The Prelude to Sasuke's Defection!

Bang!

Sasuke knocked down Naruto, whose attack had gone wide.

"Naruto, looks like I'm still stronger!"

With that, he prepared to leave.

But after taking only a few steps, he stopped.

The huge water tank Naruto's Rasengan had struck showed nothing much at the point of impact on the front. But on the back, there was a massive, twisted hole, with water slowly pouring out.

If it had hit him instead of the water tank, it could have put his life in danger.

So it was deliberate?

The thought flashed through Sasuke's mind.

When Naruto's Rasengan had been about to hit him, it had veered slightly off course. Sasuke had originally thought it was a mistake, but now it seemed that wasn't the case. Naruto had done it on purpose.

"Naruto, you're my best friend!"

Leaving those words behind, Sasuke departed.

The target of his revenge was too powerful, so powerful that Sasuke could not see even the slightest hope of catching up. Now, he had even been surpassed by the dead last, and his mentality was beginning to collapse. That was why he thought of Orochimaru's invitation.

He had originally been unable to make up his mind, but after this battle, he had made his decision.

Not far away, Kabuto watched the scene and smiled softly.

The time for harvesting had arrived!

In pursuit of power, Sasuke would willingly step into Orochimaru's embrace.

Hokage Building!

Tang Ping motioned for Izumi and the others to leave first, while he stayed behind to stop someone alone.

"Lady Tsunade, may I treat you to a meal?"

He spoke directly, paying no mind to the stares around them.

So what if they saw? It was not as if he feared Konoha pinning some fabricated charge on him.

"Sure!"

Tsunade nodded decisively.

She had