Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru reunited as friends after the Konoha Crush, sharing drinks and teasing each other about their pasts and present lives. Orochimaru noticed the tension between Jiraiya and Tsunade, leaving the pair embarrassed and unable to deny that their earlier interaction had been ambiguous.

• The narrator praised Orochimaru as the MVP of the Konoha Crush Plan, crediting his actions with raising Konoha's alert status, controlling the battle, bringing Konoha and Sunagakure together, and helping trigger Tsunade's return.
• Jiraiya embraced Orochimaru and poured him wine, and Orochimaru accepted the drink despite briefly resisting the gesture.
• Jiraiya asked about Orochimaru's life as a Rogue Ninja, and Orochimaru teased him about sneaking into hot spring bathhouses to gather material for his writing.
• Jiraiya defended his peeping as research, while the narration discussed his Transparent Ninjutsu and the history behind it.
• Orochimaru noticed Jiraiya secretly glancing at Tsunade and teased them about flirting, making both of them call his name and blush.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru traded barbs about their status and Jiraiya’s novels until Tsunade stopped them. Naruto then considered having the three Legendary Sannin, all now able to use Sage Mode, fight to see who was strongest.

• Jiraiya teased Orochimaru about losing to Naruto and being his subordinate, then claimed that made him a generation above Orochimaru as Naruto’s teacher.
• Orochimaru mocked Jiraiya’s novels to provoke him, and Jiraiya admitted his recent writing had been padded while defending his earlier work.
• Tsunade interrupted Jiraiya and Orochimaru’s argument before it could ruin their reunion.
• Naruto reflected on how Sage Mode had strengthened all three Legendary Sannin and imagined them competing to determine who was strongest.

Naruto prompted Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru to spar, and Tsunade and Orochimaru baited Jiraiya into accepting a fight. The spar began in a nearby forest, where Tsunade’s first punch revealed that her speed and strength had increased.

• Naruto asked how long it had been since the three Sannin last sparred and who was strongest.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru praised Jiraiya before provoking him with claims that his strength and health had declined.
• Jiraiya challenged Orochimaru to a fight, and Tsunade offered to help whichever fighter was disadvantaged.
• Naruto, Shizune, and Tonton followed the Sannin to a nearby forest after Naruto confirmed the area was clear.
• Tsunade charged Jiraiya and smashed the ground with a Monster Strength Punch, leaving him surprised by her speed and power.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru escalated their sparring match by summoning Gamabunta, Katsuyu, and Manda. Their summons fought while the three Sannin joined in, leaving the battle in a three-way standoff.

• Orochimaru attacked Jiraiya with Shadow Snake Hands, but Jiraiya destroyed the snakes with a Great Ball Rasengan.
• Tsunade struck Jiraiya with Painful Sky Kick, and Jiraiya defended with Needle Jizo before being sent flying.
• Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade summoned Gamabunta, Manda, and Katsuyu, then agreed to a nonlethal sparring match.
• Gamabunta and Manda clashed, while Jiraiya attacked Orochimaru with Flame Bullet and Orochimaru blocked it with Rashōmon.
• Tsunade joined the fight through Katsuyu, whose Acidic Saliva pushed Gamabunta and Manda back and formed a three-way standoff.

Jiraiya activated Sage Mode during the spar, only to discover that Tsunade and Orochimaru had mastered it too. The three Sannin dismissed their Summoning Beasts and prepared to test their different Sage Modes against one another.

• Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima to help him enter Sage Mode.
• Tsunade told Orochimaru she knew he had learned Sage Mode, then revealed that she had mastered it as well.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode and realized both of his companions had also gathered Natural Energy and transformed.
• Orochimaru and Tsunade displayed their distinct Sage Mode forms, while Jiraiya wondered why theirs looked more impressive than his.
• The three Sannin dismissed Gamabunta, Katsuyu, and Manda, then spread out to probe one another's Sage Mode abilities.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru tested their Sage Mode abilities in battle, with Tsunade watching and aiding Orochimaru. Jiraiya launched Sage Art: Goemon, and Orochimaru asked Tsunade to supply him with Sage Chakra so he could respond.

• Jiraiya asked Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima about the Sage Modes of Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest, learning that one focused on offense and the other on healing.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru clashed with Sage Art: Fire Style techniques, and Orochimaru stopped Jiraiya's Great Flame Bullet with Triple Rashōmon.
• Jiraiya attacked with Sage Art: Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet, but Orochimaru used Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation to animate the soil and extinguish the flames.
• Jiraiya concealed himself and joined Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima in preparing Sage Art: Goemon.
• Orochimaru recognized the incoming Goemon and asked Tsunade to transfer Sage Chakra to him, while remarking that Jiraiya endured thanks to the two sages' help.

Orochimaru used Tsunade’s Sage Chakra to unleash Sage Art: White Rage Technique and transform into a controlled, powerful Eight-Headed Serpent, pushing through Jiraiya’s Sage Art: Goemon. Jiraiya recovered and prepared a two-Rasengan counter, leaving the clash unresolved.

• Orochimaru used Sage Art: White Rage Technique to blind and disorient Jiraiya, weakening Sage Art: Goemon.
• Orochimaru transformed with Sage Art: Eight-Headed Serpent Technique and charged through Goemon, regenerating after its flames scorched him.
• Jiraiya asked whether Orochimaru’s transformation had side effects, and Orochimaru reassured him while Sage Shima and Sage Fukasaku warned that Goemon had mostly failed.
• Jiraiya created a Shadow Clone, and the two Jiraiyas gathered Sage Chakra to form a Rasengan each.
• Naruto recognized Jiraiya’s intended counter as Jiraiya prepared to attack Orochimaru with the two Rasengan.

Jiraiya and Tsunade joined forces against Orochimaru during a spar, with Tsunade revealing the overwhelming power of her Sage Chakra-enhanced Monster Strength Punch. The three ended the match after gauging their current abilities.

• Jiraiya and his shadow clone struck Orochimaru’s Eight-Tails Serpent form with Sage Art: Super Great Ball Rasengan, but Orochimaru kept charging.
• As Jiraiya prepared to give up, Tsunade stepped in and released the Sage Chakra stored in her Yin Seal.
• Tsunade gathered Sage Chakra into her arm and used the Byakugou Seal to heal the damage caused by the strain.
• Tsunade’s Sage Art: Monster Strength Punch sent Orochimaru’s Eight-Tails Serpent form flying and forced it back.
• Orochimaru ended the spar and returned to his normal form, and Jiraiya and Tsunade agreed to stop.

Naruto assessed how Sage Mode had changed the strength ranking of the Legendary Sannin, placing Orochimaru first, Jiraiya second, and Tsunade close behind. After the battle, he revealed that he had created his own Sage Mode, and Orochimaru asked him for more experimental materials.

• Naruto judged that Orochimaru's Sage Art: Eight-Headed Serpent Technique made him the strongest of the three, while Tsunade's stored Sage Chakra kept her close to Jiraiya.
• The Legendary Sannin ended their battle, and Jiraiya bragged to Naruto until Tsunade threatened him with her fists.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya and Tsunade that Naruto could easily defeat all three of them, and Naruto considered how he would do it using his Sage Mode, Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Susanoo, and dojutsu.
• Naruto told Orochimaru that he had learned the Sage Modes of Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest and created a Sage Mode of his own.
• Orochimaru took experimental containers from a Storage Scroll and asked Naruto to replenish the materials he had supplied before.

Naruto asks Orochimaru to explain his research into Hashirama Cells and Danzo’s experiments, revealing how Kinoe survived a transplant and awakened Wood Release. Tsunade learns the Senju cannot be restored through the technique, while Orochimaru leaves her with Kinoe’s name.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade confront Orochimaru as he prepares to take Naruto’s cells, but Naruto explains that he requested the research himself.
• Naruto warns that future enemies may threaten the entire ninja world and asks Orochimaru to reveal his past cooperation with Shimura Danzō.
• Orochimaru explains that Danzo supplied human test subjects, received Hashirama Cells and Sharingan implants, and used Izanagi to survive otherwise fatal events.
• Orochimaru says one test subject survived Hashirama Cells and awakened Wood Release, but Tsunade learns that Senju compatibility still leaves a ninety percent mortality rate.
• Orochimaru reveals that the surviving test subject’s Wood Release was far weaker than Hashirama Senju’s and identifies him as Kinoe, now a member of Root.

Naruto convinced Jiraiya and Tsunade that Orochimaru should study his cells to prepare for powerful future enemies. The chapter ended with Naruto providing five bottles of tissue and cells, recovering almost immediately and demonstrating that he was extraordinarily difficult to drain.

• Naruto warned Jiraiya and Tsunade that future enemies would threaten even the combined Kage of the Five Great Nations, and argued that his cells could help prepare for them.
• Orochimaru claimed Naruto Cells could greatly improve strength and vitality, possibly help Jiraiya enter Sage Mode alone, and allow Tsunade to awaken Wood Release.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade worried that extracting Naruto's cells would harm him, but Naruto assured them he could stop if he felt any ill effects.
• Orochimaru confirmed that he was undercover in the Akatsuki Organization, then focused on collecting more of Naruto's cells.
• Naruto extracted five bottles of tissue and cells before feeling slightly drained, then recovered with a single breath.

Orochimaru departed to return to the Akatsuki Organization after revealing that Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan had founded it, leaving Jiraiya shaken by the truth about his former students. Naruto warned Jiraiya not to seek them out and promised to protect him, while Jiraiya wondered whether his disciples would ever find a good ending.

• Orochimaru collected five bottles of Naruto's tissue and announced that he was returning to the Akatsuki Organization.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya that the Akatsuki Organization's founders were connected to him, and Jiraiya realized they were Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
• Orochimaru explained that he had recognized Konan and suspected Pain was Yahiko, though he had not seen Nagato.
• Naruto warned Jiraiya not to contact the Akatsuki Organization and told him to keep the Flying Thunder God Kunai close while Orochimaru gathered information.
• Jiraiya asked Naruto whether Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan would have good endings, and Naruto reflected on their tragic fates.

Naruto promised Jiraiya he would give Nagato and his companions a place to belong, and reassured Jiraiya that he would talk Nagato onto Konoha’s side. As Naruto prepared to return to Konoha, Jiraiya and Tsunade worried about how the village would treat him, and Naruto decided he needed time to reconsider his plans.

• Naruto promised Jiraiya that he would help Nagato and his companions find a place to belong, and Jiraiya supported Orochimaru’s departure for the Akatsuki Organization.
• Orochimaru left after telling Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Naruto to take care of themselves and asking Naruto to contact him with the Summoning Jutsu if needed.
• Naruto proposed that Jiraiya and Tsunade travel with him toward Konoha, then teased Jiraiya about his feelings for Tsunade.
• Jiraiya warned Naruto that Konoha’s leaders and villagers might monitor or ostracize him because of his strength, and Tsunade agreed that the village leadership could not be trusted.
• Tsunade suggested that Naruto use a Shadow Clone to return to Konoha while they waited outside the village, and Naruto considered how the changed circumstances affected his plans.

Naruto reassured Tsunade and Jiraiya that his clan alliances would help him handle Konoha’s politics, and he persuaded Tsunade to reconsider her distrust of the Uchiha. He parted ways with Jiraiya, who began traveling with Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton, while Naruto returned to Konoha using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Naruto told Tsunade and Jiraiya that his friendships with Konoha’s major clans gave him support for his future ambition to become Hokage.
• Tsunade questioned whether the Uchiha Clan could be trusted, and Naruto argued that Konoha’s treatment of them could drive them to rebel.
• Naruto’s defense of the Uchiha changed Tsunade’s view and eased her prejudice toward the clan.
• Naruto suggested that Jiraiya travel alongside Tsunade, and Tsunade said she would not stop Jiraiya from choosing his own path.
• Naruto reminded Jiraiya to keep the Flying Thunder God Kunai safe, then exchanged farewells with him at sunset.
• Jiraiya set off with Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton, while Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Konoha.

Naruto sensed familiar Chakra signatures and found Karin Uzumaki and her mother being threatened by Kusagakure ninjas. He intervened with the Flying Thunder God Technique and struck the leader with a Rasengan.

• Naruto sensed familiar Chakra signatures in a forest and used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to locate them.
• Naruto saw Karin Uzumaki and her starving mother pleading with a Kusagakure squad for food.
• Karin's mother revealed that she and her daughter were from the Uzumaki Clan and could restore Chakra and heal injuries by being bitten.
• The Grass Ninjas prepared to take Karin and her mother back to Kusagakure, with their leader reaching to bite Karin's mother.
• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear and slammed a Rasengan into the Grass Ninja leader's back.

Naruto defeated the Grass Ninja leader and used Susanoo and the Flying Thunder God Technique to kill the two remaining Grass Ninjas. He returned to Karin Uzumaki and her mother, relieved that he had encountered them before tragedy struck.

• Naruto killed the Grass Ninja leader with a Rasengan, then let the two surviving Grass Ninjas prepare a combined Fire and Wind Style attack.
• Naruto awakened his golden Susanoo, which blocked the Grass Ninjas' combined ninjutsu without damage.
• The Grass Ninjas fled, but Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind them and crush them with Susanoo before burning away their remains.
• Naruto returned to Karin Uzumaki and her mother, who had waited for him, and felt glad to have found them before anything tragic happened.

Naruto reunited Karin Uzumaki with her mother, Linzi Uzumaki, and offered to bring them to Tsunade Senju for shelter and training. He used Yang Release Chakra to restore the life force they had lost while starving.

• Karin Uzumaki joyfully greeted Naruto, and Linzi Uzumaki introduced herself as Karin’s mother.
• Naruto gave Linzi and Karin food, then explained that his mother was Uzumaki Kushina and that he belonged to the Uzumaki Clan.
• Linzi described their uncertain future, and Naruto offered to take them to Tsunade Senju, whom he said would shelter them.
• After Linzi and Karin said they trusted him, Naruto channeled Yang Release Chakra into them to replenish their depleted life force.

Naruto brought Linzi Uzumaki and Karin Uzumaki to Tsunade and asked her to keep them and teach them ninjutsu. After Naruto paid Tsunade, she examined the women and recognized their unusual healing abilities as a rare constitution suited to Medical Ninjutsu.

• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Linzi Uzumaki and Karin Uzumaki to Jiraiya and Tsunade.
• Naruto asked Tsunade to take in the two Uzumaki women, and she agreed after he gave her money.
• Tsunade examined Linzi Uzumaki and Karin Uzumaki and concluded their unusual constitutions made them natural talents for Medical Ninjutsu.
• Naruto gave Karin a Flying Thunder God Kunai and promised to return, then teleported away.
• Shizune and Tonton returned and were surprised to find Linzi Uzumaki and Karin Uzumaki with Tsunade.

Naruto returned to Konoha and learned that Danzo had stirred up renewed hostility toward the Uchiha Clan, leaving the clan uncertain whether Hiruzen was involved. He joined Fugaku Uchiha, Mikoto Uchiha, Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke, and Uchiha Shisui as they discussed how to respond.

• Naruto collected the Heavenly Tribute from Lu Chuan and returned to Konoha in less than a day.
• Naruto reviewed his Shadow Clone's memories and learned that rumors accusing the Uchiha Clan of neglecting its duties had reignited rebellious sentiment within the clan.
• Naruto suspected Danzo had orchestrated the slander and might next use missions to target Uchiha Clan members and steal their Sharingan.
• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Sasuke's home, where Fugaku Uchiha, Mikoto Uchiha, Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke, and Uchiha Shisui were discussing the crisis.
• The Uchiha Clan members agreed not to compromise with those slandering them, but remained unsure whether Danzo, Hiruzen, or Konoha as a whole was responsible.

Naruto joined the Uchiha Clan meeting and proposed eliminating Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō by hiring the Akatsuki Organization, promising to fund the job and secure Tsunade Senju as the next Hokage. Fugaku Uchiha pledged the clan’s support to Naruto as they prepared to benefit from the planned attack.

• Uchiha Shisui proposed using Kotoamatsukami on Hiruzen Sarutobi or Shimura Danzō, while Uchiha Itachi and Fugaku Uchiha argued that the clan’s problems would take too long to resolve through gradual change.
• Naruto arrived at the Uchiha meeting, and Fugaku Uchiha explained the clan’s worsening situation to him.
• Naruto declared that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had to be removed, prompting Uchiha Shisui to support immediate action and Uchiha Itachi to question whether killing them was necessary.
• Naruto proposed hiring the Akatsuki Organization to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi for a two-billion-ryō bounty, and he said he would handle the money and contact the organization.
• Naruto promised that Tsunade Senju would become the next Hokage and treat the Uchiha Clan fairly, then told the clan to gain prestige when the Akatsuki Organization attacked.
• Fugaku Uchiha pledged that the Uchiha Clan would advance and retreat alongside Naruto.