Night fell, and Sasuke sat atop a large tree, still replaying his earlier battle with Naruto in his mind.
The first clash between Chidori and Rasengan was unsuccessful.
Kakashi appeared just in time to stop everything.
But from the damage to the water tank hit by Chidori and Rasengan, Sasuke realized that his strength was inferior to Naruto's.
Shortly after he left, Kakashi caught up with him and offered some words of encouragement.
Sasuke was deeply moved by Kakashi's words, which exposed his own wounds.
He wavered.
Should he completely fall into darkness for the sake of revenge?
He sat there until dark, but still couldn't reach a final conclusion.
"What are you thinking?"
A sudden voice startled Sasuke.
He turned his head to find Kimimaro sitting beside him at some point.
Silently.
This simple action represented the huge gap between them.
"Kimimaro! Why are you here?"
Sasuke was shocked.
"If I want to come in, Konoha's defenses can't stop me. What's wrong? Are you thinking about life? Or are you thinking about the battle with Naruto during the day?"
Sasuke frowned upon hearing this.
"You saw it?"
"I saw it. If Kakashi hadn't appeared in time, you would have been seriously injured or even killed."
Sasuke clenched his fists.
"So, do you want to join Otogakure? You can gain more power."
"Humph, I'm afraid I'll become Orochimaru's vessel if I go there, right?"
Sasuke sneered.
"There is indeed that possibility. But does that matter to you? To face a formidable opponent like Itachi, you must pay a price if you want to win. The path of an ordinary ninja is not suitable for you. You should be glad that you still have the value to sell your soul, otherwise you would have no hope of revenge at all.
Look at yourself, it has been five years since that night, how much have you grown? At best, you're just a thirteen-year-old Chunin.
And at your age, Itachi was already the murderer who wiped out your entire clan."
Sasuke's face turned extremely ugly, his nails digging into his skin, leaving deep marks on his clenched fists.
"Compared to Itachi, you're just a waste now!"
"Stop talking!"
Sasuke could no longer restrain his anger, black runes emerged from the three black tomoe on his neck, spreading all over his body.
Cursed Seal Level 1!
Power surged!
Sasuke punched Kimimaro.
Kimimaro didn't dodge or evade, easily catching the punch.
"It seems you still have some fire in you. But with just this little ability, it's just impotent rage."
"Bastard!"
How could someone as proud as Sasuke accept Kimimaro's sarcasm? He immediately leaped into the air and kicked out!
Kimimaro sneered, his left hand turned into a fist, and directly struck Sasuke's abdomen.
Bang!
Sasuke flew out and crashed into a tree.
Kimimaro had already set up a silent barrier here, so no sound could be transmitted, and he wasn't afraid of the fighting sounds being heard.
Knocked back by a single punch, Sasuke was even more shocked.
He had previously thought that although Kimimaro was strong, he should still be able to put up a fight.
But even after activating the Cursed Seal's power, he couldn't even withstand a single move from the opponent.
How could this guy be so strong?
"Why! Why!"
Sasuke roared, enduring the pain and charging towards Kimimaro again.
"What a stubborn guy."
Kimimaro shook his head slightly, put his right index and middle fingers together, pointed them at Sasuke's forehead, and shouted in a low voice, "Binding Spell Number 1, Sai!"
Just as Sasuke rushed in front of Kimimaro, a powerful invisible force bound his hands and feet.
The sword fingers also landed precisely on his forehead.
The next moment, Sasuke lost his balance and fell directly to the ground.
His hands and feet were as if tied together by ropes, no matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free.
Kimimaro's full-powered Binding Spell Number 1 was naturally not something Sasuke could break free from at this moment.
At this moment, Sasuke was like a pig about to be slaughtered, struggling constantly but to no avail.
"Bastard! Let me go!"
The lingering sensation on his forehead made Sasuke feel like he was facing Itachi.
Memories flooded back, and the anger in his heart grew even stronger.
Kimimaro squatted down, looked at the struggling Sasuke, and slowly said, "I can let you go, but can you let yourself go?"
Sasuke froze, his struggles stopped.
At this moment, Kimimaro also released the binding spell.
"I've said what I needed to say, it's time for you to make a decision. I won't force you, in an hour, if you're willing to join Otogakure, come find me at the entrance of Konoha Village. If not, I won't force you. The choice is in your hands."
After Kimimaro finished speaking, he was about to leave.
"Wait!"
Sasuke suddenly called out to him.
"Hmm? Is there anything else?"
"Did you get your power from Orochimaru too?"
"Lord Orochimaru is like half a teacher to me."
"How long did it take you to become as strong as you are now?"
"Five years."
Sasuke's heart was completely swayed.
In the same five years, he had grown from a ninja academy student to a Chunin, while the other seemed even stronger than Kakashi.
Orochimaru's teaching results spoke for themselves.
As for talent...
Sasuke never believed his talent was inferior to anyone's.
All he lacked was resources!
"Remember, you only have one hour."
Kimimaro disappeared before Sasuke's eyes.
With an elusive speed.
Sasuke clenched his fists again and looked into the distance.
"Otogakure, Orochimaru!"
He had made his choice.
Outside Konoha.
The Sound Four and Neji were hiding nearby.
Looking at the familiar Konoha gate, Neji felt a surge of emotions.
He was back.
Although only temporarily.
But one day, he would return as a strong individual.
At that time, he would completely change the Hyuga clan!
"Hyuga Neji, this is your village, how is it? Do you miss it?"
Kidomaru teased.
Neji didn't answer.
"Hey, brat, I've tolerated you for a long time! Do you still think you're the genius of the Hyuga clan? Now you're just like us! Don't give me that arrogant attitude, or I'll shoot your damn eyes out!"
Kidomaru shouted angrily.
"You can try."
Neji showed no sign of backing down.
During his time in Otogakure, he had also had his fair share of conflicts.
The rule in Otogakure was that the strong were respected.
Without strength, even the best temper was useless.
Neji was originally a proud person, and after removing the Caged Bird Seal, his strength increased greatly, adding to his arrogance.
In the entire Otogakure, he only held Kimimaro in awe.
As for the others, he didn't really take them seriously.
Of course, Orochimaru was excluded because he had never even seen him.
(End of Chapter)