Episode Summaries

A group of missing-nin from the Takumi Village invades Sunagakure and kidnaps Matsuri, the Academy student. They seek Gaara's powers to revive their village's ultimate weapon. Gaara, Kankurō and Temari pursue them alone. Meanwhile, Shikamaru assembles the Konoha 11 (minus Tenten), and splits up into two-man teams — Shikamaru and Ino, Naruto and Lee, and Kiba and Chōji. Each two-man cell will assist one of the Three Sand Siblings. Neji and Hinata will avoid combat and scout ahead, while Sakura and Shino act as medical support and command and control (using Shino's bugs to pass along information).