Efforts to clear the rubble at the entrance to the Sand Village continue. A ninja discovers an explosive note and calls for some aid. Two ninja appear at his side and one of them says it is the kind of note that explodes when to attempt to remove it. The second ninja tells everyone at the site to get away because they’re going to blow it up. The three ninja attach a string to the note and then hide behind some rocks. One of the ninja orders another to blow it up, so the string is pulled and the note explodes.

Inside the Sand’s government building, an official slams his fist on a table, telling everyone that it isn’t the appropriate time to be talking about appointing a new Kazekage. Another man replies that it’s important to consider the worst case scenario and prepare for it. The first man tells him they need to rescue the Kazekage and the second replies once more that the security of the village should be top priority. He goes on to say that the village’s forces are already limited and they can’t afford to spread them anymore. The meeting ends and the men exit the room. A ninja comes running down the hallway and stops before Baki to deliver a report. The ninja tells Baki that they found more explosives on the surrounding walls and are in the process of disarming them. The ninja also tells him that there have been no further casualties so far but parts of the entrance have collapsed which will require half a day more of repairs. Baki tells the ninja that they’ll gather as many people as needed for the repairs so they’ll finish on schedule. The ninja says ok and leaves the room. Baki looks out the window, thinking back to Deidara’s explosion. Baki thinks to himself that thanks to Gaara, the village made it with barely a scratch but the cost of losing Gaara was too great. Another ninja appears and tells Baki that they were able to identity all the bodies posted on the roof. The ninja continues to say that they believe the enemy infiltrated the village by air but is then interrupted by another ninja who rushes in. Baki asks the second ninja what’s up. The second ninja says they have just received a report from their trackers: Kankuro was found unconscious about half-a-days walk from the village. Baki looks down. The second ninja tells Baki that the trackers have retrieved Kankuro and his puppets, and are on their way back to the village. Baki asks about the whereabouts of the Kazekage. The second ninja says some of the trackers stayed behind to follow some tracks and they should hear back from them shortly. As the ninja says this, we see many Sand Ninja lying dead in the desert.

A clay bird sits on a rock as sand blows by. Deidara tells Sasori that he is late and that he thought Sasori hated to keep people waiting. Sasori says he does hate to make people wait but he had enough fun to make up for it. Deidara gets angry and Sasori tells him he has no reason to be because he managed to secure his target, the Ichibi, anyways. Sasori tells Deidara that after they deal with Gaara they shall go after his target. Deidara begins talking about Sasori’s target but Sasori interrupts, saying he still doesn’t know where he is, but he would be simpler if the target came to them. Deidara agrees and then asks what type of Jinchuuriki Sasori’s target is. Sasori replies that it doesn’t matter because no one will complain as long as he captures him.

Meanwhile, Team Kakashi continues making their way through a forest. Naruto is way ahead of Sakura and Kakashi. Sakura tells Naruto that she understands they’re in a hurry but he doesn’t need to get so far ahead of them. Naruto tries to reply but Kakashi tells him not to get so worked up and points out that Jiraiya told him the same thing. Sakura notices someone walking on a path below them. Team Kakashi lands behind the person and Sakura calls out to the person. It is Temari!

Kankuro is rolled into the Sand’s medical ward. A ninja tells everyone to start the operation immediately. Kankuro is breathing heavily and sweating profusely. The medical ninja see that he has been poisoned. One of the ninja tells the others in the operating room to prepare for poison removal. Kankuro calls out to Gaara as the medical ninja begin the operation.

Temari is shocked to learn that Gaara has been kidnapped. Temari thinks back to when her teacup broke and realizes what the omen was warning her of. Kakashi tells everyone that it will take them all two days to get to the Sand Village so they need to get moving. Temari says ok and the four get moving.

Kankuro has now been moved from the operating room to the treatment room. His injuries have been bandaged and his face is clear of the purple make up he typically wears. Baki stands at Kankuro’s side with two medical ninja at his side. One of the medical ninja tells Baki that his injuries weren’t so bad but…and then Baki finishes his sentence, saying it’s the poison that is hurting Kankuro. The second medical ninja tells Baki that the poison is a completely new kind of poison and they have no idea on how to neutralize it. Baki thinks they not only have they gotten Gaara but now Kankuro.

It is now night time and Team Kakashi is still traveling. Naruto leaps ahead of the group and thinks back to when Itachi and Kisame came to capture him and then when Jiraiya told him they’re after the Kyuubi inside of him. Sakura reminds Naruto of what they “just” told him. She tries to tell him they need to stick together but Naruto interrupts her,

“I can’t take this! I know why they’re after Gaara and me. Sakura-chan, you know why, too, don’t you? Inside of me…The Kyuubi is sealed inside of me.”-Naruto Uzumaki

Temari is shocked at the news. Kakashi doesn’t react since he already knows. Sakura looks down and thinks about Naruto when he was younger. We see Naruto standing alone, with the village all around him. Sakura is watching from behind someone and we hear two people talking about how disgusting Naruto is and that they should leave.

“Gaara and I…We both have monsters inside our bodies. That’s what those guys are after. I…hate it! They just see us as monsters! I can’t stand the way they view us! ”-Naruto Uzumaki

We see a flashback of Gaara telling Naruto that they’re the same because they both have monsters inside of them.

“He was just like I was. And he fought all on his own a lot longer than I did.”-Naruto Uzumaki

We see Naruto and Gaara at first standing alone. Naruto is then joined by Iruka and then slowly everyone else he gets to know. However, Gaara continues standing alone.

“To them, I’m just a relic from the past that they want to erase. Then why should I continue to exist? I thought about it, but couldn’t find an answer. But, one needs a reason to live. Otherwise, it’s the same as being dead.”-Gaara

Naruto tells the group that Gaara has been targeted by Akatsuki so they’re the same again but then questions why everything bad always happens to him (referring to how Gaara never had any friends where as Naruto eventually got some and Gaara being kidnapped but his self evading it thanks to Jiraiya). Naruto says because of all this he can’t waste a second and must save Gaara. One of Naruto’s tears hits Temari in the face. She closes her eyes and thanks Naruto.

The sun rises over the Sand Village. Baki enters the treatment room and says he heard Kankuro has regained consciousness. One of the two medical ninja at Kankuro’s bed side says he has but is barely able to respond. The second tells Baki that his condition has worsened since yesterday. Kankuro opens his eyes and asks Baki if that is him. Baki leans forward as Kankuro tries to speak, telling him not to because his body can’t handle it. Kankuro whispers something into Baki’s ears that makes him stand straight up, shocked. Baki realizes how everything has happened and leaves the treatment room.

Baki enters one of the government offices and tells the ninja inside to inform the pursuit squad to retreat immediately. One of the ninja says they haven’t heard from them since they retrieved Kankuro. Baki says it is too late for them and he will have no choice but to consult with “them”. Baki leaves the room, baffling the two ninja. One of the ninja chases after him telling him that there is suppose to be a briefing that morning to their superiors. Baki says he doesn’t have time to sit around giving reports because action must be taken, not more meetings. The ninja says ok. Baki walks away surprised that the officials are still trying to figure out who the next Kazekage will be instead of rescuing their current one. Baki says to himself that he needs to advice of the “siblings” and hopes they’re willing to help. As he says this, we see a pond somewhere in a desert cave.

Team Kakashi continues traveling. Sakura tries to take a soldier pill but Kakashi stops her, saying they are only for emergencies and girls her age shouldn’t eat. Sakura bites down on the pill and moves ahead. Kakashi wonders if Sakura is angry. Temari thinks to herself that a lot of people would call that sexual harassment. Sakura catches up to Naruto and asks if he has met “him” before. Naruto doesn’t know who she is talking about so she says his name, Itachi Uchiha. Sakura says that during her two and a half years of training she had access to Tsunade’s library so she was able to do a lot of reading. Because of this, she has a link to something she always wanted to know about. We see a flashback of Sasuke saying that he wants to kill a certain someone (Itachi). Sakura states that the person Sasuke wants to kill is his brother, a member of Akatsuki, Itachi Uchiha. Naruto thinks back to when Sasuke attacked his brother during Akatsuki’s first attempt at capturing the Kyuubi. Sakura thinks back to Orochimaru talking about the similarities between him and his brother. Sakura says that because of Itachi, Sasuke is with Orochimaru to gain more power. And since he is with Orochimaru, they only have half a year left before the transfer jutsu takes place. Naruto realizes that Sakura knows about all that. Sakura says that Orochimaru was originally part of Akatsuki so the closer they get to Akatsuki, the closer they get to finding information on Orochimaru, and then the closer they get to finding Sasuke. Naruto nods. Sakura thinks to herself that Itachi caused Sasuke and Naruto a lot of pain so this time she is going to save both of them.

Baki walks alongside a cliff, making his way to the “siblings”.

Inside a structure, an old man and women are sitting a pond. The old woman is fishing and the old man is trying not to fall asleep. The old man tells the old woman that someone is nearby. The old man calls out to the women but she doesn’t respond.

Baki arrives at a massive gate as a sand storm rages on.

The old man calls out the old women once more. The old woman doesn’t move or reply. The old man screams out and asks her if she is dead. The old woman drops her fishing rod into the pond but then catches it at the last second. The old woman tells the old man that she got him and was playing dead. The old woman laughs and the old man tells her not to make it seem so real. The two’s attention refocuses as Baki appears before them. Baki says he has come for their aid. The old woman drops her hook back into the pond and says that antiques are supposed to be left alone on a high shelf and then questions what they could possibly do now. Baki says that an organization called Akatsuki has taken Shukaku and leaving things as they are could be disastrous. The old man says that Baki’s generation is in charge now so they should deal with it. Baki tells them that they have many contacts across all the countries and there’s only so much info they can dig up now. The old woman says they have been retired for some time, so they’re no longer tied to anything in the world. She goes on to say she would have liked to see her grandson’s face one last time however.

“That’s very convenient. Your grandson is a member of Akatsuki…Chiyo-baasama…”-Baki