Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo considered the risks posed by Uchiha Huayue and the spies Yakushi Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto, while Huayue and Konan prepared to intervene in Danzo’s plan. Near Iwagakure, Kabuto encountered Nonō in disguise, but after he wounded her, she failed to recognize him.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Naruto and Sasuke grow closer under Uchiha Huayue’s guidance and worried about Huayue’s influence.
• Danzo ordered his subordinates to arrange for Yakushi Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto to be eliminated in Iwagakure.
• Huayue told Konan they would intervene in Danzo’s plan and avenge the man who had attacked Akatsuki.
• Kabuto waited for Konoha’s contact near Iwagakure, then fought an apparent pursuer with a Chakra Scalpel.
• Kabuto discovered he had wounded Nonō, tried to heal her, and froze when she asked who he was.

After Danzo’s manipulation led Kabuto to attack Nonō, Huayue revived her and explained how an information cocoon had distorted her memories of Kabuto. Reunited with Nonō, Kabuto found his way home and agreed to help Huayue destroy Danzo.

• After Nonō failed to recognize him, Kabuto broke down at the stream and questioned who he was.
• Two Anbu arrived to confirm Nonō and Kabuto were dead, but Huayue rewrote their memories and sent them back to Danzo with a false report.
• Huayue used Natural Energy to revive Nonō and took her away from the outskirts of Iwagakure.
• Huayue found Kabuto and brought him and Nonō to a hidden base, where he explained how Danzo had altered Nonō’s impressions of Kabuto.
• Nonō reassured Kabuto that she was safe and that they would return to the Orphanage together.
• Kabuto agreed to help Huayue settle the score with Danzo and began sharing the intelligence he had gathered for Konoha.

Danzo received Orochimaru’s Sharingan-covered arm as Konoha recalled its forces, while the other nations’ leaders discussed the threat posed by Konoha. Ōnoki proposed hiring Akatsuki to attack, and the Kage considered the plan.

• Danzo confirmed Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto were dead, then received an arm covered in Sharingan from Orochimaru and planned to wait for the right moment to pursue the Hokage position.
• The Third Hokage disbanded the Anbu training class Root and recalled Konoha’s forces as the Konoha Threat Theory spread among the other nations’ leaders.
• Rasa, the Fourth Raikage, Ōnoki, and Karatachi Yagura argued over their villages’ past conflicts and the potential threat from Konoha.
• The Fourth Raikage said only the leaders and Jinchūriki could challenge Konoha’s strongest ninja, but Ōnoki argued that the villages could not risk starting a war directly.
• Ōnoki proposed hiring Akatsuki, naming Sasori, Orochimaru, Uchiha Itachi, and Kakuzu, and claimed Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi would have reasons to attack Konoha.

Rasa, Ōnoki, and the Fourth Raikage each pursued plans involving Akatsuki as their villages struggled and prepared to act against Konoha. A year later, Sarutobi Hiruzen removed Kakashi from the Anbu and urged him to become a Squad Leader Jonin, leaving Kakashi to tell Might Guy he had been fired.

• Rasa returned home and watched Gaara leave the dinner table, while Temari worried about her family and Sunagakure’s hidden danger.
• Ōnoki ordered Deidara and Kitsuchi to contact Akatsuki and invite them to negotiate, despite Deidara’s insistence that he could attack Konoha himself.
• The Fourth Raikage sent Darui and Cee to find Akatsuki and convey Kumogakure’s demands, while planning to use the group against Konoha and investigate its intentions.
• After a year passed, Sarutobi Hiruzen took Kakashi’s Anbu mask and encouraged him to become a Squad Leader Jonin.
• Kakashi met Might Guy and explained that he had just become a Squad Leader Jonin and that someone else had been assigned his Anbu work.

Kakashi left the Anbu and wondered whether he could become a jonin mentor, while Rasa enlisted Akatsuki to attack Konoha as part of a scheme by the four great nations. Nagato agreed to attack Konoha, bringing Black Zetsu closer to gathering the Tailed Beasts for the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

• Kakashi told Might Guy that he had left the Anbu, then wondered whether he could become a jonin mentor; several days later, he became the Ninja Academy's most brutal jonin mentor.
• Sasori confronted Rasa and Granny Chiyo in a ruined border village, then agreed to pass Rasa's request for Akatsuki to attack Konoha to its leader.
• Rasa told Granny Chiyo that the four great nations wanted Akatsuki to attack Konoha and planned to use a defective product as a bomb.
• Black Zetsu told Nagato that the four nations had commissioned Akatsuki to attack Konoha, and Nagato agreed to proceed despite suspecting a trap.
• Black Zetsu listed the remaining Tailed Beasts and celebrated that his millennium plan to bring about the Infinite Tsukuyomi was drawing near.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure weighed Akatsuki's demand to join a plan against Konoha, with the Fourth Raikage preparing for war and Ōnoki persuading Roshi to cooperate. Months later, the Fourth Mizukage faced the captured Utakata in Kirigakure.

• Cee warned the Fourth Raikage that defeating Uchiha Huayue required several Kage-level fighters and assessed that destroying Konoha was certain, though killing Huayue had only a fifty percent chance.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered Kumogakure to check when B would recover and prepare for war with Konoha.
• Ōnoki left Iwagakure to visit Roshi and told him that Uchiha Huayue threatened the village and the Ninja World.
• Ōnoki offered Roshi freedom to leave the Land of Earth after helping carry out the Konoha Crush Plan, and Roshi agreed for the sake of his village.
• Several months later, the Fourth Mizukage looked at the Anbu-guarded Utakata and slowly shook his head.

Akatsuki agreed to attack Konoha but gave Orochimaru three years to finish his experiment before he had to join them. As conspirators prepared across the Ninja World, Sarutobi Hiruzen considered whether he could trust Uchiha Huayue to help Konoha.

• Karatachi Yagura defended Kirigakure’s brutal methods to Utakata, then sent him back with the Anbu as a Ninja Hawk approached.
• Nagato announced that Akatsuki’s client wanted Konoha destroyed and ordered all members to participate.
• Orochimaru refused to join a near-term war, so Nagato gave him three years and threatened him with the organization’s pursuit if he failed to appear.
• Orochimaru secured the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Fields’ approval to establish a Ninja Village and continued plotting to claim powerful jutsu and eternal life.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen reviewed the list of threats facing Konoha and wondered whether he could trust Uchiha Huayue.

The graduating students received their team assignments, while Ino and Hinata both showed interest in Teacher Huayue and his friend Kurenai. Kakashi revealed himself as Team 7's instructor and took Naruto, Second Pillar, and Sakura to the Third Training Ground.

• Iruka assigned Naruto, Sakura, and Second Pillar to Team 7 and told them to wait for their Jonin Instructor.
• Ino and Hinata learned that Teacher Huayue was away, then scrutinized Kurenai after Naruto identified her as Huayue's close friend.
• Kurenai led Hinata, Shino, and Kiba away, while Ino left with Shikamaru and Choji after telling Sakura that Konoha's most handsome man was not Sasuke.
• Naruto spotted Kakashi's Shadow Clone hiding in the back room and used Wind Release: Typhoon Pass to expose it.
• Kakashi assessed Naruto, Second Pillar, and Sakura, then took them to the Third Training Ground as Team 7.

Kakashi tested Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura for their genin graduation, but Naruto and Sasuke challenged him before the test began. After their clones and coordinated attacks forced Kakashi to reveal his Sharingan, Naruto and Sasuke prepared to join forces.

• Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke introduced themselves, revealing Sakura’s crush, Naruto’s wish for peace, and Sasuke’s ambition to revive the Uchiha and kill Itachi.
• Naruto and Sasuke insisted on testing their strength against Kakashi, who set out two bells for three students and declared that anyone without a bell would return to the Ninja Academy.
• Naruto attacked Kakashi, and their exchange of blows ended with Shadow Clones and an Explosive Tag, while Sakura watched in shock.
• Sasuke used shuriken, smoke bombs, and steel wires to attack Kakashi, but Kakashi escaped with the Substitution Technique.
• Kakashi revealed his Sharingan and decided to end the test quickly, while Naruto assessed their chances and Sasuke launched a Great Fireball Technique.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura outsmarted Kakashi and passed Team 7’s bell test after Naruto defended his choice to protect his teammates. The Third Hokage watched the teams’ assessments and worried about the exceptional abilities in Gekko Hayate’s group.

• Naruto and Sasuke combined their attacks with Sakura’s help to trick Kakashi and take both bells.
• Sakura hesitated over who should keep a bell, but Sasuke refused one and urged her to give it to Naruto.
• Kakashi challenged Naruto over the danger of throwing Sakura at him, and Naruto revealed that Shadow Clones had been ready to rescue her.
• Naruto turned to leave rather than accept a bell, prompting Kakashi to declare Team 7 passed and order them to report for missions the next day.
• The Third Hokage watched the teams’ assessments and wondered why the person who raised the ninjas in Gekko Hayate’s group had produced such formidable abilities.

Karin and Haku passed the graduation exam, while Konoha's jonin instructors discussed the unusually strong students under their care. Elsewhere, Orochimaru's envoy Yakumi joined Danzo's organization, and Rasa approved a plan to have a monster welcomed into Konoha.

• Gekko Hayate announced that Karin and Haku had passed, then went to report their abilities to the Third Hokage.
• Karin, Haku, and Kotoko headed to the Uchiha Clan compound while worrying about Naruto and Sasuke.
• Kakashi and the other jonin instructors told Gekko Hayate that this year's students had impressed them with their strength and abilities.
• The Third Hokage addressed the instructors and praised Uchiha Huayue's contribution to Konoha's promising students.
• Yakumi delivered Orochimaru's letter to Danzo, accepted a Curse Mark, and joined his organization.
• Rasa approved Orochimaru's plan for Konoha to welcome the monster that would destroy it.

Sunagakure agreed to join Akatsuki’s plan to attack Konoha during the joint Chunin Exams, sending Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro as a team. Orochimaru prepared his reanimated Kage-level fighters and received the order to help destroy Konoha, while Itachi secretly sent a crow away.

• The Fourth Kazekage arranged for Sunagakure to blame Konoha and Akatsuki for the attack and ordered Temari and Kankuro to team with Gaara in the Chunin Exams.
• Gaara returned to Sunagakure, where patrol ninja restrained a man trying to attack him, and Baki warned the siblings that their mission involved facing Konoha.
• Temari recalled a black-clothed ninja but withheld her thoughts when Baki questioned her.
• Orochimaru disguised himself and inspected his six controlled Kage-level combatants, then received a message through the Ring of Sora.
• Orochimaru announced Akatsuki’s plan to erase Konoha during the joint Chunin Exams and instructed himself and Uchiha Itachi to share Konoha’s defense map.
• After the meeting, Uchiha Itachi released a crow into the sky.

Huayue returned to Konoha after more than a year away, reunited with Anko, and hinted that he had found a limitless source of wealth in Kaguya City. Meanwhile, Sunagakure’s team arrived for the Chunin Exams, with Baki warning Temari and Kankuro to restrain Gaara.

• Konoha’s patrol ninjas discussed the upcoming Chunin Exams as Huayue entered the village.
• Huayue returned to his residence, where Karin’s mother told him which jonin instructors had been assigned to the young ninja.
• Huayue trapped Anko in a water prison when she surprised him in the bathhouse, then used genjutsu to make her beg for mercy.
• Anko asked Huayue where he had been, and he claimed he had found an inexhaustible gold mine called Kaguya City.
• Baki brought Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara into Konoha for the Chunin Exams and warned Temari and Kankuro to keep Gaara from killing anyone.

Naruto protected Konohamaru from Kankuro and blocked Gaara’s attack during a confrontation with the Sunagakure shinobi in Konoha. After Naruto introduced himself, Sasuke appeared and asked whether they should kill the intruders, but Naruto told him not to cause trouble for their teacher.

• Konohamaru asked Naruto to teach him ninjutsu so he could defeat the Third Hokage and become Hokage, but Naruto told him to build his foundation first.
• Sakura joined Naruto, and Konohamaru insulted her appearance, prompting her to beat him.
• Konohamaru ran into Kankuro, who grabbed him and revealed that he was the Fourth Kazekage’s son; Naruto forced Kankuro to release him.
• Kankuro and Temari complained that Konoha had initiated a trial, while Naruto used Water Release: Water Mirror to block Gaara’s quicksand attack.
• Gaara introduced himself as Sand Waterfall Gaara and attacked Naruto, but Sasuke appeared beside him and asked Naruto whether they should kill the Sunagakure shinobi.

Naruto and Gaara clashed fists and entered an Inner world, where Naruto revealed that both of them were Jinchūriki with Tailed Beasts inside them. Gaara left shaken by the discovery that Naruto shared his loneliness, but resolved to kill him during the Chunin Exams.

• Sasuke identified Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro as Sunagakure ninja, and Temari admitted they had come for the Chunin Exams.
• Temari tried to lead Gaara away before his bloodlust could escalate, but Naruto challenged him to a fist bump.
• Naruto and Gaara's fists met, drawing blood and pulling them into an Inner world where Naruto explained that they were both Jinchūriki.
• Kurama and Shukaku recognized each other and argued while Naruto called Gaara his kindred and friend by birth.
• After the connection ended, Gaara reconsidered his loneliness and vowed to kill Naruto, whom he called Second Pillar, during the Chunin Exams.

Huayue warned Kakashi that Hanzō had supposedly been killed and that a danger from the past had returned, while Team 7 considered entering the Chunin Exams. The Third Hokage realized Orochimaru had returned and then spotted another former disciple arriving in Konoha.

• Huayue told Kakashi rumors claimed Hanzō had been killed and urged him to warn the Third Hokage, hinting that a mistake spared out of mercy had returned.
• Kakashi gave Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura Chunin Exams forms and warned them that the exam could be deadly and required all three teammates to agree.
• Naruto and Sasuke left Sakura to make her own choice, and Sakura complained after they departed.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen recognized that Orochimaru had returned and wondered who would inherit the Hokage position after him.
• Naruto saw a white-haired man get slapped after making an indecent request to a woman, then recognized him as the man arrived in Konoha.

Naruto challenged Jiraiya to demonstrate Sage Mode, and their fight escalated as Naruto unleashed powerful combinations of Shadow Clones, Rasengan, and elemental ninjutsu. Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta and began gathering Sage Chakra, while Naruto faced the toad and asked him to stay out of the way.

• Naruto met Jiraiya, mocked him as the Pervy Sage, and asked to see his Sage Mode.
• Naruto fought Jiraiya by using Rasengan, Shadow Clones, and the Spiral Two Thousand Barrage.
• Jiraiya countered Naruto's attacks with his Wild Lion's Mane Technique and Hair Needle Senbon.
• Naruto used a Wind and Water Combination Ninjutsu to send water tornadoes at Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, who helped him stop the tornadoes with Toad Oil Bullet.
• Jiraiya began gathering Sage Chakra, and Gamabunta attacked Naruto with Water Release: Gunshot.

Naruto challenged Jiraiya to a fight to learn about Sage Mode, then persuaded him to let him train at Mount Myōboku. After Naruto signed the summoning contract, Huayue secretly used his blood to carry a special Blut Vene substance.

• Naruto restrained Gamabunta with Blut Arterie and questioned Jiraiya about Sage Mode.
• Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku and Shima, then faced Naruto as Naruto combined Sage Mode with his Tailed Beast Cloak: Blut Vene.
• Naruto ended the fight and said he would seek training at Ryūchi Cave if Jiraiya would not teach him.
• Naruto explained that he wanted to grow strong so those who protected him could be proud, and Jiraiya offered him a chance to go to Mount Myōboku.
• Naruto signed the summoning scroll in blood while Huayue secretly placed a Blut Vene carrier solution in it.

Huayue entered Mount Myōboku and confronted the Great Toad Sage over their conflicting views on peace and prophecy. After asking the toads to train Naruto in Sage Art, Huayue gained the Sage (Toad) trait and wondered whether its ability to see past and future could perceive his soul system.

• Huayue wandered into Mount Myōboku and told a pink frog he had come to learn Sage Art.
• The Great Toad Sage summoned Huayue, who revealed his overwhelming power and called himself a god.
• Huayue argued that lasting peace required changing the ninja system through Scientific Ninja Tools, production, science, and education.
• The Great Toad Sage reaffirmed his belief that Naruto, the blue-eyed boy who played with the nine Tailed Beasts, would end hatred.
• Huayue asked the Great Toad Sage to have Fukasaku-sama and Shima-sama teach Naruto Sage Art, then gained the Sage (Toad) trait through his sign-in.

Naruto reached Mount Myōboku and mastered Sage Mode almost instantly, while Sasuke trained Chidori and sought greater power from Huayue. The chapter ended with Huayue preparing to help Sasuke awaken his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

• Huayue's Shadow Clone left Mount Myōboku, and the Great Toad Sage told Fukasaku and Shima to teach Naruto Sage Art directly.
• Naruto sensed Natural Energy and entered perfect Sage Mode, revealing that he had practiced sensing and meditation since he was five.
• Sasuke hit his limit after using Chidori six times and asked Kakashi whether the technique could be improved.
• Sasuke found Huayue and asked him to teach him how to develop Chidori further.
• Huayue told Sasuke that Naruto was training in Sage Art and offered him a chance to awaken his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.