Chapter 67: Who Is the Oriole?
"Lady Fifth, I beg of you! Send someone... send someone to bring Sasuke-kun back!"
Inside the Hokage Office, Sakura's crying was heartbreaking. She gripped the edge of the desk, tears sliding down uncontrollably.
Tsunade rested her chin on one hand, looking at the weeping Sakura before her, then at the moon about to set outside the window, feeling a massive headache coming on.
This headache was half due to the mess in Konoha, and the other half was purely from being irritated by a certain Blond Kid.
Since the founding of Konoha Village, there probably hadn't been a case where the son of an S-Rank Rogue Ninja finished a fight during the day and then simply ran off with people from an enemy Village at night.
"I am already aware of this matter," Tsunaderubbed her temples, her voice tinged with impatience.
She knew because an Anbu wearing a dog mask had just reported it. She knew even more because, starting half an hour ago, that damn heavenly curtain in her head had begun broadcasting someone's "real-time strategic analysis" at full power.
[Tsk tsk, Two-Pillar, you tsundere, you're so emotionally broken that you're running away from home? Was your brain kicked by a donkey? What good can that pervert Orochimaru give you besides a few sexy belly shirts?]
[It's so much better to stay in Konoha! You'd have me, your all-knowing and all-powerful brother, covering for you; you'd have Sakura, your devoted little fangirl, chasing you; and Ino occasionally sending some fanservice. Later, when you awaken your Mangekyo and go blind, you could even come to me to apply for the Village's best medical insurance... You're losing out big time by leaving now!]
"Summon Nara Shikaku," Tsunade ordered directly, not wanting to hear any more of that nonsense.
Soon, the Jonin Commander Nara Shikaku entered the office. He was still in his pajamas, wearing a troublesome expression as if he hadn't fully woken up yet.
"The situation is as follows: the last bloodline of the Uchiha Clan has defected. This must be handled before dawn. The opposition consists of four Sound Ninja elites who have taken Sasuke," Tsunade explained the situation simply.
Just then, the office door was kicked open.
"Granny Tsunade! I heard about it too! Give this mission to me!"
Naruto rushed in aggressively, wearing his orange tracksuit. His eyes were full of fighting spirit.
[Hehe, the 'Hero Saves the Beauty' script is finally here! Or rather, the upgraded version: 'Hero Saves His Bro'! Once I drag Two-Pillar back, he'll definitely be so moved he'll cry his eyes out, and Sakura will see me in a new light! Perfect!]
Tsunade looked at Naruto, her eyelid twitching uncontrollably.
She really wanted to pack him up and throw him out, but considering his radar-like "prophecy" ability and his bizarre knack for suppressing strong enemies with ridiculous tactics, she had to include him as a core combatant.
Shikaku analyzed the situation and said calmly, "The enemy is a four-man squad plus Sasuke, and they are moving fast. The pursuers should be Genin so as not to alert other Villages. I recommend... my son, Shikamaru, to lead the team."
"I want to go too!" Naruto raised his hand.
"Your stamina is the best; you can be the core of the pursuit," Shikaku nodded, then began assigning names. "Inuzuka Kiba will be responsible for tracking, as he has the olfactory advantage. Akimichi Choji has great destructive power and can break through defenses. Hyuga Neji has the Byakugan, making him the best choice for reconnaissance."
[Tsk, Uncle Shikaku's arrangement is truly textbook. Unfortunately, this is only the team on the surface.]
Naruto looked out the window, a calculating look in his eyes that only a Sky Screen Holder could understand.
[Shikamaru's'Suicide Squad' is just for show. The ones who will truly take center stage... are my lovely enforcers.]
[But this lineup works too. It's the perfect chance to show Neji just how strong the Hinata I've trained has become. No, it's to show him how powerful his future brother-in-law is! It'll save him from always having that gloomy face as if everyone owes him eight million.]
Tsunade cleared her throat, interrupting Naruto's inner fantasies, and made the final decision: "It's settled! Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba, Choji, Neji! A five-man pursuit squad! Shikamaru will serve as the captain. Depart immediately!"
"Yes!"
Several young figures quickly gathered below the Hokage Building.
—
Before the team set out, Sakura stopped Naruto, her tears not yet dry: "Naruto... Sasuke-kun... I'm counting on you... This is... the request of a lifetime..."
"Leave it to me!" Naruto patted his chest, flashing a reliable smile.
[Don't worry, don't worry, I'll definitely bring him back in one piece. Well, maybe missing an arm or with a broken leg, but it doesn't matter; we can just have Granny Tsunade reattach it then. A man's got to have some scars to say he's been out in the world, right?]
Hearing this inner voice, Sakura wiped her tears and silently stepped aside.
As those five figures disappeared past the gates of Konoha, Tsunade sat back in her chair, exhausted but feeling much more at ease. She knew very well that the success rate of this pursuit had been forcibly raised to one hundred percent by a certain guy whose head was full of nonsense.
...
In the forest outside Konoha Village.
The five-man squad moved rapidly through the trees.
"They went that way! They're moving fast!"
"The enemy has four people, plus Sasuke makes five! Everyone stay alert, this isn't a drill!" Shikamaru analyzed calmly, sweat beading on his forehead.
About a kilometer behind the pursuit squad, four equally agile figures leaped silently through the shadows of the trees.
It was the "Goddess Pursuit Team" that had secretly followed them—Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, and Ino!
Ino lowered her voice, her azure eyes lighting up, "The flute player is mine."
"Jirobo is mine!" Sakura clenched her fists, her knuckles letting out a crackling sound only she could hear.
Tenten pulled a multi-tube launcher from a scroll on her back, a grin spreading across her face: "Firepower coverage, huh? My favorite!"
Only Hinata blushed, whispering softly, "To bundle them up... like a rice dumpling... I-I'll try my best..."
They were the true orioles of this pursuit battle.
A hunting game, with Naruto unconsciously acting as the lead director, had officially begun.