Chapter Summaries

Kumogakure and Iwagakure interpreted Uchiha Shisui and Itachi’s disappearance as a sign of Konoha’s internal collapse and began preparing to exploit it. In the Land of Rain, the attacker revealed himself to the captive Shisui and demanded that he become his servant if he wanted to save Itachi and prevent the coming chaos.

• A ordered Kumogakure to investigate the report of Shisui’s disappearance and began war mobilization in case Konoha fell into civil war.
• Ōnoki learned that mysterious attackers had defeated the Iwagakure and Kumogakure teams pursuing the stolen intelligence, then sent word that Iwagakure would welcome the Uchiha Clan.
• Fugaku confronted Hiruzen in the Hokage’s office over Shisui and Itachi’s disappearance, while Heaven’s Will identified the likely attacker as the madman Mercenary Tao.
• Shisui regained consciousness in a swamp in the Land of Rain, injured and blindfolded, as his captor told him the world was nearing war.
• The captor offered to help Shisui save Itachi and stop the chaos if Shisui became his servant and found everything he wanted.

Bai Cangshu, posing as Mercenary Tao, forced Uchiha Shisui to accept a deal by threatening Uchiha Itachi and warning that Konoha could descend into civil war. He revealed that his goal was to eat a Tailed Beast and gain its chakra, shocking Catherine when she realized he had Gourmet Cells.

• Catherine inferred that Mercenary Tao had spared Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi because they were connected to his mission, and she used her healing medicine to keep them alive.
• Uchiha Shisui blamed his arrogance for his defeat and feared that his disappearance would leave the Uchiha Clan and Konoha vulnerable to disaster.
• Bai Cangshu asked Shisui to agree to his deal and threatened to kill Itachi if he refused; Shisui relented after learning Itachi was still alive.
• Bai Cangshu identified himself as Mercenary Tao, claimed to want world peace, and told Shisui that the Uchiha should help him obtain a Tailed Beast.
• Catherine prepared her Holy ARM to treat Shisui and realized Mercenary Tao wanted to eat a Tailed Beast because he had Gourmet Cells.

Bai Cangshu completed his Gourmet Cell enhancement and used Uchiha Shisui’s desire to save Itachi to secure his cooperation in capturing the Tailed Beasts. Shisui returned to Konoha to prevent conflict, while Bai Cangshu took Itachi toward the people he blamed for manipulating the ninja world.

• Bai Cangshu gained the Gourmet Cell and the traits Cell Activation and Gourmet Power Evolution, then left Catherine to heal Uchiha Shisui.
• Bai Cangshu told Uchiha Shisui to capture the Tailed Beasts during the coming war mobilization, and Shisui recovered under Catherine’s magic.
• Uchiha Shisui questioned Catherine under Genjutsu and learned that Mercenary Tao intended to strengthen himself by devouring powerful creatures.
• Uchiha Shisui left for Konoha to prevent internal conflict and deter the other villages from starting a war.
• Bai Cangshu mocked the systems and leaders of the Naruto World and told Uchiha Itachi he would take him to confront the people manipulating the ninja into war.

Bai Cangshu discovered that his Gourmet Power only improved through properly prepared food, and Hiranaka Hana’s roasted boar meat finally raised his Gourmet Cell. As he manipulated Uchiha Itachi’s thinking and advanced his trial, several black-robed figures appeared nearby.

• Bai Cangshu failed to gain any benefit from eating raw boar meat purified with the Garuda Blade.
• Hiranaka Hana offered to cook the boar, while Uchiha Itachi considered Mercenary Tao’s argument that the rulers who profited from war were responsible for the Ninja World’s hatred.
• Hiranaka Hana roasted the meat, slightly improving Bai Cangshu’s Gourmet Cell and granting him Enhanced Hearing.
• Bai Cangshu questioned Hiranaka Hana about cooking, then had Catherine help heal Uchiha Itachi as his Special Trial progress reached 4/7.
• Bai Cangshu heard several black-robed figures approaching and looked toward them.

Heaven's Will told Konoha's leaders that Mercenary Tao had taken control of Uchiha Shisui and was seeking the Tailed Beasts and Akatsuki. Mercenary Tao met Akatsuki in the Land of Rain, where a confrontation with Orochimaru began.

• Heaven's Will reported that Shisui had disappeared in the Land of Water and was likely under Mercenary Tao's control, prompting Konoha and the Uchiha to consider the threat of a new war.
• Heaven's Will suggested Mercenary Tao wanted the Tailed Beasts and intended to contact an organization that would bring pain to the world.
• Catherine recognized the approaching red-cloud-cloaked group as Akatsuki and realized Mercenary Tao had planned to meet them.
• Bai Cangshu greeted Akatsuki as comrades, but Deva Path Pain questioned his purpose and Konan doubted his claims about bringing peace through pain.
• Orochimaru attacked Bai Cangshu with a Kusanagi Sword, but the blade could not pierce him, and Bai Cangshu countered with a blast that broke through Orochimaru's Triple Rashomon.

Bai Cangshu defeated Orochimaru’s attacks and exposed Orochimaru’s ability to escape death, then fought Pain and several Paths. He remained uninjured and challenged Nagato’s ability to bring peace through pain.

• Bai Cangshu used his speed and strength to strike Orochimaru, who survived the fatal blow by emerging from a giant snake.
• Bai Cangshu confronted Pain as Pain asked whether he had ever felt pain and attacked him with the other Paths.
• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei while the summoned beasts swarmed Bai Cangshu, but Bai Cangshu destroyed them and killed Animal Path Pain with a golden streak.
• Bai Cangshu questioned whether inflicting pain on ninjas could bring peace and told Nagato that his capacity was insufficient, alarming Konan.

Bai Cangshu fought the Six Paths of Pain, but Nagato trapped him in Chibaku Tensei. He broke free with Satoru Gojo’s power briefly surfacing, then reclaimed control and challenged Nagato to fight.

• Deva Path Pain used Banshō Ten'in to pull Bai Cangshu close, but Bai Cangshu grabbed the black rod and countered with Moonwalk and Wind Demon.
• Bai Cangshu evaded Pain’s attacks and battered the Six Paths with Wind God Leg: Stormy Wind and Rain, destroying Asura Path Pain before the others intervened.
• Deva Path Pain trapped Bai Cangshu inside a massive Chibaku Tensei sphere and demanded that Catherine hand over Uchiha Itachi and Hiranaka Hana.
• Catherine hesitated, and the stone sphere cracked before exploding as Bai Cangshu emerged.
• Satoru Gojo briefly spoke through Bai Cangshu, but Bai Cangshu reclaimed control and combined the Limitless Cursed Technique with Satsui no Hado.
• Bai Cangshu challenged Nagato to fight and test the pain he wanted to impose upon the world.

Bai Cangshu used his soul power, Satsui no Hado, and Limitless techniques to overwhelm Pain and taunt Konan about her and Nagato’s ideals. As Nagato stopped Konan from sacrificing herself, Deva Path Pain prepared to unleash a devastating attack and declared that gods were neither good nor evil.

• Bai Cangshu clashed with Deva Path Pain, using Limitless to stop Shinra Tensei and a Spirit Orb to damage Preta Path Pain.
• Bai Cangshu confronted Konan and mocked her and Nagato for pursuing Yahiko’s dream through violence.
• Konan began the Paper Person of God Technique, but Nagato interrupted her and pulled her behind Deva Path Pain.
• Nagato took control of Deva Path Pain, rose into the air, and prepared a powerful attack while declaring that he and the others were gods, neither good nor evil.

Bai Cangshu endured Nagato’s Super Almighty Push and defeated Deva Path Pain, then argued that the world would only feel pain if its true kings were made to bleed. Nagato began reconsidering who controlled war as Bai Cangshu introduced a plan of Utmost Benevolence and Goodness.

• Catherine escaped with Hiranaka Hana and the wounded Uchiha Itachi as Deva Path Pain prepared Super Almighty Push.
• Bai Cangshu let the attack crush him, relying on his Immortal Body and defensive abilities to recover.
• Bai Cangshu emerged from underground and seized Deva Path Pain after Nagato’s Chakra was depleted.
• Bai Cangshu told Nagato that the world’s kings, rather than ordinary people, had to suffer for the world to understand pain.
• Uchiha Shisui arrived with the captured three-tailed beast, while Nagato began questioning who truly decided whether wars happened.
• Bai Cangshu announced that he had a plan of Utmost Benevolence and Goodness.

After joining Akatsuki as Vermilion, Mercenary Tao traded Sharingan eyes to Orochimaru and exposed Danzo’s experiments, prompting Uchiha Itachi to question Konoha’s leadership. Pain assigned Zetsu and Sasori to the Land of Water amid Kirigakure’s chaos and ordered the rest of Akatsuki to begin the Konoha Crush Operation.

• Konan stopped Orochimaru from approaching Catherine and the other girl while Pain’s rain technique resumed monitoring the area.
• Deva Path Pain and Mercenary Tao returned together, and Mercenary Tao revealed that he had joined Akatsuki as Vermilion.
• Mercenary Tao gave Orochimaru a pair of Sharingan and confirmed that Danzo had commissioned Orochimaru to modify him with Uchiha eyes and Hashirama cells, causing Uchiha Itachi to doubt Konoha’s leadership.
• Pain announced that Kirigakure had been attacked, suffered heavy casualties, and lost Isobu, then sent Zetsu and Sasori to the Land of Water.
• Mercenary Tao provoked Sasori by recalling Pakura’s political betrayal, while Pain ordered the rest of Akatsuki to carry out the Konoha Crush Operation.

Bai Cangshu prepared Akatsuki and Uchiha Itachi to begin their assault on Konoha, while Pain set the scale of the planned destruction. At the Land of Fire border, Bai Cangshu asked Orochimaru to use Impure World Reincarnation on him.

• Catherine healed Uchiha Itachi with her Holy ARM after joining the Five Nations' Fall event.
• Pain explained that Akatsuki would exploit Konoha's political crisis before turning against the capitals of the Five Great Nations.
• Uchiha Itachi confronted the Konoha Collapse Plan, then asked to join and choose some of its targets; Pain accepted after requiring the deaths of more than half of Konoha's higher-ups and the destruction of its defenses.
• The group traveled toward the Land of Fire, where Konan's paper killed patrolling samurai and ninjas before they could raise an alarm.
• Bai Cangshu told Orochimaru he wanted him to use Impure World Reincarnation on him.

As Konoha prepared for war, Heaven's Will concealed intelligence about an imminent assault and struck Sarutobi Hiruzen when the attackers arrived. Mercenary Tao, Pain, Orochimaru, and Uchiha Itachi invaded the Hokage meeting, and Itachi began killing Konoha's leaders.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Anbu to find Tsunade and recall Jiraiya before summoning Konoha's clan heads and Jonin to a war council.
• Heaven's Will gave Kakashi an intelligence scroll while privately calculating how Mercenary Tao's alliance with Akatsuki would alter the world's future.
• After reports of invading beasts and a breached barrier reached the meeting, Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Konoha's forces to search and defend the village.
• Hyuga Hiashi deflected an attack that shattered the meeting-room wall, and Sarutobi Hiruzen accused Heaven's Will of betrayal and ordered the Anbu to arrest her.
• Mercenary Tao, Deva Path Pain, and Orochimaru entered the meeting as Uchiha Itachi confronted his father and killed Utatane Koharu.

Bai Cangshu overwhelmed Hyuga Hiashi in a brutal taijutsu battle as his Satsui no Hado grew, while Pain and Konoha’s forces fought around the Hokage Office. Uchiha Itachi claimed responsibility for killing Utatane Koharu and cooperating with Mercenary Tao, and Uchiha Fugaku confronted him, demanding to know what had happened to Shisui.

• Preta Path Pain absorbed the elite ninja’s attacks while Bai Cangshu fought Hyuga Hiashi inside the Hokage Office.
• Bai Cangshu broke through Hiashi’s Revolving Heaven with a Satsui no Hado-powered punch and sent him crashing through the office wall.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others escaped as Enma’s Vajra Staff swept through the building, and Mercenary Tao caught the staff before the collapsing structure buried him and Enma.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen accused Uchiha Fugaku’s clan of betraying Konoha, but Uchiha Itachi appeared and said the clan had no part in his killing of Utatane Koharu or his cooperation with Mercenary Tao.
• Uchiha Itachi explained that he had acted alone to limit Konoha’s losses, then cut the Uchiha crest from his uniform.
• Uchiha Fugaku blocked Itachi’s blade and demanded to know what had happened to him and what Mercenary Tao had done to Shisui.

Uchiha Shisui confronted Uchiha Obito to protect Uzumaki Naruto, then revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and Susanoo as the battle moved toward Konoha’s main conflict. Meanwhile, Bai Cangshu killed Mitokado Homura and drew Sarutobi Hiruzen toward Hokage Rock, while Shimura Danzō led Root toward the Uchiha Clan compound.

• Uchiha Shisui confronted Uchiha Obito on a rooftop and prevented him from capturing Uzumaki Naruto, whose room held only a clone.
• Uchiha Obito used Kamui and Wood Release against Uchiha Shisui, who awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and manifested Susanoo.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and intervened against Pain and Konan as Konoha’s ninja fought the Akatsuki.
• Bai Cangshu killed Mitokado Homura with a brutal attack, and Sarutobi Hiruzen moved to face him directly.
• Bai Cangshu and Sarutobi Hiruzen charged toward Hokage Rock while Shimura Danzō led Root toward the Uchiha Clan compound.

Root attacked the Uchiha compound while Konoha was under assault, but Leren, Catherine, and Ran turned against Danzo and fought to protect the Uchiha. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared a powerful technique against Bai Cangshu on Hokage Rock.

• Uchiha Mikoto hid Sasuke at home while Uchiha Fugaku remained away and the clan prepared for danger.
• Danzo led Root ninja in an attack on the Uchiha compound, where Uchiha Yashiro confronted him.
• Leren arrived and condemned Danzo for attacking the Uchiha during Konoha's crisis, then drew two Chakra Blades.
• Catherine claimed that Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui had asked for help, and she and Ran attacked Danzo's forces alongside Leren.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Enma as the Vajra Staff and formed five Shadow Clones while Bai Cangshu waited for him to use his strongest move.

Sarutobi Hiruzen fought Mercenary Tao while battles raged across Konoha, and he used the Reaper Death Seal in a desperate attempt to stop him. The seal began dragging Satoru Gojo’s spirit from Bai Cangshu, but Bai Cangshu activated Yin Spirit Possession, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Mercenary Tao why he was attacking Konoha, and Bai Cangshu said he wanted to fight strong opponents and plunge the world into chaos.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen unleashed the Five Elements: Great Bullet Technique, but Bai Cangshu leaped into the air and redirected the attack before surviving the explosion.
• Uchiha Obito taunted Uchiha Shisui as their fight continued, while Uchiha Itachi wounded Uchiha Fugaku and set off to kill Danzo.
• Bai Cangshu regenerated from his wounds and allowed Sarutobi Hiruzen to seize him so Hiruzen could perform the Reaper Death Seal.
• The Death God pulled a spirit from Bai Cangshu, and Sarutobi Hiruzen realized it was Satoru Gojo rather than Mercenary Tao.
• Bai Cangshu invoked Yin Spirit Possession as Yellow Springs surged within him.

Bai Cangshu absorbed the Death God and killed Sarutobi Hiruzen, gaining a new spirit-sealing trait as the Konoha Collapse Plan advanced. After returning to the battlefield, he met Heaven's Will, who offered information about Hiranaka Minoru as a bargaining chip.

• Bai Cangshu used Yellow Springs and the Throne of the Heart to overpower the Death God, while Sarutobi Hiruzen struggled to stop him and pleaded for the young people of Konoha to be spared.
• The Death God pulled Sarutobi Hiruzen's soul into Bai Cangshu, killing the Third Hokage; Bai Cangshu gained the Spirit Body Sealing trait and the Konoha Collapse Plan reached 73%.
• Bai Cangshu descended from the collapsing Hokage Rock carrying Sarutobi Hiruzen's corpse, and Orochimaru confirmed that his former teacher had been killed.
• Bai Cangshu searched the battlefield for Danzo but could not find him.
• Heaven's Will approached Bai Cangshu and proposed cooperation, offering a man named Hiranaka Minoru as a bargaining chip.

Bai Cangshu, Orochimaru, and Pain ended their attack on Konoha after Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo were killed, leaving the village badly damaged and exposed to attacks from other ninja villages. As the attackers departed, Jiraiya and Konoha’s surviving leaders faced the task of rebuilding and preparing for the coming war.

• Bai Cangshu tossed Sarutobi Hiruzen’s corpse to Jiraiya, who confronted Orochimaru and realized they were now completely enemies.
• Deva Path Pain announced that the attackers would withdraw and warned Konoha that war was coming, while Jiraiya prepared to act and Heaven’s Will urged him to focus on rebuilding and defending the village.
• Uchiha Itachi arrived after killing Danzo, left Sasuke behind, and joined Bai Cangshu, who praised him and declared the Konoha Crush over.
• Bai Cangshu departed with Itachi as Deva Path Pain destroyed Hokage Rock, removing Konoha’s rear defenses.
• Kakashi, Jiraiya, and the surviving clan leaders gathered among the ruins, while Asuma collapsed in despair at Hiruzen’s corpse.

Kumogakure and the other nations prepared to invade the weakened Land of Fire after Konoha’s destruction, while Bai Cangshu exposed Shimura Danzō’s feigned death and met Heaven’s Will. Her Golden Rune trade revealed that 9527’s true treasure had been something more valuable than the card.

• Kumogakure’s intelligence report confirmed Konoha’s devastating losses, and Fourth Raikage A prepared for war.
• Kumogakure’s forces crossed into the Land of Fire as Konoha sentries warned that war had begun.
• Bai Cangshu tested Isobu’s raw meat, then taunted the supposedly dead Shimura Danzō until Danzō sat up.
• Heaven’s Will arrived, treated the Tailed Beast meat with natural energy, and asked Bai Cangshu to keep Danzō alive for two more days.
• Heaven’s Will traded Bai Cangshu a Golden Rune, prompting him to realize that 9527’s true treasure had been more precious than the card.

Heaven's Will offered Bai Cangshu a partnership to plant an Erdtree sapling and draw the Greater Will into the Naruto Derivative World, then invited him to a hidden event. After accepting, Bai Cangshu maimed Danzo, received a map to Uchiha Madara's corpse, and prepared to act as the Four Great Ninja Villages invaded the Land of Fire.

• Heaven's Will revealed her plan to plant an Erdtree sapling and offered Bai Cangshu aid in exchange for his help capturing tailed beasts and eliminating Uchiha Obito.
• Bai Cangshu attacked Heaven's Will, but she calmly explained her proposal, gave him the location of Uchiha Madara's corpse, and invited him to the hidden event Golden Tree's Advent.
• Heaven's Will's body dissolved into green fluid, and Bai Cangshu accepted the mission to protect the Erdtree sapling until the mission ended.
• Bai Cangshu delayed Danzo's execution, then broke his spine when Danzo tried to flee; the Special Trial progress updated to 6/7.
• A bird delivered Heaven's Will's map to Bai Cangshu, who gave it to Orochimaru and reminded him to use Bai Cangshu as the sacrifice for Impure World Reincarnation.
• The Pain Deva Path reported that the Four Great Ninja Villages had crossed into the Land of Fire, and Bai Cangshu said they would begin the next day.