Chapter Summaries

Naruto brought Utakata to Kazahana Castle to meet the Land of Snow’s leaders and introduce him as a new member of the Snow Ninja Village. Utakata was impressed by the country’s strength and prosperity, and he met Queen Kazahana Koyuki, Minister Asama Sandayu, and Yakumo Kurama.

• Naruto told Utakata that they would visit Kazahana Castle so he could meet Koyuki and Sandayu.
• Utakata reflected on the Land of Snow’s prosperous cities, capable ninja, and close ties with its Daimyo, realizing he had underestimated it.
• Naruto and his companions traveled from the military harbor to Kazahana Castle after Koyuki and the others learned of his return through communication lines.
• Koyuki, Yakumo, and Sandayu welcomed Naruto warmly when he entered the palace hall with Utakata.
• Naruto introduced Koyuki, Sandayu, and Yakumo to Utakata, then presented Utakata as a trusted new member of the Snow Ninja Village.
• Utakata greeted Koyuki and Sandayu with a formal, if stiff, show of courtesy.

Koyuki welcomed Utakata to the Land of Snow and put him at ease, while Naruto shared stories and photographs from his travels in the Land of Water. The gathering ended with Koyuki’s feelings for Naruto apparent to everyone except Naruto, and Yakumo privately urged her friend to be more proactive.

• Sandayu and Koyuki welcomed Utakata to the Snow Ninja Village, and Koyuki invited him to call her by her name.
• Koyuki teased Naruto for addressing her formally, while Naruto remained oblivious to the warmth between them.
• Koyuki invited everyone to sit and asked Naruto about his experiences in the Land of Water.
• Naruto described the country’s customs and scenery and promised to give Koyuki the photographs he had taken.
• Yakumo noticed Koyuki’s feelings and privately thought that she should be more proactive with Naruto.

Naruto discussed the Land of Water’s response and the Land of Snow’s domestic and military affairs with Koyuki and Sandayu. After asking Sandayu to pursue electrical connections and shipbuilding technology, Naruto left for the Snow Ninja Village with Utakata.

• Yakumo and Sandayu privately agreed that Koyuki and Naruto would make a suitable match, while Neji would likely object because of Hinata’s feelings for Naruto.
• Naruto included Utakata in a relaxed conversation before asking Sandayu about the Land of Water’s response to their demands.
• Sandayu reported that the Land of Water had promised to honor the existing agreement but might not meet every demand, and Koyuki advised Naruto that securing some of their goals would be enough.
• Naruto asked Sandayu to take a firmer line on obtaining electrical connections and shipbuilding technology, then joined Sandayu and Koyuki in discussing Snow Country affairs and military coordination.
• Naruto declined Koyuki’s invitation to stay for a meal and left the palace with Utakata to return to the Snow Ninja Village.

Naruto and his companions reached Snow Ninja Village, where Utakata saw how much the village had grown and began to feel more at home with the group. Naruto learned that Taizan and Sakura had returned three days earlier, leaving their reunion pending.

• Utakata reflected on Kazahana Koyuki's feelings for Naruto and smiled as he considered the Land of Snow a good place to be.
• Naruto noticed Utakata gradually becoming part of the group's atmosphere and welcomed the progress.
• Naruto and his companions reached Snow Ninja Village after an hour and a half of travel, and Utakata was impressed by its scale and bustle.
• Naruto reviewed the village's growth to nearly one hundred thousand residents and more than a thousand Snow Ninjas, including former and wandering ninjas he had brought back into the fold.
• Koyama, the security force's newly promoted captain, told Naruto that Taizan and Sakura had returned to the village three days earlier.

Naruto strengthened his control over Snow Ninja Village by assigning trusted followers to key roles and improving the villagers’ lives. He returned to the village openly, where residents welcomed him and Utakata recognized how deeply they trusted him.

• Naruto gave Shinichi, Sasaki, and Shiratori prestigious but powerless logistics and administrative positions while keeping their subordinates loyal to him.
• Naruto assigned Sawako and Setsuran to run the Ninja Academy and train volunteer children, while he held the principal title.
• Naruto centralized authority in Snow Ninja Village and planned for its continued growth over the next two years.
• Naruto entered Snow Ninja Village openly and greeted residents who welcomed him as their leader.
• Utakata observed the residents’ sincere respect for Naruto and recognized that Naruto had earned their trust by providing them with a peaceful home.

Naruto returned to the Snow Ninja Village with Utakata, introduced the Six-Tails Jinchuriki as a new comrade, and resumed directing village affairs. He left Sakura and Taizan with intelligence and mission assignments as the village continued building its strength.

• Naruto brought Utakata to his office, where Neji, Fushimi, Taizan, Sakura, and the others were waiting.
• Naruto introduced Utakata as an official member of the Snow Ninja Village, and the gathered officials welcomed him.
• Naruto asked Sakura about her assignment, and she reported that the target's body had been recovered without leaving traces.
• Naruto ordered Sakura to send the body to the Information Division for memory extraction.
• Naruto told Taizan to manage the growing number of ninja and pursue missions from Kirigakure while ensuring squads were strong enough.

Naruto planned to expand Snow Ninja Village’s influence overseas by gradually challenging weakened Kirigakure and competing for its missions. After assigning work to Taizan and Fushimi, he reunited with Neji and Utakata, leaving the village’s affairs in the hands of trusted companions.

• Naruto identified Kirigakure as the best target for Snow Ninja Village to test and suppress, citing its losses and weakened forces.
• Naruto instructed Taizan and Fushimi to continue the established plans and coordinate particularly on the Kirigakure front.
• After Taizan and Fushimi left, Naruto thanked Neji for managing the village during his absence and asked how things had gone.
• Neji complained that Naruto had left him with too much work, while Utakata quietly observed Neji as one of Naruto’s trusted companions.
• Naruto joked that Neji was more dependable than Karin, and Neji responded with an amused smile.

Naruto learned that Karin was testing a sensory barrier for Snow Ninja Village and welcomed Utakata as a comrade. Utakata agreed to teach the village’s new Snow Ninja, leaving Naruto with an unexpected offer of help as the village continued to develop.

• Neji told Naruto that Karin was surveying the village’s northwestern barrier and testing a limited sensory barrier based on Orochimaru’s formula.
• Naruto explained Karin’s role to Utakata and spoke of building a lasting peace through cooperation.
• Utakata told Naruto that he trusted him and had chosen to come to Snow Ninja Village.
• Naruto asked Utakata to take on village responsibilities, and Utakata offered to teach the new Snow Ninja as a full-time teacher.

Naruto agreed to Utakata’s request to teach at the Ninja Academy and arranged for Neji to help him settle in. After hearing that Sasuke had made progress on Orochimaru’s research, Naruto considered how to maintain their connection and protect Snow Ninja Village.

• Naruto accepted Utakata’s request to become a Ninja Academy teacher and said Jonin Sawako would coordinate with him after he had time to adjust.
• Naruto asked Neji to find Utakata a place to stay and summon Tianyu from the Anbu.
• Neji told Naruto that Sasuke had made progress on the matter Naruto had assigned him, though Sasuke might need Naruto to provide some things.
• Naruto reasoned that Orochimaru had likely absorbed his information and could continue researching the Sharingan, Rinnegan, Wood Release, and the mind with help from Sasuke and Danzo.
• Naruto decided he needed to preserve a careful connection with Orochimaru, while reflecting that he still feared the possibility of facing Eight Gates Guy.

Naruto prepared to help Orochimaru while protecting himself, then spent the afternoon overseeing Snow Ninja Village’s affairs. Karin returned from the northwestern border, reunited with Naruto, and asked what he had found in the Land of Water.

• Naruto infused a portion of the Nine-Tails Chakra into a scroll and gave it, along with another scroll, to Guyue to take to the Land of Fields.
• Naruto reviewed Snow Ninja Village’s accumulated reports and documents throughout the afternoon.
• Karin arrived at Naruto’s office, and Naruto apologized for traveling to the Land of Water without telling her.
• After accepting Naruto’s apology, Karin asked what he had discovered in the Land of Water.

Karin returned to Naruto’s office and learned that the Three-Tails and Six-Tails had joined Snow Ninja Village, while Naruto explained his plans for Utakata and the village’s future conflict with Kirigakure. He gave Karin a scroll containing Uzumaki sealing techniques and training methods, leaving her astonished by its contents.

• Karin returned to Naruto’s office and was surprised to learn that the Three-Tails and Six-Tails had joined their side.
• Naruto told Karin that Utakata had met Neji and Fushimi and would likely begin working at the Ninja Academy.
• Karin suggested making Utakata Jonin captain, but Naruto chose to let him build relationships and seniority first.
• Naruto explained that Snow Ninja Village needed to prepare before confronting the Land of Water and Kirigakure.
• Karin said her sealing-jutsu training lacked reference materials, so Naruto gave her a scroll of Uzumaki techniques, Kagura training, and Adamantine Sealing Chains instructions.

Naruto gave Karin the Uzumaki Clan’s complete collection of secret techniques and urged her to strengthen her sealing and sensory skills. As the Snow Ninja Village settled into stable development, conflict in the Land of Water erupted and drew the attention of the nations.

• Naruto told Karin that Kushina had taught him the Uzumaki Clan’s techniques and gave her the scroll so the clan’s knowledge could survive.
• Naruto urged Karin to focus on sensory barriers and sealing jutsu, and Karin began studying the scroll with Kushina’s detailed notes.
• Utakata became a full-time teacher at the Snow Ninja Village’s Ninja Academy after meeting Setsuran and Sawako.
• Naruto adjusted village personnel assignments and returned to managing reports and development.
• Conflict involving two countries and two ninja villages in the Land of Water erupted and attracted the attention of the nations.

After Naruto returned to the Land of Snow, reports of the Water Country rebellion and a battle involving a Tailed Beast spread among the ninja villages. Konoha learned that Naruto might have sealed the Three-Tails and fought Mei Terumi, and Jiraiya reacted with shock as Tsunade confirmed the report.

• Naruto returned to the Land of Snow after settling affairs in the Land of Water, and news of the Water Country rebellion spread across the nations.
• The major ninja villages investigated reports of a fierce battle off the Land of Water’s coast and suspected that the Three-Tails and Six-Tails were involved.
• Mei Terumi deliberately leaked ambiguous intelligence to Konoha that the suspected Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Namikaze Naruto, had appeared in the Land of Water.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha after hearing that Naruto might have sealed the Three-Tails, and he hurried to meet Tsunade.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya, Shizune, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu that Naruto had fought the new Fifth Mizukage and emerged unharmed.

Tsunade and Konoha’s leaders debated how to respond to Naruto’s disappearance after he subdued the Three-Tails and fought the Mizukage. Jiraiya insisted Naruto was a village hero rather than a missing-nin and vowed to take responsibility for bringing him back, while the Hokage Advisors demanded that Naruto face punishment.

• Tsunade inferred that Mei Terumi had revealed Naruto’s encounter with Kirigakure to test Konoha and confirm her judgment.
• Utatane Koharu declared that Konoha had to recapture the Nine-Tails and bring Naruto back as a missing-nin.
• Jiraiya argued that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage’s son and a village hero, and said he would bring him back without treating him like Orochimaru.
• Mitokado Homura warned Jiraiya that Naruto must face appropriate punishment if he returned, though the village might forgive him if he repented.
• Jiraiya accepted responsibility for Naruto as Tsunade listened with a furrowed brow.

Jiraiya accepted responsibility for finding Naruto and dealing with Orochimaru, while Tsunade warned him about the risks and Danzo. He prepared to leave with the Hokage's support, and the chapter ended by noting that Danzo believed his actions served Konoha.

• Jiraiya told Tsunade and the Advisors that he would take responsibility for Naruto and accept the consequences if anything went wrong.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu approved Jiraiya's plan and left the office after assigning the remaining investigations to Tsunade.
• Tsunade agreed to let Jiraiya handle Naruto and Orochimaru, and offered the Anbu tracking Orochimaru to assist him.
• Tsunade warned Jiraiya to protect himself and be especially wary of Shimura Danzō and Root.
• Jiraiya promised to bring Naruto back safely and prepared to set out after finding traces of Orochimaru.

Shimura Danzo ordered Root to kill Naruto and the other Konoha defectors while planning to seize the Nine-Tails and pursue the Hokage position. Elsewhere, Ōnoki took advantage of Sunagakure’s losses to escalate border clashes with the Land of Wind.

• Danzo justified his past actions as serving Konoha and ordered Root to kill Naruto, Neji Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, and the other defectors.
• Danzo resolved to accelerate his research into the Sharingan and Wood Release and to stop tolerating Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
• Danzo sent elite Root members, including two sealing specialists, to find Naruto and capture the Nine-Tails before Jiraiya and Tsunade could reach him.
• Ōnoki directed Rock Ninja to provoke repeated clashes along the border with Sunagakure after the Fourth Kazekage fell and the Sand Ninja’s attack on Konoha failed.
• A battle involving more than a hundred Ninja from each side broke out at a Sand Ninja border base as tensions between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind continued to rise.

Maki became Sunagakure’s Fifth Kazekage while struggling to contain Iwagakure’s attacks and negotiate with Konoha. Meanwhile, Kumogakure and Kirigakure focused their attention on Naruto, who hoped Konoha’s loss of its Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would provoke the other nations and intensify the conflict.

• Iwagakure attacked Sunagakure over its mineral resources, leaving the weakened village under pressure as Maki negotiated peace terms with Konoha.
• Sunagakure’s Jonin and elders chose Maki as Fifth Kazekage because the village needed a leader amid the threats from within and without.
• The Fourth Raikage sent Darui and other Kumogakure personnel to find and forcibly recruit the mysterious blond boy who captured the Three-Tails.
• Mei Terumi sent Kirigakure agents to investigate Naruto, Orochimaru, and the missing Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata.
• Naruto continued farming in the Land of Snow and hoped other nations would turn against Konoha after learning that its Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had left.

Naruto focused on strengthening Snow Ninja Village, using the Land of Snow’s growing prosperity to expand its forces and develop Chakra Armor. As he celebrated the village’s progress, a mysterious figure discovered where he was hiding.

• Naruto welcomed rising tensions among the great nations but chose to remain in the Land of Snow and develop Snow Ninja Village.
• Naruto approved funding and production of more than three hundred improved black Chakra Armor suits, ordering safeguards to prevent enemies from stealing them.
• Former Snow Ninja returned as the village’s growing economy and Naruto’s policies eased their fears, bringing its population to more than two thousand.
• A mysterious figure watched Snow Ninja Village from a distant mountain and identified it as Namikaze Naruto’s hiding place.

Uchiha Itachi traveled alone to the Land of Snow to demand an answer from Naruto about whether he would betray Konoha, while Naruto continued researching seals and training for Senjutsu and the Rasenshuriken. Itachi headed toward Snow Ninja Village, unaware that a white figure was following him, as Naruto remained unaware of the impending arrival.

• Itachi recalled discovering Naruto's identity and decided to confront him, prepared to kill him for Konoha if his answer proved unacceptable.
• Itachi set off for Snow Ninja Village, while a white figure emerged from beneath the snow and followed him.
• Naruto studied the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style and Orochimaru's research on Cursed Seals, cells, and extracting Natural Energy.
• Naruto considered using Multi Shadow Clone to train in Senjutsu, Flying Thunder God, and the Rasenshuriken, whose use currently risked injuring him after a few attempts.

Naruto researched Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal as a reference for learning to sense and absorb Natural Energy, while Kurama and Isobu warned him about its dangers. When Uchiha Itachi infiltrated Snow Ninja Village, Naruto sensed an unusual chakra and went to meet the intruder.

• Kurama warned Naruto that the Cursed Seal was a crude, dangerous way to use Natural Energy, and Isobu cautioned that it might harm Naruto’s body and consciousness.
• Naruto explained that he was studying the seal only to find a way to sense Natural Energy himself and gain strength for the coming turmoil.
• Isobu sensed a familiar presence, and Kurama recognized it as a filthy chakra.
• Naruto suspected Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Obito, then left his office in a golden flash to investigate the chakra.
• Uchiha Itachi infiltrated Snow Ninja Village and sensed a faint disturbance before he could look around.