Chapter Summaries

Tsunade learned that Naruto and Sakura had each become involved in cult movements, and she erupted at Kakashi before deciding to intervene. She sent Kakashi to Snow Country and prepared to travel to Sunagakure with Hiashi and Hinata.

• Kakashi reported that Sakura was in Snow Country with the out-of-control Scientific Truth Society, while Chiyo and another elderly Sunagakure ninja fainted after hearing about an evil cult.
• Tsunade smashed the Hokage Building floor in anger, shouted that she wanted to quit, and learned from Shizune that Konoha was out of money.
• The Hokage Advisors urged Tsunade to calm down, and she ordered Kakashi to bring Sakura's parents and take Might Guy and Kurenai to Snow Country.
• Tsunade told Shizune to bring Hiashi and Hinata so she could go to Sunagakure, then revealed to Kakashi that Naruto had become the Fifth Kazekage and started an evil cult.

Naruto struggled with the Church of the Mechanical God that had grown out of control in Sunagakure, while Jiraiya tried to bring him home. Naruto refused to leave because he believed the church would spread without him.

• Kankuro and Sunagakure's followers urged Naruto to launch a holy war and purify heretics in the name of the Church of the Mechanical God.
• Naruto lamented that the church's obsession with prosthetics and unreliable inventions had made Sunagakure's people impossible to reason with.
• Jiraiya and Team 10 entered Naruto's room, and Shikamaru led the others outside as Jiraiya sat with Naruto.
• Jiraiya apologized for his part in Sunagakure's troubles and invited Naruto to go home.
• Naruto insisted he had to fix the church, so Jiraiya grabbed his collar and ordered him to leave while Naruto clung to the sofa and refused.

Naruto left Sunagakure with Tsunade and the Konoha ninja, while Gaara and Kankuro shifted the Church of the Mechanical God underground and planned to seek out Sasori. Meanwhile, Sasuke and Naruto's clone investigated Hoshigakure's Chakra Wings and learned they were made with the Mysterious Peacock Method.

• Tsunade took Naruto, Hinata, and the Konoha ninja back through the Light Gate, while Chiyo's forces knocked out Gaara and carried him away.
• Sunagakure and Konoha suppressed the Church of the Mechanical God, prompting Gaara and Kankuro to move it underground and seek Sasori to advance its technology.
• Gaara and Kankuro chose the Grass Country as a place to spread the church's teachings, while Haruno Sakura returned to her parents and the Scientific Truth Society also went underground.
• Sasuke and Naruto's clone interrogated a Hoshigakure ninja and learned that the village's Chakra Wings used the Mysterious Peacock Method.

Tsunade punished Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and Jiraiya for the trouble they caused, sending Naruto to Mount Myōboku and ordering Sakura to study medical ninjutsu. While Tsunade believed the ninja world was at peace, the Church of the Mechanical God established a secret base in Grass Country, where hooded figures surrounded Kusagakure ninjas plotting to reclaim Karin.

• Tsunade scolded Naruto and Sakura for creating trouble and compared them unfavorably to Sasuke, while Jiraiya and Kakashi stood by after being punished for poor supervision.
• Tsunade ordered Jiraiya to take Naruto to Mount Myōboku to learn senjutsu, and Kurama began plotting after hearing the word.
• Tsunade told Kakashi to reflect on nearly being taken down by a cult and ordered Sakura to stop her research and study medical ninjutsu under her.
• After dismissing them, Tsunade drank liquor and believed her efforts had restored peace to the ninja world.
• In Grass Country, Gaara's Church of the Mechanical God established a secret base using Wind Country believers, while Kusagakure ninjas plotted to retrieve Karin.
• Groups of black-hooded figures appeared in front of and behind the Kusagakure ninjas.

The Church of the Mechanical God and the Scientific Truth Society turned their friendly meeting into a deadly fight after discovering that their doctrines directly opposed each other. Meanwhile, Sasuke and Karin escaped Orochimaru’s exploding base as monstrous creatures emerged from the ruins.

• The Church of the Mechanical God and the Scientific Truth Society revealed their gear, embraced as kindred spirits, and began sharing their doctrines.
• A believer of the Church of the Mechanical God explained the Machine Soul, and the Scientific Truth Society’s leader shot the church’s captain.
• The two churches denounced each other as heretics, fought across Grass City, and called their headquarters for reinforcements.
• Orochimaru’s base exploded, and Sasuke grabbed Karin and fled toward the Grass Country with Three Thousand Lightning Movements.
• Kimimaro, Yakushi Kabuto, and Orochimaru’s other subordinates fled as humanoid and beast-like monsters crawled from the collapsed ground.

Sasuke told Naruto and Jiraiya that Orochimaru had created a serum using the Star Ninja Village Stone and multiple bloodlines, turning himself and his victims into Chakra-devouring monsters. With the infected creatures advancing toward the Grass Country and multiplying, Sasuke asked Naruto how they could stop them.

• Sasuke explained that Orochimaru had used the stone’s radiation to alter a serum mixed with cells and Kekkei Genkai from several sources.
• Yakushi Kabuto revealed that Orochimaru injected himself with the serum, became a rampaging monster, and infected anyone he bit with a Chakra-consuming mutation.
• Naruto realized the monsters’ traits could make them far more dangerous than an ordinary outbreak, while Jiraiya mourned Orochimaru’s likely death.
• Sasuke warned Naruto that the monsters were heading toward the Grass Country and would grow stronger as they consumed more Chakra.

Tsunade and Jiraiya responded to the outbreak of monsters in Grass Country by summoning the Five Kage to discuss containing it. Naruto and Sasuke traveled with them to the meeting in the Land of Iron, where Naruto prepared to see Gaara again.

• Tsunade beat up Jiraiya to vent her anger over Orochimaru’s actions, then heard his account of the crisis in Grass Country.
• Tsunade decided to inform the five great ninja villages that they needed to contain the outbreak together, even if the danger threatened everyone.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade brought Naruto along, and Naruto opened Light Gates for the Kage to travel to the Land of Iron.
• Ōnoki, the Fourth Raikage, Mei Terumi, and the other Kage agreed to attend after learning that nearly ten thousand people in Grass Country were infected.
• Jiraiya repeatedly warned Naruto and Sasuke not to cause trouble as they followed Tsunade to the summit.

Obito and Black Zetsu discovered that chakra-eating monsters were spreading through the Grass Country and feared they could threaten the entire world. Obito decided to return to the Akatsuki and ask Nagato to help wipe them out, while Naruto and Sasuke appeared exhausted at the Five Kage Summit.

• Obito surveyed the battle in the Grass Country and found that the monsters could evolve by devouring Chakra.
• Obito accused Black Zetsu of creating the monsters, but Black Zetsu denied it and resolved to have White Zetsu investigate.
• Black Zetsu warned Obito that the monsters had to be destroyed before they grew beyond the Ten-Tails' power.
• Obito decided the Akatsuki had to act together and left for Nagato to discuss the mission.
• At the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, Naruto and Sasuke sat with dark circles under their eyes, and Naruto said they had been beaten up.

After learning that Orochimaru’s experiment had unleashed monsters threatening the world, Obito persuaded Pain to send Akatsuki to Grass Country. Sasori and Deidara arrived first and found the Church of the Mechanical God and the Scientific Truth Society fighting despite a ceasefire.

• Obito told Pain and Konan that Orochimaru’s experiment had created a world-ending threat, and Pain ordered Akatsuki members to head to Grass Country.
• Akatsuki members reacted with disbelief at being asked to save the world, while Hidan eagerly went to judge the heretics.
• Itachi learned that Sasuke was involved in the events in Grass Country and considered using Kotoamatsukami to stop him.
• Sasori and Deidara reached Grass Country ahead of the others and found scorched ground, corpses, and white monsters.
• The Church of the Mechanical God and the Scientific Truth Society clashed in the city, each accusing the other of breaking their ceasefire.

Naruto and Sasuke left for the Grass Country to investigate the Chakra-absorbing monsters while the Five Kage negotiated a response. Tsunade eventually secured an agreement to form the Shinobi Alliance and send it to the Grass Country.

• Sasuke worried that the monsters would escape, but Naruto reassured him that they had time and several ways to deal with them.
• Naruto and Sasuke used a Light Gate to travel to the Grass Country without Tsunade or Jiraiya knowing.
• Ōnoki demanded that Konoha pay for the response because Orochimaru had caused the crisis, but Tsunade refused and told him to ask the Feudal Lord.
• Mei Terumi stopped Tsunade from leaving the negotiations, and the Five Kage agreed to form the Shinobi Alliance and head to the Grass Country.

Naruto and Sasuke fought Orochimaru’s mutant, but Nagato’s enormous Planetary Devastation swept up the white monsters across the Grass Country. As the Akatsuki battled the mutant, Sasuke ambushed Itachi with Lime Powder, only to find that Itachi’s goggles had foiled him.

• Naruto and Sasuke subdued Orochimaru’s mutant, and Naruto crushed a Weakness Potion and Golden Apple into its mouth, causing it to rise even stronger.
• Nagato used Planetary Devastation across the Grass Country, lifting the white monsters into a massive sphere while Naruto and Sasuke escaped the attack’s range.
• The Akatsuki arrived and attacked Orochimaru’s mutant, while Itachi used Amaterasu and then withdrew because the eyeless monster resisted illusions.
• Sasuke found Itachi watching the battle, attacked him with Lime Powder, and discovered that Itachi’s goggles had blocked it.

Naruto and Sasuke left after confirming that Akatsuki had defeated Orochimaru's mutant and the Grass Country crisis was over. Afterward, Sasori and Deidara argued over whether to support the Church of the Mechanical God or the Scientific Truth Society, while Obito worried that the mutant might have survived.

• Sasuke returned to Naruto after escaping an Illusion Technique and told himself the trip was worthwhile because he had found a trail of yellow filth that might have come from Itachi.
• Naruto watched Akatsuki's team defeat Orochimaru's mutant, then opened a Light Gate and took Sasuke back to the Land of Iron to tell Tsunade the troops were not needed.
• Obito noticed the mutant had sent several little snakes fleeing, put its corpse in the Kamui Dimension, and left the scene.
• Deidara told Sasori about the Scientific Truth Society and urged him to join, while Sasori promoted the Church of the Mechanical God and its Machine Soul doctrine.
• Sasori and Deidara began arguing over Chakra and their rival beliefs, and Pain hurried over when their dispute threatened to become a fight.

Naruto told Tsunade that the Grass Country crisis had been resolved by the mysterious organization, leaving her to cancel the assembled forces and brief the other Kage. He then checked on Sasuke, who stayed behind to train and pursue Orochimaru and Itachi.

• Tsunade angrily confronted Naruto for returning after the fighting forces had gathered, then punched Jiraiya twice before asking whether the mysterious organization had handled the crisis.
• Naruto confirmed that the organization had acted, and Tsunade left to explain the situation to the other Kage, telling Jiraiya to take Naruto to Mount Myōboku the next day.
• Naruto tried to comfort a gloomy Sasuke about Orochimaru, but Sasuke struck him with the Mystic Heavy Ruler and explained that he was worried about facing Itachi again.
• Sasuke said he would remain behind to study Strange Fire and practice Lightning Release, while Naruto prepared to return home.
• Naruto told Sasuke to tell Orochimaru to find the Death God Mask and give the summoned Death God a C-section to restore his hands, and Sasuke agreed to pass on the message.

Naruto and Jiraiya visited Mount Myōboku, where Naruto began Sage Art training after cooking the insects served for their meal. A week later, Naruto was still struggling with the training and finally snapped at Jiraiya for repeatedly striking him with a stick.

• Naruto dragged a reluctant Jiraiya to Sage Fukasaku's home to try Mount Myōboku's insect cuisine.
• Naruto cooked three insect dishes with Sage Shima's help, and Jiraiya praised the food after eating it.
• Sage Fukasaku and Jiraiya explained Sage Art training, while Kurama secretly listened from the Sealing Space.
• Naruto tried to sense Natural Energy, but his thoughts caused him to develop toad-like features, so Jiraiya hit him with a stick.
• After a week of training and repeated strikes, Naruto stood up and cursed at Jiraiya.

Naruto advanced his senjutsu training at Mount Myōboku after a month of taijutsu practice with Jiraiya. Meanwhile, Orochimaru returned to Otogakure with a child created from his and Sasuke’s cells, leaving Sasuke bewildered.

• Naruto impressed Jiraiya with his improved taijutsu, though Jiraiya’s hands still trembled after their sparring.
• Sage Fukasaku brought Naruto and Jiraiya to the second senjutsu training ground, where Naruto summoned hundreds of Shadow Clones to move the stone slabs and Fukasaku fainted.
• Orochimaru returned to his base in Otogakure, shocking Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro, who had believed him dead.
• Orochimaru told Sasuke that the child behind him, Uchiha Tsuki, had been created from their cells.
• Uchiha Tsuki called Orochimaru and Sasuke his two fathers, leaving Sasuke stunned.

Sasuke, Karin, and Mitsuki were accidentally sent to the Pure Land, where Fugaku and the Uchiha clan confronted Sasuke. Mitsuki called Sasuke his father and revealed his Sharingan, leaving Fugaku and Mikoto stunned as Mikoto embraced her grandson.

• The Sage of Six Paths noticed people repeatedly traveling between the Pure Land and the Real World, then decided to go back to sleep.
• Sasuke realized his uncontrolled attack had sent him, Karin, and Mitsuki to the Pure Land.
• The group encountered Fugaku and the Uchiha clan, who surrounded Sasuke and prepared to hang him up.
• Mitsuki stepped in front of Sasuke, activated his one-tomoe Sharingan, and shouted that no one could hurt his father.
• Fugaku and Mikoto realized Mitsuki was Sasuke's son, and Mikoto hugged him while Sasuke panicked.

Naruto revived Orochimaru, Sasuke, Mitsuki, and the others after Sasuke destroyed Orochimaru’s base, then told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had a child. Jiraiya was stunned by the news and Orochimaru’s return, and grabbed Naruto by the shoulders.

• Naruto arranged the fallen group and used Undying Totems to revive them, with Orochimaru waking first.
• Sasuke woke beside Mitsuki and began beating the boy, while Naruto photographed the scene and used the pictures to keep Sasuke from attacking him.
• Sasuke denied that Mitsuki had anything to do with him and left, while Orochimaru lamented the destruction of another base.
• Naruto returned to Mount Myōboku and told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had a child named Mitsuki.
• Jiraiya examined Naruto’s photographs, realized Orochimaru and Mitsuki were real, and grabbed Naruto by the shoulders.

After learning that Naruto had told Jiraiya about Mitsuki, Sasuke challenged him to a fight at the Valley of the End. Their battle revealed that both had gained new abilities, and Sasuke was left baffled by Naruto’s strange hand seals.

• Orochimaru had Kabuto take him away when Jiraiya appeared, and Jiraiya pursued him.
• Sasuke challenged Naruto, then followed him through a Light Gate to the Valley of the End; Karin went after them.
• Naruto easily evaded Sasuke’s opening attack, and they traded blows atop the statues of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.
• Sasuke used the Mysterious Peacock Method to fly and attacked Naruto with the Flame Divide Wave Devouring Ruler, but Naruto revealed he had Chakra Wings too.
• Naruto made a chaotic series of hand seals, and Sasuke tried to copy them with his Sharingan but was left dumbfounded.

Naruto returned to Konoha with Jiraiya, then joined Sakura-ge and Shikamaru on their C-Rank mission to find a lost snow ferret. The mission ended smoothly when the ferret bonded with Naruto, though Shikamaru had worried that Naruto would cause trouble.

• Naruto and Jiraiya returned to Konoha so Jiraiya could ask Tsunade to bring Orochimaru back, but Tsunade immediately sent Jiraiya flying from the Hokage Building.
• Naruto met Sakura-ge and Shikamaru as they prepared to search for a lost snow ferret, and he recognized the mission as a chance to investigate the Gelel Stone plot.
• Naruto insisted on joining the mission, and Shikamaru agreed after demanding that Naruto and Sakura-ge follow his orders and avoid trouble.
• Naruto left a clone to find Jiraiya and departed the village with Shikamaru and Sakura-ge.
• Naruto caught the snow ferret, which licked his finger, jumped onto his shoulder, and transformed into a fur scarf.

Gaara and Kankuro helped the Church of the Mechanical God repel an attack by the Black Fatties, then discovered the attackers had an enormous steel ship. Elsewhere, Naruto defeated another group of Black Fatties and knocked down a blond armored man who had taunted him.

• Black Fatties attacked the coast of Wind Country, and the Church of the Mechanical God suffered heavy losses before Gaara and Kankuro joined the battle.
• Gaara and Kankuro routed the attackers, who retreated to the sea, while some believers pursued them despite warnings.
• Gaara ordered flares fired, revealing an enormous steel ship that stirred the Church members to seize it.
• The Scientific Truth Society in Snow Country also encountered the Black Fatties and became eager to capture their technological creations.
• Naruto finished off a group of Black Fatties as Shikamaru remarked on his strength and Sakura worried that she could not keep up.
• A blond armored man taunted Naruto, who dodged his attack and used a Light Gate to kick him face-first into the dirt.