Chapter 227: "Chidori vs Rasengan!!

" – As their hands collide,

both are thrown backwards by the force of their powers. Both ninja are
shaken by the explosion and each are surprised at their opponent.
Sasuke activates his level one cursed seal and begins to attack Naruto.
Naruto tries to avoid his attacks but Sasuke continues to pummel him.
As the attack continues Naruto thinks back to how he always wanted
to be like Sasuke. Unable to bring himself to fight back, Naruto begins
to fill with the power of the Kyuubi. Sasuke then holds Naruto before
him and charges a Chidori...

Chapter 228: "Kakashi's Premonition" – Back in Konoha, Kakashi

returns from a mission and learns of Sasuke's leaving. Ignoring orders
to go on a new mission he sets off with his nin-dogs to track down the
Genin. Back at the Valley of the End, Naruto further recollects of his
and Sasuke's past as Sasuke removes his arm from Naruto's chest. As
Sasuke goes to choke Naruto, he is blasted back by the power of
Kyuubi. Filling with enormous power, the hole through Naruto's chest
heals and Naruto states he will not let Sasuke go to Orochimaru.

Chapter 229: "Bonds...!!" – Naruto uses his new chakra

empowerment to lunge at Sasuke and beat him into submission.
Pinning him to the cliff face, Naruto tells Sasuke he had no family and
thought of him as a brother. For that reason he can not let their bond
be broken, he will do everything he can to stop his friend from making
a mistake. Recognizing Naruto as a fellow ninja, Sasuke finally puts on
his headband and states he will break their bonds of friendship. With
that statement he finally gains the final dots of the Sharingan.

Chapter 230: "Time of Awakening!!" – Sasuke states that he

recognizes Naruto's strength, and that by breaking their bonds he can
gain more strength. He states that Naruto can still not scratch his
forehead protector though. Using his completed Sharingan, Sasuke is
able to predict Naruto movements, avoid his attack and counter
attack. As Naruto begins to fall to Sasuke's strikes, the Kyuubi inside
Naruto calls him weak and states he should be thanking the demon.
New power begins to well in Naruto and he grows even more feral in
appearance, with his emanating chakra taking on the form of a fox.

Chapter 231: "A Special Power!!" – Seeing Naruto's change,

Sasuke finally understands why his brother was after him. Naruto
charges and begins to strike out at Sasuke, who can only barely
predict and avoid the strikes. Thinking he avoided a punch, an arm of
chakra extends from Naruto to punch Sasuke. Sasuke tries to retaliate
with a katon jutsu, but the flames are held back by Naruto's enormous
chakra. Naruto uses his new chakra arms to strike Sasuke over and
over, finally punching him into the cliff wall. Unfazed by the strikes,
Sasuke states the punches meant nothing and activates the second
level of his cursed seal.

Chapter 232: "Valley of the End" – Naruto goes to strike Sasuke

again and knocks him into the cliff face, causing a huge explosion. As
the dust settles a strange limb has protected his body. From Sasuke's
back, wings have emerged to provide protection. Sasuke tells Naruto
this is where their battle ends. Each ninja then forms an extreme and
potentially perfected version of their special attacks. Sasuke's Chidori
crackles with black energy and Naruto's Rasengan forms a large
perfect sphere. Both ninja then launch themselves at the other to
strike a final blow.

Chapter 233: "The Worst Conclusion...!!" – The two powerful jutsu

connect, with Naruto striking and scratching Sasuke's forehead
protector and Sasuke hesitating to not fully strike Naruto with his
Chidori hand. As a huge dark sphere of power grows outwards from
their location, Kakashi feels the emense chakra and tries to hurry to
their location. As the surrounding water is pushed away a blinding light
envelops Naruto and Sasuke. A short time later Sasuke stands over a
defeated apparently dead Naruto, with both young men having
returned to their original forms. As rain begins to fall, Sasuke clutches
his chest and his scratched forehead protector slips from his head to
land beside Naruto. Kakashi and Pakkun finally arrive at the Valley of
the End to find Naruto lying on the ground and Sasuke missing...

Chapter 234: "The Day of Separation...!!" – Kakashi arrives at the

Valley of the End to find Naruto unconscious and Sasuke gone. We
then see Sasuke walking through the woods thinking about his past
and the requirements to gain Mangekyou. Sasuke reaffirms his
existance and thinks that he will not be his brothers puppet and kill his
closest friend. When Pakkun states he can no longer trace Sasuke's
scent because of the rain, the Leaf ninja head back to Konoha. As they
walk into the distance, a mysterious figure emerges from the ground
wearing the cloak of Akatsuki.
Chapter 235: "Mission Failure...!!" – As Kakashi carries an
unconscious Naruto back to Konoha, Leaf medical-nins appear to let
Kakashi know they have gathered the fallen Genin. Back in the Konoha
hospital, critical healing is applied to Neji, Choji and Kiba. Because of
their skill and efforts, all three are saved from death. In the waiting
area Shikamaru tells Temari he was worthless as a leader and that he
is going to give-up his position. His father scolds him and says he is no
man to let his friends die under the poor leadership on another. With
that fear in mind, Shikamaru promises to do better next time.