
Source: Wikipedia
“Tonton! I’m Counting on You!”
“Shizune and her team encounter Mizuki, but all of them are defeated. When Tonton comes back to warn Tsunade, Naruto takes the initiative to find Shizune with Tonton’s help. Pakkun leads them, and they soon find Shizune. They chase after Mizuki, and they soon fall into a trap. Iruka reveals that Shizune is not Shizune, but Mizuki. Mizuki attacks Iruka, while Naruto deals with Fujin and Raijin. Naruto soon finds that his attacks are ineffective.”
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Analysis
The following analysis will look at the use of dialogue, the relationship between Mizuki and Tsubaki, and the reunion of Iruka, Naruto and Mizuki.
In the previous episode, Naruto found Asuma and Kurenai at the Maximum-Security Prison, injured and defeated. In this episode, the medical corps arrives to attend to their wounds, and they take them back to the Hidden Leaf Village at the hospital. Naruto is wondering what is going on.
Shizune and her team encounter Mizuki, but all of them are defeated. Tonton, the pig, was using her nose to track down Mizuki along a path in the forest. When they get close, they are ambushed by Fujin and Raijin, the Legendary Stupid Brothers. Tense music with a mixture of drums starts to play in the background as Shizune asks about Mizuki’s whereabouts. After some time, Mizuki reveals himself, and that’s when all of them are defeated.
Lady Tsunade is starting to believe that Orochimaru is somehow involved. This is evident when she looks at a report about Orochimaru and says in her mind, “Just when things were starting to quiet down, this happens. You have been a tough one to wrangle with, Orochimaru.” Orochimaru is proving to be an antagonist who is involved in Mizuki's escape from prison. Moreover, when Lady Tsunade was visiting Asuma and Kurenai, Naruto barged in and said, “Come on, tell the truth; Orochimaru is behind all this! That’s why you sent Kurenai and Asuma, right?” This further proves the point that Orochimaru is somehow involved, which is why Naruto wanted to look for Sasuke. However, Tsunade warns him by saying, “This whole mess with Sasuke and Orochimaru has already risen way beyond your ability to handle it; it’s too much for a genin. You understand me; I need you to do the mission you’ve been given.” This proves that Naruto is still determined to keep his promise to Sakura about bringing Sasuke back to the village. Moreover, Naruto wants him back because he considers him not only a friend but also a brother.
When Tonton comes back to warn Tsunade, Naruto takes the initiative to find Shizune with Tonton’s help. Before Tsunade can say anything, Naruto leaves with Tonton. He sees it as an opportunity to find Orochimaru so that he can save Sasuke.
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The relationship between Mizuki and Tsubaki
After defeating Shizune and her team, Mizuki, Fujin, and Raijin took their belongings and left. Along the way, they find Lady Tsubaki’s place, who seems to be Mizuki’s lover. Tsubaki seems weary, and Mizuki notices. He asks her what’s wrong with her, and a dialogue takes place between the two of them:
Tsubaki: I spotted a handful of ANBU out there earlier; why would they be in the mountains away from everything?
Mizuki: I see...
Tsubaki: You’re not going to tell me anything, are you? You know it’s funny—the Leaf Village, I mean, it looks like it always did—but while you were gone, Mizuki, a lot of people were killed. Are you leaving again?
Mizuki: Yes
Tsubaki shouts and starts to cry: Please don’t; how can you go to him? You know what kind of man he is, Mizuki; you mustn’t. So many people lost their lives, all because of Orochimaru. Because of him, the Leaf Village is in shambles, even the third. If only you had never gotten yourself involved with that madman, then maybe you and I would still be together.
Mizuki holds her hand and says, It’ll be different this time, Tsubaki. Trust me, I’m not going to let that stupid little nine-tailed brat mess things up for me again, and this time...
Tsubaki interrupts: That boy put his life on the line when Orochimaru tried to destroy the Hidden Leaf Village.
Mizuki: Huh? What did the nine-tailed brat do?
Mizuki says in his mind, “That little snout,” and he clenches his fist while Tsubaki responds,
Tsubaki: That’s right; he’s not the monster you made him out to be. Please, you must abandon this foolishness. Don’t you see, it’s over; it’s over and done with now; let it go?
Mizuki, with a creepy smirk: Oh no, this isn’t over yet. So, the nine-tailed brat is a hero now, huh? What a laugh! It never ceases to amaze me how stupid the people of this village are.
Tsubaki: Mizuki...
Mizuki: Come here!
He grabs her hand tightly and says,
Mizuki: Soon, all of Orochimaru’s power will be mine, and then this village will have a rude awakening. They will see that with Orochimaru’s power, I’ll be unstoppable...
Mizuki laughs wickedly and then says,
Mizuki: ...and once the Leaf Village is under my thumb, we’ll have the life we always dreamed of
Mizuki laughs wickedly.
Tsubaki has a disappointed look on her face as she cries and hugs Mizuki at the back. Mizuki, Mizuki! Please, this isn’t you. Where’s that kind and gentle man I used to know? If you love me, then give up this foolishness.
Mizuki slowly removed her hands, looked her in the eyes, and said,
Mizuki: Tsubaki
Afterwards, there is a moment of silence until he smiles weirdly, and then he hits her, and she lies on the ground unconscious.
In the dialogue, we see a change in the relationship between Mizuki and Tsubaki. At first, they had a close relationship, but now their relationship is strained. Mizuki is only interested in getting Orochimaru’s power so that he can fulfil his desire to control the Leaf Village. When it comes to power, people are bound to change. As we see, Sasuke has changed because of his need to have the power to kill Itachi Uchiha. He will find out later that Orochimaru is just manipulating him to use his body as a vessel. Moreover, Arashi, Jigumo, Kamakiri, and Kagerou were also promised power so that they could restore the Fuma clan’s honour. However, they realised too late that they were manipulated, which cost them their lives. Orochimaru manipulates people by promising them that he will give them power, but as time goes on, Mizuki learns that he was manipulated by Orochimaru, who wants to fulfil his evil intentions.
Kakashi arrives and finds out the situation. Unfortunately, he has another mission. So, he summons Pakkun, who will guide Iruka to Naruto. Iruka eventually catches up to Naruto, and Pakkun sends Tonton back to the village. Kakashi could not follow Naruto because he was given an S-Rank mission by Lady Tsunade. Moreover, since Iruka had just finished rounding up all the inmates with his squad, he was given the mission to follow Naruto. Furthermore, Mizuki is with Raijin and Fujin, and he sees Naruto and Iruka from a distance. He has contempt when it comes to Naruto, as is evident in his phrase, “It’s the nine-tailed brat.” We are shown a scene from season 1 when Naruto defeated him with his multi-shadow clone jutsu. He still holds a grudge, which is why he decides to set a trap.
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The reunion of Iruka, Naruto, and Mizuki
Pakkun leads them, and they soon find Shizune. They chase after Mizuki, and they soon fall into a trap. Iruka reveals that Shizune is not Shizune, but Mizuki. Mizuki attacks Iruka, while Naruto deals with Fujin and Raijin. Naruto soon finds that his attacks are ineffective. Everything is starting to come full circle. Their reunion is sort of reminiscent of Season 1. After realising that Shizune is Mizuki, Mizuki wonders how Iruka knew it was him. This is evident in the dialogue between them:
Mizuki: When did you realise that it was me?
Iruka: When we found you hurt, disguised as Shizune, you said that your men were still in pursuit. The only way a subordinate would leave their team leader behind is if she had either died or was on the verge of it. Your injuries were minor.
Mizuki: Hmph, straight out of a textbook, huh? Iruka
Iruka: And you didn’t say a thing when I suggested we take a detour. If you have a squad in pursuit, you’re better off on higher ground so you can scan ahead. It was a clever game you were playing using those prisoners’ clothes, not to buy time but to draw us right into your trap.
Mizuki: Boy, your power of analysis is as good as ever. It reminds me of the old days.
Iruka: Mizuki! Abandon this foolish path you’re on
Mizuki: Please, what could you possibly know about the hardships that I have to endure?
Mizuki then says to Fujin and Raijin, “What are you two waiting for? “Crush them!” Afterwards, a battle takes place between:
Iruka vs Mizuki
Naruto vs. the Legendary Stupid Brothers
While Iruka and Mizuki are battling it out using their kunai, Naruto attempts to use his Shadow Clones against the brothers. However, his punches are ineffective. What will happen next? We are left in suspense until the next episode.
The lesson from this episode is that the need for power will change someone negatively, just like Mizuki has changed to the extent that he has strained the relationship ties he had with Tsubaki.
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