While pursuing Orochimaru, Kakashi wanders into a village inhabited by the Iburi Clan, a group of people with the unique ability to turn into smoke. Kakashi is soon captured and learns that the villagers all serve under Orochimaru.

After listening to what Hashirama and the rest of the former Hokage have to say, Sasuke finally understands how the Leaf Village and its shinobi came to be.

Team Jiraiya, Shikamaru, and his Leaf teammates are lured into a mysterious village during their battle. A couple children from the village get caught in the crossfire and fall into a cave-in. Yahiko’s team rushes to the rescue, but Shikamaru doesn’t budge. Meanwhile, Naruto and Neji’s teams rendezvous, but a mysterious voice addresses them out of nowhere!

Sasuke leaves the village in order to obtain power from Orochimaru. Naruto and his friends learn that Sasuke is in danger and decide to go after him. To keep this a secret, only Naruto and Shikamaru set out on this mission, but on the way the duo are accosted by masked ANBU shinobi!