Chapter Summaries

Minato sealed the Dragon Vein and the memories of the people involved, while Naruto returned to his own time. Years later, Minato and Kushina learned they were expecting a child, and Minato sensed he needed to prepare for something he could not remember.

• Minato sealed the Dragon Vein, and Naruto vanished as he returned to his original time.
• Minato sealed the memories of Sara, the Konoha ninjas, and the civilians who had encountered Naruto's Shadow Clones.
• Sara led the people of Lou Lan out of the Land of Wind to live in seclusion, while the Konoha ninjas returned safely to the village.
• Years later, Kushina told Minato that they were having a baby, and the two celebrated becoming parents.
• Minato asked Kushina how much Chakra Adamantine Sealing Chains required, then said he felt compelled to do something and would seal both their memories afterward.

Kushina exposed and defeated the Animal Path, but Nagato pushed the remaining Pains into a powerful assault that ravaged the battlefield. After Naruto returned, Konan urged Nagato to retreat, but he chose to make one last attempt.

• Gamahiro defeated the largest Centipede while Gamaken struggled against the Splitting Dogs until Gamabunta and Gamahiro came to help.
• Minato, Tsunade, Sakura, Kimimaro, Jiraiya, and the others attacked the Pains, but the Preta Path absorbed their techniques.
• Guy's Daytime Tiger wind exposed the Chameleon, allowing Kushina to strike it and defeat the Animal Path, which caused the Splitting Dogs to dissolve.
• The Deva Path used Shinra Tensei to blast Kushina and the others away, while Minato caught his companions with the Flying Thunder God Technique and sent the toads back to Mount Myoboku.
• Naruto returned with Itachi and Guy as Nagato considered the situation, and Konan urged him to withdraw rather than risk his life.
• Nagato ignored Konan's warning and prepared to make one last attempt against the gathered fighters.

Naruto’s group returned to Konoha with the injured and captured Kirigakure shinobi, while Obito and the Zetsu discussed their plans and the threat of a coming war. The chapter left Obito searching for a mysterious researcher as the Five Kage Summit drew near.

• Naruto claimed Chiriku had secretly taught him a technique, and Sasuke recognized that Naruto had imitated Chiriku using Nine Tails Chakra and sound effects.
• Minato offered to take Yagura and the other injured Kirigakure shinobi to Konoha for treatment, and Yagura agreed.
• Naruto and his clones carried the group and five captives back to Konoha, along with several malformed White Zetsu.
• An escaped White Zetsu found Black Zetsu, who merged with it and told Obito that they had collected enough Three Tails Chakra.
• Obito discussed Kisame and Deidara’s slow journey, then ordered Black Zetsu to find a mysterious researcher and offer them a deal before the Five Kage Summit.

Before Naruto’s birth, Kushina and Minato visited him in the Sealing Space, where Minato used a Sage Mode technique to meet his son early. The family’s happy prenatal visits continued until October 10th, Konoha Year 48, the day Naruto was due to be born.

• Naruto learned about the danger Obito posed to his parents and Konoha, but could only listen as Kushina visited him and talked about their family and the shinobi world.
• Minato entered the Sealing Space in Sage Mode and awkwardly introduced himself to Naruto as his father.
• Naruto placed his tiny paw on Minato’s hand, delighting Minato and making Kushina playfully jealous.
• Minato explained that he had developed Sage Art—Father-and-Mother Chakra Resonance Concerto to enter through Kushina’s seal.
• Naruto’s prenatal visits became lessons with both Minato and Kushina, and the family enjoyed several months together.
• Kushina’s due date arrived on October 10th, Konoha Year 48.

Hinata revealed that Shinno had imprisoned hundreds of civilians to generate Dark Chakra for Zero Tails, and Naruto’s group planned to rescue them without harming the hostages. Shisui infiltrated the fortress and signaled Naruto, who entered the prison and began preparing to evacuate the captives.

• Hinata explained that Shinno had been using imprisoned villagers’ despair to nurture Zero Tails while pursuing his Ultimate Body and ambitions for the Land of the Sky.
• Naruto proposed using his Flying Thunder God Kunai to move the prisoners, and Shisui volunteered to get it inside the fortress.
• Hinata drew a detailed map of the fortress, and Shisui memorized it before infiltrating past the guards with genjutsu.
• Hinata tracked Shisui’s movements until he sent the signal, and Naruto teleported to him inside the fortress.
• Shisui showed Naruto the weakened prisoners, and Naruto placed the kunai through the cell bars before entering with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Minato told Naruto about Jiraiya’s search for Tsunade and the Akatsuki, while Naruto prepared for the coming Chunin Exams. Naruto and Hinata grew closer as the joint exams approached, with the story ending on the eve of their start.

• Minato told Naruto that Jiraiya had gone to find Tsunade and would return before the exams, and explained that Orochimaru had once joined the Akatsuki before leaving and being hunted by its members.
• Naruto learned that Minato’s Flying Thunder God mark on Obito had vanished when Minato’s Sage Art: Rasengan shattered everything below Obito’s chest, and that Jiraiya had agreed not to act against the Akatsuki without consulting Minato.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clones studied Flying Thunder God techniques while Naruto trained and openly walked home holding hands with Hinata.
• Hanabi ran out of the Hyuga Clan’s front gate, pulled Hinata into a hug, and told her she had been waiting for her sister to spend time with her.
• Naruto and Hinata wished each other luck before the joint Chunin Exams began on July 1st of Konoha 60th Year.

Naruto returned home after Kushina found him, then visited Kakashi in the hospital and pranked him with a disguised art album. He waited at the training ground for Minato and fell asleep, leaving Minato quietly seated beside him.

• Kushina found Naruto through a sudden sense that he was nearby, and they returned home together.
• Naruto told Minato he would check on Kakashi before waiting at the training ground.
• Naruto encountered Tsunade at the hospital, where she admitted his warning had helped her save her drinking money.
• Naruto gave Kakashi an art album disguised as the book Kakashi had been hoping for, and Kakashi angrily discovered the prank.
• Naruto fell asleep beneath a tree at the training ground, and Minato sat beside him as Naruto's head came to rest on his shoulder.

Kakashi and Itachi defeated Hiruko’s allies while Naruto’s group intercepted Sasuke and sent him home. No. 001 disguised himself as Sasuke and ambushed Hiruko at his base, leaving Hiruko demanding to know where Sasuke was.

• Itachi trapped Snake Man in a genjutsu and defeated him while Kakashi fought the dog-handler woman.
• The woman fused with a summoned beast, but Kakashi killed her with Raikiri.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to bring his team to Sasuke, and they restrained him before Itachi tied him up and Naruto delivered him to Mikoto.
• Naruto sent No. 001, disguised as Sasuke, to surprise Hiruko at Mount Sumeru.
• No. 001 struck Hiruko with a Big Ball Rasengan, revealed his disguise, and told Hiruko that Sasuke had been sent home under quarantine.

Naruto found Fudō and let Sakura fight him, while Kakashi was held up by Fu'en’s traps and genjutsu. Sakura defeated Fudō, and Kakashi revealed he had used a Shadow Clone before striking Fu'en with a Lightning Flash.

• Naruto flew over the maze and found Fudō preparing to attack Sakura.
• Sakura smashed through Fudō’s Earth Release techniques and defeated him in close combat.
• Naruto finished Fudō and collected his corpse, then told Sakura that Kakashi was getting beaten up.
• Fu'en used traps and genjutsu to stall Kakashi without showing herself.
• Kakashi revealed that he had switched to a Shadow Clone after falling into a pitfall, then attacked Fu'en with a Lightning Flash.

Ōnoki and Tenten sealed the Second Tsuchikage, while Gaara and Shukaku sealed the Third Kazekage. The Fourth Raikage fought his father, the Third Raikage, who overwhelmed him but left him alive as Ōnoki told Tenten not to interfere.

• Ōnoki used Dust Release to destroy the Second Tsuchikage's body, and Tenten sealed him with a prepared scroll.
• Ōnoki lifted Team Guy into the air, and they watched Gaara battle the Third Kazekage across a desert of yellow sand and Iron Sand.
• Gaara trapped the Third Kazekage with his gourd sand and joined with Shukaku to seal him inside a pyramid.
• Killer B attacked the Third Raikage with seven blades, but his blades could not pierce the Raikage's skin, and he was punched away.
• The Fourth Raikage exchanged powerful blows with his father, who smashed him headfirst into the ground and called him weak.
• Ōnoki stopped Tenten from rushing to help the Fourth Raikage, saying the attack would not kill him.

Yagura’s escort encountered the Xuanyuan Crowd, who ambushed them with a secret technique that made their victims explode if they used too much Chakra. Yagura was afflicted but transformed into a form of Three Tails Isobu, leaving the battle unresolved.

• White Zetsu warned Zabuza and Mei Terumi that someone planned to ambush Yagura, then killed himself.
• Yagura chose to continue along the route, and the Xuanyuan Crowd confronted his party after a flash bomb went off.
• Two hidden Mist Ninja attacked the Xuanyuan Crowd but exploded after falling victim to their secret technique.
• The Red-Clad Leader demanded that Yagura surrender and claimed that Yagura, Mei Terumi, and six hidden guards had also been afflicted.
• Yagura realized that using too much Chakra triggered the technique, ordered his guards to stand down, and transformed into a Chakra form resembling Three Tails Isobu.

The Five Kage debated how to respond to Akatsuki, with Minato pushing for swift action and revealing that Pain’s Rinnegan was real. He began explaining Akatsuki’s origins, leaving the summit focused on Danzo Shimura’s role in Yahiko’s death.

• Ōnoki argued against declaring war and proposed secretly ambushing Akatsuki when it came to capture the remaining Jinchuriki.
• Yagura and Gaara rejected Ōnoki’s plan and supported taking the initiative against Akatsuki.
• Minato supported dealing with Akatsuki quickly and revealed that Pain’s Rinnegan was genuine and the Sage of Six Paths had existed.
• Minato said Jiraiya had once taught a young man with the Rinnegan and two companions in Amegakure.
• Minato disclosed that Danzo Shimura had joined forces with Hanzo and caused Akatsuki’s original leader, Yahiko, to die.

Naruto helped Tsunade return to Konoha by getting her to take Sakura as a disciple. The group began training together, and Tsunade put Sakura through brutal lessons in dodging and enduring attacks.

• Naruto told Tsunade that Jiraiya had peeped into the Women's Bathhouse, and Tsunade punched him through the inn wall.
• After the group ate, Tsunade said they would return to Konoha once Jiraiya recovered and before the exams.
• Naruto persuaded Tsunade to test Sakura, and Shizune questioned her about medical knowledge before Tsunade accepted her as a disciple.
• The next day, Tsunade trained Sakura by attacking her while teaching the three rules of medical ninja, and Sakura endured the harsh session.
• Tsunade warned Sakura that the next day's training would be even harder, and Sakura vowed to persevere.

Naruto and Minato tried to stop Mukade, whose Centipede puppet regenerated using the Dragon Vein’s power. Sara severed Mukade’s connection to the Dragon Vein, leaving him unable to recover as Naruto attacked him.

• Naruto failed to seal the Centipede with a formula but used Adamantine Sealing Chains to suppress its regeneration.
• Naruto rolled Mukade’s Centipede body up and pushed him toward Sara, who led them to an altar that could sever his connection to the Dragon Vein.
• Mukade gathered Dragon Vein power and fired a huge blast that destroyed his own body before hitting Naruto, who emerged unharmed.
• While Naruto battered the regenerating Centipede, Sara activated the altar and severed Mukade’s connection to the Dragon Vein.
• Mukade’s puppet broke apart, and his real body fell out; he tried to flee, but Naruto struck at him with a metal Centipede leg.

Naruto and his friends shared a barbecue outing, where Neji unexpectedly devoted himself to grilling Hinata’s meat. Meanwhile, Ōnoki learned that Han had gone missing after his team was killed, with signs pointing to Akatsuki.

• Tenten told Ino that Naruto often taught her because Minato was busy, and Naruto jokingly asked her to call him sensei.
• Neji grilled pork loin with his Byakugan and asked Hinata to choose the best-cooked slice, explaining that he wanted to care for her better.
• Naruto gave Sasuke an undercooked piece of meat, which Sasuke tossed to Akamaru, and Choji gave Naruto a restaurant discount coupon when the group paid.
• An Iwa ninja reported to Ōnoki that Han’s three teammates had been found dead and Han was missing, with Water Style and Fire Release traces at the scene.
• After hearing that suspicious figures in Black and Red Cloud Robes had been spotted nearby, Ōnoki ordered a search for Rōshi and warned the ninja not to act rashly.

After Konoha defeated the Sky Ninja attackers, Naruto led Team 8 and the Shadow Guard in pursuit of their fleeing forces. The group found the Sky Ninja stronghold and began scouting it, where Hinata spotted something that startled her.

• Shisui reported that Konoha had killed or captured the enemies inside the barrier, while Inoichi began interrogating their squad leader.
• Naruto reported that the injured and trapped civilians had been found, then Minato sent Naruto and Team 8 to track the Sky Ninja with Shisui and the Shadow Guard.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to bring the team outside Konoha, and they followed the Sky Ninja by air and scent.
• The team tracked the Sky Ninja to a large mechanical fortress and stopped nearby to scout it.
• Hinata used her Byakugan, cried out in surprise, and covered her mouth when Naruto asked what she had seen.

Naruto secretly rode the Nine Tails’ tails for fun and was punished with an aerial roller coaster. On the first day of the exams, he gave his friends Flying Thunder God kunai and spent lunchtime with Hinata.

• Naruto sneaked into the Sealing Space and slid down the sleeping Nine Tails’ tail, but the Nine Tails caught him and flung him through the air and around a roller-coaster track.
• The Nine Tails recalled a prophecy about a young man who would play with the Tailed Beasts and decided Naruto was the one he would acknowledge.
• Naruto picked up his custom kunai, inscribed them with the Uzumaki Formula, and demonstrated the Flying Thunder God Technique to Sasuke and Sakura.
• Naruto let Sasuke and Sakura try teleporting with the kunai, leaving them vomiting by a tree when Hinata and the others arrived.
• Naruto gave Hinata a kunai, and she blushed as she imagined him visiting her with it.
• Hinata brought homemade lunch boxes and left with Naruto to eat, while Sakura regretted not making Sasuke lunch.

Naruto and Konoha’s allies fought off the invasion while evacuating the Exam Hall and pursuing Gaara. Naruto brought Gaara to a remote sealing site outside the village and called Shukaku out to fight.

• Minato sent the Shadow Guard to aid the Anbu and assigned Naruto to evacuate spectators and take Gaara outside Konoha.
• Naruto’s clones summoned Gamaken, Gamahiro, and Gamabunta to fight the giant snakes as Konoha’s defenders joined the battle.
• Naruto evacuated the spectators while Minato, Kushina, Jiraiya, and Tsunade headed to the rooftop; Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, and Shino pursued Gaara’s team.
• Shisui and Genma stopped Baki, while Neji stayed to fight Kankuro and Naruto continued after Temari and Gaara.
• Naruto stopped Temari with a Water Dragon Bullet Technique, marked her with a Flying Thunder God Kunai, and teleported Gaara to a remote area outside Konoha.
• Naruto slammed Gaara into the ground at the old sealing site and shouted for Shukaku to come out and fight.

Fugaku gathered the Uchiha to prepare them for the coming war, but Gan, Wen, and Cui disrupted his solemn speech with push-ups and forward rolls. After they were thrown out, they joined Guy in a youthful contest while Kakashi suggested racing to a bookstore for Jiraiya’s new book.

• Fugaku asked why Sasuke had not arrived, and Mikoto and Itachi explained that he had gone to Ryuchi Cave to train.
• Fugaku urged the Uchiha to obey the Fourth Hokage and their squad captains during the war, while Gan, Wen, and Cui counted their push-ups in the corner.
• Fugaku ordered Gan, Wen, and Cui out, and they rolled from the hall, making the gathered Uchiha laugh.
• Gan, Wen, and Cui switched to back handsprings and decided to circle Konoha while thinking about Guy Sensei.
• Guy proposed a contest with Kakashi, who suggested racing to XX Bookstore to buy Jiraiya’s new work.

Tenten and her team rescued Ōnoki from the Second Tsuchikage by coordinating Flying Thunder God with Guy’s speed and Ōnoki’s Dust Release. The Second Tsuchikage was caught in Ōnoki’s blast, while the battle’s outcome remained unresolved.

• The Second Tsuchikage outmaneuvered Ōnoki, destroyed his rock clones, and prepared to finish him with Dust Release.
• Tenten appeared with Ōnoki and kicked the Second Tsuchikage away, then asked Ōnoki to help carry out her plan.
• The Second Tsuchikage recovered and questioned whether Tenten’s team had used a space-time ninjutsu as Guy showed him a thumbs-up.
• At Tenten’s signal, Guy opened the Sixth Gate and threw a Flying Thunder God Kunai above the Second Tsuchikage.
• Tenten transported Ōnoki above the Second Tsuchikage, and Ōnoki struck him with Dust Release.