Naruto: Bonds Unbroken

The tension in the air was thick, the shattered earth and scorched trees bearing witness to their battle with Orochimaru. The Forest of Death, once filled with the sounds of distant predators, now stood eerily silent.

Sasuke, his body heavy and burning from the Curse Mark, struggled to steady his breath. His Sharingan, still spinning, flickered before fading. Naruto stood beside him, fists clenched, his knuckles scraped raw from his earlier fight.

Sakura, her hands trembling but determined, finished tying a bandage around Sasuke's shoulder. "That mark…" She bit her lip. "Sasuke, are you—?"

"I'm fine," he cut in, though his voice was tight with pain. His gaze dropped to the mark on his neck, a mixture of fear and disgust twisting in his chest. "We don't have time to worry about me."

A rustle in the foliage snapped their attention forward.

The Sound Trio Strikes

From the shadows emerged three figures: Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi—Orochimaru's subordinates from the Sound Village. Their eyes burned with hostile intent.

"Well, well," Dosu's voice rasped beneath his bandaged face. "Orochimaru-sama was right. You're still standing. But barely."

Naruto stepped forward, his body tense. "You want a fight? You got one!"

Zaku smirked, raising his palms. "Cocky. I like that. Let's see if you're still talking when I blow you to pieces!"

Sound vs. Leaf

Zaku attacked first. "Decapitating Airwaves!"

A shockwave exploded from his palms, tearing through trees and sending debris flying.

"Naruto, move!" Sakura yelled.

But Naruto, fueled by adrenaline, charged straight through the blast, skidding across the ground with a defiant grin. "That all you got!?"

Zaku's eyes widened. "What the—"

Naruto was already in front of him, fist colliding with his jaw, sending Zaku crashing into a tree.

Sasuke's Darkness Stirring

Dosu moved next, his gauntlet humming with a metallic screech. "Sound is unavoidable." He thrust his arm forward, aiming at Naruto.

But a blur of motion—

"Don't touch him!"

Sasuke intercepted, his Sharingan active once more. His body screamed in agony from the Curse Mark, but his instincts burned hotter.

Dosu's attack hit. A violent, ear-piercing screech exploded around Sasuke, rattling his bones and throwing his balance off. Blood trickled from his ear.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled.

But instead of falling back, Sasuke's lips curled into a smirk, and—

In a flash of lightning, Chidori crackled to life in his palm.

"I warned you," Sasuke's voice was cold, his Sharingan spinning with deadly clarity. "You picked the wrong fight."

The Curse Unleashed

Suddenly, black markings crawled across Sasuke's skin from the Curse Mark. His chakra surged violently, and a dark, oppressive aura filled the clearing. His expression shifted—his smirk turning into something predatory.

Dosu's eyes narrowed. "That power… Is that the Curse Seal?"

Sasuke dashed forward, his speed unnatural, and in a blur—

Crack!

Dosu's gauntlet shattered as Sasuke's Chidori grazed past, sending the Sound ninja flying.

But then—

"Ngh…!" Sasuke stumbled, his body shaking as the Curse Seal flared again, its power burning, tempting.

Naruto's Intervention

"Sasuke!"

Before Sasuke could lose control, a firm hand grasped his shoulder—Naruto's.

"That's enough," Naruto said, his voice steady, his eyes locked onto Sasuke's. "This isn't you."

The darkness in Sasuke's gaze flickered.

Kin's Fall

Kin, seeing an opening, launched senbon needles at the distracted duo.

But Sakura was there.

"Shanarō!"

Sakura's punch shattered the earth, the shockwave deflecting the needles and sending Kin sprawling.

The Battle Ends

Zaku, bruised and barely standing, saw his teammates downed and his resolve cracked. "Tch…!" He grabbed Dosu's arm, retreating. "This isn't over!"

And with that, the Sound Trio vanished into the forest.

Aftermath: The Promise

Sasuke collapsed to his knees, the Curse Mark receding, his breath ragged. "I… I almost…"

Naruto knelt beside him, placing a hand on his back. "We'll get through this. Together. I promise."

Sasuke's eyes met his, and he nodded. "Yeah. Together."

Sakura, wiping the dirt from her face, smiled faintly. "You two are impossible."

In the Shadows…

From the canopy above, a single figure watched the battle—Kabuto Yakushi, his glasses glinting ominously.

"So," he mused softly, "Orochimaru-sama was right. The Uchiha and the Jinchūriki… Both are worth watching."

He vanished into the shadows.