Chapter Summaries

The Raikage described Pain’s devastating abilities and revealed that Akatsuki’s headquarters was in Amegakure, prompting the Five Kage to discuss counters and the threat posed by the entire nation. The Raikage called for the Five Great Shinobi Villages to unite and attack.

• The Raikage explained how Pain’s Six Paths had destroyed Cloud Village and captured Killer B, leaving the gathered leaders and guards stunned.
• Yagura asked why Pain had not used his strongest techniques immediately, and the Raikage explained that Super Shinra Tensei required preparation and that Pain had wanted to capture Bee alive.
• Minato and the other Kage discussed ways to counter Super Shinra Tensei and Planetary Devastation, including barriers, Dust Release, and a Tailed Beast Ball.
• The Raikage revealed that the Pains were corpse puppets controlled by someone who had an Explosive Tag specialist as a companion, while Minato added intelligence about Zetsu and Akatsuki’s base in Amegakure.
• Ōnoki realized the Five Kage might have to fight Amegakure as well as Akatsuki, and the Raikage urged the Five Great Shinobi Villages to join forces and attack.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura defeated Zabuza after he disguised himself as a Shadow Clone, and Kakashi brought the unconscious Haku to them. Rather than decide their fate immediately, Naruto sealed both prisoners’ Chakra and said he would make a call.

• Zabuza escaped the water attack by hiding in smoke, killed two Shadow Clones, and disguised himself as Naruto to infiltrate the group.
• Sasuke spotted the impostor and attacked Zabuza, while Naruto’s sealing chains and Sakura’s kunai brought him down.
• Kakashi arrived carrying the unconscious Haku and discussed whether to hand the pair over, kill them, or take them to Konoha.
• Zabuza pleaded for Haku to be spared, and Haku woke and called himself a useless tool.
• Naruto sealed Zabuza’s and Haku’s Chakra, tied them up, and said he would go make a call.

Kakashi led Team 7 toward Amegakure on a mission to deliver an invitation and investigate Akatsuki’s influence there. When Sakura worried that her Yin Seal training would leave her unable to fight, Naruto asked Nine Tails to share Chakra with his teammates, and Sakura received a cloak of Nine Tails Chakra.

• Kakashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that they were traveling to Amegakure to deliver an invitation and assess whether Akatsuki had taken control of the village.
• Kakashi explained that Sakura’s training in the Yin Seal could leave her dangerously low on Chakra during the mission, though Naruto could evacuate the team with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Naruto asked Nine Tails to share Chakra with his teammates, and Nine Tails took control of Naruto’s body to do it.
• Nine Tails bumped fists with Sakura, surrounding her in orange-red Chakra and giving her bubble-like ears.
• Sakura felt the power of Nine Tails’ Chakra and eagerly prepared to test it.

Minato and Yagura agreed to bring their villages closer, while Kakashi learned Obito was alive and resolved to bring him back. The next morning, Minato told Naruto and Sakura that something had happened to Sasuke.

• Minato and Yagura discussed cooperation between their villages, then parted on friendly terms.
• Haku and Zabuza reunited at the village entrance and exchanged a quiet farewell.
• Minato comforted Kakashi and promised to explain what had happened with Obito; Kakashi decided he had to capture Obito and bring him back.
• Sakura told Naruto she had spent the night operating on injured patients, and they waited for Sasuke at the training ground.
• Minato arrived and told Naruto and Sakura that something had happened to Sasuke.

Naruto used Nine Tails’ connection with Kushina to ask his parents for advice on helping Zabuza and Haku, and waited for Minato’s response. He also learned that Zabuza had wiped out Gato’s men, leaving the Land of Waves to deal with Gato’s weakened position.

• Naruto asked Nine Tails to connect him with Kushina, then told her about Zabuza and Haku and asked her to contact Minato for advice.
• Kushina agreed to send a Shadow Clone to tell Minato while she was on a mission with Hinata and the others.
• Kakashi asked about Naruto’s communication method, and Naruto explained that only he and Kushina could use it for now.
• Naruto asked Zabuza why Gato had sent no more subordinates, and Zabuza revealed that the Executioner’s Blade had absorbed enough blood to restore itself after he killed Gato’s men.
• Haku explained that Zabuza had lost his temper after Gato’s men threatened Haku, leaving Gato without an army.
• Naruto received a text message from Konoha.

Naruto learned that he had crossed into a parallel world, and Minato offered to help him return home. Minato and Kushina revealed that they were Naruto’s parents, leaving him stunned to learn he was the Fourth Hokage’s son.

• Minato brought Naruto and the others to the Hokage Office and explained that the Dragon Vein had likely swapped Naruto with his counterpart from a parallel world.
• Naruto agreed to cooperate with Minato’s research so he could return to his world and rejoin Captain Yamato and the others.
• Naruto asked Sasuke why he had never defected, but Sasuke angrily denied the events Naruto described and walked away.
• Minato explained that Sasuke’s clan was alive and that Sasuke and Itachi got along well in this world.
• Naruto told Minato he had never known his parents, and Minato revealed that he and Kushina were Naruto’s father and mother.

Minato and the others fought Pain’s forces while Deidara tried to provoke Naruto and Sasuke. Deidara pursued Sasuke after Naruto baited him, and Naruto sent Deidara’s massive bomb into Obito’s location in the Kamui Dimension.

• Minato caught Kushina as Pain’s repulsive force threw Naruto, Kushina, and Kaede backward, and Jiraiya prepared a Sage Art attack.
• Jiraiya, Sage Fukasaku, and Sage Shima unleashed a powerful oil, wind, and fire technique, but the Preta Path absorbed it.
• Kisame and Deidara split from the group, while Minato assigned Asuma, Gan, Wen, and Cui to pursue Tobi.
• Sasuke knocked Deidara’s clay bird off course, and Naruto provoked Deidara by praising Sasori and insisting Sasuke handle him.
• Deidara chased Sasuke and dropped a C3 bomb, but Naruto’s clone sent it into the Kamui Dimension, where it exploded near Obito.

On the morning of the Joint Chunin Exams’ third stage, Naruto arrived early at the arena and learned the updated match order after several contestants were absent. The opening match was about to begin, and Naruto warned Sasuke not to underestimate Rock Lee.

• Minato, Kushina, Kimimaro, and Naruto took up their duties for the exam day, while Haku and Karin stayed home.
• Naruto reached the empty arena, spoke with chief examiner Genma, and learned that Hayate was away on another mission.
• Shikamaru told Naruto that Choji was in the hospital after upsetting his stomach by overeating.
• Minato opened the third stage before the audience and visiting dignitaries, including the Fourth Kazekage and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Genma announced that Dosu and Zaku had forfeited and Choji was absent due to illness, then read out the revised match order.
• Genma called Sasuke and Rock Lee to remain for the first match, and Naruto warned Sasuke to be careful.

Sasuke Uchiha fought Rock Lee in the Chunin Exam main tournament, using his Sharingan and ninjutsu against Lee’s speed and Eight Gates. The chapter ended as Lee opened the Third and Fourth Gates and prepared to unleash the Leaf Lotus through Sasuke’s flames.

• Sasuke recognized Itachi watching from the stands as an Anbu, then began his match against Rock Lee.
• Sasuke and Lee exchanged taijutsu attacks until Lee removed his leg weights and revealed his greater speed.
• Sasuke activated his Sharingan and dodged Lee’s attacks, while Naruto worried that Sasuke was letting Lee power up.
• Lee opened the First and Second Gates, dodged Sasuke’s Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, and continued attacking at increased speed.
• Sasuke used Lightning Release Cell Activation to keep up, tried genjutsu, and then struck Lee when he briefly faltered.
• Sasuke unleashed Great Fire Annihilation, but Lee opened the Third and Fourth Gates and called out the Leaf Lotus.

Naruto and Kushina trained with the Nine Tails, then visited Kimimaro in the hospital, where Naruto got Haku to make him an ice sword called Frostmourne. The family planned a camping trip after the Chunin Exams, and Naruto resolved to eliminate anyone who threatened it.

• Kushina threw Little Boy into a cave, causing an explosion and quake, so Minato moved the family’s training to an abandoned Root base and warned them not to use a Tailed Beast Ball again.
• Naruto opened the gate to his sealing space for training, and Orange Nine Tails secretly told Red Nine Tails that he was willing to stay with the family for another thousand years.
• Naruto and Kushina visited Kimimaro at the hospital, where Haku made Naruto an ice sword that he named Frostmourne.
• Naruto gave Frostmourne to Konohamaru and encouraged him to challenge the Third Hokage, while assuring Haku that Konohamaru’s pranks were worse than the sword.
• Minato told the family about a lake created when he redirected the Nine Tails’ attempted firework, and the family agreed to camp there after the Chunin Exams.
• Naruto decided that anyone who interfered with their family camping trip had to die.

Naruto’s teams searched for the stolen Star while Naruto learned that Yugito Nii and Matatabi were nearby. The chapter ended with Naruto inviting Kakashi to join a new “Catch the Cat Mission.”

• Red Star ordered Mao to stay behind and assigned Kakashi’s team to recover the Star, while Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura discussed the harm caused by the village’s training method.
• Naruto brought Kakashi’s team to Kushina, and they followed the missing scent from Hell Valley toward a forest before returning to Hoshigakure for the night.
• Mao secretly left the village, and Red Star later departed with two loyal subordinates.
• The teams searched the forest using tracking abilities and ninja hounds, but Bisuke’s comment about Sakura’s shampoo led her to destroy a large tree.
• The Nine Tails told Naruto he sensed Matatabi nearby, and Naruto asked him to alert Kushina.
• Naruto teleported to Kakashi and proposed a “Catch the Cat Mission.”

Kushina transformed into the Nine Tails and defeated Yugito and the Two Tails in a clash of Tailed Beast Balls. As the Hidden Cloud group fled, Naruto used Flying Thunder God to block their path and blasted the Two Tails with a Void Dog Cannon.

• Kushina transformed into the Nine Tails and collided with the charging Two Tails, knocking her back with a slap.
• Kushina and the Two Tails fired Tailed Beast Balls that collided and detonated, evaporating Naruto's lake and devastating the surrounding forest.
• Yugito decided to retreat with her teammates, but Naruto used Flying Thunder God to get ahead of them and block their escape.
• Naruto swallowed a Tailed Beast Ball and fired a Void Dog Cannon at the Two Tails, engulfing her in searing light.

Naruto and Sasuke helped Kakashi and Chiriku fight Kakuzu and his four masked monsters, killing two monsters but allowing Kakuzu and the others to escape underground. The group pursued Kakuzu, and Naruto sensed that he had just lost another life.

• Naruto used a massive Water Style: Exploding Water Shockwave to counter Kakuzu's Wind-Fire Combination Ninjutsu.
• Kakuzu revealed four black monsters, and one attacked with Lightning Release: False Darkness while Kakashi blocked it with Twin Lightning Quake.
• Sasuke summoned natural lightning with Kirin and struck Kakuzu and the four monsters, killing two while the others burrowed underground and escaped.
• Kakashi asked Chiriku to remain at the temple, then the group followed Kakuzu under Naruto's lead.
• Naruto heard a tremendous boom and said Kakuzu had just lost another life.

Naruto and the others cornered Kakuzu, and Sakura killed him by shattering his final heart. After the battle, the group celebrated their successful missions before Naruto reminded Kakashi that he was hungry.

• Tsunade and Jiraiya blocked Kakuzu's escape route, and Team 7 surrounded him from every direction.
• Kakuzu feinted toward Sasuke and attacked Sakura, but she knocked back his arm and punched through his chest, destroying his last heart.
• Naruto collected Kakuzu's body and checked the area for any hidden hearts while Tsunade praised Sakura and Jiraiya praised Sasuke.
• Naruto complained that no one had praised him, then teased Jiraiya about using his Flying Thunder God marks to travel for research until Tsunade knocked Jiraiya down.
• Kakashi noted that they had completed two missions, and Naruto said he was hungry.

After helping Minato avert the Exploding Tag crisis, Naruto celebrated the New Year with his family as Kimimaro prepared to enter the Ninja Academy. On the way home from Kimimaro’s enrollment, Naruto and Kushina rescued a young Hinata Hyuga from bullies.

• Naruto told Minato and Kushina about the dangers ahead, and Minato promised to protect Konoha and keep Naruto’s information secret.
• Minato gathered ninja to find and dismantle Gennō’s hidden Exploding Tags, resolving the threat without incident.
• Naruto celebrated the New Year with Minato, Kushina, and Kimimaro, then accompanied Kimimaro to his first day in the third year of the Ninja Academy.
• Naruto and Kushina found three children bullying Hinata Hyuga, and Kushina comforted Hinata and offered to take her home.
• Kushina encouraged Hinata to stand up to bullies by telling her how she had fought back against children who mocked her red hair.

Minato assembled a team to follow Sasuke’s curse mark to Hiruko, and the group tracked Sasuke from Konoha to the border of the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth. They reached the Golden Wheel Mountain Range, where Hiruko’s strange bird attacked them with explosive feathers.

• Minato assigned Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Itachi to follow Sasuke when his curse mark activated, while Sasuke was told to sleep through the mission.
• Sasuke left Konoha in a curse-marked trance, and the four followed him northwest after Naruto sent a Shadow Clone to clear his path.
• The group traveled through the night, crossed the Land of Grass, and reached the border region near the Golden Wheel Mountain Range.
• Kakashi identified the mountain range as a likely hiding place, and Itachi connected it to the disappearances of four ninja with Kekkei Genkai.
• Naruto spotted a strange bird overhead, and it scattered explosive feathers that blasted the rocky ground around the team.

The examinees’ first evening ended in a cafeteria brawl, where Naruto befriended Kaede from Takigakure. The next day, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the Demon Desert for the Scroll Battle as a hidden plot against Gaara began to take shape.

• At dinner, contaminated food sparked a brawl between examinees from different villages, and Rock Lee clashed with Shiro, who had developed the Seven Heavens Breathing Technique through training.
• Kaede crashed into the cafeteria and interrupted the fight, then Naruto agreed to be her friend before her teammates Kagen and Yoro dragged her away.
• Naruto shared his food with his companions and gave Hinata a scroll before the examinees dispersed for the night.
• Temari explained that teams had three days to collect both Heaven and Earth Scrolls and reach the outpost in the Demon Desert, and Naruto entered with Sasuke and Sakura.
• After the signal flare, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura set off across the desert in sun-blocking cloaks to search for supplies and other examinees.
• Two unidentified people discussed Gaara’s appearance at the Exam Hall and an opportunity to exploit the fear he had once inspired in the village.

Naruto helped Kimimaro find a reason to live by encouraging him to protect the smiles of his new family, and Kimimaro moved into the room beside Naruto’s. That night, Naruto resumed telling Nine Tails the story of Sun Wukong and heard about the Tailed Beasts Nine Tails had fought.

• Kimimaro asked Naruto what the meaning of living was, and Naruto called Minato for help.
• Minato told Kimimaro that everyone had to find his own purpose, and Kimimaro resolved to protect the smiles of Naruto’s family.
• Kushina took Naruto and Kimimaro shopping, and Kimimaro moved into the room next to Naruto’s.
• Naruto entered the Sealing Space and continued his story about Sun Wukong for Nine Tails.
• Nine Tails told Naruto that he had fought most of the other Tailed Beasts, especially Shukaku.

Naruto, Kushina, and Kakashi’s teams crossed paths as Kushina arranged joint training for Naruto’s team and Team 8. After Naruto’s team completed a dog-walking mission, Kakashi led them to meet Team 8 for training.

• Kimimaro complained to Naruto about Gan, Wen, and Cui challenging him repeatedly after he refused to change his hairstyle and clothes.
• Kushina teased Kakashi and Jiraiya about finding girlfriends, then urged Naruto and Kimimaro to take relationships seriously too.
• Naruto and Kushina met Hinata, Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru at the mission hall, where Naruto teased Kiba and tried unsuccessfully to pet the Nine Tails.
• Naruto’s team completed a dog-walking mission, and Kakashi told them they would train with Team 8 that afternoon.

Naruto and his team returned to Konoha after finishing their mission in the Land of Waves, and Kakashi agreed to sign them up for the upcoming Chunin Exams. Naruto ran into Konohamaru on the way home, then heard a lecherous laugh that made him turn in surprise.

• Kakashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that the Chunin Exams were about a month away and warned them that they could be dangerous.
• Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura reached Konoha, passed the gate inspection by Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, and went their separate ways.
• Naruto spotted Konohamaru disguised as part of a fence, exposed his poor Disguise Technique, and caught him skipping class.
• Naruto continued walking home and turned toward a lecherous laugh when he recognized its source.