Chapter Summaries

Tsunade sent Naruto, Sakura, and Sai to rescue Hinata from Guren’s Crystal Style trap, and Naruto’s Flying Thunder God Technique brought them to Kakashi’s team in time. After Hinata was freed and the group settled for the night, Naruto’s Shadow Clone met Kabuto and Guren, learning that Yugao was meant to awaken the Three-Tails.

• Tsunade ordered Naruto to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Sakura and Sai to Kakashi’s location after Pakkun delivered a crystallized Kikaichū.
• Naruto transported Sakura and Sai to the crystal prison, where Guren had trapped Hinata and threatened Kakashi, Kiba, and Shino.
• Guren recognized Naruto, broke the Crystal Maze Technique, and retreated with Kabuto; Hinata’s prison then shattered, and Sakura confirmed she was unharmed.
• Hinata woke in Naruto’s arms, and Sai appeared feeling sick from the sudden teleportation before Kakashi’s team rested in a cave.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone followed Kabuto’s Snake Grass to another cave, where Guren eagerly greeted him and Kabuto explained that Yugao would awaken the Three-Tails.

Kakashi’s team traced the activity to the center of the lake, where Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ and other Tailed Beasts’ chakra to awaken the Three-Tails. The beast surfaced and attacked, leaving Naruto, Guren, Yugao, and Kabuto in immediate danger.

• Kakashi learned from Shino that people were in the lake’s center and led the team toward them through the fog.
• Kabuto prepared to make Yugao awaken the Three-Tails with pills, but Naruto’s Shadow Clone offered to use Naruto’s chakra instead.
• Naruto’s original body arrived at the lake and sent the Nine-Tails’ chakra, joined by the other Tailed Beasts’ chakra, into the lakebed.
• The Three-Tails woke and rose to the surface as Kakashi sensed the powerful chakra from shore.
• The Three-Tails leaped toward Naruto and the others, and Guren shielded Yugao as Kabuto faced its open jaws.

Naruto, Guren, Yugao, and Rin found themselves inside the Three-Tails, where Rin reunited with Isobu. Isobu revealed how Madara had controlled Yagura and extracted the Three-Tails from Rin, leaving the group with more clues about Yugao’s past.

• Naruto told Guren that they were inside the Three-Tails and summoned Rin with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Rin called Isobu out of the Three-Tails’ body, and the beast greeted her affectionately.
• The Nine-Tails appeared and learned from Isobu that the Rinnegan had pulled him from Rin and that Madara had controlled Yagura and Isobu.
• Guren connected Isobu’s account to Yugao and comforted him as Isobu explained that Yagura had been his father.
• The Nine-Tails took some of Isobu’s power, and Isobu wondered whether Naruto was the person destined to earn the Tailed Beasts’ recognition.
• The Nine-Tails called Isobu a loli con, and Isobu protested that he liked boys too.

Kakashi’s team, Kabuto, and Akatsuki converged on the Three-Tails, and Naruto secretly reunited with Rin while keeping his identity hidden. Tobi wounded Guren, leaving Yugao and the Three-Tails roaring in anger as the confrontation escalated.

• The Three-Tails released Naruto and two others from its mouth, while Naruto quietly dispelled his Shadow Clone after Hinata noticed it.
• Deidara and Scorpion arrived, and Scorpion confronted Kabuto before the two began fighting.
• Guren proposed an alliance against Akatsuki, and Kakashi accepted after Naruto vouched for her.
• Tobi joined Deidara, offered the others dango in exchange for the Three-Tails, and dodged Guren’s crystal blade before stabbing her in the chest.
• Yugao erupted with Chakra, and the enraged Three-Tails roared.

Naruto and Kakashi fought Tobi while the Three-Tails rampaged, and the Nine-Tails revealed that Tobi had caused Naruto’s parents’ deaths. Naruto calmed Yugao and helped him reconcile with the gravely wounded Guren, while Kakashi and Naruto remained in the fight against Tobi.

• Naruto rescued Guren from Tobi’s attack, but Tobi nearly killed Naruto while he tried to heal her, so Rin took Guren to the shore.
• The uncontrolled Three-Tails attacked the group, and Kakashi and Naruto tried to fight Tobi while Deidara bombarded the beast.
• Tobi bound Kakashi with a chain, but Naruto broke it; Kakashi explained that Tobi became solid when attacking, and the Nine-Tails recognized him as the man who attacked Konoha and caused Naruto’s parents’ deaths.
• Naruto entered Yugao’s inner world and persuaded him to return after learning that he had gone berserk because he feared losing Guren.
• Guren confessed that she had killed Yugao’s mother, but Yugao showed her the crystal camellia and said he still loved her; his devotion helped Guren regain the will to live as Rin treated her.
• After Rin said Guren’s condition had improved, Naruto and Rin spoke about missing Kushina and going home after the battle.

Naruto and Kakashi outmaneuvered Tobi during their battle on the lake, injuring him and forcing him to retreat. Tobi then appeared beside Deidara and claimed he was dying while urging him to finish the mission.

• Naruto told the Nine-Tails he wanted to learn Tobi's motives rather than seek revenge, and the Nine-Tails accepted how much he had changed.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to pressure Tobi, who countered with powerful Fire Style and Wood Style techniques.
• Kakashi and Naruto used a decoy plan to trick Tobi, and Kakashi's Lightning Blade struck Tobi's shoulder while Kamui removed his wooden branch.
• Tobi admitted Naruto and Kakashi had the upper hand, then withdrew into the Space-Time Dimension and appeared behind Deidara.
• Tobi told Deidara he was injured and urged him to complete the mission so he could return for treatment.

Deidara and Tobi captured the Three-Tails, while Kakashi's team detained a disguised Kabuto and let Guren leave with Yugao. On the way back to Konoha, Naruto learned that the Nine-Tails had been Kushina's Jinchuriki and was told that all four members of his family were Jinchuriki.

• Deidara detonated a clay bomb inside the Three-Tails, badly injuring it, and Tobi used Kamui to take it into the Space-Time Dimension.
• Tobi forcibly retrieved Scorpion from his fight with Kabuto, while the real Kabuto escaped and Kakashi's team captured an impostor wearing his face.
• Guren decided to leave Orochimaru and live in seclusion with Yugao, and Kakashi let them go after Naruto pleaded for her.
• Naruto asked the Nine-Tails about its previous Jinchuriki and learned that Kushina had hosted it before him.
• The Nine-Tails told Naruto that all four members of his family were Jinchuriki and directed him to ask his father.

Hinata told Kushina about Naruto’s childhood while Hanabi, Rin, and Kushina played Monopoly and bickered. After Naruto and Minato returned from training, Kushina asked about Naruto’s progress, then went to make dinner with Rin and Hinata as Naruto reflected on his family.

• Hinata brought Kushina pastries and recounted Naruto’s childhood, while Hanabi criticized Naruto and Kushina teased her.
• Kushina joined Rin and Hanabi’s Monopoly game, cheated with Chakra, and tied Hanabi up after Hanabi called her out.
• Naruto and Minato returned from training, and Naruto defended Hanabi when Kushina grabbed his ear.
• Minato said Naruto had nearly mastered the third stage of the Flying Thunder God, though Naruto sometimes left his clothes behind.
• Kushina, Rin, and Hinata went to make dinner, and Naruto reflected that they were family as Minato comforted him.

Naruto asked Kushina about her history with the Nine-Tails, and she recounted how she had treated him as a confidant and hoped her child could become his family. The story ended with Naruto saying that he and the Nine-Tails were good friends, while the Nine-Tails gave a reluctant snort.

• Naruto asked Kushina to tell him about her relationship with the Nine-Tails, and the family listened over dinner.
• Kushina recalled entering her Sealing Space as a lonely schoolgirl and repeatedly confiding in the chained Nine-Tails.
• Kushina told the Nine-Tails about Minato Namikaze, then asked him to accept her unborn child as family and help ease his hatred.
• During Kushina's delivery, a masked man extracted the Nine-Tails, and the furious beast attacked Naruto's parents before Minato sealed half of him inside himself.
• Kushina finished her story without revealing that the Nine-Tails had killed her, and Naruto said that he and the Nine-Tails were good friends.

Sasuke attacked Orochimaru before Orochimaru could take his body, and ultimately devoured him. As Sasuke left the secret base with Orochimaru’s abilities, Orochimaru lamented that Itachi had foreseen Sasuke surpassing him.

• Kabuto reported that Guren had left, and Orochimaru told him to focus on another matter while confirming he would still take Sasuke’s body.
• Sasuke struck Orochimaru with Lightning Release and the Kusanagi Sword, then challenged him and asked why Orochimaru had always said he was inferior to Naruto.
• Orochimaru transformed into a White Phosphorus Snake and told Sasuke that Naruto’s loving heart gave him an advantage over Sasuke’s hatred.
• A flashback showed Itachi discovering Orochimaru had sealed away memories connected to Naruto, and Itachi decided Orochimaru would not directly harm Sasuke.
• Sasuke devoured Orochimaru inside the White Phosphorus Snake’s alternate space, gained everything Orochimaru possessed, and left the base.

After learning that Sasuke had killed Orochimaru, Naruto asked Tsunade to let him find Sasuke and bring him back after his revenge, while Tsunade held him back. Jiraiya revealed that the Akatsuki leader was hiding in Amegakure and left to investigate, promising Naruto he would teach him a new ninjutsu when he returned.

• Naruto rushed into Tsunade's office to ask whether Sasuke had killed Orochimaru, and Tsunade confirmed the reports while assuring him Anko was safe.
• Naruto argued that Sasuke would need him after facing Itachi, and Sakura and Sai offered to go with him, but Tsunade told them to wait for a reconnaissance squad.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that the Akatsuki leader was hiding in Amegakure and decided to infiltrate the country, despite Tsunade's concerns.
• Jiraiya asked Tsunade to bet that he would die and promised to confess to her if he returned alive, then left the izakaya.
• Jiraiya found Naruto in the street, treated him to ramen, and promised to teach him a new ninjutsu after his mission.

Fukasaku fulfilled the Great Toad Sage’s request to preserve Jiraiya’s body and brought it to Konoha after Jiraiya died fighting Pain. Naruto learned of his teacher’s death and stood in shock beside his body, trying to wake him.

• The Great Toad Sage told Fukasaku to preserve Jiraiya’s body, though Jiraiya would still die.
• Wounded in battle with Pain, Jiraiya refused to retreat so he could uncover Pain’s identity, and Fukasaku chose to stay with him.
• After Jiraiya died, Fukasaku used Summoning Jutsu to bring his body to Mount Myōboku and prepared to deliver the news and Jiraiya’s coded message to Konoha.
• Kakashi brought Naruto to the hospital morgue, where Fukasaku told him that Jiraiya had died and revealed the body.
• Naruto remained beside Jiraiya for twenty-four hours, lost in memories and unable to accept his death, then began forming Hand Seals to wake him.

Naruto struggled with Jiraiya’s death and nearly attempted to revive him, but Minato stopped him and Lord Shima took him to Mount Myōboku to learn senjutsu. There, Naruto immediately showed an uncanny ability to sense and attract Natural Energy.

• Minato stopped Naruto from performing Impure World Reincarnation to revive Jiraiya and struck him when Naruto said he might give up his life.
• Naruto told Minato he could not cry because Jiraiya still felt alive to him, and Minato comforted him and gave him Jiraiya’s first book, The Tale of the Utterly Determined Ninja.
• Lord Shima arrived, told Naruto to honor Jiraiya’s final wish by learning senjutsu, and said Jiraiya’s body would be preserved.
• Naruto left for Mount Myōboku the next day without seeing Hinata, asking Kushina to tell her where he had gone.
• Lord Shima explained Natural Energy and began Naruto’s training at the Oil Waterfall, where Naruto quickly became calm and drew the energy toward himself.

Naruto began Sage Jutsu training on Mount Myōboku and learned how dangerous uncontrolled Natural Energy could be. After Itachi died, Sasuke’s sealed memories returned, and Tobi’s account of the Uchiha massacre drove Sasuke to target Konoha.

• Naruto easily sensed Natural Energy and began drawing it into himself, but Fukasaku struck him to prevent him from turning into a frog.
• Sasuke defeated neither Itachi nor Orochimaru, but Itachi sealed Orochimaru with the Totsuka Blade and freed Sasuke from the Cursed Seal before dying.
• Sasuke regained his memories of Naruto after he and Itachi fell unconscious, then woke in a cave beside Tobi.
• Sasuke’s Mangekyo Sharingan released Amaterasu at Tobi, who survived by using the right side of his body to block the flames.
• Tobi told Sasuke the truth about Itachi and the Uchiha Clan, filling Sasuke with hatred for Konoha.
• Sasuke renamed his group Hawk and declared that its purpose was to destroy Konoha.

Tobi revealed himself as Madara Uchiha and assigned Sasuke’s Hawk Team to capture the Eight-Tails while Akatsuki pursued the Six- and Nine-Tails. Sasuke defeated Gyuki with Amaterasu, but Killer B survived and decided to seek Naruto; the chapter left Sasuke and his team carrying B away, unaware that the Five Kage Summit would soon be convened.

• Tobi removed his mask, revealed himself as Madara Uchiha, and told Sasuke that Hawk would capture the Eight-Tails while Akatsuki pursued the Six- and Nine-Tails.
• Deidara followed Sasuke from the base and urged him to tell Naruto he was alive, but Sasuke disappeared before Deidara could finish.
• Sasuke’s team confronted Killer B at Cloud-Thunder Gorge, where B recognized Sasuke as the person Naruto had been searching for and chose to spare him.
• Sasuke used Amaterasu to burn Gyuki, and Jugo carried the unconscious Killer B away after Sasuke withdrew the flames.
• Killer B revealed that he had escaped using a severed tentacle and said he wanted to find Naruto, while Gyuki suspected he was using the chance to leave the village.

Tsunade mourned Jiraiya with Hiruzen as Pain launched an attack on Konoha to capture Naruto. Hinata and Kushina fought summoned beasts and rescued villagers while Minato went to confront Pain.

• Tsunade went to the Memorial Monument, where Hiruzen comforted her as she cried over Jiraiya's death.
• In Amegakure, Tobi told Pain that Sasuke had captured the Eight-Tails, and Pain led the other Paths toward Konoha.
• Hinata spotted Akatsuki members attacking Konoha and destroyed a summoned centipede that had crushed a house.
• Kushina saved Hinata from another summoned beast, then used her Chakra chains to lift the wreckage and rescue a trapped child.
• Kushina warned Hinata to stay alive as several more summoned beasts surrounded them, while Minato went to find Pain.

Naruto completed Sage Mode training but struggled to use it in battle because the Nine-Tails refused to help him absorb Natural Energy. The Great Toad Sage taught him to use Shadow Clones and warned that Konoha was under attack, while Konohamaru defeated the Hell Path with a Sexy Rasengan.

• Fukasaku confirmed Naruto had mastered Sage Mode and explained that its stored Natural Energy lasted only five minutes.
• Fukasaku failed to channel Natural Energy into Naruto because the Nine-Tails repelled him, and Naruto learned the Nine-Tails refused to cooperate because it hated slimy creatures.
• The Great Toad Sage taught Naruto to use Shadow Clones to gather Natural Energy, warned him Konoha was in danger, and gave him a black-flamed red coat sewn by an old friend.
• The Hell Path attacked Konohamaru while he evacuated civilians, and Konohamaru refused to reveal Naruto's whereabouts.
• Konohamaru used Sexy Jutsu to distract the Hell Path, then struck him with a Rasengan and collapsed unconscious.

Minato arrived to save Kakashi from Deva Path Pain and confronted Pain over Naruto. Using Flying Thunder God and clever kunai tactics to force Pain’s Shinra Tensei into cooldown, Minato landed a Rasengan that defeated him without injury.

• Kakashi deduced that Deva Path Pain’s attraction and repulsion had a five-second interval, but Pain trapped him beneath rubble and prepared to kill him.
• Minato appeared in time to deflect the nail aimed at Kakashi, then took the injured Kakashi to Rin for treatment.
• After Kakashi passed out, Minato returned to face Pain and demanded that he hand over Naruto.
• Minato used a three-kunai feint to force Pain to activate Shinra Tensei, then pressured him with a cloned kunai attack while the ability was cooling down.
• Pain used the Substitution Technique to evade the kunai, but Minato anticipated his position and struck him with a Rasengan.

Minato continued defending Konoha, while Pain regrouped and prepared to use a dangerous technique. Minato joined the Third Hokage to defeat Asura Path, leaving Hiruzen reflecting on Minato’s return and the need to resolve his resentment.

• Minato struck Deva Path Pain, who vanished and was later restored by King Yama alongside Hell Path.
• Deva Path Pain told Konan he would use a technique despite its cost to his lifespan.
• The Third Hokage struggled against Asura Path until Minato arrived and the two agreed to fight together.
• Minato used Asura Path’s wide-area attack as cover to teleport him to an empty wasteland.
• The Third Hokage and his Shadow Clones destroyed Asura Path with the Five Release: Great Combo Technique, and Minato left Katsuyu to help him recover.
• The Third Hokage watched Minato depart and resolved that he would need to address Minato’s resentment.

Kushina and Minato arrived in Konoha and helped Sakura, Shizune, and Hinata fight Pain’s summoned beasts and bodies. Minato left the chapter having defeated Asura Path and Human Path in a single attack.

• Tsunade learned from the Summoning Slug that Minato and Kushina had appeared in Konoha and that Minato had already defeated two Pains.
• Sakura exhausted herself fighting Pain’s summoned centipedes while protecting Shizune and the Pain corpses.
• Kushina arrived and restrained three centipedes, while Hinata knocked the Black Rods from them and confirmed how Pain controlled them.
• Kushina mistook the six Pains for delinquent boys, then called Minato after learning they had tried to take Naruto.
• Minato attacked the gathered Pains with two Rasengan and defeated Asura Path and Human Path in one exchange.