Chapter Summaries

Menma traveled through the Grass Country toward Kusagakure to seek the Paradise Box and bring its Uzumaki survivors to the Land of Snow, while Kukomaka questioned him about the mission and his ability to suppress his Dark Side. They left the conversation with Kukomaka willing to leave his mental space, though still scolding him for calling her Little Black.

• Menma traveled through the Grass Country and explained to Kukomaka that its rulers were corrupt and Kusagakure had declined into a minor village.
• Menma teased Kukomaka by calling her Little Black, and she angrily insisted that he use her name, Kukomaka.
• Menma explained that the Paradise Box could grant wishes through twisted interpretations rather than straightforwardly fulfilling them.
• Kukomaka asked whether Menma could suppress his Dark Side without her and said she was tired of inhabiting his blood-soaked mental space.
• Menma asserted that he was confident, and Kukomaka agreed she had had enough of the place before once more demanding that he call her Kukomaka.

Menma arrived near Kusagakure and rescued Karin and her mother from a grass shinobi who was exploiting the mother’s healing ability. He healed her enough to stabilize her condition, and the chapter ended with her pleading for Karin’s life.

• Menma used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura near Kusagakure and sensed several unusual Chakra sources.
• Menma found a grass shinobi biting Karin's Mother to heal his injuries and threatening to bite Karin.
• Menma killed the grass shinobi by snapping his neck before he could touch Karin.
• Menma covered Karin's Mother with his coat and used Yang Release Chakra to heal her, turning her hair red again.
• Karin fed her mother rice porridge, and Menma stopped healing her because her Chakra and life force were depleted.
• Karin's Mother pleaded with Menma to spare Karin, offering herself in her daughter's place.

Menma rescued Uzumaki Kana and Karin from Kusagakure and learned that other Uzumaki clan members were imprisoned in Hozuki Castle. He sent Kana and Karin toward the Land of Snow, then reached the prison, where Kisame negotiated with its warden, Mui.

• Menma warned Uzumaki Kana that Kusagakure's chakra-draining treatment could kill her and offered to protect her and Karin if they left with him.
• Karin urged her mother to go with Menma, and Kana agreed after realizing Kusagakure had treated them as tools.
• Menma revealed his Adamantine Sealing Chains, earning Kana's trust, and learned that surviving Uzumaki clan members were imprisoned in Hozuki Castle.
• Menma sent a Shadow Clone to escort Kana and Karin to the Land of Snow, then accepted Kana's clan token for the imprisoned Uzumaki.
• Menma arrived at Hozuki Castle and saw Kisame negotiate with Mui, who wanted to place a jutsu formula on Akatsuki before their bounty mission.

Menma discovered that Mui was gathering mercenaries and prisoners at Hozuki Castle, possibly to open the Paradise Box, while Kisame and Itachi entered the city. He found the imprisoned Uzumaki survivors and, using Uzumaki Kana’s token to earn their trust, prepared to lead them out before the coming battle.

• Mui branded Kisame and Itachi with the heavenly prison seal, but they entered Hozuki Castle undeterred.
• Mui opened the gates to let people in and sealed those who tried to leave, while guards and newcomers gathered throughout the city.
• Menma suspected Mui was gathering Chakra to open the Paradise Box and used Genjutsu: Mirror Flower Water Moon to infiltrate the prison.
• Menma found fifteen surviving Uzumaki Clan members imprisoned in a cell and offered to rescue them.
• Menma showed the Uzumaki Elder Uzumaki Kana’s token, earning the clan members’ trust, and told them to follow him because they could not join the battle.

Menma killed the guards in Hozuki Castle’s guard room and left the rescued Uzumaki clan members behind as he flew toward the plaza. There, Mui began feeding prisoners to the Paradise Box, while Itachi and Kisame watched and Kisame’s Samehada reacted uneasily to the box.

• Menma slaughtered the Hidden Grass shinobi in the guard room with wind blades and told the Uzumaki clan members to wait.
• Menma flew above Hozuki Castle and realized that events at the plaza had begun.
• Guards herded nearly a thousand prisoners into the plaza, where Kisame questioned Mui about his intentions.
• Mui presented the Paradise Box and ordered the guards to capture prisoners and feed them to its fearful demon face.
• The Paradise Box opened its mouth and devoured the prisoners brought before it.

Mui fed the Paradise Box Chakra, then revealed that he wanted it to return his child, Muku, rather than fulfill Kusagakure’s ambitions. As the box began to release Muku, Menma arrived above the plaza and unleashed a devastating attack that left nearly everyone dead.

• Mui’s prisoners were drained and fed to the Paradise Box, but it remained unsatisfied, so he asked the Bounty Ninjas and Kusagakure Shinobi to provide Chakra.
• Kisame and Itachi resisted Mui’s Heaven Prison Technique, and their Chakra helped awaken the Paradise Box.
• Mui asked the Paradise Box to return his child, Muku, enraging the Kusagakure Shinobi as the box opened and released a monstrous presence.
• Itachi and the others noticed Menma hovering above the plaza as he formed a small black sphere and announced that it was time to clear the field.
• Menma dropped the sphere, and its explosion devastated the plaza, reducing nearly everyone there to ashes.

Menma devastated the plaza with overwhelming attacks as the Paradise Box released Muku, who killed Mui and unleashed a force that turned corpses into Living Corpses. The transformed dead began attacking everyone nearby.

• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki tried to withstand Menma’s black orb, but its blast devastated the plaza despite Kisame’s Water Release.
• The gathered ninjas attacked Menma, but his invisible field deflected their weapons before his Lightning Release: Ten Thousand Thunders struck them.
• Muku emerged from the Paradise Box and pierced Mui’s chest as Mui realized the figure was not truly his son.
• Muku killed Mui and called the people in the plaza delicious treats as the Paradise Box spread dark purple Chakra.
• The Chakra turned nearby corpses into Living Corpses, which attacked every living thing around them.

The Sage of Six Paths watched the Paradise Box reopen and chose not to interfere, while the chaos at Hozuki Castle escalated. Menma revealed overwhelming power, battered Wu out of the sky, and left the onlookers terrified of both monsters.

• The Sage of Six Paths sensed the Paradise Box reopening and observed Menma, but decided that events remained within his expectations.
• Living Corpses attacked the Bounty Ninjas, and Kisame and Itachi realized they had to deal with the Paradise Box to stop them.
• Itachi used Amaterasu against Muku, but Muku dodged the flames, transformed into a flying monster, and rose toward Menma.
• Wu tried to hunt Menma, but Menma unleashed a Chakra Cloak and struck Wu with a kick and a punch, smashing it into the plaza.
• The people watching the fight feared Menma as much as Wu and concluded that two monsters were beyond their ability to fight.

Menma considered using the Paradise Box to process negative Wish Power while provoking Wu into a fight. Wu attacked him, but Menma defended himself with Adamantine Sealing Chains and remained unharmed.

• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame decided to retreat, judging Menma and Wu too dangerous to handle.
• Menma examined the Paradise Box and considered whether Shin Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan could copy a weakened version of it.
• Menma approached Wu and released some of his suppressed malicious thoughts, challenging Wu to entertain him.
• Wu attacked Menma with a storm of black feathers, but Menma blocked them with a shield of Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Wu charged at Menma with a massive claw, but Menma stood unharmed and mocked its aim.

Menma defeated Wu at Hozuki Castle and absorbed it through the Nine-Faced Beast seal, gaining a Vermilion Bird with perception and flight. News of the attack reached Iwagakure, where Ōnoki began considering Red Moon’s potential connection to the recently discovered Ge Lei Er ore vein.

• Menma dodged Wu’s attacks by confusing its ability to sense malice, then tested its strength with a punch.
• Wu fired a blast of dark Chakra at Menma, but Menma blocked it with a golden skeleton and split the attack with a sword of light.
• Menma severed Wu’s limbs and used the Nine-Faced Beast seal conversion to absorb it, summoning the Vermilion Bird.
• Menma rode the Vermilion Bird away with the Paradise Box as the surviving shinobi remembered the names Red Moon and Ame-no-Minaka-Nushi.
• An Anbu Ninja told Ōnoki that one Red Moon member had destroyed Hozuki Castle, and Ōnoki ordered further investigation.
• Ōnoki wondered whether Red Moon could be used like Akatsuki as he considered the newly discovered Ge Lei Er ore vein in the Wind Country.

Ōnoki suspected the attack on Hozuki Castle might conceal plans against Earth Country and worried that tensions could trigger another Shinobi World War. After Deidara caused an explosion in Iwagakure, Ōnoki angrily doubted the young shinobi could inherit his position but resolved to keep him safe while he was alive.

• Ōnoki reviewed ANBU reports about Hozuki Castle and wondered whether the attack was a distraction aimed at Earth Country.
• Ōnoki dismissed Kitsuchi's confidence that the other villages were unprepared for war and considered the wider tensions among the nations.
• Ōnoki thought Deidara might succeed him as Tsuchikage, despite his concern about Deidara's flaws.
• A huge explosion shook Iwagakure, and Kitsuchi identified Deidara's so-called art as its likely cause before leaving to investigate.
• Ōnoki hurt his back in anger, complained that Deidara could not inherit the Tsuchikage position, then decided to protect him while he still could.

Menma used the Paradise Box to create a clone body for Kukomaka, who transferred her soul into it and began adjusting to human form. After confirming the body worked, Menma took her outside to fight and help her body and soul harmonize.

• Menma used the Paradise Box as a core while cultivating a clone body with the new laboratory equipment.
• Kukomaka appeared in Menma’s mental space in human form, and Menma removed her seals and instructed her to use the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Kukomaka transferred her soul into the clone, which developed her appearance as the Paradise Box’s Chakra construct entered it.
• Kukomaka struggled to speak and move in her new body, then dressed and tested her Chakra and ability to use ninjutsu.
• Menma assessed their compatibility and invited Kukomaka outside to fight so her body and soul could adjust faster.

Kakashi noticed the sudden popularity of Princess Gale and Robin Video, then Menma and Kukomaka found the Sky Ninja’s hidden base in the Land of Woods. They exposed the underground fortress, Ancor Vantian, just as Shinnō prepared to revive the Sky Ninja Village with Zero-Tails.

• Kakashi saw a long line outside Robin Video and considered the company’s ties to the Land of Snow and its daimyo, Kazahana Koyuki.
• Kakashi lamented that Robin had not worked with Jiraiya to bring Make-Out Paradise to the big screen, then left using the Body Flicker Technique.
• Menma and Kukomaka searched the Land of Woods and discovered the Sky Ninja’s hidden underground base beneath a forest.
• Menma smashed through the ground, exposing Ancor Vantian, and Kukomaka announced that the Sky Ninjas would be her prey.
• Shinnō told a subordinate that the fortress’s weapons repairs were nearly complete and planned to use Zero-Tails to restore Ancor Vantian and attack Konoha.

Menma and Kukomaka broke into Shinnō’s fortress and confronted him over the Artificial Tailed Beast and his flying fortress, Ancor Vantian. Kukomaka swiftly overwhelmed Shinnō, then complained that he was too weak to be a worthwhile sparring partner.

• Shinnō learned that two Red Moon Organization members had reached the central control room and ordered his Sky Ninja to gather research materials so they could escape.
• Shinnō’s escape was cut off when an explosion blasted open the passage door, and Menma and Kukomaka emerged unharmed from the flames.
• Shinnō offered Menma the Artificial Tailed Beast technology, but Menma tossed aside the scroll and revealed that he also wanted Ancor Vantian.
• Kukomaka struck Shinnō through the abdomen and stomped on his head, then complained to Menma that Shinnō was too weak to be her sparring partner.

Menma and Kukomaka brought Shinnō to the Zero-Tails, where Kukomaka fought the artificial beast and revealed her Jinchuriki power. Shinnō tried to bargain as Kukomaka prepared to attack him.

• Menma told Shinnō that the Zero-Tails he created would be Kukomaka’s opponent.
• Shinnō led Menma and Kukomaka to the fortress’s Power Room, where they found the Zero-Tails in a container.
• Kukomaka attacked the Zero-Tails, but its tentacles regenerated and absorbed some of her Chakra.
• Kukomaka transformed into a Jinchuriki with a crimson Chakra Cloak and seven tails, frightening Shinnō and the Zero-Tails.
• Shinnō tried to negotiate and offered to submit, but Kukomaka roared and threatened him.

Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Jiraiya shared a meal at Minato and Kushina’s former villa before Jiraiya began training Sasuke. The chapter ended with Jiraiya agreeing to let Naruto listen as he taught Sasuke the Rasengan, a technique Naruto had already learned.

• Kakashi and Jiraiya visited Naruto and Sasuke at the villa where Minato and Kushina had lived, and Sasuke called them over to help with the meal.
• Naruto served a lavish lunch, and Jiraiya and Sasuke eagerly ate while Kakashi reflected on Naruto’s lonely childhood.
• Jiraiya watched Naruto train and thought his calm temperament and Uzumaki physique made him well suited to learning Sage Mode.
• Jiraiya told Sasuke he would teach him a seal-less technique developed by the Fourth Hokage from the principles of the Tailed Beast Ball.
• Naruto recognized the technique as the Rasengan, which he had already learned, but pretended to be curious and asked to listen in.
• Jiraiya agreed to let Naruto sit in on Sasuke’s lesson.

Naruto and Sasuke rapidly mastered the Rasengan and began experimenting with nature and shape transformations, shocking Jiraiya. After Naruto revealed that the Nine-Tails interfered with his chakra, Jiraiya planned to undo the seal the next day, then took the boys to Leaf Village’s bustling market for a different kind of training.

• Jiraiya explained the Rasengan and challenged Naruto and Sasuke to burst water balloons, but Naruto formed a Rasengan within minutes.
• Naruto and Sasuke learned the Rasengan and Big Ball Rasengan, then infused them with Wind Release and Fire Release chakra and launched the unstable results over the lake.
• Naruto told Jiraiya that the Nine-Tails had been interfering with his chakra and admitted he could control four Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Jiraiya decided to summon Gamatora and undo Naruto’s seal in a secluded place the next day.
• Jiraiya took Naruto and Sasuke to Leaf Village’s crowded market, where Sasuke admired its liveliness and Naruto privately found it noisy.

Jiraiya began helping Naruto draw on Kurama’s chakra after discovering a Five Elements Seal had been added to Naruto’s Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. Naruto accepted Kurama’s power, but the chakra awakened destructive desires within him.

• Jiraiya had Sasuke sign a Mount Myōboku summoning contract, while Naruto declined a popsicle because of his restricted diet.
• Jiraiya took Naruto to an isolated place and summoned Gamatora to examine the seal on Naruto’s abdomen.
• Jiraiya discovered that someone had added a Five Elements Seal to Naruto’s Eight Trigrams Sealing Style and prepared to undo it.
• Inside his mental space, Naruto reassured Minato and Kushina that he was ready to take Kurama’s chakra.
• Naruto asked Kurama to lend him power, and a Scarlet Chakra cloak formed as violent impulses flooded his mind.

Naruto absorbed the Nine-Tails' Chakra as his appearance grew increasingly feral, while he insisted he would not lose himself before achieving his ideal. The transformation sent a scarlet pillar of light into the sky, drawing Hiruzen Sarutobi and the ANBU to the scene, where Jiraiya defended Naruto's choice.

• Naruto absorbed the Nine-Tails' Chakra, developed five tails, and told Fox Teacher he would not fall before achieving his ideal.
• In the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi told Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Shimura Danzō that Naruto had refused Jiraiya as a teacher and Sasuke Uchiha had become Jiraiya's student.
• A scarlet pillar of light and the Nine-Tails' aura shook Leaf Village, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to send Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to evacuate villagers and head to the outskirts with ANBU.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi found Naruto absorbing the Nine Tails Chakra as a sixth tail emerged, and Jiraiya assured him Naruto was not out of control.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi angrily accused Jiraiya of endangering Naruto, and Jiraiya urged him to stop treating Naruto like a child and trust him.

Naruto gained the Nine-Tails’ acknowledgment and used their combined chakra to unleash Heavy Particle, a destructive attack that tore through the forest and exploded above Konoha. The chapter ended as the blast’s light, heat, and shockwaves spread across the sky.

• Naruto’s scarlet chakra cloak changed into a golden cloak, and Hiruzen stopped the ANBU from attacking him.
• Hiruzen recognized Naruto’s transformation as the kind Mito and Kushina had undergone, while Jiraiya defended his decision to help Naruto.
• Naruto told Hiruzen that Kurama had begun to acknowledge him and tested the Nine-Tails’ chakra and its effects.
• Naruto combined his chakra with the Nine-Tails’ to form a scarlet sphere and called the attack Heavy Particle.
• Naruto launched the sphere through the forest, where it erased trees, then triggered a massive explosion above Konoha.