Chapter Summaries

Naruto and Karin uncovered Mizuki hiding in a tree, and Naruto recognized him as the Konoha ninja he had once met at Iruka’s home. After Karin noticed Mizuki’s unusual eyes, Naruto realized that the man before him was his long-missed Sensei and greeted him with overwhelming excitement.

• Naruto and Karin waited tensely beneath the tree until someone threw Naruto’s kunai back at them.
• Karin blocked the kunai, and Naruto used Wind Style: Gale Palm to strip the tree of its leaves.
• Naruto recognized the man on the branch as Mizuki, a Konoha ninja he had met at Iruka’s home, but remained wary because of his past impression of him.
• Karin noticed Mizuki’s star-like eyes, and Naruto’s confusion gave way to shock and joy.
• Naruto called Mizuki “Sensei” and rejoiced at seeing the teacher he had longed to find.

Naruto reunited with Soji, who was controlling Mizuki as a puppet, and proudly showed how much stronger he had become. Soji praised Naruto before preparing to give him a mission.

• Karin wondered about Naruto’s sensei and sensed the joy Naruto felt at seeing him.
• Soji revealed that he had subdued the transformed Mizuki and was controlling him with the Tenseigan after finding Mizuki’s illegal experiments in Orochimaru’s abandoned laboratory.
• Soji explained that Karin had detected the concealed Mizuki with the Mind’s Eye of the Kagura, while Naruto had passed his test by sensing someone nearby.
• Naruto boasted that he would surpass his parents and Soji, while the Nine-Tails cowered at Soji’s gaze.
• Soji praised Naruto and said he believed Minato and Kushina were looking forward to Naruto surpassing them.

Soji reunited with Naruto and met Karin, revealing that he had helped resurrect Minato and Kushina and had cared for Naruto since childhood. He then offered Naruto and Karin an S-rank mission based on intelligence from a captured Kusagakure rogue ninja.

• Karin watched Soji cautiously, unsure how he knew her parents were alive and why Naruto called him Teacher.
• Naruto introduced Karin to Soji, who explained that Minato and Kushina had told him about their adopted daughter.
• Naruto revealed that Soji had brought Minato and Kushina back to life, astonishing Karin and earning her trust and gratitude.
• Soji explained that he had discussed a joint S-rank mission for Naruto and Karin with Minato and Kushina, and asked whether they would accept it.

Soji assigned Naruto and Karin an S-rank mission to steal the Box of Paradise from Kusagakure, explaining that the Grass Fruit Faction planned to use it to gain power. The box contained the immortal monster Satori, and Naruto and Karin agreed to retrieve it despite Karin’s fear.

• Naruto eagerly accepted the mission, and Karin agreed to join him so he would not face Kusagakure alone.
• Soji explained that the mission was to steal a treasure from Kusagakure and warned that the village might hunt them down.
• Karin recalled rumors that a treasure had once brought the Land of Grass close to ruling the Ninja World and asked Soji if they were true.
• Soji confirmed that the treasure was the Box of Paradise, which held Satori, an immortal monster with Mind Reading abilities.
• Naruto eagerly promised to complete the mission with Karin, who agreed to help him use her familiarity with Kusagakure.

Soji and Minato sent Naruto and Karin to Kusagakure to steal the Box of Paradise and bait the Grass Fruit Faction into revealing its plans. Naruto and Karin prepared to leave, while Soji planned to handle the final confrontation and secure the Six Paths Tool.

• Soji briefed Naruto and Karin on their undercover route to Kusagakure and promised to cover their travel expenses.
• Soji left after Naruto asked about his identity, and Karin went home with Naruto, eager to hear what he knew about their mysterious teacher.
• Soji released his control over Mizuki beneath the Hokage Office Building, where Anbu took the unconscious ninja into custody.
• Minato met Soji at his home and admitted that he had kept the mission from Kushina because she would insist on accompanying the children.
• Soji and Minato explained that Naruto and Karin would bait the Grass Fruit Faction into attacking, giving Konoha grounds to intervene and pursue the Box of Paradise.

Soji and Minato finalized a plan to use Naruto and Karin as bait to provoke Kusagakure into attacking, giving them grounds to seize the Box of Paradise. After Minato left, Soji’s Tenseigan’s third fetal movement began to end, raising hopes that he would reach the Six Paths level and take Otsutsuki Genji to the moon.

• Soji and Minato agreed Naruto and Karin would lure Kusagakure’s Grass Fruit Faction into attacking, while Soji would handle Satori and the Box of Paradise.
• Minato said he would ensure the Third Hokage’s Anbu did not interfere once Kusagakure attacked, then returned home using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Soji felt his Tenseigan’s third fetal movement nearing its end and hurried into the Reincarnation Mirror’s inner space.
• Otsutsuki Genji awakened, learned Soji might reach the Six Paths level, and anxiously hoped the transformation would succeed so they could fly to the moon.

Soji underwent the Tenseigan’s third fetal movement, gaining major physical improvements and two more Truth-Seeking Orbs, but he failed to form the ninth and enter the Six Paths level. The chapter ended with Soji controlling eight orbs and being left with only a Half-Immortal Body.

• Soji entered Tenseigan Chakra Mode as Truth-Seeking Orbs appeared during the Tenseigan’s third fetal movement.
• After the seventh and eighth orbs emerged, Soji’s cells, chakra, and physical abilities improved as his body began changing toward the Starry Sky Otsutsuki Clan’s traits.
• Otsutsuki Genji watched anxiously as Soji tried to comprehend the ninth Truth-Seeking Orb, which would mark his entry into the Six Paths level.
• Soji nearly formed the ninth orb, but it dispersed, and the changes to his body stopped.
• Soji accepted that he had failed to reach the Six Paths level and could control only eight Truth-Seeking Orbs, leaving him with a Half-Immortal Body.

After the Tenseigan’s imperfect third pulse, Soji failed to reach the Six Paths level but remained confident he could complete his combined approach within five years. He tested his new abilities, regrew his severed arm, and wondered what changes might come with a future breakthrough.

• Soji told Otsutsuki Genji that he had failed to control the ninth Truth-Seeking Orb, but explained that his combined method should let him reach the Six Paths level in two to five years.
• Otsutsuki Genji calmed down and agreed to keep waiting for Soji to settle the grudge between the Moon Otsutsuki Main Family and the Branch House.
• Soji materialized Shisui Uchiha’s Wakizashi and cut off his left arm to test his regeneration.
• Soji regrew his left arm within seconds and concluded that his regeneration surpassed Shikotsumyaku and rivaled Hashirama Senju’s.
• Soji discovered that his severed arm had turned to dust and speculated that reaching the Six Paths level would make horns grow from his forehead.
• Soji silently vowed to obtain the Nine Tomoe Rinne Sharingan someday.

After failing to reach the Six Paths level, Soji planned to obtain Water, Yang, and Yin Chakra and decided Sasuke needed to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. He settled on using Naruto to put Sasuke in danger, while Sasuke continued training with the powers he had inherited from Orochimaru.

• Soji returned from the Reincarnation Mirror space, trained, ate breakfast, and decided to skip work at the Ministry of Education.
• Soji determined that Kisame could provide Water Chakra, Naruto already had enough Yang Chakra, and Sasuke’s Yin Chakra needed to be strengthened through Mangekyō Sharingan awakening.
• Soji ruled out Sasuke’s parents and Uchiha Homura as possible targets, then considered Itachi but found no practical way to put him in danger.
• Soji chose Naruto as the person whose peril could push Sasuke to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and began planning how to arrange it.
• Sasuke felt a sudden chill while training, then continued practicing his Curse Seal Level 2 powers and the abilities he had inherited from Orochimaru.

Naruto and Karin prepared to infiltrate Kusagakure and steal the Box of Paradise after spending a month traveling. Karin outlined Kusagakure’s forces and warned Naruto that Mui, Hozuki Castle’s powerful warden, was the real threat.

• Naruto and Karin decided to enter the Land of Grass the next day and reviewed their plan to locate and steal the Box of Paradise.
• Karin explained that Kusagakure’s Zodiac Guard captains were around the level of Konoha Special Jonin, while Village Chief Matsuru Noyaku was only somewhat stronger than an ordinary Jonin.
• Naruto judged Kusagakure’s known fighters to be manageable and grew confident he could complete the mission.
• Karin warned Naruto about Mui, the warden of Hozuki Castle, whose sealing technique could restrict movement and prevent opponents from using Chakra.
• Karin revealed that Mui was Kusagakure’s strongest person and had more influence than Matsuru Noyaku, though she did not know whether he would be in the village.

Soji took leave from the Third Hokage and secretly traveled to Kusagakure, intending to use Naruto and Karin as bait for his own plans. After Soji leaked their identities, Kusagakure's leaders prepared to capture them and use Naruto's Chakra to open the Box of Paradise.

• Soji asked the Third Hokage for leave to relax, and the Hokage reluctantly approved without setting a return date.
• Soji arranged the Ministry of Education's work and left Konoha for Kusagakure that afternoon.
• Soji secretly disclosed Naruto and Karin's identities and whereabouts to Kusagakure's higher-ups as they entered the Land of Grass.
• Matsuru Noyaku and the Twelve Zodiac Guard confirmed Naruto and Karin's identities through students who had attended Konoha's Chunin Exams.
• Kusagakure's leaders decided Naruto's Chakra could open the Box of Paradise and dismissed concerns about Konoha's retaliation.

Kusagakure’s leaders decided to act against Naruto and Karin without waiting for Mui’s approval, then agreed to use Karin as leverage rather than attack Naruto directly. They planned to kidnap her when she and Naruto separated, unaware that Soji had secretly revealed their whereabouts to Kusagakure.

• Ox-Lord urged Matsuru Noyaku to consult Mui, but Matsuru persuaded the leaders to vote on acting first and reporting afterward.
• Kusagakure’s higher-ups approved a move against Naruto and Karin despite concerns about Naruto’s strength.
• Dragon-Lord proposed capturing Karin to force Naruto into submission, prompting disagreement among the leaders.
• Matsuru backed Dragon-Lord’s plan and persuaded the dissenters to accept it.
• The leaders agreed to wait for Naruto and Karin to separate before kidnapping Karin, while Soji’s leak kept their movements under Kusagakure’s watch.

Soji manipulated Kusagakure’s leaders into capturing Naruto and Karin, intending to use Naruto to reopen the Box of Paradise and recruit Mui and Ryūzetsu through Muku. Karin was captured shortly after leaving the inn, and the village chief Matsuru Noyaku arrived as she was brought before Naruto.

• Soji’s plan relied on reopening the Box of Paradise, rescuing or restoring Muku, and using that prospect to recruit Mui and Ryūzetsu.
• Kusagakure’s higher-ups prepared to capture Karin and use her to force Naruto to surrender, while Soji watched from the shadows.
• Karin left Naruto at the inn to gather information about the Box of Paradise, confident that her familiarity with Kusagakure would keep her safe.
• The Zodiac Guard surrounded and captured Karin before she could signal Naruto, leaving her baffled about how quickly their cover had been exposed.
• The Zodiac Guard brought Karin before Naruto, and village chief Matsuru Noyaku arrived.

Kusagakure’s leaders captured Naruto and Karin and forced Naruto to help them open the Box of Paradise at Hozuki Castle. After five days of travel, they arrived at the prison, where the box was held under Mui’s control.

• Matsuru Noyaku captured Karin and threatened Naruto, then demanded that Naruto go to Hozuki Castle so Kusagakure could use his Chakra.
• Naruto agreed to go while privately signaling with Karin, and the pair realized the Box of Paradise had been moved to Hozuki Castle.
• Kusagakure’s leaders took Naruto and Karin by ship, leaving most of their village’s shinobi behind.
• After three days at sea, the group reached a port town, then traveled another two days by ship to Hozuki Castle.

Naruto and Kusagakure's leaders arrived at Hozuki Castle, where Mui learned they had brought someone capable of opening the Box of Paradise. Soji secretly infiltrated the prison and used his Byakugan to confirm that Mui planned to revive his son, Muku.

• Naruto arrived at Hozuki Castle with Kusagakure's leaders while Karin was kept apart under guard.
• The cargo ship passed through Hozuki Castle's dangerous whirlpool-protected sea route and was admitted after inspection.
• Mui saw Village Head Yano and most of Kusagakure's leaders arrive together and grew suspicious about their purpose.
• Village Head Yano told Mui they had brought someone important who could open the Box of Paradise, and Mui led the leaders away for a private conversation.
• Hozuki Castle's guards separated Naruto and Karin from the group, while Soji secretly slipped into the prison.
• Soji activated his Byakugan's Mind Reading ability and confirmed that Mui intended to use the Box of Paradise to resurrect Muku.

Soji secured Karin in Hozuki Castle and began searching for Ryūzetsu while Kusagakure's leaders told Mui they had brought Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Mui eagerly prepared to use Naruto's Chakra to open the Box of Paradise, while Soji hoped the plan would proceed without putting the children in danger.

• Soji chose to send Naruto and Karin on the mission without Sasuke or Sakura, while making arrangements to protect them.
• Matsuru Noyaku and Lord Sheep confirmed to Mui that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Mui welcomed the chance to open the Box of Paradise and revive Muku.
• Mui ordered Kusagakure's officials to guard the Box of Paradise and said he would place the Fire Style: Heavenly Prison on Naruto before bringing the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki by nightfall.
• Soji used his Byakugan genjutsu to control the guards around Karin's cell, leaving them to protect her without revealing himself to her.
• Soji left Karin in her cell and began searching Hozuki Castle for Ryūzetsu, who was disguised as a criminal and seeking a chance to approach Mui.

Ryūzetsu secretly contacted Naruto in Hozuki Castle and proposed they work together to stop Mui from opening the Box of Paradise. Naruto agreed to help defeat Mui after learning he had sacrificed his son, but he could not follow Ryūzetsu’s ambush plan while his sister remained in Kusagakure’s hands.

• Ryūzetsu recognized Matsuru Noyaku and Kusagakure’s other leaders, then suspected Naruto and Karin had been brought to Hozuki Castle so Mui could extract their Chakra.
• Ryūzetsu reached Naruto’s cell and warned him not to let Mui extract his Chakra or open the Box of Paradise.
• Naruto told Ryūzetsu he had come to stop the Box of Paradise from being opened, and she offered to help if he later helped her kill Mui.
• Ryūzetsu revealed that Mui had sacrificed his son, Muku, who had been her beloved, and Naruto agreed to help defeat Mui.
• Ryūzetsu shared what she knew about Hozuki Castle, the Box of Paradise’s location, and Mui’s Fire Release: Heavenly Prison ninjutsu, then proposed ambushing him.
• Naruto hesitated because Karin was still in Kusagakure’s hands, so he could not risk acting against Mui before ensuring his sister’s safety.

Naruto agreed to trust Ryūzetsu to rescue Karin before he took action against Mui, while Soji decided to obstruct their cooperation so the Box of Paradise would still be opened. After overhearing Kusagakure officials discuss Mui’s plans, Soji incapacitated Rat-kun and Dog-kun and prepared to take their clothes and helmets.

• Ryūzetsu promised Naruto she would rescue Karin, and Naruto agreed to wait until she contacted him before acting.
• Soji listened to Naruto and Ryūzetsu’s conversation and decided to prevent Ryūzetsu from rescuing Karin.
• Soji overheard Rat-kun and Dog-kun predict that Mui would open the Box of Paradise within three days, possibly that night.
• Soji entered Rat-kun and Dog-kun’s room and used his Tenseigan to knock both men unconscious.
• Soji looked at the two men’s robes and helmets, symbols of their identities.

Soji disguised himself as Rat-kun and followed Ryūzetsu, while the real Rat-kun and Dog-kun were found dead. Ryūzetsu’s attempt to reach Karin was thwarted by heightened security and Kusagakure’s leaders, until Soji approached her and offered help.

• Soji chose the rat helmet and left to contact Ryūzetsu.
• Matsuru Noyaku and the Kusagakure higher-ups found Rat-kun and Dog-kun dead, then decided to guard Karin so Naruto would remain unable to oppose Mui.
• Ryūzetsu found Karin’s cell surrounded by unusually vigilant prison guards and hesitated over whether to force her way in.
• Matsuru Noyaku and the Kusagakure leaders arrived near Karin’s cell, leaving Ryūzetsu trapped in hiding.
• Soji approached Ryūzetsu in his Rat-kun disguise, told her he was not with Kusagakure and that the real Rat-kun was dead, and offered his help.
• Ryūzetsu lowered her guard slightly after recognizing that Soji’s voice differed from Rat-kun’s, then asked who he was.

Soji persuaded Ryūzetsu to let him study her Kekkei Genkai by promising to improve his resurrection technique and revive Muku. After she agreed, he revealed that they would need to open the Box of Paradise to retrieve Muku’s corpse.

• Soji suggested that he could revive Muku, and Ryūzetsu warned him that the Box of Paradise could not grant wishes and should be destroyed.
• Soji promised to study Ryūzetsu’s Kekkei Genkai to improve his forbidden resurrection technique and eventually revive Muku.
• Ryūzetsu agreed to let Soji study her Kekkei Genkai, warning that she would fight him to the death if he failed to revive Muku.
• Soji told Ryūzetsu they would first retrieve Muku’s corpse, which was inside the Box of Paradise.
• Soji said they would open the Box of Paradise and dismissed the monster sealed inside as an interesting pet.