Akamaru seems a little down.
Poor thing.
Akamaru!
See?
I wonder what's wrong...
Maybe it's puberty.
He might have a growth spurt, but it's not puberty.
Maybe...
Dogs Need Dog Friends
Friends, huh?
I suppose there aren't really any other dogs for him to be friends with, huh?
They don't have to be ninja hounds.
A dog café!
A what?
Look here. It's a café where you can bring your dog to play.
Says they have good waffles, too.
And the latte art's so pretty!
Is this waiter a hunk or what?!
I like this place! Let's go!
Yeah, yeah!
B-But...
Latte - Hunk - Waffle
I mean, we could take it or leave it,
but for Akamaru's sake, we have to go!
Akamaru needs friends, right?
Y-Yeah...
Latte - Hunk - Waffle
But there are four of us, and he's the only dog...
Oh, I know!
Huh?
Neji...
Y-Yes, Lady Hinata?
Would you... be my pet?
Huh?!
That's a weird way to ask it.
Pet Pet
Yes.
Really?!
Oh, Naruto, would you be my little puppy?
Heck yeah!
Seriously?!
How about it, Choji?
I've secretly always wanted to try dog food...
It's so meaty-looking...
No hesitation.
Oh, then...
Very well—
I understand. It's like disguise training right?
You can count on me!
Thought so.
I knew they wouldn't say no.
Sorry we're late!
What's up?
Dog Café
Look at all these cute dogs!
Let's find you some friends, Akamaru!
Let's do it, Akamaru.
Check out that hottie!
Might as well try to get a date as long as I'm here, right?
That guy over there's not too bad, either!
Wow, so's he—
What? What is it?
Excuse me!
Could you get him a chicken roll with veggies on the side?
And I'll have a fresh herbal tea with honey.
He's being so casual!
That guy's in Akatsuki, right?
It's Kisame and Samehada.
So that thing's a dog?
S-Somehow, I don't think so...
What do we do?
Making friends isn't even an option with him around.
Aw, that hot guy's leaving, too...
How're we supposed to find Akamaru a friend now?
Well, he doesn't actually have a dog,
so maybe we can ask him to leave.
But we don't have real dogs, either.
I can't say it.
But I really want to!
Wow, dog cafés can get pretty intense, huh?
Oh my, what adorable dogs!
What are their names?
He approached us instead!
U-Um...
That's Akamaru...
And, uh...
Leemaru, Nejimaru, Narumaru, and Chomaru!
And your, er... puppy?
This is Samehada.
And he's acting normal!
That's certainly a rare name.
What breed is he?
Good job, Ino. Perfect attack strategy!
He's a mixed breed.
He countered.
That's a dog?
I've run into him before. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a dog.
I think that's pretty obvious.
Does it eat dog food, though?
What courage Akamaru has!
We won't let that brave display be in vain, Akamaru!
I'll go next.
Careful, Lee.
He looks pretty nasty.
I'll be fine.
Oh no, is his cover blown?
It likes him!
It's stabbing him.
I can't take anymore...
That was sweet, in a weird way.
We're not getting anywhere...
What now?
I really just wanna call him out.
Hello.
Here are your latte specials.
Ah, and feel free to take everyone to play in our little "Dog Land!"
They can work on their agility.
Agility?
It's a fun doggy obstacle course.
They love it, trust me.
Samehada's definitely not built for agility.
Yeah, that totally says "it's not a dog" without actually saying it.
Okay!
Bit of a breeze out here!
He followed us!
We can't have you catching a cold, Samehada.
Oh no. Is it too small?
I bought the largest dog sweater they had...
It doesn't fit because it's not a dog!
Look, they've got Frisbees.
Let's play, Akamaru!
Good boy, Akamaru!
D-Do you want to play Frisbee, too, Nejimaru?
Eight Trigrams Rotation!
Huh? Did that dog just use his paw?
No, no!
See? He used his mouth like any other dog.
Ah, I must've mistook it.
Okay, Samehada, your turn.
Uh oh, do your gums itch?
It's not a dog... It's definitely not a dog!
That looks good! I want a taste!
Something tells me things are only going to get worse.
Akamaru, find the buried treasure!
I know! I'll use my tail!
Is that dog's tail—
Just an afterimage!
He's so excited he was wagging his tail really fast!
Ah, so it's that much fun, eh?
Go ahead, Samehada!
That's not a litter box, silly!
Let me explain.
Dogs will sometimes try to eat kitty litter.
But it's not a dog...
Litter, huh?
Forget it!
Over here, Akamaru!
My martial arts can handle this easily!
Dynamic Drill!
Dynamic Jump!
Dynamic Wibble-Wobble.
And finally, my new and improved version of Dynamic Marking,
Dynamic Marking Tornado!
You pig!
Akamaru!
Friendship
You made a friend, huh?
Maybe we didn't need to be so focused on finding a dog friend after all.
Kisame!
I've been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?
Apologies, I found this nice-looking dog café...
...while taking Samehada out for a walk.
Dog café?
Samehada's not a dog.
He said it!
What do you mean it's not a dog?!
Now you notice?!
Please leave at once!
Can't we have a happy ending just once?!
Ah!
I totally forgot about him.
Woof.
Mountain Tea House
Looks like Lee and the team...
...are taking a quick break on their way home from today's mission.
These sesame dumplings are so good.
Who'd have thought we'd find such a great tea house out here?
We should go through the list of rogue ninjas.
So, this is Sasuke's file...
It's been about three years now since he left...
...the Hidden Leaf Village, hasn't it?
Yes.
Sasuke Uchiha...
A child prodigy of the famous Uchiha clan.
He was like Naruto's rival. And...
A bunch of stuff happened and he abandoned the village.
That was the worst exposition ever!
Look, we don't have time to tell the whole story.
people can go back and rewatch the main series—
Don't mention the main series!
I wonder where Sasuke is now, and what he's been up to...
Four lunch specials.
But hold the natto on mine.
Oh, and four bottomless sodas.
You don't like natto, Sasuke?
I don't eat natto or sweet things.
Are you bragging?
Sasuke?!
The Shinbi You've Been Waiting For!
I never expected we'd run into Sasuke out here.
After all this time, he just shows up out of nowhere.
That rope around his waist...
...must be his way of showing respect for Akira Nakao.
That's the first thing you noticed?!
Sasuke's alone.
Sasuke!
You three?
Sasuke, please return to the village!
You have no idea...
...how many people have been worried about you all this time.
Like I care.
Sasuke...
We're having curry tonight.
So what?!
Neji.
You are lost, wandering in darkness.
Come home, Sasuke.
Plus we're having stew tonight.
Who cares what kind of dinner you're having?!
I'm not a runaway child!
And what kind of jutsu have you learned while I've been gone—
Hey, Sasuke.
Who're these guys? Leaf ninjas?
Suigetsu!
Are you one of Sasuke's companions?
That's an interesting way to put it.
I just happen to be traveling with Sasuke while I pursue my own goals...
...of gathering a certain set of swords.
And if you jerks get in my way, I won't show any mercy.
What is that?
It's some kind of jutsu that turns his body into water!
Lee, your martial arts won't work on him.
No problem.
Lightning style,
Carpet Pad Static Electricity!
No, I'm weak against lightning techniques!
But it's so weak...
Why'd he take that much damage?!
What've we got here? Shinobis from the Leaf?
Karin?
Are you exhausted again already?
Man, you've got no stamina!
Sorry...
This time it's a strong-willed girl.
Whatever.
And you, Sasuke, you're not fully healed yet, either!
C'mere.
Sasukie!
Wh-What's that girl's deal?
Neji.
On it!
Byakugan!
I see. That girl...
...gets cuddly when the glasses come off!
I could've told you that without the Byakugan...
Tsundere...
She acts haughty and standoffish,
but the next moment she's all lovey-dovey.
What a scary technique!
And glasses, too?
It's the ultimate combination of character design!
That woman's incredible!
Neji, calm down!
Karin, stop flirting with Sasuke.
I-I wasn't!
Why'd she take her glasses off, anyway?
C'mon, bite my arm already!
Wh-What was that?
Can we really air that so early in the evening?
And you two, stop staring so intently!
It appears to be a healing technique where he's sucking out her chakra.
That's funny...
I've suddenly got a chakra craving...
I'm not letting you suck on me!
What's going on, everyone?
Jugo?
Sorry I'm back late.
The birds told me you'd run into a group of Leaf ninjas.
At least this guy seems normal.
I'll bet he's a really nice person.
So you're Leaf ninjas, are you?
Yes.
You seem like a reasonable man. Can we talk to you?
Any... one...
You, I'll kill you!
What the heck just happened here?
Jugo can't control his emotions. He snaps at the drop of a hat.
It's like dissociative identity disorder.
I'm gonna **** your **** up and shove it up your *******!
That was like every single word you can't say on the air!
This power...
It's the same one Kimimaro used when I fought him.
Did you say Kimimaro?
You knew Kimimaro?
Yes...
I was his final opponent before he passed away.
Kimimaro...
What were his last words?
He said...
What was the last thing he ate?
I don't—
What kind of pants was he wearing?
Why do you care about his pants?!
So, these are your new comrades...
Quite a cast of characters, not that I'm one to talk.
Sasuke...
I've wanted to ask you this for three years now...
Why?
Lee...
Why were you so popular with the ladies?!
That's your question?!
I never cared about that stuff.
Ne
Never
Never Car
Never Cared
Never Cared!!
Wh-Why? He doesn't even try...
Lee!
But I...
I...
I've got Sakura screaming for me all the time now!
It's not out of excitement!
Enough, I have no business with any of you.
Please wait.
You once considered me enough of a rival to copy my moves.
Quiet you!
Is that so, Sasuke?
I had my reasons!
Copying your movements was nothing to me.
I've trained a lot since then.
Do you think you have what it takes to copy me now?
Wow, he's matching Lee blow for blow!
How does he copy him so fast?
His Sharingan's evolved since we last saw him.
How about this?
Sexy Swimsuit Jutsu!
I'm not done yet! Behold the fruits of my training!
Sexy Swimsuit Special!
Me, too?
See what an incredible move this is?
Sasuke and I both did this in the manga...
But your version is anime-only, Neji!
I don't care!
This is the result of an entire year of Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals!
Do you know how many people worked on this show?!
And if the best you can do after a year...
...is make Neji cross-dress, that's just sad!
Chidori Current!
That frustrating, huh?
Hurry up and heal him!
Karin!
Curse you...
That's enough. Let's do it!
Suigetsu, Karin, Jugo, now!
Th-That's...
A fusion attack?!
Combo ninjutsu, Snake-Hawk Super Jet!
That combo move looks really stupid.
Here they come!
Huh?
They're gone.
He got us.
He trapped us in an illusion when we looked at his Sharingan.
No!
The cross-dressing, the stupid combo move...
Sasuke's made fools of us all!
You're sure, Sasuke?
There's no need to bother. Let's go.
Sasuke?!
Why?
Looks like everyone loves that tea house.
Next week is "Yamato gets a Mission"
Yamato Gets a Mission Leaf Village of the Dead!
and "Leaf Village of the Dead!"
Sasuke, we're going back to the village.
I have no intention of returning.
I understand.
You pretended to be mad that you ran into us at the tea house,
but you really want us to occupy you for a while, right?
You're so immature, Sasuke.
That's not it!
I just... wanted some of that stew...
You sound like a little kid!
Wait, you were listening during all that?