Sasuke helped up Kimimaro, whose body was in a weakened state. Just as he was about to leave, a loud shout stopped him in his tracks.
"Stop, Sasuke Uchiha. What will happen to Naruto if you just leave like this? Have you ever considered his feelings?"
"Gaara, whatever happens between Naruto and me has nothing to do with you."
"Yes, it has nothing to do with me. But as a friend, Is your current behavior fair to Naruto, who has always stood up for you?"
Gaara looked at Sasuke's back and continued speaking.
"Konoha is short of ninjas at this time. It was Naruto who begged Lady Tsunade to get this chance for you. If you just leave like this, where do you put these comrades who came after you regardless of their reputations and safety?"
Gaara didn't understand what friendship and dreams were until recently. To be honest, he envied Sasuke to the extreme.
The man in front of him had everything he had always dreamed of, but he didn't care at all. Why can someone be so unaware of their own good fortune?
Sasuke hesitated for a moment in his steps, but finally he took a step forward. Only a soft "sorry" faded away in the wind.
.............
In a dark corner, Kimimaro gently pressed the switch. As the traps were triggered, another world appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Lord Sasuke is here."
Sasuke looked at the dark corridor just like in his previous life and stepped forward into it.
"Tap, tap, tap."
The footsteps of the group echoed in the narrow corridor. The air here was moist, and it was deathly quiet.
"Oh~ It seems that the young master of the Uchiha clan has arrived. I'm really sorry for not greeting you properly."
When Orochimaru saw the figure he had been longing for day and night, he grinned from ear to ear. But when he saw the group of injured people behind Sasuke, he was really shocked.
Five Sound Ninjas, including Kimimaro, were all injured to varying degrees. Among them, Sakon and Ukon, as well as Kidōmaru, were the most seriously injured.
He didn't understand why the Sound Ninjas he sent out were all in such a bad shape, while Sasuke seemed unharmed.
Oh, well, it can't be said that way. There were two big tears in the back of his clothes, exposing his delicate shoulder blades. Presumably, it was because he had transformed into the second form of the Cursed Seal, and the change in his body size tore his clothes.
Thinking of this, his chilling eyes were filled with strange excitement, and his long tongue licked his slightly chapped lips.
It was really amazing. He didn't expect that someone could master it in such a short period.
"Lord Orochimaru, we were chased by Konoha ninjas on the way. Thanks to Sasuke - sama's rescue, we were able to return safely."
Kimimaro stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and explained to Orochimaru. But Orochimaru didn't even glance at him and still stared at Sasuke intently.
"Lord Orochimaru, don't you think this is too strange? The ninjas sent by Konoha defeated our elites, but Sasuke Uchiha remained unscathed. This is clearly his way of winning people's hearts."
Dissatisfied with Orochimaru's fanaticism towards Sasuke, Kabuto immediately spoke up to remind him.
He just couldn't trust this guy named Sasuke Uchiha right in front of him. From the first time he saw Sasuke, his instincts told him that Sasuke was not one of them. So, Kabuto instinctively felt repulsed by Sasuke when he tried to join them.
Gotta say, Kabuto's hunch was pretty on - point.
Sasuke's eyes flickered slightly. He glanced at Kabuto out of the corner of his eye and then turned his gaze back to Orochimaru. In the end, it's this guy who'll make the call.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Kabuto was fuming. Clearly, Orochimaru hadn't caught a single word he'd just blurted out.
No, this couldn't go on! He had to stop Sasuke from joining.
Before you could say 'Jack Robinson', Kabuto instantly drew a Kunai from his pocket. Just as he was about to use his body - flicker technique to flash in front of Sasuke and kill him, Sasuke's eyes moved slightly, and the beautiful Mangekyo pattern spread across his eyes.
With just one glance, Kabuto seemed to enter a strange space. In this space, the memories he'd desperately tried to forget came rushing back, tearing at his fragile nerves.
Kabuto let out a desperate scream. He hugged his head with both hands, knelt on the ground, and shed tears. He was like a guy who'd taken a massive hit and was totally out of it.
The sight gave the Sound Ninja guys beside him goosebumps.
This kind of power was terrifying. With just one glance, one could be driven into despair. They couldn't help wondering how they'd stand a chance against Sasuke Uchiha.
Orochimaru indulged Sasuke's actions. His eyes were full of admiration, with not a trace of blame. Moreover, he clapped his hands.
"What a wonderful ability. This is the man I've taken a fancy to. Kabuto, don't ever do anything so offensive again."
Orochimaru's words sounded great. Although it seemed like he was talking to Kabuto, Kabuto was already in a daze and couldn't respond at all.
What he really wanted was for Sasuke to cut him some slack and stop tormenting Kabuto. After all, they hadn't even started discussing the main topic.
Sasuke gladly took the olive branch Orochimaru offered and got right to the heart of the matter.
"Orochimaru, First, I'm willing to cooperate with you, but I'll never be your subordinate."
"Of course. I promise you'll get the top - notch treatment here. I'll teach you whatever you want to learn."
"Second, the basis of our cooperation is the research and development of the drug for Itachi's illness. Is it really possible to develop such a thing?"
"Kimimaro behind you is the best proof. Not long ago, he could only lie in bed. Now, although he hasn't fully recovered, at least he can move freely. I can't guarantee anything, but given time, I'll definitely develop it."
Hearing this, Sasuke nodded in satisfaction.
"I just don't understand why you chose to cooperate with me. In my opinion, you hid your true power in the Chunin Exams. It shouldn't just be for saving Itachi Uchiha, right?"
Sasuke raised his eyebrows and gave a faint smile.
"Since I'm going to cooperate with you, I'll definitely make things clear. Orochimaru, listen up. There's not a single lie in what I'm about to say."
Orochimaru half - closed his eyes and looked at Sasuke's demeanor. Could it be that he was about to hear some earth - shattering secret from him?
Sasuke straightened his face. Those around him felt the tense atmosphere. He said seriously with a solemn look on his face.
"Well, the ninja world will face a great disaster. No one can stay out of it. There will be powerful rivals descending from the sky, making all current Ninjas pale in comparison. So I want to team up with you guys to develop a new ninjutsu system and make our existing ninjutsu more powerful."
Sasuke's words echoed in the narrow space for a long time, leaving those who heard them utterly stunned.
............