Chapter Summaries

Might Guy demonstrated the Eight Gates Released Formation to Team Guy, inspiring Rock Lee to ask to learn it. Neji, Tenten, and Naoki Senju declined, leaving Rock Lee as the only one to accept Guy’s training.

• Might Guy took Rock Lee, Neji, Tenten, and Naoki Senju to Training Ground Three and opened the First Gate to demonstrate the Eight Gates Released Formation.
• Might Guy opened the Seventh Gate, Granny Lee knocks at the door-open, and showed the team its overwhelming power.
• Rock Lee knelt and asked Might Guy to teach him the Eight Gates Released Formation, promising to train even harder.
• Tenten declined because she wanted to study Medical Ninjutsu, and Neji refused because the technique conflicted with the Hyuga Clan’s Gentle Fist.
• Naoki Senju declined, saying he was already practicing Tsunade’s Monster Strength Fist, and Might Guy accepted that only Rock Lee would train with him.

After school, Naruto and Sasuke left the Ninja Academy alone, each avoiding the cruelty of the village in his own way. Naoki Senju decided to test Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō by taking both boys with him, and Sasuke demanded to know where he was going as Naoki carried him upside down.

• Shikamaru Nara invited Naruto to join Choji and the others for barbecue, but Naruto declined and agreed to meet them in the forest behind Hokage Rock the next day.
• Sasuke left through the back gate to avoid the villagers and practice his Shuriken Technique, while Naruto followed the same route out of the academy.
• Naoki Senju watched Naruto and Sasuke leave and resolved to test Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō using the Three-Tails' chakra.
• Naoki Senju summoned a crow carrying Uchiha Itachi's genjutsu and spoke with Itachi, who explained that only people with a genjutsu seed could see him.
• Naoki Senju evaded an Anbu guard and caught up with Naruto and Sasuke, then grabbed both boys and carried them away.
• Sasuke tried to attack Naoki Senju, but Naoki caught his leg and warned him to stay quiet if he wanted news about that man; Sasuke asked where Naoki was taking them.

Naoki Senju took Naruto and Sasuke to Ichiraku Ramen, where he told Sasuke that Uchiha Itachi had joined the Akatsuki and revealed that Naruto’s seal contained chakra Naoki could control. When Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, Naoki demanded that Naruto be placed in the Senju Clan’s care, backing his demand by drawing Nine-Tails Chakra from Naruto.

• Naoki Senju brought Naruto and Sasuke to Ichiraku Ramen and ordered food for them.
• Sasuke asked about Uchiha Itachi, and Naoki told him that Itachi was a core member of the Akatsuki; Sasuke left determined to kill him.
• Kurama sensed Isobu’s chakra sealed inside Naruto and recognized how heavily Naoki Senju had suppressed Isobu.
• Naruto ate until he vomited, then returned to his seat and continued eating until Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Naruto and offered Naoki a place in the Anbu, but Naoki refused and asked to oversee Root instead.
• Naoki told Hiruzen to keep others away from Naruto and demanded that the Senju Clan take charge of him, then pulled a strand of Nine-Tails Chakra from Naruto to demonstrate his control.

Naoki Senju negotiated with Hiruzen Sarutobi to make the Senju Clan Naruto Uzumaki’s guardian, then entered Naruto’s seal and subdued the Nine-Tails with Wood Release. He left with the Nine-Tails’ chakra and planned to collect the remaining tailed beasts before the Akatsuki.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to give Naoki Senju control of Naruto Uzumaki but agreed to make the Senju Clan Naruto’s guardian while Anbu continued to monitor him.
• Naoki Senju entered Naruto’s sealed space and tried to persuade the Nine-Tails to cooperate, while the Three-Tails argued with the fox and was driven away.
• Naoki Senju flooded Naruto with chakra and used Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique to bind the Nine-Tails.
• The Nine-Tails recognized Naoki Senju’s Wood Release as Hashirama Senju’s legacy, and Naoki drained the fox’s chakra until it was weakened.
• Naoki Senju listed the remaining tailed beasts he intended to collect and set his goal of beating the Akatsuki to them.

Naoki Senju temporarily removed much of the Nine-Tails’ chakra from Naruto, then led three Root ninja into an ambush in Konoha’s outskirts. He repelled their opening Explosive Tag attack, leaving the assassination attempt underway.

• Naoki Senju extracted Nine-Tails chakra from Naruto, weakening the fox and temporarily allowing Naruto to use his own chakra without interference.
• Naoki Senju encouraged Naruto to train harder, paid for hundreds of ramen bowls, and left Naruto determined to surpass Sasuke.
• Naoki Senju noticed three Root ninja following him and deliberately walked toward a sparsely populated forest.
• Danzo sent Hyūga Hoheto, Ryūhei Akimichi, and O Inuzuka to kill Naoki while arranging to keep Konoha’s strongest potential rescuers occupied.
• The Root ninja triggered linked Explosive Tags, but Naoki Senju used Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin to block most of the blast.

Naoki Senju used Three-Tails-enhanced Water Release and powerful taijutsu to fight Root’s three elite Jonin while avoiding Wood Release. After regrouping, the combatants began a second round, and Naoki struck first by kicking Hyūga Hoheto away.

• Ryūhei Akimichi charged Naoki Senju with Human Bullet Tank, but Naoki knocked him flying with Monster Strength Fist.
• O Inuzuka and Hyūga Hoheto attacked together, but Naoki’s Three-Tails-enhanced Water Formation Pillar blocked the Air Palm and repelled Twin Piercing Fangs.
• Naoki sent a Water Dragon Bullet after O Inuzuka’s ninja dog, and O Inuzuka countered by transforming with his dog into a Double-Headed Wolf.
• Naoki turned the falling water into Water Flow Blade, forcing Hyūga Hoheto to use Rotation; Ryūhei and O Inuzuka then returned to the fight with injuries.
• Naoki began the second round with Wave Riding Strike, rushed between the three Jonin, and used Konoha Strong Whirlwind to send Hyūga Hoheto flying.

Naoki Senju fought Root ninja Ryūhei Akimichi, Hyūga Hoheto, and O as Ryūhei used Chili Pills to unleash the Akimichi Clan’s Butterfly Mode Technique. The chapter left Naoki under a coordinated attack from the transformed Ryūhei and a barely surviving Hoheto.

• Naoki battered Hoheto with a relentless taijutsu combo until Ryūhei intervened with Partial Expansion Jutsu, then broke Hoheto’s jaw as Ryūhei pulled him away.
• Ryūhei swallowed a Chili Pill and put another into the gravely injured Hoheto, while O attacked Naoki to buy time for the pills to take effect.
• Naoki used Water Severing Wave to defeat O’s Fang Over Fang, then delivered a finishing blow after O’s transformation ended.
• Ryūhei’s Chili Pill activated Butterfly Mode, giving him immense speed and strength as he attacked Naoki with Partial Expansion Jutsu.
• Hoheto rose again under the Chili Pill’s effects and struck at Naoki with Eight Trigrams, Air Palm while Ryūhei rushed in from the front.

Naoki Senju used the deaths of three clan-affiliated Jonin to inflame Konoha’s clans against Danzo and create an opening for Tsunade to gain their support. He left Naruto to gather the absent clan students and their families at the Senju Clan Compound.

• Naoki Senju used Nine-Tails chakra to kill Hyūga Hoheto, Ryūhei Akimichi, and an Inuzuka Jonin, then concealed the battle’s traces.
• Naoki Senju expected the three Jonin’s deaths to deepen the clans’ distrust of Danzo and create an opportunity to contact Hana Inuzuka.
• Two days later, many clan students skipped the Ninja Academy as unrest grew between Konoha’s clans and its leaders.
• Naoki Senju considered how Tsunade could ally with the clans and gain enough support to challenge Konoha’s older leadership.
• Naoki Senju promised to help Naruto win over Sakura if Naruto brought the absent classmates and their families to the Senju Clan Compound.
• Naruto agreed to gather them, insisting Naoki Senju keep his promise.

Naruto skipped the Ninja Academy to invite classmates to the Senju Clan Compound, where his big brother Senju planned to host them. Inoichi Yamanaka saw the invitation as a chance for the clans to build trust with Tsunade and went to seek Shikaku Nara’s advice.

• Naruto ate breakfast at Ichiraku Ramen Shop, skipped the Ninja Academy, and went to invite Ino Yamanaka to the Senju Clan Compound.
• Ino refused to go unless Sasuke came, so Naruto promised Sasuke would be there and then ran off to invite Sakura.
• Ino told Inoichi Yamanaka about Naruto’s invitation, leaving out the parts about Sasuke.
• Inoichi realized Tsunade’s initiative could let the clans form an alliance without provoking the Third Hokage, and he went to consult Shikaku Nara.
• Similar discussions took place in the Inuzuka Clan and the Hyuga Clan, while Naruto forgot to invite Shino Aburame.

Hyuga Hiashi decided to pursue an alliance with Tsunade’s faction and sent Neji and Hinata to make contact. As the clan alliance gathered at the Senju Compound, Shimura Danzō ordered Orochimaru to carry out the Konoha Crush Plan within six months and kill Naoki Senju and Tsunade.

• Hyuga Hiashi heard arguments over whether the Hyuga Clan should join Tsunade’s alliance and chose to make preliminary contact through Neji.
• Hyuga Hiashi added Hinata to the delegation, delighting her because she hoped to see Naruto.
• Naruto led young representatives of several clans to the Senju Clan Compound, where Shino followed close behind unnoticed.
• The Sarutobi and Shimura Clans sent no representatives, while Sakura stayed with Sasuke instead of attending.
• Shimura Danzō, furious at the alliance taking shape, ordered Orochimaru to execute the Konoha Crush Plan within six months and target Naoki Senju and Tsunade.

Naoki Senju welcomed representatives from the Hyuga, Nara, and Inuzuka Clans for a meeting with Tsunade about their clans’ relations. After catching Tsunade gambling before the meeting, Naoki helped her prepare, and Shikamaru Nara proved a capable negotiator who gave Naoki little room to gain an advantage.

• Naoki Senju sent Naruto and the other young guests to enjoy a barbecue while he spoke with Neji Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, and Hana Inuzuka.
• Naoki led the three representatives to Tsunade’s courtyard, where they overheard Tsunade gambling with Shizune and Guren.
• Naoki entered and confronted Tsunade, who tried to pretend she had not been gambling and hurried to prepare for the meeting.
• Naoki invited the representatives inside after Shizune restored Tsunade’s appearance, and Tsunade sat silently at the head of the meeting room.
• Shikamaru responded smoothly during the discussion, leaving Naoki little opportunity to secure greater benefits for the Senju Clan.

Naoki Senju strengthened ties with Konoha's clans and grew closer to Tsunade, who asked him to have a child with her. The next morning, they woke together after an intimate night, and Tsunade revealed she had forgotten she was on her period.

• Shikamaru Nara discussed an alliance between the clans and the Senju Clan with Naoki Senju, while Hana Inuzuka left after talking with him about ninja dogs.
• Tsunade teased Naoki Senju about the women visiting him, and he carried her to her room.
• Tsunade told Naoki Senju she wanted a child, and they spent the night together.
• Tsunade woke late the next morning and told Naoki Senju she had forgotten she was on her period.

Jiraiya reunited with Orochimaru in the Land of Hot Water, learned that his former teammate was using a woman’s body, and admitted that he had lost hope of finding the Child of Destiny. Orochimaru persuaded him to consider returning to Konoha by warning of danger and reminding him that Minato’s son was about to graduate.

• Jiraiya sensed someone approaching while spying near a hot spring and tried to sneak away, but Orochimaru recognized him.
• Jiraiya punched Orochimaru and was startled when Orochimaru emerged from the rubble unharmed.
• Jiraiya deduced from Orochimaru’s body and scent that he was using a woman’s body, and Orochimaru moved away from him.
• Orochimaru asked whether Jiraiya had found the Child of Destiny, and Jiraiya recounted his hopes for Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
• Orochimaru claimed he had found a force that could sweep through the Shinobi World in Konoha and urged Jiraiya to return to protect the village.
• Jiraiya resisted until Orochimaru mentioned Minato’s son, then Orochimaru sank into the ground to continue his plans.

Naoki Senju improved Naruto Uzumaki’s appearance and coached him on winning Sakura’s attention while considering who could train him. The next day, Naruto and the major clans’ children returned to the Ninja Academy, where Umino Iruka discovered Naruto was missing.

• The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans opened their secret pharmaceutical laboratory to Konoha Hospital as a gesture of goodwill toward Tsunade.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi restricted Root after Shimura Danzō’s assassination attempt, and the two leaders disagreed over Danzo’s plan to destroy a clan as a warning.
• Naoki Senju persuaded Naruto Uzumaki to get a haircut and makeover by promising it would help him compete with Sasuke for Sakura’s attention.
• Naoki dressed Naruto in black, advised him to act less conspicuously, and considered possible teachers, rejecting the idea of Might Guy because he imagined Naruto wearing a green bodysuit.
• Naruto and the major clans’ children returned to the Ninja Academy, but Umino Iruka realized Naruto had skipped class again.

Naruto returned to class with a dramatic new look, drawing attention from his classmates and newfound interest from the girls. After Sasuke mocked Naruto’s attempt to ask Sakura out, Naruto challenged him to a ninjutsu spar, with Sakura’s affections as the prize.

• Choji woke Naruto during Iruka’s lesson, and Iruka struggled to restore order as the class reacted to Naruto’s changed appearance.
• The girls, including Hinata and Ino, noticed Naruto’s new looks, while Sakura stayed focused on Sasuke.
• After class, Naruto basked in his new attention, then invited Sakura to Ichiraku Ramen, but she repeatedly turned him down.
• Sasuke mocked Naruto for failing to see that Sakura did not like him, and Naruto challenged Sasuke to a ninjutsu spar, declaring that only the winner could pursue Sakura.
• Sasuke accepted Naruto’s challenge and called him the dead last.

Naruto sought Naoki Senju’s help to learn a technique before his Ninjutsu match with Sasuke, hoping to win Sakura’s affection. Naoki brought him to Might Guy for an intense training session, leaving Naruto regretting his decision.

• Naruto considered cheating to beat Sasuke, then decided to ask Naoki Senju to teach him a real Ninjutsu.
• Naoki told Naruto that he could not learn Ninjutsu in two days, but offered another way to prepare for the match.
• Naoki took Naruto to Konoha’s Training Ground Three, where Tenten was practicing and Might Guy and Rock Lee were completing grueling exercises.
• Naoki left Naruto with Might Guy and asked him to train Naruto hard, while arranging a VIP suite at Konoha Hospital in case he got hurt.
• Might Guy enthusiastically introduced himself to Naruto, who immediately regretted asking Naoki for help.

Naruto endured Might Guy’s intense training and received a ninjutsu scroll from him after Kakashi asked Guy to look after Naruto, whom he revealed was Minato Namikaze’s son. The scroll contained the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, which Naruto hoped would help him defeat Sasuke.

• Naruto recovered overnight as the Nine-Tails’ chakra repaired his exhausted muscles and quietly increased his chakra.
• Naruto tried to skip training, but Might Guy persuaded him to train by promising a powerful ninjutsu that could help him beat Sasuke.
• Kakashi told Might Guy that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage’s child and asked him to keep Naruto active, while warning him to be careful around Naoki Senju.
• Might Guy trained Naruto for six hours, focusing on his conditioning, agility, and reflexes.
• Might Guy gave Naruto the scroll Naoki Senju had asked him to deliver, and Naruto read that it contained the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Kimimaro wiped out a Sunagakure scouting force and was summoned to receive Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal. Naoki Senju met Orochimaru in the Land of Wind, where they discussed plans for Sunagakure and Orochimaru’s research into the Cursed Seal.

• Kimimaro killed a Sunagakure scouting squad, and Orochimaru praised his performance before ordering him to prepare for the Cursed Seal.
• Naoki Senju arrived at Orochimaru’s meeting place in the Land of Wind and learned Orochimaru planned to take Sunagakure and the One-Tail.
• Naoki told Orochimaru that Konoha’s major clans, including the Hyuga Clan, had nominally submitted to the Senju Clan.
• Orochimaru warned Naoki that Kirigakure planned to ally with Konoha and participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Orochimaru explained that Cursed Seal One could strengthen a genin to chunin level but had a low success rate and could shorten lifespan, and he sought Naoki’s help improving it.

Naoki Senju helped Orochimaru control natural energy during a Curse Mark Stage Two experiment, allowing the test subject to transform without losing control immediately. The subject escaped the operating table and ran into Kimimaro in the passage, where they began to fight.

• Orochimaru showed Naoki Senju cursed seal state one and asked how to improve it; Naoki learned that every state two experiment had ended in failure or monstrosity.
• Naoki agreed to help Orochimaru control natural energy as they began another experiment with Jūgo's cells, while Kabuto Yakushi prepared the test subject.
• The test subject developed state two mutations, and Naoki protected his brain by extracting the natural energy attacking it.
• The test subject used blue jets of flame to break free of his restraints and charged for the passage.
• Kimimaro blocked the test subject's escape, and the two clashed with their bone and arm blades.

Kimimaro recaptured an escaped Cursed Seal test subject, but Naoki Senju revealed that the subject was already dying from the seal's effects. After Naoki and Orochimaru developed a method to protect Cursed Seal bearers, Naoki prepared to return to Konoha, and Kimimaro challenged him to a potentially fatal spar.

• Kimimaro defeated the escaped test subject and brought him back to Orochimaru, only to discover that the subject had died.
• Naoki Senju explained that the Cursed Seal had already devastated the test subject's organs, and Orochimaru told Kimimaro to postpone receiving a seal until it was improved.
• Naoki Senju and Orochimaru spent three days developing a method using ninja tools and medication to limit a bearer's exposure to natural energy.
• Naoki Senju decided to return to Konoha, while Orochimaru continued preparing his plans for the village's leadership.
• Kimimaro challenged Naoki Senju to a spar, and Naoki warned that he might kill him; Orochimaru approved, and Kimimaro's fighting spirit surged.