Chapter Summaries

Yota confronted Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya after drawing them to the Land of Salt, and Tsunade demanded to know what he had done with her grandfather’s cells. Their clash began with Tsunade punching Yota, but he caught her fist without budging and shattered the bones in her hand, leaving her stunned by his strength.

• Yota stopped near the Land of Salt Daimyo’s residence and found Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya waiting there with several Konoha ninjas.
• Yota said he had meant to lure out Orochimaru, while Jiraiya explained that the Third Hokage would not let him remain in Konoha after Wood Release appeared.
• Orochimaru asked to study Yota’s Dark Release, and Yota challenged him to defeat him first.
• Tsunade demanded to know what Yota had done with her grandfather’s cells, then attacked him with a punch.
• Yota caught Tsunade’s fist without retreating, and the impact shattered the bones in her hand, revealing his extraordinary physical strength.

Yota overwhelmed Tsunade and Jiraiya with Dark Release and Haki, then turned his attention to Orochimaru. Orochimaru summoned Manda, giving Yota a massive opponent he was eager to fight head-on.

• Yota crushed Tsunade's hand while draining her Chakra, and his Dark Release forced Jiraiya back.
• Tsunade broke her other fist against Yota's Haki-coated head, then froze from her hemophobia, so Yota threw her to Jiraiya.
• Yota sized up the reconnaissance ninja, including Hizashi Hyuga, before focusing on Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda and promised him one hundred human sacrifices if they won the battle.
• Manda attacked Yota with his tail, and Yota welcomed the chance to fight a giant Summoning Beast head-on.

Yota defeated Manda and captured Orochimaru, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others with his Dark-enhanced Wood Style. Sara admired his technique and asked him to teach it to her, but he refused.

• Yota absorbed Manda’s organs, Chakra, and life force, making the summon vanish.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
• Yota unleashed Dark Tree World Descent, draining and binding Orochimaru, the two Hokage, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kato Shizune, and the other Konoha ninja.
• Tsunade blamed Konoha’s research into her grandfather’s cells for spreading Wood Style, while Jiraiya explained that Yota had combined Wood Style and Dark Release.
• Sara asked Yota to teach her Dark Tree World Descent, but he refused.

After defeating and capturing the others, Yota recruited Orochimaru and forced Shizune to teach him Medical Ninjutsu. He then brought Hizashi Hyuga and an Aburame Clan ninja out of his Dark Space, leaving the captives stunned.

• Yota explained that he wanted Orochimaru’s human-modification expertise and recruited him into the Akatsuki by offering to help him fuse with Bloodline Limits.
• Tsunade refused to cooperate, but Shizune agreed to teach Yota Medical Ninjutsu after he threatened to roast her pig, Tonton.
• Yota considered the other captives and decided Hizashi Hyuga’s Caged Bird Cursed Seal might be useful.
• Yota swallowed Hizashi and an Aburame Clan ninja into his Dark Space, then tossed them back out in front of the astonished captives.

Yota transferred the Caged Bird Curse Mark from Hizashi Hyuga to an Aburame Clan ninja, restoring Hizashi’s full Byakugan vision. Hizashi pledged the Hyuga Branch Family’s loyalty to Yota, determined to free his son Neji from the clan’s system.

• Hizashi Hyuga recognized the Caged Bird Curse Mark on an Aburame Clan ninja and used his Byakugan to confirm that his own curse mark had been broken.
• Yota explained that his ability could transfer curse marks but needed a vessel, so he had placed the mark on the Aburame Clan ninja.
• Orochimaru praised Yota’s ability to modify bodies and transfer Kekkei Genkai, Chakra, and Cursed Seals, while Yota considered its limits and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Jiraiya realized Yota could win the loyalty of the Hyuga Branch Family, and Hizashi prostrated himself before Yota and pledged their loyalty.
• Hizashi told the Inuzuka Clan ninja that he would split the Hyuga clan rather than let Neji remain a caged bird under the Main Family.

Yota and Hizashi Hyuga agreed to get Hizashi’s son out, then visited Ichiraku Ramen in disguise. Kakashi recognized Yota by his strength and distinctive presence after testing him, leaving the infiltration exposed.

• Yota told Hizashi Hyuga he would help get his son out, and Hizashi agreed as they walked through Konoha.
• Yota and Hizashi ate large bowls of ramen at Ichiraku, where Yota noticed Teuchi had Chunin-level Chakra.
• Yota left the shop without meeting the young Naruto and brushed past Kakashi at the entrance.
• Kakashi deliberately collided with Yota, felt his strength, and suspected he was the man who had taken Kakashi’s friend’s eye.
• Kakashi’s vigilance rose as Yota walked away, while Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy asked what was wrong.

Kakashi recognized Yota as the Black Shadow Ninja and went after him with Guy, while Kurenai headed to warn the Hokage. Guy attacked Yota and failed, then Kakashi confronted him with his Lightning Cutter, leaving Yota impressed by Kakashi’s progress after losing the Sharingan.

• Kakashi told Kurenai Yuhi and Guy that Yota was the Black Shadow Ninja, and Kurenai went to report the threat to the Hokage.
• Kakashi chased after Guy as Guy pursued Yota and Hizashi Hyuga through the streets.
• Guy kicked Yota in the head, hurt his own shin, and challenged him to surrender.
• Kakashi joined Guy, confronted Yota over Obito's eye, and revealed that Guy could open up to the Sixth Gate.
• Kakashi formed a highly controlled Lightning Cutter, and Yota remarked that Kakashi had grown stronger since losing the Sharingan.

Yota overwhelmed Kakashi and Guy by evading their attacks and draining their Chakra, then faced a gathered force of Konoha ninja led by the Third Hokage. After the Third Hokage demanded to know why he had returned, Yota announced that they could warm up and launched an attack.

• Guy opened the Sixth Gate and charged Yota, but Yota caught his punch and drained his Chakra until he could barely stand.
• Kakashi struck with Lightning Cutter while Guy blocked Yota’s view, but Yota dodged and grabbed Kakashi, draining his Chakra as well.
• Yota broke the wooden thorns Yamato used to restrain him and tossed Kakashi and Guy aside, where Anbu caught them.
• The Third Hokage and a group of Konoha ninja surrounded Yota, including the Uchiha, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Hiashi Hyuga, and Yamato.
• The Third Hokage challenged Yota, who said they should warm up and dodged Nara Shikaku’s Shadow Imitation Technique before striking forward with an explosive punch.

Yota summoned a Complete Form Susanoo coated in Armament Haki and effortlessly withstood the Konoha ninja’s attacks. He then tested its strength by drawing a Chakra sword and carving a ravine thousands of meters long, leaving the gathered ninja stunned.

• Choza Akimichi blocked Yota’s punch with his Partial Multi-Size Technique, but the impact fractured his arms.
• The Third Hokage and the other Konoha ninja launched a coordinated barrage of attacks at Yota.
• Yota awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan and summoned a towering Complete Form Susanoo that shrugged off the ninjutsu.
• Several Uchiha ninja reacted with admiration and claimed Yota must belong to their clan, while Guy and Kakashi watched in disbelief.
• Yota recognized the young Uchiha Anbu as Shisui the Body Flicker and suspected the Third Hokage had been preparing to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
• Yota formed a Chakra sword with Susanoo and swung it, carving a ravine thousands of meters long.

Yota forced Konoha to hand over four-year-old Neji Hyuga by threatening the village with Susanoo, then removed Neji’s Caged Bird Curse Mark and took him away with Hizashi Hyuga. The chapter ended with Neji released from the Dark Space, confused about what had happened.

• Yota demanded that Konoha hand over Neji Hyuga, and Hiashi Hyuga agreed after seeing Susanoo’s destructive power.
• Hyuga clan ninjas brought Neji to the battlefield, and Yota drew him into the Dark Space.
• Yota transferred Neji’s Caged Bird Curse Mark to a rabbit in the Dark Space and flew away with Hizashi Hyuga.
• Yota landed far from Konoha and released Neji, who remained dazed and unaware of why he had been taken.

Hizashi reunited with Neji after Yota removed Neji’s Caged Bird Curse Mark, leaving father and son to settle in as Yota’s subordinates. Back at the underground base, Jiraiya left with two Konoha ninjas while Tsunade remained with Yota’s group.

• Hizashi revealed himself to Neji, and Yota restored Hizashi’s appearance after hiding it with the Munch-Munch Fruit’s ability.
• Hizashi told Neji that Yota had removed the Caged Bird Curse Mark, freeing him from the Hyuga Branch Family.
• Yota returned to the base and found Tsunade gambling with Sara while Jiraiya watched; Orochimaru suggested Tsunade gambled to predict misfortune.
• Jiraiya asked Hizashi about the mission, and Hizashi said they had taken Neji without seriously injuring many people in Konoha.
• Yota released Jiraiya and the two captured Konoha ninjas, and Jiraiya left while Tsunade stayed behind.

Yota visited the newly established Sound Ninja Village with Orochimaru and met Jugo, whose uncontrolled attraction to Natural Energy caused him to lose his sanity. Jugo chose to give up his power in exchange for staying rational, and Yota extracted the enzymes responsible for his condition.

• Yota followed Orochimaru into the Sound Ninja Village, where the villagers were startled to see Hizashi Hyuga and his son displaying their Byakugan.
• The group entered Orochimaru's underground laboratory and found Jugo confined in a sealed prison cell.
• Yota offered Jugo a choice between a riskier treatment that preserved his power and an easier treatment that ensured he remained rational.
• Jugo chose the easier treatment, and Yota absorbed him into the Dark Space to remove the enzymes that drew Natural Energy into his body.
• Yota returned Jugo and picked up a test tube containing the extracted enzymes.

Yota absorbed the Enzymes and became a sage, gaining immense Chakra that he believed could surpass Hashirama Senju. He sent Orochimaru to retrieve Star in exchange for a chance to become a sage, then studied Orochimaru’s research and increased his body’s potential.

• Yota gave Orochimaru some of the Enzymes to cultivate and absorbed the rest, transforming his Chakra into Sage Chakra.
• Tsunade and the others sensed Yota’s overwhelming power, and Yota concluded that few things in the Naruto World could still benefit him.
• Yota sent Orochimaru to the Star Ninja Village to retrieve Star, promising to modify him with Hashirama Cells and Jugo’s physique.
• Orochimaru left for the Land of Bears with several subordinates after ordering the Sound Ninja Village to pledge loyalty to Yota.
• Yota studied Orochimaru’s human-modification records and adjusted his body, increasing its potential by at least ten percent over a month.

Yota learned that Orochimaru had brought the Star and the entire Star Ninja Village to the Sound Ninja Village, then studied the Star’s effects and the Peacock Method with Orochimaru and Tsunade. After Yota transformed Orochimaru, Orochimaru emerged with greatly increased Chakra and a body that drew in Natural Energy.

• Shizune told Yota that Orochimaru had returned with the Star and the Star Ninja Village, which was preparing to join the Sound Ninja Village.
• Yota visited Orochimaru and found Tsunade examining Star Ninja Village ninjas after breaking Yota’s seal.
• Tsunade explained that the Star’s radiation caused disorderly cellular mutations, while Orochimaru said the Peacock Method reshaped Chakra and could be used with the Star.
• Yota considered using the Peacock Method and the Star to make Susanoo more flexible and compress it into armor.
• Orochimaru asked Yota to fulfill his promised request, and Yota transformed him in the Dark Space.
• Orochimaru emerged with several times more Chakra and the ability to draw Natural Energy into his body.

Yota joined Akatsuki’s meeting through his Wood Clone and learned that Sasori of the Red Sand had become its newest member. The group discussed the looming war between Kumogakure and Konoha, sparked by Kumogakure’s abduction of Hinata Hyuga, and the chapter ended with both sides mobilizing for battle.

• Yota told Orochimaru to cultivate more Hashirama Cells, then answered a summons from his Wood Clone at Akatsuki’s meeting.
• Deva Path Pain introduced Sasori of the Red Sand as Akatsuki’s new member, and Sasori silently studied the other members.
• Deva Path Pain announced that Kumogakure and Konoha were heading to war.
• Obito Uchiha explained that Kumogakure’s delegation had abducted Hinata Hyuga during ceasefire negotiations and denied responsibility.
• Kumogakure tore up the ceasefire agreement and began massing troops at the border, leaving Konoha with little room to avoid war.

Yota learned that Akatsuki planned to wait for the Konoha–Kumogakure conflict and intervene if hired, while Orochimaru welcomed the war as a chance to gather Bloodline Limits. Tsunade, still attached to Konoha, sought out Yota after hearing the news.

• Obito Uchiha explained that Konoha could not afford to retreat again, and Yota recognized that war with Kumogakure was likely.
• Deva Path Pain told Akatsuki to watch the conflict and prepare to intervene for whoever paid more, while keeping the organization’s focus on accumulating wealth.
• Yota withdrew from the Projector Technique and learned that Orochimaru and the others had received news of the coming war.
• Orochimaru welcomed the conflict as an opportunity to acquire Bloodline Limits and strengthen himself with his Sage Body.
• Tsunade reflected on her continuing ties to Konoha and went to seek out Yota.

Tsunade offered Yota advanced Medical Ninjutsu in exchange for his help, while Konoha hired Akatsuki to fight on its behalf. Orochimaru prepared to join Akatsuki, and Hizashi and Neji asked Yota to help rescue Hinata from Kumogakure.

• Tsunade offered to teach Yota advanced Medical Ninjutsu if he helped her in Konoha, and Yota said he would think it over.
• Orochimaru gave Yota a Mount Myōboku message toad, and Jiraiya and the Third Hokage negotiated a large commission for Akatsuki to join the war against Kumogakure.
• Yota accepted Konoha's offer, and Orochimaru asked to join Akatsuki; Yota told him to go to the Rain Ninja Village the next day.
• Hizashi and Neji asked Yota to help rescue Hinata from Kumogakure, and Yota questioned whether Hizashi expected to undertake the rescue alone.

Yota and Sara entered Kumogakure to rescue Hinata Hyuga, using Yota’s Mangekyo Sharingan to get past the guards and reach the underground base. There, they discovered a large collection of test subjects and inhumane experiments as they continued toward Hinata’s prison.

• Yota agreed to help Hizashi Hyuga rescue Hinata Hyuga from Kumogakure.
• Half a month later, Yota and Sara arrived in Kumogakure to gather information and rescue Hinata.
• Yota used his Mangekyo Sharingan to daze the village guards and question suspicious ninjas for directions.
• Yota and Sara found the underground base entrance and entered before Kumogakure’s ninja could stop them.
• The base’s guards led Yota and Sara toward Hinata’s dungeon, where they saw severely altered test subjects and evidence of memory-search experiments.

Yota rescued and healed the prisoners and test subjects in Kumogakure’s underground base, then found three-year-old Hinata Hyuga tortured and blinded. After discovering the extent of her injuries, he resolved to retaliate against Kumogakure without restraint.

• Yota learned that Kumogakure had abducted ninja from small villages and clans for their secret techniques and Bloodline Limits.
• Yota absorbed the prisoners, test subjects, and guards, healed the victims, and left the guards dead.
• Yota and Sara reached the lowest level, where Yota found Hinata Hyuga in a cell with her Byakugan removed.
• Yota placed Hinata in the Dark Space and scanned her body, finding that Kumogakure had removed spinal fluid, brain matter, blood, and part of her liver.
• Yota decided he would have no psychological burden when he acted against Kumogakure.

Yota attacked Kumogakure after escaping its underground base, using his combined Rinnegan and Dark-Dark Fruit powers to devastate the village. He stopped Dark Tree World Descent before it could reach ordinary people, but left Kumogakure in ruins and still had not found the Hyuga girl’s Byakugan.

• Yota used Universal Pull—Original Darkness Termination to absorb the chakra and life force of more than a hundred Kumogakure Ninjas guarding the base entrance.
• Yota fought through the arriving Kumogakure Ninjas with Armament Haki and Observation Haki, killing hundreds before demanding to know where the Hyuga girl’s Byakugan was hidden.
• A Kumogakure Ninja revealed that the Fourth Raikage and Killer B were away at the front lines, and Yota drained the speaker after he asked whether Yota was a Konoha ninja.
• Yota unleashed Wood Release—Dark Tree World Descent, spreading a black forest across nearly half of Kumogakure and draining the ninjas caught within it.
• Yota stopped the forest before it reached ordinary people, then withdrew its dark mist, leaving ruins and shriveled corpses behind.