Original subtitles

[running footsteps]

-Well, they sure haven't been here yet.

-Not yet.

We should set up a perimeter and keep watch.

-Argh. -I don't know anything.

And I couldn't tell you, even if I did.

-No use.

What do we do with him?

-Ahh!

-Let's let Ibiki squeeze some answers out of him.

-I can't find any sign of the Akatsuki in this place.

-No, same here.

It doesn't look like anyone's been through this place

for days.

If they're coming, they haven't come yet.

-So what now, Aoba?

[choking]

-Well, there haven't been any requests for backup

from the units sent to the other four collection offices.

-Meaning none of them has made contact with the Akatsuki

yet, either.

-Unless one of them is in the middle of a fight right now.

-Oh.

-Oh, I wouldn't worry.

Especially not if it's Asuma's team

that's made contact with them.

You guys know better than anyone what a tough old warrior

Asuma is.

-We certainly do.

-Yeah.

And he's got Shikamaru with him.

-All right.

Let's get out of here and figure out what our strategy is.

-Hmm.

-Let's go.

[soft grunt]

-First of all, let's go over everything we know so far.

The Akatsuki are headed for one of five collection offices,

and there's been no call for backup

from the other four teams.

And it's clear they haven't been anywhere near this one yet.

-Which means that they're--

-Mmm.

-Yeah, you've got a point.

There's always a chance that the Akatsuki are still on their way here.

-So we wait, then.

And when they show up, we strike.

Got it?

[eagle cry]

-I want a man covering every possible approach

the enemy might use.

So, like we discussed, fan out, take up your positions,

and wait.

-Right.

-Where the hell are the Akatsuki?

[theme music - in japanese]

[birds calling]

-Kakazu.

It took you long enough.

[grunting]

[knives clashing]

-Way too slow.

-That's one of them down.

-Hmm.

-Ow.

That hurts.

Who are you people?

-What the hell?

We both hit his vital spots.

-Quit sticking it in like that.

I said knock it off.

That hurts.

-What is this?

Is he immortal?

-Isn't that obvious, you fool?

Now, then.

Once again.

Who are you people?

[grunt]

-That symbol.

That's from the Guardian Shinobi something-or-other.

Oh, terrific.

Looks like I'm going to have to go back

into that stinky collection office.

Awww.

-(VOICEOVER) Chiriku.

-Hmm.

We are Shinobi of the Leaf village.

Our orders are to capture or eliminate you Akatsuki.

We already know you usually operate in pairs.

My original idea was to take down one of you

first, then capture the other.

But I guess that plan's going to have to change.

-(VOICEOVER) So he's one of the Akatsuki, huh?

His powers are incredible.

My Shadow Stitching is not going to be enough.

[laughter]

-Not your lucky day.

I'm afraid you chose the wrong one of us to start with.

-Your partner.

Where is he?

[gulp]

-I'm free of his jutsu.

-Hmm?

-Kotetsu. Izumo. Retreat!

-That fellow in front.

Well, well.

For once, you struck gold, Hidan.

-Kakazu.

Just stay out of this, all right?

I want these three for my ritual.

You can have them after.

-(VOICEOVER) Kakazu, huh?

And Hidan.

-Very well.

But don't get careless, or you're dead.

-Not that again.

Knock it off, will you?

Believe me, I wish someone would kill me.

But that's not possible.

-(VOICEOVER) What's he doing with that diagram?

-I'll attack alone.

Try to trap Mr. Immortal with your Shadow Stitching.

Capture him, even if it's only for an instant.

That's all the time I'll need to take his head off.

-This kind of move is crazy risky.

It's not like you.

-I'll go in with you.

-Don't you guys get it?

It's the only move we've got!

[gulp]

-(VOICEOVER) I've never seen Asuma like this.

-Look.

These two are stronger than I am.

Izumo and Kotetsu.

You two will provide Shikamaru with backup

against the other Akatsuki.

-Now that we have an idea of the enemy's strength,

wouldn't it be better for us to fall back and regroup?

-You think they're going to let us just turn around

and walk away?

If we don't stand and fight them right now,

we'll be slaughtered.

And the Leaf village will be in even greater danger.

To penetrate the enemy's line, sometimes you

have to risk a bold move.

-But I thought you always hated risky moves like that.

just like me.

-To defend your King from a superior opponent,

one must make some sacrifices.

-(VOICEOVER) He's not seriously thinking of sacrificing

himself, is he?

One of these guys has untold powers and abilities.

The other is immortal.

It's true, we don't stand much of a chance, but still.

For Asuma to make himself a sacrificial piece?

-Shogi?

But it's such a drag.

-I know you're a lazy bones, Shikamaru.

But that's what makes you so good at thinking

of clever stratagems to get around trouble or hard work.

-Mmm.

-You see, Shogi is a game of countless variations,

all determined by how you utilize

the characteristics of the individual pieces.

It's a perfect game for someone like you,

who's always trying to out-think the other guy.

This book will give you all the basic rules.

The rest you'll learn as you play.

-What a pain.

Give me 10 minutes, and I'll have it down.

-You-- you beat me.

-You know, you don't have to go easy on me.

Really.

-You went with the Climbing Silver.

-It's a move from the book.

You use an advance unit to break through your opponent's lines.

-Heh, heh.

-You're not upset because you lost the game, are you?

-No.

Sacrificing your vanguard in order

to make a breakthrough-- it's just

the sort of logical shortcut I'd expect from you,

but I can't say that I like it very much.

-Hey, it's just a game.

-I suppose, but the Climbing Silver,

while it may break the enemy's line,

ends with you sacrificing your piece.

Inflicting damage on your opponent

is certainly one of the objects of the game,

but to throw away your own man on a risky gambit?

Frankly, that worries me a little bit.

-Mm-hmm.

-You know, I'm not nearly as logical as you think I am.

-Ha ha.

-Want to play again?

This time, I'll go nice and slow, OK?

And no more Climbing Silver.

-(VOICEOVER) You sacrifice a piece only when

your opponent's so powerful that you have no other option.

But which piece do you sacrifice?

We three Chunin aren't strong enough

to make such a move worthwhile.

On the contrary, Asuma would be at an even greater disadvantage

having to fight them while worrying about us.

He's right.

We'd all be slaughtered.

What's the best move then?

Our opponent has major pieces on the board.

In order to capture a major piece,

you need to dry him out by baiting a trap.

But the bait has to be tempting enough

to make him take the risk.

We're not strong enough, not tempting enough,

to act as bait.

We can only fight with the pieces we've got.

-Climbing Silver.

It's not a role that suits you.

-Heh.

Don't sweat it.

I'm not going to be the sacrificial piece.

I've got you with me, after all.

-(VOICEOVER) Ugh.

I can't attack the major pieces.

And I'm useless as bait.

Well, I can try and distract them, I guess.

-Have you finished strategizing?

Oh, that really hurts.

What pests you are, poking me right and left.

[gulp]

-They gods shall punish those who

don't understand the pain of others.

Ha.

-Mmm.

-That's a nifty little weapon you've got there.

-Asuma!

-Come on.

Get to him.

-(VOICEOVER) Hmm.

I don't want to get caught by that.

-(VOICEOVER) I'll just keep on coming at you.

-Grr!

-(VOICEOVER) Yes.

That's it, Shikamaru.

As long as he has to fight while watching out

for your Shadow Stitching, it lessens his advantage.

-Damn it.

-(VOICEOVER) It's working.

My Shadow Stitching is throwing him off enough

to give Asuma a chance.

But what if this whole gambit's a mistake?

I mean, what's the point of gaining the advantage when

you're fighting against a guy who's immortal?

When we've got limited chakra and only one life.

Oh, well.

It's too late to think about it now.

This fight doesn't really start 'til I grab him.

-No, you don't.

-Oh, no.

-Hmm?

-There's that stance again.

[singing voices]

-Ahhh!

-Yes. Chiriku's jutsu.

Of course, Chiriku is better at it than I am, but--

-Ahhhh.

-Hidan.

Don't underestimate them.

-You stay out of it.

Just keep your mouth and watch.

-Yeah. Nice move.

-(VOICEOVER) The two of them are acting in perfect sync.

-(VOICEOVER) So far, the other guy really is staying out

of it.

But we can't depend on him to stay out of it forever.

-You almost got him that time, Shikamaru.

Keep at it.

-All right. Listen up.

-Hmm?

-I may need you guys to back me up, OK?

-Ha.

It's always the way with you nonbelievers.

You're so desperate to escape your fate,

you choose the obvious line of attack.

You're so transparent.

-You play around too much when you fight, you know that?

-Now!

You've got nowhere to run this time.

-Then I won't run.

-Immortal jerk.

-I guess I'll just take care of the weak ones first.

[gasp]

-No! Leave them alone.

It's me you want!

-Captain Asuma!

[grunting]

-(VOICEOVER) All right.

If targeted attacks aren't going to be effective--

-Ha ha ha ha.

-Burning Ash!

-Huh.

-(VOICEOVER) What's he doing?

He's not moving.

[theme music - in japanese]

-What's going on?

-I don't get it.

He's the one who was nailed by the jutsu.

Why's the captain-- Oh, no.

Don't tell me--

-What?

What is it, Shikamaru?

-I don't know exactly how the guy's done it,

but it looks to me like his and Asuma's bodies

are connected somehow.

-What?

Connected?

What does that mean?

-Next time.

The Judgment.