Chapter 133: The Broken Seventh Team

The thunderous explosion that rocked the stronghold was a clear signal. Ren's smirk widened. "It seems the main event has started. Let's not miss the show." He led Hebi out of the room, moving swiftly through the stone corridors towards the source of the commotion.

***

In another wing of the base, a parallel drama was unfolding. While his ink clone had been dealing with Ren, Sai's real body had located Sasuke's chamber. He found the Uchiha heir lying on a cot, seemingly asleep.

Sai's plan to subdue him was interrupted by a sudden, psychic feedback—the dissolution of his clone. *The brother is more dangerous than anticipated,* he thought, a flicker of urgency replacing his programmed calm. *I am compromised. I must secure the primary target now.*

Dispensing with further stealth, he unrolled his scroll. His brush danced, and several inky serpents materialized, slithering silently toward the sleeping form. The source of thɪs content is novel_fіre.net

"Who's there?"

The voice was flat, devoid of surprise or fear. Sasuke hadn't even turned over. The snakes halted, coiling into striking positions just inches from him.

*He knew I was here all along.* Sai abandoned concealment, pushing the door fully open. "My mission, given by Lord Danzō, was your elimination. But... my objective has changed. I am here to bring you back to Konoha." The words felt foreign on his tongue, a script rewritten by Naruto's stubborn idealism. "I wish to protect the bond that Naruto is so desperate to save."

"All this... for that?" Sasuke's voice was laced with contempt. "You disturbed my nap for this?"

Sai's expression hardened. He gave a mental command. The ink snakes struck as one, wrapping around the figure on the bed in a tight, constricting embrace.

A fraction of a second later, the room was filled with a deafening **BOOM!** A powerful explosion, triggered by the dispelled clone Sasuke had left in his place, tore through the ceiling, showering the room in rubble and exposing the cavern to the sky above.

Sasuke stood poised on a newly created ledge of broken rock, looking down at Sai with utter dispassion.

"You broke my technique with raw force. Impressive, Uchiha Sasuke," Sai remarked, brushing dust from his clothes as he stood.

"Root. Danzō's dog," Sasuke stated, his eyes narrowing. The air around him grew cold and heavy.

"Correct."

"Then," Sasuke's voice dropped to a deadly whisper, "you don't leave here alive."

A palpable wave of killing intent washed over Sai, forcing him into a defensive stance. Before either could move, a pink-haired blur shot into the room.

"Sai! What are you doing? How many times will you betray us?!" Sakura screamed, grabbing Sai by his collar and raising a fist, her face a mask of fury and confusion.

"Sakura," Sasuke's voice cut through her rage, cold and distant.

The sound of his voice froze her. Her grip on Sai loosened, and she slowly turned, her eyes wide with a mixture of hope and disbelief. "S... Sasuke-kun?"

Naruto skidded into the ruined chamber, his breath catching in his throat at the sight of his former teammate. "Sasuke..."

Yamato followed, his expression grim. "Kakashi-senpai isn't here. I'm leading Team Seven now. And our mission is to bring you back to Konoha."

Sasuke's gaze swept over the group—Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai. It was a pathetic, fractured imitation of the team he'd once known. His eyes finally settled back on Sai, filled with icy scorn.

"He's my replacement? Another fool dragged into this." He let out a derisive snort. "You talk about protecting bonds... bonds I never asked for."

"Sai, your mission was to...?" Sakura began, piecing things together with dawning horror.

"My original, top-secret mission was assassination," Sai confirmed, his voice steady. "But orders are irrelevant now. I will act on my own will. Naruto reminded me of feelings I had forgotten. That is important." He looked directly at Sasuke, his fake smile gone, replaced by a strange, earnest determination. "I may not understand it fully, but Sakura and Naruto are chasing you for a reason. They refuse to abandon their bond with you. You should be able to understand that!"

Sasuke closed his eyes for a long moment. When they opened, the Sharingan was spinning, glowing with a cold, final light.

"I do understand," he said, his voice flat and absolute. "That's precisely why I must sever it."

The declaration hung in the dust-filled air, a death knell for any hope of a peaceful reunion. The stage was set for a battle that would decide far more than just Sasuke's fate.

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