Chapter Summaries

After returning to Konoha with Jiraiya and Nonō, Naruto reunited with Hinata and then met Sakura, who led them to Sasuke at Training Ground Seven. Sasuke wanted to test Naruto's strength, but Itachi urged him to join the others for a meal, leaving Itachi free to meet Izumi.

• Naruto arrived at Konoha with Jiraiya and Nonō, then hurried off to see Hinata first after Nonō warned him she might feel hurt.
• Naruto and Hinata went on a date, and Hanabi watched them leave while thinking that she wished Ryushin would act the same way.
• Naruto and Hinata ran into Sakura, who told them that her relationship with Sasuke had made little progress because they were both busy.
• Sakura led Naruto and Hinata to Training Ground Seven, where Sasuke was sparring with Itachi.
• Sasuke invited Naruto to fight, but Itachi persuaded him to go for a meal with Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura while Itachi went to meet Izumi.

After Naruto and Sasuke fought to a draw, Hoshi learned that Akatsuki had attacked Gaara and brought Team 7 to the Hokage's Office. Temari asked Hoshi to rescue her brother, explaining that she did not consider him an enemy despite his role in her father's death.

• Naruto and Sasuke fought at Hoshi's home and ended their first clash in three years in a draw.
• Hoshi praised their growing strength, then received word from Minato that Gaara had been attacked by people claiming to be Akatsuki and was missing.
• Hoshi brought Team 7 to the Hokage's Office, where Temari was grieving with Shikamaru as Shikaku and Minato watched.
• Naruto loudly questioned Temari's closeness to Shikamaru, startling her into pushing him to the floor.
• Temari asked Hoshi to help Gaara and explained that she accepted her father's death, recognized Konoha's kindness, and supported Gaara's efforts to end Sunagakure's hatred of Konoha.

Temari persuaded Hoshi and Naruto to join the mission to rescue Gaara, and the Konoha team set out after Sakura treated Kankuro’s poison. Hoshi found Gaara’s location, while Akatsuki prepared to delay the rescuers, who encountered an enemy in the forest.

• Temari convinced Hoshi and Naruto to help rescue Gaara, and Minato assigned Team 7 and Team 3 to the mission.
• At Sunagakure Hospital, Sakura extracted the poison from Kankuro and began preparing an antidote, while Hoshi silenced Chiyo’s doubts.
• Hoshi used Sage Mode to locate where Gaara was being held and reported the route to the rescue team.
• Temari stayed behind to protect Sunagakure, while Chiyo joined the Konoha team as its representative.
• White Zetsu spotted the team departing, and Nagato sent Kisame and Yuyuri to delay them.
• Neji detected pursuers in the forest, and Kisame attacked with Water Release: Great Shark Bullet.

Hoshi watched Kisame and Yuyuri attack Team 3, while imagining a Konoha Seven Ninja Swordsmen made up of the younger generation. The battle left Might Guy underwater facing Kisame after the others countered several attacks.

• Hoshi considered giving Sasuke and other young ninja the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's blades.
• Kisame launched a Great Shark Bullet, and Neji shattered it with an Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Yuyuri used the water to conduct a Lightning Release attack, but Neji warned the team to escape onto the trees.
• Kisame flooded the forest and charged Might Guy while Yuyuri attacked Kakashi; Chiyo pulled Sakura to safety.
• Rock Lee struck Kisame's wrist, and Tenten hit him with an explosive-tagged hammer, but Neji rescued her from Kisame's Water Arrow.
• Might Guy attacked Kisame underwater, but Kisame dodged and threatened him.

Team 7 defeated Yuyuri’s clone and pushed through the Akatsuki’s delaying forces, but Nagato completed the sealing of Shukaku from Gaara before they reached the cave. Nagato and the others retreated, leaving Deidara and Sasori behind to face the incoming Konoha ninja.

• Naruto and Sasuke stopped Yuyuri from escaping underwater, and Sasuke and Kakashi defeated her clone.
• Yuyuri told Nagato that Black Zetsu’s intelligence was wrong, and Nagato ordered Sasori to delay the Konoha ninja while the Akatsuki hurried the sealing.
• Team 7 fought Sasori’s puppets, and Chiyo helped them find his clone before Sasori escaped using the Shape-Shifting Technique.
• Kisame’s clone fought Team 3 with underwater guerrilla tactics, but Neji and Might Guy exhausted his Chakra and defeated him.
• Nagato and the Akatsuki completed the sealing of Shukaku, and Gaara fell as the Chakra dragons returned to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• After the Five Seal Barrier was destroyed, Nagato and the others left the cave, while Deidara and Sasori stayed behind to confront the Konoha ninja.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hoshi pursued Deidara after discovering that Gaara had been captured and Shukaku extracted, while Kakashi, Sakura, and Chiyo stayed in the cave to face Sasori. Deidara escaped an ambush outside and began fighting the group with explosive clay.

• Naruto learned from the Nine-Tails that Shukaku had been extracted from Gaara, then rushed after Deidara with Sasuke while Hoshi left the cave as well.
• Kakashi told Sakura and Chiyo that Might Guy and Team 3 were waiting outside, prompting Sasori to realize Deidara might be in danger.
• Deidara flew out of the cave with Gaara, but Team 3 attacked; Tenten and Rock Lee saved Gaara from the blast of Deidara's exploding Clay Bird.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hoshi joined Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Might Guy outside as Deidara formed another Clay Bird to escape the explosion's aftermath.
• Deidara attacked the group with C1 Clay Spiders, and Sasuke destroyed many with Chidori Senbon, but the remaining spiders exploded and forced everyone to dodge.

Sasuke and the others discovered that Lightning Release neutralized Deidara’s clay bombs and devised a plan to launch Sasuke into the air. Sasuke used Hoshi’s sword infused with Chidori to cut off the Clay Dragon’s wing, sending it crashing down.

• Neji discovered that Sasuke’s Lightning Release turned Deidara’s clay bombs into duds, and Sasuke asked Hoshi to lend him the Sword of Kusanagi.
• Naruto and Rock Lee formed a human launch platform, while Neji and Might Guy helped cover their advance toward Deidara.
• Rock Lee launched Naruto and Sasuke into the air, and Naruto used himself as a stepping stone to propel Sasuke even higher.
• Sasuke struck the Clay Dragon’s wing with the Chidori-infused Tenburyu Sword, severing it and sending the dragon plunging downward.

Deidara tried to escape Sasuke, but Might Guy’s attack destroyed his Clay Bird and left him badly injured. As Deidara prepared to sacrifice himself in a massive explosion, Hoshi stopped it with a swift strike, leaving Sasuke and Neji safe and Deidara dead.

• Deidara summoned his Clay Bird while falling, but Might Guy struck it with a powerful fireball-like punch and sent it flying before it exploded.
• Rock Lee caught Sasuke, while Deidara crashed into the forest and could not get back up.
• Deidara opened the stitched mouth on his chest, fed it his remaining clay, and began preparing his ultimate explosion.
• Neji and Sasuke warned the others to flee, but Hoshi struck the black sphere with a flash of blue light and stopped the explosion.
• Sasuke and Neji thanked Hoshi, then beat up Naruto while he wondered why they had attacked him.

After the Leaf and Sand ninja defeated Deidara and Sasori, they found Gaara dead, and Chiyo sacrificed her life force to revive him. She died after entrusting Sunagakure’s future to its younger generation, while Hoshi and Naruto helped her save Gaara.

• Naruto and the others returned to the cave and found Kakashi, Sakura, and Chiyo exhausted after defeating Sasori.
• The group gathered around Gaara’s body, and Chiyo began using her life force to bring him back.
• Hoshi explained what Chiyo was doing, then added his Yang Release Chakra to Gaara’s body as Naruto offered to help.
• Chiyo told Naruto and the others that her sacrifice was her choice and asked Hoshi to tell Tsunade about her achievement.
• Temari and Kankuro arrived as Chiyo reflected on her past mistakes and urged the younger generation to shape Sunagakure’s future.
• Chiyo closed her eyes and died while using the last of her life to save Gaara.

Gaara was revived through Chiyo’s sacrifice, and Hoshi’s group returned to Konoha as Akatsuki’s plans grew more dangerous. Nagato suspected Black Zetsu and Obito were plotting to seize Akatsuki, while the Tailed Beast capture operation accelerated.

• Gaara woke after Chiyo sacrificed her life, reunited warmly with Temari and Kankuro, and mourners honored Chiyo before Hoshi’s group departed for Konoha.
• Black Zetsu reported that Sasori and Deidara had been killed by Konoha Ninja, and Pain ordered their positions temporarily filled.
• Konan and Nagato suspected Black Zetsu and Obito intended to take over Akatsuki, so Nagato decided to use Konoha to weaken them through a Killing with a Borrowed Knife scheme.
• Obito and Black Zetsu revealed that they wanted Nagato to suspect them and act against Konoha, helping them bring Madara back to life.
• Akatsuki captured the Two-Tails through Obito, the Five-Tails through Kisame and Yuyuri, the Six-Tails through Deva Path, and the Seven-Tails with White Zetsu surveillance, sealing the beasts from One-Tail through Seven-Tails in under two months.

Minato, Hoshi, Jiraiya, and Sakumo discussed how Konoha should prepare as Akatsuki captured the other villages’ Tailed Beasts. Hoshi arranged for Naruto to train at Mount Myōboku, took responsibility for investigating Pain, and began preparations that ended with Sasuke and Itachi facing Shin in Orochimaru’s laboratory.

• Minato asked Hoshi, Sakumo, and Jiraiya how Konoha should respond to reports that Akatsuki had captured the other villages’ Tailed Beasts.
• Sakumo proposed keeping Naruto in the village, while Jiraiya recommended sending him to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Art and investigating Akatsuki.
• Hoshi agreed that Jiraiya should take Naruto to Mount Myōboku and said he would investigate Pain himself, persuading Jiraiya not to go to Amegakure.
• Sakumo organized Konoha’s security patrols, while Jiraiya told Naruto about his training and Naruto eagerly agreed to go.
• Hoshi summoned Sasuke, Itachi, Neji, Kimimaro, and others for intensive training, planning to help Sasuke and Itachi awaken stronger Sharingan with Orochimaru.
• At Orochimaru’s laboratory, Sasuke and Itachi saw Shin emerge with Orochimaru and Kabuto, and Shin’s strange red eyes caught their attention.

Hoshi helped Itachi and Sasuke awaken their Mangekyō Sharingan, then informed Konoha’s leaders that Akatsuki was preparing to attack and explained Pain’s abilities. Shikaku began outlining a battle plan as Konoha prepared for the coming assault.

• Itachi and Sasuke learned that Shin already possessed his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Hoshi offered to help them awaken their own.
• Orochimaru explained how Shin’s Mangekyō Sharingan had been awakened, and Itachi and Sasuke agreed to receive the same treatment.
• Hoshi used Hashirama Cells and Yin Release Chakra to help Itachi awaken Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi and Sasuke awaken Amaterasu and Kagutsuchi.
• Kagetsu reported that Akatsuki’s members had gathered and were preparing to attack Konoha, while Naruto continued training in Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku.
• Hoshi briefed Konoha’s leaders on Akatsuki’s members and the Six Paths of Pain, then Shikaku began devising a plan to counter them.

Nagato and Konan prepared to invade Konoha, and the Akatsuki met a formidable Konoha force led by Minato. Pain demanded Naruto’s location and rejected Jiraiya’s attempt to reach Yahiko, declaring that his former self, Nagato, and Konan were dead.

• Nagato told Konan he would attack Konoha despite Jiraiya’s connection to the village, then summoned the five Paths of Pain.
• The Akatsuki set out for Konoha, and Obito warned that a Konoha team was approaching.
• Minato confronted Pain, who blamed the great villages for past wars and demanded Naruto’s location.
• Jiraiya recognized Yahiko’s appearance and Konan, then asked what had happened to them and where Nagato was.
• Konan told Jiraiya it was too late to stop them, and Pain declared himself a god and Konan his angel.

Pain declared that he would reshape the Ninja World and end war, then attacked Hoshi after Hoshi interrupted his speech. The battle began, and Neji discovered that Obito and Black Zetsu had fled.

• Pain claimed that his suffering and Rinnegan had made him a god who would gather the Tailed Beasts and remake the world.
• Minato and Jiraiya condemned Pain’s methods, but Pain threatened that Konoha would lose everything if it continued to provoke him.
• Hoshi interrupted Pain and resisted his Banshō Ten'in with a gravitational force of his own, while Pain used Shinra Tensei to keep his distance.
• The two sides charged into battle, with Haku and Shikaku confronting Hidan, Sakumo and Kakashi pursuing Hozuki Mangetsu, and Neji and Kabuto attacking Obito and Black Zetsu.
• Neji realized that Obito and Black Zetsu had escaped rather than been defeated.

Nagato activated the remaining five Paths of Pain and sent them to support the Akatsuki, while Obito and Black Zetsu secretly watched and learned his location. The reinforcements disrupted Konoha’s advantage, and Preta Path freed Hidan from Haku’s ice prison.

• After Obito and Black Zetsu fled, Konoha’s fighters overwhelmed the Akatsuki, leaving Deva Path Pain unable to keep the battle under control.
• Nagato activated the remaining five Paths of Pain, ordering Asura Path and Preta Path to support Deva Path and sending Animal Path’s summons toward Konoha.
• Obito and Black Zetsu watched Nagato send out the five Paths and realized they could use his move to advance their plan.
• Haku and Shikaku trapped Hidan with their Ice Nightmare Technique, while Sakumo and Kakashi crushed Mangetsu with their Lightning Release and speed.
• The Destruction Rhino, Hell Crab, Asura Path, and Preta Path entered the battlefield, forcing Konoha’s fighters to break off their attacks and giving the Akatsuki a chance to recover.
• Preta Path absorbed Haku’s chakra from the ice sphere and released the trapped Hidan.

Nagato sent Pain’s forces to attack Konoha while the main battle continued, prompting Shikaku to divide the defenders and send reinforcements back to the village. The attack disabled Konoha’s barriers and unleashed destructive summons, as Hiruzen and Tsunade prepared to fight.

• Shikaku realized Nagato had sent other forces toward Konoha and ordered Kagetsu and others to return to defend the village.
• Hoshi entered Perfect Sage Mode and urged the Konoha fighters to end their battle quickly.
• The Animal Path dropped the Human Path into Konoha, where the Human Path killed a Sealing Corps member and learned how to disable the village’s barriers.
• The Human Path disabled Konoha’s barriers, and the Animal Path unleashed giant summons that began destroying the village.
• Konoha’s Anbu activated Minato’s contingency plan and evacuated civilians while residents helped resist the invasion.
• Hiruzen sent Konohamaru to escort Kurenai to safety, while Tsunade prepared to take Ryushin and Rinne into the fight.

Tsunade and Hiruzen joined Konoha’s defense and organized the clans to search for the Animal Path. Ryushin and Rinne followed Garurumon to track the caster, but Garurumon recognized Hanabi’s scent, while Hanabi faced the Human Path alone.

• Tsunade and Hiruzen defeated two giant Summoning Beasts and coordinated the clans’ response to the invasion.
• Ryushin and Rinne joined the Uzumaki Clan’s search for the caster, and Ryushin summoned Garurumon to track the Animal Path.
• Garurumon detected Hanabi’s scent and warned Ryushin that she was in danger.
• Hanabi was trapped by the Human Path after her Gentle Fist attacks failed to stop him.
• As the Human Path reached for Hanabi’s soul, she feared she would die and regretted not being braver with Ryushin.

Ryushin saved Hanabi from the Human Path, and Hanabi kissed him before Rinne caught them. Rinne mistook the kiss as proof that they were already together and happily approved, while Ryushin denied it.

• Ryushin rushed to Hanabi, killed the Human Path, and caught her as she fell.
• Hanabi kissed Ryushin and held onto him while he stared in shock.
• Rinne arrived, saw them kissing, and exclaimed that Hanabi wanted to be her sister-in-law.
• Rinne said she was happy for them and invited Hanabi to move into their house.
• Ryushin denied that he and Hanabi were together, drawing disapproving looks from Rinne and Hanabi.

Ryushin discovered that the attacker Hanabi had fought was a corpse linked to the Summoning Beasts through Black Receivers, and used one to track the summoner. After finding the enemy inside Konoha’s Sealing Corps, Ryushin and Rinne unleashed their combined Blazing Blade Storm.

• Hanabi told Ryushin and Rinne how she had encountered Pain of the Human Path while searching for the person behind the Summoning Beasts.
• Ryushin examined the corpse and, with MetalGarurumon’s help, identified the Black Receivers as a link to the summoner; Hanabi confirmed they still carried Chakra fluctuations.
• Ryushin brought the Black Receiver to Karin, who used her Mind's Eye of the Kagura to sense three matching Chakra signatures.
• Karin led Ryushin, Rinne, and Hanabi to Konoha’s Sealing Corps, where Ryushin spotted the ponytailed summoner, another figure, and the corpse being swallowed by a strange creature.
• Ryushin and Rinne performed Blazing Blade Storm, combining a tornado with Ryushin’s flame Sword Qi to create a massive flame storm.

Ryushin and Rinne destroyed the Sealing Corps and defeated the Pains inside while Konoha’s forces overcame Akatsuki’s fighters across the battlefield. With Akatsuki defeated and Nagato unable to use Planetary Devastation without endangering Konan, Jiraiya addressed him directly.

• Ryushin and Rinne’s Flame Tornado destroyed the Sealing Corps and killed the three Pains inside, while the Summoning Beasts vanished.
• Kagetsu and the others reached the ruined Sealing Corps alongside Konoha’s people and found four exhausted people and one wolf collapsed there.
• Konoha’s fighters defeated Akatsuki’s forces: Shikaku and Haku subdued Hidan, Sakumo killed Mangetsu, and the other fighters overcame their opponents.
• Hoshi overwhelmed Deva Path Pain, then learned from Minato that the village was safe and asked the fallen Pain whether he had anything to say.
• Nagato considered using Planetary Devastation but rejected it to protect Konan, and Jiraiya asked whether Nagato could hear him.