Chapter 30: The Chase Begins!

Chapter Summary: The mission to find and retrieve Sasuke has begun.

Words: 2,476

Published: 9/26/23

Not responding to reviews because some of you are trying to drive me insane :P

Forest, Night

The self-dubbed Sasuke Retrieval Team had been following Akamaru's lead. The limitations of needing to follow Sasuke's trail was evident, as the trees - just as Naruto predicted - were difficult to navigate. That, coupled with Akamaru's animal sensitivities, created challenges for the team.

However, being able to follow the path directly allowed them to move faster than Sasuke had, and as such, they knew they could catch up within the next day, in spite of their late start.

That night, they'd comfortably set up camp in a clearing, with rotating guard shifts.

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Morning

As the golden hue of daylight set in, peering through the trees into the clearing, Naruto was standing in guard shift.

From the direction his team had come, he spotted another group - Team Dosu, the Sand Siblings, and somehow, Rock Lee. As they spotted him, too, they smiled - except for Dosu himself - and jogged to meet him.

Naruto greeted, "Hey, you guys, what... What is all this? How'd you find us? How's Lee...?"

Kin answered, "Dosu used a sound jutsu that allowed him to track you guys through the sound waves of your journey. We were basically able to pinpoint this place and take a quick route here."

Temari added, "We made a plea to the hokage to allow us to help you get your teammate back."

Naruto listened attentively, all the while trying to make sense of what wasn't being said.

Granny let them come on this mission, despite the scrutiny they're facing from the villagers? This has gotta be some sort of test. Is she using this as an opportunity to prove they're trustworthy?

Lee informed, "Lady Tsunade used medical ninjutsu, and had me swallow a chakra pill to aid my healing! I have a whole bag of them with me, and they'll keep me upright until we get Sasuke back. Then, I'll swoop in and take Sakura for my own!"

Naruto sighed. "Alright, then... Can we use that sound technique to track Sasuke all the way?"

Dosu told him, "No. We were just barely able to catch up to you to begin with; we had to use sound waves reverberating off of objects hit by sound waves that were themselves reverberations. The sound waves from his kidnapping, and the reverberation, have all dissipated by now."

Naruto groaned, "Great... So we'll still need to follow Akamaru's dog-ass..."

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One Hour Later

As the group had been traveling, Neji had quietly sparked an argument with Lee.

In a hushed whisper, he spoke, "This is the most idiotic thing you've ever done, Lee. Putting your life on the line like this? You know you won't be at full strength."

Lee retorted, "No matter how much my body may suffer, my spirit will never fade. This isn't just about proving my strength, it's about fighting in the face of adversity, despite my pain. This is what men do, Neji."

"No, that is what fools do."

Tenten interjected, "Right now, I don't see a difference."

Neji rolled his eyes as Lee emitted a disapproving grunt.

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Another Hour Later

Chatter among the Retrieval Team hushed as they saw smoke rising nearby. Figuring it to be a camp, hopefully that of the kidnappers, they snuck their way to a hiding point to watch.

The camp was set at the edge of the forest, right along the shore. They spotted Tayuya and Sasuke, as well as four other individuals, having a meal over the fire. They watched for a while, hoping to get some grasp of the situation.

One of the individuals was named Kimimaro. Kimimaro's visage bore the mark of an enigmatic force. His pallid complexion formed a canvas for his striking emerald orbs, the color of verdant life amid the shadowy world of shinobi. Angular features, seemingly etched with precision, lent his face an air of elegant austerity. The twin scarlet dots, an insignia rested upon his forehead, whispered esoteric tales. His hair, a cascade of snowy white, flowed down his shoulders. But it was not a mere mane; it was a testament to his otherworldly nature. Split down the middle in an atypical 'zigzag' parting, it framed his face with an alien symmetry, further accentuated by two separate partings that gracefully draped on either side, like strands of moonlight that clung to his countenance. Kimimaro was a portrait of ethereal beauty within the tumultuous world of shinobi.

Kidomaru stood out with a complexion that seemed to have absorbed the shadows. His skin, blended with the surrounding trees, provided a stark contrast to the shaggy, ebony locks of hair that swoooped into a rebellious ponytail. His eyes, as black as midnight, concealed mysteries only a true shinobi could fathom. Yet, it was that confident grin eternally etched upon his countenance that whispered tales of his audacious spirit. Naruto could tell that no matter the odds, Kidomaru faced them with unwavering self-assurance. But what truly set him apart from the his peers were his physical traits. Six arms, a testament to his uncanny prowess, granted him a deadly advantage in the dance of combat. And then, there was that enigmatic eye, concealed beneath an Otogakure forehead protector, only revealed when he lifted the cloth to wipe sweat off his brow. It lay dormant, like a sentinel in the shadows, a hidden guardian of secrets known only to him. Kidomaru was a mosaic of contradictions, a mystery in the realm of shinobi.

Jirobu, a colossus among his comrades, cast an imposing shadow that few could escape. His frame, large and formidable, dwarfed the rest of his team. Fair skin, like a canvas of strength, provided the foundation for his presence. His eyes, slanted and fiery orange, spoke a sense of focused determination, often veiled by a stern countenance that hinted at the burdens he carried. And then there was his distinctive mane, a trio of orange tufts that crowned his head. A mohawk, bold and resolute, ran down the center, a symbol of his unyielding spirit. Flanked by two similar tufts on either side, his hair formed a trinity of power, a symbol of his unwavering commitment to the path of Orochimaru. Jirobu was a titan among his peers, a force of nature in every sense.

Sakon and Ukon, an enigmatic duo, bore striking resemblances that blurred the lines of portrayed sex, a twisted mockery of feminine features on both men. Fair skin, like porcelain, formed the canvas upon which their unique features were painted. Their hair, a profound shade of dark blue, with long bangs, each concealing a different eye, an eerie duality in their appearance – Sakon's on the right, Ukon's on the left. A bold choice of green lipstick adorned their lips, adding an otherworldly allure to their androgynous charm. Dark markings around their eyes, like cryptic runes, framed their gaze, accentuating their mysterious aura. Sakon, the more visible of the pair, often sported a sly smirk, his head slightly tilted downward, an embodiment of confidence and cunning. Meanwhile, Ukon, the dormant presence within, remained hidden, his head hanging limply at the back of Sakon's upper form, veiled by his hair like a ghostly shroud. Together, they were a mesmerizing enigma, an embodiment of duality within the world of shinobi.

Naruto, beyond all else, was shocked at what he was seeing.

Tayuya? Why's she here with Sasuke? And who are those other guys? She must've defeated the kidnappers, and they must be her friends. Guess I should greet them.

He signaled to his team that all was well and announced his presence.

"Hey, you guys! Tayuya, I know you remember me, thanks for finding Sasuke! And your friends, too!"

The group at the fire were dumbfounded.

Naruto chuckled nervously, as he analzyed them all.

They don't look too happy to see me. And... How is Sasuke completely unharmed? Not a scratch, bruise, or even a speck of dirt on him. If he was kidnapped, then...

Just as the pieces clicked for Naruto, the tall man swung long, chained blades in his direction as Tayuya grabbed Sasuke's hand and began to run.

The blonde just managed to dodge them, suffering a cut on his forehead protector, as he jumped backwards.

He shouted, "They're enemies of the village! Sasuke's turned his back on us!"

The retrieval team immediately began their assault.

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Field

Across the river, Tayuya was dragging Sasuke as she ran across an open field.

Sasuke questioned, "Why are we running? Can't we convince them that this is what's best for me?! What's wrong with you?!"

Tayuya rolled her eyes and groaned. "You idiot, I work for Orochimaru! He wants you as his apprentice so he can use you to learn new jutsu!"

Sasuke's eyes widened.

Is that so? Maybe I can still turn this around. I'm smarter than them all, I'll come up with something.

He responded, "I don't care! I need his training - - let him use me if he wants, as long as I gain the power I need to kill Itachi!"

Tayuya winced, but held her tongue.

He really doesn't know what he's getting into...

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Elsewhere

In the chaos of battle, Naruto had found himself lost in the fray. At some point, he knew that he had hit his head, and all of a sudden, stood across Kimimaro, who was ready to fight. Naruto spotted Tayuya and Sasuke running, and knew that he had to get through with Kimimaro soon if he had any hope of catching up.

Kimimaro, noting Naruto's disoriented state, attempted to converse with him.

"Your name's Naruto, isn't it? Tayuya told me about you. You sound like a hard-headed, but reasonable person. Am I right?"

Naruto shook his head in confusion regarding this line of questioning. "What? Y-yeah, I guess. What does that matter?"

Kimimaro inquired, "What is the purpose of your life?"

Naruto quickly analyzed his surroundings to ensure that he was not being set up. "To become hokage."

The older boy chuckled. "I see... Mine is to serve Orochimaru, the man who saved me from destitution when I was small."

Naruto gulped. "Doesn't he kill people, though? Even if you're grateful to him for saving your life, I feel like murder sorta outweighs that."

"He didn't just save my life, Naruto. He gave me purpose; he gave me a reason to live."

"Can't you-- can't you find another purpose?"

"I tried, before and after, but Lord Orochimaru has always been the crux of my faith... Especially after his exposé of my clan, the Kaguya."

"What?"

"My people were fools, Naruto. They only lived to fight and kill, like savages. Orochimaru showed them that there was another way, and that death was a preferable alternative to their behavior."

"It sounds like you're just going in a circle... Like, you're all terrible people. I still don't get why you'd stay with him."

"... Tayuya told me about how the village treats you. You're little more than a miscreant to them - - why would you want to serve them?"

"As stupid as it sounds... It's not totally their fault. They didn't know the truth about me, and the Old Man Hokage banned talking about it, so they couldn't figure out the truth, either. They were scared - - they still are, and I can't just judge them all as unworthy just for that, even if some of them hurt me."

"... Dont you think it's fateful that you and I should meet? I, serving my master because of his favor for me, and you, serving your village in spite of their hatred for you."

Naruto assumed a fighting stance. "Everything that happens to anyone is fateful, isn't it?"

Kimimaro smirked. "I'm compelled to agree."

All of a sudden, Kimimaro opened his hand towards the boy, and a long, thick bone protruded through his palm and shot at him.

Naruto managed to duck, and immediately summoned a shadow clone.

However, just as Naruto began running away from Kimimaro, the clone had already been defeated and dissipated.

Naruto dropped and slid on the ground to dodge another attack, as he summoned two more clones.

However, just as soon as Naruto had gotten back to his feet, Kimimaro had defeated the clones, and achieved arm's reach from Naruto.

Once again, Naruto summoned shadow clones. This time, he quickly brandished a kunai knife and threw it in the direction Sasuke had been running.

Naruto's clones had been defeated again, and he had to dodge more of Kimimaro's attacks before finally using the flying thunder technique to transport to the kunai he had thrown.

Naruto found himself nearly a hundred yards away, and he picked up the kunai and threw it again, all the while summoning clones to fend off Kimimaro for the short time they could manage.

Kimimaro, having caught on to the trick, opted for another route. He slammed his palm onto the ground, tracked where the kunai was flying, and planned to raise a sharp column of bone as Naruto transported to it with its fall.

However, Naruto seemed to have seen through the plan - or a plan similar to it - and stayed in position as the column of bone rose. He then transported to the kunai as Kimimaro attempted to recover from his technique.

Naruto took advantage of the situation by throwing five kunai, each in slightly different directions, albeit in directions that would get him nearer to Sasuke. He then summoned shadow clones, masking himself in the smoke.

Kimimaro succeeded in dissipating all of the clones when he mustered up all his strength to use his drilling technique on each of the five directions. What had surprised him was that the real Naruto had not traveled to any of those kunai.

Instead, Naruto, when he was still disguised by the smoke, had thrown a sixth kunai in Sasuke's direction, but at a higher angle, such that Kimimaro would not see it until after he had already wasted energy on the clones.

Now in mid-air, Naruto spun around and threw the kunai at another higher angle as best he could. He transported to the next position in the air, and began scanning the ground below.

He noticed that Lee and Gaara had caught up to Kimimaro, and were standing him down.

He threw a kunai in their direction and reached them, only for Gaara to tell him, "Leave, Naruto. Get Sasuke back, we'll fight this man."

Naruto gulped. "Thanks..."

I hate leaving them like this... I'll be back soon, I promise!

He resumed his chase against Sasuke.

Ending it here, don't kill me