26.

The Hunt Begins

The moment Rock Lee and Sasuke Uchiha stepped beyond the borders of the Land of Fire, they ceased to exist.

At least, that was how Konoha saw it.

Within hours of their defection, the village elders had erased their names from official records. Their files were marked Class S-Rogue. Their faces were posted on the Bingo Book with orders:

Capture or eliminate. No negotiations.

To the world, they were no longer Konoha shinobi.

They were traitors.

And soon, the hunt would begin.

Naruto's Mission: Bring Them Back

The Hokage's office was heavy with silence.

Naruto stood in front of the desk, fists clenched. His headband sat low on his forehead, barely hiding the storm raging behind his blue eyes.

Tsunade watched him carefully, her hands folded in front of her.

"You understand, don't you?" she said.

Naruto's jaw tightened.

"You want me to bring them back," he muttered. "Before they're killed."

Tsunade exhaled slowly. "Before Danzo finds them first."

A sharp breath. A pause.

Then—

"Give me a team."

Tsunade nodded. "You leave at dawn."

Naruto turned, already moving for the door.

Then—

"Naruto."

He stopped.

Tsunade's voice was softer now. "Are you ready for this?"

A heartbeat.

Then—he was gone.

Because it didn't matter if he was ready.

He had no choice.

The Village's Reaction: Two Different Traitors

Neji stood on the balcony overlooking Konoha, his arms crossed.

The moment the news had spread, he had expected an uproar.

But the way people spoke about Lee and Sasuke was different.

Sasuke was a Uchiha. A prodigy. A legend.

His betrayal had been expected.

People whispered about it like an unavoidable tragedy, shaking their heads but never truly surprised.

But Lee?

Lee was different.

They spoke about him like a monster.

Like something that should have never been allowed to exist in the first place.

Neji clenched his fists.

He had spent years believing that power was determined by blood. That fate could not be changed.

Lee had proven him wrong.

And now, instead of celebrating him—

They wanted him dead.

Neji exhaled sharply.

"Fools."

Then, he vanished.

Because he needed answers.

And there was only one man left who could give them.

Guy's Grief

Might Guy stood in front of the Hokage's office, his head bowed.

For the first time in his entire life, he had no words.

No speeches. No passion. No fire.

Just silence.

Because Lee was gone.

His student.

His son in all but blood.

Gone.

Erased.

Labeled a traitor by the village he had once loved.

And the worst part?

Guy had not been able to stop it.

He had sworn to protect Lee.

And he had failed.

He took a slow breath, his hands tightening at his sides.

Then—he moved.

Because if the village would not seek the truth, then he would.

Meanwhile, in Otogakure

The air in the Sound Village was thick.

Not with heat. Not with chakra.

With potential.

The moment Lee and Sasuke had stepped into Orochimaru's domain, everything had changed.

The lower-ranked shinobi watched them with caution.

The elite warriors watched them with hatred.

Because Orochimaru's interest was not freely given.

For years, Sasuke had been the sole prize.

But now?

Now there was another contender.

And Otogakure did not tolerate rivals.

Lee could feel the stares as he walked through the training grounds, Sasuke beside him, both of them silent.

They were being measured.

Judged.

Waiting to see if they were worthy.

Lee exhaled slowly.

He would not wait long.

The First Attack

The ambush came at dusk.

Lee had felt them before they moved.

Three warriors. One with blades, one with poison, one with a jutsu that turned his arms into spears.

Lee did not stop walking.

He did not change his stance.

He did not reach for a weapon.

He only spoke.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

A pause.

Then—they lunged.

A blur of motion.

Lee stepped forward.

The first attacker was gone.

His body hit the ground before he even realized he had lost.

The second hesitated.

Lee's foot crashed into his ribs—and he was airborne.

The third tried to flee.

Lee let him.

Because it did not matter.

This was just the beginning.

And soon, all of Otogakure would know what he had become.

Sasuke Watches, Orochimaru Smiles

From the shadows, Orochimaru laughed softly.

"Oh, my dear Lee," he murmured, his golden eyes gleaming.

"You were wasted in Konoha."

Sasuke stood beside him, watching the aftermath of Lee's battle.

He did not speak.

Because he had already accepted it.

Lee had not followed him.

Lee had not betrayed Konoha for him.

Lee had walked his own path.

And now, he was here.

Orochimaru turned to Sasuke.

"Well?" he mused. "What do you think of your new companion?"

Sasuke's lips curled slightly.

"He'll do."

Orochimaru chuckled.

"Oh, I think he will do much more than that."

His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper.

"He will become legendary."

And in the distance—

Rock Lee stood alone.