As the sun began its descent, casting a warm, amber glow over the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Naruto Uzumaki sat behind his desk in the Hokage Office, lost in thought. His mind drifted to the recent events that had transpired, the loss of a friend, and the ever-present threat that seemed to loom over their peaceful home. His gaze shifted unconsciously to the framed photograph on his desk, a fond smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he remembered the days of old. Shikamaru Nara, his trusted right-hand man and a friend in arms, poked his head through the door, his expression a mix of concern and fatigue. "Hey, Naruto," he began, "it's been a while since we've seen Sasuke. I was wondering if you've given any thought to sending someone after him." Naruto's brow furrowed in thought. "To be honest," he replied, "I've been meaning to speak with Kakashi-sensei about it. With the new threat to the village, we can't afford to have our strongest assets divided. But at the same time, I don't want to push Sasuke away any further. He's been through a lot." Shikamaru nodded in agreement, his eyes taking on a distant look as he remembered their time together. "Yeah, me too. I miss the old days, you know? When we were all just kids, training together, not a care in the world. Now look at us. We're all grown up, and we've got our own problems to deal with." A wistful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "But I guess that's just life, huh?" Naruto sighed, his shoulders slumping for a moment before straightening up again. "I suppose it is," he said, his voice tinged with regret. The two men fell silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. "I'm sending a search party." Naruto said lightly.