Beyond the Limit of Darkness and Light

As the two boys and their beasts finish transforming, Gamabunta pins Shukaku long enough for Naruto to jolt Gaara awake with a brutal punch, forcing him to rein the sand spirit back in. Around them, Konoha's shinobi press their counterattack against the forces that poured into the village. On the rooftop where the Third Hokage still duels Orochimaru, the old man realizes he lacks the strength to seal away his former student's soul in full. Rather than fail outright, he settles for sealing the traitor's arms, leaving Orochimaru cut off from any ninjutsu at all.

His task done, the Third bids his wayward pupil a gentle goodbye, offers one final proverb, and dies. In the sky above, Naruto and Gaara hurl themselves at each other one last time, and Naruto lands the blow that ends their battle. The episode adapts chapters 136 and 137, capping the confrontation that decided both the jinchuriki duel and the fate of Konoha's leader.

Part of the wider Konoha Crush storyline, the episode pairs the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi with Naruto's hard-won victory over Gaara. It opens with the theme GO!!! and closes with Many Times Before, and first aired in Japan on 14 April 2004 before its English broadcast on 17 March 2007.