Chapter Summaries

Naruto received a supposedly lucky seed from Tenzo after the Third Hokage urged him to strengthen his fundamentals before learning more ninjutsu. In the Land of Rain, Pain and Konan discussed the Three-Tails’ death and began considering how to find the mysterious man’s weakness; Naruto later brought the seed to the Mirrored World.

• Naruto praised Tenzo’s village construction work and asked the Third Hokage to teach him new ninjutsu.
• The Third Hokage relayed Iruka’s criticism of Naruto’s arrogance and explained that Naruto needed to learn to fight without relying on shadow clones.
• Tenzo gave Naruto a seed, and the Third Hokage claimed it would bring good luck.
• Pain and Konan learned that the Three-Tails had died and discussed the suspicious man who was disrupting the Akatsuki’s plans and being monitored by Black Zetsu.
• After Hayate Gekko left, Naruto went to the Mirrored World with the seed in his pocket.

Naruto learned that Utakata’s teacher had found a forbidden technique in Kusagakure that could let Utakata survive, and he identified it as the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique. After reviewing Yagura’s memories and confirming Obito had controlled him and Isobu, Naruto went to test Tenzo, and Isobu later reported two rewards.

• Isobu told Naruto that Utakata’s teacher had researched a way to save him after separating him from Saiken, and Naruto identified the technique as the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique.
• Kurama showed Yagura’s memories, revealing that Obito had defeated him with Wood Style and controlled both Yagura and Isobu with the Sharingan.
• Naruto wondered why Obito had not taken Yagura for the Akatsuki’s Tailed Beast plan, then selected Tenzo’s portrait and left to test his strength.
• Kurama took Isobu aside to teach him how to fight opponents with the Sharingan while Naruto was away.
• After Naruto returned and went to sleep, Isobu excitedly told him he had received a Reaper Death Seal and Eight Gates as rewards.

Naruto trained with Sasuke to develop black lightning and investigate how to combine chakra natures, then fought Kiba in class and let Akamaru steal his pendant. The chapter left Naruto intrigued by Akamaru as he concealed the Tracking Seed’s discovery from Tenzo.

• Naruto learned that Isobu had obtained the Reaper Death Seal and the first six gates of the Eight Gates from Kakashi’s memories, then returned to rest without asking about Kurama and Kokuō’s rewards.
• Naruto used a Shadow Clone wearing his jacket to mislead Tenzo, who followed the clone and saw it buy a pendant containing his Tracking Seed.
• In the Land of Waves, Naruto trained with hundreds of Shadow Clones while Sasuke suggested reversing how he combined Lightning Release and Water Release; both tried to cultivate black lightning.
• Naruto told Sasuke that the Third Hokage had visited and that he would attend the afternoon combat training, then returned with him to Konoha.
• During Taijutsu class, Naruto defeated Kiba twice and knocked him from the platform, after which Akamaru snatched the pendant from Naruto’s neck.
• Naruto told Kiba that he was starting to like Akamaru, clarifying that he had been speaking to the dog rather than Kiba.

Naruto used Akamaru to get rid of a pendant he suspected was meant to monitor him, then the Third Hokage discussed his conduct and potential as a jinchuriki. Two months later, after Snow ninja stole the Chakra Armor Naruto had purchased, he and Sasuke confronted them at the Land of Snow’s port, where Naruto crushed all six.

• During a dojo match, Akamaru swallowed Naruto’s pendant, and Kiba taunted Naruto by saying the dog would return it through its poop.
• Shikamaru and Sasuke realized Naruto had deliberately let Akamaru take the pendant, which they suspected was connected to surveillance.
• Naruto reassured Hinata, and that night Tenzo reported to the Third Hokage that Naruto had shown restraint and used a technique resembling Gentle Fist.
• Naruto asked Gato to arrange a purchase of flying Chakra Armor from the Land of Snow, but the Snow ninja intercepted the shipment and kept the armor and money.
• Two months later, Naruto and Sasuke arrived by ship at the port and found six Snow ninja waiting there.
• Naruto transformed into a giant and crushed the six Snow ninja with his hand.

Naruto and Sasuke stormed a Snow Ninja research facility and killed its guards while gathering equipment. They confronted Kazahana Dōtō at his palace, where Naruto used the Mind Body Switch Technique to take control of him.

• Naruto and Sasuke killed six Snow Ninja outside the research building and split up to clear its floors.
• Naruto fought through the upper floors, killed the Snow Ninja there, and discovered a prototype airship on the tenth floor.
• Naruto reunited with Sasuke, who explained how the Chakra Armor worked, and the two headed to Kazahana Dōtō’s palace.
• Naruto and Sasuke confronted Kazahana Dōtō and his two guards, who attacked with Ice Release techniques.
• Naruto used the Mind Body Switch Technique on Kazahana Dōtō, causing him to fall into darkness.

Naruto killed Kazahana Dōtō and his guards, then returned to Konoha with Sasuke and took part in the Academy’s teacher assignments. Half a year later, Naruto trained with Sasuke, discovered plans for the Chunin Exams and Konoha Crush, and learned that Jiraiya was returning.

• Naruto controlled Kazahana Dōtō, killed the female guard, and helped Sasuke defeat the remaining guard before killing Kazahana Dōtō.
• Naruto explained that the Chakra Armor researchers were in the dungeon, then he and Sasuke flew back toward Konoha using Flying Armor.
• At the Academy, Naruto watched Kakashi lead his students away while Hinata noticed Neji following Might Guy.
• Naruto fought Sasuke in the Land of Waves and demonstrated Storm Release, while Sasuke resolved to learn the technique.
• Kurama showed Naruto Gaara and Kabuto Yakushi’s memories, revealing Danzo’s alliance proposal to Orochimaru and the planned Chunin Exams.
• Naruto saw a scroll announcing Jiraiya’s return and asked Kurama whether Shukaku could use a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Naruto and Kurama speculated that Orochimaru planned to use Sunagakure’s One-Tails Jinchuriki during the Chunin Exams, while Naruto considered the Third Hokage’s plans for his future team. After capturing Ido in Kurama Yakumo’s mind, Naruto later captured an Anbu who used the Mind Body Switch Technique on him, leaving Naruto with a new World Subordinate.

• Kurama named Chōmei the weakest Tailed Beast in combat and agreed with Naruto that Orochimaru might intend to use Shukaku’s Jinchuriki to attack Konoha.
• The Third Hokage asked Naruto about his future teammates, but Naruto showed no interest in the recommended classmates and asked to join the Anbu instead.
• Naruto encountered Kurama Yakumo on a wooded cliff, where Ido invaded his mental world and was captured as a Specialized Spiritual Puppet.
• Naruto marked Kurama Yakumo’s wrist and left as Chakra signatures approached, then returned to school after confirming she had reached the hospital.
• Two Anbu intercepted Naruto on his way home, and one used the Mind Body Switch Technique against him.
• Naruto captured the attacking Anbu as his first World Subordinate, and the Anbu fled with his masked companion.

Naruto used the Mirrored World to watch Danzo’s agents report their failed mission and learned that Danzo had sent them to the Land of Fields for Orochimaru’s experimental data. In the Land of Waves, Naruto recognized Maruboshi Kosuke as a Konoha Genin spying on the new regime, and confronted him after Kosuke sent a pigeon for help.

• Naruto observed Fu Yamanaka and Torune report to Danzo that their mission to capture the Jinchuriki had failed, and heard Danzo order them to retrieve Orochimaru’s experimental data from the Land of Fields.
• Kurama and Isobu repeatedly turned Fu Yamanaka into a character portrait and pulled him back out to throw him again, while Naruto left the Mirrored World to report to the Third Hokage.
• Gato told Naruto that an old man had proposed building a bridge from the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire, and Naruto and Sasuke went to investigate him at the port.
• Naruto identified the old man as Maruboshi Kosuke, a skilled Konoha Genin, and Sasuke realized Kosuke was using Genjutsu to send the workers away.
• Kosuke sent a pigeon and accused Naruto and Sasuke of seizing power in the Land of Waves, while Naruto warned him that his actions would cost more than two comrades their lives.

Tenten had been lectured by several people, and the girl she met had not taken a liking to her. She felt depressed and remained unable to speak as she prepared to return to Chengdu the day after tomorrow.

• Tenten was lectured by one person after another.
• The girl did not take a liking to Tenten.
• Tenten felt depressed and could not get any words out.
• Tenten was due to return to Chengdu the day after tomorrow.

Sasuke fought Kosuke and killed him with help from a Shadow Clone after using the Eight Gates and Shadow Imitation Technique. Naruto sealed Kosuke’s corpse and revealed that he planned to return it to Konoha, though he hinted the dead man would cause further deaths.

• Sasuke challenged Kosuke alone and used lightning attacks, clones, and his Sharingan to keep fighting him despite Kosuke’s Water Clones and evasive techniques.
• Sasuke opened the Gate of Opening and used a Shadow Clone to exploit Kosuke’s distraction, bind him with the Shadow Imitation Technique, and strike a fatal blow with Chidori.
• Naruto approached after Kosuke died, carved two sealing formulas onto the corpse, and said the dead could be more useful than the living.
• Sasuke questioned Naruto’s plan for the corpse, and Naruto said they would deliver it directly to Konoha.

Naruto and Sasuke dealt with Kosuke’s corpse, while Naruto secretly triggered a sealing technique that destroyed Konoha’s Intelligence Department and killed several people. The village began searching for suspects, and Naruto returned to the Academy pleased by the resulting silence.

• Naruto killed Kosuke, recovered his prosthetic leg, and told Sasuke that Konoha had unusually powerful Genin; Sasuke then practiced the Mystical Palm Technique on fish.
• The Third Hokage, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo reviewed intelligence about the Akatsuki Organization and the Land of Waves, then learned Kosuke’s corpse had been found outside Konoha’s barrier.
• At the Academy, Naruto activated a sealing technique on Kosuke’s corpse while Shikamaru spoke with him, causing a massive explosion that destroyed most of the Intelligence Department and swallowed eight people.
• After the explosion, Iruka announced self-study, and the Academy fell into fearful silence as Naruto stayed behind instead of investigating.
• Kurama complained that the sealing technique had activated too slowly, while Naruto said he had only meant to frighten the Third Hokage and enjoyed the silence.

Naruto spoke with Hinata about her training and the Hyuga Clan before Sasuke arrived looking depressed. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage confronted Danzo over Kosuke’s murder, and days later Sasuke questioned Naruto’s knack for mastering ninjutsu while struggling to understand why his water-nature training had produced Yang Release Chakra.

• Naruto asked Hinata whether her Byakugan had revealed anything suspicious, and she said she had not used it around the village.
• Naruto learned Hinata could perform the Sixty-Four Palms and encouraged her not to go easy on Hanabi; Hinata vowed to become the peak her sister would strive to surpass.
• Sasuke entered the classroom looking depressed as Hinata nervously stood beside Naruto.
• The Third Hokage challenged Danzo’s claim that Kakashi was the leading suspect in Kosuke’s death, but Danzo defended his reasoning and criticized the Hokage’s principles.
• Danzo ordered Root to suspend all operations and leave the investigation to the Third Hokage.
• On the Land of Waves beach, Sasuke questioned how Naruto mastered ninjutsu so easily and admitted that his attempt to train water-natured chakra had instead produced Yang Release Chakra.

Naruto and Sasuke met Zabuza and Haku at the Daimyo's Mansion, where Zabuza sought support for becoming Mizukage. Naruto warned him that Mei Terumi had the stronger backing and advised him to give up, leaving Zabuza to depart after asking why Naruto had spared them again.

• Naruto sensed Zabuza and Haku approaching the Daimyo's Mansion, and Enji and Sachiko came to summon him and Sasuke.
• Sasuke reluctantly let Sachiko call him teacher after she asked again.
• Naruto confronted Zabuza about seeking information on the Six-Tails Jinchuriki to support his bid for Mizukage, but said he did not know its whereabouts.
• Naruto told Zabuza that Mei Terumi would defeat him, and Zabuza recognized that her supporters and strength outweighed his own.
• Zabuza left with Haku after Naruto said they still had value to him.

Naruto told Zabuza and Haku the truth behind the Six-Tails jinchuriki’s defection, hoping they would find Saiken before Akatsuki did. After experimenting with Storm Release and a Rasengan, Naruto and Sasuke pursued six suspicious shinobi, and Naruto ended the encounter holding the eyepatched leader’s head.

• Naruto explained that the Six-Tails jinchuriki had been manipulated into killing his teacher, and Zabuza and Haku left the Daimyo’s Mansion with the revelation.
• Isobu said he hoped Zabuza and Haku would find Saiken, while Naruto warned Sasuke that investigating jinchuriki and tailed beasts in Konoha was dangerous.
• Naruto formed a Storm Release Rasengan on a glacier and proposed using the Rasengan to develop new kekkei genkai.
• Naruto learned from his Shadow Clone that six people had turned back toward an abandoned harbor, so he and Sasuke went to confront them.
• The six shinobi fled when Naruto and Sasuke arrived, but Naruto and Sasuke pursued them in Flying Armor; ten minutes later, Sasuke held two greatswords and Naruto held the eyepatched leader’s head.

Naruto and Sasuke fought Kirigakure shinobi, and Naruto took Ao’s Byakugan and submitted his corpse to the Bounty Station. Back in Konoha, Naruto spoke with Shikamaru about misunderstandings as the Third Hokage investigated Ao’s death and worried Kirigakure might take Konoha’s Chunin Exams invitation as a provocation.

• Naruto killed Ao and captured the remaining Chunin after Sasuke was wounded during their fight.
• Naruto removed Ao’s Byakugan and sent his corpse to the Bounty Station, while Sasuke kept the Twin Fish Blades Hiramekarei.
• Naruto told Sasuke that the blades’ former owner might have become Kirigakure’s Sixth Mizukage, then left for the Bounty Station.
• Shikamaru told Naruto that Hinata would join a Search Specialization Class with Kiba and Shino under Kurenai Yuhi, and Naruto exchanged pointed remarks with him about misunderstandings.
• The Third Hokage learned that Ao’s Byakugan was missing and his skull nerves were shredded like Kosuke’s, then worried Kirigakure might view Konoha’s Chunin Exams invitation as a provocation.

The narrator waited at the hospital after completing the queue for a CT scan and routine blood test, feeling panicked.

• The narrator queued for a CT scan.
• The narrator queued for a routine blood test.
• The narrator felt so panicked that they could hardly stand.

The Third Hokage connected Kosuke’s death and Ao’s corpse to a possible plot tied to the Land of Waves and discussed sending an investigator. Meanwhile, Naruto and Shikamaru talked at school about chess and the people treated as its pieces, and the chapter ended with Tenzo reporting that Kakashi was still at the Monument to Heroes.

• The Third Hokage learned that Ao’s corpse had been delivered with his brain destroyed and connected his death to Kosuke’s, then asked about Kirigakure intelligence and Root’s sources.
• Naruto gave Choji money to buy extra Chestnut Ball for Hinata, and Shikamaru awkwardly asked whether Naruto’s living allowance was enough.
• Shikamaru told Naruto that his father had been making him, Choji, and Ino train coordinated tactics, then invited Naruto to play shogi.
• Naruto said he disliked chess because its players treated the world as a board, and Shikamaru replied that no one was willing to be a piece.
• Shikaku told the Third Hokage that Kosuke’s sacrifice and the Kirigakure ninja’s death were connected to the Land of Waves, then began considering whom to send.
• Tenzo reported that Kakashi was still at the Monument to Heroes, and the Third Hokage asked him to summon Kakashi.

Shikaku warned the Third Hokage that Kosuke’s death and Ao’s body were part of a plot drawing Konoha toward the Land of Waves, so they considered sending a merchant caravan first. The Hokage assigned Kakashi to teach Naruto and Sasuke, and Kakashi accepted after learning Minato had believed in him; Naruto and the Tailed Beasts then watched the memories and discussed the coming conflict.

• Shikaku told the Third Hokage that Kosuke had been killed elsewhere and his body moved, linking his death to Ao’s and suggesting a hidden force wanted Konoha to investigate the Land of Waves.
• Shikaku recommended sending a merchant caravan to the Land of Waves before dispatching ninja, and the Third Hokage agreed to arrange it.
• The Third Hokage gave Kakashi the files for Naruto, Sasuke, and their third teammate, explaining why he needed Kakashi to guide them.
• The Third Hokage told Kakashi that Minato had known he manipulated the bell test but still trusted him, and Kakashi bowed and said he understood.
• Naruto watched memories of Orochimaru’s plans in Sunagakure and the Hokage’s conversation with Kakashi alongside Kurama, Kokuō, and Isobu.
• Kurama asked whether Naruto would kill Kakashi if he went to the Land of Waves, and Naruto said he would not personally kill someone who had protected him and his mother.

Naruto pressured the Land of Snow’s researchers over their failed attempts to clone an eye, then approved Kazahana Koyuki’s request to send children to the Land of Waves to learn ninjutsu. In the Land of Waves, Sasuke continued battling Naruto’s shadow clones and unveiled a new lightning technique.

• Naruto questioned Professor Oikawa and the researchers about their lack of success cloning an eye, then urged them to keep working.
• Kazahana Koyuki asked Naruto for permission to send children to the Land of Waves to learn ninjutsu, and he agreed.
• Sasuke fought through Naruto’s shadow clones in the forest, countering their attacks with shuriken, wires, and ninjutsu.
• Sasuke challenged Naruto to fight him head-on, then charged the gathered clones with his new Chidori: Light Sword.
• Naruto answered Sasuke’s lightning barrage with Water Release: Water Mirror Technique.

Naruto’s Shadow Clone defeated Sasuke in training and challenged him to reconsider how he pursued Sharingan evolution, while Naruto’s real body experimented with Water Style on a glacier. After Kokuō wondered whether Naruto was free, Naruto explained that true freedom meant being able to refuse what he did not want to do.

• Naruto’s Shadow Clone countered Sasuke’s Water Release attack, and Sasuke admitted defeat after realizing he faced dozens of clones.
• Naruto told Sasuke that his real body was researching the Byakugan and urged him to focus on the cause of Sharingan evolution rather than seeking battle pressure alone.
• Konan gave Kakuzu a mission in the Land of the Falls and told him to investigate the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki while warning him to be careful around informants from Konoha and Iwagakure.
• Naruto and his Shadow Clones tested a water-nature Rasengan on a glacier, accidentally creating a massive Water Dragon that Naruto avoided with his silver-white wings.
• Kokuō told Naruto that Han had been confined by Ōnoki and asked what Naruto considered true freedom, and Naruto said it was being able to refuse what he did not want to do.