The Search for Tsunade Arc is the sixth story arc in Naruto series.
Arc Length: Chapters 139-171
Short Summary
After having not been seen in Konoha since he killed the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke's older brother Itachi returns. He and his partner Kisame fight Kurenai, Asuma, Kakashi, and Guy. Itachi reveals that he and Kisame are after the Nine-Tails in Naruto. He manages to put Kakashi into a coma with his Tsukuyomi before leaving. Meanwhile, Jiraiya takes Naruto out for some training. Sasuke finds out that Itachi is back and chases after him, having a flashback of how Itachi killed his Clan in the process. When Itachi goes for Naruto, Sasuke arrives and confronts him, but falls into a coma because of Itachi using the Tsukuyomi on him. Jiraiya arrives just in time however, and Itachi flees with Kisame.
After the encounter with Itachi, Jiraiya takes Naruto on the road with him. Both to protect him from the Akatsuki and to train him to get stronger. He begins training Naruto in developing a technique called the Rasengan while in the midst of looking for his old friend, Tsunade, in the hopes of convincing her to become the next Hokage. However Orochimaru and Kabuto are likewise after her with the hope of fixing his arms.
Long Summary
Search For Tsunade Arc has the following tropes
- Afraid of Blood: A weakness Tsunade has after seeing two of her loved ones die before her as she tried to save them. Kabuto tries to exploit this during their fight but she eventually overcomes it to Orochimaru's shock.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: A three way one between the Sanin's summoned animals.
- Audience Surrogate: Naruto takes this role as he's basically the only character that doesn't know anything about Tsunade, Kabuto or the dynamic between the Sannin.
- Big Bad Duumvirate: Itachi and Kisame are both very strong, and while Itachi gives the orders, they're both equally the villain of the arc.
- Big Bad Ensemble: Orochimaru on one side, Itachi and Kisame on another end up opposing Naruto for different reasons.
- Broken Bird: Poor Tsunade.
- Curb-Stomp Battle:
- Itachi and Kisame utterly destroy the Jonin team, as well as Sasuke and Naruto.
- Tsunade vs Naruto. While it was no doubt he'd lose against her. She does it using just one finger.
- Flashback:
- Jiraiya remembers his training with Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.
- Iruka remembers a time when Hiruzen comforted him.
- Sasuke remembers how Itachi killed the entire Uchiha Clan except him.
- Go Through Me: Tsunade when Orochimaru tries to kill Naruto.
- Interim Villain: Although Itachi is a major antagonist in the series, and his presence in Konoha with Kisame is really important to the overall story, Itachi and Kisame are mainly here this time to have something in between Orochimaru's attempt to destroy Konoha and Orochimaru's return later in the arc.
- Ironic Echo: When Naruto first meets Tsunade and states his wish to becomes Hokage, she insults him and calls it a "fool's goal". However later as she fighting Orochimaru, he states the same thing much to her horror which contributes to her taking the position.
- The Man Behind the Man: There are higher ranking members of the Akatsuki behind Itachi and Kisame, but they don't appear in this arc.
- Meaningful Funeral: The arc begins with the funeral of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
- Mind Rape: Itachi forces Sasuke and Kakashi into nightmares that put them into comas with his Tsukuyomi jutsu.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Due to the losses she suffered Tsunade is rather cynical about the idea of becoming Hokage and finds the whole idea riduculus. This naturally infuriates Naruto conisdering how much he wants to become Hokage. After seeing first hand Naruto's determination even to the point that he was finally able to master the Rasengan during the midst of battle, Tsunade's gets her faith restored and willingly decides to accept the appointment of Fifth Hokage.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Aoba Yamashiro ladies and gentlemen. He's the one to burst in just as Guy was trying to diffuse Sasuke's probing on why Kakashi was out of it and blurt out Itachi's return as well as his goal. This would have profound consequences for everyone going forward, especially in Sasuke's decision to abandon Konohagakure.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left:
- After Might Guy showed up to save Kakashi from Itachi and Kisame, they left the area, as they didn't want to attract any more attention from other ninjas, as it would be far too dangerous.
- After Jiraiya showed up to save Naruto from Itachi and Kisame, with the intent of killing them both, they knew that it would be risky to continue fighting against him, they managed to escape a Jutsu that's supposed to keep enemies from moving.
- Beaten by his fellow Sannin, Naruto and Shizune, Orochimaru flees with Kabuto.
- Villain Has a Point: After Naruto successfully defeats Kabuto, Orochimaru attempts to kill him, warning Tsunade that letting him live would mean more trouble for the village. If someone took into account that he is from an organization that seeks the tailed beasts hosts for their ends, and what happens the later arcs, one would find his claims to be far more accurate than they would initially think.
- Wham Episode: The Akatsuki is introduced, and Itachi utterly destroys everyone he fights, putting both Sasuke and Kakashi into comas. This arc was a massive shift in the story of Naruto.
- Worf Had the Flu: All three of the Sanin are not exactly fighting at their best when they confront each other. Jiraiya comes to the battle against Orochimaru weakened as Tsunade had spiked his drink the night before. Orochimaru himself still can't use his jutsu thanks to his disabled arms. And Tsunade ends up being paralyzed by her fear of blood during her fight with Kabuto and gets hit by several Medical Nin attacks that do serious internal damage to her. Nonetheless the Sanin have one hell of a fight, including summoning their most powerful creatures, which goes to show just how powerful all three really are.
