Recaps

Sakura Harano overslept, then helped Kakashi begin training to control his Mangekyō Sharingan by using a duplicate to demonstrate and teach him. After a productive day, she visited Hinata and entrusted her with a duplicate and a scroll for a task in the Land of Snow.

• Sakura Harano rushed to meet Kakashi after waking late, and he led her to Training Ground No. 4 to practice his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Kakashi activated his Mangekyō and struggled with the strain, while Sakura explained that precise Yin Release could help control the Sharingan.
• Sakura revealed a duplicate with Shisui's Mangekyō, which demonstrated how to activate and deactivate the eye and coached Kakashi.
• Kakashi made rapid progress with Sakura's help before they parted for the evening.
• Sakura visited the Hyuga residence, where Hinata had been sparring with Hiashi, and gave Hinata a scroll containing an independent duplicate to watch over in the Land of Snow.

Hinata asked Sakura Haruno where she and Sasuke had gone, while Kakashi made rapid progress learning Kamui under Sakura’s guidance. Sakura began to demonstrate the full power of her Susanoo, promising to show Kakashi the gap between them.

• Hinata asked Sakura Haruno whether she had developed the sixth and seventh fists of Hokuto Shinken, then admitted she really wanted to know where Sakura and Sasuke had gone.
• Kakashi trained with Kamui at Training Ground No. 44, using it to destroy most of Sakura Haruno’s ice darts before one exploded beside him.
• Sakura Haruno’s Susanoo shielded Kakashi from the explosion, and she praised his improving control of Kamui.
• Kakashi asked how far Sakura had developed her Mangekyō Sharingan, and Sakura explained that its varied abilities were difficult to compare.
• Sakura Haruno formed Hand Seals and unleashed vast Chakra as she prepared to show Kakashi her Susanoo’s full power.

Sakura demonstrated her Senjutsu Susanoo to Kakashi, then Sasuke arrived to bring her back to Konoha at Tsunade’s request. On the way, Sasuke asked whether Sakura had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and she admitted that she had.

• Sakura activated her Mangekyō Sharingan, Sage Mode, and Yin Seal to summon a towering Senjutsu Susanoo, leaving Kakashi stunned.
• Sakura withdrew the Susanoo and told Kakashi that stronger opponents existed, prompting him to resume training his Kamui.
• Sasuke arrived at Training Ground 40, confirmed that he had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, and told Sakura that Tsunade wanted to speak with her.
• Sakura left with Sasuke, who awkwardly glanced at her several times while they crossed the Forest of Death.
• Sasuke asked Sakura whether she had the Mangekyō Sharingan, and Sakura calmly admitted that she did.

Sakura Haruno told Sasuke that her Clone Duplicate had Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan, and Sasuke let her keep them. Tsunade recalled Naruto and assigned Sakura to lead a delegation to Kumogakure, warning her that the mission could become dangerous and that survival would take priority.

• Sakura Haruno admitted to Sasuke that her Clone Duplicate had Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan, and Sasuke revealed he had already worked out where they came from.
• Sasuke told Sakura to keep the Sharingan, though he claimed he was angry as he hurried away.
• Tsunade told Sakura she planned to call Naruto back because his training was nearly complete and they had enough intelligence on Akatsuki.
• Sakura teased Tsunade about her feelings for Jiraiya, but Tsunade denied that anything romantic was happening between them.
• Tsunade told Sakura that Naruto would likely reform Team 7 with her and Sasuke for difficult missions, including missions against Akatsuki.
• Tsunade assigned Sakura to lead a return visit to Kumogakure with Shizune, warning that the Raikage’s invitation might conceal danger and that Sakura should return safely even if the others had to be sacrificed.

Sakura Haruno's split body visited the Land of Snow to inspect machinery built with Kazahana Koyuki's support. The chapter ended with Sakura warning Hinata to stay away from a sealed warehouse containing a graphite reactor.

• Sasuke discovered that his Mangekyō enhanced his Lightning Release and named the ability Takemikazuchi.
• Sasuke developed a powerful lightning armor technique called Takemikazuchi-no-Kami, which retained his Chidori Demon Body Mode's cat ears.
• Sakura Haruno's original body left Konoha for the Land of Snow after completing Kakashi's training.
• Kazahana Koyuki welcomed Sakura's split body and said she had arranged for workers to build the requested machines.
• Sakura showed Hinata an industrial area full of centrifuges and warned her not to approach the sealed graphite reactor warehouse without her.

Sakura explained her plan to develop Star God Mode by improving Hoshigakure’s Mysterious Peacock Method with nuclear technology, though preparing the materials would take a long time. She planned to return to Konoha soon, while Hinata quietly wondered whether they could go back together.

• Sakura’s clone explained nuclear fission and how Hoshigakure’s Mysterious Peacock Method used radiation energy in Chakra.
• Sakura said she intended to improve the method into Star God Mode and use centrifuges and reactors to prepare its materials.
• Sakura told Hinata that preparing the materials would take a long time and that she would not remain in the Land of Snow to oversee the work.
• Hinata asked when Sakura’s original body would arrive, and Sakura said it would come after Kakashi-sensei’s training ended in two or three days.
• Sakura and Hinata left the noisy factory grounds and stood in the snowy countryside, where Sakura asked what Hinata was thinking about.

In the Land of Snow, Hinata worried about the Akatsuki’s growing threat but resolved to become strong enough to support Sakura, who reassured her that she would protect everyone. Hinata trained with Sakura for half a month, advanced her Hokuto Shinken, and returned to Konoha with her as September ended.

• Hinata discussed the danger of the Akatsuki and a possible world war with Sakura, who promised to protect everyone.
• Hinata and Sakura teased each other about their feelings for Naruto and Sasuke before playfully tussling.
• Hinata asked Sakura to help her train in Hokuto Shinken, and Sakura agreed on behalf of her main body.
• Three days later, Sakura’s main body arrived and her split body returned to her; Hinata then trained with Sakura in the Land of Snow.
• After half a month, Hinata mastered the fourth fist of Hokuto Shinken, advanced to the fifth, and reached a level where she could trade blows with some Elite Jonin.
• By late September, Sakura said goodbye to Koyuki and returned to Konoha with Hinata.

Sakura Haruno replaced Sai’s failing Five Elements Seal with a stronger seal around his Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. She challenged Sai’s Root conditioning and asked him to gather the delegation so she could discuss the operation.

• Sakura Haruno examined Sai’s tongue and found that the Five Elements Seal suppressing his Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal had nearly faded.
• Sai recalled how Kakashi had given him a Konoha registration card and how Sakura had brought him into the delegation after returning from the Land of Snow.
• Sakura Haruno removed the failing seal and applied a Double Four Symbols Seal, leaving Sai exhausted but free of the old seal’s restrictions.
• Sai thanked Sakura Haruno, then knelt and apologized when she criticized his forced smile.
• Sakura Haruno told Sai he did not need to follow Root’s habits or force himself to smile, and urged him to treat her and the others as comrades.
• Sakura Haruno asked Sai to gather everyone so she could tell them about the operation.

Sakura Haruno and Shizune discussed the dangers of the Kumogakure mission, and Shizune revealed a cursed seal that could crush her heart if she chose to sacrifice herself. After Sai returned with the delegation, Sakura addressed the sixteen members as their captain and announced they would leave for the Land of Lightning the next day.

• Sakura Haruno asked Shizune whether Sai’s flying ink beast could evacuate the delegation, and Shizune explained that it could carry only one or two people back to the Land of Fire.
• Shizune told Sakura Haruno that the team had volunteered despite the risks and that they would not let themselves become a burden to Konoha’s hope.
• Shizune revealed a cursed seal connected to her heart that could crush it when she decided it was necessary.
• Shizune reassured Sakura Haruno that Lady Tsunade had considered the risks and that the Raikage was unlikely to betray his word.
• Sai returned with the others, and Sakura Haruno addressed the sixteen-person delegation as its temporary captain and announced their departure for the Land of Lightning the next day.

Sakura Haruno demonstrated the gap between her and Kage Level fighters to prepare the delegation for its journey to Kumogakure, warning them to flee if they encountered Raikage A or Killer B. After the delegation departed, Obito learned Sakura was leading it and set out with a plan to stop her and disrupt the village alliance.

• Sakura Haruno used her chakra and speed to overwhelm the assembled ninja in a brief drill, touching several of their necks with an ice Kunai before they could react.
• Sakura Haruno explained Raikage A's fighting style and warned the ninja to flee from him or Killer B rather than fight them directly.
• The delegation left through the Konoha Gate the next day.
• White Zetsu told Obito that Sakura Haruno was leading the delegation, and Obito decided to confront her and disrupt the alliance between the villages.
• Obito dismissed White Zetsu's suggestion to bring Pain and said he had a better method.

Sakura Haruno arrived in Kumogakure as Konoha’s envoy and delivered Tsunade’s proposal for an alliance against the Akatsuki. Raikage A read the letter and considered it.

• Sakura Haruno and the Konoha delegation reached Kumogakure after evading Akatsuki watchers along the way.
• Omoi guided Sakura and the delegation through Kumogakure to the Raikage’s building.
• Sakura greeted Raikage A and explained that the Akatsuki had delayed their journey.
• Sakura gave Raikage A a personal letter from Tsunade proposing that the Five Great Shinobi Villages unite against the Akatsuki.
• Raikage A read Tsunade’s letter and pondered its proposal.

Sakura Haruno presented Konoha’s offer of an alliance to Raikage A, but their discussion of past grievances provoked Kumogakure’s ninja. After Karui attacked Sakura and Sakura crushed her sword, the Raikage challenged whether Konoha had shown genuine sincerity, leaving the alliance talks on a knife-edge.

• Raikage A accepted the idea of an alliance but asked whether Konoha would truly set aside the war’s old hatred.
• Sakura Haruno said Konoha could forgive Kumogakure’s attempted abduction of Hinata Hyuga and the sacrifice of Hizashi Hyuga, prompting anger among the gathered ninja.
• Omoi drew his sword and accused Sakura of slandering Kumogakure, while the other ninja reached for their weapons.
• Karui charged at Sakura with a blade, but Raikage A and Sakura stopped her attack just short of Sakura’s forehead.
• Sakura crushed Karui’s sword in her hand and knocked Karui to the floor, then faced Raikage A.
• Raikage A restrained his anger after recognizing Sakura’s strength and demanded to know whether this was Konoha’s way of showing sincerity.

Sakura Haruno persuaded Fourth Raikage A to let Kumogakure join the Five-Village Alliance while leaving the allied commander’s selection to the Five Kage Summit. After the villages exchanged pledges of cooperation, Sakura revealed that Konoha’s delegation had been hidden on Sai’s ink eagle while ice doubles stood in their place.

• Sakura Haruno argued that Kumogakure had to make concessions too and urged the villages to put aside their old grudges, including the feud between Kumogakure and the Stone Ninja.
• Fourth Raikage A agreed to trust Konoha but warned that Kumogakure would not ally with the Stone Ninja if Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki caused trouble.
• A claimed the allied forces’ commander should be strong and free of Akatsuki ties, then put himself forward; Sakura rejected any unilateral choice and said the Five Kage Summit would decide.
• A agreed to Kumogakure’s provisional entry into the alliance, and he and Sakura shook hands as their ninja bowed to one another.
• A punished Karui with a month of confinement for nearly sabotaging the alliance, while Sakura let the matter pass.
• When A asked for Konoha’s sincerity, Sakura revealed that the delegation behind her consisted of ice sculptures and that the real members had arrived on Sai’s ink eagle.

Sakura Haruno and the Fourth Raikage finalized an alliance between Konoha and Kumogakure, then Killer B took her group out to see the Land of Lightning. At the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, Killer B revealed that he had brought Sakura there to spar.

• Sakura Haruno and the Fourth Raikage signed the alliance agreement, and their delegations applauded as they clasped hands.
• The Raikage hosted a feast for Konoha's envoys, while the accompanying representatives handled the remaining negotiation details.
• Killer B guided Sakura Haruno and the others around Kumogakure, singing as he showed them the village.
• Sakura Haruno persuaded Killer B to take the group outside the village, and they chatted about singing on the way.
• At the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, Killer B asked Sakura Haruno if she wanted to spar with him.

Sakura Haruno and Killer B sparred at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, where Sakura showed strength and speed that surprised him. Elsewhere, Obito rejected White Zetsu’s suggestion to attack them there and said he had already prepared a plan.

• Killer B invited Sakura Haruno to spar at his training ground, and she agreed while planning to gather information.
• Sakura and Killer B drew their blades, and Shizune briefly interrupted them before Sakura reassured her and resumed the match.
• Sakura met Killer B’s opening attacks and blocked his strikes with enough force to make him wary of her strength and reflexes.
• White Zetsu told Obito that Sakura Haruno and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki had left Kumogakure and asked whether they should attack them.
• Obito said the Valley of Clouds and Lightning was within Kumogakure’s sphere of influence and that fighting both opponents there would be dangerous, then claimed he had prepared a plan.

Sakura Haruno and Killer B fought a swordsmanship duel, with Killer B escalating into Tailed Beast Mode and using all seven swords of Acrobat to break through her defense. Sakura escaped his midair attack with Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and left Killer B suspended in the air as she declared the winner had been decided.

• Sakura Haruno stopped Killer B’s initial sword strikes with her ice sword, and Killer B activated his Tailed Beast Cloak to increase his strength and speed.
• Killer B attacked with a powerful slash and a sudden thrust, but Sakura blocked and deflected his blows before defending against his rapid assault.
• Killer B grew a fifth Chakra tail and announced that his next move would decide the winner, while Sakura gained the upper hand in their exchange.
• Killer B used seven swords held between his joints to disrupt Sakura’s rhythm and force her to leap into the air.
• Killer B pursued Sakura with a simultaneous attack from his swords, but Sakura vanished and reappeared on an ice mirror below using Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.

Sakura Haruno and Killer B ended their sparring match as friends, while Obito continued planning to strike after Konoha and Kumogakure lowered their guard. Back in Konoha, Sasuke trained his Susanoo and wondered when Sakura would return, then came home to find the sealing scroll waiting in the living room.

• The Fourth Raikage stopped Sakura Haruno and Killer B from escalating their sparring match, and Killer B ended his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Sakura Haruno and Killer B exchanged a fist bump, and Killer B praised her for treating Naruto as a comrade rather than judging him as a Jinchūriki.
• Obito told White Zetsu that he would wait for Konoha and Kumogakure to relax their vigilance before carrying out his plan, and said he was ready to use a certain technique.
• Kakashi ended Sasuke's training after he demonstrated his Susanoo, and Sasuke asked when Sakura would return from Kumogakure.
• Sasuke returned home alone and went to look at the sealing scroll in the corner of the living room.

Sasuke kept the scroll Sakura Haruno had entrusted to him as a safeguard in case she died or Konoha came under attack. Sakura’s mission in the Land of Lightning went smoothly, and she prepared to return home after Kumogakure’s farewell ceremony.

• Sakura Haruno gave Sasuke a scroll containing a duplicate with a Mangekyō Sharingan and part of her spiritual energy, explaining that it could serve as a way for her to return if she died.
• Sakura Haruno told Sasuke to open the scroll if Konoha came under attack while she was away, and Sasuke reluctantly accepted it.
• Sasuke kept the scroll at home and worried about Sakura Haruno’s safety during her mission in the Land of Lightning.
• Tsunade learned from Sakura Haruno’s brief communications that negotiations with the Kumogakure Ninja were progressing smoothly and nearing completion.
• Sakura Haruno arranged for her subordinates to rest and planned to leave for home after Kumogakure’s farewell ceremony the next day.

Sakura Haruno tried to help Sai understand that he was more than a tool, then woke to an ominous disturbance at the delegation’s lodging. After chasing off the Masked Man, she found Sai’s severed head at her feet.

• Sai offered to repair Sakura Haruno’s torn coat and spoke about his dead brother, Shin, and his time in Root.
• Sakura Haruno told Sai that the smile she had seen proved he still had feelings and urged him to be himself rather than her tool.
• Sakura Haruno woke uneasy and found the courtyard strangely quiet while she searched for the night watch.
• Sakura Haruno confronted the Masked Man, recognized him as Madara Uchiha, and struck his intangible form before he escaped.
• A newcomer arrived and tossed Sai’s severed head at Sakura Haruno’s feet.

Sakura Haruno confronted the Fourth Raikage after he killed Sai and discovered that Kumogakure had betrayed Konoha. She defeated A in a clash but learned that Shizune and the others had already been captured.

• Sakura Haruno found Sai's headless body and accused the Fourth Raikage of killing him.
• A admitted that Sai had discovered him and said it was too late to stop the betrayal.
• An explosion sounded nearby, and Sakura Haruno rushed toward the fighting, but A blocked her path.
• Sakura Haruno clashed with A, then shattered his Lightning Release Armor and sent him crashing through a wall with a high roundhouse kick.
• As Sakura Haruno healed her injured leg, the fighting fell silent, and A told her that no one had escaped.
• A's brother arrived carrying an unmoving figure and reported that they had caught everyone.

Kumogakure captured Sakura Haruno’s delegation and tried to force her to join the village by torturing Shizune in front of her. Sakura resisted their threats and questioned their motive, and the Raikage revealed they planned to use Kumogakure’s secret technique, False Waterfall.

• Killer B brought the badly wounded Shizune into the courtyard, and the Raikage’s men displayed the captured Konoha delegation before Sakura Haruno.
• Sakura saw that Sai and the combat-team Jonin were dead and the remaining envoys were gravely injured, then vowed to fight the Kumogakure Ninja.
• The Raikage offered to release the captives if Sakura joined Kumogakure, but rejected her attempt to secure their release first.
• Killer B tortured Shizune with lightning to frighten Sakura, while the Raikage threatened the other captives and warned Shizune might die without treatment.
• Sakura questioned whether Kumogakure had allied with the Akatsuki, and the Raikage denied it before saying a secret technique called False Waterfall would ensure she joined.

Sakura Haruno faced the Raikage’s demand that she submit to Kumogakure’s False Waterfall, while weighing the threat to her companions against the village’s safety. After Shizune and the captured Konoha Ninja sacrificed themselves, Sakura decided to make Kumogakure pay if the events were real.

• The Raikage explained that the False Waterfall could replace Sakura Haruno’s personality with one loyal to Kumogakure, and threatened her with a prepared force if she resisted.
• Sakura Haruno considered the Raikage’s offer and relied on the Kotoamatsukami safeguard she had left with Sasuke in case her thoughts were forcibly changed.
• The Raikage argued that Kumogakure feared Konoha’s growing power and urged Sakura Haruno to accept his terms for the sake of the alliance against the Akatsuki.
• Shizune regained consciousness and urged Sakura Haruno not to trust the enemy or betray Konoha, while Killer B tried to silence her.
• Shizune and the other captured Konoha Ninja killed themselves, and Sakura Haruno wept before deciding what she would do if the scene was real.

Sakura Haruno fought her way out of the Kumogakure Ninja’s encirclement after burying Shizune and the others. She used the Ice Body Flicker Technique to vanish just as the Raikage’s attack reached her.

• Sakura Haruno chose to retreat rather than risk her life fighting the Kumogakure Ninja, then buried Shizune and the others in the crater with the help of her clones.
• Sakura Haruno attacked with ice darts and Ice Clones, while the Raikage and Killer B destroyed the clones and the Kumogakure Ninja launched coordinated attacks.
• Sakura Haruno dodged the Ninjutsu and Killer B’s tentacle, then tried to break through the encirclement as the Raikage pursued and delayed her.
• The Raikage struck at Sakura Haruno, but she vanished with the Ice Body Flicker Technique, prompting him to warn the others.

Sakura Haruno realized Kumogakure’s encirclement was wearing her down and chose to stop fleeing. She used a weaker gap in their defenses to head toward Kumogakure, leaving the Raikage terrified of what she planned to do.

• Sakura Haruno appeared beside her Ice Clone, destroyed the Raikage’s Black Panther attack, and escaped the first group of Kumogakure Ninja.
• The Kumogakure forces pursued Sakura Haruno for hours, repeatedly catching her and restricting her Ice Body Flicker Technique.
• After the Raikage told Sakura Haruno to surrender and warned that her loved ones would die if she fought, she realized the opposite route toward Kumogakure was less guarded.
• Sakura Haruno questioned how the Fourth Hokage had died despite his speed, and the Raikage recognized that she meant to attack Kumogakure.
• Sakura Haruno vanished using her Ice Body Flicker Technique and told the Raikage to see her in Kumogakure, leaving him roaring in despair.

The Raikage ordered Kumogakure to evacuate civilians and prepare to stop Sakura Haruno, fearing she would devastate the village. Sakura instead destroyed Raikage Peak and the Raikage’s building, then confronted Omoi and challenged him over Kumogakure’s attack on Konoha’s delegation.

• The Raikage warned combat squads not to engage Sakura Haruno alone, ordered civilians evacuated, and hurried back to Kumogakure.
• Sakura Haruno sliced Raikage Peak, the Raikage’s building, and several nearby peaks apart with a stream of water.
• Omoi confronted Sakura Haruno and argued that Konoha should join Kumogakure for the sake of strength and peace.
• Sakura Haruno rejected Omoi’s justification for Kumogakure’s actions and told him she had killed many Kumogakure Ninja, asking what he could do about it.