I ,Sasuke , Why Should I Defect To Konoha

In the quiet of the room, tension brewed.

"Ugh! Why'd you kick me, Sasuke?" Naruto groaned, turning to glare at his teammate. His hand massaged the sore spot on his lower back, his indignation palpable.

Sasuke leaned back against the wall, his gaze impassive as he retorted, "What nonsense were you thinking?" His voice carried its usual disdain, dismissing Naruto's frustrations with a flicker of irritation.

Naruto pouted, his annoyance giving way to determination as he looked around the room. A grin broke across his face. "Hmph, I won't waste time arguing with you," he said. His eyes landed on the door leading to where Sakura might be staying. A mischievous light entered his gaze as he muttered under his breath, "If I can't have her alone, at least we're in the same space..."

He stepped toward the door, hand reaching for the knob, only for Sasuke's cold voice to halt him. "Touch that door, and you might end up hurting her."

Naruto froze mid-motion, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back at Sasuke. "What are you talking about?" he asked, confused but intrigued.

Sasuke's gaze sharpened, his voice dropping into a warning tone. "The power Orochimaru gave us… you've felt it too, haven't you? It's like a constant storm, ready to break free at any moment. While we've suppressed his will for now, this isn't the end—just the beginning." His words hung heavy in the air, casting a dark shadow over the room.

Naruto's pale face betrayed his growing unease. He clenched his fists, his voice trembling as he declared, "I don't care about that. I'll protect Sakura no matter what!"

Before Sasuke could respond, a loud knock echoed through the room. Naruto's courage surged as he yanked the door open, expecting Sakura or Iruka. Instead, familiar faces greeted him.

"Shikamaru? Choji?" Naruto exclaimed, his surprise apparent. "What are you two doing here? Where's Sakura? And Iruka-sensei?"

Choji grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "We wanted to check on you guys, especially since Sasuke helped us earlier. As for Sakura, she's with Iruka in another room—Ino went with them."

Naruto's face fell at the mention of Ino. "She left her teammates? What kind of loyalty is that?" he muttered bitterly, glancing at Sasuke out of the corner of his eye. His anger simmered, fueled by the situation and Sasuke's earlier remarks.

Shikamaru sighed, his trademark laziness evident as he leaned against the doorframe. "Troublesome as it is, we figured we'd pay our respects since you're here."

Naruto brightened momentarily. "At least someone appreciates me—"

"Let's not get carried away," interrupted Kiba's voice from behind Shikamaru. The Inuzuka strode into the room with Shino in tow, his presence as boisterous as ever. "I'm here because I've got some important intel to share—nothing more."

Kiba's serious demeanor caught everyone's attention. He turned to Sasuke, ignoring Naruto entirely. "Listen, there's someone you need to watch out for. A dangerous guy from Sunagakure," Kiba began, his voice low and tense.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "You mean Gaara, don't you?" His tone was calm, but the weight of his words silenced the room. Even Kiba, who had been brimming with energy, faltered.

"You've met him?" Shikamaru asked, his interest piqued.

Sasuke nodded. "Naruto and I have encountered him. Let me be clear—if any of you face him, surrender immediately. Don't hesitate."

The others exchanged uncertain glances. Kiba scoffed, crossing his arms. "Surrender? To that guy? You're joking, right? There's no way I'd back down."

Naruto puffed up, eager to prove himself. "Yeah, Sasuke! I'm not afraid of anyone. I'll take him down if I have to!"

Shikamaru groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just great... Let's hope none of us run into him," he muttered, already resigned to the chaos that would inevitably follow.

As the boys debated strategy, the scene shifted to a quieter corner of the tower, where Sakura, Ino, and Hinata were gathered.

---

Sakura ran her fingers through her long hair, a troubled expression on her face. Turning to Hinata, she hesitated before saying, "Hinata, can you help me cut my hair?"

Hinata blinked in surprise, her hand pausing mid-air. "Cut your hair? But why?"

Sakura's grip on her resolve tightened. "I've decided to become stronger. I won't let my hair be a weakness again."

Ino, standing nearby, gasped dramatically. "What?! Sakura, you know Sasuke-kun likes girls with long hair! Are you giving up on him?" Her voice was filled with mock horror.

Sakura's eyes blazed with determination. "Give up on Sasuke-kun? Never! But I need to focus on becoming stronger, not just for him, but for myself."

Ino crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "Hmph. Sounds like an excuse to me. But fine, do what you want."

Hinata watched the exchange, her quiet presence grounding the intensity between the two rivals. She nodded softly. "If that's what you've decided, Sakura, I'll help."

Sakura smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Hinata. This is just the beginning. I'll catch up to Sasuke and Naruto one day—I promise."

As Sakura's hair fell to the floor, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. This wasn't just a haircut; it was a declaration of her newfound will.

---

Back in the boys' room, the atmosphere had shifted. Kiba and Shino had left, their warnings lingering in the air. Shikamaru and Choji remained, though the conversation had dwindled into a comfortable silence.

Sasuke sat near the window, his thoughts distant as he gazed out into the night. Naruto, meanwhile, paced restlessly, unable to shake the tension between them.

"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Do you really think we can beat this Gaara guy?"

Sasuke didn't look at him, his voice steady. "We don't have a choice. If he stands in our way, we'll deal with him."

Naruto's fists clenched. "I'm not afraid. Whatever it takes, I'll protect Sakura and everyone else."

Sasuke finally turned to face him, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Just don't do anything stupid, idiot."

Naruto bristled, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Tch, I'll show you who the idiot is."

As the two exchanged their usual banter, the bonds between them, though unspoken, grew stronger. Their path forward was fraught with danger, but together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.

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