Naruto Shippuden · Itachi Pursuit Mission (cont.)

Hebi crosses paths with Deidara and Tobi, and Sasuke takes on Deidara, who wants payback against the Uchiha. It's explosives versus Sharingan, and Sasuke wins with a genjutsu. Cornered, Deidara blows himself up in one last work of art, and Sasuke barely escapes. On Konoha's side, Team Kakashi and Team 8 set out with ninja hounds and insects to track Sasuke and Itachi, but Tobi shows up and stalls them, slipping through attacks as if he weren't there. Kakashi tests Kamui on him. The Konoha teams lose the trail, and Sasuke heads on to meet his brother.

1. ReferenceThe tower after the blast

   In Deidara's final explosion against Sasuke, the cloud that rises echoes the Tower of the Sun, the best-known sculpture by Taro Okamoto, the artist who inspired the character.

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2. ReferenceThe end of Manda

   To escape the blast, Sasuke summons Manda, the giant snake that fought Gamabunta and Katsuyu in Search for Tsunade, and uses it as a shield. Manda doesn't survive.

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3. SetupTobi changes his voice

   Tobi spends the arc clowning around next to Deidara. At the end, alone, he turns serious and introduces himself as Madara Uchiha. That story still has many twists.

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