Chapter Summaries

Kakashi and Konohamaru tried to devise a faster way to enter Sage Mode, and Kakashi combined Konohamaru’s Shadow Clone idea with a dangerous Lightning Release method. They prepared to begin training under a strict rule that neither original body could use the technique.

• Kakashi and Konohamaru agreed to work together to shorten the time needed to enter Sage Mode.
• Konohamaru proposed creating Shadow Clones in successive batches to gather Sage Mode feedback despite their limited Chakra.
• Kakashi pointed out that replacing clones would not help if they needed to remain active and dismissed Konohamaru’s first plan.
• Kakashi devised a way to use controlled Lightning Release to make Shadow Clones disappear and combined it with Konohamaru’s batching method.
• Kakashi warned Konohamaru that neither original body could use the technique because a mistake could kill them.

Kakashi and Konohamaru sought a way to use controlled electrical stimulation to help Konohamaru enter Sage Mode, but Konohamaru’s clones’ feedback left him twitching. Kakashi developed Purple Lightning for the task, while Konohamaru prepared to try developing a ninjutsu of his own.

• Kakashi repeatedly shocked Konohamaru’s Shadow Clones until the feedback left Konohamaru twitching on the ground.
• Konohamaru asked Kakashi to develop a Lightning Release technique, but Kakashi explained that Konohamaru could not learn it with his Chakra natures and that Fire and Wind Release would not work for the same purpose.
• Kakashi and Konohamaru each came up with an idea, and Kakashi began developing a new Lightning Release ninjutsu as Naruto watched.
• Kakashi shaped his Lightning Chakra into purple, precisely controlled Purple Lightning that could stimulate multiple Shadow Clones without requiring hand seals.
• Konohamaru returned with a lighter and cigarettes, determined to develop a ninjutsu of his own.

Konohamaru tried to learn Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning as a basis for developing a new technique, but Kakashi confiscated his cigarette and banned tobacco sales to minors. Konohamaru found a workaround in a shop selling Leizi Smoke and bought a set so he could train in secret.

• Konohamaru recalled Hiruzen and Asuma's explanations of Ash Pile Burning and decided to develop a Fire Release technique using controlled bursts of sparks.
• Kakashi took Konohamaru's cigarette and returned to Konoha to warn shops and merchants not to sell tobacco or alcohol to minors.
• Konohamaru returned to Konoha, where he struggled to find training supplies and noticed Shikamaru complaining that Kakashi had banned his cigarettes and alcohol.
• Konohamaru secretly followed Shikamaru to a shop from another hidden village and saw him buy a product called Leizi Smoke.
• Konohamaru bought a set of Leizi Smoke and planned to find a safe place to train alone.

Konohamaru mastered a modified Fire Release technique and reunited with Naruto, Kakashi, and Ebisu to continue Sage Mode training. When Ebisu volunteered to test the shortcut, Konohamaru hit him with Ash Chicken Burning, which burned away his outer clothes.

• Konohamaru developed Fire Release: Ash Chicken Burning and ran into Ebisu, who agreed to supervise his training.
• Kakashi showed Konohamaru a ninja tool that could imitate Purple Lightning, but Konohamaru said it could still help others learn Sage Mode.
• Konohamaru explained Naruto’s Sage Mode shortcut to Ebisu, who volunteered to test it in his place.
• Konohamaru used Fire Release: Ash Chicken Burning on Ebisu, and its sparking smoke burned away Ebisu’s outer layer of clothing.

Konohamaru's Ash Chicken Burning technique accidentally set Ebisu ablaze, and Naruto and Konohamaru struggled to save him before Konohamaru used a wire-hooked fish to pull the burning ash away. After Ebisu passed out, Konohamaru impressed Kakashi and signed Naruto's toad summoning contract.

• Konohamaru's Ash Chicken Burning clung to Ebisu and burned him until he cried for help.
• Naruto summoned Gamakichi, but Kakashi stopped him from spraying water on Ebisu because it could worsen the burns.
• Naruto and Konohamaru threw fish onto Ebisu to draw the burning ash away, and Konohamaru used a steel wire to pull a fish and the ash clear.
• Ebisu passed out, and Konohamaru covered him with a picnic blanket before demonstrating his technique for Kakashi.
• Naruto let Konohamaru sign the toad contract, then directed Kakashi and Konohamaru as their summoning beasts gathered around them.

Kakashi and Konohamaru worked to master Sage Mode while Naruto set out to develop the Rasenshuriken, then wondered whether Kurama could help him gather Sage Mode Chakra. Kurama refused, hiding that Tailed Beasts could help, and the other Tailed Beasts agreed to keep Naruto from discovering the benefits.

• Kakashi began absorbing Natural Energy while his eight ninja dogs helped regulate it, and Konohamaru trained with Enra and Gamagoro.
• Naruto left a Shadow Clone to watch over Kakashi and Konohamaru, then went beneath the waterfall to work on the Rasenshuriken.
• Naruto entered the Mental Space and asked Kurama to help him enter Sage Mode like a Summoning Beast, but Kurama rejected the idea.
• Kurama privately knew Tailed Beasts could help their Jinchuriki use Sage Mode, but refused to keep Naruto relying on his shortcut and to settle a grudge.
• Kurama told the other Tailed Beasts his reasoning, and they agreed to keep the benefit from Naruto while considering whether they could help their own Jinchuriki.

Naruto returned to find Kakashi sparring with Might Guy after mastering Sage Mode, and Kakashi urged Guy to learn it as well. Guy agreed to try if Kakashi could defeat him, setting up a new match.

• The Nine-Tails warned the other Tailed Beasts not to let their Jinchuriki reveal Tailed Beast Sage Mode to Naruto.
• Naruto heard fighting and hurried back, where he found Kakashi fighting Might Guy while Konohamaru remained seated.
• Might Guy explained that he had brought Rock Lee to find Kakashi as an example of a genius who trained hard.
• Kakashi told Guy that Sage Mode had boosted his Taijutsu and suggested Guy learn it too.
• Kakashi challenged Guy by asking whether he retreated from difficulty, and Guy agreed to learn if Kakashi beat him.

Kakashi used his dog-assisted Sage Mode and Frog Kumite to defeat Might Guy in their spar, persuading him to try learning senjutsu. After Kakashi released his Sage Mode, Guy realized something still seemed to be touching him and feared a ghost.

• Kakashi activated his dog-assisted Sage Mode after trading blows with Might Guy.
• Might Guy opened the first few Eight Gates and continued fighting Kakashi.
• Kakashi used Sage Art: Frog Kumite Thousand Years of Death, striking Might Guy with an invisible extension of Natural Energy and sending him flying.
• Kakashi explained that Sage Mode users could see Frog Kumite, and Might Guy agreed to try learning senjutsu.
• Kakashi released his Sage Mode and dismissed his ninja hounds, but Might Guy still felt touched and became afraid of ghosts.

Naruto recorded the secrets of Sage Mode under Kakashi’s guidance, and he, Kakashi, and Konohamaru prepared to spread the teachings to other ninja villages. Meanwhile, Might Guy persuaded Neji that sacrificing some dignity could help protect their loved ones, and Kakashi submitted the opening of his own novel to a publisher.

• Konohamaru revealed that he had tried Frog Kumite on Might Guy, and Kakashi wondered how its reach had extended so far.
• Kakashi guided Naruto as he wrote down the Sage Mode secrets, drawing on Naruto’s, Kakashi’s, and Konohamaru’s experiences.
• Naruto finished the manual, and Kakashi and Konohamaru volunteered to accompany him as he carried the teachings to other ninja villages.
• Might Guy and Rock Lee returned to Konoha with copies of the manual, and Neji grew angry after reading it until Guy argued that people should sacrifice dignity to protect those they cared about.
• Kakashi took the opening of his novel to a publisher while Naruto and Konohamaru prepared supplies for their journey.

Kakashi discussed Naruto’s manuscript with a publisher, then began writing a lurid alternative history of the Sage of Six Paths to make it more appealing. He put away his new story when Naruto and Konohamaru arrived, and suggested they begin their travels at the most difficult ninja village.

• The publisher told Kakashi that Naruto’s manuscript contradicted the history established in Kakashi’s earlier novels, then approved it after learning Naruto planned to spread flying.
• Kakashi reconsidered the story’s direction and began writing an alternative account of Kaguya Otsutsuki and the Sage of Six Paths.
• Kakashi’s story portrayed the Sage of Six Paths as lustful, blamed his mother’s celibate upbringing, and claimed his wild brawls created the shinobi world’s bloodlines and Kekkei Genkai.
• Kakashi finished writing and carefully put away his manuscript when Naruto and Konohamaru approached the village gates.
• Naruto asked which ninja village they should visit first, and Kakashi suggested starting with the most difficult one.

Kakashi, Naruto, and Konohamaru arrived in Kumogakure to share Naruto’s Sage Mode training method, where Killer B welcomed them and led them to the Raikage. Yugito took a scroll for Amegakure, while privately hoping to find a safer way to train and protect Matatabi from Naruto.

• Kakashi explained that Kumogakure was likely to be the hardest village to win over because it had previously tried to abduct people from Konoha.
• Naruto, Kakashi, and Konohamaru arrived in Kumogakure, where Killer B greeted Naruto and offered to take them to the Raikage.
• Yugito asked whether she could carry anything to Amegakure, and Kakashi gave her a scroll containing Naruto’s Sage Mode method.
• Yugito left for the Flying Thunder Array, intending to deliver the scroll and seek an alternative to Naruto’s lewd training method.
• Killer B led Naruto, Kakashi, and Konohamaru to the training ground, where they found the Raikage working out.

Naruto and Kakashi visited Kumogakure to persuade the Raikage to accept a manual explaining Naruto’s shortcut to Sage Mode. The Raikage studied the method but remained wary, and asked them to demonstrate it before he would trust them.

• The Raikage challenged Naruto’s claim that their connection through Killer B made them friends, and Kakashi steered the conversation away from an argument.
• Kakashi told the Raikage that Naruto would share his Sage Mode technique with the shinobi villages to help them fight their common enemy.
• The Raikage read the manual and was shocked by its claim that hand movements could help someone enter Sage Mode by emptying their mind.
• Kakashi explained that Kiba Inuzuka, Jiraiya, Konohamaru, and Kakashi had used versions of the method, including one assisted by a Summoning Beast.
• The Raikage sent away the Cloud Anbu and demanded that Naruto and Kakashi demonstrate the technique.

Kakashi and Konohamaru demonstrated their unconventional method for entering Sage Mode to the Raikage, who agreed to spread the technique in Kumogakure. The Raikage considered who should try it first, but Killer B emerged to object when he asked whether Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki could use it.

• Konohamaru volunteered to demonstrate Sage Mode alongside Kakashi, and the Raikage approved his participation.
• Kakashi and Konohamaru used Purple Lightning and Ash Chicken Burn on their shadow clones to stimulate their vitality and enter Sage Mode.
• The Raikage declined Kakashi's offer to test their strength, wary of their techniques and convinced that their power had increased.
• Kakashi told the Raikage to ensure someone in Kumogakure mastered Sage Mode before they moved on, and the Raikage agreed.
• The Raikage considered finding a shinobi with a Summoning Beast contract, then asked whether Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki could use the method.
• Killer B, who had been hiding nearby to eavesdrop, jumped out and shouted, "No!!!"

Naruto and his companions stayed in Kumogakure while the Raikage learned that Naruto was interested in Tailed Beast bodies, not their power, and arranged for Killer B and Motoi to train in senjutsu. Meanwhile, Kakashi wrote a new horror detail about the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and Naruto returned to find the manuscript.

• Naruto told the Raikage that Tailed Beasts could not help with Sage Mode, then left the training ground with Kakashi and Konohamaru.
• The Raikage learned from Killer B that Naruto wanted Tailed Beast bodies and sent Killer B to train with Motoi using Kakashi's secret manual.
• Kakashi checked into an inn and wrote that the Infinite Tsukuyomi would turn victims' bodies into White Zetsu and their souls into bean buns for the Otsutsuki Clan.
• Naruto returned from eating ramen with takeout, picked up Kakashi's manuscript, and began reading it while Kakashi ate.

Naruto and Kakashi discussed the Box of Ultimate Bliss, but Naruto’s confused theories about the Pure Land left Kakashi taking notes for a novel. Naruto later wandered to the edge of Kumogakure and found a bookstore whose guard stopped him to ask his age.

• Naruto told Kakashi about Killer B and the Raikage’s encounter with the monster inside Hozuki Castle, then asked what the Box of Ultimate Bliss was.
• Kakashi explained that the Pure Land was where people went after death, prompting Naruto and Konohamaru to make increasingly confused deductions about the Land of Ultimate Bliss and Impure World Reincarnation.
• Naruto theorized that Nagato had summoned the shop’s ninja tools from the Pure Land and that the Bliss tool could counter the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
• Kakashi began writing down Naruto’s theories for a novel, but Naruto ran out of ideas and dashed away with Konohamaru following him.
• Naruto walked through Kumogakure, found a bookstore on the village’s outskirts, and was stopped by its guard, who asked how old he was.

Naruto and Konohamaru entered a Kumogakure specialty shop after getting past its age restrictions. On Turtle Island, Killer B recruited Motoi to train in Sage Mode, and the friends began their training together.

• A guard let Konohamaru into the specialty shop after he transformed into an adult and accepted Naruto's claim that he was Jiraiya, then reminded Naruto to bring his membership card for discounts and complimentary services.
• Killer B arrived at Turtle Island and gave Motoi the Sage Mode training assignment and Scroll, making Motoi suspect that Killer B knew about his past assassination attempt.
• Killer B explained the dangers of Sage Mode and revealed he would train alongside Motoi to protect Kumogakure and prepare the Shinobi World for the Otsutsuki Clan.
• Killer B named Motoi Kumogakure's first Sage Mode instructor and said the Konoha shinobi would wait for someone to master the technique before leaving.
• Motoi agreed to begin training, bumped fists with Killer B, and received a ninja training tool from the Kumogakure branch.
• Killer B and Motoi put their old grudge aside, found a quiet cave, and started training.

Motoi’s Sage Mode training failed after he became distracted by Killer B, who fled Turtle Island after realizing how dangerous the situation felt. Back in Kumogakure, the Raikage told Kakashi that Motoi had resumed training and urged him to visit Iwagakure next.

• Motoi’s thoughts about Killer B disrupted his gathering of Natural Energy, and he collapsed after his Senjutsu Chakra became unstable.
• Killer B checked on Motoi, realized what had distracted him, and left Turtle Island after finding another Kumogakure ninja to oversee the training.
• Killer B told Gyuki that he finally understood the fear Gyuki felt about the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy.
• The Raikage learned that Killer B had disappeared again and summoned Kakashi to discuss Motoi’s training and Kakashi’s next destination.
• The Raikage suggested that Kakashi go to Iwagakure after Kumogakure.

Kakashi agreed to visit Iwagakure after the Raikage praised Ōnoki’s efforts for the Shinobi World, unaware that the Raikage also hoped to see Ōnoki endure Sage Mode training. In Amegakure, Jiraiya tried to flee from a woman who called in an old agreement, but someone struck him down and sent him back to her.

• The Raikage told Kakashi he respected Ōnoki for changing and sacrificing for the Shinobi World, and Kakashi agreed to make Iwagakure their second destination.
• After Kakashi left, the Raikage revealed that he wanted Ōnoki to undergo Sage Mode training for Iwagakure, just as he planned to train for Kumogakure.
• Jiraiya arrived in Amegakure to avoid Tsunade and wandered the streets while jotting down ideas for his novels.
• An elderly female ninja called out to Jiraiya and reminded him of their agreement, prompting him to try to escape.
• A flash of blue light struck Jiraiya and sent him flying to the woman’s feet.

Yugito misjudged Jiraiya after seeing him flee from Changye, a kunoichi from Nadeshiko Village who had come to claim an old marriage wager. Jiraiya brought Changye to Nagato and Konan, where her request for genetic cultivation support led Konan to blame him for trying to shift the promise onto his disciples.

• Yugito struck Jiraiya and condemned him for supposedly abandoning his wife and child, but Changye stopped him as he tried to explain.
• Changye reminded Jiraiya that he had promised the chief of Nadeshiko Village that their disciples would settle a marriage wager, and Jiraiya agreed to bring her to his disciples.
• Jiraiya took Changye to Nagato's command tower, where Nagato, Konan, Yugito, and Shirozumi were gathered after Yugito delivered a secret manual from Kumogakure.
• Changye asked Amegakure for genetic cultivation technical support so Nadeshiko Village could have descendants without relying on the wager.
• Konan accused Jiraiya of trying to make his disciples fulfill a promise that Minato Namikaze had ignored, and asked why he had not approached Naruto Uzumaki instead.

Jiraiya discussed Nadeshiko Village’s marriage-bound duel promise with Changye and proposed teaching the village Sage Mode so its chief would not have to challenge one of his disciples. Yugito delivered Naruto’s Sage Mode manual, leaving Jiraiya sidelined as Changye reacted with alarm to the technique’s shortcut.

• Konan rejected Jiraiya’s suggestion that Naruto handle Nadeshiko Village’s promise and knocked him out of the command tower.
• Jiraiya explained to Changye that the promise required their current chief to fight Nagato or Konan under the village’s rules, with marriage at stake.
• Jiraiya proposed teaching Nadeshiko Village Sage Mode so the village could grow stronger without relying on the promised duel.
• Yugito threw Naruto’s Sage Mode manual to Jiraiya and told Changye that its instructions made Jiraiya unnecessary as an instructor.
• Changye read the manual’s shortcut and feared it was fake, while Jiraiya assured her it was real.