Sasuke's Successful Defection and the Land of Snow Mission

Shikamaru, Gaara, and the others pursued Sasuke relentlessly, determined to catch him.

Poor Sasuke still hadn't adjusted to his Cursed Seal State. He gradually grew weaker, and it wasn't long before they caught up with him again.

"Damn it! Why does everyone keep getting in my way? Do you expect me to go back to Konoha and play house with you?" Sasuke shouted furiously.

"You have no idea what I've been through, or what I need to do next!"

Shikamaru sighed and spread his hands helplessly.

"Well, I don't particularly like you, but you're our teammate. Besides, this is my first mission as a Chunin!"

"Sasuke, Orochimaru is evil. Youth should strive for justice!" Rock Lee urged.

"Hmph! You'd better surrender. We're taking you back to Konoha!" Kiba Inuzuka said with a snort.

"Hmph!" Sasuke's face darkened. He couldn't believe he'd come this far only to fail at the last moment.

Just then, a flock of little white birds swooped down from the sky and sped toward Shikamaru, Gaara, and the others.

They immediately dodged or knocked the birds out of the air.

"Art is an Explosion!"

Boom!

The white birds exploded, and the blast hurled everyone to the ground.

A Black-and-Gold Rope dropped from high above, bound Sasuke tight, then yanked him onto a giant white bird in the sky.

Sasuke looked at the Red-Haired Masked Woman who had saved him. "Did Orochimaru send you?" he asked coldly.

"No, no. I just made a deal with him." The Female Avatar turned and grinned. "Orochimaru was willing to pay quite a price for you."

On the ground, Shikamaru and the others watched Sasuke disappear into the sky on the giant white bird. Their faces fell. They had been so close to success, only to fail at the last moment.

Naruto