Chapter Summaries

Sasuke discovered that he could move through the Alternate Dimension by swimming, then traveled through stable spaces in search of powerful Summoning Animals. After passing Mount Myoboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest, he reached a vast mountain habitat and spotted a crowned eagle asleep on a boulder.

• Sasuke failed to use Fire Release and Water Release to move, but found that swimming carried him through the Alternate Dimension.
• Sasuke followed the wind and encountered a stable space inhabited by small, seemingly weak tigers.
• Sasuke traveled through increasingly harsh regions and found Mount Myoboku, but rejected its toads as his potential Summoning Animals.
• Sasuke passed Ryūchi Cave, Shikkotsu Forest, and several unfamiliar or mixed-species habitats as stable spaces became rarer.
• Sasuke reached a vast stable space centered on a towering mountain and spotted an enormous crowned eagle sleeping atop a hollowed-out boulder.

Sasuke reached the Eagle Clan’s territory and learned he could seek a summoning contract by climbing the mountain to meet the Eagle King. He began the climb, only to discover that Chakra would rebound from the mountainside.

• Sasuke fell into the Eagle Clan’s territory, used Kamui to slow his descent, and landed safely in the treetops.
• A young eagle told Sasuke that the Eagle Clan were Summoning Animals and that he had to climb the mountain with his bare hands to meet His Majesty the Eagle King.
• Sasuke ran for three days before finally reaching the mountain’s foot, while the young eagle checked on him and mocked his pace.
• Sasuke started climbing but found that Chakra could not stick to the mountain and instead produced a rebounding force.

Sasuke climbed Eagle Nest Mountain, earned the Eagle Clan’s respect, and signed a summoning contract. He began the journey to train in Sage Art aboard a giant war eagle.

• Sasuke climbed the mountain for a month, enduring steep cliffs and a gale-force wind near the summit.
• The Eagle King praised Sasuke’s strength and perseverance, then kept him listening to stories for three days before agreeing to the contract.
• Sasuke checked the Eagle Clan’s oath, signed the contract, and summoned a giant war eagle.
• The giant war eagle carried Sasuke away to begin Sage Art training.

Sasuke reached Eagle Nest Mountain to learn the Eagle Clan’s Sage Arts, but struggled to calm his restless thoughts enough to sense natural energy. Eagle Quick explained the origins of the Summoning Animals and their elemental techniques, leaving Sasuke with new questions about the history of the world.

• Eagle Fury brought Sasuke to the lake and explained that the Eagle Clan had no training aid for sensing natural energy, though Eagle Nest Mountain was rich in it.
• Eagle Quick arrived, introduced himself, and told Sasuke to sit calmly by the lake and sense natural energy while the other eagles watched over him.
• Sasuke tried meditating but found he could not quiet his thoughts, and he asked why the Eagle Clan lacked a tool like the toads’ Toad Oil.
• Eagle Quick said Toad Oil could cause a user to turn into a toad and claimed that other Summoning Animals had once been the eagles’ food.
• Eagle Quick explained that Summoning Animals once lived in the human world before their habitats became independent spaces, and that eagles and toads were born able to use elemental techniques.

Sasuke learned that the Eagle Clan’s Free Sage Art let practitioners replenish natural energy continuously, then began sensing nature through water. After several days of training and learning about the eagles, he planned to keep exploring different natural energies before returning to Konoha.

• Sasuke learned from the Eagle Clan how giant eagles discovered natural energy and developed Free Sage Art, which linked absorbed energy with the energy around them.
• Sasuke decided to calm his mind by sensing water and set up camp beside a lake, where Eagle Quick caught fish for him.
• Sasuke meditated in the lake overnight and began absorbing natural energy, but scales appeared on his face as fish gathered around him.
• Sasuke continued training in the water over the following days and resolved to seek other places where he could sense different forms of natural energy.
• Sasuke learned about the Eagle Clan and found that the passage between Eagle Nest Mountain and the outside world lay in the sky, while signing a contract required climbing the mountain.

After completing three years of sage training on Eagle Nest Mountain, Sasuke returned toward Konoha with Eagle Fury’s help and learned he had only three days left on his leave. As Sasuke neared home, Sakura worried over his absence, while Jiraiya and Naruto also approached the village, with Naruto eager to fight Sasuke again.

• Sasuke thanked the Eagle King, then left Eagle Nest Mountain with Eagle Fury and asked to be taken to the coastline.
• Sasuke reached the Land of Waves, learned that his leave ended in three days, and had Eagle Fury carry him toward Konoha.
• After Eagle Fury dropped him near the village, Sasuke rested and continued on foot, drawing closer to Konoha.
• Sakura worried that Sasuke had not returned or sent word, while she maintained his home and checked on the Barbecue Restaurant.
• Jiraiya and Naruto traveled toward Konoha, and Naruto said he looked forward to fighting Sasuke again.

Naruto, Jiraiya, and Sasuke returned to Konoha after years away, and Sasuke registered at the village gates before visiting a tailor for new clothes. Sakura and Naruto learned that Sasuke had returned and rushed to find him.

• Naruto and Jiraiya entered Konoha, and Izumo and Kotetsu noted that Sasuke had been missing for over a year.
• Sasuke arrived the next day, registered his return with Izumo and Kotetsu, and learned that Naruto and Jiraiya had also come back.
• Sasuke went to a tailor to have new clothes made and planned to add the Uchiha clan emblem.
• Naruto reunited with Konohamaru and Sakura, then asked whether Sasuke had returned.
• Izumo told Jiraiya, Naruto, and Sakura that Sasuke had returned, and Sakura and Naruto hurried to look for him.

Sasuke returned to Konoha and reunited with Sakura and Naruto after first stopping to buy new clothes. Tsunade arranged for Kakashi to test the three young ninja, while Sasuke privately considered how to protect Itachi’s intelligence and prevent Jiraiya’s death.

• Sakura and Naruto searched Sasuke’s house, the Barbecue Restaurant, and Ichiraku Ramen before heading to the Hokage Tower.
• Sasuke bought new clothes, then went to the Hokage Tower to cancel his leave and apologized to Sakura for making her worry.
• Tsunade asked about Naruto and Sasuke’s training and arranged for Kakashi to assess them, with Sakura included in the test.
• Temari and Shikamaru arrived at the Hokage Tower, and Kakashi came in to face Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura reunited with Kakashi and prepared to test Team 7’s strength against him, with Sasuke warning Sakura that Akatsuki threatened Naruto because he was a Jinchuriki. The next morning, Team 7 met Kakashi at the Third Training Ground, where the long-awaited test was about to begin.

• Tsunade announced that Kakashi’s test would determine Team 7’s future, and Kakashi scheduled their battle for the next morning.
• Shikamaru told Naruto that his former classmates had advanced in rank, while Gaara had become Kazekage; Naruto renewed his resolve to become Hokage.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura celebrated their reunion over barbecue, then Sasuke warned Sakura that Akatsuki would target Naruto and that Kakashi’s test would assess their ability to resist an attack.
• Sasuke and Sakura spent the evening together, and Sakura brought breakfast to Sasuke the next morning before they headed to the Third Training Ground.
• Sasuke and Naruto trained while waiting for Kakashi, who arrived late and led Team 7 to the three wooden posts used in their earlier test.

Kakashi tested Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura’s individual strength at the Third Training Ground, and the three Genin quickly coordinated their attacks against him. Sasuke used Water Release to control the battlefield and launched another technique after Kakashi disappeared, leaving his whereabouts unknown.

• Kakashi revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and began the test, challenging the three Genin to take one bell each.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura coordinated attacks, with Sakura breaking open the ground and Sasuke redirecting Naruto toward Kakashi.
• Naruto and his Shadow Clones formed a Rasengan while Sasuke and Sakura continued pressuring Kakashi.
• Kakashi retreated to the river and used Great Fireball Technique against Naruto and Sakura.
• Sasuke countered with Great Waterfall Technique, extinguishing Kakashi’s fire and sending a torrent toward him, but Kakashi vanished.
• Sasuke used Water Dragon Whirlwind to target Kakashi’s presumed hiding place underground.

Sasuke used powerful Water Release techniques and coordinated with Sakura and Naruto to pressure Kakashi during their bell test. The chapter ended with Sasuke’s Rasengan colliding with Kakashi’s as both were pushed backward.

• Sasuke created a massive whirlpool and used Sakura’s strike to expose Kakashi, then trapped him in a Water Prison Technique.
• Kakashi escaped Sasuke’s trap, and the two launched matching Water Dragon Bullet Techniques while Sakura and Naruto attacked from the sides.
• Sasuke controlled his water dragon to keep Kakashi surrounded and crashed it down after ordering Sakura and Naruto to retreat.
• Kakashi followed Sakura out of the encirclement, but Sasuke sent Naruto after him and closed in for a coordinated attack.
• Kakashi used Chidori to drive Sakura and Naruto back, but Sasuke crossed the lightning with Lightning Armor and struck at him with a Rasengan.
• Kakashi formed his own Rasengan, and the two techniques collided, pushing them both backward.

Sasuke pressured Kakashi with new Rasengan techniques, but Kakashi escaped into the forest by using Water Formation Wall to pass through a wall of fire. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura regrouped and prepared to pursue Kakashi, with Naruto summoning a vast number of shadow clones.

• Sasuke created Fire- and Water-nature Rasengan attacks, forcing Kakashi to retreat toward the forest.
• Sasuke launched Ice Release: Rasengan Ice Howl and Fire Release: Rasengan Flame Burst to block Kakashi’s routes.
• Kakashi soaked himself with Water Formation Wall and charged through the wall of fire as Naruto and Sakura closed in.
• Sasuke explained that Kakashi entered the forest to limit Team 7’s coordination, and he refused Naruto’s suggestion to exploit Kakashi’s unfinished book.
• Sasuke told Naruto to use Shadow Clones to search the forest, and Naruto performed the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura tracked Kakashi through the forest, where Sasuke led the attack and trapped Kakashi in close combat. Sasuke then unveiled his S-rank Water Release: Nine Dragon Maze Formation, leaving Kakashi surrounded by circling water dragons.

• Naruto sent a swarm of Shadow Clones into the forest while Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura followed to find Kakashi.
• Kakashi fled deeper into the woods, but Sasuke located him and attacked with streams of water arrows.
• Sasuke used a Shadow Clone to distract Kakashi, then closed in and fought him at close range.
• Naruto and Sakura joined Sasuke, and the three pressed Kakashi with coordinated attacks.
• Sasuke asked Naruto and Sakura to hold Kakashi off, completed a series of hand seals, and summoned nine water dragons with his Nine Dragon Maze Formation.
• Naruto and Sakura retreated as the dragons separated them from Kakashi, while Sasuke stood atop one dragon to watch the fight from above.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura defeated Kakashi in the bell assessment, after which Sasuke received intelligence from Itachi about Akatsuki's movements. The chapter ended with Sasuke preparing to pass the warning to the Hokage.

• Sasuke trapped Kakashi in the Nine Dragon Maze Formation and sent Naruto and Sakura to attack while they pursued the bells.
• Kakashi used Lightning Cutter to break through the water dragons, but Naruto and Sakura took the bells after he exhausted himself.
• Tsunade congratulated Team 7 and told them she would arrange missions for the next day.
• Kakashi left the group near Ichiraku Ramen, and Sasuke suspected Jiraiya had gone to speak with him about Naruto.
• A Crow delivered Itachi's summoning formula and intelligence to Sasuke, who sent a scroll back to Itachi.
• Sasuke learned that Deidara and Sasori were targeting One-Tail and Hidan and Kakuzu were targeting Two-Tails, and Itachi urged him to inform the Hokage.

Sasuke gave Tsunade Itachi’s intelligence on Akatsuki and told her that Itachi planned to return to Konoha after they dealt with Orochimaru. Tsunade agreed to consider Itachi’s return, while Sasuke left after accepting a possible gold-escort mission for Team 7.

• Sasuke reviewed Itachi’s intelligence, sent a message by crow, and went to the Hokage Tower to give Tsunade the report.
• Tsunade ordered the Anbu to leave, and Sasuke handed over Itachi’s detailed intelligence on Akatsuki.
• Sasuke told Tsunade he knew the truth about the Uchiha Clan’s destruction and that Itachi would return so they could rebuild the clan.
• Sasuke said he and Itachi planned to kill Orochimaru, and Tsunade told him she would consider the matter of Itachi returning to Konoha.
• Shizune asked Sasuke about escorting gold the next day, and Tsunade later asked Shizune what she thought of Second Pillar.

Tsunade promoted Sasuke to Jonin and prepared a low-ranked mission for Team 7, but an urgent plea from Sunagakure revealed that Gaara had been captured by Akatsuki. She reassigned Team 7 to support Sunagakure, and they prepared to depart.

• Tsunade decided to promote Sasuke to Jonin and asked Kakashi to teach Naruto chakra nature transformation.
• Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto met Kakashi on their way to the Hokage Tower for Team 7's first mission since reuniting.
• Tsunade assigned Team 7 a C-rank escort mission, and Naruto protested the low rank.
• A Cipher Corps ninja delivered Sunagakure's urgent plea for help, and Tsunade announced that Akatsuki had captured Kazekage Gaara.
• Tsunade reassigned Team 7 to support Sunagakure, and Kakashi ordered them to assemble at the main gate in one hour.

Sasuke’s team traveled to Sunagakure to help rescue Gaara, using Sasuke’s giant eagle to reach the village quickly. They arrived to find the entrance blocked and guarded, and Temari identified herself to the Sand Ninja.

• Tsunade sent Kakashi’s team to Sunagakure and told them to meet Temari on the road.
• Sasuke summoned Eagle Fly, who carried the team toward Sunagakure and picked up Temari along the way.
• Kakashi told the team they could reach Sunagakure in a day and promoted Sasuke to Jonin for capturing Disonas and locating Summoning Animals.
• Naruto and Sakura discussed Rasengan techniques while Temari questioned why Naruto had joined the mission.
• Eagle Fly reached the outskirts of Sunagakure, where Sand Ninja aimed ballistae at the approaching group.
• Temari descended on her fan and signaled the Sand Ninja, who recognized her and lowered their guard.

Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived in Sunagakure with Temari to help rescue Gaara. After learning Kankuro had been poisoned while pursuing the Akatsuki, they went to see him, and Sasuke shared what he knew about Deidara’s explosive clay and weaknesses.

• Sasuke sent Eagle Fly to rest as Temari thanked the Konoha team for bringing her back to Sunagakure so quickly.
• Naruto and the others entered Sunagakure over its wall and found the village officials arguing about succession and defenses instead of organizing Gaara’s rescue.
• Temari reported that Kankuro had been poisoned while pursuing Gaara’s captors, and Baki led the Konoha team to the medical area after ordering the village sealed and its alert level raised.
• Sakura offered to treat Kankuro, while Sasuke identified Deidara and explained how his explosive clay worked and how Lightning Release could disable it.

Sasuke shared intelligence about Deidara and Sasori as Sunagakure treated Kankuro and investigated Gaara’s abduction. Kankuro revealed a clue that Kakashi’s Ninja Hounds could track, while Team Guy was sent to reinforce the rescue effort.

• Sasuke told Baki and Kakashi that Deidara had fought alongside Sasori, and the group went to check on Kankuro.
• Granny Chiyo mistook Kakashi for his father and attacked him until Ebizo stopped her; Sakura then treated Kankuro.
• Chiyo identified Sasori as her grandson and the maker of Kankuro’s puppets, while Baki reported that Captain Yura was missing from the cleared gate.
• Sakura stabilized Kankuro and said he would wake soon; after waking, Kankuro revealed that his puppet had torn cloth from Sasori’s mask and could help track Gaara’s scent.
• Kakashi summoned Ninja Hounds to follow the scents, and Baki received word that Team Guy was returning from Konoha to support the rescue.

Sasuke and his allies hurried from Sunagakure into the Land of Rivers to rescue Gaara, while Akatsuki tried to buy time to finish extracting the One-Tail. The two groups closed in on each other, and Akatsuki prepared to send transformed subordinates to delay the rescue team.

• Sasuke continued teaching Naruto the Rasengan until Kakashi received word that Deidara and his companion were heading toward the Land of Rivers.
• Temari objected to Sunagakure's failure to form a rescue team, and Granny Chiyo joined Kakashi's group despite the village council's decision.
• Kakashi sent Pakkun to alert Might Guy, then led Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Chiyo out of Sunagakure.
• Sasuke summoned Eagle Fly, who carried the group to the Land of Rivers, where Ninja Hounds guided them toward Akatsuki's hideout.
• Zetsu warned Akatsuki that Kakashi's rescue team was approaching while Gaara's One-Tail extraction was still underway.
• Sasori offered to use the Image Transformation Technique on two subordinates to delay the five rescuers, including Granny Chiyo.