Chapter Summaries

Naruto passed Ryūchi Cave’s trial and learned to enter Sage Mode under the White Snake Sage’s guidance. He quickly mastered sensing and using Natural Energy, leaving the White Snake Sage and Tagitsuhime astonished.

• Tagitsuhime told Naruto he had passed the trial, and he climbed the revealed stairs to meet the White Snake Sage.
• The White Snake Sage warned Naruto that learning senjutsu risked petrification, but Naruto chose to proceed.
• The White Snake Sage injected Natural Energy through her fangs, and Naruto calmed his will to sense and guide it.
• Naruto combined Natural Energy with his chakra and achieved Sage Mode within minutes.
• Naruto tested his new power with a punch, astonishing Tagitsuhime and the White Snake Sage.

Naruto trained in Ryūchi Cave, quickly mastering Sage Arts that impressed and unsettled Tagitsuhime. After leaving the cave for his home in the Land of Hot Water, he began working with Kurama to investigate the strange effects of the White Snake Sage’s bite.

• Tagitsuhime explained Sage Chakra’s benefits and risks, then taught Naruto Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Art combat techniques.
• Over half a month, Naruto mastered Sage Art: White Rage Technique and Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation, surpassing Tagitsuhime’s abilities.
• Tagitsuhime admitted she had nothing left to teach Naruto, and he thanked her before leaving Ryūchi Cave.
• Naruto returned to his dusty house in the Land of Hot Water and reflected on why the White Snake Sage had left him a passage for absorbing Natural Energy.
• Naruto told Kurama to begin working on the bite site, questioning why the Three Great Sage Regions shared Sage Mode so freely.

Naruto severed his connection to the White Snake Sage’s Sage Chakra and developed a Sage Mode of his own, then combined it with Kurama’s chakra. He arrived in Amegakure seeking Nagato, where his presence froze the enforcement squad’s captain with fear.

• Naruto endured the pain of his meridians swelling until he severed the White Snake Sage’s Sage Chakra from himself.
• The White Snake Sage sensed the severed connection in Ryūchi Cave and wondered whether Gamamaru or someone from the Pure Land had interfered.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode using Natural Energy alone, discovered its black markings on his right arm, and confirmed that it worked alongside Kurama Chakra Mode.
• Naruto traveled to Amegakure, sensed Nagato’s chakra through the rain, and drew the attention of the village’s enforcement squad.
• The enforcement captain met Naruto’s gaze and became unable to move from fear.

Naruto confronted Pain in Amegakure and heard his plan to use the tailed beasts to force the world to understand pain and avoid war. Naruto warned him that combining the beasts would create the Ten-Tails, and revealed that someone had misled Pain as a hidden observer was exposed.

• Konan warned Pain that Naruto had arrived, but Pain chose to face the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki himself.
• Naruto defeated the Rain shinobi and asked Pain to move their fight away from Amegakure’s villagers.
• Above the ocean, Pain explained that he planned to create an ultimate weapon with the tailed beasts and use fear of pain to prevent war.
• Naruto told Pain that the nine tailed beasts could merge into the Ten-Tails, and Pain realized the masked man had concealed this from him.
• Naruto warned Pain that he might be the first to suffer the Ten-Tails’ power, then exposed a white figure hiding nearby with a slash from Kusabimaru.

Naruto battled Pain, destroying several Paths while Pain revived and deployed the others. As Naruto faced the last Deva Path, the masked man left to deal with him in the Land of Rivers, and the chapter ended with two water dragons attacking Naruto.

• Naruto entered Sage Mode and Kurama Chakra Mode, then exploited Shinra Tensei's cooldown to crack Pain's Black Receiver and wound him.
• The Animal Path summoned beasts and brought the Deva and Naraka Paths back, while Naruto cut the Preta Path into fragments.
• Black Zetsu and the masked man discussed Naruto, Nagato, and Shinnō; the masked man then left for the Land of Rivers.
• Naruto fought through Pain's attacks and eliminated the other Paths, leaving only the Deva Path standing.
• Pain sent six Black Receivers at Naruto, who evaded them and reached a reef before Pain launched two Water Dragon Bullet Technique attacks.

Tsunade organized a Five Kage Summit after learning Pain had defeated Ōnoki, while Naruto fought Pain in Amegakure and forced Nagato to retreat. Nagato ordered Konan to recover Deva Path’s body as Black Zetsu warned that Naruto would soon arrive.

• Tsunade told Jiraiya and Kakashi to serve as envoys and convene a Five Kage Summit after they read the report of Pain defeating Ōnoki.
• Tsunade explained that Mei Terumi had proposed an alliance, and Jiraiya and Kakashi divided the task of notifying the villages.
• Naruto survived Pain’s Shinra Tensei, then watched Pain use Chibaku Tensei to pull the ocean and debris into the sky.
• Naruto transformed into a giant golden fox and fired a massive chakra blast at Chibaku Tensei’s core, sending Pain crashing into a cliff and injuring Nagato.
• Nagato asked Konan to retrieve Deva Path’s corpse, while Black Zetsu told them to leave before Naruto arrived.

Naruto left the sea after deciding to investigate the person behind the Akatsuki, while Tsunade sent Kakashi and Jiraiya to support the Five Kage Summit. At Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage gave Jiraiya a prophecy about a Byakugan princess and a long-sword bearer, then Jiraiya returned to Konoha to continue his mission.

• Naruto chose not to use the Flying Thunder God mark on Deva Path Pain and planned to learn who was directing the Akatsuki.
• Tsunade sent Kakashi and Jiraiya on a mission to notify Kumogakure and Kirigakure about the Five Kage Summit.
• Sage Fukasaku summoned Jiraiya to Mount Myōboku, where the Great Toad Sage foretold that he would meet a Byakugan princess and a person carrying a long sword.
• The Great Toad Sage said Jiraiya would face a choice that could determine the ninja world's future, then fell asleep before explaining more.
• Jiraiya told Sage Fukasaku he would investigate Kirigakure's leadership transition while traveling to notify the villages, then returned to Konoha.

Sasuke pursued Shinnō across the Land of Rivers, growing stronger through their repeated encounters, but arrived too late to find him. Naruto secretly visited Hayate Gekko in Konoha, eased his bloodline disease, and gave him a Gelel Stone to build his strength.

• Shinnō despaired over being hunted across several lands as Sasuke's strength rapidly surpassed his.
• A masked man and White Zetsu extracted Shinnō just before Sasuke broke into his base.
• Sasuke found the room empty, reflected on how hunting Shinnō had boosted his Sharingan and Lightning Release, and summoned a white snake to resume tracking him.
• Naruto visited Hayate Gekko and learned that overusing Transparent Release had caused his bloodline disease.
• Naruto used Life Energy to ease Hayate's coughing, promised to cure him fully after he recovered, and gave him a Gelel Stone to strengthen his body.

Naruto reunited with Raimon Koshireki and Izuno, then disguised himself so they could meet without attracting attention. Meanwhile, the masked man and Black Zetsu planned how to treat Nagato and settled on recruiting the Konoha rogue ninja Hiruko.

• Raimon Koshireki and Izuno spotted Naruto in an alley and took him somewhere secluded to talk.
• Raimon explained that he had moved from combat duties to logistics, saying the work suited him better, while Naruto suspected his defection had affected Raimon's career.
• Naruto transformed his appearance to ease Raimon and Izuno's concerns about being seen by ANBU, then asked them to find a nearby restaurant.
• In the Land of Rain, the masked man brought Shinnō to the underground base, and Black Zetsu said he would handle controlling him rather than relying on Genjutsu.
• The masked man and White Zetsu discussed retrieving Deidara's Blue Ring and possibly recovering Orochimaru's lost Sky Ring, while Black Zetsu proposed recruiting Hiruko to draw Konan away from Nagato.

Naruto gave Raimon Koshireki and Izu Gelel Stones to strengthen them and warned them about the dangers beyond Konoha. He later visited Shikaku Nara, who offered to have three clans recommend Naruto as Sixth Hokage, but Naruto said he had his own path.

• Naruto gave Raimon Koshireki and Izu Gelel Stones that could double their chakra reserves and advised Raimon to grow strong enough to promote electric trains throughout the ninja world.
• Naruto parted from Raimon Koshireki and Izu, promising they would meet again.
• Naruto visited Shikamaru’s home and spoke with Shikaku Nara about his father’s wish for him to return to Konoha.
• Naruto said protecting Konoha was not his path and that he had his own dreams.
• Shikaku Nara offered to have the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans jointly recommend Naruto as the Sixth Hokage, and Naruto questioned whether that was worthwhile for a Rogue Ninja.

Shikaku Nara urged Naruto to return to Konoha and become the Sixth Hokage, and Naruto considered the offer but decided the timing was not right. He left the choice open while recognizing that Tsunade should remain Hokage until she stepped down.

• Shikaku Nara offered Naruto the position of Sixth Hokage and argued that Konoha’s resources could help him pursue peace.
• Naruto asked for time to consider the offer, then gave Shikamaru and Shikaku Nara two Gelel Stones before leaving.
• Shikaku told Shikamaru he was serious about backing Naruto, criticizing Tsunade’s indecision and noting that Konoha had never officially issued a warrant for Naruto.
• Naruto asked Kurama what he should choose and admitted he wanted to return to Konoha, but thought he could only become a candidate until Tsunade stepped down.
• Naruto explained that he would respect the rules and not seize the Hokage position by force, while Kurama remarked that humans were becoming troublesome.

Boruto and Sasuke arrived in Konoha’s past, where Urashiki was expected to follow and target young Naruto for the Nine-Tails’ chakra. They searched for Naruto while trying to keep their identities secret, but Shikamaru recognized them.

• Naruto sensed powerful unfamiliar chakra in Konoha as Boruto and Sasuke arrived from the future.
• Karasuki explained that Urashiki would arrive in a few days to target Naruto, and warned Boruto and Sasuke not to reveal their identities or interfere with the past.
• Boruto and Sasuke left a rooftop and searched Konoha for Naruto while Sasuke repeatedly stopped Boruto from approaching people.
• Sasuke hurried Boruto away when they encountered Sakura, leaving her puzzled by their familiar faces.
• Shikamaru approached the pair, and Boruto began calling him Uncle Shikamaru before Sasuke covered his mouth.

Sasuke and Boruto disguised themselves as traveling performers in Konoha while Shikamaru kept them under surveillance. After Sasuke slipped away to find Naruto, Shikamaru warned Naruto that the two were looking for someone, and Naruto decided to deal with them himself.

• Sasuke told Shikamaru that he and Boruto were performers, but Shikamaru revealed he was there to surveil them.
• Sasuke and Boruto performed acrobatics to earn money while Shikamaru watched them throughout the day.
• At the inn, Sasuke told Boruto to rest and vanished to search for Naruto.
• Shikamaru reported to Naruto that the two men felt familiar and seemed to be looking for someone.
• Naruto said he would handle Sasuke and Boruto, noting that no one in Konoha could stop them while Jiraiya was absent.

Sasuke explained that Boruto and he had landed in a parallel world where Naruto had become a Rogue Ninja and led the Dragon's Heritage Organization. Naruto then appeared at their door, and Boruto and Sasuke let him into their room.

• Sasuke told Boruto that this world's history differed from the past they remembered and that Naruto had defected from Konoha.
• Sasuke explained Naruto's connection to the Dragon's Heritage Organization, and Boruto worried that he might disappear before Sasuke reassured him they were in a parallel world.
• Naruto knocked on their door, and Boruto recognized him as his younger father.
• Boruto introduced himself as Boruto and Sasuke used the name Jūgo when Naruto asked who he was.
• Naruto asked to come in, and Boruto welcomed him into the room.

Jiraiya visited Kirigakure to invite Mei Terumi to the Five Kage Summit, and she agreed to attend. Meanwhile, Orochimaru let Sasuke pursue contact with Akatsuki, and Kakashi arrived in Iwagakure to speak with the ailing Ōnoki.

• Orochimaru told Kabuto to give Sasuke all the information they had about Akatsuki and recalled Guren from Base Seven.
• Jiraiya met Mei Terumi in Kirigakure and explained that the Five Kage Summit was needed to confront Akatsuki and the Dragon's Heritage Organization.
• Jiraiya told Mei that Ōnoki had lost to Pain even after using Dust Release, and he said the summit would take place in the Land of Iron in one month.
• Mei agreed that Kirigakure would attend the summit, then ordered Ao to watch Jiraiya's movements.
• Kakashi entered Iwagakure, where Kitsuchi warned him that Ōnoki was unwell and asked him to keep their conversation brief.

Sasuke explained to Naruto how Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Ten-Tails, and the Otsutsuki Clan shaped the ninja world's history. He revealed that he and Boruto had traveled back in time to stop an Otsutsuki who sought to gather the Chakra Fruit's power before they could resist.

• Naruto deduced that Sasuke and Boruto came from a parallel world because Boruto's chakra resembled his own.
• Naruto confirmed that he had sent Shikamaru to approach them and asked why they had appeared in this era.
• Sasuke began recounting the history of Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Divine Tree, and her sons Hagoromo and Hamura.
• Sasuke explained that Black Zetsu had manipulated events for a thousand years to revive Kaguya, including the Akatsuki's plan to revive the Ten-Tails.
• Sasuke told Naruto that the Otsutsuki Clan had come to reclaim the Chakra Fruit and that one Otsutsuki had traveled to the past to gather its power while Sasuke and Boruto were still children.

Naruto learned that Urashiki Otsutsuki would arrive within days and began preparing Boruto and the others for the threat. As Future Sasuke left to meet someone, Naruto started training Boruto alongside Hinata and Shikamaru.

• Naruto discussed Urashiki Otsutsuki's strength and the Otsutsuki bloodlines with Future Sasuke.
• Future Sasuke asked Naruto to look after Boruto and left to see someone after Naruto urged him to meet his younger self.
• Naruto brought Boruto to meet Hinata and Shikamaru, then made them Boruto's training partners for the next few days.
• Boruto challenged Naruto's Shadow Clone, but the clone easily knocked down Boruto and his clone with a spinning kick.
• Hinata and Shikamaru noticed Boruto's resemblance to Naruto, while Naruto and Kurama wondered about Boruto's reckless fighting style.

Nagato underwent a painful leg operation using refined Gelel Stone energy while Konan watched, and Itachi confronted Second Pillar in the rain. Itachi taunted his younger brother about the Uchiha clan and their bond, then overpowered him in their opening clash.

• Konan watched as Shinnō began operating on Nagato's scarred legs without anesthetic, injecting refined Gelel Stone energy into his body.
• White Zetsu warned that Second Pillar was approaching, and the masked man said Itachi would handle him.
• Kisame declined to interfere and said he trusted Itachi as Itachi went to meet Second Pillar in the rain.
• Second Pillar attacked Itachi, but his sword strike hit a Genjutsu that dissolved into crows.
• Itachi accused the Uchiha clan of being consumed by its pursuit of ocular power, and Second Pillar declared he would kill Itachi and become the next Uchiha Madara.
• Second Pillar charged with Chidori Stream, but Itachi twisted his arm behind his back and forced him to the ground.

Shadow Clone Yiming trained Boruto to fight with greater strategy, while Naruto gave Hinata Gelel Stones to test whether they could advance her Byakugan. Shikamaru played shogi with Shadow Clone Nimei as they discussed Future Sasuke, who had gone to find Itachi Uchiha.

• Shadow Clone Yiming advised Boruto to stay calm, think strategically, and strengthen his knowledge as well as his existing abilities.
• Naruto asked Hinata about the Byakugan’s range and potential, and she said restricted clan records held information she did not know.
• Naruto gave Hinata Gelel Stones and told her to use their energy during cultivation to see whether her Byakugan could evolve.
• Shadow Clone Nimei told Shikamaru that Future Sasuke had gone to find Itachi Uchiha but did not know where they were.
• Shadow Clone Nimei asked to take back a shogi move, but Shikamaru refused.

Second Pillar fought Itachi Uchiha, who used Tsukuyomi to torment him and demanded his eyes to obtain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Second Pillar awakened a monstrous transformation and rejected Itachi’s offer, but Itachi answered with Susanoo, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Second Pillar challenged Itachi Uchiha to use his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Itachi trapped him in Tsukuyomi.
• Itachi inflicted prolonged torture on Second Pillar in the illusion, while the strain of using Tsukuyomi caused blood to seep from Itachi’s eye.
• Itachi demanded Second Pillar’s eyes so he could gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and restore the Uchiha Clan’s glory.
• Second Pillar transformed after denouncing Itachi, then attacked him with a black-purple Chidori Stream.
• Itachi used Susanoo to block Second Pillar’s strike and insisted that he was rejecting the path to power.