Episode 17: The Death of Gaara!

Team Guy and Team Kakashi both finish their breaks and go on towards the Akatsuki lair. After noticing Naruto's agitation towards Gaara's capture, Kakashi explains to Chiyo that Naruto is himself a Jinchuriki. Chiyo then reveals that she was the one who sealed the One-Tailed Shukaku in Gaara, to protect Sunagakure. Meanwhile, Akatsuki finishes the sealing of Gaara's Tailed Beast, thereby killing him. Outside the base, Teams Guy and Kakashi arrive, prepared to break into the cave and retrieve Gaara.

Episode 16: The Secret of Jinchuriki

Kakashi and Guy's teams both figure out that their battles were only set-ups to delay them from rescuing Gaara. Chiyo goes on to explain that the Tailed Beasts' hosts were individuals burdened with the task of carrying the Beasts within them, such as Gaara and Naruto, and that if their Beast is removed, then they will die. As the two teams rest from their battles, the Akatsuki leader sends out Zetsu to dispose of Itachi and Kisame's clone's bodies.

Episode 15: The Secret Weapon is Called...

After the terrible visions that Itachi makes him suffer, Naruto is released from the genjutsu by Chiyo and Sakura. Distracted and immobilized by Kakashi's shadow clone, Itachi takes a direct hit from Naruto's Great Ball Rasengan. Meanwhile, Guy frees Neji, Rock Lee and Tenten after defeating Kisame. Later, the two Konoha teams find, to their surprise, that the two foes that they had defeated are neither Itachi or Kisame, but two entirely different people, who the Akatsuki leader had used to stall the Konoha teams using Itachi and Kisame's likenesses.

Episode 14: Naruto’s Growth

The battle between Guy and Kisame intensifies. Guy bring outs his nunchaku to compensate for Kisame's Samehada sword, but takes a beating from Kisame's Water Style Jutsu. After being submerged by Kisame's attacks, Guy resorts to opening up six of his Inner Gates, and defeats Kisame with the Morning Peacock technique. Meanwhile, Naruto realizes he is caught in a genjutsu that Itachi cast upon him, and recalls his training with Jiraiya to try to dispel Itachi's illusion on his own.

Episode 13: A Meeting With Destiny

The battle between Team Guy and Kisame begins, while Team Kakashi encounters Itachi. Kakashi warns his team of the danger of Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan, and reveals what he's discovered to be it's weakness. Guy's team is quickly contained by Kisame's powerful Water Style Jutsus, leaving Guy himself to fight Kisame alone. Kakashi leads the attack against Itachi with Naruto following close behind, but Naruto is shocked when the real Itachi explodes into a cloud and his allies morph into Itachi's clones.