The episode shows the beginning of the battle between Naruto and his fellow toads vs Pain. He appears with Fukasaku, Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamahiro and Gamakichi. After Sakura's call to the hero, a shinobi from the Hyuga clan arrives and tells her that Naruto arrived. She is glad and smiles happy for a moment. But in the middle of the crater, as the dust clears the sight, Naruto and Fukasaku wonder where they are. Shima approaches and tells them that this is actually Konoha, and points to the Hokage's faces. They are shocked and soon learn that Pain caused all this destruction. Meanwhile, Tsunade and one ANBU hunter see the big mess around. When she cursed Pain for what he did, the hunter notices that the blue rhombus on her forehead is gone, this means that she used her full chakra reserves to protect and heal the villagers through Katsuyu. Little by little, most of the known villagers wake and get up, including Iruka, Konohamaru, Ebisu, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru (who is with Shiho and his dad), Hinata (along a Hyuga bodyguard whose job is protect her), Choji (who is next to his father, and Kakashi), Ino and her father, and others. Konan sees as the other Pains get up after the Shinra Tensei, and calls him reckless. Naraka Pain resurrects the Shurado (defeated by Kakashi), while the invoker Pain jumps next to Tendo who went to face Naruto. She notes he took a big risk and even his resurrection takes longer, and decides to go to protect the real Nagato, hidden somewhere else. The six Pains are all together again (so Kakashi died for nothing right?), while Tendo realizes that after the blast, he cannot use his power for a while. Then, Tsunade jumps in along the ANBU hunter, and swears to protect Konoha as the Hokage. Naruto is surprised, while Pain mocks that now she knows a little of his pain. The Shurado charges at her, but Naruto crushes him with a quick move (he is on Sage Mode). He tells a stunned Tsunade to take a rest, to inform the villagers to not interfere as he will handle this, and asks Gamakichi to take her some place safe. Before leaving, Tsunade gives him a small clone of Katsuyu with information about Pain's abilities. Sakura learns thanks to the Hyuga shinobi what Naruto did, and is amazed. Gamakichi soon arrives (along the ANBU hunter) and places Tsunade with her apprentice. Sakura takes care of her, complimenting what she did as the age reaches her. Her body turns old given (like after the fight with Orochimaru), Sakura takes her hand and lets her rest. This can be considered the first part of the episode. The writing was great, especially regarding Naruto, his fellow sennin toads, Tsunade, and Sakura. The way he appeared and protected Tsunade was excellent. First, Gamabunta and Fukasaku saw right there the shadows of Minato and Jiraiya, on Naruto's back, as his father and "grandfather" present, alive inside him. It was a nice detail to show. Then, his words were not to show off, were to let the Hokage be safe. He realized how exhausted she was, and wanted to save her. But as always, when she gave him Katsuyu, she did a last important action to help him. When she reunited with Sakura, she said she was fine, even though she soon fell unconcious and old. Her modesty here was special, the moment was beautiful. And seeing Sakura taking care of her, like she was her grandmother, it's nice. The relationships between Naruto, Sakura, Jiraiya, and Tsunade are some of the best of all the storyline. The two Sannin represent the parental figures of the two young protagonists. Gamakichi plays a good role, he is known by Sakura, and Tsunade as well. Then, Konan's reaction follows her desire to protect her childhood friend, considered like a brother. In some ways she admired Nagato, but she also wants him not to put his life in danger. She can't believe neither the extremes he may reach to fulfill his own peaceful world. About the safety of the villagers, seemingly is thanks to Tsunade. She basically sacrificed herself to save everyone she could. Still, to show all the shinobis between debris, but each one with minor injuries, is hard to believe. Shikamaru had a broken leg, but he was the only one with a big injury. Tsunade saved their lives, but each person could have some kind of serious non fatal injury. At last, there's the fact when Naruto tells when he asks Tsunade about Kakashi, that he explains how like Sennin he can feel everyone's energy and recognize each person around. This is a big ability of the Sage mode, but it should have been mentioned before. Now it looks like came out of nowhere. In Mount Myoboku, Naruto should have felt then Gamabunta's presence, for instance. It's a fantastic ability, considering what the eyes of a ninja should see.
The second part of the episode follows Naruto's fight. Fukasaku places the small Katsuyu in Naruto's pocket. Then, he charges at the Pain absorber, while Katsuyu informs him not only about the enemy's techniques, also their shared vision. So, he tries with a frontal attack with his toad tai jutsu, knocking him out. Fukasaku tells that the tai jutsu as a Sennin is perfect for battle. The Pain invoker summons three creatures: the bull, the various faces dog, and another one. First, Naruto uses two clones and a couple of rasengans to hurt them. Then, Gamaken, Gamabunta and Gamahiro take care of them, after Fukasaku and Shima's combined attack. When Tendo Pain sees Naruto recognizes the Sennin mode Jiraiya used. He tells him that he was Jiraiya's student too, in the past, so he is like the superior student of Naruto. He says that Jiraiya wanted peace, like he did. Naruto, angered, shouts that the shattered village is not peace, as he prepares his rasen shuriken. Pain says that he is not looking the whole picture. The Hyuga shinobi tells Sakura about the jutsu Naruto is going to use, and she soon gets worried, aware of what it is. Fukasaku and Shima are surprised, he didn't teach him that. The episode finishes as Naruto charges at Pain with the rasen shuriken. This part had most of the action obviously. The most important was the revealing of the rasen shuriken. Naruto is confident that in Sage mode it won't break his arm like before. Of course Sakura doesn't know this, still, she is worried about him. And he didn't want to explain Fukasaku all the deal about that jutsu. Sometimes some secrecy is needed. So, overall the battle started great. The episode had a few flaws, but shows how two of Jiraiya's students get on a definitive battle.
The second part of the episode follows Naruto's fight. Fukasaku places the small Katsuyu in Naruto's pocket. Then, he charges at the Pain absorber, while Katsuyu informs him not only about the enemy's techniques, also their shared vision. So, he tries with a frontal attack with his toad tai jutsu, knocking him out. Fukasaku tells that the tai jutsu as a Sennin is perfect for battle. The Pain invoker summons three creatures: the bull, the various faces dog, and another one. First, Naruto uses two clones and a couple of rasengans to hurt them. Then, Gamaken, Gamabunta and Gamahiro take care of them, after Fukasaku and Shima's combined attack. When Tendo Pain sees Naruto recognizes the Sennin mode Jiraiya used. He tells him that he was Jiraiya's student too, in the past, so he is like the superior student of Naruto. He says that Jiraiya wanted peace, like he did. Naruto, angered, shouts that the shattered village is not peace, as he prepares his rasen shuriken. Pain says that he is not looking the whole picture. The Hyuga shinobi tells Sakura about the jutsu Naruto is going to use, and she soon gets worried, aware of what it is. Fukasaku and Shima are surprised, he didn't teach him that. The episode finishes as Naruto charges at Pain with the rasen shuriken. This part had most of the action obviously. The most important was the revealing of the rasen shuriken. Naruto is confident that in Sage mode it won't break his arm like before. Of course Sakura doesn't know this, still, she is worried about him. And he didn't want to explain Fukasaku all the deal about that jutsu. Sometimes some secrecy is needed. So, overall the battle started great. The episode had a few flaws, but shows how two of Jiraiya's students get on a definitive battle.
