Chapter Summaries

Konan attacked rogue ninja exploiting civilians in the Land of Bears, and Uchiha Asuka arrived to confront their leader, He Siyi. After Asuka crushed He Siyi and the tavern with Susanoo, Shukaku joined the assault while insisting he was fighting on humanity’s behalf.

• Konan killed a rogue ninja who begged for mercy and condemned the group for preying on civilians after wars.
• The rogue ninja called for He Siyi, while Uchiha Asuka watched from a rooftop.
• He Siyi activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode and charged outside, confident that his speed would defeat his opponents.
• He Siyi recognized Uchiha Asuka’s Susanoo and tried to claim he was a good person, but Asuka kicked him through the tavern and flattened the building.
• Asuka told Konan to stay near his feet, while Shukaku attacked the rogue ninja with Wind Style: Sand Shower and carried a great sword over to Susanoo.

Uchiha Asuka used his Mangekyō abilities to defeat the Rogue Ninjas and then faced a grieving civilian who tried to kill herself. Konan stopped her, while Ichikishimahime staged her own mock seppuku, leaving Asuka surrounded by the aftermath.

• Asuka expanded his ocular space and used Susanoo to slice through the Rogue Ninjas and nearby buildings, then dispelled the technique after discovering its heavy Chakra cost.
• A Rogue Ninja took a civilian hostage, but Asuka used genjutsu and the woman stabbed the attacker repeatedly after breaking free.
• The woman explained that her family was dead and her home destroyed, thanked Asuka and Konan, then tried to stab herself; Konan knocked the kunai away.
• Konan urged Asuka to comfort the woman, but Ichikishimahime mocked his supposed gentleness and accused him of tormenting her with food.
• Ichikishimahime declared she would commit seppuku, jabbed a kunai against her stomach until it bent, and announced that her anger had faded.

After helping free civilians in the Land of Bears from Rogue Ninjas, Asuka learned that their leader, He Siyi, came from Kumogakure and heard that Star Ninja Village might hold records of a fertility remedy. He then challenged the villagers’ plans to flee by pointing out that they needed land before they could farm.

• Ichikishimahime repeatedly failed to kill herself, and Konan tried to comfort her by urging her to live for her departed family.
• The village chief and other civilians emerged after Asuka defeated the Rogue Ninjas, thanked him, and warned him that he had fought a Kumogakure ninja.
• Asuka showed his Konoha forehead protector and learned that the defeated leader was He Siyi, a former Kumogakure ninja.
• Asuka revealed his S-Rank mission to find a folk remedy for infertility, and the village chief suggested that Star Ninja Village might have relevant records.
• The villagers said they planned to leave the Land of Bears, so Asuka asked what they needed before farming and declared that they first needed land.

Uchiha Asuka argued that villagers needed weapons to defend themselves from Rogue Ninjas and began selling them subsidized Exploding Tags. Konan understood his deterrence strategy, while a returning ninja with a star Forehead Protector headed toward the poisonous mist after seeing the destruction and a mountain-sized blue giant.

• Asuka told the villagers that they needed to develop their military before they could farm, since no unclaimed land remained in the Ninja World.
• Asuka summoned a Ninja Cat, which returned with four Ninja Cats carrying scrolls and a message that Granny would raise her weapon prices because he had disrupted her retirement.
• Asuka opened a scroll and offered the villagers cheap Exploding Tags, explaining that the weapons would let them fight back against Rogue Ninjas.
• A black Ninja Cat explained to Konan that Asuka wanted to deter violence by giving civilians the ability to die alongside their attackers, and Konan recognized the similarity to Nagato's plan.
• A ninja wearing a star Forehead Protector surveyed the ruined street, recalled seeing a mountain-sized blue giant, and ran toward the poisonous mist.

Quan Junshan returned to Hoshigakure, where villagers chased him for another false alarm, while he privately worried about Uchiha Asuka’s arrival and the village’s uncertain future. In Xiong Da Town, Asuka’s experiment with local remedies exploded, and Konan reflected on the villagers’ use of Exploding Tags for self-defense.

• Quan Junshan shouted that Konoha was attacking, provoking angry villagers to chase him through the streets before he escaped into an alley.
• Quan Junshan recalled seeing Uchiha Asuka arrive in the Land of Bears and worried about Hoshigakure’s future after the daimyo fled and civilians were killed or injured.
• Quan Junshan returned to Natsuhi’s home and amused her with an exaggerated story about climbing the One-Tail’s poop, while villagers dismissed his tale as another lie.
• In Xiong Da Town, Asuka’s experiment with folk remedies exploded, and he found that the remedies included several explosives rather than anything related to pregnancy.
• Konan told Asuka that the villagers had learned to use Exploding Tags, then privately compared Asuka’s extreme defensive methods with Yahiko’s approach.

Asuka and Konan searched for a needed remedy in the Land of Bears, but Asuka complained that Star Ninja Village's power struggle was far less dramatic than he had expected. In Xiong Da Town, he heard that Star Ninja Village planned to use its meteorite to summon a visitor from beyond the heavens.

• Asuka argued with Konan over whether the small-scale fighting in the Land of Bears counted as a great-nation battlefield, then said they might have to visit Star Ninja Village to find the remedy.
• Asuka questioned his system about the mission deadline, the current date and seasons, and whether he could awaken the Rinnegan; the system said it could awaken it for him.
• Quan Junshan visited the Star Shadow, resolved to seize an opportunity connected to the village's meteorite and Natsuhi, and addressed him as Lord Star Shadow.
• A day later, Asuka criticized Konan's intelligence about Star Ninja Village and said its internal struggle was less dangerous than an Uchiha Clan Meeting.
• Asuka overheard civilians say Star Ninja Village planned to use its greatest treasure to summon a visitor from beyond the heavens, and he suspected the visitor would be an Otsutsuki.

Black Zetsu and Spiral Zetsu prepared a hand-copied gossip magazine to raise money for saving Mom while avoiding discovery. A report that Hoshigakure planned to summon Guests from Beyond the World left Black Zetsu alarmed.

• Black Zetsu and Spiral Zetsu oversaw White Zetsu copying the first issue of Ninja World's Best by hand to keep their operation secret.
• Black Zetsu and Spiral Zetsu argued over the magazine’s rumors, including gossip about Konoha’s Sarutobi and Uchiha clans and Sunagakure’s Kazekage.
• Spiral Zetsu explained that exaggerated rumors would make readers less suspicious of their intelligence-gathering operation, and Black Zetsu agreed to keep the claims restrained.
• Spiral Zetsu received a report that Hoshigakure in the Land of Bears planned to summon Guests from Beyond the World.
• Black Zetsu read the report and cried out in alarm, wondering what Hoshigakure was trying to do.

Asuka and Konan investigated the Star Ninja Village’s plans and learned it would hold a Power Demonstration in Bear Three Town, while Asuka feared the village might use its meteorite to summon the Otsutsuki Clan. Asuka set out to stop what he called an evil plan, leaving a Konoha spy confused about his motives.

• Asuka brushed off Konan’s questions about the Star Ninja Village, but privately worried about rumors that its meteorite could summon visitors from beyond the heavens.
• Shukaku read the Star Ninja Village’s flyer and eagerly supported Asuka’s plan to humiliate the village and prolong unrest in the Land of Bears.
• Asuka, Konan, and the others arrived in Bear Three Town, where civilians had gathered for safety after the daimyo fled and the Star Ninja Village drove out Rogue Ninjas.
• A vendor told Asuka that the Star Ninja Village had taken over the town’s defenses and would stage a Power Demonstration the next day, while spies and scouts from several nations watched the area.
• The vendor revealed that he was a Konoha spy sent by Danzo-sama, and Asuka gave him fried chicken and Luosifen while claiming he had come to stop the village’s evil plan.
• After Asuka left, the spy wondered whether the Star Ninja Village’s exhibition match concealed a greater scheme, then complained that the Luosifen tasted awful.

Uchiha Asuka watched Star Ninja Village restore order in Bear Three Town and suspected the village was planning something involving the meteorite. The Star Ninja publicly promised protection and banned rogue ninja and toads, while Asuka explained that the toad prohibition stemmed from Jiraiya’s past misconduct in Hoshigakure.

• Uchiha Asuka and Konan walked through Bear Three Town as civilians returned and Star Ninja posters praised the village’s leaders.
• Uchiha Asuka suspected Hoshigakure planned to use a meteorite to summon aliens, but Konan dismissed his muttering.
• A Star Ninja killed a burly man in front of the crowd and promised that Star Ninja Village would protect the civilians and help rebuild their homes.
• A Star Ninja planted a flag declaring that rogue ninja and toads were prohibited from entering the Land of Bears, prompting cheers from some civilians.
• Uchiha Asuka told Konan that Jiraiya had once trespassed into Hoshigakure’s bathhouse area and was captured after waiting there for three days.
• Uchiha Asuka said he learned about Jiraiya’s incident when Star Ninja Village complained about him at Konoha’s gates while he served as Police Force Captain.

Quan Junshan entertained Natsuhi with a fabricated story about fighting an Uchiha’s Susanoo, then prepared to exploit Hoshigakure’s growing civilian population. The next morning, Uchiha Asuka headed into town while worrying about the Otsutsuki and considering how to investigate the rumor about Hoshigakure’s meteorite.

• Natsuhi visited Quan Junshan at Hoshigakure’s temporary residence and offered him a sweet potato.
• Quan Junshan told Natsuhi an exaggerated story about battling Susanoo, and she laughed and praised him.
• After Natsuhi left, Quan Junshan ordered his guards to give civilians compensation for emotional distress rather than rebuilding money, adding that they needed to live long enough to spend it.
• Uchiha Asuka left Konan sleeping and went toward the town center, thinking about the Otsutsuki and whether to seize Hoshigakure’s meteorite based on the rumor.

Asuka weighed the risk of stealing the meteorite while talking with spies from several villages who were earning their own money in the Land of Bears. After learning how useful their self-funded intelligence work was, he left for a three-hour shopping trip with the Orange Cat disguised as Kushina, prompting a Konoha spy to mistake the disguise for evidence of Asuka’s scandalous behavior.

• Asuka refused to steal the meteorite because Konoha’s current situation could make the act appear to be an aggressive move by the village.
• Asuka found spies from Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure working as breakfast vendors, and one explained that the spies had taken over local protection-fee collection to support themselves.
• The fried dough stick vendor revealed that he had opened barbecue restaurants and sent Danzo a permanent free barbecue coupon, then put Asuka’s unpaid breakfast on Danzo’s tab.
• Asuka explained to the Orange Cat that the spies were valuable because they gathered intelligence while working without funding and sending money back to their villages.
• The Orange Cat transformed into a red-haired woman resembling Kushina and persuaded Asuka to go shopping with her for three hours.
• The Konoha spy saw the disguise and decided to warn his wife to stay away from Asuka, believing rumors about Danzo’s interest in married women were true.

Uchiha Asuka and Kushina attended Star Ninja Village’s public display of the Mysterious Peacock Method, which used armed squads and lethal techniques to execute captured rogue ninja. As the crowd cheered, Asuka watched the demonstrations and judged that the rogue ninja were too weak to pose a real challenge.

• Uchiha Asuka took Kushina shopping in Bear Three Town, where she enjoyed choosing clothes and local specialties while he paid.
• Uchiha Asuka and Kushina joined the townspeople to watch Star Ninja Village display its strength in the square.
• Uchiha Asuka explained to Shukaku that Star Ninja Village had formed around a fallen star and used it to develop the Mysterious Peacock Method.
• A Star Ninja released captured rogue ninja and promised them freedom if they escaped the platform, then ordered the Firearms Squad to shoot them down as they fled.
• A Star Ninja changed the challenge for a second group of rogue ninja, then used a shrinking rainbow ring to kill them as they tried to reach the platform’s edge.
• Kushina watched the executions with dismay while Uchiha Asuka silently judged the rogue ninja to be extremely weak.

Hoshigakure staged a public display to restore the Land of Bears citizens’ confidence, claiming the village could negotiate with the Five Great Nations. Footage of Jiraiya imprisoned with the toads convinced the crowd of Hoshigakure’s strength, and the chapter ended with Quan Junshan’s plan winning praise as vendors distributed free food.

• Natsuhi questioned why Hoshigakure had publicly eliminated the rogue ninja, and Quan Junshan explained that the spectacle was meant to rebuild the village’s image.
• A colorful figure declared that Hoshigakure could negotiate with the Five Great Nations, drawing skepticism from the crowd and prompting Kushina to ask Uchiha Asuka about Hanzo.
• The figures showed footage of Jiraiya and several toads imprisoned in Hoshigakure, and Uchiha Asuka confirmed that the captive was the real Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya’s recorded conversation with an old man portrayed him praising Hoshigakure’s history and proposing that they negotiate as equals, which excited the citizens.
• Vendors handed out free food while the citizens praised Hoshigakure, and a seven-colored ninja commended Quan Junshan for suggesting the plan.

Hoshigakure staged public negotiations to demonstrate its strength and condemn the great nations, while Asuka and a Konoha spy recognized that some of the accusations traced back to Danzo. Quan Junshan revealed the meteorite and urged the citizens to seek strength through the Mysterious Peacock Method, as two Star Ninja slipped into the crowd.

• Citizens praised Hoshigakure’s power while watching its negotiations with visiting great-nation ninja, and Asuka noticed that the supposed Uchiha negotiator was an impostor.
• Asuka explained to the Konoha spy that Danzo had used fabricated pretexts, political pressure, and public opinion against smaller nations.
• The Star Ninja denounced great nations for oppressing small countries, impressing the citizens and making them consider joining Hoshigakure.
• Asuka prepared to end the staged negotiations, but a person in a Gray Combat Suit appeared on the platform holding a stone with an eerie aura.
• Quan Junshan identified the stone as Hoshigakure’s meteorite, promoted the Mysterious Peacock Method, and reminded the crowd of their humiliation by rogue ninja.
• Two Star Ninja jumped from the platform and disappeared into the crowd as a citizen shouted that the rogue ninja’s humiliation remained fresh.

Quan Junshan turned Hoshigakure’s public demonstration into a plot to sacrifice civilians, then revealed he was seeking a way to escape the lifespan cost of the star’s power. Asuka rushed to stop him while Kushina protested Asuka’s plans for Naruto’s future.

• Asuka explained to Kushina why ninja villages and clans did not share their techniques with outsiders.
• Quan Junshan released purple mist from the meteorite, and most of the Land of Bears’ citizens inhaled it while Asuka and his companions avoided it.
• Quan Junshan insulted the citizens and told Kota that cultivating with the star drained their lifespans, then claimed he had found a way to live longer.
• When Kota demanded to know the method, Quan Junshan stabbed him with a kunai and said that someone else’s life could be replenished with their lives.
• Asuka declared that he was going to save the world and launched toward the platform, while Kushina shouted that she was Naruto’s real mother.

Asuka confronted Quan Junshan on the platform and realized he planned to use the meteorite to summon beings from beyond the world, while Black Zetsu considered whether the stone might be connected to Kaguya. Quan Junshan trapped the citizens of the Land of Bears in a poisonous barrier and began draining their chakra to gather power around Natsuhi.

• Asuka arrived to find the Hoshigakure ninja dead and recognized Natsuhi as the woman who had once eaten nine Sweet Potatoes.
• Asuka accused Quan Junshan of sacrificing his companions to summon Guests from Beyond the World, and Quan Junshan admitted it.
• Asuka wondered whether Black Zetsu knew the meteorite could summon Kaguya, while Black Zetsu decided to investigate the stone with Orochimaru's help.
• Asuka threw a kunai at Quan Junshan, but a purple barrier repelled it.
• Quan Junshan sealed the platform and nearby crowd inside a poisonous purple barrier, then used the Peacock Method · Absorption to draw purple mist from the citizens toward Natsuhi.

As the purple poison mist trapped Bear Three Town’s civilians, Uchiha Asuka let Quan Junshan’s plan proceed while testing whether the ritual would draw the Six Paths Sage to him. He gave Kushina an antidote and suspected Star Ninja Village was trying to summon Jashin.

• The purple mist sealed off Bear Three Town and drove its panicked civilians toward Quan Junshan’s platform.
• Kushina berated Uchiha Asuka for failing to stop Quan Junshan, and Asuka gave her a candy-coated antidote pill.
• Quan Junshan asked why Asuka had not intervened, and Asuka said he wanted to run a test related to Kage-level power and cheat-code ninjas.
• Asuka reasoned that his Uchiha ancestry, Otsutsuki blood, and connection to Shukaku made him a strong candidate to receive the Six Paths Sage’s power.
• After recognizing the setup as a human-sacrifice ritual, Asuka suspected Star Ninja Village intended to summon Jashin.

Uchiha Asuka confronted Quan Junshan, who revealed that Hoshigakure’s Star cultivation shortened its ninja’s lives and that he planned to sacrifice the country to extend his own. Asuka’s Mangekyō ability bypassed Quan Junshan’s automatic purple-mist defense, and his Susanoo shattered it, leaving Quan Junshan buried in a street crater.

• Quan Junshan explained that Hoshigakure’s Star cultivation shortened its ninja’s lifespans and that his plan required sacrificing the country to prolong his own.
• Asuka attacked Quan Junshan, but the purple mist automatically formed barriers that blocked his strikes.
• Asuka used his Mangekyō Sharingan to swap places with purple mist and kick Quan Junshan through buildings.
• Quan Junshan tried to counter with the Mysterious Peacock Method, but Asuka struck him with an azure skeletal hand that shattered his barrier and hurled him into the street.
• Asuka looked down at the crater where Quan Junshan had landed and declared that his Absolute Defense was weaker than he believed.

Uchiha Asuka confronted Quan Junshan, who planned to sacrifice the Land of Bears’ civilians to extend the lives of Hoshigakure ninja. Asuka disrupted the ritual by teleporting to Natsuhi and beheading her, then dropped her head into Kushina’s hands.

• Quan Junshan explained that he planned to take the civilians’ remaining lifespans and use them to sustain himself through Natsuhi.
• Quan Junshan trapped the civilians inside purple mist as they panicked and cursed him for luring them there.
• Asuka appeared atop Natsuhi and inspected her while fending off Quan Junshan’s attacks with a Great Fireball Technique and a punch.
• Quan Junshan thought he had knocked Asuka into some ruins, but Asuka reappeared beside Natsuhi and revealed his movement was Teleportation.
• Asuka cut off Natsuhi’s head and dropped it into Kushina’s outstretched hands, prompting her to angrily threaten him.

Uchiha Asuka fought Quan Junshan, who admitted he had caused the civilians to collapse while seeking a way to escape Hoshigakure’s life-shortening training. Asuka struggled to finish the fight without endangering the civilians, while Natsuhi revealed that Quan Junshan’s power came at the cost of his remaining lifespan and that absorbing Star Energy had loosened the limits on hers.

• Asuka attacked Quan Junshan after concluding that he was behind the civilians collapsing, and Quan Junshan explained that Hoshigakure’s Mysterious Peacock Method limited its practitioners’ lives to twenty-seven years.
• Kushina examined Natsuhi’s severed head, introduced herself, and promised to have Asuka restore Natsuhi’s body and avenge her.
• Natsuhi insisted that Quan Junshan liked her and was lying, even as he and Asuka traded powerful blows across the village.
• Asuka recognized that the civilians had crowded behind him to escape the advancing purple mist and held back from using Susanoo against Quan Junshan.
• Natsuhi told Kushina that Quan Junshan’s absorbed strength would shorten his life and that absorbing Star Energy had cracked the restraints on her lifespan.