____________//INFO: THE STORY: EPISODES 80 - 99 ♥

 
 _____//EPISODE 80 [♥]

The grip of sand crumbles and Sakura falls... but Sasuke catches her and lays her gently on the ground (by that I mean a branch of a tree) by Pakkun. He tells Pakkun to take care of her before "flying" off to see to Naruto. Then there is a lovely speech by Naruto about loneliness before Sasuke appears telling him he can stop now as Sakura is all right. The sand trio retreat and Sasuke is left looking at Naruto lying, and smiling, on the ground thinking who knows what. The beautiful image of the leaf intertwined with the sand... I love subtle things that show how deep anine can be.

Soon it is time for the funeral of Sandaime, the third Hokage. If you do not feel the slightest bit of sadness during this, you have no heart T_T Although Naruto is standing elsewhere, Sasuke stands next to Sakura, whether they have to or they chose to, I do not know. We see Kakashi standing at the rock with the names of all those who have died in battle scratched onto its surface and we learn that coming here each morning is the reason of his lateness. And at the end... who is that we see on the boundary of Konoha?

 _____//EPISODE 81

The episode begins with a hazy view and the two cloaked men that appeared at the end of the last episode, who gain entry into Konoha easily. Even on this beautiful day, Sasuke is sitting and angsting over his past and how weak he was. Elsewhere, Orochimaru is lamenting over the loss of his arms and techniques but apparently the plan to get Uchiha Sasuke can still go through. Now, Sasuke does a Shikamaru and is found lying down watching the clouds drift by when a hawk comes past crying, this is a signal from Kakashi.

Kakashi stands outside of a dumpling shoppe waiting for Kakashi when Asuma and Kurenai pass. They exchange words. When Sasuke is named, we are treated to shots of the two cloaked figures inside, with a purple-painted finger visibly twitching when Sasuke is mentioned. Sasuke then turns up and he is surprised to see that Kakashi is not late for once. Then he has this ADORABLE look on his face as he turns to the dumpling store (the two figures have now disappeared) before announcing he does not like natou or sweet things. Kakashi gives a look to Asuma and Kurenai who seem to understand and rush off.

The two figures are seen walking by a river before being met by Kurenai and Asuma who demand to know what they are doing here. Itachi seems to know them, but they do not know him, until he shows them his Sharingan. This is Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame. They start to fight. Initially, Kisame seems to overpower Asuma whereas Kurenai uses her genjutsu on Itachi, who easily counteracts. Kakashi appears and sort of saves the day. I thought I should mention this episode since it's about Itachi and he is Sasuke's brother so it's important XP

 _____//EPISODE 82

As that battle is still going on, there is a cutscene to what we assume is Sasuke's house where he is angsting over the deaths of his clan in a memorial room. Back at the riverside, we see how fast and powerful Itachi is, even Kakashi has trouble keeping up even though Itachi has shown his true strength. Itachi then uses his tsukiyomi which Kakashi volunteers as only a sharingan user is best against another sharingan. Though Itachi had the chance, he did not kill Kakashi, but why? :O As it turns out, they are seeking the power of the kyuuby (nine-tails) that is within Naruto.

Itachi makes the decision to take Kakashi and to get rid of Asuma and Kurenai, once Kakashi has asked about the Akatsuki organisation but Kisame is stopped by the noble blue beast Mite Gai. Gai sends the unconscious Kakashi off with Kurenai whilst Asuma and himself prepare for a fight with the two S-rank criminals. Itachi, however, says they did not come here to start a war and that anymore fighting would be pointless. With that, they leave.

 _____//EPISODE 83 [♥]

Sakura's mother tells Sakura to take some sweets to Ino's place and as a good daughter she does so. Sakura decides to take some to Sasuke and wonders if he likes sweets (tsk, she didn't know). She then has a flashback to when Naruto is asking Kakashi to teach him the chidori. Sakura thanks Sasuke for saving her from the grip of sand but he retorts angrily that it was not him who saved her. She thinks he is just being modest, but this just upsets him even more and confirms that "he fought with everything to save you". One could interpret this as "OMFG, WHY IS NARUTO STRONGER THAN ME" or "OMFG, I COULDN'T SAVE YOU ;___;!"

Meanwhile, Sasuke is training and blowing holes into things with the chidori, chiding himself for being unable to do anything against Gaara, how he was unable to save his important friend, how much stronger Naruto has become and more angst about Itachi. (Cut to a cuuuute Naruto playing with some bells) We then arrive at Kakashi's small appartment where he is lying unconcious in bed with the three other jounin watching over him. They begin to talk about what has happened when Gai tells them to be quiet. Sasuke suddenly appears at the door, obviously surprised to see everyone there.

Gai states nothing much has happened when a random ninja bursts in and asks if it is true that Itachi has returned and that he is looking for Naruto. Unbeknowst to him, Sasuke is there and when he hears this, he becomes infuriated and runs off with suuuuper speed to go looking for Naruto. He bumps into Sakura at Naruto's appartment but since Naruto isn't there, Sasuke races off once more. At Ichikaku ramen, he finds out that Naruto and Jiraiya have gone to a local town so off he goes. All this can be interpreted as "OMFG, WHY IS ITACHI AFTER MY PRECIOUS NARUTO?!" or "I hate you Itachi, I'm going to kill you."

 _____//EPISODE 84

By now, Itachi has reached Naruto's hotel room but Naruto is confused as to who this man is who looks so similar to Sasuke. We are then treated to a flashback of that day as Sasuke ferociously runs along the streets of this town. Just as Kisame is about to cut a limb off Naruto, Itachi calmly notes Sasuke's prescence, without even having to turn around. It looks like Sasuke's lifelong (well, four year) dream has come true and he finally has the chance to kill the man that murdered his clan so heartlessly.

Sasuke rants a bit about how he has survived just as Itachi wanted him to and he charges up the chidori and rushes towards his brother. Itachi stands there calmly and is intrigued by the attack. A loud explosion can be heard and when the smoke clears we see how easily Itachi avoids the attack. Realising that Sasuke cannot do this alone, Naruto prepares to attack but then Jiraiya turns up.

 _____//EPISODE 85

Jiraiya prepares to attack before Sasuke interrupts him, telling him that this is his battle as he struggles to get up. Itachi merely looks bored and tells Sasuke he has no interest in him. Sasuke rushes towards Itachi but is kicked back. Sasuke, even though he appears to be badly injured, gets up anyway and charges at his brother and again, Itachi remains unharmed. Itachi finally relents and agrees to fight Sasuke and he doesn't hold back at all. Sasuke can only wonder why there is still such a difference in power as he lies there in pain. Itachi tells him this is because Sasuke lacks hatred and goes on to use the mangekyou and is knocked unconscious. Sasuke is taken back to Konoha with Gai, whilst Naruto and Jiraiya go to look for HER.

 _____//EPISODE 88 [♥]

Whilst Naruto is off training with Jiraiya (and looking for Tsunade on the side), Sasuke has been hospitalised in Konoha hospital with the ever-faithful Haruno Sakura sitting worriedly by his bedside, blatantly perturbed by the curse seal on the back of Sasuke's neck.

 _____//EPISODE 98

Tsunade-sama has finally returned to Konoha and Naruto leads her to the hospital where Sasuke is lying. Sakura politely asks/begs Godaime to heal Sasuke-kun and of course Tsunade does so. Sasuke seems a bit out of it when he first regains conciousness but before he can settle down, Sakura pounces on him and embraces him with tear-filled eyes. It is at this moment that Naruto truly understands that Sakura will never abandon Sasuke for him which just makes you love Naruto more, especially when you know what's coming.

Episodes 70 - 79 / Episodes 100 - 109