The dawn sky over the Kingdom of Clouds burned with streaks of gold and gray, casting a fleeting glow across the forest clearing. A shadow loomed overhead as Nagato's massive bird sliced through the air, its wings a low thunder against the stillness. Naruto stood poised atop its head, cloak billowing, Sage Mode's orange glow fading as he locked onto Sasuke's chakra below. With a sharp nod to Nagato and Konan—hovering above in watchful silence—he leapt, the Six Paths Pain dropping alongside him like shadowed specters, landing in a tight arc before the Eagle Squad.
Dust swirled as Naruto straightened, his grin bright but edged with something heavier. "Hey, Sasuke—long time no see! Still as handsome as ever. Jugo, you too!"
Sasuke's dark eyes widened, shock flickering across his stoic face. "Naruto?!" His gaze darted from Naruto's Akatsuki cloak to his own, a mirror of red clouds and black. "What are you doing here—and that outfit…"
Naruto raised a hand, cutting off the brewing storm. "Hold up—don't get the wrong idea. I'm not with Akatsuki, and this isn't some couple's matching thing. I'm ditching this look soon—next time, it'll be different, promise."
Sasuke rose, his posture taut, eyes narrowing at the Six Paths Pain arrayed behind Naruto like a silent jury. "Those six—what's their deal?"
Naruto's grin widened, casual but deliberate. "Oh, them? Meet my new crew—Six Paths Pain, proud members of the Heavenly Organization." He gestured grandly, and Nagato's will stirred Tendo Pain forward. The puppet inclined its head, voice flat but formal. "Greetings. I am Tendo Pain, of the Ten Organization." One by one, the others followed—Beast Path, Hungry Ghost, Shura—each nodding curtly to Sasuke.
Sasuke's jaw tightened, disbelief warring with recognition. He'd clashed with these figures before—Akatsuki's enforcers, Madara's tools. Now they bowed to Naruto? "You've betrayed Konoha," he said, voice low, a statement more than a question.
Naruto clicked his tongue, shrugging. "Eh, depends who you ask. I'd say no, but Konoha's got a warrant out for me, so…" He trailed off, meeting Sasuke's piercing stare with a flicker of defiance.
"Hokage was your dream," Sasuke pressed, stepping closer, his tone sharp with incredulity. "You—of all people—turning on the village? What happened to you?" The words carried a weight beyond accusation—betrayal from Naruto, the eternal optimist, shook Sasuke's cynical world more than he'd admit. Madara's whispers of a false reality echoed faintly in his mind.
Before Naruto could answer, Karin and Suigetsu burst into the clearing, breathless from their river dash. "Sasuke-kun!" Karin called, then froze, eyes locking onto Naruto. Her scowl melted as he waved, his voice warm. "Hey, Karin—looking prettier than ever! Suigetsu, still sharp as always!"
Karin blinked, then giggled, twirling a strand of red hair. "Oh, stop it—you're too much! But I'll give you points for honesty." Suigetsu rolled his eyes, muttering, "Psycho," under his breath, but his own shock mirrored hers—Naruto, in Akatsuki garb, commanding Pain? The absurdity gnawed at him.
Sasuke ignored the banter, his focus unwavering. "Naruto," he said, voice cutting through, "I don't care what you've been through or how you bent these Akatsuki dogs to your will. You're not here just to chat—why'd you come?"
Naruto's smile softened, but his eyes glinted with intent. "You know me too well. I need to borrow someone—short-term. I'll return them, no harm done."
Sasuke's brow furrowed. "Who?"
Karin squeaked, darting behind Sasuke and clutching his arm like a lifeline. "Don't even think about it, Naruto! I see that look—you're after me, aren't you? Well, forget it! I'm Sasuke-kun's, body and soul—my heart's his forever!" She pressed herself against him, rubbing dramatically, her voice rising in a theatrical wail. "Oh, Sasuke-kun, I'd rather die than leave you! He'll only get a shell—my love stays with you!"
Sasuke's eye twitched, exasperation breaking his composure. "Enough—I didn't offer you up." He pried her off, stepping free as Naruto stifled a laugh, the absurdity a fleeting relief in the tension.
"Relax, Karin," Naruto said, waving dismissively. "You and Sasuke are a perfect pair—I wouldn't dream of it. I'm here for Jugo."
Jugo's massive frame stiffened, his calm voice edged with unease. "Me?"
Sasuke's gaze turned icy, locking onto Naruto. "What do you want with Jugo?"
Naruto's smile faded, his tone evasive but firm. "Heaven's business—can't say more. Classified."
Sasuke snorted, a bitter edge to his laugh. "Heavenly Organization? What, Akatsuki's got a new name now?"
"It's mine," Naruto countered, voice steady. "I built it—Ten. It'll echo through the ninja world soon enough. How about it, Sasuke? Your Eagle Squad's soaring—why not join me? Brothers, side by side, like old times?"
Sasuke's lip curled, his rejection swift. "My eagle flies free—no cages, no alliances. Jugo's mine—I'm not lending him out." He turned, cloak swirling, dismissing the offer with a stride toward the trees.
Naruto's grin vanished, his voice rising, sharp and resonant. "Sasuke! Everything in this world lives under the sky—even eagles soar beneath it. You can't escape that."
Sasuke froze mid-step, a shiver of defiance rippling through him. The air crackled as his Mangekyō Sharingan ignited, twin crimson wheels spinning as he whirled back, his glare a blade aimed at Naruto. "Then I'll shatter your sky and see what's left."
The clearing held its breath, the Six Paths Pain shifting subtly, ready at Naruto's command. Above, the bird circled, Nagato and Konan watching the standoff unfold. Naruto met Sasuke's stare, unflinching, the past—rivalry, friendship, promises—hanging between them like a storm ready to break. Jugo stepped closer to Sasuke, silent but resolute, while Karin clutched Suigetsu's arm, her bravado gone. The reunion teetered on a razor's edge, a clash of wills poised to erupt.
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