Chapter Summaries

Naruto’s team met the despairing shrine maiden Shion, who revealed a prophecy that Naruto would die while protecting her. Naruto insisted he would defy the prophecy, leaving Shion shaken and the escort mission underway.

• Kakashi introduced his team to Shion and Tōji at the Shrine Maiden's Palace.
• Shion recognized Naruto and prophesied that his chest would be pierced and he would die.
• Naruto said he would willingly die to protect Shion, then declared that he would survive and become Hokage.
• Shion argued that her prophecies never failed, confronted Naruto at close range, and left the hall.
• Tōji apologized for Shion's behavior, and Naruto followed him to the reception room.

Naruto and his team escorted Shion toward the shrine despite her prophecy that he would die, while Shion clashed with Sakura and Tōji joined the group. They made camp for the night, and Naruto left with Hinata to scout as Shion watched them go with an uneasy feeling.

• Kakashi confirmed that Shion’s prophecies were always accurate, but Naruto vowed to defy the prediction that he would die.
• Shion led Kakashi, Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto through a waterfall escape route, and Sakura carried Shion through the forest as they argued.
• Tōji intercepted the group and insisted on protecting Shion, eventually joining them despite her repeated orders to return.
• After nightfall, the group camped on a hillside, where Tōji cared for Shion and Naruto arranged to scout with Hinata.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode and left with Hinata to check the surroundings, while Shion watched them go and felt strangely uneasy.

Naruto and his team traveled to the shrine, where Shion needed to seal Mōryō. As the group reached the entrance and prepared to fight the Terracotta Soldiers, Tsunade realized Mōryō was likely preparing for a final showdown.

• Naruto and Hinata talked during the journey, but Hinata became jealous when Naruto explained that Shion only wanted to protect those around her.
• Hinata walked away to scout, while Naruto failed to understand why she was upset and the Nine-Tails laughed at the romantic rivalry.
• Tsunade received word that the Underworld Army had vanished and suspected Mōryō was preparing for a final confrontation.
• Naruto, Kakashi, Hinata, Sakura, Shion, and Tōji reached the shrine, where Kakashi assigned Tōji to stay behind and Sakura to carry Shion forward.
• Naruto sent hundreds of Sage Mode Shadow Clones against the Terracotta Soldiers as Hinata and Kakashi cleared the way for Sakura and Shion.
• The group reached the shrine entrance, where Shion was to enter and seal Mōryō.

Shion entered the shrine to confront Yomi, but Mōryō escaped before she could seal him. With Naruto’s help, she used her power to destroy Mōryō, and Naruto froze the erupting volcano; Shion still could not explain why the prophecy’s vision had not come true.

• Shion entered the shrine and found Yomi waiting beside the altar where Mōryō’s body was sealed.
• Shion’s bell cut apart the Terracotta Soldiers, and she began a sealing technique against Yomi.
• Yomi let Mōryō emerge from his body, but Naruto rescued Shion as Mōryō fused with his physical form and revived.
• Naruto urged Shion to use her hidden power, and together they formed a Rasengan that froze Mōryō and turned him to ash.
• Mōryō’s death destroyed the Ghost Army, and Naruto froze the mountain to stop the volcano from erupting.
• Shion again found that the scene did not match her prophecy and asked Naruto to carry her out of the cold shrine.

After defeating Mōryō, Naruto returned to Konoha while Shion resolved to train against the possibility of another Mōryō and hoped to change the prophecy that Naruto would die. Naruto obtained two days of rest so he could secretly work on releasing his parents’ chakra from within him.

• Naruto emerged from the altar carrying Shion, and she explained that Mōryō could return as long as evil persisted in human hearts.
• Shion decided to continue training as a shrine maiden and teased Naruto about lending her his strength, leaving Naruto flustered with Hinata nearby.
• Back in the Land of Demons, Shion entrusted its affairs to Tōji and announced that she would go into seclusion to prepare for the prophecy.
• Naruto returned to Konoha with Kakashi’s team and asked Tsunade for time off, concealing his plan to break Kurama’s seal and release his parents’ chakra.
• Tsunade approved two days of rest for Kakashi’s team, and Naruto assured Shizune that he would not die before becoming Hokage.

Deidara and Sasori arrived at Sunagakure to capture the One-Tail, but Gaara and the village’s ninja exposed their insider and blocked their way. In Konoha, Naruto entered his inner space to see his parents, but Minato stopped him from removing the seal.

• Deidara and Sasori argued about art as they traveled through the Land of Wind toward Sunagakure.
• Yura reported the Akatsuki threat to Gaara, who grew suspicious when Yura clutched his head and asked Baki to follow him.
• Gaara and Baki caught Yura trying to kill a ninja at the village entrance and subdued him, exposing him as Sasori’s insider.
• Deidara and Sasori found Gaara and Sunagakure’s ninja waiting at the entrance, and Gaara prepared to fight alongside Shukaku.
• Naruto entered his inner space to remove the sealing strip, but Minato Namikaze grabbed his arm and warned him not to remove the seal.

Naruto met Minato Namikaze inside the seal and freed Kurama, who kept Minato’s chakra remnant from disappearing. As Naruto shared the loneliness of his childhood, Minato apologized and embraced him, and Naruto finally returned the embrace in tears.

• Minato appeared inside Naruto’s seal and learned that Naruto had come to undo it rather than losing control of Kurama.
• Naruto removed the sealing strip, and Kurama opened the cage and used a chakra chain to stabilize Minato’s fading chakra.
• Minato explained why he and Kushina had kept Naruto’s parentage secret, and Naruto acknowledged the danger Minato’s enemies could have posed.
• Naruto described being rejected and bullied as a child, and Minato apologized for leaving him to grow up without his parents.
• Minato embraced Naruto and repeatedly apologized for sealing Kurama inside him, and Naruto hugged him back as he cried.

Minato arranged for Kushina’s chakra to remain with Naruto so she could reunite with him in his inner space. In the real world, Tsunade and Shizune discussed hiring a secretary before Danzo brought news of Akatsuki’s attacks on several Jinchuriki and warned Tsunade about Naruto.

• Minato remembered that Kushina’s chakra was inside Naruto, and the Nine-Tails agreed to let her appear.
• Tsunade and Shizune considered hiring a secretary and discussed preparing Naruto for the Hokage’s role.
• Danzo delivered intelligence that Akatsuki had attacked several Jinchuriki, captured the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, and lost Hidan while Kakuzu escaped.
• Tsunade recognized that Akatsuki was targeting tailed beasts and asked whether Danzo feared for Naruto.
• Danzo warned Tsunade that Naruto could be distracted by women and left, privately judging him too unsuited to see Konoha’s hidden shadows.

Naruto reunited with Minato Namikaze and Kushina in his inner world, then worried about Akatsuki’s attacks and his ability to face Pain. Sakura brought him a letter from Gaara, which reported Sunagakure’s victory over Akatsuki and left Naruto relieved that Gaara was safe.

• Kushina embraced Naruto and eagerly questioned him about whether he liked anyone, while Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails joined in teasing him.
• Naruto woke late, discovered that Minato Namikaze and Kushina could see through the Nine-Tails, and promised Kushina he would cook instead of eating instant noodles.
• Naruto asked the Nine-Tails about Gaara and the other tailed-beast hosts, and the Nine-Tails warned him that he could not safely contend with its chakra yet.
• Naruto walked through Konoha with Minato Namikaze and Kushina watching through his eyes, and Sakura brought him a letter from Gaara.
• Naruto read that Gaara and the others had defeated Akatsuki, that Deidara had escaped, and that Sasori had died after Chiyo helped defeat him.

Naruto worried that changes to the timeline would prevent him from meeting Sasuke and telling him the truth about the Uchiha Clan. After training with Sage Mode Shadow Clones, Naruto learned from the Nine-Tails that Shinno had stolen the Tailed Beast Sorcerer and developed a powerful revival technique, which the Nine-Tails urged him to obtain.

• Naruto realized that Gaara's actions could prevent the Tenchi Bridge mission and keep him from meeting Sasuke, while Sakura told him to rest until Team Kakashi could take missions again.
• Naruto trained with hundreds of Sage Mode Shadow Clones, and Minato Namikaze and Kushina learned from the Nine-Tails how long he had trained this way and how enemies had targeted him as a Jinchuriki.
• The Nine-Tails reminded Naruto that Shinno, a Sky Ninja, had stolen the Tailed Beast Sorcerer and modified it to create the Zero-Tails Sorcerer.
• The Nine-Tails explained that Shinno's Body Revival Technique could restore someone from a single cell and prevent death from opening all Eight Gates, then demanded that Naruto obtain it.

Naruto sought help from the Hyuga Clan so he could learn to seal chakra pathways and counter Shinno’s Body Revival Technique. With Hinata and Neji away on a mission, Hanabi offered to teach him.

• Naruto and the Nine-Tails planned to stop Shinno by using Senjutsu chakra and sealing the chakra pathways that connected him to the Zero-Tails.
• Naruto went to the Hyuga compound to ask Hinata or Neji to teach him chakra point striking, but learned they had both left on missions.
• A guard told Naruto that Hinata’s team had been sent to investigate reports of large ships in the southern waters of the Land of Fire.
• Hanabi Hyuga arrived and asked Naruto why he had come; after he explained, she offered to teach him how to use Senbon to seal a target’s chakra.
• The Nine-Tails watched Naruto and Hanabi while Minato Namikaze and Kushina watched a projected action story.

Hanabi arranged to teach Naruto how to target chakra pathways with Senbon, while Tsunade and others secretly watched their first lesson. Naruto struggled with the precise technique, and his vacation ended before he had made much progress.

• Hanabi told Naruto to meet her at his training grove and said she would ask Hiashi to let her train him.
• Tsunade learned that Hanabi wanted to teach Naruto and decided with Shizune and Uzuki Yugao to watch the lesson.
• Hanabi told Naruto that Hiashi had approved the training as part of her own development.
• Hanabi used her Byakugan to show Naruto where Senbon could block chakra pathways, while the hidden onlookers laughed at her mock-teacher act.
• Naruto struggled with the precision required, and after two days his vacation ended and he was due to begin missions.

Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai completed a C-rank mission, and Naruto helped Sai become more comfortable with his teammates. After returning to the village, Naruto and Sakura were summoned to the Hokage Office for an emergency support mission after Kakashi and his team sent a letter.

• Naruto and Sakura met Yamato and Sai at the bridgehead, where Sai insulted Naruto and Sakura challenged him.
• Tsunade and Shizune discussed Sai's Root ties, Danzo, and Kakashi's exploration mission with Team 8.
• Yamato led Naruto, Sakura, and Sai on a C-rank mission, and Naruto's talk helped Sai change before they returned to the village.
• Naruto and Sakura discussed Danzo at Ichiraku Ramen, and Naruto explained that truly scheming people did not appear calculating.
• Shizune summoned Naruto and Sakura to the Hokage Office for an emergency support mission, where they found several other ninja already gathered.

Tsunade sent Naruto and the others to stop Orochimaru’s plan to capture the Three-Tails, and Naruto led the group to attack Orochimaru’s forces directly. The chapter ended as Naruto confronted Guren while Kakashi and the others faced Kabuto Yakushi, and Hinata, Neji, Sakura, and their teammates entered the forest to fight Guren’s subordinates.

• Tsunade told the group that Kakashi and Team 8 had uncovered Orochimaru’s plan to capture the Three-Tails, and Naruto agreed with the Nine-Tails to seek Isobu’s chakra.
• Naruto used Sage Mode to find Kakashi, Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame, then brought the group to them with Flying Thunder God Movement.
• Naruto proposed eliminating Orochimaru’s subordinates before sealing the Three-Tails, and Kakashi and the others agreed to his plan.
• Naruto sensed their targets, and the group teleported from Yamato’s wooden house to the mist-shrouded lake where Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Yuukimaru were waiting.
• Naruto claimed Guren as his opponent while Kakashi, Might Guy, Yamato, Shizune, and Asuma confronted Kabuto Yakushi, and Hinata, Neji, Sakura, and the others went into the forest after Guren’s subordinates.

Naruto defeated Guren and let her leave with Yuukimaru, then secretly drew Isobu's chakra with the Nine-Tails's help. Isobu escaped rather than join Naruto, and the group returned to Konoha believing the mission was over, while Deidara and Tobi arrived to capture the Three-Tails.

• Naruto overwhelmed Guren, but Yuukimaru shielded her and pleaded for Naruto to spare her, so Naruto told them to leave Orochimaru and go far away.
• Naruto entered the lake with the Nine-Tails's help and drew out Isobu's chakra after the Nine-Tails warned the Three-Tails about Akatsuki.
• Kabuto Yakushi escaped by summoning a giant snake, and Isobu emerged from the lake before leaving to find a secluded place.
• Naruto told Kakashi and the others that Yuukimaru had controlled the Three-Tails, and Shizune declared the mission complete because Isobu had not fallen into Orochimaru's hands.
• The group spent the night in Yamato's wooden house and returned to Konoha the next day, while Deidara and Tobi arrived to capture the Three-Tails.

Naruto returned to Konoha after obtaining the Three-Tails’ chakra, while Deidara and Tobi pursued the fleeing Isobu. On arriving home, Naruto met his parents in his inner space and reassured them that he could handle the plans ahead.

• Deidara learned that the Three-Tails had escaped, then flew after it with Tobi on a clay bird.
• Hinata asked Naruto about his training, and Naruto explained that Hanabi had been teaching him to use Ice Release senbon.
• Naruto demonstrated that his senbon could spread through the ground and potentially make blocked acupuncture points difficult to undo.
• Naruto declined Hinata’s offer to train him and asked her to tell Hanabi that their lessons would continue the next day.
• Naruto returned home, enjoyed a bath, and met Kushina and Minato Namikaze in his inner space, where he reassured them that he could handle things.

Naruto trained with Hanabi to master senbon attacks on chakra-blocking acupoints, using painful Shadow Clone practice to prepare for Shinno. The Rookie Eleven watched as Naruto endured the training and began improving.

• Hanabi and Hyuga Natsu went to meet Naruto while Hinata secretly followed them to the training ground.
• Hinata found Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, Sakura, Sai, and the rest of the Rookie Eleven secretly watching Naruto and Hanabi train.
• After Naruto repeatedly missed acupoints with senbon, Hanabi proposed that she prick his Shadow Clones so he could learn the locations through pain.
• Naruto agreed, created a thousand Shadow Clones, and asked Hanabi, Hyuga Natsu, Hinata, and Neji to help with the training.
• The Rookie Eleven watched Naruto scream through the exercise, and the painful practice helped him stop striking the wrong places.

Naruto completed his Ice Release Senbon training with Hanabi and Hyuga Natsu, then gave them gifts to thank them. An aerial assault by the Sky Ninja struck Konoha, and Naruto entered Sage Mode and rushed to fight back.

• Naruto mastered Ice Release Senbon and told Hanabi about his past missions while they ate with Hyuga Natsu.
• Naruto gave Hanabi a defensive chainmail undershirt and Hyuga Natsu a formal dress as thanks for their help.
• An alarm warned Konoha of an attack, and Tsunade identified the approaching aircraft as the Sky Ninja seeking revenge.
• The Sky Ninja bombed and strafed Konoha, causing heavy casualties while the village struggled to retaliate.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode, told Hyuga Natsu to protect Hanabi, and used Flying Thunder God Movement to rush toward the attackers.

Naruto stopped the Sky Ninja assault on Konoha with an Ice Release: Rasenshuriken, then worried that its snowfall would destroy the village’s crops. At Konoha Hospital, he learned that Shinno had treated many wounded people and reacted with contempt, while a boy who defended Shinno fainted.

• Naruto arrived beside Neji and used an Ice Release: Rasenshuriken to destroy or disable most of the Sky Ninja attacking Konoha.
• Naruto sent a Shadow Clone after the three fleeing Sky Ninja with Sai, while he and Neji remained in the village.
• Naruto panicked when his attack caused heavy summer snowfall, but Neji showed him a ninja protecting a vegetable field with Earth Release.
• Naruto helped transport the wounded at Konoha Hospital, where Sakura noticed that several patients had received unusually expert treatment.
• A red-haired boy credited Shinno with treating the wounded, and Naruto disparaged Shinno before catching the boy when he fainted.

Sasuke learned that Orochimaru wanted him to capture a doctor who had perfected the Regeneration Jutsu. Naruto accompanied Sakura, Amaru, and Shinno to Amaru’s village, where he exposed Shinno after protecting Amaru from an ambush.

• Sasuke met with Orochimaru, who asked him to bring back the doctor who taught him the Regeneration Jutsu.
• Naruto received a mission to escort Amaru and Shinno with Sakura, and the group traveled by boat through the rainforest.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode and reassured the group that he could handle dangers along the river.
• The group reached Amaru’s village and found it burned, deserted, and littered with bodies.
• Crossbow bolts and kunai attacked Amaru, but Naruto shielded her with Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
• Naruto confronted Shinno and asked how much longer he intended to keep up his act.