A team configuration consisting of one Jōnin and five Chūnin had left the noble who had commissioned the mission quite satisfied.
In his words, he felt the sincerity of Konoha.
The clan's heiress from the Hyuga family.
And that descendant of the Uchiha clan, who, according to rumors, was only deployed for important missions.
However, Kurenai Yuhi didn't have a positive impression of this noble.
It only took their squad half a day to travel from Konoha to the Capital of Fire.
Yet this noble, riding in a carriage, had barely traveled for a few hours before constantly complaining of fatigue and insisting on resting in a nearby town.
Clearly, if he had just endured a bit and traveled through the night, they could have returned to the village before dawn without all this fuss.
Such pampering!
Once at the inn, the noble rented the entire third floor, calling for dancers and indulging in revelries, behavior rather unbecoming.
Meanwhile, the guards and ninjas stayed on the second floor.
"Kurenai-sensei, I've done the sweep," Hinata Hyuga reported softly. "The inn's first and second floors have six ninjas in total. Four are from Konoha, but the identities of the remaining two are unclear, although they've already left the inn and do not seem intent on engaging us."
Kiba Inuzuka approached, with Akamaru clinging by his side, speaking casually, "No dangerous items on the second floor either."
"This seems like a pretty easy mission,"
Sakura Haruno also reported, "I've set up all the watches on the second floor."
She craned her neck, "Where's Sasuke?"
The others shook their heads.
"Sasuke bailed," one person succinctly noted.
Sakura glanced towards the voice, seeing a male ninja in a hoodie and sunglasses.
Huh?
Since when was this guy in Team 8?
Something like, called Zhi Rai? Or was it Zhi something?
"Bailed?" Kurenai Yuhi was briefly stunned, her demeanor turning serious, her tone rising, "What do you mean?"
"The order you gave to Sasuke was to set up traps near the third floor," Shino Aburame calmly explained. "However, he suddenly abandoned the setup and ran out of town. My insects have been following him since."
"He's still within the town limits, but it doesn't seem like he intends to come back."
Kurenai Yuhi grasped the implication, her expression hardening, "Sakura, Shino, you two stay and ensure the mission target remains safe."
"Hinata, Kiba, let's go."
Sakura Haruno spoke up, "Kurenai-sensei, please allow me to join you. Sasuke is my teammate."
Kurenai Yuhi met her pleading gaze and, after a brief silence, said, "Kiba, you stay behind."
"Let's move out."
The night was pitch-black and the wind howled.
Sasuke dashed forward, fleeing without a moment's hesitation.
Just as he left the village, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and looked at a tree ahead. "Come out, I see you."
From behind the tree, a red figure emerged, "Uchiha Sasuke, this wasn't the order I gave you. What are you up to?"
"As expected of the Sensory Unit, to detect me so swiftly." Sasuke's tone was calm, "Is there really a need to ask?"
"I'm leaving Konoha."
"Becoming a rogue ninja?" Kurenai raised her hand, her expression stern, "That's quite an unexpected decision."
"However."
She formed hand seals.
Kurenai's figure distorted like smoke and vanished.
The tree beneath Sasuke seemed to come to life, its branches extending to bind his body.
A kunai emerged from the tree trunk, poised at Sasuke's neck.
"I can't let you leave." Kurenai emerged half-way from the tree, "Return and face the Hokage's judgment."
Sasuke lifted his gaze, his Sharingan spinning, the tomoe forming a complete pattern as he locked eyes with Kurenai, "Haven't you learned?"
"I remember you faced off against that man," he continued, "Did you forget?"
"No illusion stands a chance against these eyes."
With his words, the situation reversed immediately.
Sasuke took a step back.
Now Kurenai was ensnared by the tree.
She was startled, astonished at Sasuke's mastery over genjutsu, wondering if he had truly reached this level?
The Uchiha's eyes were truly terrifying.
She didn't hesitate, biting her lip and breaking free from the genjutsu.
At this precise moment, Sakura Haruno and Hinata arrived belatedly, their pace far slower than Kurenai Yuhi's.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?" Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief as she saw the blood trickling from Kurenai's mouth.
Sasuke's gaze and tone were ice cold: "I'm leaving Konoha."
"And she just so happened to be in my way."
"If you want to stop me, you'd better be prepared to get hurt."
Sakura seemed on the verge of pulling out a kunai but hesitated to confront Sasuke: "Why do you have to leave, too?" She wasn't surprised.
The nagging feeling in her heart had finally come true.
"I crave power," Sasuke replied simply. "But Konoha can't give me what I want."
Sakura lowered her voice: "Didn't Kakashi say that once you become a Special Jōnin, he'll teach you new jutsus?"
"How long will it take to become strong that way?" Sasuke gritted his teeth, shaking his head. "Do I have to spend my whole life just to catch up with them?"
Sakura wanted to say more.
Sasuke continued, "Sakura, do you see that noble over there?" Sakura was momentarily stunned.
"Just by protecting an incompetent person, this mission is rated a B-rank." Sasuke sneered, a cold smile appearing. "Haven't you noticed Konoha's true nature yet?"
"What they want is a qualified, obedient tool."
"That's what ninjas are — tools."
"Tools to satisfy some villagers' and those nobles' desires."
Sakura had never considered these issues before.
"If gaining power means becoming a tool, then so be it." Sasuke clenched his fists. "But some in Konoha don't want to see this tool grow stronger."
"They just want me to remain at this level."
"Strong enough to match the 'Uchiha' name, yet not beyond their control."
"Staying in Konoha is just a waste of time."
Hinata Hyuga spoke up: "Are you going to find Naruto?"
Sasuke's face darkened.
A blond, radiant figure flashed through his mind.
Over the years, rumors about him have surfaced one by one.
"I'm not on the same path as him," Sasuke shook his head vigorously. "He has his pursuits, and I have mine."
He said this, lowering his head, meeting Hinata's gaze: "I'm not that kind of person."
"The kind who waits for others to extend a helping hand to save them."
"I will become stronger in my own way."
"I will take revenge with my own two hands!"
Sakura Haruno gritted her teeth, drawing out a kunai: "In that case, I absolutely cannot let you leave."
"Even staying in the village,"
"I can do everything to help you get your revenge."
Sasuke's voice was calm, decisive, and cold as he said: "Sakura, you can't do it."
He raised his hand, his gaze passing over them to look towards the town.
"A ninja is nothing more than a tool,"
"And a tool cannot have self-awareness."
Kurenai Yuhi's eyes widened as she watched him form a seal with one hand: "Uchiha Sasuke, what have you done?"
Sasuke didn't answer, simply channeling chakra.
A loud explosion erupted from the town.
It was the sound of explosive tags going off.
"Naruto saw through this from the very start," Sasuke fixed his gaze on them, sneering disdainfully, "That's why he left the village."
"It's just that I realized it now, only after spending so much time in Konoha."
"So make your choice."
"Continue fulfilling your mission as a tool,"
"Or abandon your identity as a tool and choose to stand in my way."
Kurenai gritted her teeth, glaring hard at Sasuke: "Retreat!"
Sakura turned back, looking at her in disbelief: "Kurenai-sensei, but Sasuke—"
"The safety of the mission target is more important," Kurenai replied with firm resolve.
Kurenai dragged Sakura along, taking Hinata with them as they left.
Uchiha Sasuke watched their retreating figures, lost in thought, before vanishing quietly a moment later.
As dawn broke, outside the Sound Village, Sasuke appeared.
He waited on a tree at the outskirts, suddenly turning his head towards a shadowed spot, "Come out, stop hiding."
"Sasuke-kun's Sharingan has become even more impressive," a white-haired man emerged with a smile, "I didn't expect you'd choose to come here."
"Lord Orochimaru will be pleased to hear this."
Sasuke, hands in his pockets, asked, "Is Orochimaru still alive?"
"Take me to see him."
Kabuto Yakushi dropped to the ground, gesturing towards the Sound Village, "In that case, please follow me, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke followed closely behind, his emotions turbulent.
Inside the inn.
Karin's eyes gleamed as she watched the Nine-Tails crouched on the table, her hands itching to touch it.
"Is this the Nine-Tails?" she asked.
Naruto nodded.
"It doesn't look evil at all," Karin cautiously reached out to touch the Nine-Tails, "It's adorable, fluffy."
The Nine-Tails swished its tail and snapped fiercely, "Don't you dare try to touch me!"
"Don't be so stingy, just a pat," Karin winced, withdrawing her hand, rubbing the slightly reddened mark.
The Nine-Tails bared its teeth, "I am the strongest, fiercest tailed beast, not your pet!"
"You Uzumaki brats should get that straight."
Karin pouted, mumbling and made several more attempts, but even when she circled to its back, she couldn't succeed; the Nine-Tails' perception was not inferior to hers.
She finally turned to Naruto, "Are we setting off tomorrow?"
Naruto pondered, "Yeah, we've done all we can for now."
"Next, where to go, let me think about a suitable place in the Land of Fire to settle," Karin remembered Naruto's words from two days ago about finding somewhere to live first.
Naruto spoke softly, "First, we go to find Orochimaru."
"To borrow a few things from him."
Karin was surprised, having just met that guy.
Naruto shook his head.
He intended to borrow some research equipment from Orochimaru, along with information on some notorious and dangerous ninjas.
The ritual of "Reaper Death Seal: Release" requires a sacrificial play. That much is certain.
Naruto pondered this cold fact, knowing that he couldn't allow either himself or Karin to be used for such a grim purpose.
Besides, Naruto had already deciphered the intricacies of this technique. But this knowledge, he decided, was not something he planned to share with Orochimaru.
(End of Chapter)