The Resolve to Protect Those You Love Is the Motivation to Grow Stronger

"Naruto, did you hear something?" Sakura asked, looking around in confusion.

"No. Was there a sound?" Naruto pretended to listen around him and said with an honest look, "I didn't hear anything."

"We came out to look for Sasuke. Do you think he might have gone back to the river to look for us?" Thinking of that possibility, Sakura hurriedly said, "Naruto, let's go back. Maybe Sasuke is already waiting for us where we were before."

Naruto was startled. They absolutely could not go there, because Orochimaru was testing Sasuke and assessing his potential.

"Sasuke!" Naruto pointed in one direction and shouted, "I think I saw Sasuke! Over there! It looks like someone's chasing him!"

A fierce light burst from Sakura's eyes. Transforming into a wild beast, she bared her teeth and charged in the direction Naruto had pointed.

"Phew—" Having successfully fooled Sakura, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. This was a critical moment for Sasuke, and they could not disturb him.

For the next while, Naruto searched everywhere with Sakura, tricking her into circling through the forest and wasting half the day.

Figuring the time was about right, Naruto said, "Let's go back. Maybe Sasuke is already waiting for us there."

With a loud clank, Sakura's iron fist smashed into Naruto's head. Fortunately, Naruto had been prepared. White smoke burst from his body after taking the blow, and he turned into half a tree stump. It was Naruto's Substitution Jutsu.

Sakura was very surprised. In the past, whenever she wanted to hit Naruto, she could do so easily. Now, Naruto was prepared to use ninjutsu at every moment.

"Naruto! What are you doing? Are you even worried about Sasuke at all?"

"I am worried about Sasuke." Naruto's real body stepped out from behind a tree, and he said helplessly, "This is the path Sasuke chose for himself. I'll help him with whatever I can, and even if I can't help, I'll still find a way to help."

At that moment, Sakura had an illusion. How had Naruto suddenly become so handsome? Sasuke's figure seemed to overlap with Naruto's.

"Hey." Naruto said disdainfully, "I'm Naruto, not Sasuke. Don't look at me like that."

"Hmph." Sakura snorted in the same disdainful manner.

Afterward, Naruto and Sakura returned to the riverbank, the place where they had encountered Orochimaru. There was still a charred crater there, evidence of Naruto using 1,562 explosive tags.

Sakura had been too worried about Sasuke earlier to notice the crater. Seeing it now left her deeply shocked.

"What exactly happened here?" Sakura muttered to herself. "Were these traces left by Naruto and Sasuke fighting that female ninja from Hidden Grass Village?"

"We found Sasuke!" Naruto was the first to spot Sasuke's figure and hurried over. The first thing he did was check the back of Sasuke's neck.

Sure enough, he found the mark of the Heaven's Curse Mark on Sasuke's neck. Gently lifting Sasuke's eyelids, he saw the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

Sasuke had grown stronger again! Naruto thought. But Sasuke's condition is terrible. Orochimaru tortured him until he's barely alive, and he's still maintaining the Sharingan. It looks like the Heaven's Curse Mark is affecting Sasuke's chakra, which is why the Sharingan has remained active...

Naruto cursed inwardly. That bastard Orochimaru doesn't know how to be gentler. He's so rough with Sasuke. If anything happens to Sasuke, where else will you find a vessel...

Sakura ran over. The moment she saw Sasuke's miserable state, she covered her mouth in fright. Sasuke was covered in wounds, breathing rapidly, his chest heaving violently. He looked to be in terrible pain.

"Let's find a safe place to hide for the night." Naruto picked up Sasuke and took him to hide in a tree hollow.

Sasuke was placed at the very back of the hollow. Naruto took off his clothes and covered Sasuke with them while Sakura carefully tended to him nearby.

Seeing that Sasuke still could not wake up, Sakura felt heartbroken. She asked, "Naruto, what kind of battle did you and Sasuke go through while I was unconscious?"

"Sakura, you don't need to blame yourself. This isn't your fault." Naruto looked serious, but inwardly he was laughing. Of course it isn't your fault, Sakura. It's all my fault. Sasuke ended up like this because of me... Hahaha...

Hearing Naruto's comforting words, Sakura clenched her fists tightly. Tears streamed down uncontrollably. She also felt that she was too weak, unable to keep up with Sasuke and Naruto or fight alongside them. In the end, she had been unable to help at all.

Naruto glanced at Sakura and was immediately alarmed. He quickly comforted her, saying, "Sakura, don't overthink it. It really has nothing to do with you. If anyone's to blame, blame me. It's all my fault. I'm too weak to protect Sasuke properly... Sigh..."

"Thank you, Naruto." Though tears still streaked her face, Sakura's gaze was firm as she said with strength beneath her frailty, "I'll become stronger. Then I'll be able to protect Sasuke too."

Naruto smiled. It seemed Sakura had misunderstood, but so be it. He had not expected it to awaken Sakura's resolve as a ninja. The desire to protect those she loved was the motivation to grow stronger.

Naruto encouraged her, saying, "Sakura, you'll definitely become stronger. Don't let Sasuke get too far ahead. You have to keep up with him."

"Yeah!" Sakura nodded heavily and said, "Ever since graduating from the Ninja Academy, you've really changed a lot, Naruto."

"Shh!" Naruto made a silencing gesture, indicating that someone was approaching. Sakura understood immediately and hurriedly drew a kunai in preparation.

Naruto gently parted the leaves, revealing only a tiny opening. He saw a figure outside, and upon closer inspection, it was Kabuto Yakushi!

Kabuto Yakushi had tracked Naruto's group to this place, only to ultimately find nothing.

Kabuto Yakushi surveyed the surroundings but found nothing unusual. Sasuke has already been given Lord Orochimaru's Heaven's Curse Mark. He should be moving slowly. I've tracked them all the way here, so why can't I find anything once I reach this place...?

At the same time, Naruto signaled Sakura not to worry and whispered, "The tree hollow I found is very hidden, and I covered the outside with several layers of bushes. People outside shouldn't be able to find it easily."

Sure enough, Kabuto Yakushi could not find any trace of Sasuke and could only leave first.

After Kabuto Yakushi left, Naruto said to Sakura, "Even someone like that couldn't find this place, which proves it's safe. Stay here with Sasuke for the night. I'll follow that person outside and gather information. I'll come back here tomorrow."

"Naruto! Why are you taking such a risk?"

Naruto smiled and said, "Because I'll protect you too." With that, Naruto took the Heaven Scroll and Earth Scroll from his body and handed them to Sakura for safekeeping.

Naruto looked outside and saw that it had grown dark, so he quietly slipped out and caught up with Kabuto Yakushi.

Kabuto Yakushi thought, It'll be bad if I can't find Sasuke. After receiving the Heaven's Curse Mark, Sasuke has only a one-in-ten chance of surviving. My mission is to observe whether Sasuke can endure it. If he can, then he is a suitable vessel for Lord Orochimaru.

"Sasuke's team has already obtained the Heaven Scroll and Earth Scroll, so they will eventually reach the tower." Kabuto Yakushi said softly, "I hope you can make it to the tower alive, Sasuke."