"Tonton! I'm Counting on You!"
We open on Naruto in the now empty prison standing over Kurenai and Asuma. The medical ninjas also had a warning about possible trouble and show up in time to care for them (One of them is voiced by Steve Blum, damn Orochimaru, hiding in plain sight!) Naruto is legit shook.
Cut to Tonton and Shizune and an irregular squad sent to hunt down Mizuki. The way this episode opens feels like we missed a scene but whatever. Enter Fujin and Raijin, fresh off of messing up two Jonin and around a dozen Chunin. They start cutting their own promo on our boy Tonton, ginger pork or pork chops indeed.
Tonton is slightly fazed but he ain't no coward. Where is Muzuki? Right behind you!
We cut back to Tsunade looking at a giant promotional ninja info card on Orochimaru. Steve Blum Medical Ninja shows up and reports that the Jonin are fine. Oh, they explain what happened; well, sort of. The guards were taken prisoner after all the cells were opened but they have no memory after that. Asuma name drops that damned traior Mizuki and of course....
Naruto busts in. He wants some answers from Granny Tsunade. He KNOWS Orochimaru is behind it and he knows she sent Mumrah and Asuma. They let him go under the fifth hokage's orders and he runs away to go find the Sauce.
Tsunade lays it all out. Quit being selfish Naruto. You've failed twice now to bring him back, this problem is above your pay scale, do your job. When suddenly Tonton shows up. Something has happened to Shizune. Naruto doesn't speak pig though so he's going to rescue Shizune and thrash Orochimaru and bringing back Sasuke, completely missing the point.
In walks Kakashi-Sensei with two prisoners he found on the road. He wants the info. Naruto heads off with Tonton as he passes by Iruka with his own prisoner. Then we cut to Fujin and Raijin robbing Shizune's squad of food. Then a cut back to Naruto and Tonton approaching the scene with him internally monologuing about Sasuke. He's completely forgotten what this episode is about!
The three villains approach a small farm in a clearing tended by a young woman. Oh no, look out! Wait she knows them. Fujin and Raijin are talking about the fight that Shizune put up while Mizuki puts on a villainish cut off vest. The girls name is Tsubaki and she appears to be Mizuki's girlfriend hidden in the mountains. She wants him to stay away from that Orochimaru bastard! He killed the Third! He destroyed the walls! They wouldn't have broken up if not for him!
The theme of this episode seems to be missing the point as Mizuki starts cutting a promo on...Naruto. If it wasn't for that rascally kid. Tsubaki (clearly Wendee Lee) brushes him off saying Naruto is a national hero! Mizuki is LEGIT SHOOK at this news, apparently he never read the paper. It's all in the past, he's not a monster.
Mizuki has been WORKING OUT. The village is in for "A rude awakening" for all those hidden in the leaf sweathogs. He's going to help Orochimaru and take over this place and they'll be living the good life. Tsubaki tearfully pleads with him to give up this crazy and doomed to failure plot.
Nope full on crazy villain (I have no idea why this cracks me up but it does every time.)
Back from the break and we're in the Hokage's office. Kakashi attempts to abandon Naruto again but Tsunade knows his tricks...oh wait no, just another S rank mission. Iruka reports in; he caught all the inmates. Kakashi is thrilled because he gets to foist some resonsibility onto someone else.
Kakashi dragoons him into the mission by summoning Pakkun and then vanishing without explaining shit. Tsunade fills him in as we cut away.
Those damn Dubdley's and Mizuki are fleeing Tsubaki's house. She's on the floor, distraught over her evil boyfriend and his dumb plan. Tonton and Naruto find either Fujin or Raijin's left over prison jumper. Tonton has the scent and something springs from the bushes as Naruto leaps to got cut it.
It's Iruka and Pakkun. They clash Kunai as Tonton and Pakkun discuss what is going on. Pakkun tells Tonton he's done a great job but is no longer needed, he's one day away from retirement and the best cop on the force. Oh those damn Thunder brothers and Mizuki are observing this whole scene from the other side in a tree! It's revenge time!
FLASHBACK: Episode 1. Eighty or so Narutos beating the fuck out of Muzuki. He hates that Nine Tailed freak as the idiots wonder how good he'd taste.
Naruto is wondering why Iruka isn't dragging him back to the village. Of course he knows it wouldn't work and they beat the shit of of Mizuki last time so who cares. Don't let your guard down. Pakkun found them ahead. Quick cut to Tsunade who is looking at the potion recipe again.
Back to team Iruka and they've found Shizune. Pakkun is being fooled by all the dropped clothing but he still has a good idea where they are. Shizune joins the squad. Iruka senses a trap but Naruto points out that despite being on the low ground the visability is good. They can't afford to get to high ground.
Pakkun was fooled again by clothing. That's no moon... He threw a rock at him and the dinner bell has been rung. Naruto watch your back.
Damn I cannot believe it! That Jezebel! Naruto trusted her! Oh that's right, Transformation Jutsu. Iruka isn't fucking around and throws a kunai before the villain gets a chance to monologue. He knows who it is by god.
Naruto is LEGIT SHOOK at how swole Mizuki is. Mizuki is a new man! He's been working on his body! Iruka knew the whole time; Shizune wouldn't let her team go ahead of her unless she was dead or dying while your injuries were minor. Also he didn't take the high ground. It was a trap all along. Mizuki sends the two thunder brothers lumbering after Naruto and goes after Iruka instead. Guess he forgot about the multiple speeches he made about going after the Nine Tailed brat. Oh well.
Iruka wants Naruto to leave. Naruto claims to be fine just has he is jacked in the jaw. He's not done yet though and summons about a hundred shadow clones. They do all have the same face. Not enough fingers to count them all. He can borrow his brothers though. Naruto is a bit tack back by this as you can imagine, he normally fights people a lot smarter than him.
Naruto wants to fight Mizuki and has no time for these filler characters. These two idiots keep going on about a big feast though as the shadow clone army decides to punch them all at once. No effect. (Use the Rasengan you moron) Mizuki laughs maniacally to end the episode.
NEXT EPISODE: "A New Squad! Two People and a Dog?!"