Chapter Summaries

The first-round matches continued as Sand Crab defeated Yahiko with four puppets, Kisame Hoshigaki beat Yura, and Might Guy faced Iwagakure’s Choseki. Might Guy won with a single punch, leaving Kitsuchi stunned by the defeat of Iwagakure’s Explosion Release genius.

• Aburame Shibi defeated his Iwagakure opponent and advanced to the second round.
• Sand Crab overwhelmed Yahiko with four puppets and won, while Yahiko was carried away for treatment.
• Kisame Hoshigaki defeated Yura with his Water Sharks in under two minutes.
• Might Guy opened four of the Eight Gates and entered Stone Breathing Chakra Mode against Choseki.
• Might Guy struck Choseki with a single punch, sent him into the arena wall, and won the match.

Nohara Rin defeated Gray Rock with a combination of strength, medical ninjutsu, and Water Release. Kakashi began his first-round match against Hozuki Mangetsu, studied his abilities, and prepared to attack.

• Might Guy's overwhelming victory left most contestants stunned, while Hozuki Mangetsu declared that he would stop him in the quarterfinals.
• Nohara Rin defeated Gray Rock by shattering his stone attack, healing her injured hand, and striking him with a water dragon and Super Strength Punch.
• Kakashi and Hozuki Mangetsu began their match, exchanging sword blows and Water Release attacks as Kakashi dodged a water bullet using the Transparent World.
• Kakashi let his shuriken pass harmlessly through Hozuki Mangetsu's Water Transformation Technique and gathered intelligence before deciding to attack.

Kakashi defeated Hozuki Mangetsu with a hand-seal-free Lightning Release and a lightning-fast Godspeed slash, then sensed that someone in the competitors’ lounge wanted to kill him. The tournament’s first elimination round ended, and the second round began after a short break.

• Kakashi activated Thunder Breathing Chakra Mode, injured Hozuki Mangetsu with False Darkness, and defeated him with Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed.
• Hanzo and Kakuzu discussed the tournament, while Kakashi’s teammates and other contestants reacted to his victory in the lounge.
• Sasori recognized Kakashi’s resemblance to White Fang and decided to seek revenge for his parents, but suppressed his killing intent when Kakashi sensed danger.
• Kakashi warned his teammates in writing that someone might target the Konoha ninja, and Shisui discreetly searched the contestants for suspicious behavior.
• Shisui and Obito won their matches, Asuma and Mei Terumi advanced, and the first elimination round concluded before the second round began with Nagato’s match.

Nagato defeated Aburame Shibi after using a mysterious Rinnegan ability to pull him within striking distance. Might Guy then defeated Kisame Hoshigaki with powerful Taijutsu, leaving Nagato’s chances against Guy uncertain.

• Aburame Shibi attacked Nagato with swarms of Kikaichū, but Nagato used fire and wind techniques to force him through a sea of flames.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull Aburame Shibi close, slammed him into the ground, and won the match.
• Sasori defeated Choseki after using only two puppets.
• Might Guy opened several Eight Gates and entered Stone Breathing Chakra Mode as Kisame Hoshigaki engulfed the arena in a water prison.
• Might Guy used Day Tiger to destroy Kisame Hoshigaki’s shark attacks, then struck him with Golden Horizon Line and won the match.

Nohara Rin fought Kakashi in the tournament, but his speed and skill overwhelmed her despite her use of Water Release and Katsuyu’s healing. When Feebas rushed in to protect Rin, it evolved into Milotic, leaving Rin and the spectators stunned.

• Sasori assessed Might Guy as a threat to his plans to assassinate Kakashi and resolved to perfect his technique so he could modify his fragile body.
• Might Guy returned to the contestants’ lounge and looked forward to facing Kakashi, while Kakashi and Nohara Rin prepared for their match.
• Nohara Rin used Water Release, Water Clones, and Katsuyu against Kakashi, but he repeatedly evaded her attacks and struck her down with Konoha Hand Blade.
• Feebas was summoned alongside Katsuyu, then secretly swam back toward Rin and blocked Kakashi’s next attack, taking the blow meant for her.
• Feebas charged again to protect Rin, evolved in a burst of white light into Milotic, and astonished Kakashi, Rin, and the contestants watching from the lounge.

Nohara Rin’s Feebas evolved into Milotic during her match with Kakashi, and its strength nearly helped her win before Kakashi defeated her with a clone and a surprise Earth Release attack. After the tournament’s second round ended, Sasori secretly assessed the opportunity to kill Kakashi, while Nohara Rin refused to sell Milotic and agreed to tell Shisui how Milotic had evolved.

• Milotic used powerful water attacks to help Nohara Rin fight Kakashi, but Kakashi used a Shadow Clone and Earth Release to capture her and win the match.
• Milotic healed Nohara Rin after the fight, and Kakashi returned to the waiting room while reflecting on Milotic’s strength and his own Ninja Beast, Rockruff.
• Shisui, Asuma, Mei Terumi, and Obito won their remaining second-round matches, completing the tournament’s quarterfinal lineup.
• Hanzo refused Kakuzu’s offer to have Ninshu train Rain ninja, while Kakuzu made clear he intended to pursue the business opportunity later.
• Nohara Rin refused the Land of Fire Daimyo’s offers of fifty and ninety million ryo for Milotic, and Mu Yue gave the crowd a vague lead about finding another one.
• Sasori noticed Mu Yue at the tournament and decided to investigate Six Paths City before attempting to assassinate Kakashi; Nohara Rin later agreed to explain Milotic’s evolution to Shisui.

Nohara Rin tested Milotic’s abilities, revealing its powerful attacks and formidable healing in battles with Charmeleon and Might Guy. The next day, the Youth Martial Arts Tournament resumed, and Nagato and Sasori headed to the arena for their match.

• Nohara Rin summoned Milotic, which demonstrated Twister, Water Pulse, Waterfall Tail, Attract, and Life Dew.
• Charmeleon challenged Milotic but was quickly knocked unconscious by its Waterfall Tail.
• Might Guy fought Milotic using the Eight Gates and Morning Peacock, but Milotic recovered from its injuries with its healing abilities.
• Obito worried that he could not defeat Milotic and considered asking Mu Yue about switching Breathing Technique Chakra Modes.
• The next day, Nagato was called to fight Sand Crab, and Sasori went to the arena determined to win.

Nagato defeated Sasori by using Shinra Tensei to repel his puppets and Banshō Ten'in to pull him within reach. Might Guy and Kakashi then began their quarterfinal battle, with Guy opening the first five Eight Gates and Kakashi preparing to counter his strength.

• Sasori summoned ten puppets and used them to counter Nagato’s Fire Release and Lightning Release while surrounding him with attacks.
• Nagato unleashed Shinra Tensei, destroying or scattering the seven puppets attacking him, then used Banshō Ten'in to pull Sasori close and win the match.
• Kakashi and Might Guy were called to fight, and both prepared for the quarterfinal by recalling their rivalry and resolving to give their best.
• Might Guy opened the first five Eight Gates as Kakashi used Thunder Breathing to enter the Transparent World and evade Guy’s Konoha Hand Blade attacks.
• Might Guy entered Stone Breathing Chakra Mode, and Kakashi braced himself to enter Thunder Breathing Chakra Mode in response.

Kakashi and Might Guy fought a closely matched quarterfinal, with Kakashi's ultimate blade strike destroying Day Tiger but leaving him unable to continue, so Might Guy advanced. Shisui then defeated Asuma using a concealed summoning and genjutsu while training Zorua.

• Might Guy launched Day Tiger, and Kakashi gambled his remaining Chakra on Musou no Hitotachi to cut through it.
• Might Guy blocked Kakashi's lightning blade with Golden Horizon Line, injuring his fingers, and Kakashi conceded the match to him.
• Kakashi waited for Might Guy to help him reach Mu Yue in the stands, while the referee called Shisui and Asuma to fight.
• Asuma attacked with Wind Release and Fire Release, but Shisui evaded his moves and overwhelmed him with a barrage of fire.
• Shisui used a summoning disguised as a Shadow Clone, then caught Asuma in genjutsu and placed a kunai at his neck to win.

Obito defeated Mei Terumi in the quarterfinals by using Shadow Clones to locate her through the Hidden Mist and striking with Flame Breathing Chakra Mode. The chapter ended with the semifinals about to begin, as Might Guy prepared to face Nagato.

• Mei Terumi used Hidden Mist Jutsu to obscure the arena and attacked Obito with Water Release while keeping her distance.
• Obito created twelve Shadow Clones to search the arena and confuse Mei Terumi's efforts to track him by sound.
• Mei Terumi used Lava Release to destroy several clones, allowing Obito to pinpoint her position and charge through the mist with Blaze Collision.
• The referee declared Obito the winner after Mei Terumi could no longer fight, and Obito returned to the waiting room without telling Kakashi and Nohara Rin how the battle unfolded.
• As the semifinals approached, Might Guy focused on Nagato, while Obito silently hoped Guy would win.

Might Guy fought Nagato in the first semifinal, using the Eight Gates and Stone Breathing Chakra Mode to attack at full power. Nagato countered his taijutsu with Shinra Tensei, but Might Guy identified the ability's apparent ten-second cooldown and prepared to counterattack.

• Nagato and Might Guy entered the arena, and spectators debated Guy's chances against Nagato's unusual abilities.
• Might Guy opened five Eight Gates and entered Stone Breathing Chakra Mode, while Nagato created Shadow Clones and attacked with Lightning, Fire, and Wind Release.
• Might Guy used Day Tiger to tear through Nagato's sea of flames, but Nagato stopped the attack with Shinra Tensei and was driven back several steps.
• Nagato avoided Might Guy's perfected Midday Leopard, then repeatedly used Shadow Clone Ninjutsu and Shinra Tensei to wear him down.
• After being hit by Shinra Tensei four times, Might Guy worked out that it might have a ten-second cooldown and smiled as he prepared to counterattack.

Might Guy tested Nagato’s Shinra Tensei cooldown, but Nagato had deliberately misled him and sent him flying with an earlier-than-expected attack. Near defeat, Guy opened the sixth gate and launched Golden Horizon Line at Nagato, who unleashed his strongest Shinra Tensei yet to stop him.

• Might Guy used Morning Peacock and Midday Leopard while counting the apparent ten-second interval between Nagato’s Shinra Tensei attacks.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei after only eight seconds, revealing that he had misled Guy about its cooldown, then had a Shadow Clone hit Guy with Pressure Damage.
• Realizing he could not win in his injured and exhausted state, Might Guy forcibly opened the sixth gate of the Eight Gates.
• Might Guy charged Nagato with Golden Horizon Line and destroyed Nagato’s Shadow Clone with a powerful shockwave.
• Nagato gathered his chakra and used his strongest Shinra Tensei to counter Guy’s attack.

Nagato defeated Might Guy with a full-power Shinra Tensei, then Shisui and Obito began a closely matched semifinal fight. Their battle continued with neither gaining a clear advantage as they exchanged powerful Fire Release attacks.

• Nagato's Shinra Tensei overwhelmed Might Guy's Golden Horizon Line and sent him crashing into the arena's edge.
• Might Guy tried to keep fighting, but his injuries left him unable to stand, and the referee declared Nagato the winner.
• Shisui and Obito began their match by matching each other's Great Fireball Technique and clashing in taijutsu.
• Obito entered Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and struck Shisui with Flame Fist, while Shisui countered with Armament Haki.
• Shisui and Obito both used Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, and Obito's stronger flames gradually forced Shisui to evade.
• Kakashi told Nohara Rin that the fight might depend on who made an opening first, and he thought Shisui had the advantage there.

Obito defeated Shisui in the Youth Martial Arts Tournament semifinal with a Shadow Clone trick, earning a place in the final against Nagato. After visiting the injured Might Guy, Obito vowed to avenge him, then tempered his promise when he remembered Nagato’s overwhelming strength.

• Obito used a Shadow Clone disguised as Charmeleon to distract Shisui, then struck him with Blazing Impact and won their exhausting semifinal fight.
• The referee declared Obito the winner, and the final against Nagato was scheduled for the day after tomorrow to give the fighters time to recover.
• Obito reunited with Kakashi and Nohara Rin, bragged about reaching the final, and joined them in visiting Might Guy at the hospital.
• Might Guy apologized for losing to Nagato and encouraged Obito to win the Fire Release reward in the final.
• Obito vowed to avenge Might Guy, but after recalling Nagato’s full-power Shinra Tensei, he amended his promise to say he would do his best.

Kakashi, Nohara Rin, Obito, and their Pokémon were ambushed by Sasori during training, and they struggled against his Third Kazekage puppet and deadly poison. As Kakashi was badly injured and Rockruff’s desire to protect him peaked at dusk, Rockruff began to evolve.

• Kakashi, Nohara Rin, and Obito trained with their Pokémon until Sasori ambushed them with poison needles, injuring Milotic and forcing them to defend themselves.
• Kakashi recognized Sasori, and Sasori brought out the Third Kazekage puppet, whose Magnet Release Iron Sand overwhelmed their defenses.
• Kakashi and his allies coordinated counterattacks, but Sasori’s puppet weapons and poison wore them down, and Kakashi was injured while protecting Rockruff.
• Sasori pressed his attack as Kakashi lost the ability to fight, Obito and Charmeleon were driven back, and Milotic suffered from poison.
• Rockruff, seeing Kakashi injured and wanting greater strength, drew in the energy of the setting sun and burst into dazzling light.

Rockruff evolved into Lycanroc and Charmeleon evolved again into Charizard during the battle with Sasori, helping Kakashi’s group drive him into retreat. After the poisoned Milotic recovered with Mu Yue’s help, Nagato intercepted Sasori and knocked him unconscious.

• Rockruff evolved into Dusk Form Lycanroc, which joined Nohara Rin and the others in attacking Sasori’s true body and defending against the Third Kazekage’s iron sand.
• Charmeleon evolved into Charizard, took to the air, and attacked the Third Kazekage while the others pressed Sasori’s puppets.
• Sasori recovered the Third Kazekage’s Chakra core, used a final iron sand attack and Explosive Tags to escape, and abandoned his other puppets.
• Kakashi stopped Lycanroc from pursuing Sasori, and the group returned to Six Paths City so Mu Yue could help Nohara Rin cure Milotic’s poisoning.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull Sasori toward him and struck him with Shinra Tensei, knocking him unconscious.

After the ambush, Mu Yue reassured his disciples while secretly having Nagato deal with Sasori, and Obito trained against Charizard, who defeated him once its Blaze ability activated. The next afternoon, Obito and Nagato entered the tournament final, with Obito preparing to exploit what the others had learned about Nagato’s abilities.

• Kakashi told Mu Yue that the attacker was Sasori, a puppeteer who controlled ten puppets, while Mu Yue concealed that he had already sent Nagato to handle him.
• Mu Yue explained that the disciples’ Ninja Beasts had different evolutionary potential, and Obito tried to justify provoking Charizard by claiming it had helped Charizard grow stronger.
• Obito and Charizard fought at the training grounds; Charizard used its awakened Blaze to overpower Obito and leave him exhausted.
• Nohara Rin treated Obito and urged him to protect himself in the final, while Obito vowed to do his best for the tournament and to honor Might Guy’s sacrifice.
• The next afternoon, Obito prepared to face Nagato using the intelligence his teammates had gathered, and the referee announced the tournament final.

Nagato defeated Obito in the Youth Martial Arts Tournament final after overcoming Obito and Charizard’s coordinated attacks and finishing the fight with Shinra Tensei. Obito accepted his second-place finish as the tournament concluded.

• Obito summoned Charizard at the start of the final, and Nagato countered their attacks with Water Release, Shinra Tensei, and the Preta Path’s absorption shield.
• Obito used Flame Release Nintaijutsu to land a physical hit on Nagato, while he and Charizard tested Shinra Tensei’s cooldown and estimated it at five seconds.
• Nagato created Shadow Clones and attacked with combined Fire and Wind Release, but Obito used a self-destructive Flame Emperor technique to destroy the clones.
• Obito and Charizard continued attacking together, but Nagato repeatedly repelled them and blocked their attempts to exploit Shinra Tensei’s cooldown.
• Nagato unleashed a powerful Shinra Tensei that crushed Obito and knocked Charizard unconscious, and the referee declared Nagato the winner.

After Nagato won the Martial Arts Tournament, the competitors and visitors reflected on Ninshu’s growing strength and Konoha’s strong showing. As Nagato resumed training, the Pokémon Egg Mu Yue had given him began to glow and crack.

• Kakashi and Nohara Rin discussed Nagato’s strength, while Kakashi wondered whether Nagato might become the future leader of the evil Akatsuki.
• Hanzo left for Amegakure, and the Daimyo and Kitsuchi considered what the tournament revealed about Ninshu and Konoha.
• Kakashi, Nohara Rin, and Shisui visited the injured Obito, who took comfort in Rin’s praise and began considering his custom ninjutsu prize.
• Yahiko, Konan, and Kyusuke celebrated Nagato’s victory, and Nagato thanked them before returning to his usual training.
• Nagato heard a crack during training and saw the Pokémon Egg Mu Yue had given him enveloped in a dazzling white light.

Nagato's Pokémon Egg hatched into Gastly, whose unusual appearance startled Yahiko and the Ninshu ninjas. News of the Martial Arts Tournament spread across the ninja world, prompting the village leaders to reconsider their plans and Danzō to grow more determined to obtain Nagato's Rinnegan.

• Nagato met Gastly, formed a contract with it, and took it outside after Mu Yue confirmed it was a Ninja Beast.
• Yahiko mistook Gastly for a ghost, then led Nagato to show it to the others, frightening the Ninshu ninjas at headquarters.
• Ōnoki reviewed the tournament results, worried about Iwagakure's young ninjas falling behind Konoha, and considered changing his plan involving Amegakure and Ninshu.
• Fourth Raikage A and the Third Raikage heard Kumogakure's leaders debate which village to target next, but made no decision.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi welcomed Konoha's strong tournament results, while Shimura Danzō fixated on Nagato's Rinnegan and resolved to obtain it.