Returning to the start of the 2nd plot, Naruto Uzumaki returns to Konoha after training with Jiraiya for two and a half years. He is reintroduced to his friends, who have also grown as well as become at least Chunnin, unlike Naruto who is still only a gennin, and brought up to speed with events that occurred during his absence. Team 7 is reformed as a three-man team and, to see how much Naruto and Sakura Haruno have grown, Kakashi Hatake decides to hold another bell test, which was originally done in the fourth episode of the original Naruto. Elsewhere, Akatsuki makes its move on Gaara, who has become a Kazekage during Naruto’s absence.
