Sasuke Recovery Mission

The Sasuke Retrieval is an arc covering episodes 107-135 and chapters 172-238.

Introduction
After Itachi Uchiha mentions Sasuke Uchiha as "weak", he wants to seek for more power. Because earlier during the Chunin Exams, Orochimaru offers Sasuke more power to kill his brother and the invitation from the Sound Four, Sasuke later on takes this offer and decides to leave Konohagakure for Otogakure.

Plot Summary
Shikamaru Nara is coincedently appointed Chunin when Sasuke leaves the village. His first mission was to gather a group of Genin to bring Sasuke back to Konohagakure. He gathers Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Choji Akimichi. They easily catch up to the Sound Four, who are guarding Sasuke. Jirobo and Choji stay behind and do battle while Team Shikamaru catches up to the other members of the Sound 4. Choji wins his battle, but is too injured and can't go on. The same thing happens to Neji, he stays behind and fights Kidomaru, wins, but is severly injured and can't continue. Shikamaru, Naruto, and Kiba catch up to Sakon and Tayuya, but Kimimaro Kaguya arrives and takes Sasuke's coffin, with Sasuke in it the whole time.

Kiba and Akamaru do battle with Sakon, and Shikamaru fights Tayuya. Naruto follows Kimimaro and they eventually do battle. Rock Lee soon arrives and tells Naruto he'll fight Kimimaro and Naruto can chase Sasuke (who awoke from his coffin during the battle). Kiba is about die and Shikamaru is about to die, and Lee is also about to die, however the Sand Genin Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro appear and save the ninja. Temari defeats Tayuya, Kankuro defeats Sakon, and Gaara does battle with Kimimaro. Gaara and Lee are about die, but Kimimaro dies do his illness.

Naruto catches up to Sasuke and they do battle. They end up turning into their most powerful forms, Naruto's Kyubi form and Sasuke's Cursed Seal of Heaven. Naruto uses his Rasengan and Sasuke uses his Flapping Chidori. Sasuke comes out victorious and goes to Orochimaru. Team Shikamaru eventually heals from their injuries, but unfortunately Shikamaru fails his mission. But is still relieved when everyone is alright. The arc is the last non-filler arc in Part I.