After Shino finishes preparing his insects, he goes against Guren's crystal style. Elsewhere, while Shizune, Sakura, Ino and Hinata are bringing the sealing barrier to the Sanbi, they are being watched by Tobi and Rinji.

The battle for the Sanbi comes to an end as neither the Konoha ninja nor Orochimaru are successful at obtaining it. Tsunade classifies the mission of catching the Sanbi as a failure, for it is too dangerous to accomplish. As Naruto and the others prepare to return home, Yukimaru goes missing. Unbeknownst to everyone, Akatsuki lies in wait, and they have their own plans for the Sanbi.

In the Rain Country, Jiraiya decides to take care of three young orphans for a while. Yahiko, a spunky young boy, wants Jiraiya to train him, Konan, and Nagato to be shinobi, but it's not until he sees a strange phenomenon in Nagato that he decides to do so. What is the secret behind Nagato's Rinnengan eyes? What will become of these three children?

Itachi reveals to Sasuke that Madara is the second culprit behind the Uchiha massacre, as well as the history of the Mangekyo Sharingan and the first two Uchiha to obtain it: Madara and his brother. One question still remains: Why did Itachi really spare Sasuke's life?

Naruto, Sai, and Yamato escort Hotaru to the hidden village of the Tsuchigumo Clan. Upon arriving, however, the villagers don't seem so happy to see Hotaru. Elsewhere, after Utakata reflects upon the time he spent with her, he comes face to face with Akaboshi and his group.