The wind in the Valley of the End carried a chill. The colossal stone statues towering on either side had been worn by the years, yet the fierce aura from Madara and Hashirama's fated battle could still be seen. This was where the destiny of Indra and Asura had begun, and where all grudges were meant to draw to a close.
Sasuke stood in the center of the valley, his black robe snapping in the wind. His left Rinnegan swirled with a violet glow, while his right Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan shone with a scarlet light, the chakra around him so steady it made the heart tremble. He was no longer the boy driven by hatred, nor the avenger who had lost his way. At this moment, he only wanted to end the Shinobi World's thousands of years of conflict in his own way.
"Naruto, you don't understand." Sasuke's voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable resolve. "War in the Shinobi World has never stopped. Its roots lie in the selfish desires of the human heart, the rot of the system, and the cycle of hatred. The coldness of the Leaf's higher-ups, the tragedy of the Uchiha, Itachi's sacrifice—all of them were victims of this rotten world."
He slowly raised his hand. The Rinnegan gave off a faint light, and several black iron rods instantly rose from the ground. "I will become the sole deterrent in the entire Shinobi World and make every power submit to me. I will bear all hatred, all fear, and all infamy. As long as I exist, no one will dare start a war, and only then can the Shinobi World truly usher in peace."
Naruto stood opposite him, golden Nine-Tails Chakra slowly coiling around his body, his blue eyes filled with confusion and stubborn resolve.