Original subtitles

[frogs croaking]

[ribbit]

Has your so-called test finally produced a result now?

I believe that it's been proven conclusively that they consider the bonds of friendship

more important than the rules of the village.

So there's no need to continue anymore...

You wi release all of the Hidden Leaf Shinobi that you've abducted, won't you...?

Father...?

No way! The Masked Man is Neji's?!

Huh?

I thought you might want this right about now...

Oh, wow, how thoughtful!

Here you go...

Ah, ah, ah! Hold it!

[slurp]

Ah! That was wonderful! It sure does hit the spot!

All right, now to continue...

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Very well...

Where are you keeping all of the captives? I trust that they're safe...

Of course. I'll have you brought to them right away.

You can go and gather everyone.

All right then.

I have to tie up some loose ends, but I'll join you later.

(Shikamaru) All right, you all heard it!

We're working together now. We'll rescue Asuma and-

No, I mean we're going to rescue our friends !

(All) Right!

Well, come on! Let's get going!

Wait, hold up, Naruto!

What's the problem?! You're the one who said we're going to go rescue our friends!

Yeah, I did. But we gotta slow down!

We don't even know where they are now!

Yeah, not even one clue...

That is, unless there is some intel that you have that we do not, Naruto.

Yeah, yeah!

What!? You really think I'd have that kind of stuff?

(All) [groan]

Heh. Your fighting skills may've improved slightly, but your brain's still as lame as ever.

What was that?!

Hey! Stop fighting, guys!

I guess that's the cue for the Tracking Team!

[bark]

I don't think that you'll be needed...

Huh?

[bark bark]

Oh, Neji! I'm glad you're safe!

Sorry to have worried you.

So, what happened with the enemy? Did you take him down?

No.

What?! You let him get away?!

No, not exactly, but...

Well, then tell us what happened, already!

Naruto! Give Neji a chance to speak and he will!

Good grief...

Oh, uh... right.

So? What happened, Neji?

Hm?

Finally!

I've been bored to death here, you know!

The test is over. I don't need you mercenaries anymore, so I'm dismissing you.

What? You can't do that! Just look!

...My art has been damaged, and you expect me to just leave?!

Everything is complete. I was able to verify the truth. So you're dismissed.

Huh? Hey, partner, wait!

The job's complete. Once we get paid, we're done.

Guess it can't be helped...

Huh... Huh!? Hey! Wait a second!

I'd like you three to tie up some loose ends.

What are these "loose ends" you speak of?

Helping the evacuated villagers return to their homes.

Sure, be glad to.

And there's one other thing that I'd like to request of you...

Anyway, that's it.

So you're saying everything that's happened so far was just a part of some kind of experiment by this masked man?

Hold on! That means Guy Sensei and the others are safe?

Yes. That's what he told me,

and he also promised that he'd free all of the captives and lead us to them.

Lead us to them?

What does that mean?

[gasp]

Who the hell are you guys!?

First of all, we're not your enemy.

We want to show you a sign of mutual trust.

We're sorry for getting you involved in our employer's test.

That test's over now. So shortly, all your friends will be released.

What? Seriously?

We three are shinobi of the Hidden Rain Village.

We have been traveling the land, in search of those who share our vision of the Shinobi World's future.

We are Team Jiraiya.

Huh! Team Jiraiya!?

You're sayin' you guys know Pervy Sage, too?!

Yes! He saved our lives, and he was our ninjutsu master.

(Shikamaru) I get it now. When you attacked us, I didn't sense any malice because it was just a test.

So... what's the verdict, then? Did we pass the test or what?

I think so. That's why we've come to tell you where your friends are.

Konan...

(Naruto) Shinobi Ageha Butterflies...

These butterflies will guide you to your friends.

We must depart in order to return the villagers to their homes.

So we'll be leaving you now.

Wait, hold on!

Damn it! I wanted to hear more about them and Pervy Sage.

Well, guess we should follow them...

Ready, Neji?

Yes.

(Hinata) Shinobi Ageha Butterflies...

They're over there!

By that structure...

All right, guys! Let's go and save everyone!

Hold on! Naruto! There could be traps set and-

He's not even listening.

Damn.

They're here!

How embarrassing...

Oh, Guy Sensei! I am glad you are okay.

Thank you, Lee! I'm just super-overcome with emotion right now!

To be rescued by my own student! This is truly far more than I deserve!

[crying]

Tenten! Can ya be a little gentler?

But it's only a little scratch!

Asuma...

Sensei... Did you get hurt at all?

Not a bit. I'm sorry that we made you all worry.

I'm just so relieved!

Anyway... did you guys figure out what this incident was all about?

Do you think you could explain it?

Oh, uh...

(Masked Man) Allow me to explain...

Just wait a second! It's okay. He's no longer our enemy!

Well, okay, then.

[shocked gasps]

No way... You're--!

...You're... Hizashi Hyuga...

(Hinata) Impossible...!

Everyone knows that you're supposed to have died when I was only three years old!

What!?

Please allow me to explain that part.

Go on, Neji.

Back when Lady Hinata was three years old, a major crisis befell the Hidden Leaf Village.

...Shinobi from the Hidden Cloud attempted to kidnap you...

...but instead, Lord Hiashi killed them.

(Hinata) It was all the Hidden Cloud's fault...

Naturally, relations became strained and the threat of war loomed.

In order to prevent further fighting, he Leaf secretly talked with the Cloud

and accepted their terms. Because... that was their only choice...

What were the terms that the Leaf agreed to?

The Hyuga leader who possessed the Kekkei Genkai, Byakugan.

In other words, they demanded the Leaf hand over the corpse of Lady Hinata's father, Hiashi Hyuga.

And so, Hiashi's younger twin, my father Hizashi Hyuga, became his stand-in...

...and because of that, peace between the villages was maintained.

As for my father's decision and the circumstances behind it, you saw it yourself, Naruto.

[gasp]

The terrible system of the Curse Mark that's been passed down within the Hyuga to protect the Main Family...

We may be alive, but we're unable to change the currents of fate.

What you saw was my father, who by his own free will... chose to defy his fate.

Kakashi... This has caused everyone so much stress.

But you're supposed to be dead, How did-?

Yes. At first, I didn't understand it all, either.

After a long slumber, I awoke, and found myself in a certain hideout.

Hizashi, you've been revived thanks to my Reanimation Jutsu.

Although... it was also because your heart still has attachments to this world.

I have no attachments. I wanted to die for-

(Orochimaru) -the sake of the clan.

You may tell me that it was your wish to give up your life...

But what if you knew that your death was in vain...?

Perhaps that man was right... I did feel that way at the time.

And that's why I planned this course of action.

(Hizashi) I hoped that my death was not in vain...

...that my death would provide the impetus for the Hidden Leaf Village

to rethink the cruel rules and belief in destiny which took away my life...

Well, all that doesn't matter now...

I'm a man who simply shouldn't exist in this world any longer.

However, it seems it's impossible for me to undo this jutsu myself.

Please, return to the village and find out how to release this jutsu.

But before that, I would ...like to take a moment to speak with my son Neji, alone.

Neji, do you remember that fateful day?

Neji, you must survive.

You've been gifted with the Hyuga's abilities more than any other member in our clan.

I should have been born a few moments earlier, and made you part of the main household.

Even though I did what I did in order to protect the village, our family, and you,

I'm sorry to say that defying the fate of the Hyuga appears to have brought you nothing but sadness.

On top of that, I was worried about your future, tied as it was to the destiny of the Hyuga.

Yes... It was only natural, having lost you,

I used that as motivation to resent and curse my destiny as a Hyuga.

[gasp]

Argh!

But then, after meeting a certain genin, my way of thinking changed drastically.

[labored breathing]

(Neji) You don't know what it's like to be branded with a mark that sets you apart...

A mark that can never be wiped away!!

I know what that's like.

[gasp]

Well... Big deal.

Man, you think you've got troubles?

I've got news for you, Neji, you're not the only special one around here.

Everyone ... is desperate to defy their own destiny.

And you're no different.

I'm gonna show you you're wrong about a lotta things, starting right now!

It may be the Hyuga way to cave in to destiny, it's not mine!

If you think it's futile to fight, then don't! Just stand there and take it!

I'll change the way of the Hyuga clan...

...after I become Hokage!

Naruto Uzumaki... taught me the truth...

That even a caged bird, if it's smart enough, will use its beak to open the latch...

...because it wants to fly free across the sky.

I don't know what will come; maybe I'll just end up in the same place.

But when people can make their own choices... they can strive earnestly towards their goal in life.

What's more... ...if you do that, that's what makes you truly strong!

Please listen, Father...

I have only one goal now...

To become stronger, and never be defeated!

That is how I feel.

You have made a wonderful friend... Neji.

(Neji) Although right now, he's a rival...

(Neji) Father...!

Huh?

It seems that we don't need to find a way to release that jutsu after all...

Yeah...

[gasp]

You've become a fine man, Neji.

Father, wait!

Father...

[hawk cry]

(Neji) Guy Sensei...

You know, Neji, it seems to me that Hizashi's greatest regret in life

was that he wasn't able to be here to guide you into adulthood...

was that he wasn't able to be here to guide you into adulthood...

Yes.

[villagers chatter]

Well, I'm glad that the villagers are finally back home and that peace has returned to this village once again.

Yes. So what are we going to do now?

Are you still thinking of joining up with the Hidden Leaf Genin?

Yeah... We are different, but I feel we can call them comrades.

Perhaps one day we'll be able to team up with them.

Huh?

Nagato, what's that? Isn't that the kid's?

I found it on the road nearby.

With all the chaos of everyone trying to get home, they must've dropped it.

[chuckle] And right now, I bet they're making a big fuss about their missing friend.

Well, then, I'll go and return it to them.

Yahiko...

I'll be right back. Just wait here.

All right! Let's hurry home so I can report to Dad.

Okay, then, Naruto, let us have a race back to the village.

I'll warn you, I won't lose!

Well, neither will I!

I said I'm not gonna lose!

Same here!

Me too! Me, too, as well!

Why aren't they tired?!

Seriously...

(Kakashi) Hey! Hold up!

(Guy) Yeah! My body's still not, well, it's, uh...

(Kurenai) Why don't we rest a bit?

[labored breaths]

Oh boy...

Huh?

[massive explosion]

What was... what just happened?

Yahiko...

[gasp]

[frightened breaths]

Nagato...

[crazed gasps]

[screaming]

(Tsunade) Damn that Jiraiya!

Why'd he write a story with an ending that leaves such a bad taste in your mouth?!

I've gotta find out what happens next...

(Shizune) I thought you might like a little something for tea... Or is this a bad time?

(Tsunade) No, not at all, thank you for that!

I was actually just starting to feel a little bit hungry...

(Naruto) Next time on Naruto Shippuden: "Returning Home"

(Tsunade) Right! Onward!