Recaps

Naruto used the Golden Shovel System to grow stronger, build an uneasy partnership with Sasuke, and turn village hostility into a source of points. After uncovering poison in Hongle’s ramen during a title challenge, he left the rival chef horrified by what he had served.

• Naruto discovered that he had become young Naruto, activated the Golden Shovel System, and realized the Uchiha survivors were girls in this world.
• Naruto defeated Sasuke in a wagered fight, rescued her from Root’s raid on the Uchiha compound, and promised to help her reclaim her strength and belongings.
• Naruto sold Uchiha weapons, trained with system-bought skills, and earned points by provoking reactions from villagers and classmates.
• Naruto and Sasuke agreed to a three-month arrangement after he beat her in a rematch, and they grew closer while sharing a grilled meal.
• Sasuke experienced the villagers’ hostility toward Naruto firsthand and apologized to him after he followed her to a grove.
• Naruto brought Sasuke to Ichiraku Ramen, where he urged Aunt Ichiraku to defend the shop’s title against Hongle Ramen.
• Naruto condemned Hongle’s ramen and exposed its secret alkaline crystals as dangerous, leaving Hongle distraught over having served poisoned food.

Naruto used his culinary skills to help Aunt Ichiraku defeat Hongle in a ramen competition, then helped their businesses thrive while building his relationship with Sasuke. The stretch ended with Sasuke asking Naruto to train with her and the Nine-Tails offering chakra in exchange for the rest of Naruto’s story.

• Naruto entered the Nine-Tails’ prison, met Kurama, and refused its invitation to let it take control.
• Naruto trained with Sasuke, beat her in a hand-seal contest, and later used shogi games to win money from his classmates and Shikamaru.
• Naruto taught Aunt Ichiraku his ramen recipe, and her noodles defeated Hongle’s at the Clearwater River competition.
• Aunt Ichiraku named Hongle as the source of a crucial ingredient, then invited him to partner with Ichiraku House.
• Naruto visited the Uchiha compound with Sasuke, took a strand of Itachi’s hair, and accompanied Sasuke to mourn at the clan cemetery.
• Naruto gave Ichiraku and Hongle ingredients and recipes, helped their ramen shop and barbecue stall sell out, and cooked dinner for Sasuke.
• Naruto sparred with Sasuke, who asked him to train with her the next morning, while the Nine-Tails offered chakra so Naruto could continue his story.

Naruto and Sasuke grew closer while Naruto planned a larger Ichiraku House and arranged for ninja to build it overnight. The restaurant opened as Naruto resumed telling Kurama a story about the Nine-Tails Celestial Fox, leaving Kurama desperate to hear what happened next.

• Naruto and Sasuke shared meals, trained, and went to the Academy together, where Naruto defeated Shikamaru in shogi and won the students’ pooled wager.
• Naruto proposed building a larger Ichiraku House with ninja, gave Hongle plans and money to arrange the work, and provided Aunt Ichiraku with a new recipe.
• After Sasuke mistakenly thought Naruto had taken advantage of him, Sasuke apologized, and Naruto cooked for him and gave him a dress.
• Hongle secured construction through Danzo, while Naruto used the Yamanaka secret technique to send hidden instructions to Hongle and Ichiraku.
• Naruto and Sasuke continued spending time together, and Naruto stayed overnight at Sasuke’s home after pretending to twist his ankle.
• Two ANBU ninja demolished the old shop, and Yamato used Wood Release to build a three-story restaurant before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Naruto returned to Kurama and told him a story about the Nine-Tails Celestial Fox being abandoned, captured, and learning that her benefactor had died searching for her.
• Kurama wept and asked what happened next, but Naruto disappeared before answering.

Naruto distanced himself from Sasuke to hide the danger of integrating Hashirama cells, then survived the procedure and awakened Wood Release during the Nine-Planet Alignment. As Sasuke recovered and life resumed, Naruto helped him through his first period, while Shikamaru became captivated by Naruto’s Sagen disguise and confessed his feelings.

• Naruto found Sasuke upset after his paid shogi lesson with Shikamaru, explained the misunderstanding, and celebrated Sasuke’s birthday with a homemade dinner and an amethyst bracelet.
• Naruto ended his fake-couple agreement with Sasuke and avoided him while Hinata injected Hashirama cells into his spinal cord, leaving Naruto to endure recurring chakra-draining episodes.
• Sasuke cared for the weakened Naruto as Hiruzen, Danzō, and the other leaders investigated his condition and considered ways to replace him as the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki.
• After four and a half years of recovery, Naruto and Sasuke watched the Nine-Planet Alignment, and Naruto integrated the Hashirama cells, awakened Wood Release, and recovered.
• Naruto and Sasuke tested their chakra affinities, then returned to the Uchiha compound, where Sasuke panicked after his first period began.
• Naruto transformed into Naruko to obtain supplies, abducted Shikamaru, and made him explain how Sasuke should use sanitary pads.
• Naruto posed as Sagen, Sasuke’s distant cousin, and escorted Shikamaru away after Shikamaru learned Sasuke had a boyfriend and confessed that he liked Sagen.