Chapter Summaries

Naruto confronted Inari after the boy knocked away his bowl of fish soup and blamed all ninja for Gato’s actions. Naruto warned Inari to distinguish enemies from friends, then offered him breakfast again, leaving Inari shaken but willing to accept it.

• Inari struck Naruto’s wrist and sent the bowl of fish soup crashing to the floor.
• Naruto placed the overturned bowl on Inari’s head and challenged his anger toward ninja who were trying to help.
• Tazuna pleaded with Naruto to forgive Inari, while Naruto urged the boy to think clearly and warned him against lashing out at friends.
• Naruto removed the bowl, filled it with fish soup, and offered it to Inari again, and Inari timidly nodded.

Naruto and Ino spent a rare quiet moment catching up outside, while their companions secretly watched and teased them. The group left Naruto and Ino embarrassed beneath the tree as everyone pretended they had only come out for fresh air.

• Ino pulled Naruto outside and praised him for standing up to the troublesome boy, while Naruto said the boy could still change if his environment improved.
• Ino asked Naruto why he had not visited, and Naruto explained that training and missions had kept him busy; she asked him to invite her when he had free time.
• Naruto asked about the Yamanaka Flower Shop, and Ino excitedly told him about its hydrangeas, orchids, and other news.
• Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others secretly watched Naruto and Ino talking beneath the tree.
• Naruto noticed the crowd of spectators, and Ino blushed and protested as Kakashi and Asuma pretended they had stopped outside only to rest and enjoy the fresh air.

Naruto and Kiba exposed Haku, who had disguised himself as a woman and infiltrated the group near Tazuna’s cottage. Haku was captured, and his mention of Kakashi’s Sharingan shocked Sasuke as Kiba learned Haku was a man.

• Hinata recognized Haku as Zabuza’s companion and warned Ino to alert Naruto and Kiba.
• Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru ambushed Haku, pinned him down, and the others surrounded him.
• Kakashi questioned Haku, who confirmed he was Zabuza Momochi’s companion and identified Kakashi as the Copy Ninja with the Sharingan.
• Sasuke reacted with shock and confusion when he learned Kakashi possessed the Sharingan.
• Naruto explained that Haku’s features and gait seemed masculine, leaving Kiba stunned to discover the beautiful kimono-clad person was a man.
• Haku said he had never claimed to be a woman and apologized for giving Kiba the wrong impression.

Kakashi explained his Sharingan to Sasuke, then asked Naruto to weigh in on whether the team should kill their captive, Haku, before attempting to kill Zabuza. Naruto agreed that keeping an enemy alive was too dangerous, leaving Haku to silently accept his apparent fate.

• Kakashi took Sasuke outside and answered his questions about why he possessed the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.
• Kakashi and Sasuke returned, and Asuma proposed killing Haku to avoid guarding a dangerous prisoner during the mission against Zabuza.
• Kakashi asked Naruto for his opinion, and Naruto agreed with Asuma, saying that mercy toward enemies could endanger them.
• Haku trembled briefly, then closed his eyes and accepted the decision, while Sasuke recognized Naruto's resolve toward enemies.

Naruto’s team prepared for Zabuza’s attack, then fought Zabuza and Gato’s men in the mist. With Hinata relaying Zabuza’s movements through Ino’s mind network, Naruto blocked Zabuza’s surprise strike and left him shocked that his position had been revealed.

• Naruto dislocated Haku’s shoulders and tied him up after the Nine-Tails warned that hostile forces were approaching.
• Kakashi assigned Hinata, Ino, and Sakura to guard Tazuna’s family and the recovering Kurenai Yuhi, while the others split into a frontal team and a flanking team.
• Naruto confronted Zabuza outside the house and created hundreds of shadow clones to surround him and Gato’s men.
• Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, Kiba, Asuma, and their allies attacked Zabuza and his forces, while Zabuza thickened the mist with the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Hinata spotted Zabuza through the mist with her Byakugan and warned Naruto through Ino’s Mind Transmission Technique network.
• Naruto blocked Zabuza’s attack from behind with his wooden sword, leaving Zabuza stunned that Naruto had found him.

Konoha’s ninja used Hinata’s Byakugan guidance to overcome Zabuza’s Hidden Mist Technique and corner him. As Zabuza faced defeat, he unleashed a demon transformation and renewed the fight.

• Hinata guided Naruto, Kakashi, and Asuma through the mist, allowing them to attack Zabuza and wound him badly.
• Naruto used Wind Pressure Pull to disperse the mist, revealing Zabuza surrounded by Konoha’s ninja and the bodies of Gato’s hired desperadoes.
• Zabuza deduced that Hinata and a Yamanaka ninja inside the cabin had relayed battlefield information to the fighters.
• Naruto told Zabuza he had no chance of winning, but Zabuza tore off his face bandages and transformed into a blood-eyed demon.

Naruto, Kakashi, and their allies defeated Zabuza and Haku through coordinated attacks at Tazuna’s house. Kakashi took the Kubikiribōchō as Zabuza fell, while Shikamaru and Choji immobilized and crushed Haku.

• Naruto’s Shadow Clone threatened Haku and offered Zabuza a chance to surrender the Kubikiribōchō, but Zabuza refused.
• Naruto reshaped the ground to trip Zabuza, allowing Kakashi and Asuma to strike and badly wound him.
• Haku freed his dislocated arms and attacked Asuma with Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, but Naruto and Sasuke combined Wind Release and Majestic Destroyer Flame to melt the ice maze and knock Haku out of it.
• Kakashi kicked Zabuza down, caught the Kubikiribōchō, and declared the fight over.
• Shikamaru immobilized Haku with Shadow Imitation Technique, and Choji struck him with Human Bullet Tank, leaving him bloodied and unable to stand.

Gato’s ronin attacked the exhausted Konoha team, and Naruto used a life-shortening healing technique to restore Zabuza and Haku. Zabuza killed Gato and his men, but Kakashi then revealed that his mission included killing Zabuza and prepared to carry it out.

• Gato arrived with a crowd of ronin and mocked Zabuza, Haku, and the Konoha ninja, prompting Sasuke to attack.
• Ino exhausted herself maintaining the Mind Transmission Technique and fell asleep while Hinata and Sakura cared for her.
• Zabuza asked Kakashi to let him kill Gato, and Naruto healed Zabuza and Haku with the Life Restoration, Lifespan Reduction Technique.
• Zabuza slaughtered Gato’s ronin and beheaded Gato with the Kubikiribōchō.
• Kakashi said his reinforcement mission included killing Zabuza, who bowed his head and asked him to spare Haku.

Naruto and the Konoha team spared Zabuza and Haku in exchange for the Kubikiribōchō, then returned to Konoha with the mission complete. After discovering Naruto had used a powerful Contract Seal, Hiruzen realized he had accidentally given Naruto the Complete Sealing Jutsu Compendium and went to investigate what Naruto had learned.

• Asuma argued that Zabuza and Haku should be spared, and Naruto offered to let them go if they surrendered the Kubikiribōchō.
• Zabuza accepted Naruto's terms, and he and Haku quietly left the Land of Waves before dawn.
• Asuma explained to Kakashi that Zabuza's loyalty and compassion made him worth keeping alive as a possible future ally against Kirigakure.
• The Konoha group returned home, and Kakashi reported the mission to Hiruzen while presenting the Kubikiribōchō.
• Hiruzen recognized the Contract Seal on the sword and realized he had mistakenly given Naruto the Complete Sealing Jutsu Compendium instead of an introductory scroll.
• Hiruzen went to Naruto's home to confirm where the compendium was and learn how many sealing techniques Naruto had mastered.

Hiashi and Inoichi arrived at Naruto's home to find their daughters, then found themselves joined by the Third, who reflected on his failed efforts to protect Naruto from the village's rejection. The three men waited for Naruto to return, leaving Hiashi and Inoichi increasingly uneasy about the Third's sudden gloom.

• Hiashi pushed Inoichi into Naruto's home and confronted him about their previous encounter in the forest.
• The Third arrived with a fish, and the three men sat together in awkward silence until Naruto called them to dinner.
• After Naruto left to buy beer, Hiashi told the Third that he and Inoichi had come to find their daughters.
• The Third recalled his vow to protect Naruto, his attempts to shield him from rumors, and his regret that Naruto still faced rejection.
• Hiashi and Inoichi exchanged uneasy glances as the room fell silent and they wondered why Naruto had not returned.

The Third Hokage sent Naruto and the girls out, then invited Konoha’s clan leaders to discuss Naruto. He said Naruto was looking more and more like the Fourth Hokage, leaving the others wondering whether he would finally reveal Naruto’s parentage despite the risks to the village.

• Naruto returned with beer, and the Third Hokage gave him and Hanabi money so the children could leave the adults alone.
• The Third Hokage reminisced about his late wife Biwako and urged Hiashi and Inoichi to drink with him.
• The Third Hokage asked Hiashi and Inoichi to bring Shikaku and Choza, who arrived with sake, a grill, and venison.
• The Third Hokage told the four clan leaders that Naruto was looking more and more like the Fourth Hokage.
• Hiashi, Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza wondered whether the Third Hokage would reveal Naruto’s parentage and feared the village backlash.

The Third Hokage told Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, and Hiashi that he planned to step down, make Jiraiya the Fifth Hokage, and blame Danzō for Naruto’s mistreatment. As they discussed Konoha’s succession crisis, the Third considered Hiashi but judged him too weak to lead the village.

• The Third Hokage said he would bring Jiraiya back to become Fifth Hokage and reveal Naruto’s parentage and suffering so Jiraiya could clear his name.
• The Third planned to place responsibility for the wrongdoing on Shimura Danzō and retire alongside Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
• The Third asked whether Jiraiya or Tsunade would make a better Hokage, and Shikaku cautiously said both had comparable experience and accomplishments.
• The Third lamented that Jiraiya refused the office, Tsunade would not return, and Konoha lacked a ready successor after the deaths of Hatake Sakumo and Minato Namikaze.
• Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza, and the Third turned their attention to Hiashi, but the Third decided Hiashi was too weak to lead Konoha.

Asuma gave Naruto money to treat his friends, while Konohamaru and his companions began secretly watching Naruto to judge his abilities. At Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto recognized the children spying on them, and Hinata remembered giving Naruto sunflowers years earlier.

• Asuma met Naruto and his friends, gave Naruto money for their meal, and encouraged him to make sure everyone had a good time.
• Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi formed the Konohamaru Corps and decided to watch Naruto to see whether he was as impressive as Konohamaru's grandfather claimed.
• Naruto took Ino, Hinata, and Hanabi to Ichiraku Ramen and worried about where to take them afterward.
• Ino and Hinata sensed three watchers, and Naruto identified them as Konohamaru and his two followers.
• Ino and Hanabi offered Naruto narutomaki, and Hinata recalled giving him sunflowers three or four years earlier.

Hinata reflected on her love for Naruto and her fear of expressing it while Ino encouraged her to pursue him. After Naruto treated Konohamaru and his friends kindly, he gave Hinata sunflowers and urged her to be brave, leaving her touched by his words.

• Hinata remembered giving Naruto sunflowers and realized she still struggled to meet his gaze, while Ino encouraged her to go after him.
• Naruto left to buy takoyaki for Hanabi, and Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon followed him and tried to ambush him.
• Naruto easily subdued the children, ignored Konohamaru's status as the Hokage's grandson, and shared takoyaki with them.
• Konohamaru recognized that Naruto treated him without special regard for his family name and felt newly determined to earn recognition himself.
• Naruto walked Hinata and Hanabi near the Hyuga Clan Compound, gave Hinata sunflowers, and praised her strength as he encouraged her to become braver.

Naruto shared a tender moment with Ino before Inoichi took her home, then returned to find Lord Third waiting to discuss his sealing studies. The chapter ended with Lord Third astonished that Naruto had learned more than half the scroll and was practicing variations of the Four Symbols Seal.

• Naruto reassured Ino that he valued her gentleness, but Inoichi arrived and took her home while telling Naruto that Lord Third wanted to see him.
• After Hiashi was taken home, Shikaku warned Inoichi not to interfere with Ino's choices and urged him to support her.
• Naruto returned home and found Lord Third waiting amid the remnants of the evening's gathering.
• Lord Third asked about the sealing jutsu scroll, and Naruto said he had learned more than half and was practicing Four Symbols Seal variations.
• Lord Third was stunned by Naruto's progress and recognized his extraordinary talent.

The Third gave Naruto Uzumaki an Uzumaki clan training scroll and the Fourth Hokage’s jutsu notes, prompting Naruto to devote himself to learning Flying Thunder God. When Sakura and Sasuke came to collect him for a mission, they found his home in disarray and learned he had finally gained a basic grasp of the technique.

• The Third apologized for mistakenly giving Naruto the Complete Sealing Jutsu Compendium and handed him the Uzumaki Secret Method: Copy, which contained training methods for Adamantine Sealing Chains and Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
• The Third left Naruto a scroll containing the Fourth Hokage's jutsu and handwritten notes, including Flying Thunder God and Rasengan.
• Naruto decided to study Flying Thunder God and believed he could master inscribing its marks within four days.
• Sakura and Sasuke came to Naruto's home for another mission, found the untidy house, and discovered Naruto exhausted but excited over a jutsu scroll.
• Naruto explained that he had used Shadow Clones to train while another clone completed missions, and that he had gained a basic grasp of Flying Thunder God.

After Naruto exhausted himself studying the Flying Thunder God Technique, Sakura and Sasuke let him rest while Kakashi handled their mission. When Naruto recovered and joined them, they learned their escort client refused to travel to the Land of Snow, and Sakura recognized the actress they were assigned to escort.

• Sakura and Sasuke carried the exhausted Naruto to bed, while Sasuke went with Kakashi to meet the mission client.
• Sakura tidied Naruto's apartment and left him sleeping before going out to buy groceries.
• Naruto woke, regretted pushing himself too hard to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, and ate the lunch Sakura had prepared.
• Naruto and Sakura joined Kakashi and Sasuke, who explained that their escort client refused to go where the client had requested.
• Asama Sandayu explained that he had hired the Konoha ninja to escort his actress, Yukie Fujikaze, to the Land of Snow for filming.
• Sakura excitedly recognized Yukie Fujikaze as the star of the Princess Gale film series.

Kakashi’s team took the unconscious Yukie Fujikaze aboard a ship bound for the Land of Snow, where she woke and angrily confronted her forced departure. As the crew prepared to film, Naruto began practicing the Inner Eye Heart Sight Technique and sensed everything within five meters.

• Kakashi used Sharingan Genjutsu to knock Yukie unconscious, and the team left for the Land of Snow with her.
• Yukie woke aboard the ship, realized she had been taken to sea, and rushed onto the deck in anger.
• Kakashi and the director watched Yukie, while Sakura brought her a blanket as the ship sailed north.
• Naruto explained his enlarged-storage ninja tool pouch to Sasuke, who declined an offer to get one.
• Naruto practiced the Inner Eye Heart Sight Technique and sensed the ship and its surroundings within five meters.

Naruto and Kakashi escorted Yukie Fujikaze and the film crew into the Land of Snow, where a sudden iceberg concealed an attack by Snow Ninja. Naruto killed one attacker, and the remaining Snow Ninja moved against Yukie as Kakashi and the others took action.

• Naruto used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura while traveling by ship, and Kakashi agreed to keep watch overnight.
• The crew found their route blocked by a towering iceberg, and the director ordered them to land and film there.
• Kakashi assigned Naruto to scout and told Sakura and Sasuke to protect Yukie and the crew.
• Naruto sensed an enemy hidden beneath the snow and killed him with a wind-coated Wooden Sword.
• Fuyukuma Kōssetsu and Fubuki Kakuyoku charged toward Yukie, while Naruto blocked Fubuki and Kakashi engaged Fuyukuma.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi defeated the three Snow ninja, then returned to the ship as the crew celebrated. Kakashi grew suspicious of Yukie Fujikaze and Asama Sandayu, while the director invited him to discuss making a movie and Kakashi summoned the others to join them.

• Naruto severed Fubuki Kakuyoku's arm, and Sasuke trapped her with Sharingan genjutsu so Naruto could kill her.
• Naruto and Sasuke joined Kakashi against Fuyukuma Kōssetsu, and Naruto used a transformed Fūma Shuriken as a distraction to cut his throat.
• The director excitedly praised the ninja battle as the crew cheered when Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi returned to the ship.
• Kakashi suspected Yukie Fujikaze was Kazahana Koyuki and wondered whether Asama Sandayu had ties to the Land of Snow's daimyo.
• The director offered Kakashi a movie role, and Kakashi asked Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to bring Yukie and Sandayu to the cabin.