Ep 163. Explosion! Sage Mode

Naruto Shippuden season 3 episode 163, titled "Explosion! Sage Mode," follows Naruto as he trains under the guidance of the toads to master the Sage Mode, which will significantly enhance his abilities. The episode starts with Naruto trying to balance his chakra while standing on a falling toad. Initially finding it difficult, Naruto eventually manages to balance himself, completing his first step towards mastering Sage Mode.

After that, Naruto is instructed to climb a waterfall with the water of the falls hitting him. Naruto finds this task even more daunting, as he struggles to climb and balance himself against the impact of the water. But with his unwavering determination, he pushes himself and successfully reaches the top of the waterfall.

Once he reaches the top, Naruto is enlightened by the toads regarding the concept of natural energy and how it can be channeled to augment one's abilities. Naruto realizes that these teachings somewhat mirror the ones he learned from his mother about the nature of chakra.

The episode then shifts to Konoha, where a meeting is being conducted to discuss the strategies regarding the impending war with the Akatsuki. Tsunade instructs Shikamaru and his team to gather any information on the enemy's movements while alerting the Medical Corps to start making medicinal preparations. Among the information gathered, the team figures out Itachi's involvement with Akatsuki's activities.

Meanwhile, Naruto is taught how to actively sense and absorb natural energy to power up and reach his Sage Mode. However, the task proves to be resistant as it's a complex technique that demands immense concentration and control. Naruto struggles initially, but eventually, he enters the Sage Mode, which has a visible physical transformation. With the Sage Mode, Naruto now has a greater perception and sensing abilities along with his innate prowess.

The episode shifts back to Konoha, where the heads of the village are still in despair over the looming war. The meeting concludes with having all the teams start preparing themselves for the war that could break out any day.

Back in the forest, Naruto starts having trouble maintaining his Sage Mode. It turns out that the reason is the unbearable pain caused by actively absorbing the natural energy. The technique also leaves him vulnerable to attacks while in the void-like state. The episode concludes with Naruto bracing himself for another round of training, with the toads urging him to do whatever it takes to master the Sage Mode.

"Explosion! Sage Mode" serves as a crucial episode, as it highlights the extent of Naruto's capabilities and his dedication to his training. It also shows the consequences of channeling supernatural energy, which can result in excruciating pain. The episode also gives a glimpse of the upcoming war and the preparation that the village is making to face it. With Shikamaru and his team investigating Akatsuki's movements, the stage is set for the upcoming adventures and conflicts.