Chapter Text
The battlefield crackled with tension, the air thick with the residue of jutsu, heat, and the palpable malice between two figures locked in a clash of ideals. Naruko's breath came in ragged bursts, her once-vibrant energy now dulled by exhaustion, but her determination blazed as fiercely as ever. Across from her, Sasuke stood tall, his Rinnegan pulsating ominously, its power rippling through the atmosphere. The fight had reached its zenith—both warriors pushed to their limits, yet neither willing to bow.
"This ends now, Naruko," Sasuke's voice was like ice, devoid of the warmth that once existed between them. His gaze sharpened, and the weight of his words seemed to make the very air tremble. The shadows around him coiled tighter, fed by the remnants of his dwindling chakra reserves, but the intensity in his eyes remained unwavering.
Naruko's fists clenched, nails digging into her palms, the sting of pain keeping her grounded. "I won't let you go, Sasuke! Not after everything—after everyone we've fought for!" Her voice was rough, nearly breaking under the weight of all they'd been through. The memory of their shared struggles, their bonds, burned like a fire inside her, but now it was clear: they stood on opposite sides of an irreparable rift.
Sasuke's lips curled into a bitter smile, tainted by resentment. "You still don't understand, do you? I'm doing this for the future!" He charged at her, his speed a blur, and Naruko barely had time to react. She sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the deadly arc of his Chidori, the energy crackling inches from her face.
"I will be the Hokage, not you!" The self-proclaimed avenger yelled.
Regaining her balance, Naruko retaliated with a swift barrage of kunai, each one imbued with her chakra. Sasuke deftly dodged, the blades slicing through the air, yet one grazed his arm, a thin line of crimson marking the skin. He scowled, his eyes narrowing as he conjured a wall of flames, igniting the ground between them.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" he roared, unleashing a massive sphere of fire that raced toward her. Naruko summoned her own chakra, grounding herself as she conjured a swirling vortex of wind to deflect the flames. The explosion sent shockwaves through the battlefield, forcing her back a few steps.
Panting, she took a moment to regain her composure. "You think you're the only one who can fight for what's right?" Naruko shouted, her voice resolute. "I won't stand by while you throw everything away!"
"And I will be the next Hokage! You will not take that dream from me!" She declared.
With fierce determination, she activated her Sage Mode, her eyes sharpening as the world around her came into clearer focus. But it was not enough. Drawing upon the wellspring of chakra within her, she released the full power of the Nine-Tails. The fiery aura of Kurama enveloped her, transforming her into a formidable figure, a perfect blend of human and beast.
"Let's end this!" she declared, her voice reverberating with newfound strength. She launched forward, her fists empowered by the Nine-Tails' chakra, each strike resonating with the ferocity of a raging storm.
Sasuke's expression shifted to one of cautious respect. "So you've finally decided to show your true strength," he said, activating his own ultimate power. The air thickened around him as he summoned the full might of his Susanoo, the colossal armored figure rising behind him, its ethereal blades gleaming ominously in the dim light.
With a clash of titans, Naruko and Sasuke unleashed their ultimate attacks. She charged with a massive Rasenshuriken, infused with the essence of the Nine-Tails, while he countered with an enormous Chibaku Tensei, the gravitational force threatening to pull everything into its core.
The ground shook as their jutsu collided, creating a blinding explosion that illuminated the battlefield. The shockwave sent them both flying backward, but neither was willing to yield. Naruko landed on her feet, panting heavily, while Sasuke steadied himself, his expression steely.
"This isn't over, Sasuke!" she shouted, the fire of determination igniting within her.
"You think I'll back down?" Sasuke replied, the fury in his Rinnegan intensifying. The air around him twisted and darkened as he prepared his final strike—a technique that twisted time and space itself. The ground beneath them trembled violently, and the sky above began to ripple as if reality itself was being torn apart.
"Shinra Tensei!" he declared, unleashing a massive force that surged outward, creating an explosive shockwave that threatened to rip Naruko from her feet.
Naruko felt the pull of the jutsu, her instincts screaming to fight against it, but it was too late. The force of Sasuke's attack wrapped around her, dragging her away. She reached out, his name caught in her throat, but her voice was swallowed by the howling wind.
Everything collapsed into darkness.
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As the darkness engulfed her, Naruko felt a familiar presence flicker to life within her mind. The warm, reassuring voice of Kurama resonated through the void, cutting through the suffocating silence.
"Naruko," he said, his tone a mix of concern and urgency. "Do you hear me?"
Naruko's heart raced, both from the fading echoes of battle and the unsettling emptiness surrounding her. "Kurama? Where are we?" she thought, her mind desperately grasping for clarity. "What just happened?"
"We were caught in the aftermath of Sasuke's jutsu," Kurama explained, his voice steadying her racing thoughts. "The power he unleashed was more than just destructive—it altered the very fabric of reality. I could feel the pull of that dark space, and it almost consumed us."
"So, this is it?" Naruko replied, feeling a swell of emotion as she recalled the confrontation. "After everything we fought for... after everything Sasuke and I have been through... it can't end like this."
Kurama's presence flickered with warmth, almost like a comforting embrace. "You must not lose hope, Naruko. The bonds you forged, the ideals you fought for—none of that is lost, even if it seems so now. This may be a new beginning, a chance to find your way back."
As he spoke, Naruko felt a pulse of energy within her, a lingering echo of the Nine-Tails' chakra that coursed through her veins. "A new beginning? But where will I go?" she wondered, anxiety creeping into her thoughts.
"It's uncertain," Kurama admitted, "but I can sense a shift—a path opening before you. Trust in your strength. You are more than just a shinobi; you are a beacon of hope. Follow your instincts, and you will find your way."
Just then, the darkness around her began to shimmer, like the surface of a tranquil lake disturbed by a gentle breeze. Shapes and colors started to swirl, forming a vortex that beckoned her forward.
"You must go, Naruko," Kurama urged. "Whatever awaits you on the other side, you will face it as the powerful ninja you've become. Remember, I will always be with you."
Naruko took a deep breath, steeling herself against the uncertainty ahead. "I won't let you down, Kurama. I promise to find a way back."
With one last surge of determination, she felt herself being pulled into the swirling light, the warmth of Kurama's presence enveloping her like a protective shroud. In an instant, everything faded, and she was thrust into a unknown realm.
————
Naruko jolted awake, her body shooting upright as she gasped for air.
She immediately scanned her surroundings, her muscles tensing as familiar instincts kicked in. "What... what is this place?" she muttered to herself, her voice barely a whisper.
Her senses flared as she heard footsteps, their echoing presence sending a ripple of tension through the room. Two figures emerged from the shadows, their forms slowly becoming clear. The first was a tall woman, her dark hair cascading like a midnight waterfall down her back. Her eyes were sharp, glinting with the kind of intelligence that saw through people. The second figure, a young blonde girl, clutched at her chest, her wide eyes betraying her nerves.
The taller woman smirked as her gaze fell on Naruko. "Well, well, what do we have here?" Her voice was smooth, but it carried an edge of authority that demanded attention. "A mortal, huh? But...it seems to be not just any mortal."
The blonde girl, who seemed much more uncertain, looked from her companion to Naruko, confusion written on her face. "Brunhilde, how could a human just... appear here? Isn't that... impossible?"
Brunhilde's smirk only deepened as she studied Naruko with growing interest. "Impossible? No, Göll. Nothing is truly impossible. This girl... she's different."
Naruko forced herself to stand, despite the pain still gnawing at her muscles. She didn't know these people, but everything about them screamed danger. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice hoarse yet firm, unyielding even in the face of the unknown. "And where am I?"
The smirk on Brunhilde's lips widened, amused by the defiance in Naruko's tone. "You, dear, are in Valhalla, the realm of the gods." Her voice was laced with amusement. "I am Brunhilde, first of the Valkyries, and this is my younger sister, Göll."
Valhalla? Gods? Naruko's mind struggled to process the information, the absurdity of it making her head spin. What the hell is going on? She forced herself to focus, pushing past the confusion. "Another world...?"
Brunhilde nodded. "Indeed. It seems you were brought here, not by your own doing, I assume."
Naruko's thoughts snapped back to Sasuke. Had he done this on purpose, or was it a mistake? Either way, he had sent her to a place far beyond anything she'd ever known.
Brunhilde's gaze sharpened as she stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "You're no ordinary human. I can feel it—power unlike anything from this realm." She tilted her head slightly, her tone growing more serious. "What is your name?"
Naruko's jaw tightened. "My name is Naruko Uzumaki, and I'm a shinobi from Konohagakure," she answered, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of confusion in her mind. "And I don't care who or what you are—try anything, and I'll beat you to a pulp."
Göll gasped softly, clearly unsettled by Naruko's boldness, but Brunhilde only smiled, a look of satisfaction crossing her face. "Good. You have fire. That spirit of yours might serve you well here."
Brunhilde's eyes glinted with a dangerous excitement as she began to explain. "We are on the verge of Ragnarok, a battle that will decide the fate of mankind. The greatest warriors of humanity will face the gods in a fight for survival."
Naruko's heart skipped a beat. "A battle for the survival of humanity?"
Brunhilde nodded gravely. "Yes. Humanity's future hangs in the balance, and I believe you, Naruko, could turn the tide."
"But she's from another world," Göll protested softly. "How can she fight for humanity when she doesn't even belong here?"
"That's exactly why she's perfect," Brunhilde countered, her eyes gleaming with calculated cunning. "She's a wild card, unbound by this world's rules. The gods won't see her coming."
Naruko's mind reeled. This strange woman is dragging her into a battle that had nothing to do with her, into a realm of gods and warriors fighting for survival. But beneath it all, she could sense the weight of this new world—its urgency, its need. Brunhilde's eyes on her were like a hawk's, assessing her every move.
"You want me to fight for humanity?" Naruko's voice was cautious, her defenses still up.
The Valkyrie stepped even closer, her smile growing. "I do. With the strength I sensed from you, we might stand a chance against the gods."
Naruko's brow furrowed. She didn't like being used, and she wasn't about to let herself be a pawn in someone else's game. But the gravity of the situation weighed on her. If this really was a fight for humanity's survival, she couldn't just turn away. She had never backed down from saving those in need.
"And if I refuse?" Naruko asked coldly, testing Brunhilde's resolve.
Brunhilde's expression remained calm, her smile unshaken. "Then you remain here, in a world not your own, with no way of returning. But I doubt that's the choice you'll make. After all, you're not one to walk away from a fight, are you?"
Naruko's eyes narrowed, her mind whirling with the implications. She didn't trust Brunhilde, but if this was her only chance to return home, and if she could help people along the way—then maybe she had no other option.
"Fine," Naruko said, her voice firm. "I'll fight. But on my terms. Cross me, and you'll regret it."
Brunhilde's grin widened, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. "Welcome to Ragnarok, Naruko Uzumaki. I have a feeling you'll do just fine."