Chapter Summaries

Chiba’s group neared the intelligence team, which he recognized as Morino Ibuse, Shiga Takeyoshi, and Kinoi Kento. Just as Chiba pulled Yukina and Hirohiko back, two huge fire attacks struck, engulfing both groups.

• Yukina told Chiba that Kumogakure and Iwa had destroyed the intelligence team’s Shadow Clone and sent pursuit forces, which could not catch up.
• Chiba ordered Yukina and Hirohiko to leave for the meeting point after they rendezvoused, while Yukina worried that her Main Family status endangered them.
• Hirohiko recognized Yukina’s self-blame and chose not to speak, while Chiba resolved to reassure her after the mission.
• Chiba identified the approaching intelligence team as Morino Ibuse, Shiga Takeyoshi, and Kinoi Kento.
• Chiba caught Yukina and Hirohiko and pulled them back as two enormous masses of flame fell, engulfing both groups.

Chiba and his team were attacked by a single ninja whose Fire, Wind, and Lightning Release overwhelmed the forest around them. As Yukina and Hirohiko pulled Chiba clear of the lightning strike, the identity of their attacker remained unknown.

• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko spotted one enemy after powerful Fire Release ignited the trees, while Morino Ibuse shouted that Kento had been injured.
• The enemy’s attack split the flames and severed the surrounding trees with Wind Release, forcing Chiba’s group onto the ground amid dust and smoke.
• Yukina sensed another ninjutsu, and Chiba raised an Earth Wall that he transformed into a Rock Wall.
• The enemy’s Lightning Release shattered the wall and sent bolts tearing through the ground as Yukina and Hirohiko launched themselves into the air.
• Hirohiko used Steel Wire attached to Chiba to yank him out of the lightning’s path, cutting his finger in the process.

Chiba and his allies joined Morino Shinsu’s group as the rain and Hirohiko’s Gale Slash cleared the flames and smoke. Chiba recognized the powerful enemy as a member of the Yagura Clan and realized the confrontation would be difficult.

• Morino Shinsu and Shiga Takeyoshi caught the badly burned Kinoi Kento after the enemy’s attacks injured Shinsu and nearly struck them with Kunai.
• Morino Shinsu warned Shiga Takeyoshi that the newcomer was dangerous and insisted they recover the Defense Map and return it to the village.
• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko landed as the drizzle became a downpour, and Chiba called for Hirohiko to act.
• Hirohiko used Gale Slash to sweep away the flames and smoke, revealing a burly, white-haired shinobi with dark bronze skin.
• Chiba recognized the enemy as a member of the Yagura Clan and recalled how troublesome the clan’s power could be.

Yazuki Kaito assessed the wounded Konoha squad and recognized that Morino Ibuse and his team could not rendezvous with Chiba’s group without breaking his hold on them. Chiba announced that he had a plan, leaving the two sides poised for their next move.

• Yazuki Kaito surveyed Morino Ibuse, Shiga Takeyoshi, and Kinoi Kento, judged their condition, and resolved to stop them from joining Taki Chiba’s team.
• Shiga Takeyoshi bandaged Morino Ibuse’s injured leg while Ibuse considered the danger to his disciples and the Defense Map.
• Morino Ibuse prepared to hold Yazuki Kaito back so his disciples could escape with the Defense Map.
• Yazuki Kaito sensed Morino Ibuse’s killing intent but stayed facing Chiba’s group, confident that holding his position was safest.
• Chiba recognized that the stalemate favored Yazuki Kaito and said, “I have a plan.”

Chiba coordinated an attack on Yazuki Kaito, who had recognized the danger of being trapped between Konoha's teams and Morino Ibuse but refused to take the bait. The chapter ended as Chiba and Hirohiko launched a Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu at him.

• Yazuki Kaito assessed his position and decided to stall until Kumogakure and Iwa reinforcements arrived.
• Chiba recognized Kaito's calm judgment and urged Yukina and Hirohiko to trust his safest plan.
• Yukina and Hirohiko agreed, and Chiba ordered them to begin.
• Chiba and Hirohiko charged and threw shuriken and kunai at Kaito as Morino Ibuse prepared to act.
• Chiba and Hirohiko used Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, multiplying the projectiles into a storm aimed at Kaito.

Yazuki Kaito countered Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina’s coordinated attack, turning Hirohiko’s Sharingan genjutsu against the pair and striking back. As Hirohiko and Yukina pulled Morino Ibuse out of danger, a second Chiba appeared behind Kaito and attacked him.

• Chiba and Hirohiko sent a torrent of cloned shuriken and kunai at Kaito while charging behind them, but Kaito’s Wind Release scattered the weapons.
• Hirohiko used Body Flicker and his Sharingan to feint at Kaito, who anticipated the genjutsu and used Hirohiko’s eyes to trap Morino Ibuse in it.
• Kaito attacked Hirohiko and Ibuse with a twisting strike, but Chiba blocked one kunai while Yukina struck Kaito’s left hand.
• Chiba called to Hirohiko and Yukina, who carried the immobilized Ibuse away from Kaito instead of taking the chance to attack him.
• A second Chiba leaped out from behind the crouching Chiba and swung a fist at Kaito’s face.

Shiga Takeyoshi watched in shock as Hirohiko and Yukina joined the fight, realizing Chiba had anticipated the Kumogakure ninja’s moves. The enemy trapped Chiba with lightning and an underground attack, but Chiba escaped using a Water Clone, while fireballs suddenly threatened Hirohiko and Yukina.

• Shiga Takeyoshi saw Hirohiko and Yukina rush to support Morino Shinsu and felt bitter about how far their abilities surpassed his.
• The Kumogakure ninja’s Lightning Clone grabbed Chiba and exploded, paralyzing him with electricity.
• The enemy used Earth Release, Headhunter Jutsu to seize Chiba’s ankles, but Chiba switched with a Water Clone that electrified the underground hands.
• Shiga Takeyoshi shouted for Hirohiko and Yukina to run as three fireballs hurtled toward them from behind.

Chiba used a Water Wall to shield Hirohiko, Yukina, and Captain Mori no from Yazuki Kaito’s fireballs, then attacked Kaito with unusually powerful water arrows. Kaito survived their assault by a narrow margin, but Chiba’s attack was still underway.

• Chiba realized Yazuki Kaito might have planned to use his Lightning Clone and a combined attack to kill the group, then moved behind Hirohiko, Yukina, and Captain Mori no.
• Chiba raised a Water Wall that absorbed Kaito’s three fireballs, though they punched holes through it and filled the area with steam.
• Chiba launched several Water Arrow Techniques at Kaito as he fell through the air, and Kaito countered with Wind Release: Thousand Faces Wind.
• One water arrow pierced Kaito’s wind wall and grazed his cheek, demonstrating its near-S-Rank power.

Taki Chiba outmaneuvered Yazuki Kaito by using a Water Clone as bait, then gathered water around the Kumogakure shinobi to trap him. The chapter ended as Chiba activated Water Release: Water Prison Technique.

• Yazuki Kaito blocked Chiba's kick and grabbed his leg, believing he had caught the real Taki Chiba.
• Yazuki Kaito recalled the other Konoha shinobi's retreat and concluded Chiba had stayed behind to delay him.
• Chiba revealed that he had chosen taijutsu to lure Yazuki Kaito into grabbing a Water Clone.
• The Water Clone burst apart, and Yazuki Kaito saw the real Chiba forming hand seals below.
• Chiba gathered the scattered water around Yazuki Kaito and activated Water Release: Water Prison Technique.

Chiba trapped Yazuki Kaito in a Water Prison Technique and ordered Hirohiko, Yukina, Shiga Takeyoshi, and the injured Kento to escape in pairs with the Defense Map. After they fled, Chiba faced Yazuki alone, but he released the prison just as Yazuki appeared to reveal another trick.

• Hirohiko and Yukina prepared to carry Morino Ibuse away, but Shiga Takeyoshi stopped them and demanded to know Chiba's plan.
• Hirohiko explained that Chiba intended to hold off the Kumogakure ninja while the others escaped, and he used his Sharingan to make Shiga trust Chiba.
• Hirohiko and Yukina fled into the forest, followed by Shiga carrying Kinoi Kento.
• Chiba formed water arrows inside the prison and moved between Yazuki Kaito and the escaping group.
• Yazuki Kaito realized Chiba had carefully used a Water Clone to lure him into the Water Prison Technique.
• Chiba spoke of Yazuki having another trick up his sleeve, then released the Water Prison Technique.

Chiba and Yazuki Kaito survived a dangerous exchange of feints and counterattacks, each recognizing the other's tactical skill while hiding their own disadvantage. Chiba then unsettled Kaito by questioning whether he was the original or a Lightning Clone, and whether the pursuer after his companions was a clone.

• Yazuki Kaito released the Water Prison Technique and dodged Chiba's prepared Water Arrow Technique instead of attacking.
• Yazuki Kaito reasoned that Chiba had anticipated his backup plan and had used the water arrows to force a rushed choice while preparing a lethal counterattack.
• Chiba realized his chakra was running low despite having delayed Kaito and helped Hirohiko and Yukina escape.
• Yazuki Kaito pretended to remain confident and said the fight was evenly matched.
• Chiba asked whether Yazuki Kaito or his Lightning Clone was fighting him, and whether the original or clone was chasing his companions.

Taki Chiba realized Yazuki Kaito had switched places with a Lightning Clone and sent his true body after Hirohiko and the others to seize the Defense Map. Chiba concluded that destroying the clone would leave Kaito’s true body without backup, while the clone admitted it was a clone and asked how Chiba had figured it out.

• Yazuki Kaito’s Lightning Clone recalled how Kaito had planned to hold Chiba back while his true body pursued the Defense Map.
• Chiba inferred that the enemy before him was a Lightning Clone and that Kaito’s true body had gone after Hirohiko and the others.
• Chiba reasoned that destroying the Lightning Clone would foil Kaito’s remaining plan.
• The Lightning Clone asked Chiba how he had identified it as a clone.
• Chiba said Kaito was very much like Killer B, then added that Killer B was also very much like him.

Taki Chiba and the Lightning Clone Yazuki Kaito faced off in the rain while each weighed whether to break away. When Kumogakure and Iwa elites surrounded them, Yazuki Kaito dispelled himself, leaving Chiba to face their attack.

• Yazuki Kaito realized Chiba had identified him as a clone and feared Chiba would pursue his original, who was seeking the Defense Map.
• Chiba decided not to risk breaking away from Yazuki Kaito and waited while the heavy rain made fighting more dangerous.
• Yazuki Kaito noticed Chiba was waiting for his clone to expire and considered continuing to stall for his original.
• Kumogakure and Iwa elites emerged from the forest and encircled Chiba, and Yazuki Kaito shouted that they should kill Chiba and search him for the Defense Map.
• Yazuki Kaito dispelled himself, and Chiba dodged a faint current as the elites attacked with Exploding Tags, Kunai, and Shuriken.

Hirohiko, Yukina, and Shiga Takeyoshi fled through the forest with the badly burned Kento and Morino still trapped in genjutsu, following Chiba’s instructions. When they encountered a burly figure ahead, Hirohiko told Shiga Takeyoshi to take over as captain.

• Hirohiko carried the unconscious Kento as Yukina treated his burns with bandages supplied by Chiba, while Shiga Takeyoshi worried that the treatment was insufficient.
• Shiga Takeyoshi asked why Morino remained trapped in genjutsu, and Yukina explained that freeing him would make him rush off to save Chiba and leave the others behind.
• Shiga Takeyoshi realized Chiba may have planned for Morino to be incapacitated so he could not sacrifice himself to rescue Chiba, though he remained unsure how much Chiba had anticipated.
• Yukina warned the group to stop when they spotted a burly figure among the trees ahead.
• Hirohiko told Shiga Takeyoshi that he was leaving everything to him, making Shiga Takeyoshi the escape squad’s new captain.

Iwa ambushed Kumogakure instead of attacking Chiba, allowing him to escape the battlefield while the two forces fought. Chiba found a sealed scroll in the forest, while Hiratsuka Shin set out to handle what came next and a scout considered reporting to the Tsuchikage.

• Iwa attacked Kumogakure during the assault on Chiba, throwing the alliance into a fierce battle.
• Iwa's commander questioned Lord Hiratsuka's order, believing killing Chiba mattered more than weakening Kumogakure.
• Chiba watched from the forest, relieved that Iwa had attacked Kumogakure, and decided to wait before making his next move.
• Chiba found a red-lacquer-sealed scroll beneath a tree near where Hirohiko and the others had left.
• Hiratsuka Shin learned that the fighting had begun and left the temporary command post to handle what came next.
• The scouting ninja remained at the command table and considered reporting to the Tsuchikage.

Chiba realized he could not safely decipher Iwa's seal on the Defense Map, so he added his own protective seal and chose a southern escape route. Hiratsuka Shin anticipated Chiba's route and led an interception force toward it.

• Chiba studied the Defense Map's complex Iwa sealing formulas and concluded that he could not safely undo them alone.
• Chiba added a seal that would trigger the map's mechanisms if Kumogakure tried to open it without his or Kushina's expertise.
• Chiba consulted the plan scroll, identified the southern route toward the boundary between Iwa and Kumogakure's encirclement, and headed that way.
• Hiratsuka Shin told his three Iwagakure companions that Chiba would take the southern route and explained how he had predicted Chiba's plan.
• Hiratsuka Shin led the group toward the route, determined to intercept Chiba and recover the Defense Map.

Chiba worried about Hirohiko using his Sharingan genjutsu on Shiga, then realized that doing so could mean Hirohiko possessed exceptional ocular power and genjutsu talent. He resumed his mission and encountered an Iwa elite team led by a Quasi-S-Rank ninja, just as an explosion erupted beside him.

• Chiba recalled how Hirohiko had used his Sharingan to make Shiga leave the Defense Map behind without explaining the plan.
• Chiba feared Hirohiko’s genjutsu ability and Sharingan might be exceptionally powerful, perhaps approaching the level of Itachi’s.
• Chiba resumed traveling through the forest toward the southern edge of the encirclement.
• Chiba emerged into the rain and found a short, fat Iwa ninja and three Iwagakure Ninja waiting to intercept him.
• The short, fat ninja began speaking as Chiba looked toward his upper right, where an explosion burst through the rain and mud.

Yugito Nii revealed herself as the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and swiftly killed several Iwa shinobi before attacking Chiba. She struck him hard, but Chiba blocked her punch and began forming a hand seal, forcing her to retreat.

• Yugito Nii emerged in Tailed Beast Chakra and killed one Iwa elite and two Iwa shinobi while pinning Hiratsuka Shin.
• Chiba recognized Yugito Nii as the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and realized her control over Tailed Beast Chakra was nearly perfect.
• Yugito Nii vanished from Chiba’s sight and attacked him from behind with a powerful punch.
• Chiba blocked Yugito Nii’s punch with his arms and formed a hand seal, prompting her to retreat.

Chiba faced Yugito Nii in her Two-Tails form and realized he could not survive a direct fight with her. He resolved to defeat her to protect the Defense Map and Yukina, while Yugito prepared to kill him as her only chance for revenge.

• Yugito retreated from Chiba's feigned hand seals, then recognized that he had been bluffing and grew furious.
• Chiba hid his injured left hand and assessed Yugito's speed and strength, fearing she could defeat him in a few blows.
• Chiba concluded he had to stop Yugito to keep her from taking the Defense Map and abducting Yukina, which would endanger his allies and Konoha.
• Yugito recalled Grandpa Killer B's lessons about staying calm and avoiding an enemy's dangerous attacks, then suppressed her urge to strike blindly.
• Yugito resolved that Chiba had to die, noticed that he intended to keep her from leaving, and braced for his attack.

Chiba and Yugito Nii fought at close range, trading powerful blows before Yugito seized Chiba and hurled him into the air. She struck him with five blue fireballs, leaving him engulfed in flames as she remained on guard.

• Chiba blocked Yugito Nii’s attack with Rock Hardening Technique, then kicked her with enough force to crack her Rock-like defense and drive her into the mud.
• Yugito Nii grabbed Chiba’s right foot with both hands, broke through his Rock Skin, and flung him upside down through the air.
• Yugito Nii formed five blue fireballs from her Tailed Beast Chakra and sent them toward the airborne Chiba.
• Chiba covered himself in Rock Skin and crossed his arms to block the fireballs, but the flames swallowed his body.
• Yugito Nii watched the flaming figure and stayed in her combat stance, uncertain whether Chiba was defeated.