I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

Chapter 113 Control!

Late at night, in Konoha Village, at the Uchiha headquarters. Sasuke sat by the window, the moonlight casting a pale glow on the tatami mats.

Insects chirped outside the window, one chirp after another, as if urging him on.

He pulled the kunai out of his ninja tool pouch, examined the blade, and then put it back in. His clothes were folded, his ninja tool pouch was full, and his headband was placed on top.

He stared at the headband for a long time, then reached out, picked it up, and tied it around his forehead.

I stood up, pushed open the door, and stepped lightly onto the stone slabs in the yard.

He glanced back at the house; the lights were on, the blankets were undone, and there was a half-empty glass of water on the table. He didn't go back; instead, he turned and walked towards the village entrance.

The barrier surrounding Konoha Village doesn't extend inwards; it's easier to leave than to enter.

He knew the changing of the guard time at the village entrance that night, knew the patrol routes of the secret agents, and knew where there were no perception barriers. He had secretly seen these things in his father's room.

It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.

He had been thinking about it for a long time.

In the woods three miles outside the village, moonlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy.

The Sound Four were already waiting there.

Sakon leaned against the tree trunk, Tayuya sat on the tree root, Kidomaru squatted on the branch, and Jirobo sat cross-legged on the ground.

"Here you are." Sakon stood up. "You're later than the agreed time."

Sasuke didn't answer. "Enough talk, take me to see Orochimaru."

"You bastard—" Kidomaru's voice came down from the tree.

Although they were unhappy with Sasuke's attitude towards Orochimaru, no one dared to do anything to Sasuke.

Because Sasuke was the vessel Orochimaru had his eye on.

Sasuke didn't stop. He walked in front, with the Sound Four following behind. The moonlight shone on the five people's backs, their shadows trailing on the ground, varying in length.

In the shadows, Haku crouched on a tree branch further away, a thousand senbon needles tucked between his fingers. He had been following Sasuke ever since he left the camp, all the way to the woods three miles outside the village.

Once he was sure Sasuke was far away, he silently slid down from the tree and ran towards Konoha Village.

Bai found Shuoge and reported the situation.

"Sasuke left. He met up with the four Sound Ninja about three miles outside the village."

Sakugo didn't move. "Where are Naruto and the others?"

"Still in the village. We don't know yet."

Sakugo stood up and slung the sword behind his back. "Go tell Kakashi not to reveal himself."

Bai turned and ran. Shuoge stood alone in the corridor, watching Bai disappear at the end. Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on him. He stood there for a long time.

Orochimaru cannot reincarnate in a short time, as he has not fully adapted to his new body and his soul damage has not been repaired.

He needs Sasuke, he needs Sasuke to grow, he needs Sasuke to become stronger, to become the perfect vessel.

Therefore, he will do everything he can to train Sasuke, teaching him ninjutsu, how to fight, and everything else.

Sasuke will become stronger, much stronger than if he stayed in Konoha. Sakumo doesn't need to stop him, nor is it necessary. The Uchiha will no longer be in turmoil; Itachi is already in Akatsuki, Sasuke is gone, and Shisui is in Konoha—that's enough.

For the rest, just follow the original trajectory.

Just keep an eye on Naruto and make sure nothing happens to him.

At the end of the corridor in the Uchiha compound, Sakugo sat there, his sword resting beside him, his mask tucked into his waistband. White Zetsu emerged from beneath the floor, half its body exposed, tilting its head to look at him.

"Obito told me to tell you: Akatsuki has begun its operation."

Shuoge's fingers hovered over the hilt of the knife. "When?"

"In action. First target: the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village). The Two-Tails Jinchuriki."

White Zetsu sank into the floor.

Shuoge remained seated without moving.

Akatsuki has started collecting the Tailed Beasts. The first one is the Two-Tailed Beast, then the One-Tailed Beast, the Three-Tailed Beast, the Four-Tailed Beast—and one day it will be the Nine-Tailed Beast's turn.

It's Konoha's turn.

However, all of this was within his expectations.

By this time, Naruto already knew about Sasuke's defection.

Sakura Haruno ran to him crying, her voice broken as she said that Sasuke was gone, that the Sound Ninja had arrived, and that Kakashi-sensei had gone to the Hokage Building.

Naruto jumped off the hospital bed, his bandages still on, and stood barefoot on the floor, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Jiraiya stood at the doorway, said nothing, and stepped aside to let people pass.

In the Hokage's office, Minato was reading a report sent by the Anbu. Naruto pushed the door open and entered without knocking.

"Dad, I'm going to go after Sasuke."

Minato looked up at him, then looked down at the report. "Shikamaru has already gone with his men. Kakashi has gone too. Your injuries haven't healed yet, so stay here."

"My injury is fine!"

Minato put down his pen, looked at Naruto, and remained silent for a moment. "Shikamaru and the others should still be at the gates of Konoha Village."

Naruto turned and ran away.

At the entrance of Konoha Village, Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, and Kiba were already waiting.

Akamaru lay beside Kiba's feet, the bandages on his legs still in place, whimpering.

Choji was holding a bag of potato chips, which was still unopened.

Neji's Byakugan had been activated, and he gazed at the distant woods. Shikamaru, with his hands in his pockets, sighed.

"Although it's troublesome, Sasuke and I don't have much of a relationship."

"But he was, after all, a ninja from Konoha, our classmate, and our comrade."

"Therefore, our mission objective is to 'bring Sasuke back!'"

The five people disappeared into the night.

The pursuit ended without a miracle.

Sasuke's Chidori pierced Naruto's shoulder, while Naruto's Rasengan grazed Sasuke's cheek.

The two men faced each other in front of the waterfall in the Valley of the End, the roar of the water deafening.

Sasuke stood on the stone wall, looking down at Naruto.

Why are you so persistent?

"Because you are my friend!"

Sasuke closed his eyes, turned around, and walked away.

Naruto lay in the water, his fingers digging into the pebbles, his nails twisted, and blood seeped from between his fingers as he tried to stand up, supporting himself on the ground.

My hand slipped, and my face slammed into the water, choking on it.

He stretched, slipped, and stretched again, veins bulging on his neck as the Nine-Tails' chakra surged.

He didn't give up. But he couldn't get up.

Shikamaru lay under the tree, his chakra depleted, his fingers still in the hand seal position.

Choji collapsed in the bushes, his hand pressed against his stomach, blood seeping from between his fingers.

Neji leaned against the pile of rubble, his chakra at its limit.

Kiba held Akamaru and hid behind a rock; Akamaru's leg was broken.

The pursuit team was completely wiped out.

The Anbu searched the border for three days but found no trace of Sasuke.

Kakashi stood in the woods on the border of the Land of Rice Fields, holding a kunai in his hand, looking in the direction of Orochimaru's stronghold. He stood there for a long time before turning around and leaving.

When Shuoge received these messages, he was cleaning his sword at the secret service's stronghold. Bai placed the battle report in front of him, Shuoge glanced at it, and continued cleaning his sword.

"Sasuke has arrived at Orochimaru's place."

"Um."

"The members of the pursuit team are not in life-threatening danger; they have all been taken to the hospital."

Shuoge put down the strip of cloth, sheathed his knife, and stood up. "Understood."

Everything is under control.