Approaching…!!

Looking Orochimaru over, Kabuto admits there is no way for him to undo the seal the Third Hokage left in place. Some comfort comes from how far Sasuke has advanced, though he regrets that his master suffered so greatly for the boy's sake, all stemming from Orochimaru's failure to best Itachi. In Konoha, the elders Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane seek Jiraiya out with news: after Sunagakure retrieved the corpse of the Fourth Kazekage, the Sand laid down its arms before the Leaf, confessing that Orochimaru had orchestrated their entire role in the Konoha Crush. With the village reeling and the Third dead, the two urge Jiraiya to shoulder the Hokage title. He waves it off, proposing instead to bring back Tsunade for the seat, asking only that Naruto be cleared to journey at his side.

Kabuto concludes the Third's seal cannot be lifted, and he weighs Orochimaru's toll against Sasuke's growth. The Leaf elders relay Suna's surrender and their wish for Jiraiya to accept the leadership, which he refuses in favor of recruiting Tsunade, on the condition that Naruto travels with him.

On a parallel track, Kakashi trails a pair of shady figures tied to Akatsuki, but because unfinished business with Sasuke pulls at him, he hands the pursuit to Kurenai and Asuma. Numbered 140 and gathered in volume 16, the chapter sits within the Search for Tsunade arc and shares its name with a much later installment, chapter 255. Viz published it under the title Contact…!!