Teams Kakashi and Guy reach the Akatsuki hideout. Later, the pursuit resumes, and Chiyo wonders why Naruto puts such effort into rescuing Gaara. While Granny Chiyo watches Naruto dozing off she is reminded of Sasori as a child. Granny Chiyo and Sakura rescue Naruto from ItachiРІР‚в„ўs genjutsu and, without a momentРІР‚в„ўs delay, Kakashi begins a counterattack.Р”В¬hiyo and Kakashi realize that the attack by Itachi was just a diversion, and that the Akatsuki have already begun the process of extracting the Jinchuriki from Gaara. Meanwhile, Naruto falls under ItachiРІР‚в„ўs genjutsu, and all the anti-genjutsu training he underwent with Jiraiya races through NarutoРІР‚в„ўs mind. Guy prepares to use a forbidden secret jutsu to battle Kisame. Meanwhile, Team Guy fights Kisame, wielding his legendary sword. Team Kakashi encounter Itachi Uchiha, and Kakashi warns everyone not to look into ItachiРІР‚в„ўs Sharingan Eyes. Pakkun finds the hideout of the Akatsuki and team Kakashi and Chiyo prepare to set out to get Gaara back, but Temari is ordered to stay behind and help guard the village. Noticing the dire situation, Tsunade assigns Team Guy to support the main team as a backup.Р”Р„fter extensive training under Tsunade, Sakura is now a full-fledged Medic Ninja, and treats a critically ill Kankuro.

Meanwhile, team Kakashi takes a short rest for the night. Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and Temari move through the forest and recall their past about Gaara and how he countered his beast, about the chunin exams and Sasuke.Р”Вeidara and Sasori follow the tracks to their destination while Chiyo and her brother try to use all of their knowledge and jutsu to try to heal Kankuro. Temari gets the bad news and joins Team Kakshi to search for Gaara. The Sand Village repairs the damages around the mountain area and remove the explosives set on the walls. Tsunade, immediately understanding the emergency, assigns Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi to rescue Gaara. An expert deciphers the letter and reports that Gaara, the Kazekage of the Sand has been attacked and kidnapped by a bandit. The Hidden Leaf receives the emergency letter from the Sand village. Kankuro ignores BakiРІР‚в„ўs efforts to stop him and immediately sets out in pursuit with a platoon to rescue Gaara. Gaara, his strength completely exhausted, is whisked away by Deidara. However, this provides Deidara with the opportunity to capture Gaara. In order to protect his village from DeidaraРІР‚в„ўs explosive clay, Gaara uses his chakra to create a giant sand shield. Naruto and Sakura defeat Kakashi in the survival challenge and Tsunade assigns them to a new three-man squad led by Kakashi, who tells them they are now his equals. Gaara is quick to detect DeidaraРІР‚в„ўs presence, and an aerial battle ensues with Deidara on his giant paper bird and Gaara atop sand.

The combination of Naruto and SakuraРІР‚в„ўs new powerful techniques forces Kakashi to use his Sharingan right off the bat. Learning that all of his friends now outrank him, Naruto gives a copy of Jiraiya's new book Make-Out Tactics to Kakashi Hatake, who challenges Naruto and Sakura to the bell retrieval test to evaluate their new skills. ItРІР‚в„ўs an older Naruto, who has returned from a two and a half year training journey with Jiraiya. A figure passes through the gates of the village hidden in the leaves.

Naruto shippuden episode 138