Chapter Summaries

Naruto, Tsunade, and Shizune met the Slug Sage in Shikkotsu Forest and learned how its Sage Mode developed vitality and hidden potential. The Slug Sage invited all three to train inside her body, after Shizune signed a summoning contract.

• Katsuyu led Naruto, Tsunade, and Shizune to the Slug Sage, whose enormous body continuously split off little slugs.
• The Slug Sage explained that Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode focused on vitality and could draw out a person's hidden potential.
• The Slug Sage said Naruto might learn the technique in under an hour and Tsunade in as little as five days.
• The Slug Sage invited Shizune to learn Sage Mode and sign a Summoning Contract with Shikkotsu Forest.
• The Slug Sage assigned little slugs to guide Naruto, Tsunade, and Shizune as they prepared to enter her body and begin training.

Naruto, Tsunade, and Shizune began learning Sage Mode in Shikkotsu Forest, and Naruto quickly mastered it with the Slug Sage’s guidance. The Slug Sage explained that the mode’s healing and potential-awakening effects varied by user, leaving Naruto to discover his own hidden abilities.

• The Slug Sage urged Tsunade and Shizune to join Naruto inside its body so it could teach all three Sage Mode.
• The Slug Sage transferred its gentle Sage Chakra into Naruto, who absorbed it readily and wondered about using the Slug Sage’s power to sustain him in battle.
• With the Slug Sage’s help, Naruto activated Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode and experienced enhanced physical abilities and rapid healing.
• Naruto dispelled the mode, independently circulated Sage Chakra, and activated Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode again.
• The Slug Sage explained that Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode strengthened vitality, restored injuries, and drew out each user’s hidden potential, which Naruto would have to develop himself.

Naruto remained in Shikkotsu Forest after mastering Sage Mode and examined how his bloodlines and chakra natures could fuse. He learned that he might create Truth-Seeking Orbs through his own abilities, but first needed to improve his Yin-Yang Release and reach Six Paths-level strength.

• The Slug Sage praised Naruto for mastering Sage Mode and told him to train in Shikkotsu Forest while she helped Tsunade and Shizune.
• Naruto sensed that his Uzumaki, Uchiha, Hyuga, and Senju bloodline powers were fusing faster in Sage Mode.
• Naruto considered how possessing all seven chakra attributes and Yin-Yang Release could let him create Truth-Seeking Orbs.
• Naruto concluded that he needed to develop his Yin and Yang nature transformations before he could create Truth-Seeking Orbs through his own power.
• Naruto recognized that creating the orbs himself would require reaching Six Paths level, though he still had two other possible paths to that level.

Naruto used Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode to enhance the bloodlines in his body, improving the purity of his Hyuga and Uzumaki bloodlines and beginning to examine the Senju bloodline. He considered seeking Karin's rare healing ability, but the chapter ended before describing the Senju enhancement's effects.

• Naruto enhanced his Hyuga bloodline, making it purer without awakening the Tenseigan.
• Naruto enhanced his Uzumaki bloodline, increasing his vitality, Chakra reserves, and Chakra-sensing ability.
• Naruto considered having Snake Uncle study Karin Uzumaki's rare healing ability so he could reproduce it.
• Naruto began enhancing his Senju Clan bloodline and reflected on Hashirama Senju's strength and Chakra reserves.

Naruto considered how Hashirama and Tobirama Senju had gained their extraordinary abilities, then reasoned through the limits of his own bloodlines and Mangekyō Sharingan. He concluded that Hashirama Cells could restore Eye Power, while the chapter left Naruto's Uchiha bloodline and Eternal Mangekyō progression unresolved.

• Naruto theorized that Hashirama Senju had discovered Sage Mode independently and discussed the exceptional power of Hashirama and Tobirama Senju.
• Naruto noted that the Senju bloodline had strengthened his vitality and Chakra, which were already nearing their limits.
• Naruto explained that awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan did not automatically grant the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, since simply exchanging eyes was insufficient.
• Naruto reasoned that Mangekyō Dojutsu consumed Eye Power and that the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan could gradually restore it.
• Naruto cited Obito's frequent use of Kamui as evidence that Hashirama Cells could restore Eye Power and reduce the effects of Mangekyō use.

Naruto awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan through his unique combination of bloodlines, greatly increasing his Eye Power. The Slug Sage then began teaching Tsunade and Shizune to sense Natural Energy, with Shizune noticing it before Tsunade.

• Naruto's Uchiha, Uzumaki, and Senju bloodlines raised his Eye Power until his Mangekyō Sharingan evolved into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Naruto sensed that his awakened bloodlines would gradually fuse and might eventually evolve into an Otsutsuki bloodline.
• The Slug Sage began teaching Tsunade the basics of Natural Energy and circulated it through her body, but Tsunade struggled to sense it.
• The Slug Sage instructed Tsunade to stay calm and patiently feel the Natural Energy within her body.
• Little Slug circulated Natural Energy through Shizune, who eventually recognized it and felt a surge of strength.

In Shikkotsu Forest, Tsunade and Shizune learned to sense Natural Energy and experienced how Sage Chakra strengthened their abilities. Both committed to mastering Sage Mode as the Slug Sage began guiding them through its refinement.

• The Slug Sage helped Tsunade and Shizune train while maintaining their bodily functions, as Naruto stayed in Shikkotsu Forest to pursue his own Sage Mode.
• Tsunade sensed Natural Energy after three days, and Shizune sensed it after four.
• The Slug Sage demonstrated how Natural Energy, Physical Energy, and Spiritual Energy combined in equal proportions to form Sage Chakra.
• Tsunade used Sage Chakra to deliver a powerful Monster Strength Punch, while Shizune found that it greatly enhanced her Medical Ninjutsu.
• Tsunade and Shizune resolved to master Sage Mode, and the Slug Sage began teaching them how to refine Sage Chakra.

Tsunade and Shizune mastered the basics of Sage Chakra and entered Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode with the Slug Sage's help. Shizune gained the strength to learn Tsunade's seals and techniques, while Tsunade's Senju abilities and Chakra surged, leaving her confident she could overpower Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

• Tsunade mastered safe Natural Energy absorption and discovered that her Yin Seal could store Sage Chakra, while Shizune learned to produce Sage Chakra through determined training.
• The Slug Sage guided Tsunade and Shizune into Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode with Little Slugs standing by to prevent accidents.
• Shizune activated Sage Mode, gained physical strength and Chakra, and became capable of learning the Yin Seal, Byakugou Seal, and Monster Strength.
• Tsunade activated Sage Mode, which further awakened her Senju bloodline and increased her physical qualities and Chakra by at least fifty percent.
• Tsunade felt confident that her enhanced power could let her defeat Jiraiya and Orochimaru with a single punch.

Naruto studied how to combine the Sage Modes of the three great sacred lands and design one suited to his own abilities. He planned to emphasize attack power, destructive strength, endurance, and a reliable supply of Sage Chakra.

• Tsunade asked the Slug Sage where Naruto was, hoping to compare her progress with his.
• The Slug Sage revealed that Naruto had mastered Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode in half an hour and was still exploring his own path.
• More than ten days earlier, Naruto had completed training in all three sacred lands' Sage Modes, and the system issued a quest for him to create his own.
• Naruto settled beside a stream and analyzed how Natural Energy and each sacred land's Sage Mode worked.
• Naruto decided to prioritize attack power and destructive strength while also seeking a steady supply of Sage Chakra.

Naruto completed his own Sage Mode, which greatly increased his attack power and automatically absorbed Natural Energy to produce Sage Chakra. The system rewarded him by awakening Wood Release and granting him a set of Wood Release techniques.

• Naruto spent three days designing a Sage Mode that focused on offense and automatically generated Sage Chakra.
• Naruto activated his finished Sage Mode and confirmed that Natural Energy flowed into him and produced Sage Chakra on its own.
• The system rewarded Naruto with the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai and a complete set of Wood Release ninjutsu.
• Naruto examined the Wood Release techniques he had received, including Deep Forest Emergence, Wood Dragon Technique, and Tree Root Burial.

Naruto received the training methods for a complete Wood Release package but still had to learn the techniques himself. He began training in Shikkotsu Forest with hundreds of Shadow Clones and started with the simpler jutsu.

• Naruto realized the system's Wood Release rewards gave him training methods, not instant mastery, and resolved to learn the techniques one by one.
• Naruto created several hundred Shadow Clones in Shikkotsu Forest and rallied them to train toward defeating Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito.
• Naruto and his clones quickly mastered several of the easier Wood Release techniques.
• Naruto considered Wood Transformation useful for disguises and wondered whether Wood Clones could replace Shadow Clones for training.

Naruto completed his Wood Release training and explained that Hashirama’s powerful Wood Release came from combining Yang Release with Water and Earth. He met Tsunade and Shizune after they learned Sage Mode, then demonstrated the Sage Mode he had developed for himself, which caught the Slug Sage’s attention.

• Naruto found that adding Yang Release greatly strengthened Wood Release and concluded that Hashirama’s version also incorporated it.
• After more than ten days, Naruto mastered every Wood Release ninjutsu and found that Sage Chakra could enhance them.
• Naruto learned through his Shadow Clones that Tsunade and Shizune had finished their Sage Mode training and used Flying Thunder God Technique to reach them.
• Naruto sensed Sage Chakra within Tsunade and Shizune, and told them he had already developed his own Sage Mode.
• Naruto activated his Sage Mode instantly, and the Slug Sage noticed its distinctive qualities.

Naruto showed Tsunade and Shizune his self-created Sage Mode, then joined them on a journey after leaving Shikkotsu Forest. As Naruto recounted his past, Tsunade learned how badly he had been treated in Konoha and suspected Danzo had concealed his identity.

• The Slug Sage recognized that Naruto’s Sage Mode greatly enhanced offense and automatically absorbed Natural Energy, but kept his observations to himself.
• Tsunade told Naruto that Hashirama had developed a Sage Mode that strengthened his vitality and Wood Release, then said she and Shizune planned to travel while training Shizune.
• Naruto asked to travel with Tsunade and Shizune, and the Slug Sage used Reverse Summoning to send them back to the Land of Fire.
• As the three traveled together, Naruto recounted his childhood, his departure from Konoha, and how he gained power and learned Sage Modes from Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the Slug Sage.
• Tsunade grew furious upon hearing Naruto had been treated as an orphan and suspected Danzo had hidden that Naruto was the son of a hero.

Naruto reassured Tsunade that he would not blame innocent people in Konoha, while secretly arranging to meet Jiraiya and Orochimaru on the road. Tsunade trained Shizune in the Yin Seal, the Byakugou Seal, and Monster Strength, and Shizune mastered all three.

• Tsunade promised to reveal Naruto's identity and secure an apology from Hiruzen and Konoha's leaders, and Naruto said he would not take his anger out on innocent villagers.
• Naruto secretly contacted Jiraiya and Orochimaru and arranged to meet them in a village along his route with Tsunade and Shizune.
• Orochimaru agreed to meet Naruto and continued studying Naruto Cells, which he considered more promising than Hashirama Cells.
• Tsunade taught Shizune to cultivate the Yin Seal, then guided her through learning the Byakugou Seal and Monster Strength.
• Shizune mastered the techniques, and the Yin Seal's effects helped preserve her youth and improve her physical condition.

Naruto bet Tsunade that she would meet an old friend that day, and she confidently wagered that he would pay for their meal. As they feasted at a grilled meat restaurant, Naruto remained certain that someone would appear and prove Tsunade wrong.

• Naruto told Tsunade and Shizune that he was looking out for old friends, prompting Tsunade to doubt his prediction.
• Naruto bet that Tsunade would meet an old friend, and Tsunade accepted, wagering that Naruto would pay for their meal.
• Tsunade took Shizune and Naruto to a grilled meat restaurant and ordered its most luxurious room, meat, and wine.
• Naruto opened a money-filled frog purse to reassure the restaurant owner and pay for the feast.
• Tsunade insisted that Jiraiya and Orochimaru had no reason to appear, while Naruto quietly remained confident and ordered another ten portions of grilled meat.

Naruto brought Tsunade and Jiraiya together over a grilled-meat dinner, surprising Jiraiya and briefly making Tsunade suspect they had teamed up to cheat her in a bet. Naruto explained the misunderstanding and agreed to pay for the meal, leaving the three of them eating together.

• Tsunade assumed Naruto had given up on their bet when he ordered more grilled meat, while Naruto insisted the winner had not been decided.
• Jiraiya arrived at the restaurant after receiving Naruto's message and followed the owner to Naruto's private room.
• Jiraiya burst into the room with a dramatic greeting and found Naruto, Tsunade, and Shizune eating; he and Tsunade were both shocked to see each other.
• Tsunade accused Naruto and Jiraiya of conspiring to cheat her out of money, but Naruto explained that Jiraiya had not known Tsunade would be there.
• Naruto offered to pay for the meal, satisfying Tsunade, and Jiraiya joined them as the awkwardness faded.

Naruto engineered a reunion dinner to help Jiraiya reconnect with Tsunade, using his Sharingan and Sage Mode to read their reactions and nudge their conversation along. Jiraiya and Tsunade began drinking and reminiscing, ending the chapter with Tsunade quietly remembering Jiraiya’s fondness for garlic.

• Naruto watched Tsunade and Jiraiya react with surprise and faint delight when they met at dinner.
• Naruto reminded Jiraiya that he had called Tsunade one of his best friends and urged him to talk to her.
• Naruto brought up Jiraiya’s sleep-talking about Tsunade taking his money after bets, prompting them to discuss the old wagers and share drinks.
• Tsunade asked about Icha Icha’s declining sales, and Jiraiya hinted that his writing lacked genuine emotion before placing grilled pork belly in her bowl.
• Tsunade defended Jiraiya’s writing, served Naruto grilled mushrooms, and pushed peeled garlic toward Jiraiya, remembering his preference from their younger days.

Naruto brought Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru together for a reunion, where Orochimaru’s arrival briefly made the atmosphere tense. Naruto toasted the three as Konoha’s Legendary Sannin, and Orochimaru’s acceptance reassured Tsunade and Jiraiya that he still acknowledged their bond.

• Tsunade and Jiraiya shared a flirtatious meal while Naruto, Shizune, and Tonton watched awkwardly.
• Orochimaru followed Naruto’s mark to the restaurant and learned that Tsunade and Jiraiya were already there.
• Orochimaru entered the room, and Jiraiya and Tsunade recognized him despite his disguise.
• Jiraiya poured Orochimaru a drink, but the three old teammates fell silent over their changed allegiances.
• Naruto toasted the three as Konoha’s Legendary Sannin, and Orochimaru clinked cups and drank with them.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged relieved glances after Orochimaru accepted Naruto’s toast.

Naruto argued that Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush Plan was designed to pressure Konoha into changing rather than destroy it, and that Hiruzen understood this. The chapter ended with Naruto criticizing Hiruzen’s past concessions to the Cloud Ninja and questioning what Konoha would be forced to surrender next.

• Naruto pointed out that Orochimaru left clues about his infiltration, spared Anko, and revealed his plans, giving Konoha time to prepare.
• Naruto argued that Orochimaru limited the destruction during the invasion, while the Sound Four’s formation and Kabuto Yakushi’s genjutsu protected the village and its civilians.
• Naruto questioned why Orochimaru killed the Fourth Kazekage and recruited only ninja from the Land of Wind instead of seeking greater support to destroy Konoha.
• Naruto reasoned that Hiruzen knew Orochimaru’s real aim and understood that sealing his hands would not stop him, yet declared the Konoha Crush over after their fight.
• Naruto recalled Hiruzen’s decision to hand over Hizashi Hyuga during the Cloud Ninja Incident and asked whether Konoha would next surrender Hyuga Hiashi, Fugaku Uchiha, or even the Sannin.

The narrator argued that Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush Plan was really a deliberate overhaul meant to strengthen Konoha and secure peace with Sunagakure, with Hiruzen’s death serving as part of the plan. The chapter ended by interpreting Orochimaru’s later actions toward Tsunade as another effort to bring her back to lead Konoha.

• Orochimaru concluded that Hiruzen had to die so Sunagakure would accept Konoha’s account of the Fourth Kazekage’s death and end its grudge against Konoha.
• The narrator argued that the deaths of Hiruzen and the Fourth Kazekage weakened both villages and made their alliance natural, while Konoha suffered few losses during the invasion.
• Orochimaru proposed reviving Dan Katō and Senju Nawaki to Tsunade, and the narrator suggested he provoked her into returning to Konoha as Hokage.
• The narrator interpreted Orochimaru’s threats to destroy Konoha as a way to keep Tsunade from abandoning the village and described the Konoha Crush Plan as a risky overhaul that made Orochimaru take the blame.