The young generation of Konoha finally learns the seriousness of Sasuke's crimes. For some reason, Ino cries, while others like Neji, Tenten, Lee, Hinata are shocked and a little saddened. Kiba is more tough and tells that eveything changed. Choji feels bad because if they would have retrieved Sasuke on that mission, none of this would have happened. As Neji points out, Shikamaru now feels partially responsible, and that's why he wants to tell something to Naruto and Sakura. In the meantime, Sai visits Sakura and Shizune at Tsunade's tent. He tells what Naruto did, even the fact that he didn't want her to know. Sai then reveals where Naruto went, and Sakura is shocked, while Shizune says that he is impertinent. When she asks about Kakashi, Sai tells that he believes in Naruto and tries to help him, no matter how impossible is the task. And then, Sai mentions the promise to Sakura. He doesn't know what it was, and he doesn't know his teammates so well, but he has noticed that Naruto loves Sakura. Then, she starts sobbing, as he tells Sasuke is the source of that suffering. Sai tells that Naruto feels the burden of the promise, like a curse mark he will carry his whole life, so he makes Sakura feel responsible of their friend's sadness. He thinks she made him suffer like Sasuke. Shizune defends Sakura by saying that Naruto wants to save Sasuke for his own reasons, not only because of the promise. Sai agrees, but still, they are relying on him too much, and Naruto has been sad lately because of this. He feels anger about Sasuke, so he wants to do something for the sake of Konoha and Naruto. Suddenly, Shikamaru enters (looks like he was hearing the conversation for some time), and agrees with Sai. He tells that Sasuke has become an international criminal, and as long as he stays in Akatsuki, the worst will be. He thinks that if Kumogakure eliminates him, Ino, Naruto and Sakura could try to avenge him, and eventually, a war would start between the villages. Shikamaru wants the sake of Konoha and wants team 7 permission to eliminate Sasuke. He is going to tell the same to Naruto, and when he learns where he went (Shizune updates him), he realizes it's going to be complicated. Still, now he asks Sakura's permission. She tells him to stop, removes her tears and makes a decision. She will talk to Naruto, and thinks to herself that now she'll make things right. This part was important and critical in many ways. Sasuke has crossed a line of no return and his former classroom fellows have noticed. Shikamaru is the one to accept it, Neji was right. He is thinking about the sake of the village. Still, he is not vowing that he is going to kill Sasuke, he just wants to be sure that if Sasuke dies, Ino, Naruto or Sakura won't do something stupid. And he wants Konoha to deal with it to make it easier. Then, I'm not sure if what Sai did was right or wrong, it was positive in some ways, but not in others. For one side, he exaggerated. He clearly doesn't know much about his teammates. The promise was in the past, and Sakura already released Naruto from that. In Shippuden, they were both committed to retrieve Sasuke because they care about him, especially Naruto. They don't want him to become a criminal. Of course, they didn't really understand his desire of revenge, three years passed, and they don't know him anymore. They were holding on to memories. Shizune was the reasonable voice here to point that out to Sai. So, what he said about the promise being a curse mark was a way to hurt Sakura. Now she feels responsible for Naruto's desperate efforts to protect Sasuke. Also, Sai shouldn't meddle into Naruto and Sakura's relationship. Because Sakura always knew that Naruto liked her, and she knows how much they care for each other. That's not something she needed to hear. Now Sai misleaded Sakura, she wasn't hurting Naruto in any way. It's the opposite, she makes him smile. But well, Sai doesn't understand much about feelings so he said unnecesary words. Anyway, of all this, something good came out. They all know that Sasuke is on a path of no return. This is a turning point for Sakura to forget about him (or should have).
Then, Naruto is shown resting in a cabin at the Iron country. He thinks about all what happened, if Sasukeif ever thought about team 7, and why he did what he did when he already got his revenge. Why he didn't return to Konoha if Itachi was dead? And just in the moment when he starts accepting that he indeed became a criminal, Tobi appears on his window to talk. This was a perfect way to end the episode. Naruto acknowledged the seriousness of what Sasuke did, and realized what he should have questioned sooner. Tobi will tell him the truth, but he has a plan.
Meanwhile, at the Kage Summit, A questions Mifune for choosing Danzo, the "incarnation of darkness on the shinobi world". Mifune refers to Gaara's youth, Onoki's old age besides of previous associations with Akatsuki, and the past of Kirigakure to dismiss three Kages as potential leaders. At last, he dismisses A given the hole he made on the table when he lost control of his anger. Anyway, Ao notices something is wrong and makes a scan with his stolen Byakugan, hidden behind his patch. He realizes that Danzo posseses the right eye of Shisui Uchiha. He recognizes it because he fought with Shisui once, and knows that it can manipulates other persons with a powerful gen jutsu, even if that person is not aware of what's happening. He reveals this information to everyone and asks Danzo to uncover his right eye. He is not questioning how he got the eye, he questions that Mifune is being controled. A enrages, but suddenly, a clone of white zetsu appears and starts babbling jokingly about Sasuke's infiltration. The Raikage furiously takes him and asks where is the Uchiha, while Onoki recognizes Zetsu as an Akatsuki. This part was entertaining and the most surprising of the episode. No one would expect Zetsu to provoke a fight with the Kages. Obito is up to something without doubt. For some reason, Zetsu appeared just when Danzo was about to be discovered. If that happened, a division would have occurred. He would have been forced to step down as Hokage. At least this part, Kishimoto wrote it well.
Then, Naruto is shown resting in a cabin at the Iron country. He thinks about all what happened, if Sasukeif ever thought about team 7, and why he did what he did when he already got his revenge. Why he didn't return to Konoha if Itachi was dead? And just in the moment when he starts accepting that he indeed became a criminal, Tobi appears on his window to talk. This was a perfect way to end the episode. Naruto acknowledged the seriousness of what Sasuke did, and realized what he should have questioned sooner. Tobi will tell him the truth, but he has a plan.
Meanwhile, at the Kage Summit, A questions Mifune for choosing Danzo, the "incarnation of darkness on the shinobi world". Mifune refers to Gaara's youth, Onoki's old age besides of previous associations with Akatsuki, and the past of Kirigakure to dismiss three Kages as potential leaders. At last, he dismisses A given the hole he made on the table when he lost control of his anger. Anyway, Ao notices something is wrong and makes a scan with his stolen Byakugan, hidden behind his patch. He realizes that Danzo posseses the right eye of Shisui Uchiha. He recognizes it because he fought with Shisui once, and knows that it can manipulates other persons with a powerful gen jutsu, even if that person is not aware of what's happening. He reveals this information to everyone and asks Danzo to uncover his right eye. He is not questioning how he got the eye, he questions that Mifune is being controled. A enrages, but suddenly, a clone of white zetsu appears and starts babbling jokingly about Sasuke's infiltration. The Raikage furiously takes him and asks where is the Uchiha, while Onoki recognizes Zetsu as an Akatsuki. This part was entertaining and the most surprising of the episode. No one would expect Zetsu to provoke a fight with the Kages. Obito is up to something without doubt. For some reason, Zetsu appeared just when Danzo was about to be discovered. If that happened, a division would have occurred. He would have been forced to step down as Hokage. At least this part, Kishimoto wrote it well.
