Naruto Shippuden 288 is a good episode, but not a massive step up from last week two episode special, it features both comrades, Kakashi and Guy fighting two members of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Jinpachi and Kushimaru. Kakashi realizes that with Guy’s teamwork, they can both work together and defeat Jinpachi and Kushimaru.

Naruto Shippuden 288 begins as Kakashi runs from tree to tree looking to help anyone he can, he hear that Sai was able to seal one of the Swordsmen of the Mist, Kakashi is proud to hear such a thing. As Kakashi keeps on moving, he hears a voice shouting for help. He quickly heads towards the voice to find a man.

This man seems to be walking in a weird fashion, Kakashi realizes that he’s been tied up by strings, he’s being controlled by Kushimaru from up above the tears. The man is pushed against the tree, then the needle Kushimaru holds is thrust through his chest, the man dies, Kakashi realizes that many other shinobi’s have died in the same manner.

We then see Jinpachi appear as he keeps on destroying anyone in front of him, Kakashi quickly faces him so he can help the others, he notices  girl called Ran and is pissed because she’s alive, she just needs to get up. Jinpachi and Kushimaru are looking at Kakashi as though he can’t do anything. They spar a little while Kakashi defends all of Kushimaru and Jinpachi’s attacks.

Out of nowhere Guy shows up and does one of he’s famous kicks pushing both Jinpachi and Kushimaru back. He introduces himself and says that he’s sorry to Kakashi. Kakashi then quickly wakes up the girl called Ran, he tells her to go away from this place as soon as she can because it’s dangerous for her.

At this moment, they both fight with the swordsmen, Guy quickly shows that he can’t be touched because of his extreme speed, Jinpachi is just unable to get him with his Explosive Sword, Kushimaru fights Kakashi but not with his needle  Kakashi realizes that he set a trap. He activates it and only Guy is trapped.

As Guy is trapped, Jinpachi enrolls his explosive paper and send it towards Guy, Kakashi comes to help Guy, he couldn’t cut the string, Kakashi quickly releases his technique, Earth Style! Multi Mud Wall!, releasing a guard for both Guy and Kakashi, protecting them from the blast surrounding them.

Unfortunately Kakashi’s eyes were damaged a little and thus he’s unable to see for a while, he shuts his eyes for the moment. Jinpachi and Kushimaru keep on looking at Guy and Kakashi.

We move on to the past where Kakashi, Guy and Rin are together  they have got themselves into trouble and only have a limited supply. They keep on talking about how they can get out of this trouble. Afterwards, Guy is running while Stone Ninja’s are running after him, they hit in him the leg, out of nowhere Kakashi appears and start kicking some ass.

After some time, they both appear to be alive, while other Ninja’s surround them. Both of them are out of chakra, Kakashi says that Rin’s probably gotten away and got back to the main squad. Kakashi notices that there is something happening, after saying that he’s got no chakra, he creates a Chidori out of nowhere.

Caring for his friends, he sees a large seal thing going up to the sky as though they’re trying to control it. Kakashi goes towards it with his Chidori and strikes the light with it, it null’s it, Guy is surprised by this action. Kakashi explains that after thinking about saving his friends, he was able to get some more chakra. Guy tries to protect Kakashi now, he finds the enemy and runs towards them.

We return to the norm where they are both running towards the top of the crater made by the explosion. They face Jinpachi and Kushimaru, they start fighting, Jinpachi and Kushimaru can’t get a hit on Kakashi and Guy. They both start arguing because they want to fight properly without the other.

Kakashi unleashes his Chidori and Guy goes super strength on Jinpachi. Kakashi is told to go back as he still can’t see. Jinpachi gets pissed and wants to blow everything up around him, even if they don’t return to their normal bodies or even repair their own. Out of nowhere a Shadow Mimic appears and holds both Kushimaru and Jinpachi.

Ran who was previously saved return with some more people to help Kakashi and Guy. She’s brought the Sealing Team. We move onto the past where Kakashi and Guy are running towards the enemy, when they notice Rin running with reinforcements, it seems that Rin and Ran have some similarities. Naruto Shippuden 288 ends here.

A good episode concerning Guy and Kakashi, but not very related to the actual Arc, even though it’s actually part of the war, the whole thing about the Seven Swordsmen have gotten a little boring for me. Although I’m hoping it’ll get better during next week’s Naruto Shippuden 289, titled “The Lightning Blade: Ameryuri Ringo!”, when another members of the Seven Swordsmen, Ameyuri Ringo is on the line.