Air date: 2007-02-15

Runtime: 23 min

A figure passes through the gates. It's an older Naruto, who has returned from a long training journey with Jiraiya. Naruto Uzumaki is back!

Air date: 2007-02-15

Runtime: 23 min

Naruto and Sakura team up and challenge Kakashi to a survival challenge to show off their progress.

Air date: 2007-02-22

Runtime: 23 min

Naruto’s and Sakura’s combined skills force Kakashi to use his Sharingan right off the bat. Naruto masterfully unleashes his jutsu one after another.

Air date: 2007-03-01

Runtime: 23 min

Gaara is quick to detect Deidara’s presence, and an aerial battle ensues with Deidara on his giant bird and Gaara atop sand.

Air date: 2007-03-15

Runtime: 23 min

Naruto and Sakura defeat Kakashi in the survival challenge. Tsunade assigns them to a three-man squad led by Kakashi, who tells them they are now his equals.

Air date: 2007-03-29

Runtime: 23 min

In order to protect his village from Deidara’s explosive clay, Gaara uses his chakra to create a giant sand shield.

Air date: 2007-03-29

Runtime: 23 min

Gaara, his strength completely exhausted, is whisked away by Deidara. Kankuro ignores Baki’s efforts to stop him and immediately sets out in pursuit with a platoon to rescue Gaara.

Air date: 2007-04-12

Runtime: 23 min

An urgent message from the Sand Village detailing the Akatsuki’s kidnapping of the Kazekage reaches the Hidden Leaf Village. Tsunade wastes no time in ordering Team Kakashi to the Sand Village.

Air date: 2007-04-12

Runtime: 23 min

On her way to the Sand Village, Temari encounters Kakashi and his team. Kakashi admonishes Naruto when he tries to rush ahead…

Air date: 2007-04-19

Runtime: 23 min

The Sand ninja fight against time to treat Kankuro. Even the Sand’s poison expert, Granny Chiyo, is baffled. The only hope lies with the reinforcements sent by Tsunade.

Air date: 2007-04-26

Runtime: 23 min

Sakura treats a critically ill Kankuro. After extensive training she’s now a full-fledged Medic Ninja, and Sakura amazes everyone with her sure, steady hands.

Air date: 2007-05-03

Runtime: 23 min

Pakkun finds the hideout of the Akatsuki. Team Kakashi and Temari prepare to set out to get Gaara back, but Temari is ordered to stay behind and help guard the village.

Air date: 2007-05-10

Runtime: 23 min

Guy prepares to use a forbidden secret jutsu. Meanwhile, Naruto falls under Itachi’s genjutsu, and all the anti-genjutsu training he underwent with Jiraiya races through Naruto’s mind.

Air date: 2007-05-17

Runtime: 23 min

Guy prepares to use a forbidden secret jutsu. Meanwhile, Naruto falls under Itachi’s genjutsu, and all the anti-genjutsu training he underwent with Jiraiya races through Naruto’s mind.

Air date: 2007-05-24

Runtime: 23 min

Granny Chiyo and Sakura rescue Naruto from Itachi’s genjutsu. Without a moment’s delay, Kakashi begins a counterattack.

Air date: 2007-05-31

Runtime: 23 min

Chiyo and Kakashi realize that the attack was just a diversion, and that the Akatsuki have already begun the process of extracting the Tailed Beast from Gaara.

Air date: 2007-06-07

Runtime: 23 min

Teams Kakashi and Guy take a short rest. Granny Chiyo watches Naruto dozing off and is reminded of Sasori as a child. The pursuit resumes, and when Chiyo wonders why Naruto puts such effort into...

Air date: 2007-06-21

Runtime: 23 min

Teams Kakashi and Guy reach the Akatsuki hideout. They hurry to infiltrate but are thwarted by a five-seal barrier. The only way to break the barrier is to remove all five seals at once.

Air date: 2007-07-05

Runtime: 23 min

Breaking the five-seal barrier set off a trap, which now has Team Guy battling amazingly accurate copies of themselves. Back at the Akatsuki hideout, Deidara and Sasori struggle to take the Nine-Tail Jinchûriki.

Air date: 2007-07-19

Runtime: 23 min

At last, the showdown between the old woman and her grandson begins. Sakura is confused by Sasori’s strange appearance, and Granny Chiyo explains that this is Hiruko…

Air date: 2007-07-26

Runtime: 23 min

Granny Chiyo and Sakura manage to expose Sasori, who amazingly looks no older than he did twenty years earlier.

Air date: 2007-08-02

Runtime: 23 min

Sakura is caught by Sasori’s tactic and surrounded by a poison cloud.

Air date: 2007-08-02

Runtime: 23 min

Chiyo and Sakura take cover, and Sasori wastes no time unleashing a ruthless attack.

Air date: 2007-08-09

Runtime: 23 min

Sakura counters the Iron Sand attack of the Third Kazekage puppet with superhuman strength.

Air date: 2007-08-16

Runtime: 23 min

Sakura destroys the Third Kazekage puppet thanks to a secret antidote she had taken.

Air date: 2007-08-23

Runtime: 23 min

Sakura and Granny Chiyo are engaged in a fierce battle with Sasori, who is able turn himself into a human puppet. They somehow bring Sasori down within the time limit, but he ends up reviving.

Air date: 2007-08-30

Runtime: 23 min

Although stung with poison herself, Granny Chiyo uses the last of the antidote on Sakura. Mocking the tender scene between Granny Chiyo and Sakura, Sasori attempts to end Granny Chiyo's life.

Air date: 2007-09-13

Runtime: 23 min

Team Guy senses the result of the Sakura and Granny Chiyo’s desperate struggle while still in battle with his deadly copy. Although Guy’s team members are showing fatigue, their copies remain strong!

Air date: 2007-09-27

Runtime: 23 min

Sakura hurries to get to Naruto with Granny Chiyo, who is suffering from the poison. The members of Team Guy rush to assist Team Kakashi. Meanwhile, with all preparations complete, Kakashi reveals his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Air date: 2007-09-27

Runtime: 23 min

Naruto loses all reason to anger and is gradually taken over by the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit. Having been forewarned by Jiraiya, Kakashi narrowly manages to suppress the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Air date: 2007-10-18

Runtime: 23 min

Relying on Naruto's power, Granny Chiyo performs the Transmigration Jutsu on Gaara.

Air date: 2007-10-25

Runtime: 23 min

Gaara and his rescuers make a triumphant return to the Hidden Sand Village.