Chapter Summaries

After Amegakure’s poison attack killed everyone in Graystone Town, Jiraiya’s survivors began rescue efforts, and Tsunade emerged unharmed to treat the wounded. Konoha counted more than four hundred losses since the war began, but the village ordered Jiraiya to continue attacking before Sunagakure and Iwagakure entered the conflict.

• Jingū Kiraku learned that every civilian in Graystone Town had died, and he set out with Amemura and Erika to continue the fight.
• Jiraiya’s team rescued ninja trapped in earthen shelters after dispersing the poison gas.
• Tsunade emerged from beneath a stone slab after surviving the gas by punching a hollow into the ground, then summoned Katsuyu to help treat the wounded.
• Konoha’s search and rescue continued, but the attack left 204 ninja dead and 23 seriously wounded.
• Jiraiya received orders from Konoha’s higher-ups to press the attack while reinforcements arrived and finish the war before Sunagakure and Iwagakure made their move.

Danzo returned to the Hokage's Office and volunteered to lead Root to the Land of Rain after Konoha's leaders discussed Jiraiya's defeat and the threat from other nations. On the battlefield, Jingū Kiraku directed Hidden Rain Village squads to ambush Konoha scouts and reposition Erika's artillery as another enemy squad appeared.

• Danzo argued with Hiruzen Sarutobi over Jiraiya's defeat, then left the Hokage's Office after Hiruzen asserted his authority.
• Koharu Utatane proposed sending Sakumo to the Land of Rain, but Danzo opposed moving him from the village's defenses.
• Danzo returned and offered to lead Root as reinforcements, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved his mission.
• Amemura's Rain Ninja squad used Jingū Kiraku's intelligence to lure Konoha scouts closer, then killed all three in an ambush.
• Jingū Kiraku ordered Erika to move her artillery five meters left and shift its barrels east as a Konoha squad emerged from the valley.

Jingū Kiraku’s Amegakure forces used precise poison-gas bombardments to wipe out Konoha reconnaissance squads, while Jiraiya and Tsunade realized Hidden Rain might possess a vast sensing technique. Tsunade decided Konoha would disguise its reconnaissance squads as bait to lure Jingū Kiraku out.

• At Jingū Kiraku’s command, Amegakure ninjas fired poison gas bombs into a valley and eliminated the Konoha squad caught there.
• Erika and the other Amegakure ninjas marveled at Jingū Kiraku’s meticulous control and enormous sensing range.
• A communications ninja told Jiraiya that nearly half of Konoha’s reconnaissance squads had lost contact after attacks by Hidden Rain Village.
• Tsunade proposed that Hidden Rain had used a large-scale sensing technique to locate the squads, and Jiraiya realized the enemy’s recent moves could fit that plan.
• Tsunade urged Jiraiya to take the initiative and use the reconnaissance squads as bait to lure Jingū Kiraku out.
• Jiraiya agreed and proposed disguising the squads to evade the enemy’s sensing technique.

Jingū Kiraku lured Konoha reinforcements into a battlefield trap and killed four ninja with explosive paper attacks. Jiraiya and Tsunade arrived with Gamabunta and the Katsuyu Sage to confront him, but Jingū Kiraku warned that the fight’s outcome was still uncertain.

• Jingū Kiraku used a fleeing Konoha scout to draw a squad of nine reinforcements toward him, noticing that it included a Mount Myōboku toad and a Katsuyu Sage clone.
• Jingū Kiraku blocked the arriving Konoha ninja’s Water Dragon and Lightning attacks with his Paper Dragon Technique.
• Jingū Kiraku revealed that his scattered paper was Exploding Tags, killing four Konoha ninja in a blast.
• Jingū Kiraku unleashed his Paper Style: Unlimited Blade Works, forcing the survivors to summon Gamabunta and the Katsuyu Sage.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade arrived atop the Summoning Beasts and confronted Jingū Kiraku, who declared that it was not yet clear who would catch whom.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, Gamabunta, and Katsuyu fought Jingū Kiraku and his Summoning Beast, Master Knife, as Jingū Kiraku challenged Jiraiya over Konoha’s role in the Land of Rain’s suffering. Tsunade’s attack failed to stop Jingū Kiraku, who drove her back and forced Jiraiya to shield them both from a barrage of paper weapons.

• Gamabunta and Katsuyu attacked Jingū Kiraku, who dodged Katsuyu’s corrosive acid and summoned Master Knife to face Gamabunta.
• Master Knife and Gamabunta clashed with their blades, while Jingū Kiraku told Master Knife that the salamander clan might become a sacred land if it helped the Land of Rain survive.
• Jiraiya confronted Jingū Kiraku over using civilians, but Jingū Kiraku blamed Konoha’s invasion and reminded Jiraiya that his hands were stained with blood.
• Tsunade cut Jingū Kiraku’s neck with her Chakra Scalpel, but he transformed into sheets of paper, struck her with a powerful blow, and sent her flying.
• Jingū Kiraku launched paper weapons at Tsunade, and Jiraiya used Ninja Art: Needle Jizo to shield them as Tsunade warned that Jingū Kiraku was formidable.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and their summons fought Jingū Kiraku, whose Paper Release resisted their attacks and wore Jiraiya down. Jiraiya discovered that Toad Oil made the paper lose its shape and trapped Jingū Kiraku with his hair soaked in oil.

• Tsunade's kick shattered Jingū Kiraku, but he reassembled, while Jiraiya and Tsunade realized physical attacks were useless against him.
• Jiraiya and Gamabunta unleashed Toad Oil Flame Bullet, but Jingū Kiraku countered with Paper Style: Sea of Death, and the two attacks stalled against each other.
• Master Knife filled the battlefield with poisonous gas and attacked Gamabunta, leaving Jiraiya low on Chakra as Tsunade took over the fight.
• Jiraiya noticed that paper sheets soaked with Toad Oil had fallen limp and inferred that the oil weakened Jingū Kiraku's Paper Release.
• Gamabunta sprayed Toad Oil onto Jingū Kiraku's paper defenses, and Jiraiya bound Jingū Kiraku with his oil-soaked hair.

Jingū Kiraku escaped Jiraiya’s hair trap and fought off Jiraiya and Tsunade, but they pursued him after he lost the ability to fly with Paper Release. Konoha reinforcements arrived and trapped him in a valley as he ran toward a destination he had chosen.

• Jingū Kiraku used Exploding Tags to sever Jiraiya’s hair and struck him hard enough to send him crashing into a crater.
• Jiraiya recovered with Tsunade’s help, then pursued Jingū Kiraku with Gamabunta while Tsunade fired a signal flare for reinforcements.
• Jiraiya’s attacks slowed Master Knife, and Tsunade punched the salamander into Jiraiya’s Swamp of the Underworld.
• Jingū Kiraku reassured Master Knife and dispelled its summoning before using Water Body Flicker to continue toward a chosen location.
• Konoha ninja converged on Jingū Kiraku and trapped him in a valley.

Jingū Kiraku revealed that he had disguised the valley as a vast field of Exploding Tags and trapped Jiraiya, Tsunade, and hundreds of Konoha ninja. Rejecting Jiraiya’s warning about Konoha’s retaliation, he ignited the tags and filled the sky above the Land of Rain with explosions.

• Jingū Kiraku defeated two Konoha ninja who attacked him together and faced Jiraiya’s demand that he surrender.
• Jingū Kiraku rejected surrender, arguing that the Land of Rain’s people would remain oppressed, and Jiraiya ordered the Konoha forces to attack.
• Jingū Kiraku unleashed sheets of paper concealed throughout the valley and revealed that they were Exploding Tags.
• Jiraiya realized the valley was a trap and warned that Konoha would retaliate against the Land of Rain if he and Tsunade died.
• Jingū Kiraku flew away on a clay bird, rejected the prospect of becoming Konoha’s servant, and detonated the Exploding Tags.

Jingū Kiraku surveyed the devastation after his explosive attack, discovering Tsunade alive but badly wounded while Jiraiya had vanished. When Danzo and Kato Dan arrived to demand Tsunade’s release, Jingū Kiraku rejected their offer of peace and prepared to kill her.

• Jingū Kiraku confirmed that his blast had killed 531 Konoha shinobi, then found Tsunade alive in the wreckage.
• Jingū Kiraku found Gamabunta’s corpse but no sign of Jiraiya, and suspected Mount Myōboku had rescued him with the Reverse Summoning Technique.
• Jingū Kiraku raised a giant paper sword over Tsunade as Danzo and Kato Dan arrived with Root reinforcements.
• Danzo offered peace negotiations in exchange for Tsunade, while Kato Dan offered to take her place as a hostage.
• Jingū Kiraku rejected the offers, declared he had no interest in a ceasefire, and let go of the sword.

Tsunade relived memories of her family, teacher, teammates, and love for Kato Dan as Jingū Kiraku’s Paper Sword pierced her. Jingū Kiraku escaped after threatening Konoha, while Kato Dan was left grieving Tsunade’s death.

• Tsunade regained consciousness and saw Kato Dan as she remembered her family, friends, and the life she had shared with him.
• Jingū Kiraku released the Cross Longsword, and it pierced Tsunade as Kato Dan begged him to stop.
• Danzo Shimura attacked Jingū Kiraku with Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, and Root ninjas followed with ninjutsu, but Jingū Kiraku reassembled unharmed.
• Jingū Kiraku warned the Konoha ninjas to tell Hiruzen Sarutobi that they would die if they came after him, then vanished into sheets of paper.
• Kato Dan tried to pursue Jingū Kiraku with Reika no Jutsu, but Danzo Shimura stopped him, and Dan fell to his knees, blaming himself for being too late.

Jiraiya awoke at Mount Myōboku after Fukasaku rescued him from the explosion in the Land of Rain. The Great Toad Sage confirmed Gamabunta was dead and Tsunade was likely in grave danger, then revealed a prophecy about a Child of Calamity that led Jiraiya to suspect Jingū Kiraku.

• Jiraiya woke at Mount Myōboku with severe injuries and learned Fukasaku had used the Reverse Summoning Technique to save him.
• Fukasaku told Jiraiya that Gamabunta had not voluntarily released the summoning and that Tsunade's condition was unknown.
• The Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya that Gamabunta had died after swallowing him to buy time, and that Tsunade was likely in grave danger.
• Jiraiya grieved for Gamabunta and Tsunade, whom he believed he had lost.
• The Great Toad Sage revealed a vision of the Child of Calamity, who would lead the ninja world into war and hatred.
• Jiraiya suspected Jingū Kiraku was the Child of Calamity, but the Great Toad Sage fell asleep before he could ask.

After Tsunade's death and Konoha's defeat in the Land of Rain, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Hatake Sakumo to eliminate Jingū Kiraku. Chiyo praised Jingū Kiraku's refusal to compromise and prepared Sunagakure to act while Konoha was distracted.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned from Root's report that Tsunade was dead, Jiraiya was missing, and Konoha had suffered a crushing defeat.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado what had happened, and they agreed Konoha should send Hatake Sakumo to the Land of Rain.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Hatake Sakumo to defeat the Land of Rain and kill Jingū Kiraku.
• Chiyo explained to Kurohōzan that Jingū Kiraku had killed Tsunade to make Konoha fear the Land of Rain and secure lasting peace.
• Chiyo took out a map of Konoha's front lines and prepared to move Sunagakure while Konoha had yet to react.

After killing Tsunade, Jingū Kiraku gained the Yin Seal and watched Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure prepare for war across the Land of Rain. As he hoped the rival powers would clash, Erika told him that Special Jonin Watanabe was requesting an audience.

• Konoha vowed revenge for Tsunade's death, while Sunagakure and Iwagakure prepared to exploit Konoha's weakened forces.
• Jingū Kiraku gained the Yin Seal, stored Chakra in its forehead mark, and regretted not obtaining Tsunade's Creation Rebirth Technique.
• Jingū Kiraku kept Tsunade's corpse for future intelligence gathering and experiments, and decided to establish an intelligence department after the war.
• Jingū Kiraku saw Konoha bringing in supplies and Hatake Sakumo, while Sunagakure's Kurohōzan and Shirakumo and Iwagakure's forces moved toward the Land of Rain.
• Erika told Jingū Kiraku that Special Jonin Watanabe, who managed the Prosthetic Workshop, requested an audience.

Jingū Kiraku celebrated Watanabe’s completion of sixty Puppet Prosthetic Limbs and personally fitted one onto a disabled veteran, honoring the soldiers who defended the Land of Rain. At the training ground, former Chunin Niijima tested his new limbs and shattered a boulder with one punch, revealing their formidable strength.

• Watanabe reported that he had completed the first sixty Puppet Prosthetic Limbs, and Jingū Kiraku praised him before asking to see them tested.
• Jingū Kiraku greeted the disabled veterans, called them heroes, and personally fitted a prosthetic limb onto one soldier.
• Watanabe arranged for the other veterans to receive prosthetic limbs, and the soldiers vowed to serve the Land of Rain.
• Niijima, a former Chunin who had lost a hand and both feet to poisoned senbon, activated his prosthetics with Chakra and charged across the training ground.
• Niijima smashed a massive boulder with his Vajra Arm, and Watanabe explained that the prosthetic could break through ordinary Genin and Chunin Earth Style techniques.

Jingū Kiraku ordered Amegakure to mass-produce prosthetic limbs and poison gas bombs while putting refugees to work rebuilding the village. At Konoha’s front, Nawaki vowed to become a great ninja like his sister Tsunade, but an explosion erupted in the camp before Orochimaru could take him back to sleep.

• Watanabe reported that trained soldiers using Puppet Prosthetic Limbs could reach genin or chunin strength, though their true abilities still needed battlefield testing.
• Jingū Kiraku ordered full-scale production of prosthetic limbs and poison gas bombs, and directed refugees to work on rebuilding Amegakure.
• Orochimaru mourned Tsunade’s death and reflected on Jiraiya’s injuries while looking at a photograph of his team.
• Orochimaru found Nawaki training late at night and urged him to rest, but Nawaki vowed to become a great ninja like his sister.
• A burst of fire erupted inside Konoha’s camp as Orochimaru and Nawaki were about to leave.

Sunagakure forces led by Kurohōzan launched a surprise attack on Konoha’s supply hub, hoping to kill Orochimaru. Orochimaru and Nawaki faced Shirakumo and Kurohōzan as the enemy assault reached them.

• Kurohōzan used a detailed deployment map to lead Sunagakure ninja toward Konoha’s supply hub and ordered the attack.
• Sunagakure puppet forces breached the camp’s outer defenses with poisoned senbon and Exploding Tags while the main force attacked.
• Orochimaru saw the attack approaching and urged Nawaki to hide, but Nawaki refused to abandon his sensei.
• Orochimaru deflected Shirakumo’s poisoned senbon and recognized her as one of Sunagakure’s skilled Puppet Masters.
• Kurohōzan emerged to join Shirakumo, and the two confronted Orochimaru and Nawaki.

Orochimaru fought Kurohōzan and Shirakumo to protect Nawaki, eventually giving the boy a chance to escape into the forest. Nawaki fled clutching the First Hokage’s necklace, but a black-robed figure appeared in his path.

• Kurohōzan recognized Nawaki as a valuable target, and Orochimaru attacked before grabbing his student and trying to escape.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda and sent Nawaki ahead, but Kurohōzan and Shirakumo wounded and restrained the giant snake with explosive arms, shuriken, and wires.
• Orochimaru leapt down with Nawaki, then held Kurohōzan and the puppets back with a vast swarm of snakes while ordering Nawaki to run.
• Kurohōzan burned the snakes and attacked Orochimaru with poisoned blades, but Orochimaru emerged from his severed body and counterattacked with his stretching neck.
• Nawaki ran through the forest clutching the First Hokage’s necklace, then encountered a figure shrouded in a black robe.

Jingū Kiraku poisoned and killed Nawaki, then staged his death to appear to be the work of Sunagakure. Orochimaru fought his way to Nawaki’s remains and found that the explosion had destroyed his lower body.

• Jingū Kiraku attacked Nawaki with a pangolin-shaped puppet and poisoned him with a spike.
• Jingū Kiraku revealed himself, explained that Nawaki’s death would inflame conflict between Sunagakure and Konoha, collected samples, and blew up Nawaki’s body.
• Orochimaru heard the explosion while fighting Kurohōzan and realized it came from the direction Nawaki had fled.
• Manda abandoned Orochimaru’s battle against Shirakumo and dismissed the summoning, leaving Orochimaru to continue alone.
• Orochimaru unleashed a Wind Release attack, escaped the puppet masters’ pursuit, and found Nawaki’s remains with his lower body blown away.

Jingū Kiraku’s plan left Konoha’s forces reeling after Nawaki’s death and Orochimaru’s disappearance, giving Sunagakure the opening to launch a full-scale war. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the senior elders prepared to investigate the breach and send the Senju clansmen to the front.

• Jingū Kiraku watched Sunagakure’s ambush rout Konoha’s forces, while Orochimaru vanished during the attack and Nawaki was reported dead.
• Chiyo ordered Sunagakure to launch a full-scale offensive against Konoha, and its forces began attacking strongholds across the Land of Rain.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado after learning of Sunagakure’s offensive and Nawaki’s death.
• Homura Mitokado called for ANBU to investigate the suspected leak, and he and Koharu Utatane proposed sending the Senju clansmen to the battlefield.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to the plan and accepted that war with Sunagakure could no longer be avoided.

Jingū Kiraku welcomed Sunagakure’s attack on Konoha, which eased pressure on Hidden Rain Village, and examined the First Hokage Necklace as a possible chakra-storage crystal. He ordered the first forty Armed Ninjas to the front lines while the village prepared more prosthetic-armament troops.

• Jingū Kiraku observed that Sunagakure’s assault had broken the stalemate, forced Danzo to send reinforcements, and drawn Hatake Sakumo away to face Sunagakure.
• Jingū Kiraku studied the First Hokage Necklace and considered researching chakra crystals for future scientific ninja tools and chakra armaments.
• Amemura reported that the first forty Armed Ninjas had completed training and asked whether they should deploy.
• Jingū Kiraku sent the forty Armed Ninjas to the front lines to gain experience while Konoha and Sunagakure fought.
• Amemura reported that 416 wounded or disabled ninjas remained eligible for prosthetic armaments and that the next batch of eighty had begun training.