Chapter Summaries

Naruto and Minato discussed Kakashi and Jiraiya’s plan to oppose the Third Hokage and Danzo, then sent Kakashi advice and a personal message from Minato. Kakashi received the letter and wondered whether Minato’s chakra had influenced Naruto, while Obito secretly entered Konoha.

• Naruto read Kakashi’s letter and told Minato that the Third Hokage relied on Danzo to preserve his power and protect the Sarutobi Clan.
• Minato agreed to add a message for Kakashi, and Naruto sent the completed reply to Konoha using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kakashi read Naruto’s suggestions to expose Danzo, use public opinion against the Hokage’s leadership, and unite the Ino-Shika-Cho and Hyuga clans.
• Kakashi recognized Minato’s gentle tone in the letter and speculated that Minato’s chakra had shaped Naruto’s actions.
• Obito arrived in Konoha, watched Kakashi and the Flying Thunder God Kunai, then entered the village through a vortex.

Obito visited Rin’s grave, then Kakashi concluded that Obito was the Masked Man and considered awakening his Mangekyo to oppose him. In Uzushio, Naruto advised Homura on village development before Ashina asked him to perform Impure World Reincarnation so he could investigate the Pure Land.

• Obito visited Rin Nohara’s grave and confirmed that her remains were still there before leaving to search for Naruto.
• Kakashi sensed Obito’s spatial disturbance and concluded that the Masked Man was Obito, then considered awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Naruto received no reply from Kakashi and gave Homura advice to develop Chakra technology and bring the Land of Waves under Uzushio’s direct rule.
• Naruto visited Ashina Uzumaki, who asked him to use Impure World Reincarnation for an experiment concerning the Pure Land.
• Ashina showed Naruto his dug-up corpse as the material for the technique and dismissed Naruto’s concern that using it would desecrate his remains.

Naruto released Ashina Uzumaki into the Pure Land, then eventually summoned him back to learn what he had discovered there. Their discussion led Ashina to warn Naruto not to revive him again, as Naruto continued investigating the boundary between life and death.

• Naruto released Ashina Uzumaki and watched his soul depart toward the Pure Land.
• Naruto waited half a day, then repeatedly failed to summon Ashina Uzumaki before successfully reincarnating him a week later.
• Ashina Uzumaki reported sensing powerful souls in the Pure Land but being unable to approach them, and he had experienced no sense of time there.
• Naruto explained his concern that the Pure Land might be connected to the Divine Tree and asked whether its souls were truly dead.
• Naruto revealed that Orochimaru and Sasori had extended their lives by changing bodies, prompting Ashina to warn him never to revive him again.

Naruto left Uzushio Village to seek senjutsu training and reached Ryūchi Cave, where the snake sages demanded he pass their tests before meeting the White Snake Sage. He answered their threat by forming a Rasengan and challenging them.

• Naruto told Ashina Uzumaki he planned to leave for up to a month to train in senjutsu and defeat Nagato, and Ashina agreed to manage Uzushio Village.
• Naruto informed his subordinates he was leaving, then traveled by ship and overland toward the location of Ryūchi Cave marked on Orochimaru's map.
• Naruto reflected on the hardship suffered by small countries and rejected Nagato's Akatsuki as a source of further tragedy.
• A small viper affiliated with Ryūchi Cave found Naruto and guided him into its vast underground space.
• Naruto entered the Ryūchi Cave temple with Kurama and asked to see the White Snake Sage, but a snake princess said he had to pass their tests or be eaten.
• Naruto condensed a Rasengan and asked the snake princess if she was sure.

Naruto met the White Snake Sage in Ryūchi Cave and asked about Sage Arts, the Pure Land, and the Ten-Tails. She arranged for him to train in Ryūchi Cave Sage Art, leaving him to begin training with Tagorihime.

• The White Snake Sage allowed Naruto to enter Ryūchi Cave after the three snake princesses could not match his strength.
• Naruto met the White Snake Sage, rejected being called the Child of Prophecy, and asked about the Sage Arts of the Three Great Sage Regions and the Pure Land.
• The White Snake Sage said the regions' Sage Art methods were nearly identical but had different focuses, and suggested Gamamaru might know about the Pure Land.
• Naruto revealed that he knew of the Ten-Tails and asked why the White Snake Sage would not destroy the Rinnegan; she did not answer.
• The White Snake Sage bit Naruto to inject Nature Energy, then sent him to train in a cave with Tagorihime and warned him not to stay long.

Naruto learned to refine Sage Chakra in Ryūchi Cave and tested its power, impressing Tagorihime. When the Ryūchi Cave Hunt began, he decided to face the great snakes and test his strength without using the Nine-Tails’ power.

• Tagorihime explained the dangers and requirements of sage arts, and Naruto created Shadow Clones to help him train.
• After several Shadow Clones burst from poor Chakra control, Naruto refined Sage Chakra with his original body and cut a massive boulder into fragments with Wind Release ninjutsu.
• Naruto considered the power of sage arts and their potential against the Rinnegan and Otsutsuki, while Tagorihime marveled at how quickly he was progressing.
• Great snakes gathered for the Ryūchi Cave Hunt, and Tagorihime explained that they would fight to determine the strongest.
• Tagorihime told Naruto about Orochimaru’s participation in the hunt and described the Great Snake Sage’s rule over Ryūchi Cave.
• Naruto walked toward the gathered snakes to test Ryūchi Cave Sage Art and his own strength without borrowing the Nine-Tails’ power.

Naruto battled Ryūchi Cave’s giant snakes, gained Garaga as a summoned beast, and trained in Sage Mode. Kurama learned Sage Jutsu and expelled the excess Nature Energy from Naruto, allowing them to prepare to activate Sage Fox Mode.

• The White Snake Sage wagered with Ritsuhime over how many giant snakes Naruto would defeat, offering Sage Jutsu or a summoning contract as the prize.
• Naruto used Sage Mode, a Rasenshuriken, and his Mangekyō Sharingan to turn a crimson giant snake against the others and assess his strength.
• Garaga agreed to sign a summoning contract with Naruto, who accepted despite wondering how the snake had become Boruto’s summoned beast.
• Naruto continued training and learned that maintaining Sage Mode mattered more than entering it quickly, while incomplete Sage Mode caused scales and other side effects.
• Kurama expelled the Nature Energy from Naruto and revealed that he had mastered Sage Jutsu, prompting Naruto to name their combined form Sage Fox Mode.

Naruto mastered Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode and gained access to its secret techniques after agreeing to let Ritsuhime see the ninja world. Meanwhile, Jiraiya sought Tsunade’s support to oppose the Third Hokage and change Konoha, leaving him on his way to meet her.

• Naruto learned that a month had passed while he trained in Ryūchi Cave and asked the White Snake Sage to teach him its secret techniques.
• The White Snake Sage gave Naruto the Ryūchi Cave Sage Art on the condition that he sign a summoning contract with Ritsuhime and let her see the ninja world.
• Naruto studied the Sage Art scroll and became interested in Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation for its ability to reshape inorganic matter.
• Jiraiya knocked out a spy squad near the Land of Fire border and learned that Iwagakure was trying to weaken Konoha’s defenses by driving wedges between it and smaller villages.
• Jiraiya headed to the town where Tsunade was staying, hoping to recruit her as an ally against the Third Hokage.

After leaving Ryūchi Cave, Naruto tested his Sage Chakra in the shinobi world and discovered that he had emerged in the Land of Grass. At Kusagakure, he sensed an unusual number of White Zetsu underground and suspected that Nagato was pursuing the alternative path Naruto had suggested.

• Naruto trapped Garaga with Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation, then decided to leave Ryūchi Cave after nearly two months of training.
• Ritsuhime told Naruto that the White Snake Sage had entered seclusion and had permitted him to leave whenever he wished.
• Naruto exited Ryūchi Cave, refined Sage Chakra beneath a tree, and tested a Sage Art-enhanced Wind Release.
• A traveler told Naruto that he was in the Land of Grass, so Naruto headed to nearby Kusagakure and entered the village as a noble.
• Naruto surveyed Kusagakure with the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and detected many White Zetsu underground, leading him to suspect that Akatsuki planned to target the village.

Naruto watched Karin Uzumaki endure exploitation in Kusagakure while deciding whether she deserved more than his protection. After the village’s higher-ups tried to seize her, Karin killed one of them and called out to the unseen person who had helped her.

• Karin treated injured Grass Ninja by letting them bite her and drain her life force, then privately mourned over a photograph.
• Naruto watched Karin and explained to the Nine-Tails that he had encountered her by chance while investigating Kusagakure and the White Zetsu underground.
• Karin studied medical books because she hoped Medical Ninjutsu would give her the strength to protect herself.
• A Kusagakure higher-up arrived with orders to imprison Karin and conceal her existence, but he suddenly collapsed unconscious.
• Karin read the mission scroll, hesitated, then stabbed the higher-up in the heart and hid his body.
• Karin thanked the unseen ninja for helping her and asked him to reveal himself.

Naruto helped Karin escape Kusagakure and offered to take her to Uzushio Village. After she accepted, he planned to return with her to retrieve her belongings and watch Kusagakure’s factions react to her disappearance.

• Karin disguised herself as a Kusagakure higher-up and slipped out of the village carrying his corpse.
• Karin sensed Naruto nearby, learned he was an Uzumaki, and chose to leave with him.
• Naruto told Karin they would return to Kusagakure to retrieve her belongings and watch a good show.
• The Grass Hidden Village Leader and faction elders debated Iwagakure’s threat, possible aid from Akatsuki, and using the Box of Paradise.
• A Kusagakure Anbu reported that Karin and the ninja assigned to capture her had disappeared, prompting the elders to suspect a rival faction.

Naruto rescued Karin from Kusagakure and brought her to an izakaya, where he explained that she would train in Medical Ninjutsu for Uzushio Village. As Jiraiya reached Kusagakure with Tsunade and Shizune, he asked Tsunade to help him deal with their teacher, the Third Hokage.

• Naruto told Karin that fewer than five Uzumaki Clan members were known to remain and promised she would learn Sealing Jutsu in Uzushio Village.
• Grass Ninja searched Kusagakure for Karin, and Naruto explained that the village wanted to keep using her healing constitution.
• Naruto told Karin not to sacrifice her life force and assigned her to specialize in Medical Ninjutsu for Uzushio Village.
• Naruto sensed Jiraiya near Kusagakure and anticipated that the village's turmoil would worsen.
• Jiraiya followed Tsunade and Shizune from the Land of Rice to the Land of Grass and asked Tsunade to join him in dealing with the Third Hokage.

Tsunade learned about Konoha’s recent troubles from Jiraiya and began considering a return to the village before they set out to rescue Karin Uzumaki from Kusagakure. Meanwhile, Kusagakure’s War Faction Elder prepared to open the Box of Paradise, unaware that Mui wanted it for his own wish and White Zetsu had overheard their plans.

• Jiraiya told Tsunade about Konoha’s recent events, Naruto’s departure to establish Uzushio Village, and his efforts with Kakashi against Danzo.
• Tsunade questioned the Third Hokage’s choices, recognized that Naruto’s reforms could threaten Konoha’s standing, and considered returning to the village.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade defeated a Kusagakure squad pursuing Karin Uzumaki and learned Kusagakure treated Uzumaki as medical tools, so they headed there with Shizune to rescue her.
• The War Faction Elder told Mui he planned to open the Box of Paradise and use it to stage a coup, potentially sacrificing Hozuki Castle’s prisoners or Akatsuki’s mercenaries.
• Mui pretended to oppose the plan but secretly wanted the Box of Paradise to resurrect his son, while White Zetsu overheard the conversation and escaped underground.

Obito learned that Kusagakure planned to use the Box of Paradise and had hired Akatsuki to target Iwagakure ninja. The War Faction Elder lured Kakuzu, Itachi Uchiha, Kisame, and Hidan into a trap beneath the village, where he intended to sacrifice them to the box.

• Obito asked Black Zetsu about the Box of Paradise and decided not to warn Akatsuki about Kusagakure’s plans.
• The War Faction Elder welcomed Kakuzu, Itachi Uchiha, Kisame, and Hidan and presented a list of Iwagakure ninja to assassinate.
• A Grass Ninja told the War Faction Elder that Karin was still missing and that Mui wanted to see him, so the elder left the secret chamber.
• Itachi grew suspicious of the elder’s departure, but Kakuzu and Hidan dismissed the possibility that Kusagakure would attack them.
• The chamber descended underground, revealing a Blood Altar, the Box of Paradise, and bound captives.
• The War Faction Elder announced that the Akatsuki members would become part of the Box of Paradise.

Jonin Mui betrayed the War Faction Elder to open the Box of Paradise, releasing Satori and other monsters that attacked Kusagakure and the Akatsuki members. Naruto watched from an izakaya, discussed the box with Kurama, and told Karin to see how Kusagakure’s ambition would lead it to ruin.

• The War Faction Elder released poison gas to incapacitate the prisoners and Akatsuki members, then used their Chakra to try to open the Box of Paradise.
• Jonin Mui stabbed the War Faction Elder and sacrificed him to the box, hoping to revive his son, Muku.
• Satori burst from the opened box, flew toward Kusagakure, and began destroying buildings, while other immortal monsters attacked Itachi Uchiha, Kisame, Hidan, and Kakuzu.
• Naruto sensed Satori’s Chakra from an izakaya and asked Kurama about the Box of Paradise and its origins.
• Naruto said someone else had noticed Satori and told Karin to watch Kusagakure be dragged down by its unrealistic ambition.

Satori rampaged through Kusagakure, attacking civilians and Grass Ninja while Naruto and Karin watched. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune arrived and learned the monster was likely a secret weapon developed to counter Iwagakure, then set out to find Kusagakure’s leader and stop it.

• Satori attacked Kusagakure, evading the Grass Ninja’s weapons and crushing several of them.
• Naruto told Karin that Satori was Kusagakure’s secret weapon and had lost control, while Karin hesitated to help the injured Grass Ninja because of how Kusagakure had exploited her and her mother.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune encountered Satori; Tsunade’s punches and Jiraiya’s Fire Release failed to hit it, and Satori dodged their attacks before flying away.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade concluded that Satori could read minds and predict attacks, and Tsunade treated several injured Grass Ninja.
• An injured Grass Ninja revealed that Kusagakure had secretly developed weapons because Iwagakure had stationed troops at the border, and Tsunade told Jiraiya they needed to find the village leader and kill Satori.

Naruto met Jiraiya and Tsunade in Kusagakure and explained that Satori had escaped from the Box of Paradise, while refusing to help the village that had harmed Karin and her mother. Jiraiya and Tsunade went to confront Satori, leaving Naruto and Karin behind as Kusagakure’s leaders concealed what they knew about the monster.

• Jiraiya recognized Naruto at an izakaya, and he and Tsunade questioned him about his presence in Kusagakure and the monster.
• Naruto identified the monster as Satori, who had escaped from the Box of Paradise and could sense malicious intent and read people’s hearts.
• Naruto refused to deal with Satori, citing Kusagakure’s failure to hire Uzushio and its mistreatment of the Uzumaki Clan; Karin told Jiraiya and Tsunade about her experiences.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya left to fight Satori, while Naruto told Karin he did not want to give them illusions about who he was.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade joined Kusagakure’s ninjas, and the Grass Village Leader gave them a misleading account of Satori’s origins and abilities.

Jiraiya and Tsunade learned that only the Box of Paradise could seal Satori, while Itachi revealed that the box had created many immortal monsters from sacrificed ninja. The former enemies agreed to work together against the monsters before resuming their hostilities.

• Jiraiya's Four Symbols Seal failed to contain Satori, and the Grass Village Leader said only the Box of Paradise could seal it.
• Jiraiya and the Grass Village Leader reached the Kusagakure base and saw immortal monsters fighting Akatsuki members below.
• Itachi Uchiha confronted the Grass Village Leader over Kusagakure's attack and the sacrifice of more than a hundred ninja to open the box.
• Itachi warned Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the Grass Village Leader that the box was creating growing numbers of immortal monsters from nearby corpses.
• Tsunade agreed to fight alongside Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki until the monsters were dealt with, after which they would remain enemies.
• Itachi claimed he had killed his clan to prove his worth and gain Mangekyō Sharingan, and Jiraiya agreed to relay his message to the Third Hokage.

Naruto brought Karin openly through Kusagakure and let her decide how to face the village that had mistreated her. While Konoha and the Akatsuki struggled to seal Satori, Naruto investigated Mui and the Box of Paradise, then a giant hand dragged Satori underground.

• Naruto told Karin that Kusagakure had lost a tool it could exploit, and she chose to let the village bring about its own destruction.
• Naruto and Karin watched the battle against Satori, while Obito sensed Naruto, escaped with Kamui, and left a White Zetsu behind.
• Naruto defeated the disguised White Zetsu, made a Shadow Clone protect Karin, and went to find Mui.
• Naruto used genjutsu on Mui to obtain the sealing formula and research materials, and Kurama said the Box of Paradise might predate the Divine Tree.
• Konoha and the Akatsuki failed to seal Satori, and a giant hand rose from underground and dragged him into the earth.

Naruto sealed Satori and the undead monsters in the Box of Paradise, then rejected Kusagakure’s offer of cooperation and met with Jiraiya and Tsunade. He refused to return to Konoha and challenged Jiraiya over his search for the Child of Prophecy.

• Jiraiya recognized Naruto’s power in the giant hand that subdued Satori, while Tsunade questioned how the Third Hokage had trained him.
• Naruto restrained the undead monsters, tested Satori’s regeneration, and burned Satori before the Box of Paradise swallowed them all.
• Naruto summoned Garaga to carry the Box of Paradise back to Ryūchi Cave, then emerged and watched the Akatsuki members flee toward Amegakure.
• The Grass Village Leader apologized to Karin and offered Naruto resources and cooperation, but Naruto refused and left with her.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade caught up with Naruto, who rejected Tsunade’s suggestion that he become Hokage and warned her against confronting him by triggering her hemophobia.
• Naruto told Jiraiya he did not want a conflict with Tsunade, then asked whether Jiraiya still sought the Child of Prophecy or would become that child himself and find someone else to be Fifth Hokage.