Naruto Vol. 29

Sakura successfully removes much of Sasori’s poison from Kankurō and develops an antidote capable of temporarily neutralizing its effects. Impressed by Sakura’s medical skill, Chiyo agrees to accompany Team Kakashi in its pursuit of Gaara. Meanwhile, Team Guy approaches from another direction after being sent by Tsunade to reinforce the rescue mission.

Inside an Akatsuki hideout, the organization’s members begin extracting Shukaku from Gaara through a prolonged sealing ritual. To delay the approaching Leaf ninja, Akatsuki sacrifices two controlled Sand shinobi and uses their bodies as substitutes capable of wielding portions of Itachi and Kisame’s power.

Team Guy battles Kisame’s duplicate, whose immense water techniques place the group at a disadvantage. Guy ultimately opens the Sixth Gate and defeats the imitation with a powerful taijutsu attack. Team Kakashi confronts Itachi’s duplicate, which traps Naruto in a genjutsu by exploiting his guilt and anxiety over Sasuke Uchiha. Sakura and Chiyo help break the illusion, allowing Naruto and Kakashi to coordinate a successful counterattack.

After both duplicates are defeated, the rescuers discover that their opponents were transformed human sacrifices rather than the genuine Akatsuki members. The two teams finally converge outside the sealed hideout, but the extraction of Shukaku from Gaara has already reached completion.