Now THAT'S a Naruto episode!!! I know most people have already mentioned this being a good ep. But it needed re-mentioning. This is exactly what made me tune in week after week when before the fillers and looked forward to the next weeks episode.
I cannot wait to see what this weeks episode is going to turn out like. I just hope that the great buildup they had with this episode does not lead to an anti-climatic ending.

I doubt that the scout guy was staying in the same location and saw both teams pass the same place, I think his abilities make him able to be scouting multiple places at once.He could do that by having clones of himself placed in a circular area around their base.
I think the fact that both Gai and Rock Lee really do not have chakra to be stolen by Kisame give them a better chance at beating him. As for Itachi, I dont have much to say except that Kakashi's team are on their own, but do have the added (unknown) possibilities of the Obaasan (old woman).