Naruto Anime Episode 136-141: Rice Country (Fuuma Clan)

The first of many filler arcs, Naruto and Sakura travel to the Rice Field Country, home of Hidden Sound, to retrieve Sasuke. Sakura learns that she is no good at her current level, and becomes Tsunade's apprentice.

In the following summaries, Orange = Filler.

Episode 136: "Sennyuu sousa!? Tsuini kitakita chou S kyuu ninmu ~ Infiltration Investigation!? Finally It Comes, It Comes, A Super S-Rank Mission"

Airdate: 05/25/2005

Naruto, Sakura and Jiraiya head to the Rice Field Country to track down Sasuke. When Jiraiya heads into a post town to gather information, Naruto and Sakura are attacked by a mysterious ninja.

Episode 137: "Muhoumono no gai Fuuma ichizoku no kage ~ Street of Outlaws Shadow of the Fuuma Clan"

Airdate: 06/01/2005

The group rests at an old temple and Jiraiya travels to gather more information. He is ambushed but uses his skills to win over the attackers. He learns they are the Fuuma, a clan now on hard times since Orochimaru took over the country. Naruto and Sakura meet their earlier attacker and learn her name is Fuuma Sasame, who panicked when she heard them mention Hidden Sound. Other Fuuma now allied with Orochimaru then begin to attack the trio.

Episode 138: "Kiyoki uragiri Hakanaki negai ~ Pure Betrayal Fleeting wish"

Airdate: 06/08/2005

Jiraiya returns and saves the trio and their attackers flee. The group rests with Sasame, who then betrays them for the chance to see her cousin Arashi again. When she learns the evil Fuuma plan on killing the Konoha ninja, she tries to protect them. The Leaf ninja reveal they were not actually knocked. Kagerou uses her ultimate technique but Jiraiya avoids the attack. She then flees with her defeated brethren Jigumo and Kamakiri. She returns to Hidden Sound to ask Orochimaru to help heal them, but he coldly cuts them down.

Episode 139: "Kyoufu! Orochimaru no tachi ~ Terror! Orochimaru's Compound"

Airdate: 06/15/2005

Sasame takes the group to Hidden Sound. While Sasame waits outside the Leaf ninja go in. They soon have to split when three divergent paths are offered. Jiraiya meets a dreamy koto player and falls to her wiles. Naruto comes upon many traps and is about to be drowned alongside Gamakichi. Sakura travels unimpeded and faces Kabuto who reveals that Sasuke has died...

Episode 140: "Futatsu no kodou Kabuto no wana ~ Two Heartbeats Kabuto's Trap"

Airdate: 06/22/2005

Naruto arrives after being saved by Sasame. He then begins to do battle with Kabuto. Kabuto avoids Naruto's attack and connects his life to Naruto's own with chakra strings. When it is revealed Kabuto is actually Kagerou, Sasame comes to the rescue using a special Fuuma tag to cut the chakra strings which connected Kagerou and Naruto's lives together. Sasame's cousin Arashi then arrives and lets them know he does not want to leave Orochimaru's service.

Episode 141: "Sakura no Ketsui ~ Sakura's Decision"

Airdate: 06/29/2005

Arashi reveals that he is the product of Orochimaru's experiments. The deadly beast attacks the group and imprisons Naruto. Sakura thinks over how she has been useless and moves to protect her comrades. Sasame manages to momentarily bring Arashi to his senses and give Naruto enough time to break free. The resulting explosion gravely injures Arashi. Jiraiya arrives having avoided death. Arashi tells the group Orochimaru and Sasuke are long gone. The group parts ways and Sasame and the Fuuma pledge to become powerful again. Sakura then decides to speak to Tsunade about training.