The Directive to Take the Nine-Tails

is episode 376 of the Naruto: Shippūden anime.

Summary
The episode begins in an underground lair with Orochimaru bringing his experiment to life with lightning. However, Orochimaru's plan backfires as the experiment attacks him and begins to destroy the building, forcing Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi to evacuate. The next day, Akatsuki members Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki find the broken experiment in the destroyed building and bring it back to their leader, Pain. In a secret Akatsuki hideout, Pain uses the King of Hell to repair the experiment, as well as add new modifications to it. The Akatsuki leader then instructs Itachi to capture the Nine-Tails with the newly repaired experiment, now hooded by a cloak, joining him in his mission. Itachi soon arrives near Konoha and orders the experiment to capture Naruto. The experiment begins its search for Naruto, attacking several villagers and defeats Team Guy in the process. Naruto himself shows up to stop the experiment so that he can get back to training. Naruto attacks the experiment with his multitude of clones, but the experiment easily repels the assault. Naruto manages to land a hit on the experiment's cloak, removing it. The experiment is revealed to be a mechanical replica of Naruto, whom is named Mecha-Naruto. Mecha-Naruto begins siphoning Naruto's Nine Tails chakra, causing Naruto to lose his strength. Kakashi and Yamato arrive with Kakashi distracting Mecha-Naruto with his Lightning Cutter, giving Yamato the opportunity to save Naruto. The trio manage to escape using a secret tunnel and Mecha Naruto begins to destroy the village in an effort to find Naruto. In the Hokage's office, Tsunade devises a plan to lure Mecha-Naruto away from the village: Naruto rides away from the village in a palanquin with Yamato while Choji, Kiba, Neji and Shikamaru act as bearers and Kakashi as backup. The plan is put into action and Mecha-Naruto starts pursuing the palanquin. Shino, not wanting to be left behind like last time, arrives to distract Mecha Naruto, but is defeated. The group decides to escape into the forest, with Shikamaru switching places with Kakashi so that he can try to defeat Mecha-Naruto. However, Shikamaru is defeated after being smashed into the ground by Mecha-Naruto. The episode ends with Tsunade ordering Shizune to request assistance from Sunagakure.

Trivia

 * In the Akatsuki hideout, Deva Path is shown using the King of Hell instead of the Naraka Path.