Recaps

Naruto traveled through the Land of Wind toward the Rōran Ruins, hoping to reach the dragon vein and learn more about this world. Seeing how ordinary people suffered under bandits, tyrants, and war, he reaffirmed his determination to unify the shinobi world and free ninja from being tools.

• Naruto found the Flying Thunder God kunai where he had left it but saw that Orochimaru had departed without a message.
• Naruto set out for the Rōran Ruins, planning to use the dragon vein to return to the Ancient Kingdom of Roran and seek more Sealing Jutsu from Kushina.
• A merchant caravan gave Naruto flatbreads for the road, and Naruto secretly left money in the old man's pocket.
• Naruto told Kurama he was serious about unifying the shinobi world after reflecting on the hardship ordinary people faced.
• Naruto continued toward the Rōran Ruins, resolved to free ninja from being tools and improve ordinary people's lives.

Naruto confronted Mukade in the ruins of Rōran after recognizing him from Sunagakure, and Mukade fled toward the underground palace to reach the dragon vein. Mukade escaped below ground and arrived at the altar where Minato Namikaze’s seal and kunai stood.

• Naruto explored the ruined Ancient Kingdom of Roran and encountered Mukade, who asked whether he sought the legendary dragon vein.
• Naruto recognized Mukade as one of the people involved in Sunagakure’s attempt to hunt him, prompting Mukade to flee and send two puppets to delay him.
• Mukade ran through the ruins while controlling his puppets, then used explosive tags and summoned a bird-shaped puppet to drill underground.
• Mukade’s bird puppet carried him into Rōran’s underground palace, where he found the dragon vein’s power and Minato Namikaze’s sealing array.
• Mukade landed beside the altar and fixed his gaze on the kunai embedded in the sealing array.

Naruto followed Mukade into Rōran’s Underground Palace as Mukade broke the seal and unleashed the dragon vein’s power. Naruto used Flying Thunder God to travel through the surge and arrived in Rōran twenty years in the past, where he encountered a red-haired girl singing.

• Naruto deflected Mukade’s Explosive Tags and descended into the Underground Palace.
• Mukade reverse-engineered Minato’s seal, causing the dragon vein’s power to engulf and carry him away.
• Naruto threw a marked Kunai into the surge and used Flying Thunder God to follow Mukade through time.
• Naruto arrived in the intact Underground Palace of Rōran twenty years earlier and listened as a red-haired girl sang.

Naruto found Sara in Rōran’s underground palace and told her that Mukade, also known as Anrokuzan, had been accused of killing her mother and enslaving the people. Sara began to doubt what she believed about Anrokuzan as Naruto urged her to look more closely at her people, while masked figures arrived in Rōran.

• Naruto introduced himself to Sara and said he had come from Sunagakure to find Mukade, also known as Anrokuzan.
• Sara defended Anrokuzan, insisting he had served Rōran faithfully and that its people were happy.
• Naruto told Sara that Anrokuzan had allegedly killed her mother, seized power, and enslaved Rōran’s people.
• Naruto said the people Sara saw celebrating were Anrokuzan’s puppets, and Sara recalled signs that the celebrations were unnatural.
• Sara questioned her certainty about Anrokuzan and her mother’s death while Naruto waited for her to decide what to believe.
• Several masked figures arrived in the ancient city of Rōran.

Naruto led Sara through Rōran, where empty homes and a suspiciously perfect celebration exposed how Anrokuzan had taken control of the city. Sara accepted the truth in silence and headed toward the central tower to confront him.

• Naruto took Sara through the Underground Palace and cut down two Dragon Vein-powered puppets with his Wind Release-coated sword.
• Sara emerged with Naruto into a prosperous but deserted Rōran and searched several empty homes.
• Laughter and music drew Sara toward the square, where she hoped to prove Naruto wrong about the city’s people.
• Naruto pointed out the dancers’ perfectly synchronized movements, and Sara recognized that the cheering crowd was not behaving naturally.
• Sara turned away from the square and led Naruto toward the tallest tower to find Anrokuzan.

Naruto confronted Anrokuzan in his tower as the minister unleashed his Dragon Vein-powered puppet army. Naruto cut through the swarm and charged toward Anrokuzan, whose eyes narrowed as the sword strike approached.

• Sara discovered that Anrokuzan's tower was filled with puppet parts and jars of purple liquid.
• Anrokuzan connected his Chakra Threads to puppets throughout Rōran, turning the crowds into an army.
• Puppets surrounded the tower, and Naruto activated Kurama Mode and drew his sword.
• Naruto cut through the Dragon Vein puppets, declaring that three feet of steel could cut down every injustice.
• Naruto slashed toward Anrokuzan on the throne, making Anrokuzan's pupils contract.

Naruto pursued Anrokuzan into the Underground Palace and faced the giant dragon-vein-powered puppet Anrokuzan activated. Naruto sought to draw Minato Namikaze to him in this timeline, and he ended the chapter confronting Anrokuzan atop the puppet.

• Anrokuzan fled through a secret passage while Naruto followed, and three masked men froze at Naruto’s overwhelming chakra.
• Sara surveyed the ruined residence as Naruto descended underground, unaware that three Konoha ninja had entered the palace by another passage.
• Anrokuzan reached the central chamber and activated his enormous dragon-vein-powered puppet.
• Naruto dodged the puppet’s attacks and split its dragon-vein energy beam with his sword.
• Naruto landed on the puppet’s shoulder, challenged Anrokuzan to use every remaining trump card, and said he was in a hurry.

Anrokuzan fled Naruto Uzumaki’s assault through a secret passage to Rōran’s underground palace and activated his giant Ultimate Puppet. Naruto evaded its Dragon Vein Ray and struck at Anrokuzan, leaving his six-year rule and ambitions on the verge of ending.

• Anrokuzan watched Naruto destroy his Dragon Vein Puppet Army and escaped through a secret passage to the underground palace.
• Anrokuzan activated the giant Ultimate Puppet and sent it smashing the palace entrance, but Naruto appeared on its shoulder.
• Naruto asked Anrokuzan to use his remaining trump cards while Anrokuzan struggled to control the puppet.
• Anrokuzan fired a Dragon Vein Ray at Naruto, who dodged and slid down the puppet’s arm with his sword drawn.
• Naruto pointed his sword at the trembling Anrokuzan as his chakra threads snapped, then brought the sword light down.

Naruto subdued Anrokuzan and encountered Minato Namikaze's team in the past. Minato recognized Naruto as his future son but kept his discovery to himself, and Naruto asked to travel with them to Konoha.

• Naruto spared Anrokuzan because killing him would collapse the seal, then severed the tendons in his wrists and ankles.
• Naruto met Choza Akimichi, Minato Namikaze, and Shibi Aburame, who questioned his identity and his claim that Sunagakure had hired him.
• Naruto introduced himself as Jiraiya's godson, Naruto Uzumaki, and Minato recognized him as his son from the future.
• Minato concealed his recognition and told Naruto that the team would escort Anrokuzan to Konoha.
• Naruto suppressed his emotions and asked to return to Konoha with Minato's team.

Naruto began returning to his own time after Anrokuzan died of fright, despite Naruto having spared him. Minato watched his future son vanish, then kept the time-travel incident secret and left the underground palace with Choza Akimichi and Shibi Aburame.

• Minato refused to let anyone else see Naruto, citing the Shinobi Code and the danger of exposing time travel.
• Naruto began turning transparent, and Shibi Aburame's kikaichū revealed that Anrokuzan had died from fright.
• As Naruto vanished, he asked Minato to bury anything he wanted to tell him beneath the Swing Tree or inside Hokage Rock.
• Minato ordered Choza Akimichi and Shibi Aburame to keep the time travel secret and said he would seal their memories.
• Minato sealed the dragon vein's power, declared the mission complete, and left with his companions, privately remembering that his future son's name was Naruto.

Naruto returned from the past to the deserted ruins of Rōran, where he found no trace of Sara or her descendants. Meanwhile, Hashirama Senju confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over remaining Martial Arts Alliance Leader after Minato's death, and their conversation continued aboard a boat.

• Naruto left the underground palace, accepted that his journey through time had ended, and found Rōran deserted.
• Naruto ate the old merchant's hard flatbread, discovered a dark red cotton thread inside it, and left the ruins.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approached a fisherman in the Land of Rivers and discovered that the man was Hashirama Senju, whom he believed dead.
• Hashirama criticized Hiruzen for staying Martial Arts Alliance Leader for more than a decade after Minato died and pointed out that Hiruzen was seventy-four while Hashirama was nearly a hundred.
• Hiruzen boarded Hashirama's boat, and Hashirama resumed fishing as he pressed their conversation onward.

Hashirama Senju told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Minato Namikaze had been the Child of Prophecy, but died despite Hashirama extending his life by two years. Hashirama revealed that Naruto Uzumaki was now the third Child of Prophecy, and he and Hiruzen set out to find him.

• Hiruzen asked Hashirama why he had not continued leading Konoha after surviving.
• Hashirama explained that the Great Toad Sage had foretold the Child of Prophecy's death and identified Minato as the likely child.
• Hashirama told Hiruzen that he had intervened to extend Minato's life by two years, but Minato still died on the Night of the Nine-Tails.
• Hashirama reflected that Yahiko and Minato had been the first two Children of Prophecy, and Naruto was the third.
• Hiruzen told Hashirama that Jiraiya was likely traveling through the Land of Wind with Naruto.
• Hashirama and Hiruzen reached the opposite bank and set off to find Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki.

Hashirama and Hiruzen encountered Orochimaru in the Land of Wind and learned that Naruto had killed Rasa and abducted Temari. They set off to find Naruto, while Naruto arrived at Sunagakure with his supplies nearly gone.

• Hashirama captured Orochimaru with Wood Release, and Hiruzen identified him as his former student.
• Hashirama demanded to know where Naruto was, and Orochimaru said Naruto had killed Rasa, abducted Temari, and fled after Gaara transformed into a tailed beast.
• Hashirama decided to find Naruto and speak with him about abducting Temari.
• Naruto arrived at Sunagakure with little food or water and news that Orochimaru had killed Rasa.

After Naruto reported Rasa’s death, Gaara revealed that he had seized control of the Land of Wind’s Martial Pacification Office and capital defenses. He said Rasa’s death spared him from killing his father himself, then offered Naruto future help in exchange for removing the seal on Temari.

• Kankuro blamed Naruto for bringing Orochimaru to Sunagakure and tried to attack him, but Temari restrained him.
• Naruto warned that the Land of Wind’s daimyo might exploit Rasa’s death to interfere with Sunagakure.
• Gaara revealed that he had killed the deputy commander and taken control of the Martial Pacification Office and the capital’s city defenses.
• Gaara said Rasa’s death was a good thing because he would otherwise have killed his father later.
• Gaara offered to help Naruto in the future if Naruto removed the mark he had placed on Temari.

Naruto offered to help Gaara remove Temari’s mark in exchange for Sunagakure’s help overthrowing the Daimyo. Gaara and the elders considered Naruto’s proposal to place Sunagakure’s leaders in control of the Land of Wind, while Naruto outlined a gradual takeover and an alternative assassination plan.

• Naruto asked Gaara to help overthrow the Daimyo in exchange for removing Temari’s mark, prompting Ebizo to condemn the proposal.
• Naruto clarified that he wanted the Daimyo replaced rather than the Wind Capital attacked, and Gaara considered whether he could take the Daimyo’s place.
• Gaara asked whether Sunagakure’s senior officials would become the Land of Wind’s leaders, softening the elders’ opposition.
• Naruto said he planned to unite the Shinobi World into provinces and make Sunagakure’s leaders the rulers of Wind Province.
• Gaara asked Naruto what he intended to do, and Naruto described infiltrating the Daimyo’s court with Sunagakure’s ninjas.
• Naruto added that Sunagakure could assassinate the Daimyo and his children, then use the killing as a pretext to send troops across the Shinobi World.

After Sunagakure’s leaders declined to commit to Naruto’s proposal, he considered his need for time, allies, and an opportunity to pursue his ambitions. He settled into guest accommodations and waited while the village deliberated and Gaara reflected on his words.

• Ebizo, Chiyo, Temari, Kankuro, and Baki politely escorted Naruto from the Kazekage’s Office without agreeing to risk Sunagakure for his proposal.
• Naruto walked through Sunagakure and reflected on the great villages’ desire for the Land of Fire and his own need to gather allies and wait for an opportunity.
• A middle-aged man brought Naruto to guest accommodations with two young women, whom Naruto recognized as part of an attempted honey trap.
• Naruto declined their company, entered his room alone, opened the window, and lay in his sleeping bag beneath the desert stars.
• Naruto waited while Sunagakure’s leaders discussed his proposal and Gaara considered what he had said.

Naruto was astonished when Orochimaru arrived with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the apparently living Hashirama Senju. Hashirama said he had come to see the third person mentioned by the Great Toad Sage.

• Naruto opened the door to find Orochimaru, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Hashirama Senju waiting in the hallway.
• Naruto recognized Hashirama from Konoha’s monuments and realized he appeared alive and far younger than expected.
• Orochimaru explained that he had left during Gaara’s Tailed Beast Transformation because he did not want to risk getting caught in the crossfire.
• Hiruzen identified Hashirama as his teacher, the first Martial Arts Alliance Leader, and a founder of the shinobi village system.
• Naruto asked Hashirama why he had come, and Hashirama said he wanted to see the third person named by the Great Toad Sage.

Naruto and Hikari got ready for a family portrait as their relatives and friends gathered in the Konoha courtyard. With Karin expecting another child, the family assembled for the morning photograph, while a larger group photo was planned for that evening.

• Naruto teased Hikari while styling her hair, and she explained that she wore plum blossom hairpins to match a hair tie he had given her.
• The family gathered in the courtyard, where the children played and Minato and Yuto played shogi.
• Yuyun arrived with Kaguya and Otohime, followed by Kurotsuchi and Hana with Big Yellow.
• Naruto welcomed everyone and announced that the morning family portrait would be followed by a large group photo that evening.
• Karin held Naruto's hand and rested her other hand on her pregnant belly as Miwakan began arranging everyone for the photograph.

The group gathered for a commemorative photo and a lively barbecue, where Naruto teased Kiba about being his brother-in-law and looked after Hanabi and Karin. After Sasuke left for a blind date, Naruto took Hanabi and Karin to go see the children.

• Kakashi's clone took a group photo of the Hokage, Konoha's clans, and former Akatsuki members.
• Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, and their friends brought Naruto and the others to the Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurant.
• Naruto teased Kiba about having to call him his older sister's husband, while stopping Hanabi and Karin from drinking.
• Shino spoke warmly about being a teacher, and Sasuke used a Shadow Clone to take another photo of the group.
• Sasuke said he had a blind date and asked Neji to help him deal with it; Neji agreed to follow after settling Tenten.
• Naruto left with Hanabi and Karin to take the children out, reflecting that his day had been fulfilling.