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Episode 29; Naruto Strikes Back! I’m Not Going To Run Away!: Recapping the drama of the last episode, Naruto is almost eaten by a large snake but escapes using Shadow Replication, while a powerful Grass nin attacks Sasuke and Sakura. The two narrowly escape as Sasuke stabs himself in the leg to break the fear spell. The Grass nin, however, chases his prey, as Sasuke sinks deeper and deeper into his fears. Soon, Naruto shows up to help. Sasuke warns Naruto to run, but Naruto’s not one to retreat - especially without a fight. Naruto is also slightly annoyed that the Grass nin sent that huge snake to gobble him up previously. Sasuke, however, believes this nin is well above their levels and they should run before they are killed. In a moment of clarity, he decides the only way to survive is to bargain with the Grass nin - their scroll for their lives. Naruto thinks Sasuke has lost his mind at this point and catches the scroll in mid toss before the Grass nin can catch it. Naruto then punches Sasuke angrily. Not only does he refuse to give up, but he accuses Sasuke of being a fake because the Sasuke he knows isn’t such a coward. He mentions there’s no guarantee that this guy will let them go even if they do given him the scroll. Naruto then rushes the Grass nin, who summons his snake. Outside the Forest of Death, a group of men find three dead bodies. Their faces are gone as if they were melted off. The men immediately inform Anko, who comes over to investigate. At the scene, they learn that the dead ninjas were Chuunin Exam registrants from the Hidden Village of Grass. Anko has her suspicions that this might be the work of ‘him’ and immediately asks for the pictures of the applicants. Once she sees their true faces, she recognizes the one of them that handed her back her kunai right before the Forest of Death phase began. Now worried, Anko immediately sends the inspectors to inform Hokage-sama and requests for a mobilization of at least two ANBU squads to the Forest of Death. She’s going in after these guys. Inside, the Grass nin charges Naruto. During the exchange, Naruto’s demon fox spirit is unleashed and he lets lose on the snake. The Grass nin counters to give him enough time to attack Sasuke. Fortunately, Naruto is able to stop the snake just in time. Sasuke remains almost paralyzed, but after a few taunts from Naruto, he remembers a similar situation where he saved Naruto. Naruto again repeats that this can’t be the Sasuke he knows. As Naruto tries to snap Sasuke out of his daze, the Grass nin picks up Naruto with his tongue and seals his demon fox spirit using Gogyo Fuuin (Five Element Seal). Sakura screams to Sasuke to help Naruto, who transforms back to his original self and is now unconscious. The Grass nin then takes Naruto’s scroll and tosses him away. Sakura throws a kunai to prevent Naruto from falling and then again screams at Sasuke, who is still paralyzed by fear, to join this battle. Sasuke is still trapped in his thoughts. He envisions his brother taunting him - to hate him... to run away. Finally, he is able to snap out of it and prepares to fight. Episode 30; Revive, Sharingan! Finish Move - Fire Element, Dragon Fire Technique!: Sakura pleads with Sasuke to snap out of his stupor and fight. After a provocative vision of his brother, he is back in the game complete with visible sharingan. He turns to the Grass nin and attacks, hurling his kunai towards the nin. The nin counters and the two fight head to head. Sasuke uses his fire element, impressing the nin, who then realizes Sasuke can see his moves. Meanwhile, Anko searches the Forest of Death for her perpetrator. Still engaged in battle, Sasuke jumps onto the nin, holding him as the two fall below. The nin hits head first, but melts as Sasuke realizes he’s just a replacement. With Sasuke off guard, the nin is able to strike. He knocks Sasuke to the ground to the dismay of Sakura, but Sasuke isn’t down for the count quite yet. His newest trick up his sleeve is a couple of explosive tags placed strategically on the back of the nin. When they ignite, Sasuke catches the nin off-guard and gets off Sharingan-Controlled Triple Windmill Blades to tie the nin to a tree with piano wire. He then uses Katon, Ryuuka no Jutsu (Fire Element, Dragon Fire Technique) to hit the nin hard. Sakura cheers his victory. But the nin isn’t down for long before he uses a technique to paralyze the two. He offers congrats to Sasuke for using his Sharingan abilities so well for his age. With those abilities, Sasuke may even have more potential than his brother, Itachi. Finally, we learn the true identity of the nin - a super powerful Sound nin named Orochimaru. Pleased with how well the fight went, he tells Sasuke that if he wishes to see him again, he must survive this Exam with Orochimaru’s three Sound nin minions after him. Before he disappears, he extends his snake-like head to within Sasuke’s reach and biting him, plants a seal on Sasuke’s neck so that Sasuke will seek him for power. He then falls to the ground as Sakura tries to comfort him and Orochimaru disappears. She calls for Naruto, who still is unconscious and helplessly sits crying, holding the fallen Sasuke. Orochimaru, meanwhile, implants himself in a tree to heal. Anko finds him and accuses him of being an extremely dangerous S-class wanted criminal. It is now her duty, as a former subordinate, to kill him. Anko does Hidden Snake Hands to attack and pull him out from his tree hiding place. She then binds his right hand to her left with a kunai and takes his left hand. She gets ready to sacrifice herself as she starts Dual Snake Destroyer, but Orochimaru appears behind her, taking off his mask. She throws a kunai at him, which he catches with two fingers and performs his own paralysis technique. She asks why he came - to assassinate Hokage-sama? He tells her he wants some of the outstanding ones of the village. As he speaks, Anko kneels in pain clutching an identical seal on her neck to the one Orochimaru just gave Sasuke previously. He speaks coldly to her, bragging of his find in Sasuke. He then disappears, warning Anko not to interfere with the Exam or he will be back for Konoha village. Anko sits alone. She decides that Hokage-sama must be informed, but as she walks, a group of tigers spot her. Luckily, two ANBU members finally arrive and ward off the pack. Anko falls to the ground clutching her neck. The ANBU members notice her seal has surfaced and realize that Orochimaru is in the area. They offer to take her to Hokage-sama. She refuses, requesting they bring Hokage-sama to the tower. As Sakura sits alone, watching over the unconscious boys, Orochimaru’s three Sound minions find her. They have been ordered to strike Uchiha Sasuke come daybreak. But if the other two get in the way, they will kill them... |
