Chapter Summaries

Neji Hyuga refused Mu Yan’s offer to hedge his bets and let Neji pass, insisting that Danzo had to die. Mu Yan and his squad then staged a convincing fight, ending with Neji struck by a combined lightning and water attack.

• Mu Yan introduced himself to Neji and proposed they fake a fight while waiting to see whether Sasuke or Danzo would prevail.
• Neji rejected Mu Yan’s attempt to secure protection from both sides and declared that he would accept no outcome other than Danzo’s death.
• Mu Yan asked Neji to spare him and his three teammates in the future, then demanded they put on a real-looking fight for Danzo.
• Kin attacked Neji with explosive-tag kunai while Mu Yan charged, but Neji used Eight Trigrams Palms Rotation to break Mu Yan’s arm and send him flying.
• Mu Yan called on Lei to strike Neji with Lightning Style: Earth Walk, and the blue-haired teammate followed with Water Style: Water Formation Wall.
• The water and lightning engulfed Neji in midair, and he crashed to the ground convulsing.

Neji Hyuga defeated Mu Yan’s three subordinates, while Hanabi Hyuga reported that Kimimaro also held the advantage. Sasuke confronted Shimura Danzō over Konohamaru, but Danzō took the child hostage and demanded that Sasuke cut off one hand; Sasuke drew his sword and prepared to question him.

• Neji Hyuga revealed that he had hidden underground, then emerged behind Mu Yan’s subordinates and struck them with Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, leaving them unable to fight.
• Mu Yan thanked Neji Hyuga for sparing his subordinates’ vital points, and Neji left the battlefield.
• Hanabi Hyuga reported to Second Pillar that Neji Hyuga had defeated his opponents and Kimimaro had killed one enemy and was winning; Sasuke then set out to rescue Konohamaru.
• Neji Hyuga climbed to the open ground and spotted Sasuke, who leaped up and challenged Shimura Danzō to return Konohamaru.
• Shimura Danzō seized Konohamaru as a hostage and demanded that Sasuke cut off one hand; Sasuke mocked the demand as the crowd condemned Danzō.
• Sasuke told Shimura Danzō he could rescue Konohamaru immediately, then drew the Kusanagi Sword Shadow and said he had a question to ask.

Sasuke rescued Konohamaru from Danzō, severed Danzō’s Sharingan-bearing arm, and tried to claim the eyes, but Danzō used Izanagi to restore himself. Neji repeatedly shot Danzō, only for him to resurrect each time, leaving Neji preparing another arrow as the battle continued.

• Sasuke cut off Danzō’s arm and rescued Konohamaru, earning cheers from the crowd.
• Sasuke sent Konohamaru down to Jin Dafeng and the others, then prepared to remove the Sharingan from Danzō’s severed arm.
• Danzō used Izanagi to restore his arm and escape Sasuke’s attempt to take the Sharingan.
• Neji shot Danzō through the chest, but Danzō resurrected and challenged him to shoot again.
• Neji repeatedly killed Danzō with arrows, but Danzō kept returning unharmed, and Neji readied another arrow.

Sasuke, Neji Hyuga, and Kimimaro overwhelmed Shimura Danzō, but Danzō resolved to keep fighting despite his losses. The chapter ended with Sasuke calling on Danzō to come out of hiding as Neji located him with the Byakugan.

• Sasuke stopped Neji Hyuga's attack until he had counted down the remaining time on Danzō's Izanagi, then ordered Neji to fire another lightning-charged arrow.
• Danzō blocked the arrow with Wood Release, but Sasuke's Susanoo seized the growing tree and swung Danzō into the Hokage Rock before crushing him into the ground.
• Sai escaped the Earth Corridor on an ink-painted eagle, and Kimimaro joined Sasuke and Neji on the mountaintop.
• Yamanaka Fu reported that Mu Yan's squad was badly wounded and Sai's squad had been wiped out, while Sai himself was unconscious and fleeing east.
• Yamanaka Fu urged Danzō to withdraw, but Danzō refused, believing Sasuke was near his limit and insisting he could keep fighting.
• Neji located Danzō's hiding place, and Sasuke challenged him to come out.

Second Pillar killed Yamanaka Fu after Fu charged to protect Shimura Danzō, while Danzō used Fu’s death to challenge Second Pillar’s resolve. Grief-stricken Aburame Torune unleashed his Phosphorus Destruction Bugs and charged at Danzō, leaving the battle in chaos.

• Second Pillar offered to spare Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune if Danzō surrendered, but Fu rejected the offer and secretly urged Torune to survive.
• Yamanaka Fu attacked Second Pillar, and Danzō blocked Torune from supporting him before Second Pillar struck Fu down.
• Shimura Danzō declared Fu’s death proof of Root’s resolve and challenged Second Pillar to accept the deaths of Neji Hyuga or Kimimaro.
• Aburame Torune confronted Danzō for stopping him and for using Fu’s death in his speech, then exposed his purple skin and Phosphorus Destruction Bugs.
• Shimura Danzō blamed Second Pillar for Fu’s death and ordered Torune to avenge him, but Torune charged directly at Danzō.

Second Pillar and his allies fought Shimura Danzō and Aburame Torune, and Second Pillar pierced Torune with Chidori Sharp Spear. As Torune launched a final attack with his severed, infected hand, Uchiha Itachi appeared and stopped it with a flock of crows.

• Shimura Danzō fired Wind Release attacks at Second Pillar, Kimimaro, and Neji Hyuga while Aburame Torune charged toward them.
• Kimimaro fought Torune at close range, but Torune infected Kimimaro’s bone sword with Phosphorus Destruction Bugs until Second Pillar cut the contaminated bone away.
• Second Pillar pierced Torune’s chest with Chidori Sharp Spear, leaving him unable to fight, while Hyuga Hiashi watched Danzō’s defeat become inevitable.
• Torune severed his left hand and sent it, surrounded by Kikaichū, toward Second Pillar in a final attack.
• A flock of crows intercepted Torune’s hand and insects, then transformed into Uchiha Itachi.

Aburame Shibi revealed that Danzō had poisoned Shino with Torune’s Phosphorus Destruction Bugs to force Shibi’s support, and Sasuke ordered Torune taken to the hospital so Shino could be saved. After thanking Shibi for his loyalty, Sasuke turned to Uchiha Itachi and told him to leave.

• Aburame Shibi appeared and blocked Uchiha Itachi’s shuriken with his insects, saving Aburame Torune.
• Aburame Shibi begged Sasuke to spare Torune because only Torune could cure Shino’s Phosphorus Destruction Bug poisoning.
• Aburame Shibi explained that Danzō had poisoned Shino after Shibi refused to support Danzō’s bid for Hokage, then threatened Shino’s life to secure Shibi’s vote.
• Sasuke learned that Shibi had changed his vote despite knowing it could cost his son’s life, and ordered Torune taken to Konoha Hospital for treatment.
• Sasuke thanked Shibi for his loyalty, and Shibi left carrying Torune toward the hospital.
• Sasuke told Uchiha Itachi to return to wherever he had come from.

Sasuke confronted Itachi, who refused to leave and defended Danzo as necessary for Konoha’s peace. Itachi ultimately let Sasuke kill Danzo but asked to take Danzo’s place at Sasuke’s side, leaving Sasuke furious and close to losing control.

• Sasuke ordered Itachi to leave, but Itachi said Jiraiya had asked him to protect Sasuke before he died.
• Neji and Kimimaro urged Itachi to leave, while Jiraiya admitted to Sasuke that he had arranged Itachi as a last resort.
• Itachi defended Danzo’s role in protecting Konoha and offered to become Sasuke’s new dark-side operative if Sasuke spared Danzo.
• Sasuke rejected Itachi’s offer and warned that continued interference would lead to a fight to the death.
• Sasuke struggled to contain his rage and sorrow at Itachi’s assumption that he could decide Sasuke’s future.

Neji Hyuga persuaded Uchiha Itachi to leave Sasuke alone, but Shimura Danzō used Heavenly Eye of God to make Itachi confront the possibility that Sasuke was dead and replaced by a transmigrator. Itachi rejected that possibility, and Sasuke’s remaining hope in his brother vanished as Itachi attacked him with Amaterasu.

• Neji Hyuga soothed Sasuke and convinced Uchiha Itachi to leave, promising to help reconcile the brothers later.
• Shimura Danzō blocked Itachi and accused him of repeating his past mistakes; Itachi held a kunai to Danzō’s throat and blamed him for ruining the peace bought by the Uchiha Clan’s sacrifice.
• Shimura Danzō activated Heavenly Eye of God and told Itachi that the real Sasuke was dead and a transmigrator had taken his body.
• Itachi believed the possibility under the technique’s influence, then asked Danzō how Sasuke could be brought back after the effect ended.
• Sasuke’s hope that Itachi had rejected Danzō’s claim collapsed when Itachi turned toward him and called him an impostor, and Sasuke said the real Second Pillar had died long ago.
• Itachi awakened his Mangekyo and used Amaterasu against Sasuke, demanding that he return his little brother.

Second Pillar and his allies tried to stop Uchiha Itachi from killing Sasuke, but Itachi chose to believe Danzo’s account and used Tsukuyomi to incapacitate Neji. After Kimimaro carried Neji away, Second Pillar faced Itachi alone and activated Fleeting Splendor.

• Neji struck Itachi with a lightning arrow, interrupting his attack on Sasuke, while Second Pillar prepared to seal away the Amaterasu flames.
• Neji revealed that Danzo’s bandaged eye held Shisui’s Mangekyo Sharingan and that its Heavenly Eye of God technique had manipulated Itachi, but Itachi said he already knew and chose to trust Danzo’s explanation.
• Itachi trapped Neji in Tsukuyomi and tortured him for what felt like twenty-four hours, leaving him unable to stand when he returned to the real world.
• Second Pillar ordered Kimimaro to take the unconscious Neji to Konoha Hospital, and Kimimaro carried him away after vowing to avenge Sasuke if he died.
• Second Pillar refused Jiraiya’s offer of help, faced Itachi alone, and activated his Mangekyo eye technique, Fleeting Splendor.

Sasuke used Fleeting Splendor to bypass Itachi’s Susanoo and stab Danzō, then defeated Danzō’s Wind Release with a fire-enhanced sword attack. Itachi recognized that Sasuke was not the brother he remembered, and Sasuke told him that he did not care about earning his approval.

• Itachi formed Susanoo to defend against Sasuke’s Fleeting Splendor, but Sasuke bypassed it and stabbed Danzō before Danzō escaped with Izanagi.
• Konoha’s spectators learned of Sasuke’s family’s murder and began to sympathize with him.
• Danzō and Itachi confronted Sasuke again, while Danzō noted Sasuke’s immense chakra and the interval between uses of Fleeting Splendor.
• Danzō attacked with Vacuum Blade, but Sasuke countered with Dragon Flame Slash and engulfed him in fire.
• Itachi said Sasuke’s judgment and combat skill exceeded the limits he remembered, and Sasuke told Itachi that his approval meant nothing to him.

Uchiha Itachi used Izanami to trap Second Pillar while Shimura Danzō repeatedly revived with Izanagi and interfered with the battle. Itachi completed the technique’s final recorded node and declared his true identity as Uchiha Itachi, but the chapter ended with his left eye losing its light.

• Uchiha Itachi began Izanami, and the world shifted as crows scattered and he vanished from Second Pillar’s sight.
• Uchiha Itachi attacked Second Pillar with shuriken while Shimura Danzō revived and unleashed Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves.
• Second Pillar fought Itachi through clashing ninjutsu, then killed Shimura Danzō in the mist while Itachi waited for clouds to gather and record Izanami’s final node.
• Shimura Danzō revived again and blew away the clouds with Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere, but Second Pillar skewered him and mocked him until he activated Izanagi once more.
• Uchiha Itachi declared that he was Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke’s brother, and used sunlight reflected from his sword to complete Izanami as his left eye turned ash-gray and went blind.

Second Pillar realized Uchiha Itachi had trapped him in Izanami, a repeating genjutsu that forced him to relive the same battle. As Sasuke sought advice through the Forum System and tried to understand the loop, Itachi completed the technique, leaving him motionless while Danzo moved to attack.

• Second Pillar noticed the battle’s events repeating and failed to break Itachi’s Izanami with a release technique.
• Second Pillar used the Forum System to ask for help and reasoned that sunlight reflected from Itachi’s sword might trigger the genjutsu’s cycle.
• Second Pillar confronted Itachi about forcing Sasuke onto a path without asking his wishes, provoking Itachi into defending his actions.
• Itachi completed Izanami, and Second Pillar stiffened as the spectators realized he was trapped in genjutsu.
• Shimura Danzō tried to kill the motionless Second Pillar, but Jin Dafeng’s puppet blocked him while Konohamaru and Hanabi watched from hiding.
• Uchiha Itachi stopped Danzo and told him there was nothing left for him to do and that he could return to rest.

Uchiha Itachi tried to keep Danzo from killing Sasuke by claiming Izanami would eventually return his brother, while Danzo and Hyuga Hiashi pressed for Sasuke’s elimination. Sasuke woke from the genjutsu and mocked Itachi, after figuring out its repeating pattern and searching the forum for advice.

• Itachi blocked Danzo from attacking Sasuke and admitted Izanami could trap him in a cycle until he accepted his fate.
• Hiashi arrived and destroyed Jin Dafeng’s puppet, then joined Danzo in calling Sasuke a threat to Konoha.
• Sasuke awakened and told Itachi that Izanami was the worst genjutsu in the ninja world, then taunted him for going blind in one eye.
• Inside the genjutsu, Sasuke identified three fixed images in the cycle and realized Itachi was trying to control him rather than kill him.
• Sasuke ignored Itachi’s repeated demands to accept his fate and browsed forum replies for a way out.

Sasuke Uchiha learned that Izanami could be broken by accepting one’s original fate and making a different choice at a key moment in the cycle. He identified a possible choice point in Uchiha Itachi’s repeated words, but had not yet acted on it.

• Sasuke Uchiha read that Izanami trapped its target in a cycle until they accepted their fate, and realized Itachi believed he was a transmigrator.
• Sasuke questioned whether he had to accept a false identity to escape, and Squirrel Duck explained that Izanami should not work on someone with a resolute sense of self.
• HuoHuo427 advised Sasuke to find a choice point in the loop and act contrary to his original choice.
• Sasuke left the forum and listened to Itachi’s repeated words until a dead bird marked Node B.
• Itachi told Sasuke to return to the world he came from, and Sasuke prepared to identify the choice point.

Second Pillar realized that Izanami’s loop was tied to his fear of being honest with Jiraiya, and Jiraiya’s unconditional acceptance helped him break free. Back in the real world, Sasuke exposed Itachi’s mistaken belief that he was a transmigrator, then found his disciple’s shattered puppet and demanded to know who had attacked.

• Second Pillar recognized that he had been avoiding the truth about his identity and his fears of losing Jiraiya as family.
• Second Pillar asked Jiraiya whether he suspected he was a transmigrator, and Jiraiya told him he cared only that Sasuke was himself.
• Second Pillar escaped Izanami, mocked Itachi’s failed technique, and explained how its sensory loop had worked.
• Second Pillar rejected Itachi’s claim that he was not from this world and headed to the shattered puppet fragments.
• Second Pillar confirmed the puppet was his disciple’s, heard its faint reply, and demanded to know who had done this.

Sasuke fought Hyuga Hiashi and Shimura Danzō after Hiashi joined the enemies gathered on the mountaintop. Hiashi’s darkness technique left Sasuke unable to see, but just as Danzō’s attacks breached Susanoo’s armor, a girl called out the enemies’ position to Sasuke.

• Jin Dafeng recognized Hiashi as the man who had broken his Big Sweet Potato, and Konohamaru revealed that Hiashi was Hanabi’s father.
• Sasuke challenged Hiashi, Danzō, and Itachi to attack him together, then charged at Hiashi with his sword.
• Hiashi activated Byakugan: Solar Eclipse, creating a barrier of darkness that blinded Sasuke while allowing Hiashi to track him.
• Hiashi directed Danzō’s wind attacks, and Danzō summoned the Dream Tapir to pin Sasuke’s Susanoo and tear a crack in its armor.
• As Danzō prepared another attack, a girl in the darkness told Sasuke that the enemy was at eleven o’clock.

Second Pillar killed Shimura Danzō again and nearly struck down Hyuga Hiashi, who escaped with the Substitute Technique. With Hiashi gone, Second Pillar focused on Uchiha Itachi and prepared to fight him before the watching village.

• Second Pillar stabbed Shimura Danzō with the Kusanagi Sword and killed him after Danzō urged Uchiha Itachi to save Sasuke.
• Second Pillar attacked Hyuga Hiashi after hearing him berate Hanabi Hyuga, but Hiashi escaped with the Substitute Technique as the darkness lifted.
• Uchiha Itachi stepped between Second Pillar and the fleeing Hiashi, declaring that he was Second Pillar’s only opponent.
• Second Pillar told Jiraiya he would accept Hanabi Hyuga’s choice to seek revenge if he killed her father, and Jiraiya warned him he might regret it.
• Second Pillar resolved to begin Konoha’s cleansing and attacked Uchiha Itachi with Lightning Release: Chidori Blade.

Sasuke broke free of Shimura Danzō’s Cursed Seal with Susanoo and joined Uchiha Itachi in a battle of giant chakra warriors. He entrusted Jin Dafeng with a mysterious puppet scroll and told Team 7 to handle Danzō, but Hanabi Hyuga warned that Danzō had arrived.

• Second Pillar nearly defeated Uchiha Itachi, but Shimura Danzō immobilized him with the Cursed Seal Technique-Exerting Curse Binding Seal.
• A puppet sent by Jin Dafeng attacked Shimura Danzō, who destroyed it with Wind Release: Vacuum Slash.
• Shimura Danzō raised the Kusanagi Sword against Sasuke, prompting Sasuke to summon his purple Susanoo; Uchiha Itachi answered with a more advanced dark-red Susanoo.
• Sasuke retreated from Itachi’s stronger Susanoo and gave Jin Dafeng a scroll containing what he called the ninja world’s strongest puppet tool.
• Jin Dafeng opened the scroll and found the character “Three” inside, while Hanabi Hyuga spotted Shimura Danzō approaching.

Konohamaru, Hanabi Hyuga, and Jin Dafeng fought Shimura Danzō while the Susanoo battle continued nearby. Jin Dafeng unleashed the Third Kazekage puppet’s iron sand and appeared to defeat Danzō with Iron Sand World Method, though he did not understand how he had performed the technique.

• Konohamaru attacked Shimura Danzō with fire techniques, but Danzō used a Shadow Clone to get behind him and threaten him with a kunai.
• Jin Dafeng used the Third Kazekage puppet’s iron sand spears to drive Danzō away and revealed the puppet’s identity.
• Jin Dafeng controlled the puppet as it chased Danzō with an iron sand pyramid, drawing astonished attention from the watching ninjas and civilians.
• Danzō fired a Vacuum Great Sphere at Team 7, and Jin Dafeng raised an Iron Sand Wall that absorbed the attack.
• Danzō charged the three youths, but Jin Dafeng’s iron sand formed a cage of spikes that pierced and immobilized him with Iron Sand World Method.