Kakashi sends Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru on an A-rank mission after Sasuke. He summons his dog, Pakkun, to follow Sasuke's scent. Sakura quickly wakes up Naruto, but when she turns to Shikamaru, she notices he's only pretending to sleep. Gai punches a hole in the stadium wall and commands the three and Pakkun to hurry. From the distance, Shino also overhears the commotion and heads off as well.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Sarutobi prepare to fight undisturbed inside their barrier fortress. The Third uses Ninpou, Kawara Shuriken (tile shuriken) to pull tile from the roof and hurl it at Orochimaru. Orochimaru counters by calling Hidden Snake Hands. His tongue turns into a snake and bites Sarutobi, but Sarutobi is quick to use a replacement technique and counters Orochimaru from behind with Doton, Doryuu Taiga! (Earth Element, Moving Land River). A flood of mud forms under Orochimaru’s feet, sending him sliding backwards. To aid the attack, Sarutobi does Doton, Doryuudan! (Earth Element, Earth Dragon Missile) and Karyuudan! (Fire Dragon Missile) to form an earth/fire attack that looks like a mud dragon head that attacks while Sarutobi spits fire.
The Third then gets serious, ripping off his Hokage attire to reveal his ninja outfit, and the two pick up speed. Sarutobi uses Shuriken, Kagebunshin no Jutsu (Shuriken Shadow Replication) to send several shurikens flying at Orochimaru, who counters with his forbidden summon, Kuchiyose, Edo Tensei (Summoning, Reincarnation to the Impure World) to summon the First and Second Hokage’s caskets as a shield. As the third casket is rising, Sarutobe realizes he must stop the Fourth Hokage from being summoned and becoming one of Orochimaru’s puppets or it will be impossible for him to win. He does, but battling the First and Second will be challenging enough.
Meanwhile, in class, the kids stare out the window sensing something weird is happening. Konohamaru notices rings around the sun and remembers what his grandpa told him - that rainbow rings were the sign of snakes and are bad omens. Iruka soon calls an evocation drill and the kids head up to the mountain hideaway.
The First and Second are amazed that Orochimaru was able to use Edo Tensei, a forbidden technique, to summon them. Still, they have no choice but to fight Sarutobi when commanded