Chapter Summaries

Iwagakure ambushed Akatsuki during a Healing Tag trade, but Yahiko and Nagato led their group to victory. As Shinnō prepared to leave the Rain Country and Jiraiya planned to return to Konoha, Kakuzu received a signal identifying Shinnō as the person Kagetsu had been searching for, likely because he had encountered the Third Raikage’s corpse.

• Iwagakure betrayed Akatsuki during their second Healing Tag exchange and launched a surprise attack.
• Yahiko and Nagato rallied Akatsuki, and Nagato’s powerful techniques turned the battle against the Iwa Ninja.
• Shinnō told Jiraiya that he had finished teaching Konan and intended to leave the Rain Country.
• Jiraiya revealed that a Hokage order had summoned him back to Konoha, while Kakuzu said he would stay.
• Kakuzu felt his mask signal that Shinnō was the person Kagetsu sought and that Shinnō had likely encountered the Third Raikage’s corpse.

Kagetsu, Kakuzu, Shisui, and Anko confronted Shinnō after discovering his secrets and his connection to Zero-Tails. Kakuzu wiped out the first wave of attackers, while Shisui summoned his Susanoo to face incoming ninja flying with Special Ninja Tools.

• Kakuzu led Kagetsu, Shisui, and Anko toward the town where he had found Shinnō.
• Shisui blocked a volley of kunai with an earthen wall, and Anko cleared the mist to reveal Shinnō and his armed followers.
• Kagetsu named Zero-Tails, prompting Shinnō to reveal that he had stolen a technique for controlling it and that he possessed the Third Raikage's corpse.
• Kakuzu attacked Shinnō's charging followers with Lava Release, melting and destroying the front ranks.
• Shinnō signaled for reinforcements, and Shisui spotted flying ninja with Special Ninja Tools approaching.
• After Kagetsu agreed, Shisui awakened his Four-Corner Windmill Sharingan and summoned a towering Green Giant with a spear.

Kagetsu and his companions overwhelmed Shinnō’s forces and pursued him to the sea, where they encountered Chong Chong and the hidden fortress Ankor Bandian. When Shinnō refused to surrender Zero-Tails and the fortress, he summoned Zero-Tails to continue the fight.

• Shisui unleashed Susanoo to destroy the flying-wing weapons, while Kakuzu charged into the enemy ninja and fought them with his enhanced body and Earth Grudge Fear.
• Shinnō fled toward his secret base over the sea, where Chong Chong attacked him and Shinnō struck the monster with a powerful punch.
• Kagetsu, Kakuzu, and the others caught up with Shinnō beside Ankor Bandian, and Anko recognized the fortress as the former Empty Ninja Village.
• Shinnō offered the Third Raikage’s corpse in exchange for ending the battle, but Kagetsu demanded Zero-Tails and Ankor Bandian as well.
• After refusing to give them up, Shinnō performed a summoning technique and brought forth Zero-Tails, filling the area with dark, oppressive Chakra.

Shinnō unleashed Zero-Tails against Kagetsu and his allies, but Chong Chong damaged the beast and Kagetsu’s Hollow Power Seed began affecting it. Shinnō recovered from their attacks with his Ultimate Body and Perfect Eight Gates Release, while Zero-Tails revived and struck Kagetsu, leaving him intrigued by its potential to become a Hollow.

• Shinnō revived Zero-Tails, which devoured ninjutsu and Chakra while attacking Kagetsu’s group.
• Zero-Tails wrapped around Chong Chong, but Chong Chong spun it apart and scattered chunks of its body.
• Shinnō fused with Zero-Tails’ severed head, restored its body, and took control of the wounded beast.
• Kagetsu suggested testing Zero-Tails’ dark Chakra against the Hollow Power Seed, and Shinnō attacked him after Shisui blocked his path with Susanoo.
• Anko and Shisui struck Shinnō, but he healed with his Ultimate Body and revealed that he could sustain the Perfect Eight Gates Release.
• Zero-Tails revived and hit Kagetsu with its tail, while Kagetsu recognized it as a half-finished Hollow that might evolve into a true Hollow.

Zero-Tails broke free of Shinnō's control and evolved after absorbing Hollow Power, then fought and devoured Shinnō. As Zero-Tails transformed again into a smaller but more oppressive form, Kagetsu and the others watched, expecting it to turn its attention toward them.

• Zero-Tails awakened with increased strength, manifested Hollow abilities, and fired a Hollow Flash across the sea.
• Shinnō tried to regain control, but Zero-Tails attacked him, driven by a desire to devour him.
• Shinnō used the Eight Gates Release and a barrage of taijutsu to smash Zero-Tails apart, but it rapidly regenerated.
• Shinnō struck Zero-Tails at close range, then was trapped by its tentacles and absorbed into its body.
• Zero-Tails formed more skeletal armor and shrank by more than half, while its spiritual pressure grew stronger.

Kagetsu and his companions invaded Ankor Bandian while Chong Chong fought Zero-Tails, which grew stronger by devouring the Chakra, lives, and souls of the Empty Ninja. They reached the Main Control Room, where Kagetsu used his shadows to seize control of the defenders.

• Kagetsu sent Chong Chong to fight Zero-Tails while he and his companions headed to claim Shinnō's inheritance at Ankor Bandian.
• The Empty Ninja attacked the battling monsters, but Zero-Tails devoured them and evolved defenses that weakened Wind and Lightning Release.
• Kagetsu, Kakuzu, Anko, and Shisui broke through the guards and entered Ankor Bandian, where they found captives whose Chakra and stamina powered the fortress.
• Kakuzu freed a weakened Rain Hidden Ninja, who warned them about Shinnō and guided them toward the Main Control Room.
• The group reached the Main Control Room, blocked the Empty Ninja's combined attack, and Kagetsu's shadow branches forced the defenders to attack one another.

Kagetsu and his allies suppressed the Empty Ninja rebellion at Ankor Bandian, and Kagetsu chose to let the former prisoners decide whether to leave or stay. After examining Shinnō’s research and sending a copy to Orochimaru, Kagetsu planned to use the fortress and its remaining people as a base for his experiments.

• Kakuzu captured the Empty Ninja as Zero-Tails’ presence vanished, and Kagetsu confirmed that Zero-Tails remained on his Status Panel and could not truly die.
• Kagetsu let the former prisoners leave or stay, and Shisui used Genjutsu to muddle the departing group’s memories.
• Several Rain Country ninjas and other former prisoners pledged loyalty to Kagetsu, who assigned them to Anko.
• Kagetsu entered Shinnō’s Laboratory and studied the Dark Chakra experiments, Forbidden Medical Techniques, and research data.
• Kagetsu sealed a copy of Shinnō’s research in a scroll and sent it to Orochimaru through the White Snake.
• Kagetsu decided to make Ankor Bandian a temporary experimental base and use its remaining residents to help guard and operate the fortress.

Kagetsu offered four of Ankor Bandian’s most capable survivors experimental powers in exchange for helping manage the fortress, and they all accepted. After nearly half a month of modifications, Hida demonstrated his water-transformation ability to Kagetsu and Shisui, who learned how the others had been enhanced as well.

• Kagetsu warned Hida, Dado, Lü Mu, and Shan Gao that he needed their help managing Ankor Bandian and offered them implanted powers with controlled risks; all four agreed to the experiments and future tasks.
• Kagetsu chose Hida, an Amegakure Genin with water-nature Chakra, to undergo the first modification while the others observed.
• Over nearly half a month, Kagetsu modified Hida, Dado, Lü Mu, and Shan Gao, tailoring each one’s new abilities to their requests or strengths.
• Hida demonstrated that a blade passed harmlessly through his body after he shifted into water, while Lü Mu and Shisui watched.
• Kagetsu explained that Hida’s Technique Seal Organ let him shift between solid and liquid states but restricted him to water nature, and described the fire, physical, and shadow-based abilities given to the others.

Shisui questioned whether Kagetsu’s technique for quickly granting ordinary people Chunin-level strength made traditional training pointless, and Kagetsu explained its limits. At the Land of Fire border, Orochimaru studied Shinnō’s research scrolls and glimpsed a new, opposing path to immortality.

• Shisui was unsettled by Kagetsu’s experiment, which gave ordinary people strength comparable to Chunin or Special Jonin without years of training.
• Anko noticed Shisui brooding and asked Kagetsu to help him think through his concerns.
• Kagetsu explained that the experiment’s subjects had limited potential, needed training to control their new strength, and lacked combat experience, so effort remained necessary.
• At the Iwa-Konoha battlefield, Orochimaru studied Kagetsu’s scrolls recording Shinnō’s experiments and gained new inspiration.
• Orochimaru connected the scrolls to his research into transferring his soul between bodies and saw another path to immortality that opposed immortality of the flesh.

Orochimaru read Kagetsu’s research and Shinnō’s medical scrolls, reflecting on immortality, the Tailed Beasts, and the White Snake Sage’s secrets. Unable to study or test the materials while commanding the Iwa battlefield, he sealed them away in a storage snake.

• Orochimaru considered how Kagetsu’s research on the soul and Tailed Beasts could reveal secrets about immortality and the shinobi world.
• Orochimaru thought about the White Snake Sage and wondered whether Kagetsu’s progress might draw her attention.
• Orochimaru reviewed Shinnō’s notes and recognized that his Forbidden Technique could preserve the body’s peak condition through advanced Medical Ninjutsu.
• Orochimaru thought Tsunade might have developed her own Forbidden Medical Techniques and wished he could recruit her to his research.
• Orochimaru resealed Kagetsu’s scrolls and stored them inside a summoned White Snake because he could not leave the Iwa battlefield to study them.

Jiraiya reunited with Kagetsu, Anko, and Shisui, then treated them to ramen while sharing news about Akatsuki and Amegakure's new partnership. As they parted, Kagetsu learned that Orochimaru or Danzo might take over Konoha's dealings with Akatsuki, leaving the group concerned about Root's involvement.

• Jiraiya greeted Kagetsu, Anko, and Shisui, praised Shisui, and invited everyone to dinner.
• Jiraiya told Kagetsu and Shisui that Akatsuki and Amegakure had agreed to cooperate after Yahiko and his companions met with Amegakure's leaders.
• Jiraiya reassured Kagetsu that he would not interfere in his arrangements with Kakuzu after Kagetsu said he had leverage over him and paid him.
• Jiraiya treated the group to ramen at Ichiraku, where Anko ate bowl after bowl until she felt seventy percent full.
• Kagetsu asked who would handle Konoha's contact with Akatsuki, and Jiraiya said Orochimaru or Danzo would likely take over.
• Kagetsu and his companions fell silent at the prospect of Root managing the partnership, while Jiraiya said Orochimaru would be the better choice.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan met Hanzo to negotiate Amegakure’s support for Akatsuki’s Healing Tag trade, but Hanzo demanded control of most of the profits and attacked them when Yahiko refused. Hanzo revealed his plan to capture them and seize the production method, leaving Nagato injured and the three facing him in his office.

• Amegakure’s guards made Yahiko’s group surrender their weapons before allowing Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to meet Hanzo.
• Hanzo accused the three of betraying Rain Country by working with Konoha, and Yahiko explained that Akatsuki sought peace and wanted to improve their country.
• Yahiko told Hanzo that Konoha wanted Akatsuki to produce Healing Tags and that Akatsuki had already completed a transaction with Iwagakure.
• Hanzo demanded ninety percent of the Healing Tag profits for Amegakure, but Yahiko refused to make Akatsuki dependent on him.
• Hanzo attacked the group, and Nagato blocked his punch after pushing Yahiko aside, only to be hurled into a steel wall.
• Hanzo declared that he would capture the three, extract the Healing Tag production method, and take control of the cooperation with Konoha.

After learning that Kakuzu had lost a heart while protecting Akatsuki from Hanzo, Kagetsu traveled to the group’s hideout. He arrived as Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan recovered from their injuries, leaving them stunned by his sudden appearance.

• A communication snake delivered Kakuzu’s report to Kagetsu, who learned that Hanzo had injured Yahiko and Nagato and that Kakuzu had lost a heart.
• Kagetsu realized Kakuzu depended on his specially prepared hearts and sent him a reply agreeing to meet.
• Konan tried to treat Nagato while Yahiko blamed himself for the defeat and concluded that peace required strength.
• Kakuzu warned the injured Akatsuki members that Amegakure might pursue them and said he would only be responsible for taking Konan away if necessary.
• Kakuzu revealed that he had contacted Nara Kagetsu, and Kagetsu appeared from a Black Coffin, startling Kakuzu, Konan, and Nagato.

Nara Kagetsu arrived at Nagato and Konan’s hideout after Kakuzu’s message and used a syringe to begin healing Nagato. When Kagetsu asked for the Rinnegan in exchange for saving Yahiko, Nagato agreed, but Yahiko refused the bargain.

• Kagetsu appeared beside Kakuzu, Nagato, and Konan, explaining that a Little White Snake had tracked Kakuzu’s location.
• Kagetsu said he had come at Jiraiya’s request and injected Nagato with medicine, prompting Konan to attack before Nagato stopped her.
• Nagato’s condition improved after the injection, and Konan asked Kagetsu to treat Nagato and Yahiko.
• Kagetsu asked for the Rinnegan as payment for healing Yahiko, and Nagato agreed to give it to him.
• Yahiko rejected the offer, saying he would rather go untreated than let Nagato surrender his eyes.

Kagetsu treated Yahiko and explained that his severe injuries might leave him unable to fight, while offering bodily modification as a backup and suggesting they seek Tsunade. He urged Akatsuki to leave Amegakure, then removed two white humanoid creatures that had been parasitizing Nagato.

• Kagetsu examined and healed Yahiko, then warned Konan and Nagato that Yahiko's damaged limbs and nerves might prevent him from recovering his strength.
• Kagetsu offered bodily modification as a backup treatment and suggested Konan ask Jiraiya to help find Tsunade.
• Kagetsu told Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko to leave Amegakure because Hanzo would continue hunting Akatsuki.
• Kagetsu used Chakra on Nagato, causing two white humanoid monsters to grow from his body, then killed and sealed them.
• Nagato and Yahiko realized the monsters had been parasitizing Nagato, and Nagato was terrified.

Kagetsu brought Nagato, Konan, Yahiko, and Kakuzu to Ankor Bandian to treat Yahiko and Nagato, while revealing that Shinnō had died in circumstances connected to him. He began examining Yahiko and appointed Konan as his medical assistant.

• Kagetsu transported the group through a Black Coffin to Ankor Bandian, where Hida and the others welcomed them.
• Kagetsu told Konan that Shinnō was dead and said Nagato and Yahiko could investigate his death by questioning former subordinates and Kakuzu.
• Nagato and Konan chose to trust Kagetsu and followed him to Shinnō's Laboratory so he could treat Yahiko and Nagato.
• Kagetsu reassured Kakuzu that he had prepared a replacement heart and could arrange spares later.
• Kagetsu examined Yahiko, found his condition worse than before, and assigned Konan to assist with treatment and manage their care when he was absent.
• Konan followed Kagetsu's instructions as he began assessing her medical skills.

Kagetsu treated Nagato and proposed that his Rinnegan might not be his own, warning that someone could have given him the eyes for a hidden purpose. Nagato connected the theory to the white humanoid creatures that had parasitized him, while Yahiko remained unconscious.

• Kagetsu told Konan that Yahiko had suffered irreversible damage and needed constant monitoring, though he planned nerve surgeries and technological replacements to treat him.
• Nagato agreed to cooperate with Kagetsu’s Rinnegan research, and Kagetsu explained that Konoha had long studied dōjutsu and bloodlines with volunteers.
• Kagetsu identified Nagato as an Uzumaki descendant and said the Rinnegan was not a known Uzumaki inheritance and seemed poorly suited to Nagato’s body.
• Kagetsu suggested that the Rinnegan might belong to someone else and warned Nagato that the donor could be watching his actions.
• Nagato remembered the white humanoid creatures that had parasitized him, and Kagetsu revealed a white head he had kept as a research sample, explaining that the creatures had both ninja and plant traits.

Kagetsu returned to Jiraiya with news that Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were alive, though Yahiko might never be able to become a ninja again. At a meeting in the Hokage's office, the village leaders argued over Akatsuki and the Rain Country before Hyuga Hiashi reported that the Mist Village might have obtained the Byakugan.

• Kagetsu told Jiraiya that he had stabilized Yahiko and Nagato, but Yahiko's injuries could end his career as a ninja.
• Namikaze Minato explained that he had left the front lines with Orochimaru's approval, then departed after learning Kagetsu had returned.
• Jiraiya asked Kagetsu to describe what had happened and said he would soon head to the front lines.
• Shimura Danzō blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya for the crisis and offered to destroy Akatsuki and force Hanzo to return Jiraiya's three disciples.
• Utatane Koharu asked what Hanzo wanted, and Shimura Danzō explained that Hanzo sought to replace Akatsuki and secure the Rain Country's neutrality using Healing Tags.
• Hyuga Hiashi reported that the Mist Village's Assassination Unit had ambushed a Hyuga clan member and that the Byakugan might have leaked.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others considered the danger of the Byakugan leaking to Konoha’s enemies. Kagetsu continued Yahiko’s treatment in Ankor Bandian, while Hanzo faced pressure from Iwagakure over Akatsuki’s leaders and the Healing Tags.

• The chapter explained how the Byakugan helped Konoha gather intelligence and gain the initiative, making its possible leak a grave threat.
• Kagetsu returned to Ankor Bandian after handing his mission to Shisui and Anko, then checked on Yahiko’s recovery.
• Yahiko reported pain and numbness as sensation returned, and Kagetsu said the next treatment would require nerve implant surgeries and possibly replacement organs or limbs.
• Konan asked whether they still needed to find Tsunade, and Kagetsu said they would follow his treatment plan while keeping Tsunade as a final safeguard.
• Hanzo learned that Iwagakure’s envoy had arrived while his search for Akatsuki’s three leaders remained fruitless.
• Hanzo considered Iwagakure’s demand for Akatsuki’s leaders or the Healing Tag production methods and weighed the risks of relying on Konoha or resisting Iwagakure.

Yahiko continued rehabilitation as Kagetsu’s treatment restored his body, and he learned that Hanzo was too occupied with pressure from Konoha and Iwagakure to hunt Akatsuki’s members. Kagetsu confirmed Yahiko could awaken Wood Release but hinted that his body’s real power was something else, demonstrating Shaping.

• Yahiko pushed through painful rehabilitation until Konan and Nagato took him back to the Laboratory for checks.
• Konan told Yahiko that his transplanted limbs contained Wood Release Cells and might let him wield Wood Release after recovery.
• Yahiko asked about Akatsuki’s companions, and Konan said most had safely left Rain Country.
• Kagetsu arrived and explained that Hanzo was overwhelmed by Konoha and Iwagakure after the Healing Tags supply channel was cut off.
• Kagetsu examined Yahiko, confirmed his recovery was going well, and said he could awaken Wood Release but that it was not his body’s true power.
• Kagetsu demonstrated Shaping by drawing power from the air and solidifying it in his palm.