Chapter Summaries

Minato, disguised as Orochimaru, learned that Naruto and the others had captured Morino Ida and another rogue ninja, then consulted Orochimaru about Konoha’s intelligence and finances. Orochimaru ordered Konoha to host the Chunin Exams in two months and set the clans to work, while also arranging to draw Ibiki out by revealing Ida’s capture.

• Hizashi reported that Naruto and the others had captured Morino Ida and another rogue ninja, and Minato ordered them imprisoned without visitors, especially Ibiki.
• Minato visited Orochimaru and reported the intelligence, including that 82 Sarutobi Clan Members had returned to Konoha over the past month.
• Orochimaru ordered Minato to announce a Chunin Exams in two months and invite every ninja village, while requiring Konoha’s clans to send participants.
• Orochimaru told Minato to leak Ida’s capture to Ibiki and advised him to consult Natsuki if he could not decide an urgent matter.

Natsuki took Kimimaro and Haku on a mission and used the journey to study Lightning Release Nature Transformation while Radiant Country continued its rapid development. After returning, he began preparing to expand maritime trade by assigning Kisame, Konan, and Yahiko to oversee it.

• Nagato used the Wood Golem Technique to build housing for arriving refugees, who underwent registration, health checks, identity verification, and quarantine before resettlement.
• Radiant Country developed jobs, roads, schools, and training programs to employ new residents and build up its workforce.
• Natsuki flew with Kimimaro and Haku over the uninhabited Land of Whirlpools and considered turning its fertile land into Radiant Country's granary.
• Natsuki studied how Thunder God's Sword transformed chakra into a Light Sword during the flight, deepening his understanding of Lightning Release Nature Transformation.
• Natsuki returned to Radiant Hidden Village and selected Kisame, Konan, and Yahiko to handle long-distance maritime trade and security.

Natsuki prepared for the Chunin Exams and for threats that might come without Jiraiya, Mount Myōboku, or the Sage of Six Paths. After arranging Kisame and Kyoko’s move to Radiant Country, he set out with Kimimaro and Haku to retrieve a Summoning Scroll from Kubisaki Ridge.

• Kisame and Kyoko arrived, and Natsuki welcomed them to settle in Radiant Country and help protect its maritime trade.
• Natsuki sent Shisui to show Kisame and Kyoko around and arrange a house for them, while Shisui reported that Konan’s group would arrive in about seven days.
• Natsuki planned to train Tenten and Ajisai in the Summoning Technique and resolved to prepare his own forces rather than depend on outside powers.
• Natsuki assigned Kisame to the Maritime Department’s security and arranged for Yahiko to learn from him.
• Natsuki traveled with Kimimaro and Haku to Kubisaki Ridge to retrieve the Summoning Scroll left by the Kubisaki Clan.

Natsuki traveled toward the Land of Spikes with Haku and Kimimaro while reflecting on summoning contracts and practicing the Hundred Healings Jutsu in Dream Space. After they shared breakfast, Haku noticed Kimimaro was unwell, but Kimimaro insisted he did not want to trouble Natsuki.

• Natsuki flew toward the Land of Spikes with Haku and Kimimaro while training with Lightning Release.
• Natsuki reflected on the risks and requirements of summoning contracts and his plans to practice the Hundred Healings Jutsu in Dream Space.
• Haku cooked mushroom soup with dried meat, and Natsuki and Kimimaro enjoyed the meal.
• Haku noticed Kimimaro's hand trembling as he ate, but Kimimaro said he was feeling better and did not want to trouble Natsuki.
• Haku left without replying, while Kimimaro gripped his wrist with confusion and anxiety.

Natsuki, Haku, and Kimimaro entered the hidden Kubisaki Castle and found the Kubisaki Lizard’s Contract Book. After Natsuki promised Kubisaki Gōsa’s Thought-form that the clan would have a better life, Gōsa disappeared and the castle transformed into the lizard before vanishing.

• Natsuki led Haku and Kimimaro through the fog to the ancient Kubisaki Castle, whose gates opened for them and shut behind them.
• Natsuki and his companions passed through the castle as its animated armor attacked, then escaped a stomach-like chamber by breaking through the ceiling.
• When the castle began attacking them, Natsuki called out to Kubisaki Gōsa, stopping the assault and bringing forth Gōsa’s Thought-form.
• Gōsa led Natsuki, Haku, and Kimimaro to the Kubisaki Lizard Contract Book, and Natsuki promised to let the clan live better lives.
• Gōsa’s Thought-form dispersed, and the castle transformed into a giant lizard before exploding into smoke and leaving Natsuki with the scroll.

Jiraiya consulted Gamamaru about Natsuki’s claim that Naruto was the Child of Prophecy and learned that Natsuki had thrown the ninja world’s future into uncertainty. Meanwhile, Konoha prepared to host a large-scale Chunin Exams, with several allied and smaller villages expected to attend.

• Jiraiya returned to Mount Myōboku and asked Gamamaru whether the future showed anything about Natsuki and his claim that Naruto was the Child of Prophecy.
• Gamamaru told Jiraiya that blood-red eyes blocked Naruto’s path and that Naruto could save the ninja world only if he became Jiraiya’s disciple.
• Gamamaru revealed that Natsuki had altered many people’s destinies and led the ninja world into an unknown future, while warning Jiraiya that Naruto could not become its savior without Natsuki’s interference.
• Jiraiya decided he would have to speak with Natsuki again because Naruto hated him and force was not an option.
• Konoha expanded the Forest of Death for its large-scale Chunin Exams, and Tenzo worked to replant and grow trees for the event.
• Rasa and the Sand Village agreed to attend the exams, alongside Amegakure, Kusagakure, Takigakure, Natsuki’s Radiant Hidden Village, Otogakure, and smaller villages.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji formed a temporary team and began taking escort missions around Konoha. Meanwhile, Kusagakure spies Kōta and Yūsuke gathered intelligence and concluded that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Naruto and Sasuke met Neji at the mission hall and invited him to join them while Hinata studied Medical Ninjutsu.
• Neji agreed, and the three Genin formed a team and began completing escort missions for merchant caravans.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji quickly became familiar faces in the Mission System, and Hizashi assigned them manageable missions.
• Kōta and Yūsuke, spies from Kusagakure's Fruit of Grass faction posing as merchants, secretly compiled their findings in an inn near the Hokage Building.
• Kōta and Yūsuke discussed Sasuke's decision to remain in Konoha and concluded that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Kōta and Yūsuke, spies from Kusagakure, discussed targeting Naruto Uzumaki, but Hyuga Hayato and another Hyuga member secretly recorded their conversation. Orochimaru and Hizashi learned of the threat and began monitoring the spies, while Hizashi sent the intelligence to Uchiha Natsuki.

• Kōta and Yūsuke discussed Kusagakure's interest in Naruto Uzumaki and decided to send their intelligence back to their village.
• Hyuga Hayato and another Hyuga member secretly monitored the spies and recorded their conversation through lip-reading.
• Hayato reported that Kōta and Yūsuke were Kusagakure spies targeting Naruto, and Orochimaru ordered continued surveillance.
• Karin recognized the spies from their past exploitation of her mother, and Orochimaru promised not to let them escape.
• Hizashi ordered stronger surveillance and defenses, then had Hayato send the intelligence to Uchiha Natsuki.

Mui’s faith in Kusagakure’s revival collapsed after the Box of Paradise consumed his son Muku, and he began secretly gathering prisoners’ Chakra to try to bring Muku back. The Fruit of Grass learned that the Box required a vast amount of Chakra at once, and Kōta and Yūsuke returned from Konoha with intelligence about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Kusagakure used Hozuki Castle and Mui’s Heavenly Prison technique to hold criminals and extract their Chakra for the Box of Paradise.
• Mui’s son Muku was swallowed by the Box after Mui used him to open it, and the Zodiac Elders dismissed the sacrifice as insufficient Chakra.
• Mui shifted his goal from reviving Kusagakure to reviving Muku and secretly exploited prisoners to gather Chakra.
• The Fruit of Grass discovered that only a massive supply of Chakra delivered all at once could satisfy the Box of Paradise.
• Kusagakure’s elders sent spies to seek a Jinchuriki, and Kōta and Yūsuke found that Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was a newly graduated child without Anbu or jōnin protection.

The Hidden Grass Village elders planned to bring the Box of Paradise to Konoha and use the Chunin Exams to create an opportunity to capture Naruto, seeking help from allies and the Sand Village. Black Zetsu told Obito about the plan, and Obito agreed to let Kazuma's group test Orochimaru's strength.

• Horse Head Elder proposed bringing the Box of Paradise to Konoha to exploit the village's weakened defenses and shift the danger onto Konoha.
• Sheep Head Elder proposed contacting the group from the Land of Rivers and creating chaos that might draw the Sand Village into the conflict.
• The four elders pledged their remaining resources and vowed to act for Hidden Grass Village.
• Black Zetsu learned that Hidden Grass Village had contacted Kazuma and wanted to attack Konoha with Sora and the Box of Paradise.
• Black Zetsu told Obito that the Sand Village might seize the chance to attack if Konoha fell into chaos, and explained that the Uchiha Clan had left some vulnerable relatives behind.
• Obito ordered Kazuma's group to test Orochimaru's strength, saying that only Sora among them had any value.

Natsuki read intelligence about the Hidden Grass Village and considered how Orochimaru was using the Hokage position to strengthen Konoha and his own standing. At the hospital, he brought Tenten a summoning contract scroll marked with the Kubisaki Lizard symbol.

• Natsuki read a report about the Hidden Grass Village and judged that Konoha's reduced strength might invite trouble during the Chunin Exams.
• Natsuki realized Orochimaru was using his Hokage resources to advance his experiments and build prestige, with Minato handling government affairs.
• Natsuki recalled the Box of Paradise beneath Hozuki Castle but could not determine the Hidden Grass Village's plans.
• Iori told Natsuki that Tenten was at the hospital, so Natsuki went there after settling Kimimaro and Haku in the compound.
• Tenten successfully summoned the fish she had contracted with, and Tsunade advised her to find a larger summoning clan.
• Natsuki arrived with a large summoning scroll bearing the Kubisaki Lizard symbol for Tenten.

Rasa consulted Baki and Yura after an unidentified faction, suspected to be from the Hidden Grass Village, proposed an alliance to attack Konoha during the Chunin Exams. Hoping to exploit Konoha's weakness for Sand Village's benefit, Rasa agreed to attend with Gaara and bring additional forces.

• Rasa told Baki and Yura that an unidentified faction had offered to cooperate in creating chaos in Konoha and targeting both its Civilian District and the Chunin Exams.
• Baki urged caution, while Yura proposed that Sand Village wait to see which side gained the advantage and then act to secure benefits.
• Rasa was tempted by the chance to gain land or other advantages from Konoha, whose strength had declined, and sided with Yura's proposal.
• Baki recommended bringing Gaara, and Rasa agreed that Gaara would take the Chunin Exams again for appearances.
• Yura and Baki proposed sending more Sand Village shinobi to protect Rasa and Gaara and serve as a force in the coming conflict, and Rasa approved.

Rasa and Yura prepared Sunagakure to manage the village if Konoha suffered a devastating blow, while Natsuki awakened the lizard summoning contract and met its messenger, Aokimaru. Aokimaru explained the Kubisaki Lizard Clan’s history and potential, leaving Natsuki poised to decide whether to form a contract with them.

• Yura advised Rasa to bring Elder Chiyo back to oversee Sunagakure if the situation developed favorably, and offered to assist her.
• Tsunade told Natsuki that the Kubisaki Lizard Clan was powerful but needed sufficient Chakra to awaken its Contract Guardian.
• Natsuki channeled Chakra into the Contract Scroll and summoned Aokimaru, the clan’s Contract Messenger.
• Aokimaru recognized Natsuki’s immense Life Energy and respectfully introduced himself to the Uchiha Clan Head.
• Aokimaru explained that the clan’s home, Green Forest Ridge, had been destroyed in war and that their Contract Scroll had been lost after Kubisaki Gōsa was killed.

Natsuki contracted with the Kubisaki Lizard clan and arranged for Tenten to help them obtain supplies, then checked on his students and Kimimaro. After learning Kimimaro’s illness was worsening and hearing about Orochimaru’s experiments, Natsuki went to the Hokage’s Office and encountered Jiraiya.

• Natsuki agreed to supply the Kubisaki Lizard clan, signed a contract, and gave Aokimaru forty million for supplies.
• Natsuki asked Tenten to manage the supply purchase and encouraged her to build a future through the Kubisaki Lizards.
• Tsunade told Natsuki that Tenten was talented at summoning and had begun learning medical ninjutsu.
• Natsuki checked on Hinata and Rock Lee, finding that Hinata had joined the medical ninja and Rock Lee’s condition had improved.
• Orochimaru found that Kimimaro’s toxins were rising and his illness could soon erupt, while his chakra-nature embryo experiments had mixed results.
• Natsuki suggested Orochimaru test Sasuke’s or Yōya’s cells for the Lightning Release embryo, then went to Minato’s office and ran into Jiraiya.

Natsuki told Jiraiya that the Great Sage of the Toads could no longer foresee the future and warned him that Naruto becoming the savior would cost the lives of Jiraiya and his loved ones. Jiraiya rejected the price of prophecy and decided to create the future himself.

• Natsuki asked Jiraiya what the Great Sage of the Toads had foreseen, and Jiraiya said Natsuki had obscured the future prophecies.
• Jiraiya said Naruto had to become his disciple to become the savior, but Natsuki refused and invoked Kushina's order that Jiraiya stay away from Naruto.
• Natsuki warned Jiraiya that Naruto's salvation would mean the deaths of Jiraiya, Minato, Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko.
• Natsuki urged Jiraiya to fight for a future shaped by his own choices rather than sacrifice everyone for prophecy.
• Jiraiya reflected on his losses and Minato's resurrection, then resolved to create the future instead of following a predetermined one.

Natsuki returned Kimimaro and Haku to Radiant Country with Minato’s Flying Thunder God, then reviewed the country’s progress and went to the port after learning Konan had brought back children from Amegakure.

• Natsuki brought Kimimaro and Haku to Minato, who used the Flying Thunder God to send them to Radiant Country before returning to Konoha.
• Natsuki sent Kimimaro and Haku to rest and reviewed reports on construction, refugee housing, and maritime trade.
• Natsuki learned that Konan had found the group of children from Amegakure and brought them back.
• Natsuki flew to the port, where Konan was training the former followers in cargo handling and ship operations.

Natsuki recruited Ajisai into Radiant Hidden Village and gave her the Kubisaki Lizard Contract Scroll, discovering her Space Talent and setting her on a path to specialize in summoning. He later focused on training Kimimaro and Haku while continuing to study Lightning Chakra Nature Transformation.

• Konan introduced Natsuki to the newcomers at the harbor, and he identified Ajisai as his target and gained Space Talent after recruiting her.
• Natsuki asked Ajisai about her interest in Summoned Beasts and gave her the Kubisaki Lizard Contract Scroll to sign.
• Natsuki told Konan and Nagato to guide Ajisai and train her in the Summoning Technique because her Space Talent would be useful.
• Ajisai summoned Aokimaru, who introduced himself as the Kubisaki Lizards' Contract Messenger and took the scroll back to make copies.
• Natsuki left, planned to postpone studying the Flying Thunder God Technique, and resumed missions with Kimimaro and Haku while focusing on Lightning Chakra Nature Transformation.

Natsuki tested Nagato’s combat power in Dream Space and found that his Wood Release could challenge Susanoo through relentless growth, restraint, and chakra absorption. Natsuki defeated and sealed Nagato, then assessed how the strongest fighters in Radiant Country compared.

• Natsuki fought Nagato’s Wood Release techniques, including Deep Forest Emergence, Flowering Forest, and Wood Dragon Jutsu, with Susanoo.
• Natsuki used Susanoo’s Eye to locate Nagato hiding inside a tree, then pursued him through the forest.
• Natsuki struck Nagato with Water Release, Lightning Release, and Fire Style, but Nagato healed his wounded leg with Wood Release.
• Natsuki overpowered Nagato in taijutsu and sealed him after Nagato briefly resisted the Four Symbols Seal.
• Natsuki reflected that Nagato could grow much stronger and ranked himself above Uchiha Itachi, Nagato, and Shisui among Radiant Country’s fighters.

Natsuki returned to Konoha with the Radiant Hidden Village teams for the joint Chunin Exams after training the Hundred Healings Jutsu and struggling to modify the Yin Seal. Kakuzu’s intelligence led him to suspect that the Hidden Grass Village, Obito, Black Zetsu, and possibly Rasa all had plans involving Konoha, leaving him wary of the coming exams.

• Natsuki trained the Hundred Healings Jutsu in Dream Space, then attempted to modify the Yin Seal and woke after the dangerous work on his brain’s chakra meridians caused him to lose consciousness.
• Natsuki returned to Konoha with Kimimaro, Haku, Hyuga Xiu, and a Uchiha team for the joint Chunin Exams, while he considered the gathered villages and their participants.
• Natsuki learned that Hozuki Castle was expanding its prison, Mui had disappeared, and the Hidden Grass Village had brought only three genin despite arriving with many merchant caravans.
• Kakuzu sent Natsuki intelligence through the bounty broker, and Natsuki paid twenty-one million for the information and the courier’s share.
• Natsuki suspected the Hidden Grass Village’s box and Mui’s disappearance were connected to a plan targeting Naruto, while Kazuma might attack Konoha with an army of corpses.
• Natsuki wondered whether Rasa had brought Gaara and a large Sand Village force to pursue the Land of Fire’s territory, and he recognized that several factions might exploit chaos during the exams.

Ninja and merchants from across the nations arrived in Konoha for the Chunin Exams, while Orochimaru considered the Sarutobi Clan’s growing return to the village and the expenses Hiruzen had used to support its members. Gaara explored Konoha hoping to find Natsuki, and Shukaku sensed the presence of the “stinking fox.”

• Ninja and merchant caravans flooded into Konoha, forcing the Hyuga Clan to return its outside patrols while Sarutobi Clan members took over searches beyond the village.
• Orochimaru recalled that more than a thousand Sarutobi Clan ninja had returned and suspected Hiruzen had secretly supported several thousand through Hokage funds.
• Rasa, Kabuto Yakushi, and Natsuki arrived as leaders entitled to seats in the upper stands, while visitors from smaller villages explored Konoha.
• Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari wandered Snack Street with Baki, and Gaara planned to visit the Uchiha Clan Compound to find a way to contact Natsuki.
• Gaara enjoyed Konoha with his friends, and Shukaku detected the scent of the “stinking fox.”