Recaps

Naruto agreed to become Orochimaru’s student on the condition that he leave her companions unharmed, and Orochimaru gave her a scroll leading to his base. As Naruto’s group headed there, they found Pakkun, whom Naruto recognized as Kakashi’s Ninja Hound.

• Orochimaru offered to teach Naruto and reveal Ryūchi Cave if she became his student, then attacked Yakushi Nonō with snakes.
• Naruto stopped Orochimaru’s attack and agreed to study under him if he left the people around her alone.
• Orochimaru gave Naruto a scroll and vanished, while Naruto reassured Karin that she would protect her.
• Naruto comforted Yakushi Nonō, then asked Mikoto Uchiha to read the map in Orochimaru’s scroll.
• Karin detected a hidden dog on the way to Orochimaru’s base, and Naruto recognized him as Pakkun, sent by Kakashi.

Naruto traded one of Haruki Hyuga’s Byakugan to Kakashi for the Lightning Blade technique, keeping the other eye and giving the scroll to Mikoto Uchiha. Several nights later, Mikoto successfully formed Lightning Release chakra in her hand while practicing the technique.

• Kakashi found Naruto and asked for Haruki Hyuga’s Byakugan on behalf of the Hyuga clan.
• Naruto rejected Kakashi’s appeal to respect the Hokage and demanded Lightning Blade in exchange for one Byakugan.
• Kakashi gave Naruto a scroll containing Chidori, which he claimed was Lightning Blade, and Naruto handed it to Mikoto Uchiha.
• Naruto gave Kakashi one sealed Byakugan and kept the other, and Kakashi accepted the arrangement.
• Mikoto thanked Naruto with a kiss on the forehead, while Karin kissed Naruto’s cheek and teased Mikoto.
• After several nights of training, Mikoto gathered Lightning Release chakra in her palm and produced a crackling ball of lightning.

Naruto and his companions reached Orochimaru’s underground base after Mikoto learned Chidori and Kakashi delivered Haruki Hyuga’s eyes to the Third Hokage. Orochimaru greeted them, and Yakushi Nonō remained hostile while Naruto treated the meeting casually.

• Mikoto discovered that Kakashi had taught her Chidori, a weaker version of Lightning Cutter, and practiced the technique on the road.
• Kakashi gave the Third Hokage Haruki Hyuga’s eyes and claimed he had taken them from a Rogue Ninja whom he killed.
• Naruto, Mikoto, Yakushi Nonō, and Karin arrived at Orochimaru’s base, and Karin sensed no nearby ambushes.
• Naruto’s group descended into the base, where Orochimaru emerged and challenged Naruto for coming.
• Yakushi Nonō threw a kunai at Orochimaru, who caught it and insisted he had only been joking.

Naruto accepted Orochimaru as her teacher and agreed to wait until she was stronger before going to Ryūchi Cave. Orochimaru left her ninjutsu scrolls and departed on Akatsuki business, while Naruto chose to learn his Shadow Snake Hands.

• Naruto told Yakushi Nonō not to worry about Orochimaru, and Orochimaru recognized Karin as a member of the Uzumaki clan.
• Naruto reminded Orochimaru not to harm the people around her, then called him Teacher Orochimaru as they had agreed.
• Orochimaru said he would take Naruto to Ryūchi Cave once her own strength met his expectations.
• Orochimaru gave Naruto several ninjutsu scrolls and left to attend to other matters.
• Naruto asked to learn Shadow Snake Hands, and Orochimaru gave her the technique scroll and a snake summoning contract.
• Naruto chose a snake contract after the Nine-Tails reluctantly picked snakes over toads, then carried the scrolls inside to Karin and Mikoto Uchiha.

Naruto signed Orochimaru’s summoning contract and summoned Manda, who threatened to eat her companions. Naruto and the Nine-Tails beat him down, leaving Naruto demanding to know whom he planned to eat.

• Karin helped Naruto carry the summoning scrolls, and Naruto learned that a snake guarded them.
• Naruto signed her name and handprint on Orochimaru’s summoning contract.
• Naruto used the Summoning Jutsu and summoned Manda, who threatened to eat her companions.
• Naruto used Nine-Tails Chakra and Wind Release attacks to overwhelm Manda.
• Naruto lifted Manda by the head and asked whom he had said he wanted to eat.

Naruto forced Manda to submit during their battle, but the Nine-Tails Chakra scorched his arm and left him unconscious. After waking, Naruto began training Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, while Karin decided to become a medical ninja so she could help him.

• Naruto used the Nine-Tails Chakra to overpower Manda and nearly killed him before Manda begged for mercy and was sent back.
• Naruto collapsed from exhaustion, and Yakushi Nonō treated his burned arm while Mikoto Uchiha caught him.
• Karin resolved to become a medical ninja so she could support Naruto without relying on her clan's abilities.
• After sleeping for a day and a night, Naruto noticed the base residents treating him with unusual respect and went to train.
• Naruto inhaled too much air while attempting Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, and the Nine-Tails struck his stomach to force the wind out.

Naruto learned Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and continued training with Mikoto Uchiha, while Karin began studying Medical Ninjutsu under Yakushi Nonō. Their spar ended with Naruto asking the Nine-Tails for help after Mikoto caught her in a genjutsu.

• Naruto learned Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, and the Nine-Tails explained that her strong Wind Release foundation made the technique easy to master.
• Karin became Yakushi Nonō's student and passed a medical test by removing weapons from two injured fish and healing them.
• Over half a month, Naruto trained with Mikoto Uchiha and developed some resistance to her Sharingan genjutsu.
• Naruto and Mikoto clashed at the training ground, where Naruto used Great Breakthrough to strengthen and return Mikoto's Great Fireball Jutsu.
• Mikoto outmaneuvered Naruto with a clone and Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu, but Naruto later appeared with Shadow Snake Hands before Mikoto stopped her with genjutsu.
• Mikoto claimed victory and prepared to place a kunai at Naruto's neck, so Naruto asked the Nine-Tails to help her.

Karin tried to protect Naruto when ninja raided Orochimaru's base to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Naruto confronted the attackers but was caught in their sealing chains, leaving Karin shouting her name.

• After learning that Naruto had become a target, ninja from an unknown village raided Orochimaru's base and killed its inhabitants.
• Karin used her Mind's Eye of the Kagura to lead the attackers in circles while she stalled them.
• Naruto revealed herself after Karin and a child vanished as Shadow Clones, then asked the ninja what they wanted.
• The attackers threw scrolls that transformed into sealing chains, and Naruto tried to evade them while holding Karin.
• The chains bound Naruto, and she threw Karin to safety as Karin cried out her name.

Naruto escaped his restraints after a seal cut off his access to the Nine-Tails Chakra, summoning Manda to attack the pursuing ninjas. After Karin treated his wounds and he reassured her, Mikoto joined them and found him still in danger.

• Naruto resisted the sealing chains and summoned Manda after the seal blocked his connection to the Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Manda chased and swallowed the fleeing ninjas while Karin treated Naruto’s wounded arm.
• Naruto refused Karin’s offer to let him bite her, then reassured her that he did not hate her.
• Mikoto Uchiha leaped onto Manda’s back, saw Naruto’s chains and injuries, and became angry at the people who had hurt him.
• Naruto told Mikoto to rest and warned Manda not to let any ninjas escape.

Naruto learned that the attackers who came for her had died, and Orochimaru returned to investigate one of their corpses. He then tested Naruto’s progress, and her Wind Release attack caught him in an exploding gale.

• Mikoto Uchiha tried to read a captured ninja’s memories, but a jutsu on him activated and killed him in agony.
• Yakushi Nonō grieved for the children who had been killed, and Naruto told her the attackers had left no survivors.
• Orochimaru returned to the base, explained that identifying the dead ninja’s village would require a living sacrifice, and was stunned to learn Naruto had defeated Manda.
• Orochimaru took Naruto to the training ground and told her not to use the Nine-Tails’ power during their test.
• Naruto fired a Wind Release: Finger Gun at Orochimaru, then made the projectile explode into a violent gale that engulfed him.

Naruto fought Orochimaru, discovered his female body, and learned that Orochimaru planned to train her before taking her to Ryūchi Cave. In Konohagakure, Hinata Hyuga recalled Naruto’s advice, used her Byakugan to frighten off two bullies, and realized that becoming stronger could keep her from being bullied.

• Naruto used clones and a ladybug disguise to catch Orochimaru off guard with a close-range Wind Release attack.
• Naruto saw Orochimaru’s chest bindings, teased him by calling him “Auntie,” and was caught and restrained by his snakes.
• Orochimaru praised Naruto’s progress but said her strength was insufficient for Ryūchi Cave and promised to train her.
• Hinata Hyuga bumped into two boys, who insulted her Byakugan and blocked her path.
• Hinata Hyuga activated her Byakugan, made the boys collapse in pain, and watched them flee in fear.
• Hinata Hyuga recalled Naruto’s advice to become stronger and felt satisfied after standing up to the bullies.

Hinata Hyuga began training fiercely after deciding she needed strength to avoid being bullied, while Naruto dealt with attacks on Orochimaru’s base and intervened when Mikoto Uchiha’s dangerous attempt to modify Chidori nearly exploded. Orochimaru planned to move bases, and Naruto considered trading information about the Byakugan for intelligence on Akatsuki.

• Hinata Hyuga trained late into the night, and Hyuga Hiashi discovered her resolve to become stronger because someone important had advised her to avoid being bullied.
• Naruto fought off ninja who had found Orochimaru’s base, then confronted Orochimaru for letting the attacks interrupt his training.
• Orochimaru said someone had deliberately revealed Naruto’s location and told him to pack because they would move to a new base the next day.
• Naruto considered asking Orochimaru for information about Akatsuki in exchange for the Byakugan.
• Mikoto Uchiha tried to reshape Chidori into a lightning shuriken, but Naruto knocked it away with a chakra tail before it exploded and injured her hand.

Naruto comforted Mikoto Uchiha after she injured herself practicing Chidori, then confessed to Nine-Tails that he came from another world where their lives were depicted in a manga. Nine-Tails struggled to process the truth, and Naruto nearly freed it before they reconciled.

• Mikoto Uchiha promised Naruto she would be more careful after he healed her burned palm with Nine-Tails' Chakra.
• Naruto decided to tell Nine-Tails the truth about his origins and explained that their world was a manga in his former world.
• Naruto tore a corner off the seal talisman, but Nine-Tails bound him with Chakra and pulled him back into the prison.
• Naruto cried and accused Nine-Tails of not believing him, while Nine-Tails explained it needed time to process his confession.
• Naruto and Nine-Tails argued playfully, and Naruto finally forgave Nine-Tails after it apologized.

Naruto followed Orochimaru to a new base and met his loyal subordinates, the future Sound Four. After provoking them, she challenged all four to fight her at once, and they headed to the training ground.

• Naruto arrived at Orochimaru's base with Karin, Mikoto Uchiha, and Yakushi Nonō, where Orochimaru introduced them to Sakon, Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Jirobo.
• Kidomaru provoked Naruto, and she warned him that she would tear off his extra arms if he kept staring at her.
• Naruto challenged the Sound Four to fight her together, saying they could use their Curse Mark powers and that she would not kill them.
• Naruto told Orochimaru she would not use the Nine-Tails' help, and the Nine-Tails agreed to watch as she fought.
• Tayuya urged the others to teach Naruto a lesson, Sakon and Ukon accepted the challenge, and she told Jirobo to give it his all.

Naruto fought the Four Heavenly Kings, using clones and Wind Release to overwhelm them. She defeated Jirobo and Tayuya, but Sakon and Kidomaru activated their Curse Marks and continued the fight.

• Naruto created four clones and bombarded the Four Heavenly Kings with Wind Release attacks.
• Jirobo protected his allies with an Earth Release barrier, then fell to Naruto’s barrage after the others escaped.
• Tayuya trapped Naruto with genjutsu, but the attacks from Sakon and Kidomaru only dispersed Naruto’s clones.
• Naruto revealed she had disguised herself as a ladybug, then knocked out Tayuya with a punch.
• Sakon and Kidomaru activated their Curse Marks, and Naruto dodged their attacks before piercing Sakon’s shoulder with a spinning bullet.

Naruto defeated Sakon and Kidomaru, but Ukon’s attempt to possess him enraged the Nine-Tails and spoiled Naruto’s perfect victory. He then used hundreds of Shadow Clones to train until exhaustion left him unconscious for two days, and he woke with Mikoto Uchiha at his side.

• Naruto sent Sakon crashing into Kidomaru and the Nine-Tails forced Ukon out of Naruto’s body.
• Orochimaru called the fight a draw and sent the unconscious Ukon and the others for treatment.
• Naruto complained to the Nine-Tails about Ukon ruining his victory, then resumed training harder after the Four Heavenly Kings began treating him with respect.
• Naruto created hundreds of Shadow Clones to practice his ninjutsu until their accumulated fatigue overwhelmed him.
• Mikoto Uchiha carried the unconscious Naruto to Nonō, and Karin accidentally killed the fish she had been trying to save.
• Naruto woke two days later, and Mikoto Uchiha asked how he was feeling.

Naruto woke after collapsing from overtraining, and Mikoto Uchiha and Karin cared for her as she recovered. She fell asleep again before hearing about Karin’s training, while Yakushi Nonō returned from treating Orochimaru’s battered test subjects.

• Yakushi Nonō determined that Naruto had lost consciousness from exhaustion after pushing herself too hard in training.
• Naruto woke after two days and two nights, and Mikoto Uchiha helped her drink water while the Nine-Tails teased her.
• Karin rushed to Naruto’s bedside and accidentally made her choke, then excitedly described her Medical Ninjutsu training before Naruto fell asleep again.
• Mikoto Uchiha comforted Karin and said Naruto was only tired, while Yakushi Nonō arrived with blood on her lab coat after treating Orochimaru’s test subjects.

Naruto trained with Shadow Clones until his body reached its limit, then continued sparring with Tayuya and the Four Heavenly Kings at the base. He defeated Tayuya and later demonstrated Orochimaru’s Shadow Snake Hands against Kidomaru.

• Naruto trained with fewer Shadow Clones and stopped when Mikoto Uchiha came to collect him, exhausted but still conscious.
• Naruto defeated Tayuya with Wind Release: Flower Scattering Dance and advised her that long-range ninjutsu was her weakness.
• Karin praised Naruto and teased Tayuya, while Naruto told Karin not to provoke their new neighbor.
• The Four Heavenly Kings continued challenging Naruto as their strength grew from training against him.
• Naruto bound Kidomaru with Shadow Snake Hands and explained that he could use Orochimaru’s signature technique as his disciple.

Naruto defeated the Four Heavenly Kings, then reunited with Orochimaru, who gave her a Kusanagi Sword and promised to take her to Ryūchi Cave in spring. The Nine-Tails suggested killing Orochimaru as winter fatigue left him unusually lethargic.

• Naruto disrupted Tayuya’s flute genjutsu, escaped Jirobo’s boulder by transforming underground, and bound the Four Heavenly Kings with snakes.
• Naruto met Orochimaru in the winter and demanded the Kusanagi Sword he had promised her.
• Naruto tested the sword by unleashing a powerful whirlwind that tore through obstacles.
• Orochimaru said he would take Naruto to Ryūchi Cave in spring, and the Nine-Tails suggested killing him.

Naruto rejected the Nine-Tails’ suggestion to kill Orochimaru, then lent Mikoto Uchiha the sword he had given her and escaped changing clothes to build a snowman with Karin. At the Uba Ninja Village, Shisui Uchiha drove off an Iwagakure squad searching for Kiryū Kawa by trapping them in genjutsu and altering their memories.

• Naruto told the Nine-Tails she would not kill Orochimaru because he had treated her as his student and had not harmed her.
• Naruto struggled to walk with the Kusanagi Sword, then offered it to Mikoto Uchiha to use for now.
• Mikoto Uchiha reassured Naruto about her height and showed her a wardrobe full of the clothes she had made for her.
• Naruto ran outside with Karin to build a snowman rather than change her dirty clothes.
• Fugaku Uchiha learned that Iwagakure ninjas were approaching the village to find the rogue ninja Kiryū Kawa.
• Shisui Uchiha incapacitated the Iwagakure squad and altered their memories, then Fugaku asked whether he had handled the situation.

Takao Uchiha disappeared after leaving a letter that named Shisui Uchiha the first Feather Kage of Uba Village, while Itachi Uchiha resolved to protect Sasuke Uchiha and the village. In Konohagakure, Hinata Hyuga struggled with guilt during a spar with Neji Hyuga, and Naruto Uzumaki turned a snowball fight into a humiliating spectacle; meanwhile, Takao encountered bandits in the snow.

• Takao Uchiha vanished after leaving a sealed letter, and Uba Village named Shisui Uchiha its first Feather Kage.
• Itachi Uchiha concealed the letter's contents from Sasuke Uchiha and vowed to protect him and Uba Village.
• Hinata Hyuga sparred with Neji Hyuga but held back because she felt guilty about the Hyuga Clan's treatment of the Branch Family.
• Naruto Uzumaki used Shadow Clone Jutsu to bury Kidomaru and Tayuya in snow sculptures after they hit her with a snowball.
• Takao Uchiha exposed a group of bandits hiding behind trees, and they demanded that he hand over his money.

Takao Uchiha defeated a Rain Rogue Ninja who threatened a group of bandits, while Zetsu noticed his identity. Meanwhile, Naruto accepted a test from Orochimaru, and Shisui Uchiha learned that Itachi had gone to help Sasuke after an Iwagakure attack.

• Takao Uchiha used genjutsu to control the bandits, killed the Rain Rogue Ninja, and let the bandits leave with the body.
• Zetsu observed Takao Uchiha and remarked that Tobi would be interested in his eyes.
• Takao Uchiha fed a crow and said he would give up everything to see his wife alive.
• Naruto agreed to kill his target without using the Nine-Tails' power in exchange for a trip to Ryūchi Cave, and stopped Karin from following him.
• Hachime told Shisui Uchiha that Sasuke's caravan had been attacked by Iwagakure ninja and that Itachi had already gone to support him.
• Shisui Uchiha tried to persuade Hachime to help with his documents, but Hachime made an excuse and left.

Sasuke Uchiha and Snow fought off Rock Ninja during a mission until Itachi Uchiha arrived and rescued them. After the escort ended, Sasuke suspected the attackers had been targeting him rather than the merchant, leaving Itachi wondering what the ninja wanted.

• Sasuke Uchiha and Snow battled three Rock Ninja, but the enemies trapped Sasuke in a Yellow Springs Swamp and knocked Snow down.
• Itachi Uchiha arrived, killed the Rock Ninja, and pulled Sasuke from the swamp; Snow recovered after Sasuke accidentally returned its expelled soul.
• Itachi Uchiha questioned the frightened merchant about the Rock Ninja, and Sasuke defended her, saying she was not a bad person.
• Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha encountered more disguised ninja on the way to the Land of Rivers, then completed the escort mission and left the merchant with her seasonings.
• As Itachi Uchiha carried Sasuke back toward Uba Village, Sasuke said the attackers seemed to have been after him rather than the merchant.

Several ninja villages prepared to attack Uba Village under the pretext of revenge, while Naruto hunted a bounty target in the Land of Rivers and narrowly missed Zetsu. As Uba’s villagers evacuated, Shisui awakened his Susanoo and vowed to defend the village; Naruto learned Zetsu had found her and decided to flee before the Akatsuki arrived.

• The ninja villages used the returned bodies as an excuse to target Uba Village and seize the Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan, and the Third Hokage approved Konohagakure’s involvement.
• Zetsu learned that Naruto was in the Land of Rivers and ordered the Akatsuki to gather there.
• Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ scouting eye to find and kill a bounty target, then waited out a blizzard in a cave.
• The Nine-Tails sensed Zetsu beneath the cave, and Zetsu left after confirming Naruto’s location and informing Pain.
• Uba Village evacuated its residents through a mountain passage, and Shisui activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and formed an initial Susanoo to protect the village.
• Naruto woke, learned Zetsu had been nearby, and decided to leave before the Akatsuki reached her.

Naruto encountered Pain and the Akatsuki, who invited her to join their organization. After a fight with Deva Path Pain, Naruto showed that her Nine-Tails-powered attacks could overwhelm the group, but she caught the falling members instead of letting them crash.

• Naruto met Pain, Konan, Hidan, Kakuzu, and Sasori outside the cave and pretended not to recognize them.
• Konan invited Naruto to join the Akatsuki, while Hidan tried to recruit her into the Jashin religion and Kakuzu silenced him.
• When Sasori threatened her, Naruto and the Nine-Tails decided to fight so she could learn about the other Tailed Beasts.
• Pain used his Rinnegan powers to pull Naruto in and repel her, but she retaliated with Shadow Clones and Wind Release attacks that sent the Akatsuki flying.
• Naruto caught Hidan, Kakuzu, and Sasori in Hiruko with her Nine-Tails Chakra tails as they fell from the sky.