The Promise That Could Not Be Kept

Synopsis
The retrieval team was brought back to Konoha where, despite the severity of their injuries, all managed to fully recover. Neji and Kiba, wo were seriously wounded are successfully healed by Shizune and Ninja Medics. Shikamaru is desperate and feels the pain of failure and tries to resign as a team leader but after receiving an inspirational speech from his father he gets back his courage. Shizune reports to Tsunade that Naruto is is good condition. When Naruto came to, he apologised to Sakura for not managing to keep his promise and failing to bring Sasuke back. Sakura didn't mind, and still thanked Naruto for his wanting to fulfil his promise to her in the future. Afterwards, Jiraiya meets Naruto and tells him that the Akatsuki would want him three years later and he needs to fight to protect himself and thus proposes him to train with him. Naruto argues that he wants to get Sasuke back but Jiraiya warns him that he cannot be successful and he should think about the Akatsuki and himself. A flashback about Jiraiya and Orochimaru is seen where Jiraiya tries to stop Orochimaru from taking the dark path. Jiraiya offered Naruto a chance to leave with him for three years to train. Naruto accepted, and Jiraiya told him they would leave whenever he was ready. Elsewhere, Sasuke arrived at Orochimaru's lair, where he soon proved himself worthy of Orochimaru's guidance. Meanwhile, Akatsuki assembled, ready to start their mission three years from then.