Chapter Summaries

Naruto and Uchiha Izumi overwhelmed Kimimaro, but Orochimaru used a clone to rescue him before Naruto’s attack could kill him. Orochimaru escaped with Kimimaro, and Naruto and Izumi left to resume their journey.

• Kimimaro used the Dance of the Seedling Fern again, but Izumi spread oil over the bone forest and set it ablaze with a Great Fireball Technique.
• Naruto sent his Flame Sun Courage toward Kimimaro as Orochimaru arrived in a giant python and taunted Naruto and Uchiha Izumi.
• Orochimaru’s Snake Clone distracted Naruto and Izumi while its snake arms pulled Kimimaro from the bone forest.
• Kimimaro’s curse-mark-enhanced bones could not stop the Flame Sun Courage, which burned his hands and badly damaged his chest and lungs.
• Naruto attacked Orochimaru, but the Snake Clone used snakes to cover its retreat and escaped with Kimimaro.
• Naruto scorched Orochimaru’s snakes with Magnetic Blast Flow, then took Izumi’s hand and left to continue their journey.

Naruto and Izumi left the destroyed secret base, while Orochimaru learned of Naruto’s appearance in the River Country and persuaded Sasori to pursue him. Sasori set out with Orochimaru to see whether Naruto could become a Sage Puppet.

• Kurama complained that Naruto had exposed their whereabouts and delayed sealing the Ryūmyaku, but Naruto left the area with Izumi after finding no trace of the enemy.
• Naruto rejected Izumi’s offer of the Three Tomoe Sharingan and reassured her that she did not need to blame herself for their exposure.
• Orochimaru received news that Naruto had destroyed his Cursed Seal research base, leaving Jugo seriously injured and Kimimaro’s hands and lungs damaged.
• Orochimaru told Yakushi Kabuto to alert Konoha’s spies that suspected Nine-Tails Chakra had appeared in the River Country.
• Orochimaru tempted Sasori with the prospect of making a Sage Puppet from Naruto, and Sasori agreed to investigate.
• Sasori used his Ink Painting Bird to carry himself, Orochimaru, and the Human Puppet Ida toward Naruto’s reported location.

Kushina confronted Naruto’s Shadow Clone after learning that Nine-Tails Chakra had appeared in River Country, and the two clashed at the Uchiha Training Grounds. Naruto admitted he was a clone and revealed that he needed the Ryūmyaku.

• Kushina learned that Nine-Tails Chakra had appeared in River Country and tracked Naruto’s Shadow Clone to the Uchiha Training Grounds.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone denied leaving Konoha, but Kushina sent Uchiha Shisui to test him; Naruto defeated Shisui’s Body Flicker Clones and overwhelmed him.
• Kushina activated Nine-Tails Mode and fought Naruto, who answered with Kurama Mode and Sage Transformation.
• Hozuki Leng Che held a blade to Hinata’s neck at her signal, prompting Naruto to stop fighting and admit he was a Shadow Clone.
• Kushina demanded Naruto explain his purpose, and he told her he needed the Ryūmyaku.

Kushina confronted Anju over urging Naruto to seek the Ryūmyaku, and their argument led Anju to break her seal and unleash the Nine-Tails’ power in Konoha. Naruto’s Shadow Clone restored the seal and calmed Kushina, who then stayed with him while he ordered Hozuki Leng Che and the Shadow Guard away.

• Kushina questioned Anju about why he had encouraged Naruto to search for the Ryūmyaku, and Anju said it could replace a Tailed Beast for her.
• Kushina tried to seal Anju, but Anju used Sage Art: Picture Scroll to break free, causing the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to alter Konoha’s sky.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone restored Kushina’s Eight Trigrams Sealing Style, returning her to normal and resealing Anju.
• Kushina tried to seal Anju again, but Naruto’s Shadow Clone stopped her and reassured her that Anju was his friend.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone told Hozuki Leng Che to leave the Hokage’s affairs to the advisers and ordered him and the Shadow Guard to reflect behind closed doors.

Naruto's Shadow Clone brought Kushina home and explained why he planned to seek the Ryūmyaku in Rōran despite Akatsuki's threat. Kushina agreed to teach him Sealing Jutsu, while Nagato learned that Naruto might be among the Akatsuki members investigating the Nine-Tails Chakra eruption.

• Naruto's Shadow Clone carried a dejected Kushina home, reassured Hinata, and explained Anju and Kurama's Person in the Painting Sage Jutsu.
• Kushina learned Naruto had chosen to seek the Ryūmyaku in Rōran and already knew about her agreement with Akatsuki; Naruto argued that leaving Konoha would keep Akatsuki from using him to threaten her.
• Hinata pleaded for Naruto to return safely, and Kushina embraced them both before agreeing to teach Naruto Sealing Jutsu.
• In Amegakure, Obito told Nagato that Orochimaru and Sasori would investigate the Nine-Tails Chakra eruption in River Country and suggested Naruto might be involved.
• Nagato ordered Zetsu to watch Konoha and said he would contact Orochimaru and Sasori to confirm what had happened.

Naruto and Izumi fled through the rain while Orochimaru and Sasori pursued them from the air. Sasori used Danzo’s Human Puppet squad to halt Naruto, who shielded Izumi with his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation and prepared to fight back.

• Naruto asked Izumi to teach him about tracking and counter-tracking as they waited for the rain to ease.
• Naruto sensed Orochimaru and another malicious presence, then activated Nine-Tails Mode and fled with Izumi.
• Sasori and Orochimaru spotted Naruto from the Ink Painting Bird and caught up with him.
• Sasori deployed Danzo’s Human Puppet and two subordinate puppets, while Orochimaru dropped down to intercept Naruto.
• Danzo’s puppets bombarded Naruto and Izumi until Naruto stopped and protected them with his transformed tails and a layer of lightning.
• Naruto told Izumi to move aside so he could deal with the attackers.

Sasori attacked Naruto with his Human Puppets, but Naruto destroyed the Ink Painting Bird with a Tailed Beast Ball. Orochimaru joined Sasori and summoned Danzo with Impure World Reincarnation, setting the stage for a new assault.

• Sasori sent Sarutobi Shinnosuke's Human Puppet and the Danzo Human Puppet to attack Naruto with poisoned shuriken and Wind Release techniques.
• Naruto gathered a Tailed Beast Ball and fired it through Sasori's barrage, destroying the Ink Painting Bird and scattering the rain clouds.
• Orochimaru arrived on a giant snake and caught Sasori and his Human Puppets as they fell.
• Naruto complained about the rain while Orochimaru and Sasori discussed taking his body.
• Orochimaru summoned Danzo's Impure World Reincarnation Body from a coffin.

Orochimaru used Danzo’s Impure World Reincarnation Body to betray Sasori during Naruto’s battle with the puppet master. Naruto’s Eye of the Typhoon destroyed Sasori and his puppets, and Orochimaru told Nagato that Sasori had died in the attack.

• Orochimaru revived Danzo and placed a control talisman in his head, then sent him to fight alongside Sasori against Naruto.
• Naruto unleashed the Eye of the Typhoon, and Sasori tried to counter it with flames and Wind Release techniques.
• Danzo briefly seized control of his body, grabbed Sasori, and disrupted his escape from the storm.
• The storm shredded Sasori’s Human Puppets and cut apart his Regeneration Core, while Naruto escaped with Uchiha Izumi.
• Orochimaru collected Sasori’s blood and later told Nagato that Naruto’s tornado had killed Sasori.

After Naruto killed Sasori, Nagato decided to capture him and threaten Kushina with war, while Naruto and Uchiha Izumi traveled into the Land of Wind. The chapter left Nagato heading toward Naruto as Naruto learned Konoha could support him if the Akatsuki attacked.

• Nagato told Konan that Naruto had killed Sasori and ordered her to warn Kushina that the Akatsuki would declare war unless Konoha did so first.
• Nagato set out for the Land of Wind with the Six Paths of Pain to capture Naruto, while Orochimaru considered taking Nagato's Rinnegan.
• Naruto and Uchiha Izumi entered the Land of Wind, where Izumi asked him to stop and rest after half a day of travel through fierce winds.
• Anju told Naruto that staying in Rōran could delay the Akatsuki and that Minato Namikaze's Impure World Reincarnation Body could rescue him if necessary.
• Naruto learned that Kushina had resumed teaching his Shadow Clone Sealing Jutsu and that Minato Namikaze had taught it Rasengan techniques.

Kushina declared war on the Four Great Shinobi Villages under Akatsuki’s pressure, but Konoha’s leaders and troops deliberately dragged their feet. As Nagato waited in River Country for Naruto, the villages learned that Kushina was likely being threatened and that Naruto had disappeared from Konoha.

• Kushina agreed to declare war after Akatsuki rejected her attempts to stall, while Konoha moved troops and supplies unusually slowly.
• Raikage A raged over Kushina’s declaration, and his advisors explained that Konoha’s preparations and movements seemed suspicious.
• Kushina ordered Konoha’s clans to mobilize, while Hozuki Leng Che urged clan Spokespersons to take the war lightly because the Mistress had been coerced.
• Nagato ordered Zetsu to find Naruto after waiting nearly a month in River Country, but Akatsuki had lost track of him and could no longer use him to pressure Kushina.
• Spies reported that Kushina was suspected of being threatened and Naruto had vanished from Konoha, so the Four Great Shinobi Villages relaxed and avoided getting involved.

Naruto searched the Loulan Ruins for the underground Ryūmyaku seal, then used a Sage Art drill to reach its hidden chamber and found the seal Minato Namikaze had placed. He recalled his Shadow Clones to study their sealing knowledge as Konoha declared war on the other ninja villages.

• Naruto sent Uchiha Izumi to a nearby town to buy supplies while he stayed in the Loulan Ruins.
• After Izumi left, Naruto used Sage Art: Seal-Breaking Giant Drill to burrow underground and locate the Ryūmyaku chamber.
• Naruto found a buried passage, cleared and reinforced it, then used Wind Mouth Cannon to bring fresh air into the underground space.
• Naruto descended the spiral stairs and examined the Dragon Vein Seal Minato Namikaze had placed.
• Naruto recalled his Shadow Clones to obtain their sealing formulas, just as Konoha declared war on the other ninja villages.

Naruto used the Dragon Vein Seal’s formulas to draw the Ryūmyaku into himself, but the Ryūmyaku transported him to another time and place in Rōran. He met the young Princess Sara and introduced himself to her mother, the Queen, as Tsuburaya Eiji.

• Naruto studied the Dragon Vein Seal and realized its formulas could help him seal the Ryūmyaku inside himself.
• Naruto released Minato Namikaze’s seal and began drawing the Ryūmyaku toward his body, but a flash of purple light made them both vanish.
• Naruto woke in Rōran, where the young Sara found him and offered to take him to the tower.
• Sara led Naruto past the guards to meet her mother, the Queen of Rōran.
• Naruto concealed his identity and told the Queen, "Hello, my name is Tsuburaya Eiji."

Naruto, stranded in Konoha Year 38, advised Sara and the Queen to use the Ryūmyaku to build Rōran’s industry and secure its future before he took the energy source. After revealing that he came from Konoha Year 55, he told them that Rōran had become ruins in his time, leaving the Queen shocked and blaming Sara’s upbringing.

• The Queen ordered Naruto to keep Sara out of danger, and he proposed using the Ryūmyaku to power industry and improve Rōran’s trade routes.
• Sara excitedly brought Naruto’s industrial plan to her mother and asked to go play, prompting the Queen to question Naruto.
• The Queen deduced that the Ryūmyaku had brought Naruto from another time, and Naruto revealed his identity and his arrival from Konoha Year 55.
• Naruto told the Queen and Sara that Rōran had become ruins in his era, and the Queen blamed herself for failing to educate Sara.

Naruto helped Sara sneak out of the palace while his Shadow Clone impersonated her and studied Rōran’s affairs with the Queen. After recognizing that Rōran’s development could invite invasion without military strength, Naruto proposed training Dragon Vein Ninjas.

• Naruto used a Shadow Clone transformed into Sara to distract the Queen, then carried the real Sara out of the palace for an exhilarating flight over Rōran.
• The Queen considered Naruto’s development proposals and worried that Rōran’s poverty, isolation, and weak military would leave it vulnerable to the Land of Wind if it became prosperous.
• While impersonating Sara, Naruto’s Shadow Clone studied Rōran’s finances and told the Queen that the country lacked military strength.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone offered to train ninjas for the Queen, and the Queen doubted that anyone could use the Ryūmyaku’s Dragon Vein Chakra.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone explained that people could use the energy if they learned to control the Natural Energy they absorbed.

Naruto trained Rōran Academy’s orphans to use Ryūmyaku and Dragon Vein energy, developing some into Natural Spell users without teaching them Chakra Extraction. As Rōran’s trade and production expanded, Naruto planned for the students to become guards who could protect the city.

• Naruto introduced himself as Eiji Teacher and taught the orphans to sense the Ryūmyaku, finding twelve with an aptitude for its energy.
• Naruto demonstrated Flame Sun Courage and explained that he would teach Dragon Vein Chakra rather than Chakra Extraction.
• Over three months, the twelve gifted orphans learned Natural Spells, while the other students began learning to borrow Dragon Vein Chakra through Nine-Tails Chakra links.
• Naruto planned to use the students as guards for Rōran, whose Queen had expanded industrial production and trade.
• Kurama failed to gain the present-day Kurama’s trust and decided not to contact him again after fearing the consequences of their meeting.

As Rōran’s trade and weapons sales drew the attention of the Land of Wind and other nations, Naruto’s growing academy and Dragon Vein-trained students strengthened the small country. When spies from major ninja villages arrived, Naruto warned the Queen and prepared to respond.

• The Land of Wind Daimyo paid Sunagakure to investigate Rōran’s technology and its sudden changes, and Kiesuna Shota sent two Jonin and three Special Jonin on the mission.
• The Queen appointed Naruto Minister of Military Affairs, while Sara secretly explored Rōran and learned Dragon Vein Ninjutsu and new ways to use Chakra from Naruto.
• Naruto’s students developed limited sensory abilities, and one of them defeated a wandering Samurai, prompting the Queen to take Naruto’s academy seriously.
• Naruto detected spies from major ninja villages and warned the Queen, who ordered Rōran to remain on guard and entrusted the matter to him.

Naruto ambushed spies and Rogue Ninjas targeting Rōran’s ninja tool workshop, then confronted a Sunagakure team investigating the blood scent. After Naruto overwhelmed their opening attacks, Ye Xiu realized the masked fighter was the source of his earlier terror.

• Naruto used Kushina’s mind-dazing array to capture the Rogue Ninjas spying on Rōran’s workshop, then dragged their bodies away.
• Ye Xiu and four other Sunagakure ninjas followed the scent of blood toward the workshop using puppets.
• Naruto appeared before the Sand Ninjas and used Sage Guiding Path to interrupt Ye Xiu’s ninjutsu and stop their coordinated attack.
• Naruto entered Sage Transformation, making Ye Xiu understand the source of his unease.
• A taijutsu-focused Sand Ninja attacked Naruto with Wind Blades, but Naruto turned the attack against him and knocked him down with a punch.

Naruto defeated the Sunagakure puppeteers in Rōran and killed Ye Xiu, leaving a message that a powerful Konoha ninja was protecting the city. After receiving the message, Kiesuna Shota took responsibility for the failed mission and prepared to leave Sunagakure to deal with the situation himself.

• Naruto interrupted Ye Xiu's ninjutsu, reflected his Shuriken, and defeated the two Special Jonin as their Jonin puppeteer tried to retreat underground.
• Naruto crushed the underground puppeteer with rocks, then approached the badly injured Ye Xiu.
• Naruto showed Ye Xiu his Konoha forehead protector and killed him, allowing Ye Xiu's red Chakra butterfly to carry a message to Sunagakure.
• Kiesuna Shota received the butterfly's message and learned that Sunagakure had lost two Jonin and three Special Jonin in Rōran.
• Kiesuna Shota admitted the intelligence failure was his, placed Ebizo in charge of the village during his absence, and left to address the problem.

Konoha Anbu led by Kusama Masao infiltrated Rōran to investigate its technology, but the Third Kazekage discovered them and began hunting them. Naruto rescued Kusama Masao from the crowd, leaving the other three Anbu captured or incapacitated.

• Kusama Masao split his four-person team, sending three Anbu to investigate workshops while he went toward the Queen’s tower.
• The Third Kazekage detected the Konoha Anbu with an Iron Sand eye and attacked them from the sky.
• Naruto noticed Kusama Masao as the other three Anbu fell to the Third Kazekage’s attacks.
• Kusama Masao disguised himself as a villager while the Third Kazekage raised an Iron Sand pillar and ordered the crowd to lie down.
• Kusama Masao used a Shadow Clone to flee, while Naruto approached the real Kusama Masao and led him away.

Naruto helped Kusama Masao escape Rōran while drawing Kiesuna Shota away with a Shadow Clone. As the Third Kazekage confronted the clone, Naruto revealed powerful techniques, leaving Kiesuna Shota wary of the little monster.

• Kiesuna Shota ordered his Shadow Guard to keep watch over Rōran after they failed to find the Konoha ninja.
• Naruto brought Kusama Masao to a storeroom, warned him that Konoha should stay out of Rōran, and told him how to escape.
• Naruto left Kusama Masao and sprinted from Rōran, drawing Kiesuna Shota into pursuit while the real Naruto continued teaching at Loulan Academy.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone told the Queen that he planned to build an airplane for Rōran once he found a way to store energy.
• Naruto reflected on being trapped in Konoha Year 38 and decided he needed to wait for Minato Namikaze to seal Ryūmyaku again.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone countered Kiesuna Shota's Iron Sand Shower and Sandstorm Great Tornado with Magnetic Blast Flow and a Natural Energy-infused Flame Sun Courage, surprising the Kazekage.