Sasuke's Departure

"Is that all you've got, dead last?" Sasuke shouted coldly, his attacks growing even fiercer.

Yet as the battle dragged on, Naruto's refusal to give up and the recovery power brought by the Nine-Tails' chakra began to show. The longer he fought, the more frenzied he became, his moves gradually taking on a beast-like instinct that occasionally broke through Sasuke's predictions.

"Damn it!" Unable to bring Naruto down after so long, Sasuke grew even more agitated. The tomoe in his Sharingan spun madly as his chakra surged violently!

Bzzzz—!

The two tomoe in his eyes evolved into three beneath the intense emotions and chakra surge, his ocular power receiving a tremendous boost!

His insight, dynamic vision, and resistance to genjutsu soared once more! Sasuke's speed and the precision of his attacks abruptly rose to an entirely new level!

"Pff!" Naruto took a heavy punch to the chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and was sent flying.

"Naruto!" Karin cried out.

"Damn you, Sasuke!" Naruto pushed himself up, a savage orange-red gleam flashing through his eyes. He stopped holding back as a Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak instantly covered his entire body, forming one clearly visible chakra tail! His speed, strength, and recovery ability surged dramatically!

"Tailed Beast transformation?!" Jiraiya's expression hardened as he prepared to intervene at any moment.

Having entered the one-tail state, Naruto underwent a qualitative transformation in strength. The violent chakra shockwaves shattered the surrounding rocks, and his attacks became incomparably swift and fierce, suppressing Sasuke with near-overwhelming force!

Sasuke was beaten back step by step, suffering wounds all over his body. At last, Naruto slammed him into the valley wall with a straight punch wrapped in Tailed Beast chakra, blasting a deep crater into the rock as dust billowed everywhere.

"Sasuke!" Naruto's heart clenched at the sight. His Tailed Beast Cloak rapidly receded as he rushed forward to check on him.

But from within the dust, an even colder, more sinister chakra suddenly erupted!

Deep-purple, almost tangible chakra poured from the crater as Sasuke slowly emerged. His skin had turned ash-gray, and enormous purple fleshy wings had grown from his back—the second state of the Curse Mark!

A power he had never felt before filled every inch of Sasuke's body, making him unable to suppress a low growl. He felt stronger than ever before, even harboring the illusion that he could challenge anything.

"Me, as I am now," Sasuke said, raising his head and turning his vertical pupils, already eroded by the Curse Mark, toward Qianyu, "even you, Qianyu, will have to think twice!"

Qianyu: "..."

He was speechless. Kid, you know nothing about power.

Yet Sasuke's confidence was overflowing at that moment, and he charged into Naruto once again! This time, the intensity and destructive power of their battle far surpassed the earlier clash! The strength and speed boost provided by Curse Mark Stage Two, combined with his three-tomoe Sharingan, allowed Sasuke to reverse his disadvantage and fight the one-tailed Naruto to a standstill. The thunderous booms of clashing chakra echoed through the valley as the ground continuously cracked and rocks flew apart.

Jiraiya watched from the side with deeply furrowed brows and grave eyes. "These two... have already far surpassed genin. Their potential is immeasurable." He looked at Qianyu. "Do you really intend to let Sasuke... defect like this?"

He had already seen that although Naruto possessed tremendous power, he was always holding back, unwilling to truly hurt Sasuke. Sasuke's moves, however, were ruthless and filled with killing intent and resolve. Naruto's defeat was only a matter of time.

Before Qianyu could answer, a soft, hoarse voice drifted over.

"I sensed my power fluctuating violently in this direction. So there was quite a show going on here."

Everyone turned to see Orochimaru standing there at some unknown time, still wearing that pale, effeminate appearance. His vertical pupils watched the two battling figures with great interest before finally settling on Qianyu, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Orochimaru!" Jiraiya instantly went on guard. "Was it you who tempted Sasuke!"

"Tempted?" Orochimaru chuckled, shifting his gaze to Naruto, who was fighting more courageously by the moment but gradually being suppressed by the Curse Mark's power. "I merely offered a lost fledgling yearning for power a better nest and a direction for evolution. For a boy obsessed with power, am I not his best destination?"

Qianyu also looked at Orochimaru and asked calmly, "Orochimaru, are you still going to keep wandering outside? You don't plan to come back?"

Orochimaru licked his lips. "There are still some interesting experiments and observations left unfinished. Besides, it is freer outside. That fellow Danzo is in the Land of Rice Fields. He came looking for me."

After hearing that, Qianyu said, "Leave him for Sasuke to deal with."

By then, the battle in the field had already been decided. In the end, Naruto's soft heart and hesitation to kill a companion allowed Sasuke to find an opening. A strike wrapped in lightning and Curse Mark chakra smashed brutally into the side of Naruto's neck. Naruto let out a muffled groan, his Tailed Beast Cloak collapsing as his vision went dark. He fell limply to the ground, and even before losing consciousness, his eyes were full of unwillingness and confusion.

Sasuke stood before the fallen Naruto, panting heavily. His gaze at his unconscious friend was complicated, but it was quickly covered by coldness. "What a troublesome guy," he muttered. Still, he had held back. Aside from excessive exhaustion and the blow to his neck, Naruto had suffered no fatal injuries.

Sasuke no longer looked at Naruto. Turning around, he fixed his eyes directly on Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, give me power."

A satisfied smile appeared on Orochimaru's face. He looked at Qianyu, his eyes questioning.

Qianyu fell silent for several seconds before finally nodding slowly. He told Sasuke, "This is the path you chose. Remember today's battle. And remember..." He paused. "Konoha's gates will not remain closed to you forever. When you think you've become strong enough, or when you've figured things out, you can come back."

Then he said to Orochimaru, "Take him away."

Orochimaru's smile deepened. "That is precisely my intention. Well then, Sasuke-kun, it is time for us to depart."

With that, he extended a hand toward Sasuke. Sasuke walked over without the slightest hesitation, turning back only once to glance at Naruto, whom Karin was helping up. Then he walked toward Orochimaru without looking back.

The two figures soon vanished beyond the mouth of the valley.

Jiraiya watched the direction in which Sasuke had disappeared and sighed. "It still feels like... handing Sasuke over to Orochimaru like this is too careless, and far too dangerous, isn't it? That guy's methods of teaching..."

Qianyu gazed into the distance, his tone calm but certain. "If Sasuke stayed in the village and grew step by step, Naruto would only pull farther and farther ahead of him, while hatred slowly devoured him. He needs extreme stimulation and power. He also needs to leave the light of Naruto, that sun, before he can truly see some things in his own heart."

"At Orochimaru's place, at least he can gain power and the means to survive. As for everything else..." A helpless curve touched Qianyu's lips. "With Naruto around, that kid won't get very far."

Thinking it over, Jiraiya found that it made sense. With Naruto's stubborn personality, how could he possibly give up on Sasuke so easily? He shook his head. "As long as you're confident. But I'm not dealing with this. I need to report to Tsunade. You were the one who decided to let him go, so handle whatever trouble comes afterward yourself."

Qianyu's face immediately darkened. "Hey, hey, Jiraiya, you're dumping this on me!"

"Who told you to be such a big-shot decision-maker, brat?" Jiraiya laughed heartily, patted Qianyu on the shoulder, and turned toward Konoha, leaving this entire mess to Qianyu.

Looking at Naruto, who had just awakened with fury filling his face, then at the worried Karin beside him, Qianyu felt a headache coming on.

Great. Now he had plenty to deal with.