Avengers of the Whirlpool Family.

Chapter 160: Pursuit Team
"Granny Tsunade. What's the news about Sasuke's defection? Could it be some misunderstanding?"

Before anyone arrived, Naruto's voice sounded.

It has been just over half a month since Menma's defection.

Now Sasuke has defected again! ?
Naruto simply couldn't accept such a development.

"Naruto, calm down first. This is not 100% certain news. It is possible that Sasuke has been kidnapped."

Defection is defection.

If it were anyone else, there would be no other euphemism for this, but for Menma and Sasuke, there could be other outcomes.

It’s the same thing, as long as the two of them are really willing to change their minds.

Tsunade is 100% confident that she can "clear" both of them.

Let Menma and Sasuke continue to wear the Konoha ninja's forehead protectors and walk openly on the roads of the Hidden Leaf Village.

This is also Tsunade's 'preference' for Naruto.

"Kidnapped? Is that so? Yes, it must be so. Then we have to rescue Sasuke immediately! Granny Tsunade!"

Intellectually, Naruto actually understood it all, but emotionally, Naruto couldn't accept it. You could say it was Naruto's self-hypnosis. Be it Menma or Sasuke, Naruto really regarded their departure as an 'involuntary choice'.

"Well, I called you here for this, Naruto. The village is very short of manpower right now. I can't arrange too many people to help you. I can only arrange one person. The rest of the members, you have to arrange them yourself. I must say first that the people who took Sasuke away are Orochimaru's capable subordinates, and they are all very strong."

Tsunade crossed her hands on the table and said with a solemn expression.

"Well, I understand. Don't worry, Granny Tsunade. Uh? A helper. Who are you talking about?"

Naruto first nodded solemnly, then asked with a hint of doubt, as if he had just realized something.

"Oh, Speak of the devil, here he comes, come in."

Just when Tsunade was about to say the name of the person who helped her.

There were footsteps coming from outside the door.

And then there was the crisp knocking sound of "bang bang" on the door.

Tsunade shouted loudly.

next second.

With a creaky sound, the door was pushed open, and a familiar pigtail came into view.

"Oh!? Isn't this Shikamaru!"

Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up and he shouted with a hint of surprise.

"Huh? It's Naruto, why are you here too?"

Shikamaru was also stunned when he saw Naruto.

"You've come just in time, Shikamaru. I called you here because I have a mission for you and Naruto. The village is currently short of combat power, so this mission is for you two to carry out. You can find the rest of the helpers by yourselves and then report. The mission is to bring back the kidnapped Uchiha Sasuke. Here is the latest intelligence collected by the reconnaissance team. Shikamaru, Naruto, you can use it as a preliminary reference."

Tsunade said as she motioned for Shizune to hand the information scroll she had received earlier to the two boys.

"!?"

When Shikamaru suddenly heard the content of this mission, his eyes widened.

What the hell?

Sasuke was kidnapped?

Why does this sound so unreal?
Shikamaru subconsciously took the scroll, and when he scanned the contents inside and saw the words Sound Ninja and Orochimaru, Shikamaru's pupils suddenly shrank.

Being as smart as he is, he can naturally see the trick here.

Abducted?

This probably needs to be put with a big question mark.

However, Shikamaru would not say it in person here, not to mention that this was the tone set by his own Fifth Hokage himself. Just because Naruto was beside him, Shikamaru would not say much and would just treat it as if he was kidnapped.

"Okay, I understand, Lord Hokage. Time is running out. Let's set off now, Naruto." Although Shikamaru usually looks very lazy, he will immediately get into the state when it comes to serious matters. This is also the routine of the Nara clan.

"Oh? Huh!?"

Just as Naruto was about to say something.

After saluting Tsunade, Shikamaru strode out.

Sasuke and the others have been gone for most of the day. If we don't hurry up and chase them, it will be too late.

They have to catch up with those in front of them as quickly as possible.

Naruto and Shikamaru left together.

Among the special operations team members that he had searched around the village at high speed, Choji, Kiba, and Shino were the first three that came to mind in terms of relationship.

Then, there were Lee and Ningji who were willing to join in.

The former is completely kind-hearted, while the latter has a different attitude towards Sasuke simply because he was defeated by Sasuke.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate to describe it as obsession.

This is obviously a more luxurious configuration than in the original book.

But whether it is possible to successfully get Sasuke back in this life is still a big question mark.

And that was just before the team was about to set off.

Sakura Haruno, who got the news from somewhere, appeared at the main entrance of the village at the first opportunity.

"Naruto-kun, I want to join the team too!"

Sakura said as she looked at Naruto with a determined look.

Just like in the original work, Sakura in this life still has an almost obsessive obsession with Sasuke.

Sasuke's departure is completely unacceptable to Haruno Sakura now. She must join the team and rescue Sasuke personally.

That’s right, it’s about salvation. Sakura doesn’t believe that Sasuke is willing to leave Konoha.

"Sakura, I will definitely bring Sasuke back. Just trust me and stay in the village."

Naruto said as he looked at Sakura with a determined look.

"No, Naruto, I mean..."

Sakura's face turned anxious and she was about to say something else.

"Sakura, Sasuke left last night. It's been a long time now. We don't know where they are now. We have to move at full speed to catch up, so..."

Naruto paused and didn't say the rest.

But Sakura got it immediately.

After all, there is a gap in strength, a chasm that is clearly laid out before us.

Sakura's expression instantly dimmed.

That thought must be let go.

Sakura finally looked at Naruto with a pleading look and said, "Naruto, please, please bring Sasuke back!"

"Yes, I will, Sakura, this is my promise!"

Naruto raised his right thumb and said with an unprecedented serious expression.

And he also added in his heart, 'Not only Sasuke, but also Menma, I want to bring them all back!'

But what Naruto didn't know was.

In this life, his promise will never be fulfilled.

(End of this chapter)