Naruto Shippuden · Kazekage Rescue Mission

Two and a half years later, Naruto comes back to Konoha taller and stronger. Bad news follows fast: Deidara and Sasori of the Akatsuki have raided the Sand Village and captured Gaara, now Kazekage, to extract the Shukaku. Kankuro is poisoned. Team Kakashi, with Naruto and Sakura, and Team Guy head for Suna. Old Chiyo, Sasori's grandmother, teams up with Sakura, and the two defeat the puppet master. Naruto and Kakashi chase Deidara but arrive too late: the Shukaku has been extracted and Gaara is dead. Chiyo gives her own life in a technique that revives him. Gaara goes home, and Tobi shows up to take Sasori's place in the Akatsuki.

1. ReferenceEp. 3 echoes ep. 1

   In the rematch with Kakashi, Naruto floods the screen with shadow clones in a shot that nearly copies the first episode of the original series. It shows how much he's grown in two and a half years.

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2. Reference"Art is an explosion"

   Deidara's catchphrase is a famous line from Japanese artist Taro Okamoto, who said it in a TV commercial. Okamoto was known for avant-garde art, and Deidara makes clay sculptures that explode.

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3. SetupSasori's spy

   Before he dies, Sasori reveals he has a spy planted with Orochimaru and a meeting set up with him. That meeting kicks off the next arc.

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