Ep 165: Naruto’s Death

Kakashi says their mission is complete and sacrifices are part of a shinobi’s mission and they are to return to the village. As he, Neji and Tenten run back, two ninjas appear from camouflaging as rocks and wonder if they are really returning. Hokushin follows them while Nagare returns to report to Moushou.

Hokushin watches as Kakashi Neji and Tenten take a break in the trees. They start fighting over persimmons. Tenten wins! Hokushin realizes something is wrong and throws three shurikens at the them and they turn to apes! The team used kawarimi.

Koumei is about to be executed or rather ordered to commit seppuku for calling back the spirit of the previous feudal lord Oowashi to assassinate his child Toki and for treason. As Koumei is about to plunge a dagger into his body, mist appears, but it’s really just a smoke bomb. The executioner is about to strike but the ghost appears and knocks down the guards, grabs koumei and flies away.

Three of the guards transform back to Kakashi, Neji and Tenten and pursue the ghost. Kakashi splits off from Neji and Tenten to check on something. Neji and Tenten catch up with the ghost and Koumei back at the old abandoned temple. Neji and Tenten are about to attack when Kakashi appears and orders everyone to go on. They run into the temple. Kakashi senses someone is there but he can’t see him so he summons Pakkun who easily sniffs out he shinobi by the rocks. Kakashi confronts Nagare.

The rest of the team travel through a tunnel. Koumei explains that the secret pathway was made all over the country so that the feudal lord would be able to observe a commoner’s life.

Meanwhile Kakashi and Nagare clash kunai. Pakkun bites Nagare’s hand but gets flung far away for his effort. Nagare then performs Hiru Masshou, bouka no jutsu (erasing the day, attack prevention technique). Pakkun tries to bite his neck but it turned to stone! Kakashi observes he is able to absorb the boulder’s properties. Pakkun leaves in a puff of smoke, leaving Kakashi to face a rolling boulder (douku sanseki seisha: assimilated rock tank). Kakashi tries to stop it but gets push back and crushed against the wall, but it was just a kage bunshin and Kakashi reappears. He had attached an exploding note onto Nagare’s back.

Meanwhile the team crawls out of the tunnel and the ghost is revealed to be Naruto! Neji expected it but Tenten is shocked and punches Naruto in the face for worrying her. Neji explains there was a shinobi guard . following them.

Pieces of rock lie all over and Kakashi starts to walk away when the rocks suddenly fly toward him ( douku yahumuki: assimulated rock blizzard) Kakashi blocks the rocks. Nagare dissolves into rock dust. Kakashi finally exposes his sharingan against douku sabakukyuu (simulated desert coffin) and douku sabaku sousou (simulated desert funeral march).

Meanwhile the rest of the team finds Sagi inside waiting for them. He reports that Chishima is fine after treat at their hospital.

Flashback to Naruto in prison with Sagi sentencing him to death when Chishima appears and tells him Moushou betrayed him and killed his father and sister and framed Koumei. But Sagi says he cannot stop Koumei’s execution since if Moushou finds out he knows the truth, he can’t get his revenge. Naruto offers to save Koumei himself.

In the present they discuss past events and the ghost Koumei had followed was not Sagi. Sagi resolves to take revenge himself.

Review: Still interesting, especially the pseudo Gaara techniques.

Notes:

Koumei was apparently tortured and has scars along his arms.

Nagare – stone guy

Hokushin – grey hair guy

Thoughts:

Though Nagare can duplicate some of Gaara’s techniques, he can’t do the absolute automatically defense which comes from Gaara's inner demon.