Naruto Broken Bonds

[Knyght]

When Sasuke makes his decision to leave Konoha, he is confronted by a foolish girl who's in love with him. She begs him to let her stay by his side and he is left with the decision of whether to bring her with him or to leave her behind. In canon, he chooses the latter. Here, he chooses the former.

This is partly out of sentiment but there's also a tiny voice telling him that he can use her in the future to gain the Mangekyou Sharingan. So instead of leaving Sakura unconscious on a bench outside, they travel together to meet with the Sound Four where Sasuke convinces them to bring her along and keep her unharmed. As Orochimaru's new favourite, they agree to his demands but hold no inhibitions about taking advantage of her presence if Konoha pursues them.

But this time Sakura isn't around to sound the alarm and it was thanks to her that they found out that Sasuke had defected so quickly. Now, with the village being low on manpower and Kakashi out on a mission, they take far too long to discover the defectors' absence. Even Naruto is left ignorant as he spends his time in training, believing that his team would be fine and he should give them some space after the volatile events of the day before.

The S4 reach Orochimaru's base unmolested but they still don't make it in time for him to complete the body transfer (which would be a whole different story), leaving Sasuke to become his apprentice whilst Sakura is pushed to work under Kabuto. When this betrayal is finally discovered, it's far too late for it to be worth organise a retrieval mission and Team 7 is officially broken.

Ponder and discuss.

 

[mortalone]

Poor Naruto is going to be really fucked up. Controlling Kyuubi might be much harder for him. Less will power to resist.

 

[whitewhiskey]

I'd say if Sasuke finally does kill her, and without the little promise holding him back, Naruto is gonna go ape-shit crazy, and nuke the bastard.

And they might be found a bit sooner, since they did run into that Jonin team that I believe had Shizune in it. While they didn't so much have to worry since Sasuke was in the barrel, having to defend Sakura may prove to be a hindrance.

 

[mortalone]

For all his faults, Sasuke is supposed to be smart. If he kills her at all it will be after he's killed Orochimaru, or in preparation to kill Orochimaru.

And was the jounin team part of the manga? I though that was anime only...

 

[whitewhiskey]

For all his faults, Sasuke is supposed to be smart. If he kills her at all it will be after he's killed Orochimaru, or in preparation to kill Orochimaru.

And was the jounin team part of the manga? I though that was anime only...

No, it was in Chapter 185, but looking back, they only fought 2 of the four ninja, Genma and Raido, who Shizune and Iwashi caught up to after the fight and healed.

 

[Meinos Kaen]

Naruto would be devastated. I don't know if he's ever suffered from abandonment issues, but this could have a good chance of giving him some. He'd probably be good for him, though. The attachment canon Naruto has towards Sasuke is nothing less than harmful.

 

[ankokudaishogun]

For all his faults, Sasuke is supposed to be smart. If he kills her at all it will be after he's killed Orochimaru, or in preparation to kill Orochimaru.

I find unlike a Sasuke who brings Sakura with himself would kill her, unless she asks him to due some fanaticism, martyr complex or something.
I find more likely he'd develop even stronger feelings for her.
in the end, a lot depends on what would happen during that time: if she develops in a skilled medic like in canon(no idea how likely this would be), Sasuke might skip enlisting Karin(though we don't know how much she was chosen for her healing and how much for her chakra sensing)

Gaara is also likely to stay dead.
Naruto would be a mess, but he might want to believe for the best, trusting Sasuke not taking Sakura with him just to get possessed by Orochinpo.
Interesting would be Jiraiya's and Tsunade's reactions to this difference from their own teammate defecting.

 

[mortalone]

Sasuke was very much willing to kill Naruto to gain the MS. He tried. He stuck his fist through Naruto's chest. It wasn't until the end of the battle that he decided he would find power a different way. This Sasuke won't have that battle.

Do you think Orochimaru will let young love blossom and interfere with his plans?

 

[zeebee1]

Sakura might survive training under Orochimaru. But her psyche could not handle training under Kabuto. If anything remained it would be of Kabuto's own making.

 

[ankokudaishogun]

Sasuke was very much willing to kill Naruto to gain the MS. He tried. He stuck his fist through Naruto's chest. It wasn't until the end of the battle that he decided he would find power a different way. This Sasuke won't have that battle.

Sasuke left in first place to find a different way to gain power. He told Naruto to leave him, as their paths were different.
A Sasuke actually wanting the Mangekyo would kill Sakura on the spot, use the Sound 4 as guinea pigs for it and then going in search of Itachi.


Main problem with this idea is, a Sasuke "weak" enough to have Sakura coming with him would also be too "weak" to leave the village.
Now I think about it, there are even less "Sasuke accept and stays in Konoha" fics than "Sakura follows Sasuke in Oto"

Do you think Orochimaru will let young love blossom and interfere with his plans?

he's more likely to use said love to motivate\manipulate\have a leverage on Sasuke. And we don't know how bad might have been living in Oto

 

[zeebee1]

At that point in time only Naruto could cause the evolution, and Sasuke knows this. Though I did see one where he thought Kakashi was his best friend. It did not turn out well for Sasuke.

 

[Knyght]

Naruto would be hit pretty bad by this; abandonment issues could easily stem from this and he gets far less closure about the whole issue than in canon. There was no confrontation or heart-to-heart with Sasuke, he just left. This time he doesnÆt even know that Sasuke considered him a friend and he has no reason to think it now.

NarutoÆs training with the KyuubiÆs power would improve in the worst way possible. With the wealth of negative feelings heÆd have in the aftermath of this, heÆd probably find it a lot easier to drag out more chakra at the cost of being a lot more vulnerable and losing control more easily. Perhaps Jiraiya doesnÆt use the Key to loosen the seal this time around when he realises how badly it could backfire.

Assuming they even cross paths with that jounin team, having Sakura along would probably more of an advantage than a disadvantage. Unless sheÆs compromising herself when they first see her, theyÆre more likely to assume that sheÆs been taken away and would aim to separate her from her captors. The surprise of her presence alone could swing the fight further in the S4Æs favour from the get-go. In the aftermath, assuming the pair who fought survive, they would be the ones to confirm that Sakura appears to have actually defected instead of being dragged along.

Why would Gaara die here? Even assuming that the events progress the same as canon for this arcs, whilst Sakura definitely left an impression on Chiyo, the decision to sacrifice herself for Gaara was thanks to Naruto IIRC. She saw his concern for Gaara and Kakashi explained to her the kind of person that he was.

Sasuke bringing Sakura along is more of an advantage for Orochimaru. That he was willing to have her defect with him gives Orochimaru a hostage who would likely grow closer to Sasuke over time. Since I doubt heÆd have any interest in training I reckon heÆd hand her over to Kabuto to train alongside him if he recognises where her strengths lie. Given the kind of experiments he gets involved in and his focus on dead bodies, SakuraÆs gonna have a tough few years ahead of her and you could take her development in the number of directions.

IÆd say thereÆs a big difference between bringing and staying in Konoha. He had decided that he needed to leave Konoha to gain enough to kill Itachi by going to Orochimaru. ItÆs more of a stretch for him to be convinced not to go by Sakura alone as opposed to being convinced to take her. He still gets to seek power but also has a familiar face in an unfriendly place, one thatÆs apparently in love with him and would probably be his closest ally. And while itÆs not the main reason he brought her along, a small part of him does acknowledge that he can use for her the Mangekyou if necessary. Excluding Naruto, Sakura is likely the person closest to him which is a bond which would only get stronger over time if they stay together.


Some other things would be that the S4 would actually survive this time around. Unless events conspire to have them die at some point after this mission, that means they would grow in power over the years and become even deadlier since they wouldnÆt have reached their prime at just 14. It also means that Orochimaru would still have a group of elite bodyguards to protect him. Their skill and lack of free will would make things pretty difficult for Sasuke if he attempts to fight against Orochimaru directly so heÆs got a distinct disadvantage here.

Kimimaro also wouldnÆt die in battle whilst trying to retrieve Sasuke. ItÆs possible that he might be used as a tool for training Sasuke or he could be left on his deathbed now that Orochimaru has no use for them, withering away and probably having his cells harvested so his Shikotsumyaku can be harnessed. If Juugo stays locked up and Sasuke chooses to look for him, heÆd have no motivation to join Sasuke who he originally followed by Kimimaro had died for his sake and was replaced by him.

 

[ankokudaishogun]

Why would Gaara die here?

Because Chiyo would die fighting Sasori.


Also, I think Orochinpo would keep Sakura near, to better keep his leverage toward Sasuke under his control(maybe trying to make her an Anko 2.0). Might work against him... now I imagine a Danzou\Karin scenario where Sakura actually suggested Sasuke she would be taken "hostage" so Sasuke's killing blow through her would be a surprise.

...for some reason I keep imagine a Sound-goer Sakura being some degree of a fanatic Sasuke follower ready to die for him, with an underling death-wish hoping her death would awake Sasuke's Mangekyo, a proof he does feel for her

 

[shioran toushin]

[Now I think about it, there are even less "Sasuke accept and stays in Konoha" fics than "Sakura follows Sasuke in Oto"

i would respect the fuck of that Sasuke.
as for 'Gaara Staying dead, well in the first place it was Chiyo who saved Gaara, and really for all the part that Sakura Played in the Rescue Gaara Arc she could be easily repleaced by Shizune or any other competent Medic Nin and the only reason for why Sakura and Chiyo won against Sasori was because she played possum and Chiyo controlled her with strings.

 

[ankokudaishogun]

[Now I think about it, there are even less "Sasuke accept and stays in Konoha" fics than "Sakura follows Sasuke in Oto"

i would respect the fuck of that Sasuke.

he'd feel a shit for betraying his family for his own happiness, though.
there is a not-zero chance he'd turn resentful toward Sakura and actually abuse her(not necessarily in a sexual way)

most likely, he'd turn tsundere, possibly bordering on yandere. No doubt he'd become incredibly hyper-protective.


In short: character development. A LOT.

 

[whitewhiskey]

I actually think this may negatively effect the Kyuubi Training. IIRC, the whole Dark Naruto thing found a lynchpin in his battle with Sasuke. No battle, no Tailed Mode, so it may take more to actually start using it.

And it may effect his training trip. Given his attachment to Sasuke and Sakura, some may be reluctant to let him leave the village in fear of going AWOL, given that in canon he at least had Sakura to tie him to the village.

 

[Knyght]

Naruto has numerous ties to the village in his friends and his goal so I don't think it'd be much of a concern. Perhaps the relevant parties wouldn't understand or consider it enough but if there's any reluctancy, I doubt it anything would come of it. Especially since no-one can really stop Jiraiya from taking him away and Tsunade would have no reason to try.

Anyway with both Sasuke and Sakura gone, Naruto pretty much doesn't have a team left but there's a three month gap between the defection and when he leaves for his training trip. It's possible he could be assigned some temporary teammates before he leaves and I thought it could be interesting if Shin and Sai are given that position. It'd allow him to go on missions which would be useful given Konoha's lack of manpower at the time and could provide him with a pair of bodyguards of sorts after Akatsuki made themselves known. And it could be a starting point for Naruto putting together his own team for the future.

 

[whitewhiskey]

It could also open the way for him to get closer to others of the rookies. Not necesarrily a lot closer, but they may be there for him more than before or, in a case like Ino, possibly a lot more since Sakura left.

 

[Knyght]

That's true. Their opinion of him wouldn't be nearly as bad as it had been back during their academy and the whole situation would earn him a fair amount of sympathy, so I could see him being included in different team activities from time to time.

 

[ankokudaishogun]

Naruto's first reaction to the news should be "They ELOPED?"

 

[Shirotsume]

That's true. Their opinion of him wouldn't be nearly as bad as it had been back during their academy and the whole situation would earn him a fair amount of sympathy, so I could see him being included in different team activities from time to time.

Or it could go the other way- that he forced them away. Remember, the populace at large is still fucking retarded at this point.

(lolwat)

 

[Yorae Rasante]

That's true. Their opinion of him wouldn't be nearly as bad as it had been back during their academy and the whole situation would earn him a fair amount of sympathy, so I could see him being included in different team activities from time to time.

Or it could go the other way- that he forced them away. Remember, the populace at large is still fucking retarded at this point.

(lolwat)

But not the shinobi at least, according to Ebisu's flashback. And all of them are both shinobi and from shinobi families.

 

[Knyght]

By the time this stuff happens, the populace are <a href='http://i36.mangapanda.com/naruto/426/naruto-1569639.jpg' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>on Naruto's side.</a> Though I could see Naruto lashing out if he perceives he's being pitied.