Damn it!
It was all the fault of that bastard, Uchiha Itachi!
Sasuke's crimson eyes burned with hatred. The emotions surged through him like a raging fire, threatening to consume his very being.
His family—his entire clan—was wiped out in a single night. The happy life he once had was shattered into nothingness. And yet, in another world, an alternate version of his reality, the Uchiha clan thrived. There, they were known as the "Descendants of God."
Why? Why did he have to suffer while another version of himself lived in a world where his clan still existed?
It was all because of that bastard, Itachi!
"Sasuke, calm down," Kakashi said, concern evident in his voice. "Don't let hatred consume you. If you do, it will destroy you."
Sasuke remained silent, his thoughts racing.
The offer from the empire in the other world intrigued him. He had a choice to make—accept their invitation and leave everything behind, or stay in Konoha and continue training under Kakashi.
Would staying be enough?
If he remained here, would he truly be able to surpass Itachi? Or was the empire his best chance at gaining the strength he so desperately sought?
Menma, the young man from the empire, studied Sasuke's conflicted expression. He smirked slightly.
"Well?" he asked, crossing his arms. "You should have a basic understanding of the empire by now. What's your decision?"
Sasuke's fingers twitched. The weight of the decision pressed down on him.
"I..." He hesitated, looking from Naruto to Kakashi, his heart pounding. "If I stay here and train, will I be able to defeat Uchiha Itachi in the future?"
That was the only thing that mattered. If he couldn't achieve his revenge in Konoha, then staying was pointless.
Menma tapped on his watch, activating a small device embedded in his armor. A translucent green screen projected from the side of his face, numbers rapidly fluctuating as he analyzed Sasuke's power level.
A few seconds later, the numbers stabilized.
Menma sighed. "Your combat power is..." He paused for a moment before shaking his head. "50. Just 50."
Sasuke's hands clenched into fists.
So weak.
He wasn't even at the level of a Chūnin. In the empire, students with this level of power had barely graduated from basic training.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting.
Kakashi's combat power had been measured earlier at 500, while Momochi Zabuza's was 450. The gap between him and these elite shinobi was astronomical.
"50…" Sasuke muttered, his grip tightening.
Could he really expect to surpass Itachi at this rate?
Naruto, watching curiously, stepped forward. "Hey, what about me? What's my strength?"
Menma glanced at him and repeated the process. This time, his expression darkened even further.
"Yours is… 35."
Naruto blinked in shock. "Wait… What?! My strength is even lower than Sasuke's?!"
He clenched his fists, his face turning red with frustration.
"You idiot," Sasuke scoffed, rolling his eyes.
Ignoring Naruto's outburst, Sasuke turned back to Menma, his eyes dark and serious.
"What about Uchiha Itachi?" His voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension to it.
Menma shrugged. "I haven't seen him in person. But from what I've heard, he single-handedly wiped out the Uchiha clan. His strength must be on an entirely different level."
Kakashi's expression hardened. "We can estimate," he said, exchanging a look with Zabuza.
Zabuza nodded. "Uchiha Itachi is an S-rank missing-nin. Based on his underground bounty, his strength is far beyond an Elite Jōnin's. He's comparable to the Five Kage."
Sasuke's body tensed.
The Five Kage.
Menma nodded. "Then his combat power must be at least 1000."
"1000?!" Sakura gasped. She turned to Kakashi, her face pale. "Then… that's more than double Kakashi-sensei's level… Oh! Uh, sorry, Kakashi-sensei!"
Kakashi sighed, rubbing his temple.
Sasuke remained still, deep in thought.
1000.
Itachi's strength was at least twice that of Kakashi.
Could he ever hope to defeat someone like that by staying in Konoha?
If he wanted revenge, he needed power—far more than what he had now.
But who in Konoha could train him to that level?
Certainly not Kakashi.
And there was no way the Third Hokage would personally train him.
The truth was painfully clear.
"Sasuke," Kakashi spoke up, his voice firm. "I know you're struggling, but you don't have to leave. If you want to become stronger, I will train you. I will do everything I can to help you."
Naruto, finally understanding the gravity of the situation, stepped forward. "Sasuke, you're not really thinking of leaving us… are you?"
Sakura's eyes welled with tears. "Sasuke, please, don't go!"
But Menma and his allies remained silent, watching Sasuke carefully.
Finally, Sasuke exhaled sharply, his gaze shifting from Kakashi to Naruto, then to Menma.
His decision had been made.
"Enough." His voice was calm yet unwavering. He slowly opened his eyes, revealing his newly evolved Sharingan—two tomoe spinning in each eye.
Kakashi's breath caught.
Sasuke had awakened a new level of power.
"I've decided."
He turned fully to Menma.
"I accept your invitation."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "W-What?! Sasuke, you can't be serious!"
Sakura shook her head. "No, please! Don't go! We need you!"
Kakashi stepped forward, desperation creeping into his voice. "Sasuke, think about what you're doing. You're turning your back on your home, your team—"
"My home?" Sasuke scoffed, his voice dripping with bitterness. "My home was destroyed years ago. My family is dead. And the one who did it… walks free."
No one had an answer for that.
His hatred burned like an unquenchable fire.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "But we're your team! Your friends!"
Sasuke glanced at Naruto for a moment before looking away.
"Naruto… you'll never understand. You've never had a family. You don't know what it's like to lose everything."
Naruto flinched as if he'd been struck.
Sasuke sighed. "I have only one goal in life. And if this empire can give me the strength to achieve it… then that's where I belong."
Silence fell over the group.
Menma smirked. "Good choice."
A portal flickered into existence behind him.
Sasuke took one last look at his former comrades.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped through.
And just like that…
Uchiha Sasuke was gone.
Naruto clenched his fists. His teammate—his rival—had abandoned them.
"Damn it, Sasuke…!"
And deep inside, an unfamiliar feeling stirred within Naruto.
For the first time in his life… he felt truly betrayed.
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