Tsunade comes face to face with Tendo Pain on the rooftop of the Hokage mansion. When Pain demands the Nine Tails be handed over, Tsunade refuses. However, Pain uses the Ningendo’s power to learn of Naruto’s current location in Mount Myoboku. Tsunade clenches at the sight of the growing number of casualties within the Leaf. But Pain, who condemns the Leaf’s arrogance as a major nation, makes the choice to deliver catastrophic damage against the Leaf Village to teach them what true pain is.

Sensing danger at hand, Naruto, along with Fukasaku, rushes back to the Leaf Village from Mount Myoboku. But what they see is the remains of the Leaf Village, leveled beyond recognition. Tsunade is enraged at the catastrophic casualties, but her chakra is already depleted from saving the villagers’ lives through Katsuyu’s jutsu. Using his Sage Jutsu Naruto learns of Kakashi’s death from a distance. Filled with extreme anger and sadness, Naruto finally engages Pain in battle!

Naruto hits Pain with his Sage Jutsu-perfected Wind Style Rasen Shuriken. Although he succeeds in defeating Ningendo, the remaining Pain quickly confronts him. Shikamaru and the other Leaf ninja want to assist Naruto by joining the battle, but now that Naruto has mastered Sage Jutsu, they would only get in his way and are forced to watch from a distance. Gamabunta, Gamahiro, and Gamaken take on Chikushodo’s giant summon creatures while Fukasaku and Shima prepare to break the Rinnegan’s link. However, ti

Gamabunta and the other toads are defeated while Naruto is captured by Pain. Naruto attempts to fight back with Sage Jutsu, but Gakido sucks out his chakra, forcing him to go out of Sage Mode. Fukasaku and Shima prepare to activate genjutsu, the same one they used to assist Jiraiya, this time to break the Rinnegan’s link. Meanwhile, to not let Shizune’s death be in vain, Shikamaru and the other Leaf ninja vow to find the real Pain. As they prepare to gather further information, Inoichi Yamanaka comes to

Fukasaku and Shima fall in battle, leaving Naruto open to be captured by Tendo Pain. Just when all is thought to be lost, Hinata, who was following the battle with her Byakugan, steps in to face Pain. Ignoring Naruto’s plea for her to get away, Hinata takes her battle stance. Hinata excuses her actions as being selfish, and confesses her long-hidden feelings for Naruto. Meanwhile, Team Guy is hurrying back to the Leaf Village when Neji notices a strange presence up ahead.

Naruto loses himself after seeing Hinata taken out right before his eyes. His anger triggers the Nine Tails’ chakra to go out of control. Katsuyu informs the others of Naruto’s transformation, but Yamato, the only one capable of subduing the Nine Tails chakra, is on a mission outside the village. Nine-Tails Naruto destroys the First Hokage’s necklace and its sealing jutsu to attack Pain. As the battle escalates, Naruto’s tail count is about to reach eight.

Naruto meets Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, inside his inner world. Before his death, Minato planted a fail-safe where he would appear within Naruto’s psyche should his son sprout eight tails. Naruto, surprised to learn that he is the son of Minato, lashes out at his father with mixed feelings of joy and anger. Encouraged by his father’s words of confidence in him, Naruto casts away all doubt and returns to the real world where Pain awaits him.

To break the cycle of hate, Naruto heads to where the real Pain is hiding. On the way, he comes across Shikaku and Inoichi, who were leading their own search unit to track down Pain. The unit is shocked when Naruto requests that they let him talk with the real Pain alone. Inoichi objects to the idea, but Shikaku, who recalls the words spoken by his son Shikamaru, decides to put his faith in Naruto and lets him go. Naruto finally comes face to face with Nagato, the man who once studied under his master Jira

The story goes back to right before the start of the final rounds of the Chunin Exam. As Naruto trains in preparation for his upcoming match, he hears Jiraiya speak of “the Fourth Hokage’s legacy.” Believing it to be the ultimate secret ninja technique left behind by the Fourth Hokage, Naruto and Sakura are determined to get the technique to ensure that Squad 7 passes the Chunin Exam. Joined by Choji and the rest of Squad 10, who overheard the conversation, the group goes on a quest to attain the ulti

Naruto and the others take on the oncoming challenges in order to find the secret technique and break the previous record set by the Fourth Hokage. But Naruto’s impulsive action leads the group into various troubles. To make matters worse, they are attacked by Hidden Rain ninja wishing to take the secret technique for themselves. Can Naruto attain the secret ninja technique left behind by the Fourth Hokage?

Naruto comes face to face with Nagato and Konan. Naruto, wanting to confront the problem of their hate-filled ninja world, asks to hear Nagato’s side of the story before coming up with an answer. Nagato agrees and begins to talk of his past. As a young child, Nagato lived in the Hidden Rain during a time when the village was a battleground between warring nations. Having lost his parents to the Hidden Leaf, an orphaned Nagato was on the verge of death when he met Konan and Yahiko, who were also war orphan

To fulfill their dream, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan walk through the war zone in search of Jiraiya, hoping to learn ninjutsu from him. After completing their training, the three form an organization with Yahiko as its leader. In a time when the world is caught in a war between the Stone, Leaf, and Sand villages, Yahiko’s organization strives to construct a peace that is minimally based on military might. Soon after, Hanzo, leader of the Hidden Rain, approaches Yahiko’s organization to join forces in the n

Naruto remains silent after learning of Nagato’s painful past. Nagato claims true peace cannot exist in this cursed world, dismissing Jiraiya’s ideal as nothing more than wishful thinking. Having heard Nagato’s side of the story, Naruto gives his own answer to the quest for peace. Naruto’s answer triggers Nagato to recall the promise he made long ago to Jiraiya.

Nagato, having decided to believe in Naruto’s word, performs his last forbidden jutsu: Gedo Art Rinne Rebirth. Lives lost in the attack on the Leaf Village are restored, in exchange for Nagato’s own life. Taking on Yahiko and Nagato’s wish, Naruto promises Konan that he will bring true peace to the world.

The Leaf Village is left in ruins in the wake of Pain’s assault on the village. While cleaning through the remains of Ninja Academy, Iruka finds an old pillar and recognizes it as a memoir from Naruto’s early years at the academy. Iruka, then still a rookie instructor, had difficulties dealing with Naruto and his pranks. Despite having lost his parents to Nine Tails, Iruka tried his best to treat Naruto as his student.

Naruto spends his days competing with Sasuke, the academy’s star student, only to screw up and be the laughingstock of the class. Due to the childhood trauma of losing his parents to the Nine-Tailed Fox, Iruka finds it difficult to interact with Naruto as his student. After being treated coldly by his teacher, Naruto finally snaps and declares he will no longer go to the academy. Having lost confidence, Iruka asks the Third Hokage to relieve him from being Naruto’s homeroom teacher.

Naruto learns from his classmates that a battle broke out in the Leaf forest late last night. Wanting to be accepted as their friend, Naruto takes up his classmates’ dare to venture into the forest and retrieve an item from the dead enemy ninja, unaware that the forest is still dangerous. When Iruka finds Naruto and tries to take hiBut m back, Naruto adamantly refuses. Before Iruka can reflect on the great loneliness he feels from Naruto, the two are attacked by enemy ninja.

An emergency council is held before the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire. The topic is to discuss plans to rebuild the Leaf Village, which has been decimated following the battle with Pain, and Danzo strongly urges the council to select a new Hokage to replace Tsunade. Meanwhile, Naruto and Kakashi are visiting Tsunade, who still lies in a coma. Naruto’s concern for Tsunade prompts Kakashi to recount events prior to the formation of Team 7.

The Leaf ninja work to rebuild the Hidden Leaf Village. While helping with the restoration, Naruto and Sakura are reunited with two old friends—the carpenter Tazuna and his grandson Inari from the Land of Waves. Having heard of the Leaf’s crisis, the two rushed to help rebuild the village. The joyous reunion stirs Naruto to recall an incident that took place shortly after their mission in the Land of Waves.

As Naruto and Sakura celebrate their reunion with Inari and Tazuna, they recall an incident that took place three years ago, shortly after their mission in the Land of Waves. Having completed a D-rank mission to bring back a runaway ostrich, Team 7 stops in a town for some rest, where they encounter a man named Tsukado who is out to avenge the death of his relative.

News of the Leaf Village’s destruction has reached the Sand Village. Kankuro and Temari worry about their allied nation’s well-being, but Gaara, recalling a past mission carried out with the Leaf’s Team 7, points out that the Leaf Village has Naruto with them.

Naruto visits Sakura, who is caring for Tsunade. Sakura recalls an incident that took place three years before, in which she collapsed from symptoms that resembled a disease caused by a mysterious virus, one that turns a ninja’s chakra into fever. The village records indicated that Naruto, the last person Sakura came into contact with, had visited the village where the plague was said to have originated.

Tenten and Neji head for the Leaf Ninja Tool Research Lab to procure ninja tools necessary for rebuilding the Leaf Village. The two recall their last visit to the research lab, where they met an absentminded ninja tool researcher named Iou and his assistant Shoseki.

Condor, the ostrich previously captured by Team 7, now lives in a forest with baby ostriches. Since his last escape, Condor has trained himself to become a ninja ostrich, capable even of human speech. Condor tells the baby ostriches the history of his battles with Naruto.

Rock Lee is still hospitalized following his injuries in the Chunin Exam. After accidentally finishing off Lee’s last special youth drink, Naruto asks Guy to make more, only to learn one of its key ingredients, the Jofuku Flower, is out of stock. Hearing the destination of their next mission is where the plant can be found, Naruto is determined to get the Jofuku Flower for Lee’s sake.

In order to bring back Sasuke and to learn to defend himself against the Akatsuki, Naruto sets out on a journey to train under Jiraiya. Jiraiya takes Naruto to a village in the hopes of teaching him how to counter the Sharingan’s genjutsu attack. There, the two meet Tanishi, a young boy whose family Jiraiya befriended years ago.

Naruto and Jiraiya attempt to save a village from Kandachi, a former right-hand man to Hanzo of the Hidden Rain. But their plan is thwarted by Tanishi, who reveals their identities in fear of the Rain ninja’s wrath. A furious Kandachi summons the Conch King to attack Naruto and Jiraiya.

Granny Cat requests that Sasuke and Team 7 collect the last cat paw print necessary to complete the “Paw Encyclopedia.” For this D-rank mission the team head out without Kakashi, only to learn their target is a big shot called Nekomata who rules the ninja cats from behind the scenes. In order to infiltrate Nekomata’s impenetrable fortress, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura devise a secret plan.

Naruto is assigned to a team led by jonin Hayama to patrol the north border of the Leaf Village. One of his teammates is Kosuke, an old man who has been a genin for over fifty years, earning him the title “Eternal Genin.” Setting up camp near the border, the team stays alert for possible enemy attack. However, the number of enemy forces turns out to be more than what they have anticipated.

A beautiful kunoichi spy named Hanare is captured for attempting to gather intel on the Hidden Leaf. The Leaf Intel Division interrogates Hanare to learn who sent her, but to little avail. When Inoichi scans Hanare’s mind, he is surprised to find an image of a young Kakashi.

During the Chunin Exam, Neji rests in the medical room, having lost to Naruto. Just as Tenten comes in to check up on him, they see the Leaf Village attacked by Orochimaru and his men. Rushing back to the spectator stand, the two find the Elder of the Hyuga clan injured, and learn that Hinata has been kidnapped by two Hidden Cloud ninja. Neji, along with Tenten, Kiba, and Akamaru, sets out on an A-rank mission to retrieve the Byakugan and rescue Hinata.

On his way home Naruto comes across a rock pasted with a peculiar talisman, which he tears off without thinking. That night, Naruto is surprised to find an amnesic ghost standing near his bed. Meanwhile, an important meeting is being held at the Leaf Village regarding a new security plan.

Team 7 is after a group of thieves who have stolen the precious Golden Statue from the Feudal Lord's sister. Having spotted the thieves, Sakura attempts to contact Kakashi. But eager to take the credit for retrieving the statue themselves, Naruto and Sasuke move in on their own, only to fail and have Sakura taken away as hostage. To make matters worse, the enemy’s jutsu has left Naruto’s and Sasuke’s hands completely stuck to one another.

Team 7 and Team 10 are assigned to help a village that is troubled by bandits. Kakashi and Asuma head out to find a secure passageway necessary to storm the bandit hideout, while the remaining genin stay behind. But when a hostage is taken right before their eyes, Shikamaru must come up with a plan to handle the situation.

Sasuke’s jealousy of Naruto’s tremendous growth in strength causes friction between the two. Tsunade decides to give them some time apart by assigning them separate missions. Naruto and Sakura are assigned to escort a girl named Naho, a relative of the Daimyo. But Naho strongly insists on having Sasuke as her guard. Meanwhile, while searching for a wanted shinobi who has entered the Land of Fire territory, Sasuke and Kakashi stumble upon a shocking discovery.

Team Samui of the Hidden Cloud arrive at the Leaf Village and are shocked to find it in ruins. Nonetheless, they carry out their orders to deliver the Raikage’s official letter to the Hokage, when Danzo appears and announces that he is the new Hokage. The news of Danzo becoming Hokage and issuing orders to dispose of Sasuke reaches Naruto and Sakura. Outraged, the two decide to confront Danzo, only to be halted by Kakashi.

Karui and Omoi of the Hidden Cloud press Naruto to give information regarding Sasuke. Naruto realizes they’re motivated by wanting to save their captured master, but decides he cannot sell out his friend. Instead, Naruto offers himself as a punching bag for Karui and Omoi to abuse to their hearts’ content. Meanwhile, Danzo summons his most skilled men from the Foundation to accompany him to the Five Kage Summit.

Kage from each nation set out to attend the Five Kage Summit. Also attending is Danzo, who intends to use this opportunity to firmly establish his position as the new Hokage. Meanwhile, Naruto, Yamato, and Kakashi follow Team Samui in the hopes of meeting the Raikage and asking him to spare Sasuke’s life.

To prevent the cycle of hatred bound to occur should Sasuke be killed, Naruto goes to the Raikage and begs him to forgive Sasuke, but the Raikage quickly dismisses the request. Meanwhile, the Five Kage assemble in the Land of Iron to hold the Five Kage Summit Conference.