Chapter Summaries

Uzumaki Hane fought Kisame across a lake and river, only to discover the body he defeated was a puppet. He hurried back to Kakashi, who had survived his battle with Itachi, and the two realized their opponents had escaped.

• Kisame used water techniques to attack Uzumaki Hane, who countered with lava and drove him from the lake to a nearby river.
• Kisame unleashed Thousand Feeding Sharks, but Uzumaki Hane destroyed the wave with Great Eruption.
• Kisame used Great Shark Bullet against Uzumaki Hane's lava fist, but the attack broke through and turned the riverbed to lava.
• Uzumaki Hane found that the body floating in the river was not Kisame and suspected it had been a puppet created with the Shapeshifting Technique.
• Uzumaki Hane returned to Kakashi and found him tired but unharmed; Kakashi said they had let both Kisame and Itachi escape.

Kakashi faced Uchiha Itachi, who came to retrieve Kakuzu’s ring, and the two fought using clones, Genjutsu, and powerful techniques. Kakashi’s attacks failed to hit Itachi, and the battle remained unresolved.

• Kakashi removed his eye covering and confronted Itachi about his eyesight and Tsukuyomi, while leaving unanswered whether he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Itachi demanded Kakuzu’s ring, and Kakashi tossed it to him while secretly creating a Lightning Release Shadow Clone to attack.
• Kakashi and Itachi exchanged clone attacks, and Kakashi discovered that Itachi could cast Genjutsu with a finger as well as through his eyes.
• Kakashi charged through Itachi’s fire techniques and attacked with Chidori and Lightning Blade, but Itachi avoided each strike.
• Kakashi realized Itachi’s Sharingan had likely read his movements as the two remained poised to continue fighting.

Kakashi recalled his fight with Uchiha Itachi, and Uzumaki Hane explained that Itachi had used the Rinnegan’s Shapeshifting Technique. Meanwhile, Renga and his bandits invaded the shrine maiden’s palace to steal its treasure and confronted Uzumaki Hane and Shion in the main hall.

• Kakashi used a Shadow Clone and Lightning Blade against Uchiha Itachi, who escaped by turning into crows after his Chakra was nearly exhausted.
• Kakashi told Uzumaki Hane that Jiraiya would arrive in the Land of Demons the next day, and Uzumaki Hane explained how the Shapeshifting Technique could create a controlled copy with thirty percent of the user’s Chakra.
• Renga, Jiga, and Ruiga planned to rob the Land of Demons and capture the Konoha Ninja they believed had defeated its monster.
• Renga led his bandits into the shrine maiden’s palace and rushed with Jiga and Ruiga into the main hall.
• Renga demanded that Uzumaki Hane hand over all the treasure in the Land of Demons.

Naruto arrived at the palace to help Uzumaki Hane fight Renga and his men, while Shion revealed her own power when Ruiga attacked her. The fight spilled into the plaza, where Hane went to confront the remaining enemy.

• Naruto fell through the palace roof, reunited with Uzumaki Hane, and joined him against the three attackers.
• Jiga used magnetic powder and a meteor hammer, but Uzumaki Hane killed him with Hell Hound.
• Naruto created shadow clones and defeated Ruiga with Naruto Uzumaki Barrage.
• Uzumaki Hane struck Renga with a magma-coated punch and sent him crashing into the plaza.
• Ruiga tried to attack Shion, but her purple pattern bound him; Naruto tripped over Ruiga, and Shion knocked Naruto through the palace and into the plaza.
• Shion agreed to apologize to Naruto, and Uzumaki Hane leaped down to greet the others.

Uzumaki Hane and his allies defeated Renga, then gathered at the palace, where Hane shared what he knew about the Akatsuki. Naruto learned that Hane had captured one of Orochimaru’s subordinates, leaving him hopeful that they could find Orochimaru after the man recovered.

• Uzumaki Hane defeated Renga, and Kakashi killed him with Chidori after breaking through his ice defenses.
• Jiraiya arrived and reunited with Kakashi, then Naruto was sent flying from the palace by Shion and greeted Kakashi after returning.
• Uzumaki Hane explained the connection between Moryo and Shion’s power, and Naruto and Shion reluctantly made peace at Hane’s urging.
• Uzumaki Hane told Jiraiya and Kakashi about his battles with Akatsuki members and described several of the organization’s teams and abilities.
• Naruto asked about Orochimaru, and Uzumaki Hane revealed that he had captured one of Orochimaru’s badly injured subordinates, who might provide information after recovering.
• Uzumaki Hane identified Pain and Konan as the Akatsuki’s leaders and said he knew little about them, leaving Jiraiya and Kakashi deep in thought.

Guren returned to Orochimaru after failing to capture her target, and Orochimaru became interested in Sasori’s death at Uzumaki Hane’s hands. The next morning, Naruto challenged Kakashi to a bell test, and their fight continued as Kakashi fought through hundreds of shadow clones.

• Guren met Kabuto Yakushi at the base and asked to see Orochimaru.
• Guren reported her failure to Orochimaru, who reacted with interest when he learned Uzumaki Hane had killed Sasori.
• Jiraiya brought Naruto to a rocky clearing, where Kakashi began a bell test to assess Naruto’s progress.
• Naruto and Kakashi exchanged attacks, with Naruto using clones and techniques while Kakashi repeatedly outmaneuvered him.
• Naruto created hundreds of shadow clones, and Kakashi revealed his Sharingan and attacked the advancing crowd with a Great Fireball Technique.

Naruto and Kakashi fought, and Kakashi defeated him after testing how much he had improved. The next day, Jiraiya left with Naruto to continue his training and gather intelligence on the Akatsuki, while Kakashi also departed; Uzumaki Hane returned to training at the waterfall.

• Kakashi tested Naruto's progress in a battle, using clones and various techniques to defeat Naruto's Shadow Clones.
• Kakashi tricked Naruto with a dropped bell, then paralyzed him with lightning after Naruto attacked from behind and defeated him.
• The next day, Jiraiya told Uzumaki Hane he was taking Naruto to train and gather intelligence on the Akatsuki, and Uzumaki Hane promised to alert Naruto if he heard news of Orochimaru.
• Kakashi told Uzumaki Hane he was leaving because the Akatsuki members had departed, then waved goodbye and vanished.
• Uzumaki Hane returned to the palace, left Shion to her official business, and continued training at the waterfall.

Uzumaki Hane met Kurotsuchi after Iwagakure’s delegation questioned Shion about Moryo, and the two fought so Kurotsuchi could assess his strength. They returned to the palace after sparring, with Hane still wanting to fight the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Taruho told Uzumaki Hane that Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi had come to question Shion about Moryo, and Taruho recounted how Shion and Hane defeated him.
• Kurotsuchi found Uzumaki Hane sunbathing and challenged him to demonstrate his Lava Release.
• Uzumaki Hane and Kurotsuchi raced to a rocky area, where Kurotsuchi revealed that the Third Tsuchikage had sent them to assess Hane’s strength.
• Kurotsuchi and Uzumaki Hane exchanged attacks using Water Release and Lava Release, and Kurotsuchi stopped the spar after probing his abilities.
• Uzumaki Hane said he wanted to fight the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and he and Kurotsuchi returned to the palace.

Shion asked Uzumaki Hane to train young ninja from the Land of Demons, while Killer B prepared for a concert before the Raikage interrupted him with a task. After Kankuro visited to learn about the Moryo incident, he found Uzumaki Hane teaching and greeted him.

• Shion asked Uzumaki Hane to train a group of ninja, and he agreed to teach them the basics.
• Killer B gave Omoi and Karui concert flyers to distribute, then performed for a crowd until the Raikage slammed him into the stage and assigned him a task.
• Uzumaki Hane began teaching Chakra extraction to sixty-two children in the Land of Demons.
• Kankuro arrived as Sunagakure's envoy, heard Shion recount the Moryo incident, and later found Uzumaki Hane teaching at the waterfall.
• Kankuro greeted Uzumaki Hane, whom he had long wanted to challenge.

Uzumaki Hane fought Kankuro in front of his students, who watched as Kankuro used his puppets and poison attacks. Hane defeated him by getting behind him and placing a Kunai at his neck.

• Uzumaki Hane invited Kankuro to fight and asked that his students watch, and Kankuro agreed.
• Kankuro summoned Crow, Black Ant, and Ibuse, then attacked Hane with their weapons and puppet techniques.
• Hane dodged and blocked the puppet attacks, broke free after Black Ant trapped him, and praised Kankuro's improvement.
• Kankuro launched a barrage of poison needles, but Hane blocked them with a lava shield.
• Hane struck at Kankuro with a lava fist, then moved behind him and held a Kunai to his neck, declaring that Kankuro had lost.

Killer B escaped while Samui, Omoi, and Karui traveled to the Land of Demons, where they learned of a lead on his whereabouts. Uzumaki Hane resumed training at the restored volcanic crater and began opening the Fourth Gate, enduring overwhelming pain.

• Killer B secretly left a smoke clone behind and ran away, so Samui, Omoi, and Karui went to the Land of Demons for help finding him.
• Taruho learned that a traveling singer resembling Killer B planned to perform near the Land of Demons, and the three Kumogakure ninja hurried off to find him.
• After training the students and learning the crater house had been rebuilt, Uzumaki Hane returned to the volcano and resumed training in the magma.
• Uzumaki Hane began opening the Fourth Gate, the Gate of Pain, and endured intense pain as thoughts urged him to give up.

After opening the Fourth Gate, Uzumaki Hane decided to leave the Land of Demons and return to Konoha. Shion confessed her feelings before he departed, and he reunited with Yamano Koromo after reaching the village.

• Uzumaki Hane opened the Fourth Gate, doubled his strength, and decided to return to Konoha after more than three years away.
• Uzumaki Hane told Shion he had to leave, and they spent the day together in town.
• Shion confessed that she liked Uzumaki Hane and said she would wait for him in the Land of Demons before vanishing in a violet glow.
• Taruho told Uzumaki Hane that Shion was training, and he left the palace; Shion cried after hearing he was gone.
• Uzumaki Hane returned to Konoha, found his house clean, and encountered Yamano Koromo, who threw herself into his arms.

Uzumaki Hane returned to the village and reunited with Yamano Koromo before visiting Tsunade, who tested his abilities at the training ground. Their sparring escalated into a clash of Tsunade’s strength and Hane’s magma techniques, leaving his arm badly cracked but quickly restored.

• Uzumaki Hane reunited with Yamano Koromo, and they walked through the village while catching each other up on the past three years.
• Uzumaki Hane and Yamano Koromo visited Tsunade, who revealed she had taken Koromo as her disciple and was teaching her Medical Ninjutsu and Chakra Enhanced Strength.
• Tsunade led Uzumaki Hane to the training ground and tested his speed, finding that he could keep up with her.
• Tsunade attacked with her full strength, and Uzumaki Hane dodged her blows before countering with Hell Hound and a giant magma fist.
• Tsunade and Uzumaki Hane exchanged powerful strikes, sending Hane into a tree with cracks across his right hand, which he healed with magma.

Uzumaki Hane sparred with Tsunade, then was summoned to test Naruto’s training after Naruto returned to Konoha. Hane easily caught Naruto’s first attack, but a second Naruto appeared behind him as the fight continued.

• Tsunade and Uzumaki Hane fought in the training ground, and Tsunade praised his progress before leaving with Shizune.
• An Anbu member summoned Uzumaki Hane to see the Hokage, while Naruto reunited with Konohamaru and his companions, then with Sakura.
• Jiraiya brought Naruto and Sakura to Tsunade, who chose Uzumaki Hane to test Naruto’s training.
• Tsunade made Sakura team up with Naruto against Hane, and Naruto charged after throwing shuriken.
• Hane caught Naruto’s hand and pinned him down, then noticed another Naruto behind him.

Naruto and Sakura teamed up against Uzumaki Hane in a training battle, using Shadow Clones and Chakra Enhanced Strength to challenge him. Uzumaki Hane eliminated Naruto’s clones and found the pair hiding, but his punch revealed that the Naruto he reached was another Shadow Clone.

• Naruto used a Shadow Clone to distract Uzumaki Hane, but Hane spotted the trick and knocked the clone into Naruto.
• Sakura attacked with Chakra Enhanced Strength, smashing the ground and a tree, while Naruto supported her with Shadow Clones.
• Naruto surrounded Uzumaki Hane with many clones, and Hane used Lava Shuriken and Canine Red Lotus to destroy them while dodging Sakura’s attacks.
• After clearing the clones, Uzumaki Hane found Naruto and Sakura hiding behind a tree and dodged Sakura’s attempt to break it.
• Uzumaki Hane rushed at Naruto and struck him, only for Naruto to vanish in a puff of smoke as another Shadow Clone.

Naruto and Sakura fought Uzumaki Hane until Tsunade ended their exhausting battle. Meanwhile, Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand arrived at Sunagakure with Yura’s help, and Deidara began attacking the village from the air.

• Sakura and Naruto struck Uzumaki Hane with powerful attacks, but his body healed, and he chased them through the forest.
• Naruto and Sakura hid from Uzumaki Hane, who unleashed dozens of lava fists and destroyed the trees around them.
• Tsunade stopped the battle, and Naruto vowed to defeat Hane next time.
• Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand traveled toward Sunagakure to capture the One-Tail, while Deidara also planned to seek revenge on Uzumaki Hane.
• Yura killed the ninja guarding Sunagakure’s wall and led Deidara and Sasori into the village.
• Deidara flew over Sunagakure on a giant clay bird and killed three sky-watchers with exploding clay spiders.

Deidara attacked Gaara in Sunagakure, using explosive clay to test his defenses while Gaara fought back with sand. Gaara trapped Deidara with Sand Binding Prison, but Deidara detonated his giant bird and was blasted toward the ground.

• Deidara landed on the Kazekage's Office roof, and Gaara intercepted him after spotting the strange bird.
• Gaara chased Deidara through the streets and into the sky with streams of sand, while Deidara dodged and the village went on alert.
• Sasori of the Red Sand told Yura to return to the village as he waited at the entrance for Deidara.
• Gaara formed a giant Shukaku hand and repeatedly attacked Deidara, whose small explosive birds blasted holes in the sand that quickly repaired themselves.
• Deidara's winged explosive birds detonated around Gaara, who protected himself inside a sphere of sand and secretly watched Deidara with the Third Eye.
• Gaara used Sand Binding Prison to surround Deidara, who escaped by detonating his giant bird, sending himself plummeting toward the ground in the blast wave.

Deidara defeated Gaara by planting explosive clay in his sand, then captured him and escaped. Kankuro pursued Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand, and began fighting Sasori to reach Gaara.

• Deidara destroyed Gaara’s sand defense from within, but Gaara used his remaining strength to move the explosion away from Sunagakure.
• Gaara passed out, and Deidara caught him and flew away while the village ninja watched helplessly.
• Kankuro pursued Deidara with several Jonin, but a trap injured the others and left Kankuro to continue alone.
• Kankuro summoned Crow, Black Ant, and Ibuse, while Deidara flew ahead and Sasori of the Red Sand confronted him.
• Kankuro attacked Sasori of the Red Sand with Crow and Black Ant, which fired countless poisoned needles.

Tsunade formed Team Kakashi with Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura, who headed to Ichiraku Ramen together with Uzumaki Hane. Meanwhile, Sasori defeated Kankuro and poisoned him as Deidara escaped with Gaara, leaving the pursuing Jonin to chase after them while one took Kankuro back for treatment.

• Tsunade told Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura they would form Team Kakashi and complete missions together.
• Naruto invited everyone to Ichiraku Ramen, and Uzumaki Hane, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura went together.
• Sasori blocked Kankuro from pursuing Deidara, who flew away with Gaara.
• Sasori revealed he had made Kankuro's puppets, destroyed them, and struck Kankuro with a poisoned tail.
• Sasori left Kankuro behind, and Kankuro collapsed as the poison spread through his body.
• The reinforcements found Kankuro; one Jonin took him to the village for treatment while the other three pursued Sasori and Deidara.

Team Kakashi’s mission to Sunagakure became a rescue operation after the Akatsuki captured Gaara, while Kankuro lay near death from Sasori’s poison. Hane realized Sasori had survived their earlier battle, leaving the group facing an enemy he had believed he killed.

• Tsunade received word that the Akatsuki had captured Gaara and sent Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Hane to Sunagakure.
• Deidara and Sasori left the scene after completing the One-Tail mission, while Temari joined the Konoha team on its way to Sunagakure.
• Kankuro identified Sasori as the one who poisoned him, and Buggy asked Chiyo for help when the village’s medics could not treat him.
• Chiyo could not neutralize Sasori’s poison and said Tsunade might be able to save Kankuro, but there was no time to wait for her arrival from Konoha.
• Temari brought Kakashi, Hane, Naruto, and Sakura to the medical room, where Chiyo attacked Kakashi after mistaking him for Konoha’s White Fang.
• Hane saw Kankuro’s condition and realized Sasori had survived Hane’s earlier attack and escaped with Deidara.