Plot of Naruto: Shippūden

The plot of the second part of the manga and anime series Naruto, titled Naruto: in the anime and simply Part II in the manga, is set two and a half years after the present timeline in Part I. The new setting for the series begins with volume 28 (chapter 245) of the manga. The anime adaptation of the manga started airing on February 15 2007, premiering with the first two episodes debuting in a one hour special. The US publication of the manga began last January 2008, in the US issue of Shonen Jump.

The new story revolves mainly around Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno's new adventures and their search for Sasuke Uchiha after he defected from Konoha to gain Orochimaru's power. The plot later involves new major characters, such as Sai and Yamato. The plot also shows a more active Akatsuki in their quest to obtain all the tailed beasts.

Summit of the Five Kage arc

 * This arc starts from chapter 450. to current

New Orders
Kakashi finds Naruto and returns him to Konoha. Everyone has gathered to congratulate Naruto on his victory. Team Samui have now reached Konoha. Tsunade is now in a comatose state and is unresponsive, and as such, a new Hokage is to be elected. In the meeting to decide who the next Hokage would be, Shikaku nominates Kakashi, much to Danzo's annoyance. Danzo then says that all the previous Hokage have in some way destroyed the village. The Fire Daimyo then elects Danzo as the Sixth Hokage.

Meanwhile, Team Kakashi met with the employers of their first major assignment, Tazuna and Inari who have agreed to help rebuild Konoha. Elsewhere, Sai is assigned by Danzo to watch Naruto, and report his actions back to him. While Team Kakashi and Tazuna discuss Sasuke, and Naruto tells his friends he still intends to save Sasuke, just as he receives the order to eliminate Sasuke as a missing-nin. Upon returning, Sai remarks he is unable to reveal Danzo's reasoning because of cursed seal given to all ROOT members.

Over hearing information about Sasuke, the two members of Team Samui, Omoi, and Karui attack Team Kakashi for information about Sasuke and Akatsuki Knowing Akatsuki's goals, Naruto offered his support in finding Killer Bee and rescuing him before the extraction. They take Naruto to a secluded area, unknownst to them are followed by Sai, and interrogate Naruto. Naruto however due to the lessons he learned from Pain, offers himself to be beaten to relieve Karui of the pain she felt. After a through beating, Sai steped in to protect Naruto and Omoi himself stated that no matter what Karui did to him, he will not betray Sasuke. Samui finds them informs them that they will be going to the Raikage to give them their report.

Taken for medical care, Naruto tells Kakahsi, Yamato, and Sai his intentions to leave the village and find the Raikage and ask for a pardon for Sasuke. Yamato reminds him however that without the First Hokage's Necklace, the already weak seal shouldn't be strained, and as he was assigned to help rebuild the village, couldn't be there to seal the Nine-Tails. Naruto told them that his father told about the one in the mask that is controlling the members of Akatsuki, the attack on Konoha and was strong enough that Minato couldn't defeat. When pressed for anything else the Fourth told Naruto, Naruto tells him that he believed in him, which was enough to convince Kakashi that Yamato and himself would accompany Naruto to the Raikage.

Taka's Move
As Taka, after abandoning Akatsuki ater the completion of their goal to capture the Eight-Tailed Giant Ox are stopped by Madara Uchiha, who is angered at Taka's failure of catching the Eight-Tails and betraying Akatsuki. When Sasuke attempts to fight his way through, Madara says he will fight Sasuke, and then calmly tells him that Konoha was already destroyed by Pain and he gives him a new assignment, to kill the new Hokage Danzo who is on his way to the Kage Summit. Agreeing to the new assignment, Madara had Zetsu divide himself and lead Taka to the Summit.

Madara tells the other side of Zetsu that Pain's defeat was a wretch to his plans, and that Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique was supposed to be used on him, and that if Sasuke can't be controlled properly the he is of no use to him. He announced it was time for him to step out of the shadows and commence with his.

The Kage Summit
Gaara the Kazekage of Sunagakure, Onoki the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure and the Current Mizukage of Kirigakure depart from their villages with two guards each as requested by the Raikage to the location of the Summit. Danzo orders ROOT members Dajimu and Terai to continue watching Anko and find Kabuto before she does so she does not discover any experimental data Orochimaru had about his right arm and eye, and orders members Fu and Torune to act as his body guards for the Summit. On the way to the meeting, Danzo is attacked by two assailants and Danzo removes the bandages over his eye to reveal a bloodshot Sharingan.