Mist hung over the Valley of the End.
Amid the roar of the great waterfall, Naruto stood atop Hashirama Senju's stone statue. Across the hundred-meter chasm, Sasuke faced him from the head of Madara Uchiha's statue.
"You're too slow, Naruto." Sasuke held the Kusanagi Sword in a reverse grip. The six-pointed star in his left Rinnegan gleamed with an eerie chill, and his cold voice carried over the waterfall. "Or have you finally realized your naive ideas can't save this rotten world?"
Obsessive. Arrogant. Treating everyone else as dead weight that needed to be purged.
Naruto knew that infuriating attitude all too well. Instead of taking the bait, he dug a finger into his ear and flicked away the dust. "You made this huge spectacle—trapped the Five Kage in cages of fire and hung the Nine Tailed Beasts in the sky—just so you could stand here and show off your new powers?"
"This is a revolution." Sasuke frowned, irritated by Naruto's indifference. "The old village system breeds endless suspicion and betrayal. Itachi was a sacrifice. Nagato was a sacrifice. So was Obito. As long as the five shinobi villages retain their military strength, war will eventually return."
He slowly raised his sword toward the nine enormous stone spheres in the sky. "So I'll be the villain. I'll execute the Five Kage, destroy the Tailed Beasts, and sever every shinobi village's legacy. I alone will bear the hatred of the entire world and become the only 'Kage.' As long as everyone fears me, there will be no war."
Naruto gave a cold laugh. Pure Yang Chakra surged through his body, and brilliant golden light pierced the gloom over the Valley of the End.
"Sounds great, Sasuke." Naruto lifted his gaze, his eyes sharp. "Trample everyone underfoot and keep the peace through