Episode
Naruto Shippūden: The New Target
Overview
Teams Kakashi and Guy return home to Konoha. As Kakashi rests in the infirmary, Sakura tells Tsunade about the information Sasori gave her as a reward for defeating him. Sasori had a meeting scheduled with a spy from within Orochimaru's ranks in 10 days. 4 days have passed since Sakura received this information, and now Naruto and Sakura need to recruit a new team member to go and investigate. As Naruto searches Konoha for a willing recruit, he meets some of his old friends. Just as Choji agrees to help, Shikamaru, Choji, and Naruto are attacked by a Konoha shinobi unknown to them, Sai.
Details
- Series
- Naruto Shippūden
- Season
- Season 2
- Episode
- Episode 33
- Air date
- 2007-11-08
- Runtime
- 23 min
Episode context
The New Target is Episode 33 in S2 • Long-Awaited Reunion of Naruto Shippūden. It aired on 2007-11-08. The runtime is 23 min.
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More episodes from this season
Episode 35: An Unneeded Addition
Yamato takes temporary leadership of Team Kakashi while Sai insults both Naruto and Sakura. While preparing to set off, Sai receives an envelope from a Root shinobi containing secret orders from Danzo, and Sakura consults with Tsunade. Jiraiya then meets with Tsunade and Yamato in Kakashi's hospital room to brief Yamato on the demon fox within Naruto, detailing the "demon fox's cloak", and revealing a scar he got from Naruto when the fourth tail formed. Finally the new Team Kakashi set off on their new mission, to intercept an Akatsuki spy and gather information about Sasuke.
Episode 36: The Fake Smile
The new team Kakashi heads out for the Heaven and Earth bridge. Sai, Sakura, and Naruto come to blows after just 5 minutes on the same team due to Sai making fun of Sasuke. Therefore, Yamato decides they need to improve on teamwork and uses Mokuton to create a wooden cage threatening to lock the team up unless they behave. Given an ultimatum between being locked up or spending the night at a hot springs, the team chooses to visit the springs to improve team cohesion. Naruto still despises Sai despite this effort, and several insulting remarks from Sai worsen team relations.
Episode 37: Untitled
Sakura sees Sai drawing by the river and finds out that Sai has artistic talent but has never given titles to anything he ever drew. Naruto and Sakura begin to realize the reason behind Sai's repulsive personality. After the hot springs, the team heads off to the bridge to meet the spy. Yamato is suspicious of traps so they go off the main road into the forest. Camping for the night, Yamato then creates a two story house by again using his Mokuton jutsu. Inside this house, the team formulates their plan.
Episode 38: Simulation
Naruto is paired with Sai for the Buddy team of two, over his and Sakura's objections, while Sakura is assigned to support Yamato. Yamato conducts a simulation of the spy meeting with himself as the spy to gauge Naruto and Sai's abilities and teamwork. After Naruto makes a mistake when attacking Yamato, Sai immobilizes him and goes on to capture Yamato alone. Naruto is angry with Sai for not acting as a comrade would, but resolves to work together with him if doing so will help bring Sasuke back. Sai reveals to Sakura that he has no emotions, and little understanding of them. The group then prepares to head to the bridge.
Episode 39: The Tenchi Bridge
Yamato disguises himself as Sasori after creating a wood replica of Hiruko, and goes to meet the spy. The spy turns out to be Orochimaru's right-hand man, Kabuto Yakushi, who reveals the location of Orochimaru's current hideout to Yamato. Orochimaru interrupts the meeting, appearing to attack Kabuto, and while it initially appears that Orochimaru has come after Kabuto, Kabuto attacks Yamato and reveals that he is truly loyal to Orochimaru. Orochimaru calls out Naruto, Sakura and Sai from where they are hiding and observing the meeting, and prepares to fight the team.
Episode 40: The Nine-Tails Unleashed!!
Immediately after Yamato signals Naruto and the others out to the bridge where Orochimaru and Kabuto are waiting, Naruto's chakra begins to boil with the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Slowly, Naruto grows more tails as Orochimaru taunts him and makes him even more angry. Meanwhile, Yamato remembers Jiraiya speaking of how many tails he has seen Naruto grow. Jiraiya explains more about what happened and more about how Naruto acts when he's in his Nine-Tails form.
Episode 41: The Top-Secret Mission Begins
Naruto continues to get even more enraged and easily counters Kabuto's attack, flinging him away. Naruto's counter throws Kabuto into Sakura, knocking her unconscious. Orochimaru continues to watch Naruto become more enraged, eventually destroying the Bridge of Heaven and Earth. As the bridge collapses, Sakura slides off the edge. Sai draws a bird to fly, but chooses to follow Naruto and Orochimaru instead of saving Sakura. Yamato saves her at the last second, and creates a wood clone to catch up to the battle. Eventually the fourth tail appears, allowing the vile chakra to completely control Naruto's body, forming him into a miniature Nine-Tailed Fox.
Episode 42: Orochimaru vs. Jinchuriki
Naruto, in the four-tailed state, begins attacking Orochimaru with incredible force, devastating the surrounding landscape and preventing Sai and Yamato's wood clone from approaching him. The majority of Orochimaru's attacks prove to be ineffective, but Naruto also fails to kill Orochimaru as he regenerates from any injuries he sustains. Meanwhile, Kabuto advances toward Sakura and Yamato, deducing that Sasori has died. Orochimaru finally manages to strike Naruto with a sword blade from his mouth, and Sakura reacts in horror when she sees Naruto's four-tailed state.
Episode 43: Sakura's Tears
Kabuto comments that Naruto's state is a consequence of his desperation to bring back Sasuke. Sakura begins to cry and approaches Naruto but is injured when his attention turns to her. Yamato uses the mokuton jutsu to bind Naruto before he does any more harm. Kabuto heals Sakura, reasoning that the Konoha ninja are not Orochimaru's enemies because they are also fighting Akatsuki. Yamato uses the abilities of the 1st Hokage to forcibly return Naruto to his normal state. Meanwhile Sai confronts Orochimaru with a message from Danzo. Orochimaru responds by piercing Sai with Kusanagi.
Episode 44: The Secret of the Battle!
Yamato uses the first Hokage's chakra to suppress the demon fox's chakra and Naruto returns to normal, but with severe injuries. Sakura begins to heal him, but notes that medical ninjutsu has little effect on his wounds. Orochimaru's sword is revealed to have only pierced one of Sai's clones. The real Sai emerges, talks to Orochimaru and gives him a letter from Danzo. Sai then leaves with Orochimaru and Kabuto but Yamato's wood clone stays close on their trail. Naruto comes to his senses and wonders what happened but Sakura decides not to tell him the truth. They reach the meeting spot, picking up the picture book Sai left behind. Yamato infers that Danzo seeks to destroy and remake Konoha by collaborating with Orochimaru.