Which electron configuration does sodium seek to obtain when bonding?

Electron configuration ....

Sodium atom, Na .... 1s2, 2s2 2p6, 3s1

Sodium ion, Na^+ .... 1s2, 2s2 2p6

What you have indicated as your choices is an antiquated system that isn't used any more.

You make it appear that sodium "wants" to get rid of an electron in order to have a more stable electron arrangement.  That is what teachers often say, and that is nonsense.

I taught chemistry for over 40 years, conducted many workshops for chemistry teachers and tried to stamp out notions like that.  For one thing, atoms don't "want" anything.  Secondly, and more importantly, it takes energy to remove an electron from the 3s sublevel of sodium.  Electrons just don't "fall off" atoms, they have to be removed, kicking and screaming, which requires the input of energy.

The only reason an electron can be removed from an atom is if the resulting COMPOUND is LOWER in energy.  And even then the electron isn't actually completely removed.  In NaCl, for instance, the bonds have about 70% ionic character (30% covalent character).

That brings is to the concept that there are no 100% ionic bonds, and electrons are not completely removed from atoms.  But that's a lesson for another day.

B 2-8

Sodium(11) has one valence electron, so giving it up would result in the same electron configuration as neon(10).