Before them stood a dark figure - an expression of pure evil. Tall it stood, its body robed in swirling shadows, face half-hidden behind a mask, shifting like the void itself. Each inch of the ruin stood shrouded in unnatural darkness that clung to the air and strangled it. The group bonded wonderfully as they geared up for battle; yet no one could forget that this was not some other fight. This was a fight for their very soul.
We have to finish this now," Naruto said between gritted teeth. His hands were shaking minutely as he built up chakra, though something was amiss. He felt a weight upon his body, as if the curse was inside of him still and poisoning his strength.
"Right." Sasuke muttered, his Sharingan lighting up. "We can't hold back, though. This thing's far beyond anything we've ever seen."
The figure raised its arm, and the shadows around them writhed like snakes, swirling towards the group. "Too late," it said with venom in its voice. "You have already been defeated.".
With a deafening roar the earth split wide and yawned open, sending debris flying in all directions. Then, from down below, dark hands reached out to snatch Naruto by the legs and drag him toward the void.
Get out of here! Naruto writhed, shadows pulling him down to earth. The cold of the curse wind was a circle around him, seeping into his soul. That's it, this isn't the end!
Sasuke hurled himself forward, pushing his chakra and slicing through the shadows, but they just kept growing back, wrapping around him in chains that pulled him back.
Hold on! Sasuke shouted, his voice tight with tension. Focus! We can't let it win!
Too late, though, it was. Naruto's power started to drain out of him, eyes blurring as he shut in darkness. His heart pounded as he saw the visions of his pitiful past-the people whom he failed to protect and lost them to death. He heard their voices, heard hurting sound, and saw the features floating within the darkness. They weren't the people he knew, but distorted and perverted with hollow, asleep eyes. "You should have left it sealed, Naruto," the figure whispered into his ear, voice low and menacing. "Now, you will join them."
No! Naruto shouted, forcing himself to fight against the suffocating darkness. I won't let you win,
It was all or nothing: one final push on chakra, and Naruto broke free, forcing the shadows off of himself. The curse wouldn't relent, though. It found its mark. It had begun turning his own mind back on him.
Sasuke ran beside him, pulling him up into a sitting position. "Concentrate," he said to his brother in a low, tense voice. "That creature is in your head. You have to beat it.". Naruto nodded, but the darkness persisted, sliding up at the corner of his vision. He felt himself being touched by it, whispers in his ear trying to pull him back into the hole. And he couldn't let that happen. Not now. We finish this, Naruto said, his voice hard. Together.