Naruto: Evolution

Summary
Naruto: Evolution is a live-action adventure-fantasy modern-day novel basic off the animation of the Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden series. It follows a young eighteen-year-old teenager name Naruto Uzumaki, (David Henrie), who has a powerful fox demon beast known as the "Nine Tailed Fox" sealed inside him, following the path to become the strongest ninja in his home civilized village for his goal is to become the next Hokage.

Genres
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi and Thriller

Music by
James Newton Howard and Trevor Rabin

Soundtrack
Music soundtrack score by:

Sparks the Rescue, Anberlin, Papa Roach and Taking Back Sunday

Cast and characters
David Henrie as Naruto Uzumaki

Young Woong Jae Joong as Sasuke Uchiha

Emma Roberts as Sakura Haruno

Chris Evans as Kakashi Hatake

Yoo Seung-Ho as Sai

James Franco as Yamato

Milo Ventimiglia as Might Guy

Wenjie Wang as Rock Lee

Jang Geun-Suk as Neji Hyuga

Liu Yefei as Tenten

Jake Gyllenhaal as Asuma Sarutobi

Nick Jonas as Shikamaru Nara

Meaghan Martin as Ino Yamanaka

Spencer Breslin as Choji Akimichi

Kelly Hu as Kurenai Yuhi

Taylor Lautner as Kiba Inuzuka

Go Ara as Hinata Hyuga

Kim Hye-Seong as SHino Aburame

Baron Chen as Iruka Sensei

Callan McAuliffe as Gaara of the Sand (The Kazekage)

Jeffrey Parazzo as Kankuro

Taylor Swift as Temari

Mitsuki Koga as Baki

Malcolm McDowell as Hiruzen Sarutobi (The Third Hokage)

Harrison Ford as Jiraiya

Camerion Diaz as Lady Tsunade (The Fifth Hokage)

Johnny Depp as Orochimaru

Topher Grace as Kabuto Yakushi

Natalie Portman as Shizune

Aramis Knight as Konohamaru

Zahang Yihi as Anko

Debby Ryan as Karin

Kevin G. Schmidt as Suigetzu Hozuki

Avan Jogia as Jugo

Joe Jonas as Kotetsu

Drake Bell as Izumo

Tom Hardy as Killer B

Tristan Wilds as Omoi

Keke Palmer as Karui

Katherine Heigl as Samui

Bill Goldberg as A (The Fourth Raikage)

Michael Ealy as Darui

Owen Wilson as C

Ziyi Zhang as Mei Terumi (The Fifth Mizukage)

Matthew Fox as Ao

Matt Bennett as Chojuro

Danny Trejo as Onoki (The Third Tsuchikage)

Zendaya as Kurotsuchi

Roshon Fegan as Akatsuchi

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Danzo

Ian Mckellen as Homura Mitokado

Judi Dench as Koharu Utatane

Liam Neeson as Hashirama Senju (The First Hokage)

Daniel Craig as Tobirama (The Second Hokage)

Adam Brody as Minato Namikaze (The Fourth Hokage)

Rachel Bilson as Kushina Uzumaki

Hero Jaejoong as Haku

Ian Anthony Dale as Zabuza Momochi

Rain as Kimimaro Kaguya

Tristan Wilds as Kidamaru

Calum Worthy as Sakon / Ukon

Vanessa Hudgens as Tayuya

Jareb Dauplaise as Jirobo

John Nobel as Nine Tailed Fox (voice)

Kevin Michael Richardson as The Eight-Tails (voice)

Akatsuki
Chris Pine as Pain / Deva Path / Yahiko

Alexander Skarsgard as Nagato

Gemma Arterton as Konan

Sonu Sood as Tobi / Madara Uchiha

Jeffrey Donovan as Zetsu

Daniel Henney as Itachi Uchiha

Chris Jericho as Kisame Hoshigaki

Ben Kingsley as Kakuzu

Scott Caan as Hidan

Alexnader Ludwig as Deidara

Thomas Dekker as Sasari

Dev Patel as Tobi

Sequels
Naruto 2: Uprising

Naruto 3: Aftermath

Chapter 1: Evolution
Fifteen years ago, a demon fox known as the “ Nine Tailed Fox ” attacks a city-like village called the Hidden Leaf , causing havoc and murdering citizens and leaf shinobi in the process. A shinobi, The Fourth Hokage, face against the Nine Tailed Fox. He sacrificed his life to seal the demon inside a newborn infant. In the present day, fifteen years later, Naruto Uzumaki ( David Henrie ) is a fifteen-year-old boy who is an outcast in his village having no friends and everyone in the entire village hates him. He is befriended by his teacher, Iruka ( Baron Chen ), but still gets into trouble. One day, Naruto fails to pass the clone-jutsu test and doesn’t graduate with his classmates. After learning the “ Shadow Clone Jutsu ”, Naruto finally passes from the Ninja Academy. The following day, Iruka puts his classmates into a three-man-squad. Naruto is put with his rival Sasuke Uchiha ( Young Woong Jae Joong ), who is the soul survivor of the Uchiha clan, and Sakura Haruno ( Emma Roberts  ), who Naruto has a crush on despite her having a crush on Sasuke and never acknowledging Naruto, on Squad 7 led by Kakashi Hatake ( Chris Evans  ), who is a famous worldwide known skilled talented shinobi and wears sunglasses. Kakashi puts the teens on a training task to take two bells from him, explaining if they can they will pass but if they can’t they will be sent back to the academy. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are unable to take the bells from him, until Kakashi informs them to use “teamwork” which they should’ve used in the first place. After the training, the teens are still unable to take the bells, despite using teamwork, but Kakashi passes them for using teamwork and for not abandoning each other. Squad 7 is assign to missions that involve taking care of babies, cleaning houses and walking pets. They are assigned by Hiruzen Sarutobi ( The Third Hokage ) ( Malcolm McDowell  ) to escort Tazuna ( Ian Anthony Dale  ) back to the Land of the Waves , a small nation with little money. They learn Tazuna is the land of the waves’s bridge builder trying to build the bridge to land in order to break the control of the ruthless mob-leader Gato ( James Gandolfini ) who has taken control of the land of the waves’s shipping and transportation. Upon arriving in the Land of the Waves, the team takes Tazuna back to his wife and son, before they are confronted by Zabuza Momochi ( Johnny Messner ), the ruthless demon ninja of the mist. Kakashi battles Zabuza and reveals his Sharingan, a powerful rare dojutsu used only by the Uchiha clan and allows the user to copy an opponent’s techniques and abilities, in his left eye. Kakashi, helped by Naruto and Sasuke, are able to defeat Zabuza, who is helped by a mysterious mask-wearing shinobi and flees. Kakashi trains the teens to master “ Chakra ” control in order to defeat Zabuza when he returns. After two days of training, the teens manage to complete their training to harness their chakra control. Naruto is helped by Haku ( Douglas Smith ), and the two became friends. Zabuza is approached by Gato, who demands Zabuza to kill the leaf ninja and Tazuna. The next day, Zabuza and the mysterious mask wearing figure attacks the bridge. They are about to kill Tazuna and his family when Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura appears. Kakashi fights Zabuza, while Sasuke fights and overpowers the mysterious ninja, who is able to gain the upper hand on Sasuke. Naruto appears and helps Sasuke, but they are still outmatched by the ninja. Sasuke sacrifices himself to save Naruto, who taps into the power of the Nine Tails and engages the ninja. The ninja is defeated, and it is revealed that Haku was the mysterious ninja. Kakashi gains the upper hand on Zabuza and prepares to kill him with his Lighting Blade. Haku, who was trying to ask Naruto to kill him, blocks the attack, taking the blow through the chest to save Zabuza. Haku dies and Kakashi defeats Zabuza. Gato and all his gangs arrive, and Naruto comforts Zabuza, who then regrets of using Haku as a tool. Zabuza kills Gato and several of his gang, before dying next to Haku’s lifeless body. Sasuke is still alive, revealed to have only been in a near-death limbo state and tells Haku never meant to kill him from the beginning. Gato’s gangs charge towards the village, but they are forced by all the villagers to flee with all of them armed with weapons. With the bridge finally completed, Squad 7 returns back to the leaf village while Tazuna and his family and the villagers celebrate their victory along with calling their bridge in honor of their help “The Great Naruto Bridge”. Two weeks later, Kakashi is called to the Hokage  Mansion  where he and all squad leaders are told by the Hiruzen of the upcoming “ Chunin Exams  ”.

Two weeks after the events from the Lands of the Waves. Kakashi is called to the Hokage Mansion where he and squad leaders including Asuma Sarutobi ( Jake Gyllenhaal ), Squad leader of team 10, Kurenai Yuhi ( Ziyi Zhang  ), squad leader of team 8, are told by the Hiruzen of the upcoming “Chunin Exams”, a dangerous tournament where shinobi from their cities and villages participate in order to come either Chunin  or Jonin. when Kakashi, Asuma and Kurenai recommends their students, an argument emerges between Iruka, who is not happy to his previous students participating in the chunin exams, which leads for Hiruzen to hold up an preliminary test. Kakashi informs this to the teens, and they decide to participate in the chunin exams. Wanting to test if they are truly ready, Kakashi challenges them, and decides to let them participate in the exams after witnessing them using teamwork together. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are on their way to the Forest of Death, when they are approached by Rock Lee ( Wenjie Wang  ) who has come to fight Sasuke wanting to see if the stories of the Uchiha clan are true of them being the most skilled and powerful clan in the world. Before Sasuke and Lee commence their fight, Sasuke reveals his Sharingan. After an ensues battle, Sasuke is overpowered by Lee, but his teammates Tenten ( Liu Yefei ) and Neji Hyuga ( Jang Geun-Suk  ) arrives forcing him to stop. Upon arriving the gate of the forest of death, the teens reunite with their fellow former classmates Shikamaru Nara ( Nick Jonas ), Ino Yamanaka ( Meaghan Martin  ), Choji Akimichi ( Spencer Breslin  ), whom are team 10, and Kiba Inuzuka ( Taylor Lautner  ), Shino Aburame ( Kim Hye-Seong  ), and Hinata Hyuga ( Go Ara  ), whom are team 8, along with other candidates including Rock Lee and his team, and sand ninja Gaara ( Callan McAuliffe  ) and his sibling teammates Kankuro ( Jeffrey Parazzo  ) and Temari ( Meaghan Martin  ). Anko ( Zahang Yihi ), the exam proctor, appears and reveals the candidates of their mission in their task; they must spend five days in the forest of death and battle each other in order to obtain both a Heaven and Earth scroll and make their way to a tower which is a hundred kilometers away from the gates. When the test begins every candidate dashes through the forest of death; some candidates are killed by hidden booby-traps and devoured by man-eating beasts. Anko finds a body without a face, and learns that the one who did it has returned to the leaf village. She orders several proctors to go inform Hiruzen before going after this mysterious ninja in the forest of death. The next day, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura have obtained an earth scroll before encountering Orochimaru ( Johnny Depp ). In an ensuing battle, Sasuke hesitates to fight, claiming Orochimaru to be powerful for them to beat, while Naruto continues to fight Orochimaru and merges into the Nine Tails power. Orochimaru overpowers and defeats Naruto, before Sasuke engages him an ensuing battle. Sasuke defeats Orochimaru, who paralyzes and bites Sasuke putting a Curse Mark on his right arm before fleeing. Orochimaru is confronted by Anko and the two commence their fight, during which it is revealed that Orochimaru is Anko’s sensei. Anko prepares to sacrifice herself to kill Orochimaru, who appears to be only a Substitution and the real Orochimaru emerges leaving. Before he leaves, Orochimaru tells Anko of his plan to destroy the leaf village. Three days later, Naruto and Sasuke are fully recovered and the trio dash through the forest barely making their way to the tower with both heaven and earth scroll. Upon entering the tower, the trio reunites with team 8, 10, Rock Lee’s team, the sand ninja and several other three candidates along with their leaders Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, Might Guy ( Milo Ventimiglia ), Iruka, and Baki ( Mitsuki Koga  ), squad leader of the sand ninja. Hiruzen congratulates the remaining candidates before revealing the preliminary rounds before the last task of the exams. When the preliminary rounds begin, Sasuke is the first to fight and wins the match. Afterward, Shino won his match; Sakura and Ino failed to win when the two battle and knocked each other out leaving the match a draw; Tenten lost her match against Temari; Shikamaru won his match; Naruto has won his match against Kiba and his dog Akamaru, a golden retriever puppy; Hinata lost her match against Neji, who is revealed to be Hinata’s cousin; Lee lost the match against Gaara and is left fatally wounded before being treated back to health in the emergency room; and Choji lost his match against the sound ninja Kabuto Yakushi ( Topher Grace ). After Hiruzen tells the nine remaining candidates (Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Shino, Shikamaru, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro and Kabuto) that the final rounds will be held at the Chun Exam Stadium in one month, along with telling them to prepare themselves, Kakashi takes Sasuke away to seal the Curse Mark after witnessing it nearly taking over him during his battle. After sealing the curse mark, Kakashi is about to take Sasuke to rest in the infirmary when he is approached by Kabuto, who reveals to be working with Orochimaru and has come to kill Sasuke. Kakashi overpowers Kabuto in a brief fight, and Orochimaru appears. Kakashi confronts Orochimaru, preparing to kill him with his Lighting Blade, but Orochimaru calls his bluff before leaving with Kabuto.

Naruto meets with Kakashi at the hospital and asks if he can train him, but when Kakashi denies this Naruto claims that he is going to train Sasuke. Kakashi tells Naruto to go find a skilled Jonin as him to teach him new techniques before the final rounds. Naruto goes off in search of another Jonin, before running into the one and only Jirayia ( Chow Yun Fat ), who claims himself as the “Toad Mountain Sage” and revealed to be one of the legendary Sannin , three skilled masterd ninja trained by the great Third Hokage. Naruto asks Jiraiya to become his new teacher, but Jiraiya refuses and tries to flee from Naruto, who keeps following him until he decides to train him. Frustrated and unable to get rid of Naruto, Jirayia finally decides to train him. At the beach, he tries to teach Naruto how to walk on water, but fails and learns that Naruto is unable to build up his Chakra. After learning Orochimaru placed a five-prim-seal on him, Jiraiya reseals the seal on Naruto, allowing Naruto to build his Chakra up again and successfully walk on water. Kabuto is seen with Baki discussing of their plan to destroy the Leaf Village. After two weeks, Naruto has also learned how to summon frogs using “ Summoning Jutsu ”. But, he fails to summon a giant frog and Jiraiya learns that Naruto must tap into the power of the Nine Tailed Fox in order to do so. In order for this to happen, Jiraiya takes and pushes Naruto off a giant cliff after telling Naruto must tap into the power of the Nine Tails on his own if he wants to live. As Naruto falls from the five thousand feet cliff, he falls into a subconscious and encounters the Nine Tailed Fox. Naruto demands the fox to hand over some of his powers, which the demon fox does so stating he will die if Naruto dies. Naruto awakens and is able to summon the giant chief toad Gamabunta. The angered Gamabunta refuses to accept Naruto as his henchmen, leaving Naruto to challenge the giant frog to a duel of which Gamabunta will let Naruto be his henchmen if he can land on hit on his head. After an ensuing battle, Naruto is able to land a hit on Gamabunta’s head winning the challenge. Naruto wakes up and learns from Konohamaru ( Aramis Knight ), the grandson of Hiruzen and Asuma’s nephew, that he has been knockout out for weeks and the final rounds start in 30 minutes. Thanks to Konohamaru, Naruto makes his way to the Chunin Exam Stadium, where thousands of people including Asuma, Kurenai, Iruka, Sakura, Ino, Choji, Kiba and Akamaru, Hinata and her father, are seen sitting in the stands. When the final rounds start, Naruto prepares his fight with Neji, who states Naruto that fate will lead to his failure as well of him attempting his dream to become hokage. When the two commence their battle in an ensuing fight, Naruto appears to be no match for Neji, who is suing his Byakugon. With this, Neji easily overpowers Naruto; however, Naruto taps into the power of the Nine Tails and begins engaging Neji. Naruto defeats Neji and wins the first match. Naruto states to Neji that people can change, for to him Neji is a genius instead of a failure. The second match between Shikamaru and Temari begins; Temari appears to have Shikamaru on the run as he fails trying to capture her in his Shadow Possession Jutsu until he is able to get her in his trap; though as a shock to everyone he quits stating he hasen’t enough charka for another match. With Temari the winner of the second match, the third match between Sasuke and Gaara, who is very determined to kill Sasuke, begins. Sasuke surprises every one of his new abilities while overpowering Gaara, who then conceals himself into a sand shield defense attempting to transform into his unknown monstrous form. Sasuke, using Chidori, is able to penetrate through Gaara’s sand shield and strike a fatal blow in Gaara’ chest severely injuring him; Gaara passes out, and Sasuke is winner of the third match. Kabuto then secretly uses a Genjutsu to put everyone in the stadium, except Kakashi, Guy, Asuma, Kurenai and Sakura whom were able to release the Genjutsu in time, to sleep while a legion forces of Sound  and Sand  shinobi invades the leaf village causing havoc and battling leaf shinobi in the process. Hiruzen is confronted by Orochimaru, and it is revealed that Orochimaru is Hiruzen’s traitorous student. As Hiruzen and Orochimaru commence their battle, Gaara is resorted and transforms into his monstrous Shukaku form and attacks Sasuke, who is helped by Naruto and Sakura. The transformed Gaara overpowers Sakura and Sasuke before engaging and overpowering Naruto, who refuses to give up. In the ensuing battle, which takes place in the woods away from the leaf village, Naruto summons Gamabunta to aid him in battle. After an ensuing battle, Naruto defeats Gaara, who asks how Naruto can think of any other person but himself; Naruto states that friends are what make a shinobi strong. Kankuro and Temari appear by Gaara’s side, and the three flee back to the sand village along with all the defeated sand shinobi while sound shinobi are killed by the leaf shinobi. Orochimaru uses Forbidden Jutsu: Reanimation to bring the First Hokage ( Liam Neeson  ) and the Second Hokage ( Daniel Crag  ) back to life in his control and they gang up on Hiruzen, who defeats and seals the First and Second Hokage into the bodies of his clones using the Reaper Death Seal  ; Hiruzen states if any shinobi uses this jutsu they will die after taking their enemy with them. Hiruzen captures and prepares to remove Orochimaru’s soul but is unable to due to his fatally injures. So instead, Hiruzen seals Orochimaru’s arms forever bidding him to use any jutsu. Hiruzen bids farewell to his fellow former student before dying, while Orochimaru retreats with all his several surviving shinobi. Before he retreats, Kabuto, cornered by Kakashi, Guy and Asuma, states to Kakashi that he shall fight him when ever he unlocks the true power of his Sharingan, although Kakashi is no a member of the Uchiha. With the battle won, a memorial funeral is soon held for Hiruzen and all dead leaf shinobi with every shinobi in the leaf village including its citizens paying their final respects to the great wise Third Hokage. Meanwhile, two unknown figures with red cloud-like symbols are seen watching over the leaf village.

The two figures make their way into the leaf village without being detected, until they are confronted by Kakashi, Asuma and Kurenai. The figures are revealed to be wanted S-Ranked murderous criminals Itachi Uchiha ( Daniel Hemmey ) and Kisame Hoshigaki ( Chris Jericho  ). A ensues fight emerges between the three leaf shinobi against Itachi and Kisame. Itachi and Kakashi seem to be equality matched until Itachi defeats Kakashi, using his Tsukuyomi of his Mangekyo Sharingan. After learning they are after Naruto, Kakashi reveals Itachi of their organization known as the “ Akatsuki ”. Kisame is about to kill Asuma and Kurenai when Might Guy appears and battles Kisame in a brief battle, in which Guy overwhelms Kisame. Itachi and Kisame escape, while the others take Kakashi to the hospital where he falls into a coma. Meanwhile, Jiraiya is informed by the leaf village elders to find and bring Tsunade back to the village for her role of taking the sit as the “fifth hokage”. He agrees to this, and decides to take along Naruto, who is complaining over Kakashi teaching Sasuke new techniques. Jiraiya offers to teach Naruto a new technique of his own if only he agrees to come with him, which he does. They sit out for a city called Tanzaku Town, where Tsunade was rumored to be. Sasuke goes to see Kakashi at the hospital where he learns that Itachi has returned and is after Naruto. Determined to kill Itachi for murdering the Uchiha clan, Sasuke rushes out to find Naruto, though discovers that Naruto has already left the village with Jiraiya. In Tanzaku Town, Jiraiya leaves to gain information of Tsunade, while Naruto is confronted by Itachi and Kisame. Sasuke appears, and attacks Itachi, who overpowers Sasuke in a brief commence fight. Sasuke charged at Itachi with his Chidori; uninterested in their quarrel, Itachi effortlessly stops the attack. Naruto attempts to help, but Kisame then prepares to cut off Naruto’s arms and legs. Jiraiya arrives to block the attack. Jiraiya prepares to fight Jiraiya and Kisame, but Sasuke stops him wanting to kill Itachi. After another struggling fight, Sasuke is defeated by Itachi, who uses Tsukuyomi to put Sasuke in a coma. Itachi and Kisame are able to flee from the town, and Might Guy, who followed them, appears and takes Sasuke back to the village. Elsewhere, Tsunade ( Camerion Diaz ) and her assistant Shizune ( Natalie Portman  ) are approached by Orochimaru and Kabuto, whom have come to ask her to heal Orochimaru’s arms in exchange of him brining her deceased little brother and lover back to life. He decides to give Tsunade a week to think about it, and he leaves. While Tsunade has dinner that night, Jiraiya and Naruto arrive at the same bar. When Jiraiya reveals to her why they are here and tells her the situation and the need of a new hokage, Tsunade rejects the offer, saying anyone who would willingly take the title is a fool. Naruto, enraged that she would disrespect the title of Hokage and those who have held its position, challenges Tsunade to a battle. The two step outside, but Tsunade quickly proves to be far out of Naruto's league; Naruto tries to attack Tsunade with his imperfect Rasengan, but fails and is subdued. Despite this, Tsunade offers Naruto a proposition: if he can master the technique in one week, she'll give him her necklace, something worth an immense amount of money. If he cannot, she gets all the money in his wallet. Naruto agrees to the bet, and leaves to start training. Tsunade meets Jiraiya, where he tells her that he is aware Orochimaru has offered her something. Jiraiya makes it clear that he will kill her if she helps Orochimaru. Meanwhile, Naruto continues to train, intent on winning the bet with Tsunade. The week has gone by, Tsunade secretly meets with Orochimaru but when she prepares to heal his arms, Kabuto intervenes and stops this, revealing Tsunade’s plan to kill Orochimaru. Kabuto and Tsunade begin to fight. Although Tsunade has far more battle experience than Kabuto, he is able to hold his own against her, even managing to land a few debilitating attacks. As Kabuto prepares to put Tsunade out of commission, Naruto, Jiraiya, and Shizune arrive to help. Uninterested in their assistance, Tsunade tries to resume her battle with Kabuto, though he manages to subdue her. Naruto and Shizune both launch attacks at Kabuto, which he defeats, and Jirayia and Orochimaru commence their battle. Naruto proves to be no match for Kabuto, until he is finally able to defeat him using the now completed Rasengan. Having to defeat Kabuto and mastering the Rasengan, Tsunade gives Naruto her necklace; Orochimaru moves in to kill Naruto, but was stopped by Jirayia and Tsunade. After an epic ensuing battle, during which Naruto joins in, Orochimaru is defeated and he and Kabuto retreats vowing to meet again and destroy the leaf village. Tsunade, Jirayia, Naruto and Shizune return back to leaf village. At the hospital, Tsunade heals Kakashi, Sasuke and even Rock Lee, and is now presented as the Fifth Hokage of the hidden leaf village.

Shikamaru is promoted to chunin. Meanwhile, Due to the injures he received from Itachi and not being able to defeat him, Sasuke, also angered and jealous of Naruto getting stronger, challenges Naruto to a fight when he and Sakura come to visit. Naruto accepts, and the two head to a dense forest. After exchanging several attacks, Naruto creates a Rasengan and Sasuke prepares his Chidori. The two rush towards each other, with Sakura screaming for them to stop. The two are about to clash when Kakashi appears and deflects them away to different directions. An angered Sasuke storms off in anger, and is later taken aside and lectured by Kakashi of not attacking allies and friends from his village. When Sasuke said if anyone get killed who means something to him maybe he listen, Kakashi then tells him that he is too late to test it out, because they are all already dead. Kakashi tells Sasuke that Revenge will not truly bring happiness to him and is the wrong answer and leaves him, trusting he will not choose vengeance. While he debates on whether to stay with the village or take revenge on Itachi, Sasuke is confronted and subdued by the Sound Ninja Four Kidamaru (  Jessie T. Usher  ), Sakon ( Calum Worthy  ), Jirobo ( Jareb Dauplaise  ) and Tayuya ( Vanessa Hudgens  ), who tell stories of how Sasuke can become stronger if he lends himself to Orochimaru. Sasuke, tired of playing ninja games, finally gives in, and goes to them. Sakura tries to stop him, but fails as Sasuke vanishes before she can persuade him more and he knocks Sakura unconscious after thanking her. When Sakura awakens, she informs Tsunade of Sasuke's defection. Unable to send higher ranking ninja after Sasuke, Tsunade orders Shikamaru to assemble a team of genin under his lead to go after Sasuke. He selects Naruto, Neji Hyuga, Choji Akimichi, and Kiba Inuzuka, and quickly devises the optimal formation for the group. Before they leave, Sakura pleads to Naruto to make sure to bring Sasuke back. Naruto promises to do so, and the group sets out. As the first step in gaining power, Sasuke's cursed seal must be advanced to its second state. For this to happen, the Sound Four seals Sasuke into a barrel and carry him from the leaf village as his seal advances. When the trio makes their way, they are attacked by Jirobo, who stayed behind to stop them from following them. They prove to be no match against Jirobo, but Choji tells the others to go after Sasuke while he stays behind to fight Jirobo. As the others go on ahead, Choji commences his fight with Jirobo. After an ensuing battle, Choji defeats and kills Jirobo, but he is unable to catch up with the others and falls unconscious. The others match catch up to the Sound ninja, but are intercepted by Kidamaru, who stalls and overpowers them while the others escape. Neji stays behind to battle Kidamaru, while Naruto, Kiba and Shikamaru continues persuading Sasuke. After an ensuing battle, Neji defeats and kills Kidamaru, but due to his fatal injures as well, Neji falls unconscious, being unable to catch up with the others as well. The others catch up and ambushes the Sound ninja, but Kiba and Akamaru stay to battle Sakon and his brother Ukon, while Naruto and Shikamaru goes after Tayuya and this new unknown sound ninja revealed to be Kimimaro ( Rain ). Shikamaru battles Tayuya, allowing Naruto to chase after Kimimaro. Shikamaru is nearly killed in battle against Tayuya, but Temari appears and kills Tayuya. Kiba and Akamaru are helped by Kankuro, who kills Sakon and Ukon. Naruto confronts Kimimaro, just in time as Sasuke awakens and leaves despite hearing Naruto call for him to come back. Rock Lee appears, saving Naruto from being killed by Kimimaro, and fights him giving Naruto the chance to go after Sasuke. During the fight, Lee overpowers Kimimaro after drinking some sake he had mistaken for medicine. Kimimaro easily takes over the battle, but Gaara shows up, saving Lee, and battles Kimimaro. Kimimaro is defeated, but before Gaara and Lee could rest, Kimimaro regains consciousness and strikes at Gaara, in anger of him insulting his loyalty to Orochimaru. Kimimaro, however, subsumes to his disease and dies before he could kill Gaara. Meanwhile, Naruto confronts Sasuke at the Final Valley. Determined to bring him back to the village, Naruto battles Sasuke. During the ensuing fight, When Naruto, even with the Nine-Tails' chakra, was defeated, he tapped into the chakra even more, and 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 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 headband, 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, while Naruto is taken back to the village by Kakashi, who went after them. In the hospital, Choji, Neji, Kiba and Shikamaru are all alive and well, and Naruto vows again to a devastated Sakura to bring back Sasuke. Jiraiya visits Naruto, informing him of the Akatsuki making their move within two years, as it will be enough time for him to make Naruto stronger. Naruto, determined to get strong to bring back Sasuke, accepts Jiraiya’s training. After recovering from the hospital, Naruto and Jiraiya set out for their two-year training, bidding farewell to their fellow comrades until they return.

Chapter 2: Uprising
Naruto 2: Uprising takes place two years following the events from Naruto: Evolution.

Chapter 3: Aftermath
Naruto 3: Aftermath follows one year after Naruto 2: Reckoning.