
A chapter that assembles a new search party for Sasuke and stages Naruto's prickly first encounter with the aloof recruit Sai.
Unable to enlist Team 8 in his effort to track down Sasuke, Naruto turns instead to Shikamaru. Still tied up with duties for the Chūnin Exams, Shikamaru cannot leave on a mission, so Chōji volunteers to go in his place.
Not having seen Chōji in years, Naruto notes how much bigger he has gotten, and Shikamaru abruptly yanks Naruto aside as Chōji smashes an ink lion that was creeping up behind them. The three then close in on the intruder responsible for it.
With Shikamaru lending support, Naruto tries to seize the stranger, Sai, who is unimpressed and needles him by asking whether he might actually be a girl. This is chapter 283, collected in volume 32 under the Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission, released in November 2005, and titled by Viz as "Team Members Wanted!!".
In "The Search for Members!!", Naruto assembles a search party to track down Sasuke, turning to Shikamaru for help since Team 8 is unavailable.
Shikamaru is still tied up with duties for the Chūnin Exams and cannot leave on a mission, so Chōji volunteers to go in his place.
The chapter introduces Sai, the aloof stranger Naruto and Shikamaru try to seize, who needles Naruto by asking whether he might actually be a girl.
An ink lion sneaks up behind Naruto, and Chōji smashes it before it can strike.
"The Search for Members!!" is chapter 283, collected in volume 32 under the Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission arc, released in November 2005 and titled by Viz as "Team Members Wanted!!".
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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