Naruto > Episode Guide & Summaries > Anime Episode 8

The Determination Vowed to the Pain

The opening replays the battle between Kakashi and Momochi Zabuza leading up to Momochi’s capture. Naruto and co are impressed that Kakashi has declared the match over. Momochi taunts him, declaring that Kakashi won’t be able to capture him so easily. He then appears behind Kakashi and kicks him backwards. Kakashi disappears into the river as Momochi chases him with his big-ass sword (think Cloud in FF7). He sees Makibishi (throwing nails) in the dirt and dives in the river. Kakashi emerges, trapped in Water Prison no Jutsu, as the tide has turned in Momochi’s favor. He then clones himself and goes after the three young ninjas. He strikes Naruto and knocks the headband off his head.

Kakashi calls out to the ninjas, commanding them to take Tazuna and run. Momochi’s body keeps him prisoner, so his clone won’t be able to go too far away. They should be able to escape. Sasuke refuses and reevaluates the situation. For them to survive, they must rescue Kakashi. He jumps ready to strike Momochi, but is caught in mid air and thrown back. Naruto is scared to death of the Jounin. He gets ready to run and throws his hand to the ground, but is surprised to remember his injury and his promise. It is a turning point, where he realizes that it takes to become a ninja and flashes back to all the events that got him to this point. He stands, ready to fight again, and then charges. He too is thrown backwards, but he got his forehead protector back - the symbol that he is a ninja.

Naruto has a plan now and asks the others to work with him. Kakashi reminds them that their real mission is to protect Tazuna, but he gives them permission to fight. Momochi explains his graduation exam - fight to the death between students. That changed ten years ago when another evil appeared. Without pause or hesitation, a young boy, not even a ninja, had killed over a hundred students himself… that boy was Momochi. He then attacks Sasuke. Naruto uses Kage Bushin no Jutsu and sends his clones around Momochi. Each pile atop him, but he is too strong and throws all of them backwards. Naruto throws Sasuke his blade as he flies back, and Sasuke does Evil Wind Shuriken, Shadow Windmill. He throws it at the real Momochi, who captures it. Another follows - it’s Shadow Shuriken no Jutsu. The Shurikens change into Narutos, who throw shuriken at the real Momochi…

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