Chapter Summaries

Kaze explained to Minato Namikaze that Tazuna's escort mission could involve Gato, Zabuza, and a danger level far beyond a routine assignment. He left Minato dumbfounded by ordering him to try recruiting Zabuza for Konoha and to bring back Gato's assets.

• Kaze summoned Minato Namikaze and explained that Tazuna's mission to the Land of Waves could be more dangerous than it appeared.
• Kaze reasoned that Tazuna's bridge threatened Gato's monopoly on maritime transport, making ninja attacks likely.
• Kaze identified Zabuza as the likely enemy ninja and warned that the mission could reach A-rank.
• Kaze told Minato Namikaze to try persuading Zabuza to join Konoha, despite Minato's objections about accepting another village's Missing-nin.
• Kaze also asked Minato Namikaze to confiscate Gato's illegal assets and bring them back to Konoha.

Kaze explained to Minato Namikaze how to deal with Zabuza and Gato, then confronted Tazuna about hiding the danger of his escort mission. He reclassified the mission as S-rank and left Tazuna shaken by the prospect of facing Zabuza and paying one million ryo.

• Kaze instructed Minato Namikaze to try to bring Zabuza back to Konoha and collect Gato's assets.
• Kaze summoned Tazuna to his office, where Tazuna doubted that the young Hokage and Team 7 could protect him.
• Tazuna boasted that he was the finest bridge builder in the Land of Waves, then accidentally revealed that he had built the bridge.
• Kaze told Tazuna that Gato had hired Kirigakure ninja and asked whether he still claimed the escort would involve no ninja.
• Kaze identified Zabuza as Gato's hired ninja and raised Tazuna's commission from C-rank to S-rank, requiring at least one million ryo.
• Tazuna grew pale and anxious as Kaze described how terrifying Zabuza was.

Kaze exposed Tazuna's deception and refused to risk Konoha ninja for the bridge commission’s inadequate fee. He then offered to help if Tazuna agreed to seize Gato’s liquid assets and give Konoha half the bridge’s usage rights.

• Kaze described Zabuza’s violent history and made Tazuna realize the danger of opposing him.
• Tazuna admitted he could not pay the required fee, and Kaze refused to send Konoha ninja into danger for so little money.
• Tazuna tried to persuade Kaze by appealing to justice for the people of the Land of Waves, but Kaze rejected his moral pressure.
• Tazuna asked if there was any room to negotiate, and Kaze offered to help if they could take Gato’s assets.
• Kaze proposed that Konoha take half the bridge’s usage rights and collect part of its tariffs, leaving Tazuna horrified.

Kaze secured Tazuna’s agreement to give Konoha ownership of the bridge in exchange for eliminating Zabuza and the Gato Group. He assigned Team 7 to escort Tazuna back to the Land of Waves, and Sasuke’s demonstration convinced Tazuna that the team could protect him.

• Kaze offered to help defeat Zabuza and the Gato Group in exchange for ownership of the bridge, and Tazuna accepted the terms.
• Kaze printed two copies of the agreement and had Tazuna sign and fingerprint them.
• Kaze assigned Team 7 to escort Tazuna back to the Land of Waves, but Tazuna questioned whether the young Genin could face Zabuza.
• At Kaze’s direction, Sasuke displayed his speed, Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and killing intent, frightening Tazuna into believing in his strength.
• Kaze assured Tazuna that Team 7 could protect him, and Naruto vowed not to let Kaze down as Minato Namikaze smiled.

Minato Namikaze escorted Tazuna back toward the Land of Waves with Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin, while hoping the mission would help the young ninjas grow. Karin and Sasuke noticed an ambush hidden in a puddle, and two attackers burst out and charged Minato.

• Minato Namikaze led the group through the Land of Fire while assigning Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin to guard Tazuna.
• Minato spotted a suspicious puddle and suspected that Gato had sent Chunin to ambush them, but he watched to see whether the others would notice.
• Karin sensed enemies concealed in the puddle and quietly warned Minato Namikaze.
• Sasuke noticed Karin's reaction, reasoned that the puddle held the attackers, and suspected that Minato intended to leave the fight to them.
• Two men wearing respirators sprang from the puddle with chained mechanical arms and charged Minato Namikaze.

The Demon Brothers ambushed Minato Namikaze and Tazuna, but Minato vanished before their chains could hit him. Sasuke swiftly defeated both attackers and reassured Tazuna, while Naruto and Karin watched the fight.

• The Demon Brothers sprang from a puddle and tried to slice Minato Namikaze in half with their chains, but he disappeared without them seeing him move.
• The Demon Brothers shifted their attention to Tazuna, and Karin warned her companions after predicting their attack with Observation Haki.
• Sasuke rushed the Demon Brothers while using Lightning Release Chakra Mode and struck one hard enough to send both brothers flying through their linked chain.
• Sasuke used Sharingan Genjutsu to control one Demon Brother and paralyzed the other with lightning, leaving both sprawled on the ground.
• Sasuke landed, deactivated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and told Tazuna he could handle enemies of their level alone.

Sasuke defeated the Demon Brothers, while Minato Namikaze explained that they were likely Zabuza’s subordinates and taught Naruto to stay alert to unusual clues. The team continued with Tazuna stunned by the young ninja’s composure and skill.

• Sasuke swiftly defeated the Demon Brothers, leaving Naruto frustrated that he had not gotten to fight.
• Karin sensed Minato Namikaze in the woods, and he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind Sasuke.
• Minato Namikaze identified the attackers as likely Chunin from Kirigakure working for Zabuza and praised Sasuke and Karin for their actions.
• Minato Namikaze explained that Naruto should have noticed the unnatural puddle and warned that overlooking clues could endanger the whole team.
• Naruto and Sasuke recognized their shortcomings, and Minato Namikaze encouraged them to gain experience through missions.
• Tazuna marveled at the young ninja’s calmness and wondered what kind of person Kaze was.

Pain gathered the Akatsuki members and announced that Kazekage had left Konoha, creating an opportunity to capture the Tailed Beasts. He assigned teams to pursue the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails.

• Obito told Nagato that Kaze had left Konoha for Turtle Island, and Nagato summoned the Akatsuki members through Pain projections.
• Pain explained that Kazekage had left the village, and Kakuzu offered to kill him for his bounty, but Pain refused to provoke Konoha.
• Pain assigned Sasori of the Red Sands and Deidara to capture the One-Tail in Sunagakure.
• Pain ordered Itachi and Juzo to infiltrate Konoha and capture the Two-Tails.
• Pain said the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails had also left their villages on an escort mission, and assigned Kakuzu and Hidan to capture them.

Sasuke forced the Demon Brothers to reveal Zabuza’s plans, confirming Kaze’s intelligence and prompting Minato Namikaze to prepare Team 7 for Zabuza’s likely attack. When the brothers failed to return, Zabuza decided to take action personally with Haku.

• Sasuke used his Sharingan to interrogate one Demon Brother while Minato Namikaze bound the other to a tree.
• The Demon Brothers revealed that Zabuza had hired them to kill Tazuna for Gato while he worked to build a force and seize control of Kirigakure.
• Minato Namikaze confirmed Kaze’s intelligence, spared the brothers, and warned Team 7 that Zabuza might attack using his Silent Killing Technique.
• Karin said she could sense Zabuza, but Minato Namikaze explained that techniques could conceal Chakra and urged her to stay alert.
• After the Demon Brothers failed to report back, Zabuza told Haku that they would make a move personally.

Team 7 traveled toward the Land of Waves through Zabuza’s dense Mist Technique, with Minato Namikaze suspecting an ambush. Zabuza attacked Tazuna with a thrown Nodachi, but Sasuke and Minato Namikaze intervened and stopped the blade.

• Minato Namikaze led Team 7 through thick fog while Karin struggled to stay calm and Sasuke searched for Zabuza with his Sharingan.
• Zabuza concealed himself in a tree and recognized Sasuke as an Uchiha with the Sharingan.
• Zabuza threw his Nodachi toward the back of Tazuna’s neck.
• Sasuke leaped up and knocked the Nodachi aside with Lightning Release Chakra Mode as Minato Namikaze pulled Tazuna down.

Minato Namikaze used the dense mist to trap Zabuza after locating him as he retrieved his Nodachi. Zabuza mistook Minato for the Fifth Hokage, but Minato corrected him and asked to talk.

• Minato Namikaze caught Zabuza's thrown Nodachi with a Kunai and ordered Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin to protect Tazuna in formation.
• Karin searched for Zabuza with Observation Haki, while Minato Namikaze had the team fall silent and listened for the sound of Zabuza retrieving his weapon.
• Zabuza pulled the Nodachi from a tree and prepared to move, unaware that Minato Namikaze had circled behind him.
• Minato Namikaze pressed a Kunai to Zabuza's neck, surprising him and prompting him to ask who Minato was.
• Zabuza guessed that Minato Namikaze was Konoha's Fifth Hokage, but Minato denied it and asked Zabuza to talk.

Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to outmaneuver Zabuza and defeat him with a Rasengan while keeping him alive. As the mist cleared, Zabuza lay badly injured and realized the Konoha ninja’s strength might rival a Kage’s.

• Minato Namikaze teleported behind Zabuza using a marked kunai and ordered him to dispel the mist.
• Zabuza used a Water Clone and Substitution Technique to escape Minato’s hold and attack him from behind.
• Minato repeatedly teleported behind Zabuza, evading his attacks and pressing a kunai to his throat.
• Minato struck Zabuza’s back with a small Rasengan, dispelling the mist and sending him flying.
• Zabuza struggled to move with the right side of his body badly injured and wondered if Minato was Kage-level.

Minato Namikaze defeated Zabuza, but a masked Kirigakure operative named Haku appeared and claimed he had come to retrieve Zabuza’s corpse. Minato suspected Haku’s story was a ruse as he lifted Zabuza onto his back.

• Minato Namikaze defeated Zabuza and the mist covering the forest dispersed.
• Minato told Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin to keep protecting Tazuna while he approached Zabuza.
• Karin used Observation Haki to detect someone hiding in a tree and warned Minato and the others.
• The masked Haku threw three needles into Zabuza’s neck, making him go still, then identified himself as a Kirigakure Assassination Squad member sent to retrieve Zabuza’s corpse.
• Minato questioned Haku’s story and pointed out that the timing of his arrival was suspicious.

Minato Namikaze exposed Haku's connection to Zabuza and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to seize Zabuza and return to Sasuke and the others. Haku was left injured and unmasked, prompting Naruto to mistake him for a girl.

• Minato Namikaze tested Haku by throwing a kunai at Zabuza, and Haku moved to protect Zabuza's body, revealing their connection.
• Haku revived Zabuza, attacked Minato Namikaze with Thousand Water Needles Senbon, and urged Zabuza to escape.
• Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind Zabuza and strike Haku, who pierced him with silver needles.
• Minato Namikaze transported himself and Zabuza to Sasuke and the others, while Haku crashed into the grass and lost his mask.
• Naruto saw Haku's face and blurted out that Haku was a girl.

Sasuke severely injured Haku and nearly struck him again, but Minato Namikaze rescued Haku with the Flying Thunder God Technique. Zabuza recognized Minato’s speed as worthy of the Yellow Flash legend and wondered if he had surpassed the Fourth Hokage.

• Haku refused to abandon Zabuza and prepared to attack Minato Namikaze, but Sasuke rushed in and smashed him in the face with a powerful punch.
• Sasuke pursued the airborne Haku despite Minato Namikaze ordering him to stop, then aimed a second punch at Haku’s chest.
• Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God formula he had placed on Haku to carry him out of Sasuke’s path.
• Sasuke marveled at Minato Namikaze’s speed, while Minato was astonished by Sasuke’s growing strength and thought of Kaze’s abilities.
• Minato returned Haku to Zabuza, who recalled the legend of the Yellow Flash and wondered whether Minato had surpassed the Fourth Hokage.

After defeating Zabuza, Minato Namikaze invited him and Haku to join Konoha on Hokage Kaze’s orders. Stunned by Kaze’s knowledge and willingness to meet him personally, Zabuza agreed to return to Konoha without yet accepting the invitation.

• Minato Namikaze defeated Zabuza and asked to speak with him.
• Minato Namikaze told Zabuza that Hokage Kaze had invited him to join Konoha.
• Zabuza realized Kaze had known his whereabouts and his mission against Tazuna, and marveled at the Hokage’s magnanimity.
• Zabuza asked what would happen if he refused, and Minato Namikaze said Kaze wanted to speak with him personally.
• After hesitating, Zabuza agreed to return to Konoha to meet Kaze, while leaving his decision about joining open.

Kaze arrived at Turtle Island with Yamato and Setsuna to claim the remaining Nine-Tails Chakra from its ruins. Dodai welcomed him while secretly plotting with Kumogakure and a Masked Man to assassinate him during the ritual, unaware that Kaze could sense the island with his Mind Net.

• Kaze traveled to Turtle Island with Yamato and Setsuna after notifying Kumogakure.
• Dodai welcomed Kaze and introduced Nuru, Yuru, and Kayui as the Chunin assigned to assist him.
• Dodai recalled how Kaze had taken the Eight-Tails from Killer B and forced Kumogakure to grant access to Turtle Island.
• Dodai and Kumogakure's leaders planned to attack Kaze while he struggled with the Eight-Tails during the ritual, with help offered by a Masked Man claiming to be Madara Uchiha.
• Kaze thanked Dodai and unleashed his Mind Net across Turtle Island.

Kaze detected Kumogakure’s ambush across Turtle Island and recognized that Dodai was withholding information about the True Waterfall. At the waterfall, Kaze revealed that he knew something was unusual, forcing Dodai to begin explaining its secret.

• Kaze used his Mind Net to locate the hidden shinobi on Turtle Island and sensed their nervousness, leading him to suspect they planned to stop him from becoming a perfect Jinchuriki.
• Kaze and Dodai exchanged polite greetings while Yamato and Kiyoshi watched Dodai’s three Chunin escorts.
• Dodai guided Kaze’s group across Turtle Island but concealed the True Waterfall’s role in becoming a perfect Jinchuriki.
• Kaze recalled how Kumogakure’s hatred and Dodai’s eagerness to guide him suggested that Dodai was hiding something.
• Dodai brought Kaze to the waterfall and tried to lead him directly toward the ancient ruins.
• Kaze stepped onto the circular patch of grass and questioned the waterfall, prompting Dodai to explain that it was called the True Waterfall.

Kaze entered the True Waterfall to confront the darkness in his heart, while Dodai secretly planned to use the trial to create an opportunity to kill him. In Kaze’s inner world, his dark self challenged his claim to be just, and their confrontation was left unresolved.

• Dodai explained the True Waterfall’s trial and invited Kaze to attempt it, hoping repeated failures would leave him vulnerable.
• Kaze sat before the waterfall as Yamato and Kiyoshi watched Dodai and the Cloud Ninja warily.
• Kaze sensed Dodai’s concealed killing intent and realized that hundreds of Cloud Ninja on Turtle Island had gathered for him.
• Kaze entered his inner world, where a dark version of himself appeared and argued that they should cast aside rules and pursue power.
• Kaze declared that his heart and deeds were just, but Dark Kaze mocked him by suggesting his true motto was that his heart and deeds were black as ink and he had survived through stubborn luck.

Kaze confronted the ruthless dark self within him, who urged him to abandon morality, manipulate Tama, and take control of the ninja world. Neither could persuade the other, and they prepared to settle their conflict with their swords.

• Dark Kaze urged Kaze to exploit Konoha, start the Fourth Great Ninja War, seize the Tailed Beasts, and eliminate Naruto, Sasuke, Obito, and Black Zetsu.
• Dark Kaze proposed using Shisui's Kotoamatsukami to control Tama and steal its ability to travel between worlds.
• Kaze rejected Dark Kaze's plan, citing the Uchiha Clan and Tama's sacrifices and defending the relationships and principles that gave power meaning.
• Dark Kaze blamed Kaze's restraint for letting Itachi join Akatsuki, while Kaze argued that power without trust or anyone to share it with would make him its slave.
• Kaze invoked Funny Valentine's patriotism and asked whether anything in the world was worth dying for, but neither self changed the other's mind.
• Dark Kaze gripped Famous Sword Enma and asked Kaze, "What is the difference between a king and a mount?"