Chapter Summaries

Gaara reassured Temari, Kankuro, and Baki that the Tailed Beast would not emerge while he slept. Meanwhile, Orochimaru’s group ambushed the Kazekage on his way to Konohagakure, and Yoru killed him; the group then set out to continue their plans as Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno grew closer on a walk.

• Gaara slept through the night and the following day, leaving Temari, Kankuro, and Baki exhausted from keeping watch; he told them he had reached an agreement with the Tailed Beast.
• Orochimaru’s group lay in wait for the Kazekage using information from Sasori, and Kimimaro and Jugo disabled his guards and restrained him.
• Orochimaru struck the Kazekage with the Grass Sword, but he reformed from gold dust; Yoru then used a snake and Grass Sword to pierce his heart and kill him.
• Orochimaru buried the gold dust and arranged the corpses before the group left for Konohagakure; Yoru asked to fight the Third Hokage with help from one of Naruto’s Shadow Clones, and Naruto agreed.
• Sakura Haruno invited Sasuke Uchiha for a walk, and after he offered to hold her hand, she happily accepted.

C.C’s disguised Shadow Clone encountered Hinata, ate ramen at Ichiraku, and joined the crowded arena as the Chunin Exam’s third stage began. Naruto learned Danzo’s location from Zetsu, then destroyed the Fourth Hokage’s statue’s eyes while Nine-Tails stopped him from injuring himself.

• C.C’s Shadow Clone met Hinata, who thought she recognized her, but C.C left before Hinata could confirm her suspicion.
• C.C ate seafood ramen at Ichiraku and later told Hinata her name before vanishing.
• Hidan posed for a photo shoot in Otogakure and left after the photographer finished.
• C.C stood in the packed arena as the third stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams began.
• Naruto sensed Zetsu approaching, attacked, and then learned Danzo’s location from him.
• Naruto destroyed both eyes of the Fourth Hokage’s statue, and Nine-Tails took control of his hands to stop him from hurting himself.

Naruto’s clones prepared the Konoha Crush Plan while C.C advanced after Naramaru forfeited, and Hinata Hyuga fought Gaara in the arena. As the One-Tail protected Gaara, Kabuto began a genjutsu that put much of the audience to sleep.

• Naruto revealed that C.C and the guards near the disguised Yoru were her Shadow Clones, while Kimimaro and Jugo prepared to help seal off Yoru’s fight with the Third Hokage.
• Naramaru forfeited his match against C.C, and C.C used Wind Style: Gale Palm to send a thrown can back into the face of an audience member.
• Hinata Hyuga dodged Gaara’s sand attacks, used Rotation to fend off a trap, and struck at Gaara with Lion Fist.
• The One-Tail took control of a tail to protect Gaara from Hinata’s attack, and Gaara apologized after sensing its concern for him.
• Kabuto cast a genjutsu that caused spectators and weaker ninja to fall asleep, while Kakashi and Might Guy recognized the illusion and began forming hand seals.

C.C., Naruto, and Orochimaru helped set the Konoha Crush Plan in motion as the Sand ninja attacked Konoha and Orochimaru revealed herself to the Third Hokage. Sasuke protected Sakura while Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage to fight Sarutobi.

• C.C. created wandering-ninja Shadow Clones to disguise the operation, while Sasuke, Mikoto, Rei, and Xi broke free of a genjutsu and chose not to aid Konoha.
• Orochimaru revealed her disguise, captured the Third Hokage, and coordinated with the Sand ninja, who summoned a Three-Headed Serpent that smashed through Konoha's walls.
• Kimimaro and Jugo attacked the Anbu as Kakashi and Might Guy were held off by C.C.'s Shadow Clones, while Naruto joined them and formed the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Sasuke rescued Sakura from two wandering-ninja Shadow Clones and carried her away at Kakashi's request.
• Orochimaru's attack on Sarutobi was exposed as a feint, and she summoned the First and Second Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation while the Third coffin was forced back underground.

Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First and Second Hokage, while Gaara released Shukaku to attack Konohagakure. As Shukaku rampaged through the village and Choza Akimichi fought him, the First and Second Hokage continued attacking the Third Hokage.

• Orochimaru admitted he had summoned the First and Second Hokage and used prepared talismans to make their bodies resemble the living.
• Gaara asked Shukaku to help complete his mission, then released the One-Tail in the arena as Temari, Kankuro, and Baki retreated.
• Shukaku attacked Konohagakure, destroying buildings and scattering the ninja who tried to stop him.
• Choza Akimichi used Super Expansion Jutsu to grow to Shukaku's size and struck him, but Shukaku knocked Choza flying with a Chakra wind sphere.
• The First and Second Hokage pursued the Third Hokage, who countered them with Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet.

Orochimaru and Yoru fought the Third Hokage while Yoru controlled the First Hokage and Second Hokage, but the Third Hokage turned the battle around with the Reaper Death Seal. Yoru let him proceed, knowing the technique would kill him as well.

• The First Hokage used Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence to bind the Third Hokage, who summoned Enma and had him transform into the Adamantine Staff.
• Orochimaru and the First Hokage and Second Hokage attacked the Third Hokage together, but Enma helped him hold them off and he recognized that Yoru was controlling the reanimated Hokage.
• Yoru’s Transformation Jutsu wore off, revealing her childlike form with Byakugan eyes and Shikotsumyaku, and she told the Third Hokage that her body was a vessel made from four people’s genes.
• The Third Hokage detonated Explosive Tags on the First Hokage and Second Hokage, but they regenerated as the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique plunged the area into darkness.
• The Third Hokage used Shadow Clones to perform the Reaper Death Seal, and the Death spirit began pulling the First Hokage’s and Second Hokage’s souls from their bodies.

The Third Hokage sealed the First and Second Hokage as the One-Tail rampaged through Konohagakure. Naruto attacked Danzo at his hideout, killed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, and pursued Danzo after he escaped with Izanagi.

• The Third Hokage used the Reaper Death Seal to seal the First and Second Hokage, while Yoru chose not to fight him.
• Hinata Hyuga used Rotation to repel the sand ninja, and a sealing squad tried to restrain the One-Tail.
• The One-Tail deflected its wind attack after a Chakra blade struck its shoulder, causing the wind ball to knock down the Three-Headed Serpent.
• Naruto killed the Root ninja guarding Danzo, then entered the room and killed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
• Naruto decapitated Danzo with a Nine-Tails Chakra tail, but Danzo escaped using Izanagi, so she chased him.
• Naruto's Rasenshuriken vanished without hurting Danzo, and she countered his Wind Release attacks with Finger Bullet Barrage as he fought back.

Naruto killed Danzo and watched the One-Tail rampage, while Yoru and Naruto confronted the Third Hokage inside the Four Violet Flames Formation. After the One-Tail broke free of Yamato’s Wood Release, Kashi identified Gaara as its core and planned to expose him so the sealing squad could act.

• Naruto crushed Danzo with a Wind Release Rasengan, killed him beyond recovery, and celebrated through tears as the Nine-Tails comforted her.
• The little hamster kicked Enma away, then transformed back into Naruto after Yoru coughed up bloody bone fragments to provoke her.
• Naruto attacked the Third Hokage and declared that she wanted Konohagakure to feel the pain it had inflicted on her.
• The Four Violet Flames Formation fell, and the One-Tail broke free of Yamato’s Wood Release restraints.
• Kashi rescued Yamato, identified Gaara inside the One-Tail, and said the shinobi needed to expose him for the sealing squad.

Might Guy opened six of the Eight Inner Gates and battered One-Tail until Gaara was exposed, but the tailed beast escaped the sealing squad and recovered. Jiraiya and Gamabunta joined the fight as the Third Hokage died, and Gamabunta asked Jiraiya how they could subdue One-Tail.

• Might Guy opened the Third through Sixth Gates and smashed apart much of One-Tail's body, revealing Gaara inside.
• The sealing squad tried to capture Gaara, but One-Tail used a sand decoy and began recovering while Might Guy collapsed from exhaustion.
• Jiraiya arrived atop Gamabunta, while Naruto learned that Orochimaru had retreated and sent Kimimaro and Jugo away with Yoru.
• The Third Hokage recognized that Naruto had used a Shadow Clone, then died after entrusting the fight to Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya and Gamabunta attacked One-Tail with burning toad oil, but One-Tail struck Gamabunta with a Tailed Beast Ball.
• Gamabunta got back up and warned Jiraiya that he could not take many more hits, asking if Jiraiya had a way to subdue One-Tail.

Jiraiya summoned Gama Bunta to hold off the Nine-Tails while Naruto confronted Hinata Hyuga and explained her revenge against Konohagakure. Naruto left Hinata with questions about the village’s treatment of her, and a Shadow Clone began reading the Scroll of Seals.

• Jiraiya prepared to summon the two sages, while Gama Bunta attacked the Nine-Tails and countered its Tailed Beast Ball.
• Naruto met Hinata Hyuga and admitted that the Sand Ninja were pawns she had used to make Konohagakure feel her pain.
• Hinata fought Naruto, wounded her with Twin Lion Fists, and apologized when Naruto let the attack land.
• Naruto recovered quickly, told Hinata that Konohagakure had hated and mistreated her, then vanished.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone reached the Scroll of Seals, picked it up, and began reading its techniques.

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.