Recaps

Fū grew restless in Takigakure and decided to leave the village to meet Naruto Uzumaki, another Jinchūriki. She escaped pursuit with Chōmei and flew south, while White Zetsu spotted her trail and prepared to report it.

• Fū told Chōmei she wanted to sneak out and meet Naruto Uzumaki, but Shibuki refused to let her leave.
• Fū wondered why Jinchūriki had to be confined, and Chōmei said people feared and wanted to possess their power.
• Fū escaped Takigakure using an Insect Clone Substitution Technique, leaving a note for Shibuki before flying south with Chōmei.
• Shibuki ordered the border outposts alerted, and a Takigakure pursuit team tried to bring Fū back.
• Fū used the Scale Powder Concealment Technique to lose her pursuers, while three White Zetsu watched her fly away and decided to report her escape.

Ōnoki assessed the Akatsuki threat and ordered Iwagakure to increase its defenses and bring Roshi back, by force if necessary. After reflecting on the dangers ahead and his own age, he signed a plan to train Kurotsuchi as his successor and prepared to act against the Akatsuki.

• Ōnoki dismissed the likelihood of the Fourth Raikage starting a war over Might Guy’s border exercises and discussed the Akatsuki’s threat with Kitsuchi.
• Ōnoki ordered heightened border patrols and sent Kitsuchi to assemble an elite team led by Kurotsuchi to find Roshi and return him, using force if he refused.
• Ōnoki recalled Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, reconsidered his former plans to seize the Land of Fire, and reflected on the dangers revealed by the Heavenly Screen.
• Ōnoki signed the document for training his successor, naming Kurotsuchi as a possible successor.
• Ōnoki called an emergency meeting of the elders and ordered the captain of the Explosion Corps to report to him.

Jiraiya agreed to take Naruto and Karin to the Land of Snow while Anbu prepared to follow intelligence about Akatsuki activity near the Land of Rice Fields. In Sunagakure, Gaara and Shukaku grew closer as Shukaku offered to teach him sealing techniques.

• Naruto asked Jiraiya to take him and Karin to the Land of Snow, and Jiraiya agreed.
• Gekko Hayate ordered the Anbu to proceed with plan C after learning Akatsuki members might have gone to the Land of Rice Fields.
• Gaara spoke with Shukaku about his sealing technique and asked him to teach it.
• Shukaku agreed to begin teaching Gaara immediately so Gaara could become stronger and protect his village.

Utakata learned from Saiken that the Akatsuki sought to capture all nine Tailed Beasts and decided to take Hotaru south to the Land of the Moon. They left the village by flying in bubbles, keeping their journey harder to track.

• Utakata asked Saiken about the Infinite Tsukuyomi and learned it was an illusory dream world tied to the Sage of Six Paths and the Tailed Beasts.
• Saiken warned Utakata that the Akatsuki might target them, so Utakata chose to leave for the Land of the Moon.
• Utakata told Hotaru they would travel south, presenting the trip as a chance to train in a new environment.
• Hotaru packed and said goodbye to the villagers as she and Utakata prepared to leave.
• Saiken advised Utakata to use his Bubble Technique to avoid leaving tracks, and Utakata and Hotaru flew south toward the Land of the Moon.

Ao’s squad searched the eastern waters for Orochimaru and found an abandoned underground laboratory, prompting Ao to request support from Konoha. Mei Terumi decided to verify the threat first and planned to approach Konoha under the pretext of a joint exercise if Orochimaru’s presence was confirmed.

• Ao’s squad searched uninhabited islands while Ao followed Mei Terumi’s order to avoid engaging Orochimaru.
• Ao’s squad found an island suspected of housing Orochimaru’s base, but its underground laboratory was abandoned, and Ao requested possible support from Konoha.
• Mei Terumi received Ao’s encrypted report and decided to contact Taka before approaching Konoha.
• Mei Terumi planned to invite Konoha to a joint exercise if the squad confirmed traces of Orochimaru.

Han decided to return to Iwagakure after the Heavenly Screen’s revelations made him reconsider facing the coming dangers alone. As he approached the village, he and Kokuō discussed the strength of the ninja shown on the screen and the threat posed by Madara Uchiha.

• Han received intelligence from an Iwagakure Anbu and agreed to return to the village, saying he had mastered Kokuō’s power and wanted Iwagakure united.
• Han set out for Iwagakure and joked with Kokuō about Naruto Uzumaki’s strength and whether Tailed Beasts were ranked by their number of tails.
• Han worried that Roshi could be targeted by the Akatsuki and hoped to take disciples after returning to the village.
• Han reached Iwagakure, where a young guard recognized him and announced his return.
• Kokuō said that Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan and form resembled the Sage of Six Paths, and Han tried to reassure him that Madara had been defeated in the events shown on the Heavenly Screen.

Yugito Nii worried that Kumogakure’s Chakra Cannon project could turn Jinchūriki into weapons and unleash destruction on a scale greater than the Tailed Beasts. She decided to ask the Raikage to let her oversee the project from start to finish so she could prevent its misuse.

• Yugito watched the research institute’s lights and recalled the researchers’ plans to build a long-range Chakra Cannon powered by Tailed Beast Chakra.
• Yugito discussed the project with Matatabi, who feared the cannon could make war more destructive and reduce Jinchūriki to Chakra batteries.
• Yugito considered the danger the weapon could pose to the Shinobi World and the possibility of catastrophic casualties in another war.
• Yugito told Matatabi she would ask the Raikage to involve her in the project from start to finish.

Suigetsu endured another beating from Sasuke and Jūgo on the isolated island, then tried to persuade Sasuke to secure him a legendary Ninja Blade. As Suigetsu celebrated his plan, an unseen observer watched the island from beneath the sea.

• Sasuke defeated Suigetsu in sparring, and Jūgo immediately attacked Suigetsu after Sasuke left.
• Suigetsu reflected on his isolation and the wider conflict he had heard about, then decided he needed to become stronger.
• Suigetsu asked Sasuke to get him a Ninja Blade, arguing it would make their training more effective, and Sasuke agreed to speak to Orochimaru.
• Suigetsu celebrated his prospects, unaware that a pair of cold eyes was watching the island from beneath the sea.

A mutated fish-man created in Orochimaru’s abandoned experiments sensed Orochimaru nearby and approached his island with a school of sharks, seeking revenge. Orochimaru detected the threat and sent Sasuke to confront the underwater visitors.

• The chapter recounted how Danzo funded Orochimaru’s amphibious-ninja experiments during the Third Shinobi World War, but the project was abandoned after the war shifted.
• Dr. Nagashima failed to recreate Orochimaru’s sole successful fish-man subject, and the creature killed him before escaping into the sea.
• The fish-man sensed Orochimaru’s Chakra, summoned sharks with high-frequency sound waves, and began advancing toward the island.
• Orochimaru’s sea snakes observed the approaching fish-man, and Orochimaru woke and alerted Kabuto Yakushi to the visitors.
• Kabuto told Sasuke that underwater guests were approaching, and Sasuke headed to the shore to meet them.

Sasuke and Suigetsu investigated a hidden presence beneath the sea and encountered a Fish-Man that controlled sharks and used Water Release. The Fish-Man retreated to gather sea creatures, vowing revenge on Orochimaru.

• Sasuke recruited Suigetsu to investigate an unknown enemy lurking beneath the sea near the island.
• Suigetsu sensed a faint Chakra signature offshore, liquefied himself, and found a Fish-Man among a group of strangely gathered sharks.
• The Fish-Man attacked Suigetsu with water blades and sent sharks after him, but Sasuke used Chidori Stream to electrocute the sharks as Suigetsu escaped ashore.
• Suigetsu described the creature, and Sasuke suspected it was another of Orochimaru's experimental creations before leaving to question him.
• The Fish-Man watched Sasuke and Suigetsu withdraw, then fled to an underwater cave and summoned sea creatures while vowing revenge on Orochimaru.

Sasuke learned that the humanoid fish creature Suigetsu saw was one of Orochimaru’s wartime experiments, and Orochimaru ordered Kabuto to capture it alive. Suigetsu kept watch by the sea, where a larger shadow appeared to swim toward shore before vanishing.

• Sasuke questioned Orochimaru about the humanoid fish creature, and Orochimaru identified it as a subject from an abandoned experiment to create underwater warriors.
• Sasuke refused Orochimaru’s request to capture the creature and left to continue his training.
• Orochimaru ordered Kabuto to capture the creature alive and explained the shark, electric eel, octopus, and deep-sea fish traits he had combined in it.
• Suigetsu waited by the shore, frightened that the creature might come ashore, and regretted not bringing Jūgo with him.
• Suigetsu spotted a large, slender shadow swimming toward shore, shouted at it, and watched it disappear.

Konoha Anbu swept the Land of Snow ahead of Jiraiya’s arrival, while Jiraiya, Naruto, and Karin entered the country disguised as merchants to meet Daimyo Koyuki. After learning that Akatsuki may be watching and the Snow Ninja Village was secretly developing Chakra Armor, Naruto wondered whether Sasuke would return after seeing the Heavenly Screen’s vision.

• Gekko Hayate, Namiashi Raidō, Aoba Yamashiro, and Uzuki Yugao traveled toward the Snow Capital to secure the area before Jiraiya arrived.
• Jiraiya, Naruto, and Karin landed at the port disguised as members of the Endō Trading Company and followed Koyuki’s attendant to the Snow Moon Flower inn.
• Naruto admired a Nine-Tails ice sculpture that Koyuki had commissioned after watching the Heavenly Screen.
• Karin found an Anbu message from Gekko Hayate reporting suspected Akatsuki activity near the Snow Capital and advising them to avoid the snowy mountain hot spring district.
• Karin told Jiraiya that the Snow Ninja Village was secretly developing a new type of Chakra Armor.
• Naruto looked toward the Snow Palace and asked Jiraiya whether Sasuke would come back after seeing the future in the Heavenly Screen.

Konan warned Nagato that the Akatsuki was running out of money as the Heavenly Screen’s revelations prompted clients and merchants to cut ties. Nagato ordered a temporary raid for funds, questioned Black Zetsu about Six Paths power, and learned of a Sage of Six Paths tablet before an Iwagakure spy infiltrated Amegakure and was killed.

• Konan told Nagato that the Akatsuki’s funding was nearly exhausted because the Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning’s Bounty Station, and Wind merchants had withdrawn their business.
• Nagato ordered Sasori and Deidara to raid the daimyō’s residence in the Land of Birds for antiques, while delaying a wider war and considering new members.
• Nagato confronted Black Zetsu about how Six Paths Madara obtained his power, and Black Zetsu claimed an ancient Sage of Six Paths tablet could reveal the secret to someone with special ocular power.
• Nagato noticed a fluctuation in Amegakure’s barrier, and Black Zetsu went to investigate the intruder.
• Black Zetsu found and killed an Iwagakure missing-nin who had tried to report the Akatsuki’s condition to the Tsuchikage.

Shikaku Nara struggled to keep the five-village surveillance alliance together as failed missions and suspicion turned its members against Konoha. The villages’ leaders secretly pursued different strategies, and Kirigakure withdrew from reconnaissance while the alliance remained close to collapse.

• After another Iwagakure reconnaissance squad was killed, Shikaku Nara stopped the villages from fighting and argued against rashly attacking Amegakure.
• A Kumogakure Jonin and Sosuke accused Konoha of avoiding losses and demanded action, so Shikaku promised to request elite reinforcements and warned the Hokage that the alliance could collapse.
• Akatsuchi followed Ōnoki’s secret instruction to appear to pressure Konoha while cooperating with Shikaku when necessary and keeping Iwagakure out of the front lines.
• Fuyi showed Sosuke a confidential offer of Konoha support for Sunagakure, and Sosuke accepted that Elder Chiyo had chosen stability over renewed conflict.
• The Kirigakure Anbu Captain recalled Mei Terumi’s order to support Konoha at a critical moment and forbade further Kirigakure reconnaissance near Amegakure.

Kumogakure Jonin Dayi believed the other villages had joined him in pressuring Konoha, unaware they were secretly prepared to support Konoha and use Kumogakure as a pawn. Haunted by his family’s deaths in the Third Shinobi World War and Konoha’s continued strength, he resolved to keep up the pressure the next day.

• Dayi recalled that representatives from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure had backed his demand that Konoha take responsibility for future crises shown on the Heavenly Screen.
• Dayi considered the Raikage’s secret order to pressure Konoha and wondered whether the Raikage feared Konoha’s strength, then dismissed the thought.
• Chiyo, Ōnoki, and Mei Terumi had privately instructed their representatives to support Konoha when necessary and let Kumogakure bear the blame for provoking it.
• Dayi remembered his father and younger brother dying in the Third Shinobi World War and resented that Kumogakure had paid such a heavy price while Konoha remained powerful.
• Dayi became enraged thinking about Konoha’s future shinobi, then renewed his resolve and decided to keep pressuring Konoha the next day.

Yugito persuaded the Raikage to appoint her head of security for Kumogakure’s Chakra Cannon project so she could oversee its development and prevent its misuse. The Raikage privately welcomed her involvement, and Yugito headed to the research institute determined to protect the village.

• Yugito asked the Raikage to join the Chakra Cannon project, citing her ability to sense Tailed Beast Chakra, the troops’ morale, and the need to prevent the weapon from being turned against Kumogakure.
• The Raikage tested Yugito’s resolve, then appointed her head of project security and required her approval for every test order.
• After Yugito left, the Raikage revealed that his anger had been an act and explained that he wanted her to keep the weapon’s development controlled and secure.
• Yugito celebrated her appointment with Matatabi and reflected on how she had worried about asking the Raikage for the role.
• Yugito headed to the research institute, reminding herself to live up to the Raikage’s trust.

Yugito took charge of the institute’s research and development projects, while Killer B got the Raikage’s permission to observe Might Guy at the border. After learning that Kakuzu and Hidan had appeared in the Land of Hot Water, the Raikage ordered increased surveillance and considered ways to make Konoha and the Akatsuki weaken each other.

• Yugito told Killer B that the Raikage had approved her taking charge of the institute’s research and development projects.
• Killer B asked to observe Might Guy’s training at the border, and the Raikage approved the trip on condition that he go disguised with a guard squad.
• An Anbu reported that Kakuzu and Hidan had appeared in the Land of Hot Water.
• The Raikage weighed the risks of attacking Akatsuki and considered letting Konoha and the Akatsuki fight each other.
• The Raikage ordered the border forces to increase surveillance of the Land of Rain and told Killer B to watch and listen more than he spoke.

Kakuzu and Hidan arrived too late to catch Jiraiya and the Nine-Tails brat, so they turned to hunting bounties in the Land of Hot Water. Kakuzu chose to wait for instructions from Pain while Hidan eagerly searched for a victim to sacrifice.

• White Zetsu told Kakuzu and Hidan that Jiraiya and the Nine-Tails brat had already left the Land of Hot Water, but could not say where they had gone.
• Kakuzu asked about their mission pay, and White Zetsu evaded the question before disappearing into a tree.
• Kakuzu decided to pursue a listed missing-nin in the Land of Hot Water rather than confront Kakashi's patrol before the organization gave clear instructions.
• Hidan hurried ahead, imagining a sacrifice who would survive long enough for him to complete his ritual.
• An unlucky wanted criminal in a nearby town suddenly felt an inexplicable chill.

Itachi suspected that the order to capture Naruto had come from the Masked Man rather than Nagato, and White Zetsu soon canceled the mission. Itachi and Kisame continued toward the Land of Water to search for Orochimaru and learn about Sasuke, while Kisame reflected on his past and questioned what a ninja’s life meant.

• Itachi reasoned that Nagato would not rush to capture Naruto and suspected the Masked Man had arranged the operation.
• White Zetsu told Itachi and Kisame that Naruto had left the Land of Hot Water and that the mission was canceled, confirming Itachi’s suspicions.
• Itachi and Kisame traveled toward the Land of Water as Itachi considered searching for Orochimaru and checking on Sasuke.
• Kisame remembered killing comrades to protect intelligence, discovering Suikazan Fuguki’s betrayal, and learning that the Fourth Mizukage had been controlled.
• Kisame asked Itachi about the meaning of a ninja’s existence, but Itachi avoided answering and led him to find a boat to the Land of Water.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame traveled by merchant ship toward the Land of Water, and Itachi recalled how Juzo Biwa had sacrificed himself to save him. Over dinner, Itachi and Kisame remembered Juzo and toasted the dead as they prepared to continue their journey toward Orochimaru.

• Kisame asked Itachi about his previous trip to the Land of Water, and Itachi said he had traveled there with Juzo Biwa.
• Itachi remembered Juzo's loyalty and how he died protecting Itachi from Yagura's Tailed Beast Bomb while Obito controlled the Fourth Mizukage.
• Kisame brought Itachi to the ship's mess hall, where they ate and talked about Juzo's drinking and promised shochu.
• Kisame toasted the dead, and Itachi silently joined him as the ship sailed toward an island they expected to reach the next day.

Juzo Biwa recounted his path from Kirigakure’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to becoming an Akatsuki missing-nin alongside Uchiha Itachi. He died in Kirigakure after sacrificing himself to protect Itachi from Karatachi Yagura’s Tailed Beast Bomb.

• The Third Mizukage sent Juzo Biwa and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to destroy Konoha’s supply lines, but Might Duy defeated them and killed four of their members.
• After Juzo Biwa discovered that someone was controlling Karatachi Yagura and learned that Kirigakure had become a dangerous place, he fled with Raiga Kurosuki and became a missing-nin.
• Juzo Biwa joined Akatsuki as South and partnered with Uchiha Itachi, gradually developing trust in him during their missions.
• Juzo Biwa and Uchiha Itachi returned to Kirigakure on a mission, where Karatachi Yagura exposed them and attacked.
• When Karatachi Yagura aimed a Tailed Beast Bomb at the immobilized Uchiha Itachi, Juzo Biwa charged into the blast and was fatally wounded by his own broken Kubikiribōchō.
• Juzo Biwa urged Uchiha Itachi to leave before Kirigakure’s reinforcements arrived, then died beside the shattered sword.

Deidara and Sasori followed Kimimaro’s trail through the Land of Fire, discovering a massacred village and learning he was searching for the wandering doctor Shinnō. They realized Kimimaro had planted a false trail, then headed east while wondering what he had found.

• Deidara and Sasori found a massacred village and identified a bone fragment as evidence that Kimimaro had passed through.
• A dying old man said the White Bone Demon had killed the villagers and gone toward a cave in search of Shinnō.
• Sasori and Deidara searched the mountains but discovered that the bone spikes were bait and that Kimimaro’s trail pointed east.
• Deidara detonated the village’s bone spikes, and he and Sasori flew east to continue pursuing Kimimaro.

Kimimaro uncovered Shinnō’s connection to the Sky Ninja and headed toward the wreckage of Angkor Fortress, while Shinnō abandoned his plans to restore the nation and began searching for Senjutsu. The chapter left Shinnō pursuing a detected trace of Natural Energy as Angkor Fortress remained hidden in the clouds.

• Kimimaro killed the ninja sent to mislead him, massacred several villages, and left false trails to confuse anyone following him.
• Kimimaro found Sky Ninja technology among the village ruins and deduced that Shinnō was searching for the wreckage of Angkor Fortress.
• Shinnō reviewed the Heavenly Screen’s combat footage, suspended his restoration plan, and ordered reconnaissance puppets to monitor Konoha.
• Shinnō left Amaru behind under a cover story and traveled as a doctor, collecting Chakra samples while seeking signs of talking snakes.
• Shinnō detected an unusual Chakra fluctuation that matched descriptions of Natural Energy and hurried toward it.

The Heavenly Screen reappeared across the Shinobi World with a new countdown, drawing the attention of the Five Great Shinobi Villages and many other ninja. As everyone waited for its next display, Nagato planned to rein in the Akatsuki members.

• The Heavenly Screen appeared over the Shinobi World with a countdown, and Tsunade, the other Kage, and their people watched it return.
• Ōnoki and Kitsuchi discussed Han training young ninja and decided to wait for the screen’s next display before calling a meeting.
• Naruto, Karin, and Jiraiya gathered on a glacier in the Land of Snow to watch the screen, while Sasuke and his companions watched from Orochimaru’s island.
• Ninja and villagers across the world stopped to watch the countdown, including Iruka’s Academy students and Chōjūrō in Kirigakure.
• Nagato and Konan discussed the screen, the Akatsuki’s unreliable members, and Nagato’s failing health.
• Nagato ordered Konan to warn the Akatsuki against acting independently, singling out Hidan’s rituals and Kakuzu’s bounty hunting.

The Heavenly Screen showed Sasuke confronting Momoshiki and Kinshiki in Kaguya's City before escaping, after which Momoshiki and Kinshiki joined Urashiki to head for the ninja world. Across the Shinobi World, Naruto celebrated learning he would become Hokage while leaders and ninjas reacted to the coming Ōtsutsuki threat and began considering preparations.

• Sasuke explored Kaguya's City, clashed with Kinshiki, and retreated after confirming the Ōtsutsuki were there.
• Momoshiki decided to go to Kaguya's territory, and Urashiki arrived and offered to help collect Chakra Fruits before leading the group toward the ninja world.
• Naruto learned from the Heavenly Screen that he would become Seventh Hokage and celebrated with Jiraiya and Karin in the Land of Snow.
• Tsunade, Shikamaru, and Shizune discussed the Ōtsutsuki threat in Konoha, and Tsunade vowed to defend the village.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered Darui to summon the Jonin for a meeting, while Killer B and Gyuki recognized that the Ōtsutsuki were no ordinary enemies.