After a clever attack Naruto manages to awaken Gaara and lessen Mamozuru's power. The village's been invaded, but it is finally time for the Konoha to strike back. Many ninjas come and begin to repel the invading sand and sound ninjas. The toad king returns home and Naruto finally defeats Gaara. The third Hokage doesn't have the strength to seal Orochimaru's soul, but he seals his hands so he is no longer able to use ninja skills.

The village has been defended but at a great loss, Orochimau is defeated, but the third Hokage is dead. Gaara is defeated and Sakura is saved. Naruto and Gaara once again realize the parallels in their lives. Gaara manages to escape with his partners and Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto return to the village. There is a huge memorial service for the third Hokage and everyone from the village is there. The town has been changed forever.

We find out that not only was the Konoha's Hokage defeated but the sand Ninja's Hokage was also killed by Orochimaru. The village is looking for Jirayia to become the 5th Hokage. Two mysterious strangers arrive in Konoha. Kakashi sends Asuma and Kurenai to investigate. Asuma and Kurenai discover the two are Uchiha Itachi and Ghost Shark. Asuma and Kurenai are not match for the two and Kakashi steps in to help.

Jirayai takes Naurto on his mission to track down Tsunade. The battle with Itachi rages on. Even Kakashi is no match for the true power of Sharingan displayed by Itachi. Itachi manipulates time and space to capture Kakashi and continues to torture him for 72 hours, when in real time it lasts only a moment. Kakshi survives the attack but is terribly wounded. We discover that they are in fact after Naruto. Gai interrupts and saves the three ninjas in their battle against Itachi.

Jirayia and Naruto leave the village and Naruto is excited to learn a new techniques. Sasuke is upset by how much Naruto has grown and how strong he has become. Sasuke discovers his brother has returned and that he is after Naruto. Sasuke immediately begins to chase and try to find Naruto. Unfortunately Itachi finds Naruto before Sasuke does, and while Jiraiya is on his date. Will Naruto be saved?

We learn more about Sasuke's past and his older brother, while Sasuke is frantically searching for Naruto. Sasuke returns one night to find his entire clan killed, only to later find out that it was his own brother who killed all of them. Itachi goes back in time using his Sharigan and shows Sasuke all the people he killed. Sasuke finds Itachi and attacks him with A Thousand Birds, but is easily deflected by his older brother. Jiraiya steps in and defends Naruto and Sasuke.

Sasuke attempts to attack his older brother, but he is no match for the power of his older brother. Itachi traps Sasuke using his Sharigan and tells Sasuke that he must hate his brother stronger if he ever hopes to defeat him. Itachi and the Shark manage to escape from Jiraiya's trap, which no one has yet to escape. We learn that Jiraiya and Naruto are off to seek the last of the 3 legendary Ninjas, Tsunade who is a medical expert.

Gai returns to Konoha with Sasuke, and Naruto and Jiraiya are off to find Tsunade. Naruto and Jiraiya visit a busy town in search of Tsunade and Naruto enjoys eating a great deal of food. Jiraiya displays his amazing power to Naruto and begins to train him to use that technique. How fast can Naruto master this new techinque and when will they finally find Tsunade?

Naruto is intent on bursting the water ball with his energy, but he can not do it. It is much harder than he thought. Naruto learns that it took over 3 years for the fourth Hokage to learn, and that this skill is not only powerful but exceptionally difficult. Through various inspiration Naruto finally learns how to pop the balloon using his own style and energy. With first first phase finished Naruto begins training in the 2nd phase. Naruto finally manages to make progress with the 2nd phase, but still has much work to do.

Orochimaru is suffering from the 3rd Hokage's final strike, and also in search of Tsunade. Both Jiraiya and Orochimaru are searching for Tsunade. Naruto with inspiration from his Konoha symbol finally is able to concentrate his power and complete the 2nd phase. Orochimaru finds Tsunade before Jiraiya, what does he have in store for his previous partner?

Jiraiya demonstrates the true power of his technique and Naruto finally begins training on the third phase of his technique. Orochimaru corners Tsunade and offers her a deal. He will bring back her dead relatives if she will cure his hands from the curse caused by the 3rd Hokage's sealing technique. Orochimaru admits that once his hands are healed he will return to Konoha and destroy it.

Tsunade is a broken and torn woman and is given one week to respond to Orochimaru's request. Jiraiya and Naruto finally find Tsunade drunk in a restraunt. Jiraiya finally asks Tsunade if she will return and become the 5th Hokage of the Konoha. She insults the name of Hokage and Naruto challenges her to a battle for the honor of the Hokage. Naruto attacks but is easily knocked by Tsunade with only a flick of her finger. Naruto attacks with his new power, but is it enough to defeat Tsunade?

Naruto's attack is deflected by Tsunade. The bet is made, if Naruto can master the spiral in one week Tsunade will give him her priceless necklace and admit he can be Hokage. Naruto learns more about the tragic past of Tsunade and her necklace. Naruto now with more resolve to master his technique sets out to practice. Will Naruto be able to perfect this technique and prove his worth to Tsunade, or will Tsunade make the deal with Orochimaru?

The deadline is coming soon, and Tsunade poisons Jiraiya's drink. The meeting is scheduled and Kabuto is ordered to kill Tsunade's assisstant. Everyone is rushing to meet Tsunade. Will she make a deal with Orochimaru or will Jiraiya be able to intervene and stop her. Kabuto interrupts Orochimaru's meeting with Tsunade.

Tsunade could not bring herself to betray her relatives and she finally attacks Orochimaru and Kabuto. Kabuto displays his real power and manages to disable Tsunade. Just when Tsunade looks defeated Jiraiya interrupts and saves her. The battle quickly rages on, Naruto vs. Kabuto and Jiraiya vs. Orochimaru. The real war begins now.

Orochimaru summons his snakes and Jiraiya due to the poison is unable to counter. The epic battle between the groups rages on. Kabuto quickly disables Shinzo and Jiraiya is left to battle Orochimaru in his weakened state. Naruto defends Tsunade from Kabuto's attack, and with a genius idea he uses his shadow divided art to finally complete the spiral and hit Kabuto with it will it be enough to defeat Kabuto?

Kabuto is severely wounded, but not killed. Just before his attack Kabuto managed to strike Naruto and fatally wound him. With a new dedication and strength Tsunade saves Naruto's life. Once Orochimau realizes the true power of Naruto directs his attack at Naruto and Tsunade must now sacrifice her life to save him. Tsunade is not so easily defeated after being stabbed many times by Orochimaru's sword, she regenerates her life and begins fighting with her true power and strength. In a last desparate act all the 3 ninjas summon their most powerful beasts.

It is an epic battle between the three ninjas and their summoned beasts. Even with their combine strength Tsunade and Jiraiya are not able to easily destroy the Snake king. Tsunade with her terrible power skewers the Snake King with the Toad's sword and begins attack Orochimaru. Though severely wounded both Kabuto and Orochimaru manage to escape. Tsunade agrees to become the 5th Hokage, and finally Naruto accepts her as the new Hokage, finally they return home.

This episode is somewhat of a time killer, but is mildly funny. On their way home the group stops at some hot springs and Naruto gets caught up with some debt collectors who are after Tsunade. After much trickery and goofy encounters the situtation is finally resolved and we find out Tsunade in fact paid her debt quite a while ago. After the epic adventure, they head out and on their way home.

Tsunade returns to become the 5th Hokage but the 3rd's Grandson does not accept the 5th Hokage as the new Hokage. Tsunade finally reaches the hospital and heals the wounded ninjas. Tsunade breaks the bad news to Lee and Gai that healing Lee requires an operation that at most has a 50% success rate and if it fails Lee will die. Their are many tough decisions ahead for our ninjas as well as their new Hokage.

Konohamaru locks himself in the Hokage's room and refuses to to leave, Naruto takes it upon himself to help get Konoamaru out. Lee has a very tough decision, stop being a ninja or risk his life on a 50/50 shot operation. Tsunade begins her work as the 5th Hokage, and has a great deal of work to do. She breaks into the Hokage's room effortlessly and begins doing intense research on Lee's operation.

Lee is still debating his choice and Gai comes to comfort and talk to him. We also begin to learn more about Lee's childhood as a struggling ninja. They have a very serious talk about the operation and Lee's current state. It is very hard on both of them, finally it is decided Lee will have the operation and if it fails Gai will die with him. Tsunade finally accomplishes it, there is now a 51% chance of succeeding.

This episode is fairly funny but nothing of great importance happens. Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke gang up and try to determine what Kakashi really looks like under his mask. They run into another bit of trouble with some ninjas with whom Kakashi stopped a while ago. Nothing of great consequence or problem, more or less a humorous encounter. The episode ends with ultimately nothing happening.

The episode starts with a number of people headed for Konoha who are attacked on the road. Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto are sent out on a body guard mission on their own. They meet their target Morino Idate, though they do not know it yet. We discover Idate is not a big fan of ninjas, and that he can run like the wind. We learn that the race is actually a competition between two main families and that the Konoha have been hired to defend their runner, Idate. The race begins and our ninjas are left to chase after them.

Idate has started running in the other direction, and we find out that he has a secret boat stashed elsewhere to continue the race. We learn more about Idate and his master's past and their connection. 3 additional ninjas are chasing after Idate and are attempting to stop him. They are ambushed at sea by 3 enemy ninjas and must defend themselves. We also learn more about the history of Idate and his brother. Idate reaches the island but only to be ambushed by the last ninja hired by the other family.

Idate is being ambushed by one ninja and the 3 are being ambushed in the water by the other ninjas. Naruto using his new spiral attack is able to free himself and his friends from their watery prison. Naruto interrupt the leader of the rain ninjas but apparently are no match for him. We discover that Aoi was once a ninja of the Konoha who betrayed them to go to the Rain, and we learn about how and why Idate left the Konoha. With inspiration from Naruto Idate resolves to finish the race and win, even in his wounded state.