Chapter Summaries

Naruto persuaded Black Zetsu to cooperate against the Sage of Six Paths, using Urashiki’s corpse to support his account of the Otsutsuki threat. Black Zetsu explained how Hagoromo and Hamura could affect the living world, leaving Naruto to consider their possible tactics and resolve to grow stronger.

• Naruto told Black Zetsu that an Otsutsuki had come to destroy the Ninja World and showed him Urashiki’s corpse.
• Naruto proposed that he and Black Zetsu work together to protect the world, rescue Kaguya, and first deal with Hagoromo.
• Naruto marked Black Zetsu, freed him, and returned White Zetsu as the two began cooperating.
• Black Zetsu explained that Hagoromo and Hamura survived in the Pure Land and needed chakra-based mediums to influence reality.
• Naruto considered how Hagoromo might use Impure World Reincarnation, Mount Myōboku, and possible contact with a parallel world, then resolved to strengthen himself.

After Kisame failed to reach Uchiha Madara, he reported Itachi’s death to Pain, who suspected that Madara and Zetsu had disappeared in the aftermath of the battle. Pain ordered Akatsuki’s members to return to Amegakure, where security tightened as the story reached the seventh day after Itachi and Sasuke’s fight.

• Kisame contacted Pain after he could not get a response from Uchiha Madara and reported that Sasuke had killed Itachi with a powerful Lightning Release technique.
• Pain summoned the reachable Akatsuki members, and Deidara reacted eagerly to news of Sasuke’s explosive technique while arguing with Sasori about art.
• Pain noted that Orochimaru had defected, Itachi was dead, and Zetsu and Madara were missing, then identified Sasuke and Naruto as possible enemies.
• Pain ordered Akatsuki members to finish their current missions and return to headquarters in Amegakure.
• Akatsuki members returned to Amegakure over the following days, and security tightened as the seventh day after Itachi and Sasuke’s battle arrived.

Naruto kept Black Zetsu under his watch after recognizing that he might use Nagato to attack him. Black Zetsu concealed his plans by offering money and support, while Naruto promised to help free Kaguya and left Black Zetsu cautiously hopeful.

• Naruto ordered Black Zetsu to stay within his sight for half a month and revealed that he would go to Amegakure in seven days.
• Black Zetsu considered using Nagato to wear Naruto down, then escaping to resume the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Black Zetsu claimed he had wanted to leave to manage the Underground Exchange Shop and offered most of its future earnings to support Naruto.
• Naruto accepted Black Zetsu's explanation and proposed going to the moon to awaken Kaguya's consciousness and free her.
• Black Zetsu took Naruto's offer as a sign of sincerity and decided to increase the funds he would contribute.

Naruto and Black Zetsu grew closer as Naruto accepted valuable mineral deposits and promised to attempt a rescue of Black Zetsu’s mother within twenty years. Meanwhile, allies gathered outside Amegakure for a battle, and Itachi joined Sasuke through a portal despite Sasuke’s objections.

• Black Zetsu showed Naruto an iron mine and a Chakra Metal deposit in the River Country, and Naruto accepted their coordinates as payment.
• Naruto and Black Zetsu spent several days talking, and Black Zetsu also revealed a gold mine to Naruto.
• Naruto promised to attempt the Moon-Splitting Mother-Rescue Operation within twenty years, while privately planning to seek outside help against powerful Otsutsuki.
• Terumi Mei prepared to join the mission, while Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru entered Naruto’s portal in disguises; Sakura stayed behind to train with Shizune.
• Sasuke entered the portal after his Flying Thunder God Seal activated, and Itachi grabbed him and followed.
• Sasuke told Itachi to go back, but Itachi pleaded to take part in the battle and help clear out weaker enemies.

Sasuke refused to let his exhausted brother Itachi join the battle, then Naruto explained that their mission in Amegakure was to confront Akatsuki and guide it toward peace. The group learned about Akatsuki’s origins, its current leadership, and its plan to capture the Tailed Beasts.

• Sasuke sent Itachi back to rest and had Naruto nourish him with Yang Release Chakra.
• Sasuke asked Naruto to explain the mission as the assembled Kage-level fighters prepared to act.
• Naruto said they had come to Amegakure to redirect Akatsuki, expand their organization, and secure a base.
• Kakashi and Terumi Mei questioned Akatsuki’s importance and Terumi Mei’s place in Naruto’s organization; Naruto reminded her to repay the money, and she fell silent.
• Naruto revealed that Akatsuki’s founders were Jiraiya’s former students Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, and explained how Danzo and Hanzo’s betrayal led to Yahiko’s death.
• Naruto explained that Nagato later killed Hanzo and led Akatsuki to pursue peace by collecting the nine Tailed Beasts and creating a weapon of war.

Naruto led his group toward Amegakure and cleared the rain clouds that carried the Rain Tiger at Will Technique, revealing their approach to Nagato. He swept past the village guards, insisting that knocking out every witness counted as stealth, while Nagato sent Konan to investigate.

• Naruto asked the group for their code names, and they chose Priestess, White Snow, Sixteen, Handsome and Elegant, Pale Cold, Electromaster, and Menma.
• Naruto led the group from a point five kilometers outside Amegakure and explained that the Rain Tiger at Will Technique detected unfamiliar Chakra.
• Naruto used Sage Art. Wind Style. Rain Clears to Sunny to disperse the rain clouds over Amegakure.
• Naruto carried the group toward the village on a powerful gust, then used Sage Art, Wind Style. Wall-Hanging Technique to knock out the guards at the main gate.
• Naruto explained that the Rain Tiger at Will Technique would expose them anyway, while he continued sweeping witnesses into walls.
• Nagato sensed that the rain technique had been dispersed, suspected Naruto and Sasuke were approaching, and told Konan to scout them.

Nagato mobilized Amegakure and the Akatsuki as Naruto’s group forced its way toward the village’s core. Naruto revealed that his rapid Chakra recovery let him use powerful Wind Release without draining his reserves, and the chapter ended as Nagato and the Akatsuki confronted the group.

• Konan spread Paper Butterflies across Amegakure to scout and mobilize the village, while Nagato alerted the Akatsuki and began awakening the Six Paths of Pain.
• Naruto carried his companions through Amegakure and used Wind Release to knock aside the ninjas who tried to stop them.
• Kakashi warned Naruto to conserve Chakra, but Naruto said his own recovery outpaced the Wind Release’s consumption.
• Terumi Mei recognized that Naruto could face an entire village, while Orochimaru considered the research value of Naruto’s cells.
• Naruto brought his group to Amegakure’s core and sensed Nagato and other powerful Chakras nearby.
• Nagato appeared with the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, and the Akatsuki members Deidara, Sasori, Kakuzu, Hidan, and Kisame.

Naruto confronted the Akatsuki and demanded their surrender, then launched an attack when they refused. He defeated Sasori by stealing his puppet core and cut Hidan into pieces, while the battle continued.

• Naruto demanded that every Akatsuki member surrender, but they answered with hostility.
• Deidara's clay spiders exploded around Naruto, but his wind barrier protected him from the blast.
• Sasori, Deidara, and Konan attacked Naruto with puppets, explosives, and paper butterflies, but Naruto broke through their defenses.
• Naruto shattered Hiruko, pursued Sasori, and pulled Sasori's puppet core from his chest before dodging Hidan's scythe.
• Naruto drew his sword and struck Hidan, cutting him into pieces.

Naruto overwhelmed the Akatsuki members in battle, taking down Sasori, Hidan, and Kakuzu before turning to Deidara and Konan. He knocked Deidara unconscious and trapped Konan with Adamantine Sealing Chains as the Six Paths of Pain moved to confront him.

• Naruto defeated Sasori and Hidan within a few exchanges, astonishing the Akatsuki and the people watching.
• Naruto broke through Kakuzu's attacks, pinned him to a wall with Black Rods, and disabled two of his hearts.
• Deva Path Pain led the Six Paths of Pain forward to block Naruto, while Naruto created a Shadow Clone to attack Deidara.
• Naruto used a Flying Thunder God Seal on a marble to reach Deidara and knocked him unconscious with a barrage of strikes.
• A concealed Shadow Clone caught Konan off guard and bound her with Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Naruto confronted Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain while restraining Konan, and used his knowledge of their abilities to break through their formation. He destroyed the Deva Path and incapacitated the Naraka Path, leaving the battle ongoing.

• Naruto used the Uzumaki Clan’s Chains of Heaven to restrain Konan and keep her from using chakra.
• Naruto revealed that he knew Nagato’s identity and challenged him to surrender, but Nagato insisted that his own plan would bring peace.
• The Six Paths of Pain attacked Naruto with attraction, missiles, lasers, and summoned beasts, while Jiraiya nearly intervened and Kakashi stopped him.
• Naruto escaped Banshō Ten'in with the Flying Thunder God Technique and appeared beside the Naraka Path at the rear of Pain’s formation.
• The Deva Path blocked Naruto’s Sage Art: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, absorbed Sage Chakra, and petrified before splitting apart.
• Naruto kicked the Human Path away and struck the Naraka Path with a Rasengan, sending it crashing into a wall.

Naruto drove the fight with Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain outside Amegakure after Kisame’s attack delayed him and devastated the battlefield. Deva Path Pain then struck Naruto with overwhelming gravity and began Chibaku Tensei, leaving Naruto being dragged into the air with the earth.

• Kisame flooded the battlefield and attacked Naruto with water sharks, but Naruto unleashed Sage Art: Wind Style: Tornado Storm and left Kisame badly injured.
• Kisame’s delay gave Nagato time to repair Naraka Path and revive Deva Path, while Naruto decided the fight had to move outside the village.
• Naruto and Deva Path Pain flew beyond Amegakure, while the others stayed behind to handle the captured Akatsuki members and Orochimaru prepared to study them.
• Deva Path Pain pulled Naruto close with Super Banshō Ten'in and blasted him away with Super Shinra Tensei, breaking Naruto’s mask and shattering much of his defenses.
• Deva Path Pain used Chibaku Tensei, and its gravity began pulling Naruto and the surrounding earth into the air.

Naruto defeated Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei and explained a plan to build an organization that could unite forces, overthrow the existing powers, and establish lasting peace. Nagato listened with growing interest and hope.

• Naruto combined Kurama’s and Isobu’s power, armored Kurama with Susanoo, and cut apart Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei.
• Naruto kicked Deva Path Pain down, and Nagato admitted defeat.
• Naruto brought Deva Path Pain back to Nagato in Amegakure and argued that even powerful people were not invincible.
• Naruto told Nagato that lasting peace required building a capable organization, gathering members and resources, uniting supporters, and defeating the old powers.
• Naruto described how the organization could govern after the war and preserve peace, and Nagato listened with growing yearning.

Naruto showed Nagato the likely failure of his terrorist peace and a vision of lasting peace sustained by broad support and inherited ideals. Nagato accepted that his methods were wrong and asked Naruto to let him help build peace.

• Naruto used a Genjutsu to show Nagato how his terrorist peace would collapse after his death.
• Naruto showed Nagato a future where a united force established peace and later generations continued to protect it.
• Naruto urged Nagato to read, travel, and understand ordinary people before attempting to reform the world.
• Nagato reflected on Naruto's words and decided his past pain could be given meaning if true peace was achieved.
• Nagato asked Naruto to let him contribute to achieving peace, and Naruto accepted his hand.

Naruto persuaded Nagato to abandon his plan to create peace through terrorism and helped him recover his strength. After Nagato agreed to work with Naruto, Naruto pierced his chest to remove a Cursed Seal controlling him, then began healing his heart.

• Naruto's allies sealed off Amegakure and stopped spies from escaping or sending out information.
• Nagato showed Naruto the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and explained its connection to the Tailed Beasts.
• Naruto asked Nagato to absorb chakra from the Five-Tails, then supplied additional chakra to restore Nagato's youthful strength.
• Naruto suddenly pierced Nagato's chest, prompting Nagato to question why his new ally had attacked him.
• Naruto explained that he had removed a Cursed Seal from Nagato's heart and used Yang Release Chakra to repair the wound.

Naruto revealed that Madara had manipulated Nagato’s life, then helped him recover by reminding him that his feelings and choices were still his own. Nagato agreed to join Naruto’s cause, and Naruto named the new organization Dawn Akatsuki.

• Naruto healed Nagato and explained that Madara had planted the Rinnegan and Cursed Seal, guiding the major events of Nagato’s life to make him use Rinne Rebirth.
• Naruto urged Nagato to trust that his bonds with Yahiko and Konan and his dream of peace were genuine, despite Madara’s manipulation.
• Naruto joked that Konan was pregnant, provoking Nagato into a fierce reaction before admitting the joke; Konan then arrived and checked on him.
• Naruto left Nagato with Konan and told the others that Nagato had agreed to join their cause for world peace.
• Orochimaru stopped studying the captives, and Naruto handed out black-and-red cloud robes before naming the organization Dawn Akatsuki.

Naruto took control of Amegakure’s resources and reorganized Akatsuki, then planned to turn Konan’s Exploding Tag production into a major source of income. After arranging a chakra network to support mass production, Naruto and the others turned to educating Amegakure’s children to cultivate the next generation.

• With Nagato’s cooperation, Naruto reorganized Akatsuki, while he kept Kisame, Kakuzu, Hidan, and the others locked up until they calmed down.
• Naruto discovered that Akatsuki’s funds had supported Amegakure and its talent, and realized Konan could produce Exploding Tags fast enough to supply a lucrative market.
• Naruto proposed selling Exploding Tags through Sunagakure and Kirigakure, then gave Konan a Black Rod that could provide unlimited chakra.
• Naruto used a Shadow Clone and the Flying Thunder God Technique to contact Gaara about having Sunagakure’s Exploding Tag makers build a chakra transmission network.
• Naruto, Nagato, and Konan discussed cultivating future members for Akatsuki, and Naruto proposed popularizing education for Amegakure’s children.

Naruto outlined a universal education system for Amegakure, covering children’s schooling, vocational training, ninja education, and adult classes. Nagato raised another question after Naruto finished explaining the plan.

• Konan questioned the value of universal education while people still lacked food and clothing, and Naruto said peace and high-yield crops could solve the food problem.
• Naruto described elementary instruction for young children, followed by cultural courses, examinations, and separate training paths for children with and without ninja talent.
• Naruto explained how struggling students could transfer to technical schools or withdraw, while ninja students could repeat grades and some could become salaried soldiers.
• Naruto outlined middle-school training for future leaders, administrators, researchers, teachers, and ordinary officials, with graduates entering social roles.
• Naruto proposed adult schools and said adults would need long-term observation before receiving advanced knowledge or ninjutsu, then Nagato raised his hand with another question.

Naruto addressed Amegakure’s shortage of teachers by using Shadow Clones transformed into ancient sages to train instructors, while Nagato and Konan organized schools and studied themselves. A month later, Akatsuki Academy opened with a thousand children, adults began attending Night School, and Amegakure’s education and arms trade both expanded.

• Nagato and Konan raised the lack of teachers as an obstacle to Naruto’s education plan, and Naruto summoned Shadow Clones transformed into Laozi, Confucius, and Mencius to train instructors.
• Naruto told Nagato and Konan to study the school’s subjects, and they agreed to learn from the sages while organizing Amegakure’s school preparations.
• Nagato and Konan recruited children from Amegakure and nearby towns as the village prepared classrooms and trained teachers.
• Sunagakure and Kirigakure established arms-trade connections with Amegakure, and families in the arms business also contacted the village.
• One month later, Akatsuki Academy opened for a first group of one thousand children, and Naruto secretly observed as staff corrected problems with the classes and discipline.
• Amegakure’s adults began attending Night School, while artisan teachers taught people new ways to make a living.

Naruto continued training after Amegakure’s education system improved, then met Sasuke, who celebrated that sixteen women carrying Itachi’s children had been found. When Sasuke asked how to keep growing stronger, Naruto taught him swordsmanship and sent him back to Konoha to practice.

• Naruto trained with Boil Release and spent time with Hinata before Sasuke visited him at the Sea View Villa in Yanbo Town.
• Sasuke told Naruto that sixteen women were pregnant by Itachi and that he had given Itachi a week off and ended his mandatory missions.
• Naruto urged Sasuke to resume training, and Sasuke asked how to improve after reaching the limits of his current abilities.
• Naruto demonstrated how swordsmanship and taijutsu could grow stronger through physical practice, including contending with the sea.
• Naruto shared more than one hundred sword techniques and his training insights with Sasuke, who returned to Konoha to practice.

Sasuke enjoyed learning Naruto’s sword techniques and accepted Ino’s and then Sakura’s affectionate attention, but the growing rivalry among more than a dozen girls eventually overwhelmed him. He asked Naruto how to end the Shura Field and choose the girl he liked most, and Naruto suggested letting the girls choose.

• Sasuke practiced swordsmanship, made charcoal from trimmed branches, and welcomed Ino, who brought him food and fed him.
• Sakura and more than a dozen other girls began treating Sasuke affectionately, while he continued training and enjoyed their attention.
• The girls started appearing in groups, and their rivalry left Sasuke unable to favor any of them.
• Sasuke teleported to Naruto, complained about the Shura Field, and asked for help choosing a girl.
• Naruto told Sasuke to let the girls choose.