Sasuke's Defection

"My favor?"

Kabuto looked at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru had no idea what Josuke was up to either, but he knew he was bound to profit from this deal.

"Kabuto, what do you think?"

Naturally, Kabuto had no objections.

"I'll leave it to Lord Orochimaru to decide."

Orochimaru nodded.

"Fine, then I'll make the decision for Kabuto and accept. Hand it over."

Josuke did not hesitate and passed the scroll to Kabuto.

"Remember this. Kabuto owes me a favor, and when the time comes, you'd better remember to repay it."

Kabuto nodded.

Josuke did not linger and left.

After Josuke left, Orochimaru smiled at Kabuto.

"A strange person, isn't he?"

Kabuto gave a sound of agreement. He did not know why Josuke had done this either.

(I don't want to write the Three Sannin showdown either. There's too much content, so I'll gloss over it here. It went the same way as in the original, except Josuke was there, and because of Josuke's relationship with Orochimaru, Orochimaru went easy on him.

Afterward, Orochimaru sent word to thank Josuke for the Scroll of Seals, but he still had no way to undo the Reaper Death Seal...)

Back in the Hidden Leaf Village.

It had been a long time.

Even the air smelled sweet!!!

Sasuke woke up and, just as before, got into a conflict with Naruto...

His foolish little brother had thought that his Chidori had surpassed Naruto's in power, only to discover that the gap between them was now like heaven and earth.

He sank into deep fury. He could not surpass his brother, and even the dead last from before had become stronger than him. The flames of jealousy and rage burned within him.

Josuke, standing nearby, wanted to complain.

Chidori deals piercing damage, man. Why are you standing there emoing?

Fortunately, Kakashi stopped this farce in time.

In the end, the two parted on bad terms and left the hospital.

At night, beneath a dark and windy sky.

The Sound Four arrived at the Uchiha Compound and gave Sasuke a direct lesson in love.

As for Josuke~~

He was out having fun with Ino. In any case, Josuke figured that Sasuke, that second-rate fool, was only getting beaten up. It was nothing. Besides, his defection was bound to happen sooner or later, so Josuke did not bother with it.

So he went shopping with Ino~

It definitely was not because he was lusting after her beauty, really.

Why did he go out with Ino? Because she was kind, of course...

Pah.

Got carried away.

After receiving a brutal beating, Sasuke became obedient.

So the Sound Four told him why they had come.

They invited Sasuke to work under Orochimaru.

Sasuke looked at the four's immense power, then at himself as he was now, and then thought of Naruto and revenge.

He agreed without hesitation.

As for the only family he had left in this world... Josuke, his good brother—he had wanted to speak with him. But... hardening his heart, he chose not to say goodbye to Josuke. With his little backpack in hand,

he left the Hidden Leaf Village beneath the moonlight...

On the way, he also treated Sakura to a nap in a reclining chair. It really was quite nice.

When Josuke returned home and saw the empty room, he knew the kid had left. Their destiny had begun.

He had no choice but to face it, didn't he?

For some reason, Josuke felt a sense of loss, an indescribable emotion stirring in his heart.

His Sharingan began spinning rapidly without him even realizing it.

The two tomoe spun furiously, and then three tomoe appeared!!!

Only after a long while did Josuke's emotions calm down. It was a blessing in disguise, wasn't it?

"Aren't you going after him?"

Josuke was nearly scared to death.

Aminos, who the hell is that?

He turned around and saw Itachi's figure.

Three tomoe faced the Mangekyō.

Would he win?

A guaranteed win.

"It's you... Itachi."

Josuke looked at Itachi with mixed emotions, not knowing what to say.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll take your eyes now?"

There was a hint of threat in Itachi's voice.

But Josuke knew it was all fake. He would always be the brother who loved his little brothers, even at the very end of his life.

Josuke chuckled.

"Would you?"

Itachi said nothing and remained silent for a long time.

"When... did you find out..."

Clearly, the act he had put on before Sasuke would not work on Josuke. Itachi had failed; his lie had been exposed.

Josuke turned on the lights and drew the curtains.

He sat down on the sofa.

Itachi sat beside him as well, just like back then.

"When?"

Josuke thought for a moment.

"From the beginning, I guess. From then until now, I never believed it..."

So that was how it was?

His acting really had been terrible. He had only managed to fool Sasuke.

"Do you hate me?"

Itachi asked.

Josuke knew the entire story of Naruto, so naturally, he could not tell Itachi the whole truth. Even if he did, would Itachi believe him?

Perhaps his brother had long prepared himself to die.

"Hate?"

Josuke laughed bitterly.

He had probably already gone numb.

"At first, I hated you deeply. I didn't know why you did it, and I didn't want to know. Maybe I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life?"

So that was how it was?

Itachi mocked himself inwardly. He truly did not deserve forgiveness, having slaughtered his entire clan and murdered his own parents.

"But I think... maybe you had your reasons."

Josuke sighed.

"Does Sasuke know?"

Josuke shook his head. What a joke—what could Sasuke do if he found out? Go activate his Curse Mark and kill Danzō now? Was that supposed to be funny?

"Don't let... cough, cough... don't let... cough cough cough... Sasuke... find out, okay?"

Itachi coughed violently, covering his mouth with his hand.

Blood appeared in his palm.

Josuke clenched his fists.

"What's wrong?"

Josuke asked.

Itachi took out a worn pink handkerchief and wiped the corners of his mouth and his hand.

"A terminal illness. Probably... four or five years left..."

Josuke said nothing, only nodded silently.

Itachi did not stay long. After resting for a while, he rose and left... Before he went, he looked at Josuke and lightly tapped his forehead with two fingers.

Then the genjutsu activated. Josuke was controlled by it and fell unconscious, while two crows with Mangekyō eyes entered Josuke's body.

Everything was complete.

Itachi's figure transformed into a crow and vanished into the moonlight.

The next day.

Josuke woke from the genjutsu. Good thing he had showered, or he would have had to shower in the morning QAQ.

Sakura also woke up from the reclining chair. The moment she awoke, she hurried to the Hokage's office without stopping.

She told Tsunade about Sasuke's defection.

At that moment, the Hidden Leaf Village's jonin all happened to be occupied, so the mission to retrieve Sasuke fell to the Hidden Leaf Twelve.

And considering Sasuke and Josuke's special relationship, Josuke was not allowed to participate in this mission.

Still, Josuke attended the send-off ceremony as usual.

Sakura was crying her eyes out, begging Naruto to bring Sasuke back no matter what.

Just as expected of Sakura bitch—when there was trouble, it was Naruto; when there was none, it was Sasuke.

Naruto felt utterly miserable. The girl he loved was calling out another person's name...