The episode follows three main threads as the invasion of Konoha continues:

: Leaving Sasuke to chase Gaara, Shino stays behind to confront Kankuro. Kankuro uses his puppet, Crow, to launch hidden weapon attacks and poison gas bombs. Shino utilizes his Destruction Bugs (Kikaichu) to dodge and counter-attack. While Shino eventually defeats Kankuro by having his bugs consume the puppet master's chakra, he also collapses due to inhaling Kankuro's poison gas.

: Shino creates a copy of himself using his bugs to deceive Kankuro.