Chapter Summaries

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.

Naruto argued that lasting peace required overwhelming power to suppress the world and proposed making Hashirama its eternal guardian. Hashirama considered the burden of outliving everyone, while Naruto hoped to secure his help before the coming war.

• Naruto criticized the feudal lords’ influence over the villages and argued that their economic and political control had helped fuel war.
• Naruto challenged Hashirama and Tobirama’s ideas about peace, claiming that only overwhelming force could permanently suppress conflict.
• Tobirama mistook Naruto’s plan for turning the world into a realm of the reanimated dead, and Naruto clarified that he wanted Hashirama to suppress threats to peace.
• Orochimaru learned from Tobirama that the Reanimation Jutsu would persist after its caster died and could be ended only by sealing the summoned or having the caster release it.
• Naruto weighed Hashirama’s immense power against the approaching war, and Hashirama finally began to speak.

Naruto unleashed Wood Release to devastate Konoha, sealed Rasa, and forced Orochimaru to hand over the reanimation talismans. He revealed his plan to control the reanimated Hokage, then attacked Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju with Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, leaving the battle underway.

• Naruto rejected Hashirama Senju's warning and used Sage Art: Wood Release: Flowering Tree World Emergence to overrun Konoha and kill the giant snakes.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to strike Rasa with a Rasengan and seal him, cutting Orochimaru's connection to the Kazekage.
• Naruto beat Orochimaru and demanded the reanimation talismans, which Orochimaru produced from his mouth.
• Naruto told Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi that he planned to erase the reanimated personalities and use their bodies to establish peace under his rule.
• Naruto revealed his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and attacked Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju with Rasenshuriken and Wood Release.

Naruto fought Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju while Konoha's defenders watched from outside the battle zone. After Hashirama countered Naruto's large-scale attacks, Naruto gradually gained the advantage over Tobirama and struck him with a fist.

• Naruto's Hell's Chaos and Wind Release: Rasenshuriken forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to escape into the air, where Naruto struck him with a tailed blow and sent him crashing into the thorns.
• Hashirama Senju countered Naruto's attacks with Deep Forest Emergence and a Wood Dragon that extinguished the Rasenshuriken.
• Tobirama Senju and Naruto exchanged rapid Flying Thunder God attacks across the battlefield as Konoha's jonin and ANBU watched from a distance.
• Kakashi Hatake worried over Konoha's destruction while Might Guy cheered Naruto on, and Naruto's Flying Thunder God skill improved during the fight.
• Naruto reached the next teleportation point before Tobirama Senju and punched him as he arrived.

Naruto defeated Tobirama and then battled Hashirama, whose immense strength forced him to redirect a Tailed Beast Bomb away from Konoha. Naruto refused to stop fighting and created a Nine-Tails-cloaked Wood Human to face Hashirama on equal terms.

• Naruto teleported behind Tobirama and drove a cursed kunai into him with a Rasengan, leaving him defeated.
• Hashirama attacked Naruto with Wood Dragons, but Naruto endured the assault and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at him.
• Hashirama caught the Tailed Beast Bomb with a wooden hand and threw it far beyond Konoha, where it detonated in a massive explosion.
• Naruto argued with the Nine-Tails, then told Hashirama to continue their fight away from the village rather than surrender.
• Naruto summoned his own Wood Human and covered it with the Nine-Tails' golden-red chakra cloak, startling Hashirama.

Naruto overwhelmed Hashirama Senju with an armored Susanoo Wood Human and a devastating Tailed Beast Bomb attack, then sealed Hashirama’s Impure World Reincarnation body. Orochimaru realized he might be able to control both monsters and turned his attention to the exhausted Naruto.

• Naruto combined the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Susanoo, and Wood Release to create an armored Wood Human, stunning Hashirama Senju and the watching Jonin.
• Hashirama attacked with multiple Wood Release techniques and tried to suppress Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra, but Naruto countered with a Sage-enhanced Tailed Beast Bomb Shuriken.
• Hashirama used Fivefold Rashomon to divert the attack, but it carved a straight road north from Konoha and created a colossal mushroom cloud.
• Naruto trapped Hashirama and sealed him with a talisman, leaving his Impure World Reincarnation body to regenerate.
• Orochimaru sensed that Hashirama was under his control and looked fanatically toward the panting Naruto.

Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to restore Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, then revealed he planned to take Naruto’s body. As the reanimated Hokage charged Naruto and his allies, Naruto smiled coldly, leaving Orochimaru uneasy about what would happen next.

• Orochimaru took control of the reanimated Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju and emerged to confront an exhausted Naruto.
• Orochimaru revealed that he wanted Naruto’s body as his reincarnation vessel and claimed he had no interest in peace.
• Tsunade, Hyuga Hiashi, Kakashi, Might Guy, and other Konoha ninja gathered to protect Naruto.
• Orochimaru revealed his female appearance and ordered the reanimated Hokage to attack Naruto and the others.
• Naruto smiled at the charging Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, making Orochimaru sense that something was wrong.

Naruto used Kotoamatsukami to take control of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, then turned them against Orochimaru. After Orochimaru failed to send the brothers back to the Pure Land, Naruto sent them after him again and noticed a prison wall in the forest.

• Naruto activated Kotoamatsukami and seized control of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju after Orochimaru completed their Impure World Reincarnation ritual.
• Naruto ordered the Senju brothers to kill Orochimaru, and Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju killed the Sound Ninja Four and cut Orochimaru in half.
• Orochimaru reassembled his body and tried to release the Senju brothers, but they used the forbidden technique's hand seals to sever their summoning contract.
• Naruto explained that the brothers had escaped Orochimaru's control and sent them to attack him again.
• Naruto turned his attention to a square prison wall formed from Golden Cudgels above the forest ruins.

Naruto explained that he had destroyed Konoha to provoke a great war and collect the Tailed Beasts, then stopped Hiruzen Sarutobi from using the Reaper Death Seal. Black Zetsu took control of Hiruzen and performed the ritual, sending his soul to the Pure Land as Naruto watched.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Naruto over Konoha’s destruction, but Naruto dismissed him as ignorant of the wider world.
• Naruto revealed that the coup had been a ploy to draw out Orochimaru, involve Sunagakure, capture Gaara, and create a pretext for a great war.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma and began the Reaper Death Seal, but Black Zetsu emerged from the ground and seized control of his body.
• A crimson chakra tail pierced Enma, killing the summon, while Black Zetsu caught the Death God Mask Naruto tossed him.
• Black Zetsu put on the mask and performed the Reaper Death Seal ritual, cutting Hiruzen’s abdomen and sending his soul toward the Pure Land.

Naruto and Tsunade surveyed Konoha’s ruins as Naruto explained his plans to remake the village as Akatsuki and deal with Sunagakure. After learning Danzo had escaped, Naruto built a house and carried Tsunade inside, postponing their conversation.

• Tsunade embraced Naruto as they looked over Konoha’s destruction, and Naruto reflected on the village’s history and the Uchiha’s break with it.
• Naruto told Tsunade that Orochimaru’s escape did not concern him and rejected holding the Chunin Ninja Exams, saying they should negotiate a ransom with Sunagakure instead.
• Naruto declared that Konoha’s new name was Akatsuki and planned to send Hashirama Senju to pressure Sunagakure into paying.
• An ANBU ninja reported that Shimura Danzō had escaped with some Root ninjas, and Naruto ordered the remaining refugee evacuation to be completed quickly.
• Naruto used Wood Release to raise a villa, carried Tsunade inside, and said they would talk later.

Naruto stayed beside Tsunade as she cried in her sleep and mastered the Yin Seal, restoring her youthful appearance. After Tsunade issued postwar decrees as Fifth Hokage and foreign villages reacted to Konoha’s weakened state, Naruto woke in the Hokage’s office thinking of Gaara.

• Naruto resisted taking advantage of the sleeping Tsunade and promised to protect her as she mistook him for Nawaki and cried.
• Tsunade’s Yin Seal activated, restoring her appearance, and Naruto covered her before exhaustion put him to sleep.
• Tsunade issued postwar decrees, including counseling for villagers, support for injured ninja, mission restrictions, and a memorial stele for the fallen.
• Jiraiya learned that Tsunade had become Fifth Hokage and rushed toward Konoha.
• Mei Terumi, Ōnoki, and the Fourth Raikage sent envoys to Konoha to congratulate Tsunade or assess the village’s strength.
• Naruto woke beneath the Hokage robe in the Hokage’s office and thought of Gaara.