The Sand ninja fight against time to treat Kankuro. Even the Sand’s poison expert, Granny Chiyo, is baffled. The only hope lies with the reinforcements sent by Tsunade.

As Team Kakashi continues their search for Sasuke, Naruto suddenly collapses due to his previous fight with Orochimaru. As Naruto wakes up, Sai begins to reveal more about his brother, but Orochimaru suddenly attacks them. Sakura and Yamato come to Naruto's aid against Orochimaru, while Sai continues the search. Just as Sai finds Sasuke, Yamato finds Sai's bingo book with Sasuke listed as a target for assassination.

Jiraiya is now confronted by two new Pains who both possess different abilities than the one he was fighting. Just who is Pain and how many Pains are there?

After hearing the news about Akatsuki's attack on the Hidden Leaf Village, Gaara worries about Naruto's well-being. He remembers a time in the past where Team 7 was assigned to help him out with a problem, and how nobody, especially Naruto, was eager to trust him. Yet, when his life was put in danger by people he had wronged, Naruto was the first to come to his rescue.

Konohamaru's team asks Neji to talk about Naruto's heroism. Instead, Neji tells them about an incident during the Chunin exams three years prior. While Orochimaru attacked Konoha, two rogue ninja take advantage of the commotion and kidnap Hinata. Neji, Tenten, Kiba, and Akamaru rush out to save her. They're in trouble until Hiashi shows up and saves them, telling Neji that he's the beloved memory of Hiashi's younger brother. Neji realizes Naruto's speech about destiny was right; he isn't just a slave to the clan name. Konohamaru's team complains that Naruto wasn't in the story at all, and Neji cryptically answers that Naruto was the most important part.

With Team Hawk exposed, Sasuke begins to ruthlessly take down all opposing samurai. Raikage, along with Darui and Shii, track down Sasuke. The two sides engage in battle, and Suigetsu and Juugo join the fray. Which side will win this battle of overwhelming power?

Sakura ditches her team and goes alone to Sasuke's location. Meanwhile, Madara advises Sasuke to finish off Karin, but at the last second Sakura intervenes. After so long, what interaction will take place between Sasuke and Sakura?

The Allied Shinobi Forces’ commando unit engages with the Akatsuki in the first wave of battle.

The reborn Team Kakashi continues to investigate the recent attack by Kabuto and the reincarnated shinobi when Naruto gets swallowed by a giant snake, but manages to escape using shadow clones, and accidentally ingests snakes that were present in the pond which Kabuto uses to summon Hidan.