Recaps

Naruto brought Gaara and his friends together for lunch at the Breeding Farm, where Gaara began to reconsider how he had treated Temari and Kankuro. His siblings were relieved to find him safe but were stunned when he thanked them, and Temari worried Naruto had damaged his brain.

• Naruto invited Gaara to lunch after Gaara said he had slept well.
• Naruto sent Haku to fetch Zabuza and went to find Shikamaru, who was selecting goats for breeding.
• Haku persuaded Zabuza to bathe and change before joining everyone for lunch.
• Temari and Kankuro arrived to check on Gaara, and Naruto invited them to eat.
• Gaara thanked Temari for worrying about him, leaving her and Kankuro shocked.
• Temari concluded that Naruto must have beaten Gaara's brain out of order.

Naruto welcomed Zabuza and Haku to a dinner with his friends, while Orochimaru left Konoha with Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro to prepare an assassination of Rasa. The group waited on rocky terrain near Hidden Sand for Rasa to arrive.

• Naruto greeted Zabuza and Haku and invited them to join his friends at the dinner table.
• Naruto's friends, including Gaara, shared a meal together at the breeding farm.
• Orochimaru met Kabuto Yakushi outside Konoha and revealed that he planned to assassinate Rasa.
• Orochimaru explained that he intended to lure Rasa out by proposing another attack on Konoha.
• Orochimaru met Kimimaro, and the three traveled to rocky terrain near Hidden Sand to wait for Rasa.

Rasa agreed to restart the Konoha Crush Plan after Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi convinced him that Naruto Uzumaki would not defend Konoha. As Rasa turned to leave their meeting, Orochimaru launched a surprise attack.

• Rasa received Orochimaru's letter proposing that they restart the Konoha Crush Plan and went to meet him with two Hidden Sand Jonin.
• Orochimaru introduced Kabuto Yakushi, who falsely claimed Naruto disliked Konoha and had a grudge against Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Rasa accepted Orochimaru's explanation and agreed to send word to Gaara in Konoha to follow the previous plan.
• As Rasa turned away, Orochimaru attacked him with Shadow Snake Hands while Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro engaged the two Hidden Sand Jonin.

Orochimaru betrayed and killed Rasa with help from Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro, then left the battlefield with them. Far from the Hidden Sand Ninja Village, Kimimaro suddenly collapsed, and Kabuto began treating him.

• Orochimaru attacked Rasa while Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro engaged Rasa's two Hidden Sand Jonin on the rocky terrain.
• Kabuto Yakushi killed one Hidden Sand Jonin, and Kimimaro killed the other with his bone techniques.
• Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro restrained Rasa, allowing Orochimaru to stab him with Kimimaro's bone blade.
• Rasa asked Orochimaru why he had betrayed him, then died before Orochimaru answered.
• Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Kimimaro left the battlefield, but Kimimaro collapsed on a mountain path and Kabuto began treating him.

Kabuto Yakushi confirmed that Kimimaro’s illness remained incurable, while Orochimaru left to pursue Naruto after Rasa’s death. At Naruto’s farm, Gaara and his siblings agreed to stay in Konoha, unaware that Baki had arrived with news of their father’s death.

• Kabuto Yakushi told Orochimaru that he could only delay Kimimaro’s death, and Kimimaro said he would live on as part of Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru told Kimimaro to recover and left for Konoha, while Kabuto Yakushi warned him not to fight.
• Baki and the Hidden Sand Jonin found Rasa dead near their village, and Baki set off for Konoha to inform Rasa’s children.
• Naruto sparred with Rock Lee, then invited Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro to stay in Konoha and visit a hot spring hotel.
• Gaara and his siblings agreed to stay at Naruto’s farm as Baki arrived in Konoha.

Naruto showed Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro around his Breeding Farm and introduced them to his friends. Baki arrived to take the siblings aside and revealed that the Kazekage was dead.

• Naruto led Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro around the farm and told them how he had started raising livestock.
• Naruto showed them the sleeping pigs, then Temari mistook Shikamaru’s goat-breeding work for a peculiar hobby and apologized after he explained it.
• Sasuke arrived and told Naruto that Baki was waiting to see Gaara and the others.
• Naruto and Sasuke brought Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari to the yard, where Baki asked to speak with them privately.
• Baki told Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro that the Kazekage was dead.

Baki told Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara that Rasa was dead and urged them to return to Hidden Sand, where Gaara was the leading candidate to become the Fifth Kazekage. After they left, Naruto prepared to train until Zabuza summoned him to meet Mei Terumi about an important matter.

• Baki revealed Rasa's death to Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara, then supported Gaara as the next Kazekage and ordered them to return to Hidden Sand.
• Temari told Naruto that the Sand siblings had to leave, while Naruto offered his help and kept Rasa's death secret from him.
• Naruto asked Gaara to confirm their friendship, gave him his own mirror, and hugged him before the Hidden Sand group departed.
• Naruto planned to improve his Multiple Shadow Clone Technique so he could make many clones for training and helping villagers.
• Zabuza summoned Naruto to meet Mei Terumi, and Naruto suspected she wanted to learn Vibration Force.

Naruto visited Mei Terumi in Kirigakure, where she asked him to teach her Vibration Force before they discussed the plan to overthrow Karatachi Yagura. After agreeing to begin the operation in one week, Naruto asked to meet Chojuro and Ao and make friends with them.

• Zabuza asked why Mei Terumi had summoned Naruto, and Naruto claimed she wanted his advice on war preparations before leaving for Kirigakure.
• Mei Terumi took Naruto to her home and asked him to teach her Vibration Force directly; Naruto gave her a two-hour lesson.
• Mei Terumi explained the battle plan against Karatachi Yagura, and she and Naruto agreed to begin the operation in one week.
• Naruto asked Mei Terumi to summon Chojuro and Ao so he could make friends with them.
• Chojuro and Ao arrived, and Ao expressed gratitude to Naruto and urged Mei Terumi to take care of her health.

Naruto became friends with Chojuro and Ao by defeating them in brutal sparring matches at Mei Terumi’s courtyard. After Naruto left for Konoha, Ao hinted that Naruto was too young for Mei, and Mei privately wondered whether her mouth was too small.

• Naruto said he required a friendly spar before becoming friends with Ao or Chojuro, and Chojuro volunteered to go first.
• Chojuro attacked with Hiramekarei, but Naruto destroyed his Chakra blast, dislocated his arms, and pummeled him before declaring them friends.
• Ao revealed his Byakugan and tried to track Naruto, but Instant Movement and Naruto’s glowing body made the eye useless; Ao also lost and became Naruto’s friend.
• Naruto said goodbye to Mei Terumi, Ao, and Chojuro and returned to Konoha, while Mei reminded him to bring throat medicine next time.
• After Naruto left, Ao told Mei that Naruto was too young, and Mei privately thought her mouth was too small.

Mei Terumi set Kirigakure’s operation for one week later, while Naruto returned to Konoha and improved the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. After creating more than twenty thousand clones during a test, Naruto headed to the waterfall, then prepared to meet his companions at the hot spring hotel.

• Mei Terumi assured Ao that she understood Kirigakure’s situation and told him their operation would begin in one week.
• Naruto decided to practice the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique while Sasuke trained at the Breeding Farm.
• Naruto improved the technique and created more than twenty thousand clones, filling the Back Mountain and surrounding Sasuke, Haku, Zabuza, Shikamaru, and the Goats.
• Naruto dismissed the clones, encouraged Sasuke to keep training, and went to practice beneath the waterfall.
• Naruto packed for the hot spring hotel with Sasuke and Kurama, then told the others he would pick up Hinata and meet them there.

Naruto invited Hinata and several friends to join a hot spring hotel trip, stopping by the Ninja Academy, Kakashi’s home, and Kabuto Yakushi while waiting for Hinata. He left Kabuto with the invitation and continued arranging the outing.

• Sasuke, Kurama, Zabuza, Haku, and Shikamaru headed to the hot spring hotel, while Kurama worried about which bath to use.
• Naruto went to the Hyuga Clan compound to fetch Hinata, then used Instant Movement to invite Iruka to the trip.
• Naruto met Iruka outside the Ninja Academy, invited him to the hotel, and Iruka agreed to go after dropping off his things.
• Naruto visited Kakashi, questioned him about the day’s events, then invited him to the hot spring hotel, and Kakashi accepted.
• Naruto appeared before Kabuto Yakushi, apologized for startling him, and invited him to join the group at the hot spring hotel.

Naruto made Kabuto Yakushi, Isaribi, and Gash his friends and invited them to a hot spring hotel, while Kabuto reported the plan to Orochimaru. Naruto then met Hinata and Hanabi at the Hyuga Clan compound and set off with them.

• Kabuto Yakushi accepted Naruto's invitation to the hot spring hotel and left to report the information to Lord Orochimaru.
• Naruto met Isaribi and Gash, made them his friends, and invited them to join him and Kabuto Yakushi at the hot spring hotel; they declined.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Orochimaru where Naruto planned to go, and Orochimaru decided to arrange a chance encounter there.
• Naruto used Instant Movement to reach the Hyuga Clan compound, where Hinata and Hanabi were waiting.
• Naruto picked up Hanabi, took Hinata's hand, and left with the two sisters.

Naruto brought Hinata and Hanabi to the hot spring hotel, where their friends had gathered for a group outing. After everyone split into the men’s and women’s baths, Naruto left to invite Might Guy, whom he had spotted at the hotel, and Rock Lee and Tenten wondered why he was there.

• Naruto learned that Neji had left to meet Rock Lee and Tenten, then used Instant Movement to take Hinata and Hanabi to the hot spring hotel.
• The hotel manager welcomed Naruto and the Hyuga sisters and led them to the lounge, where their friends, Iruka, and Kakashi were waiting.
• Naruto spotted a watermelon-headed figure entering a room and suspected it was Might Guy, despite having heard that Guy had left on a mission.
• Kurama chose to join the women’s bath, while Naruto and the other men went to the men’s bath.
• After everyone entered the hot spring, Naruto left to invite Might Guy, prompting Rock Lee and Tenten to wonder why their teacher was at the hotel.

Naruto ran into Tsukishirohime, Orochimaru in disguise, and invited her to join Hinata and the others at the women's bath. He then found Might Guy at the hotel, while Jiraiya set out to visit the hot spring hotel for research.

• Naruto dismissed the hotel manager and encountered Tsukishirohime in the hallway.
• Tsukishirohime thanked Naruto for healing her ankle and pretended to accept his offer of friendship.
• Naruto invited Tsukishirohime to join the others, and Hinata welcomed her into the women's bath.
• Naruto went to Might Guy's room and learned that Guy had claimed to finish a mission before coming to the hotel.
• Jiraiya left home to visit the hot spring hotel for research.

Naruto and the others relaxed in the hot springs while Kurama reflected on how much she valued life with him. When Naruto sensed Jiraiya approaching the women’s bath window to spy, he rushed out and launched a kick at him.

• Naruto invited Might Guy to join Kakashi, Iruka, Rock Lee, Neji, and the others in the hot spring.
• Might Guy bragged about completing an A-rank mission, and Neji deflated his boast by pointing out his face.
• Kurama appreciated how Naruto treated her as family, unlike her previous jinchuriki.
• Jiraiya went to the hot spring hotel seeking inspiration and approached the window of Hinata and the other girls’ private room.
• Naruto sensed Jiraiya outside and kicked toward his cheek as Jiraiya reached for the window.

Naruto caught Jiraiya trying to peek into the women's bath and beat him away after thwarting his summons. The bathers remained unaware of the incident, while Orochimaru joined them and drew their envious looks.

• Naruto recognized Jiraiya as the would-be peeping tom and kicked away the toad Jiraiya summoned.
• Naruto kicked away Jiraiya's second summoned toad, then struck Jiraiya in the face and sent him flying to the street.
• A ninja checked Jiraiya's injuries and took him to the hospital.
• Might Guy and Kakashi recognized Jiraiya's chakra and worried that Naruto might have beaten him to death.
• Orochimaru sensed Jiraiya's chakra, relaxed when Naruto arrived, and sat down beside Hinata in the women's bath.

Naruto spent the evening with his friends, then searched for bugs to use against Orochimaru. The next morning, Sasuke emerged from the house with a troubled expression and told Naruto that a man had returned.

• Orochimaru teased Hinata about her feelings for Naruto and reassured her that she had no romantic interest in him.
• Naruto told Kakashi and Might Guy that he had put Jiraiya in the hospital for seven or eight days, then joined everyone for dinner.
• Naruto escorted Hinata and Hanabi home, tricked Hanabi into going inside, and spent time alone with Hinata.
• Naruto searched the clean kitchen for cockroaches so he could use them to capture Orochimaru, and Sasuke joined the search.
• Naruto asked Shino to bring him bugs, and Shino agreed to deliver some within an hour.
• Sasuke came out of the house, grabbed Naruto's arm, and announced that a man had returned.

Sasuke sensed that Itachi would come to Konoha, and Naruto stayed by his side as he prepared to face his brother. Itachi and Kisame arrived at the old Uchiha grounds, where Itachi discovered that cement covered the pit where his streetlamp had stood.

• Sasuke told Naruto he believed Itachi would come to Konoha, and Naruto promised to help him confront Itachi.
• Naruto chose to train beside Sasuke instead of going to seek Orochimaru, and Shino delivered a cage of cockroaches.
• Itachi and Kisame stopped outside Konoha and waited until afternoon before heading toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
• Itachi reached the place where his streetlamp had stood and found its old pit covered in hard cement.
• Itachi looked to Kisame for help, and Kisame said he could not dig through the cement and suggested digging elsewhere.

Itachi Uchiha waited atop a streetlamp for Sasuke, making Kisame Hoshigaki dig two holes before he found the right spot. Sasuke sensed Itachi at last, went to the Uchiha Clan Grounds with Naruto, and confronted his brother, his eyes burning red with hatred.

• Itachi Uchiha asked Kisame Hoshigaki to bury a streetlamp, then moved it to its original position when Sasuke did not arrive.
• Kisame Hoshigaki dug through concrete and secured the streetlamp while Itachi waited for his younger brother.
• After training with Naruto at the Breeding Farm, Sasuke sensed Itachi's arrival and headed toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
• Sasuke walked down the road toward the clan grounds, remembering his past and reaffirming his resolve to kill Itachi Uchiha.
• Sasuke stopped beneath the streetlamp, confronted Itachi Uchiha, and shouted his brother's name with hatred.

Five years after the Uchiha clan massacre, Sasuke confronted Itachi and demanded the truth about why he killed their family. Naruto transformed into a giant and defeated Kisame, leaving Itachi astonished as Sasuke awaited his answer.

• Sasuke's rage surged when he saw Itachi mock him, and he resolved that Itachi had to die.
• Itachi asked Kisame to keep Naruto occupied while he spoke with Sasuke, but Naruto refused to leave his friend.
• Naruto used Indestructible Body to grow over twenty meters tall and kicked Kisame away, leaving him badly injured.
• Sasuke regained his composure and asked Itachi whether hidden reasons lay behind the Uchiha clan massacre.
• Itachi felt a powerful urge to tell Sasuke the truth but forcibly held himself back.

Itachi tried to provoke Sasuke into hating him while hiding the truth behind the Uchiha clan’s destruction. Sasuke revealed that he had built the cement beneath the streetlamp, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to turn Itachi’s ingrained habit against him and attack with a Rasengan.

• Itachi resolved to keep the truth from Sasuke and taunted him, claiming Sasuke’s weakness had let the clan massacre happen.
• Sasuke told Itachi that he had built the cement beneath the streetlamp, while Naruto faced Kisame Hoshigaki nearby.
• Sasuke and Itachi exchanged volleys of Shuriken without either one being hit.
• Sasuke charged with his Kusanagi Sword, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to vanish as their weapons met.
• Sasuke pulled the streetlamp from the ground, causing Itachi to appear atop it, and struck him with a Rasengan.

Naruto overwhelmed Kisame Hoshigaki, broke through his water techniques, and killed him with a single slap. Naruto then turned toward Sasuke and Itachi as Sasuke prepared his strongest attack.

• Kisame Hoshigaki attacked Naruto with several water techniques, but Naruto walked through the Water Prison Technique and swatted away Kisame's water blasts.
• Kisame charged Naruto with Samehada and was killed when Naruto's slap destroyed his defenses and turned him into a cloud of blood mist.
• Naruto left Kisame's body and turned toward Sasuke and Itachi's battlefield.
• Sasuke raised a streetlamp, called Itachi onto it, and unleashed his strongest attack, the Rasengan.

Sasuke fought Itachi after Naruto killed Kisame Hoshigaki, and Itachi revealed that he had massacred the Uchiha clan to gain greater power and take Sasuke’s eyes. Itachi trapped Sasuke in Tsukuyomi, and Naruto intervened with Netherworld Passage as Sasuke relived the massacre.

• Sasuke and Itachi clashed with swords and kunai, while Sasuke used his stamina advantage to wear down the ill Itachi.
• Sasuke questioned Itachi about his grief over Kisame Hoshigaki and the Uchiha massacre, and Itachi said he had killed his family for greater power and wanted Sasuke’s eyes.
• Itachi cast Tsukuyomi and forced Sasuke to witness the Uchiha massacre again, taunting him as helpless.
• Naruto saw Sasuke trapped in the illusion and used Instant Movement to appear before Itachi and activate Netherworld Passage.

Naruto broke Itachi’s Tsukuyomi with the Spirit Passage Fist and trapped his consciousness in his own inner world of fear. There, Itachi relived killing the Uchiha children, leaving Naruto to suspect that Itachi had lied about slaughtering his clan for power.

• Naruto rescued Sasuke from Itachi’s Tsukuyomi and struck Itachi with the Spirit Passage Fist, pulling his consciousness into Heart’s Hell.
• Sasuke’s consciousness returned, though he remained in pain, while Naruto observed Itachi’s inner world of fear.
• Itachi found himself at the peaceful Uchiha Clan Grounds and greeted the children playing there.
• A child accused Itachi of killing him, and Itachi saw himself stabbing the boy before killing the other fleeing children.
• Itachi knelt among the bodies, pleading for the children to be spared, while Naruto realized that the massacre was Itachi’s deepest fear.
• Naruto questioned Itachi’s claims that he had killed the clan for power and concluded, “Itachi, you’re lying!”

Naruto witnessed Itachi’s deepest fear: reliving the Uchiha clan massacre and the choice to kill his clan to protect Sasuke. Sasuke woke and prepared to kill Itachi, who begged him to do it, until Naruto asked whether Itachi regretted his choice.

• Naruto saw Itachi struggle against a vision of himself massacring the Uchiha clan to protect Sasuke.
• In the vision, Itachi’s other self killed the clan members, including Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto, while Itachi watched helplessly.
• Naruto realized that Itachi had chosen Sasuke’s survival over the clan and had hidden his true feelings behind his harsh words.
• Sasuke woke, declared that he would not die before killing Itachi, and raised his Kusanagi Sword against him.
• Itachi called Sasuke his little brother and begged him to kill him, while Sasuke rejected the name and pressed the sword to his chest.
• Naruto asked Itachi whether he regretted his choice.