Recaps

Sasuke awakened Ultimate Sage Mode during Itachi’s attack and fought back with new powers. Itachi then used Amaterasu, which Sasuke escaped with a technique Hyuga Kei had taught him, while Hyuga Kei judged that Sasuke had not yet reached his envisioned potential.

• Itachi ambushed Sasuke, wounded him with a kunai, and trapped him in a genjutsu before reaching for his eyes.
• Sasuke’s Sage Mode organ drew in natural energy, healing his wound and letting him break Itachi’s genjutsu; he transformed and attacked with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Itachi dodged Sasuke’s increasingly fast strikes, then awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and struck Sasuke with Amaterasu.
• Sasuke used Orochimaru Style: Substitution Technique to shed his burning body and escape the black flames.
• Itachi prepared to use Amaterasu again as Sasuke flew away, while Hyuga Kei observed that Itachi was holding back and considered the powers he still wanted Sasuke to attain.

Sasuke overwhelmed Itachi with a powerful combination of senjutsu and Lightning Style, unveiling Sage Art: Lightning Style: Heavenly Punishment against Itachi’s Susanoo. The chapter ended as the colossal lightning strike descended on Itachi.

• Sasuke forced Itachi onto the rooftop and pressed him with fire and lightning attacks until Itachi summoned Susanoo.
• Sasuke drew on senjutsu chakra and the storm clouds to gather natural lightning above Itachi.
• Hyuga Kei intensified the rain and watched as Sasuke prepared his attack, judging that it might pierce the Yata Mirror.
• Itachi completed his armored Susanoo and raised the Yata Mirror while holding the Totsuka Blade.
• Sasuke unleashed Sage Art: Lightning Style: Heavenly Punishment, sending a massive bolt crashing toward Itachi.

Naruto and the Twilight Squad hurried toward the Uchiha brothers’ battle but were stopped by Hyuga Kei, who insisted they wait for its outcome. Sasuke unleashed a devastating lightning attack, but Itachi survived long enough to touch Sasuke’s forehead before dying.

• Naruto rushed ahead toward the Uchiha base, but Hyuga Kei blocked the Twilight Squad and told them to wait while Kakashi spoke with him.
• Hyuga Kei assured Naruto that Itachi would not kill Sasuke and predicted that Sasuke would win.
• Sasuke struck Itachi’s Susanoo with a massive lightning attack, destroying the Uchiha base and leaving Susanoo cracked and damaged.
• Sasuke’s Ultimate Sage Mode faded, but Itachi’s Susanoo shattered and Itachi staggered toward him despite his injuries.
• Sasuke tried to attack Itachi with a fireball, but Itachi’s Susanoo Skeleton blocked it as he approached.
• Itachi touched Sasuke’s forehead, apologized, and died in a puddle.

After Sasuke defeated Itachi and collapsed, Hyuga Kei brought them to the Sound Village and had Kabuto catalyze Sasuke’s Sage Mode organ into its second stage. When Sasuke woke, Hyuga Kei began revealing that Itachi may have acted to protect him and demonstrated the Amaterasu power Itachi had left behind.

• Sasuke collapsed beside Itachi after their battle, and Hyuga Kei stored Sasuke and Itachi’s body in Kamui before leaving the Twilight Squad behind.
• Hyuga Kei took Sasuke to the Sound Village and ordered Kabuto Yakushi to inject him with the Stage Two Potion, successfully advancing Sasuke’s Sage Mode organ.
• Hyuga Kei instructed Kabuto to watch for Jiraiya, then waited as Sasuke woke with his chakra and vitality enhanced.
• Sasuke questioned why Itachi had not killed him or taken his eyes, and Hyuga Kei suggested that Itachi may have acted to protect him.
• Hyuga Kei released the Transcription Seal on Sasuke’s skull, awakening Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan in Sasuke’s left eye and igniting Amaterasu on the wall.

Hyuga Kei showed Sasuke a Genjutsu recounting the events behind the Uchiha coup and massacre, explaining that Itachi and Shisui had tried to prevent a civil war. The chapter ended with Kei revealing that Itachi had been ordered to kill the Uchiha and chose to bear the blame himself.

• Hyuga Kei explained that Itachi had sealed Amaterasu in Sasuke's eyes to protect him, then drew Sasuke into a Genjutsu.
• Hyuga Kei showed Sasuke how the Nine-Tails attack led Konoha to isolate the Uchiha, and how Itachi and Shisui became double agents to prevent a coup.
• Hyuga Kei revealed that Danzo stole one of Shisui's eyes, after which Shisui gave his remaining eye to Itachi and killed himself to delay the coup.
• Hyuga Kei explained that Shisui's death and the strain of the conflict awakened Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hyuga Kei told Sasuke that Konoha's higher-ups ordered Itachi to slaughter the Uchiha, and that Itachi chose to do it himself rather than let a coup destroy the clan and devastate the Land of Fire.

Hyuga Kei told Sasuke the truth about the Uchiha massacre and offered him a choice between returning to Konoha or joining him to seek revenge and build a perfect world. Sasuke rejected Konoha, awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, and vowed to make the village pay.

• Hyuga Kei revealed that Uchiha Fugaku had a Mangekyō Sharingan and accepted Itachi's plan to save Sasuke and preserve the clan's hope.
• Hyuga Kei returned Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan to Sasuke and explained that Itachi had wanted Naruto to bring him back to Konoha.
• Sasuke rejected returning to Konoha and chose to follow Hyuga Kei, build a perfect world, and take revenge.
• Sasuke swore over Itachi's corpse to destroy Konoha, and his grief and rage awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hyuga Kei questioned Sasuke's resolve and said Itachi had underestimated Sasuke's love for him.

Sasuke buried Itachi and vowed to take revenge on Konoha, while Hyuga Kei strengthened Sasuke’s trust by posing as Itachi’s close friend. The chapter left Sasuke committed to training under Hyuga Kei, who privately admitted he had deceived him and considered whom to visit that night.

• Hyuga Kei removed Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan and promised to help Sasuke fuse the eyes once he mastered their power.
• Sasuke and Hyuga Kei buried Itachi outside Sound Village, and Sasuke carved a tombstone while Hyuga Kei recounted Itachi’s past and fueled Sasuke’s hatred of Konoha.
• Sasuke vowed to avenge Itachi and make Konoha pay, then reassured Hyuga Kei that his decision was his own.
• Back in Sound Village, Sasuke promised to train under Hyuga Kei and trusted him as Itachi’s close friend and caretaker.
• After Sasuke left, Hyuga Kei dropped his grieving act, reflected that Sasuke was easy to manipulate, and considered whether to visit Uchiha Hikari or Karin.

Hyuga Kei trained Sasuke to master his Mangekyō Sharingan and used his own Sharingan power to awaken Sasuke’s eye abilities. Sasuke endured the painful process and awakened a new Mangekyō ability, though its nature remained unknown.

• Hyuga Kei told Kabuto not to retrieve Itachi’s corpse yet and ordered him to protect it from Black Zetsu with a seal.
• Hyuga Kei explained the Mangekyō Sharingan’s abilities and dangers, demonstrated Susanoo, and warned Sasuke to keep developing his ninjutsu.
• Hyuga Kei told Sasuke that Itachi’s sacred artifacts were being repaired and offered to accelerate the awakening of Sasuke’s eye abilities.
• Sasuke agreed to endure the painful process, and Hyuga Kei infused his Dojutsu Power into Sasuke’s eyes.
• Remembering his family and wishing to make their joyful life real, Sasuke stabilized the power in his right eye and awakened an unfamiliar Mangekyō ability.

Sasuke awakened the Mirror of Outer Clouds, a dojutsu that turned genjutsu into reality, and tested its power with Hyuga Kei. As they went to meet the Twilight Squad, Hyuga Kei disguised Sasuke as a woman and told him how to recognize Naruto, who had joined the squad to search for him.

• Sasuke told Hyuga Kei that his right-eye dojutsu, the Mirror of Outer Clouds, could turn genjutsu into reality.
• Sasuke used the ability to make the White Zetsu he decapitated in a genjutsu die in reality, and Hyuga Kei warned him it might be less effective against powerful opponents.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Hyuga Kei that the Twilight Squad had arrived outside the Sound Village with Hyuga Hinata and Hyuga Hanabi.
• Hyuga Kei offered to take Sasuke to see Naruto, then transformed Sasuke into a woman so Naruto would not recognize him.
• Hyuga Kei explained that Naruto had joined the Twilight Squad under a disguise to search for Sasuke, and Sasuke resolved to kill him if they became enemies.

Hyuga Kei hosted Twilight Squad and discussed their efforts against Akatsuki, while Naruto and Sasuke, disguised as Naruko Namikaze and Suzuyue Furing, met again without Sasuke being recognized. The chapter ended with Kakashi and Hyuga Kei agreeing to continue pursuing Akatsuki.

• Hyuga Kei reunited with Hinata and Hanabi at the reception and introduced Naruto and Sasuke in disguise as Naruko Namikaze and Suzuyue Furing.
• Kakashi thanked the Federation for its ninja tool supplies and reported that Twilight Squad had destroyed Akatsuki bases but found no major members.
• Kakashi revealed that Second Pillar had killed Uchiha Itachi, and Sasuke struggled to conceal his anger while Naruto showed concern for him.
• Naruto suggested Itachi might have had his own difficulties, surprising Sasuke and earning his private goodwill.
• Hyuga Kei and Kakashi agreed to intensify their pursuit of Akatsuki, with Hyuga Kei offering the Federation's assistance.

Hyuga Kei received word that Akatsuki had targeted the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and sent Kakashi and the Twilight Squad to respond. After they left, he reunited with Hinata and Hanabi and kissed them both.

• A Federation liaison delivered Konoha's telegram reporting Akatsuki's appearance in the Land of Fire and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki's suspected location.
• Hyuga Kei passed the intelligence to Kakashi, who led the Twilight Squad out to stop Akatsuki and protect the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Hyuga Kei sent Sasuke to find Kabuto Yakushi for Wood Release training, then stayed in the reception room with Hinata and Hanabi.
• Hanabi embraced Hyuga Kei, then encouraged Hinata to approach him; Hyuga Kei embraced Hinata and kissed her.
• Hanabi complained that she had not received a kiss, so Hyuga Kei pulled her close and kissed her too.

Hyuga Kei arranged a disturbance at Mount Katsujo to draw out the forces interested in Utakata and the Tsuchigumo Clan’s secret technique. He left four controlled bandit ninja to attack, hoping to force Utakata to unleash the Six-Tails and attract Akatsuki and Twilight.

• Hyuga Kei bid farewell to Hinata and Hanabi, promising to marry them after his business was finished, while planning to use them to fake his death and withdraw from the stage.
• Hyuga Kei found Utakata and Hotaru training together at Mount Katsujo and waited for someone to disrupt their peace.
• Hyuga Kei confronted four bandit ninja approaching the mountain, knocked three unconscious, and read the leader’s memories.
• Hyuga Kei placed Spirit Orbs in the four bandit ninja, boosted them with Compound Hero Water, and sent them onward to provoke Utakata into using the Six-Tails.

Hyuga Kei manipulated four thieves into attacking Utakata and abducting Hotaru and Tonbei, while framing Uchiha Obito for their mission. Utakata fought to protect Hotaru but was overwhelmed by the thieves, leaving her trapped in a soap bubble as she tried to help him.

• Hyuga Kei controlled four thieves as they entered Mount Katsujo, and Utakata woke when their leader triggered one of his traps.
• The thieves seized Hotaru and Tonbei and revealed the Wrath of Heaven gemstone embedded in Hotaru’s back, calling it a weapon for Lord Obito.
• Utakata tried to leave but attacked the thieves after Tonbei begged him to save Hotaru, then placed her inside a protective soap bubble.
• Hyuga Kei provoked Utakata through the thieves, hoping to make him unleash the Six-Tails’ power.
• The thieves, strengthened by Compound Hero Water, used their cooperative Lightning Flash Ninjutsu to electrocute Utakata while Hotaru woke and struggled to escape the bubble.

Utakata unleashed the Tailed Beast Cloak to rescue Hotaru from the thieves, then collapsed from his injuries. Tonbei sent a request for Konoha’s help, while Hyuga Kei watched, satisfied that his plan had forced Utakata to reveal his power.

• The thieves dragged Hotaru away and threatened Utakata, who was too badly injured to stop them.
• Utakata released part of his seal, entered the Tailed Beast Cloak, and struck down the thieves.
• Utakata killed the leader with a Tailed Beast Bomb, then fell unconscious from the strain.
• Hotaru and Tonbei carried Utakata inside and treated his wounds, and Tonbei sent a request for aid to Konoha.
• Hyuga Kei revealed that he had arranged the confrontation to make Utakata use the Tailed Beast’s power.

The Twilight Squad shared dinner at camp while Sai tried to understand Chojuro’s feelings for Naruto, who was disguised as Naruko. A dazzling red pillar of light suddenly appeared in the distance, interrupting the meal and drawing everyone’s attention.

• Karui complained that the Twilight Squad had found no clues, while Samui urged the team to keep searching and Akatsuchi served the Federation’s field rations.
• Chojuro gave some of his food to Naruko, unaware that she was Naruto in disguise, and hoped to grow closer to her.
• Sai studied Chojuro’s behavior and wondered whether his concern for Naruto was love or friendship.
• Kakashi gave Sai Jiraiya’s Make-Out Paradise and explained that love did not distinguish between genders, leading Sai to misunderstand the situation and thank Kakashi for his guidance.
• A dazzling red pillar of light suddenly flared in the distant sky, startling the Twilight Squad.

Naruto’s team and the Akatsuki learned that Six-Tails chakra had erupted at Mount Katsujo and hurried there. Kakuzu and Hidan set out to confront Twilight Squad, while Asuma had already been killed by Kakuzu during an earlier clash.

• Naruto recognized the red chakra pillar as the Six-Tails, and Kakashi ordered Twilight Squad to race toward its source.
• Konan learned that the Six-Tails had appeared at Mount Katsujo and relayed Nagato’s orders for Kakuzu and Hidan to delay the enemy while Pain went to support them.
• Kakuzu collected a bounty for killing Asuma after intercepting Leaf Village ninja who were heading to reinforce Twilight Squad.
• Kakuzu paid the Bounty Office owner five million ryo for news of the Six-Tails at Mount Katsujo.
• Kakuzu and Hidan received Nagato’s message, dismissed the need for Pain’s help, and headed toward Mount Katsujo.

After Asuma died protecting his students, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji infiltrated a Bounty Office to recover his body. Shikamaru found Asuma in locker No. 325, but the office owner appeared just as he began carrying him away.

• Shikamaru insisted that recovering Asuma's body came before revenge, and the trio set out for the nearest Bounty Office.
• Shikamaru bound the two entrance guards with Shadow Possession Jutsu while Ino and Choji killed them quietly.
• Shikamaru and Ino disguised themselves as guards and entered the Bounty Office while Choji waited outside.
• Shikamaru checked the records, found Asuma listed in locker No. 325, and opened it to retrieve his body.
• The Bounty Office owner came out as Shikamaru lifted Asuma's remains.

Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji rescued Asuma's body and captured the Bounty Office owner, whom Shikamaru interrogated for information about Akatsuki. Shikamaru learned Kakuzu and Hidan were heading toward Mount Katsujo, where a Tailed Beast had appeared, and resolved to warn Naruto and the others.

• Ino used Mind Transfer Jutsu to control the Bounty Office owner while Shikamaru and Choji helped carry Asuma's body out and took the owner hostage.
• Shikamaru woke and questioned the bound Bounty Office owner while Ino and Choji mourned Asuma.
• The owner identified the Akatsuki members as Hidan and Kakuzu and said Kakuzu had operated for decades, killed partners, and collected bounties.
• The owner revealed Kakuzu's delivered bodies often lacked hearts and that he had sold the pair information about a Tailed Beast near Mount Katsujo.
• Shikamaru released the owner and told Choji and Ino they had to warn Naruto and the others immediately.

Shikamaru sent Ino and Choji to return Asuma's body to Konoha while he raced to warn the Twilight Squad about the Immortals Duo. At Mount Katsujo, the Twilight Squad found Utakata alive and began treating him, unaware that Hyuga Kei had secretly orchestrated events to weaken the Akatsuki Organization.

• Shikamaru ordered Ino and Choji to escort Asuma's body to Konoha and set off alone for Mount Katsujo to warn the Twilight Squad.
• Hyuga Kei appeared with the controlled Bounty Office owner, then arranged for a wild beast to kill him and disguise the scene.
• The Twilight Squad found a breach in the sealing barrier at Mount Katsujo and hurried up the mountain, fearing the Akatsuki Organization had taken the Six-Tails.
• Kakashi identified the corpses in the courtyard as people other than Akatsuki members, and Tonbei let the squad into the room to help the injured.
• The Twilight Squad recognized the unconscious Utakata as the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, while a medical ninja treated him and assured Hotaru that he would recover.

After Utakata defeated Obito’s subordinates, Kakashi gathered Utakata, Hotaru, and their allies and led them toward Konoha to escape the Akatsuki Organization. Utakata woke during the journey and resisted the group, while Hotaru insisted she would leave with him.

• Tonbei told Kakashi that Obito’s subordinates had tried to seize the Tsuchigumo Clan’s secret technique, and Kakashi decided the group should flee to Konoha.
• Kakashi assigned Naruto to carry Utakata and Kurotsuchi to look after Hotaru, but Chojuro took over carrying Utakata.
• Utakata woke on Chojuro’s back and tried to reach for a weapon, but Shira caught his wrist before he could attack.
• Tonbei, Hotaru, and Kakashi explained that the group was helping Utakata escape, and Utakata demanded his weapons so he could leave alone.
• Hotaru declared that she would leave with Utakata, while Tonbei warned her not to risk her life.

Utakata rejected Kakashi’s offer of protection and tried to drive Hotaru away by claiming he had only used her. A Kirigakure medical ninja then revealed that he was the son of Utakata’s former teacher and explained the truth behind his father’s death, leaving Utakata confronted with his guilt and doubts.

• Utakata refused Kakashi’s offer to join them, and he told Hotaru their bond had been an act to make her leave him.
• Kakashi urged Utakata to accept their protection from the Akatsuki Organization and said they could discuss how to fight it together.
• A Kirigakure medical ninja stepped forward and revealed that he was the son of the teacher Utakata had killed.
• The man explained that his father had used a secret technique to safely extract the Tailed Beast and had left a letter asking his son not to resent Utakata if the technique killed him.
• Utakata questioned why his former teacher had not explained the technique, and the man said his father had died because Utakata’s suspicion disrupted it.

Utakata learned the truth about his master's death, reconciled with Hotaru, and agreed to return to Kirigakure and fight the Akatsuki Organization. Shikamaru arrived with news of Asuma's death and intelligence about the Akatsuki members who killed him.

• Utakata accepted the man's explanation, apologized, and agreed to return to Kirigakure under the Mizukage's protection.
• Utakata joined the fight against the Akatsuki Organization, and Hotaru forgave him for telling her to leave.
• Shikamaru emerged from the bushes and reunited with Naruto, then revealed that Asuma had been killed in an Akatsuki attack.
• Shikamaru explained that Choji and Ino had taken Asuma's body to Konoha while he came ahead to deliver intelligence about the two Akatsuki members.
• Kakashi urgently asked Shikamaru what abilities the Akatsuki members had.

Shikamaru explained Hidan and Kakuzu’s abilities and laid out a coordinated plan to defeat them. The team took their assigned positions, while Hyuga Kei watched from above and expected the Immortals Duo to be defeated.

• Shikamaru explained that Hidan was immortal and could use an enemy’s blood in a Jashinism ritual to harm them, warning everyone not to let him collect their blood.
• Shikamaru described Kakuzu’s hardening and thread abilities and revealed that he had lived since the Warring States Period without showing signs of age.
• Naruto vowed to avenge Asuma, and the others agreed to fight despite their fears.
• Shikamaru presented a detailed plan using the ninjas’ different strengths, and Kakashi warned the team to proceed carefully.
• Shikamaru and the others moved to their assigned positions as Hyuga Kei listened from the sky and praised Shikamaru’s preparation.

Shikamaru’s squad defeated Hidan and Kakuzu, avenging Asuma and stopping the Immortals Duo, but Pain arrived to claim the Six-Tails. Naruto refused to surrender, and Hyuga Kei watched from above as the exhausted survivors prepared to fight.

• Shikamaru baited Hidan away from Kakuzu, then used his shadow techniques and the squad’s coordination to immobilize Hidan and burn him to ash with Asuma’s lighter.
• Kakashi, Naruto, Chojuro, Akatsuchi, and Omoi fought Kakuzu while Shikamaru realized the masks each represented one of Kakuzu’s hearts.
• Shikamaru organized the squad to separate Kakuzu’s hearts and destroy them, killing Kakuzu after Hidan had already been defeated.
• Pain descended after the battle and demanded the Six-Tails, while Naruto refused to hand it over.
• Hyuga Kei watched the confrontation from high in the sky while eating popcorn.

Hyuga Kei intercepted Utakata and Hotaru and forced them to surrender the Six-Tails and Wrathful Hair Heaven in exchange for their lives and their teammates’ safety. He joined Pain in driving off the Twilight Squad, which then decided to return to Konoha and warn the villages about the Akatsuki Organization.

• Pain attacked the Twilight Squad while Utakata carried Hotaru away in a bubble, and Kakashi’s team fought to buy them time.
• Hyuga Kei stopped Utakata and Hotaru and offered to let them live if they handed over the Six-Tails and Wrathful Hair Heaven.
• Utakata agreed to Hyuga Kei’s terms, but Hyuga Kei seized them and extracted the Six-Tails and Wrathful Hair Heaven.
• Hyuga Kei returned to Pain with the Six-Tails, and they drove the Twilight Squad back before departing with the other Pains.
• Kakashi woke Utakata and Hotaru, reassured Utakata, and ordered the squad to return to Konoha and report the Akatsuki Organization’s remaining targets.