Chapter Summaries

Pushi and Isshiki escaped through Alternate Space while Shihōin Naraku remained trapped in the Time-Sealing Box. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha returned to Konoha with the wounded and reported the battle, leaving Jiraiya and the others worried as they awaited Naraku’s promised return.

• Ōtsutsuki Pushi collected Momoshiki’s body and escaped with Isshiki through Yomotsu Hirasaka, leaving Shihōin Naraku frozen in Alternate Space.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha arrived at Konoha with the injured survivors, and Tsunade sent them to the hospital for treatment.
• Jiraiya took Naruto and Sasuke to the Hokage Building, where they recounted the ambush by Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Kinshiki Otsutsuki and Naraku’s pursuit of the escaping enemies.
• Naruto and Sasuke told Jiraiya, Shikaku Nara, and Kakashi Hatake that Momoshiki and Isshiki had been badly hurt and that Naraku expected to return in a day.
• Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Shikaku worried that Naraku had chased the enemies into Alternate Space alone and hoped he would return safely.

After Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha reported their encounter with three Ōtsutsuki, Jiraiya and the others planned how to conceal Shihōin Naraku’s disappearance while he fought two enemies in an Alternate Space. They decided to suppress the news and let outsiders assume Naruto and Sasuke had fought the Ōtsutsuki, but the discussion was interrupted by Tsunade’s arrival.

• Jiraiya ordered Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to leave the meeting and rest after hearing their report about Momoshiki Otsutsuki, Kinshiki Otsutsuki, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Jiraiya told Shikaku and Kakashi to keep the battle at the Land of Rivers Border and Naraku’s absence secret to prevent panic among Konoha’s visitors and other villages.
• Shikaku warned that spies would report the battle’s vast destruction and that the other Kage might learn of it by the next day.
• Kakashi pointed out that Naraku was fighting two Ōtsutsuki in an Alternate Space where Konoha could neither observe nor assist him.
• Shikaku reasoned that outsiders would likely assume Naruto and Sasuke had fought the Ōtsutsuki, diverting attention from Naraku until he could return.
• Tsunade strode into the meeting room and interrupted the discussion.

After learning that Naraku had pursued Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and a wounded Momoshiki into an alternate space alone, Tsunade worried about his safety and agreed to wait for his promised return. To conceal his absence and keep Konoha prepared, she chose Jiraiya to impersonate the Hokage until Naraku came back.

• Tsunade heard Jiraiya recount how Naraku entered an alternate space alone to pursue Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and Momoshiki.
• Tsunade feared Naraku could be ambushed or worn down, but agreed to wait because he had promised to return within a day.
• Shikaku explained the plan to conceal the Hokage’s absence, attribute the Land of Rivers Border battle to Naruto and Sasuke, and strengthen Konoha’s security.
• Tsunade chose Jiraiya to impersonate Naraku, and Kakashi and Shikaku agreed that he was the best temporary choice.
• Tsunade ordered Shikaku to prepare Jiraiya with Naraku’s schedule and habits and to warn Naruto and Sasuke, then told Jiraiya to practice before meeting the other villages’ Kage.

With Shihōin Naraku missing, Jiraiya impersonated the Hokage through a day of meetings with visiting daimyo as Konoha prepared for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials. He managed to keep the deception intact with Shikaku’s briefing and Tsunade’s help.

• Jiraiya studied Naraku’s mannerisms and practiced imitating him, but struggled to match his expression and presence.
• As foreign delegations and the other Four Great Shinobi Villages gathered in Konoha, Shikaku briefed Jiraiya on his meetings and Tsunade corrected his posture and warned him to keep his answers brief.
• Jiraiya met with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and smoothly followed Shikaku’s prepared responses about trade routes.
• Jiraiya used short, restrained replies to get through a difficult meeting with the Daimyo of the Land of Earth.
• With Tsunade’s help, Jiraiya completed the meeting with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the nobles without exposing the impersonation.

Jiraiya endured a morning of diplomatic meetings while impersonating Shihōin Naraku, then worried that he might give himself away. Meanwhile, the Four Kage learned of a massive battle near Ōtsutsuki Isshiki’s abandoned base and went to demand an explanation from Konoha, where the Hokage invited them to a meeting.

• Tsunade reassured Jiraiya after the morning meetings, then sent him on to handle more of the day’s engagements.
• Jiraiya met with foreign daimyo, nobles, and trade representatives while pretending to be Shihōin Naraku, then rested in the Hokage's Office and hoped Naraku would return soon.
• Gaara received intelligence about a large battle near the Land of Rivers border and suspected it involved powerful shinobi or the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Mei Terumi and Kurotsuchi compared the report and agreed that Konoha should explain the battle, then encountered Burūi on their way to the Hokage Building.
• Gaara joined the other three Kage, and a Konoha Anbu invited them to meet with the Hokage for an explanation.

Jiraiya, posing as Shihōin Naraku, briefed the Four Kage on the battle at the Land of Rivers border and revealed that three Ōtsutsuki enemies had appeared. He told them Kinshiki Otsutsuki was dead while Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had escaped, leaving the Kage alarmed and demanding answers.

• The Four Kage followed Konoha ANBU to meet Shihōin Naraku, wary of how he would handle their questions.
• Jiraiya, disguised as Shihōin Naraku, told the Four Kage that the border battle had involved enemies from the Ōtsutsuki Clan and that the threat had been eliminated.
• Jiraiya revealed that Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Kinshiki Otsutsuki had joined Ōtsutsuki Isshiki as enemies in the battle.
• Gaara asked whether the Ōtsutsuki enemies had been driven back or killed.
• Jiraiya said Kinshiki Otsutsuki was dead, while Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had escaped, prompting the Four Kage to question how they escaped and whether the Search Team had defeated them.

Jiraiya, impersonating Shihōin Naraku, explained Konoha’s failure to notify the other villages about the Ōtsutsuki attack and claimed Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had fought the invaders. Shikaku Nara then justified their victory by contrasting the three Ōtsutsuki enemies’ abilities with Kaguya’s immortality.

• Burūi, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Gaara challenged Jiraiya over the escaped Ōtsutsuki enemies and Konoha’s failure to warn the other villages.
• Shikaku Nara said the attack had come too suddenly for a joint notification and that the wounded enemies could not launch another large-scale offensive soon.
• Gaara, Kurotsuchi, and Mei questioned how the Search Team could have fought the Ōtsutsuki, so Jiraiya claimed Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had engaged them.
• Jiraiya said Naruto was recuperating and Sasuke was pursuing the fleeing enemies, while assuring the Four Kage that neither had life-threatening injuries.
• Burūi questioned how Naruto and Sasuke could defeat Ōtsutsuki without Shihōin Naraku, so Shikaku explained that Kaguya had been uniquely difficult to seal because of her power and immortality.
• Shikaku described Isshiki, Momoshiki, and Kinshiki’s differing abilities and said Naruto and Sasuke had won despite Isshiki remaining in better condition after the battle.

Shikaku briefed the Four Kage on Konoha’s intelligence about the Ōtsutsuki, explaining Kinshiki’s abilities and Momoshiki’s ninjutsu absorption, countermeasures, and recovery. He then began outlining Ōtsutsuki Isshiki’s strength, saying it exceeded Momoshiki’s.

• The Four Kage accepted Shikaku’s explanation and asked what Konoha knew about Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Shikaku reported that Kinshiki Otsutsuki relied mainly on powerful taijutsu and could create ninja tools, an ability Momoshiki gained after devouring him.
• Shikaku explained that Momoshiki could absorb ninjutsu with the Rinnegan in his palms, amplify it, and send it back, making taijutsu the effective way to fight him.
• Shikaku said Momoshiki could use red medicinal pills to heal injuries and increase his chakra, so units facing him needed to prepare for a prolonged battle.
• Shikaku began discussing Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and stated that his strength exceeded Momoshiki’s.

Shikaku briefed the Four Kage on Momoshiki and Isshiki’s dangerous abilities, including ninjutsu absorption, shrinking attacks, and space-time ninjutsu. Jiraiya said Konoha would wait for intelligence while preparing for war, and the Kage took comfort in Shihōin Naraku’s promise to act once the enemies’ location was found.

• Shikaku explained that Isshiki could shrink himself and objects, store them in an alternate space, and launch them without warning.
• Shikaku told the Four Kage that Isshiki and Momoshiki could use space-time ninjutsu to escape or relocate during a fight.
• Gaara summarized the threats and confirmed that his understanding matched Konoha’s intelligence.
• Burūi asked Jiraiya what Konoha planned to do, and Jiraiya said he would act once the enemies’ location was known.
• Jiraiya told the Kage to prepare their villages’ defenses, and Shikaku agreed to distribute recommendations for dealing with Momoshiki and Isshiki.

Jiraiya impersonated Shihōin Naraku to manage Konoha’s affairs and reassure the Four Kage, but Naraku failed to return by nightfall. Kakashi and Shikaku feared he might be unable to get back, and Naruto and Sasuke arrived to find there was still no news.

• Mei Terumi, Kurotsuchi, Burūi, and Gaara thanked Konoha for its intelligence and left to adjust their villages’ defenses.
• After the Four Kage departed, Jiraiya admitted his relief, while Tsunade warned him that impersonating Naraku for too long risked exposing them.
• Jiraiya finished a day of official duties, but Tsunade pointed out that Naraku still had not returned as expected.
• Kakashi reasoned that Naraku’s failure to return meant he might be unable to get back, and Shikaku noted he was facing enemies from the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha arrived and asked whether Naraku had returned, but Tsunade and Kakashi confirmed there was no news.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the others waited for Shihōin Naraku to return, but midnight passed without him appearing. With Sasuke unable to open a portal using the coordinates he memorized, Tsunade decided to retrieve the Flying Thunder God Technique scroll to help them reach Naraku.

• Jiraiya asked Naruto and Sasuke to confirm that Naraku had promised to return within a day, and they both affirmed it.
• After midnight passed with no sign of Naraku, Naruto feared something had happened to him, and Shikaku urged Konoha to prepare for the consequences.
• Kakashi asked Naruto and Sasuke whether they remembered the alternate space's coordinates; Naruto did not, while Sasuke had memorized them but could not open a portal.
• Tsunade ordered Shikaku to bring the Flying Thunder God Technique scroll from the forbidden technique room.
• Tsunade told Naruto that the scroll also contained Minato Namikaze's and Naraku's understanding of Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Tsunade gave Sasuke the Flying Thunder God scroll and Space-Time Ninjutsu research so he could try to open a portal to the Alternate Space and recover Shihōin Naraku. She also ordered Jiraiya to keep impersonating Naraku and Kakashi to ensure the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials ran smoothly.

• Tsunade gave Sasuke the scroll and told him to study Minato Namikaze's and Shihōin Naraku's research on Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Sasuke read the scroll, said he needed time to train and experiment, and left to study somewhere quiet with Naruto following him.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya to continue impersonating Naraku so Konoha would not reveal the Hokage's disappearance before the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Tsunade ordered Kakashi to make every aspect of the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials foolproof and coordinate with Jiraiya when the Hokage's presence was needed.

Tsunade ordered Konoha to secretly strengthen its defenses and monitor for signs of Naraku or the Ōtsutsuki while Sasuke studied the Flying Thunder God Technique but could not open a Space-Time Portal. As the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials proceeded without Naraku, Jiraiya continued impersonating him, and the story left seven days before the final matches.

• Tsunade told Shikaku to discreetly raise Konoha’s security and have the Hyuga Clan and Barrier Team watch for unusual chakra fluctuations, especially traces of Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Sasuke studied Minato and Naraku’s notes on the Flying Thunder God Technique while Naruto visited him and worried about Naraku’s absence.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya received no intelligence about Naraku, the Alternate Space, or the Ōtsutsuki as Sasuke continued training without managing to open a portal.
• Jiraiya, disguised as Naraku, announced the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, and the written test, survival exercise, and preliminary matches took place.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade he feared he would give himself away, and she reassured him as the advancing genin began training for the final matches scheduled seven days later.

Shihōin Naraku remained trapped in Ōtsutsuki Pushi’s Time-Sealing Box, but he discovered that his chakra was slowly recovering despite his frozen body. He concluded that his mental energy had escaped the time freeze, giving him a possible clue to breaking free.

• Shihōin Naraku failed to break the seal with his depleted chakra and reasoned that the Chunin Ninja Exams were likely approaching their final round.
• Naraku trusted Kakashi Hatake, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shikaku Nara to manage Konoha in his absence.
• Naraku sensed a tiny amount of chakra recovering and focused on finding its cause.
• Naraku reasoned that his frozen body could not produce physical energy, so his recovering chakra meant his mental energy had not been frozen.

Trapped in the Time-Sealing Box, Shihōin Naraku discovered that his Zanpakutō soul and system-enhanced body let tiny amounts of mental and physical energy combine into chakra. He began trying to accelerate its recovery so he could eventually attack the seal.

• Shihōin Naraku reasoned that the Time-Sealing Box could not completely suppress his Zanpakutō soul or his body, which had been strengthened by the system and altered by powers from other worlds.
• Naraku concluded that mental energy leaking from his soul and physical energy seeping from his frozen body were forming a tiny cycle that produced chakra.
• Naraku considered letting the chakra accumulate and focusing his mental energy to widen the seal’s minute openings.
• Naraku tried reaching his strengthened organs with his mental energy, but his first attempt produced no response.
• Naraku persisted and sensed that his chakra was recovering slightly faster, so he focused all his effort on continuing the process.

While Naraku remained sealed in an Alternate Space, he used the isolation to recover chakra and study his powers as he repeatedly tried to break free. Seven days later, the Chunin Ninja Exams began in Konoha, where Jiraiya hosted the other Kage and genin from across the Shinobi World.

• Naraku judged that Isshiki and Pushi were unlikely to cause trouble soon, and believed he could escape the seal within a year.
• Naraku repeatedly attempted to break the seal while slowly recovering chakra and learning more about the balance of his abilities.
• Seven days passed, and crowds gathered in Konoha for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Jiraiya sat in the Hokage's seat as Kurotsuchi, Burūi, Mei Terumi, and Gaara discussed the genin taking part.
• Gaara defended the smaller factions, explaining that they lacked the resources of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, while the Land of Iron sent samurai.

The final round of the Genin competition drew crowds and featured matches between young ninja from several villages. On the third day, Konohamaru Sarutobi faced Chiravi of Kumogakure, whose rapid dual-sword assault began the match.

• Jiraiya explained that samurai from the Land of Iron had joined the final round as observers, while the Five Kage watched the arena fill.
• The Land of Fire's Daimyo spoke with the Land of Wind's Daimyo about Gaara and Shihōin Naraku, while Kiri and Iwa ninja discussed the competitors.
• A Konoha Genin defeated his Kusagakure opponent, and later matches included victories by Genin from Tsuchigakure and Kirigakure.
• After three days of matches, the final bout was announced between Konohamaru Sarutobi and Chiravi of Kumogakure.
• Chiravi taunted Konohamaru, drew two short swords, and launched a rapid assault that Konohamaru narrowly dodged.

Konohamaru Sarutobi outsmarted Chiravi’s swordsmanship and defeated him with a Rasengan. The victory left Konohamaru exhausted but crowned the winner of the match.

• Konohamaru studied Chiravi’s two-sword rhythm, seized his wrist, and struck him with a Rasengan.
• Chiravi drew a third sword and overwhelmed Konohamaru with a fiercer attack.
• Konohamaru exploited Chiravi’s awkward three-sword coordination and used a shadow clone to distract him.
• Konohamaru landed a Rasengan on Chiravi’s chest, sending him into the arena wall.
• The referee declared Konohamaru Sarutobi the winner, and Jiraiya silently reflected that Konohamaru had inherited his grandfather’s will.

Jiraiya presided over the end of the Chunin Ninja Exams, where Konohamaru Sarutobi won the final match and drew cheers from the crowd. After the arena emptied, Konoha’s streets filled with visitors and locals celebrating and debating Konohamaru’s performance.

• Jiraiya remembered Hiruzen Sarutobi while the Five Kage praised Konoha’s hosting of the exams.
• Konohamaru Sarutobi defeated Chiravi to win the final match of the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Shihōin Naraku announced the end of the exams, and the crowd cheered before dispersing.
• Ninja from other villages gathered in Konoha’s izakayas and argued over Konohamaru’s victory and fighting style.
• Konoha ninja and villagers discussed Konohamaru’s talent and compared his fighting style to Naruto Uzumaki’s.

After the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Ninja Exams ended, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi Hatake, and Shikaku Nara reviewed the event’s organization, security, and impact on Konoha. Shikaku revealed that the exams had brought in revenue equal to Konoha’s total fiscal income over the previous three years.

• Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi Hatake, and Shikaku Nara met in the Hokage's Office to assess the completed Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Jiraiya and Kakashi praised the exams’ organization and security, while Shikaku described the large influx of genin, spectators, and visitors from seventeen villages.
• Kakashi reported no major security problems, and Shikaku noted that Kirigakure ninja had confronted the Amegakure genin who used the Summoning Technique but left without fighting.
• Tsunade asked about the financial returns, and Shikaku said the exams’ revenue equaled Konoha’s total fiscal income for the past three years.