Ep 146. The Successor's Wish

Naruto Shippuden season 3 episode 146, titled "The Successor's Wish," follows the journey of Naruto and his team as they work to complete their mission of stopping Akatsuki. In this episode, the focus is on Gaara, the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, who is in the midst of a grave crisis.

In the previous episodes, Gaara was captured by Akatsuki and had the One-Tailed Beast extracted from him. As a result, he was on the brink of death. However, Naruto and his friends were able to rescue him and bring him back to their village to receive medical treatment.

"The Successor's Wish" begins with Gaara finally waking up after several days of being unconscious. The moment he opens his eyes, he is greeted by Naruto, who has been keeping watch over him the entire time. Gaara thanks Naruto for saving his life and expresses his regret for not being able to fulfill his duties as Kazekage.

Naruto assures Gaara that he doesn't need to feel guilty and that he can always count on him and their friends. He tells Gaara that they will work together to protect both their villages and stop Akatsuki's evil plans.

Meanwhile, the other members of Akatsuki are busy with their own plans. Sasori, who was defeated by Sakura and Chiyo in a previous episode, is replaced by a new member named Tobi. Tobi is a mysterious figure who wears a mask and speaks in a high-pitched voice. It is not clear what his true intentions are, but he is clearly up to no good.

Back in the Hidden Sand Village, the Kazekage Council meets to discuss the future of their village. They are worried about the loss of the One-Tailed Beast and are unsure of how to proceed. They also express concern about Gaara's ability to continue serving as Kazekage, given his recent trauma.

At this point, Naruto steps in and offers a solution. He suggests that Gaara be relieved of his duties as Kazekage and that a new, more experienced leader be put in charge temporarily. This way, Gaara can focus on his recovery without worrying about the fate of his village.

The council members are hesitant at first, but Gaara himself agrees with Naruto's proposal. He realizes that he still has a lot to learn before he can lead effectively and is grateful for the opportunity to step down temporarily.

With this decision made, Naruto and his team prepare to leave the village and continue their mission. Before they depart, however, Gaara has one more request of Naruto. He wants to speak to him privately, and he asks the rest of the team to wait outside.

Once they are alone, Gaara thanks Naruto again for saving his life. He tells Naruto that he has always admired him for his strength and determination, and that he believes Naruto is the true successor to the previous Hokage, the most powerful ninja in their village's history.

Naruto is stunned by this revelation. He has always wanted to be Hokage, but he never expected someone as important as Gaara to believe in him so strongly. He thanks Gaara for his support and promises to do his best to live up to his expectations.

As the episode comes to a close, Naruto and his team set out on their next mission, more determined than ever to stop Akatsuki and protect their respective villages. Meanwhile, Tobi and the other members of Akatsuki continue to lurk in the shadows, plotting their next move. The stage is set for even more epic battles and intense drama in the episodes to come.