Recaps

Naruto joined Akatsuki after Pain recruited her and received her uniform. Pain sent her and Konan to resolve the coming conflict at Crow Mountain, where several villages planned to attack Uba Village, an Uchiha settlement.

• Pain invited Naruto to join Akatsuki, and she questioned his promise of peace before accepting.
• Naruto demanded an Akatsuki uniform, which Konan provided, and Konan was delighted when Naruto called her big sister.
• Zetsu reported that ninjas from the Wood, Sand, and Rock villages would attack Uba Village in two days after the fog over Crow Mountain dispersed.
• Pain assigned Naruto and Konan to resolve the conflict at Crow Mountain, and Konan carried the protesting Naruto away.
• Hidan prayed for Naruto while Kakuzu mocked his faith, and Hidan and Sasori nearly fought until Pain stopped them.

Naruto traveled with Konan toward Crow Mountain to stop the war and tried to make the journey more comfortable. Meanwhile, Obito Uchiha attacked Takao Uchiha for his Mangekyō Sharingan, but Takao defended himself with Susanoo.

• Naruto asked Konan to fly lower because she was cold, and Konan changed their course to low altitude.
• Konan combed Naruto’s hair and tied it into twin tails, which Naruto accepted despite her private misgivings.
• Obito Uchiha, posing as Madara Uchiha, attacked Takao Uchiha and demanded his eyes.
• Obito’s Wood Style: Wood Spikes snapped against the gray bones of Takao’s Susanoo.

Fugaku Uchiha used his Susanoo to fight Obito Uchiha, then transferred his Mangekyō Sharingan power to Mikoto Uchiha before dying. Mikoto sealed his body and learned from Orochimaru that several ninja villages had surrounded Uba Village to seize its Sharingan.

• Fugaku Uchiha and Takao Uchiha fought Obito Uchiha with the Lightning Fire Fan, but Obito reflected Takao's Lightning Fire Orb with Uchiha Reflection.
• Takao Uchiha blocked the reflected attack with the Lightning Fire Fan and struck Obito with Yasakani no Magatama, destroying Obito's Kamui-space supply cache before Obito escaped.
• Mikoto Uchiha found the dying Fugaku Uchiha, who transferred all his dojutsu power into her eyes and died before he could tell her he loved her.
• Mikoto Uchiha sealed Fugaku Uchiha's body and discovered that her Sharingan had changed and could no longer be deactivated.
• Orochimaru told Mikoto Uchiha that ninja forces from several villages had surrounded Uba Village to obtain the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.

Mikoto Uchiha left for Uba Village, expecting not to return, while Naruto and Konan traveled there to stop the fighting over the Sharingan. After reaching the village, they claimed to be mercenaries and sought an audience with the Feather Kage.

• Mikoto Uchiha refused Karin's offer to accompany her and departed for Uba Village, leaving Yakushi Nonō and Karin with a warning not to wait for her.
• Naruto and Konan rested overnight in a paper shelter as rival villages prepared to seize the Sharingan from Uba Village.
• Representatives from Rock Ninja, sand ninja, and Konohagakure argued over how to divide the Sharingan before their forces had even attacked.
• Konan and Naruto flew toward Uba Village, and Naruto transformed into C.C to conceal his identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Konan restrained a Uba Village ninja and said she and C.C were mercenaries there to help; the ninja agreed to take them to the Feather Kage.

C.C. and Konan agreed to help Shisui Uchiha defend Uba Village for 120 million ryo as the allied forces of Konohagakure, Iwagakure, and the Sand Village launched their attack. As Uba Village’s defenses faltered, Itachi Uchiha appeared among the crows while Mikoto Uchiha fought her way toward the village.

• C.C. was shocked to find Shisui Uchiha serving as Feather Kage, and Konan offered their mercenary services for 120 million ryo.
• Shisui Uchiha accepted the price, and C.C. took 30 million ryo as her share before Konan prepared to act.
• The coalition entered Crow Mountain, and Mikoto Uchiha fought off pursuers while trying to reach Uba Village.
• Sasuke Uchiha secretly left the shelter as the coalition used Earth and Water Style attacks to destroy buildings, flood the village, and expose its defenders.
• The Sand Ninja captured paralyzed Uba Village ninjas, and Itachi Uchiha formed his body from a flock of crows beside the Water Release ninjas.

C.C and Konan fought the ninja attacking Uba Village while Mikoto Uchiha used her Arrow of Thunder to defeat her pursuers. Mikoto was left badly wounded, but Jiraiya arrived before her surviving attacker could kill her.

• Itachi Uchiha discovered the attacking Water Style ninja and joined the fight as Konan and C.C's thousand shadow clones battled the invaders.
• Konan restrained the enemy ninja instead of killing them while C.C headed toward Mikoto Uchiha and used Wind Style: Rasengan to bore through Uba Village's enclosing rock wall.
• Mikoto Uchiha used Arrow of Thunder to strike down the three ninja pursuing her, but the effort left her unable to move.
• The last surviving pursuer stabbed Mikoto in the chest and prepared to kill her, but Jiraiya struck him away and recognized Mikoto.

C.C. rescued the wounded Mikoto Uchiha as Shisui Uchiha used Susanoo to break the flood barrier and defeat the attackers at Uba Village. Jiraiya stopped the fighting, while Konohagakure’s advisors confronted the Third Hokage over his appearance at Crow Mountain.

• Jiraiya told Mikoto Uchiha he had come to stop the attack, and C.C. took the wounded woman into her care.
• Shisui Uchiha ordered Hachime to treat the injured and capture the invaders, then used Susanoo to destroy the rock wall and release Uba Village from the flood.
• Konan bound the enemy ninja with paper, and Jiraiya arrived on a giant toad and ordered everyone to stop fighting.
• Shisui Uchiha told Jiraiya that he was now Uba Village’s Feather Kage and said the attackers wanted the Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan.
• Koharu Utatane and Mitokado Homura blamed Jiraiya’s intervention on the Third Hokage, who denied sending him and recognized that Konohagakure’s leaders wanted him to take responsibility.

After Uba Village survived the attack, its people mourned their dead and began rebuilding while Uchiha Shisui took on the burden of strengthening the village. Later, Sasuke Uchiha was drawn into a stream of paid missions, and Naruto and Konan returned to Akatsuki’s base, where they encountered its members.

• Konohagakure compensated Sunagakure and Iwagakure after their joint attack on Uba Village failed, while Shisui resolved to train the village’s ninja and oversee its reconstruction.
• At Uba Village’s memorial service, Sasuke Uchiha awakened his Three Tomoe Sharingan, and Mikoto Uchiha asked Shisui to take care of him.
• Mikoto joined the rebuilding effort, while C.C and Konan helped before leaving Uba Village with Naruto.
• Shisui arranged easy missions for Sasuke, whose gloomy reputation attracted noblewomen and earned Uba Village a steady income.
• Naruto and Konan returned to Akatsuki’s base with the ninety-million-ryo commission fee, where Kakuzu took the money and Ah greeted Naruto as a new member.

Naruto joined the Akatsuki after being invited by Deva Path Pain, though she concealed her true reasons from Orochimaru. On the way back from Amegakure, Orochimaru offered to carry her, leaving the Four Heavenly Kings stunned by his lack of dignity.

• Naruto met the Akatsuki members and privately recognized Obito Uchiha as the enemy she blamed for her parents’ deaths.
• Orochimaru arrived, and Naruto teased him about his female body and credited his test with leading her to the Akatsuki.
• Deva Path Pain introduced Naruto to the organization and discussed its plan to accumulate money.
• Orochimaru questioned Naruto about joining, and she claimed she had been unable to defeat the BOSS.
• Orochimaru offered to carry Naruto, and she climbed onto his back as they returned to the base.
• The Four Heavenly Kings saw Orochimaru carrying Naruto and suspected they were witnessing an enemy disguise or genjutsu.

Naruto returned to Orochimaru’s base, reunited with Karin and Yakushi Nonō, and learned that Nonō had been exhausting herself treating patients who insulted her. The chapter ended with Naruto questioning why Nonō kept helping them.

• The Four Heavenly Kings mistook Orochimaru for an impostor until he threatened them, then recognized him and let him pass with Naruto.
• Karin reunited with Naruto and worried that Naruto would leave her; Naruto promised she would only be away when she had something to do.
• Karin followed Naruto into the bathroom and helped wash her, and Naruto later noticed how much she missed Mikoto Uchiha.
• Yakushi Nonō welcomed Naruto back, and Naruto reassured her that Mikoto and Uba Village were safe.
• Karin told Naruto that Nonō had been treating patients nonstop despite their calling her Orochimaru’s lackey, and Naruto asked why Nonō still treated them.

Naruto considered how to face Akatsuki while training at Orochimaru’s base, as Danzo and the Third Hokage fought over the fallout from Naruto’s identity being revealed. The chapter left Naruto restraining Zetsu as he emerged from the ground.

• Naruto kissed the worried Yakushi Nonō and encouraged her to sleep after she fretted over Orochimaru’s test subjects.
• Asuma Sarutobi learned that Naruto Uzumaki was the Fourth Hokage’s daughter and suspected someone had leaked the secret to damage Sarutobi’s reputation.
• Danzo revealed that he had survived Naruto’s attack and confronted Sarutobi, declaring that he was unfit to remain Hokage.
• Sarutobi redirected public anger toward Danzo by exposing how Danzo had driven Naruto from the village, leaving Danzo disgraced and still pretending to be dead.
• Black Zetsu watched Naruto’s reputation improve and decided to reveal that Danzo was alive.
• Naruto restrained Zetsu with Shadow Snake Hands when he surfaced at Orochimaru’s base.

Naruto learned from Zetsu that Danzo had survived using Izanagi, but she recognized Zetsu was trying to manipulate her into returning to Konohagakure. After Zetsu left, Naruto told Orochimaru she planned to kill Danzo and showed no attachment to Konohagakure.

• Black Zetsu told Naruto that Danzo was alive, and Naruto realized he wanted her to return to Konohagakure and kill him.
• Naruto pretended to suspect Zetsu of being a Konohagakure spy, threatened him with a Rasengan, and pressured him to explain how Danzo had survived.
• Black Zetsu explained that Danzo had used Izanagi, and Naruto acted eager to slaughter him before White Zetsu's warning gave her an excuse to reconsider.
• After Zetsu left, Orochimaru came to check on Naruto, and she told him she would find a chance to go to Konohagakure and kill Danzo.
• Orochimaru asked whether Naruto would stop him from destroying Konohagakure, and Naruto said she would applaud and might help.

Naruto traveled with Orochimaru to Ryūchi Cave to learn senjutsu, but Orochimaru left her to face its trials alone. She reached the cave and met Tagohime, who lured her toward suspicious food, leaving Naruto about to take a sip.

• Orochimaru left Naruto bound after she questioned his claims, and Naruto realized he had begun planning to destroy Konohagakure.
• After winter ended, Orochimaru guided Naruto toward Ryūchi Cave and vanished when they reached its misty outskirts.
• Naruto walked through the mist with Nine-Tails's help and found the hall of Ryūchi Cave, where Tagohime greeted her.
• Tagohime invited Naruto inside and offered her a feast, while Nine-Tails warned that the food was dangerous.
• Naruto raised a bowl of soup to drink, and Nine-Tails controlled the eyeball to strike her wrist.

Naruto passed Tagohime’s and Ichikishimahime’s trials in Ryūchi Cave by resisting poisoned food and smashing through a stone door with a Rasenshuriken. After resting, she was ambushed by Tagitsuhime and countered with a suplex, leaving the third trial underway.

• Nine-Tails warned Naruto that Tagohime’s food was dangerous, and Naruto exposed Tagohime by dropping the offered bun and striking her with a Rasengan.
• Tagohime confirmed that Naruto had passed her trial but said two more trials stood between her and the White Snake Sage.
• Ichikishimahime lured Naruto into a cave and set her a stone-door puzzle, but Naruto destroyed the door with a Wind Style: Rasenshuriken and passed.
• Naruto ate from her stored provisions while waiting, then Nine-Tails warned her about Tagitsuhime’s attack from behind.
• Naruto stopped Tagitsuhime with a Gale Palm, punched her, and slammed her headfirst into the ground with a suplex as Tagohime and Ichikishimahime watched.

Naruto passed Tagitsuhime’s test at Ryūchi Cave and met the White Snake Sage, but the Sage said the Nine-Tails inside her prevented the usual method of learning Sage Mode. Naruto erupted in anger before the White Snake Sage revealed another way that depended on the three Snake Princesses, leaving Naruto to seek their help.

• Naruto sensed Tagitsuhime approaching, passed her test, and entered the White Snake Sage’s temple.
• Naruto asked the White Snake Sage to teach her Sage Mode, but the Sage’s attempt to bite her was stopped by the Nine-Tails’ Chakra.
• The White Snake Sage told Naruto that she could not learn Sage Mode through the usual method because she already had the Nine-Tails inside her.
• Naruto threatened to destroy Ryūchi Cave, and her Nine-Tails Chakra frightened Manda and alarmed Tagohime and Ichikishimahime.
• The White Snake Sage offered another way to cultivate Sage Mode if Naruto could persuade Tagohime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime to help her.
• Naruto calmed down and accepted the White Snake Sage’s offer, while the Great Toad Sage dreamed of the future at Mount Myōboku.

Naruto underwent the Snake Princesses’ venom trial as the White Snake Sage’s method for learning Sage Mode, enduring hours of agony while the Nine-Tails feared for her life. The White Snake Sage drove the Nine-Tails from Naruto’s inner world, and Naruto continued suffering through the trial as the chapter ended.

• The Great Toad Sage delivered a prophecy about a golden-haired, blue-eyed girl bringing destruction and rebirth before falling asleep again.
• Naruto asked Tagohime to help her train in Sage Mode, and Tagohime bit her and injected venom as a test.
• Naruto endured the venom’s freezing, itching, and burning effects while Tagohime and the other Snake Princesses watched and debated whether she would survive.
• After twelve hours, Naruto began suffering another wave of extreme pain, and the Nine-Tails prepared to break through her weakened seal.
• The White Snake Sage confronted the Nine-Tails, but it rejected her claims about Naruto and forced her consciousness clone out of its inner world.
• Naruto shoved Tagohime away, battered her fists against the stone floor, and curled up in a blood-filled pit to endure the trial.

Naruto survived the Snake Princesses’ venom and shed her skin, emerging stronger with vastly increased Chakra. After arguing with Ichikishimahime, she agreed to rest before beginning Sage Mode training the next day.

• Naruto survived the venom with Nine-Tails’ help and emerged from her shed skin with tougher skin, greater strength, and roughly twice her former Chakra.
• Naruto joked about settling the score with Tagohime for biting her, then traded insults with Ichikishimahime until Tagohime and Tagitsuhime stopped their argument.
• Tagohime offered Naruto food and rest before Sage Mode training began the following day.
• Naruto ate snake soup made from Ichikishimahime’s tail, while Ichikishimahime looked exhausted.

Naruto trained in Sage Mode at Ryūchi Cave while Orochimaru fused genes from Jugo, Kimimaro, Naruto, and the Byakugan to create a potential perfect body. The chapter ended with Naruto hearing that Garaga had returned to challenge her again.

• Naruto ate Tagohime's snake soup and praised it as delicious.
• Naruto trained in Ryūchi Cave with the snake princesses' help, while Orochimaru began studying the Byakugan she had given him.
• Orochimaru combined the four sets of genes in an experiment, and the genes fused into a new type after an accidental overpour of Byakugan genes.
• Orochimaru used Jugo's Curse Mark power to grow a tiny lump of flesh from the fused genes, then told the Kazekage's messenger he would visit Sunagakure.
• Tagohime told Naruto that Garaga had come to challenge her again, and Naruto asked her to suggest they fight another day.

Naruto continued training in Ryūchi Cave while repeatedly fighting Garaga, who refused to give up until he could defeat her. Meanwhile, Obito arranged for Orochimaru and Tobi to handle a mission in the Land of Tea, and the chapter ended with Tobi warning Orochimaru to watch out.

• Naruto learned that Garaga had turned against humans after the human he trusted blinded him, then beat Garaga while confronting him about his resentment.
• After a month of training, Naruto hid in Manda's nest to escape Garaga, but Garaga found her and fought Manda before Naruto defeated him again.
• Garaga said he would keep pursuing Naruto until he could beat her, then asked whether she needed a subordinate; Naruto was preparing to leave Ryūchi Cave soon.
• Nagato assigned Orochimaru and Tobi to settle a conflict between two cities in the Land of Tea after Kakuzu refused the low-paying mission.
• Obito used Tobi's irritating behavior to provoke Orochimaru during their journey, then warned him to watch out.

Obito Uchiha manipulated Orochimaru into appearing to betray the Akatsuki Organization by targeting Pain’s Rinnegan, then joined the others in hunting him down. Orochimaru escaped their first attack and continued fighting Pain, but Almighty Push sent him flying again.

• Obito Uchiha grew frustrated when Orochimaru ignored his provocations and decided to make him a traitor to prevent him from interfering with his plans for Naruto Uzumaki.
• Obito Uchiha used his Mangekyō Sharingan to control Orochimaru and made him attempt to seize Pain’s Rinnegan, prompting Pain to attack him.
• Orochimaru escaped Pain’s attack with a Substitution Technique, and Obito Uchiha pointed the Akatsuki members toward his route of escape.
• Pain pursued Orochimaru and pierced him with black rods, but Orochimaru shed his body, emerged from his mouth, and attacked with a Grass Sword.
• Pain used Almighty Push to repel Orochimaru and send him flying again.

Orochimaru summoned the Third Kazekage with Impure World Reincarnation to fight the Akatsuki, but the Kazekage broke free and Orochimaru summoned Manda to escape. Naruto arrived with Manda, learned why Orochimaru had betrayed the organization, and chose to help him by summoning the Snake Princesses.

• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to control the Third Kazekage, whose iron sand attacks wounded Hidan and forced the Akatsuki to fight back.
• Deva Path Pain smashed the Third Kazekage apart, but the Kazekage freed his soul from Orochimaru's control and vanished; Orochimaru summoned Manda to cover his escape.
• Naruto rode inside Manda and appeared beside Orochimaru, then asked Konan why the Akatsuki were fighting him.
• Konan told Naruto that Orochimaru had tried to take Pain's eyes, and Naruto explained that the eyes on Yahiko's body were only projections.
• Naruto refused Orochimaru's request to stay out of the conflict and summoned Tagohime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime to help her enter Sage Mode.

Naruto and Orochimaru fought the Akatsuki members, with Naruto using Sage Mode and her new Sage Art to attack Deva Path Pain and Konan. As the battle escalated, Kakuzu released his Earth Grudge Fear monsters while Deva Path Pain launched a black rod at Naruto.

• Naruto sent Manda away and told Deva Path Pain she would protect Orochimaru because he was her teacher.
• Pain pulled Naruto in with Banshō Ten'in and blasted her away, while Orochimaru defended himself against Kakuzu, Konan, and Hidan.
• Naruto used Sage Art: Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere against Pain, then animated the ground with Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation to attack Pain and Konan.
• Naruto dismissed the bizarre mud figures and raised earthen spikes as Hidan escaped the snakes, noticed his pendant was missing, and charged back into the swarm.
• Kakuzu removed his cloak and released four Earth Grudge Fear monsters, while Pain fired a black rod at Naruto.

Naruto and Orochimaru fought Akatsuki, with Naruto trying to keep Orochimaru alive while battling Deva Path Pain and Konan. After Hidan and Kakuzu overwhelmed Orochimaru, Naruto extinguished the battlefield’s flames and prepared to hold off Akatsuki while Orochimaru escaped, with the Nine-Tails lending him a Tailed Beast Cloak.

• Naruto used Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation against Deva Path Pain, while Konan’s explosive paper rain drove her underground to survive the blast.
• Orochimaru fought Kakuzu and Hidan, but Kakuzu’s attacks and Hidan’s Cursed Jutsu: Blood Death Possession left him badly injured.
• Hidan’s combined fire and wind attack spread into a vast sea of flames, forcing Obito Uchiha to flee and Naruto to abandon her fight to search for Orochimaru.
• Naruto extinguished the flames with Sage Art: Great Breakthrough, found Orochimaru alive, and knocked the charred Hidan toward Kakuzu.
• Naruto gave Orochimaru senjutsu Chakra and asked the Nine-Tails to help him escape; the Nine-Tails reluctantly gave him a Tailed Beast Cloak as Naruto prepared to hold Akatsuki back.

Naruto protected Orochimaru’s escape and fought the Akatsuki, defeating Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear monsters and sending Hidan’s head flying. She let Kakuzu recover Hidan while staying wary of Obito and Zetsu, whose presence threatened to complicate the battle.

• Naruto healed Orochimaru, held off Konan and the others with shadow clones, and told Orochimaru to flee.
• Naruto struck Obito with a Sage Art Rasengan and clashed with Deva Path Pain, whose Almighty Push could not fully repel her Nine-Tails Orb.
• Naruto and the Nine-Tails destroyed Kakuzu’s three flying Earth Grudge Fear monsters with senjutsu-infused Rasengan attacks.
• Naruto caught Hidan’s scythe, punched his head off, and stomped his body into the ground; Kakuzu caught the head and stitched it onto his body.
• After Kakuzu regained his last heart, Naruto tossed Hidan’s body to him and remained alert to Obito and Zetsu nearby.

Naruto defeated Kakuzu and Hidan, then left the Land of Rain to find Orochimaru while keeping Obito Uchiha’s true identity secret. In the Land of Grass, she encountered Jiraiya, who asked her to speak somewhere more private.

• Kakuzu recovered his remaining heart, and Naruto returned Hidan’s body to him instead of finishing them off.
• Naruto left Obito Uchiha and Zetsu alone, then thanked the Snake Princesses and returned them to Ryūchi Cave.
• Tagohime kissed Naruto, and Naruto summoned her back to return the kiss before sending her home again.
• Naruto followed the Nine-Tails Chakra she had left on Orochimaru and met Jiraiya in the Land of Grass.
• Jiraiya suggested that he and Naruto find a more private place to talk, while Naruto stayed wary of his intentions.