The Next Step

Kakashi surprises Naruto by forming a Rasengan of his own, then frames it as the ideal example of shape transformation, adding that fusing his wind chakra into it would yield an entirely new technique. Naruto fixates on the fact that Kakashi manages the sphere one-handed while he still needs a shadow clone. To illustrate his point, Kakashi produces his Chidori, which unites both shape and nature transformation through his lightning affinity.

He explains that he built the Chidori only because he could not fold his lightning into the Rasengan, and that even the Fourth Hokage, who devised the Rasengan intending to marry it to his own nature, never completed that step. Realising the technique was left unfinished, Naruto listens as Kakashi voices his belief that Naruto is the one shinobi capable of surpassing the Fourth and succeeding where he could not.

Elsewhere, as Asuma's team marches toward the Land of Fire Bounty Station, Shikamaru observes that Asuma has not smoked in two days, the last time being when his father, the Third Hokage, died. Asuma likens his bond with Chiriku to the one between Shikamaru and Chōji, but insists Chiriku is not the reason he quit. At the station, Kakuzu turns Chiriku's body over to the exchange master Zangei for thirty million ryo while Hidan grumbles off outside. Kakuzu mentions he is bound for Konoha to hunt a jinchūriki, and brushes off Zangei's doubts about Hidan by explaining that Hidan's inability to die makes him the only partner he has not killed.

Back in the clearing, Naruto uses his Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to force his wind nature into the Rasengan, but the strain instead draws out the Nine-Tails' chakra, blowing the technique apart and shifting him into his Version 1 state. Yamato clamps the chakra down with his Wood Release: Foo Dog Heads, knocking Naruto out, and though he urges an end to the training, Kakashi insists it continue with Yamato standing by to suppress the fox. Outside the station, Hidan complains about the reek of his clothes, then senses someone behind him and turns.

The episode is part of the Akatsuki Suppression Mission arc and adapts chapters 320 through 322, setting up the coming clash between Asuma's team and the immortal pair Hidan and Kakuzu.