Chapter Summaries

Choji and the other Konoha ninja traveled west with Naruto and Sasuke toward the Land of Stars, where they witnessed the devastation caused by drought and learned that the Land of Stars was providing relief to refugees. As they continued toward its border, Kimimaro detected a Konoha Anbu pursuit unit and left to deal with it.

• Choji woke from his injuries and learned that he and the Konoha group had lost; Shikamaru organized the survivors to travel with Kimimaro, Neji, and Toneri.
• Shikamaru asked Naruto why he had left Konoha, and Naruto said he had gone because Sasuke invited him and he trusted Sasuke's judgment.
• The group crossed into the Land of Rivers, where Lee woke and the travelers saw widespread famine, dead bodies, and desperate refugees.
• At a city whose gates were closed to refugees, Neji explained the scale of the drought and the nobles' refusal to help, while Toneri described the Land of Stars' refugee relief program.
• Neji urged the group to continue west and see the Land of Stars for themselves, but Kimimaro sensed an Anbu pursuit unit and went back to confront it.

Danzo ordered the pursuit of Naruto and Sasuke from the Land of Iron, while Kimimaro annihilated the Konoha squad sent after them. Naruto and his companions reached the Land of Stars and saw its organized refugee relief settlement.

• Yamanaka Fu told Danzo that Naruto had fled with Sasuke, and Danzo ordered Tatsuma to recover Naruto or kill him before he entered the Land of Stars.
• Danzo accepted Mifune's samurai escort to the castle in the Land of Iron as the Five Kage Summit approached.
• Kimimaro used Shikotsumyaku to kill Terai and all five Root ninja, then sealed their bodies and reported the pursuit unit's destruction.
• Neji checked behind the fleeing group as Naruto, Sasuke, and their companions traveled west through the Land of Rivers.
• Naruto and his companions reached a city in the Land of Stars and saw orderly camps, food distribution, medical care, and work programs for thousands of refugees.
• Naruto recognized that the Land of Stars treated refugees differently from the countries they had crossed and smiled as he thought of Menma.

Neji led Naruto and the other Konoha youths through Nagano City’s strict border screening, where they saw the Land of Stars treating refugees amid an epidemic. As the group prepared to enter the city, Uchiha Taichi recognized Sasuke and attacked him, ending the chapter with their blades locked together.

• Neji presented his credentials at Nagano City’s checkpoint, where Hyuga Natsu explained the refugee quarantine and epidemic-control measures.
• The group watched a suspected dysentery patient being taken to isolation, and Hyuga Natsu explained that patients received treatment and the city was disinfected three times daily.
• Hyuga ninja examined Naruto and the others, then staff issued them seven-day Health Certificates.
• Neji told the Konoha youths they would continue into Nagano City to see the Land of Stars.
• Uchiha Taichi spotted Sasuke during a patrol and lunged at him, but Sasuke blocked his Ninja Blade with his own.

Sasuke confronted Taichi in the Land of Stars, where Neji revealed the truth about Itachi and the Uchiha massacre to the Hidden Leaf team. The chapter ended with Itachi returning to Ichiraku Ramen with Ringo Ameyuri and wondering how Sasuke was doing.

• Taichi attacked Sasuke over Itachi’s massacre of the Uchiha, but Kimimaro intervened and Hyuga Natsu reminded Taichi that Sasuke had been invited by their lord.
• Sasuke told Taichi that he also wanted to kill Itachi, and Taichi withdrew with his patrol after recognizing Sasuke’s hatred as genuine.
• Neji told the Hidden Leaf team that Itachi had slaughtered most of the Uchiha under orders from Hidden Leaf’s higher-ups, with the Third Hokage and councilors’ tacit approval.
• Sasuke warned the others that he would kill Itachi himself, while Naruto and the rest struggled to respond to the revelation.
• Itachi and Ringo Ameyuri visited Ichiraku Ramen, where Itachi ordered Tonkotsu Ramen and remembered bringing Sasuke there as a child.

After hearing that Sasuke had defected from Konoha, Itachi rushed to confront Asuma and Kurenai for information. Meanwhile, Naruto and the others waited out a sudden downpour in the Land of Stars, where Shikamaru felt inexplicably uneasy.

• At Ichiraku Ramen, Itachi and Ringo Ameyuri overheard two Konoha chunin say that Sasuke had defected, and Itachi hurried away before Ringo could finish her chashu.
• Itachi suspected Danzō had driven Sasuke to flee and raced toward the Hokage Rock area while Ringo followed him.
• Itachi stopped Asuma and Kurenai in the street, and Asuma and Kurenai recognized his Mangekyō Sharingan as killing intent filled the area.
• In the Land of Stars, Naruto and his companions took shelter from a sudden downpour in a roadside pavilion.
• Shikamaru repeatedly sneezed and felt uneasy, but he could not identify the cause.

During a mountain flood, Naruto and the others rescued Koyama Futa and learned that Shangsong Village was in danger. Uchiha Taichi led an advance rescue squad, and the group set out with Futa to reach the village before the main force arrived.

• Neji explained that the mountain shelter’s firewood was part of a local mutual-aid system, then described how the Land of Stars had built roads and improved remote villages.
• Akamaru sensed a flash flood, and Sasuke spotted debris from an upstream village in the torrent.
• Kimimaro used a bone chain to rescue Koyama Futa from the flood, and Sakura and Tenten revived him.
• Futa told Neji that Shangsong Village and his family were in danger, while Toneri contacted the disaster response authorities.
• Naruto and the Konoha youths volunteered to help despite Shikamaru’s warnings, and Uchiha Taichi arrived with an advance squad.
• Taichi accepted Futa as their guide, and the group set out through the rain toward Shangsong Village.

Neji, Taichi, and the Konoha group rescued villagers from a flash flood in Shangsong Village and helped them reach safety. After the Land of Stars began relief operations and Neji explained its reconstruction plans, Sasuke watched Taichi at work and withdrew in silence.

• Neji spotted villagers escaping the flooded Shangsong Village, and Taichi's Hoshinin built an earth bridge across the canyon to reach them.
• Taichi's team and the Konoha group found the survivors, and Koyama Futa reunited with his parents, wife, and daughter.
• Taichi led the villagers to a cave, where the rescuers sheltered, fed, and treated them until the storm passed.
• At dawn, Nagano City's Military Police Force, medical teams, and engineering crews arrived and began evacuating the villagers to safety.
• Neji explained the Land of Stars' disaster relief and reconstruction plans to Naruto and the others, while Sasuke silently watched Taichi and then walked away alone.

Itachi Uchiha used Tsukuyomi to interrogate Asuma and Kurenai about Sasuke’s defection, but Kakashi revealed that Sasuke had already left Konoha. Itachi and Ringo Ameyuri withdrew, leaving Kakashi to free the badly shaken pair.

• Asuma attacked Itachi with Fire Style, but discovered that the fight had been an illusion from the start and that he and Kurenai were trapped in Tsukuyomi.
• Itachi tortured Asuma in the Tsukuyomi space and demanded to know why Sasuke had defected; Asuma refused to answer and accused Itachi of causing it.
• Ringo Ameyuri inspected the immobilized Asuma and Kurenai before Kakashi arrived carrying shopping bags.
• Kakashi told Itachi that Sasuke had left Konoha two days earlier, and Itachi decided there was no reason to fight and vanished.
• Ringo followed Itachi, while Kakashi released Asuma and Kurenai from the genjutsu; both collapsed, and Asuma passed out.

Naruto, Sasuke, and the Konoha group traveled through the Land of Stars and witnessed its flood defenses, thriving countryside, high-speed railway, and vast modern capital. As they entered Star City’s outer district, Neji and Toneri explained the city’s rules and the Land of Stars’ military merit system, which offered access to powerful techniques and even possible Kekkei Genkai transplants.

• Naruto and the others saw how embankments, floodgates, and patrolling Hoshinin protected villages from the flood, while residents calmly repaired the damage.
• The Konoha group passed through flourishing rice fields and villages, whose peaceful prosperity contrasted with what they had seen in the Land of Fire.
• Naruto and the others witnessed a high-speed train, and Neji explained its Lightning Release Chakra Engine and the railway’s speed and strategic value.
• The group followed the railway into Star City’s sprawling outer district and learned from Kimimaro that the main urban area had a population exceeding three million.
• Toneri warned the group against running across rooftops in the city, and Neji explained that military merit points could be exchanged for techniques, scientific ninja tools, and potentially Kekkei Genkai or dojutsu transplants.

Neji and the others brought Naruto, Sasuke, and the Konoha rookies through Star City, where they marveled at its subway, crowded streets, and towering buildings. After splitting up for lodging, Naruto reached the Uzumaki home and reunited with Kushina, leaving him tearfully calling her “Mom.”

• Neji led the Konoha group onto Star City's subway, where they rode through the city and learned about its transit network.
• The group emerged in Star City's bustling West District, then rested by the Nether River as Shikamaru asked whether Menma was across it in the East District.
• Kimimaro arranged lodging for the visitors: Naruto would go with Neji to Uzumaki House, Sasuke with Toneri to Aunt Mikoto, and the others with Kimimaro.
• Neji brought Naruto to a home whose courtyard matched the places from his dreams, and Kushina opened the door and welcomed him home.
• Naruto recognized Kushina and tearfully called her “Mom.”

Naruto reunited with Kushina, Minato, Menma, Hikari, and Ajisai, and learned that his New Year’s homecoming dreams had been real reunions through a puppet. Menma revealed his family’s hidden history, while Naruto settled into the room and gifts they had kept for him, finally feeling that he had come home.

• Kushina embraced Naruto at the gate, and Neji quietly left them alone.
• Naruto met Minato, Menma, Uchiha Hikari, and Ajisai, then shared a warm family dinner.
• Minato explained that Menma had used a Guidance Puppet to let Naruto reunite with the family in his dreams each New Year’s Eve.
• Menma recounted the family’s past, his efforts to protect Naruto, and the founding of the Land of Stars; he said he would explain Naruto’s and Sasuke’s special circumstances after Sasuke arrived.
• Kushina showed Naruto his room and the gifts his family had prepared every year since he turned six, and Naruto cried as he accepted that he was home.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro visited their imprisoned father, Rasa, at Black Stone Prison, where Gaara asked why Yashamaru had tried to kill him. Rasa revealed that he had ordered the attack as a test of Gaara’s usefulness as a weapon for Sunagakure, leaving Gaara overwhelmed with pain and fury.

• Kisame Hoshigaki escorted Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro through Black Stone Prison after verifying their special visitation permit.
• Kisame explained that Rasa lived comfortably because the Land of Stars valued him as a research subject, and the siblings entered his cell.
• Rasa recognized his children and learned from Gaara that he had gained control over Shukaku.
• Gaara asked why Yashamaru had tried to kill him, and Rasa admitted he had ordered Yashamaru to provoke Gaara and test his control of Shukaku.
• Rasa revealed that Yashamaru had been told to make Gaara believe he hated him and blamed him for Karura’s death, and that Yashamaru’s life was the price of the test.
• Gaara’s chakra surged as Rasa defended his actions as necessary for Sunagakure’s survival, while Temari wept and Kankuro clenched his fists.

Gaara confronted Sasuke outside Mikoto's home, struck him, and revealed how deeply Mikoto had grieved for her son. As Mikoto opened the gate, the older Sasuke watched from across the street, his own painful memories stirred.

• Boruto told the young Sasuke that Karasuki's charge was complete and they could return to their original timeline.
• The young Sasuke and Boruto watched Mikoto from across the street as the younger Sasuke arrived at her home with Toneri.
• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro returned from visiting Rasa, whose confession had revealed the truth behind Yashamaru's attempted assassination of Gaara.
• Gaara urged Sasuke to enter and speak with Mikoto, but Sasuke accused her of not caring about him, so Gaara punched him and explained how she had mourned him for years.
• Gaara tearfully warned Sasuke not to waste his chance to reconcile with Mikoto, then Mikoto opened the courtyard gate as the older Sasuke watched from the inn.

Young Sasuke reunited with Mikoto after six years apart, while adult Sasuke decided to return the next day. In Madara’s underground hideout, Obito grew suspicious of Black Zetsu’s dealings with Asura and moved up Madara’s resurrection, while Black Zetsu privately doubted whether Asura had outplayed him.

• Mikoto rushed out to embrace young Sasuke, and they wept together as she apologized for leaving him and he finally called her Mom.
• Adult Sasuke watched the reunion with Boruto and decided they would return the next day after speaking with Menma.
• Obito visited Uchiha Madara’s secret base and considered resurrecting him to counter Asura and recover control of the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Black Zetsu told Obito about the coming Five Kage Summit and proposed using the conflict to gather tailed beasts.
• Obito questioned Black Zetsu about a secret deal with Asura, then ordered him to move up Madara’s resurrection before vanishing into Kamui.
• Black Zetsu admitted to White Zetsu that he had traded a thousand White Zetsu for Shukaku’s chakra and feared Asura might have manipulated their cooperation, but still hoped to revive Kaguya.

At the Land of Stars’ desert research city, Orochimaru and Hiruko discussed their advances in cloning and the Chimera Technique, and Orochimaru invited Hiruko to test the technique on his optimized clone. The experiment’s subjects arrived, and Yoshikawa and Kurihara recognized the two bodies in the culture vessels as their own clones.

• Hiruko visited Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Orochimaru described the strengths and limitations of his optimized clone body.
• Orochimaru offered to let Hiruko test the latest Chimera Technique on the clone, tempting Hiruko with the chance to surpass his limits.
• Land of Stars Anbu escorted rogue ninja Yoshikawa and Kurihara into the laboratory as experimental subjects.
• Researchers brought in two culture vessels containing clones whose faces and builds matched Yoshikawa and Kurihara.

Menma began a human trial of his Spirit Reincarnation Technique, using two condemned rogue ninja and prepared clones to test whether he could transfer souls into new bodies. The trial succeeded, leaving Menma with a proven method for resurrection that he hoped to use for Minato and Kushina.

• Orochimaru presented evidence confirming that Yoshikawa and Kurihara were notorious rogue ninja sentenced to death, and Menma approved them as test subjects.
• Menma entered his fully unleashed Ten-Tails Jinchuriki Mode, overwhelming everyone in the laboratory with his chakra and coercion.
• Menma killed Yoshikawa and Kurihara with chakra Black Receivers, then used the Spirit Reincarnation Technique to pull their souls from their bodies.
• Yoshikawa's and Kurihara's souls entered the prepared clones, which opened their eyes and began struggling against their restraints.
• Orochimaru recognized that Menma had manipulated the souls and marveled at the successful technique, which Menma hoped to use to resurrect Minato and Kushina.

Mikoto explained to Sasuke why she had stayed away from him and revealed that he and Naruto were tied to an ancient destiny, while Sasuke decided to seek answers from Naruto, Menma, and Shisui. Meanwhile, Naruto woke in his new home and shared a first breakfast with his parents, savoring Kushina’s homemade ramen.

• Mikoto told Sasuke about the Uchiha massacre, her years of isolation in the Land of Stars, and how she had adopted Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
• Mikoto explained that she had not gone to Sasuke because Kushina and Minato believed Sasuke and Naruto were vital to a destiny connected to the Sage of Six Paths and must not have their lives changed prematurely.
• Sasuke said he understood Mikoto’s reasons but did not say he forgave her, then announced that he wanted to see Naruto, Menma, Shisui, and the others.
• Naruto woke in the room his parents had prepared for him and realized that he had truly come home.
• Naruto joined Minato and Kushina for breakfast, learned that Menma and Hikari were busy, and ate Kushina’s homemade tonkotsu ramen.

Sasuke Uchiha arrived at the Uchiha compound in Star City to meet Shisui, but his appearance triggered the surviving clansmen’s hatred over the massacre. Izumi Uchiha stopped the attack and led Sasuke toward the clan head’s residence after effortlessly taking his blade with her Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Kengo Uchiha watched his son Yuto leave for the ninja academy, remembering how Shisui and Asura had saved them after the massacre.
• Yuto collided with Sasuke Uchiha, and Kengo recognized Sasuke and attacked him with a Kunai.
• Osamu Uchiha and other clansmen joined Kengo in attacking Sasuke, who used his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and taijutsu to defeat several attackers.
• Izumi Uchiha arrived, ordered the clansmen to stand down, and told Sasuke that Shisui was waiting for him.
• Izumi used her Mangekyō Sharingan to take Sasuke’s Ninja Blade without him noticing, then led him toward the clan head’s residence as the clansmen followed.

Sasuke told Shisui that he understood why the Uchiha survivors hated him and vowed to kill Itachi and bring Mikoto back. Shisui directed Sasuke to find Naruto and meet Menma, whose guidance could lead him toward greater power and possibly Uchiha Hikari’s instruction.

• Sasuke explained that he hated Itachi for killing their father and destroying their family, and he swore to repay Itachi’s crimes in blood.
• Sasuke awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and begged Shisui to help him become strong enough to kill Itachi.
• Shisui revealed that Uchiha Hikari was the clan’s strongest fighter after Menma and had evolved her Mangekyō Sharingan into the Rinnegan.
• Shisui told Sasuke to find Naruto and meet Menma to learn about their identities, destinies, and future paths.
• Sasuke set aside his discomfort at Menma’s apparent influence over events and resolved to follow the lead if it could help him gain power.

Sasuke left the Uchiha compound after declaring that he would kill Itachi and bring his head back, while the clan members silently let him pass. Back at Mikoto’s home, Sasuke shared breakfast with his mother, and Naruto’s loud arrival interrupted their quiet morning.

• Sasuke told the gathered Uchiha that he hated Itachi and vowed to kill him and return with his head.
• Osamu Uchiha and Kengo Uchiha stepped aside, and the other clansmen opened a path for Sasuke to leave without looking back.
• Shisui said Sasuke would come back as he and Izumi watched the street where Sasuke had disappeared.
• Mikoto woke fearing Sasuke had left, then found him outside her door with a spatula, ready to serve breakfast he had made.
• Mikoto praised Sasuke’s cooking and shared a warm breakfast with him as he admitted he had long since grown used to being alone.
• Naruto shouted and pounded on the door, prompting Sasuke to call him an idiot while Mikoto laughed.