I ,Sasuke , Why Should I Defect To Konoha

Naruto stumbled, barely managing to stay upright. His body felt weak, drained.

"What's going on?!" he cried out in confusion, as the cursed seal retracted. The sudden withdrawal of that immense power left him feeling empty, the contrast almost unbearable. Anger and frustration bubbled up, and he let out a pained scream.

"Seriously, how clueless can you be?" Sasuke taunted, watching Naruto's struggle with thinly veiled amusement. "Now you're whining? What about all that rebellious attitude earlier? This is the price of abusing power, Naruto. What you felt was the boost that comes from overloading your physical energy. It's not sustainable."

His words were sharp, yet laced with a trace of superiority. The curse seal's energy, even though it took a toll on Sasuke as well, was something he was starting to master within acceptable limits.

Naruto glared at him, his expression shifting from embarrassment to indignation. "You think this is over, Sasuke?! Once I master my ninjutsu, I'll take you down for sure!"

Sasuke ignored the empty threat, turning his attention to Sakura, who stood nearby nursing her arm. "Sakura, are you alright?" he asked, his voice softening.

Sakura's cheeks flushed at his concern. "It's nothing serious, Sasuke-kun," she said quickly. "The injury should heal soon." Her spirits lifted at his concern, and she nodded resolutely. "Let's head to the tower."

Sasuke nodded, sharing her sentiment. The power of the curse seal was taking its toll on him, too, and rest was a priority. Without further delay, the trio set off toward their destination.

---

Journey to the Tower

The tower was several kilometers away, but Team 7 moved swiftly, their combined strength overcoming any obstacles. At one point, they were ambushed by a team of genin. However, Sasuke and Naruto easily overpowered their attackers, taking only the scrolls they needed and leaving the defeated team behind.

The trio entered the tower unimpeded, greeted by a familiar sight: the famous quote engraved above the entrance.

"If there is no heaven, know wisdom and prepare for opportunity.

If there is no land, look for the original source to make a profit.

If the two books of heaven and earth are revealed, the dangerous path will turn into the right path."

Sakura paused to read it aloud, her voice echoing through the quiet hall. Naruto scratched his head, looking baffled. Sasuke, meanwhile, opened the two scrolls they had collected and placed them on the ground.

"Sasuke, what are you—" Naruto began, but was interrupted as a puff of white smoke emerged from the scrolls, revealing a familiar figure.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto's eyes widened, his voice filled with both surprise and joy.

Iruka smiled warmly, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Congratulations, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. You've done well to make it here so quickly. Reaching the tower on the second day is impressive for a team of your level."

---

Questions and Frustrations

"That's great and all, Iruka-sensei, but where's Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, cutting straight to the point. "I need to talk to him about something important!"

Sakura chimed in, nodding earnestly. "Yes, Iruka-sensei, I have questions for Kakashi-sensei too!"

Iruka blinked in surprise but quickly recovered. "Kakashi Jounin has other responsibilities during the exam. You'll see him on the fifth day, once the exam concludes."

Both Naruto and Sakura groaned in disappointment. Naruto clenched his fists. "Can't we leave the tower and find him ourselves?!"

Iruka shook his head firmly. "This is the Chuunin Exam, Naruto. You're expected to stay here. If there's something urgent, you can tell me, and I'll do my best to help."

Naruto and Sakura exchanged skeptical glances. Neither seemed convinced that Iruka, as capable as he was, could help with matters as advanced as Rasengan training or the intricacies of curse seals. Finally, they sighed in unison.

"Guess we have no choice but to wait," Naruto muttered. Sakura nodded reluctantly. Iruka, sensing their disappointment, attempted to lighten the mood but couldn't hide the sting of their lack of faith in him.

---

Living Arrangements

After completing a few formalities, Iruka led the trio to the rest area within the tower. "You'll be staying here for the next three days," he explained, pointing to a room. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, this is where you'll live."

Naruto immediately recoiled, his voice rising in protest. "What?! No way I'm sharing a room with Sasuke!" He shot a glare at his teammate. "Find him his own room or something, Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Sasuke, however, had reached his limit. He grabbed Naruto by the collar, dragging him into the room. "Shut up, Naruto," he growled, kicking the door shut behind them.

Sakura watched, torn between exasperation and embarrassment. Her face turned red as she imagined the prospect of sharing a space with Sasuke for three days. She glanced at Iruka, hoping for clarification.

"Actually," Iruka began, sensing her discomfort, "the room is part of a suite. There are separate sleeping areas for each of you."

Sakura sighed in relief, though a small part of her felt disappointed.

---

Reflections

As they settled in, the tension among the team began to ease. Sakura found herself reflecting on how much they'd grown since their early days as Team 7. Sasuke's strength and leadership, Naruto's determination and resilience—it all felt different now. Even amidst their squabbles, there was a sense of camaraderie.

Meanwhile, Sasuke couldn't shake the thought of the curse seal. Its power was undeniable, but so were its risks. He knew he needed to master it fully if he wanted to protect those he cared about—and himself.

Naruto, on the other hand, was fixated on his next steps. Kakashi's absence frustrated him, but it also motivated him to push harder. He would master the Rasengan, surpass Sasuke, and prove his worth.

As night fell, the trio settled into their respective rooms, each lost in their thoughts. Despite the challenges ahead, they knew they were stronger together.

For now, they would rest—but the real test was yet to come.

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