Chapter Summaries

Naruto defeated Scorpion by cutting his chakra threads and confronting the grief behind his puppet form, while Deidara staged his own death to help Scorpion survive. As Naruto’s team headed back to Konoha, Deidara sent them a clue about Sasuke and Orochimaru at Tenchi Bridge.

• Naruto used shadow clones and wind-natured chakra to cut Scorpion’s threads and disable his puppets.
• Naruto told Scorpion that his inability to harm the puppet versions of his parents showed he had not erased his feelings, then defeated him with a Lava Release: Rasengan.
• Deidara used a clay clone to fake his death, recovered Scorpion’s heart, and put it into another puppet so Scorpion could live again.
• Naruto parted from Gaara, who returned to Sunagakure with Kankuro and Chiyo, while Naruto traveled toward Konoha with Kakashi and Sakura.
• Deidara sent a puppet bird with information that a pawn would meet them at Tenchi Bridge in Kusagakure in ten days, possibly leading them to Orochimaru.
• The bird exploded harmlessly, leaving Naruto’s group with blackened faces and singed hairstyles.

Hanabi insisted on taking a C-Rank escort mission despite her family and teammates’ concerns, determined to catch up to Naruto. Naruto and Hinata secretly left the village to watch over her as the mission began.

• Tsunade offered Hanabi a C-Rank escort mission, and Hanabi accepted it without consulting her teammates.
• Natsukawa warned Hideki and Akan about the mission, while Tsunade suggested Naruto might accompany Hanabi.
• Hiashi and Hina tried to stop Hanabi from leaving, but she argued that Naruto’s accomplishments made him her goal and stormed out.
• Natsukawa blamed Naruto for changing Hanabi and threatened him if anything happened to her.
• Naruto and Hinata crawled through a hidden hole in Konoha’s wall, then set off to watch Hanabi’s mission.

Hanabi and her team escorted Matsuura’s caravan safely to a remote village, where Hanabi sensed something was wrong and investigated a shrine at night. Hiding in a cabinet with Naruto, she watched villagers gather before a cloaked figure emerged from the ground.

• Hideki and Akan drove off bandits during the caravan escort, and Matsuura praised the young Konoha ninjas.
• Hanabi wondered how Naruto was spending his time while Naruto and Hinata enjoyed a secret picnic in the forest and worried about Hiashi’s reaction.
• Natsukawa accepted Matsuura’s offer to stay overnight in the village after the convoy arrived safely.
• Unable to sleep, Hanabi explored the village shrine and hid in a cabinet when she heard someone approach.
• Naruto pulled Hanabi into the cabinet with him, and the two watched villagers gather as a man in a Black Cloak with Red Clouds emerged from the ground.

Naruto discovered that Lord Utsu was an Akatsuki member controlling the villagers, then pursued him while Hinata and Natsukawa stayed behind to free them. Hanabi and her teammates caught up with Utsu, but he knocked Hanabi down with a Water Style attack.

• Utsu used Genjutsu to control the villagers and attacked Naruto and Hanabi, but Naruto escaped with her and confronted him.
• Utsu recognized Naruto as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and fled, while Naruto explained his mission to the furious Hanabi before chasing Utsu.
• Hinata and Natsukawa stayed to help the villagers, while Hanabi, Hideki, and Akan pursued Utsu.
• Utsu reached a mountaintop ravine, where Hanabi confronted him and told Hideki and Akan to join the fight.
• Utsu's Shadow Clones overwhelmed Hideki and Akan, and he struck Hanabi with a Water Colliding Wave after she moved to protect them.

Hanabi mastered Rotation by realizing its purpose was to protect her teammates, but Utsu trapped her in a Genjutsu that made her believe Naruto and Hinata had died. Naruto arrived in time to stop her from hurting herself and revealed that he had hidden from Utsu’s senses inside Saiken’s bubble.

• Utsu’s explosive Shadow Clones injured Hideki and Akan, and Hanabi stepped in front of them to protect them from his Earth Spear.
• Hanabi awakened Rotation and deflected Utsu’s attack, while Hideki and Akan combined wind and fire to strike him with a powerful fireball.
• Utsu trapped Hanabi in a Genjutsu in which Naruto and Hinata appeared to die, and Hanabi prepared to stab herself to break the illusion.
• Naruto stopped Hanabi’s kunai and dispelled the Genjutsu, then explained that Saiken’s bubble had hidden him from Utsu’s senses.

Naruto rescued Hanabi, Hideki, and Akan after Utsu collapsed a cliff, then returned with them to the village. Utsu fled to the Land of Rain, where Tobi killed him after declaring his mission complete.

• Utsu collapsed the cliff to escape Naruto, and Naruto jumped after Hanabi, Hideki, and Akan instead of pursuing him.
• Naruto summoned Bunta to stop their fall and used the Demon Fox Cloak’s Chakra arms to bring the two boys to safety.
• Naruto joked with Hideki and Akan about marrying into the Hyuga Clan, and Hanabi knocked all three boys down.
• Hinata told Naruto and Hanabi that Utsu had controlled the village with Genjutsu for about a year, and the group prepared to report to Grandma Tsunade.
• Utsu reached the Land of Rain, where Tobi told him the mission was complete and killed him, muttering about Naruto.

After returning from a mission, Hinata and Hanabi visited a hot spring town with Naruto, where Hanabi tested Naruto’s affection for her and the sisters shared a warm night with him. The three returned to the Hyuga Clan the next day, leaving Hanabi resolved to protect their smiles.

• Hyuga Hiashi refused to join Hinata and Hanabi’s hot spring trip, while Hokuto teased him about Naruto staying overnight with the girls.
• Hinata and Hanabi arrived at the inn, where Hinata fainted after realizing the spring was mixed bathing and Hanabi carried her back to their room.
• Hanabi disguised herself as Hinata and joined Naruto in the spring, then asked what he thought of Hanabi; Naruto said he considered her his little sister, and Hanabi leaned against him before her disguise wore off.
• Hanabi hit Naruto with a wooden basin after he commented on her chest, and later Naruto woke Hinata so the three could play Old Maid together.
• The proprietress gave Hinata and Hanabi a photograph of them sleeping against Naruto, and the group returned to the Hyuga Clan, where Hyuga Hiashi checked his daughters with his Byakugan.

Naruto reunited with his former classmates, then left Konoha with Sakura, Kakashi, and Sai for a mission to Kusagakure to investigate Orochimaru. Near Tenchi Bridge, Naruto reassured Sakura that he still wanted Sasuke back but would respect his choices, while Sai listened and grew curious about Sasuke.

• Shikamaru scolded Naruto and Hinata for missing the Chunin Exams, then brought Naruto to a reunion with their old classmates.
• Naruto met Sai at the gathering, and Sakura dragged Naruto and Sai away before Shikamaru was left to pay the bill.
• Sakura confronted Naruto about delaying their mission to Kusagakure, and Kakashi led the assembled Team Seven out of Konoha with Sai as its new teammate.
• Naruto befriended Sai during the journey, while Kakashi and Sakura watched Sai's backhanded compliments fail to unsettle him.
• Near Tenchi Bridge, Naruto thanked Sakura for supporting the mission and told her he wanted Sasuke back but would not force him to return before he was ready.
• Sai overheard Naruto and Sakura discussing Sasuke and wondered what kind of person had earned their devotion.

Kakashi’s attempt to meet Scorpion’s spy led to a confrontation with Orochimaru, who secretly brought Naruto to his underground base. Naruto proved his strength by using Impure World Reincarnation to revive Rin Nohara and his parents, but Kushina greeted him with a punch.

• Kakashi disguised himself as Hiruko and met Kabuto on Tenchi Bridge, but Orochimaru appeared before Kabuto could reveal Sasuke’s location.
• Kabuto attacked Kakashi, and Naruto charged Orochimaru after hearing that Sasuke was dead; Naruto and Orochimaru fell into the river and entered an underwater cave.
• Orochimaru explained that he had anticipated Naruto’s arrival and challenged him to prove he had grown stronger before opening a sealed room.
• Naruto passed Orochimaru’s test, chose Rin Nohara’s coffin, and successfully used Impure World Reincarnation to revive her.
• Naruto revived Minato and Kushina and rushed to embrace them, but Kushina mistook him for a stranger and punched him away.

Naruto reunited with his resurrected parents and learned that Minato had received the memories of the Chakra clone who had accompanied him for eleven years. Kushina struggled to accept that Naruto was their grown son and kept punching him, leaving their reunion chaotic.

• Naruto feared Minato would reject him after Kushina punched him, but Minato greeted him warmly and confirmed that Naruto was their son.
• Minato asked Naruto to bump fists with the other Minato, and the original received the clone's memories of Naruto's life.
• Minato thanked the Nine-Tails for staying with Naruto, then reunited with his memories and embraced Naruto in the real world.
• Kushina recognized Rin and hugged her, while Minato explained that Naruto had resurrected them after fifteen years.
• Naruto tried to embrace Kushina, but she punched him for learning a Forbidden Jutsu and accused him of behaving like a delinquent.

Minato urged Naruto to undo the Impure World Reincarnation, but Naruto could not, so Minato, Kushina, and Rin agreed to hide in their coffins and stay with him. Naruto then found Kakashi and Sakura at Orochimaru’s base, where Kabuto had escaped during the encounter, and the group realized Sai was missing.

• Minato warned Naruto that the Impure World Reincarnation desecrated the dead and could put him in danger, but Naruto admitted he did not know how to undo it.
• Minato, Kushina, and Rin agreed to avoid contact with anyone but Naruto and returned to their coffins so Naruto could search for his companions.
• Kakashi escorted the captured Kabuto through Orochimaru’s base after defeating him and breaking his Impure World Reincarnation with Kamui.
• Naruto smashed through a wall with a Rasengan, distracting Kakashi and allowing Kabuto to dislocate his shoulder and escape.
• Sakura scolded and beat Naruto, while Kakashi said he could not have restrained Kabuto for much longer anyway.
• Kakashi and Sakura realized Sai, who had been following them into the base, was missing.

Sai found Sasuke and challenged him to return to Konoha, but Naruto arrived before their fight could decide the matter. Sasuke reunited with Naruto and Sakura, then left again to pursue his revenge, promising only that they would meet after it was complete.

• Sai used Super Beast Imitating Drawing to locate Sasuke and confronted him, asking why he had abandoned Naruto despite their bond.
• After Sai revealed Naruto's feelings and scar, Sasuke attacked him, but Sai turned into ink and fought back; Sasuke's fireball blasted open the base roof.
• Naruto intervened to save Sai, and Sasuke beat Naruto before Sakura stopped him and healed Naruto's injuries.
• Naruto told Sasuke he wanted to become his best friend, while Sasuke entered Naruto's inner world and provocatively confronted the Nine-Tails.
• Sasuke refused to return to Konoha, told Naruto they would meet after his revenge, and disappeared; Kakashi and Sakura lamented that he had barely spoken to them.

Naruto returned to Konoha and moved into his parents’ abandoned house with Minato, Kushina, and Rin, while Minato taught him the third stage of Flying Thunder God. After sharing his first family dinner with them, Naruto fell asleep in Kushina’s arms, afraid their reunion might only be a dream.

• Naruto asked Tsunade for money to buy a house, and Jiraiya instead gave him the key to Minato and Kushina’s old home.
• Naruto cleaned the house and used Impure World Reincarnation to bring Minato, Kushina, and Rin there, while Kushina sealed the house against outside detection.
• Minato taught Naruto the third stage of Flying Thunder God, and Naruto practiced teleporting himself with a Shadow Clone but struggled to link Chakra with another person.
• Naruto and Minato returned home to Kushina and Rin, and Kushina scolded them after Naruto surprised her by teleporting in from behind.
• Rin healed Naruto and listened as he described Kakashi’s devotion to his companions, reminding her and Minato of Obito.
• Naruto cried over his first family meal, and Kushina comforted him before he fell asleep in her arms.

Naruto trained under Minato and enjoyed life with his resurrected parents, while Hinata and Hanabi grew suspicious that he was hiding another woman. Their investigation led them to Kushina and Rin, who bound them after they broke into Naruto’s home, leaving Hinata heartbroken and Hanabi furious.

• Kushina woke Naruto by throwing his clothes at him, and he spent the next two months training with Minato and receiving care from his parents.
• Naruto tried to teach Sakura the Flying Thunder God Technique, accidentally sent her clothes away, and was knocked unconscious after Sakura and Sai reacted to the mishap.
• Hinata told Hanabi she feared Naruto was having an affair, and the sisters disguised themselves to follow him.
• The sisters watched Naruto buy women’s clothes and magazines, then used Hanabi’s Byakugan to find two hidden figures beneath the floor of his house.
• Kushina restrained Hinata and Hanabi with sealing chains, revealed that she was Kushina Uzumaki, and frightened them by threatening to kill them.

Naruto returned home for his forehead protector and introduced Hinata to his resurrected parents, Minato and Kushina. Kushina objected to Naruto marrying Hinata, leaving their first meeting on bad terms.

• Naruto came home and found Kushina restraining Hanabi and Rin, then introduced Hinata to his mother and Rin.
• Naruto explained that he had used Orochimaru's Forbidden Jutsu to revive his parents and Rin.
• Kushina said she would personally judge Hinata and refused to approve of her as Naruto's future wife.
• Naruto and Hinata declared that they would marry each other, prompting Kushina to angrily punch Naruto away.
• Minato arrived, welcomed Hinata, and approved of her, while Kushina pulled Naruto close and insisted nobody could take him from her.
• Hinata vowed to stay by Naruto's side, and the first meeting between Kushina and Hinata ended badly.

Hidan and his partner attacked the Land of Snow, leaving Haku gravely wounded and Kazahana Koyuki at Hidan’s mercy. Naruto arrived in time to save Koyuki, restrain Hidan, and begin healing Haku.

• Hidan used his curse to transfer his injuries to Haku while slaughtering Snow ninjas at the Daimyo’s Mansion.
• Kazahana Koyuki threatened to kill herself, forcing Hidan to lift his curse from Haku.
• Hidan swung his scythe at Kazahana Koyuki, but Naruto appeared and pulled her out of its path.
• Kazahana Koyuki scolded Naruto for coming and then clung to him in tears, while Haku called out from the ground.
• Naruto bound Hidan with Chakra arms and used emerald-green Chakra flames to heal Haku’s wound.

Naruto learned that Akatsuki had killed Han, Fū, and Yugito, and his grief drove him into a destructive State Two rampage. He regained control after Kazahana Koyuki’s tears reached him through his Chakra, then rushed toward the battle with Kakuzu, where two Chakra tails rescued Zabuza and Kazahana Dōtō from Kakuzu’s attack.

• Haku explained Hidan’s abilities, and Hidan revealed that Akatsuki had extracted the tailed beasts from Han, Fū, and Yugito, killing them.
• Naruto transformed into State Two and attacked Hidan, whose immortality could not protect him from having his head severed.
• Naruto’s rampage turned toward Haku and Kazahana Koyuki, but Kazahana Koyuki’s tears helped him regain his senses and return to normal.
• Naruto left to join the fight against Kakuzu while Haku and Kazahana Koyuki worried about his emotional state.
• Kakuzu overwhelmed Zabuza and Kazahana Dōtō, but two Chakra tails pulled them underground before his flames and lightning could hit them.

Naruto defeated Kakuzu after learning that he had been involved in Fū’s death, then watched Kakuzu and Hidan die together. Overcome by grief for Yugito, Fū, and Han, Naruto found comfort with Haku and Koyuki before leaving the Land of Snow.

• Naruto rescued Zabuza and Dōtō from Kakuzu, confronted him over Fū’s death, and killed him with a marked Wind Release: Spiral Shuriken.
• Kakuzu used his final strength to reach Hidan and try to stitch his head back on, but both men died and Zabuza burned their bodies.
• Haku comforted Naruto as he grieved for Yugito, Fū, and Han, and Koyuki joined their embrace.
• Zabuza and Dōtō plotted to drug Naruto so he would marry Haku or Koyuki, but Haku and Koyuki caught them and beat them.
• Naruto woke after sleeping in Haku’s arms, said goodbye to Haku and Koyuki, and vanished with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Koyuki decided she would go find Naruto, then teased Haku about their relationship as publicly known husband and wife.

Naruto sought permission from Tsunade to leave the village and check on his Jinchuriki friends, but she refused because his injured arm was still healing. Akamaru found him grieving, comforted him, and carried him to Konoha’s gate, where Naruto met Kiba, Shino, Hinata, and Kakashi.

• Naruto visited Tsunade after his right arm became too painful to use, but she treated him and refused to let him leave the village.
• Naruto accepted that going to his friends might not help them and wandered through Konoha, worrying about them and mourning the dead.
• Akamaru spoke to Naruto, teased him, and advised him to focus on protecting the living rather than grieving for the dead.
• Akamaru heard Kiba’s whistle, carried the injured Naruto on his back, and ran to Konoha’s gate.
• Naruto arrived with Akamaru and joined Kiba, Shino, Hinata, and Kakashi, while Kiba guessed that Akamaru had helped Naruto find something he had lost.

Naruto learned that Hinata's reconnaissance mission might lead to the Three-Tails and arranged to support her once his injuries healed. Rin revealed that she had been the Three-Tails' Jinchuriki and disguised herself so she could join Naruto and investigate the beast's return.

• Naruto embraced Hinata, placed a Flying Thunder God mark on her hand, and asked Kakashi to protect her and the other teammates.
• Tsunade told Naruto that Hinata's team was investigating a powerful chakra signal that might belong to a tailed beast, and Naruto persuaded her to let him join after he recovered.
• Naruto told Rin about the suspected tailed beast, and Rin asked him to take her out of the village because she believed the Three-Tails was calling to her.
• Rin explained that Kirigakure had sealed the Three-Tails inside her and that she had killed herself to prevent it from attacking Konoha.
• Rin disguised herself to avoid being recognized by Kakashi, and she and Naruto prepared to leave for the Three-Tails mission.