Chapter 167 - 3D Chess
This was good. At least for Arthur.
He had now placed Sasuke in a position where he was not just their enemy but had set the stage right for the next arc to commence.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called out.
One could hear how much emotion he was filled with. He took a step forward, reaching out as if the mere act could dissolve the gap that had now formed between them.
But Sasuke didn't respond. Instead, he threw his head back and looked forward. Then, without a moment's notice, he took off running into the forest.
Tears filled Sakura's eyes. The others could see the sight of their former classmate slipping further away from them. Alice herself felt annoyed that she had let this happen.
"No!" Naruto cried, and in a heartbeat, he took off, sprinting toward the Uchiha.
"Stop!" Alice shouted as she remembered what would happen next.
Yet Naruto was already past them, his focus solely on reclaiming his friend. Arthur gradually watched as the boy dashed past his figure. In that moment, time seemed to slow down. Arthur's gaze lingered on Naruto, knowing what he had caused.
That determined look in Naruto's eyes, the willingness to rescue someone no matter the cost—it was all too familiar. But this boy's hopes were in vain, plagued by the never-ending loop of chasing after someone who didn't want to be liberated in the first place.
After Naruto ran by, Chōji began giving chase.