I ,Sasuke , Why Should I Defect To Konoha

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The crowd stood tense as the Third Hokage stepped forward to announce the start of the next stage of the Chūnin Exams. His solemn gaze swept across the gathered participants, ensuring their undivided attention before he began.

"Let me introduce you to the inspector and referee for this round…" he started, pausing slightly for effect. "This is Moonlight Hayate."

At this, a thin, frail man stepped forward, coughing intermittently. Despite his gaunt appearance, his eyes held a sharpness that indicated his keen observation skills. He addressed the crowd, his voice strained but resolute.

"The third exam... cough… will be conducted in front of distinguished guests, including the leaders of various nations and ninja villages. Cough… To provide them with an impressive display of skill, we must limit the number of participants... and their strength. Cough... Thus, we will begin the elimination rounds immediately."

His explanation, however clear, was broken up by his relentless coughing, causing murmurs to ripple through the crowd.

"Is this guy really a jōnin?" Naruto whispered loudly, his skepticism clear.

Hinata, standing nearby, glanced at Hayate with concern but kept her thoughts to herself. Doesn't he seem like the one who's in poor health?

Before the murmurs grew too loud, Kabuto Yakushi stepped forward, raising his hand. "I choose to withdraw from the competition."

All eyes turned to Kabuto as he made his exit, his expression calm and unreadable. Naruto clenched his fists, his emotions swirling in confusion.

"That guy…" Naruto muttered, his tone mixed with frustration and unease. What's his deal? First, he helped us with the scrolls and healed Sakura, but now he's dropping out? Is he a friend or a foe?

Sasuke, observing Kabuto's exit, narrowed his eyes. Orochimaru must have a reason to value him… He's not someone to underestimate.

"Sasuke-kun, Naruto…" Sakura looked between her teammates, conflicted. She considered persuading them to withdraw for their own safety, but as she glanced at their determined faces, she realized it was futile. This was their dream—to become stronger, to protect what they held dear. She sighed, resolving to speak to Kakashi-sensei about her concerns instead.

---

As more participants stepped forward to withdraw, Hayate continued. "Cough… For those remaining, the elimination matches will begin. We'll be testing individual strength from here on. Cough…"

The announcement was followed by the activation of an electronic board, its screen flashing through random names. The room grew silent, tension thick in the air as the first match was decided.

"Red Copper Armor vs. Uchiha Sasuke."

The crowd murmured again, all eyes turning to Sasuke. The boy's expression remained impassive, though his dark eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"The two selected, stay where you are," Hayate instructed. "The rest of you, please move to the observation area."

As the others began to file out, Kakashi appeared, his eyes scanning the group. Naruto immediately broke away from Sasuke and ran toward their sensei.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto called out, but before he could say more, Sakura rushed forward, cutting him off.

"Kakashi-sensei, please listen!" she pleaded, her tone urgent. "There's something you need to know about Sasuke-kun and Naruto…"

Naruto halted, frowning as he watched Sakura speak hurriedly to their teacher. He crossed his arms in frustration but said nothing, letting her voice her concerns.

Sakura quickly explained everything she had witnessed: the changes in their chakra, their increasing reliance on the curse marks, and the dangerous potential she feared they both held. Her voice was low but filled with worry.

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed as he listened. So it's come to this already… he thought grimly. He had only just learned about the curse marks from Anko. The plan was to seal them as soon as possible to prevent Orochimaru from exerting his influence. But now, seeing how Sasuke and Naruto seemed to have adapted to the marks' power so quickly, Kakashi hesitated. This is worse than I expected.

---

Meanwhile, Sasuke stepped into the arena, facing the Red Copper Armor. The latter sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "I didn't expect to face a so-called Uchiha prodigy."

Sasuke's expression didn't waver. His tone was cold as he replied, "You've been nothing but dead weight as a genin for years. And now, you're just a puppet hiding behind a mask."

The insult struck a nerve, and Red Copper Armor snarled, his anger boiling over. "You arrogant brat! I'll make you eat those words!"

Hayate coughed again but managed to announce the start of the match. "The first elimination match… begins now!"

---

As the match commenced, Red Copper Armor formed a series of hand seals, his right hand glowing with visible chakra. Sasuke stood his ground, his Sharingan spinning to life as he analyzed his opponent's movements.

This guy's chakra is strange, Sasuke noted. He adjusted his stance, preparing for the incoming attack. In the stands, Orochimaru, disguised as one of the observing Sound ninja, smirked.

"Let's see how well you perform, Sasuke," Orochimaru murmured, his voice low enough that no one else could hear. He cast a glance at Naruto, who was glaring at Kakashi from the observation area. And let's not forget you, Naruto.

---

At the same time, Kakashi had vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Naruto fuming. "What the—?!" Naruto yelled, clenching his fists. "Kakashi-sensei! Where did you go?! You're just running away from this!"

Naruto's outburst earned a few curious glances, but his frustration only deepened. He had been planning to ask Kakashi for training—specifically, to learn an advanced jutsu. Now, with Kakashi gone, he was left to stew in his anger.

"I'll show him," Naruto muttered under his breath, his determination hardening. I'll prove I don't need anyone's help to become stronger.

---

Back in the arena, Sasuke dodged a powerful strike from Red Copper Armor, countering with a precise kick that sent his opponent stumbling. The crowd watched intently, their eyes darting between the two combatants.

"Sasuke-kun, you can do it!" Sakura cheered from the sidelines, her voice filled with encouragement.

Sasuke didn't respond, his focus entirely on the battle. This guy's durability is annoying, but he's slow, Sasuke analyzed. I'll end this quickly.

As Red Copper Armor charged again, Sasuke activated his Chidori. The crackling lightning lit up the arena, eliciting gasps from the audience. Without hesitation, Sasuke lunged forward, his speed overwhelming his opponent. The Chidori struck true, shattering Red Copper Armor's defenses and sending him crashing to the ground.

Hayate coughed again, raising his hand. "Winner… Uchiha Sasuke."

---

The match ended, but the tension in the room remained. Sasuke's display of power left many of the other participants uneasy. In the observation area, Naruto watched silently, his fists clenched tightly. Sakura, meanwhile, sighed in relief.

"That was amazing, Sasuke-kun!" she said, her voice filled with admiration. But Sasuke didn't acknowledge her. His eyes lingered on the spot where Kakashi had been standing moments earlier.

Kakashi-sensei… What are you planning?

---

As the elimination rounds continued, Orochimaru observed from the shadows, his sinister grin never faltering. "The pieces are falling into place," he whispered. "Soon, everything will be as I envisioned."

Kabuto appeared beside him, his expression neutral. "Orochimaru-sama, are you certain about this? Allowing them to fight now could be risky."

Orochimaru chuckled, his serpentine voice dripping with amusement. "Trust me, Kabuto. Risk is what makes the game worth playing."

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