1: The Path of No Return

Sasuke clenched his fist as he ran away to the raging storm outside the leaf village, leaving naruto and his comrades behind.

"Why would he leave us?" The first question stroke naruto's mind. Despite all the questionable things Sasuke has done, the only glimpse of hope of Sasuke coming back kept his strength to push the day.

As Sasuke went deeper into the forest toward Orochimaru's den, the storm raged above him. Rain pelted his skin, soaking through his clothes, but he didn't stop. Couldn't stop.

Lightning split the sky, illuminating the path ahead—twisted trees, gnarled roots, the scent of damp earth and decay.

His breath came in steady exhales, his Sharingan spinning, searching for any sign of pursuit. He knew Naruto wouldn't give up. That idiot never knew when to quit.

But this time… Sasuke wouldn't let him follow.

Not this time.

He clenched his fists tighter, his nails digging into his palms. The village, Team 7, the warmth of their presence—it was all fading behind him, swallowed by the storm.

"Why.. would he leave us?"

Naruto's voice echoed in his mind, unshakable.

Sasuke shut his eyes. Don't think about it. Don't look back.

He had made his choice.

And yet—

Something in his chest twisted.

A memory surfaced, unbidden: Naruto standing in front of him, panting, bloodied, bruised—but still smiling.

"Because you're still Sasuke."

Sasuke exhaled sharply and pushed forward, deeper into the shadows.

The entrance to Orochimaru's hideout loomed ahead—dark, cold, and waiting.

As he stepped inside, the weight of his decision settled over him.

There was no turning back now.

The air inside Orochimaru's hideout was thick—humid, charged with something unseen. The torches along the stone walls flickered lazily, casting golden light that danced over Sasuke's sharp features, the rain still glistening on his skin. He didn't bother wiping it away.

Each step he took echoed softly in the cavernous hallway, his movements slow, deliberate. He could feel them watching.

Waiting.

Orochimaru leaned against the far wall of the chamber, golden eyes hooded with amusement. His voice came like silk, smooth and taunting.

"You took your time, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke didn't respond right away. He let the silence stretch, let the weight of his presence fill the space between them. He knew how this game worked. Orochimaru enjoyed control, relished the chase.

But Sasuke wasn't prey.

He stepped further inside, letting his fingers trail over the damp stone wall beside him as he passed. The coolness of it grounded him, kept him steady.

Kabuto's gaze flickered over him, sharp and assessing. He stood near Orochimaru, arms crossed over his chest, but there was something else there—curiosity, intrigue.

Sasuke finally stopped, tilting his head just slightly. His dark eyes found Orochimaru's, unwavering. "I'm here," he murmured. "That's all that matters."

Orochimaru's lips curled at the edges, something dark and hungry flashing behind his gaze. He stepped closer, deliberate and slow, his presence brushing against Sasuke's own like an unspoken challenge. "Is that so?"

Sasuke held his ground, refusing to step back even as Orochimaru's voice dipped lower, silkier. "I wonder… are you ready to give yourself to this path? To me?"

Sasuke's lips barely twitched. "I give myself to power. Nothing else."

Orochimaru chuckled, low and indulgent. "Ah… but power, Sasuke-kun, always comes at a price."

Sasuke's fingers twitched at his side, but his pulse remained steady. He knew what Orochimaru was doing—coiling around him like a snake, pressing just close enough to see if Sasuke would flinch.

He didn't.

Instead, Sasuke shifted just slightly, enough to close the gap between them. Enough to turn the tension back in his favor.

"I know the cost," he murmured, voice smooth as steel.

For a moment, just a moment, Orochimaru's amusement deepened into something else. Something darker.

And Sasuke smirked.

Because in this game, control belonged to the one willing to go further.

And he always went further.

Sasuke didn't move as Orochimaru's fingers ghosted over his sleeve. He let it happen, let the Sannin play his little game. Let him believe, for just a moment, that he still held the upper hand.

Then, with a sharp flick of his wrist, Sasuke seized Orochimaru's hand, gripping it just tight enough to press warning into bone.

Orochimaru's smirk twitched.

Kabuto straightened from where he stood against the wall, eyes narrowing slightly.

The air shifted—silent, electric.

Sasuke leaned in, his breath steady, his Sharingan spinning to life in the dim torchlight. His voice was soft, but it cut through the heavy silence like a blade.

"Don't touch me unless you're prepared to lose that hand."

Orochimaru chuckled, but there was a flicker of something else in his gaze—calculation, intrigue. He didn't try to pull away. Instead, he let Sasuke's grip linger, as if testing the sharp edge of a knife just to see how deep it would cut.

"My, my… how bold." Orochimaru's voice was smooth, teasing, but Sasuke caught the slight shift of his fingers—preparing, just in case.

Good. Let him wonder.

Sasuke tightened his grip once more before finally releasing him. The moment Orochimaru's hand was free, Sasuke reached for his sword, unsheathing it in a single fluid motion. The cold steel gleamed as he turned toward Kabuto.

The medic barely had time to react before the tip of the blade was hovering just beneath his chin.

Kabuto's eyes darkened, but he didn't move. Not yet.

"I'm not here to be handled," Sasuke murmured, his voice slow, precise. "I'm not here to be your pet. Or your experiment." He tilted his head, the blade shifting just enough to press a warning against Kabuto's throat. "And if either of you think you can manipulate me—" His eyes locked onto Orochimaru's, crimson and unwavering. "—I'll kill you both."

Silence.

Then—

Orochimaru laughed. Low, indulgent, dark. He tilted his head, watching Sasuke with something beyond amusement now—something close to admiration.

Kabuto exhaled through his nose, but he didn't move. If he was irritated by Sasuke's arrogance, he hid it well.

After a moment, Orochimaru took a slow step forward, his golden eyes glinting. "How thrilling." His voice dripped with something unspoken, something laced with hunger. "Then by all means, Sasuke-kun… show me."

Sasuke sheathed his sword in one swift motion, turning his back on both of them without hesitation. A clear statement.

He wasn't trapped there with them.

They were trapped here with him.

And they would realize that soon enough.