A Shinobi's Determination
An ANBU sends a message to Konoha moments before he dies, having discovered what may be Orochimaru's current hideout. Meanwhile, Orochimaru has Guren initiate a battle among a large number of experimental specimens with the survivors being used for a future operation. Naruto is warned not to use Rasen-Shuriken due to its extreme risk, and Sasuke meets a boy called Yūkimaru. Kakashi is ordered to go on a reconnaissance mission with Shino, Kiba and Hinata. Naruto is reunited with Jiraiya, who offers to train with him again

The Price of Power
Kakashi finishes off the wounded Kakuzu, and they return home. At Asuma's grave, Shikamaru tells Kurenai he will teach her unborn child. He plays Shogi with his father and reveals what Asuma told him: the king that Konoha must protect is the next generation. After studying Kakuzu's corpse, Tsunade tells Kakashi not to let Naruto use Rasen-Shuriken again because it will permanently destroy his ability to manipulate chakra. Meanwhile, Orochimaru learns of Hidan and Kakuzu's defeat and sends Kabuto to meet with a woman named Guren

Wind Style: Spiraling Shuriken!
Naruto attacks Kakuzu with Spiraling Shuriken, but his attack dissipates before he can land a hit. Meanwhile, Shikamaru uses an explosive tag to fill in the hole containing Hidan's broken body and still screaming head. He is joined by Sakura and Sai, and they head back to the others. Naruto again creates a Spiraling Shuriken, this time sending a shadow clone carrying it as a decoy. Kakuzu takes the bait, and Naruto lands a direct hit with a second Spiraling Shuriken, obliterating both of Kakuzu's replacement hearts and tearing his body apart

When You Curse Someone, You Dig Your Own Grave
Sakura and Sai leave to help Shikamaru. Hidan attempts to break out of Shikamaru's weakened hold on him, but Shikamaru uses a new technique to pull the explosive tags he set up onto his body. Shikamaru then opens a trap hole he had prepared, and reveals that his plan was to bury Hidan beneath the Nara family woods. He has a vision of Asuma entrusting his "will of fire" to him, then uses his lighter to ignite the tags on Hidan. Meanwhile, Naruto readies the jutsu he has been developing, Wind Style: Spiraling Shuriken