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== Background ==
 
== Background ==
 
[[File:Naruto and Kushina2.png|left|thumb|A newborn Naruto with his mother Kushina.]]
 
[[File:Naruto and Kushina2.png|left|thumb|A newborn Naruto with his mother Kushina.]]
Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage: [[Minato Namikaze]], and the second jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails: [[Kushina Uzumaki]]. He was named after the protagonist of [[Jiraiya]]'s [[The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi|first book]], thereby making the [[Sannin]] his godfather.<ref>Chapter 382, pages 9-11</ref> Fearing that the stress of giving birth would break the seal containing the Nine-Tails, the [[Third Hokage]] arranged Naruto's parents to go to a top-secret location on the outskirts of the village guarded by [[Anbu]], with the midwives [[Biwako]] and [[Taji]] helping Kushina in delivering her child while Minato would keep the seal in place. Shortly after Naruto was born on the night of October 10th, a [[masked man]], who managed to track down their location, killed the midwives and Anbu, and took the newborn hostage as a means of separating Minato from Kushina, in order to release the Nine-Tails for his own ends.<ref name="ch5001">Chapters 500-501</ref>
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Naruto was born on the night of October 10th to [[Minato Namikaze]] (the Fourth Hokage) and [[Kushina Uzumaki]] (the second jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails). He was named after the protagonist of [[Jiraiya]]'s [[The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi|first book]], which made the [[Sannin]] his godfather.<ref>Chapter 382, pages 9-11</ref> The [[Third Hokage]] made special arrangements for Minato to preserve Kushina's seal containing the Nine-Tails while she gave birth to Naruto in a remote location, escorted by midwives and [[Anbu]]. A masked man, [[Tobi]], tracked down their location, however, killed the midwives and Anbu, and captured Naruto, forcing Minato to quickly rescue him and teleport him to a [[Minato's Safe House|safe house]].
   
{{imgRight|Minato and Kushina protect Naruto.png|Minato and Kushina protecting Naruto from the Nine-Tails.}}
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{{imgRight|Minato and Kushina protect Naruto.png|Minato and Kushina protect Naruto from the Nine-Tails.}}
Minato quickly sprung into action, however, by the time he secured Naruto at a [[Minato's Safe House|safer location]], the masked man had succeeded in [[Tail Releasing Method|releasing]] the Nine-Tails and used it to [[Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha|devastate Konoha]]. Minato managed to save Kushina and left Naruto in her care before he went to protect the village.<ref name="ch5001" /> After having [[Contract Seal|severed]] the masked ninja's control over the tailed beast, Minato realised the only way to stop the Nine-Tails was to seal it within Naruto, believing that his son would someday have need of the fox's power to defeat the masked ninja when he returned.<ref>Chapter 503, pages 17-18</ref> Because the Nine-Tails' [[chakra]] was too immense for the seal to hold on such a small child, Minato was forced to [[Dead Demon Consuming Seal|sacrifice his soul]] in order to first weaken the fox by splitting its [[Yin]] and [[Yang]] chakra amongst himself and his son before succumbing to his wounds alongside Kushina after taking a fatal blow from the fox meant for their son. Suddenly orphaned, Naruto was left to grow up knowing nothing of his parents, receiving only his mother's last name as Hiruzen believed it was best that nobody knew that he was related to the Fourth Hokage.<ref>Chapter 440, page 5</ref>
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With Minato gone, Tobi captured Kushina and [[Tail Releasing Method|released]] the Nine-Tails from her, using it to [[Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha|devastate Konoha]].<ref name="ch500">Chapter 500</ref> Minato saved Kushina and left Naruto in her care before he went to protect the village,<ref name="ch5001" /> eventually defeating Tobi and freeing the Nine-Tails from Tobi's control. Returning to Naruto and Kushina's location, Minato realised the only way to stop the Nine-Tails was to seal it within Naruto, believing that his son would someday need the fox's power to defeat Tobi when he returned.<ref>Chapter 503, pages 17-18</ref> Since the Nine-Tails' [[chakra]] was too immense to seal into an infant, Minato [[Dead Demon Consuming Seal|sacrificed his soul]] to split the fox's chakra in half, sealing the Yin half within himself and the Yang half [[Eight Trigrams Sealing Style|within]] Naruto. After telling Naruto how much they loved him, Minato and Kushina succumbed to their wounds from protecting their son from the Nine-Tails and passed away.
   
Despite Minato's dying wish to see his son heralded as a hero, only the Third Hokage and a small number of the villagers could put their pain of loss aside and honour this request. The majority of Konoha, consumed with bitterness over the lives lost and destruction in the wake of the Nine-Tails' attack, resented Naruto for it unable to separate the beast from the boy — and with some even seeing him as the fox itself. In the interest of protecting Naruto and in the hope that the younger generations would not emulate this position, Hiruzen passed a decree of secrecy that strictly prohibited the adults from divulging Naruto's status as a jinchūriki. This policy was not entirely effective, as even without knowing why, many of Naruto's peers followed their parent's example and shunned him.<ref>Chapter 2, pages 13-14</ref> The social isolation would cause Naruto to develop a need to be acknowledged through mischief.
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Orphaned, Naruto grew up not knowing who his parents were, receiving only his mother's surname, as Hiruzen wanted to protect Naruto from his father's enemies.<ref>Chapter 440, page 5</ref> Minato's dying wish that Naruto be regarded as a hero would be honoured by very few. Most of Konoha, however, openly ostracised and resented Naruto for containing the beast that devastated the village and took many lives; some even viewed Naruto as the Nine-Tails itself. The Third Hokage forbade anyone from mentioning the Nine-Tails, hoping that the younger generation would not blindly hate Naruto as their parents did.<ref>Chapter 2, pages 13-14</ref> However, Naruto's peers emulated their parents' hatred of him, despite not knowing why. This social isolation caused Naruto to crave acknowledgement, which he would gain by pulling pranks.
   
[[File:Naruto's first encounter with Hinata.png|thumb|left|Naruto's first encounter with Hinata.]]
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[[File:Naruto's first encounter with Hinata.png|thumb|left|Naruto meets Hinata.]]
On a snowy day - the day of his enrolment in Konoha's [[Ninja Academy]]<ref>''The Last: Naruto the Movie'' novelisation</ref> - Naruto first met [[Hinata Hyūga]], who was being picked on by three bullies. Despite not knowing her, Naruto immediately came to her defence, but he was outnumbered and knocked unconscious, and the bullies damaged the red scarf he was wearing. When he regained consciousness, Hinata thanked him for helping her and returned his scarf to him, but he let her keep it. He was unaware that was when the young [[Hyūga]] girl's affections for him began.<ref name="TheLast">''The Last: Naruto the Movie''</ref>
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On a snowy day - the day of his enrolment in the [[Ninja Academy]]<ref>''The Last: Naruto the Movie'' novelisation</ref> - Naruto first met [[Hinata Hyūga]], who was being picked on by three bullies. Despite not knowing her, Naruto immediately came to her defence, but he was outnumbered and knocked unconscious, and the bullies damaged his red scarf. When Naruto awoke, Hinata thanked him for helping her and returned his scarf to him, but he let her keep it. He was unaware that was when the young [[Hyūga]] girl's affections for him began.<ref name="TheLast">''The Last: Naruto the Movie''</ref>
   
 
[[File:Young sasuke and Naruto.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke in the Academy.]]
In the anime, one day, he was confronted by [[Sakura Haruno]], [[Ino Yamanaka]], [[Shikamaru Nara]], and [[Chōji Akimichi]]. They accused him of making someone named [[Yota]], who was a stranger to the village, disappear. Seeing them look at him with such distrust like the rest of the village, Naruto grew furious and ran away, so angry that people would like even an outsider over him. He then heard a young boy crying who strangely appeared to control the weather, making it rain with his tears. Naruto then realised this boy must be Yota. Immediately taking a liking to Naruto, the young boy asked him to teach him how to whistle like he saw Naruto do earlier. As Naruto began teaching him, the two soon became close friends. Later, Naruto and Yota began playing along with other the Konoha children that knew about Yota. One day, while playing a game of hiding, Yota insisted to hide with Naruto. When Naruto told him to hide somewhere else, Yota mistakenly thought Naruto didn't like him any more and ran away crying. His crying caused another rain-shower, which alerted the [[Anbu]]. As they took Yota captive, Naruto and the others tried to stop the Anbu, but to no success.<ref name="NS314">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 314</ref>
 
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In the Academy, Naruto became a student of [[Iruka Umino]], who acted as a surrogate older brother to keep him in line and help him work harder. Naruto also met his class-mate [[Sasuke Uchiha]] and tried to befriend him, seeing that he was alone as well. Jealous of Sasuke's skills and popularity, however,<ref>Chapter 485, page 14</ref> he developed a one-sided rivalry in his pursuit to prove himself just as good as, if not better than, Sasuke, wishing that someday, Sasuke would accept him as an equal.<ref>Chapter 487, page 2</ref> Naruto also grew close with the owner of [[Ramen Ichiraku]], [[Teuchi]] and his daughter [[Ayame]], being welcomed as their favourite customer.
 
Determined to save his first ever friend, Naruto and the others staged a plan with Naruto acting as a diversion. Despite finding Yota, the Anbu easily foiled their plan. Naruto quickly joined his friends, refusing to let Yota be kept prisoner. Seeing how much Naruto cared for him and then got struck down by the Anbu, Yota summoned bolts of lightning to knock the Anbu out. Greatly weakened by the act, Naruto carried Yota out of the village with the others, determined to bring him to freedom. Upon reaching a river, unable to walk over it yet, they chose to swim. Their attempts proved futile and nearly drowned, only to be saved by Yota. Having overtaxed himself, Yota felt his life fading. Happy to have had friends, Yota didn't want them to suffer with this sad memory and erased all knowledge of him from their minds.<ref name="NS315">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 315</ref>
 
 
[[File:Young sasuke and Naruto.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke's rivalry during their childhood.]]
 
Naruto eventually became the student of [[Iruka Umino]] and met his class mate [[Sasuke Uchiha]] when the two were paired to [[Traditional Shinobi Sparring|spar]] against each other. Though excited at the chance to achieve popularity by beating Sasuke, Naruto was easily beaten. By looking at Sasuke's eyes, Naruto realised that they were filled with hatred, even though it wasn't directed at him. When Iruka told them to make the reconciliation seal, they both refused.<ref>Chapter 538, pages 10-15</ref> Since then, Naruto came to see Sasuke as a rival and intended to beat him. When he found out that Sasuke was also an orphan, he was secretly happy for not being the only one alone and wanted to talk to him, but couldn't because of his jealousy toward Sasuke's skills and reputation.<ref>Chapter 485, page 14</ref> Still, Naruto wished that someday, Sasuke would acknowledge him as an equal.<ref>Chapter 487, page 2</ref> Despite this, when Naruto and Sasuke traded glance when they were kids, they immediately looked away in annoyance but secretly smiled shortly afterwards, meaning Sasuke actually considered Naruto a friend somewhere deep down.
 
 
In the anime, when Naruto pulled a prank on a group of boys for not being invited to their "test of courage", he refused to return to the Academy after being glared at by Iruka with the same resentful stare everyone else gives him. Later, Naruto was tricked by the boys' leader, [[Hibachi]], to get himself killed by enemy ninja in the hills. Learning of this, Iruka ended up saving Naruto from a trio of [[Takigakure]] [[kunoichi]] before [[Kakashi Hatake]] dispatched their pursuers. Soon after, Naruto began attending class again at the time that Iruka, who now acted as a surrogate brother to keep the boy in line, gave a lecture on the Will of Fire that inspired Naruto to become the next Hokage someday to achieve the acknowledgement he is striving for.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episodes 177-178</ref> Apart from Hiruzen and Iruka, Naruto also found a surrogate family with the owner of [[Ramen Ichiraku]], [[Teuchi]] and his daughter [[Ayame]] to some extent.
 
   
 
== Personality ==
 
== Personality ==
[[File:Naruto's Ninja Registration Photo.png|thumb|left|Naruto's Ninja Registration Form photograph.]]
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[[File:Naruto's Ninja Registration Photo.png|thumb|left|Naruto's ninja registration photo.]]
Naruto is a boisterous, exuberant and unorthodox individual. He would end sentences with {{translation|"[[Dattebayo and Believe It|Dattebayo!]]"|だってばよ!}} when excited or frustrated. He has a number of childish traits, such as being a very picky eater (he almost exclusively eats ramen), being afraid of ghosts, and carries a chubby green-frog wallet which he calls "[[Gama-chan]]".<ref>Chapter 150, page 4</ref> Naruto is heedless to formality or social standings and has a habit of giving certain people he meets nicknames or addressing them without appropriate [[Wikipedia:Honorific|honourifics]], as shown when he called the [[Second Hokage]] a name he thought of off the top of his head instead of simply {{translation|"Lord Second"|二代目様|Nidaime-sama}}. This laid-back trait continues into his adulthood.<ref>Chapter 700+4, page 10</ref> Complementing this, he is also quite modest, often referring to Sasuke as the Other Hokage. He can also be quite perverted, creating different forms of his [[Sexy Technique]] and once tried to sneak a peek in the women's bath when the opportunity presented itself.<ref>Chapter 286, page 16</ref>
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Naruto is characterised as boisterous, exuberant and unorthodox, quite similar to [[Hashirama Senju]].<ref>Chapter 648, page 5</ref> He inherited his mother's verbal tic, as he ends his sentences with {{translation|"[[Dattebayo and Believe It|Dattebayo!]]"|だってばよ!}} when excited or frustrated. Though he responds best to competition and is not afraid to ask for assistance, Naruto is relatively naive, simple, and slow to understand principles or situations. He often requires an oversimplified analogy in order to grasp explanations,<ref name="ch409">Chapter 409, page 11</ref> and can even forget some concepts that he himself noted earlier if he is too emotional.<ref>Chapter 645, pages 2-3</ref> Naruto is aware of his faults, and admits he acts strong to mask his embarrassment and frustration about them.<ref>Chapter 98, pages 8-14</ref><ref name="ch440">Chapter 440, page 13</ref> Despite his naivety, Naruto can be quite observant, picking up on things others miss and retaining information casually gathered through conversation.<ref>Chapter 535, pages 2-5</ref>
   
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Growing up as an orphan who suffered years of hatred and social isolation by Konoha's villagers has influenced Naruto's character in a number of ways: he is heedless to formality and social standings, addressing [[Rock Lee|certain]] [[Jiraiya|people]] he meets with nicknames instead of [[Wikipedia:Honorific|honourifics]];<ref>Chapter 37, page 7</ref><ref>Chapter 641, page 3</ref> his picky eating habits consist mainly of ramen, his favorite food; he has a perverted side that manifests as uses of the [[Sexy Technique]] or attempts to peep into women's baths.<ref>Chapter 286, page 16</ref> Despite his quirks and the criticism that follows them, Naruto is said to have a personality that draws people to him,<ref>Chapter 262, pages 12-13</ref> inspiring friendship and loyalty through acts of genuine kindness that could change a person's worldview. He is thus able to build [[Naruto Uzumaki's Relationships|meaningful relationships]] that he lacked in early life; the [[Sage of Six Paths]] believes Naruto's kindness is a special gift that allows him to befriend [[Kurama]], a living embodiment of hatred.<ref>Chapter 693, pages 12-13</ref> Naruto deeply cherishes these bonds and will go to great lengths to protect them, as seen with Sasuke after his defection from Konoha. Naruto's time at the [[Falls of Truth]] revealed that a part of him hated the villagers for ostracising him, only to admire him after he saved them during [[Pain's Assault]]. This allowed Kurama to manipulate Naruto's rage until he confronted it and learned to let it go, becoming greater than what he suffered.<ref>Chapter 695</ref>
[[File:Naruto's Promise.png|thumb|Naruto promising to return Sasuke back to the village.]]
 
Years of isolation and scorn from the villagers made Naruto thirst greatly for acknowledgement and love. He would pull pranks around the village just to get a response from anyone and his desire to be Hokage was in hopes of becoming someone that mattered. Because no one in the village cared for him apart from Iruka (and unknowingly Hinata), Naruto was completely unresponsive to the villagers yelling at him from his pranks, only showing response when Iruka showed up. Naruto's time at the [[Falls of Truth]] revealed that a part of him hated the villagers for treating him as a pariah, only to turn to him after he saved them during [[Pain's assault]] on Konoha. This hatred allowed the Nine-Tails to manipulate Naruto in his rage, causing him to go on a rampage several times until Naruto confronted the problem and learned to let it go and be greater than what he suffered. As he grew in his ninja career, his goal to be Hokage went from a desire for acknowledgement to a desire to help and protect the people close to him, which [[Tobi]] attributed to the [[Will of Fire]].<ref>Chapter 462, page 14</ref> Naruto developed his [[nindō]] of never going back on his word, putting himself through any lengths required to keeping his promise. This was especially shown in Naruto's promise to Sakura to bring Sasuke back after his defection from Konoha, despite the various hardships he was facing toward fulfilling his promise.
 
   
 
[[File:Naruto's Promise.png|thumb|Naruto promises Sakura to return Sasuke to Konoha.]]
According to Kakashi, Naruto is a [[Wikipedia:Kinesthetic learning|kinesthetic learner]], as he is relatively naive, simple, and slow to understand principles or situations, often requiring an oversimplified analogy in order to grasp what is being explained to him, much to his teachers' annoyance.<ref name="ch409">Chapter 409, page 11</ref> Naruto is aware of his own ineptitude, and admits that he puts up a strong front so people around him won't know of his embarrassment and frustration about it, despite of all his accomplishments.<ref>Chapter 98, pages 8-14</ref><ref name="ch440">Chapter 440, page 13</ref><ref name="ch671">Chapter 671</ref> Naruto responds best to competition, using it as an additional drive in order to learn new techniques, though he doesn't hesitate to ask for help if he needs it. Despite his naivety, Naruto can be quite observant, picking up on things others miss and retaining information casually gathered through conversation.<ref>Chapter 535, pages 2-5</ref> In battle, Naruto has shown to be a quick thinker, making up strategies on the fly or inventive use of his techniques to catch his opponents off guard. While he can be calm and collected most of the times during a fight, Naruto can also get frustrated when he is unable to defeat his opponent, and can forget some concepts or weaknesses that he himself noted beforehand.<ref>Chapter 645, pages 2-3</ref>
 
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Another of Naruto's prominent traits is his desire for acknowledgement; his pranks around the village were for people to notice, or at least scold, him. Therefore, he dreamed of one day becoming Konoha's Hokage, the epitome of acknowledgement and respect from everyone in the village.<ref>Chapter 4, page 6</ref> Knowing his dream is a long, arduous and seemingly impossible path, Naruto developed his own [[nindō]] of never going back on his word. This life-long philosophy serves as the cornerstone of Naruto's great self-confidence; he believes he can accomplish any goal with enough hard work and perseverance, no matter how big the obstacle is or how long it takes to complete it. This guides him in many aspects of life besides a battle, such as his promise to Sakura of bringing Sasuke back to Konoha. Over time, his goal to be Hokage grew from a desire for acknowledgement to a desire to help and protect the people close to him, which [[Tobi]] attributed to the [[Will of Fire]].<ref>Chapter 462, page 14</ref> His nindō is reinforced by his understanding that shinobi were meant to endure through hardships.<ref>Chapter 617, page 19</ref>
   
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After the death of his master [[Jiraiya]], talking to his father [[Minato]] and listening to [[Nagato]]'s story of tragedy, Naruto grew to understand the cycle of hatred and vowed to break it in order to bring real peace to the world.<ref name="ch448">Chapter 448, page 2</ref> To that end, his participation in the Fourth Shinobi World War is not only to protect his friends, but also to bear and erase the world's hatred all by himself. After encountering a [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnated]] [[Itachi Uchiha]], however, Naruto realises that he cannot handle everything alone and that he must allow his friends to support and fight alongside him. As he does so in war's climax, his fighting spirit inspires the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]] to join him and keep fighting to end the war as well, ultimately becoming an example for many people to admire, follow, and believe in.<ref>Chapter 647, pages 14-19</ref><ref>Chapter 649, pages 14-17</ref>
Despite these quirks and the criticism that follows them, Naruto is said to have a personality that brings people to him, inspiring friendship, loyalty and love from most of the people he meets through acts of genuine kindness and sincerity that could change a person's entire world view. For example, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Naruto's kindness inspired loyalty from the [[tailed beasts]], and when linked to the entire [[Shinobi Alliance]] through [[Mind Body Transmission Technique|telepathy]], he reignited the demoralised armies' fighting spirit, choosing to continue fighting despite the losses he could receive, as shinobi were meant to endure through hardships.<ref>Chapter 647, pages 14-19</ref><ref>Chapter 649, page 11</ref> On several occasions, the Second Hokage has stated in many ways Naruto is very similar to the [[First Hokage]].
 
   
 
[[File:Naruto watching Hinata knit.png|thumb|left|Naruto becomes shy around Hinata.]]
The death of his master [[Jiraiya]] caused a large world shift for Naruto. Grieving for Jiraiya, Naruto swore vengeance on [[Pain]] and left the village to learn [[senjutsu]].<ref>Chapter 408, page 12</ref> While training, Naruto read a copy of [[The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi]], which taught him that he was named after a hero from the book. Although further enraged by Pain's assault on Konoha, Naruto soon spoke with his father, who explained to him the cycle of hatred of the shinobi world. After finally listening to [[Nagato]]'s story and the results of the cycle of hatred, Naruto vowed to break the cycle and bring real peace to the world.<ref name="ch448">Chapter 448, page 2</ref> Despite this desire bringing him in direct opposition to Sasuke and the rest of Akatsuki, Naruto continued down this path, resolving to end both the Fourth Shinobi World War and the cycle of hatred.
 
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Naruto first met [[Hinata Hyūga]] when they were children, where his open kindness and courageous spirit earned him her admiration, which grew into love. On his part, Naruto remained largely oblivious to Hinata's feelings for him and even considered her "weird" because of her shyness around him. However, things change during the Chūnin Exams in Part I when they began to interact more and support each other, causing Naruto to like her as a friend.<ref>Chapter 98, pages 13-14</ref> In Part II, as Hinata becomes willing to risk her life to protect Naruto, he in turn sees her as a strong person despite his speechlessness at her love confession. During ''[[The Last: Naruto the Movie]]'', Naruto finally recognises the love that Hinata has always had for him, causing him to become more bashful and protective of her, just as she was for him. Realising that she alone has never lost faith in him and that she has always been there for him, he reciprocates her feelings and desires to be with her for the rest of his life. They marry (after only a few months of dating according to ''[[Sakura Hiden]]'') and eventually have two children, [[Boruto]] and [[Himawari]].
 
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[[File:Naruto watching Hinata knit.png|thumb|left|Naruto's shy personality as he observes Hinata from a distance.]]
 
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As an adult, Naruto becomes wiser and more level-headed, but retains some of his negligence for honourifics.<ref>Chapter 700+4, page 10</ref> Although he finally achieves his dream of Hokage, its many tasks not only overwhelm Naruto at times, but often leave him unable to spend time with his family, particularly upsetting his son Boruto. Naruto is also more responsible in his duties as Hokage and as a father: he forbids use of the [[Kote]] in the [[Chūnin Exams]] as it diminishes a shinobi's true potential; he is disappointed by Boruto's cheating in the exams and even removes his forehead protector in front of the audience after lecturing him. Nevertheless, Naruto deeply loves his family, creating shadow clones to tend to them while he's busy, protecting them in times of danger, spending time with them when he can, and expressing pride in his children's successes.<ref name="BorutoMovie">''Boruto: Naruto the Movie''</ref> He in fact adopts Hiruzen's philosophy that everyone in the village is his family, believing that true relationships are made up of love rather than blood relations.<ref>Chapter 700+8</ref>
After realising he is in love with Hinata at age nineteen, Naruto became not only protective of her, but also shy and flustered in her presence to the point where he accidentally told her how he felt. When Hinata "rejected" him so she could be with [[Toneri Ōtsutsuki]], Naruto fell into a great depression and came close to giving up on everything, until Sakura helped him realise how deep and unwavering Hinata's mutual feelings for him truly were, and that she only pretended to reject him to have a better chance of saving [[Hanabi]] and stopping Toneri. This made Naruto more determined than ever to save the Hyūga sisters, stop Toneri, and make his desire to be with Hinata for the rest of his life a reality. After several months of dating, Naruto and Hinata got married and started a family together with a [[Boruto|son]] and [[Himawari|daughter]].<ref name="TheLast" /><ref>''After The Last''</ref><ref>''Sakura Hiden''</ref><ref name="KonohaHiden">''Konoha Hiden''</ref>
 
 
In adulthood, Naruto has become much calmer and wiser in his approach, but still retains some of his childlike excitement. After becoming [[Hokage]], Naruto has grown more serious and strict with his duties, taking up huge responsibilities and becoming overwhelmed. This has lead him to create shadow clones to tend to his family, which has strained his relationship with his son Boruto, who would occasionally pull pranks to seek his attention.<ref name="ch700" /> Nevertheless, Naruto loves and deeply cares about his family, as he is more than willing to protect them in times of danger, and tries to make time for them in actual person.<ref name="BorutoMovie">''Boruto: Naruto the Movie''</ref>
 
 
=== Relationships ===
 
{{Main with-include|Naruto Uzumaki's Relationships}}
 
   
 
== Appearance ==
 
== Appearance ==
Jiraiya states Naruto strongly resembles his father: he has blonde, spiky hair and blue eyes, while inheriting the shape of his mother's eyes and face.<ref>Chapter 367, page 12</ref><ref>Chapter 498, page 8</ref> His trademark characteristic are the three whisker markings on his cheeks. [[Dan Katō]] initially mistook Naruto for [[Nawaki]] due to their stark resemblance.<ref>Chapter 558, page 13</ref> Naruto was rather short for his age during Part I,<ref>Chapter 9, pages 10-11</ref> though he grew to be taller than Sakura in Part II<ref>Chapter 245, page 12</ref> and became the tallest of his generation by adulthood. As a child, Naruto usually wore a T-shirt with an Uzumaki or fire symbol on the front, a pair of shorts, and green goggles on his forehead, though he discards them after becoming a genin.
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Jiraiya says Naruto strongly resembles his father:<ref>Chapter 144, page 4</ref> he has blonde, spiky hair and blue eyes, while inheriting the shape of his mother's eyes and face.<ref>Chapter 498, page 8</ref> His trademark characteristic are the three whisker markings on his cheeks. [[Dan Katō]] initially mistook Naruto for [[Nawaki]] due to their stark resemblance.<ref>Chapter 558, page 13</ref> Naruto was rather short for his age during Part I,<ref>Chapter 9, pages 10-11</ref> though he grew to be taller than Sakura in Part II<ref>Chapter 245, page 12</ref> and became the tallest of his generation by adulthood. Naruto originally wore green goggles on his forehead, though he discards them after becoming a genin.
   
 
<gallery type="slideshow" widths="240">
 
<gallery type="slideshow" widths="240">
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Naruto with coat.png|Naruto's appearance during his battle with Pain.
 
Naruto with coat.png|Naruto's appearance during his battle with Pain.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
In Part I, Naruto wore an orange and blue jacket with a white collar, a white swirl with a tassel on the left side, and a red Uzumaki crest on the back. He also wore orange pants with a shuriken holster on his right knee, blue sandals, and a blue [[forehead protector]], given to him by Iruka after graduating from the Academy. In Part II, Naruto wears a more form fitting outfit after wearing out his original one while training with Jiraiya,<ref>Chapter 248, page 12</ref> with a T-shirt or armour underneath. While retaining the swirls and orange pants, the blue pieces of his outfit changes to black: his forehead protector (which is now longer), sandals, and orange jacket, the black colour showing more prominence than the blue did originally. During his battle with Pain, Naruto briefly wore a short-sleeved red coat with a black flame pattern around the hem and carried a large scroll on his back.
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In Part I, Naruto wore an orange and blue jacket with a white collar, a white swirl with a tassel on the left side, and a red Uzumaki crest on the back. He also wore orange pants with a shuriken holster on his right knee, blue sandals, and a blue [[forehead protector]], given to him by Iruka after graduating from the Academy. In Part II, Naruto wears a more form fitting outfit after wearing out his original one while training with Jiraiya,<ref>Chapter 248, page 12</ref> with a T-shirt or mesh armour underneath. While retaining the swirls and orange pants, the blue pieces of his outfit changes to black: his forehead protector (which is now longer), sandals, and orange jacket, the black colour showing more prominence than the blue did originally. During his battle with Pain, Naruto briefly wore a short-sleeved red coat with a black flame pattern around the hem and carried a large scroll on his back.
   
 
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== Abilities ==
 
== Abilities ==
 
[[File:SageArtSTBR.png|thumb|Naruto's combined senjutsu and tailed beast influence over his trademark techniques.]]
 
[[File:SageArtSTBR.png|thumb|Naruto's combined senjutsu and tailed beast influence over his trademark techniques.]]
Although starting off clumsy and untalented as the lowest graduate of his class in the [[Academy]], Naruto persevered and improved rapidly as a late bloomer. He defeated strong shinobi such as [[Neji Hyūga]] and [[Gaara]] and became acknowledged by the [[Sannin]] for his potential in Part I.<ref>Chapter 168</ref> Under [[Jiraiya]]'s tutelage for two-and-a-half years, Naruto grew strong enough to fight the members of [[Akatsuki]]; Konoha praised him as a hero of Hokage-material after he defeated [[Pain]]. During the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]], he fought and overcame multiple [[Kage]]-level and [[Madara Uchiha#Jinchūriki Forms|above]] [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki|opponents]] before defeating Sasuke while exhausted,<ref>Chapter 555, pages 11-15</ref><ref>Chapter 684</ref><ref>Chapter 698</ref> leading others to believe that Naruto had surpassed the previous Hokage.<ref>Chapter 675, page 3</ref> Two years after the War, Naruto could single handily defeat [[Toneri Ōtsutsuki]] despite his usage of the [[Tenseigan]]<ref>''The Last: Naruto the Movie''</ref> Naruto's abilities continued to improve in the following years, ultimately becoming the Seventh Hokage.<ref name="ch700" />
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Naruto was an inept student in the [[Academy]], failing to graduate three times before becoming a shinobi. Through sheer determination, however, his skills rapidly improve in Part I as he defeats strong shinobi such as [[Neji Hyūga]], [[Gaara]], and [[Kabuto Yakushi]], earning acknowledgement from the [[Sannin]] for his potential.<ref>Chapter 168</ref> Under [[Jiraiya]]'s tutelage for two-and-a-half years, Naruto becomes strong enough to fight members of [[Akatsuki]], such that Konoha villagers praise him as a hero of Hokage-material after he defeats [[Pain]].<ref>Chapter 455, page 9</ref> Although the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]] was initially meant for his protection, Naruto's eventual and required participation leads to the defeat of many reincarnated [[Kage]],<ref>Chapter 555, pages 11-15</ref> [[tailed beasts]],<ref>Chapter 572</ref> [[Sasuke Uchiha|and]] [[Obito Uchiha#Jinchūriki Forms|enemies]] [[Madara Uchiha#Jinchūriki Forms|of]] [[Ten-Tails]]' [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki|calibre]];<ref>Chapter 554, pages 12-15</ref> others believe Naruto has surpassed the previous Hokage and is the central force in winning the war.<ref>Chapter 675, page 3</ref><ref>Chapter 698</ref><ref>Chapter 699, page 15</ref> Naruto's skills further improve in later years; in ''[[The Last: Naruto the Movie]]'', he defeats the [[Tenseigan]]-wielding [[Toneri Ōtsutsuki]]; by adulthood, he achieves his life-long dream by becoming the Seventh Hokage.<ref name="ch700" />
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  +
Naruto has learned how to counter [[genjutsu]] from Jiraiya, but has limited skill in using it.<ref>Chapter 259, pages 8-11</ref>
   
 
=== Chakra and Physical Prowess ===
 
=== Chakra and Physical Prowess ===
 
[[File:Naruto gives Hinata power.png|thumb|left|Naruto sharing Kurama's chakra with Hinata through physical contact.]]
 
[[File:Naruto gives Hinata power.png|thumb|left|Naruto sharing Kurama's chakra with Hinata through physical contact.]]
Naruto has massive amounts of potent chakra, estimated as at least four times greater than Kakashi's.<ref name="ch315">Chapter 315, page 11</ref> The sheer quantity of Naruto's chakra allowed him to learn [[Sage Mode]], as well as fight for days on end in the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]] and engaged multiple [[Kage]], [[Tailed Beasts]], [[Obito Uchiha|the]] [[Madara Uchiha|leaders]] of Akatsuki, and even the [[Ten-Tails]] itself before experiencing exhaustion. Its quality has the same unique form as his mother and was described by [[Karin]] as "bright and warm".<ref>Chapter 488, page 8</ref> Initially, Naruto's poor chakra control caused him to waste extra chakra, which was offset by his natural reserves.<ref>Chapter 90, pages 4-8</ref> His control improved greatly over time, learning to [[Chakra Transfer Technique|transfer his chakra]] to others by moulding it to match their unique signatures, and the sheer quantity of the chakra he handed out was comparable to [[Hashirama Senju]].<ref>Chapter 617, page 5</ref><ref>Chapter 644, page 8</ref> He can also perform one-handed hand seals,<ref>''Kakashi Hiden''</ref> and focus chakra into his hands for [[Chakra Enhanced Strength|enhanced strength]].<ref name="TheLast" /><ref>Chapter 700+10, page 2</ref> Naruto later received chakra from the other tailed beasts and [[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki]] which increased his reserves to the point where he could fight the Ten-Tails' [[jinchūriki]] and [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]] without being drained, and only succumbing to exhaustion during his duel with [[Sasuke Uchiha]].
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As an [[Uzumaki]] and a [[reincarnation]] of [[Asura Ōtsutsuki]],<ref name="ch671" /> Naruto has massive reserves of strong chakra, estimated as at least four times greater than Kakashi's and described by [[Karin]] as "bright and warm".<ref name="ch315">Chapter 315, page 11</ref><ref>Chapter 488, page 8</ref> He initially struggled with controlling his chakra properly, which was offset by his large reserves.<ref>Chapter 90, pages 4-8</ref> Naruto's control improved greatly over time, becoming able to [[Chakra Transfer Technique|transfer his chakra]] to others<ref>Chapter 617, page 5</ref> and perform one-handed hand seals.<ref>''Kakashi Hiden''</ref> He later receives chakra from the other tailed beasts and [[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki]], increasing his reserves further. Naruto's powerful life force grants him an extreme longevity, healing power, stamina, and vitality,<ref>Chapter 11, page 2</ref> allowing him to survive (albeit barely) the extraction of a tailed beast.<ref name="ch661">Chapter 661, pages 1, 12</ref> These are all [[Regeneration Ability|augmented]] after he receives a prosthetic forearm made from Hashirama's cells.
 
As an [[Uzumaki]] and a [[reincarnation]] of [[Asura Ōtsutsuki]],<ref name="ch671" /> Naruto possesses a powerful life-force and physical energy. This gives him an extreme longevity, stamina, and vitality, allowing him to survive the extraction of a tailed beast, though he was still left near death.<ref name="ch661">Chapter 661, pages 1, 12</ref> Naruto also has great healing abilities,<ref>Chapter 11, page 2</ref> [[Regeneration Ability|heightened]] further after receiving a prosthetic forearm made from Hashirama's cells.
 
   
 
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[[File:Naruto's clones vs Gaara.png|thumb|Naruto attacking Gaara with his Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo.]]
 
[[File:Naruto's clones vs Gaara.png|thumb|Naruto attacking Gaara with his Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo.]]
While a short-range fighter by nature, Naruto's taijutsu was not quite skilful or organised in Part I, using only unpredictable attacks to throw combat specialists like [[Kiba Inuzuka]] and Neji off-guard.<ref>Chapter 77, pages 3-4</ref><ref>Chapter 104, pages 16-17</ref> He often utilised shadow clones or Kurama's chakra to engage or overwhelm his enemies in combat; with the former, he has created techniques such as the [[Naruto Uzumaki Combo]] and its [[Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo|stronger]] [[Naruto Region Combo|versions]].<ref>Chapter 75, pages 11-13</ref> Although these tactics resume in Part II (along with learning senjutsu), Naruto becomes more capable in taijutsu on his own due to Jiraiya's training, being able to contend with other skilled users.<ref>Chapter 288, page 7</ref><ref>Chapter 433, page 5</ref><ref>Chapter 697</ref> He has grown strong enough to shatter stone,<ref>Chapter 435, pages 2-5</ref> and fast enough to rescue an ally from nearby danger.<ref>Chapter 484, pages 16-17</ref> By adulthood, Naruto's improved taijutsu allows him to defeat dozens of opponents without using shadow clones or enhancements.<ref name="TheLast" />
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While naturally a short-range fighter, Naruto's taijutsu wasn't very adept in Part I, using unpredictable attacks to surprise combat experts like [[Kiba Inuzuka]] and Neji.<ref>Chapter 77, pages 3-4</ref><ref>Chapter 104, pages 16-17</ref> He often utilised shadow clones or Kurama's chakra to engage or overwhelm his enemies in combat; with the former, he has created techniques such as the [[Naruto Uzumaki Combo]] and its [[Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo|stronger]] [[Naruto Region Combo|versions]].<ref>Chapter 75, pages 11-13</ref> Although these tactics resume in Part II, Naruto becomes more capable in taijutsu due to Jiraiya's training, being able to contend with other skilled users.<ref>Chapter 288, page 7</ref><ref>Chapter 433, page 5</ref><ref>Chapter 697</ref> He has grown fast enough to rescue an ally from nearby danger,<ref>Chapter 484, pages 16-17</ref> and strong enough to punch an opponent several metres while exhausted.<ref>Chapter 698, page 2</ref> By adulthood, Naruto's improved taijutsu allows him to defeat dozens of opponents without using shadow clones or enhancements.<ref name="TheLast" />
   
 
=== Jinchūriki Transformations ===
 
=== Jinchūriki Transformations ===
 
{{main|Jinchūriki Forms|Nine-Tails Chakra Mode}}
 
{{main|Jinchūriki Forms|Nine-Tails Chakra Mode}}
 
[[File:Version 1 form.png|left|thumb|Naruto's Version 1 form.]]
 
[[File:Version 1 form.png|left|thumb|Naruto's Version 1 form.]]
Naruto is the jinchūriki of Kurama's Yang half, increasing his already massive chakra reserves to at least a hundred times greater than Kakashi's.<ref name="ch315" /> Due to his Uzumaki lineage and being Kurama's jinchūriki his entire life, Naruto's chakra was more effectively mixed with the fox's.<ref>Chapter 617, page 5</ref> Because of this, Naruto can quickly perform several chakra-taxing techniques without feeling fatigued. When using Kurama's chakra, Naruto gains enhanced speed, strength and healing. At first, he could only access Kurama's power while enraged or his life was in danger, but after training, he learned how to consciously request the fox for chakra.
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As the jinchūriki of Kurama's Yang half, Naruto has a massive chakra reserve at least a hundredfold greater than Kakashi's.<ref name="ch315" /> Due to his Uzumaki lineage and being Kurama's jinchūriki his entire life, Naruto's chakra has more effectively mixed with the fox's,<ref>Chapter 617, page 5</ref> allowing him to perform several chakra-taxing techniques without feeling fatigued. While accessing Kurama's chakra, typically through sheer rage, enhanced Naruto's fighting abilities, the fox's negative influence made Naruto more aggressive and in less [[Tailed Beast Control|control]] of his actions. The control that he retains up to his [[Jinchūriki Forms#Version 1|Version 1]] forms is lost completely when he slips into [[Jinchūriki Forms#Version 2|Version 2]], attacking any friend or foe in sight, requiring [[Yamato|outside]] [[Hokage-Style Sixty-Year-Old Technique — Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands|help]] to suppress the fox's chakra.<ref>Chapter 277, pages 9-10</ref> These drawbacks made Naruto decide to rely on his own strength instead of Kurama's until he proved able to control it completely.
   
[[File:Four Tailed Beast Bomb.png|thumb|Naruto's Version 2 form.]]
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[[File:Naruto transforming.png|thumb|Naruto transforming from his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode into his Kurama Mode.]]
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Realising he could not avoid using Kurama's power, Naruto sought to learn how to control it with help from [[Killer B]], the jinchūriki of [[Gyūki]], and unexpectedly, his own mother, [[Kushina]]. Upon succeeding and taking most of Kurama's chakra, Naruto attains [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]], which greatly increases his speed, strength, and defences. Because he didn't yet have Kurama's cooperation, however, Naruto needed to exercise extreme caution while using the form, as it could cost him his life. Eventually, when Kurama acknowledges Naruto's life-long strength of character and Naruto learns the fox's true name, their new-found friendship grants Naruto access to [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode#Kurama Mode|Kurama Mode]], another increase in physical abilities. He can now use [[Tailed Beast Mode]] to create [[Tailed Beast Ball]]s or allow others to enter the chakra shroud (which is transparent) and gain some of Naruto's power while inside of it.<ref name="ch651">Chapter 651, pages 7-9</ref> He can still access previous forms such as Version 1,<ref>Chapter 697, pages 4-5</ref> and use Kurama's chakra to revitalise life forces.<ref>Chapter 610, page 8</ref><ref>Chapter 649, pages 7-8</ref>
In Version 1 transformations, Naruto had only the briefest of [[Tailed Beast Control|control]] of his own actions. If he fell deeper into a rage, Naruto could slip into Version 2, losing himself to Kurama's negative influence and going berserk, requiring [[Yamato|outside]] [[Hokage-Style Sixty-Year-Old Technique — Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands|help]] to suppress the fox's chakra.<ref>Chapter 277, pages 9-10</ref> Because of these drawbacks, Naruto wouldn't make use of Kurama's chakra until he was given the means of controlling the chakra completely. In the anime, [[Miina]] helped Naruto gain control of himself in this state.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 395</ref>
 
 
[[File:Naruto transforming.png|left|thumb|Naruto transforming from his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode into his Kurama Mode.]]
 
After he defeated Pain, Naruto realised he could not avoid using Kurama's power and sought [[Killer B]], the jinchūriki of [[Gyūki]], to learn how to control it. With his mother and B's help, Naruto separated and took most of Kurama's chakra, giving him access to [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]], which massively increases his speed, strength, and defences. As defeating Kurama was not the same as cooperating with it, Naruto at the time couldn't use the fox's full power and had to exercise extreme caution when using Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, as it could cost him his life.
 
 
[[File:Naruto's tailed beast mode.png|thumb|Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode.]]
 
Eventually realising its own respect for Naruto after all he had endured in his life and the type of person he has become, Kurama decides to accept his friendship. With this new unity, Kurama freely gives Naruto its chakra and access to [[Tailed Beast Mode]], which was yet another increase in speed, strength, durability, and the ability to create [[Tailed Beast Ball]]s. Unlike other Tailed Beast Modes, Naruto's form is transparent, allowing others to enter the chakra shroud and gain some of Naruto's power while inside of it.<ref name="ch651">Chapter 651, pages 7-9</ref> He can still access his previous forms, as shown when he entered Version 1 to deflect [[Amaterasu]].<ref>Chapter 697, pages 4-5</ref> He can also use Kurama's chakra to revatilise the life forces of others.<ref>Chapter 610, page 8</ref><ref>Chapter 649, pages 7-8</ref> Should the need arise, Kurama can limit how much chakra it transfers for Naruto's use alone, even if it was instead absorbed.<ref>Chapter 698, page 3</ref> Both halves of Kurama were sealed into Naruto after the Fourth Shinobi World War, restoring the fox into one being with its full power.
 
   
 
[[File:Naruto chakra hand.png|thumb|left|Naruto compresses his chakra cloak into his fist.]]
 
[[File:Naruto chakra hand.png|thumb|left|Naruto compresses his chakra cloak into his fist.]]
  +
In ''The Last: Naruto the Movie'', Naruto shows even greater control of Kurama's chakra: he can isolate the Kurama Mode form to one hand either to enhance his strength or block attacks; he can manifest his Tailed Beast Mode replica of Kurama separately from himself and give control of it to Kurama. Naruto has also received chakra from the other tailed beasts during the Fourth Shinobi World War,<ref>Chapter 671, page 12</ref> essentially making him a pseudo-Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, as Shikamaru puts it.<ref>''Shikamaru Hiden''</ref> This allows him to access their unique abilities himself or infuse them into his Rasengan and its variants, as seen with with the [[Sage Art: Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken]]. Naruto is not shown using the any of the tailed beasts' abilities after the war.
Two years later, Naruto became capable of flight and focusing Kurama's chakra into a single part of his body for enhanced strength.<ref name="TheLast" /><ref>Chapter 700+10, page 2</ref> With this, he could remove Toneri's [[Puppet-Cursing Sphere]] from Hinata's body, overpower Toneri's [[Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion]] (which cut the moon in half), and knock the latter in his [[Tenseigan Chakra Mode]] a considerable distance away with a single punch. Naruto has even demonstrated the ability to manifest both his Tailed Beast Mode and Kurama's physical body outside of his own body, allowing the two to fight independently.
 
 
Naruto has also received chakra from the other eight tailed beasts during the war. This has allowed him to communicate with them and utilise their unique skills to produce [[Sage Art: Lava Release Rasenshuriken|various]] [[Sage Art: Magnet Release Rasengan|powerful]] [[Boil Release: Unrivalled Strength|techniques]], despite not truly being sealed within him. Naruto can access [[Shukaku]]'s [[Magnet Release]], along with its natural [[Juinjutsu|curse seal]] formula and the ability to manifest and control [[sand]], [[Matatabi]]'s blue [[Fire Release]], [[Isobu]]'s [[Water Release]], [[Son Gokū]]'s [[Lava Release]], [[Kokuō]]'s [[Boil Release]], [[Saiken]]'s [[Wisdom Wolf Decay|caustic capabilities]], and Gyūki's [[Ink Creation|ink creation]]. With the aid of shadow clones, Naruto can use all of these [[Sage Art: Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken|abilities at once]]. In this regard, he was considered a pseudo-Ten-Tails' jinchūriki by Shikamaru.<ref>''Shikamaru Hiden''</ref>
 
   
 
=== Ninjutsu ===
 
=== Ninjutsu ===
 
[[File:Summoning Technique.png|thumb|Naruto using the Summoning Technique.]]
 
[[File:Summoning Technique.png|thumb|Naruto using the Summoning Technique.]]
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In the Academy, the [[Sexy Technique]] was the only technique that Naruto could perform successfully, with no practical use other than to shock his instructors. During his shinobi career, he learns several ninjutsu styles from Jiraiya, such as how to [[Summoning Technique|summon]] [[toads]] of [[Mount Myōboku]] like [[Gamabunta]] to assist him in battle or to [[Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique|crush enemies from above]]. He becomes skilled in [[shurikenjutsu]], able to throw weapons quickly and with precision,<ref>Chapter 259, page 1-2</ref> [[All Directions Shuriken|barrage an enemy]] using shadow clones,<ref>Chapter 134, pages 3-4</ref> or as Hokage, cross blades with [[Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki]].<ref name="BorutoMovie" /> Naruto's repetoire expands to [[fūinjutsu]] upon receiving [[Gerotora]] near the start of the Fourth Shinobi World War.<ref name="ch499">Chapter 499, pages 12-15</ref>
Initially, Naruto constantly failed to utilise basic techniques like [[Clone Technique|clones]] or [[Transformation Technique|transformations]], except his own invention, the [[Sexy Technique]]. Over time, he became able to master more complex techniques, surpassing Kakashi in ninjutsu prowess.<ref>Chapter 342, page 5</ref><ref>Chapter 343, page 11</ref> Naruto is capable in [[shurikenjutsu]], using shadow clones to [[All Directions Shuriken|barrage an enemy]]<ref>Chapter 134, pages 3-4</ref> or [[Unsealing Technique|storing weapons in scrolls]].<ref>Chapter 264, pages 8-9</ref> He displays some skill in [[kenjutsu]] as an adult,<ref name="BorutoMovie" /> and knows to how counter [[genjutsu]], but is not shown using it.
 
   
 
[[File:Clones vs Shadows.png|left|thumb|Naruto sensing and fighting Madara's shadows.]]
Naruto learned how to summon [[toads]] of [[Mount Myōboku]] from Jiraiya in Part I, having them serve as allies in battle or [[Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique|crush enemies from above]]. He initially could summon only tadpoles or small toads and relied on Kurama's chakra for larger summons like [[Gamabunta]], though he later becomes capable of summoning the latter on his own.<ref>Chapter 134, page 13-14</ref>
 
  +
Naruto's ability to [[Sensing Technique|sense]] chakra is shown only through his modes. He can identify chakra signatures from vast distances in Sage Mode,<ref>Chapter 535, pages 7-8</ref> detect [[Negative Emotions Sensing|negative emotions]] in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, and empower his sensory abilities to the highest possible level in Six Paths Sage Mode,<ref>Fourth Databook</ref> able to sense the [[Limbo: Border Jail|invisible shadows]] of Limbo. In the anime, Jiraiya introduces Naruto to [[cooperation ninjutsu]], where two or more people combine their techniques to create an even more powerful one.<ref>''Naruto Shippūden'' episode 91</ref> The collaboration techniques he performs with other individuals typically utilise his own elemental affinity, such as the [[Typhoon Water Vortex Technique]] with [[Yamato]], the [[Wind Release: Toad Gun]] with [[Gamatatsu]], and the [[Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero]] with Sasuke.
   
 
==== Shadow Clone Technique ====
 
==== Shadow Clone Technique ====
[[File:Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.png|thumb|left|Naruto using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.]]
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[[File:Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.png|thumb|Naruto using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.]]
Naruto's first trademark technique is the [[Shadow Clone Technique]], which he is noted to have attained a mastery of superior to other users.<ref>Chapter 330, page 6</ref> A ninja with unusually high chakra reserves, Naruto can create thousands of shadow clones and retain a decent amount of chakra in each one with relative ease.<ref>Chapter 366, page 4</ref> This enables him to outnumber or deceive his enemies in combat, as well as carry out multiple tasks at once. He becomes more tactical with shadow clones during Part II, using them to manoeuvre him in mid-air, transform into weapons, scout an area, or test an opponent's abilities.<ref>Chapter 339, pages 9-10</ref> Most notably during his wind training, Naruto learns that he, the original user, receives all knowledge and experiences that shadow clones gain once they disperse, allowing him to complete years' worth of training in just days.
+
Naruto's first trademark technique is the [[Shadow Clone Technique]], which he is noted to have attained a mastery of superior to other users.<ref>Chapter 330, page 6</ref> A ninja with unusually high chakra reserves, Naruto can create hundreds of shadow clones and retain a decent amount of chakra in each one with relative ease.<ref>Chapter 366, page 4</ref> He can use them to outnumber or deceive his enemies in combat, manoeuvre himself in mid-air, transform into weapons, scout an area, or test an opponent's abilities.<ref>Chapter 339, pages 9-10</ref> During his wind training in Part II, Naruto learns that he, the original user, will receive all knowledge and experiences that shadow clones gain once they disperse. This method allows him to drastically speed up his training by learning what could be completed in years in just days.
   
 
==== Rasengan ====
 
==== Rasengan ====
[[File:YellowRasengan.png|thumb|Naruto creating a Rasengan with one hand.]]
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[[File:YellowRasengan.png|thumb|left|Naruto creating a Rasengan with one hand.]]
Naruto's second trademark technique is the [[Rasengan]], a one-handed technique created by his father. Due to his poor chakra control, Naruto often uses a shadow clone to form the spherical shape while he provides the chakra. Over time, Naruto's improved skill allows him to produce [[Big Ball Rasengan|larger]] [[Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan|versions]] of the Rasengan, perform it faster,<ref>Chapter 460, page 6</ref> and even have his shadow clones [[Ultra-Many Spiralling Serial Spheres|make]] [[Sage Art: Many Ultra-Big Ball Spiralling Serial Spheres|their]] [[Big Ball Spiralling Serial Zone Spheres|own]] Rasengan. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, he became able to form a Rasengan and its variants without any shadow clones or transformations.<ref>Chapter 642, page 12</ref><ref>Chapter 697, page 11</ref><ref>Chapter 698, page 4</ref> Naruto has also shown the ability to release the Rasengan as an energy wave,<ref name="TheLast" /> or as a projectile in the anime.<ref>''Naruto'' episode 194</ref>
+
Naruto's second trademark technique is the [[Rasengan]], a one-handed technique created by his father. Due to his poor chakra control, Naruto often uses a shadow clone to form the spherical shape while he provides the chakra. Over time, Naruto's improved skill allows him to produce [[Big Ball Rasengan|larger]] [[Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan|versions]] of the Rasengan, perform it faster,<ref>Chapter 460, page 6</ref> and even have his shadow clones [[Ultra-Many Spiralling Serial Spheres|make]] [[Sage Art: Many Ultra-Big Ball Spiralling Serial Spheres|their]] [[Big Ball Spiralling Serial Zone Spheres|own]] Rasengan. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, he became able to form a Rasengan and its variants without any shadow clones or transformations.<ref>Chapter 642, page 12</ref><ref>Chapter 697, page 11</ref><ref>Chapter 698, page 4</ref> Naruto has also shown the ability to release the Rasengan as an energy wave,<ref name="TheLast" /> or as a projectile in the anime.<ref>''Naruto'' episode 194</ref> Using senjutsu or Kurama's chakra, Naruto can create [[Sage Technique: Spiralling Serial Spheres|more]] [[Spiralling Strife Spheres|powerful]] and [[Spiralling Absorption Sphere|elaborate]] [[Planetary Rasengan|variations]] of the Rasengan; using the latter, he even develops the [[Super Mini-Tailed Beast Ball]], performing it in a similar manner to the Rasengan.
 
Using senjutsu or Kurama's chakra, Naruto can create [[Sage Technique: Spiralling Serial Spheres|more]] [[Spiralling Strife Spheres|powerful]] and [[Spiralling Absorption Sphere|elaborate]] [[Planetary Rasengan|variations]] of the Rasengan. Also towards the latter, since the Rasengan was conceptually based on the [[Tailed Beast Ball]], Naruto takes it further by creating the [[Super Mini-Tailed Beast Ball]].
 
   
 
==== Nature Transformation ====
 
==== Nature Transformation ====
[[File:Fūton Rasenshuriken.png|thumb|left|Naruto and his shadow clones creating a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.]]
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[[File:Fūton Rasenshuriken.png|thumb|Naruto and his shadow clones create a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.]]
Naruto's natural affinity is [[Wind Release]], which he learned from [[Asuma Sarutobi]] to [[Chakra Flow|flow]] into his weapons to increase their offensive might.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 63</ref> Using shadow clones, he was able to complete his father's difficult task of adding his elemental nature to the Rasengan. One shadow clone helps form the Rasengan, while the other provides the wind chakra, producing the [[Wind Release: Rasengan]] and the [[Wind Release: Rasenshuriken]]. The latter, when used as a melee attack, inflicts cellular damage on both the enemy and Naruto; he later learns to throw the Rasenshuriken to avoid injuring himself. Two years after the Fourth World Shinobi War, he became skilled enough to form a Rasenshuriken without any shadow clones and even guide it. Using Sage Mode or Kurama's chakra, Naruto can create [[Mini-Rasenshuriken|different]]-[[Wind Release: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken|sized]] [[Big Ball Rasenshuriken|variations]], or even [[Wind Release: Repeated Rasenshuriken|two Rasenshuriken]] simultaneously.
+
Naruto's natural affinity is [[Wind Release]], which he learned from [[Asuma Sarutobi]] to [[Chakra Flow|flow]] into his weapons to increase their offensive might.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 63</ref> Using shadow clones, he was able to complete his father's difficult task of adding his elemental nature to the Rasengan. One shadow clone helps form the Rasengan, while the other provides the wind chakra, producing the [[Wind Release: Rasengan]] and the [[Wind Release: Rasenshuriken]]. The latter, when used as a melee attack, inflicts cellular damage on both the enemy and Naruto; he later learns to throw the Rasenshuriken to avoid injuring himself. In ''The Last: Naruto the Movie'', he became skilled enough to form a Rasenshuriken without any shadow clones and even guide it. Using Sage Mode or Kurama's chakra, Naruto can create [[Mini-Rasenshuriken|different]]-[[Wind Release: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken|sized]] [[Big Ball Rasenshuriken|variations]], or even [[Wind Release: Repeated Rasenshuriken|two Rasenshuriken]] simultaneously.
   
Via [[Six Paths Senjutsu]], Naruto can utilise all five nature transformations, as well as [[Yin–Yang Release]].<ref>Fourth Databook, page 310</ref> He can make perfect use of the latter to revitalise life-forces, heal whomever he touches, and even restore missing organs.<ref>Fourth Databook, page 226</ref> This ability, however, has its limits as he was unable to fully restore [[Might Guy]]'s leg after his use of [[Night Guy]], or save [[Obito Uchiha]] from Kaguya's [[All-Killing Ash Bones]]. With chakra from the tailed beasts, Naruto can also use the Magnet Release, Lava Release, and Boil Release [[kekkei genkai]] from [[Shukaku]], [[Son Gokū]], and [[Kokuō]], respectively.
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Via [[Six Paths Senjutsu]], Naruto can utilise all five nature transformations, as well as [[Yin–Yang Release]].<ref>Fourth Databook, page 310</ref> He can make perfect use of the latter to revitalise life-forces, heal whomever he touches, and restore missing organs.<ref>Fourth Databook, page 226</ref> With chakra from the tailed beasts, Naruto can also use the [[kekkei genkai]] of [[Shukaku]]'s [[Magnet Release]], [[Son Gokū]]'s [[Lava Release]], and [[Kokuō]]'s [[Boil Release]].
 
==== Cooperation Ninjutsu ====
 
[[File:Susanoo K11.png|thumb|Naruto in a Susanoo-clad Tailed Beast Mode with Sasuke and most of the members of Konoha 11.]]
 
Naruto appears to collaborate well with others, such as creating the [[Typhoon Water Vortex Technique]] with [[Yamato]]. Alongside Sasuke, he can perform the [[Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero]], perform a team attack with most of the members of the Konoha 11,<ref name="ch651" /> and use the [[Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei]] that can seal powerful beings like Kaguya. In addition, Naruto can [[Gentle Step Spiralling Twin Lion Fists|combine]] his Rasengan with Hinata's [[Eight Trigrams Twin Lions Crumbling Attack]] to destroy Toneri's [[Tenseigan (Energy Vessel)|weapon]]. Working alongside his [[Minato Namikaze|father]] and later his [[Boruto Uzumaki|son]], he can create a [[Parent and Child Rasengan|massive Rasengan]] that could overpower Obito's [[Tailed Beast Chakra Arms|chakra arms]], as well as defeat Momoshiki.<ref>Chapter 645, pages 8-9</ref><ref name="BorutoMovie" />
 
 
In the anime, Jiraiya taught Naruto [[Cooperation Ninjutsu|collaboration techniques]], combining his wind affinity with the affinities of summoned toads for a single stronger technique. Working together with Gamakichi and Gamatatsu, he can use techniques like the [[Wind Release: Toad Gun]] and [[Wind Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet]]. Even before his formal training, Naruto could perform collaboration techniques with Gamabunta, such as the [[Combination Transformation]] and the [[Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet]].
 
 
==== Fūinjutsu ====
 
[[File:Magnet Release Rasengan.png|thumb|left|Naruto's Sage Art: Magnet Release Rasengan.]]
 
Naruto's skills with [[fūinjutsu]] have not been explored greatly, but he knew how to use the [[Eight Trigrams Sealing Style#Key|seal's key]] after receiving [[Gerotora]], and later [[Torii Seal|resealed]] Kurama after he separated a majority of chakra from the fox.<ref name="ch499">Chapter 499, pages 12-15</ref> When accessing Shukaku's power, he can use its natural [[Juinjutsu|cursed seal]] markings to [[Sage Art: Magnet Release Rasengan|bind targets]]. During his meeting with Hagoromo, Naruto was taught the [[Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei]], which when used with Sasuke, was strong enough to completely seal Kaguya.
 
{{-}}
 
   
 
=== Senjutsu ===
 
=== Senjutsu ===
[[File:Naruto AnimeSagemode.png|thumb|Naruto's Sage Mode. ]]
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[[File:Naruto's Sage Mode.png|thumb|left|Naruto's Sage Mode.]]
After Jiraiya's death, Naruto was trained in [[senjutsu]] at [[Mount Myōboku]], requiring his high chakra reserves. Unlike Jiraiya, Naruto quickly became able to properly balance [[natural energy]] with his chakra to enter [[Sage Mode]], symbolised by the pigmentation around his eyes. He became more skilled in entering Sage Mode faster, accelerated further while in [[Kurama Mode]].<ref>Chapter 645, page 8</ref> Since Kurama rejected [[Fukasaku]]'s attempts to [[Sage Art: Amphibian Technique|fuse]] with and gather natural energy for Naruto, he employs shadow clones instead. Once the clones disperse, the natural energy they absorb will transfer to the original when the need arises, allowing him to use Sage Mode a number of times. However, this limits Naruto to creating only five shadow clones overall, as anything more would interfere with the ones gathering natural energy.
+
After Jiraiya's death, Naruto was trained in [[senjutsu]] at [[Mount Myōboku]], requiring his high chakra reserves. Unlike Jiraiya, he was able to perfectly balance [[natural energy]] with his chakra to enter [[Sage Mode]], symbolised by the orange pigmentation around his eyes. Using Sage Mode makes Naruto's techniques stronger, enhances his physical abilities,<ref>Chapter 418, page 6</ref><ref>Chapter 430, pages 17-18</ref><ref>Chapter 431, page 6</ref> and allows him to utilise the [[Frog Kata]] taijutsu style.<ref>Chapter 431, page 12-17</ref> Since Fukasaku was unable to [[Sage Art: Amphibian Technique|fuse]] with Naruto and gather natural energy for him (due to Kurama's interference), Naruto employs shadow clones instead. Once they disperse, the natural energy they absorb will transfer to the original when need be, allowing him to resume using Sage Mode for a number of times. However, creating more than five shadow clones overall disrupts the focus of the ones gathering natural energy. The need for this method diminishes over time as Naruto becomes able to enter Sage Mode faster.<ref>Chapter 535, page 3</ref>
 
In Sage Mode, Naruto's overall physical parameters are dramatically enhanced, being able to survive falls from great heights unharmed, easily throw entities much larger than himself,<ref>Chapter 431, page 6</ref><ref>Chapter 498, page 9</ref> and intercept high-speed opponents like the [[Asura Path]] and the [[Third Raikage]].<ref>Chapter 430, pages 17-18</ref><ref>Chapter 555, pages 13-14</ref> He can also utilise [[Frog Kata]], a taijutsu style that uses the natural energy to enhance the range and potency of one's attacks. In Naruto's final fight with Sasuke, Kurama proved able to gather natural energy for Naruto's usage while in battle, effectively bypassing his Sage Mode's weakness.
 
   
 
==== Six Paths Sage Mode ====
 
==== Six Paths Sage Mode ====
 
{{main|Six Paths Sage Mode}}
 
{{main|Six Paths Sage Mode}}
[[File:Naruto's SPSM.png|thumb|left|Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode.]]
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[[File:Naruto's SPSM.png|thumb|Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode.]]
With the power given to him by Hagoromo, Naruto gained access to the {{translation|'''Six Paths Sage Mode'''|六道仙人モード|Rikudō Sennin Mōdo}}.<ref name="d4" /> In this mode, his eyes become yellow and his pupils take on a cross-like shape — without manifesting the orange pigmentation around his eyes present in Sage Mode. Naruto can also don a new chakra cloak similar to the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, which he can access instantly and maintain much longer than Sage Mode.<ref>Chapter 695, page 4</ref> Like his previous forms, Naruto's physical attributes and techniques are greatly augmented,<ref>Chapter 673, page 2</ref><ref>Chapter 687, page 16</ref><ref>Chapter 695, page 5-6</ref> and he gains additional benefits such as immunity to the effects of Truth-Seeking Balls and the ability to fly.
+
With the power given to him by Hagoromo, Naruto gained access to the {{translation|'''Six Paths Sage Mode'''|六道仙人モード|Rikudō Sennin Mōdo}}.<ref name="d4" /> In this mode, his eyes become yellow and his pupils take on a cross-like shape — without manifesting the orange pigmentation around his eyes present in Sage Mode. Naruto can also don a new chakra cloak similar to Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, which he can access instantly and maintain much longer than Sage Mode.<ref>Chapter 695, page 4</ref> Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode cloak changes several times throughout his later years. Naruto's physical attributes and techniques are further augmented,<ref>Chapter 673, page 2</ref><ref>Chapter 687, page 16</ref><ref>Chapter 695, page 5-6</ref>, he can fly and becomes immune to [[Truth-Seeking Ball]]s.
   
[[File:Naruto's Battle Avatar.png|thumb|Naruto's conjoint Tailed Beast Mode.]]
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[[File:Naruto's Battle Avatar.png|thumb|left|Naruto's conjoint Tailed Beast Mode.]]
Naruto can still use his Tailed Beast Mode replica of Kurama and even increase its size and might to rival Sasuke's Complete Body [[Susanoo]].<ref>Chapter 695</ref> It can also levitate, and with Kurama's aid, gather huge amounts of natural energy. Using shadow clones, Naruto can combine three Kurama avatars into a single construct with three faces and six arms, similar to Asura's. <ref>Chapter 696, pages 14-15</ref> In this state, he can use a [[Six Paths: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken|combination]] of his two [[Wind Release: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken|strongest]] [[Tailed Beast Ball Rasenshuriken|techniques]] infused with natural energy.<ref>Chapter 697, page 1</ref> After becoming Hokage, Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode cloak has gained a new appearance, which he used to easily fend off a [[Shin Uchiha (Clones)|Shin clone]] without even moving. His power and speed had also increased by leaps and bounds, to the point where he was able to uproot [[Momoshiki's Planet]]'s [[God Tree]] in a clash with [[Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki]], survive unharmed being crushed by [[Earth Release]] mountains and overwhelm Momoshiki at several points forcing him to use his stolen ninjutsu.<ref>''Boruto: Naruto the Movie''</ref>
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Naruto also manifests nine Truth-Seeking Balls, composed of all five basic [[nature]]s, Yin–Yang Release, and Six Paths Sage Chakra. He can mould the balls into staves and platforms, fire them as projectiles, convert them into Tailed Beast Balls to create [[Tailed Beast Ball Rasenshuriken]], or transfer them to his shadow clones. Naruto also retains use of his Tailed Beast Mode avatar of Kurama, which rivals Sasuke's Complete Body [[Susanoo]] in size and power.<ref>Chapter 695</ref> Using shadow clones, he can create and combine three Kurama avatars into a single construct with three faces and six arms, similar to Asura's. <ref>Chapter 696, pages 14-15</ref> This state allows Naruto to infuse [[Six Paths: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken|two massive Rasenshuriken]] with natural energy.<ref>Chapter 697, page 1</ref>
 
==== Truth-Seeking Ball ====
 
[[File:Multiple Tailed Beast Ball rasenshuriken.png|thumb|left|Naruto turning Truth-Seeking Balls into Rasenshuriken.]]
 
While in his Six Paths Sage Mode, Naruto manifested nine [[Truth-Seeking Ball]]s, which were composed of the five basic nature transformations, Yin–Yang Release, and Six Paths Sage Chakra. He can mould the balls into staves and platforms, fire them as projectiles, or convert them into Tailed Beast Balls and add his wind-nature to create [[Tailed Beast Ball Rasenshuriken]]. Naruto can pass them onto any of his shadow clones, gaining a tactical advantage of hiding his original self amongst his clones.
 
 
{{-}}
 
{{-}}
 
=== Sensory Perception ===
 
[[File:Clones vs Shadows.png|thumb|Naruto sensing and fighting Madara's shadows.]]
 
After mastering Sage Mode, Naruto can [[Sensing Technique|detect]] and identify other chakra signatures from vast distances,<ref>Chapter 535, pages 7-8</ref> allowing him to better react to and counter very fast opponents.<ref>Chapter 555</ref> He also gained the ability to sense [[Negative Emotions Sensing|negative emotions]] after taking control of Kurama's chakra. Naruto can also use both of these abilities simultaneously through his senjutsu-enhanced Tailed Beast Mode and the Six Paths Sage Mode respectively. Upon achieving the latter, Naruto's sensory capabilities were empowered to the highest possible level,<ref>Fourth Databook</ref> making it possible for him to sense the other half of Hagoromo's chakra, as well as Madara's [[Limbo: Border Jail|shadows]].
 
   
 
=== Intelligence ===
 
=== Intelligence ===
[[File:Naruto's intelligence.png|thumb|left|Naruto reveals himself after disguising as a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.]]
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[[File:Naruto's intelligence.png|thumb|Naruto reveals himself after disguising as a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.]]
While headstrong and often acting without thinking to ultimately come off as somewhat dense, Naruto's years as a prankster acquired a cunning imagination that is useful in battle. He is a remarkable [[wikipedia:Kinesthetic learning|tactile learner]], able to learn better through executing a task rather than theorising about it.<ref name="ch409" /> Although Naruto instinctively knows the mechanics behind techniques he uses, he still gets easily confused if someone verbally explains the mechanics. Despite this, Naruto has shown to be a capable teacher, instructing [[Konohamaru]] how to create the [[Rasengan]] and being constantly asked to give lectures and demonstrations for the Ninja Academy.<ref>Chapter 428</ref><ref name="TheLast" />
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While headstrong and often acting without thinking, Naruto's years as a prankster has given him a cunning imagination that is useful in battle. He is a remarkable [[wikipedia:Kinesthetic learning|tactile learner]], able to learn better through executing a task rather than theorising about it.<ref>Chapter 314, page 12</ref><ref name="ch409" /> Once they see him in action, even the likes of the Second Hokage revise their thoughts about Naruto's intellect.<ref>Chapter 642, page 12</ref> After meeting Hagoromo, Naruto has gained the innate ability to grasp the nature of chakra and comprehend all universal things,<ref>Fourth Databook, pages 309-310</ref> allowing him to quickly master the new powers he received.
   
Naruto's most famous skill lies in his ability to deceive his opponents, making effective uses of even the most [[Transformation Technique|simple techniques]] to trick the [[Six Paths of Pain|deadliest of opponents]].<ref>Chapter 433, page 14</ref> Once they see him in action, even the likes of the Second Hokage revise their thoughts about his intellect.<ref>Chapter 642, page 12</ref> Naruto can formulate multi-step plans and even backup plans in the thick of battle.<ref>Chapter 565, pages 12-14</ref> His strategies typically involve shadow clones: he may direct his opponent's attentions towards one of his clones to disguise his own movements; he may transform them into objects or other individuals for surprise attacks; he may make himself seem predictable by creating a pattern, just to throw them off by breaking it. Naruto is rather observant, able to notice details others may overlook and subsequently take advantage of it. Even when given new information, he can act quickly.<ref>Chapter 598, pages 12-15</ref>
+
Naruto's most famous skill lies in his ability to deceive his opponents, making effective uses of even the most [[Transformation Technique|simple techniques]] to trick the [[Six Paths of Pain|deadliest of opponents]].<ref>Chapter 433, page 14</ref> He can formulate multi-step plans or backup plans in the thick of battle,<ref>Chapter 565, pages 12-14</ref> and act quickly even when given new information.<ref>Chapter 598, pages 12-15</ref> His strategies typically involve shadow clones: he may direct his opponent's attentions towards one of his clones to disguise his own movements; he may transform them into objects or other individuals for surprise attacks; he may make himself seem predictable by creating a pattern, just to throw them off by breaking it. Naruto is rather observant, able to notice details others may overlook and subsequently take advantage of them to overcome his opponents.<ref>Chapter 555, page 9-15</ref>
 
With the power given to him by Hagoromo, Naruto is bestowed the innate ability to instinctively grasp the nature of chakra and comprehend all universal things. With this ability, he was able to quickly master the new powers that came subsequent to his meeting with the legendary sage.<ref>Fourth Databook, pages 309-310</ref>
 
   
 
=== Stats ===
 
=== Stats ===
Line 167: Line 124:
 
{{See also|Plot of Naruto}}
 
{{See also|Plot of Naruto}}
 
=== Prologue — Land of Waves ===
 
=== Prologue — Land of Waves ===
  +
Failing once again to graduate from the [[Academy]], a disappointed Naruto is advised by one of his instructors, [[Mizuki]], to steal the [[Scroll of Seals]] and learn a technique from it in order to graduate. As Naruto struggled to learn the [[Shadow Clone Technique]], [[Iruka Umino]] tracked him down and realised that Naruto was tricked by Mizuki into stealing the scroll. Mizuki attacked them and told Naruto about the Nine-Tails sealed within him, claiming that Iruka hated him because of it. When Iruka risked his life to protect Naruto, however, he saw through Mizuki's lies and used the [[Multiple Shadow Clone Technique]] to defeat him, prompting Iruka to happily grant Naruto his graduation from the Academy. Naruto would later befriend [[Konohamaru Sarutobi]], grandson of the [[Third Hokage]], and teach him several perverted or useful techniques.
[[File:Team Kakashi.png|thumb|The official group photo of Team 7.]]
 
Naruto, labelled as his class's '[[Academy#Student Body|Dead-Last]]', once again failed to graduate from the [[Academy]]. Disappointed that his plans of becoming Hokage have hit another hurdle, Naruto was approached by one of his instructors, [[Mizuki]]. Mizuki told Naruto that, if he could steal the [[Scroll of Seals]] from the [[Hokage Residence]] and learn one of the techniques written in it, then he would be allowed to graduate. Naruto did so, and began struggling to learn the [[Multiple Shadow Clone Technique]], unaware that the village was now looking for him. [[Iruka Umino]] tracked him down, and discovered Mizuki's involvement in the theft, realising that Naruto had been duped by Mizuki, in an effort to steal the scroll. Mizuki attacked them, and told Naruto about the Nine-Tails sealed within him, claiming that Iruka hated him because of it. When Iruka risked his life to protect Naruto, however, Naruto realised that Mizuki's earlier words were a lie, and created hundreds of shadow clones to beat Mizuki to a pulp. For mastering such a difficult technique, Iruka allowed Naruto to graduate.
 
   
 
[[File:Team Kakashi.png|thumb|left|Team 7's group photo.]]
In the days to come, Naruto befriended [[Konohamaru Sarutobi]] and became his on-off teacher, showing him how to perform a variety of both perverted and useful techniques throughout the rest of the series. He was also assigned to [[Team 7]], where he was partnered with [[Sasuke Uchiha]] and [[Sakura Haruno]], under the leadership of [[Kakashi Hatake]]. As the team's first order of business, Kakashi had them introduce themselves to him by saying their name, interests, distastes, hobbies, and goals. Going first, Naruto said that he liked ramen, particularly at [[Ramen Ichiraku]], hated when ramen took too long to warm up, and that his hobbies were pulling pranks and watering plants. Although Kakashi initially began to think little of Naruto other than ramen, Naruto then proclaimed his goal to become the Hokage and gain the villagers' acknowledgement, impressing Kakashi.
 
  +
Naruto was eventually assigned to [[Team 7]], partnered with [[Sasuke Uchiha]] and [[Sakura Haruno]] under the leadership of [[Kakashi Hatake]]. During their first meeting, Naruto shared his love of ramen, his hobbies, and his dream to become Hokage. To test their qualifications, Kakashi gave the team a [[bell test]], stating that whichever of the three takes one of the two bells on his person will officially become [[genin]]. Instead of hiding like Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto tried to take the bells from Kakashi by force, only to be easily defeated, hung upside-down from a tree and tied to a wooden post in an attempt to steal lunch. After Sakura and Sasuke fail as well, Kakashi explains that the goal of the test was to use teamwork, to do together what none of them could do by themselves. He is persuaded to allow them to try again after lunch, but instructs Sasuke and Sakura not to feed Naruto. They feed him anyway, needing him in top-form if they're to work together. Kakashi sees this and, because they care more about the team than listening to his instructions, allows them all to pass.
   
  +
[[File:Zabuza Vs Genin.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke team up against Zabuza.]]
Kakashi then gave the team the [[Bell Test]] to see if they were ready to become [[genin]]. He had the three of them try to take the two bells he kept on his person, the goal of the test being to place teamwork above the fact that they couldn't all have a bell despite this not being revealed to them beforehand. When the test began, Naruto, unlike Sakura and Sasuke, charged Kakashi head-on and used his minimal skills to try and take a bell by sheer force. This resulted him facing the [[One Thousand Years of Death]] and getting tied with rope by his legs onto a tree branch. As Kakashi then focused on Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto broke free and tried to eat lunch, only to get caught and be the one tied to the post. Eventually, the three decided to work together, allowing them to pass.
 
  +
After a series of uneventful [[D-rank]] missions, Naruto is able to secure a [[C-rank]] mission for Team 7: escorting [[Tazuna]] to the [[Land of Waves]]. Soon after leaving Konoha, they are attacked by the [[Demon Brothers]]. Naruto is paralysed with fear, forcing Sasuke to step in to disarm them and protect Tazuna until Kakashi can capture them. Tazuna confesses that assassins have been hired to kill him but that he couldn't afford the bodyguard detail he needs. Although the mission is now [[A-rank]] in nature - far beyond the skill of genin - Team 7 decides to continue with it. Angered by Sasuke's taunting of him, Naruto cuts his hand to bleed out the poison he received earlier, vowing to never waver again. When they arrive in the [[Land of Waves]] and are confronted by [[Zabuza Momochi]], Naruto is overwhelmed by the battle between Kakashi and Zabuza before he is knocked aside by Zabuza's [[water clone]]. Remembering his vow, Naruto regained his confidence and teamed up with Sasuke to free Kakashi from Zabuza's [[Water Prison]]. In the end, Zabuza is seemingly killed by [[Haku]], allowing Team 7 to escort Tazuna back to his house.
   
  +
Kakashi finds Zabuza's death suspicious and decides the train the team in case he returns. He has them perform the [[Tree Climbing Practice]] to improve their chakra control, which will help them against Zabuza. Naruto becomes frustrated after several failures and asks for advice from Sakura, who herself mastered it from the start. Now rapidly improving, Naruto competes with Sasuke to finish the training, each determined to outdo the other. One day, Naruto encounters Haku (albeit unaware of his true identity) and they each discussed their dreams and desire to protect those precious to them. After Haku leaves, Naruto finishes the training with Sasuke but is left exhausted, so Team 7 leaves him behind the next morning as they resume their escort duties. Naruto awakens and arrives to assist Team 7 in fighting Zabuza and Haku, but, unaware of how Haku's [[Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals]] work, he joins Sasuke within the prison.
After completing a number of simple, uneventful missions, Team 7, at Naruto's insistence, was assigned the somewhat more difficult [[C-rank]] task of escorting [[Tazuna]] to the [[Land of Waves]]. When they were attacked by the [[Demon Brothers]] along the way, who tried to kill Tazuna, they realised that there was more to this mission than a simple escort. Tazuna revealed that his country was under the control of [[Gatō]], who had left the people poor and unable to afford the more accurate [[A-rank]] mission payment. By building a bridge that would connect the Land of Waves to the mainland, Tazuna hoped to free the country from Gatō, prompting Gatō to try and kill him. Team 7 decided to help Tazuna, and act as his bodyguards until the bridge was completed.
 
   
[[File:Zabuza Vs Genin.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke team up against Zabuza.]]
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[[File:Naruto's 1st use of 9 Tails.png|thumb|left|Naruto's first use of the Nine-Tails' chakra.]]
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Naruto cannot break free with his shadow clones and Sasuke cannot melt the ice with his fire. As Haku moves in to kill Naruto, Sasuke uses his body as a shield to protect Naruto and seemingly dies. Enraged by Sasuke's apparent death, Naruto unwittingly accesses the [[Jinchūriki Forms#Initial Jinchūriki Form|Nine-Tails' chakra]] for the first time, allowing him to destroy the ice mirrors and defeat Haku, breaking his mask. Realising his opponent was the boy he met before, Naruto calms himself. He is asked by Haku to kill him, since he feels of no further use to Zabuza. Before Naruto can do so, Haku immediately stops him and goes off to save Zabuza from being killed by Kakashi, sacrificing his own life. When Zabuza refuses to appreciate this, Naruto angrily scolds him, stating that Haku gave up his life to save someone precious to him. Touched by his words, Zabuza, using Naruto's kunai, killed Gatō and many of his henchmen before he himself dies. Sasuke soon awakens, and when their injuries heal, Team 7 leaves for home via Tazuna's newly-constructed [[Great Naruto Bridge]].
They were soon attacked by [[Zabuza Momochi]], another of Gatō's assassins, who engaged Kakashi in battle. When Zabuza captured Kakashi, he encouraged his team to escape with Tazuna. Having been of little use during the battle with the Demon Brothers, Naruto resolved to help Kakashi. With Sasuke's assistance, they were able to free Kakashi, who in turn almost defeated Zabuza. However, [[Haku]], disguised as a [[hunter-nin]], intervened, and appeared to kill Zabuza first, in actuality only putting him in a death-like state in order to get him to safety. Kakashi suspected that Zabuza was still alive, and gave Team 7 a [[Tree Climbing Practice]] to improve their chakra control. Naruto and Sasuke developed a competition over the exercise, each determined to complete the training first, and subsequently motivating each other to do better.
 
 
While Naruto was resting from training one day, he encountered Haku, unaware that it was the same boy he had encountered earlier. The two had a conversation about those who were precious to them, and the lengths they would go to protect them. After Haku left, Naruto finished the training, but was left so tired that the rest of Team 7 allowed him to rest the next day as they went to escort Tazuna. When he woke up, he went to assist them, only to find that they were in the midst of battle with Zabuza and Haku.
 
 
[[File:Naruto's 1st use of 9 Tails.png|thumb|Naruto's first use of the Nine-Tails' chakra.]]
 
Naruto went to help Sasuke in his battle with Haku, but they were both trapped by Haku's [[Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals]]. When Haku tried to use a volley of needles to kill Naruto, Sasuke stepped in to protect him, appearing to die instead. Enraged by the apparent death of Sasuke, Naruto unknowingly tapped into the [[Jinchūriki Forms#Initial Jinchūriki Form|Nine-Tails' chakra]], allowing him to destroy the ice mirrors, and subsequently defeat Haku. Before he could kill Haku, however, the mask he was wearing broke away, revealing the face of the boy Naruto had met earlier. Naruto stopped himself, but Haku asked that he should finish the job, since he could no longer be of use to Zabuza. Although Naruto tried to comply, Haku stopped him at the last minute, and went to help Zabuza. When Naruto realised what had happened - that Haku had given his life to save an ungrateful Zabuza - an outraged Naruto reprimanded Zabuza for not appreciating Haku's actions. Touched by his words, Zabuza killed Gatō to repent in an effort to do Haku justice, but died of his wounds. The bridge (now named the [[Great Naruto Bridge]]) was completed, and the Land of Waves was saved. With a recovered Sasuke, Team 7 returned to the Konoha. On their way home, Naruto remarked to Kakashi that, even though Haku and Zabuza were their enemies, he still liked them.
 
   
 
=== Chūnin Exams ===
 
=== Chūnin Exams ===
  +
Team 7 resumes its series of unremarkable missions. For their performance in the Land of Waves, however, Kakashi decides to enter them in the [[Chūnin Exams]] taking place in Konoha, which greatly excites Naruto. Because they've only recently graduated from the Academy, the three feel they must give strong showings to prove themselves. When they enter the exam hall, the team is met by [[Rock Lee]], who challenges Sasuke to a fight; Naruto tries to attack Lee in jealousy, but is easily swept aside. The fight is interrupted by [[Might Guy]], after which Naruto notes that the bandages around Lee's arms signify his arduous taijutsu training.
After returning home and completing a few other simple missions, Team 7 was entered into the [[Chūnin Exams]]. In the first phase, a written test, the participating genin were tasked with completing the test by cheating, all the while being sure not to get caught. Though the rest of the examinees realised this, Naruto did not, and struggled to answer the questions, which were far beyond his comprehension. [[Hinata Hyūga]], who was sitting next to him, offered to allow him to copy off her paper, but he refused, in fear that she would get caught. Naruto was forced to rely on getting the tenth question correct to pass. When faced with the prospect of correctly answering the question to proceed, failing and never being allowed to take the test again, or giving up to try it again during the next exams, Naruto insisted on answering the question, stating that, even if he got it wrong, he would still become Hokage. The willingness to face the unknown being the answer to the tenth question, Naruto and the rest of Team 7 were allowed to proceed to the second phase.
 
   
  +
During the exam's first stage, the participating genin are given a written test, the goal of which is to cheat without getting caught. Unaware of this, Naruto struggles to answer the questions, so [[Hinata Hyūga]], who is seated next to him, offers to let him to copy off her paper. Despite the temptation, Naruto declined Hinata's offer, claiming that he isn't the type to cheat and that they might be disqualified if they are caught. Before the tenth question can be given, the genin are presented with the opportunity to forfeit; Naruto refuses to do so, declaring his refusal to give up and his goal to still become Hokage. His determination to face the tenth question despite the potential consequences inspires the rest of the genin to do the same, and so they pass the first stage.
For the second phase, Team 7 was sent into the [[Forest of Death]] with one scroll, tasked to obtain a second scroll from another team and arrive at the forest's centre before the phase ended. Soon after entering the forest, they were attacked by [[Orochimaru]], who immobilised Sasuke and Sakura with his murderous intent. Before Sasuke could forfeit their scroll in exchange for their lives, Naruto intervened, fighting Orochimaru by tapping into the Nine-Tails' chakra. Orochimaru rendered Naruto unconscious by [[Five Elements Seal|restricting access]] to the Nine-Tails' chakra, but Naruto's courage inspired Sasuke to fight in his place. After Orochimaru was driven off and Naruto awakened, he tried to open their scroll what was forbidden, but he was stopped by [[Kabuto Yakushi]], who disguised himself as a Konoha ninja. Team 7 and Kabuto encountered [[Team Oboro]]. After wasting a day trapped in the rival team's [[genjutsu]], Team 7 was able to defeat them, take their scroll, and pass the round.
 
   
  +
For the second phase, teams enter the [[Forest of Death]] with the objective of obtaining a set of two scrolls, one of which they are given at the start. Naruto becomes separated from his team and is attacked and swallowed by a giant snake. He manages to kill it and regroups with his frightened team-mates against [[Orochimaru]]. Angered by Sasuke's sudden cowardice and resignation, Naruto engages Orochimaru using the Nine-Tails' chakra, defeats his giant snake, and taunts Sasuke before Orochimaru [[Five Element Seal|suppresses]] the Nine-Tails' chakra, rendering Naruto unconscious. After he awakens, Team 7 continues its search for the second scroll, which they eventually gain by defeating [[Team Oboro]], allowing them to pass the second stage.
[[File:Uzumakirendan.png|thumb|left|Naruto defeating Kiba.]]
 
Because too many genin teams had passed the second phase, a round of preliminary matches, where genin faced each other in combat, were held to thin the field. After watching the first few rounds, Naruto was matched against [[Kiba Inuzuka]], and his dog, [[Akamaru]]. Remembering Naruto to be talentless from their days in the academy, Kiba believed it would be an easy match. He and Akamaru double-teamed Naruto, who initially had difficulty with the match. After combining the [[Transformation Technique]] with his shadow clones to turn Kiba and Akamaru against each other, Naruto was able to remove Akamaru from the competition. When Kiba was about to defeat him, Naruto farted, immobilising Kiba and his heightened sense of smell, and making him an easy target for the [[Naruto Uzumaki Combo]] (which he invented from watching Sasuke's [[Lion Combo]]), winning the match.
 
   
[[File:Naruto meets Kurama.png|thumb|Naruto meets the Nine-Tails.]]
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[[File:Uzumakirendan.png|thumb|Naruto defeats Kiba.]]
  +
In the preliminary matches of the exam, Naruto was pitted against [[Kiba Inuzuka]] and his dog, [[Akamaru]]. Believing the match to be an easy victory, Kiba and Akamaru overwhelmed Naruto with many high-speed attacks, so Naruto tricks Kiba into knocking Akamaru out of the fight by using the [[Transformation Technique]], shocking all spectators. Naruto then disorients Kiba by farting in his face and defeats him with the [[Naruto Uzumaki Combo]] (which he invented from watching Sasuke's [[Lion Combo]]). When Neji and Hinata's match begins, Naruto is enraged by Neji's ruthless tirade against Hinata and cheers Hinata on to defeat Neji. Although Hinata is defeated, Naruto wipes up her blood and vows to defeat Neji in the finals.
While watching the remaining matches, Naruto witnessed [[Neji Hyūga]]'s ruthless treatment of his cousin, Hinata. Angered by Neji's actions and claims that Hinata was a failure who couldn't escape her fate, Naruto vowed to defeat Neji during the first round of the finals a month later. In the meantime, Naruto started training with [[Ebisu]] to improve his chakra control. When Ebisu was knocked out by [[Jiraiya]] for disturbing him on his "research", Naruto forced Jiraiya to train him in his place. Jiraiya, noticing that Naruto was the container of the Nine-Tails, and the restrictive seal Orochimaru had placed on him earlier, Jiraiya [[Five Elements Unseal|removed]] the seal to ease his chakra control. He then taught him how to take advantage of the Nine-Tails' chakra by showing him how to [[Summoning Technique|summon]] [[toads]]. Because Naruto had troubles with it, Jiraiya pushed him from the cliff, hoping to provoke Naruto to use the Nine-Tails' chakra. When falling, Naruto entered his subconscious and met with the Nine-Tails for the first time. The fox expressed immediate desire to kill and devour the young shinobi, but Naruto, even though he knew the power of what he faced, bravely demanded he be given chakra as a form of "rent" for living in his body. Realising that Naruto's death would result in its own, the intrigued Nine-Tails complied, giving Naruto enough chakra to summon [[Gamabunta]]. After a short arguement with the giant toad, Naruto had to be hospitalised due to the chakra loss. In the [[Konoha Hospital|hospital]], he met [[Shikamaru Nara]] and the two encountered [[Gaara]] who was going to kill the confined [[Rock Lee]]. Gaara told them about [[Shukaku]] sealed within him and tried to kill both of them, but they were saved by the coming of [[Might Guy]], which brings Gaara no choice but to retreat.
 
   
 
[[File:Naruto meets Kurama.png|thumb|left|Naruto meets the Nine-Tails.]]
When the day of his match against Neji arrived, Naruto, concerned that he would be unable to defeat him despite his vow, ran into Hinata at the training grounds. When he revealed his growing doubts about the match and his own abilities to Hinata, she reassured him that he never gave up because he always had the strength to overcome his own failures, which was something she admired, and that she had become more confident after he cheered for her. Naruto gratefully thanked Hinata for bringing him out of his depression and giving him the drive to go face Neji.
 
  +
During the month of training, Naruto first meets [[Jiraiya]] (who knocked [[Ebisu]], Naruto's original teacher) and trains under the [[Sannin]] to improve his chakra control. Recognising Naruto as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Jiraiya [[Five Elements Unseal|removes]] the seal Orochimaru had placed on Naruto to ease his control and begins teaching him to how use the Nine-Tails' power by [[Summoning Technique|summoning]] [[toads]]. To accelerate Naruto's slow progress, Jiraiya pushes him over a cliff, causing Naruto to enter his subconscious and meet the Nine-Tails. Working past his fear, he bravely demands chakra from it as "rent" for living in his body. The Nine-Tails complies and Naruto summons [[Gamabunta]], though he exhausts himself and ends up in the [[Konoha Hospital|hospital]], where he is visited by [[Shikamaru Nara]]. After talking, he and Naruto stop [[Gaara]] from killing [[Rock Lee]] in the next room and listen to Gaara's story of his childhood, which Naruto finds very similar to his own. Gaara prepares to kill them, but [[Might Guy]] intervenes and forces Gaara to retreat. On the day of the finals, Naruto meets Hinata at the [[Third Training Ground]] and expresses his doubts about his upcoming match with Neji. Hinata reassures Naruto that he never gave up because he always had the strength to overcome his own failures, admiring him for it. Reinvigorated, Naruto thanks Hinata and tells her even though he first thought she was weird, he now likes her.
   
[[File:Naruto vs Neji.png|thumb|left|Naruto vs. Neji.]]
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[[File:Naruto vs Neji.png|thumb|Naruto vs. Neji.]]
In the beginning of the match, Naruto appeared to be at a disadvantage. Although he was able to overwhelm Neji with shadow clones, none of the clones could manage to land a hit. Convinced that Naruto was a failure that could not defeat a genius like himself, Neji used his [[Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms]] to cut off Naruto's chakra supply. Determined to prove Neji wrong, Naruto tapped into the Nine-Tails' reserves and, revitalised, clashed with Neji. When the smoke cleared, Neji emerged, Naruto appearing to have been defeated. This, however, was only a shadow clone, and the real Naruto burst from the ground beneath Neji, to deliver an uppercut and defeat him. Neji was taken away, contemplating the fact that fate was not predetermined, since a failure could beat a genius, while Naruto watched the remaining matches. When Sasuke fought Gaara, he was envious of Sasuke's improvements, but the fight was interrupted by the beginning of the Konoha Crush.
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Facing Neji in the first match of the finals, Naruto began by creating shadow clones to overwhelm Neji's with sheer numbers. Deeming Naruto a failure who could never defeat a genius like himself, Neji easily defeats Naruto's clones and seals his chakra with [[Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms]]. Determined to prove Neji's ideals about fate wrong, Naruto tapped into the Nine-Tails' chakra and, revitalised, clashed with Neji. When the smoke cleared, Neji emerges and Naruto lies defeated. This, however, was only a shadow clone, and the real Naruto burst from the ground beneath Neji, defeating him with an uppercut. Before he is declared the winner, Naruto tells Neji that creating clones was once his shortcoming and that Neji needs to stop believing in inescapable fate. When Sasuke finally arrives for his match with fought Gaara, Naruto is envious of Sasuke's improvements, but is later [[Temple of Nirvana Technique|put to sleep]] along with most of the audience, commencing the [[Konoha Crush]].
{{-}}
 
   
 
=== Konoha Crush ===
 
=== Konoha Crush ===
Naruto, like all the other spectators, was put to sleep when the invasion began, but was awakened by Sakura so that they could go after Sasuke, who was pursuing Gaara in order to continue their fight. They caught up in time to stop Gaara from killing Sasuke. Intrigued by Naruto's abilities since his battle with Neji, Gaara forced him into battle by threatening to kill the unconscious Sakura. With the power of the Shukaku, Gaara tried to prove his existence by killing Naruto by playing with him. Although Naruto could relate to Gaara's painful life as a jinchūriki, he was not willing to allow anything to happen to Sakura and Sasuke as they are his friends. With the Nine-Tails' chakra, he summoned Gamabunta, and fought Gaara, who by now had progressed to his [[Tailed Beast Mode|full Shukaku form]].
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Sakura wakes up Naruto so they can pursue Sasuke, who was pursuing Gaara himself. They arrive in time for Naruto to kick Gaara away before he can kill Sasuke. Partially transformed into [[Shukaku]], Gaara knocks Sakura unconscious and binds her to a tree, forcing Naruto to battle him, with little success. Naruto relates to Gaara's painful life as a jinchūriki, but he is not willing to let anything to happen to Sakura and Sasuke. Determined to protect his friends, Naruto creates an army of shadow clones to [[Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo|relentlessly batter]] Gaara, forcing him to [[Tailed Beast Mode|fully transform]] into Shukaku, to which Naruto responds by summoning Gamabunta.
   
[[File:Naruto defeats gaara.png|thumb|Naruto defeats Gaara.]]
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[[File:Naruto defeats gaara.png|thumb|left|Naruto defeats Gaara.]]
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Gaara [[Feigning Sleep Technique|puts himself to sleep]] to give control of his body to Shukaku, forcing Naruto and Gamabunta to figure out a way to end the jutsu. They do so by [[Combination Transformation|transforming]] into a giant fox (the Nine-Tails in the anime) to restrain Shukaku, allowing Naruto to awaken Gaara with a solid punch to the face. Shukaku's influence disappears, but Gaara regains control and traps Naruto with his sand. Naruto escapes by tapping into the Nine-Tails' chakra, and headbutts Gaara when he is close enough, destroying Shukaku's form. Exhausted from the fight, the two leap at each other for one final exchange, and Naruto punches Gaara, claiming victory.
Naruto was able to awaken Gaara from his technique and reseal Shukaku, and they exchanged final blows, with Naruto emerging the final blow. Both of them, being very exhausted, fell to the ground and Naruto crawled his way towards Gaara, who was shocked to see why Naruto was so strong. Naruto explained that he had also suffered a relentless lonely life, but was later saved by having friends. Gaara understood, and retreated with [[Kankurō]] and [[Temari]], while Naruto was returned back to [[Konohagakure]] with Sakura and Sasuke.
 
   
  +
Naruto and Gaara fall to the ground, unable to move. Slowly crawling towards Gaara, Naruto explained that he also suffered a painful and lonely life, but was later saved by having friends. To that end, he will do anything to protect them, even if it means killing Gaara. Understanding Naruto's true strength, Gaara retreated with [[Kankurō]] and [[Temari]] with a new outlook on life, while Naruto passes out from exhaustion and is returned to Konoha with Sasuke and a rescued Sakura. A few days later, Team 7 attends the [[Third Hokage]]'s funeral.
Days passed, and Naruto and the rest of the shinobi came to a ceremony to respect the death of the [[Third Hokage]] and his sacrifice for the village.
 
   
 
=== Search for Tsunade ===
 
=== Search for Tsunade ===
After the failed invasion resulted in the death of the Third Hokage, Jiraiya was tasked with finding a Fifth Hokage. He convinced Naruto to come with him by promising to teach him a new technique that would be stronger than Sasuke's [[Chidori]]. Along the way, they were met by [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] and [[Itachi Uchiha]], two members of [[Akatsuki]], who sought to capture Naruto for the Nine-Tails sealed within him. Jiraiya was able to draw them off, but Naruto was introduced to the organisation that would become more of a problem for him in Part II. To prepare him for their future encounters, Jiraiya taught him how to use the [[Rasengan]], a technique created by Minato. While Naruto was able to complete the first two steps of the learning process with little difficulty, he struggled to complete the third and thus master the technique later on.
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Jiraiya is tasked with finding [[Tsunade]], a candidate for Fifth Hokage, and convinces Naruto to accompany him by promising to teach him a technique stronger than Sasuke's [[Chidori]]. Stopping at an inn in [[Shukuba Town]], Naruto was approached by [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] and [[Itachi Uchiha]] of [[Akatsuki]], who intend to capture the Nine-Tails. When Sasuke shows up and furiously attacks Itachi, Naruto gathers the Nine-Tails' chakra to help Sasuke, but it is absorbed by Kisame's [[Samehada]]. Jiraiya soons arrives and drives off Itachi and Kisame, but Sasuke is left mentally and physically damaged by Itachi. [[Might Guy]] appears and takes Sasuke back to Konoha, but not before giving Naruto a spare green jumpsuit.
   
Naruto and Jiraiya eventually found [[Tsunade]], the ideal candidate for the position of Fifth Hokage. When she turned down the offer, and insulted all those who had previously held the title, an angry Naruto challenged her to a fight and attacked her with an incomplete Rasengan. Although his effort failed to hit her, she was surprised by his progress and made a bet with him: if he could master the technique within a week, she would give him her [[First Hokage's Necklace|necklace]], but if he couldn't, she would take his money and his frog wallet, [[Gama-chan]]. Naruto agreed, and started practising, but in a week's time, he still had yet to finish the training. Disappointed, Tsunade met with Orochimaru, the murderer of the Third Hokage, and Naruto, Jiraiya, and [[Shizune]], Tsunade's assistant, tried to stop her from helping him.
+
To prepare for the next encounter with Akatsuki, Naruto begins learning the [[Rasengan]], completing two of its three learning steps. Taking a break from training, Naruto and Jiraiya eventually found Tsunade and her assistant [[Shizune]] at a restaurant. When Tsunade refuses the offer to become Hokage and insults all who held the title, an angry Naruto challenged her to a fight and attacked her with an incomplete Rasengan, only to be easily defeated. Impressed by his progress, however, Tsunade makes a bet with Naruto: if he can master the Rasengan in a week, he gets the [[First Hokage's Necklace]]; if not, she gets his [[Gama-chan|wallet]]. Naruto agreed and spent the week trying to perfect the Rasengan, but has no success and collapses from exhaustion. Once he recovers, Naruto heads out with Jiraiya and Shizune to stop Tsunade from meeting with Orochimaru.
   
[[File:Naruto vs. Kabuto.png|thumb|left|Naruto masters the Rasengan in time to defeat Kabuto.]]
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[[File:Naruto vs. Kabuto.png|thumb|Naruto defeats Kabuto with the Rasengan.]]
Tsunade turned out to have no intention of helping Orochimaru, and fought him and his assistant, [[Kabuto Yakushi]]. When Kabuto left her unable to fight, Naruto came to her aid. Although he was getting beaten by Kabuto and Tsunade told him to run, Naruto refused and by using shadow clones to help him form it, Naruto was able to hit Kabuto with a perfected Rasengan, defeating Kabuto and winning the bet. Amazed by his determination to keep to his word and to survive against a superior opponent, Tsunade gave him her necklace, drove off Orochimaru and Kabuto, and accepted the position of Fifth Hokage. They returned to Konoha, Tsunade confidently believing Naruto would someday become a great Hokage.
+
They arrive to see Tsunade, who never intended to aid Orochimaru, in the midst of battle with [[Kabuto Yakushi]]. When Tsunade is incapacitated, Naruto fights Kabuto in her place and eventually defeats him with a perfected Rasengan, which he formed by using a shadow clone. Naruto collapses almost immediately afterwards, his heart muscles torn by Kabuto, but Tsunade successfully manages to heal him, gives him the necklace he wins, and accepts the position of Hokage. After Orochimaru and Kabuto are defeated, Naruto and the others return to Konoha, Tsunade confidently believing Naruto would someday become a great Hokage.
{{-L}}
 
   
 
=== Land of Tea Escort Mission ===
 
=== Land of Tea Escort Mission ===
Line 222: Line 173:
   
 
=== Sasuke Recovery Mission ===
 
=== Sasuke Recovery Mission ===
After returning with Tsunade (in the anime, after returning from the mission in the Land of Tea), Sasuke began to fall into the corruption set in place for him by Orochimaru. He began lashing out at Sakura and Naruto, not as team-mates but as enemies. Naruto eventually fought with him, the battle ending with Naruto and Sasuke about to clash with the [[Rasengan]] and [[Chidori]], with Sakura in the middle. Kakashi ends the feud, sending the two crashing into water towers, Naruto unknowingly doing more damage than Sasuke, much to Sasuke's annoyance. Despite his promises to Sakura, Sasuke eventually ends up defecting from Konoha in order to seek out Orochimaru for power. Under the escort of Orochimaru's [[Sound Four]], Sasuke left to join Orochimaru, and Naruto joined a [[Sasuke Recovery Team|recovery team]] that would bring him back; he also made a promise to Sakura that he will bring Sasuke back at all cost. While the other members of the team dealt with the Sound Four, Naruto finally engaged in a fight with the Sound Four's fifth member, [[Kimimaro]]. However, he was not able to beat him even with Nine Tails-enhanced shadow clones. When Naruto was about to be killed, he was saved by Rock Lee, who told him to continue the pursuit of Sasuke while he fought Kimimaro.
+
Naruto visits a recovering Sasuke at the hospital, but is immediately challenged to a fight, to which Naruto eventually agrees. The fight escalates quickly, culminating with Naruto using Rasengan and Sasuke using Chidori. Kakashi arrives and deflects their attacks into opposing water towers before they can clash, Naruto unknowingly doing more damage than Sasuke. Distressed by Sasuke's behavior, Sakura informs Naruto of the cursed seal Sasuke received from Orochimaru, though Naruto assures Sakura that Sasuke would never abandon Konoha for power. Unfortunately, Sasuke does just that and Naruto joins the [[Sasuke Recovery Team]] in order to bring him back; he promises a tearful Sakura to do so before he leaves. En route to Sasuke, the team encounters members of the [[Sound Four]], each of which battles a member of the recovery team, while Naruto engages [[Kimimaro]]. Overwhelmed by Kimimaro's taijutsu skills, Naruto is saved at the last minute by Rock Lee, who volunteers to fight Kimimaro while Naruto heads after Sasuke.
   
[[File:Naruto Sasuke clash.png|thumb|Naruto fighting Sasuke.]]
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[[File:Naruto Sasuke clash.png|thumb|left|Naruto fights Sasuke.]]
Naruto finally caught up with Sasuke in a place called [[Valley of the End]], very near the border of the [[Land of Fire]] and the [[Land of Sound]], and fought Sasuke. With Sasuke determined that he would kill Naruto in his quest for power, Naruto decided he would have to take the battle seriously if he was to bring Sasuke back. When Sasuke's drive to kill proved greater than Naruto's resolve of friendship in a 'fair' fight, Naruto tapped into the Nine-Tails' chakra to level the playing field, allowing him to batter around Sasuke. Sasuke, pushed to his limits, managed to develop the mature Sharingan, greatly overpowering Naruto. When Naruto, even with the Nine-Tails' chakra, was defeated, he tapped into the chakra even more, and [[Version 1|a red aura]] of the Nine-Tails' chakra, in the shape of a fox, surrounded him. Sasuke then drew on the power of the second stage of his [[Cursed Seal of Heaven|cursed seal]] to properly compete with Naruto. The two had one final clash, Naruto with his [[Rasengan]] (enhanced by the Nine-Tails' chakra) and Sasuke with his [[Chidori]] (empowered by the cursed seal). Upon contact, a giant, black energy dome formed and surrounded them. In the dome, Sasuke struck Naruto in the stomach, while Naruto scratched Sasuke's forehead protector, proving the latter's earlier taunt of the subject wrong. Sasuke won the fight, but after staring at the unconscious Naruto, he couldn't bring himself to kill his best friend, so he simply continued on his way to Orochimaru.
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Naruto finally meets Sasuke at the [[Valley of the End]]. His pleas for Sasuke to come back to Konoha and warnings that Orochimaru will [[Living Corpse Reincarnation|take his body]] fall on deaf ears. Naruto starts attacking him, ready to take him back to Konoha by force if necessary. Undeterred, Sasuke responds by tapping into his cursed seal and landing a series of heavy blows on Naruto. It becomes painfully clear to Naruto that Sasuke is fighting with an intent to kill, so Naruto utilises the Nine-Tails' chakra to overpower Sasuke. Naruto says that Sasuke is like a brother to him and that he will do anything to protect that bond. Sasuke vows to sever that bond, but acknowledges Naruto as an equal by putting on his forehead protector. They continue trading blows, with Naruto eventually manifesting a [[Jinchūriki Forms#Version 1|fox-shaped cloak]] and Sasuke entering his [[Cursed Seal of Heaven|cursed seal]]'s second level. Naruto clashes his Rasengan with Sasuke's Chidori, and within the dome of resulting energy they trade final blows: Sasuke punches Naruto and Naruto scratches Sasuke's forehead protector.
   
Kakashi and [[Pakkun]] didn't come in time to get Sasuke, and left with Naruto. In the hospital, Naruto vowed to Sakura that he would someday bring Sasuke home. Soon after, Jiraiya arrived suddenly, telling Naruto to train with him for three years prior. He also told him to give up on Sasuke, as he is no different from Orochimaru. Naruto accepts training with Jiraiya, but rejects to giving up Sasuke. In the manga, right after this, Naruto departs, but in the anime, he stays for a while, doing numerous filler arc missions.
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When the energy dissipates, Naruto lies defeated, but Sasuke spares him and continues his way to Orochimaru, leaving his scratched forehead protector behind. Kakashi and [[Pakkun]] arrive late and failing to retrieve Sasuke, leave with Naruto. In the hospital, Naruto once again promises Sakura to bring Sasuke home someday to Sakura that he would someday bring Sasuke home. Soon after, Jiraiya arrived with an offer to train Naruto for preparation against Orochimaru and Akatsuki in three years and to give up on Sasuke, as he is no different from Orochimaru. Naruto accepts Jiraiya's training, but refuses to give up on Sasuke, satisfying Jiraiya.
   
 
=== Original Anime Arcs ===
 
=== Original Anime Arcs ===
 
{{See also|Plot of Naruto}}
 
{{See also|Plot of Naruto}}
[[File:Naruto and jiraiya leaving.png|thumb|left|Naruto sets off with Jiraiya.]]
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[[File:Naruto and jiraiya leaving.png|thumb|Naruto leaves with Jiraiya.]]
In the anime, several filler arcs take place before Naruto left for his three year training with [[Jiraiya]]. Naruto is sent on various missions with the other members of the [[Konoha 11]], mainly to keep Naruto busy while Jiraiya goes on a long mission to gather more information about the Akatsuki. While there is little character development for himself, the filler arcs tend to develop the supporting characters, as well as Gaara. The final filler arc was right before Naruto's departure with Jiraiya, though in the manga, this was right after the Sasuke Recovery Mission. For the next three years, Naruto's influence on his friends drove them to train more arduously than ever before, determined to learn from his example of perseverance.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 394</ref>
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In the anime, Tsunade gives Naruto several missions with members of the [[Konoha 11]] to keep him busy while Jiraiya collects more information about Akatsuki. As in the manga, Naruto later departs with Jiraiya to begin his three-year training, after making a determined gesture at the Fourth Hokage's statue.
 
{{-L}}
 
{{-L}}
   
 
== Interlude ==
 
== Interlude ==
 
=== Gutsy Master and Student: The Training ===
 
=== Gutsy Master and Student: The Training ===
Naruto and Jiraiya have left Konoha to begin their three-year journey. As they walk, they talk about Naruto's need to overcome Sasuke's Sharingan. During a genjutsu practice, Naruto tries to disrupt his inner chakra flow, but instead, creates a wave of chakra around him thus hitting [[Gamariki]] in the physical world. To overcome this part of the training, Naruto follows Jiraiya to the [[Genjutsu Tree Village]]. After realising that the village was taken over by a man named [[Kandachi]], Naruto and Jiraiya decide to liberate the village. As the final battle with Kandachi continued, Naruto and Jiraiya got trapped in the [[Conch King]]'s [[Water Release Genjutsu: Mystic Fog Prison]] but later managed to escape thanks to [[Tanishi]]'s [[Chilli Pepper Bomb]]. At the end of the battle, Naruto defeats Kandachi with his [[Big Ball Rasengan]].<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episodes 187-188</ref>
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In the anime, shortly after leaving Konoha, Jiraiya and Naruto discuss the fact that Naruto will need to learn how to counter genjutsu if he hopes to be a match against Sasuke the next time they meet. Naruto practices with [[Gamariki]] to dispel genjutsu, but he struggles with it and his chakra keeps hitting Gamariki, who doesn't appreciate it. Naruto follows Jiraiya to the [[Genjutsu Tree Village]] to try a different approach, but they discover the village has been taken over by [[Kandachi]]. They free the villagers and then attack Kandachi, who Naruto eventually defeats with his newly-created [[Big Ball Rasengan]]. As they leave afterwards, Jiraiya is pleased by how similar Naruto is to [[Minato Namikaze]] and hugs him, which Naruto is bothered by.
   
 
=== In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths ===
 
=== In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths ===
Over the course of training, Jiraiya begins training Naruto to gain better control of the Nine-Tails' chakra, soon helping Naruto to master wielding the chakra cloak up to two tails. Feeling he was ready to take it to the next level, Jiraiya had [[Gerotora]] tweak the seal enough for additional charka to be unleashed. The Nine-Tails however took advantage of this and began mocking Naruto for his failure to save Sasuke, able to use Naruto's negative emotions to overwhelm him with additional chakra. This ultimately caused Naruto to slip into a four-tailed "Version 2" state, which allowed the Nine-Tails to go on a rampage in Naruto's body. Jiraiya was narrowly able to reseal the fox's chakra, to which his passive methods of saving Naruto led to Jiraiya being severely injured.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 409</ref>
+
Two years into their training, Naruto's control of the Nine-Tails' chakra has improved significantly. Jiraiya tries to give him more access to the Nine-Tails' power and uses [[Gerotora]] to weaken Naruto's [[Eight Trigrams Sealing Style]]. Seizing the opportunity, the Nine-Tails mocked Naruto for his inability to save Sasuke, using Naruto's negative emotions to force him to enter a [[version 2]] form with four tails. Not in control of his body, Naruto attacks Jiraiya and nearly kills him before he manages to suppress the Nine-Tails. Naruto has no memory of what happened and Jiraiya doesn't tell him, instead shifting Naruto's training to other pursuits, including keeping his anger in check so that the Nine-Tails won't flare up again.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 409</ref>
   
 
== Part II ==
 
== Part II ==
 
{{See also|Plot of Naruto: Shippūden}}
 
{{See also|Plot of Naruto: Shippūden}}
 
=== Kazekage Rescue Mission ===
 
=== Kazekage Rescue Mission ===
  +
Naruto and Jiraiya return to Konoha after two-and-a-half years of training, where Naruto becomes surprised by Tsunade's newly-formed statue on [[Hokage Rock]]. He greets his old friends afterwards: he gives Kakashi a copy of ''[[Icha Icha Tactics]]'' as a gift; he catches up with Sakura, whom he has become taller than; he gets back into a competition of [[Sexy Technique]]s with [[Konohamaru Sarutobi]], only to be violently reprimanded by Sakura. Kakashi reforms Team 7 with them and gives them another [[bell test]], but unlike last time, taking the bells from him is the real objective. As with last time, Naruto launches a first attack before the test officially begins, but this time it nearly succeeds. Despite their improved abilities, Naruto and Sakura were still unable to get a bell through conventional means, and it was only by Naruto's threat to spoil the latest ''[[Icha Icha]]'' novel that they distracted Kakashi long enough to take the bells.
When Naruto returned to Konoha, the remaining members of Team 7 were reorganised into Team Kakashi. As their first order of business, Kakashi gave them another bell test, this time the only goal being to take a bell, and that he would use his [[Sharingan]] against them. Although their abilities had improved, Naruto and Sakura were still unable to beat Kakashi, and it was only by threatening to spoil the end of the latest ''[[Icha Icha]]'' novel that they distracted Kakashi long enough to take the bells. Naruto reconnected with his old friends, who had all advanced to [[chūnin]]-rank or higher, and then heard that Gaara, the new [[Kazekage]], had been kidnapped by [[Akatsuki]]. Naruto and Team Kakashi set out for [[Sunagakure]] to save him.
 
   
  +
While Team 7 tries without success to find a mission to go on that Naruto won't complain about, word reaches Konoha that [[Akatsuki]] has kidnapped [[Gaara]], the [[Kazekage]]. Team 7 is sent to Sunagakure to assist in rescuing Gaara. On their way to Suna, Naruto explains that Gaara was kidnapped because he is the [[jinchūriki]] of the [[One-Tail]], just as Naruto is the jinchūriki of the [[Nine-Tails]]. Upon arrival in Suna, Naruto defends Kakashi from [[Chiyo]]'s assault when she mistakes him for his father. Team 7 gathers what intel they can on Gaara's kidnappers and leave to go after them; Chiyo volunteers to escort them since they aren't familiar with the country around Suna. Naruto promises a recovering [[Kankurō]] to rescue Gaara before they leave.
Upon arrival in Sunagakure, [[Chiyo]] was added to Team Kakashi as an adviser, and they followed Akatsuki's trail. Along the way, they encountered a body-double of [[Itachi Uchiha]], which engaged them in battle. Kakashi and Naruto teamed up in order to defeat the lookalike, before continuing onto the Akatsuki lair. There, they found Gaara's body in the possession of [[Deidara]] and [[Sasori]]. When Deidara flew off with Gaara, Naruto and Kakashi pursued him, leaving Sasori to Chiyo and Sakura. While initially unable to catch Deidara, Kakashi was able to use his [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] to distract Deidara, giving Naruto an opportunity to attack him and retrieve Gaara. Deidara escaped, and Naruto and Kakashi reunited with Sakura and Chiyo.
 
   
  +
While en route to an Akatsuki lair, they are confronted by [[Itachi Uchiha]], who traps Naruto in a genjutsu. Sakura and Chiyo release him, allowing Naruto to team up with Kakashi and defeat Itachi with a [[Big Ball Rasengan]]. The Itachi is discovered to be an [[Shapeshifting Technique|impostor]], so they continue to the Akatsuki lair, meeting up with [[Team Guy]], who takes down the barrier over the entrance so that Team 7 can get in. They find Gaara's body finds with his kidnappers, [[Deidara]] and [[Sasori]]. Deidara flies off with Gaara's body with Naruto and Kakashi in pursuit, leaving Sasori to Chiyo and Sakura. Naruto, enraged, makes repeated failed attempts to rescue Gaara before he is calmed by Kakashi, who uses his new [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] to distract Deidara with [[Kamui]]. Naruto retrieves Gaara's body, but seeing it drives him over the edge: he furiously attacks Deidara and beats him mercilessly into the ground. Discovering that it was a [[Clay Clone]], Naruto slips into his [[version 1|two-tailed]] form in rage, but is restored to normal by Kakashi via the [[Chakra-Suppressing Seal]].
[[File:Gaara awakens.png|thumb|Gaara awakens, with Naruto by his side.]]
 
  +
Although Sakura tried to heal Gaara, he had already died, a casualty of Akatsuki's [[Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals|tailed beast extraction-process]]. Angered that Gaara had died because he was a jinchūriki, something he had never asked for and had suffered because of his whole life, Naruto lashed out at Chiyo, the one who had sealed [[Shukaku]] into Gaara in the first place. To make up for what she had done, Chiyo, with the help of Naruto, restored Gaara back to life, at the cost of her own. Gaara awakened surrounded by his rescue party and the ninja from Sunagakure. After Chiyo's funeral, Naruto and Gaara finally shake hands (Gaara insisting), as a sign to their close relationship. Afterwards, [[Team Kakashi]] and [[Team Guy]] returned to Konoha.
 
 
[[File:Gaara awakens.png|thumb|left|Gaara awakens, with Naruto by his side.]]
{{-}}
 
  +
Deidara escapes, while Naruto and Kakashi regroup with Sakura, Chiyo, and Team Guy. Sakura attempts to revive Gaara, but the [[Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals|removal]] of Shukaku has caused him to die. Naruto breaks down in tears and angrily lashes out at Chiyo, saying she had no right to make Gaara not only a jinchūriki, but also lose his life because of it. As atonement and with Naruto's aid, Chiyo sacrifices her life to revive Gaara; as the jutsu nears completion, Chiyo voices her faith in Naruto's ability to save Gaara and to become Hokage. Naruto greets Gaara when he awakens, and a few days later, Teams 7 and Guy attend Chiyo's funeral in Suna. Before returning home, Naruto and Gaara shake hands (Gaara using his sand) as a sign to their close relationship.
   
 
=== Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission ===
 
=== Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission ===
  +
During her fight with Sasori, Sakura learned of an opportunity to meet with a spy in Orochimaru's ranks in a few days' time, hoping it will lead them to Sasuke. Kakashi is left bedridden from his fight with Deidara, so [[Yamato]] leads Team 7 as his replacement. Replacing Sasuke on the team is [[Sai]], whom Naruto actually encounters earlier and dislikes, declaring him an inferior version of Sasuke. Sai is happy for this distinction and proceeds to degrade Sasuke for defecting from Konoha, forcing Yamato to use his [[Wood Release]] to break up their fight. Naruto is constantly exasperated by Sai's lack of empathy and his ridicule of Sasuke, but resolves to work with Sai if it means saving Sasuke.
[[File:Team Yamato.PNG|thumb|left|The reborn Team Kakashi.]]
 
During Sakura's battle with Sasori, she learned of a spy in Orochimaru's inner circle, an opportunity for them to find Sasuke after his years of absence. Kakashi was left hospitalised from overuse of the Mangekyō Sharingan, so [[Yamato]] was assigned to lead Team Kakashi in his place. [[Sai]] was also added to the team as Sasuke's replacement, but neither Naruto nor Sakura were able to accept him as such. In route to the meeting place with the spy, Yamato tried to get the team to work together, although Sai's personality and disdain for his predecessor caused only conflict amongst the team. When they arrived at the meeting spot, they found that the spy was Kabuto. Yamato, disguised as Sasori, spoke with him, but they were interrupted by the arrival of Orochimaru. Kabuto, in turn, turned against Yamato, who was forced to call Naruto and the others for back-up.
 
   
 
[[File:Team Yamato.PNG|thumb|Team 7 confronts Orochimaru and Kabuto.]]
Surprised to see Naruto, Orochimaru wondered aloud if Naruto had become as strong as "his Sasuke". Enraged that Orochimaru had spoken as if Sasuke belonged to him, Naruto entered his [[Version 1|three-tailed form]], and attacked him. While a fair match, Orochimaru was able to evade Naruto's attacks. Further provoked by his inability to land a debilitating blow, Naruto advanced to his [[Version 2|four-tailed form]], losing his sense of self in his anger. Now a danger to Orochimaru, Naruto was forced back so that he could switch targets, his first being Sakura. Yamato restrained him before he could do any real harm, and forced the Nine-Tails' influence to recede. When he woke up, they found that Sai had joined up with Orochimaru. They followed him in the hopes that he would lead them to Sasuke, and to see what he was up to. During a break, Yamato took Naruto aside, and told him of how he had attacked Sakura, encouraging him not to rely on the Nine-Tails if he really wanted to protect those close to him.
 
  +
Yamato disguises himself as Sasori and goes to the [[Tenchi Bridge]] to meet the spy while Naruto, Sakura, and Sai hide nearby. The spy, [[Kabuto Yakushi]], begins telling Yamato about Orochimaru's organisation, but they are interrupted by the arrival of Orochimaru, who teams up with Kabuto to fight Yamato, having intended to kill Sasori. Team 7 comes to his aid and Orochimaru, recognising them, taunts Naruto about Sasuke. Naruto is enraged and strikes him, using his [[version 1]] form to make his attacks more devastating. Naruto's rage intensifies as he submits to the Nine-Tails' influence: he destroys the Tenchi Bridge and eventually advances to his [[version 2]] form while fighting Orochimaru. Naruto is soon forced back to the destroyed bridge, where, unable to tell friend from foe, he unknowingly attacks Sakura when she approaches him.
   
When they arrived at Orochimaru's hideout, they infiltrated the lair, and captured Sai. Exposed, Sai revealed that his superiors had sent him to help organise another invasion of Konoha. He was restrained for his treachery, while the others went looking for Sasuke. Sai, having earlier met Sasuke, asked why Naruto was so determined to bring him back. Naruto explained that the two had a bond that couldn't be broken, and that he would risk his life to protect this bond. Intrigued, Sai switched sides, helping them to capture Kabuto and then scouring the base in order to reunite Sasuke with Naruto. He succeeded, but was attacked by Sasuke, the magnitude of which drew the rest of Team Yamato to their location.
+
Yamato restrains Naruto with his Wood Release and suppresses the Nine-Tails' influence, but its chakra leaves Naruto's body badly damaged. After Sakura heals him, Naruto wakes up unable to remember what happened, but is surprised by the devastated landscape. When they realise that Sai is missing, Yamato reports that he has joined with Orochimaru and Kabuto. On the way, Yamato secretly takes Naruto aside and tells him that he is the one who attacked Sakura. He encourages Naruto to use his own strength instead of the Nine-Tails in order to protect his loved ones. The team locates Sai, whom Yamato has placed a [[Transmission Wood|trace]] on, at Orochimaru's lair and capture him. Restrained, Sai asks why Naruto is determined to save him; Naruto replies that his bond with Sasuke is too precious to be broken and that he will do anything to protect it. Intrigued, Sai switches sides, helping them capture Kabuto and then searching the base for Sasuke on Naruto's behalf. While he's gone, Yamato goes through his belongings and finds evidence that Sai has been assigned to assassinate Sasuke.
   
[[File:Sasuke draws sword.png|thumb|left|Sasuke drawing his blade in an attempt to kill Naruto.]]
+
[[File:Sasuke draws sword.png|thumb|left|Sasuke prepares to kill Naruto.]]
  +
When they find Sai, he explains that he truly does want to help retrieve Sasuke, and in fact has already found him: Naruto and Sakura are speechless to see Sasuke again. Sasuke reacts with indifference to them, but Naruto remarks he can't become Hokage without saving his friend. To demonstrate that they mean nothing to him, Sasuke quickly neutralises them all. As Naruto struggles to avoid the temptation of using the Nine-Tails, Sasuke suddenly appears in Naruto's subconscious using his Sharingan and suppresses the Nine-Tails. He then prepares to kill them, but is persuaded not to by Orochimaru and leaves without further comment. Naruto is upset at having failed once more to bring Sasuke home, but is reminded by Sakura that they need to become stronger and Team 7 returns to Konoha.
Together again, Naruto and Sakura tried to convince Sasuke to come home. Still determined to gain power, he refused, prompting the team to use force. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and Naruto, who was exhausted from his fight with Orochimaru in his four-tailed form, wasn't able to compete with Sasuke's growth. Within his subconscious, the Nine-Tails began to offer Naruto its chakra, but he firmly rejected its assistance. The Nine-Tails became contemptuous at Naruto, mocking him that if it wasn't for its power, he would be nothing. It then tempted Naruto to break the seal so it can "grant" him all of its power, but he still refused. However, before their quarrel could escalate any further, Sasuke with his Sharingan activated, suddenly appeared within Naruto's subconscious, which surprised both Naruto and the Nine-Tails. As the Nine-Tails stated that Sasuke had similar chakra to [[Madara Uchiha]], Sasuke used his Sharingan to suppress the beast's residual chakra. The Nine-Tails concluded that this was probably its last meeting with Sasuke, so it warned him not to kill Naruto, for he would only end up regretting it. Back in the real world, Sasuke tried to finish off his former team-mates, but he was stopped by Orochimaru and they retreated, leaving Team Yamato to return home.
 
   
 
=== Twelve Guardian Ninja ===
 
=== Twelve Guardian Ninja ===
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=== Akatsuki Suppression Mission ===
 
=== Akatsuki Suppression Mission ===
  +
Once Kakashi is done recuperating in the hospital, he assembles Naruto, Sakura, and Sai to discuss their failed mission to retrieve Sasuke. Kakashi believes the best way to match Sasuke is for Naruto to create a new [[jutsu]]. As the training began, Naruto discovers that his [[nature]] is [[wind]] and learns to use the wind nature. Ordinarily, such training would take months or years, but Kakashi advises that Naruto, by training alongside hundreds of [[shadow clones]] can do the same training in a mere fraction of the time. With Kakashi's instructions and the training grounds created by Yamato, Naruto quickly masters how to use the wind nature. The next step is more difficult for him: combining that nature with the [[Rasengan]].
Kakashi, hoping to make Naruto better prepared for his next encounter with Sasuke, trained him to create a new [[Wind Release|wind-based]] technique. In the anime, this training began before, and continued throughout, the arc of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, with Naruto seeking assistance from Asuma and Sora, two other wind chakra users. Kakashi had Naruto train with shadow clones to master wind manipulation in only a fraction of the time. When he did this, Kakashi left him with the task of combining what he had learned with the Rasengan. He explained that infusing one's chakra nature with the Rasengan was what Minato had intended to do when he created the Rasengan, but had not been able to do so before he died. Kakashi believed Naruto would prove successful where his father could not, inspiring Naruto to do his best.
 
   
[[File:Naruto vs Kakuzu .png|thumb|Naruto defeating Kakuzu.]]
+
[[File:Naruto vs Kakuzu .png|thumb|Naruto defeats Kakuzu.]]
While he struggled to create his new Rasengan, the rest of Konoha mobilised to deal with the Akatsuki members, [[Hidan]] and [[Kakuzu]]. When the two managed to kill Asuma, Kakashi left Yamato in charge of overseeing Naruto's training so that he could help [[Team 10]] avenge Asuma. Once he achieved a usable technique, Naruto and Team Yamato went to provide assistance, arriving in time to save Kakashi and Team 10 from Kakuzu. Naruto engaged Kakuzu by himself with his [[Wind Release: Rasenshuriken]], created with the help of shadow clones. Once striking Kakuzu with the attack, two of his hearts were destroyed, and his final heart was left on the brink of failure. Tired out by the ordeal, Naruto's injuries were healed while Kakashi finished off Kakuzu.
+
Like Kakashi and [[Minato Namikaze]] before him, Naruto fails several times in trying to combine his nature with the Rasengan; his frustration evokes the Nine-Tails' chakra at times, which Yamato suppresses. With further advice from Kakashi, Naruto finds his solution using two shadow clones: one helps him form the Rasengan and the other adds his wind nature. When they receive news that Asuma died in battle with members of [[Akatsuki]], they take a break to attend Asuma's funeral. Kakashi leaves Yamato in charge of overseeing Naruto's training so he could help [[Team 10]] avenge Asuma. Having finished his jutsu, Naruto and Team Yamato went to provide assistance, arriving in time to save Kakashi and Team 10 from [[Kakuzu]]. Naruto engages Kakuzu alone with his newly-created [[Wind Release: Rasenshuriken]], though it dissipates on its first use and Naruto is rescued by Kakashi and Yamato. The technique succeeds the second time, destroying two of Kakuzu's hearts and putting the last one on the brink of failure. Kakashi finishes off Kakuzu and they return to Konoha.
   
  +
The Rasenshuriken injures Naruto's arm after use and he is forbidden to use the technique ever again. When they visit Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto has a hard time eating while his arm mends, so Sakura opts to help, before the responsibility falls to Sai, then to Kakashi. As they leave afterwards, they are met by Konohamaru, who demonstrates his [[Sexy: Girl on Girl Technique]]; Naruto approves but Sakura is disgusted and violently reprimands him. In the manga, Konohamaru responds with [[Sexy: Boy on Boy Technique]]; Sakura approves but Naruto is disgusted and violently reprimands him.
Upon returning to Konoha, Naruto was forbidden by Tsunade to use the Rasenshuriken again. While it was devastating to his opponents, it caused minor injuries to Naruto's arm as well. Even though they weren't as bad as his opponent's injuries, it was harmful enough to cause the arm to be beyond medical repair if performed again with contact of his hand and the opponent, endangering him and his hopes of remaining a ninja. Naruto said that he realised this, but claimed he understood his own body better than anyone else.
 
   
 
=== Three-Tails' Appearance ===
 
=== Three-Tails' Appearance ===
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=== Itachi Pursuit Mission ===
 
=== Itachi Pursuit Mission ===
After news of Orochimaru's defeat at the hands of Sasuke, Team Kakashi decided to make another attempt to find him. Knowing that Sasuke was going after his older brother, [[Itachi]], they teamed up with the members of Team 8 to find either of the Uchiha brothers. They scoured the landscape, and eventually encountered Kabuto, who had absorbed some of Orochimaru's remains into his body. As his thanks to Naruto for "inspiring" him to overcome Orochimaru, Kabuto gave him a book containing some information on Akatsuki, while making an escape to avoid capture.
+
News reaches Konoha that Sasuke has killed Orochimaru. Realising that this is a good opportunity to try once again to reunite with Sasuke, Kakashi combines Teams 7 and 8 into an [[Eight Man Squad]] with the mission to find either Sasuke or his assumed target, Itachi. When they split up to search, Naruto, because he's a target of Akatsuki, is given a protective escort in the form of Hinata, Yamato, and [[Bull]]. Their group encounters Kabuto, who offers them intel on Akatsuki and its members, his thanks to Naruto "inspiring" him to overcome Orochimaru after absorbing his remains. Kabuto then escapes.
   
 
=== Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant ===
 
=== Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant ===
[[File:Itachi's Genjutsu.png|thumb|left|Naruto talking to Itachi in his genjutsu.]]
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[[File:Itachi's Genjutsu.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Itachi converse.]]
After regrouping and [[Kiba]] picked up on Sasuke's trail, Naruto used a number of shadow clones to search the area faster. When one of his clones neared what he thought was Sasuke's location, he found Itachi there instead. Itachi repelled all of Naruto's attempts to attack him, insisting that he only wanted to talk. He trapped Naruto in a [[Demonic Illusion: Mirage Crow|genjutsu]] and, as was later revealed, questioned Naruto on his dedication to Sasuke and to Konoha. When Naruto insisted that he would protect both at any cost, Itachi gave Naruto [[Kotoamatsukami|some of his power]] sealed inside a [[Itachi's Crow|crow]] in case he ever needed it. Itachi left, and Naruto continued his search, eventually finding Sasuke.<ref>Chapter 403, pages 2-10</ref>
+
After regrouping and [[Kiba Inuzuka]] detects Sasuke's trail, Naruto creates shadow clones to search the area faster, one of which encounters Itachi. Itachi repels Naruto's attacks and insists he only wants to talk. He asks Naruto what Sasuke means to him and what he will do if Sasuke ever moves against Konoha. Naruto replies that he is Sasuke's brother a better brother than Itachi is and that if Sasuke ever attacks the village he will defend it without killing Sasuke. Itachi is happy with this answer and gives Naruto some assistance for this purpose: a special [[Itachi's Crow|special crow]] that he stores within Naruto's body. Itachi left, and Naruto continued his search, eventually finding Sasuke.<ref>Chapter 403, pages 2-10</ref>
   
When the real Naruto and the rest of the team moved to intercept him, they were stopped by [[Tobi]]. Despite their efforts to quickly dispose of Tobi, none of their attacks worked, and it was only after word reached them that Sasuke had killed Itachi that they were allowed to continue. Tobi, however, reached Sasuke first, and having lost the trail, the Konoha-nin were forced to give up on the search.
+
As they near Sasuke's location they are intercepted by [[Tobi]] of Akatsuki, who prevents them from progressing and who is invulnerable to their attacks. Tobi leaves when he receives news that Sasuke has killed Itachi, and Teams 7 and 8 try to reach Sasuke before he does. Unable to find where Tobi has taken Sasuke, they are forced to return to Konoha.
   
 
=== Six-Tails Unleashed ===
 
=== Six-Tails Unleashed ===
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=== Pain's Assault ===
 
=== Pain's Assault ===
[[File:Naruto after Jiraiya's death.png|thumb|Naruto mourning Jiraiya's death.]]
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[[File:Naruto after Jiraiya's death.png|thumb|Naruto mourns Jiraiya's death.]]
When he returned to Konoha, Naruto learned that Jiraiya had died in his battle with the leader of Akatsuki, [[Pain]]. Grief stricken, Naruto spent the rest of the day mourning the loss of his teacher, musing over the fact he had wanted Jiraiya to be there when he became Hokage. After being comforted by [[Iruka]] and [[Shikamaru]], Naruto helped to decipher Jiraiya's dying message. When the code was broken, Naruto decided to go to train with the toads to learn [[senjutsu]], knowing that Pain was coming for him and deciding to make the most of the time Jiraiya had bought for him. To learn senjutsu, Naruto trained to harmonise with nature, a process he sped up by using a limited amount of shadow clones. He rapidly progressed through the introductory stages and attained a perfect [[Sage Mode]], something Jiraiya had never been able to do. When news of Pain's attack on Konoha reached them, they began to mobilise for battle.
+
As Naruto contemplated his meeting with Itachi, he was called to the [[Hokage Residence]] to hear somber news: his master Jiraiya was killed by [[Pain]], the leader of Akatsuki. Grief-stricken, Naruto blamed Tsunade and spent the day mourning his teacher's death, depressed that Jiraiya cannot see him become Hokage. After being comforted by [[Iruka]] and [[Shikamaru]], Naruto helped to decipher Jiraiya's dying message and eventually they succeed. Understanding that Jiraiya had bought him time for his own fight with Pain, Naruto went to train with the toads of [[Mount Myoboku]] to learn [[senjutsu]]. Naruto trained to harmonise with nature, a process he sped up by using a limited number of shadow clones. He rapidly progressed through the training stages and attained a perfect [[Sage Mode]], which Jiraiya was unable able to do. News of [[Pain's Assault]] on Konoha reached them, they began to mobilise for battle.
   
 
[[File:Naruto and Fukasaku.png|thumb|left|Naruto arrives to fight Pain.]]
 
[[File:Naruto and Fukasaku.png|thumb|left|Naruto arrives to fight Pain.]]
As Naruto, [[Fukasaku]], [[Gamaken]], [[Gamahiro]], [[Gamabunta]], and [[Gamakichi]] were summoned to the centre of Konoha, the group was confronted by the [[Six Paths of Pain]], whom had just destroyed the village. After destroying the [[Asura Path]] before it could attack Tsunade, Naruto told the Hokage to make sure everyone left the battle to him. After a brief scrimish with [[Animal Path]], Naruto and the toads defeated the Animal, [[Preta]], and [[Human Path]]s before running out of senjutsu chakra. Naruto revealed that he had two shadow clones waiting back at [[Mount Myōboku]] to revitalise him with natural energy. Naruto went back on the offensive, dispatching the healed Preta and Naraka Path, before the Deva Path regained its full power. Pain killed Fukasaku and used the opportunity to capture Naruto, pinning him down to the ground.
+
As Naruto, [[Fukasaku]], [[Gamaken]], [[Gamahiro]], [[Gamabunta]], and [[Gamakichi]] were summoned to the centre of Konoha, the group was confronted by the [[Six Paths of Pain]], whom had just destroyed the village. After destroying the [[Asura Path]] before it could attack Tsunade, Naruto told her to make sure everyone left the battle to him. After a brief skirmish with [[Animal Path]], Naruto and the toads defeated the Animal, [[Preta]], and [[Human Path]]s before running out of senjutsu chakra. Naruto revealed that he had two shadow clones waiting back at [[Mount Myōboku]] to revitalise him with natural energy. Naruto went back on the offensive, dispatching the healed Preta and Naraka Path, before the Deva Path regained its full power. Pain killed Fukasaku and used the opportunity to capture Naruto, pinning him down to the ground.
   
 
[[File:Naruto pin down.png|thumb|Naruto pinned down by Pain.]]
 
[[File:Naruto pin down.png|thumb|Naruto pinned down by Pain.]]
With Naruto restrained, Pain opened up his reasons for Akatsuki, their plan for the tailed beasts, and the peaceful world he wanted to create. Though Naruto rejected his notion that using a weapon to force peace, he could offer no alternative. Before Pain could depart with Naruto, he was attacked by [[Hinata Hyūga]]. Declaring her love for Naruto and vowing to protect him, she continued to fight against Pain before she was subdued and critically wounded. Believing Hinata to had been killed, an enraged Naruto erupted into his [[Version 2|six-tailed form]]. Resisting the [[First Hokage's Necklace]]'s attempted to quell the transformation and destroying it, the Nine-Tails attacked Pain, forcing him out of the village to get close enough to his actual body to use the [[Chibaku Tensei]], trapping Naruto within the small satellite. The technique was not enough to stop the Nine-Tails however, as it simply progressed to [[Jinchūriki Forms#Partial Transformation|eight-tailed form]] to force its way out of the satellite. Meanwhile within his subconscious, Naruto was tempted by the Nine-Tails to open its seal to save him from the pain of not having Pain's answer for peace. However, before Naruto could, [[Minato]] appeared, who had left some of his chakra within the seal in case of an emergency to protect his son. Overjoyed at meeting his father, but angered that he would condemn him to life as a jinchūriki, Naruto listened to his father encouraging him, confident that he would find a way to break the cycle of hatred. After repairing the seal, Minato disappeared and the newly-inspired Naruto prepared to resume his battle with Pain.
+
With Naruto restrained, Pain opened up his reasons for Akatsuki, their plan for the tailed beasts, and the peaceful world he wanted to create. Though Naruto rejected his notion that using a weapon to force peace, he could offer no alternative. Before Pain could depart with Naruto, he was attacked by [[Hinata Hyūga]]. Declaring her love for Naruto and vowing to protect him, she continued to fight against Pain before she was subdued and critically wounded. Believing Hinata to had been killed, an enraged Naruto erupted into his [[Version 2|six-tailed form]]. Resisting the [[First Hokage's Necklace]]'s attempted to quell the transformation and destroying it, the Nine-Tails attacked Pain, forcing him out of the village to get close enough to his actual body to use the [[Chibaku Tensei]], trapping Naruto within the small satellite. The technique was not enough to stop the Nine-Tails, however, as it simply progressed to [[Jinchūriki Forms#Partial Transformation|eight-tailed form]] to force its way out of the satellite. Meanwhile within his subconscious, Naruto was tempted by the Nine-Tails to open its seal to save him from the pain of not having Pain's answer for peace. However, before Naruto could, [[Minato]] appeared, having left some of his chakra within the seal in case of an emergency to protect his son. Overjoyed at meeting his father, but angered that he would condemn him to life as a jinchūriki, Naruto listened to his father encouraging him, confident that he would find a way to break the cycle of hatred. After repairing the seal, Minato disappeared and the newly-inspired Naruto prepared to resume his battle with Pain.
   
[[File:Naruto defeating Deva path.png|thumb|left|Naruto defeating Pain.]]
+
[[File:Naruto defeating Deva path.png|thumb|left|Naruto defeats Pain.]]
Confidence restored, Naruto was greatly relieved to learn that not only had Hinata survived, but nobody was injured during his rampage. After clever use of shadow clones, Naruto was able to destroy the Deva Path with a Rasengan, defeating the last of Pain's Six Paths. Using one of Pain's [[Black Receiver]]s, Naruto followed the chakra signal to [[Nagato]] and [[Konan]]'s positions. Confronting Nagato, Naruto listened to Nagato's story that turned him into Pain and came to understand why he made the actions he did. Despite not forgiving him, he told Nagato he would not kill him and would instead try to create the better world that their teacher wished for. Moved by Naruto's determination to create a better world, Nagato decided to put his trust in Naruto and used the [[Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique]] to revive all the people he had killed in Konoha, at the cost of his own life. With this, Naruto helped Konan retrieve Nagato and [[Yahiko]]'s bodies for burial in Amegakure. Konan left Naruto a bouquet of paper flowers for him, symbolising their new alliance.
+
Confidence restored, Naruto was greatly relieved to learn that not only had Hinata survived, but nobody was injured during his rampage. After clever use of shadow clones, Naruto destroyed the Deva Path with a Rasengan, defeating the last of Pain's Six Paths. Using one of Pain's [[Black Receiver]]s, Naruto followed the chakra signal to [[Nagato]] and [[Konan]]'s position. Confronting Nagato, Naruto listened to Nagato's story that turned him into Pain and came to understand why he made the actions he did. Despite not forgiving him, he told Nagato he would not kill him and would instead try to create the better world that their teacher wished for. Moved by Naruto's determination to create a better world, Nagato decided to put his trust in Naruto and sacrificed his own life to [[Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique|revive]] all the people he had killed in Konoha. Naruto helped Konan retrieve Nagato and [[Yahiko]]'s bodies for burial in [[Amegakure]], and Konan left Naruto a bouquet of paper flowers for him, symbolising their new alliance.
   
 
[[File:Hero of the Hidden Leaf.PNG|thumb|The village greets Naruto upon his return.]]
He then created a [[Jiraiya's Memorial|memorial]] for [[Jiraiya]] and left the flowers and a copy of ''[[The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi]]'' by a rock with the kanji for {{translation|''teacher''|師|shi}}.
+
Naruto then created a [[Jiraiya's Memorial|memorial]] for [[Jiraiya]] and left the flowers and a copy of ''[[The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi]]'' by a rock with the kanji for {{translation|''teacher''|師|shi}}. While the exhausted Naruto walked back to the village, he was found by Kakashi who carried him the rest of the way. Upon arrival, Naruto was greeted as a hero by the villagers, his dream of acknowledgement being realised at last.
   
 
=== Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha ===
 
=== Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha ===
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=== Five Kage Summit ===
 
=== Five Kage Summit ===
  +
Sakura informs Naruto that Tsunade fell into a coma and that there's nothing that can be done to bring her out of it. While they talk, they are approached by [[Tazuna]] and [[Inari]], who have come to help rebuild Konoha. They ask about Sasuke, which Naruto avoids going into detail about so as to spare them and Sakura a discussion about Sasuke's defection. After Tazuna and Inari leave, they receive news that [[Danzō Shimura]] has become the next [[Hokage]] and that he has ordered Sasuke be killed as a traitor. Naruto and Sakura approach Sai to ask him how they can convince Danzō to change his mind, but Sai is unable to help. [[Omoi]] and [[Karui]] of [[Kumogakure]] overhear them talking about Sasuke and they ask for information about Sasuke, wishing to kill him for his role in Akatsuki's capture of [[Killer B]]. Naruto leads Omoi and Karui away to spare Sakura pain, but refuses to reveal anything about Sasuke. Instead, Naruto allows the Kumo-nin vent their anger by beating him, to which [[Karui]] obliges until Sai stops her and the Kumo-nin retreat.
[[File:Hero of the Hidden Leaf.PNG|thumb|The village greets Naruto upon his return.]]
 
  +
While the exhausted Naruto made his way back to the village, he was found by Kakashi who carried him the rest of the way. Upon arrival, Naruto was greeted as a hero. Sometime later, he learned that Tsunade had fallen into a coma from overuse of her abilities and that [[Danzō Shimura]] had not only replaced her as Hokage, but had ordered that Sasuke to be executed for abandoning the village. As Naruto, Sakura, and Sai tried to think of a way to change Danzō's mind, they were interrupted by the [[Kumo]]-nin [[Karui]] and [[Omoi]] who demanded to know how to find Sasuke, after his affiliation with [[Akatsuki]] had resulted in their mentor, [[Killer B]]'s capture. Instead of turning on Sasuke, Naruto offered to let the Kumo-nin take their anger out on him, to which [[Karui]] obliged, beating him until being stopped by Sai. Later, he asked Yamato and Kakashi to take him to the [[Land of Iron]], so that he could ask [[Fourth Raikage]] to pardon Sasuke. Yamato and Kakashi agreed, but when they arrived and spoke with A, the Raikage refused his request and berated Naruto for standing up for a criminal. Naruto went to a local inn to consider what to do next, where he was soon confronted by [[Tobi]], who asked Naruto on how he got Nagato to change his mind. Naruto ignored the question and demanded to know about his plans with Sasuke. Tobi told him about the [[Sage of the Six Paths]], the Uchiha clan, and the truth about the [[Uchiha Clan Downfall]], all of which now drove Sasuke along [[Curse of Hatred|a path of vengeance]] against Konoha and anyone else who would dare cross his path. Naruto insisted that that he could still get through to Sasuke, but Tobi laughed and left, saying that Naruto and Sasuke were fated to fight again.
+
Recovering later, Naruto asked Yamato and Kakashi to take him to the [[Land of Iron]], so that he could ask [[Fourth Raikage]] to pardon Sasuke. Upon arrival, the Raikage rejected Naruto's request and berated him for defending a criminal. Naruto went to a local inn to ponder his next course of action, but was soon confronted by [[Tobi]], who wanted to understand Nagato's change of heart. Naruto ignored the question and demanded to know about his plans with Sasuke. Tobi told him about the [[Sage of the Six Paths]], the Uchiha clan, and the truth about the [[Uchiha Clan Downfall]], all of which now drove Sasuke along [[Curse of Hatred|a path of vengeance]] against Konoha and anyone else who would dare cross his path. Naruto insisted that that he could still get through to Sasuke, but Tobi laughed and left, saying that Naruto and Sasuke were fated to fight again.
   
While Naruto was practising his Sage Mode's sensory abilities in the hopes of finding Sasuke, Sakura, who had come to the Land of Iron with Rock Lee, Kiba and Sai, attempted to dissuade Naruto in his attempts to bring Sasuke back to Konoha, falsely telling him that she loved him over Sasuke. However, Naruto knew she was lying and he rejected her confession and her proposal to abandon Sasuke, stating it had nothing to do with his promise to her. After Sakura's party left, an [[ink clone]] from Sai revealed that the rest of the [[Konoha 11]] had decided to kill Sasuke themselves to prevent another war, while Sakura had her own plans of dealing with Sasuke personally and alone, at Sai's unintended insistence. [[Gaara]], whom attended the [[Five Kage Summit]] revealed Tobi's declaration of the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]], telling Naruto over Sasuke's involvement in the Akatsuki's attack at the summit and how they would be fighting Sasuke to protect Naruto, but he did advise Naruto to consider for himself what was the right thing to do. After hearing that most of his friends have turned against Sasuke, while Sasuke now wanted to unleash his vengeance on just about everyone, Naruto started to hyperventilate and lost consciousness. When he awoke, he was told by Yamato that Kakashi went to stop Sakura from dealing with Sasuke.
+
While Naruto was practising his Sage Mode's sensory abilities to locate Sasuke, he was interrupted by the arrival of Sakura, [[Rock Lee]], Kiba and Sai. Sakura attempted to dissuade Naruto in his attempts to bring Sasuke back to Konoha by falsely telling him that she loved him. However, Naruto knew she was lying and he rejected her confession and her proposal to abandon Sasuke, stating it had nothing to do with his promise to her. After Sakura's party left, Sai's [[ink clone]] revealed that the rest of the [[Konoha 11]] had decided to kill Sasuke themselves to prevent another war, while Sakura planned to kill Sasuke herself, at Sai's unintended insistence. [[Gaara]], whom attended the [[Five Kage Summit]] that Sasuke attacked, arrived and revealed Tobi's declaration of the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]], telling Naruto how they would be fighting Sasuke to protect Naruto, but he did advise Naruto to consider for himself what was the right thing to do. After hearing that most of his friends have turned against Sasuke, who now wanted to unleash his vengeance on just about everyone, Naruto hyperventilated and passed out. When he awoke, he was told by Yamato that Kakashi went to stop Sakura from dealing with Sasuke.
   
[[File:Naruto saves Sakura.png|thumb|left|The original Team 7 re-unites.]]
+
[[File:Naruto vs. Sasuke.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke clash.]]
Using a shadow clone as a decoy, Naruto escaped from the inn and followed Kakashi. He arrived just in time to save Sakura from being killed by Sasuke. Making one more attempt to reason with Sasuke, commiserating with his pain and acknowledging Itachi's sacrifice. However, Sasuke was unmoved and made his resolve to destroy Konoha and severing the Uchiha's connection to the "rotten shinobi world" clear. Naruto and Sasuke then battled each other head on; clashing with their [[Rasengan|signature]] [[Chidori|techniques]] with Naruto realising that everything in his life he could have easily gone down the same path of Sasuke, and despite his jealousy toward the Uchiha, he had come to like Sasuke and was glad to have met him. Sasuke, despite believing his words, told Naruto nothing would change his mind and Naruto could either kill him or watch as he killed everything he loved. Shortly after, Tobi and [[Zetsu]] arrived, coming to Sasuke's aid. As they prepared to depart, Naruto resolved that if he and Sasuke were to battle again, they would kill each other, but he was willing accept it as he would shoulder Sasuke's hatred alone. Sasuke vowing he would kill Naruto first, left with Tobi and Zetsu, and Naruto and his teammates returned to Konoha, with the captive [[Karin]]. In the anime, Naruto, Karin, and the rest of Sakura's team rest while Kakashi sent his [[ninken]] to the other villages. Upon returning to Konoha, Naruto explained the situation to his friends, determined to get stronger so he could properly battle Sasuke.
+
Using a shadow clone as a decoy, Naruto escaped from the inn and followed Kakashi, arriving just in time to save Sakura from being killed by Sasuke. He tried once more to reason with Sasuke, sympathising with his pain and acknowledging Itachi's sacrifice. However, Sasuke was unmoved and declared his resolve to destroy Konoha and sever the Uchiha's connection to the shinobi world. Naruto then clashed his Rasengan with Sasuke's Chidori, realising that everything in his life he could have easily gone down the same path of Sasuke. Despite his jealousy of him, he had come to like Sasuke and was glad to have met him. Undeterred, Sasuke gave Naruto two choices: kill or be killed; Naruto chose neither. Tobi and [[Zetsu]] arrived and prepared to depart with Sasuke. Naruto resolved that if he and Sasuke were to battle again, they would kill each other, but he was willing accept it as he would shoulder Sasuke's hatred alone. Sasuke vowed to kill Naruto first and left with Tobi and Zetsu, while Naruto and his teammates returned to Konoha, with the captive [[Karin]]. Naruto explained the situation to his friends and asked to fight Sasuke alone, determined to get stronger for their upcoming battle.
   
 
=== Power ===
 
=== Power ===
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=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown ===
 
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown ===
 
[[File:The Great Toad's Prediction.png|thumb|Naruto meets with the Great Toad Sage.]]
 
[[File:The Great Toad's Prediction.png|thumb|Naruto meets with the Great Toad Sage.]]
As Naruto was about to eat at Ichiraku, he was suddenly summoned back to Mount Myōboku by [[Fukasaku]] where he learns from the [[Great Toad Sage]]'s fortune that he would meet an "[[Gyūki|octopus]]" and would battle a "[[Sasuke Uchiha|young man with powerful eyes]]". When [[Gerotora]] was summoned to give Naruto the "key" to the [[Eight Trigrams Seal]], Naruto knew he would need the Nine-Tails' power for the battles to come and accepted the key. From there, Naruto was sent back to Ichiraku, where some of the villagers asked for his autograph. Naruto was unaware of that the five Kage were planning to keep him from the upcoming [[Fourth Shinobi World War]] for his safety on a [[Island Turtle|remote island]] in the [[Land of Lightning]] with [[Yamato]], [[Might Guy]], [[Aoba Yamashiro]], and several other Konoha-nin as security.
+
As Naruto was about to eat at Ichiraku, he was suddenly summoned back to Mount Myōboku by [[Fukasaku]]. He learns from the [[Great Toad Sage]]'s fortune that he would meet an "[[Gyūki|octopus]]" and would battle a "[[Sasuke Uchiha|young man with powerful eyes]]". When [[Gerotora]] was summoned to give Naruto the "key" to the [[Eight Trigrams Seal]], Naruto knew he would need the Nine-Tails' power for the battles to come and accepted the key. Naruto was sent back to Ichiraku, where some of the villagers asked for his autograph. Naruto was unaware of that the five Kage were planning to keep him from the upcoming [[Fourth Shinobi World War]] for his safety on a [[Island Turtle|remote island]] in the [[Land of Lightning]] with [[Yamato]], [[Might Guy]], [[Aoba Yamashiro]], and other Konoha-nin as security.
   
Once at the island, Naruto met his fellow jinchūriki [[Killer B]], requesting to be his student after being marvelled at B's mastery with his tailed beast. B refused the offer on the grounds that he was on vacation, with Naruto worsening it when he accidently insulted B while pulling off a capable rap and his [[Harem Technique]] having no effect. However, when word of him bumping fists with B reached [[Motoi]], Naruto was taken to [[Falls of Truth]], where B began his training to control the [[Eight-Tails]]. Motoi instructed Naruto to sit on the platform in front of the waterfall and close his eyes, and he would see his true self. While doing this, Naruto was greeted by another version of himself, who berated Naruto on how quickly the people from Konoha changed their opinions of him. Both he and Dark Naruto began to fight and were evenly matched both physically and chakra level wise as both were able to produce the exact same number of [[Shadow Clone Technique|shadow clones]]. It was revealed that the entire battle occurred within Naruto's mind, as Yamato observed Naruto still meditating near the waterfall. Somehow able to break out of the meditation, Naruto questioned Motoi about B's history in order to figure out how to conquer his inner darkness.
+
Once at the island, Naruto met [[Killer B]], the jinchūriki of [[Eight-Tails]], and requested to train under him after marvelling at B's mastery of his tailed beast. B refused as he was on vacation, despite Naruto's best efforts to impress him. However, when [[Motoi]] heard Naruto bumped fists with B, he took Naruto was taken to [[Falls of Truth]], where B trained to control the [[Eight-Tails]]. Following Motoi's instructions, Naruto sat on the platform in front of the waterfall and closed his eyes to see his true self: Dark Naruto, who berated Naruto on how quickly the Konoha villagers changed their opinions of him. Inside his mind, Naruto fought his dark self, but found that they were evenly matched. Breaking out of meditation, Naruto questioned Motoi about B's history in order to learn how to conquer his inner darkness.
   
[[File:Cho-odama.png|thumb|left|Naruto fighting the Nine-Tails.]]
+
[[File:Cho-odama.png|thumb|left|Naruto fights the Nine-Tails.]]
After that, Naruto reminisced about how B and Gaara changed everyone's opinions about them, he began to doubt if the villagers of Konoha truly trusted him. After witnessing B save Motoi from [[giant squid]] and resume their friendship, an inspired Naruto returned to the Falls of Truth and confronted Dark Naruto again. With Naruto now having faith in himself, it started to weaken Dark Naruto as he asked what his reason for existing was. Answering his question, Naruto accepted Dark Naruto as a part of him while thanking him for pushing him to become a better person. He then hugged a struggling Dark Naruto, who finally relented and faded. After awaking and celebrating, Naruto and Yamato was led by B to a special room within the [[Tailed Beast Temple|secret temple]] behind the Falls of Truth where Naruto was prepared to fight the Nine-Tails for its chakra. Within his subconscious, after unlocking the seal, Naruto (in [[Sage Mode]]) appeared to have the upper hand after he weakened the Nine-Tails with the [[Rasenshuriken]] and drained out its chakra, but the fox instantly planted its own hatred within its chakra with the absorbed energy, consuming Naruto as it began to use his body to give Yamato and B trouble.
+
Naruto reminisced about how B and Gaara changed everyone's opinions about them and began to doubt if the Konoha villagers sincerely trusted him. After witnessing B save Motoi from a [[giant squid]] and resume their friendship, an inspired Naruto returned to the Falls of Truth and confronted Dark Naruto again. With Naruto now having faith in himself, Dark Naruto began to weaken as he asked what his reason for existing was. Naruto answered by hugging him, accepted Dark Naruto as a part of him while thanking him for pushing him to become a better person. Dark Naruto finally relented and faded. B led Naruto and Yamato to a special room in the [[Tailed Beast Temple|secret temple]] behind the waterfall, where Naruto was prepared to fight the Nine-Tails for its chakra. Within his subconscious, Naruto unlocked the seal and engaged the Nine-Tails in battle using [[Sage Mode]]. Though he appeared to have the upper hand and drain the Nine-Tails' chakra, the fox instantly planted its own hatred within its absorbed chakra, consuming Naruto.
   
 
[[File:Naruto and Kushina meet.png|thumb|Naruto meets his mother.]]
 
[[File:Naruto and Kushina meet.png|thumb|Naruto meets his mother.]]
Just before Naruto was completely succumbed, the spirit of his mother, [[Kushina Uzumaki]], appeared. When Naruto believed that Kushina was the Nine-Tails in disguise, the woman clobbered him on the head, but she immediately apologised and hoped that he did not inherit her short-temper. Realising Kushina was his mother as he hugged her while crying, the love-filled reunion purged the Nine-Tails' hatred from the drained chakra, much to Yamato and B's surprise. With Kushina holding the Nine-Tails at bay, Naruto quickly made a large number of shadow clones, entered Sage Mode, and bombarded the Nine-Tails with the combination of [[Sage Art: Many Ultra-Big Ball Spiralling Serial Spheres]] and the Rasenshuriken, weakening the Nine-Tails further and completely separate it from its chakra. When its chakra merged into Naruto, an enraged and emaciated Nine-Tails attempted to fire a much larger [[Tailed Beast Ball]], but its attack ultimately dissipated as Naruto used a [[Torii Seal|new, stronger seal]] to imprison the weakened tailed beast once again. After that, when Naruto learned from Kushina about his [[Uzumaki Clan|heritage]], the truth behind the [[Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha|Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha]], and how his parents gave their lives to protect him. Naruto then told Kushina that he was glad to know that he was filled with their love before the Nine-Tails was sealed within him, and he was happy to be their son. Before she completely faded away, Kushina tearfully hugged Naruto, and thanked him for letting her and Minato be his parents.
+
Just before Naruto was completely consumed, the spirit of his mother, [[Kushina Uzumaki]], appeared. Naruto believed that Kushina was the Nine-Tails in disguise, earning a hit on the head and and an immediately apology from her, who hoped that he did not inherit her short-temper. Realising Kushina was his mother, he tearfully hugged her and the love-filled reunion purged the Nine-Tails' hatred within its drained chakra. With renewed confidence from hearing the story of his parents, Naruto battled the Nine-Tails once more. With his mother's assistance, Naruto successfully weakens the fox long enough to separate it from its chakra. Attaining the [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]], Naruto imprisons the enraged and emaciated Nine-Tails within a [[Torii Seal|new, stronger seal]], apologising to it as it faded into darkness. Afterwards, Naruto learned from Kushina about his [[Uzumaki Clan|heritage]], the truth behind the [[Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha|Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha]], and how his parents gave their lives to protect him. Naruto told his mother that he could finally understand what a parent's love felt like and that he didn't blame them for what happened, instead feeling glad to be their son. As she fades away, Kushina tearfully hugged Naruto, thanking him for letting her and Minato be his parents.
   
 
[[File:Naruto crashes into Kisame.png|thumb|left|Naruto attacks Kisame.]]
 
[[File:Naruto crashes into Kisame.png|thumb|left|Naruto attacks Kisame.]]
Once out of his subconscious, Naruto showed off his [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode|new form]] to B and Yamato before sensing [[Kisame]] hidden inside his [[Samehada]] by [[Negative Emotions Sensing|detecting his negative emotions]]. When the surprised Kisame attempted to escape, Naruto used his blinding speed to quickly smash Kisame into the wall with a powerful punch. Naruto's foot got stuck in the wall, allowing Kisame to escape with B in pursuit as Yamato stayed behind to help Naruto out of the wall. Naruto and Yamato then caught up with the others as they watched Guy and Kisame's fight from a distance. After the battle, the Konoha and Kumo-nin restrained Kisame and attempted to interrogate him before the Akatsuki member commits suicide before they could get any more information out of him. Shocked by this action, Naruto realised that even the shinobi in Akatsuki fought for their comrades before being trapped in one of Kisame's booby trap [[Water Prison Technique|water prisons]] and occupied with summoned [[Wikipedia:Shark|shark]]s as one of the sharks takes the information scroll on Kisame to Akatsuki's base.
+
In the real world, Naruto demonstrated his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode to B and Yamato before sensing [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] of [[Akatsuki]] hidden inside his [[Samehada]] via [[Negative Emotions Sensing|his negative emotions]]. When Kisame attempted to escape, Naruto used his blinding speed to quickly smash Kisame into the wall, though his foot get stuck. Yamato helps Naruto out while B pursues Kisame and they regroup to see Kisame's defeat by Guy. Kisame is restrained for interrogation, though he breaks free of his confinements through sheer will and summons sharks inside a [[water prison]] to eat him alive. Shocked by Kisame's suicide, Naruto observes that even those in Akatsuki fight for their comrades. They examine the intel that Kisame was trying to send, which turns out to be booby-trapped: they are each caught in a water prison and are trapped alongside a shark. Another shark, meanwhile, is able to escape with Kisame's intel. After they escape, Naruto is tasked with evacuating the giant animals into the [[Island Turtle]]'s shell and logging the island's ecology as part of his "official" [[S-rank]] mission. He remains unaware that it is a ploy to keep him away from the war.
 
After [[Motoi]] sent his summoned [[owl]] to inform the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]] about the situation, Naruto and [[Killer B]] started evacuating the giant animals into the [[Island Turtle]]'s shell for their safety in case an attack came. Naruto was trying to log the island's ecology as part of his "official" [[S-rank]] mission, but did not realise that it was a ploy to keep him away from the war.
 
   
 
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation ===
 
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation ===
 
{{main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation}}
 
{{main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation}}
Naruto and B returned to the Falls of Truth so that the former could start practising with his [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]], specifically learning how to use [[Tailed Beast Ball]]s. Since Tailed Beast Balls couldn't be made without the Nine-Tails' cooperation, Naruto tried to create the [[Tailed Beast Rasengan]] as a workaround. While struggling to balance the jutsu's composition, he sensed a [[Kinkaku|distant source]] of the Nine-Tails' chakra. Naruto left the Falls of Truth to investigate and was met by a contingent of Konoha-nin, amongst them [[Iruka Umino]]. Iruka tried to convince him to go back to his training, but Naruto bypassed them and, from entering Sage Mode, sensed the ongoing [[Fourth Shinobi World War]]. Naruto became angry that they would try to keep the war a secret from him and that they wouldn't let him help. Iruka apologised, yet still made an effort to [[String Light Formation|restrain]] him. Naruto escaped and found a [[Self-Repairing Barrier]], preventing him from leaving by himself. B, at Iruka's request, decided to join him and together they broke through the barrier.
+
Naruto returned to the Falls of Truth with B to start practising his [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]], specifically learning how to use [[Tailed Beast Ball]]s. Since Tailed Beast Balls couldn't be made without the Nine-Tails' cooperation, Naruto tried to create the [[Tailed Beast Rasengan]] as a workaround. While struggling to balance the jutsu's composition, he sensed a [[Kinkaku|distant source]] of the Nine-Tails' chakra. Naruto left the Falls of Truth to investigate and was met by a contingent of Konoha-nin, amongst them [[Iruka Umino]]. Iruka tried to convince him to go back to his training, but Naruto bypassed them and, from entering Sage Mode, sensed the ongoing [[Fourth Shinobi World War]]. Naruto became angry that they would try to keep the war a secret from him and that they wouldn't let him help. Iruka apologised, yet still made an effort to [[String Light Formation|restrain]] him. Naruto escaped and found a [[Self-Repairing Barrier]], preventing him from leaving by himself. B, at Iruka's request, decided to join him and together they broke through the barrier.
   
 
[[File:Naruto in Kyubi's eye.png|thumb|Naruto states his resolve to the Nine-Tails.]]
 
[[File:Naruto in Kyubi's eye.png|thumb|Naruto states his resolve to the Nine-Tails.]]
Shortly after that, the Nine-Tails pulled Naruto into his subconscious, berating him for squandering its chakra and calling him naive for thinking he could stop the war by himself. When the Nine-Tails failed to once again tempt Naruto with power, the fox then went off to claim that his attempt to put an end to hatred was futile, using his history with Sasuke as proof. In retaliation, Naruto [[Torii Seal|pinned]] the fox down, refuting that it was the one who was being naive. As Naruto exclaimed with great confidence that he would find a way to deal with Sasuke and end the war, the Nine-Tails, recalling its jinchūriki's growth, condescendingly complimented him for finally learning how to stand up for himself, before being unnerved by Naruto's promise to someday resolve the fox's own hatred.
+
Shortly after, the Nine-Tails pulled Naruto into his subconscious, berating him for squandering its chakra and calling him naive for thinking he could stop the war by himself. When the Nine-Tails failed to once again tempt Naruto with power, the fox went off to claim that his attempt to put an end to hatred was futile, using his history with Sasuke as proof. Naruto responded by [[Torii Seal|pinning]] the fox down, refuting that it was the one who was being naive and confidently exclaiming he would find a way to deal with Sasuke and end the war. Before he leaves, Naruto also promises to resolve the Nine-Tails' own hatred someday, unnerving the fox.
   
[[File:Naruto bypasses A.png|thumb|left|Naruto bypasses A.]]
+
[[File:Naruto bypasses A.png|thumb|left|Naruto outpaces A.]]
On their way to the battlefield, Naruto and B were met by the [[Fourth Raikage]] and [[Tsunade]], both intent on stopping the jinchūriki. B tried to convince the Raikage to let them go, and when that failed, Naruto tried to get around them, but the Raikage's [[Lightning Release Chakra Mode]] was too fast for that. The Raikage became increasingly aggressive in his determination to stop Naruto and B from joining the war effort, going so far as to threaten to kill Naruto if it would keep Akatsuki from capturing the Nine-Tails. First B and then Tsunade joined Naruto in arguing to allow them to fight, which the Raikage relented to once Naruto was able to dodge his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. On Tsunade's orders, [[Shikaku Nara]] contacted Naruto and informed him about Akatsuki's [[White Zetsu Army]] and the accompanying [[Impure World Reincarnation]]s. Naruto and B soon afterwards encountered a squad of seeming Allied forces, but with his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode's [[Negative Emotions Sensing|ability]], it allowed him to detect them as disguised Zetsu. He quickly defeated them and sent shadow clones to various other battlefields to lend assistance.
+
On their way to the battlefield, Naruto and B were met by the [[Fourth Raikage]] and [[Tsunade]], both intent on stopping the jinchūriki. B tried to convince the Raikage to let them go, and when that failed, Naruto tried to get around them, but the Raikage's [[Lightning Release Chakra Mode]] was too fast for that. The Raikage became increasingly aggressive in his determination to stop Naruto and B from joining the war effort, going so far as to threaten to kill Naruto if it would keep Akatsuki from capturing the Nine-Tails. First B and then Tsunade joined Naruto in arguing to allow them to fight, which the Raikage relented to once Naruto dodges his maximum speed. On Tsunade's orders, [[Shikaku Nara]] contacted Naruto and informed him about Akatsuki's [[White Zetsu Army]] and the accompanying [[Impure World Reincarnation]]s. Naruto and B soon afterwards encountered a squad of seeming Allied forces, but with his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode's [[Negative Emotions Sensing|ability]], it allowed him to detect them as disguised Zetsu. He quickly defeated them and sent shadow clones to various other battlefields to lend assistance.
   
[[File:Naruto kills dog.png|thumb|Naruto clashing with Nagato.]]
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[[File:Naruto kills dog.png|thumb|Naruto fights Nagato.]]
Naruto and B soon ran into the reincarnated [[Itachi Uchiha]] and [[Nagato]]. They greeted Naruto and briefly caught up on what had happened since their deaths, but were quickly forced to attack by their summoner, [[Kabuto Yakushi]]. Nagato advised Naruto and B on how to counter his jutsu while Itachi, between his own attacks, was able to recall the crow he planted in Naruto during their last meeting. Itachi activated the [[Kotoamatsukami]] of the crow's [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] to release himself from Kabuto's influence. Itachi joined Naruto and B in fighting Nagato, first by neutralising the [[Rinnegan Summoning]] and then saving them from being killed by Nagato. Nagato, his personality now suppressed, tried capturing them with [[Chibaku Tensei]], which the three combined efforts to destroy. While Nagato was distracted by their attack, Itachi sealed him with [[Susanoo]]. Nagato, his personality restored, used his last moments to apologise to Naruto again for everything. Afterwards, Itachi destroyed the crow, its Kotoamatsukami too valuable to let fall into the wrong hands, and left to find Kabuto so that he could end the Impure World Reincarnation.
+
Naruto and B soon ran into the reincarnated [[Itachi Uchiha]] and [[Nagato]]. They greeted Naruto and briefly caught up on what had happened since their deaths, but were quickly forced to attack by their summoner, [[Kabuto Yakushi]]. Nagato advised Naruto and B on how to counter his jutsu while Itachi, between his own attacks, recalled the crow he planted in Naruto during their last meeting. Itachi activated the [[Kotoamatsukami]] of the crow's [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] to release himself from Kabuto's influence. Itachi joined Naruto and B in fighting Nagato, first by neutralising the [[Rinnegan Summoning]] and then saving them from being killed by Nagato. Nagato, his personality now suppressed, tried capturing them with [[Chibaku Tensei]], which the three combined efforts to destroy. While Nagato was distracted by their attack, Itachi sealed him with [[Susanoo]]. His personality restored, Nagato used his last moments to apologise and put his faith in Naruto. Afterwards, Itachi destroyed the crow, its Kotoamatsukami too valuable to let fall into the wrong hands. He left to find Kabuto so that he could end the Impure World Reincarnation, but not before telling Naruto to let his friends support him and leaving Sasuke's reform to him.
   
 
As Naruto and B continued onwards, Naruto's shadow clones started arriving at various locations. In the anime, shadow clones were able to: save the members of the [[Sasuke Recovery Team]] from the reincarnated [[Sound Four]]'s [[Space–Time Technique Formula: Underworld Turnover]];<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episodes 303-305</ref> update [[Tatewaki]] about the fates of the children he was responsible for during life, granting him peace and allowing him to return to the afterlife;<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episodes 309-310</ref> run in to [[Yota]], a childhood friend, and giving Yota a chance to play with him again before releasing himself from the Impure World Reincarnation;<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 313</ref><ref name="NS314" /><ref name="NS315" /> assist [[Omoi]] in saving the [[Thundercloud Unit]].<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 320</ref>
 
As Naruto and B continued onwards, Naruto's shadow clones started arriving at various locations. In the anime, shadow clones were able to: save the members of the [[Sasuke Recovery Team]] from the reincarnated [[Sound Four]]'s [[Space–Time Technique Formula: Underworld Turnover]];<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episodes 303-305</ref> update [[Tatewaki]] about the fates of the children he was responsible for during life, granting him peace and allowing him to return to the afterlife;<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episodes 309-310</ref> run in to [[Yota]], a childhood friend, and giving Yota a chance to play with him again before releasing himself from the Impure World Reincarnation;<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 313</ref><ref name="NS314" /><ref name="NS315" /> assist [[Omoi]] in saving the [[Thundercloud Unit]].<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 320</ref>
   
 
[[File:Mujun.png|thumb|left|Naruto defeats the Third Raikage.]]
 
[[File:Mujun.png|thumb|left|Naruto defeats the Third Raikage.]]
A shadow clone arrived at the site of the [[Fourth Division]]'s battle with various reincarnated [[Kage]]. When the clone arrived, it was able to land a sneak attack on [[Mū]], allowing the [[Third Tsuchikage]] to seal him before he had the chance to say anything. The Tsuchikage went to help [[Gaara]] fight the [[Second Mizukage]], leaving Naruto to fight the [[Third Raikage]] along with the other members of the Fourth Division. Like the Fourth Raikage, the Third was very fast, easily dodging most attacks. The few attacks that did land had almost no effect, his body's natural defence was too high, and the Raikage's offences allowed him to break through every attempt to contain him. When the clone noticed that the Raikage had a scar from his fight with the Eight-Tails years earlier, the clone contacted it via B to ask how the Raikage received the scar. The Eight-Tails explained that the scar was self-inflicted. With that information, the clone manipulated the Third's actions and used his own attack to damage his own body, allowing him to be sealed. The clone then joined Gaara and the Tsuchikage, but found that the Second Mizukage had already been defeated.
+
A shadow clone arrived at the site of the [[Fourth Division]]'s battle with various reincarnated [[Kage]]. Naruto was able to land a sneak attack on [[Mū]], allowing the [[Third Tsuchikage]] to seal him before he could say anything. The Tsuchikage went to help [[Gaara]] fight the [[Second Mizukage]], leaving Naruto to fight the [[Third Raikage]] along with the other members of the Fourth Division. Like the Fourth Raikage, the Third was very fast, easily dodging most attacks. The few attacks that did land had almost no effect, his body's natural defence was too high, and the Raikage's offences allowed him to break through every attempt to contain him. When Naruto noticed that the Raikage had a scar from his fight with the Eight-Tails years earlier, he contacted it via B to ask how the Raikage received the scar. Upon hearing the Eight-Tails' answer, Naruto surmises the scar was self-inflicted, confirming it as he manipulates the Third into piercing his own body. The Third is sealed and Naruto regroups with the Tsuchikage and Gaara, who already defeated the Second Mizukage.
   
 
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax ===
 
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax ===
 
{{main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax}}
 
{{main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax}}
Shadow clones arrived at all the remaining battlefields, helping secure Impure World Reincarnations, weeding out the Zetsu that had infiltrated the Alliance's ranks, and defeating any other Zetsu that remained. Victory appeared near when the [[Sensor Division]] detected a new threat near the Fourth Division. The Fourth Division and Naruto's shadow clone were alerted to first , who [[Fission Technique|split]] himself before his sealing, and then the man accompanying him, who the Tsuchikage identified as [[Madara Uchiha]]. Since the masked man thought to had been Madara was known to be elsewhere, they all wondered who [[Tobi]] really was. Madara gave them little time to discuss it, attacking them immediately. He cut swaths through the Fourth Division's ranks and used his Rinnegan to avoid the clone's, the Tsuchikage's, and Gaara's counterattack. Wishing to eliminate them all at once, Madara [[Tengai Shinsei|dropped a meteorite]] on them.
+
Shadow clones arrived at all the remaining battlefields, securing Impure World Reincarnations, weeding out the Zetsu that had infiltrated the Alliance's ranks, and defeating any other remaining Zetsu. Victory seemed near when the [[Sensor Division]] detected a new threat near the Fourth Division: Mu, who [[Fission Technique|split]] himself before his sealing, and the reincarnated [[Madara Uchiha]]. Shocked by this revelation, they all wondered who the masked man, [[Tobi]], really was. Madara gave them little time to discuss it and attacked them immediately. He cut swaths through the Fourth Division's ranks and used his Rinnegan to avoid the clone's, the Tsuchikage's, and Gaara's counterattack. Wishing to eliminate them all at once, Madara [[Tengai Shinsei|dropped a meteorite]] on them.
   
 
[[File:Kurama helps Naruto.png|thumb|The Nine-Tails chooses to help Naruto.]]
 
[[File:Kurama helps Naruto.png|thumb|The Nine-Tails chooses to help Naruto.]]
While the survivors regroup, Madara tried to [[Summoning Technique|summon]] the Nine-Tails. Although it failed, the fox sensed the attempt and offered some [[chakra]] to help fight Madara, preferring Naruto over the Uchiha. The shadow clone used the Nine-Tails' chakra to counter Madara's [[Nativity of a World of Trees]] with [[Big Ball Spiralling Serial Zone Spheres]], though the extended fighting left the clone exhausted afterwards. Madara moved in to capture it, but was parried by the arrival of Tsunade, the Fourth Raikage, and the [[Fifth Mizukage]]. The Five Kage vowed to deal with Madara themselves and asked that Naruto should instead focus on defeating Tobi. The clone dispersed just as the real Naruto converged on Tobi. Naruto and B clashed with Tobi's reincarnated [[jinchūriki]], styled like a [[Six Paths of Pain]]. During the fighting, Naruto took an opportunity to ask who Tobi really was. From Naruto's references to another Madara, Tobi realised his lie was exposed, but refused to accept any particular identity, believing it to be irrelevant. If he must be anybody, he would be nobody.
+
While the survivors regroup, Madara tried to [[Summoning Technique|summon]] the Nine-Tails. Although it failed, the fox sensed the attempt and offered some [[chakra]] to help fight Madara, preferring Naruto over the Uchiha. The shadow clone used the Nine-Tails' chakra to counter Madara's [[Nativity of a World of Trees]] with [[Big Ball Spiralling Serial Zone Spheres]], though the extended fighting left the clone exhausted afterwards. Madara moved in to capture it, but was parried by the arrival of Tsunade, the Fourth Raikage, and the [[Fifth Mizukage]]. The Five Kage vowed to deal with Madara themselves and asked that Naruto should instead focus on defeating Tobi. The clone dispersed just as the real Naruto converged on Tobi. Naruto and B clashed with Tobi's reincarnated [[jinchūriki]], styled like a [[Six Paths of Pain]]. During the fighting, Naruto referenced another Madara and asked who Tobi really was. Realising his lie was exposed, Tobi refused to accept any particular identity, believing it to be irrelevant. Naruto was not satisfied with this answer and vowed to break Tobi's mask.
   
 
[[File:Jinchūriki clashes.png|thumb|left|The jinchūriki clash.]]
 
[[File:Jinchūriki clashes.png|thumb|left|The jinchūriki clash.]]
B soon entered [[Tailed Beast Mode]] to clear the surrounding forest that was giving him and Naruto a disadvantage against the reincarnated jinchūriki. He then tried to [[Sealing Technique: Octopus Hold|seal]] the jinchūriki, but Tobi had them enter [[Version 2]] forms to escape at the last second. The increased strength of the jinchūriki caused difficulties for Naruto and B. Tobi, taking advantage of the situation, nearly captured Naruto, but was blocked by the arrival of Kakashi and Guy. Their arrival balanced out the two sides, so Tobi had the [[Four-Tails]] and the [[Six-Tails]] enter Tailed Beast Modes as well. The Four-Tails captured Naruto in its mouth, allowing it to communicate with him. The Four-Tails, introducing itself with the name Son Gokū, was angered to be controlled by Tobi, but it doubted Naruto would be any better since humans had always sought to control it and its fellow tailed beasts. Naruto insisted he was different and Son Gokū, touched by his desire to help it, told him how to release it from Tobi's control. Naruto managed to break out of its mouth, locate the [[black receiver]], and remove it.
+
B entered [[Tailed Beast Mode]] to clear the surrounding forest that was giving him and Naruto a disadvantage against the reincarnated jinchūriki. He then tried to [[Sealing Technique: Octopus Hold|seal]] the jinchūriki, but Tobi had them enter [[Version 2]] forms to escape at the last second. The increased strength of the jinchūriki caused difficulties for Naruto and B. Tobi, taking advantage of the situation, nearly captured Naruto, but was blocked by the arrival of Kakashi and Guy. Their arrival balanced out the two sides, so Tobi had the [[Four-Tails]] and the [[Six-Tails]] enter Tailed Beast Modes as well. The Four-Tails captured Naruto in its mouth, allowing it to communicate with him. The Four-Tails, introducing itself with the name Son Gokū, was angered to be controlled by Tobi, but it doubted Naruto would be any better since humans had always sought to control it and its fellow tailed beasts. Naruto insisted he was different and Son Gokū, touched by his desire to help it, told him how to release it from Tobi's control. Naruto managed to break out of its mouth, locate the [[black receiver]], and remove it.
   
 
[[File:Kurama teams up.png|thumb|Naruto and Kurama unite.]]
 
[[File:Kurama teams up.png|thumb|Naruto and Kurama unite.]]
Line 372: Line 324:
   
 
[[File:Seishin Sekai.png|thumb|left|Naruto meets the tailed beasts.]]
 
[[File:Seishin Sekai.png|thumb|left|Naruto meets the tailed beasts.]]
Naruto entered his own Tailed Beast Mode and went to save Kakashi and Guy, deflecting the other five beasts' Tailed Beast Balls. The Kurama avatar fought the beasts in close combat, forcing them to combine their Tailed Beast Balls into one against it. Kurama countered theirs with a single one of its own Tailed Beast Balls and Naruto then used the avatar's tails to grab and remove the beasts' black receivers. From the contact, Naruto was able to interface with the other beasts, who introduced themselves and, like Son Gokū, gave him portions of their chakra. Tobi recalled the beasts back into the Demonic Statue and, though irritated, remained confident in his eventual victory as he faced off with Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy. By the time night fell, however, Tobi had still not been able to defeat them. A light eventually descended on the reincarnated jinchūriki that B had kept restrained, returning them to the afterlife and signalling that Itachi had finally defeated Kabuto.
+
Naruto entered his own Tailed Beast Mode and went to save Kakashi and Guy, deflecting the other five beasts' Tailed Beast Balls. The Kurama avatar fought the beasts in close combat, forcing them to combine their Tailed Beast Balls into one against it. Kurama countered theirs with a single one of its own Tailed Beast Balls and Naruto then used the avatar's tails to grab and remove the beasts' black receivers. From the contact, Naruto was able to interface with the other beasts, who introduced themselves and, like Son Gokū, gave him portions of their chakra. Tobi recalled the beasts back into the Demonic Statue and, though irritated, remained confident in his eventual victory as he faced off with Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy. By the time night fell, however, Tobi was still unable to defeat them. A light eventually descended on the reincarnated jinchūriki that B had kept restrained, returning them to the afterlife and signalling that Itachi had finally defeated Kabuto.
   
 
[[File:Naruto hits Tobi.png|thumb|Naruto destroys Tobi's mask.]]
 
[[File:Naruto hits Tobi.png|thumb|Naruto destroys Tobi's mask.]]
 
With his options running out, Tobi deposited the [[Benihisago]] and the [[Kohaku no Jōhei]] (which contained [[Gold and Silver Brothers|portions of Kurama's chakra]]) into the Demonic Statue which, combined with an fragment of the Eight-Tails, [[Gyūki]]'s, chakra he acquired previously, was enough to start the revival of the [[Ten-Tails]]. Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy started focusing on destroying it, but were constantly stopped by Tobi and his peculiar teleportation and intangibility abilities. From the fighting, however, Kakashi noticed that Tobi's abilities were seemingly linked to his own [[Kamui]]. To take advantage of this, Kakashi had one of Naruto's shadow clones attack Tobi and, just as the clone was about to be destroyed by one of Tobi's attacks, Kakashi used Kamui on it without Tobi noticing. Naruto then attacked with a Tailed Beast Ball, which Tobi escaped by retreating to [[Kamui's dimension]]. He found the clone waiting for him there and it destroyed his mask with a Rasengan.
 
With his options running out, Tobi deposited the [[Benihisago]] and the [[Kohaku no Jōhei]] (which contained [[Gold and Silver Brothers|portions of Kurama's chakra]]) into the Demonic Statue which, combined with an fragment of the Eight-Tails, [[Gyūki]]'s, chakra he acquired previously, was enough to start the revival of the [[Ten-Tails]]. Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy started focusing on destroying it, but were constantly stopped by Tobi and his peculiar teleportation and intangibility abilities. From the fighting, however, Kakashi noticed that Tobi's abilities were seemingly linked to his own [[Kamui]]. To take advantage of this, Kakashi had one of Naruto's shadow clones attack Tobi and, just as the clone was about to be destroyed by one of Tobi's attacks, Kakashi used Kamui on it without Tobi noticing. Naruto then attacked with a Tailed Beast Ball, which Tobi escaped by retreating to [[Kamui's dimension]]. He found the clone waiting for him there and it destroyed his mask with a Rasengan.
   
 
When they saw his face, Guy and Kakashi recognised Tobi as their childhood friend, [[Obito Uchiha]], who they'd long thought dead. Obito declined to explain his actions to them and instead attacked, which attracted Madara, who escaped the release of the Impure World Reincarnation, to their location. Seeing Madara, Naruto asked what happened to the Kage, to which the elder Uchiha replied that they were in bad condition when he left them. From that and the conversation he overheard between Madara and Obito, particularly their manipulation of Nagato, Naruto attacked in a rage. Madara reflected him and then tried to capture him and B so that the Ten-Tails could be revived in its complete form. Naruto split his attention, he and B fighting Madara's [[wood dragon]] with their Tailed Beast Modes and one of his shadow clones trying to help Kakashi get over the revelation that Obito was alive.
[[File:Uchiha Return.png|thumb|left|Naruto vs. Madara.]]
 
When they saw his face, Guy and Kakashi recognised Tobi as their childhood friend, [[Obito Uchiha]], who they'd long thought dead. Obito declined to explain his actions to them and instead attacked, which attracted Madara to their location, who was able to escape the release of the Impure World Reincarnation. Seeing Madara, Naruto asked what happened to the Kage, to which the elder Uchiha replied that they were in bad condition when he left them. From that and the conversation he overheard between Madara and Obito, particularly their manipulation of Nagato, Naruto attacked in a rage. Madara reflected him and then tried to capture him and B so that the Ten-Tails could be revived in its complete form. Naruto split his attention, he and B fighting Madara's [[wood dragon]] with their Tailed Beast Modes and one of his shadow clones trying to help Kakashi get over the revelation that Obito was alive.
 
   
[[File:Allied Forces Jutsu.png|thumb|Naruto with the Allied Shinobi Forces.]]
+
[[File:Allied Forces Jutsu.png|thumb|left|Naruto with the Allied Shinobi Forces.]]
 
Obito tried to convince Naruto of the futility of resistance. Naruto insisted that protecting his comrades was always worthwhile, no matter how hopeless things may seem. His words brought Kakashi out of his slump, enabling him to start fighting Obito on his own, and energised Guy, who created an opening for Naruto and B to attack the Demonic Statue with a combined Tailed Beast Ball. The attack came too late, however, and the Ten-Tails was revived. Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy regrouped and coordinated an attack, but the Ten-Tails was too powerful and Madara and Obito, once they linked themselves to it, were able to deploy its powers effectively. Just before they could kill Naruto and the others, the combined remaining Allied Shinobi Forces arrived to help. Shikaku Nara, communicating to all of them from the Alliance's headquarters, staged an offensive to restrain the Ten-Tails. Although it failed, it was effective enough that Madara and Obito had the Ten-Tails destroy the distant headquarters, killing Shikaku and everyone else stationed there.
 
Obito tried to convince Naruto of the futility of resistance. Naruto insisted that protecting his comrades was always worthwhile, no matter how hopeless things may seem. His words brought Kakashi out of his slump, enabling him to start fighting Obito on his own, and energised Guy, who created an opening for Naruto and B to attack the Demonic Statue with a combined Tailed Beast Ball. The attack came too late, however, and the Ten-Tails was revived. Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy regrouped and coordinated an attack, but the Ten-Tails was too powerful and Madara and Obito, once they linked themselves to it, were able to deploy its powers effectively. Just before they could kill Naruto and the others, the combined remaining Allied Shinobi Forces arrived to help. Shikaku Nara, communicating to all of them from the Alliance's headquarters, staged an offensive to restrain the Ten-Tails. Although it failed, it was effective enough that Madara and Obito had the Ten-Tails destroy the distant headquarters, killing Shikaku and everyone else stationed there.
   
 
The Allies made individual attacks against the Ten-Tails, but none had any effect. At the same time, the Ten-Tails started raining wooden skewers all over the battlefield, killing many. When one was about to hit Naruto, [[Hinata]] shielded him with her body and [[Neji]] shielded her with his own. Dying, Neji collapsed on Naruto's shoulder, asking him to be more careful in the future since many lives, Hinata's particularly, now depend on his. With his last breath, he thanked Naruto for calling him a genius all those years ago. Naruto was deeply distraught by Neji's death, which Obito tried to use as an example of the needless death that resistance caused and that could be solved in the new world he wanted to create. Hinata brought Naruto back to his senses by reminding him of all the people who had given their lives to protect him and whose memories he would be insulting if he had given up now. As Naruto thanked her, he took her hand and coated her with some of Kurama's chakra.
 
The Allies made individual attacks against the Ten-Tails, but none had any effect. At the same time, the Ten-Tails started raining wooden skewers all over the battlefield, killing many. When one was about to hit Naruto, [[Hinata]] shielded him with her body and [[Neji]] shielded her with his own. Dying, Neji collapsed on Naruto's shoulder, asking him to be more careful in the future since many lives, Hinata's particularly, now depend on his. With his last breath, he thanked Naruto for calling him a genius all those years ago. Naruto was deeply distraught by Neji's death, which Obito tried to use as an example of the needless death that resistance caused and that could be solved in the new world he wanted to create. Hinata brought Naruto back to his senses by reminding him of all the people who had given their lives to protect him and whose memories he would be insulting if he had given up now. As Naruto thanked her, he took her hand and coated her with some of Kurama's chakra.
   
[[File:Naruto powered the Alliance up.png|thumb|left|Naruto gives chakra to the Allied Shinobi Forces.]]
+
[[File:Naruto powered the Alliance up.png|thumb|Naruto gives chakra to the Allied Shinobi Forces.]]
Naruto distributed Kurama's chakra throughout the Allied Forces, increasing their strength and protecting them from harm. They all manoeuvred into a formation that Shikaku was able to communicate to them before he died and, taking the form of a bird in memory of Neji, successfully removed the Ten-Tails from Obito and Madara's control. Forced to fend for themselves, Obito sought out Naruto, criticising him for wasting his energy protecting others. Naruto replied that protecting them actually gave him strength, motivating everyone within earshot. They then sensed the Ten-Tails was about to attack, which Kakashi tried to stop with Kamui. Obito intercepted him and they teleported away, leaving the others to endure the Ten-Tails' [[Tenpenchii]]. Kurama's chakra protected everyone, but it faded in the aftermath; Naruto was left quite beaten up, requiring Sakura to heal him. When the Ten-Tails attacked with another Tailed Beast Ball, the Allies mustered what little defence they could. Before it could reach them, however, the Tailed Beast Ball was suddenly teleported away and Naruto's reincarnated father, [[Minato Namikaze]], appeared at Naruto's side.
+
Naruto shared Kurama's chakra throughout the Allied Forces, increasing their strength and protecting them from harm. They all manoeuvred into a formation that Shikaku was able to communicate to them before he died and, taking the form of a bird in memory of Neji, successfully removed the Ten-Tails from Obito and Madara's control. Forced to fend for themselves, Obito sought out Naruto, criticising him for wasting his energy protecting others. Naruto replied that protecting them actually gave him strength, motivating everyone within earshot. They then sensed the Ten-Tails was about to attack, which Kakashi tried to stop with Kamui. Obito intercepted him and they teleported away, leaving the others to endure the Ten-Tails' [[Tenpenchii]]. Kurama's chakra protected everyone, but it faded in the aftermath; Naruto was left quite beaten up, requiring Sakura to heal him. When the Ten-Tails attacked with another Tailed Beast Ball, the Allies mustered what little defence they could. Before it could reach them, however, the Tailed Beast Ball was suddenly teleported away and Naruto's reincarnated father, [[Minato Namikaze]], appeared at Naruto's side.
   
[[File:Team 7 Reunited.png|thumb|Team 7 together again.]]
+
[[File:Team 7 Reunited.png|thumb|left|Team 7 together again.]]
 
The [[Hashirama|First]], [[Tobirama|Second]], and [[Third Hokage]] arrived soon afterward and, along with Minato, erected a barrier around the Ten-Tails to confine it. Sasuke arrived shortly too, at whose request the previous Hokage were reincarnated by [[Orochimaru]] and who now opposed Obito and Madara. Their fellow [[Rookie Nine]] had set aside their differences with Sasuke for the time being and joined forces in launching an attack against the Ten-Tails' [[Ten-Tails Fission|cruft]]. On Sai's advice, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all summoned their signature animals (Naruto calling on [[Gamakichi]]) in order to focus directly on the Ten-Tails itself. Naruto and Sasuke successfully damaged the Ten-Tails' arm with a combined [[Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero]], but it merely removed the arm to prevent the flames of Sasuke's [[Amaterasu]] from spreading.
 
The [[Hashirama|First]], [[Tobirama|Second]], and [[Third Hokage]] arrived soon afterward and, along with Minato, erected a barrier around the Ten-Tails to confine it. Sasuke arrived shortly too, at whose request the previous Hokage were reincarnated by [[Orochimaru]] and who now opposed Obito and Madara. Their fellow [[Rookie Nine]] had set aside their differences with Sasuke for the time being and joined forces in launching an attack against the Ten-Tails' [[Ten-Tails Fission|cruft]]. On Sai's advice, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all summoned their signature animals (Naruto calling on [[Gamakichi]]) in order to focus directly on the Ten-Tails itself. Naruto and Sasuke successfully damaged the Ten-Tails' arm with a combined [[Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero]], but it merely removed the arm to prevent the flames of Sasuke's [[Amaterasu]] from spreading.
   
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=== Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki ===
 
=== Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki ===
 
{{main|Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki}}
 
{{main|Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki}}
[[File:Shuriken hits Obito.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke attack Obito.]]
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[[File:Shuriken hits Obito.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke attack Obito.]]
Obito used his new power to destroy the barrier, forcing the Hokage to put the energy they were using toward the barrier into the fight instead. Because they had immortal bodies, they launched the first attack so that the others could learn what they could about Obito's new abilities, but they were quickly defeated. Naruto and Sasuke engaged him as well, but were nearly killed, saved only by Naruto using his [[chakra arm]]s to connect to Minato so he could teleport them to safety. Hoping to emulate their earlier success against the Ten-Tails, Naruto and Sasuke combined their attacks again, having Minato and the Second Hokage coordinate teleports so that the attack would connect. Obito's [[Truth-Seeking Ball]]s dissipated much of the attack and the damage that he did incur was quickly regenerated.
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Obito used his new power to destroy the barrier, forcing the Hokage to put the energy they were using toward the barrier into the fight instead. Because they had immortal bodies, they launched the first attack so that the others could learn what they could about Obito's new abilities, but they were quickly defeated. Naruto and Sasuke engaged him as well, but were nearly killed, saved only by Naruto using his [[chakra arm]]s to link to Minato so he could teleport them to safety. Just as before, Naruto and Sasuke combined their attacks, having Minato and the Second Hokage coordinate teleports so that the attack would connect. Obito's [[Truth-Seeking Ball]]s dissipated much of the attack and the damage that he did incur was quickly regenerated.
   
[[File:Naruto attacks Obito anime.png|thumb|Naruto attacks Obito after discovering his weakness.]]
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[[File:Naruto attacks Obito anime.png|thumb|left|Naruto attacks Obito after discovering his weakness.]]
From the development and some of the previous exchanges, Minato concluded that Obito was able to neutralise [[ninjutsu]]. Gamakichi, determined to make some final contribution to the fight before he was forced to return to [[Mount Myōboku]], attacked with his [[Starch Syrup Gun]]. Minato took this opportunity to try and reason with Obito, reminding him of his former dream to become Hokage. Obito berated the title and those who had held it, as he had surpassed them. Naruto was insulted not only because that was a slight against his father, but also because he hadn't abandoned his dream of being Hokage like Obito had. The Second Hokage teleported him to Obito and he attacked with a Rasengan, which successfully damaged Obito; Naruto noticed that Gamakichi's attack wasn't neutralised and hypothesised Obito was vulnerable to [[senjutsu]], which was then confirmed.
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From the development and some of the previous exchanges, Minato concluded that Obito was able to neutralise [[ninjutsu]]. Gamakichi, wanting to make some final contribution to the fight before he was forced to return to [[Mount Myōboku]], attacked with his [[Starch Syrup Gun]]. Minato took this opportunity to try and reason with Obito, reminding him of his former dream to become Hokage. Obito berated the title and those who had held it, as he had surpassed them. Naruto was insulted not only because that was a slight against his father, but also because he hadn't abandoned his dream of being Hokage like Obito had. The Second Hokage teleported him to Obito and he attacked with a Rasengan, which successfully damaged Obito; Naruto noticed that Gamakichi's attack wasn't neutralised and realised Obito was vulnerable to [[senjutsu]].
   
[[File:Minato and Naruto bump fists.png|thumb|left|Naruto, Minato, and Kurama join forces.]]
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[[File:Minato and Naruto bump fists.png|thumb|Kurama and its jinchūriki join forces.]]
With a weakness discovered, Obito trapped the Alliance in a [[Six Red Yang Formation|barrier]] and began charging multiple Tailed Beast Balls that he would use to wipe out everyone within its confines. Minato noted that he wouldn't be able to teleport them all away in time, so Naruto came up with a different approach: he linked his chakra with Minato and remotely restored the Alliance's chakra cloaks, networking everyone in with Minato's [[Flying Thunder God Technique]], allowing him to teleport everyone out of the barrier. Minato did so and was afterward extremely proud of his son, telling him that he wished they had more time to talk. Naruto replied that it was not necessary since he already met [[Kushina|his mother]] and that she explained everything. Naruto and Minato each entered Tailed Beast Modes, with Naruto merging his with Sage Mode so that he could imbue their shared Rasengan with senjutsu. The Second teleported them to Obito and they attacked, but he blocked it with his Truth-Seeking Balls.
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With a weakness discovered, Obito trapped the Alliance in a [[Six Red Yang Formation|barrier]] and began charging multiple Tailed Beast Balls that he would use to wipe out everyone within its confines. Minato noted that he wouldn't be able to teleport them all away in time, so Naruto came up with a different approach: he linked his chakra with Minato and remotely restored the Alliance's chakra cloaks, networking everyone in with Minato's [[Flying Thunder God Technique]], allowing him to teleport everyone out of the barrier. Minato did so and was afterwards very proud of his son, saying he wished they had more time to talk. Naruto replied that it was not necessary since he already met [[Kushina|his mother]] and that she explained everything. Naruto and Minato each entered Tailed Beast Modes, with Naruto merging his with Sage Mode in order to imbue their shared Rasengan with senjutsu. The Second teleported them to Obito and they attacked, but he blocked it with his Truth-Seeking Balls.
   
[[File:Obito vs Titans.png|thumb|A senjutsu-enhanced Naruto and Sasuke attack Obito.]]
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[[File:Obito vs Titans.png|thumb|left|A senjutsu-enhanced Naruto and Sasuke attack Obito.]]
To move ahead with his plans, Obito created a giant tree in the image of the [[God Tree]], the first step in performing the [[Infinite Tsukuyomi]]. The tree started absorbing chakra from those nearby until they die, a fate that Naruto nearly succumbed to until he was saved by the Third Hokage. Obito pointed to the growing number of casualties as further evidence that Naruto should stop resisting, an arguement that Naruto was increasingly having trouble ignoring. Sasuke, unmoved by Obito's words, used Susanoo to hack through the tree and then mocked Naruto for giving up. Naruto was reminded of his desire to not lose Sasuke or anyone else for that matter and, reinvigorated, joined Sasuke in the offensive. Although their senjutsu-enhanced Susanoo and Tailed Beast Mode could compete with Obito, they were individually unable to defeat him. Obito continued trying to convince Naruto to stop, but he ignored him.
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To move ahead with his plans, Obito created a replica of the [[God Tree]], the first step in performing the [[Infinite Tsukuyomi]]. The tree started absorbing chakra from those nearby until they die, a fate that Naruto nearly succumbed to until he was saved by the Third Hokage. Obito pointed to the growing number of casualties as further evidence that Naruto should stop resisting, an arguement that Naruto was increasingly having trouble ignoring. Sasuke, unmoved by Obito's words, used Susanoo to hack through the tree and then mocked Naruto for giving up. Naruto was reminded of his desire to not lose Sasuke or anyone else for that matter and, reinvigorated, joined Sasuke in the offensive. Although their senjutsu-enhanced Tailed Beast Mode and Susanoo could compete with Obito, they were individually unable to defeat him. Obito continued trying to convince Naruto to stop, but he ignored him.
   
[[File:Obito is taken down.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke slash through Obito.]]
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[[File:Obito is taken down.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke slash through Obito.]]
 
Sasuke then coated his Susanoo around Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode, granting the Kurama-avatar a sword and armour. Sensing that it was the final exchange, Obito created a [[Sword of Nunoboko|sword and shield]] of his own out of Truth-Seeking Balls. Naruto created a Rasengan in each of the Kurama-avatar's tails, which his friends from Konoha guide in a coordinated assault to Obito's shield, destroying it. As soon as Naruto and Sasuke sliced through Obito with their sword, the tailed beasts then began to emerge from the Uchiha's body, giving Naruto and the combined Allied Shinobi Forces the opportunity to pull them out. The tug-of-war for the tailed beasts linked Naruto's consciousness with Obito's. Naruto reminded Obito of his earlier claim that he was nobody and set out to prove to him that he was Obito Uchiha, specifically the Obito Uchiha that Kakashi used to know. Naruto pointed out their similarities, how both were orphans and that, because of that, they wanted to be Hokage. Obito agreed that they were similar, but that was the reason why he was been trying so hard to convince Naruto that he was right, and insisted that the world he wanted to create was a better one because his vision of the future was clear, whereas the future of the current world was ambiguous. Naruto argued that was the point and that uncertainty, when faced with comrades, was worthwhile, and offered Obito his hand so that they might see what happened together.
 
Sasuke then coated his Susanoo around Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode, granting the Kurama-avatar a sword and armour. Sensing that it was the final exchange, Obito created a [[Sword of Nunoboko|sword and shield]] of his own out of Truth-Seeking Balls. Naruto created a Rasengan in each of the Kurama-avatar's tails, which his friends from Konoha guide in a coordinated assault to Obito's shield, destroying it. As soon as Naruto and Sasuke sliced through Obito with their sword, the tailed beasts then began to emerge from the Uchiha's body, giving Naruto and the combined Allied Shinobi Forces the opportunity to pull them out. The tug-of-war for the tailed beasts linked Naruto's consciousness with Obito's. Naruto reminded Obito of his earlier claim that he was nobody and set out to prove to him that he was Obito Uchiha, specifically the Obito Uchiha that Kakashi used to know. Naruto pointed out their similarities, how both were orphans and that, because of that, they wanted to be Hokage. Obito agreed that they were similar, but that was the reason why he was been trying so hard to convince Naruto that he was right, and insisted that the world he wanted to create was a better one because his vision of the future was clear, whereas the future of the current world was ambiguous. Naruto argued that was the point and that uncertainty, when faced with comrades, was worthwhile, and offered Obito his hand so that they might see what happened together.
   
[[File:Kurama extracted from Naruto.png|thumb|Kurama is extracted from Naruto by Madara.]]
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[[File:Kurama extracted from Naruto.png|thumb|left|Kurama is extracted from Naruto by Madara.]]
 
The Allies successfully removed the tailed beasts from Obito and he fell to the ground, defeated. Minato and Kakashi insisted that Obito be left to them while Naruto and the rest of the Alliance should focus on Madara. They did so, joining forces with the First Hokage against him, but right before he could seal him, Madara put one final fail-safe into effect: he had [[Black Zetsu]] force Obito to revive him. Madara quickly neutralised the First, fended off Naruto, Sasuke, and Sai, and then went after the freed tailed beasts. Naruto entered Tailed Beast Mode and assisted them with fighting him off. They were initially successful, but when Madara reacquired one of his [[Rinnegan]], he easily defeated them with [[Limbo: Border Jail]], sealing them all back into the Demonic Statue, including B's Gyūki and Naruto's Kurama.
 
The Allies successfully removed the tailed beasts from Obito and he fell to the ground, defeated. Minato and Kakashi insisted that Obito be left to them while Naruto and the rest of the Alliance should focus on Madara. They did so, joining forces with the First Hokage against him, but right before he could seal him, Madara put one final fail-safe into effect: he had [[Black Zetsu]] force Obito to revive him. Madara quickly neutralised the First, fended off Naruto, Sasuke, and Sai, and then went after the freed tailed beasts. Naruto entered Tailed Beast Mode and assisted them with fighting him off. They were initially successful, but when Madara reacquired one of his [[Rinnegan]], he easily defeated them with [[Limbo: Border Jail]], sealing them all back into the Demonic Statue, including B's Gyūki and Naruto's Kurama.
   
[[File:Obito Saving Naruto.png|thumb|left|Obito transfers his tailed beasts' chakra into Naruto.]]
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[[File:Obito Saving Naruto.png|thumb|Obito transfers his tailed beasts' chakra into Naruto.]]
 
The removal of Kurama from his body caused Naruto to pass out and placed his life in immediate danger. His [[Uzumaki]] heritage prevented him from dying instantly, but he required constant medical attention from Sakura in order to keep him alive. On the advice of Kurama right before it was extracted, Gaara took Naruto to Minato so that Minato's portion of Kurama's chakra could be sealed into him, saving him. Kakashi sent Naruto and Sakura to [[Kamui's dimension]] so that she could continue performing life support without interruption. Obito soon arrived to help her, having overcome both Black Zetsu and Madara in order to acquire Minato's half of Kurama and give it to Naruto, as his form of penance.
 
The removal of Kurama from his body caused Naruto to pass out and placed his life in immediate danger. His [[Uzumaki]] heritage prevented him from dying instantly, but he required constant medical attention from Sakura in order to keep him alive. On the advice of Kurama right before it was extracted, Gaara took Naruto to Minato so that Minato's portion of Kurama's chakra could be sealed into him, saving him. Kakashi sent Naruto and Sakura to [[Kamui's dimension]] so that she could continue performing life support without interruption. Obito soon arrived to help her, having overcome both Black Zetsu and Madara in order to acquire Minato's half of Kurama and give it to Naruto, as his form of penance.
   
[[File:Naruto and Sasuke obtain Rikudo Power.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke accept Hagoromo's power.]]
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[[File:Naruto and Sasuke obtain Rikudo Power.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke accept Hagoromo's power.]]
 
While on the border of life and death, Naruto was met by the Sage of Six Paths, [[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki]]. He explained his past conflicts with his mother, [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]], and the conflicts that emerged between his sons, [[Asura]] and [[Indra]]. His sons' conflict had continued through the centuries, with their chakra reincarnated every generation in new individuals to fight anew; Naruto was the current reincarnation of Asura, while Sasuke was the reincarnation of Indra. Naruto was not greatly surprised, having sensed something like that when he met Sasuke during the [[Five Kage Summit]]. Because of Madara's aims for the world, Hagoromo asked that he and Sasuke join forces to stop him, a task he was only encouraged by from the tailed beasts' positive words concerning Naruto. He gave Naruto the [[Six Paths Yang Power]], [[Chakra#Six Paths Chakra|his chakra]] and [[Six Paths Sage Mode]] to help him in this goal.
 
While on the border of life and death, Naruto was met by the Sage of Six Paths, [[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki]]. He explained his past conflicts with his mother, [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]], and the conflicts that emerged between his sons, [[Asura]] and [[Indra]]. His sons' conflict had continued through the centuries, with their chakra reincarnated every generation in new individuals to fight anew; Naruto was the current reincarnation of Asura, while Sasuke was the reincarnation of Indra. Naruto was not greatly surprised, having sensed something like that when he met Sasuke during the [[Five Kage Summit]]. Because of Madara's aims for the world, Hagoromo asked that he and Sasuke join forces to stop him, a task he was only encouraged by from the tailed beasts' positive words concerning Naruto. He gave Naruto the [[Six Paths Yang Power]], [[Chakra#Six Paths Chakra|his chakra]] and [[Six Paths Sage Mode]] to help him in this goal.
   
[[File:Madara Attacked.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously strike Madara.]]
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[[File:Madara Attacked.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke strike Madara.]]
When Naruto woke up, he had Obito send him back to the normal dimension. There, he stopped Madara from killing Might Guy and then used Hagoromo's power to stabilise Guy's life from using the [[Eight Gates Released Formation]]. Madara was surprised by Naruto's sudden increase in power and only narrowly avoided Naruto's [[Sage Art: Lava Release Rasenshuriken]], which was fueled by Son Gokū's chakra and instantly cut down the giant tree Obito created earlier. When Sasuke arrived, Naruto entered [[Six Paths Sage Mode]] and they started overwhelming Madara. Realising his window was closing, Madara went after Kakashi and took his Mangekyō Sharingan, which he used to follow after Obito. Sakura appeared shortly afterward, sent by Obito so Madara wouldn't kill her. She couldn't do anything about Kakashi's eye, so Naruto used Hagoromo's power to restore the one he lost years ago.
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When Naruto woke up, he had Obito send him back to the real world. There, he stopped Madara from killing Might Guy and used Hagoromo's power to stabilise Guy's life force from using the [[Eight Gates Released Formation]]. Surprised by Naruto's sudden increase in power, Madara was hit by Naruto's [[Sage Art: Lava Release Rasenshuriken]], which was fueled by Son Gokū's chakra and instantly cut down the giant tree Obito created earlier. When Sasuke arrived, Naruto entered [[Six Paths Sage Mode]] and they started overwhelming Madara. Realising his window was closing, Madara went after Kakashi and took his Mangekyō Sharingan, using it to follow Obito. Sakura appeared shortly afterward, sent by Obito so Madara wouldn't kill her. She could do nothing about Kakashi's eye, so Naruto used Hagoromo's power to restore the one he lost years ago.
   
 
Madara soon returned, now having both his Rinnegan and Black Zetsu in control of Obito's body. Naruto and Sasuke immediately resumed their attack, but Madara had an easier time with them. He rose into the sky, raining [[Chibaku Tensei]] on them to keep them busy while he projected the [[Infinite Tsukuyomi]] on the world. While Naruto destroyed the remaining satellite-like constructs, Sasuke shielded him, Sakura, and Kakashi with Susanoo from the Infinite Tsukuyomi's gaze. He let them out once the illusion was finished casting and they emerged to find themselves alone, with the rest of the world being wrapped into Madara's [[God: Nativity of a World of Trees]]. As Madara confronted them and started explaining how he had saved the world, he was stabbed in the back by Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu then transferred to Madara's body from Obito's and forced him to absorb the world's chakra, converting him into a woman that Naruto and Sasuke recognised as Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
 
Madara soon returned, now having both his Rinnegan and Black Zetsu in control of Obito's body. Naruto and Sasuke immediately resumed their attack, but Madara had an easier time with them. He rose into the sky, raining [[Chibaku Tensei]] on them to keep them busy while he projected the [[Infinite Tsukuyomi]] on the world. While Naruto destroyed the remaining satellite-like constructs, Sasuke shielded him, Sakura, and Kakashi with Susanoo from the Infinite Tsukuyomi's gaze. He let them out once the illusion was finished casting and they emerged to find themselves alone, with the rest of the world being wrapped into Madara's [[God: Nativity of a World of Trees]]. As Madara confronted them and started explaining how he had saved the world, he was stabbed in the back by Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu then transferred to Madara's body from Obito's and forced him to absorb the world's chakra, converting him into a woman that Naruto and Sasuke recognised as Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
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=== Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes ===
 
=== Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes ===
 
{{main|Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes}}
 
{{main|Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes}}
[[File:Naruto and Kaguya clash.png|thumb|Naruto clashing with Kaguya.]]
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[[File:Naruto and Kaguya clash.png|thumb|left|Naruto clashes with Kaguya.]]
 
Kaguya detected that Naruto and Sasuke as the reincarnations of Asura and Indra, and also that her son Hagoromo had given them the power to defeat her. Not wanting to further the damage the world that their fighting would cause, she [[Amenominaka|shifted]] them all to one of [[Kaguya's Dimension|her dimensions]], placing them above a sea of lava. Sasuke summoned his [[hawk]] [[Garuda]] to save himself and Naruto, but ignored Naruto's pleas to save Sakura, Kakashi, and Obito too since only he and Naruto were vital to the fight. Kakashi was able to briefly stop their fall, but the heat burned the scroll he used to save them and it was only Naruto's sudden discovery that he was able to levitate that saved them from the lava. He left a shadow clone to hold onto them and engaged Kaguya, creating an opening for Sasuke to attack.
 
Kaguya detected that Naruto and Sasuke as the reincarnations of Asura and Indra, and also that her son Hagoromo had given them the power to defeat her. Not wanting to further the damage the world that their fighting would cause, she [[Amenominaka|shifted]] them all to one of [[Kaguya's Dimension|her dimensions]], placing them above a sea of lava. Sasuke summoned his [[hawk]] [[Garuda]] to save himself and Naruto, but ignored Naruto's pleas to save Sakura, Kakashi, and Obito too since only he and Naruto were vital to the fight. Kakashi was able to briefly stop their fall, but the heat burned the scroll he used to save them and it was only Naruto's sudden discovery that he was able to levitate that saved them from the lava. He left a shadow clone to hold onto them and engaged Kaguya, creating an opening for Sasuke to attack.
   
[[File:Kaguya traps naruto and sasuke.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke frozen in ice before sealing Kaguya.]]
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[[File:Kaguya traps naruto and sasuke.png|thumb|Kaguya thwarts Naruto and Sasuke's sealing attempt.]]
 
Sasuke's attack failed and Naruto must save him from the lava. With their attacks ineffective and the environment such a hazard, Naruto and Sasuke discussed what to do. Kaguya appeared behind them and paralysed them, binding them with Black Zetsu while she started absorbing their chakra. Black Zetsu took the opportunity to expand on the history earlier given by Hagoromo, painting Kaguya as the victim of her sons, Hagoromo and [[Hamura]]. Black Zetsu had for centuries been manipulating others toward the outcome of reviving her, and only then had it finally succeeded. It encouraged them to bask in the embrace of their oblivion, but Naruto refused, breaking himself and Sasuke free. Needing to take drastic action, Naruto used his "ultimate" jutsu: [[Sexy: Reverse Harem Technique]]. Kaguya was so distracted that she was nearly sealed, but she recomposed herself in time to shift dimensions again, freezing Naruto and Sasuke in place.
 
Sasuke's attack failed and Naruto must save him from the lava. With their attacks ineffective and the environment such a hazard, Naruto and Sasuke discussed what to do. Kaguya appeared behind them and paralysed them, binding them with Black Zetsu while she started absorbing their chakra. Black Zetsu took the opportunity to expand on the history earlier given by Hagoromo, painting Kaguya as the victim of her sons, Hagoromo and [[Hamura]]. Black Zetsu had for centuries been manipulating others toward the outcome of reviving her, and only then had it finally succeeded. It encouraged them to bask in the embrace of their oblivion, but Naruto refused, breaking himself and Sasuke free. Needing to take drastic action, Naruto used his "ultimate" jutsu: [[Sexy: Reverse Harem Technique]]. Kaguya was so distracted that she was nearly sealed, but she recomposed herself in time to shift dimensions again, freezing Naruto and Sasuke in place.
   
[[File:Naruto Uzumaki Region Combo 2.png|thumb|Naruto launches his barrage of clones at Kaguya.]]
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[[File:Naruto Uzumaki Region Combo 2.png|thumb|left|Naruto overwhelms Kaguya with shadow clones.]]
 
Because Naruto and Sasuke were only a threat to her when together, Kaguya [[Yomotsu Hirasaka|sent]] Sasuke to a different dimension while she focused on Naruto. While Kaguya manipulated the ice dimension against him, his shadow clone explained to Kakashi, Sakura, and the now-awake Obito that his and Sasuke's powers were both necessary to defeat her. Obito offered to use his Kamui to try and explore Kaguya's dimensions to find Sasuke. To give Obito an opening, Naruto used [[Naruto Region Combo]] to overwhelm Kaguya, forcing her to retreat to another dimension to get her bearings. When she did so, Obito infiltrated the dimension Kaguya went to with Sakura and the shadow clone. The shadow clone faced her so that she wouldn't notice them while they look for Sasuke. Kaguya returned to the ice dimension and resumed her fight with the army of Naruto's clones. He kept her preoccupied until Obito returned with Sasuke.
 
Because Naruto and Sasuke were only a threat to her when together, Kaguya [[Yomotsu Hirasaka|sent]] Sasuke to a different dimension while she focused on Naruto. While Kaguya manipulated the ice dimension against him, his shadow clone explained to Kakashi, Sakura, and the now-awake Obito that his and Sasuke's powers were both necessary to defeat her. Obito offered to use his Kamui to try and explore Kaguya's dimensions to find Sasuke. To give Obito an opening, Naruto used [[Naruto Region Combo]] to overwhelm Kaguya, forcing her to retreat to another dimension to get her bearings. When she did so, Obito infiltrated the dimension Kaguya went to with Sakura and the shadow clone. The shadow clone faced her so that she wouldn't notice them while they look for Sasuke. Kaguya returned to the ice dimension and resumed her fight with the army of Naruto's clones. He kept her preoccupied until Obito returned with Sasuke.
   
[[File:Naruto tries to heal Obito.png|thumb|left|Naruto attempting to heal a dying Obito, to no avail.]]
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[[File:Naruto tries to heal Obito.png|thumb|Naruto attempts to heal a dying Obito, to no avail.]]
 
Increasingly frustrated, Kaguya shifted them to another dimension with powerful gravity to immobilise Naruto and Sasuke while she attacked with her [[All-Killing Ash Bones]]. Kakashi and Obito used themselves to shield the attack, with Obito then using Kamui to protect Kakashi, leaving Obito unable to defend himself. Naruto tried to heal the damage to his body, but even Hagoromo's power couldn't save him. While Sasuke fought Kaguya, Obito thanked Naruto for reminding him of who he was and made him promise to become Hokage for both their sakes. Naruto agreed and Obito's body crumbled. Black Zetsu ridiculed Obito for living an insignificant life and dying an insignificant death. Enraged, Naruto severed Kaguya's arm, in the sleeve of which Black Zetsu had been hiding, and then pinned it to the ground with his Truth-Seeking Balls.
 
Increasingly frustrated, Kaguya shifted them to another dimension with powerful gravity to immobilise Naruto and Sasuke while she attacked with her [[All-Killing Ash Bones]]. Kakashi and Obito used themselves to shield the attack, with Obito then using Kamui to protect Kakashi, leaving Obito unable to defend himself. Naruto tried to heal the damage to his body, but even Hagoromo's power couldn't save him. While Sasuke fought Kaguya, Obito thanked Naruto for reminding him of who he was and made him promise to become Hokage for both their sakes. Naruto agreed and Obito's body crumbled. Black Zetsu ridiculed Obito for living an insignificant life and dying an insignificant death. Enraged, Naruto severed Kaguya's arm, in the sleeve of which Black Zetsu had been hiding, and then pinned it to the ground with his Truth-Seeking Balls.
   
[[File:Team 7 defeats Kaguya.png|thumb|Team 7 defeats Kaguya.]]
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[[File:Team 7 defeats Kaguya.png|thumb|left|Team 7 defeats Kaguya.]]
Naruto and his shadow clones used [[Sage Art: Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken]], imbuing each of the nine Rasenshuriken with the chakra of one of the tailed beasts. When the attack hit Kaguya, the tailed beasts' chakra within her began reacting and Kaguya started losing control of her form. She was able to reconfigure herself and prepared an [[Expansive Truth-Seeking Ball]] to destroy them. Kakashi interfered, using Susanoo (a last gift from Obito) to make an opening for Naruto and Sasuke. She tried to escape, but Sakura punched her to keep her in place, allowing Naruto and Sasuke to trigger [[Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei]]. The tailed beasts were removed from her, Madara was spat out, and she was entombed in her own dimension. Not wanting Black Zetsu to scheme for her release again, Naruto made a point to trap it with her.
+
Naruto and his shadow clones attacked Kaguya with [[Sage Art: Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken]]. On impact, the tailed beasts' chakra within her began reacting and Kaguya started losing control of her form. She was able to reconfigure herself and prepared an [[Expansive Truth-Seeking Ball]] to destroy them. Kakashi interfered, using Susanoo (a last gift from Obito) to make an opening for Naruto and Sasuke. She tried to escape, but Sakura punched her to keep her in place, allowing Naruto and Sasuke to trigger [[Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei]]. The tailed beasts were removed from her, Madara was spat out, and she was entombed in her own dimension. Not wanting Black Zetsu to scheme for her release again, Naruto made a point to trap it with her.
   
[[File:Minato and his son.png|thumb|left|Minato wishes happy birthday to Naruto.]]
+
[[File:Minato and his son.png|thumb|Minato wishes happy birthday to Naruto.]]
 
Team 7 wondered how they would return to their world. Sensing their need, Hagoromo combined the efforts of the dead Kage to summon them, the tailed beasts, and Madara back. Hagoromo thanked them for saving the world, as did the tailed beasts for saving them. Naruto happily greeted to his original Kurama, asking if it missed him, to which the flustered fox denied. After Madara died from his ordeal, Naruto met with Minato who, as day broke, wished him a happy seventeenth birthday. As Hagoromo returned Minato's and the souls of the other dead Kage to the [[Pure Land]], Minato voiced his pride in Naruto and promised to tell Kushina everything about him. The other Kage also gave words of parting, which Naruto tearfully accepted.
 
Team 7 wondered how they would return to their world. Sensing their need, Hagoromo combined the efforts of the dead Kage to summon them, the tailed beasts, and Madara back. Hagoromo thanked them for saving the world, as did the tailed beasts for saving them. Naruto happily greeted to his original Kurama, asking if it missed him, to which the flustered fox denied. After Madara died from his ordeal, Naruto met with Minato who, as day broke, wished him a happy seventeenth birthday. As Hagoromo returned Minato's and the souls of the other dead Kage to the [[Pure Land]], Minato voiced his pride in Naruto and promised to tell Kushina everything about him. The other Kage also gave words of parting, which Naruto tearfully accepted.
   
 
With all threats gone, Hagoromo explained that the Infinite Tsukuyomi could be released if Naruto and Sasuke combine their chakra. Sasuke agreed to this, but first he wanted to kill the Kage and destroy the tailed beasts, believing both were inhibitive to world peace. When he was unwilling to back down from his threat, the tailed beasts moved in to stop Sasuke, but he captured each in their own Chibaku Tensei. Hagoromo recognised that as a continuation of Indra's feud with Asura, but lacked the time and power to do anything about it. Sakura tried to reason with Sasuke, but he knocked her out and left. Naruto followed after him, promising to Hagoromo that he would bring him around and finally end the centuries-long feud.
 
With all threats gone, Hagoromo explained that the Infinite Tsukuyomi could be released if Naruto and Sasuke combine their chakra. Sasuke agreed to this, but first he wanted to kill the Kage and destroy the tailed beasts, believing both were inhibitive to world peace. When he was unwilling to back down from his threat, the tailed beasts moved in to stop Sasuke, but he captured each in their own Chibaku Tensei. Hagoromo recognised that as a continuation of Indra's feud with Asura, but lacked the time and power to do anything about it. Sakura tried to reason with Sasuke, but he knocked her out and left. Naruto followed after him, promising to Hagoromo that he would bring him around and finally end the centuries-long feud.
  +
  +
[[File:Naruto vs. Sasuke begins.png|left|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke's final battle begins.]]
  +
Naruto and Sasuke ended up at the [[Valley of the End]], where they fought years ago. Sasuke stated his willingness to bear the world's burdens by himself and live independently of the past, neither of which Naruto believed were possible, or at least wise. He tells Sasuke it's impossible to do everything alone like he plans to, pointing to the missteps Itachi made and their own successful teamwork against Kaguya. Sasuke replies that he only wants to remake a better world, one where he can, like Itachi before, be solely responsible for the difficult decisions that must be made so that nobody else needs to; this is what he believes a true "Hokage" to be. Naruto insists he will be Hokage, not Sasuke, because Sasuke is still going against what Itachi wanted for him and they start fighting.
   
 
[[File:A new clash.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke's attacks collide.]]
 
[[File:A new clash.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke's attacks collide.]]
  +
After a brief exchange of blows reminiscent of their fight years ago, Naruto and Sasuke started trading punches with their Tailed Beast Mode and Susanoo respectively. Sasuke chastised Naruto for not attacking with an intent to kill, but Naruto, like last time, was unwilling to do so, not wishing for either of them to go without the other. Naruto then clashed his Tailed Beast Ball with Sasuke's Susanoo-supported Chidori, producing a large explosion that does noticeable but not debilitating damage to their respective avatars. Each therefore powered up the avatars, Sasuke by channelling the captured tailed beasts into his Susanoo and Naruto by merging his avatar with the avatars of two shadow clones. The two met attacks once again, creating a giant explosion that stripped away their avatars and left them with too little chakra to use practically. They instead resorted to [[taijutsu]], kicking and punching each other into the night.
Naruto and Sasuke ended up at the [[Valley of the End]], where they fought years ago. Sasuke stated his willingness to bear the world's burdens by himself and live independently of the past, neither of which Naruto believed were possible, or at least wise. He wasted little time trying to talk to Sasuke, having known for some time that their differences would be settled with combat in the end. After a brief exchange of blows reminiscent of their fight years ago, Naruto and Sasuke started trading punches with their Tailed Beast Mode and Susanoo respectively. Sasuke chastised Naruto for not attacking with an intent to kill, but Naruto, like last time, was unwilling to do that, not wishing for either of them to go without the other. Sasuke used his Susanoo to perform Chidori and Naruto used Tailed Beast Mode to make a Tailed Beast Ball, which they clashed with.
 
   
 
[[File:Naruto & Sasuke final clash.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke's final clash.]]
 
[[File:Naruto & Sasuke final clash.png|thumb|left|Naruto and Sasuke's final clash.]]
 
As the two near exhaustion, Kurama mustered enough chakra for Naruto to make one last attack, but Sasuke [[Preta Path|absorbed]] it. Having expected this, Naruto delivered a solid punch, finally irritating Sasuke over the endless repetition of their fight. Kurama gave the last of its chakra to Naruto, who used it to make a Rasengan to counter Sasuke's Chidori. Both woke up later to find that much of the Valley of the End had been destroyed, that they had each lost an arm, and that neither could move. Sasuke reflected that Naruto had been a constant obstacle to his goals, but that he was also the only person who never given up on him. Naruto's usual response that they were friends didn't convince Sasuke since it obviously went beyond, so Naruto elaborated that he experienced pain if he didn't have Sasuke. Sasuke was awed, knowing full well that Naruto had experienced various misfortunes in his life, smiled through all of them, yet would suffer without Sasuke.
The collision of the two attacks created a large explosion, doing noticeable but not debilitating damage to their respective avatars. Each therefore powered up the avatars, Sasuke by channelling the captured tailed beasts into his Susanoo and Naruto by merging his avatar with the avatars of two shadow clones. The two met attacks once again, creating a giant explosion that stripped away their avatars and left them with too little chakra to use practically. They instead resorted to [[taijutsu]], kicking and punching each other into the night. As Naruto started to become exhausted, Kurama mustered enough chakra for him to make one last attack, but Sasuke [[Preta Path|absorbed]] it. Having expected this, Naruto delivered a solid punch, finally irritating Sasuke over the endless repetition of their fight. Kurama gave the last of its chakra to Naruto, who used it to make a Rasengan to counter Sasuke's Chidori.
 
   
 
[[File:Naruto & Sasuke together.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke reconnect.]]
 
[[File:Naruto & Sasuke together.png|thumb|Naruto and Sasuke reconnect.]]
 
When they woke up the next day, Sasuke admitted defeat for the first time in his life, as he came to accept that Naruto was just as vital to him as he was to Naruto. Kakashi and Sakura eventually tracked them down and Sakura healed them, though she couldn't do anything about their missing arms. Once they were able to walk, they returned to where the Allied Shinobi Forces were all trapped still, dispelled the Infinite Tsukuyomi according to Hagoromo's instructions, and Sasuke released the tailed beasts. The Fourth Shinobi World War finally over, everyone returned to their villages.
Both woke up later to find that much of the Valley of the End had been destroyed, that they had each lost an arm, and that neither could move. Sasuke reflected that Naruto had been a constant obstacle to his goals, but that he was also the only person who never given up on him. Naruto's usual response that they were friends didn't convince Sasuke since it obviously went beyond, so Naruto elaborated that he experienced pain if he didn't have Sasuke. Sasuke was awed, knowing full well that Naruto had experienced various misfortunes in his life, smiled through all of them, yet would suffer without Sasuke. When they woke up the next day, Sasuke admitted defeat for the first time in his life, as he came to accept that Naruto was just as vital to him as he was to Naruto.
 
 
Kakashi and Sakura eventually tracked them down and Sakura healed them, though she couldn't do anything about their missing arms. Once they were able to walk, they returned to where the Allied Shinobi Forces were all trapped still, dispelled the Infinite Tsukuyomi according to Hagoromo's instructions, and Sasuke released the tailed beasts. The Fourth Shinobi World War finally over, everyone returned to their villages.
 
   
 
== Blank Period ==
 
== Blank Period ==
Line 511: Line 463:
 
Several years later, Kakashi decided to step down and selected Naruto to be the Seventh Hokage. On the day of his inauguration, Naruto got caught in a fight between Boruto and Himawari, the latter's panda toy having been destroyed by the former. Naruto stepped in to defend Boruto from Himawari's [[Gentle Fist]]-strike and took the blow instead, rendering him unconscious. He ended up missing his own inauguration, forcing [[Konohamaru]] to [[Transformation Technique|impersonate him]] during the ceremony.<ref>''[[The Day Naruto Became Hokage]]''</ref>
 
Several years later, Kakashi decided to step down and selected Naruto to be the Seventh Hokage. On the day of his inauguration, Naruto got caught in a fight between Boruto and Himawari, the latter's panda toy having been destroyed by the former. Naruto stepped in to defend Boruto from Himawari's [[Gentle Fist]]-strike and took the blow instead, rendering him unconscious. He ended up missing his own inauguration, forcing [[Konohamaru]] to [[Transformation Technique|impersonate him]] during the ceremony.<ref>''[[The Day Naruto Became Hokage]]''</ref>
   
[[File:Boruto surprised by Naruto.png|thumb|Naruto stops Boruto from vandalising monument.]]
+
[[File:Boruto surprised by Naruto.png|thumb|Naruto stops Boruto from vandalising the monument.]]
 
Despite the technological advances since the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War and the new-found peace amongst the villages, the Hokage office still came with a heavy workload. One such issue was Sasuke's report that a [[Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki|threat]] greater than [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]] may still exist somewhere, which Naruto and the other [[Kage]] decided to keep the information between themselves to avoid causing a panic.<ref>Chapter 700+5, pages 9-11</ref> Boruto was upset that his father's busy schedule was frequently keeping him from spending time with the family, and when he did, it was often only a shadow clone. As such, Boruto developed the habit of pulling pranks around the village to try and gain his father's attention, a desire that Naruto understood, but that he couldn't do anything about.<ref name="ch700" />
 
Despite the technological advances since the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War and the new-found peace amongst the villages, the Hokage office still came with a heavy workload. One such issue was Sasuke's report that a [[Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki|threat]] greater than [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]] may still exist somewhere, which Naruto and the other [[Kage]] decided to keep the information between themselves to avoid causing a panic.<ref>Chapter 700+5, pages 9-11</ref> Boruto was upset that his father's busy schedule was frequently keeping him from spending time with the family, and when he did, it was often only a shadow clone. As such, Boruto developed the habit of pulling pranks around the village to try and gain his father's attention, a desire that Naruto understood, but that he couldn't do anything about.<ref name="ch700" />
 
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=== Video Games ===
 
=== Video Games ===
 
{{main|List of video games}}
 
{{main|List of video games}}
As the main character of the series, Naruto is a playable character in every ''Naruto'' video game. As the series has progressed, Naruto has become playable in various forms, often with different move-sets for each. New video game-exclusive forms are also available at times, such as a version of Naruto wearing [[Might Guy]]'s jump suit, a version wearing [[w:c:dragonball:Son Goku|Son Goku's Turtle School Uniform]], Naruto from ''[[Shippū! Konoha Gakuen Den!]]'', and "[[Mecha-Naruto]]".
+
As the main character of the series, Naruto is a playable character in every ''Naruto'' video game. As the series has progressed, Naruto has become playable in various forms, often with different move-sets for each. New video game-exclusive forms are also available at times, such as a version of Naruto wearing [[Might Guy]]'s jump suit, a version wearing [[w:c:dragonball:Son Goku|Son Goku's Turtle School Uniform]], Naruto from ''[[Shippū! Konoha Gakuen Den!]]'', and "[[Mecha-Naruto]]". The video games also put some extra emphasis on his taijutsu; most of the time Naruto in the past fights akin to a brawler; while in his incarnation from ''The Last: Naruto the Movie'', he instead fights more like a hand-to-hand boxer.
   
 
=== Live Spectacle Naruto ===
 
=== Live Spectacle Naruto ===

Revision as of 16:46, 29 April 2016

This article is about the character Naruto Uzumaki. For the manga and anime series Naruto, see Naruto. For other uses, see Naruto (disambiguation).
editNaruto Uzumaki Camera font awesome Browse Information[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
うずまきナルト Uzumaki Naruto

  • The Show-Off, Number One Unpredictable, Noisy Ninja (目立ちたがり屋で意外性No.1のドタバタ忍者, Medachitagariya de Igaisei Nanbā Wan no Dotabata Ninja, English TV: Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja)[8]
  • Child of the Prophecy (予言の子, Yogen no Ko)[9]
  • Saviour of this World (この世の救世主, Kono Yo no Kyūseishu)[9]
  • Hero of the Hidden Leaf (木ノ葉隠れの英雄, Konohagakure no Eiyū, literally meaning: Hero of the Hidden Tree Leaves)[10]
  • Boy of Miracles (奇跡を起こす少年, Kiseki o Okosu Shōnen)[11]
  • Konoha's Orange Hokage (木ノ葉のオレンジ火影, Konoha no Orenji Hokage, literally meaning: Tree Leaves' Orange Fire Shadow)[12]
  • Seventh Hokage (七代目火影, Nanadaime Hokage, literally meaning: Seventh Fire Shadow)[13]
  • Fox (, Kitsune)
Debut
Manga Naruto Chapter #1
Anime Naruto Episode #1
Novel Naruto: Innocent Heart, Demonic Blood
Movie Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
Game Naruto: Konoha Ninpōchō
OVA Find the Four-Leaf Red Clover!
Appears in Anime, Manga, Novel, Game, Movie
Voice Actors
Japanese
English
Personal
Birthdate Astrological Sign Libra October 10 Search_Icon.svg
Sex Gender Male Male
Age
  • Part I: 12–13
  • Part II: 15–17
Status Incapacitated
Height
  • Part I: 145.3 cm1.453 m <br />4.767 ft <br />57.205 in <br />147.5 cm1.475 m <br />4.839 ft <br />58.071 in <br />
  • Part II: 166 cm1.66 m <br />5.446 ft <br />65.354 in <br />
  • Blank Period: 180 cm1.8 m <br />5.906 ft <br />70.866 in <br />
Weight
  • Part I: 40.1 kg88.405 lb <br />40.6 kg89.508 lb <br />
  • Part II: 50.9 kg112.215 lb <br />
Blood type B
Kekkei Genkai
Classification
Tailed Beast Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Gokū, Kokuō, Saiken, Chōmei, Gyūki, Kurama (Forms)
Occupation
Affiliation
Team
Clan
Rank
Ninja Rank
Ninja Registration 012607
Academy Grad. Age 12
Family
Nature Type
Jutsu

Tools

  • (Anime only)

Naruto Uzumaki (うずまきナルト, Uzumaki Naruto) is a shinobi of Konohagakure. He became the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails on the day of his birth — a fate that caused him to be ostracised by most of Konoha throughout his childhood. After joining Team Kakashi, Naruto worked hard to gain the village's acknowledgement all the while chasing his dream to become Hokage. In the following years, through many hardships and ordeals, he became a capable ninja regarded as a hero both by the villagers, and soon after, the rest of the world, becoming known as the Hero of the Hidden Leaf (木ノ葉隠れの英雄, Konohagakure no Eiyū, literally meaning: Hero of the Hidden Tree Leaves). He soon proved to be one of the main factors in winning the Fourth Shinobi World War, leading him to achieve his dream and become the village's Seventh Hokage (七代目火影, Nanadaime Hokage, literally meaning: Seventh Fire Shadow).

Background

Naruto and Kushina2

A newborn Naruto with his mother Kushina.

Naruto was born on the night of October 10th to Minato Namikaze (the Fourth Hokage) and Kushina Uzumaki (the second jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails). He was named after the protagonist of Jiraiya's first book, which made the Sannin his godfather.[14] The Third Hokage made special arrangements for Minato to preserve Kushina's seal containing the Nine-Tails while she gave birth to Naruto in a remote location, escorted by midwives and Anbu. A masked man, Tobi, tracked down their location, however, killed the midwives and Anbu, and captured Naruto, forcing Minato to quickly rescue him and teleport him to a safe house.

Minato and Kushina protect Naruto

Minato and Kushina protect Naruto from the Nine-Tails.

With Minato gone, Tobi captured Kushina and released the Nine-Tails from her, using it to devastate Konoha.[15] Minato saved Kushina and left Naruto in her care before he went to protect the village,[16] eventually defeating Tobi and freeing the Nine-Tails from Tobi's control. Returning to Naruto and Kushina's location, Minato realised the only way to stop the Nine-Tails was to seal it within Naruto, believing that his son would someday need the fox's power to defeat Tobi when he returned.[17] Since the Nine-Tails' chakra was too immense to seal into an infant, Minato sacrificed his soul to split the fox's chakra in half, sealing the Yin half within himself and the Yang half within Naruto. After telling Naruto how much they loved him, Minato and Kushina succumbed to their wounds from protecting their son from the Nine-Tails and passed away.

Orphaned, Naruto grew up not knowing who his parents were, receiving only his mother's surname, as Hiruzen wanted to protect Naruto from his father's enemies.[18] Minato's dying wish that Naruto be regarded as a hero would be honoured by very few. Most of Konoha, however, openly ostracised and resented Naruto for containing the beast that devastated the village and took many lives; some even viewed Naruto as the Nine-Tails itself. The Third Hokage forbade anyone from mentioning the Nine-Tails, hoping that the younger generation would not blindly hate Naruto as their parents did.[19] However, Naruto's peers emulated their parents' hatred of him, despite not knowing why. This social isolation caused Naruto to crave acknowledgement, which he would gain by pulling pranks.

Naruto's first encounter with Hinata

Naruto meets Hinata.

On a snowy day - the day of his enrolment in the Ninja Academy[20] - Naruto first met Hinata Hyūga, who was being picked on by three bullies. Despite not knowing her, Naruto immediately came to her defence, but he was outnumbered and knocked unconscious, and the bullies damaged his red scarf. When Naruto awoke, Hinata thanked him for helping her and returned his scarf to him, but he let her keep it. He was unaware that was when the young Hyūga girl's affections for him began.[21]

Young sasuke and Naruto

Naruto and Sasuke in the Academy.

In the Academy, Naruto became a student of Iruka Umino, who acted as a surrogate older brother to keep him in line and help him work harder. Naruto also met his class-mate Sasuke Uchiha and tried to befriend him, seeing that he was alone as well. Jealous of Sasuke's skills and popularity, however,[22] he developed a one-sided rivalry in his pursuit to prove himself just as good as, if not better than, Sasuke, wishing that someday, Sasuke would accept him as an equal.[23] Naruto also grew close with the owner of Ramen Ichiraku, Teuchi and his daughter Ayame, being welcomed as their favourite customer.

Personality

Naruto's Ninja Registration Photo

Naruto's ninja registration photo.

Naruto is characterised as boisterous, exuberant and unorthodox, quite similar to Hashirama Senju.[24] He inherited his mother's verbal tic, as he ends his sentences with "Dattebayo!" (だってばよ!) when excited or frustrated. Though he responds best to competition and is not afraid to ask for assistance, Naruto is relatively naive, simple, and slow to understand principles or situations. He often requires an oversimplified analogy in order to grasp explanations,[25] and can even forget some concepts that he himself noted earlier if he is too emotional.[26] Naruto is aware of his faults, and admits he acts strong to mask his embarrassment and frustration about them.[27][28] Despite his naivety, Naruto can be quite observant, picking up on things others miss and retaining information casually gathered through conversation.[29]

Growing up as an orphan who suffered years of hatred and social isolation by Konoha's villagers has influenced Naruto's character in a number of ways: he is heedless to formality and social standings, addressing certain people he meets with nicknames instead of honourifics;[30][31] his picky eating habits consist mainly of ramen, his favorite food; he has a perverted side that manifests as uses of the Sexy Technique or attempts to peep into women's baths.[32] Despite his quirks and the criticism that follows them, Naruto is said to have a personality that draws people to him,[33] inspiring friendship and loyalty through acts of genuine kindness that could change a person's worldview. He is thus able to build meaningful relationships that he lacked in early life; the Sage of Six Paths believes Naruto's kindness is a special gift that allows him to befriend Kurama, a living embodiment of hatred.[34] Naruto deeply cherishes these bonds and will go to great lengths to protect them, as seen with Sasuke after his defection from Konoha. Naruto's time at the Falls of Truth revealed that a part of him hated the villagers for ostracising him, only to admire him after he saved them during Pain's Assault. This allowed Kurama to manipulate Naruto's rage until he confronted it and learned to let it go, becoming greater than what he suffered.[35]

Naruto's Promise

Naruto promises Sakura to return Sasuke to Konoha.

Another of Naruto's prominent traits is his desire for acknowledgement; his pranks around the village were for people to notice, or at least scold, him. Therefore, he dreamed of one day becoming Konoha's Hokage, the epitome of acknowledgement and respect from everyone in the village.[36] Knowing his dream is a long, arduous and seemingly impossible path, Naruto developed his own nindō of never going back on his word. This life-long philosophy serves as the cornerstone of Naruto's great self-confidence; he believes he can accomplish any goal with enough hard work and perseverance, no matter how big the obstacle is or how long it takes to complete it. This guides him in many aspects of life besides a battle, such as his promise to Sakura of bringing Sasuke back to Konoha. Over time, his goal to be Hokage grew from a desire for acknowledgement to a desire to help and protect the people close to him, which Tobi attributed to the Will of Fire.[37] His nindō is reinforced by his understanding that shinobi were meant to endure through hardships.[38]

After the death of his master Jiraiya, talking to his father Minato and listening to Nagato's story of tragedy, Naruto grew to understand the cycle of hatred and vowed to break it in order to bring real peace to the world.[39] To that end, his participation in the Fourth Shinobi World War is not only to protect his friends, but also to bear and erase the world's hatred all by himself. After encountering a reincarnated Itachi Uchiha, however, Naruto realises that he cannot handle everything alone and that he must allow his friends to support and fight alongside him. As he does so in war's climax, his fighting spirit inspires the Allied Shinobi Forces to join him and keep fighting to end the war as well, ultimately becoming an example for many people to admire, follow, and believe in.[40][41]

Naruto watching Hinata knit

Naruto becomes shy around Hinata.

Naruto first met Hinata Hyūga when they were children, where his open kindness and courageous spirit earned him her admiration, which grew into love. On his part, Naruto remained largely oblivious to Hinata's feelings for him and even considered her "weird" because of her shyness around him. However, things change during the Chūnin Exams in Part I when they began to interact more and support each other, causing Naruto to like her as a friend.[42] In Part II, as Hinata becomes willing to risk her life to protect Naruto, he in turn sees her as a strong person despite his speechlessness at her love confession. During The Last: Naruto the Movie, Naruto finally recognises the love that Hinata has always had for him, causing him to become more bashful and protective of her, just as she was for him. Realising that she alone has never lost faith in him and that she has always been there for him, he reciprocates her feelings and desires to be with her for the rest of his life. They marry (after only a few months of dating according to Sakura Hiden) and eventually have two children, Boruto and Himawari.

As an adult, Naruto becomes wiser and more level-headed, but retains some of his negligence for honourifics.[43] Although he finally achieves his dream of Hokage, its many tasks not only overwhelm Naruto at times, but often leave him unable to spend time with his family, particularly upsetting his son Boruto. Naruto is also more responsible in his duties as Hokage and as a father: he forbids use of the Kote in the Chūnin Exams as it diminishes a shinobi's true potential; he is disappointed by Boruto's cheating in the exams and even removes his forehead protector in front of the audience after lecturing him. Nevertheless, Naruto deeply loves his family, creating shadow clones to tend to them while he's busy, protecting them in times of danger, spending time with them when he can, and expressing pride in his children's successes.[44] He in fact adopts Hiruzen's philosophy that everyone in the village is his family, believing that true relationships are made up of love rather than blood relations.[45]

Appearance

Jiraiya says Naruto strongly resembles his father:[46] he has blonde, spiky hair and blue eyes, while inheriting the shape of his mother's eyes and face.[47] His trademark characteristic are the three whisker markings on his cheeks. Dan Katō initially mistook Naruto for Nawaki due to their stark resemblance.[48] Naruto was rather short for his age during Part I,[49] though he grew to be taller than Sakura in Part II[50] and became the tallest of his generation by adulthood. Naruto originally wore green goggles on his forehead, though he discards them after becoming a genin.

In Part I, Naruto wore an orange and blue jacket with a white collar, a white swirl with a tassel on the left side, and a red Uzumaki crest on the back. He also wore orange pants with a shuriken holster on his right knee, blue sandals, and a blue forehead protector, given to him by Iruka after graduating from the Academy. In Part II, Naruto wears a more form fitting outfit after wearing out his original one while training with Jiraiya,[51] with a T-shirt or mesh armour underneath. While retaining the swirls and orange pants, the blue pieces of his outfit changes to black: his forehead protector (which is now longer), sandals, and orange jacket, the black colour showing more prominence than the blue did originally. During his battle with Pain, Naruto briefly wore a short-sleeved red coat with a black flame pattern around the hem and carried a large scroll on his back.

Naruto loses his right arm after the Fourth Shinobi World War, though it is later replaced by a fully maneouverable prosthetic arm made of Hashirama Senju's cells, wrapped completely in bandages. In The Last: Naruto the Movie, Naruto cut his hair short and wore a black elastic forehead protector. Over his pants and sandals, he wears a black uniform jacket with an orange zipper and buttons on the waist and sleeves, which can be folded up at times. He has a red armband with an Uzumaki crest on his left arm. After becoming Hokage, Naruto dons a garment similar to his father's: a white cape that has a red flame pattern around the hem, is held together by a red rope, and has the kanji for "Seventh Hokage" (七代目火影, Nanadaime Hokage) written vertically down the back. Underneath this, he wears an orange sweatshirt with black stripes, black pants and sandals. He occasionally wears the traditional Hokage headpiece, but has stopped wearing a forehead protector.

Abilities

File:SageArtSTBR.png

Naruto's combined senjutsu and tailed beast influence over his trademark techniques.

Naruto was an inept student in the Academy, failing to graduate three times before becoming a shinobi. Through sheer determination, however, his skills rapidly improve in Part I as he defeats strong shinobi such as Neji Hyūga, Gaara, and Kabuto Yakushi, earning acknowledgement from the Sannin for his potential.[52] Under Jiraiya's tutelage for two-and-a-half years, Naruto becomes strong enough to fight members of Akatsuki, such that Konoha villagers praise him as a hero of Hokage-material after he defeats Pain.[53] Although the Fourth Shinobi World War was initially meant for his protection, Naruto's eventual and required participation leads to the defeat of many reincarnated Kage,[54] tailed beasts,[55] and enemies of Ten-Tails' calibre;[56] others believe Naruto has surpassed the previous Hokage and is the central force in winning the war.[57][58][59] Naruto's skills further improve in later years; in The Last: Naruto the Movie, he defeats the Tenseigan-wielding Toneri Ōtsutsuki; by adulthood, he achieves his life-long dream by becoming the Seventh Hokage.[13]

Naruto has learned how to counter genjutsu from Jiraiya, but has limited skill in using it.[60]

Chakra and Physical Prowess

Naruto gives Hinata power

Naruto sharing Kurama's chakra with Hinata through physical contact.

As an Uzumaki and a reincarnation of Asura Ōtsutsuki,[61] Naruto has massive reserves of strong chakra, estimated as at least four times greater than Kakashi's and described by Karin as "bright and warm".[62][63] He initially struggled with controlling his chakra properly, which was offset by his large reserves.[64] Naruto's control improved greatly over time, becoming able to transfer his chakra to others[65] and perform one-handed hand seals.[66] He later receives chakra from the other tailed beasts and Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, increasing his reserves further. Naruto's powerful life force grants him an extreme longevity, healing power, stamina, and vitality,[67] allowing him to survive (albeit barely) the extraction of a tailed beast.[68] These are all augmented after he receives a prosthetic forearm made from Hashirama's cells.

Naruto's clones vs Gaara

Naruto attacking Gaara with his Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo.

While naturally a short-range fighter, Naruto's taijutsu wasn't very adept in Part I, using unpredictable attacks to surprise combat experts like Kiba Inuzuka and Neji.[69][70] He often utilised shadow clones or Kurama's chakra to engage or overwhelm his enemies in combat; with the former, he has created techniques such as the Naruto Uzumaki Combo and its stronger versions.[71] Although these tactics resume in Part II, Naruto becomes more capable in taijutsu due to Jiraiya's training, being able to contend with other skilled users.[72][73][74] He has grown fast enough to rescue an ally from nearby danger,[75] and strong enough to punch an opponent several metres while exhausted.[76] By adulthood, Naruto's improved taijutsu allows him to defeat dozens of opponents without using shadow clones or enhancements.[21]

Jinchūriki Transformations

Main articles: Jinchūriki Forms and Nine-Tails Chakra Mode

Version 1 form

Naruto's Version 1 form.

As the jinchūriki of Kurama's Yang half, Naruto has a massive chakra reserve at least a hundredfold greater than Kakashi's.[62] Due to his Uzumaki lineage and being Kurama's jinchūriki his entire life, Naruto's chakra has more effectively mixed with the fox's,[77] allowing him to perform several chakra-taxing techniques without feeling fatigued. While accessing Kurama's chakra, typically through sheer rage, enhanced Naruto's fighting abilities, the fox's negative influence made Naruto more aggressive and in less control of his actions. The control that he retains up to his Version 1 forms is lost completely when he slips into Version 2, attacking any friend or foe in sight, requiring outside help to suppress the fox's chakra.[78] These drawbacks made Naruto decide to rely on his own strength instead of Kurama's until he proved able to control it completely.

Naruto transforming

Naruto transforming from his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode into his Kurama Mode.

Realising he could not avoid using Kurama's power, Naruto sought to learn how to control it with help from Killer B, the jinchūriki of Gyūki, and unexpectedly, his own mother, Kushina. Upon succeeding and taking most of Kurama's chakra, Naruto attains Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, which greatly increases his speed, strength, and defences. Because he didn't yet have Kurama's cooperation, however, Naruto needed to exercise extreme caution while using the form, as it could cost him his life. Eventually, when Kurama acknowledges Naruto's life-long strength of character and Naruto learns the fox's true name, their new-found friendship grants Naruto access to Kurama Mode, another increase in physical abilities. He can now use Tailed Beast Mode to create Tailed Beast Balls or allow others to enter the chakra shroud (which is transparent) and gain some of Naruto's power while inside of it.[79] He can still access previous forms such as Version 1,[80] and use Kurama's chakra to revitalise life forces.[81][82]

File:Naruto chakra hand.png

Naruto compresses his chakra cloak into his fist.

In The Last: Naruto the Movie, Naruto shows even greater control of Kurama's chakra: he can isolate the Kurama Mode form to one hand either to enhance his strength or block attacks; he can manifest his Tailed Beast Mode replica of Kurama separately from himself and give control of it to Kurama. Naruto has also received chakra from the other tailed beasts during the Fourth Shinobi World War,[83] essentially making him a pseudo-Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, as Shikamaru puts it.[84] This allows him to access their unique abilities himself or infuse them into his Rasengan and its variants, as seen with with the Sage Art: Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken. Naruto is not shown using the any of the tailed beasts' abilities after the war.

Ninjutsu

Summoning Technique

Naruto using the Summoning Technique.

In the Academy, the Sexy Technique was the only technique that Naruto could perform successfully, with no practical use other than to shock his instructors. During his shinobi career, he learns several ninjutsu styles from Jiraiya, such as how to summon toads of Mount Myōboku like Gamabunta to assist him in battle or to crush enemies from above. He becomes skilled in shurikenjutsu, able to throw weapons quickly and with precision,[85] barrage an enemy using shadow clones,[86] or as Hokage, cross blades with Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki.[44] Naruto's repetoire expands to fūinjutsu upon receiving Gerotora near the start of the Fourth Shinobi World War.[87]

Clones vs Shadows

Naruto sensing and fighting Madara's shadows.

Naruto's ability to sense chakra is shown only through his modes. He can identify chakra signatures from vast distances in Sage Mode,[88] detect negative emotions in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, and empower his sensory abilities to the highest possible level in Six Paths Sage Mode,[89] able to sense the invisible shadows of Limbo. In the anime, Jiraiya introduces Naruto to cooperation ninjutsu, where two or more people combine their techniques to create an even more powerful one.[90] The collaboration techniques he performs with other individuals typically utilise his own elemental affinity, such as the Typhoon Water Vortex Technique with Yamato, the Wind Release: Toad Gun with Gamatatsu, and the Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero with Sasuke.

Shadow Clone Technique

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique

Naruto using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Naruto's first trademark technique is the Shadow Clone Technique, which he is noted to have attained a mastery of superior to other users.[91] A ninja with unusually high chakra reserves, Naruto can create hundreds of shadow clones and retain a decent amount of chakra in each one with relative ease.[92] He can use them to outnumber or deceive his enemies in combat, manoeuvre himself in mid-air, transform into weapons, scout an area, or test an opponent's abilities.[93] During his wind training in Part II, Naruto learns that he, the original user, will receive all knowledge and experiences that shadow clones gain once they disperse. This method allows him to drastically speed up his training by learning what could be completed in years in just days.

Rasengan

YellowRasengan

Naruto creating a Rasengan with one hand.

Naruto's second trademark technique is the Rasengan, a one-handed technique created by his father. Due to his poor chakra control, Naruto often uses a shadow clone to form the spherical shape while he provides the chakra. Over time, Naruto's improved skill allows him to produce larger versions of the Rasengan, perform it faster,[94] and even have his shadow clones make their own Rasengan. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, he became able to form a Rasengan and its variants without any shadow clones or transformations.[95][96][97] Naruto has also shown the ability to release the Rasengan as an energy wave,[21] or as a projectile in the anime.[98] Using senjutsu or Kurama's chakra, Naruto can create more powerful and elaborate variations of the Rasengan; using the latter, he even develops the Super Mini-Tailed Beast Ball, performing it in a similar manner to the Rasengan.

Nature Transformation

Fūton Rasenshuriken

Naruto and his shadow clones create a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.

Naruto's natural affinity is Wind Release, which he learned from Asuma Sarutobi to flow into his weapons to increase their offensive might.[99] Using shadow clones, he was able to complete his father's difficult task of adding his elemental nature to the Rasengan. One shadow clone helps form the Rasengan, while the other provides the wind chakra, producing the Wind Release: Rasengan and the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. The latter, when used as a melee attack, inflicts cellular damage on both the enemy and Naruto; he later learns to throw the Rasenshuriken to avoid injuring himself. In The Last: Naruto the Movie, he became skilled enough to form a Rasenshuriken without any shadow clones and even guide it. Using Sage Mode or Kurama's chakra, Naruto can create different-sized variations, or even two Rasenshuriken simultaneously.

Via Six Paths Senjutsu, Naruto can utilise all five nature transformations, as well as Yin–Yang Release.[100] He can make perfect use of the latter to revitalise life-forces, heal whomever he touches, and restore missing organs.[101] With chakra from the tailed beasts, Naruto can also use the kekkei genkai of Shukaku's Magnet Release, Son Gokū's Lava Release, and Kokuō's Boil Release.

Senjutsu

Naruto's Sage Mode

Naruto's Sage Mode.

After Jiraiya's death, Naruto was trained in senjutsu at Mount Myōboku, requiring his high chakra reserves. Unlike Jiraiya, he was able to perfectly balance natural energy with his chakra to enter Sage Mode, symbolised by the orange pigmentation around his eyes. Using Sage Mode makes Naruto's techniques stronger, enhances his physical abilities,[102][103][104] and allows him to utilise the Frog Kata taijutsu style.[105] Since Fukasaku was unable to fuse with Naruto and gather natural energy for him (due to Kurama's interference), Naruto employs shadow clones instead. Once they disperse, the natural energy they absorb will transfer to the original when need be, allowing him to resume using Sage Mode for a number of times. However, creating more than five shadow clones overall disrupts the focus of the ones gathering natural energy. The need for this method diminishes over time as Naruto becomes able to enter Sage Mode faster.[106]

Six Paths Sage Mode

Main article: Six Paths Sage Mode

Naruto's SPSM

Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode.

With the power given to him by Hagoromo, Naruto gained access to the Six Paths Sage Mode (六道仙人モード, Rikudō Sennin Mōdo).[5] In this mode, his eyes become yellow and his pupils take on a cross-like shape — without manifesting the orange pigmentation around his eyes present in Sage Mode. Naruto can also don a new chakra cloak similar to Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, which he can access instantly and maintain much longer than Sage Mode.[107] Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode cloak changes several times throughout his later years. Naruto's physical attributes and techniques are further augmented,[108][109][110], he can fly and becomes immune to Truth-Seeking Balls.

File:Naruto's Battle Avatar.png

Naruto's conjoint Tailed Beast Mode.

Naruto also manifests nine Truth-Seeking Balls, composed of all five basic natures, Yin–Yang Release, and Six Paths Sage Chakra. He can mould the balls into staves and platforms, fire them as projectiles, convert them into Tailed Beast Balls to create Tailed Beast Ball Rasenshuriken, or transfer them to his shadow clones. Naruto also retains use of his Tailed Beast Mode avatar of Kurama, which rivals Sasuke's Complete Body — Susanoo in size and power.[111] Using shadow clones, he can create and combine three Kurama avatars into a single construct with three faces and six arms, similar to Asura's. [112] This state allows Naruto to infuse two massive Rasenshuriken with natural energy.[113]

Intelligence

Naruto's intelligence

Naruto reveals himself after disguising as a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.

While headstrong and often acting without thinking, Naruto's years as a prankster has given him a cunning imagination that is useful in battle. He is a remarkable tactile learner, able to learn better through executing a task rather than theorising about it.[114][25] Once they see him in action, even the likes of the Second Hokage revise their thoughts about Naruto's intellect.[115] After meeting Hagoromo, Naruto has gained the innate ability to grasp the nature of chakra and comprehend all universal things,[116] allowing him to quickly master the new powers he received.

Naruto's most famous skill lies in his ability to deceive his opponents, making effective uses of even the most simple techniques to trick the deadliest of opponents.[117] He can formulate multi-step plans or backup plans in the thick of battle,[118] and act quickly even when given new information.[119] His strategies typically involve shadow clones: he may direct his opponent's attentions towards one of his clones to disguise his own movements; he may transform them into objects or other individuals for surprise attacks; he may make himself seem predictable by creating a pattern, just to throw them off by breaking it. Naruto is rather observant, able to notice details others may overlook and subsequently take advantage of them to overcome his opponents.[120]

Stats

Databook Ninjutsu Taijutsu Genjutsu Intelligence Strength Speed Stamina Hand seals Total
First 2 1.5 1 1 2 2 4 1 14.5
Second 3 2 1 1.5 3 3 4 1 18.5
Third 4 3.5 2 3 3.5 3.5 5 1.5 26

Part I

See also: Plot of Naruto

Prologue — Land of Waves

Failing once again to graduate from the Academy, a disappointed Naruto is advised by one of his instructors, Mizuki, to steal the Scroll of Seals and learn a technique from it in order to graduate. As Naruto struggled to learn the Shadow Clone Technique, Iruka Umino tracked him down and realised that Naruto was tricked by Mizuki into stealing the scroll. Mizuki attacked them and told Naruto about the Nine-Tails sealed within him, claiming that Iruka hated him because of it. When Iruka risked his life to protect Naruto, however, he saw through Mizuki's lies and used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to defeat him, prompting Iruka to happily grant Naruto his graduation from the Academy. Naruto would later befriend Konohamaru Sarutobi, grandson of the Third Hokage, and teach him several perverted or useful techniques.

Team Kakashi

Team 7's group photo.

Naruto was eventually assigned to Team 7, partnered with Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno under the leadership of Kakashi Hatake. During their first meeting, Naruto shared his love of ramen, his hobbies, and his dream to become Hokage. To test their qualifications, Kakashi gave the team a bell test, stating that whichever of the three takes one of the two bells on his person will officially become genin. Instead of hiding like Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto tried to take the bells from Kakashi by force, only to be easily defeated, hung upside-down from a tree and tied to a wooden post in an attempt to steal lunch. After Sakura and Sasuke fail as well, Kakashi explains that the goal of the test was to use teamwork, to do together what none of them could do by themselves. He is persuaded to allow them to try again after lunch, but instructs Sasuke and Sakura not to feed Naruto. They feed him anyway, needing him in top-form if they're to work together. Kakashi sees this and, because they care more about the team than listening to his instructions, allows them all to pass.

Zabuza Vs Genin

Naruto and Sasuke team up against Zabuza.

After a series of uneventful D-rank missions, Naruto is able to secure a C-rank mission for Team 7: escorting Tazuna to the Land of Waves. Soon after leaving Konoha, they are attacked by the Demon Brothers. Naruto is paralysed with fear, forcing Sasuke to step in to disarm them and protect Tazuna until Kakashi can capture them. Tazuna confesses that assassins have been hired to kill him but that he couldn't afford the bodyguard detail he needs. Although the mission is now A-rank in nature - far beyond the skill of genin - Team 7 decides to continue with it. Angered by Sasuke's taunting of him, Naruto cuts his hand to bleed out the poison he received earlier, vowing to never waver again. When they arrive in the Land of Waves and are confronted by Zabuza Momochi, Naruto is overwhelmed by the battle between Kakashi and Zabuza before he is knocked aside by Zabuza's water clone. Remembering his vow, Naruto regained his confidence and teamed up with Sasuke to free Kakashi from Zabuza's Water Prison. In the end, Zabuza is seemingly killed by Haku, allowing Team 7 to escort Tazuna back to his house.

Kakashi finds Zabuza's death suspicious and decides the train the team in case he returns. He has them perform the Tree Climbing Practice to improve their chakra control, which will help them against Zabuza. Naruto becomes frustrated after several failures and asks for advice from Sakura, who herself mastered it from the start. Now rapidly improving, Naruto competes with Sasuke to finish the training, each determined to outdo the other. One day, Naruto encounters Haku (albeit unaware of his true identity) and they each discussed their dreams and desire to protect those precious to them. After Haku leaves, Naruto finishes the training with Sasuke but is left exhausted, so Team 7 leaves him behind the next morning as they resume their escort duties. Naruto awakens and arrives to assist Team 7 in fighting Zabuza and Haku, but, unaware of how Haku's Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals work, he joins Sasuke within the prison.

Naruto's 1st use of 9 Tails

Naruto's first use of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Naruto cannot break free with his shadow clones and Sasuke cannot melt the ice with his fire. As Haku moves in to kill Naruto, Sasuke uses his body as a shield to protect Naruto and seemingly dies. Enraged by Sasuke's apparent death, Naruto unwittingly accesses the Nine-Tails' chakra for the first time, allowing him to destroy the ice mirrors and defeat Haku, breaking his mask. Realising his opponent was the boy he met before, Naruto calms himself. He is asked by Haku to kill him, since he feels of no further use to Zabuza. Before Naruto can do so, Haku immediately stops him and goes off to save Zabuza from being killed by Kakashi, sacrificing his own life. When Zabuza refuses to appreciate this, Naruto angrily scolds him, stating that Haku gave up his life to save someone precious to him. Touched by his words, Zabuza, using Naruto's kunai, killed Gatō and many of his henchmen before he himself dies. Sasuke soon awakens, and when their injuries heal, Team 7 leaves for home via Tazuna's newly-constructed Great Naruto Bridge.

Chūnin Exams

Team 7 resumes its series of unremarkable missions. For their performance in the Land of Waves, however, Kakashi decides to enter them in the Chūnin Exams taking place in Konoha, which greatly excites Naruto. Because they've only recently graduated from the Academy, the three feel they must give strong showings to prove themselves. When they enter the exam hall, the team is met by Rock Lee, who challenges Sasuke to a fight; Naruto tries to attack Lee in jealousy, but is easily swept aside. The fight is interrupted by Might Guy, after which Naruto notes that the bandages around Lee's arms signify his arduous taijutsu training.

During the exam's first stage, the participating genin are given a written test, the goal of which is to cheat without getting caught. Unaware of this, Naruto struggles to answer the questions, so Hinata Hyūga, who is seated next to him, offers to let him to copy off her paper. Despite the temptation, Naruto declined Hinata's offer, claiming that he isn't the type to cheat and that they might be disqualified if they are caught. Before the tenth question can be given, the genin are presented with the opportunity to forfeit; Naruto refuses to do so, declaring his refusal to give up and his goal to still become Hokage. His determination to face the tenth question despite the potential consequences inspires the rest of the genin to do the same, and so they pass the first stage.

For the second phase, teams enter the Forest of Death with the objective of obtaining a set of two scrolls, one of which they are given at the start. Naruto becomes separated from his team and is attacked and swallowed by a giant snake. He manages to kill it and regroups with his frightened team-mates against Orochimaru. Angered by Sasuke's sudden cowardice and resignation, Naruto engages Orochimaru using the Nine-Tails' chakra, defeats his giant snake, and taunts Sasuke before Orochimaru suppresses the Nine-Tails' chakra, rendering Naruto unconscious. After he awakens, Team 7 continues its search for the second scroll, which they eventually gain by defeating Team Oboro, allowing them to pass the second stage.

Uzumakirendan

Naruto defeats Kiba.

In the preliminary matches of the exam, Naruto was pitted against Kiba Inuzuka and his dog, Akamaru. Believing the match to be an easy victory, Kiba and Akamaru overwhelmed Naruto with many high-speed attacks, so Naruto tricks Kiba into knocking Akamaru out of the fight by using the Transformation Technique, shocking all spectators. Naruto then disorients Kiba by farting in his face and defeats him with the Naruto Uzumaki Combo (which he invented from watching Sasuke's Lion Combo). When Neji and Hinata's match begins, Naruto is enraged by Neji's ruthless tirade against Hinata and cheers Hinata on to defeat Neji. Although Hinata is defeated, Naruto wipes up her blood and vows to defeat Neji in the finals.

Naruto meets Kurama

Naruto meets the Nine-Tails.

During the month of training, Naruto first meets Jiraiya (who knocked Ebisu, Naruto's original teacher) and trains under the Sannin to improve his chakra control. Recognising Naruto as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Jiraiya removes the seal Orochimaru had placed on Naruto to ease his control and begins teaching him to how use the Nine-Tails' power by summoning toads. To accelerate Naruto's slow progress, Jiraiya pushes him over a cliff, causing Naruto to enter his subconscious and meet the Nine-Tails. Working past his fear, he bravely demands chakra from it as "rent" for living in his body. The Nine-Tails complies and Naruto summons Gamabunta, though he exhausts himself and ends up in the hospital, where he is visited by Shikamaru Nara. After talking, he and Naruto stop Gaara from killing Rock Lee in the next room and listen to Gaara's story of his childhood, which Naruto finds very similar to his own. Gaara prepares to kill them, but Might Guy intervenes and forces Gaara to retreat. On the day of the finals, Naruto meets Hinata at the Third Training Ground and expresses his doubts about his upcoming match with Neji. Hinata reassures Naruto that he never gave up because he always had the strength to overcome his own failures, admiring him for it. Reinvigorated, Naruto thanks Hinata and tells her even though he first thought she was weird, he now likes her.

Naruto vs Neji

Naruto vs. Neji.

Facing Neji in the first match of the finals, Naruto began by creating shadow clones to overwhelm Neji's with sheer numbers. Deeming Naruto a failure who could never defeat a genius like himself, Neji easily defeats Naruto's clones and seals his chakra with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Determined to prove Neji's ideals about fate wrong, Naruto tapped into the Nine-Tails' chakra and, revitalised, clashed with Neji. When the smoke cleared, Neji emerges and Naruto lies defeated. This, however, was only a shadow clone, and the real Naruto burst from the ground beneath Neji, defeating him with an uppercut. Before he is declared the winner, Naruto tells Neji that creating clones was once his shortcoming and that Neji needs to stop believing in inescapable fate. When Sasuke finally arrives for his match with fought Gaara, Naruto is envious of Sasuke's improvements, but is later put to sleep along with most of the audience, commencing the Konoha Crush.

Konoha Crush

Sakura wakes up Naruto so they can pursue Sasuke, who was pursuing Gaara himself. They arrive in time for Naruto to kick Gaara away before he can kill Sasuke. Partially transformed into Shukaku, Gaara knocks Sakura unconscious and binds her to a tree, forcing Naruto to battle him, with little success. Naruto relates to Gaara's painful life as a jinchūriki, but he is not willing to let anything to happen to Sakura and Sasuke. Determined to protect his friends, Naruto creates an army of shadow clones to relentlessly batter Gaara, forcing him to fully transform into Shukaku, to which Naruto responds by summoning Gamabunta.

Naruto defeats gaara

Naruto defeats Gaara.

Gaara puts himself to sleep to give control of his body to Shukaku, forcing Naruto and Gamabunta to figure out a way to end the jutsu. They do so by transforming into a giant fox (the Nine-Tails in the anime) to restrain Shukaku, allowing Naruto to awaken Gaara with a solid punch to the face. Shukaku's influence disappears, but Gaara regains control and traps Naruto with his sand. Naruto escapes by tapping into the Nine-Tails' chakra, and headbutts Gaara when he is close enough, destroying Shukaku's form. Exhausted from the fight, the two leap at each other for one final exchange, and Naruto punches Gaara, claiming victory.

Naruto and Gaara fall to the ground, unable to move. Slowly crawling towards Gaara, Naruto explained that he also suffered a painful and lonely life, but was later saved by having friends. To that end, he will do anything to protect them, even if it means killing Gaara. Understanding Naruto's true strength, Gaara retreated with Kankurō and Temari with a new outlook on life, while Naruto passes out from exhaustion and is returned to Konoha with Sasuke and a rescued Sakura. A few days later, Team 7 attends the Third Hokage's funeral.

Search for Tsunade

Jiraiya is tasked with finding Tsunade, a candidate for Fifth Hokage, and convinces Naruto to accompany him by promising to teach him a technique stronger than Sasuke's Chidori. Stopping at an inn in Shukuba Town, Naruto was approached by Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha of Akatsuki, who intend to capture the Nine-Tails. When Sasuke shows up and furiously attacks Itachi, Naruto gathers the Nine-Tails' chakra to help Sasuke, but it is absorbed by Kisame's Samehada. Jiraiya soons arrives and drives off Itachi and Kisame, but Sasuke is left mentally and physically damaged by Itachi. Might Guy appears and takes Sasuke back to Konoha, but not before giving Naruto a spare green jumpsuit.

To prepare for the next encounter with Akatsuki, Naruto begins learning the Rasengan, completing two of its three learning steps. Taking a break from training, Naruto and Jiraiya eventually found Tsunade and her assistant Shizune at a restaurant. When Tsunade refuses the offer to become Hokage and insults all who held the title, an angry Naruto challenged her to a fight and attacked her with an incomplete Rasengan, only to be easily defeated. Impressed by his progress, however, Tsunade makes a bet with Naruto: if he can master the Rasengan in a week, he gets the First Hokage's Necklace; if not, she gets his wallet. Naruto agreed and spent the week trying to perfect the Rasengan, but has no success and collapses from exhaustion. Once he recovers, Naruto heads out with Jiraiya and Shizune to stop Tsunade from meeting with Orochimaru.

Naruto vs

Naruto defeats Kabuto with the Rasengan.

They arrive to see Tsunade, who never intended to aid Orochimaru, in the midst of battle with Kabuto Yakushi. When Tsunade is incapacitated, Naruto fights Kabuto in her place and eventually defeats him with a perfected Rasengan, which he formed by using a shadow clone. Naruto collapses almost immediately afterwards, his heart muscles torn by Kabuto, but Tsunade successfully manages to heal him, gives him the necklace he wins, and accepts the position of Hokage. After Orochimaru and Kabuto are defeated, Naruto and the others return to Konoha, Tsunade confidently believing Naruto would someday become a great Hokage.

Land of Tea Escort Mission

Main article: Land of Tea Escort Mission

Sasuke Recovery Mission

Naruto visits a recovering Sasuke at the hospital, but is immediately challenged to a fight, to which Naruto eventually agrees. The fight escalates quickly, culminating with Naruto using Rasengan and Sasuke using Chidori. Kakashi arrives and deflects their attacks into opposing water towers before they can clash, Naruto unknowingly doing more damage than Sasuke. Distressed by Sasuke's behavior, Sakura informs Naruto of the cursed seal Sasuke received from Orochimaru, though Naruto assures Sakura that Sasuke would never abandon Konoha for power. Unfortunately, Sasuke does just that and Naruto joins the Sasuke Recovery Team in order to bring him back; he promises a tearful Sakura to do so before he leaves. En route to Sasuke, the team encounters members of the Sound Four, each of which battles a member of the recovery team, while Naruto engages Kimimaro. Overwhelmed by Kimimaro's taijutsu skills, Naruto is saved at the last minute by Rock Lee, who volunteers to fight Kimimaro while Naruto heads after Sasuke.

Naruto Sasuke clash

Naruto fights Sasuke.

Naruto finally meets Sasuke at the Valley of the End. His pleas for Sasuke to come back to Konoha and warnings that Orochimaru will take his body fall on deaf ears. Naruto starts attacking him, ready to take him back to Konoha by force if necessary. Undeterred, Sasuke responds by tapping into his cursed seal and landing a series of heavy blows on Naruto. It becomes painfully clear to Naruto that Sasuke is fighting with an intent to kill, so Naruto utilises the Nine-Tails' chakra to overpower Sasuke. Naruto says that Sasuke is like a brother to him and that he will do anything to protect that bond. Sasuke vows to sever that bond, but acknowledges Naruto as an equal by putting on his forehead protector. They continue trading blows, with Naruto eventually manifesting a fox-shaped cloak and Sasuke entering his cursed seal's second level. Naruto clashes his Rasengan with Sasuke's Chidori, and within the dome of resulting energy they trade final blows: Sasuke punches Naruto and Naruto scratches Sasuke's forehead protector.

When the energy dissipates, Naruto lies defeated, but Sasuke spares him and continues his way to Orochimaru, leaving his scratched forehead protector behind. Kakashi and Pakkun arrive late and failing to retrieve Sasuke, leave with Naruto. In the hospital, Naruto once again promises Sakura to bring Sasuke home someday to Sakura that he would someday bring Sasuke home. Soon after, Jiraiya arrived with an offer to train Naruto for preparation against Orochimaru and Akatsuki in three years and to give up on Sasuke, as he is no different from Orochimaru. Naruto accepts Jiraiya's training, but refuses to give up on Sasuke, satisfying Jiraiya.

Original Anime Arcs

See also: Plot of Naruto

Naruto and jiraiya leaving

Naruto leaves with Jiraiya.

In the anime, Tsunade gives Naruto several missions with members of the Konoha 11 to keep him busy while Jiraiya collects more information about Akatsuki. As in the manga, Naruto later departs with Jiraiya to begin his three-year training, after making a determined gesture at the Fourth Hokage's statue.

Interlude

Gutsy Master and Student: The Training

In the anime, shortly after leaving Konoha, Jiraiya and Naruto discuss the fact that Naruto will need to learn how to counter genjutsu if he hopes to be a match against Sasuke the next time they meet. Naruto practices with Gamariki to dispel genjutsu, but he struggles with it and his chakra keeps hitting Gamariki, who doesn't appreciate it. Naruto follows Jiraiya to the Genjutsu Tree Village to try a different approach, but they discover the village has been taken over by Kandachi. They free the villagers and then attack Kandachi, who Naruto eventually defeats with his newly-created Big Ball Rasengan. As they leave afterwards, Jiraiya is pleased by how similar Naruto is to Minato Namikaze and hugs him, which Naruto is bothered by.

In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths

Two years into their training, Naruto's control of the Nine-Tails' chakra has improved significantly. Jiraiya tries to give him more access to the Nine-Tails' power and uses Gerotora to weaken Naruto's Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. Seizing the opportunity, the Nine-Tails mocked Naruto for his inability to save Sasuke, using Naruto's negative emotions to force him to enter a version 2 form with four tails. Not in control of his body, Naruto attacks Jiraiya and nearly kills him before he manages to suppress the Nine-Tails. Naruto has no memory of what happened and Jiraiya doesn't tell him, instead shifting Naruto's training to other pursuits, including keeping his anger in check so that the Nine-Tails won't flare up again.[121]

Part II

See also: Plot of Naruto: Shippūden

Kazekage Rescue Mission

Naruto and Jiraiya return to Konoha after two-and-a-half years of training, where Naruto becomes surprised by Tsunade's newly-formed statue on Hokage Rock. He greets his old friends afterwards: he gives Kakashi a copy of Icha Icha Tactics as a gift; he catches up with Sakura, whom he has become taller than; he gets back into a competition of Sexy Techniques with Konohamaru Sarutobi, only to be violently reprimanded by Sakura. Kakashi reforms Team 7 with them and gives them another bell test, but unlike last time, taking the bells from him is the real objective. As with last time, Naruto launches a first attack before the test officially begins, but this time it nearly succeeds. Despite their improved abilities, Naruto and Sakura were still unable to get a bell through conventional means, and it was only by Naruto's threat to spoil the latest Icha Icha novel that they distracted Kakashi long enough to take the bells.

While Team 7 tries without success to find a mission to go on that Naruto won't complain about, word reaches Konoha that Akatsuki has kidnapped Gaara, the Kazekage. Team 7 is sent to Sunagakure to assist in rescuing Gaara. On their way to Suna, Naruto explains that Gaara was kidnapped because he is the jinchūriki of the One-Tail, just as Naruto is the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. Upon arrival in Suna, Naruto defends Kakashi from Chiyo's assault when she mistakes him for his father. Team 7 gathers what intel they can on Gaara's kidnappers and leave to go after them; Chiyo volunteers to escort them since they aren't familiar with the country around Suna. Naruto promises a recovering Kankurō to rescue Gaara before they leave.

While en route to an Akatsuki lair, they are confronted by Itachi Uchiha, who traps Naruto in a genjutsu. Sakura and Chiyo release him, allowing Naruto to team up with Kakashi and defeat Itachi with a Big Ball Rasengan. The Itachi is discovered to be an impostor, so they continue to the Akatsuki lair, meeting up with Team Guy, who takes down the barrier over the entrance so that Team 7 can get in. They find Gaara's body finds with his kidnappers, Deidara and Sasori. Deidara flies off with Gaara's body with Naruto and Kakashi in pursuit, leaving Sasori to Chiyo and Sakura. Naruto, enraged, makes repeated failed attempts to rescue Gaara before he is calmed by Kakashi, who uses his new Mangekyō Sharingan to distract Deidara with Kamui. Naruto retrieves Gaara's body, but seeing it drives him over the edge: he furiously attacks Deidara and beats him mercilessly into the ground. Discovering that it was a Clay Clone, Naruto slips into his two-tailed form in rage, but is restored to normal by Kakashi via the Chakra-Suppressing Seal.

Gaara awakens

Gaara awakens, with Naruto by his side.

Deidara escapes, while Naruto and Kakashi regroup with Sakura, Chiyo, and Team Guy. Sakura attempts to revive Gaara, but the removal of Shukaku has caused him to die. Naruto breaks down in tears and angrily lashes out at Chiyo, saying she had no right to make Gaara not only a jinchūriki, but also lose his life because of it. As atonement and with Naruto's aid, Chiyo sacrifices her life to revive Gaara; as the jutsu nears completion, Chiyo voices her faith in Naruto's ability to save Gaara and to become Hokage. Naruto greets Gaara when he awakens, and a few days later, Teams 7 and Guy attend Chiyo's funeral in Suna. Before returning home, Naruto and Gaara shake hands (Gaara using his sand) as a sign to their close relationship.

Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission

During her fight with Sasori, Sakura learned of an opportunity to meet with a spy in Orochimaru's ranks in a few days' time, hoping it will lead them to Sasuke. Kakashi is left bedridden from his fight with Deidara, so Yamato leads Team 7 as his replacement. Replacing Sasuke on the team is Sai, whom Naruto actually encounters earlier and dislikes, declaring him an inferior version of Sasuke. Sai is happy for this distinction and proceeds to degrade Sasuke for defecting from Konoha, forcing Yamato to use his Wood Release to break up their fight. Naruto is constantly exasperated by Sai's lack of empathy and his ridicule of Sasuke, but resolves to work with Sai if it means saving Sasuke.

Team Yamato

Team 7 confronts Orochimaru and Kabuto.

Yamato disguises himself as Sasori and goes to the Tenchi Bridge to meet the spy while Naruto, Sakura, and Sai hide nearby. The spy, Kabuto Yakushi, begins telling Yamato about Orochimaru's organisation, but they are interrupted by the arrival of Orochimaru, who teams up with Kabuto to fight Yamato, having intended to kill Sasori. Team 7 comes to his aid and Orochimaru, recognising them, taunts Naruto about Sasuke. Naruto is enraged and strikes him, using his version 1 form to make his attacks more devastating. Naruto's rage intensifies as he submits to the Nine-Tails' influence: he destroys the Tenchi Bridge and eventually advances to his version 2 form while fighting Orochimaru. Naruto is soon forced back to the destroyed bridge, where, unable to tell friend from foe, he unknowingly attacks Sakura when she approaches him.

Yamato restrains Naruto with his Wood Release and suppresses the Nine-Tails' influence, but its chakra leaves Naruto's body badly damaged. After Sakura heals him, Naruto wakes up unable to remember what happened, but is surprised by the devastated landscape. When they realise that Sai is missing, Yamato reports that he has joined with Orochimaru and Kabuto. On the way, Yamato secretly takes Naruto aside and tells him that he is the one who attacked Sakura. He encourages Naruto to use his own strength instead of the Nine-Tails in order to protect his loved ones. The team locates Sai, whom Yamato has placed a trace on, at Orochimaru's lair and capture him. Restrained, Sai asks why Naruto is determined to save him; Naruto replies that his bond with Sasuke is too precious to be broken and that he will do anything to protect it. Intrigued, Sai switches sides, helping them capture Kabuto and then searching the base for Sasuke on Naruto's behalf. While he's gone, Yamato goes through his belongings and finds evidence that Sai has been assigned to assassinate Sasuke.

Sasuke draws sword

Sasuke prepares to kill Naruto.

When they find Sai, he explains that he truly does want to help retrieve Sasuke, and in fact has already found him: Naruto and Sakura are speechless to see Sasuke again. Sasuke reacts with indifference to them, but Naruto remarks he can't become Hokage without saving his friend. To demonstrate that they mean nothing to him, Sasuke quickly neutralises them all. As Naruto struggles to avoid the temptation of using the Nine-Tails, Sasuke suddenly appears in Naruto's subconscious using his Sharingan and suppresses the Nine-Tails. He then prepares to kill them, but is persuaded not to by Orochimaru and leaves without further comment. Naruto is upset at having failed once more to bring Sasuke home, but is reminded by Sakura that they need to become stronger and Team 7 returns to Konoha.

Twelve Guardian Ninja

Main article: Twelve Guardian Ninja (Arc)

Akatsuki Suppression Mission

Once Kakashi is done recuperating in the hospital, he assembles Naruto, Sakura, and Sai to discuss their failed mission to retrieve Sasuke. Kakashi believes the best way to match Sasuke is for Naruto to create a new jutsu. As the training began, Naruto discovers that his nature is wind and learns to use the wind nature. Ordinarily, such training would take months or years, but Kakashi advises that Naruto, by training alongside hundreds of shadow clones can do the same training in a mere fraction of the time. With Kakashi's instructions and the training grounds created by Yamato, Naruto quickly masters how to use the wind nature. The next step is more difficult for him: combining that nature with the Rasengan.

Naruto vs Kakuzu

Naruto defeats Kakuzu.

Like Kakashi and Minato Namikaze before him, Naruto fails several times in trying to combine his nature with the Rasengan; his frustration evokes the Nine-Tails' chakra at times, which Yamato suppresses. With further advice from Kakashi, Naruto finds his solution using two shadow clones: one helps him form the Rasengan and the other adds his wind nature. When they receive news that Asuma died in battle with members of Akatsuki, they take a break to attend Asuma's funeral. Kakashi leaves Yamato in charge of overseeing Naruto's training so he could help Team 10 avenge Asuma. Having finished his jutsu, Naruto and Team Yamato went to provide assistance, arriving in time to save Kakashi and Team 10 from Kakuzu. Naruto engages Kakuzu alone with his newly-created Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, though it dissipates on its first use and Naruto is rescued by Kakashi and Yamato. The technique succeeds the second time, destroying two of Kakuzu's hearts and putting the last one on the brink of failure. Kakashi finishes off Kakuzu and they return to Konoha.

The Rasenshuriken injures Naruto's arm after use and he is forbidden to use the technique ever again. When they visit Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto has a hard time eating while his arm mends, so Sakura opts to help, before the responsibility falls to Sai, then to Kakashi. As they leave afterwards, they are met by Konohamaru, who demonstrates his Sexy: Girl on Girl Technique; Naruto approves but Sakura is disgusted and violently reprimands him. In the manga, Konohamaru responds with Sexy: Boy on Boy Technique; Sakura approves but Naruto is disgusted and violently reprimands him.

Three-Tails' Appearance

Main article: Three-Tails' Appearance

Itachi Pursuit Mission

News reaches Konoha that Sasuke has killed Orochimaru. Realising that this is a good opportunity to try once again to reunite with Sasuke, Kakashi combines Teams 7 and 8 into an Eight Man Squad with the mission to find either Sasuke or his assumed target, Itachi. When they split up to search, Naruto, because he's a target of Akatsuki, is given a protective escort in the form of Hinata, Yamato, and Bull. Their group encounters Kabuto, who offers them intel on Akatsuki and its members, his thanks to Naruto "inspiring" him to overcome Orochimaru after absorbing his remains. Kabuto then escapes.

Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant

Itachi's Genjutsu

Naruto and Itachi converse.

After regrouping and Kiba Inuzuka detects Sasuke's trail, Naruto creates shadow clones to search the area faster, one of which encounters Itachi. Itachi repels Naruto's attacks and insists he only wants to talk. He asks Naruto what Sasuke means to him and what he will do if Sasuke ever moves against Konoha. Naruto replies that he is Sasuke's brother – a better brother than Itachi is – and that if Sasuke ever attacks the village he will defend it without killing Sasuke. Itachi is happy with this answer and gives Naruto some assistance for this purpose: a special special crow that he stores within Naruto's body. Itachi left, and Naruto continued his search, eventually finding Sasuke.[122]

As they near Sasuke's location they are intercepted by Tobi of Akatsuki, who prevents them from progressing and who is invulnerable to their attacks. Tobi leaves when he receives news that Sasuke has killed Itachi, and Teams 7 and 8 try to reach Sasuke before he does. Unable to find where Tobi has taken Sasuke, they are forced to return to Konoha.

Six-Tails Unleashed

Main article: Six-Tails Unleashed

Pain's Assault

Naruto after Jiraiya's death

Naruto mourns Jiraiya's death.

As Naruto contemplated his meeting with Itachi, he was called to the Hokage Residence to hear somber news: his master Jiraiya was killed by Pain, the leader of Akatsuki. Grief-stricken, Naruto blamed Tsunade and spent the day mourning his teacher's death, depressed that Jiraiya cannot see him become Hokage. After being comforted by Iruka and Shikamaru, Naruto helped to decipher Jiraiya's dying message and eventually they succeed. Understanding that Jiraiya had bought him time for his own fight with Pain, Naruto went to train with the toads of Mount Myoboku to learn senjutsu. Naruto trained to harmonise with nature, a process he sped up by using a limited number of shadow clones. He rapidly progressed through the training stages and attained a perfect Sage Mode, which Jiraiya was unable able to do. News of Pain's Assault on Konoha reached them, they began to mobilise for battle.

Naruto and Fukasaku

Naruto arrives to fight Pain.

As Naruto, Fukasaku, Gamaken, Gamahiro, Gamabunta, and Gamakichi were summoned to the centre of Konoha, the group was confronted by the Six Paths of Pain, whom had just destroyed the village. After destroying the Asura Path before it could attack Tsunade, Naruto told her to make sure everyone left the battle to him. After a brief skirmish with Animal Path, Naruto and the toads defeated the Animal, Preta, and Human Paths before running out of senjutsu chakra. Naruto revealed that he had two shadow clones waiting back at Mount Myōboku to revitalise him with natural energy. Naruto went back on the offensive, dispatching the healed Preta and Naraka Path, before the Deva Path regained its full power. Pain killed Fukasaku and used the opportunity to capture Naruto, pinning him down to the ground.

Naruto pin down

Naruto pinned down by Pain.

With Naruto restrained, Pain opened up his reasons for Akatsuki, their plan for the tailed beasts, and the peaceful world he wanted to create. Though Naruto rejected his notion that using a weapon to force peace, he could offer no alternative. Before Pain could depart with Naruto, he was attacked by Hinata Hyūga. Declaring her love for Naruto and vowing to protect him, she continued to fight against Pain before she was subdued and critically wounded. Believing Hinata to had been killed, an enraged Naruto erupted into his six-tailed form. Resisting the First Hokage's Necklace's attempted to quell the transformation and destroying it, the Nine-Tails attacked Pain, forcing him out of the village to get close enough to his actual body to use the Chibaku Tensei, trapping Naruto within the small satellite. The technique was not enough to stop the Nine-Tails, however, as it simply progressed to eight-tailed form to force its way out of the satellite. Meanwhile within his subconscious, Naruto was tempted by the Nine-Tails to open its seal to save him from the pain of not having Pain's answer for peace. However, before Naruto could, Minato appeared, having left some of his chakra within the seal in case of an emergency to protect his son. Overjoyed at meeting his father, but angered that he would condemn him to life as a jinchūriki, Naruto listened to his father encouraging him, confident that he would find a way to break the cycle of hatred. After repairing the seal, Minato disappeared and the newly-inspired Naruto prepared to resume his battle with Pain.

Naruto defeating Deva path

Naruto defeats Pain.

Confidence restored, Naruto was greatly relieved to learn that not only had Hinata survived, but nobody was injured during his rampage. After clever use of shadow clones, Naruto destroyed the Deva Path with a Rasengan, defeating the last of Pain's Six Paths. Using one of Pain's Black Receivers, Naruto followed the chakra signal to Nagato and Konan's position. Confronting Nagato, Naruto listened to Nagato's story that turned him into Pain and came to understand why he made the actions he did. Despite not forgiving him, he told Nagato he would not kill him and would instead try to create the better world that their teacher wished for. Moved by Naruto's determination to create a better world, Nagato decided to put his trust in Naruto and sacrificed his own life to revive all the people he had killed in Konoha. Naruto helped Konan retrieve Nagato and Yahiko's bodies for burial in Amegakure, and Konan left Naruto a bouquet of paper flowers for him, symbolising their new alliance.

Hero of the Hidden Leaf

The village greets Naruto upon his return.

Naruto then created a memorial for Jiraiya and left the flowers and a copy of The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi by a rock with the kanji for teacher (, shi). While the exhausted Naruto walked back to the village, he was found by Kakashi who carried him the rest of the way. Upon arrival, Naruto was greeted as a hero by the villagers, his dream of acknowledgement being realised at last.

Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha

Main article: Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha

Five Kage Summit

Sakura informs Naruto that Tsunade fell into a coma and that there's nothing that can be done to bring her out of it. While they talk, they are approached by Tazuna and Inari, who have come to help rebuild Konoha. They ask about Sasuke, which Naruto avoids going into detail about so as to spare them and Sakura a discussion about Sasuke's defection. After Tazuna and Inari leave, they receive news that Danzō Shimura has become the next Hokage and that he has ordered Sasuke be killed as a traitor. Naruto and Sakura approach Sai to ask him how they can convince Danzō to change his mind, but Sai is unable to help. Omoi and Karui of Kumogakure overhear them talking about Sasuke and they ask for information about Sasuke, wishing to kill him for his role in Akatsuki's capture of Killer B. Naruto leads Omoi and Karui away to spare Sakura pain, but refuses to reveal anything about Sasuke. Instead, Naruto allows the Kumo-nin vent their anger by beating him, to which Karui obliges until Sai stops her and the Kumo-nin retreat.

Recovering later, Naruto asked Yamato and Kakashi to take him to the Land of Iron, so that he could ask Fourth Raikage to pardon Sasuke. Upon arrival, the Raikage rejected Naruto's request and berated him for defending a criminal. Naruto went to a local inn to ponder his next course of action, but was soon confronted by Tobi, who wanted to understand Nagato's change of heart. Naruto ignored the question and demanded to know about his plans with Sasuke. Tobi told him about the Sage of the Six Paths, the Uchiha clan, and the truth about the Uchiha Clan Downfall, all of which now drove Sasuke along a path of vengeance against Konoha and anyone else who would dare cross his path. Naruto insisted that that he could still get through to Sasuke, but Tobi laughed and left, saying that Naruto and Sasuke were fated to fight again.

While Naruto was practising his Sage Mode's sensory abilities to locate Sasuke, he was interrupted by the arrival of Sakura, Rock Lee, Kiba and Sai. Sakura attempted to dissuade Naruto in his attempts to bring Sasuke back to Konoha by falsely telling him that she loved him. However, Naruto knew she was lying and he rejected her confession and her proposal to abandon Sasuke, stating it had nothing to do with his promise to her. After Sakura's party left, Sai's ink clone revealed that the rest of the Konoha 11 had decided to kill Sasuke themselves to prevent another war, while Sakura planned to kill Sasuke herself, at Sai's unintended insistence. Gaara, whom attended the Five Kage Summit that Sasuke attacked, arrived and revealed Tobi's declaration of the Fourth Shinobi World War, telling Naruto how they would be fighting Sasuke to protect Naruto, but he did advise Naruto to consider for himself what was the right thing to do. After hearing that most of his friends have turned against Sasuke, who now wanted to unleash his vengeance on just about everyone, Naruto hyperventilated and passed out. When he awoke, he was told by Yamato that Kakashi went to stop Sakura from dealing with Sasuke.

Naruto vs

Naruto and Sasuke clash.

Using a shadow clone as a decoy, Naruto escaped from the inn and followed Kakashi, arriving just in time to save Sakura from being killed by Sasuke. He tried once more to reason with Sasuke, sympathising with his pain and acknowledging Itachi's sacrifice. However, Sasuke was unmoved and declared his resolve to destroy Konoha and sever the Uchiha's connection to the shinobi world. Naruto then clashed his Rasengan with Sasuke's Chidori, realising that everything in his life he could have easily gone down the same path of Sasuke. Despite his jealousy of him, he had come to like Sasuke and was glad to have met him. Undeterred, Sasuke gave Naruto two choices: kill or be killed; Naruto chose neither. Tobi and Zetsu arrived and prepared to depart with Sasuke. Naruto resolved that if he and Sasuke were to battle again, they would kill each other, but he was willing accept it as he would shoulder Sasuke's hatred alone. Sasuke vowed to kill Naruto first and left with Tobi and Zetsu, while Naruto and his teammates returned to Konoha, with the captive Karin. Naruto explained the situation to his friends and asked to fight Sasuke alone, determined to get stronger for their upcoming battle.

Power

Main article: Power (Arc)

Paradise Life on a Boat

Main article: Paradise Life on a Boat

Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown

The Great Toad's Prediction

Naruto meets with the Great Toad Sage.

As Naruto was about to eat at Ichiraku, he was suddenly summoned back to Mount Myōboku by Fukasaku. He learns from the Great Toad Sage's fortune that he would meet an "octopus" and would battle a "young man with powerful eyes". When Gerotora was summoned to give Naruto the "key" to the Eight Trigrams Seal, Naruto knew he would need the Nine-Tails' power for the battles to come and accepted the key. Naruto was sent back to Ichiraku, where some of the villagers asked for his autograph. Naruto was unaware of that the five Kage were planning to keep him from the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War for his safety on a remote island in the Land of Lightning with Yamato, Might Guy, Aoba Yamashiro, and other Konoha-nin as security.

Once at the island, Naruto met Killer B, the jinchūriki of Eight-Tails, and requested to train under him after marvelling at B's mastery of his tailed beast. B refused as he was on vacation, despite Naruto's best efforts to impress him. However, when Motoi heard Naruto bumped fists with B, he took Naruto was taken to Falls of Truth, where B trained to control the Eight-Tails. Following Motoi's instructions, Naruto sat on the platform in front of the waterfall and closed his eyes to see his true self: Dark Naruto, who berated Naruto on how quickly the Konoha villagers changed their opinions of him. Inside his mind, Naruto fought his dark self, but found that they were evenly matched. Breaking out of meditation, Naruto questioned Motoi about B's history in order to learn how to conquer his inner darkness.

Cho-odama

Naruto fights the Nine-Tails.

Naruto reminisced about how B and Gaara changed everyone's opinions about them and began to doubt if the Konoha villagers sincerely trusted him. After witnessing B save Motoi from a giant squid and resume their friendship, an inspired Naruto returned to the Falls of Truth and confronted Dark Naruto again. With Naruto now having faith in himself, Dark Naruto began to weaken as he asked what his reason for existing was. Naruto answered by hugging him, accepted Dark Naruto as a part of him while thanking him for pushing him to become a better person. Dark Naruto finally relented and faded. B led Naruto and Yamato to a special room in the secret temple behind the waterfall, where Naruto was prepared to fight the Nine-Tails for its chakra. Within his subconscious, Naruto unlocked the seal and engaged the Nine-Tails in battle using Sage Mode. Though he appeared to have the upper hand and drain the Nine-Tails' chakra, the fox instantly planted its own hatred within its absorbed chakra, consuming Naruto.

Naruto and Kushina meet

Naruto meets his mother.

Just before Naruto was completely consumed, the spirit of his mother, Kushina Uzumaki, appeared. Naruto believed that Kushina was the Nine-Tails in disguise, earning a hit on the head and and an immediately apology from her, who hoped that he did not inherit her short-temper. Realising Kushina was his mother, he tearfully hugged her and the love-filled reunion purged the Nine-Tails' hatred within its drained chakra. With renewed confidence from hearing the story of his parents, Naruto battled the Nine-Tails once more. With his mother's assistance, Naruto successfully weakens the fox long enough to separate it from its chakra. Attaining the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Naruto imprisons the enraged and emaciated Nine-Tails within a new, stronger seal, apologising to it as it faded into darkness. Afterwards, Naruto learned from Kushina about his heritage, the truth behind the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, and how his parents gave their lives to protect him. Naruto told his mother that he could finally understand what a parent's love felt like and that he didn't blame them for what happened, instead feeling glad to be their son. As she fades away, Kushina tearfully hugged Naruto, thanking him for letting her and Minato be his parents.

Naruto crashes into Kisame

Naruto attacks Kisame.

In the real world, Naruto demonstrated his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode to B and Yamato before sensing Kisame Hoshigaki of Akatsuki hidden inside his Samehada via his negative emotions. When Kisame attempted to escape, Naruto used his blinding speed to quickly smash Kisame into the wall, though his foot get stuck. Yamato helps Naruto out while B pursues Kisame and they regroup to see Kisame's defeat by Guy. Kisame is restrained for interrogation, though he breaks free of his confinements through sheer will and summons sharks inside a water prison to eat him alive. Shocked by Kisame's suicide, Naruto observes that even those in Akatsuki fight for their comrades. They examine the intel that Kisame was trying to send, which turns out to be booby-trapped: they are each caught in a water prison and are trapped alongside a shark. Another shark, meanwhile, is able to escape with Kisame's intel. After they escape, Naruto is tasked with evacuating the giant animals into the Island Turtle's shell and logging the island's ecology as part of his "official" S-rank mission. He remains unaware that it is a ploy to keep him away from the war.

Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation

Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation Naruto returned to the Falls of Truth with B to start practising his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, specifically learning how to use Tailed Beast Balls. Since Tailed Beast Balls couldn't be made without the Nine-Tails' cooperation, Naruto tried to create the Tailed Beast Rasengan as a workaround. While struggling to balance the jutsu's composition, he sensed a distant source of the Nine-Tails' chakra. Naruto left the Falls of Truth to investigate and was met by a contingent of Konoha-nin, amongst them Iruka Umino. Iruka tried to convince him to go back to his training, but Naruto bypassed them and, from entering Sage Mode, sensed the ongoing Fourth Shinobi World War. Naruto became angry that they would try to keep the war a secret from him and that they wouldn't let him help. Iruka apologised, yet still made an effort to restrain him. Naruto escaped and found a Self-Repairing Barrier, preventing him from leaving by himself. B, at Iruka's request, decided to join him and together they broke through the barrier.

Naruto in Kyubi's eye

Naruto states his resolve to the Nine-Tails.

Shortly after, the Nine-Tails pulled Naruto into his subconscious, berating him for squandering its chakra and calling him naive for thinking he could stop the war by himself. When the Nine-Tails failed to once again tempt Naruto with power, the fox went off to claim that his attempt to put an end to hatred was futile, using his history with Sasuke as proof. Naruto responded by pinning the fox down, refuting that it was the one who was being naive and confidently exclaiming he would find a way to deal with Sasuke and end the war. Before he leaves, Naruto also promises to resolve the Nine-Tails' own hatred someday, unnerving the fox.

Naruto bypasses A

Naruto outpaces A.

On their way to the battlefield, Naruto and B were met by the Fourth Raikage and Tsunade, both intent on stopping the jinchūriki. B tried to convince the Raikage to let them go, and when that failed, Naruto tried to get around them, but the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode was too fast for that. The Raikage became increasingly aggressive in his determination to stop Naruto and B from joining the war effort, going so far as to threaten to kill Naruto if it would keep Akatsuki from capturing the Nine-Tails. First B and then Tsunade joined Naruto in arguing to allow them to fight, which the Raikage relented to once Naruto dodges his maximum speed. On Tsunade's orders, Shikaku Nara contacted Naruto and informed him about Akatsuki's White Zetsu Army and the accompanying Impure World Reincarnations. Naruto and B soon afterwards encountered a squad of seeming Allied forces, but with his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode's ability, it allowed him to detect them as disguised Zetsu. He quickly defeated them and sent shadow clones to various other battlefields to lend assistance.

Naruto kills dog

Naruto fights Nagato.

Naruto and B soon ran into the reincarnated Itachi Uchiha and Nagato. They greeted Naruto and briefly caught up on what had happened since their deaths, but were quickly forced to attack by their summoner, Kabuto Yakushi. Nagato advised Naruto and B on how to counter his jutsu while Itachi, between his own attacks, recalled the crow he planted in Naruto during their last meeting. Itachi activated the Kotoamatsukami of the crow's Mangekyō Sharingan to release himself from Kabuto's influence. Itachi joined Naruto and B in fighting Nagato, first by neutralising the Rinnegan Summoning and then saving them from being killed by Nagato. Nagato, his personality now suppressed, tried capturing them with Chibaku Tensei, which the three combined efforts to destroy. While Nagato was distracted by their attack, Itachi sealed him with Susanoo. His personality restored, Nagato used his last moments to apologise and put his faith in Naruto. Afterwards, Itachi destroyed the crow, its Kotoamatsukami too valuable to let fall into the wrong hands. He left to find Kabuto so that he could end the Impure World Reincarnation, but not before telling Naruto to let his friends support him and leaving Sasuke's reform to him.

As Naruto and B continued onwards, Naruto's shadow clones started arriving at various locations. In the anime, shadow clones were able to: save the members of the Sasuke Recovery Team from the reincarnated Sound Four's Space–Time Technique Formula: Underworld Turnover;[123] update Tatewaki about the fates of the children he was responsible for during life, granting him peace and allowing him to return to the afterlife;[124] run in to Yota, a childhood friend, and giving Yota a chance to play with him again before releasing himself from the Impure World Reincarnation;[125][126][127] assist Omoi in saving the Thundercloud Unit.[128]

Mujun

Naruto defeats the Third Raikage.

A shadow clone arrived at the site of the Fourth Division's battle with various reincarnated Kage. Naruto was able to land a sneak attack on , allowing the Third Tsuchikage to seal him before he could say anything. The Tsuchikage went to help Gaara fight the Second Mizukage, leaving Naruto to fight the Third Raikage along with the other members of the Fourth Division. Like the Fourth Raikage, the Third was very fast, easily dodging most attacks. The few attacks that did land had almost no effect, his body's natural defence was too high, and the Raikage's offences allowed him to break through every attempt to contain him. When Naruto noticed that the Raikage had a scar from his fight with the Eight-Tails years earlier, he contacted it via B to ask how the Raikage received the scar. Upon hearing the Eight-Tails' answer, Naruto surmises the scar was self-inflicted, confirming it as he manipulates the Third into piercing his own body. The Third is sealed and Naruto regroups with the Tsuchikage and Gaara, who already defeated the Second Mizukage.

Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax

Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax Shadow clones arrived at all the remaining battlefields, securing Impure World Reincarnations, weeding out the Zetsu that had infiltrated the Alliance's ranks, and defeating any other remaining Zetsu. Victory seemed near when the Sensor Division detected a new threat near the Fourth Division: Mu, who split himself before his sealing, and the reincarnated Madara Uchiha. Shocked by this revelation, they all wondered who the masked man, Tobi, really was. Madara gave them little time to discuss it and attacked them immediately. He cut swaths through the Fourth Division's ranks and used his Rinnegan to avoid the clone's, the Tsuchikage's, and Gaara's counterattack. Wishing to eliminate them all at once, Madara dropped a meteorite on them.

Kurama helps Naruto

The Nine-Tails chooses to help Naruto.

While the survivors regroup, Madara tried to summon the Nine-Tails. Although it failed, the fox sensed the attempt and offered some chakra to help fight Madara, preferring Naruto over the Uchiha. The shadow clone used the Nine-Tails' chakra to counter Madara's Nativity of a World of Trees with Big Ball Spiralling Serial Zone Spheres, though the extended fighting left the clone exhausted afterwards. Madara moved in to capture it, but was parried by the arrival of Tsunade, the Fourth Raikage, and the Fifth Mizukage. The Five Kage vowed to deal with Madara themselves and asked that Naruto should instead focus on defeating Tobi. The clone dispersed just as the real Naruto converged on Tobi. Naruto and B clashed with Tobi's reincarnated jinchūriki, styled like a Six Paths of Pain. During the fighting, Naruto referenced another Madara and asked who Tobi really was. Realising his lie was exposed, Tobi refused to accept any particular identity, believing it to be irrelevant. Naruto was not satisfied with this answer and vowed to break Tobi's mask.

Jinchūriki clashes

The jinchūriki clash.

B entered Tailed Beast Mode to clear the surrounding forest that was giving him and Naruto a disadvantage against the reincarnated jinchūriki. He then tried to seal the jinchūriki, but Tobi had them enter Version 2 forms to escape at the last second. The increased strength of the jinchūriki caused difficulties for Naruto and B. Tobi, taking advantage of the situation, nearly captured Naruto, but was blocked by the arrival of Kakashi and Guy. Their arrival balanced out the two sides, so Tobi had the Four-Tails and the Six-Tails enter Tailed Beast Modes as well. The Four-Tails captured Naruto in its mouth, allowing it to communicate with him. The Four-Tails, introducing itself with the name Son Gokū, was angered to be controlled by Tobi, but it doubted Naruto would be any better since humans had always sought to control it and its fellow tailed beasts. Naruto insisted he was different and Son Gokū, touched by his desire to help it, told him how to release it from Tobi's control. Naruto managed to break out of its mouth, locate the black receiver, and remove it.

Kurama teams up

Naruto and Kurama unite.

Son Gokū thanked Naruto for his help, but explained that it couldn't actually be saved, as it was still bound to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Before it was pulled back into the Demonic Statue, Son Gokū gave some of its chakra to Naruto and wished him luck. Tobi, having lost the use of one tailed beast, forced the others to enter Tailed Beast Modes so that the battle could be brought to an end. The Nine-Tails remarked that Naruto couldn't possibly win without its help. Naruto stated that he was not up for taking its chakra by force at the moment and that he would figure something out. However, Naruto's earlier determination to help Son Gokū moved the Nine-Tails, reminding it of the many selfless things Naruto had done during his life and the perseverance he always displayed. The Nine-Tails no longer wanted to oppose Naruto and instead offered to join him as a partner, asking only that Naruto call it by name: Kurama.

Seishin Sekai

Naruto meets the tailed beasts.

Naruto entered his own Tailed Beast Mode and went to save Kakashi and Guy, deflecting the other five beasts' Tailed Beast Balls. The Kurama avatar fought the beasts in close combat, forcing them to combine their Tailed Beast Balls into one against it. Kurama countered theirs with a single one of its own Tailed Beast Balls and Naruto then used the avatar's tails to grab and remove the beasts' black receivers. From the contact, Naruto was able to interface with the other beasts, who introduced themselves and, like Son Gokū, gave him portions of their chakra. Tobi recalled the beasts back into the Demonic Statue and, though irritated, remained confident in his eventual victory as he faced off with Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy. By the time night fell, however, Tobi was still unable to defeat them. A light eventually descended on the reincarnated jinchūriki that B had kept restrained, returning them to the afterlife and signalling that Itachi had finally defeated Kabuto.

Naruto hits Tobi

Naruto destroys Tobi's mask.

With his options running out, Tobi deposited the Benihisago and the Kohaku no Jōhei (which contained portions of Kurama's chakra) into the Demonic Statue which, combined with an fragment of the Eight-Tails, Gyūki's, chakra he acquired previously, was enough to start the revival of the Ten-Tails. Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy started focusing on destroying it, but were constantly stopped by Tobi and his peculiar teleportation and intangibility abilities. From the fighting, however, Kakashi noticed that Tobi's abilities were seemingly linked to his own Kamui. To take advantage of this, Kakashi had one of Naruto's shadow clones attack Tobi and, just as the clone was about to be destroyed by one of Tobi's attacks, Kakashi used Kamui on it without Tobi noticing. Naruto then attacked with a Tailed Beast Ball, which Tobi escaped by retreating to Kamui's dimension. He found the clone waiting for him there and it destroyed his mask with a Rasengan.

When they saw his face, Guy and Kakashi recognised Tobi as their childhood friend, Obito Uchiha, who they'd long thought dead. Obito declined to explain his actions to them and instead attacked, which attracted Madara, who escaped the release of the Impure World Reincarnation, to their location. Seeing Madara, Naruto asked what happened to the Kage, to which the elder Uchiha replied that they were in bad condition when he left them. From that and the conversation he overheard between Madara and Obito, particularly their manipulation of Nagato, Naruto attacked in a rage. Madara reflected him and then tried to capture him and B so that the Ten-Tails could be revived in its complete form. Naruto split his attention, he and B fighting Madara's wood dragon with their Tailed Beast Modes and one of his shadow clones trying to help Kakashi get over the revelation that Obito was alive.

Allied Forces Jutsu

Naruto with the Allied Shinobi Forces.

Obito tried to convince Naruto of the futility of resistance. Naruto insisted that protecting his comrades was always worthwhile, no matter how hopeless things may seem. His words brought Kakashi out of his slump, enabling him to start fighting Obito on his own, and energised Guy, who created an opening for Naruto and B to attack the Demonic Statue with a combined Tailed Beast Ball. The attack came too late, however, and the Ten-Tails was revived. Naruto, B, Kakashi, and Guy regrouped and coordinated an attack, but the Ten-Tails was too powerful and Madara and Obito, once they linked themselves to it, were able to deploy its powers effectively. Just before they could kill Naruto and the others, the combined remaining Allied Shinobi Forces arrived to help. Shikaku Nara, communicating to all of them from the Alliance's headquarters, staged an offensive to restrain the Ten-Tails. Although it failed, it was effective enough that Madara and Obito had the Ten-Tails destroy the distant headquarters, killing Shikaku and everyone else stationed there.

The Allies made individual attacks against the Ten-Tails, but none had any effect. At the same time, the Ten-Tails started raining wooden skewers all over the battlefield, killing many. When one was about to hit Naruto, Hinata shielded him with her body and Neji shielded her with his own. Dying, Neji collapsed on Naruto's shoulder, asking him to be more careful in the future since many lives, Hinata's particularly, now depend on his. With his last breath, he thanked Naruto for calling him a genius all those years ago. Naruto was deeply distraught by Neji's death, which Obito tried to use as an example of the needless death that resistance caused and that could be solved in the new world he wanted to create. Hinata brought Naruto back to his senses by reminding him of all the people who had given their lives to protect him and whose memories he would be insulting if he had given up now. As Naruto thanked her, he took her hand and coated her with some of Kurama's chakra.

Naruto powered the Alliance up

Naruto gives chakra to the Allied Shinobi Forces.

Naruto shared Kurama's chakra throughout the Allied Forces, increasing their strength and protecting them from harm. They all manoeuvred into a formation that Shikaku was able to communicate to them before he died and, taking the form of a bird in memory of Neji, successfully removed the Ten-Tails from Obito and Madara's control. Forced to fend for themselves, Obito sought out Naruto, criticising him for wasting his energy protecting others. Naruto replied that protecting them actually gave him strength, motivating everyone within earshot. They then sensed the Ten-Tails was about to attack, which Kakashi tried to stop with Kamui. Obito intercepted him and they teleported away, leaving the others to endure the Ten-Tails' Tenpenchii. Kurama's chakra protected everyone, but it faded in the aftermath; Naruto was left quite beaten up, requiring Sakura to heal him. When the Ten-Tails attacked with another Tailed Beast Ball, the Allies mustered what little defence they could. Before it could reach them, however, the Tailed Beast Ball was suddenly teleported away and Naruto's reincarnated father, Minato Namikaze, appeared at Naruto's side.

Team 7 Reunited

Team 7 together again.

The First, Second, and Third Hokage arrived soon afterward and, along with Minato, erected a barrier around the Ten-Tails to confine it. Sasuke arrived shortly too, at whose request the previous Hokage were reincarnated by Orochimaru and who now opposed Obito and Madara. Their fellow Rookie Nine had set aside their differences with Sasuke for the time being and joined forces in launching an attack against the Ten-Tails' cruft. On Sai's advice, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all summoned their signature animals (Naruto calling on Gamakichi) in order to focus directly on the Ten-Tails itself. Naruto and Sasuke successfully damaged the Ten-Tails' arm with a combined Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero, but it merely removed the arm to prevent the flames of Sasuke's Amaterasu from spreading.

Before they could attack again, Obito returned, landing on top of the Ten-Tails head and seemingly about to use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to restore Madara to life. While everyone focused on stopping Obito, Naruto couldn't help but notice that the hand seals he was using were different from what Nagato used. Minato tried to cut Obito down, but discovered that it was too late as he sealed the Ten-Tails into his body, becoming its jinchūriki.

Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki

Main article: Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki

Shuriken hits Obito

Naruto and Sasuke attack Obito.

Obito used his new power to destroy the barrier, forcing the Hokage to put the energy they were using toward the barrier into the fight instead. Because they had immortal bodies, they launched the first attack so that the others could learn what they could about Obito's new abilities, but they were quickly defeated. Naruto and Sasuke engaged him as well, but were nearly killed, saved only by Naruto using his chakra arms to link to Minato so he could teleport them to safety. Just as before, Naruto and Sasuke combined their attacks, having Minato and the Second Hokage coordinate teleports so that the attack would connect. Obito's Truth-Seeking Balls dissipated much of the attack and the damage that he did incur was quickly regenerated.

Naruto attacks Obito anime

Naruto attacks Obito after discovering his weakness.

From the development and some of the previous exchanges, Minato concluded that Obito was able to neutralise ninjutsu. Gamakichi, wanting to make some final contribution to the fight before he was forced to return to Mount Myōboku, attacked with his Starch Syrup Gun. Minato took this opportunity to try and reason with Obito, reminding him of his former dream to become Hokage. Obito berated the title and those who had held it, as he had surpassed them. Naruto was insulted not only because that was a slight against his father, but also because he hadn't abandoned his dream of being Hokage like Obito had. The Second Hokage teleported him to Obito and he attacked with a Rasengan, which successfully damaged Obito; Naruto noticed that Gamakichi's attack wasn't neutralised and realised Obito was vulnerable to senjutsu.

Minato and Naruto bump fists

Kurama and its jinchūriki join forces.

With a weakness discovered, Obito trapped the Alliance in a barrier and began charging multiple Tailed Beast Balls that he would use to wipe out everyone within its confines. Minato noted that he wouldn't be able to teleport them all away in time, so Naruto came up with a different approach: he linked his chakra with Minato and remotely restored the Alliance's chakra cloaks, networking everyone in with Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique, allowing him to teleport everyone out of the barrier. Minato did so and was afterwards very proud of his son, saying he wished they had more time to talk. Naruto replied that it was not necessary since he already met his mother and that she explained everything. Naruto and Minato each entered Tailed Beast Modes, with Naruto merging his with Sage Mode in order to imbue their shared Rasengan with senjutsu. The Second teleported them to Obito and they attacked, but he blocked it with his Truth-Seeking Balls.

Obito vs Titans

A senjutsu-enhanced Naruto and Sasuke attack Obito.

To move ahead with his plans, Obito created a replica of the God Tree, the first step in performing the Infinite Tsukuyomi. The tree started absorbing chakra from those nearby until they die, a fate that Naruto nearly succumbed to until he was saved by the Third Hokage. Obito pointed to the growing number of casualties as further evidence that Naruto should stop resisting, an arguement that Naruto was increasingly having trouble ignoring. Sasuke, unmoved by Obito's words, used Susanoo to hack through the tree and then mocked Naruto for giving up. Naruto was reminded of his desire to not lose Sasuke or anyone else for that matter and, reinvigorated, joined Sasuke in the offensive. Although their senjutsu-enhanced Tailed Beast Mode and Susanoo could compete with Obito, they were individually unable to defeat him. Obito continued trying to convince Naruto to stop, but he ignored him.

Obito is taken down

Naruto and Sasuke slash through Obito.

Sasuke then coated his Susanoo around Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode, granting the Kurama-avatar a sword and armour. Sensing that it was the final exchange, Obito created a sword and shield of his own out of Truth-Seeking Balls. Naruto created a Rasengan in each of the Kurama-avatar's tails, which his friends from Konoha guide in a coordinated assault to Obito's shield, destroying it. As soon as Naruto and Sasuke sliced through Obito with their sword, the tailed beasts then began to emerge from the Uchiha's body, giving Naruto and the combined Allied Shinobi Forces the opportunity to pull them out. The tug-of-war for the tailed beasts linked Naruto's consciousness with Obito's. Naruto reminded Obito of his earlier claim that he was nobody and set out to prove to him that he was Obito Uchiha, specifically the Obito Uchiha that Kakashi used to know. Naruto pointed out their similarities, how both were orphans and that, because of that, they wanted to be Hokage. Obito agreed that they were similar, but that was the reason why he was been trying so hard to convince Naruto that he was right, and insisted that the world he wanted to create was a better one because his vision of the future was clear, whereas the future of the current world was ambiguous. Naruto argued that was the point and that uncertainty, when faced with comrades, was worthwhile, and offered Obito his hand so that they might see what happened together.

Kurama extracted from Naruto

Kurama is extracted from Naruto by Madara.

The Allies successfully removed the tailed beasts from Obito and he fell to the ground, defeated. Minato and Kakashi insisted that Obito be left to them while Naruto and the rest of the Alliance should focus on Madara. They did so, joining forces with the First Hokage against him, but right before he could seal him, Madara put one final fail-safe into effect: he had Black Zetsu force Obito to revive him. Madara quickly neutralised the First, fended off Naruto, Sasuke, and Sai, and then went after the freed tailed beasts. Naruto entered Tailed Beast Mode and assisted them with fighting him off. They were initially successful, but when Madara reacquired one of his Rinnegan, he easily defeated them with Limbo: Border Jail, sealing them all back into the Demonic Statue, including B's Gyūki and Naruto's Kurama.

Obito Saving Naruto

Obito transfers his tailed beasts' chakra into Naruto.

The removal of Kurama from his body caused Naruto to pass out and placed his life in immediate danger. His Uzumaki heritage prevented him from dying instantly, but he required constant medical attention from Sakura in order to keep him alive. On the advice of Kurama right before it was extracted, Gaara took Naruto to Minato so that Minato's portion of Kurama's chakra could be sealed into him, saving him. Kakashi sent Naruto and Sakura to Kamui's dimension so that she could continue performing life support without interruption. Obito soon arrived to help her, having overcome both Black Zetsu and Madara in order to acquire Minato's half of Kurama and give it to Naruto, as his form of penance.

Naruto and Sasuke obtain Rikudo Power

Naruto and Sasuke accept Hagoromo's power.

While on the border of life and death, Naruto was met by the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. He explained his past conflicts with his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, and the conflicts that emerged between his sons, Asura and Indra. His sons' conflict had continued through the centuries, with their chakra reincarnated every generation in new individuals to fight anew; Naruto was the current reincarnation of Asura, while Sasuke was the reincarnation of Indra. Naruto was not greatly surprised, having sensed something like that when he met Sasuke during the Five Kage Summit. Because of Madara's aims for the world, Hagoromo asked that he and Sasuke join forces to stop him, a task he was only encouraged by from the tailed beasts' positive words concerning Naruto. He gave Naruto the Six Paths Yang Power, his chakra and Six Paths Sage Mode to help him in this goal.

Madara Attacked

Naruto and Sasuke strike Madara.

When Naruto woke up, he had Obito send him back to the real world. There, he stopped Madara from killing Might Guy and used Hagoromo's power to stabilise Guy's life force from using the Eight Gates Released Formation. Surprised by Naruto's sudden increase in power, Madara was hit by Naruto's Sage Art: Lava Release Rasenshuriken, which was fueled by Son Gokū's chakra and instantly cut down the giant tree Obito created earlier. When Sasuke arrived, Naruto entered Six Paths Sage Mode and they started overwhelming Madara. Realising his window was closing, Madara went after Kakashi and took his Mangekyō Sharingan, using it to follow Obito. Sakura appeared shortly afterward, sent by Obito so Madara wouldn't kill her. She could do nothing about Kakashi's eye, so Naruto used Hagoromo's power to restore the one he lost years ago.

Madara soon returned, now having both his Rinnegan and Black Zetsu in control of Obito's body. Naruto and Sasuke immediately resumed their attack, but Madara had an easier time with them. He rose into the sky, raining Chibaku Tensei on them to keep them busy while he projected the Infinite Tsukuyomi on the world. While Naruto destroyed the remaining satellite-like constructs, Sasuke shielded him, Sakura, and Kakashi with Susanoo from the Infinite Tsukuyomi's gaze. He let them out once the illusion was finished casting and they emerged to find themselves alone, with the rest of the world being wrapped into Madara's God: Nativity of a World of Trees. As Madara confronted them and started explaining how he had saved the world, he was stabbed in the back by Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu then transferred to Madara's body from Obito's and forced him to absorb the world's chakra, converting him into a woman that Naruto and Sasuke recognised as Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes

Main article: Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes

Naruto and Kaguya clash

Naruto clashes with Kaguya.

Kaguya detected that Naruto and Sasuke as the reincarnations of Asura and Indra, and also that her son Hagoromo had given them the power to defeat her. Not wanting to further the damage the world that their fighting would cause, she shifted them all to one of her dimensions, placing them above a sea of lava. Sasuke summoned his hawk Garuda to save himself and Naruto, but ignored Naruto's pleas to save Sakura, Kakashi, and Obito too since only he and Naruto were vital to the fight. Kakashi was able to briefly stop their fall, but the heat burned the scroll he used to save them and it was only Naruto's sudden discovery that he was able to levitate that saved them from the lava. He left a shadow clone to hold onto them and engaged Kaguya, creating an opening for Sasuke to attack.

File:Kaguya traps naruto and sasuke.png

Kaguya thwarts Naruto and Sasuke's sealing attempt.

Sasuke's attack failed and Naruto must save him from the lava. With their attacks ineffective and the environment such a hazard, Naruto and Sasuke discussed what to do. Kaguya appeared behind them and paralysed them, binding them with Black Zetsu while she started absorbing their chakra. Black Zetsu took the opportunity to expand on the history earlier given by Hagoromo, painting Kaguya as the victim of her sons, Hagoromo and Hamura. Black Zetsu had for centuries been manipulating others toward the outcome of reviving her, and only then had it finally succeeded. It encouraged them to bask in the embrace of their oblivion, but Naruto refused, breaking himself and Sasuke free. Needing to take drastic action, Naruto used his "ultimate" jutsu: Sexy: Reverse Harem Technique. Kaguya was so distracted that she was nearly sealed, but she recomposed herself in time to shift dimensions again, freezing Naruto and Sasuke in place.

Naruto Uzumaki Region Combo 2

Naruto overwhelms Kaguya with shadow clones.

Because Naruto and Sasuke were only a threat to her when together, Kaguya sent Sasuke to a different dimension while she focused on Naruto. While Kaguya manipulated the ice dimension against him, his shadow clone explained to Kakashi, Sakura, and the now-awake Obito that his and Sasuke's powers were both necessary to defeat her. Obito offered to use his Kamui to try and explore Kaguya's dimensions to find Sasuke. To give Obito an opening, Naruto used Naruto Region Combo to overwhelm Kaguya, forcing her to retreat to another dimension to get her bearings. When she did so, Obito infiltrated the dimension Kaguya went to with Sakura and the shadow clone. The shadow clone faced her so that she wouldn't notice them while they look for Sasuke. Kaguya returned to the ice dimension and resumed her fight with the army of Naruto's clones. He kept her preoccupied until Obito returned with Sasuke.

File:Naruto tries to heal Obito.png

Naruto attempts to heal a dying Obito, to no avail.

Increasingly frustrated, Kaguya shifted them to another dimension with powerful gravity to immobilise Naruto and Sasuke while she attacked with her All-Killing Ash Bones. Kakashi and Obito used themselves to shield the attack, with Obito then using Kamui to protect Kakashi, leaving Obito unable to defend himself. Naruto tried to heal the damage to his body, but even Hagoromo's power couldn't save him. While Sasuke fought Kaguya, Obito thanked Naruto for reminding him of who he was and made him promise to become Hokage for both their sakes. Naruto agreed and Obito's body crumbled. Black Zetsu ridiculed Obito for living an insignificant life and dying an insignificant death. Enraged, Naruto severed Kaguya's arm, in the sleeve of which Black Zetsu had been hiding, and then pinned it to the ground with his Truth-Seeking Balls.

File:Team 7 defeats Kaguya.png

Team 7 defeats Kaguya.

Naruto and his shadow clones attacked Kaguya with Sage Art: Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken. On impact, the tailed beasts' chakra within her began reacting and Kaguya started losing control of her form. She was able to reconfigure herself and prepared an Expansive Truth-Seeking Ball to destroy them. Kakashi interfered, using Susanoo (a last gift from Obito) to make an opening for Naruto and Sasuke. She tried to escape, but Sakura punched her to keep her in place, allowing Naruto and Sasuke to trigger Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei. The tailed beasts were removed from her, Madara was spat out, and she was entombed in her own dimension. Not wanting Black Zetsu to scheme for her release again, Naruto made a point to trap it with her.

Minato and his son

Minato wishes happy birthday to Naruto.

Team 7 wondered how they would return to their world. Sensing their need, Hagoromo combined the efforts of the dead Kage to summon them, the tailed beasts, and Madara back. Hagoromo thanked them for saving the world, as did the tailed beasts for saving them. Naruto happily greeted to his original Kurama, asking if it missed him, to which the flustered fox denied. After Madara died from his ordeal, Naruto met with Minato who, as day broke, wished him a happy seventeenth birthday. As Hagoromo returned Minato's and the souls of the other dead Kage to the Pure Land, Minato voiced his pride in Naruto and promised to tell Kushina everything about him. The other Kage also gave words of parting, which Naruto tearfully accepted.

With all threats gone, Hagoromo explained that the Infinite Tsukuyomi could be released if Naruto and Sasuke combine their chakra. Sasuke agreed to this, but first he wanted to kill the Kage and destroy the tailed beasts, believing both were inhibitive to world peace. When he was unwilling to back down from his threat, the tailed beasts moved in to stop Sasuke, but he captured each in their own Chibaku Tensei. Hagoromo recognised that as a continuation of Indra's feud with Asura, but lacked the time and power to do anything about it. Sakura tried to reason with Sasuke, but he knocked her out and left. Naruto followed after him, promising to Hagoromo that he would bring him around and finally end the centuries-long feud.

Naruto vs

Naruto and Sasuke's final battle begins.

Naruto and Sasuke ended up at the Valley of the End, where they fought years ago. Sasuke stated his willingness to bear the world's burdens by himself and live independently of the past, neither of which Naruto believed were possible, or at least wise. He tells Sasuke it's impossible to do everything alone like he plans to, pointing to the missteps Itachi made and their own successful teamwork against Kaguya. Sasuke replies that he only wants to remake a better world, one where he can, like Itachi before, be solely responsible for the difficult decisions that must be made so that nobody else needs to; this is what he believes a true "Hokage" to be. Naruto insists he will be Hokage, not Sasuke, because Sasuke is still going against what Itachi wanted for him and they start fighting.

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Naruto and Sasuke's attacks collide.

After a brief exchange of blows reminiscent of their fight years ago, Naruto and Sasuke started trading punches with their Tailed Beast Mode and Susanoo respectively. Sasuke chastised Naruto for not attacking with an intent to kill, but Naruto, like last time, was unwilling to do so, not wishing for either of them to go without the other. Naruto then clashed his Tailed Beast Ball with Sasuke's Susanoo-supported Chidori, producing a large explosion that does noticeable but not debilitating damage to their respective avatars. Each therefore powered up the avatars, Sasuke by channelling the captured tailed beasts into his Susanoo and Naruto by merging his avatar with the avatars of two shadow clones. The two met attacks once again, creating a giant explosion that stripped away their avatars and left them with too little chakra to use practically. They instead resorted to taijutsu, kicking and punching each other into the night.

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Naruto and Sasuke's final clash.

As the two near exhaustion, Kurama mustered enough chakra for Naruto to make one last attack, but Sasuke absorbed it. Having expected this, Naruto delivered a solid punch, finally irritating Sasuke over the endless repetition of their fight. Kurama gave the last of its chakra to Naruto, who used it to make a Rasengan to counter Sasuke's Chidori. Both woke up later to find that much of the Valley of the End had been destroyed, that they had each lost an arm, and that neither could move. Sasuke reflected that Naruto had been a constant obstacle to his goals, but that he was also the only person who never given up on him. Naruto's usual response that they were friends didn't convince Sasuke since it obviously went beyond, so Naruto elaborated that he experienced pain if he didn't have Sasuke. Sasuke was awed, knowing full well that Naruto had experienced various misfortunes in his life, smiled through all of them, yet would suffer without Sasuke.

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Naruto and Sasuke reconnect.

When they woke up the next day, Sasuke admitted defeat for the first time in his life, as he came to accept that Naruto was just as vital to him as he was to Naruto. Kakashi and Sakura eventually tracked them down and Sakura healed them, though she couldn't do anything about their missing arms. Once they were able to walk, they returned to where the Allied Shinobi Forces were all trapped still, dispelled the Infinite Tsukuyomi according to Hagoromo's instructions, and Sasuke released the tailed beasts. The Fourth Shinobi World War finally over, everyone returned to their villages.

Blank Period

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Naruto and Sasuke part ways on good terms.

After the war, Sasuke was pardoned for his crimes on the good word of Naruto and Kakashi (who had been selected to become the Sixth Hokage). Just before Sasuke left Konoha to wander the world, he was met by Naruto, who returned to him his forehead protector.

Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky

Main article: Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky Nearly a year after the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, Naruto and Sai were sent to the Land of Waves to capture Garyō, leader of the Ryūha Armament Alliance. Once they located the Alliance's hideout, Naruto launched an assault with multiple shadow clones; although he was still missing an arm, he had learned how to perform one-handed hand seals. He easily dealt with most of the Alliance's members, but was briefly stalled by the Ice Release of Garyō's bodyguard. Naruto distracted the bodyguard with a shadow clone for long enough to apprehend Garyō. Garyō tried to convince Naruto that the Alliance was doing good work by releasing the world from money's corruptive influence. Although sympathetic, Naruto couldn't abide their terrorist actions and escaped with Garyō on Sai's bird.

At some point within the next two months, Naruto received a prosthetic arm to replace the one he lost during the war. While eating at Ramen Ichiraku one day, he saw Kakashi walking by and asked him when he would officially take on the responsibilities of Hokage. He tried to convince Kakashi by listing the many shortcomings of Tsunade, unaware that she was standing behind him; she angrily knocked Naruto unconscious. Kakashi finally accepted the Hokage position shortly after the mission involving the Ryūha Armament Alliance and the Blood Prison. When Naruto learned about the mission, specifically that he was expressly forbidden from being informed about it at the time, Naruto started spreading rumours about Kakashi's relationship with the Blood Prison's new warden, Kahyō. Kakashi angrily attacked him and then bought him some ramen to apologise.

Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness

Main article: Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness Naruto ran into Shikamaru early one morning and they discussed their heavy workloads for the Shinobi Union. Since Naruto's assignments were given to him by Shikamaru, he took the opportunity to complain. Shikamaru explained that Naruto, a prime candidate for an eventual Hokage position, needed to get used to it. Naruto later discussed what Shikamaru had said with Sakura, having sensed that there was something Shikamaru was keeping from him. Sakura reminded Naruto of all the work Shikamaru did to prepare Naruto for becoming Hokage and that it likely had something to do with that. Naruto was aware of all that Shikamaru did on his behalf, but wondered if he was worth Shikamaru's trouble.

A few days later, Naruto was approached by Temari, who was worried about Shikamaru's recent behavior and now asked where he was. Naruto didn't know, and was troubled to find that neither did Chōji or Ino. He finally asked Kakashi, who admitted under pressure that Shikamaru was on a secret assignment to the Land of Silence. Naruto joined Temari's team of Suna ninja to go to the Land of Silence to provide assistance to Shikamaru. They interrogated the locals upon arrival and learned that Shikamaru had been captured by the Enlightened Ones. They attacked the prison where Shikamaru was being held and successfully freed him, enabling him to complete his mission by taking the country's leader, Gengo, into custody. Afterwards, Naruto demanded that Shikamaru never keep anything from him again, otherwise their future Hokage—advisor relationship would be very problematic. Shikamaru agreed and apologised. While Shikamaru returned to Konoha, Naruto and several other Konoha and Suna shinobi remain in the Land of Silence to help the country recover from Gengo's control.

The Last: Naruto the Movie

Main article: The Last: Naruto the Movie

Naruto vs puppets

Naruto vs. Toneri's puppets.

During the Rinne Festival, Naruto, being the hero of the village, was bombarded with gifts from various young Konoha residents. To distract Naruto from all the attention, Konohamaru invited him over to his grandfather's storage, where Naruto found a scarf that his mother had knitted for him before she passed. He happily began wearing the scarf around the village, treating it as a precious memento. Naruto attempted to discuss his new-found attention to Hinata over ramen, but it made her uncomfortable and ran away with embarrassment, much to his confusion and leading him to chase after her. While looking for her, Naruto stumbled across a horde of puppets trying to abduct Hinata. After he rescued her, they were notified that Hinata's sister Hanabi was kidnapped by Toneri Ōtsutsuki, and were assigned on a team to rescue her.

Kakashi informed the team of the imminent crashing of the moon onto the Earth, and asked that they do what they can to stop it in case Toneri was connected in any way. They followed Hanabi's trail and were led into a cave. While travelling through it, they were caught in genjutsu formed from their own memories. From seeing events of his own past and some of Hinata's, Naruto was reminded of her feelings for him and realised that he felt the same way. Sakura released them from the genjutsu and they continued with the mission. After the team encountered the Gatekeeper, Naruto noticed that Hinata was missing and left to find her, only to discover that she was in a conversation with a disguised Toneri who he quickly defeated. Hinata wouldn't share what she discussed with the puppet, so Naruto vowed not to let her out of his sight again. They continued through the cave and eventually arrived in the moon's interior, which the team then split up to investigate the surrounding settlement.

Naruto confesses to Hinata

Naruto confesses to Hinata.

After the team regrouped, Naruto watched Hinata as she repaired her ruined scarf. She expressed her concerns that she wasn't doing enough to save her sister, so Naruto reassured her and also told her how he felt. Toneri appeared before she could respond, prompting Hinata to give Naruto the scarf and departed with Toneri. Naruto chased after them, believing Hinata was being taken against her will. When Hinata did not deny Toneri's statement about them getting married, Naruto became too shocked to react. Toneri attacked him, destroying the scarf and leaving him badly injured. After three days of around-the-clock medical attention from Sakura, he woke up. Naruto was distraught, believing there was no reason to go on if Hinata had chosen Toneri. Sakura reassured him that Hinata couldn't really have feelings for Toneri as she loved Naruto too much, and had a reason for doing what she did. As his strength returned, Naruto vowed he would save Hinata and for her to wait for him.

Silver Wheel Reincarnation

Naruto fighting Toneri.

The team soon infiltrated Toneri's castle and after locating Hinata, Naruto went after her while the others rescued Hanabi. He arrived in time to interrupt Toneri's and Hinata's wedding ceremony. Toneri, who was controlling Hinata, had her attack Naruto, only for him to break his control and escape with her. Hinata lead him to the Tenseigan that was controlling the moon's decent, which they individually tried to destroy to no success, but together they succeeded. Regrouping with the others, Sakura handed over the remains of the scarf Hinata knitted for Naruto, which he graciously accepted. The team then attempted to flee the castle, but a furious Toneri appeared and separated the group, which gave him the opportunity to recapture Hinata. During their intense fight, Naruto managed to overcome Toneri's new power and overwhelm him by concentrating all his chakra into his fist and defeated him with a single punch, freeing Hinata in the process.

Naruto and Hinata kiss

Naruto and Hinata kiss.

Toneri tried one final attack, but was unable to control its power, leading to Naruto to intervene and save him from drifting out into space. Afterwards, Hinata informed Toneri of Hamura's actual decree and he, regretful about what he did, allowed the team to return home. As they were returning to Earth, Naruto reaffirmed his feelings for Hinata and stated that he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life, much to her happiness, and the two later shared their first kiss.

Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze

Main article: Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze While Naruto and Hinata were out on a date in Konoha, they ran into Sakura. Sensing that Sakura was overworking herself, they invited her to join them, but she declined.

One day, while Naruto was teaching a class of Academy students how to spar, he noticed Sakura, who was wandering around Konoha, looking distressed. Sensing that she needed a distraction, Naruto insisted that she help him, which took her mind off recent events. As thanks, Sakura informed Naruto of something she avoided telling him: there were rumours that Sasuke was trying to destroy Konoha. She didn't believe the rumours were true, but nobody had been able to get in touch with Sasuke to confirm. Naruto pointed out that Sasuke must not be worried by these rumours, otherwise he would respond to the messages he'd been sent. Sakura thought that was a good point and was put at ease.

When Naruto and Hinata later learned that Sakura had been kidnapped by Kido Tsumiki, they joined with Kakashi in going to rescue her. On finding her, however, they discovered that she had already defeated Kido. They congratulated her on her victory.

Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding

Main article: Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding Naruto and Hinata decided to get married and invited their friends and family. Because his parents were dead, Naruto asked Iruka to attend as his father, which Iruka happily agreed to. On the day of the wedding, though, Naruto kept his real father in his thoughts, looking upon Minato's face on the Hokage Rock with admiration as he and Hinata were about to walk down the aisle.

Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise

Main article: Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise Naruto appears in the novel.

Epilogue

Eventually, Naruto and Hinata had two children, a son named Boruto and a daughter named Himawari. One winter morning, his children rushed to greet him while he was training outside, excitedly asking him to play with them. As they started a snowball fight, Hinata happily decided to join in, to which Naruto warned his children that when their mother got serious, she was incredibly strong.[21]

Several years later, Kakashi decided to step down and selected Naruto to be the Seventh Hokage. On the day of his inauguration, Naruto got caught in a fight between Boruto and Himawari, the latter's panda toy having been destroyed by the former. Naruto stepped in to defend Boruto from Himawari's Gentle Fist-strike and took the blow instead, rendering him unconscious. He ended up missing his own inauguration, forcing Konohamaru to impersonate him during the ceremony.[129]

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Naruto stops Boruto from vandalising the monument.

Despite the technological advances since the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War and the new-found peace amongst the villages, the Hokage office still came with a heavy workload. One such issue was Sasuke's report that a threat greater than Kaguya Ōtsutsuki may still exist somewhere, which Naruto and the other Kage decided to keep the information between themselves to avoid causing a panic.[130] Boruto was upset that his father's busy schedule was frequently keeping him from spending time with the family, and when he did, it was often only a shadow clone. As such, Boruto developed the habit of pulling pranks around the village to try and gain his father's attention, a desire that Naruto understood, but that he couldn't do anything about.[13]

Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring

Main article: Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring

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Naruto's shadow clone trains with Boruto.

As Boruto's graduation exam from the Academy was approaching, Naruto used a shadow clone to help him train. Meanwhile, the real Naruto received a report from Sasuke about a boy with the Sharingan. After he consulted with Kakashi about it, Naruto decided to accompany Sasuke to a meeting with Orochimaru, leaving behind a shadow clone to manage Konoha in his absence. He made a point to leave the village before Boruto could come to see him off, though he asked Shikamaru to apologise to Boruto on his behalf.

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Naruto protecting Sarada and Chōchō.

While on his way to the rendezvous point, Naruto sensed that he was being followed by Sarada - Sasuke's daughter - and Chōchō - Chōji's daughter. He initially tried to ignore them, but eventually decided it would be better to confront them than to let them continue coming after him. When he arrived to speak with them, however, he found them being attacked by the same boy from Sasuke's report. Although he was pleased that they were able to hold their own against their attacker, Naruto decided to get personally involved when he saw the boy had a Mangekyō Sharingan. The boy could do nothing against Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, so he fled with a creature's space–time ninjutsu. Because the boy was apparently after Sarada, Naruto allowed them to come with him so that he could keep them safe.

While having lunch, Naruto told Sarada and Chōchō about what their fathers were like growing up and in what ways they take after them. Sarada was not only interested to hear about Sasuke, but also found she got along quite well with Naruto. As they got close to where they were supposed to meet up with Sasuke, Sarada snuck away from Naruto and Chōchō so that she could see him first. Naruto followed and, on arrival, was reprimanded by Sasuke for bringing children with him. Sarada explained that she came without permission as she wanted to know if Sakura was her real mother. Sasuke ignored the question, which only upset her and caused her to storm out. Naruto tried to comfort her, but his assurances that Sasuke meant well did not improve her mood. Before he could continue, he sensed the boy's return and defended Sarada as the boy and his father, Shin Uchiha, attack.

Sasuke assisted in fighting off Shin and his son, but Shin was able to manipulate Sasuke's sword and used it to stab Naruto. Naruto continued attacking Shin despite his injury, though tried to use being impaled by the sword to win sympathy; Kurama ridiculed Naruto for allowing himself to be stabbed at all, but assured him that it wouldn't kill him. Sakura suddenly arrived to lend assistance and landed a fatal blow on Shin, forcing Shin to escape and took Sakura with him. Unable to detect where Shin had taken Sakura, they continued to Orochimaru's lair. Orochimaru informed them that Shin was an old experiment of his that he since lost control of. Naruto noticed Sarada sneaking off with Suigetsu during Orochimaru's explanation and followed them, listening in as Suigetsu ran a DNA test that suggested Sarada's real mother was actually Karin.

Not knowing what the truth was, Naruto was upset first with Sasuke for the secret he was seemingly been keeping, but also with Suigetsu for getting involved. He approached Sarada to discuss it with her, but she lashed out at him, believing he had been a knowing participant in the lie that Sakura was her mother. When she tried to insist that having no blood relation to Sakura meant they weren't family, Naruto took a firm stance: he wasn't related to most of Konoha's villagers, yet he still considered them his family because they were important to him. In the same way, Sakura and Sarada were family because they were important to each other. Sarada realised how much she loved Sakura and decided she wanted to help rescue her. They reunited with the others and head out for Shin's hideout.

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Naruto fighting Shin's clones.

Using Sasuke's Rinnegan, they were able to reach where Shin took Sakura, only to find Sakura faring fine on her own fighting him. With the numbers against him growing, Shin called in his sons (actually his clones) to assist, but they turned against him and killed him because he always mistreated them. The clones then turned their attentions to Naruto and the others, which Naruto engaged with his own shadow clones. Because they were only children, he frightened them into surrendering by manifesting Kurama. Sarada reconciled with her parents and they all returned to Konoha, with Shin's clones being delivered to the Konoha Orphanage.

Boruto: Naruto the Movie

Main article: Boruto: Naruto the Movie Several months later, Naruto remained busy with his Hokage duties and continued having a strained relationship with his son, Boruto. Konoha has grown into a large city under Naruto's leadership, although Naruto is overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being Hokage, leading him to create shadow clones to tend to his family and the villagers. When Boruto and his team report to Naruto after a mission, Naruto asked his son to address him as "the Seventh" instead of "Dad," and reminded him the importance of teamwork, which annoyed his son, as he believed that he could handle anything on his own. Boruto warned his father to be home for Himawari's birthday party or else he will never forgive him. Katasuke then entered his office, requesting permission from Naruto to allow participants of the upcoming Chūnin Exams to use his new invention, the Kote. However Naruto refused on the grounds that it did not show one's true abilities a shinobi. Naruto was unable to make it to his daughter's birthday party and sent a shadow clone instead. However, the clone ended up disappearing and dropping the cake when Naruto became fatigued, which enraged Boruto and caused him to throw Naruto's old, tattered jacket out the window. Naruto felt guilty for letting his family down and Shikamaru told him to go home and rest. The jacket was found by Sasuke, who returned to Konoha to ask for help in deciphering a scroll he found in Kaguya's abandoned castle. They met in Naruto's office where Sasuke mentioned his meeting with Boruto and this leads to them making a bet on whether the nature of a shinobi has changed in regards to Boruto, to which Sasuke says it hasn't and Naruto says it has.

Naruto wasn't surprised when Boruto won the first test but after being advised by Shikamaru to reach out to Boruto, Naruto congratulated him via email, much to Boruto's annoyance. While the scroll was being deciphered, Naruto sent a clone to meet up with Sasuke and asked him if it was true that he was training Boruto. Naruto said that perhaps Sasuke was right in regards to the nature of shinobi remaining the same, to which Sasuke agrees. Naruto was nervous on the outcome of the second test but after learning Boruto passed, Naruto was overjoyed. Later, he met with Boruto in his bedroom and personally congratulated him and told him not to lose against Shikadai. Naruto offered a fist bump, but Boruto only smiled as he didn't want his father to discover the Kote he was wearing. For the third test, Naruto chose to sit with Hinata and Himawari rather than with the other Kage as they watched Boruto fight in the third round and finally against Shikadai Nara. Near the end, Naruto suspected something was wrong after it appeared Boruto won. He asked Hinata to use her Byakugan and she noticed Boruto wearing a Kote. Naruto then realised that Boruto used a Kote to produce several shadow clones in order to win the battle. Disappointed, Naruto confronted him in the arena, ordered that Shikadai be declared as the winner and took Boruto's forehead protector from him. He told Boruto they would talk about this at home, but Boruto lashed out at him that Naruto doesn't know how give him a lecture when he's never home. Suddenly, Momoshiki and Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki appear and began attacking the arena. Naruto is knocked out of the arena by Momoshiki but he rushes back to defend his son when he is in danger and is shortly joined by Sasuke and Sarada. Sasuke informed Naruto that the two enemies are the new threat written about in the scroll. Naruto realises he is their target and demands to know what they want. After Momoshiki reveals he wanted Kaguya's chakra, and eventually Kurama's from the Seventh Hokage, Naruto and Sasuke combine Kurama and Susanoo to shield themselves and their children from the enemies' attacks. Naruto also dispatches shadow clones to protect civilians that hadn't managed to flee from the arena. Determined to protect his son and friends, Naruto ultimately decides to allow himself to be captured in Momoshiki's jutsu and asks Sasuke to take care of Boruto for him. Just before Naruto disappears, he looks over his shoulder and offers his son one last smile.

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Naruto and Sasuke prepare to fight.

Naruto was teleported to another dimension and bound by Momoshiki and Kinshiki to a tree similar to the God Tree. Naruto resisted as Momoshiki attempted to extract Kurama from inside Naruto and it was not long before Sasuke, Boruto, and the other Kage arrived to rescue him. Naruto, surprised to see Boruto wearing his old jacket, told his son that it was like looking at one of his shadow clones. When he tried to apologise to Boruto for not being there for him, Boruto replied that it was alright and he just wants to hear more about Naruto's past. After the other Kage failed to defeat Kinshiki, and the latter was absorbed by Momoshiki, Naruto and Sasuke joined forces to fight him and initially gained the upper hand until Naruto was briefly imprisoned by boulders and Sasuke was severely burned by Momoshiki's Lava Chakra. Naruto became enraged upon seeing Sasuke injured but was relieved to find he was all right and still able to fight after being healed by Kurama's chakra. By once again combining Kurama and Susanoo, they managed to defeat Momoshiki and cut his lava creature in half, but Katasuke rushed in and began firing ninjutsu attacks from his Kote at Momoshiki, which he absorbed and used to attack Naruto and the others. Naruto is restrained by black rods while Momoshiki prepares to eliminate the rest of the Kage. When Boruto used his Vanishing Rasengan against Momoshiki to free his father and the other Kage, Naruto was greatly surprised to find that his son was able to use the Rasengan. As they prepare their final assault, Naruto helps Boruto to create a Parent and Child Rasengan, which Boruto himself unleashes upon Momoshiki and ultimately kills him. After the battle ends, Naruto sits with Sasuke and Naruto agrees Sasuke won their bet. Naruto proudly looked on at his son and stated that he would always be there to watch Boruto grow as his father.

Naruto and Boruto fist bump

Boruto and Naruto bump fists.

After returning home, Naruto posed for a photograph with Boruto, Sasuke, and the four other Kage. One morning, as Boruto left to meet with his team and Naruto left to go to work, both wished each other to do their best and bumped fists with each other. While Boruto was giving his interview, Naruto could be seen watching him on the television in his office.

In Other Media

Movies

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Main article: Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow Team 7 are dispatched to the Land of Snow to protect the lead actress Koyuki Kazahana, during the shooting of the new Princess Gale movie.

Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel

Main article: Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru are sent to track and bring a ferret back to its owner. However, when the group are attacked by mysterious soldiers, they embark on to something big.

Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Main article: Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom Naruto, Sakura, Rock Lee and Kakashi are assigned to protect the future prince of the Land of the Moon, Hikaru Tsuki.

Naruto Shippūden the Movie

Main article: Naruto Shippūden the Movie Naruto is assigned to protect the priest Shion who starts having visions of his death.

Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Bonds

Main article: Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Bonds A group of ninja from the Land of the Sky launched a surprise attack on Konoha and to stop this new threat, Naruto and Sasuke join forces.

Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Will of Fire

Main article: Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire Team Kakashi works together to stop Kakashi from sacrificing himself to stop a world war.

Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Lost Tower

Main article: Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Lost Tower Naruto is sent on a mission to stop Mukade. However, during the mission Naruto is sent 20 years into the past.

Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison

Main article: Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison Naruto gets framed for the attempted assassination of the Raikage. In his subsequent attempts to break out of the prison, he gradually discovers the prison's dark secrets.

Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie

Main article: Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie Naruto and Sakura end up in an alternate reality in a test version of Project Eye of the Moon Plan where the Naruto never lost his parents and many characters have different personalities.

Video Games

Main article: List of video games As the main character of the series, Naruto is a playable character in every Naruto video game. As the series has progressed, Naruto has become playable in various forms, often with different move-sets for each. New video game-exclusive forms are also available at times, such as a version of Naruto wearing Might Guy's jump suit, a version wearing Son Goku's Turtle School Uniform, Naruto from Shippū! Konoha Gakuen Den!, and "Mecha-Naruto". The video games also put some extra emphasis on his taijutsu; most of the time Naruto in the past fights akin to a brawler; while in his incarnation from The Last: Naruto the Movie, he instead fights more like a hand-to-hand boxer.

Live Spectacle Naruto

Main article: Live Spectacle Naruto Koudai Matsuoka plays as Naruto in this stage play adaption.

Creation and Conception

When creating Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto incorporated into the character a number of traits he felt made an ideal hero: a straightforward way of thinking, a mischievous side, and many of the attributes possessed by Son Gokū from the Dragon Ball franchise. He also made sure to keep Naruto "simple and stupid," since he does not like smart characters. Naruto himself is not modelled after anyone in particular, being conceived as childlike, with something of a dark side as a result of his harsh past. Despite this, he is always positive, making him unique in Kishimoto's eyes.

FIRST NARUTO

The first version of Naruto that Masashi Kishimoto drew.

Naruto's wardrobe is based on clothing Kishimoto wore when he was younger; according to Kishimoto, using a pre-existing design would not have made Naruto unique, whereas something original would have made him stand out too much. The orange colouring of his costume is used to make Naruto "pop", with blues often being used to complement the orange. Because Naruto is associated with spirals, swirl patterns are incorporated into his costume. Initial illustrations of Naruto had him wearing boots, but Kishimoto substituted these for sandals, because he likes drawing toes. The goggles that Naruto used to wear were also replaced with a forehead protector, because the goggles themselves were too time-consuming to draw. Kishimoto said that he felt glad that his character had blond hair and blue eyes. The editor of Shōnen Jump in the United States added that Kishimoto implied that the traits may have led the character to appeal to a Western audience. Kishimoto said that he most identifies with Naruto out of all of the Naruto characters (in an interview with the U.S. Shōnen Jump, Kishimoto stated that his childhood was like that of Naruto's years while he was enrolled in the Academy).

Naruto Appearances

Naruto's appearances throughout the series.

In the Japanese versions of Naruto, Naruto often ends his sentences with the addendum "-ttebayo" (which gives a similar effect to ending a sentence with "you know?"). Kishimoto wanted to give Naruto a childlike catchphrase, and "dattebayo" came to mind. It complemented Naruto's character, and served as a verbal tic that showed him to be something of a brat. Throughout the beginning of the English anime, the dub replaced "dattebayo" and "-ttebayo" with the phrase "believe it!" to mirror the effect, as well as to match the character's lip movements.

Trivia

Springtime of Youth
The Springtime of Youth wiki has an article about this topic:
  • Spiral patterns are a recurring theme in Naruto, especially in relation to the character of Naruto Uzumaki himself. The name "Naruto" is short for "narutomaki" (なると巻き), a kind of kamaboko with a pink spiral design in the middle that is used as a topping for ramen, which is Naruto's favourite food. His family name "Uzumaki" can mean "whirlpool" or "maelstrom". His full name is also a reference to the Naruto whirlpools (鳴門の渦潮, Naruto no uzushio), named after the city in the Tokushima Prefecture in Japan. In addition, Naruto's mother, Kushina Uzumaki, is a relative to the Uzumaki clan from Uzushiogakure in the Land of Whirlpools, who used the spiral pattern as both their clan and village symbol.
  • According to the databook(s):
  • October 10, Naruto's birthday, was Health and Sports Day in Japan when his character was conceived. The holiday, however, was later moved to the second Monday of October in 1999.
  • Naruto consistently ranked in the top two (taking first place twice) in the first five official Shōnen Jump character popularity polls. However, in the sixth character poll, he was ranked fourth. According to the third databook character poll, which adds up all the votes from the first six polls, Naruto took second place. In the most recent poll, Naruto regained his status and reached first.
    • Naruto is one of four characters to have always stayed in the top ten of every character popularity poll.
  • Naruto is the fourth known jinchūriki known to have survived the extraction of a tailed beast, along with Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, Kushina Uzumaki, and Obito Uchiha.[68]
  • Naruto is the third known jinchūriki to have become a Kage during their lifetime after Yagura and Gaara.
  • Naruto's mother was nicknamed the "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero" while his father was famed as the "Yellow Flash". Naruto's appropriate self-styled title of "Konoha's Orange Hokage" refers to the fact that the colour orange is a mixture of red and yellow.
  • When Naruto first became a genin, while using his Sexy Technique, his settei reveals that he is 160cm tall.
  • Kishimoto's various concept art of Naruto for The Last: Naruto the Movie showed that his height had gone through various changes: first 170cm, then 173cm, and finally 180cm.
  • Despite Naruto being a user of the Truth-Seeking Balls and gaining Hagoromo's power, both of which contain Yin-Yang Release, Yin Release is not listed as one of his natures in the fourth databook.[5]
  • Eiichiro Oda, author of One Piece, stated that his character Sanji's name was originally going to be Naruto, but changed it because Naruto series was about to become serialised and wanted to avoid confusion.
    • Naruto makes an undetailed background appearance on the cover page of the 766th chapter of One Piece, where the person behind Nami (who is wearing a changpao with the Konoha symbol) is implied to be Naruto. Also, both main characters are seen eating each others' respective favourite foods, as Naruto is eating meat, and Monkey D. Luffy is eating ramen. Additionally, this chapter was released on the same week as the release of the final two Naruto manga chapters.
    • In the 700th chapter of the Naruto manga, the symbol of the Straw Hat Pirates appears on the forehead protector of Naruto's statue as part of Boruto's graffiti.
  • While Naruto was initially the shortest of the Konoha 11, he ultimately becomes taller than all of them.
  • In the original manga pilot, Naruto was actually a demon fox and lived his life as a human boy and the Nine-Tailed Fox that attacked the village was his father.

Quotes

See also: Dattebayo and Believe It

  • (To Kakashi) "And my future dream is to be the greatest Hokage! Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody. Somebody important!"[131]
  • (To Ibiki) "Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want! You're not gonna scare me off! No way! I don't care if I do get stuck as a genin for the rest of my life! I'll still be Hokage someday!"[132]
  • (To Neji) "I'm not gonna run away, I never go back on my word! That's my nindō: my ninja way!"[133]
  • (To Gaara) "It's almost unbearable, isn't it… the pain of being all alone. I know that feeling; I've been there, in that dark and lonely place, but now there are others, other people who mean a lot to me. I care more about them than I do myself, and I won't let anyone hurt them. That's why I'll never give up. I will stop you, even if I have to kill you! They saved me from myself. They rescued me from my loneliness. They were the first to accept me as who I am. They're my friends."[134]
  • (To Pain) "Just give up… on trying to make me give up!"[135]
  • (To Nagato, reciting a line from Jiraiya's first book) "Then I will break that curse. If there's such thing as peace, I will find it. I won't give up!"[39]
  • (To Sasuke) "If you attack Konoha, I will have to fight you… So save up your hatred and take it all on me, I'm the only one who can take it! It's the only thing I can do! I will shoulder your hatred and die with you! Because I'm your friend!"[136]
  • (To his mother) "Don't apologise… I had a lot of hard times growing up as a jinchūriki, but I never blamed you or Dad. I couldn't understand what a parent's love was like because you guys were never there… so I could only guess… But now I know… I live because you and Dad gave your lives for me and filled me up with love before the Nine-Tails was inside me! So here I am, happy and healthy! I'm glad I ended up being your son!"[137]
  • (To Kurama) "You're not the monster fox anymore. You're one of my team-mates from Konoha… Kurama."[138]
  • (To Obito) "Quit it with your stupid reasoning! I meant to say that I'll stand any pain for my friends!! I'm not gonna give up on them!! It might just be me being selfish, but… not having my friends here… is the most painful thing for me!! Period!!!!"[139]
  • (About Hinata) "Hinata… This big idiot finally understands… The real meaning of the scarf you gave to me when you went with Toneri… I know now, from the scarf you painstakingly knitted and took so long to finish, that your love can't be unravelled so easily… Wait for me… This whole time, you always loved me for the way I am… Now, as a man, there's something I must tell you… Hinata, I swear I will save you!"[21]
  • (To Hinata) "Hinata… Do you remember that lesson in class? The one with, "If the end of the world came, who would you spend your last day with?" I couldn't write anyone's name down. I didn't know my parents, and I didn't have any friends… But now, I know exactly whom I'd choose. I want to be with you. Now and forever, until I die… I want to be with you, Hinata!"[21]
  • (To his son) "Boruto… with what I do now, all the people in this village are like a family. So there will be times that you won't be able to have me as a father all to yourself. I know this must be hard for you… but you must learn to endure it. You're a shinobi too, aren't you?"[140]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Rin no Sho, pages 30-36
  2. 2.0 2.1 Tō no Sho, pages 28-35
  3. Shō no Sho, page 6
  4. 4.0 4.1 Sha no Sho, pages 24-32
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jin no Sho, pages 28-35
  6. Retsu no Sho, pages 10-11
  7. Zai no Sho, page 27
  8. Naruto chapter 24, pages 10, 18
  9. 9.0 9.1 Naruto chapter 437, page 7
  10. Naruto chapter 450, page 2
  11. Naruto chapter 491, page 5
  12. Naruto chapter 498, page 17
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Naruto chapter 700
  14. Chapter 382, pages 9-11
  15. Chapter 500
  16. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ch5001
  17. Chapter 503, pages 17-18
  18. Chapter 440, page 5
  19. Chapter 2, pages 13-14
  20. The Last: Naruto the Movie novelisation
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 The Last: Naruto the Movie
  22. Chapter 485, page 14
  23. Chapter 487, page 2
  24. Chapter 648, page 5
  25. 25.0 25.1 Chapter 409, page 11
  26. Chapter 645, pages 2-3
  27. Chapter 98, pages 8-14
  28. Chapter 440, page 13
  29. Chapter 535, pages 2-5
  30. Chapter 37, page 7
  31. Chapter 641, page 3
  32. Chapter 286, page 16
  33. Chapter 262, pages 12-13
  34. Chapter 693, pages 12-13
  35. Chapter 695
  36. Chapter 4, page 6
  37. Chapter 462, page 14
  38. Chapter 617, page 19
  39. 39.0 39.1 Chapter 448, page 2
  40. Chapter 647, pages 14-19
  41. Chapter 649, pages 14-17
  42. Chapter 98, pages 13-14
  43. Chapter 700+4, page 10
  44. 44.0 44.1 Boruto: Naruto the Movie
  45. Chapter 700+8
  46. Chapter 144, page 4
  47. Chapter 498, page 8
  48. Chapter 558, page 13
  49. Chapter 9, pages 10-11
  50. Chapter 245, page 12
  51. Chapter 248, page 12
  52. Chapter 168
  53. Chapter 455, page 9
  54. Chapter 555, pages 11-15
  55. Chapter 572
  56. Chapter 554, pages 12-15
  57. Chapter 675, page 3
  58. Chapter 698
  59. Chapter 699, page 15
  60. Chapter 259, pages 8-11
  61. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ch671
  62. 62.0 62.1 Chapter 315, page 11
  63. Chapter 488, page 8
  64. Chapter 90, pages 4-8
  65. Chapter 617, page 5
  66. Kakashi Hiden
  67. Chapter 11, page 2
  68. 68.0 68.1 Chapter 661, pages 1, 12
  69. Chapter 77, pages 3-4
  70. Chapter 104, pages 16-17
  71. Chapter 75, pages 11-13
  72. Chapter 288, page 7
  73. Chapter 433, page 5
  74. Chapter 697
  75. Chapter 484, pages 16-17
  76. Chapter 698, page 2
  77. Chapter 617, page 5
  78. Chapter 277, pages 9-10
  79. Chapter 651, pages 7-9
  80. Chapter 697, pages 4-5
  81. Chapter 610, page 8
  82. Chapter 649, pages 7-8
  83. Chapter 671, page 12
  84. Shikamaru Hiden
  85. Chapter 259, page 1-2
  86. Chapter 134, pages 3-4
  87. Chapter 499, pages 12-15
  88. Chapter 535, pages 7-8
  89. Fourth Databook
  90. Naruto Shippūden episode 91
  91. Chapter 330, page 6
  92. Chapter 366, page 4
  93. Chapter 339, pages 9-10
  94. Chapter 460, page 6
  95. Chapter 642, page 12
  96. Chapter 697, page 11
  97. Chapter 698, page 4
  98. Naruto episode 194
  99. Naruto: Shippūden episode 63
  100. Fourth Databook, page 310
  101. Fourth Databook, page 226
  102. Chapter 418, page 6
  103. Chapter 430, pages 17-18
  104. Chapter 431, page 6
  105. Chapter 431, page 12-17
  106. Chapter 535, page 3
  107. Chapter 695, page 4
  108. Chapter 673, page 2
  109. Chapter 687, page 16
  110. Chapter 695, page 5-6
  111. Chapter 695
  112. Chapter 696, pages 14-15
  113. Chapter 697, page 1
  114. Chapter 314, page 12
  115. Chapter 642, page 12
  116. Fourth Databook, pages 309-310
  117. Chapter 433, page 14
  118. Chapter 565, pages 12-14
  119. Chapter 598, pages 12-15
  120. Chapter 555, page 9-15
  121. Naruto: Shippūden episode 409
  122. Chapter 403, pages 2-10
  123. Naruto: Shippūden episodes 303-305
  124. Naruto: Shippūden episodes 309-310
  125. Naruto: Shippūden episode 313
  126. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NS314
  127. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NS315
  128. Naruto: Shippūden episode 320
  129. The Day Naruto Became Hokage
  130. Chapter 700+5, pages 9-11
  131. Chapter 4, page 6
  132. Chapter 43, pages 16-17
  133. Chapter 103, page 3
  134. Chapter 138, pages 14-16
  135. Chapter 442, pages 16-17
  136. Chapter 486, pages 13-14
  137. Chapter 504, pages 15-17
  138. Chapter 570, pages 16-17
  139. Chapter 628, pages 9-10
  140. Chapter 700, page 16