The three remained hidden behind a large rock, eyes fixed on the long stretch of wooden planks that swayed in the mountain wind. It wasn't long before another figure appeared on the opposite end of the bridge. Silver hair, glasses that caught the dim light, and a cautious gait, Kabuto Yakushi. Sakura's breath caught. Kabuto approached slowly, hands lifted to show he carried no weapons. "Sasori-sama," he greeted with a respectful bow. "I... only just broke free of the jutsu you cast on me. It nearly cost me my life to slip from Orochimaru's grasp long enough to get here." His words were smooth, but Sakura's stomach tightened. Something was wrong. His eyes gleamed too confidently.

Naruto shifted uneasily, his fists clenched. "Damn it... I can't hear what they're saying! I should go back him up." He started forward, but Sakura grabbed his sleeve, shaking her head.

"Don't," she whispered firmly. "Think about it. The same wind that carries their voices away from us is the wind that hides our presence from Kabuto. If we move, we'll lose that advantage." Naruto froze, torn between instinct and trust. Finally, he settled back down beside her, though his knuckles remained white. From their vantage point, Sai tilted his head slightly, studying Kabuto's movements with an artist's eye. His ink brush hovered over the paper, but he didn't draw, not yet.

What none of them could see was the pale figure standing in the shadows on the far ridge, cloak brushing the ground, golden eyes unblinking. Orochimaru. His gaze wasn't on Yamato's flimsy disguise, nor even on Kabuto's act. It was on her. On Sakura. His tongue darted across his lips in anticipation. 'So this is the girl... the Haruno child. A flower blooming in blood. In front of my very eyes' The corners of his mouth stretched into a slow, chilling smile. He hadn't come for Kabuto. He hadn't even come for Sasori. He had come to mark her.

Kabuto stopped at the center of the bridge, his posture wary, his glasses flashing faintly in the dim light. He inclined his head respectfully toward Yamato's disguise. "Sasori-sama," he said smoothly, voice low and careful, "I bring information you will want."

Yamato tilted Hiruko's head, the wooden joints creaking. "Speak." he rasped, mimicking Sasori's voice with practiced precision.

Kabuto straightened, his tone steady, almost eager. "Orochimaru grows weaker by the day. His body... it's deteriorating. He moves his hideouts constantly, fearful of discovery. His paranoia worsens. Soon, his weakness will become his undoing." From their position behind the rocks, Sakura's breath stilled in her chest. 'He's lying.' She didn't need proof, his cadence was too rehearsed, too perfectly calculated to drip fear and desperation.

Naruto clenched his fists. "What's he saying?" he hissed.

"Nothing good," Sakura murmured, eyes still locked on Kabuto.

Yamato as Sasori said nothing, but the silence pressed Kabuto to continue.

"That is why I risked everything to come here. I want to align myself with a true power. With you, Sasori-sama."

For the first time, Yamato shifted Hiruko's head, the hollow wood scraping faintly. "You would betray Orochimaru?" he asked, voice a rough imitation of Sasori's cold skepticism.

Kabuto's lips twitched, but his eyes glinted with something harder. "I serve survival. And I recognize potential when I see it." His smile sharpened. "A man who doesn't choose correctly is simply ground beneath the heel of those who do." The words hung in the air, heavy with false reverence. Sakura frowned, a chill crawling down her arms. Something in his tone wasn't for Yamato at all, it was meant for them. For her.

The wind picked up suddenly, carrying the scent of damp wood and iron. And then, another voice sliced cleanly through the air, smooth as venom and twice as cold. "My, my... Kabuto-kun. Such lofty speeches. Such treachery." The atmosphere shifted instantly. The air felt thinner, sharper, as though the world itself held its breath. The shadows at the far end of the bridge rippled unnaturally, coiling together into a single, sinuous figure. Orochimaru emerged with serpentine grace, his pale skin almost luminous in the dim light. His golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed, and his mouth curved into that terrible smile. He flicked his tongue across his lips, savoring the tension like a predator scenting prey. "Kabuto," he hissed softly, "conspiring with a corpse is beneath you. Did you really think Sasori still lived?" His gaze flicked lazily over Yamato's puppet form. "A convincing shell, perhaps. But empty."

Yamato tensed within the disguise, but Orochimaru had already dismissed him. His eyes were moving, searching. Hunting. And then they found her. Sakura froze as those golden irises pinned her through the cover of rock and wind. Logic screamed it wasn't possible, his senses shouldn't reach this far. But she felt it in her chest, sharp and cold, like claws closing around her heart. That smile widened, slow and deliberate.

"Oh... so you are here too." Orochimaru's tone dripped with delight, his voice curling into every crack of the bridge like smoke. "Sakura Haruno. The little flower that bloomed in rubble." Naruto stiffened beside her, rage already flooding into his eyes, but Orochimaru's attention was locked solely on Sakura. "The one who felled my Sasori," he purred, savoring the words. "The one who dared to carve her name into medical history before her childhood had even ended. Stronger than Tsunade, they whisper. Faster, sharper... a genius who grows without limit." Sakura's jaw clenched, but her pulse thundered against her ribs. "Such a fascinating child," Orochimaru went on, licking his lips. His voice dropped, low and guttural, heavy with obsession. "Not merely a tool of Konoha. No... something greater. I don't want your corpse. I don't want your death. I want you." His killing intent rolled across the bridge, slamming into the air like a storm. Naruto gasped and staggered, fury blazing as the Nine-Tails surged against its seal. Orochimaru extended one pale hand as though offering her the world. "I didn't come here for Kabuto. I didn't come here for Sasori." His tongue flicked out, long and serpentine. His golden eyes blazed with hunger. "I came here... to mark you, Sakura." The wood beneath them groaned under the weight of his aura. Every shadow lengthened, the bridge trembling as if even it feared him.

And for one chilling moment, Sakura understood exactly what he meant, because it wasn't about killing her. It was about claiming her. Naruto's roar split the silence, his chakra flaring violently. "DON'T YOU DARE!" The bridge trembled with killing intent. Mist clung to the planks, thick and heavy, until Naruto's chakra ripped through it like a living storm. Crimson light erupted from his body, boiling the air, rattling the very bones of the earth beneath them. His teeth clenched, his hands curled into claws, and his voice cracked like thunder across the river. "You already took one of my comrades..." His breath came ragged, the words shattering in the feral growl twisting his throat. His eyes blazed molten red, locked on the pale, grinning specter before him. "But I swear! I won't let you take her too! Not Sakura! Not my teammate. Not my family. Not the one I-" His voice broke into a roar that shook the bridge, the truth ripping raw from his chest. "the one I love!"

Orochimaru's smile stretched unnaturally wide, a serpent savoring the taste of suffering. "Love, is it? How quaint." His tongue flicked like a blade of silver in the mist. "You should be thanking me, Naruto. I took Sasuke away for you. Removed your rival, your competition. She would've always looked back at him... but now she can only look at you."

For a heartbeat, Sakura's body froze, the world around her twisting into a cruel echo. Sasuke's name, pulled from that snake's mouth like poison, lanced across the air. Her stomach churned, not from longing, not from confusion, but from sheer fury. How dare he. How dare he use Sasuke, the boy who had already chosen darkness, to try and drive a wedge into what she and Naruto had fought to build? How dare he reduce her to some prize to be won, her love a bargaining chip to rattle Naruto? Her heart surged, steady and certain. Naruto was hers. And she was his. That had never been in question. The mist snapped apart with a violent gust as her chakra flared, bursting like wildfire in her veins. She reached into her chest, fingers sinking into a seal only she could call upon, and with a sharp pull she drew forth Astra, the massive axe gleaming as it tore free from her body in a shower of sparks. Its edge caught the light of Naruto's crimson aura, glowing like molten iron. "Enough!" Sakura's voice split the air, low and seething with wrath, her green eyes blazing with a fire that matched Naruto's storm. She hefted the axe with ease, the weight an extension of her fury. "You don't get to speak his name. You don't get to touch what's ours." Her gaze flicked to Naruto, soft for the barest instant. "Not him. Not us. Never."

Naruto's chakra surged higher, feeding on her words, her resolve. His cloak bubbled and twisted, the second tail lashing free with a violent snap. His body blurred forward, faster than the eye could follow, the bridge splintering beneath the force of his launch. Orochimaru's grin faltered a fraction before Naruto's fist collided with his face. The impact was cataclysmic, trees splintered like matchsticks, earth erupted, and Orochimaru's body tore through yards of forest before finally crashing to a stop, carving a crater into the soil. For a long moment, only silence and smoke lingered. Then, from the rubble, a grotesque sound slithered forth, a hiss, a chuckle, the scrape of flesh against wood. Orochimaru rose, his body sloughing like a discarded skin. Where Naruto's fist had struck, the face peeled away, revealing the pale, unfamiliar visage of Gen'yūmaru beneath, the host body cracking under the strain. With a wet, unnatural stretch, Orochimaru reapplied his stolen face, smoothing it back into place as though nothing had happened. "How beautiful," he whispered, voice dripping with twisted delight. "Finally, Naruto Uzumaki begins to act like a true jinchūriki." His eyes flicked briefly to Sakura, lingering on Astra's glow, and his grin widened with perverse hunger. "And she... she is becoming something else entirely. No wonder you cling to each other."

From the sidelines, Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his voice soft but edged with awe. "The Nine-Tails' chakra... it's grown sharper, denser. His strength has multiplied since last time." He glanced at Sakura, the glint in his eye betraying calculation. "And hers... her growth is beyond precedent. Even Tsunade-sama never advanced this quickly. They're becoming monsters together." Naruto dropped to all fours, his breath ragged, the second tail lashing behind him, his gaze still locked on Orochimaru with unrelenting fury. Sakura stepped forward, Astra gleaming at her side, her stance unwavering, her love and rage braided into one unbreakable force. And for the first time, Orochimaru's smile flickered, not from fear, but from something far more dangerous. Desire.

Yamato's eyes flickered toward Naruto as the second tail of crimson chakra lashed violently behind him, burning the air with its corrosive heat. The ground cracked beneath his feet, trees shriveled from the poisonous chakra leaking out, and the sound of the Nine-Tails' distorted growl seemed to vibrate through every bone in Yamato's body. And in that instant, memory surged, his mind dragging him back to that dimly lit room in the Konoha Hospital, only days before this mission.

Jiraiya had sat with his arms crossed, unusually grave, the scars on his face tight as he spoke. Tsunade leaned against the window, arms folded, her sharp gaze betraying concern even through her usual confidence. Kakashi sat silently at the foot of the bed, Sharingan closed, his entire presence subdued. Yamato had understood immediately, this wasn't a casual briefing. This was a warning. Jiraiya was the first to break the silence. "Yamato, you need to understand. Naruto isn't like any other jinchūriki. Every time he draws on the fox's power, the seal Minato left behind weakens. I've seen it up close, more than once. And I've nearly died because of it."

Tsunade had scoffed lightly, though not dismissively. "The only time you've nearly died? Please. I can name another time, when you tried to peek on me while I was bathing." For the barest second, Jiraiya's shoulders slumped and he forced a sheepish laugh, but his expression quickly hardened again, stripping away any trace of humor.

"The truth is, other than that day, the closest I've come to death was because of Naruto." That caught Yamato's attention. Kakashi's eye narrowed. Jiraiya leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his voice low and edged with gravity. "When Naruto's anger takes control, the fox's chakra leaks through the seal. At first it's small, his speed and strength spike, his eyes turn feral. But if he keeps pushing, tails begin to form. The more tails that manifest, the less of Naruto remains."

Kakashi spoke then, quietly but firmly. "He can hold himself together up to three tails. Barely. But if he reaches four..." Kakashi trailed off, eye hardening beneath his mask. "Then the Nine-Tails takes over completely. He won't know friend from foe."

Yamato had frowned. "Four tails? What happens then?"

Jiraiya's gaze was distant, haunted. "He becomes a miniature version of the fox itself. A living engine of destruction. When he hit that form against me, I wasn't fighting Naruto anymore, I was fighting the Nine-Tails in human skin."

Tsunade stepped in, her voice sharp but tight, betraying her worry. "You're telling us this boy, this child, is burning himself alive every time it happens?"

Jiraiya nodded slowly. "The chakra doesn't just cloak him, Tsunade. It eats him alive. When Naruto goes four tails... the fox's chakra burns his skin off. He's nothing but blood and raw flesh beneath that shroud. And yet, the fox heals him. The damage is repaired almost as quickly as it's inflicted." His tone darkened, and Yamato had felt his stomach tighten as the sannin's words sank in. "But it's not healing without cost. The cycle of destruction and regeneration, it shortens his life. Every time it happens, he's gambling years of his future away."

The room had fallen into tense silence. Yamato had glanced at Kakashi, but the silver-haired jonin said nothing, his jaw tight with restrained unease. Finally, Tsunade asked, "Why is it worse now than when he was younger? He's always carried the fox inside him."

Jiraiya folded his arms, gaze heavy. "Because the seal is weakening. Minato made it so that Naruto could tap into the fox's power if he needed it. But time erodes everything, even seals crafted by a genius. The more he draws on the fox, the weaker the barrier becomes. And every time his emotions spiral out of control, he's pulled closer to the edge." Yamato had absorbed it all in silence, though unease coiled tightly inside him. He knew why they had called him into that meeting before the mission. Jiraiya turned his gaze directly on him, and for once the Toad Sage carried no levity, no grin, only a hard and knowing stare. "You're the only one who can keep him in check, Yamato. You carry the First Hokage's blood, and with it his gift. Wood Release can suppress tailed beasts. If Naruto loses himself out there, you must act. You might be the only one alive who can."

And Tsunade added, her tone like steel: "If you hesitate, even for a second, people will die."

The memory snapped away like a whip, and Yamato returned to the present, back to the roaring bridge, back to the crimson haze that seared the air as Naruto's second tail tore into existence. The warning words from that meeting echoed mercilessly in his mind. Four tails. Skin burned away. A shortened life. The seal weakening. And the haunting truth: Yamato was the only one who could stop him if it came to that.

Back on the bridge, Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered with cruel amusement as he tilted his head. "So... Konoha sends you as captain. Not because of your skill, but because of him." He gestured lazily at Naruto, whose cloak of red chakra was growing more violent with every breath. "How fitting. They finally put my discarded research to use."

Kabuto blinked, genuinely curious. "What do you mean, Orochimaru-sama?"

Orochimaru's grin widened, fangs catching the faint light. "Years ago, when I still served the village, I harvested samples from the remains of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage. His ability to bend the power of the tailed beasts to his will... it was something I had to replicate. So, I transplanted his cells into infants, children... little test subjects. All of them... died." His tone was light, as if recalling a failed recipe, but the weight of it sank like ice into the stomachs of those listening.

Kabuto's eyes narrowed. "But... you're saying-"

Orochimaru chuckled. "Before I could end the experiment properly, the Third Hokage caught me with another little project. I had to abandon my work and flee. But imagine my delight... discovering that one of those children survived." His gaze slid toward Yamato, serpentine and mocking. "The child who crawled out of my laboratory's shadows is standing right here. Konoha's precious watchdog. The last surviving subject of my Wood Release experiments." Yamato's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. His eyes remained locked on Naruto, who was trembling, his rage feeding the cloak that seethed around him. Sakura's breath hitched. Her mind flashed back to the moment Yamato had grown that living cage of wood to contain Naruto. She remembered wondering how such a jutsu was possible, how a man so young could wield something only spoken of in history books. Now the pieces fit together, and the answer chilled her to the core. Orochimaru's voice cut the silence. "The First Hokage alone could control the bijū. And now, Konoha's little puppet here," he gestured mockingly at Yamato, "has been placed at your side for one purpose: to rein in the beast if it breaks its chains."

Naruto's head snapped up, his breath ragged, his eyes now crimson slits. "Shut up..."

Orochimaru turned, feigning curiosity. "Oh? Did I strike a nerve? You should be grateful. If not for me, your teammate would be nothing more than splattered flesh on this bridge."

Sakura felt her stomach knot as the memory Yamato had buried within himself slammed into her mind through his chakra's resonance. She saw it, Jiraiya bloodied, torn open, his massive frame struggling to contain Naruto's monstrous four-tailed form. She heard Jiraiya's grim voice from Yamato's memory, warning that beyond the third tail, Naruto lost himself. That the fox's chakra peeled away his flesh, left him a creature of blood and agony. That every transformation shortened his lifespan. Her hands began to shake. Naruto...

"Give him back!" Naruto roared, the chakra boiling around him as his body convulsed. The cloak expanded violently, a third tail bursting forth with a shockwave that rattled the very bones of the bridge. The chakra burned in the air, searing Sakura's skin even through her cloak. Yamato braced himself, sweat forming instantly.

Kabuto shielded his face, grimacing. "The density of this chakra...!"

Orochimaru's grin widened with sick delight. "Yes... yes! Show me! Show me what kind of monster Konoha's jinchūriki really is!" The ground trembled as a vortex of chakra spiraled above Naruto, tearing through the mist and whipping the bridge into chaos. The air itself seemed to scream.

Sakura stumbled, one hand clutching her chest where Astra's dormant weight stirred, glowing faintly as if enraged by Naruto's suffering. She could feel his life being eaten away, flesh tearing under the corrosive chakra. The sight of the second, then third tail, the memory of Jiraiya's wounds, blended into one overwhelming dread. "Naruto... if you grow another..." she whispered, voice breaking. Naruto snarled, his fangs bared, the beast inside of him clawing to get out. His humanity hung by threads, and the bridge had become a crucible where love, rage, and despair all burned together.

The ground shattered as Naruto lunged. In a blur of speed, his clawed hand smashed against Orochimaru's chest, sending the Sannin skidding back across the bridge, stone exploding in his wake. Orochimaru twisted mid-air, slammed his foot down, and slithered to a stop with an unnatural contortion, laughing through the blood running down his chin. "Good, Naruto-kun. Yes... let your hatred bloom. Show me what lies beyond that seal." Sakura gritted her teeth. Her heart hammered in her chest, torn between awe at Naruto's terrifying strength and panic at how fast he was losing himself. 'If he grows another tail...if Yamato can't stop him...' Her fingers twitched over the seal etched into her gloves, over the axe gleaming with Astra's presence. 'Do I... step in? Do I risk it?' The air burned hotter. Naruto's chakra slammed down in a shockwave, and the fourth tail began to shimmer at the edge of his back.

Yamato's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding: "Naruto! Stop this now, or-!" But Naruto was gone, swallowed in rage. The vortex above the bridge shrieked louder, threads of red chakra spiraling down like molten rain. The third tail lashed violently, gouging deep scars into the bridge. Then, like the pull of an unseen tide, the chakra thickened, an ominous swell, and Sakura's stomach dropped. The fourth tail began to form. Her breath hitched. Yamato's memory burned through her mind with cruel precision: Jiraiya broken, Tsunade pale, Kakashi grim. Four tails... the point of no return. "Stop!" Yamato's voice thundered as he slammed his hands together, wood exploding from the bridge, twisting and spiraling around Naruto's body. Pillars of living timber surged upward, forming a cage meant to subdue even a rampaging bijū. The wood shuddered, glowing faintly with suppressed life force, Yamato was drawing on the First's gift. But the cage didn't hold. Naruto roared, the sound inhuman, shattering wood with raw chakra. Splinters sprayed through the air like shrapnel. The seal Yamato was supposed to control flickered in resistance, as though the Nine-Tails itself mocked his authority. His teeth clenched. "No...! Not enough...!"

Sakura staggered back, shielding her face from the blast of debris. But she could see him through the cracks in the maelstrom, not Naruto anymore, but a writhing form of bubbling crimson. Fangs glistened, claws sharper than steel, a tail sprouting longer and more grotesque with every pulse. Her chest tightened until she couldn't breathe. Her legs moved before her brain could stop them. "Wait!" she shouted, her voice trembling, but it cut through the roar for her alone. She ran, ignoring Yamato's cry for her to get back, ignoring the blistering heat that scorched her skin. She planted herself in front of Naruto's warped figure, heart hammering so hard she thought it would crack her ribs. Her hands shook, but she spread her arms wide anyway, shielding him as if she could protect him from himself. "Stop it, Naruto!" she cried, her voice raw and breaking. "Please, stop! Don't lose yourself to this thing!" The beast loomed above her, chakra boiling off him in waves that burned her skin. His claws flexed, twitching toward her throat. Every instinct screamed to move, to survive. But she stayed. Her eyes flooded with tears. "I can't... I can't watch you disappear too." Her voice cracked, the words spilling like a dam bursting. "You're all I have left! I don't care if you're weak or strong, jinchūriki or not, I don't care!" Her hands pressed against the bubbling chakra cloak, searing her palms. She didn't move. She forced her voice louder, fiercer, desperate enough to shatter herself. "I love you too much to lose you, Naruto! Please... don't leave me too!"

The red chakra shivered, rippling like disturbed water. The fourth tail, half-formed, writhed violently, faltering as though struck by something deeper than Yamato's seal. Naruto's monstrous head jerked, teeth bared, but in his molten-red eyes, for a fleeting heartbeat, she thought she saw him. Saw Naruto. And in that fragile second, her words hung between them, raw and unguarded, fighting the monster clawing at his soul. The bridge groaned beneath the crushing chakra. Naruto's fourth tail whipped into existence, the air warping with heat and malice. His flesh bubbled and tore, replaced by the fox's bubbling cloak, and even Yamato's Wood Release strained and cracked under the pressure.

Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with delight, his tongue flicking over his lips. "Ahh... how beautiful. But so disappointing," he hissed, stepping forward leisurely despite the violent gale of chakra. "Still weaker than Sasuke, even with the fox's power. You'll never catch him, Naruto-kun." Naruto roared, the fox's guttural scream tearing through the air. His claw came down, faster than Sakura could think. Pain exploded in her shoulder, white-hot. She staggered back, staring in disbelief as blood spurted from the stump where her arm had been.

"SAKURA!" Yamato and Sai both shouted, panic in their voices.

Orochimaru tilted his head, smirk widening. "So fragile... I was beginning to wonder if you truly were the prodigy the whispers suggested. Perhaps I overestimated you." Sakura's breath hitched, but her eyes burned with fury. No. She would not break. Not here. Not when Naruto was losing himself. Not when he needed her most. Gritting her teeth, she slammed her free hand to the ground. Chakra pulsed outward like a shockwave, crystalline and pure. A shimmering translucent dome snapped into existence around herself and Naruto, cutting off Orochimaru and everyone else. The air vibrated with its density, the dome immovable, unbreakable.

Orochimaru's smile faltered for the briefest moment, then curved back into something sharper. "So... you've been hiding tricks, little cherry blossom. Perhaps I spoke too soon." Inside the dome, Sakura's body trembled from blood loss, but her resolve sharpened into steel. She pressed her palm over the wound and let Byakugō flare, her seal glowing like a star. Flesh and bone knitted together not in hours, but seconds. Her chakra wove sinew, muscle, skin, until a new arm stretched outward, pink scars vanishing into smooth perfection. Yamato's eyes widened in disbelief. 'She... regenerated an entire limb. Tsunade-sama never...' Orochimaru chuckled, his voice muffled through the barrier. "Oh, splendid. You truly have surpassed your master. Now this is interesting."

But Sakura had no attention to spare for him. Already, her body screamed as the Kyuubi's corrosive chakra gnawed at her skin, black lines spidering up her arms. Her palms burned as they pressed against Naruto's bubbling cloak, flames licking her flesh raw. She didn't scream. She didn't flinch. She only leaned closer, voice breaking but fierce. "Naruto! Please, come back to me. Don't leave me too. You're all I have left!" Her tears fell, sizzling where they struck his cloak. "I don't care how much it hurts. I'll stand here until my body gives out. Because I love you too much to let you vanish into this monster!" The Kyuubi's feral eyes narrowed. For a heartbeat, the beast hesitated. "Please, Naruto!" Sakura's voice cracked. "Don't make me lose you too. I won't survive it. I can't..." Her forehead pressed against his burning chest, her chakra surging into him despite the poisoning spreading through her veins. "You promised you'd never abandon me. So don't abandon yourself." Naruto's claws froze mid-swipe. The vortex of chakra overhead stuttered, wavering. The fourth tail writhed violently, and then snapped back, collapsing into raw energy that ripped apart in the air. The cloak shattered, vanishing like smoke in the wind. Naruto crumpled, his body scorched and bleeding, but human again. Sakura barely caught him before he hit the ground, her own arms trembling violently, flesh charred and still smoking. She didn't care. She funneled her chakra into him with desperate precision, sealing burns, mending organs, repairing blood flow. "Stay with me, Naruto," she whispered fiercely, tears dripping onto his skin. "Breathe. You're not leaving me. Not now, not ever." For a moment, the silence was unbearable. Then... A ragged gasp. Naruto's chest rose sharply, his lips parting with a deep, shuddering inhale. Sakura sobbed in relief, pressing her forehead to his, her burnt hands still glowing green. "That's it. That's my Naruto."

Outside the dome, Orochimaru's grin returned, wide and serpentine. "Fascinating... utterly fascinating," he murmured, eyes glittering. "She truly has surpassed Tsunade. Perhaps even more than that." And yet, for the first time in years, something like unease flickered across his features. When his chest finally expanded and he let out a ragged gasp of air, Sakura nearly collapsed with relief. Tears blurred her vision. He was alive. He was still here. But the victory was short-lived. Her hands trembled violently, a foreign burn spreading through her bloodstream. She gasped, staggering back onto her heels, and felt the poison-laced chakra of the Nine-Tails gnawing through her system like acid. Her vision wavered. Her skin broke out in gooseflesh, sweat beading across her forehead.

Kabuto's sharp eyes narrowed. "It's the Nine-Tails' toxin... corrosive chakra eating her from the inside. She won't last long."

Even Orochimaru tilted his head, serpentine eyes narrowing with interest. "How fragile... so she bleeds like the rest of them after all. I was beginning to think she might truly be... beyond Tsunade." Sakura's body seized again, her muscles twitching uncontrollably as the poison spread. For a moment, it seemed she might collapse entirely beside Naruto's body. But then, her head snapped up. Her fists slammed into the ground.

Her voice thundered through the bridge. "No! I refuse!" she growled, her teeth clenched, eyes blazing with emerald fire. "I refuse to fall here. I refuse to succumb to this!" She pressed a glowing hand against her own chest, her chakra control sharp and flawless. Instead of resisting the toxin, she redirected it. Green light pulsed outward as her chakra flow shifted, pushing the poison into her network deliberately. Her Byakugō mark flared brighter, the seal spreading across her body like blooming branches.

Gasps rippled across the battlefield. "What is she," Yamato muttered, astonished.

Sakura's voice rang out, fierce and unshaken, even as her body trembled: "If this poison wants to take me... then I'll take it first. My chakra is mine to command, not even the Nine-Tails' poison can change that!" Her body shuddered once more, and then, shockingly, her pallor began to fade. Her muscles steadied. The sickly burn was gone. Instead, a radiant vitality surged through her frame, her chakra coils blazing stronger than before. She stood tall, her torn cloak fluttering in the chakra wind, emerald eyes alight with defiance.

Kabuto's eyes widened. "She... she absorbed it?"

Orochimaru's smile stretched unnaturally wide, his tongue flicking across his lips. "Kukuku... extraordinary. She didn't purge the poison... she converted it. Tsunade could never do that."

Sakura flexed her newly restored arm, the dome around her and Naruto still shimmering, unbroken, impenetrable. She glanced back at Naruto, softening for just a moment as she whispered to him: "You're safe. I won't let anyone take you from me... not him, not the fox, not anyone." Then, turning her eyes back to Orochimaru, her voice cut through the tension, firm and resolute: "You wanted to see if I surpassed Tsunade?" She raised her glowing fist, chakra roaring to life. "You have your answer." And for the first time, even Orochimaru's grin faltered into something else, genuine intrigue.

Sakura steadied herself, the poison fully conquered, her chakra now thrumming with terrifying clarity. Her eyes, green, piercing, and alive, locked onto Orochimaru. Her head snapped toward him, her gaze like a blade. The entire battlefield stilled. The translucent dome shimmered once more, then, without a hand sign, she dissolved it, the light collapsing back into her core. The sudden release of chakra stirred the air violently, her hair lifting, her cloak billowing. And then, she began to rise. Her feet left the ground, her body suspended in raw, controlled chakra flow. Her eyes seemed to glow like emerald fire, not human but something greater. Even Orochimaru's smile faltered. Sakura lifted a hand, fingers splayed, and pressed it over her chest. The radiant Astra mark burned brightly, then softened, folding back into her skin like she was sealing divinity itself inside her heart. Her voice carried across the bridge, resonant and unshaken: "You... aren't even worth using Astra on." And then she vanished. To everyone else, it was instantaneous, a ripple of air, a flicker of light. But Orochimaru felt it. The sudden pressure of her presence at his back, her chakra so sharp it made even his snake-hardened skin prickle. Her voice was a whisper against his ear, low and dangerous. "Lay a hand on Naruto... or on me... and I will kill you. Not just you, Orochimaru. Every vessel you slither into, every shadow you hide behind, I will find you. And I will end you."

Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips as he slithered back half a step, golden eyes fixed on the floating girl before him. Kabuto, usually smug and collected, looked rattled, his gaze darting from Sakura's glowing form to Naruto's barely-breathing body, and then back to Orochimaru as if silently asking whether they should risk it. Orochimaru chuckled low in his throat, but it lacked the same playful delight as before. It was cautious now. Calculating. "Kukuku... impressive. So you really have surpassed Tsunade. And yet... you carry something she never did. Something... dangerous."

Sakura's eyes never wavered. "I told you. If you touch him, or me, I will end you." The air around her pulsed, her chakra leaking in a subtle wave that cracked the stone beneath her hovering form. Kabuto flinched at the pressure, his usual sneer vanishing.

"Orochimaru-sama..." Kabuto's voice was tight, urgent. "This... isn't the time." For a moment, Orochimaru tilted his head, as if weighing the joy of testing her power against the reality of what stood before him. His grin slowly returned, but it was thinner now, a shadow of its earlier arrogance.

"Kukuku... Very well. Another time, perhaps. You've earned my patience, Sakura Haruno. And my attention." His eyes lingered on her, sharp and predatory, but for the first time, not entirely confident.

Kabuto tugged at his sleeve, already forming the seals for retreat. "We'll go. She's... beyond what we prepared for."

Orochimaru finally inclined his head, serpentine hair swaying as he turned his body into liquid shadow, slipping away with Kabuto at his side. His voice echoed, lingering like a venomous whisper: "Don't disappoint me, little flower. Grow stronger... I'll be watching." And then they were gone. Silence fell over the battlefield.

Sakura lowered slowly back to the ground, her glowing aura dimming, her breathing heavy but steady. She glanced at Naruto, kneeling instantly to resume his healing, hands still trembling from the poison she had forced into submission. But even as her burnt palms pressed over his chest, her words hung in the air, unshaken and absolute: "I'll kill him. Every vessel, every shadow. I swear it." The others could only stare. Not at Naruto's survival, but at Sakura, standing radiant, scarred, and unyielding, the one who had faced Orochimaru head-on and forced him to retreat.

Naruto was mostly healed by that point, but Sakura moved with quiet precision, sliding forward so his head rested lightly on her thighs. Her hands glowed softly with the green light of her chakra and the Byakugō no In glowing violet on her forehead as she flowed chakra through every fiber of his battered body, mending torn flesh, strained muscles, and bruised ribs with deliberate, reverent care. Yamato and Sai stood a short distance away, frozen in awe. The feats she had just completed left them staggered: the translucent, impenetrable dome that had shielded them from Orochimaru, the impossible regeneration of an entire arm in the midst of battle, the way she had absorbed the Nine-Tails' corrupting chakra and transformed its venom into power. And, of course, the raw force of her presence, so overwhelming it had driven Orochimaru and Kabuto themselves to retreat.

"She... she really did it," Sai murmured, voice tight, eyes wide. "I didn't think anyone could withstand that level of chakra, let alone turn it back on the Nine-Tails."

Yamato didn't reply immediately, simply lowering his gaze. "She's... beyond what I even imagined. Beyond Tsunade, even."

Naruto stirred under her hands, blinking against the fading haze of his rage. As he moved, his eyes fell upon an arm lying discarded nearby. It was the one he had severed in his blind fury, though he didn't realize it was his own doing. Sakura made no move to explain; her focus remained absolute, her violet-lit hands tracing along the bruises and burns, pouring steady healing chakra into every wound. "Sakura..." Naruto's voice was hoarse, uncertain, almost reverent. "How... how are you still..."

"I'm not tired, Naruto," she said softly, her voice calm but firm, carrying an unshakable weight. "You were pushed to the edge, and I couldn't let you go any further. I won't let you lose yourself. Not to the Nine-Tails, not to Orochimaru, not to anyone." Her long, pink hair flowed down past her hips, catching the moonlight in a cascade of shimmering silk. The violet seal of Byakugō no In glowed on her forehead, contrasting sharply with her piercing green eyes, which held steady, unwavering focus. Her figure, slightly matured, toned, exuded both strength and grace, every movement precise and controlled, a perfect balance of beauty and power.

Naruto's lips parted, but he couldn't speak, his gaze locked on her. "You... you saved me," he whispered.

"No," Sakura corrected gently, pressing a reassuring hand to his chest as she stabilized his breathing. "I didn't save you. We save each other. Remember that." Her eyes softened, but the glow of her chakra never wavered. "I've got you, Naruto. I've always got you."

Even Yamato and Sai couldn't suppress their astonishment. "She's... she's at a level none of us were prepared for," Yamato muttered under his breath. "She... she's surpassed even the Sannin."

Naruto's head turned slightly, catching the full sight of her hair, her figure, the calm reverence in her movements. He didn't understand how someone could be so composed, so impossibly strong, and yet so gentle at the same time. "Sakura..." he breathed again, but the words carried awe, respect, and something deeper he hadn't fully admitted even to himself.

Sakura's hand rested lightly on his chest as she finished channeling her chakra. "Rest now, Naruto," she said, her tone firm yet tender. "You're safe. I'm here." And in that moment, with the soft glow of Byakugō no In and the moonlight catching her flowing hair, Naruto realized, without any doubt, that Sakura was not only his protector, but the anchor that would keep him grounded no matter how far the darkness of the Nine-Tails tried to pull him. Sakura stepped back from Naruto, finishing the final threads of chakra that sealed his injuries. The violet glow of Byakugō no In on her forehead dimmed slightly as she retracted her hands. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and her long pink hair flowed behind her like a banner in the breeze. "I... need a minute," she said softly, her voice calm but edged with fatigue, before she turned to walk a few steps away, giving herself a moment to breathe.

Naruto's gaze lingered on her, still trying to process the aftermath of the battle and his own surge of power, when Yamato approached, his expression tense. "Naruto," he said sharply, voice cutting through the humid tension of the bridge, "you were the one who caused Sakura's injury." Naruto blinked, guilt and confusion twisting in his chest. Yamato's eyes bore into him. "You let your anger control you," he continued, voice rising. "You unleashed a power you've known could harm everyone near you. Sakura, your comrades, even yourself, you put them all at risk. That power, the Nine-Tailed Fox inside you, is not yours. You cannot rely on it to save Sasuke, or to protect Sakura. You must rely on your own natural abilities. Your speed, your stamina, your reflexes, your ninja instinct, those are enough. They make you strong enough."

The words hit Naruto like a cold gust, and he opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the air around them shifted. Sakura's long hair lifted in sudden motion, charged with energy, and a faint violet aura shimmered across her body, illuminating the bridge in soft, fiery light. Her green eyes blazed with unyielding intensity. "Do not utter such nonsense!" Sakura's voice cut through the tension, sharp and unwavering. Her aura pulsed, crackling subtly like static. "Naruto can control it, if he trains with me! You all underestimate him. You all underestimate his resilience. He is Naruto Uzumaki, a shinobi who refuses to be defined by rage, fear, or the limitations you impose. He will become Hokage one day, and I believe in him!" Yamato and Sai froze, startled by the sheer force radiating from her. The confidence, the conviction, the aura of someone who had surpassed even the strongest Sannin, everything about her presence commanded attention. Sakura stepped closer to Naruto, her voice lowering but still carrying iron-like certainty. "He can control it. We can control it. And you will not tell him otherwise." Naruto blinked at her, chest rising and falling, a spark of determination kindling in his eyes, not the raw fury of the Nine-Tails, but the fire of himself. He was listening. He was understanding. And he was ready to follow the one person who had never doubted him. Sakura's hair swayed behind her as she stood tall, Byakugō no In gleaming faintly, her toned figure silhouetted by the setting sun. "This isn't about me. This isn't about you, Yamato. This is about him, Naruto Uzumaki. And I will not let anyone, not even the Nine-Tails or you, underestimate him."

Sai muttered under his breath, awe-struck. "I... didn't realize she could radiate that much power."

Yamato's stern expression softened slightly, a hint of acknowledgment in his eyes. "I see. Your conviction is... formidable."

Sakura exhaled, letting the tension flow out of her shoulders, though the fire in her gaze remained. "Now," she said quietly, turning her full attention to Naruto, "When we get home, let's make sure you truly control this power."

Orochimaru and Kabuto finally reached the dimly lit hideout, the air thick with the scent of herbs and the faint metallic tang of blood lingering from previous experiments. Shadows clung to the corners like sentinels as they stepped inside, their movements careful, deliberate. Kabuto's eyes immediately fell on a familiar figure seated in the center of the room. Sasuke Uchiha, Sharingan activated, his expression calm but with the unmistakable edge of impatience, was already waiting. "You're late," he said, voice low and cold, the scarlet of his eyes reflecting the flickering light of the torches. "I've been waiting for you to teach me a new technique."

Orochimaru's thin lips curved into a faint, sinister smile. "Ah, the ever-demanding Uchiha," he murmured, tilting his head. "Your timing is always... dramatic."

Kabuto, uneasy, interjected quickly. "We were... delayed," he said, glancing toward the entrance. "Caught up by... your favorite pink-haired girl. It seems she's growing more formidable than we anticipated. We'll be watching, and she'll likely be searching for this hideout."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly, though he remained seated, relaxed in posture yet coiled with readiness. "I see," he replied coolly, his Sharingan eyes flicking toward the shadowed corners of the room. "It appears my enemies are becoming more... persistent. Very well. Teach me, then. I don't have all day."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the cavernous space. "Patience, my young Uchiha. You'll have your lesson, but first, let us see just how far your resolve stretches." Kabuto's brow furrowed as he observed Sasuke, the tension between the three of them palpable. Outside, the faint echo of footsteps, or perhaps the wind through the village, hinted that their time alone might not last long.

Sasuke's Sharingan seemed to burn brighter, a silent challenge radiating from him. "Do not keep me waiting again," he said, the words sharp as a blade. "Or you will find yourself... regretting it."

Orochimaru's grin widened. "Oh, I doubt that will happen," he replied, his voice silk over steel, "but perhaps we should prepare ourselves. She may come sooner than you expect." Kabuto swallowed, glancing nervously toward the shadows, knowing exactly who "she" was.

After Sakura's impassioned speech, her green eyes still glowing with the residual energy of Byakugō no In, she turned toward Yamato, Naruto, and Sai. Her voice was calm but carried the steel of absolute certainty. "If we want Sasuke back, we need to find Yamato's wood clone he sent out to follow Orochimaru and Kabuto," she said, her gaze narrowing with focus. "Orochimaru won't wait forever. From my calculations, we have approximately six months before he completes his vessel experiment on Sasuke." Yamato and Naruto exchanged a glance, realizing the depth of her preparation. She had done more than analyze Sasuke's current situation, she had studied Orochimaru's immortality techniques, scanning his movements and chakra in real time during their last battle. Every anomaly, every weakness, every pattern had been catalogued in her mind. Even Kabuto and Orochimaru's reactions had been noted, giving them critical insight into their enemies' next moves.

Sai tilted his head, expression neutral as ever. "You've... studied him thoroughly," he remarked. "Including Orochimaru himself?"

Sakura gave a small nod. "Every detail matters. We can't afford mistakes."

Later, the team reunited with Yamato's wood clone, emerging from the dense undergrowth with quiet efficiency. The clone's face remained impassive, but its presence radiated vigilance. "Orochimaru's hideout is immediately behind the rock formation up ahead," the clone reported, its voice a precise echo of Yamato's. "They are likely unaware of our approach if we proceed carefully." Yamato assessed the terrain, then knelt, pressing his palms into the earth. "Follow me," he said to Sakura first, the clone forming a protective barrier around them. With a sudden surge of earth chakra, Yamato activated Earth Release: Tunneling Technique, creating a large, concealed tunnel beneath the rock formation. The path was narrow but sufficient to sneak them directly into the enemy base. "Move quickly but quietly," he instructed, his tone calm but commanding.

Naruto crouched at the tunnel entrance, muscles coiled like springs. A grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he gazed forward. "Finally... I've caught up to you, Sasuke," he murmured under his breath, the words more a vow than a thought.

Sai, standing slightly apart, frowned, clearly struggling to understand Naruto's fixation. "Why are you risking everything for someone who doesn't want to be saved? Someone who has repeatedly rejected you?" he asked bluntly, tilting his head in that ever-curious way.

Naruto's grin softened into a more serious expression. He drew a deep breath, hands tightening into fists. "There was a time I hated him," he said quietly, eyes staring into the distance. "He was always at the top of the class, everyone idolized him, and I was at the bottom. But over time... we forged a bond. He was one of the first people to truly accept me... along with Sakura. I don't care if he doesn't want to be saved right now. I will protect him. I don't care how strong Orochimaru is, I don't care how dangerous it gets. I owe it to that bond."

Sai remained silent for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly, seemingly moved yet still detached. "Hmph," he said finally, tone neutral but thoughtful.

Naruto's expression hardened. "This isn't just about following orders. This is about doing what's right. No matter what it takes, I'm going to bring him back." Sakura gave him a small nod, her confidence in him evident, the subtle glow of her Byakugō no In still shimmering faintly. Yamato adjusted his stance, ready to lead, while Sai followed reluctantly but prepared. Together, the team slipped into the tunnel, the weight of their mission pressing on them, each step bringing them closer to Orochimaru, and to Sasuke.

As Naruto's words echoed through the tunnel, each syllable carrying his unshakable determination, a sudden ripple of chakra flickered in the shadows ahead. Before the team could react, the tunnel ahead exploded outward in a spray of dirt and debris, Kabuto had found them. "Thought you could sneak past me?" Kabuto's voice hissed, carrying equal parts amusement and malice. His eyes glinted behind the mask of calm he always wore, but the subtle twitch of his fingers betrayed his anticipation for a fight. Naruto immediately dropped into a defensive stance, his fists igniting faintly with residual chakra, his awareness sharp. Yamato's wood clone surged forward, forming a barrier to shield the group from the sudden assault. Sai's brush slipped into his hand, ready to respond with precision strikes. But it was Sakura who moved first. Her long pink hair whipped behind her, flowing like a banner of resolve. The violet seal of Byakugō no In glimmered on her forehead, a pulse of light synchronizing with the hum of her chakra. Her green eyes blazed with calm fury, every motion calculated and fluid. Kabuto froze, just for a fraction of a second, when her figure stepped into view. "Sakura...?" he whispered, caught off guard by the intensity radiating from her.

Sakura's voice cut through the tension like steel. "If you lay a hand on Naruto, or anyone with him, you won't live to regret it." Her words were calm but carried an unspoken weight of lethal certainty. She didn't move yet; her aura alone pressed against Kabuto, a quiet but overwhelming force. Naruto glanced at her, momentarily startled, not by her power, but by the sheer protective certainty she radiated. He felt the pull of her presence, the tether of someone who refused to let him, or anyone he cared for, be harmed.

Kabuto attempted to mask his concern, raising his hands in a defensive posture. "I...I didn't expect you to-"

"Don't underestimate me," Sakura interrupted, stepping forward so fluidly that the movement seemed to bend the shadows around her. The air shimmered faintly as her chakra flared subtly, her body poised, every inch prepared to respond with deadly precision. "I've seen what he's capable of, and I've trained to ensure nothing stops him. Nothing." Sai tilted his head, observing the exchange, while Yamato's clone tensed, recognizing the rare, undeniable aura of someone who had surpassed even the Sannin in raw control and strategic application. Kabuto faltered, realizing too late that they had underestimated her. Every muscle, every breath, every heartbeat in her posture spoke of control, experience, and an unshakable resolve. He had faced countless shinobi, but the pink-haired woman in front of him radiated a danger he had never predicted. Sakura didn't wait for him to act. With a smooth, deliberate motion, she ignited a ripple of chakra around her hands, the faint glow of Naruto's own chakra intertwining with hers, a warning and a promise. "I'm not here to fight you... unless you force me," she said, her voice steady but deadly.

Kabuto's grin faltered. "Interesting," he murmured, a note of hesitation creeping into his voice. "You're... more than I expected."

Sakura's gaze didn't waver, her stance unwavering. "Then consider this your first and only warning," she said. Behind her calm green eyes, a fire burned hotter than any battlefield blaze, ready to erupt if Naruto, or any of her friends or comrades, were threatened. The tunnel fell silent, save for the hum of her chakra and the faint dust of displaced earth. Kabuto knew in that instant that any attempt to approach would be met not just with power, but with an unbreakable will. And for the first time, he realized Sakura wasn't just a shinobi; she was a force to be reckoned with.

Yamato's hands moved with precise, deliberate control, weaving complex seals that caused thick wooden tendrils to erupt from the floor and walls. They coiled around Kabuto, binding him tightly, forcing the rogue medic to struggle uselessly against the strength of the First Hokage's cells within Yamato. Every movement of the wooden bindings was meticulous, designed to immobilize without harming, buying the team precious time. "Stay put," Yamato said firmly, his voice steady. "I don't want him interfering while we move." The wood creaked and groaned, but Kabuto was securely trapped, his eyes flicking with irritation and calculation.

Kabuto, ever the opportunist, smirked despite the restraints. "By now," he warned, his tone calm but edged with venom, "Sasuke will have completed his training with Orochimaru. He's probably resting in one of the inner chambers, gathering his strength. If you're clever... you might find him."

Naruto's eyes lit up at the news. "He's actually in there! Sasuke's inside!" His voice was a mix of relief and excitement, the first spark of hope he had felt in days.

Sakura's own chest rose with a steadying breath, her green eyes glimmering with determination as she clenched her fists. "Then we're going to find him," she said, her tone calm but resolute. "No more delays." The glow of her Byakugō no In shimmered faintly across her forehead as she flexed her hands, ready for whatever lay ahead.

Kabuto's grin grew sharper. "Don't get too confident. There are dozens of empty rooms, isolated hallways, and decoy passages. You might locate Sasuke, or you might stumble into Orochimaru's private chambers. One wrong step, and..." He let the threat hang in the air, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Then we'll just have to be careful," Sakura replied, her voice unwavering. There was a subtle fire in her gaze that told even Kabuto this team was not to be underestimated. She turned toward Naruto, her expression softening slightly, but still full of resolve. "We stick together, watch each other's backs, and we don't hesitate. Sasuke's counting on us."

Naruto nodded, the air around him faintly buzzing with restrained chakra. "Let's go. I'm not letting him stay with Orochimaru another second."

Yamato, still maintaining the bindings on Kabuto, extended his hand to form a massive wooden clone beside him. "I'll leave this here to watch him. If he even tries to break free, I'll know." The clone shifted slightly, ready to act at Yamato's command, a silent sentinel to prevent Kabuto from interfering.

Sakura cast one last glance at the restrained Kabuto, her lips curling in a determined smirk. "Good luck trying to sneak past us now." With that, the team moved forward, Naruto leading with barely contained anticipation, Sakura close at his side, eyes scanning every shadowed corner, every door, every potential danger. The tunnels ahead were dark and winding, but with Yamato's wood clone watching their rear and Sakura's sharp instincts guiding them, they pressed onward. The hideout's secrets were waiting, but so was Sasuke.

Inside the labyrinthine hideout, Team Kakashi split into two coordinated units. Yamato moved alongside Sakura, while Naruto and Sai took the other path. Naruto shot a determined glance at Sakura. "I'll do whatever it takes to get Sasuke back," he said, his voice tight with resolve. Sakura nodded, her eyes reflecting the same unshakable determination. Sai, calm as ever, agreed without hesitation. The hallways twisted endlessly, each room they checked revealing nothing but empty floors and dust-laden shadows. Naruto's footsteps echoed against the stone, his urgency growing with every door he passed. Suddenly, barreling down one corridor, he called out: "Sasuke!" The shout traveled like a pulse through the hideout. In a quiet, sparsely lit room, Sasuke stirred. His Sharingan flickered open for a fraction of a second, sharp and alert, before closing again as he drifted back into the remnants of sleep.

Meanwhile, Sakura and Yamato methodically searched each room. Every inch of the hideout was analyzed, but Sakura's patience and keen perception set her apart. Her Spatial Perception technique hummed softly beneath her skin, allowing her to sense not only physical spaces but also the flow of chakra patterns around them. She paused, closing her eyes, feeling the faint tendrils of Naruto's and Orochimaru's chakra from down the hall. "There," she whispered, opening her eyes. "They're here. Naruto's ahead, and Orochimaru is blocking the path."

Sai walked beside Naruto, quietly observing. "You remind me of my adoptive brother," he said softly, almost to himself. Memories flickered across his mind, the laughter, the shared dreams, the moments he had tried to immortalize with ink and brush. Pulling out his brush and scroll, he quickly painted a picture of him and his brother, smiling, hands clasped together. "This... this was our dream," he murmured. "Naruto, you remind me that it's still possible."

Before Naruto could respond, a sinister hiss echoed down the corridor. Orochimaru appeared, gliding smoothly along the shadows. "Well, well... look what the fox has brought me," he said with deliberate amusement, his eyes glinting with cruel anticipation. From his sleeves, snakes erupted, striking forward with blinding speed in a coordinated assault, the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands technique.

Naruto and Sai leapt aside in unison, evading the lethal strikes. Naruto gritted his teeth, his chakra sparking along his skin. "Sai! Go get Sasuke! I'll handle him!" Sai hesitated for only a moment before sprinting down the corridor, painting small signs of spatial markers with his brush to guide his path. Naruto's gaze locked on Orochimaru, his stance tense, ready to engage.

Meanwhile, Sakura focused, the glow of her Byakugō no In faintly illuminating her face. Her Spatial Perception had locked onto Naruto and Orochimaru, analyzing their movements and the patterns of their chakra. "Yamato," she whispered. "We're going." In the next instant, a ripple of air enveloped them, and the two vanished, reappearing behind Naruto in a seamless teleportation.

Naruto's eyes widened slightly. "Sakura!"

"Focus on him," she said sharply, her voice calm but commanding. "I'll cover your flank and make sure Orochimaru doesn't try anything sneaky." Her hands glowed faintly with chakra as she prepared for any interference. Yamato, solid and steady, nodded beside her, ready to act at a moment's notice.

Orochimaru's lips curved into a cold, sly smile. "Ah... clever girl," he hissed. "But you won't stop what's coming."

Sakura's eyes narrowed, her presence radiating unshakable confidence. "We'll see about that," she replied, her aura flaring, as Naruto centered himself, fists clenching, ready to face the Sannin. The cavernous hideout trembled from the force of Sakura and Naruto's combined assault. Chakra crackled in the air as smoke cleared to reveal Orochimaru, pinned against the stone wall, his pale skin split and blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. His grin faltered for the briefest of moments. "Interesting..." the Sannin hissed, his serpentine voice dripping with delight and irritation in equal measure. "To think that you two could wound me."

Naruto's chest heaved, eyes blazing. "We're not stopping until we get Sasuke back!"

Orochimaru's smile widened once again. "Then let's see if you have the strength to take him."

The battle reignited instantly. Orochimaru's body contorted unnaturally as he countered their momentum, striking like a serpent from every angle. His speed was dizzying, his blade, Kusanagi, whistling through the air in lethal arcs. Sakura parried with raw force, her chakra-hardened fists splitting stone every time she missed, while Naruto's clones swarmed, forcing Orochimaru to twist and slice his way through the crowd. And then, in a flash of silver, Kusanagi shot forward, aimed directly for Naruto's heart. Naruto froze, caught mid-step, too slow to dodge. Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "Got you."

A blur of pink intercepted the strike. The sword plunged into Sakura's chest. Naruto's scream tore through the chamber, "SAKURA!" but she did not fall. Her chakra flared violently, Astra energy crackling across her skin as her wound sealed almost as soon as it appeared. Her breathing steadied, her eyes cold and focused.

Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly. "Regeneration?"

"You'll have to do better than that," Sakura said, voice like steel. Her chakra surged, and from her chest blossomed a radiant light, the summoning of her weapon. A great axe materialized, forged from pure chakra, and in a single motion she slammed Orochimaru into the ground. The cavern shook as her blade pressed to his throat, her body pinning him effortlessly. The snake Sannin's grin faltered, his tongue flicking nervously. "I could end this here," Sakura whispered, eyes sharp as kunai. "One stroke, and you're gone."She pressed the blade tighter, drawing the faintest bead of blood from his pale skin. "But..." she leaned closer, her voice low, "...there's no fun in that."

For once, Orochimaru did not laugh. He let out a soft, rattling chuckle instead, raising his hands ever so slightly. "How very dangerous you've become, Sakura-chan," he murmured. "A true shinobi of Konoha. Fine then, let's call this... a truce. For the time being. I have no quarrel with you now. The Akatsuki are my concern. Kill more of them, and I will not press this fight further." Naruto growled, fists trembling, barely restraining himself from charging in again. Yamato, tense and wary, kept his Wood Release ready, but he glanced at Sakura, waiting for her decision. Sakura's axe pulsed with chakra as she slowly pulled it back, never breaking eye contact with Orochimaru.

"Alright then truce... Where's Sai?" she asked sharply, her tone cutting through the tense air.

Naruto blinked, realizing. "He... went off to look for Sasuke." Something caught Sakura's eye, a discarded pack by the wall. Sai's pack. She crouched and flipped it open, sifting through its contents. Her hand stilled when her fingers brushed leather. She pulled out a worn, battered Bingo Book.

Her eyes narrowed. "Strange. Why would Sai even have one of these?" Flipping it open, she scanned the pages, her expression darkening. "Unless..." She stopped. Her breath caught. Turning the book outward, she revealed the page. Sasuke's face stared back at them, his name and bounty listed clearly.

Naruto's eyes went wide, fury and disbelief flooding his voice. "No way!"

Yamato's face hardened instantly. "...Root."

Sakura's jaw tightened, her grip on the Bingo Book white-knuckled. "His mission wasn't to find Sasuke... it was to kill him." The weight of the words hung heavy in the air.

Meanwhile, one of Sai's ink rats slithered soundlessly through the winding stone corridors of Orochimaru's hideout, its beady black eyes scanning every door. At last, it paused before a heavy wooden frame, where faint chakra pulses bled through. Sai, crouched low and expressionless, drew in a slow breath as the rat relayed the image back to him. He pushed the door open. Inside, the room was sparse, just cold stone, shadows, and a simple futon pressed against the far wall. Sasuke lay on his side, back turned, the faint glow of a lantern illuminating the proud fan of the Uchiha clan stitched onto his shirt. His chest rose and fell evenly, but the air around him was thick, almost oppressive, charged with power even in slumber. Sai tightened his grip on his tanto.

Elsewhere, Yamato knelt with Sai's abandoned pack, flipping open the worn leather cover of the Bingo Book. The pages were marked with sharp black ink, faces neatly crossed out, each target a ghost of a completed mission. His brow furrowed.

"These markings... all of these targets are dead," Yamato said grimly. "Which means Sai carried them out. Every last one."

Sakura leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "Assassinations..."

"Root work," Yamato confirmed. He turned the page, and their stomachs dropped. Staring back at them was Sasuke Uchiha, his Sharingan eyes sketched in brutal detail. A bold circle around his name. "Sakura is correct, Sai's true mission wasn't reconnaissance. He was definitely ordered to kill Sasuke."

"What?!" Naruto's fists clenched. His voice cracked between anger and disbelief. "No way! Sai wouldn't do that! He- he smiled at me. A real smile, after finishing his picture book! He wouldn't just... just throw that away!" Sakura's hands curled into tight fists at her sides, her mind flashing back. A smile can be used to diffuse a situation, Sai had said. She remembered the emptiness in his words, but also the faint, flickering hint of change.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Naruto... I don't know. For him, smiles and bonds are still new. He might not even understand what they mean. But I do know this, if Danzō gave that order, Sai will struggle between his mission and what he's beginning to learn with us."

Yamato stood, his expression grave. "Either way, if he's in Sasuke's room right now, things could turn deadly. We need to move." The trio took off at once, sprinting through the corridors, urgency pounding in their veins.

Inside the room, Sai slid several ink slips from his scroll and formed a rapid seal. Black strokes bled into serpentine forms, three ink snakes slithering forward to coil around Sasuke's arms and torso. But before they could bind him fully, Sasuke's eyes snapped open. Twin tomoe spun lazily, crimson gleam slicing through the dim light like a blade. He had sensed him the moment the door opened. Sai froze. His monotone voice broke the silence. "I was sent by Danzō to kill you. But..." He lowered his tanto slightly, expressionless mask cracking. "I'm no longer here to follow Root's command. I came... to protect the bond you share with Naruto. To bring you back."

Sasuke rose fluidly to his feet, the snakes tightening around him but straining under his chakra pressure. He glanced at Sai, irritation flashing like lightning across his sharp features. "A bond?" His voice was cold, venomous. "You woke me... for that?" The snakes constricted, Sai's ink straining to hold. But with a twist of his body, Sasuke's chakra surged. A violent pulse of lightning ripped through the room. The ink snakes disintegrated instantly.

In the next moment, Sasuke's hand flicked into a seal, and the air erupted. A roaring explosion shook the entire base, ripping stone apart and blasting a gaping hole in the wall. Dust, debris, and firelight flooded the hallway. Naruto, Sakura, and Yamato skidded to a stop just in time to feel the shockwave crash over them. Sakura's stomach dropped. "That chakra... Sasuke."

Naruto's eyes widened, raw determination blazing. "We found him." The fractured stone still smoked where Sai's reckless ink strike had collided with Sasuke's chakra, the clash ripping a hole through the wall of the hideout. Dust swirled in the moonlight, cascading over the broken floor in a haze that made every breath taste of ash and iron. And then, he emerged. Sasuke stepped through the dissipating smoke like a shadow born of fire, his presence sharp and suffocating, the Sharingan spinning lazily, cruelly, in his eyes. His cloak moved faintly with the breeze from the shattered wall, the faint glow of embers painting his pale skin in fleeting color. The silence bent around him, as though the world itself held its breath.

Naruto froze, his chest heaving, blue eyes wide with a mixture of fury and pain. His heart clenched at the sight of him, Sasuke, alive, stronger, and colder than before. "Sasuke!" His voice tore through the smoke, desperate, raw. "We're taking you back. Even if I have to drag you all the way to Konoha myself!"

Sasuke's lips curved in the faintest shadow of a smirk. "Naruto... Still saying the same things. Still chasing after me like a fool." His gaze slid past him, unhurried, until it landed, steady, unblinking, on her. Sakura. She stepped from the dust, calm where Naruto burned, precise where he raged. Her hair, long and silken, spilled to her hips in rose-pink waves that caught the moonlight. The Byakugō seal, violet and vivid against her pale skin, pulsed like a quiet threat on her forehead. Her body was different now, honed, curved with strength, radiating a maturity that made her presence impossible to ignore. She carried herself not as the girl who once waited in doorways for him to look back, but as a woman who had survived, endured, and risen. Their eyes locked, and the silence cut deeper than steel. "Sakura," Sasuke said at last, his voice low, measured, unreadable. "So it's true. You've changed."

Her green eyes, calm and cold, didn't waver. "Yes and No. I've simply stopped waiting for you to change." Her words struck sharp, unyielding, and for the first time in years, Sasuke's smirk faltered, if only for a heartbeat.

Naruto's head snapped toward her, shock flickering across his face. "Sakura-"

But she raised a hand, quiet, steady. Her gaze never left Sasuke. "The last time we spoke, I told you that I believed there was still something worth saving in you. That I'd wait for you to see it. And when you asked for my heart, I told you no. Because what I felt for you wasn't love anymore. It was... memory. Family." Her eyes softened, just for a breath. "You were my brother once, Sasuke. And I'll bleed for you if I must. But don't mistake that for the kind of love I give Naruto."

The silence hit like a kunai sinking deep into flesh. Naruto's breath caught, his heart stuttering, even as his fists trembled at his sides. Sasuke's gaze darkened, the Sharingan spinning a fraction faster, his jaw tightening. "Brother," he repeated, the word tasting of ash. "That's all I am to you now?"

Sakura didn't flinch. "That's all you left me with." Her tone was calm, merciless. "I don't chase ghosts anymore, Sasuke. I protect the people who stayed, and if you let me... the people who come back."

Naruto stepped forward, fire roaring in his chest. "Sasuke, do you hear her?! Do you hear me?! You're not alone! You've never been alone!" His voice cracked with rage, with ache. "I won't stop until you come home, even if you hate me for it!"

Sasuke turned his gaze to Naruto, the air between them sparking with tension, but his eyes flicked back to Sakura, drawn like a moth to the steady flame of her presence. He searched her face for something, anger, longing, weakness. Found none. Only calm, protective steel, a cold resolve that both unsettled and anchored him. For the first time, he looked away first. "You two..." His voice was low, almost drowned by the whine of wind through the broken wall. "Still clinging to each other. Still wasting your strength on me." He stepped back into the shadows, his chakra flickering like embers smothered by ash. "I don't need saving. And I don't need you." But his words rang hollow, even to himself.

Sakura's gaze narrowed, piercing through the façade. "Then why are you still listening?" The silence stretched like a blade drawn between them, taut and trembling. Sasuke's hands curled at his sides, the faintest crack in his armor betraying him, before he finally turned his back. Naruto surged forward, but Sakura's hand caught his wrist, firm, grounding. Her voice was steady, calm, even as her chest tightened. "Not yet, Naruto. If we strike now, we lose him forever."

Sasuke vanished into the smoke and shadow, the silence he left behind heavier than the rubble that littered the floor. And still, as his figure disappeared, a whisper lingered in the air, almost too faint to hear, carried only to Sakura's ears. "Thank you." Her lips parted, but no reply came. Only the cold weight of her resolve, the warmth of Naruto's presence at her side, and the ache of a bond that, no matter how fractured, refused to break.