Season: 2

Naruto, in the four-tailed state, begins attacking Orochimaru with incredible force, devastating the surrounding landscape and preventing Sai and Yamato's wood clone from approaching him. The majority of Orochimaru's attacks prove to be ineffective, but Naruto also fails to kill Orochimaru as he regenerates from any injuries he sustains. Meanwhile, Kabuto advances toward Sakura and Yamato, deducing that Sasori has died. Orochimaru finally manages to strike Naruto with a sword blade from his mouth, and Sakura reacts in horror when she sees Naruto's four-tailed state.

Immediately after Yamato signals Naruto and the others out to the bridge where Orochimaru and Kabuto are waiting, Naruto's chakra begins to boil with the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Slowly, Naruto grows more tails as Orochimaru taunts him and makes him even more angry. Meanwhile, Yamato remembers Jiraiya speaking of how many tails he has seen Naruto grow. Jiraiya explains more about what happened and more about how Naruto acts when he's in his Nine-Tails form.

Yamato disguises himself as Sasori after creating a wood replica of Hiruko, and goes to meet the spy. The spy turns out to be Orochimaru's right-hand man, Kabuto Yakushi, who reveals the location of Orochimaru's current hideout to Yamato. Orochimaru interrupts the meeting, appearing to attack Kabuto, and while it initially appears that Orochimaru has come after Kabuto, Kabuto attacks Yamato and reveals that he is truly loyal to Orochimaru. Orochimaru calls out Naruto, Sakura and Sai from where they are hiding and observing the meeting, and prepares to fight the team.

Naruto is paired with Sai for the Buddy team of two, over his and Sakura's objections, while Sakura is assigned to support Yamato. Yamato conducts a simulation of the spy meeting with himself as the spy to gauge Naruto and Sai's abilities and teamwork. After Naruto makes a mistake when attacking Yamato, Sai immobilizes him and goes on to capture Yamato alone. Naruto is angry with Sai for not acting as a comrade would, but resolves to work together with him if doing so will help bring Sasuke back. Sai reveals to Sakura that he has no emotions, and little understanding of them. The group then prepares to head to the bridge.