Anime Information : Naruto Arcs #038 Three-Tails Arc (full Info)

The Three-Tails Arc is the second filler arc from Part II of the series, and spans from episodes 89 to 112 of the Naruto: Shippūden anime. The anime DVDs for this arc call it "The Three-Tailed Demon Turtle". It deals with the efforts of Akatsuki, Konoha, and Team Guren to capture the Three-Tails. This arc is preceded by the Hidan and Kakuzu Arc and followed by the Itachi Pursuit Arc.

Summary

Orochimaru instructed Kabuto Yakushi along with Team Guren to take a young boy named Yūkimaru to a lake. After they arrived, Kabuto forced Yūkimaru to release all of his chakra, which caused the Three-Tails to begin to surface from the lake. With Guren's help, the beast was completely revealed, and they attempted to capture it. Their attempts proved insufficient, however, and the beast created a large tidal wave to wash its attackers away. Tsunade finds the location of Orochimaru's hideout and sent Kakashialong with Team Kurenai to see it. They get into a fight with Guren and Shino sends back one of his crystallised bugs. Then Tsunade sends Yamato, Sai, and Sakura to help them along with Naruto who meets them along the way. Team Kakashi and Kurenai follow Guren and discover that the thing they were after was the Three-Tails. Shizune, Ino, Tenten and Lee are assembled to help with the hunt for the Three-Tails. They all meet up and split into to groups to seal the tailed beast in its own dimensionand get Yūkimaru. The Sealing group, Team Three is Shizune, Hinata, Sakura, and Ino. The Guarding group, Team Two is Yamato, Tenten, Kiba, and Lee, while Team One the Fighting group is Naruto, Kakashi, Sai, and Shino.

The sealing of the Three-Tails.

Team Three tried to use Four-Corner Sealing Barrier to permanently trap the beast in its own dimension. Just as the sealing began to work, the Konoha ninja were interrupted by Guren, which prompted the beast to attack them all. Yūkimaru was able to calm the beast down temporarily, but, after he became tired, the Three-Tails turned its attention to him. Guren and Naruto Uzumaki came to his defence, but were swallowed in the process. With the help of their allies on the outside, they were able to escape, and the Konoha ninja tried once more to seal the beast.

Tobi and Deidara confront the beast.

Just when the sealing was almost complete, Yūkimaru, angered by the apparent death of Guren, empowered the beast to break free of its restraints. The Three-Tails went on a rampage, attacking everyone nearby and crushing Nurari, Kigiri, and Kihō. Its attempts to attack Yūkimaru, however, had no effect. It was only through the use of the Wind Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet that the beast was driven away. The sealing attempt was left to Anbu members, and the remaining Konoha ninja returned home. Deidara and Tobi of Akatsuki soon found these Anbu members and disposed of them.

The beast's capture took place much earlier in the manga (at the start of the Hidan and Kakuzu Arc), but played out in much the same way as in the anime. Tobi and Deidara confronted the beast, to which it responded by beginning to chase Tobi. With the Three-Tails distracted, Deidara moulded an explosive clay fish in an attempt to devour it. It was unclear if this marked the end of the battle, as the remainder of the battle went unseen. As the two towed the Three-Tails to the Akatsuki's lair after the battle, Tobi gloated at bringing the Three-Tails down with his special jutsu, but Deidara thought otherwise. It was later sealed in the sealing statue.

Episodes

#	Episode Title	Japanese Airdate	English Airdate
89	The Price of Power	18 December 2008	30 July 2011
90	A Shinobi's Determination	25 December 2008	6 August 2011
91	Orochimaru's Hideout Discovered	8 January 2009	20 August 2011
92	Encounter	15 January 2009	27 August 2011
93	Connecting Hearts	22 January 2009	3 September 2011
94	A Night of Rain	29 January 2009	10 September 2011
95	The Two Charms	5 February 2009	17 September 2011
96	The Unseeing Enemy	12 February 2009	1 October 2011
97	The Labyrinth of Distorted Reflection	19 February 2009	8 October 2011
98	The Target Appears	26 February 2009	5 November 2011
99	Raging Tailed Beast	5 March 2009	24 January 2012
100	Inside the Mist	12 March 2009	24 January 2012
101	Everyone's Feelings	26 March 2009	24 January 2012
102	Regroup!	26 March 2009	24 January 2012
103	The Four-Corner Sealing Barrier	9 April 2009	24 January 2012
104	Breaking the Crystal Style	9 April 2009	24 January 2012
105	The Battle Over the Barrier	16 April 2009	24 January 2012
106	Red Camellia	23 April 2009	24 January 2012
107	Strange Bedfellows	30 April 2009	24 January 2012
108	Guidepost of the Camellia	7 May 2009	24 January 2012
109	Cursed Seal Counterattack	14 May 2009	24 January 2012
110	Memory of Guilt	21 May 2009	24 January 2012
111	Shattered Promise	28 May 2009	24 January 2012
112	A Place to Return To	4 June 2009	24 January 2012

Trivia

• To date, this arc is the longest anime-only arc in the series.
• Isobu recalls meeting Naruto during the events of this arc, when he confronts him again during the Fourth Shinobi World War alongside the other jinchūriki and tailed beasts.