Awakened

Immediately, Danzo summoned his subordinates and gave them some instructions. Once they understood, they got up and left.

Josuke's defection caused quite a stir in Konoha, but thanks to Tsunade, the matter was quickly settled.

People continued their lives as usual...

Josuke, the protagonist of this incident, finally woke up after it happened...

Josuke opened his eyes and saw Orochimaru and Kabuto looking at him. Several tubes were connected to his body. Sss...

My head hurts!

"It's alright, don't worry. Headaches are a normal reaction."

Orochimaru said.

He looked at Josuke, who was like a perfect sculpture, making him incredibly excited. Josuke truly hadn't disappointed him; he had successfully and perfectly fused the modified Hashirama Cells.

However, he wondered if Josuke could now use the legendary Wood Release.

A long while later, Josuke recovered and asked Orochimaru calmly, "What about the injuries on my body?"

"You healed me, didn't you?"

Josuke's confusion was understandable. After all, he had been severely injured in his fight with Naruto. Without timely treatment, he would have been half-crippled.

But when he woke up, all his injuries were gone. Even the scars from previous missions had vanished.

Orochimaru noticed Josuke's confusion.

He said excitedly, "Yes, that's right! And I've also implanted some small things into your body, making you even stronger than before!"

Some small things?

Hashirama Cells?

This was the first thing Josuke thought of, but then he reconsidered. If it were Hashirama Cells, he should have been bleached.

But now there was nothing on his body.

It was very strange.

However, Josuke felt that his Chakra reserves had increased several times over.

"Hashirama Cells?"

Josuke asked. It was the only thing he could think of.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, looked at Josuke with some surprise, never expecting Josuke to know about such a thing.

"Kekekeke, that's right, as expected of you, Josuke-kun. You guessed it right away. But these are not ordinary Hashirama Cells; they are Hashirama Cells that I have modified!!!"

Is that so? Josuke looked at Orochimaru in surprise. Then everything made sense.

"Thanks, I owe you one."

After saying that, Josuke removed all the instruments attached to his body, put on his clothes, and got up to leave, leaving Orochimaru and Kabuto standing there.

What Josuke didn't know was that Orochimaru had actually taken a gamble.

His survival was purely due to his own strength.

Josuke wandered around Orochimaru's base. This was likely just a small outpost for Orochimaru. He didn't see his foolish little brother.

Josuke didn't know how to proceed with his future path. The official start of the main storyline meant the Ninja War was getting closer...

He'd just go with the flow, Josuke thought. Oh, right, Josuke remembered something else that happened after Gaara was captured.

Thinking about it now, it should be happening soon.

Hashirama Cells had fused into Josuke's body, but he couldn't use Wood Release yet. He wondered when he would be able to use it; it would probably awaken over time.

(Skipping ahead in the plot. Josuke did not appear during the Tenchi Bridge arc, as he was recuperating. Kakashi was also recuperating due to overusing his eye while rescuing Gaara. The new Team 7 was reactivated: Yamato, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai.

During this recuperation period, Josuke successfully learned Wood Release... The current plot is Naruto and the others meeting Sasuke three years later.)

At this point, Josuke had moved from the previous base to Orochimaru's main base. However, due to some reasons, he hadn't met Sasuke.

Orochimaru returned to the base in a sorry state.

Seeing this, Josuke stepped forward and helped Orochimaru up.

"Are you alright?"

Orochimaru was covered in cold sweat. He had sustained significant injuries in his previous battle with Naruto. Josuke slowly helped Orochimaru to a nearby seat.

Kabuto and Sai also walked over.

Josuke looked at Sai. He was quite handsome and had fair skin. So it's you, huh?

An unnamable rage burned within Josuke. Why did Kishimoto draw this character like this? Does this kid deserve it?

Josuke knew that Sai was acting as Danzo's dog and a double agent at this moment, so he looked at Sai warily.

Sai felt Josuke's hostility and didn't know if it was Josuke or Sasuke looking at him now.

But he still smiled at Josuke and Sasuke.

After resting for a while, Orochimaru recovered and said with a smile, "I forgot to introduce you, this is Sai, he's one of Danzo's people."

Josuke nodded. Orochimaru hadn't hidden the matters between him and Danzo from Josuke, but had told him openly.

Orochimaru trusted Josuke.

Seeing that Orochimaru was fine, Josuke immediately returned to his room. He had only moved here the day before yesterday, so he still needed a lot of time to get used to the environment.

He hadn't really planned to see Sasuke. After all, his brother was in a rebellious phase and wouldn't listen to anyone.

After Sai finished giving his report, he also left.

He didn't linger.

Just like in the original story, he was captured by Yamato and the others, and then fought Kabuto, just like in the original story.

Then, led by Yamato, Team 7 entered Orochimaru's secret base.

As the three of them left the outer perimeter, Josuke appeared outside and looked at Kabuto.

"You should be able to break free yourself."

Josuke said with a smile.

Although they weren't friends, Josuke and Kabuto could still talk and chat.

Just as Josuke had said, Kabuto easily broke free from the wooden chains that bound him.

"How's the situation below?"

Kabuto asked.

Josuke thought for a moment.

"Orochimaru told me to act according to the situation."

Kabuto immediately nodded and went to support Orochimaru.

Josuke, on the other hand, went to a clearing not far away to wait for the others to appear on the surface.

Just as Josuke had expected, with a loud bang, the ground cracked open, and Sasuke, Sai, and everyone else were exposed to the sunlight.

Josuke knew it was time for him to step in.

The smoke and dust cleared.

Everywhere were shattered rocks. Sakura saw Sasuke high above from a distance.

Naruto and the others saw him too.

Seeing Sasuke after so long, Naruto was incredibly excited. In the past few days, after guidance from Jiraiya and Kakashi, he had finally recovered from the shadow of Josuke's defection.

He had also clarified his future goal: bringing the two brothers back to Konoha was that simple.

And now, finally, he could see the brother he had been longing for.

"Sasuke!"

Naruto shouted happily.