Naruto led the retrieval team through the forest, his grin wide as he shouted, "Let's catch that jerk and drag him back!" Shikamaru sighed, Neji scanned the path, and Kiba grumbled, but Naruto's cheer was a mask. He didn't care about saving Sasuke for Konoha's sake; this was about power—proving he was stronger, that he could stand alone, that he didn't need the village or its bonds. Sasuke's defection was a challenge, and Naruto would meet it with the Nine-Tails, the Rasengan, and an army of clones.The Sound Four ambushed them, their strength staggering. Naruto summoned hundreds of clones, shouting, "Time to kick some butt!" but his eyes were cold, calculating. Kimimaro, the bone-wielding ninja, was a monster, his attacks shredding clones. Naruto's Nine-Tails' chakra flared, red and searing, giving his clones ferocity, but Kimimaro's power was overwhelming. Shikamaru's strategy split the team, each genin facing a Sound ninja alone, and Naruto pushed forward, his grin fierce. "I don't need help!" he shouted, but inside, he knew this was bigger than him.He fought Tayuya, her flute summoning demonic spirits. Naruto's clones swarmed, their numbers endless, but her genjutsu trapped him, twisting his mind. He reached for the Nine-Tails' chakra, its rage breaking the illusion, and landed a Rasengan, knocking her out. Panting, he grinned—"Too easy!"—but his body ached. The Sound Four were strong, and Sasuke was stronger. Naruto didn't trust his team, not fully, but their skills had kept him alive. Bonds were dangerous, but useful—for now.Neji, Kiba, and Choji were battered, their fights taking a toll, but Rock Lee's arrival turned the tide, his speed crushing Kimimaro. Naruto's grin hid his unease. He was strong, but not strong enough. Sasuke was ahead, and the world beyond Konoha was full of threats like Orochimaru. He needed more power—more control over the fox, more jutsu, more everything—to roam free, to find the truth without relying on anyone.
