Chapter Summaries

Naruto explained to Kurama that he only planned to remove the outer seal tag so he could meet his father, Namikaze Minato, without releasing the Nine-Tails. When Minato appeared, Naruto was overwhelmed by the realization that he felt both a genuine bond with his biological father and lingering anger toward him.

• Naruto clarified that he intended to remove only the outer seal tag and promised Kurama he would eventually free him.
• Naruto told Kurama that his parents' chakra would appear when the tag was removed, allowing him to speak with his father.
• Naruto pulled at the seal tag, and Namikaze Minato appeared and stopped him.
• Naruto cried as he recognized Minato as his father, while still feeling anger toward him for being irresponsible.

Naruto confronted Minato about his absent childhood and revealed that he planned to leave Konoha and destroy it. Minato tried to defend the village and explain Naruto’s suffering, but Naruto rejected his argument.

• Naruto told Minato that they had met when he was born and said he knew more than Minato did about the past twelve years.
• Naruto dismissed Minato’s suggestion to speak elsewhere and insisted that Kurama had a right to hear their conversation.
• Naruto admitted that he resented Minato for abandoning him, though he acknowledged that Minato had given him life.
• Naruto declared that he intended to leave Konoha and destroy it one day, shocking Minato.
• Minato blamed the villagers’ misunderstanding of Naruto on the Nine-Tails disaster, but Naruto cut him off and asked whether he was expected to become a Konoha hero and die like Minato.

Naruto confronted Namikaze Minato about Konoha’s mistreatment of him and explained that he planned to leave the village and eventually destroy it. He asked Minato to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique to help him survive his defection, leaving Minato to consider whether to honor his request.

• Naruto accused Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha’s leaders of hiding his parentage while allowing the village to treat him as a monster.
• Namikaze Minato realized Naruto’s hatred was genuine and struggled with resentment toward the Third Hokage for failing to protect his son.
• Naruto told Minato he planned to leave Konoha and asked to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique so he could survive as a rogue ninja.
• Minato asked Naruto what he would do if Minato refused to teach him or urged him to stay and become a hero of Konoha.

Naruto told Minato that he intended to destroy the Ninja Villages and unite the countries to end war, then accepted his father's offer to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique. Minato agreed to support Naruto's chosen path while asking him to spare ordinary people, and Naruto left him reassured that he would not abandon his humanity.

• Naruto told Minato that he could not let go of his hatred and wanted to destroy the Ninja Villages and unite the countries.
• Minato realized Naruto's beliefs had shaken his understanding and acknowledged how much he owed his son.
• Minato agreed to teach Naruto the Flying Thunder God Technique and support him, even if Naruto left Konoha.
• Minato asked Naruto not to fall into darkness or harm ordinary civilians, and Naruto said his goal would not change but he remained human.

Naruto said goodbye to Minato, who passed on his Flying Thunder God Technique knowledge before disappearing. Naruto then told Kurama that Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Madara were behind the Nine-Tails' rampage and warned that he might need Kurama's help controlling its chakra.

• Minato warned Naruto that the Nine-Tails' rampage had been orchestrated and urged him to be careful after leaving Konoha.
• Naruto reassured Minato, and Minato apologized before vanishing and leaving Naruto his knowledge of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kurama demanded to know who had controlled it, and Naruto named Uchiha Obito as the one who killed his parents.
• Naruto told Kurama that Uchiha Madara was the true mastermind and planned to resurrect himself with the Rinnegan's Rinne Rebirth.
• Naruto said he might use chakra from Four-Tails to Five-Tails and asked Kurama to restrain the chakra's evil consciousness if necessary.

Naruto secured the Flying Thunder God Technique and prepared for the next stage of the Chunin Selection Exams, while Kurama agreed to support his ambition. The chapter ended as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura gathered with the other teams at the Forest of Death, awaiting the second exam.

• Naruto warned Kurama that his chakra could overwhelm his reason and asked for help if he lost control; Kurama agreed and became intrigued by Naruto's plan to unite the Shinobi World.
• Naruto woke after obtaining the Flying Thunder God Technique and reflected on how mastering it depended on developing a strong sense of space.
• Naruto arrived at Training Ground 44 with Sasuke and Sakura, where the 22 teams that passed the first round gathered for the second exam.
• Sakura remarked on the Forest of Death's eerie scale, and Naruto told her they would soon learn what the test involved.

Naruto spotted Orochimaru disguised as a Grass Ninja and planned to approach him during the Forest of Death exam. After noticing Karin among the Grass Ninja team, Naruto asked Sasuke to use genjutsu on her two companions so he could find out what was happening.

• Orochimaru arrived disguised as a Grass Ninja, and Naruto recognized him by the faint smell of blood.
• Mitaraishi Anko explained the second exam rules and sent the teams to collect their assigned scrolls.
• Naruto saw Karin Uzumaki among the Grass Ninja and wondered why she was taking part in the exam.
• Naruto asked Sasuke to use genjutsu on the two Grass Ninja accompanying Karin, and Sasuke quietly affected them.

Naruto used Sasuke’s genjutsu to learn about nearby teams and decided to help Karin, whom two abusive Grass Ninja were treating as an outsider. After discovering that Karin’s team had the Earth Scroll while Team 7 had the Heaven Scroll, Naruto chose them as his target.

• Karin sensed Sasuke’s Sharingan and genjutsu, then exchanged a brief, warm glance with Naruto but stayed silent when a Grass Ninja ordered her into the tent.
• Naruto decided to intervene for Karin because the Grass Ninja mistreated her and he saw no risk in acting.
• Naruto told Sakura and Sasuke that Sasuke had used genjutsu to identify weaker teams and find the scrolls Team 7 needed.
• Naruto had Sasuke use suggestive genjutsu on several other teams as backup targets.
• Sasuke learned that Karin’s team had the Earth Scroll, and Naruto chose them after Team 7 received the Heaven Scroll.

Team 7 entered the Forest of Death and Sakura sensed the Grass Ninja team nearby. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura confronted the team, whose members planned to attack them and target Sakura.

• Naruto asked Sakura to locate the Grass Ninja, and she sensed them about ten kilometers away.
• Team 7 raced toward the Grass Ninja team, which had entered through Entrance Seven.
• Karin warned her two teammates that Konoha Ninja were approaching from the southwest.
• The Grass Ninja decided to attack Team 7 and flee if necessary, leaving Karin behind as bait.
• The burly Grass Ninja drew his cleaver and challenged Naruto and Sasuke, while Mizuyori suggested keeping Sakura; Sakura flew into a rage.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura defeated the two Grass Ninja, then Naruto approached Karin and tried to reassure her. He introduced himself as Naruto Uzumaki and explained that his mother was from the Uzumaki Clan, leaving Karin and his teammates surprised by his heritage.

• Sakura charged the burly Grass Ninja and knocked him out with a punch and a kick.
• Sasuke struck the tall, thin Grass Ninja at the neck and dropped him, while Sakura and Sasuke searched the defeated men’s packs for scrolls.
• Naruto approached the frightened Karin but stopped at a distance and told her he wanted to ask questions and might be able to help her.
• Karin calmed down enough to ask Naruto what he wanted to know, and he introduced himself as Naruto Uzumaki.
• Naruto explained that his mother belonged to the Uzumaki Clan and that he had inherited his hair color from his father, surprising Karin, Sasuke, and Sakura.

Naruto learned that Karin Uzumaki had been enslaved and abused by Kusagakure, and he tried to earn her trust by promising to protect her. Karin revealed that her mother had died two years earlier, leaving her alone.

• Sasuke and Sakura retrieved the Earth Scroll from the two Grass Ninja and killed them as Naruto had instructed.
• Naruto gently reassured Karin and promised to protect her, hoping to gain her trust and bring her into his circle of allies.
• Karin introduced herself as Karin Uzumaki and explained that Kusagakure had enslaved her and her mother, with no other Uzumaki in the village.
• Karin said her mother had died two years earlier, and Naruto realized Kusagakure had likely drained her life force; he then asked Karin if she was alone.

Naruto persuaded Karin to accept his protection and introduced her to Sasuke and Sakura. Before the group could decide what to do next, Orochimaru appeared, leaving Naruto and his teammates on guard.

• Naruto honestly offered Karin a safer place to stay without promising complete protection, and she agreed to go with him.
• Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura that Karin was an Uzumaki whom the Grass Ninja had forced to work for them.
• Sakura agreed to protect Karin and suggested telling Kakashi about her, while Sasuke also accepted Naruto's decision.
• Naruto sensed a threatening presence before Karin did, and he and his teammates drew kunai as Orochimaru emerged from the shadows.

Naruto recognized Orochimaru disguised as a Grass Ninja, and he and Sasuke faced the terrifying threat while Sakura retreated with Karin. Orochimaru unleashed his killing intent and began a summoning technique as Naruto warned Sasuke to fall back.

• Karin sensed that the Grass Ninja before them had been replaced and realized his power far surpassed anyone she had encountered.
• Sasuke confronted Orochimaru, but Naruto warned him that their opponent was no ordinary ninja and ordered Sakura to retreat with Karin.
• Sakura led the shaken Karin away while Naruto and Sasuke prepared to fight Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru released an overwhelming aura and began the Summoning Technique, prompting Naruto to tell Sasuke to fall back.

Naruto and Sasuke attacked Orochimaru with summoned snakes, ninjutsu, and shuriken while he tested their abilities. After Orochimaru raised an Earth Wall and charged toward Sasuke, Naruto shattered the wall with a Nine-Tails-infused Big Ball Rasengan, leaving Sasuke to face Orochimaru’s attack.

• Orochimaru summoned giant snakes and sent them lunging at Naruto and Sasuke.
• Naruto and Sasuke combined Fire and Wind Release to destroy two snakes, then Naruto struck another and attacked Orochimaru with Wind Release and Shadow Clones.
• Orochimaru evaded Naruto’s attacks and destroyed the clones with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
• Naruto formed a Big Ball Rasengan as Sasuke used Lightning Release and his Sharingan to throw shuriken at Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru dodged the shuriken and raised an Earth Wall between himself and Naruto.
• Naruto broke through the wall with a Nine-Tails-infused Big Ball Rasengan and saw Orochimaru charging toward Sasuke.

Orochimaru overwhelmed Sasuke and marked him with a cursed seal, then attacked Sakura as Naruto tried to stop him. Naruto's warning about exposing Orochimaru's plans made him change course, but Sakura was still badly injured and knocked unconscious.

• Sasuke trapped Orochimaru with wires, shuriken, and Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique, but Orochimaru escaped by turning into mud and appeared behind him.
• Orochimaru seized Sasuke, mentioned Itachi-kun, and bit Sasuke's neck, leaving three black Tomoe as Sasuke passed out from the pain.
• Naruto fought off Orochimaru's snakes and retreated from his Earth Dragon Spear Technique as he tried to reach Sasuke.
• Sakura rushed toward Sasuke despite Naruto's warning, and Orochimaru sent giant snakes after her.
• Naruto threatened to expose Orochimaru's plans, causing Orochimaru to pause and throw Sakura to the ground; she spat blood and lost consciousness.

Naruto confronted Orochimaru after revealing that he knew about Orochimaru’s plan and his own origins as Namikaze Naruto. He unleashed the Nine-Tails’ Chakra and attacked Orochimaru, leaving him struck hard and thrown across the ground.

• Orochimaru tossed Sasuke aside and focused his killing intent on Naruto, who checked Sakura and moved her beside Sasuke.
• Naruto asked Karin to watch over Sakura and Sasuke, then returned to face Orochimaru.
• Naruto identified himself as Namikaze Naruto and released the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, forming a crimson cloak with three tails.
• Orochimaru recognized Naruto as the Nine-Tails’ child and pressed him to explain what he knew.
• Naruto refused to answer until they settled things through strength and charged Orochimaru.
• Naruto cut through Orochimaru’s Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, interrupted his hand seals with his chakra tails, and kicked him across the ground.

Naruto fought Orochimaru and increased his Nine-Tails Chakra cloak from three tails to four, forcing Orochimaru to take the battle seriously. As their clash intensified, Neji Hyuga's team and Gaara's team hurried toward the fight.

• Naruto struck Orochimaru with a Big Ball Rasengan, but the Orochimaru he hit was an Earth clone, and Orochimaru attacked him from the side.
• Orochimaru launched an Earth Dragon Bullet at Naruto, who stopped and shattered it with Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Naruto formed a fourth tail while remaining lucid, and Orochimaru recognized the increased threat.
• Naruto and Orochimaru resumed their battle, exchanging powerful attacks as Karin watched in shock.
• Neji Hyuga's team and Gaara's team sensed the battle and rushed toward it.

Naruto fought Orochimaru to prove he could negotiate with him as an equal, pushing his Nine-Tails Chakra to the brink. Orochimaru accepted that Naruto had demonstrated his strength, and the two prepared to talk.

• Neji and Gaara approached the battle, while the Konoha Chunin guarding the entrance stayed out of it.
• Naruto used the four-tailed Chakra Cloak to fight Orochimaru, struggling to keep his reason as the Nine-Tails' influence intensified.
• Naruto began drawing on the fifth tail to keep Orochimaru from gaining the upper hand in their future negotiations.
• Orochimaru recognized Naruto's strength and suggested they stop fighting and discuss the deal Naruto wanted.
• Naruto dropped his combat stance and let the Nine-Tails Chakra fade, relieved to have ended the fight before losing control.

Naruto and Orochimaru left the battle site to discuss a possible deal in a secluded part of the Forest of Death. Naruto began by claiming he had deduced Orochimaru’s identity and plan against Konoha, leaving Orochimaru to consider how he had learned the information.

• Naruto agreed to talk with Orochimaru and asked to avoid interference from approaching Ninja.
• Naruto made two Shadow Clones to carry Sakura and Sasuke, then left with Karin and Orochimaru for a remote area.
• Gaara arrived with Kankuro and Temari, found the battlefield empty, and left; Neji Hyuga later did the same with Lee and Tenten.
• After Karin sensed that almost no other Ninja were nearby, Naruto stopped and began a private conversation with Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru demanded that Naruto prove his sincerity, and Naruto claimed he had identified him and learned of his plan with Sunagakure to attack Konoha.

Naruto proposed a deal to Orochimaru, offering to bring Sasuke to him and reveal the connection between the Sharingan and the Rinnegan. Orochimaru reacted with suspicion, but Naruto's claims about his pursuit of the Uchiha and interest in the Rinnegan caught his attention.

• Naruto offered Orochimaru Sasuke and information about the connection between the Sharingan and the Rinnegan as terms of a deal.
• Orochimaru reacted coldly and questioned Naruto's right to offer Sasuke, while Karin listened in confusion.
• Naruto explained that Orochimaru had targeted Sasuke for his Sharingan after failing to obtain Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Naruto said he planned to leave Konoha during the coming attack and was confident he could persuade Sasuke to go with him.
• Naruto presented knowledge about the Sharingan and the Rinnegan as his second condition, appealing to Orochimaru's interest in jutsu and immortality.