I ,Sasuke , Why Should I Defect To Konoha

Sasuke eyed the red copper armor's right hand as chakra radiated ominously from it, a slight smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

[So, this is his ability—the unique technique to absorb chakra through physical contact.]

Being a time traveler gave Sasuke an invaluable advantage: foresight.

"As your senior, a brat like you, who knows nothing of the world yet dares to act so haughty… I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget," the red copper armor growled, his voice filled with contempt. His chakra surged violently as he prepared to unleash his technique.

But Sasuke was unfazed. He sneered, his chakra flaring at his feet. "No matter what your technique is, as long as I'm faster than you, you'll remain nothing but a target."

In an instant, Sasuke vanished and reappeared behind the red copper armor.

["He's fast…"] thought the red copper armor, momentarily stunned. He swiftly moved his chakra-filled hands defensively, hoping to counterattack when Sasuke struck.

But Sasuke knew better than to give him that chance.

"Konoha's Great Hurricane!" Sasuke exclaimed. His right leg, brimming with chakra, swept through the air, landing a devastating blow that sent the red copper armor sprawling to the ground.

[I can't let him touch me—ever.]

Sasuke landed gracefully, immediately weaving seals. "Fire Style: Impatient Flower Technique!"

Flames erupted from Sasuke's mouth, multiple fireballs bombarding the ground where the red copper armor had fallen. Unable to dodge in time, the armor stumbled away, scrambling to avoid the blazing assault.

From the stands, Orochimaru observed with a sinister smile, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

[It seems Sasuke has adapted fully to the Heaven's Curse Seal. Kabuto's reports were accurate—this is indeed a container worth nurturing.]

He licked his lips, his anticipation mounting. Sasuke's potential was promising, far exceeding expectations. Orochimaru silently formed a hand seal, intent on testing Sasuke further.

Down below, Sasuke froze mid-motion. The curse mark on his neck began to pulse uncontrollably, its dark energy crawling across his skin.

[Damn you, Orochimaru.] Sasuke gritted his teeth, immediately recognizing the culprit.

The mark's power didn't flare up on its own. Orochimaru was provoking him.

Suddenly, the system's familiar voice echoed in Sasuke's mind:

[Detection of malicious intent from Orochimaru. Reward multiplier triggered: 10x for completing a C-rank challenge. Mission: Defeat the Curse Mark. Reward: Unlock Curse Mark Stage 2.]

Sasuke scoffed inwardly. [So, that's your game, huh? Well, let's see who wins this round.]

---

Meanwhile, the audience had mixed reactions.

Some of Sasuke's comrades were unconcerned, assuming the mark was simply another power-up.

In contrast, the Sound Village trio trembled, their faces pale. Memories of their last encounter with Sasuke haunted them.

Even Gaara, the unpredictable jinchūriki, narrowed his eyes. The aura emanating from Sasuke now was violent and cold. [Is this Uchiha Sasuke's true nature?] he wondered, his bloodlust stirring.

On the battlefield, the red copper armor seized his chance, dashing toward Sasuke with murderous intent. "Time to finish you off, brat!"

But Sasuke smirked, his confidence unwavering.

The red copper armor swung at him, but Sasuke nimbly dodged to the side.

"Your overconfidence will be your downfall," Sasuke muttered as his right hand began to spark with lightning. "Lightning Style: Thunder Snake!"

A spiral of lightning erupted from his hand, striking the red copper armor square in the stomach. Sparks danced as the armor crumpled to the ground, twitching and smoking.

Sasuke stood over his fallen opponent, indifferent. "Referee, I'm done here."

Moonlight Hayate nodded after a brief inspection. "The winner… cough... Uchiha Sasuke!"

Naruto and Sakura erupted into cheers from the stands.

"You did it, Sasuke!"

"Sasuke-kun, that was amazing!"

Sasuke ignored their praise as he casually walked back to the stands. He cast a glance at Orochimaru's disguised figure, his lips curling into a smirk.

[Curse Mark Stage 2? No thanks. I'd rather stay free than become your pawn.]

---

In the control room, Kakashi frowned as he reviewed the upcoming matchups. His gaze landed on one particular pairing, and his expression darkened.

"Hokage-sama, is this truly necessary? If the other villages suspect us of manipulating the exams, it could lead to unnecessary complications."

The Third Hokage sighed deeply. "We have no other choice, Kakashi. Naruto must master his seal before it's too late. Hinata was selected because of her gentle nature—she won't provoke Naruto into losing control. This way, we can prevent the curse mark from manifesting further."

Kakashi nodded reluctantly but still felt uneasy. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were playing with fire.

In the arena, the next matchup was displayed on the electronic screen. Gasps filled the room.

"Uzumaki Naruto vs. Hyūga Hinata."

Even Sasuke, who had been ascending the stairs, paused in his tracks. He glanced back at the screen and smirked.

[This… this is going to be interesting.]

Naruto and Hinata exchanged nervous glances as they stepped forward, both reluctant yet determined.

---

The Third Hokage's words echoed in Kakashi's mind as he watched the unfolding events.

"This is for Konoha's future."

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