Chapter Summaries

After Orochimaru's cultivated Hashirama cells restored Nagato's health and strength, Nagato used his new Wood Release to create a transformable Wood Armor Dragon. He left the testing arena with a new weapon and renewed resolve to protect the people close to him.

• Nagato tested his restored strength by punching a thick Special Alloy Steel Plate and denting it.
• Orochimaru asked how Nagato felt, and Nagato said the Hashirama cell transplant had made him feel very good.
• Nagato used Wood Release to create a wooden mechanical dragon and explained how his experience controlling the Six Paths helped him design it as a puppet.
• Nagato transformed the Wood Armor Dragon into armor that fitted his body and reshaped part of it into a spear.
• Orochimaru praised Nagato's invention, and Nagato resolved to live on and gain the strength to protect the warmth he had left.

Naruto reviewed his shadow clones’ experiments and used their findings to begin mastering Yin-Yang Release. He created a chakra-conducting black rod and concluded that kekkei mōra was within reach.

• Naruto received memories from over a thousand shadow clones and analyzed one clone’s Yang Release: Healing Creation technique.
• Naruto gathered yin and yang chakra in his palm and fused them into a controllable Yin-Yang Release symbol.
• Naruto used Yin-Yang Release to create a black chakra rod like those he had formed with the Rinnegan.
• Naruto recognized his progress as a major breakthrough and resolved to continue toward kekkei mōra.

Naruto's Wood Clone brought Black Zetsu to the sealed Kaguya and asked whether he knew how to free her. Black Zetsu eagerly pledged himself to Naruto as a new father and began explaining his thousand-year plan to release Kaguya.

• Naruto's Wood Clone entered the moon's Sealing Space and released Black Zetsu from the Sealing Scroll, while Shino Aburame's kikaichū remained ready to restrain him.
• Black Zetsu recognized the power of Hagoromo and Hamura and panicked, but Kaguya spoke to him and he realized his mother still existed.
• Naruto's Wood Clone warned Black Zetsu that their time was limited, then returned to the Kamui Dimension after briefly concealing their contact from Hagoromo.
• Naruto asked Black Zetsu whether he knew how to free Kaguya, and Black Zetsu declared Naruto his adoptive father in exchange for help.
• Naruto pressed Black Zetsu for the method and its conditions, and Black Zetsu began describing his plan to save Kaguya.

Naruto’s Wood Clone learned that Black Zetsu had no new plan to free Kaguya, while Kaguya proposed using Black Zetsu’s chakra to help break her seal. The proposal stalled at the seal’s barrier, leaving the Wood Clone to retreat with no immediate way to free her.

• Black Zetsu explained that his true Eye of the Moon Plan was to use the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki to resurrect Kaguya at full strength.
• Naruto’s Wood Clone angrily dismissed the plan as obsolete and pressed Black Zetsu for another way to free Kaguya.
• Black Zetsu admitted he could not undo the seal placed by Hagoromo and Hamura.
• Kaguya proposed absorbing Black Zetsu and sending some of her restored power through the seal to help Naruto’s Wood Clone break it.
• Naruto’s Wood Clone pointed out that the seal prevented anything from entering or leaving, then decided to withdraw after confirming neither Kaguya nor Black Zetsu had a workable escape plan.

Naruto’s Wood Clone failed to find a way to free Kaguya and left Black Zetsu stranded beside the seal on the moon. Black Zetsu waited for the Sage of Six Paths Brothers to destroy him, unaware that they could not detect him, while Naruto returned to his training and plans in Konoha.

• Naruto’s Wood Clone examined Kaguya’s seal, found it nearly impossible to break, and dispelled itself to send its memories back to Naruto.
• The kikaichū hidden in the clone’s sleeves flew into a crack in the rock and remained inside the Kamui Dimension.
• Black Zetsu panicked when the clone disappeared and asked Kaguya if she knew another way to escape, but Kaguya said she did not.
• Black Zetsu gave up hope and waited for the Sage of Six Paths Brothers to destroy him, but Naruto’s concealment measures kept them from noticing him.
• Naruto received the clone’s memories, shook his head, and returned to his training and plans for the Shinobi World.

Sasuke brought the captured Itachi to the Uchiha residence to face their mother, Mikoto, whose return from the dead shocked him. The reunion left the family surrounded by grief and suspicion, with Kakashi and Guy keeping watch over Itachi.

• Sasuke brought Itachi, restrained by chakra-suppressing handcuffs, before Mikoto while Kakashi and Might Guy guarded them.
• Itachi recognized Mikoto and wondered whether she had been revived through Impure World Reincarnation.
• Mikoto wept as she addressed Itachi and confirmed that their father, Fugaku, had also returned before his soul went back to the Pure Land.
• Itachi avoided Mikoto’s gaze and responded calmly, while Sasuke kept his hand near his sword and watched him closely.
• The family remained separated by grief and distrust as Kakashi and Guy continued their vigil.

Tenten, Neji, and Rock Lee enjoyed a quiet evening on the roof until a violent surge of purple chakra erupted from the Uchiha Clan Compound. Neji identified the chakra as Sasuke’s, leaving Team Guy on alert.

• Tenten watched the moon with Neji and Rock Lee on her family’s Weapon Shop roof.
• Neji praised Naruto’s strength and his efforts to spare civilians during recent expansion operations.
• Rock Lee finished two thousand push-ups and began a rapid set of squats, urging himself to keep up with Naruto.
• A furious burst of purple chakra erupted from the Uchiha Clan Compound and startled Team Guy.
• Neji activated his Byakugan and recognized the chakra signature as Sasuke’s.

Sasuke’s fury erupted as he confronted the restrained, gravely injured Uchiha Itachi in the Uchiha Mansion courtyard. Naruto arrived and told Kakashi to inform Sasuke that Itachi was already in such poor condition that Sasuke need not dirty his own hands.

• Neji used his Byakugan to see Sasuke confronting Itachi and described Sasuke’s emotional outburst to Tenten and Rock Lee.
• Kakashi and Might Guy moved closer while Mikoto tried to calm Sasuke, who stopped her from approaching.
• Neji reassured Tenten and Rock Lee that Itachi was sealed and too injured to pose a threat, and they returned to training.
• Sasuke’s chakra storm alerted Konoha’s security forces, and Naruto arrived, waved the ANBU away, and watched the courtyard from a rooftop.
• Naruto told Kakashi to tell Sasuke that Itachi’s body was already in terrible condition and there was no need to dirty his own hands.

Naruto told Sasuke that Itachi was close to death after forcing himself to use Perfect Susanoo, and left Sasuke to decide what to do with him. Sasuke sent Itachi back to Konoha, where the villagers condemned him as he walked through the streets under guard.

• Naruto judged that using Perfect Susanoo had worsened Itachi's illness and left him little time to live, and Kakashi relayed this to Sasuke.
• Mikoto pleaded with Sasuke to spare Itachi and let him guard the Uchiha cemetery, but Sasuke said Itachi would defile it and ordered him sent to Konoha.
• Itachi accepted Sasuke's decision, hoping to face the village he had claimed to protect during his final days.
• The next day, an ANBU operative escorted Itachi through Konoha in shackles as villagers recognized him and denounced him for slaughtering his clan.

Uchiha Itachi was escorted through Konoha while villagers cursed and despised him, making him question whether his clan’s massacre had protected anything worth saving. Yusuke and Jiro humiliated him with a rotten-egg attack, and as Itachi continued onward in silence, the villagers began throwing garbage at the two boys instead.

• Konoha villagers jeered at Uchiha Itachi as an ANBU escorted him through the village, deepening his doubts about the path he had chosen.
• Yusuke and Jiro blocked Itachi and introduced themselves before hurling a homemade rotten-egg projectile into his face.
• Yusuke and Jiro reveled in humiliating the powerful Itachi, justifying their bullying as their “tyrant’s ninja way.”
• The ANBU prepared to intervene, but Itachi subtly stopped him and faced the boys without anger, showing only exhaustion and pity.
• Itachi continued walking, and Konoha villagers began throwing garbage at Yusuke and Jiro while shouting that they were on Itachi’s side.

Naruto learned that Kamura Yusuke and Matsumoto Jiro had attacked Uchiha Itachi with foul-smelling devices, but the gathering soon turned to happier news. Ino announced that Naruto would marry her, Hinata, Hikari, and Karin on October tenth, four years later, and their friends celebrated the plans.

• Uzuki Yugao reported to Naruto that Kamura Yusuke and Matsumoto Jiro had thrown foul-smelling devices at Uchiha Itachi.
• Naruto and his friends recognized the culprits as former Academy bullies and reacted with amusement and disbelief.
• Ino announced that she and Naruto had set their wedding date for October tenth, four years later, with their engagement planned for the year after next.
• Hinata revealed that she, Hikari, and Karin would also marry Naruto, surprising Sakura and the rest of the gathering.
• Naruto's friends congratulated him, while Hanabi sulked and Naruto let the incident with Itachi fade from his mind.

After Sakura worried that Naruto had not truly included her in his future, Naruto reassured her that he meant his confession and planned to formally speak with her parents. They headed together to the Haruno Clan's home, leaving Sakura happy and hopeful.

• Sakura left the gathering troubled by Ino and Hinata's wedding announcement and wondered whether Naruto had accepted her confession only to comfort her.
• Naruto met Sakura on her way home and asked whether her parents knew she had confessed to him; Sakura said they did not.
• Naruto explained that Sakura's parents had not joined the family meeting because they did not know about their relationship, and Sakura became hurt and tearful.
• Naruto told Sakura he would visit her parents that day and clear things up, reassuring her that he was serious about her.
• Sakura accepted Naruto's invitation, and they walked together toward the Haruno Clan's home.

Naruto visited Sakura’s parents to tell them he had accepted her feelings, and Kizashi mistakenly wondered if Naruto planned to become a daimyo. Naruto explained that he loved Sakura and his other partners, not that he sought political power, and the chapter ended with the Harunos accepting the relationship.

• Mebuki opened the door and was shocked to find Sakura and the Sixth Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, waiting outside.
• Naruto told Kizashi and Mebuki that Sakura had confessed her feelings and he had accepted them.
• Kizashi guessed that Naruto intended to become a daimyo so he could marry multiple women.
• Naruto denied wanting to become a daimyo and said he loved Sakura, Ino, Hinata, Hikari, and Karin.
• Naruto promised to protect Sakura and give her a happy, secure future as his partner.
• Kizashi and Mebuki accepted the relationship, and Sakura gratefully held Naruto’s hand.

Nagato secretly read The Lustful Ninja Chronicles of Shimura until Konan caught him and demanded to see the book. After finding its explicit passages, Konan teased him without reproach, leaving Nagato embarrassed.

• Nagato read The Lustful Ninja Chronicles of Shimura, Volume Seven and admired its storyline.
• Konan entered with Miwakan, and Nagato hurriedly hid the book.
• Konan questioned Nagato about the book, and he claimed Jiraiya had left it behind.
• Konan insisted on seeing the book, and Nagato reluctantly handed it over.
• Konan read a passage, blushed, and laughed as she teased Nagato about liking that kind of novel.

Nagato and Konan spent the evening buying books together, and their growing closeness was interrupted when they saw Naruto secretly meet Sakura. After Naruto and Sakura left, Nagato and Konan headed back to their lodgings with their books, and Konan asked to borrow one.

• Konan teased Nagato about his books, then suggested they buy the regular editions together to celebrate his recovery.
• Nagato bought the seven main volumes and four side-story volumes of The Lustful Ninja Chronicles of Shimura, while regretting that two additional side stories were only available as R18 editions.
• Nagato and Konan spotted Naruto signaling them to stay quiet before he hid in an alley.
• Naruto approached Sakura, spoke with her, and walked away beside her while Nagato and Konan watched from a distance.
• Konan called Naruto a womanizer, and Nagato said it was natural that someone like him was liked by many girls.
• Konan asked Nagato to lend her one of his books, and he agreed as they continued back to their lodgings together.

Naruto left Konoha for the Land of Demons to meet Dan Katō, seek a path to the Pure Land, and investigate the miko's powers. After he departed, Otohime Otsutsuki emerged from a space-time rift, having escaped the Sixth Hokage in a future timeline.

• Naruto finished his Hokage duties and prepared to travel to the Land of Demons, where Jiraiya had gone ahead with Dan Katō's cloned body.
• Naruto planned to reunite Dan Katō's soul with his body and learn about Iwaya Slope and the Pure Land so he could retrieve the souls of the former Hokage, Kushina, and Mito.
• Naruto reflected on his growing mastery of Yin-Yang Release and his need to prepare for a future clash of ideals and power with the Sage of Six Paths.
• Naruto set out from Hokage Rock on a golden cloud, heading toward the Land of Demons to study Shion and the miko traditions, and possibly confront Moryo.
• Otohime Otsutsuki fell through an unstable space-time rift after escaping the Sixth Hokage, then vowed revenge while recalling his terrifying power.

Otohime tried to kill the younger Naruto Uzumaki in another timeline, hoping to erase the future that had defeated her. Adult Naruto tracked her through the Space-Time Rift and captured her, while Silver Dragon Otohime suggested refining her into a Chakra Pill or Superior Chakra Fruit.

• Otohime planned to find and kill the still-young Naruto Uzumaki after arriving in a different timeline.
• As Otohime began sensing for Naruto, Adult Naruto reached through the Space-Time Rift with a golden chakra hand and seized her.
• Adult Naruto rode Silver Dragon Otohime through the rift and dragged the captive Otohime back toward the future.
• Adult Naruto told Otohime he would not kill her, then asked Silver Dragon Otohime how to make the best use of her.
• Silver Dragon Otohime suggested refining the captive into a Chakra Pill or a Superior Chakra Fruit.

The captive Otohime begged Naruto and Silver Dragon Otohime to make peace as they carried her through a space-time rift, leaving her fearful of what the agreement would mean. Naruto then found Jiraiya and Dan Katō in the Land of Demons, where both were performing in a kabuki play.

• The captive Otohime feared Naruto's power and pleaded with him to make peace.
• Adult Naruto told Silver Dragon Otohime that she had once made the same plea, leaving the captive Otohime alarmed by what might follow.
• Silver Dragon Otohime carried Naruto and the captive Otohime toward their destination through the Space-Time Rift.
• Naruto arrived in the Land of Demons and used Mind's Eye of the Kagura to search for Jiraiya and Kato Dan.
• Naruto found Jiraiya performing a female role at the Oborozukiya kabuki theater.
• Dan Katō appeared onstage as a warrior, and Naruto sensed that his chakra was stable.

Naruto discovered that Jiraiya and Dan Katō had been performing in the Land of Demons to help repay Tsunade’s gambling debt, which had ballooned to 73,500,000 ryō. He offered to deal with the loan sharks and asked them to take him to Shion and share information about Iwaya Slope and the Pure Land.

• Naruto watched Jiraiya and Dan Katō perform in a kabuki theater and suspected they were working to repay Tsunade’s debts.
• After the show, Naruto caught Jiraiya and Dan Katō trying to slip out through the dressing-room door.
• Jiraiya admitted that Tsunade’s debt had grown from 18,490,000 ryō in principal to about 73,500,000 ryō with interest.
• Jiraiya and Dan Katō explained that they had earned roughly seven million ryō in half a month from performances, tips, and bounties.
• Naruto said Konoha would handle the loan sharks and asked Jiraiya and Dan Katō to take him to Shion and discuss Iwaya Slope and the Pure Land.

Shion and the guardians feared Naruto Uzumaki would conquer the Land of Demons, and Shion offered herself to him in hopes of protecting its people. As Naruto approached the Miko's Palace, the fate of the country remained uncertain.

• Taruho and the guardians worried that the Land of Demons could not resist Naruto without risking Shion's life and the Miko lineage.
• Shion said reports described Naruto as a lecher and proposed handing herself over to buy peace for the country.
• Taruho offered to use his family's disguise technique in Shion's place, but Shion rejected the plan because his body would reveal the deception.
• Shion explained that she had no other way to prevent bloodshed, while the guardians waited in silence for Naruto to arrive.