Chapter Summaries

Naruto and Itachi set a trap for Orochimaru, who had been left weakened and nearly alone after losing Kabuto and several Sound Ninja. Orochimaru reached the Valley of the End in a new body, where Itachi, disguised as Sasuke, used the Sharingan to stop him.

• Orochimaru crawled into his dungeon and selected a prisoner to use as his next vessel.
• Naruto asked Itachi to transform into Sasuke and fight him using only taijutsu, and Itachi beat Naruto before agreeing to return to Konoha on the condition that Naruto never harm the village.
• Itachi sensed Orochimaru approaching, left the Valley of the End, and met him while still disguised as Sasuke.
• Orochimaru admired the Sharingan and planned to take Sasuke's body in three years, but he suddenly found himself unable to move.
• Orochimaru realized Sasuke's glowing red eyes were responsible for his paralysis.

Itachi tortured Orochimaru with Tsukuyomi, and Naruto used Kotoamatsukami to make Orochimaru believe that Naruto was the end of his pursuit of immortality. Orochimaru fled, leaving Naruto and Itachi to consider what the altered belief would make him do.

• Itachi trapped Orochimaru in Tsukuyomi and tortured him for what felt like seventy-two hours.
• Naruto arrived with Hinata and asked Itachi to spare Orochimaru, but Itachi said he was acting to protect Konoha before releasing him.
• Naruto recognized Orochimaru beneath his borrowed appearance and used Kotoamatsukami on him.
• Orochimaru regained control of his body and fled, while Naruto assured Itachi that the technique had made him believe Naruto was the end of immortality.
• Itachi realized Naruto had made Orochimaru pursue him as he pursued immortality, and Naruto worried that the plan might cause trouble as Hinata grew jealous.

Naruto decided to make Tsunade the Fifth Hokage after Konoha’s jonin rejected him, while arranging Itachi’s return and a reunion with Sasuke. When Tsunade tried to leave the village, Naruto transformed into her dead brother Nawaki and used his appearance to pressure her into accepting the position.

• Itachi offered Naruto intelligence about Akatsuki, but Naruto said he already knew more and complained that Konoha’s jonin had chosen Tsunade over him as Hokage.
• Naruto told Zabuza that Danzo would take the blame for Itachi’s actions, clearing Itachi to return to Konoha and eventually lead Root.
• Naruto revealed that Sasuke had recovered and promised to arrange a reunion with Itachi.
• Naruto and Hinata encountered Jiraiya urging Tsunade to become Hokage as she headed for the village entrance, determined to leave.
• Naruto transformed into Nawaki, stabbed his palm with a kunai, smeared himself with blood, and declared that Tsunade would become Hokage whether she chose to or not.

Naruto used transformations as Nawaki and Dan Katō to confront Tsunade with her traumatic memories and help her overcome her fear of blood. Tsunade agreed to become Hokage, then chased Naruto in a rage after discovering his deception.

• Naruto disguised himself as blood-covered Nawaki, and Hinata protected him from Jiraiya as Tsunade began to break down.
• Naruto's shadow clone appeared as Dan Katō and guided Tsunade into treating Nawaki's bleeding hand.
• Tsunade remembered her duty as a medical ninja and treated Nawaki, overcoming her hemophobia.
• Naruto's transformations vanished, revealing him as the one behind the scheme, and Tsunade threatened to break his bones and heal him.
• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape with Hinata as Tsunade declared she would become Hokage.

Kisame Hoshigaki invaded Konoha to confront Itachi, but Naruto, Jiraiya, and Tsunade stopped him from destroying the village. Tobi appeared as Kisame’s new partner and escaped with him using space-time ninjutsu, leading Naruto to suspect that Tobi was Obito.

• Kisame Hoshigaki broke into Konoha and demanded that the village hand over Itachi, defeating the guards who tried to stop him.
• Itachi confronted Kisame, and Naruto, Jiraiya, and Tsunade joined the fight against him.
• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport Kisame outside Konoha as he prepared to unleash Exploding Water Shock Wave, and Jiraiya struck him into a crater.
• Itachi warned that Akatsuki members worked in pairs, and Tobi introduced himself as Kisame’s new partner.
• Jiraiya attacked Tobi and Kisame with toad oil and Fire Release, but Naruto saw Tobi use space-time ninjutsu to escape with Kisame and suspected he was Obito.

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.