Original subtitles

"Hopes Entrusted to the Future"

He's not on the northern route.

Or the southern or the western!

[groan] Where could Lord Gaara have gone?

The massive sandstorm seems to have passed.

Lord Gaara?!

What's the commotion about?

Please, try to focus and resume the Second Exam.

Uh, yes, sir!

Go on! Restart the Second Exam!

It's unusual for Houichi not to send a message. Could he have failed?

Hmm?

Lord Gaara!

Fugi...

I've been wanting to speak with you.

Well, then...

What did you want to talk about?

I have always considered you to be a highly-regarded citizen of the Hidden Sand Village.

I still do, even now.

Thank you for your kind words.

In the past, words like "citizen" and "friend" were just that, mere words that held no real meaning for me.

For a long time after I was born, I understood those words, but they were not part of my existence.

I see...And when did these concepts become real to you?

When I infiltrated the Hidden Leaf to destroy it. There, for the first time, I met someone I could call a friend.

Ironically, he was an enemy who belonged to the Hidden Leaf Village.

Although the two of us shared comparable circumstances, unlike me, he was always able to empathize with others.

...He could share in others' pain. He could sympathize with their happiness and with their tears.

Through him I realized how precious and important the concept of "friend" really could be.

And, it made me want to become more like him: a human being who is valued and needed by others.

Lord Gaara, there's little doubt that you will always will be an individual who is indispensable to the Hidden Sand Village.

All this time, I've been considered a military weapon to be feared.

And that fact continues to instill fear even in the hearts of the people of the Sand Village.

But that's not-!

Yes, it's true.

If it were not so, then my own father would not have tried to kill me six times.

I'm aware that many oppose me.

When I was asked to be Kazekage, it was a hard choice.

To accept or not...? It was a real dilemma.

But I thought of my friend, the Leaf shinobi who had taught me about frienship, and I decided...

...I wanted to try to heal the hurt I'd caused everyone.

But, it's been difficult to get the people of the Sand to truly believe me.

There was a time when I felt that the wounds I'd inflicted on my people would never heal.

I thought I should just disappear from the Sand because then the fear would finally disappear, too.

But, I found that despite my past, there were some who, without prejudice, accepted my feelings and believed in me.

This happened because you're frightened of yourself.

When using a weapon, you must suppress your feelings and become emotionless.

[exhale] Right!

I've met someone like you. He's a shinobi that comes from the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Through sheer perseverance, he has become a fine shinobi.

And Shira,...I think you will be as impressive a shinobi as he is.

These shinobi who trust me have come to accept and rely on the guidance I provide them.

They're maturing steadily.

We're almost there!

But we still need to find one more scroll!

Well, a whole lot did happen...

Why don't we just forget about passing the Chunin Exams until next time.

Well, then,...even if we're not gonna worry about getting the other scroll that we need to finish this...

...just once, there's still someone I wanna fight.

[gasping]

It's someone just like me, who received guidance from Lord Gaara and developed into a shinobi.

There's something I wanna confirm by fighting someone who received the same training as me...

We did it! We made it!

We may have reached the tower, but we still only have the "Heaven" scroll...

There's nothing we can do. We've simply reached our physical limits!

If I hadn't stopped on the way for a personal fight...

Don't say that, Shira!

That's right. We've done all we can for now.

I'm sure we'll get another try at it.

Thanks a lot!

Huh?

[gasp] What do you want?

Shira, I wanna face you in battle.

You can have this "Heaven" scroll if I lose.

It's senseless for Sand to fight Sand.

Besides, we've already made a decision.

Huh?!

This scroll is useless to us!

Take it!

What?! Oh, wow! You're a real lifesaver! Thanks!

Uhh...Huh?

To tell you the truth, we don't even want the scroll.

I just wanna use this as an opportunity to fight you.

Fight me?

You and I...

...learned almost all we know by studying under Lord Gaara.

We are the ones who are going to carry out Lord Gaara's will.

We are the ones who are going to support the Hidden Sand Village in the future.

I wanna make sure we truly deserve that right.

All right.

Let's do it.

Okay?

If this is what you want, Shira...

Uh...yeah.

Thank you, Shira, really.

So who are your supporters?

The promising power of the young, the future of the Sand.

I believe in them. They have no preconceptions and can see with clear vision.

Those who wish to kill me may do so...

However, they shouldn't let those youths become involved in it.

I don't want them tainted by hatred and vengeance.

Now! Go!

Right!

[grunt]

There have been many times where I doubted myself as the Kazekage.

But after meeting them and coming to know them, I realized that perhaps even someone like me can accomplish something.

I've been reborn. I want to erase hatred from the Hidden Sand and create bonds with people I can call friends who

understand and share each other's pain.

If you object to that, then you can take my head.

But leave them out of it.

[gasp]

Come on.

Huh?

[chuckle]

Thank you very much, Shira.

[grunting]

Take this.

[gasping]

Huh?

Well, that's not gonna work! [laughing]

Seriously?! Oh, come on, I can't believe this! [laughing]

Lord Gaara has indeed matured. It seems the worries that we old soldiers carried were baseless, after all...

We must let the horrible memories of the past fade into darkness

and leave it to the next generation to build a new future.

I take responsibility for everything.

...That's crazy, right...I hear that...

[loud exhale]

Please, sir, I beg you to accept these scrolls!

I'm sorry, two "Heaven" scrolls are not acceptable!

[yell] But we-!

No! Absolutely not!

I cannot reveal the details, but extraordinary circumstances stopped us from getting both scrolls.

Please, just go ask Lord Kazekage!

Circumstances don't matter! No means no!

Meanie!

Now, now...

Give it up.

No! Never! I cannot just give up!

You wanna cancel the Third Exam?!

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid I can't give details, but it's because of a domestic matter within the Sand.

So how do we know who passed, then?

We know because we've prepared deatailed reports about every team's performance in the Second Exam.

I'd like the respective villages to use them to determine who should pass.

But this isn't just about making a choice; these exams were to test their ability to carry out missions as Chunin!

It can't be helped that things turned out like this...

But will this satisfy the participants who put their lives on the line to survive the Demon Desert?

I'll address that.

Looks like the Third Exam's going to be cancelled.

What?! So what about the Chunin Exams?

I did have a bad feeling about this whole thing...

[scoff] So does that mean all the effort we put into this was for nothing at all?!

We continued to the end and didn't give up, so we should be okay.

But those who dropped out midway are the ones who shouldbe worried.

I kinda feel bad for them...

It seems like all that we really got out of this was hunger and exhaustion.

Yeah, it was all pain and no gain!

Well, at least we gained some confidence.

What? Huh? What?

Exam entrants! I commend you!

Just as times change, this shinobi world of ours needs to develop a new system with new laws.

Before, shinobi were required to sacrifice even the lives of our comrades for our laws and our rules.

But I have come to realize there's something far more precious than rules and laws.

I'm speaking of friendship with other villagers and shinobi.

And the bond with those who understand the same pain.

I believe that every one of you who stands before me, now, knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Therefore, I deem the Third Exam unnecessary.

And, I'm rescinding part of the Second Exam's requirements.

So what does that mean for us?

The villages of every one of you, who is standing here right now, will receive a report of how you did in the Second Exam.

And then your Kage will make the final decision on whether to promote you or not.

[growl] We have to wait longer to find out?!

Yes, but it also means that we still have a chance to become Chunin, correct?!

Listen, when you reach the northern border, you be careful. Thanks, I will.

Yome, since you're going, too, you be nice to him!

What?!

We just got assigned to the same place by chance, that's all!

Yeah, sure, of course you did!

Go get 'im!

Wha-?!

Yome, let's go!

Oh...

Hey, wait up, Shira!

I hope they're gonna be okay...

We've gone through the report from the Hidden Sand on the Second Exam. And your protion to Chunin has been approved.

Thank you, Lady Angel.

And also,...I'm going to assign you an S-rank mission right away.

The corpse today is light.

I've developed a knack for this over the years. I can tell this one's probably a woman.

The tallest tower in this whole village...You know, where we always deliver the bodies...

You know what it's for?

In a village like ours, towers are usually where the ashes are enshrined.

They were originally built as memorials to honor the fallen.

If that's the case, then why aren't their relatives allowed in there anymore?

How should I know?

But actually, there is a rumor going around about that tower, you know...

that Lord Pain lives there.

Really? Interesting...

But there's no way.

Well, it is just a rumor, nothing more.

Never mind.

I'm gonna confirm my theory...

You were right! It's just like you said...A woman.

Ajisai, a chunin.

She just recently passed the exams.

Her first mission as a Chunin, and this is how it ended?

Thank you.

Oh! Lady Angel!

Now quickly...Go and bring the next one in here.

Yourou!

I know. We're being followed.

Fuu, let's stop at that rocky area.

Huh?

Aww, if you say so.

We might not know who you are! But you can bet we're on to you!

I told him to stop! I mean, after all,...if we didn't get to kill you, it'd be a real pain!

[gasp]

Wait! Say, mister! Aren't you from the Hidden Waterfall?

Huh?

What's that?

Yeah! I know you! After you failed to assassinate the Hokage, you stole the hearts of the village elders and escaped!

You're Kakuzu Senpai!

Kakuzu?!

Impossible! He'd be too old!

You know,...I've always thought if I ever got to meet you, I'd like to be your friend!

Kakuzu...Is she stupid?

I wouldn't know. I deserted the village long ago.

How about we start out with some tea and get to know each other?!

I didn't come here today to become your friend, you fool...

Well, that really is too bad...

I've thoroughly gone over the Second Exam reports that we received from the Sand.

And:...Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Choji, Ino, and Sakura...You six passed with flying colors and are promoted to chunin!

[cheering]

Well,...after all, we were not able to get the second scroll...

Komugi, Gennai, Inaho...

You will have another chance in the next Chunin Exams.

[whining gasps}

Finally,...even though they weren't able to collect both of the scrolls,...

...they performed admirably, and they are more than qualified for promotion.

Lee and Tenten, you are now chunin.

[giggling sigh]

Lady Tsunade!

Team Guy is one for all, all for one! So, how can Neji be left out?!

Let me finish!

[scream]

Neji Hyuga is given a special double promotion and will become a jonin!

The Kazekage himself said that, "Neji's performance was most impressive and that is reflected in this report."

He's already proven himself more than capable of being a chunin.

Yes, way to go, Neji!

Hey,...Congrat's!

Thank you all, very much!

And thanks to both of you as well!

I made it to chunin because of the great teamwork of Team Guy!

Sure thing! Our three-man squad is forever, right?

Yes. I hope that's true.

And I finally overtook Naruto!

Oh, man. He's gonna be seriously upset that he missed the Chunin Exams.

I wonder if Naruto is busy training, right now...

Soon it'll be time to wrap up our training and return to the Hidden Leaf Village.

[sharp inhale]

Guess that chest wound of yours still hurts, huh?

Well, listen, you just rest up for now!

I'm gonna continue my training on my own!

Hang in there, Naruto!

But why?! My jutsu's not working!

It's because Nine Tails was extracted! But there's a way to save him! And that's why we're hurrying, right now!

There's someone else where Sasuke is.

You recognize the chakra?

No, but this chakra has a real nasty feel to it.

Next time on Naruto Shippuden: "On the Brink of Death"

Is this where his wind ceases to blow?