Volume Twenty-Six Manga Summary

[Hiro Onoyuga]

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...



Hatake Kakashi

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.



Uchiha Sasuke

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.



Uzumaki Naruto

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.



Haruno Sakura

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.



Naruto|Sasuke

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...


Team 7


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.




Nara Shikamaru

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.

[Ace Akau]

CH0DORI!!