Sasuke uses Susano'o to slip past Gaara and the Raikage and heads towards Danzo. Just as the latter is within Sasuke's grasp, however, the Mizukage stands in his way.

Naruto gathers his friends and tells them that he will defeat Sasuke alone. Meanwhile, the Elders of the Leaf officially nominate Kakashi to become the next Hokage.

Tsunade sends out Naruto under the guise of a top-secret mission to keep him hidden away from the Akatsuki. Unfortunately, Naruto, Yamato, Gai, and Aoba are stuck at the pier due to a report of a monster attacking ships.

As they continue their voyage towards the Land of Lightning, Naruto, Aoba, Guy and Yamato sail through a thick fog. To pass the time, Yamato tells Aoba and Naruto some ghost stories (much to Naruto's dislike).

Shikamaru begins to feel the pressure of shouldering the lives of his friends in the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War. To help ease his mind, Shikaku sends his son along with Tenten on a mission to Mokuzu Island to replenish supplies.

Konohamaru is eager to fight alongside his senior ninja in the coming war, but his young age prevents him from being assigned to the battlefield.

While talking with his students, Shino talks about how he and his team got together and became more close as friends and teammates. The story switches to Shino's flashback during the first part of Naruto. They are on a mission assigned by Kurenai in which a Jonin assassin from a neighboring village. Shino gets defeated because of weak taijutsu and descends into depression. He even reveals he was going to abandon the team that helped him because he didn't think he was useful to them. But after his friends get in trouble with the rouge Shino comes back and defeats the rouge.

Given the day off, Sai spends it strolling the village and drawing. He initially encounters three children that he at first finds it difficult to interact with but later realises that two of them remind him of his team-mates Naruto and Sakura. He has several flashbacks of their time together and the bonds they share. In the end he uses the doors of a destroyed house and paints a mural of Team 7 along with Sasuke holding hands.

Kiba trains hard to catch up to Naruto, who is now hailed as the hero of the Leaf Village, but with little success. Feeling desperate, Kiba asks Kakashi if he could train him.

Inside his mind, Naruto continues his battle against Nine Tails to take control of its immense power.

Minato is forced to use his Flying Raijin jutsu and leave his wife Kushina behind to save their newborn son, Naruto, from a masked assailant.

Zetsu reports on new intel from Kisame and Madara learns about Naruto hideout. Tsunade, Gaara, Lord Raikage, and others must figure out how to get Naruto out of the secret island of Land of Lighting and all without telling him about the war. New mission is introduced.

Kankuro’s commando unit enters enemy territory to set up a stronghold for the Allied Shinobi Forces. They are immediately ambushed by the Akatsuki’s own commando unit comprised of the reanimated Deidara and Sasori.

Darui manages to seal away Ginkaku. Fueled by the rage of losing his brother, Kinkaku transforms into a monster that resembles a jinchuriki’s Tailed Beast State.

As the Allied Shinobi Forces' headquarters scramble to deal with White Zetsu Army clones infiltration issue, word reaches the Fifth Division of the development and Mifune instructs his division accordingly.

The reborn Team Kakashi continues to investigate the recent attack by Kabuto and the reincarnated shinobi when Naruto gets swallowed by a giant snake, but manages to escape using shadow clones, and accidentally ingests snakes that were present in the pond which Kabuto uses to summon Hidan.

Miina wakes up in the middle of a night after having a nightmare where Naruto is consumed by numerous snakes inside his subconscious while the Nine-Tails looks on and goes to Dokku for consolation.

The Fourth Company continue their fight against the reanimated Kage. Gaara and Ohnoki team up to hold off Second Tsuchikage Mu, while the remaining shinobi take on the Second Mizukage, who is willing to be sealed away.

Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, and Kiba find themselves up against some familiar faces from the past. The Sound Ninja Four have been brought back by Kabuto’s Reanimation Jutsu, and they are ready to seek vengeance.

The Leaf Shinobi succeed in bringing young lord Shu into custody, placing a disguised Naruto as his double. But Tatewaki soon uncovers Naruto’s identity and surrounds the intruder with his men.

A reanimated Granny Chiyo attacks Kankuro and Mifune’s team. Kankuro fights back by using the human puppet of Sasori. The sight of Sasori causes Granny Chiyo to recall the painful memories that led her grandson to create his human puppets.

Kabuto’s past is finally revealed. As child, a woman named Nonou raised Kabuto at an orphanage in the Leaf Village. One day, Danzo and Orochimaru visit the orphanage to provide financial aid under the condition that Nonou work as their spy.

The barrier is shattered, and Ten Tails appears! With unfathomable power in its attack, it sends shock waves through the air! Kurama takes the lead and tries to go on the offensive, but is helpless against Ten Tails' immense strength.

Obito has gained complete control over his power as the Ten Tails Jinchuriki. His powerful, cold-blooded attacks force Naruto and his friends into a corner.

Despite all efforts, Kurama is extracted from Naruto, and ultimately, all the Tailed Beasts are imprisoned inside the Gedo Statue.

Lee challenges Shira to a battle between taijutsu users!

Ino and Choji fight to protect an immobilized Sakura although they have depleted most of their chakra due to the relentless fighting.

Obito doesn’t understand Kakashi's way of thinking, but he finally learns why Kakashi put his mission first that time at Kannabi Bridge. Presently, Obito and Kakashi return together to confront Madara.

The Masked Man is satisfied that the Hidden Leaf Genin chose the importance of life over their mission, but orders his team to continue their surveillance. Meanwhile, Naruto is frustrated at his inabilities, and recalls why his father Minato sealed the Nine Tails inside of him.

Naruto and Sasuke have both become such high-level shinobi that each knows exactly what the other is thinking just by exchanging attacks. Despite knowing how Naruto feels, Sasuke is determined to cut him down.