The battle between Sasuke and Deidara come to a close with Deidara eventually killing himself in an explosion to kill Sasuke. Sasuke manages to escape by using Manda, Orochimaru's familiar. Elsewhere Naruto and the Konoha ninjas tracking Sasuke come up short when Karin devises a plan to throw off Sasuke's scent. Back in the Leaf village, Jiraiya informs Tsunade that he has found the whereabouts of the Akatsuki leader and starts his infiltration mission. Also in this novel we find out who is pulling the strings of the Akatsuki, it is none other then Madara Uchiha!!!