Naruto Anime Episode 152-157: Kurosuki Raiga and Ranmaru

In this fourth filler arc, Naruto heads with Lee, TenTen and Neji to the Katabami Gold Mine in the River Country. The mine is under the brutal command of Kurosuki Raiga, a former Mist Seven Swordsman member. Naruto hopes Raiga can lead him to former Mist Seven member Kisame, and in turn to Orochimaru.

In the following summaries, Orange = Filler.



Episode 152: "Sei aru mono e no sousoukyoku ~ Funeral March for the Living"

Airdate: 09/21/2005

Miners flee from Katabami gold mine and wind up in Konoha. Tsunade directs Naruto, Lee, Neji and TenTen to return with them to the River Country and find out what is going on with Kurosuki Raiga. Hoping to find information on Sasuke, Naruto agrees and the team heads out. The group stops at the Curry of Life Shop, a favorite place of Lee's to get insanely spicy curry.

Episode 153: "Kokoro ni todoke! Ai no tekken ~ Reach the Heart! Iron Fist of Love"

Airdate: 09/28/2005

The team spies on the mine and moves to help the miners. They rebuke the help fearing Raiga's wrath. They learn that Karashi, the son of the Curry of Life Shop now works with the evil Raiga. Raiga himself soon comes to play and unleashes his powerful lightning jutsu on the team.

Episode 154: "Byakugan no tenteki ~ Natural Enemy of the Byakugan"

Airdate: 10/05/2005

The team is trapped in a mist and is unable to see their opponent. Neji's Byakugan can not pierce the mist for some reason, and also sees phantom opponents. Hit with lightning attack after attack, the group manages to separate a mysterious sack from Raiga's back, without it they manage to turn the tide against Raiga. Soon enough he is sent flying by Rasengan.

Episode 155: "Shinobi yoru an'un ~ The Silent Approaching Dark Clouds"

Airdate: 10/12/2005

The group meets Ranmaru and find Karashi at the mercy of the angry miners. Lee helps the man beg for forgiveness and they return to the Curry of Life Shop. The young Ranmaru seemingly begins to turn to the good side but Karashi and Ranmaru leave to investigate Raiga's fate and TenTen follows after. Ranmaru moves to revive Raiga and TenTen can only watch on in surprise.

Episode 156: "Gyakushuu no Raiga ~ Raiga's Counterattack"

Airdate: 10/19/2005

Raiga emerges from the rubble after being revived, TenTen then jumps in to try and stop the crazed Mist missing-nin. She soon falls to his abilities though. Lee, Neji and Naruto then show up and do their best to combat Raiga but they fare no better.