Ep 31: The Next Generation

Chiyo pours her chakra into Gaara. Neji realizes it's not just medical ninjutsu. Sakura explains to Naruto that she's bringing Gaara back to life with a unique technique only she knows. Kakashi also realizes the technique comes at a high price. Chiyo doesn't have enough chakra left. Naruto tells her to borrow his chakra and places his hands on hers. Chiyo says she's glad someone like him came along and she realizes she's been wrong all along. The future will be different and tells him to become a Hokage like none before him. She tells Sakura to save the people she cares about rather than an old hag. Before she dies she tells Naruto that he and Gaara understand each other's pain and asks him to please save Gaara.

Gaara hears Naruto calling him. He sees his own hand and himself as a crying child. Then Naruto comes up to him and places his hand on his shoulder. Gaara wakes up and sees everyone standing around him, including many Sand shinobi. Matsuri (girl from filler Gaara kidnap arc) comes running up. Everyone celebrates. One male Sand shinobi starts crying and Matsuri hits him. She and another girl fight over Gaara. They push Naruto out of the way.

Kankurou tries to comfort Naruto saying girls who go for the cool elite ones are the weak ones. Kankurou thanks Naruto. Naruto says he should thank the old lady. Naruto doesn't realize that Chiyo's dead. Kankurou tells him it wasn't medical ninjutsu. It was a life transferring technique where you can bring back the dead at the cost of your own life.

Sakura holds Chiyo in her arms. Ebizou recalls how lively she used to be and thinks how she looks so peaceful but looks like she's about to burst out laughing at any second. Temari tells Naruto how he has the power to change people. Chiyo didn't care what happened to the village and was not the type to do something like this for Gaara. Kakashi adds Chiyo had placed the future in Naruto and Gaara's hands - a splendid end befitting a true shinobi.

Gaara gets up, supported by Naruto and walks over to Chiyo and tells everyone to pray for her.

End: Photo Studio of Memories - Temari shows pictures from the Chuunin exam. Kankurou asks why so many pics of Gara compared to him. She explains popular guys get more screen time.

Review: Touching end to the arc. Chiyo was a great character.

Notes:
Many years ago the Puppet Brigades were conducting research on how to bring their puppets to life. Chiyo was in charge of it. They figured out the theory, but banned further research for being too risky and made it illegal to research on humans.

Thoughts:
If the Sand were harsh enough to make Gaara a container for the Ichibi, it doesn't seem likely they would ban puppet research.
If Chiyo wasn't allowed to do further tests, how could she know her technique would work, especially since it can only be tested or used once and she would die.
Why is Gaara so far from Chiyo when he wakes? She was right next to him!