The Mutual Path

Frustrated by his slow progress with the Chidori, Sasuke wants advice from Fugaku, who brushes him off as busy. Itachi instead brings his brother into a family discussion, reporting that he finds Minato's push to reform how the Uchiha are treated genuine, but warning that the clan must change too and meet the village halfway. Sasuke is disgusted by the idea, and grows more bitter when Fugaku praises Itachi's reasoning and calls common ground the right choice. When Itachi announces the Uchiha have been assigned a long-term mission that will take some of them away, Fugaku's backing of his elder son pushes Sasuke to pour his anger into Chidori practice.

Sakura brings food, but Sasuke hurls it aside, and when Naruto demands an apology the two come to blows despite Sakura's efforts to calm them. Minato steps in just before Chidori and Rasengan collide, startled by Sasuke's rage, which only deepens when Naruto's technique proves far more destructive than his own. Naruto explains that Sasuke's constant refusal to acknowledge him is the reason, vowing to earn that recognition one day. Sasuke then asks Fugaku to remove him from Team 7, transfers into the Konoha Military Police Force, and departs to shadow other Uchiha on their assignment. Jiraiya points out to Naruto that the request itself proves Sasuke has noticed his strength.

Jiraiya sets off to learn more about Orochimaru with Naruto tagging along to train, while Sakura, unwilling to fall behind, asks Tsunade to take her on. Elsewhere, Orochimaru and Danzo argue over who is to blame for a failed scheme involving Hizashi that was meant to eliminate pro-Minato shinobi, and Danzo agrees to find Orochimaru a future vessel. Three years pass: Naruto masters senjutsu under Jiraiya, Sasuke sharpens his Chidori with Shisui, and Sakura learns the Strength of a Hundred Technique from Tsunade. On his return, Fugaku reads that Sasuke has become second only to Shisui, and when Sasuke pledges to surpass Itachi as well, his father promotes him in the Police Force to see whether he can prove it, while Sasuke bitterly recalls the day he left Konoha.

Itachi advocates for the Uchiha reconciling with the village, deepening Sasuke's resentment of his family. Sasuke leaves Team 7 for the Konoha Military Police Force, splitting the team. Naruto departs to train with Jiraiya, Sakura apprentices under Tsunade, and Sasuke trains with Shisui, with all three growing dramatically over three years.

The episode is part of the Jiraiya Shinobi Handbook: The Tale of Naruto the Hero storyline, an anime-original arc that reimagines the cast within an alternate reality drawn from Jiraiya's writing.