Team Kakashi, Deployed

A cipher specialist named Yurika sets to work unraveling the report of what has befallen Sunagakure. Out in the field, Deidara slips off before Kankuro can reach him, leaving Kankuro to face Sasori instead. Back in Konohagakure, the decoded message arrives, and Team Kakashi is ordered to gather whatever intelligence it can and lend the Sand every possible hand.

Kankuro's attempts to break through Sasori accomplish nothing. It emerges that all three of the puppets before him were crafted by Sasori of the Red Sand himself. Sasori lashes out with his tail and drives poison into Kankuro, whose body is soon overwhelmed until he collapses into unconsciousness. At Konoha's gate, Jiraiya warns Naruto against relying on a certain forbidden technique before parting ways with him.

Yurika decodes the emergency dispatch from Sunagakure, prompting Konoha to send Team Kakashi to assist the Sand. Kankuro loses Deidara and is drawn into combat with Sasori, revealed to be the creator of Kankuro's own puppets. Sasori poisons Kankuro with his tail, leaving him to collapse. At the village gate, Jiraiya cautions Naruto not to use a particular technique before departing.

This is the eighth episode of Naruto: Shippuden, opening the Kazekage Rescue Mission arc and adapting chapter 250 of the manga. It aired in Japan on 12 April 2007 and in English on 2 December 2009. The opening theme is Hero's Come Back and the ending theme is Shooting Star. Per the episode's trivia, Jiraiya's facial scar is absent throughout this installment.