Sasuke Recovery Team


 * Name: Team Shikamaru, also known as the Sasuke Retrieval Squad
 * Leader: Shikamaru Nara
 * Members: Choji Akimichi, Neji Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Naruto Uzumaki
 * Affiliation: Konohagakure
 * Status: Disbanded

The 5-Man Squad was formed after news of Sasuke Uchiha's departure with the Sound Four reached Konoha. Upon realizing that Sasuke was intent on joining Orochimaru, the Fifth Hokage selected Shikamaru, the newly promoted Chunin, to organize a squad of Genin in order to pursue Sasuke. Shikamaru chose Naruto, Choji, Kiba, and Neji for their various abilities, which when combined would make for an excellent tag team force.

Mission and Status

 * Sasuke Retrieval
 * Rank: Unknown, potential A or S Rank.

The squad pursued the Sound Four and Sasuke for some time, growing smaller as its members broke up into one-on-one fights with the Sound Four and then their fifth member, Kimimaro. Choji and Neji both ended up near death after defeating their opponents, Jirobo and Kidomaru, single-handedly. Kiba and Akamaru were nearly killed by Sakon and Ukon, but were saved by the timely intervention of Kankuro. This situation was repeated with Shikamaru being saved by Temari from Tayuya, and Gaara stepping in to save a recently operated on Rock Lee from Kimimaro, after the weakened ninja had interfered with Kimimaro's attack on Naruto so as to allow Naruto to pursue Sasuke. In the end, the mission was a failure as Naruto failed to prevent Sasuke from escaping, but Tsunade did mention that while the mission was a failure, and almost every member was greatly injured, that nobody was killed on the mission save every Sound ninja that aided Sasuke.