Recaps

Naruto trained, grew closer to Kurama, and joined battles and missions as Konoha and other villages prepared for conflict. The stretch ended with Team 7 heading toward the Land of Wind for Gaara’s Joint Chunin Exams while Akatsuki’s plans continued to develop.

• Naruto and Sasuke weakened Kazahana Dotō’s armor, Sakura sent him over the Earth Wall, and Sandayu and the samurai killed him.
• Naruto helped Gaara’s forces fight Sasori, then later met Kurama, learned about the Tailed Beasts, and decided he wanted to befriend him.
• Obito abducted Kushina and extracted the Nine Tails, while Minato brought Kushina and Naruto together before leaving to defend Konoha.
• Chiriku explained that Sora carried Nine Tails Chakra stolen during the fox’s rampage, and Team 7 visited Yakushi Nonō’s orphanage.
• Minato rejected the Hidden Cloud delegation’s demands, Konoha’s clans supported him, and Naruto and Kushina celebrated the village’s unity.
• Black Zetsu revealed that he had manipulated Nagato’s Rinnegan and Yahiko’s death, while Naruto took Minato, Kushina, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Hinata to the forest.
• Naruto trained with Minato and Kushina, began school, studied sealing and Water Style, and let Kurama control a miniature clone under restrictions.
• As villages faced attacks and war preparations, Team 7 left for the Land of Wind after learning that Gaara had become Fifth Kazekage and planned a Joint Chunin Exams.

Naruto and the allied villages faced battles, investigations, and preparations for the Chunin Exams while Naruto advanced his training and traveled with his friends. The stretch ends with Minato rescuing Yagura from the Xuanyuan Crowd.

• Naruto helped Torune recover his sealed memories, and Torune accused Danzo of killing Koharu and Homura to hide his collusion with Orochimaru.
• Naruto learned from Shukaku that Gaara was taking missions to pursue his goal of becoming Kazekage, then continued Wind Release training and joined his friends.
• Minato organized Konoha’s march and distributed Exploding Tags, while Naruto stayed behind to help Kakashi and Zuo Zhu recover before setting out for the Land of Waves.
• Naruto and Sasuke defeated the Demon Brothers on Tazuna’s mission, and Naruto demanded increased payment after Kakashi confronted Tazuna about concealing the danger.
• Naruto joined the fights against the reanimated Hokage and Akatsuki, entered Sage Mode, and continued training as the conflict spread across the villages.
• Naruto traveled with Jiraiya to find Tsunade, spent time with Hinata and Hanabi, and helped Sasuke and Sakura complete the Chunin Exams’ second round.
• Naruto trained at Mount Myoboku and learned Team 7 would deliver a Chunin Exams invitation to the Rain Country, while Konoha judged a secret infiltration too risky.
• Minato arrived as Yagura fought the Xuanyuan Crowd, drove off two attackers, and greeted Yagura after the Mizukage said he had arrived at exactly the right time.