Original subtitles

[Karin] Hey, where'd that white guy go?

Hmf.

Got it?

[Black Zetsu] Yeah.

Then begin.

"A Painful Decision"

If only Lady Tsunade would wake up from her coma,

I know she'd fix this whole mess with Sasuke.

Sakura,

[Sai] Excuse me.

Oh, Sai.

Sakura, We have to talk.

He did what?!

That's right.

In order to protect Sasuke,

He took all of her abuse.

[panting]

You bastard.

[Sai] But he never sold out Sasuke.

Not only that, In order to prevent you from worrying, he asked me to keep it quiet.

Naruto...

And now he's on his way,

to ask the Raikage to pardon Sasuke.

What? Why would he be so reckless?! Wasn't Kakashi with him?!

I doubt that would've stopped him.

Kakashi Sensei believes in Naruto.

Even if it's a long shot, Kakashi wants to give him a chance.

If Lady Tsunade had been there, she'd have done the same thing.

[Sai] Sakura.

Recently, I was assigned to Team Kakashi to take Sasuke's place.

So I still don't really know all of you very well.

And I'm not good with emotions.

Also,

What?!

Have you told sakura how you feel?

No way. I mean, how could I?

I'm the guy who couldn't even keep my promise to her.

I don't know what promise he made to you.

(ct taken aback reax)

[Sasuke] [crying] Naruto, This is a once in a lifetime request.

Just bring him home. Please, bring Sasuke back to me.

[Sai] However...

Even I am able to see,

that Naruto's in love with you!

[gasp]

Well gosh Sakura, you must really care about Sasuke, huh?

I get it. I can see that deep down this must be really painful for you.

I know you must be suffering.

Don't you worry one bit. I'm gonna bring Sasuke back.

I promise you that on my life, Sakura!

Listen, Sakura, I'm still gonna keep my promise; I won't give up!

It was the promise of a lifetime! I really meant it. Completely.

I said I would. So I will.

Don't forget, my Way of the Shinobi means,

That I'm always gonna stand behind what I say!

[crying]

[Shizune] Sakura...

Seems Naruto has shouldered the burden of his promise to you.

And plans to for the rest of his life.

[Sai] I don't know what you said to Naruto.

But it's really no different than what was done to me.

It's like a Curse Mark.

[gasp]

It's obvious that Sasuke is making Naruto suffer,

But I think you may be, too.

[crying]

Ino...

[crying]

Stop crying, Ino!

Hey! Don't talk to her like that!

You know how Ino's felt about Sasuke all these years.

Yeah but it can't be helped!

D'ugh.

Things are different now than they were before.

You sure about this? If that's Ino's reaction,

How will Naruto and Sakura feel?

Let's leave it to Shikamaru. He always knows the right thing to say.

Remember that his first mission as squad leader failed.

He still feels responsible for that.

Yeah, I know. Just imagine if we had somehow gotten Sasuke back home.

It haunts him.

That's why Shikamaru volunteered to convince her.

[Shizune] Wait a minute! Naruto genuinely wants to rescue Sasuke,

it's not just because of his promise to Sakura!

Don't you think that's true?

[Sai] Yes, I totally agree with you.

But, both Sakura and I, and everyone else, rely on Naruto too much.

I've been watching Naruto lately, and I think I figured out what he's feeling.

It's sadness.

And then when I think about Sasuke,

I get a burning feeling in my gut.

And I've come to know that that's anger.

So for Naruto's sake, as well as that of the Hidden Leaf, we must not rely solely on Naruto anymore.

We have to take action ourselves.

Sasuke is...

[Shikamaru] Sai's right.

[Shizune] Shikamaru!

We're not kids anymore.

We need to stop the Akatsuki. And then,

We have to stop Sasuke.

I came here to talk to Team 7's members and get their consent.

Consent?! Please don't tell me that--

Yeah, that's right.

We can't allow a war to break out between the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Cloud because of Sasuke.

Let me try to put it another way. Just hear me out.

If the Hidden Cloud did kill Sasuke, there's no way you or Ino, or especially Naruto, would just let it be.

And if any of you were to lash out recklessly and get killed by Cloud ninja,

Neither I nor Choji, nor Inoichi, or even your parents would just sit still.

We'd go out and avenge you.

Then the other side wouldn't remain quiet. They'd retaliate, too.

If Choji or I were to get killed by Cloud ninja,

Well, then, our fathers would just head out.

Before you know it, we'd be at war.

According to what the messenger from the Cloud said, they already consider Sasuke an international criminal.

If Sasuke continues to align himself with the Akatsuki,

the hatred spreading through the country will only grow.

So I believe it's time for the Hidden Leaf Village to deal with Sasuke ourselves.

You understand what I'm saying?

Right, Sakura?

That's why I want your consent. Sakura, will you--

[Sakura] Shikamaru...

[sigh]

Please. Just don't.

Don't say anything more.

I'm sorry, Sakura.

But regardless of what your answer is, I'm going to have to act, to protect the Leaf's future.

I'll talk to Naruto, too. Where is he right now?

Naruto's gone, he went to the Land of Iron.

To meet with the Raikage.

Ahn! He's willing to go that far!?

Well, I guess I should've known that this whole thing was gonna be a drag.

[Sakura] I want to be the one to talk to Naruto.

What??

Sakura!

[sniffles]

Since he's the fool that fell for me...

I want to do it. Let me take on that role.

I'm the one who's caused Naruto the most pain.

I'm always messing up. Just one failure after another.

I don't want to make any more mistakes. I don't want to fail!

I'll do it.

What?! Let the Hokage lead the Allied Shinobi Forces?!

If all of you approve this, I will gladly and humbly accept this position.

Rrgh.

[growling]

Why the Hokage?!

This man is also known by the moniker, The Shinobi of Darkness!

We cannot let him take charge!

Then who else?

My village has not produced even one single member of the Akatsuki.

Such a crucial role must be filled by the most trustworthy! It ought to be me!

[Mifune] I cannot agree to that.

What did you say?!

Huh...?!

[Mifune] I am well aware that a certain amount of intensity and strength

is necessary to assemble and lead a force of powerhouses such as these.

But someone such as yourself, whose acts are ruled by his emotions,

would probably end up splintering an allied force just like you did that desk.

Rrrgh.

I am simply stating my unbiased opinion as a neutral party in these discussions, Lord Raikage.

Lord Kazekage is still too young to spearhead such a venture.

He does not have much pull with other nations, and his title of Kazekage alone will not be sufficient.

Lord Tsuchikage, on the other hand, is too old and gives the impression of one whose power has waned.

He has also used the Akatsuki too often. He's the least trustworthy among you here.

And since Lady Mizukage's Hidden Mist is suspected to be the birthplace of the Akatsuki,

There is some concern about possible intelligence leaks. People might wonder if there are spies.

We don't know why the Akatsuki are gathering the Tailed Beasts or what they intend to do with them.

But we do know that we can't let them have the Nine-Tails.

The Nine-Tails belongs to the Hidden Leaf.

Thus, I feel it appropriate that the Hokage be named as leader.

[Raikage] Regardless of any other concerns,

I would never agree to an Allied Shinobi Force that would compromise the security of my village!

Something's just not sitting right about this. I need to check it out.

Chojuro.

Hm?

Prepare for battle.

What?!

Byakugan!

What?! What's this?!

How could this be?! The color of the chakra in Danzo's right shoulder and right arm, and his right eye as well...

There's no mistake.

It's Shisui Uchiha's!

He was a formidable foe that I fought against once.

I'll never forget that color.

Lord Hokage! Please show us the eye you keep covered under that bandage.

[gasp] What? Eh?

What's the meaning of this?

[Ao] I believe you stole Shisui Uchiha's eye and transplanted it in place of your own.

It's Shisui Uchiha's?

[stunned gasp]

[Mizukage] The man who was praised alongside Itachi

as the Uchiha most gifted in the use of Visual Jutsu?

Yes.

His particular jutsu let him enter the minds of others,

make them go through phantom experiences of his own choosing, and manipulate them.

It was such a top-notch Visual Jutsu, that one never even caught on to having been manipulated.

Hokage! Don't tell me Mifune is...

[stunned gasp] But how could...?

[gasp] Wait, is that--?!

My right eye is also a precious spoil of war, from a battle against the Hyuga.

So I'm not really one to cast blame.

But you cannot trick my eye. I was able to penetrate the genjutsu cast upon the Fourth Mizukage.

And thus, you see--

How dare you!

Well, hello there!

One problem after another. Now what?!

Is he Akatsuki?

Seems so.

Guess what? Sasuke Uchiha has snuck in here!

I wonder... where do you think he could be hiding right now?

Any guesses?

What is all this?!

Sasuke Uchiha?!

Is it him?

What's he doing here?!

He's the one with the Sharingan?!

Who took down Haku and Zabusa?

[gasp]

Who is he?

A member of the Akatsuki.

I believe his name is...

It's like a game of hide and seek!

Let's all try to find Sasuke! Come on!

Rgh!

Tell me where Sasuke Uchiha is!

Rrrrrr!

Give me an answer, right now!

Rrrrghh!

Whoa, this guy is super fast!

Hrk!

Refuse to answer and I'll show you no mercy!

[Naruto] Sasuke...

Where are you right now? And what are you thinking about?

Do you ever think about me, or Sakura, or Kakashi Sensei?

Even a little bit?

You defeated your brother Itachi. You got your vengeance.

Do you feel relieved now? Or is it even more painful than it was before?

Sasuke, why won't you come home to the Leaf?

Has hatred completely consumed you, Sasuke?

Have you really just become an ordinary criminal?

I... I'm not sure who you are anymore. Or who you were.

[Madara] Hey.

We really should talk, Naruto Uzumaki.

[Karin] This is bad.

[Jugo] What's the matter, Karin?

[Karin] The Samurai's movements have suddenly become erratic. I think they're looking for us!

[Suigetsu] What?! We didn't do anything to get their attention!

[Jugo] I bet it was Zetsu. He's gone now.

[Suigetsu] That bastard! I'll get him for this.

[Karin] There are too many! We'll be found and captured in no time!

[Naruto] Next time on Naruto Shippuden, "Racing Lightning."

[Sasuke] I'm very irritated right now.