Episode Summaries

Shiranami uses Hotaru to release the kinjutsu, and Naruto and Utakata are caught in the blast. Naruto regains consciousness and wakes Utakata. Utakata stops Shiranami with his Soap Bubble Ninjutsu and at this point, chakra and natural energy is being absorbed in great amounts by Hotaru's body. Shiranami flees the scene knowing that the technique is now out of control and the latter is able to destroy the village; Naruto chases after him to get him back. Utakata uses the power of the Six-Tails to control the accumulation of chakra. He meets Hotaru in a spiritual intervention and absorbs the explosion without harm, removing Hotaru's seal in the process.

The village is finally at peace and Utakata decides to accept Hotaru as a student. proud to her master. As Team 7 makes their way back to the village, Naruto muses that he's glad Hotaru has found her master, and claims that he misses Jiraiya, his own master. Meanwhile, Utakata leaves Hotaru momentarily in the meadow where they first met while he finds the Kiri hunter-nin, wanting to ask their permission before training Hotaru. As he notices a bloodied Anbu mask, he finds himself face-to-face with the Six Paths of Pain. Pain's Asura Path traps him with its missiles and thus leaves him crushed under a cliff. On the verge of death, Utakata sends a myriad of bubbles where Hotaru is awaiting his return, unaware that her master is not returning.