Chapter Summaries

Ayato escaped Pain’s group, and the Akatsuki abandoned its immediate Nine-Tails mission after their defeat. When Deidara provoked Naruto into a rampage, Ayato reappeared and calmed him, leaving Deidara desperate to flee.

• Ayato left the battlefield using the Flying Thunder God, while Pain ordered Kakuzu to stitch Itachi’s injuries and Kisame to explain how Ayato had controlled him.
• Pain ordered the Akatsuki to abandon the Nine-Tails mission for now and told Deidara and Sasori to withdraw after the One-Tail sealing ritual was interrupted.
• Deidara struggled to escape Naruto, Kakashi, Ino, and Karin, then taunted them by claiming Ayato was dead.
• Naruto erupted into a rampage after hearing Deidara’s claim, and Kakashi warned the others to get away from him.
• Ayato appeared, pressed a hand to Naruto’s head, and stopped the rampage, prompting Deidara to decide to run.

Ayato arrived in time to save Naruto and defeated Deidara with a lightning sword strike, forcing him to unleash his ultimate explosive art. Afterward, Ayato learned that Danzo had used Orochimaru to arrange the trap and assured Ino he would handle the threat.

• Ayato handed the unconscious Naruto to Kakashi and pursued Deidara with Chidori Blade.
• Deidara fed all his Explosive Clay into the mouth on his chest and detonated C0, creating a massive explosion that destroyed Ayato’s lightning sword phantom.
• Kakashi, Ino, and Karin witnessed the blast and were stunned by Ayato’s strength.
• Ayato asked Ino how she had arrived so quickly, and she explained that she had encountered Orochimaru during the Mouryou incident.
• Ayato concluded that Danzo had used Orochimaru to contact the Akatsuki and arrange the trap, then reassured Ino that he would handle the threat.

Ayato reunited with Sasuke after the fight against Sasori and stopped him from trying to forcefully awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan. They discussed the Fifth Hokage’s role in the ambush, and Sasuke promised to stay in Konoha and help Ayato if he became Hokage.

• Ayato left Kakashi, Ino, and Karin to check on Sasuke and the others, while Ino examined Gaara and Karin checked Naruto.
• Sasuke and his allies defeated Sasori of the Red Sands, but their injuries and lack of information about Ayato left Sasuke fearing that Ayato had fallen into a trap.
• Sasuke tried to forcefully awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan by recalling painful memories, but Ayato arrived and warned him to stop before he suffered lasting harm.
• Ayato confirmed he had survived the ambush and said he would not let the Fifth Hokage’s actions pass, though he planned to proceed carefully and find evidence.
• Sasuke offered to remain in Konoha and help Ayato if he became Hokage, and Ayato said the Quasi title would likely be removed soon.

Ayato brought the group to Gaara after rescuing them with the Flying Thunder God, then found that Gaara was dying because most of Shukaku had been extracted. Chiyo began using a forbidden jutsu to revive him, leaving her own survival uncertain.

• Ayato transported Sakura, Sasuke, Chiyo, and Jugo from the valley to Naruto and the others using the Flying Thunder God.
• Ayato examined Gaara and found that the small amount of Shukaku’s Chakra left inside him could not keep him alive.
• Ayato extracted the remaining Shukaku Chakra and learned that the tiny Shukaku clone could not restore itself because its will and most of its power were gone.
• Chiyo offered to save Gaara with her life-exchange technique, and Ayato stepped aside as she began the forbidden Reanimation Jutsu.

Ayato and the Konoha team helped Sunagakure defeat Akatsuki and save Gaara, though Chiyo sacrificed her life to revive him. Gaara agreed to ally with Konoha against Akatsuki, and the Konoha group began their journey home.

• Ayato sensed the life force behind Chiyo's forbidden technique as she sacrificed herself to revive Gaara.
• Naruto told Gaara that Chiyo had given her life for him, and Gaara realized he was no longer alone because Sunagakure stood behind him.
• Ayato handed the weakened Shukaku to Gaara, who subdued it and sealed it in a gourd.
• Gaara agreed on Sunagakure's behalf to the Fifth Hokage's proposal and vowed not to let Akatsuki's attack go unanswered.
• Ayato told Gaara that the enemy had died in a self-destruction after Ayato defeated him, and Naruto revealed Ayato had cut him down with one sword strike.
• The Konoha team set off for home while Ayato used Flying Thunder God to take Ino back to Konoha, prompting Naruto to complain that Ayato cared only about girls.

Ayato returned to Konoha and reported his encounter with Orochimaru’s allies to Tsunade, while discussing Danzo’s threat and the need to protect his mother. Jiraiya then arrived, claiming he might know something about the two strange ninjas Ayato had faced.

• Ayato returned to Konoha with Ino, then sent her home and went to meet Tsunade.
• Tsunade examined Ayato, apologized for the danger he faced, and explained that she lacked evidence to punish Danzo.
• Ayato warned that Danzo might target his mother and asked Tsunade to arrange a nearby house for her.
• Ayato dictated his mission report, describing Kakuzu’s black tentacles and Hidan’s apparent immortality.
• Jiraiya entered through the window and said he might know something about the two ninjas.

Jiraiya shared what he knew about the Evil God Sect and Kakuzu, while Ayato revealed that a Rinnegan wielder in Amegakure had restricted his Flying Thunder God. Jiraiya suspected the figure was his former student Yahiko, but Tsunade forbade him from investigating alone; after Ayato left the Hokage Office, another Hokage came to see him.

• Ayato exposed Jiraiya for eavesdropping, and Jiraiya described Hot Water Village, the Evil God Sect, and its followers’ demand for blood.
• Jiraiya recognized Ayato’s description of another opponent as possibly Kakuzu, and Tsunade tasked him with gathering intelligence on him.
• Ayato revealed that a powerful Rinnegan wielder had restricted his Flying Thunder God, then described the figure’s orange hair, Amegakure protector, and soulless body.
• Jiraiya suspected the figure was Yahiko, one of his former students, and wanted to investigate Amegakure, but Tsunade ordered him not to go without permission.
• Jiraiya realized Ayato had learned the Spirit Transformation Technique, and Ayato left after reporting Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands’s deaths.
• As Ayato left the Hokage Office, another Hokage came looking for him.

Ayato spoke with the Third Hokage about Danzo and left without resolving their conflict, though the Third Hokage promised not to stop him if conclusive evidence emerged. Outside, Ayato befriended Konohamaru and urged him to spend more time with his aging grandfather.

• The Third Hokage told Ayato he was glad he had returned safely, and Ayato cut him off when he began discussing Danzo and the lack of evidence.
• The Third Hokage said he would not stop Ayato if conclusive evidence against Danzo was found, and Ayato accepted before leaving.
• Ayato considered the risks of killing Danzo without proof and reflected that Shisui's Mangekyo would not control his will outright.
• Ayato met Konohamaru, invited him to call him Brother Ayato, and advised him to spend more time with the Third Hokage.
• Konohamaru visited his grandfather and told him about Ayato's advice, making the Third Hokage's smile grow gentler.

Ayato told Sinai they would move to a larger home near Tsunade’s residence, then reviewed his strength and planned his next training goals. He also began considering how Orochimaru might help him gather evidence against Danzo.

• Ayato told Sinai that they would move because their house would be too small once Ino and their future children joined them, and she eagerly agreed.
• Ayato reflected on his recent battle and realized his normal strength exceeded his earlier estimates, potentially making Pain little threat to him.
• Ayato planned to master his transformed strength, cultivate his elemental releases and Yang Release, and investigate whether he could form Wind Release: Rasenshuriken instantly.
• Ayato remembered Danzo and concluded that Orochimaru might provide a way to uncover evidence against him.

After returning to Konoha, Ayato discussed Danzo and his plans with Tsunade, then received the keys to his new home. His friends gathered to help him move, and Ayato used Flying Thunder God to transport the furniture while they prepared the house.

• Tsunade mourned Chiyo and asked Ayato about Danzo, but Ayato said he had a plan and did not want her to provoke Danzo.
• Tsunade gave Ayato the keys to his new home, and Ayato handed her money from Gato's assets.
• Ayato returned home and found Sinai with Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, who had come to help him move.
• Ayato told the group they could help arrange the furniture after he transported it, and he asked Ino to reserve a table at the Grilled Meat Restaurant.
• Naruto asked Hinata to lead him to Tsunade's house, and Ayato noticed that Ino's matchmaking seemed to be working.
• Ayato used Flying Thunder God to move the furniture while his friends watched and prepared to put it in place.

Ayato hosted a lavish housewarming feast where his friends pledged to support him, while Naruto began turning his attention toward Hinata. The next day, Ayato visited Sasuke and found him training hard to become strong enough to kill Itachi.

• Tsunade and Shizune joined Ayato's feast, where Tsunade reflected on the influence of the young guests and spoke with Sinai.
• Hinata kept eating after everyone else was full while Naruto grilled meat for her, and Shikamaru, Sasuke, Naruto, Shino, and the other rookies offered to help Ayato in the future.
• Ayato and Ino walked home together and discussed Hinata's appetite and Naruto's attentiveness toward her.
• Ayato returned to his new home, then visited the Uchiha compound the next day and watched Sasuke practice Chidori and its derivatives.
• Sasuke told Ayato that his training was still insufficient for killing Itachi.

Ayato examined Sasuke’s cursed seal and modified it to filter for snake-type Natural Energy. Afterward, he asked Sasuke to bring Jugo over so he could test the changes.

• Sasuke explained that he did not blame Tsunade, but still could not forgive Itachi for killing innocent Uchiha.
• Ayato asked Sasuke to skip Anbu duty so he could inspect Orochimaru’s cursed seal on Sasuke’s neck.
• Ayato unraveled the seal’s outer layers and found that it held mixed Natural Energy and Orochimaru’s Spiritual Imprint.
• Ayato converted the stored energy, modified the cursed seal to filter for snake-type Natural Energy, and sealed it again with a reverse Eight Trigrams Sealing.
• Ayato asked Sasuke to bring Jugo over, and Jugo sensed that Ayato possessed a power like his own but far greater.

Ayato modified Sasuke’s curse mark so it could store Natural Energy from Jugo and let Sasuke use Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode. Sasuke gained a powerful new path toward fighting Itachi, and Ayato advised him to train with Jugo before seeking orthodox instruction at Ryūchi Cave.

• Ayato had Jugo channel Natural Energy through Sasuke’s curse mark, which selectively absorbed the power while Sasuke added his own Chakra.
• Ayato taught Sasuke hand seals to activate the stored power, and Sasuke transformed into a form with Snake Eyes and purple markings.
• Sasuke tested the power with Chidori, creating a deep crater and discovering that his physical abilities and perception had also improved.
• Ayato explained that Sasuke had gained an imperfect version of Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode and said he could have a strong chance of defeating Itachi if he mastered it.
• Ayato warned Sasuke not to train in Sage Mode alone and advised him to practice with Jugo before visiting Ryūchi Cave to learn from the White Dragon Sage.
• Sasuke thanked Ayato and told Jugo he would be counting on him.

Sasuke asked Ayato whether the Uchiha had ever had a chance to survive, and Ayato explained how the Nine Tails' Riot and the clan's rebellion had left them with no viable path. Sasuke was left confronting the likelihood that the Sharingan had helped cause the disaster that doomed his clan.

• Jugo accepted that he would follow Sasuke and use his power to help him, while Sasuke asked Ayato whether Jugo could be freed from his Natural Energy; Ayato said Jugo's constitution could not be changed without endangering his life.
• After Jugo left, Sasuke asked Ayato whether the Uchiha Clan had any hope after the Nine Tails' Riot.
• Ayato explained that the Uchiha might have survived by withdrawing and waiting, but the Fourth Hokage's death and suspicion that the Sharingan had controlled the Nine-Tails left the clan isolated.
• Ayato told Sasuke that the Fourth Hokage's wife had been a skilled sealing expert, making it unlikely the Nine-Tails escaped naturally, and Sasuke realized an outside force such as the Sharingan had likely caused the rampage.
• Ayato said the Uchiha had chosen rebellion instead of enduring their situation, while Sasuke sat in silence and shattered his teacup in his injured hand.

Sasuke accepted the painful truth about the Uchiha massacre and resolved to keep seeking answers. Ayato tracked Orochimaru to a hidden base, where he discovered that Orochimaru’s soul had fused with Kabuto Yakushi’s.

• Sasuke reflected on Ayato’s explanation, treated his wounds, and decided to continue despite the pain of knowing the truth.
• Ayato decided not to promote the cursed seal and considered sending Naruto to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Mode.
• Ayato sensed Orochimaru’s Spiritual Imprint, informed Tsunade, and followed it to Orochimaru’s base.
• Orochimaru greeted Ayato warmly, and Ayato sensed that Orochimaru’s soul was strangely mixed with another’s.
• Orochimaru used the Face Copying Technique to reveal Kabuto Yakushi’s face and said Ayato’s Wind Release Rasenshuriken had caused their fusion.

Ayato met with Orochimaru, who explained his obsession with learning every jutsu and immortality, then exchanged evidence of Danzo’s dealings for information about how Ayato had found him. Ayato left with a scroll containing records and partial Anbu and Root rosters, though he still had to determine what the evidence could prove.

• Orochimaru described how a mysterious soul-related event and his desire to uncover every jutsu had driven him to seek a longer life, while Ayato rejected his methods.
• Ayato admitted he had once planned to kill Orochimaru and asked whether Ryūchi Cave’s snakes had revealed his movements; Orochimaru asked in return how Ayato had found him.
• Orochimaru proposed trading evidence of Danzo’s crimes for Ayato’s answer, and Ayato’s silence confirmed that he had sought evidence against Danzo.
• Orochimaru gave Ayato a scroll recording their exchanges and items Danzo had supplied, including partial Anbu and Root rosters and records of resources.

Ayato traded information with Orochimaru and obtained evidence of Danzo’s crimes, then brought it to Tsunade in Konoha. Tsunade reviewed the evidence and asked Ayato how they should proceed against Danzo.

• Ayato agreed to help Orochimaru bring down Danzo in exchange for evidence of Danzo’s past actions.
• Ayato told Orochimaru that the Spirit Transformation Technique and the Heavenly Cursed Seal had let him find him, and Orochimaru escaped as snakes.
• Orochimaru met with Kabuto Yakushi and said they would watch Akatsuki’s growing influence and wait to see what Ayato did next.
• Ayato brought the scrolls to Tsunade, who grew furious over Danzo’s resource use, Anbu files, and human experiments.
• Ayato explained how he had found Orochimaru, and Tsunade asked what they should do next about Danzo.

Ayato arranged for Kakashi to verify evidence against Danzo and for Tenzō to investigate Root’s past, including searching his own memories for evidence. As Ayato left to train, he told Tsunade that Jiraiya’s prophecy influenced his drive to grow stronger.

• Ayato proposed that Kakashi investigate Danzo’s crimes under a covert identity and that Tenzō look into Root’s past.
• Tsunade assigned Kakashi the investigation and gave him a mask and the Hokage’s seal of authority.
• Tenzō read the evidence linking Danzo to experiments on infants and volunteered to have his memories examined.
• Ayato recommended that Yamanaka Inoichi probe Tenzō’s memories, while Kakashi left to begin his mission.
• Ayato said he was going to train, and when Tsunade questioned his drive, he brought up Jiraiya’s prophecy.

Ayato warned Tsunade that the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy foretold a crisis beyond even the First Hokage’s ability to handle, then arranged for Naruto to train in Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku. After helping Naruto get a feel for throwing the Rasenshuriken, Ayato told him about Sage Mode and left him eager to learn it.

• Ayato told Tsunade that a world-threatening crisis was approaching, and she agreed to train harder.
• Ayato proposed sending Naruto to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Mode, and Tsunade approved.
• Inoichi examined Tenzō’s memories and confirmed that Tenzō had seen Danzo with Orochimaru at the laboratory.
• Ayato used the Spirit Transformation Technique to control Naruto’s body and demonstrate how to form and throw the Rasenshuriken.
• Naruto successfully threw the Rasenshuriken and told Ayato he thought he had found the right feeling.
• Ayato asked whether Jiraiya had taught Naruto Sage Mode, then explained its power, prompting Naruto to eagerly declare that he wanted to learn it.

Ayato took Naruto to Mount Myōboku so he could train in Sage Mode, then left Naruto in Sage Fukasaku’s care. Naruto began his training without yet knowing what Sage Mode was.

• Ayato told Naruto they would leave for Mount Myōboku immediately, and Naruto packed a large pile of belongings before joining him.
• Ayato explained that Tsunade had approved Naruto’s training and reassured him that Jiraiya would learn where he was.
• Ayato introduced Naruto to Sage Fukasaku as Jiraiya’s disciple and the Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki.
• Sage Fukasaku agreed to assess Naruto’s suitability for Sage Mode and teach him if he qualified.
• Ayato left to deal with the approaching crisis, while Naruto learned that Ayato had not explained what Sage Mode was.