Chapter Summaries

Han tried to defect from Hidden Rock Village, but Naruto rescued him from Kitsuchi and the ANBU. Naruto marked Han to draw Pain to them, and Pain later found Han, who entered Tailed Beast Transformation.

• Han left Hidden Rock Village but Kitsuchi and the ANBU surrounded him and attacked.
• Naruto sent Torune Aburame's pink insects against the Hidden Rock ninja, then broke Han's seal and rescued him.
• Han departed alone after briefly thanking Naruto, while Naruto revealed he had marked Han with a Flying Thunder God Formula to lead them to Pain.
• Naruto and Jiraiya planned to follow Han to find Pain and Nagato, while Zetsu reported Naruto's message to Pain.
• Pain found Han training in seclusion, and Han entered Tailed Beast Transformation after Pain identified himself as an Akatsuki member.

Jiraiya confronted Nagato through the Deva Path and apologized for leaving him, Yahiko, and Konan behind, but Nagato insisted he had become a god and would not be swayed. Naruto rescued Han and coordinated with Hinata to help Jiraiya fight Pain, ending with Gamayū launching a kunai at Pain using Hinata’s Byakugan vision.

• Pain defeated Han with Almighty Push, leaving the Five-Tails' jinchūriki unconscious.
• Jiraiya recognized Yahiko’s body as the Deva Path and asked Nagato how Yahiko had died.
• Jiraiya apologized to Nagato for leaving him, Yahiko, and Konan behind, but Nagato declared himself a god who would show no mercy.
• Naruto teleported Han away from Pain’s attack as Jiraiya launched a hair-needle assault on the Deva Path.
• Naruto brought Han to Hinata, who used her Byakugan to track the battle and summoned Gamayū and Gamami.
• Hinata guided Gamayū to fire an enormous kunai at Pain while Jiraiya attacked.

Hinata used her shared Byakugan vision to help Jiraiya fight Pain, then accidentally discovered that showing Konan’s body could incapacitate Nagato. The Deva Path collapsed, leaving Naruto to realize Nagato’s unexpected weakness.

• Nagato ordered Konan to bring the other five Paths of Pain to join the Deva Path, despite the strain on his failing body.
• Hinata shared her Byakugan vision with Naruto and Gamayū, helping Jiraiya and Gamayū coordinate attacks against the Deva Path.
• Hinata used the Byakugan’s X-Ray Vision on herself, surprising Naruto with her new Byakugan Seduction Technique.
• At Naruto’s suggestion, Hinata shared her vision with Pain and showed Nagato Konan through the Byakugan’s X-Ray Vision.
• Nagato fainted after seeing Konan, and the Deva Path collapsed; Naruto guessed that seeing Konan’s body had exposed Nagato’s weakness.

Konan’s delayed response alerted her that Nagato had not taken control of the five Pains, but he soon reconnected to the Deva Path and prepared to attack Jiraiya. Naruto and Shikamaru distracted Nagato by making the Deva Path see Konan striking provocative poses, leaving it incapacitated again.

• Konan moved the five Pains onto the grass and waited, while Nagato slowly recovered from the distracting image of her.
• Nagato reconnected to the Deva Path and saw Jiraiya mourning Yahiko, but he hardened his resolve and prepared to use Almighty Push.
• Naruto and Hinata interrupted the Deva Path’s attack by showing Nagato another alluring image of Konan, allowing Jiraiya to retreat.
• Nagato used Universal Pull to draw Jiraiya toward the Deva Path, but Naruto overwhelmed his vision with more images of Konan.
• Naruto teleported to Konan and distracted her while Shikamaru restrained her with the Shadow Imitation Technique.
• Shikamaru struck exaggerated poses that Konan was forced to copy, overwhelming Nagato and making the Deva Path collapse.

Naruto used Shikamaru’s poses to force Konan into matching them, enraging Nagato until he attacked Naruto with the Six Paths of Pain. Hinata unleashed a vast sleep-inducing genjutsu through her barefoot dance on Gamami, leaving nearly everyone unconscious while Naruto escaped.

• Naruto directed Shikamaru through suggestive poses, forcing Konan to imitate them while Hinata showed Nagato what she saw through her Byakugan.
• Nagato became enraged, and the Deva Path gouged out its eyes to end the shared vision; Konan then escaped Shikamaru’s Shadow Imitation Technique and questioned Naruto.
• Nagato revived the Six Paths of Pain and attacked Naruto, who entered Sage Mode, destroyed the Naraka Path, and fled the Animal Path’s three-headed monster dog.
• Naruto taunted Nagato about watching Konan, while Nagato used Universal Pull and Almighty Push against him.
• Hinata took off her shoes and danced on Gamami’s belly, activating the Heaven Blanket Earth Bed Technique through its rhythmic snores.
• The genjutsu put the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, Jiraiya, and other living creatures to sleep; Naruto escaped with Shikamaru using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Naruto found Nagato after Hinata used her Byakugan to locate his hideout and severed Nagato’s control of Pain. Naruto persuaded Nagato to stay alive for Konan’s sake and join Konoha so they could uncover the truth about his Rinnegan, then took him and the others back to Konoha.

• Naruto and Hinata confronted Nagato, and Hinata transformed into Konan to provoke him.
• Naruto stopped Nagato from trying to die by warning that Konan would be killed protecting his Rinnegan and explaining that the eyes had been transplanted into him.
• Naruto told Nagato that Madara Uchiha had arranged the transplant and offered to reveal the truth if Nagato joined Konoha.
• Nagato agreed to Naruto’s proposal on the condition that Naruto never use Konan or transform anyone into her again.
• Naruto used Genjutsu to take Nagato, Konan, Jiraiya, Torune Aburame, and the Six Paths of Pain back to Konoha.

Konan discovered that Naruto had healed Nagato’s legs with chakra from the tailed beasts, who had become his friends. Naruto then had the tailed beasts persuade Two-Tails Matatabi and Five-Tails Kokuo to join them, while One-Tail Shukaku praised him extravagantly.

• Konan woke from Genjutsu in Naruto’s home and was shocked to see Nagato walking with crutches and Naruto supporting him.
• Nagato explained that tailed beast chakra had restored his strength, and Naruto said removing the Rinnegan was necessary for a full recovery, but Nagato refused.
• Nagato and Konan spoke privately, and Konan noticed that Nagato had become more cheerful as he considered Naruto’s friendship with the tailed beasts.
• Three-Tails Isobu transferred clean chakra into Nagato while Konan watched, further convincing her that Naruto’s claims were real.
• Naruto brought Hinata to Karin, who had restrained Two-Tails Matatabi and Five-Tails Kokuo with Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• One-Tail Shukaku, Three-Tails Isobu, and Four-Tails tried to persuade the captured tailed beasts, and Shukaku’s praise made Naruto blush.

Naruto and Hinata rode the tailed beasts through the night until they reached unfamiliar territory, where Naruto rescued members of the Earth Spider Clan from attackers. He visited their dilapidated castle and noticed a young girl training, wondering if she would grow to surpass Hinata.

• Hinata and Naruto raced on Matatabi and Kokuo, then spent the night together as Kokuo galloped across the wilderness.
• Naruto stopped to investigate a battle and found the Earth Spider Clan surrounded by a larger group of enemies.
• Naruto learned the clan was Konoha’s ally and defeated more than twenty attackers with Shadow Clones, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Rasengan.
• The Earth Spider Clan welcomed Naruto to its castle, where he saw its rundown condition and heard that the clan had declined for lack of successors.
• Naruto saw a young Earth Spider girl training and wondered whether she would grow up to surpass Hinata.

Naruto demonstrated the power of the Tailed Beasts to Hotaru and the Earth Spider Clan after explaining the danger and history of their forbidden technique. He discovered a much larger force surrounding the fortress, brought Hinata back to help locate them, and led the Tailed Beasts in attacking from the high ground.

• Naruto learned from Tonbee that the Earth Spider Clan had lost strength while forbidden from using its deadly technique under Konoha’s protection.
• Naruto explained that the clan’s forbidden technique turned its user into a powerful bomb, but Hotaru insisted it was essential to the clan’s revival.
• Naruto confronted the Warrior Bandit Gang, which had infiltrated the fortress to seize the forbidden technique, and released One-Tail Shukaku, Three-Tails Isobu, and Four-Tails Son Goku to destroy them.
• Naruto sensed many more chakra signatures surrounding the fortress, marked a teleportation point with a Three-Pronged Kunai, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Hinata.
• Naruto brought Hinata back and had her use Sage Art: Shared Clairvoyance to share her Byakugan vision with the Tailed Beasts.
• The Tailed Beasts fired Tailed Beast Balls down the mountain at the surrounding forces.

Naruto devastated the area around the Earth Spider Clan’s fortress, forcing Hotaru to confront the horror of war and doubt her clan’s forbidden technique. After revealing he knew how to remove it, Naruto realized Utakata had not arrived and tried to keep Hotaru from falling for him by openly kissing Hinata.

• Naruto and Hinata used the five tailed beasts to destroy the enemies and devastate the surrounding landscape, leaving Hotaru shaken.
• Utakata sensed the Six-Tails stirring, investigated the ruined forest, and reached the Earth Spider Clan’s fortress after nightfall.
• Tonbee told Naruto that only he, Naruto, Hinata, and Hotaru remained at the fortress.
• Naruto told Hotaru that the forbidden technique could be removed, then learned she had no handsome master and worried that Utakata had arrived too late.
• Naruto pulled Hinata close and kissed her while sharing wine with her in front of Hotaru, making her blush.

Naruto left Hotaru and Hinata searching for Utakata, then returned to the Hidden Mist Village and learned that Terumi Mei had become Mizukage. Terumi asked Naruto to let Zabuza return, explaining that she had pardoned his crimes.

• Naruto failed to find Utakata and left Hinata, Hotaru, and the Tailed Beasts searching while he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to the Hidden Mist Village.
• Naruto found Terumi Mei, Ao, Kakashi, Zabuza Momochi, and Haku gathered in the village's grandest building, and Kakashi begged Naruto to take him away.
• Naruto congratulated Terumi Mei on becoming Mizukage.
• Terumi Mei asked Naruto to allow Zabuza to return to the Hidden Mist Village and said she had pardoned his crimes because Yagura had been controlled by an outsider.

Naruto secured Zabuza’s return to Hidden Mist by making Terumi Mei kiss Kakashi, then offered to help her find Utakata. He brought Terumi Mei, Kakashi, and Hidden Mist ANBU to Hinata, where they discovered that Matatabi and Kokuo were with Naruto.

• Naruto demanded that Terumi Mei kiss Kakashi in exchange for allowing Zabuza to return to Hidden Mist, and Terumi Mei agreed.
• Terumi Mei kissed Kakashi’s mask, and Naruto officially welcomed Zabuza back to Hidden Mist.
• Naruto told Terumi Mei that he could sense Utakata’s presence and offered to take her to places Utakata had stayed before.
• Terumi Mei ordered Ao to gather ANBU trackers and prepared to lead the search for Utakata.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to bring Kakashi, Terumi Mei, and five Hidden Mist ANBU to Hinata, where they encountered Matatabi and Kokuo.
• Naruto stroked both tailed beasts and told the stunned group that Matatabi and Kokuo were with him.

Naruto traveled with Kakashi, Terumi Mei, and the tailed beasts to search for Utakata, while Terumi Mei began suspecting Naruto wanted to control the beasts. After they located Utakata, Terumi Mei went to confront him, and Naruto tried to persuade Kakashi to intervene.

• Hinata and Hotaru rode the Two-Tails, Matatabi, and the Five-Tails, Kokuo, while Kakashi and Terumi Mei marveled that the tailed beasts were docile.
• The Four-Tails, Son Goku, joined them, and Naruto secretly used earthquakes it caused to watch Hinata, Hotaru, and Terumi Mei with his Sharingan.
• Naruto withdrew Son Goku into his body, and Terumi Mei sent Hidden Mist ANBU to search for Utakata; they later reported finding tracks at least three days old.
• Terumi Mei suspected Naruto was collecting and controlling tailed beasts, while Naruto planned to obtain Utakata and take Hidden Mist Village for himself.
• After following Utakata's trail for many days, the group found him traveling inside a bubble; Terumi Mei jumped down to confront him, and Naruto urged Kakashi to help her.

Naruto gathered Orochimaru, Kimimaro, Itachi, and Torune Aburame to search for Utakata while Hinata and Hotaru grew close. Elsewhere, Zetsu gave Kabuto Madara Uchiha’s corpse, and Kabuto planned to use it to kill Naruto and restore the Orochimaru he considered real.

• Naruto found Kimimaro awake and discovered that the Yin-Yang Release mark on his chest had strengthened him.
• Naruto brought Orochimaru, Kimimaro, Itachi, and Torune Aburame to the Tailed Beasts and set out with Hotaru to find Utakata while Hinata led the way.
• Hinata disappeared into the mist, and Naruto continued searching with Hotaru, who said she wanted him as her teacher instead of Utakata.
• Zetsu brought Kabuto to Madara Uchiha’s corpse, and Kabuto declared that he would use it to kill Naruto and restore the real Lord Orochimaru.

Orochimaru and Itachi pursued Utakata while Terumi Mei and Kakashi fell into a trap involving genjutsu and Torune Aburame’s pink insect swarm. The toxin left Kakashi and Terumi Mei mistaking each other for people they were searching for.

• Orochimaru and Itachi found Utakata, who tried to escape by filling their path with corrosive bubbles.
• Orochimaru charged through Utakata’s bubbles while Itachi reflected on Naruto’s use of Shisui’s eye.
• Terumi Mei noticed her ANBU escorts had vanished and fell under a powerful genjutsu.
• Kakashi found Terumi Mei and triggered a trap, then Torune Aburame attacked him with pink insects as Itachi disguised himself as Obito.
• Torune’s insects poisoned Kakashi, making him see Terumi Mei as Obito and making Terumi Mei see Kakashi as Utakata.

Kakashi and Terumi Mei fell under Torune Aburame’s Powder Bugs and mistook each other for people from their past. Meanwhile, Kimimaro’s attack failed to capture Utakata, and Kabuto revealed his plan to free Orochimaru from Naruto’s Kotoamatsukami.

• Torune Aburame explained to Itachi that his Powder Bugs had aphrodisiac effects, while Kakashi and Terumi Mei hallucinated that they were speaking with Obito and Utakata and embraced.
• Kimimaro used Dance of the Young Ferns against Utakata, who unleashed the Six-Tails’ chakra to blast a path through the bone spikes and escape.
• Orochimaru pursued Utakata through the Bone-Spike Forest and vowed that Utakata would not escape him.
• Kimimaro lamented that he had failed to capture the Six-Tails’ jinchuriki, and Kabuto revealed that Naruto had controlled Orochimaru with Kotoamatsukami.
• Kabuto told Kimimaro that killing Naruto, who possessed Shisui’s eye, was the only way to remove Kotoamatsukami.

Orochimaru planted the Heaven's Curse Mark on Utakata, who collapsed and was cared for by Hotaru. While Naruto secretly watched them, he used a genjutsu to frighten Hotaru into seeking safety beside Utakata, bringing them closer.

• Kabuto tried to persuade Kimimaro to join him in restoring Orochimaru, but Kimimaro remained silent.
• Utakata attacked Orochimaru with his Six-Tails chakra, but Orochimaru escaped the corrosive shell and planted the Heaven's Curse Mark on Utakata's neck.
• Hotaru found the unconscious Utakata, took him to a small grove, and cared for him as the curse left him feverish and weak.
• Naruto and Hinata spied on Hotaru and Utakata, and Naruto teased Hinata before reassuring her with a kiss.
• Naruto used his Sharingan to make Hotaru see frightening insects, and Hotaru hid beside Utakata, finding comfort in his presence.

Naruto secured Utakata and Hotaru under Pain’s protection and planned to find the Seven-Tails by targeting Hidan. Meanwhile, Zetsu told Hidan that Naruto intended to use Kotoamatsukami on him, and Hidan agreed to act as bait without understanding the danger.

• Naruto left Utakata and Hotaru with Pain, who chose to protect them while awaiting the truth about Naruto’s plans.
• Naruto met with Hinata, Orochimaru, Itachi, Torune Aburame, and Kimimaro, then decided to search for the Seven-Tails through Hidan.
• Orochimaru offered to have Kabuto locate Hidan, while Hidan, Deidara, and Sasori complained about Akatsuki’s failures.
• Zetsu told Hidan, Deidara, and Sasori that Pain had betrayed Akatsuki and that Naruto was pursuing the Seven-Tails jinchuriki.
• Zetsu revealed Naruto planned to use Kotoamatsukami on Hidan, and Hidan volunteered to serve as bait, unaware of the genjutsu’s power.

Naruto confronted Hidan and Akatsuki members after following a trap, while his allies prepared a counter-trap for Zetsu. Zetsu realized Naruto had singled him out and fled as Zabuza attacked.

• Hidan waited in the wilderness as bait, and Naruto pursued him after recognizing the setup.
• Deidara detonated an explosion beneath Naruto, but Naruto survived with the Nine-Tails' chakra and released the One-Tail and Two-Tails.
• Sasori and Hidan attacked Naruto with puppets, hoping to wound him so Hidan could use his blood.
• Hinata discovered Zetsu hiding nearby, and Zabuza and Haku revealed that Naruto had ordered them to capture him.
• Zetsu panicked and fled, and Zabuza swung the Executioner's Blade at him.

Naruto killed Sasori and Deidara, then captured Zetsu with Kotoamatsukami and forced him to reveal the truth behind the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Obito Uchiha learned that the plan would free Kaguya and destroy the world, leaving him devastated as Naruto tried to make him accept that Rin could not return.

• Naruto teleported beside Sasori and killed him with a point-blank Tailed Beast Ball Rasengan, while Deidara survived the blast by countering it with an explosion of his own.
• Naruto taunted Deidara, who had exhausted his Explosive Clay and chakra, and killed him in another explosion.
• Itachi Uchiha, Hinata, Zabuza, and Haku cornered Zetsu, and Naruto used Kotoamatsukami to make Zetsu obey him.
• Naruto summoned Deva Path and Obito Uchiha, then ordered Zetsu to reveal how he had altered the Uchiha stone tablet and manipulated the Ninja World.
• Zetsu explained that the Infinite Tsukuyomi would release Kaguya and destroy the world rather than save it, and Obito Uchiha broke down after hearing the truth.
• Obito Uchiha demanded to know why Zetsu had deceived him, and Zetsu admitted he had done it to save Mother.