Naruto Shippuden Episode 089-100: Find Sanbi|Naruto 588|Naruto Manga 589|Naruto Shippuden Manga 590|Naruto Manga 591|Naruto Spoiler 592

This filler arc focuses on the hunt for Sanbi, the Three-Tailed Bijuu. The arc was based around a core of manga material, but expanded it to include characters and battles not seen in the original events.

In the following summaries, Orange = Filler.

Episode 089: "Chikara no daishou ~ The Cost of Power"

Airdate: 12/18/2008

Kakashi contemplates Naruto surpassing him and finishes off Kakuzu. After reporting to Tsunade, Shikamaru visits Asuma’s grave and notices Kurenai. He reflects on Asuma and resolves to help her with her unborn child. Later, while playing shogi with his father, Shikamaru reveals the “king” to be the unborn generation that will inherit Konoha. After performing an autopsy on Kakuzu, Tsunade realizes the brutal nature of the Rasen Shuriken and forbids its use lest Naruto lose the ability to mold chakra. Elsewhere, Orochimaru and Kabuto discuss the recent events. Kabuto is dispatched to find a woman named Guren.

Episode 090: "Shinobi no ketsui ~ Shinobi’s Determination"

Airdate: 12/25/2008

An injured ANBU sends a message before killing himself. Tsunade receives it and calls for Kakashi and a search team to investigate Orochimaru's remote hideout. Meanwhile Guren and Kabuto force prisoners to fight, with the survivors joining Guren's team. Team Kakashi discuss recent events and Naruto's well-being. Konohamaru intercepts Naruto and shows off his new sexy jutsu. Jiraiya talks to Tsunade about recent events. He finds Naruto and suggests they train again. Kabuto talks to Orochimaru about the testing of a young boy named Yuukimaru. Kakashi's search team heads out and Naruto leaves to train.

Episode 091: "Hakken Orochimaru no ajito ~ Discovery, Orochimaru's Secret Base"

Airdate: 01/08/2009

Kabuto leaves with Yuukimaru, who wonders where his home is. The prisoners who live join Guren. Naruto and Jiraiya arrive at a hot springs. The search team heads towards the hideout. Naruto asks Jiraiya if he's matured, Jiraiya acknowledges. The search team finds the hideout but it self-destructs. Shino sends insects to search. The surviving prisoners challenge Guren, but she crystallizes them. Five remain and vow loyalty. The search team finds the crystallized prisoners and insects, which shatter. Naruto begins collaboration Ninjutsu training with a toad he doesn't like, Gamariki. Elsewhere, Orochimaru orders Sasuke to test his growth.

Episode 092: "Deai ~ Encounter"

Airdate: 01/15/2009

Kabuto and Yuukimaru arrive at a lake. The boy is given a chakra pill, which draws out a creature. Pakkun delivers a crystal for analysis. Guren reports to Orochimaru. Naruto's training fails with Gamariki. With his arm healed, he summons Gamakichi and Gamatatsu and asks for their help. Orochimaru tests Sasuke by having him face a thousand opponents, he defeats them but kills no one. Orochimaru talks to Guren about when they first met and needing her for a mission. Kabuto and Yuukimaru rest at the hot springs. Yuukimaru meets Naruto, who explains home is where someone thinks about you. Yuukimaru disappears. Gamakichi explains about connecting hearts.

Episode 093: "Kayoiau kokoro ~ Connecting Hearts"

Airdate: 01/22/2009

Naruto trains in synchronization with Gamatatsu. They rest and Jiraiya receives a message about Akatsuki. He tells the toads to look after Naruto and leaves. Pakkun arrives at Konoha and they analyze Shino's crystallized insect. Naruto is surprised Jiraiya left and heads to Konoha. Kabuto returns to Orochimaru with Yuukimaru, who sees Naruto from afar. The search team continues their investigation without Shino, who seeks crystallized bugs to defeat the Shouton user. Elsewhere, Guren's men wait and one, Rinji, scouts with bats using a whistle. Akamaru hears it. Naruto returns to Konoha and continues training.

Episode 094: "Ame hitoyo ~ A Night of Rain"

Airdate: 01/29/2009

Orochimaru orders Guren to protect Yuukimaru and she is offended. The henchmen notice they've been tracked. Shino recovers a pregnant bug that survived crystallization. Naruto comes into conflict with the toads as they can't use Suiton. Yuukimaru gets a fever. A storm starts; Guren finds shelter and treats the boy. Tsunade orders Yamato and his team to assist Kakashi but not tell Naruto of the mission. The storm interferes with the Leaf's search. They determine the enemy communicates with bats using high-pitch sounds. After a vague memory, Guren wakes to find Yuukimaru outside. She gives him a crystallized camellia that won't wither as long as she is alive.

Episode 095: "Futatsu no omamori ~ The Two Charms"

Airdate: 02/05/2009

Gamatatsu learns to use water attacks. Guren and Yuukimaru finally arrive. She orders her men to stop the Leaf. Naruto learns of the mission as Sai fails to lie. Shino rejoins the team and explains he needs to increase his insect's reproduction cycle. Kakashi's team continues their search. Naruto confronts Tsunade and he is allowed to join. Kakashi has an idea to avoid the bats using Kiba's nose. Yuukimaru doesn't want to Guren to leave as it reminds him of his mother. He gives Guren a necklace to remember him. Naruto trains more before he leaves. Kakashi's team finds the enemy.

Episode 096: "Miezaru teki ~ The Unseeing Enemy"

Airdate: 02/12/2009

Naruto’s training continues until Sakura comes to fetch him. Gozu engages in battle with Kakashi while the Leaf fight the henchmen in a smoke screen. Elsewhere, Guren plants crystals around the area. Kiba destroys trees to improve wind circulation and clear the smoke. About to give their final blow, the henchmen retreat in smoke, as Rinji detected they were surrounded by Shino bugs. Kakashi's fight ends in a draw. He rejoins the team and sees Hinata is injured from her battle. Guren spies on the Leaf, while Yuukimaru remembers his mother.

Episode 097: "Ranhansha no meikyuu ~ The Labyrinth of Distorted Reflection"

Airdate: 02/19/2009

Results come back after analyzing Guren's crystal, which suggest that even body fluids can be crystallized. Yamato's team waits while Sai searches from the sky for Kakashi's team. Naruto meets Yuukimaru again, who reflects on what Naruto said about finding where one belongs. He then vanishes. Using the crystals she planted, Guren traps the search team in a crystal dome labyrinth. She and her clones then battle the Leaf. Hinata is imprisoned within crystal and held hostage. Naruto breaks through the labyrinth using his new collaboration Ninjutsu.

Episode 098: "Arawareta hyouteki ~ The Target Appears"

Airdate: 02/26/2009

After the barrier breaks, Yamato's team meets with Kakashi's. Naruto recklessly attacks Guren, who counters making his jutsu her own. The Leaf distracts Guren to rescue Hinata, and retreats. Pakkun returns and delivers the crystal analysis. Hinata is freed from the crystal and reveals she protected her body. The Leaf split into teams, one stays to heal Hinata, and the others search for the enemy. Guren's team arrives back at their hideout. Kabuto arrives, so they head for the lake and with more charka pills and a chakra device. Hooked into the system, Yuukimaru brings the Sanbi to the surface.

Episode 099: "Arekuruu bijuu ~ The Rampaging Tailed Beast"

Airdate: 03/05/2009

Yuukimaru's charka draws out the Sanbi. Elsewhere, Akatsuki's Deidara and Tobi rest after looking for the Sanbi. A fog forms, Naruto alerts the enemy of their arrival. The henchmen create a smoke screen. Naruto investigates the lake, while the rest enter the smoke. After Yuukimaru's power stops, Guren and Gozu try to contain the Sanbi. The remaining Leaf arrive and assist Kakashi's team. Naruto notices the Sanbi and Yuukimaru with the enemy. They retreat, but Guren tries to fight on. Yuukimaru tries to use his power to stop the Sanbi, but fails. The Bijuu releases a tsunami which sends everyone underwater. Guren rescues Yuukimaru with her last chakra.

Episode 100: "Kiri no nakade ~ Inside the Mist"

Airdate: 03/12/2009

The Sanbi produces fog. Yuukimaru remains with an unconscious Guren. Gozu leaves his team to find Guren. Naruto thinks it’s his fault Yuukimaru's "home" is with Orochimaru's men. The fog thickens causing Naruto to fall into a Genjutsu until Kakashi arrives. Naruto explains what happened. The Leaf retreat from the fog and patrol the lake. Guren dreams of a woman's death, then wakes to Yuukimaru, who falls into a fever again. Pakkun is sent to Tsunade, who orders Shizune and a team to seal the Sanbi. Guren treats Yuukimaru, who tells her "home" is with her. After talking to Sakura, Naruto leaves his post and searches for Yuukimaru.