Recaps

Naruto confronted Kakashi after destroying the Scroll of Seals and admitted she had helped orchestrate the attack on Konohagakure. She then watched as Jiraiya entered Sage Mode to fight the Nine-Tails, leaving the battle poised to continue.

• Naruto destroyed the Scroll of Seals, then told Kakashi that she had used the Sand Ninja and that Konohagakure owed her for the pain it had caused.
• Kakashi urged Naruto to stop, but she declared that she and Konohagakure were even before vanishing as a Shadow Clone.
• Asuma Sarutobi found the Third Hokage dead and carried his body away with the other Konohagakure ninja.
• Naruto appeared before Jiraiya and admitted she had joined Orochimaru in starting the war because painful memories had driven her to want destruction.
• Naruto concealed herself in the ruins to watch Jiraiya, while Gamabunta distracted the Nine-Tails.
• Jiraiya completed Sage Mode with Fukasaku and Shima on his shoulders, and Gamabunta withdrew from the fight.

Jiraiya and the Toad Sages defeated the One-Tail, forcing the sand ninja to retreat from Konohagakure. Naruto carried Gaara away, then encountered Mikoto Uchiha and Gaara’s family as Temari demanded that she return him.

• Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima overwhelmed the One-Tail with Sage techniques, causing it to retreat into Gaara as he awoke.
• The sand ninja withdrew, and Naruto pulled Gaara away from the Konohagakure ninja; Jiraiya stopped the pursuit to prevent further losses.
• Snow returned to Sasuke Uchiha, who woke Sakura Haruno and then left by transforming into snow-white crows.
• Naruto met Mikoto Uchiha while taking Gaara away and explained that she had joined the attack to kill a few people.
• Temari, Kankuro, and Baki caught up with Naruto, and Temari demanded that she give Gaara back.

After Naruto returned Gaara to Temari and left Konoha with Sasuke and the Uba Village group, Konoha mourned its dead and began rebuilding under Jiraiya’s temporary leadership. Back in Otogakure, Naruto confronted Yoru for frightening her with a fake injury, then soothed the pain from her spanking with the Nine-Tails’ Chakra.

• Naruto threw Gaara back to Temari and Kankuro, reunited warmly with Mikoto Uchiha, and left Konoha with Sasuke and the Uba Village group.
• After the war, Kakashi and Hinata attended the funeral for the Third Hokage and the fallen Konoha ninja, while Konohamaru mourned his grandfather.
• Konoha began rebuilding, Yamato worked tirelessly to construct homes, and Jiraiya took temporary charge as the village considered its next Hokage.
• Naruto returned to Otogakure and checked Yoru for injuries, then caught her trying to sneak away.
• Yoru admitted she had forgotten to use Shikotsumyaku when she had been injured, and Naruto scolded and spanked her for making her worry.
• Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to soothe Yoru’s sore butt, and Yoru jumped away with a red face.

Naruto negotiated Otogakure’s expansion plans while Konohagakure and Sunagakure made peace after discovering Orochimaru had deceived them. Gaara secretly left Sunagakure for Otogakure, while Naruto accepted a mission to investigate a possible jinchūriki near the Temple of Fire.

• Naruto rejected Kakuzu’s proposed orphanage site because hundreds of bodies were buried there, then convinced him the orphanage would ultimately benefit Otogakure.
• Jiraiya learned that the daimyo planned to cut Konohagakure’s funding while the village was still recovering from the attack.
• Sunagakure discovered that Orochimaru had assassinated the Kazekage and impersonated him, then blamed Orochimaru and signed a peace treaty and alliance with Konohagakure.
• Gaara left Sunagakure without telling anyone and traveled alone toward Otogakure; Temari and Kankuro reported his disappearance, and Sunagakure began searching for him.
• Deva Path Pain assigned Naruto and Sasori to investigate a person with Tailed Beast Chakra at the Temple of Fire, but Naruto persuaded him to let Sasori stay in Otogakure in exchange for fifty million ryō.
• Nagato sent Naruto and Kisame to investigate, while Gaara arrived outside Otogakure and recognized Kankuro’s puppets being used in the village’s expansion.

Naruto brought Gaara to Otogakure and offered him and the One-Tail freedom in exchange for joining the village and obeying her. Gaara stayed in Otogakure while he considered the deal, and Naruto prepared to visit the Temple of Fire.

• Naruto revealed her identity to Gaara and told Sasori that she had recruited him for Otogakure.
• Naruto negotiated with the One-Tail, offering to release its seal if it and Gaara joined Otogakure and followed her orders.
• Naruto explained to Nine-Tails that the One-Tail's desire for freedom would make it accept her terms.
• Naruto gave Gaara five hundred thousand ryo and arranged for him to receive a place to stay and a white outfit.
• Gaara changed into the outfit while Naruto planned to investigate the person at the Temple of Fire who seemed like a Jinchuriki.

Naruto celebrated her revenge by getting drunk, then Kisame Hoshigaki arrived at Otogakure to meet her. Naruto set out with Kisame and her adopted daughter Yoru, asking him to protect Yoru if they encountered danger.

• Naruto dressed Gaara in an eye-catching outfit and arranged a place for him to stay.
• Naruto drank a bottle of liquor on the roof, and Yakushi Nonō caught her when she fell; Naruto then kissed Nonō before falling asleep.
• Yakushi Nonō accidentally destroyed Yoru’s block structure while carrying Naruto home, and Yoru bit Naruto’s arm; the next day, Naruto apologized and promised Nine-Tails, Yakushi Nonō, and Yoru she would not drink again.
• Kisame Hoshigaki met Sasori while Sasori used puppets to build in Otogakure, then encountered Zabuza and his students.
• White greeted Zabuza after his mission, and Kisame Hoshigaki saw their affectionate reunion.
• Naruto arrived with Yoru clinging to her back, introduced her as her adopted daughter, and asked Kisame Hoshigaki to protect her on their operation.

Naruto traveled with Kisame Hoshigaki and Yoru to the Temple of Fire, where Nine-Tails sensed some of her Chakra inside. Naruto suspected someone had created a fake Jinchuriki and insisted that they reclaim the Chakra.

• Naruto and Kisame Hoshigaki left for the Temple of Fire while Zabuza led his students and Haku into Otogakure.
• At an inn, Yoru clung to Naruto and accidentally pricked her with a bone spike while playing; meanwhile, Jiraiya struggled through Hokage paperwork in Konohagakure.
• Naruto carried the tired Yoru up the temple steps, and Yoru explained that the Temple's head priest was Jirōbō, a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
• As they neared the Temple of Fire, Nine-Tails sensed her Chakra inside and discussed with Naruto how it might have been sealed into a person as a fake Jinchuriki.
• Nine-Tails said the Chakra was too insignificant to matter, but Naruto insisted that no one else should be using it and resolved to take it back.

Naruto and Kisame Hoshigaki entered the Temple of Fire to retrieve the Nine-Tails Chakra sealed inside a fake Jinchuriki. Naruto found the monk guarding the area, but he refused to let them pass.

• Nine-Tails and Naruto shared an affectionate moment before Naruto left to reclaim the stolen Chakra.
• Naruto told Kisame Hoshigaki that the person in the Temple of Fire was a fake Jinchuriki carrying part of Nine-Tails's Chakra.
• Naruto and Kisame Hoshigaki reached the Temple of Fire, and Naruto gained entry by offering money to the Buddha.
• Naruto joked with Kisame about Akatsuki Organization's supposed good reputation as they followed an eyeball made of Nine-Tails Chakra through the temple.
• A monk blocked their way to the iron structure where Nine-Tails sensed the Chakra, and Naruto asked him to move aside.
• The monk refused, drawing the attention of other monks.

Naruto and Kisame Hoshigaki broke into the temple to retrieve the Nine-Tails’ Chakra sealed inside Sora. Naruto extracted it and left with Kisame, while Nine-Tails crushed the Chakra rather than keeping it.

• Naruto blew the monks out of her way with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, then destroyed the iron door with Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
• Naruto found Sora and learned from Nine-Tails that she needed to undo his seal to extract the Chakra.
• Naruto restrained Sora with her Chakra tails and used a five-element technique to remove the seal as Kisame fought Jirōbō.
• Kisame absorbed Jirōbō’s Thousand-Armed Kannon with Samehada and subdued him while Naruto extracted Nine-Tails’ Chakra from Sora.
• Nine-Tails crushed the extracted Chakra, and Naruto left with Kisame after telling Jirōbō to use the offertory money to pay for the broken door.

Naruto and Kisame fought the four pursuers who wanted the Nine-Tails’ Chakra. Naruto defeated Kōtsuchi and struck Fū, but Fū used Corpse Rebirth to shed her body and reappear, leaving Naruto to suspect that Fū’s hair was her true body.

• Naruto and Kisame left the Temple of Fire, sensed four hostile pursuers, and waited for them to arrive.
• Kōtsuchi demanded the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, so Naruto summoned it and challenged the pursuers to take it.
• Kisame fought Fūen and Mudai, crushing Mudai with a boulder before Samehada absorbed the Chakra from Mudai’s Rock Body Coffin.
• Naruto restrained Kōtsuchi with Shadow Snake Hands, then defeated him with a Rasengan and injured Fū with a Rasengan kick.
• Fū used Corpse Rebirth to turn her body into mud and reappear, prompting Naruto to suspect that Fū’s hair was her true body.

Naruto and Kisame defeated Mudai, Fūen, and Fū, and Naruto sealed Fū's living hair for Yoru to examine. Meanwhile, Gaara decided to stay in Otogakure, where Scorpion approached him for help obtaining sand for a delayed project.

• Kisame tore into Mudai with Samehada, while Naruto struck the fleeing Fūen and Fū with Rasengan; Kisame killed Fūen and Naruto captured Fū's true body, her living hair.
• Naruto sealed Fū into a scroll, and Yoru later explained that Fū's forbidden technique transferred her soul into hair and left her true body vulnerable.
• Yoru told Naruto that her body was transforming as she grew increasingly sleepy, while Gaara agreed with Shukaku to stay in Otogakure.
• Sunagakure's leaders sent Temari, Kankuro, and Baki to bring Gaara back, while Gaara went to ask Kakuzu when Naruto would return.
• Scorpion learned that his project was delayed because Kakuzu had failed to order sand, then followed Gaara and set aside his pride to seek his help.

Gaara chose to join Otogakure with Shukaku, and Naruto planned to remove the faulty seal binding them. As Temari, Kankuro, and Baki arrived to retrieve Gaara, Temari was already eager to shop.

• Gaara helped Sasori build houses with sand, received a puppet modeled after himself, and decided to stay in Otogakure with Shukaku.
• Naruto and Yoru examined Gaara’s seal and concluded that Naruto could break it with the Nine-Tails’ Chakra; Naruto also considered how to deal with Obito Uchiha, Black Zetsu, and Nagato.
• Naruto learned that Temari, Kankuro, and Baki had arrived in the Land of Rice to take Gaara back.
• Temari, Kankuro, and Baki reached Otogakure, where Temari insisted she could shop while looking for Gaara.

Temari, Kankuro, and Teacher Maki tried to bring Gaara back to Sunagakure, but Gaara refused after learning his father was dead and reliving painful memories of Yashamaru. Naruto calmed Gaara and let the sand ninja know he could leave only if he chose to, then appeared before Kakuzu as he asked what she planned to do with them.

• Temari, Kankuro, and Teacher Maki found Gaara in Otogakure and urged him to return to Sunagakure, but he refused.
• Baki told Gaara that Lord Kazekage had been killed by Orochimaru, and Gaara rejected responsibility for Sunagakure.
• Naruto appeared to defend Gaara and question the sand ninja about their intentions.
• Kankuro's words stirred Gaara's memories of Yashamaru, and Naruto slapped Gaara to stop him from losing control.
• Gaara steadied himself, refused to return to Sunagakure, and vanished; Naruto told the sand ninja they could take him only if he chose to leave.
• Naruto appeared in Kakuzu's office, where he asked what she planned to do with the three sand ninja.

Naruto planned to use Gaara’s return to Sunagakure as a chance to gain influence over the village, while Kankuro, Temari, and Baki prepared to persuade Gaara with a bear-costume scheme. The chapter ended with Nine-Tails leaving Naruto at home to stroll alone, despite Naruto’s dismayed reaction.

• Naruto told Kakuzu that either Gaara’s return or refusal would benefit her plans, and she asked how much money Otogakure could spare to support Sunagakure.
• Kakuzu estimated Otogakure’s liquid capital at over 1.5 billion ryo and Sunagakure’s annual operating costs at about 40 million ryo; he understood Naruto’s intentions and agreed to keep quiet.
• Kankuro, Temari, and Baki discussed how to bring Gaara back, then Kankuro convinced Temari to wear a bear mascot costume as part of his plan.
• Baki returned and found Kankuro and Temari dressed as bears, while Kankuro confidently insisted his plan would work.
• Nine-Tails told Naruto she wanted to walk the streets alone and left the house, leaving Naruto looking heartbroken.

Nine-Tails secretly went shopping to buy Naruto an anniversary gift while Naruto followed her without knowing what the occasion was. Their outing ended with Naruto taking her into a restaurant, where Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro were also gathered, and Naruto slipped away to the restroom.

• Nine-Tails went out to shop for a gift marking the anniversary of her first meeting with Naruto, while Naruto secretly followed her through Otogakure.
• Naruto punched Hidan into the sky when Hidan nearly exposed his disguise, and Kakuzu ignored Hidan after he fell beside him.
• Baki brought Temari and Kankuro, dressed as bears, to cheer up Gaara, but they lost him after children surrounded them at the park.
• Temari and Kankuro found Gaara at a restaurant and explained that their bear costumes were meant to cheer him up.
• Naruto saw Nine-Tails hesitating outside the restaurant and pulled her inside, where they joined Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
• Naruto whispered that he was going to the restroom and hurried away from Nine-Tails.

Naruto wore a golden fox mascot suit to please Nine-Tails, then celebrated the anniversary of their first meeting by buying matching earrings with her. In the inner world, Naruto opened the door and saw a familiar figure pounce toward her.

• Naruto used Transformation Jutsu to dress as a golden fox, delighting Nine-Tails and drawing attention at the restaurant.
• Temari, Kankuro, and Baki followed Gaara after he explained that he preferred Otogakure, where people accepted him, to Sunagakure, where they feared him.
• Naruto and Nine-Tails left the restaurant and celebrated the day they first met by visiting a jewelry store.
• Nine-Tails bought matching fiery red earrings and pierced Naruto's ear with chakra after the first attempt bounced off her hardened skin.
• Nine-Tails touched her new earring in the inner world, and Naruto opened the door to find a familiar figure pouncing toward her.

Naruto returned home with the earring Nine-Tails had given her, upsetting Yoru, whose Jugo-derived bloodline awakened and sent her into a rampage. Naruto restrained Yoru and called for Jugo’s help, but he also began losing control, so Naruto’s Shadow Clone knocked him out with an enormous Rasengan.

• Karin questioned Naruto about her new earring, then relaxed when Naruto said Nine-Tails had given it to her.
• Yoru spotted the earring and accused Naruto of going shopping with someone else, then awakened her bloodline and attacked her.
• Naruto dodged Yoru’s powerful attacks and told Karin to leave the dangerous area.
• Jugo arrived and told Naruto to suppress Yoru, but Nature Energy triggered his own curse-mark transformation.
• Naruto sent her Shadow Clone to deal with Jugo, and it struck him with a huge Big Ball Rasengan.

Naruto dealt with Yoru’s rampage and the damage to her house while Yoru secretly summoned Fū and dreamed of her past as Orochimaru. After the Sand ninja left Otogakure without Gaara, Naruto’s Shadow Clone stopped them and insisted on accompanying them to Sunagakure with a proposal for the village.

• Naruto subdued Yoru, who cried herself to sleep, then woke furious and hugged Naruto with her bone spikes.
• Naruto failed to repair the roof with Shadow Clones and assigned Yoru to sleep on the sofa; Yoru summoned Fū to tell her stories before sealing her away again.
• Yoru dreamed of Orochimaru’s life, while Naruto kissed Yakushi Nonō and later noticed Yoru hugging a Naruto body pillow.
• The Sand ninja left Otogakure without Gaara, who chose to stay and watched them depart.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone confronted the Sand ninja and said they had to escort her to Sunagakure because she could offer their village valuable benefits.

C.C. agreed to travel to Sunagakure under Baki's protection, while Jiraiya learned Hinata Hyuga was investigating Naruto Uzumaki and urged the Hyuga clan to stop her. After her family forbade her from pursuing Naruto, Hinata decided to leave Konohagakure, but Hanabi caught her as she tried to depart.

• Baki agreed to take C.C. to Sunagakure, and C.C. warned that she would not fight enemies along the way.
• Jiraiya learned Hinata Hyuga was investigating Naruto Uzumaki and asked Hyuga Hiashi to guide her away from Naruto.
• The Hyuga elders summoned Hinata and ordered her to stop investigating Naruto.
• Hyuga Hiashi also told Hinata to cut ties with Naruto, and Hinata agreed outwardly while resolving to leave Konohagakure.
• Hinata packed her belongings and tried to leave at night, but Hanabi woke and asked where she was going.

Hinata Hyuga chose to stay in Konohagakure for now so she could grow strong enough to protect Hanabi before leaving to find Naruto. Naruto freed Shukaku from Gaara’s seal and took responsibility for the newly released One-Tail.

• Hinata comforted Hanabi, promised she would not leave, and resolved to depart Konohagakure only after she could protect herself and find Naruto.
• Naruto transformed into Nine-Tails Mode and used golden chakra hands to tear the seal chains from Gaara, freeing Shukaku.
• Shukaku celebrated his freedom and reminded Gaara of their promise, while Naruto watched him warily.
• Naruto struck Shukaku down when he insulted Nine-Tails, then promised to pay for his food, toys, and entertainment in Otogakure.
• Naruto told Shukaku to take human form before entering the village, and Shukaku tried to defend himself after she mocked him as timid.

Naruto and Shukaku argued over who would pay for Gaara’s shopping, while C.C brought Temari, Kankuro, and Baki back to Sunagakure. Naruto revealed her identity and offered Sunagakure funding in exchange for loyalty, leaving its leaders to consider her proposal.

• Shukaku transformed into a child and left with Gaara to go shopping, insisting Naruto pay for their purchases.
• C.C returned to Sunagakure with Temari, Kankuro, and Baki after a difficult journey and entered the village as a merchant from Otogakure.
• C.C met Sunagakure’s leaders, Chiyo and Ebizo, and offered them one hundred million ryo in exchange for making the village loyal to her instead of the Land of Wind’s daimyo.
• Naruto dropped her disguise, identified herself as the owner of Sound Ninja Apparel, and offered to help Sunagakure grow stronger and defeat Orochimaru.
• Baki welcomed Naruto’s hostility toward Orochimaru, while Chiyo remained wary and questioned why Sunagakure should trust her.

Baki, Chiyo, and Ebizo asked Naruto to become Sunagakure’s Kazekage, but she refused and prepared to leave after offering financial support. After meeting Ame, Naruto rushed to help when giant scorpions attacked Sunagakure, only to see a strange man use the Seven Heavenly Breathing Method to rescue her.

• Baki proposed that Naruto become Kazekage, and Chiyo and Ebizo agreed that she could help restore Sunagakure.
• Naruto refused the position, then met Ame by accidentally landing on her and knocking her food to the ground.
• Naruto decided to hand Baki the money she had promised and end her visit to Sunagakure.
• Two giant scorpions attacked the village and trapped Ame in one of their pincers.
• Naruto moved to save Ame, but a man called Shura activated the Seven Heavenly Breathing Method and leapt into action.

Naruto rescued Ame from giant scorpions, then unknowingly walked into Baki’s scheme to make her Kazekage and bind Sunagakure to Otogakure. When Sunagakure’s ninjas confronted her over the false rumor that she wanted the position, Naruto fought her way toward the Kazekage’s office, leaving the village in chaos.

• Naruto rescued Ame from a giant scorpion and defeated both scorpions, while Shura received Ame’s thanks for his earlier effort.
• Ame invited Naruto to dinner with Giant Scorpion Meat, unaware that Baki had arranged the scorpion attack to draw Naruto into a plan to make her Kazekage.
• Baki spread the claim that Naruto wanted to become Kazekage and told Sunagakure’s ninjas they could challenge her if they opposed her appointment.
• Baki told Temari and Kankuro that Naruto’s talent, strength, wealth, and status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki could protect and strengthen Sunagakure.
• After dinner, Naruto heard villagers claim she wanted to be Kazekage and attacked the ninjas who confronted her, insisting she had never asked for the position.
• Naruto unleashed Wind Release attacks on the gathered Sunagakure ninjas and fought her way toward the Kazekage’s office as Temari and Kankuro watched in shock.

Naruto’s Shadow Clone was maneuvered into becoming Sunagakure’s Kazekage, leaving Naruto to reconsider how the village could serve her plans for Otogakure. She called a meeting and went to fetch Kakuzu and Hidan.

• Temari and Kankuro watched Naruto’s Shadow Clone overpower Sunagakure ninja before she confronted Baki, who revealed that he wanted her to become Kazekage.
• Baki explained that the ninja had tested Naruto’s strength, while the gathered crowd cheered for her; Ebizo and Chiyo withdrew from village affairs, and Temari brought Naruto robes made to fit her.
• Naruto accepted the position on the condition that she could remain away most of the time, then challenged the assembled crowd before dispelling her Shadow Clone.
• After receiving the clone’s memories in Otogakure, Naruto complained to Qin about becoming Kazekage, then realized Sunagakure could help her recruit the other villages’ Jinchuriki.
• Naruto kissed Qin, told her to prepare a meeting, and went to the Ten Miles Barbecue Restaurant, where Kakuzu and Hidan were eating.

After becoming Kazekage unexpectedly, Naruto assured Otogakure that its interests would come first while planning closer cooperation with Sunagakure. She left the chapter still explaining to Yoru how Sunagakure’s leaders had forced the role on her.

• Naruto told Otogakure’s staff that she would remain its boss, prioritize the village, hire Sunagakure ninja as freight workers, and open a Sound Clothing Store there.
• Naruto discussed her accidental appointment as Kazekage with Kakuzu, then planned to escort Fuji Fuka to the Land of Snow while using a Shadow Clone to manage Sunagakure.
• Naruto checked on Kabuto Yakushi and the children at the Orphanage, then asked Qin to oversee Otogakure when she and Kakuzu were away.
• Naruto reassured Fuka that she would continue spending most of her time in Otogakure.
• Yoru questioned Naruto about becoming Kazekage, and Naruto explained how Sunagakure’s leaders had pressured her into the position.