Josuke the Rogue Ninja

Josuke stopped walking, immediately drawing Kakashi and the others' attention. They looked at him in confusion.

Naruto in particular asked doubtfully,

"Josuke, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Josuke said nothing. He looked at the scroll. It should be about time...

Three. Two. One...

It's here.

A woman shouted,

"Crystal Release: God Crossing Technique!"

A straight line of crystals erupted from the ground, attacking the enemy from below.

It was so fast and powerful that it was impossible to guard against.

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

"Everyone, dodge!!"

Kakashi said urgently as he formed hand seals with both hands. "Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Wall!"

Walls made of earth temporarily blocked the attack.

Josuke spotted Orochimaru in the distance, and Orochimaru smiled back at him.

"It's been a long time, Josuke-kun."

Orochimaru's tone was as cold as ever. He truly lived up to his title as the Cold Lord.

Not long ago, Orochimaru had contacted Josuke and asked when he planned to leave. After giving it some thought, Josuke had settled on this time.

It just so happened that Orochimaru and his group had a mission in the Sand Village, so Josuke's defection began at this very moment.

He was finally going to become a rogue ninja. Just thinking about it made him a little excited. Heh.

Still, he felt somewhat guilty. Although the Hidden Leaf Village had its scum, most people there were good...

Josuke slowly walked over to Orochimaru's side.

By then, Kakashi had already broken through the Crystal Release attack. Orochimaru's group and Josuke were now exposed in everyone's sight.

Everyone was shocked, unable to understand what Josuke was trying to do.

Naruto in particular stared at Josuke with an incredulous, disbelieving expression.

"Josuke, what are you doing?"

Naruto's words echoed the thoughts of nearly everyone present. Was Josuke going to follow the same old path as Sasuke?

How could that be possible?

Almost no one could believe it.

That wasn't Josuke's personality...

But as Josuke drew closer and closer to Orochimaru, everyone realized just how serious the situation was.

Kakashi and Might Guy stepped forward to stop Josuke, only to be caught off guard by suddenly appearing snake arms.

Orochimaru looked at everyone with cold, mocking eyes. Is this my fault? Your Josuke had been in contact with me as early as three years ago. How pathetic. Of course, those were only Orochimaru's inner thoughts.

What would happen if he said them aloud?

Josuke would probably kill him on the spot, so naturally, Orochimaru would not say such things.

Kakashi looked at Orochimaru and Guren, who were blocking the way. He knew that he and Might Guy would not be able to get away.

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

Naruto's expression was exceptionally complex—anger, confusion, surprise, sorrow... He did not understand. Why? Why was this happening?

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

But that was enough. Gaara, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji had long since lost their ability to fight because of the earlier attack, while Sakura was occupied treating everyone and could not get away.

"Josuke, meet up at the agreed location."

Orochimaru released several giant snakes to hold Kakashi and Might Guy back, then turned and spoke to Josuke.

Josuke understood immediately. He glanced in the direction, confirmed it was correct, and hurried toward it.

Seeing this, Naruto quickly chased after him.

As the distance widened, Naruto was the only thing left visible behind him. The desert surroundings turned into hills, and the hills eventually gave way to a riverbank.

The wide river forced Josuke to stop for the moment.

Naruto caught up with him then.

"Josuke, come back to the Hidden Leaf Village with me. Orochimaru is no good!"

Naruto stretched out his hand, pleading for him to stay.

Josuke turned around. His fully developed three-tomoe Sharingan appeared, and he let out a cold laugh.

"Why do you think the Hidden Leaf Village is so great? That old man, the Third Hokage, is a complete failure. Don't tell me you've been brainwashed. How laughable."

Naruto could not believe those words had come from Josuke.

His beloved Third Hokage Grandpa had been slandered like that, and the one slandering him was his closest friend.

"You..."

Naruto did not know how to refute him.

He said quietly,

"Don't go. Please, Josuke... I... I can give up on my dream of becoming Hokage..."

Hearing that, Josuke raised his hand and slapped Naruto across the face. "Why are you so pathetic?"

Josuke felt indescribably miserable inside. He and Naruto had been together for so long that they were no different from brothers. Naruto truly deserved the title of closest friend.

"You can just abandon your dream like that? That's truly contemptible."

With that, he turned and left.

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

With that, Naruto dropped to his knees.

Josuke was stunned. For some reason, anger surged into his heart, and he punched Naruto hard in the bridge of the nose. Blood immediately poured from Naruto's face.

Then a storm of punches rained down on Naruto.

(Ora Ora Ora)

Naruto was beaten until blood flowed everywhere, yet he did not make a single sound.

Finally, after who knew how many punches, Josuke grew tired and viciously kicked Naruto.

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

He kicked him several more times.

Then he turned to leave, but Naruto grabbed his left foot. Naruto had been beaten so badly that he was barely conscious.

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

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

This was something that only happened when an Uchiha experienced intense negative emotions.

I'm not going back to the Hidden Leaf Village...

Then Josuke stopped. Naruto thought Josuke had changed his mind, but a Rasengan suddenly struck him in the back.

Of course, Josuke had reduced its power. It was nothing serious—his stomach just hurt terribly.

"I've played the good guy for so long that I'm sick of it. Let me tell you, Naruto. Everything you saw was an act. In my eyes, you're trash, garbage, a stinking fox demon, an orphan nobody wants!!"

"From the very beginning, I looked down on you, you know that? It's truly hilarious. You were deceived for so long and still didn't realize it. You wagged your tail like a dog, begging your master for forgiveness.

What a worthless coward!"

No... that's not true... Josuke isn't that kind of person!

Naruto was hurt, but that did not mean he could not hear. Josuke's insults and slander were like sharp swords stabbing into Naruto's fragile heart.

Even now, Naruto still could not believe Josuke was really like this.

Josuke: You're surprisingly good at judging people, kid. (teasing)