Chapter Summaries

Naruto studied sealing techniques and Water Style while helping Ino learn Sasuke’s preferences, which sparked a wave of gossip among the girls. A year later, Naruto had advanced his studies and Kushina was learning Water Style from the Third Hokage so she could teach Naruto herself.

• Naruto treated Sasuke, Choji, and Shikamaru to ramen, then told Ino that Sasuke admired strength and talent and described a girl like Mikoto as his ideal.
• Ino’s conversation with Naruto drew a crowd of girls, and gossip about Sasuke’s preferences spread through the school.
• Over the following year, Sasuke learned the Great Fireball Technique, but Naruto countered it with Water Disturbance and defeated him.
• Naruto finished Introduction to Sealing Arts, began Mastery of Sealing Arts, and learned Water Style after discovering his Water and Wind affinities.
• Kushina asked the Third Hokage to teach her Water Style so she could teach Naruto, and she began learning Water Dragon Bullet.

Naruto learned the Shadow Clone Technique and let Nine Tails control a clone transformed into a small fox. After Kushina mistook the fox’s chakra for a seal breach and attacked, Naruto explained the misunderstanding and asked whether Nine Tails could borrow a clone again.

• Minato and Kushina warned Naruto about the exhaustion and danger of using Shadow Clones, and Naruto successfully created one.
• Naruto dispelled the clone after it complained about being poked, then felt embarrassed when its memories returned.
• Naruto made a clone, transformed it into a miniature Nine Tails, and offered Nine Tails a chance to control it.
• Kushina sensed Nine Tails Chakra, broke through the wall, and struck the fox clone before Naruto could explain.
• Naruto calmed Nine Tails in the Sealing Space and told Minato and Kushina what had happened; Minato allowed future clone outings with restrictions.
• Naruto called Nine Tails his friend, and Nine Tails quietly agreed after Naruto fell asleep.

Naruto and the others tracked Mizuki and the Sound Ninja Four to an abandoned laboratory, where Kakashi and Guy had already defeated them. Naruto brought Shizune to examine the drug-damaged prisoners, and she warned that they had little time left.

• Naruto tracked the group and realized they were heading toward Kakashi and Guy, who were rock climbing nearby.
• Naruto, Izumi, and their teammates found Kakashi and Guy standing over the unconscious Mizuki and Sound Ninja Four.
• Naruto saw Mizuki rapidly wasting away and used the Flying Thunder God to reach the hospital and fetch Shizune after finding Tsunade drunk and asleep.
• Shizune examined Mizuki and the others, concluding that forbidden drugs had drained their life force and that nutrient fluid might keep them alive for only about a week.

Kakashi and Guy raced for Jiraiya’s manuscript fee while Tsunade drank and the Konoha ninjas prepared for the coming war. At the Rain Country border, Guren presented Orochimaru’s experimental monsters to Akatsuki as potential allies, but Konan warned that their agreement depended on the creatures proving their worth.

• Kakashi agreed to race Guy after Guy offered to pay for books, and they sprinted off beneath the sunset.
• Jiraiya noticed Kakashi and Guy passing the tavern, then listened as drunken Tsunade questioned his faith in prophecy and lamented that he never came home.
• Jiraiya signed a book for the tavern owner and carried the drunken Tsunade away while Shizune and Sakura worked through Tsunade’s paperwork.
• Rock Lee, Gan, Wen, Cui, Neji, Hizashi, Tenten, Kiba, Shino, and Yakumo each prepared for the looming war in their own way.
• At the Rain Country border, Pain asked Guren where Orochimaru was, and Guren said he was occupied with research but had brought powerful forces.
• Guren presented more than a hundred of Orochimaru’s experimental monsters to Akatsuki, and Konan warned that their agreement would be void if the creatures failed to impress them.

Naruto’s team received a scroll containing the Mysterious Peacock Method and set out for the Land of Wind to deliver a message and escort Sunagakure personnel. Meanwhile, the Raikage and Obito investigated the mystery of the Nine Tails Jinchuriki becoming two people, but neither gained an answer.

• Blue Snake said Lord Manda had often cursed Orochimaru for failing to send sacrifices, and Kakashi asked Naruto whether he still believed Orochimaru was alive.
• Sasuke gave Naruto the scroll for the Chakra Wing Transformation Technique and warned him that its demands on Chakra quality were unusually high.
• Kakashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that Gaara had become the Fifth Kazekage and planned a Joint Chunin Exams, then led them toward the Land of Wind on a delivery and escort mission.
• The Raikage learned that Konoha had two Nine Tails Jinchuriki and questioned Killer Bee, who could not get an explanation from the Eight Tails.
• Obito asked Zetsu about Akatsuki’s progress and learned that their plans would take at least another year, likely closer to two.

Naruto and the Aburame Clan restored Torune’s memories, and he revealed that Danzo had killed Homura and Koharu after they discovered his crimes. Minato confronted the scene Danzo had staged, where Danzo began implying that the Fourth Hokage was responsible for the day’s assassinations.

• Naruto brought Shibi, Shikuroo, and Shino to identify Torune, and they helped awaken his sealed memories.
• Torune told Minato that Danzo had killed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura because they knew he had leaked village security intelligence and colluded with Orochimaru.
• Yamanaka Fu summoned Minato to Danzo’s home, where Danzo claimed sand ninja assassins had killed the two advisors.
• Minato arrived with others and saw the bodies, sand ninja corpses, and signs of a staged battle in Danzo’s courtyard.
• Danzo asked about Hiruzen’s assassination and suggested that Minato should explain why so many assassins had appeared that day.

Kakashi led Team 7 toward the Land of Wind on a C-Rank mission to find a lost Snow Weasel, while warning them about border bandits and Sunagakure’s unsettled leadership. Naruto contacted Shukaku and learned Gaara was hunting bandits on a beach, leading him to suspect the mission would involve the Gelel Stone.

• Kakashi explained that Sunagakure had not chosen a new Kazekage since the Fourth Kazekage’s death, and Baki was serving as acting Kazekage with help from two retired figures.
• Naruto asked Nine Tails to contact Shukaku, who joined the group chat and cursed at Nine Tails and Naruto.
• Shukaku complained that Naruto had placed a desert-themed Four Symbols Seal on him, which made it harder for him to take over Gaara’s body.
• Shukaku told Naruto that Gaara was taking missions constantly because he wanted to become Kazekage, and that he was heading to a beach to drive away bandits.
• Naruto connected Gaara’s mission to the Gelel Stone storyline and considered sending its leader to Amegakure.

Naruto asked Minato to teach him Sage Mode, and Minato told him to first master Wind Nature Transformation. Naruto overtrained with hundreds of Shadow Clones, then woke to Kushina's scolding before reuniting with Hinata, Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru on his way to a meeting.

• Naruto asked Minato to help him learn Sage Mode, and Minato made him finish his Wind Nature Transformation training first.
• Naruto trained with hundreds of Shadow Clones until one cut a leaf, then collapsed from the strain of receiving their memories.
• Nine Tails took control of Naruto's body, brought him home, and ate from his wallet before returning to the Sealing Space.
• Kushina scolded Naruto for overworking himself, and Naruto apologized before rushing out to a meeting.
• Naruto met Hinata, Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru, greeted them, and Kiba complained that Naruto had ignored him.

Minato prepared Konoha’s huge expedition force for war, distributing Konan-sponsored Exploding Tags that reassured the troops. Naruto stayed behind at the hospital with Sakura and Zuo Zhu while Kakashi recovered, planning to transport them to the rendezvous point; the chapter ended with the author noting that updates might be slower.

• Minato delayed the march after the Akatsuki attack and arranged for genin, chunin, and jonin to receive Exploding Tags sponsored by Konan.
• Maruboshi Kosuke joined the departing force, where Minato valued his experience and strength despite his refusal to leave genin rank.
• Konoha’s main force departed in batches, while Naruto remained at the hospital with Kakashi, Zuo Zhu, and Sakura.
• Naruto said he would drive the recovering Kakashi and Zuo Zhu to the border rendezvous point once they were well enough.
• Sakura fed Kakashi apple and joined Naruto in threatening to knock him out if he would not rest.

Want to Eat Popsicle reflected on how he became a Naruto webnovel author, why he wrote this story, and the support that helped it reach premium publication and Sanjiang. He announced that the novel would go premium the next day at noon and promised to keep writing while making up owed bonus chapters.

• Want to Eat Popsicle recalled registering a writer account five years earlier and deleting his first story, League of Legends: Tai Chi Kid, after writing two chapters.
• Want to Eat Popsicle explained that he had wanted to continue Building Naruto World but chose to write his own Naruto story after deciding he could not match the original author.
• Want to Eat Popsicle described abandoning a card-drawing cheat ability and building the novel around saving The Fourth Hokage and his family, stopping Obito, and reducing Konoha's losses.
• Want to Eat Popsicle thanked readers and editor Peng Lai for helping the novel earn recommendation slots, including Little Trumpet and Sanjiang.
• Want to Eat Popsicle announced the novel would go premium at noon the next day and said he had no saved chapters for a mass update.
• Want to Eat Popsicle noted the bonus chapters he owed to supporters and asked readers who could afford it to subscribe while urging others not to donate beyond their means.

Kakashi defeated Nadare Rōga and Naruto recovered his armor, while the team learned their battle had been filmed and Naruto negotiated payment. The group returned to the ship and prepared to discuss whether to continue the escort mission after discovering their client was the princess of the fallen Land of Snow.

• Kakashi revealed his Sharingan, copied Nadare Rōga's Ice Release technique, and defeated him with the Hidden Lotus.
• Naruto collected Nadare Rōga's damaged Level Three Armor and stored it in a Storage Scroll.
• Sakura explained that the director had filmed the battle, and Naruto negotiated payment for the team's performance.
• Naruto received the smallest share because the crew had not captured his techniques, then proposed working with film crews for special effects and stunts.
• Kakashi told the team to speak with Sandayu about the mission, since Fujikaze Yukie was actually Kazahana Koyuki, princess of the fallen Land of Snow.

Naruto set out for the Land of Waves with his team, carrying supplies and emergency scrolls prepared by Kushina. After Naruto and Sasuke defeated two attackers targeting Tazuna, the team learned the mission was more dangerous than advertised, and Naruto demanded higher pay before they continued.

• Kushina packed Naruto's supplies into scrolls and gave him two special scrolls that could summon help if opened together.
• Naruto joined Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna at the village gate, gave Sasuke and Sakura storage scrolls, and set out for the Land of Waves.
• Kakashi explained that the mission was ranked C-Rank and was supposed to involve no battles between ninja, while Tazuna hid that ninja were already after him.
• Naruto sensed two attackers concealed in a puddle, and he and Sasuke swiftly defeated the Demon Brothers when they attacked Tazuna.
• Kakashi confronted Tazuna about concealing the danger and asked whether the team would continue the mission.
• Naruto said the team was risking their lives and demanded that Tazuna pay more than the fee for a C-Rank Mission.

The battle against Orochimaru and the reanimated Hokage continued as Konoha’s fighters struggled against the First Hokage’s forest and the Second Hokage’s attacks. Orochimaru summoned the Second Mizukage to cover his escape, and Naruto joined Kushina to help.

• Hashirama’s trees spread through the battlefield, and Tobirama trapped the Third Hokage until Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff and freed him.
• Kushina matched Tobirama’s Water Surge, while Rasa struggled to gather Gold Dust amid the forest and flooding.
• Orochimaru fought the Third Hokage with the Kusanagi Sword as Minato struck Tobirama with a Rasengan and Kushina and Minato prepared to seal the reanimated Hokage.
• Orochimaru vanished through a genjutsu, and the Second Mizukage emerged from the forest and attacked the Third Hokage.
• Naruto identified the Second Mizukage’s Mirage technique, used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Kushina, and prepared to join the fight.

Naruto, Guy, and Itachi fought Kisame on the water, trading ninjutsu and close-range attacks while Itachi copied Kisame’s techniques. Kisame survived Naruto’s water-cutter strike and battled Naruto’s underwater Shadow Clones, while Itachi said he could reconstruct Kisame’s Five Eating Sharks technique later.

• Kisame targeted Guy with Water Style: Rain of Four Sharks, but Guy shattered the sharks and Naruto blocked their second-stage attack.
• Itachi and Naruto attacked Kisame with fire and water techniques, and Itachi copied Kisame’s Water Style ninjutsu as they fought.
• Kisame rushed Guy with Samehada, then resisted Itachi’s Great Fireball before Naruto’s Water Severing Wave cut his left shoulder.
• Kisame healed his wound with Samehada, which became so depleted from absorbing chakra that it shrank dramatically.
• Naruto sent ten Shadow Clones underwater, where one clone’s Rasengan created a whirlpool that dragged four clones to their deaths.
• The surviving clones attacked with Rasengan whirlpools, but Kisame’s Five Eating Sharks defeated them, and Itachi said he could reconstruct the technique after returning.

Naruto mastered Sage Mode through his own ability and celebrated his achievement at Mount Myoboku. More than half a year later, the Nine Tails sent out a tiny clone, and Naruto and Kushina each found a little fox in their Sealing Spaces.

• Naruto calmly followed Sage Fukasaku's instructions and entered Sage Mode for the first time without Toad Oil.
• Sage Fukasaku and Minato congratulated Naruto, who discovered that Sage Mode had greatly enhanced his strength and vitality.
• Naruto tried lifting stone frogs and forming a Rasenshuriken, then attempted to spar with Minato but took too long to enter Sage Mode again.
• Naruto returned to his routine of missions and training, and more than half a year passed.
• The Nine Tails opened the Sealing Gate and sent out a chibi-sized clone, which Naruto picked up and admired.
• Kushina picked up a little fox in her Sealing Space and declared that it was female.

Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, Chiriku, and Pakkun found Kazuma with Sora and four coffins, and learned that Kazuma planned to use Sora’s sealed power to destroy Konoha. Kazuma released the seal only to discover Sora’s power was gone; after Sora confronted him and was struck down, Chiriku prepared to fight Kazuma.

• Naruto detected Sora and another person on the mountain, so the group sneaked up to investigate.
• Chiriku recognized Kazuma, who revealed his plan to revive four former comrades and make the Land of Fire answer to the daimyo rather than Konoha’s Hokage.
• Kazuma claimed Sora would become a Nine-Tailed Demon Fox and released the seal, but Sora awakened with purple Chakra instead.
• Sora attacked Kazuma, then learned his father had sealed power inside him to use him for his ambitions and angrily confronted him.
• Kazuma struck Sora down, Kakashi carried him to Sakura for treatment, and Chiriku began his Thousand-Hand Killing technique against Kazuma.

Deidara’s self-detonation was sent into the Kamui Dimension, leaving Kakashi, Zuo Zhu, and Kaede exhausted until Naruto sent a clone to bring them back to Konoha. Meanwhile, Konoha’s fighters battled Pain’s summoned beasts, and Gamabunta began taking down the Eight-Tailed Bird.

• Kakashi used Kamui to send Deidara’s C0 explosion into another dimension, then collapsed from Chakra exhaustion.
• Kaede and Zuo Zhu checked on Kakashi, and Naruto sent a clone to find them after his clones in the Kamui Dimension were killed by the blast.
• Naruto’s clone offered to send Kakashi, Zuo Zhu, and Kaede back to Konoha because they could not help in their current condition.
• Pain summoned several beasts, while Tsunade and Sakura knocked the bull and rhinoceros off the battlefield.
• Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro joined the fight, and Gamabunta soaked the Eight-Tailed Bird, caught it with his tongue, and slammed it to the ground.

Naruto explained the Akatsuki’s Jinchuriki hunt while the Kage shared intelligence about the group’s members and abilities. The Raikage agreed to reveal information about the attackers who had struck the Cloud Village.

• Naruto told Kaede that the Akatsuki intended to capture Jinchuriki, and she cheerfully accepted the danger as a game.
• Minato identified Hidan and Kakuzu as the pair who captured Yugito Nii, and named Kisame Hoshigaki and a masked man as the captors of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Yagura described Kisame’s powerful Water Style and Samehada’s ability to absorb Chakra, and Ōnoki noted that Kisame countered Rōshi and Han.
• Naruto and Kaede joked about Kisame absorbing Naruto’s Chakra, while Shisui considered using genjutsu or Susanoo against him.
• Ōnoki described Deidara’s Explosive Clay, and Gaara confirmed the account while warning that its power was greater than Ōnoki had suggested.
• The Raikage agreed to share intelligence about the people who attacked the Cloud Village.

Naruto sent Shadow Clones to locate the remaining teams in the Death Forest while he and Sasuke and Sakura headed toward the tower. Several clones found Kusagakure teams, but Naruko’s disguise led to a disastrous encounter with Hinata’s team, leaving Naruto laughing at her mistake.

• Naruto explained Karin’s situation to Sasuke and Sakura, then sent sixteen Shadow Clones to search for the remaining teams.
• Thirteen clones found no Kusagakure teams and staged dramatic deaths, prompting many examinees to change their routes.
• No. 001 and another clone found Kusagakure teams and blocked their paths to demand their scrolls.
• Naruko ran into Hinata’s team while disguised as a girl, and Hinata, Kiba, and Shino reacted with shock.
• Naruko dispelled herself and sent Naruto a panicked message, while Naruto laughed as Sasuke and Sakura watched in confusion.

Minato, Naruto, and Shisui arrived at the Five Kage Summit, where Minato greeted Yagura and tried to speak with the withdrawn Raikage. After Gaara and his siblings arrived, Naruto warmed Temari and Kankuro with spare clothes, leaving the summit’s participants to begin their meeting.

• Kaede asked Naruto to play in the snow, but he reminded her that he still had summit duties.
• Minato, Naruto, and Shisui entered the meeting room, where Minato greeted Yagura and the Raikage refused to talk.
• Naruto offered to fetch Gaara and his siblings, but Minato told him to let them make the journey themselves.
• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro arrived after traveling through the cold and greeted the assembled Kage.
• Naruto gave Temari a cloak he said belonged to Shikamaru, then gave Kankuro another one and claimed it had belonged to Akamaru.