Sasuke's gaze slid briefly toward Sakura, his expression unreadable. To him, she still carried the same innocence she'd always had—unchanged despite the years.
Yamato's brow furrowed. The situation was already unraveling faster than he liked. Sai had his agenda, Sakura was lost in thoughts of Sasuke, and there was no way she'd willingly lift a hand against him.
We need Naruto here. Now.
Sai surged forward again, unleashing a rapid flurry of taijutsu strikes. Sasuke blocked each one with effortless precision, his body moving like water—smooth, inevitable.
Sai shifted back, preparing to weave his next technique. But before his fingers even touched, Sasuke's voice cut through the air, low and cold.
"Lightning Release… Chidori Stream."
Sparks erupted from his body in a violent burst, electricity lashing out in every direction within a three-meter radius.
The first to take the full brunt was Sai.
A strangled cry tore from his throat as the current ripped through him, his body convulsing. He was thrown back, tumoring across the dirt before landing hard and motionless for a heartbeat.
Sai grit his teeth and forced himself upright—but Sasuke was already behind him. At some point, he'd moved without a sound, Kusanagi's blade pressing against Sai's stomach in a backward grip.
"From the way you came at me… You were trying to kill me, weren't you?" Sasuke's tone was quiet, almost conversational. "I'm a rogue ninja of Konoha… but your strength isn't even close."
Sai said nothing. Inside, the gap between them was undeniable. He was considered a jōnin-level operative—yet against Sasuke, he'd barely lasted seconds.
"Stop!" Sakura's voice broke through, sharp with urgency. "Sasuke-kun, Sai—don't fight! If you've got something to say, we can talk!"
Her eyes flicked between them, a mix of frustration and pleading. Whatever Sai's reasons were, they were still teammates on this mission.
Sasuke glanced her way, then looked back at Sai. "So… this is it? You're replacing me in Team 7 now? What's Kakashi been doing?"
Before Sai could respond, Yamato struck.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
His hands blurred through seals, and thick wooden tendrils burst from the ground, snaking toward both Sasuke and Sai.
Sasuke swung Kusanagi in a clean arc, severing every vine that reached for him. In the same breath, Sai was pulled clear, wrapped in Yamato's wood, and dragged to safety.
"Wood Release, huh?" Sasuke's gaze narrowed slightly. He'd heard of it—the bloodline limit of the First Hokage. But the technique here felt weaker, less overwhelming than the legends described.
Yamato freed Sai and straightened. "Sai, don't act alone. You'll get yourself killed."
Sai didn't argue. His mind was already recalculating. The Sharingan was as dangerous as the reports claimed—perhaps more.
Sasuke's head turned suddenly. His Sharingan locked on the horizon, tracking movement far beyond normal sight.
A figure was closing in, leaping from shadow clone to shadow clone, each one acting as a springboard to launch him forward faster. The chakra sustaining such a barrage was massive—something only one person could pull off.
Naruto.
Sasuke's posture shifted subtly. This time, he would wait.
Sakura, Yamato, and Sai followed his gaze, catching sight of the blond streak cutting across the terrain.
Naruto's final leap carried him onto the back of a clone, launching him high before he flipped midair and landed beside Sakura.
"Great—Naruto, you're here!" Sakura's relief spilled into her voice. "Where's Orochimaru?"
Yamato and Sai both looked at him expectantly.
"He left. In the middle of the fight," Naruto replied simply. His eyes were already fixed on Sasuke. "Long time no see, Sasuke."
"It's been a while," Sasuke returned evenly. There was no rush of warmth, no spark of surprise—just calm acknowledgment, like two opponents stepping onto a familiar stage.
Three seconds passed in silence before Sasuke spoke again. "You've changed, Naruto. You're not as reckless as you used to be."
Naruto smiled faintly. "Three years have passed since the Valley of the End. People change."
Sasuke's laugh was sudden, sharp. "Hah… so you're not the idiot I remember."
"Let's skip the small talk," Naruto said, his grin edged with challenge. "Show me what you've learned under Orochimaru. Just don't go down too fast."
"Tch." Sasuke's frown deepened. "Naruto… you've gotten cocky."
The air between them tightened as both dropped into fighting stances.
"Well, you two, don't start fighting the second you meet!" Sakura's voice cracked under the strain. She couldn't understand why every reunion between them had to start like this.
"Sakura." Naruto didn't take his eyes off Sasuke. "Step back. You'll just get caught up in this."
Yamato caught her by the arm, pulling her and Sai back a hundred meters. "Trust him."