Chapter Summaries

Naruto and Hinata prepared to face each other in the Arena while friends, family, and hidden observers gathered to watch. The chapter ended just before their match began, with everyone speculating about who would win.

• Fugaku returned to his seat after speaking with Hiashi, and Mikoto kept quiet about Sasuke's encounter with Karin.
• Karin whispered to Hinata after returning to the children's table, while Naruto tried to cool Hinata's flushed face.
• Yugao watched Naruto and Hinata walk to the Arena and reflected on their relationship and the Hyuga Clan's efforts to change its traditions.
• Naruto noticed the crowd of onlookers and silently complained that so many people had come just to watch him and Hinata.
• Hayate asked Naruto and Hinata if they were ready, and both warmed up as Karin, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Ino discussed the likely winner.

Naruto and Hinata fought in the arena, revealing Naruto’s Sage Mode and Hinata’s powerful Tenseigan abilities. Their battle left the arena wrecked and the spectators astonished as they continued trading devastating attacks.

• Hayate retreated from the arena, and Hinata activated her blue Byakugan and attacked Naruto with a repulsive chakra blast.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode, dodged Hinata’s attack, and closed the distance before countering her with his Golden Chakra Fox Claw.
• Hinata repelled Naruto’s attack, but Naruto struck her with a senjutsu-enhanced Rasengan; Hinata recovered and blasted Naruto away at close range.
• Naruto used Sage Art: Advent of a World of Trees, and Hinata cut through the advancing trees with a golden beam.
• Hayate and the spectators watched in shock as Hiashi admitted he did not understand Hinata’s evolving eyes and recognized the Tenseigan’s immense power.

Naruto and Hinata fought an exhausting final clash that wrecked the arena, with Naruto remaining on his feet after Hinata's Tenseigan chakra faded. Hinata admitted defeat and pretended to collapse into Naruto's arms, leaving him to comfort her as she quietly planned dinner.

• Watching Naruto and Hinata battle, Gaara asked Shukaku for chakra, but Shukaku refused and told him his seal could not withstand it.
• Naruto and Hinata gathered their remaining strength for final attacks: Naruto formed a gigantic Rasengan while Hinata concentrated her blue-green and golden chakra into a cutting strike.
• Their attacks collided in a massive explosion, and Ino, Karin, and Gaara protected nearby spectators from the blast.
• After the dust cleared, Hinata's Tenseigan chakra had dissipated while Naruto's Tailed Beast Cloak remained, so Hinata told Naruto she had lost.
• Hinata closed her eyes and leaned as if she were about to fall, and Naruto caught her and praised her strength while she thought about inviting him to barbecue.

After Naruto and Hinata’s fight, the competitors drew lots for the next matches, and Gaara asked Karin to improve the seal containing Shukaku. The chapter left Gaara heading into the arena to face Naruto, while Karin planned to work on his seal later.

• Yugao teased Hayate about Naruto and Hinata’s fight, then urged him to resume refereeing the remaining matches.
• Naruto and Karin declined to rest, and Hayate had them draw lots; Naruto drew number two, Karin drew number three, and Gaara drew number one.
• Gaara asked Karin to improve the sealing technique containing the tailed beast inside him, and she agreed to try.
• Karin found Sunagakure’s sealing technique unusually harmful and said she needed more time to improve it.
• Gaara walked toward the arena to face Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto and Gaara fought in the arena, where Naruto’s Wood Release and Sage abilities overwhelmed Gaara’s sand techniques. The duel ended with Naruto catching Gaara after declaring victory, and Gaara appeared to accept the defeat with relief.

• Kushina wondered whether Gaara had Uzumaki blood, while Kurama imagined Shukaku cowering from him until Hashirama startled him.
• Gaara opened the duel with a powerful sand attack, but Naruto blocked it with Wood Release and evaded Gaara’s sand spears.
• Gaara lifted himself into the air with sand, then recalled his first meeting with Naruto and warned him before using Sand Burial.
• Naruto summoned a Wood Human that tore apart Gaara’s shrinking sand pyramid, then declared that he had won.
• Naruto caught Gaara as he fell from the air, and Temari sighed with relief.

Naruto learned that Temari and Kankuro had never resented Gaara, then mediated a chance for the siblings to reconnect. He faced Karin in the arena and endured her attacks behind layers of Wood Locking Walls until her exploding talismans enraged him and he summoned a towering Wood Human.

• Naruto shared his senses with Temari, allowing her to recognize their mother's chakra on Gaara.
• Temari explained that she and Kankuro had feared Gaara but never hated him, and Naruto asked whether she wanted another chance to speak with him.
• Gaara opened his eyes to look at Temari as Naruto left for his match against Karin.
• Naruto blocked Karin's attacks with Wood Locking Walls while casually eating potato chips, frustrating her and amusing the spectators.
• Karin attached explosive talismans to her chains, and Naruto inhaled the clouds of strange smoke they released.
• Naruto erupted from the smoke atop a giant Wood Human, while Karin feared her brother was about to get violent.

Jiraiya prepared to take Naruto to the Land of Hot Water after Root found clues to Tsunade's whereabouts, which mostly led to gambling establishments. The pair left Konoha and set off on Naruto's Number Five Mech, with Jiraiya dozing as Naruto followed the road toward their destination.

• A Root ninja gave Jiraiya information showing that Tsunade had been seen at several major gambling establishments.
• Jiraiya packed for the journey and waited for Naruto to return from shopping with Hinata.
• After dinner, Jiraiya told Naruto they were leaving to find Tsunade in the Land of Hot Water.
• Jiraiya showed Izumo Kamizuki the mission document from Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Izumo let them leave Konoha.
• Naruto summoned and enlarged his Number Five Mech, invited Jiraiya aboard, and set off toward the Land of Hot Water.

Naruto and Jiraiya reached the Land of Hot Water, where Naruto bought seven unusual masks and Jiraiya found a lead on the legendary big spender. The lead pointed to Tsunade, who was gambling at a casino and had just broken a table when a Woman in Black arrived.

• Naruto stayed with Jiraiya overnight, while Minato reflected that Jiraiya might leave after they found Tsunade and had secretly marked him with a Flying Thunder God Formula.
• Naruto and Jiraiya reached the Land of Hot Water, and Naruto bought seven white masks without eyeholes.
• Jiraiya asked the shopkeeper about the legendary big spender and learned that a gambler had seen one at a casino in the eastern neighborhood.
• Tsunade gambled at the casino, celebrated a win, and accidentally broke the table with her hand.
• A Woman in Black carrying emergency food found Tsunade and exclaimed over the broken table.

Tsunade gambled away more than 150,000 ryo and fled the casino with Shizune before meeting Jiraiya and Naruto. At a tavern, Jiraiya began telling Tsunade about Konoha’s recent dealings with Sunagakure and Kirigakure and an organization they had investigated.

• Shizune confronted Tsunade for gambling away nearly all their money, and the dealer revealed Tsunade owed 150,000 ryo.
• Tsunade carried Shizune away without paying, claiming she was going to move funds around.
• Naruto approached Tsunade in a mask, but Jiraiya stopped him and Tsunade recognized him as Minato’s son.
• Tsunade invited Jiraiya, Naruto, Shizune, and Tonton to a tavern and asked Jiraiya why he had come.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Sunagakure had become Konoha’s subordinate village and that Kirigakure had shared information about an organization with Konoha.

Jiraiya told Tsunade about the Akatsuki and asked her to return to Konoha as its next Hokage, but she refused and called anyone who wanted the title an idiot. Naruto challenged her, and Tsunade agreed to fight him, promising to become Hokage if he won.

• Jiraiya confided in Tsunade about the Akatsuki, his former students, and the aging Sarutobi before asking her to return to Konoha.
• Tsunade rejected Jiraiya's request to become Hokage and argued with Naruto after calling aspiring Hokage idiots.
• Hashirama and Tobirama watched Tsunade from the Sealing Space and understood that her losses had shaped her views on dreams and the Hokage title.
• Naruto insisted that pursuing his dream was worthwhile, and Tsunade challenged him to a fight with her return as Hokage at stake.
• Jiraiya paid the tavern owner and followed Tsunade, Naruto, and Shizune outside for the fight.

Naruto fought Tsunade to prove his strength and his dream of becoming Hokage, but seeing her blood triggered her fear and forced her to stop. Hashirama used his chakra to comfort her, and Tsunade awoke with much of her terror eased.

• Jiraiya reassured Shizune that Naruto could fight Tsunade and might help her change.
• Naruto and Tsunade exchanged powerful blows, and Tsunade learned Naruto had awakened Wood Release on his own.
• Naruto used Sage Mode and struck Tsunade with a Rasengan, leaving her arm bleeding.
• Tsunade's fear of blood overwhelmed her, and she admitted defeat.
• Hashirama took control of Naruto's body, held Tsunade's hand, and soothed her with his chakra until much of her terror faded.

Tsunade reunited with Hashirama inside Naruto, agreed to return to Konoha, and learned the village would pay her debts. That night, Jiraiya revealed he was leaving to find his former students in Amegakure, and Tsunade asked him to come back soon.

• Hashirama confirmed his identity to Tsunade, who agreed to return to Konoha with Naruto.
• Tobirama arranged for Konoha to pay Tsunade’s debts and told Naruto to remind her to gamble less.
• Jiraiya declined Tsunade’s offer to become her chief adviser, and the group rode Number Five Mech to a wooden house Naruto built.
• Tsunade asked Jiraiya if he had to leave for Amegakure to find his former students, and he admitted he was going.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade to tell Naruto he was sorry if he died before keeping his promise, and Tsunade asked him to come back soon.

Jiraiya left for the Land of Rain to gather intelligence, upsetting Naruto despite Tsunade and Minato’s reassurances. Tsunade returned to Konoha and agreed to become Hokage, while Naruto resolved to train harder and Jiraiya remained away.

• Jiraiya left Naruto’s Small Wooden House for the Land of Rain, and Naruto discovered his absence the next morning.
• Tsunade told Naruto that Jiraiya had gone to gather intelligence, then returned with him to Konoha.
• Naruto parted from Tsunade and went to Hokage Rock, where Minato reassured him that Jiraiya could be rescued if he ran into trouble.
• Naruto accepted Jiraiya’s choice, vowed to work twice as hard, and shouted that he would defeat the big bad guys and become Hokage.
• Tsunade reported Jiraiya’s departure to Sarutobi and agreed to become Hokage, leaving the handover ceremony date to him.

Team 7 trained at Training Ground 4 while Kakashi sparred with Sasuke and told them the Fifth Hokage's handover ceremony would take place that afternoon. The group attended the crowded ceremony, where Sasuke looked for his brother but learned that Root and ANBU would not openly appear.

• Sasuke trained against Karin's chains without chakra, while Naruto and Hinata sparred under Kakashi's watch.
• Kakashi sparred with Sasuke for fifteen minutes, and they fought to a draw without using their Mangekyō abilities.
• Kakashi told Team 7 that the Fifth Hokage's handover ceremony was happening that afternoon and that Hokage Rock would later be expanded.
• Kakashi led Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin through the ANBU-controlled passage to the front rows of the crowded ceremony.
• Sasuke searched for his brother, and Kakashi explained that Root and ANBU would not openly attend, while a crow watched from a nearby tree.

Jiraiya entered Amegakure to find Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko, but learned that the village was now ruled by Lord Kami and Lady Angel. Pain and Konan discovered his arrival, and Pain went to confront him.

• Jiraiya traveled through the rain-soaked Land of Rain and overheard residents praising Lord Kami and Lady Angel.
• Jiraiya questioned an izakaya owner, who warned him to leave Amegakure because he was an outsider.
• Jiraiya claimed he was a writer, drank one bottle of liquor, and left with the other two.
• Konan appeared beside Pain and asked what he was watching.
• Pain identified the visitor as Jiraiya-sensei, then went to meet him as five others followed.

Jiraiya confronted the Six Paths of Pain in Amegakure and realized Nagato was controlling them. After refusing Pain’s warning and learning too much, Jiraiya tried to escape as the Six Paths attacked.

• Jiraiya hid inside a toad and headed toward Amegakure’s central tower, but the Human Path discovered him and demanded that he leave.
• Jiraiya attacked the Human Path with a Rasengan, and the Asura Path blasted the Human Path apart before the Naraka Path restored him.
• The other Paths gathered with the Deva Path, and Jiraiya recognized Yahiko’s face and deduced that Nagato controlled the bodies.
• Pain told Jiraiya that Yahiko and Nagato had chosen their path together, then tried to pull Jiraiya in with gravity.
• Jiraiya used the Yellow Swamp to resist Pain and sent ten Shadow Clones in different directions as the Six Paths pursued him.

Naruto arrived just as Pain was about to kill Jiraiya and began fighting the Six Paths of Pain. As Pain’s forces regrouped around him, Naruto revealed that he had not come alone.

• Jiraiya’s shadow clones vanished one by one until the Six Paths of Pain surrounded him.
• Pain pinned Jiraiya with black rods and prepared to use Shinra Tensei, but Naruto appeared and blocked the attack with his golden chakra cloak.
• Naruto struck the Deva Path with a Senjutsu Rasengan and Tailed Beast Bombs, then swallowed Asura Path’s energy cannon with his chakra cloak.
• The Six Paths gathered to attack Naruto, and Jiraiya urged him to retreat.
• Naruto tossed a stone marked with Flying Thunder God onto the ground, and several figures appeared beside it.

Konoha’s team confronted the Akatsuki in Amegakure, learned that the masked Madara Uchiha was behind the Nine-Tails’ Attack and the Bloody Mist, and clashed with Pain’s forces. The Akatsuki’s members arrived as Pain and Konan moved to keep the Konoha shinobi there.

• Karin restrained the Human Path with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, but the Preta Path absorbed the chains and freed him.
• Jiraiya told Itachi that the Six Paths of Pain were puppets controlled by his former student, and Itachi proposed defeating them and finding their controller.
• Konan confronted Jiraiya and Itachi, who accused Madara Uchiha of instigating the Nine-Tails’ Attack; Kakashi added that Madara had also instigated the Bloody Mist in Kirigakure.
• The Deva Path returned and told Konan to keep the Konoha team in Amegakure.
• Hidan and Kakuzu arrived, followed by Sasori and Deidara on a clay bird.

Itachi and Kakashi fought Deidara and Sasori, and Kakuzu and his black-thread monsters, in the opening battle. Itachi revealed Susanoo to block Sasori’s poisoned senbon, while Kakashi used Kamui to absorb Kakuzu’s combined fire and wind attack and charged at the Fire Release monster.

• Itachi dodged Deidara’s clay explosives with Flying Thunder God Slash and escaped the explosion that destroyed Deidara’s clay body and bird.
• Itachi’s Great Fireball drove Deidara to flee and scorched Hiruko, after which Sasori launched a poisoned arm at him.
• Itachi activated Susanoo and blocked Sasori’s barrage of poisoned senbon.
• Kakashi and Tenzo fought Kakuzu’s black-thread monsters, and Kakashi cut down the Lightning Release monster and saw a human heart inside it.
• Kakashi used Kamui to absorb Kakuzu’s combined fire and wind ninjutsu, then charged at the Fire Release monster.

Kakashi, Sasuke, and Hinata helped Konoha overwhelm the Six Paths of Pain, forcing Nagato to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Sasori emerged from Hiruko and joined Deidara in fighting Itachi as the enormous statue began gathering electrical energy.

• Kakashi dodged the Water Release: Water Curtain and redirected his attack from the Fire Release Black-Line Monster toward Kakuzu.
• Karin sealed the Multi-Headed Dog, Hinata killed the Chameleon, and Sasuke used his dōjutsu to cut the Asura Path in half.
• Hinata countered the Deva Path's Shinra force, while Sasuke cut down the Human Path and prepared to attack the Preta Path.
• Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, whose appearance drew the attention of Naruto's group and the Akatsuki members.
• Sasori emerged from Hiruko, brought out the Third Kazekage Puppet, and sent iron sand needles at Itachi.
• Itachi blocked Sasori's attack with Susanoo and charged toward Sasori and Deidara.