Sasuke Defects, Naruto Leaves

Konoha, Forest of Death.

"Sasuke-kun, are you training?"

Before Sasuke Uchiha could react, someone tapped his shoulder. A figure stood behind him.

The Cursed Seal on his neck seemed to ache at the sight of the newcomer.

"Orochimaru, what do you want?"

"Chidori!"

Lightning flashed in Sasuke Uchiha's hand, and the cries of thousands of birds rang through the forest.

"Do you think you can kill me?"

"Do you want to grow stronger?"

Orochimaru's words shook Sasuke Uchiha.

"I can help you grow stronger. You know Naruto Uzumaki, don't you? Do you think you can measure up to him?" Orochimaru asked.

Sasuke Uchiha scoffed. "He's the Dead Last. How could he compare to me?"

"You saw the monster inside him, didn't you? What if he learned to control its power?" Orochimaru asked.

Sasuke Uchiha remembered the monster inside Naruto, the one that radiated terrifying Chakra, and a chill ran through him.

"But what about you?"

"Uchiha Yoru is teaching me, and Itachi is the Hokage!"

"Do you really think Uchiha Yoru will teach you? Doesn't he care more about Naruto Uzumaki? And now that Itachi is Hokage, he has duties to attend to. How much time can he spend with you?"

"That's not true!" Sasuke Uchiha said, though he sounded unsure.

But when he thought back, it really did seem as though Naruto Uzumaki had quietly taken some things from him since arriving.

"Are you sure?"

"Come with me instead. Once you're strong enough, won't your brothers see you in a new light?"

"You can take back everything Naruto Uzumaki stole from you!"

"Come with me, Sasuke-kun!"

Seeing that Sasuke Uchiha was still hesitating, Orochimaru licked his lips and left him with one last remark.

"If you're interested, meet me at the gates of Konoha tonight."

Sasuke Uchiha returned home with a heavy heart.

"Come eat, stupid Sasuke! Brother Yoru cooked again today!"

As soon as Sasuke Uchiha got home, Naruto Uzumaki greeted him with a bowl of rice in his hands.

Sasuke Uchiha walked inside.

"How did your training go today, Naruto?"

"I learned another Wind Release Ninjutsu!"

"Keep it up."

Watching the three of them together, Sasuke Uchiha felt like he didn't belong.

Why? Why did Naruto have to take the things I treasured?

Sasuke Uchiha finally understood what he had been feeling. Naruto Uzumaki's arrival had stolen all the love and attention from his mother and brother that should have been his.

"Naruto, come on. Fight me!"

"Sasuke, what are you talking about?"

"Enough talk. Fight me!"

As Uchiha Mikoto watched them leave, worry flashed in her eyes.

Nothing bad will happen, will it?

"Chidori!"

"Rasengan!"

No one knew who won in the end.

All anyone knew was that the next day, Sasuke Uchiha defected and went to find Orochimaru, the rogue ninja.

"Itachi, hurry up and send someone after Sasuke!"

"Call Uchiha Yoru here for me," Uchiha Yoru said.

Several dark figures darted out of the Hokage's office.

Uchiha Yoru strolled in. "What do you want, Itachi?"

"Sasuke defected! Brother Yoru, hurry up and go after him!" Naruto Uzumaki shouted anxiously.

"It's fine. He made his own choice."

Looks like Orochimaru's pretty good at luring people away.

"But that's Orochimaru! He killed the Third Hokage... He's the man who killed the Third Hokage!"

"Don't worry. If you're that scared, go after him yourself. Konoha doesn't have the people to spare to pursue Sasuke Uchiha right now."

"Itachi!"

Uchiha Itachi kept working and ignored Naruto.

"If you won't go, I'll go myself!"

Naruto Uzumaki stormed out and slammed the door behind him.

Sasuke Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi looked at each other and saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.

Was Orochimaru's side any different from Konoha? He was one of their own already!

But neither of them said a word. They both understood.

It would put some pressure on Naruto and Sasuke, too.

If Sasuke learned that Orochimaru worked for Konoha, he would think he had escaped, only to discover that Konoha was everywhere.

Late that night, Naruto Uzumaki dragged his exhausted body back and collapsed at the door.

An examination showed that Naruto Uzumaki had pushed both his Chakra and his body far beyond their limits.

According to the Anbu report, Naruto Uzumaki had fought the Sound Four alone in their second forms.

Although Naruto had defeated all four, he had failed to catch Sasuke. He had dragged himself back afterward.

Uchiha Yoru was a little shocked when he heard.

The Sound Four were no pushovers. They were a core fighting force Orochimaru had spent considerable effort raising.

Naruto had drawn on the Nine-Tails' Chakra, but his feat was still impressive. Compared with the original story, where he mostly relied on variations of the Rasengan, he knew far more Ninjutsu now.

Sure enough.

The bond between Naruto and Sasuke was powerful. Even after unleashing Nine-Tails Chakra and suffering such serious injuries, Naruto had made it back on his own.

The Anbu had not intervened at all. They had nearly been caught in the fight themselves.

In fact, if Uchiha Itachi had not warned them, the Anbu might even have finished off the Sound Four.

Losing the Sound Four would have hurt Orochimaru for a long time.

People who could withstand the second stage of the Cursed Seal were not easy to find.

Otogakure.

"Welcome to Otogakure, Sasuke-kun!"

Orochimaru said it with a kindly smile.

Sasuke Uchiha stood silently in the middle of the group, uncomfortable under the hostile stares surrounding him.

Just then, the Sound Four were carried in.

Sasuke Uchiha's expression turned grave. Naruto, just how strong have you become?

Sasuke knew he could not beat those four as he was now, yet Naruto seemed to have defeated them with ease.

Seeing Sasuke's reaction, Orochimaru smiled to himself.

Inside a sealed chamber, a child who bore some resemblance to Orochimaru was slowly growing in nutrient fluid.

The next day, at Konoha Hospital.

"Pervy Sage, I want to train!"

"Naruto, no. Your body hasn't recovered yet. Don't get up. Stay in bed and rest!"

"I'm fine now! I need to train so I can bring stupid Sasuke back!"

"Lady Tsunade, I want to learn Medical Ninjutsu from you. I want to keep up with Naruto and Sasuke!"

"My training is strict. Can you handle it?"

"Of course I can!"

"Don't forget me! I want to learn Medical Ninjutsu too!"

"You're Ino's girl, aren't you? You two can train together!"

Uchiha Yoru stood at the highest point in Konoha, looking out over the village.

I'll become the wind, with Konoha as my starting point, and change the whole world!