Volumes 21–30

Complete listed story — includes the ending

Naruto, Volume 21

Chapter 181
After gathering his things, Sasuke heads for Konoha 's exit. He finds Sakura waiting for him there. He tells her to go home. She does not, instead asking why, after all they've been through together, he always ignores her. Sasuke responds that she can't understand him, but Sakura insists that, because she loves him, she's willing to try. She offers to help him take revenge and to accompany him in leaving Konoha, anything so long as she can be with him. He leaves so she threatens to scream. He knocks her out after thanking her. The Sound Four greet Sasuke outside the village to accompany him to Orochimaru.

Chapter 182
While running errands for Tsunade, Izumo and Kotetsu find Sakura unconscious. They wake her up and she tells them about Sasuke 's defection. They immediately inform Tsunade. Surprised that Orochimaru is making his move so soon, Tsunade has Shikamaru brought before her and tells him what has happened. Because the village is understaffed after Orochimaru's Konoha Crush, Shikamaru and a genin team of his choosing are all that can be spared to retrieve Sasuke. Tsunade recommends Naruto and Shikamaru insists on bringing Chōji. Naruto suggests that Shino would be preferable to Chōji, but Kiba informs them that Shino is away on a mission. He, however, volunteers. Lee overhears them and recommends Neji. Lee himself awaiting his surgery.

Chapter 183
Before the Sasuke Recovery Team departs, Shikamaru asserts his leadership and establishes a basic approach to how the mission will be carried out. Despite the frantic nature of the mission, the team and Rock Lee can find no faults with his plan. Sakura stops them before they leave and pleads with Naruto to bring Sasuke home, believing that he is now the only person capable of getting through to him. Admitting that he knows of Sakura's feelings, Naruto half-heartedly vows to do so, encouraging the team and causing Sakura to acknowledge all of his selfless actions. Elsewhere the Sound Four inform Sasuke of a task given to them by Orochimaru, bluntly telling him that he needs to die once.

Chapter 184
The Sound Four offer to advance Sasuke 's cursed seal to its second level. Because they are forcing the process, Sasuke must be put into a death-like state for an extended period of time. They explain the state as 'suspended animation' after which Sasuke agrees and, after "dying", is sealed into a coffin. Meanwhile, Tsunade gives Lee a final chance to back out of the operation. Seeing how determined he is to resume his life as a ninja and fulfil his dreams, she immediately gets to work. As the Sound Four carry Sasuke's coffin to Orochimaru, they are found by Konoha ninja returning from a mission. Knowing they will need help, the Sound Four activate their cursed seals.

Chapter 185
After activating level one of their cursed seals, the Sound Four attack Raidō Namiashi and Genma Shiranui. When they do not return their teammates, Iwashi Tatami and Shizune, go looking for them and find them near death. The Sasuke Recovery Team, detecting the battle while pursuing Sasuke, realises that Sasuke has escorts. They near the Sound Four's location and find traps in the area. Knowing they are probably resting after their battle, the Retrieval Team prepares to ambush them.

Chapter 186
Having been forced the activate level two of their cursed seals during the earlier fight with the Konoha ninja, the Sound Four rest. The Sasuke Recovery Team, observing them, determines that Sasuke is likely in the coffin the Sound Four have with them. They approach, but are quickly attacked. Although the Sound Four believe they have stopped an ambush, they discover that they have been captured by Shikamaru 's Shadow Imitation Technique. Sakon is somehow able to free them and Jirōbō immediately traps them in a rock prison from which the Retrieval Team is unable to escape. The Sound Four continue on while Jirōbō stays behind, which Neji discovers to be because he is absorbing their chakra.

Chapter 187
As their chakra is slowly consumed by Jirōbō, Shikamaru analyses the damage that Kiba is doing to their rock prison in his attempts to break out. He offers to give up the others if Jirōbō will let him go, but Jirōbō refuses. Most of the Sasuke Recovery Team concludes he is a traitor but Chōji, trusting Shikamaru, recognises that he has a plan. Shikamaru informs them that, although their prison repairs itself, the process is slowed at the point furthest from Jirōbō. With the help of Neji they are able to pinpoint the slowest repairing point. Ashamed for doubting him, the team focuses their attacks on that area and are able to escape.

Chapter 188
Jirōbō is impressed that the Sasuke Recovery Team was able to escape but, having consumed most of their chakra, is confident he can defeat them. Shikamaru suggests splitting the team up, the others going ahead while he catches Jirōbō with his shadow and Naruto fights him. Jirōbō ridicules the plan and Shikamaru's jutsu, expressing his sympathies that the team has a leader as useless as Shikamaru. Chōji demands that he, and only he, be allowed to fight Jirōbō while the others follow the rest of the Sound Four. He gives them Military Rations Pills to restore their chakra which Shikamaru, confident in Chōji, accepts. They leave and Jirōbō tries to go after them, but Chōji takes the first of his Three Coloured Pills, the green Spinach Pill ( ホウレン丸, Hōrengan ) to stop Jirōbō.

Chapter 189
After taking the first of the Three Coloured Pills, Chōji is able to match Jirōbō in physical strength. They exchange blows, but Chōji quickly begins to feel the strain of taking the pill. As they leave the area the Sasuke Recovery Team wonders if Chōji can defeat Jirōbō, but Shikamaru informs them that one-on-one battles are perhaps the best they can hope for and that Chōji, who considers himself as the weakest of the team, is doing his part now. Shikamaru adds that he is wrong to think so, as Chōji is actually the strongest. Jirōbō activates the first stage of his cursed seal to overpower Chōji and observes that he has been abandoned by the rest of his team. Determined to prove Jirōbō wrong and to avoid disappointing Shikamaru, Chōji takes the second pill, the yellow Curry Pill ( カレー丸, Karēgan ), to increase his size to gigantic proportions.

Chapter 190
Jirōbō activates level two of his cursed seal to repel Chōji. Chōji cannot move after taking two of his Three Coloured Pills and thus cannot stop Jirōbō from eating the last of his potato chips. Jirōbō assures him that he shouldn't feel bad since Chōji is fat and will soon be joined by Shikamaru, his "worthless" team leader, in death. Chōji thinks back to his childhood and how all of the kids his age looked down on him for his weight. Only Shikamaru stuck up for him and, in fact, didn't care, knowing Chōji had more important qualities. They have been best friends ever since. Although using the last pill will surely cause his death, Chōji does not hesitate to take the red Chilli Pill ( トンガラシ丸, Tongarashigan ). Easily restraining Jirōbō, he informs him that he's one-hundred times as powerful as he was before. Chōji tells him that he could ignore being called fat or having food taken from him. What he cannot forgive is Shikamaru being insulted. He punches Jirōbō, decimating the area.

Naruto, Volume 22

Chapter 191
Jirōbō dies and Chōji starts walking in the direction that the rest of the Sasuke Recovery Team went in. Seeing that they have marked their path for him, he collapses, glad to know he has friends that believe in him. Meanwhile, the rest of the team notices that the Sound Four has not set traps for them, meaning they expected Jirōbō to win. Taking advantage of this, Shikamaru transforms into Jirōbō and joins up with the three other Otogakure ninja. However, because he doesn't reprimand Tayuya for her insults like Jirōbō would, his identity is exposed and most of the team is caught in Kidōmaru 's webbing. Neji takes advantage of this preoccupation and attacks him from behind.

Chapter 192
Kidōmaru avoids Neji 's attack and catches him in a cocoon of webbing. With the Sasuke Recovery Team unable to move, Kidōmaru decides to enjoy himself before regrouping with the Sound Four. Naruto and his shadow clones are caught in his web, so Kidōmaru plays target practice to figure out which is the real one. They all turn out to be shadow clones, and Naruto attacks Kidōmaru from behind. It ceases to work and Naruto is about to be captured, but Neji appears and releases him. Able to break Kidōmaru's chakra -infused webbing with his abilities, Neji concludes that he is the only one who can fight him.

Chapter 193
Because they need to catch Sasuke at any cost, Neji volunteers to fight Kidōmaru by himself. The remaining members of the Sasuke Recovery Team resume their pursuit of the Sound Four. Kidōmaru attempts to stop them but Neji neutralises his webbing. Concluding that Neji is the strongest member of the team, Kidōmaru tries various attacks to figure out Neji's strengths and weaknesses. Believing Neji can only break his webs by touching them with his hands, Kidōmaru binds his arms. Since this is not true, Neji takes advantage of Kidōmaru's lowered guard to attack with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

Chapter 194
Neji successfully strikes Kidōmaru with his Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Kidōmaru covers himself with a special golden version of his webbing at the last second, allowing him to avoid damage and prevent Neji from sealing his tenketsu. Knowing he cannot win a close-combat fight, Kidōmaru starts attacking from afar. Neji is able to block his attacks with Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven. Surprised by the defence and Neji's ability to react to attacks from behind, Kidōmaru tries to find a weakness in his abilities. After activating his cursed seal he douses Neji in webbing.

Chapter 195
Kidōmaru 's webbing sticks Neji to the ground, leaving him unable to perform the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven. Neji opts to block the incoming attacks by hand, but is unable to block all of them. Kidōmaru realises that this means Neji's Byakugan has a blindspot, so he concentrates his efforts on pinpointing it. After determining that Neji cannot see things beyond fifty metres and cannot see anything directed at a particular point behind his neck, Kidōmaru believes he has "won the game". He activates level two of his cursed seal and creates a bow and arrow to put an end to his "worthy opponent".

Chapter 196
Kidōmaru fires an arrow at Neji 's blindspot. Neji, having suspected his blindspot had been discovered, is able to dodge enough to keep the attack from killing him. Kidōmaru realises that Neji must have surrounded the area with chakra to compensate for his blindspot and pick up on anything that approaches from that direction. Disappointed that the strongest "character" of the Sasuke Recovery Team has been figured out so easily, Kidōmaru modifies his arrow to make it faster and adds a string to guide it mid-flight. Once a fleeing, injured, exhausted Neji presents his blindspot, Kidōmaru fires again and successfully hits him.

Chapter 197
Neji is badly wounded by Kidōmaru 's arrow. However, he continues fighting; he injects some of his chakra into the guiding string attached to the arrow, which travels back to and paralyses Kidōmaru. Kidōmaru falls from the tree he was hiding in, assuming that this was Neji's dying effort. Following Naruto 's example of not allowing seemingly insurmountable odds stop him from winning, Neji meets Kidōmaru as he reaches the ground and delivers a killing blow. As Kidōmaru's life fades Neji explains that he allowed himself to be hit, knowing Kidōmaru would attack from his blindspot and therefore making it easy to avoid a fatal wound. Kidōmaru asks if it was worth it, which Neji affirms: this victory and his helping the Sasuke Recovery Team has made his injuries and likely death worth it.

Chapter 198
With his dying breath, Kidōmaru tells Neji that the Sasuke Recovery Team is wasting their time, as Sasuke is fully committed to joining Orochimaru. Neji is confident that Naruto can change Sasuke's mind, and passes out after entrusting Sasuke's retrieval to the rest of the team. The retrieval team near the remaining Sound Four while the Sound Four realises their teammates are running late. Elsewhere, Orochimaru agonises over the Sound Four's tardiness, desperate to take Sasuke's body to escape the Third Hokage 's seal. When he cannot wait any longer, he instructs Kabuto to prepare an alternative. Kabuto has several prisoners fight to the death with the promise that the victor will be released.

Chapter 199
As he watches the prisoners fight each other, Kabuto tells the dying Kimimaro about Sasuke. Of comparable abilities to Kimimaro, Sasuke is to be Orochimaru 's new host body. Whereas Kimimaro is too sick to fill this role, Sasuke is now too late. Orochimaru approaches the victor, Gen'yūmaru, who realises what is about to happen to him. He asks that Orochimaru at least release his family, which Orochimaru agrees to before taking control of his body. Kimimaro, regretting that he could not help Orochimaru, leaves, deciding to be useful one last time by retrieving Sasuke. Elsewhere, the remaining members of the Sasuke Recovery Team catch up to Sakon and Tayuya. The Oto ninja spot them and Sakon goes in to attack.

Naruto, Volume 23

Chapter 200
The Sasuke Recovery Team turns out to be nothing but Naruto 's shadow clones. While Sakon is preoccupied with the clones, the actual team members manage to take the coffin containing Sasuke away from Tayuya. Sakon, enraged, pursues them and singles out Akamaru, who is covering their escape. Kiba saves him but the three of them are flung off a cliff. Shikamaru instructs Naruto to take the coffin while he goes to help Kiba and Akamaru, but they are attacked by Kimimaro.

Chapter 201
Kimimaro takes the coffin containing Sasuke from Shikamaru and Naruto. While Tayuya is stunned to see him, the former, dying leader of the Sound Four, Kimimaro tells her that he won't kill her if she deals with Shikamaru and Naruto. He leaves to take Sasuke to Orochimaru. Naruto and Shikamaru team up against Tayuya, but Naruto only pretends to engage her in battle, instead following Kimimaro and finding him in a field. Orochimaru elsewhere mourns having not been able to take Kimimaro as a host body, his kekkei genkai being most desirable.

Chapter 202
When questioned by Naruto, Kimimaro explains that Orochimaru wishes to take Sasuke 's body for himself. Enraged at the prospect, Naruto taps into the Nine-Tails ' chakra and surrounds Kimimaro with hundreds of shadow clones. Meanwhile, Tayuya asks Shikamaru about his practice of sacrificing one of his teammates to defeat one member of the Sound Four just to retrieve Sasuke. Shikamaru regrets that he had to, but explains that they all would have risked their lives for Sasuke, a friend, with or without his orders. As they prepare for battle, Tayuya summons her Doki. Elsewhere, Kiba and Akamaru believe they have an advantage of numbers over Sakon. They find that Sakon is not alone, his brother Ukon fighting alongside him.

Chapter 203
Naruto 's shadow clones attack, but Kimimaro, preparing his kekkei genkai, is not concerned. Elsewhere, Sakon, with the help of his cursed seal, and Ukon overpower Kiba. Interested in ending the battle quickly, Ukon advances his cursed seal to its second level and forces Sakon to do the same. Akamaru knows they are outmatched so he convinces Kiba to perform a joint combination. Taking on the form of a double-headed wolf, Kiba and Akamaru attack the joined brothers with their new technique. Meanwhile, Shikamaru struggles to avoid the Doki 's attacks, but is able to notice that Tayuya controls them with her Demonic Flute.

Chapter 204
Sakon and Ukon are split apart because of Kiba and Akamaru 's attack. They believe they have won, only to find that the brothers easily recover from the separation. They try to attack again, but are blocked. When Sakon and Ukon counter-attack Akamaru puts himself in danger to protect Kiba. While Akamaru manages to blind Sakon at the last minute, Ukon is able to join with Kiba's body. He tells Kiba that he will kill Kiba from the inside, destroying his cells and leaving unfazed once Kiba is dead. Needing to help Akamaru, Kiba stabs himself, taking advantage of the fact that Ukon, merged with him, will suffer the same injuries.

Chapter 205
Ukon is amazed that Kiba would stab himself just to kill him. As Kiba goes for a killing blow, Ukon exits his body to avoid further damage. Kiba takes this time to gather Akamaru and escape. Ukon, exhausted, rejoins with Sakon and demands that, once Sakon has found Kiba and Akamaru, they kill them together. Meanwhile, Kimimaro is able to destroy wave after wave of Naruto 's shadow clones, his dancing, acrobatic movements and his ability to use his own bones as weapons being more than a match.

Chapter 206
Kimimaro continues to keep Naruto away from Sasuke 's coffin, using his dances and bones to prevent any of Naruto's shadow clones from getting through. Elsewhere, an injured Kiba and an incapacitated Akamaru hide from Sakon. When he sees that he is leaving a blood trail, allowing Sakon to follow them, Kiba abandons his coat and flees down river with Akamaru. Meanwhile, Shikamaru is given no opportunities to attack, Tayuya 's control over her Doki allowing her to cover all possibilities. Playing a new tune on her Demonic Flute, Tayuya has the Doki attack.

Chapter 207
The Doki produce spiritual effigies that can pursue Shikamaru beyond their physical range and through physical matter, all in accordance with the music played by Tayuya. Shikamaru falls back and formulates a plan. He starts focusing his attacks on Tayuya, the Doki's controller. Tayuya surrounds herself with the Doki to act as shields against the attacks and retaliate towards the attacks' source. Shikamaru then reveals himself, so Tayuya groups the Doki together and has them attack. Having figured out what every finger arrangement on Tayuya's Demonic Flute causes the Doki to do, Shikamaru knows what to expect, allowing him to capture the Doki with his shadow.

Chapter 208
Having lost control of the Doki, Tayuya sends them away to keep Shikamaru from using them against her. She once again does as Shikamaru had planned; not only has she got rid of the Doki, something he could not do, but in doing so she did not notice his shadow approaching her, allowing him to catch her. Tayuya activates level two of her cursed seal to escape his control and traps him in a genjutsu. Shikamaru unsuccessfully throws a kunai at her. Tayuya picks up the kunai and approaches him to kill him with it, only to be trapped by his shadow again. Having broken the genjutsu, it was revealed that Shikamaru threw the kunai to Tayuya to trick her into coming close enough that she couldn't overpower his shadow again.

Naruto, Volume 24

Chapter 209
Shikamaru tries to strangle Tayuya with his shadow before she can escape, and despite the technique being in close proximity of its target where it worked best, Tayuya is able to use the power of her cursed seal to resist his attack. Meanwhile, Kimimaro continues to defeat Naruto 's waves of shadow clones. Just when all of his shadow clones are destroyed, the seal keeping Sasuke within his coffin dissipates and he emerges. Naruto tries to convince him to come back but he runs off. When Naruto starts to follow Sasuke, Kimimaro attacks but is blocked by Lee, who tells Naruto to go after Sasuke while he deals with Kimimaro.

Chapter 210
Lee reminds Naruto that he promised Sakura that he would bring Sasuke back to Konoha. Naruto leaves Kimimaro to Lee and follows Sasuke. Back in Konoha, Guy races to Tsunade as soon as he returns from his mission. She informs him that Lee's surgery was a complete success, and both are then informed that Lee has left the hospital. Tsunade notices that Lee has forgotten his medicine, accidentally taking her sake instead. Guy is horrified by the news. Lee and Kimimaro begin fighting but Kimimaro has no difficulty predicting and blocking Lee's strikes. After Lee takes a short break to take his "medicine", he becomes drunk and assumes a Drunken Fist stance.

Chapter 211
Kiba leaves the safety of the river to hide on land. Elsewhere, Lee, drunk, attacks Kimimaro. Kimimaro is no longer able to predict and block Lee's attacks, as Lee himself does not know what he is doing. After Lee manages to land several blows and dodges all of Kimimaro's, Kimimaro makes greater use of his Shikotsumyaku, sprouting bones from all over his body to damage Lee whenever he attacks.

Chapter 212
Kimimaro 's manipulation of his skeletal structure allows him to block or neutralise all of Lee 's attacks. This, combined with Lee's sobering up, again leaves him unable to damage Kimimaro. Lee persists despite his recent surgery, knowing he must buy time for Naruto. Elsewhere, Sakon searches for the hiding Kiba. Kiba believes he has escaped detection when Sakon begins to move away, only to be greeted by Ukon, who could approach unnoticed by wearing Kiba's coat, masking his scent with Kiba's own. Shikamaru meanwhile can no longer restrain Tayuya and she moves to finish him off. Before either he, Kiba, or Lee can be killed, one of the Three Sand Siblings appears and rescues each.

Chapter 213
The Three Sand Siblings inform the Sasuke Recovery Team that the Fifth Hokage asked for their help, which, because of Naruto, they were inclined to provide. Gaara, seeing that Lee is still suffering from the injuries he inflicted, protects him from Kimimaro. Tayuya retreats when Temari arrives. Shikamaru briefs her on Tayuya's abilities and suggests retreating, but Temari is not interested. Sakon tries to merge with Kankurō in an effort to kill him and get at Kiba. Kankurō uses his puppets as shields which, being unable to merge with, Sakon is easily defeated by.

Chapter 214
Ukon appears to protect Sakon, allowing his brother to recuperate within his body. Taking advantage of the fewer targets, Kankurō navigates them into his Kuroari. Once they are trapped within it, Kankurō bombards it with knives, killing Sakon and Ukon. Elsewhere, Tayuya hides from Temari among the trees, She brings out a spare flute, but her sound-based genjutsu is unable to break through the gusts of wind generated by Temari's fan. Temari summons Kamatari, who levels the forest and crushes Tayuya under debris.

Chapter 215
Not wanting Gaara to fight by himself, Lee tries to help and attacks Kimimaro to try and provide an opening for him. Gaara restrains him and instructs him to not interfere, saying he doesn't need the help, especially from someone in Lee's condition. Kimimaro, seeing that Gaara does not rely on taijutsu like his two opponents, contemplates how to respond. He is quickly captured with Gaara's sand and crushed, but by activating the first stage of his cursed seal and strengthening his bones, he avoids death. Gaara tries once more, using even more sand to crush Kimimaro and the surrounding area, but Kimimaro again survives.

Chapter 216
With level two of his cursed seal active, Kimimaro is able to outrun Gaara 's sand and break through some of his more basic defences. He uses his spine to immobilise Gaara and creates a battering ram out of bone. Kimimaro claims it to be capable of breaking through any defence, so Gaara creates his strongest defence: a Shukaku replica. As the two test which is superior, Orochimaru and Kabuto discuss Kimimaro. The last member of the Kaguya clan, Kimimaro is a natural prodigy with the clan's Shikotsumyaku. Both repeat their regrets that Kimimaro's illness will soon cause his death, depriving Orochimaru of such a useful ability.

Chapter 217
Gaara 's defence proves stronger than Kimimaro 's attack. Defeated, Kimimaro finds solace in that, when he dies, he will continue to live on in Orochimaru 's heart. Gaara tells him he has been brainwashed and buries him underground. Kimimaro attacks again as he sinks, sprouting a field of bones from the ground, but Gaara protects himself and Lee from damage. Kimimaro emerges from one of the bones, telling them he was not brainwashed and preparing another attack. He succumbs to his illness before he can follow through. Lee and Gaara discuss Kimimaro and how strong he was, which Gaara observes to have been because he fought for Orochimaru. Even if someone is evil, people who consider them precious will always fight for them. At the Valley of the End, Naruto finally tracks Sasuke down.

Naruto, Volume 25

Chapter 218
Sasuke tries to ignore Naruto and continue on to Orochimaru. Remembering Sakura 's earlier failure to persuade Sasuke, Naruto asks why he would turn away from everything and everyone in Konoha. Sasuke responds that he owes them nothing and has finished his business with the village. When Naruto attacks him in anger, Sasuke adds that he didn't become any stronger by staying in Konoha. Orochimaru can give him the power he desires. Naruto reminds him of Orochimaru's actions and his intent to take Sasuke's body. Sasuke does not care, so Naruto promises to bring Sasuke home by force if necessary.

Chapter 219
Sasuke remembers that he and Naruto were interrupted the last time they fought. Intending to settle that contest, Sasuke attacks him. He is impressed by the power granted to him by his newly-evolved cursed seal and concludes he has made the right choice by defecting to Orochimaru. Naruto counterattacks in an effort to bring Sasuke back to his senses. Sasuke claims to have always been quite aware of what he was doing, even when he was wasting his time in Konoha. He is not driven by future possibilities, his actions determined by his past with Itachi.

Chapter 220
One day when they were younger, Sasuke accompanied Itachi on one of his training sessions. Impressed by Itachi's skills, Sasuke asked Itachi to teach him something, but Itachi, as always, refused by poking him on the forehead and promising to help him later. As they returned home, Sasuke marvelled at the Uchiha clan 's accomplishments as explained to him by Itachi. When they encountered their father, Fugaku, he spoke to Itachi about an approaching mission. Itachi refused to take part, wishing to take part in Sasuke's Academy orientation. Seeing that Itachi was determined, Fugaku volunteered to go in his place.

Chapter 221
Sasuke was pleased to have Fugaku accompany him on his first day at the Academy. However, the weight of his father's, his instructors', and even his classmates' expectations for him to measure up to Itachi 's achievements left him disheartened. Despite Sasuke's best efforts and initial praise from his father, the pressure intensified. Meanwhile, Itachi, burdened by the anticipated responsibilities as the future of the Uchiha clan, began showing signs of strain. At one point, he speculated that Sasuke harbored resentment towards him. Sasuke tried to convey that this wasn't the case, but Itachi insisted that, as an older brother, his role was to serve as an obstacle for Sasuke.

Chapter 222
Itachi was confronted by members of the Konoha Military Police Force about his recent actions, having not lived up to the Uchiha clan 's expectations since he joined the Anbu. They questioned him about the death of Shisui Uchiha, Itachi's close friend, who had been instructed to keep tabs on Itachi's movements. Although Shisui's death appeared to be a suicide, the police believed Itachi may have staged the scene. Itachi attacked them and easily overpowered them, expressing his distaste for the clan. Fugaku stepped in and demanded Itachi's apology, but Itachi persisted, saying he had lost faith in the clan's future. It was only after Sasuke 's pleaded for him to stop that he apologised.

Chapter 223
Sasuke thought about that tension that had arisen between Itachi and Fugaku, wondering what could have ruined Itachi's standing amongst the Uchiha. However, from that point further, Fugaku became interested in Sasuke's development. After he taught Sasuke the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique in less time than it had taken to teach Itachi, Fugaku said he was proud of Sasuke for the first time. He added that Sasuke should no longer try to follow in Itachi's footsteps. Sasuke nevertheless continued to idolise Itachi.

Chapter 224
Sasuke asked his mother about Fugaku, wondering what their father really thought of him and Itachi. She assured him that Fugaku only ever had words of praise for Sasuke and that his interest in Itachi was only for the Uchiha clan 's benefit. Soon afterwards, Sasuke returned home one night to find all the members of his clan dead; murdered by Itachi. Itachi used his Mangekyō Sharingan to torture Sasuke and destroy the facade of a loving older brother he had assumed for so long. Explaining to have killed the Uchiha to measure his abilities, Itachi added that Sasuke now represented his greatest challenge. If Sasuke were to grow up hating him and acquire the Mangekyō Sharingan, they would be a match. However, to gain it, Sasuke would need to kill his closest friend.

Chapter 225
Itachi confirmed that he had killed Shisui to acquire the Mangekyō Sharingan, the death of one's closest friend being needed to awaken it. He directed Sasuke to the Naka Shrine and encouraged him to use the information stored there to become enough to gain power and kill him, avenging their clan. Sasuke passed out and woke up as the last Uchiha in Konoha. Distraught over the loss of the family that had just started to accept him, Sasuke agreed to live the rest of his life hating Itachi. Sasuke, realising that Naruto is his closest friend, decides to kill him to pave the way towards killing Itachi.

Chapter 226
Naruto tries to find the logic in killing one's closest friend. Sasuke attacks him, pointing out that nobody will interrupt their fight this time. Sasuke prepares his Chidori to kill Naruto. Naruto, intending to drag Sasuke back to Konoha, prepares his Rasengan. Their attacks collide with each other.

Naruto, Volume 26

Chapter 227
Since their Chidori and Rasengan are somewhat of equal power, Sasuke and Naruto are flung apart. Sasuke is angry that Naruto could match him, while Naruto is disappointed to find that Sasuke really did intend to kill him. As he tries to come to terms with this, he is attacked by Sasuke, who wants to finish the battle quickly. Naruto dodges and reflects on the long rivalry he has had with Sasuke as well as the fact that he was always secretly been jealous too. When Sasuke catches Naruto and prepares a finishing blow, Naruto, wondering if they were ever really friends, begins using the Nine-Tails ' chakra.

Chapter 228
Kakashi learns of Sasuke 's defection and the Sasuke Recovery Team, an under-qualified team of genin, being sent to bring him back. He races from Konoha and instructs his ninken to find Naruto and Sasuke, hoping to reach them before they kill each other. Meanwhile, Sasuke has pierced through Naruto's shoulder with his Chidori. Having missed the heart, Sasuke begins to choke Naruto so that he can kill him and gain the Mangekyō Sharingan. The Nine-Tails ' chakra begins to leak out before he can do so, forcing Sasuke to release Naruto and healing Naruto's injury. Naruto threatens to break all of the bones in Sasuke's body in order to keep him safe from Orochimaru.

Chapter 229
Surprised by the Nine-Tails ' chakra, Sasuke asks Naruto what he is. Naruto responds that he is a friend. Naruto attacks and Sasuke is unable to keep up with his speed. Naruto begins beating sense into him, causing Sasuke to yell that Naruto, never having had a family, can't understand what it's like to lose them. Naruto admits that this is true, but says he had come to think of Sasuke as a brother. Realising that Naruto regards him with a familial bond, Sasuke's Sharingan fully develops. He puts on his Konoha forehead protector and promises to sever their bond so that Naruto will no longer pursue him.

Chapter 230
By putting on his Konoha forehead protector, Sasuke acknowledges Naruto as his equal, both being strong and both knowing what it is to be lonely. However, Sasuke claims that Naruto lacks the power to scratch the forehead protector, and that once he has killed Naruto he will become even stronger. Naruto attacks and Sasuke, his Sharingan having matured, is able to predict his movements and dodge his strikes. He attacks Naruto's openings and repels him. Within Naruto's subconscious, the Nine-Tails grants him more of its chakra, allowing Naruto to obtain the one-tailed form.

Chapter 231
Seeing his one-tailed form, Sasuke finally understands why others find Naruto so interesting. Naruto lunges at him and, although Sasuke's Sharingan is able to predict Naruto's movements, it cannot predict the chakra shroud's actions. Sasuke tries to attack from a distance but the shroud not only protects Naruto, it also extends his physical range. Discovering that he is no match, Sasuke advances his cursed seal to its second level to prove his abilities are superior.

Chapter 232
Although Naruto 's one-tailed form and Sasuke 's level two cursed seal form make them equal matches, the two power sources have negative effects on their respective bodies. Deciding it is time to put an end to the fight and their history together, the two prepare their final attacks. Naruto forms a Rasengan and Sasuke creates his Chidori. The two charge at each other and clash their techniques.

Chapter 233
Naruto 's Nine-Tails -fuelled Rasengan and Sasuke 's cursed seal -powered Chidori creates a sphere of chakra around them. Within the sphere Sasuke punches Naruto and Naruto scratches Sasuke's forehead protector, doing what Sasuke claimed he could not. They stand together as the sphere dissipates and when it is gone Sasuke stands over an unconscious Naruto. Sasuke's forehead protector falls off and, as he starts coughing up blood, he looks down at Naruto. It starts to rain and Kakashi finally arrives, though he finds Naruto alone and defeated.

Chapter 234
Kakashi regrets the way things have turned out and gathers up Naruto. Because of the rain he has lost Sasuke 's trail, so he carries Naruto back to Konoha. Sasuke staggers towards Orochimaru, having decided not to kill Naruto. Although that would have given him strength in the form of the Mangekyō Sharingan, acquiring it would have been what Itachi wanted, which Sasuke is not willing to do. Kakashi marvels at the choice of location for Naruto and Sasuke's battle: the Valley of the End. Their battle being much like the one that formed the valley, Kakashi wonders if battles like this will continue forever. Meanwhile, an Akatsuki member emerges from the ground and comments on the battle.

Chapter 235
Naruto wakes up as Kakashi carries him back to Konoha, allowing him to hear about the fates of the rest of the Sasuke Recovery Team. Tsunade is hard at work trying to save Chōji from the side-effects of the Three Coloured Pills. Kiba and Akamaru, though badly injured, are expected to make a complete recovery. A team of medical-nin is hard at work trying to regenerate Neji 's wounds. Shikamaru, having only suffered a dislocated finger, is hit hardest by what happened to his team. He considers giving up on being a ninja, since he wasn't able to protect his friends. His father, Shikaku, points out that even if he quits his friends will continue to be put in dangerous situations, but when they are Shikamaru will not be able to help them. Tsunade informs them that all the members of the team will be fine and that Naruto has also been safely recovered. However, since Sasuke escaped, the mission was a failure. Elated that nobody died under his command, Shikamaru vows to not fail again.

Naruto, Volume 27

Chapter 236
Shikamaru points out to Tsunade that a medical-nin should have been assigned to the Sasuke Recovery Team. She agrees, but says that being a medical-nin requires "something special". Shikamaru goes to visit Naruto in the hospital and gets confirmation that Sasuke would not come back to Konoha. Sakura overhears this but pretends not to, entering the room to see how Naruto is doing. Naruto apologises for failing but she avoids the subject. He persists, saying that he will one day fulfil his promise of bringing Sasuke home. Seeing how much Naruto has gone through, Sakura leaves after telling him that he won't need to fulfil that promise by himself next time. Sakura goes to see Tsunade and asks to learn how to become a medical-nin. Seeing that Sakura has that "special something", the desire to avoid losing those one is close to, Tsunade accepts.

Chapter 237
Although Sakura has said she will help him find Sasuke, Naruto is unwilling to wait for her and wants to try again as soon as he is better. Jiraiya visits him and offers to train him since Akatsuki won't be coming after him for another three years. Naruto declines, saying he needs to take Sasuke back from Orochimaru. Jiraiya tells him that Orochimaru won't be able to take Sasuke's body for another three years. He also suggests giving up on Sasuke, having previous experience with his own futile attempts to persuade Orochimaru to change his ways. Only a fool, he claims, would pass up years of training to save someone who doesn't want saving. Naruto says he would rather be a fool. Happy with this answer, Jiraiya leaves, telling Naruto that they will leave for his training as soon as he gets out of the hospital.

Chapter 238
Sasuke arrives at Orochimaru 's base and makes clear that his only interest is gaining power. Sakura progresses through her medical-nin training rapidly. Kiba tells Shino about the mission he missed out on. Neji trains to overcome his Byakugan 's blindspot with his uncle. Hinata arrives with some tea. Neji asks her whether she will see Naruto when he departs for his training. Kiba and Shino arrive, with Kiba saying how Hinata fainted when she saw Naruto all bandaged up, much to her embarrassment. Chōji takes advantage of his stomach's recovery with a feast, but expresses his desire to start training. Lee trains nonstop. Shikamaru says goodbye to the Three Sand Siblings as they leave Konoha. Naruto has a meal with Iruka before departing for his three years of training with Jiraiya. Hinata watches him go, vowing to become stronger too. Elsewhere, Akatsuki meets and resolves to accelerate their plans.

Chapter 239
It is the time of the Third Shinobi World War. Obito Uchiha is running late, for which his teammate, a young Kakashi Hatake, reprimands him when he eventually arrives. Kakashi, having recently become a jōnin, is given gifts by his team-mates. Rin Nohara gives him a personalised medical-kit. Their master, the future Fourth Hokage, gives him a special kunai. Obito has forgotten to get him anything. Kakashi is to be the team leader for their mission to destroy the Kannabi Bridge, which will give Konoha an advantage over Iwagakure in the war effort. As they travel through Kusagakure they discover they are being watched by an enemy ninja. Kakashi decides to deal with the ninja with a new technique: the Chidori.

Chapter 240
His master tries to stop him from attacking, but Kakashi reminds him that he is the team leader for this mission. Kakashi charges at the enemy with his Chidori, defeating wave after wave of shadow clones. When Kakashi finally reaches the real opponent, the speed of his Chidori leaves him unable to dodge a counterattack. His master saves him and quickly kills the ninja. He advises that Kakashi not use the technique again until he can overcome its drawback, and they rest for the night so that Kakashi can recover. Despite his injury, Kakashi continues to pick on Obito, drawing attention to each of his infractions of the Shinobi Rules. Though their master does not entirely approve, he explains how Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake, was disgraced when he didn't follow the rules and encourages Obito to be more understanding.

Chapter 241
Minato Namikaze leaves his students Kakashi, Obito, and Rin to destroy the Kannabi Bridge by themselves while he goes to assist Konoha 's forces on the frontlines. The three try to travel in secret but are found by enemy ninja looking for the ninja the team had encountered earlier. They kidnap Rin to see what she knows. Obito immediately tries to go after her, but Kakashi stops him, saying they must complete their mission first as the Shinobi Rules dictate. Obito lists a number of reasons why they should place saving a teammate above the mission's success, but Kakashi is unmoved. Obito leaves, claiming that those who abandon their friends are scum. He also says that Sakumo Hatake, despite being disgraced when he abandoned a mission to save his team, was right to do so.

Chapter 242
On the front lines of the Third Shinobi World War, Iwagakure 's forces have almost defeated Konoha 's. Despite this, when Konoha's Yellow Flash arrives, the surviving Konoha ninja are confident that the battle is about to turn in their favour. Meanwhile, Obito nears the location where Rin is being held captive. He is found by Taiseki, but before he can be killed he is saved by Kakashi, having been convinced to help because of Obito's words. Taiseki survives and tries to attack Obito again, but Kakashi saves him once more, though his left eye is damaged. Obito awakens his Sharingan and kills Taiseki to protect Kakashi.

Chapter 243
Kakashi ignores his damaged left eye and joins Obito in confronting Kakkō, Rin 's only remaining captor. They attack him and manage to release her. Kakkō, rather than let a group of kids continue to believe it would be that simple, causes a cave-in. Obito pushes Kakashi out of the way of falling debris. His right side is crushed and neither he nor his teammates are able to free him. Kakashi regrets allowing this to have happened, but Obito makes a proposition: since he never gave Kakashi a gift for becoming a jōnin, Kakashi can have his remaining Sharingan eye as a replacement for Kakashi's damaged one. Rin performs the transplant and Kakashi emerges from the rubble to face Kakkō.

Chapter 244
With his new Sharingan, Kakashi is able to overcome the Chidori 's weakness; though the attack is still fast, the Sharingan gives him enough reaction time to avoid counterattacks. He kills Kakkō and returns to Obito 's side. With Iwagakure reinforcements incoming, Obito asks Kakashi to take Rin away and protect her from harm. When the cave-in resumes, Kakashi reluctantly complies. Obito dies, regretting that he couldn't spend more time with his team while also regretting the fact that he couldn't tell Rin that he loved her. Kakashi attacks the newly arrived Iwagakure ninja to fulfil his promise, but soon loses consciousness. He awakes some time later to find the enemies dead, having been killed by his master. With Rin safe, they complete their mission by destroying the Kannabi Bridge.

Naruto, Volume 28

Chapter 245
After two-and-a-half years of training, Naruto returns to Konoha. Kakashi greets him soon after his arrival and receives Icha Icha Tactics as a gift from Naruto, the only book Jiraiya has had time to write these past few years. Jiraiya leaves Naruto's training up to Kakashi once again while he goes to investigate Akatsuki. Naruto also runs into Sakura and Konohamaru soon after getting back. Konohamaru demonstrates his Sexy Technique, which Naruto is unimpressed with, claiming to have invented even more perverted techniques. Sakura demonstrates the monstrous strength gained from training with Tsunade by hitting Naruto in disgust. Naruto and Sakura reform Team 7 under Kakashi's leadership, who suggests they have a bell test just like they did when the team was first formed years ago.

Chapter 246
Naruto and Sakura must once again take one of two bells from Kakashi. Since there are only two of them this time (a fact that devastates Naruto and Sakura), there are no underlying lessons of teamwork. Because Naruto and Sakura are no longer fresh genin, Kakashi does not read his new Icha Icha Tactics book and immediately uncovers his Sharingan. Naruto once again attacks before being given permission, though he is not as easily subdued by Kakashi this time. The contest continues into the night but Naruto and Sakura cannot get close enough to Kakashi. Naruto opts for a trick; he threatens to spoil the ending of Icha Icha Tactics, forcing Kakashi to shut his ears to avoid hearing it and his eyes to avoid reading Naruto's lips. This creates an opening for Naruto and Sakura to take a bell.

Chapter 247
Sakura takes Naruto for a tour of Konoha to reacquaint him with the village. They run into Shikamaru escorting Temari from the village, the two working together in anticipation of the next Chūnin Exams. They inform Naruto that he is the only member of their group to still be a genin, everyone else now either a chūnin or, in some cases, a jōnin, and Gaara has become the Fifth Kazekage. In Sunagakure, Gaara has a meeting with the village's council as they discuss rumours of an impeding Akatsuki attack. Yūra begins acting peculiar following the meeting just as cloaked individuals approach the village. He eliminates Sunagakure's border guards to grant the Sasori and Deidara passage. Sasori is glad to see Yūra has remained a loyal sleeper agent, and Deidara prepares to capture Gaara for the tailed beast sealed within him.

Chapter 248
Deidara, riding a clay bird, eliminates Sunagakure 's scouts keeping and eye out for him or other Akatsuki personnel. When he infiltrates the village he is immediately confronted by Gaara, who knew that the bird was not a native of the area. Gaara wastes no time in attacking Deidara, dedicating great volumes of sand to try and crush him. Deidara's attempts at counterattacks are ineffective since Gaara's Shield of Sand protects him from all incoming attacks. Although he is initially successful at avoiding Gaara, Deidara's left arm is ultimately crushed by Gaaras' sand.

Chapter 249
While freeing himself from Gaara 's sand, Deidara notices that Gaara seems to have two sand sources: the sand of the desert surrounding them and a special kind used for defence and precision attacks. The Sunagakure villagers watch the battle from the ground below, Kankurō remembering Gaara's desire to protect the village and its inhabitants with his life. The villagers, no longer fearing Gaara as they once did, encourage him to defeat his opponent. Taking advantage of their presence, Deidara drops a C3 explosive on the village. Gaara shields the village from the explosion but, in his preoccupation, is almost hit by one of Deidara's clay explosives. His Shield of Sand blocks it in time, but Gaara finds that Deidara has managed to hide explosives in this special sand. After they detonate, Gaara uses the last of his energy to make sure that the sand from their battle should not fall on the entire village before Deidara captures him.

Chapter 250
Deidara takes Gaara 's unconscious body and flies off. Kankurō follows him while the other Sunagakure forces regroup and send word to Konoha of what has happened. Soon after Deidara reunites with Sasori they are confronted by Kankurō, who is determined to save his brother. He brings out his three puppets, but Sasori has no difficulty blocking his first attack. In Konoha, Naruto argues with Tsunade over what kind of mission the reformed Team 7 should go on. When they hear of Gaara's kidnapping, Tsunade immediately assigns them to go to Sunagakure to assist in the rescue of the Kazekage.

Chapter 251
Kankurō has been defeated, his puppets destroyed. He makes one last attempt to strike Sasori; however, having created the puppets years ago, Sasori easily stops Kankurō. Having managed to poison Kankurō during the battle, Sasori leaves with Deidara, knowing Kankurō will die in three days' time. Kankurō loses consciousness and is collected by Sunagakure forces sent to provide backup. Suna's medical-nin can't cure him, but are able to learn that Kankurō's injuries were Sasori's doing. In Konoha, Team 7 prepares to depart. Jiraiya speaks with Naruto before he leaves, reminding him not to use that technique. As they head to Suna they encounter Temari, also on her way back to Suna.

Chapter 252
Team 7 informs Temari that Gaara has been kidnapped by Akatsuki, so she joins them in rushing back to Sunagakure. Naruto voices his disgust with Akatsuki for pursuing both Gaara and himself because they are jinchūriki, a horrible punishment for those who have been ostracised by others for their whole lives. Temari is glad that Naruto at least can relate to her little brother. Sakura also notes that Itachi, who Sasuke joined Orochimaru in order to kill, is part of Akatsuki. She concludes that stopping Akatsuki is in the best interest of both Naruto and Sasuke. In Sunagakure, Baki tries to get Chiyo to cure the poisoned Kankurō. She has no interest until she discovers that the one who poisoned Kankurō was Sasori, her grandson.

Chapter 253
Despite her best efforts, Chiyo can do nothing to help Kankurō. She suggests that only Tsunade would be able to counteract Sasori 's poison. Team 7 and Temari arrive in Sunagakure shortly afterwards and are informed of Kankurō's condition. Temari goes to see him and Sakura, Tsunade's disciple, offers to cure him. She removes the poison from his body and asks Chiyo to help her find ingredients for an antidote. Tsunade, meanwhile, is concerned that Team 7 may have difficulties with rescuing Gaara so sends Team Guy as backup.

Naruto, Volume 29

Chapter 254
Using the poison removed from Kankurō 's body, Sakura makes three antidotes for Sasori 's poison, one of which she gives to Kankurō to neutralise any poison still in his system. Conscious again, Kankurō gives Team 7 a piece of Sasori 's clothing he obtained during their battle to help them find Gaara 's location. Before they leave, Kankurō pleads for Naruto to save his brother. Although Temari is originally to escort Team 7, Chiyo volunteers to go instead, wishing to see Sasori, her grandson. Elsewhere, Sasori and Deidara arrive at an Akatsuki base with Gaara. They meet with their leader, who convenes the other members to extract Shukaku from Gaara's body.

Chapter 255
Akatsuki begins removing Shukaku from Gaara 's body, a process that will take three days of intense concentration. Team 7 determines that Gaara has been taken to the Land of Rivers. Since Team Guy is closest to that location, Pakkun is sent to guide them. Zetsu sees Team Guy approaching and informs the rest of Akatsuki. Kisame, having a score to settle with Guy, volunteers to stop them. He attacks Team Guy, but is disappointed to find that Guy doesn't remember him.

Chapter 256
Kisame spits a large volume of water from his mouth, converting the desert around them into a lake. He attacks Guy, but the rest of Team Guy protects him. Meanwhile, Team 7 heads towards the Akatsuki base where Gaara is being held. Sakura asks about Akatsuki's reasons for pursuing Naruto and Gaara, which Chiyo explains to be to gain the nine tailed beasts. Zetsu sees them and tells the rest of Akatsuki. Just as Kisame was sent to deal with Team Guy, Itachi is sent to stop Team 7.

Chapter 257
Knowing how skilled with genjutsu Itachi is, Kakashi warns Team 7 not to make eye contact with him. Chiyo points out that they are superior in numbers, but Kakashi explains that they cannot compete with Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan. He then asks how much Itachi's eyes have deteriorated, surprising Itachi. Team 7 prepares for a joint assault. Meanwhile, Team Guy continues to fight Kisame. In order to focus his attention on Guy, Kisame catches the rest of the team in a prison of water.

Chapter 258
Naruto attacks Itachi but finds that, despite his attempts to avoid it, he has been caught in a genjutsu. Elsewhere, Guy must fight Kisame alone, the rest of Team Guy having been captured. After Kisame attacks him, Guy realises that he must be serious with the battle. He opens the sixth of the Eight Gates and assaults Kisame with his Morning Peacock. Neji manages to free himself and his team just in time to see Kisame's defeat. Afterwards they examine the body but are confused by what they find.

Chapter 259
Naruto is stuck in Itachi 's genjutsu. He tries to free himself by using the Genjutsu Cancel taught to him by Jiraiya, but Itachi neutralises the attempt. He torments Naruto with visions of Sasuke, Sakura, and Gaara and his inability to help any of them. Sakura and Chiyo are able to release him. Kakashi asks for Naruto's help in fighting the actual Itachi.

Chapter 260
Itachi attacks Team 7 with his Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique. They manage to avoid the attack and Kakashi engages Itachi. Itachi tries to catch him in a genjutsu but finds that it is only a shadow clone. Having created an opening, Kakashi instructs Naruto to attack. Naruto then strikes Itachi with his Big Ball Rasengan. When looking at the dead body, they discover that it was only a body double used remotely by Itachi, just as Kisame had done in his fight with Team Guy. Team 7 and Team Guy continue on to the Akatsuki lair, Akatsuki having bought the necessary time to continue Shukaku 's removal from Gaara 's body.

Chapter 261
Out of curiosity Sakura questions Chiyo about jinchūriki, individuals that have had a tailed beast sealed within them. Experiments intended to help in controlling the power of their tailed beast, jinchūriki have access to great power, power that interests Akatsuki. Sakura asks what will happen to Gaara or any other jinchūriki that has had its tailed beast removed. Chiyo says they will die. Sakura worries about Naruto, but he says there is no need. They continue towards Akatsuki's base. Akatsuki, meanwhile, finishes extracting Shukaku from Gaara's body. At that same moment Team Guy arrives outside.

Chapter 262
Team Guy tries to break into the Akatsuki lair, alerting Akatsuki to their presence. Elsewhere, knowing they are running out of time to save Gaara, Naruto picks up the speed. Chiyo asks Kakashi why Naruto is so committed to saving Gaara. Just as Gaara is the jinchūriki of Shukaku, Naruto is the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, a similarity that transcends the fact they are from rival villages. Touched, Chiyo reveals that she was the one who sealed Shukaku into Gaara's body, and wonders if perhaps ruining Gaara's life to give Sunagakure a weapon was a mistake. Team 7 joins up with Team Guy.

Naruto, Volume 30

Chapter 263
Sasori and Deidara are instructed to deal with Team 7 and Team Guy and to capture Naruto, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox 's jinchūriki. Before they can break into the Akatsuki lair, Team 7 and Team Guy must bring down the barrier blocking their entrance. The five tags that create the barrier need to be removed simultaneously, so Team Guy splits up, locates the tags, and does so. They are immediately attacked by exact copies of themselves. Meanwhile, Team 7 breaks into the base and finds Sasori and Deidara with Gaara 's body.

Chapter 264
Deidara tells Team 7 that they are too late; Gaara is dead. Naruto, enraged, attacks them, but Deidara merely flies off with Gaara's body. Naruto pursues him to get back Gaara's body and Kakashi goes with him, instructing Chiyo and Sakura to keep Sasori busy until Team Guy returns. Team Guy, however, is preoccupied with fighting their own duplicates. Sakura is concerned about fighting Sasori by themselves, but Chiyo tells her not to worry. Sasori removes his Akatsuki cloak, revealing a scorpion-like body, and states his intentions to kill them both.

Chapter 265
Chiyo informs Sakura that Sasori is hiding within Hiruko, a puppet used as his armour. Sakura believes that Chiyo, as Sasori's grandmother, will have useful knowledge of Sasori's puppets, but they have been apart for too long for this to be the case. They must also be wary of the fact that Sasori's entire arsenal is likely coated with poison. Chiyo is nevertheless confident in their success. Meanwhile, Deidara informs Naruto and Kakashi that Sasori is stronger than he is and suggests they go back to help. Sasori attacks, but Sakura dodges his attacks with unusual dexterity and destroys Hiruko.

Chapter 266
In Sunagakure, the Suna council discusses Gaara 's kidnapping. Some councillors suggest that this has been a blessing, an opportunity to finally get rid of the village's jinchūriki. Others at least agree that it would not be worth looking for Gaara, remembering the complications that arose years earlier when Sunagakure went searching for the Third Kazekage. Elsewhere, Naruto attacks Deidara who, after dodging the attack, points out how peculiar it is for anyone to want Gaara back, jinchūriki typically being despised. Meanwhile, Sasori observes that Chiyo has been controlling Sakura like a puppet to help her dodge attacks. He emerges from the rubble of Hiruko and Chiyo is amazed to find that he still looks like a boy, due to having made himself a puppet. Determined to show his grandmother that he won't be so easy to defeat, he reveals another puppet: the Third Kazekage.

Chapter 267
Chiyo realises that Sasori was responsible for the Third Kazekage 's disappearance years earlier, adding the deaths of three Kazekage to his resumé. Having since turned the Third into a puppet, Sasori attacks Chiyo and Sakura with it. Although Chiyo controls Sakura like a puppet to help her avoid the Third's poisonous strikes, they are overwhelmed by the puppet's attacks. Chiyo opts to bring out the Mother and Father, the first puppets Sasori created, to block the Third.

Chapter 268
The Mother and Father puppets were created by Sasori to look like and serve the function of his own parents, they having died when he was young. Since they were only puppets, they could not give him love and he lost interest in them, leaving them in Chiyo 's possession. Chiyo fights the Third Kazekage puppet with them and they are able to overpower it in a normal fight. The Third, having once been human, retains all of the abilities he had in life, including the Iron Sand. Sasori neutralises the puppets with the Iron Sand and attacks Chiyo and Sakura with it.

Chapter 269
Chiyo protects herself and Sakura from the Third Kazekage 's puppet 's Iron Sand with a shield installed in her arm. The Iron Sand nullifies the arm afterwards. Although Chiyo is now handicapped, Sakura realises that Sasori, a puppeteer, can only be defeated by Chiyo, another puppeteer. Since normal puppets can easily be defeated by the Iron Sand, Sakura offers herself as Chiyo's puppet. This increased agility, combined with Sakura's superhuman strength, allows them to counter the Third's attacks.

Chapter 270
Temari and Kankurō depart from Sunagakure, intending to finally join the effort to rescue Gaara. Naruto and Kakashi meanwhile are still struggling to get Gaara's body back from Deidara. Elsewhere, Sasori grows tired of Sakura 's continued success with dodging the Third Kazekage 's attacks, so covers the area in Iron Sand. She is injured and collapses, the Iron Sand having been soaked in Sasori's poison. The Third moves in to finish her off but Sakura gets up at the last minute and destroys the puppet. Sakura reveals to Chiyo that she gave herself the antidote she created earlier, and is now immune to the poison for the next three minutes. She gives the last vial of antidote to Chiyo and encourages her to end the battle before they need to use it too.

Chapter 271
Kakashi tries to get Naruto to calm down so that they can team-up against Deidara, suggesting a plan that will utilise both of their strengths. Meanwhile, Sasori cannot understand how Sakura is able to move after being poisoned. When he sees her healing her injuries he realises that she is a medical-nin and that she has perhaps created an antidote. Since this would mean she is no ordinary opponent, Sasori gives up on other puppets and removes his robe, revealing that his body is a puppet too. He attacks Sakura and separates her from Chiyo, and then turns his attention to the defenceless Chiyo.