This was a double episode special shown with ep 111.

The Sound 4 stop and Sakon tells Sasuke he must die once. He gives Sasuke a mind drug. Tayuya explains that the drug will forcibly awaken level 2 of the cursed seal. Sakon says once Sasuke gets to level 2, the speed of which the seal spreads will increase rapidly. If he’s left like that he will die immediately. A lot of time is needed to control level 2 but that way he’ll be able to obtain power equal to theirs. After it awakens, it will take only a few minutes for him to die but with their barrier techniques they can reduce the side effects into an apparent death. Kidoumaru explains they are normally Orochimaru’s guards. Barrier or protective wall techniques, cursed seals and sealing techniques are their specialties.

Sasuke takes a pill and then Sakon unfurls a scroll. Sasuke falls to his knees while Sakon summons a barrel. Jiroubou places Sasuke into the barrel and then the Sound 4 use Shikokumujin (Four Seals of the Dark Mist) to seal the barrel. Sakon then uses blood to write on 5 tags to complete the sealing process with Fuukoku Houin (Dark Seal).

Genma, Raidou, Shizune, and another jounin are returning from a long mission. They sense something so Genma and Raidou go to investigate. The Sound 4 sense something and stop. Raidou recognizes them as Orochimaru’s minions. Genma observes they are on their way back from Konoha. Kidoumaru says fighting against 2 jounin might be a little rough, so the Sound 4 activate their cursed seal. Shizune notes they are late and she and the other guy go to investigate.

Kiba notes that he smells blood.

Shizune arrives to find Genma and Raidou unconscious and the battle field in ruins. Shizune heals Genma first and then Raidou but it's only emergency care. Iwashi wants to go after them but Shizune says no. Genma says that technique isn’t a ninja move, if he goes after them alone he’ll die.

Kiba notes that 2 scents collided with the Sound 4 and Sasuke but now they are moving farther away from the other 2. Shikamaru notes there was probably a battle if they go to investigate they need to form a scouting position and close in by walking slowly. Neji notes that then Sasuke will cross the border and be out of Fire Country. Shikamaru decides to go after Sasuke but notes that after a battle they will be on the alert and there will be a high probability of traps and ambushes. He tells the team to keep their eyes and ears open and if they encounter anything they should interpret it. Suddenly Kiba smells the enemy’s scent all around them. Shikamaru orders everyone to stop. They look up and see an explosive seal. Neji observes there are five of them forming a barrier seal. Shikamaru explains it’s a form of trap ninjutsu where seal traps are activated when the enemy is inside the surrounded area, a high class ninjutsu he read in a book. Kiba notes they have to go around it.

Meanwhile in Konoha Lee thinks about how he’s left behind and tries to climb the stairs but Tsunade stops him. Lee says he wants to start training immediately but Tsunade says to think of this as another form of training and gives him a bottle of medicine.

The team progresses slowly as they have to step over many trap wires. Shikamaru notes they must be in a hurry since the wires are easily detected. Naruto is about to step over a wire when Shikamaru orders him to wait. There is a second near invisible wire. Shikamaru uses his kage mane (shadow copy no jutsu) to stop Naruto. One wire is visible in the sunlight while the other is camouflaged in green. Shikamaru notes that although they’re in a hurry, it’s a well made trap which means…Neji interjects they’re resting and injured, or it’s a trap. Neji activates his byakugan and sees the Sound 4 resting.

Shikamaru maps out his strategy and tells Kiba to not have his timing off on the smoke bomb. As the team moves they brush by a number of webs which happen to be attached to Kidoumaru. Shikamaru and Neji see the Sound 4 resting and the barrel. Neji uses his byakugan but can’t see past the barrier around the barrel, but assumes since they want Sasuke, he must still be alive. Sakon suddenly throws a kunai with 3 explosive seals. Neji and Shikamaru jump out of the way but the blast appears to be powerful enough to still have an effect.

Reviews:

Interesting to see the various cursed seal patterns. Wish we could have seen the jounin fight!

Notes:

Cursed seal patterns: Kidoumaru curlicues, Tayuya zigzags, Jiroubou arrowheads, Sakon spots

Genma spits out whatever is always in his mouth to block the big kunai summoned by Sakon. Can’t be a regular straw or toothpick!

Thoughts:

Sasuke left maybe around midnight, they report it to Tsunade around 4 am, Shikamaru and the team probably left Konoha between 5-6am, but Sasuke and the Sound are still not yet in Sound Village so it takes more than 6 hours at a fast chakra speed to get there.