Alarms sound in the Sand Village as Deidara escapes with the Kazekage tucked away under his clay bird’s tail feathers. More arrows fly towards Deidara and explode. Baki orders them to cease fire because of the possibility of hurting Gaara. The orders are passed around and the arrows cease firing. Baki wonders what Deidara is after as Deidara flees. Kankuro wonders if Deidara is trying to escape with Gaara.

Deidara rapidly approaches Sasori’s position and thinks he must be sick of waiting by now.

Baki wonders if Deidara is planning on taking Gaara alive. Kankuro dashes after Deidara yelling at him that he won’t get away. Baki yells after Kankuro and tells him not to be rash and to wait for a squad. Kankuro continues and yells back that they’ll lose sight of him. Baki tells Kankuro that he’ll call a squad immediately and that he shouldn’t take them on by himself. Kankuro says ok and continues on, realizing that Deidara was after Gaara from the start. Two ninja appear next to Kankuro. Kankuro orders them to stop Akatsuki at all costs. Kankuro sees Deidara land at the entrance to the village and thinks that the first squad should be standing guard there.

Deidara lands next to Sasori and tells him that they’re mission has been completed. Sasori swipes at Deidara, telling him he is late and that he told him not to be late. Deidara tells Sasori that Gaara was strong and Sasori replies that that is why he told him to be prepared. Deidara questions Sasori’s preparations and Sasori tells him his are perfect and that he had extra time to work on them. Sasori tells Deidara that unlike him he was fully prepared. Deidara tells Sasori that they should leave. Deidara jumps down next to Sasori and allows his bird to take off. Deidara and Sasori walk away from the Sand Village with their prize hovering above them. Sasori looks back one last time and says he is never coming back. Deidara puts his hat on.

Kankuro halts with his squad at the entrance to the village. One of the squad members asks what is wrong and Kankuro states that it is way too quiet because there was an entire squad stationed at the entrance. Kankuro also points out that he had sent several messengers to their spot and none of them have returned. One of the ninja jumps on ledge and then yells for Kankuro. Kankuro moves further into the valley that acts as the entrance to the village, seeing dozens of corpses. Kankuro checks one of the corpses and tells his men that they weren’t defeated recently but before Gaara even started fighting. One of the squad members say that their ANBU was stationed there. Another says he thinks that a large group must’ve attacked them all at once. Kankuro begins to say something but then stops (he was about to suggest someone betrayed them). Kankuro thinks to himself that he thoroughly researched everyone in the village when Gaara became Kazekage so there should be no way there is a traitor among their shinobi. Kankuro tells his men that it looks like those who took Gaara came through there. Kankuro tells his men to come up and they begin to run out into the desert until a squad member sees that one of the sand ninja is still alive. The ninja begins to pick up the hurt ninja and Kankuro turns around to tell him to stop. The hurt ninja has an explosive tag on him that detonates, destroying the entrance to the village.

In the desert, Deidara tells Sasori that it looks like they fell into his trap. Sasori says naturally, because traps are made so that people fall into them. Deidara says that makes sense and the two continue on.

Naruto enters his home and turns on the lights. He quickly notices it is dusty and says he isn’t surprised because it has been neglected for years. Naruto enters his bedroom to see a haze of dust so he opens the window and coughs. He then cleans off a picture of Team 7 and tells Sasuke that he has come home to bring him back.

Smoke clears from Sasori’s trap. Baki and some ninja arrive and one ninja says that this must mean those who after the Kazekage are dead. Baki finds it hard to believe. The rubble begins shaking and Baki tells his men to stand back. Something emerges from the rubble and Baki recognizes it. It’s a puppet. The puppet disappears to reveal Kankuro holding two sand ninja. Kankuro tells them he could only save two of them and then orders some of Baki’s men to get medical attention. Baki asks Kankuro what he is going to do and Kankuro responds that he is going to bring Gaara back. Baki tells him that the Akatsuki were strong enough to beat Gaara, therefore he doesn’t stand a chance against him alone. Kankuro asks him if he is saying he should abandon Gaara. Baki says no and tells Kankuro that if they can figure out where Akatsuki is based then they can prepare a large group and attack later. Kankuro tucks away the scroll he used to summon a puppet and looks towards the desert. Baki thinks to himself that he won’t be able to stop him from leaving. Baki tells Kankuro to just follow their trail and not to engage. Kankuro says he won’t if he can’t help and jumps over the rubble, seeing three sets of tracks going in three different directions and then splitting furthermore. Kankuro thinks that they’re mocking his village and then notices something. Gaara runs up to some sand and picks it up. Upon closer examination he realizes it is Gaara’s sand.

We see Gaara’s sand armor cracking and falling from his body, onto the desert floor.

Kankuro dashes forward telling Gaara to hold on.

Baki leaves his men, telling them he will leave things at the village gate up to them.

At the central government building in the Sand village, Baki orders some ninja to get a pursuit squad to follow Kankuro’s trail. One of the two ninja following Baki says yes and then disappears. Baki orders the second ninja to send a message to the Leaf Village explaining the situation. The second ninja says ok and then disappears. Baki thinks to himself that he has a bad feeling that something terrible is about to begin.

Kankuro continues running towards Deidara, Sasori, and Gaara.

In the bird tower, a ninja prepares a carrier bird named Takamaru. The ninja tells Takamaru that they’re counting on him. The ninja attaches a message and then allows Takamaru to leave.

The villagers watch Takamaru, fly away. A young boy worries about Gaara and his mother tells him the Kazekage will be ok.

Kankuro comes upon on set of splitting tracks and sees more of Gaara’s sand.

Takamaru continues flying.

Kakashi finishes reading Make-Out Tactics for his second time and says it was wonderful. Kakashi decides to get some sleep and then turns out the lights. He looks out the window to see the sun is already rising and then realizes he hasn’t even made the new teams. Slipping on his slippers, Kakashi approaches his desk and wonders where he put the papers.

Temari ties on her headband and secures the rest of her gear, exiting her temporary home. Shikamaru is waiting outside and asks her why she is up so early because everyone else is sleeping. Temari tells him she can’t stay away from her village too long so she figured she would leave as soon as she finished her business in Konoha. Shikamaru asks her about breakfast and she replies that she will find a tea house on the way home. Temari asks Shikamaru what he is doing there and tells her that even though it’s a pain, he is suppose to be her guide. Temari laughs and tells him he did a good job. The two arrive at the Village gate. Shikamaru asks if the next time he will see her will be at the Chuunin Exams. Temari says yes and then starts to leave but stops, telling Shikamaru he needs to hurry up and become a Jounin. She goes on to tell him that he can do it quickly if he takes his missions seriously. Shikamaru rubs his head and then Temari leaves.

Naruto zips up his top and then exams his headband in a mirror.

Sakura puts on her gloves and headband, examining herself in the mirror.

A gust of wind picks up and Temari thinks to herself that the wind is giving her a bad feeling.

Sasori stops and Deidara asks what is wrong. Sasori tells him he didn’t think someone would be following them. Deidara looks to see Kankuro. Kankuro tells them he has found them and then looks at Gaara. Kankuro tells them he will be taking Gaara back. Sasori turns and tells Deidara to go ahead. Sasori jumps forward, landing in front of Kankuro. Kankuro looks at Deidara and thinks that he is the one who kidnapped Gaara. Kankuro then realizes that the one in front of him must’ve set up the traps. Kankuro lays out his three scrolls, saying he will show them his puppet show performance. Sasori raises an eyebrow when Kankuro says he will be performing a puppet show. Kankuro summons his puppets, Karasu, Kuroari, and Sanshouo. A cloud of smoke disappears, revealing the three puppets. Kankuro tells them to give Gaara back.

Naruto tells Kakashi he is late. As usual, Naruto and Sakura are waiting on Kakashi to begin their daily duties. Kakashi apologizes and says he got stuck writing up some documents for the new teams. Naruto tells him they’re on their first mission as a team today and he isn’t excited at all. Sakura covers her ears and tells Naruto to stop whining. Sakura goes on to say that Kakashi has never showed any spirit so what made him think he would start now. Kakashi thinks to himself that he is losing serious face. A hawk cries out over head and Kakashi looks to the sky, thinking that that is definitely the sand village’s best carrier bird.

Deidara smiles after seeing the puppets and jumps on his bird, telling Sasori he is going ahead with Gaara. Kankuro tells Deidara he is letting him go and sends one of his puppets after him. Sasori whips his tail into the air, wrapping it around Kankuro’s puppet. Kankuro is shocked. Sasori takes off his hat, telling Kankuro that he doesn’t like waiting for people and he doesn’t like making them wait.