Chapter Summaries

Naruto argued with Tsunade over Konoha profiting from the Land of Snow film, then persuaded her to direct most of the village’s movie earnings toward the orphanage and development. After discussing aid and technology for the Land of Snow, Naruto encountered Kabuto Yakushi, who delivered intelligence from Orochimaru for Tsunade.

• Naruto confronted Tsunade about turning the Land of Snow mission into a film business, and Kakashi and Sai left Sakura to manage their standoff.
• Naruto asked Tsunade to allocate ten percent of Konoha’s movie profits to its orphanage and five percent to village development, and she agreed to discuss his proposals for the Land of Snow.
• Naruto visited the Hyuga Clan and Anko’s house but found Hinata, Hanabi, Anko, and Karin absent.
• Naruto followed Kabuto Yakushi from the orphanage to the Forest of Death, where Kabuto revealed that Orochimaru had sent him with intelligence for Tsunade.
• Kabuto gave Naruto a scroll containing the results of an investigation Tsunade had requested, then left.

Naruto learned that Orochimaru had investigated Hidan and the Jashin Cult, and Tsunade planned a mission to the Land of Hot Water for Teams 7 and 8. Naruto also arranged a Land of Snow technology mission, then visited Fugaku and Mikoto with news of Sasuke’s strength and eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Tsunade told Naruto that Orochimaru had investigated Hidan and the Jashin Cult, whose immortality secret might help Kimimaro, Itachi Uchiha, and her Creation Rebirth.
• Tsunade assigned Teams 7 and 8 to investigate the Jashin Cult in the Land of Hot Water, noting that Team 8 was returning from Hoshigakure.
• Naruto recommended sending Shizuka's team and Zabuza to the Land of Snow, with Raimon coordinating technology development, and Tsunade agreed.
• Naruto visited Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha and told them Sasuke was well and had gained an eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and the Light Divine Dragon's legacy.
• Fugaku Uchiha was visibly startled when Naruto revealed Sasuke's eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Naruto told Fugaku that Sasuke had awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and received the Light Divine Dragon’s legacy, then asked Fugaku to teach him Izanagi and Izanami. At Orochimaru’s base, Sasuke broke through the third transformation of the Nine Transformations of the Sacred Dragon and began a profound change.

• Naruto told Fugaku and Mikoto that Sasuke had gained the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and the Light Divine Dragon’s legacy.
• Naruto asked Fugaku to teach him Izanagi and Izanami, and Fugaku gave him scrolls for both techniques after Naruto promised to use them only as a last resort.
• Kabuto told Orochimaru he had passed intelligence to Naruto, while Orochimaru explained that the information about the Jashin Cult also served his own interests.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto sensed a surge of natural chakra around Sasuke as he cultivated, and Orochimaru realized Sasuke was breaking through the third transformation of the Nine Transformations of the Sacred Dragon.
• Sasuke endured the transformation until the White Eye moved from his heart to his forehead, after which his pain vanished and his senses sharpened.

Sasuke demonstrated his new Python Transformation and accepted a mission to investigate the Jashin Cult in the Land of Hot Water. There, Black Zetsu overpowered Obito and forced him to begin the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to resurrect Madara Uchiha.

• Sasuke transformed into a Heaven-Swallowing Python and explained that he could devour matter to gain chakra.
• Orochimaru asked Sasuke to investigate the Jashin Cult and its immortality secret alongside Naruto Uzumaki's mission, and Sasuke chose to take only Tayuya.
• Obito confronted Black Zetsu and revealed that he knew Zetsu's identity and refused to help free Kaguya Otsutsuki.
• Black Zetsu revealed that he had hidden a second clone inside Obito and used it to paralyze him.
• Black Zetsu forced Obito to form the seals for the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique so he could resurrect Madara Uchiha.

Obito escaped Black Zetsu’s attempt to force him to resurrect Madara Uchiha when Rin intervened, and the two set off toward the Land of Hot Water. There, Obito and Kisame learned that Akatsuki was recalling its members amid a rift between the leader and Tobi, and Obito entrusted Kisame with a task.

• Black Zetsu forced Obito to complete the final hand seal and prepared to resurrect Madara Uchiha, while threatening Rin.
• Rin struck Black Zetsu with Water Release: Water Shockwave, allowing Obito to escape his restraints and drain the clone’s chakra with the Preta Path.
• Obito found that Black Zetsu had fled, then agreed with Rin to investigate events in the Land of Hot Water.
• At the Jashin Cult’s altar, Hidan finished praying and left with Kakuzu after they discussed reports of a traitor and a falling-out between the Akatsuki leader and Tobi.
• Obito, Rin, and Kisame emerged after Hidan and Kakuzu departed, and Obito handed Kisame a scroll before leaving with Rin.

Kakashi explained why Banjo Ichitora had upgraded the Land of Hot Water mission to eliminate the Jashin Cult, but Naruto delayed the investigation so the team could enjoy the hot springs. At the inn, Kakashi reunited with Obito and Rin, and Rin revealed to Sakura that she had died at eleven and had only recently been brought back to life.

• Kakashi explained that Banjo Ichitora raised the mission’s rank because the Land of Hot Water’s daimyo might abandon plans to rebuild Yugakure if the Jashin Cult resurfaced.
• Naruto persuaded Sai and the others to visit a hot spring inn before investigating the cult’s headquarters, then left to buy steamed buns.
• Kakashi encountered Obito and Rin at the inn, then spoke with Obito in the men’s bath about their shared guilt over Rin’s death and urged him to return to Konoha.
• Kakashi left the bath saying he was glad Rin was with Obito, while Rin and Sakura talked in the women’s bath.
• Rin told Sakura that she had died at eleven, had recently been revived by Obito, and was actually twenty-four years old.

Naruto encountered Obito at the bathhouse and explained why he intended to leave judgment of Obito to his parents, whom he planned to revive. Sai learned that his dead brother could not be brought back, while the women’s bath ended with Sakura and Tayuya on the verge of fighting.

• Naruto told Kakashi that he had encountered Hidan and Kakuzu, giving them a lead on the Jashin Cult.
• Naruto met Obito in the men’s bath and said he would leave judgment of Obito’s crimes to Minato and Kushina.
• Naruto told Sasuke and Sai that he planned to revive his parents, but explained that Sai’s brother could not be revived because his body had decayed.
• Naruto explained to Sasuke that Obito had taken Nagato’s Rinnegan to revive Rin Nohara.
• Sakura and Tayuya traded insults in the women’s bath, while Rin tried to keep them from fighting.

Kakashi's team ambushed the Jashin Cult during a human sacrifice and fought to seize its Immortality Technique scroll. Naruto and Sasuke battled the cultists, and Naruto completed the Rasenshuriken, prompting Sasuke to rush to Sakura and Tayuya with Susanoo activated.

• Kakashi directed Naruto, Sasuke, Sai, Sakura, and Tayuya to surround the Jashin Cult headquarters and wait for his signal.
• The Jashin pontiff prepared a living person for sacrifice, and Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke intervened just before the victim was killed.
• Sakura, Tayuya, and Sai secured the gate while Kakashi rescued the victim, and the pontiff ordered the cultists to attack.
• Naruto and Sasuke fought the charging cultists as Kakashi and Sai went to search for the scroll containing the Immortality Technique.
• Sasuke unleashed a powerful lightning attack, inspiring Naruto to shape wind chakra into a Rasengan and complete the Rasenshuriken.
• Sasuke activated Susanoo beside Sakura and Tayuya after Naruto's new technique drew everyone's attention.

Anko arrived at the Jashin Cult headquarters too late to stop the pope’s sacrificial ceremony, which used the cultists Naruto and Sasuke had killed as offerings to grant him an immortal body and other powers. As the pope gained immense power, Kakashi and the others realized he had manipulated them into completing the ritual.

• Obito and Rin encountered Anko, who used a reverse summoning to reach them and hurried toward Kakashi’s group to warn them about the Jashin Cult.
• Naruto and Sasuke defeated nearly all the cultists while Kakashi found what they had come for, but the pope remained confident and began a sacrificial ceremony.
• Anko arrived and stabbed the pope with a kunai, but he ignored the wound and continued praying.
• Anko explained that the completed ceremony turned those killed within its range into offerings that granted the officiant an immortal body and other abilities.
• Kakashi realized the pope had let them kill the cultists to supply the ritual, and the pope finished praying as immense power radiated from him.

Naruto overwhelmed the Jashin Cult pope, repeatedly knocking him down despite his immortal body, while Sasuke and the others watched. In the Land of the Moon, Ao Guang learned of the fight and said he expected to meet Naruto soon.

• Naruto repeatedly struck the pope with sword energy, while the pope's immortal body healed his wounds.
• Sakura and Kakashi discussed how Naruto was toying with the pope, and Sai noted that Naruto had not even slowed down.
• The pope charged Naruto recklessly, hoping to draw his blood for the Jashin Cult's secret technique, but failed to land a hit.
• Sasuke reassured the frightened Tayuya, while Sakura noticed her fear of Naruto.
• Aoyun reported the Jashin Cult's defeat to Ao Guang, who ordered continued surveillance and said he would meet Naruto soon.

Naruto toyed with the Pope to vent his frustration, then let the Pope demonstrate the Jashin Cult’s secret technique so he could learn about the man’s immortal body. The Pope prepared to use the technique while Naruto and the others watched.

• Naruto repeatedly battered the Pope, while Kakashi and Sasuke explained that the Pope’s immortal body did not make him impossible to kill.
• Obito and Rin left after deciding Naruto and the others were no longer in danger.
• The Pope ambushed Naruto with a kunai, but Naruto countered by piercing his heart with the Fūjin Sword and striking him with a Rasengan.
• Naruto recognized the Pope’s unusually powerful vitality as a possible source of information for Tsunade’s Sage Body research.
• Naruto let the Pope prepare the Jashin Cult’s secret technique for the mission, reassuring Kakashi that he could handle it.

The Pope used a blood contract to link his injuries to Naruto, but Naruto and Sasuke discovered how the technique worked and broke the connection. The Pope tried to return to the Contract Formation, while Naruto kept him away and watched him struggle to rise again.

• The Pope stabbed himself in the heart, causing Naruto's heart to be pierced as well, and Anko and Sasuke rushed to Naruto's side.
• Naruto reassured Anko, then told Sasuke that his wound would not heal and that he suspected the Pope had used a blood contract.
• Sasuke activated the White Eye in his forehead and saw that the Pope had linked Naruto's chakra to a Contract Formation using Naruto's blood.
• Naruto kicked the Pope out of the Contract Formation, breaking the blood contract and allowing his wound to heal.
• The Pope charged back toward the Contract Formation, but Naruto kicked him away again, and the Pope cursed his inability to defeat him.

The Pope drank the blood in a crystal bottle and transformed, gaining corrosive black chakra that absorbed Naruto’s Rasenshuriken and countered Sasuke’s Amaterasu. After regaining his reason, he recognized Amaterasu and identified himself as Thanatos, prompting Naruto to realize he was the Death God.

• The Pope drank the blood from his crystal bottle, transformed, and attacked Naruto and the others with corrosive black chakra.
• Sasuke pulled Naruto out of the path of the Pope’s black-light attack, and Naruto launched a Rasenshuriken at him.
• The Pope absorbed the Rasenshuriken with his black chakra and sent a corrosive eruption toward the group, who escaped with the Body Flicker Technique.
• The Pope calmed down and regained his reason, then neutralized Sasuke’s Amaterasu with his black chakra.
• The Pope asked whether the group came from Takamagahara, and Naruto reacted in shock when the Pope called himself Thanatos, the Death God.

Tsunade’s premonition and sudden lottery win made her fear that Naruto’s team was in danger. Kakashi returned with devastating news: Anko and Tayuya had died, Sasuke was gravely injured, Naruto was missing, and the team had encountered Thanatos.

• Tsunade won the lottery’s grand prize and ordered Shizune to check on Jiraiya, Nawaki, and Naruto’s group.
• Shizune reported that Jiraiya was in the Land of the Sea, Nawaki was headed to Shikkotsu Forest, and Naruto’s group had not reported back from the Land of Hot Water.
• Tsunade’s unease grew when she learned Naruto’s last message said the team was preparing to attack the Jashin Cult’s headquarters.
• Kakashi returned with Sai and Sakura, but Naruto and Anko were absent, and Sakura was crying.
• Kakashi gave Tsunade the scroll containing the Jashin Cult’s immortal-body technique and reported that Anko and Tayuya had been killed, Sasuke was gravely injured, and Naruto was missing.
• Kakashi said the team had encountered Thanatos, shocking Tsunade.

Tsunade connected Thanatos to the gods and Ragnarok through stories told by Hashirama, while Kakashi began recounting the encounter at the Jashin cult headquarters. In that encounter, Naruto and Sasuke fought Thanatos, and Kurama took control of Naruto to help Sasuke continue the battle.

• Tsunade explained that Hashirama had told her Thanatos served Hades and that Ragnarok had caused the gods to disappear; Kakashi recalled Naruto mentioning Ragnarok.
• Tsunade asked Kakashi to recount how the team met Thanatos and how Naruto disappeared, Sasuke was injured, and Anko and Tayuya died.
• Thanatos revealed that he and Hypnos remained sealed in the Gods' Graveyard but could send parts of their consciousness into the world, then attacked the group with his Death God's Scythe Slash.
• Naruto countered Thanatos with God-Slaying Strike, exhausted himself, and urged Sasuke to attack; Sasuke clashed with Thanatos and fired Indra's Arrow, which Thanatos knocked aside.
• Thanatos summoned a dark figure that struck Sasuke's Susanoo, so Naruto and Sasuke combined Nine-Tails Mode and Susanoo into Majestic Attire: Susanoo.
• Kurama took control of Naruto's body while Naruto rested, strengthened Majestic Attire: Susanoo, and prepared to strike back at Thanatos.

Kakashi, Sakura, Tayuya, and Anko worked together to restrain Thanatos while Sasuke and the Nine-Tails gathered natural chakra. The chapter ended with Kakashi’s Kamui finally tearing Thanatos’ body apart.

• The Nine-Tails warned Sasuke that ordinary chakra could not harm Thanatos and began gathering natural chakra with him.
• Kakashi revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and planned to hold Thanatos off while Sakura and Tayuya created an opening and Sai protected Sasuke and the Nine-Tails.
• Sakura’s attack disrupted Thanatos, and Tayuya’s genjutsu let Kakashi trap him with Kamui.
• Thanatos began escaping Kamui as Kakashi and the Nine-Tails clone exhausted themselves trying to hold him.
• Anko bound Thanatos with Senjutsu: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, allowing Kakashi’s Kamui to tear Thanatos’ body apart.

Kakashi's Kamui appeared to destroy Thanatos, but Thanatos regenerated and resumed his attack, leaving Kakashi wounded as he protected the others. Obito sensed Kakashi was in danger, and Rin Nohara persuaded him to return and help.

• Sakura, Sai, and Tayuya celebrated after Kakashi's Kamui tore Thanatos apart, but Kakashi and Anko stayed wary and warned the others to keep away from the body.
• Thanatos's black chakra nearly corroded Sakura, then drew his scattered body parts together and restored him unharmed.
• Thanatos attacked at tremendous speed, and Kakashi saved Sai from a scythe strike but was wounded by its corrosive black chakra.
• Obito sensed Kakashi's Kamui and an ominous chakra fluctuation, and Rin Nohara urged him to go back and help Kakashi.
• Obito insisted he would not forgive Kakashi, but Rin Nohara took his hand and led him back toward the fight.

Thanatos lured Obito into pulling his soul from the Pope’s body, allowing him to reveal a fraction of his true power. Naruto, Sasuke, and the others faced the terrifying presence as Thanatos thanked Obito for freeing him from his body’s restrictions.

• Thanatos attacked Tayuya again, but Obito used space-time ninjutsu to rescue Kakashi and bring Rin Nohara into the battle.
• Rin Nohara insisted on fighting alongside Kakashi and Obito, and the three prepared to stall Thanatos until Naruto and Sasuke recovered.
• Thanatos attacked Obito, whose Kamui delay forced him to dodge before using the Human Path to pull at Thanatos’s soul.
• Naruto and Sasuke finished absorbing natural chakra, and the Nine-Tails warned Naruto that his Tailed Beast Transformation would last only about ten minutes.
• Thanatos secretly stopped resisting Obito’s Human Path, broke free in soul form, and revealed that he could use ten percent of his power without a physical body.

Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Obito seemingly defeated Thanatos, then prepared to return to the village. Thanatos survived and killed Anko and Tayuya when they sacrificed themselves to save Naruto and Sasuke, leaving the group facing him again in despair.

• Thanatos absorbed the power of Naruto and Sasuke's attack, but Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Obito combined their abilities to trap and blast him.
• After Thanatos disappeared beneath the rubble, the group believed he was dead and began preparing to leave.
• Naruto invited Anko to return to the village, while Sasuke parted from Sakura and Tayuya; Obito left with Rin.
• Two streaks of black light attacked Naruto and Sasuke, and Anko and Tayuya pushed them out of harm's way, sacrificing their bodies and souls.
• Naruto and Sasuke cried out in anguish as Thanatos emerged from the shadows and revealed that he had survived.

Naruto and Sasuke awakened their Rinnegan and joined Kakashi and Obito in attacking Thanatos, but he survived their combined assault and sealed the space around them. As Thanatos’s attack overwhelmed Naruto and Sasuke, Naruto used Ao Guang’s object to disappear with Thanatos, leaving Sasuke to carry his final message to Hinata.

• Thanatos targeted Sakura, but Naruto and Sasuke arrived in time to stop him and sent Sakura, Sai, and Rin Nohara into the Kamui Dimension with Kakashi.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Obito coordinated attacks that destroyed Thanatos’s borrowed body, but he returned from the spatial turbulence unharmed.
• Thanatos sealed the space around them and unleashed two Death God's Scythe Slashes, severely injuring Naruto and Sasuke.
• Ao Guang’s object glowed and gave Naruto information, and Naruto asked Sasuke to tell Hinata that he loved her and was sorry.
• Naruto crushed the object, and a flash of white light made him and Thanatos disappear together.