Chapter Summaries

Naruto and Sasuke passed Ibiki’s first exam despite turning in blank papers, and Naruto prepared for the Forest of Death while keeping Sasuke involved in a plan concerning the Uchiha Clan Downfall. As the second exam began, the Great Toad Sage sent Jiraiya back to Konoha, where someone would reveal the answers he sought.

• Kakashi, Tenzo, and the Third Hokage discussed whether Naruto and Sasuke understood Ibiki’s test, and Naruto and Sasuke passed after answering the tenth question while leaving their papers blank.
• Naruto explained to Sasuke that he needed to act out a prepared script to lure someone and uncover the truth behind the Uchiha Clan Downfall, warning that he would kill anyone who knew the truth if Sasuke disrupted the plan.
• Anko began the second exam in the Forest of Death, and Team Seven chose an Earth Scroll and gave it to Naruto for safekeeping.
• Naruto rejected Kurama’s suggestion to provoke Gaara’s tailed beast, and Team Seven entered the Forest of Death when the exam started.
• The Great Toad Sage ordered Jiraiya to return to Konoha, promising that someone there would tell him what he wanted to know.

Naruto and Sasuke staged a fight in the Forest of Death to draw out Orochimaru, while Naruto’s upgraded system analyzed Orochimaru’s memories and raised questions about the warnings from Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku. After Orochimaru was driven off, Naruto confronted Sasuke and Sakura, and Sakura saw Sasuke’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

• Sasuke and Naruto defeated hidden opponents and took the Scroll of Heaven, then Naruto put Sakura to sleep and helped Sasuke prepare for Orochimaru’s attack.
• Orochimaru, disguised as a Kusagakure woman, emerged as a giant snake and struck Naruto, while Sasuke fought back and later trapped Orochimaru with wire and fire.
• Anko found three dead Kusagakure ninja, recognized the technique used on their faces, and rushed into the Forest of Death after ordering Anbu support.
• Inside the Mirrored World, Naruto and the Tailed Beasts reviewed Orochimaru’s memories and discussed why Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku seemed to be guiding events.
• After Sakura woke, Sasuke confronted Naruto, who threatened Sakura with black lightning; Sakura survived and saw Sasuke’s scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Naruto and Sasuke continued their staged plan in the Forest of Death while Naruto rescued Karin and gathered information about the other teams. The chapter ended with Sasuke capturing two Sound Village ninja alive for Naruto’s experiments.

• Naruto and Sasuke discussed Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal, Sasuke’s search for the truth about the Uchiha Clan Downfall, and the next steps in their plan.
• Naruto disguised himself as a red-haired woman, killed two ninja who were exploiting Karin, and brought her to a luxurious hall.
• Kurama told Naruto that Isobu had obtained Impure World Reincarnation and that Orochimaru had sent three Sound Village ninja after Sasuke.
• Naruto and Sasuke discussed Itachi, Kakashi, and Shikamaru as other teams fought their way through the Forest of Death.
• At dusk, Sasuke defeated the Sound Village ninja with lightning and Genjutsu, then brought Naruto a female ninja and a bandaged male ninja alive for experiments.

Sasuke learned that Orochimaru’s planned attack on Konoha was tied to the truth behind the Uchiha Clan Downfall, while Naruto experimented with Impure World Reincarnation and discovered a new use for harvested souls. The chapter ended with Jiraiya asking the Third Hokage how his three disciples from the Land of Rain had died, as Naruto learned Jiraiya had returned to Konoha.

• Sasuke told Naruto that Orochimaru’s agents had tested him and suspected Kabuto Yakushi was involved, then asked whether Orochimaru’s collaborator was connected to the Uchiha Clan Downfall; Naruto confirmed it.
• Naruto used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Dosu, harvested his soul, and learned the Mirrored World could turn such souls into World Subordinates if he gathered enough data.
• Naruto froze Dosu’s and the female sacrifice’s bodies, while Kushina gave Karin a scroll and suggested she learn Medical Ninjutsu.
• Mitarashi Anko reported Orochimaru’s return to the Third Hokage, who suspected a conspiracy involving other ninja villages.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and asked the Third Hokage how his three disciples from the Land of Rain had died.
• Kokuō told Naruto that Jiraiya had returned to Konoha.

Naruto sought a way to obtain the sealing key from Jiraiya while Sasuke underwent Sharingan surgery and Team Seven advanced through the Forest of Death. The Third Hokage told Jiraiya about Naruto’s Nine-Tails training problem, while Team Seven reached the Central Tower and Kakashi summoned Sasuke outside.

• Sasuke used a Shadow Clone to travel with Naruto to the Land of Snow, where he underwent surgery involving a Two-Tomoe Sharingan and delivered his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to Naruto.
• Naruto and the Tailed Beasts discussed Jiraiya’s return, his questions about his Rain Village disciples, and the chance that he might stay to track Orochimaru.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura continued toward the Central Tower, while a hidden figure watched them and wrote on a card.
• The Third Hokage met Jiraiya at the former home of the Fourth Hokage, explained Orochimaru’s interest in Sasuke, and asked Jiraiya to address Naruto’s training problem.
• Team Seven arrived at the Central Tower with both scrolls, passed the exam checkpoint, and heard Kakashi call Sasuke outside.

Naruto suspected the sages had arranged Jiraiya’s return to conceal their plans, while Kakashi confronted Sasuke about Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal. The second exam’s survivors gathered for the preliminaries, where Naruto drew Misumi Tsurugi as his opponent.

• At Mount Myōboku, the White Snake Sage and Gamamaru discussed how the future and past of a mysterious person had become obscured, and Gamamaru said his spokesperson had returned to Konoha.
• Kakashi tried to seal Sasuke’s Cursed Seal, but Sasuke refused and agreed to sit on the altar after Kakashi explained the village’s plan to use him as bait for Orochimaru.
• Naruto told Kurama he suspected the sages had deliberately sent Jiraiya back without telling him about Naruto, and Kurama suggested Naruto obtain Jiraiya’s data during the matches.
• Naruto prepared Explosive Tags and drew on blank paper while Sakura worried about what he was making; Sasuke and Kakashi returned before the examinees gathered.
• Kabuto Yakushi withdrew from the preliminaries, leaving seventeen participants, and Ibiki Morino quieted complaints about the bye with a warning about luck and the first exam.
• The first preliminary matchup was announced as Uzumaki Naruto versus Misumi Tsurugi, and Naruto told Kiba Inuzuka that the draw seemed unfair.

Naruto defeated Misumi Tsurugi with a Transformation Jutsu and Explosive Tags, while Sasuke advanced after Sakura forfeited. Kiba and Choji knocked each other unconscious, and the next match was set to be Kankuro versus Ino.

• Naruto used a Smoke Bomb and a transformed kunai to escape Misumi Tsurugi’s hold, then killed him with Explosive Tags and won the match.
• Sasuke’s name was paired with Sakura’s, and Sakura forfeited after Sasuke warned her that he might kill her during the fight.
• Kiba Inuzuka and Choji used their special moves and pills, then knocked each other unconscious, leaving the third match without a winner.
• The electronic screen paired Kankuro with Ino for the next match.

Shino, Hinata, Gaara, and Shikamaru won their preliminary matches, and the finalists drew matchups for the exams one month later. The next morning, Naruto reached his training spot and found a white-haired figure waiting at the summit.

• Shino defeated Gai Sensei, and Hinata defeated Tenten using precise Chakra threads to destroy her weapons.
• Naruto warned Hinata and Shikamaru that Gaara was dangerous, then Gaara defeated Rock Lee after Rock Lee removed his weights and attacked at high speed.
• Shikamaru used a disguised Kunai and the Shadow Imitation Technique to defeat Temari, completing the preliminary matches.
• The finalists drew their numbers: Sasuke faced Gaara, and Naruto drew a number that kept him off the stage; Naruto anticipated Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan during the finals.
• The next morning, Naruto climbed to the summit of Konoha Back Mountain and saw a white-haired figure sitting there.

Naruto tested Jiraiya’s intentions, then used the Mirrored World to show him the truth about Danzo’s actions in the Land of Rain and the Third Hokage’s handling of Naruto’s childhood. Jiraiya agreed to take Naruto to Mount Myōboku, but Naruto reached the Great Toad Sage first and confronted the founders of the Three Great Sage Lands.

• Naruto ignored Jiraiya until Jiraiya followed him, then accused him of being suspicious and kept him restrained while a Shadow Clone went to the Third Hokage.
• The Third Hokage sent Hayate Gekko to investigate Kabuto Yakushi and told Tenzo to leave the situation to Jiraiya; Naruto then confirmed with the Third Hokage that Jiraiya had come to train him.
• Naruto showed Jiraiya the Tailed Beasts in the Mirrored World, made him a World Subordinate, and revealed Danzo’s role in the deaths of Jiraiya’s three disciples and the Third Hokage’s concealment of the truth.
• Naruto showed Jiraiya memories of the rumors targeting him after the Nine-Tails’ Rampage and other hidden events, leaving Jiraiya furious and demanding to meet the Great Toad Sage.
• Naruto used Kurama’s control of Jiraiya to make him summon Gamabunta, then traveled to Mount Myōboku and appeared before the Great Toad Sage, White Snake, and the giant slug.

Naruto met the three sages, learned that they wanted to escape their hidden realms and join the new world he might create, and took Gamatora and the Sage Talisman back to the Land of Snow. He opened the Eight Trigrams Seal, and a vivid red figure appeared before him.

• The Great Toad Sage gave Naruto Gamatora and a Sage Talisman, then explained that the sages wanted to cooperate with him and enter the world he would create.
• Naruto learned that the sages’ visions pointed to a world he would destroy and reshape, and that they feared the powerful figure maintaining the current world’s order.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to take Gamatora to the Land of Snow, where Gamatora revealed he had left Jiraiya seven years earlier.
• Naruto made Gamatora enter his body, used the sealing key to unlock the Eight Trigrams Seal, and gained control of the sealed space.
• Kurama and the other Tailed Beasts sensed abnormal Chakra as the seal transformed, and a vivid red figure appeared before Naruto.

Naruto reunited with Kushina in the sealed world and gave Sasuke his transplanted eyes, then revealed that Itachi Uchiha had burned Sasuke’s parents’ bodies. In the Mirrored World, Kushina chose to confront Danzo, while the Three Great Sage Lands waited for Naruto’s return.

• Naruto embraced Kushina in the sealed world, and she reminisced with him about their family while he listened.
• Kurama, Kokuō, Isobu, and Chōmei questioned the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy and discussed the Three Great Sage Lands’ history.
• Naruto entered Kurama’s Chakra mode, met Sasuke at Naka River, and brought him to the Land of Snow for his eye surgery.
• Sasuke asked Naruto where his parents’ bodies were, and Naruto told him Itachi Uchiha had burned them.
• Kushina declined to see Jiraiya, reviewed Kakashi’s memories, and entered Danzo’s battlefield to confront him.

Naruto learned that Kabuto had been exposed, but Orochimaru still planned to draw Sasuke toward him, while Danzo ordered Root to intensify its attacks. In the Land of Snow, Naruto questioned the origins of Senjutsu and the Sage of Six Paths’ motives; the chapter ended with Naruto and Kushina learning that Hayate Gekko had been found dead and the Third Hokage intended to keep the Chunin Exams going.

• Kokuō told Naruto that Kabuto Yakushi had been discovered, and Naruto watched the Third Hokage send Tenzo and Anbu to help Hayate Gekko arrest him.
• At Kikyo Castle, Kabuto met Orochimaru, admitted he had been exposed, and discussed Orochimaru’s plan to make Sasuke seek him out.
• Danzo learned that Jiraiya had returned to Konoha and ordered Team Otsu and Team C to double their attack frequency each day.
• Naruto and Kushina discussed the Sage of Six Paths’ Senjutsu and questioned how Mount Myōboku and the White Snake Sage taught it.
• Kushina showed Naruto Kakashi’s memories of the Third Hokage deciding to continue the Chunin Exams quietly after Hayate Gekko’s body was found, prompting them to wonder whether the village or his comrades mattered more to him.

Sasuke sparred with Kakashi, who realized Sasuke had been concealing his strength and urged him to abandon revenge. After Sasuke showed Kakashi the trauma behind his hatred and left, Naruto and the Tailed Beasts examined a mysterious seal and decided to seek answers at Mount Myōboku.

• Sasuke and Kakashi fought on the river, and Sasuke used a combination of shuriken, wire, and lightning to catch Kakashi off guard.
• Kakashi confronted Sasuke about hiding his strength, pointing to his restrained progress, resistance to Orochimaru's Cursed Seal, and skill in battle.
• Kakashi urged Sasuke to let go of revenge and focus on the future of the Uchiha, but Sasuke used a genjutsu to show him a painful memory from his childhood.
• Sasuke told Kakashi he would not return, then left across the river as Kakashi watched him go.
• In the Mental World, Kurama and Kushina examined a layered seal that had appeared inside Naruto's original sealing formula.
• Naruto suggested Mount Myōboku might explain the seal, and Kurama agreed to go there and test whether its three inhabitants would cooperate.

Naruto negotiated access to the Three Great Sage Lands and learned that the power inside him was tied to Asura. Meanwhile, Kakuzu brought Mukade to the Bounty Station, and Naruto left Mount Myōboku with the sages’ gifts.

• Naruto used Shadow Clones for the Tailed Beasts to explore the Mirrored World, then spoke with Kushina and connected with Sasuke, telling him Konoha’s Third Hokage could vouch for him.
• At Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage offered Naruto Senjutsu instruction and said Kurama had once helped Asura; the sages also agreed to Naruto’s request for access and combat support.
• Isobu informed Naruto that Kakuzu had captured Mukade, so Naruto went to the Bounty Station in the Land of the Falls and found Hidan waiting while Kakuzu counted the bounty.
• The Great Toad Sage showed Naruto visions revealing Asura and Indra’s Chakra had attached to successive people, including Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
• Naruto accepted the sages’ scroll, bead, and Katsuyu as the agreed exchange, then vanished in a cloud of smoke.

Naruto discussed Asura and Indra’s reincarnating Chakra with the Tailed Beasts and explained why he distrusted the Sage of Six Paths and Mount Myōboku. He trusted the Tailed Beasts, planned to keep discussing events inside the Mirrored World, and then learned more about Kushina’s Adamantine Sealing Chains.

• Naruto asked the Tailed Beasts about Asura’s Chakra reincarnating in him and Sasuke being Indra’s reincarnate, and they shared what little they knew about the brothers.
• Naruto revealed that he had only pretended to cooperate with Mount Myōboku and planned to obtain Senjutsu by capturing Hashirama Senju’s soul after the Third Hokage used the Reaper Death Seal.
• Naruto questioned the Sage of Six Paths’ motives and said he distrusted everyone in the real world except the Tailed Beasts, who pledged they would never betray someone they believed in.
• Naruto and the Tailed Beasts discussed reconciling Sasuke and Naruto, but Naruto said the timing was not ready for making Sasuke or Kakashi a World Subordinate and suggested they discuss future discoveries in the Mirrored World.
• Kushina taught Naruto that Uzumaki Clan members could inherit Adamantine Sealing Chains through a Chakra seal, and explained that Minato had sealed her Chakra inside Naruto so she could meet him.

Naruto oversaw the Land of Snow’s transformation into the Land of Spring while strengthening his alliance with Kurama and observing Orochimaru’s plot to kill the Fourth Kazekage. The chapter ended with Sasuke’s secret shrine being discovered by an Anbu, who was caught and attacked by someone calling him Senior Kabuto.

• Kushina taught Karin and Sachiko at the Land of Snow base, where Karin revealed that the country would soon be renamed the Land of Spring.
• Kijiro told Kazahana Koyuki that Naruto rejected her proposed alliance and ninja village but had approved her Scientific Ninja Tool research projects; the Rainbow Ice Wall then appeared, and the snow and ice melted.
• Naruto and Kurama fought Shisui Uchiha in the Mirrored World, combining their powers to destroy his Complete Body Susanoo before Kushina told Naruto that Orochimaru had killed the Fourth Kazekage.
• Naruto watched Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi kill Rasa and his guards, then asked Kushina about Kabuto and ordered Fu Yamanaka to act.
• Sasuke entered a secret passage beneath the Naka Shrine, and an Anbu followed him later and was trapped in the Secret Room after reaching the Stone Tablet.
• The trapped Anbu heard someone address him as Senior Kabuto before thunder and pain overtook him.

Naruto revived Kabuto Yakushi as a subordinate and coordinated plans for the Chunin Exam finals while the Third Hokage and Jiraiya clashed over Naruto’s future. As Sasuke fought Gaara, Naruto’s allies began moving against Konoha’s leaders, and the invasion erupted in the arena and stands.

• Naruto harvested Kabuto Yakushi’s soul, converted him into a subordinate, and sent him back to Konoha to continue his mission.
• Jiraiya challenged the Third Hokage over his plans for Naruto, while the Third Hokage ordered Tenzo to keep surveilling Danzo.
• Naruto instructed Sasuke to fight Gaara and capture him alive if possible, then arranged for Jiraiya to be brought into the Mirrored World.
• Naruto revived Chiyo and discussed the Tailed Beasts’ plans with them before using Fu Yamanaka’s perspective to watch the finals begin.
• Naruto and Hinata brought Neji to a hall where Hiashi and other Hyuga appeared, while Sasuke’s Chidori pierced Gaara after Naruto’s side sent a signal.
• Gaara transformed as Shukaku emerged, Sasuke escaped underground, and fighting broke out in the stands.

Naruto manipulated the Konoha invasion while raiding the village’s forbidden-jutsu vault and Danzo’s hidden stores, then intervened in the Third Hokage’s fight with Orochimaru. As Shukaku attacked Konoha, Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and summoned a towering lightning giant poised to strike.

• Kushina worried that Naruto’s plans to revive her and Minato were meant to sever his ties to them, while Kakashi and Might Guy fought Sound Ninja during the invasion.
• Naruto led Shikamaru away from the arena, killed the pursuing Sound Ninja, collected Kankuro’s corpse and puppet, and raided the forbidden-jutsu vault and Danzo’s secret room.
• Naruto interfered in the Third Hokage’s battle with Orochimaru, prompted Enma to strengthen Hiruzen’s resolve, and watched the Reaper Death Seal kill them both before taking Orochimaru’s corpse.
• Sasuke fought Gaara until Gaara transformed into Shukaku, and Naruto taunted Shukaku while keeping him occupied as Sasuke prepared his trump card.
• Shukaku fired a Tailed Beast Bomb toward Konoha, and Kakashi and Asuma witnessed Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan summon a lightning giant that drew a destructive arrow at Shukaku.

Naruto secretly transported Kakashi and Tenzo to his Laboratory, where he incapacitated them and began replacing Kakashi’s eye, while a strange Mirrored World prompt drew his attention. Sasuke accepted Naruto’s offer to show him the truth about the Uchiha Clan Downfall, and Shikamaru received an unexpected visitor.

• Kakashi and Asuma learned from the tracking dogs that Naruto and Shikamaru were safe, while Sasuke had captured a sand ninja and was returning to the village.
• Danzo ordered the forces to subdue Shukaku, learned that the Fourth Kazekage had appeared and that an unknown figure had pierced Shukaku, and met Kakashi and Asuma’s group.
• Naruto discussed the Hyuga Clan’s departure from Konoha with Hiashi, then visited the Three Great Sage Lands, where the sages revealed their plans to teach Senjutsu to Kabuto Yakushi and a red-haired girl.
• Sasuke showed Naruto that his right eye had evolved into a Three Tomoe Sharingan, and Naruto led him to the Cultivation Room to reveal recovered Uchiha property.
• Naruto lured Kakashi and Tenzo into the Mirrored World, knocked them unconscious, and carried Kakashi to an operating table to replace his eye; the Mirrored World then issued a new foreign-energy prompt.
• Naruto told Sasuke he would show him the truth behind the Uchiha Clan Downfall once the Fifth Hokage candidate was chosen, and Sasuke reluctantly agreed; at the Nara Clan Compound, Shikamaru welcomed a visitor who said they had come to give a friend a chance.

Danzo became the Fifth Hokage as the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Kurama clans publicly left Konoha, while Naruto and his allies disrupted Danzo’s takeover and stole his Sharingan. In the Land of Spring, Naruto began showing Sasuke the truth about the Uchiha Clan Downfall.

• A shadowy figure visited Rin’s grave, and Zetsu suspected he knew about the attack on Konoha before the news arrived.
• Shikamaru revealed that he knew Danzo had secured support to become Fifth Hokage, and Shikaku realized someone had leaked him confidential information.
• Danzo took office after the Third Hokage’s funeral, while the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Kurama clans declared their departure from Konoha and vanished with their members.
• Danzo discovered that the Forbidden Jutsu Vault had been emptied and his collected Sharingan stolen, then survived a powerful explosion caused by a sealing technique.
• Danzo ordered the clans labeled rogue ninja and learned that Jiraiya had taken Naruto to Mount Myōboku; the Fourth Kazekage also demanded the return of the One-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Naruto summoned Sasuke to the Land of Spring and offered to reveal the truth about the Uchiha Clan Downfall, then confronted him with a terrifying aura.