Pursuit

Orochimaru opened his mouth and shot out the Kusanagi Sword, which instantly appeared in front of Sai and Sai through.

Sai's expression didn't change. In the next instant, he turned into ink and fell to the ground. The Kusanagi Sword flew directly back to Orochimaru's side.

Orochimaru looked at the ground to his left and said, "What an impolite person. When speaking to elders, you should let them see your true self."

Sai emerged from the ground, walked out, and said with a fake smile, "How rude of me, Lord Orochimaru."

Orochimaru looked at Sai and said, "You say you were sent by Danzo, what proof do you have?"

Upon hearing Sai, Sai reached into the bag behind his back and took something out.

At that moment, Kabuto Yakushi arrived and saw Sai standing in front of Orochimaru. Knowing that Orochimaru's health was deteriorating, Kabuto was worried about Orochimaru's safety. He flashed behind Sai, grabbed him, and pinned him to the ground, causing the contents of his bundle to fall to the ground.

Kabuto Yakushi looked at Orochimaru and said, "Orochimaru, what's going on?"

Sai said, "Lord Orochimaru, please take a look at that document."

Orochimaru showed interest, picked up the documents from the ground, and said with a hint of surprise, "Kabuto, take him with you, let's go." The three of them quickly left the spot.

Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately said, "Kakashi-sensei, I want to go too! Sasuke, I must find him!"

Sakura quickly said, "But, Naruto, your injuries haven't healed yet..." But looking at Naruto's determined eyes and remembering Naruto crazy moment just now, she couldn't bring herself to say the next words.

Kakashi looked at the determination in Naruto's eyes and knew that Sasuke had always been a knot in Naruto's heart, but now that Naruto was injured, Kakashi was also finding it difficult to make a decision.

Uzumaki Hane said, "Let Naruto come along too. Naruto is injured now, it's not safe for him to stay. Don't forget that Akatsuki is still watching the Nine-Tails inside Naruto."

Kakashi considered it for a moment and decided that Naruto would be safest with them. He said, "Naruto, I can let you come along, but you have to promise me you won't interfere."

Naruto was overjoyed to learn that he could go too, and without even worrying about whether he would be able to help, he simply said, "No problem, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi glanced around at everyone and said, "Let's set off now. Everyone, please be careful." With that, he Hand Seals, cast "Summoning Technique," and with a bang, Pakkun was summoned.

Kakashi said, "Pakkun, find the owner of this fragment." He then handed the fragment to Pakkun.

Pakkun sniffed the fragments, pointed in one direction, and said, "This way." Then he chased after it, and the others quickly followed.

The group arrived at a deep pit. Sakura, with her sharp eyes, spotted a picture book there. Sakura remembered it belonged to Sai, so it seemed Sai had appeared here before.

Sakura asked, "What exactly does Sai want to do?"

"It seems Sai has made contact with Orochimaru," Uzumaki Hane said. Then, he looked at Yamato. Hadn't Yamato sent Shadow Clone to track Sai?

Yamato was busy suppressing Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra and didn't have time to send out Shadow Clone.

Yamato said, "I wonder what kind of conspiracy Sai and the others are plotting?"

Pakkun sniffed the ground a few times and said, "This way." Then he ran ahead. The others followed.

On the other side, Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Sai leaped through the forest, rapidly advancing towards the base.

Suddenly, Kabuto Yakushi said, "Lord Orochimaru..."

Orochimaru said, "I know, they're catching up."

Kabuto Yakushi said, "Was it him who secretly relayed the information?" As he spoke, Kabuto Yakushi looked at Sai, who was lagging behind.

Orochimaru glanced at the hem of Kabuto Yakushi's robes and said, "Kubuto, you were careless."

Kabuto Yakushi followed Orochimaru's gaze and, sure enough, noticed a corner of his robe was missing. He immediately realized what had happened and said, "What carelessness! As expected of Kakashi."

Orochimaru said, "We need to shake off their pursuit now."

Kabuto Yakushi said, "Lord Orochimaru, leave it to me."

Uzumaki Hane and the others moved quickly through the forest when suddenly Kakashi stopped them, saying, "There's something up ahead."

Soon, the group spotted Sai hanging from a tree trunk. They landed nearby, and Kakashi looked at Yamato, Yamato nodded. Sai and carefully cut the rope. Instantly, countless Kunai shot out from the nearby bushes. Yamato was prepared; a Kunai appeared in his hand, and he quickly deflected the incoming Kunai.

At that moment, several more Kunai were shot at, each with an Explosive Tag attached. Kunai Yamato and quickly moved away along the tree trunk. Boom! The Explosive Tag detonated, blasting the tree trunk in half.

Yamato caught the body and landed it on the ground, saying, "This is a fake body." Suddenly, he noticed Explosive Tag on the body.

Yamato shouted, "Everyone, back off!" He stepped back, and his body exploded with a deafening roar, Kakkō shooting into the sky and leaving a large crater in the ground.

Yamato landed in front of the group, and Kakashi asked, "Are you alright, Yamato?"

Yamato said, "It's alright."

At this point, Pakkun said, "They seem to have noticed our tracking and have used some method to conceal their scent; I can't smell it anymore."

Yamato said, "I was prepared. Everyone, follow me." Just as everyone was about to set off again, Naruto suddenly felt the images in front of him blur and he fell downwards.

Uzumaki Hane immediately stepped forward and hugged Naruto. Naruto stood up and said, somewhat confused, "What happened to me?"

Yamato said, "Naruto, you should stay here. We'll go after them."

Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately said, "No, I must go back to Sasuke."

Sakura looked at Naruto with concern, her heart filled with conflict, unsure whether to let Naruto continue following.

Knowing that Naruto would follow no matter what, Uzumaki Hane Yu asked, "Naruto, can you guarantee you'll keep up with us?"

Naruto said firmly, "I promise, I will never fall behind."

Everyone looked at Kakashi, after all, he was the captain of this operation.

Kakashi's eyes had lost their languidness as he said, "Then let's go." With that, he led the way.

Naruto was overjoyed and followed them, and the others left as well.