Chapter Summaries

Kushina endured another Root genjutsu experiment and sought comfort with the Nine-Tails in her consciousness. Meanwhile, Kaguya Tsuki escaped her clan’s pursuit across the sea, only to encounter Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi on the mainland.

• Root researchers subjected Kushina to a prolonged genjutsu experiment as Danzo continued trying to make her control the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Kushina met the Nine-Tails in her consciousness and said she wanted to wait for someone, while the fox warned that her Sharingan drew power from negative emotions.
• Danzo grew frustrated with the lack of progress and prepared for another experiment as Kushina was brought back to the laboratory.
• Kaguya Tsuki fought off pursuing members of the Kaguya Clan while fleeing across the mountains and sea.
• Kaguya Tsuki reached the Shinobi Continent at dawn and discovered that the approaching figure was Yagura Karatachi.

Yagura Karatachi tried to capture Kaguya Tsuki and bring her to Kirigakure, but she refused and fought him. Meanwhile, Danzo intensified the genjutsu experiments on Kushina until the Nine-Tails offered her its power to attack her captors.

• Yagura Karatachi asked Kaguya Tsuki to return to the village, but she rejected Kirigakure and said she wanted to seek true beauty.
• Yagura Karatachi overwhelmed Kaguya Tsuki with his Iron Hook, but she kept fighting with her Shikotsumyaku techniques.
• Danzo ordered the researchers to increase the genjutsu inflicted on Kushina, causing her Tailed Beast Cloak to grow from five tails to seven.
• Kushina told the Nine-Tails that the person was coming that day, and the Nine-Tails offered its power so she could kill her captors.

Kaguya Tsuki unleashed a bone forest to escape Yagura Karatachi, who could not find her after she vanished into it. Meanwhile, Kushina’s transformation into the Nine-Tails’ demonic fox overwhelmed Danzo’s restraints and turned against Root.

• Kaguya Tsuki used Dance of the Seedling Fern to create a vast bone forest and ambush Yagura Karatachi from within it.
• Yagura Karatachi pierced Kaguya Tsuki’s arm with his Iron Hook, but she tore off most of the limb and disappeared into the bone forest.
• Yagura Karatachi searched the forest with the arriving Kirigakure Anbu but found no trace of Kaguya Tsuki.
• Kushina’s Tailed Beast Cloak grew to eight tails as the Nine-Tails urged her to attack Danzo.
• Kushina’s chakra broke the sealing chains, and her demonic fox form smashed several Root ninja.
• Danzo’s commands failed to stop Kushina, who attacked him with a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Rasa sought Kumogakure’s support for Sunagakure to host the next Joint Chunin Exam, but the Third Raikage and Dada stalled him while leaving the decision open. Meanwhile, Minato returned to Root’s base and was caught there when a violent underground blast shook the area.

• Rasa asked the Third Raikage to support Sunagakure hosting a Joint Chunin Exam the following year, hoping to restore his village’s prestige.
• The Third Raikage and Dada secretly discussed Sunagakure’s request through the Communication Snail and agreed to delay their answer.
• Dada insisted Kumogakure must prioritize Amegakure’s interests, while the Third Raikage said the villages should consider holding exams in different countries.
• Rasa left the Raikage’s Office uncertain whether Kumogakure had agreed, and Pakura and Sasori were also confused.
• Minato returned to Root’s base to report that he could not access a document, then asked a Root ninja about the organization’s benefits.
• A violent underground explosion shook Root’s base as Minato was about to speak again.

Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku’s awkward blind date was interrupted when Kushina escaped from a mysterious underground hole, prompting a pursuit through Konoha. Minato emerged from the hole after her, while Hatake Sakumo and the elders began responding to the disturbance; the chapter ended with a huge explosion in eastern Konoha.

• Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku sensed increasingly strong tremors during their date and investigated a hole that opened beneath a collapsed house.
• A Hyuga ninja used Byakugan and warned that someone was approaching from below.
• Uzumaki Kushina emerged in experimental clothing with broken chains, and Mikoto and Fugaku joined other ninjas pursuing her as she fled toward Konoha’s outskirts.
• Minato came out of the hole, learned that a red-haired woman had escaped, and asked the villagers where she had gone.
• Hatake Sakumo sent Mitokado Homura and Koharu to investigate Root while he went to the disturbance, but a terrifying explosion sounded in eastern Konoha.

Kushina escaped the underground facility and tried to flee Konohagakure, but Hatake Sakumo defeated her before she could reach the village walls. As he reached to carry her away, the Nine-Tails took over with a surge of more powerful Chakra.

• Kushina ran across Konohagakure's rooftops while the Nine-Tails used three Chakra tails to protect her from pursuing ninjas.
• Hatake Sakumo blocked Kushina's escape and tried to persuade her to return, but she rejected him.
• Hatake Sakumo cut through Kushina's three Chakra tails and knocked her unconscious.
• Might Duy arrived as Hatake Sakumo prepared to carry Kushina away.
• Kushina asked the Nine-Tails to save her and struck her abdomen to weaken the seal's restrictions.
• The Nine-Tails erupted in crimson Chakra and warned Hatake Sakumo to take his hand off Kushina.

The Nine-Tails took control of Kushina and fought its way toward Konohagakure’s outskirts, where the village barrier blocked its escape. In Kumogakure, the Third Raikage agreed to delay a decision on Sunagakure’s proposal before receiving news of the Nine-Tails’ suspected defection.

• The Nine-Tails emerged from Kushina, repelled Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy, and fired Tailed Beast Bombs at the village.
• Might Duy intercepted the bomb aimed at Hokage Rock, while the Nine-Tails attacked Konohagakure and tried to flee with Kushina.
• The Nine-Tails used its Sharingan to unleash a mental shockwave that incapacitated pursuing ninja, but Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy continued after it.
• A reinforced barrier blocked the Nine-Tails at Konohagakure’s edge, and it began forming a larger Tailed Beast Bomb.
• The Third Raikage agreed to stall while Hanzo and Sunagakure negotiated over the next Joint Chunin Exam, then assigned Dada to handle Sunagakure’s envoys.
• A messenger informed the Third Raikage and Dada that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was suspected of defecting from Konohagakure.

After learning that Kushina and the Nine-Tails had escaped, Dada talked the Third Raikage out of attacking Konohagakure and arranged to monitor the situation. Kushina awoke near the Land of Soup, unsure where to go, and encountered a sunglasses-wearing stranger who recognized her as an Uzumaki.

• Dada argued that attacking Konohagakure would risk war without benefiting Kumogakure, and the Third Raikage agreed to wait for more information about Kushina and the Nine-Tails.
• Dada asked the Special Operations Unit to track related intelligence and went to calm the Sunagakure visitors.
• Kushina awoke in grass north of the Land of Fire, near the Land of Soup, and confirmed with the Nine-Tails that they had escaped.
• Kushina wondered where she could go, while the Nine-Tails urged her to find a place without ninja and recover.
• A sunglasses-wearing stranger offered to take Kushina to the nearest village for ten thousand ryo, and they both recognized each other as Uzumaki.

Kushina met Nagato, who offered to help her disguise herself, while the Nine-Tails urgently warned her to run. Dada learned that Kushina might have defected and arranged for Kagari and Hirohiko to search for her.

• Kushina met Nagato, who revealed that his mother was Uzumaki and offered her spare clothes and sunglasses to help her evade notice.
• Kushina told Nagato she was a Jinchuriki who had escaped from experiments, and the Nine-Tails suddenly screamed at her to run.
• Dada ordered the Special Operations Unit to watch for news about Kushina and considered the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Iron as possible destinations.
• Dada told Kagari that Kushina was suspected of defecting and said she would be sent to search for her with Hirohiko.
• Dada warned Kagari to prioritize her own safety, then contacted Hirohiko to make sure he would keep her from taking reckless risks.

Nagato cared for Kushina in a mountain cave and told her about his travels, his strange eyes, and his dream of creating a world without pain. He invited her to join him on a mercenary mission, and Kushina accepted while offering to take only twenty percent of the pay.

• Nagato roasted a rabbit for hungry Kushina and told her he had become a mercenary ninja after traveling with his teacher.
• At the Nine-Tails' urging, Kushina asked about Nagato's eyes, and he described their strange abilities and the fatigue he had developed.
• Nagato told Kushina about the Shinobi World's balance of power and how his teacher had taught him to gain strength and help others.
• Nagato shared his dream of creating a world without pain by forming an organization to help people in need.
• Nagato invited Kushina to assist him on a bear-hunting mission and proposed splitting the earnings seventy-thirty, but she offered to take only twenty percent.

Dada hosted Sunagakure envoys Rasa, Pakura, and Sasori at the Grand Hall and gauged their interest in Kumogakure’s development. After the banquet, he learned Konan’s mother planned to leave Paradise Hot Spring and reassured Konan that she could move to Kumogakure, as long as Konan kept training.

• Dada welcomed Rasa, Pakura, and Sasori to a lavish banquet at the Grand Hall, where Konan and Chishin Yusuke joined them.
• Konan and Pakura repeatedly piled meat and vegetables into Sasori’s bowl while the Sand envoys sampled little of the feast.
• Dada asked Rasa about the envoys’ tour of Kumogakure and cautioned him that Sunagakure’s reforms needed to suit its own circumstances.
• Dada learned that Pakura and Sasori remained genin despite their Joint Chunin Exam results, and Chishin Yusuke remarked that Pakura would have qualified for promotion in Kumogakure.
• After the envoys departed, Dada told Konan that her mother Amber had submitted her resignation from Paradise Hot Spring and approved her moving to Kumogakure, provided Konan continued training.

Dada welcomed Fanma Zhengyi back from a long undercover mission, then visited Kumogakure’s materials research base to review new uses for Chakra Metal. He learned that Jishi had mastered Earth Grudge Fear and was using it to advance biological research, leaving Dada worried about the researchers’ safety.

• Dada welcomed Fanma Zhengyi, received his mission reports, and approved his leave after warning him away from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Soup.
• Dada visited Mine Taro’s research base and inspected a Chakra Metal alloy that made Transport Pods more stable, durable, and reusable.
• Dada suggested adding encryption to the Transport Pods’ built-in recovery seals, and Mine Taro agreed to handle it.
• Dada met Anzai Mamoru, who explained that Jishi had mastered Earth Grudge Fear and was using it for medical and biological research.
• Dada ordered weekly psychological health reviews for every researcher at Jishi’s research base.

Nagato taught Kushina about underground mercenary work, then took her to hunt a bear and collect a village’s commission. As they camped on their way to Nagato’s empty courtyard, two familiar figures approached, and Kushina recognized Mikoto and Minato.

• Nagato explained the kinds of clients who used the Underground Exchange and taught Kushina genjutsu for capturing prey intact.
• Nagato and Kushina traveled to a remote village, found a troublesome brown bear, and Kushina delivered the killing blow after they trapped it with genjutsu.
• The pair collected the commission and took the bear’s remains, then headed toward Nagato’s empty courtyard in town.
• While camping, Nagato told Kushina that Kumogakure welcomed the Uzumaki Clan and explained why he had never joined it.
• The Nine-Tails sensed two people approaching, and Kushina recognized them as Mikoto and Minato.

Kushina rejected Minato and Mikoto’s offer to return to Konoha, choosing to leave with Nagato instead. Minato let her go and concealed their encounter, then reunited with Konoha’s search force, which was led by Hatake Sakumo.

• Mikoto and Minato found Kushina with Nagato and urged her to return to Konoha, but Kushina revealed her Sharingan and refused to go back.
• Nagato challenged Minato and Mikoto’s assumptions about Kushina’s duty to Konoha, while Minato and Mikoto promised to support her if she returned.
• Kushina told Minato and Mikoto that she wanted to choose her own life, and Minato accepted her decision and apologized for failing to protect her.
• Minato warned Kushina that Konoha’s search party was nearby and promised not to report their encounter; Kushina bowed goodbye and left with Nagato.
• The next morning, Minato and Mikoto rejoined Konoha’s search force, where Hatake Sakumo asked whether they had found any traces of Kushina.

Nagato and Kushina disguised themselves and joined a merchant caravan heading toward the Land of Lightning. Meanwhile, Dada visited Jishi and discovered that Earth Grudge Fear had let the rejuvenated scientist manipulate living creatures, leaving Dada horrified by the technique's potential.

• Nagato explained that he and Kushina should travel like ordinary people and arranged for them to join a caravan heading toward the Capital City of the Land of Lightning.
• Dada visited the research base and found Jishi transformed from a frail old man into a vigorous middle-aged scientist through Earth Grudge Fear.
• Jishi explained that he had combined Earth Grudge Fear with his medical expertise to rejuvenate himself and control his body.
• Jishi demonstrated how he could sever a pig's brain-body connection and use his tentacles to alter its body.
• Jishi made two extra legs grow from the pig, and Dada was left horrified by the grotesque result.

Jishi demonstrated how Earth Grudge Fear could transform and manipulate a pig, alarming Dada with the technique’s medical and biological potential. After Dada reported the research to the Third Raikage, they ordered strict secrecy and oversight, then learned that Konohagakure ninja had crossed the border.

• Jishi transformed a pig, induced it to expel its heart, and explained how Earth Grudge Fear could manipulate its body and hormones.
• Dada warned Jishi that his research was dangerous, and Jishi agreed to psychological evaluations and said he would seek approval before traveling.
• Jishi told Anzai Mamoru that learning Earth Grudge Fear required separate approval from the village.
• Dada returned to the village and reported the experiments and Jishi’s rejuvenation research to the Third Raikage.
• The Third Raikage classified the research as top secret and ordered tiered access and psychological evaluations.
• The Raikage Secretary reported that Konohagakure ninja had crossed the Land of Hot Water–Land of Fire border.

Hatake Sakumo led Konohagakure’s pursuit force into the Land of Soup to capture Kushina, while Hirohiko and Kagari tried to reach her first. Nagato and Kushina escaped the approaching force after he captured two trackers, learned the pursuit was close, and demonstrated that his Rinnegan could control their Ninken.

• Hatake Sakumo led forty-two Konohagakure ninjas into the Land of Soup after his team found traces of Kushina.
• Kagari sensed the force approaching and recognized Hatake Sakumo among them, so she sent a warning to a nearby Kumogakure outpost while Hirohiko urged her to prioritize informing their village.
• The Nine-Tails warned Kushina that hostile people were approaching, and Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to seize two Inuzuka clansmen tracking them with their Ninken.
• Nagato used genjutsu to learn that Konohagakure’s main force was close, then chose to leave with Kushina instead of going into town.
• Nagato placed Rinnegan in the two Ninken’s eyes, took control of them, and rode away with Kushina while the Nine-Tails protested his interest in controlling tailed beasts.

Nagato and Kushina evaded Konohagakure’s pursuit by sending two Ninken as decoys and traveling across the sea. When Hatake Sakumo caught up, Nagato repelled him with Shinra Tensei and fled.

• Hatake Sakumo revived two unconscious Konohagakure ninja, learned they had no memory of what happened, and led the pursuit east after trackers found the trail.
• Uzumaki Kagari and Uzumaki Hirohiko followed the pursuit and headed east, while another shadow arrived at the spot after they left.
• Nagato sent two Ninken running in different directions with his and Kushina’s clothes tied to them, then took Kushina out to sea and north toward the Land of Lightning.
• Kushina heard the Nine-Tails warn that someone was approaching, and Nagato stayed behind to confront the lone pursuer.
• Hatake Sakumo passed Nagato, but Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull him close and Shinra Tensei to blast him across the water.
• Nagato turned and ran after repelling Hatake Sakumo.

Konoha's shinobi pursued Kushina, who was under the Nine-Tails' control, across the sea, but their efforts were interrupted by Ōnoki and then Yagura Karatachi's arrival. The Nine-Tails remained surrounded as the Kage confronted Hatake Sakumo, leaving the battle on the verge of becoming an international crisis.

• The Nine-Tails battled Konoha's coordinated forces while Kushina endured its chakra, and Mikoto and Minato created an opening that let it flee.
• Kagari and Hirohiko tracked the battle and discovered that Ōnoki was approaching the Nine-Tails; Kagari then sensed seven or eight people coming from the Land of Water.
• Konoha's shinobi surrounded the Nine-Tails, and Hatake Sakumo offered Kushina a peaceful return to the village without punishment.
• Ōnoki arrived and challenged Hatake Sakumo, distracting Konoha's forces and easing the pressure on the Nine-Tails.
• Yagura Karatachi arrived with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and questioned Konoha's actions near the Land of Water.

Nagato used the chaos around the Nine-Tails to pull Kushina out of the encirclement and flee, with Hatake Sakumo, Ōnoki, the Konohagakure shinobi, and Yagura Karatachi’s Kirigakure group in pursuit. They reached an uninhabited island, where Nagato sent Kushina ahead and prepared a dangerous, rarely used ability to hold off their pursuers.

• Ōnoki provoked Hatake Sakumo and offered the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki refuge in Iwagakure as Yagura Karatachi demanded an explanation for the battle’s damage.
• Nagato drew everyone’s attention by claiming that thirty thousand Iwagakure shinobi were in position, then used Banshō Ten'in to pull Kushina away as the Nine-Tails reverted to her human form.
• Nagato fled across the sea with Kushina, accelerating with Shinra Tensei, while Hatake Sakumo, Ōnoki, the Konohagakure shinobi, and Yagura Karatachi’s group chased them.
• Kagari and Hirohiko tracked the pursuit from a distance and noticed several Konohagakure shinobi falling behind and circling around.
• Nagato found an island, sent Kushina ahead, and prepared an uncontrolled ability that he had once used to seal a wild boar and part of a mountain.