Naruto, Shikamaru, Kiba and Akamaru are in hot pursuit of Sasuke and the Sound ninja. Naruto and Kiba are upset that they have been unable to catch up and decide to try a surprise attack at night.
Kidomaru changes tactics and creates a bow and arrow to attack Neji's blind spot.
Neji takes on Kidomaru while the others continue their pursuit of Sasuke and the remaining Sound ninja.
Assuming that the Leaf squad could never get past Jirobo, the remaining Sound ninja don't bother to lay traps along the way.
After Choji takes the yellow pill it looks as if he may win the battle, until Jirobo transforms into Second State, giving him immense power.
After they are freed from the Earth Dome Prison, Shikamaru and the others take off after the remaining Sound while Choji stays behind.
Naruto and the others are trapped in Jirobo's Earth Dome Prison. They try to pound their way out, but the walls regenerate each time.
The Sound Ninja Four race toward Orochimaru's lair with Sasuke in hand. They're discovered and challenged by the jonin Genma and Raido...
Sakura's pleas fall on deaf ears, and Sasuke leaves Hidden Leaf Village. When Tsunade learns of this, she summons Shikamaru to lead his first mission as a chunin.
The Sound Ninja Four, Kidomaru, Sakon, Jirobo, and Tayuya, suddenly appear before Sasuke. Sakura is concerned about the Curse Mark placed on Sasuke by Orochimaru...
Naruto and Sasuke release their ultimate weapons against each other, and just in time Kakashi arrives to stop the fight.
Shikamaru is promoted to chunin, and he and his squadmates celebrate at a BBQ restaurant. In the hospital, Lee decides to undergo a dangerous surgery to repair his body so that he can remain a ninja.
Orochimaru and Kabuto use a summoning jutsu to call forth a giant snake. Still drugged and unable to fully use his chakra, Jiraiya summons little Gamakichi.
Gripped by the desire to see Nawaki and Dan, Tsunade almost succumbs to Orochimaru's tempting offer.
Naruto practices hard so he can win the necklace from Tsunade. Meanwhile, Tsunade is in a dilemma over Orochimaru's offer.
Naruto is incensed at the way Tsunade disrespects the position of Hokage and challenges her to a fight.
In exchange for healing his arms, Orochimaru offers to bring back to life Tsunade's younger brother Nawaki and Dan, her sweetheart.
Orochimaru and Kabuto suddenly appear before Tsunade and Shizune who are out sightseeing. Orochimaru, injured by the Third Hokage's Reaper Death Seal, seeks the former Sannin's medical expertise.
Naruto manages to complete the first step of his training. But the next step, making a rubber ball explode with chakra, proves extremely difficult.
Naruto finally begins his training with Jiraiya. The technique Naruto will learn was the trademark of the Fourth Hokage, a technique which even a genius like him took three years to master.