* Kakashi is closing in on wounded Orochimaru, who may seek refuge in his cave full of his people. The Iburi clan are his very loyal creations and they have ability to turn into smoke. Kakashi will need to be very careful approaching this cave. This Naruto Shippuden episode 353 is entitled “Orochimaru’s test subject”. Join us in Naruto Forum for a meaningful discussion and enjoy this week's episode.Aware of someone coming into the cave, Iburi clan needs to discuss just what to do with such intruder. The leader of the Iburi clan voices the obvious; if it’s Orochimaru, their creator and saviour, they will welcome him. If however, someone from Hidden Leaf village came down, they would throw him out.
Kakashi wonders what a strange place he found. Sort of a hideout, fogey, but not misty. Then a strong hand wraps its fingers around his neck and his whole body is lifted off the ground. Lightning Jutsu saves him as young Kakashi jumps to the ceiling of the cave. The same leader of the clan changes into the fog again, then sneaks into his nostrils and Kakashi finds himself being suffocated from inside.
The man explains while Kakashi twists and turns in agony, ‘Body oxidation Jutsu’. It oxidises opponent’s blood, muscles, bones, chakra… the whole insides. Not being able to stand the torture, young Yamato closes Kakashi in a wooden sphere capsule. Threatening to kill both, Yamato demands releasing Kakashi for interrogation. Finally, the fog escapes, and pain stops… for now.
Stretched by wooden vice, Kakashi’s interrogation begins. How did you find this place and how much does the Leaf know about Orochimaru? Not wanting to be part of torture, the Iburi people dissipated. When they were all gone, Yamato apologised to Kakashi and lied saying that they’re both after the same thing. Lord Danzo sent Yamato (Kinoe) to 'stop' Orochimaru from leaving and Leaf sent Kakashi to do the same.
Iburi people must have been listening, because right then they materialised and got ready to attack both Kakashi and Yamato. Yukimi however would not hear of it. She jumped in front of them and guarded them both with her body. She turned into smoke and grabbed her Tenzo (Yamato), who held Kakashi, and they all whiskered upwards.Climbing through various shafts, Yukimi led her Tenzo and Kakashi towards a way out of the cave. Concerned about her safety, Yamato asked whether she wasn’t afraid of the wind. Yukimi simply said “I just wanted to see something with you Tenzo” and with that she turned into a smoke and took Tenzo away leaving Kakashi flabbergasted.
Yukimi must have sneaked inside Tenzo’s body as he alone climbed out of a tree. Happy to be breathing fresh air and just being outside, Yukimi said “I feel live we could do anything together”. Young Yamato recalled a girl in a test tube, one of many Orochimaru’s test subjects. They soon reached the market in neighbouring village. Yukimi left Tenzo’s body and holding his hand she rushed him through the market rejoicing. At one point Yukimi spotted a man eating. Suddenly wanting to try the food out, she sneaked her foggy self into the man’s mouth and tried the food out. As if someone could resist fried corn and cotton candy. Then she spotted a hot dog-eating contest, which of course was one by a man possessed by Yukimi.
Kakashi somehow made it out of the cave, but before he could reach the light he was confronted again with the leader of the Iburi clan. Wheezing in and out of smoke, the man was a very commendable opponent even for Kakashi. Brief fight resulted in man’s sword being sliced in half and Kakashi making it to the outside. Iburi cannot expose themselves to the wind, but when the man assured himself of breeze-less weather, he stepped into the light and followed Kakashi.
Knowing that surprise attack on the Iburi man was the only chance, Kakashi threw kunai, then attempted to slice the man in half. The Iburi man stood next to a big tree and instead of cutting through the man’s torso, Kakashi's sword got stuck in the tree trunk. Sword-less Kakashi must defend himself against the man with just a single kunai and his fists. Killing his own clone after the man ingested himself in Kakashi didn’t help, but another surprise attack at the exact time of materialization did the man in. In his last words he said “Yukimi is the only one who could help Orochimaru. He needs her blood.”Sitting on a bench just outside the market young Yamato confessed Yukimi about being a test subject. Orochimaru prodded, poked and medicated the boy and it hurt. Many kids died, but Yamato had a girl friend in neighbouring test tube and he thought about surviving it all. Yukimi looked at him and said “Should we go somewhere, together?”. From above them they could hear Kakashi’s voice saying “You must be joking”.
Kakashi tried to convince Yukimi to go back to the cave, but Tenzo would not hear of it. His new friend would not be used as bate to catch Orochimaru. Tenzo snatched Yukimi and ran as fast as his legs would carry them. Will Orochimaru make it to the cave and find Yukimi? Will he honour his words and bring the village into the next generation, or will he kill Yukimi to survive? Watch with us the next Naruto Shippuden episode 354 entitled “Their own Paths”.