The time to mourn Asuma passed and now everyone returns to action. At Konoha, knowing that Kakashi left with Asuma's team, Sakura tells Tsunade that their team is the best to serve as back up, since they know well the ones who went to face the Akatsuki. The Hokage agrees but is worried about Naruto's progress, same as Shizune. She then stes a condition, if Naruto can perfectionate his new jutsu in 24 hs, they'll go, otherwise, she'll send another team (surely with Shizune). Sakura obeys, and goes to tell Naruto the orders. Yamato is a little dubious, but Naruto doesn't hesitate, he eats various food pills to Sakura's surprise,, drinks some water, and starts to train. Yamato and Sakura simply approves his commitment, and support him. This part was well done, considering Kakashi left, Naruto's team is like forced to follow them just in case. Sakura read the situation, and it's good she was the one to talk to Tsunade, after all, they understand each other. And a dumb comment, I had the doubt of what Naruto was doing with so many food pills. The way he ate them now implies that he already got used to the bitter taste, this means he didn't throw the others away. Nice gesture to value Sakura's work. The 24 hour deadline is logic, considering the urge to help Shikamaru and the others if needed.
In the meantime, the Akatsuki finish sealing the Nibi, and sadly, Yugito dies. Like Deidara said some time ago, no one ever came to the rescue of a jinchuriki. Only Gaara had that honor. Hidan and Kakuzu will return to Konoha, so Deidara tries to warn them about Naruto (looks like the transformation scared him). It's revealed that Kakuzu sewed Deidara's arm, and though Hidan mocks him, Kakuzu mentions that he sewed his head. Anyway, they leave, while Itachi looks at them in a strange way (I'd say, worried). Back on the ground, Kakuzu says that they will take another road. This little part was slightly different in the manga. The Akatsuki spent six days sealing not only the Nibi, also the three tailed beast (Isobu). That would make more sense to why Pain called them just when they were in the middle of a fight with Asuma's team, because in that moment, they captured the Isobu.
On the other side, Shikamaru makes a few changes on his plan now that Kakashi is with them. They try to locate the Akatsuki's trail, and Choji figures that they'll take a different toad to Konoha. The rain has erased the smell, so Ino uses her mind jutsu on a bird to locate Hidan and Kakuzu. Soon, once they reach them, Shikamaru uses his shadow to surprise the enemy. The others remain hidden according to the plan (including Kakashi who is already using his sharingan). Though they realize, Shikamaru then throws paper bomb with kunai, and right after, Asuma's blades with seals. Hidan and Kakuzu evade the bombs, but are surprised by the blades, that immobilize them through their shadows. This is another special technique developed by Shikamaru. He then uses his shadow jutsu to control Hidan, take the scythe and attack Kakuzu. But the villain had a trick: when the paper bomb exploded, he sent an arm threaded underground, that now took away the blade seal. This way, Kakuzu frees himself, and starts dodging Hidan's scythe. When he is cornered close to a tree, Shikamaru calls Choji who tries to crash Kakuzu. What was amazing on this episode was the time distribution. In only 20 minutes, they showed a lot. The three parts I briefly described, including the beginning of the fight, which takes longer than what it seems. Then, Shikamaru's skills are being expanded. He uses a whole arsenal of weapons combined with the shadows. Surely he's one of the most complete shinobi in Naruto. One would expect that each Konoha character could show more variety of techniques. One of the reason of why this arc is one of the best (or simply the best), is that gives protagonism to other characters besides the main. Izumo, Kotetsu, Raido, Aoba, now Choji, Ino, and giving a main role to Shikamaru and Asuma. It became the arc of Konoha.
In the meantime, the Akatsuki finish sealing the Nibi, and sadly, Yugito dies. Like Deidara said some time ago, no one ever came to the rescue of a jinchuriki. Only Gaara had that honor. Hidan and Kakuzu will return to Konoha, so Deidara tries to warn them about Naruto (looks like the transformation scared him). It's revealed that Kakuzu sewed Deidara's arm, and though Hidan mocks him, Kakuzu mentions that he sewed his head. Anyway, they leave, while Itachi looks at them in a strange way (I'd say, worried). Back on the ground, Kakuzu says that they will take another road. This little part was slightly different in the manga. The Akatsuki spent six days sealing not only the Nibi, also the three tailed beast (Isobu). That would make more sense to why Pain called them just when they were in the middle of a fight with Asuma's team, because in that moment, they captured the Isobu.
On the other side, Shikamaru makes a few changes on his plan now that Kakashi is with them. They try to locate the Akatsuki's trail, and Choji figures that they'll take a different toad to Konoha. The rain has erased the smell, so Ino uses her mind jutsu on a bird to locate Hidan and Kakuzu. Soon, once they reach them, Shikamaru uses his shadow to surprise the enemy. The others remain hidden according to the plan (including Kakashi who is already using his sharingan). Though they realize, Shikamaru then throws paper bomb with kunai, and right after, Asuma's blades with seals. Hidan and Kakuzu evade the bombs, but are surprised by the blades, that immobilize them through their shadows. This is another special technique developed by Shikamaru. He then uses his shadow jutsu to control Hidan, take the scythe and attack Kakuzu. But the villain had a trick: when the paper bomb exploded, he sent an arm threaded underground, that now took away the blade seal. This way, Kakuzu frees himself, and starts dodging Hidan's scythe. When he is cornered close to a tree, Shikamaru calls Choji who tries to crash Kakuzu. What was amazing on this episode was the time distribution. In only 20 minutes, they showed a lot. The three parts I briefly described, including the beginning of the fight, which takes longer than what it seems. Then, Shikamaru's skills are being expanded. He uses a whole arsenal of weapons combined with the shadows. Surely he's one of the most complete shinobi in Naruto. One would expect that each Konoha character could show more variety of techniques. One of the reason of why this arc is one of the best (or simply the best), is that gives protagonism to other characters besides the main. Izumo, Kotetsu, Raido, Aoba, now Choji, Ino, and giving a main role to Shikamaru and Asuma. It became the arc of Konoha.
