Chapter Summaries

Kitagawa Gen fought Sasori while Kakashi and Jiraiya engaged Itachi Uchiha and Kisame. After revealing the Third Kazekage puppet and battling with Sage Art and Flying Thunder God, Kitagawa Gen helped bring down the temple, leaving Deidara thrilled by the destruction.

• Kakashi charged at Itachi Uchiha while Jiraiya confronted Kisame, and Sasori attacked Kitagawa Gen with Hiruko.
• Kitagawa Gen dodged Sasori's attacks, and Sasori revealed the Third Kazekage puppet and used Iron Sand against him.
• Kitagawa Gen activated his fake Sage Mode and used Flying Thunder God and a Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan to strike Sasori through his iron-sand defense.
• The battle's force destabilized the temple, so the fighters rushed outside before it collapsed.
• Deidara watched the destruction and declared that Kitagawa Gen's explosive art matched his own philosophy.

Ōnoki mobilized Iwagakure after the Anbu lost contact while Akatsuki’s members moved toward the Land of Earth and clashed with Konoha’s forces at a ruined temple. Kitagawa Gen overwhelmed Sasori before a mysterious attacker shouted that he was Minato Namikaze, and a colossal collision of attacks left Jiraiya stunned.

• Akatsuchi told Ōnoki that the Anbu following Deidara had disappeared, and Ōnoki ordered nearby forces to investigate before flying out himself.
• Pain led Kakuzu, Hidan, and Konan toward the Land of Earth while Nagato and Konan worried about Jiraiya pursuing them.
• Kakashi fought Itachi Uchiha, Jiraiya fought Kisame, and Kitagawa Gen battled Sasori at the ruined temple.
• Kitagawa Gen used the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and Flying Thunder God to destroy most of Sasori’s puppets, prompting Sasori to exclaim, “It’s you, Minato Namikaze?!”
• A white pillar of light struck Sasori as a figure used Shinra Tensei to meet it, causing a tremendous explosion that left Jiraiya staring in disbelief.

Ōnoki investigated the mysterious fighters at the Land of Earth border while Pain’s group regrouped after their failed mission. Kitagawa Gen, Kakashi, and Jiraiya escaped safely, but their return was interrupted when Deidara arrived to challenge Kitagawa Gen over their art.

• Ōnoki learned that six powerful chakra signatures had fought near the border, suspected Konoha was involved, and discovered Deidara had left the Land of Earth.
• Pain reprimanded Kisame, Itachi Uchiha, and the badly damaged Sasori after their mission failed, while Kakuzu and Sasori argued over their defeat by Kitagawa Gen.
• Konan told Nagato that Jiraiya seemed to have seen them, and Nagato said they should stay on their chosen path.
• Kitagawa Gen teased Kakashi about his frequent hospital visits, and Kakashi said his eye’s first real use had taught him more about how to fight Obito Uchiha.
• Jiraiya recognized the orange-haired man who had blocked Ōnoki’s attack and suspected the situation was worse than he had feared, but he withheld the details from Kitagawa Gen and Kakashi.
• A clay bird landed before Kitagawa Gen, Kakashi, and Jiraiya, and Deidara jumped down to challenge Kitagawa Gen over their similar art.

Kitagawa Gen returned to Konoha with Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Deidara, bringing back intelligence about the dangerous organization and its members. As Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged contact with Ōnoki, Kitagawa encouraged Deidara to study Dust Release, leaving Deidara reconsidering his teacher’s jutsu.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that Kitagawa Gen, Jiraiya, and Kakashi had returned with Ōnoki’s disciple Deidara and discussed the organization’s members and threat.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to notify Sunagakure about the suspected Third Kazekage killer and consider making contact with Ōnoki, while Kitagawa Gen joked about killing Deidara.
• Jiraiya privately told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the orange-haired man and blue-haired woman mentioned in the Fourth Mizukage’s intelligence might have been his former disciples.
• Kitagawa Gen met Deidara outside the Hokage Building and explained his view of Flying Thunder God as art that solved trouble in an instant.
• Kitagawa Gen persuaded Deidara that Ōnoki’s Dust Release matched his artistic philosophy and urged him to study it before challenging Kitagawa Gen to a spar.

Obito Uchiha learned that Konoha had disrupted the Akatsuki's recruitment mission, while Black Zetsu secretly blamed Shimura Danzō and worried about Kitagawa Gen's power. In Konoha, Deidara befriended Naruto over ramen as Kitagawa Gen considered his new chakra reward and the gains from the Land of Earth.

• Black Zetsu told Obito Uchiha that Konoha's team had foiled the recruitment mission in the Land of Earth, and Obito ordered an investigation into Shimura Danzō.
• After Obito left, Black Zetsu admitted he had supplied the intelligence and intended to shift the blame onto Shimura Danzō, then discussed Kitagawa Gen's troubling Sage Mode with White Zetsu.
• At Ichiraku Ramen, Deidara showed Naruto how the mouths on his hands could eat noodles, and the two blondes quickly began joking together.
• Kitagawa Gen checked his reward for completing Jiraiya's side quest and received Nagato's special Yang Release Chakra.
• Kitagawa Gen reflected on his new chakra, his experience with Dust Release and Magnet Release, and the possibility of using Magnet Release to find gold mines.
• Naruto and Deidara argued over a contest, leaving Kitagawa Gen exasperated by the trouble his gains had brought him.

After Deidara was taken to his guarded residence, Kitagawa Gen tested the power he had obtained from Nagato. Meanwhile, Rasa assigned Chiyo and Ebizo to investigate the Third Kazekage’s puppet, and Ōnoki decided to contact Konoha and learn more about the white-haired Flying Thunder God user.

• Kitagawa Gen charged Naruto and Deidara for the extra ramen they had eaten, then watched the Anbu escort Deidara away.
• Kitagawa Gen returned home with Flying Thunder God and began testing the power he had obtained from Nagato.
• Rasa gave Chiyo and Ebizo Konoha’s report about the Third Kazekage’s human puppet and asked them to investigate and handle contact with Konoha.
• Ōnoki learned that Deidara had gone to Konoha and ordered Kitsuchi to retrieve him while testing Konoha’s intentions.
• Ōnoki focused on the unidentified white-haired man who could use Flying Thunder God.

Kitagawa Gen visited Kakashi in the hospital, discussed ways to develop his techniques, and noticed his Otsutsuki bloodline was changing his body. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to speak with Shimura Danzō about Hanzō of the Salamander, leaving Danzō furious at the question.

• Kitagawa Gen visited Kakashi and discussed his battle in Iwagakure, with Kakashi warning him not to provoke the Third Tsuchikage.
• Kakashi suggested Kitagawa Gen develop the Rasengan by combining it with Purple Lightning or other chakra, and Kitagawa Gen considered incorporating his Kekkei Genkai into it.
• Kitagawa Gen noticed that merging Nagato's Yang Release had improved his recovery and perception, while his bloodline made his skin paler and his hair begin to turn white.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed Iwagakure's plan to send Kitsuchi for talks and considered what information Konoha could obtain from Deidara and Jiraiya.
• Shimura Danzō entered the Hokage Office ready to discuss intelligence, but Hiruzen Sarutobi asked whether he was familiar with Hanzō of the Salamander, making Danzō furious.

Danzō refused to promise Hiruzen that he would contact Hanzō and argued against keeping Deidara in Konoha. After a week of training with Kitagawa Gen, Deidara left with Kitsuchi and decided to learn Ōnoki’s Dust Release.

• Hiruzen asked Danzō to find a way to consult Hanzō, but Danzō doubted Hanzō was alive and avoided promising to contact him.
• Danzō proposed keeping Deidara in Konoha as leverage against Iwagakure, but Hiruzen refused.
• Kitagawa Gen demonstrated an explosive Rasengan to Deidara and teased him about his artistic ideals.
• Kakashi told Kitagawa Gen that Iwagakure and Sunagakure had arrived, and that Jiraiya was investigating Orochimaru.
• Kitsuchi reunited with Deidara, who announced that he had decided to learn Ōnoki’s Dust Release.

Kitsuchi and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed building contact between Iwagakure and Konoha and exchanging intelligence about a mysterious organization. In Konoha, Jiraiya told Kakashi and Kitagawa Gen that he planned to bring Tsunade back, leaving them considering the mission.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed establishing channels between Konoha and Iwagakure, and Kitsuchi insisted that both villages first clarify what had happened in the Land of Earth.
• Kakashi praised Kitagawa Gen's growing strength and warned him that other ninjas would study his abilities.
• Jiraiya told Kakashi and Kitagawa Gen that Chiyo had come from Sunagakure and discussed the possibility that Sasori of the Red Sands had killed the Third Kazekage.
• Jiraiya explained that a one-eyed old man's intelligence concerned Orochimaru and Hanzō of the Salamander, so they had to wait before acting.
• Jiraiya proposed going on a mission to bring Tsunade back, and Kakashi and Kitagawa Gen supported the idea.

Orochimaru agreed to investigate Hanzō of the Salamander in exchange for more research materials, while Danzō planned to use the mission to draw Jiraiya into a setback. In Konoha, Kitagawa Gen and his companions saw Deidara off, discussed Akatsuki, and prepared to travel to bring Tsunade back, ending with Jiraiya suggesting Gen disguise himself as Hiruzen.

• Orochimaru decided to take Kimimaro with him, hoping someone might be able to help with Kimimaro’s worsening condition.
• Danzō accepted Orochimaru’s high demands and planned to use him to investigate Hanzō and lure Jiraiya into action.
• Kitagawa Gen, Jiraiya, and Kakashi watched Deidara leave Konoha and discussed what they had learned about Akatsuki’s activities.
• Jiraiya said the group would travel to bring Tsunade back and suggested they treat the mission as a chance to relax.
• Kitagawa Gen proposed disguising himself as Kakashi or the Fourth Hokage to enter a hot spring, and Jiraiya suggested he transform into Hiruzen instead.

The Fourth Raikage sought Tsunade’s help for his gravely injured comrade, while Orochimaru and Jiraiya separately arrived in Sugi Country looking for her. Their paths converged at the tavern where Tsunade was drinking, leaving the three groups facing one another in tense silence.

• The Fourth Raikage learned that Amai could not treat Ka Laye’s injuries, and Amai urged him to seek Tsunade’s help.
• Orochimaru brought Kimimaro to Sugi Country to find his former teammate Tsunade.
• Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Kitagawa Gen tracked Tsunade to a tavern, and Kitagawa Gen received a quest to help Jiraiya bring her back to Konoha.
• Tsunade drank with Shizune and remembered her sister and the comrades she had lost.
• Amai knelt before Tsunade and asked her to save his injured comrade, while Orochimaru arrived and recognized the Fourth Raikage.
• Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Kitagawa Gen entered the tavern, and the three groups faced one another in silence.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru began fighting outside the tavern while Tsunade refused to get involved. When the Fourth Raikage tried to take Tsunade by force, Kitagawa Gen stopped him and faced him in battle, revealing a striking change in his eyes and Chakra.

• Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru, and the two rushed outside to fight while Tsunade declined to intervene.
• Kakashi and Kitagawa Gen asked Tsunade to return to Konoha, but the Fourth Raikage insisted she come with him and threatened to use force.
• The Fourth Raikage attacked, and Kitagawa Gen blocked him with Purple Lightning, collapsing the tavern.
• Kitagawa Gen and the Fourth Raikage exchanged blows, damaging the surrounding buildings as their Chakra clashed.
• The Fourth Raikage intensified his Lightning Chakra, and Kitagawa Gen’s eyes turned white as red eye shadow appeared on his face.

Kitagawa Gen battled the Fourth Raikage, using the fight to learn Lightning Release Chakra Mode while Kakashi and Tsunade watched. When Tsunade moved to intervene, she froze after seeing Kitagawa Gen and was reminded of her second grandfather.

• Shizune woke outside the tavern as Kitagawa Gen blocked the Fourth Raikage’s attack with purple lightning.
• Kakashi told Tsunade that Kitagawa Gen was a remarkable talent and explained that Konoha might be in trouble involving Orochimaru and Wood Release.
• Kitagawa Gen and the Fourth Raikage fought at tremendous speed, destroying much of the town as Kakashi struggled to target them with Kamui.
• Kitagawa Gen learned to apply Lightning Release Chakra Mode during the fight, while the Fourth Raikage realized the young shinobi was adapting to his power.
• The Fourth Raikage attacked Kitagawa Gen from behind, prompting Tsunade to rush in, but she stopped in disbelief when Kitagawa Gen reminded her of her second grandfather.

Jiraiya fought Orochimaru in a town, where Orochimaru summoned Manda and revealed Akatsuki’s ties to Danzō and Hanzō before escaping. Jiraiya rushed to Kitagawa Gen’s fight with the Fourth Raikage and arrived just as Gen used the Flying Thunder God Technique to wound the Raikage, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Jiraiya and Orochimaru fought through the town, and their attacks damaged buildings as the residents fled.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda, while Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, and the giant summons fought until Orochimaru escaped.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya that Akatsuki’s leader had defeated Danzō and Hanzō, then used the distraction to flee.
• Jiraiya ended his fight and rushed toward Kitagawa Gen’s battlefield after learning Gen was facing the Fourth Raikage.
• Kitagawa Gen used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind the Fourth Raikage and stabbed him with his Purple Lightning-wrapped White Fang Short Sword, cutting across his left arm and knocking him to the ground.

After the battle in Sugi Country left the town destroyed and the Fourth Raikage unconscious with a severed arm, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Kitagawa Gen, and Tsunade discussed the consequences and learned more about Akatsuki and Shimura Danzō. Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed to confront Danzō, while Obito Uchiha and Pain planned to deal with the Konoha group outside Rain Country.

• Tsunade treated the unconscious Fourth Raikage as Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Kitagawa Gen discussed the ruined town and the danger of starting a war by bringing him back to Konoha.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Orochimaru had revealed Akatsuki's strength and its connection to Danzō, and Tsunade agreed to return to Konoha while keeping watch over the Fourth Raikage.
• Kitagawa Gen suggested making the Fourth Raikage pay to rebuild Sugi Country and joked that the town's destruction had erased Tsunade's gambling debts.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Jiraiya's report about the battle, the Fourth Raikage, and Akatsuki's connection to Danzō, then hurried to confront Danzō.
• Obito Uchiha warned Pain that Danzō might contact Hanzō and that Konoha could investigate Amegakure, so they planned to confront the group in Sugi Country instead.

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō about the Rain Country purge and ordered him to contact Hanzō, while Akatsuki prepared a mission against Kitagawa Gen and his allies in Sugi Country. After Kitagawa completed his mission and prepared to return to Konoha, a new quest warned him to respond to Akatsuki’s attack.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded that Shimura Danzō explain what he had hidden about the Rain Country purge and ordered him to investigate the survivors and contact Hanzō of the Salamander.
• Pain assigned an urgent mission in Sugi Country, where Kitagawa Gen, Kakashi Hatake, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were gathered; Kakuzu, Sasori, and Hidan stayed behind while Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki prepared to go.
• Kitagawa Gen told the captured Fourth Raikage that his severed arm could not be reattached because Purple Lightning had destroyed its nerves.
• Kitagawa Gen completed the side quest, planned to return to Konoha, and received a new quest to respond to Akatsuki’s attack.

Kitagawa Gen's group chose to travel through the Land of Waterfall to investigate a Takigakure rogue ninja, giving Gen a chance to pursue the Seven-Tails' chakra. The Akatsuki learned their route and prepared an ambush, while Kisame began to suspect Obito's connection to the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi, and Kitagawa Gen discussed how to return safely with the injured Fourth Raikage as Hidden Cloud might respond to the commotion in Sugi Country.
• Jiraiya proposed taking the Land of Waterfall route, and Gen recalled that the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki lived there and hoped to test acquiring Tailed Beast chakra himself.
• Gen proposed releasing the Fourth Raikage in a crowded place and later killing him using his Flying Thunder God seal, shocking Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Kakashi.
• The Akatsuki learned that Gen's group had entered the Land of Waterfall and decided to ambush them while investigating Kakuzu and Takigakure.
• Kisame questioned Obito about his familiarity with the Flying Thunder God Technique and whether he had been the target of Gen's earlier attacks.

Kitagawa Gen and Obito Uchiha separately infiltrated Takigakure to investigate the Seven-Tails, only to encounter each other while Kitagawa was disguised as Obito. Their clash drew the attention of Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the others, while Nagato prepared to face them with Deva Path Pain.

• Kitagawa Gen convinced Jiraiya to let him scout Takigakure and transformed into Obito Uchiha before departing.
• Obito Uchiha left Black Zetsu to watch Kakashi’s group and infiltrated Takigakure to locate Fuu.
• Obito found a Takigakure Anbu unconscious and discovered Kitagawa Gen disguised as him in Fuu’s room.
• Nagato decided to bring only Deva Path Pain to face Jiraiya’s group, while a surge of Chakra alerted the others.
• Kitagawa Gen and Obito Uchiha began fighting, and Kitagawa taunted Obito for using Genjutsu to replace reality.

Kitagawa Gen fought Obito Uchiha in Takigakure, drawing the village’s ninja into the conflict before using a trick involving Rin’s image to distract Obito. Outside the village, Jiraiya confronted Pain and learned that Yahiko was dead; Kitagawa Gen then reappeared and challenged Pain’s idea of peace.

• Kitagawa Gen and Obito Uchiha clashed with chains, ninjutsu, and Kamui as Takigakure’s ninja evacuated residents and gathered around them.
• Kitagawa Gen claimed he was a Konohagakure guest and warned Takigakure that Obito Uchiha might be targeting the Seven-Tails, prompting the village ninja to join the fight against him.
• Kitagawa Gen raised an Earth Flow Wall bearing a graduation photo of Rin, distracting Obito Uchiha long enough for Kitagawa Gen to break through with his White Fang Short Sword.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi reached Takigakure’s outskirts and encountered Pain, Kisame, and Itachi Uchiha.
• Pain told Jiraiya that Yahiko was dead and declared that he would bring peace by following a new path.
• Kitagawa Gen appeared beside the Fourth Raikage and asked Pain whether his path meant killing everyone in the world to achieve peace.

Kitagawa Gen taunted Pain about Akatsuki’s plans, provoking the group into a battle with the Konoha and Cloud shinobi. As Kitagawa Gen fought Pain, the Fourth Raikage discovered that Kitagawa Gen had used his own jutsu.

• Kitagawa Gen suggested that Pain’s pursuit of peace could mean wiping out everyone or eliminating half the population, but Pain refused to reveal Akatsuki’s plan.
• Pain attacked Kitagawa Gen while Kisame flooded the area, and Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi, the Fourth Raikage, and Shizune joined the ensuing fights.
• Kisame confronted Jiraiya, Itachi faced Tsunade, and Obito ambushed Kakashi while angrily blaming him for raising Kitagawa Gen.
• Kitagawa Gen entered Sage Mode, dodged Pain’s attacks, and countered Shinra Tensei with a Sage Art: Great Fireball Technique and Flying Thunder God kunai.
• The Fourth Raikage heard an electrical blast and saw Kitagawa Gen use a jutsu he recognized as his own.