Recaps

Naruto secretly repaired Hinata and Rock Lee, then faced Neji in the Chunin Exam finals as village hostility over Hokage Rock grew. After Sasuke fought Gaara, Naruto pursued him, battled Shukaku, and helped Gaara understand the bonds that could keep him from living only for himself.

• Naruto treated Hinata’s damaged heart and operated with her to replace Rock Lee’s shattered limb bones, then completed Lee’s rehabilitation.
• Sasuke revealed to Shikamaru that Naruto had been Uchiha Sagen, and later cared for the exhausted Naruto after Lee’s operation.
• Naruto collected his earnings, finished Lee’s treatment, and painted the Past Hokage’s faces on Hokage Rock, provoking villagers and the Konoha leadership.
• Naruto denied defacing Hokage Rock as Kakashi advised, then defeated Neji in the finals by overcoming his Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and refusing to accept fate.
• Sasuke used Chidori to break Gaara’s Absolute Defense, but Gaara began transforming, and Naruto joined the pursuit after the invasion disrupted the finals.
• Naruto and Sasuke attacked Gaara together, but Gaara captured Sasuke, prompting Naruto to summon Gamabunta and face the fully awakened Shukaku.
• Naruto and Gamabunta fought Shukaku with Kurama’s chakra, and Naruto teleported them away from a Tailed Beast Bomb before waking Gaara and ending the transformation.
• Naruto told Gaara about his own suffering and his bond with Sasuke, helping Gaara recognize the importance of accepting care and connection before Naruto made him unconscious.

Naruto orchestrated Sasuke’s departure to seek power from Orochimaru, while concealing his plans from his friends and pursuing Sasuke to the Valley of the End. After Sasuke struck Naruto down and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, Naruto healed himself and revealed unfamiliar Mangekyō patterns of his own.

• Kurama persuaded Shukaku to withdraw his chakra from Gaara, who later credited Naruto with changing his fate and showing him that light remained in the world.
• After Itachi returned to Konoha and targeted Naruto, Naruto fought to protect Sasuke, then cared for Sasuke and Guy after Jiraiya drove Itachi and Kisame away.
• Sasuke rejected Naruto and secretly resolved to leave Konoha, while Naruto arranged for Snake Aunt to help Sasuke activate his cursed seal and sent her a Uchiha Bloodline Potion.
• The Sound Four brought Sasuke out of Konoha, and Naruto secretly watched him join them before helping lead a pursuit team with Shikamaru and Sakura.
• Naruto covertly allowed the Sound Four to delay the pursuit team, then fought Kimimaro and asked him to guide Sasuke’s close-combat training under Orochimaru.
• At the Valley of the End, Sasuke overwhelmed Naruto with his cursed seal, but Naruto let Sasuke pierce his heart with Chidori after confessing his love.
• Naruto healed his chest wound, restrained Kakashi with vines, and challenged him over Konoha’s cruelty before revealing two unfamiliar Mangekyō patterns.

Naruto left Konoha with Kakashi’s support, developed his Mangekyō powers, and helped the Land of Waves prosper alongside Haku. After defeating Deidara and Sasori, he welcomed the Sound Four and heard the wishes they hoped he could fulfill.

• Naruto won Kakashi’s loyalty by showing him visions of Konoha’s destruction and defeating him in a fight, then sent him back to Konoha with a clone to conceal his desertion.
• Naruto faked his death to help Sasuke awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan, while Snake Aunt kept Naruto’s survival secret and began training Sasuke.
• Naruto merged Kamui into his right Mangekyō, created Genesis World, and trained until he discovered his left eye’s Illusory Realm of Annihilation.
• Naruto guided Long Xue’s caravan to the Land of Waves, killed bandits who attacked it, and learned that the country was recruiting workers while its bridge lay destroyed.
• Naruto reunited with Haku, helped her manage the country’s affairs, taught her Shadow Clone, and supported her as the Land of Waves secured trade and celebrated the completed Naruto Bridge.
• Naruto became Prime Minister of the Internal Affairs Office as Deidara and Sasori attacked the bridge, then lured them away and trapped them in Genesis World.
• The Sound Four arrived at Naruto’s residence, reported on Sasuke’s training, and told Naruto they wanted help fulfilling personal wishes, including reviving their family members.

Naruto recruited the Sound Four and Sasori, negotiated with the Akatsuki, and built up the Land of Waves while training in seclusion. After returning to stop Root from seizing control, he confronted Itachi over the Uchiha massacre and challenged the ninja system that shaped him.

• Naruto showed the Sound Four Jirobo’s hidden memory in the Illusory Realm of Annihilation, then recruited them as instructors under the name Beiming.
• Naruto defeated Sasori and Deidara, recruited Sasori with Iron Man suit blueprints, and later released Deidara after Obito paid a hundred million in ransom.
• Kame negotiated a grain contract with Yahiko and delivered Beiming’s letter, prompting Sasori to leave the Akatsuki and Yahiko to begin the tailed beast collection mission.
• Naruto welcomed Sasori to the Land of Waves, while Sasuke trained with Orochimaru and began combining Rasengan with elemental chakra.
• Naruto negotiated Deidara’s release with Obito, then watched Deidara and Obito depart on a mission to find the Three-Tails.
• Naruto named Clear-Mind Island, set Sasori to work researching engines and metal processing, and spent two years training in seclusion.
• Naruto returned to stop Root from attacking Haku, and Haku’s allies and Sasori’s Armored Robots subdued the Root Jonin.
• Naruto confronted Itachi over the Uchiha massacre, and Itachi broke down as Naruto argued that the clan could have left Konoha and condemned the twisted ninja system.