Ep 110: Konoha Five Member Group + Woof!
We'll Go Wild With the Iron Wall Formation - Special! (part 1)

Summary:

This is a double episode special which starts off with scenes from the previous episode where Sakura pleads with Sasuke to stay. Now it's four in the morning and the two chuunin guys Kotetsu and Izumo are complaining about carrying a stack of books for Tsunade. They find Sakura asleep on the stone bench and wake her up. She immediately thinks of Sasuke and cries. Tsunade is asleep at here desk when a knock on the door wakes her up. The chuunin guys report to Tsunade that Sasuke has left.

Shikamaru and his dad are having breakfast. His mom tells them to hurry since his dad has a mission today. The doorbell rings and his mom tells Shikamaru the messengers are for him from the Fifth.

Tsunade tells him Sasuke has left for Sound Village and his first mission as chuunin is to bring him back and Orochimaru's subordinates are probably guiding him. Shikamaru thinks about how Sasuke was amazing at everything and was someone to look up to. Shikamaru asks for a squad of 4 comprised of jounins or chuunins, but Tsunade says that she can't since most are away on missions. She tells him to gather as many exceptional genins as he can in 30 minutes and then set of on the mission. Tsunade makes a final recommendation - Naruto!

Naruto is still in his sleep clothes, but he changes immediately and they run to Chouji's house. No one answers so Shikamaru opens a bag of barbecue chips. They both start eating and soon they're down to the last chip when the door finally opens. Chouji grabs the last chip. Shikamaru explains to Naruto that he and Chouji work well together but Naruto says he should've asked someone like Shino for a mission like this. Suddenly, Akamaru comes flying at the chip, but Chouji eats it first. Kiba appears and says Shino is on a special mission with his dad. They all run toward the village gate while Shikamaru says this will be the team unless they find someone else on the way.

Neji says to Lee that he heard his surgery was a success. Lee says soon he'll be able to do some light training. They see Shikamaru's team at the bottom of the stairs. Neji joins them. The team of five are now ready to leave. Naruto and Kiba are not enthused to follow Shikamaru but Chouji defends his friend since Shikamaru was chosen as chuunin, it means the village head has acknowledged that he is a capable leader.

Neji cuts to the chase and asks Shikamaru what his strategies and plans are. Shikamaru explains that since they are the pursuers, it will be easy for the enemy to ambush them so he wants a formation that can react immediately to an enemy attack - a single line formation. The most important position of forward scout will be Kiba since he knows the terrain of Fire Country from his walks with Akamaru and with his sense of smell he can track Sasuke and detect booby traps by detecting the enemy's scent. The single line formation is weak against a frontal attack but he has Akamaru to compensate for this. Next is Shikamaru the squad leader, who can give orders based on situations that unfold and use hand signals for orders to the rest of them behind. Naruto is third - his quick reactions can cover the front and back right away. The center position is the important backup man. Fourth position is Chouji who doesn't have much speed but packs the biggest wallop in the squad and will be used to finish off the enemy after the surprise attack, the final blow. Neji is last and has the most difficult position as the rear lookout. With byakugan he can check to make sure there are no blind spots in the line. Shikamaru unfurls a scroll and does a sketch for them. Kiba looks forward, Shikamaru looks forward but in a wider scope, Naruto looks to the left, Choji looks to the right, Neji looks to the rear. Shikamaru asks to check all their equipment.

Lee is impressed that with the members he got in such a short time, Shikamaru thought of a perfect formation so quickly. Shikamaru goes on to say that Sasuke isn't a close friend of his and he doesn't even like him but he is a ninja from the Hidden Village of Konoha, their comrade, that is why they will put their lives on the line to bring him back. The team is about to leave when Sakura shows up. Shikamaru tells her that he can't take her with them and they'll have to use force to bring him back. Sakura starts to cry and begs Naruto to bring back Sasuke, and says he is the only one who can do it. Naruto finally realizes how much Sakura loves Sasuke and promises to bring him back. Sakura thinks how Naruto has always understood her and helped her. The team leaves and Lee tries to comfort Sakura by saying Naruto gave his nice guy pose and it'll be all right. Lee gives her his thumbs up nice guy pose.

Review: No action, but a nice look at Shikamaru's opening strategy with the line formation.

Notes:

In Naruto's pack are 12 kunais, 3 scrolls, a bunch of explosive seals, and something unidentifiable that may be a jar of medicine.

Thoughts:

Why a line formation instead of a diamond formation?