The Picture Book's Story

Still hunting Sasuke, Naruto buckles as his body pays the price for the four-tailed state he entered earlier, and Sai drags him aside. Sakura and Yamato sweep the chambers with mounting frustration, though Yamato warns against charging into a lair that is surely rigged with traps. Above ground, his wood clone keeps watch on Kabuto, who insists the only map of the base lives in his head and secretly readies a Chakra Scalpel. When Naruto comes around, Sai admits the boy reminds him of his late adoptive brother, and at last recalls the image he always meant to draw: the two of them smiling and holding hands.

Orochimaru stumbles onto the pair and strikes with his Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, which both dodge. Naruto sends Sai ahead to reach Sasuke and squares off against the Sannin, his chakra triggering the swallowed tracking seed that alerts Yamato. His shadow clones are dispelled by snakes and blades, and though a Rasengan lands, a snake ensnares him. Tempted toward the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto recalls Yamato's warning and refuses, unwilling to risk harming his teammates, and Yamato's Wood Release blocks Orochimaru's killing blow just in time.

Sai uses Super Beast Imitating Drawing to send ink rats searching for Sasuke, and Orochimaru, sensing him, spares Team Kakashi on the condition they thin out more Akatsuki. Noticing Sai's abandoned pack, Sakura smiles at the finished picture book, but Yamato instead finds a Bingo Book among his belongings and explains it lists targets marked for assassination. The three are stunned to see Sasuke's face inside, dreading that killing him may be Sai's true orders. Meanwhile one of the ink rats finds Sasuke's room, and Sai opens the door to see him lying on his side, the Uchiha crest turned toward him.