Chapter Summaries

Sasuke chased Naruto through the city and tried to convince him to return to Konoha, while Naruto’s painful memories surfaced. After Sparkle interrupted their awkward public confrontation, the story revealed Kazahana Dōtō setting a trap for the Konoha Ninjas and explained that Sparkle had enhanced the enemy’s black Chakra to draw out Naruto’s obsessions.

• Sasuke chased Naruto through the streets, but Naruto used a Shadow Clone to evade him before Sasuke caught and pinned him.
• Naruto told Sasuke that he did not want to hurt everyone, and a flashback showed their conversation at the Valley of the End.
• Sparkle found Sasuke and Naruto embracing in the city center, where a crowd had gathered to watch them.
• Kazahana Dōtō learned that Konoha Ninjas had entered his trap after the Snow Ninjas discovered ruins that improved their combat abilities.
• Naruto absorbed Nature Energy and changed back into a man, then agreed to return with Sasuke and Sparkle.
• The narration revealed that Sparkle had added something to the black Chakra, which could draw out a person's obsessions.

After the attack, Naruto struggled with the fear that his power would hurt those around him. As the film crew sailed toward the Land of Snow, Sasuke asked whether Naruto would return, but Naruto could not yet answer.

• Kakashi questioned the film crew about the attackers, while Sannosuke Asama appeared to suspect the Land of Snow was involved.
• Kakuzu and Hidan watched from a nearby building and considered using the situation in the Land of Snow to their advantage.
• The film crew boarded a ship for the Land of Snow, and Naruto recognized how closely its bow resembled the ship from the Land of Waves.
• Sasuke asked Naruto whether he would come back, and Naruto said he needed time to calm down.
• Naruto told Sasuke he no longer knew what being a ninja or hero meant because his power seemed capable of hurting everyone.

Sparkle and Kakashi realized the film crew’s escort mission to the Land of Snow concealed a larger threat. After Sparkle detected enemies entering the sea, the chapter left them observing the intruders.

• Sparkle sent Sasuke away and sat on the deck with a riddle doll.
• Kakashi asked whether Sparkle had another strange plan, and she wondered if the skies over the Land of Snow were suitable for fireworks.
• Sparkle pointed out that the supposed A-rank escort mission was too suspicious to be believed.
• Sparkle detected enemies nearby and signaled Kakashi to be quiet.
• Sparkle and Kakashi saw figures enter the sea, and Kakashi asked what Sparkle knew.

Sparkle and Kakashi investigated rumors of ancient ruins beneath the Land of Snow while Kakuzu and Hidan sought to exploit Kazahana Dōtō for information and shelter. During filming, Snow Ninja attacked the crew, and Naruto used crimson Chakra to keep Kazahana Koyuki safe as the floating ice cracked beneath them.

• Sparkle told Kakashi that her investigation suggested ancient ruins might lie beneath the Land of Snow, and they discussed the rumored secret treasure.
• Kakuzu and Hidan met Kazahana Dōtō and offered information in exchange for shelter, while Kakuzu planned to use him to investigate the treasure and target the Nine-Tails.
• Sparkle spotted approaching enemies as filming continued, and Kakashi shielded the crew from the Snow Ninja’s ice shuriken with an ice Earth Flow Wall.
• A Snow Ninja summoned a giant crystalline whale, which Sparkle’s Red Ropes dragged down and tore apart.
• A burly attacker cracked the floating ice beneath the crew, and Kira pursued him as Naruto’s crimson Chakra steadied Kazahana Koyuki and the ground.

Kakashi and the others fought Nadare Rōga’s Snow Ninja, whose black Chakra armor could unleash mental attacks. While Kira resisted the attack and protected the group, Kazahana Koyuki panicked at the prospect of returning to the Land of Snow, leaving her exposed as Winter Bear Freezing Rain struck.

• Nadare Rōga, Crane Wing Blizzard, and Winter Bear Freezing Rain ambushed the film crew and confronted Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, Kira, and Sparkle.
• Sasuke’s Susanoo grabbed Winter Bear Freezing Rain, but the Snow Ninja’s black Chakra brought Sasuke to his knees with memories of the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
• Kira’s Susanoo seized Winter Bear Freezing Rain, and Kira explained that painful memories could not overcome the warmth she associated with Sparkle.
• Sparkle blocked Crane Wing Blizzard’s attack and countered with Swallow Blizzard, while Naruto used Rasengan to break Nadare Rōga’s Ice Style attack and protect the retreating crew.
• Kazahana Koyuki refused to go to the Land of Snow and collapsed in fear, and Winter Bear Freezing Rain broke free from Kira’s Susanoo and attacked her.

Sparkle and Team 7 fought the Snow Ninja while black Chakra weakened Naruto and Kazahana Koyuki. They escaped after Sparkle’s explosive kimono stopped the pursuit, and Kazahana Koyuki stayed beside the exhausted Naruto as he recovered.

• Sparkle covered Kazahana Koyuki with her kimono, then used Ice Style: Ancient Mirror Reflecting Divinity to attack the Snow Ninja and cut Nadare Rōga’s One Horn White Whale in half with Ephemeral Bloom and Decay.
• Crane Wing Blizzard bound Kazahana Koyuki, but Naruto freed her with a Rasengan and used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu to shield her and help the crew retreat.
• Kira drove off Winter Bear Freezing Rain and carried Sasuke while Kakashi and Sparkle helped Team 7 withdraw.
• Sparkle’s kimono exploded, blasting the pursuing Snow Ninja away and giving Team 7 and the film crew time to escape.
• Naruto collapsed after the Shadow Clones vanished, and Kazahana Koyuki covered him with her outer garment.
• Naruto woke in bed beside Kazahana Koyuki, who asked about his injuries as he tried to balance his Chakra.

Sannosuke Asama revealed that Fuka Fujikaze was Princess Kazahana Koyuki and asked her to lead the Land of Snow, but she feared Kazahana Dōtō’s power. Naruto, Sasuke, and the film crew chose to fight rather than retreat, while Naruto confronted Koyuki about her wish to return home.

• Sannosuke Asama admitted that Fuka Fujikaze was Kazahana Koyuki and said he wanted her to lead the Land of Snow.
• Kazahana Koyuki warned that Kazahana Dōtō would kill them, but Naruto insisted they could defeat him.
• Kakashi suggested returning to Konoha for reinforcements, while Sasuke refused and vowed to defeat the enemy himself.
• The director rallied the film crew to continue filming and face the danger, and Sannosuke Asama supported their decision.
• Naruto told Kazahana Koyuki that she wanted to return home, but she denied caring about the Land of Snow as Naruto stepped toward her.

Naruto urged Kazahana Koyuki to rely on him while Kazahana Dōtō sought the secret behind the unfinished device and its ruins. After Sparkle explained the team's plan to protect Koyuki, she ran away again, and Naruto caught up with her in the snow.

• Naruto compared the Land of Snow to the Land of Waves and told Kazahana Koyuki that he would be there when a hero was needed.
• Kazahana Dōtō learned that the device was incomplete and became interested in the ruins beneath it, then ordered his men to question the two rogue ninja.
• Sparkle told Team 7 that the device was unfinished and that Koyuki might be its key, so they agreed to protect her.
• Sannosuke Asama reported that Koyuki had run away, and Naruto rushed after her across the snowy plains.
• Naruto caught up with Koyuki, who wondered how he had found her again despite his sensing ability having been disrupted.

Naruto tried to persuade Kazahana Koyuki to face her feelings about the Land of Snow, but Crane Wing Blizzard abducted her and escaped aboard a train. Naruto pursued the train and faced Nadare Rōga alone, confident he had figured out their mental attack.

• Naruto told Kazahana Koyuki that he understood her pain and urged her to return home, reminding her of her childhood dream of becoming a hero of the Land of Snow.
• Kazahana Koyuki reached toward Naruto, but Crane Wing Blizzard suddenly seized her with a rope and dragged her away.
• Chakra melted the ice covering the Land of Snow's railway tracks, and Sannosuke Asama suspected Kazahana Dōtō was responsible.
• Naruto dodged a charging train, used Adamantine Sealing chains to pull himself onto its roof, and chased Crane Wing Blizzard.
• Nadare Rōga confronted Naruto on the train, and Naruto said he had seen through the enemies' mental attack before the scene shifted to a memory.

Naruto overcame his fear and used Adamantine Sealing to defeat the Snow Ninja, but Kakuzu and Hidan cornered him aboard the train and completed Hidan’s ritual. As Naruto faced a desperate situation, Sparkle located the train but withheld the Flying Thunder God Technique that could have saved him.

• Naruto used Adamantine Sealing and an Adamantine Rasengan to overwhelm Nadare Rōga, while his chains held off the other Snow Ninja.
• Naruto rushed to save Kazahana Koyuki, but Kakuzu appeared and blocked his path alongside Hidan.
• Kakuzu’s Wind Style scattered Naruto’s Shadow Clones and blasted him into the cargo, leaving him injured.
• Hidan obtained Naruto’s blood and drew his ritual pattern while Kakuzu prevented Naruto from stopping him.
• Sparkle tracked the train with her Byakugan and told Team 7 that the Akatsuki were aboard, but she lied about Flying Thunder God being interfered with to avoid saving Naruto.

Sparkle raced ahead to intercept the train while Naruto fought Hidan and Kakuzu, discovering that the Nine-Tails’ Chakra could strengthen his Adamantine Sealing. After Kakuzu struck him with lightning, Naruto entered an incomplete Sage Mode, and Kakuzu prepared to respond with Earth Grudge Fear.

• Sparkle accelerated along the frozen train tracks, and Team 7 followed behind her.
• Hidan used his ritual to inflict matching wounds on Naruto, who tried to restrain him and Kakuzu with Adamantine Sealing.
• Naruto remembered the Nine-Tails using chains and bound both enemies with crimson chains powered by the Nine-Tails’ Chakra.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to attack Hidan and disrupt his ritual, but Kakuzu struck him with Lightning Style: False Darkness.
• Naruto entered an incomplete Sage Mode with fox ears and a tail, and Kakuzu recognized that the power was not the Nine-Tails’ before invoking Earth Grudge Fear.

Naruto saved Kazahana Koyuki from Kakuzu’s explosive tag, but Kakuzu escaped with Hidan after Sparkle intervened. The group regrouped on the train, recovered the Hexagonal Crystal, and learned that Kakuzu had replaced a heart Naruto destroyed.

• Naruto used Sage Art: Rasengan to destroy one of Kakuzu’s hearts, then rushed away to save Kazahana Koyuki from the explosive tag.
• Kakuzu took Winter Bear Freezing Rain’s heart to replace the one Naruto had destroyed, then pursued Naruto and Kazahana Koyuki.
• Sparkle attacked Kakuzu from outside the train, slowing it with ice and giving Kakuzu a reason to retreat with Hidan.
• Kazahana Koyuki discovered her Hexagonal Crystal pendant was missing, but Kakashi revealed that he had replaced it earlier.
• Kira reported that one Snow Ninja was dead and its heart had been removed, while Naruto denied killing him.
• Sparkle explained that Kakuzu likely used Takigakure’s Earth Grudge Fear technique, and Kira wondered whether the Byakugan could reveal people’s secrets.

Sparkle explained Kakuzu and Hidan’s abilities as Team 7 planned how to confront the Akatsuki members and the Snow Ninja. Kazahana Dōtō decided to use the ruin to lure his enemies, while Naruto met Kazahana Koyuki on the deck that night.

• Sparkle described Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear and Hidan’s blood-based curse technique to the group.
• Kakashi considered exploiting the Snow Ninja’s internal divisions, but Naruto said the unconscious Snow Ninja likely knew nothing about what had happened.
• After discovering the Hexagonal Crystal was fake, Kazahana Dōtō ordered two people brought to him because they knew something about the ruin.
• Sannosuke Asama reported that Kazahana Dōtō was using Lord Sōsetsu’s work to build a weapon and had been transporting materials by rail.
• Kakashi assigned Kira to fight Hidan, himself and Sparkle to fight Kakuzu, and Naruto and Sasuke to handle the Snow Ninja.
• Naruto went to the deck after dinner and greeted Kazahana Koyuki.

Kazahana Koyuki disappeared and headed for Kazahana Dōtō’s base, prompting Team 7 to split up and search for her. Sparkle and Kakashi encountered Kakuzu and Hidan on the way, and Sparkle prepared to fight them on a frozen lake.

• Kazahana Koyuki vanished with a car, and Sannosuke Asama told the others she had driven away.
• Kakashi summoned Pakkun and divided Team 7, sending Naruto, Sasuke, and Kira to track Kazahana Koyuki while Sparkle went with him to Kazahana Dōtō’s supposed location.
• Sparkle and Kakashi drove through the mountains as Sparkle used Ice Style to clear obstacles, while the director insisted on joining to film the action.
• Kakuzu and Hidan ambushed Sparkle, but Kakashi continued ahead as she stayed behind to face them.
• Sparkle created a frozen-lake battlefield with Ice Style and invited Kakuzu and Hidan to enjoy her performance.

Sparkle battled Kakuzu and Hidan on a frozen lake, using ice, illusions, and a rotating defense before freezing Hidan's blood vessels. The scene then shifted to Naruto and his companions confronting Kazahana Dōtō, as Kazahana Koyuki approached him with the Hexagonal Crystal.

• Sparkle shattered the ice into growing crystals and fought off Kakuzu and Hidan with ice techniques and skating spins.
• Sparkle used refracted sunlight to create seven apparent copies of herself, then repelled Kakuzu's lightning with Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation.
• Sparkle's ice senbon pierced Hidan and froze his blood vessels, while Kakuzu remained confident in their immortality.
• Pakkun led Naruto and the others into Kazahana Dōtō's base, where they defeated the guards and found Kazahana Koyuki facing Dōtō.
• Kazahana Koyuki approached Kazahana Dōtō with the Hexagonal Crystal after he promised not to pursue the others from the Land of Snow.

Kazahana Dōtō opened the ruins with the Hexagonal Crystal, but a mysterious figure inside attacked his Snow Ninja. Naruto sensed familiar Chakra and wondered if the figure was Kushina.

• Kazahana Dōtō survived Koyuki's dagger because he wore armor, stole the Hexagonal Crystal, and fled toward the ruins as the Snow Ninja attacked Naruto, Sasuke, and Kira.
• Kira used Amaterasu against the Snow Ninja's ice-spiked kunai while Sparkle's fight with Kakuzu and Hidan continued elsewhere.
• Kakuzu and Hidan paused their fight when the ruins began opening, then set the frozen lake ablaze to escape Sparkle and continue their mission.
• Kazahana Dōtō used the Hexagonal Crystal to open the ruins, where Naruto sensed Chakra like the black Chakra he had encountered before.
• A hidden figure inside the ruins struck Kazahana Dōtō's group with Ice Blades, killing Crane Wing Blizzard, and Naruto recognized a familiar Chakra and murmured, “Kushina... Auntie...”

A black figure resembling Kushina Yukiei awakened beneath the ruins as it absorbed Chakra, and Kazahana Dōtō and Nadare Rōga tried to escape while Sasuke pursued them. Outside, Kakashi fought Kakuzu and Hidan, and Sparkle rushed to stop Hidan from bringing a mysterious branch into the ruins.

• The black figure absorbed Chakra from Kazahana Dōtō, Crane Wing Blizzard, and Nadare Rōga, and Kazahana Dōtō recognized it as a puppet from records he had found.
• Kazahana Dōtō and Nadare Rōga attacked the group, then used a feint to slip away, and Sasuke chased them.
• Kakashi reached Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu and Kazahana Koyuki, left Sannosuke Asama to protect the princess, and hurried toward the blizzard-covered device.
• Kakuzu and Hidan ambushed Kakashi, and Kakuzu revealed a branch that could control enemies when infused with Chakra.
• Sparkle arrived, cut off Kakuzu's attack on Kakashi, and headed after Hidan to keep him from taking the branch into the ruins.

Kira fought Hidan outside the ruins to keep him from entering with the item that could control them, but his immortality and relentless attacks threatened to wear her down. Meanwhile, Naruto faced the disguised snow woman, Sasuke went after Dōtō, and Kakashi battled Kakuzu as the scene returned to Hidan’s attack on Kira.

• Kira received a warning that Hidan was approaching the ruins with an item that could control them, so she went out to stop him.
• Kira dodged Hidan’s attacks and wounded him repeatedly, but he survived injuries to his chest, throat, and neck without losing his strength.
• Naruto told Sasuke to leave the disguised snow woman to him and to defeat Kazahana Dōtō.
• Kakashi used Lightning Blade to destroy one of Kakuzu’s masks and continued fighting him.
• Hidan trapped Kira’s wrist with a steel wire, but she used genjutsu to get behind him and strike his neck.
• As Kira’s chakra dwindled, Hidan exploited an opening and aimed his scythe handle at her body.

Sparkle and Kira synchronized their Chakra and used Amaterasu to engulf Hidan from within, while Naruto struggled against the snow woman and Kakashi fought Kakuzu. The battle continued as the snow woman summoned a massive vortex in the clouds and Kazahana Dōtō reached the ruins’ device.

• Sparkle and Kira joined hands, synchronized their Chakra and vision, and set every cell in Hidan’s body ablaze with Amaterasu.
• Naruto attacked the snow woman with Shadow Clones, Rasengan, and Adamantine Sealing, then used Nine-Tails Chakra to drive her through the ruins’ wall.
• The snow woman evaded Naruto and formed an enormous vortex in the clouds as Sasuke, Kakashi, and the others watched.
• Kakashi used Lightning Blade to cut Kakuzu apart but worried that he had only two more uses left while Kakuzu still had three hearts.
• Kazahana Dōtō rushed toward the device in the ruins, and Sasuke noticed Naruto’s distant fight.

Sasuke defeated Nadare Rōga and continued up the mountain while Kakashi destroyed Kakuzu’s remaining hearts with his Lightning Blade and newly revealed Mangekyo Sharingan ability. Naruto faced the snow woman’s relentless ice attacks, steadied himself, and prepared to overcome his past.

• Sasuke used Susanoo and black flames against Kazahana Dōtō, but Dōtō escaped by shedding his armor, leaving Sasuke exhausted.
• Sasuke used a Shadow Clone feint and Taijutsu to shatter Nadare Rōga’s Chakra Armor, then headed up the mountain to stop Dōtō.
• Kakashi tricked Kakuzu with a Shadow Clone and ninja hounds, then used his Mangekyo Sharingan to send Kakuzu’s last mask monster to another dimension before destroying his final heart.
• Naruto dodged the snow woman’s ice spikes, but a massive ice pillar struck him and knocked him to the ground.
• Naruto calmed himself, called the fight a trial to overcome the past, and tore off his jacket.