Volumes 41–50

Complete listed story — includes the ending

Naruto, Volume 41

Chapter 370
The Amegakure ninja refuses to tell Jiraiya anything about Pain 's current activities. Jiraiya leaves him, admiring his loyalty. He removes Gerotora from his body, explaining that he is worried about confronting Pain. He tells Gerotora to store himself within Naruto if he doesn't return. Gerotora, containing the key to the seal that keeps the Nine-Tails within Naruto, advises against it. Jiraiya insists, believing Minato would want Naruto to master the Nine-Tails for some unknown purpose, perhaps to combat Tobi.

Chapter 371
As Hebi heads to the rendezvous point with Itachi, they come across one of Naruto 's shadow clones. Sasuke destroys the clone, but Naruto and the other Konoha ninja pick up on his trail. In Amegakure, Jiraiya sends one of his prisoners to Konoha while he takes control of the other to explore the village. Konan sees him and tells Pain about Jiraiya's presence. Pain tells her to kill him if she can before he gets there. Konan confronts Jiraiya and releases the Amegakure ninja under his control. Jiraiya, surprised to see her, remarks that she has grown.

Chapter 372
Jiraiya asks Konan, a former student, who Pain is. She attacks him instead of answering, having orders from Pain to kill him. He quickly neutralises and captures her. Jiraiya remarks that, having thought Konan and her peers were dead, he had never imagined they would be members of Akatsuki. She asks if he regrets sparing their lives, causing him to think back to when he met Konan and her friends. After the Second Shinobi World War, Jiraiya found three war orphans that he decided to teach how to look after themselves. Soon after meeting them, Jiraiya discovered that the boy Nagato possessed the Rinnegan.

Chapter 373
When Jiraiya saw the young Nagato 's Rinnegan, Jiraiya decided to train him, Konan, and Yahiko so they could protect themselves and others. Having heard rumours that the Rinnegan originally belonged to the founder of the ninja world, Jiraiya also wished to teach Nagato to control his power for the world's benefit. Once he had taught them all they needed he left them on their own, later hearing they had died. Although he is glad this is not the case, Jiraiya tells Konan that what Akatsuki is doing is wrong. Pain appears and refutes the claim. Seeing Pain's Rinnegan, Jiraiya assumes that, although he looks very different, he is Nagato.

Chapter 374
Pain summons a giant crustacean to free Konan from Jiraiya 's technique. He instructs Konan to leave them. Jiraiya destroys the crab and asks what Nagato has done to himself and what happened to Yahiko. Pain responds that Yahiko is dead and that he has moved on from his childish beliefs after experiencing so much pain, having how attained godhood. In his role as Akatsuki 's leader, Pain intends to capture the nine tailed beasts to create a weapon that can destroy entire countries. In the face of such power, the world will give up on war and achieve peace. Jiraiya insists that that would never work. Pain summons a chameleon to prove his point, and Jiraiya summons Gamaken.

Chapter 375
Jiraiya tells Gamaken to buy him time while he prepares for Sage Mode. Pain hides within his chameleon and summons other animals to fight Gamaken. While Gamaken defends against them, Jiraiya points out that Pain, having the Rinnegan, can use almost any technique, yet he has so far used only animal summons. Jiraiya sends Gamaken away once he is ready, blocking a summon by himself and re-entering the battle with two new toads.

Chapter 376
Having entered Sage Mode, Jiraiya faces Pain in battle with the help of Two Great Sage Toads. They ask why he would need their help, to which he responds he must kill a former pupil. Finding this significant, Two Great Sage Toads locate the chameleon Pain is hiding in and force him to show himself. Seeing his Rinnegan, they reflect on a prophecy that was made about Jiraiya. Jiraiya would have a student with the power to save or destroy the world. Seeing that Pain has taken the path to the world's destruction, they prepare for battle. Pain also prepares by summoning two bodies.

Chapter 377
The two bodies that Pain summons turned out to also possess the Rinnegan. Although confused that there are three people with the Rinnegan, Jiraiya attacks, blinding one of the Rinnegan wielders. He then joins Two Great Sage Toads in a joint elemental attack, but the second body absorbs it and all of their subsequent attacks. Jiraiya tries to attack the blinded body, but it has no difficulty blocking attacks that one of the other bodies can see. Noticing this, Fukasaku hypothesises that they are somehow able to share vision.

Chapter 378
Knowing that, even in Sage Mode, he cannot defeat three Rinnegan users that are able to share sight, Jiraiya retreats. In addition to being able to react to any physical attack, Pain, a former student, knows all of Jiraiya's abilities. To get around this particular fact, Ma and Pa propose a sound-based genjutsu, an area that Jiraiya himself has little skill with. While they prepare the attack Pain is drawn to their location. To buy time, Jiraiya cuts off the three Rinnegan from each other, allowing him to finally fight one-on-one.

Chapter 379
Jiraiya is able to hold his own in a fight with Pain long enough for Ma and Pa to use their genjutsu. The three Pains are caught in an illusion and immobilised, allowing Jiraiya to easily kill all three. Confident he has won, Jiraiya thanks Shima and Fukasaku for their help with eliminating Pain. Another person with a Rinnegan appears and corrects him. He attacks Jiraiya and severs his left arm. The Six Paths of Pain confront Jiraiya, amongst them the three bodies he just killed, and all possessing Rinnegan.

Naruto, Volume 42

Chapter 380
Seeing the Six Paths of Pain, Jiraiya recognises one of them as Yahiko. On closer inspection, he finds that none of them resemble the Nagato he knew despite early convincing himself that Nagato was amongst them. Pain attacks, not giving him the chance to figure out who is who. Meanwhile, Hebi nears Itachi 's location. They are intercepted by Kisame, who will only allow Sasuke to proceed. He leaves his team behind and goes and meets with Itachi, who he promises to kill. Elsewhere, Team 7 and Team 8 are stopped from continuing their pursuit of Sasuke by Tobi. Naruto tries to attack him, but it does nothing.

Chapter 381
Jiraiya, despite having suffered many severe injuries, managed to capture one of the Six Paths of Pain. He tried to figure out why none of the six resembled Nagato, but reaffirmed that one resembled Yahiko and all had the Rinnegan. He considered if Yahiko had taken Nagato's Rinnegan but put this theory to side as all six Pains had the Rinnegan. In addition, Jiraiya remembered a conversation he once had with Nagato. As the Pain in front of him's forehead protector slipped off, Jiraiya saw the scar on his forehead and recognised him as a ninja he had faced in the past. Knowing for a fact that this wasn't Nagato, Jiraiya decided to test a hunch rather than return to Konoha. He asked the Two Great Sage Toads to go home, but they refused at first however, he managed to convince Shima to take the Pain he captured to Konoha for study. Jiraiya and Fukasaku left the barrier and went up to face the remaining Pains. Jiraiya upon observing them all closely confirmed that he had met all of them before. He had managed to figure out the secret of Pain however, he was soon surrounded and his throat was crushed.

Chapter 382
Although he figures out who Pain is, Jiraiya can neither speak nor move. His life begins to fade and he reflects on the many failures of his life; his inability to protect the Third Hokage or Fourth Hokage; his inability to save Orochimaru; his inability to win the heart of Tsunade; and, most sadly for him, his inability to die with honour. He then remembers how Naruto was named after the protagonist of his first book, making him Naruto's godfather. Since Naruto's nindō is to never give up, Jiraiya, as Naruto's teacher, decides that that should be his nindō too. He finds the energy to relay a message to Fukasaku, confident that Naruto will save the world.

Chapter 383
Tobi continues to prevent Konoha 's Eight Man Squad from reaching Sasuke. In Amegakure, Pain notices that Jiraiya managed to inscribe a message onto Fukasaku 's back before dying. Pain tries to kill Fukasaku, but Fukasaku escapes. Jiraiya sinks into the waters of the village with a smile, having decided to name the sequel to his story after Naruto. Zetsu remarks on how impressive Jiraiya's fight with Pain was, then decides to go see Sasuke's fight with Itachi.

Chapter 384
Sasuke and Itachi exchange blows. Sasuke is eventually able to land a killing strike, and tells Itachi there is one thing he wants to ask him before he dies. Itachi alerts him to the fact that he has only injured an illusion. Already aware of this, having attacked the illusion with an illusion, Sasuke attacks the other Itachi, repeating his determination to ask something.

Chapter 385
Knowing that not even Itachi could kill the entire Uchiha clan by himself, Sasuke asks who helped him kill their family, planning to kill them too after he is done with Itachi. Itachi doubts that he could do this, but he gives Sasuke the name of Madara Uchiha. A founder of Konoha, Sasuke asks how Madara could still be alive after so many decades. Itachi reminds him not to be deceived by such facts, having once believed Itachi to be a loving older brother. Angered that he is being patronised with genjutsu, Sasuke demands that the real Itachi face him. Itachi responds that, since Sasuke doesn't have a Mangekyō Sharingan, there is no reason why he should do so, but agrees to tell him about Madara anyway.

Chapter 386
In the time before Konoha 's founding, Madara was a promising member of the Uchiha clan. Through constant competition with his younger brother Madara gained the Mangekyō Sharingan and was able to take control of the Uchiha, leading them into countless victories. However, excessive use of the Mangekyō Sharingan left Madara blind, and it was only by taking his brother's eyes that he regained his sight. Madara went on to assist in the creation of Konoha, but later suffered a defeat by the First Hokage. He created Akatsuki to hide in its shadow and later tried and failed to destroy Konoha with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sixteen years ago, which Itachi uses as proof that Madara has grown weak. Intending to surpass Madara, Itachi will take Sasuke's eyes to escape blindness of the Mangekyō. Having heard all he needed, Sasuke prepares for battle.

Chapter 387
Itachi insists that Sasuke, with a normal Sharingan, cannot defeat his Mangekyō Sharingan. Sasuke merely repeats his promise to kill Itachi and attacks. The two exchange blows and have a contest of projectile weapons, but Itachi is ultimately able to gain the upper-hand. He pins Sasuke to the wall and plucks out one of his eyes.

Chapter 388
Sasuke reels from the pain of having one of his eyes removed. Itachi secures the eye he has taken and reaches for the second when the scene begins to shatter. Sasuke, both eyes intact, looks upon an Itachi doubled over in pain. The observing Zetsu remarks at how amazing it is for Sasuke to overcome Itachi's Tsukuyomi. Having lost a battle of genjutsu, Itachi prepares to use a ninjutsu: Amaterasu.

Chapter 389
Sasuke attacks Itachi before he has the chance to use Amaterasu. Itachi dodges Sasuke's fūma shuriken, only to find that he has fallen in to a trap; the shuriken detonate and Itachi, injured and eyes failing, is forced to fall back. The two brothers exchange Fire Release: Great Fireball Techniques. When Sasuke's begin to overpower Itachi's, Itachi is forced to use Amaterasu.

Naruto, Volume 43

Chapter 390
Itachi 's Amaterasu overwhelms Sasuke 's regular fire and goes on to ignite the area. Despite Sasuke's attempts to escape, Amaterasu strikes him as well. As his body is reduced to ashes Itachi reaches for his eyes. He finds that it is only a body double, Sasuke having used one of Orochimaru 's techniques to escape damage. Sasuke depletes his chakra reserves with additional fire technique, but they miss Itachi. Although he is exhausted from use of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi believes he has won. Sasuke corrects him, saying he has one more technique just as storm clouds gather.

Chapter 391
As a storm begins to brew. Zetsu realises that Sasuke has taken advantage of his own fire technique and Itachi's Amaterasu to create perfect conditions for lightning. By controlling the natural lightning, Sasuke gains a devastating and unavoidable technique: Kirin. Itachi is struck and the surrounding area is destroyed. After the clouds dissipate Sasuke believes he has won. Itachi corrects him. Angry that his final attack has failed, Sasuke activates level two of his cursed seal. Itachi assures him that Kirin was a powerful attack and that he would have been dead if it wasn't for his Susanoo.

Chapter 392
Itachi reveals Susanoo, the last of the techniques granted to him by his Mangekyō Sharingan. It surrounds Itachi and protects him from all damage. Seeing this, Orochimaru offers to help Sasuke defeat Itachi. Orochimaru's Eight Branches Technique erupts from Sasuke's body and attacks Itachi. Susanoo cuts off the serpent's heads, prompting Orochimaru to reveal himself. He thanks Itachi for pushing Sasuke to his limits and thus allowing him to escape. He prepares to take Sasuke's body, but is struck by Susanoo. As a special property of Susanoo's sword, Orochimaru is sealed away, removing him and his cursed seal from Sasuke's body.

Chapter 393
With Orochimaru gone, Sasuke is out of options. Itachi approaches Sasuke to take his eyes, and Sasuke makes futile attempts to keep him away. As Itachi draws nearer his Susanoo begins to disappear and he starts to cough up blood. This does not prevent him from cornering Sasuke. He reaches for Sasuke's eyes and mutters something, but only makes it as far as poking Sasuke's forehead before collapsing.

Chapter 394
Itachi 's Amaterasu continues to burn the area. After a few speechless moments of watching, Zetsu realises Itachi truly has died despite almost succeeding in taking Sasuke 's eyes. His right half declares this to be Sasuke's victory, yet his left half is still confused. He notes that the fight was unusual, as Itachi's movements were sluggish nor was he fighting at his true strength. His right half agrees, as Itachi could not evade nor counterattacks that he should have been able to handle, and he was coughing up blood. The right half suggests that he may have been seriously weakened before the battle began. Zetsu is unsure if it was due to using the Sharingan too much. They then leave, seeing how they can't draw any conclusions, with the left half mentioning how Itachi was so close to getting his brother's eyes too. Sasuke has finally calmed down. Realising that he's safe, he smiles for finally killing his brother before he collapses from exhaustion. Elsewhere, the Konoha ninja pursuing Sasuke rule out all possible explanations for why Tobi is not being damaged by their attacks. Opting to capture instead of damage him, Shino prepares his kikaichū for battle.

Chapter 395
Shino surrounds Tobi with his kikaichū and encases him with them. As the kikaichū consume his chakra the other Konoha ninja prepare to capture him. Tobi then disappears. Team 7 and Team 8 try to come to grips with how someone can completely vanish without giving some indication of where they are going. Tobi alerts them to where he has relocated to. Before they can stage a second attack, Zetsu appears and informs Tobi that Sasuke has killed Itachi. Having expected this outcome, Tobi tells the Konoha ninja that his business with them is done, even letting them see his Sharingan.

Chapter 396
Tobi and Zetsu disappear. The Konoha ninja locate the site of Sasuke 's fight with Itachi and try to reach it first. They bypass Itachi 's lingering Amaterasu flames and prepare for another possible encounter with Tobi, only to find they are too late, as Sasuke and Itachi's body are gone. Unable to find a trail, they realise their pursuit has failed. Later, Sasuke wakes up in a cave. He is greeted by Tobi, who tended to his injuries after his fight with Itachi. He offers to tell Sasuke everything he doesn't know about Itachi, but Sasuke does not respond. Deciding to start with introductions, Tobi removes his mask slightly to show his Sharingan.

Chapter 397
On seeing Tobi 's Sharingan, Sasuke 's left eye takes the form of Itachi 's Mangekyō Sharingan and casts Amaterasu. Tobi, caught in the flames, loses hold of his mask and falls into the shadows. Sasuke wonders what just happened. A few moments later, Tobi returns, and explains that Itachi implanted his Amaterasu into Sasuke right before he died. Sasuke remembers the moment when Itachi tapped his forehead, but asks why he would do this. Tobi tells Sasuke that it was done to protect him. Sasuke becomes angered on hearing this, but Tobi tells him that there are many things he does not know about Itachi. Tobi, revealing himself as Madara Uchiha, offers to tell him about Itachi's life. Sasuke refuses to listen, but Tobi insists, claiming it's his duty to learn the truth.

Chapter 398
Sasuke doesn't want to hear Tobi 's "truth" about Itachi, but Tobi insists, saying that there are too few people who know what Itachi has actually done. As this is what Itachi wanted, he attempted to kill Tobi to make sure Sasuke would never find out about the motivations that drove him to do what he did. Sasuke cannot fathom that Itachi would do anything for his benefit and passes out. When he regains consciousness, Tobi starts over. Itachi did kill the Uchiha clan, but he did so under orders from Konoha. This being only the most recent chapter in the Uchiha's history, Tobi begins by touching upon the pre-Konoha era and Madara's own relationship with the future First Hokage.

Chapter 399
In the era before the creation of the ninja villages, the Uchiha clan was in constant competition with the Senju clan, earning renown for both clans across the entire world. Remembering what Itachi told him, Sasuke asks if fame and power were Madara 's reasons for taking his younger brother's eyes. Tobi confirms, but says that his brother willingly gave up his eyes in order to preserve the Uchiha's future. For this reason Madara did not want to accept the Senju's eventual offers of peace, but was forced to by the rest of his clan. Konoha was created and the title of Hokage was given to Hashirama Senju, not Madara. Fearing that the Senju would ruin the Uchiha, Madara tried to take control of Konoha. He failed and was believed to have died, but the Uchiha were thereafter regarded with suspicion in Konoha. When the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox attacked Konoha sixteen years earlier, Konoha suspected an Uchiha's involvement. Sick of not being trusted, the Uchiha began plotting to overthrow Konoha, beginning Itachi's tragedy.

Chapter 400
When the Uchiha clan began plotting to take control of Konoha, Itachi was tasked to spy on Konoha's leadership for the Uchiha. Having witnessed countless deaths in his childhood and knowing that a coup d'état would cause more death, Itachi instead spied on the Uchiha for Konoha. When it became clear that war could not be avoided, Itachi was ordered to wipe out his own family. Choosing the lesser of two evils, Itachi sought out Tobi 's help with the Uchiha's assassination, an opportunity for him to get revenge on the Uchiha for abandoning him decades earlier. Itachi killed the entire clan, but could not bring himself to kill Sasuke too. He asked Konoha to keep Sasuke safe and gave Sasuke the goal of killing him to make up for what he had done.

Chapter 401
Sasuke tries to refute Tobi 's story. He points out that Itachi tried to take his eyes and kill him, but Tobi responds that it was only to draw out Orochimaru and remove his influence from Sasuke. He instead pins blame on Tobi for the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox 's attack, thereby causing the Uchiha's demise. Tobi claims he was not involved and that the fox's attack was a freak accident. Sasuke switches back to Itachi's actions, the actions of a criminal. The only proof that Tobi can provide for Itachi's good intentions is that Sasuke is still alive. Accepting that Itachi orchestrated his own death, prolonging his life in the face of a fatal illness to make sure he could be killed by Sasuke, Sasuke reminisces about his brother.

Chapter 402
Sasuke remembers his childhood with Itachi, who was a loving older brother. Sasuke idolised Itachi's talent and pleaded for Itachi to teach him something, but Itachi would always refuse by poking him on the head and promising to do so some other time. Thinking about his most recent encounter with Itachi, before Itachi died, Sasuke remembers Itachi's final action. Rather than take Sasuke's eyes, Itachi poked him on the head and apologised for no longer being able to fulfil the promise of "some other time". Accepting that his brother was a good person, Sasuke, Mangekyō Sharingan active, informs Hebi, now renamed Taka, that their new mission is to destroy Konoha.

Naruto, Volume 44

Chapter 403
Naruto thinks about his last encounter with Itachi, where he told Itachi that he was more of a brother to Sasuke than Itachi was. Itachi asked, if this were true, what he would do if Sasuke attacked Konoha. Naruto responded that he would defend the village and stop Sasuke without killing him. Pleased, Itachi gave him some of his power, hoping Naruto would not need it. He then left. Sasuke, elsewhere, also thinks about Itachi; the night he killed the Uchiha clan. At the point Sasuke had thought he had passed out that night, Sasuke had followed Itachi and attacked him. Itachi was not harmed, but he looked upon Sasuke with tears in his eyes. Sasuke concludes that he cannot do as Itachi wanted him to.

Chapter 404
Naruto is called to Tsunade 's office. There, he finds Team 7 and a number of toads waiting for him. Fukasaku informs him of Jiraiya 's death. Elsewhere, Taka has a meeting with Akatsuki. Sasuke states his intentions to kill the leaders of Konoha responsible for the Uchiha 's destruction but does not care about the villagers. Akatsuki volunteers to help, but only if Taka captures the Eight-Tails while they handle the Nine-Tails. Afterwards, Tobi speaks with Zetsu, glad to be rid of Itachi at last. He admits that the losses the organisation has suffered have been severe, but that they were worth it to gain Sasuke's loyalty.

Chapter 405
Fukasaku explains that Jiraiya gave him a coded message about Pain before dying and shows it to those present. Naruto instead focuses on Tsunade, blaming her for letting Jiraiya go on such a dangerous mission by himself. Tsunade makes no effort to refute his claim so he storms out despite Sakura 's protests. Naruto continues the rest of the day wandering town and mourning Jiraiya. He runs into Iruka, who reveals that Naruto is finally gaining acknowledgement on a village-wide scale, and offers to take him to Ramen Ichiraku, but Naruto declines. In the evening, Naruto, holding a popsicle, goes to a park and starts crying, regretting how Jiraiya was not able to see him as Hokage. Iruka tracks him down and comforts him about Jiraiya's death, saying how proud Jiraiya had always been of Naruto and how, as Jiraiya's student, he lives on in Naruto. Meanwhile, Tsunade tasks Shikamaru with deciphering Jiraiya's message alone. Although Shikamaru objects to doing the task himself, Sakura insists he does. It is revealed that shortly afterwards, Tsunade takes some time alone to cry for Jiraiya, remembering when the two met and regretting not having reciprocated Jiraiya's feelings earlier.

Chapter 406
Interrogation of the Amegakure prisoner Jiraiya captured is left to Ibiki, while study of the Pain he captured is left to Shizune. Shikamaru visits the Konoha Cryptanalysis Team to try and decipher Jiraiya's dying message, but they conclude that they cannot do so without figuring out the key, something only someone close to Jiraiya would be able to figure out. Shikamaru asks around, but it becomes apparent that Naruto would be the only one who could help. Naruto, still sad about Jiraiya 's death, has difficulty focusing. Through a visit to a pregnant Kurenai, Shikamaru inspired Naruto by reminding him that he lost a teacher too, but that they cannot waste time moping because they must eventually become just as great as their late masters.

Chapter 407
Naruto looks at Jiraiya 's coded message, that appears to be a string of numbers. He informs Shikamaru that the first character is not a number, but katakana for "ta", a writing quirk of Jiraiya only Naruto would know. Kakashi suggests that that is meant to indicate Icha Icha Tactics is the key for the other, actual numbers. Taking the first word on each page of the book, they form the message of "the real one is not among them". They have no idea what this means, so ask someone who would. In Amegakure, the Six Paths of Pain sets out for Konoha, the one Jiraiya captured having been replaced.

Chapter 408
In Kumogakure, Taka interrogates a Kumo ninja about the Eight-Tails ' jinchūriki. By using his Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke is able to find out where he is. In Konoha, Naruto asks Fukasaku about the meaning of Jiraiya 's dying message: "the real one is not among them". Fukasaku cannot offer any likely theories on how it relates to Pain. With the study of the other clues Jiraiya left behind still ongoing, Fukasaku offers to teach Naruto senjutsu to prepare him for his inevitable encounter with Pain.

Chapter 409
Naruto wishes his friends in Konoha good luck with the investigation into Pain. Fukasaku reminds them to send for help if they need it before going to Mount Myōboku with Naruto. When they get there, Fukasaku informs Naruto that learning senjutsu requires he become one with nature. Once mastered and combined with his own chakra, Naruto will achieve Sage Mode. Naruto asks where to start, which Gamakichi says to be by dying. Meanwhile, Taka locates the Eight-Tails ' jinchūriki.

Chapter 410
Naruto is worried by Gamakichi 's claim that he must die, but Fukasaku assures him this is just a terrible analogy. To become one with nature, and thus master senjutsu, Naruto must learn to be perfectly still and take in natural energy. A special oil can help him with this, but it runs the risk of turning him first into a toad and then into a statue if he is not careful. Naruto decides to go through with it, determined to be just as great as Jiraiya. Meanwhile, Taka battles Killer B, the Eight-Tails ' jinchūriki. When Suigetsu and Jūgo prove no match for him, Sasuke steps in.

Chapter 411
Sasuke attacks Killer B with his sword, aware that he cannot kill B. That same stipulation does not apply for B, who uses Suigetsu 's Kubikiribōchō to spar with him. B is impressed by Sasuke's skill with a blade, so B does him the courtesy of using his seven personal blades instead of Suigetsu's. Sasuke has difficulty keeping up with B's many strikes even with his Sharingan, but believes he has the advantage of channelling lightning into his sword. B also has that advantage, which he uses to stab Sasuke with multiple swords.

Chapter 412
At Mount Myōboku, Naruto asks to train with shadow clones to help his learn senjutsu faster. Fukasaku agrees, but they do not help much. Seeing that Naruto is having trouble, Fukasaku informs him that not everyone can learn senjutsu; only those with large chakra reserves and the determination to never give up can do so. Naruto is happy to find he has plenty of both. Meanwhile, Karin heals Sasuke 's injuries while the rest of Taka fights with Killer B. Seeing that they might actually be a challenge, B decides to go all out.

Naruto, Volume 45

Chapter 413
Killer B develops a chakra shroud that he attacks Taka with. Although they are able to dodge, Sasuke realises that they will not be able to do so indefinitely. He uses his Mangekyō Sharingan to catch B in a genjutsu and, believing he has won, lets down his guard. The Eight-Tails releases B from the illusion, so he attacks and fatally injures Sasuke. While Jūgo heals him, B fully transforms into the Eight-Tails.

Chapter 414
Seeing the power of the Eight-Tails, Taka flees. Suigetsu uses himself as a shield to block the beast's attack. While the surrounding area is destroyed, Taka is kept safe. Suigetsu is knocked unconscious from the attack and Sasuke, determined not to lose his teammates, uses Amaterasu. Meanwhile, Naruto is able to start using senjutsu on his own.

Chapter 415
Sasuke 's Amaterasu ignites Killer B in his full Eight-Tails form. As he rampages around in pain he almost crushes Karin. Sasuke cuts off his tentacle to protect her. The form recedes, leaving only B, defeated. Taka collects him and its unconscious members and takes them away. Observing Kumogakure ninja see this and send word to the Fourth Raikage of B's capture. At Mount Myōboku, Fukasaku explains the advantages of Sage Mode to Naruto. Naruto begins thinking about how senjutsu will allow him to complete his technique, but is distracted by Fukasaku's gift of The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi.

Chapter 416
Naruto reads The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, a story about a ninja named Naruto that vows to free the world from a cycle of hatred. Naruto is brought to tears by memories of the book's author and his teacher: Jiraiya. Elsewhere, Taka delivers Killer B to Tobi before setting off for Konoha. Tobi remembers a conversation he had with Sasuke, during which Sasuke explained his intention to kill every Konoha villager, not just those involved in the Uchiha clan 's assassination. In Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage learns of B's capture and vows to make Akatsuki pay for kidnapping his brother.

Chapter 417
Naruto continues to practice with senjutsu, now focusing on using it without help from the special oil of Mount Myōboku. Elsewhere, Taka realises they have been followed and deals with the Kumogakure ninja spying on them. When the ninja's intelligence stops being sent to the Fourth Raikage, the Raikage calls for a meeting of the five Kage to discuss Akatsuki. He also calls for Team Samui, intending to send them to Konoha to inform the village that he will personally deal with Sasuke.

Chapter 418
Naruto is finally able to enter Sage Mode on his own, allowing him to begin training to use it in combat. After sparring with Fukasaku, Naruto practices with his technique. In Konoha, the investigation into Pain is still ongoing. Inoichi is called upon to probe the mind of the Amegakure ninja that Jiraiya captured. Shizune also analyses the body piercings present on the Pain that Jiraiya defeated. On the outskirts of the village, the Six Paths of Pain arrive.

Chapter 419
The Deva Path explains how the attack of Konoha will play out: some of the Six Paths of Pain will search for information on Naruto 's whereabouts while the others draw attention to themselves by attacking the village's ninja and infrastructure. The new Animal Path infiltrates the village and summons the other Pains to its side. They then break up to fulfil their assigned roles. In Kumogakure, Team Samui sets out for Konoha, hoping that they can complete their assignment in time to save Killer B. Meanwhile, the available members of Akatsuki are busy extracting the Eight-Tails from B's body, only to find that it is a fake. The real B leaves the site of his battle with Taka, intending to take advantage of his supposed capture to seek out and train under Sabu.

Chapter 420
Naruto continues to train with Fukasaku. While taking a break, Fukasaku informs Naruto that it is almost impossible to use Sage Mode by one's self in combat. Naruto believes his training has been a waste of time, but Fukasaku explains that they can fuse together to overcome this disadvantage. Elsewhere, Pain's assault on Konoha was underway. Iruka is found by the Deva Path, who asks where to find Naruto. Iruka refuses to tell him anything. The Deva Path tries to kill him but he is saved by Kakashi. Kakashi and the Deva Path start fighting while Iruka escapes, but Kakashi finds that he cannot get near the Pain for some reason. Meanwhile, Shizune finds that Pain's body piercings are really chakra receivers. News of Pain's invasion begins to spread through Konoha and Tsunade calls for Naruto's return.

Chapter 421
Konoha 's forces begin to mobilise, engaging the Six Paths of Pain in battle and protecting the fleeing villagers from harm. Kakashi continues to have trouble fighting the Deva Path, something that is not made any easier by the Asura Path joining the battle. Tsunade calls for Naruto 's return to help in the fight with Pain, but the Konoha Council orders her not to, believing it would be best for Naruto, Pain's objective, to stay far away. Tsunade demands they have more faith in her judgement and Naruto's abilities, so they relent. Kōsuke is instructed to go to Mount Myōboku to tell Naruto about the village's crisis. He is killed by Danzō before he can leave, who intends to keep Naruto from getting involved.

Chapter 422
Pain 's search for Naruto continues, but none of Konoha 's ninja are willing to tell him anything. Tsunade summons Katsuyu, who she instructs to seek out and adhere to every Konoha citizen so that she can monitor and heal them all remotely. Kakashi 's fight with the Deva and Asura Path continues, but he cannot overcome their shared Rinnegan vision. The Asura Path modifies its body for battle and attacks him, but he is saved by a team led by Chōza Akimichi.

Naruto, Volume 46

Chapter 423
Kakashi and Chōza 's team attack the Deva Path. Although their attacks fail and much of the team is defeated, Kakashi is able to confirm that it controls gravity and that it needs to recharge briefly after doing so. To try and catch it during this window, Kakashi sneaks up on the Deva Path. He is repelled, but Chōza and Chōji attack when its vulnerable. Their attack is too late and they are repelled, but in doing so they are able to restrain the Deva Path. Kakashi tries to finish it off but the Asura Path uses itself as a shield. The Deva Path defeats them all and, to make sure Kakashi does not survive his injuries, it fires a nail at his head.

Chapter 424
While Tsunade is busy healing all of the Konoha villagers, Danzō keeps his Root personnel from helping in the village's defence, wishing for Tsunade to fail and thus allow him to become Hokage. Meanwhile, Inoichi continues to probe the mind of the Amegakure prisoner, and finds memories of him taking the dead body of a woman to the tallest building in Amegakure. Shizune arrives to pool their findings on Pain, unaware that two Pains have arrived outside. Elsewhere, the Deva Path leaves the site of its battle with Kakashi. Both Kakashi and Chōji have survived, though only the latter can move. Kakashi sends Chōji to Tsunade to tell her of the Deva Path's abilities. The still-active Asura Path tries to stop him. Kakashi uses his Kamui to stop the attack, but he dies in the process.

Chapter 425
Kakashi finds his father, Sakumo, waiting for him after death. Sakumo asks him to tell him about his life. Meanwhile, Naruto and Fukasaku try to fuse so that Naruto can use Sage Mode in combat, but the Nine-Tails consistently rejects the fusion. In Konoha, Shizune explains to Inoichi that the Pains ' body piercings are black receivers. The new Animal Path attacks their location, which Inoichi recognises as the dead woman he saw in the memories of the Amegakure prisoner. He and Shizune retreat to figure things out, leaving the fight with the Animal Path to others.

Chapter 426
Naruto refuses to give up on using Sage Mode, trying to find some alternative to fusing with Fukasaku so that he doesn't let Jiraiya down. Meanwhile, Konohamaru watches the Naraka Path 's interrogation of two Konoha ninja about Naruto's location. He tries to leave unnoticed to avoid being captured, but accidentally draws attention to himself. Ebisu steps in in order to buy time for Konohamaru to escape and is quickly defeated. Despite once disapproving of Naruto, he refuses to tell the Naraka Path where Naruto is. Before he is killed, Konohamaru, having not fled, demands the Pain to fight him.

Chapter 427
Ebisu pleads for Konohamaru to escape, but Konohamaru refuses, and engages the Naraka Path in combat. As other Konoha ninja engage other Pains across the village, Chōji locates Tsunade. He tells her of the fates of his father and Kakashi, as well as the Deva Path 's abilities. She informs him that Chōza is still alive and sends an overjoyed Chōji to him. Soon after he leaves, the Deva Path confronts Tsunade.

Chapter 428
The Naraka Path captures Konohamaru. It asks where Naruto is but he refuses to answer, instead taking the Pain 's preoccupation with his interrogation to hit him with the Rasengan that Naruto taught him. Meanwhile, Tsunade recognises the Deva Path as Yahiko. It tries to convince her that protecting Naruto is only preventing world peace. She does not tell him where he is, but adds that Naruto doesn't need protection. Elsewhere, Inoichi and Shizune theorise that a master Pain conciseness is controlling the Six Paths of Pain from some remote location. Before they can go looking for whoever this is, Shizune is captured by the Human Path. It reads her mind and learns that Naruto is at Mount Myōboku.

Chapter 429
The Human Path kills Shizune and relays Naruto 's location to the other Six Paths of Pain. The Animal Path leaves the village while the Deva Path, intending to punish Tsunade for defying a god, leaps into the air. Meanwhile, Naruto learns that Kōsuke had died, meaning something has happened in Konoha, and prepares for battle. The Animal Path summons every Pain but the Deva Path to a safe distance away from Konoha while the Deva Path uses its Shinra Tensei to destroy Konoha. Simultaneously, Shima summons a coalition to the village's centre.

Chapter 430
Naruto, in Sage Mode, and an attack force of toads arrive in the middle of Konoha. They do not recognise where they are until they see the Hokage Rock, at which point they realise that Pain has destroyed the village. The survivors begin to regroup and the Six Paths of Pain return to the village to face Naruto. Tsunade, despite having exhausted herself from protecting the villagers from the Deva Path 's attack, confronts Pain. The Asura Path, having been restored by the Naraka Path, tries to kill her, but Naruto destroys it. He reminds Pain that he is its target and instructs the rest of Konoha not to get involved in their battle.

Chapter 431
Naruto has Gamakichi take Tsunade to safety. The Animal Path summons a variety of animals to attack him, but he parries them all and leaves their defeat to his toad allies. While the summons are eliminated, Naruto defeats the Preta Path. He then prepares to finish the battle.

Chapter 432
Naruto forms a Rasenshuriken. Having completed it due to his mastery of Sage Mode, Naruto is able to throw it at the Six Paths of Pain. While most of the Pains escape, the Human Path is destroyed. The Animal Path counters with more summons, which the toads have difficulty dealing with. To prevent the continued appearance of additional opponents, Naruto defeats the Animal Path. Its summons disperse but his Sage Mode disappears.

Naruto, Volume 47

Chapter 433
With Naruto no longer in Sage Mode, the Deva Path attacks him. While the two spar, Fukasaku summons one of Naruto's shadow clones that has been gathering natural energy. When it disperses its natural energy, it is then transferred to Naruto. In Sage Mode once again, Naruto throws another Rasenshuriken at the Deva Path, which the Preta Path absorbs. Seeing that the Naraka Path has restored the Preta Path, Naruto focuses his efforts on it. He distracts the Deva and Preta Paths, allowing him to destroy the Naraka Path in one decisive hit.

Chapter 434
Although the Naraka Path has been destroyed, the Deva Path 's gravitational abilities, which it has been unable to use since destroying Konoha, has returned. It first sends Naruto's toad allies out of the village, and then pulls Naruto into the Preta Path 's grasp. The Preta Path absorbs his chakra to keep him from moving.

Chapter 435
While the Preta Path is absorbing Naruto 's chakra, it also absorbs the natural energy he was storing. Unable to control it, the Preta Path turns into a stone toad that Naruto is able to break free from. Fukasaku and Shima, meanwhile, have been preparing the genjutsu that helped Jiraiya defeat three of the Six Paths of Pain. Not wanting to be defeated by the same technique again, the Deva Path kills Fukasaku. It then pins and captures Naruto.

Chapter 436
Even though Konoha has been destroyed, its ninja continue the investigation into Pain. Inoichi hypothesises that the Six Paths of Pain are being controlled remotely from one of the highest points around the village. All able-bodied ninja are sent to look for Pain's base mind. Meanwhile, the Deva Path encourages the captured Naruto not to struggle, as his death and, subsequently, a world living in constant fear of destruction will help achieve Jiraiya 's dreams of peace. Naruto vows to stop it and achieve peace in his own way. The Deva Path explains how a life of tragedy and hate drove it to its ideas for peace and asks how Naruto, having never known either, can have a better solution. Naruto has no answer.

Chapter 437
Naruto repeats that Jiraiya would not have condoned Pain 's ideas on how to attain world peace. The Deva Path responds that both Naruto and Jiraiya are foolish and that their deaths will create the only peace it is possible to have. When Shima tries to encourage Naruto, the Deva Path pushes her away. Before it can take Naruto away, Hinata attacks the Deva Path. Naruto tells her to run since she can't win. Hinata knows this, but says that after watching Naruto for so long and wishing to be with him, she can't help but want to protect him now. She tells Naruto that she loves him. Before he had time to even process what she had said, Hinata attacks the Deva Path but is quickly struck down and apparently killed. Enraged by the "murder" that was witnessed first-hand, Naruto breaks free of his restraints and enters a six-tailed form.

Chapter 438
When Naruto has entered a six-tailed form, the First Hokage's necklace tries to restrain him. Naruto destroys it. Yamato, elsewhere on a mission, senses this and rushes back to Konoha to subdue the Nine-Tails ' influence. Ninja around the village sense the fox too and try to escape the area. Naruto and the Deva Path begin fighting, but the Deva Path realises it lacks the raw power to be a match for him. It retreats to a location closer to the base Pain, Nagato, allowing it to use Chibaku Tensei.

Chapter 439
Over Konan 's objections, Nagato uses Chibaku Tensei through the Deva Path, further weakening his already frail body. Naruto, in a six-tailed form, is caught in a giant sphere of debris. He enters an eight-tailed form to escape, but even then he has difficulty. Frustrated, Naruto, within his subconscious, cries out for help. The Nine-Tails offers to destroy Naruto's enemies if he lets it go. Naruto prepares to remove the seal keeping the Nine-Tails contained, but is stopped by the Fourth Hokage, who thanks the Nine-Tails and its bad influence for giving him a chance to see his son.

Chapter 440
Naruto picks up on the Fourth Hokage 's claim that he is his son. Naruto is overjoyed and follows his father to a part of his subconscious where the Nine-Tails is not threatening to kill them both. The Fourth explains that he had designed Naruto's seal to produce an imprint of him if ever the seal was about to break. Naruto asks why the Fourth would seal the Nine-Tails within his own son. The Fourth responds that he trusted only his son to master the Nine-Tails in order to defeat the masked man responsible for its attack on Konoha sixteen years earlier. They discuss Pain 's ideas about peace and the Fourth suggests that he is a product of the war-torn era he grew up in, something the masked man is likely taking advantage of. The Fourth encourages Naruto to find his own solutions about peace and Pain. After restoring the seal, he disappears.

Chapter 441
Nagato is not able to maintain his Chibaku Tensei any longer. It falls apart and Naruto, in Sage Mode, lands on the ground. Naruto is confused about how he got here, so Katsuyu explains that he succumbed to the Nine-Tails and went on a rampage. Katsuyu assures him that he did not harm anyone and that Hinata is all right. Seeing the Deva Path, he asks it to take him to Nagato. It refuses, so Naruto takes one of its black receivers and tracks Nagato's location. He then attacks the Deva Path with a Rasenshuriken, trying to hit it while its repulsion powers are recharging.

Chapter 442
The Deva Path leaps out of the way of Naruto 's Rasenshuriken. It then finds itself in the middle of a horde of shadow clones, which surround him and try to attack during the five-second window that it cannot use Shinra Tensei. They fail and are repelled, but the combined shadow clones are able to provide enough support for Naruto to resist the repulsive effects. He attacks again with Rasengan, finally managing to hit the Deva Path when it is defenceless.

Naruto, Volume 48

Chapter 443
The Deva Path is defeated. Naruto removes its black receivers to make sure it cannot be controlled remotely again and then uses one of them to confirm Nagato 's location. The Konoha villagers are informed of Naruto's victory, some of which run into Naruto during their own search for Nagato. They offer to help him kill Nagato, but Naruto tells them not to. Despite all he has done, Nagato's death would not solve anything. They trust Naruto to figure out what to do with Nagato.

Chapter 444
Naruto meets Nagato, who makes one last attempt to capture him, but in his emaciated form he cannot overpower Naruto. Naruto says that although he couldn't forgive Nagato for his crimes, he wished to talk with him before deciding how to proceed. Since they were both students of Jiraiya, Naruto asks how Nagato could so completely abandon Jiraiya's philosophies about peace. Interested in seeing how Naruto's views differ from his own, Nagato explains how Konoha ninja killed his defenceless parents when he was a child. Overcome with grief, Nagato awakened his Rinnegan to avenge them.

Chapter 445
After the death of his parents, Nagato wandered Amegakure to look for food, something that was in scarce supply due to the ongoing Second Shinobi World War. When he was about to die of starvation he was found by fellow war orphans Konan and Yahiko. They saved him and became a sort of family, but they could not escape the terrible realities of the war. Upset by the constant deaths, Yahiko vowed to someday rule the world to establish peace, a philosophy Nagato also adopted.

Chapter 446
After the Second Shinobi World War, Jiraiya began training the Ame Orphans. Although it was partially to help them look after themselves, it was also to teach Nagato to take advantage of his Rinnegan. Since Jiraiya wished for peace, he hoped Nagato, having the same eyes as the Sage of the Six Paths, could unite the world just as the Sage had. Nagato and the other orphans accepted this quest when Jiraiya left them and spent their adolescent years preaching an end to war. Hanzō, leader of Amegakure, interpreted this as threat to his rule and kidnapped Konan. He then gave Nagato a choice: kill Yahiko or sacrifice Konan. So that Nagato would not need to make the choice, Yahiko killed himself, entrusting Nagato with their dreams of peace. Having lost a friend, Nagato concluded that diplomacy would be useless in obtaining world peace.

Chapter 447
With Yahiko, the apparent leader of the Amegakure peace-seekers, dead, Hanzō tried to eliminate Konan and Nagato. Nagato protected Konan, called upon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and bonded with the statue. Afterwords he slaughtered Hanzō's men and tried to kill Hanzō too, but Hanzō escaped. Nagato severed his ties with Amegakure and adopted the alias of Pain, setting him upon the path to peace by world domination. His story done, he asks how Naruto would have done things differently. Naruto replies that he completely understands Nagato's reasoning but that he cannot accept it. Adopting Jiraiya 's philosophies for himself, Naruto makes not killing Nagato his first step to achieving peace.

Chapter 448
Nagato rejects Naruto and Jiraiya 's dreams of peace without casualties, believing human nature renders such a dream impossible. Naruto says he will end the cycle of hatred that curses this world, a quote from Jiraiya's The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi. Amazed, Nagato remembers that the main character of the book, "Naruto", was based on him. Naruto is not only named after the character in the book, but he has adopted the character's beliefs, which themselves were the philosophies of Nagato. Because Naruto has chosen to carry the burdens of the world by himself, Nagato decides to put his faith in Naruto and the very ideas he once abandoned.

Chapter 449
To help Naruto bring peace to the world, Nagato revives everyone that died during his invasion of Konoha. The surviving villagers witness Nagato's change-of-heart firsthand and, by extension, Naruto's victory over Pain. Kakashi is resurrected just as his conversation with his father ends, allowing Sakumo to move on with the knowledge that his son is not ashamed of him. Nagato dies because of his technique. He uses his last breath to warn Naruto that the path he has chosen will not be easy, but that Naruto is the only one who can walk it. Konan takes Nagato's body and the Deva Path with her back to Amegakure, vowing the village's allegiance to Naruto since he now carries the dreams of her friends.

Chapter 450
Naruto staggers back to Konoha. When he returns he is greeted by the entire village. He is celebrated as a hero, fulfilling his dreams of being acknowledged by all of Konoha. While the village celebrates, other events are in motion. Taka prepares to depart to the village. Zetsu, having watched Naruto's battle, informs the rest of Akatsuki of Pain 's fate. Tobi sends Kisame after the Eight-Tails while he deals with other matters. Tsunade is also left in a coma as a result of overexerting herself in the village's defence, forcing the Fire Daimyō to select a new Hokage. Kakashi, one of the more recent notches of Hokage trained by other Hokage, is considered. Danzō claims that Kakashi and all of the previous Hokage have not been heavy-handed enough in dealing with foreign powers, resulting in Konoha's destruction. The daimyō accepts his reasoning and appoints Danzō as Sixth Hokage.

Chapter 451
Konoha begins to rebuild. Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi, thinking about Tsunade, reunite with Inari and Tazuna, who came to repay the debt they gave to the Land of Waves by helping rebuild. After Naruto uses analogies to prevent the two knowing about what happened to Sasuke, he reflects on how Sasuke relates to his new philosophies about pain, vengeance, and peace. Thinking of Jiraiya and Nagato, he concludes that he finally understands how Sasuke feels about losing bonds. Because of this, he now knows how to reform the original Team 7, making his teammates happy. Meanwhile, Team Samui arrives in Konoha to deliver the Fourth Raikage 's message. Danzō, the new Hokage, accepts the Raikage's resolution and takes it one step further by ordering Konoha ninja to kill Sasuke if the opportunity presents itself. Kiba later informs Team Kakashi about this.

Chapter 452
Danzō instructs Sai to keep an eye on Naruto, needing to keep him, Konoha 's hero, in check if he is to be accepted as Hokage. When Sai goes to meet Naruto and Sakura they ask him about Danzō, hoping to find some way to persuade Danzō to spare Sasuke. Though not aware of Danzō's new orders about Sasuke, Sai cannot help them because of his Root membership. Members of Team Samui overhear them and ask what they know about Sasuke, wishing to know how to kill Sasuke for the crimes he has committed.

Chapter 453
While Taka is heading to Konoha they are met by Tobi. Tobi informs them that they are wasting their time since Konoha has already been destroyed. What's more, they failed to capture the Eight-Tails and thus are still indebted to Akatsuki. To reach a compromise, Tobi sends them to the approaching Kage Summit so that Sasuke can kill Danzō, the new Hokage and a conspirator in the Uchiha clan 's assassination. In Konoha, Sakura is brought to tears by Team Samui 's requests to give them information that will be used to kill Sasuke. Naruto offers to tell them what they need so that Sakura doesn't need to, adding that they can still save Killer B if they act soon.

Naruto, Volume 49

Chapter 454
The Kage prepare for the Kage Summit, each leaving their respective villages with two bodyguards. Before Danzō sets out he issues orders for Kabuto 's capture, wishing to use Kabuto's knowledge to repair his right arm and eye. In Konoha, Karui and Omoi interrogate Naruto about Sasuke but he cannot bring himself to say anything against his friend since killing him would not save Killer B and would just start a war driven by vengeance. Naruto offers to let Karui take out her anger on him, which she readily accepts and proceeds to punch Naruto repeatedly. Eventually Sai stops her, which Naruto is not happy with at the time, but thanks him later.

Chapter 455
Before leaving for the Kage Summit with his bodyguards, Danzō arranges extra surveillance on Naruto, needing him to remain on Konoha and also believing Sai may betray him. As Naruto is elsewhere beaten up by Karui so that she can relieve her anger, Sai steps in and stops her, saying Sasuke is not worth the trouble either of them are going through. Sai tends to Naruto's wounds and takes him to Kakashi and Yamato. Naruto tells them about his meeting with the Fourth Hokage and the Fourth's allegations against Tobi. Fearing the influence Tobi is having on Sasuke, Naruto wants to speak with the Fourth Raikage and ask him to forgive Sasuke. Kakashi and Yamato agree. Elsewhere, Danzō and his bodyguards are attacked by several enemies. Wanting to deal with them on his own, Danzō reveals his Sharingan.

Chapter 456
While Danzō is on his way to the Kage Summit he is attacked by ninja from the Land of Woods, remnants from a group he had had Root eliminate. He uses his Sharingan eye to detect them and uses his Wind Release technique to massacre them all. He then cites their actions as proof that the world needs his views on good and evil. In Konoha, Kakashi deals with the Root members following Naruto. Yamato plants a tracker on Team Samui as they leave the village, allowing him, Kakashi, and Naruto to follow them to the Fourth Raikage in the Land of Iron.

Chapter 457
While on his way to the Kage Summit, Danzō receives an update from Sai. In Konoha, Sai thinks about Naruto and Sakura 's relationship and how the promise Naruto made about Sasuke continues to hang over him. In the Land of Iron, Naruto meets with the Fourth Raikage. Despite him being forbidden to be anywhere near the Kage Summit, he pleads for the Raikage to forgive Sasuke for his crimes. The Raikage refuses and tells Naruto his actions are unbecoming of a shinobi since the Summit is about to seal Sasuke's status as a criminal. The Raikage leaves Naruto behind and continues on to the Kage Summit, unaware that Sasuke and the rest of Taka are watching the Kage arrive.

Chapter 458
The Kage Summit begins. They first discuss previous attempts to collaborate against Akatsuki, an idea that most of the Kage rejected since each village still had a jinchūriki. The Fourth Raikage becomes angry about the casual nature of the meeting and smashes the table in front him, prompting the Kage's bodyguards to come to their defence. Once things have settled the Raikage accuses the other villages of supporting Akatsuki in the past. The Kage start to debate the merits of using Akatsuki, so Danzō gets things back on track by relaying Sai 's report that Akatsuki is led by " Madara Uchiha ". In Konoha, Sai speaks with Sakura about Naruto 's attempts to ask the Raikage to pardon Sasuke. Since Naruto is doing all of this because of the promise he made to Sakura, Sai reasons that he both loves Sakura and is caused constant pain because of her. At the Summit, in light of Danzō's news, Mifune, the Summit's mediator, suggests the ninja villages unite against Akatsuki under Danzō's leadership.

Chapter 459
At the Kage Summit, the Fourth Raikage protests Danzō 's nomination. Mifune gives his arguments. Ao becomes suspicious and uses his Byakugan. In the Konoha, the members of Team 8, Team 10, and Team Guy decide that Sasuke 's recent actions will only drag the village into a war. On behalf of the group, Shikamaru approaches Team 7 with plans to eliminate Sasuke before he can become more of a burden. This, combined with Sai 's claims that making Sakura happy causes Naruto more pain than Sasuke does, causes Sakura to agree. Back at the Summit, thanks to his Byakugan, which comes from a defeated member of the Hyūga clan, Ao reveals that Danzō is using his Sharingan, which originally belonged to Shisui Uchiha, to manipulate Mifune. Before Danzō can be questioned about this, Zetsu, on Tobi 's order, infiltrates the Summit and tells the Kage that Sasuke is nearby.

Chapter 460
The Fourth Raikage questions Zetsu on Sasuke 's exact location, then breaks his neck when he doesn't answer soon enough. The Raikage and his bodyguards go to deal with Sasuke, but not before instructing Ao to keep an eye on Danzō. The Land of Iron 's samurai are also mobilised to find Sasuke. Meanwhile, Tobi confronts Naruto to ask about his recent encounter with Nagato. He is attacked by Kakashi and Yamato, so he offers to tell them about Sasuke. At the Summit, Sasuke kills the attacking samurai, indirectly alerting the Raikage to his location.

Chapter 461
The Fourth Raikage and his bodyguards attack Sasuke and the rest of Taka. Since they are only barely able to evade the Kumogakure ninja's attacks, they consider running, since Taka cannot fight them and Danzō. Jūgo offers to deal with them. At the Kage Summit, Danzō admits to using his Sharingan to manipulate the meeting in his favour, what he thought would be the first step in bringing world peace under Konoha 's rule. With Danzō now under the watchful eye of Ao, the other Kage consider joining the fight with Sasuke.

Chapter 462
Jūgo, fully transformed and overcome by his murderous desires, fights the Fourth Raikage. He is quickly defeated, forcing Sasuke to step in. Elsewhere, Tobi tells Naruto, Kakashi, and Yamato about the truth behind the Uchiha clan 's demise and how vengeance against Konoha now drives Sasuke's actions. Since Sasuke rejected Itachi 's wish for him to live at peace with Konoha, Tobi argues that Sasuke is a true Uchiha; where the sons of the Sage of the Six Paths began the rivalry between Uchiha and Senju centuries ago, Sasuke continues that rivalry by seeking to destroy Konoha and, someday, Naruto.

Chapter 463
Because of the Fourth Raikage 's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Sasuke is unable to deal much damage to him. To put them on the same playing field, Sasuke uses an early stage of Susanoo, so that the Raikage is unable to deal a finishing blow. He then tries to use Amaterasu on the Raikage, but the Lightning Release Chakra Mode also gives the Raikage the speed to evade the flames. Sasuke then surrounds himself with Amaterasu in an attempt to stop the Raikage from attacking him. Despite this, the Raikage continues with his assault.

Naruto, Volume 50

Chapter 464
Even with his arm having been ignited by Amaterasu, the Fourth Raikage continues to attack Sasuke. Gaara appears and prevents the two from engaging further. He asks for a chance to speak with Sasuke, which will also give the Raikage an opportunity to deal with his arm. Gaara discourages Sasuke from a life of hate, citing his own experiences as proof that doing so won't solve anything. Sasuke rejects Gaara's suggestion that he can turn back. Gaara sheds tears for him. When Temari and Kankurō point out that if Sasuke could be convinced Naruto wouldn't have failed and that Sasuke isn't Gaara. Gaara, the Sunagakure bodyguards (Kankurō and Temari) and the Kumogakure bodyguard attack him simultaneously. Sasuke further develops his Susanoo to protect himself from harm.

Chapter 465
Sasuke uses Susanoo to destroy the room. As the Sunagakure and Kumogakure ninja avoid the falling debris, Sasuke finds Karin. He has her lead the way to Danzō, leaving the rest of Taka behind. The Sunagakure and Kumogakure delegations follow. When Sasuke arrives in the room where the Kage Summit was held, he is immediately attacked by Mifune. Danzō takes this opportunity to flee with his bodyguards and Ao follows them. Sasuke tries to follow too, but he is drawn into a battle with the Fifth Mizukage.

Chapter 466
The Fifth Mizukage assaults Sasuke with her Lava Release and Boil Release attacks. Already exhausted from his fight with the Fourth Raikage, Sasuke has difficulty enduring the destructive nature of her techniques. Zetsu begins to sprout from the Mizukage and her allies, giving their chakra to Sasuke. Rejuvenated, Sasuke tries to resume his search for Danzō. He is attacked by the Third Tsuchikage and apparently killed. Tobi appears and, carrying an unconscious Sasuke, proves this false. He offers to tell the Kage about his Eye of the Moon Plan.

Chapter 467
Sakura departs from Konoha with Sai, Kiba, and Lee, off to find and speak with Naruto. In the Land of Iron, Tobi sends Sasuke and Karin away. He then tells the Kage that Akatsuki seeks the tailed beasts for the good of the world. The beasts were created centuries ago when the Sage of the Six Paths split up the immense power of the Ten-Tails. If Tobi recombines the tailed beasts into the original Ten-Tails and seals the Ten-Tails within his body, he will be able to place an illusion over the entire world and end all wars. He asks the Kage to help him achieve this goal by giving him Naruto and Killer B (in doing so revealing that B was never captured). They refuse, so he declares the start of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Chapter 468
With the Fourth Shinobi World War declared, Tobi leaves. The Kage return to the idea of joining forces to fight Akatsuki. Because of Danzō 's actions, Konoha will not be permitted to join them until a new Hokage is found, preferably Kakashi. Although Killer B and Naruto would be valuable assets in the war effort as Ōnoki states, the other three Kage believe putting them on the battlefield would make it too easy for Akatsuki to capture them. The Kage agree to dedicate all necessary resources to protecting them both. Naruto's training with senjutsu is interrupted by the arrival of Sakura's group, so that she may speak with him. Meanwhile, B begins to learn how to become a better singer from Sabu. They are interrupted by the arrival of Kisame.

Chapter 469
Kisame and Killer B begin to fight. Elsewhere, the Fourth Raikage is put in charge of the Shinobi Alliance before he and the other Kage return to their villages to prepare for the battles ahead. Ao also continues his pursuit of Danzō, but he falls into a trap and his body is taken over by Fū Yamanaka. Meanwhile, Sakura and her entourage locate Naruto in the Land of Iron. She avoids telling him that their friends in Konoha have decided to kill Sasuke. Instead, Sakura tells Naruto that she no longer has feelings for Sasuke and that she now loves him. Naruto accuses her of lying to herself.

Chapter 470
Sakura refutes Naruto 's claim that she is lying. Although Naruto points out that she would not come to the Land of Iron just to tell him she loved him, Sakura insists it is true. She encourages Naruto to give up on trying to bring Sasuke back to Konoha for her, but he states that that is no longer his main reason for looking for Sasuke. Sakura leaves without another word. She then starts her own search for Sasuke, unaware that Sai is leaving behind an ink clone. Elsewhere, the battle between Kisame and Killer B starts to heat up. B tries various times to attack Kisame, but Kisame's Samehada absorbs his chakra before any of the attacks can connect.

Chapter 471
Fū Yamanaka, in control of Ao 's body, tries to remove his Byakugan. Various defences prevent him removing the eye directly, so he tries to cut off Ao's head instead. Elsewhere, Killer B continues to attack Kisame, and Samehada continues to absorb and grow stronger from his chakra. By tapping into the Eight-Tails ' chakra, B is able to strike Kisame before Samehada can stop him. Kisame is badly injured, but by fusing with Samehada the damage is repaired.

Chapter 472
Kisame being more agile in water once fused with Samehada; creates a large water dome to fight Killer B within. B cannot survive under water for long and Samehada continues to absorb his chakra, so he tries to escape, but is followed and attacked by Kisame. Once B is exhausted, Kisame separates from Samehada and tries to cut off B's legs to make him easier to carry. Samehada, having grown fond of B's chakra, stops him and protects B, even giving him back some of his chakra. Kisame kicks it away and tries once again to cut off B's legs.

Chapter 473
Kisame is stopped from harming Killer B by the Fourth Raikage, drawn to the site of the water dome Kisame created earlier. Samehada restores B's chakra reserves, allowing him and the Raikage to team up and decapitate Kisame before he could use another technique. In the Land of Iron, Suigetsu and Jūgo are captured while Ao is elsewhere saved from death by the Fifth Mizukage. Fū Yamanaka, still in control of Ao's body, asks the Mizukage to help him remove the Byakugan 's defences. This alerts her to Ao's predicament, forcing Fū to relinquish control. Meanwhile, Sai 's ink clone approaches Naruto to tell him what Sakura could not.