Chapter Summaries

Shimura Danzō revealed himself as the masked Kirigakure elder and confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi while Mist Ninja attacked Konoha’s exam arena. Akihara Kagura quickly subdued the attackers, and the Chunin Exams continued as Danzō publicly exposed Konoha’s secrets and Fourth Kazekage Rasa pressed Hiruzen about his choice of successor.

• Genji removed his mask and revealed himself as Shimura Danzō, while Mist Ninja launched a premeditated attack and Rasa’s Sand Ninja waited for orders.
• Hiruzen tried to negotiate with Danzō, who accused him of covering up human experiments and framing him for an attempted murder.
• Hiruzen ordered Akihara Kagura to capture the attacking Mist Ninja, and Kagura used Wood Release to swiftly suppress them.
• Kagura declared that the exam would continue, and Karin charged Gaara as their fight resumed.
• Danzō accused Hiruzen of authorizing Hashirama Cell experiments and mishandling the Hokage succession, but Hiruzen countered with Danzō’s own crimes and defended choosing Minato over Orochimaru.
• Rasa asked Hiruzen whether he had feared losing power if Orochimaru became Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō exposed their shared history and began fighting while Akihara Kagura contained the battle and kept the Chunin Exams going. The chapter left Hiruzen determined to kill Danzō himself as Kakashi Hatake suspected a larger crisis was still coming.

• Fourth Kazekage Rasa provoked Hiruzen Sarutobi over his return to power and suggested that he had blocked Akihara Kagura from becoming Hokage.
• Shimura Danzō accused Hiruzen of authorizing the Uchiha Clan’s surveillance and sharing responsibility for Konoha’s darkest deeds.
• Shimura Danzō attacked Hiruzen with Wind Style: Vacuum Wave, and Hiruzen sent away the Hokage Guard Platoon to face his old friend alone.
• Akihara Kagura ordered the Jonin to secure the rioting Mist Ninja and used Wood Clones and Crimson Sun Arrays to protect the arena and contain the duel.
• Karin defeated Gaara after Shukaku took over and was bound by her Adamantine Sealing Chains, while the Nine-Tails watched and mocked Shukaku.
• Hiruzen and Danzō exchanged attacks inside the barrier, and Hiruzen declared that he would kill Danzō to protect the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō fought while arguing over their opposing ideas about protecting Konoha, as the Chunin Exams continued below. Hiruzen defeated Danzō, but stopped short of killing him when Danzō formed the Reconciliation Seal.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō accused each other of harming Konoha through their policies and past decisions.
• Akihara Kagura and Kakashi Hatake watched the fight, and Kakashi said Kagura would make the best Hokage.
• Shino Aburame defeated Temari, then Karin effortlessly countered Naruto Uzumaki's Shadow Clones.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma, who became an Adamantine Staff, and Hiruzen defeated Danzō's summoned tapir with fire.
• As Hiruzen raised the staff to kill Danzō, Danzō formed the Reconciliation Seal, making Hiruzen pause.

Akihara Kagura brought Shimura Danzō back to Root after Hiruzen Sarutobi spared him, while Danzō believed their plan to kill Hiruzen was still underway. At Root, Kagura revealed that he had replaced the entire organization with surviving Uchiha, leaving Danzō stunned.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted Shimura Danzō's Reconciliation Seal, spared him, and ordered him to remain in the village and account for his and Orochimaru's actions.
• Akihara Kagura took Shimura Danzō and Karin back to Root as Karin surrendered in the final Chunin Ninja Exams match against Shino Aburame.
• Shimura Danzō told Akihara Kagura that Orochimaru would kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Kagura falsely claimed he would later kill Orochimaru and become Hokage.
• Akihara Kagura welcomed Shimura Danzō into Root and presented the organization's masked members, whom Danzō assumed were his former personnel.
• Akihara Kagura revealed that every Root member was a surviving Uchiha with Sharingan, and explained that he had replaced Danzō's people and driven Danzō out of Konoha to keep the surprise hidden.

Akihara Kagura revealed how he had manipulated Danzō, Hiruzen, and the Uchiha survivors for years, then confronted Danzō with the truth behind his fall. Danzō was left isolated as Torune and Fu returned to Kagura’s side.

• Danzō realized Kagura had framed him and orchestrated his departure from Konoha, while Kagura revealed his concealed Sharingan and the Genjutsu he had once used on Danzō.
• Kagura explained how he had played Hiruzen and Danzō against each other to escape Root’s control and strengthen his own position in Konoha.
• Kagura revealed that he had secretly rescued Uchiha survivors during the clan’s downfall and used the chaos to remove Danzō’s loyal Root forces.
• Kagura disclosed that Torune and Fu had been his spies, and both returned to his side, leaving Danzō alone.
• Kagura told Danzō that he had planned to care for him in his old age and see him off since they first met.

Akihara Kagura confronted Shimura Danzō over his betrayals and hypocrisy, then stopped him from using the Inner Four Symbols Seal to destroy Root. Danzō was left wounded and furious as Kagura ordered First Hokage cells prepared to use him as a sacrifice to revive the Third Hokage.

• Akihara Kagura challenged Shimura Danzō's claims of loyalty to Konoha and accused him of making others bear the sacrifices he demanded.
• Shimura Danzō activated what he believed was the Inner Four Symbols Seal, but Akihara Kagura revealed that Danzō was under Sharingan Genjutsu.
• Shimura Danzō dispelled the Genjutsu and tried to activate the seal for real, but Akihara Kagura stopped the blood spray and destroyed the seal markings.
• Akihara Kagura cut an X-shaped wound into Shimura Danzō's chest and ordered Kabuto to treat his bleeding.
• Akihara Kagura ordered First Hokage cells prepared so he could use Shimura Danzō as a sacrifice to revive the Third Hokage.

Orochimaru launched the Konoha Collapse Plan during the Chunin Exams, using a false identity and a carefully arranged diversion to trap Hiruzen Sarutobi alone. He summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to fight their former student as Akihara Kagura remained away with Shimura Danzō.

• Shimura Danzō objected when Akihara Kagura proposed sacrificing him to revive Hiruzen Sarutobi with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Fourth Kazekage Rasa announced the Konoha Collapse Plan, and Sand, Sound, and Kaguya Clan ninjas attacked the arena and its spectators.
• The Sound Four trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi and the disguised Rasa inside a Four Violet Flames Formation, where Rasa revealed himself as Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru explained how he had manipulated the chaos to draw Akihara Kagura away from Hiruzen Sarutobi, then attacked his former teacher.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi fought back with Earth and Fire Style techniques, but Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
• Tobirama Senju charged at Hiruzen Sarutobi and declared that they would eliminate him.

Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi after learning he had kept Akihara Kagura from becoming Hokage, while Orochimaru manipulated their suspicions to turn them against Hiruzen. Hiruzen used the Reaper Death Seal against Orochimaru but was fatally stabbed, and Orochimaru revealed that an unexpected person had masterminded the Konoha Collapse Plan and made them all tools.

• Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi to stop him from driving Akihara Kagura into becoming a rogue ninja.
• Orochimaru accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of clinging to power and using Konoha as an excuse to control others, then Hiruzen exposed Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō's secret human experiments.
• Orochimaru used curse seals to erase Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju's wills and control them against Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned two shadow clones and used the Reaper Death Seal to seize Orochimaru and the two Hokage, but Orochimaru stabbed him before the sealing was complete.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sealed away part of Orochimaru's soul, taking away his ability to use his hands, before Orochimaru revealed that someone unexpected had orchestrated the Konoha Collapse Plan and turned them all into tools.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi died sealing Orochimaru, Akihara Kagura took control of Konoha’s response, captured the invading Sunagakure ninja, and had Root bring Orochimaru to him. Kagura revealed he could undo the Reaper Death Seal and planned to let Hiruzen watch his own funeral, leaving Orochimaru stunned.

• Orochimaru fled Konoha after using the Reaper Death Seal on Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Akihara Kagura sent Karin and Root to pursue him.
• Akihara Kagura arrived at the exam grounds, and the Sunagakure ninja retreated as he used his vines to capture them and ordered Konoha to aid the injured and prepare Hiruzen’s burial.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha, mourned Hiruzen, and resolved to kill Orochimaru rather than try to bring him back.
• Karin persuaded Orochimaru to go to the Root base, where Root ninja defeated the Sound Four and escorted him to Akihara Kagura.
• Akihara Kagura explained that he could undo the Reaper Death Seal and said he wanted Hiruzen to watch his own funeral, shocking Orochimaru.

Akihara Kagura forced Orochimaru to undo the Reaper Death Seal, restored Orochimaru’s hands, and gave him a White Zetsu body marked with a curse to keep him from betraying their alliance. As Kagura prepared to revive Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru discovered that Shimura Danzō was the chosen sacrifice.

• Akihara Kagura made Orochimaru summon the Reaper and cut open his own stomach to release the souls sealed by the Reaper Death Seal.
• Orochimaru escaped the Reaper by leaving his body as a tiny snake, then took over a White Zetsu body that Kagura had marked with a curse.
• Akihara Kagura told Root to bring the sacrifice for Hiruzen Sarutobi’s revival while Orochimaru looked over his former teacher’s corpse.
• Orochimaru saw Shimura Danzō on the stretcher and realized Kagura had chosen their ally as the sacrifice.

Akihara Kagura used Shimura Danzō as the sacrifice to revive Hiruzen Sarutobi with Impure World Reincarnation, then explained his role in the Konoha Collapse Plan. After Hiruzen realized Kagura was gaining influence over Konoha, Kagura prepared to summon Manda and sent a message to Nagato.

• Akihara Kagura injected Hashirama Cells into Shimura Danzō and used him as the sacrifice to revive Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized that Akihara Kagura had masterminded the Konoha Collapse Plan and framed both him and Shimura Danzō.
• Akihara Kagura told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Chunin Ninja Exams had continued and that Konoha could use the deaths and attacks to justify harsher action against Sunagakure and Kirigakure.
• Akihara Kagura received Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning as a reward for completing the Chunin Ninja Exams mission.
• Akihara Kagura asked Orochimaru to lend him Manda and sent White Zetsu Awei to tell Nagato that he had made Shimura Danzō suffer.

Akihara Kagura used Manda as a sacrifice to revive Hashirama Senju with Impure World Reincarnation, then negotiated with Orochimaru for the materials to revive the Second and Fourth Hokages. Hashirama and Hiruzen accepted that they might have to cooperate with Kagura to protect Konoha, and Orochimaru handed over a sealing scroll.

• Orochimaru summoned Manda, and Akihara Kagura used Hashirama Cells and Impure World Reincarnation to turn the serpent into a sacrifice.
• Hashirama Senju was revived with immense chakra, and Kagura demonstrated that he could control him.
• Kagura asked Orochimaru for the Second and Fourth Hokages' revival materials and promised not to revive other villages' Kage.
• Kagura said he would control the previous Hokages and destroy Konoha if they refused to obey him, while Hiruzen urged Hashirama to endure the situation for the village.
• Orochimaru agreed to cooperate and tossed Kagura a sealing scroll containing the materials.

Akihara Kagura revived Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze, then recounted the tangled history of Konoha’s conflicts and assigned blame among the Hokages, Orochimaru, and Danzo. Tobirama agreed to hear how Kagura planned to seize Konoha’s power, and Kagura proposed that Tsunade might support Impure World Reincarnation if it could revive someone she longed to see.

• Akihara Kagura used Impure World Reincarnation to revive Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze with White Zetsu as sacrifices.
• Kagura admitted to plotting events around the Chunin Ninja Exams to gain control of Konoha, while the Hokages questioned him and learned about the Uchiha Clan’s destruction and Obito Uchiha’s crimes.
• The Hokages and Orochimaru argued over responsibility for Konoha’s troubles, and Kagura traced the chain of blame from Hashirama Senju through Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, and Danzo.
• Tobirama suggested eliminating Orochimaru as a threat, but Kagura defended him and revealed how he had secretly caused Orochimaru trouble in the past.
• Kagura proposed turning the Akatsuki Organization into a weapon for Konoha and said Tsunade might support Impure World Reincarnation if it could revive someone she wanted to see.

Akihara Kagura arranged for Tsunade to become Hokage and proposed using Impure World Reincarnation to protect Konoha, while Orochimaru agreed to share his research with the village. At Root, Kagura revealed that Uchiha survivors had been hidden there and planned to expand the organization by giving Shimura Danzō credit for the surviving test subjects.

• Akihara Kagura argued that Tsunade might accept Impure World Reincarnation as Hokage, then asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to authorize reviving the past Hokage and have Orochimaru help stage a crisis for the future Hokage.
• Orochimaru agreed to Kagura's plan after Kagura promised to secure research funding and require Konoha to share the results of Orochimaru's experiments.
• Akihara Kagura ordered Heavenly Path: Shisui to monitor Orochimaru, then returned to Root with the revived Hokage and explained that its Sharingan and Wood Release test subjects were Uchiha survivors.
• Akihara Kagura revealed that he had helped Obito Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi conceal the survivors during the Uchiha Clan Downfall, and Hiruzen Sarutobi praised him for preserving the Uchiha bloodline.
• Akihara Kagura told Karin to expand Root with more survivors and forge documents claiming Shimura Danzō had collected and created the test subjects, prompting Tobirama Senju to protest that Kagura was still using Danzō after his death.

Akihara Kagura prepared to counter Orochimaru with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu while Konoha’s leaders discovered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s will and held his funeral without revealing his body was missing. Hiruzen watched the ceremony alongside the other reanimated Hokage, leaving Kagura to maintain the appearance of mourning as the village grieved.

• Akihara Kagura used Hashirama Cells to create more Dual Bloodline Ninja, while Tobirama Senju realized the experiment had succeeded with no rejection.
• Jiraiya rejected the Hokage position and proposed Tsunade, but the advisors insisted he serve if she could not return; then ANBU reported that Orochimaru had stolen Hiruzen Sarutobi’s body.
• The advisors found Hiruzen’s will, which named Jiraiya or Tsunade as his successor and authorized Kagura to use the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu against Orochimaru.
• Kagura told the advisors he had learned the jutsu and that Danzō remained under house arrest, then Jiraiya urged everyone to attend Hiruzen’s funeral without revealing the body was gone.
• Hiruzen watched his own funeral with Minato Namikaze, Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju while Kagura laid a flower at the memorial and comforted Kakashi Hatake and Umino Iruka.

As Konoha struggled to choose a new Hokage and respond to foreign incursions, Jiraiya decided to take Naruto Uzumaki away for training while Kakashi Hatake worried about Akihara Kagura and the Akatsuki Organization. Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki infiltrated the village, and the chapter ended with Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi confronting them.

• Akihara Kagura opposed peace negotiations with Sunagakure and Kirigakure, then ordered stronger patrols after reports of Iwagakure ninjas and other unknown enemies entering Konoha.
• Kakashi Hatake warned Jiraiya that Shimura Danzō might have influenced Akihara Kagura, while Jiraiya said he would take Naruto Uzumaki away and urged Kakashi to prepare for a clash with the Akatsuki Organization.
• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki ate in Konoha, where Kakashi Hatake spotted them and signaled Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi to follow.
• Kisame Hoshigaki suggested capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but Uchiha Itachi refused and said he wanted to speak with Akihara Kagura about their agreement.
• Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi blocked Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, and the two Akatsuki members removed their hats and revealed their identities.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki infiltrated Konoha, where Itachi challenged Akihara Kagura while Kisame fought the village’s defenders. Itachi’s Tsukuyomi failed against Kagura’s immense spiritual power, and the two secretly agreed that Itachi would investigate Obito Uchiha in exchange for Kagura protecting Sasuke.

• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki attacked Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi, but Kakashi Hatake arrived and confronted them.
• Itachi revealed that he had come to find something and test his power against Akihara Kagura, who arrived and defeated Kisame’s attack with Lava Style.
• Itachi cast Tsukuyomi on Kagura, but Kagura’s overwhelming spiritual power left Itachi in pain inside the genjutsu.
• Kagura promised to protect Sasuke if Itachi helped him kill Obito Uchiha, and Itachi agreed to investigate Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan ability.
• Itachi released Tsukuyomi and collapsed in agony, while Kisame supported him and Kakashi watched from a distance.

Akihara Kagura defeated Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki’s attack but let them escape, then agreed to help train Sasuke. Back at Root, he learned that Madara Uchiha might be a target for Impure World Reincarnation, while Sasuke learned that Kagura would become his new teacher.

• Kisame Hoshigaki used water jutsu to cover Itachi’s escape, but Kagura burned away his attacks and stopped a Great Shark Bullet with Wood Style.
• Kagura told Kakashi Hatake that he wanted Itachi alive to watch the brothers kill each other, then agreed to help train Sasuke in exchange for a meal.
• White Zetsu Awei reported that Nagato was pleased and revealed that Madara Uchiha might be revived; Kagura declined to promise success and offered to study Impure World Reincarnation further.
• Kagura received the Uzumaki bloodline reward and gained the ability to use Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• At the training ground, Sasuke asked Kakashi whether his Chidori could kill Itachi and laughed when he learned Itachi had lost to Kagura again.
• Kakashi told Sasuke that Kagura would help train him, and Kagura appeared and revealed that he and Itachi had both once been Kakashi’s subordinates.

Akihara Kagura tried to steer Second Pillar’s desire for revenge by teaching him techniques, while Kakashi Hatake resisted giving him dangerous forbidden jutsu or letting him join Root. After Kakashi left, Second Pillar approached Kagura privately and became a secret Root member, determined to gain the power to kill Uchiha Itachi.

• Second Pillar asked Akihara Kagura for a way to kill Uchiha Itachi, but Kakashi Hatake stopped Kagura from teaching him the Reaper Death Seal, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, or Izanagi.
• Akihara Kagura taught Second Pillar the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and Giant Shuriken Jutsu, presenting them as ways to surpass Uchiha Itachi.
• Second Pillar asked to join Root, but Kakashi Hatake took Akihara Kagura aside and rejected the idea; Second Pillar then privately told Sakura Haruno he still intended to join Root.
• That night, Second Pillar knelt before Akihara Kagura and asked to join Root, accepting the danger of its missions and secrecy.
• Akihara Kagura declared Second Pillar a secret Root member and told him to practice the jutsu he had taught him.

Second Pillar joined Root and resolved to leave Team 7 behind as he pursued revenge against Uchiha Itachi, while Naruto Uzumaki trained for the Rasengan and Tsunade arrived in town. Kabuto Yakushi revealed to Orochimaru that he had been Akihara Kagura’s spy and had prolonged Orochimaru’s recovery, leaving Orochimaru furious as Kabuto explained Kagura had ordered him to keep serving him.

• Second Pillar accepted Akihara Kagura’s instructions to join Root and vowed to surpass and kill Uchiha Itachi, despite regretting that he would leave Naruto Uzumaki and Team 7.
• Naruto Uzumaki continued practicing the Rasengan with Jiraiya, who praised his diligence and compared his slow progress with Akihara Kagura’s quick learning.
• Tsunade and Shizune arrived in town, where Tsunade won repeatedly at the casino before her growing unease prompted her to leave.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Shisui, speaking with Akihara Kagura’s voice, that Orochimaru had grown suspicious, and Kagura instructed him to reveal his role as a spy.
• Kabuto told Orochimaru that he had arranged Sasori’s pursuit, tampered with Orochimaru’s treatment to stretch a one-month recovery into three, and stayed close to stop him from acting against Kagura.
• Orochimaru swept the contents of his table onto the floor as Kabuto explained that Kagura had considered Orochimaru too valuable to kill.