Naruto

Biodata

Naruto is described as a jōnin upon his return in Chapter 211, but later accounts of the period following Rōran describe him as holding the rank of genin. 211 840 841 848

Power Progression

Appearance

Naruto has flamboyant golden spiky hair, blue eyes, and three faint whisker-like marks on each cheek. He wears a black-and-orange high-collared outfit and a black Konoha forehead protector. 702

• Golden, sharply spiked hair.
• Three whisker-like markings on each cheek.
• Blue eyes.
• Black-and-orange zip-up clothing.
• Konoha forehead protector. 702

After taking over, Liao Wu keeps Naruto’s blond hair, blue eyes, and identifying facial markings while gradually altering the body’s appearance; its skin becomes slightly paler. 831

The transformation initially produces black hair, a Sharingan in the left eye, and a Rinnegan in the right before Liao Wu restores Naruto’s recognizable appearance to avoid alerting the Anbu. His Yin–Yang Release also replaces and restructures the body internally. 831

Liao Wu’s subsequent modifications increase the body’s height from approximately 1.6 meters to more than 1.7 meters. With longer hair and altered styling, the apparent Naruto strongly resembles a young Minato; Ayame, a shopkeeper, and the watching Anbu notice the resemblance. These physical changes occur after the possession. 836 837

While staying in the earlier timeline, Naruto wears a fox mask and poses as an Anbu guard alongside Yamato to conceal their identities as travelers from the future. 815 816

Personality

Naruto is impulsive, direct, and fiercely determined to protect people he considers comrades. His desire to retrieve Sasuke remains strong even when Konoha’s elders insist that he remain in the village for safety. 829 830

Learning that he is Minato Namikaze’s son and the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki leaves him hurt and conflicted over Konoha’s past treatment of him. He initially answers that he feels hatred, yet does not become consumed by it. 489

He is also vulnerable to manipulation. His low resistance to genjutsu allows Itachi to incapacitate him easily, while Ryōbu exploits his emotions and concern for Sasuke. 703

Naruto initially knows little about his Uzumaki heritage or the circumstances of the Uchiha clan’s destruction. His wish to bring Sasuke home persists despite their different experiences of losing family. 709 711

His forgiveness is a deliberate rejection of the hatred Ryōbu urges him to embrace. Naruto explains that Iruka and his parents would not want him to follow Ryōbu’s or Sasuke’s path, and that having lost everything makes him cherish his remaining connections. Minato admires this outlook as evidence of his potential to become Hokage. 710

When Obito admits responsibility for his parents’ deaths, Naruto forgives him and urges him to prevent further suffering. His attachment to his own era is similarly strong: despite finding loving parents in the past, he repeatedly chooses to return to his friends. He also reasons that remaining would take away the life belonging to the unborn Naruto in Kushina’s womb. 726 748 794 820

His childhood pranks, noise, and attempts to show off are later understood by Sakura as ways of seeking attention because of his loneliness. She comes to recognize his persistence, kindness, responsibility, and loyalty rather than viewing him only as the Academy’s troublesome dead last. 849

The calculating behavior, changed attachments, and rapid acquisition of abilities observed after his hospitalization reflect Liao Wu’s control rather than a confirmed change in Naruto’s independent personality. Sai reports that the apparent Naruto has grown less attached to Sakura and Kakashi and now considers Sasuke’s return in terms of Konoha’s interests. 831 858

Nevertheless, the possession does not entirely erase Naruto’s emotional influence. During the revelation of his parentage, the narration describes Naruto’s will producing warmth toward Jiraiya and his long-suppressed inner darkness dominating Liao Wu’s reaction to the village’s mistreatment. This does not establish a lasting restoration of Naruto’s independent control. 842

Abilities & Skills

Nine-Tails Chakra

Naruto is the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails and can manifest its chakra as a Tailed Beast Cloak.

• Reached a four-tailed state when his anger was amplified by Ryōbu’s genjutsu. 703
• Retained rationality in a four-tailed form after Obito and Kakashi restrained the Nine-Tails with their Mangekyō Sharingan. 721
• Was reluctant to draw on the Nine-Tails because of the danger posed by its uncontrolled power. 720
• Can potentially fire a Tailed Beast Ball, though Obito must encourage him to use the Nine-Tails’ chakra rather than release the beast outright. 720
• Later joins the battle in a six-tailed form and provides Kushina with additional Nine-Tails chakra. 724

Naruto’s sealed Nine-Tails is incomplete, a fact noticed by Kaguya and Black Zetsu during their confrontation in Rōran. Unlike Kushina’s cooperative relationship with her Nine-Tails, Naruto’s relationship with the beast remains hostile at this point. 703

During the three years of training with Jiraiya, attempts to draw out more tails resulted in Naruto losing control upon reaching the fourth tail. Jiraiya therefore considered Senjutsu as a way to strengthen him before attempting further mastery of the Nine-Tails. 927

Although he adopts the posture used to gather a Tailed Beast Ball during the Rōran battle, Naruto instead forms an enlarged Rasengan because the Tailed Beast Ball is unfamiliar to him. 725

After the possession, Liao Wu takes control of the sealed Nine-Tails with a Rinnegan illusion and absorbs its chakra and will. This is Liao Wu’s feat, not evidence that Naruto reconciled with the beast. 889

Wind Style: Rasenshuriken

Naruto knows Wind Style: Rasenshuriken and proposes using it against the Dragon Vein.

• Fights alongside Kushina with Rasenshuriken after Liao Wu becomes the Ten-Tails jinchūriki. 781
• Its power is judged insufficient to destroy the Dragon Vein by itself. 720
• Before Liao Wu takes over his body, uses Rasenshuriken to defeat Kakuzu after Kakashi and Shikamaru’s group have worn down two of Kakuzu’s masks. 836 938

During the fight against Six Paths Liao Wu, Naruto uses a three-person Shadow Clone formation to construct the technique. Kushina supplies Nine-Tails chakra, enlarging his Rasenshuriken to the size of a small house before the Golden Nine-Tails launches the enormous attacks. 781

Choji and Ino personally witnessed Naruto’s earlier use of the forbidden technique. Its destructive power is described as sufficient to destroy an entire street. 853

Genjutsu Resistance

Naruto has notably poor resistance to illusion techniques.

• The hostile relationship between Naruto and the Nine-Tails prevents him from relying on Kurama to disrupt genjutsu. 703
• Itachi can place him under genjutsu with a single finger. 703

Liao Wu later seeks genjutsu lessons from Kurenai while posing as Naruto and cites this apparent weakness as his reason. He conceals his own abilities, so the lessons should not be attributed to Naruto’s independent training. 939 940 947 948

Shadow Clones and Rasengan

Shadow Clones, Rasengan, and Wind Style: Rasenshuriken form Naruto’s characteristic fighting repertoire, supplemented by Nine-Tails chakra when he requires more power. Liao Wu identifies these techniques as the fighting style he must imitate after taking Naruto’s place. 831

• Naruto ordinarily relies on a Shadow Clone to assist with the Rasengan’s shape transformation while his main body supplies chakra. His teammates therefore notice when Liao Wu performs a one-handed Rasengan under Naruto’s identity. 853
• In his six-tailed form, Naruto condenses a Rasengan larger than himself during the joint confrontation with Liao Wu. 725
• Against Kaguya, his Shadow Clones carry Big Ball Rasengan through Obito’s Kamui openings, bypassing the outer defenses of her Susanoo. The real Naruto remains protected because of the disparity in strength. 748

Asura’s Chakra

Naruto is a reincarnation of Asura’s chakra. Liao Wu explicitly identifies both this inheritance and Naruto’s role as the Child of Prophecy when taking over his body. 824 831

In the altered earlier timeline, Asura’s chakra within the unborn Naruto nourishes Kushina in return for the chakra she supplies to him. This contributes to Kushina’s exceptional affinity for Wood Style; it is not a demonstration that the time-traveling Naruto independently possesses Wood Style. 680

Asura’s chakra also underlies Naruto’s bond with Sasuke, the bearer of Indra’s chakra. Once Liao Wu controls Naruto’s body, his influence prevents Asura’s chakra from responding normally to Sasuke’s, helping Sasuke sense that something is wrong. 868

Relationships

• Minato Namikaze — Naruto’s father, the Fourth Hokage. Naruto reunites with Minato and learns more about his own family history. 489 797
• Kushina Uzumaki — Naruto’s mother and the previous Nine-Tails jinchūriki. Their reunion gives Naruto the family connection he had lacked. 797
• Sasuke Uchiha — Naruto remains determined to bring Sasuke back to Konoha, considering the mission a promise shared with Sakura. Their particularly deep bond is connected to Asura’s and Indra’s chakra; Sasuke later senses that the possessed Naruto is no longer the person he knew. 829 830 868
• Sakura Haruno — Teammate whose promise with Naruto to retrieve Sasuke motivates him to insist on joining the pursuit. 830
• Kakashi Hatake — Visits Naruto during his hospitalization and refuses to let him join the Sasuke-retrieval mission while his condition remains unstable. 830
• Obito Uchiha — Helps Kakashi control the Nine-Tails within Naruto, enabling Naruto to maintain rationality in his four-tailed state. Naruto later forgives the earlier timeline’s Obito after he confesses responsibility for Minato’s and Kushina’s deaths, and the two cooperate against Kaguya. 721 748
• Hikari Uchiha — Recognizes Naruto through his fox mask; the two share an understanding born from having been treated as weapons. 815 816
• Uchiha Ryōbu / Liao Wu — Invades Naruto’s Inner Heart and ultimately consumes Naruto’s will and possesses his body. Later, Liao Wu’s main body assimilates the clone living under Naruto’s identity. 830 831 888
• Jiraiya — Naruto’s teacher. After the possession, Jiraiya mistakes Liao Wu’s abilities for Naruto’s growth and hopes he will become a shinobi capable of changing the Ninja World. 842 859
• Iruka Umino — Someone for whom Naruto has deep respect and affection; Liao Wu recognizes the strength of this bond while using Naruto’s identity. 847
• Ino Yamanaka, Hinata Hyūga, and Kurenai Yūhi — Their later romantic or mentoring interactions with “Naruto” occur while Liao Wu controls his body. Kurenai agrees to teach the apparent Naruto genjutsu, while she recognizes his apparent relationship with Ino and recalls Hinata’s feelings for him. 863 939 940 947
• Teuchi and Ayame — Their kindness and ramen comforted Naruto when villagers mistreated him. Visiting their earlier counterparts with Kushina gives him a sense of connection to his own era, and Kushina promises to protect their shop. Liao Wu later exploits this genuine bond while impersonating him. 794 835 836 841
• Gaara — Naruto regards the future Fifth Kazekage as a good friend. When he meets Karura and the infant Gaara in the past, he tells her about Gaara’s loneliness, rise to Kazekage, and capture by Akatsuki. The account credits Naruto with helping Gaara escape a life devoted only to himself. 764
• Mito Uzumaki, Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju — Kushina explains that Mito adopted her and was her grandmother in practice. Through that family connection, she tells Naruto to address Hashirama and Tobirama as great-grandfathers; this is an adoptive connection, not proof that Naruto belongs to the Senju clan. 780 842
• Yamato — Accompanies Naruto through the Dragon Vein and shares the loss of his memories upon returning. His knowledge of Liao Wu makes him a potential threat to the impersonation if Minato’s memory seal is removed. 826 831
• Yūgao Uzuki — Initially admires the apparent Naruto’s growth, but later overhears Liao Wu’s private conversation and correctly concludes that Naruto has been possessed. Her attempt to warn another Anbu is intercepted by personnel already serving Liao Wu. 857 941

Story Role / Major Arcs

Kabuto’s Underground Laboratory

As a jōnin, Naruto returns to Konoha and investigates a series of explosions with Sakura and Shikamaru. They discover Kabuto’s underground laboratory and escape after fighting his clones and experimental ninja tools. 211

Konoha’s Destruction and the Test of Hatred

During an earlier depicted confrontation, Liao Wu destroys Konoha with redirected Amaterasu and Inorganic Reincarnation, then captures the fleeing Naruto with Stone Snakes. He makes Naruto’s reaction to the villagers’ deaths the condition for whether he will spare the wider Land of Fire. Naruto grieves for people including Iruka, the Third Hokage, and Sakura rather than simply celebrating the deaths of those who mistreated him. 488

Naruto admits hatred but questions why Ryōbu killed the villagers and expresses a wish to make amends. Ryōbu reveals that he is Minato’s son, while Itachi explains that Danzo leaked his identity as the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki. Despite the attempt to turn his suffering into hatred, Naruto does not become the revenge-driven figure Ryōbu seeks to create. 489

Rōran and the Dragon Vein

Naruto arrives in Rōran from the future and mistakes Ryōbu for Sasuke. Ryōbu manipulates him into confronting Black Zetsu and Kaguya, where Naruto’s anger triggers a four-tailed Nine-Tails Cloak. 703

Mukade’s release of the Dragon Vein has carried Naruto and Yamato into a different timeline. Naruto is confused to find the Five Great Shinobi Villages united in a Ninja Sect and their forehead protectors changed. 701

Minato, Kushina, and Obito help free Naruto from Ryōbu’s genjutsu. Naruto later works with Obito’s group on a plan to destroy the Dragon Vein, but hesitates to use the Nine-Tails’ power because of the risk of losing control. 703 720

Obito and Kakashi subsequently use their Mangekyō Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails, allowing Naruto to transform into a rational four-tailed form. 721

During the confrontation with Liao Wu, Naruto learns more about his parents, the Uzumaki clan, and powers such as Susanoo and the Rinnegan. He tries to prove himself to Minato and Kushina, but also witnesses how far beyond him some of the combatants are. He later fights alongside Kushina against Liao Wu after the latter becomes the Ten-Tails jinchūriki. 707 711 714 718 781

In the earlier confrontation, Naruto uses his six-tailed form to create an enlarged Rasengan, with Kushina and Minato preparing Rasengan of their own. After the Dragon Vein’s rampage carries Liao Wu into another time-space, Minato seals it, temporarily leaving Naruto and Yamato without a route home. Naruto nevertheless tells his parents that he cannot abandon his friends in the future, and they accept his decision. 725 726

Naruto subsequently forgives Obito’s confession about his parents’ deaths. Working through Obito’s Kamui, he sends Shadow Clones with Big Ball Rasengan into Kaguya’s Susanoo while Kushina attacks from outside. 748

During his stay, Naruto meets Karura and the infant Gaara, visits Ichiraku Ramen with Kushina, and learns about his mother’s adoptive connection to Mito and the early Hokage. These experiences deepen his attachment to his parents, but do not overturn his decision to return. 764 780 794

Naruto also recognizes that remaining in the past would mean taking the place of the Naruto still unborn in Kushina’s womb. He resolves to return, become Hokage, and earn his village’s recognition in his own era. 820

Return and Sealed Memories

After Naruto and Yamato return to their own era, Minato seals their memories of the earlier timeline to prevent dangerous consequences from the information they acquired. Kushina hopes Naruto will still remember her. 826

The sealing is performed before their departure, despite Kushina’s objections and Yamato’s wish to retain what he has learned. Naruto reaches toward Kushina as his memories fade, then returns with Yamato through the Dragon Vein. Back in the sixty-seventh year of Konoha, neither remembers the earlier era, and Yamato observes that their physical condition appears approximately a month out of sync. 826

Although both survive the Dragon Vein incident, they sense that they have forgotten something important. Tsunade closes the investigation into Mukade and prepares a mission to retrieve Sasuke after learning that he has escaped Orochimaru and is pursuing Itachi. 828

Sasuke Retrieval and Body Possession

Naruto insists on joining the mission to retrieve Sasuke, despite Konoha’s elders fearing that Akatsuki will target him as the remaining Nine-Tails jinchūriki. 829

His behavior becomes increasingly unstable, leading to hospitalization. In his Inner Heart, Naruto encounters Ryōbu, who reveals his intent to take over Naruto’s body and devour his mind. 830

Liao Wu’s chakra eventually overwhelms Naruto’s will. As their memories merge, Liao Wu gains intimate knowledge of Naruto’s life and begins transforming Naruto’s body into one compatible with himself. 831

Liao Wu’s chakra had grown while inside Naruto by absorbing chakra from Naruto and from the Nine-Tails’ leakage. Wrapped in Yin–Yang Release, it functions as a self-developing clone rather than Liao Wu’s original soul. 831

Liao Wu declares that he will replace Naruto as both Asura’s reincarnation and the Child of Prophecy who would have reunited the Nine Great Tailed Beasts. He also identifies Yamato’s sealed memories as a possible route by which Konoha could discover the possession. 831

Life Under Naruto’s Identity

While living as Naruto, Liao Wu reveals Wood Style, obtains the Flying Thunder God Technique, and demonstrates control of Nine-Tails chakra. Tsunade publicly addresses Naruto’s parentage, while Konoha’s leaders come to regard the apparent Naruto as a vital defender and potential future Hokage. On that basis, the elders permit him to join the Sasuke-retrieval mission under strict instructions to retreat from serious danger. 840 842 846 849 856 857 858

The disclosure of Naruto’s parentage is published in a newspaper released by the Hokage’s Office. The comparison with Minato forces villagers and former classmates to reconsider their treatment of him. Sakura is pleased that his identity may finally end the discrimination he suffered, without knowing that Liao Wu has already replaced him. 849

During the private revelation preceding the announcement, residual elements of Naruto’s will and inner darkness influence Liao Wu. The apparent Naruto questions why the village hated him despite his parents’ sacrifice, then Liao Wu bargains for public recognition and the return of his parents’ inheritance. 842 844

Sasuke senses that the person before him is no longer the Naruto he knew. Kakashi also becomes concerned by the changes following Rōran, though neither recognizes the full nature of the possession. 868 928

Liao Wu’s main body later summons and assimilates the clone occupying Naruto’s body, transferring the Nine-Tails’ seal to himself. When Kushina’s remaining chakra appears and demands Naruto’s return, Liao Wu consumes it. He then seals and devours half of Asura’s chakra as part of his pursuit of Six Paths power. 888

Liao Wu later uses Naruto’s identity to arrange genjutsu lessons with Kurenai. When Fukasaku offers Senjutsu training because of the growing Akatsuki threat, Liao Wu secretly sends a Spore Clone to study with him while continuing Kurenai’s lessons. 939 940 947 948

Konoha’s leaders refuse to send the apparent Naruto to Mount Myōboku because they consider his strength essential to defending the village. Fukasaku therefore agrees to teach him in Konoha despite the greater difficulty of sensing natural energy away from Mount Myōboku and its toad oil. Their decision is based on abilities displayed by Liao Wu under Naruto’s name. 927 928

Yūgao eventually overhears Liao Wu speaking privately with Fish Ball and Candy and realizes that Uchiha Ryōbu has possessed Naruto. When she tries to inform Tiger Mark, the Anbu surround her instead and bow to Liao Wu, revealing that her apparent allies are already under his authority. 941

Liao Wu continues exploiting Naruto’s reputation and bonds during the dispute over Sasuke’s capture by Kumogakure. After arranging Sasuke’s marriage to Karin in the Cloud Village, he later swaps places with his Spore Clone in Konoha and theatrically promises Team Seven that he will rescue Sasuke as his “Great Bond.” This declaration is part of the impersonation rather than evidence of Naruto’s recovery. 990 1004

Jiraiya subsequently regards the apparent Naruto as Konoha’s strongest shinobi and a potential second First Hokage. Before Jiraiya’s party leaves for the Land of Lightning, Liao Wu gives him a Flying Thunder God kunai, while Shikamaru interprets the impersonator’s behavior as proof that Naruto’s concern for his companions remains intact. 1007

Possession and Misattributed Abilities

After the possession, many actions publicly attributed to “Naruto” are performed by Liao Wu while using Naruto’s body.

• Liao Wu demonstrates Wood Style by reviving withered flowers and growing a towering tree. 840 842
• Liao Wu rapidly learns and uses the Flying Thunder God Technique while disguised as Naruto. 846 856
• Liao Wu displays controlled Nine-Tails chakra and fights Rock Lee in a four-tailed form. 854 856
• Sasuke notices that this “Naruto” does not feel like the person he knew; Liao Wu’s Asura chakra fails to resonate with Sasuke’s Indra chakra. 868
• Liao Wu memorizes advanced Wood Style techniques from the Scroll of Seals and uses Wood Dragon Technique during his confrontation with Obito. 858 881
• Reports that “Naruto” has rapidly mastered Uzumaki sealing techniques, Flying Thunder God, and Nine-Tails chakra describe the period after Liao Wu took control; they do not establish that Naruto independently learned those abilities. 831 928
• Liao Wu’s apparent pursuit of genjutsu and Senjutsu training is similarly deceptive: he already possesses abilities he keeps hidden from Kurenai and Fukasaku. 939 947 948
• Liao Wu later dominates and absorbs the Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto’s body as part of his own transformation. 889
• The one-handed Rasengan, unusually numerous combat clones, and vision-obscuring sand technique displayed against Rock Lee belong to Liao Wu’s impersonation. Naruto’s teammates specifically recognize the one-handed Rasengan and unfamiliar ninjutsu as departures from his earlier fighting style. 853 854
• Liao Wu’s assimilation of the Naruto-body clone, consumption of Kushina’s remaining chakra, acquisition of three Truth-Seeking Orbs, and absorption of Asura’s experience are developments of the possessor, not a Six Paths advancement achieved by Naruto. 888
• Yūgao explicitly identifies the possession after overhearing Liao Wu’s private conversation. The surrounding Anbu’s allegiance prevents her discovery from immediately exposing him to Konoha at large. 941
• Later descriptions of Naruto as Konoha’s strongest shinobi, capable of serving as another First Hokage, reflect Jiraiya’s assessment of Liao Wu’s displayed arsenal. 1007

Although Liao Wu devours Naruto’s will, Chapter 842 describes residual warmth toward Jiraiya and suppressed resentment influencing him. These moments preserve a distinction between Naruto’s surviving emotional influence and Liao Wu’s continuing control; they do not establish that Naruto resumes his former life or independently performs the possessor’s feats. 831 842

Notable Quotes

“Hate!” 489

“Then what about Sasuke? I have to bring Sasuke back!” 829

“I've already fallen into hell once. I don't want to fall into it a second time!” 710

“It's okay. I don't hate anyone. Because I've lost everything, I cherish things more than anyone else.” 710

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