Chapter Summaries

Naruto organized a holiday picnic with his classmates, who grew closer to him as they celebrated his academic success. Though the gathering stirred some reluctance to leave Konoha, Naruto reaffirmed his decision to leave, then walked Hinata home and heard her invite him to visit the Hyuga estate.

• Naruto invited Shikamaru, Choji, Sasuke, Hinata, Sakura, Ino, and the other students to a picnic by a river near town.
• At the picnic, classmates congratulated Naruto on ranking first in academic subjects and apologized for having repeated rumors about him.
• Naruto stopped drunken Sasuke from revealing anything sensitive, then told the Nine-Tails that he still intended to leave Konoha because the village could not contain him.
• After the picnic, Naruto and Hinata cleaned up together, and he walked her home after she asked him to.
• Hinata held Naruto's hand on the way to the Hyuga estate and invited him to visit her family; Naruto asked about her Gentle Fist training.

Naruto returned home after learning about Shisui’s plans for the Uchiha, where the Third Hokage offered him rewards and promised to reveal his origins when the time was right. The chapter ended with Naruto telling the Nine-Tails that the Hokage claimed everything he did was for Naruto’s own good.

• Hinata told Tokuma she wanted to master the Gentle Fist Thirty-Two Palms so she could defeat Neji.
• Naruto sensed villagers insulting him, while Shisui stopped Uchiha guards from confronting him and discussed an escape plan with them.
• The Third Hokage congratulated Naruto on ranking first and gave him ninjutsu scrolls and living expenses.
• Naruto pressed the Third Hokage about his parents, and the Hokage said they had been heroes buried in the Heroes' Cemetery without revealing their names.
• The Third Hokage urged Naruto to become Hokage and promised he could join the Anbu directly once he was strong enough.
• After the Hokage left, Naruto told the Nine-Tails that the Hokage said everything was for his own good.

As the Uchiha gathered at Naka Shrine to prepare their coup, Fugaku and Shisui waited anxiously for Itachi, whose allegiance they doubted. Itachi instead went to the Hokage Building and told Konoha’s leaders he would personally stop the rebellion.

• Fugaku waited for Itachi to arrive at Naka Shrine before announcing the coup plan, while the gathered Uchiha grew impatient.
• Yashiro urged Fugaku to reveal the plan, but Fugaku insisted they needed Itachi’s intelligence and Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Shisui worried that Itachi had been ambushed or had betrayed the clan, while Fugaku feared his son had chosen the village over the Uchiha.
• Itachi met Obito atop Hokage Rock, looked toward the clan compound, and decided to minimize losses by stopping the coup.
• Itachi entered the Hokage Building, informed the Konoha High Command that the Uchiha would launch a coup that night, and declared he would stop it himself.

Itachi revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and proposed killing the Uchiha clan to prevent rebellion, but Hiruzen rejected the plan and prepared to negotiate with Fugaku. At the Naka Shrine, Shisui revealed his identity and claimed he could decide the clan’s future.

• Itachi showed the elders his Mangekyō Sharingan and proposed slaughtering the Uchiha clan in exchange for Sasuke’s safety.
• Hiruzen rejected Itachi’s plan, ordered increased protection for Naruto, and assembled the Anbu for a special operation.
• Danzo urged Itachi to prevent the rebellion by his own methods, then ordered Root members to monitor Itachi and bring him his eyes after the massacre.
• At the Naka Shrine, Fugaku abandoned his hopes of becoming Fifth Hokage and left the clan meeting without deciding whether to proceed with the coup.
• Shisui claimed the clan still had another plan, revealed his identity to Yashiro, Inaho, and the gathered Uchiha, and asked whether he had the authority to decide their future.

Shisui revealed himself to the Uchiha elders, rejected a coup, and ordered the clan to leave Konoha for a town near the Land of Cats after removing Fugaku as clan head. Meanwhile, Naruto tried to escape Konoha during the lockdown but evaded the Anbu assigned to escort him, prompting them to pursue him and alert Kakashi.

• Shisui proved his identity to Yashiro and Inaho, then told them he had lost his Mangekyō Sharingan to Danzo and that a coup against Konoha would fail.
• Shisui ordered the Uchiha to leave Konoha and rebuild near the Land of Cats, warning Yashiro and the others not to oppose him.
• Shisui announced at the clan meeting that Fugaku had been removed as clan head and that he would lead the clan toward a new future.
• Naruto thanked Teuchi at Ichiraku Ramen, then headed for Konoha's wall and told the Nine-Tails he planned to escape during the Uchiha conflict.
• Two Anbu intercepted Naruto at the wall and escorted him away, but Naruto used the Shadow Clone Jutsu to slip away.
• The Anbu realized Naruto had tricked them; one searched for his trail while the other went to notify Kakashi.

Naruto defeated Uzuki Yugao and waited for the Third Hokage to leave the Hokage Building before moving to steal the Scroll of Seals. After knocking out Shikamaru and Choji, he infiltrated the building, seized the scroll, and escaped as the guards raised the alarm.

• Naruto defeated Uzuki Yugao, hid her in nearby bushes, and returned to Konoha’s streets instead of fleeing the village.
• Naruto waited for the Third Hokage and the Anbu to head toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, then ran into Shikamaru and Choji.
• Shikamaru confronted Naruto about leaving Konoha, and he and Choji tried to stop him, but Naruto knocked them both out.
• Naruto disguised himself as Uzuki Yugao, entered the Hokage Building, blasted through the secret chamber wall, and took the Scroll of Seals.
• The guards reached the damaged chamber and discovered that the Scroll of Seals was gone.

Naruto stole the Scroll of Seals and fought Kakashi while trying to escape Konoha, revealing that he knew his identity as the Fourth Hokage’s son and still intended to defect. After Naruto and Kakashi badly wounded each other, a green-clad ninja appeared and attacked Naruto.

• The guards discovered that the Scroll of Seals chamber had been attacked by an Anbu using the Fourth Hokage’s Rasengan and reported it to the Third Hokage.
• Naruto stole the Scroll of Seals, concealed it with a Sealing Jutsu, and headed toward the Death Forest after shaking off his pursuers.
• Kakashi intercepted Naruto and tried to persuade him to return the scroll, but Naruto declared that he wanted to defect and revealed he knew his parentage.
• Naruto and Kakashi fought, with Naruto using Shadow Clones, Rasengan, and Wind Release: Rasenshuriken to leave Kakashi wounded in a crater.
• Naruto began healing his injured arm and approached Kakashi, but a green-clad figure stepped between them and attacked him with Konoha: Hurricane Whirlwind.

Naruto escaped Kakashi and Might Guy, but Danzo ordered Root to hunt him down and bring him back under their control. Meanwhile, Shisui took leadership of the Uchiha clan and began their withdrawal from Konoha, only to be confronted by the masked man.

• Might Guy forced Naruto’s Shadow Clone to retreat, and Kakashi told Guy that Naruto was not their enemy and that the Third Lord should decide what to do.
• Naruto warned Kakashi that he would leave Konoha after learning the truth, but Danzo destroyed the Shadow Clone and ordered Kakashi and Guy to treat Naruto as a missing-nin.
• Danzo led Root toward the Death Forest to capture Naruto, while Kakashi asked Might Guy to take him to Konoha Hospital.
• Shisui took over as Uchiha clan head and announced that the clan would withdraw from Konoha, dismissing the objections of those who refused to follow him.
• As Shisui and the Uchiha prepared to leave the Security Building, a masked man appeared and attacked him with a sickle.
• Shisui blocked the masked man’s strike, discovered that he used Space-Time Ninjutsu, and warned the Uchiha to watch out for one another.

Shisui drove off the Masked Man and returned to the Uchiha Compound, where he and Izumi discovered that Itachi had killed their clansmen, including Izumi’s mother. Shisui and Izumi set out to confront Itachi for an explanation.

• Obito attacked the Uchiha at the Security Building with Wood Release, but Shisui outmaneuvered him and forced him to retreat after revealing his identity as Shisui Uchiha.
• Shisui told the Uchiha that the Masked Man was likely behind the Nine-Tails' Rampage and changed the plan to evacuate the clan directly.
• Shisui and the Uchiha found their clansmen slaughtered in the compound and organized teams to evacuate the survivors while others searched for the killer.
• Izumi found her mother's body and recognized a kunai as Itachi's, leading Shisui to conclude that Itachi had killed the clansmen.
• Izumi took her mother's hairband, and she and Shisui went to find Itachi and demand an explanation.

Itachi carried out the Uchiha extermination mission, but Fugaku and Mikoto killed themselves rather than make him kill them, and Sasuke awakened a Double Tomoe Sharingan before Itachi rendered him unconscious. Shisui confronted Itachi over the killings, and the former friends prepared to fight over their opposing ideals.

• Itachi confronted Fugaku and Mikoto and explained that he had agreed to kill the Uchiha to protect the village and spare Sasuke.
• Fugaku and Mikoto tried to kill themselves, but Sasuke stopped them and turned his kunai on Itachi.
• Itachi cast Tsukuyomi on Sasuke, who awakened a Double Tomoe Sharingan before falling unconscious; Fugaku and Mikoto then killed themselves.
• Itachi hid Sasuke in a wardrobe and headed toward the Security Building, but Uchiha ninja arrived with Shisui.
• Shisui challenged Itachi for attacking the clan and proposed leading the Uchiha out of Konoha; Itachi rejected him and the two raised their weapons.

Naruto fought Danzo and Root as he tried to leave Konoha, using the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to repel their attacks. He struck Danzo’s retreating position with a Spiraling Ring, but found only an arm and suspected Danzo had survived using Izanagi.

• Danzo surrounded Naruto with Root and tried to capture him for the village.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clones and Rasengan defeated Root Ninja, while the Nine-Tails repelled the Yamanaka ninja’s attempt to control him and Naruto overcame the Aburame ninja’s poison.
• Danzo revealed his Sharingan and fought Naruto with Wind Release, but Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to withstand attacks and land a punch.
• Danzo retreated with Root to delay Naruto, and Naruto formed and threw a Spiraling Ring at him.
• Naruto found an arm amid the devastation and suspected Danzo had faked his death with Izanagi; the Nine-Tails said the Spiraling Ring was weaker than its own Tailed Beast Bomb.

Naruto and the Nine-Tails dealt with a White Zetsu while the Uchiha clan’s evacuation continued amid Itachi and Shisui’s battle. A distant explosion shook Konoha, and the Third Hokage recognized it as a Tailed Beast Bomb, leaving Naruto’s situation uncertain.

• Naruto sensed a White Zetsu and destroyed it with a Rasengan, then stored its body while the Nine-Tails recognized it as a creation of the Ten-Tails.
• Izumi found Fugaku dead and Mikoto barely alive in the clan head’s residence, treated Mikoto, and joined the Guard Members evacuating the compound with her.
• Shisui and Itachi continued fighting as Izumi left, and Itachi warned Shisui that he would kill him if he stood in his way.
• A flash and tremors outside Konoha interrupted the battle; Shisui used the distraction to wound Itachi, who escaped as a flock of crows.
• The Third Hokage waited outside the compound with the Anbu and wondered about Naruto, then recognized the distant explosion as a Tailed Beast Bomb that only Naruto could have used in the village.

The Third Hokage and Danzo discovered that the Uchiha had escaped Konoha while Itachi joined Obito’s Akatsuki. Shisui’s exhausted clan camped in the Land of Fire forest, where Naruto arrived as Shisui worried about their future.

• The Third Hokage learned that the Scroll of Seals had been stolen, while Danzo returned from a failed pursuit and Itachi threatened to expose the village’s secrets if Sasuke was harmed.
• The Third Hokage and Danzo found the Uchiha dead in their compound, then learned from recorded footage that the Military Police Force had escaped Konoha with Uchiha clansmen.
• Itachi met Obito near Naka Shrine, agreed to join Akatsuki, and heard Obito call himself Tobi and claim to have once been Madara Uchiha.
• Shisui led the wounded Uchiha into the Land of Fire forest and established a temporary camp, uncertain how to protect the clan from its enemies.
• Naruto found Shisui at the camp and greeted him while Shisui was reflecting on the Uchiha’s predicament.

Naruto, using the alias Menma, treated the wounded Uchiha and helped save Mikoto after Shisui's clan fled Konoha. Shisui accepted Naruto's proposal to move the Uchiha to the Land of Whirlpools, while Mikoto resolved to stay alive for Sasuke.

• Naruto agreed to treat the Uchiha wounded for payment and followed Shisui and Izumi to their camp.
• Naruto treated the injured, used his blood to revive Mikoto, and told her to call him Menma.
• Shisui told Mikoto that Itachi had betrayed the clan, Fugaku was dead, and Sasuke remained in Konoha; Mikoto decided not to kill herself because Sasuke needed her.
• Shisui paid Naruto five million Ryo and asked for his protection, and Naruto suggested that the Uchiha move to the Land of Whirlpools.
• Shisui chose to take the Uchiha to the Land of Whirlpools after Naruto said he had a connection to the Uzumaki Clan.

The Third Hokage learned that Kakashi believed his treatment of Naruto had driven him to leave Konoha, and he decided not to list Naruto as a missing-nin or reveal his departure. Danzo failed to get Sasuke placed in Root, while the Third Hokage demanded an explanation for Itachi’s actions.

• The Third Hokage reviewed Naruto’s departure, Shisui’s escape with the Uchiha, and Itachi’s plan to spy on the Masked Man’s organization.
• The Third Hokage questioned Kakashi, who said Naruto had left because the Third Hokage had rejected him through deception and denied him the truth about his origins.
• The Third Hokage realized Naruto was no longer a child to be managed and crossed his name off the missing-nin list.
• Danzo objected to sparing Naruto, but the Third Hokage insisted that Naruto’s departure be concealed to protect Konoha’s interests.
• Danzo demanded that Sasuke be placed in Root, and the Third Hokage refused and called on Danzo to explain his role in Itachi’s matter.

After the Uchiha massacre, the Third Hokage visited Sasuke, who vowed to train until he could kill Itachi, while the Hokage kept the truth from him. At the Hyuga Compound, Hinata defeated Neji and won her father’s permission to invite Naruto over, though Hiashi feared Naruto’s disappearance meant trouble.

• The Third Hokage questioned Sasuke about the massacre, and Sasuke vowed to avenge his family by becoming strong enough to kill Itachi.
• After the Third Hokage left, Sasuke began training and planned to ask Naruto to put him through hellish training.
• Hyuga Hiashi reviewed reports about the village’s recent crises and watched Hinata fight Neji at the training grounds.
• Hinata defeated Neji, then asked Hiashi to honor his promise to let her invite Naruto to the Hyuga Compound.
• Hiashi agreed but worried because Naruto had not appeared in the streets for several days.

Hinata and Sasuke learned that Naruto had graduated and left the village on a mission, then suspected he had actually run away. The Third Hokage failed to retrieve Naruto and sent a message to Jiraiya, hoping to entrust Naruto to him.

• Hinata and Sasuke found Naruto absent from school, so Iruka took them to the Third Hokage, who said Naruto had become a genin and was away on a mission.
• Sasuke and Hinata suspected Naruto had left the village, recalled his farewell-like picnic, and agreed to share information to find him.
• The Third Hokage learned that his Anbu could not distinguish Naruto from his Shadow Clones and suspended the effort to bring him back.
• The Third Hokage summoned a toad and sent Jiraiya a letter asking him to take responsibility for Naruto.

Naruto finally forced Minato Namikaze’s chakra to appear inside the Sealing Space after spending half a month training and trying to break the Scroll of Seals. Minato had watched Naruto’s actions since the seal weakened, but their reunion left him uncertain how to face his son, who demanded practical benefits rather than concern.

• Naruto trained Wind Release, sold leftover meat, and improved his techniques after fighting Danzo.
• Naruto spent half an hour attempting to break the Scroll of Seals, then waited for Anbu who never arrived.
• Naruto went to a nearby town disguised as Menma and later entered the Sealing Space to confront the hidden consciousness in the seal.
• Naruto removed the Eight Trigrams Seal, causing Minato Namikaze to appear and freeing the Nine-Tails from its cage.
• Minato Namikaze recalled watching Naruto become friends with the Nine-Tails, leave the village, fight Danzo, and deal with the Uchiha clan.
• Naruto identified Minato as the Fourth Hokage and his father, then dismissed his concern and asked what practical benefit he could provide.

Naruto planned to travel to the Land of Whirlpools and build a force while Minato and the Nine-Tails argued over whether he should return to Konoha. He joined a merchant caravan heading toward the coast of the Land of Fire, but its route was blocked by armed men.

• Naruto planned to seek the Uzumaki Clan's legacy in Uzushio Village and recruit people to build a force there.
• The Nine-Tails told Minato that Konoha's treatment of Naruto had driven him to leave, while Minato felt Naruto should return and change the village.
• Naruto found Minato and the Nine-Tails arguing over his future in the Sealing Space and left without taking sides.
• Naruto agreed to guard a merchant caravan in exchange for free travel and payment.
• The caravan set out toward the coast of the Land of Fire, but a group of people carrying clubs blocked its path.

Naruto’s escort journey exposed how ninja served those who could afford them, while banditry and even attacks on nobles went unchecked. After Juzo Biwa killed a noble and left without fighting Naruto, Naruto questioned Minato Namikaze about what ninja could protect.

• Naruto exposed the bandits’ collusion with the caravan guards, knocked out their leader, and had the bandits sent to a nearby town.
• A passing Land of Fire noble forced the caravan to stop and salute, prompting Naruto to question whom ninja were meant to protect.
• The caravan found the noble’s palanquin destroyed and his ninja guards dead, while Juzo Biwa waited nearby with the Kubikiribōchō.
• Juzo Biwa attacked Naruto, then mistook him for a rival bounty hunter and invited him to join his organization before leaving with the noble’s head.
• Naruto chose not to pursue Juzo Biwa and asked Minato Namikaze what ninja could protect.