Rogue Ninja Josuke

Josuke stopped in his tracks, immediately drawing the attention of Kakashi and the others. They looked at Josuke in confusion.

Naruto, in particular, asked with a puzzled look, "Josuke, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Josuke didn't answer. He glanced at the scroll. It should be about time...

Three... two... one...

Here they come.

A woman shouted, "Crystal Style: Goshindō no Jutsu!"

A line of crystals formed on the ground, attacking the enemy from below.

The speed and power were so great that it was impossible to defend against.

Gaara, Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee were all injured by the crystal jutsu and lost their ability to fight.

"Everyone, dodge!"

Kakashi said urgently, forming hand seals as he spoke, "Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

The wall made of mud temporarily blocked the attack.

Josuke saw Orochimaru not far away. Orochimaru also smiled and looked at him.

"Long time no see, Josuke-kun."

Orochimaru's tone was as cold as ever, truly befitting the man known as the 'Cold Lord'.

Not long ago, Orochimaru had contacted Josuke, hinting at when he should make his move. Josuke had thought about it and decided on this timeframe.

As it happened, Orochimaru and his group had a mission in Sunagakure, so Josuke's defection began at this very moment.

Finally, he was going to be a Rogue Ninja. He felt a little excited just thinking about it. Heh heh.

Honestly, he felt a bit guilty. Konoha was where he was born, and most people there were good...

Josuke slowly walked over to Orochimaru.

By this time, Kakashi had broken through the crystal jutsu attack, and Orochimaru's group, along with Josuke, were exposed in everyone's sight.

The crowd was shocked, not understanding what Josuke was doing.

Naruto, especially, looked at Josuke with an expression of disbelief and incredulity.

"Josuke, what are you doing?"

Naruto's words echoed the thoughts of everyone present. Was Josuke going down the same path as Sasuke?

How could that be?

Almost no one believed it.

Josuke's personality shouldn't lead him to this...

But as Josuke got closer to Orochimaru, everyone realized the seriousness of the situation.

Kakashi and Might Guy stepped forward, trying to grab Josuke, but were caught off guard by sudden snake-like hands.

Orochimaru looked at everyone with cold, mocking eyes. My fault? Your Josuke contacted me three years ago. How pathetic. Of course, these were just Orochimaru's inner thoughts.

If he said them out loud, how would Josuke react?

He'd probably die on the spot, so Orochimaru naturally wouldn't say them.

Seeing Orochimaru and Guren blocking their path, Kakashi knew that he and Might Guy were unlikely to break free.

"Josuke, come back! Orochimaru is no good!"

Naruto's expression was incredibly complex now: anger, confusion, surprise, sadness... He couldn't understand why. Why was this happening?

With Kakashi and Might Guy tied up, the only one who could stop Josuke was Naruto.

But that was enough. Gaara, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji had already lost their fighting ability from the earlier attack, and Sakura was busy healing everyone and couldn't get away.

"Josuke, meet me at the agreed-upon location."

Orochimaru summoned several giant snakes, restraining Kakashi and Might Guy's movements, and said to Josuke as he turned back.

Josuke understood immediately. He glanced in the direction, confirmed it was correct, and quickly ran that way.

Seeing this, Naruto also hurried to chase after him.

As the view expanded, he could no longer see anyone except Naruto behind him. The surrounding scenery changed from desert to hills, and then from hills to a riverbank.

The wide river forced Josuke to stop temporarily.

Naruto caught up at this moment.

"Josuke, come back to Konoha with me. Orochimaru is no good!"

Naruto reached out his hand, pleading.

Josuke turned back, his fully evolved Three Tomoe Sharingan appearing, and he let out a cold laugh.

"Why do you think Konoha is so great? The Third Hokage old man is a complete failure. You've probably been brainwashed, it's truly laughable."

Naruto couldn't believe that Josuke would say such things.

His beloved Third Grandpa was being slandered like this, and the slanderer was his best friend.

"You..."

Naruto didn't know what to say in response.

He said in a low voice, "Don't go, please, Josuke... I... I can give up my dream of becoming Hokage..."

Hearing this, Josuke raised his hand and slapped Naruto. "Why are you so pathetic?"

Josuke was actually feeling incredibly upset inside. He had been with Naruto for so long, it was no exaggeration to call them brothers. He truly lived up to the name of best friend.

"You can just give up your dream like that, it's truly despicable."

With that, he turned to leave.

"No... Josuke, please, don't be like this... I've already lost Sasuke, I can't lose you too!!!"

Saying this, Naruto immediately knelt down.

Josuke was shocked. For some reason, anger surged within him, and he threw a punch at Naruto, hitting his nose hard. Naruto's nose began to bleed.

Immediately after, Naruto was met with a storm of fists.

(Ora Ora Ora)

Naruto was bleeding profusely from the blows, but he didn't utter a sound.

Finally, after who knows how many punches, Josuke grew tired and fiercely kicked Naruto.

"Why? Why aren't you fighting back, you idiot? Why?"

After a few more kicks, He turned to leave, but Naruto grabbed his left foot. Naruto was incredibly weak from the beating.

"Don't... don't go, please."

An indescribable emotion surged into Josuke's heart. Don't be like this, don't force me to kill you, Josuke thought. Blood flowed from his Sharingan.

This was something that only happened to the Uchiha clan when they experienced intense negative emotions.

I'm not going back to Konoha...

Then, Josuke stopped. Naruto thought Josuke had a change of heart, but unexpectedly, a Rasengan struck his back.

Of course, Josuke had reduced its power, so nothing serious happened, just a very sore stomach.

"I'm tired of playing the good guy for so long. Let me tell you, Naruto, everything you've seen was just an act. In my eyes, you're trash, garbage, that stinking fox demon, an unwanted orphan!!"

"I've looked down on you from the very beginning, you know? It's truly laughable, you've been deceived for so long and still have no idea, acting like a dog wagging its tail, begging for your master's forgiveness.

What a pathetic wretch!"

No... it's not like this... Josuke isn't this kind of person!

Naruto was injured, but that didn't mean he couldn't hear. Josuke's insulting and slanderous words pierced Naruto's fragile heart like sharp swords.

Even now, Naruto still couldn't believe Josuke was like this.

Josuke: You're surprisingly good at guessing, aren't you? (wacky)