Chapter Summaries

Senyo and Orochimaru explored the ancient ruins beneath the Land of Rivers and reached a Gelel Ore Vein containing the Water of Life. Orochimaru filled eight storage scrolls with the liquid and wanted to collect the rare ore as well.

• Senyo and Orochimaru entered the ruins, where Orochimaru sent snakes ahead to search for the altar.
• Senyo used Susanoo to break through the altar floor, and the two descended into a sealed chamber beneath it.
• Senyo began replacing the unstable formation with a new Fuinjutsu while Orochimaru cut open the ceiling.
• Senyo contained the formation's tremors as Orochimaru collected the Water of Life in eight storage scrolls.
• Orochimaru asked Senyo not to leave behind the Gelel Ore, and Senyo teased him about digging up the entire site.

Senyo and his six students investigated the murder of three women before confronting the bandits responsible on Yaqing Mountain. The students began their first mission without Senyo’s help, trapping the bandits in a formation as Kimimaro led the attack.

• Senyo’s group found three women’s bodies at the mountain’s foot, and Haku, Karin, and the others determined they had been assaulted and killed.
• Senyo explained the dangers ordinary people faced outside the ninja villages, and Haku asked whether they could change the world.
• The students planned their assault, with Karin, Shion, and Yakumo setting up a formation while Kimimaro attacked and Gaara and Haku supported him.
• Kimimaro killed twelve bandits before Senyo called him back so the others could gain experience.
• The remaining bandits tried to flee but were trapped by the formation, and some died after attacking Gaara’s sand or gouging out their own eyes.

Senyo’s team eliminated the surviving bandits and returned to Konoha, while Senyo told Nagato and Konan that the Water of Life could restore Nagato’s body. The Akatsuki prepared to enter the war between Sunagakure and Iwagakure, with Pain ordering Kakuzu and Sasori to take control of the battlefield.

• Senyo made Shion and Haku confront the consequences of releasing the captured bandits, and the team killed all seven survivors.
• Senyo’s clone and Orochimaru collected the Water of Life, and Senyo told his team to return to Konoha without bringing physical proof of the mission.
• Senyo informed Nagato and Konan that the Water of Life had been found and could restore Nagato’s body.
• Senyo proposed that the Akatsuki profit from the war between Sunagakure and Iwagakure by joining as mercenaries.
• Pain summoned Kakuzu and ordered him to take Sasori to the Land of Stone and control the battlefield.

Uchiha Senyo offered Sunagakure help from the Akatsuki Organization in exchange for ten percent of the mine’s profits, and Chiyo accepted. He revealed that one of the two people coming was Chiyo’s grandson, Sasori, leaving Chiyo and Pakura to await the group’s arrival.

• At Sunagakure’s camp, Chiyo considered how to stop Kitsuchi’s forces from fortifying the mineral vein, while Pakura offered to lead an assault and Chiyo refused to risk her.
• Uchiha Senyo arrived and proposed that the Akatsuki Organization help Sunagakure deal with Iwagakure for ten percent of the mine’s profits.
• Chiyo accepted the offer after Senyo explained that the Akatsuki would force Iwagakure to negotiate and divide the mine’s profits.
• Senyo said the Akatsuki’s two members would arrive within a day and hinted that one was Chiyo’s grandson.
• After Senyo left, Chiyo told Pakura that the arriving acquaintance was Sasori.

Kakuzu and Sasori met with Chiyo to obtain Sunagakure’s intelligence for their mission against Iwagakure, while Chiyo struggled with seeing Sasori again. Elsewhere, Nagato decided that he and Konan would take their only chance to act.

• Kakuzu and Sasori arrived at Sunagakure’s encampment and asked the sentries to tell Chiyo they had come.
• Chiyo met them with Pakura and Baki, then took Kakuzu and Sasori to discuss the mission privately.
• Chiyo gave Kakuzu and Sasori Sunagakure’s intelligence about Iwagakure’s forces and defenses, while Sasori stole glances at her.
• Kakuzu and Sasori left the tent after Kakuzu said they would handle the rest themselves.
• Konan asked Nagato whether he had made his decision, and Nagato said this was their only chance.

Kitsuchi and the Iwagakure shinobi debated how to defend the mineral vein, and Deidara proposed collapsing it on Sunagakure’s forces. Sent to scout, Deidara spotted Sasori and Kakuzu heading along a route that might lead to the Iwagakure camp.

• Kitsuchi discussed holding the mineral vein with Da Yan, Atsushi, and the other Iwagakure shinobi while they awaited reinforcements.
• Deidara proposed thickening the earth above the deposit and collapsing it on Sunagakure’s forces, but Kitsuchi agreed only to let him scout first.
• Deidara flew toward Sunagakure on a Clay Bird, using a miniature telescope to observe the ground from a safe altitude.
• Deidara spotted Sasori and Kakuzu and suspected they were heading to attack the Iwagakure camp.
• Deidara turned back toward camp, excited to prepare a grand gift for Sasori.

Deidara and Iwagakure ambushed Sasori, but he unleashed his Hundred Puppet Manipulation after they held him off. The Iwagakure shinobi fled according to plan while Deidara's giant humanoid bomb exploded inside the fortress.

• Kakuzu and Sasori sensed they were being watched, split up, and changed routes.
• Deidara used a clone explosion to destroy Sasori's Hiruko shell and led Iwagakure shinobi in an ambush.
• Sasori fought off Deidara's explosives and the shinobi's Earth Style defenses with fire and water attacks.
• Sasori summoned more than a hundred puppets with his Red Secret Technique: Hundred Puppet Manipulation.
• Deidara and the Iwagakure shinobi retreated as planned, leaving a humanoid bomb to explode when Sasori's puppets approached.

Sasori and Kakuzu drove Iwagakure's forces away, while Nagato visited Orochimaru with Senyo and Konan to treat his injuries and remove Madara's curse mark. Nagato agreed to undergo a risky procedure involving real death and revival, leaving his fate in Orochimaru's hands.

• Deidara's unfinished C3 No. 18 shattered Sasori's puppets and forced him and the other fighters to withdraw.
• Kakuzu told Sasori that Kitsuchi's team had held his group in a deadlock until the explosion, and they agreed to stay until Iwagakure sent stronger fighters.
• Konan carried Nagato to the Uchiha Clan Compound, where Senyo brought him to Orochimaru's laboratory for an examination.
• Orochimaru discovered that black rods had pierced Nagato's organs, and Senyo found a remotely controlled curse mark on Nagato's heart.
• Orochimaru proposed killing Nagato to remove the curse mark and then reviving him, and Nagato agreed to the procedure.

Orochimaru operated on Nagato to remove the black rods and repair his injured legs, using the Water of Life and Mio's healing ability to keep him alive. After the surgery, Senyo prepared to remove Madara's curse seal while Nagato was dead.

• Orochimaru prepared a formation to bind Nagato's soul and summoned Kabuto Yakushi, Nonō, and Mio to assist.
• Mio drank some Water of Life, regained her health, and agreed to heal Nagato during the operation.
• Orochimaru began operating on Nagato without anesthesia while the Water of Life and Nonō's healing helped his body recover.
• Orochimaru removed all the black rods from Nagato's back and repaired the damaged meridians in his legs with Mio's help.
• Orochimaru called Senyo over to remove Madara's curse seal while Nagato was dead.

Orochimaru, Senyo, and their companions removed the talisman from Nagato’s heart and revived him, then used Mio’s healing ability and Water of Life to restore his vitality. Nagato’s body and bloodline began to recover, but he stopped when he felt his Rinnegan evolving, leaving further treatment for later.

• Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Nonō stopped Nagato’s heart while Senyo sealed away the talisman that emerged from it.
• Orochimaru restarted Nagato’s heart, and Mio healed the wound in his chest.
• Orochimaru tested Nagato’s blood and found signs that his bloodline genes were beginning to merge.
• Nagato bit Mio’s neck to absorb her vitality as Kabuto replenished her with Water of Life, restoring Nagato’s strength and appearance.
• Nagato stopped the treatment after sensing his Rinnegan evolving, then thanked the others and embraced Konan.

Obito learned that Nagato had removed the heart curse seal and sent Zetsu to investigate his whereabouts, while avoiding a direct conflict with the Uchiha Clan. When Tobi reported that Nagato had sent Sasori and Kakuzu to support Sunagakure and that Iwagakure’s Five-Tails Jinchuriki had joined the fighting, Obito headed for the battlefield in the Land of Stone.

• Yomi absorbed dark energy from villagers buried alive by Kazuma’s group as Obito considered the Moon Organization’s recruits and Kazuma’s Raijin technique.
• Zetsu told Obito that Nagato had removed the heart curse seal but was still alive, prompting Obito to worry about how he would revive Madara and recover the Rinnegan.
• Zetsu linked Nagato’s disappearance to the Uchiha, but Obito refused to risk provoking the powerful clan over uncertain information.
• Obito decided to investigate the battle between Iwagakure and Sunagakure, where he suspected Nagato might appear.
• Tobi reported that Sasori and Kakuzu had helped drive back Iwagakure and that Han had led elite forces to the battlefield, so Obito set out for the Land of Stone.

Senyo created a monk disguise for a clone to join the Akatsuki’s operations while Nagato recovered. On the Land of Stone battlefield, Chiyo confronted Sasori about turning himself into a Human Puppet, just as Kakuzu announced that the Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han had arrived with Iwagakure’s forces.

• Senyo introduced his clone as the monk Zen Kong and sent it with Konan, while Nagato stayed behind to recover.
• Sasori repaired his puppets in a tent as Chiyo discovered that he had become a Human Puppet and confronted him about abandoning his body.
• Kakuzu interrupted their conversation to report that Iwagakure’s Jinchuriki had arrived.
• Han advanced toward the battlefield with more than a hundred Iwagakure soldiers, and Deidara arrived by clay bird to report Sunagakure’s position.
• Han criticized Deidara’s reconnaissance, and Deidara said Sunagakure’s forces were about three kilometers away.

Han pursued Kakuzu and Sasori into a stone forest, where their traps and counterattacks ambushed Iwagakure’s forces. Sasori revealed the Third Kazekage puppet, and the battle continued with Han facing Kakuzu’s attack.

• Deidara reported Kakuzu and Sasori’s location to Han, then stayed nearby to watch the fight.
• Kakuzu used Earth Grudge Fear to scout Han’s approach, and Sasori prepared the scroll containing the Third Kazekage puppet.
• Han detected a trap and destroyed the stone forest with a Tailed Beast Ball, then led his forces after the fleeing enemies.
• Kakuzu emerged from underground and used sand Iron Needles to kill four Iwagakure ninja while Sasori attacked Han with Kakuzu’s Wind and Water Earth Grudge Fear.
• Han dodged the pressurized water blasts with Boil Release, as Sasori appeared above the remaining Iwagakure ninja with the Third Kazekage puppet.

Sasori and Kakuzu ambushed Han’s Iwagakure forces, then retreated after Sasori’s Third Kazekage Puppet poisoned and killed several ninja. The puppet’s identity exposed Sasori’s killing of the Third Kazekage to Sunagakure, while Chiyo continued cooperating with the Akatsuki Organization as Kakuzu promised they would handle Han.

• The Iwagakure ninja defended themselves from the Third Kazekage Puppet’s Iron Sand attacks until Han transformed into Kokuō and smashed the Iron Sand Gyroscope.
• Sasori and Kakuzu withdrew after four Iwagakure ninja were killed and six were poisoned, and Han led the survivors away for treatment.
• White Zetsu, Kakashi and his companions, and Sunagakure’s observers witnessed the battle, while Baki recognized the Third Kazekage’s Human Puppet.
• Baki reported Sasori’s puppet to Chiyo and Pakura, and Chiyo acknowledged that the revelation could give Rasa grounds to attack her.
• Sasori and Kakuzu returned to Chiyo, who asked how the Akatsuki Organization would deal with Han; Kakuzu promised they would handle it and told Sunagakure not to withdraw too soon.

On the Land of Stone battlefield, Iwagakure used Han’s Tailed Beast Balls to drive Sunagakure back while Sasori and Kakuzu awaited Akatsuki support. Konan arrived with the new member Zen Kong, whose powerful Fuinjutsu demonstrated that he could slow even experienced shinobi, and the group prepared to face the Jinchuriki.

• Deidara reported Sunagakure’s positions as Han fired Tailed Beast Balls from a raised stone platform, forcing the retreating forces to keep moving.
• Pakura recognized that Iwagakure was trying to push Sunagakure into the Land of Wind, while Chiyo led her forces back and reflected on Sasori’s implied confession that he had killed the Third Kazekage.
• Sasori and Kakuzu separated from Sunagakure’s forces and wondered when Akatsuki’s leader would arrive to deal with Han.
• Konan arrived and introduced Zen Kong as a new Akatsuki member who specialized in Fuinjutsu against Jinchuriki.
• Zen Kong formed seal inscriptions that slowed Kakuzu’s and Konan’s movements and reduced their Chakra transmission, then released the technique when Kakuzu asked him to stop.

Konan led Kakuzu, Sasori, and Zen Kong in an assault on Iwagakure, where they targeted Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki. Zen Kong suppressed Han’s partial transformation with Fuinjutsu, but Han transformed fully into Kokuō and charged him.

• Konan ordered Kakuzu to harass Iwagakure from the front while she supported the assault from the air and Sasori carried Zen Kong toward Han.
• Kakuzu attacked Iwagakure’s forces with combined Fire-Wind and Water-Lightning ninjutsu as Konan destroyed Deidara’s Clay Owls with Explosive Tags.
• Deidara retreated rather than join the fight, while Han recognized that the attackers were targeting him and launched a Tailed Beast Ball at Konan.
• The blast disrupted Sasori’s Iron Sand Wings, bringing him and Zen Kong within Han’s attack range.
• Han partially transformed and attacked Sasori, but Zen Kong leaped down and used Fuinjutsu to suppress Han’s Tailed Beast Cloak.
• Han transformed into Kokuō and charged at Zen Kong.

Master Zen Kong captured Han with the Canaan Holy Seal, allowing Konan to mediate an end to the conflict between Iwagakure and Sunagakure. The chapter left both villages’ leaders preparing to negotiate while Han remained in Akatsuki’s custody.

• Zen Kong bound Kokuō with flaming Adamantine Sealing Chains and sealed him back into Han, leaving Han unable to use Chakra.
• Sasori held Han hostage as Iwagakure ninja tried to rescue him, while observers including Obito, Black Zetsu, Tobi, and Deidara watched.
• Konan proposed mediating an end to the war, and Zen Kong told Kitsuchi that Han would be returned unharmed once the villages reached an agreement.
• Kitsuchi agreed to bring Sunagakure’s representatives to negotiate, and Sasori flew to inform them.
• Chiyo agreed to attend the negotiations and followed Kakuzu and Sasori to the meeting.

Konan negotiated a joint mining agreement between Iwagakure and Sunagakure, securing a share of the mineral vein’s profits for the Akatsuki Organization and releasing Han. Afterward, she paid Kakuzu and Sasori for their work and confronted Obito, explaining that the Akatsuki Organization would take future Jinchuriki-related missions.

• Konan settled the mineral vein dispute by granting Iwagakure seventy percent and Sunagakure thirty percent, while requiring them to pay the Akatsuki Organization another thirty percent of the total profits.
• Master Zen Kong released Han by removing the seal that suppressed his Chakra, and the Akatsuki Organization left the camps after arranging to collect its share each month.
• Obito learned from Tobi that Kakashi, Tenzo, Asuma, and another hidden observer were nearby, but he focused on finding Konan and learning where Nagato was.
• Konan awarded Kakuzu and Sasori eighty percent of the Akatsuki Organization’s share, set aside thirty million in extra compensation for Sasori, and sent them back to their duties.
• Obito confronted Konan about Nagato and the Akatsuki Organization’s capture of Han, and Konan told him that the organization would pursue more Jinchuriki-related missions as their military value declined.

Obito and Zetsu plotted to strengthen their side after learning that Nagato had cut off the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path’s energy supply, while Konan and Zen Kong kept their distance from them. The chapter ended with Konan flying back alone as Zen Kong stayed nearby to watch for contact from other forces.

• Master Zen Kong exposed White Zetsu’s underground ambush, and Obito claimed he had only been gathering intelligence.
• Konan refused to help Obito contact Nagato and told him the Five Great Nations would fight without Akatsuki Organization provoking them.
• Zetsu revealed that Nagato had stopped supplying the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path with energy, and Obito decided to recruit Hiruko for his Chimera Technique.
• Obito ordered Zetsu to spread word about Akatsuki Organization’s work, gather intelligence on Zen Kong, and contact Hiruko.
• Konan and Zen Kong confirmed they were not being followed, then Konan flew back alone while Zen Kong stayed behind to watch for other forces.

Zen Kong explained that he had joined the Akatsuki Organization to end conflicts involving Tailed Beasts, while declining Asuma’s invitation to visit Konoha. After his intervention ended the Sunagakure–Iwagakure conflict, the Five Great Ninja Villages learned of him, and the Raikage considered how Kumogakure might benefit from his power.

• Asuma, Kakashi, and Tenzo caught up with Zen Kong, who said he would only end conflicts involving Tailed Beasts and told Asuma to discuss a Konoha visit with Konan.
• Zen Kong left the three Konoha shinobi, who decided to return and report to their leader.
• The Akatsuki Organization’s intervention resolved the conflict between Sunagakure and Iwagakure, and reports of Zen Kong spread across the Shinobi World.
• White Zetsu sold a detailed account of the battle, and all Five Great Ninja Villages learned about Zen Kong within days.
• The Raikage and Dodai discussed Zen Kong’s possible impact on Kumogakure and decided to gather more information.
• The Raikage went to check on Killer B, who had begun training on his own.