Deidara's Ultimate Art faces off against the all-powerful new Sasuke; and inside the Land of Rain lies a secret of theAkatsuki that questions the leadership of Pain.
Jiraiya must look to the past for answers on how to end Akatsuki's reign of pain, and Sasuke moves closer to the final battle with the Uchiha brothers.
Naruto, having come face-to-face with his nemesis, uncovers information about the true Pain, and the first act of a new ninja who has taken power in Konoha changes Naruto's life forever.
As the bridge lengthens, Kakashi prepares Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to protect Tazuna's family from Zabuza's next attack, unaware that their foe will be bringing his apprentice, Haku, this time.
Ninja trainee Sasuke, suffering the effects of a curse placed on him by Drochimaru, enters the first match of the Journeyman Ninja Selection Exams over the protests of his friend and classmate Sakura, and finds himself facing one of the formidable Sound Ninja spies.
"It's been more than two years since Naruto left to train with Jiraiya, and his first mission sends him to the Hidden Sand to help rescue Gaara. As both Gaara and Naruto come face to face with the Akatsuki, Sakura takes her place at the front of the fight to save them. With Granny Chiyo at her side, she must battle Sasori, who can create golems from the dead. But Granny Chiyo is a puppet master too-- only it could be Sakura's strings she's pulling!"--Back cover.
"Naruto finally finds Sasuke! But Sasuke won't return to Konoha without a fight. This time it may take all the new Team Kakashi to bring him down--and bring him back. Then Naruto accelerates his training while the Akatsuki continue their assault on those with the Tailed Beasts inside them. Just how many ninja will fall to the evils of the Akatsuki?--Back cover.
