Uchiha Sasuke's eyes opened slowly, dark irises catching the dim light of the underground chamber.
Konoha?
The name lingered in his thoughts, bringing with it a vivid image of a certain blond shinobi—his rival, his bond, and the one person whose presence still pressed against the walls of his mind no matter how far he ran.
Without another word, Sasuke rose from where he'd been seated in silent meditation and stepped toward the exit. His movements were deliberate, his chakra steady, but his eyes carried the faint, sharp edge of anticipation.
Far away, in the twisting stone corridors beneath Orochimaru's lair, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai navigated the winding path of the secret passage.
They had been walking for what felt like hours, their footsteps echoing softly in the stale air. Sakura's heart pounded faster with each turn. Her thoughts ran ahead of her body, toward the moment she had been imagining for three long years.
Soon… I'll see Sasuke-kun. Soon.
The passage curved sharply, the thin sliver of light ahead widening until the exit appeared before them. They stepped out into the open, the air fresher, the space broader.
And there—standing high above on a rocky ledge—was Sasuke.
Sakura's breath caught in her throat. The sight of him—older now, taller, his presence sharper and more self-assured—nearly brought tears to her eyes. The tension that had been knotting her chest loosened slightly. At the very least, he was alive and uninjured.
Sasuke's gaze swept over them, lingering only briefly on Sakura before shifting to the two unfamiliar faces beside her. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Where's Naruto?" His voice was calm, but there was an undertone that Sakura couldn't quite place.
Truthfully, Sasuke valued his rivalry with Naruto more than any tie he had left with her, and the absence of the blond immediately caught his attention.
Sakura straightened at his question. "Naruto was… dealing with Orochimaru. He hasn't caught up to us yet."
Sasuke's brows drew together. Dealing with Orochimaru? But the sannin had just returned moments ago. That meant whatever had happened between them was already over.
He wondered briefly about the outcome—but in truth, he wasn't overly concerned.
Without warning, Sai moved.
His body blurred forward, chakra flaring faintly as he closed the distance between himself and Sasuke in a flash. Appearing at Sasuke's left flank, Sai's short sword swept toward him in a quick, precise slash.
Steel met steel with a sharp ring. Sasuke's blade intercepted the strike effortlessly.
The tomoe of his Sharingan spun lazily as he regarded Sai, voice low and unhurried.
"Your speed is decent… but no movement escapes these eyes."
Sai's expression remained neutral. "The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan… it does seem troublesome."
It was a probing strike, nothing more—a test of reflexes and reaction. Sai hadn't expected to land a decisive blow.
From below, Sakura's eyes widened in alarm.
"Sai, what are you doing?!" she shouted, her voice cracking under the pressure.
"Don't suddenly attack Sasuke-kun! He's not our enemy!"
They hadn't even had the chance to speak with Sasuke, to try and reach him. Now, with Sai's sudden aggression, that fragile chance at dialogue threatened to shatter before it began.
Sai didn't answer her.
Inside, his thoughts were cold and focused.
Danzo-sama's orders were clear—Uchiha Sasuke is to be eliminated.
The mission came first. Always.