Naruto Uncut

Gaara employs his Playing Possum Jutsu, which allows the Sand Spirit within him, Shukaku, to display its true power. Naruto and Gamabunta have transformed into a giant Nine-Tailed Fox and use their jutsu to try to awaken Gaara. Soon, Gamabunta's power weakens and Gaara turns his attack on Naruto. Back at Hidden Leaf Village, the battle continues between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage. With his life on the line, the Third Hokage uses the Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal to try to stop Orochimaru!

With every ounce of their power, Gaara and Naruto continue to fight. Determined to protect Sakura, Naruto attacks Gaara again and again. Gaara begins to wonder where Naruto finds his strength. Gaara and Naruto were both despised in their home villages, disdained as unnecessary beings. But the difference between them is the heart and desire to protect someone dear who acknowledges their existence. Gaara comes to realize that love is why Naruto is strong...

Orochimaru's plan to destroy the Village Hidden in the Leaves is stopped. But the damage is extensive and work proceeds quickly to make repairs. Two unfamiliar figures appear in the village. They are Sasuke's older brother, Itachi Uchiha, and the wanted S-rank criminal Kisame Hoshigaki. Sensing a suspicious aura, Asuma and Kurenai hurry to confront them. When the duo's true identities are revealed, a battle ensues.

Kakashi arrives in the nick of time to help Asuma and Kurenai, and Itachi too enters the fray. The ultimate battle between two Sharingan users begins. At first, the battle between Itachi and Kakashi is even. But Itachi's strength shows the reason the Uchiha were so strong and feared! Can Kakashi counter such a fierce attack and win?

Jiraiya and Naruto are on a journey to find Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin. Jiraiya's purpose is both to protect Naruto from the clutches of the mysterious organization the Akatsuki and to train his apprentice. Naruto is eager to learn new ninjutsu. Sasuke visits Kakashi in the hospital and learns the cause of his illness – his brother, Itachi. Itachi, who enacted the annihilation of their clan, is now after Naruto!

Intent on confronting Itachi, Sasuke rushes to the town where Naruto is staying. On the way, tragic memories of his past come flooding back. Long ago, Sasuke idolized his brother, who graduated from the Ninja Academy at the top his class at age 7, and at age 13, became a leader within the Anbu Black Ops. But one night, he single-handedly wiped out the entire Uchiha clan save one, his younger brother Sasuke.

Jiraiya saves Naruto from Kisame just in time. It turns out that Itachi and the Akatsuki organization are definitely after Naruto to obtain the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Jiraiya warns Kisame and Itachi that he'll never let them have Naruto. But Sasuke asks Jiraiya not to interfere! Grimacing in intense pain, Sasuke is determined to stand up against Itachi. Seething with anger over the deaths of his parents and clan, the fight for vengeance begins!

Deeply hurt mentally and physically, Sasuke is taken back to the Hidden Leaf Village by Guy. If only the medical specialist Tsunade were there... Jiraiya and Naruto search for leads in their quest to find Tsunade. At a festival the two are surrounded by some unsavory ninja, but Jiraiya's powerful jutsu frightens them away. Jiraiya informs Naruto he's going to teach him that very jutsu. Finally, serious training begins!

Naruto finally begins his training with Jiraiya. The technique Naruto will learn was the trademark of the Fourth Hokage, a technique which even a genius like him took three years to master. Step one involves gathering chakra in one's palm and using it to pop water balloons. It looks easy enough, but... Will Naruto be able to clear this first step of training?!

Naruto manages to complete the first step of his training. But the next step, making a rubber ball explode with chakra, proves extremely difficult. He gets to the point where he can puncture the ball, but he is nowhere near making it explode. Jiraiya gives Naruto a hint. Naruto resumes his training, but the results are the same!

Orochimaru and Kabuto suddenly appear before Tsunade and Shizune who are out sightseeing. Orochimaru, injured by the Third Hokage's Reaper Death Seal, seeks the former Sannin's medical expertise. Tsunade would never agree to treat the man who killed the Third Hokage, but Orochimaru has a plan up his sleeve that would exploit Tsunade's painful past.

In exchange for healing his arms, Orochimaru offers to bring back to life Tsunade's younger brother Nawaki and Dan, her sweetheart. However, he also tells her that when he is healed, he will resume his assault on the Hidden Leaf Village. Tsunade is given one week to answer and is torn between saving the Hidden Leaf Village and the possibility of seeing her beloved brother and lover alive again. Then Jiraiya finds Tsunade and tells her that she has been appointed the Fifth Hokage!

Naruto is incensed at the way Tsunade disrespects the position of Hokage and challenges her to a fight. Naruto uses the Fourth Hokage's technique which he's been practicing but is easily countered. Naruto declares that he will master the jutsu, and Tsunade tells him if he masters the jutsu within a certain timeframe she'll give him her precious necklace!

Naruto practices hard so he can win the necklace from Tsunade. Meanwhile, Tsunade is in a dilemma over Orochimaru's offer. Her hesitation to promptly refuse leads Kabuto to assume she'll take the offer.