| Episode 16 "The Secret of Jinchuriki" | | | | Team Guy and Team Kakashi find out there is a |
| Kakashi's and Guy's teams both figure out that their | | | | barrier protecting the Akatsuki hideout, being generated |
| battles with the doppelgängers were set-up to | | | | by 5 forbidden tags in the area. After preparations, |
| delay them from coming to Gaara's rescue. Chiyo | | | | Team Guy removes the tags and disables the barrier |
| reveals that in attempts to control the power of the | | | | allowing Team Kakashi to enter the hideout. Meanwhile |
| tailed beasts they were bound to human hosts called | | | | the Akatsuki members have ended the astral |
| "Jinchuriki", and that the human host dies when the | | | | projection technique and left the hideout. Deidara and |
| beast is extracted - increasing the urgency of saving | | | | Sasori who were the only ones physically present, |
| Gaara. Kankuro is awake and joins a meeting of the | | | | remain behind to take care of the intruders. |
| Sand council where the history of the Sand village is | | | | Episode 19 "Traps Activate! Team Guy's Enemies" |
| explained. Both teams stop to rest since their battles | | | | Team Guy fights with exact clones of themselves, a |
| have taken their tolls and in preparation for the battles | | | | trap set off by their removal of the barrier tags. |
| to come. Akatsuki sends Zetsu to "dispose" of the | | | | Deidara takes Gaara's body outside of the cavern, |
| doppelgängers corpses. | | | | followed by Naruto and Kakashi. Chiyo and Sakura |
| Episode 17 "Gaara Dies!" | | | | stay behind to fight Sasori. |
| Team Guy and Team Kakashi both finish their breaks | | | | Episode 20 "Hiruko vs. Two Kunoichi" |
| and go on towards the Akatsuki lair. Naruto shows | | | | Chiyo explains to Sakura that Sasori used to be one |
| intense passion and is in a hurry to reach Gaara. Chiyo | | | | of the best puppeteers in Sunagakure, but he began |
| notices this and Kakashi explains to her that Naruto is | | | | experimenting with real people. Sakura learns that |
| also a Jinchuriki and knows the pain Gaara has lived | | | | Sasori's true body is hiding within his favorite puppet, |
| through. Chiyo explains that she was the ninja who | | | | Hiruko, ensuring that he cannot be attacked while |
| sealed Shukaku in Gaara, in order to protect the Sand | | | | controlling it. The only way to defeat Sasori is to |
| village. Meanwhile, Akatsuki has finished extracting | | | | destroy his puppet. Using teamwork, Chiyo and Sakura |
| Shukaku from Gaara, who dies wondering if he has | | | | are able to dodge Sasori's attacks and demolish the |
| become a person whom others need. Team Guy and | | | | puppet, from which Sasori himself emerges. Just |
| Team Kakashi finally meet in front of the sealed | | | | outside, Deidara begins telling Naruto and Kakashi how |
| entrance to the Akatsuki lair. | | | | much stronger Sasori is compared to himself. |
| Episode 18 "Break In! Button Hook Entry" | | | | |