Another one?

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In the cold, spacious underground chamber—once a sacred sanctuary for the Uchiha clan—only clan leaders and elders could enter freely. Other members required permission to access its most crucial areas. After the Uchiha clan's downfall, this place became just another relic, with Konoha's higher-ups able to enter at will.

However, thanks to a special agreement, the Uchiha District and this sacred chamber were spared from destruction. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would never have sanctioned its demolition, and while Danzo Shimura had wanted to, he lacked the authority.

Thus, the most important relic of the Uchiha still remained: the stone tablet.

Sasuke walked down the dim corridor toward the tablet, his expression unreadable. His Sharingan activated, two tomoe spinning in each eye as he focused.

Standing before the ancient tablet, Sasuke clenched his fist tightly, his face tense.

*"This isn't enough... Power... I need more power."*

The scenes from the Chunin Exams replayed in his mind—Gaara's monstrous transformation, Menma's overwhelming chakra. Both had power beyond his reach, power that allowed them to crush their enemies with ease. This realization gnawed at Sasuke's pride.

He didn't fully understand the nature of tailed beasts or jinchūriki. All he knew was that two rivals had displayed strength he couldn't match, and that infuriated him.

Instinctively, his hand brushed the cursed mark on his neck.

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke focused, drawing out the mark's power.

A dark, pulsing chakra surged within him, and black markings began spreading across his skin like living tendrils. The sudden wave of pain forced him to grit his teeth, and to stop himself from crying out, he bit down hard on his lip, tasting blood.

The seconds passed like an eternity.

As the markings finished crawling over his skin, the searing pain subsided, leaving a dull ache that he was beginning to grow accustomed to.

Then came the power.

Sasuke flexed his hand, feeling the surge of energy coursing through him. But even as he embraced the strength, he sensed something darker lurking within—a dangerous hunger for more. His face twisted into a grimace as that desire for power intensified.

*"Not enough!"* Sasuke's thoughts screamed. *"This power still isn't enough!"*

The first stage of the curse mark gave him a significant boost, but it couldn't satisfy the insatiable need that raged within him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Gaara's rampage, Menma's show of raw chakra. He needed strength that could rival theirs—or surpass it.

Then, there was *that day*—the day he'd encountered his brother again. Although years had passed since the Uchiha massacre, the events of the Chunin Exams had brought it all back. It was as if Uchiha Itachi had left him there, amidst the burning remains of his clan, all over again.

*"Itachi!"* Sasuke growled through clenched teeth, his Sharingan blazing with renewed intensity. The difference in power was unbearable, and his chakra spiked wildly as his rage hit its peak.

Physically, he'd recovered from his injuries, thanks to Konoha's skilled medics. But the mental scars? Those hadn't healed at all.

Itachi's cold, indifferent face...

Sasuke's mind churned with rage and frustration, sinking deeper into his desire for power. His goal became clearer: he would make any sacrifice necessary to achieve revenge.

*"If I can't find what I need here… then I'll leave."*

His eyes narrowed, and Menma's form flickered in his mind. The Sharingan in his pupils gleamed with deadly resolve.

No matter how the events of the Chunin Exams had unfolded, Sasuke's desire for power hadn't wavered. Gaara's and Menma's strength only deepened that need. He couldn't stand the slow pace of his current progress any longer.

He needed power now.

And Orochimaru... was the key.

---

A few nights later, in the dead of night, footsteps echoed through the silent streets of Konoha. The Sound Four had slipped past the village's defenses and now stood before Sasuke Uchiha.

"Let's go," Sasuke said coldly, his face an impassive mask.

Unlike the original timeline, there was no hesitation in this Sasuke. After the Chunin Exams, he had already made up his mind. He craved power—no matter the cost.

The four sound-nin knelt in respect. "As you wish, Sasuke-sama," they said in unison.

"This," Jirobo said, hefting a large wooden barrel onto his shoulder, "is what Lord Orochimaru prepared for you. Once inside, you can activate the second stage of the curse mark, gaining a power far greater than the first."

Sasuke's eyes gleamed with interest. Without a word, he stepped toward the barrel, unafraid of the unknown that awaited him. Fear had no place in his mind anymore—only power mattered.

Once he was inside, Jirobo sealed the barrel, securing it with intricate seals. He then lifted it onto his back, and the four leapt into the night, moving quickly towards the outskirts of Konoha.

Their mission was simple: deliver the Uchiha prodigy to Orochimaru as swiftly as possible. They had strict orders, and failure was not an option.

---

Sasuke left without looking back, his heart free of regret. He had officially set out on his chosen path, one Itachi hadn't foreseen. His life had been twisted by his brother, but Sasuke was certain of his decision. This was no longer the future his brother had envisioned for him.

In Itachi's plan, Sasuke was meant to become a hero who would protect Konoha. Itachi had made himself the stepping stone for his younger brother, sacrificing everything to strengthen him. He had paved the way with the Mangekyō Sharingan and his own fall as a traitor. But Itachi hadn't understood the law of extremes.

Itachi's cold distance and relentless pressure had steered Sasuke down a path even he hadn't anticipated. While the end aligned with Itachi's hopes, the journey took a darker, more unpredictable turn. Did Itachi truly understand what Orochimaru's influence could mean?

In Konoha, Itachi had been able to shape Sasuke's fate—at least partially. But with Orochimaru, Sasuke's future was entirely in his own hands. If something went wrong on this dangerous path, it would be Sasuke alone who bore the consequences.

And that was something Itachi could never accept. But he had made his choices, and Sasuke would make his.

As Sasuke left with the Sound Four, it was only a matter of time before the news reached Konoha.

In less than half a day, the report landed on Tsunade's desk.

"What did you say!? Uchiha Sasuke has defected?" Tsunade shot to her feet, her voice sharp with disbelief as she addressed Shizune.

Though Sasuke's defection wasn't as earth-shaking as Menma's, he was still the last of the Uchiha in Konoha. The Sharingan was one of the most powerful dōjutsu in existence, and for Konoha, losing a ninja like Sasuke was no small matter. Worse still, he was a member of Team 7. With Menma already gone, this meant that two of Team 7's members had turned rogue within the span of a month.

Tsunade, who had just begun to feel Konoha stabilizing, now found herself facing yet another crisis. She hadn't been in the village when this chaos began and had initially distanced herself from these issues. But now, as Hokage, she knew every detail of the Uchiha clan's annihilation and Itachi's unique position. Not just from the briefings of Homura and Koharu, but from the classified files available only to the Hokage.

The news of Sasuke's defection was a shock she couldn't hide.

"Are we certain?" she pressed.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shizune replied grimly. "The report came from a border outpost. Patrol guards spotted Sound ninja escorting Uchiha Sasuke away."

"Sound ninja? Orochimaru... Was he taken?" Tsunade's frown deepened. She recalled Orochimaru's interest in Sasuke during the Chūnin Exams, but the constant crises in the village had led her to set that concern aside. Now, it was clear she'd been too complacent.

"First Menma, and now Uchiha Sasuke? Orochimaru's influence is spreading like poison."

Tsunade didn't want to believe that Sasuke and Menma had willingly aligned with Orochimaru. They were only twelve. Could they truly make such life-altering choices?

"No, Tsunade-sama," Shizune answered, a hint of sorrow in her tone. "There were no signs of a struggle. If he'd been abducted, there would be evidence."

The truth settled heavily—Sasuke had left of his own free will.

"Call Naruto and Kakashi at once," Tsunade ordered. This was a matter for Team 7 to handle.

Normally, defectors were hunted down and executed by the Anbu. But Menma and Sasuke? They weren't just any missing-nin.

The best possible outcome would be to capture and confine them. A double standard? Perhaps, but this was the reality of their lives in Konoha.

Status and lineage meant everything.

"Tsunade-sama, I'm afraid Kakashi left on a mission two days ago," Shizune reminded her apologetically.

"Oh, that's right," Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. "Then call for Asuma, Chōza—no, wait, Might Guy would be best."

Tsunade considered the available jōnin, only to realize many were already dispatched on missions to secure the borders and maintain patrols. The shinobi world was tense, teetering on the brink of war, and Konoha could spare no one.

"Forget it," she said, shaking her head. "Call Naruto. And send word to Kakashi to return as soon as possible. Shikamaru from the Nara clan as well."

"Understood, Tsunade-sama," Shizune replied, hurrying off to carry out her orders.

A short while later, Naruto burst into the Hokage's office, his face flushed with disbelief and worry.

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