Naruto: Bonds Unbroken

The tension from their battle with Orochimaru still clung to Team 7 as they pressed deeper into the Forest of Death. Every step felt heavier, every rustling leaf a potential threat. But they had survived—together.

Naruto, bruised but defiant, walked beside Sasuke, stealing glances at the Uchiha's neck. The cursed mark still lingered, an ominous reminder of Orochimaru's influence.

"Oi, Sasuke…" Naruto muttered. "You sure you're okay?"

Sasuke rolled his shoulders, flexing his fingers. The power he had felt when the mark first activated—it was unlike anything before. But it wasn't his own. And that infuriated him.

"I'm fine," Sasuke said, his tone clipped. "We should focus on securing a scroll."

Naruto frowned but let it go. For now.

Sakura, ever watchful, stayed close. She hadn't missed the way Sasuke's Sharingan had changed, nor the way his expression darkened when Orochimaru spoke of power.

She swallowed. We won't let him take Sasuke away from us…

A Sudden Encounter

As they moved through the dense forest, the air shifted.

Sasuke stopped.

Naruto's fists clenched. "You feel that?"

Sakura nodded. "Something's coming."

A rustling in the trees. Then—

A squad of three Sound ninja emerged.

Zaku, Dosu, and Kin.

"You're still standing?" Zaku sneered, his arms twitching. "After what Lord Orochimaru gave you, I thought you'd be halfway to joining us by now, Sasuke."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You're wasting your time."

Dosu stepped forward. His bandaged face betrayed no emotion. "That seal… I wonder, how long before it consumes you?"

Naruto stepped up, growling. "Back off."

Dosu ignored him. "The fact that you're still resisting it is impressive. But you'll give in eventually. Orochimaru doesn't make mistakes."

Sasuke smirked. "Then he made one picking you."

Zaku snarled and raised his arms. "That's it! I'm breaking you this time—"

Before he could act, a kunai whizzed past his head, embedding itself into a tree.

From the shadows, another presence emerged.

Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji.

"Well, this is a pain," Shikamaru sighed, hands in his pockets. "Looks like we showed up at just the right time."

Ino flipped her hair. "No way were we gonna let these losers pick you off."

Choji grinned, crunching on his last chip. "And I was just getting hungry."

Sasuke and Naruto shared a look. Now, this fight was about to get interesting.

The Clash: Team 7 & Team 10 vs. The Sound Trio

Dosu was the first to move. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a pulse of sound waves toward Naruto.

BOOM!

Naruto winced, his ears ringing—but before Dosu could capitalize, Sasuke was already on him.

With Sharingan precision, Sasuke weaved through Dosu's attacks, his movements sharper than before. This power…

Meanwhile, Zaku aimed his sound blasts at Shikamaru and Choji—only for Ino to hijack Kin's body with her Mind Transfer Jutsu, disrupting their formation.

Sakura, refusing to stand idle, lunged at Kin's defenseless body and knocked her down.

"Not this time," she whispered.

Zaku turned his cannons toward Sakura—

But Naruto leapt forward, Rasengan flaring to life.

"Not on my watch!"

Victory and a Warning

The battle was swift but brutal. The Sound Trio, realizing they were outmatched, retreated, leaving behind nothing but Dosu's parting words:

"This isn't over. Orochimaru is patient… and so is the curse."

As the Sound nin vanished, Team 7 and Team 10 regrouped.

Shikamaru gave Sasuke a long, calculating look. "That thing on your neck… It's gonna be trouble."

Sasuke didn't respond. He already knew that.

Naruto crossed his arms. "Doesn't matter. Whatever happens, we're in this together."

Sakura nodded. "We'll find a way to stop it."

Sasuke looked at them—at his team, his family—and for a moment, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter.

In the Shadows…

From a distant tree, Kabuto watched the entire exchange.

His glasses gleamed as he smirked.

"Lord Orochimaru will be pleased."