Chapter 140: The Chase continues

Chapter 140: The Chase continues

Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 140: The Chase continues

"Jirobo!" Ukon shouted.

"I just threw another kunai when they moved away," Naruto said, as the rock dome exploded into a hundred pieces, and something flew out.

"Ha! We did it, Akamaru!" Kiba exclaimed. As his jutsu ended, he and his ninja dog landed nearby.

The other genins who had been trapped inside hurried out before the structure collapsed on them.

Once outside, they assessed the situation.

"Hmm... I don't think it was your doing, Kiba," Shikamaru noted, observing the dead Jirobo before turning his gaze to the remaining enemy.

"Where are the rest of them?"

"They ran off with Sasuke. Only three of them stayed behind," Ino informed him.

"Three?... I only see two," Chouji remarked.

Neji narrowed his eyes as he observed. "There are two individuals inside that body... I've never heard of a jutsu that allows that."

"Yeah, they can fuse with each other. One of them even tried to get inside Naruto but failed," Ino said.

"Wait! Who killed that guy?!" Kiba exclaimed as he joined the group and noticed Jirobo's corpse.

"I did," Naruto replied, then turned to Shikamaru. "We need to follow the others before they get too far."

"You're not going anywhere!" Sakon shouted.

Naruto pointed at Sakon and Ukon. "Let Neji and Hinata handle him. They specialize in close-range combat, and their Gentle Fist would be very effective."

Neji stepped forward. "Leave it to me. I can handle this," he said, glancing at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru had no reservations about Neji taking the lead, but he had doubts about Hinata.

She looked hesitant. Over her few months as a genin, she had yet to face a truly dangerous opponent capable of killing her.

"From what I've seen, that guy prefers to fight from a distance and use those strings to entangle his opponents. My fighting style, and Chouji's, won't match well against him. We need Kiba to keep tracking, and Naruto is likely the only one who can stop Sasuke. So..."

"We're the only ones left," Ino said, nodding.

"I have no issues with this decision," Shino said calmly.

"Good," Shikamaru glanced at Ino. "Remember, only use the Mind Transfer Jutsu if there's a big enough opening."

"I know!" she huffed. Naruto had already reminded her several times.

"We're getting close...the scent's getting stronger!" Kiba said, and Akamaru barked in confirmation.

"Careful!" Shikamaru shouted as a large arrow whizzed past them.

"I see him," Shino said, unleashing a swarm of insects in the enemy's direction.

Ino pulled out a kunai, ready for combat.

"We're not stopping...push through!," Shikamaru ordered.

Ahead, numerous ropes lay in their path, but Naruto sliced through them with his wind-enhanced kunai.

"Tsk! Damn it," their enemy muttered in frustration, unable to stop all six of them.

Especially now that Shino and Ino were closing in on him.

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Meanwhile, the group of four ninjas were so focused on tracking their next target that they failed to notice someone trailing them.

Sakura leaped from one tree to the next, her breathing labored but her determination unwavering.

"Sasuke... Sasuke," she repeated to herself.

Lee had tried to stop her from leaving, but he was still too weak after his surgery to do anything about it.

"I have to find Sasuke myself," Sakura kept reminding herself.

She couldn't leave it in Naruto's hands. It wasn't that she doubted her teammates' abilities, but she didn't believe Naruto cared as much about bringing Sasuke back.

"I'm the only one who can convince him to return!" There was more than just determination in her eyes...there was a hint of desperation, maybe even madness.

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