Ep 54: The Leaves Sprout! Naruto Shippuuden Special Part 2

Something smashes against a set of large doors of a temple and attacks and kills the monks inside - looks like wind - then shadow of someone whose hand turns into claws. The Kyuubi appears and Naruto wakes up from his dream.

Sai reads in the library about relationships between people and using suffixes or not using them and using nick names and pet names to form closer friendships. Sakura sees Sai as he covers up his books. She invites him to see Kakashi.

At the hospital, Naruto thinks about his reunion with Sasuke. Sakura nad Sai arrive. Naruto, disappointed, thought it would be a date with Sakura. Sai notes she doesn't use honorifics with Naruto. Sai tries to call them by just their names. He tells them he's trying to come up with nickanames for the two of them. Sakura uses Naruto as an example: traits or characterisitics like Naruto the idiot, Naruto the jerk. Sai thinks, stares at Sakura, and calls her ugly. Naruto has to step in to keep Sakura from killing him.

The team gathers by Kakashi's bed as Sai and Naruto rub their cheeks. Kakashi asks Sakura about those two. She claims they all get along fine and laughs nervously. Naruto and Sakura report on Sasuke's power and speed. Sakura says Tsunade said he's probably learning forbidden techniques and considering he's got Kabuto behind him, probably using special drugs as well.

Kakashi coolly says they have to get stronger in a very short amount of time but Naruto is the only one suited for this training and he can surpass even Kakashi to learn a technique more powerful than rasengan. He says it's not like those stories where the main char get ridiculously strong in a few days. It will required massive amount of time, but he figured how to do it in no time at all.

Asuma and his team arrive.

An ANBU reports to Tsunade about Akatsuki.

Ino thinks Sai is cute and reminds her of Sauke. But Sakura says Sai is nothing like Sasuke - Sai's totally clueless. Shika offers to help Naruto now that the chuunin exams are over. Asuma offers to take everyone out for barbecue, but then he stays behind to talk to Kakashi.

Naruto, Choji, Sai, Ino, and Sakura are at the barbeque restaurant, but Shika's not there. He apparently went to meet his father to help get deer antleer. Ino notes Shika's on time for meetings about missions. Ino picks up some meat with her chopsticks for Sai and asks him to introduce himself before eating.

Asuma tells Kakashi the other countries are getting geared up and they'll come after Naruto. Shika enters the room, concerned about Naruto. Kakashi flippantly says Naruto doesn't stand a chance.

Sai thinks about first impressions and how he needs to come up with a nickname for Choji. Naruto and Sakura realize the potential for disaster. Naruto clamps his hand over Sai's mouth and warns him never to say fat in from of Choji. Ino introduces herself. Sai thinks how if a nickname based on actual traits makes people mad, try the opposite. Sakura thinks don't do it, but inner Sakura thinks teach her a lesson. Sai calls Ino "gorgeous." Naruto sighs with relief until he sees Sakura flipping out.

Above a city of ruins, two ninja perform seals that seems to change the landscape around them. They approach a sarcophagus and breaks it open to find a skeleton and say it's the wrong one.

End: Naruto and Choji fight over barbecue. Sai almost calls Choji fat again but Naruto stops him again. Ino gives Choji's meat to Sai. Sakura calls Ino a bimbo and they start to argue. Naruto and Choji interfere. Ino calls Choji fat and he goes crazy, destroying the restaurant with Nikudan Sensha: meat bullet tank. The proprietor gives Sai a bill for 500,000 ryou. Sai says coming up with nicknames is hard.

Review: Nice interlude between story arcs. Integrating Sai into normal society is funny.

Notes: 500,000 ryou is about $5000 based on previous Naruto prices for ramen. Ryou is like yen.

Thoughts: Kakashi's reading Makeout Paradise again. Is that the special edition?