Chapter Summaries

Hagoromo and Sansan waited above the sea while Choza tracked a Sand ninja supply delivery to a submarine run by Kizō and the Sea Serpent Group. As the transfer began, Hagoromo prepared a downpour of water oil, and Kizō realized too late that something was wrong.

• Hagoromo scolded Sansan for plotting to capture a Tailed Beast and brought him along to watch the operation from above the sea.
• Choza spotted the approaching ships and ordered everyone to retreat as Hagoromo prepared to act on his signal.
• Kizō emerged from the submarine, demanded a higher delivery fee from the Sand ninja, and began unloading their supplies.
• Kizō used his Kekkei Genkai to speed the transfer while members of the Sea Serpent Group moved supplies inside the submarine.
• Water oil landed on Kizō’s nose, and he recognized it as a sign that something was wrong.

Hagoromo attacked the Sand Ninja ship and submarine with a massive fireball and a devastating kick, while Konoha forces tried to stop Kizō’s escape. The tsunami swept away the Sea Serpent Group members, and Hagoromo asked Sansan to locate the Chakra of the person who had stood on the submarine.

• Hagoromo used Great Fire Annihilation on the oil-covered sea, and the explosion blasted Kizō into the submarine.
• Kizō ordered the submarine to dive, but Choza signaled the Konoha Ninja, who churned the sea with Wild Water Wave.
• Hagoromo struck the submarine with Heavenly Foot of Pain, launching it into the air and creating a huge vacuum and shockwave.
• Choza ordered the Konoha Ninja to retreat as Hagoromo and Sansan escaped the returning seawater and tsunami.
• The tsunami swept away the Sea Serpent Group members, and Hagoromo asked Sansan to sense the Chakra of the person who had stood on the submarine.

After Hagoromo and Sansan captured Kizō following the tsunami, the Konoha forces regrouped on the coast. Asuma arrived with orders to reinforce the front against the Sand ninja army nearing the Land of Rivers border, and Hagoromo prepared to join Kakashi while vowing to follow his lead.

• Hagoromo and Sansan found Kizō sealed inside a steel-like cocoon, and Hagoromo disabled his Glue-Steel Release with a seal.
• Hagoromo reunited with Choza on the beach and learned that Konoha's injured were receiving treatment.
• Asuma arrived with reinforcements, and Choza led the exhausted force and captured Kizō back to Konoha.
• Hagoromo suggested the Sand ninja might be unable to reach their supplies without Kizō, so Asuma contacted the village to arrange his interrogation.
• Asuma told Hagoromo that the Sand ninja army was nearing the Land of Rivers border and Kakashi had gone to hold them off.
• Hagoromo said he would follow Kakashi's orders, and Asuma expressed concern for his safety before Hagoromo teased him about smoking.

Kakashi and Hagoromo discussed how to handle the Sand Shinobi's standoff at the Land of Rivers border, and Hagoromo proposed disrupting their supplies while watching for Stone Shinobi intervention. The chapter left Hagoromo preparing to lead a team on harassment missions as Konoha began scouting the Sand Shinobi's logistics.

• Kakashi asked Hagoromo for his assessment of why the Sand Shinobi had gathered at the border without attacking, and Hagoromo said they were likely stalling while awaiting supplies.
• Hagoromo proposed locating the Sand Shinobi's food supplies and harassing their troops, while Kakashi's commanders were reminded to protect Konoha's own logistics.
• Hagoromo warned that the Stone Shinobi might reach the front through the Land of Birds or the Land of Rain, so Kakashi sent word to Jiraiya to watch Iwagakure.
• Kakashi said Shikaku had not uncovered the Sand Shinobi's supply situation because Kizō remained silent, and Hagoromo considered the danger posed by the Akatsuki if the Stone Shinobi joined the war.
• Kakashi ordered Asuma to ask the Hyuga to reinforce the intelligence unit and scout for supplies and Stone Shinobi among the Sand Shinobi.
• Hagoromo agreed to lead a harassment mission and asked Kakashi to let him choose his own team.

Hagoromo fought off a large Sunagakure force led by Iron Sand, using Earth Release to evade their attacks and powerful techniques to destroy their ranks. He left the three surviving Jonin badly pressured after engulfing the battlefield in flames.

• Iron Sand led dozens of Sunagakure shinobi in pursuit of Hagoromo and ordered them to attack.
• Hagoromo killed a Chunin and survived the Jonin’s attacks, while the Sunagakure forces’ techniques also struck their own men.
• Hagoromo smashed a puppet with one punch, then escaped underground as Iron Sand drove poison mist toward him.
• Hagoromo appeared behind Iron Sand and used Searing Migraine, killing or wounding nearly all the Chunin and forcing the three Jonin to retreat.

Hagoromo used Yin Release: Heart-Illuminating Realm to deceive and defeat the Sunagakure pursuit squad, then explained the technique to Muta and Yutoshi. At the Sand Shinobi camp, Chiyo learned that Iron Sand and his force were likely dead and ordered patrols increased.

• Iron Sand and two Sunagakure Jonin used Sand Waterfall Funeral to bury what they believed was Hagoromo.
• Hagoromo revealed he had used a Genjutsu, killed the two Jonin from behind, and defeated Iron Sand with a Kunai.
• Muta and Yutoshi arrived and saw the defeated Sand Shinobi; Hagoromo described how Heart-Illuminating Realm controlled their senses within his Yin Release force field.
• Hagoromo asked Yutoshi to summon specialists to recover the poison-coated weapons and puppet, while Muta explained that Sand Shinobi guarded their puppet-making methods.
• A Jonin told Chiyo that Iron Sand and his force had vanished and were likely killed; Chiyo ordered patrols increased and demanded that no enemy escape.

Konoha’s commanders learned that their spies among the Sand Shinobi had gone silent, while a man in the Land of Birds prepared to act on a secret message. When abnormal snowfall threatened to worsen the Sand Shinobi’s supply crisis, Asuma volunteered for a dangerous mission, and the chapter ended with Kakashi asking Hagoromo for his opinion.

• Asuma told Kakashi that Konoha had lost contact with its spies among the Sand Shinobi, and Kakashi accepted that they were likely dead.
• A bearded man in the Land of Birds decided to settle matters and sent a message by messenger ninja beast before vanishing toward the Land of Wind.
• Hagoromo and Kakashi discovered snow falling at the border and learned that severe weather had also reached the Land of Grass.
• Kakashi warned that the Sand Shinobi might launch an all-out attack as their supply situation worsened, and Asuma volunteered to scout their provisions.
• Kakashi and the border commanders objected to sending Asuma into danger, then asked Hagoromo what he thought.

Hagoromo and Asuma led Yutoshi and Muta on a mission to sabotage the Sand Shinobi’s provisions as their forces advanced. When Muta detected approaching Chakra, Hagoromo realized the enemy might be tracking Muta through his Kikaichū, leaving the team on guard inside a concealed cave.

• Hagoromo agreed to join the mission, and Kakashi and Asuma objected before the Sand Shinobi’s advance forced Kakashi to send Hagoromo and Asuma out.
• Hagoromo and Asuma chose Yutoshi and Muta to accompany them on the mission.
• Muta detected Chakra activity ahead, so Hagoromo led the team into a hidden cave, where Yutoshi concealed the entrance with a barrier.
• Muta reported that the approaching group was getting closer, and Hagoromo spread the Netherworld Formless Realm to block sensory perception.
• Hagoromo told Muta to cut his connection to the Kikaichū after realizing the enemy might be tracking him through his insects.

Hagoromo and his team infiltrated the Sand Shinobi logistics base to destroy its provisions, killing a patrol squad and planting oil while racing against time. As Hagoromo sensed an enormous Chakra approaching, he realized a Jinchūriki was at the front lines.

• Hagoromo’s team ambushed and killed the Sand Shinobi patrol squad before it could escape.
• Hagoromo buried the bodies, then led Asuma, Muta, and Yutoshi toward the logistics base while avoiding patrols.
• Hagoromo summoned Sansan and told him to wait nearby for a signal as the team prepared to set fire to the provisions.
• Hagoromo entered the base in disguise, while Asuma and the others secretly spread oil around it.
• Hagoromo sensed a huge Chakra approaching and recognized it as the kind he had felt from a Jinchūriki.

Hagoromo stayed behind to face Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, while Asuma, Yutoshi, and Muta escaped to detonate the water oil planted around the logistics camp. Hagoromo blocked the pursuing Sand Shinobi with a powerful punch, then clashed with Roshi as the Jinchūriki activated Lava Release Chakra Mode.

• Hagoromo sensed a powerful pursuer and told Asuma, Yutoshi, and Muta to leave while he held the enemy off.
• Asuma resisted, but Hagoromo sent him away with Sansan along with Yutoshi and Muta, telling them to detonate the water oil at the right moment.
• Roshi confronted Hagoromo and revealed that he had tracked him using a scrap of his clothing taken by Ōnoki.
• Hagoromo struck the ground with Monster Strength: Serious Punch, creating a trench that cut off the Sand Shinobi pursuing his companions.
• Roshi attacked with Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique, but Hagoromo smashed a magma ball apart with his fist.
• Roshi entered Lava Release Chakra Mode and charged Hagoromo, who dodged his punch and countered with an armored whirlwind kick.

Hagoromo fought Roshi while Asuma, Muta, and Yutoshi attacked the arriving Sand Shinobi. After Roshi transformed and launched a fierce assault, Hagoromo seized his Tailed Beast Chakra tails and slammed him into the ground repeatedly.

• Hagoromo knocked Roshi back with a spinning kick, then flooded the battlefield with a massive Water Release technique.
• Asuma, Muta, and Yutoshi attacked the Sand Shinobi with insects and flaming giant Shuriken, burying and burning many of them.
• Roshi caught Hagoromo by surprise with a magma-covered punch, but Hagoromo caught it and drove him back with Water Gun shots.
• Roshi entered his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation and attacked Hagoromo with his four tails and a barrage of magma.
• Hagoromo blocked Roshi's magma with an Earth Release wall, grabbed his tails, and repeatedly slammed him into the ground.

Hagoromo drove Roshi to transform into the Four-Tails, then fought the giant beast with Hazy Moon Sage Mode and overwhelmed it. He left the Four-Tails smoking after stopping its Tailed Beast Bomb from forming.

• Hagoromo battered Roshi, who used a Lava Release Clone Technique to escape a finishing blow.
• Roshi called on the Four-Tails, while Hagoromo sent Sansan away with Asuma and the others.
• The Four-Tails attacked Hagoromo with lava and volcanic blasts, but Hagoromo charged through and knocked it down.
• Hagoromo grabbed the Four-Tails by its tail and slammed its face into the ground.
• The Four-Tails began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Hagoromo kicked its mouth shut, causing an explosion inside its body.

Hagoromo defeated the Four-Tails, captured Roshi, and prepared to escort him back to Konoha as the Stone Shinobi demanded his return. The Sand Shinobi remained under pressure, and Hagoromo asked Kakashi what they should do about them.

• Hagoromo trapped the Four-Tails in a trench, burned him until he returned to Roshi, and captured the unconscious Jinchūriki.
• Hagoromo handed Roshi to Asuma and Sansan, then left with them before the Sand Shinobi main force arrived.
• Chiyo rejected a Stone Shinobi Jonin's demand to recover their Jinchūriki and threatened that the Sand Shinobi would attack Iwagakure if Ōnoki failed to take responsibility.
• Chiyo ordered the Sand Shinobi to strengthen their defenses and wait, hoping conflict between Konoha and the Stone Shinobi would ease their burden.
• Kakashi gave Hagoromo Hiruzen Sarutobi's order to escort the Four-Tails Jinchūriki back to the village, while Ōnoki demanded Roshi's return.
• Hagoromo asked Kakashi what they should do about the Sand Shinobi, who continued fighting despite their losses.

Hagoromo escorted the captured Roshi toward Konoha while Akatsuki sent Kakuzu and Kisame to intercept them. Near the Land of Fire, the two attacked, and Hagoromo intervened as Kisame struck at Muta and Yutoshi.

• Hagoromo agreed to escort Roshi to Konoha while Asuma took over as deputy commander.
• Hagoromo had Yutoshi restrain Roshi, and Muta placed him in a jar for the journey.
• Pain ordered Kakuzu and Kisame to retrieve Roshi and eliminate anyone who witnessed them.
• Hagoromo sensed an ambush near the Land of Fire and confronted Kakuzu and Kisame, who revealed a sixty-five-million-ryō bounty on him.
• Muta and Yutoshi tried to leave, but Kisame blocked them and swung Samehada at them.
• Hagoromo appeared in front of Kisame and kicked Samehada, sending Kisame flying backward.

Hagoromo fought Kisame Hoshigaki while Kakuzu went after Yutoshi and Muta. Hagoromo tore Samehada in two and badly wounded Kisame, who drained the sword’s remaining chakra to heal himself.

• Kisame attacked Hagoromo, who summoned Sansan and sent the cat to protect Yutoshi and Muta.
• Hagoromo and Kisame exchanged Fire, Water, and Earth Release techniques before Kisame attacked with Samehada.
• Hagoromo covered himself in Yang Release Armament and tore Samehada in two despite its chakra absorption.
• Hagoromo slammed Kisame into the ground and struck him with Heavenly Foot of Pain, leaving him badly wounded.
• Kisame drew the chakra remaining in Samehada to heal himself, leaving the sword with no chance of recovery.

Hagoromo defeated Kisame, destroyed the evidence, and took Samehada. As Yutoshi and Muta fled with the Four-Tails, Sansan arrived to protect them from Kakuzu and his five hearts, while Hagoromo remained elsewhere.

• Kisame trapped Hagoromo in a water prison, but Hagoromo escaped and struck him from behind.
• Kisame summoned five sharks, but Hagoromo cut through them and killed him with Lightning Blade.
• Hagoromo sealed Samehada, destroyed Kisame's body, and vanished toward Sansan's location.
• Kakuzu attacked Yutoshi and Muta as they carried the Four-Tails toward Konoha, but Sansan appeared and blocked his flames.
• Sansan recognized Kakuzu's five hearts and engaged him while Yutoshi and Muta fought the masked monsters pursuing them.

Hagoromo and Sansan defeated Kakuzu and his remaining Earth Grudge Fear monster after Yutoshi held them off, then hurried to save the badly injured Muta. Hagoromo recognized the attackers as Akatsuki members targeting the Tailed Beasts.

• Kakuzu’s attacks injured Muta and sent Sansan flying, so Muta escaped to seek reinforcements while Yutoshi stayed behind to protect her allies.
• Yutoshi blocked an Earth Grudge Fear monster from pursuing Muta, and Sansan returned in a larger form and used Demon Binding: Command to immobilize Kakuzu and the monsters.
• Sansan crushed Kakuzu, but one Earth Grudge Fear monster fled until Hagoromo arrived and destroyed it with a Rasengan.
• Hagoromo found Yutoshi and learned that Muta had passed out from Chakra exhaustion, then brought her to heal him.
• Hagoromo confirmed to Sansan that the cloaked attackers were targeting the Tailed Beasts and noted that the Four-Tails was about to return to Konoha.

Hagoromo reported that a group of S-rank missing-nin had tried to capture the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, prompting Hiruzen to strengthen Konoha’s defenses. Hiruzen urged Hagoromo to remain in the village, but Hagoromo argued that he should help Jiraiya against the Stone Shinobi.

• Hagoromo told Hiruzen, Shikaku, and Fugaku about the group that had tried to capture the Four-Tails Jinchūriki.
• Hiruzen ordered Shikaku to reinforce the Jinchūriki’s guard and told Fugaku to assign more Uchiha to patrols and speak with Hiashi.
• Hiruzen told Hagoromo that Jiraiya was holding off Ōnoki’s forces and that Choza had gone to support him.
• Hiruzen said Hagoromo was more valuable to Konoha than even Asuma and the shinobi who had died, and Hagoromo reassured him of his strength.
• Hiruzen assigned Hagoromo to stay in the village to protect the Four-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Naruto, but Hagoromo insisted that he should help Jiraiya instead.

Hagoromo reunited with his disciples after months away and learned how they had continued training. Neji asked to graduate early, and Hagoromo agreed, deciding he would be sent to the battlefield after passing his exam.

• Naruto and the others welcomed Hagoromo back at the training ground and joined him for a meal.
• Shikamaru explained that Hagoromo had become a respected hero of Konoha for his actions on the front lines.
• Naruto told Hagoromo he had learned Earth Release and Water Release and begun practicing Fire Style.
• Neji asked to graduate early, and Hagoromo accepted after recognizing Neji's strength and resolve.
• Hagoromo told Neji to prepare for an exam the next day and said he would arrange for Neji to go to the battlefield.

Neji took the exams for early graduation and proved his strength by defeating Hiashi in the practical combat test. Hiruzen Sarutobi made him a Konoha Genin, and Hagoromo planned a month of special training to help him grow stronger.

• Hagoromo reassured Iruka that Neji was ready for early graduation, and Neji earned a perfect score on the ninja tool throwing test.
• Iruka warned Neji that becoming a ninja meant risking his life and staining his hands with blood, but Neji continued to the final test.
• Hiashi told Neji to treat him as an enemy and use his full strength, and Neji overwhelmed him with his Byakugan and Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Hiashi admitted that Neji was at least as strong as a Special Jōnin and thanked Hagoromo for training him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi granted Neji the rank of Genin, and Hagoromo arranged a month of special training for him.