Chapter Summaries

Pain entered the Sakura Dragon Divine Realm and found that seven people held Divine Masks. Naruto discovered a fox mask in the Uzumaki Clan’s Mask Hall, entered the realm, and learned from the Nine-Tails that the woman there was an Ōtsutsuki; Sparkle began explaining the realm’s rules.

• Pain put on a mask and entered the Sakura Dragon Divine Realm, where several shadowy figures had gathered.
• Naruto changed back into a girl and decided to explore the Uzumaki Clan’s Mask Hall for secret techniques.
• Naruto found a clean fox mask, put it on, and was pulled into the Sakura Dragon Divine Realm.
• The Nine-Tails awakened after sensing the realm’s Chakra and warned Naruto that a woman there was an Ōtsutsuki.
• Sparkle’s puppet announced that seven people held Divine Masks and began explaining the Sakura Dragon Divine Realm’s rules.

Sparkle explained the Divine Mask space to Danzo, Pain, Naruto, and Orochimaru, while Black Zetsu planned to use it for spreading rumors. The group learned Naruto had been told he was proficient with the Nine-Tails’ power, and Orochimaru focused on whether the space could reveal secrets of immortality.

• Sparkle told Danzo that Lady Otohime had created the space as a gathering place for Divine Mask holders and later added trials that unlocked more permissions.
• Naruto entered the Memory Battlefield, was instantly defeated by the Sakura Dragon, and returned without injuries.
• Black Zetsu proposed using the space to exchange intelligence and brought up Naruto’s supposed mastery of the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Danzo considered seizing the Nine-Tails’ power and using Kotoamatsukami to control Naruto, while Naruto grew wary of the discussion.
• Orochimaru questioned Black Zetsu about the Divine Mask and wondered whether the space held a secret to immortality.

Orochimaru learned that Otohime's Sakura Dragon could grant immortality before Naruto was ejected from the mysterious realm and reunited with Iruka over ramen. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage confronted Danzo about his ambitions and Root, while Jiraiya investigated Akatsuki and Tsunade settled into her new role as Hokage.

• Orochimaru asked Otohime about immortality and learned that the Sakura Dragon's Heritage Power granted it, but the thickening mist ejected everyone and barred them from returning for a week.
• The Nine-Tails warned Naruto that the mysterious realm was dangerous and told him to hide the mask, but Naruto went to Ichiraku Ramen and treated Iruka to lunch.
• The Third Hokage suspected Danzo of conspiring with Orochimaru and attempting to assassinate Tsunade, then told Danzo that Konoha's roots were not his Root.
• Jiraiya concluded that Akatsuki was collecting tailed beasts and investigated an organization suspected of being one of its outer branches.
• Tsunade reviewed Konoha's hidden problems and thought about gambling as she handled the Hokage's work.

Danzo used Kotoamatsukami in an attempt to seize Naruto and take control of Konoha, but Naruto’s Shadow Clone thwarted him. Naruto found the poisoned, unconscious Third Hokage, while Kushina warned Naruto to escape before Danzo or the Anbu could capture him.

• An Anbu disguised as a messenger lured Naruto toward Danzo, who used Kotoamatsukami on Naruto’s Shadow Clone and believed he had won.
• Naruto sensed the Third Hokage’s location, knocked out his guards, and found him unconscious with a wound in his abdomen.
• Naruto healed the Third Hokage’s wound, but the Hokage remained unconscious, and Naruto learned through his Shadow Clone that Danzo was trying to enslave him.
• Kushina told Naruto that Danzo had poisoned the Third Hokage and warned him not to let himself be captured.
• The real Anbu arrived and accused Naruto of attacking the Third Hokage, so Kushina stopped him from explaining and urged him to escape.

Danzo framed Naruto for attacking the Third Hokage and ordered Root to spread the accusation, while Sparkle arranged for the Hyuga Clan not to pursue him. Naruto fled to the outskirts of Konoha, where Iruka found him and showed that he still trusted him.

• Danzo told the Anbu that Naruto had attacked the Third Hokage, ordered Root to pursue him, and directed them to spread the accusation.
• Sparkle asked Hiashi to keep the Hyuga Clan from pursuing Naruto, and Hiashi agreed without asking why.
• Iruka rejected the claim that Naruto had attacked the Third Hokage and noticed that the people reporting it did not seem like real Anbu.
• Naruto and Kushina fled to the outskirts of Konoha, where Naruto worried about the Third Hokage and Kushina considered whether leaving Konoha might be best.
• Iruka found Naruto at the place where he had once stolen the scroll, and Naruto rushed to greet him.

Iruka helped Naruto escape Danzo’s pursuit, while Kira stopped a Root ninja from killing Iruka. Danzo caught up with Naruto, and Kushina took control of the fight as she confronted him about his plan to seize the Nine-Tails’ power.

• Naruto told Iruka about the bandaged man directing the attackers, and Iruka suspected Danzo was behind the attack on the Third Hokage.
• Iruka sent Naruto to hide with someone he trusted, and Naruto thought of Shion before fleeing.
• Danzo questioned Iruka about Naruto, then used a Root ninja’s genjutsu to extract Naruto’s direction and left Iruka for dead.
• Kira took control of the Root ninja, allowing Iruka to recover and chase after Naruto.
• Danzo caught up with Naruto in the forest, recognized Kushina’s spirit, and declared that he wanted to control the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Kushina called Danzo a cancer of Konoha as red Chakra began to seep from her body.

Kushina and Naruto fought Danzo, who used Wood Release to suppress the Nine-Tails’ chakra, while Tsunade and the village leaders questioned his accusation against Naruto. The chapter left Sasuke rushing to find Naruto and Tsunade turning to Hanabi and the Hyuga Clan for help.

• Kushina and Naruto fought off Danzo’s Root ninja with shadow clones, Rasengan, and Adamantine Sealing, but Danzo’s Wood Release suppressed the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
• Naruto used her own chakra to keep fighting, and Danzo’s attempt to make her fear his bandages did not stop her attacks.
• Tsunade told Konoha’s leaders that Hiruzen had been poisoned with a toxin seemingly designed to counter her, and she suspected Danzo had staged the incident.
• Tsunade warned that fear of the Nine-Tails could let Danzo manipulate public opinion and asked Hanabi for the Hyuga Clan’s help.
• Sasuke rejected the claim that Naruto had hurt Hiruzen and hurried to find Naruto, despite another troubling movement and problem with his eyes.

Naruto defeated Danzō, but Danzō used Izanagi to return after apparently dying and wounded Iruka, provoking Naruto’s Nine-Tails Chakra rampage. Naruto tore Danzō apart again, only for Danzō to reappear unharmed as the chapter ended with his survival technique identified.

• Naruto overwhelmed Danzō’s Baku and struck him with an Adamantine Rasengan, leaving him impaled and apparently dead.
• Iruka reached Naruto and praised how much he had grown, but Danzō suddenly reappeared and pierced Iruka as he shielded Naruto.
• The Nine-Tails poured its Chakra into Naruto, who attacked Danzō and violently tore his body apart.
• Sparkle kept the injured Iruka away from the fight while Zhuixia treated him, and Naruto’s rampage continued.
• Danzō appeared unharmed again, and the chapter revealed that he had used the Uchiha clan’s Izanagi technique.

Naruto fought Danzo while Danzo repeatedly used Izanagi to undo his injuries and death. Naruto’s Nine-Tails Chakra caused the Hashirama Cells in Danzo’s body to go berserk, and Danzo’s attempt to cancel the mutation with Izanagi failed to stop it from starting again.

• Danzo used Wood Release to bind Naruto and drain the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, but Naruto broke free with a stronger surge of power.
• Danzo wounded Naruto with Vacuum Wave, but Naruto healed rapidly and blasted Danzo through the forest.
• The Nine-Tails cleaved Danzo in half, but Danzo returned using Izanagi and boasted that he could keep fighting.
• Danzo’s Hashirama Cells went berserk, causing his body to mutate and leaving him screaming in agony.
• Danzo used Izanagi to restore his body, but the Hashirama Cells began mutating again immediately.

Naruto’s implanted Ashura Chakra made Danzo’s Hashirama Cells collapse beyond the reach of Izanagi, while the Nine-Tails took control of Naruto and charged a Tailed Beast Ball. Sparkle redirected the attack into the sky, leaving Sasuke to try to reach Naruto as the blast shook the Land of Fire.

• Danzo repeatedly used Izanagi, but the Ashura Chakra Naruto had planted earlier caused Danzo’s Hashirama Cells to go berserk and his body to rot and proliferate.
• Sparkle told Naruto that Iruka was safe, but the Nine-Tails kept charging a Tailed Beast Ball and seized control of Naruto’s body.
• Sasuke arrived, and Sparkle handed him the unconscious Iruka before asking him to reach Naruto while she diverted the Tailed Beast Ball.
• The Nine-Tails aimed its attack at Sparkle, but she opened a spatial gate and sent the Tailed Beast Ball into the sky.
• The Tailed Beast Ball exploded above the Land of Fire, clearing the clouds and sending powerful winds across the forest.

Naruto fled after losing control to the Nine-Tails, and Sasuke chased him to the Valley of the End to bring him back. Sasuke’s Sharingan enraged the Nine-Tails, but Naruto briefly regained enough sanity to try to protect Sasuke as the beast’s influence returned.

• Kushina regained some control after the Nine-Tails spent chakra firing a Tailed Beast Ball, while Naruto struggled against the beast within him.
• Naruto fled from Iruka, and Sparkle urged Sasuke to chase him and help him regain his senses.
• Sasuke caught Naruto at the Valley of the End and tried to calm him, then activated his Sharingan to suppress the Nine-Tails.
• The Sharingan provoked the Nine-Tails, which overwhelmed Sasuke with Naruto’s chakra and struck him with its tail.
• Naruto briefly regained his sanity and warned Sasuke to run, but the Nine-Tails roared inside his mind.

Sasuke fought the Nine-Tails-controlled Naruto after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan and Susanoo, determined to bring Naruto back. As their battle shook the lake, Sasuke heard what seemed to be a woman's voice.

• Sasuke used Chidori on himself to shock the Nine-Tails, but it threw him over the waterfall.
• Sasuke climbed back up with Susanoo and Mangekyō Sharingan, while the Nine-Tails transformed and attacked with Chakra chains tipped with Tailed Beast Balls.
• Sasuke and the Nine-Tails clashed with lightning and Chakra attacks, and their battle sent them falling into the lake.
• Sasuke grabbed the Nine-Tails by the throat and fought it hand-to-hand, calling for Naruto to wake up.
• Sasuke heard what seemed to be a woman's voice during the fight.

Naruto and Sasuke stopped the Nine-Tails’ rampage, but Naruto blamed himself for the destruction and fled the village. Black Zetsu took advantage of Danzo’s downfall and Naruto’s departure, then headed toward the Land of Demons.

• Kushina restrained the Nine-Tails with Adamantine Sealing while Sasuke used his Sharingan to help draw its chakra back into Naruto.
• Naruto regained consciousness in the Valley of the End with crimson hair, while Sasuke’s chest wound had healed but he remained blind.
• Naruto refused to return to the village and ran off, while Sasuke crawled after him and blamed the village and Hokage.
• Tsunade and the others arrived, and Sparkle found Sasuke injured after Naruto had left.
• Black Zetsu noted that Naruto had left the village, found Danzo’s mask, and moved toward the Land of Demons.

Naruto sought comfort from Shion in the Land of Demons, while Sparkle prepared for Black Zetsu to accelerate the Karma on her body. Black Zetsu began the process believing it would help replace Sparkle’s will, but he had not yet figured out what would happen next.

• Naruto arrived in the rain at Shion’s residence and asked Shion to help her forget everything.
• Sparkle decided Naruto needed a new teacher and watched Shion take Naruto to the bathhouse.
• Black Zetsu visited Sparkle and warned her that the toads of Mount Myōboku had deceived his brother.
• Black Zetsu offered to unlock more of Sparkle’s Karma so it could replenish her Chakra, and Sparkle eagerly agreed.
• Black Zetsu told Sparkle to focus her consciousness on the Karma, though he had not yet worked out how to decompress it.

Black Zetsu tricked Sparkle into accepting White Zetsu bodies disguised as Karma power, hoping to replace her consciousness and make her a puppet. Sparkle expelled the bodies after Black Zetsu left, then went to check on Sasuke at the hospital.

• Black Zetsu secretly used White Zetsu to infiltrate Sparkle’s mind while claiming the power was Sage’s Chakra.
• Black Zetsu merged three more White Zetsu bodies into Sparkle and told her that Otsutsuki Otohime had passed on the power.
• Sparkle agreed to use Otohime’s name as she cultivated, while Black Zetsu planned to continue the process later.
• After Black Zetsu left, Sparkle went to Fountainhead Palace, forced out the three newly transferred White Zetsu bodies, and stomped on them.
• Sparkle reflected on immortality and then went to the hospital to visit Sasuke.

Sparkle told Sasuke that Naruto had left for the Land of Demons and explained how Konoha was handling the crisis. Sakura Haruno visited Sasuke, whose indifference and Sparkle’s closeness left her ashamed and imagining a romantic rivalry; Sasuke ended the chapter wanting Danzo to suffer rather than die easily.

• Sparkle explained that Sasuke needed to recover naturally before Cone Mist could repair the lingering damage to his eyes and body.
• Sakura Haruno brought flowers to Sasuke, felt hurt when he did not recognize her voice, and regretted the harsh words she had once said to him.
• Sakura Haruno wondered whether Sparkle was Sasuke’s girlfriend and whether Naruto’s apparent closeness to Sparkle meant Naruto was a girl in disguise.
• Sparkle told Sasuke that Naruto was in the Land of Demons, that Konoha had kept her departure secret, and that rumors about Naruto and the Demon Fox had begun to spread.
• Sparkle said Danzo had been imprisoned after the incident and was being kept alive despite his rampaging Hashirama Cells; Sasuke said Danzo deserved a painful death.

After the Ninja Path: Defection Arc ended, Sparkle received rewards that let her upgrade the Hako niwa Photo Studio and hire permanent teachers. She prepared to recruit a Sage Mode instructor and choose subsidiary scenes suited to training Naruto, Sasuke, and the others.

• After Naruto appeared in a Miko Outfit in the Land of Demons, Sasuke told Sparkle he wanted to leave Konoha and grow stronger, and Sparkle said she knew a good place.
• The stage declared the Defection Arc complete and awarded Sparkle three Special Training Lecturer Cards, an upgrade coupon, a studio upgrade service, and two subsidiary scene cards.
• Sparkle upgraded Ashina Castle and discovered that its Nature Energy settings could be adjusted, though raising them activated Dragon's Heritage Power in her body.
• Sparkle learned that subsidiary scenes could be relocated for a fee and that teachers could appear in scripts but could not substantially affect the plot beyond teaching.
• Sparkle decided to recruit a Sage Mode instructor, preferably one who could teach Permanent Sage Mode, and planned to bring Naruto, Sasuke, Kira, Hinata, and herself to the lessons.

Sparkle hired Tamamo no Mae to teach Naruto Sage Mode and created Enma-tei as a suitable training site. She went to the Land of Demons to find Naruto, who was putting on a brave face, and stopped her from running away.

• Sparkle hired Tamamo no Mae as a Sage Mode teacher for Naruto and introduced her to Naruto’s situation.
• Sparkle deployed Enma-tei south of Ashina Castle and adjusted its Nature Energy to suit Tamamo no Mae.
• Sparkle left Tamamo no Mae at Enma-tei and used Flying Thunder God to travel to the Land of Demons.
• Naruto ate ramen with Shion while pretending she had recovered from her troubles.
• Naruto sensed Sparkle and tried to flee, but Sparkle told her that running away was against the rules.

Sparkle brought Naruto from the Land of Demons to Enma-tei, where she arranged for him to train in Sage Arts. Naruto learned that Iruka and Sasuke were recovering safely, then waited for Sparkle to bring his new teacher.

• Naruto asked Sparkle about Iruka and Sasuke, and she said Iruka's injuries were minor while Sasuke was recovering at Konoha Hospital after temporarily losing his sight.
• Sparkle explained that Konoha was unstable and that Tsunade wanted Naruto to train elsewhere, then took him to Enma-tei.
• Naruto marveled at Enma-tei and met its proprietress, Crimson Enma, whom Sparkle introduced as Teacher Kurenai.
• Sparkle told Naruto she had found him a teacher for Sage Art Training and left to invite the Sage while Naruto waited in the tea room.

Naruto began Sage Mode training with Tamamo no Mae, who taught her to sense Nature Energy through relaxation and Ripple Breathing. Meanwhile, Pain and Orochimaru continued struggling to defeat the Sakura Dragon within its five-minute limit.

• Naruto waited nervously for the sage, then met Tamamo no Mae, who began teaching her Sage Mode.
• Tamamo no Mae brought Naruto to Enma-tei’s open-air hot spring and guided her in sensing nature’s energy.
• Sparkle explained that Sage Chakra combined physical, spiritual, and Nature Energy, and that Naruto’s training had only just begun.
• Sparkle noted that SEED World was not ready, leaving her unable to return there yet.
• Pain considered how to defeat the Sakura Dragon, while Orochimaru arrived and revealed that he was also failing to clear its trial within five minutes.