The Last Leg: A Final Act of Desperation

Sasuke's Chidori fails to fell Aoi, who recognizes the Sharingan and sneers that the last Uchiha is a failure unworthy of his clan's bloodline. Goaded, Sasuke charges again but only chips the Sword of the Thunder God before Aoi hurls him from the bridge, with Sakura diving after to save him. That leaves Naruto alone to clear the way for Idate's race. His Rasengan passes harmlessly through the blade's chakra, yet Naruto spots the crack Sasuke made. Screening himself behind shadow clones, he leaps up and drives a Rasengan into the flaw, snapping the sword and sending Aoi tumbling off the cliff. Naruto then hauls Idate onward to close the gap on Fukusuke.

Though Fukusuke nears the goal, Naruto's push carries Idate to victory, seemingly rescuing the Wasabi family. The daimyō's minister protests that Idate cheated by being carried, but the daimyō overrules him, declaring no such rule exists and exposing a photo of the minister accepting a Wagarashi bribe. For that and other misconduct, the Wagarashi are permanently disbanded.

Mission complete, Team 7 prepares to return to Konoha as Ibiki Morino arrives by ship to carry them and the injured Sasuke home. Idate calls out, but Ibiki coldly denies having a brother, even as he privately credits Naruto for the young man's growth and Idate reflects that he finally grasps the tenth question. On board, Sasuke stews over failing to kill Aoi despite two Chidori while Naruto succeeded.

Aoi throws Sasuke off the bridge, and Sakura leaves to save him. Naruto destroys the Sword of the Thunder God by striking Sasuke's earlier crack with a Rasengan, killing Aoi. Idate wins the race, and the daimyō dismisses the cheating claim, disbanding the corrupt Wagarashi family. Ibiki collects Team 7, quietly acknowledging how much Idate has matured.

Episode one-hundred-six of the original Naruto series belongs to the anime-only Land of Tea Escort Mission arc. It premiered in Japan on October 27, 2004, and in English on September 22, 2007. The opening theme is Rhapsody of Youth and the ending is Mountain a Go Go Two. The resolution ties back to Ibiki's tenth interrogation question from the Chūnin Exams.