The Retired Granny's Determination

As the enemy's sealing ritual grinds on, Pakkun reports the Akatsuki hideout's location to Kakashi, never noticing Zetsu lurking at its mouth. Kakashi sends the hound to reroute Team Guy toward the Land of Rivers, the region between the sand and leaf villages where the base sits. Team Kakashi prepares to depart alongside Temari, but Baki relays that the Sand Council has barred its own ninja from the rescue, fearing that any leak about Gaara's capture would invite an assault on the weakened village. Chiyo, however, declares that her retirement exempts her from such orders and joins the group, giving rise to the new rescue team.

Pakkun reaches Team Guy while Zetsu passes word to the Akatsuki leader that Might Guy heads the pursuers; Itachi identifies the taijutsu specialist, and the vengeful Kisame is chosen to intercept them. On the road, Chiyo corrects the group's assumptions by explaining that the Akatsuki spent three years preparing to extract the tailed beasts, then lays out the history of the nine chakra monsters that villages once hoarded for war. Naruto grimly grasps that other hosts like himself and Gaara are being hunted. Neji soon senses a tail and Kisame surfaces seeking revenge, while Itachi halts Team Kakashi, his Sharingan igniting Sakura's fury toward the man who tormented Sasuke.

Episode 12 of Naruto: Shippuden continues the Kazekage Rescue Mission and adapts chapters 254 through 256. It debuted in Japan on May 3, 2007, and in English on December 31, 2009, pairing the opening Hero's Come Back!! with the ending Shooting Star ~Shooting Star~.