Recaps

Issui briefed Tsunade on Akatsuki’s power and suspected plans, then returned to Konoha and reunited with Hinata after more than two years apart. The chapter left the couple alone together while Sasori and Deidara headed through the desert to capture the One-Tail.

• Issui told Tsunade that Akatsuki’s members were Kage-level ninjas who had weakened the nations and might be seeking control of the world.
• Issui linked the Nine-Tails’ attack and Yagura’s rule over Kirigakure to Madara, and advised Tsunade to wait, strengthen Konoha, and seek a chance to unite the Five Great Nations.
• Hiashi welcomed Issui back to the Hyuga mansion and told him Hinata was training with Kurenai, Kiba, and Shino.
• Sasori and Deidara crossed the desert toward Sasori’s former village to capture the One-Tail, with Deidara eager to fight.
• Issui found Hinata with his Byakugan and reunited with her at the training ground.
• Kurenai ended the training and left with Kiba and Shino, leaving Issui and Hinata alone.

Issui reunited with Hinata after two and a half years away, then met Naruto and Jiraiya after their return to the village. That night, Issui told Jiraiya that Nagato led Akatsuki and explained how Yahiko’s death had driven Nagato to take control of the organization, leaving Jiraiya struggling to believe his former disciple had turned against peace.

• Issui embraced Hinata, apologized for leaving her so long, and promised never to leave her again.
• Issui and Hinata ran into Naruto, Jiraiya, and Sakura, and Issui arranged to discuss his Akatsuki investigation with Jiraiya later.
• At the barbecue restaurant, Issui told Hinata that Akatsuki planned to collect the Tailed Beasts and falsely claimed that Haku was away on a mission while caring for an abandoned baby.
• That night, Issui revealed to Jiraiya that Nagato Uzumaki and Konan were in Akatsuki and recounted how Hanzō and Shimura Danzō had plotted against Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko.
• Jiraiya heard that Nagato had become Akatsuki’s leader after Yahiko died, but struggled to believe that Nagato would seek to destroy the world.

Issui explained Nagato’s alliance with Madara and the Akatsuki’s plan to conquer the Shinobi World, warning that Gaara would likely be their first target. Jiraiya left worried about the Akatsuki and the possible rivalry between Naruto and Issui over becoming the next Hokage, but decided to leave the choice to them.

• Issui told Jiraiya that Madara had influenced Nagato after Yahiko’s death and that Nagato planned to use the Tailed Beasts to impose peace through power.
• Issui described the Akatsuki’s three-stage plan to gain money, dominate the war market, and conquer the world, and said they were nearing the stage of capturing Tailed Beasts.
• Issui predicted that the Akatsuki would target Gaara of Sunagakure and explained why Gaara might not be able to defeat the attackers.
• Jiraiya urged Issui to stay in Konoha, then left the Hyuga Clan and checked on Naruto as he slept.
• Jiraiya considered Naruto and Issui as potential Hokage candidates and decided not to interfere in their future rivalry.

After learning that Gaara had been captured by Akatsuki, Issui joined Team Kakashi’s rescue mission to Sunagakure. The team set out at once, while Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed Issui’s strength and the possibility of future rivalry with Naruto.

• A yellow-haired man arrived at Sunagakure with a sand-covered boy and reported to Sasori that he had finished the job.
• At the Hyuga mansion, Haku and Issui explained Xiao Zhixuan’s calls of “Mommy” and “Daddy” to Hinata, who happily held the child.
• An Anbu summoned Issui to Tsunade, who told him that Akatsuki had captured Gaara and assigned him to join Team Kakashi’s rescue mission as vice captain.
• Issui, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura left for Sunagakure after Tsunade ordered them to depart immediately.
• After the team left, Jiraiya worried that Naruto was a target and wondered whether he and Issui might compete for Hokage, but Tsunade urged him to trust them.

Issui and his companions reached Sunagakure, learned Gaara had been captured and Kankuro poisoned, and followed the trail toward Akatsuki’s base. Itachi intercepted Issui to delay the pursuit, then revealed that Issui had been trapped in a Genjutsu while Itachi went after Kakashi and the others.

• Temari joined Issui, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura after learning that Gaara had been captured, and they hurried toward Sunagakure.
• Sunagakure ninja told the group that Kankuro had been poisoned while pursuing Gaara’s captors, and Sakura treated him after Chiyo mistook Kakashi for White Fang.
• Kankuro gave Kakashi a fragment of Sasori’s clothing, and Kakashi’s Ninja Dogs tracked its scent to an Akatsuki hideout in the Land of Rivers.
• Pain assigned Kisame to delay Might Guy and Itachi to stop Kakashi and Issui, while the rest of the Konoha teams pursued Akatsuki.
• Itachi confronted Issui, who fought him while Kakashi led the others onward, but Itachi revealed that the fight had been a Genjutsu and that he had already pursued Kakashi’s group.

Issui realized Itachi had trapped him in layered Genjutsu to stall him while Akatsuki extracted Gaara’s Tailed Beast. At the secret base, Deidara carried Gaara away and separated from Kakashi and Naruto to fight Issui, whose first attack he evaded.

• Issui recognized that Itachi had kept him fighting through layers of Genjutsu while Itachi delayed Kakashi’s group, then hurried after them.
• Issui rejoined Kakashi and found Yura dead; the group continued to Akatsuki’s secret base in the Land of Rivers.
• Team Guy opened the base’s barrier, where they found Gaara motionless, and Deidara carried him away on a giant clay bird.
• Sasori stayed behind to face Chiyo, while Issui left Sakura with Chiyo and pursued Deidara on Leins.
• Deidara sent one bird carrying Gaara away from Naruto and Kakashi, then rode another toward Issui to fight him.
• Deidara attacked Issui with small explosive clay birds, but Issui evaded the blast.

Issui and Deidara fought in the air and on the ground, with Issui countering Deidara’s explosive clay using Lightning Release. Deidara’s C2 Dragon forced Issui to land and lured him into a hidden explosive trap, but Issui escaped with the Substitution Technique.

• Issui attacked Deidara with lightning arrows and thunderclouds, while Deidara dodged and sent explosive clay birds and spiders at him.
• Issui neutralized the clay spiders with Lightning Release and launched a Fire Style attack, prompting Deidara to summon his C2 Dragon.
• Deidara used the C2 Dragon to drive Issui toward the ground, then detonated a hidden underground explosive trap beneath him.
• Issui escaped the blast with the Substitution Technique and emerged from behind a tree.
• Issui deduced that Deidara’s birds and diving attack had been a lure for the hidden trap, and Deidara proudly explained his view of art as an explosion.

Deidara’s traps and explosive clay failed to defeat Issui, who escaped using his spatial Kekkei Genkai and counterattacked with black flames. Meanwhile, Kakashi and Naruto reunited with Sakura, Chiyo, and Guy’s team after rescuing Gaara and learning Sasori had been defeated.

• Deidara revealed how he had used a Clay Clone and planted land mines, then trapped Issui underground and detonated a swarm of Clay Spiders.
• Issui emerged unharmed from a warped space and explained that his Kekkei Genkai let him evade Deidara’s explosions.
• Kakashi and Naruto regrouped with Sakura, Granny Chiyo, Guy, Neji, Tenten, and Lee after rescuing Gaara, and Sakura reported that Sasori had been defeated.
• Deidara began preparing more explosive clay, but Issui attacked first with Fire Style: Amaterasu Great Fireball Technique.
• Deidara dodged most of Issui’s black flames, but they scorched his skin and consumed his cloak as they continued burning through the forest.

Deidara tried to defeat Issui by exploiting the three-second delay when Issui returned from the Sumeru Space, but Issui survived C4 Karura and sealed Deidara’s soul. Deidara became Issui’s subordinate, ending their fight.

• Deidara analyzed Issui’s spatial technique and realized Issui took three seconds to reappear from the Sumeru Space.
• Deidara used another clay-grasshopper explosion to draw Issui into the Sumeru Space, then prepared C4 Karura.
• Deidara detonated C4 Karura as Issui reappeared, believing the attack would destroy him.
• Issui used the Ice Soul Seal on Deidara, whose soul was covered in snowflakes and returned to his body.
• Deidara accepted Issui as his superior and ended the fight.

After Issui Kanna made Deidara his secret double agent, Issui received a mission to escort the priestess Shion in the Land of Demons. Deidara returned to the Akatsuki, where he reported Issui’s space-time abilities while hiding his allegiance.

• Issui told Deidara to remain in the Akatsuki and attack it when it went to war with the ninja world, then let him return without concealing Issui’s abilities.
• Issui rejoined Kakashi and the others after Chiyo revived Gaara, then received a mission from the Hokage and left for Konoha.
• Issui read the mission scroll and learned he was to escort Shion, the priestess of the Land of Demons, while she completed a sealing.
• Deidara disguised his injuries and returned to Zetsu and Tobi, who told him he would become Tobi’s teammate in Sasori’s place.
• Deidara told Zetsu and Tobi that Issui used space-time ninjutsu and that he had escaped their fight with an Exploding Clone.

Pain gathered Akatsuki to discuss Issui’s growing threat and Deidara described the limits of Issui’s space ability. Tsunade sent Issui alone to protect the Land of Demons’ priestess, while Hinata persuaded Kurenai to stay overnight at the Hyuga home.

• Pain told Akatsuki that Issui had become a threat, and Deidara described his strength, unusual beast, and space ability’s three-second return delay.
• Pain ordered Akatsuki members to eliminate Issui if they encountered him while hunting Tailed Beasts, then named Yugito as their next target after capturing the One-Tail.
• Tsunade assigned Issui to travel alone to the Land of Demons and protect its priestess until she sealed Moryo, ordering him to leave the next morning.
• Hinata and Haku persuaded Kurenai to stay overnight at the Hyuga home, and Kurenai agreed.

Issui mistook the sleeping Kurenai for Hinata and became intimate with her before realizing his mistake. Kurenai was left in tears, and Issui admitted fault and asked her what he should do.

• Issui came home after midnight, entered Hinata's room, and slipped into bed beside the sleeping Kurenai, whom he mistook for Hinata.
• Kurenai remained asleep and instinctively drew closer to Issui as he touched and kissed her.
• Issui and Kurenai became intimate, and Kurenai awoke during the encounter but was overwhelmed and did not resist.
• Issui recognized Kurenai by her red eyes and understood that he had mistaken her for Hinata.
• Kurenai feared the consequences for her relationship with Asuma and considered suicide or killing Issui, but rejected both options.
• Issui apologized, accepted blame, and asked Kurenai to decide what should happen next.

After a mistaken night with Kurenai, Issui left her to travel to the Land of Demons, where the shrine maiden Shion could not see his future or past clearly. Shion questioned him about his apparent death, and Issui began telling her about his dangerous childhood.

• Kurenai told Issui to forget their night together and remain only his senpai, then broke down in tears after he left.
• Issui fled Konoha for the Land of Demons, troubled by what had happened with Kurenai.
• Issui presented his mission scroll at the Land of Demons and was taken to meet Shion, the shrine maiden he had been sent to protect.
• Shion told Issui she could not see his future and asked how he could be alive after being dead; she then sent Taruho away to speak with him privately.
• Shion asked whether Issui had faced danger as a child, and Issui began recounting how his village had been wiped out and he had nearly died.

Issui encouraged Shion to believe she could resist fate, then defended her when Yomi’s four subordinates attacked the palace. He burned the attackers to death and left the story with Shion and Taruho fleeing through a hidden passage.

• Issui told Shion that she could change her fate through belief and hard work, and she began eating after he promised to protect her.
• In the Land of Swamps, Yomi sent Kusuna and three other subordinates to kill the shrine maiden, giving Kusuna strange black snakes that entered his body.
• When attackers struck the palace, Taruho fled with Shion through a hidden passage while Issui stayed behind to confront the four intruders.
• The four attackers ignored Issui and tried to pursue Shion, but Issui created clones to block them and followed them outside.
• Issui used Sealing Domain to prevent the four men from using Ninjutsu, then killed them with Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique.

Issui escorted Shion to the shrine where Moryo was sealed and fought through the terracotta warriors outside. He rescued Shion from Moryo’s altar and struck Moryo with Amaterasu flames, but the spirit resisted the attack.

• Issui reassured Shion and Taruho after defeating the four attackers, then set out with them for Moryo’s shrine.
• Issui and Shion reached the shrine, where Issui told Taruho to wait outside and carried Shion past the terracotta warriors to the cave entrance.
• Issui sent Shion inside to seal Moryo while he used Earth, Water, Fire, and Lightning Release techniques to destroy the warriors.
• Issui entered the cave and found the seal broken and Shion missing, then defended himself from Moryo’s tentacles and used Flame Body to withstand their attacks.
• Issui summoned Leins to pull Shion from the altar and hit Moryo with an Amaterasu fireball, but Moryo’s purple light resisted the flames.

Issui fought Moryo, whose evil power resisted his attacks and whose tentacles badly wounded him. Issui summoned the Black-Gold Flame Demon God and joined forces with Shion’s shrine maiden power, ending with a sacred black-gold saber appearing as they prepared to strike Moryo.

• Moryo resisted Issui’s Amaterasu flames, and Issui’s stronger gold-and-black fireball still failed to defeat him.
• Moryo struck Issui into a wall, and Shion worried over him as Issui climbed out injured and warned her to stay back.
• Issui shielded Shion from Moryo’s tentacles, then summoned the towering Black-Gold Flame Demon God, which wounded Moryo with its burning fists.
• Issui asked Shion to lend him her shrine maiden power, and she joined him on the ground and took his hand.
• Issui and Shion empowered the Flame Demon God with sacred light and summoned a huge inscribed black-gold saber beneath a pair of white wings.

Issui and Shion destroyed Moryo and shared a kiss, but Issui’s injury soon flared up and Shion cared for him on the journey back to the Land of Demons. Over the next two days, Issui enjoyed her attention while avoiding thoughts of the promise he had made to Hinata.

• Shion and Issui combined their power to destroy Moryo, and Taruho celebrated their victory.
• Shion kissed Issui and asked him to help pass her priestess power on to the next priestess.
• Taruho interrupted the pair, then Shion helped Issui when he coughed up blood from an injury Moryo had inflicted.
• Shion and Taruho escorted Issui back to the Land of Demons, where Shion tended to him as he recovered.
• Issui reported the mission’s success to the Hokage and enjoyed Shion’s care while putting off how to address his promise to Hinata.

After leaving Shion, Issui went to the Rōran Ancient Ruins to test whether the Dragon Vein could send him back in time, but its power awakened abilities in the final stage of his Eye of Heaven and left him in an unfamiliar forest. He encountered a team led by a man traveling with Rin and two other children, and the chapter ended with them cautiously searching for the person who had dodged their Kunai.

• Issui said goodbye to Shion and promised that he loved her before leaving the Land of Demons.
• Issui traveled to the Rōran Ancient Ruins and removed the Kunai sealing the Dragon Vein, unleashing its energy upon himself.
• Issui's third eye opened and absorbed the Dragon Vein's power, awakening two abilities from the Eye of Heaven's Black Stage and transporting him to a forest.
• Issui wandered through the forest, then dodged a Kunai thrown by a nearby team.
• Rin, a man, and two other children emerged and formed a defensive formation while searching for Issui.

Issui, a ninja from the future, encountered Minato Namikaze and his students in the past and clashed with Minato using his newly mastered space-time ability. He stopped fighting and invented a story about his identity, leaving Minato skeptical.

• Issui recognized Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara, then revealed himself after Minato exposed his hiding place.
• Minato questioned Issui's Konoha Forehead Protector, and Issui tried to leave, so Minato attacked with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Issui used Eye of Heaven: Black, Distorting Light to redirect Minato's attack and appear behind him, forcing Minato to teleport back to his students.
• Minato guarded Kakashi, Obito, and Rin and demanded that Issui explain who he was.
• Issui claimed he was a wandering ninja whose Konoha-born parents, Ono Nakamura and Erika Nakamura, had died in battle, and told Minato to check their names on the Memorial Stone.

Issui convinced Minato’s team that he was Takuya Nakamura, a Konoha ninja, and joined them on their way to reinforce Kikyo Castle. After arriving, he reflected on how long he could remain in the past and decided he must avoid changing the outcomes of major events.

• Rin recognized Issui as Takuya, a childhood acquaintance whose parents had died in the Second Shinobi World War, and Minato accepted the identity pending confirmation in Konoha’s records.
• Issui claimed to be a fifteen-year-old Jonin-level ninja who had mastered four nature transformations and discussed how protecting loved ones could make ninja stronger.
• Minato explained that Konoha was sending reinforcements to Kikyo Castle amid rising tensions with Sunagakure, and Issui agreed to join the mission.
• Rin sent Obito and Kakashi to hunt game while Issui rested, and the group set out after lunch and reached Kikyo Castle near dusk.
• Issui considered how time passed between the past and future and concluded he could stay for years, but should not alter the outcomes of major historical events.

Minato reported Takuya Nakamura’s strength and claimed Konoha heritage to Orochimaru, who ordered an investigation and planned to meet him after verifying his identity. Meanwhile, Kakashi and Obito trained, and Issui discussed their futures and the brewing conflict with the Land of Wind with Minato.

• Minato gave Orochimaru the Third’s secret scroll and told him about Takuya Nakamura, prompting Orochimaru to investigate Takuya’s parents and instruct Minato to watch him.
• Minato returned to Rin and learned that Kakashi and Obito had gone to train so they could surpass Takuya.
• Obito questioned Kakashi about whether Takuya might be a spy, but Kakashi ignored him until Obito let go of his collar.
• Issui told Minato that Kakashi and Obito would become powerful ninja, then heard from Minato that unrest in the Land of Wind had begun.
• Issui told Minato that he had left his village after his parents died and had wandered in search of power to protect loved ones.

Orochimaru confirmed Issui’s identity as Takuya Nakamura and demanded a fight to test his strength before letting him join Konoha. Their battle began before a crowd, where Issui demonstrated extraordinary speed and one-handed Ninjutsu, leaving the onlookers stunned as Orochimaru caught his first attack.

• Issui and Minato discussed the hope of ending the hatred that drove shinobi wars.
• Orochimaru received a report confirming that Takuya Nakamura was the son of two Konoha Chunin who died in the Second Shinobi World War.
• Orochimaru summoned Minato and Takuya, then told Takuya he would have to fight him whether or not he accepted the test.
• Orochimaru and Takuya went to a forest clearing, where Minato’s students and other shinobi gathered to watch their fight.
• Takuya vanished behind Orochimaru and attacked with a Kunai, but Orochimaru caught his wrist; Takuya then formed Hand Seals with one hand and unleashed a Great Fireball Technique.

Issui and Orochimaru exchanged clones, elemental attacks, and summons in a fierce battle that earned Orochimaru’s respect. As Orochimaru pressed his attack with the Kusanagi Sword, Issui escaped the strike and unleashed a beautiful but deadly rain of ice windmills.

• Issui used clones and substitutions to evade Orochimaru’s attacks, then trapped him with a combined Water and Lightning technique and a swamp.
• Orochimaru escaped with a summoned giant snake, praised Issui’s skill, and brought out his Kusanagi Sword.
• Issui blocked Orochimaru’s first sword strike with an ice shield, but the second strike shattered it and pierced him.
• Issui revealed the sword had struck a substitution log, then formed ice beneath his feet and sent a rain of ice windmills toward Orochimaru.
• Kakashi recognized the hidden killing intent within Issui’s beautiful ice technique, while Rin admired it and Obito dismissed it as showing off.

Issui unleashed Ice Pinwheel's Fierce Performance, and Minato explained how Issui's technique had reached the level of a Profound Mystery. As Orochimaru summoned a mass of snakes to defend himself and the onlookers retreated, Tsunade sensed the freezing aura and headed toward the battle; Issui then began his next attack, Ice Pinwheel's Chaotic World Dance.

• Minato explained that Issui's ice technique transformed Chakra in nature and form, controlled the battlefield, and suppressed ordinary Ninjutsu, while Kakashi confirmed that his lightning Chakra was hindered.
• Obito doubted his talent, but Minato encouraged him and Kakashi to keep pursuing their own strengths and protect their comrades.
• Issui shouted Ice: Ice Pinwheel's Fierce Performance, and the spinning ice pinwheels filled the battlefield with freezing currents that restricted Orochimaru's movement.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda Protective Barrier, surrounding himself with layers of snakes, and Minato warned the watching ninja to retreat before carrying the fainting Rin away.
• Tsunade sensed the freezing aura from afar, wondered who was fighting Orochimaru, and set off with Shizune to investigate.
• Issui began Ice: Ice Pinwheel's Chaotic World Dance, freezing the battlefield, the surrounding plants and animals, and Orochimaru's snakes as the pinwheels spun wildly through the area.

Issui unleashed a devastating ice-windmill attack that broke through Orochimaru’s Triple Rashomon, but Tsunade intervened and rescued him. Issui escalated his assault, trapping Tsunade as she prepared to use a forbidden technique.

• Issui’s ice windmills overwhelmed Orochimaru’s snake defense, and his final attack shattered all three Rashomon gates.
• Tsunade suddenly appeared, kicked Orochimaru clear, and smashed several incoming ice windmills with her fists.
• Issui grew angry and summoned a stronger counterclockwise ice-windmill storm around Tsunade.
• Orochimaru recognized Tsunade and warned her to dodge, while she admitted the attack had locked onto her.
• Issui chanted as he drew on the will of frost, and Tsunade pressed her palms together, preparing to use a forbidden technique.