Naruto and Utakata successfully enter the Tsuchigumo village thanks to help from Sakura, Sai, and Yamato. Utakata senses the chakra filling the atmosphere and terrain behaving oddly, and together with Naruto, they enter the cave where the anomaly is originating.

Returning from the mission, Naruto recollects his strange encounter with Itachi. What did the now deceased Itachi wish to tell him? As Naruto ponders this, Kakashi makes an abrupt visit.