Ch. 182A Word in Private
Sasuke used the Sharingan to uncover how Hyde had exploited Timsi and the children to seek the Gelel Stone, and Naruto and Gaara arranged Timsi’s custody and discussed Gaara’s relationship with Shukaku. After the mission ended, Orochimaru’s agents collected Gelel Stone fragments, and Orochimaru planned a deal while remaining presumed dead.
- Sasuke hypnotized Timsi with the Sharingan, and Timsi revealed that Hyde had used his royal blood in an attempt to find the Gelel Stone vein, accidentally destroying it.
- Timsi explained that Hyde had captured children to power the Mobile Fortress and transform them into armored soldiers, and Gaara agreed Sunagakure would settle the children and let Naruto keep Timsi.
- Naruto privately encouraged Gaara to reconcile with Shukaku and admitted he had promised Shukaku that Gaara might lend him a clone for outings.
- Naruto, his teammates, and Gaara completed the mission by delivering the Snow Weasel and Timsi to the client’s designated village, while Naruto joked with Kakashi about Ship Girls.
- After the group left, a snake collected Gelel Stone fragments and brought them to Guren, who delivered them to Orochimaru in his underground laboratory.
- Orochimaru told Guren to contact someone about a deal without using his name, then considered how Konoha’s investigation and the organization hunting him might be affected by his presumed death.