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.
Naruto and his squad manage to catch up to Idate, only to find him hurt and unconscious with Aoi nearby.
The chief retainers think that Idate has made a farce of their great traditional festival. Jirocho believes that Idate has fled with some plan in mind.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are to protect the runners in a race being held during the Todoroki Shrine's ceremonial ritual held every four years.
Naruto and his two squadmates have always wanted to see what Kakashi looks like under his mask. The three do whatever they can to reveal his whole face.
After being advised by Tsunade to quit the path of the shinobi, Lee recalls his first meeting with his teacher Guy. Unable to master either ninjutsu or genjutsu, Lee has always been looked down upon by the others.
Lee hesitates when Tsunade asks him whether he will quit pursuing the path of a ninja or choose to undergo a risky surgery with only a fifty percent chance of success.
Naruto asks Tsunade to heal Sasuke and Lee before she is installed as the Hokage. After examining Lee, she tells him to find a path other than of that of a shinobi.
Tsunade, Naruto, and the others start heading back to the Leaf Village where Tsunade will formally become the Fifth Hokage. At Tsunade's urging, they stop at a town with hot springs.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru all release their summoning jutsu. And a fierce battle begins.
Naruto's ninja way is to never go back on his word. Naruto is seriously injured by Kabuto and hovers on the verge of death.
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.
While Naruto declares that he fights for his comrades, Gaara says he fights for himself. Gaara's sad past is revealed. Naruto compares Gaara's past with his own and begins to feel compassion towards him.
By the time Naruto and Sakura catch up, Sasuke has exhausted his strength and collapsed.
Half of Gaara's body has transformed and Sasuke continues his battle against him.
Shino appears as Sasuke and Kankuro battle. Leaving Shino to handle Kankuro, Sasuke goes after Gaara.
The battle between the Hokage and Orochimaru rages on. Finally, the Hokage resorts to a Jutsu unknown to Orochimaru, the Sealing Jutsu known as “Reaper Death Seal.”