Chapter Summaries

After surviving the river, the students headed toward the White Tower and reached a rope bridge spanning a deep ravine. As Naruto led the crossing, the bridge began to loosen, and his careless remark sent Choji into a frenzy.

• Shikamaru explained how the group had defeated the giant water bug by forcing it out of the water and attacking its unarmored belly.
• Haku revealed that reaching the White Tower was the exercise’s goal, and the students rested before setting out toward it.
• At a deep ravine, the group chose to cross a rope bridge in two groups, with Naruto taking the lead.
• Naruto turned around to boast to Kurotsuchi, startling her and making the bridge sway.
• Naruto noticed the bridge’s wooden stake coming loose but blamed Choji’s weight instead of warning the group.
• Choji rushed forward in a frenzy after hearing Naruto call him fat, while Shikamaru shouted for him to calm down.

Naruto’s group and Taki’s team reunited at a dangerous rope bridge and helped each other cross. Taki supplied plenty of Scientific Ninja Tools for the journey to the White Tower, while Ruri worried that Taki still preferred acting alone.

• Naruto fell from the bridge, but Taki’s Spider Sticky Gold and Jugo’s Earth Style lifted him to safety.
• Taki reinforced the bridge, and the children from both teams worked together to bring Kimimaro, Haku, and the others across.
• Taki joked that Akamaru was named Sakazuki, irritating Kiba as the group pulled everyone safely over.
• Shikamaru worried that their Scientific Ninja Tools were depleted, but Taki poured out a large supply for everyone to use.
• Ruri watched the children cooperate and worried that Taki would have chosen to continue alone if Hinata, Jugo, and the others had not joined him.

Naruto entered the White Tower alone and faced a test that made him believe he was hunting Dusk's leader through Konoha. The supposed enemy revealed himself as Naruto's father, and the test identified him as Dusk's leader.

• The group traveled together by boat, overcame traps, and reached the White Tower.
• Naruto pushed open the tower door and saw a vision of his father before waking alone inside.
• Naruto followed the scent of blood through a Konoha-like setting after a broadcast ordered him to kill Dusk's leader.
• Naruto followed a path through a crowd and found a bloodied figure wearing the Hokage Hat and his father's Haori of the God.
• The figure turned to reveal Naruto's father, and a notification declared him the leader of the Dusk Organization.

Naruto completed a trial by punching an illusion of his father, Minato, but discovered that his companions were actually the targets of a second test. As Kurama lent him chakra and urged him to act, Naruto struggled to choose between passing and protecting his friends.

• Naruto resisted the illusion of Minato, then punched him and watched him vanish.
• Naruto reunited with Shikamaru, Kiba, Hinata, Choji, and the others, who said they had passed their trials.
• Naruto noticed a countdown and realized his companions were impostors he had to kill to pass the trial.
• Naruto hesitated when the prompt identified his companions as remnants of the Dusk Organization, and he noticed that several people, including Sayu and Ino, were absent.
• Kurama urged Naruto to take the action that would earn better results and offered him chakra to defeat everyone at once.
• Naruto's red Nine-Tails chakra cloak appeared as he recalled how his companions had accepted and helped him.

Naruto passed the White Tower’s test after resisting a false vision that made his friends appear to betray him. He woke to find the others had passed too, and the group headed to finish their first battle of the school year.

• Kurama warned Ruri that the virtual spirit space’s strongest presence was Naruto as Naruto’s false memories of his friends turned hostile.
• Naruto rejected the fake companions and eliminated them, including Hinata, just as the countdown ended and he passed the test.
• Naruto woke inside the White Tower with Shikamaru, Hinata, Sasuke, and the others, who had been waiting for him.
• Naruto realized the people in the trial were only imitations of his friends’ surface traits and reflected on how they supported one another.
• Shikamaru led the group toward the room marking the test’s end, and Naruto offered to treat everyone to Ichiraku Ramen before learning the trip to Konoha would be difficult.

Ruri worried that Taki lacked emotional bonds and hoped he could grow into a normal person, then turned to the preparations for Yahiko and Konan’s wedding. Tsunade insisted that she attend, leaving Hattori Sho anxious because he suspected she had once nearly ruined his parents’ wedding.

• Ruri reflected that Taki had no meaningful bonds and resolved to help him develop his own worldview and choose his path.
• Ruri observed Gaara’s trial and hoped Taki could someday change as much as Gaara had.
• Nagato enthusiastically delivered invitations to Yahiko and Konan’s wedding, while Ruri accepted one in his Yasuo disguise and guessed Nagato wanted access to the food.
• Tsunade reviewed the guest list with Hattori Sho and considered the wedding an opportunity to see the village’s future leaders together.
• Sho recalled rumors that Tsunade had nearly ruined his parents’ wedding and warned her to be careful, but Tsunade ordered him to clear her schedule so she could attend.

Yahiko and Konan’s wedding brought together friends and leaders from Takigakure and other villages. As the ceremony began, Nawaki noticed Hattori Masanari approaching him with an anxious expression.

• Yahiko complained about his elaborate wedding makeup while Nagato teased him and Konan refused to let him wipe it off.
• Nawaki welcomed Mangetsu and Suigetsu, followed by Takigakure leaders, retired elders, and guests from other villages.
• Ruri attended in disguise as Yasuo, while Kakuzu used the Face-Shifting Technique to join the wedding as an ordinary guest.
• Konan entered in ceremonial attire with Tenri and Nagato beside the couple, and Kakashi began writing down inspiration in a yellow notebook.
• As Yahiko and Konan stood before the gathered guests, Hattori Masanari tapped Nawaki on the shoulder, and Nawaki’s smile faded at Masanari’s anxious expression.

Yahiko and Konan’s wedding proceeded peacefully, and Tsunade gave them a holographic projection of the First Takikage offering his blessing. Tsunade left the chapel afterward, seeming lonely, while Ruri and Kakuzu noticed something was off about her.

• Nawaki learned that Tsunade was coming and worried that she might disrupt the wedding, but she entered the hall and sat down without incident.
• Nawaki guided Yahiko and Konan’s ceremony smoothly, and the guests offered blessings while Hanzo and Zheng stayed tense.
• Kaguya Daigu and Yuki Murasaki presented ice and bone dragon sculptures, and the guests took turns giving gifts and toasting the newlyweds.
• Tsunade used Katsuyu and a black box to project the First Takikage into the hall, where he congratulated Yahiko and Konan.
• Tsunade explained that the image came from newly developed Holographic Projection technology, then left the chapel as Ruri and Kakuzu noticed her lonely demeanor.

Ruri sensed a powerful enemy during Yahiko and Konan’s wedding and ordered Takigakure evacuated and defended. Momoshiki Otsutsuki sent Kinshiki to capture their source of pills, while a massive figure appeared over the village and Ruri arrived atop Katsuyu.

• Ruri sensed a vast power and left a Wood Clone behind as he went to locate the enemy’s spatial coordinates.
• Kakuzu and Hanzo ordered the guests and villagers evacuated, and Yamato dispelled the temporary chapel.
• A blast from the storm clouds struck Takigakure, but Tsunade led the village’s ninja in raising a barrier.
• Momoshiki Otsutsuki told Kinshiki to bring him their source of pills without killing them, and Kinshiki departed.
• A massive figure appeared in the sky and shook Takigakure as villagers panicked.
• Ruri appeared atop an enormous Katsuyu in the center of the village.

Hidan skipped class with Kabuto to visit Takigakure and try Iburi BBQ Restaurant’s bamboo rat dishes. Their meal was interrupted when a towering enemy appeared above the village and Katsuyu confronted him.

• Hidan brought Kabuto to Takigakure and ordered roast and smoked bamboo rat at Iburi BBQ Restaurant.
• Hidan explained how the Iburi Clan prepared bamboo rat, and Iburi Shota served them three plates, including one free dish.
• Hidan and Kabuto enjoyed the meal and finished the first two bamboo rats.
• The earth shook as a towering enemy appeared above Takigakure, and Iburi Shota calmed the panicking diners.
• Hidan and Kabuto looked outside at the enemy facing the giant Katsuyu and grew grave.

Kinshiki attacked Takigakure with devastating red energy, forcing the village’s defenders and civilians into a desperate evacuation. As Hidan and Kabuto helped protect the crowd, Takayama Akito arrived in a full tailed-beast transformation to confront the attacker.

• Kinshiki broke through Takigakure’s barrier and unleashed a wide-area attack across the village.
• Tsunade ordered Katsuyu to protect the villagers, while Kabuto, Hidan, Iburi Shota, and the Anbu worked to evacuate civilians.
• An Anbu ninja and Iburi Shota were badly wounded trying to stop a red energy blade from reaching the crowd.
• Hidan used the First Activation of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method to catch the blade, and its explosion broke his arm.
• Kabuto went to treat Iburi Shota while Hidan continued evacuating people with the Anbu.
• Takayama Akito arrived in the sky and transformed into a powerful white chakra form.

Takigakure’s fighters struggled to stop Otsutsuki Kinshiki, whose strength overwhelmed Akito and the village’s defenders. Tsunade rescued Yahiko and ordered him, Konan, and Nagato to heal Akito as Takikage Fortress opened fire on Kinshiki.

• Akito’s full Tailed Beast strike collided with Kinshiki’s red energy, shattering Kokuō’s chakra foreleg, while Uzumaki Zhouxuan’s Adamantine Sealing Chains failed to restrain Kinshiki.
• Uzumaki Mei protected Zhouxuan from Kinshiki’s counterattack, but Kinshiki charged at Akito, who could not damage him and retreated with mangled hands.
• Yahiko attacked Kinshiki with Hard Vortex Water Blade, but Kinshiki cut through it and threatened to kill him with a massive red blade.
• Nagato and Konan tried to shield Yahiko, but their defenses failed until Tsunade kicked Kinshiki away and redirected his blade.
• Tsunade sent Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato to heal Akito and protect the Five-Tails, then ordered Takikage Fortress to bombard Kinshiki with its weapons.

Tsunade fought Otsutsuki Kinshiki to protect Takigakure, using Creation Rebirth to withstand his attacks and the weapons unleashed by his Inner Ghost Gate. She fell beneath the endless barrage, leaving the village and its defenders behind her exposed.

• Tsunade charged through Takigakure's fire to attack Otsutsuki Kinshiki, whose red halo shielded him from harm.
• Tsunade used Creation Rebirth and Body Flicker to keep attacking Kinshiki, while Katsuyu helped heal her.
• Kinshiki unleashed a devastating ground strike that sent Tsunade flying, and Anbu and elite Takigakure Ninja rushed to her aid.
• Kinshiki invoked the Inner Ghost Gate, sending countless weapons that aged and destroyed everything they touched.
• Tsunade shielded the villagers and ninja from the weapons, but the endless barrage pierced her and Katsuyu, and the Fourth Takikage fell.

Tsunade met Ruri in a dark afterlife-like place and confronted him over repeatedly intervening in Takigakure’s crises. After he comforted her and showed her their village as it had been forty years earlier, he asked her to choose whether to stay or go, and she relived the vision of her death at Otsutsuki Kinshiki’s hands.

• Tsunade recognized Ruri as her teacher and punched him after realizing she might be dead.
• Tsunade broke down, accusing Ruri of taking away her chances to protect the village herself, and Ruri let her cry.
• Ruri changed their surroundings to the village from Tsunade’s childhood and told her he had wanted to stay by her side longer.
• Tsunade asked Ruri about the aliens, and he admitted he was worried about their strength and was not sure he could defeat them.
• Ruri asked Tsunade whether she would stay or go, and she pictured herself dying while Otsutsuki Kinshiki slaughtered Takigakure Ninja.

Ruri awakened Tsunade’s Faith Energy and sent her back to defend Takigakure as the Fourth Takikage, while he tracked Otsutsuki Momoshiki’s coordinates. He entered a spatial passage to confront the enemy, leaving Kakuzu with instructions in case he did not return.

• Tsunade told Ruri she still wanted to protect Takigakure, and he urged her to keep serving as Fourth Takikage before sending her back with a gift of golden light.
• Tsunade revived, healed her wounds with Creation Rebirth, and charged Otsutsuki Kinshiki after seeing him attack Nawaki.
• A black box displayed an image of the First Takikage, and the Takigakure Ninja recognized Tsunade as their Fourth Takikage as she struck Kinshiki with Faith Energy.
• Ruri told Kakuzu that he had awakened Tsunade’s Faith Energy and confirmed the enemy’s spatial coordinates beneath Takigakure Waterfall.
• Ruri warned Kakuzu to follow Yasuo’s clone’s instructions and watch out for Twilight if he did not return, then opened a spatial passage and attacked with Iaijutsu.

Ruri fought Momoshiki in his dimension, using perfect Sage Mode and Faith Energy to counter Momoshiki’s absorption and overpower him in close combat. He concluded that Momoshiki was weaker than Kinshiki alone, but Momoshiki remained calm as their battle continued.

• Ruri’s Truth-Seeking Orb sword strike destroyed a third of Momoshiki’s castle, but Momoshiki countered with Takami-musubi and shattered the blade energy.
• Momoshiki absorbed Ruri’s Sage Chakra, grew weak from it, and had to use his remaining chakra to recover.
• Ruri used his Truth-Seeking Orbs to disperse Momoshiki’s attack and judged that Momoshiki was weaker than Kinshiki in direct combat.
• Ruri revealed that separating Momoshiki from Kinshiki had been part of his plan and pressed Momoshiki with twenty-three consecutive sword strikes.
• Ruri used Faith Energy to withstand Momoshiki’s counterattacks, then said Momoshiki’s strength was unimpressive while Momoshiki remained calm.

Ruri absorbed Otsutsuki Momoshiki’s Flame Bird and endured his attacks with Faith Energy. Momoshiki, recognizing Ruri as a formidable enemy, consumed a peach as the battle escalated.

• Otsutsuki Momoshiki launched Flame Bird at Ruri, who absorbed the attack with his Rinnegan and Tenseigan.
• Ruri revealed that he could absorb chakra like Momoshiki, making Momoshiki wary of his power.
• Momoshiki summoned Inukai Takeru no Mikoto, whose many heads surrounded and attacked Ruri.
• Ruri used Faith Energy to withstand Momoshiki’s explosive chakra attack and destroy the monster’s chains.
• Seeing the fight turn against him, Otsutsuki Momoshiki ate a peach and faced Ruri with a crazed smile.

Ruri fought Momoshiki Otsutsuki after Momoshiki swallowed medicine and summoned three immortal monsters. Ruri created three Yin-Yang Release giants to hold them off, wounded Momoshiki with a powerful iaijutsu slash, and launched another attack.

• Ruri attacked Momoshiki Otsutsuki, who summoned Ryūyūshin no Mikoto and Rakumorihiko no Mikoto alongside Inukai Takeru no Mikoto to block his slash.
• Ruri used Yin-Yang Release, Sage Chakra, and nature-transformation chakra to create Akainu Sakazuki, Aokiji Kuzan, and Kizaru Borsalino to battle the three monsters.
• Ruri charged Momoshiki, but Momoshiki repelled him with Shinra Tensei.
• Ruri struck Momoshiki's chest with an iaijutsu slash that pierced the repulsive force and sent him falling toward the ground.
• Ruri controlled his Truth-Seeking Orbs and advanced with an even stronger slash as Momoshiki swung his hand.

Ruri overwhelmed Otsutsuki Momoshiki in a fierce battle and sealed him with Chibaku Tensei. As he prepared to return and confront Kinshiki, he sensed space contracting.

• Momoshiki unleashed blade waves and Shinra Tensei, but Ruri matched his repulsive force and held the advantage.
• Momoshiki absorbed the three monsters and three spirit bodies with Takami-musubi, while Ruri drew in some of their chakra and Sage Chakra and powered up with Faith Energy.
• Ruri shattered his Truth-Seeking Orb longsword in a powerful slash, and Momoshiki sacrificed his Rinnegan to amplify a counterattack, but Ruri defeated him with another golden blade strike.
• Ruri found Momoshiki still alive and used chakra from the nine tailed beasts, the Ten-Tails, and the Gelel Ore Vein to seal him inside a Chibaku Tensei sphere.
• As Ruri withdrew the Tailed Beast Balls and prepared to deal with Kinshiki, he sensed space contracting.

After being trapped in a strange space, Ruri relived his first life from birth and watched his parents die while he was still a child. At his mother’s grave, he encountered Kyusei, who revealed his past as a ninja and began explaining why he had left his clan.

• Ruri wondered whether Kinshiki had destroyed the space and trapped him with Momoshiki, then began experiencing his first life as a newborn named Amamiya Ruri.
• Ruri watched little Ruri grow up, lose his father Nagamasa when he went to gather herbs, and bury his mother Oichi after she died of illness.
• Little Ruri saw Kyusei return from washing in the stream with ninja-like scars and realized he was no ordinary villager.
• Kyusei used the Body Flicker Technique to approach little Ruri and recognized that he had buried both his parents.
• Kyusei told little Ruri that he had left his ninja clan to live as an ordinary person, only to learn five years later that the Hagoromo clan had been wiped out.