| This article is about the episode. For the manga chapter, see Contradiction. |
"Paradox" (矛盾, Mujun) is episode 301 of the Naruto: Shippūden anime.
Summary
As the Fourth Division's attacks prove futile against the Third Raikage, he re-emphasises how they were to attack him. Temari and a few other tessenjutsu users attack the Third with the Wind Release: Cast Net technique which appears to have finally incapacitated the Raikage, but as shinobi from the Sealing Team move in to bind him, they are sent reeling. Spotting his former aide Dodai amongst the Allied Shinobi Forces' ranks, he steps forward and tells Temari a bit more about the Raikage and noted that they needed a more powerful Wind Release technique to attack him. Noting that there was not a more powerful Wind Release user amongst their ranks or even in the Alliance, Naruto Uzumaki's shadow clone arrives, announcing that he would be able to do the job. Leaping into action, Naruto forms a Rasenshuriken which after some manipulation, finally lands an attack on the Raikage which proves to be just as futile. Retreating as Kabuto Yakushi eradicated the Third's persona, Dodai instructed the Earth Release users to erect a wall which he himself fortifies. Telling his comrades to retreat nonetheless, his words fall on deaf ears as the Raikage breaks through the wall using his Hell Stab. As the division is set upon again, Naruto and Dodai discuss the legacy of the Raikage leading Naruto to want to know how the Third got the scar on his body which was noted to be the "ultimate shield". Needing to ask the Eight-Tails directly, Dodai creates a distraction which the Third chases, buying them time to contact Inoichi Yamanaka who patches them through to B. Upon hearing of the monstrous battle between the Third and the Eight-Tails, Naruto formulates a strategy using Sage Mode as his cloak had dissipated due to attempting to make a Tailed Beast Ball. Ultimately, the Third ends up stabbing himself with his One-Finger Nukite, and his body begins to disintegrate and he is eventually bound and sealed. Dodai surmises that in the end, no one person could have the strongest shield and spear, noting that in the end, the Third had the strongest spear. Naruto agrees, noting that Gaara probably had the strongest shield. Meanwhile on Gaara's battlefield, the division struggles to defeat the Second Mizukage.
Trivia
- The word for "paradox" is composed of characters for "spear" (矛, hoko) and "shield" (盾, tate), setting the theme for the episode.
- The scene where the Third Raikage is confronting ten thousand shinobi, the group is composed of shinobi from the other four great nations.
Credits
| Role | Seiyū | English Voice Actor | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Japanese | Rōmaji | ||
| Naruto Uzumaki | Junko Takeuchi | 竹内 順子 | Takeuchi Junko | Maile Flanagan |
| Killer B | Hisao Egawa | 江川 央生 | Egawa Hisao | Catero Colbert |
| Eight-Tails | Masaki Aizawa | 相沢 まさき | Aizawa Masaki | Matthew Mercer |
| Fifth Kazekage: Gaara | Akira Ishida | 石田 彰 | Ishida Akira | Liam O'Brien |
| Temari | Romi Park | 朴 璐美 | Paku Romi | Tara Platt |
| Inoichi Yamanaka | Daiki Nakamura | 中村 大樹 | Nakamura Daiki | Kyle Hebert |
| Dodai | Shinobu Matsumoto | 松本 忍 | Matsumoto Shinobu | Todd Haberkorn |
| Matsuri | Maya Sakamoto | 坂本 真綾 | Sakamoto Māya | Laura Bailey |
| Yukata | Tomomi Nakatsuka | 中塚 智実 | Nakatsuka Tomomi | Stephanie Sheh |
| Kabuto Yakushi | Nobutoshi Kanna | 神奈 延年 | Kanna Nobutoshi | Henry Dittman |
| Second Mizukage | Hideyuki Umezu | 梅津 秀行 | Umezu Hideyuki | Jamieson Price |
| Third Raikage | Naoki Tamanoi | 玉野井 直樹 | Tamanoi Naoki | Beau Billingslea |
| Allied Shinobi | Kosuke Goto Ryuichi Kijima Taira Kikumoto | 後藤 光祐 木島 隆一 菊本 平 | Gotō Kōsuke Kijima Ryūichi Kikumoto Taira | Kyle Hebert Matthew Mercer Travis Willingham |
