Entrustment

Naruto stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on Sasuke's back, a figure woven with despair and helplessness, and an indescribable ache welled up in his heart.

This feeling flowed out naturally, just as it once had for Fushiguro Megumi.

In Naruto's heart, Sasuke was no longer just a simple comrade; he was a junior he felt compelled to guide and protect with care.

"I have a way to help you," Naruto said in a low voice, a hint of warmth in his tone. But he also laid down a condition. "However, you have to promise me that you won't go looking for Itachi Uchiha until you've gained enough strength."

Sasuke's body, kneeling on the ground, trembled slightly from his sobs, but at Naruto's words, the crying abruptly stopped, as if some force had taken hold of him.

He shot to his feet, spun around, and fixed his eyes on Naruto, a light flickering in them—a mix of disbelief and hope. "As long as... as long as I can gain power, Naruto, I'll... I'll do whatever you say!"

Naruto had no intention of watching Sasuke walk to his death; the only way was to boost Sasuke's strength.

However, as Gojo Satoru reborn as Naruto, he was unfamiliar with this world's ninjutsu system.

He knew that with his current knowledge and experience alone, he was far from able to provide Sasuke with enough help.

He himself needed a mentor like Jiraiya to guide him.

There was little he could do—only pass on some basics of combat and battle mindset. As for Naruto's cursed techniques, without the support of the Six Eyes, teaching them would be useless.

And in his heart, Naruto had already picked out a teacher for Sasuke—Orochimaru.

Though this man was devious and even sent a chill down one's spine, Orochimaru intrigued Naruto. Moreover, Orochimaru had signed a binding contract with Naruto, pledging loyalty to him, so Sasuke's safety was not a concern.

The night was as dark as ink, blanketing the earth in a deep shroud, casting a veil of mystery over all movement.

Taking advantage of the pitch-black cover, Naruto floated lightly in the air, like the brightest star in the night sky, yet utterly silent.

He carefully sensed everything around him, and after confirming that Jiraiya was indeed not nearby, he unhesitatingly took Sasuke with him, and like two meteors streaking across the night, they sped off into the distance.

Relying on the high-speed mobility granted by the cursed technique "Azure," Naruto seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, arriving at Orochimaru's hidden lair in the blink of an eye. This base was concealed near Otogakure, buried deep underground.

When Naruto and Sasuke landed at the entrance to Orochimaru's base, a chilling and eerie aura rushed toward them, sending a shiver down their spines.

Just then, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness—it was Yakushi Kabuto, who greeted Naruto's arrival with an almost servile posture.

Sasuke's eyes flickered with surprise at the sight of Kabuto.

But that surprise was only the beginning. As Kabuto led them deeper into Orochimaru's territory, when that familiar yet fearsome figure came into view, Sasuke was utterly stunned—wasn't that the very Orochimaru who had once invaded Konoha?

For a moment, Sasuke's heart was filled with tension and unease. He stared intently at Orochimaru.

When Orochimaru's cold, deep eyes locked onto Naruto and Sasuke, a meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Naruto-kun, you've finally come. I've missed you terribly," Orochimaru said, his voice low and magnetic, as if every word carried some unspeakable implication.

Hearing this, Naruto's lips also curled into a playful grin. "You mean you want me dead," he teased.

Orochimaru let out a light laugh. "How could that be? I'm yours now. Why would I want you dead?"

At these words, Sasuke's doubts grew like wild grass in his mind. He looked incredulously at Orochimaru, then at Naruto, trying to find answers in their expressions.

Sensing Sasuke's confusion, Naruto gently patted his shoulder and explained, "Orochimaru is now under my command. No need to be nervous." His voice was warm and firm, as if giving Sasuke a calming pill.

Then Naruto continued, "Now, I'll give you two choices: go back, or stay and train with Orochimaru."

Sasuke's eyes flickered with a thirst for power. "Can he make me stronger?" he asked.

At this, Orochimaru's lips twisted into a cold smile. He looked at Naruto and said mockingly, "Naruto-kun, you've really found me a fine job."

Naruto looked at Orochimaru, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "He absolutely can," he said, his voice short and forceful, full of certainty.

Sasuke's eyes flickered again, and he pressed on, "Stronger than Itachi Uchiha?"

Orochimaru let out a sinister laugh, his eyes revealing both resentment and fear toward Itachi Uchiha, but even more so, anticipation for Sasuke. "Of course!"