____________//INFO: THE STORY: EPISODES 110 - 129 ♥

 
 _____//EIGHTH CLOSING: HAJIMETE KIMI TO SHABETTA

Nothing SasuSaku in this song but they use a lovely image of the younger Naruto/Sasuke when they weren't really friends but... have a bond. Beautiful ;-;

 _____//EPISODE 110-111

Two of Tsunade's helpers passing by stir the sleeping Sakura who wakes up screaming Sasuke's name. They report this to Tsunade who calls for Shikamaru to explain his mission. He must make a team of Genins to bring Sasuke back, since all the other good ninja are away on missions. Who does he call (Ghostbusters!)? Naruto, naturally, Chouji, Kiba, along with Akamaru, and Neji. (I like how when the Konoha door opens, you sometimes see six people in the shot and sometimes it's five)

As lazy as Shikamaru can be, he shows he is an excellent leader (and draws well) with a great mind. He has a plan all worked out and poor Rock Lee can only look on in jealousy. But just before they leave, Sakura shows up. Shikamaru's realistic words hit Sakura hard and all she can do is plead for Naruto to promise to bring Sasuke back. She couldn't do it, but she believes Naruto is the only person who can. Naruto, so very mature now, accepts she really likes Sasuke and gives her the Rock Lee-style "nice guy" promise, so Lee assures her everything will turn out for the best.

The Sound Four now reveal to Sasuke what he has to do. His curse seal is only at stage one, but taking a mind pill will force stage two on. The seal, however, is hard to control but once you control it, you will have great power and for the seal to activate, the person must die once. So he takes the pill and they put him in a protective barrel which the Sound seal up. Two Jounins, back from a mission, meet the Sound and are no match for them, so you have to wonder how a few Genins and a Chuunin will manage to do it.

This means we won't see Sakura for aaaages and Sasuke for a good number of episodes, but it's fun watching the Genin team take down the Sound Four. Plus, Rock Lee makes a good appearance.

 _____//EPISODE 123

As exciting as the battles were, Sasuke finally makes an explosive appearance. When we first lay eyes upon him, when the barrel blows up, we see Sasuke in the second stage of the curse seal... but only from the back and he slowly returns to "normal". Poor Naruto thinks everything is dandy but Sasuke only laughs manically and jumps away. Thanks to Rock Lee, Naruto can chase after him.

 _____//EPISODE 126

I just think it's soooo cute how the Kimimaro flashback shows Zabuza and Haku! I don't remember that happening in the manga but it was a nice touch. ANYWAY...

 _____//EPISODE (127-)128

Well, after a lot of Naruto running after Sasuke, he's finally caught up. Appropriately, they meet on two giant statues of former kages, reminiscent of the statues of the kings in LotR:FotR. Naruto screams Sasuke's name and Sasuke finally responds by turning around and revealing one scary eye and part of the curse seal, along with a casual, "Yo." Y'know, you can't help but side with Naruto at this point and think that Sasuke is being SO selfish. The genins risked their lives to bring him back and Sasuke doesn't give a care in the world.

Apparently, Sasuke doesn't give a damn what Orochimaru does with him as long as Sasuke accomplishes his goal at the end of it. So he knocks Naruto faaar away and this is when he realises just how much power he has with the curse seal. When Naruto resurfaces from the water, Sasuke is waiting. As sad as his words about having friends is stupid, it's even sadder when he says his dreams are not of the future, his dreams are of the past, and an image of him and Itachi from the younger days flashes on the screen.

Now, we are treated to the first bit of the flashback on background info of the relationship between the two brothers and the run-up to "that" event. The flashback comes in bits with some nifty Naruto vs. Sasuke.

 _____//SIXTH OPENING: NO BOY, NO CRY

There's hardly any Sasuke in this, but Sakura makes a few more appearances looking rather sad. Oh, the anime is definitely getting more heartbreaking and the opening reflects this. No SasuSaku in a crucial point like this!

 _____//NINTH CLOSING: NAKUSHITA KOTOBA

It's a very sad ending. Team seven have really split up. Sakura doesn't look like herself in the close ups but she does look pretty. How can you think of SasuSaku at such a sad time.

 _____//EPISODE 129

Lookit Sasuke being all cocky and not using his Sharingan to fight Naruto. He claims he needs power and hatred to become strong and with more Naruto beating, we get more flashback.

Episodes 100 - 109 / Episodes 130 - 139