Painful Decision

Word spreads that Danzo will head the Allied Shinobi Forces, and Sasuke's Taka slip past the samurai guards to depart. The Fourth Raikage demands to know why he was passed over, prompting Mifune of the Land of Iron to lay out why each candidate falls short. The Raikage is ruled by his temper, Gaara is too young for five nations despite being Kazekage, the Third Tsuchikage is too old and has hired Akatsuki before, and the Mizukage is tainted by rumours that the group began in Kirigakure. That leaves Danzo, the newly appointed Sixth Hokage, as the palatable pick.

Learning of the kill order on Sasuke, Ino breaks down in tears. Shikamaru, now leading the rest of the Konoha 11, overhears Sai pressing Sakura in her tent: he asks why she and Naruto keep fighting for someone who only wounds them, and reveals that Naruto loves her. Sakura recalls the promise Naruto once made to bring Sasuke home and realises she has inflicted on Naruto the very pain Sasuke inflicts on her. Shikamaru enters and asks Team 7's blessing to eliminate Sasuke before the situation ignites war between Kumo and Konoha; to his shock, Sakura agrees and resolves to find Naruto, who has already left for the Land of Iron. At the summit, Ao's Byakugan detects that Mifune is under Shisui's Kotoamatsukami cast through Danzo, and he demands Danzo reveal his right eye, exposing the hidden genjutsu before White Zetsu crashes in to warn that Sasuke has infiltrated the building. Elsewhere, as Naruto muses on why Sasuke will not come home now that Itachi is dead, Tobi appears and declares it is time they talked.

The 201st episode of Naruto: Shippuden sits in the Five Kage Summit arc and draws on chapters 458 through 460. It aired in Japan on 3 March 2011 and in English on 10 August 2013. The opening theme is Diver and the ending theme is Midnight Orchestra.