Caring for pets can be lots of fun.
But when it comes to the animals used by ninjas,
things aren't always simple.
This mission came out of nowhere.
Can you entertain these two until I get back?
Sure thing.
They're in good hands.
The Fifth needs me to do something.
Can you watch them for me?
Certainly, my friend.
I, Might Guy, will treat them better than any boarder you can think of!
I hate to spring this on you, but can you take Tonton for me?
And Katsuyu, just to be on the safe side.
It would be my honor!
I'll do my best!
Caring for Animals is Hard Work
I can't believe we have this many at once..
I hope we can handle it...
Relax.
I...
...can summon my ninja turtle, too!
Don't add another one!
Especially a turtle...
What's wrong with turtles?!
I've been watching out for you brats since you were genins!
Exactly.
For us ninjas, our animals are some of our most reliable allies!
But with me being a shinobi who can't use ninjutsu,
I'm not sure I have the skills to care for ninja hounds and summoned animals.
Don't be absurd!
Just ignite your youthful passion and you can form a bond with any animal!
Okay...
Gamakichi and Gamatatsu.
'Sup?
Katsuyu and Tonton.
Kakashi Sensei's eight ninja hounds...
Pakkun.
Hi.
Bull, Shiba..
Yo.
Biscuit.
Hey.
Guruko.
Here!
Uhashi.
'Sup.
Akino.
Hey.
Uhei.
Hey.
There's Kiba and Akamaru.
Akamaru, Dynamic Marking!
Watch where you're spraying!
Wh-What technique...
No way! It's perfect!
The dogs seem really impressed...
Is it really that great a move?
I-It looks so fun...
Guy Sensei, don't you dare attempt that one!
Hey, what're you guys up to?
By sheer coincidence,
everyone on our team's animal-sitting for someone.
We'll be best friends in no time!
Bonding though skinship!
This is but another part of youth!
Yes, Guy Sensei!
Yeah, right, he clearly hates it!
Look, Guy Sensei!
Akamaru's playing with me!
Great job, Lee!
You and Akamaru have clearly formed an unbreakable bond!
I seriously doubt it—
Lee!
Bad dog, Akamaru.
I must say,
you and Akamaru really do understand one another, huh, Kiba?
We've been together since we were both babies.
It's totally different from summoned animals.
For those who don't know,
summoned animals, like Kakashi Sensei's dogs, normally live somewhere far away,
and come to the aid of their summoner only when called upon.
Wait, that means...
We don't need anyone to take care of us!
I beg to differ!
We promised to care for you with our full power!
You're always stubborn about things like this, Guy...
Fine then.
Scatter!
They ran away!
If you want to watch us so badly, you'll have to catch us first.
But the great Pakkun will not be caught so easily!
Don't be such a smug pug!
Yay, we're playing tag, bro!
Run for it!
Stop, Akamaru!
Everyone ran away. Even Katsuyu.
Pop quiz, everyone.
What shocking action did the animals just take?
We already know the answer!
What're we gonna do?!
Obviously...
Give everything to catch 'em all,
and give them the best care on earth!
All this running is making me hungry.
I want a snack, bro.
What?
You'll have to wait, Gamatatsu.
Yummy!
Gamatatsu, that's not a snack! It's Tonton!
Sorry, I had a craving for pork.
For the love of...
There you are.
Give it up!
Tonton, Katsuyu, we found you!
Hold it!
Big bro...
Please, just don't hurt my brother, all right?
Don't bother trying to cover for him.
Just hear me out.
You know what it's like; you've got that cousin.
Hinata, I think?
You'd protect Hinata if she was in trouble, yeah?
Lady Hinata!
Yeah.
And if Hinata wanted to eat some flies,
you'd catch some for her, right?
All that running made me hungry.
Help yourself, Hinata! I caught a bunch!
That would never happen!
I'm not done.
Don't forget her big, scary dad, Hinabunta, remember?
I'm Hinata, yo!
Hinabunta?!
What are you even talking about?!
Plus Hinahiro and Hinaken...
Sorry, I'm very clumsy.
How many types of Hinatas do you think there are?!
All kinds, and they live on Mount Hinaboku, don't they?
Mount Hinaboku?!
I'm sure you can sympathize, so—
Not in the slightest!
Tonton?!
But why?
Gamatatsu was one slurp away from swallowing you whole...
...and you'd still protect him?
Oink.
Oink, oink.
Oink.
She's obviously saying something cool,
but I can't understand a word!
Whatever...
We gotcha.
Freeze!
Wait, stop!
Why do I feel like we're being chased, too?
All right, Guy, you asked for it.
Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!
How you like this, Guy?
You're stuck now, Guy.
The hunter has become the hunted.
Aw, you finally decided to play with me!
He's misinterpreting us...
Guy Sensei!
Look!
Kiba and Akamaru are playing with me!
Looks like you guys are having fun, too!
Really?
Are you guys really this dumb?
Guy Sensei, do you want to trade two of your dogs for my Fang Over Fang?
You don't mind?
What is this?
That tears it.
Akamaru, everyone!
It's time for our special attack!
A combo attack with all nine dogs?
Hyper Dynamic Marking!
Oh, please no!
Gross!
C'mon, Akamaru, combo transformation!
The two-headed wolf?!
When Kiba and Akamaru do a combined transformation,
this is how they end up.
Gotcha!
Wait, no!
What happened?!
He got mixed in!
Lee, Kiba, and Akamaru are doing a combo move!
This is actually pretty cool, huh?
Dude, we couldn't possibly look less cool.
Enough, let's run for it!
Wait for us!
You can't escape!
How's a turtle supposed to catch us?
My ninja turtle is faster than any rabbit, or dog for that matter!
What? Wait a sec—
Collabo Taijutsu, Turtle Power!
That turtle's fast!
Guy Sensei, that was too much!
Is everyone okay?
He...
He managed to get out in time to protect the dogs?
Thanks a million, guys.
We ended up having a lot of fun!
Looks like it's mission accomplished.
But we've got quite a ways to go.
Next time, I'll really ignite my youthful fires,
and truly learn to understand the animals.
Oh, Lee...
Lee and his pals swear to learn from their experience and do better next time.
And...
They got that chance sooner than they expected.
Here are our new charges!
Forget it!
It's starting to get chilly out.
Is everyone ready for winter?
Yeah, maybe we should do some joint training once in a while.
Let's go find Hinata.
Wait, isn't that her?
She seems kinda sad.
No, it's not anything big...
It's just, you know... winter's almost here.
What's wrong with winter?
There's lots of fun stuff coming up.
Christmas, New Year's...
The first temple visit, Valentine's Day...
Ah ha, all days best enjoyed by couples!
You'd like to spend them with Naruto, wouldn't you?
Is that it, Lady Hinata?!
I'd be happy if I could just get a little closer to him, that's all.
But I'll never get the chance...
Come on, winter hasn't even started yet.
We can make all the chances you need.
We'll all make sure you spend winter with a smile on your face!
That includes us!
You guys...
Neji...
Fine.
Howl at the Naruto!
Planning Meeting
We've tried going on the offensive before and it failed miserably.
So this time we'll do the opposite,
and make things feel as natural as possible.
What specifically are you thinking?
Something like...
N-Naruto...
3000 Leagues of Ramen
Thanks for letting me borrow it first.
What're these?
Just...
Since you wanted that book I thought you'd probably like these, too.
Well then, next time I'll give you some of my favorites.
Trading books back and forth will start to close the gap,
and when Christmas rolls around,
she ups the ante with a handmade scarf.
Isn't that a bit too dull?
Planning Meeting
No, it's got a nice flow to it.
Whatcha think, Hinata?
I think I can make that feel natural...
Then it's settled.
The game is afoot!
Standing by. What's the situation? Over.
I'm on 4th street.
Target is approaching your location. Over.
Excellent.
Get in position, Hinata.
Right!
I wonder if this'll work...
Target is closing in fast... Ah!
What's wrong?
He's passing the library and headed for the shopping mall.
Probably headed to Ichiraku.
Yeah...
How frustrating! We were so close!
Admit it. You were way off.
I mean, Naruto's probably never set foot inside a library.
Good point.
Planning Meeting
My idea was a complete failure.
I guess it just won't happen...
No, that's not true!
We just need to bring Naruto here in a casual, natural way.
Howl at the Sunset!
Shino Aburame
Neji Hyuga
Tenten
Kiba
Akamaru
Rock Lee
Naruto Uzumaki
Makes sense. We just happen to run across him out on the town—
Wait, that's your idea of casual?!
A police detective would be able to close in on Naruto,
and bring him in the most natural way.
You're missing the point again...
Howl at the Sunset!
Our plan won't work any other way.
Understand, Meatball-Head?
Meatball-Head... You mean me?!
A detective always gives his underlings nicknames.
Cool, what's mine?
You're Mittens and he's Boots.
Sweet, dog names!
Those are cat names.
We don't discriminate in our home.
Fine, just drop it!
This is so dumb.
And Neji is Big Sis.
What do you mean "Sis?!"
No insubordination or you're fired.
Let's roll!
Wait.
You're forgetting something critical.
Um... I am?
My nickname.
Your nickname is critical?
Absolutely!
If I don't have a nickname,
it will hinder our ability to complete the mission.
Got it, you're Forg O'ten.
Forg... O'ten...
Forgotten?
How did this happen...
Forg!
Please, no!
My poor subordinate! I let him get killed in action...
He wasn't KIA. You pulled the trigger yourself.
I won't let his sacrifice be in vain!
Let's roll!
U-Um, what should I do?
Just wait inside.
We'll bring the suspect to you.
Man, I am stuffed!
Guess I'll see what Sakura's up to.
You're not getting past me.
What's your problem?
You're a suspect in the legendary Amano River murders,
where you used the old "Perfectly timed...
...gluttonous maid finds the melon bread dripping with blood" trick!
You're coming with me!
I have no idea what that could possibly mean.
This'll be a lot easier if you come quietly!
You're not making sense!
The perp's running!
Don't worry.
Those two are expert trackers. They won't lose him.
Exactly.
No one escapes our noses—
That's...
You're sure these are good?
Just have a bite.
I know they smell awful, but they taste great.
Why are you grilling salted horse mackerel out here?!
Huh?
What's wrong, guys?
Mittens, Boots! Respond!
Howl at the Sunset!
Their senses of smell were their downfall.
What happened?
We lost Mittens and Boots.
But we'll get him next time, I guarantee it.
Okay...
Looks like I lost them.
What on earth was that!
Oh, nice!
Sakura! Where you headed—
Eight Trigrams Air Palm!
I don't care if it's a trap for the suspect,
this outfit is too much.
Is Naruto okay?
I may have overdone it a bit...
Who're you talking to?
And what is wrong with you people today?!
None of your business.
I've got him!
Yeah!
So what, is my crime mistaking...
...the cross-dressing pervert Neji for the real Sakura?
Cross-dressing pervert...
He's a cross-dresser?
Pervert
Ew...
And a pervert?
Keep him away.
No! I would never—
What the heck?!
Farewell, Detective Big Sis
I don't wanna die...
Howl at the Sunset!
Not Big Sis...
We're out of options. We'll have to take him by force.
You can't!
It won't feel natural at all!
Hinata!
This isn't going down at the library.
It's going down at the scene of the crime!
Why did you switch to Detective Lee Aojima?
You're supposed to be Chief Leejiro!
What should I do?
Freeze!
I said freeze, Naruto!
Whatever it is, I didn't do it!
This oughtta shake her.
What?!
End of the line.
Now you're Daimon?
Stop changing characters!
That's it. I'm taking you out!
Not a chance.
Eight Trigrams Defense!
Thank goodness I got here in time.
Hinata, run!
Are you all right, Hinata?!
Naruto, I'm sorry I got in the way...
Don't talk, we need to get you to a hospital!
B-But... I...
Thanks for saving me.
How did that...
Hey, all's well that ends well, right?
And so, Hinata managed to get a little closer to Naruto, but...
It'll be about a month before you're fully healed.
A whole month?
Don't worry.
Rest up and we'll have you out of here just before New Year's!
Unfortunately, she'll have to spend Christmas in a hospital bed.
Next week is "Tenten vs. Temari!"
Tenten vs. Temari! Orochimaru's Search for Love!
and "Orochimaru's Search for Love!"
Is that so?
You're not curious?
Look, even Orochimaru wants to get married!
You and the other senseis should think about settling down, too!
I-I'm more interested in reading the final book in the Make-Out Tactics series.
Y-Yeah, I'm too busy with my training,
I've got no time to date.
I hear those are common excuses for men who are too old to find a wife.