Chapter 538 of the Naruto manga turns inward as the Nine-Tails drags Naruto into his own mind to scold him, sparking a confrontation in which Naruto pins the fox down and declares he will shoulder both the war and Sasuke.
Main Characters (4)
Summary
Racing toward the front alongside Killer B in his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Naruto is suddenly hauled into his subconscious by the fox, which chews him out for burning through its chakra so carelessly. The two argue, and the fox insists Naruto is being naive, since no one could hope to carry the hatred of a whole war and the burden of Sasuke at once.
A memory of their Academy days with Sasuke flickers past. Then Naruto strides into the beast's cage, topples the great gate onto it to hold it fast, and locks eyes with the fox. With unshaken confidence, he vows that he will find a way to handle both the war and Sasuke.
Key Events
The Nine-Tails berates Naruto for wasting its chakra, and Naruto answers by pinning the fox beneath the toppled gate and declaring his resolve to face the war and to save Sasuke.
Related Reading
See all
Naruto vs Luffy: Does the Fight Change if Luffy Tickles Hinata?
Naruto vs Luffy with the twist nobody asked for: Luffy tickled Hinata on date night, and she kind of liked it. We break down the whole fight and commit to a winner....
Who Is Naruko? What Naruto's Transformation Jutsu Does to the Whole Hidden Leaf
Naruto built the transformation jutsu himself, and the Hidden Leaf has been quietly not talking about it ever since. The story behind our 90s R&B record about the Naruko question everybody dodges....
Notes
The 538th chapter reached Japan on May 30, 2011, and is collected in volume 57 within the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation arc.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the Naruto chapter "Cross-Examination"?
In "Cross-Examination", chapter 538 of the Naruto manga, the Nine-Tails pulls Naruto Uzumaki into his own mind to scold him for recklessly burning through its chakra, and Naruto responds by pinning the fox beneath its toppled gate and vowing to face both the war and Sasuke.
Why does the Nine-Tails confront Naruto in this chapter?
In "Cross-Examination", the Nine-Tails hauls Naruto into his subconscious because he has been careless in drawing on the fox's chakra while racing toward the front lines alongside Killer B in his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
What does the Nine-Tails think Naruto cannot handle?
In "Cross-Examination", the Nine-Tails insists that Naruto is being naive, since no one could carry the hatred of an entire war and the burden of saving Sasuke at the same time.
How does Naruto respond to the Nine-Tails' doubts?
In "Cross-Examination", Naruto strides into the fox's cage, topples the great gate onto it to hold it in place, and vows with unshaken confidence that he will find a way to face both the war and Sasuke.
Which arc and volume does "Cross-Examination" belong to?
"Cross-Examination" is chapter 538 of the Naruto manga, collected in volume 57 during the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation arc, and it first appeared in Japan on May 30, 2011.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Cross-Examination? The Naruto Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.
