Itachi and Sasuke

Itachi attempts to speak calmly with Sasuke, who answers only with an attack. Rather than take offence, Itachi is struck by how far his brother's strength has grown, and before his clone dissolves he arranges for the two of them to face each other in the flesh.

Back in Konoha, Jiraiya departs for Amegakure to dig into Akatsuki. Tsunade cautions him and offers her aid should the mission turn dangerous, but Jiraiya reminds her that the village depends on its Hokage. She counters that Naruto is bound to take the seat from her one day. The two reflect on how much the boy resembles his mother and father, Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze, and Jiraiya, who once trained Minato, admits he thinks of Naruto almost as a grandson. He leaves her with a warning about Danzo, then reaches the rain village, where Pain senses his arrival at once.

Sasuke attacks Itachi's clone, which arranges a real confrontation before vanishing. Jiraiya sets off for Amegakure to investigate Akatsuki. He and Tsunade discuss Naruto's resemblance to his parents and the threat posed by Danzo. Jiraiya arrives in the rain village and is immediately detected by Pain.

The 367th chapter appears in Volume 40 as part of the Itachi Pursuit Mission arc and was released in Japan on September 10, 2007.