Naruto finally makes sense of the destruction he witnessed around him earlier. Yamato tells Naruto not to rely on the demon because Naruto is strong enough to withstand the demon's terrible chakra. Sai discovers the loss of his book while resting. Team Kakashi browse Sai's book, and they notice that the book (which can be read from both ends) contains different paths of two boys who meet in the middle. Each page has the boys fighting someone new, each time collecting the opponent's armor and weapons into the next page. The pages where the two boys would meet are unfinished. Orochimaru's group reach their base, not realizing that Yamato's wood clone trailed them there. Sai gets a glimpse of Sasuke's silhouette and eyes and discovers that he is the man Naruto and Sakura are looking for.

Naruto's been having nightmares about the release of the Nine-Tail's power. Afterward, Kakashi informs Naruto that he has special training for him that will make him strong quickly. They are cut off by Team 10, who have also come to visit. Sai lunches with them and, trying to make friends by using nicknames, angers Sakura by calling Ino "gorgeous" after concluding that women do not like to hear how they really are.