Team Jiraiya, Shikamaru, and his Leaf teammates are lured into a mysterious village during their battle. A couple children from the village get caught in the crossfire and fall into a cave-in. Yahiko's team rushes to the rescue, but Shikamaru doesn't budge. Meanwhile, Naruto and Neji's teams rendezvous, but a mysterious voice addresses them out of nowhere!

The Masked Man is satisfied that the Hidden Leaf Genin chose the importance of life over their mission, but orders his team to continue their surveillance. Meanwhile, Naruto is frustrated at his inabilities, and recalls why his father Minato sealed the Nine Tails inside of him.