Chapter Summaries

Naruto consolidated his control over Snow Ninja Village by assigning punishments, centralizing village affairs, and building a new Anbu under Neji. After a month, the village largely obeyed him, and he planned to expand its ninja forces over the coming years.

• Naruto ordered Fushimi to impose different punishments on the Snow Ninja who had joined Nakamura Tatsuya’s rebellion, sparing those who had followed under family pressure and sentencing others to labor.
• Fushimi carried out Naruto’s orders, while Naruto centralized control over supplies, missions, and ninja deployment without immediately changing most ranks.
• Taizan, Setsuran, and Sawako showed support for Naruto and helped Neji recruit Anbu members, disbanding their own groups in the process.
• Within a month, Naruto had largely taken control of Snow Ninja Village, and Neji became captain of its new Anbu of thirty-two members in eight squads.
• Naruto set goals to grow Snow Ninja Village’s forces to about one thousand within a year and more than three thousand within three years.

After three months of consolidating power, Naruto secured the loyalty of Snow Ninja Village’s remaining factions and brought the village under his control. With the Land of Snow stable and Naruto established as its leader, he and Neji prepared to move on to the next step of their plans.

• The Land of Snow prospered as supplies, freed laborers, and missions from Kazahana Castle strengthened the country and Snow Ninja Village.
• Shinichi, Sasaki, and Shiratori saw their followers drift toward Naruto and reluctantly pledged their loyalty to him.
• Naruto assigned the three Jonin positions with real authority, winning their cooperation and keeping them under his control.
• Neji emerged after the three men left and discussed how quickly Naruto had taken control of Snow Ninja Village.
• Naruto and Neji noted that the final storm had passed and that Naruto was now the village’s undisputed leader, officially appointed by the Daimyo of the Land of Snow.

Naruto managed foreign spies and protected Snow Ninja Village while keeping his identity secret. After Neji returned to the Anbu base, a messenger told Naruto that the Daimyo had summoned him to Kazahana Castle.

• Naruto ordered spies and suspicious outsiders to be expelled or isolated rather than provoke the Land of Lightning or the Land of Water.
• Neji reported that some remaining infiltrators who had learned sensitive information about Naruto's arrival had been killed.
• Naruto warned Neji to train the Anbu carefully and keep them from trying to learn too many jutsu at once.
• Neji left Naruto's office and returned to the Anbu base to handle village affairs and training.
• A messenger informed Naruto that the Daimyo had ordered him to go to the Royal Palace immediately.

Naruto received a new order from the Daimyo and traveled to Kazahana Castle with his eight-person guard. He kept his identity and movements concealed as he headed to meet Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayu.

• Sakura told Naruto that the Daimyo had summoned him and that there was no unusual news from Lady Yakumo.
• Naruto ordered his departure and told Hoshichi to inform Neji, Fushimi, Taizan, and the others of his plans.
• Naruto led his eight guards toward Kazahana Castle at a fast pace, testing their training along the way.
• Naruto concealed his movements in Kazahana Castle to avoid spies and the risk of his identity being exposed.
• Snow Ninja guards reported Naruto's arrival to Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayu, who were waiting in the Daimyo Palace.

Naruto learned that the Third Prince of the Land of Water had come to the Land of Snow seeking protection and an escort back to the capital, leaving Naruto, Kazahana Koyuki, and Sandayu to decide whether to accept the politically risky request.

• Naruto's security measures kept unrest in Kazahana Castle under control, while Yakumo's Domain Lock helped detect intruders.
• Sandayu summoned Naruto to the main hall, where Kazahana Koyuki and Yakumo were waiting.
• Sandayu told Naruto that the Third Prince of the Land of Water had arrived two days earlier and asked the Land of Snow to protect him and escort him home.
• Kazahana Koyuki explained that the prince had shown proof of his identity, claimed political enemies were pursuing him, and promised payment and future support from the Land of Water.
• Naruto questioned the prince's motives and recognized that helping him could win the Land of Water's friendship, while refusing could bring trouble to the Land of Snow.
• Sandayu said he and Kazahana Koyuki had summoned Naruto to decide how the Land of Snow should respond.

Naruto and Kazahana Koyuki tentatively accepted the Third Prince of the Land of Water’s request for protection while Naruto investigated his motives. That night, Naruto infiltrated the prince’s residence and began dealing with his guards.

• Naruto decided to accept the Third Prince’s request and told Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayu to arrange a meeting three days later.
• Yakumo reported that the Third Prince had watched Koyuki closely and that he and his two guards seemed unusual.
• Naruto suspected the Third Prince had ulterior motives and decided to investigate them himself.
• That night, Naruto entered the Third Prince’s residence and sensed six ninja guards with chakra around the level of ordinary Chunin.
• Naruto used genjutsu to take control of one of the guards.

Naruto investigated Prince Asada Kei’s plans and learned that the Land of Snow had agreed to discuss an escort arrangement tied to the unrest in the Land of Water. He listened outside Kei’s room as the prince met with his trusted subordinates, including the powerful ninja Kyu.

• Naruto connected Prince Asada Kei’s plans to lingering turmoil in Kirigakure, though he did not know the full history behind it.
• Naruto approached Kei’s bedroom and overheard an elderly adviser ask whether the Land of Snow had accepted the prince’s request.
• Asada Kei said the Minister of the Interior had agreed to discuss the escort’s details in three days, after the Snow Ninja Village leader arrived.
• Naruto recognized Kyu as a formidable Jonin-level subordinate with a scar over his left eye and suspected the prince had an unusual reason for employing him.
• Kyu and the others failed to detect Naruto as he listened outside the room.

Naruto overheard Asada Kei and his companions discussing their plans to bring the Land of Snow and Snow Ninja Village under his control. Asada Kei set aside those ambitions for the moment and focused on dealing with his older brother as he pursued the Daimyo’s position.

• Asada Kei told Kyu that the Land of Snow would need the Land of Water’s friendship and would eventually accept his plans.
• Naruto realized Asada Kei had deliberately come to the Land of Snow and was plotting to control it and Snow Ninja Village.
• Kuroda Ichiro suggested Asada Kei marry the Queen of the Land of Snow to gain control of the country.
• Asada Kei praised the Queen’s beauty and said he wanted her as his wife.
• Asada Kei complained that Kirigakure would not interfere in the Land of Water’s affairs and vowed to punish its leaders after becoming Daimyo.
• Asada Kei told Kuroda to focus first on dealing with his older brother.

Naruto uncovered the Third Prince’s plan to use the Land of Snow’s strength to defeat his rivals and eventually seize the country. After reporting his findings to Koyuki and Yakumo, he left them weighing how to respond to the threat.

• Naruto overheard the Third Prince plotting to bring Snow Ninja Village under his control and swallow up the Land of Snow if persuasion failed.
• Naruto returned to the palace and went to Koyuki’s bedroom, where Koyuki and Yakumo had waited for news.
• Naruto told Koyuki and Yakumo what he had learned, including the Third Prince’s ambitions for the Land of Snow.
• Koyuki grew furious at the threat to her inheritance, and Yakumo asked whether they should deal with the Third Prince immediately.

Naruto prepared to escort the Third Prince of the Land of Water, intending to use the prince's plans to benefit the Land of Snow while keeping him safe. Three days later, Asada Kei arrived at Kazahana Castle for the meeting.

• Naruto rejected Yakumo's suggestion to kill the Third Prince and decided to exploit his dependence on the Snow Ninja Village while keeping him alive.
• Naruto confirmed the mission with Sandayu, gathered sixteen Snow Ninja, and equipped them with Chakra Armor for the journey to the Land of Water.
• Naruto ordered the Chakra Armor developers to improve their equipment and made further preparations with Sandayu over the next three days.
• Naruto gave Neji, Fushimi, and Taizan instructions, then set a self-defense training plan for Karin Uzumaki before leaving.
• Asada Kei arrived at Kazahana Castle's central audience hall with his loyal subordinates at the appointed time.

Naruto, disguised as Narumiya Narimiya, met with Asada Kei, the Third Prince of the Land of Water, to discuss a mission. Asada offered generous payment and future trade ties, and Naruto agreed to personally lead four squads to protect him.

• Asada Kei entered the hall with Kuroda, Kyu, and an unusual-looking boy, while Naruto recognized that Kyu had noticed his disguised presence.
• Kazahana Koyuki approved Asada's proposal, introduced Naruto as Snow Ninja Village leader Narumiya Narimiya, and left with Yakumo Kurama.
• Asada explained that the mission was to escort him to the Land of Water's capital and guard him there for two weeks.
• Asada offered a large fee and promised to recommend expanded trade between the Land of Snow and the Land of Water.
• Naruto accepted the terms and promised to lead four squads to protect Asada.

Naruto arranged to escort Asada Kei back to the Land of Water, intending to use the trip to advance his own plans. The party boarded a state-of-the-art ship and began their voyage, while Naruto concealed his contempt for the prince’s attempts to recruit him.

• Asada Kei agreed to leave the next day with sixteen Snow Ninja guards, and Naruto promised to escort him while leaving Sandayu in charge at home.
• Naruto reflected on his plans to grow stronger and on his confidence in countering Obito’s Kamui.
• The next morning, Asada Kei and his party met Naruto and the Snow Ninja at the harbor outside Lin City.
• Kyu praised the Land of Water’s ship and hinted that Asada Kei might share its technology with the Land of Snow, while Naruto pretended to be interested.
• Naruto and the sixteen Snow Ninja boarded the ship with Asada Kei’s party and set off for the Land of Water.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki investigated Naruto’s disappearance and the locations of the Tailed Beasts before heading to the Land of Water. They departed on a ship around the same time as Naruto, unaware that their paths were about to cross.

• After learning that Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, and another girl had left Konoha, Uchiha Itachi reported the news to Nagato.
• Nagato sent Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki to the Land of Fields to verify Naruto’s connection to Orochimaru, but they found that Orochimaru had moved Otogakure and that Naruto had left with his companions.
• Uchiha Itachi concluded that Naruto had likely gone to the Land of Lightning or the Land of Water, and Nagato ordered the pair to investigate the Land of Water and the Three-Tails and Six-Tails.
• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki met an Akatsuki peripheral member at a coastal town, boarded a small cargo ship, and set sail for the Land of Water.

Naruto traveled with Asada Kei’s fleet toward the Land of Water while the Third Prince tried to recruit him. After Naruto defeated a group of attackers alone, Asada Kei became even more eager to bring Naruto and Snow Ninja Village under his control, though Naruto understood that a Daimyo could not truly command a ninja village without overwhelming strength.

• Naruto humored Asada Kei’s repeated attempts to recruit him while refusing to accept or reject the offer.
• Two days earlier, more than ten Ninja attacked the fleet during a resupply stop, and Naruto fought them alone.
• Naruto killed the attackers, including their leader, whom he cut in half with Wind Release Ninjutsu.
• Kyu told Asada Kei that Naruto’s strength likely matched the strongest Jonin in the Five Great Villages, fueling the prince’s ambition to rule Snow Ninja Village and the Land of Snow.
• Naruto considered how Daimyo authority depended on a village’s strength and recognized that Asada Kei could not truly rule the Land of Water without uniting forces powerful enough to intimidate Kirigakure.

Naruto’s strength earned him respect and wariness from Asada Kei’s entourage as their eight-day voyage brought them to Lushan Island in the Land of Water. After ordering his guards to keep searching for a target and watch their rivals, Naruto prepared for the journey to the capital.

• Kyu told Asada Kei that Naruto was far stronger than him, and Kei became more wary of Naruto while remaining enthusiastic.
• Naruto maintained that he would protect Asada Kei but would not take the initiative in the country’s internal conflict.
• Naruto and his group arrived at Lushan Island after eight days at sea.
• Hoshichi reported that the guards had not found their target, and Naruto instructed him to have Sakura monitor the movements of certain people.
• Kyu praised the decision to hire Naruto as Naruto prepared his subordinates for the journey ahead.

Naruto and Asada Kei arrived at Tokushima City, where the Third Prince planned to stay before continuing to the capital. Naruto used the journey as cover for his own plans while the officials welcomed Asada Kei and took the group into the city.

• Naruto reflected that Asada Kei had grown wary of him after witnessing his strength, while Naruto intended to use the prince’s identity to enter the Land of Water.
• Naruto and Kyu approached Tokushima City and discussed their imminent return to the capital.
• Asada Kei proposed resting in Tokushima for a few days, and Naruto agreed without challenging his reason for delaying the journey.
• Governor Matsuoka and Tokushima’s officials and merchants welcomed Asada Kei, while they wondered about Naruto and the Snow Ninja accompanying him.
• Matsuoka led Asada Kei and the group toward the city, whose docks were separated from its inner districts for wartime security.

Naruto escorted Asada Kei to Tokushima City, where he learned about the city’s history and Matsuoka Shin’s successful governance. Asada Kei arranged to handle personal matters without close protection, and Naruto pretended to accept while quietly preparing to act on his own.

• Asada Kei told Naruto how the Land of Water had expanded its territory and how Tokushima City had once served as a forward fortress.
• Naruto observed Tokushima City’s prosperity and learned that Matsuoka Shin’s planning had helped its economy approach that of the leading port, Seki City.
• At the City Governor’s Mansion, Asada Kei asked Naruto to relax his close protection for two days while he handled personal matters.
• Naruto acted reluctant but agreed to the arrangement, saying he would still have people watch the city’s defenses.
• Asada Kei told Matsuoka Shin to provide Naruto and the Snow Ninjas with excellent accommodations, then left for another part of the mansion.
• Naruto instructed the Snow Ninjas to watch the area around the mansion and went to his assigned quarters with a servant.

Naruto sent Sakura’s team to investigate the Three-Tails and Six-Tails while keeping their presence hidden from Kirigakure, hoping to bring both to the Snow Ninja Village. Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki learned that Utakata had defected and the Three-Tails was free, but its location remained uncertain.

• Naruto used his sensory abilities to confirm no one was watching before asking Sakura for updates on the Tailed Beasts.
• Sakura reported that the Snow Ninja had no confirmed locations for the Three-Tails or Six-Tails, though the Six-Tails had reportedly been sighted after a battle near the southeastern coast.
• Naruto ordered the investigation to continue cautiously and warned Sakura not to let Kirigakure discover them.
• Naruto resolved to find the Tailed Beasts and strengthen the Snow Ninja Village, despite Kurama refusing to help.
• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki killed a Kirigakure squad at a hideout and learned that Utakata had defected and the Three-Tails had regained its freedom.
• Uchiha Itachi concluded that the Six-Tails was probably still in the Land of Water, while the Three-Tails might be elsewhere and would require help to track down.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki confirmed that the Three-Tails and Six-Tails were wild and headed to the Land of Water’s capital to eliminate an Akatsuki traitor. In Tokushima City, Naruto learned that Utakata might be trying to leave by the southern coast and considered pursuing him.

• Uchiha Itachi told Kisame Hoshigaki that they would report their findings to Nagato before acting on the Tailed Beasts.
• Uchiha Itachi said their next mission was to travel to the Land of Water’s capital and eliminate a traitor who had leaked Akatsuki information.
• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki set out for the capital, while Naruto remained unaware that a major clash might be approaching.
• Asada Kei finished assessing the situation in the country and prepared to return to the capital.
• Naruto received reports of fighting along the southern coast and suspected that Utakata was seeking a way out of the Land of Water.

Naruto sent Hoshichi on a dangerous mission to find the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, while ordering Sakura to support him and arrange an extraction team. Naruto then traveled with Asada Kei to the Land of Water’s capital, where the Daimyo prepared to meet him.

• Naruto warned Hoshichi that his mission to contact Utakata carried a high risk of death, and Hoshichi accepted.
• Naruto ordered Sakura to have spies search for Utakata and to send Taizan’s Anbu squad to support Hoshichi.
• Naruto left Tokushima City with Asada Kei after the Third Prince decided to return to the capital.
• The party reached the Land of Water’s capital in less than three days and entered the inner city without trouble.
• Asada Kei told Naruto that his father, the Daimyo, wanted to meet him immediately, and Naruto agreed to the audience.