Chapter Summaries

The Third Hokage prepared to sacrifice himself to stop Orochimaru, while Orochimaru reconsidered his attack after his forces were defeated and Naruto’s power changed the battle. A mysterious newcomer interrupted the fight and promised to help the Third Hokage deal with Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru learned that Menma had stopped his forces and that his connection to the three distant Edo Tensei Bodies had been severed.
• Kakuzu defeated the Sound Four, killing Kidomaru and leaving Jirobo, Sakon, Ukon, and Tayuya gravely wounded.
• Orochimaru weighed retreating as his plan to capture Naruto failed, while the Third Hokage resolved to stop him at the cost of his own life.
• The Third Hokage began preparing the life-sacrificing Sealing Jutsu against the First and Second Hokage.
• An unknown voice told the Third Hokage to save his life, then a black sphere of Chakra struck the wavering Four Violet Flames Formation.

Menma thwarted Orochimaru’s attacks, restrained the reanimated First and Second Hokage, and freed Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju from their control. The Third Hokage grew increasingly convinced that Menma might be Minato, while Orochimaru’s plan to seize Naruto faltered.

• Menma descended onto the shattered roof and fixed his killing intent on Orochimaru, while the Third Hokage noticed Menma’s resemblance to Minato and recognized his signature techniques.
• Hashirama and Tobirama attacked Menma with Wood Release and Water Release, but Menma’s Wind Release barrier destroyed their attacks and repelled Orochimaru’s Water Clone.
• The Southern Dipper Sage and Northern Dipper Sage trapped the reanimated Hokage in a sealing formation, and Menma removed the control talismans from their bodies.
• Hashirama thanked Menma for protecting Konoha, while Tobirama questioned his identity and warned the Third Hokage not to die pointlessly.

Menma confronted Orochimaru’s monstrous Eight Branches form while Orochimaru escaped the battlefield and pursued a final backup plan. In the forest, Orochimaru attacked Gaara’s siblings and demanded that Gaara come with him.

• Menma recognized Orochimaru’s Eight Branches Technique and severed one of its heads with a wind blade.
• Konoha subdued or captured the remaining Sunagakure and Otogakure forces as Kakuzu prepared to join the others.
• Orochimaru escaped in the form of a small white snake, emerged from it in the forest, and searched for traces of Chakra.
• Gaara thanked Temari for water, surprising her and Kankuro with his changed demeanor.
• Orochimaru’s giant snake subdued Temari and Kankuro with venomous snakes and ordered Gaara to come with him.

Menma defeated and sealed Orochimaru’s summoned bodies, exposed Rasa’s death to Sunagakure, and warned the survivors to return to the desert. After Hiruzen privately asked whether Menma was Minato, Tobi escaped Shisui and learned from Zetsu that the leader of [Ash] had appeared and that Zetsu had seen his face.

• Menma sealed the Eight-Headed Serpent and revealed Rasa’s sealed Edo Tensei Body to Baki and the Sunagakure ninja.
• Menma warned the Sunagakure survivors to take Rasa’s corpse home and never threaten war again, or their village would be erased.
• Hiruzen asked Menma to speak privately and questioned whether he was Minato.
• Shisui attacked Tobi, who pretended to struggle before escaping underground with Kamui.
• Tobi met Zetsu, who reported that Menma had defeated Orochimaru’s summoned Jinchuriki and Rasa and confirmed that he had briefly seen the face beneath the leader of [Ash]’s mask.

Obito weighed conflicting clues about Menma’s identity before deciding he was likely only another powerful enemy. Meanwhile, Orochimaru broke Gaara’s will and abducted him, but Naruto suddenly appeared and struck Orochimaru with a Rasengan.

• Obito considered whether Menma was Minato Namikaze or an Uzumaki with a connection to him, then vanished as Akatsuki’s plan approached.
• Orochimaru told Gaara that Kankuro and Temari were dying from poison and blamed Gaara’s existence for the danger surrounding them.
• Orochimaru threatened to make the siblings suffer unless Gaara surrendered, and Gaara gave in, losing the will to resist.
• As Orochimaru carried Gaara away on a giant snake, Naruto appeared and hit him in the face with a Rasengan.

Naruto rescued Gaara from Orochimaru after realizing the rogue Sannin had likely intended to capture him instead. The Third Hokage and Jiraiya pursued Orochimaru as Naruto faced him again, while Gaara remained shaken but safe behind a tree.

• Jiraiya watched Konoha's battle from a cliff, then chased after the Third Hokage when Hiruzen rushed into the forest to pursue Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had escaped, and the two set off to track him down.
• Naruto killed the giant snake that had swallowed Gaara and rescued him with help from the Flying Thunder God mark.
• Naruto realized Orochimaru had likely targeted him for his power and had abducted Gaara only after that plan failed.
• Naruto had already saved Gaara's siblings with food made using Pearl Jam's ability, then placed Gaara behind a tree and confronted Orochimaru.

Naruto fought Orochimaru with the Flying Thunder God Technique and Nine-Tails Chakra, while Orochimaru summoned Manda to help him. Naruto sealed Manda and formed a Tailed Beast Ball, leaving Orochimaru’s summon helpless before him.

• Naruto struck Orochimaru with a Chakra fist and charged at him with a Rasengan, forcing Orochimaru to summon Manda.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God Kunai to appear above Manda and attack Orochimaru, but hit an Earth Clone instead.
• Orochimaru attacked Naruto with a white serpent, which the Nine-Tails Chakra fox head disintegrated before it could bite him.
• Orochimaru escaped the spreading golden flames with the Great Snake Substitute Jutsu, while Manda recognized Naruto’s Tailed Beast Chakra and tried to retreat.
• Naruto bound Manda with Adamantine Sealing Chains and used the Four Symbols Seal to immobilize it.
• Naruto formed a Tailed Beast Ball in his Chakra claws before the helpless Manda.

Naruto destroyed Manda and subdued Orochimaru, intending to seal him and prevent him from harming anyone again. Orochimaru revealed that Naruto was Minato Namikaze’s biological son, but Naruto showed no surprise and sealed him with the Eight Trigrams Seal.

• Naruto fired a Tailed Beast Ball that killed Manda, while his golden Chakra shielded him from the blast.
• Naruto moved Gaara to safety, then struck down the weakened Orochimaru as Jiraiya and Hiruzen arrived.
• Naruto told Orochimaru he would seal him rather than kill him and revealed that a Flying Thunder God mark would let him track him.
• Orochimaru tried to upset Naruto by questioning his origins, then declared that Naruto was Minato Namikaze’s biological son.
• Naruto calmly bound Orochimaru with golden chains and pressed his palm to his chest, activating the Eight Trigrams Seal.

Naruto sealed Orochimaru and found Gaara devastated by Orochimaru’s attempt to make him believe his loved ones were dead. Naruto reassured Gaara that Temari and Kankuro were alive, revealed that Gaara’s protective power came from his mother’s love, and promised never to abandon him.

• Naruto sealed Orochimaru inside a Chakra cocoon and used Flying Thunder God to reach Gaara.
• Naruto told Gaara that Temari and Kankuro had survived and that he had cured their poison.
• When Gaara blamed himself and called himself a monster, Naruto confronted him and insisted that Jinchuriki were not monsters.
• Naruto explained that Gaara’s Sand Shield came from his mother’s enduring love, not a curse, and comforted him as he began to cry.
• Gaara embraced Naruto and feared that Naruto might abandon him like Yashamaru had, but Naruto promised he would never leave.

Naruto learned that Gaara’s bond with him had become an absolute symbiosis, then left the prison to answer the Hokage’s summons and check on his friends. Back at his apartment, the Pokémon Egg he had cared for for years finally cracked.

• Temari and Kankuro reunited with Gaara in prison, and Temari thanked Naruto for saving her brother.
• Naruto received a notification that his bond with Gaara had reached level 100 and become an absolute symbiosis.
• A Konoha ninja told Naruto that the Hokage wanted to see him, and Gaara clung to Naruto until he promised to return soon.
• Naruto returned home and placed the Pokémon Egg in its heated incubator.
• As Naruto said goodbye to the egg, he heard a crack from its shell.

Naruto’s long-awaited egg hatched into Zacian, a legendary Pokémon who quickly bonded with him. As Naruto welcomed her and prepared to find her food, Uchiha Satsuki rushed into his apartment and spotted the blue puppy.

• Naruto watched the egg crack open and Zacian hatch.
• The system identified the newborn as Zacian and exchanged 2,000 system points for a Rusted Sword.
• Naruto postponed his meeting with Old man Third and Jiraiya to welcome Zacian and comfort her with head pats.
• Kurama worried that Naruto might have learned the truth about his father’s death from Orochimaru.
• Naruto held Zacian affectionately and set her down to find something for her to eat.
• Uchiha Satsuki burst into Naruto’s apartment and stared at Zacian.

Satsuki reunited with Naruto after the war and learned that the egg they had cared for had hatched into a small blue creature named Zacian. When Naruto admitted his power was comparable to the golden fox that had protected the village, Satsuki asked him to promise that he would kill her before that power ever took him away from her.

• Satsuki found a small blue creature in Naruto's home, and Naruto explained that their egg had just hatched into Zacian.
• Naruto checked that Satsuki and the others were safe, and she told him that Kakashi, Guy, and her parents had avoided serious harm.
• Satsuki watched Naruto feed Zacian and wondered at the newborn's unusual calm and noble bearing.
• Naruto told Satsuki that his strength was about the same as the golden fox she had seen protecting the village.
• Satsuki asked Naruto to promise that if his power ever threatened to take him away, he would use it to take her life first.

Naruto reassured Satsuki that the being sealed inside him caused no side effects, and Satsuki asked him to train her so she could stand proudly beside him. Naruto left their conversation flustered and headed through Konoha as it recovered from the attack, where Kiba greeted him and noticed Little Zacian.

• Naruto assured Satsuki that his relationship with the being sealed inside him was good and promised to undergo hospital checkups.
• Satsuki asked Naruto to teach her how to become stronger, explaining that she wanted to stand at his side.
• Satsuki said Naruto had underestimated her and that she would never give up her right to be beside him.
• Naruto left the conversation flustered and walked through Konoha while carrying Little Zacian in his backpack.
• Kiba approached Naruto, praised his actions during the attack, and noticed Little Zacian.

Naruto brought little Zacian to meet Kiba and Akamaru, then arrived at the Hokage's office expecting a discussion about his origins. Third Hokage's words made Naruto realize Kushina was still trapped by Impure World Reincarnation.

• Kiba tried to greet and feed little Zacian, but she kept her distance and returned to Naruto.
• Akamaru approached little Zacian, who politely avoided his attempts at closer contact, leaving him dejected.
• Kiba reflected on his abandoned dream of becoming Hokage and wondered why Naruto had never pursued the title despite his immense power.
• Naruto reached the Hokage's office, where Third Hokage and Jiraiya waited with grave expressions.
• Third Hokage said Kushina had already told Naruto everything, and Naruto realized she remained imprisoned in the Impure World Reincarnation body.

Naruto learned that Kushina and Mito were being held in Konoha’s Anbu base after being summoned with Edo Tensei, and he struggled with whether to release them and send them back to the Pure Land. Third Hokage apologized for hiding Naruto’s origins and explained why he had kept Minato and Kushina’s identities secret.

• Third Hokage told Naruto that Kushina, Mito, and the First and Second Hokage were being held in a classified room at the Anbu base.
• Naruto considered releasing the Edo Tensei souls but worried Kushina might choose to leave before he could experience having his mother alive.
• Third Hokage apologized for not revealing Naruto’s origins sooner and asked Naruto to blame him for the years of hardship.
• Third Hokage explained that Minato had been Konoha’s Fourth Hokage and that Minato and Kushina died protecting Naruto and the village from Kurama.
• Third Hokage said he had concealed Naruto’s parentage because Konoha was weakened after the attack and he could not guarantee Naruto’s safety from enemy villages.

Naruto reassured the Third Hokage that he did not resent Konoha and asked whether he could still become a Chunin. Meanwhile, Kushina Uzumaki awakened in a constrained body and realized she may have been summoned from the dead, then worried intensely about Naruto.

• Naruto told the Third Hokage and Jiraiya that he would not turn against Konoha over the way he had been treated.
• Naruto asked whether he could still be promoted to Chunin after his interrupted Chunin Exams match, and the Third Hokage thanked him.
• Naruto reflected that hardship alone did not justify becoming a rogue ninja or killing people.
• Kushina Uzumaki struggled to stay conscious and remembered Kurama piercing her before her death.
• Kushina recognized the Eight Trigrams Seal restraining her and suspected someone had summoned and possibly controlled her after death.
• Kushina's concern for Naruto overwhelmed her resolve not to interfere with the living world.

Kushina used a gentle trace of Kurama's Chakra to undo the seal binding her and emerged from her cocoon. In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage and Jiraiya discussed Naruto's parentage and the Hokage succession before an Anbu reported that the seal had been broken.

• Kushina sensed Kurama's gentle Chakra and used it to complete the hand seals needed to release the Eight Trigrams Seal.
• Kushina escaped her Seal Cocoon and saw two nearby cocoons marked "First" and "Second."
• Third Hokage and Jiraiya argued over the crystal ball and Jiraiya's prospects of becoming the next Hokage.
• Third Hokage told Jiraiya to announce Naruto's parentage after the succession ceremony and said he would take responsibility for the villagers' past treatment of Naruto.
• An Anbu rushed into the office and reported that the seal had been undone and they could not stop the person who escaped.

Naruto struggled with the burden of deciding what to do about Kushina as he and Satsuki went to buy supplies for little Zacian. When villagers tried to atone for their past mistreatment by offering Naruto gifts and apologies, Satsuki struck a shopkeeper and confronted the crowd over what they had done to him.

• Satsuki found Naruto outside the Hokage Building, noticed his troubled expression, and offered her support while little Zacian comforted him.
• Naruto and Satsuki walked through Konoha, where villagers approached Naruto with cautious gratitude after he had saved the village.
• A shopkeeper insisted Naruto take goods for free and apologize, then chased after them and invoked Naruto's status as a hero when Satsuki tried to leave.
• Villagers joined the shopkeeper in pressing Naruto to accept their apologies, making him feel overwhelmed.
• Satsuki punched the shopkeeper and reminded the crowd of the abuse Naruto had suffered, ending by confessing how long she had wanted to kill them.

Satsuki confronted the villagers over the abuse and prejudice Naruto endured as a child, then led him away. Hidden nearby, Kushina learned how painful his childhood had been and headed for the Hokage Building in a fury.

• Satsuki called out a villager who had once insulted Naruto and repeated the cruel things she remembered the villagers saying about him.
• Satsuki condemned the villagers for demanding forgiveness from Naruto and left with him, while the crowd fell silent and ashamed.
• A villager questioned Satsuki's right to interfere, and an unseen attacker punched him unconscious.
• Kushina, secretly watching from an alley, realized Naruto had suffered isolation and abuse after her and Minato died.
• Kushina walked toward the Hokage Building, unable to contain her anger and guilt.

Kushina confronted Hiruzen and Jiraiya over Naruto’s mistreatment and their failure to care for him. After Hiruzen admitted his responsibility and Jiraiya revealed he had been absent for years, Kushina knocked Jiraiya unconscious and prepared to confront Hiruzen physically.

• Kushina broke free and fought her way through Konoha ninja in the Hokage Building until Hiruzen arrived and ordered everyone not to attack her.
• Kushina told Hiruzen she had come because of Naruto, and he led her and Jiraiya into his office for a confidential discussion.
• Hiruzen explained Naruto’s treatment and admitted that his failures had left the boy lonely, while Kushina blamed him for allowing the village to despise Naruto.
• Hiruzen revealed that Jiraiya had left after Minato and Kushina’s funeral and had returned only the previous month, so Kushina struck him and knocked him unconscious.
• Kushina turned on Hiruzen as crashes shook the Hokage Office, while the Anbu captain kept his subordinates from entering without the Hokage’s order.