Original subtitles

"Neji's Judgment"

I'll give this to you...

...if you'll only help me!

[gasping]

Don't worry about that now! Listen to me. Can you show us the way?

[gasping] Yes!

Right over there.

Byakugan!

Found them!

What is the plan, Neji?

We can't ignore them.

You do realize this could mean we won't pass the Chunin Exams.

I'm really sorry, you guys...

No, it isn't your fault. I was the one who decided to get involved.

Right...

But you're correct, Tenten. This decision could very well mean that we're

not going to pass the Chunin Exams.

But in a situation like this, he wouldn't...

Naruto wouldn't hesitate for a moment to act.

That's for sure!

You are right! Naruto would give us all a serious scolding if we ignored

anyone in need, especially if it is just to pass the Second Exam.

Naruto and Gaara both challenged their destinies and were able to overcome

many hardships.

They wouldn't ignore this and say it's someone else's problem.

[struggling]

Damn it, Fuu. I told you to stay away.

But how could I ever do something like that?! If that friend of yours were

here, I bet that he'd do everything in his power to try to save you!

[gasping] My friend would--

Yes, but that's only because he's a fool!

♪♪

[struggling]

[yelling]

♪♪

[roaring]

[roaring]

[struggling]

[gasping and grunting]

[grunting]

[grunting] Ninja Art: Cocoon.

[gasping]

What is that?!

What's this?!

It's a power that I have. But unfortunately it's not

enough to break this Chakra Chain.

But at the very least... it should be enough to buy us some time.

♪♪

Huh?!

This is--

The flow through the chakra chain is becoming sluggish.

That cocoon actually has the power to suppress the absorption of chakra?!

How did you...?

I just wove a cocoon together for us.

It's no big deal! It's basically just like a giant

tangle of super-fine Chakra threads.

I thought it'd slow that chain down from draining our chakra.

But didn't stop it.

Both the chakra flow and discomfort have been reduced, but eventually...

...our Tailed Beasts will be extracted, and then...

...we'll die.

[chuckling]

Negative thoughts aren't helpful, you know! Besides, I'm sure that someone's

gonna come along to save us!

How can you stay so positive about this situation?

You know, there was someone else who praised me for being positive too!

Nobody is coming to save us.

Don't say something like that!

Hey! Is anybody out there?! Can you hear me?!

Your voice can't travel through this cocoon.

Uh--

Dang it, I forgot...

All right, then! I'll just have to pull this out with brute strength.

[grunting]

[straining]

So, listen... we might have to wait to be rescued, after all...

However long we wait, no one from the Sand will help us.

There you go again! More negative thoughts!

Would you still say such things if you knew our enemy is from the Sand?

What?! Are you serious?!

How useless. All you did was throw away any avenue of escape.

Just how long do you think you'll last in there?

♪♪

In the past, the only way that I could relate to others was with hatred and a

desire to kill them.

[struggling]

Now that I have become the Kazekage, some believe that I will rule through fear...

And so, they're trying to eliminate me.

I suppose it can't be helped...

[struggling]

I'm the one who brought it on myself because of my past actions.

If I have any regrets, the biggest...

...is that I wish I'd been better able to show people just how much I'm trying to change.

That friend of yours you talked about showed you, right?

That you can share and understand the pain, suffering, and happiness of

other people!

Uh--

You're right. Yes, he did...

But still, it's difficult for a Jinchuriki to find acceptance.

That doesn't have to be true! I'm sure it'll all work out!

If you're a Jinchuriki you can still make a hundred friends. I know it!

'Cause my Village Chief told me so!

They really are a lot alike...

Judging by the panic within the Hidden Sand... I'd say we can assume that they no

longer have Gaara under their protection.

Yes. It's exactly what we feared might happen...

He's set himself up as bait in order to lure out the faction that's planning a

coup d'etat.

In the worst-case scenario, there's a chance that he could've already been

assassinated.

The Leaf has very close ties to Gaara...

If something happens, it would greatly affect our alliance with the Sand.

We can't allow anything to happen to him.

I know, but as long as we don't know who's behind the coup d'etat, we

can't request any assistance from the Sand.

We'll just have to something ourselves, then.

Well, that said, we don't know where he went, and don't have any clues about

his enemies.

What is that?

Hmm?

Hm. They're Sand genin.

♪♪

You hear that lute playing?

[gasping]

What is that thing?!

It appears to be a giant cocoon!

And who is that man with the lute up on the ridge there?

You are entrants from the Hidden Waterfall!

That's right. We're looking for Fuu. She wandered off.

She did?!

What?! Chakra is being extracted from Gaara and Fuu.

What is it, Neji?!

Just what do you see in that cocoon?!

Uh--

I can see two Jinchuriki inside.

One of them has to be Lord Gaara. But who's the other one?

From the Hidden Waterfall. I believe it's your teammate.

To be sure, at this rate, both of them will perish.

[gasping]

It's the Sealing Jutsu of that lute player.

He's extracting their Tailed Beast Chakra. Ultimately, he'll extract

the Beasts themselves.

But if the Tailed Beast is extracted, then Lord Gaara will die!

Please! You have to help him!

So? What do you intend to do about this?

You abandoning your teammate?

Let us call a truce. And we can fight together!

If we act quickly, we can still save them!

[exhaling]

All right...

Please, help us with saving Fuu.

Sure!

I see...

From what I can tell, that priest is vulnerable to a strike from his back.

So, this is my plan. First, we'll divide into two groups, an attack team and a

rescue team.

The attack team will sneak in close and approach him from behind, and then, while

he's distracted by them...

...the rescue team will move in and free both our friends.

Lee and Matsuri, accompanied by you two, will attack.

Understood.

All right! We will go pulverize him!

Can I be on the rescue team?

No. I'm sorry but I need Tenten for that. The two of us will go.

You got it!

Scatter!

Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Water Style: Water Shuriken!

Deadly Shell Meteorite!

Leaf Hurricane!

Dharma Barrier: Celestial Pillars!

[gasping]

What is that?!

Some defensive jutsu?!

There is something else going on here, too. We have to be careful!

Hm?

[gasping]

Tenten, I need a Chakra Sword.

I'm on it!

Ha!

I just need to find a weak spot in the cocoon.

Right there!

[grunting]

Huh?!

[grunting]

This means... we can't get close to him.

That barrier is impregnable!

At this rate, we'll be useless! No help to Lord Kazekage!

No, this is fine.

Huh?

Just drawing the enemy's attention away will make Neji's job easier, and

that is what we came here to do!

Are you all right, Neji?

Are you two doing okay?

You see?! Someone came to help, after all!

I gave very strict orders not to tell anyone.

They were just worried about you. Please, don't be too

angry with your subordinates for that.

It's just as I suspected. Those chains have penetrated your Chakra Points. And

they're disrupting your Chakra Networks.

They're controlling the flow of chakra through your Chakra Points... and

siphoning off your Tailed Beast Chakra.

That's right. And as the Tailed Beast Chakra weakens, he'll be able to extract the

Beasts themselves.

Can you do something to help?

Whether it's Tailed Beast or not, chakra is chakra.

If we block the Chakra Point being used to siphon the Tailed Beast Chakra...

...then we just might be able to staunch its flow.

Is that possible?

It is. It's sure to be tricky, but it's still worth a try.

Do it.

There it is! Gentle Fist...

...Chakra Point Needle!

[gasping]

[grunting]

Uh?!

What happened?

I think that...

...the Tailed Beast Chakra is so powerful that it repelled me.

I had no idea that it would be as unbelievably strong as that!

Like that time before. The force of the Nine Tails Chakra inside Naruto was

almost unimaginable.

It appears that the Tailed Beast Chakra inside Gaara and Fuu... is just as

powerful as Naruto's.

You've just gotta keep trying! Please, we're counting on you!

I know, Fuu.

I'll try again!

Huuuuuuh!

All right! It's stopped!

You're right!

Get ready, Fuu. You're next!

Okay!

[grunting]

What?! The flow of chakra has stopped?!

But why?! Why isn't the Tailed Beast Chakra flowing?!

That guy with the lute is acting weird.

I know... that means something must have happened!

Did that Byakugan user actually stop him?

Well... the enemy definitely looks flustered...

What's happening now?!

They look like they're moving on their own!

Creepy!

Careful, everyone!

Unless I do something, the chain will continue searching for Tailed Beast Chakra!

It'll find the Tailed Beast Chakra that's already been stored in me and start

siphoning off that chakra...

...until it destroys me.

[grunting]

The barrier has been broken!

[gasping]

[yelling]

May I ask you a favor, Neji? Please spare him.

Of course. Understood.

[struggling]

Neji...

Ah, I see... it's the same idea as before. The Chakra Points are closed.

There are more Chakra Points here, though...

Everyone, please stand back.

We can save him.

Get him to a Medical Team.

Right! I understand!

I thank you, Neji. Never thought you'd rescue me.

Hm.

So are both of you all right now?

Yeah! We're totally okay!

Lord Gaara!

Oh, thank goodness you're safe!

Matsuri and the others did a great job!

Yes.

There they are...

And in the end, it appears they didn't need to have any help from us after all.

Yep! I guess we got here a little too late.

I'm Fuu of the Hidden Waterfall!

And my goal for right now is to make one hundred friends! So please, you just gotta be

my friend! You can't say no, okay?!

Okay, okay, yes!

I understand, just let go of me!

[laughing]

Neji! This is great news!

(chuckling)

Woohoo! Woohoo! Finally, I'm on my way to making a hundred friends!

There was a time when I felt that the wounds I'd inflicted on my people would never heal.

I thought I should just disappear from the Sand Village.

But I found that despite my past, there were some who, without prejudice, accepted

my feelings and believed in me.

Next time on Naruto Shippuden: "Hopes Entrusted to the Future"

The promising power of the young. The future of the Sand.