Ep 24: The Third Kazekage

Sasori pulls the metallic structures out of the cavern's walls and attacks again. Sakura continues to dodge successfully and knocks them away. The cavern is nearly demolished. Kakashi hears the noise but can't turn back. Naruto gets impatient and complains to Kakashi who replies calmly that he has some strategies in mind but needs time to prepare. Deidara increases his speed and Naruto races ahead. Kakashi thinks he'll have to use “that” to end it. Meanwhile Team Gai continues to fight against their doubles. They also hear the noise from the cavern. Neji looks afar with his byakugan and sees the enemy’s hideout is seriously damaged but he can't tell who is winning. He thinks it looks even. Lee fights with renewed vigor at the news. The entire top of the cavern is gone. Sakura is exhausted, but she's able to read Sasori's attack patterns without much help from Chiyo.

Flashback to Tsunade training Sakura: Tsunade asks why is attack power only the second most important thing to have for a medical ninja? Sakura says the ability to heal comes first to support their comrades in battle. Tsuande says she's wrong. The ability to dodge the enemy's attacks is the most important thing. Medical ninja must never get hit by the enemy since there would be no one to heal the rest of the team if the medical ninja dies. Tsunade attacks Sakura without holding back and she has to dodge her attacks. Sakura closes her eyes and Tsunade punches her in the stomach sending her crashing against a tree. Tsunade scolds her for closing her eyes when the enemy is right in front of her. She tells her to watch them before, during and after the attacks. People always have a dominant arm and leg as well as individual ticks and habits which when combined reveal patterns in their movement. Chuunin and jounin train to lessen those habits so the enemy can't read their movements but they can't be completely eliminated. She should be able to use them and see the enemy's weak spots which will allow her to dodge the attacks.

Back to present: Sakura observes that Sasori's fingers always move before he attacks since he's manipulating the puppet by chakra strings attacked to his fingers. She’s starting to see where Sasori's attacks will go based on how his hands and arms move. Sasori thinks how she's watching too closely and it's taking too long so he's going to use more chakra and finish her off. The left chest of the Kazekage puppet radiates chakra while Sasori announces Satetsu Kaihou (iron sand world law). The metallic structures become intertwined spikes and crash to the ground. Chiyo is trapped by rock but Sakura is still standing but injured and poisoned. Sakura falls to the ground twitching. Sasori decides to end it and attacks directly with the Kazekage puppet, but Sakura leaps up and destroys it with one punch.

End: Konoha Clan Picture, Tomoe Edition narrated by Neji and Tenten: first is the Yamanaka Clan controls the mind (mind body switch and mind body confusion techniques), the Nara Clan uses shadow imitation and shadow neck bind, and the Akimichi clan fights with direct attacks, multi-size

Review: Tsunade’s advice to Sakura is very good.

Notes:
Satetsu Kaihou = iron sand world law

Thoughts:
Avoiding enemy’s attack is the first priority of medical ninja, then healing, then combat. Actually makes a lot of sense, but every ninja should learn how to avoid attacks and read attacks.