Just as Sasuke was getting stuck on his own thoughts, Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi suddenly appeared in front of Sasuke.
Who are you?!
" Sasuke-kun, don't you remember me? I'm Kabuto Yakushi."
"That Forehead Protector... you were originally from the Otogakure!"
Sasuke suddenly stood up, ready to launch an attack, but suddenly felt as if the Cursed Seal on the back of his neck was being burned, while Orochimaru beside him had an eerie golden light emanating from his snake eyes. "Hehehe, Sasuke, don't waste your energy."
"Ah! What have you done to me!"
"Hehehe, Sasuke, do you crave the power to defeat Itachi? I can give it to you."
Orochimaru's words struck a nerve with Sasuke: "Who are you... It was you! Orochimaru!"
"Hehehe, as expected of Itachi's younger brother, your observation skills are so sharp. I think you have more outstanding qualities than Itachi. Come, let me give you even greater power."
Kabuto Yakushi chimed in, fanning the flames. " Sasuke-kun, Lord Orochimaru has already unraveled the secret of immortality. Can't you see that? If you just follow him, defeating Itachi and even reviving the entire Uchiha Clan will be a piece of cake."
Sasuke was clearly shaken and fell silent.
Seeing Sasuke's obvious wavering, Orochimaru took a step back. " Sasuke, I'll be waiting for you outside Konoha tonight."
After saying that, the two used Body Flicker Technique to leave.
Sasuke was left all alone.
Torn between his longtime comrades and the power to defeat Itachi, what choice will he make?
Five minutes later...
Of course I'd join Orochimaru! ╮(ω)╭
The Lord God: "Holy crap, what kind of plot is this?!"
"Power! I crave power! I have always been alone, and I will always be alone. All who stand in my way shall die!"
Just then, Kakashi appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of Sasuke: "Yo, Sasuke-kun, long time no see. Why do you look so gloomy? Did you run into someone you don't want to see?"
"Tch! What are you trying to say!"
"Sigh, Sasuke, let's forget about revenge."
What nonsense are you spouting!
"Because I was a ninja too, and in my time... I've seen plenty of people like you."
Kakashi looked up at the birds flying in the sky, seemingly lost in thought.
Sasuke rarely saw Kakashi like this, and although he had originally intended to run away, he became interested in what Kakashi had to say.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
" Sasuke, a person filled with hatred has a narrow vision. Their world consists only of the destination, and they will stop at nothing to achieve it, ultimately leading to a tragic end. Even when they finally reach their destination, all that remains is emptiness; they will end up with nothing."
"You know absolutely nothing! Stop pretending to lecture me! I've always been all alone, and since that's the case, I naturally choose revenge! If all the important people in your life are dead, you'll understand my pain!"
"Well! I don't have anyone important to me anymore."
"... What?"
"Because they were all killed."
Kakashi, however, said this to Sasuke with a smile.
"The era I lived through was far more chaotic than now. I know better than anyone the pain of losing loved ones. You and I are both very unfortunate, but we are not the most unfortunate. You may not admit it, but you have already found the most important companion, haven't you?"
Lord God: "What does this ♂ mean?!"
Sasuke fell silent, the images of Naruto and Sakura flashing through his mind. "But we just had a fight..."
"What did you say?"
"N-nothing!"
"It is precisely because of the pain of loss that we can appreciate the happiness of gain. I taught you Chidori because I wanted you to use this technique to protect your comrades, not to target them. I am disappointed in you and Naruto. You are now a capable ninja, and you should know how to use techniques. Think about it carefully; you are not a fool."
Sasuke fell silent, sitting Immobility on the tree.
"Hmph, I'd better go and join Orochimaru..."
Sasuke packed his bags and, under the cover of night, walked alone in the dim light.
Halfway there, they found Naruto and Sakura chatting happily on a bench by the roadside, the only way out of the village.
" Sakura and Naruto, what are they doing here? Are they on a date?!"
Sasuke suddenly felt like he had a bunch of grass growing on his head, and he was furious.
Little did they know, Sakura, with her keen insight, sensed that Sasuke to leave, so she and Naruto arrived early to guard the place, intending to persuade him one more time if it really happened.
Unfortunately, they underestimated Sasuke's emotional intelligence...
"Then I used the Summoning Technique to summon Uncle Gamaken from Mount Myōboku. He's a super giant Toad, as tall as a five-story building!"
"Really? That's amazing!"
"Yeah! Then they just smashed his door open with a bang, and then Hongshi-kun came and healed Shizune- neechan!"
"Oh right, the Rasengan the Pervy Sage taught me was actually modified into the Fire Rasengan by Hongshi-kun, and he also taught Hinata-chan a move called... Dragon Fist? Anyway, it's incredibly powerful!"
"How come Hongshi-kun can do everything?!"
Watching the two get more and more excited as they chatted, Sasuke, hidden in the bushes, grew increasingly angry, even feeling as if his own color had turned to match the surrounding grass.
"You can do... anything!"
The Lord God said, "As a thirteen-year-old boy, you know far too much."
" Sakura-chan, it's so late, Sasuke probably won't be here."
"That seems true, it's almost two o'clock."
"Let's go home then, we still have to practice tomorrow!"
"Okay, let's go."
Sasuke, hidden in the bushes. "Go... go home!"
Naruto and Sakura are drifting further and further apart...
"That idiot Sasuke! I went through all that trouble to find Granny Tsunade and heal him, and the first thing he did when he woke up was hit on me!"
"How dare you call me an idiot!"
"Oh well, that's just how Sasuke is. His biggest trait is his complete lack of romantic understanding."
"And you say I'm clueless about romance!"
Outside Konoha, Orochimaru saw Sasuke slowly approaching from afar. "Hehehe, you see, I told you he would agree. No one can resist the temptation of power."
At that moment, two more people appeared beside Orochimaru —it was Jūgo and Suigetsu!
" Lord Orochimaru, we've arrived."
"Hehe, Jūgo, you're still as quiet as ever."
Suigetsu looked at Sasuke in the distance. "This is the Uchiha Clan brat you were talking about. He doesn't look anything special."
Orochimaru: "He is a child of destiny born in darkness, now fallen into our embrace in the abyss, exchanging his soul for the power of revenge. How far will he grow? It's truly something to look forward to."
Jūgo looked at Orochimaru: " Lord Orochimaru, Kidomaru's body is too deeply corrupted by the incomplete Cursed Seal. He absolutely must not enter the Cursed Seal state again, or he will die."
Orochimaru was well aware of this body's flaws. "I know. Sage Energy is too domineering. We must return to Otogakure first and then figure out a solution."
Kabuto Yakushi said to Jūgo, "The main reason I called you and Suigetsu here is this: Lord Orochimaru was seriously injured in his battle against Sannin and Jiraiya of the Legendary Tsunade. Of the Sound Four, only Kidomaru survived, and he was forced to reincarnate into Kidomaru's body. However, the Sage Energy's corruption is too severe. After returning to Otogakure, I will prepare a medicine to absorb Sage Energy based on Jūgo's blood."
Suigetsu looked at Orochimaru with admiration. " Lord Orochimaru actually fought against the other two Sannin all by himself? That's amazing!"
Orochimaru's golden snake eyes remained fixed on the approaching Sasuke: "Alright, let's begin."
Sasuke spotted Orochimaru ahead. "Hey, Orochimaru, I'm here."
"Hehe, then let's get to know each other again. I am Orochimaru."
"I am Kabuto Yakushi."
"I am Hozuki Suigetsu."
"I am Jūgo."
"Tch, I have no interest in what you're called."
"Hehe, that's good then, let's go."
Where to go?
"Of course, it's the Otogakure. Your path of revenge will begin anew there."
"Let's go then! What are we waiting for?"
At this moment, Kabuto Yakushi took out a small medicine bottle. "Before you leave, you must take this."
Sasuke frowned. "What is this?"
"This is Mind Awakening Pill. Your current Cursed Seal of Heaven has begun to affect your body."
Jūgo was shocked. "He actually bore the Cursed Seal of Heaven! Could he be that...?"
"Hehehe, that's right, he's someone who holds the same significance as Kimimaro."
"I see."
Hey! What are you guys talking about?!
"Hehehe, Sasuke, you'll have to die first."
"Wh... what!"
Seeing Sasuke's tense state, Kabuto Yakushi continued to explain, "The erosion of the Cursed Seal is irreversible. You are currently only in Stage One, so the impact isn't too great yet. However, if you enter Stage Two, you will die very quickly. Therefore, the only way is to take the Mind Awakening Pill to enter a 24-hour state of suspended animation, and then use our Four Black Fogs Formation to allow you to enter Stage Two while in this suspended animation. This way, your body will adapt to the effects of Stage Two and absorb its power, ultimately gaining immense strength."
"Immense power..."
"However, don't be too happy yet. Even so, if you stay in Stage Two for too long, you'll die, because the Cursed Seal of Heaven is the most domineering and strongest Cursed Seal Orochimaru researched."
"Heh heh heh, Sasuke, power is a double-edged sword. Gaining power always comes with losing something. Are you prepared for that?"
Sasuke glanced at the medicine bottle in Kabuto Yakushi's hand, snatched it, and swallowed a pill. "I have nothing left to lose."
"Hahaha"
Orochimaru's eyes were filled with fanaticism. "Very good, very good!"
"Ugh!"
A few seconds later, Sasuke felt dizzy and fell to his knees. The effects of the Mind Awakening Pill took hold very quickly, and his heartbeat gradually slowed down.
Kabuto Yakushi summoned a cylindrical coffin and placed the unconscious Sasuke inside. "Hurry! Any slower and Sasuke will really die!"
The four quickly positioned themselves around Sasuke, simultaneously forming the same hand seals.
" Four Black Fogs Formation!"
A large amount of black mist flowed from all directions into the coffin, Sasuke.
Kabuto Yakushi took out several talismans with Cursed Seal on them and pasted them on several locations on the coffin.
" Black Sealing Method!"
The black mist flowing inside the coffin no longer leaked out.
"Okay, all done."
"Hehe, then let's Otogakure."
"Yes!"
Jūgo carried the black coffin on his back, and the group disappeared into the night.
Dark clouds obscured the moonlight, and darkness enveloped the earth, just like Sasuke falling into an abyss.