Chapter Summaries

Naruto gave Kurama a grassland in place of his cage, then completed five days of training and surveillance in the Land of Waves. After reviewing the quiet days and testing his Rasengan, Naruto headed to the bridge entrance, where the bridge came into view.

• Naruto showed Kurama the grassland he had created in his inner world, and Kurama lay down in the sunlight and breeze.
• Naruto tested his newly mastered Rasengan and planned to keep training in the Flying Raijin Technique and Sealing Technique.
• Naruto reflected that he could now defeat Haku without relying on Nine-Tails Chakra and planned to keep a low profile after returning to Konoha.
• Naruto dispelled more than fifty Shadow Clones and received their memories, learning that five days had passed and that no major incidents had occurred.
• Naruto leaped to a reef at the bridge entrance and saw the full bridge.

Naruto waited for the Land of Waves bridge work to finish and returned home, where Kakashi noticed how much he had changed after the battles with Zabuza and Haku. Sasuke and Sakura arrived as Naruto reaffirmed his goal of becoming Hokage, leaving their strained feelings toward him unresolved.

• Naruto absorbed his Shadow Clone's memories and saw that Sasuke and Sakura had visited the bridge but left without speaking to him.
• Naruto stayed at the bridge until work ended, then followed Tazuna and the workers home.
• Naruto caught Kakashi reading Make-Out Paradise and told him he should read less porn while recovering.
• Kakashi said Naruto had become quieter and steadier, and Naruto said that life-and-death experiences had helped him grow.
• Naruto told Kakashi he would work hard to become Hokage, while Sakura remained resentful and Sasuke reflected on Naruto's past as a poor student.

Naruto and Team 7 celebrated the completion of the bridge in the Land of Waves before finishing their mission and setting out for Konoha. On the journey back, Naruto worried about Hiruzen Sarutobi’s surveillance and resolved to keep acting like his old self until the Hokage’s death changed his circumstances.

• Tazuna announced the bridge would be completed the next day and proposed naming it Naruto Bridge, upsetting Sakura and drawing no comment from Sasuke.
• The people of the Land of Waves celebrated as Tazuna unveiled the completed Naruto Bridge.
• Kakashi and Tazuna completed the mission handover, and Tsunami gave the departing team extra rice balls.
• Inari thanked Naruto for giving him courage, and Naruto encouraged him before Team 7 left the town.
• Naruto considered the ANBU surveillance and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s ability to track his Chakra as he followed Team 7 toward Konoha.
• Naruto decided to maintain his usual persona until Hiruzen Sarutobi died and Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage.

Naruto returned to Konoha with Team 7 after the Land of Waves mission, but he remained distant during their two-day break. He went to his apartment and found its interior in disarray.

• Naruto arrived at Konoha with Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura, and they completed the mission handover at the registration office.
• Kakashi announced that Team 7 had two days off, while Naruto and Sasuke stayed quiet and Sakura celebrated alone.
• Kakashi dismissed the team, and Sasuke and Naruto walked away in separate directions without saying goodbye.
• Naruto followed a familiar route to an old apartment building and unlocked the door to his dark apartment.
• Naruto turned on the light and saw empty cup-noodle containers and milk cartons scattered around the room.

After cleaning his apartment and resolving to eat better, Naruto began studying the Sealing Technique knowledge Kushina had left him. Hiruzen watched Naruto through a crystal ball, then received the participant lists for the joint Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Naruto cleared out the expired food and trash, cleaned his apartment, and decided to focus on nutritious meals to support his training.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Naruto clean through a crystal ball while Kakashi reported that the Land of Waves mission had helped Naruto grow more composed and determined to become Hokage.
• After Kakashi left, Hiruzen watched Naruto meditate and murmured that he hoped Naruto would grow into a ninja like his father.
• An ANBU delivered the participant lists for the joint Chunin Ninja Exams, and Hiruzen opened the scroll and read through the names from the various villages.
• Naruto finished showering, sat on his bed, and began reviewing the Sealing Technique knowledge Kushina had left him.

Naruto studied the Perception Isolation Barrier so he could train secretly beyond the Third Hokage’s surveillance, then joined Team 7 for a D-Rank weeding mission while searching for a suitable training spot. He ruled out the farmland as too exposed and too close to other people.

• Naruto learned the Perception Isolation Barrier’s formula and planned to use a Shadow Clone at home while he trained elsewhere.
• Naruto spent his two days off studying sealing, practicing taijutsu, and buying Kunai and rune paper with a transformed Shadow Clone.
• Naruto arrived early at Team 7’s meeting place, where Sasuke and Sakura were already waiting, and Kakashi arrived more than an hour late.
• Kakashi assigned Team 7 to weed an old woman’s field on Konoha’s southern outskirts.
• Naruto surveyed the farmland as he worked and crossed it off as a training spot because it was too open and had too many nearby people.

Naruto used three D-rank missions to scout possible secret training locations around Konoha, narrowing his choices to a secluded waterfall and an abandoned trap training ground. After the missions, he noticed three small chakra sources following him and called out their poor disguise, prompting them to reveal themselves.

• Naruto considered the farmland unsuitable for training and, while cleaning a river, found a secluded waterfall pool whose noise and isolation made it a promising candidate.
• Kakashi led Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke on a poodle-walking mission, which Naruto used to scout Konoha’s outskirts and map locations.
• Naruto discovered an abandoned, sealed trap training ground and compared it with the waterfall as a possible training site.
• After returning the poodle and collecting their mission pay, Naruto sensed three small chakra sources tailing him through an alley.
• Naruto criticized the followers’ obvious disguise, and the three figures dispelled their Transformation Technique with a smoke bomb.

Naruto encountered Kankuro and Temari in Konoha and sensed Gaara hiding nearby, realizing the Chunin Ninja Exams were approaching sooner than he expected. When Kankuro grabbed Konohamaru, Naruto intervened and restrained his wrist, drawing the attention of the Sand siblings and Gaara.

• Konohamaru challenged Naruto to a contest over who would become Hokage, but Naruto dismissed him and said he wanted to go home and sleep.
• Konohamaru backed into Kankuro, who grabbed him by the collar and demanded an apology.
• Naruto recognized Kankuro and Temari and sensed Gaara concealed in a nearby tree.
• Naruto realized the Chunin Ninja Exams and their threats were approaching sooner than he had planned for.
• Naruto seized Kankuro's wrist and told him to let Konohamaru go, prompting Temari and Gaara to watch him closely.

Naruto stopped Kankuro from bullying Konohamaru and met Gaara, who recognized a kindred Jinchuriki in him. Gaara left with Kankuro and Temari after challenging Naruto to meet him at the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Naruto restrained Kankuro when he lifted Konohamaru off the ground.
• Temari stopped Kankuro from reaching for his puppet, and Gaara appeared and ordered him to stop.
• Gaara called Kankuro an embarrassment, then asked Sasuke his name and studied him.
• Gaara asked Naruto whether he had noticed him, and Naruto said they might be the same kind of person.
• Gaara told Naruto he would see him at the Chunin Ninja Exams, then left with Kankuro and Temari.
• Konohamaru praised Naruto for stopping Kankuro.

Naruto warned Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon to stay safe, then faced Sasuke’s questions about his sudden increase in strength. After Moegi was kidnapped, Naruto raced after the cloaked abductor while Sasuke and Konohamaru followed.

• Naruto sent Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon home and warned them not to wander while foreign ninja were in the village.
• Sasuke questioned Naruto about his speed and strength, then walked away, troubled by the gap between them.
• Naruto decided to keep training and not interfere with Sasuke’s coming trials or Orochimaru’s curse mark.
• Naruto and Sasuke heard Moegi scream and rushed toward the sound.
• Naruto saw a cloaked figure carrying Moegi away as Konohamaru fell at the alley entrance, then pursued the kidnapper.

Naruto rescued Moegi from a cloaked kidnapper and discovered the attacker was Iruka, apparently testing him and Sasuke. After bringing Iruka home and tending to him, Naruto waited until Iruka woke.

• Naruto used advanced Chakra control to catch the kidnapper and knock him unconscious, then comforted Moegi.
• Naruto recognized the unconscious kidnapper as Iruka and concluded that the abduction had likely been a test.
• Sasuke arrived, saw Naruto had subdued Iruka quickly, and silently left without speaking.
• Naruto carried Iruka back to his apartment, treated his neck, and waited beside him.
• Iruka woke more than half an hour later and saw Naruto sitting by his desk.

After testing Naruto’s strength, Iruka warned him about the Chunin Ninja Exams and learned how much his student had grown. Iruka took Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen for a meal, where Naruto enjoyed the ramen and the welcome of a place that had always treated him kindly.

• Iruka woke in bed and admitted that Naruto had knocked him out before he could react.
• Naruto warned Iruka not to test him that way again, since a mistake could have led to a much more dangerous outcome.
• Naruto told Iruka about his encounter with Genin from Sunagakure, and Iruka cautioned him that Jōnin Baki’s candidates were strong.
• Iruka revealed that Kakashi had submitted the Chunin Ninja Exams applications for Team 7 and said he had tested Naruto because he worried about his readiness.
• Naruto explained that his experiences in the Land of Waves had changed his view of being a ninja, and Iruka told him he had grown up.
• Iruka took Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen, where they ordered tonkotsu ramen and Naruto tasted it for the first time.

Naruto shared a meal with Iruka, then returned home and discovered two ANBU were secretly watching his apartment. He used a shadow clone and the Transformation Technique to sneak past them, leaving his next move unknown.

• Naruto and Iruka reminisced over ramen, and Iruka wished him luck on the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Naruto returned to his apartment and used his senses to detect two ANBU monitoring it.
• Naruto confirmed the ANBU had not moved from their positions and calculated that the next shift change was still hours away.
• Naruto made a shadow clone to carry out the trash while he transformed himself into an empty shampoo bottle.

Naruto secretly left his apartment under ANBU surveillance and reached a secluded waterfall to train for the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams. He set up a Perception Isolation Barrier and began studying the Flying Raijin Technique with more than thirty shadow clones.

• Naruto used a shadow clone to fool the watching ANBU while his real body hid in the garbage and escaped unnoticed.
• Naruto chose the waterfall as a remote training site because its distance, noise, and dense forest helped conceal him.
• Naruto found a cave beneath the waterfall and used four shadow clones to form a Perception Isolation Barrier around the area.
• Naruto summoned more than thirty shadow clones and had them study the Flying Raijin Technique from Minato Namikaze’s explanations.

Naruto trained with shadow clones while the Nine-Tails warned him about the risks of absorbing their similar memories. Naruto told Kurama he wanted to become his true friend and partner, leaving Kurama wary but quietly hopeful.

• Naruto prepared to train alongside more than thirty shadow clones as the Nine-Tails commented on the technique’s efficiency.
• The Nine-Tails warned Naruto that releasing so many clones could overload his mind, and Naruto hinted that he was counting on Kurama to help.
• The Nine-Tails offered Naruto the option of using his chakra directly, but Naruto said he wanted Kurama’s trust and chakra willingly, as a friend rather than a tool.
• Naruto’s words reminded the Nine-Tails of the Sage of Six Paths’ promise that someone would someday accept the Tailed Beasts as partners.
• Naruto entered the Sealing Space, where the Nine-Tails watched him with suspicion and a trace of anticipation.

Naruto and Kurama formed an equal partnership by sharing their Chakra and trusting each other. Naruto opened the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style and controlled Kurama’s power, leaving him enveloped in a stable golden Chakra cloak.

• Naruto offered Kurama a fist bump and asked to become his partner.
• Kurama touched Naruto’s fist, and their Chakras flowed into each other, revealing Naruto’s trust and resolve.
• Kurama accepted Naruto and offered him its Chakra.
• Naruto used Minato Namikaze’s Sealing Key hand seals to loosen the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style.
• Naruto used Absolute Control to purify and direct Kurama’s Chakra while the Perception Isolation Barrier concealed the surge.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clones sensed his power rise as golden Chakra flames enveloped him.

Naruto awakened Golden Body Mode after Kurama willingly gave him his Chakra, then tested the form’s speed and Good and Evil Perception without alerting Konoha. Kurama warned him to adapt to the power and learn Tailed Beast techniques, while Naruto returned to his clones, who complained that he had shown off while they studied the Flying Thunder God.

• Naruto transformed into Golden Body Mode and discovered that the form gave him enhanced movement speed and Good and Evil Perception.
• Naruto sensed goodwill throughout Konoha and confirmed that the Perception Isolation Barrier had kept his transformation from being detected.
• Naruto visited Kurama in the Sealing Space and thanked him for giving up his Chakra.
• Kurama told Naruto to adapt to Golden Body Mode, learn Tailed Beast techniques, and control Kurama’s Chakra with his own to prevent it from going berserk.
• Naruto returned to his Shadow Clones and showed off his new appearance, prompting them to complain that he had unlocked the mode while they studied the Flying Thunder God.

Naruto used insights from his Shadow Clone Techniques’ Flying Raijin training to create forty Golden Body Mode clones, then practiced shaping giant Chakra hands. He left the cave far larger, with his clones still training and his Golden Body control improving.

• Naruto organized the memories from thirty Shadow Clone Techniques and gained a clearer direction for improving his spatial perception.
• Naruto created forty Golden Body Mode clones and sent them to train in the Flying Raijin Technique.
• Naruto practiced forming giant Chakra hands, adjusting their Chakra density and control.
• Naruto used the hands to remove boulders from the cave, refining his technique while preserving the mountain’s supporting rock.
• Naruto formed seven or eight Chakra hands and expanded the cave in silence.

Naruto finished excavating and concealing a cavern, destroyed the resulting rock pile, and tested whether he could throw a Rasengan. As dawn arrived, Golden Body Clones reported a breakthrough in sensing spatial fluctuations, and Naruto released them to absorb their training memories.

• Naruto completed a large cavern and sealed it with a Perception Isolation Barrier.
• Naruto used the Rasengan to grind away the excavated rocks, then tested throwing a Rasengan and watched it collapse before reaching the pool.
• Naruto decided to ask Kakashi about Chakra Nature Transformation after the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Naruto continued clearing rocks until Golden Body Clones called out that they could inscribe Chakra into the formula and sense its position, distance, and direction.
• Naruto released more than forty Golden Body Clones and stood still as their Flying Thunder God training memories flooded his mind.

Naruto completed the first stage of Flying Raijin by engraving his own mark and teleporting to it. He established a hidden return point in the cave and left to review his training results.

• Naruto combined his Shadow Clones’ breakthroughs and engraved a five-pointed-star Flying Raijin Mark onto a kunai.
• Naruto threw the kunai across the waterfall pool, sensed its mark, and successfully teleported to it.
• Naruto marked five more kunai and considered improving his technique and acquiring Chakra-Conductive Metal from Tenten’s family shop.
• Naruto concealed a marked kunai in a cave wall as a fixed teleportation point and checked the cave’s Perception Isolation Barriers.
• Naruto dispelled Golden Body Mode and began reviewing the results of his training.