The broken promise

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The broken promise
Premiere date:	18 May 2005
Episode Length:	24.5 minutes
Episode Code:	135
Episode Airdate:	18 May 2005
Manga Arc:	Sasuke Retrieval

The broken promise (Japanese: 守れなかった約束, - Mamorenakatta yakusoku) is episode 135 of the anime series Naruto. The episode's storyline is from the Sasuke Retrieval manga arc, the final episode of the first part of the story, and the last before the start of the "filler" episodes, lasting from episode 136 to 220.

[edit] Plot

Kakashi carries Naruto back to Konoha. Along the way, he is met by a squad of medical ninjas. Kakashi tells the medics that Naruto is all right, but Sasuke has escaped. The medics inform Kakashi of the team's status. Shikamaru is only slightly injured, while Kiba has a deep wound that is not life-threatening. However, Choji and Neji are in critical condition. Naruto wakes up for a minute and sees a vision of Team Shikamaru in front of him.

At Konoha hospital, Tsunade prepares an antidote for Choji, while Shizune and a team of medical ninjas work furiously to heal Neji. In Kiba's room, his sister Hana examines Akamaru and discovers that Akamaru won't be able to walk for a few weeks, as his leg muscles are torn. She assures Kiba that they will both heal, as long as they rest properly.

Oustide Choji's room in the ICU, Temari and Shikamaru wait for news on the team's status. She criticizes him and he walks away from her, trying to avoid a "troublesome" argument. He says that he has failed, and that he is not cut out to be a ninja.

His father, Shikaku, who is behind a wall, calls him a coward for letting a girl diss him and just walking away. He says that even if Shikamaru quits being a ninja, missions will continue to be assigned and carried out. His friends will merely be assigned to a new leader, and possibly die on those missions. However, if Shikamaru is the leader, perhaps they will live. Shikaku encourages his son to learn from this experience and become a better ninja, for the sake of his friends, before deciding to run away.

Tsunade emerges from the ICU, bringing the welcome news that Choji is responding to the antidote, and will recover. Then Shizune enters in a rush, telling everyone that Neji's treatment was successful, and informs them that Kakashi has returned with Naruto, who is in serious but not life-threatening condition. The others absorb the news, knowing that if only the two of them have returned, then Sasuke is not with them. Tsunade tells Shikamaru that his mission has apparently failed, but everyone has survived, and that is most important. This finally breaks down Shikamaru's reserve, and through his tears of relief he vows to carry out his next mission perfectly.

Meanwhile, at Orochimaru's lair, Sasuke is impatient to begin his training and gain the power he was promised. When Kabuto cautions him to be more respectful to Orochimaru, that although his appearance is different, that he could die if he was less respectful, Sasuke just gives him a warning look. Kabuto is intimidated, and feels an unusually strong chakra flow from Sasuke. Orochimaru is pleased, knowing that he has chosen the right vessel for his future home.

Ino and Sakura arrive at the hospital to visit their friends. Naruto is heavily bandaged, resting in bed and holding Sasuke's headband, which has a long scratch through the Leaf symbol, which now makes it resemble Itachi's headband. He is thinking about the mission when Shikamaru comes to visit him. Naruto is relieved that everyone is all right, but is very depressed when he admits that Sasuke got away. Sakura arrives at his door just in time to hear this admission, and it comes as a terrible shock.

Ino and Choza (Choji's father) are waiting outside Choji's room in the ICU. Ino is greatly relieved that Choji will be all right. Choza says that if Tsunade had not returned, Choji would probably be dead now. They both reflect on their gratitude to the Fifth Hokage.

Tsunade is on her way to visit Naruto when she finds Sakura standing in the hallway outside his door. When they enter, Naruto barely acknowledges Tsunade; instead he apologizes to Sakura for not fulfilling his promise. Sakura tries to put on a cheerful face, but everyone can tell the depth of her disappointment. Naruto tells her that he intends to keep his word, and she thanks him sincerely.

Later, when he is resting alone, all Naruto can think about is getting well enough to leave the hospital and go after Sasuke again. He is surprised when Jiraiya suddenly appears, riding on a giant toad. Jiraiya has both good news and bad news. First, he says that he will take Naruto on as a student, and train him one-on-one for the next three years. Second, he tells Naruto that Akatsuki will be after him in about three years [this could go either way, but Naruto always loves a challenge]. His last piece of good news is that Sasuke will be all right, since Orochimaru has already transferred into a new body and can't do it again for about three years. Naruto is greatly relieved.

Then Jiraiya delivers the bad news: Naruto must forget about Sasuke. Naruto is deeply upset by this, but Jiraiya is adamant. He remembers what he went through with Orochimaru, his former friend and teammate. Jiriaya doesn't want Naruto to suffer like he did. If Naruto insists on going after Sasuke by himself, Jiraiya will not train him. Instead, he will assign ANBU to watch Naruto whenever he leaves Konoha, and in some cases, permission to leave the village will be denied.

Jiraiya reiterates his warning about Akatsuki, who want to possess the Nine-Tailed Fox which is currently sealed within Naruto. Jiraiya says that Naruto must give up on Sasuke, forget about their bond as teammates, that it was destined to turn out like this sooner or later. He says that being a ninja requires more than strength and techniques, but also wisdom. If Naruto ignores Jiraiya's advice, he is a fool and will live a harsh life.

Naruto retorts that if that is the case, he'll be happier living as a fool, and that he'd train hard and think of even greater techniques during the three years to defeat Orochimaru and Akatsuki along with saving Sasuke. Jiraiya then slowly breaks into a smile before saying, "A fool is a fool, but maybe a strong enough fool can do something. When you leave the hospital, get ready, you big fool." Naruto salutes him.

At an undisclosed location, the members of Akatsuki are meeting for the first time since Orochimaru left them, seven years ago. Their faces are shadowed, but Itachi Uchiha is recognizable from his glowing sharingan eyes. They discuss their goals, which are to kill Orochimaru before his current body expires three years from now, and obtain all of the legendary tailed beasts - including the Nine-Tailed Fox.

[edit] Trivia

• In the anime, when Naruto tells Sakura that he will keep his promise and bring Sasuke back, Sakura thanks him. In the manga she says "next time we'll do it together".

• In the same chapter in the manga Sakura asks Tsunade if she can be her apprentice, this is not seen till later in the anime.

• At this point all members of Team 7 are training under a Sannin. Uzumaki Naruto is training under Jiraiya, Uchiha Sasuke is training under Orochimaru, and Haruno Sakura is training under Tsunade.

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