Plot of Naruto: Shippūden
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The plot of the second part of the manga and anime series Naruto, titled Naruto: Shippūden (疾風伝? lit. Hurricane Chronicles) in the anime and simply Part II in the manga, is set two and a half years after the present timeline in Part I. The new story revolves mainly around Naruto Uzumaki's and Sakura Haruno's new adventures and their search for Sasuke Uchiha after he left Konoha to gain Orochimaru's power. The plot later involves new major characters, such as Sai and Yamato. The plot also shows a more active Akatsuki in their quest to obtain all the tailed beasts. The anime adaptation of the manga started airing on February 15, 2007, premiering with the first two episodes debuting in a one hour special.
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[edit] Prelude
- This section covers chapters 245 to 247 in the manga and episodes 1 to 2 in the anime
After his failed attempt to retrieve Sasuke, Naruto learns that circumstances have granted him slightly less than three years to prepare for a confrontation with Orochimaru, who has to wait that much time before he can transfer into Sasuke's body. Naruto also must prepare for his eventual confrontation with Akatsuki, who are after the nine-tailed demon fox sealed within him. To prepare, Naruto leaves the village and undergoes intensive training under Jiraiya. At the same time, Sakura becomes Tsunade's apprentice, and Sasuke trains under Orochimaru. Thus, each of the three members of the original Team 7 is now training under one of the Legendary Sannin.
When Naruto returns to the village two and a half years later, he is reacquainted with his friends, who have all been training and growing as he has. Naruto has donned a black and orange outfit and a black Konoha headband since he claims that his clothes got beaten up while training. When Naruto first got back to Konoha he found something changed as he looked at the mountain and saw Tsunade's face next to the Fourth Hokage's. According to the manga he was 145cm (about 4'9") before the timeskip, and 166cm (almost 5'6") after the timeskip. He also finds out, much to his dismay, that he is the only one who has not progressed in rank over the timeskip. Most of his comrades have since become Chunin, while Kankuro, Temari, and Neji have become Jonin. Gaara even became the Fifth Kazekage after the death of the Fourth Kazekage. After the reintroduction, Jiraiya leaves Naruto with Kakashi Hatake. Team 7 is reformed as a three-man cell with Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. They commemorate this by having another bell test. Unlike the first bell test, the point of this one is to actually get the bells. Using their new skills and Kakashi's obsession with the Icha Icha novels, Naruto and Sakura take the bells from Kakashi.
[edit] Rescue Gaara arc
- This arc covers chapters 248 to 281 in the manga and episodes 3 to current in the anime
Naruto is given little time to reminisce, however. In Sunagakure, the Akatsuki team of Deidara and Sasori sneaks into the village. Gaara attacks Deidara as an intruder, and manages to crush one of Deidara's arms using his Desert Coffin. Despite his improved ability, Gaara's newfound desire to defend Sunagakure proves to be his downfall when Deidara tries to destroy the village with his Exploding Clay. Taken offguard by the attempt, Gaara accidentally allows a portion of the clay to get into his personal shield, which then detonates, incapacitating him. Kankuro is shocked realizing that their objective was Gaara. He then attempts to stop the Akatsuki members alone, but his puppets are easily fought off and destroyed by Sasori,who is revealed to be the maker of Kankuro's puppets. Sasori poisons Kankuro in the process, leaving him to die. The Akatsuki duo take Gaara back to their lair, where their leader summons a massive statue to extract and seal in Gaara's demon. The sealing ritual takes three days.
Upon hearing of Gaara's kidnapping, Team Kakashi leaves for Sunagakure with Temari, who is in Konoha to help with the most recent Chunin Exam. On the way, Naruto tells Sakura and Temari that he is the host of the nine-tailed demon fox and that Akatsuki is after the demon inside Gaara. This gives Sakura some insight into what Naruto has gone through. After learning this information, she vows to do everything she can to protect Naruto from being a victim of Akatsuki. Temari is thankful that there is someone who can understand what Gaara has gone through, and she's grateful to Naruto for changing Gaara and attempting to save him.
[edit] At Sunagakure
After arriving at Sunagakure, Team Kakashi learns of the attack on Kankuro. Before they can help, they are attacked by Chiyo, Sunagakure's resident poison specialist, who mistakes Kakashi for his father, Sakumo Hatake. Despite the failed attempt by the medics on-hand, Sakura cures Kankuro, thus demonstrating her skill with medical jutsu. Sakura is also able to develop several portable antidotes rather quickly. Using a piece of Sasori's clothing found on one of Kankuro's destroyed puppets, Team Kakashi is able to track him, thus leading them to Gaara. Temari offers to assist them, but Chiyo goes in her place since she is Sasori's grandmother, and Temari is left to guard Sunagakure's borders. Back in Konoha, Tsunade decides to send Team Guy as backup for Team Kakashi.
As they approach Akatsuki's hideout, Team Kakashi is confronted by Itachi Uchiha while Team Guy fights Kisame Hoshigaki. Itachi catches Naruto in a genjutsu by merely pointing a finger. Naruto tries to dispel the genjutsu by stopping his chakra flow (something he learned from Jiraiya) but fails. As Naruto breaks down, Sakura and Chiyo break him out of the genjutsu. Kakashi creates an opening for Naruto to use his new Great Ball Spiraling Sphere to take out both Itachi and Kakashi's clone. However, Itachi's body was actually Yura a member of Suna's advisory council. A similar person is found by Team Guy after they defeat Kisame. Apparently, these two were used as body substitutes for the Akatsuki leader's Shapeshifting Technique.
The group surmises that this was just a delaying tactic to buy Akatsuki enough time to draw the Shukaku out of Gaara. Chiyo tells the group that if Shukaku is fully extracted from Gaara, he will die. Sakura cries, realizing that the same is true for Naruto. However, Naruto tells her not to worry and that he'll save Gaara.
At the grotto where Gaara is being held, the group figures out that a barrier jutsu has sealed off the entrance. Team Guy decides to remove the four seals protecting the cave, while Team Kakashi deals with Akatsuki. However, removing the seals triggers another delaying trap, causing Team Guy to confront clones of themselves. Inside the cave, Naruto and Kakashi find Deidara and Sasori guarding Gaara's lifeless body. While Chiyo and Sakura face Sasori, Deidara flies off on a clay bird with Gaara's body, with Naruto and Kakashi in pursuit.
[edit] Fighting Sasori
Although Sasori "wears" his puppets and controls them from inside, this technique of puppeteer fighting soon proves to be futile against Sakura and Chiyo. While controlling Sakura like a puppet, Chiyo is able to get Sakura close enough to demolish the puppet with one punch using her inhuman strength.
With his puppet armor destroyed, Sasori is revealed, looking just as young as he did when he left the village. He summons another puppet to continue the battle: the Third Kazekage. It is here that Sasori reveals that he not only killed the Third Kazekage, but actually made his body into a puppet. Likewise, he has done the same to 297 other people, giving him a collection of 298. He plans to do the same to Chiyo and Sakura after winning. With its unique Iron Sand ability mixed with Sasori's poison, this puppet is exceptionally dangerous. Chiyo summons two more puppets to fight against it. These puppets were Sasori's parents, which he had turned into puppets and left with the village when he deserted it. At first, Sasori's Kazekage puppet proves to be more than a match for both Sakura and Chiyo, using its poisoned Iron Sand to disable both of them. However, the antidotes Sakura had developed earlier allows them to continue fighting. Having been trained by Tsunade to pick up the enemy's patterns in order to avoid their attacks, Sakura is able to easily dodge Sasori's subsequent attacks and demolish the Kazekage puppet, as well.
Down another puppet, Sasori reveals the secret of his youth: he made himself into a puppet. In this form, he has numerous weapons to fight with, and can even reassemble himself when destroyed, making him almost impossible to defeat. The only part of him that remains alive, and thus able to use chakra, is his heart. His heart is contained in a talisman labeled 蠍 (Sasori, "Scorpion"), which sits in his right chest. In response, Chiyo uses White Secret Technique: Ten Puppet Collection of Chikamatsu to summon Monzaemon Chikamatsu's ten masterpiece puppets. To mock the puppets, Sasori uses his Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets to summon 100 of his human puppets.
After a spectacular battle between the two puppet groups, Chiyo throws a chakra-sealing orb to Sakura to use on Sasori. Though it appears successful at first, Sasori manages to abandon his body beforehand and take over a spare among the many puppets he had summoned earlier. Using the momentary distraction, Sasori stabs Sakura with a poisoned sword. What he doesn't realize, however, is that he is also in a trap. Chiyo has used four of her puppets to make a seal on the ground, and Sasori is now immobilized since he needs to use chakra to animate his puppet body. Chiyo then uses Sasori's mother and father puppets to stab him through his heart in a manner similar to the hug that he desired as a child. Interestingly, Chiyo seems to believe that Sasori allowed himself to be killed — he saw the attack coming and chose not to react, and died in a way similar to how his parent puppets used to embrace him. At the end of the battle, Chiyo, Sasori, and Sakura are all fatally wounded, but Chiyo uses a jutsu she originally developed for Sasori, "to give life to a lifeless puppet", to save Sakura's life. The jutsu supposedly takes the user's life, but does not kill Chiyo since Sakura was merely badly injured). Sasori's last words (as a reward to Sakura for defeating him) are that he has a spy in Orochimaru's ranks, whom he is supposed to meet in Kusagakure in ten days.
[edit] Fighting Deidara
Meanwhile, Naruto and Kakashi chase after Deidara. Kakashi activates his own version of the Mangekyo Sharingan during the battle, using it to remove Deidara's remaining arm, and Naruto manages to destroy the clay bird using his Spiraling Sphere. Naruto's shadow clones catch the head and find a dead Gaara inside. Enraged, Naruto sends a demon-fox-powered clone to attack Deidara, who attempts to get away since he no longer has any arms to perform jutsu with. The clone then performs another Shadow Clone technique, forming four more shadow clones to further pummel Deidara, slamming him into the ground, beating him, and finishing him off with another Spiraling Sphere. These efforts turn out to be in vain, since the Deidara they've beaten turns out to be a clay clone. Still enraged, Naruto starts to appear feral as two tails of chakra begin to form, causing his clones to experience a burning sensation in their stomachs. Kakashi recognizes this as a bad sign and uses a special seal he received from Jiraiya to stop the transformation from proceeding any further. Naruto subsequently reverts back to his normal form.
As the rest of Team Kakashi and Guy catch up with Naruto and Kakashi, Neji spots Deidara attempting to escape. Deidara, narrowly avoiding Tenten's projectiles, moves to the remains of his bird and swallows some of the clay, creating a Suicide Bombing Clone. Neji realizes the nature of the clone and quickly directs the group to leave, fearing that not everyone will get away in time. As the dust settles, Kakashi collapses from exhaustion, explaining that he used his Mangekyo Sharingan to send the human bomb to another dimension. With Naruto carrying Gaara's body, the two teams head back to Suna.
[edit] Epilogue
Stopping in a grassy field near the village, Sakura checks on Gaara and pronounces him dead. Naruto grows very upset, lashing out verbally at Chiyo. As he begins to cry, Chiyo moves towards Gaara and tries to use her resurrection technique, but doesn't have enough chakra. Naruto gladly lends his own chakra, and Chiyo is able to revive Gaara at the cost of her own life while the shinobi of Suna look on.
Back at the battleground, Deidara emerges from the ground, revealing his clone to be a diversion. He goes off looking for the right arm that he lost. After finding it, he encounters Zetsu and Tobi, a mysterious individual who wishes to take Sasori's place in Akatsuki. After a short banter with Tobi about his condition, Deidara attempts to strangle Tobi with his feet.
After paying their respects to Chiyo's grave and bidding Gaara and his siblings farewell, Naruto returns to Konoha after this mission, along with his comrades. Unfortunately, Kakashi is still exhausted from his overuse of his Mangekyo Sharingan and has to be carried back by Guy. Guy does so piggyback style, disturbing everyone present.
[edit] Exposition
- This section covers chapters 282 to 284 in the manga.
When they arrive at Konoha, Kakashi is confined to the hospital and is unable to lead Naruto and Sakura until he recovers from his injuries. Naruto searches his village to find a possible replacement. During this time, he meets Shino, Kiba, Hinata, Choji, and Ino again. During this time, he, Choji, and Shikamaru ward off an attack from a mysterious ninja, later introduced as Sai, who is sent by Danzo to replace Sasuke. Sai is a member of the now-defunct independent subdivision of ANBU called Root.
It is also discovered that some of the village elders are worried about the possibility of Naruto being captured by Akatsuki. Tsunade convinces them to let him go by assigning Yamato, an ANBU captain, as the temporary leader of Team Kakashi. They are to travel to the World Bridge in Kusagakure to meet Sasori's spy.
[edit] The Sasuke and Sai arc
- This section covers chapters 285 to 310 in the manga.
[edit] Encounter with Orochimaru
Team 7 takes on their new mission, and a great amount of tension begins to build in the team, especially between Naruto and Sai. Naruto dislikes Sai since their interactions are similar to those between Naruto and Sasuke in the beginning of the series. Making matters worse, Sai nonchalantly mentions Sasuke's treachery, greatly irritating both of his teammates to the point that Sakura punches him in the face.
When they arrive at the World Bridge, Yamato goes to meet the spy inside a replica of Sasori's puppet, Hiruko. The spy is revealed to be Kabuto Yakushi, but the jutsu binding him to Sasori had been dispelled long ago. Orochimaru then shows up and destroys the puppet replica, revealing Yamato inside. Yamato uses a wood clone to escape harm, revealing his true origins to Orochimaru. Orochimaru reveals that he had performed experiments on Yamato and 59 other children, giving them the First Hokage's DNA in an attempt to replicate his Mokuton kekkei genkai. Yamato was the only survivor. Orochimaru then calls out the rest of Yamato's team. Once they emerge, Orochimaru taunts Naruto by speculating whom is now stronger: Naruto or Sasuke. Naruto is so provoked by the mere mention of Sasuke's name that he instantly transforms into a three-tailed demon-fox. Orochimaru continues to taunt Naruto, causing Naruto to grow a fourth tail.
It is revealed that, during the time skip, Jiraiya apparently saw Naruto trigger a four-tailed state, which nearly resulted in Jiriaya's death. The demon fox's chakra becomes so intense that it burns Naruto's skin, causing him to bleed from every pore. This blood and chakra envelopes him in a fiery shield. In addition to the constant damage, the demon fox's heals him. This process shortens his life span.
In his four-tailed state, Naruto is able to hold his own against Orochimaru. After Orochimaru retreats due to a lack of energy, Naruto is still unable distinguish friend from foe and cuts Sakura's arm when she moves close to try to calm him down. Kabuto willingly heals her arm. Yamato finally gets close enough to use Hokage-Style Sixty-year-old Technique: Enclosed Hermitage Return to Society, a demon-controlling technique, to revert Naruto back to human form.
With Naruto's transformation reversed, Sakura and Yamato rush to his side. Sakura uses her medical skills to heal Naruto's severe injuries, but is still suffering from the injury Naruto had given her earlier. Though Sakura is upset at how little she can do, Yamato states that it is the strength of her feelings for Naruto that matters most. Before he can expand on his point, Naruto awakens.
Meanwhile, Sai meets with Orochimaru, saying that he is a messenger from Danzo. After gaining favor with Orochimaru and Kabuto, the three leave to a secret hideout. Yamato watches the encounter with a wood clone, and the team decides to pursue Sai. During their pursuit, they find Sai's body hung from a tree. The body is in fact a fake made by Kabuto using a similarly-aged corpse, which Yamato is able to discern thanks to his ANBU training: he finds stitch marks alongside the corpse's face.
When Naruto realizes that the bridge and a large part of the forest has been leveled, he wonders what happened. Apparently, he does not remember anything while in the four-tailed state. Sakura lies to Naruto about what happened as well as her injury, saying Orochimaru did it, but Yamato calls Naruto aside and explains the truth. He also states that relying on the demon fox's strength, despite enabling Naruto to save Sasuke faster, will ultimately harm Naruto in the long run. Yamato tells Naruto that he is going to seal his demon-fox chakra, but that Naruto will still help all of his friends, because his own chakra is his true strength. Naruto quickly agrees.
While Yamato and Naruto are discussing this, Sakura goes through Sai's belongings and finds his art book. She calls attention to this book and shows it to the rest of the team. The sketchbook contains drawings of Sai and what the team assumes is his older brother growing up and going through a gauntlet of enemies. On each subsequent page, Sai takes the weapons and armor of his previous opponent. The center pages, where the two brothers are supposed to meet, are unfinished. The left page is completely empty, and the right page has an image of Sai in full ANBU attire without a face.
At Orochimaru's hideout, Yamato reveals that he was able to track Sai through a special plant seed hidden in his breakfast, which reacts to chakra usage. He gives Sakura and Naruto similar seeds to make sure they can find each other if lost. Yamato breaks open an entrance for the team. Once inside, Yamato leads the team to a room where Sai is being kept hostage. Creating a wooden skeleton key, Yamato unlocks the room and they enter. Sai tries to lie, but an accidental smile allows Naruto to call his bluff. Sai then states that his mission is a failure and confirms that Danzo is indeed planning another strike at Konoha. However, he is also acting as a spy for Danzo, since Danzo knows as soon as Konoha is destroyed, Orochimaru will turn on him. Sai disapproves of rescuing Sasuke, saying that Sasuke doesn't see Naruto as a brother and that Orochimaru is too powerful for them. Naruto replies that he had formed a special bond between Sasuke and himself, and that he will fight Orochimaru with everything he has to get Sasuke back, even if it means sacrificing his life.
At this point, Kabuto shows up and frees Sai, but Sai shocks everyone by helping Yamato immobilize Kabuto. Kabuto is forthcoming, providing information on the interior of the lair, but not Sasuke's actual location. Team Kakashi split up to search for Sasuke, with Naruto teaming with Sai and Sakura with Yamato. Naruto, still tired from being in demon fox form, collapses, and Sai suggests taking a rest; Naruto is notably less hostile towards Sai at this point. Sai begins to talk about his brother, who resembles Naruto. The short chat soon ends as Orochimaru appears. Naruto tells Sai to find Sasuke while he holds off Orochimaru. As Yamato and Sakura arrive to back Naruto up, Orochimaru again mentions that he does not wish to kill them since both parties oppose Akatsuki. Orochimaru then leaves in order to locate Sai. Yamato found a "Bingo Book" (a list of people who are tabbed for assassination) in Sai's bag, with Sasuke's name in it. Thus Naruto and Sakura realize that another part of Sai's original mission was to kill Sasuke, who had been listed as an enemy of Konoha by Danzo. Naruto is speechless, realizing that Sai has duped him with his "fake smiling" act.
Sai manages to find Sasuke in his room, and wakes him up. Sasuke, angry at Sai's mention of "bonds," uses a jutsu causing the room's walls and ceiling to explode. Sakura spots Sai in the hallway and runs to him. Though she means to attack Sai, Sasuke quietly says Sakura's name, stopping her in her tracks. Naruto, in his weakened state, finally catches up,coming face to face with Sasuke again.
[edit] Meeting Sasuke again
As Sasuke observes the new Team Kakashi, Sai explains to Naruto and Sakura that his desire to protect the bond between Naruto and Sasuke have overridden the mission that Danzo gave him. Sasuke replies that he has broken his bond of friendship with Naruto and that the only bond he has left is a bond of hatred that he shares with Itachi. When Naruto confronts Sasuke about sparing his life before, Sasuke remarked that he had spared him at a whim, and now he would kill him for the same reason. Sasuke shows off his new powers by moving right next to Naruto with blinding speed. He tells Naruto that he'd been better off training than chasing him and that someone who dreams of becoming Hokage shouldn't risk everything by chasing after one man. Naruto asks how a person who can't even save a friend deserves to be Hokage.
As both Sai and Yamato move to try and protect Naruto, Sasuke uses One Thousand Birds Current, which projects electricity around his body and his new Kusanagi sword. He manages to stun Naruto and Sai, then wound Yamato. As Sasuke fights Yamato, Naruto undergoes a partial demon fox transformation. In Naruto's mind, he comes face to face with the demon fox, who implores Naruto to use his power. When Naruto refuses, the demon scoffs, saying Naruto has always come to him in times of need and that Naruto is worthless without his power. Suddenly, Sasuke appears in front of the demon fox, stunning both of them. Sasuke marvels at the source of Naruto's power. As Sasuke begins to push the demon fox back into its cage, the demon fox then remembers his past history with the Uchiha clan. He states that Sasuke may possess chakra even more evil than his own, "just like that Uchiha Madara." The fox also warns Sasuke not to kill Naruto, stating that he would regret it.
Outside of Naruto's mind, Yamato pushes the Kusanagi out of his wound and tries to trap Sasuke in a wooden prison. Sasuke blows a hole through the roof of the prison to escape. Naruto yells out to Sasuke that Orochimaru just wants to use Sasuke as the next container for his soul, to which Sasuke replies that as long as it helps to kill Itachi he doesn't care. Yamato then tells Naruto and Sakura that he didn't want to hurt Sasuke in front of them but he has no choice and will finish the confrontation. Sasuke plans to do the same and begins to form hand seals. Orochimaru returns just in time to stop Sasuke from performing his jutsu. Kabuto tells Sasuke to leave the Konoha shinobi alive so that they might oppose Akatsuki. Sasuke tells Kabuto that's a poor excuse to not kill Naruto, but leaves with Orochimaru and Kabuto anyway. Naruto is upset by the meeting and by how weak he is in comparison to Sasuke, and Sakura consoles him. Sakura and Sai both assure him that they will help bring Sasuke back.
The team reports back to Konoha, during which Naruto tells Tsunade that they have not given up and will continue. Pleased by this response, Tsunade assigns the team a new mission. Later Sai reports to Danzo, who is displeased that Sai has failed his mission. Sai asks to remain with Team Kakashi and Danzo warns Sai that developing emotions will only lead to hatred and conflicts. Sai has flashbacks of recent events, ponders his own feelings, and realizes that he now has friends. Sai adds a title ("Friends") in front of his window, the first picture he has ever given a title. Having reclaimed his emotions, he heads off with Naruto, Sakura, and Yamato to begin their new mission.
[edit] Hidan and Kakuzu arc
- This section covers chapters 311 to chapter 342 in the manga.
[edit] Akatsuki activity
Two newly introduced Akatsuki members, Hidan and Kakuzu, are chasing after the two-tails container. They corner Yugito, the host of the Two-Tails, who states that she allowed herself to be cornered so she could destroy them. Hidan speaks of Jashin (his religion that believes in total annihilation), which annoys Kakuzu. Hidan then proceeds to ask Yugito to hold still so he can knock her out. Enraged by his comment, Yugito transforms into her full demon form, a large flaming cat, and attacks, much to Kakuzu's annoyance that Hidan provoked her and made things more difficult.
Hidan and Kakuzu defeat Yugito, and she is seen hanging from a wall, pinned there by a kunai through her hands. Hidan performs a bizarre ritual that involves impaling himself through the chest with a pike. Kakuzu reminds him that they have one host target left, and that they need to head for the Fire Country. As the two bicker over whether it is Kakuzu's love of money or Hidan's long rituals that are slowing the team down, Zetsu appears and takes charge of the Two-Tails, ordering them to find their next target.
Hidan and Kakuzu take a detour towards a Fire Country Temple. The head monk Chiriku, former bodyguard for the Fire Country's nobility, is listed in the bingo book with a 30 million ryō bounty. Hidan and Kakuzu kill Chiriku and the other monks, but one monk manages to escape and informs Tsunade of the incident. While Hidan completes another ceremony, Kakuzu picks up the monk's corpse to collect the bounty and says that they need to proceed slowly since the Fire Country is so big.
Alarmed by the news of the slaughter, Tsunade orders Shizune to mobilize the new task force, the Niju Shotai. She briefs the Niju Shotai to capture the Akatsuki pair, or failing that, kill them. Asuma's group, consisting of himself, Shikamaru, Kotetsu Hagane, and Izumo Kamizuki, leaves for the Fire Temple. As they leave, Kurenai watches from her apartment with a concerned gaze.
Team Asuma arrives at the Fire Temple ruins, where the survivors have been unable to find Chiriku's body. The team realize that the Akatsuki pair has taken Chiriku's body to a bounty station to claim his bounty. They prepare to head for the closest one, sending messenger birds to teams near the other four. Before Team Asuma could leave, an elder monk prays for them. After he finished his prayers, the monk notices that Asuma wears the same sash as Chiriku's. He asks Asuma to be careful since all the 12 guardian ninja have large bounties. Asuma thanks the monk for his concern but says that he won't be killed that easily; his bounty is 5 million ryō higher than Chiriku's.
Hidan and Kakuzu finally reach the bounty station — a public toilet. They meet the bounty collector, who leads the pair to a secret room. He confirms that the body is Chiriku's. Pleased with their "fine catch," the collector hands Kakuzu the reward. Hidan loudly exits the bathroom, as he couldn't stand the stench — leaving his partner to count the money.
Elsewhere, Deidara, having regained his limbs and now paired with Tobi, confronts the three-tails. Tobi is reluctant to attack and asks Deidara to cover him, but Deidara says that Tobi is officially Akatsuki, and will have to fend for his own. The three-tails attacks and Tobi flees, drawing the demon's attention. Deidara follows them and creates a clay fish that swims down near the demon's head before exploding.
After the battle, Tobi stands atop of the defeated Three-Tails and gloats about how he brought down the demon. An unamused Deidara reminds Tobi that his exploding clay was the deciding factor. Deidara tells Tobi that an Akatsuki should be more reserved and not such a loudmouth. Tobi retorts that it's actually Deidara who is the loudmouth; earning him a thrashing from the latter. Deidara drags the three-tails to the shore, while reminding Tobi that the demon couldn't use its full powers since it had no host. Tobi lies silently on the demon's back and when he doesn't respond Deidara says he doesn't need to act 'that' restrained. However, when a snore escapes Tobi's mask, an angered Deidara "wakes" him up with exploding clay.
[edit] Training Naruto
After the encounter with Sasuke, Naruto realizes that Sasuke may be getting too strong for him. Kakashi reveals a special training method which takes advantage of Naruto's high chakra. It involves the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Unlike an ordinary clone (which is just an illusion), a shadow clone is an actual clone, and any experience it gains is passed back to the original. Because he has an inordinate amount of chakra, Naruto can create a comparatively large number of shadow clones, thus allowing him to train hundreds of times faster than a normal shinobi. Yamato also assists in Naruto's training by helping restrain the demon fox.
Kakashi explains that there are five basic types of elemental chakra — fire, wind, water, lightning and earth. He pulls out special cards which react differently to each person's chakra. It will burn if fire, split if wind, crumple if lightning, turn to dust if earth, and turn wet if water. Naruto flows his chakra into the card and it splits, indicating he has an affinity to wind. Kakashi explains the wind type is very well suited for combat because of its ability to "blow past anything and slice things to bits."
The first phase is for Naruto and his clones to cut a leaf with his chakra. Kakashi notes that Naruto manages this faster than he expected. Naruto asks if there's anyone in Konoha that can help him, and Kakashi tells him to find Asuma.
Meanwhile, Asuma and Shikamaru are playing Shogi. Asuma makes a move where he plays his silver general. In the face of an advanced player, it won't really work as a sacrifice to protect his King. Shikamaru notices that Asuma is playing differently from normal and asks if something is wrong. In describing things, Asuma describes Shikamaru in terms of shogi as a Knight, being weak in terms of power but having a unique style of movement that resembles Shikamaru and his flexibility in his thinking. Shikamaru then asks what piece Asuma resembles. Asuma then answers/hints that he is just a sacrificial pawn. Asuma then asks Shikamaru if he knows who the king represents. Shikamaru guesses the Hokage, but Asuma tells him that it's not, and that someday Shikamaru will understand.
Asuma has just lost another game to Shikamaru when Naruto shows up. He is surprised that Naruto has an affinity for wind-element chakra and explains that the wind type is best suited for mid to close range combat. He then pulls out his trench knives and says they're a special metal that absorbs the user's chakra properties and has Naruto flow his chakra into it. Asuma explains that to using wind chakra requires the user to split their chakra in two and bring the parts together to form a tight edge. The tighter and more compact the edge, the 'sharper' the chakra becomes. Asuma demonstrates by having both of them throw a trench knife at a tree. Naruto's knife sticks in the tree, but Asuma's cuts through the tree and pierces a rock behind it. Had he used his full chakra, the knife would have cut through the rock as well. Naruto thanks Asuma and disperses, revealing that he was a clone.
Using this advice, Naruto is able to completely split a leaf. He is eager to move to the next phase but passes out after dispersing his clones. When Naruto regains consciousness Kakashi warns him that this training is going to wear him down quickly, and that he needs to rest for the next phase of his training: slicing a waterfall in half.
The next step of Naruto's training is progressing slowly with only eleven clones attempting to cut the waterfall. When Naruto complains, Kakashi notes that even Sasuke took several days to learn to manipulate an element, while Naruto did it in a few hours. Yamato gives in and extends the size of the waterfall. With more room, Naruto makes more shadow clones and continues training. By nightfall, Naruto hasn't managed to cut the waterfall. Naruto reflects on his fonder memories of Sasuke and decides to train through the rest of the night. By the next day, he and all his clones are able to cut the waterfall. Yamato is surprised by Naruto's progress, but Kakashi is not, since he understands how Naruto feels about Sasuke. Kakashi declares they can finally move into the final stage of Naruto's unique jutsu creation. However, the constant training has exhausted Naruto once more. All of the clones disperse and Naruto collapses in a fit of spasms and coughs. Kakashi immediately rushes to his side concerned that he may have pushed Naruto too far this time. However, when Naruto moans that he's hungry, Kakashi relaxes and smiles.
After enjoying a meal at Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto is anxious to go on with his training. Kakashi and Yamato explain "nature manipulation" and "form manipulation" to Naruto again. Kakashi reminds Naruto that all the training till now has been nature manipulation and that the Spiraling Sphere is an example of extremely advanced form manipulation. By adding nature manipulation together with form manipulation, a ninja's power can grow by leaps and bounds. However, this is an extremely difficult task; even the Fourth Hokage was unable to "complete" the Spiraling Sphere by combining nature and form manipulation. Kakashi believes that Naruto is the one who will finally surpass the Fourth Hokage. Kakashi advises Naruto to rest before continuing the training. As the two Jonin leave, Yamato commends Kakashi for his smooth talk. Kakashi corrects him, saying that he sincerely believes in Naruto.
[edit] Akatsuki vs. Niju Shotai
As Kakuzu leaves the bounty station, the collector wishes him luck for another bounty. Kakuzu replies that bringing another bounty might take some time. The collector advises him to get another partner, since he feels that Hidan won't bring any luck with money. Though Kakuzu agrees, he explains the necessity of being paired with Hidan. Thanks to his uncontrollable temper, Kakuzu has killed all of his former partners in his fits of rage. On the other hand, Hidan just can't be killed. Hence they are paired. This alone allows Kakuzu to tolerate Hidan's attitude.
As Asuma's group move toward the bounty station, Shikamaru asks him how he knew Chiriku. He noticed that Asuma hasn't smoked recently; a sign that something's going on with him. Asuma explains that he and Chiriku both belonged to the 12 Guardian Ninja of Konoha, and that their relationship was akin to Shikamaru's relationship with Choji. Asuma stopped smoking because he needed no distractions if he were to fight Chiriku's killers.
Naruto is again training with his clones while Yamato uses his seal jutsu to control the demon fox's chakra. Naruto tries to infuse the Spiraling Sphere with wind chakra. However the jutsu explodes, sending all the clones around him flying in all directions. Frustrated, Naruto tries another attempt, but he accidentally brings forth the demon fox's chakra instead. He begins transforming into his demon fox form. Yamato uses his dragon pillars to reverse the transformation. He tells Kakashi that he won't always be able to stop the demon fox's surges, and that they might have pushed Naruto too far. Kakashi reminds him that they have no other choice, and that success or failure rests on Yamato's ability to control the demon fox.
At the bounty station, Hidan complains of his reeking clothes as he sits outside. He turns around, only to see Asuma's team attacking him. Shikamaru immobilizes Hidan with a Shadow Bind; leaving him open to Izumo and Kotetsu, who stab him in the chest with their large kunai. However, Hidan is completely unfazed and with a perturbed look .
Asuma's team quickly realizes that Hidan cannot be killed by normal means. Kakuzu appears and prepares to join the fight, breaking Shikamaru's concentration, but Hidan tells him to stay out of it. Kakuzu complies; warning him to keep his guard up. When Kotetsu suggests a tactical retreat against these apparently superior foes, Asuma replies that they would only be killed. Asuma then commands the rest of his team to watch Kakuzu while he faces off with Hidan and Shikamaru backing him up. Hidan manages to cut Asuma's cheek, and licks the blood off his scythe just as the latter uses a fire jutsu. This burns Hidan's robe, but he emerges unscathed. Surprisingly, Asuma's right arm is badly burned; the damage meant for Hidan being somehow turned back upon himself. Hidan has transformed; his skin turning black with white accents, giving him the appearance of a Grim Reaper. Hidan tells Asuma that his fate is sealed, and that now the two of them can share pain together. Hidan means this quite literally, as any pain Hidan feels is transferred to Asuma. Since he's immortal, Hidan needs only to inflict a fatal wound on himself to kill Asuma. Luckily, Shikamaru catches Hidan in another Shadow Bind before he can do so. Kakuzu offers to help, but Hidan waves him off, claiming he can beat all four by himself. Going over every motion Hidan made to start the ritual, Shikamaru works out a countermeasure and tells Asuma to get ready.
Shikamaru explains to Kotetsu and Izumo that he understands how Hidan's curse works. Hidan first needs to consume his opponent's blood and then stand within his ceremonial circle. Once these two steps are completed any damage inflicted on Hidan is reflected back to his opponent. Shikamaru explains that in order to save Asuma, all he needs to do is move Hidan out of his circle using his Shadow Imitation Jutsu.
Shikamaru then proceeds to move Hidan out of the circle using his Shadow Imitation Jutsu. In order to find out if Hidan's curse has been broken, Asuma throws a shuriken at Hidan. It cuts Hidan's ear, but causes no harm to Asuma. Shikamaru then traps Hidan with Shadow Sewing. Hidan asks Kakuzu to help him, but Kakuzu nonchalantly replies that he told Hidan to be careful. Asuma slices Hidan's head off with his chakra blades, and it falls next to Kakuzu. Just when Team Asuma believes they have killed Hidan, his head starts talking, calling Kakuzu a bastard for allowing him to be decapitated. Hidan asks Kakuzu to bring him his body, but Kakuzu grabs his head instead, saying that it is "lighter."
Shikamaru falls from exhaustion as Hidan complains about the pain of being decapitated. Asuma, Kotetsu and Izumo stand in amazement that Hidan is alive and plot their next move. Kakuzu suddenly attacks Asuma, then grabs Hidan's body. He reattaches Hidan's head using threads from his arms. Kotetsu and Izumo attempt to strike Kakuzu, whose forearms extend, grabbing both of them by the throat. Meanwhile, Hidan jumps back into the circle linking himself back to Asuma, and performs a fatal blow to himself.
Asuma collapses as his team looks on helplessly. Back in Konoha, Kurenai senses that something terrible may have happened. Utterly spent, Hidan reverts to his normal form as Kakuzu prepares to finish off the others. Suddenly a flock of crows appear, distracting the Akatsuki pair. Ino and Choji assist in moving Shikamaru and Asuma to a safer location as Aoba Yamashiro and Raido back them up. Shikamaru senses Asuma's pulse, and tells Ino and Choji to take him back to Konoha. However Kakuzu isn't going to let them leave with his 'bounty' and Hidan wishes to perform another ceremony on the new arrivals. Before they can attack, the Akatsuki Leader contacts them telepathically, saying that preparations for sealing the Three-Tails are already taking place. They reluctantly retreat, as Kakuzu reminds Hidan that sealing the Three-Tails takes bigger priority.
Team 10's efforts fail as their sensei succumbs to his wounds (Asuma's vital points have all been punctured). Asuma dies, but not before smoking his last cigarette, and sharing some final words with Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji. Shikamaru lights another of his cigarette, which he begins to smoke himself. He tearfully mumbles that he hates cigarettes as they make his eyes water - a reference to when Team 10 first met their sensei.
Naruto continues his training, and one of his Kage Bunshin starts drawing on the Demon Fox's power. Yamato is able to reverse it. Naruto is depressed because he says that the Spiraling Sphere takes a huge amount of control to create and that adding Nature Manipulation is impossible, like trying to look left and right at the same time. Kakashi refutes his argument by using a shadow clone to look in two directions at once. Inspired, Naruto continues his training with a plan in mind.
As Akatsuki commences with sealing the Three-Tails, the leader explains their goals to Hidan & Tobi. Akatsuki's overall goal is world domination. To achieve that goal, the leader has set up a three-step process to work their way to it. First, they plan to obtain a large amount of money to support their organization. Second, they plan to set up a mercenary group loyal to no village. Because there haven't been any wars in some time, they can convince the smaller countries to hire them over the larger asking prices of the five main villages. By using the tailed beasts, they can start wars and then immediately quell them, convincing every country to depend on them and monopolizing the shinobi market. Finally, after they're the only major force of shinobi in existence, they can easily conquer the world.
Team 10 returns to Konoha and informs Tsunade of what had happened. Tsunade sends out the message for the funeral to everyone, but Shikamaru has a message for Kurenai from Asuma and will tell her what has happened himself. Naruto has nearly created the jutsu when they are informed of Asuma's death and rush back to the village. Shikamaru tells Kurenai the message and she collapses from grief. At the funeral Konohamaru cries for his uncle while Naruto comforts him. Shikamaru doesn't attend the funeral and spends his time seemingly formulating a strategy and learning how to use Asuma's trench knives. He also picked up Asuma's smoking habit.
[edit] Akatsuki vs. Team 10
The new three man team (Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji) finishes their preparations and leaves to continue Asuma's mission. Tsunade stops them at the last second, reprimanding Shikamaru for his rash actions. She refuses to let Team 10 go; they lack a captain. From the shadows, Kakashi volunteers, and the four-man team head off. Later in the woods, Shikamaru explains his strategy to Team 10.
Meanwhile, Akatsuki has finished sealing the three-tails. They prepare to extract the two-tails.
The bounty collector has been detained at Konoha, where Ibiki Morino interrogates him on information about Kakuzu. He refuses to budge, forcing Ibiki to threaten him with torture.
Sakura has a meeting with Tsunade and Shizune. Sakura says that Naruto has learned the jutsu, but just has to perfect it. She also says that they should be a backup team for Team 10. Shizune disagrees, saying that it'll be useless without Naruto's jutsu. Tsunade gives Yamato 24 hours to have Naruto's jutsu completed, or else she'll send another backup team.
Once Shikamaru is finished explaining, he gives Kakashi a small object, and tells him to use it if he has a chance. Kakashi thinks to himself what a great strategy Shikamaru has come up with, especially after him just entering the team. Akatsuki finishes sealing the two-tails, and Kakuzu and Hidan are free to go. Later in a barren forest, Kakuzu and Hidan decide to ignore the bounty house--to check in Asuma--and head straight for Konoha--to attack Naruto. Ino uses a nearby bird to spy on them and discover their route, and Team 10 moves to ambush them. Shikamaru sneaks his shadow near Hidan and Kakuzu, who both manage to jump out of the way. At that moment, two kunai with explosive tags are thrown from above. Hidan blocks with his rope while Kakuzu hardens his body. Hidan's rope is cut through, while Kakuzu is unharmed. Kakuzu tells Hidan to pay attention to the shadows, while the latter retorts that he won't fall for the same trick again. Kakuzu alerts him to Shikamaru above them as he throws two objects with exploding tags, which the duo barely manage to dodge. Hidan realizes the tags didn't explode, and Kakuzu comments that 'he got us': Hidan and Kakuzu are now unable to move. Shikamaru explains that what he threw was a chakra knife, which absorbs the user's chakra properties, then based on the jutsu it gives off an effect. He tells Hidan and Kakuzu he was not attacking them but their shadows as he thinks about Asuma describing him as a knight. Kakuzu realizes Shikamaru's plans, and thinks that he is 'quite sharp'.
Using his shadow, Shikamaru takes control of Hidan and uses him to attack Kakuzu. However, Kakuzu has thought a step ahead and used his detachable limbs to grab the trench knife pinning his shadow from underground, allowing him to dodge the attack. Kakuzu takes the opportunity to berate both his partner and Shikamaru for not thinking things through. He's still outnumbered, however, and Team 10 uses that to their advantage. Unfortunately, Choji's follow-up attack also proves to be useless, since Kakuzu can harden his body like iron. Despite this ability, Kakashi is still able to punch a hole through Kakuzu's chest using his Lightning Blade.
Meanwhile, though not concurrent with the current events of the fight, Naruto's new jutsu is shown to be powerful enough to produce a massive crater beneath him. Impressed with how far Naruto's come, Yamato decides to explain elemental strengths and weaknesses to Naruto. After much dumbing down, he illustrates that each element is both stronger and weaker than another and form a loop in the order of fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water. This loop is the reason Kakashi's Lightning Blade pierced Kakuzu's earth-based hardened body. This also means that Naruto's jutsu is useless against Sasuke's fire-based attacks, but perfect against his lightning-based ones. Naruto reasons that his new jutsu will be able to break through Sasuke's lightning without putting out his fire, a metaphor for bringing him back alive successfully. Naruto also states that he has the right affinty for Sasuke because the only thing that keeps fire from dying and gives it even more power is wind.
Back with Hidan and Kakuzu, Kakashi withdraws his hand and Kakuzu collapses. Kakashi attempts to do the same to Hidan, but is kicked away by Kakuzu, who doesn't seem injured from the supposedly fatal blow. Kakuzu takes off his cloak, revealing four animal masks on his back, one of which Kakashi broke. The masks separate and form four separate entities, but the broken one dissolves after forming. At the same time, Shikamaru's shadow wears off and Hidan is freed.
With the creatures separated, the two Akatsuki go on the attack. Hidan then prays to his god and attacks Kakashi. As Kakashi blocks, the bird mask appears behind Hidan and fires a massive wind shockwave at Kakashi, not bothering to avoid Hidan. Ino notes that since Hidan's immortal, it doesn't matter if the creature fires through him. The ox mask then attacks Shikamaru and Choji with a massive lightning blast, but it's blocked at the last second by Kakashi using two lightning blades (one in each hand), now stripped of his combat vest and headband. The Akatsuki duo compliment Kakashi on being able to avoid the attacks using his Sharingan, since no one had managed to do so before. Kakuzu then sends the next animal mask, a lion, at Kakashi. It prepares to unleash its fire attack, called "Intense Pain."
Kakashi and Team 10 all manage to dodge the fire attack. They discover that Kakuzu has five hearts in total; one in each of the animals linked to him and also one in his own body. It is revealed that Kakuzu acquired his hearts from previous shinobi that he killed. He is able to use their elements in battle because he acupunctured them into his body. Kakuzu remarks that he plans on restocking up with the hearts of Kakashi and company after he kills them. Shikamaru determines that they need to kill Kakuzu four more times (since Kakashi previously destroyed a mask containing a heart), but first they need to separate the duo, since Hidan and Kakuzu are quite difficult to defeat as a team. Shikamaru pursues the evasive Hidan with his Shadow Imitation Jutsu, which Hidan avoids by keeping a close eye on his shadow. However, Hidan is so focused on his shadow that he carelessly allows Shikamaru to punch him in the face, thus connecting their shadows and completing the technique.
After completing the technique, Shikamaru drags Hidan off to an isolated location and prevents any escape by littering the area with exploding tags on strings. Hidan assumes that Shikamaru has reached his shadow’s limit, and attacks once Shikamaru releases him. Hidan tries to activate his ritual using Shikamaru's blood, and seems to succeed.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu mocks Team 10’s strategy, claiming that they have underestimated Hidan. He also gives a hint as to how long he has lived, mentioning that the first Konoha ninja he fought was the First Hokage. Though he has lived a long time, he doesn't believe that anything can be immortal. Every time one of his five hearts is destroyed or naturally wears out, Kakuzu replaces it with the heart of another ninja. Kakuzu proceeds to attack combining the fire and wind masks. Although Kakashi manages to barely escape using a water barricade jutsu, he is caught by Kakuzu's threads. As Kakuzu prepares to tear out Kakashi's heart, he instead clutches his own. This is resulted from Hidan stabbing himself as part of his curse ritual, as it turns out that Hidan used Kakuzu's blood to activate the ritual. Kakashi collected a small sample of Kakuzu's blood during his first attack which went through Kakuzu's chest and gave it to Shikamaru.
[edit] Team 7's Arrival
Hidan does not immediately realize what has happened, but Shikamaru attacks him to illustrate the point. However, Shikamaru is weakened from the extended use of his shadow jutsu and cannot hold down Hidan for long - left almost devoid of chakra, he watches Hidan advance to strike the single blow needed for his ritual. Meanwhile, two masks launch an attack on Team 10. Though Choji smacks them away with ease, a third mask uses the distraction to sacrifice its heart to Kakuzu. Using his threads, Kakuzu ensnares all three members of Team 10 and prepares to obliterate them with his fire and wind masks. As he attacks, a vortex of wind and water (Drowning Maelstrom Technique) surrounds Team 10 and blocks the blast. Naruto, Sakura, Yamato and Sai appear once the water settles, and apologize for being late.
Kakashi, Ino, and Choji are relieved at Team 7's timely arrival. Naruto asks where Shikamaru is, to which Choji explains. Yamato orders Sai and Sakura to back Shikamaru up, and Kakashi summons Pakkun to lead them. Naruto resolves to defeat Kakuzu on his own and receives words of encouragement from Sakura. Kakashi wonders if Naruto completed his new jutsu. Yamato explains that Naruto is only halfway there, but assures Kakashi that Naruto is a completely new ninja.
Meanwhile, Hidan tries to finish off Shikamaru, only to be caught by his shadows again. Having prepared the area in advance, Shikamaru uses his shadows to pull the explosive tags onto Hidan, and opens a deep pit beneath him. At first surprised, Hidan insists that even if only his head survives, he will find a way to escape, and kill Shikamaru. Shikamaru calmly explains that they are on his clan's land, and that his clan will watch over the land and keep Hidan buried for eternity. Lighting a cigarette, Shikamaru sees a vision of Asuma, who congratulates him before disappearing. Saying his last goodbye, Shikamaru tosses the lit cigarette at Hidan, igniting the explosive tags and causing a massive explosion. Hidan survives the explosion, albeit dismembered, and insists that he will "bite" Shikamaru to death, all the while proclaiming that his god Jashin will punish and take vengeance on him. Shikamaru ignores the threats and tosses a kunai with exploding tags into the hole, saying that he is the one taking vengeance. The explosion causes the hole to cave in, burying Hidan in rubble.
Back at the site of Naruto and Kakuzu's battle, Yamato has Kakashi go over the current situation and Kakuzu's abilities. Overhearing the conversation, Naruto proceeds to attack Kakuzu with two shadow clones. Kakuzu dispatches them easily, but they were only sent to test his abilities. With them, Naruto now knows how to fight Kakuzu. Remarking that three clones should do the trick, Naruto and his clones begin forming a Wind Release: Spiraling Sphere, the force of which is tangible to everyone in the vicinity. Kakashi flashes back to their training, when he tests Naruto's technique by using his own Spiraling Sphere against it. Naruto comes out victorious, and Kakashi sees the Fourth Hokage in Naruto as he falls. In the present, Naruto's technique reshapes it into a giant shuriken with a Spiraling Sphere at its core, which Naruto dubs the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken. Kakuzu is visibly concerned by the attack, remarking that being hit by it would mean his end.
Using his shadow clones as a distraction, Naruto tries to attack Kakuzu with his jutsu, only to have it dissipate just before hitting Kakuzu, who, in turn, counter attacks and attempts to take Naruto's heart. Kakashi and Yamato interfere and save Naruto. Kakuzu becomes more confident as he sees through Naruto’s strategy of using shadow clones as a distraction. Meanwhile, Ino chides Naruto for the apparent uselessness of the technique. Choji wonders why Naruto did not simply throw the shuriken, to which Yamato explains that Spiraling Shuriken is a close-range technique and requires a direct hit. While Choji and Ino insist on working as a team, Naruto asks to fight by himself, reminding Kakashi of his earlier statement that Naruto could become greater than the Fourth Hokage. Naruto insists that he will not be able to do so if he cannot defeat Kakuzu on his own. After some thought and reassurance by Yamato, Kakashi relents and lets Naruto attack alone.
Preparing his jutsu, Naruto once again creates three clones. As a countermeasure, Kakuzu opts for a long-range strategy and releases a large amount of thread from every seam on his body. Having seen Naruto’s previous attack, Kakuzu ignores the clones and aims for the original, only to discover that it is a clone. The real Naruto disguised himself as one of the three clones and is now behind Kakuzu. With a fully-formed Spiral Shuriken, Naruto hits Kakuzu in the back, trapping him in a dome of whirling energy, which obliterates his two remaining masks. Kakuzu free falls and lands motionless in the crater made by the jutsu. Kakashi notes that even Sharingan was unable to track the number of hits Kakuzu sustained during the attack. Lying exhausted near the crater, Naruto seems confident of victory.
Elsewhere, Sai and Sakura arrive to aid Shikamaru, but are shocked to find that he has already defeated Hidan. Back with the rest of the team, Choji and Ino marvel at Naruto's development; they even liken him to a somewhat less-intelligent Shikamaru, which Naruto finds an unfair comparison. Yamato comments on how Naruto was able to use his Spiraling Shuriken three times, while his limit in training was two. Kakashi thinks about Naruto's potential to surpass the Fourth, and mentions that Naruto's abilities have already surpassed his own. Kakashi walks into the crater where Kakuzu lies, still breathing. Creating a Lightning Blade in his hand, he finishes Kakuzu off.
Back in Konoha, Team 7 and Team 10 are congratulated by Tsunade, who adds that the battle is far from over. Shikamaru visits Asuma's grave and finds Kurenai waiting there. He explains to her the life lessons he learned from Asuma, and it is revealed that Kurenai is pregnant with Asuma's child, which Shikamaru promises to protect the way Asuma protected him. Later, Shikamaru plays shogi with his father, Shikaku, who is evidently much better at it than Asuma was. Shikamaru reveals that the "king" Asuma spoke of before his death refers to the next generation, which the current generation exists to protect. His father then congratulates him on understanding but proceeds to beat Shikamaru, saying that he is not strong enough yet.
[edit] Current arc
- This section covers chapters 343 to present in the manga.
[edit] Sasuke vs. Orochimaru
Elsewhere, Sasuke and Orochimaru are standing in a field among piles of ninja defeated by Sasuke. Orochimaru notes that Sasuke did not kill any of them, claiming that he is not heartless enough to kill Itachi. Sasuke responds that they are not the ones he wants to kill, and that he would be heartless against Itachi. Orochimaru thinks to himself that Sasuke's abilities, which have greatly surpassed his own at that age, will soon be his.
Back in Konoha, Naruto and Sakura are eating ramen at the Ichiraku Ramen Bar. Naruto complains about not being able to use his right hand due to an injury from the battle against Kakuzu. Sakura’s memory flashes back to the hospital, where she attempts to heal Naruto's hand and warns him against using the Spiraling Shuriken too often. Despite his injuries, Naruto tells Sakura that he feels great because they will soon be able to pursue Sasuke again. Recollecting this moment, Sakura offers to feed Naruto. The tender moment is ruined when Sai jumps in and offers to feed Naruto instead. Kakashi makes a surprise appearance and thanks Naruto for ending the last battle before he had to use the Mangekyo Sharingan. Kakashi comments that if they had not shown up in time, he would be in the hospital again. Kakashi praises Naruto on becoming his equal, if not stronger, but reminds him of the serious harm that accompanies all powerful jutsu.
At Orochimaru's lair, Orochimaru is confined to his bed. Kabuto tells him that his body cannot handle the medicine that is sustaining it. As Kabuto exits to get more medicine, a blade made of lightning chakra shoots towards Orochimaru through the door. Orochimaru quickly blocks it with his arms and thinks to himself that he does not recognize the shape manipulation, though the chakra itself seems familiar. Sasuke, with his curse seal already covering the majority of his left arm and shoulder, shatters the door with his Kusanagi and tells Orochimaru that he has nothing more to learn from him. Sasuke goes on to mock Orochimaru's ambitions, as well as his genius, stating that any ninja seems petty before an Uchiha. He also draws a parallel between Orochimaru's intentions to take over other's bodies and Itachi's killing to measure his abilities, disgusted by the similarity.
Sasuke then pins Orochimaru's arms to the wall and attempts to deliver a finishing blow. This forces Orochimaru to ditch his human-form body, thus revealing his true form: a composite serpent-like entity made up of countless white snakes. Forced to activate his level 2 cursed seal, Sasuke manages to block simultaneous attacks from Orochimaru’s composite snakes from all directions. Sasuke compares Orochimaru's ambitions to how a snake dreams of flying and tells him that he will get that chance in the talons of a hawk, as he sprouts his curse seal wings.
Having severed Orochimaru's head from his body, Sasuke believes he has won and reverts to normal form. However, he is suddenly paralyzed by the white snake's toxins which, as Orochimaru's head explains, can even taint the air. He then lunges at Sasuke, swallowing him whole. Inside Orochimaru is a different dimension; he states that this is where he carries out the body transfer jutsu. The scene flashbacks to a moment when Itachi uses his Sharingan on Orochimaru, entrapping him in a paralyzing genjutsu. Itachi then cuts off Orochimaru's left hand, which holds his Akatsuki ring. He finds Sasuke's eyes to be similar to those of Itachi's on that day and anticipates taking possession of those eyes. As Kabuto returns to the room he sees blood by the door. Glancing inside, he sees Sasuke standing next to Orochimaru's molted skin on the floor. As he walks out of the room, Kabuto asks him which one he is. Sasuke shows Kabuto what happened with his Sharingan, revealing that he came out victorious in their battle of wills. As Kabuto comes to grips with Orochimaru's death, Sasuke merely states that he's just taken over.
In Konoha, Team 7 continues to eat at Ichiraku. Kakashi remembers Tsunade looking over Kakuzu's autopsy. She surmises the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken had severed the chakra channels in Kakuzu's body at a cellular level, making it resemble poison more than an outright attack. Yamato asks about Naruto and Tsunade tells them he's forbidden from using it, as he suffered similar damage. If he uses it more he won't be able to use chakra, as reattaching so many severed channels is impossible, even for her. Kakashi begins to tell him the order but Naruto cuts him off, stating he knows his body and limits. Sai and Sakura smile and Naruto tells the waiter to give the bill to Kakashi.
[edit] Sasuke's new team
Back in Orochimaru's base, Sasuke speaks to a person in a glass tank. As the mysterious person mentions Sasuke's win over Orochimaru, Sasuke tells him to forget about it and cuts the glass with his sword, spilling its contents to the floor. From the pool of liquid rises a figure, whom Sasuke calls Suigetsu. As Suigetsu thanks him, Sasuke tells Suigetsu to come with him so he can be taken care of first. Suigetsu asks what Sasuke means by 'first', to which Sasuke replies by saying that he will also be taking two other people named Juugo and Karin from the north and south bases. Though thankful, Suigetsu does not think Sasuke should be giving orders just because he killed Orochimaru, as someone would have done it eventually. He then threatens Sasuke to test his resolve, which Sasuke doesn't even flinch at. This makes it obvious that Sasuke's victory over Orochimaru wasn't just a fluke. The two then set off to recruit their allies.
Back at Ichiraku Ramen bar, Konohamaru arrives to show off his Shadow Clone Technique, transforming himself and his clone into two nude women, which he said were "about to...". Amusingly, Naruto reacts the same way Jiraiya would. Annoyed, Sakura hits Konohamaru and scolds both him and Naruto for their perversion. Naruto argues that it could work as a diversion and that it's a serious battle tactic, but Sakura isn't convinced, stating that he and Konohamaru are the only ones that would fall for something like that. In response to that claim, Konohamaru transforms into Sasuke and Sai (also nude). Sakura gives off the exact same reaction Naruto did. After Naruto knocks Konohamaru upside the head, Sakura tries to play it off, with no success. Konohamaru smirks at her hypocritical acts and says she's just like them.
In the Land of Waves, Sasuke and Suigetsu make their way to Zabuza Momochi's grave to retrieve his sword. As they make their way there, Sasuke gazes upon the bridge that was being built during his time there, now named The Great Naruto Bridge. As Suigetsu picks up the sword at Zabuza's grave, Sasuke mocks him by asking if he can handle it. Suigetsu tells him that he trained under the Seven Swordsmen (which his senpai, Zabuza, belonged to) and, with the sword, he might even be able to beat Sasuke. After collecting it, they head for their next target. At another one of Orochimaru's bases, a kunoichi is seen walking away from a defeated ninja. As she tells him that he shouldn't be getting in their way just because Orochimaru died, she suddenly feels a familiar chakra.
As Sasuke and Suigetsu make their way across water, Suigetsu asks why Sasuke is recruiting people in the first place. Sasuke answers that he has a certain plan that he's been formulating ever since he joined Orochimaru, one that can be carried out more efficiently with a team. He also adds that he picked everyone out a long time ago. Suigetsu understands, somewhat, but still wants to know why Karin, a strong devotee to Orochimaru with a questionable disposition, was picked. Sasuke admits that there are others he could've picked, but chose Karin for her unique abilities.
Once they're inside, one of the many prisoners recognizes Sasuke, but is surprised to see that Orochimaru is not with him, which makes them believe that the rumor about Sasuke killing Orochimaru is true. Sasuke and Suigetsu then meet Karin, who knew they were coming. Once they enter into a private room, Sasuke tells Karin to join him, which surprises her since she's in charge of the facility. Sasuke replies that since Orochimaru's gone, there's no need for the prisoners to stay and tells Suigetsu to free them. Karin relents, but still refuses to go since she's under no obligation to do so. Sasuke isn't fazed, and says that he'll just find someone else.
Over by the cells, Suigetsu confirms the rumors about Orochimaru's demise and sets the prisoners free, under the promise that they'll spread the word that "Sasuke Uchiha killed Orochimaru and set us free" and that "he's here to bring peace and safety to the whole world".
Back in the room, Karin locks the door and, in a very amorous manner, agrees to come if he really wants her to, removing her glasses as she does so. Wondering why she changed her mind so quickly, she replies that she was tired of guarding the place. Ignoring Sasuke's protest for space, she gets closer to him, saying that they just need each other and that they don't need Suigetsu, who slices the door open, advising them to leave since Karin clearly doesn't want to come. When Sasuke says she's changed her mind, Karin, who left Sasuke's side the moment the door was destroyed, puts her glasses back on and denies this, saying that she's coincidentally going the same way they are, at least for the moment.
Elsewhere, the presumed final member of Sasuke's team sits in a cell, mumbling to himself in the shadows about whether girls or guys are better.
[edit] External Links
| Franchise: | Naruto episodes • Naruto: Shippūden episodes • Media • OVAs • Video games • CCG |
|---|---|
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