Chapter Summaries

Mingye used Naruto’s distress to extract his chakra while the Sage of Six Paths pursued Zetsu, and Kakashi killed the real Mizuki and recovered the scroll. Naruto saved Iruka with help from Nami Yakushi, and Kakashi returned the scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

• Izuna promised to create a barrier in the Forest of Death, and Mingye left to use the brief opening to obtain Naruto’s chakra.
• Naruto trained with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique until Iruka appeared, but Mingye revealed that he had impersonated Mizuki and told Naruto about the Nine-Tailed Fox and his parents.
• Mingye suppressed Naruto’s released chakra, extracted it with the Box of Ultimate Bliss, and fled as the Sage of Six Paths arrived and Zetsu broke off his pursuit.
• Kakashi killed the real Mizuki near the river and took the sealing scroll, while Naruto carried the wounded Iruka before Nami Yakushi treated him.
• Kakashi delivered the scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who discussed Iruka’s treatment of Naruto and asked where Mizuki was.

Kakashi asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to assign him as instructor for the graduating students and was named Team 7’s instructor alongside Uzumaki Naruto. On the moon, Mingye sought a way to grow stronger and devised a method to purify the Blood Pool’s power, but the plan required Sage energy from the old toad sage or the White Snake Sage.

• Kakashi told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Mizuki had been judged and asked to instruct the graduating students; Sarutobi assigned him to Team 7 with Uzumaki Naruto.
• Mingye confirmed that the figure sealed on the moon was Otsutsuki Asura, but Izuna refused to absorb Asura’s power and urged Mingye to strengthen himself instead.
• Mingye decided to refine his Sage Arts, drew blood from Otsutsuki Toneri, and ordered Undying to take only half a jin each month while keeping Toneri healthy.
• Undying suggested using Wu’s body as a vessel, but Mingye rejected the idea because Wu’s accumulated evil and resentment could overwhelm him.
• Undying demonstrated that Sage energy could cancel Blood Pool energy, leading Mingye to conclude that purifying his power required a source of Sage energy ten times stronger.
• Undying reminded Mingye of the old toad sage as a possible source, but Mingye recognized that both the old toad sage and the White Snake Sage would resist giving him their power.

Mingye considered how to raid Mount Myoboku and purify his blood pool, while Naruto struggled with learning that the Nine-Tails invasion had killed many people. The Third Hokage learned Kazahana Koyuki had arrived in Konoha, and Naruto was invited to dinner by a stranger as Kakashi confronted Kokonoe Mutsue nearby.

• Immortal urged Mingye to strike Mount Myoboku by surprise and use every available force to purify his blood pool, and Mingye weighed the danger posed by the toads.
• Shikamaru and Choji visited the distressed Naruto, and their talk about the Nine-Tails invasion deepened his pain over the villagers' hatred.
• Nami Yakushi comforted Naruto as he cried and promised he could become a symbol of the village and perhaps Hokage.
• An Anbu ninja told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Kazahana Koyuki had arrived near Konoha, claiming she came to thank him for restoring justice to the Land of Snow.
• A formal stranger invited Naruto to dinner, and Naruto followed him into a carriage while Kakashi confronted Kokonoe Mutsue in the shadows.
• Kokonoe Mutsue told Kakashi that his group targeted those who had discarded them, not Konoha, then warned him not to rely on the Sharingan before leaving.

Kazahana Koyuki and Baiye Fengyu’s group confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen over Kazahana Dōtō’s execution and revealed Naruto’s parentage, leaving Naruto devastated and fleeing to the Forest of Death. There, Might Guy found him and forced him to begin training.

• Kokonoe Mutsue brought Kazahana Dōtō’s head to Kazahana Koyuki and Sarutobi Hiruzen, provoking their argument over the Land of Snow and Dōtō’s fate.
• Kazahana Koyuki told Naruto he was Namikaze Naruto, the Fourth Hokage’s son, and Sarutobi Hiruzen’s silence left Naruto convinced she was telling the truth.
• Baiye Fengyu, Asagami Naoto, and Kokonoe Mutsue confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen over his past abandonment of them, while he asked Iruka to find and protect Naruto.
• Naruto ran into the Forest of Death, where his grief and anger overwhelmed him as he recalled the family he believed he had lost.
• Might Guy appeared, ordered Naruto to run laps around a lake, and demonstrated his power when Naruto hesitated.

Naruto overcame his grief during Guy’s exhausting training and found hope in the idea of becoming like the Hokage. In the shadows, Mingye explained to Izuna that Naruto’s role as a trigger still mattered, then warned that Guy’s strength and the Eight Inner Gates could pose a serious threat.

• Guy made Naruto and Lee run extra laps, and Naruto collapsed while Lee kept training.
• Guy challenged Kakashi to another duel, but Kakashi escaped; Guy and Lee then ran five thousand more laps.
• Naruto asked Iruka whether his father had been the Fourth Hokage, then said he wanted to become someone like him.
• Mingye told Izuna that Naruto’s hope served their plans better than turning him against Konoha, and that Naruto would help trigger later developments.
• Mingye judged Guy to be extraordinarily powerful and explained that opening the Eight Inner Gates indefinitely would cause unbearable pain and shorten a person’s lifespan.

Mingye and Izuna discussed the threat posed by Might Guy, whose years of training had made him a seemingly unstoppable fighter and a likely enemy of their plans. The story then shifted to Konoha Academy, where Kakashi met Team 7 and began their introductions.

• Mingye explained how Guy had endured years of brutal training and could now open five of the Eight Inner Gates, making him powerful enough to rival the strongest ninja.
• Izuna suggested killing Guy, but Mingye argued that neither poison nor schemes would work and admitted they had no one capable of defeating him.
• Mingye and Izuna agreed to wait for a solution or for Guy to reveal a weakness.
• Kakashi arrived late to meet Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke on the Academy rooftop, offering an elaborate excuse for his delay.
• Kakashi introduced himself as Team 7's instructor and asked the students to introduce themselves; Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke shared their likes, dislikes, and rivalries.

Mingye prepared to create a powerful new body and altered Otsutsuki Toneri’s memories while Naruto confronted Konoha’s villagers over his parentage. The chapter ended with Naruto crying alone beside a lake after the cat he had chased ran into the woods.

• Kakashi recalled Obito and Naruto’s declarations of their ninja ways and wondered about Naruto’s resolve.
• Mingye ordered Undying to forge a human body from gathered bloodlines, explaining that he needed it for the final battle within five years.
• Mingye forced Toneri to swallow his blood and used the Box of Ultimate Bliss to suppress the flames that erupted from him.
• Asagami Naoto publicly called Naruto the son of the Fourth Hokage, but Naruto denied it and mocked the idea before chasing a cat away.
• Hiruzen and the elders worried that Naruto might face retaliation, while Naruto wept beside the lake after the cat left.

Naruto was forced by Might Guy to run two thousand laps with Lee, while the village suppressed the fallout from Naruto’s earlier outburst and Kazahana Koyuki prepared to return home. On the moon, Kabuto discovered a hidden seal in the ceiling that led Mingye to a major revelation, and Mingye gave Kabuto a chance to reunite with someone important to him.

• Lee mistook Naruto for a training partner and proposed a two-thousand-lap run, then Might Guy appeared and forced Naruto to join in.
• Naruto ran around the lake with Lee, angrily shouting at him as Lee celebrated their training.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and others suppressed the earlier Naruto incident, and Baiye Fengyu told Kazahana Koyuki she could return to the Land of Snow after her tour.
• Kabuto noticed that the main hall’s ceiling pattern concealed a barrier seal, and Mingye’s attempt to manipulate it caused him to explode and reform.
• Mingye ordered Flame General to ensure Undying continued refining his body with the Sage Method and said Kabuto had helped him discover a hidden secret.
• Mingye showed Kabuto an image of someone directing an orphanage in the Land of Whirlpools and told him to keep serving Orochimaru after returning to Konoha.

Mingye reminded Kabuto to keep his promise, while Obito learned that the old man who had chased him was connected to the Sage of Six Paths. Elsewhere, Akatsuki cornered Orochimaru, but Jiraiya arrived and confronted them, leaving the two sides fighting.

• Mingye told Kabuto not to appear before the orphanage girl until their plan was complete, and Kabuto looked at an old group photograph and wished to take another with no one missing.
• Zetsu explained to Obito that the old man who had pursued them possessed the Sage of Six Paths' chakra, and Obito hoped he would not threaten their plan.
• Sasori used chakra threads to monitor the valley while Deidara bombarded it, and Sasori warned that he would kill both Orochimaru and Deidara if Deidara failed within an hour.
• Orochimaru emerged from the valley and escaped Deidara's attacks, while Jiraiya arrived and fought off the Akatsuki members who had gathered there.
• Itachi said the Akatsuki did not intend to fight Jiraiya, but Jiraiya rejected their claim, and Sasori's tiger and Jiraiya attacked as the confrontation began.

Jiraiya overwhelmed Kisame Hoshigaki, Uchiha Itachi, Sasori, and Deidara in battle, forcing them to retreat after Deidara unleashed C4 Karura. Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi revealed that the confrontation had been arranged to redirect and monitor Jiraiya, whose movements mattered to a plan involving the treasures of Mount Myoboku.

• Deidara and Sasori attacked Jiraiya, but Jiraiya evaded their techniques and countered with powerful Sage Method attacks.
• Kisame Hoshigaki flooded the valley, and Jiraiya turned the water into a sea of fire while driving back Kisame, Sasori, and Uchiha Itachi.
• Uchiha Itachi called for a retreat, and Deidara unleashed C4 Karura at Jiraiya as the others withdrew.
• Orochimaru watched the battle with Kabuto Yakushi, who treated his wound and warned that he needed a place to hide.
• Orochimaru sent Kabuto back to Konoha, and Kabuto explained that the fight had helped monitor Jiraiya and keep his attention on Akatsuki while Mingye pursued the Mount Myoboku plan.

Mingye’s schemes shaped events around Jiraiya, Sasuke, Sunagakure, and Orochimaru, while Kisame and Itachi encountered Zabuza in the Land of Waves. Zabuza survived Kakashi’s attack, and the chapter ended with him recovering after the supposed Land of Water Anbu removed the senbon from his neck.

• Kisame gave Kabuto a vial of blood and relayed Mingye’s order to provoke Sasuke while allowing him to grow.
• Rasa learned that the Land of Wind’s Daimyo had cut Sunagakure’s funding and summoned him to the capital, while he left Baki in charge and gave up on Gaara.
• Orochimaru explained that he planned to use Sunagakure’s anger against Konoha, then confronted Rasa as Kimimaro and Kabuto joined the attack.
• Sasori and Kakuzu discussed how Mingye’s hidden influence shaped Orochimaru’s plans.
• Kisame and Itachi entered the Land of Waves, where Kakashi defeated Zabuza after Kisame described the swordsman as a feared killer.
• The Land of Water Anbu removed senbon from Zabuza’s neck, revealing that he had survived and nearly died fighting Kakashi.

Kisame Hoshigaki spared Zabuza Momochi and Haku after challenging them, then provoked Itachi Uchiha by targeting Sasuke. Kakashi’s team reached a confrontation with Itachi and Kisame, while Sasuke faced his brother and Naruto tried to defend him.

• Kisame Hoshigaki attacked Zabuza Momochi and Haku, then offered to spare Zabuza if he killed Sasuke.
• Itachi Uchiha intervened and threatened Kisame, who later discussed a cover story for investigating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s weapons with Mingye.
• Kakashi told Sakura that the team should rest before continuing, while Sasuke left to deal with the crows.
• Itachi Uchiha appeared before Sasuke, and Sasuke attacked him before Itachi easily threw him down.
• Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu against Itachi, but a watery mist shield dispersed the clones as Kisame arrived beside Itachi.

Itachi and Kisame attacked Sasuke and Naruto, but Kakashi and Guy drove them off before they could capture Naruto. After Sasuke woke, Neji bluntly challenged his belief that he had worked hard enough to become stronger.

• Itachi used Tsukuyomi to knock Sasuke unconscious, while Kisame considered taking Sasuke’s awakened chakra.
• Naruto created thousands of shadow clones to defend Sasuke, and Kakashi used lightning techniques to attack Itachi and Kisame.
• Kisame destroyed Naruto’s clones and moved to capture him, but Guy intervened and battled Kisame with powerful taijutsu.
• Kakashi and Guy forced Itachi and Kisame to retreat, then Kakashi learned that Guy had been assigned to protect Naruto and would accompany him on missions.
• Sasuke woke in the care of Sakura and Tenten, then Neji told him that his Uchiha heritage did not make him strong and that he had not truly worked hard.

Neji rejected Sasuke’s challenge and learned from Might Guy that the Eight Inner Gates could remove the Caged Bird seal. After Rock Lee defeated Sasuke and left him despairing over his weakness, Mingye reached out to him, while Izuna urged Mingye to recruit Sasuke rather than take his awakened chakra.

• Sakura defended Sasuke, while Tenten said Rock Lee was the strongest among them, and Lee left to train.
• Neji refused Sasuke’s challenge, saying he sought strength for the village and to prove that a branch-family member could become a dragon.
• Might Guy showed Neji that opening the Seventh Gate erased the Caged Bird seal from his forehead and offered to teach Neji the method.
• Sasuke attacked Neji with a Great Fireball, but Rock Lee kicked the flames aside and then overwhelmed Sasuke in taijutsu.
• Rock Lee explained that Sasuke’s Sharingan could not make up for his lack of physical speed and strength, leaving Sasuke despairing over his chances of defeating Itachi.
• Mingye contacted Sasuke and asked if he wanted to become stronger, while Izuna argued that they should recruit Sasuke instead of taking his awakened chakra.

Kakashi worried that Sasuke had begun hiding his thoughts while the children prepared for danger in the Land of Waves. With a mysterious teacher guiding him, Sasuke finally landed a hit on Rock Lee and vowed to become stronger.

• Kakashi dismissed Sakura's questions and continued worrying about Sasuke's newfound reserve and the danger ahead.
• Sasuke kept sparring with Rock Lee, while Neji and Sakura watched.
• A mysterious voice coached Sasuke through Lee's attacks, teaching him to use the Sharingan and feints to counter Lee's taijutsu.
• Sasuke landed a slap on Lee, though Lee's counterattack sent Sasuke tumbling to the ground.
• Sasuke told his unseen teacher that he wanted to become stronger and would endure anything to do so.

Kakashi questioned Tenten about Sasuke’s fight with Rock Lee and suspected someone had secretly trained Sasuke. Mingye challenged Sasuke’s reasons for seeking power, then hurried to see Undying’s completed body, whose appearance shocked Izuna.

• Might Guy and Rock Lee misunderstood Kakashi’s account of the fight and ran off to train, while Kakashi asked Tenten to describe what happened.
• Tenten recounted the battle, and Kakashi concluded that Sasuke had used sophisticated tactics and must have received secret guidance.
• Mingye urged Sasuke to learn Chidori without relying on elemental affinity, but Sasuke insisted he would do anything to defeat Itachi.
• Mingye accused Sasuke of caring only about revenge and neglecting the Uchiha Clan, then turned his attention to Kisame Hoshigaki and received word that Undying had finished the body.
• Mingye used the Reverse Summoning Technique to reach Undying, inspected the transformed body, and saw Izuna arrive and stare at it in shock.

Mingye restored his eyes and considered how the Blood Pool’s growing consciousness could threaten his plans, while Kisame and Itachi reflected on Zabuza and Haku’s deaths. Sasuke returned to the Uchiha compound and confronted his grief, as Kazahana Koyuki traveled by armored train through a snowstorm.

• Mingye explained his Mangekyō Sharingan’s Reincarnation Technique and restored his eyes with energy from the Blood Pool, whose resistance forced him to suppress it with the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
• Mingye decided to nourish his transformed body at the Ryūmyaku for several months before abandoning his original body and risking the Blood Pool’s loss of control.
• Kisame visited Zabuza and Haku’s graves, praised Zabuza’s final courage, and spoke with Itachi about his death and their bond.
• Sasuke returned to Konoha, mourned at his parents’ house, and asked why he alone had survived; Mingye’s voice returned to question him.
• Kazahana Koyuki rode an armored train through a snowstorm while Baiye Fengyu teased her about the machine she hoped to find.

Baiye Fengyu searched the Land of Snow for a hidden machine while Konoha prepared to investigate her growing power there. As Mingye entered a sealed transformation beneath Rōran, Kakashi’s team set sail for the Land of Snow, where Kakashi began advising Sasuke on strengthening his Chidori.

• Baiye Fengyu ordered her subordinates to search the snowy site inch by inch for the machine Kazahana Koyuki had described.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen sent Kakashi and a team to the Land of Snow under the guise of escorting a film crew, while Kakashi warned him about the mysterious organization linked to Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi.
• Mingye sealed himself into the Ryūmyaku beneath Rōran so his soul could merge with the Otsutsuki body, leaving Izuna to oversee matters.
• Asagami Naoto and Kokonoe Mutsue discussed Kazahana Koyuki’s appeal to Konoha and decided to strengthen their hold on the Land of Snow while seeking reinforcements from Immortal.
• Kakashi led Team 7 aboard a ship to the Land of Snow and found Sasuke practicing Chidori from a clan scroll.
• Kakashi told Sasuke that Lightning Release body-training techniques could help him avoid Chidori’s damage and make the technique stronger.

Sasuke endured Kakashi’s Lightning Release training while Izuna authorized a secret attack on Might Guy. In the Land of Snow, Baiye Fengyu killed three ninjas threatening Kazahana Koyuki, and Kakashi arrived to help her restore her rule.

• Kakashi used a Technique on Sasuke and ordered him to train with Lightning Release for three days as part of his path to becoming a disciple.
• Immortal and Steel Warrior discussed killing Might Guy, and Izuna approved a secret attack using their combined barrier.
• Baiye Fengyu found a metal structure, then defeated three ninjas who attacked him and brought their frozen heads to Kazahana Koyuki.
• Kazahana Koyuki dismissed the danger to her rule and told her minister to wait for powerful support.
• Hatake Kakashi met Kazahana Koyuki in her bedroom and offered to deal with the three rogue ninjas and help restore her rule.

Kakashi rescued Kazahana Koyuki from Baiye Fengyu’s faction and brought her to Team 7, where Naruto rejected her accusations about his parents. A film director offered Koyuki a role that moved her, while a flashback showed Might Guy facing a powerful five-person formation on an isolated island.

• Baiye Fengyu attacked Kakashi, who escaped with Koyuki through the blizzard, and ordered his allies to spread the claim that Konoha had abducted the queen.
• Kakashi left Koyuki at Team 7’s resting place, where Naruto insisted he was an orphan and refused to believe her account of his parents.
• Hai Shen Quanguang offered Koyuki the lead role in The Snow Princess’s Ninja Art Scroll, and she began reading the script in tears.
• Three days earlier, Neji noticed an absence of animals on an isolated island before Guy sent his students to find Kakashi.
• Five opponents trapped Guy in the Five Elements Heavenly Gate Formation, and he opened the Gate of View as the fighters attacked him.