee, just above Naruto's face.

The chapter ended with Kakashi finding Naruto, and Sasuke taking off into the direction of a tunnel, completely hollowerd in darkness.

These chapters were incredible from the amount of locked and hidden feelings which had been freed all at once; it was almost painful to watch those two trying to kill each other and trying to cut a bond that they had formed so carefully through all the time until now.

Naruto also referred to Sasuke as a brother and even Sasuke himself admitted that Naruto had become his closest friend. The chapters were also plunged by several flashbacks of their childhood, especially during the last moments. They had shook hands at that time, which just again reveals how much they cared for each other even when being small children. From the outside, they might have been quarreling, but when taking a closer look, one clearly sees that both were always linked by a far more special bond than I myself have never seen anyhere else.

They both knew the same kind of loneliness and pain, which just tied them together and I strongly believe, it eased both of their solitude- and now, one of them was frantically trying to cut this certain bond, in order to immerse into a complete path of darkness, while the other one tried his best not to let it fade.

Furthermore, during this fight, Sasuke once and for all accepted Naruto as an equal by putting his forhead protector on, which he refused to do in the last fight on the roof top. Sasuke must have been really taken aback by Naruto's comment that he will drag him back no matter what. Naruto once more showed what incredible strength he posseses, and how much he believes not only in himself, but also in Sasuke - he never doubted that'd he fail to bring him back.

Coming to the point, even if Naruto was not able to bring Sasuke back, I do believe he was able to retrieve Sasuke from a completely pitchblack way downwards. He might not have succeeded in saving the raven from the claws of his past, but he lead him to a "greyer" path, instead of one that would have fully swamped Sasuke. Thus, there still is a chance for Naruto to succeed in the future, and I believe he will, no matter what.

Found at Chapter 217-18, 228-32, Episode 131-34