Sasuke's Goodbyes

Later, Naruto stopped doing those childish pranks and dedicated more time to training.

Then, his strength improved rapidly.

Though he remained at the bottom in academics, Sasuke could clearly feel Naruto's growth every time they sparred in class.

Finally!

One day, Sasuke lost to him.

Sasuke still remembers that moment vividly.

"Sasuke, I finally caught up with you!"

"Hmph! I was just careless. Next time, I won't lose!"

Their conversation felt like it had happened just yesterday.

With reluctance in his eyes, Sasuke suddenly hugged Naruto.

Naruto: "???"

What's up with Sasuke today?

Naruto was completely confused.

Naruto suddenly realized and said, "Wait! Sasuke, you said you're leaving Konoha? Where are you going?"

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm and looked at him seriously.

"Naruto, do you remember the Uchiha we met last time?"

Instead of answering, Sasuke posed a question.

Naruto thought for a moment and nodded.

He said, "Yeah, wasn't he one of your clansmen?"

Naruto had a strong impression of that Uchiha.

He was the guy who had defeated him even in his Three-Tails form and even overpowered Gaara.

A formidable ninja!

Sasuke explained, "A few days ago, I became his student. Now, I'm leaving with him to train."

Naruto asked, "Huh?! You're training under him?!"

"But why can't you stay in the village?"

Sasuke shook his head. Seeing Naruto's reluctant gaze, he felt as if his heart was being clenched.

Sasuke said, "Naruto, you have Jiraiya to teach you. But I… I can't learn anything more from Kakashi. If I want to grow stronger and defeat Itachi, I have to leave Konoha."

"Maybe the village will see me as a traitor. But Naruto, you understand me, don't you?"

"Even if the whole world misunderstands me, as long as you understand me, that's enough for me!"

Naruto shouted, "What?! Sasuke, you're going to become a rogue ninja?!"

Sasuke: "..."

Did he even hear what I just said?

Am I wasting my emotions for nothing?

Sasuke felt utterly frustrated.

It was like trying to reason with a rock.

Naruto anxiously said, "No! Sasuke, you can't be a rogue ninja!"

"The village will hunt you down!"

During his time with Jiraiya, he had learned more than just the Summoning Technique.

He had also learned about the reality of being a rogue ninja.

So, Naruto knew that if Sasuke defected, the village would never let him go.

Sasuke clenched his fists, and said in a cold and resolute voice, "Naruto, I don't care if the village hunts me down."

"The only thing that matters is growing stronger… strong enough to avenge my clan!"

Seeing Sasuke's determination, Naruto opened his mouth but didn't know how to respond.

Logically, he should stop Sasuke and convince him to stay.

But emotionally, seeing Sasuke in so much pain, Naruto couldn't bring himself to force him to stay.

After all, Sasuke was right. If he stayed in the village, his growth would be limited.

Maybe following that Uchiha was his best option?

Naruto suddenly said, "Wait! Sasuke, why not go to Ryosuke? He's strong! He can definitely help you!"

Naruto suddenly thought of Ryosuke. If anyone could help Sasuke, it was him!.

Sasuke shook his head and said, "No, he can't."

"Ryosuke is powerful because of his Senju bloodline. He awakened Wood release because his lineage is pure."

"But I'm an Uchiha. Do you really think a Senju can guide an Uchiha? Only my teacher, someone of my own clan, can help me!"

Naruto fell silent because Sasuke had a point.

"So you really have to go?"

Naruto clutched Sasuke's hand tightly, not wanting him to leave.

Sasuke firmly said, "Naruto, I have to go. You understand, don't you?"

He was reluctant too. But for the sake of his goal, he had to walk this path.

"Sasuke… I understand."

Naruto's voice cracked, and tears welled in his eyes.

Seeing Naruto like this, Sasuke felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Unconsciously, his Sharingan activated and even Sasuke didn't notice it.

"Naruto, I'll come see you when I can. Keep training, or you'll never catch up to me."

Sasuke pursed his lips, holding back his tears. But his voice was choked, just like Naruto's.

"Shut up, Sasuke! I won't fall behind! You better work hard too, or next time, I'll beat you!"

Naruto sobbed, his face covered in tears and snot.

"I'm leaving."

Sasuke turned away, not wanting Naruto to see his tears.

But the moment he turned, his tears spilled uncontrollably.

Not wanting to linger, Sasuke leaped out the window and disappeared into the night with the Body Flicker Technique.

"SASUKE!!!"

Naruto rushed to the window, calling out desperately.

But!

In the dark night, the person he longed for was already gone.

"Sasuke!"

In a pink-themed bedroom, Sakura woke up from a nightmare.

She had just dreamt that Sasuke had left the village… left everyone… left her.

The dream was so real that after waking up, she instinctively opened the window and looked outside in worry.

"Why… why would I dream something like that?"

Sakura whispered to herself.

Meanwhile, Sasuke sprinted toward the meeting point outside the village.

As he ran, memories of Naruto flooded his mind—every moment that they had shared.

Would they meet again as friends?

Or as enemies?

His chest tightened painfully at that thought.

Without realizing it, his Sharingan spun wildly. A new tomoe formed in his left eye.

His Sharingan had evolved from two tomoe to three tomoe.

In his right eye, the third tomoe was on the verge of forming.

But before it could fully solidify, Sasuke's emotions calmed.

The incomplete tomoe faded away as his Sharingan slowed its rotation.

Still, his pupil power had significantly increased.

And the next time his emotions are stirred, his right eye will fully evolve to three tomoe.

Sasuke remained unaware of the change in his eyes.

Upon arriving at the meeting place, he glanced around.

No one was there. A strange unease settled in his chest.

Just then!

"Looks like you've already said your goodbyes."

A voice broke the silence.

Sasuke turned around to see Menma standing behind him.

He was accompanied by a figure wearing the same trench coat and a spiral mask.

Tobi said, "Oh~! So this is Uchiha Sasuke? But what's up with his eyes? One has three tomoe, but the other only had two!"

The masked man, Tobi observed Sasuke curiously.

A Sharingan with mismatched tomoe?

He had never seen or heard of such a thing before.

From this alone, Sasuke was already an anomaly among the Uchiha.

"Three-tomoe?"

Sasuke ignored Tobi's odd tone and focused on his words.

"Menma-sensei, my eyes?"

He turned to Menma for confirmation.

Menma gave a slight nod and said, "Yes, your left eye has evolved to three-tomoe and your right eye is almost there."

"It really evolved?!"

Sasuke was elated.

Because for the Uchiha, once the Sharingan reaches the three-tomoe stage, it was only a matter of practice before they reach the level of an Elite Jōnin.

That meant he was already halfway there!

If his right eye evolves as well, wouldn't he soon have the strength of an Elite Jōnin?

"Good! Next step is Mangekyō!"

Sasuke clenched his fists. The sadness from parting with Naruto slightly faded.

This was why he had abandoned Konoha, even if it meant being labeled a rogue ninja.

And now he had just taken the first step, and his eyes had already evolved.

What did that mean?

It meant he made the right choice.

"Teacher, let's go!" Sasuke urged.

He was eager to begin his training.

But Menma shook his head slightly and said, "No rush. Don't you want to say goodbye to your other teacher?"

Sasuke asked with confusion, "Another teacher?"

Kakashi?

Sasuke had a bad feeling. He turned sharply toward the other side.

As expected!

On a rooftop nearby, several figures stood against the moonlight.

Their faces were obscured, but Sasuke immediately recognized one of them.

That hair!

It could only be Kakashi.

Swish!

Swish! Swish!

The figures leaped down, landing in front of them.

Kakashi calmly said, "Sasuke, why are you out here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

But he sharply gazed at Sasuke.

He had sensed Sasuke's instability for a while now.

He had hoped Naruto could talk to him after returning.

Given their bond, Naruto might have been able to pull Sasuke back.

But it seemed that things hadn't gone as planned. Even Naruto couldn't stop him.

Kakashi's gaze shifted to the two figures beside Sasuke.

They wore the same cloak as Itachi.

That should be the uniform of some organization.

Was Sasuke planning to join them?

Kakashi's expression darkened.

Sasuke knew that there was no chance of leaving Konoha quietly now.

But his decision was already made and it wouldn't change.

Sasuke declared, "Kakashi, the village can no longer help me grow stronger. That's why I'm leaving with my teacher!"

"Teacher?"

Kakashi's eyes flickered toward the two figures.

For some reason, the masked man gave him an unsettlingly familiar feeling.

Like an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

"Yes, he is my new teacher!" Sasuke affirmed.

Kakashi frowned.

It wasn't that he minded Sasuke finding another teacher but these two clearly weren't from Konoha.

And given their connection to Itachi, they were likely rogue ninjas.

Was Sasuke really making a rebel his mentor?

This was dangerous.

Kakashi seriously said, "Sasuke, are you sure about this?"

"You realize that this means betraying the village, right?"

He wanted to give Sasuke one last chance to reconsider.

Because Sasuke was still his student. He had even taught him Chidori.

Kakashi genuinely cared about him.

But Sasuke had no intention of turning back. His mind was made up.

"Kakashi, move aside."

Sasuke's gaze turned cold.

In Konoha, besides Naruto, the only person he had a decent relationship with was Ryosuke.

As for the rest?

Even Kakashi, the man who had taught him ninjutsu was nothing more than a familiar face.

If Naruto had stood in his way, Sasuke might have hesitated.

But Kakashi?

Not a chance.

Kakashi simply didn't hold that much weight in his heart.