Chapter Summaries

Naruto took Karin, Hinata, and Hanabi to meet Tsunade, who offered Karin the chance to become a Konoha ninja. Karin accepted and became a Konoha Genin, while Tsunade told Naruto to stay behind.

• Naruto explained that he had spent the night sleeping in a park, and Hinata cried because she thought she had hurt him.
• Naruto kissed Hinata to calm her, while Hanabi and Karin watched enviously until Hanabi interrupted them.
• Naruto invited Karin to meet Tsunade, and Hinata and Hanabi joined them on the way to the Hokage Office.
• Tsunade welcomed Naruto and the girls, and Hanabi charmed her with compliments about her beauty.
• Tsunade offered Karin a place as a Konoha ninja, and Karin accepted; Tsunade made her a Genin and said she would later assign her to Team Four.
• Tsunade dismissed the others and asked Naruto to stay.

Tsunade led Naruto, Sasuke, and the others to Konoha’s hidden shrine to investigate Obito Uchiha and the First Hokage’s cells. There, she revealed that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had secretly been friends and that their famous battles had been fought by clones.

• Hinata took Hanabi and Karin to gather everyone at the Barbecue Restaurant while Naruto stayed with Tsunade and Sasuke.
• Naruto recognized Haku and Zabuza among Tsunade’s Anbu, and Tsunade explained that Haku would join Karin’s team while Zabuza would remain in the Anbu.
• Itachi arrived and told Naruto that Fugaku and Mikoto were well and wanted Naruto to visit with Hinata.
• Shizune returned with the Third Hokage’s permit, and Tsunade led the group to the forbidden shrine on Konoha’s Back Mountain to investigate Obito Uchiha.
• Naruto saw the statues of his parents and was moved to tears, while Sasuke comforted him.
• Tsunade revealed that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had grown up as friends and secretly used clones to fight their clans’ battles; she added that Madara had wanted to conquer the shinobi world, but Hashirama had stopped him.

Tsunade led Naruto and the others through the Shrine’s hidden graveyard, where they learned that several important bodies were missing and that Madara Uchiha had once pursued a plan for peace. Back at the Hokage Office, Tsunade revealed Madara’s Rinnegan and explained that Sasuke could help save Itachi’s failing eyesight by awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Naruto secretly returned to Rin Nohara’s coffin, stored her body in his White Eye space, and rejoined the group.
• Tsunade showed the group the graves of past leaders and revealed that Danzo had given the First and Second Hokage’s bodies to Orochimaru.
• Tsunade found Madara Uchiha’s coffin empty and said he had refused to abandon his plan to bring peace through force.
• Tsunade told the group that Madara’s Rinnegan could resurrect the dead and that the Sharingan’s evolution could lead to the Rinnegan.
• Tsunade revealed that Itachi’s eyesight was nearly gone and explained that exchanging eyes after Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan could give them both the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke vowed to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan so he could help save Itachi’s vision.

Naruto and Tsunade discussed how Madara Uchiha obtained the Rinnegan, captured the tailed beasts, and later fought the First Hokage, while suspecting Madara had secretly survived and shaped the Akatsuki. After Jiraiya departed to investigate, Tsunade sent Naruto to find Kurenai, and Naruto and Hinata headed to the Dango Shop together.

• Naruto questioned Tsunade about Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan, and Kurama recalled being captured by Hashirama and Madara before waking inside Mito Uzumaki with his memories altered.
• Tsunade explained that Madara wanted to conquer the shinobi world with the tailed beasts, but the First Hokage opposed him, leading to their battle at the Valley of the End.
• Jiraiya concluded that Nagato's eyes belonged to Madara Uchiha and left to investigate the Akatsuki, while reminding Naruto to keep their agreement.
• At the Barbecue Restaurant, Sakura and Ino knocked Naruto aside as they went in with Sasuke, and Hinata helped Naruto get up.
• Naruto told his friends that Tsunade had asked him to find Kurenai, then he and Hinata left for the Dango Shop.

Naruto brought Hinata to the Dango Shop, where Kurenai noticed Anko acting strangely around him and warned him not to hurt anyone she cared about. At Tsunade’s inauguration as Fifth Hokage, the Third Hokage and the Advisors agreed to keep a close watch on Danzo and prevent another disaster like the one twelve years earlier.

• Naruto delivered Tsunade’s message to Kurenai, and Anko hurried out of the Dango Shop after Kurenai suggested she join Naruto’s gathering.
• Kurenai warned Naruto not to hurt anyone she cared about, leaving Naruto worried that she had discovered his secret relationship with Anko.
• Naruto and Karin joined Sasuke and the others, then watched as the Third Hokage handed the Hokage’s hat to Tsunade.
• Tsunade declared herself the Fifth Hokage and received loud cheers from the gathered villagers and ninjas.
• The Third Hokage, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu agreed to watch Danzo closely and stop him if he repeated what he had done twelve years earlier.

Naruto and his team continued tedious D-Rank missions while most of Konoha’s Jonin handled Tsunade’s debt-related assignments. After Hinata left on a reconnaissance mission, Naruto recruited Sasuke and Sakura to help train Hanabi, hoping to escape her punishing sparring sessions.

• Sakura complained about the team’s months of D-Rank missions, while Kakashi insisted they finish their current assignment.
• Naruto recalled that Tsunade had sent many Jonin on missions to settle her debts, leaving Konoha with a backlog of D-Rank work and delaying Naruto’s promised mission.
• Naruto remembered Hinata asking him to teach Hanabi while her team investigated something outside the village, and Hanabi bruising him during their training.
• When Sasuke asked why Naruto had been absent from training, Naruto explained that he had been overseeing Hanabi’s lessons.
• Naruto invited Sasuke and Sakura to help train Hanabi; both agreed, and Naruto hoped they would take some of the punishment in his place.

After leaving a mission, Naruto recalled how Hanabi’s teasing had provoked Sakura into wrecking a training room during combat practice. Sasuke realized Hanabi had feelings for Naruto, but Naruto remained oblivious as Hanabi ran off calling him a blockhead.

• Sakura complained that Naruto had dragged her and Sasuke into trouble as Team 7 left the Konoha Gate.
• Naruto recalled Hanabi ambushing Sakura and Sasuke during training, then provoking Sakura until she shattered the Hyuga Clan training room with a punch.
• Naruto stopped Hanabi from taunting Sakura again, and Hanabi blushed when his breath brushed her ear.
• Sasuke figured out that Hanabi liked Naruto and left with Sakura, teasing Naruto by calling him a blockhead.
• Naruto failed to understand why Hanabi called him a blockhead, and she ran off in embarrassment.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura traveled to the Land of Tea to protect a race entrant, and Naruto recognized their opponent as Aoi Rokushō, who carried the Second Hokage’s Thunder God Sword. He told Sasuke they could profit from the mission by acquiring the weapon.

• Naruto complained that the mission would keep him from welcoming Hinata back, while Sasuke and Sakura hurried ahead without him.
• At a shop, Idate flirted with Sakura, and Sasuke frightened him into leaving; Naruto teased Sasuke about his feelings and hinted Sakura might become important to him.
• In the Land of Tea, Jirochō explained that the team had to protect the race entrant, and Naruto and his teammates recognized the boy who came to meet them.
• Naruto remembered that the Second Hokage’s weapon would appear during the mission and set up a Barrier before telling Sasuke.
• Naruto identified Aoi Rokushō as their opponent and revealed that Aoi had the Thunder God Sword, astonishing Sasuke.

Naruto and Sasuke agreed that Sasuke would take the Thunder God Sword, then planned to protect Idate and wait for Aoi Rokushō to attack. During the race, Aoi ambushed Idate, and Naruto saved him from a volley of senbon.

• Naruto promised Sasuke the Thunder God Sword because its lightning nature suited him and would help him stay safe while training with Orochimaru.
• Sasuke proposed waiting beside Idate for Aoi Rokushō to attack, and Naruto agreed that Sasuke would fight Aoi while Naruto and Sakura protected Idate.
• The next morning, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura joined Idate at the race and followed him along the course.
• Naruto pulled Idate away from a volley of senbon on the mountain path, and Aoi Rokushō appeared and taunted him.
• Idate charged at Aoi, who launched more senbon from his umbrella, but Naruto used the Body Flicker Technique to rescue him and warned Aoi not to ignore them.

Sasuke stayed behind to fight Aoi Rokushō while Naruto escorted Idate and Sakura across the bridge. Sasuke killed Aoi Rokushō with Sage Mode and took the Thunder God Sword, while Naruto told Idate that the answer to the Chunin Exam’s tenth question was to trust his teammates.

• Sasuke told Naruto to take Idate across the bridge while he dealt with Aoi Rokushō, and Naruto persuaded Sakura to go with them.
• Aoi Rokushō split Sasuke’s Great Fireball Technique with the Thunder God Sword, but Naruto got Idate and Sakura across the bridge while Aoi was distracted.
• Sasuke used Sage Mode to dodge Aoi Rokushō’s sword and pierce his heart with Chidori, then took the Thunder God Sword and set off after Naruto.
• As Naruto escorted Idate and Sakura onward, Idate questioned whether Naruto trusted Sasuke to survive the fight.
• Naruto told Idate that the answer to the Chunin Exam’s tenth question was to trust one’s teammates, leaving Idate shocked.

Naruto and his team said goodbye to Jirocho and Idate before sailing back to the Land of Fire, while Sasuke showed Naruto the Thunder God Sword. Naruto’s inner selves devised a way for Sasuke to claim the sword permanently by finding the Fūjin Sword and using its imprint to weaken the Thunder God’s imprint.

• Jirocho and Idate thanked Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura for helping restore peace, and Naruto urged Idate to visit Ibiki in Konoha.
• Idate apologized to Ibiki and promised to trust his comrades; Ibiki responded coldly but privately approved of Idate’s resolve.
• Naruto examined Sasuke’s Thunder God Sword and promised to handle the village elders so Sasuke could keep it.
• Naruto’s good and evil selves discussed the sword’s dormant state and concluded Sasuke could claim it by making the Thunder God’s and Wind God’s imprints cancel out.
• Good Naruto said Sasuke would need to find the Fūjin Sword, and Dark Naruto agreed that the search was up to him.

Naruto secured approval for Sasuke to use the Thunder God Sword as protection against the danger he planned to face. After Sasuke left to explain his situation to Sakura and Ino, Naruto detected the Sound Four approaching Konoha to retrieve him for Orochimaru.

• Naruto asked Tsunade to let Sasuke use the Thunder God Sword, and she told him to seek approval from the Third Hokage and the Two Advisors.
• The Third Hokage, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu approved Sasuke's right to use the sword, and Tsunade formally granted it to him.
• Naruto left Sasuke and Sakura to talk privately, while Sasuke took Sakura to find Ino so he could explain his situation to them both.
• Naruto went to Konoha Back Mountain, sensed intruders, and concealed himself near the approaching Sound Four.
• Tayuya, Kidomaru, Sakon, and Jirobo discussed retrieving Sasuke for Lord Orochimaru, and Naruto identified them as the Sound Four.

Naruto used a clone to separate the Sound Four, then defeated Tayuya with Tsukuyomi and forced her to become his slave. He left her with a seal in her mind, while she was left helpless and uncertain.

• Naruto sent four transformed shadow clones to draw Kidomaru, Jirobo, and Sakon away from Tayuya.
• Naruto's clone resisted Tayuya's flute genjutsu and trapped her in Tsukuyomi, where he tortured her for three days of perceived time.
• Naruto dispelled the clone, planted a technique in Tayuya's mind, and woke her from her unconscious state.
• Naruto declared Tayuya his slave and warned that betraying him would activate the seal in her mind.
• Naruto disappeared, leaving Tayuya alone and helpless.

Good Naruto and Dark Naruto realized that Naruto’s changing heart was influencing both of them. Sasuke prepared to leave Konoha to train under Orochimaru, then Itachi and Kakashi met him in the Forest of Death so Itachi could explain the Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Good Naruto and Dark Naruto debated whether Naruto’s heart would turn toward light or darkness, then concluded that Naruto’s changing nature was influencing them both.
• Sasuke told Sakura and Ino he would leave Konoha to train under Orochimaru, and he explained that Naruto, Tsunade, and Jiraiya supported the decision.
• Ino encouraged Sakura to support Sasuke, and the three promised to grow stronger and meet again in four years.
• Itachi met Sasuke after he left Ino’s house and praised Sakura and Ino before leading him to the Forest of Death.
• Itachi brought Kakashi to meet Sasuke and began explaining the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Naruto warned Tsunade that Orochimaru's people were near Konoha and asked her to train Sakura and Ino, then learned Hinata was away on a mission and there was still no news of Nawaki. Meanwhile, Itachi taught Sasuke about the Mangekyō Sharingan and revealed to Kakashi that Obito was alive and had wounded him.

• Naruto told Tsunade Orochimaru's people were waiting outside Konoha and learned the village would be vulnerable when the Jonin left on missions.
• Tsunade agreed to take Sakura and Ino as students, but told Naruto that Hinata would be away for at least a week and that Liu Yu Uzumaki had not yet released Nawaki.
• Naruto comforted Tsunade over Nawaki's disappearance before leaving the Hokage's office.
• Itachi explained the Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities, training, and risk of blindness to Sasuke before Sasuke left to pursue his chosen path.
• Itachi asked Kakashi about his Mangekyō Sharingan and then revealed that Obito was alive and had wounded him.

Kakashi learned from Itachi that Obito was alive and behind the Akatsuki, then vowed to bring him back. Meanwhile, Tsunade arranged to send Kakashi and Ibiki on missions while preparing for an event set for the night after tomorrow.

• Kakashi recalled Itachi's revelation that Obito was the Akatsuki mastermind and had caused the Nine-Tails' rampage by exploiting the timing of Naruto's birth.
• Itachi warned Kakashi not to seek out Obito until he had mastered his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Kakashi promised he would not go after him yet.
• At the Memorial Stone, Kakashi vowed to save Obito and bring him back, believing that was what Rin would have wanted.
• Itachi reported to Tsunade that Kakashi seemed troubled, while Tsunade said she was more concerned about Naruto and Sasuke training with Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
• Tsunade sent Itachi to deliver mission scrolls to Kakashi and Ibiki, then learned from Shizune that the appointed time was the night after tomorrow and ordered Naruto brought to her.

Naruto remembered the cruelty he had faced as a child and reflected on how companionship had changed his life, then tried to lift his spirits with noodles. Sasuke shared a peaceful family breakfast with Itachi, Fugaku, and Mikoto, and silently vowed to protect their happiness.

• Naruto remembered that Karin had gone on a mission with Yuki Haku and Kurama Yakumo under Shizuka Uchiha's supervision, and felt lonely in the empty house.
• Naruto recalled a festival when a shopkeeper had called him a monster, struck him with a mask, and driven him into isolation beneath a black cloak.
• Naruto stopped dwelling on the painful memories and ate instant noodles before going to find Anko for his mission.
• Sasuke cooked breakfast for his family and told Mikoto that Itachi would be joining them.
• Fugaku thanked Sasuke for cooking, making Sasuke happy, and Itachi arrived to eat with the family.
• Sasuke enjoyed the peaceful meal and vowed to protect his family's happiness, no matter the cost.

Naruto and Sasuke discussed Kurama Yakumo’s terrifying genjutsu and sparred while waiting for Shizuka’s team to return. At the Land of Fire’s border, Yakumo incapacitated a group of Kirigakure Anbu with a drawing, and Shizuka’s team continued toward Konoha.

• Naruto told Sasuke that Kurama Yakumo could control all five senses and might even control nature, making Sasuke eager to meet her.
• Naruto warned Sasuke that Orochimaru’s men had reached Konoha’s outskirts and might come for him the following night.
• Sasuke and Naruto sparred with powerful techniques, then activated their Sharingan as their serious fight began.
• Kirigakure Anbu attacked Shizuka Uchiha’s group and demanded that Haku reveal Momochi Zabuza’s location.
• Kurama Yakumo drew the Anbu sleeping in her sketchbook, causing the real Anbu to collapse unconscious, and Shizuka led her team toward Konoha.

Naruto and Sasuke finished training and met Kurama Yakumo, whose powerful Genjutsu instantly defeated Sasuke when he challenged her. After learning about Yakumo’s abilities, Naruto reassured Sasuke and watched him leave, keeping a small gift for him.

• Naruto and Sasuke stopped sparring, went to Ichiraku Ramen, and learned that Fugaku and Mikoto had left the village on a mission to the Land of Grass.
• Naruto and Sasuke met Shizuka Uchiha, Haku, Karin, and Kurama Yakumo at the ramen shop, where Sasuke challenged Yakumo to a match.
• Yakumo accepted Sasuke’s challenge and trapped him in Genjutsu before he could land an attack, then told the others the effect would wear off in ten minutes.
• The Nine-Tails told Naruto that Yakumo’s bloodline let her thoughts affect souls and manifest as reality, and warned him not to provoke her.
• Sasuke woke up confused about his defeat, and Naruto explained that Yakumo’s Genjutsu had beaten him; Sasuke left to train, while Naruto looked at a small box intended as a gift for him.

Sasuke left Konoha to train with Orochimaru after saying goodbye to Sakura and Ino, while Naruto secretly arranged help to protect him. After the Sound Four took Sasuke out of the village, Tsunade learned he had defected.

• Sasuke told Sakura and Ino he was leaving to train with Orochimaru, and promised to return within four years.
• Sasuke said goodbye to Itachi and Naruto, who gave him two Flying Thunder God scrolls and arranged for a trusted woman among Orochimaru's people to help him.
• Sasuke met the Sound Four in the Forest of Death, and Tayuya injected him with blood from a box bearing the Uzumaki Clan emblem.
• Sasuke passed out from the pain, and Tayuya placed him in a jar before the Sound Four carried him out of Konoha.
• Tsunade heard that Sasuke Uchiha had defected and angrily demanded confirmation.