Naruto · Search for Tsunade

With the Third gone, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame of the Akatsuki show up in Konoha looking for Naruto. Itachi drops Kakashi with Tsukuyomi and later crushes Sasuke, leaving him in a coma. Jiraiya takes Naruto to find Tsunade, the Sannin the council wants as Fifth Hokage. On the road, Naruto learns the Rasengan. Tsunade bets her grandfather's necklace that he can't master it in a week. Orochimaru is after her too: he offers to bring back her brother and her fiancé if she heals his arms. She refuses, and the three Sannin clash. Naruto hits Kabuto with a Rasengan and wins the necklace. Tsunade takes the job, returns to the village, and heals Kakashi and Sasuke.

1. ReferenceToad, slug and snake

   At the end of the arc, Gamabunta, the slug Katsuyu and the snake Manda square off. In the folktale "Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari," a young woman named Tsunade learns slug magic, marries Jiraiya, and together they beat the snake sorcerer Orochimaru.

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2. ReferenceThe candy in ep. 83

   In ep. 83, as Jiraiya and Naruto walk through a fair, a candy seller has three shapes on display: a toad, a slug and a snake. They're the animals of the three Sannin, shortly before the trio meets again.

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3. SetupWhy Itachi came to the Leaf

   Itachi debuts here alongside Kisame, saying he's come for Naruto. Watch how he treats Sasuke at the inn. The visit has another purpose, and that only becomes clear much later.

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