Chapter Summaries

Naruto traveled with Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza to the Land of Water, warning them that the Masked Man was monitoring them and manipulating events in Kirigakure. After they learned Kisame Hoshigaki had failed to assassinate the Daimyo, they reached the island and encountered Haku of the Yuki Clan.

• Naruto left Uzushio Village with Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza, leaving Shisui in charge of the village.
• On the ferry, Naruto revealed that the Masked Man was watching the Uchiha and warned that Mangetsu and Zabuza risked being captured for experiments.
• During the voyage, Naruto helped Mangetsu and Zabuza find White Zetsu disguised as driftwood and witnessed him become a vegetable.
• After landing in the Land of Water, Mangetsu and Zabuza learned Kisame Hoshigaki had failed to assassinate the Daimyo and feared the Masked Man would target them next.
• Naruto recognized the kimono-clad Haku as Zabuza's adopted orphan from the Yuki Clan.

Zabuza, Haku, and Hozuki Mangetsu prepared to challenge the Masked Man’s control of Kirigakure and sought Naruto’s backing for Mangetsu to become Mizukage. Naruto left them to prove their resolve while he planned to search the Land of Water for descendants of persecuted kekkei genkai clans.

• Zabuza tried to send Haku away, but Hozuki Mangetsu told Haku their plan to assassinate the Mizukage, and Haku chose to join them.
• Hozuki Mangetsu explained that Naruto’s presence made their plans subject to his wishes, while Zabuza wondered whether they could recruit support in Kirigakure.
• Hozuki Mangetsu offered to ally Kirigakure with Uzushio Village and recognize the Land of Whirlpools if Naruto helped him become the Fifth Mizukage.
• Naruto refused to settle terms until Mangetsu found a way to approach the Mizukage and prove his resolve, then vanished from the street.
• Naruto planned to search the Land of Water for persecuted kekkei genkai descendants and bring them to the Land of Whirlpools.
• Zabuza lamented that they were destined to be chess pieces, and Hozuki Mangetsu reminded him that they had once been no more than dust beneath the players.

Naruto investigated Kirigakure and learned more about the Masked Man’s plans to gather the Tailed Beasts and revive the Ten-Tails. The Nine-Tails agreed to help stop the threat, but Naruto spotted figures fleeing the Mizukage’s office and wondered whether Kirigakure was under attack.

• Naruto explored Kirigakure and discussed its harsh treatment of villagers and the corruption of the ninja villages with the Nine-Tails.
• Naruto suspected that the Masked Man who controlled the Nine-Tails was an Uchiha with a Space-Time Dōjutsu, and the Nine-Tails said he could command White Zetsu.
• The Nine-Tails revealed that the Tailed Beasts came from the Ten-Tails and that its revival would transform it into the Divine Tree and put the ninja world to sleep.
• The Nine-Tails admitted it had urged Naruto to gather the other Tailed Beasts’ Chakra so they could unite against the Masked Man.
• Naruto saw black figures fly from the Mizukage’s office toward the other side of Kirigakure and wondered whether Hozuki Mangetsu’s group or another attacker had acted.

Naruto infiltrated Kirigakure as factions converged on the outskirts, where Itachi and Juzo Biwa fought the genjutsu-controlled Fourth Mizukage. Obito realized Juzo had exposed his long-hidden control of Yagura, while Naruto turned his attention toward finding the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Hozuki Mangetsu learned that Itachi Uchiha and Juzo Biwa had invaded Kirigakure and led his followers toward the outskirts.
• Ao used his Byakugan to confirm that Karatachi Yagura was under genjutsu, and Genji sent Mei Terumi and Ao to deal with the outside enemies.
• Naruto disguised himself as a Kirigakure ninja, saw Yagura fighting Itachi and Juzo, and searched the gathered crowd for the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Naruto placed Ao under genjutsu, and Ao identified him as a possible spy and ordered Kirigakure's forces to prepare for battle.
• Obito watched the fighting from the Mizukage's office and concluded that Juzo Biwa had betrayed him by bringing Yagura out of the building.

Obito relinquished control of Kirigakure after his genjutsu over the Fourth Mizukage became too risky, then negotiated with Naruto over the village and a tailed beast. The two agreed to cooperate, and Obito asked Naruto to kill Juzo Biwa.

• Obito decided he could no longer safely control the Fourth Mizukage and planned to leave Kirigakure, but first intended to deal with Juzo Biwa.
• Naruto confronted Obito and revealed that he had saved Shisui, helped the Uchiha settle in the Land of Whirlpools, and killed Obito's white creatures.
• Naruto proposed taking control of Kirigakure and offered Obito a tailed beast in exchange for cooperation and making Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza heroes of the village's salvation.
• Naruto said he wanted a Jinchuriki for his plans to rebuild the Land of Whirlpools as the sixth great nation, and Obito agreed to cooperate.
• Obito asked Naruto to kill Juzo Biwa, whom he called a traitor and rogue ninja invading Kirigakure.

Naruto agreed to a temporary alliance with Obito but refused to fight him because he could not reliably stop Kamui or overcome Izanagi. After Obito vanished, Naruto discussed the threat with Nine-Tails and Minato Namikaze and considered whether Flying Thunder God could reach an alternate space; he also wondered if his system’s failures were related to reincarnated souls.

• Naruto inferred that Juzo Biwa had opposed Obito’s control of Kirigakure and agreed to Obito’s terms.
• Obito attacked Naruto, but Naruto countered with Weasel Aura and a Rasengan before Obito escaped using Kamui.
• Naruto told Nine-Tails that he was not ready to fight Obito because of Kamui and Izanagi.
• Minato Namikaze agreed with Naruto’s caution and offered to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique, warning that reaching an alternate space might be dangerous.
• Naruto considered the system’s missing favorability ratings for Ashina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze and wondered whether Impure World Reincarnation caused them.

Juzo Biwa sacrificed himself during the battle with the controlled Fourth Mizukage, giving Itachi a chance to escape and leaving Itachi to continue Akatsuki’s mission. Obito then ordered Itachi to impersonate him and stall a mysterious partner, who would take control of Kirigakure.

• Juzo Biwa protected Itachi from the Fourth Mizukage’s Coral Palm and Tailed Beast Bomb, but the blast shattered his Kubikiribōchō and fatally wounded him.
• Itachi used Amaterasu to drive off the Fourth Mizukage, while Juzo Biwa said he had accomplished his mission to expose the Mizukage’s manipulation and chose to die in his hometown.
• Itachi left as Kirigakure ninja approached, then met Obito, who had been watching from inside a tree trunk.
• Obito told Itachi to impersonate him, temporarily control the Fourth Mizukage, and stall a ninja wearing a Black Fox Mask before retreating.
• Obito revealed that the masked ninja was their partner and that Kirigakure’s future would be left under his control.

Naruto found the dying Juzo Biwa and saved him, learning that he had attacked Kirigakure to expose the Fourth Mizukage's connection to the Masked Man. As the Three-Tails rampaged outside the village, Naruto agreed to deal with the battle while Zabuza took Juzo away in secret.

• Naruto sensed the Three-Tails' Chakra and headed outside Kirigakure to confront the Fourth Mizukage, who had transformed into the beast.
• Naruto found Juzo Biwa near his broken Kubikiribōchō and used medicine mixed with Uzumaki Clan blood to save his life.
• Naruto urged Juzo to live and seek revenge on the Masked Man, who had manipulated him.
• Momochi Zabuza arrived, and Naruto explained that Juzo had betrayed the Masked Man to warn Kirigakure about the Fourth Mizukage.
• Zabuza agreed to take Juzo and the broken Kubikiribōchō back secretly, while Naruto promised to end the battle within half an hour.

Hozuki Mangetsu and Mei Terumi battled the Three-Tails while waiting for the powerful outsider Lord Menma, who stopped its Tailed Beast Bomb and knocked it unconscious. The Masked Man then took control of the Three-Tails again and faced Lord Menma, while Mangetsu and Mei considered Kirigakure’s future and the price of Menma’s aid.

• Hozuki Mangetsu blasted the Three-Tails into the lake, and Mei Terumi heated the water with Boil Release to force it back onto shore.
• Mangetsu and Mei argued about the Fourth Mizukage’s future and who might become the Fifth Mizukage as the Three-Tails rampaged.
• The Three-Tails launched a Tailed Beast Bomb toward Kirigakure’s forces, but Lord Menma redirected it with an invisible net, and the explosion knocked the beast unconscious.
• Mei learned that Mangetsu had promised Kirigakure’s support for Lord Menma’s new ninja village in exchange for his help.
• Hozuki Mangetsu spotted the Masked Man taking control of the Three-Tails again, and Lord Menma confronted him.

Naruto and Itachi Uchiha staged a battle in Kirigakure while Obito watched, then Obito reasserted control over the Fourth Mizukage and the Three-Tails. Naruto revealed his great strength, drove the Three-Tails into the lakebed, and found Karatachi Yagura inside it.

• Naruto recognized Itachi Uchiha as the Masked Man’s substitute and warned him about Obito before they began a staged fight.
• Naruto and Itachi exchanged Wind Style and Fire Style attacks as Kirigakure’s shinobi and Obito observed.
• Obito used Sharingan genjutsu to regain control of Karatachi Yagura and the Three-Tails, then awakened the beast.
• Naruto sensed the Three-Tails’ attack and struck Obito with a Spiraling Ring, leaving him wary of Naruto’s strength.
• Itachi retreated when the Three-Tails went berserk, and Naruto slammed the beast into the lakebed with another Spiraling Ring.
• Naruto plunged underwater and found Karatachi Yagura inside the Three-Tails.

Naruto freed Karatachi Yagura from genjutsu, subdued the Three-Tails, and negotiated greater payment from Kirigakure for the mission. After revealing his name as Uzumaki Menma, he followed Genji to Kirigakure, where the Nine-Tails told him the Three-Tails had awakened.

• Naruto dispelled the genjutsu on Karatachi Yagura, extracted some of the unconscious Three-Tails’ Chakra, and sealed the beast back inside him.
• Naruto told the gathered Kirigakure shinobi that Kirigakure would need to pay more for the job, then described subduing the Three-Tails as three simple steps.
• Genji invited Naruto to Kirigakure after learning he was an Uzumaki, and Naruto discussed the Land of Whirlpools’ destruction with Minato Namikaze.
• Naruto arrived in Kirigakure as an honored guest and prepared to discuss cooperation after dinner.
• The Nine-Tails told Naruto that Isobu had awakened and urged him to go meet it.

After waking from his coma, Karatachi Yagura learned that Madara Uchiha had controlled him and likely the Third Hokage for decades, devastating Kirigakure. He agreed to Naruto’s treaty terms to secure the village’s survival, then told Genji he would resign because he had only months to live.

• Karatachi Yagura awoke after eleven years as Mizukage and asked about Kirigakure’s recent situation and Naruto’s identity.
• Hozuki Mangetsu explained the terms of his deal with Naruto, and Karatachi Yagura agreed to all of them so Kirigakure could form an alliance with him.
• Karatachi Yagura revealed that he believed Madara Uchiha had controlled both him and the Third Hokage, prompting the assembled ninja to reconsider Kirigakure’s history.
• Karatachi Yagura dismissed the Jonin and told Genji that his health was failing and he intended to begin selecting a Fifth Hokage.
• Genji recommended Mei Terumi and Hozuki Mangetsu, but concluded Mangetsu would likely need to become Mizukage because of his ties to Naruto and the treaty.

Naruto gained Three-Tails’ Water Release Chakra after meeting Isobu inside the Sealing Space, then demonstrated his new ability. Zabuza and Hozuki Mangetsu told him the Fourth Mizukage had accepted his conditions and wanted deeper cooperation with the Land of Whirlpools.

• Naruto met Isobu, who said Karatachi Yagura had only a few months left to live.
• Naruto bumped fists with Isobu and gained Three-Tails’ water-based power.
• Naruto returned to the real world and manipulated water without hand seals.
• Zabuza and Hozuki Mangetsu told Naruto that the Fourth Mizukage had awakened and invited him to discuss cooperation.
• Naruto asked Hozuki Mangetsu about his chances of becoming the Fifth Mizukage, and Mangetsu said he would work toward it.

Naruto learned about Akatsuki’s plans and negotiated Kirigakure’s support for the Land of Whirlpools in exchange for help against the organization. The chapter ended with Naruto following Genji to discuss Kirigakure’s role in the war against the Land of Whirlpools.

• Karatachi Yagura and Genji learned from Juzo Biwa that the Masked Man belonged to Akatsuki, a dangerous organization seeking the Tailed Beasts.
• Naruto met with Karatachi Yagura, who offered Kirigakure’s support to the Land of Whirlpools through an agreement.
• Naruto asked to meet Kirigakure’s Six-Tails Jinchuriki, but Karatachi Yagura said he did not know where the Jinchuriki was.
• Juzo Biwa explained that Akatsuki had two rival factions led by the Masked Man and Pain, and that he and Itachi had exploited their conflict to attack Kirigakure.
• Karatachi Yagura proposed a Five Kage Summit, then said he would resign as Mizukage in three months and asked Naruto who should replace him.
• Naruto declined to interfere in Kirigakure’s leadership and followed Genji to discuss the Land of Whirlpools’ history.

Naruto learned how Kirigakure, Cloud, and Iwagakure destroyed the Land of Whirlpools to obtain its Sealing Jutsu, then left Kirigakure with Zabuza and Haku. At a transit port in the Land of Fire, he recognized a white-haired man as possibly Jiraiya and wondered whether the Konoha Sannin had discovered the Uchiha in the Land of Whirlpools.

• Genji told Naruto that three great nations attacked the Land of Whirlpools for its Sealing Jutsu, while Konoha’s late-arriving support failed to prevent its destruction.
• Naruto rejected Genji’s attempt to turn him against Konoha and warned that Kirigakure would face either his influence or the Masked Man’s revenge.
• Naruto left Kirigakure with Zabuza, who had been assigned to exchange ninjutsu, and Haku, a Yuki Clan remnant unwanted in Kirigakure.
• A week later, Naruto and Haku stopped at a port in the Land of Fire, where Naruto bought educational books and gathered information at an izakaya.
• Naruto recognized a white-haired man with a frog-shaped wallet as possibly Jiraiya, and Minato Namikaze advised him to avoid fighting his former teacher if possible.

Naruto and Jiraiya concealed their intentions while traveling aboard the same ship to the Land of Whirlpools, each trying to learn why the other was going there. Jiraiya left the encounter believing Naruto was a naive young ninja, while Naruto returned to report to Zabuza.

• Haku noticed Jiraiya aboard the ship and wondered whether he was following them.
• Jiraiya approached Naruto and Haku but stopped when he recognized Momochi Zabuza, prompting Zabuza to challenge him about following them.
• Naruto and Zabuza claimed they were traveling for sightseeing, while Jiraiya posed as a Chunin seeking work in the Land of Whirlpools.
• Naruto pretended to be an inexperienced Genin and encouraged Jiraiya to share stories about his ninja experiences.
• Jiraiya indirectly asked why Naruto was going to the Land of Whirlpools, but Naruto deflected the question and returned to report to Zabuza.

Naruto and his companions reached the Land of Whirlpools, where he learned that Jiraiya and other dangerous visitors had arrived. Orochimaru and Sasori attacked Shisui and Homura near Uzushio Village.

• Naruto told Zabuza and Haku that Jiraiya was roughly as strong as the Five Kage and that he did not consider Jiraiya a threat.
• Naruto, Zabuza, Haku, and Jiraiya arrived at the Land of Whirlpools, where Naruto received a warning about several powerful uninvited guests.
• Orochimaru and Sasori watched Uzushio Village and suspected the Uchiha had chosen it because they felt safe there.
• Orochimaru and Sasori decided to capture Shisui, whom they believed was Uzushio Village's strongest fighter.
• Sasori sent puppets bursting from the ground at Shisui while Orochimaru launched the Shadow Snake Hand at Homura.

Orochimaru and Sasori attacked Uzushio Village, where Shisui and the Uchiha fought to defend it. Naruto and Jiraiya arrived near the village as the battle continued, and Jiraiya feared Orochimaru might go astray again.

• Shisui saved Homura from Orochimaru's attack and held off Orochimaru and Sasori while Homura went to summon help and evacuate villagers.
• The Uchiha squad joined Shisui, and he confronted Orochimaru, who questioned why the Uchiha had settled in Uzushio Village.
• Sasori poisoned Uchiha ninja with a Senbon Storm, so Shisui took on Hiruko while trying to locate the hidden Puppet Master.
• Izumi and the Uchiha squad attacked Orochimaru with genjutsu and Fire Release, but he summoned a giant snake from Ryūchi Cave to fight them.
• Naruto and his companions reached the Land of Whirlpools with Jiraiya, heard fighting near Uzushio Village, and realized the village was under attack.
• Jiraiya suspected Orochimaru was behind the attack and worried that his former teammate might go astray again.

Naruto and his allies joined the defense of Uzushio Village, where Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru and forced him to retreat. Jiraiya remained undercover afterward, and Zabuza and Haku’s approach prevented him from altering Naruto’s memories.

• Naruto led Zabuza and Haku to the battle, where they fought Ryūchi Cave snakes and Human Puppets alongside the Uchiha.
• Jiraiya hired Izumi Uchiha for 100,000 taels and confronted Orochimaru, arguing over the Uchiha and Orochimaru’s collaboration with Sasori.
• Jiraiya challenged Orochimaru, who escaped after deciding he could not obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan that day.
• With Orochimaru gone, Jiraiya found Naruto and praised him for staying back, then nearly used genjutsu to alter Naruto’s memories.
• Zabuza and Haku approached, forcing Jiraiya to abandon his attempt to use genjutsu so he would not reveal his identity.

Jiraiya joined Shisui’s fight against Sasori after Orochimaru retreated, and the battle revealed Sasori’s true body and the Third Kazekage Puppet. A controlled hurricane swept Sasori and the puppet into the forest, and Shisui recognized Lord Menma’s return while Jiraiya wondered who could control the weather.

• Jiraiya warned Zabuza to keep their identities hidden and then went to assist Shisui against the Puppet Master.
• Shisui destroyed Hiruko and exposed Sasori’s true body, but Sasori reassembled himself and summoned the Third Kazekage Puppet.
• Sasori used the puppet’s Magnet Release against Jiraiya, who recognized it as the missing Third Kazekage.
• Sasori tried to escape into the sky, but a hurricane broke the puppet’s iron sand wings and swept it into the forest.
• Shisui recognized the hurricane as a sign that Lord Menma had returned, while Jiraiya questioned who had controlled the weather.