Itachi Pursuit Mission

Hunt for Itachi is an arc from Part II of the series that spans from chapters 343 to 402. It is typically further divided into a number of smaller arcs.

Summary
Sasuke betrays and defeats Orochimaru, feeling that he can learn nothing else from him and that Orochimaru is unworthy of having his body. Although Orochimaru attempts to take his body by force, Sasuke is able to turn the process against him, later reporting to have simply retained control of his body. With Orochimaru gone, Sasuke recruits Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo, former subordinates and experimental subjects of Orochimaru, to help him in finding and ultimately killing Itachi. After naming their group "Snake", the group sets out find Itachi. Tsunade hears of this and assembles an 8-man team consisting of Team Kakashi and Team 8 to capture Itachi and intercept Sasuke.

Sasuke ends up fighting and defeating Deidara, who seemingly dies by using a Jutsu that sacrifices his own life in the form of a huge explosion. Sasuke uses Genjutsu to control Manda after summoning him and uses the Snake as a shield.

After learning of an Akatsuki lair nearby they go to investigate where, after going in alone, Sasuke finds Itachi. After a brief scuffle Itachi remarks how much Sasuke has grown, and then tells Sasuke to meet him at the Uchiha hideout so that they can finish their dispute.

Meanwhile Jiraiya discusses with one of his Toads on how Naruto may soon need to completely remove the sealing of the demon fox. Jiraiya states this because he feels he may soon die after fighting Pain.

Jiraiya soon fights Pain after this statement making it far into the long drawn out battle, but soon dies after falling to Pain. But no before revealing the truth of Pain on the back of an elder toad, soon to be delivered to Tsunade.

Sasuke and his companions Team Snake, are en route to the Uchiha hideout when Hoshigaki Kisame appears in front of them, insisting that Sasuke travel on to meet Itachi alone. This suits him and Suigetsu fine, as Suigetsu wishes to challenge Kisame for his Samehada, and Sasuke would insist on fighting Itachi alone.