Chapter Summaries

Chiyue and Konoha’s commanders prepared to defend their supply routes as the war against Sunagakure escalated, while a rumor from Pakura’s village pushed her further toward Chiyue. Chiyue learned that the Third Kazekage had compromised with the Land of Wind’s daimyo, explaining why Sunagakure had not invaded the Land of Fire on a larger scale.

• The Third Kazekage shelved plans to rescue Pakura until after the war, and Hatake Sakumo led a headquarters meeting about defending Konoha’s supply routes.
• Nara Shikaku left Chiyue a scroll revealing that people in Sunagakure claimed Pakura had run away with Chiyue to have his children.
• Pakura tore up the scroll and blamed Chiyue, who said the rumor came from her own village and that Rasa had made the claim.
• As more shinobi arrived, the local fighting intensified, but Sunagakure could not turn its numerical advantage into an easy breakthrough.
• Chiyue learned that the Third Kazekage had compromised with the Land of Wind’s daimyo, limiting Sunagakure’s ability to invade the Land of Fire.

Chiyue discussed the likely length of the war with Pakura and said he planned to send her to Konoha while he went to the battlefield. When Pakura refused, he offered to let her remain in camp in exchange for intelligence on Sunagakure’s plans to deploy a tailed beast, leaving her furious at his changed terms.

• Chiyue criticized Sunagakure for yielding to the Land of Wind’s daimyo, and Pakura estimated that the war might last three to five years.
• Chiyue told Pakura he planned to send her to Konoha to stay with Tsunade once he left the camp for the battlefield.
• Pakura refused to go to Konoha because she feared she would be imprisoned there.
• Chiyue offered to let Pakura stay in camp if she told him whether Sunagakure planned to use a tailed beast in the war.
• Pakura accused Chiyue of breaking his promise, and Chiyue insisted he had changed his mind.

Chiyue pressured Pakura for information about Sunagakure’s plans for Shukaku, then grew fed up with command work and fled the camp with her. Shikaku Nara discovered their escape and was left to manage the headquarters alone.

• Chiyue reminded Pakura that she was his prisoner, and she said she had never heard the Third Kazekage discuss bringing Shukaku to the battlefield.
• Chiyue grew frustrated with the documents and scrolls Shikaku Nara had left for him to handle.
• Chiyue studied Sunagakure’s troop deployments and left the camp with Pakura.
• Shikaku Nara learned that Chiyue had escaped after he controlled two Anbu shinobi with Genjutsu.
• Shikaku Nara discovered Chiyue’s farewell note and realized Pakura had left with him, leaving Shikaku to handle the camp’s affairs.

Chiyue brought his prisoner Pakura toward the battlefield, leaving her an opportunity to escape while he went to answer a signal flare. He rescued the surrounded Konoha ninja with a devastating lightning attack, while Pakura’s next move remained unknown.

• Chiyue roasted meat and told Pakura he was not afraid she would escape or contact Sunagakure.
• Chiyue brought Pakura toward the battlefield, then rushed off after a signal flare exploded in the sky.
• Pakura decided she would use the opportunity to escape and leave signals behind, even if Chiyue was testing her.
• Chiyue reflected that he wanted to defeat Sunagakure within a year, despite Hatake Sakumo and Shikaku Nara opposing his plan for a forceful assault.
• Chiyue arrived at the battlefield and cut down more than half the Sand Village ninja with a lightning attack, saving the surrounded Konoha ninja.
• The Sand Village ninja recognized Chiyue and shouted for everyone to run.

Chiyue defeated the Sand Village ninja and returned to camp, where Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo discussed the pressure on their clans to support Tsunade. Chiyue then took the captured Pakura to a cave, where she secretly left signals for Sunagakure while he considered drawing out the Third Kazekage.

• Chiyue pursued and killed the fleeing Sand Village ninja while Konoha ninja carried their comrades' bodies back to camp.
• Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo agreed that the Hatake and Ino-Shika-Cho clans had little choice but to support Tsunade over Orochimaru.
• Hatake Sakumo left Shikaku Nara to manage the camp and said Chiyue could test himself on the battlefield.
• Chiyue found that Pakura had stayed behind because her Chakra was sealed, and she had left markers for Sunagakure ninja to discover.
• Chiyue and Pakura went to a cave, where he ordered her to prepare food and wash his clothes and bandages.
• Chiyue noticed Pakura's signals and wondered whether they would bring the Third Kazekage to him.

Chiyue used Pakura’s marks to draw Sunagakure shinobi out, hoping to lure the Third Kazekage into a rescue attempt, but Sasori arrived to investigate instead. After confronting Sasori, Chiyue proposed that they join forces to kill the Third Kazekage and give Sasori the corpse.

• Chiyue watched a Sunagakure patrol discover Pakura’s marks and report them to the village.
• Sasori arrived to investigate the marks, and Chiyue revealed that he had let Pakura leave them to lure Sunagakure shinobi out.
• Sasori suspected Pakura had defected or that Chiyue had set a trap, but Chiyue denied that she had joined him or Konoha.
• Chiyue mocked Sasori as too weak and then offered to help him kill the Third Kazekage in exchange for the Kazekage’s corpse.
• Sasori recoiled in surprise at Chiyue’s proposal.

Chiyue offered Scorpion a deal to kill the Third Kazekage, then confirmed Scorpion would consider it when he came to their cave that night. Scorpion said he wanted to kill Hatake Sakumo even more, but Chiyue refused to help with that.

• Chiyue offered Scorpion the Third Kazekage’s corpse in exchange for helping Konoha, and gave him a day to decide.
• Chiyue returned to the cave and told Pakura that the Sunagakure shinobi had found her escape marks and that Scorpion had come to see him.
• Scorpion arrived at night, and Chiyue explained why he expected Scorpion to accept the deal.
• Scorpion said he wanted to kill Hatake Sakumo more than the Third Kazekage, but Chiyue refused to help kill him.

Chiyue persuaded Scorpion to lure the Third Kazekage out with an intentionally flawed plan, and Scorpion carried it out despite Pakura's objections. The Third Kazekage saw through Scorpion's staged injuries but decided to go after Chiyue himself, leaving Chiyo and Ebizo in charge of the camp.

• Chiyue told Scorpion to fake minor injuries and damage his puppets so the Third Kazekage would come looking for him.
• Scorpion ignored Pakura's protests, staged the damage and injuries, and reported to the Third Kazekage that Chiyue had taken Pakura away.
• The Third Kazekage recognized that Scorpion's wounds were self-inflicted and dismissed him without punishment.
• The Third Kazekage refused Chiyo's offer to go in his place and declared that he would personally meet Chiyue.
• The Third Kazekage left Chiyo and Ebizo responsible for the camp and asked them to help the young Rasa mature.

The Third Kazekage followed Pakura’s trail to Chiyue’s cave, where Chiyue revealed he had lured him there to settle an old grudge. Scorpion emerged as Chiyue’s ally, leaving Pakura stunned as Scorpion asked how they would kill the Kazekage.

• The Third Kazekage left camp alone to meet Chiyue, and Scorpion secretly departed afterward.
• Pakura urged Chiyue to abandon his plan, but he joked with her and insisted the Third Kazekage should be the one to worry.
• The Third Kazekage found no Konoha ambush and followed Pakura’s marks to Chiyue’s cave, where he discovered that Chiyue had sealed Pakura’s Chakra.
• Chiyue admitted he had lured the Third Kazekage there because he held a grudge, and the Third Kazekage accepted the chance to settle their own feud.
• Chiyue called Scorpion out of the forest, and Scorpion asked how they would kill the Third Kazekage.

Chiyue confronted the Third Kazekage while Scorpion carried Pakura away from the battlefield. The Third Kazekage’s Iron Sand attacks failed to stop Chiyue, but he raised a thick iron wall to block Chiyue’s lightning-powered charge.

• Chiyue asked Scorpion to keep Pakura safe while he faced the Third Kazekage.
• Scorpion carried the chakra-sealed Pakura into a cave and watched the battle from a distance.
• The Third Kazekage attacked Chiyue with Iron Sand needles, but Chiyue cut through them with his lightning-coated Kusanagi Sword.
• The Third Kazekage blocked Chiyue’s sword strike with an Iron Sand pillar and challenged him to use his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• The Third Kazekage engulfed Chiyue in Iron Sand, but Chiyue burst free and charged with Lightning Style: Piercing.
• The Third Kazekage formed a thick Iron Sand wall to block Chiyue’s incoming attack.

Chiyue’s Susanoo broke through the Third Kazekage’s Iron Sand and turned the battle around, but the Kazekage challenged him to prove the Mangekyō’s strength. Their fight resumed as Chiyue’s lance drove forward and the Kazekage’s Iron Sand blunted its attack.

• The Third Kazekage injured Chiyue with a sweeping Iron Sand attack after Chiyue cut his face.
• Chiyue’s Susanoo burst through the Iron Sand and forced the Third Kazekage to retreat.
• The Third Kazekage recognized Chiyue’s Mangekyō Sharingan and declared that he would test Susanoo in battle.
• Chiyue mocked the Third Kazekage as mere grains of sand and thrust Susanoo’s lance at him.
• The Third Kazekage sent a wave of Iron Sand against the lance, slowing it and weakening its force.

Chiyue killed the Third Kazekage with a Mangekyō-enhanced attack, leaving Scorpion with the corpse and Pakura branded a traitor. He returned with Pakura to the Konoha camp, where Hatake Sakumo and Shikaku Nara confronted him about abandoning his post.

• Chiyue accelerated the knight's lance with his Mangekyō and pierced the Third Kazekage, who died believing he had been only a grain of sand.
• Chiyue gave Scorpion the Third Kazekage's body and warned him to escape before the news spread; Scorpion left to turn the corpse into a puppet.
• Chiyue told Pakura that her marker had made her a Sunagakure sinner, then took her back to the Konoha camp.
• Hatake Sakumo and Shikaku Nara discussed Konoha's losses and its inability to send more troops while the war with Kirigakure intensified.
• Chiyue entered the command center carrying Pakura, and Shikaku Nara accused him of taking her out for fun while Hatake Sakumo laughed.

Chiyue told Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo that he had killed the Third Kazekage, then urged them to blame Scorpion to deepen Sunagakure’s internal divisions. Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo left to arrange the news campaign, while Chiyue remained with the shaken Pakura.

• Chiyue revealed that he had killed the Third Kazekage after coordinating with Scorpion and Pakura.
• Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo questioned Chiyue about the assassination, and he recounted how it had happened.
• Chiyue explained that they should place more blame on Scorpion so Sunagakure would turn against him and become more divided under Rasa.
• Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo agreed with Chiyue’s plan and left to spread the news strategically.
• Shikaku Nara teased Chiyue about Pakura before leaving, and Pakura glared at him while Chiyue reacted with frustration.

After the Third Kazekage's death left Pakura unable to return to Sunagakure, Chiyue offered her a choice between becoming a fugitive or joining Konoha under his protection. Pakura remained wary of his motives, and the chapter ended with Chiyue ordering her to scrub his back in exchange for lifting her seal.

• Chiyue explained that Rasa would blame Pakura for the Third Kazekage's death and offered her the choice of becoming a Rogue Ninja or joining Konoha.
• Pakura worried that Konoha might persecute her and that Chiyue might break his promises, so Chiyue told her to take time to decide.
• After a messenger sent by Shikaku Nara arrived, Chiyue got into a bath while Pakura questioned whether he wanted her loyalty for himself rather than for Konoha.
• Chiyue admitted that he wanted Pakura's strength and Scorch Release at his disposal, then ordered her to scrub his back in exchange for undoing her seal.
• Pakura protested that their agreement did not include bathing him, while the hidden Anbu watched Chiyue with admiration.

Tsunade received news that Yagami Chiyue, Pakura, and Scorpion had killed the Third Kazekage, and she ordered Konoha to publicize the victory. Kushina learned of Chiyue’s achievement while bringing Tsunade dinner and celebrated with her.

• After Chiyue and Pakura bathed, an Intelligence Department member brought Tsunade urgent news from the front and said the Third Hokage was still negotiating with the daimyo.
• Tsunade read that Yagami Chiyue, Pakura, and Scorpion had killed the Third Kazekage, and she ordered the Intelligence Department to announce the news and coordinate with the Anbu.
• Tsunade considered how the victory would shame Sunagakure and boost Konoha’s morale while worsening Orochimaru’s position.
• Kushina brought Tsunade dinner, and Tsunade hugged and kissed her before starting to eat.
• Kushina read the scroll, learned that Chiyue had killed the Third Kazekage, and happily praised him to Kurama.

Kushina grew jealous after learning that Pakura was with Chiyue and decided to leave Konoha to join him at the battlefield. The Nine-Tails took control of her and set her on her way, leaving a Shadow Clone behind to inform Tsunade.

• Kushina lamented that she could not fight alongside Chiyue while Uchiha Mikoto could, and Tsunade showed her Pakura's file.
• Kushina grew anxious about Pakura's closeness to Chiyue and left Tsunade's office in low spirits.
• At the park, Kushina told the Nine-Tails she missed Chiyue, and it urged her to leave Konoha and find him.
• Kushina worried that leaving would make things difficult for Tsunade, but the Nine-Tails argued that helping Konoha win would make her a hero.
• The Nine-Tails created a Shadow Clone to notify Tsunade, took control of Kushina, and hurried toward Konoha's gates.

Kushina secretly left Konoha to find Chiyue, forcing Tsunade to invent an official reason for her departure and arrange the village’s response. Chiyue received Tsunade’s warning and began preparing for Kushina’s arrival while she hurried toward the border.

• Kushina disguised herself as an Anbu ninja, knocked out the guard at the village gate, and left Konoha for the border.
• Kushina’s Shadow Clone told Tsunade that Kushina had already gone to find Chiyue, so Tsunade sent an encrypted scroll to Chiyue and ordered surveillance of Iwagakure’s movements.
• Tsunade decided to present Kushina’s trip as a mission to reinforce the Western Front and complained that she would have to clean up after her.
• Chiyue read Tsunade’s message, asked Pakura whether she knew how to comfort people, and realized Kushina was on her way.
• Kushina hurried toward Chiyue with the Nine-Tails watching the passing scenery from her sealing space.
• Chiyue summoned Hatake Sakumo and Shikaku Nara to prepare for Kushina’s arrival and removed the seal on Pakura.

Chiyue told Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo that Iwagakure might enter the war and that Konoha had sent Kushina as reinforcements. Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo worried that Kushina might lose control, while Chiyue assured them he would handle her arrival.

• Chiyue warned Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo that Iwagakure was preparing to join the war, making it urgent to defeat Sunagakure.
• Shikaku Nara asked whether Konoha would send reinforcements, and Chiyue revealed that the village had sent one person.
• Chiyue identified Kushina as the reinforcement and said she was already on her way to the front lines.
• Hatake Sakumo and Shikaku Nara reacted with alarm, fearing Kushina might lose control of the Nine-Tails.
• Shikaku Nara insisted that Chiyue take responsibility for Kushina, and Chiyue promised there would be no problems.

Chiyue told Pakura that Kushina had come to the battlefield because of her, then Konoha spread rumors that the Third Kazekage had been killed. In Sunagakure, Chiyo rejected the accusations until an Anbu captain revealed that Scorpion was missing from camp.

• Chiyue told Pakura that Kushina was becoming a perfect Jinchuriki and would target her because she was a beautiful woman close to him.
• Pakura fetched hot water for Chiyue, then swore in frustration when she realized why Kushina might resent her.
• Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo helped spread news that the Third Kazekage had died, and Konoha's camp celebrated the rumor.
• A Sunagakure Anbu captain told Chiyo that rumors blamed Chiyue, Pakura, and Scorpion for the Third Kazekage's death.
• Chiyo denounced the rumors, but the Anbu captain reported that Scorpion was absent from camp and had no recorded mission.

Chiyo ordered a search after Scorpion disappeared from Sunagakure's camp, and the evidence in the forest convinced her and Rasa that the Third Kazekage was likely dead. As Sunagakure descended into chaos, Kushina arrived at Chiyue's camp and reunited with him.

• Chiyo discovered that Scorpion had vanished with his belongings and ordered Anbu to find him and the Third Kazekage.
• Chiyo stopped Rasa from leaving the camp, insisting he was Sunagakure's only hope if the Third Kazekage was gone.
• Sunagakure shinobi found Iron Sand, bloodstains, and signs of a fierce battle near Pakura's marks, deepening Chiyo and Rasa's fears that the Third Kazekage had died.
• Kushina arrived at Chiyue's camp and leaped into his arms, then followed him to headquarters to greet Shikaku Nara and Hatake Sakumo.
• Kushina wondered where Pakura was and reminded herself that she had come for more than the war.