(shown with ep 7)

Baki issues orders: emergency summons, guard the reservoir, seal off all roads leading to A-block. The medical teams create a barrier for the civilians. The large bird bomb goes off as troops retreat.

Meanwhile in Konoha, Naruto has ramen at Ichiraku. The old ramen chef takes a few seconds to recognize him and is about to treat him to ramen when Iruka appears. He treats Naruto instead. Sakura is at the sweet shop having Anmitsu (fruit and jelly ice cream) by herself.

Gaara protects the village with a huge shield of sand. But Deidara has distracted him and a little bird bomb sneaks up right next to Gaara and goes off. His sand automatically protects him, but then little clay bugs bore through his sand. When Gaara crushed Deidara’s left arm, his hand ate some of the sand and mixed it with his clay. When Gaara used the sand to guard himself, his clay was activated. Eveything went as Deidara planned. The little bugs explode.

Naruto has an extra large special while Iruka reminisces about the first time he treated Naruto to ramen and talked to him about being a shinobi. Naruto is despondent about something and the ramen chef is upset that he's complaining about the ramen, but Naruto wanted the next time Iruka to treat him ramen was when he became a chuunin. Naruto complains about Jiraiya’s tough training. His clothes and forehead protector wore out. He mentions Gaara is now kazekage already. Iruka says Gaara's a special case, but Naruto protests that he must have worked hard to be accepted by everyone.

Tsunade thinks of assigning Team Kakashi a B rank VIP escort mission in Rice country, but Shizune suggests an easier mission of D rank walking dogs. Tsunade points out Sakura is already a chuunin. Shizune argues against sending Naruto outside the village. It’s dangerous because of the Kyuubi issue. Tsunade compromises with a coastal transport convoy C-rank mission.

Gaara's shell falls apart. Deidara goes to retrieve Gaara. Instead of defending himself, Gaara uses his last bit of strength to move the sand shield away from the village. Huge crossbows fire arrows at Deidara but he avoids them all, even ones with explosive tags. Gaara manages to move the sand but he's exhausted and falls from the sky. Deidara swoops in and carries him away. The bird grabs him with its tail.

End: Iruka gives lecture on levels of mission from D-S.

Review: Nice to see Iruka again :)

Notes:
Anmitsu = fruit and jelly ice cream (will add to recipes page)

Thoughts:
Was Deidara’s entire arm absorbed in Gaara’s sand?