Naruto Shippuden · Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki

Two filler episodes feature a mechanical Naruto threatening the village. Then Obito takes on a near-godlike form and reveals the Shinju, the tree that drains ninja of their chakra. Minato fights beside his son, and Naruto shares Kurama's chakra with the whole Alliance. Naruto reaches Obito's heart; Obito remembers Rin and Team Minato and starts to change, and the tailed beasts are pulled out of him. Episodes 389 and 390 are filler about Hinata and Hanabi competing to lead the Hyūga. In the end, Madara truly comes back to life, seals the beasts into the Gedo Statue and leaves Naruto and Sasuke on the brink of death.

1. Reference"My first friend"

   In ep. 388, Gaara remembers that Naruto was his first friend, ever since their fight during Konoha Crush. Gaara is the one holding the line when the war looks lost.

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2. ReferenceObito wanted to be Hokage

   In his talk with Obito, Naruto speaks about his dream of becoming Hokage. It was young Obito's dream too in Kakashi Chronicles, and that's what cracks his armor.

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3. SetupThe legend of the Divine Tree

   In ep. 381, Obito makes the Divine Tree sprout and the show tells the legend of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. That name carries huge weight later in the saga.

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