With Tsunade installed as the Fifth Hokage, Konoha began to regain its rhythm, although a tense calm hung over the village. Naruto, encouraged by Tsunade's presence, had immersed himself in his training, alternating between the quirks of Gojo's Emperor's Haki and the rudiments of chakra control and medical jutsu under the watchful, and often exasperated, eye of Shizune.
Gojo, for his part, shuttled between the Hokage's mansion and the training grounds, sometimes observing, sometimes making cryptic comments that only he understood, and sometimes disappearing entirely on his personal "plot missions."
Team 7, however, remained a fragmented unit. Kakashi Hatake had returned to the village after the invasion, appearing more somber than usual. Hiruzen's death had hit him deeply, and the absence of his team, as well as Naruto's training with Gojo, left him in a state of introspection. When he tried to reunite them, the dynamic was tense.
Sakura remained worried about Sasuke, and about the power gap that was opening between her and her teammates. She tried to train, but the shadow of her own fear of being left behind was constant.
But the most affected was, without a doubt, Sasuke Uchiha. Orochimaru's invasion and Hiruzen's death had only intensified his obsession with power. The frustration of his own weakness compared to the overwhelming strength of Orochimaru and, even more so, that of Gojo Satoru, ate away at him.
He had witnessed the fear in Orochimaru's eyes when Gojo confronted him, and it had unsettled him. If a Legendary Sannin could be so easily overpowered, how strong did he need to be to defeat Itachi? Gojo's presence made him feel insignificant, and Naruto's progress, however small, was a thorn in his side.
One night, while Kakashi was trying to train Sasuke in the use of the Chidori, Sasuke's frustration reached a boiling point. The power of Kakashi's Raikiri was immense, but Sasuke felt it wasn't enough—it wasn't his power.
"It's not enough!" Sasuke cried, his voice filled with resentment. "I need more! I need to be like him, like Itachi! I can't wait any longer!"
Kakashi looked at him, sensing the darkness growing in his student's heart. "Sasuke, power comes with patience and training. It's not a shortcut."
"You know nothing! You haven't lost everything!" Sasuke retorted, his eyes blazing with the activated Sharingan, reflecting his inner torment.
The next day, Sasuke's restlessness grew uncontrollable. He had been watching Naruto, who was practicing a rudimentary form of Emperor's Haki under Gojo's supervision. The ease with which Gojo manipulated energy, the way he "fainted" frogs with a glance, and Naruto's gradual progress only fueled his resentment.
"This is a farce," Sasuke muttered to himself, watching from a distance. "I need true power. The one you promised me."
The opportunity arrived that same night. Four figures slipped into the darkness of Konoha: the Sound Four, sent by Orochimaru. They were there to persuade, or force, Sasuke to join his master.
"Sasuke Uchiha," said Kidomaru, one of the Four, his voice hissing in the night. "Lord Orochimaru awaits you. He will give you the power to take revenge on Itachi. The power this village will never give you."
Sasuke didn't hesitate. The poison of ambition and resentment had corroded any remaining loyalty he had to Konoha. There was no internal struggle; only the cold, calculating decision to leave. With one last glance at the sleeping village, he joined the Sound Four and vanished into the darkness.
The next morning, the news of Sasuke Uchiha's defection shook Konoha to its foundations. The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, was furious. Jiraiya, who had been away on a trip, quickly returned upon hearing the news.
"Damn brat!" Tsunade yelled, banging her desk. "Orochimaru isn't wasting time! Where was Kakashi?"
Kakashi, his face grim as ever, could only clench his fists. "I couldn't stop him, Lady Hokage. The darkness in his heart was already too great."
Naruto, upon learning this, was in shock. Sasuke was gone. His best friend, his rival, had gone with the man who had killed the Third Hokage. Anger and betrayal mingled with deep sadness.
"No!" Naruto cried, his pain echoing in the Hokage's office. "Sasuke can't leave! We have to bring him back!"
Gojo Satoru, who had been observing everyone's reaction, approached, his expression unusually serious. "I knew it. This was inevitable. The 'canonical plot' has a way of correcting itself. Sasuke was destined for this."
Tsunade looked at him. "What are you talking about, Gojo? 'Canonical plot'? My genin has gone with a traitor!"
"I know, I know," Gojo said with a sigh. "It's complicated. But the good news is that this is an opportunity. Naruto, this is your chance to grow. To understand what it means to be a shinobi. And to bring your friend back."
Naruto looked up, his eyes filled with new determination. "I'll bring him back! I swear! No matter what it costs!"
Gojo smiled slightly. "Well said, Blondie. But this time, the 'training' will be on the battlefield. Tsunade, give them a rescue team. And make sure they include some heavy hitters. Orochimaru is not an opponent to be taken lightly, even if he's a little... unwell."