The night sky was black as ink, its dark clouds churning as though the heavens were about to collapse.
Rubble littered the shattered earth, scorch marks crisscrossing its surface. The air still seethed with turbulence and thunder left by the ruptured space.
A strange space vortex suddenly expanded across the ground!
Whoosh-
A golden figure plummeted as though hurled from the heavens, slamming into the earth and throwing up billowing clouds of dust.
Naruto Uzumaki coughed several times and struggled to his feet.
His clothes were torn, his Nine-Tails chakra cloak flickered erratically, and the shock of the battle high above still lingered on his face.
Amenotejikara had forcibly transported him out before he even had time to resist.
He scanned his surroundings warily, clenching his fists as he readied himself for battle.
-Until a familiar figure slowly emerged from the dust.
Short black hair, an icy expression, and a silently spinning Mangekyō Sharingan.
Sasuke Uchiha.
Naruto's gaze was tense at first, but once he recognized that face, he smiled in relief.
"Sasuke... you're here!"
"I knew it-you finally came around, didn't you?"
With his usual fiery enthusiasm, he approached step by step, his voice rising:
"If we work together, we can stop Yemu! He's strong, but we have six paths power, and we still have our promise!"
"We carry the same future on our shoulders, Sasuke!!"
But what answered him was not the silence of a comrade ready to fight beside him. It was a voice as cold as a winter wind-
"...Naruto, stop shouting."
Sasuke's voice held no warmth, only a hint of irritation. He turned his back on Naruto, as though he could not be bothered to spare him another glance.
"I'm not trying to stop Yemu for your sake."
Naruto froze midstep, the warm smile on