The first part of the episode shows Yamato's theory that Danzo is attempting to create a crisis at Konoha to take Tsunade out the Hokage's position. Sakura agrees and they try to explain Naruto how all this could be possible considering Danzo dislikes Hiruzen's soft ninja ideology, that Tsunade follows. But Yamato also tells that Danzo knows Orochimaru is weaker, so that made the contact more likely. Anyway, they decide to follow the enemy and Sai, who must be captured or finished (?). Just when Naruto intends to follow, he collapses given his exhaustion after the transformation. Once again Sakura rushes to aid him, and holds him close. She realizes he's not in condition to go on, and Yamato, surprisingly, says they might abandon him and let him return to Konoha. She's stunned and protests, Kakashi would never do something like that. The last thing she'd do is abandon her partner. Naruto takes her hand and tells her not to worry, that he'll be fine, that he can follow them. He's still tired, injured, but wants to try. Yamato says that he knows well Kakashi but they're different, and that they're not kids anymore, they're shinobi who may surpass him one day. He also tells that they won't have another chance to follow Orochimaru, and so the memory of Sasuke reaches Sakura, and surely Naruto. He struggles but manages to get on his feet, and promises to keep going, he can't return yet. She's still worried about him, she notices how hard he tries, but he reassures he'll be fine. This was another nice moment, even though the captain surprises with harsh words. For Sakura, Naruto's safety is the priority, seems that she was willing to stop the chase if he couldn't follow. Here was evident how much Sakura cares about Naruto. This cherish has been growing in Shippuden since the pilot. And the gesture where Naruto takes her hand and she holds him, tells how close they are. On this anime, where love is a secondary subject, it's important to notice the details, because the relationship between the protagonist and the female lead evolves to develop moments like these. Plus, Naruto is in love with Sakura since the first day, so the way she sees him now, as a close partner, changes the development of the anime for the best. This is the good natural evolution of Sakura as a character. Then, as the team continues the chase through the forest, Naruto jumps from tree to tree and he nearly faints as his eyes get blurred. Sakura, who remains worried and doesn't lose sight of him, calls him so he recovers and manages to continue. But then, when she reaches a branch with her left arm, she falls because of the pain caused by the injury. As she falls, Naruto rushes and tries to reach her, and though they perfectly synchronize to grab each other's hand, they don't make it for a short distance, so Yamato, who realized what happened, rescues her just before she reaches the ground. He places her next to a tree, and he sees that the injury of her left arm caused by the little Kyuubi hasn't healed yet. He thinks the Kyuubi's chakra is poisoning her body, and is amazed by Naruto's immunity. When Naruto asks her how she is, what happened to her arm, she lies saying that it was Orochimaru. Now Yamato decides to retract himself, and chooses to take a break because Sakura is the medic ninja, so if she's not ok, the mission will turn out wrong. She recalls his past words, but he says that they must do things well and not hurry. Naruto agrees, and while still close to her, he tells she's very important for the team, which makes her blush. This could be because Sakura is not used to be treated as a crucial team member. Previously, she mostly felt useless, always behind of her teammates, who were stronger than her. But recently, Chiyo recognized her talent, and cared about her future, that's one of the reasons for her crying when the granny died. Now, Yamato prioritized her safety over the mission. And Naruto knows very well who she is, her skills, talent, in what she's good at. He saw her saving Kankuro, and admired her progress during Kakashi's training. He always cared about her, and now he recognizes how important she is, her growing. This is what flatters Sakura, and the blushing is the natural response to receive the caring and cherish she showed for him recently. It's curious how in the same episode, they exchanged places. They were there for each other when needed. Anyway, he again ruins the moment by trying to make a compliment about her super strength, which upsets her because he wrongly uses the word monstrous. He says he means well, but she angrily tells him not to use that word. Yamato interrupts and calls him, to discuss a plan, as Sai left, now they'll be a team. But once they are a little away from her, while she heals her arm (she eases the pain), Yamato reveals the truth to Naruto, he was the one who hurt Sakura. Naruto is shocked to hear this, and the episode ends.
The rest of it, shows how Sai and the villains go to the lair, but they realize they're being followed. Orochimaru orders Kabuto to deal with it using a body, they "fool" the viewer for a while, by using Sai as a distraction. Yamato's clone finds him hanged, but then he realizes it was a copy made by Kabuto. The clone informs the real about the scheme, which tells he wasn't good enough to avoid being noticed. Though the body explodes given a peper bomb, the clone escapes just in time. Then, Orochimaru, Kabuto and Sai are showed next to a river, they think the scheme worked. It was a good distraction, the writer wants to make the viewer think that for Orochimaru, Sai is not important. This is the second time Sai seemingly dies. I guess it's a response to the character being unlikable.
The rest of it, shows how Sai and the villains go to the lair, but they realize they're being followed. Orochimaru orders Kabuto to deal with it using a body, they "fool" the viewer for a while, by using Sai as a distraction. Yamato's clone finds him hanged, but then he realizes it was a copy made by Kabuto. The clone informs the real about the scheme, which tells he wasn't good enough to avoid being noticed. Though the body explodes given a peper bomb, the clone escapes just in time. Then, Orochimaru, Kabuto and Sai are showed next to a river, they think the scheme worked. It was a good distraction, the writer wants to make the viewer think that for Orochimaru, Sai is not important. This is the second time Sai seemingly dies. I guess it's a response to the character being unlikable.
