The harsh winter's left everything frozen.
But no one feels it worse than...
Come on, Lady Tsunade, snap out of it!
Is something wrong?
Just look.
What's the matter, Lady Tsunade?!
It's so cold...
Well, a cold front's coming through.
I've been cooped up in here,
thinking about how cold my wallet will feel until pay day,
and how I've wasted my life amassing debt upon debt,
and it's left my heart cold and depressed.
I don't even wanna move until it warms up.
How can you say that?
As our Hokage, your disposition directly affects the village's morale!
Your wallet's a lost cause, but we can warm your heart!
Easy for you to say...
I know...
A Fiery Snow Sculpting Contest!
Leaf Village Education Commission
Leaf Snow Sculpting Contest
And that's why we're suddenly holding a snow sculpting contest!
Make a splendid sculpture that will warm Lady Tsunade's heart!
It's too cold for all this hopped-up hype.
Just get on with it!
Hurry hurry
Lady Tsunade's eyes show that...
...she's not expecting anything good. What a cold gaze!
It's so cold, it physically froze us!
How can they expect us to warm her heart like this?
Wait a sec. This isn't a mission!
Looks like you all aren't motivated enough.
Then I'll have to come up with a prize that'll...
...light fires under all your rear-ends!
Meh, it's just gonna be some lame coupon or a day off.
No, no, no, it's much more romantic than that.
A kiss.
Kiss... kiss...
Huh?
The winner of this contest will earn...
...the right to kiss whomever they have a crush on!
It just might be the beginning of an extra special Valentine's Day for someone!
That's ridiculous!
No one's—
Even if it costs me my life, I'll win this contest and kiss Sakura!
Nuh-uh, the only one kissing Sakura is me!
It actually lit a fire under them!
If I don't win, I'll be sullied forever!
N-Naruto... K-Kiss—
Absolutely not, Lady Hinata!
Who wants to go all the way to the top?!
Me!
No!
Who wants a kiss?!
Me!
No!
Start!
The contest's starting!
I probably belong over here.
It sure is cold, though!
With their minds a torrent of emotion,
the contestants begin working!
What are Lee and Naruto doing?
They're practicing kissing.
Gross!
Let your youthful passions guide you!
Not in a million years.
I'll stop them in their tracks!
Done!
I call it "Fighting Spirit!"
It represents the burning hot rage I'm feeling right now!
Sakura's piece sends shivers up my spine.
You can almost taste how badly she wants to throw...
...one of her trademark monster punches!
What's your take, Lady Tsunade?
That's just what she wants to happen.
Your rage simply washed right over her.
This piece didn't resonate with Lady Tsunade.
You fail!
I'm done!
Nothing's hotter than summer!
Here's a summer scene,
with the sun bearing down and the sweat pouring out!
Another straightforward sentiment.
Lady Tsunade?
He's just begging for attention.
Making the scene out of snow just amplified the cold!
You fail, too!
How regrettable...
Ah, it looks like Hinata's finishing up!
What could this be?
Think about it...
If you don't truly understand the other person,
you can never hope to warm up their heart!
Hinata...
Good point.
Of course, we all know who this'll be a sculpture of.
I'm always watching you.
I want to get closer to you.
Closer... Closer!
I want to get to know you better!
Who is that?!
How did it end up not being Naruto?!
Oh, I couldn't...
This old man is like my key...
...to remembering how Naruto looked on that day.
Incomprehensible!
A sound theory, but your shyness botched the execution.
Yes, you fail!
My memory...
That's enough! This foolishness isn't going to warm me up—
Please, wait a moment!
You haven't seen our sculptures yet!
There's no point in continuing any longer.
Lady Tsunade...
Sweet, that's a win for me!
No!
You're giving up?
But there's nothing else we can do...
Poor Lady Tsunade...
She's reaping what she sowed.
A shinobi must learn from his mistakes.
Is there nothing you can glean from all these failures?
Learn from...
...our mistakes?
That's just what she wants to happen.
He's just begging for attention.
If you don't truly understand the other person,
you can never hope to warm up their heart!
Good point.
Bingo!
Naruto?
I'll have Granny Tsunade warmed up in no time!
What's with this outfit?
Narubei, what's the matter?
My brother, he suddenly collapsed!
This is bad...
He's so pale!
Actually, Sai always looks like that.
Please, save him!
We're just a small clinic. I can't—
Please don't say that, doc.
You're the only one I can turn to!
He's the only family I have.
I'm begging you, please help him!
Fine.
I'll do everything I can.
Good idea!
What's happening?
The powerful urge to heal a patient in need!
Naruto's long relationship with her is paying off.
He knows how to push Lady Tsunade's medical ninja buttons!
I thought he was supposed to make a snow sculpture.
So that's how it is, eh?
I won't go down that easy!
Narubei, is Saijirou all right?
And you are?
An acquaintance of theirs.
I've got some medical training myself.
Let me assist you.
Oh no, how awful!
What is it?
Saijirou needs surgery or he won't last the night!
But it's in a very delicate area.
Oh no!
If we succeed, he'll make a full recovery.
But the odds are 50/50. It's a big gamble.
Gamble?!
Even or odd, over or under!
But I hear you're quite a terrible gambler.
That's not true!
Not when lives are on the line!
So that's his angle.
I'm going to regret asking, but what's he doing?
Even or odd, over or under!
Those simple words have ignited the gambler in her heart!
Smart move, Lee.
Lady Tsunade can't resist a bet, and he just called her out!
Again, this has nothing to do with snow sculptures!
You got me.
That totally drew me in!
So, feeling a bit warmer?
Yup!
A little cold weather's no excuse to mope around like I did.
If I'd lived such a worthless life,
I wouldn't have so many wonderful people worrying about me.
That's right, Lady Tsunade!
It's good to see you back to normal!
Hold the phone! Who won the contest?!
Me or Bushy-brows?
Oh forget that! I feel fine now!
No! Their manly desires must be fulfilled!
Both of you, make a last minute appeal!
I won, right, Granny?
I did more, right, Lady Tsunade?
Me!
Stop this at once—
That's...
...enough!
Winner
The Punishment for Goofing Around
In the end, Lady Tsunade got her energy back just fine.
Lady Tsunade!
What?
I got paid and I feel fantastic.
You really shouldn't.
You can't hit a home run if you don't step up to the plate!
I'm gonna win everything back!
But thanks to Lee, her wallet and her heart...
...may both end up out in the cold very soon...
Well, we tried, but this is a pretty random gathering.
Kakashi Sensei's call for "joint training between all available shinobi"
came out of nowhere.
We may not be on a mission...
We came here because Kakashi Sensei asked.
It's not a bad thing, every once in a while.
On the surface, everything seems normal with Lee and his pals.
But inside, they're anything but calm.
Because today...
...is Valentine's Day!
The Battlefield Called Valentine's Day!
They say Valentine's Day is a special day where...
...boys get chocolate from the girls who like them.
But I haven't gotten so much as one chip!
Come to think of it, last year, the year before, and even further back,
I've been out on difficult missions with Guy Sensei,
or training hard with Guy Sensei,
or out eating curry with Guy Sensei.
Forget chocolate, I've never even seen a girl on Valentine's Day!
Yeah, same here!
Last year, and the years before,
I was off training with the Pervy Sage!
Dragging his drunk butt home from girly joints every year,
I never had any fun myself!
But this year's different.
Everyone's hoping to get some chocolate.
I'll attack first!
Me, too!
Hey, give me some choc—
Wh-What?!
You should read this while we wait.
"The Boy's Guide to Valentine's Day"?
Let's see...
Do's and Don'ts...
If it's obvious that you really want some chocolate. The girls will ignore you.
They may not even give you a token piece.
At worst, they'll give your share to their girlfriends.
Sakura, please!
I don't wanna give you anything!
Here, Ino.
From one friend to another!
Thank you!
No!
I've already confirmed with my Byakugan that they've...
...got chocolate in their shopping bags.
That was close. I almost lost the game before it even started.
This is our time to get valentines!
Still, it seems the girls aren't going to make a move any time soon.
In fact, I sense they may have completely forgotten what day it is.
It's possible this joint training has...
...distracted them enough for that to be true.
What do we do?
Man, Christmas and New Year's sure were a blast, huh?
Nice one.
Using the recent holidays to remind them...
...of Valentine's and the chocolate... What a high level move!
Let's back him up!
Yes, the holiday season's such a wonderful time!
They really brought everyone together!
Yeah, we had a great time!
Here's hoping next year's even better!
Th-They didn't even flinch.
We underestimated how dense they are.
Did we bundle too many events into the strategy?
New plan!
Oh no, I'm having a low blood sugar spell...
Ah ha!
He's trying to make them think of...
...chocolate by feigning low blood sugar?!
Good plan, Bushy-brows!
Yeah, I didn't eat enough today...
We need something sugary...
Jeez, all of you?
Don't tell me you guys skipped breakfast?
Huh?
Breakfast is the foundation of your...
...daily energy reserves. It's very important!
Proper health and nutrition is paramount to completing our missions!
If you don't get the proper balance of carbs, fats, and proteins,
then when your life is on the line—
Shoot, she's giving us a lecture on nutrition!
Come on, Sakura. We don't need to hear about macronutrient rations!
You know what's really good for you is whole grains.
I like soy milk!
I've heard good things about gobou tea.
No, you should try the soy milk!
They're acting like they're in...
...the health segment in a morning talk show.
And they're really getting into it!
We got way off topic and it's only getting worse.
How do we steer the conversation back to chocolate?
Don't panic.
Kakashi Sensei will be here soon.
We have to think of a way to turn the topic to chocolate, but casually!
You know, I'm getting hungry.
Eureka!
The one move only Choji can get away with!
A glutton like him can always act hungry without arousing suspicion,
no matter how big a breakfast he may have eaten!
If Choji goes forward...
You girls got any snacks?
Oh, all right.
They'll probably give him their chocolate.
That's awesome, Choji!
I'm seeing you in a whole new light!
Go!
You don't mind if I eat lunch early, right?
Let's just exchange friendship chocolate.
It's hopeless!
Not being able to come out and ask is so vexing!
Someone just needs to say the word "chocolate!"
Yes, please, someone say chocolate!
I've been looking forward to Valentine's Day so much!
Someone just say the word...
Chocolate? Oh, I have some right here!
And I'll be able to give out the chocolate nice and casual!
Hinata, perhaps...
No, I'm almost positive she's itching to give her chocolate away.
We may be able to get away with an inside job.
She's shy to the point of absurdity,
but if the right opportunity presents itself, she's sure...
...to start the chocolate giving process!
I've just gotta set the stage!
Excuse me.
Rather than waste time sitting around,
why don't we try simulating a dangerous situation?
They said the weather up in the mountains can change in a heartbeat.
Look, there's a cabin over that way!
Lee, get a grip!
I'm so sorry. I dropped the rucksack.
We'll need to divvy up the emergency rations.
All right. Give me a second.
Here's your emergency ration.
Wh-What's this?
A jawbreaker.
Wrong!
Snowy mountains sap your stamina too quickly!
You need something sweeter for your emergency food!
What's wrong with you, Neji?!
Nothing's wrong.
I believe jawbreakers are a standard emergency ration.
Have you lost your mind?
It couldn't be... Has Neji...
...betrayed us?!
I want them to give me chocolate, it's true.
But Lqdy Hinata's is clearly hand-made!
And a truffle, no less!
This looks like a rabbit pellet.
You'll say something like that and rob her of the will to live.
I must protect Hinata from harm!
I don't understand, Neji...
We're not going down that easy.
We'll take it by force if we have to!
What tasty treat starts with "C"?
Cantaloupe!
How about sweet with a hint of bitterness?
Coffee with sugar!
What did the ancient Aztecs believe the gods ate—
Something like that.
Man, his defense is impregnable.
Don't give up yet...
Girls, what's another way to say—
Put a sock in it!
Put a sock in it...
Put a chocolate...
Yes!
We did it! We pulled it off!
We stumbled! We failed! We were betrayed, but we hung in there!
Naruto, you fool! Don't start crying!
We haven't even gotten—
Hey, sorry for the wait!
Someone stopped me about every five seconds on my way over.
Kakashi Sensei... is that...
I got way more than I could ever eat.
You all want some?
This can't be happening!
And so, Lee and the boys missed out.
Apparently the girls were just waiting for Kakashi Sensei,
and all the boys got token friendship chocolates.
Token
The Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya! Infiltrate the Women's Bath!
Next week is, "The Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya!"
and "Infiltrate the Women's Bath!"
What's the deal?
Why's Master Jiraiya showing up in episode 46?
Filling a gap.
This anime is sorely lacking in sex appeal!
Really? People want more of that?
I send in a request every week.
Me, too.
I sent a whole box of postcards.
Kakashi Sensei?!
I swear, you men are all alike!