Chapter Summaries

Neji and Hinata described the approaching Akatsuki group, and Hinata sensed that the masked man’s Chakra did not belong to him. Naruto opened the encounter with a Tailed Beast Ball, which Pain reflected before Naruto absorbed it with a Flying Thunder God Kunai, leaving the attack’s destination unexplained.

• Neji identified the masked man as having black hair, black eyes, and scars across the right half of his face, while Hinata sensed his Chakra was strange.
• Naruto suggested the masked man might be a White Zetsu disguise, then agreed with Minato to call for backup and launched a Tailed Beast Ball at the group.
• Guren summoned Tahm, had him swallow her, and escaped before Pain used Shinra Tensei to reflect Naruto’s attack.
• Naruto absorbed the reflected Tailed Beast Ball with a Flying Thunder God Kunai, and Tenten wondered where he had sent it.

Naruto practiced staying still while learning to absorb Natural Energy from Sage Fukasaku, then tried to persuade Nine Tails to learn Sage Mode with him. The next day, Kakashi arrived early and told Team 7 to pack for a C-Rank mission at the border.

• Sage Fukasaku instructed Naruto to stay still on a stone slab atop a spike, but Naruto fell and was caught by Fukasaku's tongue before hitting the mountainside.
• Naruto marked the pillar with a Flying Thunder God seal and repeatedly teleported to avoid falling, frustrating Sage Fukasaku.
• Naruto asked Nine Tails to learn Sage Mode so he could avoid sharing space with Sage Fukasaku in battle, and Nine Tails fell silent after Naruto compared the idea to the Sage of Six Paths learning from the Great Toad Sage.
• Kakashi arrived at Team 7's training ground early, answered Naruto's passcode, and told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to pack for a C-Rank mission at the border.

Hiruko attacked Kakashi Squad with his four Kekkei Genkai and unleashed a massive lightning technique, but Itachi awakened Susanoo to shield everyone. Hiruko’s strongest attack failed, and he clung to the hope of stealing Itachi’s eyes and gaining a fifth Kekkei Genkai.

• Hiruko killed No. 001, but Naruto struck him with a Big Ball Rasengan and Sakura punched him into the mountain.
• Hiruko targeted Itachi’s eyes and attacked him with Swift Release, Dark Release, and Steel Release, but Itachi evaded him and Kakashi’s Earth Flow Wall blocked his Storm Release attack.
• Hiruko summoned the Storm Demon Dragon, and Itachi used Susanoo to shield Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto from its lightning.
• Itachi’s Susanoo vanished after the attack, and Naruto caught him as he staggered from the technique’s strain.
• Hiruko found the group unharmed and, distraught that his strongest attack had failed, vowed to obtain Itachi’s eyes and absorb a fifth Kekkei Genkai.

Naruto returned from the mission and teased Sasuke about fighting Deidara, but Sasuke shocked him into a comical hairstyle. Back in Konoha, Naruto’s revelations about Minato’s past with the Queen got Kushina demanding an explanation, and Minato and Kushina ended by giving Naruto matching parental advice.

• Naruto described Deidara’s clay bombs to Sasuke and suggested Sasuke’s Sharingan and Lightning Release could counter them, so Sasuke zapped Naruto and made his hair stand up.
• Kiba, the others, and Akamaru laughed at Naruto, while Hinata helped fix his hair and Sasuke took refuge with Kushina.
• Naruto’s group returned from Sunagakure to Konoha, where Kushina pushed Naruto into Minato’s office and Minato jokingly called him his long-lost younger brother.
• Naruto revealed that Minato had hugged the beautiful Queen in Lou Lan, so Kakashi led the others out and Kushina made Minato explain what happened.
• Minato recounted defeating Mukade and sealing the Dragon Vein, and Kushina complained that he had not brought Naruto back to meet her then.
• Minato told Naruto to eat properly and grow up quickly, and Kushina said she wanted to tell him the same thing.

After the Shinobi Allied Forces won the war, the Five Great Nations formed a lasting union and spent three years developing shared transportation and construction projects. Naruto and Hinata visited Konan and Nagato in the Rain Country, where Nagato considered getting cloned eyes so he could care for Konan.

• The shinobi celebrated their victory as the Five Kage agreed to pursue a union, and the daimyo formally approved the plan and toured the Floating City.
• Three years later, Neji escorted a merchant from Konoha to Iwagakure using the Flying Thunder God public transportation system and reflected on how the united nations had changed the world.
• Huang Tu negotiated with Kankuro to sell a mountain for the Land of Wind, and Kurotsuchi used Dust Release to cut it down and carry it away.
• Naruto used Planetary Devastation to gather rubble from the Rain Country demolition site and teleported it to Kirigakure for land reclamation.
• Naruto and Hinata met Konan while walking in the Rain Country and visited her and Nagato at home.
• Naruto told Nagato that Orochimaru could clone eyes for him, and Nagato decided he would seek treatment so he could take care of Konan.

Naruto defeated Sasuke in a taijutsu spar with a move he had learned from Might Guy, while Sasuke resolved to train harder and beat him next time. After Choji and Shikamaru refused to spar, Naruto asked Sasuke what he thought.

• Naruto and Sasuke exchanged taijutsu blows until Naruto used Leaf Whirlwind to knock Sasuke down and win their match.
• Naruto explained Leaf Whirlwind to Sasuke and said Might Guy had taught him the move.
• Sasuke vowed to learn ninjutsu and defeat Naruto, then surpass his brother and earn his father's praise.
• Choji refused to fight Shikamaru because he did not want to hurt his friend, and Shikamaru surrendered instead of sparring.
• Naruto nudged Sasuke and asked what he thought about the other students' matches.

Naruto began classes at the Ninja Academy, met his classmates, and found the lessons dull. At lunch, he shamelessly shared Sasuke’s food and left Sasuke choking after a pat on the back.

• Naruto greeted Hinata in class, but she blushed and struggled to reply.
• Iruka introduced himself as the class teacher and had the students introduce themselves, including Kiba, Sasuke, and Naruto.
• Naruto found the morning lessons dull and attempted to extract Chakra, though he thought his mother’s teaching had worked better.
• Naruto sat beside Sasuke at lunch, ate his fried shrimp, and gave him a dango in exchange.
• Naruto patted Sasuke on the back after lunch, nearly making him choke.

Fugaku saw Gan, Wen, and Cui’s antics improve the Uchiha’s standing, while Naruto’s bond with Nine Tails continued to grow. Two years later, Kimimaro graduated, and Minato planned to place him on Guy’s team before Naruto discovered a new classmate.

• Fugaku worried about Gan, Wen, and Cui’s awakened Sharingan, while Mikoto reassured him that the lively children were a good thing.
• Minato said Guy’s D-Rank missions with the three Uchiha children had helped residents and gradually improved the clan’s reputation.
• Naruto told Nine Tails the end of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, sang to him, and asked about his arguments with Naruto’s mother.
• Over two years, Kimimaro grew into a popular, warm-hearted young man and graduated at age twelve.
• Minato told Naruto that Kimimaro would join Guy’s team for two years to prepare him to become its calm leader.
• Naruto went to school the next day and found an unexpected new member in his class.

Naruto befriended Shikamaru and Choji after class, reassuring Choji about his build and inviting them to ramen. The new friends went home to their families after school, while Naruto looked forward to seeing them again.

• Naruto explained to Sasuke why Shikamaru and Choji had acted considerately during their match, then brought him over to meet them.
• Naruto told Choji that his build did not matter to friendship and praised the strength of the Akimichi Clan, moving Choji to tears.
• Naruto invited Shikamaru and Choji to Ichiraku Ramen the next day, but said he had to get home early because of his mother.
• Naruto and Sasuke left the school with their friends and brothers, while Hinata walked home with Neji.
• At home, Choji told Choza about his new friends, Shikamaru endured his mother's lecture, and Hinata went to sleep happily thinking of tomorrow.

Uchiha Gan, Uchiha Wen, and Uchiha Cui learned that they would join an ordinary three-person genin team instead of the Konoha Military Police Force, as Fugaku hoped the clan would integrate further into the village. They met their new leader, Might Guy, who immediately declared that their first activity would be a morning run.

• Fugaku told Gan, Wen, and Cui that they would graduate into a three-person team led by a jonin rather than join the Military Police Force.
• Fugaku explained that he and Minato were working to integrate the Uchiha into Konoha and urged the three to follow their leader's orders.
• Gan, Wen, and Cui arrived early at Konoha's main gate to meet their new team leader.
• Might Guy introduced himself as Team 4's leader and invited the three Uchiha youths to begin their day with a morning run.

Naruto welcomed Kimimaro as his new older brother after Kushina brought him back from a mission, then told Kushina and Minato about memories of another possible future and sought reassurance about his identity. His parents affirmed that he was their son, and Naruto accepted Kimimaro into the family.

• Naruto trained and sparred with Sasuke, then went home after Itachi arrived to spend time with his brother.
• Kushina introduced Kimimaro to Naruto as his new older brother after adopting him.
• Naruto asked Kushina to set up a barrier and told her and Minato about memories of another possible future, including their deaths and Kimimaro being taken by Orochimaru.
• Naruto questioned whether he was truly their son, and Kushina and Minato reassured him that they loved him and considered him their child.
• Minato explained that Kushina and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had encountered the surviving Kimimaro after Orochimaru escaped and the Kaguya Clan was wiped out.
• Naruto accepted Kimimaro as his older brother and fell asleep feeling glad to be with his family.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura used clones and coordinated attacks to challenge Kakashi, but he turned the exercise into lessons about genjutsu and taijutsu. Sasuke awakened the Sharingan during the fight, and Kakashi kicked him back as Naruto caught him.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura used Shadow Clones, transformations, and coordinated ninjutsu to attack Kakashi.
• Naruto tried to trap Kakashi with Adamantine Sealing Chains, but Kakashi dodged and praised the team's tactics.
• Kakashi cast a genjutsu, which Naruto broke free from with Nine Tails's help and Sakura dispelled herself.
• Sasuke awakened the Sharingan and charged Kakashi after Kakashi taunted him.
• Kakashi kicked Sasuke away with taijutsu, Naruto caught him, and Sakura threw a Kunai to cover them.

The new graduates received their team assignments, and Naruto’s predictions proved mostly accurate. Kushina took charge of Team 8, while Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke waited to meet their jonin instructor and were interrupted by Kakashi.

• Naruto predicted the Ino-Shika-Cho trio would form a team, Hinata would team with Kiba and Shino, and he would team with Sasuke.
• Iruka announced the teams, placing Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke on Team 7; Hinata, Kiba, and Shino on Team 8; and Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji on Team 10.
• Asuma collected Team 10, then Kushina arrived and led Team 8, frightening Sasuke and making Hinata blush.
• Naruto told Sakura and Sasuke that Kakashi would probably lead Team 7 and described Kakashi’s reputation and habits.
• Kakashi appeared behind the three and warned Naruto that talking about people behind their backs was a bad habit.

Team 7 received an escort mission to the Land of Waves after catching the Daimyo's Wife's runaway cat. Naruto stayed behind to ask Minato to take him home using Flying Thunder God, while Kushina began packing for his long trip.

• Naruto trained his physique while his Shadow Clones studied the Rasengan, Flying Thunder God, and Chakra Sensing; Sakura continued medical training with Tian Lu, and Sasuke practiced Chidori.
• Team 7 caught Xiao Hu, the Daimyo's Wife's runaway cat, and returned it to her at the Hokage Office.
• Minato assigned Team 7 a C-Rank escort mission to the Land of Waves, and Tazuna accepted after learning Kakashi was Minato's student and Naruto was his son.
• Kakashi told Sasuke and Sakura to prepare for the mission and meet at the village gate in half an hour.
• Naruto asked Minato to take him home with Flying Thunder God, and Kushina began packing his luggage after hearing about the long trip.

Naruto shared dinner with his family and Kakashi, then told Nine Tails a story that reminded the fox of the other Tailed Beasts. The next morning, Team 7 headed to an orphanage for its first mission, where Naruto learned that Yakushi Nono and Yakushi Kabuto were helping at the hospital.

• Naruto trained after returning home and considered asking Kimimaro about adding weights to his workouts.
• At dinner, Kushina recounted her students' training, Kakashi praised Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, and the family laughed together.
• Naruto met Nine Tails that night and bragged about his Water Dragon Bullets, prompting the fox to urge him to get strong enough to defeat the other Tailed Beasts.
• Naruto told Nine Tails the story of The Magic Warriors, and the fox wondered whether it echoed the Sage of Six Paths' purpose in creating the Tailed Beasts.
• Team 7 gathered for its first mission, watching children at an orphanage because a teacher was ill and the director and her adopted son were assisting with surgery.
• Kakashi told Naruto and Sakura that the orphanage director and her adopted son were Yakushi Nono and Yakushi Kabuto.

Orochimaru revealed that he had created two miniature Demonic Statues of the Outer Path, allowing the shinobi to attempt to create miniature Ten Tails and gain power to fight Obito. As they debated who should become the Jinchuriki, Nine Tails offered to use two of his Chakra bodies as vessels, leaving the plan ready to begin.

• Orochimaru proposed combining the nine Tailed Beasts’ Chakra with a Ten Tails vessel to match Obito’s power.
• Kushina and Yagura explained that their side could gather Chakra from all nine Tailed Beasts.
• Orochimaru summoned two miniature Demonic Statues of the Outer Path that he had created using statue powder, Obito’s discarded materials, Hashirama Cells, and other techniques.
• Orochimaru warned that without the Rinnegan, the Jinchuriki would have to overpower the miniature Ten Tails by will and might become monsters if they failed.
• Zuo Zhu and Minato considered becoming Jinchuriki, but Nine Tails offered two of his Chakra bodies as safer vessels for the Tailed Beasts.

Team 7 used coordinated attacks to disperse Raiga’s mist and separate him from Ranmaru, but Raiga responded with a lightning-powered rampage. Naruto sent Kakashi underground and dispatched a hundred Shadow Clones to distract Raiga while they prepared their next move.

• Naruto’s seven Shadow Clones scattered Raiga’s mist with a combined Wind Release, but Raiga struck them all down with lightning.
• Kakashi and Sasuke combined wind and fire techniques to drive Raiga down the slope, where Sakura attacked him and Naruko pulled her back with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Naruto unleashed a massive flood from the mountain, washing away Raiga’s backpack and leaving Ranmaru missing.
• Raiga activated Lightning Armor and attacked the field with repeated lightning techniques, forcing Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura to retreat.
• Naruto sent Kakashi underground to ambush Raiga and led a hundred Shadow Clones downhill to draw Raiga’s attention.

Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi battled three transformed guardians at a fortress while searching for the Gelel Stone ruins. After defeating them, they were left with a path into the fortress, where Lord Hyde and Timsi were seeking to open the Gelel Stone vein.

• Sakura smashed the Armored Men with her punches, Sasuke used Lightning Release to cut through their armor, and Naruto helped reduce the suits to scrap.
• Three armored women confronted Kakashi and revealed they had come from across the sea to find a Gelel Stone vein, which Lord Hyde and Timsi were searching for inside the ruins.
• The women transformed into a werewolf, a bat-person, and an ape-person, and the group split up to fight them.
• Kakashi defeated the ape-person with a Shadow Clone feint and a strike from behind, while Sasuke blasted the bat woman from the sky with the Lightning Blades.
• Naruto lured the werewolf into close range and defeated her with a Rasengan.

Naruto and his companions joined Gaara’s investigation of an invasion from the coast, which led them to a ruined city and Hyde’s scheme to obtain the Gelel Mineral Vein. After Hyde was defeated and the ruins became an oasis, Gaara questioned the rescued Timsi about the children from the Steel Fortress.

• Naruto explained to Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro how his team had become involved, and Gaara revealed that they were tracking invaders from the coast.
• The ruins sank into a crater, the Steel Fortress was crushed, and a wave of life energy transformed the surrounding desert into an oasis and healed those nearby.
• Hyde revealed that he had destroyed Timsi’s village to exploit his royal blood, then stole the Gelel Stone and attacked the group.
• Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara fought Hyde and killed him, while Gaara later buried him; the Gelel Stone was destroyed.
• Sakura revived Timsi, and Gaara asked him who he was and what had happened to the youths who emerged from the fortress.

Naruto and the others were interrupted by Chiyo's Granny attacking Kakashi, then learned that Gaara was holding the Joint Chunin Exams to expose conspirators in Sunagakure Village. At the inn, Naruto warned Temari that Yura's brain chakra seemed abnormal, leaving her alert to possible sabotage.

• Chiyo's Granny mistook Kakashi for Konoha's White Fang and tried to punch him, but Temari stopped her and corrected her mistake.
• Temari told Naruto and the others that Gaara faced secret enemies and had arranged the Joint Chunin Exams to draw them out.
• Naruto noticed that Yura's brain chakra seemed abnormal and warned Temari that someone might have tampered with it.
• Temari became vigilant after Naruto's warning.