Outside Konoha Village.
Gaara and the others were still on the run.
Due to the failure of the Konoha Crush plan, Jonin Maki ordered them not to remain in Konoha, and the three siblings had to flee towards outside of Konoha Village.
Uchiha Sasuke...
Actually didn't chase very far.
Because Uchiha Sasuke still needed to pay attention to the development of the situation inside.
However, Naruto Uzumaki and Haruno Sakura rushed straight in, instantly running into the furious Gaara, who decisively let himself fall into deep sleep, awakening the One-Tailed Shukaku inside him. Unsurprisingly, the young girl Haruno Sakura was instantly blown away...
This instantly enraged Naruto Uzumaki!
What Uchiha Sasuke never anticipated was that the reckless blonde boy used his recently learned Summoning Jutsu to summon Gama Bunta, launching an attack towards the rampaging One-Tailed Shukaku, even waking Gaara to retract Shukaku. After a tumultuous battle, Gaara ended up becoming less agitated and even wanted to learn from Naruto Uzumaki...
This...
Seems a bit off, doesn't it?
Uchiha Sasuke was attacking the invading Sand Ninja and Sound Ninja while rescuing villagers in danger, all the while observing Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara's battle...
No way...
How did Gaara just get persuaded?
That clumsy, tongue-tied teammate who often offends others, even daring to offend Akihara Kagura, how could he still have others willing to listen to him?
Regardless...
The crisis for Naruto Uzumaki and Haruno Sakura was over.
Simultaneously.
The crisis for Konoha was also over.
Accompanied by the Third Hokage's use of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal Jutsu, sealing the Reanimation bodies of the First and Second Hokage, and then the Third Hokage completely dying after sealing Orochimaru's hands, the weakened Orochimaru had to flee with his subordinates, and the Hidden Sand Village ninja gradually chose to surrender.
However...
The real trouble was just beginning.
Due to Konoha losing its Hokage, Jiraiya, who had just arrived in Konoha, refused to succeed to the position of Hokage, which led to chaos throughout Konoha.
Hokage Advisors Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura ordered everyone to remain vigilant to avoid the village being probed by external enemies. At the same time, they demanded that Jiraiya must quickly bring back a suitable successor to prevent the village from being without a Hokage for too long.
In addition…
In the situation of manpower shortage in the village, the two Hokage Advisors finally activated their old friend Shimura Danzo, hoping Shimura Danzo and Root could help protect Konoha.
Of course.
Shimura Danzo immediately presented his own request, hoping to bring Uchiha Sasuke under his command, which quickly received Mitokado Homura's consent.
That kid is a ticking bomb!
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura couldn't handle Uchiha Sasuke and could only hope Shimura Danzo could control this unstable factor, Uchiha Sasuke.
Not even Kakashi Hatake had the power to change Uchiha Sasuke joining Root, as it was a mandatory order from the two Hokage Advisors. Even when Kakashi Hatake pointed out that the Third Hokage had asked him to properly guide Uchiha Sasuke, he was still forcibly rejected by the two advisors, who even hoped he would leave Team 7 soon and transfer to the Dark Department.
Team 7...
Was on the brink of disbandment.
Jiraiya took Naruto Uzumaki to find Tsunade, a suitable candidate to succeed as village Hokage; Uchiha Sasuke was transferred to Root, leaving only Haruno Sakura.
Haruno Sakura's combat ability...
There's simply no need to maintain the existence of Team 7.
Konoha Village.
Third Training Ground.
Kakashi Hatake looked at Uchiha Sasuke dressed in Dark Department attire, feeling somewhat unsettled in his heart. His expression was also somewhat complex: "So you're going to Root?"
Kakashi Hatake was very aware of the darkness within Root; he had once rescued a friend from Root but now had to watch his student fall into darkness.
"This is the order from the advisors."
Uchiha Sasuke looked at the complex expression on Kakashi Hatake, his mouth curving into a slight smile: "Don't make that face, Kakashi-sensei. It's not just their order; Lord Danzo from Root also talked with me. I'm the one who proactively wants to transfer there…"
"Why?"
Kakashi Hatake furrowed his brow, speaking solemnly: "Sasuke, you don't understand the situation in Root. To you, Root is…"
"Kakashi-sensei!"
The black-haired youth interrupted Kakashi Hatake, his attitude somewhat undeniably firm: "I need to complete my revenge. I can't find Uchiha Itachi's whereabouts alone; I must utilize the power of Root to find Uchiha Itachi's trail!"
After speaking, Uchiha Sasuke softened his demeanor again, seemingly not wanting Kakashi Hatake to worry: "Don't worry, Lord Danzo has already promised me. As long as I join Root and help him with one task, he will hand over the leader position of Root to me. All of Root's ninja will follow my orders and assist me in tracking Uchiha Itachi…"
"Danzo would never hand over the leader position of Root to you."
Kakashi Hatake shook his head, bringing up matters concerning Danzo: "He is a dangerous and ambitious man; he will never easily relinquish his power no matter what you do for him; ultimately, you'll just become his tool, Sasuke…"
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Uchiha Sasuke interrupted Kakashi Hatake again, raising his head to look at his teacher, his voice darkening slightly: "I need revenge! I must quickly become a leader within the village. Joining Root is the only way…"