Chapter Summaries

Vegapunk abandoned his attempt to use Natural Energy to extend life and turned his attention to exploiting Kirigakure’s disorder, beginning with the Sea Country. After his agents found traces of Orochimaru on Strange Island, Vegapunk sailed there to meet the fellow scientist.

• Vegapunk destroyed his failed experiment and decided to investigate the Water Country and take Kirigakure within a year.
• His agents reported that Kirigakure’s influence in the Sea Country had faded while rival ninja groups infiltrated the region.
• Vegapunk’s agents discovered traces of Orochimaru on Strange Island, and Orochimaru deliberately let one of Vegapunk’s ninjas go to send him a message.
• Vegapunk boarded an iron warship with Boa Hancock and headed for Strange Island to meet Orochimaru.

Vegapunk and Hancock traveled to Orochimaru’s Secret Base, where Vegapunk demonstrated his swordsmanship and confronted the Sannin. Both men tried to recruit the other, leaving their meeting at an impasse.

• Vegapunk concluded that Orochimaru had deliberately allowed his ninjas to track him and brought Hancock to meet the scientist.
• Vegapunk sent the guiding ninja away after sensing that Orochimaru had prepared an ambush.
• A three-headed serpent attacked Vegapunk’s group, and Vegapunk cut it apart with a powerful slash.
• Orochimaru emerged from the earth and praised Vegapunk’s strength before offering to recruit him.
• Vegapunk rejected Orochimaru’s offer and suggested that Orochimaru work under him instead.
• Orochimaru mocked Vegapunk’s apparent age, and Vegapunk replied that Orochimaru was also developing the same type of ninjutsu.

Vegapunk and Orochimaru wagered over their research abilities, with Orochimaru choosing the human-transformation project in his laboratory as the subject. Vegapunk identified the goal and claimed he could produce the results in half a month, leaving Orochimaru startled by his confidence.

• Vegapunk proposed a research contest, offering to teach Orochimaru the Soul Reincarnation techniques regardless of who won.
• Orochimaru accepted the wager, determined to test Vegapunk’s abilities despite feeling underestimated.
• Orochimaru brought Vegapunk and Hancock to his research base and challenged him to identify its project.
• Vegapunk recognized that Orochimaru was trying to give humans Fish-Man-like abilities and said he could produce results in half a month.
• Vegapunk explained that with specialized equipment and materials, he could make Gene Modification Fluid in only a few hours.

Vegapunk developed animal-based Gene Modification Fluid with Orochimaru’s help and taught him about genetic chimerism. Half a month later, they prepared to test the fluids on Orochimaru’s Ninja, despite the high risk of failure.

• Vegapunk used Orochimaru’s laboratory to create Gene Modification Fluid through gene cultivation and genetic chimerism.
• Vegapunk explained that the fluid could grant beast, human, and human-beast forms while improving a subject’s physical abilities.
• Orochimaru asked Vegapunk to teach him, choosing access to his scientific knowledge over maintaining an equal position in their partnership.
• Half a month later, Orochimaru’s Ninja brought syringes containing fluids derived from a great white shark, a leatherback sea turtle, a blue-ringed octopus, and a Three-Headed Serpent.
• Vegapunk warned that ordinary animal fluids had about a ten percent failure rate, while the Ninja Beast-derived fluid had a seventy percent failure rate that meant death.

Vegapunk tested a Three-Headed Serpent Gene Modification Fluid and impressed Orochimaru, who agreed to work under him. With Orochimaru's research, connections, and covert network at his disposal, Vegapunk moved to take control of Sea Country.

• A Ninja won the contest for the strongest Gene Modification Fluid and survived the Three-Headed Serpent modification, gaining greatly increased Chakra and the ability to transform between human and serpent forms.
• Orochimaru admired the successful experiment and began considering new research into Sage techniques using Vegapunk's biotechnology.
• Orochimaru accepted a place under Vegapunk, bringing his research, experimental specimens, bases, contacts, and intelligence network with him.
• Vegapunk used Orochimaru's deep infiltration of Sea Country to take it with little difficulty.
• Orochimaru was initially shocked by Vegapunk's plan to replace the Daimyo, then became excited by the prospect.

Vegapunk’s forces consolidated their control of the Sea Country, whose new alliance and plan to establish a ninja village alarmed Kirigakure by threatening a major source of its income. Kirigakure prepared for war, and Suikazan Fuguki, Zabuza, and a shark-faced ninja arrived in the Sea Country.

• Vegapunk used a short-lived clone to replace the Sea Country’s Daimyo as a transitional measure.
• After more than a month of consolidation, Vegapunk’s forces surpassed two thousand ninjas, and some gained Zoan abilities from Gene Modification Fluids.
• The Sea Country announced an alliance with the Snow Country and other coastal nations, then established its own ninja village.
• Kirigakure’s ninjas reacted furiously because the Sea Country’s new village threatened a large share of Kirigakure’s mission income, and they prepared to go to war.
• Obito Uchiha welcomed the prospect of war and considered strengthening the Sea Country to weaken Kirigakure.
• Suikazan Fuguki, Zabuza, and a shark-faced ninja landed in the Sea Country, where Fuguki and Zabuza traded barbs about Kubikiribōchō.

Suikazan Fuguki met Orochimaru in a hidden cave near the Sea Ninja Village, where Orochimaru tried to take Samehada. Fuguki escaped the sealed cave using a clone, prompting Orochimaru to send his modified ninja after the real Fuguki.

• Suikazan Fuguki and Momochi Zabuza parted ways at the docks, and Fuguki sent Kisame Hoshigaki to command his subordinates while he slipped away in disguise.
• Suikazan Fuguki entered a hidden cave near the Sea Ninja Village and discovered that his contact was Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru asked Fuguki to give him Samehada, and Fuguki attacked before retreating toward the cave entrance.
• A seal trapped Fuguki’s apparent body, but Orochimaru realized it was a Water Clone and inferred that Fuguki’s real body was nearby.
• Orochimaru decided to send his modified ninja into real combat to pursue Fuguki.

Suikazan Fuguki fled from Orochimaru’s cave but was tracked by Orochimaru’s modified ninja subordinates and a golden eagle. At a river, Fuguki was ambushed by a great white shark-modified ninja, and their battle left both the attacker and Samehada damaged.

• Suikazan Fuguki left the cave after spotting purple light, and Orochimaru’s subordinates picked up his trail less than ten minutes later.
• A golden eagle followed Fuguki from above as he fled toward the river, and he wondered whether Orochimaru’s activities involved Konoha.
• Fuguki reached the river and used Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, but a great white shark burst from the water and transformed into a Shark Person.
• Fuguki attacked the Shark Person with Samehada, but the ninja bit the sword and damaged it before Samehada flung him away.
• Fuguki saw that Samehada had teeth embedded in it and fed it his Chakra, strengthening the blade for the fight.

Suikazan Fuguki fought five animal ninjas and an Elite Jonin-level Snake-Human Hybrid created through Orochimaru and Vegapunk’s modifications. Poisoned and cut off from escape, he unleashed a blood-powered technique as Orochimaru and Vegapunk watched from their hidden base.

• Suikazan Fuguki struggled against the animal ninjas while poison weakened him and strange Chakra left Samehada listless.
• The Snake-Human Hybrid revealed that Orochimaru and Dr. Vegapunk’s modifications had transformed him, then urged Suikazan Fuguki to surrender.
• Suikazan Fuguki charged the group, and the animal ninjas surrounded him with coordinated attacks.
• Suikazan Fuguki traded wounds with the animal ninjas and used Blood Armor to block most of their strikes, but the technique drained his blood and Chakra.
• Orochimaru and Vegapunk monitored the battle from a hidden base as Suikazan Fuguki suddenly grew faster and stronger, prompting Vegapunk to ask whether he had used the move in the earlier war.

Suikazan Fuguki fought Vegapunk’s group with a chakra-powered technique, but collapsed after his opponents outlasted him. Vegapunk examined Samehada and turned to question the badly wounded Fuguki, who remained defiant.

• Orochimaru told Vegapunk that Suikazan Fuguki had not used his chakra-enhancing technique in the last Ninja World War, and predicted Fuguki would lose as his strength waned.
• Suikazan Fuguki unleashed a final burst, smashed the Octopus Ninja’s head, and collapsed; his opponents delivered him and Samehada to Vegapunk and Orochimaru.
• Vegapunk picked up Samehada and fed it chakra, but the sword rejected him and failed to pierce his hand.
• Vegapunk shocked Samehada with electricity until it went limp while Orochimaru collected its cells for analysis.
• Vegapunk questioned the wounded Suikazan Fuguki, who asked who he was and then challenged whether they had anything to discuss.

Vegapunk healed Suikazan Fuguki with a drug containing controllable Nanobots, then offered to strengthen him so he could become Mizukage. Suikazan Fuguki began to believe the offer might be real after learning Vegapunk had created the modified ninjas, and considered how the technology could empower him and his followers.

• Vegapunk injected Suikazan Fuguki with a healing drug containing Nanobots, then used them to stop Fuguki when he tried to attack.
• Vegapunk asked Suikazan Fuguki whether he wanted to become Mizukage and offered to strengthen him.
• Suikazan Fuguki doubted Vegapunk could help until Vegapunk explained that he had created the animal ninjas and that Orochimaru worked for him.
• Suikazan Fuguki recalled how ordinary Chunin had been transformed into powerful fighters and considered using the modification technology on his own troops and himself.

Vegapunk used a Quantum Brain Interface to place Suikazan Fuguki under his control, then tested a new Gene Modification Fluid made from a wild Summoning Beast. The experiment succeeded, transforming Suikazan Fuguki into a giant, powerful being, and Vegapunk and Orochimaru compared the effects of wild and Sage Art Holy Land Summoning Beast genes.

• Orochimaru asked whether Vegapunk intended to make Suikazan Fuguki the Mizukage, and Vegapunk denied it.
• Vegapunk implanted a Quantum Brain Interface in Suikazan Fuguki and explained that it gave him complete control while preserving the subject's abilities and personality, but eliminating their capacity for innovation and inspiration.
• Vegapunk injected Suikazan Fuguki with Gene Modification Fluid made from the tissue of a gigantic wild Sperm Whale that Orochimaru had found at sea.
• Suikazan Fuguki's body grew to four or five meters tall, and Vegapunk judged the experiment a success.
• Vegapunk and Orochimaru found that wild Summoning Beast genes mainly increased physical strength and Chakra reserves, while Sage Art Holy Land genes improved adaptability to Natural Energy.

Kisame Hoshigaki learned that Suikazan Fuguki had likely been captured by the Sea Ninja Village and struggled to decide how to respond. The chapter left him uncertain whether to organize a rescue.

• Kisame wondered why Suikazan Fuguki had disappeared for more than three days during the reconnaissance mission.
• A subordinate brought Kisame intelligence that the traces of Fuguki’s battle had vanished and that Fuguki was presumed captured.
• Kisame questioned the subordinate and learned that five attackers had surrounded Fuguki, likely including specialists in underwater combat, Earth Release, and poison.
• Kisame considered the Sea Ninja Village’s strength and suspected its forces had prepared in advance to capture Fuguki.
• A subordinate asked whether they should rescue Fuguki, but Kisame could not make a decision.

Zabuza captured three Sea Ninja and grew suspicious of their strength before finding his Kirigakure stronghold raided. He confronted Nadare Rōga, who revealed his enhanced Snow Wolf transformation as their fight began.

• Zabuza captured three Sea Ninja and noticed their physical abilities and Chakra reserves exceeded their apparent rank.
• Zabuza stopped seeking stronger targets and brought the captives to his temporary stronghold for interrogation.
• Zabuza found the Kirigakure guards missing and accused the Sea Ninja of having exceptional intelligence-gathering capabilities.
• Nadare Rōga challenged Zabuza, and the two prepared to fight over Kirigakure's presence in Sea Ninja territory.
• Nadare Rōga threw a Kunai, transformed into a white werewolf, and pounced at Zabuza.

Nadare Rōga used his enhanced strength and sense of smell to overpower Zabuza’s squad in the Hidden Mist, but Zabuza escaped with a captive by leaving behind a Water Clone. Nadare abandoned the pursuit at a river and vowed that Zabuza would face a more despairing opponent next time.

• Nadare Rōga’s Water Dragon Bullet overpowered Zabuza’s, and Zabuza answered by filling the battlefield with the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Nadare used his enhanced sense of smell to locate and kill two Kirigakure ninja in the mist.
• Nadare discovered that the Zabuza he had been pursuing was a Water Clone and ordered his subordinates to chase the real Zabuza, who had escaped with a captive.
• Nadare stopped at a river when he realized Zabuza had used the water to hide his scent, then vowed that Zabuza would face a more formidable opponent next time.

Zabuza fled Sea Ninja Village with a captive but was ambushed and captured by Nico Robin, whose Flower-Flower Fruit ability restrained him. Back at the Kirigakure base, Kisame learned of Zabuza’s capture just as a tall newcomer arrived to take charge.

• Zabuza escaped the Sea Ninja Village territory with an unconscious captive and considered how Kirigakure might benefit from the village’s physical enhancements.
• Nico Robin used Observation Haki to locate Zabuza and her Flower-Flower Fruit ability to immobilize and capture him.
• Kisame learned that Zabuza had been captured and worried that Sea Ninja Village could scout over a vast area.
• A commotion at the Kirigakure base drew Kisame outside, where he saw a tall figure arrive as the Chunin gathered around him.

Suikazan Fuguki led Kisame and the Kirigakure forces away from Sea Ninja Village after claiming Samehada had been taken and that he needed to report important intelligence to the Mizukage. On the shore, Orochimaru and Nico Robin discussed Vegapunk and Hancock’s infiltration, while Vegapunk continued struggling to learn the Shadow Clone Technique aboard the ship.

• Suikazan Fuguki returned to the Kirigakure camp without Samehada and told Kisame it had been taken and he needed to report intelligence to the Mizukage.
• Kisame and the Kirigakure forces packed up their base and sailed away from Sea Ninja Village.
• Orochimaru and Nico Robin watched the ship depart and discussed Vegapunk’s infiltration with Hancock protecting him.
• Orochimaru left to make Vegapunk learn the Shadow Clone Technique faster so he could focus on research.
• Hancock brought Vegapunk grilled meat and offered him a massage, but he declined and resumed studying the Shadow Clone Technique.

Vegapunk, Hancock, Suikazan Fuguki, and Kisame Hoshigaki reached Kirigakure, where Vegapunk saw signs of the village’s persecution of Kekkei Genkai clans. Fuguki brought the group to Karatachi Yagura and confronted him, asking when the Mizukage had been placed under Genjutsu control.

• Vegapunk and Hancock planned to use Suikazan Fuguki’s position to take control of Kirigakure and traveled with him to Water Country.
• Suikazan Fuguki used his rank to bring Vegapunk, Hancock, and Kisame Hoshigaki into Kirigakure without incident.
• Vegapunk noticed an abandoned cluster of buildings and learned from Kisame Hoshigaki that the Yuki Clan had been driven out of the village.
• Suikazan Fuguki dismissed his other subordinates and entered the Mizukage Building with Vegapunk, Hancock, and Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Suikazan Fuguki met Karatachi Yagura and asked when the Mizukage had been placed under Genjutsu control.

Suikazan Fuguki attacked Karatachi Yagura, claiming the Mizukage was under Genjutsu, and the clash released the Three-Tails in the middle of Kirigakure. After Kisame identified the Sharingan in the beast’s eye, Kirigakure’s Ninja turned against it, but their attacks failed and the village suffered heavy destruction.

• Suikazan Fuguki struck Karatachi Yagura with the Imitation Samehada and sent the Mizukage crashing through a wall.
• Kirigakure Anbu surrounded Suikazan Fuguki, while Kisame doubted his claim that Karatachi Yagura was under Genjutsu.
• The Three-Tails emerged in the village, sending Kirigakure into chaos as Ninja rushed to the scene or fled.
• Kisame saw the Sharingan tomoe in the Three-Tails’ eye and declared that Karatachi Yagura had been controlled.
• Kirigakure Ninja attacked the Three-Tails, which blocked their strikes, crushed some of them, and wrecked buildings with water bullets.
• The brown-haired girl raised three layers of Earth Style Walls and urged the others to organize their defense.

Suikazan Fuguki used his enhanced form to fight the Three-Tails after Kisame and a massive sword disrupted its Tailed Beast Ball. As Fuguki gained the upper hand and Karatachi Yagura began to awaken from Genjutsu, Vegapunk noticed that Obito Uchiha was absent.

• The Three-Tails prepared a Tailed Beast Ball, but Kisame's sword struck its jaw and sent the attack skyward before his Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique hit its neck.
• Mei Terumi and Ao watched a giant attack the Three-Tails, and Kisame recognized the transformed fighter as Suikazan Fuguki.
• Ao wondered whether Fuguki had a fish demon bloodline, while the narration explained that whale Summoning Beast modifications and a Quantum Brain receiver had greatly enhanced Fuguki's abilities.
• Suikazan Fuguki fought the Three-Tails evenly and began gaining the upper hand as Karatachi Yagura showed signs of awakening from Genjutsu.
• Vegapunk explained that Fuguki had used his single-use Mental Interference Device to disrupt Karatachi Yagura's Genjutsu, then observed that Obito Uchiha did not seem to be present.