Chapter Summaries

Sakura asked Tsunade to teach her Sage Mode so she could keep pace with Naruto and Sasuke, and Tsunade agreed to take her away for training. Sasuke sought greater power and went to Orochimaru’s underground laboratory, where Kimimaro blocked his entrance.

• Tsunade explained Sage Mode to Sakura and warned that she was not yet strong enough to learn it.
• Sakura insisted she wanted to become stronger despite the hardship, and Tsunade agreed to train her starting the next day.
• Kakashi told Sasuke he had taught him all he could and suggested he seek guidance from Orochimaru.
• Sasuke thanked Kakashi, then went to Orochimaru’s underground laboratory outside Konoha.
• Kimimaro stopped Sasuke at the entrance and warned him that outsiders could not enter the forbidden experimental area.

Sasuke confronted Kimimaro at the laboratory and asked to see Orochimaru. After waiting for Orochimaru to finish an experiment, Sasuke asked to become his apprentice, insisting that Orochimaru could help him grow stronger.

• Sasuke used his Mangekyo to neutralize the pressure of Kimimaro's Byakugan and asked to find Orochimaru.
• Kimimaro called into the laboratory, and Orochimaru told Sasuke to wait until his experiment was finished.
• Sasuke waited outside until evening, tense as he sensed Orochimaru approaching.
• Orochimaru emerged in a new body and asked Sasuke what he wanted.
• Sasuke asked Orochimaru to take him as his master, and Orochimaru questioned what he could teach someone with the Mangekyo and Six Paths Power.
• Sasuke insisted that following Orochimaru would make him stronger.

Sasuke asked Orochimaru to train him in Sage Mode, and Orochimaru agreed to take him on as a student. Meanwhile, Xuanyu, Deidara, and Naruto arrived at Mount Myōboku, where the Great Toad Sage invited Xuanyu to talk.

• Sasuke told Orochimaru he wanted to learn Sage Mode and believed Orochimaru was the only one who could make him stronger.
• Orochimaru agreed to train Sasuke and led him into the laboratory after Kimimaro warned him to follow its rules.
• Xuanyu, Deidara, and Naruto arrived at Mount Myōboku, and Xuanyu remarked on its abundant Natural Energy.
• Fukasaku and Shima met the group and said the Great Toad Sage had been waiting for them.
• The Great Toad Sage sensed Xuanyu and invited him to the hall for a talk, and Xuanyu joined the others on the giant toad's back.

Xuanyu and his companions met Toad Maru at Mount Myōboku and asked him to predict the future. Toad Maru explained that Xuanyu’s arrival had made his prophecies unreliable, leaving the group facing an uncertain future and the toads growing displeased with Xuanyu’s blunt demand.

• Jiraiya brought Naruto and Xuanyu’s group through Mount Myōboku, where the toads watched the uninvited visitors with hostility.
• Xuanyu entered the hall and met Toad Maru, while Jiraiya warned Naruto that the Great Toad Sage had lived since Kaguya’s era and taught the Sage of Six Paths Sage Mode.
• Toad Maru recognized Xuanyu’s Double Pupils from a prophetic dream and said he had been waiting for him.
• Xuanyu asked Toad Maru to reveal the most likely future, but Toad Maru said Xuanyu’s appearance had turned his prophecies into uncertain fragments.
• Xuanyu pressed Toad Maru for the prediction, prompting the two Toad Sages to frown and another toad to reach for its sword.

The Great Toad Sage told Xuanyu that his visions showed him leading the Shinobi World against the Otsutsuki, then agreed to let Xuanyu’s group learn Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku. After the group left to begin training, the Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya that the Otsutsuki’s arrival was inevitable and that Xuanyu’s future choices would determine the Shinobi World’s fate.

• The Great Toad Sage told Xuanyu that his most frequent vision showed him leading the Shinobi World against the Otsutsuki.
• Hua Yu, Hinata, Deidara, and Neji worried that Xuanyu would be in danger, but the Great Toad Sage said he could not see the battle’s outcome.
• Xuanyu asked the Great Toad Sage to teach his subordinates Sage Mode, and he agreed to have Fukasaku and Shima instruct them.
• Deidara urged the group to start training immediately, so Fukasaku led them to Mount Myōboku’s back mountain.
• Jiraiya asked whether the Otsutsuki would return, and the Great Toad Sage said their arrival was inevitable and Xuanyu’s choices would shape the future.

The Great Toad told Jiraiya that Uchiha Xuan Yu surpassed even the Sage of Six Paths and could grow stronger indefinitely while remaining young. At Mount Myōboku, Fukasaku began teaching Sage Mode, and Hua Yu, Hinata, and Neji were shaken to learn that Natural Energy made up most of the universe's energy.

• Jiraiya asked the Great Toad how powerful Uchiha Xuan Yu was, and the Great Toad said Xuan Yu surpassed his senses and was far more terrifying than Otsutsuki Hagoromo.
• The Great Toad explained that Xuan Yu constantly absorbed Natural Energy, strengthened every cell, and had no apparent limit to his growth.
• The Great Toad said Xuan Yu's cells kept transforming, allowing him to remain young and at his peak, and Jiraiya stopped him from saying more.
• Jiraiya decided to rest at Mount Myōboku instead of visiting the training grounds, trusting that Naruto would be safe with Xuan Yu around.
• Fukasaku Toad taught the group that Sage Mode began with sensing Natural Energy, which made up most of the universe's energy while Chakra formed only a small part.
• Hua Yu, Hinata, and Neji were stunned by Fukasaku's explanation and wondered why people relied on Chakra instead of the more abundant Natural Energy.

Sage Fukasaku explained that the Otsutsuki Hagoromo founded the Ninjutsu Sect after learning Sage Mode, but never taught the method to others. As he began teaching the group to sense Natural Energy on Mount Myōboku, Jugo proved able to detect it instinctively but could not absorb it.

• Hua Yu asked why people cultivated Chakra when Natural Energy was plentiful, and Sage Fukasaku explained the Otsutsuki Clan’s history and how the Great Toad Sage taught Otsutsuki Hagoromo Sage Mode.
• Sage Fukasaku said Otsutsuki Hagoromo founded the Ninjutsu Sect but did not pass Sage Mode on to others, leaving the reason unknown.
• Sage Fukasaku instructed the group to sit cross-legged and sense energy apart from Chakra, but Deidara and the others struggled to perceive Natural Energy.
• Jugo sensed vast Natural Energy around him and said his body seemed to resist absorbing it, astonishing Deidara and the others.
• Sage Fukasaku confirmed that Natural Energy was densest around Xuanyu and Jugo, then told Jugo to apply Toad Oil and let the energy merge with his skin before guiding it into his body.

At Mount Myōboku, Xuanyu helped Hua Yu survive an uncontrolled surge of Natural Energy as she began training in Sage Mode. After a day of practice, Jugo had only managed to let Natural Energy seep into his skin, and Naruto’s first look at the prepared meal startled him.

• Sage Shima poured Toad Oil on Jugo and told him to sense Natural Energy and absorb it gradually.
• Hua Yu sensed Natural Energy, absorbed too much, and struggled to balance it with her Chakra.
• Xuanyu used his spiritual power to stabilize the Natural Energy in Hua Yu’s body, and she resumed practicing Sage Mode.
• After a day, Jugo had barely absorbed Natural Energy, while his Cursed Seal physique and Samehada began changing.
• Sage Fukasaku served the group, and Naruto uncovered a dish and recoiled in shock.

At Mount Myōboku, Xuanyu’s companions struggled to eat raw bugs while training to sense Natural Energy and learn Sage Mode. After a day and night without other food, most gave in, but Deidara continued eating dirt to stave off hunger.

• Sage Shima served the visitors bowls of raw bugs, while Xuanyu ate ramen with Hua Yu and explained that eating Mount Myōboku’s food would help them adapt to Natural Energy.
• Hua Yu asked whether Natural Energy and Chakra had to remain balanced, and Xuanyu explained how mastering Sage Mode could let her absorb more Natural Energy.
• Jugo ate the bugs without complaint, but Naruto, Deidara, and the others refused and continued training while hungry.
• After going without other food for a day and night, Naruto convinced himself the bugs were Ichiraku Ramen and began eating them.
• Hinata eventually joined the others in eating bugs, while Deidara remained the only one still eating dirt to stave off hunger.

While Xuanyu guarded the group as they learned to absorb Natural Energy on Mount Myōboku, the Deva Path led an Akatsuki team to Sunagakure to capture Shukaku. The chapter ended with the Yamanaka Brothers volunteering to take on the mission while the Deva Path refused to intervene unless Akatsuki did.

• Xuanyu refused Deidara’s request for ramen, and Deidara continued eating clay while the others ate with the Toads.
• Naruto, Neji, Hashira, and Hinata comprehended Natural Energy, and Deidara sensed it after two more days.
• The Deva Path, Tobi, Sasori, Kakuzu, and the Yamanaka Brothers arrived outside Sunagakure to capture Shukaku.
• The Yamanaka Brothers mocked Sasori and Sunagakure’s defenses, then insisted they could capture Shukaku without help.
• The Deva Path ordered the team to divide the work themselves and said he would not act unless Akatsuki intervened.

The Akatsuki members launched an assault on Sunagakure to capture Gaara, Shukaku’s Jinchuriki, while the Yamanaka brothers rushed ahead to attack the village. The chapter ended with Yamanaka Riki striking down two guards at Sunagakure’s gate.

• Deva Path ordered the Yamanaka brothers to attack Sunagakure quickly and focus on capturing Shukaku’s Jinchuriki, Gaara.
• Yamanaka Batsu and Yamanaka Riki dismissed Deva Path’s caution and charged toward Sunagakure, while Kakuzu, Tobi, and Sasori followed.
• Deva Path explained that Akatsuki would reveal itself rather than remain hidden, and Tobi privately reaffirmed his commitment to the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Sunagakure’s guards tried to stop the Yamanaka brothers at the gate, and Yamanaka Riki used Shunshin to strike them and send them flying.

Yamanaka Riki and Yamanaka Batsu attacked their way through Sunagakure, shrugging off the village ninjas’ weapons and ninjutsu. They revealed that they had come to take Shukaku from Gaara, and Kankuro confronted them as the fight escalated.

• Yamanaka Riki and Yamanaka Batsu beat the Sunagakure ninjas who tried to stall them while the village summoned the Kazekage.
• The brothers’ Diamond bodies withstood attacks from dozens of ninjas, and they continued toward the village square.
• Yamanaka Batsu smashed apart Rasa’s gold-dust attack, prompting Rasa to emerge and question the brothers.
• Yamanaka Riki told Rasa that they had come to take Shukaku from Gaara.
• Kankuro leaped forward to defend Gaara and sent two puppets at the brothers while Rasa watched.

Rasa confronted the Yamanaka Brothers after they demanded that Sunagakure hand over Gaara, but their Diamond Kekkei Genkai resisted his Gold Dust attacks. As Rasa’s Gold Dust Cubes crashed down on them, Gaara sensed the brothers had survived and warned that more enemies were coming.

• The Yamanaka Brothers’ Diamond bodies shrugged off Kankuro’s puppets and poison, and they smashed two of his puppets to pieces.
• Rasa ordered the others back and offered the brothers a chance to leave, but Yamanaka Riki refused unless they handed over Gaara.
• Rasa attacked with Gold Dust spears, but they bent against the brothers’ bodies without piercing them.
• Rasa bound the brothers with Gold Dust chains and dropped two enormous Gold Dust Cubes on them.
• Temari urged Gaara to hide, but Gaara sensed the brothers were still alive and warned that more enemies had come.

Rasa’s Gold Dust attack failed to kill the two diamond-bodied brothers, who emerged from beneath the cubes and revealed their ability to heal by turning sand into diamond. Sunagakure realized the brothers could threaten the village, while Temari considered asking Konoha for help and Gaara left that choice to Rasa.

• Kakuzu and Sasori approached the plaza, while Tobi secretly watched and decided not to intervene.
• Rasa’s Gold Dust Cubes crushed the brothers, and the gathered Sunagakure shinobi briefly believed the Kazekage had won.
• The cubes began to move, and Rasa ordered everyone to retreat after realizing the brothers had survived.
• Temari wondered whether the brothers matched Hua Yu’s strength and asked Gaara about using the Peace Token to summon Xuanyu, but Gaara said the decision belonged to Rasa.
• The brothers lifted the cubes and emerged with diamond bodies, one missing an arm; the injured brother healed by turning nearby sand into diamond and merging it with his body.

Rasa tried to seal the Diamond-bodied Yamanaka Brothers with his Great Burial of Gold Dust, but Kakuzu rescued them. As the formidable group prepared to continue, Temari urged Rasa to request Konoha’s reinforcements using the Peace Token.

• Rasa analyzed that the Yamanaka Brothers could recover by creating Diamond and might be defeated if they were prevented from repairing their bodies.
• Riki threatened Sunagakure and demanded that Gaara be handed over, but Rasa refused and attacked with Magnetic Release: Great Burial of Gold Dust.
• Rasa’s gold dust began burying the brothers, and he vowed to keep them sealed and reinforce the seal every day.
• Kakuzu used long black threads to pull Riki and Batsu out of the gold dust and onto a rooftop.
• Riki, Batsu, Kakuzu, and Sasori argued about the rescue and their mission as Temari advised Rasa to request reinforcements from Konoha through the Peace Token.

Rasa refused to ask Konoha for help and prepared to defend Gaara as Akatsuki’s group attacked. The battle began with Rasa fighting Yamanaka Riki while Kakuzu struck down the shinobi who tried to block him.

• Rasa rejected the idea of asking Konoha for help, while Grandma Chiyo urged him to seek aid if defeat became unavoidable.
• Temari suggested taking Gaara away, but Gaara said the attackers would not let them escape and agreed with Shukaku to draw on his Chakra if necessary.
• Yamanaka Riki spotted Gaara and charged at him, but Rasa intercepted him with a palm of gold sand.
• Rasa fought Yamanaka Riki and found himself heavily pressured by his opponent’s strength.
• Kakuzu advanced toward the defenders, knocked away their attacks, and pierced one jonin’s heart with a thread of Earth Grudge Fear.

Kakuzu survived a Sunagakure ninja’s heart-piercing attack and revealed that his Earth Grudge Fear gave him multiple hearts. As the Sunagakure fighters charged again, Kakuzu unleashed two thread-bodied monsters while Grandma Chiyo explained how he could be defeated.

• A Sunagakure ninja sacrificed himself to stab Kakuzu through the heart, believing he had avenged two fallen comrades.
• Kakuzu pulled the sword from his chest, revealed that he had five hearts, and killed the despairing ninja.
• Kakuzu tore open his cloak and separated two monsters woven from black threads as the remaining Sunagakure ninja recoiled.
• Grandma Chiyo identified Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear and urged the Sunagakure ninja to destroy his main body and all his hearts.
• The Sunagakure ninja regained confidence and charged Kakuzu as his monsters gathered Chakra, while Yamanaka Batsu approved of Kakuzu and Sasori crawled forward.

Sasori revealed himself to Grandma Chiyo and attacked Sunagakure with the Third Kazekage puppet. As Sasori unleashed Iron Sand Rain, sand rose from the ground to shield the others, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• A Puppet Master and several Sunagakure jonin attacked Sasori, but he destroyed a puppet and fought them off until his disguise was broken.
• Grandma Chiyo recognized Sasori, and he removed his Straw Hat and demanded Gaara and the One-Tail Shukaku.
• Sasori summoned a puppet made from the Third Kazekage and used it to attack the assembled ninjas, shocking Chiyo and Rasa.
• Sasori released iron sand and launched Iron Sand Rain, but sand surged from the ground and blocked the attack.

Sasori fought Chiyo while Yamanaka Batsu targeted Gaara, who defended Temari and struggled to break through Batsu’s hardened body. Shukaku instructed Gaara to mix his refined Six Paths Power into his Chakra and coat his sand with it, and Gaara began trying the method.

• Gaara blocked Sasori’s attack on the villagers, while Chiyo engaged Sasori and lost one of her puppets and the ninja who tried to ambush him.
• Chiyo summoned ten white puppets and fought Sasori’s Third Kazekage puppet as he prepared to go after Gaara.
• Yamanaka Batsu charged Gaara, but Temari intervened and Gaara’s sand blocked Batsu’s punch before he could hit her.
• Gaara attacked Batsu with sand, but Batsu’s hardened body resisted it, so Shukaku advised Gaara to coat his sand with Chakra infused with Six Paths Power.
• Gaara began circulating his Chakra as Shukaku instructed.

Gaara used his new Six Paths Power to pierce and temporarily seal Yamanaka Batsu, but he could not hold him for long. With Sunagakure’s fighters dying and Rasa being overwhelmed, Gaara faced pressure to end the fight quickly and help defend the village.

• Yamanaka Batsu attacked Gaara, but Gaara’s sand blocked the punch and then pierced Batsu’s Diamond body with Six Paths Power.
• Yamanaka Batsu repaired himself by turning sand into Diamond, and Gaara fought him while drawing on Shukaku’s Chakra.
• Gaara rejected Shukaku’s suggestion to use a Tailed Beast Ball because it could devastate Sunagakure, and instead used a Six Paths Power-coated sand seal on Yamanaka Batsu.
• Yamanaka Batsu began breaking through the seal by assimilating the parts of the sand Gaara had not covered with Six Paths Power.
• Gaara saw that Kakuzu had killed more than a dozen Sunagakure ninja, Sasori’s puppets were overwhelming Chiyo, and Rasa was being beaten back by Yamanaka Riki.