Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he came to a halt in a clearing. He leaned against a giant oak, crossing his arms, observing the night's stillness. The Sharingan, a keystone of his Uchiha lineage, lay dormant for now, but it would awaken when the situation demanded it.

A snapping twig broke the silence, and Sasuke turned his head, his eyes locking onto the intruder. His voice, cold and guarded, cut through the quiet like a knife. "What do you want?" he demanded, his words laced with suspicion