Avengers of the Whirlpool Family

How could Tsunade not be surprised when she suddenly heard the news of Sasuke's defection?

"Yes, Lady Tsunade, this is confirmed news, or it was the news from the forward reconnaissance base. It just happened to run into the patrolling garrison personnel, and it was the Sound Ninja who took Uchiha Sasuke away."

Shizune also said with a wry smile.

"Otonin? It's Orochimaru, could he have been kidnapped!?"

Tsunade frowned instantly. She knew of Orochimaru's contact with Sasuke during the Chunin Exams, and this was something that should have required vigilance. However, there were too many things happening in the village during this period of time, and Tsunade subconsciously put this matter aside. Now it seems that she was too careless.

"It's not enough to have bewitched Uzumaki Menma, now you want to bewitch Uchiha Sasuke as well?"

Tsunade didn't believe that Menma and Sasuke went to find Orochimaru willingly.

They are only 12 years old, how can they make accurate judgments?

It must be Orochimaru who is behind this.

"No, Lady Tsunade, from what we could detect, there were no signs of a fight."

Even if his strength is really obvious, if he was really kidnapped, there would be no way he would leave no trace at all.

Jingyin's answer already expresses a very clear attitude.

"Call Kakashi and Naruto immediately."

This is the moment when a decision must be made.

Tsunade gave the order without any hesitation.

This is the matter of Class 7.

Naturally, Tsunade still hoped that the matter could be handled by Team 7's own people. And as the saying goes, rules are dead, but people are alive. If other ordinary people defected, then there was nothing to say. It would be fine to just send the Anbu to kill them on the spot.

But whether it's Menma or Sasuke, they can't be treated like this.

The most cruel way is to arrest and imprison them. Is this double standard? Yes, it is very double standard, but this is the reality.

The reality gap in identity and status.

"Lady Tsunade, have you forgotten? Kakashi-san went out on a mission two days ago."

Shizune said with a wry smile.

"Oh, yes, I remember now. Let's go and call for Bingzu. No, then Asuma, Dingzuo? Uh, Might Guy?"

Tsunade herself proposed several names in succession, but she found that during this period of time, most of the senior ninjas in the village had gone out to perform missions, and they were all very important guarding and patrolling missions. You know, in the previous period of time, the entire ninja world had a feeling that a storm was about to come.

A war could break out at any moment.

Of course, Konoha must be on high alert.

All immediate combat forces must be dispatched, especially in the northern front area against the Cloud Ninja. They have taken the initiative to cause friction. Even if the probability is not particularly high, we must be prepared. If there is no preparation at all and they go south directly, then the front line will not completely collapse! ?

Therefore, at this critical juncture, there are very few jonin who can be dispatched from the Hidden Leaf Village. The few who remain have important duties and cannot leave easily.

For example, Shikaku is the squad leader of the Jonin squad, one of the quasi-senior figures in the village, and Tsunade's right-hand man. It is impossible for him to leave the village easily.

"Forget it, call Naruto first, and then send someone to tell Kakashi to hand over the task at hand to others for the time being and rush to help. Oh, yes, call the kid from Shikaku's family as well."

Tsunade paused, then continued to speak to Shizune.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

After Shizune quickly responded, she turned around and left to carry out Tsunade's orders.

Not long after.

Naruto, who received the news from Shizune, also rushed over in a hurry.

That anxious and unbelievable expression clearly explained Naruto's mood at the moment.

(End of this chapter)

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.

"Yes, I understand, Hokage-sama. Time is running out. Let's go now, Naruto."

Although Shikamaru usually looks very lazy, he will immediately get into the state when it comes to serious matters. This is also a common practice 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)

Chapter 161 Menma's Departure