Chapter Summaries

Naruto, Karatachi Yagura, and Utakata battled the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but its healing and powerful attacks kept it from being defeated. After Naruto was struck down and Utakata was hurt by lightning, the three prepared to fight at full strength.

• Naruto pulled the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path down with his chains, and Utakata transformed completely while retaining his sanity.
• Utakata blasted the statue with Six-Tails Saiken’s acidic gas, corroding its body, but the statue healed its wounds with Wood Release.
• The statue attacked with wooden spikes, and Karatachi Yagura’s Water Release and Naruto’s Wind Release stopped them.
• The statue sent lightning across the ground, injuring Utakata, then struck Naruto into a crater with its palm.
• Naruto climbed out of the crater, and he and the injured Utakata prepared to fight alongside Karatachi Yagura, who entered Complete Tailed Beast Transformation.

Naruto, Karatachi Yagura, and Utakata clashed their Tailed Beast Balls against the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, devastating Konoha without defeating it. Utakata proposed a desperate plan requiring him and Karatachi Yagura to sacrifice themselves so Naruto could strike the decisive blow, and the two agreed.

• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Naruto, Karatachi Yagura, and Utakata launched Tailed Beast Balls at one another, and the explosion leveled much of Konoha.
• The shockwaves destroyed the Hokage Office Building, damaged Hokage Rock, and caused severe casualties aboveground, while the Six Red Sun Formation protected the area around Soji.
• Naruto, Karatachi Yagura, and Utakata realized the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had survived the clash and that their original plan to destroy it would not work.
• Utakata proposed a risky plan that required him and Karatachi Yagura to sacrifice themselves to create an opening for Naruto.
• Naruto objected, but Karatachi Yagura agreed to Utakata's plan, trusting Naruto to deliver the decisive blow.

Naruto, Karatachi Yagura, and Utakata executed a plan to distract and immobilize the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path so Naruto could strike it with Sage Chakra. Naruto's attack tore off the statue's left arm, while Karatachi Yagura and Utakata remained inside its body.

• Naruto questioned why Karatachi Yagura and Utakata had to risk sacrificing themselves, but they explained that only Naruto could deliver the decisive blow and asked him to honor their trust.
• Karatachi Yagura used the Water Mirror Technique to counter the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's punch, while Utakata spread corrosive acid beneath its feet.
• Karatachi Yagura and Utakata entered the statue's mouth, distracting it as it focused on absorbing the Three-Tails Isobu and Six-Tails Saiken inside its body.
• Naruto left Kurama Mode, entered Sage Mode, and launched a Sage Chakra Nebula Storm together with a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
• Naruto's combined attack struck the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and tore off its left arm.

Naruto badly wounded the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path but failed to stop it absorbing Isobu and Six-Tails Saiken, and he believed Karatachi Yagura and Utakata had died. The statue was summoned away and the Akatsuki Organization retreated, while Naruto rushed to the two fallen men, unaware they were beginning to recover.

• Naruto used Sage Art: Star Lock Spiral to sever the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's left arm, then weakened it further with several attacks.
• Karatachi Yagura and Utakata stopped struggling inside the statue, which absorbed Isobu and Six-Tails Saiken and opened two more eyes.
• Naruto blamed himself for failing to save Karatachi Yagura and Utakata and prepared to fight the statue to the death.
• Karatachi Yagura and Utakata fell from the severed arm into the statue's purple blood, which silently began restoring their nearly stopped heartbeats and breathing.
• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path vanished after its controller summoned it away, and Naruto ran to check on Karatachi Yagura and Utakata.
• Under Konan's lead, the Akatsuki Organization halted its fight with Konoha and withdrew from the village.

Nagato recalled the badly damaged Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, forcing the Akatsuki Organization to abandon its attempt to capture the Nine-Tails and withdraw from Konoha. Soji was freed after Nagato left, while Obito also escaped Minato; Soji then went to find Karatachi Yagura and Utakata, but what he discovered was left for later.

• Nagato noticed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had lost an arm, and Soji's strike briefly weakened the Six Red Sun Formation before Nagato refocused and stabilized it.
• Nagato recalled the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and ordered the Akatsuki Organization to retreat, while Konoha's shinobi watched without pursuing.
• Nagato told Soji that the Akatsuki Organization had captured the Three-Tails and Six-Tails but failed to capture the Nine-Tails, and warned the Five Great Shinobi Villages that another obstruction could lead to the Fourth Ninja World War.
• Nagato left Konoha, the Six Red Sun Formation released Soji, and Nagato remotely summoned away the Pain Six Paths.
• Soji went to find Karatachi Yagura and Utakata and was stunned by what he saw.
• Black Zetsu informed Obito that the Akatsuki Organization had withdrawn, so Obito used Kamui to escape Minato.

After learning that the Akatsuki Organization had destroyed Konoha, Orochimaru resolved to return and help the village fight them. He brought Shihō along to search for his father, and his arrival was announced as the Five Great Shinobi Villages gathered to discuss the Akatsuki threat.

• Ohm told Orochimaru that the Akatsuki Organization and the Sky Ninja had destroyed Konoha, prompting Orochimaru to abandon his experiment and decide to return.
• Orochimaru told Ohm to bring Guren and Shihō, explaining that he would take Shihō to find his father.
• Shihō excitedly smashed out of his culture tank after hearing Orochimaru planned to take him to his father, then let Guren dress him before they departed.
• The Allied Forces returned to Konoha's ruins, and the Five Great Shinobi Villages gathered in a makeshift tent to discuss the Akatsuki Organization.
• A Konoha Anbu announced that Orochimaru had arrived with several subordinates, and someone in Konoha's section of the tent abruptly stood up.

Orochimaru arrived at Konoha’s temporary meeting to offer intelligence on the Akatsuki and ask Minato about Hyuga Soji’s whereabouts. The chapter ended with Minato asking why Orochimaru was looking for his friend, whose real body was absent in the future timeline.

• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the Third Hokage reacted to news of Orochimaru’s arrival, and Minato ordered the Anbu to bring him in.
• Soji, disguised as Mizuki Ember, silently indicated to Minato that he did not know why Orochimaru had come.
• Orochimaru entered the tent with Ohm, Guren, and Shihō, then teased Minato about his return before the Third Hokage demanded that he state his purpose.
• Jiraiya interrupted Orochimaru’s provocations, and Orochimaru agreed to discuss business, offering Akatsuki intelligence and raising a personal matter with Minato.
• Orochimaru asked Minato for Hyuga Soji’s whereabouts, and Minato asked why he was searching for his friend.

Minato concealed Soji’s whereabouts from Orochimaru, who brought Shihō to learn about his father. Shihō unexpectedly called Soji, disguised as Mizuki Ember, his father, leaving Soji and the gathered ninja stunned.

• Minato told Orochimaru that Soji was away on a secret mission and assured him that Soji was safe.
• Orochimaru explained that he had brought Shihō to seek information about the boy’s father, whom Soji might know about.
• Shihō ignored Orochimaru and approached Mizuki Ember, then bowed and called him his father.
• Mei Terumi was devastated by Shihō’s claim, while the other villages teased Mizuki Ember and Minato, Kushina, and Uchiha Homura demanded an explanation from Soji.
• Soji was certain that he had never had a child and was left completely bewildered by Shihō’s accusation.

Soji denied that Shihō was his son, but Shihō’s Ice Release revealed Chakra fluctuations strikingly similar to Soji’s. When Soji demanded more proof, Shihō entered Sage Mode, leaving Soji convinced they were connected somehow, though not as father and son.

• Soji denied knowing Shihō, while Mei Terumi defended him and Orochimaru privately wondered how Shihō was connected to Soji and Mizuki Ember.
• Shihō called Soji his father again, prompting Soji to demand evidence of their connection.
• Shihō unleashed powerful Ice Release, leading most of the gathering to believe he was Mizuki Ember’s son.
• Soji noticed Shihō’s Ice Release Chakra fluctuations closely resembled his own and began taking the possibility of a real connection seriously.
• Shihō absorbed Natural Energy and entered Sage Mode, shocking Jiraiya, Minato, Tsunade, and the Third Hokage.

Shihō displayed Ice Release and Sage Mode traits resembling Soji’s, convincing Mei Terumi and the gathered leaders that he might be Soji’s son. When Shihō could not identify his mother, Orochimaru asked Soji to speak privately about the boy, leaving with suspicions of his own.

• Shihō entered Sage Mode and showed traits that closely resembled Soji’s, deepening Soji’s doubts about their connection.
• Mei Terumi concluded that Shihō was likely Soji’s child, briefly questioned her hopes of marrying Soji, then resolved not to give up.
• Soji asked Shihō who his mother was, but Shihō did not understand what a mother was and asked Orochimaru who had given birth to him.
• Orochimaru declined to answer Shihō and invited Soji to talk privately about him; Soji agreed and reassured Mei Terumi that he had nothing to do with the boy.
• Shihō stayed in the tent after Orochimaru told him to, while Orochimaru left with Soji and watched him suspiciously.

Orochimaru suspected that Hyuga Soji and Mizuki Ember were the same person, while Soji focused on learning how Shihō had been created. After Orochimaru’s questions revealed that he was testing Soji’s identity, Soji resolved to keep his secret hidden.

• Orochimaru considered the clues linking Soji to Mizuki Ember, including Shihō calling Mizuki Ember his father and Soji’s Blood Crystals being used to create the artificial human.
• Soji asked Orochimaru about Shihō, and Orochimaru explained that he had made Shihō using Hashirama Senju’s cells, his own genes, and Soji’s Blood Crystals.
• Soji realized that Shihō’s creation explained why the boy had called Mizuki Ember his father.
• Orochimaru pointed out that Mizuki Ember had given him the Blood Crystals, prompting Soji to realize Orochimaru was probing his identity.
• Soji decided to conceal that he was Hyuga Soji, wary that Orochimaru might exploit the revelation and make him take the blame for his actions.

Soji tried to convince Orochimaru that Mizuki Ember and Hyuga Soji were separate people, explaining that the Blood Crystals came from an old friendship between them. Orochimaru remained suspicious and asked to see Mizuki Ember’s face, just as Soji had planned.

• Soji denied having dealt with Orochimaru, but Orochimaru said the Blood Crystals used to create Shihō had come from Hyuga Soji and linked them to Chiyo’s summoned Blood Shadow.
• Soji admitted the Blood Crystals came from him and asked Orochimaru to keep secret his supposed friendship with Hyuga Soji.
• Orochimaru promised confidentiality, then asked whether Soji knew Hyuga Soji had mastered Ice Release.
• Soji suggested Hyuga Soji had developed Ice Release by studying the Blood Crystals, and Orochimaru struggled to decide whether to believe him.
• Orochimaru asked to see Mizuki Ember’s true face, and Soji welcomed the request as the chance he had been waiting for.

Soji removed Mizuki Ember’s Ice Mask and revealed a strange yellow-and-purple Dojutsu, convincing Orochimaru that Mizuki Ember was not Hyuga Soji. They returned to discussing Shihō, and agreed that Shihō would stay with Orochimaru if Mizuki Ember could persuade him.

• Soji pretended to hesitate before agreeing to show Orochimaru his face beneath the Ice Mask.
• Soji activated his third-stage Byakugan as he removed the mask, revealing a yellow-and-purple Dojutsu and a face unlike Hyuga Soji’s.
• Orochimaru abandoned his suspicion that Mizuki Ember and Hyuga Soji were the same person and apologized for his earlier doubts.
• Soji redirected the conversation to Shihō and said the artificial human should remain with his creator, Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru agreed to keep Shihō, but said Soji would need to persuade Shihō to accept the arrangement.

After the Akatsuki Organization captured Isobu and Six-Tails Saiken and vanished, the Five Great Shinobi Villages united to hunt them down while Konoha began rebuilding with aid from the other villages and the Land of Fire’s nobles. The chapter ended with all five villages mobilizing to uncover the Akatsuki Organization’s whereabouts.

• Soji told Shihō to obey Orochimaru and explained to Mei Terumi that Shihō was an artificial human, settling the disturbance.
• The Five Great Shinobi Villages discussed the Akatsuki Organization’s capture of Isobu and Six-Tails Saiken and worried about its members’ unexplained disappearance.
• Karatachi Yagura and Utakata survived losing their Tailed Beasts after bathing in the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path’s blood, gained some of the Ten-Tails’ Chakra, and vowed to rescue Isobu and Six-Tails Saiken with Killer B.
• The other four villages sent supplies to Konoha, and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire committed himself and the nobles to funding its reconstruction.
• After their meeting, the Five Great Shinobi Villages mobilized to find the Akatsuki Organization and crush its plans.

Obito returned to Akatsuki with Seven-Tails Chōmei, having kept Fū alive by replacing the extracted beast with Shinnō’s Zero-Tails Void. As Akatsuki prepared to hunt Gaara in the Land of Wind and the Five Great Shinobi Villages followed, Black Zetsu brought in Disonas, whose Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu made him valuable to Nagato and Obito.

• Nagato repaired the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path’s severed arm with Wood Release while Akatsuki avoided the Five Great Shinobi Villages’ scouts.
• Obito returned with Seven-Tails Chōmei, which he had extracted from Fū and replaced with Shinnō’s Zero-Tails Void, leaving Fū alive.
• Shinnō died after Obito took the Zero-Tails Void, and the Sky Ninja were left on the brink of extinction.
• Nagato set Akatsuki’s next target as Gaara and led the members into the Land of Wind, where the Allied Forces also began searching for them.
• Black Zetsu brought Disonas into Akatsuki, and Nagato and Obito recognized the frail old man’s mastery of the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

Black Zetsu recruited Disonas, a master of Impure World Reincarnation, to help the Akatsuki Organization prepare for war and promised to help him find the Heavenly Spear. The Akatsuki began raising an army of reanimated shinobi and White Zetsu clones, while the Heavenly Spear was revealed to wield Earth Vein Energy.

• Black Zetsu recruited Disonas by offering help finding the Heavenly Spear and giving him a powerful corpse to reanimate.
• Nagato ordered the Akatsuki Organization to dig up powerful shinobi, while Disonas used Impure World Reincarnation to summon them.
• White Zetsu volunteered to multiply by absorbing Chakra from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Nagato attached White Zetsu's main body to it.
• The Akatsuki Organization found the Heavenly Spear in the Sky Pit, and its unsealing released a terrifying energy fluctuation.
• Nagato, Obito, and Black Zetsu felt alarm when they learned the Heavenly Spear drew on Earth Vein Energy, a power distinct from Chakra.

The Akatsuki Organization used the Heavenly Spear’s ability to replicate Tailed Beast Chakra to intensify its hunt for Gaara, while the Five Great Shinobi Villages struggled to mobilize and prepare for war. With Konoha rebuilt and the allied forces assembled, their leaders began choosing a commander-in-chief, but the chapter ended before the remaining candidates were settled.

• The Akatsuki Organization realized the Heavenly Spear could replicate the Chakra of a Tailed Beast, allowing it to avoid capturing either the One-Tail or the Nine-Tails.
• Nagato and the Akatsuki Organization searched the Land of Wind for Gaara, forcing him to hide and struggle to find food and water as his safe area shrank.
• The Five Great Shinobi Villages delayed their advance while resolving internal conflicts and rebuilding Konoha, which became the Fourth Great Ninja War Headquarters.
• After Konoha was largely rebuilt and the allied forces had gathered, the Five Kage convened to choose a commander-in-chief.
• Ōnoki withdrew from consideration because of his age and back problems, leaving four contenders, including Mizuki Ember, as someone spoke before Soji could withdraw.

At the Five Kage meeting, Minato nominated Mizuki Ember to lead the Allied Forces, and the other Kage backed the choice despite Soji’s efforts to avoid more responsibility. Soji was appointed commander-in-chief and left resigned to carrying the burden.

• Minato nominated Mizuki Ember as commander-in-chief, leaving Soji furious because he wanted to step down from his duties after the war.
• Rasa supported Mizuki Ember, reasoning that his reputation and Kirigakure’s strength made him the best candidate and that the choice would limit Konoha’s influence.
• Ōnoki also endorsed Mizuki Ember, recalling his promise as a young shinobi.
• The Fourth Raikage objected that the other Kage had already made up their minds, but he had no viable alternative to support.
• The Kage selected Mizuki Ember as commander-in-chief, and Soji accepted the position despite his reluctance.

After Mizuki Ember was selected as commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Soji reluctantly accepted the role after Minato nominated him. The chapter also revealed that Sasuke had been training obsessively since Konoha’s destruction because he felt he was falling farther behind Naruto.

• Kirigakure celebrated Mizuki Ember’s appointment, while the other villages reacted with indifference, regret, or confusion.
• Konoha’s senior leadership wondered why Minato had nominated Mizuki Ember, and Minato’s faith in Soji’s strength and administrative ability was explained.
• Minato’s nomination set the decision in motion, and Soji was forced to accept command of the Allied Forces despite wanting to avoid additional responsibilities.
• After the Akatsuki Organization attacked Konoha, Sasuke trained alone until dawn each day because he believed Naruto’s growing strength had widened the gap between them.

Sasuke’s relentless training worsened his eyesight, and he feared that Hyuga Soji’s rumored death had left no one able to restore it. Itachi promised to use another method to restore Sasuke’s eyes, though he concealed that it would require his own sacrifice, while two shadowy figures watched the brothers leave.

• Sasuke trained through the night, reached a physical and combat plateau, and found his vision blurring after using his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke blamed his worsening eyesight on his training and feared Hyuga Soji had died, leaving him unable to get the surgery that could restore his vision.
• Itachi found Sasuke and explained that their family was worried about his relentless training.
• Sasuke admitted he wanted to become stronger and stop losing to Naruto, and Itachi promised to restore his eyesight by another method in a few days.
• Itachi hid the method from Sasuke, who trusted his brother, and the brothers headed home as two dark figures watched them from a corner.