Chapter Summaries

Obito asked Naruto to bury him beside Rin, then disappeared into the ruins to die alone as the survivors began planning to rebuild the Leaf. Three days later, Naruto struggled to adapt to losing Kurama, but he resolved to recover and keep moving forward while Sasuke and Sakura urged him to rest.

• Obito asked Naruto to bury him next to Rin and walked away to die in private; Kakashi accepted Shikamaru's advice not to follow.
• Naruto, Kakashi, and Tsunade reflected on the war's end and committed to rebuilding the Leaf in honor of the peace Kurama had given his life for.
• Three days later, Sakura explained that Naruto's body was struggling to adapt to losing the Nine-Tails and that recovery would take at least half a year.
• Sasuke admitted he wanted to become stronger after feeling powerless, and Sakura noted how much he had changed.
• Naruto woke in the hospital and tried to get up to help rebuild, but Sasuke made him stay in bed.
• Naruto said he missed Kurama but would keep going for him and everyone, while Sasuke reported that reconstruction was progressing under Shikamaru and Ino.

Naruto mourned Kurama and accepted Tsunade’s decision to retire and name him the next Hokage. After nearly a month of recovery, he became the Seventh Hokage, though his chakra remained greatly diminished without the Nine-Tails.

• Tsunade told Naruto that Kurama would be remembered and announced that she was retiring and choosing him as her successor.
• Naruto vowed to become Hokage for Kurama and everyone, then spent a month recovering.
• Sasuke escorted Naruto to the Hokage’s Office for the succession ceremony.
• Tsunade placed the Hokage hat on Naruto and declared him the Seventh Hokage of the Leaf.
• Naruto revealed that he had recovered only about thirty percent of his chakra and had roughly a tenth of his former reserves without the Nine-Tails.

After becoming Hokage, Naruto began training to fight without relying on Kurama’s power. Tsunade and Sakura prepared a way to reactivate some remaining Nine-Tails Chakra fragments, while Sasuke started teaching Naruto combat basics and left him determined to improve.

• Sasuke offered to train Naruto in taijutsu, kenjutsu, and tactical thinking, and scheduled their first session for five the next morning.
• Tsunade explained that Nine-Tails Chakra fragments remained in Naruto’s cells and could restore his reserves to half their former level if activated.
• Sakura said she would use Medical Ninjutsu to stimulate the fragments, requiring Naruto to report to the Medical Department daily.
• At home, Naruto reflected on Kurama’s absence, vowed to become strong enough to protect everyone, and picked up his Hokage hat.
• At the Training Ground, Sasuke tested Naruto’s reactions and defeated him with a series of attacks, explaining that Naruto needed to stay alert and fight without relying on Chakra.
• Naruto accepted that he was weak and took up a fighting stance to face Sasuke again.

Sasuke trained Naruto to improve his taijutsu and tactical thinking as Naruto prepared to become Hokage. After Naruto lasted ten minutes in their sparring session, Sakura began painfully stimulating the dormant Chakra fragments in his body to help him learn Chakra control.

• Naruto used observation, Shadow Clones, and taijutsu to fight Sasuke, who pushed him to last ten minutes without wasting his limited Chakra.
• Sasuke gave Naruto pointers during their sparring match, and Naruto lasted the full ten minutes.
• Naruto thanked Sasuke for training him, and Sasuke said they would continue after a brief break.
• At the Medical Department, Sakura used Medical Ninjutsu to painfully awaken Naruto's Chakra fragments while keeping him conscious so he could feel and learn to control Chakra.

Naruto continued recovering his Chakra with Sakura’s help and spoke with Kakashi, who arranged to teach him something the next night. Over ramen with Teuchi, Naruto questioned whether he could protect the village without Kurama, and Teuchi reminded him that a Hokage’s strength also came from making villagers feel safe.

• Sakura treated Naruto and said his Chakra reserves had recovered to thirty-five percent after a month, with at least three more months of treatment needed to reach fifty percent.
• Kakashi checked on Naruto and asked him to visit the next night so he could teach him something.
• Teuchi gave Naruto a celebratory bowl of ramen and reminisced about Naruto’s childhood visits to the shop.
• Naruto told Teuchi that Kurama had been satisfied with his sacrifice and asked whether he could still protect the village without him.
• Teuchi told Naruto that a Hokage’s power lay not only in Chakra and jutsu but also in making the villagers feel safe.

Naruto began training to become Hokage by learning kenjutsu from Sasuke and handling village paperwork under Tsunade. After treatment with Sakura, he headed out at dusk to meet Kakashi for another lesson.

• Naruto resolved to grow stronger and protect the village after reflecting on his new responsibilities as Hokage.
• Sasuke taught Naruto the basics of kenjutsu at the Training Ground, and Naruto practiced despite developing blisters.
• Naruto reviewed budget requests and other Hokage paperwork with Tsunade, learning that he would have to make the final decisions.
• Sakura treated Naruto and reported that his Chakra reserves had risen to thirty-six percent.
• Naruto left the Medical Department at dusk to find Kakashi and learn what he planned to teach him.

Naruto trained with Kakashi to awaken Lightning Release from Kurama's remaining Chakra fragments and steadily rebuilt his abilities over the following month. After Sasuke detected suspicious Chakra fluctuations near the Land of Fire, he set out to investigate while Naruto stayed behind to protect the village.

• Kakashi taught Naruto to sense Kurama's lightning-natured Chakra fragments, and Naruto produced a spark of Lightning Release.
• Naruto practiced Kenjutsu and Lightning Release with Kakashi, determined to grow stronger without relying on Kurama.
• Over the next month, Naruto followed a daily training and treatment routine, improving his Kenjutsu and Lightning Release and recovering his Chakra reserves to forty percent.
• During a sparring session, Sasuke told Naruto that his intelligence network had detected suspicious Chakra fluctuations near the Land of Fire.
• Sasuke left to investigate possible activity connected to Momoshiki, refusing Naruto's offer to come along and telling him to protect the village.

Naruto struggled to write a speech for his Hokage inauguration until Kakashi encouraged him to speak sincerely and rest. Meanwhile, Sasuke found signs of Otsutsuki Chakra at a crater in the Land of Fire, suggesting Momoshiki had been there.

• Naruto agreed that Sasuke could investigate and asked him to be careful before Sasuke left, promising to return for the inauguration in three days.
• Tsunade told Naruto that the other nations' Kage had been invited to his inauguration and instructed him to prepare a speech.
• Naruto received treatment from Sakura, then struggled to write his speech until Kakashi advised him to speak sincerely and stop overworking himself.
• Naruto finished a heartfelt speech, went to bed, and wondered whether he was ready to become Hokage.
• Sasuke investigated a crater near the Land of Fire's border and found black residue and scorched land bearing traces of Otsutsuki Chakra.

Sasuke discovered that Momoshiki had planted God Tree saplings across the Land of Fire and planned to activate them during Naruto’s Hokage inauguration to drain the land and attack the assembled Kage. Naruto decided to hold the ceremony while mobilizing Konoha to find and destroy the saplings before Momoshiki struck.

• Sasuke destroyed five God Tree saplings with Amaterasu, worsening the damage to his eyes.
• Momoshiki revealed that more than a dozen saplings would activate during Naruto’s inauguration in three days, draining the Land of Fire while he targeted the Five Great Nations’ Kage.
• Sasuke returned to Konoha and warned Naruto about Momoshiki’s plan.
• Naruto rejected canceling the inauguration, reasoning that the saplings would remain a threat and that the other Kage were already traveling to Konoha.
• Naruto ordered the Anbu and Jonin to search the Land of Fire and destroy every God Tree sapling they found.

Naruto assigned Konoha’s ninja three days to find and destroy the God Tree saplings Momoshiki had planted across the Land of Fire. He welcomed Gaara, Mei Terumi, Kurotsuchi, and Darui to Konoha, where the other Kage pledged to help him face Momoshiki.

• Naruto ordered Konoha’s Jonin and Anbu to search the Land of Fire and destroy every God Tree sapling before his inauguration.
• Kakashi, Shikamaru, Sakura, Ino, and other ninja volunteered to lead search teams, while Sasuke left to coordinate them using his Rinnegan.
• Naruto waited at Konoha’s entrance and welcomed Gaara, who promised the Land of Wind would support him against Momoshiki.
• Mei Terumi arrived and teased Naruto about marrying her before Kurotsuchi arrived and offered her help.
• Darui arrived and pledged the Land of Lightning’s support, then Naruto led all four visiting Kage into Konoha.

The Five Kage prepared to unite against Momoshiki while Leaf teams raced across the Land of Fire to find and destroy his God Tree seedlings. Sasuke trapped a swarm of vines with Chibaku Tensei so Ino and the others could reach a seedling, but the technique was draining his ocular power.

• Naruto brought the four Kage to their lodgings, and they agreed to plan their response to Momoshiki at a banquet.
• Kakashi’s team destroyed two seedlings in the north, while Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino destroyed a guarded seedling in the east.
• Sakura used the Hundred Healings Jutsu to destroy the vines guarding a southern seedling, allowing her team to destroy it.
• Ino’s team met Sasuke in the west, where he warned them that a massive vine was bait for a trap.
• Sasuke used Amaterasu and then Chibaku Tensei to restrain the attacking vines while Ino led the others toward the seedling.

Naruto and Sasuke defeated the sapling assault, but Sasuke’s Rinnegan was badly damaged. At the Five Kage banquet, the leaders learned that three saplings remained, and Sasuke revealed their locations followed an Otsutsuki Star Chart centered beneath Konoha.

• Ino controlled a sapling long enough for the ninja to destroy it, but Sasuke’s Chibaku Tensei began to crack under the remaining vines.
• Naruto arrived, helped Sasuke, and incinerated the compressed vines with a Sage Art: Lava Release Rasenshuriken.
• Tsunade and Sakura treated Sasuke, and Tsunade ordered him not to use the Mangekyo or Rinnegan for three days.
• Naruto told the Five Kage that fourteen of seventeen saplings had been destroyed and proposed searching for the last three that night.
• Kakashi agreed to join Naruto, and Sasuke arrived with a map showing that Momoshiki had arranged the saplings in an Otsutsuki Star Chart pattern centered beneath Konoha.

Sasuke revealed that Momoshiki’s chakra formation beneath the Leaf could drain the village’s underground energy and destroy it. As the Four Kage fought the main root, it unleashed Momoshiki’s crimson eye and prepared to explode, just as Naruto arrived with a giant Rasengan.

• Sasuke explained that seventeen saplings formed a chakra circuit beneath the Leaf and warned that Momoshiki could use it to drain the village’s underground veins.
• Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Darui, and Mei Terumi volunteered to find and destroy the main root while Naruto and Sasuke stayed behind.
• Kurotsuchi located the root deep underground, and Gaara drilled a passage so the Four Kage could reach the cavern.
• The Four Kage fought the regenerating root, which absorbed their chakra-based attacks and adapted to their jutsu.
• Naruto sensed danger and left the Hokage’s Office for the underground cavern despite Shikamaru’s objections.
• The main root blasted the Four Kage aside, revealed Momoshiki’s crimson eye, and began charging an explosion as Naruto arrived and launched a Super Giant Ball Rasengan.

Naruto and the four Kage destroyed the regenerating underground creature beneath Leaf, with Sasuke guiding them to cut off its water supply. Naruto woke in the hospital to Tsunade scolding him, while Sasuke rested in the next bed.

• Naruto paralyzed the creature’s core, and Gaara and Kurotsuchi pinned its roots while it began to regenerate.
• Sasuke contacted the group through a Mental Link and revealed that the creature drew water from the underground river.
• Mei Terumi poisoned the river with acid as Darui electrified it, weakening the creature until Naruto shattered its black crystal core with Sasuke’s imitation Kusanagi Sword.
• Naruto thanked the battered Kage before collapsing from exhaustion, and Gaara supported him.
• Naruto woke in Leaf Hospital as Tsunade berated him for his injuries and lack of Kurama, while bandaged Sasuke mocked him from the next bed.

Naruto recovered in the hospital and prepared for his Hokage inauguration, encouraged by his friends, family, and Sasuke. As he appeared before the cheering village, a chakra remnant resembling Momoshiki emerged from beneath the square.

• Sakura brought medicine to Naruto and Sasuke, and the other Kage visited them in the hospital.
• Shikamaru told Naruto that corrosion had ruined his Sacred Robe, and Hinata mended it overnight.
• Naruto worried about becoming Hokage without Kurama, and Sasuke told him his own stubbornness had brought him this far.
• Naruto dressed in Hinata's mended robe and prepared for the inauguration with Kakashi, Boruto, Himawari, and Shikamaru.
• As Naruto appeared on the rooftop before the cheering crowd, a black chakra remnant resembling Momoshiki rose from beneath the square.

Naruto fought a giant sludge monster made from Momoshiki’s lingering resentment, relying on taijutsu after Sasuke warned that ninjutsu would feed it. With the Four Kage’s help, Naruto destroyed the monster’s core, then slipped and fell face-first into the remains as the crowd laughed.

• Kakashi ordered the Anbu to evacuate civilians while Naruto handed Shikamaru his Sacred Robe and prepared to fight the sludge monster.
• Sasuke warned Naruto that ninjutsu would be absorbed and that taijutsu was the monster’s weakness, so Naruto attacked it with punches and kicks.
• The sludge monster spread toward nearby civilians, and Kurotsuchi, Darui, Mei Terumi, and Gaara worked together to block and restrain it.
• The Four Kage exposed the monster’s core, and Naruto shattered it with a kick, causing the sludge to collapse.
• Naruto slipped in the black water and landed face-first, prompting laughter from the crowd and embarrassment from Boruto.

Naruto overcame a muddy mishap to complete his inauguration as the Seventh Hokage, promising to protect Konoha, his family, and his friends. The next morning, he arrived at the Hokage’s Office to find mountains of paperwork and Kakashi already retiring.

• Naruto was cleaned and dried by Mei Terumi and Gaara, then put on the Sacred Robe Shikamaru had saved for him.
• Naruto delivered an improvised inauguration speech, promising to protect Konoha and everyone he cared about, while remembering Kurama in silence.
• Sasuke comforted Naruto after the ceremony, and the village celebrated at a banquet that left Naruto exhausted.
• Naruto woke the next morning to Hinata’s note and got ready for his first day as Hokage.
• Naruto entered the office and found it buried in paperwork as Kakashi completed the handover and hurried off to retire.

Naruto struggled with Hokage paperwork, then learned that the sludge monster had sent a signal to the abandoned Root Organization base beneath the Leaf. He and Sasuke reached the sealed entrance to investigate what was stirring inside.

• Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu to tackle the paperwork, but the clones' accumulated mental fatigue overwhelmed him when they dispersed.
• Boruto visited Naruto, saw that he was too busy to come home for dinner, and left disappointed.
• Shikamaru told Naruto that the sludge monster's remains had revealed a coded Chakra signal, which Sasuke traced to a location inside the Leaf.
• Sasuke identified the signal's endpoint as the abandoned Root Organization base, and Naruto secretly left a Shadow Clone to cover for him.
• Naruto and Sasuke stood at the rusted entrance to the Root Organization base as something stirred within.

Naruto and Sasuke fought through Danzo’s underground facility to stop a data transfer set in motion by Momoshiki. After Sasuke redirected the data into a scroll, Naruto reflected on facing danger without Kurama’s power.

• Sasuke explained that Momoshiki’s signal had activated a hidden threat in the facility, and Naruto and Sasuke entered to investigate.
• Naruto and Sasuke destroyed the chakra-corrupted puppets by targeting the cores in their heads.
• Sasuke discovered a nearly completed transfer of Danzo’s Sharingan and Hashirama Cells data and warned that smashing the machine would trigger explosives beneath the Leaf.
• Sasuke began redirecting the transfer to a scroll while Naruto used Sage Mode to defend him from the facility’s weapons.
• Naruto countered a massive energy beam with a Super Giant Ball Rasengan, and Sasuke completed the transfer and shut down the machine.
• Naruto admitted that losing Kurama had made him realize how much he had relied on the Nine-Tails and declared himself the real Uzumaki Naruto.

After recovering data from the Root base, Naruto returned home injured and faced Hinata’s worry and Boruto’s grudging praise. Meanwhile, Sasuke began decoding the data in Leaf’s intelligence division.

• Sai met Naruto and Sasuke outside the Root base, arranged medical care, and offered Sasuke access to his equipment for decoding the recovered data.
• Naruto sneaked home hoping to hide his injury, but Himawari noticed his smell and Hinata caught him trying to keep it secret.
• Hinata treated Naruto’s burned hand and reminded him that without Kurama he could be seriously hurt, while Naruto promised to be more careful.
• Boruto brought Naruto a drink, acknowledged that he had protected people, and grudgingly said he had been cool.
• Sasuke began decoding the data with Orochimaru’s decoder in the basement of Leaf’s intelligence division.