Lore ID: HIST-009
Era: Late Naruto Part I
Status: Completed Immediately Before Shippuden Era
The final period before Naruto's long training journey transformed Konoha politically and Team 7 personally.
KONOHA CRUSH
Orochimaru secretly coordinated an invasion involving Otogakure and Sunagakure forces.
Economic pressure had weakened relations between Sunagakure and the Wind Daimyō.
Orochimaru exploited Suna's dissatisfaction.
FOURTH KAZEKAGE'S MURDER
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, was secretly killed by Orochimaru before the invasion.
Orochimaru impersonated him.
Most Suna forces entered the operation believing their Kazekage remained in command.
INVASION PLAN
The Chūnin Exam finals gave enemy forces access to Konoha.
The plan involved:
Oto infiltrators.
Suna forces.
Summoned giant snakes.
A genjutsu used against spectators.
Gaara potentially unleashing Shukaku.
Orochimaru personally confronting Hiruzen.
HIRUZEN VS. OROCHIMARU
Orochimaru trapped Hiruzen within a barrier.
He used Edo Tensei to summon Hashirama and Tobirama.
Hiruzen used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
He sealed the souls of the First and Second Hokage.
Unable to fully remove Orochimaru's soul, Hiruzen instead sealed the functionality associated with Orochimaru's arms, severely restricting his ability to perform ninjutsu normally.
Hiruzen died.
NARUTO VS. GAARA
Sasuke pursued Gaara.
Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru became involved.
Gaara increasingly transformed under Shukaku's influence.
Naruto summoned Gamabunta.
He ultimately defeated Gaara.
Naruto's willingness to fight for friends profoundly affected Gaara.
This became a turning point in Gaara's life.
INVASION FAILURE
Konoha repelled the attack.
Sunagakure later discovered that Orochimaru had murdered the Fourth Kazekage.
Suna's political relationship with Konoha changed.
The former enemies moved toward reconciliation and eventually alliance.
The Konoha Crush was orchestrated by Orochimaru using Suna and Oto forces during the Chūnin Exams; Orochimaru had murdered and impersonated the Fourth Kazekage beforehand, and Hiruzen died stopping him.
RETURN OF ITACHI
Hiruzen's death removed one of the people personally committed to protecting Sasuke.
Itachi Uchiha soon appeared in Konoha with Kisame Hoshigaki.
Their immediate stated interest involved Naruto and the Nine-Tails.
Kakashi and other jōnin confronted them.
Itachi's Tsukuyomi left Kakashi severely injured.
Sasuke learned Itachi had returned.
He pursued his brother.
Itachi defeated Sasuke effortlessly.
The encounter reinforced Sasuke's belief that he remained far too weak to accomplish his revenge.
SEARCH FOR TSUNADE
Konoha required a new Hokage.
Jiraiya refused the position and searched for Tsunade.
Naruto traveled with him.
During the journey, Jiraiya taught Naruto the Rasengan.
Orochimaru simultaneously sought Tsunade because he wanted her to heal his damaged arms.
TSUNADE'S DECISION
Tsunade initially resisted becoming Hokage.
Her past included devastating personal loss.
She had lost Nawaki and Dan.
She became disillusioned with the dreams associated with the Hokage title.
Naruto's determination reminded her of the people she had lost.
She eventually rejected Orochimaru.
Tsunade fought alongside Jiraiya against him.
She accepted the position of Fifth Hokage.
The Search for Tsunade occurred immediately after the Konoha Crush and included both Jiraiya's attempt to recruit her as Hokage and Orochimaru's attempt to gain her medical help.
SASUKE'S GROWING DISSATISFACTION
Sasuke watched Naruto become increasingly powerful.
His defeat by Itachi intensified his insecurity.
Sasuke began to believe Konoha could not provide the power needed for revenge.
Orochimaru's cursed seal provided a tempting alternative.
SOUND FOUR
Orochimaru sent the Sound Four to recruit Sasuke.
They demonstrated the power of their cursed seals.
Sasuke ultimately decided to leave Konoha voluntarily.
Sakura attempted to stop him.
She confessed her feelings.
Sasuke thanked her before rendering her unconscious and departing.
SASUKE RECOVERY MISSION
Tsunade assigned Shikamaru to lead a rapidly assembled retrieval team.
The original force included:
Shikamaru Nara.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Chōji Akimichi.
Neji Hyūga.
Kiba Inuzuka.
Akamaru.
They pursued Sasuke and the Sound Four.
Because Konoha remained weakened after the invasion, stronger personnel were not readily available.
SOUND FOUR BATTLES
The pursuit produced multiple near-fatal battles.
Chōji fought Jirōbō.
Neji fought Kidōmaru.
Kiba and Akamaru fought Sakon and Ukon.
Shikamaru fought Tayuya.
Sunagakure reinforcements later assisted the Konoha team.
Gaara fought Kimimaro.
The cooperation demonstrated how far Suna–Konoha relations had changed since the invasion.
VALLEY OF THE END
Naruto caught Sasuke at the Valley of the End.
They fought beneath the statues of Hashirama and Madara.
Naruto attempted to bring Sasuke home.
Sasuke believed severing his bonds was necessary to achieve his goal.
Sasuke used the Cursed Seal.
Naruto used Kurama's chakra.
Sasuke won.
He chose not to kill Naruto.
Sasuke continued toward Orochimaru.
Kakashi arrived too late and carried Naruto back to Konoha.
The retrieval mission failed.
NARUTO'S TRAINING JOURNEY
Naruto remained committed to retrieving Sasuke.
Jiraiya recognized that Naruto needed far greater training, especially with Akatsuki pursuing him.
Naruto left Konoha with Jiraiya for an extended training journey.
Sakura became Tsunade's apprentice.
Sasuke trained under Orochimaru.
Kakashi and the other Konoha shinobi continued their duties.
During the following years:
Gaara rose to Fifth Kazekage.
Sakura developed into a medical ninja.
Naruto matured through training.
Sasuke became substantially stronger.
Akatsuki continued preparing its operations.
This period leads directly to the campaign starting point.