At last, the showdown between the old woman and her grandson begins. Sakura is confused by Sasori’s strange appearance, and Granny Chiyo explains that this is Hiruko…

Team Guy senses the result of the Sakura and Granny Chiyo’s desperate struggle while still in battle with his deadly copy. Although Guy’s team members are showing fatigue, their copies remain strong!

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.

Kakashi reveals that while he knows how to perform Rasengan, he cannot combine his own lightning-based chakra. He adds that even the Fourth Hokage, who created the move, could not combine his elemental chakra with the technique, but that Naruto might be able to. Asuma sends word to other teams about Akatsuki’s location and proceeds on despite his concern about Akatsuki’s strength. Kakuzu turns in Chiriku’s corpse despite Hidan’s complaints, and says that he is partnered with Hidan because he cannot kill him. The stress of the training causes Naruto to be enveloped in the Nine-tails's "Demon Fox's Cloak", but Yamato suppresses it.

When Kakashi strikes Kakuzu through the heart, the battle seems to be over. However, when Kakuzu not only survives the attack, but also manages to escape from Shikamaru's trap, it soon becomes clear that the fight is only just beginning..

Kabuto assigns Guren to look after Yukimaru. Guren isn't all too happy about the assignment, and things only become worse when Yukimaru falls ill on a rainy night. Elsewhere, Kiba discovers the mystery of where the dog whistle is coming from, and Tsunade sends assistance to Kakashi and Team 8.

Tsunade issues an order to call Naruto back to the village, but the elders do not trust her judgment on this issue. While Tsunade tries to convince them and prepares to join the battle herself, Kakashi fights Pain in an effort to figure out his abilities.

The Fourth Hokage appears in Naruto's mind and prevents him from foolishly setting the Kyubi free. Will this confrontation between father and son give Naruto the confidence he needs to stop Pain once and for all?

In the aftermath of the destruction of the Leaf Village, Iruka thinks back to the time when the Third Hokage first gave him the task of being Naruto's homeroom teacher at the Academy, since no one else would take him in.

An ostrich tells a story of when Naruto, Rock Lee, and Shino, all led by Kotetsu, entered the Leaf Village's animal district in an effort to find and subdue him. However, he and the other animals proved that they weren't willing to go down without a fight.

The four Kage are startled by the sudden appearance of Madara Uchiha. Having sent Sasuke away to safety using the Transportation Technique, Madara unveils to the Kage his “Project Tsuki no Me.”

It’s been two years since the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Shikamaru now has an important role within the Hidden Leaf government, and as a representative of the Leaf in the Alliance. One day, a situation develops with shinobi disappearing in droves, and Shikamaru takes on a dangerous mission.