Focal Point: The Mark of the Leaf

is episode 88 of the original Naruto anime.

Synopsis
Naruto soon realizes why he hasn't been able to pop the water balloon. He sees a cat playing with his water balloon, by turning and rolling it around. Then, after a few seconds, the balloon pops. Naruto used this idea to finally succeed the first step. He shows Jiraiya and explains to him that if he wanted to pop the balloon, he had to make it spin in a whole bunch of different directions. Although, he mastered this step using two hands, Jiraiya thought he was ready to start the second step.

The second step is fairly similar to the first, only this time Naruto must pop a rubber ball, something that will require much more power and energy. After Naruto struggles with this step, Jiraiya helps him by drawing a leaf on his palm to give him a point to concentrate his efforts on. With some additional practice, and a lot of chakra, Naruto is able to complete this stage as well. Elsewhere, Tsunade, an avid and extremely unlucky gambler, hits a winning streak, leading her to believe something bad is about to happen. As she tries to leave the city, with Shizune and Tonton she is met by Orochimaru and Kabuto who greets her by destroying the castle she was walking past.