"Red Camellia"
"Akai tsubaki" (赤い椿)
Yūkimaru falters and the Three-Tails injures Guren. Rinji tells Yūkimaru to suppress the beast to save her, but he is unable to do so. Guren leaves her position and protects Yūkimaru with a Crystal Style shield. Naruto goes out to find Yūkimaru, but ends up fighting the Three-Tails with Guren. Despite their efforts to defeat it, the beast overpowers the two of them, and then it proceeds to swallow them. Meanwhile, Kakashi, Shino and Sai find Yūkimaru unconcious and flee with him, leaving Kabuto frustrated.
"The Battle Over the Barrier"
"Kekkai kōbōsen" (結界攻防戦)
Guren heads back to the lake with Yukimaru and Kabuto to stop the sealing. With Rinji's help, she manages to disrupt the jutsu, and the beast begins attacking the ninja on the lake. As the beast tries to attack Guren, Yukimaru uses his power to make it stop, and Orochimaru's plan is revealed to have been to manipulate Yukimaru to love Guren and willingly use his power for her. Tobi, noticing the beast, goes to bring Deidara to it.
"Breaking the Crystal Style"
"Shōton kuzushi" (晶遁崩し)
The Fighting team continues their fight. Tobi decides to go seek the Three-Tails on his own as Deidara is still angry on him and watches the lake. He discovers the medical ninja trying to seal the Three-Tails. Shino's bugs defeat Guren, but Kakashi is stopped from killing her by Gozu. The Guarding team stops Rinji from interfering with the medical ninja and Guren remembers she is the one who killed Yūkimaru's mother. Kabuto admits Orochimaru used this to manipulate Guren.
"The Four-Corner Sealing Barrier"
"Kekkai Shihō Fūjin" (結界四方封陣)
The teams set off. Naruto introduces Sai and Shino to eachother. The medical ninja and Hinata prepare a sealing jutsu to seal the Three-Tailed Beast. Kakashi's Fighting team is suddenly attacked by Gozu and Guren while the Guarding team's fight is started as well. Lee, Tenten and Kiba finish off Rinji's subordinates with ease. Meanwhile Naruto angers Guren saying it's his fault Yūkimaru went over to 'her side' and that he won't allow her using him as a tool.
"Inside the Mist"
"Kiri no naka de" (霧の中で)
Guren is rendered unconscious and relives her past as Naruto is caught in an illusion about Sasuke. After Kakashi finds him, Teams Kakashi and Kurenai conclude the mist around them causes Genjutsu courtesy of the Three-Tails. After Guren wakes up, Yūkimaru suffers another fever and passes out. Tsunade hears of the Three-Tails and assembles Shizune, Ino, Tenten and Lee to go and seal it before the Akatsuki do. Naruto and Sakura talk about the home that people should return to before Naruto heads off to find Yūkimaru.
"The Rampaging Tailed Beast"
"Arekurū Bijū" (荒れ狂う尾獣)
Yūkimaru summons the Three-Tails and immobilizes it while Guren tries to capture it, but it manages to break free and attack. Kakashi tells Naruto to investigate the lake, while they find Rinji and the others. Rinji and his men prepare an ambush, but Hinata, Sakura, and Sai arrive to avert it. Naruto summons Gamakichi and Gamatatsu and approaches the Three-Tails, where they see Yūkimaru and learn of his allegiance to Guren. Trying to save Guren, Yūkimaru tries to suppress the Three-Tails once more, before managing to escape with her.
"The Target Appears"
"Arawareta hyōteki" (現れた標的)
Team Kakashi arrives to help Team Kurenai and manage to retrieve Hinata. Guren decides to retreat and rendezvous with her men at their base. After Hinata is broken free, Kakashi tells Sakura and Sai to stay with her until she's better, as the others chase after their enemies. At Guren's base, Kabuto arrives and takes everyone to the lake from before. He straps Yūkimaru to his machine and Guren creates five Crystal Pillars around them. As the machine amplifies Yūkimaru's chakra, the Three-Tailed Beast begins to surface.
"The Labyrinth of Distorted Reflection"
"Ranhansha no meikyū" (乱反射の迷宮)
In Konoha, Tsunade discovers they have an enemy using Crystal Style. While on his mission with Team Kakashi, Naruto meets Yūkimaru once again and talks to him. Guren puts a gigantic Crystal Prison over the forest trapping Team Kurenai inside. Guren then prepares six Crystal Clones and attacks Team Kurenai with them. Hinata defeats one clone but is locked up in a Crystal Prison by another. Team Kakashi reaches the borders of the giant prison and Naruto uses his new Jutsu with Gamatatsu to bust a way in.
"The Unseeing Enemy"
"Miezaru teki" (見えざる敵)
In the woods, Team Kurenai fights Guren's men. Hinata and Kiba get stuck in a smoke screen prepared by Kigiri and Hinata is seriously injured by Nurari's attacks. Kakashi is stuck battling Gozu, and isn't able to finish him off because Gozu has the upper hand in speed and force. Just as Rinji and his team are about to kill Hinata, Kiba, and Akamaru, they are forced to retreat by Shino and his insects. Meanwhile, Yūkimaru remembers his mother.
"The Two Charms"
"Futatsu no omamori" (ふたつのお守り)
Guren and Yūkimaru arrive back at their base. Team Kakashi moves out but Shino stays behind to try and breed more insects immune to the Crystal Style jutsu. Guren heads back out and Yūkimaru gives her a memento of his mother, as Gamatatsu finally learns how to use Water Style. Naruto runs into Sai and learns about his mission with Team Kakashi; Naruto talks Tsunade into letting him join. Team 8, led by Kakashi, prepares to attack Guren's men as Naruto tries to master a new jutsu before heading out on his mission.
"A Night of Rain"
"Ame hitoyo" (雨一夜)
Kabuto entrusts Yūkimaru to Guren. Naruto tries to teach Gamakichi and Gamatatsu how to use Water Style ninjutsu, as Kiba discovers that the enemy may be using bats. Tsunade decides to send out Yamato, Sai and Sakura to assist Kakashi. Yūkimaru falls ill and Guren and him are forced to spend the night in a cabin. In the morning, Guren finds Yūkimaru playing an instrument that his mother gave him. After giving him a crystalized camellia that will never die as long as Guren lives, Guren and Yūkimaru head back out.
"Connecting Hearts"
"Kayoiau kokoro" (通い合う心)
Naruto continues his training with Gamakichi and Gamatatsu until Jiraiya leaves to research the Akatsuki more. Naruto heads back to Konoha to continue training. Tsunade receives one of Shino's insects, which has been crystalized due to Guren's technique, and sends it to the forensics department. Rinji, the one in charge of Guren's men, learns about the presence of Kakashi's team through a bat that he sent out. Back in Konoha, Naruto learns that neither Gamakichi nor Gamatatsu can use Water Style ninjutsu.
"Encounter"
"Deai" (遭遇)
Kabuto and Yūkimaru travel to a lake, where Kabuto attempts to draw out a mysterious creature. Guren branches off from her men to find Orochimaru, who has Sasuke fight an army of Sound Ninja as training. Sasuke defeats them all, but declares that he wants to kill Itachi more than them. Naruto continues his training by summoning Gamakichi and Gamatatsu, but still doesn't understand the concept of connecting to another person's heart. Kabuto and Yūkimaru arrive at the Hot Springs Village where Naruto and Jiraiya are.
"Orochimaru's Hideout Discovered"
"Hakken - Orochimaru no ajito" (発見 大蛇丸のアジト)
Guren takes twenty-one survivors from the hideout and leaves to meet with Orochimaru. Team Kurenai and Kakashi arrive at Orochimaru's hideout, only to discover that it has already been abandoned. Guren uses her Crystal Style jutsu to kill sixteen of her charges when they try to revolt. The other five align themselves with Guren. Meanwhile, Naruto tries to find a ranged attack to use, and Jiraiya wants to train him in synchronizing jutsu. Unfortunately, Naruto does not get along well with Gamariki, with whom he is supposed to synchronize.
"A Shinobi's Determination"
"Shinobi no ketsui" (忍びの決意)
An ANBU sends a message to Konoha moments before he dies, having discovered what may be Orochimaru's current hideout. Meanwhile, Orochimaru has Guren initiate a battle among a large number of experimental specimens with the survivors being used for a future operation. Naruto is warned not to use Rasen Shuriken due to its extreme risk, and Sasuke meets a boy called Yūkimaru. Kakashi is ordered to go on a reconnaissance mission with Shino, Kiba and Hinata. Naruto is reunited with Jiraiya, who offers to train with him again.
"The Price of Power"
"Chikara no daishō" (力の代償)
Kakashi finishes off Kakuzu, and they return home. At Asuma's grave, Shikamaru tells Kurenai he will protect her unborn child. He plays Shogi with Shikaku and reveals what Asuma told him: the "king" that Konoha must protect is the next generation. After studying Kakuzu's corpse, Tsunade tells Kakashi not to let Naruto use Rasen Shuriken again because it will permanently destroy his ability to manipulate chakra. Meanwhile, Orochimaru learns of Konoha's latest victory and sends Kabuto to meet with a woman named Guren.
"Wind Style: Rasen Shuriken!"
"Fūton: Rasenshuriken!" (風遁・螺旋手裏剣！)
Naruto attacks Kakuzu with Rasen Shuriken, but his attack dissipates before he can land a hit. Meanwhile, Shikamaru uses an explosive tag to fill in the hole containing Hidan's broken body and still screaming head. He is joined by Sakura and Sai, and they head back to the others. Naruto creates a Rasen Shuriken again, this time sending a Shadow Clone carrying it as a decoy. Kakuzu takes the bait, and Naruto lands a direct hit with the second Shuriken, destroying both of Kakuzu's replacement hearts and tearing his body apart.
"Shikamaru's Genius"
"Shikamaru no sai" (シカマルの才)
Hidan stabs himself, but instead of mortally wounding Shikamaru with his curse, he destroys another one of Kakuzu's hearts. Shikamaru fails to behead Hidan, so he pins him down with his shadow possession. It turns out that the vial contains Kakuzu's blood. Kakuzu is temporarily incapacitated. His other hearts return to his body, with one sacrificing itself to become his heart. Just as Kakuzu is about to finish them off with another fire/wind jutsu, Team 7 arrives just in time to stop the attack with a wind/water jutsu combo.
"When You Curse Someone, You Dig Your Own Grave""Hito o norowaba ana futatsu" (人を呪わば穴二つ)Sakura and Sai leave to help Shikamaru. Hidan attempts to break out of Shikamaru's weakened hold on him, but Shikamaru uses a new technique to pull the explosive tags he set up onto his body. Shikamaru then opens a trap hole he had prepared, and reveals that his plan was to bury Hidan beneath the Nara family woods. He has a vision of Asuma entrusting his "will of fire" to him, then uses his lighter to ignite the tags on Hidan. Meanwhile, Naruto readies the jutsu he has been developing, Wind Style: Rasen Shuriken.
"Terrifying Secret"
"Osorubeki himitsu" (恐るべき秘密)
Shikamaru realizes Kakuzu has five hearts, each of which must be killed before he dies. He reasons that separating the two Akatsuki is the only way to defeat them, so he uses Shadow Possession Jutsu to lead Hidan to a forest. Kakuzu combines two of his hearts into a single entity and prepares to face Kakashi, Ino and Choji to get a replacement heart. At the same time, Hidan strikes Shikamaru and draws blood. He then prepares to use his ritual to kill Shikamaru.
"Kakuzu's Abilities"
"Kakuzu no nōryoku" (角都の能力)
Choji's spiked cannonball is ineffective against Kakuzu's special ability, which enables him to harden his skin. Naruto learns more about the five elements and their strengths and weaknesses in relation to each other. Kakuzu gets struck by Kakashi's Lightning Blade right through the heart, but survives and produces four masked entities from his body, one of which dies, as it had been struck by the Lightning Blade. Kakuzu then uses the masks to attack Team 10 with powerful wind, lightning and fire jutsu.
"The Judgment"
"Kudasareta sabaki" (下された裁き)
Asuma’s fire jutsu strikes Hidan, but much to the team's surprise, Asuma is also burned. Hidan reveals his ability: By ingesting an opponent’s blood and standing in a ritual circle drawn with blood, the "curse" links him to his opponent and all damage inflicted on him is also inflicted on the opponent. Asuma rushes at Hidan but collapses after Hidan stabs himself in the leg. Shikamaru realizes Hidan needs to be in the circle for the curse to take effect, and uses his shadow possession jutsu to force Hidan to step out of it. Asuma forces himself to stand up and beheads the restrained Hidan.
"Unfulfilled Scream""Todokanu zekkyō" (届かぬ絶叫)Hidan’s immortality enables him to stay alive even with his head cut off, although he cannot move his body. Kakuzu sews Hidan's head back on with threads that sprout from his body. Izumo and Kotetsu try to attack Kakuzu, but he manages to grab them both by using his body threads, restraining them and suffocating them as well. Hidan, now able to move again, returns to the circle and stabs himself with the blades of his scythe; he finishes it off by stabbing himself in the chest with another spike, fatally wounding Asuma.
"Despair"
"Zetsubō" (絶望)
Furido releases Sora's seal, and tells him the truth: Sora is a pseudo-Jinchuuriki. The chakra that had leaked from the Nine-Tailed Fox when it attacked Konoha 15 and a half years ago was harvested and implanted into Sora. Just then, Asuma arrives at the scene with Naruto. Asuma recognizes Furido and it is revealed that he is Kazuma, Sora's father. Yamato, Sakura, Kiba, Lee, Ino, Choji and Shikamaru also turn up. Enraged, Sora wants to destroy everything, and turns into the Three-Tailed form of the demon fox. However, Yamato is unable to restrain him, because he does not have the First's necklace on him.
"The Picture Book's Story"
"Ehon ga kataru sutōri" (絵本が語る物語)
As Team Kakashi continues their search for Sasuke, Naruto suddenly collapses due to his previous fight with Orochimaru. As Naruto wakes up, Sai begins to reveal more about his brother, but Orochimaru suddenly attacks them. Sakura and Yamato come to Naruto's aid against Orochimaru, while Sai continues the search. Just as Sai finds Sasuke, Yamato finds Sai's bingo book with Sasuke listed as a target for assassination.
"Something Important..."
"Taisetsu na mono" (大切なモノ)
Kabuto fights Team Kakashi and frees Sai. However, Sai, who intends to learn more about his bond with his brother through Naruto's bond with Sasuke, betrays him. Captured, Kabuto gives a vague description of Sasuke's location to the team. Leaving Yamato's wood clone to watch over Kabuto, Team Kakashi enters Orochimaru's hideout and splits up to find Sasuke.
"Bonds"
"Tsunagari" (つながり)
Yamato and the team enter Sai's room and confront him while Kabuto makes his way there as well. Sai tells Team Kakashi that not only was he to help with Konoha's destruction but also act as a spy against Orochimaru. Yamato reveals the secret of "Root"- its members were trained like Kirigakure's students in that they had to kill their friends so as to eliminate their emotions. Sakura returns Sai's book to him, remarking that he still has emotions because he treasures it. Sai then tells the group about his bond with his brother. Finally the team decides what to do about Sai's betrayal outside the lair. In doing so, Naruto tells the group about his own bonds and about how far he's willing to go to bring Sasuke back.
"Infiltration: The Den of the Snake!"
"Sennyū! Dokuhebi no ajito" (潜入！毒蛇の巣窟)
Sai receives a chilling glare from Sasuke's Sharingan that frightens him. Sai gives Orochimaru a bundle with information about Konoha's ANBU. Yamato gives Sakura and Naruto seeds with his chakra that enables him to track them inside the lair, and reveals that he was able to track Sai because he put a seed in Sai's clothing and food during the visit to the hot springs. Kabuto locks Sai in a room, and the boy summons a bingo book from scrolls he carries. Yamato uses a jutsu to open a tunnel into Orochimaru's hideout, and he, Naruto and Sakura travel to Sai's room undetected.
"The Unfinished Page"
"Mikan no pēji" (未完の頁)
Naruto finally makes sense of the destruction he witnessed around him earlier. Yamato tells Naruto not to rely on the demon because Naruto is strong enough to withstand the demon's terrible chakra. Sai discovers the loss of his book while resting. Team Kakashi browse Sai's book, and they notice that the book (which can be read from both ends) contains different paths of two boys who meet in the middle. Each page has the boys fighting someone new, each time collecting the opponent's armor and weapons into the next page. The pages where the two boys would meet are unfinished. Orochimaru's group reach their base, not realizing that Yamato's wood clone trailed them there. Sai gets a glimpse of Sasuke's silhouette and eyes and discovers that he is the man Naruto and Sakura are looking for.
"The Consequences of Betrayal"
"Uragiri no hate" (裏切りの果て)
Kabuto creates a fake corpse that resembles Sai, containing hidden traps to slow down Yamato's clone after sensing it. Naruto hasn't completely recovered from using the demon fox's chakra, and Yamato says that he will be left behind if he cannot keep up. Naruto is determined to finish his mission and not slow the team down. However Team Kakashi is forced to take a break when it's clear that Sakura has not fully recovered from her own injuries. Yamato then uses this opportunity to talk to Naruto alone and reveals to him that the one who hurt Sakura was Naruto himself. Naruto is shocked by what Yamato says to him.
"The Secret of the Battle!"
"Tatakai no tenmatsu" (戦いの顛末)
Yamato uses the first Hokage's chakra to suppress the demon fox's chakra and Naruto returns to normal, but with severe injuries. Sakura begins to heal him, but notes that medical ninjutsu has little effect on his wounds. Yamato almost notes that Sakura has feeling towards Naruto. Orochimaru's sword is revealed to have only pierced one of Sai's clones. The real Sai emerges, talks to Orochimaru and gives him a letter from Danzo. Sai then leaves with Orochimaru and Kabuto but Yamato's wood clone stays close on their trail. Naruto comes to his senses and wonders what happened but Sakura decides not to tell him the truth. They reach the meeting spot, picking up the picture book Sai left behind. Yamato infers that Danzo seeks to destroy and remake Konoha by collaborating with Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru VS Jinchuriki"
"Orochimaru tai Jinchūriki" (大蛇丸VS人柱力)
Naruto, in the four-tailed state, begins attacking Orochimaru with incredible force, devastating the surrounding landscape and preventing Sai and Yamato's wood clone from approaching him. The majority of Orochimaru's attacks prove to be ineffective, but Naruto also fails to kill Orochimaru as he regenerates from any injuries he sustains. Meanwhile, Kabuto advances toward Sakura and Yamato, deducing that Sasori has died. Orochimaru finally manages to strike Naruto with a sword blade from his mouth, and Sakura reacts in horror when she sees Naruto's four-tailed state.
"Nine-Tails Unleashed"
"Kyūbi kaihō!!" (九尾解放!!)
Immediately after Yamato signals Naruto and the others out to the bridge where Orochimaru and Kabuto are waiting, Naruto's chakra begins to boil with the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Slowly, Naruto grows more tails as Orochimaru taunts him and makes him even more angry. Meanwhile, Yamato remembers Jiraiya speaking of how many tails he has seen Naruto grow. Jiraiya explains more about what happened and more about how Naruto acts when he's in his Nine-Tails form.
"The Top-Secret Mission Begins""Gokuhi ninmu sutāto" (極秘任務スタート)Naruto continues to get even more enraged and easily counters Kabuto's attack, flinging him away. Naruto's counter throws Kabuto into Sakura, knocking her unconscious. Orochimaru continues to watch Naruto become more enraged, eventually destroying the Bridge of Heaven and Earth. As the bridge collapses, Sakura slides off the edge. Sai draws a bird to fly, but chooses to follow Naruto and Orochimaru instead of saving Sakura. Yamato saves her at the last second, and creates a wood clone to catch up to the battle. Eventually the fourth tail appears, allowing the vile chakra to completely control Naruto's body, forming him into a miniature Nine-Tailed Fox.
"The Tenchi Bridge"
"Tenchikyō" (天地橋)
Yamato disguises himself as Sasori after creating a wood replica of Hiruko, and goes to meet the spy. The spy turns out to be Orochimaru's right-hand man, Kabuto Yakushi, who reveals the location of Orochimaru's current hideout to Yamato. Orochimaru interrupts the meeting, appearing to attack Kabuto, and while it initially appears that Orochimaru has come after Kabuto, Kabuto attacks Yamato and reveals that he is truly loyal to Orochimaru. Orochimaru calls out Naruto, Sakura and Sai from where they are hiding and observing the meeting, and prepares to fight the team.
"Simulation"
"Shimyurēshon" (模擬戦闘訓練)
Naruto is paired with Sai for the Buddy team of two, over his and Sakura's objections, while Sakura is assigned to support Yamato. Yamato conducts a simulation of the spy meeting with himself as the spy to gauge Naruto and Sai's abilities and teamwork. After Naruto makes a mistake when attacking Yamato, Sai immobilizes him and goes on to capture Yamato alone. Naruto is angry with Sai for not acting as a comrade would, but resolves to work together with him if doing so will help bring Sasuke back. Sai reveals to Sakura that he has no emotions, and little understanding of them. The group then prepares to head to the bridge.
"The Fake Smile"
"Itsuwari no egao" (偽りの笑顔)
The new team Kakashi heads out for the Heaven and Earth bridge. Sai, Sakura, and Naruto come to blows after just 5 minutes on the same team due to Sai making fun of Sasuke. Therefore, Yamato decides they need to improve on teamwork and uses Mokuton to create a wooden cage threatening to lock the team up unless they behave. Given an ultimatum between being locked up or spending the night at a hot springs, the team chooses to visit the springs to improve team cohesion. Naruto still despises Sai despite this effort, and several insulting remarks from Sai worsen team relations.
"Untitled""Mudai" (無題)Sakura sees Sai drawing by the river and finds out that Sai has artistic talent but has never given titles to anything he ever drew. Naruto and Sakura begin to realize the reason behind Sai's repulsive personality. After the hot springs, the team heads off to the bridge to meet the spy. Yamato is suspicious of traps so they go off the main road into the forest. Camping for the night, Yamato then creates a two story house by again using his Mokuton jutsu. Inside this house, the team formulates their plan.
"An Unnecessary Addition"
"Gadatensoku" (画蛇添足)
Yamato takes temporary leadership of Team Kakashi while Sai insults both Naruto and Sakura. While preparing to set off, Sai receives an envelope from a Root shinobi containing secret orders from Danzo, and Sakura consults with Tsunade. Jiraiya then meets with Tsunade and Yamato in Kakashi's hospital room to brief Yamato on the demon fox within Naruto, detailing the "demon fox's cloak", and revealing a scar he got from Naruto when the fourth tail formed. Finally the new Team Kakashi set off on their new mission, to intercept an Akatsuki spy and gather information about Sasuke.
"Formation! New Team Kakashi"
"Kessei! Shin Kakashi han" (結成!新カカシ班)
Naruto, Choji and Shikamaru attempt to capture and interrogate Sai, but Sai withdraws after insulting Naruto. Shortly afterward, Ino appears. Concerned that the demon fox could fall into Akatsuki hands, the village elders challenge Tsunade's plan to send Naruto out of the village without the still bedridden Kakashi. Tsunade promises to protect Konoha with her own life if Naruto is captured, but is still forced to compromise with Danzo by adding Sai to Team Kakashi. She also temporarily replaces Kakashi with ANBU member Yamato and warns him to keep an eye on Sai. Naruto and Sakura finally meet their new team members, and Naruto is immediately angered upon Sai's appearance.
"The New Target"
"Aratanaru tāgetto" (新たなる目標)
Teams Kakashi and Guy return home to Konoha. As Kakashi rests in the infirmary, Sakura tells Tsunade about the information Sasori gave her as a reward for defeating him. Sasori had a meeting scheduled with a spy from within Orochimaru's ranks in 10 days. 4 days have passed since Sakura received this information, and now Naruto and Sakura need to recruit a new team member to go and investigate. As Naruto searches Konoha for a willing recruit, he runs into Team 8 but they are unable to help seeing as they were just assinged a mission. Just as Choji agrees to help, Shikamaru, Choji and Naruto are attacked by a Konoha shinobi unknown to them, Sai.
"Return of the Kazekage"
"Kazekage no kikan" (風影の帰還)
Deidara survives his battle and begins to search for his missing arm. Meanwhile, Zetsu and his subordinate, Tobi, who wishes to join Akatsuki, search Sasori's remains for his ring. Deidara later finds the two searching for his own ring. The leaf ninja leave Sunagakure after their victory, and Danzo gives Sai instructions for his new team, Team Kakashi. The leaf and sand ninja pay their respects at Chiyo's grave, and Gaara and Naruto shake hands before departing.
"The Legacy"
"Tsugareyukumono" (継がれゆくもの)
Chiyo finishes her life-resurrection technique with Naruto's help. As she is about to finish her technique, she passes down to Naruto and Sakura her wisdom for the future. A revived Gaara finds himself surrounded by shinobi from Sunagakure celebrating his return. After Gaara discovers that Chiyo has passed away, he asks everyone to pray silently for Chiyo's sacrifice.
"Kakashi Enlightened!"
"Kakashi kaigen!" (カカシ開眼！)
After Team Guy members finish their battles, they make their way to Team Kakashi. Sakura and Chiyo also make their way towards Naruto and Kakashi. Kakashi reveals his Mangekyo Sharingan, which he uses to warp space around Deidara, hoping to suck him into an alternate dimension. However, he only succeeds in catching Deidara's arm, severing it. Kakashi's second attempt fails when Deidara dives into the trees. While Deidara has his guard down, Naruto manages to separate him from his clay bird, having his clones take the beak, which contains Gaara's body, to safety. Naruto, meanwhile, launches a vicious attack on Deidara, only to discover that he is beating up a clay replacement. In his angered state, Naruto's demon fox chakra begins to emerge. The two tailed form of the Nine-Tailed Fox emerges.
"Aesthetics of an Instant""Shunkan no bigaku" (瞬間の美学)After Naruto is taken over by the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra, Kakashi uses the seal Jiraiya gave him to suppress it. Team Guy finds Deidara thanks to Neji's Byakugan. Deidara seemingly self-destructs while attempting to kill his attackers by creating a massive explosion after eating the remains of his chakra infused clay bird. The explosion is countered by Kakashi, who is able to send it to a different dimension. Sakura cannot bring Gaara back to life, and the group mourns Gaara's death. While the group mourns, Chiyo moves over to Gaara's body and uses the life-resurrection technique.
"Beasts: Alive Again!"
"Yomigaeru kemono-tachi" (蘇る獣たち)
Team Guy's fight continues as they fight their respective clones. Neji explains to each member of the team that they are growing weaker and weaker as the fight drags on and they become fatigued. Their clones, being non-human, remain as strong as they were when they were formed. Lee realizes that the only way for them to defeat their clones is to become stronger than they were when they first started fighting. After a flashback about their training sessions, they all remember that they resolve to constantly become stronger. The memory gives them the strength needed to overpower and defeat their clones with new techniques that they devise.
"Impossible Dream"
"Kanawanu yume" (叶わぬ夢)
Chiyo injects the last remaining antidote into Sakura and manages to stab Sasori in his only living part, his heart, using the Father and Mother puppets. With Sasori immobilized, Chiyo revives the nearly dead Sakura using her Resurrection Technique. As he dies, Sasori tells Sakura where he planned to meet with one of his spies who had been working undercover as one of Orochimaru's subordinates. Meanwhile as Kakashi and Naruto are pursuing Deidara, Kakashi reveals his plan to activate his version of Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Puppet Fight: 10 vs. 100!"
"Jukki vs hyakki" (十機vs百機)
Naruto and Kakashi continue to pursue Deidara while Sakura and Chiyo continue the battle with Sasori. Sakura manages to shatter Sasori's puppet body, but he reforms. Chiyo summons the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu. Sasori, remarking on Chiyo's ability to control so many puppets, summons one hundred human puppets and the final battle begins. Sakura and Chiyo seem to trap and defeat Sasori but, under cover of the battle, Sasori, who had transferred himself to another puppet, attacks Chiyo from behind. Sakura intercedes, taking the sword thrust meant for Chiyo.
"Three Minutes Between Life and Death"
"Sei to shi no san punkan" (生と死の三分間)
Sakura reveals that she took an antidote against Sasori's poison which will make her immune to it for three minutes, forcing herself and Chiyo to end the battle quickly. Meanwhile, Naruto and Kakashi continue their pursuit of Deidara. Deidara attempts to split up Naruto and Kakashi by creating a swarm of explosive jumping crickets out of his clay and has them pursue Kakashi. Kakashi makes a shadow clone as a decoy and the crickets, mistaking the shadow clone for the real Kakashi, detonate harmlessly. Kakashi then catches back up with Naruto and reveals a plan. Sakura and Chiyo ready themselves for the battle with Sasori, who reveals that he made himself into a human puppet.
"The Third Kazekage"
"Sandaime Kazekage" (三代目風影)
Sakura and Chiyo continue their battle with Sasori, while Naruto and Kakashi follow Deidara, and Team Guy fights their clones. Sakura remembers her training with Tsunade when she was taught to observe enemies' weaknesses and dodge their attacks. Sasori attacks with an Iron Sand pyramid and prism, but Sakura is able to fend them off, causing a cave in. Sasori then uses a new technique to attack with randomly growing iron spikes, landing a hit imbued with a poison that quickly paralyzes its victims. With a final attack of the Third Kazekage's puppet, Sasori attempts to kill the seemingly helpless Sakura, only to discover at the last second that it was a ruse. Somehow immune to the effects of the poison, Sakura destroys his puppet with a single punch at the last second.
"Chiyo's Secret Skills"
"Chiyo no oku no te" (チヨの奥の手)
Sakura manages to escape the poison gas cloud by using an explosive scroll near herself. Chiyo calls forth the "Mother" and "Father" puppets that Sasori created to fight him and the Third. They manage to hold down the Third for a while until Sasori releases the Third's secret technique: Iron Sand. Meanwhile, Team Guy are having trouble fighting the clones and showing exhaustion from the battle. Naruto and Kakashi manage to avoid Deidara's clay bombs and keep up with him.
"Father and Mother"""Chichi" to "Haha"" (『父』と『母』)The magnetic Iron Sand stops both puppets from moving. Chiyo's right arm, which she had turned into a puppet arm, gets clogged as well. Chiyo thinks back to the past and remembers how Sasori created and controlled his first puppets, Father and Mother. Sakura urges Chiyo to use her again as a puppet. With Chiyo's help, Sakura avoids the columns formed by the Iron Sand to attack her.
"Sasori's Real Face"
"Sasori no sugao" (サソリの素顔)
With his puppet destroyed, Sasori reveals himself to Chiyo and Sakura, looking no older than when he left his village twenty years ago. As a further bit of nostalgia, he produces a summoning scroll and calls forth the Third Kazekage, whom Sasori has made into a puppet. Using its weapons, which are even more dangerous than Hiruko's, Sasori is able to catch Sakura in a poison gas cloud. Meanwhile, Kankuro, Temari's team, and Ebizo make their way towards the Akatsuki hideout.
"Hiruko vs. Two Kunoichi!"
"Hiruko vs. futari no kunoichi" (ヒルコVS二人の女忍者)
Chiyo explains to Sakura that Sasori used to be one of the best puppeteers in Sunagakure, but he began experimenting with real people. Sakura learns that Sasori's true body is hiding within his favorite puppet, Hiruko, ensuring that he cannot be attacked while controlling it. The only way to defeat Sasori is to destroy his puppet. Using teamwork, Chiyo and Sakura are able to dodge Sasori's attacks and demolish the puppet, from which Sasori himself emerges. Just outside, Deidara begins telling Naruto and Kakashi how much stronger Sasori is compared to himself.
"Traps Activate! Team Guy's Enemies"
"Torappu sadō! Gai han no teki" (罠作動！ガイ班の敵)
Team Guy fights with exact clones of themselves, a trap set off by their removal of the barrier tags. Deidara takes Gaara's body outside of the cavern, followed by Naruto and Kakashi. Chiyo and Sakura stay behind to fight Sasori.
"Charge Tactic! Button Hook Entry!!"
"Totsunyū! Botan fukku entorī" (突入！ボタンフックエントリー)
Team Guy and Team Kakashi find out there is a barrier protecting the Akatsuki hideout, being generated by 5 forbidden tags in the area. After preparations, Team Guy removes the tags and disables the barrier allowing Team Kakashi to enter the hideout. Meanwhile the Akatsuki members have ended the astral projection technique and left the hideout. Deidara and Sasori who were the only ones physically present, remain behind to take care of the intruders.
"The Death of Gaara!"
"Gaara shisu!" (我愛羅死す！)
Team Guy and Team Kakashi both finish their breaks and go on towards the Akatsuki lair. Naruto shows intense passion and is in a hurry to reach Gaara. Chiyo notices this and Kakashi explains to her that Naruto is also a Jinchuriki and knows the pain Gaara has lived through. Chiyo explains that she was the ninja who sealed Shukaku in Gaara, in order to protect the Sand village. Meanwhile, Akatsuki has finished extracting Shukaku from Gaara, who dies wondering if he has become a person whom others need. Team Guy and Team Kakashi finally meet in front of the sealed entrance to the Akatsuki lair.
"The Secret of Jinchuriki"
"Jinchūriki no himitsu" (人柱力の秘密)
Kakashi's and Guy's teams both figure out that their battles with the doppelgängers were set-up to delay them from coming to Gaara's rescue. Chiyo reveals that in attempts to control the power of the tailed beasts they were bound to human hosts called "Jinchūriki", and that the human host dies when the beast is extracted — increasing the urgency of saving Gaara. Kankuro is awake and joins a meeting of the Sand council where the history of the Sand village is explained. Both teams stop to rest since their battles have taken their tolls and in preparation for the battles to come. Akatsuki sends Zetsu to "dispose" of the doppelgängers corpses.
"The Secret Weapon is Called..."
"Kakushi dama - Nazukete" (隠し玉 名付けて…！)
The two battles continue from the previous episode. Naruto is released from Itachi's genjutsu by Chiyo and Sakura after his failed attempt to release himself. Distracted and immobilized by Kakashi's shadow clone, Itachi takes a direct hit from Naruto's Great Ball Rasengan. Meanwhile, Guy defeats Kisame using his Morning Peacock technique. The Konoha shinobi then find, to their surprise, that they have not defeated Itachi or Kisame, but two entirely different people.
"Naruto's Growth"
"Naruto no seichō" (ナルトの成長)
The battle between Guy and Kisame gets into full swing. Guy bring outs his nunchaku to compensate for Kisame's sword, but takes a beating from Kisame's water attacks. Guy has to resort to opening six of the eight chakra gates to even the score. Meanwhile, Naruto realizes he is caught in an illusion and recalls his training with Jiraiya to try to dispel Itachi's illusion.
"A Meeting With Destiny"
"Innen aimamieru" (因縁あいまみえる)
The battle between Team Guy and Kisame begins while Kakashi explains the danger of Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan to the rest of his team and reveals what he's discovered to be its weakness. Guy's team is quickly contained, leaving Guy himself to fight Kisame alone. Kakashi leads the attack against Itachi with Naruto following close behind, but Naruto is shocked when the real Itachi explodes into a cloud and his allies morph into Itachi clones.
"The Retired Granny's Determination"
"Inkyo babaa no ketsui" (隠居ババアの決意)
Team Kakashi heads out to Akatsuki's hideout along with Chiyo. On the way, Chiyo tells them about the Tailed Beasts. Meanwhile Pakkun heads out to Team Guy and informs them that they are quite close to the Akatsuki hideout. The Akatsuki send out Kisame and Itachi to stop Team Guy and Team Kakashi respectively.
"The Medical Ninja's Student"
"Iryō ninja no deshi" (医療忍者の弟子)
After traveling for three days, Team Kakashi arrives just in time to save Kankuro. Using the skills she acquired from her apprenticeship under Tsunade, Sakura is able to extract the poison and create an antidote. Kankuro regains consciousness and gives Kakashi a piece of cloth from Sasori's outfit, allowing Kakashi's ninja dogs to track the Akatsuki member.
"Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons"
"Fūin Jutsu: Genryū Kyū Fūjin" (封印術・幻龍九封尽)
Deidara and Sasori arrive at the secret Akatsuki hideout. The Akatsuki leader gathers his followers using an astral projection technique and they begin the ritual to extract the One-Tailed Shukaku from Gaara. At Sunagakure, Kankuro's condition is worsening and Chiyo claims that even her expertise is not enough to counteract Sasori's poison. At Konoha, Tsunade foresees the difficulty of Team Kakashi's mission and orders Team Guy to back them up.
"Team Kakashi, Deployed"
"Shutsugeki, Kakashi han" (出撃、カカシ班)
Kankuro's attacks are all nullified by Sasori's scorpion-like tail. He eventually pierces Kankuro with his tail, inflicting him with a slow-acting poison. Kankuro is puzzled at how easily Sasori counters his fighting style. Sasori reveals that he himself used to be from Sunagakure and that Kankuro's puppets are his own creations. In response to the Akatsuki assault, Sunagakure sends a distress call to Konoha.
"The Jinchuriki's Tears""Jinchūriki no namida" (人柱力の涙)Kankuro is brought back to the village but he is feeling the effects of Sasori's deadly poison. The village's medics are helpless finding a cure. Baki decides to seek help from the village's elders, Chiyo and Ebizo. Meanwhile, Konoha receives the emergency message from Sunagakure. Tsunade chooses to send Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura to respond to the Sand's need. Along the way, Temari and Sakura learn for the first time that Naruto's body contains the demon fox.
"Mission Cleared"
"Norumakuriā" (ノルマクリアー)
Deidara is determined to capture the Kazekage. Unfazed by the loss of his arm, he unleashes a massive clay bomb onto the village. Gaara is able to deflect the bomb by using his sand to create an enormous shield over the village. However, this leaves him open to a sudden attack, and he inadvertently uses sand that had been seeded with Deidara's clay to defend himself. Deidara then detonates the clay-infested sand, which knocks Gaara unconscious. Deidara captures him and flies away.
"Run, Kankuro""Hashire Kankurō" (疾走れカンクロウ)As Deidara carries an unconscious Gaara out of the village, Gaara's older brother Kankuro chases after them. At the village entrance he discovers that all the guards there have already been killed. Upon catching Deidara and Sasori, Kankuro initiates his
Puppet Technique by summoning his puppets Karasu, Kuroari, and Sanshouo. Sasori sees this as an opportunity to demonstrate his skills, and he allows Deidara to go ahead so that he can battle Kankuro alone.
"The Kazekage Stands Tall"
"Kazekage to shite…!" (風影として…！)
Deidara sees that subduing the Kazekage is not as easy as he thought. He hurls exploding clay at Gaara to no effect, as Gaara can quickly summon a shield of sand around him with relative ease. Gaara then commands his sand to attack Deidara who has no choice but to try to evade. Gaara's sand eventually catches up with Deidara and crushes his arm.
"The Jinchuriki of the Sand"
"Suna no Jinchūriki" (砂の人柱力)
Naruto and Sakura both realize that even though they have vastly improved, they are still no match for Kakashi's superior techniques, as he too has become stronger, and decide to resort to more unconventional means. Meanwhile, Deidara and Gaara begin their battle. Deidara finds a formidable challenge in Gaara's abilities to control and manipulate sand.
"The Results of Training"
"Shugyō no seika" (修行の成果)
Kakashi challenges Naruto and Sakura with the bell test, in which they must forcefully take from Kakashi two jingle bells using whatever means necessary. Sakura and Naruto both demonstrate their newly acquired skills. At Sunagakure, Deidara reveals his ability to manipulate exploding clay. He takes to the skies aboard a giant clay bird and begins his aerial assault by lobbing exploding clay spiders onto the guards, instantly killing them. As soon as he makes it to the Kazekage building, however, he finds Gaara there waiting for him.
"Homecoming"
"Kikyō" (帰郷)
Naruto Uzumaki returns to Konoha after a two-and-a-half-year training journey with Jiraiya. He is reintroduced to his peers, who have all advanced to Chunin rank and beyond, unlike Naruto who is still a Genin. Elsewhere, two members of Akatsuki head towards Sunagakure to capture Gaara, who has since become the Kazekage, the village leader.
"The Akatsuki Makes Its Move"
"Akatsuki, shidō" (暁、始動)
Jiraiya tells Kakashi Hatake that Akatsuki's plan to collect the tailed beasts is underway. Because of the Nine-Tailed Fox inside him, Naruto is in danger any time he leaves the village, so Jiraiya relinquishes Naruto's training to Kakashi, who can ensure his safety. Kakashi gives Naruto and Sakura Haruno a test to see how far they have improved. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki members Deidara and Sasori arrive at the entrance of the Sunagakure. They discover that Yura, their sleeper agent, has already cleared the guards.
"Regroup!"
"Saihensei!" (再編成！)
Naruto and his teammates meet Shizune, Ino, Tenten and Lee. The ninjas are spilt into three teams by Kakashi. The Sealing team is made up of Shizune, Sakura, Ino and Hinata. Kakashi, Naruto, Sai and Shino form the Fighting team and the Guarding team comprises of Yamato, Lee, Tenten and Kiba. Tenten passes Naruto a scroll for the mission that the Fifth Hokage gave to her. In a new development, Rinji turns out to be Kabuto's spy on Guren.
Naruto Shippuuden Air Dates :
Naruto Shippuuden Episode 107 : Sworn Enemies Fighting Together : April 30, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 108 : Camellia Guidepost : May 7, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 109 : Counterattack of the Curse Mark : May 14, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 110 : Memory of Guilt : May 21, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 111 : The Broken Promise : May 28, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 112 : The Place to Return To : June 4, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 113 : The Serpent’s Pupil : June 11, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 114 : Eye of the Hawk : June 18, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 115 : Zabuza’s Sword : June 25, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 116 : Keeper of the Iron Prison : July 2, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 117 : Jugo of the North Hideout : July 9, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 118 : Formation ! : July 23, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 119 : Kakashi Chronicles ~ Boys' Life on the Battlefield ~ Part 1 : July 30, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 120 : Kakashi Chronicles ~ Boys' Life on the Battlefield ~ Part 2 : July 30, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 121 : Assemble : August 6, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 122 : The Hunt : August 13, 2009Naruto Shippuuden Episode 123 : Clash! : August 20, 2009
