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Naruto's eyes widened with deep concern as he observed Sasuke's condition rapidly deteriorating before him. With a sense of urgency, he hurried towards his friend, infused with determination to provide some temporary relief. Placing his hands on Sasuke's body, Naruto channeled a portion of his own chakra into him, hoping it would offer respite from the growing agony.

"Damn it. Your chakra's completely drained, Sasuke, and you can't endure the burden of the Cursed Seal any longer," Naruto muttered under his breath, a mixture of frustration and unwavering resolve etched on his face. Deep within his mind, a faint voice resonated, that of Hiroki, his elder brother and teacher, who had been withdrawn and despondent since a recent setback.

"Oi, Naruto. This might just be the opportunity you've been waiting for," Hiroki's voice echoed in Naruto's mind, albeit weak but resolute.

Naruto's confusion mingled with a glimmer of hope, seeking clarity. "What do you mean, Hiroki-nii-san?"

Hiroki's voice carried a hint of excitement, igniting a spark within Naruto. "Utilize the power of the Zero-Tails to purge Orochimaru's remnants and his curse from Sasuke's chakra network. Transform him into a new jinchuriki, employing the Eight Trigrams Seal to contain the beast within him. However, add a 15-degree twist to the seal, creating a small opening that will guide the Zero-Tails' chakra to gradually erode the external curse."

Naruto's shock transformed into an unwavering resolve. "Yes, that just might work. Thank you, Hiroki-nii-san."

With newfound determination, Naruto turned towards the others present, his expression radiating a blend of joy and steadfastness. "Guys, I have a plan to help Sasuke rid himself of the Cursed Mark once and for all. We will employ the power of the Eight Trigrams Seal to seal the Zero-Tails within Sasuke, transforming him into a jinchuriki like me. The excess chakra from the beast will aid in burning away the cursed mark completely."

Mixed responses greeted Naruto's proposition. Tsunade voiced her concerns for the safety of the village and the potential risks associated with unleashing the power of the Zero-Tails or Sasuke potentially losing control.

Naruto reassured them, his confidence unwavering. "Don't worry. The seal will only allow the Zero-Tails' chakra to manifest when Sasuke wills it. There will be no communication or influence from the beast itself. It's merely an amalgamation of negative thoughts and emotions without consciousness."

As Naruto began meticulously drawing a complex array of seals on the ground beside Sasuke, he lightened the mood with a lighthearted joke. "Sasuke, get ready for a tiny pinch. Take a deep breath and relax, just like you're at the mercy of a civilian nurse."

Sasuke grunted in pain, ignoring Naruto's attempt at humor. The others stood on guard, their breaths held, as the intricate seal gradually covered the writhing form of the serpent/leech-like beast.

Jiraiya closely monitored the sealing matrix, ensuring its integrity, while instructing Tsunade to keep Katsuyu ready for any potential post-procedure needs Sasuke might have.

Sasuke's agonized cries pierced the air as the beast, shrouded in black ink, began to shrink and flow into him. The pain intensified, resembling a million ants gnawing at his flesh, as the negative emotions composing the beast surged through his chakra network.

The chakra ink, carrying the Zero-Tails, coursed through Sasuke's entire body, emitting sizzling sounds and releasing black fumes as the cursed chakra of the Snake Sannin burned away.

Minutes felt like an eternity as Sasuke screamed in torment. Then, just as abruptly as the agony began, the screams ceased. Sasuke's body went limp, and he lost consciousness, his head rolling to the side.

Naruto and the others held their breath, a mixture of relief and concern washing over them. They had taken a significant step towards freeing Sasuke from the clutches of the Cursed Mark, but the true outcome of their risky endeavor remained uncertain.

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Three months had passed since the devastating attack on Konoha, leaving a lasting impact on the village and its inhabitants. The once lush and towering trees that adorned the mountains behind the Hokage Mountains had been razed, replaced by a massive pit where carpenters and builders tirelessly worked to rebuild. Both retired and current civilian ninjas, including those below the rank of chunin, joined forces to level the ground and assist in the redevelopment of the newly exposed land.

Under the brilliant management of Tsunade, with Shikaku Nara acting as her advisor, the tragic attack that had leveled the mountains became an opportunity to expand both the civilian and ninja areas of the village. With almost half the size of the existing village added, the villagers rejoiced, eagerly investing in the newly opened property market of Konoha. Prospective buyers, both personal and commercial, lined up outside the Hokage building, seeking their share of the newly available real estate.

While this development brought financial benefits to the Hokage and various other departments, it also burdened Tsunade with an ever-increasing pile of paperwork to manage.

The attack, which had occurred on the day of the Chunnin Exams Finals, had taken everyone by surprise. However, due to the swift action taken to evacuate the civilians to safety and the secret recall of almost all the ninjas back to the village, the death toll had been minimized to a tragic count of only 22 unfortunate souls.

The funeral held for the fallen was a solemn affair, marked by sadness and anger etched across the faces of clan leaders, village officials, and grieving civilians. However, amidst the mourning, two individuals found themselves in a state of panic.

"How did Orochimaru fail? What the hell was his surprise? Only 22 ninja died, and that didn't even include that old fogie Hiruzen. Tsunade is still breathing. How did you fail so miserably? And on top of that, you left us here alone," Homura and Koharu pondered with growing fear. They feared that Tsunade and her astute ally, Shikaku Nara, would uncover their involvement in the suspicious movement of ninjas just before the attack.

The next day, a group of jonin and higher-ranked ninjas surrounded the residences of the two individuals, with Tsunade and Hiruzen leading the way.

Hiruzen wore a saddened yet wry smile as he addressed his former teammates. "What has become of our team? First, Danzo went and committed idiotic acts, harming the village and its interests. And now you come here, attempting to sabotage the village's security, resulting in the deaths of 22 fine Konoha Shinobi. What's next? Am I going to turn evil?" His voice laced with a tinge of sorrow, Hiruzen observed as the two ex-teammates were dragged away to their cells, bearing visible bruises and broken limbs.

"I believe it's time for me to return and finally take the rest I deserve. It's time for you to step up and assume complete leadership of Konoha as the new Hokage. It's time for you to leave the nest and spread your wings. The old leaves must burn, making way for the new leaves to sprout," Hiruzen mused, smoking his pipe as he walked away toward his residence, leaving a stunned Tsunade behind.

Determination shone in Tsunade's eyes as she donned her haori beneath the Fifth Hokage's Mantle. With newfound resolve, she entered the Hokage's office, ready to work tirelessly and rebuild her village, ensuring it emerged stronger than ever.

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Days after the attack, Sasuke awakened in a hospital bed, his body swathed in bandages. As he stirred, his eyes met with Ino, who had been sleeping by his side. Recognizing her, Sasuke was initially taken aback, disoriented by his unfamiliar surroundings. However, he quickly composed himself and reached out to embrace Ino as she burst into tears.

Embracing each other tightly, Sasuke hoarsely reassured her, "There, there. I'm not going anywhere," despite the pain in his throat caused by dehydration from his prolonged unconsciousness.

The tears continued to flow for a few more minutes as Ino sought solace in Sasuke's arms, releasing all the fear and worry she had accumulated while he was in a coma.

While consoling his girlfriend, Sasuke's mind reflected on the recent events, particularly the surge of power he had felt coursing through his body. He examined his now-healed form and became aware of the intense power flowing within him, originating from the beast he had battled just days before.

"So, this is what it feels like to be a jinchuriki," Sasuke mused, a smile creeping onto his face as he reveled in his newfound abilities. However, his focus soon returned to Ino, who had fallen asleep in his arms. Gently cradling her, he snuggled her closer and drifted back to sleep, their shared slumber offering a momentary respite from the challenges that awaited them.