Satoru reclined against the tree trunk, enjoying the gentle sway of the leaves. His relaxed posture and easygoing grin made him seem completely at odds with the tense atmosphere that seemed to plague the Akatsuki organization.
Being an alternate member of Akatsuki was, in his opinion, the perfect role—just enough involvement to observe but not enough responsibility to stress.
He let his thoughts wander. It's not laziness; it's strategic. Lying low while gathering intel is the true mark of a professional, he mused with a faint smile.
However, someone wasn't pleased with his behavior.
Hidden in the shadows, Black Zetsu observed him with growing frustration.
"This guy…" Black Zetsu muttered, his formless body blending into the background.
"Every day, either eating or sleeping, showing no initiative at all. What a waste of time!"
At first, Black Zetsu had been hopeful. If Satoru truly possessed special abilities or knowledge, it might help the Moon's Eye Plan move forward.
But no. Satoru was either napping or enjoying snacks.
"It's infuriating!" Black Zetsu hissed, finally deciding to pull back his surveillance. "This guy's harmless."
Meanwhile, Satoru was about to receive an unexpected update.
Walking through a bustling town, he overheard a group of travelers discussing something curious.
"Did you hear? Uchiha Sasuke left Konoha with some Sound ninja. He's heading for Orochimaru's village!"
Satoru froze mid-bite, his pale blue eyes narrowing.
Sasuke? With Orochimaru?
Hadn't he warned Sasuke repeatedly about the dangers of Orochimaru? Hadn't he painted the man as the creepiest, snakiest human being alive?
"Don't tell me Orochimaru has been taking persuasion classes…" Satoru muttered, scratching his head.
But then, a thought struck him.
Wait… could it be… me?
His interactions with Sasuke over the years, while rare, may have inadvertently influenced the boy's choices.
"Oops," Satoru said aloud, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
Meanwhile, Naruto and a group of Konoha shinobi were in hot pursuit of Sasuke.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, his voice hoarse from running. "Why are you leaving? Why betray Konoha?!"
Sasuke, clad in his Uchiha uniform, turned with a cold expression.
"Go back, Naruto," he said sharply. "You don't understand."
His Sharingan flared, emphasizing his determination.
As tensions rose, a rustling sound came from the trees above.
"Who's there?!" one of the Konoha ninjas shouted, all eyes darting toward the source of the noise.
"Sasuke, you've got an audience," Satoru called out cheerfully, hopping down from the canopy with a sack slung over his shoulder.
Naruto's face lit up.
"Mr. Bandage!" he cried, relieved.
Shikamaru, on the other hand, tensed immediately.
"Great. Just what we needed…"
Sasuke's gaze darkened as he noticed the familiar black robe.
"You joined the Akatsuki?"
Satoru blinked innocently. "Oh, this old thing? Fashion statement. Nothing more."
But Sasuke wasn't convinced. His fists clenched as the memories of their past interactions fueled his frustration.
"Let's go, Sasuke," Satoru said suddenly, gesturing toward the path ahead.
"I've got something to tell you."
Both Konoha and Sound ninja immediately stiffened at his words.
"You're not taking him anywhere!" Kimimaru snapped, stepping forward with deadly intent.
"Sasuke belongs to Orochimaru-sama."
"Yeah, not happening!" Naruto yelled, stepping in front of Sasuke protectively.
Satoru sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Man, you're all so dramatic," he muttered. "Fine. Plan B."
His pale blue eyes curved into a playful arc as he disappeared in a blur of motion.
When he reappeared, Sasuke was no longer standing where he had been.
Instead, Satoru now carried a large sack slung over his shoulder, the unmistakable sound of muffled protests coming from within.
"Put me down, second brother!" Sasuke's voice was indignant, though slightly muffled.
The entire group stared, dumbfounded.
Naruto blinked.
"Wait… did he just… sack Sasuke?"
"You thief!" Kimimaru roared, lunging forward with his bone blades.
Konoha's ninjas weren't far behind, shouting threats and commands for him to stop.
Satoru waved cheerfully at them as he leaped into the trees.
"See you later, everyone!"
His voice echoed through the forest, leaving only stunned silence in its wake.
Back on the ground, Shikamaru rubbed his temples.
"This guy… is he serious?"
Naruto turned to him, his face a mixture of anger and confusion.
"What are we supposed to do now?!"
Far ahead in the forest, Satoru adjusted the sack on his shoulder, ignoring Sasuke's increasingly creative threats.
"Well, that went better than expected," he mused, his pale blue eyes gleaming mischievously.
"You'll thank me later, little brother."