Original subtitles

Thank you.

Release the Genjutsu and wake Naruto and Shikamaru.

You're going to need both of them for this mission.

What kind of mission?

Be careful.

It's the first A -rank assignment since the Land of the Waves.

Huh?

You released Genjutsu too, you faker!

Why were you pretending to be asleep this whole time?

First. Track down Sasuke and stop him. Then find a safe location and await

further orders.

Did something happen to Sasuke?

I'll tell you what happened on the way.

I get it. I guess Sasuke got all impatient.

Oh, man.

Why did you have to pull me into this anyway?

This whole thing is such a drag.

It can't be helped, okay? It's Kakashi -sensei's order.

This way!

How long till we catch up?

I don't know.

A long time if they keep moving at this pace.

Come on!

A shirker's call to action.

Lay about no more.

No, there are two squads behind us. That's eight ninja.

Wait.

No, there's one more. That's nine ninja following us. What?

Oh, man, come on already.

Give me a break here.

It looks like they haven't discovered our location.

Yes.

We need to lose them.

What's the deal? Why are we stopping?

Zip it and follow me.

We're going back over our footprints.

If we pull this off, our footprints will seem to disappear.

Is this really gonna do anything?

I mean, they'd have to be pretty lame ninja if this throws them off the trail.

It'll help buy us some time.

That's all we need now.

But if our pursuers get impatient, succumb to the thrill of the chafe, and

sight of our tracks, I certainly won't complain.

Know what I mean?

Hurry up!

We don't have all day, you know.

I know! Quit bugging me!

This is not good.

Be prepared for an ambush.

They're definitely back on our trail.

Great.

They're probably all tuning or higher.

We'll be wiped out if they catch us.

Wiped out?

Listen, guys.

We don't have much choice. We're gonna have to ambush them. An ambush?

That could work.

It would give us an advantage.

Even if there are twice as many of them as there are of us.

if we can just catch them off guard.

No, it's no good.

I'm afraid that those ninja chasing us are Orochimaru's henchmen.

My guess is that they're all Jonin level.

I really thought that would work, but I guess it won't.

Wait, hold on. Why not?

The level of an opponent doesn't have much to do with an ambush, does it?

Wait, what are you talking about?

You guys just don't get it. Let me explain.

Yeah. An ambush is a key battle tactic and can be very beneficial.

But for it to work, you have to meet two conditions.

Well, what are they? Tell us and we'll meet them! Number one, the ninja on the

run must be completely quiet and must find the enemy first.

Number two, they have to be able to catch the pursuers off guard at a

where they can do a lot of damage quickly and then conceal themselves

as quickly.

And it's only under those two conditions that an ambush can truly be effective.

Now, the first condition won't be so hard since the ninja hound knows can

our enemy. And the second one also seems to be in our favor since we know the

geography of our village like we know the facts of our hands.

However, Orochimaru is a former leaf ninja.

So on the second condition, we're out of luck.

We are?

Wait, tell me why that is again.

Our pursuers have studied the layout of this village, and I have to assume that

they've been put through simulated practices for this mission.

And on top of that, they're probably masters of the pursuit you two.

So they know all the cards we're holding?

Well, I don't really know. I suppose that an ambush could give us an

But so many things are uncertain.

Besides, our enemy is a special unit that was specifically put together just

this operation.

And what are the four of us?

A fool.

A kunoichi with no particular talent.

A mutt.

And me, the shirker who doesn't even want to be here.

Look, tactics are about clearly grasping a tough situation and formulating the

best plan.

And right now, only one plan makes sense.

Just one.

And that is?

A diversion that only looks like it's an ambush.

So one of us.

is going to stay behind and slow them down.

One of us will be a decoy.

That's right.

If one of us can delay them, they shouldn't be able to find the rest of

We'll be able to escape.

Of course, the one who acts as a decoy will probably...

So, who's going to do it?

We need the dog to follow Sasuke.

So that means...

Alright,

I guess that I'm gonna have to... I'm the only one who can do it.

Ikamaru!

Why does it have to be you?

It's better than all of us being wiped out, right?

Besides, I'm the only one of us who's got a chance of pulling off this decoy

act.

And of surviving this attack.

Huh?

I mean, after all, shadow possession, Jutsu, was invented as a delay tactic.

Anyway, I'll catch up with you later.

Go on.

Get going.

We're counting on you, Shikamaru!

Sakura!

When did Shikamaru become this dedicated?

Be careful.

Shikamaru.

how much you try to erase the signs of your pathage, we'll find you.

Listen, the enemy's coming up fast.

What?

I wonder if he's even trying back there.

Me, the shirker who doesn't even want to be here.

No, don't tell me.

Shikamaru... Shikamaru will be just fine, got it?

Don't tell me that he just ran away.

Look, I said he'd be okay and I meant it.

How do you know?

He's lazy and he's always complaining about everything, but he would never

betray us.

I know he hardly ever volunteers to do anything himself, but if he says he's

gonna do it, then he'll do it, and that's for sure.

I want to believe. I do, but... Pick up the pace, slackers.

I can't believe I managed to get away.

His footprints are irregular.

Anxiety is probably increasing his fatigue.

Oops.

Sorry.

I was supposed to be the guy who didn't want to get involved.

But I guess I'm not quite what you had expected, am I?

You're right about one thing. I'm tired.

On everything else, you're wrong.

Like our footprint.

This is what I used to make the paw prints.

Why, he's just a kid.

I can't believe we got caught by this.

So this is the leaked shadow paralysis jutsu we've heard about, huh?

Yeah, if you want to call it by that old name.

But I'm afraid you're behind the time.

Now it's called shadow possession jutsu.

Bold man.

Oh no, my chakra's still depleted.

I used too much chakra then, and now I can't hang on much longer.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

eight. Wait a minute.

Eight?

No, there's one more. That's nine ninja following us.

Hmm? Of course.

The Ninth One's role is to protect against an ambush.

That person stays a distance behind the others, a reserve in case of an enemy

attack.

But I know what to do.

This will draw out that Ninth Ninja and reveal where he's hiding.

There he is.

Oh, man.

The shadow won't reach.

I don't have enough stamina to use my chakra to make it go that far.

It's futile, kid. I see through your technique.

So this is it.

It looks like you're at your limit. This shadow possession jutsu of yours is

going to fail soon. So prepare yourself.

All I really wanted was to be just an average shinobi, making an average

I'd marry a regular girl who's not super pretty or super ugly.

Have two kids, a girl and then a boy.

Retire when my daughter got married and my son became a successful ninja.

And spend the rest of my days just playing shogi or go. A nice, carefree,

leisurely retirement.

And then I die of old age before my wife.

Yep, that's the life I wanted. And yet I ended up exerting myself.

It's so unlike me.

Even though I wanted to finish as just a regular guy, I had to go and get myself

into this sticky situation.

Huh. Looks like those ninja aren't chasing us anymore.

Awesome! Shikamaru succeeded!

The delay tactic worked!

Shikamaru!

I'm sorry I doubted you.

Even a little.

Okay, we're half done.

Now we can focus on catching up to Sasuke.

Shikamaru, survive and catch up to us no matter what!

You can do it!

Well, as you say, it appears I'm at my limit.

Hey!

Come on out!

And when you do, cut off his head!

Well, I finally caught up with you guys.

Atuma! How did you...

You did well, Shikamaru.

Yeah, but it was way too much work.

Stay here for now, Shikamaru.

You've earned it.

We have even more pursuers? Two?

No, three!

Konkoro, we've got to go faster!

Okay, okay!

I won't let you get away!

Don't be fooled, Bokken!

Now then, shall we begin?

Keep fighting!

I don't know.

I have no clue what's going on!

Why is the old man fighting Orochimaru?

And why is Sasuke going after those guys?

I don't get why we have to go after him.

But I guess we have no choice.

Wait up already, Sasuke!

Next time, an unrivaled match.

Hokage Battle Royale!

What in the world is happening to our village?