The Hard-Fought Battle

"Snap out of it already! What are you just standing there for?" Sasuke shouted at Naruto, jolting him out of his daze.

As the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, Naruto shared a bond of perception with the beast. Having a chunk of the Nine-Tails' Chakra torn away was no different from having a piece of his own flesh cut off.

The Nine-Tails had lived for a very long time. He could endure it, but that didn't mean Naruto could. Feeling the pain transmitted by the Nine-Tails, it was only natural that Naruto's mind had gone blank.

Only after Sasuke snapped him out of it did Naruto remember they were on a battlefield, where he couldn't afford to lose focus. If Sasuke hadn't saved his life just now, Naruto might already have died.

After blocking Kaguya's attack, Sasuke used the force of the recoil to land beside Naruto. He looked at him gravely and said, "Naruto, I'll tell you again: we're the only ones who can seal this woman. If either of us dies, the seal will fail."

"Your life doesn't belong to you alone anymore. I can save you once, but I can't save you every time. Watch yourself."

With that, Sasuke charged at Kaguya again. He knew Naruto needed a little time, so he would give it to him, keeping Kaguya occupied as much as possible so she wouldn't go after Naruto.

Naruto's mindset had been a problem from the very start of the fight. Sasuke had told him this many times, but it had made no difference. Talking to him was a waste of breath.

This time, Sasuke was mentally prepared. He knew Naruto's personality well enough. Rather than hope Naruto would come around, he might as well focus on figuring out how to defeat the formidable enemy before him.

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