Ep 39: Heaven and Earth Bridge

Ink rats scout out the area and return to Sai's scroll. Sai reports there's no one in the area, no apparent trap by Akatsuki. Yamato transforms to Sasori in Hiruko's puppet form. Then he makes noises varying the pitch until Sakura says it's close to Sasori's voice but needs to be tougher and meaner. Sasori is short-tempered and hates to wait. They take their positions. The spy approaches cautiously.

The spy is Kabuto! Kabuto says he still feels a bit shaken from when Sasori's technique was released. Sasori asks about Orochimaru's hideouts and Uchiha Sasuke. Kabuto replies there are multiple hideouts and he switches from one location to the next each week to keep his whereabouts hidden, in many countries, not just the Sound. Oro's spies sneak in, set them up and manage them in his absence. Oro makes use of many different methods to switch locations so tracking him is not easy. Currently, he's concealed on an island in a northern lake and will move in three days. Uchiha Sasuke is there as well. They're interrupted by a rabbit. But Oro has been watching all along. His snake eats the rabbit.

Kabuto goes back to something that Sasori wanted him to find out. The body that Oro transferred out of had protective wards surrounding it so Kabuto was unable to obtain the cell samples Sasori requested. He then asks for Sasori to give him the item. Yamato knows the jig is up and makes his move and takes out a kunai. Oro suddenly appears by Kabuto. A snake surrounds Kabuto, but he escapes to stand by Sasori. Kabuto thought Sasori drew out his kunai because of Oro.

Oro says it was a blessing that Kabuto was sent to him since he used to go through a hundred test subjects for each one he created, but thanks to Kabuto's medial abilities, he was able to use the same subject over and over. Yamato thinks there's no way he can stand on his own against Oro and his fighting techniques will give him away to Kabuto. If the rest of his team comes out, Kabuto will definitely find out and be harder to capture. It's time to retreat or call out the three.

Kabuto forms his chakra scalpel and suddenly destroys Hiroku and injures Yamato's arm. Oro sends his snakes, but Yamato uses wood replacement. Oro knows who he is immediately from his wood techniques. They had planned on killing Sasori. Oro also knows about the three behind Yamato. Yamato signals and they appear in front of him. Oro wants to see whether Naruto has gotten stronger than Sasuke.

END: Classified Kabuto's Medical Files - Kabuto wanders around a library while talking about how Oro has transferred into three bodies. Nothing is known of the first body. The second was shown during the war against Konoha. Oro originally wanted Itachi, then changed to Sasuke. But in an emergency hr had to switch to his current body, Gennyuumaru. Three years has passed.

Review: Lots going on in this ep in terms of learning about Kabuto!

Notes: Kabuto has never seen Sasori's real form. It's been five years since Kabuto's seen Sasori.

Thoughts:

What is the item Kabuto wants from Sasori? How much did Kabuto say to Sasori was true?

Does this mean Kabuto's been working for Oro only about 2 years prior to the series? Kabuto was picked up by Konoha before then. Did Sasori set up Kabuto to infiltrate the Leaf or did Oro or was it an Akatsuki plan?

Kabuto explains he was released from Sasori's technique a long time ago by Oro. When? In the last couple of years during the time jump or before the series? It seems it was within the past 2-3 years since Kabuto was showing signs of betrayal prior to the time jump which may have been a subconscious effect of Sasori's technique.