Chapter Summaries

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura defeated Kazahana Dotō, ending his rule over the Land of Snow. After Sandayu and the samurai killed Dotō, Kazahana Koyuki asked to visit somewhere before ascending the throne.

• Naruto’s Shadow Clones wiped out the regular soldiers and charged Kazahana Dotō, but Dotō destroyed most of them with his Twin Dragons Blizzard.
• Sasuke’s Chidori cracked the core in Dotō’s armor, and Naruto used a Flying Thunder God Kunai and Rasengan to break the barrier and damage the armor.
• Naruto brought Sakura to the battlefield, and she struck Dotō hard enough to send him over the Earth Wall to Sandayu and the samurai.
• Sandayu and the samurai killed Kazahana Dotō, ending his plans to claim the Hexagonal Crystal and open the Kazahana family treasure.
• Sandayu asked Kazahana Koyuki to ascend the throne, but she said she wanted to go somewhere first.

Naruto joined Gaara’s forces as they confronted Sasori, but his opening Rasenshuriken failed to defeat the puppet master. Sasori emerged from underground to continue the fight, and Naruto laughed at his torn clothes.

• Naruto agreed to assist Gaara’s forces against Sasori after Gaara asked Sunagakure to handle its own rogue ninja.
• Chiyo’s Granny, Temari, and Kankuro confronted Sasori while Sunagakure ninja surrounded him.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode and attacked Sasori with a Rasenshuriken, blasting a crater into the battlefield.
• Sasori burrowed underground and attacked Naruto with Hiruko’s poisoned tail, but Naruto dodged and deflected it with Frog Kata.
• Kankuro and Temari joined the defense, while Chiyo’s Granny sent the other ninja to evacuate the wounded.
• Sasori emerged after his ambush failed, and Naruto laughed that Sasori’s clothes were torn.

Naruto tried to carry out a mission to spy on Kushina, using stealth to follow her during a trip to the market. Kushina caught him by pelting him with a strawberry, and Naruto admitted that Minato had told him to keep an eye on her.

• Choji gave Naruto his last bag of snacks, and Naruto later returned the final chip to him after Choji had turned in the mission.
• Naruto told Minato that he had failed three quarters of his mission, and Minato encouraged him to keep trying.
• Naruto waited for Kushina to leave for the market, then accidentally ran into Minato as he tried to sneak out.
• Naruto followed Kushina to the market and watched her shop and chat with the villagers.
• Kushina spotted Naruto and hit him in the forehead with a strawberry, and Naruto revealed that Minato had told him to watch her.

Naruto was born as Obito attacked and kidnapped Kushina to extract the Nine Tails, forcing Minato and Konoha to respond to the impending disaster. Minato reunited Kushina with Naruto before returning to confront the Nine Tails as it advanced on the village.

• Biwako Sarutobi delivered Naruto, and Minato and Kushina met their newborn son.
• Obito Uchiha attacked the cave, abducted Kushina, and escaped after Minato deflected his explosive trap.
• Minato took Naruto and Tian Lu home, while Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha into a wartime emergency and organized the evacuation.
• Minato found Kushina after Obito extracted the Nine Tails and brought her home to hold Naruto.
• Minato left to fight, while Konoha's ninjas tried to drive the controlled Nine Tails out of the village.
• The Nine Tails gathered chakra and fired a dark purple sphere toward Hokage Rock.

Naruto and Nine Tails defeated Shukaku, sealed Gaara, and left him with Haku and Karin before Naruto helped secure the other battlefields. Naruto then found Temari defeated by Shino and Shikamaru and Kankuro immobilized by Neji, and returned to the rooftop battle to find he had missed its progress.

• Naruto used Nine Tails Chakra and a thousand Shadow Clones to overwhelm Shukaku, and Nine Tails took control to finish the fight with a Tailed Beast Ball barrage.
• Naruto bound the unconscious Gaara with sealing chains and seals, washed away his sand, and brought him to Haku and Karin to guard while he checked the other battles.
• Naruto found Temari unconscious beside Shino and Shikamaru, sealed her, and left them to watch her while he went to find Neji.
• Neji had defeated Kankuro and destroyed his puppet Crow, so Naruto took Neji to the hospital and sent Kankuro to Shikamaru.
• Naruto returned to the rooftop battlefield and regretted not leaving a clone behind to keep track of the fight.

Naruto met Kurama inside the sealing space and proposed becoming friends with him, then told Minato and Kushina he already knew about the Nine Tails. Naruto continued his comfortable routine for several months until a faint ripple disturbed his peaceful life.

• Naruto recognized the Nine Tails as Kurama and explained how he knew about the Tailed Beasts and their history.
• Naruto told Kurama he wanted to covet his power, then learned how to leave the sealing space and slept soundly.
• Naruto told Minato and Kushina that he had met the Big Fox, and Kushina confirmed the seal was intact.
• Naruto said he wanted to become friends with the Nine Tails, and Minato agreed to let him do things his way.
• Naruto trained, studied, and played for several months until a faint ripple interrupted his peaceful routine.

Naruto and his team visited the Fire Temple to investigate grave robbing, but Naruto discovered that the monk Sora carried stolen Nine Tails Chakra. Chiriku revealed how Sora had become a false Jinchuriki and explained the plot behind the theft.

• Chiriku welcomed Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to the Fire Temple to discuss their mission.
• Naruto sensed Nine Tails Chakra in Sora and learned from the Nine Tails how its scattered Chakra could be reclaimed.
• Naruto confronted Chiriku about the Fire Temple possessing Nine Tails Chakra and a false Jinchuriki, prompting Kakashi to demand an explanation.
• Chiriku identified Sora as the boy carrying the Chakra and admitted that the theft had begun through greed.
• Chiriku explained that Kazuma and his allies had sealed Chakra from the Nine Tails' rampage into Sora in a plot to destroy Konoha and empower the Daimyo.
• After Kazuma died, Chiriku brought Sora to the Fire Temple and raised him there.

Team 7 visited Konoha’s orphanage for a D-rank mission to teach and entertain the children. Naruto and Sasuke impressed the children with ninjutsu, then sent them to class with Sakura while planning a performance.

• Kakashi explained that Yakushi Nonō had left espionage behind to run the orphanage and that her adopted son Kabuto was helping her there.
• Team 7 arrived at the orphanage and met Tsubaki, who assigned them to teach literacy and arithmetic and play with the children.
• After Tsubaki gathered the children and left them in Team 7’s care, Naruto and Sasuke demonstrated Water and Fire Style techniques.
• Naruto persuaded the children to go to class by promising them a ninjutsu show afterward, then left Sakura to teach.
• Naruto asked Kakashi about his unread book, and Kakashi pulled it out before Naruto and Sasuke discussed their planned performance.

Minato made Tenten his disciple and taught her the Rasengan while Naruto helped her practice. After Tenten left, Minato advised Naruto to take a break from Sage Mode training, which had stalled at its final stage.

• Minato taught Tenten the Rasengan and accepted her as his disciple.
• Minato left Naruto to help Tenten practice while he handled other matters.
• Tenten practiced for two hours, struggled to control the Chakra rotation, and continued after resting.
• Minato returned, reassured Tenten that slow progress was normal, and sent her to rest before Team Guy's mission.
• Naruto told Minato he was stuck trying to absorb Natural Energy without Toad Oil, and Minato advised him not to train that day.

Kushina comforted Gaara by telling him he was loved, and Minato confirmed Naruto’s seal would let him sleep safely. Later, Jiraiya and Tsunade mourned Orochimaru at his grave, acknowledging that their friendship and the Three Legendary Sannin were gone.

• Kushina told Gaara that he was not a monster and offered to be his mother, while Naruto explained that Yashamaru’s final words had been a lie forced by the Kazekage.
• Minato inspected Naruto’s Four Symbols Seal on Gaara and said Gaara should now be able to sleep properly.
• Kushina encouraged Gaara to communicate with Shukaku, while Naruto and the Nine Tails discussed the Tailed Beast’s seal.
• Kimimaro and Kakashi came to Naruto’s home for dinner, and Minato said Tsunade and Jiraiya were probably drinking.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade drank before Orochimaru’s grave, and Tsunade said there would never be another Three Legendary Sannin.

Minato rejected Hidden Cloud Village’s demands over its delegation leader’s death and the kidnapping of a Hyuga girl, putting the alliance on hold as Konoha rallied behind him. The year ended with the village more united, while Tenzō and Shisui were set on paths to serve under Minato.

• Minato met with the Hyuga leadership, then condemned the Hidden Cloud delegation’s kidnapping and refused its demands, causing the alliance to be put on hold.
• A rumor meant to discredit Minato failed to spread, and Konoha civilians and clans largely supported his actions.
• Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi discussed the risk of war, while Shibi waited unnoticed for his food in the next room.
• Kakashi mourned over White Fang’s broken sword before a loud voice called him out to race at sunset.
• Hiruzen planned to recommend Tenzō for the Anbu, and Fugaku agreed to have Shisui work toward improving relations with the village through the Shadow Guard.
• Naruto and Kushina celebrated Minato’s actions, and Konoha ended the year more united.

Naruto held a small New Year gala with Minato, Kushina, Kakashi, and Might Guy, enjoying a celebration that reminded him of home. After Minato and Kushina wondered about Naruto’s unusual behavior, Naruto found himself in the Sealing Space facing the Nine Tails.

• Naruto proposed a New Year gala, and Minato and Kushina agreed to host a small party at home.
• Kushina brought Kakashi and Might Guy to the house, where Guy gave Naruto a green bodysuit.
• Naruto hosted the gala, and the guests performed taijutsu, ninjutsu, and songs in the courtyard.
• Minato and Kushina discussed Naruto’s loneliness and decided to give him more time.
• Naruto woke in the Sealing Space, where the Nine Tails urged him to open the gate, but Naruto refused to trust him.

Black Zetsu betrayed Nagato and stole his Rinnegan, leaving Nagato devastated as Konan tried to protect him. Naruto’s group found the forest where Nagato and Konan were hiding and cleared the traps with explosions.

• Black Zetsu gouged out Nagato’s eyes, revealing that the Rinnegan and Yahiko’s death had been part of his plan.
• Konan attacked Black Zetsu, but he escaped underground after sending vines at her and Nagato.
• Nagato despaired over learning that his life and dreams had been manipulated, while Konan tried unsuccessfully to comfort him.
• Naruto brought Minato, Kushina, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Hinata to the forest using Flying Thunder God.
• Naruto sent Shadow Clones to detonate the traps Hinata spotted, prompting Kushina to question his idea of bomb disposal.

Naruto celebrated his third birthday with his family, received a Hokage cloak and a Flying Thunder God kunai, and sparred with Minato before asking to begin training. After Kushina put him through a demanding first day of taijutsu practice, Naruto recovered from his soreness surprisingly quickly.

• Naruto received an art book from Kakashi, a child-sized Hokage cloak from Kushina, and a Special Kunai from Minato.
• Naruto challenged Minato to a spar, tried several dramatic attacks, and lost without landing a hit.
• Naruto asked Minato to let him train, and Minato agreed to start him on taijutsu.
• The next day, Kushina made Naruto run laps, do push-ups, and practice punches and kicks despite his exhaustion.
• After a bath, lunch, and a two-hour nap, Naruto found that his muscles no longer hurt and he felt unusually strong.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura finished the second exam and gathered with the other surviving teams for the Joint Chunin Exams’ next stage. Minato welcomed the candidates and explained the exams’ importance before handing things over to Hayate.

• Naruto exposed Sasuke for using the Sharingan to cheat at cards, and the three teammates switched to studying.
• Naruto checked on Hinata after her team reached the tower and left once he saw she was not seriously hurt.
• Izumi told Sasuke that Itachi had an important mission and promised to watch his match, leaving Sasuke upset that Itachi had not come himself.
• Anko announced that the candidates had passed the second exam, and Minato arrived to congratulate them.
• Minato explained how the candidates’ performances could affect their villages’ future missions, then returned to the stands and left the proceedings to Hayate.

The Allied Shinobi Forces fought reanimated opponents across the battlefields, where old acquaintances often turned combat into emotional reunions. At headquarters, the Five Kage learned that four powerful reanimated Kage were approaching, and the Raikage volunteered to intercept them.

• No. 001 delivered the Sealing Team to the First Division and found Fugaku fighting an old friend with visible emotion.
• On the Third Division battlefield, Zabuza and Chōjūrō fought members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen while Gan, Wen, and Cui battled three sword-wielders.
• Kimimaro protected Uchiha Gan from attacks by Kushimaru Kuriarare, Jinpatchi Munashi, and Jinin Akebino, then continued fighting without answering their taunts.
• Shi alerted the Five Kage to unusual Chakra signatures approaching headquarters, and Inoichi confirmed that the four were the Second Tsuchikage, the Third Kazekage, the Third Raikage, and the First Mizukage.
• Minato identified the four as formidable opponents, and the Raikage eagerly offered to intercept them.

Deidara and Kisame escaped Kirigakure after failing to capture Utakata, leaving the village damaged and Yagura burdened by the casualties. Meanwhile, Naruto accompanied Minato to the Fire Capital to meet the daimyo, and they arrived there in the afternoon.

• Deidara and Kisame withdrew by flying away, while Deidara's defective clay bird exploded harmlessly away from the Kirigakure crowd.
• Kirigakure organized rescue efforts and patrols, and Yagura's returning group learned that the village had been attacked.
• Yagura returned to find Kirigakure in ruins, ordered preparations for the casualties' memorial service, and assigned Mei Terumi to prepare for war against Akatsuki.
• Naruto traveled with Minato and the Shadow Guard to the Fire Capital, asking about the daimyo and how Konoha reported its finances and military strength.
• Naruto and Minato arrived in the prosperous Fire Capital in the afternoon.

Naruto visited the Sarutobi family to meet newborn Konohamaru, then convinced Kushina to improve the environment inside his sealing space. He grew closer to Nine Tails through daily storytelling and prepared to start school in February, Konoha Year 54.

• Naruto suggested naming the newborn Sarutobi Strong or Sarutobi Laifu, but the Third Hokage named him Konohamaru.
• Naruto asked Kushina to modify his sealing space, and she agreed to discuss the important seal with Minato before making changes.
• Kushina transformed Nine Tails' dark, flooded sealing space into a grassy area beneath a blue sky.
• Naruto continued telling Nine Tails The Legend of Nezha and planned to ask for Chakra as payment for his stories.
• In February, Konoha Year 54, Naruto got up excitedly because he was about to start school.

Naruto learned that the Great Toad Sage had summoned Jiraiya and Minato because of a dream, and joined them at Mount Myoboku to hear what it meant. The Great Toad Sage began explaining that the dream involved them, but the chapter ended before he shared its details.

• Naruto spent an ordinary afternoon with Hinata, and they were both happy.
• Naruto continued training Sage Mode on Mount Myoboku until Sage Shima told him the Great Toad Sage wanted to see Jiraiya and Minato.
• Naruto found Minato at the Hokage Office and tracked Jiraiya down near a bathhouse, where Jiraiya had been spying with a telescope.
• Naruto told Jiraiya that the Great Toad Sage had summoned him and Minato, and Jiraiya agreed to go.
• Naruto, Jiraiya, and Minato met the Great Toad Sage, who eventually remembered that he had called them because he had dreamed about something involving them.

Utakata and Kisame continued their fight as Utakata switched to his faster blue mode, but both were badly injured. Deidara arrived after nearly being killed by Utakata’s stray attack, and his arrival left Kisame and the squad leader reeling from an explosion.

• Utakata recovered from Kisame’s ambush and transformed into blue mode, striking Kisame with his increased speed and corrosive Chakra.
• Kisame fought back, endured Utakata’s alkaline attacks, and smashed him into the water with Samehada.
• The squad leader sent a Water Clone to retrieve Utakata while attacking the wounded Kisame with ninja tools and Exploding Tags.
• Deidara’s white bird flew between Kisame and the squad leader and exploded, knocking both men down and leaving them bleeding.
• Kisame mocked Deidara’s missing arm and damaged bird, while Deidara blamed Kisame for his predicament after Utakata’s attack had nearly killed him.