Chapter Summaries

Sasuke, Naruto, and their allies confronted Sasori and Deidara while pursuing Gaara, and Sasuke extracted information about Orochimaru from Sasori. The chapter left Sasori’s core with Chiyo and Sasuke dismissing Sasori’s meeting details as false.

• Naruto demanded that Sasori and Deidara return Gaara, and Sasuke explained that Gaara had died after his Tailed Beast was extracted.
• Sasuke charged Sasori, defeated Deidara’s clay birds, and evaded Sasori’s poisoned needles while Jiraiya protected the group.
• Sasuke destroyed Hiruko and attacked Sasori, but Chiyo asked to speak with her grandson before she could intervene.
• Sasuke fought through the Third Kazekage puppet’s iron sand and threatened Sasori until he named the Heaven and Earth Bridge in Kusagakure as Orochimaru’s location.
• Sasuke removed and sealed Sasori’s core, gave it to Chiyo, and told Naruto that Sasori’s information was false.

Second Pillar defeated Deidara, then returned to find that Granny Chiyo had sacrificed her life to revive Gaara. As the survivors mourned and made plans to investigate Orochimaru, Naruto reconciled Sasori with his past, leaving Sasuke exasperated by their new understanding.

• Second Pillar disabled Deidara’s explosive clay and survived Deidara’s self-destruction, killing him.
• Second Pillar learned that Granny Chiyo had used One’s Own Life Reincarnation to revive Gaara at the cost of her own life.
• Second Pillar explained Orochimaru’s revival techniques and warned that Orochimaru had concealed his strength and planted pieces of his soul.
• Gaara confronted Second Pillar over his judgment of Granny Chiyo, then calmed down and thanked the rescue party.
• Gaara offered to send Sasori with the others to investigate Orochimaru, while Naruto bonded with Sasori over losing his parents.

After Shimura Danzō killed the Land of Fire daimyō, Uchiha Meiji and the guards attacked his Root escort to avoid being blamed for failing to protect the daimyō. Uchiha Itachi covered for them, ordered their punishment, and planned to use the incident to remove Danzō from Konoha’s leadership.

• Shimura Danzō told Uchiha Meiji that the daimyō’s death was classified, but Meiji said the Uchiha guards would be blamed for failing to protect him.
• Uchiha Meiji led the guards in attacking Shimura Danzō and the Root ninja, leaving both Uchiha squads wounded and the Root squad dead.
• Uchiha Itachi accepted the guards’ explanation, ordered one squad to remain at the daimyō’s residence, and sent the rest to escort the daimyō’s widow to Konoha.
• Uchiha Itachi ordered the guards to confine themselves at Naka Shrine for three years and planned to tell the Third Hokage that Danzō had killed the daimyō after he agreed to their funding request.
• Uchiha Itachi reasoned that the daimyō’s death could help remove Shimura Danzō from Konoha’s upper ranks.

After the Fire Daimyō’s death, Konoha took control of the Land of Fire while Danzō was dismissed and Hiruzen focused on consolidating power. Later, Hiruzen asked Itachi to train Izumi, but Itachi refused, so Fugaku decided to teach his son Sharingan techniques instead.

• Konoha announced the Fire Daimyō’s abduction and death, then declared that the Land of Fire’s administration would come under Konoha’s control.
• Danzō was dismissed as Hokage advisor, while Hiruzen consolidated the Land of Fire’s military and political authority and declined Kirigakure’s proposed Five Kage Summit.
• With Akatsuki in hiding and Orochimaru missing, Izumi and Hana graduated from the Ninja Academy.
• Hiruzen asked Itachi to serve as Izumi’s jonin instructor, but Itachi refused because he was unsuited to teaching and had been Izumi’s classmate.
• Fugaku told Hiruzen to assign Izumi elsewhere after she became a chunin, then ordered Itachi to learn Sharingan ocular techniques from him.

In Konoha Year 60, Itachi argued that Karin should join the Medical Division rather than Team Seven, and revealed she had mastered Slug Sage Mode. At the Ninja Academy, Karin defeated Sasuke and restrained Naruto, leaving the boys determined to train harder.

• Hiruzen reviewed the graduation list, and Itachi asked him not to assign Karin to Team Seven because Tsunade planned to train her in the Medical Division.
• Itachi told Hiruzen that Karin had mastered Slug Sage Mode and was an exceptionally capable ninja.
• Sasuke opened the Sixth Gate and challenged Karin, but she used Sage Art: Tongue Tooth Sticky Acid to extinguish his Morning Peacock and knocked him unconscious with a punch.
• Karin used Sage Art: Super Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind Naruto and the Nine-Tails, then walked away.
• Naruto suggested asking Jiraiya to teach him Sage Mode, but Sasuke refused and vowed to master the Eight Gates; Sakura and Hinata encouraged them.

At dinner, Sasuke learned that Karin had been assigned to the Medical Department and might quickly rise to special jonin, while Kakashi would lead his new team. The chapter ended with Kakashi giving Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura a test they had to pass to graduate.

• Itachi told Sasuke that Kakashi would be his jonin instructor, and the family discussed Karin's exceptional placement under Tsunade.
• Fugaku warned Sasuke to work harder because Karin might soon become a chunin or special jonin.
• Asuma introduced himself as Team Ten's instructor, while Naruto and Sasuke questioned his strength and recalled that Kisame had beaten him.
• Kakashi appeared before Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura and announced a test that would determine whether they graduated.
• Kakashi warned Sasuke that failing the test would not be his responsibility, prompting Sasuke to fall silent.

Sasuke Uchiha and his Team Seven teammates prepared for Kakashi’s assessment by gathering information and supplies, while Sasuke asked his family for advice. Uchiha Itachi told him to fight desperately for the bells, leaving Kakashi and Jiraiya alarmed by the brothers’ interpretation of the test.

• Sasuke Uchiha assigned Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno tasks to investigate Kakashi’s assessment and prepare ninja tools.
• Team Seven searched Konoha for information and supplies, and Sasuke bought medicine and bandages from Shizune.
• Fugaku Uchiha told Sasuke that Kakashi wielded a powerful Sharingan, then left angrily when Sasuke dismissed its importance.
• Uchiha Itachi told Sasuke the assessment usually involved taking bells from the instructor and warned him to verify the bells and not trust the teacher’s words.
• Uchiha Itachi urged Sasuke to risk his life and fight with everything he had, while Kakashi and Jiraiya reacted to the brothers’ advice.

Team 7 began Kakashi’s bell test, but Naruto’s overwhelming shadow clones and Sasuke’s advanced techniques turned the exercise into a dangerous battle. Kakashi hid to avoid their attacks while the team regrouped and searched for him.

• Sasuke warned Naruto and Sakura that Kakashi might be lying about having only two bells, then assigned them roles for the attack.
• Naruto created over a thousand shadow clones, and the clones rushed Kakashi with Rasengan while Sasuke disguised himself among them.
• Sasuke attacked Kakashi with the Konoha Great Whirlwind and opened the Sixth Gate, forcing Kakashi to evade him.
• Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to unleash a destructive energy blast, but he could not form a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Kakashi hid in a nearby bush as Sasuke and Naruto recovered and tried to locate him.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura fought Kakashi during their bell test, which ended with Naruto and Sasuke defeating their instructor. Sasuke collapsed from the Eight Gates backlash, and the group took the injured Kakashi and Sasuke to the hospital.

• Naruto and Sasuke discovered Kakashi had used Lightning Clones as bait, while the real Kakashi captured Sakura.
• Kakashi offered Naruto and Sasuke the bells and threatened to send Sakura back to the Ninja Academy, but Sasuke refused to trust him and Naruto attacked with a Big Ball Rasengan.
• Kakashi used Kamui to absorb Naruto's Rasengan and bound Naruto, but Naruto summoned Adamantine Sealing Chains to hold Kakashi in place as Sasuke struck him.
• Sasuke collapsed, and Sakura searched Kakashi but found only two bells before the group agreed to take Kakashi and Sasuke to the hospital.
• Sasuke told Naruto and Sakura to tell Shizune that he was staying in that ward in Konoha Room 207 again.

After Team Seven hospitalized Kakashi, the Uchiha clan celebrated Sasuke’s feat while Konoha’s leaders discussed whether Kakashi should remain their instructor. Sasuke recovered in the hospital, where Karin announced her imminent promotion to chunin and transfer to Itachi’s personal guard, leaving Sasuke furious.

• The Uchiha clan praised Sasuke after he and his teammates sent Kakashi to the hospital, and Fugaku considered holding a clan meeting to celebrate.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered assigning Team Seven a new instructor, but Itachi argued that Kakashi should remain their jonin instructor.
• Tsunade reported that Kakashi and Sasuke were out of danger, then told Itachi that Kitahara was visiting Sasuke at the hospital.
• Itachi rushed to Konoha Hospital, where Sasuke asked Sakura about Kakashi’s condition and worried that they could not take missions for a while.
• Karin told Sasuke and Sakura that her chunin promotion should be approved next week and that she would join Itachi’s personal guard, angering Sasuke.

Team 7 began its ninja careers with a D-rank river-cleaning mission while Uchiha Itachi prepared to receive Sunagakure’s envoy. The envoy revealed himself as Kaguya Kimimaro, the last survivor of his clan, and Itachi recognized that he was seriously ill.

• Itachi found Sasuke sulking in the hospital after Karin left, and reassured him that Karin’s appointment as his personal guard had not been officially decided.
• More than half a month later, Kakashi and Sasuke left the hospital, and Team 7 gathered at the Mission Assembly Hall to receive its first mission.
• Karin revealed that she had been promoted to chunin, while Yamato told Kakashi that he now led Itachi’s personal guard unit.
• Kakashi chose a D-rank mission for Team 7 to clean up a river in a neighboring village, and Itachi sent them off.
• Yamato told Itachi that Sunagakure’s envoy would arrive at noon and Kisame would arrive the next morning, while Itachi postponed preparations for his Hokage portrait and ceremonial robe.
• Kimimaro arrived as Sunagakure’s envoy, introduced himself as the last surviving member of the Kaguya clan, and prompted Itachi to notice his serious illness.

Kimimaro warned Uchiha Itachi that Uchiha Madara was plotting a war and had captured Namikaze Minato through the Dragon Vein’s time-space gate. Itachi vowed to stop Madara and Orochimaru and send Minato back to his own era.

• Kimimaro met Uchiha Itachi and revealed that Uchiha Madara was gathering strength and planning to provoke a war between Sunagakure and Konoha.
• Kimimaro explained that Madara planned to enlist Moryo and its human puppets to bolster Sunagakure’s forces.
• Kimimaro told Itachi that Madara had released the Dragon Vein’s seal at the Ancient Kingdom of Roran, causing Namikaze Minato to travel into the present era.
• Kimimaro warned that Madara could use Minato to bargain for Uzumaki Naruto and that changes to history could threaten the ninja world.
• Kimimaro said Sunagakure would begin its war with Konoha when his illness killed him unless Itachi rescued Minato and thwarted Madara’s plot.
• Uchiha Itachi vowed not to let Uchiha Madara or Orochimaru escape his notice.

Namikaze Minato continued evading Uchiha Madara in the Land of Wind, while Madara planned to exploit the dragon vein and aid attacks on Kumogakure and Takigakure. In Konoha, Uchiha Itachi responded to reports of Madara’s destruction, then learned that Naruto’s parents’ Chakra manifestations had disappeared and left to face the crisis.

• Namikaze Minato escaped Madara’s pursuit, and Madara decided to absorb the Ancient Kingdom of Roran’s dragon-vein Chakra to force him to intervene.
• Black Zetsu urged Madara to capture Minato before Obito and Nagato attacked Kumogakure and Takigakure, and Madara used Planetary Devastation to destroy terrain where Minato might have left markings.
• Uchiha Itachi received reports of floating stone spheres over the Land of Wind and asked Karin to inform Tsunade that he needed to meet with her.
• Uchiha Itachi handed village authority to Tsunade, then went to Team Seven’s mission site and learned that Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato’s Chakra manifestations had disappeared.
• Uchiha Itachi comforted Naruto and Sasuke before leaving on a mission, telling Naruto to become a true ninja and hinting that he might bring back a surprise.

Orochimaru and Kabuto defended Sunagakure from Uchiha Madara while Uchiha Itachi arrived to confront Orochimaru. Orochimaru revealed his reanimated Kage and a reanimated Fourth Hokage, then urged Itachi to focus on rescuing the living Namikaze Minato.

• Orochimaru warned Kabuto that Uchiha Madara's attacks could bring down the Land of Wind, while Kabuto offered to fight him.
• Uchiha Itachi arrived on a black-flame dragon, and Kabuto raised a sand barrier using Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru revealed reanimated Kage, including Mū, A, the Third Kazekage, the Fourth Kazekage, and Hanzō, and Itachi recognized that Orochimaru had also revived the Second Mizukage.
• Hidan stepped forward to challenge Itachi, but Orochimaru ordered him to stand down and praised the value of his life.
• Orochimaru summoned a reanimated Fourth Hokage in Jinchuriki Mode and revealed Flying Thunder God barriers, then told Itachi that the living Namikaze Minato mattered more.

Orochimaru revealed that he had recovered the Fourth Hokage’s soul from the Reaper and reincarnated him with the Nine-Tails’ chakra. He bargained with Uchiha Itachi to deal with Uchiha Madara in exchange for lifting Konoha’s bounty and letting him continue his research, while Itachi left to prioritize rescuing Namikaze Minato.

• Orochimaru explained that he had studied the Reaper Death Seal and found a way to retrieve the Fourth Hokage’s soul from the Reaper.
• Orochimaru recounted the years of pressure and persecution that had driven him to develop ways to deceive death.
• Orochimaru offered to release the Fourth Hokage from Impure World Reincarnation and return the Nine-Tails’ half if Itachi dealt with Uchiha Madara, lifted Konoha’s bounty, and let him research in Sunagakure.
• Itachi accused Orochimaru of threatening him, then agreed to deal with Uchiha Madara before returning to Sunagakure to consider the Fourth Hokage’s situation.
• Itachi flew off to focus on Namikaze Minato, while Orochimaru asked Kabuto to go see whether Minato could reveal true sage power.

At the dragon vein in the Ancient Kingdom of Roran, Uchiha Madara confronted Namikaze Minato as Uchiha Itachi arrived to stop him from claiming its Chakra. Itachi revealed that he had already become Hokage, provoking Madara as the two prepared to face off.

• Uchiha Madara wounded Namikaze Minato while Minato tried to seal the dragon vein's Chakra and keep it from Madara.
• Black Zetsu told Uchiha Madara that Uchiha Itachi was approaching, and Madara chose to confront him despite Black Zetsu's warning.
• Uchiha Itachi arrived with immense Sage Chakra and a crow, drawing Uchiha Madara's interest.
• Uchiha Itachi checked Namikaze Minato's injuries, and the two introduced themselves as Hokage candidates from different timelines.
• Uchiha Madara questioned why Itachi would serve Konoha, and Itachi said he had already become Hokage and would hold his succession ceremony that year.
• Uchiha Itachi taunted Uchiha Madara for never becoming Hokage, and Madara prepared to answer with Fire Release.

Uchiha Itachi challenged Uchiha Madara in the Ancient Kingdom of Roran, and the two Uchiha fought while Madara praised Itachi and boasted about his own strength. Their battle escalated to complete-body Susanoo before a giant crow interrupted, leaving the duel unresolved.

• Uchiha Itachi told Uchiha Madara that he would not spare him despite their shared clan, and the two began fighting in the Ancient Kingdom of Roran.
• Uchiha Itachi used sage-powered wings and feather needles to shatter Madara's second-form Susanoo, then attacked with Yin and Yang Flame Swords.
• Uchiha Madara praised Itachi's talent, blocked his attacks with Yin-Yang Release rods, and expanded his Susanoo into its complete form.
• Uchiha Itachi summoned a black-flame dragon, but Madara's Susanoo cut off its head with one slash.
• A gigantic crow tengu seized Susanoo's head in its talon and interrupted the battle as it questioned Madara's dramatic intensity.

Kitahara overwhelmed Uchiha Madara while Uchiha Itachi and Orochimaru negotiated a secret alliance involving Sunagakure, research, and Orochimaru’s freedom. Namikaze Minato returned to his own time, and the chapter ended as Madara revealed a pair of Rinnegan and attempted to absorb Kitahara’s chakra.

• Kitahara tore apart Uchiha Madara’s Perfect Susanoo, ignored his genjutsu, and crushed his Impure World Reincarnation body.
• Uchiha Itachi asked Namikaze Minato whether he wanted to visit his loved ones, but Minato chose to return to his own time through the Dragon Vein.
• Orochimaru agreed to leave Sunagakure’s affairs to Kabuto and proposed sharing research with Konoha in exchange for freedom to continue his work.
• Uchiha Itachi agreed to discuss Orochimaru’s proposal with Lady Tsunade, while Orochimaru released his control over the Impure World Fourth Hokage.
• Uchiha Madara revealed a pair of Rinnegan and pressed his hands against Kitahara’s claw, attempting to use Sealing Technique Absorption.

Kitahara overwhelmed Uchiha Madara’s attacks, then absorbed the rampaging Dragon Vein Chakra and gained Six Paths-level power and new techniques. Madara escaped while Kitahara tested its upgraded abilities across the Land of Wind.

• Uchiha Madara summoned two meteors with Tengai Shinsei, but Kitahara caught one and smashed the other apart.
• Uchiha Madara triggered the Dragon Vein Chakra to distract his pursuers, then fled with Black Zetsu.
• Kitahara absorbed the Dragon Vein Chakra, awakening new Chakra natures, bloodlines, and Six Paths-level senjutsu.
• Kitahara tested its new abilities by unleashing a Great Fireball and other ninjutsu across the desert.
• Kitahara summoned the True Several Thousand Hands as Uchiha Itachi watched in surprise.

Kitahara brought the reanimated Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, to the Land of Waves, where Senju Tobirama learned that Uchiha Madara had escaped and that Kitahara had absorbed the Dragon Vein’s Chakra. Kitahara revealed new abilities, leaving Tobirama overwhelmed as he ordered Zabuza to arrange Minato’s room and take Kitahara outside.

• After Kitahara unleashed its techniques across the Land of Wind, Namikaze Minato declined Uchiha Itachi’s offer to visit Konoha and see Naruto.
• Uchiha Itachi sent Kitahara and Minato to the Land of Waves while he returned to the village.
• Momochi Zabuza told Senju Tobirama that Gato had escaped by boat, and Tobirama ordered him to locate Gato and issue a wanted notice.
• Kitahara appeared in Tobirama’s office with Minato, who explained that Orochimaru had revived him and that Uchiha Madara had escaped using Dragon Vein Chakra.
• Tobirama demanded to know why Kitahara had not summoned him and Hashirama to fight Madara, and Kitahara restrained him with Wood Release vines.
• Kitahara demonstrated that it could use multiple bloodline techniques, and Tobirama ordered Zabuza to house Minato and escort Kitahara outside.