Chapter Summaries

Sasuke separated Hidan from Kakuzu and drove the fight toward the lake, where the Three-Tails emerged and attacked. Kakashi’s team arrived and watched as Kakuzu and Hidan fought the beast, with Kakuzu beginning to reveal the extent of his abilities.

• Sasuke used a combined Fire and Wind Release attack to split Kakuzu and Hidan, then forced Hidan onto the lake in a sword fight.
• Kakuzu saw Kakashi’s approaching group and moved to help Hidan, but the Three-Tails rose from the water and scattered all three fighters.
• Hidan gave up pursuing Sasuke and joined Kakuzu in attacking the Three-Tails, while Sasuke retreated to Kakashi’s team and described what had happened.
• Kakashi agreed to observe the fight and prevent Kakuzu and Hidan from taking the Three-Tails away.
• Kakuzu used several elemental releases against the beast, while Hidan’s scythe failed to pierce its shell and a tail strike sent him flying across the lake.
• Hidan recovered and charged back into the fight, and Kakuzu removed his robe as he struggled to capture the Three-Tails.

Kakuzu and Hidan battled the Three-Tails while Yūkimaru tried to drive it into a frenzy, and Kakashi sent Might Guy and Kurenai Yuhi to stop Orochimaru’s people. The fight remained divided as Guren intercepted Guy’s group and Kakashi’s team held back from confronting the berserk beast.

• Kakuzu unleashed five kinds of ninjutsu on the Three-Tails while Hidan severed one of its tails.
• Sasuke warned Kakashi that Yūkimaru could control the Three-Tails and that Guren’s Crystal Release had trapped them earlier.
• Kakashi sent Might Guy, Rock Lee, and Kurenai Yuhi’s team to stop Yūkimaru, Kabuto, and Guren.
• Kakuzu ordered Hidan to cut off the Three-Tails’ remaining tails, while Yūkimaru’s power drove the beast into a frenzy.
• Kakashi held his team back, fearing the berserk Three-Tails would attack them if they joined the battle.
• Guren intercepted Might Guy’s group, and Guy and Rock Lee attacked her while Tenten supported them with shuriken.

Sasuke joined the Three-Tails in fighting Kakuzu, while Hidan battled the beast’s tails. After Kakuzu and Hidan escaped with three tails, Kakashi’s team chose not to pursue, and the Three-Tails disappeared to safety.

• Sasuke left Kakashi’s group and harassed Kakuzu with Water and Wind Release attacks, while the Three-Tails helped hem Kakuzu in.
• Hidan cut off another of the Three-Tails’ tails, then survived being pierced and thrown away by the beast.
• Yūkimaru’s voice calmed the Three-Tails briefly, giving Hidan a chance to cut off another tail.
• Kakuzu wrapped himself around three tails and fled with Hidan, while Sasuke returned to Kakashi’s group instead of pursuing them.
• Sasuke advised Kakashi that pursuing the pair was unwise, and Kakashi led the team toward Guy’s battlefield as the Three-Tails disappeared.

Sasuke questioned Guren about her loyalty to Orochimaru while Sakura treated the unconscious Yūkimaru, exposing tensions between Sasuke and the rest of the group over how they treated their prisoners. After Yūkimaru woke and reunited with Guren, the group returned with both captives, while Kakashi worried that Sasuke had lost faith in them.

• Sasuke had Sakura examine the unconscious Yūkimaru while Naruto recognized him and Guren struggled to reach him.
• Sasuke challenged Guren about serving Orochimaru and accused him of treating her and Yūkimaru as disposable test subjects.
• Naruto and Sakura objected to Sasuke's harsh words, but the others stayed silent, leaving Sasuke dissatisfied with the group.
• Yūkimaru woke and embraced Guren, and the group set off with the pair as prisoners.
• Kakashi worried that the group's response had alienated Sasuke, while Sakura regretted stopping him from speaking.

Sasuke explained to Sakura that Konoha’s leaders had protected Orochimaru and left him without an answer about Danzo, deepening his resentment toward the Hokage Faction. Tsunade recognized the risk of Sasuke turning against the village, while Sasuke became more determined to pursue his own plan.

• Sasuke reassured Sakura that he did not blame her, then criticized Kakashi and the other Jonin for failing to support his interrogation of the prisoner.
• Sasuke told Sakura that Konoha’s leaders had protected Orochimaru and Danzo because of their ties to the Hokage Faction.
• Kakashi reported Sasuke’s dissatisfaction to Tsunade, who told him to speak with Sasuke and warned that the village could not afford to alienate him.
• Sasuke told Sakura that Orochimaru had targeted him and Danzo had tried to capture him, and said he would have difficulty giving his all for Konoha.
• Sasuke’s resentment strengthened his resolve to carry out his plan, while Sakura left confused and Naruto failed to notice her distress.

Sasuke trained while investigating why his Sharingan consumed so much Chakra, and Itachi reported Akatsuki’s movements. After warning Itachi to leave Akatsuki after capturing the Seven-Tails, Sasuke agreed to travel to the seaside with Sakura.

• Sasuke continued practicing ninjutsu and studying how to combine techniques while trying to understand his Chakra loss.
• Itachi told Sasuke that Kakuzu and Hidan had sealed the Three-Tails and were tracking the Five-Tails and Six-Tails, while Tobi had joined Akatsuki alone.
• Sasuke theorized that his Sharingan was consuming Chakra to complete itself because his Chakra natures had previously been unbalanced.
• Sasuke urged Itachi to leave Akatsuki after capturing the Seven-Tails and told him to prioritize his safety over killing Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Sakura invited Sasuke on a trip to the seaside, and he agreed to prepare for the journey with her.

Sasuke and Sakura traveled to the coast for a quiet camping trip, where Sasuke reassured her that he would not leave Konoha. Their peaceful outing ended when Sasuke recognized three approaching ships as aircraft carriers from the Land of Sky.

• Sasuke and Sakura gathered supplies at his restaurant and left Konoha for a coastal getaway.
• They reached the eastern coast, set up camp, cooked together, and spent the day swimming.
• Sasuke and Sakura watched the sunrise from the cliffs, and Sasuke told her he would stay in Konoha because his home and the person he loved were there.
• Sasuke spotted three enormous ships approaching the coast and recognized them as aircraft carriers from the Land of Sky.
• Sakura called the ships an unusual armed fleet and said they needed to hurry back to warn the village.

Sasuke and Sakura discovered that remnants of the Land of Sky were preparing to attack Konoha from the sea. They destroyed the Sky Ninja fleet and left the surviving attackers to face them on the water.

• Sasuke recognized the Sky Ninja warships and explained that the Land of Sky remnants intended to use their aerial advantage to attack Konoha.
• The Sky Ninja commander sent a squad to eliminate Sasuke and Sakura after lookouts spotted them on the shore.
• Sasuke summoned Eagle Fury, and he and Sakura rode the giant eagle toward the fleet.
• Sasuke used Lightning Release: Lightning Hell to strike and cripple the three warships, grounding the Sky Ninja's launch operations.
• Sakura leaped onto a warship and toppled it into another with a punch, while Sasuke landed beside her to confront the remaining Sky Ninja.

Sasuke and Sakura defeated the Sky Ninjas’ attack on the coast, and Sasuke collected their weapons for study. After returning to Konoha, he learned that the Kunai Launcher’s design was simple but unpopular because ninjas resisted tools that might diminish their value.

• Sakura destroyed three Sky Ninja warships, while Sasuke examined and gathered the enemy’s weapons and explosives.
• Sakura fired a signal flare, and Shiranui Genma arrived with a patrol squad to capture the surviving Sky Ninjas.
• Sasuke and Sakura returned to Konoha, where Tsunade praised them for preventing an attack and recorded their merits.
• Sasuke took a Kunai Launcher to a Ninja Tool shop, and the craftsman explained how it used Chakra as thrust and why ninjas had not adopted it.

Sasuke gave Tsunade Itachi’s intelligence that Kakuzu and Hidan were entering the Land of Fire, prompting Konoha to prepare an interception. After hidden sentries lost the pair, Tsunade ordered the assembled squads to search for them and avoid engaging alone.

• Sasuke bought a detailed weapon blueprint, then received Itachi’s report that Kakuzu and Hidan were heading to the Land of Fire after capturing the Five-Tails.
• Sasuke delivered the intelligence to Tsunade, who ordered heightened patrols and reduced high-level missions while Konoha prepared for the Akatsuki pair.
• Kakuzu and Hidan entered the Land of Fire and headed toward Rikudō of the Fire Temple, arguing as they traveled.
• Konoha’s hidden sentries spotted Kakuzu and Hidan, and Tsunade assembled Kakashi’s Team, Asuma’s Team, and other squads to intercept them.
• The sentries lost track of Kakuzu and Hidan after the pair discovered them and concealed their tracks.
• Tsunade sent Kakashi’s Team to investigate clues and ordered the other squads to search separately, signal if they found the targets, and avoid fighting them alone.

Kakashi's team followed a false trail planted by White Zetsu, then deduced that Kakuzu and Hidan were targeting Chiriku at the Fire Temple. Kakuzu and Hidan reached the temple and attacked its gate, while Kakashi's team raced there by eagle.

• Kakashi's team met Inoue Goro, who claimed Kakuzu and Hidan had vanished into the forest, and Pakkun found a faint blood scent.
• After Kakashi's team left, Inoue Goro transformed into White Zetsu, revealing that he had killed the lookout and set a false trail.
• When the scent disappeared, Sasuke guided the team to suspect Kakuzu and Hidan were hunting a high-value bounty, likely Chiriku of the Fire Temple.
• Kakashi had Sasuke summon a fast eagle, and the five flew toward the Fire Temple.
• Kakuzu and Hidan reached the Fire Temple, kicked down its gate, and faced Chiriku as he came out to confront them.

Chiriku fought Hidan and Kakuzu at the Fire Temple, but Sasuke, Kakashi, and the others arrived before he was killed. The teams split to face the Akatsuki members, and Naruto’s new Rasenshuriken vanished just before it could hit Kakuzu, leaving Naruto vulnerable to Hidan.

• Chiriku struck Hidan and Kakuzu with his Sage Art: Rakan Fist, but both Akatsuki members appeared unharmed.
• Sasuke and the others arrived, and Kakashi divided the fighters while Chiriku evacuated the temple monks.
• Sasuke chose to face Hidan, while Kakashi, Yamato, Naruto, and Sakura confronted Kakuzu.
• Naruto charged at Kakuzu with his Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, but the technique vanished before reaching him.
• Hidan laughed at Naruto and kicked him backward.

Kakuzu and Hidan attacked Kakashi, Sasuke, Yamato, Naruto, and Sakura at the Fire Temple, which Kakuzu’s ninjutsu destroyed. Kakashi and Yamato discovered that Kakuzu survived a heart-piercing strike by sacrificing one of his masked monsters, and the battle continued with Kakuzu’s remaining masks launching combined attacks.

• Kakuzu released four masked monsters, and Hidan charged Kakashi’s group while Kakuzu’s Wind Release destroyed the evacuated Fire Temple.
• Sasuke moved to confront Hidan, while Kakashi and Yamato trapped Kakuzu in a Wood Release prison and Kakashi pierced his heart with Lightning Cutter.
• One masked monster entered Kakuzu’s body and restored him, prompting Kakashi to conclude that they had to destroy the remaining masks or kill him several more times.
• Kakuzu combined Wind Release and Fire Release against the group, but Yamato’s Water Release blocked the weakened attack.
• A remaining mask launched Lightning Release: False Darkness, and Kakashi countered it with his own Lightning Release.

Sasuke drew Hidan away from the Fire Temple and used scroll-sealed jutsu and Kamui to gain the advantage, but Hidan began preparing his blood ritual after wounding Sasuke. Sasuke struggled to stop him without risking a damaging exchange.

• Sasuke combined sealed Water Release and Wind Release techniques to burn Hidan and sever the rope of his scythe.
• Sasuke pressured Hidan with swordsmanship and led him away from the Fire Temple while Kakuzu joined the fight against Kakashi and the others.
• Sasuke surrounded himself and Hidan with four Fire Dragon Bullet techniques, then used Kamui to evade Hidan’s scythe and cut off his right arm.
• Hidan cut Sasuke’s cheek with his ritual rod, licked Sasuke’s blood, and began drawing his ritual pattern in the blood from his severed shoulder.
• Sasuke attacked Hidan to keep him from completing the ritual, while Hidan launched desperate assaults and tried to reach the unfinished array.

Sasuke defeated Hidan by destroying his ritual circle, then sealed away Hidan’s still-living body parts. After replenishing his Chakra, Sasuke returned to find Naruto’s Rasenshuriken had struck Kakuzu’s side of the battle.

• Sasuke used an Earth Release scroll to destroy Hidan’s ritual circle and impale him, preventing his curse from activating.
• Sasuke cut Hidan into pieces and sealed his body parts, including his head, in scrolls.
• Sasuke ate and refined Chakra for half an hour while Kakashi, Yamato, Sakura, and Naruto continued fighting Kakuzu and his masked monsters.
• Sasuke hurried back to the temple after restoring his Chakra and felt a powerful storm erupt there.
• Naruto told Sasuke that he had used Rasenshuriken and learned Chakra nature transformation.

Naruto recovered while Sakura treated him, and Sasuke turned to face Kakuzu after confirming Hidan had been sealed away. Sasuke overwhelmed Kakuzu with a coordinated series of elemental attacks and traps, but Kakuzu survived and prepared to take Sasuke’s heart.

• Sasuke told Kakashi that Hidan had been sealed and that the group still needed to deal with Kakuzu.
• Sakura healed Naruto after scolding him, while Sasuke approached Kakuzu and learned he still had two hearts left.
• Sasuke used Earth, Water, Lightning, Fire, and Wind Release in a combination attack that destroyed Kakuzu’s original body.
• Sasuke trapped two mask monsters with Shuriken, Kunai, wire, and Exploding Tags, but one survived and merged back into Kakuzu.
• Kakuzu rose again, revealed the threads spilling from his body, and declared that he would take Sasuke’s heart.

Sasuke fought Kakuzu and revealed how he survived by stealing other people's hearts, then used a modified Rasenshuriken to defeat him. Afterward, Sasuke explained his technique to Naruto and encouraged him by pointing out Naruto's growing Chakra reserves.

• Kakuzu admitted that he had stolen the forbidden Earth Grudge Fear and replaced his aging hearts by killing others.
• Sasuke cut apart Kakuzu's arm, then created and threw a Wind Release Rasenshuriken.
• Sasuke detonated the Rasenshuriken in midair, forcing Kakuzu and the others to flee from its expanding vortex.
• Sakura checked Sasuke's hand and found that it had not been injured, unlike Naruto's.
• Sasuke explained how he concentrated Wind Release Chakra inside the Rasengan and told Naruto that his Tailed Beast and constitution would keep increasing his Chakra.

Sasuke’s team defeated Kakuzu and returned to Konoha after the battle at the Fire Temple, where they reported their success to Tsunade. Tsunade questioned Kakashi about Sasuke’s growing abilities and learned that Hidan was still alive and in Sasuke’s possession.

• Yamato confirmed that Kakuzu was dead, and Sasuke gave him a scroll to seal the corpse for research.
• Chiriku met Kakashi’s team, and Kakashi reassured him that the Fire Temple would be rebuilt with the Daimyo’s support.
• Asuma’s team and other reinforcements arrived, and Sasuke, Naruto, and Ino discussed Sasuke’s training in all five Chakra natures.
• The ninja returned safely to Konoha, where Tsunade praised the mission and asked Kakashi about Sasuke’s Sharingan and Hidan’s corpse.
• Kakashi told Tsunade that Hidan was still alive and that Sasuke had kept him to investigate his immortality.

Sasuke investigated Hidan’s immortality in his basement, destroying the seals that sustained it and recording the runes for study. He identified the likely principles behind the protective and curse seals, then began considering what he could learn from the Jashin Cult.

• Sasuke explained to Sakura that balancing his Chakra attributes would make his techniques more versatile while his Sharingan continued absorbing the missing Chakra types.
• After eating with Sakura and soaking in a hot spring, Sasuke took Hidan’s sealed body to his basement to keep Konoha from discovering his secrets.
• Sasuke dissected Hidan’s organs, recorded the runes, and used Lightning Release to break the seals, ending Hidan’s immortality.
• Sasuke examined Hidan’s head, recorded the runes inside, broke its seal, and put the remains away.
• Sasuke compared the runes with known Sealing Techniques and concluded that one seal protected Hidan’s organs while another transferred injuries through a blood connection.

After breakfast with Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi, Sasuke handed over Hidan’s corpse and began researching a seal to preserve the vital signs of badly injured people. Tsunade and Kakashi examined Hidan and discussed Naruto’s recovery, while Tsunade worried Sasuke might use Hidan’s immortality seal on himself.

• Sasuke ate ramen with Sakura, then Naruto and Kakashi joined them; Kakashi said the team would stay in the village while Naruto recovered and asked Sasuke about Hidan’s immortal body.
• Sasuke gave Kakashi the Sealing Scroll containing Hidan’s corpse, then returned home to research a seal that could preserve an injured person’s vital signs for transport.
• Tsunade, Kakashi, and Yamato examined Kakuzu’s corpse, and Tsunade said Naruto would need to improve his Chakra control or learn Sage Mode to use the Rasenshuriken safely.
• Kakashi unsealed Hidan’s corpse, and the three confirmed that his immortal body had been completely destroyed.
• Tsunade worried Sasuke might use Hidan’s terrifying Sealing Technique on himself, but decided not to demand his research results.