Naruto Shippuden Uncut

In the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Konohamaru's team has been promoted to genin and now goes on D-rank missions under Ebisu. Konohamaru's constant complaining reminds Iruka and the others of Naruto back in the day. Just then, a figure passes through the gates. It's an older Naruto, who has returned from a long training journey with Jiraiya. Naruto Uzumaki is back!

Jiraiya has completed his new novel, Make-out Tactics, much to Kakashi's delight. But Jiraiya has also brought top-secret news that the Akatsuki is on the move. Naruto and Sakura team up and challenge Kakashi to a survival challenge to show off their progress. In the Village Hidden in the Sand, Gaara is now the Kazekage, and it turns out some members of the Akatsuki have infiltrated the village.

Naruto's and Sakura's combined skills force Kakashi to use his Sharingan right off the bat. Naruto masterfully unleashes his jutsu one after another. And Sakura, though trained primarily as a medic ninja, employs deadly techniques taught her by Tsunade herself. Just outside the Sand Village, Deidara of the Akatsuki begins a super-secret operation to sneak into the village, with Gaara as his target.

Gaara is quick to detect Deidara's presence, and an aerial battle ensues with Deidara on his giant bird and Gaara atop sand. Sand jonin Yuri is actually an Akatsuki sleeper agent, and the Village Hidden in the Sand suffers great damage. Back at the Leaf Village, Naruto and Sakura continue their survival challenge and get a firsthand look at the amazing power of Kakashi the Copy Ninja. The battle is at a stalemate. Finally, the duo implement their ace in the hole.

Naruto and Sakura defeat Kakashi in the survival challenge. Tsunade assigns them to a three-man squad led by Kakashi, who tells them they are now his equals. In the Sand Village, Gaara and Deidara continue their fierce battle. As he watches the battle, Baki becomes concerned that Shukaku will materialize, but Kankuro scoffs at the idea. Kankuro is fully aware of the strong resolve that burns deep inside his younger brother.

In order to protect his village from Deidara's explosive clay, Gaara uses his chakra to create a giant sand shield. Luckily, the village is saved, but at great cost. Gaara is left vulnerable to attack, and has nothing left to counter a barrage of Deidara's traps. His Sand comrades' attempts to help prove futile, and in the end, Gaara falls into Deidara's hands.

Gaara, his strength completely exhausted, is whisked away by Deidara. Kankuro ignores Baki's efforts to stop him and immediately sets out in pursuit with a platoon to rescue Gaara. But the Akatsuki has set up ingenious traps, and one by one, the Sand ninja fall. Kankuro's determination pulls him through, and he alone catches up to the Akatsuki. Back at the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto's new squad welcomes the day of their first mission.

On her way to the Sand Village, Temari encounters Kakashi and his team. Kakashi admonishes Naruto when he tries to rush ahead, and Naruto explodes with anger toward the Akatsuki. As one who also houses a tailed beast inside his body, Naruto understands Gaara's suffering and considers him a comrade. Meanwhile, Kankuro is rescued, but he is on the verge of death, having been infected with a mysterious poison. If no antidote is found, he has only a few days to live.

An urgent message from the Sand Village detailing the Akatsuki's kidnapping of the Kazekage reaches the Hidden Leaf Village. Tsunade wastes no time in ordering Team Kakashi to the Sand Village. Meanwhile, Kankuro begins his battle against the Akatsuki. But one after another, his puppet tactics are easily countered. His opponent turns out to be the one who developed Kankuro's puppet technique, the ingenious puppet master of the Sand, Sasori of the Red Sand.

The Sand ninja fight against time to treat Kankuro. Even the Sand's poison expert, Granny Chiyo, is baffled. The only hope lies with the reinforcements sent by Tsunade. But Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi are delayed by a sandstorm. Back in the Hidden Leaf Village, Tsunade worries about Kakashi's squad, and assuming the worst, she sends Guy and his squad, who have just returned from a mission. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki reach their hideout with Gaara and commence with the Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons.

Sakura treats a critically ill Kankuro. After extensive training she's now a full-fledged Medic Ninja, and Sakura amazes everyone with her sure, steady hands. At first suspicious of their former enemies, the Leaf, Granny Chiyo is touched that Tsunade sent her own apprentice and impressed by Sakura's determined efforts to help Kankuro. She realizes a new era has dawned. His life out of danger, Kankuro provides information about the Akatsuki. Kakashi immediately sends a ninja hound in pursuit.

Pakkun finds the hideout of the Akatsuki. Team Kakashi and Temari prepare to set out to get Gaara back, but Temari is ordered to stay behind and help guard the village. Granny Chiyo volunteers to take Temari's place. Along the way to the Akatsuki hideout, Chiyo shocks Naruto and Sakura with the story of the Biju or Tailed Beasts. Meanwhile, Pakkun meets up with Team Guy. Since they are closest, they follow Pakkun toward the Akatsuki hideout. However, their movements have already been noticed by the enemy.

Team Kakashi encounter Itachi Uchiha, who had dealt them a bitter defeat in the past. Kakashi warns everyone not to look into Itachi's Sharingan Eyes. Kakashi prepares to battle Itachi alone and tells Naruto to cover him from the back. At the same time, Guy and his team begin battling their bitter rival Kisame. Determined to pay back Guy for a past defeat, Kisame releases a powerful chakra to overwhelm the Leaf ninja. Soon, his jutsu has Neji, Lee and Tenten locked in a water prison.