Uchiha Sakuya vs. Uchiha Sasuke!!!

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

Valley of the End. The rushing waterfall remained, and the two colossal statues stood in silent confrontation, having witnessed countless fated duels; today, they would witness the clash that would decide the fate of the shinobi world once more.

On the Allied Forces' side, the atmosphere was heavy to the point of suffocation. The four Kage and their core guards were gathered here, all wounded and pale, yet their gazes were locked firmly on the other side of the waterfall.

Naruto Uzumaki was wrapped in thick bandages, the aura of the Nine-Tails chakra far less intense than in days past, but a resolute flame burned in his golden eyes as he struggled to step forward. He was the Child of Prophecy, the Hokage; he felt he had to shoulder this responsibility.

"Naruto, stand down."

A steady hand pressed onto his shoulder. It was Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke's complexion was equally grim, his Sharingan clouded with exhaustion, yet his aura was more refined than Naruto's. His left sleeve fluttered emptily—a consequence he had severed himself years ago.

"Your injuries are worse than mine, and your chakra consumption has been greater. Besides," Sasuke's gaze sharpened toward the figure that had yet to appear on the opposite bank, "to deal with him, my eyes are more suitable."

"But Sasuke! Your arm..." Naruto urged anxiously.

"It has been taken care of," Sasuke said calmly, raising his severed limb. There, a new arm had been grafted—slightly pale, yet with clear muscle definition and containing powerful vitality. It was a prosthetic limb the Konoha medical team and Orochimaru (who provided partial technical support) had rushed to create using cultivated Hashirama cells. Although not yet fully synchronized, it was already capable of channeling vast amounts of Yang Release chakra.

"This is my own choice, and it is my responsibility." Sasuke pushed Naruto aside and walked step by step toward the platform in the center of the waterfall, his lone hand gripping the hilt of the Kusanagi Sword. "The grudges of the Uchiha will be settled today, by an Uchiha."

Watching his best friend's resolute back, Naruto finally gritted his teeth and stepped back, his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his flesh.

Just then, the space on the opposite bank distorted.

The figure of Uchiha Sakuya appeared without a sound.

He was still wearing that black cloak with red clouds and a white windbreaker, his face hidden behind a spiral mask. The newly transplanted Eternal Mangekyo rotated slowly beneath the mask, sweeping coldly over the Allied Forces before finally fixing on Sasuke Uchiha, who stood alone in the center of the platform.

His gaze lingered on Sasuke's newly grown left arm for a fleeting moment, a trace of imperceptible fluctuation flashing through it before returning to cold indifference.

"It seems you have chosen a final struggle," Sakuya's voice came through the mask, devoid of emotion. "Very well. Let this Valley of the End witness the finale of the Uchiha once more."

There was no superfluous chatter.

The battle erupted in the next instant!

Sasuke's Rinnegan activated instantly, Amenotejikara triggered, and his figure swapped places with a piece of rubble behind Sakuya! The Kusanagi Sword, wreathed in Chidori Sharp Spear, thrust straight for Sakuya's heart!

But Sakuya seemed to have anticipated it; the Eighty Gods Mirror predicted everything! He didn't even turn his head, his left hand wielding the Uchiha Gunbai in a backhanded block!

Clang!!! Sparks flew! The immense force sent both of them sliding back half a step!

"Lightning Release: Kirin!" Sasuke did not pause, utilizing the abundant moisture of the Valley of the End to instantly draw down the lightning of heaven and earth! A massive lightning beast roared as it descended from the sky!

Sakuya looked up, his Eternal Mangekyo glowing brilliantly: "Copy: Lightning Release: Kirin!" He used the exact same technique, drawing lightning from the earth below to form another Kirin that collided head-on with the first!

BOOM!!!!!!! The two lightning beasts collided violently in mid-air, blinding light swallowing everything, the deafening roar causing the entire valley to tremble!

Before the dust could settle, the two figures collided once again!

Swordplay! Taijutsu! Ninjutsu! Genjutsu!

Sasuke's Rinnegan granted him powerful insight and space-time abilities, while his new Hashirama-cell arm provided immense vitality and Yang Release support, his offensive like a raging storm!

Sakuya's Eternal Mangekyo Eighty Gods Mirror possessed ultimate copying, prediction, and insight, which, combined with the Uchiha Gunbai and his elusive Handgun, made his defense impenetrable and his counterattacks cunning and vicious!

The Complete Body Susanoo did not appear; both men had condensed their power to the limit, engaging in the most dangerous and exquisite close-quarters combat! Every collision contained a lethal killing intent!

The speed was so extreme that, to the eyes of ordinary people, one could only see purple and blue streaks of light constantly colliding, separating, and colliding again! Sword energy crisscrossed, ninjutsu exploded, and the valley was left in ruins!

"Amaterasu!" "Mirror Reflection!" (utilizing the Gunbai and ocular power to deflect) "Kagutsuchi!" "Yin Release: Annihilation!" (forcibly extinguishing it with Yin Release chakra)

The battle raged from noon until sunset.

Both were covered in wounds, their chakra severely depleted, their breathing heavy. Sasuke's Hashirama-cell arm began to twitch as if suffering from rejection, and his new eyes were under immense strain. Sakuya's mask was already half-shattered, revealing a blood-stained chin and pale lips; while the Eternal Mangekyo was powerful, the toll it took on his spirit and chakra was equally terrifying.

"This is the final move, Sakuya!" Sasuke roared, pouring his remaining chakra into the Kusanagi Sword, his Rinnegan and Sharingan glowing to their absolute limit! "Indra's Arrow!" (Simplified version)

A purple lightning arrow, condensed to the extreme, shot toward Sakuya!

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Sakuya's eyes as he poured all his ocular power into the straight blade in his right hand! The Eighty Gods Mirror frantically analyzed the composition and weaknesses of the arrow!

"Eighty Gods Vacuum Strike: Break Point!"

He also gave his all, thrusting his blade out to strike precisely at the weakest point of the Indra's Arrow!

BOOM--------!!!!

An explosion more violent than any before occurred! A terrifying energy storm swept through the surroundings! The waterfall flowed backward, and the rocks were ground into fine powder!

When the light faded, both men lay on the ground.

Sasuke's Hashirama-cell arm was completely charred and severed, the Kusanagi Sword had flown from his hand, and his chakra was entirely exhausted; both his Rinnegan and Sharingan dimmed, and though he struggled, he could not rise.

Sakuya's situation was equally miserable; his straight blade was broken, the Uchiha Gunbai was cracked, his meridians were ruptured in many places, and blood stained his robes. The light of his Eternal Mangekyo had faded significantly, but he... trembling, using his broken blade to support his body, he slowly, with extreme difficulty... stood up!

He staggered over to the fallen Sasuke and held the cold, broken blade against Sasuke's neck.

The sharp edge pressed against the skin, drawing a tiny bead of blood.

"You lost." Sakuya's voice was hoarse and exhausted, yet carried an indisputable conclusion.

Sasuke looked at those Eternal Mangekyo eyes inches away, streaming with blood-tears; his own eyes were filled with unwillingness, but it eventually turned into a profound sense of powerlessness. He could feel that although Sakuya was also at the end of his rope, he... still had strength left. Deep within those eyes, there remained even deeper, unused ocular powers, as well as some kind of cold, lethal trump card.

He had truly lost. He had given everything, and yet, he had still lost.

Sasuke closed his eyes, ceasing his struggle.

The entire Valley of the End was plunged into a deathly silence.

On the side of the Allied Forces, everyone's heart sank to the bottom of the abyss. The last shred of hope... had been shattered.

Sakuya slowly moved his broken blade away, choosing not to deliver the killing blow. He needed Sasuke alive to serve as a witness to the agreement.

He turned around, dragging his battered body to face the despairing Allied Forces. Though his voice was weak, it rang out like a final judgment:

"According to the agreement..."

"One month from now." "The Phantom Kage inauguration ceremony." "The signing of the treaty."

One month later.

Phantom Branch Village was decked out in lanterns and colorful streamers, yet the atmosphere was strange—a mix of humiliation and forced acceptance.

Atop a newly constructed high platform, Uchiha Sakuya wore a white haori embroidered with the Uchiha Gunbai and a shattered Mirror pattern. Wearing a conical hat inscribed with the character "Phantom," he was officially crowned the First Phantom Kage.

Below the stage stood the representatives of the four Kage, their faces livid and their bodies still bearing wounds (the Raikage was represented by a proxy). They had been forced to attend the ceremony to witness the beginning of this new order in the ninja world.

After the ceremony concluded, under the gaze of countless eyes, a heavy document titled Ninja World Peace Alliance and Armistice Agreement was placed upon the table.

The terms included:

1. Formal recognition of the position of "Phantom Kage," equal in rank to the Five Kage. The Five Kage Summit is renamed the Six Kage Summit.

2. Formal recognition of "Phantom Branch Village" as the sixth great ninja village, enjoying the same rights and status as the other five, with its territory (formerly the Land of Birds) declared inviolable.

3. Immediate and unconditional release of the Third Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi.

4. The issue of Tailed Beast ownership is temporarily set aside (effectively defaulting to the "Branch" organization).

5. All parties shall immediately cease fire, sign a non-aggression pact, and establish preliminary diplomatic relations.

Although every stroke of the pen felt like a knife wound, faced with the deterrence of absolute force and the reality of their defeat, the four Kage representatives finally signed their names and stamped the document with their village seals.

When Sakuya (the Phantom Kage) finally pressed his own seal onto the agreement, it marked the end of years of turmoil and war, brought to a close in a way no one could have foreseen.

A village founded by an avenger, and a Kage who seized his position through sheer force, had officially stepped onto the stage of the ninja world.

Whether the future would bring peace or a greater storm, no one could say. But at this moment, the ninja world had traded blood and humiliation for a brief respite.

And that solitary figure, cold as eternal ice, stood atop the high platform, looking down at the crowd with their varied expressions. Beneath his mask, his Eternal Mangekyo were bottomless.

Now, Uchiha Sakuya, this First Phantom Kage, had truly become the strongest person in this world!