Naruto Episode 040 A Touch-and-Go Situation! Kakashi vs Orochimaru

As we had witnessed in the last episode, this episode begins with Kakshi’s seal for Sasuke’s cursed seal. Orochimaru appears behind Kakshi and Sasuke, and expresses his interest in Sasuke.

Orochimaru tells Kakashi that his goal is to obtain the Sharingan, the secret power of the Uchiha clan.

Shino’s battle continues, as Shino seems unscathed from the previous attack from the sound ninja. Then, his secret abilities surface on his skin; the Kikai Bugs, which consume Chakra. These fearful insects then surround Shino’s opponent, Zaku; Shino then warns that his opponent will no longer be able to fight, once the bugs attack.

A flashback of the sound ninja shows him in his youth, and being attacked for stealing bread; however, after his ordeal, Orochimaru comes and encourages the youth towards Orochimaru’s path. Orochimaru captivates the youth by telling him he has potential; potential to become one of his pawns, that is. As usual, Orochimaru offers power, and the sound ninja receives some of that power.

Through his frustration, Zaku, frees his other arm, which was understood to be broken, and proceeds to attack both Shino and the onslaught of Kikai Bugs behind him.

The scene, then turns to Orochimaru and Kakashi; Orochimaru explains that he has just taken over the Sound Village, making all of the country’s ninja his to use.

However, the Sound ninja’s supreme attack fails, and the reason why, is that the Kikai bugs had clogged all of his Chakra releasing holes, which are the key to his sound attacks, but this had also severely damaged the opponent. But just as easily as the bugs stopped the ninja, Shino takes him down with a swift maneuver to the face, after Zaku had taken great damage to his arms.

The scene again turns to Kakshi and Orochimaru, with Kakshi forming an attack against Orochimaru. Orochimaru then tells Kakashi that his protective seal will do no good, because Sasuke is the one responsible for keeping the cursed seal at bay; and as Orochimaru says, “He [Sasuke] is an avenger,” and Sasuke will no doubt seek Orochimaru out. And so Orochimaru exits, striking fear in Kakshi, because Kakshi did not have what it took to take care of Orochimaru.

Then, Neji uses his Byakugan to find out that Shino not only summons those Kikai bugs, but lets them live inside of his body. These bug-users are fearsome because their attacks are almost unnoticeable. Everyone is surprised by the damage done to Zaku’s arms, but then it is explained that the clogged Chakra holes made Zaku’s arms explode due to immense internal pressure.

Then, immediately, the next match is announced to begin between Tsurugi Misumi, a Konoha ninja who was Yoroi’s partner, and Kankuro, a Sand ninja. And at that moment, Kakshi returns to the battle arena with good news that Sasuke is ok, and at the hospital, but also with strange news that ANBU escorts are accompanying him. The next two opponents enter the stage, and the episode ends.