Recaps

After returning to Konoha from three years of training, Naruto hurried to find Itachi because he wanted Shisui's left eye, but he first encountered a radically changed Sasuke. Sasuke had embraced Naruto's old advice to revive the Uchiha Clan and was surrounded by women, while Naruto fled with Hinata as Sakura and Ino confronted him.

• Naruto argued with Tsunade over making Itachi the leader of Root, while Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado demanded Root be rebuilt without an Uchiha leader.
• Naruto left for three years of training with Jiraiya and Hinata, and returned to Konoha with them after worrying that Orochimaru had been haunting him.
• Naruto ran to find Itachi so he could retrieve Shisui's left eye, but encountered Sasuke on the way.
• Sasuke greeted Naruto while holding a woman on each arm and explained that he intended to revive the Uchiha Clan and continue its bloodline.
• Sakura and Ino confronted Sasuke over his promises to them, and Naruto hurried away with Hinata.

Naruto rejected Neji and Rock Lee’s challenges by revealing that he was about to become a Jonin. Jiraiya explained Naruto’s extraordinary abilities to Tsunade, while recalling how quickly Naruto had surpassed his instruction during their training.

• Naruto refused to fight Neji and Rock Lee, saying he was about to become a Jonin, then teleported away with Hinata using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade he had recommended Naruto for Jonin, and she questioned whether Naruto was qualified.
• Jiraiya revealed that Naruto had created the S-rank Wind Release: Rasenshuriken and mastered Sage Jutsu, causing Tsunade to recognize his strength.
• Jiraiya recalled that Naruto had figured out how to use and throw the Rasengan before Jiraiya finished teaching it to him.
• Naruto secretly returned to Konoha each night to get help from Karin, then mastered the ninjutsu Jiraiya taught him by the next day.
• After Naruto learned nearly everything Jiraiya knew, Jiraiya struggled to name another technique he could teach him.

Naruto developed a half-finished Wind Release: Rasenshuriken to push Jiraiya into taking him to Mount Myoboku, where he trained in Sage Jutsu with Hinata for three years. After returning to Konoha and being promoted to Jonin, Naruto went with Hinata to the ANBU base to investigate Orochimaru, where Yamato greeted them.

• Naruto practiced developing the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken with Hinata observing his chakra through her Byakugan, and Jiraiya returned to find him creating an S-Rank ninjutsu.
• Jiraiya brought Naruto and Hinata to Mount Myoboku with the Reverse Summoning Technique, and Naruto began training in Sage Jutsu while Hinata trained in the Summoning Technique.
• After three years of training, Jiraiya returned to Konoha and persuaded Tsunade to promote Naruto Uzumaki to Jonin.
• Naruto, troubled by vivid dreams of Orochimaru and wanting to check whether Kotoamatsukami had worked, took Hinata to the ANBU base.
• Yamato removed his mask and revealed himself as the ANBU ninja leading the group.

Naruto welcomed Yamato onto his team and asked him for the Wood Release scroll Danzo had given him, while Yamato worried that Naruto intended to implant Hashirama’s cells. Jiraiya arrived with Tsunade’s approval appointing Naruto a Konoha Jonin and Special Jonin.

• Yamato learned that the Hokage had transferred him from ANBU to join Naruto in searching for Orochimaru’s hideout.
• Naruto told Yamato he needed his Wood Release, partly to build shelters for Hinata during missions.
• Naruto teleported Yamato and Hinata to a secluded place and asked Yamato for the scroll of Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release techniques.
• Naruto said he might implant Hashirama’s cells, then tried to dismiss the idea as a joke when Yamato grew suspicious.
• Yamato saw the Sharingan Naruto’s forehead protector had revealed and accused him of planning to transplant Hashirama’s cells.
• Jiraiya arrived and gave Naruto Tsunade’s appointment letter, making him a Konoha Jonin and Special Jonin.

Naruto led Hinata, Yamato, and Neji to locate Orochimaru’s hideout, then entered the cave with Hinata. Inside, they discovered hundreds of statues resembling Naruto and found Orochimaru testing a new space-time ninjutsu on one of them.

• Jiraiya told Naruto that he had taken care of everything Naruto had asked, then left, and Naruto ordered Yamato to help him find Orochimaru.
• Naruto’s team traveled to Orochimaru’s suspected hideout, where Hinata and Neji used their Byakugan to find a cave.
• When Yamato tried to restrain Naruto from approaching the cave, Naruto teleported to Hinata using a Flying Thunder God mark and entered with her.
• Naruto and Hinata found hundreds of stone statues carved in Naruto’s likeness and saw Orochimaru making another one.
• Orochimaru activated the Stone Statue Soul-Swapping Technique, causing the statue and surrounding space to ripple and twist, and Naruto recognized it as space-time ninjutsu.

Orochimaru summoned Naruto with a space-time ninjutsu and revealed that his obsession with Naruto had eclipsed his desire for immortality. Naruto told him about Kaguya Otsutsuki and recruited him to help turn her into pills of immortality, then staged a fight with him when Yamato and Neji arrived.

• Orochimaru summoned Naruto to his lair using the Stone Statue Soul-Swapping Technique, and Hinata rushed in after hearing Naruto shout.
• Naruto showed Orochimaru Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan and confirmed that Kotoamatsukami had altered Orochimaru's will.
• Naruto told Orochimaru that Kaguya Otsutsuki was the key to true immortality and that he planned to turn her into pills, then invited Orochimaru to join his team.
• Hinata warned Naruto that Yamato and Neji were approaching, so Naruto asked Orochimaru to play along.
• When Yamato and Neji arrived, Naruto pretended to attack Orochimaru, who acted as though he were begging for mercy.

Naruto asked Orochimaru to remove Neji’s Caged Bird Seal, and Neji agreed despite the risk of death. While Orochimaru prepared, Yamato anxiously monitored him until Konoha’s reinforcements arrived and began arguing; Naruto headed toward Sasuke to discipline the troublemakers.

• Naruto revealed Neji’s Caged Bird Seal to Orochimaru and asked him to remove it, learning that failure could kill Neji or leave him vegetative.
• Naruto explained that Neji could reach Kage Level without the seal, and Neji chose to risk the procedure to escape its restraints.
• Orochimaru spent the next several days preparing, while Neji and Hinata helped and Yamato repeatedly warned Naruto not to trust him.
• Konoha sent Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino as reinforcements, and the three immediately argued, with Sakura and Ino soon fighting.
• Naruto left the cave and walked toward Sasuke, deciding the troublemakers needed a proper lesson.

Naruto led Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Orochimaru attempted to weaken Neji’s Caged Bird Seal. The operation did not remove the seal completely, but Neji survived and learned he could eventually break it down through his own will.

• Naruto urged Sasuke to lure female ninja from other villages to Konoha, angering Sakura and Ino, who chased his shadow clone into Orochimaru’s hideout.
• Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino discovered Orochimaru working with Neji and learned that Orochimaru had surrendered to Naruto.
• Orochimaru warned Neji that breaking the Caged Bird Seal had only a one percent chance of success, and Neji agreed to undergo the operation.
• After Orochimaru said the operation had failed, Yamato found that Neji was still alive, and Orochimaru explained that the seal had grown faint but remained.
• Neji woke and asked how he could remove the seal, and Orochimaru said Neji’s will could break it down over time.

Naruto brought Orochimaru and Gaara to Konoha, while Yamato was left behind in Sand Village. As Deidara attacked the village, Yamato realized Naruto had intentionally left him to defend it.

• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Hinata and Orochimaru to Sand Village, leaving Yamato behind.
• Naruto found Gaara, revealed he had marked him with the Flying Thunder God Technique, and persuaded him to come to Konoha.
• Naruto brought Gaara, Hinata, and Orochimaru to Konoha and showed Gaara around, while Hinata took Orochimaru to Mito Uzumaki's mansion.
• Orochimaru returned to his true form and revealed he had been asked to modify Karin's body.
• Deidara attacked Sand Village from the sky with clay bombs, and Yamato understood why Naruto had left him behind.

Naruto took Gaara away from Sunagakure under the pretext of obtaining Shukaku, while Deidara attacked the village in search of the One-Tail's jinchuriki. The chapter left Yamato fighting Deidara and Gaara meeting Itachi after Naruto brought him to a shrine.

• Naruto asked Gaara to hand over Shukaku and warned him that Akatsuki might attack Sunagakure.
• Deidara bombed Sunagakure, but Gaara was absent, so he failed to draw out the One-Tail's jinchuriki.
• Yamato watched Sunagakure's defenses struggle and then intervened when Deidara's attacks endangered the village.
• Deidara landed and killed the Sunagakure ninja who charged him, then fought Yamato after Yamato attacked with Wood Release.
• Naruto brought Gaara to a shrine in Konoha, where Gaara met Itachi Uchiha.

Naruto persuaded Gaara to consider surrendering Shukaku, then returned to the Sand Village battlefield and arranged for Gaara to appear dead. The resulting accusation that Deidara had killed Gaara left Deidara stunned and Sasori questioning what had happened.

• Naruto told Gaara that Akatsuki planned to capture the tailed beasts and offered to separate Shukaku from him without killing him, but Gaara said he needed to consult the Sand Village first.
• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to the Sand Village, where Yamato was holding off Sasori and Deidara while Temari and Kankuro were injured.
• Naruto created a shadow clone and transformed himself into Gaara, while his clone took Maki's appearance.
• The disguised Maki arrived carrying a scorched body resembling Gaara and accused Deidara of killing the Kazekage with his bombs.
• Sasori challenged Deidara over killing the jinchuriki, while Deidara struggled to believe that his bombs had somehow overcome Gaara's Absolute Defense.

Naruto, Gaara, and Itachi intervened in Akatsuki’s attack on the Sand Village, where Gaara fought Deidara and Naruto and Yamato confronted Sasori. Sasori revealed his true form and unleashed his Hundred Puppets technique as the battle escalated.

• Sasori exposed Maki as a Shadow Clone, and Gaara revealed he had survived Deidara’s attack.
• Naruto transformed to look like Gaara, lured Deidara away, and escaped before returning to Konoha.
• Naruto teleported to the Sand Village with Gaara and Itachi as Deidara prepared to destroy the village.
• Gaara attacked Deidara with sand, while Deidara mounted a clay owl and took the fight into the air.
• Naruto joined Yamato against Sasori, and Itachi arrived to support them.
• Sasori emerged from the Hiruko puppet and used the Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets.

Naruto manipulated Akatsuki’s attack on Sunagakure to make Gaara suffer, then stopped Deidara from destroying the village and arranged a fight against the attackers. Itachi and Yamato confronted Deidara in the sky, where Deidara broke free of Itachi’s Tsukuyomi and found his own clay birds circling him.

• Naruto and Yamato retreated from Sasori’s puppets while Naruto secretly hoped the assault would make Gaara surrender Shukaku.
• Gaara abandoned his fight with Deidara and attacked Sasori, using sand to dismantle his puppets as they destroyed the village.
• Deidara launched a C3 Giant Clay Bomb at Sunagakure, but Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to send it outside the village.
• Naruto ordered Itachi and Yamato to fight Deidara while he and Gaara dealt with Sasori.
• Deidara attacked Itachi with clay birds, but dispelled Itachi’s Tsukuyomi and discovered the birds had returned to circle him.

Naruto and Gaara fought Sasori while Itachi drew Deidara’s attention in the air. Sasori revealed the Third Kazekage puppet and its Iron Sand, and the battle continued as Naruto used his knowledge of Sasori to unsettle him.

• Deidara’s clay bug exploded near Yamato, but Itachi used Yamato’s wooden pillars to advance toward Deidara through a barrage of explosive birds.
• Naruto charged Sasori with Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, destroying his puppets, while Gaara extinguished Sasori’s flames and attacked with sand.
• Sasori released the Third Kazekage puppet and used Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method, forcing Naruto to teleport himself and Gaara out of danger.
• Naruto identified Sasori as a rogue ninja from the Sand Village and revealed that he knew Sasori was a puppet, frightening him by claiming to have another spy in Akatsuki.
• Gaara tried to attack Sasori from behind, but Sasori blocked him with Magnet Release and retreated.
• Naruto recalled telling Itachi beforehand to draw Deidara’s attention by flitting around in front of him.

Naruto and his allies defeated Deidara’s attack on Sand Village, though Naruto believed Deidara escaped, and Naruto urged Gaara to move the One-Tail to Konoha. Back in Konoha, Naruto asked Orochimaru to find a way for him to absorb Karin’s chakra without biting her.

• Itachi followed Naruto’s advice and enraged Deidara until he ran out of Explosive Clay, allowing Yamato to bind him inside a wooden cage.
• Deidara detonated a massive explosion in the cage, and Naruto said he had used it to escape while Gaara ordered Sand Village to search for him and the other Akatsuki member.
• Naruto urged Gaara to hand over the One-Tail and come to Konoha, warning that Sand Village would be vulnerable to another Akatsuki attack; Gaara said he needed time to think.
• Hinata told Orochimaru that Naruto wanted to find a way to absorb Karin’s chakra without biting her, and Orochimaru questioned the need for the modification.
• Naruto returned to Konoha with Yamato, Itachi, and Gaara and asked Orochimaru to help him find a less painful way to absorb Karin’s chakra.

Naruto brought Orochimaru to Kabuto’s laboratory, where Kabuto revealed that Hashirama’s cells merged harmlessly with Naruto’s and suggested Wood Release might be a mutation rather than a Kekkei Genkai. Naruto asked Orochimaru to join the research so he could master Wood Release, while Gaara decided to hand Shukaku over to Naruto.

• Naruto reunited Orochimaru and Kabuto in the basement laboratory and showed Orochimaru the Hashirama cell research.
• Kabuto explained that Wood Release appeared only with Hashirama and might have been a sudden mutation rather than an inherited Kekkei Genkai.
• Kabuto revealed that Naruto’s cells and Hashirama’s cells were merging without rejecting each other.
• Naruto refused a transplant and asked Orochimaru to help research how to revive Wood Release so Naruto could master it.
• After a sleepless night, Gaara decided to hand the One-Tail Shukaku over to Naruto.

Naruto gathered his allies to help Gaara remove the seal holding Shukaku, but Yamato tried to flee and Itachi challenged Naruto’s motives for gathering tailed beasts. Naruto convinced Itachi that he wanted to befriend them, and the group prepared to continue with Yamato captured.

• Naruto brought Gaara and his allies to a secluded mountain range to release Shukaku, while Yamato was shocked to find Zabuza among them.
• Yamato created a wood clone and fled toward Konoha to report Naruto’s plan, so Naruto sent Zabuza, Orochimaru, and Kabuto after him.
• Itachi used Genjutsu to knock out Hinata, Karin, and Haku, then demanded to know why Naruto was gathering tailed beasts.
• Naruto condemned Akatsuki’s plan to capture jinchuriki and said he meant to befriend all nine tailed beasts; Gaara learned Akatsuki had intended to extract Shukaku from him.
• Itachi agreed to help Naruto gather the tailed beasts, and Hinata broke free of Tsukuyomi before Haku and Karin awakened.
• Zabuza, Orochimaru, and Kabuto returned with Yamato in custody.

Naruto and Karin removed Gaara’s seal, allowing the One-Tail Shukaku to emerge while Hinata monitored the process and Haku severed its chakra from the sand. Naruto and Karin then restrained Shukaku with Adamantine Sealing Chains, leaving the beast helpless and furious.

• Karin undid Gaara’s seal, and sand poured from his mouth as the One-Tail began emerging.
• Hinata tracked Shukaku’s release while Naruto ordered Haku to sever the beast’s chakra with the Eight-Foot Magatama Sword.
• Yamato broke free and attacked Zabuza Momochi, Orochimaru, and Kabuto before rushing toward Naruto.
• Shukaku fully appeared and threatened to kill everyone, but Naruto restrained it with Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Karin added nine chains to Naruto’s three, pinning Shukaku down as Naruto mocked the weakened beast.

Naruto tested Karin’s control of the Adamantine Sealing Chains and, with help from his allies, subdued and sealed Shukaku. Days later, Naruto’s group waited near Hidden Cloud Village as Kakuzu and Hidan set out to capture the Two-Tails, then encountered a strange clay jar.

• Naruto had Karin release and reapply her Adamantine Sealing Chains to test her mastery, but Shukaku attacked when she released them in anger.
• Haku, Orochimaru, Itachi, and Zabuza restrained Shukaku, and Naruto explained that he had promised Shukaku could slap someone, not that he would take the slap himself.
• Naruto and Karin used the chains to seal Shukaku inside a clay jar.
• Several days later, Naruto, Hinata, and Kabuto watched for Akatsuki members near Hidden Cloud Village and prepared to follow their plan.
• Kakuzu and Hidan discussed capturing Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails’ jinchuriki, while avoiding the Eight-Tails and alerting the village.
• Kakuzu and Hidan stopped when a strange clay jar appeared in their path.

Hidan and Kakuzu triggered a trap that released the One-Tail Shukaku, then fought the tailed beast in the forest. Naruto and Hinata watched from a distant mountaintop as Kakuzu launched a water attack against Shukaku.

• Hidan ignored Kakuzu's warning and lifted a clay jar marked with a scrap of Akatsuki clothing, triggering an Explosive Tag that released Shukaku.
• Hidan slashed part of Shukaku's head with his Triple-Bladed Scythe, but Shukaku counterattacked with an Air Bullet.
• Naruto held Hinata close and had her use her Byakugan to observe the battle from afar.
• Hinata reported that Shukaku had the upper hand, while Naruto said the advantage would only be temporary.
• Hidan drew Shukaku's attacks and survived being struck, giving Kakuzu the chance to use Exploding Water Shock Wave against the tailed beast.

Naruto and Hinata used the Flying Thunder God Technique to repeatedly steal One-Tail Shukaku from Kakuzu and Hidan after the pair captured it. Kakuzu realized a highly skilled user of Space-Time Ninjutsu was secretly interfering, but he and Hidan still did not know who it was.

• Hidan and Kakuzu subdued One-Tail Shukaku and began transporting it toward their temporary base.
• Kakuzu suspected Konoha might have deliberately let them capture Shukaku, then discovered it had vanished.
• Naruto used Hinata's Byakugan to locate Shukaku and teleported it away with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kakuzu and Hidan searched the forest for hours before Shukaku suddenly reappeared, and they defeated it again.
• Shukaku vanished once more, leading Kakuzu to conclude that someone skilled in Space-Time Ninjutsu was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Naruto repeatedly teleported the battered Shukaku to Kakuzu and Hidan, exploiting the Akatsuki pair’s attacks while healing the One-Tail and trying to make him submit. Shukaku kept pretending to be unconscious, but Hidan’s attack forced him back into battle as Naruto and Hinata watched.

• Hidan asked Kakuzu how they could find the person manipulating events, but Kakuzu admitted he had no way to track them.
• Naruto teleported the unconscious Shukaku to Hinata and explained Akatsuki’s strength before healing him with chakra that included some of the Nine-Tails’.
• Shukaku woke up, pretended to be unconscious, and refused to submit to Naruto, so Naruto dropped him into the forest near Kakuzu and Hidan.
• Kakuzu and Hidan beat Shukaku unconscious again, and Naruto repeatedly teleported him away and returned him to the Akatsuki pair.
• Shukaku decided to keep playing dead, but Naruto threatened to send him back to Kakuzu and Hidan, and Hidan’s scythe attack finally made him wake and fight.
• Naruto brought Hinata to watch Shukaku battle Kakuzu and Hidan, and Hinata felt sorry for the One-Tail.

Naruto repeatedly rescued Shukaku from Kakuzu and Hidan while concealing his injuries to receive Hinata’s care. After Kakuzu identified Naruto as the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki and fled with the badly injured Hidan, Naruto and Hinata sat on Shukaku’s belly, where Shukaku woke to find them behaving shamelessly.

• Hinata treated Naruto’s burned arm while Naruto watched Shukaku endure attacks from Kakuzu and Hidan.
• Shukaku struck Hidan into a pit and sent Kakuzu crashing through trees, but Naruto teleported in and took Shukaku away again.
• Kakuzu recognized Naruto as Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki, and carried the immobilized Hidan toward their temporary base.
• Kabuto and Yamato secretly followed Kakuzu and Hidan, and Yamato decided to obey Naruto’s orders and gather intelligence for Konoha.
• Naruto brought Hinata to unconscious Shukaku and lay with her on his belly, where Shukaku woke in alarm.

Naruto and Hinata became intimate while Orochimaru kept the injured Shukaku quiet, and Hinata overwhelmed Naruto with her Gentle Fist and shadow clones. Naruto then tried to recruit Shukaku by warning that it could be sealed into the Ten-Tails, but Shukaku rejected the threat as impossible.

• Naruto teased Hinata before they became intimate on Shukaku's belly, while Orochimaru appeared and threatened to dissect Shukaku if it interrupted them.
• Orochimaru sealed Shukaku's mouth and left, and Naruto escaped Hinata's hold with the Flying Thunder God Technique before both used shadow clones in their fight.
• Hinata defeated Naruto's clones with her Gentle Fist Style, Eight Trigrams Palm, One Thousand Twenty-Four Palms, and declared her resolve as his wife.
• Naruto removed Shukaku's sealing talisman and asked it to become his companion, promising to protect it.
• Naruto warned Shukaku that it could be sealed into the Ten-Tails, but Shukaku refused to believe the Ten-Tails could return to the Ninja World.

Naruto persuaded Shukaku to live inside him, and Shukaku returned to Konoha with Hinata. Naruto told Tsunade that he, Itachi, and Yamato had helped save the Sand Village, then followed her to Konoha Hospital to see Gaara and Kimimaro.

• Naruto convinced Shukaku to become his tailed beast, though Shukaku insisted on being called the big brother.
• Shukaku shrank to a tiny tanuki, and Hinata carried it back to Konoha.
• Tsunade scolded Naruto for neglecting missions, then told him Akatsuki had attacked the Sand Village.
• Naruto revealed that he, Itachi, and Yamato had fought in the Sand Village and helped save it.
• Naruto told Tsunade that Gaara was at Konoha Hospital, and he followed her there, hoping to see Kimimaro.