Ep. 5: Gaara battles Deidara while Naruto and Sakura rest and Iruka eat ramen.
Aired on March 15, 2007
Deidara places a bomb within Gaara's shield, but the Kazekage neutralizes the threat using sand body armor. Gaara then summons Shukaku, whose massive hands catch Deidara's arm and break it via the Sand Coffin Technique. Deidara retaliates by planting small explosives in the sand that detonate in Gaara's face, weakening him. He subsequently summons a large puppet named C3 with immense destructive power and drops it on the Hidden Sand Village. Kankuro, the General, and the villagers witness the attack and flee. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sakura rest, and Naruto fails to go on a date with Sakura while he and Iruka eat Ramen.
Episodes
- Ep. 1 · Naruto returns after training with Jiraiya and faces a challenge from Tsunade alongside Sakura.
- Ep. 2 · Naruto delivers Jiraiya's book while Kakashi initiates a bell test with his students.
- Ep. 3 · Naruto and Sakura surprise Kakashi with new techniques while Deidara infiltrates the Hidden Sand
- Ep. 4 · Gaara Defends Against Deidara While Naruto and Sakura Outsmart Kakashi
- Ep. 5 · Gaara battles Deidara while Naruto and Sakura rest and Iruka eat ramen.
- Ep. 6 · Gaara is captured by Deidara after blocking an explosion while Naruto reflects on his goals
- Ep. 7 · Kankuro confronts Sasori in the desert while allies depart for the Hidden Sand
- Ep. 8 · Team Kakashi is dispatched on a mission to rescue the kidnapped Kazekage Gaara from the Akatsuki.
- Ep. 9 · Hidden Sand repairs damage while Team Kakashi travels to find Gaara