Chapter Summaries

Tsunade secured Sunagakure’s Puppet Technique scroll and agreed to discuss a deep military alliance with Chiyo, while Gaara was released and returned to a changed village. Gaara resolved to lead Sunagakure through reforms in preparation for the future shown by the Heavenly Screen.

• Tsunade demanded Sunagakure’s complete secret Puppet Technique scroll, and Chiyo handed it over while proposing a military mutual assistance treaty with Konoha.
• An Anbu released Gaara from prison, and Chiyo and Sosuke escorted him out of Konoha.
• Danzo angrily condemned Tsunade for releasing Gaara and giving up strategic leverage, then hinted that he would act against her.
• Villagers welcomed Gaara home with a flower and signs, surprising him with their changed attitude.
• Gaara ordered Sunagakure to form a squad to develop joint Ninjutsu against Susanoo and open basic Puppet Technique courses to all Genin.

Mei Terumi arrived in Konoha to propose a permanent alliance and offered Kirigakure’s Three-Tails sealing formula in exchange for medical aid for survivors of the Blood Mist Era. She and Tsunade began negotiations as Danzo watched warily, and Mei resolved to prepare Kirigakure for the threats revealed by the Heavenly Screen.

• Tsunade and Konoha’s advisers discussed Kirigakure’s peace proposal and ordered security tightened as Root grew more active.
• Mei Terumi led Kirigakure’s delegation into Konoha, where she and Tsunade exchanged wary greetings and Mei hinted that someone had tried to intercept them.
• Danzo learned the secret document concerned the Three-Tails and left, determined to challenge Tsunade’s alliance plans.
• Mei offered Tsunade the Three-Tails’ sealing formula in exchange for a Konoha medical team to treat ailments left by the Blood Mist Era.
• Mei told Ao that Kirigakure needed Konoha’s information and support against future threats and help for ninja suffering from lasting trauma.

At a dinner with his friends, Sasuke agreed to join a hot spring trip to the Land of Snow while privately planning to use the journey to seek power. Konoha assigned Jiraiya and Kakashi to watch the group, but Sasuke set out with the convoy still looking for an opportunity to slip away.

• Naruto and his friends discussed the future threats shown on the Heavenly Screen and promised to grow stronger together.
• Sasuke resolved to use the hot spring trip as a chance to reach Orochimaru's hideout in the Land of Rice Fields.
• Tsunade arranged for Jiraiya to accompany the trip because of suspicious Chakra readings and the need to watch Sasuke.
• At the gate, Sasuke noticed Kakashi monitoring him and spotted a dark figure on Hokage Rock.
• The convoy left Konoha, and Sasuke watched the village recede while keeping a Shuriken hidden in his sleeve.

Konoha’s team sailed toward the Land of Snow while Kakashi and Jiraiya kept watch on Sasuke, who secretly planned to leave the group. Orochimaru sent Kimimaro and the Sound Four ahead to intercept Sasuke and investigate strange events in the Land of Snow.

• The team stopped at a harbor, where Sasuke spotted a possible subordinate of Orochimaru and quietly marked the alley while Kakashi watched him.
• After the ship departed, Jiraiya told Kakashi that Sasuke had checked escape routes repeatedly, and Kakashi revealed that Pakkun was secretly following him.
• Orochimaru ordered Kimimaro to take the Sound Four into the Land of Snow ahead of the team and wait for Sasuke to seek a chance to leave.
• Kimimaro led the Sound Four across the snowy border and warned them to focus on Sasuke and avoid trouble.
• The young ninjas enjoyed the voyage while Kakashi and Jiraiya discussed Tsunade’s decision to send them, and Sasuke later found Kakashi waiting on the moonlit deck.

The Konoha group arrived in the Land of Snow, where Kakashi and Jiraiya were diverted to investigate activity by Kazahana Dōtō's followers. Kimimaro and the Sound Four began their plan to isolate Sasuke and capture him for Orochimaru, while Sasuke spotted a possible Sound Ninja contact.

• Naruto and the others arrived at the Land of Snow and learned about its geothermal development and Lady Koyuki's welcome.
• A guard captain asked Kakashi and Jiraiya to go to the royal city because Kazahana Dōtō's remaining forces were active, and they left the others for the Rainbow Hot Spring.
• Kimimaro, Sakon, Tayuya, and Kidomaru planned to lure the Jonin away, create chaos, and make contact with Sasuke.
• Kimimaro watched Sasuke at the harbor and prepared a Chakra suppressant intended to help Orochimaru claim him as a vessel.
• As the Konoha group crossed the harbor market, Sasuke spotted a Sound Ninja Forehead Protector near an alley and wondered if it signaled a contact or a trap.
• Kakashi and Jiraiya headed to the old royal city ruins to search for Kazahana Dōtō's followers.

Orochimaru activated a backup reincarnation vessel as his body deteriorated, while Kimimaro’s team continued toward Konoha to capture Sasuke for a future attempt. Meanwhile, the Five Kage Summit was arranged in the Land of Iron, and Akatsuki chose to let the meeting proceed while searching for the missing Six-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Orochimaru learned that his body would last only three more days and chose the silver-haired boy created by Kazahana Dōtō as his backup vessel.
• Kimimaro learned that Orochimaru had activated the backup vessel, but ordered the Sound Four to continue their plan to capture Sasuke intact.
• Tsunade and Mei Terumi arranged a Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, and the Raikage and Ōnoki agreed to attend.
• Gaara decided to attend the summit despite the elders’ objections, and Granny Chiyo said she would accompany him.
• Pain decided not to interfere with the summit because he wanted to destroy the alliance after it formed.
• Obito also chose to let the summit proceed and directed Black Zetsu to search for the missing Six-Tails Jinchuriki near secluded places across the countries.

Tsunade convened the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron to discuss the revelations from the Heavenly Screen, and the leaders of the villages gathered there. As the summit was set to begin the next day, each party prepared to negotiate and watched the others warily.

• Tsunade and Mei Terumi left Konoha for the Land of Iron, while the other Kage parties set out from their villages.
• Baki, Gaara, and their party traveled from the Land of Wind, with Chiyo warning Gaara that the summit might address the Tailed Beasts.
• Raikage A and Ōnoki traveled to the summit with their guards and discussed the uncertainty surrounding it.
• Mifune welcomed the arriving Kage and announced that the summit would formally begin the next day.
• The Raikage's guards searched his quarters, Temari prepared Sunagakure's proposals, and Ōnoki sent Kurotsuchi to observe the others.
• Mei Terumi planned to meet Baki, while Tsunade declined Shikaku's offer to investigate and said the real contest would begin tomorrow.

The Konoha ninja visited the Rainbow Hot Spring while Kakashi and Jiraiya dealt with a riot at the old royal capital, which Orochimaru’s forces had staged as a distraction. The Sound Four attacked the hot spring to take Sasuke, but Kakashi arrived in time to force their retreat, and Sasuke warned that the conflict had only begun.

• A Land of Snow guard told Shikamaru that Kakashi and Jiraiya had gone to stop a riot by Kazahana Dōtō’s remnants at the old royal capital.
• Kakashi and Jiraiya confronted the rioters, while Kimimaro, Sakon, Tayuya, Kidomaru, and Jirobo used the disturbance to approach the Rainbow Hot Spring unseen.
• The Sound Four attacked the Konoha ninja at the hot spring, trapping and distracting them as Kimimaro challenged Sasuke to come to Orochimaru.
• Sasuke fought Kimimaro with Chidori until Kakashi sensed the attack and arrived to separate them.
• Kimimaro ordered the Sound Four to retreat, and Sasuke told Kakashi that the confrontation was only the beginning.

Sasuke, driven by his desire for power to kill Itachi, decided to leave the Land of Snow and seek Orochimaru. He slipped away from the palace at midnight, leaving Naruto unaware that he was gone.

• After the hot spring fight, Sasuke dismissed Kakashi’s concerns about Kimimaro and remained fixated on gaining power.
• At a dinner hosted by Daimyo Koyuki, Sasuke stayed withdrawn while the others celebrated their success in the Land of Snow.
• Karin confronted Sasuke about his plan to find Orochimaru, but Sasuke rejected her warning and blasted her away.
• Sasuke packed to leave, hesitated over Team 7’s photograph, and refused Naruto’s offer of food and support outside his door.
• At midnight, Sasuke escaped the palace and ran toward the border while Naruto woke with a sense that something was missing.

Karin remembered that Sasuke had left to seek Orochimaru, prompting the Konoha team to pursue him across the snowy border. The Sound Four lured Naruto’s group into an ambush while Sasuke escaped with Kimimaro, leaving his pursuers unable to find his chakra.

• Karin regained her memories of Sasuke’s departure, and Kakashi found Sasuke’s note saying not to follow him.
• Shikamaru divided the search teams, and Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, Hinata, and Shikamaru set out after Sasuke.
• Kimimaro met Sasuke in the snowfield while the Sound Four stayed behind to intercept the pursuers.
• The Sound Four planted misleading tracks and chakra traces, then ambushed Naruto’s group with Kidomaru and Tayuya’s genjutsu.
• Sasuke followed Kimimaro through a hidden snowy valley toward Orochimaru, while Naruto’s group realized they had been deceived and lost Sasuke’s trail.

After the Sound Four delayed the Konoha team, Sasuke reached Orochimaru’s base while Naruto agreed to train with Jiraiya. Sasuke learned Kabuto had been hiding his allegiance and woke the next morning to a note summoning him to the training ground.

• Naruto and the Konoha team defeated the Sound Four but realized Sasuke had escaped, and Kakashi led them back to the palace.
• Sasuke followed Kimimaro and Guren to Orochimaru, who had taken over a silver-haired boy’s body but remained bound by the Reaper Death Seal.
• Jiraiya urged Naruto not to blame himself and offered to train him, and Naruto accepted.
• Five days later, Sasuke arrived at Orochimaru’s base, where Orochimaru promised to give him the power he wanted.
• Kabuto led Sasuke to his room, revealed he knew about the future images, and wondered why Sasuke had still chosen to come.
• The next morning, Sasuke found a black training outfit and a note from Kabuto telling him to meet at the training ground.

At the Five Kage Summit, the villages formed an alliance to prepare for the threat of Madara Uchiha and Impure World Reincarnation. Mei Terumi revealed that a Sharingan-wielding figure with unusual Chakra had controlled Yagura, prompting the Kage to investigate a possible mastermind as Tsunade ordered records on Danzo and Konoha’s past incidents retrieved.

• Tsunade proposed a joint surveillance force, a special operations team to hunt Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi, and an intelligence-sharing system, and Raikage A agreed to join under conditions for shared command and voting.
• The Five Great Nations negotiated supplies and signed a preliminary agreement establishing joint forces, an intelligence office in the Land of Iron, and economic assistance.
• Mei Terumi told the Kage that Yagura had been controlled by a masked figure with a Sharingan and Chakra resembling a mixture of Natural Energy and Chakra.
• Tsunade linked the masked figure to the Nine-Tails' Attack and the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and the Kage agreed to investigate unusual Genjutsu, Sharingan abilities, and Jinchūriki incidents.
• Tsunade summoned Shikaku Nara and ordered him to retrieve Konoha’s records on the Nine-Tails' Attack, the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and Danzo's Root operations.

Tsunade learned that Orochimaru had used the Land of Snow unrest to abduct Sasuke, while Naruto and his friends sailed home and resolved to become strong enough to bring Sasuke back. In the Land of Rain, Pain and Obito discussed the Five Kage’s suspicions and remained committed to their plans as the Heavenly Screen stayed silent.

• Tsunade received Kakashi’s report that Orochimaru had used Kimimaro and the remnants of Kazahana Dōtō’s followers to seize Sasuke, and she ordered Anbu to watch Otogakure.
• Koyuki saw Naruto and the Konoha group off from the Land of Snow, while Naruto and Sakura mourned Sasuke’s departure.
• During the voyage home, Kakashi explained Sasuke’s pain, and Naruto decided to train with Jiraiya so he could bring Sasuke back.
• Pain and Konan discussed the Five Kage’s suspicions and chose to let the nations grow wary before advancing their plan.
• Obito learned that the Five Kage were discussing the mysterious Masked Man, recalled his revenge against Kirigakure, and reaffirmed his commitment to the Eye of the Moon Plan.

The Akatsuki remained hidden in the Land of Rain while the Heavenly Screen’s revelations disrupted their plans and kept their members on standby. Black Zetsu searched for the Six-Tails and waited for the Three-Tails to revive, but Obito’s sudden appearance left him wondering whether his secret was at risk.

• Deidara, Sasori, Kisame, Kakuzu, and Hidan argued and complained while Itachi enforced Pain’s order against fighting or acting independently.
• Itachi worried that the Heavenly Screen’s reveal of his future fight with Sasuke and Sage Kabuto had unsettled his plan to make Sasuke kill him.
• Pain told Konan to delay Akatsuki missions until the uproar over the Heavenly Screen passed, since losing members could hinder the Tailed Beast sealing plan.
• Black Zetsu reflected on his plot to revive Otsutsuki Kaguya and set out to find the Six-Tails Jinchuriki while waiting for the Three-Tails to revive.
• Obito confronted Black Zetsu and warned him not to do anything unnecessary, prompting Black Zetsu to wonder whether Obito had noticed his true purpose.

Kakashi’s team returned to Konoha, where Danzo declared Sasuke an S-rank missing-nin and ordered his assassination, but Jiraiya and the others challenged his authority. After the group left, Danzo secretly arranged to trade the Second Hokage’s research data to Orochimaru for Sasuke’s head, while the advisors waited for Tsunade’s return.

• Danzo confronted Kakashi’s returning group and announced that Sasuke had been designated an S-rank missing-nin and targeted for assassination.
• Naruto, Jiraiya, Ino, Kiba, Hinata, and Kakashi opposed Danzo’s decision, and Jiraiya knocked Naruto unconscious when the Nine-Tails’ Chakra emerged.
• Jiraiya warned Danzo that the Heavenly Screen had revealed the Sharingan on his arm, and Kakashi publicly hinted that Danzo would die miserably.
• Danzo decided to contact Orochimaru and ordered Hinoe to offer the Second Hokage’s research data in exchange for Sasuke’s head.
• Danzo examined a scroll about the Uchiha Clan massacre, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura chose to wait for Tsunade and the Five Kage Summit’s outcome.

Jiraiya prepared to leave Konoha with Naruto to stabilize his Nine-Tails Chakra and pursue Sasuke, while Karin joined the mission to help track him. Sakura asked Naruto to bring Sasuke home and resolved to grow stronger before they returned.

• Jiraiya told Kakashi he would take Naruto away and asked him to keep Danzo from interfering with Sasuke's missing-nin warrant.
• Karin asked to join the journey, explaining that her sensory ability could locate Sasuke, and Jiraiya accepted her on the condition that she follow orders.
• Sakura told Naruto she felt too weak to protect her comrades and admitted she had not treated him as one before.
• Naruto encouraged Sakura and promised to bring Sasuke back in one piece.
• Sakura asked Naruto to return Sasuke and vowed to become stronger before Naruto and Sasuke came back.

Hinata told Hiashi she would fight to protect Naruto, and Hiashi recognized her as the Hyuga heir and ordered her to train in the clan’s secret techniques. Later, Hiashi reflected on Hizashi’s sacrifice and the clan’s weakness, concluding that the Hyuga would need a new course as change approached.

• Hiashi questioned Hinata about whether she would charge at Pain, and she firmly said she would protect Naruto and everyone else.
• Hiashi acknowledged Hinata’s resolve, named her the Hyuga heir, and ordered her to begin training in Eight Trigrams 128 Palms.
• Hiashi reread Hizashi’s letter and remembered that his brother had chosen death to protect Neji and the clan amid Konoha’s political crisis.
• Hiashi saw Neji training and told Hanabi that she and Hinata would train together in the Main Family’s secret teachings.
• Hiashi considered the Hyuga Clan’s dependence on adaptation and wondered how it would face the coming changes.

Naruto and Karin left Konoha with Jiraiya to train and gather intelligence, while Sakura resolved to pursue special medical training. Danzo secretly ordered Root to follow the group and kill Sasuke if they encountered him, and Karin detected Root agents tailing them.

• Jiraiya, Naruto, and Karin said goodbye to their friends and departed Konoha to begin their journey.
• Sakura gave Karin medical supplies and asked her to tell Sasuke that everyone was waiting for him, while Hinata gave Naruto a protective amulet.
• Sakura asked Kakashi to enroll her in the Anbu's special medical training course so she would no longer have to wait helplessly.
• Danzo ordered the Owl squad to follow Jiraiya's group and kill Sasuke if they encountered him, keeping the order from the two elders.
• Karin sensed three Chakra signatures following them, and Jiraiya identified the pursuers as Root agents and said they needed to shake them off.

Jiraiya taught Naruto and Karin how to shake off Danzo’s trackers while leading them toward Rainbow Spring, where Karin sensed an abnormal Chakra signature and discovered someone disguised beneath a merchant carriage. Meanwhile, Tsunade and the other Kage continued negotiating an alliance and debated how to protect the Jinchūriki.

• Jiraiya, Naruto, and Karin used Chakra disguises, misleading trails, and a toad’s taunting note to lose the Owl Squad pursuing them on Danzo’s orders.
• On the way to Rainbow Spring, Jiraiya assigned Naruto wind-nature training and Karin sensory-ninjutsu practice; Karin detected an abnormal Chakra signature heading toward the Land of Hot Water.
• Jiraiya demonstrated wind-nature transformation, then hid with Naruto and Karin as a merchant party passed; Karin sensed a Transformation Technique concealed beneath its carriage.
• Tsunade learned that Jiraiya had left the village with Naruto and Karin, then joined the other Kage to discuss the alliance and protection of the Jinchūriki.

Sasuke accepted Orochimaru’s new Sage Cursed Seal to gain power, while Orochimaru and Kabuto transformed Kimimaro with cells and senjutsu chakra. After Kimimaro survived with a partial Sage Mode, Orochimaru prepared to use the failed cells on Kabuto.

• Sasuke asked Orochimaru for a faster way to grow stronger and accepted the new Sage Cursed Seal.
• Orochimaru implanted the seal in Sasuke, whose body collapsed after the markings spread, and Kabuto stabilized him with medicine.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto began a cell-fusion experiment to save Kimimaro from his bloodline disease.
• Kimimaro survived the fusion with bone wings and snake-scale markings, and Orochimaru classified his result as Half-Sage Mode.
• Orochimaru revealed that he had collected Kimimaro’s rejected cells and offered Kabuto his own evolution with the mixture.