Chapter Summaries

Choji fought Jirobo alone and defeated him after taking the red pill and awakening his butterfly wings. He survived the battle, exhausted, and drew strength from the messages his friends had carved into a tree.

• Choji used his Human Bullet Tank and other expansion techniques against Jirobo, but Jirobo revealed State Two and overwhelmed him.
• Jirobo mocked Choji as abandoned and stole his last bite of chips, prompting Choji to take the red pill.
• Choji awakened enormous Chakra butterfly wings, caught Jirobo's punch, and became far stronger.
• Choji struck Jirobo with a final, Chakra-filled punch that crushed him into a crater.
• Choji staggered to a tree and read his friends' messages, reflecting that he now had many friends.

Shikouin stayed behind to fight Kidomaru while Neji and the others continued after Sasuke. After Shikouin pierced Kidomaru with a lightning attack, he survived inside a golden shell, and the two prepared to continue their deadly game.

• The Sound Ninja Four discovered that the Jirobo traveling with them was Shikamaru in disguise, and Kidomaru trapped him and Naruto's clones in webs.
• Kidomaru ensnared Kiba and attacked Neji, but Shikouin struck him with lightning and volunteered to hold him off.
• Neji, Naruto, Kiba, and Shikamaru left to pursue Sasuke after Shikouin cut through Kidomaru's webs blocking their path.
• Shikouin evaded Kidomaru's webs, shattered his perch with a lightning punch, and pierced his chest with a rapid double-bladed strike.
• Kidomaru rose inside a golden shell, revealing that Shikouin's attack had not seriously wounded him, and welcomed the fight as a game.

Shikouin defeated Kidomaru with a devastating lightning technique, though the attack badly injured her arms as well. As they lay wounded, Kidomaru learned that she fought for Akira Kurama and abandoned his thoughts of victory.

• Kidomaru explained how Spider Sticky Gold resisted Chakra, then fled into the forest when Shikouin overwhelmed him in close combat.
• Kidomaru attacked Shikouin with explosive Kunai, but she used Empty Cicada to appear beside him and strike him into State One.
• Kidomaru summoned three giant spiders and strengthened their webs, prompting Shikouin to unleash Two Scales and Raijin's Prayer.
• Shikouin's attack destroyed the spiders and shattered Kidomaru's arms and internal organs, while severely damaging her own arms.
• Shikouin told the dying Kidomaru that she had won and named Akira Kurama as her Young Master, causing Kidomaru to give up on the idea that he could have won.

Kanon and Taichi found the badly wounded Choji and rushed him toward treatment while Kanon continued pursuing the Sound Four. Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba seized the coffin from Tayuya and Sakon, but Neji confronted the pursuers and shattered Sakon’s Rashomon with his Sage Art.

• Kanon gave Choji a Nine Flower Jade Dew Pill, and Taichi carried him back to the village while Kanon continued ahead.
• Tayuya and Sakon encountered Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba as they raced through the forest with the coffin.
• Naruto and his allies used clones and a shadow technique to distract Sakon and restrain Tayuya, allowing Kiba to take the coffin and pass it to Naruto.
• Sakon activated his Cursed Seal State and pursued Naruto, but Neji blocked his path with the Sage Art: Thousand-Armed Buddha Palm.
• Sakon summoned Rashomon to shield himself and Tayuya, but Neji’s Buddha palms shattered the gate.

Kanon rescued the badly burned Shikouin and sent her back to Konoha while she continued after the others. Kimimaro took the coffin barrel from Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba, leaving Yoshimoto Gassan to fight them as Naruto pursued Kimimaro.

• Kanon found Shikouin, gave her a Nine Flower Jade Dew Pill, and sent her toward Konoha on Colorful Butterfly while she went to help the others.
• Kimimaro seized the coffin barrel and left Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba to Yoshimoto Gassan, who had been hiding nearby.
• Naruto charged after Kimimaro, but Yoshimoto Gassan attacked him and blocked the team's pursuit.
• Shikamaru directed Naruto and Kiba to press forward, while Kiba tried to locate Yoshimoto Gassan by following the enemy's scent.
• Yoshimoto Gassan used Lava Style: Great Fire Hammer to destroy Naruto's clones, then struck Kiba and Shikamaru with silent, flame-wrapped punches.

Kimimaro revealed that Orochimaru had taken Sasuke to use him as a vessel, then fought Naruto and Neji while the coffin opened. Sasuke awakened with new power and fled toward Otogakure, leaving Neji to battle Kimimaro as Naruto pursued him.

• Kimimaro told Naruto and Neji that Orochimaru had chosen Sasuke as a vessel for his soul and refused to return him.
• Naruto attacked Kimimaro with hundreds of Shadow Clones, but Kimimaro defeated them all with his bone techniques.
• The coffin opened, and Sasuke emerged with a powerful new body before ignoring Naruto and heading toward Otogakure.
• Neji blocked Kimimaro from stopping Naruto and sent Naruto after Sasuke while he stayed to fight.
• Neji used Wing Chun's One-Inch Punch to break Kimimaro's ribs and send him flying.

Kanon rescued Shikamaru and Kiba from Yoshimoto Gassan’s furnace and faced him after Shikamaru carried the badly injured Kiba back toward the village. She began battling Yoshimoto with powerful Genjutsu, leaving him trapped in the Chameleon Mind Technique.

• Yoshimoto Gassan used his silent attacks and Smelting Release furnace to trap Shikamaru and Kiba, who escaped by detonating their Explosive Tags.
• Kiba shielded Shikamaru from the blast and was gravely injured, but Kanon arrived and gave him a Nine Flower Jade Dew Pill.
• Kanon recognized Yoshimoto’s Five Senses Manipulation and told Shikamaru to take Kiba back to the village while she stayed to fight.
• Kanon trapped Yoshimoto with the Binding Prank Technique, but he broke her Confusing Maze Technique by biting his tongue.
• Kanon used Mirror Flower to reflect Yoshimoto’s locust Genjutsu, then caught his gaze with Chameleon Mind Technique.

Kanon entered Yoshimoto Gassan’s mind and discovered that Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi had used Ming Jing’s blood in experiments that gave Yoshimoto Five Senses Manipulation. After Kanon defeated him with Genjutsu, Yoshimoto tried to kill them both by overheating his body, and Kanon left to check on Neji.

• Kanon searched Yoshimoto Gassan’s memories, but he resisted her with a giant defensive Genjutsu.
• Kanon found memories showing Kabuto Yakushi injecting Yoshimoto and learned that Orochimaru had used Ming Jing’s blood in his experiments.
• Kanon froze Yoshimoto’s mindscape, shattered his defensive Genjutsu, and disrupted his sea of consciousness.
• Yoshimoto lunged at Kanon and began heating his body to a thousand degrees, but Kanon escaped his grasp.
• Yoshimoto burned into a charred mass, and Kanon left to check on Neji.

Neji fought Kimimaro in their second battle, pushing him to reveal Curse Mark Stage Three and enduring a prolonged exchange of attacks. Kimimaro’s failing body began to give out, but he renewed his resolve to kill Neji for Orochimaru’s sake.

• Neji used Palm Rotation to repel Kimimaro’s initial bone attacks, prompting Kimimaro to unleash Curse Mark Stage Three.
• Kimimaro overwhelmed Neji with Five Finger Bullet and Dance of the Ghost Lily, but Neji protected himself with Sage Art: Immovable Wisdom King.
• Neji and Kimimaro traded injuries as Neji’s Gentle Fist challenged Kimimaro’s bone weapons and failing body.
• Kimimaro caught Neji in his Bone Whip after anticipating Palm Rotation and prepared to impale him with a Bone Spear.
• Neji summoned Might Guy’s Great Turtle, which blocked the spear before fleeing, while Kimimaro coughed up blood and renewed his attack with the Cursed Seal glowing.

Kanon found Neji gravely wounded in the Bone Forest and sent him back to the village while Kakashi continued after Naruto and Sasuke. Tsunade questioned Ming Jing about Sasuke’s departure and his plans for the Land of Wind, then left with his prized Gyokuro tea; Ming Jing remained set to travel to the Royal Capital.

• Kanon found Neji bleeding in the Bone Forest, treated his wounds, and learned he had been defeated by a powerful ninja.
• Kakashi arrived and urged Kanon to take Neji back to the village, so she summoned Helena and flew away with him.
• Tsunade visited Ming Jing, took his Gyokuro tea, and questioned him about meeting the Sound Ninja before Sasuke left.
• Ming Jing said he had not stopped Sasuke and told Tsunade he intended to bring the Land of Wind into their collective.
• Tsunade warned Ming Jing against risking more turmoil and left, while Yuexi told him there was probably no hope of recovering his tea.

Tsunade and Mirai treated Choji after the mission, while Shikaku pushed Shikamaru to learn from the failure. In the Land of Wind, Gaara and the daimyo faced negotiations after Sunagakure’s attack on Konoha, with the Fire Nation’s Prime Minister’s Residence already involved.

• Tsunade and Mirai used the Nara Clan’s records to prepare an antidote that stopped Choji’s cells from dying.
• Shikamaru blamed himself for the failed mission, but Shikaku urged him to become a better leader for his comrades.
• Tsunade announced that Choji would recover and that Kakashi and Naruto had returned alive despite severe injuries.
• Shikamaru vowed to complete the next mission perfectly after Tsunade reminded him that everyone surviving mattered most.
• The Daimyo of the Land of Wind told Gaara that the Fire Nation’s Prime Minister’s Residence would negotiate, while Kankuro and Gaara challenged his authority and options.

Izumi visited Naruto in the hospital, where Jiraiya recruited him for three years of training and warned him to give up on Sasuke. Naruto insisted he would save his friend, and Jiraiya later agreed to join Ming Jing on a diplomatic mission to the Land of Wind.

• Izumi cleaned the Uchiha Clan cemetery, then visited Naruto in the hospital and thanked him for refusing to give up on Sasuke.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that Akatsuki would target him within three or four years and offered to train him for three years.
• Jiraiya assured Naruto that Orochimaru could not transfer into Sasuke's body for at least three years, then urged Naruto to forget Sasuke and threatened to keep him in Konoha.
• Naruto refused to abandon Sasuke and declared that he would become stronger and defeat Akatsuki.
• Ming Jing met Jiraiya at China Cuisine Restaurant and invited him to join a diplomatic mission to the Land of Wind, and Jiraiya agreed.

Ming Jing’s convoy reached the Royal Capital of the Land of Wind, while Jiraiya arranged for Ming Jing to teach Naruto Wind Release later. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro welcomed the arriving party at the city gate.

• Naruto questioned why he and Jiraiya were traveling with Ming Jing’s convoy, and Jiraiya passed the journey off as Shugendō training.
• Ming Jing reviewed Kisaragi Saemon’s report and discussed the Land of Rivers’ gradual reforms with Yuexi.
• Jiraiya told Ming Jing that Naruto had a Wind affinity and asked him to teach Naruto, and Ming Jing agreed to help when Naruto was ready.
• Two days later, Naruto spotted Gaara’s prosthetic eye in the sky as the convoy neared the Royal Capital of the Land of Wind.
• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro greeted Ming Jing at the city gate alongside Land of Wind officials, whom Kankuro disparaged.

Gaara confronted Ming Jing over the Land of Fire’s alliance, arguing that it had quietly stripped smaller nations of their independence. He proposed a strategic alliance between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, leaving Ming Jing to consider the offer.

• Gaara and his siblings blocked Ming Jing’s convoy, and Gaara requested a private meeting with the Land of Fire’s Prime Minister.
• Ming Jing agreed to speak with Gaara alone while their guards and companions waited outside the carriage.
• Gaara admitted he had abandoned plans to avenge his father because he could not defeat Ming Jing.
• Gaara accused the Land of Fire of using its alliance to annex smaller nations by taking control of their diplomacy and education and hollowing out their administration and armed forces.
• Gaara proposed a strategic alliance in which the Land of Wind would help defend the Land of Fire against the Lands of Earth and Water, while warning that he could expose the alliance’s expansion to other nations.
• Ming Jing praised Gaara’s insight but said the proposal was troubling.

Gaara asked Ming Jing for an answer about the Land of Wind, and Ming Jing made his decision depend on Gaara’s treatment of Naruto during his half-month stay. Meanwhile, Konan and her companions confronted Hidan in the Land of Hot Water, where Hidan began using his blood ritual against Tsukikyuu Shang Mei.

• Ming Jing told Gaara to entertain Naruto well during his half-month stay and said his answer would depend on Gaara’s performance.
• Gaara left with Temari and Kankuro, and Ming Jing met with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind to discuss the country’s hardships.
• Hidan tried to recruit Konan into the Jashin Cult before threatening to sacrifice her.
• Itachi and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei appeared with Konan, and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei identified them as Akatsuki.
• Tamamura’s Storm Release pierced Hidan, but Hidan recovered and drew a blood ritual circle as Tsukikyuu Shang Mei prepared to test it.

Hidan used his ritual to link his injuries to Tamamura, but Tsukikyuu Shang Mei healed Tamamura, and Konan invited Hidan to join Akatsuki. Meanwhile, Ming Jing sent Naruto to spend time with Gaara, and the two set off with Temari and Kankuro for an oasis outside the Royal Capital.

• Hidan licked Tamamura's blood and pierced his own heart, inflicting a matching wound on Tamamura through his ritual.
• Tsukikyuu Shang Mei healed Tamamura, while Itachi and Konan deduced how Hidan's technique worked and separated him from Tsukikyuu Shang Mei.
• Konan invited Hidan to join Akatsuki, but he chose to keep spreading the teachings of the Jashin Cult.
• Ming Jing explained to Yuexi that he hoped Naruto could connect with Gaara because they had much in common as Jinchuriki.
• After staring at each other for half an hour, Naruto and Gaara agreed to visit an oasis suggested by Temari.

Naruto, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro traveled to a lake and discovered a temple beneath it. Temari confronted Bukūchi, who revealed that he knew Gaara carried One-Tails Shukaku and attacked her with music-powered techniques.

• Ming Jing explained to Jiraiya that Naruto could help Gaara overcome his resentment and become an ally of the Land of Fire.
• Naruto endured the desert trek with Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro until they reached a large lake surrounded by a forest.
• Naruto spotted what appeared to be a temple beneath the lake, and Gaara used Sand Eye to investigate it.
• Temari followed the sound of music through the forest and found Bukūchi, who identified himself as the final successor of the Shingon Sect Chizan School.
• Bukūchi recognized Gaara as the carrier of One-Tails Shukaku and used his music to make Temari's shadow attack her.
• Temari cut apart the shadow with her Three-Star Fan, but Bukūchi summoned Black Vultures as she charged toward him.

Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, and Naruto fought Bukūchi, a monk who claimed he could replace Gaara as Shukaku’s Jinchuriki. After Temari was freed from his chakra-draining chain, Gaara refused to trust Bukūchi and prepared to face him.

• Temari summoned Sickle Weasel to attack Bukūchi’s Black Vultures, but Bukūchi caught her with a chain that drained her Chakra.
• Kankuro pulled Temari to safety with Chakra Threads, and she warned him that Bukūchi’s chain carried lightning and absorbed Chakra.
• Bukūchi introduced himself as the last inheritor of the Shingon Sect Chizan School and said his master had told him to replace Gaara if he could not control Shukaku.
• Kankuro sent Karasu after Bukūchi, but Bukūchi summoned Demon Subduing Vajra and used his chain to bind the puppet’s arms.
• Gaara asked Temari how she was, then stepped in front of her as Naruto declared they only needed to defeat Bukūchi.
• Gaara rejected Bukūchi’s offer, saying he would not hand over a dangerous Tailed Beast to someone he could not trust.

Bukūchi used a sealing technique to extract Shukaku from Gaara while Demon Subduing Vajra blocked Naruto's attacks. Naruto's Rasengan failed against Bukūchi's barrier, and he returned to Gaara's siblings, insisting that Gaara was his companion and needed their help.

• Bukūchi sent purple chains through Gaara's defenses and began draining his Chakra and pulling out Shukaku.
• Kankuro was blasted away when he touched a chain, and Demon Subduing Vajra knocked Naruto back as he tried to reach Bukūchi.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to distract Demon Subduing Vajra while the real Naruto hid in the smoke and attacked Bukūchi from behind with a Rasengan.
• Bukūchi raised the Thousand Arrow Pillars barrier, which stopped Naruto's Rasengan and hurled him away.
• Kankuro pulled Naruto to safety with Chakra Threads, and Naruto said he wanted to save Gaara because Gaara was his companion.

Jiraiya and Ming Jing watched Naruto and the others fight Bukūchi, who used Yashamaru’s memories to provoke Gaara into unleashing more of Shukaku’s power. As Gaara’s siblings lost hope, Naruto vowed that he would never abandon his comrades.

• Ming Jing told Jiraiya about the old Buddhist temples and the failed attempt to control Shukaku at Kaiju Mountain Temple.
• Naruto attacked Bukūchi’s Thousand Arrow Pillar with explosive-tagged kunai, but the barrier absorbed the blasts.
• Bukūchi reminded Gaara of Yashamaru’s final words, causing Gaara to relive the revelation that Yashamaru had hated him and that his name carried his mother’s curse.
• Gaara let Shukaku’s power rise and attacked Bukūchi’s barrier with sand while Bukūchi accelerated his effort to draw out the tailed beast’s power.
• Kankuro and Temari said they usually fled when Gaara lost control, and Naruto vowed never to abandon his comrades.