Having become genin, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru are assigned to the future Third Hokage's platoon. Watching Sarutobi's space/time ninjutsu, Jiraiya becomes absorbed into learning it. One day, Jiraiya loses his way and stumbles upon Myouboku Mountain. There he meets the Great Toad Sage who predicted his arrival. See the origins of the Toad Sage Jiraiya!

Naruto manages to find Shiranami's location but he discovers that the Shiranami he found was actually the ninja bandits disguised as him. Hotaru finds the real Shiranami where the latter convinces Hotaru not to have the forbidden jutsu removed, and takes her back to the Tsuchigumo Village. After Naruto is saved by Utakata from the ninja bandits, the two return to the Tsuchigumo Village, where they find that Shiranami has everyone in the village under his control.

Shikamaru tries to decipher the dying message Jiraiya left before his death but cannot figure out what it says. Shikamaru asks for Naruto's help, thinking he might know the code. Can the saddened Naruto decipher Jiraiya's dying message?

While she and Neji prepare to visit an old man who makes ninja weapons, Tenten remembers the first time she visited him alongside Naruto and Neji. Utilizing a strange new weapon she had never seen before, Tenten fought against two ninja who had stolen two of the man's powerful weapons.

Naruto thinks back to the time when he encountered the soul of a man named Kisuke. Kisuke didn't recall anything about who he was, but a visit to the Leaf Village's hospital revealed something startling. Meanwhile, higher-ups of the Fire Country met to decide on a new security system for the Leaf Village put together by a ninja named Sabiru. Who exactly were Kisuke and Sabiru, and what connection did the two have?

With Killer Bee as his new master, Naruto begins his training to control the power of a Tailed Beast. In order to do so, one must fight the Tailed Beast head on and absorb its chakra, converting it into one’s own power.

Naruto's power of persuasion moves Obito's heart. Due to the influence of the Ten Tails, visions of himself and Rin from the past appear in the inner realm and play havoc with Obito’s emotions.

The Hidden Leaf begin preparing for the Chunin Exams. Ino and Choji ask Sakura to join their three-man team as a stand-in for Shikamaru, who is already a chunin.

Team Jiraiya, Shikamaru, and his Leaf teammates are lured into a mysterious village during their battle. A couple children from the village get caught in the crossfire and fall into a cave-in. Yahiko’s team rushes to the rescue, but Shikamaru doesn’t budge. Meanwhile, Naruto and Neji’s teams rendezvous, but a mysterious voice addresses them out of nowhere!

Upon graduating from the Academy, Itachi becomes a genin and joins a team that includes Tenma, Shinko, and their Jonin Leader, Minazuki Sensei. They accept a mission from Granny Cat to look for a missing feline who's a skilled Ninja Cat!

Hagoromo's two sons, Ashura and Indra, share a happy childhood, training and playing together. Indra is naturally gifted with great talent, and at a tender age is nicknamed the “genius of Ninshu.” On the other hand, Ashura has no aptitude for Ninshu. Still, the two boys are very close. But Hagoromo is unaware of the malevolent power stirring in the shadows…

The Tsuchikage and Raikage, who are in the Leaf Village to attend the Five Kage Summit, mention that they have already prepared wedding gifts for Naruto. Gaara finds himself in a dilemma. He's advised that the gift should be something that befits the Kazekage. He also learns that the Raikage is planning to perform a dance. Kankuro chimes in and suggests Gaara should dance as well—further plunging Gaara into indecision.