Naruto Shippuuden picks up where the original Naruto animated series left off, following the journey of a now older and somewhat wiser Uzumaki Naruto. The plot centers on his mission to rescue his friend, Uchiha Sasuke, from the clutches of the serpentine Shinobi, Orochimaru. After a two-and-a-half-year absence, Naruto comes back to his home village of Konoha, determined to pursue his goals. However, his path is fraught with challenges, as he faces new and formidable adversaries, including the dangerous shinobi group known as Akatsuki.