"How much do you know about the search team?"
At Sasuke Uchiha's question, Naruto Uzumaki thought for a moment before answering, "Big Brother Naraku said this search team..."
Naruto told him everything he knew.
"So that's how it is." Sasuke nodded. "Looks like I'll be staying out there for a long time without being able to return to the village."
"Yeah, that's right."
Naruto nodded repeatedly. "Kakashi-sensei told me all about it. You'll have to stay out there for a while, but it's better than staying in the village with people pointing fingers at you."
Sasuke glanced sideways at him.
Naruto continued, "Besides, didn't Big Brother Naraku say you could return to the village to rest every so often?"
"What about the search team's members? Are you joining?" Sasuke asked what concerned him more.
"I don't know who's on it either, but I think Kakashi-sensei said they'd be jonin from the different shinobi villages."
As he spoke, Naruto scratched his head regretfully. "I wanted to join too, but Big Brother Naraku turned me down."
"He said I wasn't suited to taking part in this."
"I'm already so strong, but Big Brother Naraku still doesn't trust me. Seriously..."
His tone made it clear that Naruto was somewhat dejected about not being selected.
Sasuke glanced at him and offered some comfort. "Since you want to become Hokage and protect Konoha, you're better suited to staying in the village instead of carrying out missions outside like me."
At the mention of this, Naruto immediately perked up.
"Hokage... Big Brother Naraku is so amazing. He could definitely keep being Hokage forever. If that happens, it seems like I won't have a chance."
Given Naraku's age and credentials, if he wanted to remain Hokage and refused to step down, no one could force him out