Chapter 153 Chasing Sasuke

Soon, Shikamaru successfully organized an elite ninja team, including Kiba, Ningci, Choji and Lee. It is worth mentioning that Lee had been completely cured by Tsunade a month ago.

This elite team quickly assembled, and everyone had a serious look on their faces. As the captain, Shikamaru calmly deployed the tasks: "Our mission this time is to retrieve Sasuke. Everyone must remain highly alert and be ready to deal with various situations that may arise at any time. Kiba, you have an extremely keen sense of smell, so you are responsible for tracking Sasuke's whereabouts; Neji, you use your Byakugan to carefully observe the surrounding situation to ensure that we do not fall into the enemy's trap; Chouji, be ready for battle at any time and give full play to your strength advantage; Rock Lee, you have superb physical skills, and you must give the enemy a fatal blow at the critical moment."

Everyone nodded, making it clear that they were aware of their respective responsibilities.

Kiba slowly closed his eyes and concentrated on sniffing the air, as if trying to find Sasuke's trace from the subtle changes in the breath. After a moment, Kiba opened his eyes, with a look of certainty in his eyes. "I found the direction of Sasuke's scent."

After confirming Sasuke's direction, the five of them set off immediately. Shikamaru walked in the middle of the team, looking calm and steady. His brain was working rapidly, thinking about various possible situations and countermeasures. Neji kept his Byakugan open at all times, vigilantly observing the movements around him. Kiba led the team forward with his sense of smell, while also paying attention to whether there were any abnormal smell changes in the surrounding environment.

They shuttled through the mountains and forests, and no one had the slightest intention of retreating. The wind whistled in their ears, and the leaves rustled, as if playing an exciting war song for their journey. They had only one goal in mind, and that was to find Sasuke as soon as possible.

Everyone hurried along, their steps were fast but not chaotic. As Shikamaru moved forward, he kept analyzing the current situation, thinking about where Sasuke might go and what he might encounter. Kiba was concentrating on sniffing the air to make sure they were always moving in the right direction. Neji's Byakugan was constantly scanning the surroundings, not missing any suspicious movements. Although Choji was larger in size, he was not clumsy at all and followed the team closely. Lee, with his excellent physical fitness, always maintained a fast speed.

They passed through dense forests and crossed rugged mountains. No one spoke along the way, only the sound of hurried footsteps and heavy breathing intertwined. The sunlight shone on them through the gaps in the leaves, but it could not dispel the tension and worry in their hearts. They knew that time was running out and they had to find Sasuke as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

As they moved forward, Ya smelled a strong smell of blood. The pungent smell instantly made everyone's nerves tense. They followed the smell of blood and moved forward at a very fast speed, and soon came to the place where the four Sound Ninjas had fought before.

The place was in a mess, with traces of battle and blood on the ground. The injured jonins were basically stable under Shizune's treatment. Shizune was focused, her hands quickly formed seals, and performed medical ninjutsu. Her forehead was slightly sweaty. Several jonins were lying on the ground, their faces were pale, but their breathing had stabilized.

Shikamaru and the others looked at the scene in front of them, full of doubts. They didn't know what happened here, nor did they know whether Sasuke was related to this battle. Shikamaru frowned and began to observe the surrounding situation carefully, trying to find some clues. Kiba once again used his sense of smell to try to capture Sasuke's breath from the air. Neji opened his Byakugan and scanned the surrounding environment, looking for possible hidden enemies. Choji and Rock Lee also stood aside vigilantly, ready to deal with possible dangers at any time.

Shizune became nervous when she found out who was coming, but when she saw that it was Shikamaru and the others, she heaved a sigh of relief.

Shikamaru observed the situation nearby, and after confirming that it was safe, he asked, "Sister Shizune, what happened to you?"

Shizune frowned slightly and said solemnly: "We encountered the Four Sound Ninjas when we were returning to Konoha. They were very powerful, especially the power of their curse seals. After a hard fight, we, the jonin, were unable to defeat them. Fortunately, they didn't kill us."

After hearing this, Shikamaru's expression became even more serious. "The Sound Four? Why are they here? What is their purpose?"

Shizune shook her head. "It's still unclear what their exact purpose was. But when they defeated us, Sasuke came. Then they fought, but when they saw that it was Sasuke who came, they said something, and Sasuke left with them."

Shikamaru and the others became more serious when they heard this. Shikamaru frowned, thinking about the connection. "It seems that Sasuke does have some kind of connection with the Sound Four. What did they say to Sasuke that made him follow them so easily?"

Kiba said at the side: "From the lingering smell here, it is clear which direction Sasuke and the others left. We can continue to track them."

Neji also nodded and said, "From my Byakugan observation, there are no other suspicious people or traps around. We should act quickly to avoid losing track of Sasuke."

Shikamaru calmly analyzed: "Everyone, don't be impulsive. We must act carefully. The strength of the Sound Four should not be underestimated, and their purpose is unclear. We must be fully prepared. Now, follow the direction determined by Kiba and continue to move forward."

"Sister Shizune, can you return to Konoha now?" Shikamaru asked with concern.

Shizune frowned slightly, thought for a moment and then said: "Although our injuries are basically stable, we still need some time to recover our strength. It may be a bit difficult to return to Konoha now, but if the situation is urgent, we will try our best."

Shikamaru nodded and said solemnly: "The current situation is indeed quite urgent. Sasuke has been taken away by the Sound Four. I don't know what kind of danger he will face. But your safety is also very important. If you really can't return to Konoha immediately, rest here first and make plans after your injuries are further recovered. I will find Sasuke as soon as possible and bring him back to Konoha."

Shizune looked at the determined expressions of Shikamaru and the others, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. "Okay, you must be careful. The Sound Four are not easy to deal with, especially since their cursed seals can turn them into monsters. Don't take any risks."

Shikamaru nodded slightly, then turned to Kiba, Neji, Choji and Lee and said, "Let's continue on our journey and find Sasuke as soon as possible."