Deidara, riding on his large bird clay, decides to attack Gaara from a distance. Gaara, however, is able to transform the sand into pseudo-Shukaku arms in order to perform long range attacks. As Deidara gets higher up into the air, Gaara uses his sand to create a platform in mid-air. The shinobi of Sunagakure, including Gaara's brother Kankurō, are on the ground witnessing the aerial battle. Deidara resorts to using his explosive clay to target Gaara, only for Gaara to absorb the damage with his sand and then have his sand reform. Deidara then resorts to using a much more powerful variant of his C1. Gaara is able to encase himself in a sand cocoon, while using his Third Eye to maintain his vision. At the same time, he manages to trap Deidara with his Sand Binding Prison technique, which manifests Shukaku's arms to imprison his opponent(s).
In Konoha, Naruto and Sakura are still attempting to take the bells from Kakashi. Kakashi manages to predict their moves using his Sharingan and performs hand signs at a speed no human eye can follow, using Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, followed with Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique and finishing with Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique. Unable to land a hit on Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura have no choice but to retreat and devise a new strategy. Kakashi also retreats, remarking how his Sharingan is exhausted by Naruto and Sakura's efforts. He contemplates taking the time to finish his Icha Icha book, but remembers that Naruto and Sakura are too tough for him to fight while simultaneously reading.
Naruto remarks how Kakashi's intelligence exceeds Shikamaru's, how his sense of smell is greater than Kiba's, how his taijutsu surpasses that of Rock Lee's and how his Sharingan is more powerful than Sasuke's. Nonetheless, Sakura states that a great ninja like him must have some sort of a weakness. After deliberating on the thought, Naruto discovers Kakashi's weakness and shares it with Sakura. The pair then track down Kakashi and launch a frontal attack. As they rush towards him, Naruto begins to spoil the ending of Jiraiya's book. Not wanting to hear spoilers, Kakashi covers his ears, but realises his Sharingan can still read Naruto's lips. Exclaiming at Naruto to stop, Kakashi closes his eyes as well, and Naruto and Sakura take the opportunity to take the bells from him, successfully passing the test.