As Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Pakkun pursue Sasuke, it soon becomes apparent that they’re being followed by a group of nine Sound ninja. Shikamaru volunteers to stall them to buy the others time and falls back. Once the Sound ninja get close enough, Shikamaru traps them with his shadow, though finds that he has only captured eight. Attempting to kill the eight, Shikamaru discovers the ninth’s location, but lacks the chakra to trap him. As his shadow recedes and the eight freed ninja prepare to kill Shikamaru, Asuma Sarutobi, Shikamaru’s sensei, arrives and defeats all the Sound ninja, saving Shikamaru.