Original subtitles

It's been so long since we traveled by land.

Nothing's better than solid ground under your feet.

There's no doubt about it, this hot blood of mine is bonded to the land.

Hey, Guy! It's only till we reach the next harbor.

Uh... About that... Can't we change our plans and go to the Land of Lightning by foot?

No, I don't think so. Because right now we're in the Land of Water.

This area is made up of islands, both large and small. They aren't actually connected to the

Land of Lightning.

Oh... It's just... the thought of getting on a boat again...

[laughing]

Are we still that far from the Land of Lightning?

Mm-hmm. We've only traveled a quarter of the way there.

Oh, by the way, I overheard something back there at the harbor.

There may be impostors here.

Impostors...? What impostors?!

[gasping]

Hold it right there! I have nothing against you. You can just call this a twist of fate, if you like.

But I'm going to be taking everything that you own!

What?! Who are you?!

Huh?!

That headband...

That's right!

I'm the great ninja who kicked the Akatsuki out of the Leaf Village!

Naruto Uzumaki! That's who you're lookin' at right here!

[chuckling]

It looks like he just arrived.

Who did? You mean the impostor you talked about?

Yeah. That's right.

He's supposed to be Naruto?

[laughing]

He looks just like you!

He does not!

Hey! How dare you ignore me! It's not funny!

Oh, good grief...

Listen, if you're Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf, then who the hell am I supposed to be?!

Huh?

You mean that... you don't even know your own name?

Hm?

How come you have Hidden Leaf headbands, too?

Don't tell me...

I'm the real deal! I am Naruto!

No!

Really! It's true!

This is hilarious. Someone impersonating Naruto. I guess that's the price you pay for fame!

So who exactly are you, impostor?

I'm... well, you see--

Hold on... If I can beat this guy right here and now...

Right! Let's do this!

You and I are going to duke it out now to see who the real Naruto is!

Quit talking nonsense, would ya?!

Hey, Naruto, do your best, 'cause if you lose, we're gonna make him the real Naruto.

Mm-hmm.

Guess I have no choice.

[growling]

"Naruto's Impostor"

[grunting]

You're all talk! That didn't even count as a warm-up in my book!

We'll be taking this.

But what'll we do with him? After all, you know, we are in a hurry to get where we're going.

What, this guy? Let's just toss him and forget about it!

If he gets away and starts trouble again, then your reputation will take a hit.

You're right, that is a problem...

Hey!

Wait, wait! [panting]

And... just who are you?

My name's Iggy and I've been after this thief for a while now.

What, really?

Yeah.

The only ones who've been brave enough to stand up to him are myself...

And maybe you guys, I guess.

Do you know who this is? He's Naruto Uzumaki, the thief that everyone's afraid of!

No! He's not Naruto Uzumaki!

Huh?

And how would you know that?

Why do you think?!

'Cause I'm the real me! I am Naruto Uzumaki!

You're... the real Naruto?!

Yeah, and that guy's some jerk using my name and robbing people.

If you're chasing the thief, then does that mean you're an officer of the law?

I suppose you could say that...

Then why don't we just leave this to him. We should be on our way, anyway.

Okay. Sounds good.

Listen, you sure you can handle that guy?

You don't really look strong enough.

I don't appreciate what you're implying. I may not look it,

But I am Iggy, the ninja master!

Are you serious? You're actually that strong? I guess looks can be deceiving...

Great! We'll leave it to you, then.

Okay, let's get going.

Real nice.

I'm sorry, partner.

[grunting]

You idiot!

What if you were killed, huh? What then? Are you stupid or something?!

At first I was just gonna beat him up. But you heard, right?

Of all the luck! The real Naruto Uzumaki.

Yeah. I never expected to encounter the real one here, of all places.

But! You're still an idiot! And no more excuses, Banna! Just stick to the plan!

You play the troublemaker, and I beat you up to build up my reputation!

War is about to break out! And I have to do all this to make everyone see that I'm a great ninja!

And by beating Naruto Uzumaki, I'll make a name for myself without a doubt!

[panting]

I already know all that... But, Iggy...

Shouldn't we just stop doing dangerous stuff like this?

You jerk!

Have you forgotten what you owe me?

If it weren't for me, you'd still be all alone, crying your eyes out, isn't that right?

Yeah... I'm sorry.

You know, Iggy, you're really my only friend in the whole wide world.

But next time, let's find someone weaker that even we can defeat.

[grunting]

[grunting]

Someone that even we can defeat?!

A Naruto Uzumaki or even two of them would be a piece of cake for me!

Aw, I'm sorry, Iggy...

Mmm? Hmph.

Just forget it... It's okay.

So is it really true that Naruto Uzumaki has been robbing people around these parts?

Yep, it's true.

There have been quite a few victims. They say he's a giant with a reddish face.

But why would Naruto Uzumaki stoop to robbery here?

Isn't he some kind of hero in his village?

I don't know the details, but there are also rumors that his village considered him a nuisance.

Maybe he's become a Rogue Ninja...

If he's a deserter, then the Hidden Leaf must be after him too.

If we capture him, they're sure to pay us very handsomely.

Yeah, but can we do it? They say he's good.

Relax. From what I hear, he didn't even pass the Chunin Exam.

That hero stuff's probably just exaggeration.

Gotcha. But what it boils down to is this: for Mercenary Ninja like us, he means money.

Exactly.

You know, considering how strong I am as a ninja, I really shouldn't even have to do this...

Come one, come all! Try your luck! I'll preserve the peace for my people and for the entire world!

I'm called the great Iggy! I'm the best on the earth!

That's right, Iggy! You're so cool!

When you get serious, you're really strong! I bet you could fight in any war anytime!

Damn right I can!

Forget farming. I'm going to be a war hero!

Here, put this on.

Now you're Naruto Uzumaki again.

Look there, Banna. I mean, Naruto.

Our next targets. There's no way you can lose to peddlers like them.

Nope.

Okay! Here I go!

Huh?

Hold it right there!

I have nothing against you. You can just call this a simple twist of fate.

But I, Naruto Uzumaki, am gonna be taking everything that you guys own!

You said Naruto Uzumaki?

Good! Just put everything down like that and leave!

Wha-?!

What the hell??

Those guys aren't peddlers! They're some kind of ninja!

This is just perfect!

Naruto Uzumaki...

I can't believe he came to us!

[grunting]

Capture him!

Oh, no!

[growling]

[grunting]

[laughing]

[struggling]

Wait! You've got it wrong! He's not Naruto Uzumaki! He's just Banna, a petty thief!

What?

But he looks just like the rumors describe him. And has a Hidden Leaf headband.

Oh. That's because... Uh...

Who are you? His partner or something?

Interfere and we'll get rid of you, too.

No, I, uh...

He's lying!

I am Naruto Uzumaki! That guy's no my partner of mine!

He's just a low-class farmer from a small mountain village!

He hates farming, so he pretends to be a ninja!

He thinks capturing me is his ticket to fame! That's why he's here!

Banna...

Heh. A ninja wannabe.

Just stay out of the way. Or we'll take care of you, too!

Uh--

[grunting]

Let's go!

[gasping]

What do I do?

What do I do?!

Ahhhhh...

Finally, I'm not hungry anymore!

[chuckling]

Well, we'd better get going.

Wait, wait! Please wait!

Hmm?

Thank goodness I found you.

What's the matter now?

Well, I hate to say this,... but some other thieves took the thief you left in my custody.

They did what?!

So I have to ask you... Can you do me a huge favor and get the thief back?

I thought you were a master ninja! Can't you just get him back yourself?

Oh, yeah, sure, normally I could... I'm just kinda out of shape right now.

A ninja's always supposed to be in shape.

I'm sorry, but we have urgent business to attend to.

Besides, aren't you an officer of the law? Why not go back to your headquarters and get backup?

Uh! Well, I--

Does it really matter if a thief has caught a thief? Sounds to me like they're birds of a feather.

You reap what you sow, after all.

No, you don't understand; it's not like that!

He may've done some bad things, but he really isn't a bad person.

What?

You see...

Because of his looks and size, people never really liked him; they were scared of him.

He was such a weakling, too, but kind-hearted.

He's good at taking care of people.

You sure do know a lot about this guy.

Huh...? Oh, yes, I...

Look, are you actually an officer of the law at all?

I've had my suspicions about you from the very start.

Mmm.

All right. I'll be honest with you. I'll tell you everything...

So that's it...

What were you thinking?

How could you do something so stupid?

Please! Just help me! You're the hero who saved the Hidden Leaf Village, right?

You know what I don't get? If you're his friend, how could you let him do this?

I mean, if you're truly his friend, then why didn't you give more thought to his well-being?!

If he's my friend...?

Come on, give me a break. He's hardly someone that I'd call a friend.

That brainless oaf... We only stayed together because it was convenient.

He's not a friend at all.

"He's not a friend at all," huh?

What's the big idea?

All right, then tell me: just what is he to you?

Because I don't buy it. Maybe you really don't believe that he's that smart.

But still... haven't the two of you been together since you were both just children?

All that time, you've survived together! Don't you consider that being friends?!

Mmm.

Naruto...

Mm?

[grunting]

[whispering]

And that's an order.

Right... Got it...

If we had time, we'd help you. But that's not possible right now.

Huh?!

And besides, at this time, we cannot afford to have our identities and our whereabouts known.

You're going to have to forget that you ever saw us here.

Let's go!

But...!

Wait!

Please! I can't do it myself!

You heard us. We can't do anything for you.

But I- Just what am I supposed to do, then?!

It's your problem.

You figure it out yourself.

Is he... my friend...?

[grunting]

[grunting]

Mm?

Paper Bombs...?

Who is it?!

Iggy?! What are you doing?!

Heh.

I just knew it!

You are his partner.

I'm not his partner. And he's not my friend.

He's--

He's my best friend!

Iggy!

[grunting]

[grunting]

[grunting]

Why you--

Damn it!

He got away!

After him!

Banna, are you all right?

Why did you-?

Damn it! You are just hopeless!

If I didn't save you, then what would happen to our master plan?

Iggy...

For years... The only thing I've done is use you.

No, that's not true! Everybody hated me and looked at me like I was the devil himself.

But you were different. You were my friend!

You idiot.

Back in those days, the guys who bullied you bullied me, too.

But they told me that if I teased you as well, they'd leave me alone.

I know that! But still...

You became my best friend!

[sniffling]

Come out, Naruto Uzumaki!

There's no escape, now!

Come on, Banna, let's show them what we can do one last time.

Yeah!

Wherever you go, I'll go, Iggy!

Now!

All right!

[grunting]

You losers!

You really think skills that lame will beat us?!

Take Naruto Uzumaki alive! Kill the other one.

I'm sorry, Iggy. If I were strong like the real Naruto, I could keep you safe...

No, Banna.

Go on! Run!

Banna!

Thank you...

...for saying that I'm your best friend.

[crying]

Die!

Banna!

What?

Heh-heh.

What a pair you are.

What...?!

You came back!

We should apologize.

But we simply didn't believe you earlier when you told us your story, Iggy.

So we decided to put you to a test.

What? A test?

And you passed it! Right now, I am completely moved!

You stuck by your best friend! You put all your faith in friendship!

Hey, listen up! Don't you recognize who this person is standing here?

This guy is the hero who saved the Hidden Leaf Village! Naruto Uzumaki!

[gasping]

Better shape up! You're Naruto Uzumaki now.

Naruto...

Yeah! You are the hero of justice! Naruto Uzumaki!

Naruto Uzumaki is gonna go on the rampage of a lifetime!

[gasping]

[yelling]

You can have your name back, Naruto. It's way too heavy a burden for me to bear.

Thank you, Naruto.

Don't mention it. But what are you guys going to do now?

Are you still gonna try to become a ninja for hire, Iggy?

Nah. I doubt it.

If this is how scary it is, I don't think this is for me.

I'm gonna go home and earn a more honest living.

Yeah, and I'm going to go wherever Iggy is going to go.

I see.

Well, I hope you stay best friends forever!

Naruto!

Huh?

Thank you for everything!

Take care!

Those two... They sure can yell!

Take care of yourselves, guys!

[giggling] Having a best friend is the greatest.

Someday... I hope we'll be just like them.

Hidden Sand Jonin Temari! You will accept my challenge!

Huh? What are you talking about?!

My name's Konohamaru Sarutobi, Lord Third's grandson and Naruto's favorite student!

Naruto's what?

Running away from this challenge will mean that you fear me! And you'll be known as a coward!

Next time on Naruto Shippuden: Naruto's Favorite Student.

This should be fun. I'll indulge you for a bit.