Chapter Summaries

Shirou Emiya returned from the Underworld disappointed in the Sage of Six Paths, and Black Zetsu used that despair to regain his trust and recruit him to their plan. Their conversation ended with Shirou confused about Akatsuki and suspecting Orochimaru might be a Konoha spy.

• Shirou Emiya told Black Zetsu that he had met the Sage of Six Paths and freed countless lost souls in the gap between life and death.
• Shirou Emiya condemned the Sage of Six Paths for ignoring human suffering and said the shinobi world had fallen into the abyss.
• Black Zetsu blamed humanity’s conflicts on people like Danzo and argued that only Kaguya could save the world.
• Black Zetsu invited Shirou Emiya to rely on each other, and Shirou Emiya accepted, saying he could only choose to believe in Black Zetsu.
• Shirou Emiya said Orochimaru had told him he was a Konoha operative sent to defeat Pain, and White Zetsu corrected him about Orochimaru’s defection and Akatsuki’s plans.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu wondered whether Orochimaru really was a spy sent by Konoha.

Black Zetsu explained that Akatsuki had been founded in the name of Shirou Emiya’s ideals and urged him to take control of its plan. In Akatsuki’s hideout, Nagato and Konan learned that someone important wanted to meet them, with Black Zetsu suggesting the meeting might offer hope for Nagato’s recovery.

• Black Zetsu told Shirou Emiya how Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan had founded Akatsuki to pursue peace before Obito Uchiha guided Nagato toward gathering the Tailed Beasts.
• White Zetsu warned that Orochimaru had infiltrated Akatsuki, and Black Zetsu urged Shirou Emiya to take control of their plan.
• Nagato reaffirmed to Konan that he would use the Rinnegan to fulfill Yahiko’s dream, despite the strain the eyes placed on his body.
• Konan and Pain discussed Kakuzu’s habit of killing Akatsuki teammates with bounties, and Pain asked Zetsu to keep searching for a suitable teammate for him.
• White Zetsu told Nagato and Konan that someone important wanted to see them, and Black Zetsu hinted that this person might help restore Nagato’s body.

Nagato and Konan learned that Shirou Emiya had returned and set out to meet him, while Shirou helped Yakushi Kabuto understand that his deepest purpose was protecting Yakushi Nonou’s orphanage. Kabuto left to see Orochimaru, and Shirou prepared for an arriving guest, hoping Kabuto would eventually join him in changing the world.

• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu persuaded Nagato and Konan to visit Shirou Emiya in the Land of Rivers, and they revealed that Orochimaru had revived him.
• Shirou guided Yakushi Kabuto to recognize that he had endured a life of spying and medical work to preserve Yakushi Nonou’s orphanage.
• Kabuto told Shirou that Danzo had blocked Kakuzu’s donations and cut the orphanage’s village funding to pressure its residents into becoming spies.
• Kabuto admitted that Orochimaru planned to visit the base in a few days, then left to see him and consider his own future.
• Shirou shut down the Hashirama Cells experiment and said that a guest would soon arrive and that he would invite Kabuto to change the world next time they met.

Shirou Emiya welcomed Nagato and Konan in his laboratory, where Black Zetsu revealed the hidden history behind Shirou’s Rinnegan and his past attempts to prevent wars. The chapter left Nagato recognizing Akatsuki’s connection to Shirou’s difficult second path to peace, as Shirou thanked them for carrying it forward.

• Shirou Emiya paused his research to receive Nagato, Konan, and Deva Path Pain in the Underground Fortress laboratory.
• Deva Path Pain challenged Shirou’s belief that medical technology and healing could bring peace, and Shirou revealed that he possessed the Rinnegan.
• Black Zetsu explained that Shirou had taken his Rinnegan from the Sage of Six Paths and had destroyed the Ninja Sect after Chakra was used for war.
• Black Zetsu recounted that Shirou had revived the war dead with Rinne Rebirth, left humanity to choose its fate, and later devised a second path to prevent future wars.
• Shirou stopped Black Zetsu from belittling Nagato, then acknowledged that Akatsuki had followed his will and thanked Nagato for enduring the difficult path toward peace.

Shirou Emiya comforted Nagato and Konan over Yahiko’s death, then treated Nagato’s injuries and devised a way to reduce the strain of the Rinnegan while keeping Deva Path Pain active. Outside the operating room, Black Zetsu revealed that the Mysterious Masked Man was not the real Madara Uchiha, while White Zetsu prepared to contact him and proposed dealing with Orochimaru first.

• Shirou Emiya reassured Nagato and Konan that Yahiko had returned to the Netherworld Pure Land and was watching over them.
• Shirou Emiya examined Nagato and explained that the Rinnegan was draining his chakra and life force.
• Nagato agreed to receive Shirou Emiya’s treatment after learning that Deva Path Pain could remain active without the black rods harming his body.
• Shirou Emiya transplanted Hashirama Cells into Nagato, added Curse Marks to Deva Path Pain, and began treating Nagato’s damaged legs.
• White Zetsu realized that the Mysterious Masked Man had not been told of Shirou Emiya’s return and offered to send a clone to notify him.
• Black Zetsu told Konan that the Mysterious Masked Man was not the real Madara Uchiha, and White Zetsu suggested dealing with Orochimaru first.

Shirou Emiya visited Akatsuki’s base as Nagato recovered and prepared to rejoin Konan and Pain openly. When Akatsuki’s members gathered to welcome a newcomer, Pain revealed Nagato’s return and began announcing an important matter tied to a great man’s will.

• Shirou Emiya toured Akatsuki’s damp cave base while Nagato practiced walking without Konan’s help and looked forward to working openly with her and Pain.
• Pain explained Akatsuki’s small roster, and Konan and White Zetsu discussed Kakuzu’s habit of killing teammates for their bounties.
• Kakuzu, Orochimaru, and Sasori of the Red Sand gathered at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to meet a newcomer.
• Pain introduced Nagato as a new partner for himself and Konan, surprising Kakuzu and Orochimaru with Nagato’s youthful appearance and Rinnegan.
• Orochimaru recognized Nagato’s condition as the result of Mitotic Regeneration and suspected Tsunade had healed and taught him the technique.
• Pain announced that Akatsuki’s future depended on the will of a great man, whose name some members might know.

Shirou Emiya revealed that Akatsuki’s second path to peace came from his own guidance and formally took control of the organization. Believing Orochimaru was a Konoha spy, Shirou’s allies prepared to attack him, and Orochimaru fled toward the cave entrance.

• Deva Path Pain told Kakuzu that Akatsuki still carried out Shirou Emiya’s will and had received his approval after Orochimaru revived him.
• Shirou Emiya appeared before Akatsuki, confirmed that its plan originated with him, and explained that he had chosen any means necessary to pursue Eternal Peace.
• Shirou Emiya apologized to Orochimaru, saying he could no longer help Konoha destroy Akatsuki, while Orochimaru realized his old deception had put him in danger.
• Konan, Nagato, Sasori of the Red Sand, and Kakuzu prepared to confront Orochimaru after suspecting he was a Konoha spy.
• Orochimaru claimed he was only a rogue ninja from Konoha and abruptly fled toward the cave entrance.

Akatsuki hunted Orochimaru through its cave base, where Shirou Emiya overwhelmed and captured him. To avoid execution, Orochimaru offered to betray Danzo and become Shirou’s spy, leaving Shirou to consider whether the offer was useful.

• Nagato, Konan, Sasori of the Red Sand, and Shirou Emiya pursued Orochimaru after he failed to control Shirou with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru scattered himself into white snakes, but Shirou sensed them and used Earth Release to crush his escape routes.
• Shirou and Kakuzu struck Orochimaru as he emerged from a snake, and Shirou repeatedly wounded him despite his Orochi-ryū Substitution Technique.
• Shirou refused to trust Orochimaru’s claim that he had never spied for Konoha, citing past deception by Konoha’s ninja.
• Orochimaru offered intelligence on Danzo and proposed becoming a spy for Shirou, while Kakuzu urged Shirou to execute him.

Shirou Emiya uncovered Orochimaru’s soul-fragment resurrection plan and rejected his request to remain in Akatsuki, instead ordering him to serve as a spy under Sasori of the Red Sand’s supervision. Shirou planned to retrieve Orochimaru’s remaining resurrection Curse Mark from Konoha as leverage, while promising not to harm its bearer.

• Akatsuki members urged Shirou Emiya to kill Orochimaru, but Shirou examined him and discovered fragments of his soul could revive through a Curse Mark.
• Orochimaru admitted that he had placed a powerful Heavenly Cursed Seal on a disciple in Konoha and argued that his intelligence and research made him useful to Akatsuki.
• Orochimaru asked to remain in Akatsuki so he could learn from Shirou Emiya, but Sasori of the Red Sand exposed his pursuit of immortality.
• Shirou Emiya refused to trust Orochimaru and ordered him to serve as an Akatsuki spy under Sasori of the Red Sand’s supervision.
• Shirou Emiya said he would go to Konoha to find Orochimaru’s resurrection Curse Mark and use it as collateral, promising not to rashly harm its bearer.

Shirou Emiya and Zetsu headed for Konoha after learning that Obito Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha had slaughtered the Uchiha Clan, leaving Sasuke Uchiha as its sole surviving member. In Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen reorganized Danzo’s former forces and urged Kakashi Hatake to reclaim the Storm Release Bloodline Limit passed down to him.

• Shirou Emiya set out for Konoha with Zetsu and agreed to investigate Obito Uchiha.
• A White Zetsu Clone reported that Obito Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha had killed the Uchiha Clan, sparing only a young child.
• The Mysterious Masked Man met Itachi Uchiha outside Konoha and told him that a major figure would soon join his organization.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Itachi Uchiha had left Sasuke Uchiha in his care before joining the Mysterious Masked Man’s organization to gather intelligence.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Danzo’s former Root members absorbed into the Anbu and urged Kakashi Hatake to reclaim his Storm Release Bloodline Limit.

Kakashi Hatake remained unmoved by the Third Hokage's words and went to tell his deceased companion about the Uchiha Clan's destruction. At the Land of Fire border, Itachi Uchiha learned that Shirou Emiya had taken over Akatsuki, then faced Black Zetsu's suspicion that he was a Konoha spy.

• Kakashi Hatake told Tenzō that Root's former ninja would join the Anbu, then dismissed concerns about the Curse Marks controlling them.
• Kakashi Hatake went to the Memorial Stone to tell his deceased companion about the Uchiha Clan's destruction.
• The Mysterious Masked Man and Itachi Uchiha received word that Shirou Emiya had taken over Akatsuki and was waiting to meet them.
• The Mysterious Masked Man told Itachi Uchiha about Shirou Emiya's second Peace Plan and led him toward the meeting place.
• Black Zetsu stopped them and asked whether the Mysterious Masked Man could guarantee that Itachi Uchiha was not a Konoha spy.

Shirou Emiya questioned Obito Uchiha about Akatsuki’s stalled plan and challenged his reasons for recruiting Itachi Uchiha, while making clear that he valued the Uchiha Clan’s legacy and Sasuke Uchiha’s potential. Obito rejected Shirou’s authority and prepared to fight him for control of the plan.

• Black Zetsu questioned Itachi Uchiha’s motives for joining Akatsuki, and the Mysterious Masked Man defended him before revealing that he represented Madara’s will.
• Shirou Emiya invited Obito Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha to meet him, and Obito removed his mask and challenged Shirou’s intentions toward the plan.
• Shirou revealed his Rinnegan and said he had no interest in the power of the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan, but questioned Obito’s lack of progress and commitment.
• Obito explained that he was recruiting assistants to capture the tailed beasts and claimed that Itachi could restrain them, while Shirou questioned whether Obito could control Itachi and threatened the importance of Sasuke Uchiha’s future.
• Shirou expressed displeasure that Itachi had destroyed the Uchiha Clan, which reassured Itachi about Sasuke’s safety but enraged Obito.
• Obito declared that Shirou had no right to interfere with his decisions and activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, challenging Shirou to prove his strength.

Shirou Emiya defeated Obito Uchiha by using the Flying Thunder God Technique and stripped him of authority over the Eye of the Moon Plan. He accepted a new SSSSS-Rank mission to reveal that the Mysterious Masked Man was Obito Uchiha and make Obito face his true identity.

• Obito Uchiha challenged Shirou Emiya and attacked with his war fan while using Kamui to avoid Shinra Tensei.
• Shirou Emiya used a marked pen and the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind Obito Uchiha and cut him with a Chakra Scalpel.
• Shirou Emiya declared that Obito Uchiha had lost and ordered him to manage the newcomers instead of trying to regain control of the plan.
• Itachi Uchiha considered using the defeated Obito Uchiha to obtain information, while Black Zetsu urged Shirou Emiya to kill him.
• Shirou Emiya accepted an SSSSS-Rank mission to expose the Mysterious Masked Man as Obito Uchiha and make Obito abandon his use of Madara's name.

Shirou Emiya persuaded Black Zetsu that he could deceive Konoha, though his supposedly clever cover stories were mostly truthful. He used Flying Thunder God marks to bypass Konoha’s heightened defenses and headed to the memorial for Hashirama Senju.

• Shirou Emiya discussed entering Konoha with Black Zetsu and explained that they needed to find the person carrying Orochimaru’s Curse Mark.
• Black Zetsu doubted Shirou Emiya’s ability to lie, while Shirou Emiya proposed claiming he had come to pay respects to Hashirama Senju.
• Shirou Emiya explained that Akatsuki’s goal of bringing peace had originated with him and been passed down through Madara Uchiha.
• Shirou Emiya assured Black Zetsu that he would rely on his Rinnegan and strength if his identity was exposed.
• Shirou Emiya used Flying Thunder God marks on the Zetsu to bypass Konoha’s defenses and entered the village.
• Shirou Emiya headed to Konoha’s memorial stone to pay respects to Hashirama Senju.

Kakashi Hatake discovered that Orochimaru had returned to Konoha and followed him with Anko Mitarashi. The apparent Orochimaru was Shirou Emiya in disguise, and Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched as Kakashi pursued them without alerting reinforcements.

• Kakashi Hatake found fresh flowers at Hashirama Senju's and Hatake Sakumo's graves and wondered whether Tsunade had returned to Konoha.
• Kakashi Hatake asked his former classmates about Tsunade, then noticed a strange, cloaked man writing on a scroll near the sweet shop.
• The cloaked man approached Anko Mitarashi, whose horrified reaction made Kakashi Hatake suspect that something was wrong.
• Kakashi Hatake recognized the man's vertical pupils as Orochimaru's, left an Anbu mark for reinforcements, and followed Orochimaru and Anko Mitarashi.
• White Zetsu erased Kakashi Hatake's mark, while Black Zetsu revealed that Shirou Emiya had transformed himself into Orochimaru to lure Anko away and predicted that Shirou would spare Kakashi.

Anko Mitarashi saw through Shirou Emiya’s disguise as Orochimaru, but he quickly subdued her and tried to use her Curse Mark. Kakashi Hatake intervened and attacked with Storm Release: Chidori Current, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Anko Mitarashi recognized that the person impersonating Orochimaru did not know Konoha’s roads or her preferences and confronted him in the forest.
• Shirou Emiya admitted that he needed Anko as a hostage to use the Curse Mark Orochimaru had placed on her.
• Anko attacked Shirou, but he disarmed and subdued her with close-quarters combat.
• Shirou noticed Kakashi Hatake following them and ordered him to come out, while Anko warned Kakashi that the captor was not Orochimaru.
• Kakashi revealed his Sharingan and struck Shirou with Storm Release: Chidori Current, routing the lightning around Anko.

Kakashi Hatake tried to stop the kidnapper impersonating Orochimaru from taking Anko Mitarashi, but the enemy’s Wind Release and swordsmanship overwhelmed him. The kidnapper trapped Kakashi and Anko in hardened earth and carried her away from Konoha Village.

• Kakashi Hatake’s Storm Release attack failed when the kidnapper cut its lightning arcs apart with Wind Release: Vacuum Blade.
• Kakashi warned the kidnapper that Anbu support was coming, but the kidnapper refused to release Anko and prepared to fight.
• The kidnapper defeated Kakashi’s defenses with Wind Release attacks, while Earth Release trapped Anko and prevented her from escaping.
• Kakashi used a Shadow Clone and Underground Headhunter Technique to ambush the kidnapper, but the kidnapper hardened the earth and trapped him.
• The kidnapper picked up Anko and left in the direction beyond Konoha Village, leaving Kakashi buried in the earth.

Shirou Emiya led the unconscious Anko Mitarashi through the Land of Fire while Kakashi Hatake pursued with a small squad, following the clues Anko had left behind. As Kakashi closed in, Black Zetsu arranged for Pain to send backup and proposed using the confrontation to make Obito face his past.

• Kakashi Hatake reported Anko Mitarashi's abduction to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who authorized a pursuit and a search of Konoha.
• Kakashi assembled Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and Tenzō to track the kidnapper westward.
• Kurenai found Anko's hair and other clues, confirming the squad was on the right trail.
• White Zetsu told Shirou Emiya that Anko had secretly left clues, and Shirou realized Kakashi's squad was pursuing them.
• Black Zetsu arranged for Pain to send a team to support Shirou and suggested using the encounter to make Obito face his past.

Shirou Emiya sent Obito Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha to help him evade Kakashi Hatake’s pursuing Konoha squad, while asking to observe the new recruit. Itachi accepted a Flying Thunder God seal scroll but planned to destroy it, and Shirou calmly told him to read it first.

• Shirou Emiya told White Zetsu not to pressure Obito Uchiha and asked for Itachi Uchiha to be brought to him for observation.
• Itachi Uchiha learned the Akatsuki Organization intended to use Orochimaru as a spy in Konoha, then heard that Kakashi Hatake’s squad had spotted Shirou Emiya.
• Obito Uchiha agreed to help Shirou Emiya deal with Kakashi Hatake’s pursuit, though he insisted he was only preventing further trouble for the Akatsuki Organization.
• Obito Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha left for the mission, and Shirou Emiya gave each of them a scroll containing a Flying Thunder God seal.
• Obito Uchiha rejected his scroll and used Kamui to travel toward the Konoha squad, while Itachi accepted his and planned to destroy it.
• Shirou Emiya told Itachi Uchiha he could destroy the scroll but advised him to read it first.

Itachi Uchiha accepted Shirou Emiya’s mission to stir conflict between Konoha and Obito Uchiha, while Shirou promised to protect Sasuke before he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake’s team confronted the Mysterious Masked Man during a rescue mission, and Itachi appeared in the forest as the team searched for their target.

• Shirou Emiya ordered Itachi Uchiha to obtain intelligence on Obito Uchiha and help Konoha teach him a lesson, and Itachi accepted the mission.
• Shirou Emiya explained his resentment toward Itachi and Tobirama Senju, then promised to protect Itachi’s younger brother until he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Itachi Uchiha destroyed the intelligence scroll and left, while Shirou Emiya marked Itachi and Obito Uchiha as connected on his scroll.
• Kurenai Yuhi sensed approaching enemies as Kakashi Hatake’s team advanced to rescue the captured ninjas, and the Mysterious Masked Man attacked them with an ability that made him intangible.
• Kakashi Hatake warned his team to focus on rescuing the villagers rather than defeating the Mysterious Masked Man, but Itachi Uchiha then appeared and startled the Konoha Ninja.