Naruto Shippuuden #48: BondsSai heard the door opened behind him and he turned to see Yamato and others entered the room. He smiled at them. Yamato had duplicate a key using his wood technique and knew Sai had played a part in the use of corpse to fool them. Naruto grabbed Sai by his chest, demanding to know the reason for his betrayal and Sakura called him off. She passed Sai his picture book which he received with thanks. She pushed on further for Danzou's intention to work with Orochimaru. He continued to smile. Yamato answered the question for Sai who denied. Naruto insisted Sai was lying. Meanwhile, Kabuto approached the room. In the room, Sai continued to smile. Sai claimed his mission had failed since he was found in the lair. He finally told them that Danzou did have a plan to destroy Konoha by working with Orochimaru. He was also planning to work as a spy on Orochimaru for Danzou in case Orochimaru turned at Danzou. Sakura was shocked as the plan was very dangerous. Sai had turned his words into painted animals to send information and because of that ability, he was chosen for the mission. Flashes of the consequence after Orochimaru's invasion of Konoha appeared in minds of Naruto and Sakura as they were angered by Sai's words. Sai did not mind his existence. Sakura enquired why he still treasured the picture book and his smile froze. He looked at the pale hair boy on the book. Sakura knew the book was important as it was the only source for his existence, emotion and humanity. She knew the ties of Sai's brother and Sai was very strong and he did not want to lose the bond. Yamato wanted to see the content of the centre page that was half blank. He knew Sai had went to Village of 'Blood' mist where Zabuza came from to undergo emotion training. Naruto recalled Kakashi's conversation with Zabuza three years ago about the education system in Blood Mist village where students were to kill one another until one emerged as survivor and victory. Going by the flow of the picture book, Yamato guessed Sai had been forced to fight his elder brother. Sai denied that he had killed his elder brother and that the book was supposed to be a present for his elder brother. He claimed his elder brother died from a disease. He continued that all children from ROOT were orphans from the war and his brother had praised his drawing and that he had died before his book was completed. Meanwhile, Kabuto was walking towards the door, opened it and found it empty. Out in the open, Yamato, Naruto and Sakura faced the bound Sai. Naruto planned to go and save Sasuke and Sai told him to give up as he had already seen Sasuke. He elaborated that Sasuke was always with Orochimaru and to reach him, they would have to fight Orochimaru. Moreover, Sasuke no longer cared about Naruto. Naruto tightened his fists. Sai asked Naruto why he should risk his life for someone like Sasuke. Naruto smiled and stated that sometimes he could not stand Sasuke but he remembered a lot of fun back in the past for he acknowledged Naruto more than anyone back then. He stated that Sasuke was someone whom he shared common bond and his friend. Naruto did not care who he was fighting with and he stated that he would fight back if he attacked him. No matter what, he would take Sasuke back from orochimaru.
Side track: Naruto asking Yamato about the seed they had swallowed. He was worried as he did not want their private activities to be known. He was being punched by Sakura for talking tactlessly. Yamato was speechless.
Naruto Shippuuden #49: Something ImportantSai appeared shocked at Naruto's willingness to go all length to get Sasuke back. Just then, kuneis appeared and they ducked in time. It was Kabuto. Naruto had already activated his clones to attack Kabuto with resengan. He dodged in time and Naruto attacked him with clones whom Kabuto defeated easily. Yamato sent woods at Kabuto which he ducked easily as he took Sai with him. Sakura sent her fist at him but missed. Bees broke out of the hives and attacked Kabuto who struck the bees with his speed. Kabuto freed Sai from the wooden bound. Kabuto claimed that Naruto was wasting his time as people changed. He stated Naruto was the most pitiful of all as Sasuke was no longer the person he knew. Suddenly, Sai attacked Kabuto and twisted his arms from the back. He recalled Naruto's words about his time with Sasuke. Sai stated that he also did changed but something did not change and it was bond. Yamato told Sai not to let Kabuto off as he sent wood to bind him. Yamato created a wood clone. Naruto asked what Sai was thinking and he told him about his thoughts on Naruto's bond with Sasuke. As what Sakura had claimed earlier, the bonds Sai had shared with his brother was very important to him. Because of that, he wanted to see for himself the bond between Naruto and Sasuke. Kabuto taunted them as he claimed they did not know how Sasuke was like. Yamato demanded to know whereout of Sasuke. Kabuto told them but he did not know which room was that. Naruto planned to search every room. Kabuto warned them of traps. Yamato and others left off.
In the underground, Yamato, Sai, Naruto and Sakura moved through the tunnels in team of two to search every room. This time, Naruto had no objection. As he ran, he thought of the past he spent with Sasuke. Same time, Sakura thought of Sasuke as she ran. Along the tunnel, Naruto and Sai, Sakura and Yamato ran, searching every room.
COMMENT: Finally reach the part where the first episode of 'Naruto Shippuuden' left off about Naruto and the team running through the tunnel screaming for Sasuke and then later seeing Sasuke from the top looking down at them coldly. Only a little question is, why isn’t anyone of them using the shadow clone technique, which could save them a lot more of their time?
Side track: Yamato was having quiz again. Naruto, Sakura, Sai and Kakashi were contestants again. The questions were about Chuunin exams. Sai won.
Naruto Shippuuden #50: The Picture Book's StoryOut in the open, Kabuto remained bound as Yamato clone watched him. Behind his back, Kabuto had prepared Chakra in his hand. In the tunnel, Naruto and Sai ran on. Naruto was panting with exhaustion but he continued with the search. Naruto's insistence reminded Sai of his elder brother. Naruto suddenly tripped and fell. Despite that, Naruto refused to rest but the damage from the last battle with Orochimaru caused him to pass out. Sai supported Naruto over his shoulder. Other place, Yamato and Sakura moved on. Yamato told her that Orochimaru might know they were there because it was his lair. He told her to move carefully. In a tunnel, Naruto regained his consciousness while Sai sat with him. Sai told Naruto that he reminded him of his elder brother-noisy, going all out to do things. Naruto called Sai and Sai was strongly reminded of his elder brother again. Flashback, Sai was drawing when his elder brother looked at his drawing with a grin. Later, they ran together through the woods fighting opponents. Sai had tripped and his elder brother turned back to help him up. Later at night, Sai started to draw his picture book while his brother slept. Naruto interrupted his thought. Sai took out a pen and started to draw his conclusion in the middle page. It was two smiling boys holding hands together. For the first time, Sai smiled truly and Naruto grinned. They heard sound of footstep to see Orochimaru facing them. Naruto and Sai faced off Orochimaru who attacked them with snakes instantly. They dodged. Naruto offered to distract Orochimaru while Sai went off to look for Sasuke. Other place, Sakura and Yamato continued. Yamato sensed Naruto's Chakra and knew he was having problem. Meanwhile, Naruto used shadow clones against Orochimaru who struck them with snakes. Naruto attacked with resengan which he stopped in time. Naruto was tossed off. Orochimaru taunted him of high difference when he earlier fought with Kyuubi power. Naruto remembered Yamato's words about his using of Kyuubi power. Orochimaru was about to attack when Yamato and Sakura arrived in time to help Naruto. Same time, Sai was moving on through the tunnel. He begun to draw mices on a scroll which ran off. Other place, Orochimaru decided to let Naruto go so that he could attend to Sai while Naruto could kill some Akatsuki members for him. Naruto wanted to find Sai before Orochimaru did. Meanwhile, the mices were running through every room. He sensed something. Naruto decided to use shadow clones when Sakura saw Sai's bag and picture book with completed centre conclusion. Naruto told her that Sai had remembered his dream and had smiled from bottom of his heart. Yamato found something else in the bag. Same time, Sai peeked into a room. Other place, Yamato showed Naruto and Sakura Sai's Bingo book for assassination. In the room, Sai saw Sasuke sleeping. Same time, Naruto was shocked to see Sasuke on Sai's assassination list. Meanwhile, Sai's eyes narrowed at sight of Sasuke.
Side track: Yamato discussed about ANBU team specialised for assassination and secret missions.
Naruto Shippuuden #51: Reunion; Naruto Shippuuden #52: The power of UchihaSai entered Sasuke's room while Yamato showed Naruto and Sakura the assassination list. Sasuke's photo was on the list. Meanwhile, Sai activated his drawing. Yamato finally realised that Sai was never meant to liaise between Orochimaru and Daizou but to assassinate Sasuke. Naruto and Sakura were shocked. Meanwhile, Sai sent painting snakes at the sleeping Sasuke. Naruto could not believe it as he had saw Sai's real smile. Sakura suspected it was just Sai's act to trick Naruto. Yamato was sure as he recognised the guy who was earlier assassinated by Sai. Sametime, the painting snakes crepted to Sasuke. Yamato analysed that Sai's aim was to protect Konoha by destroying Sasuke - Orochimaru's future body. Naruto did not care Danzou's aim and they moved on. Sakura brought Sai's picture book with her. Meanwhile, Sasuke knew of Sai's presence and he told Sasuke Danzou's plan to kill him but he had a change of plan by deciding to take him back to Konoha because of Naruto and the bond Naruto had been trying hard to keep. Sasuke was not happy that his sleep was disturbed and exploded out of the room.
Naruto, Sakura and Yamato heard the explosion. Smoke rose into the air and Kabuto knew Sasuke was in his foul mood again due to disturbance of sleep. Sai was amazed by Sasuke's strong Chakra to break his technique. Meanwhile, Naruto, Sakura and Yamato ran towards the noise. Sakura saw Sai and ran to the open and grabbed him by his collar until Sasuke called Sakura's voice. She looked up in shock and her grip on Sai loosened. Up on top was Uchiha Sasuke. Naruto and Yamato saw Sakura's shocked reaction in the open and ran after her. Naruto tripped and fell but continued to run. He looked up to see Sasuke. Yamato told Sasuke that they were going to take him back to Konoha and he was covering Kakashi in his place. Sai pulled out his weapon and was being yelled by Sakura. Sasuke presumed Sai was covering for him and stated Sai was a loser. Sai told Sakura that he was not following Danzou's order as Naruto's words had changed his idea. He tried to talk sense into Sasuke who confirmed his determination to severe his bonds from Konoha as well as from Naruto and others. He thought of his past when he fought Itachi who told him that his weakness was that he lacked hatred.
COMMENT: Now I can understand some comments criticising the weird scene. I also wonder why Sakura and Naruto looked so shocked at the sight of Sasuke. They should be expecting his presence. If I were Sasuke, I'd probably do the same as what he was doing in the story.
Side track: Sakura discussing about Naruto's bond with other people, Iruka being the first and subsequently team 7. She also talked about bonds of other people.
Naruto watched in shock at Sasuke's conclusion to form a bond of hatred with his elder brother-Itachi. Sasuke stated that other bonds did not matter to him anymore. Naruto thought of the past of their final battle at the cliffs. Naruto demanded to know why Sasuke did not kill him back then and he replied that he simply did not want his brother getting the satisfaction of him going the same way as he told by killing his closest friend. Sasuke suddenly confronted Naruto without warning and tugged him by his shoulder, drawing his sword, planning to kill Naruto this time. Naruto told him that if he could not even get his friend back, he was not worthly of becoming a Hokage. Sai moved forward and stopped the blade. Together, Sai and Naruto held on Sasuke while Yamato attempted to bind him but he threw off the attacks, Naruto and Sai easily with his chidori. Naruto and Sai laid unconscious. Sakura recalled her promise to Naruto not to be a burden in future and sent her fist at Sasuke who focused his Chakra to his sword at Sakura. Yamato blocked his attack in time but was stabbed in the process. Sasuke told him that his sword was unique. Yamato felt his body numbing. Other place in the open, Yamato clone sensed something while Kabuto watched. The clone vanished and Kabuto freed himself. He knew something interesting was going on. Meanwhile, Naruto regained consciousness and struggled as he heard Kyuubi's voice again tempting him to use his power. Naruto told Kyuubi to stay away from him as he did not want his power anymore. Kyuubi laughed and tried to tempt Naruto to remove the seal so that he could give him all his power. Sasuke suddenly appeared besides Naruto facing Kyuubi. Naruto was shocked. Sasuke was pleased to see Kyuubi via his Sharingan eyes. Kyuubi had seen Sharingan before from Uchiha Madara. Kyuubi vanished from them and warned Sasuke not to kill Naruto or he would live to regret. Back to real world, Sasuke (who was pointing his sword at Yamato) was still looking at Naruto who struggled back to his feet. Yamato managed to break free from the sword and attempted to bind Sasuke who broke out of the wooden prison. sasuke leaped to the top and looked at them.
Side Track: Sakura talking about Sasuke and Itachi's relationship.
COMMENT: Finally completed season 2 of 'Naruto Shippuuden'.