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. In addition, Sasuke became envious of Naruto's rapid improvement. 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 coincidently 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 due to the effects of the threee colored pills, he is too injured and can't go on. The same thing happens to Neji; he stays behind and fights Kidomaru. Kidomaru, at one point in the fight, eventually discovers the blind spot of Neji's Byakugan and immediately turns the tables. Neji, however, with some emulation of Naruto's determination, uses his blind spot to his advantage, and strikes Kidomaru with Gentle Fist, winning the fight, 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 his brother, Ukon, and Shikamaru fights Tayuya. Naruto follows Kimimaro and they eventually do battle. Kimimaro proves to be far superior to Naruto, and just as he is about to deal damage himself,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 and Akamaru, despite their most powerful attacks, prove to be no match for the siblings, and are about to be killed by Ukon. Shikamaru, despite his strategical prowess, also falls at his opponent's mercy, and Lee is about to die at Kimimaro's hands. Fortunately, the Sand Genin (Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro) appear and save the ninja. Temari defeats Tayuya, Kankuro defeats Sakon and Ukon, and Gaara does battle with Kimimaro. Kimimaro's kekkei genkai allows him to defeat Gaara's sand jutsu, and at the end of the battle, Kimimaro is about to deal death to Gaara when he finally succumbs to his terminal illness.

Naruto catches up to Sasuke and they do battle. Sasuke's Cursed Seal of Heaven, which had been powered up by a pill given to him by the Sound Four (this was why he was in the coffin), gives Sasuke inhuman strength, which he uses to reduce Naruto to almost rag-doll levels. Meanwhile, Sasuke recalls his experiences with Itachi and his parents up to the point of the Uchiha Clan Massacre. It is in thses memories that the Mangekyo Sharingan is revealed to be the reason behind the clan's demise. 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.