Chapter Summaries

Naruto declared himself the First Snow Shadow and vowed to devote his life to the Snow Ninja Village, whose residents and shinobi answered with overwhelming cheers. As the village celebrated, members of the Konoha delegation reacted emotionally to Naruto’s rise, while representatives from other villages recognized the strength of the Snow Village’s united support.

• Darui considered challenging Naruto but judged him far too dangerous and decided against risking his life.
• Hinata and Sakura stared at Naruto, while Hinata cried and Ino comforted her.
• Iruka watched Naruto accept the crowd’s cheers and felt reassured and proud of him.
• Naruto declared himself the First Snow Shadow and vowed to give everything for the Snow Ninja Village.
• More than a hundred thousand residents and over a thousand Snow Ninja cheered, startling the visiting village representatives with the strength of their unity.

As the succession ceremony ended, the delegations recognized Snow Ninja Village’s growing strength while Yamanaka Fu slipped away to investigate it. Utakata pursued him as the representatives gathered for a major meeting with Naruto, leaving Fu’s mission unresolved.

• Karin told Utakata that Yamanaka Fu had moved and asked him to capture Fu alive if possible; Utakata left to pursue him.
• Might Guy and Kakashi noticed that Yamanaka Fu had disappeared, and Kakashi inferred that Sai had helped cover his departure.
• Shikaku told Kakashi they could not intervene and warned that Fu’s attempt risked antagonizing Snow Ninja Village without a good chance of success.
• Kazahana Koyuki ended the succession ceremony, and Snow Ninja escorted the delegations of the Five Great Nations to a conference room to meet with Naruto.

Naruto welcomed the Five Great Shinobi Villages’ representatives and framed their meeting as a chance to resolve misunderstandings and preserve peace. Ao recognized that the Mist Village needed time to recover, leaving any hope of revenge or reclaiming its tailed beasts aside.

• Naruto waited in the conference room with Xinghuo, Neji, and Fushimi as the village representatives arrived and felt his intimidating presence.
• Ao, Darui, Kitsuchi, Kakashi, and the other representatives respectfully greeted Naruto as the Snow Shadow.
• Naruto asked the representatives to take their seats and said he wanted to discuss matters and report back to the Five Kage in the name of peace.
• The representatives privately doubted Naruto’s peaceful claims, recalling the Snow Ninja Village’s conquests and expansion.
• Naruto turned to Ao and said misunderstandings could be resolved through discussion, and Ao agreed that they had come for peace.
• Ao accepted that the Mist Village was weaker and needed time to recover rather than seeking revenge or reclaiming the Three-Tails and Six-Tails.

Naruto addressed the village envoys about a new order in the Shinobi World and presented them with scrolls describing a threat involving missing-nin and Tailed Beasts. The envoys reacted with skepticism and confusion, leaving Naruto’s warning unaccepted.

• Ao explained that Kirigakure needed its captured Mist Ninja returned and agreed to Naruto’s proposal.
• Samui said Kumogakure had come to congratulate Naruto and discuss a new order for the Shinobi World.
• Naruto had Xinghuo distribute scrolls to the representatives from the major villages.
• Kakashi, Shikaku, Ao, Darui, Kitsuchi, and Fuyi read the scrolls and showed varied reactions.
• Fuyi challenged Naruto’s claim that a group of missing-nin was collecting and capturing Tailed Beasts.

Naruto warned representatives from the Five Great Shinobi Villages that Akatsuki was a powerful threat seeking the Tailed Beasts, and urged them to report his intelligence to their Kage. The representatives left the meeting wary and doubtful, with Naruto awaiting the Five Kage’s response.

• Fuyi questioned the authenticity of Naruto’s scroll, and Neji rebuked his tone before Naruto reassured him that the intelligence was genuine.
• Darui, Fuyi, Kitsuchi, and Ao doubted that Akatsuki’s members could all possess Kage Level strength, while Kakashi and Shikaku were more receptive to Naruto’s warning.
• Naruto pointed to his own rise and the known strength of Akatsuki members such as Uchiha Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Deidara, and Sasori of the Red Sands as evidence of the threat.
• Naruto urged the representatives to verify the intelligence with their villages and report it to their Kage, then ended the meeting and awaited a response from the Five Kage.
• Neji dismissed the representatives, inviting them either to stay longer or notify the hosts before returning home.

Naruto and Neji discussed how to prepare for the coming war, including Neji's Senjutsu training and their plans to visit the moon. They set out to deal with an intruder, while Yamanaka Fu faced Utakata after trying to infiltrate Snow Ninja Village's restricted area.

• Naruto assigned Fuyi to handle the departing village delegations and arrangements for Lady Koyuki and Sandayu.
• Naruto told Neji to prioritize mastering Senjutsu so he could become strong enough to fight in the coming war.
• Naruto planned to take Neji to the moon to investigate the Giant Tenseigan once he was confident he could defeat Otsutsuki Toneri.
• Naruto and Neji left to find the intruder and intended to explain several matters to Kakashi and the others afterward.
• Yamanaka Fu tried to infiltrate Snow Ninja Village's restricted areas under Danzo's orders, but Utakata intercepted him and left him battered.

Utakata cornered Yamanaka Fu, but Fu used a secret technique and an explosion to escape. Naruto and Neji intercepted him, leaving Fu trapped as Naruto confronted him about Danzo’s orders.

• Yamanaka Fu decided to destroy his body rather than let Snow Ninja capture him or extract information.
• Fu used a secret technique to disorient the arriving Snow Ninja, then triggered an explosion and fled underground.
• Utakata pursued Fu, but Naruto appeared in his path with Neji close behind.
• Utakata stopped unleashing his Tailed Beast Chakra, confident Naruto would prevent Fu’s escape.
• Naruto mocked Fu and questioned whether Danzo had sent him to test Snow Ninja Village.

Naruto captured Yamanaka Fu, the Root spy sent by Danzo, and ordered Utakata to take him to Karin to investigate the sealing formula in his brain. Naruto and Neji then headed to confront the final unresolved matter involving Konohagakure.

• Yamanaka Fu prepared to destroy his brain rather than let Naruto capture him, but Naruto stopped him and knocked him unconscious with genjutsu.
• Neji and Utakata joined Naruto, who identified Fu as a Root intelligence specialist sent by Danzo to spy on Snow Ninja Village.
• Naruto asked Utakata to take Fu to Karin so she could study the sealing formula and recover any information.
• Naruto told Neji it was time to settle their remaining matter, and the two left for the area where the Konoha delegation was staying.
• Utakata carried Fu away in another direction.

Shikaku confronted Sai over Yamanaka Fu’s mission and demanded to know what orders Danzo had given him. As Sai refused to cooperate, an unknown speaker in the courtyard offered to reveal Danzo’s plans.

• Shikaku, Kakashi, and Might Guy questioned Sai at the Konoha delegation’s residence about Yamanaka Fu’s mission and Danzo’s orders.
• Sai denied receiving special orders and insisted they were following standard procedure.
• Shikaku grew angry, recognizing that Danzo’s actions could provoke a war and leave Konoha vulnerable to multiple enemies.
• An unseen speaker from the courtyard offered to explain Danzo’s real plans, startling Kakashi and Might Guy into alertness.

Naruto confronted Sai and Konoha’s senior shinobi over Danzo’s covert actions in Snow Ninja Village, then reunited with his former Konoha companions after two years apart. He met their gazes with feelings he did not suppress, but steadied himself and chose to remain composed, leaving Hinata heartbroken.

• Naruto’s overwhelming pressure frightened Sai until Might Guy stepped in to shield him.
• Naruto challenged Shikaku, Kakashi, and Guy about Danzo’s actions and warned them to tell the Fifth Hokage to stop him.
• Naruto revealed that the Konoha shinobi had been seeking information from Sai about a captured infiltrator, leaving Shikaku and the others tense.
• The other Konoha shinobi arrived, and Naruto reunited with Hinata, Sakura, and his former companions after two years apart.
• Naruto’s emotions surfaced as he looked at his friends and Iruka, but he steadied himself, and Hinata was left aching at his restraint.

Naruto used a genjutsu to put Sai to sleep so he would not hear the conversation, then Shikamaru asked whether Naruto could return to Konoha in some form. Naruto rejected the idea as naive, and Kiba and Lee demanded to know whether he and Neji planned to take revenge on Konoha.

• Naruto used a genjutsu to overwrite Sai's thoughts and make him fall unconscious.
• Naruto told Might Guy and Kakashi that Sai was only being put to sleep because there were things he should not know.
• Shikamaru asked Naruto to come back to Konoha in another way, but Naruto said Shikamaru was naive about the ninja world's realities.
• Kiba accused Naruto and Neji of abandoning their former comrades and asked whether Naruto planned to destroy Konoha.
• Lee asked Naruto and Neji whether they really intended to take revenge on Konoha.

Naruto told his former companions that he would destroy Konoha if that became necessary, while insisting his goal was his own justice rather than an all-out war. He warned them to abandon their innocence and be ready to kill him if they chose to oppose him, then stepped forward.

• Shikamaru tried to calm the gathering, but Kiba demanded that Naruto and Neji answer whether they would destroy Konoha.
• Naruto told the Konoha shinobi that he would carry out his plan if the day came, leaving Hinata heartbroken and the others shocked.
• Kiba accused Naruto of making them enemies, and Naruto replied that Konoha was his target but that he did not intend to start an all-out war.
• Shikamaru asked whether Naruto meant to target only certain individuals, and Naruto left that interpretation to them while warning them to prepare to kill him if they tried to stop him.
• Shikamaru realized Naruto had come to give them an answer, and Naruto stepped forward after briefly clenching his fists.

Naruto took Hinata away to speak with her privately, while Neji rejected Tenten’s appeal to return to Konoha and threatened Konoha over Yamanaka Fu. The Konoha group left with their hopes and loyalties unsettled, as Shikaku and Kakashi considered whether Naruto might still be reconciled with Konoha.

• Naruto appeared before Hinata, and she accepted his hand; he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take her away for a private conversation.
• Shikamaru and Neji told the others not to worry about Hinata, and Neji warned Kakashi and Shikaku that Konoha would eventually answer for Yamanaka Fu.
• Neji left despite Tenten pleading with him to return, leaving her and Sakura devastated.
• Ino comforted Sakura while Shikaku told Shikamaru to take the Rookies and Sai back and keep a close watch on Sai.
• Shikaku and Kakashi discussed the possibility of bringing Naruto around, concluding that Tsunade and Jiraiya would have to decide what Konoha did next.

Naruto and Hinata shared a heartfelt reunion at the Snow Ninja Village’s mountain summit, confessing their love and discussing their conflicting convictions. Hinata chose to remain with her clan while still supporting Naruto, and they held each other in tears.

• Naruto led Hinata to the summit viewing platform and showed her the Snow Ninja Village at night.
• Naruto and Hinata confessed that they loved each other and embraced.
• Naruto apologized for choosing a path of justice that Hinata could not fully understand, and Hinata said she would support his dream.
• Hinata explained that she would not leave her father, sister, clan, or comrades, and asked Naruto to accept her choice to uphold her own ninja way.
• Naruto wept as he held Hinata tightly, and they reaffirmed their love and resolve.

The Konoha delegation left Snow Ninja Village, and Naruto watched Hinata depart before renewing his resolve to build a future that included her. Neji followed Naruto back to the Snow Shadow Office Building, while Kazahana Koyuki watched the departure and reflected on her feelings for him.

• The delegations left Snow Ninja Village in turn, with Konoha departing last under Kakashi's leadership.
• Hinata left with Sakura and the Konoha delegation after taking one last look at the mountain and holding her special Kunai.
• Naruto watched Hinata leave, accepted that she had to follow her own path, and vowed to create a happy world for them.
• Neji followed Naruto toward the Snow Shadow Office Building, thinking that the coming period would bring more work despite the temporary peace.
• Kazahana Koyuki watched the departing Konoha delegation and recalled how Naruto had remained distant despite her feelings for him.

Kazahana Koyuki met Hinata Hyuga and reaffirmed her determination to win Naruto’s heart. Meanwhile, the nations and shinobi villages reacted to the Snow Ninja Village’s rise and Naruto’s warning about the Akatsuki, leaving the story poised to return to Konoha.

• Kazahana Koyuki saw Naruto’s tenderness toward Hinata Hyuga, felt hurt, and vowed to keep pursuing him with Yakumo’s support.
• The nations recognized Kazahana Koyuki as an equal to the great daimyos and the Snow Ninja Village as the sixth great shinobi village.
• Ōnoki dismissed most of the Akatsuki intelligence, while Baki strengthened the Sand Ninja’s defenses without knowing Yura was a spy.
• Mei Terumi ordered Kirigakure to retreat from operations and rebuild after the Snow-Mist War.
• A took Naruto’s Akatsuki warning seriously and told Kumogakure’s two Jinchuriki to be cautious, though he did not recall them to the village.

Tsunade discussed Naruto’s warning about Akatsuki with Shikaku and Kakashi, then ordered preparations to protect Konoha and repair relations with Snow Ninja Village. The chapter ended with Konoha’s leaders preparing for a coming threat while Danzo’s hidden plans remained undetected.

• Shikaku reported that Naruto seemed to have learned about Akatsuki and warned that the Sand Ninja might be its first target.
• Tsunade agreed to strengthen ties with the Sand Ninja and rely on Jiraiya’s monitoring of Akatsuki.
• Kakashi reported that Sai had returned to Root and that Danzo had shown no unusual activity.
• Tsunade ordered Kakashi to keep watching Danzo and assigned Shikaku to contact other villages and make amends with Snow Ninja Village for Danzo’s operation.

Danzō grew more confident in his stolen powers as he prepared Root to act, despite setbacks and failed efforts to contact Itachi and Orochimaru. In Amegakure, Nagato told Konan that the Akatsuki would begin its plan a few months early as tensions rose across the Shinobi World.

• Sai reported to Danzō that Naruto had recognized him and Fu, monitored them, and knocked Sai unconscious with genjutsu.
• Danzō learned that the Akatsuki had agreed to act soon, but Zhixuan could not locate Itachi and found a scroll from him that enraged Danzō.
• Zhixuan told Danzō that Orochimaru had not replied and seemed to be working closely with Naruto, so Danzō ordered Root to stand ready.
• Nagato told Konan that the Akatsuki would set its plan in motion early because the battle between Snow Ninja Village and Kirigakure had heightened tensions.

Nagato changed the Akatsuki’s plan to exploit tensions among the great nations and capture several Tailed Beasts quickly, with Danzo’s information as a potential advantage. He assigned the captures and decided that all Six Paths of Pain would target the Three-Tails and Six-Tails in the Snow Ninja Village, despite the risks.

• Pain explained to Konan that the Snow-Mist War and the rise of Namikaze Naruto and the Snow Ninja Village had created an opportunity to ignite conflict among the great nations.
• Nagato decided to accelerate the Akatsuki’s plan and make use of Danzo’s intelligence while remaining wary of him because he blamed Danzo for Yahiko’s death.
• Pain assigned Sasori and Deidara the One-Tail, Kakuzu and Hidan the Two-Tails and Seven-Tails, and Uchiha Itachi and Kisame the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.
• Pain said he would personally capture the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, and Konan warned that both were in the Snow Ninja Village alongside the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Pain insisted that all Six Paths would attack together, whether the Three-Tails and Six-Tails left the village or remained inside it.

Nagato and Konan prepared the Akatsuki to begin capturing the Three-Tails, Six-Tails, and Nine-Tails, while accounting for possible interference from Konoha, the Mist, and their own allies. Obito secretly planned to keep the Eye of the Moon plan under his control, leaving the Akatsuki poised to act.

• Nagato insisted that his Rinnegan gave him the strength to capture the three Tailed Beasts, but Konan warned him about the villages, Jiraiya, Obito, and Uchiha Itachi.
• Nagato agreed to contact Obito and Itachi, then ordered the Akatsuki to suspend other operations and focus on intelligence gathering and preparations for the captures.
• The Akatsuki shifted into full operation, with Sasori and Deidara preparing to act under Nagato's orders.
• Obito ordered Black Zetsu to watch Nagato and ensure the Rinnegan could be retrieved, while planning to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi himself.
• Black Zetsu sensed Obito's ambition but accepted him as a possible substitute for Madara, so long as the Eye of the Moon plan succeeded.