Chapter Summaries

Naruto used the Telescope Technique and a Spore Clone to find Zabuza’s hideout and test whether Haku would kill an apparently helpless Konoha ninja. After seeing Haku spare his clone, Naruto approached the hideout in disguise, determined to force a choice between Haku and Zabuza.

• Sasuke told Naruto he would support him and left after kissing his cheek, while Naruto began carrying out his plans alone.
• Naruto used the Telescope Technique to locate Zabuza resting in a forest hideout and sent a Spore Clone to wait for Haku.
• Haku found Naruto’s clone, considered killing him, but stopped and warned him to return home.
• Naruto received the clone’s observations, put on a Kirigakure ANBU mask, and approached Zabuza’s hideout while matching Haku’s footsteps.
• Naruto wondered whether Zabuza would give up his ambition and die for Haku or continue treating her as a tool.

Naruto confronted Zabuza, dismantled his ambitions, and forced him to face his feelings for Haku. Zabuza accepted death and entrusted Haku to Naruto, who promised to resurrect him and arranged for them to say goodbye.

• Naruto entered Zabuza’s room, restrained him with Wood Release, and revealed how thoroughly he knew Zabuza’s past.
• Naruto criticized Zabuza’s failed coup and argued that his strength and leadership skills fell short of his ambition to rule the Land of Water.
• Naruto revealed that he planned to take over the world and explained that he wanted Haku as a partner, not as a weapon.
• Naruto pressed Zabuza to consider his feelings for Haku, and Zabuza admitted she was the only person he cared about and asked Naruto to treat her kindly.
• Zabuza chose to die in Haku’s place, and Naruto injected him with a painless, slow-acting drug while promising to resurrect him in the future.
• Naruto identified himself as Naruto Uzumaki and left to let Zabuza prepare to speak honestly with Haku before midnight.

Naruto sent Wood Release Clones to take control of the Daimyo's Residence and the Lords' Residence, then returned to Tazuna's house. He went shopping with Sasuke and Tazuna's daughter, where Sasuke saw the Land of Waves' desperate poverty and a man beating two starving children.

• Naruto created two Wood Release Clones, implanted Spore Clone parasites in them, and ordered them to take control of the Daimyo's Residence and the Lords' Residence, beginning with diplomacy.
• Naruto passed Haku on his way back to Tazuna's house and reflected on how different her life was from Sasuke's.
• Naruto reunited with Kakashi and Tazuna, then went upstairs and answered Sasuke's questions about Water Walking practice.
• Tazuna's daughter asked Naruto and Sasuke to accompany her shopping, and the three set off together.
• Sasuke saw desperate residents offering odd jobs along the streets of the Coastal Town.
• A man in a cook's uniform beat a starving boy for stealing bread while the boy's sister begged him to stop.

Naruto rescued Minayama and Minami from a violent shopkeeper, healed Minami, and challenged Minayama to unite the town’s orphaned beggar children. He then explained to Sasuke that the town’s suffering stemmed from its rulers and left Minayama with a chance to earn power and a safer future for his sister.

• A cook attacked Minayama and Minami after Minayama stole food, but Naruto rescued the siblings and Sasuke knocked the cook down.
• Naruto used the Mystical Palm Technique to heal Minami, then learned from Minayama that nearly sixty homeless children remained in town.
• Naruto left the siblings money and food, promising them a secure future if Minayama became the children’s undisputed leader within three days; he told Minayama to meet him in the western woods afterward.
• Minayama accepted the challenge and took Minami into the woods, unaware Naruto had placed Flying Thunder God Marks on their backs.
• Naruto rejoined Sasuke and Tazuna’s daughter, then explained to Sasuke that the town’s poverty and desperation traced back to its rulers, not just individual misdeeds.

Zabuza reconciled with Haku and urged her to follow Naruto after his death, giving her a map to his hidden fortune. Meanwhile, Naruto’s Wood Release Clone attacked the Land of Waves Daimyo’s Residence, killed its Grass samurai guards, and planted a Spore Clone inside the daimyo.

• Zabuza called Haku his little sister and family, then told her to live happily after he was gone.
• Zabuza asked Haku to meet Naruto in the woods, follow him as a companion, and use his wisdom to grow.
• Zabuza gave Haku a map to ninety million silver taels and asked her to deliver the money to Naruto as his final request.
• Naruto’s Wood Release Clone confronted the Land of Waves daimyo and killed the samurai corps from the Land of Grass with Tree Spear.
• Naruto planted parasitic spores inside the daimyo, whose threats prompted the Spore Clone to emerge and frighten him into submission.

Naruto reflected on changing the Chunin Exams’ outcome and arranged for Orochimaru to spare the Third Hokage, hoping to alter the future and save Jiraiya. After messaging Orochimaru, Naruto headed into the woods to find Haku and speak honestly with him.

• Naruto decided that Orochimaru should spare the Third Hokage during the attack on Konoha, which could prevent Jiraiya’s later death and change the story’s course.
• Naruto told himself he would test Kakashi’s feelings about Konoha and its leadership after Naruto and Sasuke fought at the Valley of the End.
• Naruto contacted Orochimaru through the Super Beeper and agreed to help him obtain Uchiha bloodline traits.
• Naruto asked Orochimaru to follow his plan during the Chunin Exams, spare the Third Hokage, and meet Sasuke in the Forest of Death.
• Naruto informed Sasuke he had something to do, then hurried into the woods to find Haku.

After Zabuza’s death, Haku defended his payment from Gato’s samurai and set out for the island where her new guide awaited. Meanwhile, Gato learned that his position was under pressure and considered hiring the Akatsuki of the Land of Rain to eliminate Konoha’s ninja.

• Haku left Zabuza’s resting place and told Gato’s samurai that Zabuza had died and the mission payment was nonrefundable.
• When the samurai tried to take her suitcase, Haku killed their attackers with senbon and warned the survivor to tell Gato to stay away.
• Haku walked across the water toward the island, wondering who Sister Momochi had chosen to guide her.
• The surviving samurai reported Zabuza’s death to Gato, and Kame arrived with news that the Lords’ Residence had been slaughtered and a letter from the Daimyo’s Residence.
• Gato learned that Konoha’s ninja were protecting Tazuna and that the bridge was nearly finished, then discussed hiring stronger ninja with Kame.
• Kame proposed that Gato hire the Akatsuki of the Land of Rain to kill Konoha’s team.

Gato sent Kame to hire Akatsuki to stop the bridge project in the Land of Waves while he gathered more fighters. Naruto met Haku in the woods, helped her find meaning in life, and accepted her ice-release bloodline, though Haku still hoped he would take her on as a student.

• Kame persuaded Gato to hire Akatsuki in the Land of Tea, and Gato gave her twenty million silver taels to secure help within five days.
• After Kame left, Gato ordered a warrior to gather every fighter from nearby Gato Trade Association branches.
• Haku reached the clearing where Naruto had gathered herbs and nearly pierced a camellia with a senbon as she despaired over being unwanted.
• Naruto appeared and told Haku that she had to discover the meaning of her own life.
• Haku asked Naruto to teach her, but he said he did not need an apprentice or student and clarified that he had not sought her as a tool or for her bloodline.
• Naruto praised Haku's ice-release ability, and Haku asked if he had found her bloodline as he had found the camellia; Naruto agreed.

Naruto reassured Haku, made her his companion, and prepared her to become the Daimyo of the Land of Waves. After she left with books and a clone assigned to guide her, Naruto returned home and dealt with Sasuke noticing his scent.

• Naruto told Haku he wanted a true companion rather than a weapon, then apologized after briefly loosening her clothes and declared her his companion.
• Naruto placed a Flying Thunder God Mark and a Spore Parasitic Clone inside Haku, gave her books, and promised to help her become the Daimyo of the Land of Waves.
• Haku accepted Naruto's guidance, called him Brother Naruto, and left with the books after giving him a case from Sister Momochi.
• Naruto transferred the money from the case into his system space and washed in the sea before returning home.
• Sasuke noticed Naruto smelled strange, and Naruto made an excuse before rinsing himself again.

Naruto prepared for the Gato Group and developed a new fighting style using Flying Thunder God, Chakra Threads, and graphene talismans. After testing the formation, he ran out of chakra far sooner than expected.

• Naruto reviewed his System Panel and noted how much money Haku had brought him, while considering ways to deal with the Gato Group.
• Naruto exchanged for Chakra Thread techniques and graphene paper, then dyed the sheets yellow and inscribed Flying Thunder God Marks on them.
• Naruto used Chakra Threads to control all thirty talismans and spread them through the air as a Flying Thunder God formation.
• Naruto flashed through the air hundreds of times, then returned to the rooftop and complained that his chakra ran out before he reached six hundred jumps.

Itachi and Kisame accepted a mission to search for the Land of Earth's Jinchūriki, while Naruto watched Naishan and Nami fight a group of child beggars in the Land of Waves. The siblings defeated their leader and drove the other children away, and Naruto applauded them.

• At the Akatsuki meeting, Kakuzu accepted a twenty-million mission targeting Konoha Ninja, while Itachi and Kisame departed to search for the Land of Earth's Jinchūriki.
• Itachi thought about his younger sister as he and Kisame traveled through the rainy Land of Earth.
• Naruto watched Naishan and Nami prepare to challenge the beggar children who had kept them hungry and cold.
• Naishan blocked Shiotian's club with an iron plate, knocked him unconscious, and caused the other beggars to flee.
• Nami and Naishan celebrated their victory and embraced as Naruto applauded them.

Naruto helped Naishan and Nami become trainee ninjas and tasked Naishan with uniting the town’s street children. He then visited Haku, taught her about leadership, and prepared resources for her role in his plans for the Land of Waves.

• Naruto healed Naishan and Nami, gave them chakra-enhancing items, and guided them through sensing chakra and using chakra cards.
• Naruto taught the children basic hand signs and ordered Naishan to unite the street children, then direct them to a treehouse where Haku’s teacher and a protector awaited.
• Naruto left without revealing his name and traveled to Zabuza’s hideout, where Haku welcomed him and discussed her studies.
• Naruto answered Haku’s questions about leadership and told her he would teach her about governing a country after she mastered her current books.
• Naruto prepared ninjutsu scrolls, a cell-enhancement potion, and chakra cards for Haku and the Spore Clone, intending to support his plans for the Land of Waves and a worldwide cooking competition.

Naruto guarded the bridge as Gato’s men used threats to drive workers away and then attacked them. The civilians fled toward the bridge exit, where samurai blocked their escape and began killing them.

• Naruto left Haku after teaching her and giving her a Cell Potion and two cards to use with his clone’s guidance.
• Naruto and Team 7 guarded the bridge as construction began, and Naruto saw two of Gato’s men scout the site by speedboat.
• Gato ordered his men to threaten the workers’ families and planned to attack the bridge with gathered forces.
• Tazuna rallied the shrinking workforce after Gato’s men beat and threatened workers’ families.
• Gato’s samurai arrived by ship, causing the civilians to panic and flee the bridge.
• A second group of samurai blocked the exit, wounded an old man, and ordered their men to kill the civilians.

Team 7 faced Gato and his samurai on the Great Bridge as Gato threatened to destroy it, but the Daimyo and Six Lords arrived before he could press the detonator again. The Daimyo announced that he would relinquish his position, setting up Haku to become his successor while Gato mistakenly believed he was about to take power.

• Gato gathered his samurai on the Great Bridge, while Team 7 stood between them and Tazuna’s bridge workers.
• Gato offered Kakashi three times Tazuna’s payment to abandon the mission, but Kakashi refused.
• Gato revealed explosives planted on the bridge and detonated one, destroying a pier; Naruto had already removed most of the explosives.
• The Daimyo and Six Lords arrived, and Naruto’s instructions prepared Haku to be announced as the Daimyo’s successor.
• The Daimyo addressed the people, apologized for his failures, and declared that he had no right to remain in power, leaving Gato convinced he would take over.

Haku took the Daimyo’s seat in the Land of Waves and promised to build schools and a ninja village, then crushed Gato’s attempt to stop her. With Gato captured and the people rallying behind her, Naruto’s plan to establish Haku’s rule advanced.

• The Daimyo denounced Gato and presented Haku as the Land of Waves’ new Daimyo, and the crowd welcomed her.
• Haku promised to lead the country out of hardship by building schools and a ninja village, but Gato threatened the crowd with a detonator and offered a reward for her death.
• Haku shattered the detonator and defeated Gato’s attackers with senbon and Water Release techniques while Naruto’s team watched.
• Haku ordered Gato arrested, promised repayment for bridge donations and wages for its workers, and urged the people to build the country’s future.
• Naruto praised Haku’s new Daimyo persona, while Sasuke showed jealousy and Naruto privately thought of him as the lady of the house.

Kame hired Kakuzu, Hidan, and six rogue Jonin to attack the new Daimyo and keep Konoha's ninja occupied. As the battle began on the bridge, Naruto headed for a nearby island and the Spore Clone took control of Haku's body for the fight ahead.

• Kame recruited six rogue Jonin and offered Kakuzu and Hidan an extra ten million taels to kill the new Daimyo.
• Kakuzu accepted the deal, and Kame ordered the rogue Jonin to occupy Konoha's ninja while Kakuzu and Hidan attacked the bridge.
• Kakuzu and Hidan charged onto the bridge, where Haku and the civilians protected the Daimyo's carriage and the rogue Jonin confronted Team 7.
• Kakashi lured four rogue Jonin onto the sea, while Sakura and Sasuke stayed behind to face the two remaining Jonin.
• Naruto left for a small island, and Haku jumped from the bridge as the Spore Clone took control of his body for the battle.

Naruto’s true body fought Hidan while Haku and Kakuzu were drawn into a separate battle, and Sasuke faced two Jonin in the Hidden Mist. Hidan obtained Naruto’s blood and began his ritual, but Naruto stopped him before he could complete it.

• Naruto’s Spore Clone took over Haku’s body and led Hidan and Kakuzu away while Sasuke stayed behind with Sakura and Tazuna.
• Sasuke entered the Hidden Mist, sensed an attacking Jonin, and killed him with a Rasengan.
• On an island near the bridge, Naruto sent Haku after Kakuzu and faced Hidan alone.
• Naruto and Hidan fought with kunai and scythe until Hidan’s blade drew Naruto’s blood.
• Hidan began his blood ritual, but his hand stopped before he could touch the blood with his tongue.

Naruto defeated Hidan, sent him to Orochimaru for research, and then overpowered Kakuzu during their fight in the Land of Waves. He spared Kakuzu and sent him back to the Akatsuki with a message for its leader.

• Naruto restrained Hidan, cut him into pieces, and sent him to Orochimaru’s research facility through the Super Beeper.
• Naruto arrived at Kakuzu’s battlefield and told Haku to leave while he took over the fight.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God and Chidori to paralyze Kakuzu, then destroyed two of his hearts with Wood Release Clones.
• Naruto warned Kakuzu that he could destroy his remaining heart and asked him to deliver a message questioning the Akatsuki leader’s idea of peace.
• After Kakuzu tried to attack, Naruto struck him again and let him go; Kakuzu agreed to conceal Naruto’s role and report that the mission had failed and Hidan was killed.

Naruto defeated Hidan and Kakuzu, then rejoined Team 7 after Sasuke and Kakashi finished the fight at the bridge. Haku welcomed them as honored guests at the Daimyo's Residence while the people of the Land of Waves began building the bridge.

• Naruto collected the Flying Thunder God Talismans and considered how his knowledge of Hidan and Kakuzu's abilities had let him defeat them.
• Kakashi returned to the bridge and told Sasuke that the six rogue ninja from Kusagakure had only been Chunin-level fighters.
• Naruto rejoined Sasuke, praised his performance, and persuaded him that leaving the fight had been a way to let him shine.
• Haku thanked Kakashi and the others for saving her, and one of the six Lords invited Team 7 and Tazuna to the Daimyo's Residence.
• The six Lords promised to pay the commoners who helped build the bridge, and construction began in earnest.

After Team 7 completed its mission in the Land of Waves, Jiraiya returned to Konoha and confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over the village’s plans for Naruto and its role in Minato and Kushina’s deaths. Jiraiya left after refusing to cooperate with Hiruzen, who was left questioning the village’s past decisions.

• Team 7 left the Land of Waves, while Haku stayed behind to prepare the country for a future world Cooking Competition and put the Spore Clone’s management plans into action.
• An ANBU operative interrupted Jiraiya while he was spying on women bathing and summoned him to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Jiraiya visited Naruto’s neglected home, then confronted Hiruzen about the Root message proposing that Naruto’s tailed beast be transferred to a replacement jinchūriki.
• Jiraiya accused Hiruzen of putting the village’s interests ahead of Naruto and of allowing Orochimaru to escape, then condemned Hiruzen and Danzo for their roles in Minato and Kushina’s deaths.
• Jiraiya told Hiruzen he would teach Naruto to control the tailed beast’s power and left, while Hiruzen wondered whether the village’s past choices had been wrong.