VOL 20
The anime added lots of filler episodes and scenes, and rearranged their order at this point since it was catching up too fast to the manga.
Ch 172: Returning Home
Opens with Tsunade looking down at Konoha and saying "Starting today the village is my responsibility as the Fifth Hokage." She is standing on the rook of a building with Jiraiya, Naruto, the 2 advisors and Genma and Aoba. In the anime (ep 98), this scene occurs inside without Jiraiya and with Shizune present.
The old male advisor says to Jiraiya "I am amazed you were able to persuade her."
Jiraiya says "Hah, a handsome devil like myself only needs his charm to persuade anyone!"
Naruto thinks "Who was the idiot who almost died from being poisoned?"
Old female advisor says to gather the local lords and celebrate the inauguration of the Fifth Hokage and asks Genma and Aoba to announce this to the village. But Naruto tells them "Tsunade has some stuff to take care of first."
Tsunade asks Jiraiya who were they again.
Jiraiya says, "I already told you during the trip home! That brat Kakashi, Uchiha's kid, and Gai's student Lee."
On their way down, Naruto, Tsunade, and Jiraiya run into Shikamaru and his dad. Scene plays out about the same as the anime except when Naruto says he'll show Shikamaru his new technique, Jiraiya hits him on the head and says "Stupid Naruto, What kind of shinobi shows off his jutsu?"
Next scene occurs in the anime before the previous scene: Neji is practicing and turns on his byakugan to see through the second log. He sees 7 birds behind him within a 50meter radius. Tenten comes by (same exchange as anime). Neji notes there were actually 8 birds.
Next scene occurs several episodes later in the anime (ep 107): At the barbecue restaurant Asuma and his team celebrate Shikamaru's promotion to chuunin.
Next scenes occur in ep 98: Tsunade, Shizune and Naruto arrive to cure Sasuke at the hospital.
Next scene occurs at the very beginning of ep 98: Kiba and Akamaru are "taking a walk" and disturbing Shino at his bug collecting. Hinata thinks how she needs a hobby.
Back at the hospital Sasuke is awake. Sakura gives him a hug. Naruto leaves (to see Iruka). Tsunade heals Kakashi. Tsunade says "Humph, you were beaten by only two enemies? I thought you were a genius." Gai says "Forget about this idiot! Please take a look at my student Lee!!" In the anime Kakashi says "I'm sorry" and Gai doesn't say anything.
At Ichiraku, the exchange between Iruka and Naruto is completely different. In the manga Iruka tells Naruto only Shikamaru was promoted to chuunin. Naruto is relieved that Sasuke wasn't promoted either. In the anime Iruka talks about the village's decline in power.
Chapter ends with Tsunade examining Lee.
Ch 173: Affliction
From end of ep 98: Tsunade tells Lee to quit being a ninja and explains the risky operation.
From ep 107: Back at the barbecue restaurant, same exchange as anime. Asuma thinks of the three as "a scrooge, a trash talker and a lazy bum."
From ep 98: Naruto tells Iruka about using his rasengan (not in anime) then returns to the hospital to see Sasuke.
The filler arc is inserted here, what follows is in ep 107.
Sakura cuts up apples for Sasuke who thinks about Itachi and Naruto. He smacks the apples from Sakura.
Ends with Orochimaru sending out the Sound Four to Konoha.
Ch 174: Each and Their Path
Not in anime: Kakashi is home looking very weary. There's little bird on his window sill. Kakashi thinks "I've already got a mission to do." Same bird flies to Gai and he thinks "Why are we getting mobilized at a time like this?"
Ep 98: Naruto and Iruka at Ichiraku again. Here Iruka gives the speech about the village problems.
Ep 107: Shikamaru washes up and overhears the exchange between Chouji and Ino. Same exchange except Shikamaru says "I hear guys tend to like stacked girls, if you know what I mean."
Back at the hospital Sasuke is looking at Naruto with hatred and asks him to fight.
Ends with Naruto saying ".I was thinking about it too."
Ch 175: Naruto vs. Sasuke!! (ep 107)
They go to the roof, same exchange as in anime, but Naruto calls him Sasuke-chan which implies he's a child and an inferior. Fight scene is much shorter. Naruto immediately uses Tajyuu Kage Bunshin no jutsu and then Naruto Rendan (Naruto combo). Sasuke counters and uses Tora-no-in (tiger seal) for katon goukakyu no jutsu. Naruto says "Ouch!" Naruto and his clones start the rasengan while Sasuke starts his chidori.
Ends with Sakura yelling "Stop!"
Ch 176: Bitter Rivalry (ep 108)
Essentially same as anime. Kakashi stops Sasuke and Naruto. He notes that Naruto used the rasengan and thinks "I wonder what happened.how can Naruto that brat perform this technique?"
Naruto is not shown telling Sakura not to interfere at this point.
Ends with the Sound4 observing Sasuke.
Ch 177: The Four Sounds
Kakashi lecture to Sasuke on revenge is the same from ep 108.
Scene with Lee at the bridge pulling petals from a flower was in ep 99.
The Sound4 introduce themselves to Sasuke.
Note: Full moon like in anime.
Ends after their fight with Sasuke saying he won't hold back.
Ch 178: The Temptation of the Sound (ep 109)
Sakon says "I'll make a nice melody from your broken bones. Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do"
Fight sequence same as anime.
Sakura is looking out her window rather than a balcony. She has a flashback to Naruto telling her "Don't stop us" and her asking Naruto out on a date so she could tell him about Sasuke and Orochimaru. She tells him about it on a bench in the daytime, in the anime it's at Ichiraku at night.
Ends with Tayuya telling Sasuke that Orochimaru will give him strength.
Ch 179: Don't Forget.!! (ep 109)
Sasuke activates his cursed seal. Sakon notes he can't control it. Says that if the cursed seal takes over, he'll lose all free will forever. Tayuya says "Instead of the cursed seal giving you power, it merely transforms you into Orochimaru's slave. For us, we have already lost that freedom. To gain something, you must be willing to sacrifice something else."
Lee flashbacks (ep 100) to first meeting Gai, their genin meeting, Gai vs. Kakashi
Ends with Gai finding Lee.
Ch 180: It's a Promise!! (ep 100)
No significant differences. Talk between Lee and Gai, Gai's rules, Gai's promise to die with Lee.
Ends with Lee hugging Gai.