Season 5
1. Run, Idate, Run! Nagi Island Awaits! | Download
First aired: 9/22/2007 Production Code: 252
While Aoi, the shinobi that is working for Wasarabi, begins to beat up Idate, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura finally get to the island Idate is located on. As they are about to go look for Idate they are attacked by their old Rain ninja friends from the Chunin exam. Naruto gets rid of them using Rasengan so the three go search for Idate. They find Idate badly injured and Aoi standing near him. Naruto and Sasuke attack Aoi but are easily defeated. Before he leaves Aoi tells the three that the needles he attacked them and Idate with are poisonous and mean certain death for Naruto, Sasuke, and Idate. Can they find a remedy before it is too late?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Sam Riegel (Mubi), Cam Clarke (Aoi), Paul St. Peter (Jirocho Wasabi), Stephen Apostolina (Orobo), Roger Craig Smith (Idate Morino), Doug Erholtz (Kagari)
2. A Fierce Battle of Rolling Thunder | Download
First aired: 9/29/2007 Production Code: 301
Fukusuki continues to celebrate with women and food when Aoi warns him that he might be celebrating prematurely. Meanwhile, at the bottom of Modoroki Shrine, Naruto begins his ascent up the long flight of stairs to the top of the shrine while carrying Idate.
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Cam Clarke (Aoi Rakusho), David Vincent (Fukusuke Hikyakuya), Roger Craig Smith (Idate Morino)
3. The Last Leg: A Final Act of Desperation | Download
First aired: 10/6/2007 Production Code: 302
With Sakura and Sasuke defeated, it is up to Naruto to defeat Aoi so Idate can continue the race. After a few failed attacks, Naruto is finally able to defeat Aoi, which means Idate can continue the race. The only problem is…Fukusuke is already near the finish line. Can Idate catch up and win the race to save the Wasabi Clan?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Kirk Thornton (Feudal Lord Tomo), Paul St. Peter (Jirocho Wasabi), Roger Craig Smith (Idate Morino), Michael McConnohie (Kirouku Wagarashi), Cam Clarke (Aoi Rakusho)
4. The Battle Begins: Naruto vs. Sasuke | Download
First aired: 10/13/2007 Production Code: 303
Why was Sasuke unable to defeat an enemy Naruto could? Why was Itachi after Naruto and not him? These are thoughts that race through Sasuke’s mind as he remembers Itachi’s words. In order to prove who is stronger, Sasuke has one request for Naruto: he wants to fight with him in a one-on-one battle.
Director: Hayato Date
5. Bitter Rivals and Broken Bonds | Download
First aired: 10/20/2007 Production Code: 304
Kakashi intervenes with the fight and stops it, but Sasuke isn’t too happy about it. He sees that Naruto’s attack was stronger than his, and he’s beginning to question his own growth. Also, a mysterious group of sound ninja have infiltrated Konoha, their target: Sasuke! Meanwhile, Sakura agrees to go on a date with Naruto, but the real reason is because she needs to tell Naruto about Sasuke and Orochimaru!
Director: Hayato Date
6. An Invitation from the Sound | Download
First aired: 10/20/2007 Production Code: 305
While Sakura tells Naruto about the Cursed Seal, Sasuke continues his fight with the four Sound ninja. All is going well until he is struck by an unseen combo. After taking a few hits, Sasuke finally gets a few of his own off. He hits one of the Sound ninja with his Lion combo but fails to do any damage. He is then offered a choice: To go with them and become more powerful or stay and become weak. Will Sasuke leave Konoha just for the sake of power?
Director: Hayato Date
7. Formation! The Sasuke Retrieval Squad! | Download
First aired: 10/27/2007 Production Code: 306
Shikamaru’s first mission as a Chunin is to bring back Sasuke. Tsunade warns him that Orochimaru’s men are probably guarding him and tells him he has 30 minutes to “collect as many talented Genins as you can think of, and leave the village”. Before he leaves the office, however, she says that she has someone that she would like to recommend. The person she recommends is…Naruto.
Director: Hayato Date
8. Sound vs. Leaf | Download
First aired: 10/27/2007 Production Code: 307
Genma and Raido fight the four Sound ninja that have Sasuke, but after an intense battle, they are defeated. On their way to rescue Sasuke, Shikamaru’s group makes a tough decision to proceed past the area where the fight occurred. Shikamaru informs the group they need to be on their guard. Because of the fight, the Sound ninja will be more alert and may have set up traps for them. Can they get through all the traps and get to the Sound ninja and Sasuke?
Director: Hayato Date
9. Squad Mutiny: Everything Falls Apart! | Download
First aired: 11/3/2007 Production Code: 308
Shikamaru’s group tries to sneak up on the four Sound ninja, but are caught off-guard and trapped by Jirobo’s dome made of stone. Not only do the walls of this dome regenerate after every hit, making it very difficult to escape from, but it is slowly eating away at the group’s chakra. Shikamaru tries to get Jirobo to let him and only him out, but Jirobo refuses. Has Shikamaru betrayed his friends?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Peter Lurie (Kidoumaru), Michael Sorich (Jiroubou), Brian Beacock (Sakon), Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya)
10. Full Throttle Power! Choji Ablaze! | Download
First aired: 11/3/2007 Production Code: 309
After escaping from the dome, Shikamaru’s group notices that Sasuke and the other Sound ninja, other than Jirobo, are no longer around. After many failed attempts by the group to get past Jirobo, Choji takes a mysterious pill and begins to fight Jirobo on his own, letting the others go after the Sound ninja and Sasuke. Can Choji defeat Jirobo?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Michael Sorich (Jiroubou)
11. Goodbye Old Friend…! I’ll Always Believe in You! | Download
First aired: 11/10/2007 Production Code: 310
After eating the Curry pill it seems as if Choji will win the battle, but Jirobo changes all this by unleashing his Cursed Seal Level 2. Now the tide has turned and it looks like it is the end of the line for Choji. Now he has only one option, take the red pill, which will ensure his death.
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Brian Beacock (Sakon), Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya), Michael Sorich (Choza Akimichi / Jiroubo), Peter Lurie (Kidoumaru)
12. Your Opponent is Me! | Download
First aired: 11/10/2007 Production Code: 311
Shikamaru tries to trick the three Sound ninja by transforming into Jirobo and taking the barrel Sasuke is in. He is found out because he did not act like Jirobo. Kidomaru passes the barrel onto the other two and takes on Shikamaru. Kiba, Naruto, and Neji try to attack him while he is focused on Shikamaru but are easily defeated. Neji then decides he will take on Kidomaru while the others go after the last two Sound ninja. Can he defeat Kidomaru and his spider-like ways?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya), Jamie Simone (Akamaru), Brian Beacock (Sakon), Peter Lurie (Kidoumaru), Michael Sorich (Jirobo)
13. 360 Degrees of Vision: The Byakugan’s Blindspot! | Download
First aired: 11/24/2007 Production Code: 312
Neji and Kidomaru continue their battle with each ninja throwing their best attacks at each other. After finding some of his techniques don’t work on Neji, Kidomaru decides he needs to attack him from far away. When Kidomaru does, his attacks are thrown off over and over again. This drives him to find the weak points in Neji’s defense. Can Neji stop Kidomaru before he can exploit Neji’s weak spot?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Brian Beacock (Ukon), Peter Lurie (Kidomaru), Michael Sorich (Jirobo), Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya), Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
14. Losing is Not an Option! | Download
First aired: 11/24/2007 Production Code: 313
With Neji deflecting all of his attacks, Kidomaru decides it is time for a change in his strategy against Neji. Kidomaru then creates a bow and arrow from the stuff inside his mouth and fires the arrow at Neji’s weak spot, but Neji throws it off course at the last possible second. After barely surviving Kidomaru’s first attack, can Neji avoid it again when Kidomaru uses a more powerful never-miss arrow?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Maile Flanagan (Naruto Uzumaki), Kyle Hebert (Kiba Inuzuka), Jamie Simone (Akamaru), Tom Gibis (Shikamaru Nara)
15. The Vessel Arrives Too Late | Download
First aired: 12/1/2007 Production Code: 314
Shikamaru devises a plan to ambush Tayuya and Sakon and steal the barrel. All goes well, but Orochimaru grows impatient and switches bodies early to prevent himself from dying. Kimimaro, a former member of what was once the Sound Five, promises to grant his master one final wish by bringing Sasuke to him.
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Brian Beacock (Sakon), Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya), Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
16. Miscalculation: A New Enemy Appears! | Download
First aired: 12/1/2007 Production Code: 315
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba race back to Konoha with the barrel. Akamaru follows them while setting up traps, to slow down Sakon and Tayuya, but is caught. Kiba goes back to help him while Naruto and Shikamaru continue on. Tayuya catches up with the two and Shikamaru tells Naruto to keep going. But before Naruto can move, Kimimaro takes the barrel and easily defeats Naruto. He leaves and Shikamaru and Naruto attack Tayuya. Naruto gets past, leaving Shikamaru to fight Tayuya, but can he defeat Kimimaro and take back Sasuke? And can Shikamaru and Kiba defeat Sakon and Tayuya?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Henry Dittman (Kabuto Yakushi), Jamie Simone (Akamaru), Steven Jay Blum (Orochimaru), Kyle Hebert (Kiba Inuzuka), Brian Beacock (Sakon) , Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
17. Roar and Howl! The Ultimate Tag Team! | Download
First aired: 12/8/2007 Production Code: 316
While Shikamaru deals with Tayuya, and Naruto handles Kimimaro, Kiba and Akamaru are stuck fighting not one, but two enemies. Sakon has a brother named Ukon, who is fused with his body. Kiba and Akamaru decide to use their new technique, but Kiba is hesitant to use it without any back-up. With persuasion from Akamaru, the two fuse bodies to become a giant two-headed wolf, but will even this be enough to stop the brothers? Or do Sakon and Ukon still have a few tricks up their sleeves?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Maile Flanagan (Naruto Uzumaki), Tom Gibis (Shikamaru Nara), Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya) , Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
18. To Each His Own Battle | Download
First aired: 12/8/2007 Production Code: 317
Ukon separates from Kiba’s body before he can strike the finishing blow. Kiba manages to set a trap and run away, but it won’t take long with his injury for them to find him. Meanwhile, Naruto has his trouble with Kimimaro, who is able to use his own bones as a weapon. And to make matter worse, Sasuke’s process is almost complete! Shikamaru is having his share of difficulties too, and just when he thinks he has everything down, Tayuya changes the song of her flute. Things aren’t turning out well for the three warriors.
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Jamie Simone (Akamaru) , Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
19. Fake-out: Shikamaru’s Comeback! | Download
First aired: 12/15/2007 Production Code: 318
Naruto is battling Kimimaro with everything he’s got, but he can’t land a hit on him. Meanwhile, Kiba is busy hiding from Sakon and Ukon in the river. Shikamaru is on his own and has difficulty stopping Tayuya, especially when her Dokis release ghosts that eat physical energy. With nine properly timed attacks, he manages to stop the Dokis and attempts to defeat Tayuya. However, he soon finds out that Tayuya isn’t finished yet when she activates the second level of her Cursed Seal.
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Maile Flanagan (Naruto Uzumaki) , Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
20. The Leaf’s Handsome Devil! | Download
First aired: 12/15/2007 Production Code: 319
Shikamaru and Tayuya struggle to take control of their match, while Kiba tries to heal himself and Akamaru while avoiding Sakon. Sasuke’s process is finally completed and he runs off, leaving Naruto alone with Kimimaro. While Naruto is distracted, Kimimaro tries to finish him off, but Naruto is saved by an unexpected source. Rock Lee has come to help out, and he agrees to keep Kimimaro preoccupied while Naruto goes after Sasuke. Having only just recovered, does Rock Lee stand a chance against Kimimaro?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Debi Mae West (Tsunade), Johnny Yong Bosch (Genma Shiranui), Patrick Seitz (Raido Namiashi), Skip Stellrecht (Gai Maito (Might Guy)), Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya), Tom Gibis (Shikamaru Nara), Kyle Hebert (Kiba Inuzuka) , Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
21. The Beast Within | Download
First aired: 12/22/2007 Production Code: 320
After accidentally drinking a bottle of Sake, Rock Lee becomes drunk and seems to be more than Kimimaro can handle. Gai reveals exactly what happened last time he was drunk to Tsunade and says it took both Neji and him to hold Lee down, and that Lee is a master of the “Drunken Fist”. Lee appears to be winning, but the tables soon turn when Kimimaro activates the first level of his Cursed Seal.
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Debi Mae West (Tsunade), Skip Stellrecht (Gai Maito (Might Guy)), Tom Gibis (Shikamaru Nara), Kari Wahlgren (Tayuya), Kyle Hebert (Kiba Inuzuka), Maile Flanagan (Naruto Uzumaki), Yuri Lowenthal (Sasuke Uchiha), Brian Beacock (Sakon / Ukon), Tara Platt (Temari), Liam O’Brien (V) (Gaara), Michael Lindsay (Kankuro) , Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
22. The Sand Shinobi: Allies of the Leaf | Download
First aired: 12/22/2007 Production Code: 321
Just when it appears to be the end for those still fighting the Sound ninja, the three Sand siblings arrive to save the day. Gaara saves Rock Lee, Kankuro saves Kiba, and Temari saves Shikamaru. Will the three Sand ninja be able to accomplish what Shikamaru, Kiba, and Rock Lee could not?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Maile Flanagan (Naruto Uzumaki) , Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro)
23. Showdown: Gaara vs. Kimimaro! | Download
First aired: 12/29/2007 Production Code: 322
As Naruto continues to chase after Sasuke, Gaara stops Lee from fighting Kimimaro anymore and takes Kimimaro on himself. Kimimaro underestimates Gaara and falls into Gaara’s trap. Gaara uses some of his best attacks but still fails to kill Kimimaro. Since he is still alive, Kimimaro sees he still has a reason to live. He then activates his Cursed Seal Level 2 and attacks Gaara again. Can Gaara defeat this persistent and powerful foe?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Kari Wahlgren (Young Kimimaro), Kyle Hebert (Kaguya Clan Leader), Steven Jay Blum (Kaguya Clan Member), Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro Kaguya)
24. Vengeful Strike! The Bracken Dance! | Download
First aired: 12/29/2007 Production Code: 323
Kimimaro seems to have the upper hand, but realizes that his time is growing short. Knowing he has to end it soon, he pulls out his spinal column and grabs hold of Gaara. Gaara protects himself and forms a giant Shukaku-like shield. Kimimaro uses the thickest bone in his body like a spear and attacks. The ultimate attack against the ultimate shield, who will win the battle?
Director: Hayato Date
Guest star: Steven Jay Blum (Orochimaru), Keith Silverstein (Kimimaro Kaguya)
25. A Cry on Deaf Ears | Download
First aired: 1/5/2008 Production Code: 324
Naruto has finally caught up with Sasuke, but Sasuke refuses to go back. No matter how much Naruto tries to persuade him, Sasuke refuses. Sasuke decides to leave, and Naruto realizes the only way to stop him is by force.
Director: Hayato Date