Chapter Summaries

Kushina sought permission to go to the battlefield, but Tsunade refused despite the Third Hokage’s supposed approval. After Kushina won money from Tsunade in a card game, Tsunade called her back and agreed to reconsider.

• Kushina asked the Third Hokage to let her go to the battlefield, and he told her to seek Tsunade’s approval.
• Kushina went to the Senju Clan Compound and woke Tsunade, who was gambling after losing three million in two days.
• Kushina claimed she had mastered Kurama’s power and argued with Tsunade, but Tsunade refused to let her go to the battlefield.
• Kushina won the card game and started to leave, prompting Tsunade to call her back and say she would think it over.

Kushina demonstrated her strength and won permission to go to the battlefield, where Tsunade began training her to control the Nine-Tails’ power. Meanwhile, Orochimaru renegotiated his deal with Danzo and began researching the First Hokage’s cells under the supervision of a Root assistant.

• Kushina showed Tsunade her strength, and Tsunade agreed that she could go to the battlefield.
• The Third Hokage approved Kushina’s deployment, concealed it as a leave from the Ninja Academy, and assigned Tsunade to train her.
• Kushina trained earnestly with Tsunade and rapidly improved her ability to wield the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Orochimaru met Danzo’s masked messenger in Root and changed his terms, asking Danzo to obtain a Ninjutsu and collect Kekkei Genkai shinobi from other villages.
• Orochimaru agreed to research the First Hokage’s cells, and Danzo’s White-Haired Shinobi became his personal assistant.

Chen and Orochimaru met at the Konoha base on the Land of Earth front, where Chen explained Iwagakure's forces and the threat posed by Bunga and Roshi. Orochimaru returned Chen's father's Mangekyo Sharingan and mentioned his research into Hashirama's cells and the Root shinobi Otsu, leaving Chen to consider Danzo's plans and the need to secure Kagami's other eye.

• Konoha's forces pushed Iwagakure back across the Land of Earth border, and Orochimaru and Tsunade brought three thousand shinobi to reinforce the front.
• Chen told Orochimaru that Iwagakure had five thousand troops nearby and described how Bunga's caution and Roshi's coordination with the Four-Tails made them difficult opponents.
• Orochimaru warned Chen to limit his Mangekyo Sharingan use and revealed that Danzo had asked him to research the First Hokage's Cells.
• Orochimaru gave Chen his father's Mangekyo Sharingan and said he had studied the eyes' powerful Yin Release Chakra.
• Chen asked why Otsu, a Root shinobi, was accompanying Orochimaru, and Orochimaru called him interesting.

Chen received the sealed Shukaku from Orochimaru and went to the Land of Rain to make the Tailed Beast his Summoning Beast. He trapped Shukaku in a barrier and caught it in his Mangekyo Sharingan Genjutsu.

• Orochimaru gave Chen a Scroll containing Shukaku and asked whether he needed help, but Chen said he could handle the Tailed Beast himself.
• Chen left the Base for the Land of Rain and summoned Big White, who produced a Scroll containing Little Shukaku.
• Chen tried to persuade Little Shukaku to convince its main body to become his Summoning Beast, but it refused.
• Chen sealed Little Shukaku away, released the main Shukaku inside a barrier, and caught it in Mangekyo Sharingan Genjutsu.

Chen led Konoha into a decisive offensive against Iwagakure, using Shukaku to strike the enemy forces. The battle began with Shukaku crashing into the Iwa-nin, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Chen, Sakumo, Orochimaru, and Rokuun agreed to plan a decisive battle against Roshi and Bunga's forces.
• Before dawn, Chen and Konoha's other leaders prepared to attack, while Roshi led the Iwa-nin out to meet them.
• Bunga began the battle, and Sakumo led Konoha's charge against the advancing Iwagakure army.
• Chen arrived on a Summoning Hawk, leaped down, and summoned Shukaku into the Iwa-nin ranks.
• Shukaku crushed more than a hundred Iwa-nin on impact, and Chen landed on Shukaku's head.

Chen controlled Shukaku and used it to devastate the Iwagakure army with two Tailed Beast Bombs before Roshi charged in with Lava Release Chakra Mode. Chen prepared to face Roshi directly and declared that he wanted the Four-Tails.

• Chen controlled Shukaku and ordered it to fire a Tailed Beast Bomb at the Iwa-nin, protecting it with Rashomon gates and Earth Walls.
• Bunga and ten Iwa-nin raised the earth to divert Shukaku's second Tailed Beast Bomb away from the army.
• Roshi charged toward Shukaku in Lava Release Chakra Mode, and Chen dismissed his Shadow Clones and activated Sage Mode.
• Chen leaped down from Shukaku and said he wanted the Four-Tails.

Konoha’s forces advanced into the Iwagakure army as Sakumo, Orochimaru, Himeji, and Mikoto fought through the battlefield. Nawaki charged directly at Gari to avenge Yura, and their powerful techniques collided as the chapter ended.

• Sakumo led Konoha’s charge, while Orochimaru advanced from another flank in search of the Iwa-nin commander, Bunga.
• Himeji and Mikoto fought back to back, defeating Iwa-nin and confronting an Elite Jonin.
• Nawaki charged through the Iwa-nin toward Gari, driven by his desire to avenge Yura.
• Nawaki unleashed Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique, and Gari answered with Explosion Release: Landmine Fist.

Chen battled Roshi, whose growing mastery of the Four-Tails let him sense Chen’s Natural Energy attacks, but Chen overwhelmed him with immense speed and Lightning Release. The fight turned when Chen’s Sage Mode Markings vanished and Roshi stopped retreating, revealing that he had been waiting for Chen’s power to fade.

• Chen struck Roshi with a Great Ball Rasengan, but Roshi’s magma and Tailed Beast Chakra let him withstand the attack and regenerate.
• Chen slammed Roshi into a crater with Snake Kata, then realized Roshi had sensed and dodged the Natural Energy strike.
• Roshi reflected on his decades-long relationship with the Four-Tails and believed he had mastered its power.
• Chen unleashed Lightning Release and repeatedly battered Roshi, while Iwa-nin fled the fighters’ path and some were caught in the crossfire.
• Chen drove his Lightning Release-cloaked hand into Roshi’s chest after his Sage Mode Markings vanished, and Roshi smiled because he had been waiting for that moment.

Chen used a sealing scroll to reenter Sage Mode and overwhelm Roshi with lava restraints and a Sage-enhanced Susanoo Chidori, severing Roshi’s arm. Roshi let Son Gokū take control and transform into the Four-Tails, while Chen summoned Shukaku to meet its fireball with a wave of sand.

• As Chen’s Sage Mode faded, Roshi unleashed Lava Release: Flower Fruit Mountain, and Chen raised the ground to stay above the spreading lava.
• Chen used a sealing scroll to reenter Sage Mode, restrained Roshi with Inorganic Reanimation, and struck him with Sage Art: Susanoo: Chidori.
• Roshi broke free and dodged the attack but lost his right arm; the Four-Tails urged him to hand over control, and Roshi agreed.
• The Four-Tails took complete control of Roshi’s body and transformed, then launched a massive molten fireball at Chen.
• Chen summoned Shukaku beneath him, and Shukaku blocked the Four-Tails’ fireball with a tidal wave of sand.

Shukaku and Son Gokū clashed as the controlled One-Tail launched a Tailed Beast Bomb first, leaving the Four-Tails injured after their attacks collided. Son Gokū then leaped toward Shukaku, hoping to reach him and break the Sharingan Genjutsu.

• Shukaku roared at Son Gokū and began charging a Tailed Beast Bomb while Roshi urged the Four-Tails to fight back.
• Shukaku fired first, and Son Gokū launched his own Tailed Beast Bomb; the two attacks collided in a massive explosion that carved out a crater over a kilometer wide.
• The blast wounded Son Gokū, and the watching Iwa-nin hoped he would defeat Shukaku.
• Son Gokū decided to approach Shukaku and dispel the Mangekyo Sharingan Genjutsu, despite Roshi's warning that it would be difficult.
• Son Gokū blocked Shukaku's Wind Release: Sand Bullet with magma, leaped beside him, and swung a fist at his head.

Chen used Shukaku and Susanoo to defeat and seal the Four-Tails, capturing Roshi as well. He collected the Four-Tails’ tails and gained a point toward the Tail Collector achievement.

• The Four-Tails overwhelmed Shukaku in a close-quarters fight, so Chen used Sage Art: Water Release: Whirlpool Water Blade to bind him.
• Chen cloaked Shukaku in Majestic Attire: Susanoo and attacked the Four-Tails with the Spiral Sword.
• The Spiral Sword severed the Four-Tails’ tails, allowing Shukaku’s sealing power to spread through his body and seal his Chakra.
• Roshi and Son Gokū exchanged a final fist bump before their consciousnesses sank into darkness.
• Chen dismissed Susanoo, carried Roshi, stored the Four-Tails’ tails in a Sealing Scroll, and gained one Tail Collector achievement point.

Chen confronted the Iwa-nin after capturing Roshi, while Nawaki defeated Gari on the battlefield. Chen faced a charging force of Iwa-nin, and Nawaki killed Gari after foiling his attempt to escape.

• Chen removed his blood-soaked Jonin Flak Jacket and faced the Iwa-nin guarding Roshi.
• Chen flung an Iwagakure Jonin into the crowd, and the Iwa-nin charged him to stop him taking Roshi.
• Nawaki taunted Gari about Roshi’s capture and revealed that Gari had been involved in the earlier attack on his squad.
• Gari considered abandoning Iwagakure and fleeing the battlefield, but Nawaki saw through his escape attempt and pursued him.
• Nawaki trapped Gari in a Water Prison Technique and killed him with Heaven’s Tears.

Konoha forced Iwagakure to retreat after capturing the Four-Tails Jinchuriki Roshi, then rested and discussed what to do with him. Chen and Nawaki shared a quiet evening at the Base, while Nawaki revealed that Orochimaru had taken Gari's body to study his Kekkei Genkai.

• Iwagakure's commander Bunga ordered a retreat, and Sakumo declined to pursue the withdrawing Iwa-nin.
• Chen handed the unconscious, sealed Roshi to Konoha's Sealing Squad and told them not to add another seal.
• Konoha advanced its camp deeper into the Land of Earth, then paused to treat the wounded and recover.
• Chen fed Shukaku's chakra to Samehada as he and Nawaki relaxed outside a tent.
• Nawaki told Chen he had killed Gari for Yura's sake and had given Gari's body to Orochimaru for study.

Chen and Nawaki discussed the war and hoped to reunite with Tsunade soon, while the chapter shifted to Tsunade’s strained front in the Land of Grass. Tsunade returned to the Base late at night to find Kushina waiting for news from the Land of Earth.

• Nawaki wished for the war to end and hoped he would soon see Tsunade again, while Chen said their victory offered hope for peace.
• The chapter explained how Danzo sent Shimura Clan ninja to serve under Sarutobi Shinnosuke to gain military merit while avoiding the dangers of his own command.
• Ōnoki reinforced the Land of Grass after the Land of Water’s defeat, and Tsunade’s arrival with three thousand ninja helped Konoha’s position improve.
• After finishing surgery, Tsunade returned to her tent and found Kushina dozing while waiting for her.
• Kushina clarified that she had stayed awake because Tsunade had asked her to wait for news from the Land of Earth.

Tsunade told Kushina that Konoha’s forces would need to cut Iwagakure’s supply routes before the armies could join up in the Land of Earth. The chapter left Kushina wondering whether Chen had already learned the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Kushina asked Tsunade when their forces could join Chen’s army, and Tsunade teased her before admitting she did not know.
• Tsunade explained that Chen had captured Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, and that his battlefield was faring better than theirs.
• Tsunade said Konoha needed to occupy Kannabi Bridge or advance deep into the Land of Earth to force Iwagakure’s troops in the Land of Grass to retreat.
• Tsunade warned that Kannabi Bridge was heavily guarded and that attacking it risked an encounter with the Third Tsuchikage and his Dust Release.
• Tsunade said Konoha had no ninja capable of using the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Kushina wondered if Chen had learned it.

Minato completed the Flying Thunder God Technique’s final step and began testing his new marker. Jiraiya witnessed Minato teleport across the base and realized he might have mastered the Second Hokage’s lost Ninjutsu.

• Minato worked late into the night to train despite his exhausting mission schedule.
• Minato successfully engraved the Flying Thunder God Technique formula on a Kunai and named his marker “Space-Time Gale Flash Sword.”
• Minato made several more marked Kunai as his success rate improved.
• Minato teleported between Kunai across the base while testing the technique.
• Jiraiya spotted Minato’s sudden movements, recognized the Flying Thunder God Technique, and hurried after him.

Minato showed Jiraiya that he had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, though he still needed combat training and was developing the Rasengan to complement it. Jiraiya helped rename Minato’s mark the “Ninja Love Sword,” while a Root Shinobi observed them and left.

• Jiraiya scolded Minato for testing the Flying Thunder God Technique in the middle of the night, then celebrated when Minato confirmed he had begun learning it.
• Minato explained that his teleportation remained imprecise and that he needed more training before using the technique effectively in battle.
• Minato considered using the Rasengan and its Wind Release development to complement the Flying Thunder God Technique against powerful opponents.
• Jiraiya found Minato’s written mark, rejected its grandiose name, and proposed calling it the “Ninja Love Sword.”
• A masked Root Shinobi watched Jiraiya and Minato before flashing away, and they chose not to pursue him.

Danzo planned to force Hidden Hot Water Village into the war by backing Sakai against Fuya, while investigating the growing Jashin Cult. He learned that Minato Namikaze was testing the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving him startled by the news.

• Danzo learned that Fuya had rejected his invitation to join Konoha and ordered Sakai to lure Fuya out so Root could kill him and blame Hidden Cloud Village.
• A Root shinobi reported that the Jashin Cult preached killing without consequence and had gained followers among people displaced by the war.
• Danzo suspected Hidden Mist Village was supporting the Jashin Cult as revenge against Konoha.
• Otsugi reported that Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze had caused a disturbance while Minato tested the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Danzo reacted in shock.

Danzo learned that Minato had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and was overcome with despair, then dreamed of the moment the Second Hokage chose Sarutobi Hiruzen as his successor. Meanwhile, Chen’s space attribute unlocked, allowing him to begin working toward mastering the technique himself.

• Jiraiya told Danzo that Minato had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving Danzo despondent about his chances of becoming Hokage.
• Danzo fell asleep and dreamed of volunteering to cover the retreat, only for the Second Hokage to appoint Sarutobi Hiruzen as the Third Hokage.
• Chen learned that his space attribute had unlocked before Minato’s Communication Toad delivered the news.
• Chen checked his system panel and saw that he could raise his space attribute with points to gain the ability to travel through space.
• Chen considered how the system could help him find the right ratios to fuse Chakra nature transformations into Kekkei Genkai.

Chen considered how Hashirama’s Sage Body made Wood Release exceptional and concluded that his own goal was to fuse all seven nature transformations into Kekkei Mōra. He began fusing Genjutsu with the Mangekyo Sharingan and chose Kotoamatsukami, leaving the system’s new ocular technique in progress.

• Chen reflected that Wood Release’s power came chiefly from Hashirama’s immense Yang Release and strength, rather than the nature fusion alone.
• Chen decided that Wood Release or other Kekkei Genkai would add little to his strength and planned to awaken the Rinnegan, fuse the seven attributes, and collect the nine Tailed Beasts’ Chakra.
• Chen checked the system panel and began fusing Genjutsu with the Mangekyo Sharingan.
• The system offered Kotoamatsukami, Tsukuyomi, and Naobi God as possible fusion branches, and Chen chose Kotoamatsukami.