Chapter 160 of the Naruto manga fills in the grief behind Tsunade's bitterness, as Shizune recounts the two loved ones she lost while wearing the First Hokage's necklace, and Naruto answers that despair by returning to his Rasengan drills.
Summary
Stung by how coldly Tsunade spoke, Shizune steps in to explain the roots of her mentor's gloom and the weight the treasured necklace carries. Years earlier, a young Tsunade pressed the heirloom into the hands of her little brother, Nawaki, trusting it to carry him toward his ambition of leading the village as Hokage. He was killed the very next day in the fighting of the Second Shinobi World War, and the pendant found its way back to her.
Key Events
That loss pushed Tsunade to campaign for placing healers within combat units so that fewer soldiers would share Nawaki's fate. Her idea drew the interest of Dan, a man who also dreamed of the Hokage seat and longed to keep as many people alive as he could. Once the two grew close, she entrusted the necklace to him as well. War claimed him too, and after her efforts to save him failed she came away with a dread of blood.
Notes
People came to whisper that the ornament was cursed, and Tsunade herself let go of any belief in dreams or in the office she once revered. Rather than accept that outlook, Naruto sets out to disprove it by picking his Rasengan practice back up, determined to earn the necklace by beating her at her own wager. The chapter sits in volume 18 within the Search for Tsunade arc and first ran in Japan in issue 15 of 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Naruto get the necklace of death?
Not yet in this chapter; Naruto responds to Tsunade's fatalism by resuming his Rasengan training, determined to earn the First Hokage's necklace by beating her at her own wager.
Who did Tsunade love?
This chapter reveals Tsunade grew close to Dan, a fellow shinobi who also dreamed of becoming Hokage, after earlier entrusting the necklace to her younger brother Nawaki; both men died in battle.
What's so special about Tsunade's necklace?
The necklace belonged to the First Hokage and was passed to both Nawaki and Dan, who each died shortly after receiving it, giving the heirloom a reputation as cursed and feeding into Tsunade's despair.
How did Nawaki die in this chapter's flashback?
Nawaki, Tsunade's younger brother, was killed in the fighting of the Second Shinobi World War the day after Tsunade gave him the necklace to carry toward his dream of becoming Hokage.
What arc does "The Necklace of Death…!!" belong to?
The chapter is number 160 of volume 18, part of the Search for Tsunade arc, first published in Japan on March 24, 2003.
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime 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
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