Original subtitles

[music playing]

[soft cooing]

-There, there you go.

[soft cooing]

-Huh?

Where did you come from, so early in the morning?

[gasp] It's Tagamaru, the fastest carrier bird

the hidden sand's got!

[gasps]

-Release!

Oh no!

A level one emergency dispatch.

Go send word to the cypher corps at once!

-Oh man, it'll feel so good to be on a real mission again.

-Listen, whatever kind of mission we're given,

just take it, and don't complain about it.

-Don't sweat it.

those days are over.

-I hope so.

-Out of the way!

Out of the way!

-What was that?

-Why don't you watch where you're going?

Who do you think you are?

-(THINKING) They've called in the cypher corps, huh?

Then it's true, the carrier bird I saw earlier.

-I heard there's a level one emergency dispatch.

Are you absolutely sure?

-Yes, see for yourself.

-From the hidden sand, huh?

Release!

-The fact that they would send this to us,

they must be in some serious trouble.

-We'll find out, once I decipher it.

[theme music]

-You moved as fast as Crow.

I'm impressed.

-The spider needs to be as fast as the fly.

-I remember now.

This Ginchuriki is supposed to have a couple of siblings.

And one of them's some kind of puppet master.

That must be you, I guess.

Your name's, uh, Kanturo, right, or Kampachi [chuckling],

or something?

-It's Kankuro!

Ha!

-Forget about him.

I'm your opponent.

Deidara, quit gawking, and get out of here.

You're in the way.

-Fine.

I'll leave you to it, then.

Hm.

-Where are you going?

Ah!

-Didn't you hear me?

I'm your opponent.

-(THINKING) I'll have to take care of this one first,

then go after the other.

-Not your lucky day, my friend.

In your case, my man Sasuli is the last opponent on earth

you'd ever want to face.

-There might still be some traps remaining.

So watch your step.

Sir, the pursuit corps is ready to go, any time.

-All right.

Head out after Kankuro.

But remember, if you encounter the enemy,

avoid a battle if at all possible.

Your sole objective is to find out where their base is.

Understood?

-Sir.

-Once we know where they are, we'll

move in, and rescue the Kazekage.

So bring me back their position.

Now move out!

-Sir!

-(THINKING) Please don't do anything rash in the meantime,

Kankuro.

-OK, if that's what you want, let the puppet show begin.

Faster!

Pretty good so far.

You didn't notice that Black Ant was missing, did you?

And now, puppet show!

Secret black move, iron maiden.

The show's over.

-Huh?

Escort duty on a caravan?

Come on.

-What, have you got a problem with that?

-Since you're asking, yes.

Lousy C-rank mission, it's beneath my dignity.

-(THINKING) Here we go.

What did I just tell him?

-(THINKING) Calm down, Naruto.

Because I'm the one who's going to have to take the heat if you

don't.

-(THINKING) Just as I expected.

Nothing's changed.

-(THINKING), OK, OK, you were right. [nervous giggling]

-(SIGH) Naruto, your skills may have improved.

But mentally, you haven't matured as well.

-Naruto, I've chosen an easier mission

to start with to break you in.

You've been gone from us for a while.

-Well, who says I want an easier mission?

-So sorry, milady.

Let me talk to him.

I'm sure I can bring him around.

-You idiot!

You have now idea how ferocious Lady Tsunade can be!

Are you insane?

-The details of your mission are here.

-Right.

-Huh.

I miss the Third Hokage.

That old man was smart.

He knew what he was doing.

-Huh?

What did you say?

-Just shut up, will you?

-Lady Tsunade, terrible news.

-Now what is it?

-An emergency dispatch from the sand.

-Huh, the sand?

Where is this dispatch.

-I deciphered it as quickly as I could.

-What the?

-It's sand!

Uh!

[creaking]

It's only a sand clone.

Oh.

-Huh?

It can't be.

-No way.

-What is it?

What's happened?

-It's the Kazekage of the sand.

It seems he's been taken prisoner by the Akatsuki.

-You mean Gara.

So they're back again.

-We've been studying them.

We know more about the Akatsuki than any other village.

Therefore, the sand village has officially requested our help.

--[gasp] You're not suggesting that team Kakashi--

-This is urgent.

I haven't time to form another squad.

And besides, we have someone here

who's actually fought the Akatsuki.

Yes, but even so--

-All right.

Team Kakashi, I'm assigning you a new mission.

You're to go to the sand village at once.

Find out what's going on there.

And keep us informed.

You're to remain there, and follow their orders.

Give them any backup they need.

-(THINKING) But how?

Ah!

How does he-- how is he able to anticipate and avoid

every attack I make, and without moving a muscle?

-What's wrong?

Run out of tricks?

-I'm just getting started!

Poison mist inferno.

Consecutive needle combo.

Heh.

[gasp]

-Are you finished?

-No way.

Not even the poison mist has any effect on him.

-Have I mentioned how much I dislike making people wait.

It's against my policy.

You've had your turn.

Now it's mine.

--[gasp] Have a lot of fun trying to get through that.

-[gasp]

-Whoa.

-(THINKING) Salamander shield can withstand the impact

of thousands of tons of rocks.

[chuckling] As long as I stay behind it, you can't touch me.

-That puppet of yours does indeed

have extraordinary defensive capabilities.

But even the best made puppet has a weak spot.

KANKURO: It's no use.

What?

No, it can't be.

It didn't take him any time at all to find its weakness.

-That puppet you have is no different than any other.

You can make the individual parts as strong as you want.

But the joints are always a weak spot.

And now for the real grand finale.

-(THINKING) I'm not someone who usually believes in omens.

Still, I'm getting a bad feeling.

-Yah!

(THINKING) It's not possible.

He knows what I'm going to do almost before I do.

-You have talent.

You might even win against a different opponent.

Those puppets of yours, with all their hidden poison mechanisms,

they're not hidden from me.

-[gasp] Crow!

Black Ant!

Salamander!

(THINKING) No one's ever been able to read my hidden weapon

attacks like this.

--[chuckling] You must be wondering how I can anticipate

every attack your puppets make.

Crow, Black Ant, Salamander.

The answer is quite simple, really.

I'm the one who created them.

-Huh?

-[snoring]

-[ribbiting]

-[snoring]

-[ribbiting]

-Ah, [sputtering]

Huh?

-Roar.

-Is that scroll for me?

Well, what are you waiting for you, you idiot?

Give it to me!

Hmm, what have we got here?

That Kazekage of the hidden sand-- hmm.

This is no time for me to be sleeping on the job!

-I know I promised to finish this quickly, and not

keep you waiting.

But facing one of my own disciples using my old toys,

I can't resist savoring the moment.

-So then you have to be the legendary master craftsman

of the puppet corps, the great Sasuri of the red sand.

-I'm honored that my name is so well known,

even to a child such as you.

-You deserted us 20 years ago.

Why do you come back to us now?

-What's the point of asking questions

when you're about to die?

-Uh?

(THINKING) My body's going numb.

He used his poison.

But when?

Of course.

It happened then.

-The poison is circulating, eh?

It's over.

Huh?

Hmm.

Since you want to live so badly, I won't finish you.

I'll let the poison take its course.

You'll wish I hadn't.

Your suffering will be unimaginable.

But it will be over in less than three days.

-[panting]

Gara.

Damn it.

MALE SPEAKER: Here, he's over here.

He's passed out!

Look, his puppets have been destroyed.

OK, let's get moving.

-Be back soon, milady.

We won't let you down.

-Good.

-Naruto, good luck.

-Thanks

-Hey there.

So, off on a mission, Naruto.

-That's right.

-Well, good for you.

But more importantly, I've got some disturbing news.

The sands Kazekage have been--

-Yes, I know.

I'm dispatching a squad.

They're just about to leave.

-Mhmm.

-You know about the Akatsuki's interest in Naruto, don't you.

-I had no other choice.

It's an emergency situation.

You're running a pretty big risk.

Naruto, I want a word with you.

-Hmm?

-Listen to me, now.

You be careful around those Akatsuki, you hear?

-They've all been out looking for me, right?

Well, this way they won't have to look very far.

-It's true you've come a long way, Naruto.

But training doesn't mean a thing if you get reckless,

and blow your cool.

You still have a bad habit of losing your head, even now.

Naruto, never use that power.

You know what I'm talking about.

-Yeah, I know.

-Kakashi, make sure that kid doesn't do anything stupid.

I can trust you, right?

-Right.

-Kakashi Sensei, Sakura, come on.

What we were waiting for?

-OK, OK, coming.

-We're off.

-There he goes again.

-Worried, Aruka?

-Worried?

No, not a bit.

He's no longer a rookie Shinobi who

needs me to worry about him.

Sakura, too.

-How is it that they grow so fast?

It's a mystery.

-(THINKING) Hang on, Gara.

We're coming!

[music playing]

What's wrong, Kankuro?

Why so down in the dumps?

KANKURO: Well, I'll tell you, Tamare.

I'm trying to get my war paint off.

But this cold cream irritates my skin.

Try these new miracle cleansing wipes.

Their micro fibers soothe your skin

while they clean your pores.

KANKURO: Whoa, will you look at that?

My makeup's coming right off.

Not only that.

But if you act now, you get an extra pack free.

And they'll even throw in a handy carrying case.

KANKURO: Really, thanks for the tip, Tamare.

I'm going to rush out, and buy mine today.

NARUTO: Next time, the [inaudible] tears.

[music playing]

FEMALE SPEAKER: Ambu black ops intelligence report--

the alliance between the leaf and sand.

During the exams, an attack was launched

against the leaf village.

The sand village had conspired with the Rochimaru

to destroy the leaf.

These were perilous times, especially after the leaf

lost their reviewed Third Hokage.

But when the sand's own Kazakage was assassinated as well,

they realized they had been betrayed.

They renounced their alliance with the Rochimaru,

confessed their part in the plot,

and offered peace to the leaf.

Eager to begin the process of rebuilding, the leaf accepted.

And the two lands formed an alliance.

The sand has incorporated much of the leaf's training program

in the development of their own Shinobe.

As the lands grew closer, questions

arose about the relationship between Shikamaru and Tamare.

Shikamaru asserts that it's strictly professional.

But Naruto has his doubts.

In any case, all signs point to a strong and durable alliance,

which will benefit both lands in the future.