Chapter Summaries

Naruto spent the evening at Minato and Kushina’s home, where Minato showed him family photos and shared stories about his childhood. Naruto felt closer to his parents and joined the family for dinner, where he met Kimimaro and traded jokes with Karin.

• Naruto looked through family photos while Minato showed him an album and told him stories about Kushina, their wedding, and Naruto growing up.
• Naruto learned how Kushina had suffered during pregnancy and how Minato had cared for him, and his resentment toward his parents eased.
• Naruto asked about Jiraiya and Tsunade after spotting them in a family photo, and he and Minato joked about Jiraiya’s habits.
• Kushina predicted Kimimaro would arrive in three seconds, and Kimimaro walked through the door right on cue.
• The family welcomed Naruto at dinner, and Karin offered to look after him before accidentally flicking soup into his eye.

Naruto tried to hire Kakuzu to kill Hidan, but the offer provoked both Akatsuki members into attacking Naruto’s group. Chiriku, Naruto, Kakashi, and Zuo Zhu defended against their assault, leaving Hidan furious after he was blown headfirst into a dog-shaped earth wall.

• Naruto offered Kakuzu Thirty Million for Hidan’s head, then asked Hidan whether worshipping the Evil God would make him kill Kakuzu.
• Hidan charged Naruto’s group, and Kakuzu joined him after deciding the fight could earn him a hundred million.
• Chiriku struck Hidan and Kakuzu with Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Killing, but both recovered from the blows.
• Hidan hurled his scythe while Kakuzu unleashed Wind Release: Pressure Damage, and Zuo Zhu deflected the scythe as Naruto and Kakashi raised defensive walls.
• The gale battered Naruto and Kakashi’s walls, shoved Hidan into the dog-shaped earth wall, and left him dangling by his head.
• Hidan pulled himself free, smashed the dog head, and threatened to butcher Kakuzu.

Naruto shattered Sasori’s Hiruko Puppet with a Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan, then used Shadow Clones to test Sasori’s poison. Sasori revealed that he had turned himself into a Puppet and brought out the Third Kazekage Puppet, leaving Naruto secretly preparing for the next fight.

• Sasori attacked Naruto and the others with poisoned Senbon from Hiruko, but Temari swept them back with her Wind Style.
• Naruto used the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique to distract Sasori, then struck Hiruko’s back with a Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan and destroyed its shell.
• Sasori escaped Hiruko and released Poison Mist, while Naruto’s Shadow Clones collected samples and tested the poison at the cost of their lives.
• Sasori brought out a Puppet made from the Third Kazekage’s corpse, shocking Chiyo's Granny, Temari, and Kankuro.
• Naruto quietly created Shadow Clones as Sasori revealed his Third Kazekage Puppet, wondering what was inside the fourth scroll.

Minato and the Allied Forces prepared for another attack, while Naruto’s group began the second day of the war. The enemy sent Reanimated Shinobi onto every battlefield, forcing the Allied Forces to confront familiar dead relatives, mentors, and rivals.

• Minato and Shikaku warned that the enemy might target Kushina to obtain the Nine Tails, and Minato ordered the forces to stay alert.
• Naruto, Kakashi, and Zuo Zhu woke after a night of guarding the camps, where White Zetsu killed with Nine Tails Chakra had turned into trees.
• The Allied Forces began the second day’s battle with long-range attacks, but Reanimated Shinobi emerged after the smoke cleared.
• Fugaku, Huang Tu, Mei Terumi, and Mifune recognized familiar Reanimated Shinobi on their respective battlefields.
• Mei Terumi targeted the three reanimated former Seven Ninja Swordsmen to reclaim their swords, and they charged at the green-clad Melon Heads.

Shikamaru turned the match against Temari around with a carefully planned use of his Shadow Imitation Technique and won after she surrendered. The next matchup was announced as Gaara versus Yamanaka Ino, prompting Naruto to object to their marriage.

• Asuma forced Shikamaru into the arena to fight Temari, who battered him with Wind Release attacks and scattered ninja tools.
• Shikamaru hid behind a statue, then used thrown ninja tools and their shadows to lure Temari into range of his Shadow Imitation Technique.
• Shikamaru immobilized Temari and made her surrender, winning the match.
• Asuma bragged to the examiners about Shikamaru's intelligence while Naruto worried about his finances and the cost of supporting a wife.
• The arena screen announced Gaara versus Yamanaka Ino, and Naruto jumped up to object to the marriage.

Naruto, Itachi, and Sakura fought the first members of the attacking group, defeating Bird Man and revealing Snake Man and a woman with mechanical dogs. Itachi confronted Snake Man, who appeared to bite through him, but Itachi escaped using a crow clone and counterattacked.

• Naruto identified four approaching enemies while Itachi attacked Bird Man with Kunai and Naruto’s Water Severing Wave.
• Naruto and Itachi brought Bird Man down with a Rasengan, and Naruto destroyed the strange bird with a Big Ball Rasengan.
• Sakura checked the fallen enemies, then used Sakura Impact to shatter the ground and expose Snake Man beneath it.
• Snake Man emerged with a woman and two mechanical dogs, while Sakura teased Kakashi about having her compete with Pakkun.
• Itachi attacked Snake Man with a Great Fireball, evaded his giant snake with a crow clone, and stabbed at him from behind.

Ren Ming lost consciousness in a student cafeteria and awakened as the unborn child of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze in Konoha. After Kushina discovered his consciousness inside the Sealing Space, Minato and the Sarutobi family found no health problems, and his parents named him Naruto.

• Ren Ming collapsed after entering the cafeteria and later became aware of himself as a floating fetus in Kushina Uzumaki's Sealing Space.
• Kushina mistook the fetus for the Nine Tails' child, and the Nine Tails angrily told her it was hers and Minato Namikaze's.
• Kushina told Minato about the fetus's appearance in the Sealing Space, and Minato asked Biwako Sarutobi to examine her.
• Biwako Sarutobi found the fetus healthy, while Hiruzen Sarutobi told Minato and Biwako to monitor Kushina because there was no precedent for what had happened.
• Minato comforted Kushina, and they chose the name Naruto for their child.

Naruto, Minato, and Shisui traveled toward the Five Kage Summit while the Kage and their guards made their own journeys. Yagura and the Raikage crossed paths, disrupting the Xuanyuan Crowd’s plan to attack the Mizukage, while Pain assigned Deidara and Kisame to capture the Six-Tails and sent Tobi and Zetsu to hurry the Xuanyuan Crowd.

• Naruto, Minato, and Shisui chatted during their uneventful journey as the other Kage set out with their guards.
• The Xuanyuan Crowd followed Yagura’s ship, but the Red-Clad Leader repeatedly stopped the green-clad member from attacking until they reached land.
• The Xuanyuan Crowd discovered that the Raikage’s group had met up with Yagura, so the Red-Clad Leader postponed the attack until the Kage separated.
• Shi detected Yagura’s group, and Yagura invited the Raikage to travel with him, but the Raikage refused and left with Darui and Shi.
• Pain assigned Deidara and Kisame to capture the Six-Tails, then sent Tobi and Zetsu to hurry the Xuanyuan Crowd along.

After the invasion, Minato and Kushina returned home and learned that Gaara had been raised as a weapon, hunted by his own father, and driven to believe he existed only to kill. Kushina pitied him and reflected on how Naruto might have suffered the same fate if she and Minato had not survived.

• Kushina lectured Naruto about the danger of bringing Gaara home, then returned with Minato to check on the family.
• Haku reported that he had activated the house barrier during the invasion, while Kushina comforted the frightened Karin.
• Gaara remembered Yashamaru and voiced his desire to destroy the family as he watched them together.
• Minato told Gaara that the Kazekage had died and learned that Gaara's father had sent assassins after him since he was six.
• Gaara declared that he lived to kill everyone besides himself and loved only himself, while Minato suspected the Kazekage had been testing or training him.
• Kushina called Gaara pitiful and felt grateful that Naruto had not been left alone to endure the same kind of life.

Jiraiya took Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to find Tsunade, while warning Naruto not to rely on the Flying Thunder God Technique during their journey. After exploring a town, Naruto used a marker to send snacks and a note to Hinata, leaving her blushing and Hanabi happily eating.

• Sakura asked Jiraiya about Tsunade, and he described her gambling addiction, terrible luck, and disguises used to avoid creditors.
• Jiraiya led Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to a town where he planned to gather information about Tsunade.
• Jiraiya forbade Naruto from casually using the Flying Thunder God Technique, saying the journey would help the children grow.
• Naruto explored the town and secretly marked a street so he could bring Hinata there later.
• Sasuke let Sakura lead him around the shops and games, then gave her a bracelet he won at darts.
• Naruto sent a pile of snacks and a note to Hinata's bedroom, where Hinata blushed and Hanabi ate the treats.

Kiba, Choji, Dosu, and Rock Lee’s remaining preliminary matches determined who advanced to the Third Exam. The preliminary round ended with ten contestants, including Rock Lee, set to compete in the official matches one month later.

• Rock Lee decided that praying for a match would prevent him from getting one, then watched Kiba face Choji.
• Kiba and Akamaru attacked Choji, but Choji used the Multi-Size Technique and Human Bullet Tank to defeat them and win a barbecue from Asuma.
• Rock Lee tried to pray himself into a bye, but Tenten’s sincere prayers caused him to receive one, leaving Dosu to fight Mayu.
• Dosu defeated Mayu while Naruto was distracted by Guy comforting Rock Lee over missing his chance to fight.
• Hayate announced that the preliminary round had ended and instructed the ten contestants present to prepare for the official matches one month later and draw lots.

Naruto joined Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura on what Kakashi had called a C-Rank mission, but they learned the clients needed help against Hakkaku Raiga, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. The team traveled toward Shamrock Gold Mine and planned to gather intelligence that night.

• Naruto accompanied Hinata before meeting Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi at the Training Grounds.
• Kakashi said he had accepted a C-Rank mission to drive away thugs in the Land of Rivers, and three villagers described how the Hakkaku Clan had occupied Gold Mine Mountain and terrorized their village.
• Naruto learned the clan leader was Raiga, and Kakashi recognized him as Hakkaku Raiga, a former Seven Ninja Swordsman of the Mist who wielded the Lightning Blade.
• Kakashi judged the mission to be at least A-rank, but agreed to help the villagers and set out with the team.
• The group reached the Curry of Life Restaurant near Shamrock Gold Mine, where Kakashi decided they would rest and gather intelligence that night.

Naruto watched the Chunin Exam matches from a sofa he had Shadow Clones bring over, keeping Hinata close as Neji defeated Tenten and Sasuke defeated Sakura. After seeing Shikamaru matched against Temari, Naruto spotted that Sakura and Sasuke were the only pair whose surnames appeared in the opposite order from the other matches.

• Naruto carried Hinata to the stands, then had Shadow Clones bring a sofa, tea, and pastries so they could watch together.
• Neji defeated Tenten after dodging and deflecting her ninja tools, then closing the distance and forcing her to concede.
• The match screen paired Sakura with Sasuke, and Sasuke defeated her after she demonstrated her evasive skills and conceded.
• The screen paired Shikamaru with Temari, and Naruto noticed that Sakura and Sasuke were the only match whose names were ordered differently from the other pairings.

Jiraiya and the three young shinobi found Tsunade at an izakaya, where her drunken affection for Naruto reminded her of her dead younger brother, Nawaki. The next morning, Jiraiya introduced her to two samurai who had spent three years searching for her.

• Jiraiya took Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to an izakaya, where they encountered Tsunade and Shizune with Tonton.
• Naruto joked that Tonton would make a good roast pig, and Tsunade drunkenly mistook Naruto for Nawaki, hugged him, and demanded he call her Nee-san.
• Shizune carried the sleeping Tsunade back, while Naruto and Jiraiya returned to their rooms.
• The next morning, Tsunade did not remember Naruto and Jiraiya introduced her to the three young shinobi again.
• Naruto passed along Kushina's message asking Tsunade to visit, and Jiraiya then brought Tsunade to meet the two samurai who had searched for her for three years.

Naruto met Kaede and the other exam candidates before the Chunin Exams began, then joined the first written test alongside Hinata and several familiar genin. The test’s unusual scoring rules left the candidates unsure how to proceed.

• Naruto spotted Kaede, the Seven Tails Jinchuriki, and greeted Kiba, Hinata, Shino, and Akamaru.
• Sakura and Ino argued over Sasuke while Naruto offered fried bug snacks from Mount Myoboku to the others.
• Izumo and Kotetsu sent the examinees to draw lots by team, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura drew different classroom numbers.
• Naruto entered the first classroom, where Hinata joined him, and examiner Nara Shikaku explained the written test’s scoring rules.
• Rock Lee and Yukata admitted that they could not answer any of the questions.

Naruto and his allies continued turning Konoha against Danzo with fabricated rumors while the village recovered from the attack. Naruto went on a date with Hinata, and they decided to visit Sasuke and the Third Hokage.

• Kimimaro reflected on his training and joined his teammates for another nighttime workout.
• People spread detailed rumors throughout Konoha accusing Danzo of crimes, including peeping, gambling, and refusing to repay debts.
• Jiraiya realized the rumors had exposed his favorite spying spots, while Tsunade suspected Naruto had borrowed some of her own stories for them.
• Kushina sent Naruto on a date with Hinata, and Naruto collected money from her before heading out.
• Naruto reminded Hinata of her promise, and she kissed him on the cheek.
• Naruto and Hinata met Sakura, who was on her way to visit Sasuke, then decided to visit Sasuke and the Third Hokage themselves.

Danzo sought support from Koharu and Homura against Minato’s leadership and assigned Sai a mission, while Kushina secretly gave Biwako an item. The chapter ended with Kushina asking Hiruzen about Water Style and leaving after sharing a confidential message with Biwako.

• Danzo summoned Koharu and Homura, criticized Minato’s leadership and his treatment of the Uchiha, and asked them to support him if trouble arose.
• Koharu and Homura warned Danzo against reckless actions, then privately resolved to investigate him.
• Danzo ordered a young operative to use the name Sai until his mission was complete and sent him away.
• Hiruzen scolded Konohamaru for pranking him, while Biwako cleaned up the mess.
• Kushina visited Hiruzen and Biwako, whispered a confidential message to Biwako, gave her an item, asked about Water Style, and left.

Minato sent Naruto, Kakashi, Kushina, and their students on a joint mission to protect Hoshigakure’s Star from thieves who might be connected to Hidden Cloud Village. The teams set out for the Land of Bears and camped for the night, where Hinata cooked while Kushina kept Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru from stealing food.

• Minato explained that Hoshigakure had hired Konoha to protect the Star, a meteorite whose chakra-enhancing power and Secret Technique had attracted possible thieves from Hidden Cloud Village.
• Naruto took Hinata’s hand and resolved to punish anyone from Hidden Cloud Village who threatened her, while Minato reassured the teams that they could handle even a powerful enemy.
• Naruto remembered Hoshigakure’s Mysterious Peacock Method and hoped to learn it without stealing it, then the two teams packed and began their journey to the Land of Bears.
• Kushina gave Naruto and Hinata time together while Kiba scouted ahead and Shino disappeared along the route.
• At the night camp, Kushina praised Hinata’s cooking and teased her about becoming someone’s wife, while Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru tried to sneak food and were bopped on the head.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura collected the scrolls and camped in the desert, where they encountered Tenten and Ziyang Hua fleeing a swarm of giant ants. After learning how the swarm had been roused, the group stopped running and prepared to face it, trusting Naruto and Sasuke to handle the threat.

• Naruto exaggerated Da Wan's reputation, but Sasuke defeated him easily and Da Wan's teammates surrendered their Heaven Scroll.
• Sakura punched out a giant scorpion, and the group roasted it for food before spending the night in the desert.
• Naruto spotted Tenten and Ziyang Hua fleeing a huge swarm of giant ants, and his team joined them.
• Tenten explained that she and Ziyang Hua had accidentally attracted the ants while exploring underground ruins after a fight.
• Naruto said the group could defeat the ants, so Tenten and Ziyang Hua stopped running as Sakura treated their wounds.

Naruto and Minato helped Sara uncover Mukade’s deception and find the people he had imprisoned to build Puppet Weapons. Sara began shutting down the Dragon Vein power supply, while the group fought off the factory’s Puppet guards.

• Naruto discovered that the cheering crowd in the square consisted entirely of Puppets and showed Sara one of them.
• Sara agreed to seek witnesses before confronting Mukade, and Mako told her that men had been taken from their families in the Queen’s name.
• Sara promised the gathered families that she would bring their relatives back safely.
• Naruto led the group to an underground factory, where they found captured men forced to work on a Puppet production line.
• Sara began a ritual to shut down the Dragon Vein power supply as Naruto, Minato, Shibi, and the others fought the attacking Puppets.