Chapter Summaries

At dinner, Sasuke received a report-card compliment from Mikoto while Fugaku compared him to Itachi and Izumi. The next day, Itachi, Sasuke, and a crowd of classmates gathered at Naruto’s house to visit him and check his seal, where they found him looking unwell.

• Fugaku praised Sasuke’s report card cautiously, while Mikoto reassured him that first place at the Ninja Academy was an achievement.
• Itachi invited Sasuke and Kitahara to visit Naruto and inspect his seal the next day.
• Itachi and Sasuke arrived at Naruto’s home, where Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, Hinata, and Karin had gathered to visit him.
• Neji and Karin nearly fought after trading insults, but Itachi stopped them.
• Naruto opened the door with panda eyes, and Shikamaru told him they had come to visit.

Naruto told Uchiha Itachi that he had learned the man inside him was his father, Namikaze Minato, and that the Nine-Tails was sealed within him. Itachi took Naruto to the sealed space to meet Minato and the increasingly agitated Nine-Tails.

• Naruto’s friends confronted him about his distracted behavior, but he sent them away so he could speak privately with Uchiha Itachi.
• Naruto told Itachi that Minato had revealed himself as his father and that the Nine-Tails’ presence had to remain secret.
• Naruto recalled arguing with Minato and nearly trying to remove the seal after the Nine-Tails provoked him; Minato stopped him by warning that the fox would destroy Konoha and cost him his friends.
• Itachi summoned Kitahara in crow form and brought Naruto to the sealed water prison, where the Nine-Tails recognized the visitors.
• The Nine-Tails tried to provoke Itachi by calling Kitahara his enslaved ninja beast, but Itachi said they were friends and that he, the First Hokage, and the Second Hokage served under Kitahara.

The Nine-Tails tried to use the threat of the Ten-Tails to persuade Uchiha Itachi to loosen its seal, but learned that Itachi already knew about the threat and had confronted Uchiha Madara. After realizing Kitahara had exposed its attempt to manipulate them, the Nine-Tails asked Itachi to give Naruto enough power to protect himself.

• Itachi met with Minato and said Naruto had reported something unusual about the Nine-Tails.
• Minato told Itachi that someone was capturing tailed beasts to revive the Ten-Tails, and Itachi replied that they had already identified Uchiha Madara and Orochimaru as likely culprits.
• The Nine-Tails offered to help Itachi kill Madara, then froze when Itachi revealed Madara had already been revived and escaped.
• Itachi explained the Sage of Six Paths had divided the Ten-Tails' Chakra among the nine tailed beasts, prompting the Nine-Tails to question how he knew that secret.
• The Nine-Tails realized Itachi had been repeating Kitahara's claims and asked him to loosen its seal so Naruto could gain enough strength to protect himself.

Kitahara opened the Nine-Tails’ seal, overpowered it as a Crow Tengu, and began sealing it again while Uzumaki Kushina reunited with Uzumaki Naruto and Namikaze Minato. The Nine-Tails ended the chapter pleading with Kitahara to talk things over.

• Uchiha Itachi rejected the Nine-Tails’ offer to lend Uzumaki Naruto its Chakra, and Kitahara reinforced the seal after learning the Nine-Tails could use Kurama Mode.
• Kitahara opened the sealing cage and transformed into a Crow Tengu, then restrained the rampaging Nine-Tails.
• Uzumaki Kushina emerged from the broken seal and reunited with Uzumaki Naruto and Namikaze Minato.
• Kitahara bombarded the Nine-Tails with Tailed Beast Bombs, hurled it back into its cage, and began drawing the Four Symbols Seal.
• The Nine-Tails recognized Kitahara was about to seal it again and pleaded to discuss the matter.

Uzumaki Naruto and Kurama negotiated a rental agreement that let Kurama provide Chakra while Naruto trained and protected them both. The chapter left Kurama wary of Kushina’s plans to restrain it, while Naruto hoped to become its friend.

• Uchiha Itachi and Kitahara argued with Kurama over whether it should remain confined or be allowed to fight.
• Uzumaki Kushina proposed dividing Kurama’s Chakra and leaving only a small amount inside Naruto, but Naruto said he wanted to be Kurama’s friend.
• Uzumaki Naruto and Kurama reached a verbal agreement defining their duties, limits, and plans for handling danger.
• Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina remained in the seal to help restrain Kurama, while Kitahara retained final authority over the agreement’s interpretation.
• Uzumaki Kushina urged Naruto to learn Adamantine Sealing Chains, prompting Kurama to worry that Naruto would use them to restrain it.

On the last day of Konoha Year 54, news that Kisame Hoshigaki had abolished the Land of Water’s daimyo system shocked Hiruzen Sarutobi and threatened to destabilize Konoha’s alliances. Kisame revealed that Tsunade had prompted the move to clear obstacles to Uchiha Itachi becoming Hokage, while Senju Tobirama confronted him over the coup.

• Uzumaki Kushina comforted Naruto in the sealing space, and Uchiha Itachi planned for him to train with Sasuke the next day, but Naruto chose to care for Jiraiya and wait for his promised ninjutsu lesson.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Kakashi about ANBU intelligence from Sunagakure and worried that Rasa’s usurpation had strained relations between Konoha and the Land of Wind.
• An ANBU shinobi delivered urgent news that Kisame Hoshigaki had seized the Land of Water daimyo’s residence, abolished the daimyo system, and recommended Terumi Mei as Fifth Mizukage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Konoha’s leaders after learning of Kisame’s actions and feared the upheaval would influence the Land of Fire’s daimyo.
• In Kirigakure’s Mizukage office, Senju Tobirama accused Kisame Hoshigaki of provoking Konoha, and Kisame said Tsunade had ordered the move to help Uchiha Itachi become Hokage.

Senju Tobirama took charge of Kirigakure’s government and criticized its leaders for abolishing the Land of Water’s daimyo system without a plan to support the economy. He ordered Kirigakure to recover its missing Six-Tails jinchuriki and prepare a public list of the daimyo’s crimes.

• Senju Tobirama questioned Kisame Hoshigaki and Kirigakure’s leaders about how they would govern the Land of Water and keep its economy stable after abolishing the daimyo system.
• Terumi Mei defended Kirigakure’s control of the Land of Water and its trade, while Momochi Zabuza noted that the organization was already well funded.
• Senju Tobirama appointed Haku as his assistant and announced that he would temporarily handle Kirigakure and the Land of Water’s affairs.
• Senju Tobirama discovered that Utakata, Kirigakure’s Six-Tails jinchuriki, was on the wanted list and ordered Kisame Hoshigaki to find him and send him to the Land of Waves.
• Senju Tobirama instructed Kisame Hoshigaki to publish a list of the Land of Water daimyo’s crimes, and Kisame agreed.

Konoha’s leaders debated how to respond to the daimyo crisis after Kirigakure and Kumogakure took drastic action. Uchiha Itachi proposed withholding full protection from the Fire Country Daimyo unless he funded Konoha properly, leaving the village able to preserve its position while the crisis unfolded.

• Kirigakure publicized accusations against the Water Country Daimyo, intensifying conflict between shinobi villages and daimyo.
• Konoha’s leaders argued over whether to seize control of the Fire Country Daimyo’s court or abolish the daimyo system, and Tsunade proposed gathering evidence of his crimes.
• Kakashi delivered intelligence that the Fourth Raikage had moved the Lightning Country Daimyo’s court into Kumogakure and rapidly taken control of the country’s cities and towns.
• Shimura Danzō and Fugaku Uchiha clashed over whether Konoha should imitate Kumogakure or Kirigakure.
• Uchiha Itachi argued that if the Fire Country Daimyo failed to fund Konoha, the village was not obligated to fully protect him, and Sarutobi Hiruzen approved the approach.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Shimura Danzō to prepare for a possible confrontation with the Fire Country Daimyo, while Uchiha Itachi went to negotiate Konoha’s funding. Itachi found that the Uchiha guards had terrorized the Daimyo, who offered full funding if Konoha withdrew its protection.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi hinted that Shimura Danzō should arrange matters at the Daimyo’s Palace if negotiations failed, and Danzō decided to make arrangements that would surprise Uchiha Itachi.
• Uchiha Itachi arrived at the Fire Country Daimyo’s Palace with an ANBU squad and learned from Uchiha Meiji that the Daimyo’s officials distrusted Konoha and had delayed its funding.
• Uchiha Meiji’s men killed wandering ninja hired by the Daimyo, frightening Itachi with their aggressive methods and leaving the Daimyo’s residence in terror.
• Uchiha Itachi identified himself as Konoha’s Fifth Hokage candidate and asked the Daimyo to release the village’s budget.
• The Fire Country Daimyo offered to discuss any amount of funding if Konoha withdrew the Uchiha guards, leaving Itachi stunned.

Shimura Danzō entered the Fire Daimyō’s residence to help the officials resist Konoha, but Uchiha Itachi and his clansmen caught him there. Danzō killed the Fire Daimyō and officials, then framed the killings as a secret Konoha operation, leaving Itachi to let him go.

• Shimura Danzō met with the Fire Daimyō and his officials, offering to help them while seeking to expand his own influence.
• Uchiha Meiji’s night-watch patrol discovered intruders at the residence and surrounded Shimura Danzō.
• Shimura Danzō used his status as the Hokage’s envoy and Uchiha Itachi’s succession prospects to deter the Uchiha from attacking him.
• Uchiha Itachi questioned Shimura Danzō about his meeting with the Fire Daimyō, and the Daimyō began to reveal their discussion.
• Shimura Danzō killed the Fire Daimyō and the officials, claiming he had acted for Konoha, and Uchiha Itachi let him leave.

Sasuke returned to Konoha after clearing one of Orochimaru’s bases, but he believed he had been trapped in a Tsukuyomi world where his brother was a missing-nin. Kakashi and Team Seven realized Sasuke’s memories and identity did not match their world, and the chapter ended with him deciding this world might still be worthwhile because he could see Shizune and Karin.

• An Anbu ninja interrupted Naruto and Sakura’s bell test with Kakashi and handed Kakashi evidence from an Orochimaru base before revealing himself as Sasuke.
• Naruto demanded to know why Sasuke had returned, while Kakashi suspected he had defected to help the village hunt Orochimaru.
• Kakashi threatened Sasuke, believing he was an impostor, and Sasuke complained that Kitahara had sent him into a Tsukuyomi world.
• Sakura explained that Sasuke’s brother Itachi had slaughtered their clan, and Sasuke responded as though he had amnesia and believed Itachi was his enemy.
• Sasuke learned that he had joined Orochimaru to gain power and kill Itachi, then decided the world might be acceptable if he could see Shizune and Karin.

Second Pillar returned to Konoha pretending to have lost his memory and asked Tsunade for help killing Uchiha Itachi, while offering to help capture Orochimaru. Tsunade assigned him to Team Seven and Kakashi’s bell test, where Sasuke secretly marked Kakashi with a Flying Thunder God formula.

• Second Pillar greeted Shizune, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, then requested a private room at Konoha Hospital.
• Kakashi opened Sasuke’s scroll, spilling Orochimaru’s equipment, money, and a large snake; Sasuke said Orochimaru had escaped with part of his chakra.
• Second Pillar said he needed Konoha’s power to kill Uchiha Itachi, and Tsunade offered to consider pardoning him if he helped capture Orochimaru.
• Tsunade assigned Sasuke to Team Seven and Kakashi’s bell test; Sasuke asked whether he could use the Eight Gates Technique.
• Sasuke marked Kakashi’s hand with a Flying Thunder God formula while pretending to ask him to go easy, then watched the mark disappear.

Sasuke used the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Eight Gates to overpower Kakashi during the bell test. Kakashi avoided Sasuke’s strongest attacks and realized he would have to outlast him.

• Sasuke appeared beside Kakashi using the Flying Thunder God Technique, which Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Naruto recognized.
• Sasuke attacked Kakashi, but his kick struck a Lightning Clone, and Kakashi countered with a Water Dragon Bullet.
• Sasuke opened the Fifth Gate and defeated Kakashi in their taijutsu exchange, sending him flying from the mist.
• Kakashi raised an Earth Wall to escape, but Sasuke smashed through it and insisted that defeating his teacher would let him take the bells.
• Sasuke opened the Sixth Gate and moved too quickly for Kakashi to approach, prompting Kakashi to plan to outlast him as the Eight Gates drained Sasuke’s stamina.
• In a brief exchange, Itachi advised Sasuke that winning the bell test meant defeating his teacher and taking the bells.

Sasuke overwhelmed Kakashi in the bell test with his taijutsu, Lightning Release Armor, and Seventh Gate. He took the bell after a Daytime Tiger devastated the battlefield, then tried to heal the injured Kakashi.

• Sasuke used Morning Peacock to break through Kakashi's defenses, and Kakashi realized he could not match Sasuke's speed.
• Kakashi used Kamui to absorb the flames, but Sasuke charged in and countered Kakashi's Lightning Blade with Lightning Release Armor.
• Kakashi fled and sent out two Shadow Clones, so Sasuke opened the Seventh Gate and used Daytime Tiger to destroy the forest and injure Kakashi.
• Sasuke appeared beside Kakashi, took the bell, and attempted to treat his injuries with basic medical ninjutsu.
• Jiraiya advised Kakashi to hide or pretend to be defeated before the next bell-grabbing test.

Sasuke clashed with Danzo’s Root after Kakashi was hospitalized, then revealed his knowledge of Akatsuki when Konoha learned Gaara had been captured. The chapter left Tsunade and Jiraiya preparing to respond to the crisis with Sasuke’s information about the organization.

• Tsunade confirmed Kakashi had survived emergency treatment, and Sasuke demonstrated Susanoo before Tsunade shattered its skeletal frame with a punch.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed replacing Kakashi as Team Seven’s leader, but an ANBU ninja reported that Sasuke had fought Danzo’s Root.
• Sasuke explained that Root had come to seize him, warned Sai that he would kill Danzo for Shisui, and stopped fighting when Tsunade ordered him to stand down.
• An intelligence ninja reported that Akatsuki had captured Gaara, and Sasuke offered information about Akatsuki and its ties to Orochimaru.
• Sasuke told Tsunade and Jiraiya that Nagato and Konan led Akatsuki and had once been Jiraiya’s disciples, while he speculated that Yahiko might be dead.

Sasuke’s team reached Sunagakure, where Sakura saved Kankuro from a deadly poison and Chiyo joined the pursuit of the Akatsuki. As the team traveled in Sasuke’s Susanoo, they found a White Zetsu clone, confirming they were on the right trail to recover Gaara.

• Sasuke arrived in Sunagakure with his team aboard Complete Body Susanoo, startling the village’s ninjas.
• Baki reported that Gaara had been taken and Kankuro would die within three days without treatment; Sakura successfully treated him.
• Sasuke identified Chiyo as Sasori’s grandmother and warned the others to be cautious, while Chiyo volunteered to join the pursuit.
• Sasuke’s Susanoo carried the team toward the Akatsuki, and its sword strike split a mountain while destroying a White Zetsu clone.
• Sasuke recognized the clone as Zetsu and said its discovery meant the team was heading in the right direction.

Sasuke and his allies reached Akatsuki while the organization was extracting the One-Tail, and Black Zetsu warned that Sasuke’s complete Susanoo made him a major threat. Sasuke attacked the Akatsuki forces and faced Susanoo-wielding Itachi and a masked man, while he and Naruto disagreed over how dangerous their opponents were.

• Black Zetsu warned Akatsuki that Sasuke’s complete Susanoo and the allies accompanying him made the approaching threat far greater than expected.
• Itachi volunteered to confront Sasuke, but Black Zetsu insisted that Akatsuki finish extracting the One-Tail and send Shape-Shifting puppets to delay the group.
• Sasuke criticized Naruto for lacking Sage Mode and struggled to sense the One-Tail’s location as Jiraiya defended his own Sage Mode.
• Sasuke spotted Akatsuki below and attacked with his Susanoo, scattering the Shape-Shifting puppets with two powerful sword-energy strikes.
• Itachi and the masked man each brought out a half-body Susanoo to block Sasuke’s attacks, while Sasuke joked about his brother and warned Naruto that more enemies might be present.

Second Pillar and his allies faced Akatsuki’s Susanoo-wielding fighters while the One-Tail extraction continued. Second Pillar shattered the enemy’s defenses and killed Kisame, then turned his attention to another target.

• Second Pillar assigned Naruto and himself to attack, with Jiraiya providing cover and Chiyo and Sakura supporting them.
• Second Pillar teleported his purple Susanoo above the masked man and struck at his blue Susanoo, while Akatsuki’s masked man ordered Black Zetsu to teach Nagato powerful sealing techniques.
• Second Pillar severed Itachi’s Susanoo arm, and Itachi withdrew from the battle.
• Kisame joined the masked man’s defense, but Second Pillar destroyed the blue Susanoo, opened the Seventh Gate, and killed Kisame with Daytime Tiger.
• Second Pillar dismissed his Susanoo and told the others to form up, then announced that he would go kill Kisame before attacking the corpse.

Second Pillar overwhelmed the Akatsuki’s Elephant Turned Clones as they tried to delay Konoha’s rescue of the Fifth Kazekage. He exposed Uchiha Obito’s identity and marked him with Flying Thunder God, leaving Obito facing the prospect of Sasuke’s Eight Gates Technique.

• Second Pillar warned Jiraiya about Kakuzu and Hidan while Jiraiya prepared to face Konan with Sage Mode and summoned Fukasaku and Shima.
• Second Pillar struck the Akatsuki’s position with Sky Shattering Strike, destroying most of their Elephant Turned Clones while Konan, Uchiha Itachi, and the masked man survived.
• Konan and the masked man discussed how little time they had to hold off Second Pillar, and Uchiha Itachi said even his real body would struggle to defeat him.
• Uchiha Itachi used Amaterasu, but Second Pillar repelled the flames and mocked his brother for relying on Mangekyō Sharingan powers.
• The masked man attacked Second Pillar with Wood Release, but Second Pillar marked him with Flying Thunder God and identified him as Uchiha Obito.
• Uchiha Itachi said Second Pillar could not be his younger brother, and Second Pillar activated the Eight Gates Technique as Obito protested that the fight was unfair.

Second Pillar defeated Obito’s assault and spoke with Uchiha Itachi before Itachi departed with a warning about Gaara and Orochimaru. Meanwhile, Pain began extracting Shukaku and ordered Deidara and Sasori to withdraw, leaving Sasori to prepare the Third Kazekage puppet against Second Pillar.

• Obito attacked Second Pillar with Fire Style, but Second Pillar repelled the flames and used a Shadow Clone and Flying Thunder God to strike him.
• Second Pillar smashed Obito’s body with a powerful punch, but Obito survived by using Izanagi after killing the Shadow Clone in the Kamui dimension.
• Uchiha Itachi warned Second Pillar that Obito was not dead and told him to find Gaara and investigate Orochimaru’s base in the Land of Sound.
• Naruto, Sakura, Chiyo, and Jiraiya reacted to Second Pillar’s strength, while Jiraiya doubted he could control Sasuke.
• Pain extracted Shukaku into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and ordered Deidara and Sasori to withdraw.
• Sasori prepared a scroll containing the Third Kazekage, hoping its Magnet Release could defend against Second Pillar.