Handing Down Senjutsu…!! (volume)

Handing Down Senjutsu…!! ( 仙術伝承…!! , Senjutsu Denshō…!! , Viz: Senjutsu Heir) is volume 44 of the Naruto manga.

## Chapter 403
" Tears " ( 涙 , Namida )

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
" Taka and Akatsuki " ( “鷹”と“暁” , "Taka" to "Akatsuki" )

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
" What is Left Behind " ( 遺されたもの , Nokosareta Mono )

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
" The Key to the Future " ( 未来への鍵 , Mirai e no Kagi )

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
" Addressed to Naruto " ( ナルトに宛てて , Naruto ni Atete )

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
" Fukasaku's Proposal " ( フカサクの提案 , Fukasaku no Teian )

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
" Handing Down Senjutsu…!! " ( 仙術伝承! , Senjutsu Denshō! )

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
" The Battle at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning!! " ( 雲雷峡の闘い!! , Unraikyō no Tatakai!! )

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
" The Eight-Tails vs. Sasuke!! " ( 八尾VSサスケ!! , Hachibi Bāsasu Sasuke!! )

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
" Unprecedented Shivers " ( かつてない戦慄 , Katsutenai Senritsu )

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.

## Author's Note