This episode brings like a tribute to the first part of Naruto, when teams 7, 8 and 10 were protagonists during the chunin exams. The sad part is that Gai's team was not present, Lee and Tenten were absent, not considered by the writer, probably given Neji's death (which is still questionable). Anyway, the plotline continues: the Juubi throws another energy ball, now to break the barrier, but Minato and the other Hokages stay strong. The barrier holds on the blast, which is channeled upside, to the only way out. Everyone is surprised of the result, and team 7 admires the Hokages. The 1st admits it's not easy to create this barrier. Then, Hashirama creates wood clones to run around, and open four doors so the shinobi can enter to attack the Juubi. He also brings another seal to keep trapped the monster's head. A clone reaches Madara, ready to fight, but the old Uchiha sits, says a clone is boring, and prefers to wait for the real one. In the meantime, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and the others run towards the Juubi. But the monster starts to produce little beasts to protect itself, as Hashirama notices. Sakura remembers (sequence of flashbacks is shown) how before the chunin exams she thought she was a good kunoichi, but Naruto and Sasuke were getting stronger, protected her, and she stayed behind. The day she protected them in the forest of death, she swore that next time, they would see her from behind. But she saw them as too powerful, they were ahead, she thought they were unreachable, and almost gave up. Then, she encharged Naruto a big burden, and stayed just crying. But after he returned, she decided not to let him carry that burden alone, and asked Tsunade to train her. She learned that medic ninjas must not die, and never go ahead of the rest, but Tsunade taught her something else. That didn't mean she couldn't learn how to fight, as the pupil of a Sannin, the 5th Hokage, she will inherit her power. Now, Sakura finally reveals what she was accumulating, and the blue rombus forms in her forehead. She hits with a big force a Juubi beast, sending it far far away. Naruto, amazed, promises himself never to contradict her again. Sasuke looks simply surprised. Hashirama wonders if she is stronger than Tsunade. Shizune ponders how Sakura has been storing chakra in that point for three years, and how precise one needs to be. She couldn't achieve the blue rombus, Hyakugou no Jutsu, despite being Tsunade's assistant. Sakura claims she doesn't need it to look younger (for now, for now). Then, a two bigger beasts appear, so Naruto and Sasuke throw a rasenshuriken and a sword on black flames to destroy them. The three reunite, and after Sasuke tells again about becoming Hokage, Sakura says she might intend too, to Naruto's chagrin. Still, she says the the three will fight back to back. But for some reason, she now seems ignorant of the reality, the long rivalry of her two teammates. Sasuke is serious observing how is Naruto on Kyuubi mode, while Naruto observes how the other used Amaterasu on the sword. Minato simply admires how his son made a rasenshuriken, by changing the chakra nature of the rasengan (the good old times). This first part was good, but not like the last episode, or many others. There are some things to comment. I liked how Madara keeps belittling what he considers inferior powers. He thinks that if Hashirama uses a clone is boring, or too easy. He needs the real rival to have a great serious fight. And this is true, Hashirama showed once again why he is the best, he prevented the Juubi's energy ball, opened the entrances of the barrier, and led the attack like a commander. Without him, the others would be lost. He has an unique presence. He also questioned, previously, Naruto and Sasuke for talking about being Hokage when they had to face the Juubi first. He gave them a needed lecture, deal with the big menace first, then talk. As for Sakura, I think that the power she developed makes sense. This was seemingly the reason of why she never entered big fights since Sasori. It's like she was storing certain amount of chakra to create the rombus, for three years, permanently or not. It's not crazy because for instance, Mito Uzumaki was also shown with that rombus on her forehead. It's possible. If Shizune couldn't make it is because she is not in the line of first characters, or doesn't have the natural ability to store chakra easily on one point of her body (Sakura was the first one to walk over a tree, implying her talent at this from the beginning). I liked to see her finally crossing a line, following and reaching Tsunade's steps. But when Naruto and Sasuke defeated those big monsters, I felt she was behind again. That was unnecesary. Also, this chapter showed her life forgetting what Sasuke did, or the rivalry with Naruto. The Uchiha said he'd kill Naruto, tried to kill her, so now she can't pretend nothing happened. Instead, Naruto, though he was happy about the team reunion, when he analyzed Sasuke's attack, with a serious face, he seemed aware of the danger he still is. He knows he may have to fight him anytime.
Then, Kiba doesn't want his team to stay behind, and shows his new jutsu. He creates a clone (which unsurprises Naruto given how easy is for him as a kid), and then with Akamaru creates a dog with three faces to attack the monsters. Shino uses a small parasite insect to consume and kill a beast from inside. For Ino this is disgusting. Hinata uses 32 hits against a beast, thinking it's her limit. But she remembers what Neji taught her, to not set a limit, and reaches the 64. She also remembers Naruto, that she wants to be with him, and proceeds to look forward. Shikamaru, Ino and Choji combine their jutsus: Choji turns into a big crushing human ball, Ino uses her mind to locate all the targets, while Shikamaru is tje intermediary with his shadow to defeat all the enemies with Choji. Then, Shikamaru accepts Choji to become heavier, even if he didn't want to compete. Sai appears to support team 7, but the Juubi strikes his ink bird. Naruto rescues him, while Hashirama and the others notice that he beasts are increasing in number and size. Naruto tells Sai that he doesn't enough chakra from Kurama to restore the cloaks. Sai thinks they need to reach the Juubi by eliminating the bigger beasts, but to jump, height and size is required, besides of the medical support. So the three summon Katsuyu, Gamakichi and a serpent. The image of the three Sannin's pupils is shown. This part was well done, entertaining, but I liked more the first. To see old teams back was a good idea to remember the first part of Naruto. The little beasts were adequate level opponents for the young shinobi. But the only ones to work as a team were Shikamaru, Ino and Choji. I guess Asuma was the best sensei. Each one had a dosage of protagonism, but it's kind of late, and short timed. For one side, Hinata, was good to see that she learned to pass from 32 to 64 hits, thanks to Neji's past teachings. But he could reach the 64 more than three years ago. That means she didn't progress much. It's questionable that she doesn't give an opinion or a reaction to Sasuke claiming he'll be Hokage, or to Sakura's closeness with Naruto. She doesn't share her thoughts naturally, like the others. Sometimes looks like in her world only exists her team, Neji and Naruto. This evidences the terrible development Kishimoto gave the character, that's why I think she wasn't supposed to end up with the protagonist. Kiba, instead, had more screen time and more natural interactions with the rest, he proves a right development of a secondary character. Sai's late entrance is welcomed, yet is bad to see the the only special jutsu he has is the ink. He is limited. Yo finish, I thought Sasuke wouldn't use more serpents and had switched to hawks. He signed two contracts? Was staged for the Sannins resemblance.
Then, Kiba doesn't want his team to stay behind, and shows his new jutsu. He creates a clone (which unsurprises Naruto given how easy is for him as a kid), and then with Akamaru creates a dog with three faces to attack the monsters. Shino uses a small parasite insect to consume and kill a beast from inside. For Ino this is disgusting. Hinata uses 32 hits against a beast, thinking it's her limit. But she remembers what Neji taught her, to not set a limit, and reaches the 64. She also remembers Naruto, that she wants to be with him, and proceeds to look forward. Shikamaru, Ino and Choji combine their jutsus: Choji turns into a big crushing human ball, Ino uses her mind to locate all the targets, while Shikamaru is tje intermediary with his shadow to defeat all the enemies with Choji. Then, Shikamaru accepts Choji to become heavier, even if he didn't want to compete. Sai appears to support team 7, but the Juubi strikes his ink bird. Naruto rescues him, while Hashirama and the others notice that he beasts are increasing in number and size. Naruto tells Sai that he doesn't enough chakra from Kurama to restore the cloaks. Sai thinks they need to reach the Juubi by eliminating the bigger beasts, but to jump, height and size is required, besides of the medical support. So the three summon Katsuyu, Gamakichi and a serpent. The image of the three Sannin's pupils is shown. This part was well done, entertaining, but I liked more the first. To see old teams back was a good idea to remember the first part of Naruto. The little beasts were adequate level opponents for the young shinobi. But the only ones to work as a team were Shikamaru, Ino and Choji. I guess Asuma was the best sensei. Each one had a dosage of protagonism, but it's kind of late, and short timed. For one side, Hinata, was good to see that she learned to pass from 32 to 64 hits, thanks to Neji's past teachings. But he could reach the 64 more than three years ago. That means she didn't progress much. It's questionable that she doesn't give an opinion or a reaction to Sasuke claiming he'll be Hokage, or to Sakura's closeness with Naruto. She doesn't share her thoughts naturally, like the others. Sometimes looks like in her world only exists her team, Neji and Naruto. This evidences the terrible development Kishimoto gave the character, that's why I think she wasn't supposed to end up with the protagonist. Kiba, instead, had more screen time and more natural interactions with the rest, he proves a right development of a secondary character. Sai's late entrance is welcomed, yet is bad to see the the only special jutsu he has is the ink. He is limited. Yo finish, I thought Sasuke wouldn't use more serpents and had switched to hawks. He signed two contracts? Was staged for the Sannins resemblance.
