Episode Summaries

Yamato is impressed by the destructive power of Naruto's Wind Release: Rasengan, although he tells Naruto that his new technique would not match up against Sasuke's Fire Release abilities. He explains the five chakra elements and how they each have a superior and inferior chakra type that matches against them. He tells Naruto that his wind is inferior to fire, meaning his Wind Release technique will merely be deflected by Sasuke's fire, but that his wind is superior to Sasuke's Lightning Release, such as his Chidori. Naruto, however, muses he must be the perfect type to fight with Sasuke, as he possesses the rare wind that strengthens Sasuke's fire. Sakura and Sai, who had been observing, enter the canyon Naruto had created and ask him whether he has finished mastering his jutsu. Although Naruto is confident that he is at the final stage, Yamato tells them that Naruto still needs some more time.

Elsewhere, Kakuzu uses his Earth Release: Earth Spear to harden his body to survive Chōji's Spiked Human Bullet Tank. As Shikamaru is reaching his limits with the Shadow Imitation Technique he is using to trap Hidan, Kakuzu prepares to finish off the trio when Kakashi manages to sneak up from behind and strike Kakuzu's heart with his Lightning Cutter. However, Kakuzu survives the attack. Kicking Kakashi away, he takes off his Akatsuki robe to reveal his true body, held together by strings and four masks on his back, one of them punctured by Kakashi's Lightning Cutter. Kakuzu unleashes all four masks, but the damaged one succumbs and dies, alerting Kakashi to their weak spot.

Hidan, freed from Shikamaru's jutsu, goes toe-to-toe with Kakashi as Kakuzu, taking advantage of Hidan's immortality, strikes the two with his Wind Release: Pressure Damage. Kakuzu then turns his attention on the other three, with Ino having entered the fray, and launches his Lightning Release: False Darkness technique at them. Kakashi arrives in the nick of time and manages to absorb and block the attack, although it strains his arms. Hidan praises Kakashi to be the first to survive both of the techniques, and Kakuzu launches his Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work at all four shinobi.