____________//INFO: THE STORY: EPISODES 100 - 109 ♥

 
 _____//EPISODE 100

I just have to note that Sasuke has reverted back to his blue shirt and white shorts outfit (just when I'd accepted he looked sexy in the black, too). And what's he been doing with Kakashi, eh?

 _____//EPISODE 101

Oh Hii-sama, Naruto episodes which try to be funny are usually SO bad (eg. #98) but this one was hilarious. Sasuke had such OOC reactions but it was funny nonetheless. I thought it was cute how he and Sakura were drinking together whilst Naruto was stalking Kakashi. I love team seven <3

 _____//EPISODE 102

This is definitely a filler arc whilst the animators allow Kishimoto to finish the current manga arc. Nothing majorly SasuSaku but quite a few scenes of Sasuke and Sakura sitting together, running together etc. I thought it was cute how after Idate left the restaurant, Sakura said, "Sasuke-kun..." and Sasuke went, "Aa," as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

 _____//EPISODE 103

Again, nothing stands out but they do run and converse with each other quite a bit. I was amazed that Sakura was strong enough to rip the mast of that ship off. We need more of this Sakura!

 _____//EPISODE 104

First thoughts on the opening? Even though I knew it was coming, it surprised me and it totally screams "omfg rescue Sasuke arc!". I like the animation in it, not so sure about the actual song but it may grow on me. Very SasuNaru (friendship or more? >P). Why they show the new opening when the filler is not actually finished... ANYWAY. So when Naruto runs out of the water with Sakura on his back, what is Sasuke thinking? Who knows, but he was concerned enough about her to not leave her behind and continue the mission. Then when Aoi throws the needles at him, Sasuke shouts "Sa!" or something similar.

 _____//EPISODE 105

I forgot to mention, I didn't like how Sakura was all "I DON'T WANT NARUTO TO RESUSCITATE ME!" in the previous episode because by now she has accepted him. But for humour, I guess it's okay >_>; When Sasuke got angry, I almost thought he was defending Sakura but alas. The Sasuke fangirl in me wanted Sasuke to win for once, but the animators did need some way to hospitalise Sasuke and there it was.

 _____//EPISODE 106

After hearing all this talk about Sakura having great chakra control, we finally get to see some of it in action as she gathers chakra onto her feet to cling to the side of the cliff. Again, we see her surprising strength as she manages to carry Sasuke for a few moments before the rock she is clinging to breaks off.

 _____//EPISODE 107

One of the best episodes that I've seen in a looong time. They pulled out their best animators for this one (save a couple of scenes on the roof), Sakura looked so pretty and Sasuke looks.. a lot older?! So anyway, Sasuke is recovering in hospital after the Aoi incident but he's angsting over Naruto being so strong whilst Sakura is mollycoddling him. Sakura is definitely the last thing on his mind. Sasuke thinks about everything that has happened and how he has never been able to beat one of the 'big bad guys' so he challenges Naruto to a fight.

Naruto eventually agrees and finds that he is actually very excited. They taunt each other as Sakura looks on helplesslly and finally they lunge. Hand blocks fist x 2. My lord, this fight was one of the best (it wasn't so great in the manga :P). Anyway, then came a series of fancy punches and kicks and the sheets hanging up to dry reminded me of a scary movie (Texas Chainsaw Masscare?). Sakura cried out "Naruto" a few times.. so does she think Sasuke is stronger and so Naruto is at a disadvantage or what? I guess Sasuke being silent in the hospital wasn't too different from him being quiet normally, but Sakura finally realises something is up when this new aggressive Sasuke appears.

So back to the fight, Naruto does his mass kagebunshin but Sasuke fights them all off with some fancy hand/footwork. That is, until the "UZUMAKI rendan" comes along and he gets kicked into the air. Sasuke, however, uses this airtime to use the "gokakyuu no jutsu" which destroys all the clones leaving the real Naruto holding a rasengan. This causes Sasuke to start up his chidori and they fly towards each other with their signature attacks. Sakura, finally realising that she has to stop them, begins to run between the two.

 _____//EPISODE 108

The Sound Four are approaching to take Sasuke back to Orochimaru. Meanwhile, both Naruto and Sasuke realise Sakura will get the full effect of both their attacks but neither one is able to move, so thank the lord that Kakashi-sensei turns up and breaks them up. He knows this behaviour is due to the meeting with Itachi but Sasuke just gets all pissy when Kakashi acts "teacher-y" towards him. Then Sasuke gets uber-pissed when he realises how much damage Naruto actually did to the water storage. Sakura can only cry.

Kakashi explains to Jiraiya that all Naruto wants is to be acknowledged by Sasuke, but Sasuke is bitter as he has not improved as much as Naruto. Kakashi flies off to have a talk with Sasuke (oh you thought it was the Sound tying him up, didn't you?). Kakashi tried to reason with Sasuke to forget about revenge but Sasuke cannot let it go, saying they are both different. But not so... Kakashi has also lost everyone important to him. Thanks to Kakashi, Sasuke realises that he has found friends in Sakura and Naruto and that using the chidori against Naruto was wrong.

By nightfall, he's basically realised that Kakashi is right. Too bad for him, the Sound show up and make him change his mind. Sasuke seems to have the upperhand at first but we'll have to wait and see who is the real winner in the next episode. Meanwhile, Sakura decides to finally tell Naruto about the curse seal that Orochimaru lovingly left Sasuke during the Chuunin exam.

 _____//EPISODE 109 [♥]

The battle with the Sound Four continues and, well, even though Sasuke puts on a pretty good show, he eventually gets beaten. At the outdoor noodle stand, as much as Sakura tries to be upbeat in Naruto's company, Naruto knows she is not being herself and she tells him all about Orochimaru and how worried she is for him. He tells her about him meeting Orochimaru.

Sasuke is being lectured by the guy with two heads, who basically says Sasuke will make nothing of himself if he remains in Konoha. Tayuya herself says it is pointless if they kidnap him and he should choose to leave the village. He releases the curse seal in order to get an upper hand, but it backfires on him as the Sound Four are also cursed by Orochimaru. Tayuya uses the magic words "Uchiha Itachi" which basically makes Sasuke want to leave. (Nice imagery of a leaf representing Konoha, and then the image of Itachi and him crushing the leaf)

Sakura and Naruto are done eating. She declines his offer to walk her home and then a sudden thought strikes her and she is none too happy about it. Sasuke is back at his house. He is all packed to leave and you can tell how hard is actually is for him as he stares at the picture of him and his teammates. But this is what he has to do. Sakura has also made a decision.

Sasuke has walked past all the landmarks and... oh look! It's Sakura! She knows Sasuke has to take this path to leave the village (clever girl) and Sasuke walks straight past her. Sakura begins crying and asks him why he can't let her help him and Sasuke asks her why she always has to poke her nose in. Sakura reminisces about when they first became a team and wonders why Sasuke has always been so cold. Sasuke claims he doesn't remember (but does he?).

Sakura continues talking about their time as a team together (I love happy scenes in a sad moment like this). Sasuke is silent throughtout all of this. Sakura says she doesn't know what happened to the Uchiha (c'mon, a mass murder can't go unnoticed) but she knows revenge will not help anyone. Sasuke claims to know this but he also has a different path from everyone else. He says he has thought everything over but his heart has chosen revenge and that is what he lives for.

Sakura won't take it lying down and puts her heart on her sleeve. She brings up Sasuke saying there is nothing worse than being alone but she can't imagine this feeling since she has friends and family. Yet, if Sauke leaves, she knows it would be as if she were alone. Sasuke knows he is breaking her heart. Sakura shouts that she loves him and will do anything for him and pleads for him to stay. The moon comes out from behind the clouds for Sasuke's last moment of goodness. A moment from the old days, he turns around and tells Sakura she is annoying and walks forward.

Sakura, helpless, can only beg and run after him. Suddenly, Sasuke appears behind Sakura and says "thank you". Then he knocks her unconscious and lays her down on a bench, before he disappears ino the night to join the Sound Four. Sasuke has now gone over to the darkside.

Episodes 80 - 99 / Episodes 110 - 129