Recaps

Naruto explained Orochimaru’s Curse Mark as an imitation form of Sage Mode and showed Sasuke how it could multiply his power, despite its painful and dangerous side effects. After Orochimaru escaped, Sasuke tested the power and became eager to spar with Naruto.

• Orochimaru questioned Naruto about Sage Mode, and Naruto explained the Curse Mark’s origins, benefits, and deadly drawbacks.
• Orochimaru left after warning Naruto, and Naruto threatened him not to harm Anko during the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Naruto revived Sasuke with Yang Release Chakra and explained how the Curse Mark could draw in natural energy.
• Sasuke used the Curse Mark to strengthen his Fireball Jutsu, then felt its power overwhelm his pain and stir a violent urge.
• Sasuke challenged Naruto to a spar, and Naruto watched him with a knowing smile.

Naruto reached Central Tower with Karin and an unconscious Sasuke, then used Shadow Clones to block both routes and eliminate examinees for four days. The survivors gathered under Yakushi Kabuto’s lead and agreed to choose seven people themselves to advance, rather than challenge Naruto’s clones.

• Naruto brought Karin and the battered Sasuke to Central Tower, carrying the scrolls needed to qualify.
• Naruto sent two Shadow Clones to guard opposite sides of the tower and ambush approaching examinees.
• For four days, the clones stopped teams from reaching the tower, leaving bodies piled around them.
• Yakushi Kabuto told the surviving examinees that Naruto’s clones guarded both approaches and that many Konoha ninja had also been killed.
• After Zaku and others rejected the idea of attacking a clone, Kabuto proposed that the survivors select seven people to advance, and they agreed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru struggled to understand Naruto’s disruption of the Chunin Exam, while Naruto revealed that he knew about Orochimaru’s plans and offered him two White Zetsu as sacrifices. Orochimaru took them, and Naruto anticipated that the coming events would become even more dramatic.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Naruto had sealed Death Tower and persuaded Hinata and Ino to withdraw, leaving only three Sand ninja qualified.
• Yakushi Kabuto killed three Amegakure Genin and took their scrolls as the exam’s fighting spiraled into chaos.
• Orochimaru confronted Naruto in Death Tower and demanded to know why he was disrupting the exam.
• Naruto teased Orochimaru about Sasuke’s Curse Mark and suggested arranging for Sasuke to fight early in the third round.
• Naruto revealed two White Zetsu and offered them as improved sacrifices for Orochimaru’s technique.
• Orochimaru took the White Zetsu, and Naruto predicted that the show would become even better.

After the second exam, Naruto’s actions left only Neji’s team and Gaara’s team to advance, while Hiruzen announced the finals. Orochimaru discussed his plans for Konoha with Kabuto, and Naruto prepared to work with Itachi against the Sarutobi Clan in exchange for help finding the remaining Nine-Tails Chakra.

• Hiruzen found that only nine candidates remained, with Neji’s team and Gaara’s team qualifying after Naruto’s interference and Kabuto’s team forfeiting.
• Naruto cut off Hiruzen’s speech and left with Sasuke, while Gaara also departed and Temari apologized to Hiruzen before chasing after him.
• Kabuto reported the exam’s outcome to Orochimaru, who said he planned to attack Konoha and discussed Naruto, Akatsuki, and the White Zetsu made from Hashirama Cells.
• Naruto met Itachi and asked whether the Sarutobi Clan was obstructing Konoha’s peace; Naruto promised to help find the remaining Nine-Tails Chakra after their deal was done.

Black Zetsu gave Naruto a scroll and mask that could help retrieve the Nine-Tails from the Death God's stomach. Jiraiya returned to Konoha, where Naruto introduced himself as Tsunade's boyfriend and Katsuyu exposed how their relationship began.

• Black Zetsu brought Naruto a mask and a scroll containing a method to extract souls from the Death God's stomach.
• Naruto noted that the full moon was approaching, while Black Zetsu slipped away past Konoha's sensory barrier.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and went to the hot spring district, where an ANBU told him the Hokage wanted his help against Orochimaru.
• Naruto appeared before Jiraiya and claimed to be Tsunade's boyfriend, but Jiraiya doubted him because of his age.
• Naruto summoned Katsuyu to confirm his relationship with Tsunade, and she said he had forced himself on her.

Naruto fought Jiraiya and concluded that the Sannin had returned to Konoha to investigate the village and protect him. On the fifteenth, Naruto manipulated Asuma into deciding that the Sarutobi Clan must be destroyed.

• Naruto and Jiraiya fought, then escaped ANBU and the bathhouse guests who had mistaken Jiraiya for a peeping tom.
• Jiraiya wondered whether Naruto was the Child of Prophecy, healed his injuries, and left to pursue two young women.
• Naruto suspected Jiraiya had returned to see Hiruzen Sarutobi's funeral, investigate the Akatsuki, and protect Naruto, unaware that Naruto was an Akatsuki member.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Gekko Hayate to investigate a suspicious Jonin from Sunagakure after sensing that trouble was coming.
• Naruto showed Asuma footage and photographs, then used his Mangekyo Sharingan to convince him that the Sarutobi Clan threatened Konoha's peace.
• Asuma declared that the Sarutobi Clan should not be allowed to live in the world.

Naruto sent Asuma and Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, and Sasori to attack the Sarutobi Clan Grounds. Sasori’s puppets and the others began slaughtering the clan, while the attack’s position in central Konoha obstructed reinforcements.

• Naruto brought Asuma four allies and told them to disguise themselves before entering the Sarutobi Clan Grounds.
• Itachi used his Sharingan to make the two night guards let the group pass without question.
• Asuma ordered the attack, and Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, and Sasori began killing the Sarutobi clan members.
• Sasori unleashed his hundred puppets, which overwhelmed the clan, while Kisame finished off survivors.
• Two guards under enemy control attacked ANBU reinforcements, and Deidara killed their squad leader with an explosion.
• Screams rang through the Sarutobi Clan Grounds as the attack blocked other clans from reaching the compound.

Deidara attacked Konoha, but ANBU contained his clay explosives while villagers and visiting shinobi learned that Asuma had joined Itachi Uchiha in destroying the Sarutobi Clan. Asuma bid farewell to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Itachi carried the group out of Konoha on Susanoo.

• Deidara bombarded Konoha with clay spiders and puppets, while ANBU used Lightning Release and a green barrier to contain the attack.
• Visiting shinobi spread rumors that Asuma had betrayed and wiped out his own clan, and ANBU ordered them to return to their inn.
• Itachi Uchiha broke through the barrier atop Susanoo with Asuma and four others beside him.
• Asuma told Hiruzen Sarutobi he had removed the source of Hiruzen's constraints and apologized for leaving him.
• Itachi spread Susanoo's wings and flew with the group out of Konoha, leaving Hiruzen stunned.

Naruto explained to Orochimaru why he had orchestrated the Sarutobi Clan’s destruction and urged him to tear down Konoha’s power structure. As the village reeled from the attack, Danzo prepared to exploit Hiruzen Sarutobi’s weakened position and reclaim Root.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the Sarutobi Clan compound descend into chaos and coughed up blood as ANBU rushed to support him.
• Naruto told Orochimaru that Asuma had destroyed the Sarutobi Clan, then explained that he wanted revenge for Hiruzen Sarutobi’s role in his suffering and in Itachi Uchiha’s massacre.
• Naruto urged Orochimaru to abandon his limited Konoha Crush Plan and dismantle Konoha’s entire power structure, then revealed that he had been speaking through an illusion.
• Jiraiya watched Itachi Uchiha and his group depart and wondered who had hired the Akatsuki, while Danzo sneezed in his room.
• Danzo gloated over Hiruzen Sarutobi’s troubles and left to speak with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura about reclaiming Root.

Naruto stopped ANBU from taking Sasuke in for questioning after Itachi attacked the Sarutobi Clan compound. Naruto and Sasuke left together, while Kakashi ordered the surrounding ANBU to withdraw.

• Naruto broke into Sasuke's apartment and said he had come to save him.
• ANBU arrived with orders from the Hokage to take Sasuke in for questioning about Itachi's attack on the Sarutobi Clan compound.
• Sasuke rushed toward the door, but the ANBU captain pinned him down and ordered his subordinates to take him away.
• Naruto knocked the ANBU into the walls with Chakra arms and told Sasuke to follow him.
• ANBU surrounded Naruto and Sasuke outside, but Kakashi arrived and ordered them to withdraw.
• Naruto left with Sasuke and reflected on his shallow, pragmatic relationship with Kakashi.

Naruto told Sasuke a slanted account of the Uchiha massacre, shifting his anger toward Konoha’s leaders and awakening his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. When Sasuke demanded a way to grow stronger, Naruto asked whether he would kill his parents and Itachi, then brought up the Ancient Kingdom of Roran.

• After the crowd dispersed, Sasuke demanded that Naruto explain why ANBU had tried to arrest him and whether Itachi had appeared.
• Naruto claimed Fugaku had surrendered his Sharingan to secure Sasuke’s protection and blamed Itachi and Konoha’s leaders for the clan’s destruction.
• Sasuke’s grief and shame awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, while Naruto reflected on how his account had redirected Sasuke’s feelings about Itachi.
• Naruto warned Sasuke that the Uchiha and Konoha higher-ups both threatened him, prompting Sasuke to vow revenge on Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō.
• When Sasuke asked how to get stronger, Naruto asked whether he would kill his parents and Itachi, then asked if he had heard of the Ancient Kingdom of Roran.

Naruto confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over his plan to suspend the Chunin Ninja Exams and pursue Itachi Uchiha, exposing evidence that challenged Hiruzen’s account of the Sarutobi Clan massacre. Hiruzen revealed he had prepared ANBU and the Sealing Division to capture Naruto, then ordered the attack.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced the suspension of the Chunin Ninja Exams and a village-wide hunt for Itachi Uchiha and the Akatsuki.
• Naruto entered the Jonin assembly with Hyuga Hiashi and other clan heads, declared himself the Fourth Hokage’s son, and objected to Hiruzen’s decision.
• Naruto restrained Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura with Wood Release and played a recording of his deal with Hiruzen.
• Naruto showed footage implicating Asuma in the Sarutobi Clan massacre and accused Hiruzen of using Konoha’s resources to settle a clan dispute.
• Hiruzen summoned dozens of ANBU and revealed the Sealing Division was waiting to capture Naruto.
• Hiruzen called Naruto a weapon of war and ordered the ANBU to attack.

Naruto’s faction seized control of the ANBU confrontation, and Tsunade emerged as a candidate to replace Hiruzen Sarutobi. After demonstrating that she had awakened Wood Release, she and Naruto accused Hiruzen of involvement in the Senju Clan’s destruction and secret Hashirama Cell experiments, leaving Kakashi shaken as Naruto produced evidence.

• Yamato led a third of the ANBU in turning against their comrades and standing with Naruto, while some remaining ANBU stepped away from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Naruto challenged Hiruzen’s authority and argued that the ANBU should follow the Hokage rather than a temporary leader who had stepped down.
• Tsunade dispelled her disguise and asked whether she was qualified to become Hokage.
• Tsunade used Wood Release: Adamantine Tree Summoning to incapacitate the ANBU protecting Hiruzen, shocking the assembled ninjas.
• Naruto accused Hiruzen of knowing how Senju Nawaki died and suggested Konoha had taken Nawaki’s organs for Hashirama Cell research; Kakashi recalled Hiruzen’s account of Yamato’s origins and grew suspicious.
• Hiruzen denied that Konoha had researched Hashirama Cells, and Naruto pulled out a stack of papers to challenge his denial.

Naruto exposed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s abuses and announced that he would found a nation, while Hiruzen tried to rally the clan leaders against him. Naruto revealed his Susanoo, killed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, and declared a coup.

• Naruto presented Konoha’s research records and Yamato described surviving the Wood Release experiments as a child.
• Naruto accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of weakening Konoha, destroying clans, driving out the White Fang and the Sannin, and covering for his son.
• Hiruzen blamed Shimura Danzō and Root, but Naruto pointed out that Hiruzen had absorbed Root into the ANBU.
• Hiruzen invoked his appointment by the daimyo, and Naruto announced that he would found a nation.
• Hyuga Hiashi and Nara Shikaku refused to support Hiruzen, with Hiashi saying he owed Naruto his life.
• Naruto’s green Susanoo smashed through the Hokage Building’s roof and cut down Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura before Naruto declared a coup.

Baki told Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara that Sunagakure planned to use the Chunin Exams to attack Konoha, while privately realizing they had been set up as disposable pawns. When the Sarutobi Clan attacked Konoha first, Orochimaru pushed the invasion plan forward, and Naruto greeted the ensuing chaos with excitement.

• Baki explained that Sunagakure's alliance with Konoha had weakened the village and that the Kazekage planned to strike Konoha with Otogakure.
• Baki privately concluded that the Kazekage had abandoned him and the three siblings, but he did not reveal this to Temari, Kankuro, or Gaara.
• Kabuto met with Baki to review the Konoha Destruction Plan, but explosions and a massive Susanoo erupted across Konoha before they could proceed.
• Orochimaru told Baki that Konoha's turmoil offered an opportunity and decided to advance the invasion plan after the Sarutobi Clan was wiped out and Danzo had lost his followers.
• Orochimaru summoned a gigantic two-headed snake into Konoha as Naruto shouted for the attack to begin.
• Naruto spotted Orochimaru on a distant rooftop, grinned, and told him to wait.

Naruto and Tsunade exposed Orochimaru’s attack as Konoha’s prepared defense trapped the Sound Ninja and Gaara’s team. Tsunade ordered Konoha’s forces to protect the village while she, Hiruzen, and Orochimaru were sealed inside a barrier, and Gaara began to lose control.

• Naruto revealed that Konoha had anticipated the invasion and ordered its ninja to stop the Sound Ninja.
• Konoha’s Barrier Team trapped Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, and Naruto used Flying Thunder God to enter their barrier.
• Tsunade rejected Hiruzen’s appeal to join forces and challenged Orochimaru to explain his motives.
• Orochimaru raised an earth platform and the Sound Ninja Four sealed it with the Four Violet Fire Formation.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha’s ninja to evacuate residents and fight the invaders as Hiruzen attacked her and Orochimaru with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
• Gaara ignored Kankuro’s plea to release his jutsu and glared at the barrier, growing more dangerous.

Gaara unleashed Shukaku’s power during the exam, and Naruto entered the barrier to confront him. Naruto’s Four-Tails cloak frightened Gaara and provoked Shukaku, while Naruto recognized that Gaara had already become a Perfect Jinchuriki without understanding it.

• Gaara recalled how Rasa had sealed Shukaku inside him, arranged Yashamaru’s attack, and convinced him that his family hated him.
• Gaara formed a miniature Shukaku from sand and struck the barrier, draining chakra from the Barrier Team.
• The Barrier Team threw Naruto’s Flying Thunder God Kunai inside, and Naruto appeared before Gaara.
• Gaara attacked Naruto with Sand Shuriken and Sand Binding Coffin, but Naruto blocked the barrage with an Earth-Style Wall.
• Naruto revealed a four-tailed Nine-Tails Chakra cloak, frightening Gaara and causing Shukaku to scream inside him.
• Naruto understood that Gaara had already been a Perfect Jinchuriki, while Gaara had mistaken his own control of Shukaku’s chakra for the beast’s influence.

Naruto restrained Shukaku inside Gaara using the Uzumaki Clan’s Adamantine Sealing Chains, Sage Art: Gate of the Great God, and an Eight Trigrams Seal. Shukaku’s brief escape ended almost immediately, leaving Naruto holding Gaara while the Barrier Team stared in disbelief.

• Shukaku raged at Kurama and drove Gaara to attack Naruto with sand claws and a massive Sand Waterfall.
• Naruto used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to bind Gaara, but Gaara broke free with Shukaku’s Spear.
• Naruto entered Shukaku’s sealing space and bound him with Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Naruto used Sage Art: Gate of the Great God to suppress Shukaku, then built an Eight Trigrams Seal and cages within Gaara’s consciousness.
• Shukaku transformed Gaara into his giant form and declared himself free, but Naruto sealed him back inside Gaara almost at once.

Naruto defeated Gaara and revealed that his mother’s lingering will had been protecting him through the sand, prompting Gaara to recognize his family’s love. Naruto then restrained Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, leaving the siblings at his mercy.

• Naruto suppressed Shukaku, shattered Gaara’s Sand Armor, and told him that the Tailed Beast had not been protecting him.
• Naruto explained that Gaara’s mother had merged her lingering will with the sand to protect him, and the sand formed a figure that shielded Gaara from Naruto’s Wood Release.
• Gaara learned that his mother had loved him and broke down sobbing, while Temari and Kankuro stepped forward to protect him.
• Gaara called Temari and Kankuro his big sister and big brother, and they resolved to face Naruto for his sake.
• Naruto pinned Kankuro and Gaara with his Tailed Beast Cloak, restrained Temari, and threatened her to control her brothers.

Naruto helped Konoha repel the invading Suna and Oto forces, summoning Katsuyu to heal the battlefield while Tsunade and Hiruzen fought Orochimaru inside the Four Violet Fire Formation. The chapter ended as Hiruzen's combined attacks engulfed Orochimaru and another composite technique raced toward Tsunade.

• Naruto sealed Gaara and two others with the Five Elements Seal and ordered the barrier team to guard them for the secret arts they carried.
• Konoha's defenders fought off the Suna and Oto invasion as Kakashi and Might Guy competed over their enemy counts.
• Naruto summoned a gigantic Katsuyu, which split into smaller slugs to treat wounded Konoha ninja across the battlefield.
• Tsunade and Hiruzen battled Orochimaru inside the Four Violet Fire Formation, with Hiruzen's Earth-Fire technique swallowing Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen launched a Lightning-Water technique toward Tsunade.

Tsunade protected herself from Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attack with Wood Release, triggering his memories of how he gained the Hokage position and gradually turned Konoha into a village under his control. The chapter left Hiruzen facing the power of Wood Release and the shadow of Hashirama Senju’s legacy.

• Tsunade raised a Wood Locking Wall that absorbed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Water Dragon Bullet and its electricity without damage.
• Hiruzen remembered volunteering to serve as a decoy during the retreat from Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s forces, only for Tobirama Senju to appoint him Hokage instead.
• Hiruzen recalled how Danzō’s intervention made him see Danzō as a useful ally and inspired the idea for Root.
• As Hokage, Hiruzen gradually abandoned his early desire to protect the village, changed the ninja code, created Root and the Konoha Council of Elders, and concentrated power in his own hands.
• Hiruzen recognized that political control alone could not secure Konoha and that Hashirama Senju’s power remained a threat in his mind.

Tsunade used Wood Release against Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru, reviving Hiruzen’s fears about the Senju Clan’s power. Orochimaru summoned the reanimated Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, who attacked the advancing vines with Magnet Release.

• Tsunade unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, forcing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru to dodge its roots and branches.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma and ordered him to transform into the Golden Cudgel to smash the vines.
• Orochimaru summoned a coffin and revealed the reanimated Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
• Orochimaru planted a talisman-wrapped kunai in Rasa’s head, restoring his living appearance and control.
• Rasa summoned a golden-sand platform and formed a massive battle axe to strike the vines.

Orochimaru summoned Hashirama and Tobirama with Impure World Reincarnation to fight Tsunade and Hiruzen, but Tobirama broke free of his control. The brothers began regaining their strength, and Tobirama asked Hiruzen to explain what had happened in Konoha.

• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama and Tobirama, and Naruto recognized the technique before rushing toward the ruined Hokage Building.
• Tobirama recognized Hiruzen and questioned him, while Hashirama struggled to recognize his granddaughter Tsunade.
• Tsunade angrily threw a tree at Orochimaru after he revealed her age, and Rasa blocked it with a Sand Shield.
• Orochimaru tried to implant control talismans in Hashirama and Tobirama, but Tobirama kicked him away before he could take control.
• Tobirama explained that Hashirama's cells helped them overcome the summoning's restraints as their bodies regained color and strength.
• Tobirama asked Hiruzen what had happened and whether they were still in Konoha.

Naruto exposed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s role in Konoha’s abuses, including the Senju Clan’s deaths and the destruction of the Uzumaki homeland, before Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. Tobirama grasped the implications of Naruto’s accusations and turned on Hiruzen, whose defense was left in doubt.

• Orochimaru blamed Tsunade for starting the war, while Tsunade accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of tyranny and implicated him in the Senju Clan’s destruction.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi claimed the Senju shinobi had gone willingly to war, but Tsunade challenged his account and revealed that children, including Nawaki, had been sent to the battlefield.
• Orochimaru blamed Root for supplying experimental subjects, and Naruto arrived, explaining that he had provided Orochimaru with the resurrected Senju brothers.
• Naruto identified himself as an Uzumaki and told Tobirama Senju that the Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed by shinobi led by Konoha.
• Naruto accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of arriving late to the Uzumaki homeland’s defense and taking a Jinchuriki and the clan’s sealing techniques; Tobirama understood the accusation and turned toward Hiruzen with a grim expression.

Tobirama Senju confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over his failures as Hokage, while Hiruzen tried to flee the battle and was repeatedly stopped. Hiruzen halted Tobirama’s attack by claiming Tsunade planned to cripple Konoha and strike the Daimyo.

• Tobirama Senju demanded an explanation from Hiruzen Sarutobi for sending children to war and failing to pass on the Will of Fire.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi escaped the Four Violet Fire Formation underground, collapsing the platform and breaking the barrier as he fled.
• Tobirama Senju tracked Hiruzen underground and nearly cut him down with Water Style, but Hiruzen escaped using Earth Style and Enma’s help.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi trapped Tobirama Senju with the Mountain Soil Technique, but Tobirama teleported to his Flying Thunder God Kunai and resumed the attack.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned Tobirama Senju that Tsunade intended to cripple Konoha and attack the Daimyo, making Tobirama pause.