Freed from Itachi's illusion, Naruto and Kakashi trade blows with the Uchiha, only to unmask him as a substitute. Recalling Jiraiya's lessons, Naruto debuts an upgraded Rasengan, and both Akatsuki opponents are exposed as impostors.
Main Characters (4)
Summary
Trapped inside the visions Itachi planted, Naruto silently begs Sakura or Kakashi to pull him loose, and the pair of Sakura and Chiyo finally break the spell. Kakashi warns him to stay sharp and charges in. Itachi answers with the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, which Kakashi slips past, then hurls a Great Fireball at the trio, who scatter clear of its path. When Kakashi swings his Lightning Cutter, Itachi leaps aloft to dodge, but Naruto tries to catch him mid-air with a Rasengan. On impact, the Itachi they have been fighting dissolves into a shadow clone.
Key Events
Kakashi blankets the area with the Hiding in Mist Technique he once copied from Zabuza, though Itachi dismisses it since his Sharingan pierces the haze. Sensing something amiss, Kakashi burrows underground for a decapitation ambush that Itachi evades, then seizes the ninja for a genjutsu, only to find he is gripping another shadow clone that now traps him instead. On Kakashi's cue, Naruto recalls Jiraiya urging him to fold his own chakra into the jutsu and forge a signature version. He rushes in with a shadow clone and drives his Big Ball Rasengan into Itachi and the clone alike.
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Notes
Itachi flashes a smirk as the blast lands, and once the dust settles the body left behind belongs not to him but to Yura, an Anbu commander and jonin out of Sunagakure. In a parallel fight, Guy unleashes his Morning Peacock to shatter Kisame, yet the corpse revealed is a stranger wrapped in an Akatsuki cloak, a man Guy insists he has never laid eyes on. The installment adapts chapter 260 and premiered in Japan on May 24, 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Naruto's weapon called?
In this episode, the secret weapon Jiraiya taught Naruto turns out to be his own personalized version of the Rasengan, the Big Ball Rasengan, formed by folding his own chakra into the technique. Naruto debuts it in a mid-air clash against Itachi, which reveals the Itachi he was fighting to be a shadow clone.
Who is really behind the Itachi mask in this episode?
The Itachi that Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura fight in this episode is exposed as a shadow clone. When it is destroyed by Naruto's Big Ball Rasengan, the body left behind belongs to Yura, an Anbu commander and jonin from Sunagakure.
What technique does Kakashi use to try to catch Itachi off guard?
Kakashi blankets the area with the Hiding in Mist Technique he copied from Zabuza, then burrows underground to attempt a decapitation ambush. Itachi dodges both attempts, since his Sharingan lets him see through the mist.
Who does Might Guy fight in the parallel battle, and what happens?
In a separate fight, Might Guy uses his Morning Peacock technique to defeat who he believes is Kisame. The body revealed afterward belongs to a stranger wrapped in an Akatsuki cloak, someone Guy insists he has never seen before.
What manga chapter does this episode adapt and when did it air?
This episode adapts chapter 260 of the Naruto manga and is part of the Kazekage Rescue Mission arc. It premiered in Japan on May 24, 2007.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
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