In a stunning development,
this week's episode features that organization!
For this mission we must exercise extreme caution...
...because we've been assigned to locate Akatsuki's hideout.
What's Akatsuki?
I've heard that name being tossed around a lot lately.
Every member is a powerful S-ranked criminal.
If left to their own devices, they could pose a huge threat to the Leaf.
And they're set up around here?
Understood.
I'll hunt down this evil organization and beat them up－
You fool!
Lee got beat up first!
Each individual member is unnaturally powerful!
Trying to take them on is out of the question.
We are to observe and report. Nothing more.
Yes, sir!
Now, move out!
Infiltrate Akatsuki's Hideout!
Apparently they move around a lot,
so no matter how reliable the intel was, I doubt we'll find much.
No, I guarantee we'll find them if we look hard enough.
Byakugan!
You're just making a scary face.
I found it.
Huh?!
Over there!
No way!
There's no way they'd use a cave. That's so cliché.
Hey, what's this?
A cloak?
It looks familiar...
Uh oh, Tenten.
There's a closet back here.
Look at all the spares!
Hey, you don't think...
There's no doubt in my mind.
These people...
Isn't that cloak the cutest?
Sure is. I definitely want one!
Let's all get one!
Yeah!
...are really close friends!
That's not what I meant!
Anyways, I've got a bad feeling about this.
Let's get outta here, okay?
And I'm saying you're wrong!
Oh, jeez. The second I said it, someone came!
Calm down, Tenten.
But we've gotta hide...
Okay.
Let me handle it.
I'm not kidding, Sasori, my man, you have no idea what true art is.
You call those little explosions of yours art, Deidara?
Absolutely.
This is ridiculous!
Forget hiding! We're standing directly in their path!
Hey, you're－
You!
He's... that guy from before.
What's he doing here?
That's the kid who foiled my attempts to sneak into the Leaf Village...
What's he doing here?
What a surprise!
To think we'd meet again way out here, of all places!
Who's he?
C'mere.
My failure at the hands of this kid and his pals is a black eye on my record.
Bribe
I bribed Tobi so he'd keep quiet,
but who knows what everyone would say if they found out?
Just being around him is throwing me completely off my game.
I'll throw him out and everything will be fine. Hmm.
What is it, Mr. Artist?
That's right. He thinks I'm a performer or something.
Okay then...
To be honest,
this is the main office of the Ninja Performance Club I work at.
It's like the Laugh ***.
That's a completely different universe!
Wait, does that mean he's a comedian?
Become a Comedian
We sacrifice our lives for our art!
And so with an iron-clad resolve,
we spend our days secretly honing our crafts.
If the others find out a regular person snuck in...
Then...
Worst case, they'll treat you as a spy who's come to steal our secrets,
and force you to become one of our roadies.
Possibly for the rest of your life.
No, anything but that!
He's making all this up, so he's obviously hiding something...
Wait, who cares?
We want to leave anyway.
So get outta－
Ah, so you're the new guy Zetsu's been scouting.
Wait, what?
You must be. You're wearing our cloak.
That doesn't prove anything.
What does the word "art" mean to you, newbie?
Give it up, my man.
Art is transient beauty that lasts for a mere moment before vanishing.
In other words, art is an explosion.
Wrong.
Art is something that endures through the ages and stands the test of time.
Eternal beauty is true art.
Am I wrong?
His head did a 360!
You are.
Art is silky hair and spectacular eyebrows,
stuffed into full-body tights.
Wrong.
Wrong!
These guys are definitely bad news.
This is no time to be playing along...
Art is all a waste of time.
There's no money in it.
Right, Hidan?
What're you asking me for, Kakuzu?
There's two more of them!
They had to show up now...
Who's he?
He's, er...
He's the new guy.
My man!
I'm Akatsuki's treasurer.
Money's the only thing you can count on in this world.
I don't think I've ever seen your face in the Bingo Book.
But if you've got a large bounty on your head,
you'd better not turn your back on me!
Oh man, this guy...
...has ridiculously long armpit hair!
It's not armpit hair!
Does it really matter?!
You've got bigger problems.
You're a riot, newbie.
Hey, why don't you follow Jashinism like me?
Faith in God is more important than worldly possessions.
You're all freaks.
He's the biggest freak of us all.
And his wretched prayer ceremonies take forever!
Kakuzu, you stitched-up blasphemer!
That's how you pray?
That's no prayer. He's stabbing his own shoulder!
When you break through the pain, it turns into ecstasy...
Oh God... so good...
This is freaking me out!
I'll have to try it for myself.
Here.
Oh God... so good...
You just wanted to make the face!
Don't forget what's at stake.
You need to leave before the wrong person comes.
What a ruckus.
It seems we're late for something, Kisame.
It's unhealthy to be in a rush, Itachi.
The second I said it they had to come!
Another pair's here.
Hey, Lee, I've seen him in the Bingo Book.
Itachi Uchiha.
That's Sasuke's big brother. The one who abandoned the village.
He and his partner fought Guy Sensei.
They're Akatsuki members!
Why would he be at a performing arts school?
It's all a lie, you nincompoop!
I knew something was off. This is Akatsuki's hideout!
What?!
A Desperate Escape Plan!
So we're surrounded by Akatsuki members...
Including you, Mr. Artist?!
Settle down!
Are you nuts?!
Don't be so obvious, or he'll－
Hey!
What are you two whispering about?
Are you the new member?
We're doomed!
You look just like Guy Sensei!
I've got an idea.
What?
You're just making a face!
You remind me of a bizarre beast I once fought...
I knew it. He's not fooled!
Something's fishy about him.
That moron!
But I can't cover for him too recklessly.
Very well. I will judge how capable you are.
I've been caught in a Sharingan genjutsu.
If you wish to join our organization,
you should be able to resist a genjutsu of this level.
Those crows are so loud!
He's trapped in an illusion.
Gotta inject him with chakra and dispel it!
Thanks, Tenten. The illusion's been broken.
Impressive, I see you broke my hold over you.
Forget me. What about all that crow poop?!
Looks like he survived.
Good.
Okay newbie－
I see everyone's here.
Leader!
Leader?!
The top dog is here?!
Where's Zetsu, Konan?
He said he'd be late, Pain.
Who's he?
The new guy, apparently.
A new member?
Konan's too smart. She's not fooled.
Welcome.
Sh-she's so hard to read.
It's not like I consider you a real member or anything.
Did I really hear that?
All that for some flowers?
That was exciting, in more ways than one.
Hey.
Now what?!
I am Pain. I am God.
Oh...
I don't think you can call yourself God after a pratfall like that...
Did you see that, Kakuzu?
Total face-plant!
Almighty Push!
Know pain.
Their leader's a real jerk.
By the way, Leader,
may I ask why you called this meeting?
We're going to being moving in earnest.
But before that, we need to make some preparations.
The preparations for my ceremony are already complete.
Almighty Push!
But first!
New member.
I wish to see your abilities for myself.
He switched topics again!
Yes, we need a good understanding of how to use him in battle.
His opponent will be...
Only one way out...
I'll fight him!
Very well.
First we couldn't sneak out,
and now we're in a one-on-one fight!
We’re dead. This can't possibly get any worse!
Psst... Hey!
Get ready to make your escape.
I'll make a smokescreen with my bombs.
As soon as they blow, you run for it!
Mr. Artist.
Let's do this!
Not so fast, you two!
Who's this weirdo?
What's with that getup?
Let me explain.
They're late.
If they missed the rendezvous, they must have...
...been so motivated they explored further than we agreed on!
No, it's been too long.
Byakugan!
That's－
What the heck?
They're all the same cloak!
Oh, no.
Those guys surrounding Lee...
...are all Akatsuki members!
We've gotta call for backup.
There's no time.
If we don't hurry, they'll get hurt, or worse!
What's he hiding in that cloak?
Tenten?
But it's just the two of us. How can we...
Leave it all to me!
Why am I hiding under the cloak, again?
As I'm sure you're aware, the enemy knows my face.
The more I can change my appearance,
the better chance we have of tricking them.
So I'm just a disguise?!
Let's go!
I feel like I've seen him before...
They're on to us!
That cloak... So you're a new member, too?
Indeed.
Let me show you what I'm capable of!
I knew you'd come, Guy Sensei.
Yeah, but we don't stand a chance against all of them.
We've gotta find a way to escape.
What's the plan?
Force our way through with guts!
So there is no plan!
They already know about my super moves...
Okay then!
Different Peacock!
Different Chicken!
They're the exact same moves!
There's something fishy about him, too.
Looks like that's his comrade.
Now's my chance!
Now you've done it!
Sorry, my man, it was an accident. Hmm.
No, this is good.
We'll settle once and for all whose art is superior!
My chakra threads got snagged?
What's your problem?
That hurt. What is wrong with you?
Are you insane?
Let me return the favor.
Tentacle Punch!
Y-You—
I-I know pain...
Hey, stop this!
They're distracted.
This is gonna be bad.
Have it your way. Let's rock!
You're on.
Dear me...
I have to stop them.
Everything's ready.
Know Pain.
That's a lot of chakra!
C-3!
Iron Sand Unleash!
Earth Grudge Fear, Synchronized Arson!
Amaterasu.
Water Style, Shark Bomb!
Dance of the Paper Gods.
Almighty Push!
So good...
What's he doing over there?
This is no time for jokes! Run!
Ugh...
Nothing good ever comes out of an encounter with him...
But at least now they'll never know.
Wow, what happened here?
This is where the hideout was, right?
What on earth...
This happened because of that new guy you sent to us!
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You photosynthetic peabrain!
It was some thick-browed juice bag with a bowl cut!
Thick-browed bowl cut...
Oh, I bet it was the guy Deidara ran into...
...when he tried to infiltrate the Leaf Village!
What did you say?
Oh, I'm not at liberty to say.
Deidara paid me to keep quiet.
Tobi, you blabbermouth!
I wasn't sure what was going to happen there...
Still, we managed to escape in the confusion.
But with their hideout destroyed,
they'll be on the move again as soon as the remaining members return.
I'm sorry. If I'd just kept my mind on the mission...
Don't worry about it.
We tangled with Akatsuki and came out alive.
That's a huge success if you ask me.
Guy Sensei...
Lee!
Somehow, some way, Lee and his pals...
...survived their encounter with Akatsuki.
Is this merely the prologue to a new battle?!
I can't believe that actor was in Akatsuki.
Well, I won't lose next time.
No matter how peculiar the people in Akatsuki are,
I'll fight them off by being even more unique!
I think you're fine...
Next week is, "Christmas is the Last Chance for Love!"
Christmas is the Last Chance for Love! Cleanup is a Chance to Wash Away the Past!
and "Cleanup is a Chance to Wash Away the Past!"
Cleaning, huh?
Are you going to make us clean the toilet again?
No—
Yeah, Deidara's the one who embarrassed us, he should have to do it.
Let's go tell him the good news, Kakuzu!
Wait!
There's no more toilet to clean.
We need to build a new hideout first.