Ep 26. Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet!

Naruto season 2 episode 26, entitled "Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet!" picks up where the last episode left off with Naruto still working hard in his training with Jiraiya. In this episode, Naruto receives another guest visitor in the form of his old tutor, Ebisu. After being away for some time on a new mission, Ebisu returns to Konoha and finds out about Naruto's progress.

Ebisu is quite surprised to see how much stronger Naruto has become, but he still believes that Naruto is lacking in certain areas. Being the determined and enthusiastic trainer that he is, Ebisu decides to take Naruto under his wing again for a little while to help him improve his weaknesses. Although Naruto initially resists, he quickly realizes that the lessons Ebisu has planned for him are some of the toughest he's ever faced.

Throughout the episode, viewers get to see glimpses of the kind of training that Naruto has been undertaking thus far with Jiraiya - learning the Rasengan technique and fine-tuning his chakra control among other things. But this episode takes a different turn as Ebisu takes Naruto through what he believes are the most important basics that any Shinobi should have. He makes Naruto focus on these basics, which are meant to help Naruto become more aware of his surroundings and react better to any situation.

As Naruto undergoes training with Ebisu, viewers get to see some of the comedic moments that arise from his stubborn nature. For instance, he struggles to master the 'water walking' technique, which involves focusing one's chakra so as to walk on the surface of water. This is one of the fundamentals that Ebisu is trying to get Naruto to improve upon. Naruto is eventually forced to resort to wearing some special footwear in order to achieve the desired level of chakra control, a move that has hilarious consequences.

Another aspect of the episode that stands out is the return of Konohamaru. Naruto's young protégé has also been away on a mission and decides to visit his sensei and old friend upon his return. Konohamaru is surprised and excited to see how much Naruto has grown and quickly realizes that he still has a lot to catch up on. It's great to see this character's development over the course of the episode, as he also takes part in some of the training exercises that Ebisu has planned.

In conclusion, Naruto season 2 episode 26 "Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet!" is a fun and engaging episode that provides viewers with a glimpse of the kind of training that Shinobi undergo. The return of Ebisu, Konohamaru, and other characters adds more flavor and depth to the episode. While Naruto is certainly not lacking in enthusiasm and desire to become stronger, this episode showcases how training and discipline can be effective in helping him improve his skills.