After being sent to investigate the alarming disappearance of four bloodline limit-wielding ninjas from different countries, Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sai successfully discover their whereabouts and inform the Hokage. Unexpectedly, Tsunade's further arrangements fall apart when Hiruko—the mastermind behind the incident and also a former Konohagakure ninja obsessed with power—appears to announce that he has absorbed the missing ninjas' unique abilities. On the verge of becoming invincible, he seeks one more bloodline limit before starting an all-out war to take over the world. As Konohagakure's past connections with Hiruko raise suspicions among the nations about its involvement in the affair, Tsunade receives an ultimatum to solve the crisis. Left with no other choice, she decides to follow Kakashi's lead after he presents a daring yet salutary scheme—a proposal that could send him to certain death. However, Naruto opposes such a plan! Despite the Hokage's decision, he is determined to save his teacher's life, even if it means fighting friend and foe alike. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 3 - Hi no Ishi wo Tsugu Mono is set approximately between the end of the "Akatsuki Suppression Mission" arc and the beginning of the "Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant" arc, covering episodes 88-129 of the Naruto: Shippuuden anime series. Celebrating both TV Tokyo's 45th anniversary and Naruto manga serialization's 10th anniversary, the movie was released on August 1, 2009 in Japan and registered a box office revenue of 1.02 billion yen. It was announced on the Naruto 10th anniversary site and an extended preview was shown during Japan Expo 2009 in France. While a DVD version was issued in Japan on April 21, 2010, English DVD and Blu-Ray versions were made available in the United States on October 23, 2012 by Viz Media. The movie also has an animanga adaptation; it was released in Japan on July 16, 2010.