Naruto Vol. 14

While Naruto, Sakura, and Pakkun continue pursuing Sasuke and the Sand Siblings, Shikamaru remains behind to delay nine Hidden Sound ninja. He catches eight of them with the Shadow Possession Jutsu but lacks enough chakra to restrain the final pursuer. Before Shikamaru can be killed, his instructor Asuma Sarutobi arrives and swiftly eliminates the attackers.

Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the Third Hokage battles Orochimaru and the resurrected Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. The former Hokage combine powerful Wood and Water Style techniques, forcing their successor to summon the Monkey King Enma. Recognizing that conventional attacks cannot defeat immortal bodies created through the Impure World Reincarnation, the Third uses the Reaper Death Seal to remove and imprison their souls.

Elsewhere, Sasuke catches the Sand Siblings, but Kankurō remains behind to stop him. Shino Aburame takes Sasuke’s place and defeats Kankurō by using his insects to consume the puppet user’s chakra, though he is poisoned during the battle. Sasuke reaches Gaara, whose unstable transformation resumes as their confrontation begins. Back in Konoha, the Third attempts to seal Orochimaru as well, but the rogue ninja impales him with the Sword of Kusanagi.