Chapter Summaries

Naruto met his new teammates, Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha, and their supervising Jonin, Yamato, at the Third Training Ground. Yamato began an exercise to assess the newly graduated team, while Naruto was disappointed to learn failure would not send him back to the Academy for more training.

• Hana Inuzuka complained to Izumi Uchiha about waiting for their unknown teammate and supervising Jonin.
• Naruto appeared from a tree, and Hana and Izumi were pleased to learn he was their teammate.
• Naruto used a trace of the Nine-Tails' aura to make Haimaru cower, impressing Hana and Izumi with his strength.
• Yamato arrived, introduced himself as the team's supervising Jonin, and assigned them to find a hidden scroll containing the exercise mission.
• Naruto asked whether failing would make him repeat the Academy course, then showed disappointment when Yamato said it would not.

Naruto guided Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha through a tracking exercise in the Forest of Death, using his skills to teach them how to read clues. After saving Hana from a giant python and earning both girls’ admiration, he led them onward to the wilderness-survival portion of the exercise.

• Naruto let Hana and Izumi search for the mission scroll before pointing them to where Haimaru found it; the scroll sent them to track an escapee in the Forest of Death.
• Haimaru followed the target’s scent, but a giant python swallowed him, and Naruto cut the snake apart with Wind Release to rescue him.
• Naruto taught Hana and Izumi to interpret footprints, a cut branch, a damp stone, and trampled flowers as tracking clues.
• Naruto explained how fabricated clues could mislead pursuers, then shared his water with Izumi, who blushed after drinking from his bottle.
• Naruto led Hana and Izumi toward the next stage of the exercise, while the Nine-Tails complained that Naruto had used its scouting help to impress the girls.

Naruto Uzumaki flirted with Izumi Uchiha and Hana Inuzuka while they camped in the Forest of Death, but their evening was interrupted by a wounded female ANBU pursued by Root operatives. Naruto stepped in to confront the pursuers.

• Naruto used traces of residual chakra to guide the group and caught fish for dinner.
• Naruto cooked for Izumi and Hana, fed them fish and soup, and invited them to share his tent.
• Naruto made a shadow clone to keep watch, then heard kunai clash outside and led the girls to investigate.
• Naruto spotted a wounded female ANBU being pursued by three Root operatives and told Izumi and Hana to stay hidden.
• Naruto used Body Flicker to appear before the Root operatives and asked them to back down.

Naruto realized the confrontation between Root and Uzuki Yugao was a staged test of his loyalty, then declared his allegiance to Lord Hokage and charged at Root with the Gate of Life opened. The chapter ended as the three Root members reacted in shock.

• Naruto blocked three Root members from taking Uzuki Yugao and demanded proof that she was a traitor.
• A Root member recognized Naruto as a Jinchuriki, and Root offered to leave if he handed over the scroll.
• Naruto asked Kurama who was watching and learned that four observers and Captain Yamato were monitoring the scene.
• Naruto recognized the confrontation as a test modeled on one Hiruzen Sarutobi had used to judge Itachi Uchiha and Shisui.
• Naruto declared that he lived and died with Lord Hokage, opened the Gate of Life, and charged at the Root members.

Naruto tested his strength by opening the Gate of Life and fought three Root operatives with taijutsu, ninjutsu, and a Shadow Clone. After blasting two operatives away, he detonated his clone beside the female operative.

• Naruto opened the Gate of Life and attacked the three Root operatives with his nunchaku.
• Naruto summoned a Shadow Clone, which blocked the female operative's sword strike and overpowered her with its chakra.
• Naruto used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to blast the other two Root operatives away with a violent gust.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone grabbed the female operative and exploded beside her.

Naruto defeated three Root operatives with a combination of ninjutsu and prepositioned substitution logs, then used the fight to teach Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha about combat. He left Kakashi and Yamato speechless by claiming he needed to undress the unconscious female operative and examine the girls for injuries.

• Naruto used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and a Shadow Clone's self-destruction to take down three Root operatives.
• Naruto used a substitution log to evade the largest operative's Earth Release: Earth Spear and knocked him unconscious.
• Naruto explained his preparation and urged Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha to use any tactics necessary and beware of poisoned weapons.
• Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha praised Naruto, while Captain Yamato and Kakashi admired his actions and his apparent Will of Fire.
• Naruto proposed taking off the unconscious female operative's clothes to check for injuries and offered to examine Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha, leaving Kakashi and Yamato speechless.

Naruto and his teammates finished the second-stage camp after he helped defeat Root members and protect Uzuki Yugao. Hiruzen Sarutobi rewarded Naruto with three techniques, but Naruto remained suspicious of the Third Hokage and began studying the scrolls to strengthen himself.

• Yamato praised Naruto, Izumi Uchiha, and Hana Inuzuka, then raised a wooden mansion so they could stay at the camp overnight.
• Naruto took Izumi Uchiha and Hana Inuzuka for barbecue before returning to his rented house.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi visited Naruto, praised his choices during the exercise, and gave him scrolls containing the promised techniques.
• Naruto signed the summoning contract and formed a connection with Sage Katsuyu of Shikkotsu Forest.
• After Hiruzen left, Naruto resolved to pursue strength and began studying the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Naruto reunited with Kiba and his friends while openly teasing Hana Inuzuka about being his brother-in-law, then focused on the need to train and grow stronger. Yamato met Naruto, Izumi, and Hana at the mission office and led them inside for a new assignment from the Third.

• Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, and Kiba discussed Naruto's absence from school before spotting him with Izumi and Hana.
• Naruto called himself Kiba's brother-in-law, leaving Kiba stunned as Hana blushed and bickered with Naruto.
• Naruto reflected on his need to train his taijutsu and Sharingan to overcome his reaction delay and survive stronger opponents.
• Yamato greeted Naruto, Izumi, and Hana at the mission office and said the Third had assigned them a suitable mission.

Naruto's team received a C-rank escort mission for a merchant traveling from the Land of Fields toward the Land of Grass, giving Naruto, Hana Inuzuka, and Izumi Uchiha their first chance to leave Konoha. Meanwhile, Obito urged the Six Paths of Pain to stage a coup in Amegakure and begin his plan for peace.

• Naruto bluntly questioned the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, about handling every mission himself, and Hiruzen took the remark in good humor.
• Hiruzen assigned Naruto's team a C-rank mission to escort a merchant caravan through the Land of Fire toward the Land of Grass.
• Naruto, Hana Inuzuka, and Izumi Uchiha bought supplies, registered their departure with Kamizuki Izumo and Izumo Kamizuki, and headed to meet the merchant.
• In Amegakure, Obito told the Six Paths of Pain that creating a world of peace required their help.
• Obito ordered the Six Paths of Pain to stage a coup at the Rain Shadow Tower and bring Amegakure's internal strife to an end.

Naruto’s team escorted a heavily guarded merchant caravan, and Naruto accepted a lavish gift while the uneventful journey gave him time to train Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha. As the caravan reached the halfway point, Haimaru detected nearby people, and attackers launched explosive-tag kunai from the forest.

• A merchant offered Yamato a gift, but Naruto took the box and discovered it contained three hundred thousand ryo.
• Naruto’s team traveled peacefully with the caravan while he trained Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha in chakra control.
• After half a month, Haimaru barked a warning, and Hana Inuzuka detected a recent human scent nearby.
• Attackers threw explosive-tag kunai from the forest, and Yamato ordered everyone to scatter before using Wood Release: Great Forest Technique.

Yamato’s team rejected the caravan’s request for continued protection after learning its cargo might be wartime supplies, but stayed nearby to watch it. As they discussed the danger, a blaze erupted where the caravan was traveling.

• Yamato used Wood Release to stop an attack, and the enemy voice fell silent.
• The Fuma Clan merchant revealed that the Land of Grass had entrusted the cargo to his clan, and Naruto suspected it contained weapons for the war against the Land of Waterfalls.
• Yamato ended the escort and refused the merchant’s offer of more money, prioritizing his students’ safety.
• Naruto explained to Izumi Uchiha and Hana why the mission was dangerous and said they would keep watch from a distance.
• A fierce blaze erupted near the caravan, and Yamato signaled the others to hide in a tree and observe.

Kakuzu slaughtered the Fuma Clan caravan guards for a bounty and revealed that Kusagakure had paid extra for the job. As he prepared to leave, an Akatsuki-cloaked figure emerged from the forest and confronted him.

• Naruto, Hana Inuzuka, Izumi Uchiha, and Yamato watched Kakuzu attack the Fuma Clan caravan and recognized how dangerous he was.
• Kakuzu used Lightning Release and Earth Release to kill the Fuma Clan ninja, including their Jonin leader, and claimed someone had placed a bounty on them.
• Kakuzu killed the fat merchant, who revealed that Kusagakure had arranged the attack, then checked the crate and found only ninja tools.
• Naruto and the others thought the encounter had ended as Kakuzu leaped onto a tree trunk to leave.
• A pitcher plant appeared where Kakuzu had stood, and an orange-haired figure in a black robe patterned with red clouds stepped from the forest.

Deva Path Pain confronted Kakuzu and forced him into a one-sided fight to make him join Akatsuki. Yamato feared for Naruto and the others, but Naruto watched the overwhelming display with excitement.

• Pain arrived with Black and White Zetsu and demanded that Kakuzu join Akatsuki.
• Kakuzu rejected the offer, explaining that money was all he cared about, and attacked Pain with Earth Grudge Fear.
• Pain repelled Kakuzu with Shinra Tensei, then used speed and Banshō Ten'in to kick him back and forth.
• Yamato prepared to tell Naruto to run, while Naruto watched eagerly and Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha trembled.
• Kakuzu used Fire Release: Head Moulder.

Pain defeated Kakuzu and recruited him into Akatsuki, while Naruto fled with Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha rather than reveal his strength. When Black Zetsu intercepted Naruto and pursued the girls, Naruto unveiled his Sharingan and Tailed Beast Cloak to stop him.

• Pain overwhelmed Kakuzu with Shinra Tensei and persuaded him to join Akatsuki.
• Black and White Zetsu noticed the Konoha ninja, and Naruto carried Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha away from the battle.
• Pain pulled Yamato back with Banshō Ten'in and knocked him away with Shinra Tensei.
• Black Zetsu intercepted Naruto, who threw Hana and Izumi toward Konoha and urged them to run with the Husky.
• White Zetsu burrowed underground to pursue the girls, while Naruto revealed his Sharingan and Tailed Beast Cloak and attacked Black Zetsu with Rasengan.

Naruto killed White Zetsu and revealed that he knew Black Zetsu's identity and plan to revive Kaguya. Black Zetsu panicked and demanded to know who Naruto was, and Naruto jokingly claimed to be his father.

• Naruto used a Rasengan to kill White Zetsu in a massive crater.
• Black Zetsu realized Naruto's unexpected Sharingan and strength threatened his thousand-year plan.
• Naruto asked Black Zetsu what Obito would do if he learned the Eye of the Moon Plan was a scheme to revive Kaguya.
• Naruto identified Black Zetsu as Kaguya's son and described his role in fueling conflict between the Asura and Indra clans.
• Black Zetsu demanded to know who Naruto was, and Naruto said he was Black Zetsu's long-lost father.

Naruto claimed to be Black Zetsu’s father and spun a story that tied their past to Kaguya, the Ōtsutsuki, and the plans to rescue her. Black Zetsu believed him and broke down in tears, calling Naruto his father.

• Naruto told Black Zetsu that he and Black Zetsu’s mother had been Ōtsutsuki lovers, and that Isshiki had stolen her from him.
• Naruto claimed that Kaguya had created Hagoromo, Hamura, and the White Zetsu, and that Hagoromo and Hamura had sealed her inside the moon.
• Naruto said he had survived by taking over an Asura reincarnation and had spent centuries manipulating Hamura’s descendants to prepare a way to free Kaguya.
• Naruto warned that the Sage of Six Paths and Isshiki were still threats, then outlined a plan to become the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki and break open the moon.
• Black Zetsu believed Naruto’s story and wept as he called him father.

Naruto manipulated Black Zetsu into believing he was his father and promised to help free Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. He directed Black Zetsu to keep building Akatsuki while Naruto planned to strengthen his position in Konoha and eventually become the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki.

• Naruto used a mixture of truths and lies about Kaguya, the Ōtsutsuki, and the Ninja World to convince Black Zetsu that he was his father.
• Black Zetsu accepted Naruto's guidance and vowed to follow his instructions.
• Naruto claimed he had controlled Minato Namikaze and arranged for the Nine-Tails to be split so one half could later be used to revive the Ten-Tails.
• Naruto told Black Zetsu to keep Akatsuki operating as mercenaries, release Yamato, and avoid provoking the Five Great Villages so the organization could earn money and build influence.

Naruto helped Black Zetsu persuade Pain to spare Yamato and leave with Akatsuki, then searched the cargo for a Wood Release scroll while worrying over Yamato’s injuries. Kusagakure ninjas surrounded Naruto, Yamato, and the crates, and their leader ordered them killed to keep the cargo recovery secret.

• Naruto and Black Zetsu arrived as Pain prepared to kill Yamato, and Black Zetsu convinced Pain to spare him and leave a message for the Hokage.
• Pain departed with Akatsuki, leaving the Fuma Clan’s cargo behind, and Yamato collapsed from his injuries.
• Naruto searched Yamato for a Wood Release scroll, then tried to find a way to keep him alive while Kurama refused to lend him chakra.
• A Kusagakure squad surrounded Naruto, Yamato, and the cargo crates, and Jonin Kusanagi ordered his men to dispose of them.

Naruto defeated a Kusagakure squad that tried to steal his crates and asked their leader for directions to the camp’s medical ninjas. After learning the camp’s location, Naruto killed the captured Jonin Kusanagi to prevent him from setting a trap.

• Naruto asked the Kusagakure Jonin whether his squad had a medical ninja, and the Jonin ordered Yamaki to attack him.
• Naruto knocked Yamaki down with a Rasengan and used hundreds of Shadow Clones to overwhelm the Kusagakure squad.
• Jonin Kusanagi used Fire Release: Demon Lantern, destroying many Shadow Clones, but Naruto buried him with Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu.
• Jonin Kusanagi revealed that the Kusagakure camp was thirty li east and had blood packs that could help Naruto’s injured companion.
• Naruto asked Jonin Kusanagi what one plus one was, then killed him after he answered.

Naruto reached the Kusagakure camp and found Karin Uzumaki’s mother dead after Kusagakure ninjas drained her chakra to heal the wounded. Enraged, Naruto killed the men attacking her and unleashed the Nine-Tails’ power, leaving the camp facing his uncontrolled fury.

• Kusagakure ninjas forced Karin Uzumaki’s mother to serve as a source of chakra for their wounded despite her protests.
• The wounded drained the mother until she died, and one Kusagakure ninja went to fetch Karin to take her place.
• Naruto arrived, killed the ninjas still biting the mother, and told her he was Naruto Uzumaki.
• Naruto used a flicker of Yang Release to let the dying woman see her daughter, but he could not revive her.
• Naruto’s rage drove the Nine-Tails’ chakra to surge as he rejected Kurama’s warning and began transforming.