Chapter Summaries

Soji used genjutsu to control Rabiru and stage a hostage crisis, forcing the Cloud Hidden Envoy Group into the center of Konoha’s anger. As Dodai confronted Rabiru, Rabiru exposed their past arrangement and hinted that he knew he had been used, leaving Dodai searching for who had changed his pawn.

• Dodai promised the Third Hokage that Kumogakure would stop Rabiru, and the group headed to the hostage scene under Konoha’s guard.
• Soji and Hizashi prepared their plan while Rabiru held unconscious Hinata and Konoha civilians hostage inside a restaurant.
• The Third Hokage arrived with Dodai and the Cloud Hidden Envoy Group, and Konoha’s civilians angrily blamed them for the crisis.
• Dodai approached Rabiru to negotiate, but Soji controlled Rabiru into greeting him and mocking the oath they had once made.
• Rabiru rejected the oath and accused Dodai of treating him like a fool, prompting Dodai to ask who had influenced him.

Soji used Rabiru to expose Dodai’s alleged plot to sabotage the peace talks and frame the Hyuga Clan, turning Konoha’s civilians against the Cloud Hidden Envoy Group. The crowd calmed when Uchiha Homura warned them about the hostages, while Homura recognized that Soji was controlling Rabiru and prepared to cooperate.

• Soji and Hizashi Hyuga accused Dodai and Kumogakure of plotting against the Hyuga Clan, while Rabiru claimed Dodai had ordered him to kidnap Hiashi Hyuga’s daughter.
• Dodai denied the accusation and promised to protect everyone, but Rabiru pointed to Kumogakure agents investigating near the Hyuga compound for more than half a month.
• Dodai argued that he would not have entrusted such a plan to Rabiru, who then claimed he had been chosen precisely because he wanted to sabotage the peace negotiations.
• Rabiru revealed that Dodai’s plan was to stage a kidnapping and his own death, forcing the Third Hokage either to surrender Hiashi or face blame for killing an envoy group.
• Konoha’s civilians grew furious, but Uchiha Homura urged them not to rush the Cloud Hidden Envoy Group because Rabiru was covered in Explosive Tags and hostages remained at risk.
• Uchiha Homura inferred that Soji was controlling Rabiru, exchanged a knowing look with Soji, and prepared to support him.

Soji used Rabiru to expose Dodai’s plan to sabotage the peace talks and keep Konoha and Kumogakure at war. Rabiru then revealed his own hostage crisis, leaving Konoha trapped between letting the Cloud envoy go and risking a massacre that could trigger war.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded that Dodai answer Rabiru’s accusations, and Dodai denied the claims while struggling to defend himself.
• Rabiru revealed that Dodai had promised his faction renewed attacks on Konoha in exchange for carrying out the plot, provoking outrage among the gathered Konoha residents.
• Hiruzen asked why Rabiru had turned against the plan, and Rabiru explained that he doubted Dodai would honor the agreement and believed the Fourth Raikage would choose peace instead of war.
• Shikaku Nara questioned why Rabiru had taken real hostages, and Rabiru said he wanted to force the choice of war himself.
• Rabiru threatened to kill Hinata Hyuga and the restaurant’s hostages, expecting Konoha to attack Dodai’s group and the Fourth Raikage to retaliate with war.

Soji’s plan to expose Kumogakure’s plot reached its climax as Rabiru threatened to detonate the Explosive Tags covering him. Soji rescued Hinata, but a mysterious dark-skinned young man killed Rabiru by containing the blasts with an octopus tentacle.

• Dodai accepted the Third Hokage’s terms and agreed that Kumogakure would make concessions to Konoha.
• Shikaku Nara tried to restrain Rabiru with the Shadow Imitation Technique, but Soji made Rabiru evade him.
• Rabiru announced that he would detonate his Explosive Tags, throwing the crowd into panic as Shikaku, the Third Hokage, Dodai, and Hyuga Hiashi reacted.
• Soji rushed in, freed Hinata from Rabiru, and sent Rabiru flying into the air.
• A dark-skinned young man wrapped Rabiru in an octopus tentacle, containing the explosions and killing him.

Killer B arrived in Konoha and revealed that he had pulled Rabiru’s consciousness free before it dissipated, leaving behind the cryptic warning, “beware of the sun.” After Killer B insulted Soji, Soji’s anger made the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon fear that Konoha’s strongest fighter might become a threat.

• Killer B explained to the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon that he had rescued Rabiru’s consciousness just before the explosion, but Rabiru died after warning him to “beware of the sun.”
• The Eight-Tails Ox-Demon urged Killer B to deal with the people outside and recalled the tailed beasts’ terrifying past in Konoha.
• Killer B returned to the scene and claimed he had come to Konoha to hold a concert.
• Soji, holding the sleeping Hinata Hyuga, asked why Killer B was in Konoha, and Killer B insulted him.
• Soji’s glare sent a chill through Killer B, while the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon woke from a nightmare and unknowingly sensed the danger Soji posed.

The Third Hokage confronted Dodai over Kumogakure’s repeated provocations, while Killer B claimed responsibility for his unsanctioned visit. Soji and Hiashi Hyuga used the uproar over Hinata’s kidnapping to secure the Third Hokage’s promise of compensation, leaving the Hyuga Clan poised to demand control of the Ministry of Education.

• The Third Hokage and Shikaku Nara accused Dodai of bringing Kumogakure’s Eight-Tails Jinchuriki into Konoha as a provocation, and Dodai insisted Killer B’s arrival had not been arranged.
• Killer B stepped forward and took responsibility, while the Third Hokage ordered the Anbu to stand down as Killer B approached.
• Soji returned the unharmed Hinata to Hiashi Hyuga and asked the Third Hokage to make Kumogakure answer for the harm done to the Hyuga Clan.
• At Soji’s signal, Hizashi Hyuga rallied planted civilians and the crowd to demand compensation from Kumogakure.
• The Third Hokage promised to negotiate compensation for the Hyuga Clan or pay them himself, and Soji and Hiashi accepted his offer while planning to request the Ministry of Education.

After leaving the negotiations between Konoha and Kumogakure to others, Soji encountered Abdō, a Cloud Hidden envoy he had spared months earlier. Soji remembered him and casually greeted him, leaving Abdō convinced that his old nightmare had returned to kill him.

• Hyuga Hiashi bid farewell to the Third Hokage and led the Hyuga Clan away from the negotiations.
• Soji noticed Abdō among the Cloud Hidden Envoy Group, and Abdō froze in terror at the sight of him.
• Soji asked Abdō if they had met before, then recognized him after seeing his remaining eye.
• Soji quietly told Abdō that he remembered him and walked away, while Abdō became overwhelmed by fear.
• Soji dismissed Abdō as unimportant, unaware that Abdō interpreted his greeting as a threat to his life.

Killer B grew suspicious that something in Konoha had caused Rabiru’s death and Abdō’s terror, and decided to investigate by drawing Abdō into his consciousness space. The chapter ended as Killer B prepared to question the sleeping Abdō with the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon’s help.

• Abdō panicked when Killer B touched his shoulder, then denied that anything was wrong despite Killer B’s questions.
• Killer B noticed that Abdō was concealing something, but Abdō feared Soji and refused to explain.
• Killer B returned to the lodgings with the Cloud Hidden Envoy Group, and Abdō went to rest, exhausted and frightened.
• After Abdō fell asleep, Killer B discussed Rabiru’s warning about something beginning with “Hyuga” with the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon.
• Killer B asked the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon to pull Abdō’s consciousness into his consciousness space so he could learn what had happened.
• Killer B placed his hand on Abdō’s abdomen as the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon prepared to draw him into the consciousness space.

Killer B brought Abdō into his consciousness space to learn why he feared someone in Konoha. Abdō revealed that the man had killed more than thirty Kumogakure ninjas with a glance, and the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon compared that power to Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.

• Killer B explained to Abdō that he had pulled him into his consciousness space so they could speak privately.
• Abdō hesitated to reveal what he knew about Hyuga Soji, fearing Killer B would confront him and endanger Kumogakure.
• Abdō warned Killer B that a terrifying man had killed more than thirty Kumogakure ninjas with a single glance.
• Killer B questioned whether Abdō’s account was true, and Abdō said his lost eye proved it had happened.
• The Eight-Tails Ox-Demon said Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had once subdued even Tailed Beasts with a glare.

Killer B and the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon learned that Rabiru’s final warning concerned the Hyuga Clan, leading them to suspect the clan had masterminded Kumogakure’s losses. Abdō recognized the likely culprit but became so distraught that he was sent back to his body, leaving Killer B unsure whether Rabiru had warned him about the whole clan or one person within it.

• The Eight-Tails Ox-Demon recounted Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha’s immense power, and Killer B asked Abdō to identify the person he had mentioned.
• Abdō warned Killer B to be careful of the Hyuga Clan, and Killer B excitedly connected the warning to Rabiru’s unfinished last words.
• Killer B explained his suspicion that the Hyuga Clan had manipulated Dodai and Rabiru and turned Kumogakure’s scheme against them.
• When Killer B repeated Rabiru’s warning, Abdō panicked and declared that one particular person had orchestrated everything.
• The Eight-Tails Ox-Demon sent Abdō’s consciousness projection back to his body to protect his mind, then suggested Rabiru had warned about the clan while Abdō feared an individual within it.

Soji began researching the Caged Bird Curse Mark with Chizuru and Kiyoka’s willing cooperation, while planning to consult Orochimaru before using his Byakugan Blood Crystals on them. Konoha and Kumogakure reached a costly peace agreement, but Dodai raised one final condition during its signing.

• Soji asked Chizuru and Kiyoka to help him study the Caged Bird Curse Mark, and they agreed after initially mistaking his question for a threat.
• Soji warned the couple that the research might activate their curse marks and cause pain, then promised them a future gift and opportunity.
• Soji began working on the curse mark in his underground laboratory and considered asking Orochimaru for help before attempting to transplant his Blood Crystals.
• After weeks of negotiations, Kumogakure agreed to pay Konoha’s war expenses, surrender ten percent of its mission volume for three years, and provide five-element ninjutsu scrolls.
• The Third Hokage agreed not to pursue Kumogakure’s other schemes, and Dodai proposed one condition during the final peace agreement signing.

Shikaku Nara told Hyuga Soji that Kumogakure wanted to see the Fourth Hokage’s former teammates fight before signing a peace agreement. Soji agreed to face an envoy member in three days and began devising a way to win impressively without exposing his other abilities or endangering Konoha.

• Shikaku Nara visited Soji and explained Kumogakure’s condition for the peace agreement: Soji and Uchiha Homura would each fight a member of the envoy group.
• Soji agreed to the match, while warning Shikaku Nara that Danzo might use the situation to cause trouble for him.
• Shikaku Nara said the fights would take place in three days and went to notify Homura.
• After Shikaku Nara left, Soji resolved to prove himself and considered which abilities he could safely show under his Hyuga identity.
• Soji rejected a powerful Chakra attack that might destroy Konoha and began developing new Gentle Fist techniques for the match.

Soji and Uchiha Homura prepared to represent Konoha in a public friendly match against Kumogakure, while Dodai used the event to probe Soji's strength. Homura dominated Abdō in the opening bout, leaving Soji to predict that Abdō would need another trick to avoid becoming his punching bag.

• The Third Hokage urged Soji and Uchiha Homura to win, while Dodai gave Abdō and the other Kumogakure contestant scrolls containing valuable tools for the matches.
• Dodai revealed that Abdō had volunteered to compete and wanted to fight Uchiha Homura to compare his strength with Soji's, whom Abdō had sworn never to face again.
• The referee announced Uchiha Homura versus Abdō as the first match, and the Konoha crowd loudly cheered for Homura.
• Abdō threw three shuriken, but Homura dodged them without opening his Sharingan and charged at him with a series of powerful punches.
• Homura launched Abdō into the air and knocked him to the ground, while Soji judged that Abdō would need another trick to avoid being overwhelmed.

Uchiha Homura fought Abdō, who used the Basho Fan to unleash powerful Wind and Earth Style attacks. Homura evaded them with Sharingan perception and ninja-tool techniques, while Soji discovered that his own opponent carried the other Six Paths Tools and prepared for the threat.

• Abdō admitted Homura was stronger in taijutsu but refused to surrender because he wanted to gauge the strength of Homura's teammate, Hyuga Soji.
• Homura learned that Soji was the terrifying man Abdō had been talking about, and the two resumed their fight.
• Abdō summoned the Basho Fan, while Soji used his Byakugan and Mind Reading to discover that his own opponent had the Hōkin Rope, Seven-Star Sword, and Red Gourd.
• Abdō poured Chakra into the Basho Fan and sent a barrage of powerful wind blades at Homura, who dodged them and asked about the tool.
• Abdō used the fan again to trigger stone spears from the ground, and Homura avoided them in midair with Kunai and Transparent Steel Wire before landing safely.

Abdō exhausted himself using the Basho Fan to combine Water and Lightning Release, trapping Uchiha Homura in a storm of fast-moving lasers and finally injuring him. As Homura struggled to endure the attack, Soji became interested in taking the Basho Fan from Kumogakure.

• Abdō used the Basho Fan to attack Uchiha Homura with Water Release, then launched a Fire Release attack while Homura countered with his own flames.
• Abdō used a substitution log and tried to catch Homura off guard, but Homura appeared behind him and refused to use a sneak attack.
• Homura challenged Abdō to use the fan's Lightning Release, but Abdō instead cast Water Formation Pillar and dodged Homura's response into position.
• Abdō spent his remaining Chakra to swing the Basho Fan, combining Lightning Release with the scattered water columns into fast lasers that grazed Homura.
• Soji laughed at Homura's predicament and began considering how he might take the Basho Fan for himself.

Uchiha Homura revealed Susanoo and overwhelmed the arena with the Uchiha Clan’s power, while spectators discussed what the ability meant for the clan. Neji Hyuga learned that Soji would fight next and took Hizashi Hyuga’s words about him as a model for the Hyuga Clan, as Hizashi worried about Neji’s future Caged Bird Curse Mark.

• Dodai hinted that Kumogakure had brought additional Six Paths Tools, and the Third Hokage feared they might give Kumogakure an advantage in the next match.
• Uchiha Homura blocked Abdō’s laser beams with the first stage of Susanoo, revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan to the spectators.
• Fugaku Uchiha explained Susanoo to Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, while privately imagining the Uchiha Clan’s rise to power.
• Neji Hyuga asked Hizashi Hyuga whether the Hyuga Clan could match the Uchiha Clan, and Hizashi told him to watch Soji’s upcoming match.
• Hizashi Hyuga called Soji the strongest person in Konoha and urged Neji to keep that claim secret, then worried that Neji would receive the Caged Bird Curse Mark.

Uchiha Homura defeated Abdō after Abdō ran out of chakra and conceded, earning Konoha’s cheers. As Hyuga Soji prepared to fight Kumogakure’s Gis, Killer B unexpectedly entered the arena in his place.

• Uchiha Homura praised Abdō’s final attack, and Abdō said Homura had made less of an impression on him than Hyuga Soji.
• Abdō conceded because he had no chakra left, and the referee declared Uchiha Homura the winner.
• Konoha’s spectators celebrated Homura’s victory while Dodai, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the Third Hokage reacted to his Susanoo.
• Uchiha Homura returned to the stands, and Soji headed to the arena for the next match against Gis.
• Gis failed to appear for ten minutes, until Killer B ran out of the opposing contestant passage and took his place.

Killer B impersonated Gis and entered the match against Soji, prompting Dodai to rush in and stop him before Konoha took the move as a threat. Soji insisted on fighting Killer B anyway, and the referee went to seek the Third Hokage’s approval.

• Killer B claimed to be Gis, while Soji and the referee recognized that he was actually the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
• The Third Hokage and the advisors confronted Dodai, who promised to remove Killer B from the match.
• Dodai found the real Gis unconscious and bound in the competitors’ tunnel, then learned that the three Six Paths Tools were missing.
• Dodai realized Killer B had taken the tools and tried to persuade him to leave, but Killer B hesitated because he wanted to test Soji’s strength.
• Soji declared that he would fight Killer B regardless of the substitution, and the referee went to ask the Third Hokage to approve the match.

After the Hokage approved Hyuga Soji’s request to face Killer B, the two began a taijutsu battle in the arena. Soji gained the advantage and nearly smashed Killer B’s sunglasses, but Killer B used the opening to undo his sealed acupoints and stood ready to continue.

• Danzo persuaded the Third Hokage and the elders to accept Soji’s request to fight Killer B, secretly hoping Soji would be defeated or killed.
• The referee announced that Killer B would replace Gis as Soji’s opponent, prompting concern and excitement among the spectators.
• Soji and Killer B clashed with taijutsu, and Soji gradually outmatched Killer B with his Gentle Fist.
• Soji struck Killer B’s shoulder and numbed his arm, then used it to throw him across the arena while aiming for his sunglasses.
• Soji saw through Killer B’s feigned collapse and realized he had used the pause to undo his sealed acupoints.

Hyuga Soji used his newly developed Wind and Water Release Gentle Fist to overwhelm Killer B and break his seven-sword style. Killer B’s Eight-Tails intervened and healed his wounds, leaving the fight poised to continue.

• Killer B caught all seven of his ninja swords and challenged Soji to fight with blades.
• Soji infused Wind Release Chakra into his legs and Water Release Chakra into his hands, then charged at Killer B with Eight Gates Collapsing Strike.
• Soji deflected Killer B’s swords, struck him with Mountain Breaker Strike, and sent him crashing into a wall.
• Soji pinned Killer B’s palms to the ground with two ninja swords while taunting him about being a Perfect Jinchuriki.
• The Eight-Tails extended a tentacle, knocked Soji aside, removed the swords from Killer B’s palms, and healed his wounds.