Chapter Summaries

Naruto handled village affairs as Konoha’s young Fifth Hokage while discussing his students and the risk of conflict with Iwagakure. After the Hidden Stone force sent into Amegakure was wiped out and Sunagakure strengthened its alliance with Konoha, Naruto’s succession ceremony began.

• Naruto learned that Tsunade wanted him, rather than Sakura and Karin, as her Medical Ninjutsu disciple, and decided to speak with her later.
• Naruto discussed Hokage Rock and village politics with Tsunade, Jiraiya, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, and Jiraiya suggested carving Naruto as he was at thirteen.
• Utatane Koharu reported that Hayama Shirakumo, Tekuno, Kosuke, and other patrol members had killed Hidden Stone Ninja near Konoha.
• Ōnoki sent a large Hidden Stone force through Amegakure to provoke Konoha, but the force suffered devastating losses.
• Sunagakure and Konoha signed a deeper alliance, and Naruto officially began his era as the youngest Hokage in history.
• Kitsuchi told Ōnoki that Amegakure had defeated his force and that Deidara had defected.

Naruto Uzumaki became Konoha’s Fifth Hokage at his inauguration ceremony, attended by villagers, shinobi, and Gaara. He addressed the crowd as the youngest Hokage in Konoha’s history.

• Hashirama Senju wanted to watch the ceremony, but Tobirama Senju forbade the resurrected dead from appearing publicly; Kushina Uzumaki attended in disguise.
• Tsunade helped Naruto prepare and took over hosting the ceremony from Jiraiya, while Team Guy reported that the villagers were arriving.
• Naruto greeted Gaara on the rooftop, and Gaara held back his anger at Naruto’s suggestion that he stay in Konoha.
• Tsunade introduced Naruto’s achievements and announced him as the Fifth Hokage to the cheering crowd.
• Naruto put on the Hokage Hat and greeted the villagers as Konoha’s Fifth Hokage.

Naruto assigned Sasuke to investigate the Land of Rice Fields and pursue Orochimaru, revealing that Itachi was there as well. Sasuke accepted the mission, while Naruto prepared to visit the country and left Kakashi and Jiraiya uncertain about how the brothers’ confrontation would unfold.

• Naruto approved Shikamaru’s Chunin promotion and gave Sasuke promotion certificates, then assigned him to hunt Orochimaru and investigate the Land of Rice Fields.
• Naruto told Sasuke that Itachi was also in the Land of Rice Fields, and Sasuke agreed to pursue both Itachi and Orochimaru.
• Naruto said he would visit the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields and destroy Orochimaru’s Hidden Sound Village.
• Jiraiya worried that Orochimaru might outmaneuver Sasuke, while Kakashi questioned whether Sasuke should learn the truth behind the Uchiha Clan’s destruction.
• Naruto told Jiraiya and Kakashi that he trusted Sasuke and Itachi, and said the events in the Land of Rice Fields would lead to a true beginning.

Naruto Uzumaki traveled to the Land of Rice Fields with Team Guy after rejecting extra protection, while the Akatsuki Organization sent two teams there on a mission to assassinate the Daimyo. The teams split up despite arguing over whether they should also pursue Orochimaru.

• Naruto Uzumaki told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura he would travel to the Land of Rice Fields with Team Guy, and he rejected proposals for additional guards.
• Naruto Uzumaki sent the ANBU to bring Sasuke to the Land of Rice Fields for reconnaissance.
• The Akatsuki Organization cleared out the remaining Hidden Stone Ninja near Amegakure and discussed its mission in the Land of Rice Fields.
• Sasori of the Red Sands and Deidara argued that they should use the mission to kill Orochimaru, while Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki warned that Orochimaru could defeat them.
• Konan ordered both teams to travel separately to the Land of Rice Fields and prioritize the mission, reminding them not to kill fellow Akatsuki members.
• Deidara taunted Itachi Uchiha as the teams prepared to leave, but Itachi stopped Kisame Hoshigaki from retaliating.

Itachi and Kisame learned that Naruto and Sasuke were both in the Land of Rice Fields, complicating their mission and putting Itachi’s plans at risk. Itachi chose to pursue Sasuke anyway, and White Zetsu offered to help awaken Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan by impersonating Naruto.

• Konan admired Itachi’s appearance, strength, and professionalism, unaware that he was a spy serving multiple sides.
• Zetsu told Itachi and Kisame that Naruto, the Fifth Hokage, had arrived in the Land of Rice Fields and that Sasuke was searching for Itachi there.
• Kisame urged Itachi to avoid Sasuke, especially since Itachi’s eye power was nearly spent, but Itachi insisted that Sasuke’s eyes had to become Mangekyō Sharingan so he could take them.
• White Zetsu offered to provoke Sasuke’s awakening by impersonating Naruto and making Sasuke believe Naruto had abandoned him or died.
• Itachi agreed to work with White Zetsu, which asked whether it should first meet Sasuke disguised as Naruto or have Itachi kill it in front of him.

A White Zetsu clone proposed using Sasuke to restore Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan, and Obito and Black Zetsu discussed the plan alongside the growing threat posed by Naruto. Black Zetsu argued that Naruto's ideals might make him a potential ally, despite Obito's desire to kill him.

• The White Zetsu clone offered to help Itachi obtain Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan by making an Uchiha fall into darkness.
• The clone reported its Actor Plan to Obito and Black Zetsu, who considered using Sasuke's eyes to strengthen Itachi.
• Obito questioned the clone's claim that it had helped awaken an Uchiha's Mangekyō, and Black Zetsu claimed they had witnessed Shisui awaken his.
• Black Zetsu reminded Obito that Naruto had become a powerful Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and that killing Minato and Kushina had left them with a formidable enemy.
• Obito proposed killing Naruto while the Nine-Tails was available to revive alongside the Three-Tails, but Black Zetsu suggested trying to cooperate with him because their ideals might align.

Sasuke investigated Orochimaru in the Land of Rice Fields, but Orochimaru and Kabuto poisoned him and prepared to take him as a vessel. Their attempt was interrupted when a blond young man and Hiruko entered the teahouse and confronted Orochimaru.

• Black Zetsu considered Sasuke a possible reincarnation of Indra and agreed to a plan to manipulate him into awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke gathered information in the Land of Rice Fields, found no trace of Orochimaru or Itachi, and decided to go to Hidden Sound Village and kill Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru approached Sasuke in a teahouse and revealed that he had been monitoring him because he wanted Sasuke's body.
• Orochimaru revealed that the Land of Rice Fields was under his control, while Kabuto removed his disguise and joined him.
• Sasuke realized Orochimaru and Kabuto had poisoned him, and Kabuto tried to persuade him that Orochimaru would help him kill Itachi.
• A blond young man entered with Hiruko, who recognized Orochimaru and challenged him to stop running.

Sasuke escaped the battle between Orochimaru and Sasori, while Itachi and Kisame ambushed Orochimaru as he tried to flee. Naruto and Team Guy reached the Land of Rice Fields, where a masked figure emerged and threw a bomb at them.

• Sasuke slipped away from the ruined town and hid in a cave until the poison in his body faded.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto withdrew, but Itachi and Kisame intercepted them on the route to Hidden Sound Village.
• Itachi and Kisame attacked Orochimaru, while Kabuto offered to stay behind and protect him.
• Naruto arrived at the border with Team Guy and noticed an unusual chakra presence nearby.
• A figure wearing a spiral-patterned mask rose from the ground and threw a homemade bomb toward Team Guy.

Naruto Uzumaki recognized Obito Uchiha behind a masked attacker who abducted Rock Lee, then found Zetsu waiting to invite him to work with the Akatsuki. Zetsu claimed the organization wanted to help Naruto unify the ninja world and said he sought peace, leaving Naruto skeptical of his motives.

• The masked man emerged from the ground, threw a bomb at Team Guy, and claimed he had intelligence for Konoha's Fifth Hokage.
• The masked man revealed his hostility, subdued Rock Lee with taijutsu and genjutsu, and fled with him as Naruto and Team Guy gave chase.
• Naruto spotted Zetsu and realized Obito had used Lee's abduction to draw away the Hokage's guards.
• Zetsu invited Naruto to cooperate, claiming the Akatsuki would stir up wars and eliminate resistance to help unify the ninja world.
• Zetsu said he wanted peace because his mother had died in war, while Naruto remained wary of his claims.

Naruto Uzumaki heard Black Zetsu's claims about seeking peace and recognized that it was trying to recruit him, though he considered exploiting the Akatsuki Organization for his own plans. Black Zetsu proposed imprisoning or killing the tailed beasts, and Naruto left the conversation weighing how to use the organization.

• Black Zetsu told Naruto Uzumaki a story about its mother and claimed it wanted to end war, but the Fifth Hokage challenged its account of the ninja world's conflicts.
• Black Zetsu defended the Akatsuki Organization's actions and argued that its killing of Shimura Danzō had benefited Naruto.
• Naruto trapped Zetsu in vines while he and the Nine-Tails discussed whether to use Black Zetsu for intelligence and Naruto's goal of unifying the ninja world.
• Black Zetsu offered to have the Akatsuki Organization gather intelligence, fabricate evidence, and assassinate political enemies while hiding Konoha's connection to it.
• Black Zetsu insisted that the tailed beasts must be imprisoned or killed to end wars, and Naruto listened to its proposal.

Naruto Uzumaki agreed to work with Black Zetsu while rejecting its attempt to plant White Zetsu spies on him. Meanwhile, Itachi Uchiha used Kotoamatsukami to make Orochimaru protect Konoha, but Orochimaru reasoned his way out of the paradoxical command and headed on without his will changed.

• Naruto Uzumaki agreed to help Black Zetsu gather the tailed beasts, then killed the four White Zetsu that emerged from his body as spies.
• Naruto Uzumaki told Might Guy, Neji, and Rock Lee to rest before they went to the Land of Rice Fields Daimyo's Residence.
• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki defeated and captured Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi, and Itachi used Shisui's Kotoamatsukami to implant a will to protect Konoha in Orochimaru.
• Itachi Uchiha released Orochimaru, believing the genjutsu had made him harmless, while Kisame Hoshigaki questioned the decision.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto Yakushi that he had escaped Kotoamatsukami by treating the command to protect Konoha as a paradox.
• Itachi Uchiha left to continue his plan to make Sasuke awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Sasuke watched Naruto appear to die protecting him, and the shock awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan. Itachi entered the cave, and Sasuke discovered his new eyes could manipulate distance, though he wondered if they had awakened because he failed to save Naruto.

• Sasuke heard Naruto fighting Itachi nearby and stayed hidden in the cave as the battle reached its entrance.
• Wounded Naruto blocked the cave with Wood Release and appeared to die beneath Itachi’s attack, leaving Sasuke devastated.
• Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and saw Itachi and Kisame enter the cave after Kisame cut through the wooden spikes.
• Sasuke attacked Itachi, sliced his arm, and discovered his eyes could shorten or lengthen the distance between people.
• Sasuke questioned whether his Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened because he failed to save Naruto.

Itachi Uchiha defeated Sasuke and planned to take him to Naruto Uzumaki so they could exchange their Mangekyō Sharingan. Naruto met Kabuto Yakushi, accepted his surrender, and appointed him director of Konoha Orphanage.

• Itachi Uchiha knocked Sasuke unconscious after defeating him and told Kisame Hoshigaki to kill the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields without him.
• Kisame Hoshigaki warned Itachi Uchiha that Naruto Uzumaki was heading to the Land of Rice Fields, but Itachi left with Sasuke anyway.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Naruto Uzumaki that Orochimaru had sent him to serve the Fifth Hokage under the Kotoamatsukami technique Protect Konoha.
• Naruto Uzumaki asked Kabuto Yakushi to help handle affairs in the Land of Rice Fields and promised to lift his wanted order upon their return to Konoha.
• Naruto Uzumaki appointed Kabuto Yakushi director of Konoha Orphanage, and Kabuto accepted the position as a way to inherit Yakushi Nonō's will.

On the way to the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Rice Fields, Naruto Uzumaki won Kabuto Yakushi's loyalty and supplied him with a White Zetsu corpse for Orochimaru's experiments. Their journey was interrupted when Itachi Uchiha appeared carrying a Konoha ANBU, leaving Naruto and Kabuto to face him.

• Kabuto Yakushi explained to Tenten that he had joined Orochimaru under Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders, and Naruto Uzumaki backed up his story.
• Kabuto Yakushi charmed Team Guy by answering their questions about nutrition, ninja tools, and injuries.
• Naruto Uzumaki gave Kabuto Yakushi a scroll containing a White Zetsu corpse and suggested Orochimaru use Hashirama Cells to clone a vessel.
• Kabuto Yakushi secretly sent Orochimaru the scroll and a letter describing the proposed research while praising Naruto Uzumaki.
• Team Guy encountered Itachi Uchiha carrying a Konoha ANBU, so Might Guy took the others to watch for more enemies while Naruto and Kabuto stayed behind.

Naruto Uzumaki explained the Rinnegan to Itachi Uchiha and helped him awaken it after Itachi and Sasuke exchanged their Mangekyō Sharingan. Itachi agreed to keep monitoring Akatsuki but still could not bring himself to tell Sasuke the truth about his plans.

• Sasuke woke up believing he was in the Pure Land, so Itachi knocked him unconscious again and told Naruto that Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after seeing a White Zetsu disguised as Naruto die.
• Naruto explained that Madara Uchiha had obtained the Rinnegan by combining his eyes with the First Hokage’s cells, and said Itachi might awaken it with the Yang Release chakra in his body.
• Kabuto Yakushi performed the eye transplant while Sasuke remained unconscious, and Naruto gave Itachi more Yang Release chakra to help him evolve his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan into the Rinnegan.
• Itachi confirmed he could hide his new eyes and agreed to keep watching Akatsuki, while Naruto said Sasuke would eventually gain power greater than the Rinnegan’s ocular techniques.
• Itachi left Sasuke in Naruto’s care and admitted he still had not decided how to tell his brother the truth.

After Sasuke learned that the Naruto he had seen die was a White Zetsu impostor, Naruto led Konoha’s response to the Land of Rice Fields Daimyo’s murder and used the ensuing rumors to target Takigakure. Naruto and Sasuke set out for Takigakure, while Naruto ordered Team Guy to protect Shibuki.

• Sasuke woke up beside Naruto and Kabuto, learned that White Zetsu had impersonated Naruto, and believed Itachi had returned him because he was not strong enough yet.
• Kabuto decided to send Orochimaru messages urging him to return to Konoha after transplanting Mangekyō Sharingan and learning about the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan.
• Naruto’s team reached the Land of Rice Fields Daimyo's Residence, where they found the Daimyo dead, and Naruto sent Konoha ninja to secure the country’s border.
• Rumors blamed several villages for hiring the Akatsuki Organization, while reports linked Suien to the Akatsuki and made Takigakure the leading target for Konoha’s response.
• Sasuke asked Naruto to let him investigate Takigakure and gather information about the Akatsuki, and Naruto agreed to go with him.
• Naruto ordered Team Guy to return to Konoha and protect Shibuki, whom he believed was not responsible for the Daimyo’s murder.

Pain learned that Naruto was moving to capture Takigakure’s Seven-Tails Jinchuriki and ordered Akatsuki to gather intelligence and seek help stopping him. Meanwhile, Kisame questioned Itachi’s decision to spare Sasuke and revealed Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened.

• Konan told Pain that Naruto and Konoha ANBU had entered the Land of Waterfalls, and Pain suspected Naruto intended to capture the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Pain refused to send Kakuzu and Hidan to Takigakure, instead ordering intelligence gathering and asking the man called Madara Uchiha to stop Naruto.
• Kisame told Itachi that Sasuke was too young to pose a serious threat, and Itachi insisted that everything was under his control.
• Konan found Itachi and Kisame at their base and learned Kisame had damaged Sasori’s Hiruko and Deidara’s Clay Giant Bird during a fight.
• Kisame informed Konan that Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and teased Itachi for sparing his younger brother.

Naruto Uzumaki’s group invaded Takigakure, where Sasuke Uchiha killed Suien and Naruto sought Fū, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. At the back mountain, Naruto found the Mysterious Masked Man trying to claim Fū first and insisted he needed the Seven-Tails as leverage over Akatsuki.

• Suien drank Hero's Water and rallied Takigakure’s villagers to resist Konoha while Naruto Uzumaki and his companions watched from a rooftop.
• Sasuke Uchiha manifested Susanoo and killed Suien with a purple arrow, sending Takigakure into chaos.
• Naruto Uzumaki asked where Fū was, and a Waterfall Ninja told him she and other prisoners were being held in the back mountain.
• Naruto went to the dungeon and found the Mysterious Masked Man, who demanded to take the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki under Akatsuki’s agreement with Naruto.
• Naruto refused, saying he needed the Seven-Tails as leverage to keep Akatsuki from betraying him, leaving the Mysterious Masked Man confused about their deal.

Naruto Uzumaki confronted the Mysterious Masked Man over taking Fū, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, and ordered him to leave with her behind. When the masked man tried to carry Fū away, Naruto stopped him, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Naruto Uzumaki found Fū chained and bloodied in a dungeon, with the other Takigakure shinobi dead, and considered using Akatsuki as the scapegoat for their deaths.
• Naruto told the Mysterious Masked Man to leave, but the masked man insisted he had orders to take Fū into custody.
• The Mysterious Masked Man refused Naruto’s demand to seek new orders, prompting Naruto to threaten him for defying his authority.
• The Nine-Tails urged Naruto to fight, and Naruto drew chakra from Shukaku before deciding to attack for five straight minutes.
• The Mysterious Masked Man grabbed Fū and tried to escape, but Naruto used Wood Release: Tree Binding to pull her back and accused Akatsuki of betraying him.

Naruto Uzumaki clashed with the Mysterious Masked Man over Fū, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. The Mysterious Masked Man entered Kamui Space, only to find that the Naruto he had absorbed was a Shadow Clone waiting for him there.

• The Mysterious Masked Man rejected Naruto Uzumaki’s demand to hand over Fū and leaped to free her with a giant shuriken.
• Naruto Uzumaki rescued Fū with vines and charged the Mysterious Masked Man with Multiple Shadow Clones.
• The Mysterious Masked Man identified Naruto’s real body and tried to absorb him into Kamui Space, but a Shadow Clone took his place.
• Naruto Uzumaki attacked with Rasengan Impact Wave and Tailed Beast Bombs while the Mysterious Masked Man phased into Kamui Space.
• Inside Kamui Space, the Mysterious Masked Man discovered the Shadow Clone and heard it ask why he thought he had caught Naruto’s real body.