Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Yoru overheard Kumogakure officials allowing racial tensions to grow so they could blame Konoha and channel the anger into war. After seeing Mabui, Samui, and Yugito bullied and sold into slavery by a young kunoichi, he arranged through Mikoto to have them purchased, then prepared to visit Orochimaru.

• Uchiha Yoru listened to Cloud Shinobi discuss how the Raikage and the Land of Lightning’s Daimyo planned to blame Konoha for the growing conflict between dark-skinned and fair-skinned people.
• Uchiha Yoru recognized Mabui, Samui, and Yugito among students being harassed by dark-skinned girls, and he used his Sharingan to expose a young genin’s plan to sell them to a merchant from the Land of Rice.
• The merchant took the bound girls away, while Yugito swore revenge against the people who had betrayed them.
• Uchiha Yoru identified the merchant and his company, then sent Mikoto a message to arrange for the three girls to be purchased.
• Uchiha Yoru decided to visit Orochimaru, whom he had grown close to through their shared research.

Uchiha Yoru and Orochimaru carried out a plan to unleash the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails on Kumogakure, disguising Yoru as Copper Horn and breaking the Two-Tails’ seal while Orochimaru released Blue B. Kumogakure descended into chaos, and the chapter ended as the Third Raikage saw a Tailed Beast Ball bearing down on the village.

• Orochimaru told Uchiha Yoru that Root planned to leak his identity to Kumogakure, and the two discussed their mission and the Two-Tails’ location.
• Uchiha Yoru entered Cloud Thunder Gorge, impersonated Copper Horn, and broke the seal restraining the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Orochimaru used a disguise and genjutsu drug to release the Eight-Tails from Blue B in Kumogakure.
• The Eight-Tails rampaged near the village, prompting the Third Raikage and Cloud Shinobi to evacuate civilians and mobilize their forces.
• The Third Raikage spotted a Tailed Beast Ball flying toward Kumogakure and realized the Two-Tails had also gone berserk.

Uchiha Yoru helped turn Kumogakure’s Tailed Beast crisis into a disaster, while Root’s betrayal destroyed Minato Namikaze’s comrades’ trust in him. The Third Raikage recognized Konoha’s role in the attack and resisted calls for war, leaving Kumogakure on the brink of conflict.

• Uchiha Yoru provoked the Two-Tails, then disguised himself as Copper Horn and helped unleash it and the Eight-Tails on Kumogakure.
• Uchiha Yoru and Hizashi Hyuga accused Minato Namikaze of betraying them after Cloud Shinobi ambushed them with leaked information, and they said they would part ways once they crossed the border.
• Orochimaru revealed that Root had ordered Uchiha Yoru and Hizashi Hyuga’s information leaked to help his escape and exploit the chance to weaken the Uchiha and Hyuga clans.
• The Third Raikage learned that Copper Horn and Shimura Danzō had been connected to the attack, and he realized Copper Horn’s bloody message was meant to provoke war between Kumogakure and Konoha.
• The Third Raikage silenced Cloud Shinobi demanding revenge and recognized that Copper Horn wanted to exploit the conflict to launch a coup.

After the Kumogakure crisis, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha to intensify the Black and White conflict in the Land of Lightning while publicly denying involvement. Sunagakure’s elders, believing Konoha had caused the Third Kazekage’s disappearance, chose to seek an alliance with Kumogakure and launch a war against Konoha.

• Shimura Danzō confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over the turmoil in Kumogakure, and Hiruzen explained how Copper Horn had inflamed the conflict between Black and white people.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi directed ANBU, Root, and the Land of Fire to worsen the Land of Lightning’s internal conflict and ordered Konoha to condemn Copper Horn publicly.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected Onoki of backing Copper Horn and concluded Kumogakure would struggle to start a war while its internal unrest continued.
• Elder Chiyo and Ebizo argued that Konoha had caused the Third Kazekage’s disappearance and debated how Sunagakure could avoid losing missions, resources, and standing.
• Elder Chiyo proposed allying with Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure to attack Konoha, and threatening to support Copper Horn if the Third Raikage refused.
• Sunagakure’s elders agreed to start a war against Konoha and use Kumogakure’s internal conflict to pressure the Third Raikage into joining them.

Kumogakure blamed Konoha for the Tailed Beast rampage and the village’s unrest, then agreed to ally with Sunagakure and redirect internal tensions into war. In the Land of Rice, Uchiha Yoru reassured Hizashi Hyuga that he would protect him as a companion.

• The Third Raikage received reports of Kumogakure’s turmoil and evidence linking the Eight-Tails rampage to Konoha’s Root.
• Sunagakure’s elders sent a letter proposing an alliance after the Third Kazekage’s disappearance, and the Third Raikage concluded Konoha was behind both villages’ crises.
• Kumogakure’s Jonin voted to join forces with Sunagakure and channel the village’s internal conflict into an external war against Konoha.
• Hizashi Hyuga and Uchiha Yoru reached the Land of Rice after splitting from Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru’s group during their retreat.
• Uchiha Yoru revealed that he had sensory abilities, and Hizashi Hyuga told him how the Hyuga branch family was used as a scapegoat.
• Uchiha Yoru promised to protect Hizashi Hyuga and bring his companion back alive.

Uchiha Yoru and Hizashi Hyuga discussed the Hyuga branch family’s Caged Bird seal and their shared desire to escape the fates imposed on them. Later, Yoru found Mabui, Samui, Yugito, and five other girls imprisoned as slaves, and promised that they would become his tools.

• Uchiha Yoru told Hizashi Hyuga that Uchiha ninja would meet them in the Land of Rice the next morning.
• Hizashi Hyuga described the Caged Bird seal and the branch family’s oppression, and Yoru explained that Root had considered researching ways to break or suppress the seal.
• Yoru and Hizashi went out drinking in town, where Yoru recognized that the trafficking of white girls reflected Shimura Danzō’s response to the Black and White conflict in Kumogakure.
• Mabui comforted Samui, Yugito, and the other imprisoned girls, while the girls vowed to seek revenge and hoped they could stay together.
• Uchiha Yoru appeared outside their cell and asked what they would do if they could return home; Mabui asked him to take them in, and he promised they would be purchased at dawn and become his tools.

Uchiha Yoru and Uchiha Mikoto brought the rescued children toward the Land of Fire as Konoha issued an emergency summons and the Third Shinobi World War began. Sunagakure and Kumogakure declared war on Konoha, while Onoki feared Konoha’s alleged conspiracies and moved Iwagakure toward the conflict.

• Uchiha Mikoto agreed to train Mabui, Yugito, and Samui after Uchiha Yoru explained their exceptional talents and the girls resolved to serve him and seek revenge.
• A Swift Hawk delivered Konoha’s highest-level emergency summons, and Uchiha Yoru concluded that a major event had shaken the Shinobi World.
• Sunagakure invaded the Land of Rivers with a five-thousand-man force and accused Konoha of murdering the Third Kazekage.
• Kumogakure allied with Sunagakure, blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi for the villages’ crises, and declared war on Konoha.
• Onoki ordered Iwagakure to investigate for Konoha’s agents, protect its Jinchuriki, condemn Konoha publicly, and deploy three thousand Rock Shinobi to the border.

Hiruzen Sarutobi faced mounting accusations and war on several fronts, and resolved to concentrate Konoha's forces against Kumogakure. When Uchiha Yoru returned to a village thick with rumors and military mobilization, he was summoned to a Jonin meeting.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi denied that he had orchestrated the Third Kazekage's disappearance or the Copper Horn incident, while Shimura Danzō and the other elders questioned whether the Sarutobi Clan was involved.
• Mitokado Homura reported that Konoha's forces were reinforcing the Land of Rivers border, and Hiruzen identified Iwagakure and Kirigakure as further threats.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to call a Jonin meeting and concentrate Konoha's strongest forces against one village, while his advisers favored targeting Kumogakure because of its internal conflict.
• Uchiha Yoru returned to Konoha and found the village crowded with rumors blaming Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan for starting the war.
• An ANBU shinobi informed Uchiha Yoru that a Jonin meeting would take place that evening at the Hokage's temporary office building.

Uchiha Yoru and Tsunade discussed the village’s wartime politics and the plan to assassinate the Third Raikage, while agreeing that Konoha’s clans had to unite for now. After Yoru left for the Jonin meeting, Tsunade discovered that she had awakened the Sharingan and uncovered evidence that the Senju and Uchiha shared a common origin.

• Uchiha Yoru returned to Tsunade’s laboratory and inferred that the Third Hokage had persuaded Tsunade and the major clans to postpone their political struggle during the war.
• Tsunade explained the Cloud Village Collapse Plan, which called for Konoha’s elite to attack Kumogakure and assassinate the Third Raikage.
• Uchiha Yoru questioned whether the Third Hokage’s forces could kill the powerful Third Raikage and suspected they had underestimated him.
• Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru agreed that Konoha’s clans should unite against outside enemies rather than force a change of Hokage during wartime.
• After Uchiha Yoru left for the Jonin meeting, Tsunade examined her research and realized that she had awakened the Sharingan and that Senju and Uchiha likely shared an ancient origin.

Konoha declared war against Sunagakure and Kumogakure, and Hiruzen Sarutobi reorganized the village’s leadership and forces. He then gathered Konoha’s elite for the Cloud Village Collapse Plan, an operation intended to strike the Third Raikage, while Uchiha Yoru doubted their confidence in success.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that Sunagakure and Kumogakure had joined forces against Konoha and assigned Tsunade Senju to head the Intelligence Department.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade Senju to command fronts and mobilized Konoha’s shinobi for war.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō presented the secret Cloud Village Collapse Plan, with Hiruzen and Tsunade heading toward the border by separate routes.
• Shimura Danzō and the Major Clans pledged elite shinobi to the operation, which would target the Third Raikage.
• Uchiha Yoru questioned whether Hiruzen Sarutobi could defeat the Third Raikage, while Hiruzen declared Konoha certain to win.

Tsunade concluded that Uchiha Yoru’s firm convictions made him the best candidate to become the Fourth Hokage, and pledged the Senju Clan’s support. As the Third Shinobi World War began, Konoha adopted a hardline public stance while a secret elite force slipped out of the village.

• Tsunade compared Hiruzen Sarutobi’s fixation on past glory to Hanzo of the Salamander’s decline and argued that both had lost their convictions.
• Tsunade praised Uchiha Yoru’s clearly directed Will of Fire and declared that he was more suited to become Hokage than she was.
• Tsunade kissed Uchiha Yoru’s forehead and promised that she and the Senju Clan would support his bid to become the Fourth Hokage.
• Konoha denied involvement in the Third Kazekage’s disappearance and other incidents, fortified its borders, and accused Sunagakure and Kumogakure of threatening the Land of Fire.
• Ōnoki refused to declare war on Konoha immediately and decided that Iwagakure should wait for Sunagakure and Kumogakure to test Konoha’s strength.
• Konoha sent large Shinobi Corps units to the front lines and announced peace negotiators, while an elite force of about five hundred shinobi secretly left the village undetected.

Madara Uchiha celebrated Tsunade Senju’s criticism of Hashirama’s ideals and decided to let Uchiha Yoru handle the coming conflict on his own. At the Konoha–Cloud border, Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared for a clash, while Yoru reunited with Nagato and learned that Iwagakure had hired the Akatsuki Organization.

• White Zetsu told Madara that Tsunade had called Hashirama’s ideals a failure, and Madara praised her and looked forward to seeing what Yoru would accomplish.
• Madara refused to interfere with Yoru’s Cloud Village Collapse Plan and urged the war to grow more destructive so the Five Great Shinobi Villages would be weakened.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha’s border forces to engage Cloud Shinobi if they attacked and assigned Uchiha Mikoto and Uzumaki Kushina to build an intelligence network.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered more than a hundred elite Jonin and nearly four hundred Elite Chunin for a planned battle against the Third Raikage, with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as a possible final weapon.
• Uchiha Yoru reunited with Nagato, learned that Yahiko had helped name their organization Akatsuki, and suggested adding a red cloud to its black robes.
• Nagato explained his belief that a unified war could bring peace, and Yoru asked about Konan’s report that Iwagakure had hired the Akatsuki Organization.

Uchiha Yoru extracted traces of Rinnegan Pupil Power from Nagato and confirmed that higher-quality ocular power could accelerate changes in his Sharingan. As Nagato departed to delay the Akatsuki Organization’s mission, Yoru prepared for the coming Third Shinobi World War and the Cloud Village Collapse Plan.

• Nagato told Uchiha Yoru that Iwagakure had hired the Akatsuki Organization to provoke a battle between Konoha and Cloud Shinobi, and Yoru urged him to follow his own path while respecting others’ ninja ways.
• Uchiha Yoru examined Nagato’s Rinnegan and extracted traces of its Pupil Power, confirming that the higher-quality power caused his own eyes to change.
• Nagato agreed to delay the Akatsuki Organization’s mission for ten days and left with the latest issue of My Struggle, believing Yoru’s Will of Fire could bring peace.
• Uchiha Yoru warned Konan to survive the coming war, received a message from Katsuyu, and prepared to join Tsunade’s forces against Cloud Shinobi.
• Uchiha Yoru sensed his Sharingan growing stronger and anticipated awakening Mangekyo before the Cloud Village Collapse Plan began the next day.

Konoha launched the Cloud Village Collapse Plan by using Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Technique to trap the Third Raikage in a Four Violet Flames Formation and attack the Cloud forces. The Third Raikage discovered that Utatane Koharu was actually Hiruzen Sarutobi, who faced him in battle.

• Utatane Koharu met the Third Raikage at the border while Konoha and Cloud shinobi secretly prepared ambushes behind their barriers.
• Koharu revealed that Minato Namikaze would use Flying Thunder God to bring ANBU Jonin to the Third Hokage and seal the Third Raikage inside a barrier.
• Minato transported seven ANBU Jonin onto the battlefield, and eight ANBU raised the Four Violet Flames Formation around the Third Raikage.
• Cloud and Konoha forces received the signal and launched attacks along the border as the Cloud commander ordered his troops to concentrate on rescuing the Raikage.
• The Third Raikage shattered Koharu’s disguise and discovered that she was Hiruzen Sarutobi, who declared that the Raikage would be buried there.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō trapped the Third Raikage in the Four Violet Flames Formation, but their attacks failed to overcome his Lightning Armor, and he turned the battle against Konoha. Meanwhile, Uchiha Yoru overwhelmed young Killer B with swordsmanship that he recognized from the death of Kuro.

• Konoha and Cloud Shinobi clashed as Hiruzen Sarutobi fought the Third Raikage inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• The Third Raikage knocked away Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Adamantine Staff and endured his ninjutsu, leaving Konoha’s forces shocked.
• Shimura Danzō joined Hiruzen Sarutobi in a coordinated Wind Style pincer attack, but the Third Raikage’s Lightning Armor withstood it and left him with only minor wounds.
• The Third Raikage rampaged through the barrier, while A, candidate for the Fourth Raikage, led the Cloud Shinobi in a counterattack.
• Uchiha Yoru suppressed young Killer B’s Seven-Sword Style and revealed that he remembered Kuro, prompting Killer B to recognize him as Kuro’s killer.

Uchiha Yoru fought the future Fourth Raikage A and Killer B as Cloud Shinobi reinforcements arrived, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō struggled to defeat the Third Raikage. After surviving Hiruzen’s Five Elements Great Combined Attack, the Third Raikage declared himself the legend of the Shinobi World, but Minato Namikaze suddenly struck at his weakened Lightning Armor.

• Uchiha Yoru clashed with the future Fourth Raikage A and Killer B, then maneuvered their fight into the crowd and killed a Sarutobi Clan jonin.
• The Third Raikage overwhelmed Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō inside the Four Violet Flames Formation despite their combined attacks.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Shadow Clones to unleash the Five Elements Great Combined Attack, but the Third Raikage survived with a damaged Lightning Armor.
• The Third Raikage declared that he was the legend of the Shinobi World after defeating Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Minato Namikaze appeared in a golden flash and thrust a Wind Style Chakra Blade through the Third Raikage’s weakened Lightning Armor.

The Third Raikage broke through the Four Violet Flames Formation after defeating Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and Minato Namikaze, turning Konoha’s Cloud Village Collapse Plan into a rout. Hiruzen ordered a retreat, while Tsunade abandoned her gains on the front line and led reinforcements to protect him.

• Minato Namikaze failed to kill the Third Raikage with a Flying Thunder God strike, and the Raikage identified the marked kunai that enabled the Space Ninjutsu.
• The Third Raikage attacked the weakened corner of the Four Violet Flames Formation and shattered the barrier, allowing him to charge into Konoha’s ranks.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha’s forces to kill the Raikage, but Shimura Danzō and Utatane Koharu urged him to retreat and regroup.
• Utatane Koharu reminded Hiruzen that Konoha still needed him, restoring his composure, and he ordered Minato Namikaze to lead the retreat.
• Shimura Danzō imagined becoming Hokage by saving Konoha, while Tsunade ordered her forces to abandon their positions and led three divisions to support Hiruzen.

Tsunade’s reinforcements stabilized Konoha’s retreat, but Third Raikage A prepared a counterattack with Killer B and the Eight-Tails. Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki against Kumogakure, and Uchiha Yoru vowed to protect Uzumaki Kushina; just as Hiruzen ordered a desperate counterattack, the Eight-Tails appeared behind Konoha’s forces.

• Tsunade arrived with five hundred reinforcements, ordered Konoha’s shinobi to retreat in an orderly way, and clashed with Utatane Koharu over the defense line.
• Third Raikage A ordered the Heavenly Transfer Technique to bring him and Killer B behind Konoha, while his son A commanded Cloud Shinobi forces to encircle the Konoha army.
• Uchiha Yoru challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu over the failed Cloud Village Collapse Plan as Konoha’s Jonin questioned their leadership.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed using the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to attack the Cloud Shinobi, and Uchiha Yoru pledged his life and the Uchiha Clan’s honor to protect Uzumaki Kushina.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi began ordering a desperate counterattack, but the Eight-Tails suddenly appeared behind Konoha’s forces.

The Cloud Shinobi breached Konoha’s defenses and attacked from both sides with the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails, forcing the Konoha forces to choose between retreat and holding the rear. After Hiruzen Sarutobi fled, Uchiha Yoru rallied the Major Clans and led Kushina and Mikoto toward the enemy, declaring his ambition to become Hokage.

• The Third Raikage used the Eight-Tails’ Tailed Beast Ball to break Konoha’s defensive line as more than three hundred Cloud Shinobi advanced to encircle the defenders.
• Utatane Koharu ordered Danzo, Root, and the ANBU to cover Hiruzen Sarutobi’s retreat, while Minato Namikaze and Tsunade volunteered to hold the rear.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi left with two ANBU, and Uchiha Yoru condemned the idea that Konoha needed its Hokage more than its comrades.
• Uchiha Yoru rallied the Major Clans, while Tsunade, Aburame Shikuroo, and the Uchiha and Hyuga Jonin committed to defending Konoha.
• Uchiha Yoru set out with Kushina and Mikoto to face the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails, promising to pursue the Hokage position after the war.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and Utatane Koharu retreated from the Cloud Shinobi assault while planning Konoha’s response. At the front, Uchiha Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina joined the battle against the Third Raikage A, with Yoru’s Chidori piercing his Lightning Armor but the fight continuing.

• A Root sensory ninja reported that Cloud Shinobi had trapped the rear guard, and Utatane Koharu urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to focus on Konoha’s survival.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha to enter a full state of war, while Shimura Danzō saw the conflict as a chance to regain influence.
• The Third Raikage A unleashed the Eight-Tails Gyuki against Konoha’s defenses and declared his vengeance for the Black and White conflict.
• Uzumaki Kushina, Uchiha Yoru, and Uchiha Mikoto arrived; Mikoto confronted the Eight-Tails while Yoru and Kushina attacked the Third Raikage A.
• Uchiha Yoru blinded the Third Raikage A with genjutsu, then struck him with Chidori as Uzumaki Kushina supported him with Wind Style attacks.
• The Third Raikage A broke the genjutsu by surging with lightning chakra, and he and Uchiha Yoru continued fighting as Kushina kept pressuring him from range.