Chapter Summaries

Pain learned that Sasori and Deidara had died and assigned Tobi to capture a Tailed Beast as the Akatsuki pursued its main goal. After Uzumaki Hane fought Gaara and the Konoha team returned from Sunagakure, Hane planned to join Naruto’s upcoming mission to find Orochimaru.

• Pain learned that Sasori and Deidara were dead, and he told Tobi to capture a Tailed Beast.
• Gaara fought Uzumaki Hane with sand techniques, but Hane countered with lava and powerful eruptions.
• Gaara and Hane ended their fight after Hane said Gaara had not adjusted to losing One-Tail Shukaku.
• Gaara led the group to Chiyo’s grave before bidding farewell to the Konoha team as they left Sunagakure.
• Tsunade reviewed the mission report, and three days later the team returned to Konoha to report and recover.
• Uzumaki Hane decided to find a way to join Naruto’s coming mission to Tenchi Bridge so he could face Orochimaru.

Sai received his new identity from Danzo, while Naruto recruited Uzumaki Hane for a mission to find Orochimaru and recover Sasuke. Their reunion with Shino and Kiba led to an encounter with Hinata, who fainted after seeing Naruto.

• Danzo assigned the boy the name Sai and arranged for him to join Kakashi's squad, then told him to stop using a fake smile.
• Naruto asked Uzumaki Hane to join the mission to Tenchi Bridge, and Hane agreed to help find Orochimaru and bring Sasuke back.
• Naruto and Hane met Shino and Kiba, and Naruto initially failed to recognize Shino before the group caught up.
• Hinata heard Naruto nearby and hid around a corner, but Hane pointed her out to Naruto.
• Naruto greeted Hinata, who fainted, and Kiba teased that she always fainted when she saw him.

Naruto and Uzumaki Hane tried to recruit allies to find Orochimaru, but Sai attacked them before escaping. Tsunade assigned Yamato and Uzumaki Hane to assist Team Kakashi, and the team set out for Tenchi Bridge to find Sasori's spy.

• Hinata woke up, and Naruto told her, Kiba, and Shino that he was seeking companions to find Orochimaru; Kiba said his team could not join because they had a mission.
• Naruto and Uzumaki Hane encountered Shikamaru, then Sai attacked them with ink lions before escaping from Naruto and Shikamaru.
• Naruto and Uzumaki Hane failed to find more companions, and the next morning Tsunade assigned Yamato and Uzumaki Hane to assist Team Kakashi and watch Sai, whom Danzo had recommended.
• Sai joined Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, Yamato, and Uzumaki Hane, and Kakashi explained their mission to find Sasori of the Red Sand's spy in Orochimaru's organization.
• Sai provoked Naruto, but Uzumaki Hane reminded him to focus on finding Sasuke, and Kakashi led the team toward Tenchi Bridge.

Tsunade sent Shizune to investigate Sai and Danzo’s plans while Team Kakashi set out for the Tenchi Bridge meeting. Naruto, Sakura, and Sai clashed on the journey, and Kakashi urged them to act like teammates as they continued toward their mission.

• Tsunade ordered Shizune to investigate Sai’s background and discover Danzo’s objective.
• Kakashi led Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Yamato, and Uzumaki Hane toward Tenchi Bridge, and Uzumaki Hane warned Naruto and Sai to cooperate.
• Yamato used Four-Pillar Prison Jutsu to threaten the arguing team, then the group resumed traveling.
• Sakura dodged Sai’s insults, struck him twice, and warned him not to speak carelessly about Sasuke.
• Kakashi reminded Naruto, Sakura, and Sai that they were partners, while Yamato offered to put them in a cage.

Team Kakashi traveled toward their meeting with Orochimaru and planned how to capture him without letting him kill Sasuke. Kakashi began training Naruto, Sakura, and Sai to work together, while Hane wondered whether the three could become close companions.

• At the hot spring hotel, Yamato prepared tracking seeds, but Hane said he did not need one.
• The next morning, Hane confronted Sai about Danzo’s orders, and Sai recalled his mission to have Orochimaru deal with Hane and to kill Sasuke.
• Yamato led the group into the forest and built a shelter, where Kakashi split them into two teams and assigned Yamato’s group to act as bait disguised as Sasori.
• The next day, Kakashi ran a simulation in which Sakura posed as Sasori, Yamato played the target, and Naruto and Sai trained to fight together.
• Watching the exercise with Kakashi, Hane asked whether Naruto, Sakura, and Sai could become close companions.

Uzumaki Hane and Kakashi began their operation at Tenchi Bridge to locate Sasuke, while Yamato impersonated Sasori to meet Kabuto Yakushi. Hane intercepted Orochimaru and fought him, as Kabuto exposed Yamato’s disguise and prepared to turn the meeting into an ambush.

• Uzumaki Hane reassured Kakashi that Naruto would not give up on bringing Sasuke back, and the team set out for Tenchi Bridge on the appointed day.
• Yamato used Wood Release Transformation to impersonate Sasori while Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Kakashi, and Uzumaki Hane took concealed positions around the bridge.
• Kabuto Yakushi met Yamato on the bridge, and Uzumaki Hane sensed Orochimaru nearby and went to confront him.
• Uzumaki Hane attacked Orochimaru with lava-based techniques and burned away the snakes Orochimaru sent against him.
• Kabuto Yakushi slashed Yamato’s disguise apart, wounded his arm, and realized that another ambush was waiting nearby.

Uzumaki Hane fought Orochimaru and tried to keep him away from Tenchi Bridge as Naruto began transforming under the Nine-Tails Chakra. Naruto overwhelmed Kabuto Yakushi and destroyed the bridge, leaving Kakashi and Yamato racing to stop him.

• Uzumaki Hane struck Orochimaru with lava attacks, but Orochimaru turned toward Tenchi Bridge after sensing Naruto's transformation.
• Uzumaki Hane blocked Orochimaru and attacked him with Hell Hound rather than let him reach the bridge.
• Yamato revealed the ambush to Naruto, Sakura, and Sai, while Kabuto Yakushi provoked Naruto by talking about Sasuke.
• Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra engulfed him, and he blasted Kabuto Yakushi away and shattered Tenchi Bridge; Yamato rescued Sakura while Sai escaped on a bird.
• Yamato reconnected the bridge, and Kakashi, Yamato, and Sakura hurried toward Naruto to stop his transformation.

Uzumaki Hane defeated Orochimaru in their first exchange, but Orochimaru shed his damaged body and joined the fight against Naruto as the Nine-Tails’ influence took hold. Yamato bound Naruto and began a sealing technique while Hane confronted Orochimaru.

• Uzumaki Hane burned Orochimaru’s snakes with magma, then punched him off the hillside toward Tenchi Bridge.
• Naruto’s two tails and looming threat made Kabuto Yakushi consider retreating, but Kakashi, Yamato, and Sakura arrived and prepared to seal Naruto.
• Orochimaru emerged unharmed from his shed skin, provoking Naruto into attacking him as a third and then fourth tail appeared.
• Uzumaki Hane arrived and took on Orochimaru while Yamato restrained Naruto with Wood Release.
• Orochimaru blocked Uzumaki Hane’s Great Eruption with Triple Rashomon, as Kakashi rescued Sakura from Naruto’s tail and Yamato began his sealing technique.

Uzumaki Hane battled Orochimaru while Yamato tried to seal Naruto’s Nine-Tails Chakra, but Kabuto Yakushi’s attack triggered Naruto’s four-tailed transformation. As Hane intervened to knock Naruto away, Sai approached the weakened Orochimaru with a message from Danzo.

• Yamato bound Naruto and used his necklace to suppress the Nine-Tails Chakra, while Uzumaki Hane survived Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword and countered with Great Eruption.
• Kabuto Yakushi rushed to attack Yamato, but Kakashi and Sakura intercepted him and fought off his techniques.
• Kabuto’s Water Release struck Yamato as he sealed Naruto, causing Naruto to transform again with four tails.
• Uzumaki Hane struck Naruto and sent him crashing through trees, then Sai rode an ink bird to Orochimaru’s crater.
• Orochimaru shed his damaged body, threatened Sai, and spat out the Kusanagi Sword after Sai said he carried Danzo’s message.

Uzumaki Hane restrained Naruto while Yamato suppressed the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, and Sakura treated Naruto’s injuries. After Naruto woke, Kakashi organized a pursuit of Orochimaru and left Naruto with Sakura.

• Uzumaki Hane fought Naruto in his four-tailed form, held him down despite being pierced by Naruto’s tails, and gave Yamato an opening to act.
• Yamato used his Wood Release technique and Naruto’s necklace to suppress the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, while Sakura treated Naruto’s severe injuries.
• Sakura asked Yamato to teach her the sealing Ninjutsu, but Yamato explained that only someone with Wood Release could use it.
• Kakashi revealed a scrap of Kabuto Yakushi’s clothing and arranged for himself, Yamato, and Uzumaki Hane to pursue Orochimaru while Sakura stayed with Naruto.
• Naruto woke and asked what had happened; Kakashi sent him to remain with Sakura while the others went after Orochimaru.

Orochimaru accepted Sai’s document and left with him and Kabuto Yakushi, while Kakashi led the others in pursuit. After a trapped decoy and the loss of the trail, Naruto collapsed briefly but insisted on continuing after Sasuke, and Kakashi allowed him to follow.

• Orochimaru questioned Sai, then read the document Sai had brought and ordered Kabuto Yakushi to leave with them.
• Naruto asked to join Kakashi’s pursuit of Sasuke, and Kakashi agreed on the condition that Naruto would not take action.
• Kakashi summoned Pakkun to track a fragment, and the group found Sai’s picture book and followed the trail.
• Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Sai noticed they were being followed and set a trap using a fake Sai corpse rigged with Explosive Tags.
• Pakkun lost the scent, and Naruto collapsed from his injuries before insisting he could keep up; Kakashi then led the group onward.

Uzumaki Hane and Yamato tracked Orochimaru’s group to a hidden base, where Sasuke confronted Sai before an explosion interrupted them. Hane reached the base and chose to storm inside, leaving the others to catch up.

• Naruto nearly fell from a tree, so Kakashi told him to slow down and conserve his strength while Uzumaki Hane raced ahead.
• Yamato secretly followed Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Sai to their base after planting something on Sai.
• Sasuke dismissed Sai and used his Sharingan to frighten him when Sai mentioned Naruto.
• A tremendous boom shook the cavern, and Orochimaru decided to escape through another entrance.
• Uzumaki Hane met Yamato’s Wood Clone outside the hidden base and chose to fight his way inside.

Uzumaki Hane broke into Orochimaru’s base alone and confronted Orochimaru, Sasuke, Sai, and Kabuto Yakushi. Their fight began in the cavern, where Hane’s lava attacks overwhelmed Orochimaru’s defenses, but the battle continued as the cavern shook around them.

• Uzumaki Hane ignored Yamato's Wood Clone’s warning, shattered the base entrance, and went inside alone.
• Kabuto Yakushi concluded that one of their pursuers had been marked, and Orochimaru ordered the group to leave.
• Uzumaki Hane broke through the cave wall and found Orochimaru, Sasuke, Sai, and Kabuto Yakushi in a cavern.
• Uzumaki Hane spoke to Sasuke and challenged Sai about Danzo before Orochimaru attacked him with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Uzumaki Hane and Orochimaru exchanged attacks, with Hane burning and hurling a giant python before dodging the Kusanagi Sword.
• Orochimaru summoned Rashomon to block Hane’s Canine Red Lotus, but Hane smashed the gate and sent another lava fist into the cavern wall.

Uzumaki Hane and Orochimaru fought as the collapsing base was destroyed, while Sai reached the entrance and revealed Danzo’s plan to join forces with Orochimaru against Konoha. Orochimaru emerged on a giant python and attacked Naruto, who demanded that he return Sasuke.

• Uzumaki Hane and Orochimaru exchanged attacks, and Orochimaru summoned a giant python to destroy the base as Uzumaki Hane escaped on a lava dragon.
• Sai found the cave entrance, where Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Yamato arrived searching for Sasuke.
• Sai admitted that Danzo had ordered him to gather information on Orochimaru and planned to join forces with him to destroy Konoha.
• Orochimaru burst out of the ground on a giant python, and Naruto’s Nine-Tails Chakra began to emerge as he demanded Sasuke back.
• Orochimaru declared Sasuke was his and sent the giant python to bite Naruto.

Uzumaki Hane fought Orochimaru with powerful lava techniques while Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura left to search for Sasuke. After Orochimaru survived Hane’s attacks and Triple Rashomon, Kabuto Yakushi suddenly attacked Hane from behind.

• Kakashi stopped Naruto from using the Nine-Tails Chakra, while Yamato and Sakura fought the giant python.
• Uzumaki Hane arrived on a lava dragon, challenged Orochimaru, and sent Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura to search for Sasuke.
• Hane and Orochimaru battled through their summoned beasts, and Hane repeatedly struck Orochimaru with Great Eruption.
• Orochimaru survived the lava attacks by shedding his damaged body and summoned Triple Rashomon to block another lava fist.
• Hane approached the crater, and Kabuto Yakushi appeared behind him and stabbed toward his back with a Chakra-covered hand.

Uzumaki Hane defeated Kabuto's attack, but Orochimaru and Kabuto escaped before he could find them. Meanwhile, Sai joined Naruto and Sakura in heading to Sasuke, who waited at the cave entrance.

• Kabuto attacked Uzumaki Hane with a clone, but Hane saw through it and pierced it with a lava strike.
• Kabuto's Water Release overwhelmed Hane's lava attack, and Kabuto retreated to Orochimaru; the two escaped after Orochimaru shed his damaged body.
• Hane emerged from the water, found Orochimaru and Kabuto gone, and set off to find Naruto and the others.
• Naruto helped Sai recover memories of his brother, and Sai chose to help bring Sasuke back to the village despite his mission to assassinate him.
• Sai led Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and Yamato through the ruined base toward Sasuke, while Naruto and Sakura hurried ahead.
• Sasuke sat on a huge rock at the cave entrance, quietly watching as Naruto and the others approached.

Naruto and his team found Sasuke, but he refused to return to Konoha and left after clashing with Sai. Uzumaki Hane rejoined the group after Orochimaru escaped, and the team returned to the village, where Hane set off to meet Danzo.

• Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi met Sasuke, who rejected Naruto's offer to return to Konoha and said he intended to kill Orochimaru.
• Sasuke attacked Naruto, but Sai intervened; Sasuke warned Naruto, then left after receiving Orochimaru's signal.
• Naruto passed out, then woke and lamented that he had failed to stop Sasuke again.
• Uzumaki Hane rejoined the group and said Orochimaru had escaped, though he had injured him and weakened him further.
• Kakashi, Yamato, Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Uzumaki Hane returned to Konoha; Hane left to meet Danzo, while Kakashi and Yamato reported to Tsunade.

After hearing Kakashi's report, Tsunade learned of Danzo's ties to Orochimaru, while Jiraiya received an urgent message and left before taking Naruto's training. At Root headquarters, Uzumaki Hane confronted Danzo and attacked him, and their fight continued as Danzo held back from using his Sharingan.

• Tsunade sent Kakashi and Yamato to rest after hearing their report about Sai's mission and evidence linking Danzo to Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya returned to take Naruto away for training, but a frog delivered a message that made him leave and entrust Naruto's training to Kakashi.
• Sai told Danzo he wanted to stay with Team Kakashi, and Danzo agreed while warning him about emotions and hatred.
• Uzumaki Hane ambushed Danzo at Root headquarters and said he had come to repay Danzo for the previous attacks.
• Uzumaki Hane and Danzo exchanged lava and Wind Release attacks, while Danzo chose not to use his transplanted Sharingan.
• Uzumaki Hane charged again as Danzo launched Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere at him.

Uzumaki Hane battled Danzo at Root headquarters, then was caught by Tsunade and sent to help Jiraiya investigate the Akatsuki’s capture of the Two-Tails’ Jinchūriki. Hane set out to prepare for the mission and spotted two familiar figures on the way home.

• Hane attacked Danzo with lava techniques, and Danzo escaped as the fighting damaged Root headquarters.
• Tsunade heard the explosion, found Hane trying to sneak away, and struck him before ordering him back to her office.
• Tsunade questioned Hane about fighting Danzo, then assigned him to help Jiraiya investigate the Two-Tails’ Jinchūriki’s capture and recover the Jinchūriki if possible.
• Hane left to prepare for the mission, spotted two familiar figures, and flickered after them.

Uzumaki Hane left Konoha on a mission after admitting to Kakashi and Yamato that he had accidentally attacked Root’s headquarters. Tsunade used the disappearance of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki to stop the village advisors from demanding Hane’s punishment, and Danzo agreed to let Sai remain on Team Kakashi.

• Uzumaki Hane ran into Kakashi and Yamato, admitted that the attack on Root’s headquarters had been an accident, and told them Tsunade had sent him on a mission.
• Kakashi told Naruto and Sakura that Hane was already away on a mission and was safe.
• Tsunade told Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Danzo that the Two-Tails Jinchūriki had disappeared and that Hane had been sent to assist Jiraiya.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stopped demanding that Hane be punished after learning about the Akatsuki threat.
• Tsunade told Danzo to let Hane’s attack go and allow Sai to stay on Team Kakashi, and Danzo agreed.