Chapter Summaries

Black Zetsu abandoned his attempt to lure Sasuke after Sasuke refused to take the bait and returned toward the Star Ninja Village to seek Shikamaru’s help. Meanwhile, Naruto’s shadow clone killed Obito when he reappeared, sealed his corpse, and headed toward Kumogakure.

• Black Zetsu watched Sasuke leave, reconsidered his failed plan to recruit him, and retreated into the forest rather than risk exposing himself to Shikamaru.
• Sasuke raced back toward the Star Ninja Village, shaken by his encounter with Itachi, and hoped Shikamaru could help him.
• Naruto’s shadow clone waited for Obito to reappear and struck before he could use Izanagi, severing his right arm and piercing his heart with a sealing sword.
• Naruto’s shadow clone sealed Obito’s corpse in a scroll, checked the area for traces, and headed toward Kumogakure.

Naruto repaired Sasori’s damaged puppet body in a laboratory beside the Raikage’s Office and considered how to use the captured Akatsuki members for the Shinobi World’s future development. After Naruto left, Sasori regained consciousness and began looking for a chance to escape.

• Naruto used chakra and Wood Release to reassemble and reinforce Sasori’s shattered body.
• Naruto planned to use Deidara for construction work, Sasori for machinery and medical puppets, and Kakuzu for financial oversight, while postponing a decision about Kisame.
• Naruto returned Sasori’s Core of Regeneration to his chest and waited for it to reactivate.
• Sasori pretended to remain unconscious until Naruto left the room, then cautiously tested his stiff, imperfect body.
• Sasori checked the window and sensed for guards, concluding that he had found an opening to escape.

Sasori dismantled his damaged body and built a puppet bird to escape, but Naruto caught him. Naruto offered him a chance to pursue a different kind of eternity by becoming a celebrated innovator whose work would be remembered in history, leaving Sasori questioning whether Naruto planned to compile a history.

• Sasori turned parts of his body into a puppet bird and placed his Core of Regeneration inside it.
• Sasori flew toward the open window, but Naruto caught the puppet bird after anticipating his escape.
• Naruto praised Sasori's craftsmanship and brought him back into the room.
• Sasori asked whether Naruto intended to kill him or seal him away, and Naruto instead offered him a place in Konoha as an artist and engineer.
• Sasori considered the idea of achieving eternity through his influence on history, then asked Naruto if he planned to compile a history.

Naruto persuaded Sasori to work for him by proposing that Sasori use his puppetry to create machines and infrastructure that improved people's lives. After restoring Sasori's puppet body, Naruto began arguing that this peaceful work could give Sasori a new path toward the legacy he sought.

• Sasori questioned whether Naruto could compile an impartial history and sensed hidden watchers ready to kill him if he refused.
• Naruto dismissed Sasori's admission that he had killed the Third Kazekage, and Sasori asked what Naruto wanted him to do.
• Naruto moved the Core of Regeneration and Sasori's right hand from the puppet bird back into Sasori's repaired body.
• Naruto asked Sasori to develop construction, medical, and rescue puppets that would help people and be remembered in history.
• Sasori scorned the idea as frivolous, but Naruto challenged him to apply his puppets' precision and ingenuity to infrastructure.

Naruto persuaded Sasori to join Konoha’s Future Infrastructure and Development Department by offering him resources and freedom to research engineering puppets. Meanwhile, Sasuke reported Uchiha Itachi’s sudden appearance to Shikamaru, who suspected Itachi was acting in connection with the Akatsuki.

• Naruto described construction and engineering uses for Sasori’s puppets, sparking Sasori’s interest in applying his skills beyond combat.
• Sasori requested materials, workspace, assistants, and research freedom, and Naruto promised support in exchange for meeting project goals and protecting civilians.
• Naruto welcomed Sasori to Konoha’s Future Infrastructure and Development Department, and Sasori sat down to begin considering the work.
• Shikamaru praised Sasuke for noticing that something was wrong with Itachi and returning to discuss it.
• Shikamaru reasoned that Itachi’s appearance might be linked to the Akatsuki’s upheaval after Naruto captured Pain, and that Itachi could be targeting something Sasuke possessed.

Sasuke realized Itachi had returned to take his eyes and vowed to kill him, while Shikamaru devised a covert tracking network and began contacting their allies. Shikamaru’s letter reached Yoshino, who was asked to pass it to Inoichi so Shino could be summoned to the border between the Land of Bears and the Land of Rain.

• Sasuke concluded that Itachi had mistaken his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan for ordinary Mangekyō Sharingan and intended to take his eyes.
• Sasuke told Shikamaru he would kill Itachi and bring his corpse to the Uchiha Homeland, and Shikamaru pledged his support.
• Shikamaru planned to use Shino’s insects, Neji’s Byakugan, and Kiba and Akamaru’s scent tracking to locate Itachi discreetly.
• Shikamaru summoned a fawn and sent it with a letter to Shino, then used the same method to contact his father in Iwagakure.
• Yoshino received Shikamaru’s letter, which asked her to deliver it to Inoichi so Shino could come to the border between the Land of Bears and the Land of Rain.

Konoha operated with a reduced workforce while Inoichi Yamanaka and Hyuga Hiashi temporarily oversaw village affairs. Ino embroidered a Sixth Hokage robe for Naruto before Yoshino Nara brought her an unencrypted message from Shikamaru for Inoichi.

• Konoha's leadership relied on Hiashi and Inoichi because Naruto's allies controlled the village, Jiraiya was away, and other senior figures were unavailable or sidelined.
• Ino worked on a white Hokage robe embroidered with the words “Sixth Hokage” while helping at the flower shop during her day off.
• Yoshino teased Ino about making the robe for Naruto, and Ino blushed but continued stitching.
• Yoshino gave Ino an unencrypted letter from Shikamaru for Inoichi and asked her to deliver it.

Ino delivered Shikamaru’s request for Shino to report to the border, then accepted Inoichi’s suggestion to help at the understaffed Ninja Academy instead of joining the front lines. At the academy, she discovered Naruto had returned with Uchiha Hikari and brought Hyuga Hiashi a startling gift: the Fourth Raikage.

• Ino took Shikamaru’s brief note from Yoshino to Inoichi, who issued a mission order for Shino to go to the border between the Land of Bears and the Land of Rain.
• Ino asked to join Shikamaru and Choji at the front, but Inoichi urged her to help the short-staffed Ninja Academy and prepare for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Ino agreed to deliver Shino’s mission order and then report to the academy as a substitute teacher.
• At the academy, Ino found Naruto and Uchiha Hikari outside Hyuga Hiashi’s classroom with a Sleep Coffin.
• Naruto told Ino that the coffin held the Fourth Raikage, a gift for Uncle Hiashi.

Naruto visited Shino at the Ninja Academy to deliver Shikamaru’s urgent mission orders for the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Bears. After seeing Shino’s enthusiasm as a teacher, Naruto left him to his mission and prepared to deliver the Fourth Raikage to Hiashi while pursuing a lead on the route to the moon.

• Ino told Naruto that Shikamaru had requested Shino for a mission, and Naruto went with her and Hikari to the Academy.
• Naruto, Ino, and Hikari saw Shino teaching his students with confidence and enthusiasm.
• Hikari and Ino went to visit Hanabi while Naruto stayed behind with the Sleep Coffin and accepted Shino’s mission orders from Ino.
• Naruto entered Shino’s classroom, gave him the urgent orders, and Shino agreed to go on the mission.
• Naruto dismissed Shino’s students early but warned them that shouting would earn them a study period supervised by him.

Naruto gave Hiashi the Fourth Raikage’s body, stirring Hiashi’s memories of Hizashi’s death, then asked about the Hyuga Clan’s ties to the Otsutsuki on the moon. Hiashi explained the Caged Bird Seal’s origins but did not know how to reach the moon, leaving Naruto asking how many ancient texts remained unread.

• Naruto and Shino coordinated their departure while quietly guiding the children out of the classroom.
• Naruto told Hiashi that the Fourth Raikage was inside the coffin, and Hiashi accepted the gift while suppressing his desire for vengeance.
• Naruto asked Hiashi about the Otsutsuki on the moon, and Hiashi said the Hyuga Clan descended from one branch of an ancestor connected to the Sage of Six Paths.
• Hiashi explained that the Caged Bird Seal originated as a binding technique created by the Main Family on the moon and passed to the Hyuga after the Branch Family rebelled.
• Hiashi admitted that he did not know how to reach or contact the moon because he had not finished reading the clan’s ancient records.
• Naruto asked how many ancient texts the Hyuga Clan had preserved.

Naruto searched the Hyuga Clan’s records with Shadow Clones while Hiashi joined the effort, but Naruto left to cook for Hinata and Hanabi. At home, Hanabi told Naruto that her teacher had dismissed a bullying complaint, and she revealed he had studied under Toyama.

• Naruto created thousands of Shadow Clones to search the Hyuga Clan’s books for information about the family’s origins and bloodline.
• Hiashi began reading alongside Naruto, but Naruto left using the Flying Thunder God Technique and invited Hinata and Hanabi to his home for dinner.
• Hanabi playfully slapped Naruto while he cooked, then told him her teacher, Yamamoto Kazuo, had said one hand could not make a clap.
• Hanabi explained that Yamamoto had sent Kotaro away after older students bullied him and took his snacks, telling him to reflect on why he was bullied.
• Hanabi added that Yamamoto had apparently been a student of Toyama.

Naruto confronted Konoha Academy teachers over Yamamoto Kazuo’s unfair treatment of bullied students and his neglect of duty. He ordered Yamamoto Kazuo and Toyama Suzume to attack Kirigakure and warned that any teacher who mistreated students would face a grim punishment.

• Naruto realized Hanabi was hinting at problems caused by Toyama Suzume’s influence and decided to visit the Ninja Academy.
• Naruto slapped Yamamoto Kazuo in front of the gathered teachers and mocked his claim that bullying took two sides.
• Naruto condemned Yamamoto Kazuo and the other teachers for neglecting students, showing favoritism, and failing their duties as educators.
• Naruto ordered Yamamoto Kazuo and Toyama Suzume to split into two forces and attack Kirigakure as a chance to make amends.
• Naruto warned the teachers that anyone who mishandled bullying or shirked their responsibilities would be torn apart by five horses.

Naruto reassured Might Guy that he was not to blame for failing to recognize Yamamoto Kazuo’s misconduct and urged him to improve oversight at the school. Naruto then offered Guy a mission to join Shikamaru’s force attacking Kirigakure, and Guy accepted with renewed resolve to serve Konoha.

• Naruto told Might Guy that Yamamoto Kazuo had hidden his true nature and that Guy should focus on preventing similar incidents at the school.
• Naruto said he had dealt with Yamamoto and Toyama Suzume and urged Guy to establish stronger oversight and feedback systems.
• Naruto offered to send Guy to Iwagakure to meet Kakashi and join Shikamaru’s attack on Kirigakure, with Hiashi temporarily managing the school.
• Guy accepted Naruto’s proposal and vowed to devote himself to Konoha’s future, whether teaching or fighting.

Naruto’s clone and Jiraiya discussed Dan’s discovery about the Pure Land, Nagato’s recovery, and plans for rebuilding the Land of Rain while handling Konoha’s paperwork. The clone said Naruto’s original was spending time with his girlfriends, leaving the village’s work to those who remained.

• Naruto left the school and went to Konoha Hospital to pick someone up.
• Jiraiya told Naruto’s clone that he had found Iwaya Slope and met Dan Katō in the Land of Demons, then shared his findings about the Pure Land.
• Naruto’s clone decided to postpone investigating the Pure Land until Konoha had taken Kirigakure and the smaller countries.
• Jiraiya reported that Nagato was recovering under Konan’s care but needed a new body, and Naruto’s clone asked Jiraiya to guide him toward helping rebuild the Land of Rain.
• Naruto’s clone and Jiraiya worked through paperwork while discussing Naruto’s plans and the burden placed on Shikamaru.
• Jiraiya asked what Naruto was doing, and the clone said the original was spending time with his girlfriends.

Naruto returned to Konoha and shared ramen with Hinata and Sakura at Ichiraku. In the Pure Land, Yūji and Big Yellow searched for a way back to the shinobi world while Yūji’s Rinnegan recovered.

• Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura visited Ichiraku, where Teuchi welcomed Naruto back.
• Naruto ordered ramen for himself, Hinata, and Sakura, and Ayame served Big Yellow narutomaki from his personal account.
• Naruto and his companions enjoyed their meal together at the shop.
• In the Pure Land, Yūji rode Big Yellow as they searched for a route back to the shinobi world.
• Big Yellow said he remembered hearing Naruto mention Iwaya Slope but did not know where it was.
• Big Yellow knocked a Sunagakure ninja into a rock as he asked Yūji how much longer his Rinnegan would take to recover.

Yūji Uzumaki and Big Yellow raced through the Pure Land while Yūji recovered from using his Rinnegan, then encountered Madara and Hashirama. Yūji stopped Madara’s attack with Shinra Tensei, leaving Madara stunned and demanding to know who he was.

• Yūji told Big Yellow that his chakra was depleted and that he needed time or an outside supply to use his Rinnegan again.
• Big Yellow enlarged himself and carried Yūji at speed through the Pure Land after sensing danger ahead.
• Madara gained an advantage over Hashirama by absorbing the power of wandering souls with his Rinnegan.
• Madara charged at Big Yellow and tried to drain the giant dog’s soul with the Preta Path.
• Yūji blocked Madara’s suction with Shinra Tensei, prompting Madara to recognize his Rinnegan and ask who he was.

Yūji Uzumaki and Big Yellow met Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju in the Pure Land, where Yūji explained that he came from the future and had awakened the Rinnegan naturally. The chapter ended with Hashirama recognizing Yūji as Karin’s son and Yūji recalling his mother’s clingy behavior around Naruto.

• Big Yellow warned Yūji that Madara was exceptionally powerful, while Hashirama arrived and recognized the puppy as Big Yellow.
• Big Yellow explained that he and Yūji had fallen into the Pure Land from the future, and introduced Yūji as Naruto’s son.
• Hashirama greeted Yūji warmly as the son of his old friend’s successor, while Madara demanded to see Yūji’s face and learn about his Rinnegan.
• Yūji revealed his face and said he had awakened the Rinnegan naturally by molding chakra.
• Hashirama recognized Yūji’s red hair and asked whether his mother was Karin; Yūji confirmed it and remembered how clingy she was with Naruto.

Yūji kept his Rinnegan ability, Time Traveler, secret from Madara while considering how to defeat him. In the Pure Land, Hatake Sakumo confronted Obito over his crimes, and Obito defended his actions by condemning the shinobi world and the rules that had shaped their tragedies.

• Yūji's siblings mocked his name for his Rinnegan dōjutsu and renamed it Time Traveler.
• Yūji decided not to tell Madara about his ability and considered absorbing Madara's chakra while working with the First Hokage.
• Obito learned from wandering souls that the Pure Land had recently changed and resumed searching for someone.
• Hatake Sakumo recognized Obito, drew his blade, and said he would restrain him for his crimes against Konoha.
• Obito rejected Sakumo's demand that he face responsibility and argued that the shinobi world's rules caused tragedies, including Sakumo's own death.

Obito defended the Eye of the Moon Plan as salvation through absolute power, while Hatake Sakumo condemned it as cowardice and prepared to stop him. Their fight began with Sakumo identifying Obito’s overreliance on intangibility as a weakness.

• Obito declared that he would create a dream world of eternal happiness and called the deaths caused by his plan necessary sacrifices.
• Hatake Sakumo rejected Obito’s claim to be a savior and praised Naruto for facing suffering while choosing to protect others.
• Obito argued that human nature made lasting peace impossible without erasing individual consciousness, insisting that power determined justice.
• Hatake Sakumo said Obito’s rejection of human nature was cowardice and challenged the strength behind his supposed truth.
• Hatake Sakumo and Obito exchanged Ninjutsu and close-range attacks, and Sakumo recognized that Obito relied too heavily on becoming intangible.

Hatake Sakumo and Obito Uchiha tested each other’s abilities in the Pure Land, trading feints and attacks without either gaining a decisive advantage. Sakumo emerged unscathed from Obito’s Wood Release trap, and the two prepared for a more serious battle.

• Obito Uchiha and Hatake Sakumo assessed each other’s fighting styles and planned how to counter the other’s strengths.
• Obito attacked with Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs, but Sakumo dodged and countered with Hatake Style: Heavenly Fang.
• Obito unleashed Wood Release: Hellish Rampage, which pierced Sakumo’s apparent body and filled the area with a cage of wooden stakes.
• Obito realized Sakumo could not safely hide underground because his Wood Release roots had spread beneath the battlefield.
• Sakumo revealed himself unharmed beyond the wooden stakes, explaining through his actions that both earlier attackers had been Shadow Clones.
• Obito’s confidence faded as he recognized Sakumo’s caution and tactical skill, and he braced for the real battle.