Sasuke's Defection

The office quickly fell silent, save for the rustling of pages turning. Occasionally, the two would pause to drink water in unison, neither feeling awkward in their silence.

One morning wasn't enough to finish all the work. With ten minutes left before the end of the workday, the two stopped what they were doing and started discussing which Barbecue restaurant to go to for dinner.

"Let's go with that Barbecue restaurant near the Akimichi Clan compound. It's a bit far from here, but we can still find something to eat there," Sakura said, leaning on the table.

"Sure," Naruto said casually, leaning back in his chair and gazing at the ceiling. "Let's invite Sasuke along, he doesn't have any missions anyway."

Sakura suddenly paused for a moment, then said.

"Let's forget about it."

"Sasuke seems to be in a low mood lately. He even had a big argument with Kakashi-sensei at the hospital a while ago."

"I see," Naruto said lazily. "It's probably because of Itachi Uchiha. Sasuke wanted to kill him so much that it became an obsession."

"Itachi Uchiha?" Sakura sensed the weight of information in Naruto's words and pressed for details, "I only know some vague details. What exactly was the reason Sasuke on doing this?"

"A blood feud." Naruto spoke as if it were a trivial matter, but he didn't reveal the whole truth.

He didn't need to explain further or drag himself into endless trouble. One Itachi Uchiha was already terrifying enough; adding Orochimaru on top of that would be even more daunting.

Both of them were more perverted and more insane than the other. Sakura could jump if she wanted, but Naruto didn't want to touch this mud pit at all.

After the Blood Moon, Sasuke Uchiha lived only for revenge.

Sasuke witnessed his family being killed by Itachi Uchiha while in Tsukuyomi, and all he could do was cowardly question his cold-blooded brother over and over again.

Even though he survived, Sasuke Uchiha never truly escaped that bloody night. In the familiar clan compound, Itachi Uchiha cruelly took everything he possessed.

Some people are alive, but a dead child lives in their hearts.

"Why is this happening?" Sakura's voice trembled slightly. "Sasuke has never mentioned it to us."

"It doesn't matter whether we bring that up or not." Naruto pulled out a chair, stood up, stared at Sakura, and slowly took a sip of water. "Sakura, there are some things that are not for you to interfere with."

"I actually hope Sasuke can take his revenge easily and happily. If it were me, I would definitely do everything I could to kill Itachi Uchiha."

Through the glass, Naruto's cold gaze, deep within his blue eyes, met Sakura's, who looked up, and the latter shivered violently in her seat.

After a long day of work, Naruto went home and lay down.

The lunch of barbecue was unusually quiet; Sakura seemed a little distracted, while Naruto ate with great relish.

Everyone in Team Seven noticed Sasuke's unusual behavior, and Naruto didn't hide it either, essentially giving his opinion in advance. He wholeheartedly Sasuke's revenge.

Itachi Uchiha was incredibly intimidating. He went easy on Sasuke, but to everyone else, he was practically a killing machine. Even now, Naruto still feels lingering fear about opening the gate.

Among battle-hardened ninjas, only veteran Kage Level ninjas of the Legendary Sannin caliber are capable of posing a threat to Itachi Uchiha.

With a thud, Naruto slumped onto the sofa and slowly closed his eyes.

I woke up the next day.

The mission could not be completed as expected; Team Seven was short-handed, Sasuke Uchiha was missing.

Tsunade was furious, but all the Jonin had already gone on missions, and the remaining Anbu were short-handed. If she couldn't call upon the Root Organization, she would have to use Konohagakure Genin.

Left with no other choice, Tsunade summoned Shikamaru Neji, and Naruto —who hadn't yet gone on a mission—to the Hokage's Office and assigned the strategist Shikamaru to lead the team.

Without much preamble, he simply said he would do everything in his power to find the person.

"Lord Hokage, we need more manpower," Shikamaru said bluntly. "If it's just the three of us, it's not enough to complete the mission."

"Choose the ninjas who haven't gone on missions yet, and submit the list before you leave," Tsunade said after a moment's thought. "Be quick, we absolutely cannot let Sasuke Uchiha escape the border of the Land of Fire."

"Yes." Shikamaru replied and hurriedly left, Neji following him.

Naruto turned to leave, but Tsunade.

"Naruto, stay here for a moment."

Upon hearing this, Naruto stopped and turned to look at Tsunade. Seeing her jade-like face reminded him of the sword in his chest, and his expression immediately fell.

"I'm very busy, don't give me any more tasks besides chasing Sasuke!!"

Tsunade's face immediately darkened, her lips twitched slightly, and she grabbed Naruto by the collar, pressing her face against his and speaking fiercely.

"I'm telling you to watch out, kid!!"

"Give me back that sword!!" Naruto retorted defiantly, glaring back. "If you don't give it back, it's hard to say whether I'll come back alive."

"What did you say, brat?" Tsunade reached out and pinched Naruto's face into a clay-like shape. "Who do you think you are! Trying to bargain with the Hokage? You want to die!"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!!!" Naruto, despite being tormented by Tsunade, still spoke defiantly, "Since there's no sword, then Lord Tsunade, prepare to offer me flowers."

"Who cares whether Genin you lives or dies?!" Tsunade grew angrier the more she thought about it. "If you keep nitpicking, I'll send you back to the Ninja Academy!"

"Hmm! Is there anything else you want to say?"

"You sprayed spit in my face," Naruto said.

"Get out!"

With a bang, Naruto was thrown far away by Tsunade, Kusanagi Sword clattered into the ground beside him.

Seeing the Kusanagi Sword in his hand, Naruto's expression immediately changed, and he carefully drew the sword as if he were holding his wife. Then, he looked at Tsunade with a serious expression, and his posture immediately straightened up.

"Yes! I definitely won't die."

"Roll!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Naruto knew when to quit while he was ahead. He quickly moistened himself with the equipment Tsunade had dropped, closed the door, and ran downstairs.

Upstairs, Tsunade grew angrier the more she thought about it, her chest heaving.

He grabbed the chair and threw it off the building. The sound of shattering glass rang out, followed by a scream from downstairs and Naruto's scream.

"Ah!! Who was that bastard who threw that thing from a high-rise building?!"

Hearing Naruto's shouting downstairs, Tsunade impatiently leaned half her body out of the window. Naruto, seeing this, immediately fell silent and ran off without a word.

No sooner had Naruto left than Sakura found Tsunade, pleading to join the mission to retrieve Sasuke.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes and flatly refused, citing that medical-nin do not participate in high-risk operations. She also told her that she had already arranged for someone to retrieve Sasuke and that there was no need to worry.

On the other side, Naruto stored the Kusanagi Sword in his Sealing Space, prepared some simple equipment, and immediately embarked on a pursuit journey with Shikamaru's team.

During a break in their journey through the forest, Naruto inexplicably thought of Tayuya and the other three Sound Ninja. If they dared to attack after eating his ice cream, he'd catch them and give them a good beating.