Chapter Summaries

Three-year-old Naruto Uzumaki faced the villagers’ hatred and loneliness before waking in a strange place inside himself, where he met a giant, snack-loving Nine-Tails and a masked boy named Uzumaki Menma. Menma pointed out Naruto as their guest, and Naruto timidly greeted them.

• Naruto Uzumaki was shunned by villagers who blamed him for the Fourth Hokage’s death and warned their children to stay away from him.
• Naruto went to Hokage Rock and wondered why he existed and what he could do to earn recognition.
• Naruto woke in a dark sewer-like passage and followed strange sounds toward a bright beach and an enormous iron cage.
• Naruto saw the Nine-Tails eating chips and drinking from a huge bottle while Uzumaki Menma teased it for being lazy.
• Menma pointed out Naruto to the Nine-Tails, and Naruto nervously greeted them.

Uzumaki Menma met three-year-old Naruto in the Crimson Moon Book and reassured him that he did not hate him. Naruto learned Menma’s name and introduced himself, while Menma prepared to show him the truth about the world.

• Uzumaki Menma warned Naruto that Hiruzen Sarutobi might notice their conversation and invited him to ask his most important question.
• Naruto asked Menma whether he hated him, and Menma realized how deeply the child expected rejection.
• Menma recalled how Naruto had been abused and shunned after rumors about the Nine-Tails spread, and how Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō sought control over him.
• Menma told Naruto that he admired his optimism, strength, and good sense, and Naruto began crying before trying to hide his tears.
• Menma comforted Naruto, introduced himself as Uzumaki Menma, and asked Naruto to call him Menma-nii; Naruto introduced himself in return.

Uzumaki Menma explained to Naruto that the Nine-Tails was a sentient creature named Kurama, feared and exploited by humans. He recounted how he had beaten Kurama into submission, then praised its strength, leaving Kurama secretly pleased by Naruto’s admiration.

• Uzumaki Menma told Naruto that they were in the Sealing Space and identified the Nine-Tails as Kurama, Naruto’s tenant.
• Naruto questioned the villagers’ stories about the Nine-Tails and decided Kurama seemed like an ordinary, emotional creature.
• Uzumaki Menma described how Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and the five great villages had persecuted and divided the Tailed Beasts.
• Kurama remembered how Menma had appeared during the Nine-Tails Incident, defeated it with a Small Spiral Wheel Ugra, and bound its mouth with Golden Chain.
• Uzumaki Menma called Kurama the strongest of the nine Tailed Beasts, and Kurama perked up at Naruto’s admiring gaze.

Naruto sympathized with Kurama after hearing Menma describe the Nine-Tails’ history. Meanwhile, Hiruzen refused Danzo’s demand to take Naruto into Root, and the chapter ended with Hiruzen watching Naruto and deciding to visit him.

• Menma recounted how Madara controlled Kurama, Hashirama subdued him, and Mito sealed him inside herself.
• Naruto recognized Kurama’s loneliness and pitied the suffering the Nine-Tails had endured.
• Danzo demanded that Hiruzen hand Naruto over to Root, claiming Root could better develop his abilities.
• Hiruzen refused and warned Danzo not to raise the matter again, hinting that he might investigate Root’s role in the Nine-Tails Incident.
• Hiruzen reflected on Danzo’s suspected involvement in the incident and decided to visit Naruto after seeing him resting on Hokage Rock.

Menma sent Naruto back to Hokage Rock after sensing the Third Hokage approaching, then secretly stayed connected to the lonely child. As Menma watched Leaf Village, he declared that the old era was nearing its end and its ninjas would soon meet their god.

• Menma sensed a decaying Chakra signature above Hokage Rock and warned Naruto not to reveal what had happened in the Sealing Space.
• Menma sent Naruto out of the Sealing Space, confident he could control the risk of Naruto exposing him.
• Naruto woke on Hokage Rock, mourned the loss of what he thought had been a dream, and heard Menma speaking to him in his mind.
• Menma teased Naruto into going to catch fish, then watched Leaf Village through the Crimson Moon Book.
• Menma asked Kurama if he could hear the death knell Menma had rung for Leaf Village and said the old era was ending.

Menma taught Little Naruto how to catch fish and urged him to pursue strength, while Naruto insisted he wanted Menma’s recognition. That night, Hiruzen Sarutobi approached Naruto by the campfire and tried to take his grilled fish, but Naruto refused.

• Menma showed Little Naruto how to make a fish trap from a plastic bottle, and it quickly filled with fish.
• Menma told Naruto that strength was the foundation of recognition, prompting Naruto to vow that he would earn Menma’s full recognition.
• Naruto spent the evening cooking and eating fish, shrimp, and crabs with Menma and Kurama.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared at Naruto’s campfire, introduced himself as an ordinary old grandpa, and reached for Naruto’s grilled fish.
• Naruto hugged the fish to his chest and firmly told Hiruzen no.

Uzumaki Menma warned Little Naruto that Hiruzen Sarutobi was secretly trying to approach him and might threaten Menma's place in his life. Sarutobi tried to bond with Naruto and steer him toward becoming Hokage, but Naruto ended by insisting he could simply be himself.

• Menma told Little Naruto that the disguised old man was Hiruzen Sarutobi and warned that Hiruzen coveted Kurama's power and might try to drive Menma away.
• Little Naruto gave Sarutobi mushroom and vegetable soup instead of grilled fish, then revealed that he tested mushrooms by waiting to see whether they caused diarrhea.
• Sarutobi developed stomach pains after drinking the soup but stayed with Naruto and gave him a speech about the vast world and the insignificance of personal troubles.
• Sarutobi asked what Naruto wanted to become, and Menma challenged the idea that becoming Hokage was the only way to earn trust.
• Little Naruto said he could just be himself, delighting Menma and darkening Sarutobi's expression.

Kakashi reported Naruto’s isolated routine to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who chose to preserve the villagers’ hostility while focusing on Konoha’s alliance with Kumogakure and the Hyuga Clan’s preparations for Hinata Hyuga’s third birthday. In Naruto’s sealing space, Menma taught Naruto how to apply a lesson from The Analects to the rule of law.

• Kakashi told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Naruto spent his days reading, exercising, staring into space, and training alone, and Hiruzen worried about his isolation while deciding not to change the situation.
• Hiruzen asked Kakashi about the Hyuga Clan’s preparations and learned they were for Hinata Hyuga’s third birthday, when Branch Family children would receive the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.
• Hiruzen instructed Kakashi to deliver a generous gift to the Hyuga Clan as Kumogakure’s delegation prepared to arrive and establish an alliance.
• In Naruto’s sealing space, Menma quizzed Naruto on The Analects and Morality and the Rule of Law, striking his hand when he failed to apply what he had studied.
• Menma explained that repaying a robbery required returning the stolen money and imposing additional punishment, because justice was not a simple numerical exchange.

Uzumaki Menma used books and fabricated anime to help Little Naruto understand the world after the Third Hokage’s explanation only made the villagers avoid him. The chapter ended with Nine-Tails asking whether Menma planned to keep acting as Naruto’s nanny in the Sealing Space.

• Uzumaki Menma teased Nine-Tails with Little Naruto over the meaning of sayings from the Ranting Analects.
• Little Naruto chose to watch Ultra Beast Force, which Menma had created with the Crimson Moon Book and his memories.
• The villagers ignored Little Naruto after the Third Hokage explained that he was not the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.
• Little Naruto asked Menma whether he had brought trouble to the villagers, and Menma began guiding him with books and anime.
• Nine-Tails asked Menma whether he intended to stay in the Sealing Space and keep looking after Little Naruto.

Menma discussed his plans with Kurama and asked to borrow Chakra so he could go out, while Naruto learned to refine Chakra and began training in the Shadow Clone Technique. The chapter ended with Menma preparing to interfere in the Hyuga Main and Branch Families’ conflict on the day of Hinata’s third birthday and the Cloud delegation’s visit.

• Menma told Kurama he preferred to let people recognize and break their own cage rather than destroy everything himself.
• Menma asked Kurama to lend him Chakra for an upcoming trip outside, and Kurama agreed.
• On December 20th, Naruto successfully refined Chakra, and Menma began teaching him the B-Rank Shadow Clone Technique.
• Kurama warned Menma that the Hyuga Main House might have hidden strength if he intervened in the Caged Bird ceremony.
• Menma dismissed Kurama’s warning, saying he was very strong.

Menma used Naruto’s body and Kurama’s chakra to slip away during an ANBU shift change and enter the Hyuga Clan compound during Hinata’s birthday celebration. There he encountered young Neji and then stopped when a man called the boy’s name.

• Menma waited for Kakashi to leave and told Naruto to go back to sleep before drawing on Kurama’s chakra during an ANBU shift change.
• Menma created a Shadow Clone and told Kurama that he despised a stagnant world destined to perish, urging Kurama to keep moving forward.
• Menma entered the Hyuga compound, avoiding its sentries after studying its defenses with the Mind’s Eye of the Kagura.
• Menma saw a boy practicing the Gentle Fist and recognized him as one of the Twelve Little Strong.
• A long-haired man entered the courtyard and called out, "Neji."

Hizashi recalled how Hiashi used the Caged Bird seal to punish him after he showed killing intent toward Hinata, leaving Neji resentful of the Main House. A mysterious singer lured Hizashi away from the Hyuga compound as Konoha’s peace treaty with Kumogakure led the Cloud delegation to Hinata’s birthday banquet.

• Hizashi praised Neji’s Gentle Fist training and remembered how Hiashi had used the Caged Bird seal to punish him for showing killing intent toward Hinata.
• Hizashi warned Neji to hide his talent and feelings from the Main House, while Neji said he understood.
• An eerie voice sang “Kagome, Kagome” in the Hyuga compound, and a shadow fled over the courtyard wall.
• Hizashi told Neji to alert the clan, then pursued the fleeing shadow.
• The Third Hokage and the Cloud delegation concluded a peace alliance, and the delegation leader asked to attend Hinata Hyuga’s birthday banquet.
• The Third Hokage and other Konoha officials accompanied the Cloud delegation to Hinata’s celebration.

Menma trapped Hizashi Hyuga in an auditory genjutsu, then confronted him about an approaching death and the choice to free the caged bird. He killed the bird when it resisted escape and left Hizashi shaken, promising they would meet again.

• Hizashi realized Menma had trapped him in an illusion inside the courtyard and dispelled the auditory genjutsu.
• Menma threatened Hizashi and told him to listen, care for Neji, and choose a path away from death.
• Menma explained that the nursery rhyme was called “Caged Bird” and that he had come to set the bird free.
• Hizashi discovered Menma was a powerful clone whose Chakra he could not see through with his Byakugan.
• Menma tried to remove the bird from its cage, but when it struggled, he killed it and left, saying they would meet again.

The Kumogakure delegation leader used the peace visit as cover to abduct Hinata and provoke a crisis between Kumogakure and Leaf Village. Hyuga Hiashi stopped him, but discovered the would-be kidnapper was the delegation leader himself, leaving the clan caught in what appeared to be a deliberate trap.

• The delegation leader considered Kumogakure's plan to obtain a Hyuga Byakugan or use a failed abduction to weaken Leaf Village and justify war.
• After the banquet, the delegation leader escaped ANBU surveillance with a Lightning Clone and infiltrated the Hyuga Clan Head Residence.
• The delegation leader knocked Younger Hinata unconscious and carried her toward the edge of the Hyuga Clan Grounds.
• Hyuga Hiashi intercepted the delegation leader and struck him as he deliberately rushed into the attack and screamed.
• Hyuga Hiashi removed the unconscious man's mask, recognized the delegation leader, and realized the Hyuga Clan had fallen into a trap.

Kumogakure demanded Hyuga Hiashi’s corpse after he killed the Cloud Envoy leader, threatening war and stirring pressure within Leaf Village. Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared defenses and planned to consult the Hyuga Main Branch, while Danzo welcomed the prospect of war and considered pushing the Hyuga Clan to act.

• Kumogakure demanded Hyuga Hiashi’s corpse and massed ninja near the Land of Hot Water, while Leaf Village residents blamed the Hyuga Clan.
• Mitokado Homura reported that Danzo had refused to attend the Hokage Office meeting, and Utatane Koharu shared the jonin vote favoring a peaceful resolution.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura concluded that Cloud Village had engineered the incident to provoke war and obtain the Byakugan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered a defensive line established and decided to discuss the crisis with the Hyuga Main Branch.
• Shimura Danzō told Ryoma that war with Cloud Village was coming and said Root would push the Hyuga Clan if necessary.

Hizashi went to meet the Main House elders, while Uzumaki Menma prepared to disrupt the standoff between Leaf Village and Cloud Village. Menma ambushed a Konoha patrol near Moon Valley and silenced its survivors.

• Hizashi faced Hiashi at the Grand Elder's residence, assured him he would not threaten Hinata again, and walked away while humming about the Caged Bird.
• Hiashi watched Hizashi disappear into the shadows and grew worried about his plans.
• Uzumaki Menma arrived at Moon Valley and decided to provoke the restrained Leaf and Cloud forces.
• A five-man Konoha patrol investigated a noise in the forest, and an unseen attacker beheaded its captain.
• Menma broke another patrol member's jaw, told him not to make a sound, and held up a familiar head.

At a Hyuga meeting, Hizashi chose to die in place of his brother Hiashi, hoping to protect his family and the village. Before the sacrifice could be settled, Kumogakure attacked Leaf forces with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and Danzo appeared as Sarutobi questioned whether he had engineered the crisis.

• Hiashi offered his own life to avert war, but the Grand Elder proposed handing over Hizashi instead to keep the Byakugan from Kumogakure.
• Hizashi knocked Hiashi unconscious, declared that he was choosing to protect his brother, family, and village, and gave a letter for Neji to a Branch Family guard.
• Hizashi realized that the masked person who had predicted his death had anticipated the events, and he began to warn Sarutobi about the Three-Eyed Fox Mask.
• A Root member reported that the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki had attacked Leaf forces in Moon Valley and killed nearly a hundred ninja.
• Danzō arrived beside Sarutobi and asked if they should go, prompting Sarutobi to accuse him of causing the crisis.

The Fourth Raikage rejected Leaf Village’s accusations and decided to attack the Land of Fire Defense Line with Killer B. The pair arrived in Moon Valley, where a bloody scene and a severed head awaited them.

• The Fourth Raikage learned that Leaf Village had accused Cloud Village and Killer B of attacking its forces, while public opinion favored Leaf Village.
• Mabui warned the Fourth Raikage that Leaf Village’s evidence was persuasive and that war could ruin Cloud Village’s reputation.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered the Heavenly Transfer Technique prepared and brought Killer B to attack the Land of Fire Defense Line.
• Mabui used the Heavenly Transfer Technique to send the Fourth Raikage and Killer B to Moon Valley.
• The Fourth Raikage arrived in Moon Valley and saw a head roll past his feet amid a strong smell of blood.

The Fourth Raikage and Killer B discovered that a mysterious perfect Jinchuriki had killed Asui and other shinobi. They confronted Menma in the forest, where his masked summoning beast Azure Dragon repelled their coordinated attack.

• The Fourth Raikage examined Asui's body and concluded that a powerful Lightning Release attack had killed the Elite Jonin instantly.
• Killer B relayed Gyūki's assessment that the chakra belonged to a perfect Jinchuriki, though Gyūki could not identify which Tailed Beast it was.
• The Fourth Raikage and Killer B were surrounded by jackals before Menma emerged from the forest wearing a white Three-Eyed Fox Mask.
• The Fourth Raikage and Killer B attacked Menma with a Double Liger Bomb, but his Azure Dragon summoning beast struck them away with its tail.
• Gyūki warned Killer B that Azure Dragon's summoning technique was fused with Tailed Beast Chakra and told him not to let it touch him.
• Menma announced that it was his turn to have fun.

Menma overwhelmed A and Killer B with a devastating defensive technique and hurled a mysterious black sphere at B’s Tailed Beast Ball. Cloud Ninja reinforcements witnessed the catastrophic collision and feared they were facing divine power.

• The Azure Dragon attacked A and Killer B, but they evaded it with Lightning Substitutes and counterattacked.
• A struck Menma with Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop, only to have the force rebound and shatter bones in his hand and body.
• A restrained Menma while Killer B fired a small Tailed Beast Ball, but Menma broke A’s arms and formed a ringed black sphere.
• Menma threw the black sphere at Killer B’s Tailed Beast Ball, and their collision unleashed a tremendous explosion across the valley.
• Cloud Ninja reinforcements arrived and were engulfed by the blast’s terrifying shockwave, leaving them convinced they were witnessing the power of God.