Naruto's voice was resolute. "The sweat I've shed, the wounds I've suffered, the nights I've stayed up, the pressure I've shouldered, the wrong turns I've taken, the price I've paid... can you compare?
I'm not trying to look down on you, but you're a blind man with a frail body, trying to use outside power to bridge the gap between us. All you've got is shouting about 'duty,' 'responsibility,' and 'doing it for someone,' then roaring a couple of times when you're backed into a corner.
Do you think that can conjure up power beyond your limits out of nowhere and erase the gap between us, built from countless hours of blood and sweat?"
"Nothing comes that easy!"
Naruto growled, his declaration as unquestionable as a law of nature.
"This world still follows some rules. Effort isn't wasted, and sweat doesn't lie!
Whatever I put in, I deserve to get back! Whatever I endure, I deserve that much strength!
I've felt every bit of progress I've made. Every time I've been lonely, no one has answered. Every wound I've suffered, I've had to bear alone!"
He stared at Toneri's soul. "You think you can fight me with some sudden power-up?"
"I learned the strongest taijutsu in the Shinobi World, explored the strongest nature transformations, figured out how to learn kekkei genkai on my own, studied sealing jutsu, and even took other people's Rinnegan and Sharingan. You think relying on an external Tenseigan makes you worthy of fighting me?"
"What makes you think you can catch up to me just by shouting a couple of times and strengthening your resolve?"
"What makes you think carrying some bullshit 'righteous cause' lets you ignore the gulf between our strength and everything we've put into it?"
"Why do you always have to make it