Naruto Shippuuden

Episode 31. “The Inheritor”

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.

Episode 32. “Return of the Kazekage”

Deidara survives his battle and begins to search for his missing arm. Meanwhile, Zetsu and 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 parting.

Episode 33. “The New Target”

This is mostly a transition episode from the Rescue Gaara Arc. Teams Kakashi and Gai 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 meets some of his old friends. Just as Choji agrees to help; Shikamaru, Choji and Naruto are attacked by a Konoha shinobi unknown to them, Sai.

Episode 34: The New Team Kakashi is Formed!

In this episode the village council tries to convince Tsunade to keep Naruto under close watch and supervision, not letting him do much. Tsunade refuses arguing he will be harder to catch on the move doing missions. We also watch Naruto first meet Sai, a new character to the series. After some brutal insults from Sai, Naruto and him are off to a very rocky start. Sai is assigned to team Kakashi by Anbu Root devision leader Danzou under the direction of the council, and very much against Naruto’s wishes. Tsunade chooses to put a new character from Anbu called Yamato on the team, taking Kakashi’s place temporarily. Yamato’s past is left a mystery.

Episode 35: Unwanted Addition

This episode starts off showing the emotionless character Sai viciously insulting Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke. Yamato is left to do whatever he can to keep the team from killing each other. As they leave we see Sai take a dirty, worn book with him. We also see him get secret orders from Danzou. These orders appear to be for Danzou’s ideals and not for Konoha. The next scene shows a conversation between Tsunade, Kakashi, Jiraya and Yamato. Jiraya explains to Yamato that the Chakra of the the Kyuubi can leak out taking control of Naruto, especially when four tails form. Jiraya also explains that he nearly died when the fourth tail formed on him. Before the team leaves, we see one more conversation Tsunade has with Danzou, where he calls the third a coward (the jerk) and learn that he is a cold military minded man who is at odds with Tsunade for her methods. He also once sought the Hokage title and lost to the Third. He made his own military devision as a result called ANBU Root. Finally, Team Kakashi heads out!

Episode 36-37: The New Team Kakashi Heads Out!

We first see the newly formed team heading out to accomplish their mission. We see Sai insulting his teammates once again causing Sakura to give him a punch he won’t soon forget. Yamato breaks up the scuffle with a wood technique that supposedly the First only could use. Just who is Yamato? Afterward they decide to take a break at a bathhouse. Naruto almost tries to peak in the girls bath, but after some good warnings about how Sakura would beat him nearly to death, he wisely decides to not look. After a good meal and a good night sleep, we see Sai waking early to go paint. Sakura, trying to be friends, talks to him about his paintings. She learns that he doesn’t feel any emotions and has never named a single one of his paintings. They continue on and stop in the middle of the night in a house made by one of Yamato’s techniques. They come up with the plan to have Yamato impersonate Sasori to get the spy to talk and then capture him.

Episode 38: Simulation

After a recap of their plan, we see the new Team Kakashi head out. They practice their plan, but in the attempt to capture Yamato (who is acting as the spy) Sai locks up Naruto and captures Yamato on his own. Even though this frustrated Naruto to no end, he lets it go because he knows that Sai will help him to get Sasuke back. Sakura tries to explain how Naruto is feeling, but Sai, being emotionless, is unable to fully grasp the concept. They end the conversation and continue on to the true Heaven and Earth Bridge.

Episode 39: Heaven and Earth Bridge

The moment has finally come! We get to finally see the plan go into fruition. Yamato transforms in Sasori and has Sakura help him get the voice right. After what seems like a long wait, we finally see the spy show up. It’s Kabuto! The second hand man of Orochimaru is back! After some conversation as Sasori, Yamato tried to attack Kabuto, but at the same moment Orochimaru himself shows up! Kabuto then attacks Yamato thinking he was Sasori. Kabuto and Orochimaru were trying to kill Sasori the whole time!! Having been revealed, Yamato is forced to call out his team. Naruto comes out looking like he wants to rip someone apart. But, alas, the episode ends and we are left waiting…