Chapter Summaries

Katsuki pursued new ways to develop the Human-Human Fruit while his friends trained, and the village’s leaders discussed the shifting wars between the Sand, Stone, and Cloud Ninja. The chapter ended with the Third Hokage agreeing to mislead the Cloud Ninja to prolong their war with the Stone Ninja.

• Katsuki used more than a hundred shadow clones to study how medical chakra stimulated wound healing in experimental animals.
• Minato evaded Kushina’s attacks during Flying Thunder God training, two young Uchiha clashed with their weapons, and Nawaki practiced Water Release in a dry region.
• Three months after the group returned from the Land of Rain, Konoha’s war against the Sand Ninja had stalled while the Stone and Cloud Ninja fought a war of attrition.
• Danzo and the Elder Council learned that Sakumo had killed the Third Tsuchikage’s eldest son, Kamizuru Otto, and that the Third Tsuchikage had retaliated against the Cloud Ninja with Dust Release.
• The Third Hokage agreed to tell the Cloud Ninja that Konoha would soon attack the Land of Wind, hoping to keep the Cloud and Stone Ninja fighting.

The Third Hokage and his advisers discussed the Sand’s fierce resistance and the threat of the Third Kazekage, considering which Konoha shinobi could counter Sand Release. They settled on Uzumaki Katsuki as a promising Lightning Release fighter, while the Third Hokage warned Danzo against pursuing the boy’s abilities.

• Elder Kawahara questioned why the ten-year-old Uzumaki Katsuki had not been sent to the battlefield, but the chief advisory elder rebuked him and the meeting moved on to reinforcements.
• In the Hokage’s Office, Danzo revealed that Kawahara held a grudge against the Uzumaki Clan after being taught a lesson by one of its experts.
• The Third Hokage told Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura that Sakumo had reported fierce Sand resistance and rumors that the Third Kazekage had joined the front lines.
• The advisers discussed using Water Release and Lightning Release to counter Sand Release, but Danzo noted that few suitable Water Release users were available.
• The Third Hokage proposed Uzumaki Katsuki, who could use Lightning Release without hand seals and control Shukaku’s flowing sand, as a candidate to fight Magnet Release ninja.
• The Third Hokage confirmed that Katsuki’s seal-less Lightning Release was real and warned Danzo not to pursue the boy’s abilities.

After becoming jonin, Katsuki accepted a mission to reinforce Sakumo on the front lines and began looking for companions to join him. He left Nawaki and Otome to ask around, while Nawaki sent a shadow clone to contact two recovered allies.

• The Third Hokage promoted Kushina Uzumaki, Uzumaki Katsuki, and Minato Namikaze to jonin.
• The Third Hokage asked Katsuki to reinforce Sakumo, and Katsuki volunteered before hearing the full request.
• Katsuki summoned shadow clones to bring Nawaki and Otome to Q Barbecue so they could discuss recruiting companions.
• Katsuki ruled out Tenzan and considered Nawaki and Otome as his only likely recruits among their close acquaintances.
• Nawaki recalled Kamiya Ren and Hoshio Ichiro, who had recovered from injuries and wanted to return to the front lines.
• Nawaki sent a shadow clone to ask Kamiya Ren and Hoshio Ichiro to join Katsuki, while Otome offered to ask around her clan.

Katsuki prepared to lead a six-person special mobile unit to the front lines, while Kamiya and Hoshio were unnerved by his bloody Medical Ninjutsu research. After giving everyone a chance to withdraw, he set out with the group when none of them backed down.

• Kamiya Ren and Hoshio Ichiro met and agreed they wanted to become Jonin, then reached Katsuki's designated meeting place.
• Kamiya and Hoshio saw Katsuki's Shadow Clones performing bloody experiments on animals and became afraid of his apparent cruelty.
• Katsuki greeted Kamiya and Hoshio, then went to speak with Uchiha Mikoto when she arrived with another girl; Mikoto said she wanted to go to the front lines.
• Nawaki joined the group, completing two standard squads, and Katsuki explained they would serve as a special mobile support unit whose mission details would come later.
• Katsuki gave everyone one minute to withdraw, but nobody left, so the six traveled toward the front lines at top speed.

Katsuki’s group entered the Land of Wind and defeated a Sand ninja unit attacking their supply route. Katsuki sped ahead to scout, leaving the others to wonder if he had abandoned them.

• Katsuki led the group across the desert toward the main camp and sensed a mobile unit of Sand ninjas approaching.
• Katsuki ordered the others to fight the Sand ninjas, and Otome, Nawaki, Kamiya, Hoshio, and the Uchiha defeated all eight in three minutes.
• Katsuki stayed out of the battle and made a pavilion with Earth Release to shade the group from the sun.
• Nawaki complained about the heat and dusty soil after emerging from underground with a Sand ninja’s corpse.
• Katsuki used a burst of speed to scout ahead, stunning Mikoto and the others.
• Kamiya wondered whether Katsuki had sneaked off, and the group grew uneasy.

Katsuki arrived at Konoha’s desert camp, learned Orochimaru had ordered the bandits’ corpses displayed, and accepted Sakumo’s mission to strike the Sand shinobi’s rear. As Katsuki left to meet his squad, Orochimaru stopped him.

• Katsuki entered the oasis camp, where Konoha shinobi respected him for defeating the One-Tail.
• Katsuki asked Sakumo about the corpses displayed at the oasis, and Sakumo explained that Orochimaru had ordered it after defeating bandits who attacked Konoha’s supply convoy.
• Sakumo assigned Katsuki to attack the Sand shinobi’s rear, saying his flight, speed, and sensory abilities suited him for the mission.
• Sakumo told Katsuki he had fought the Third Kazekage with Orochimaru’s help and believed Katsuki could escape even if he could not defeat him.
• Katsuki left to meet Otome and the others, but Orochimaru appeared and greeted him.

Katsuki let Orochimaru examine the Thunderclap Chariot, then spent three days treating wounded soldiers while waiting for orders. Sakumo ordered him to strike Sunagakure after its leaders departed, but Orochimaru questioned whether the intelligence was a trap, leaving Sakumo to dismiss the other jonin and keep Katsuki and Orochimaru behind.

• Katsuki demonstrated the Thunderclap Chariot to Orochimaru, whose tests confirmed that it showed some sentience but revealed little else.
• Orochimaru thanked Katsuki and left to continue his research, while Katsuki reflected on how different this polite young Orochimaru was from the one he remembered.
• Katsuki’s shadow clones treated wounded soldiers, raising his reputation during three days without battle.
• Sakumo ordered Katsuki to attack Sunagakure while the Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and many elite jonin were away, and told him to bring back the exposed spies.
• Orochimaru warned that the intelligence might be a trap, prompting Sakumo to dismiss the meeting and leave only Katsuki and Orochimaru with him.

The Third Kazekage began sealing the revived Shukaku into a prepared vessel while Sunagakure's defenses remained unaware of an approaching enemy. A sensory jonin finally detected the threat overhead and raised the alarm.

• Sakumo told Orochimaru that the One-Tail had revived, and Katsuki vowed to attack the Sand ninja.
• The Third Kazekage ordered Chiyo to guard the perimeter while Rasa brought forward the unconscious vessel prepared for Shukaku.
• Shukaku revived and attacked the Third Kazekage, who fought back with Iron Sand.
• A Sand jonin heard a strange rumble, detected chakra approaching through the sky, and alerted Sunagakure to an enemy attack.

Katsuki attacked Sunagakure from the Thunderclap Chariot, killing several defenders with Lightning Javelins as the village sounded the alarm and began evacuating its people. Sunagakure's leaders debated how to respond while the garrison prepared to fight him.

• Sunagakure's warning whistles sounded, and Sand ninjas began directing panicked villagers toward shelters.
• Sunagakure's elders argued over the threat until the Kan'in Clan Head arrived and demanded an update.
• An elder identified the attacker as the likely one who had defeated the One-Tail and urged the clan heads to send jonin to reinforce the garrison.
• Katsuki rode the Thunderclap Chariot toward Sunagakure, knowing its thunder had revealed his approach despite avoiding the scouts.
• Katsuki launched Lightning Javelins at the cliff-wall garrison, killing seven or eight chunin and declaring war unheard.
• The garrison captain ordered a counterattack, and two Kan'in Family jonin used Magnet Release to ride rising sand toward Katsuki.

Katsuki fought through Sunagakure’s defenses and unleashed his newly developed Electric Execution, devastating the garrison at the terraced rock wall. He survived the technique’s strain and remained satisfied with its destructive power.

• Two Kan'in Family jonin attacked Katsuki with Magnet Release sand hands, but his Lightning Dragon shattered them and their follow-up quicksand attacks failed to control the battle.
• The two jonin lured Katsuki toward the rock wall, where the garrison captain ordered ten jonin and dozens of chunin to attack him with Wind Release techniques.
• Katsuki unleashed Electric Execution, wiping out the wind attacks and blasting a huge breach into the terraced rock wall.
• Most of the Sunagakure fighters were killed, and the two Kan'in Family jonin were stunned by the lightning and burned to ash, while two Earth Release users escaped underground.
• Katsuki inspected his lightly burned hand as it healed and judged Electric Execution’s power impressive.

Katsuki defeated Sunagakure’s entrance garrison and waited outside the village rather than attack civilians. The Kan'in Family’s jonin engaged him in an aerial battle, but their vast sea of sand began to collapse under his lightning attacks.

• Sunagakure’s leaders saw the thunderstorm at the entrance and ordered jonin from the clans to reinforce the village.
• Katsuki stayed outside Sunagakure and challenged the ninja who came to face him.
• Kan'in Hanki used sand to stop Katsuki’s Lightning Dragon, and Kan'in Shigeru led thirteen Kan'in jonin in a combined attack.
• Sunagakure’s other jonin and elders watched from the ground as the Kan'in Family tried to trap Katsuki in a sea of sand.
• Katsuki’s thunderous attacks cracked the sea of sand, sending streams of sand pouring down.

Katsuki fought the Kan'in Family jonin in Sunagakure, killing several while they struggled to counter his lightning techniques. As the battle continued, two Puppet Masters arrived with poisoned senbon and puppets.

• Katsuki attacked the Kan'in Family jonin with Great Thunderclap, killing three of them despite their quicksand defenses.
• Katsuki used Wolf Pack and White Lightning Strike to kill another Sand ninja, then evaded a Sand Clone and blasted a hidden opponent with the Thunderclap Chariot.
• Kan'in Shigeru urged the remaining jonin to hold out until the Third Kazekage returned, restoring some of their resolve.
• Two Puppet Masters arrived on a mass of quicksand, sending poisoned senbon toward Katsuki and advancing with three puppets each.

Katsuki fought the Kan'in Clan Head and Sunagakure's ninja, escaping a poisonous mist and using Earth Release to withstand a wind attack from Okunuki Kumasaburo. He confronted Kumasaburo as the Kan'in Clan Head charged in, leaving the battle still underway.

• The Kan'in Clan Head and the red-haired Puppet Master attacked Katsuki with Wind Release, puppets, poison needles, and gas bombs while Kan'in Shigeru's group surrounded the Thunderclap Chariot.
• Katsuki escaped the poisonous mist by drilling through the quicksand with repeated Lightning Dragons, then used another blast to land safely.
• Katsuki raised a massive rock wall with Earth Moving Core to block Kamizuru Otto's Great Sickle Weasel storm.
• Katsuki recognized Okunuki Kumasaburo atop the shattered wall and vowed to kill him; Kumasaburo answered with another storm attack.
• The Kan'in Clan Head charged down on Sand Cloud as Kumasaburo's wind attacks descended on Katsuki.

Katsuki survived the Sand Ninja’s coordinated counterattack, shrugging off wind blades, poisoned needles, and toxic mist as he continued toward Sunagakure. The Sand Ninja recognized that he was far tougher than expected and cautiously prepared to try other methods.

• Katsuki escaped underground with Earth Travel Technique, and the Kan'in Clan Head ordered the sensory jonin to pinpoint him.
• The Sand Ninja located Katsuki underground and forced him to the surface with Excavating Earth Rise, where Kumasaburo attacked with Kamaitachi.
• Katsuki endured Kumasaburo’s wind blades without injury, revealing his powerful Hardening Technique.
• Five Puppet Masters joined the earlier pair and attacked Katsuki with poisoned needles, but his skin deflected them.
• The Puppet Masters filled the area with toxic mist, but Katsuki emerged unharmed, prompting them to guard themselves and probe cautiously.

Katsuki killed Okunuki Kumasaburo in close combat, then faced the Kan'in Clan Head and the Sunagakure shinobi as they trapped him with sand and launched powerful Wind Release attacks. He stood atop a raised stone platform while their wind blades began cutting it apart and Sand Clouds closed in.

• Katsuki broke through the puppet encirclement and clashed with Okunuki Kumasaburo, blocking his Wind Blade with his hand.
• Katsuki accepted a cut to his chest and drove his lightning-wrapped palm into Kumasaburo's abdomen, then used lightning to break the puppets' assault and stun Kumasaburo.
• Katsuki pierced Kumasaburo's chest and killed him, then fled as the Sunagakure shinobi reacted.
• The Kan'in Clan Head and his jonin raised waves of sand to hem in Katsuki, while Katsuki used Earth Release, Earth Mountain Technique to raise a stone platform above the sand.
• Sunagakure jonin attacked Katsuki with Wind Release, Great Sickle Weasel, slicing the stone beneath him as Sand Clouds closed in.

While Katsuki attacked Sunagakure, Sakumo led Konoha forces to capture the Sand ninja’s four oasis outposts, then set off alone toward the village. After learning Sunagakure was under attack, the Third Kazekage abandoned the returning group and flew back to defend it.

• Orochimaru used a Hyuga scout to locate Sand ninja sentries, then led Konoha’s forces in a surprise assault on an oasis.
• Konoha defeated the defenders at four oases, and Sakumo ordered the battlefield cleared while worrying about Katsuki’s attack on Sunagakure.
• Sakumo left Orochimaru in charge and departed alone toward Sunagakure despite a Jonin’s protest.
• A Sand ninja reported that Sunagakure’s defenses had fallen and its elders and clan heads could not defeat the attacker.
• The Third Kazekage told Chiyo to withdraw after the One-Tail was sealed, then flew ahead toward the village.

Katsuki used his shadow clones to extract Mister Xiuyi, a Konoha spy, from Sunagakure while he fought the village’s defenders. After Xiuyi escaped through the entrance, Katsuki unleashed Electric Execution against the pursuing ninja.

• Katsuki showed Mister Xiuyi the matching halves of a Konoha forehead protector and assured him that he would take him back to the village.
• Katsuki’s shadow clones led Xiuyi out of his cellar and killed the Sunagakure patrol that confronted them.
• Xiuyi and the clones reached the village entrance, where Katsuki was fighting Sunagakure’s jonin and puppets.
• After a clone confirmed Xiuyi’s extraction, Katsuki released Electric Execution, striking down thirteen Sunagakure ninja.
• The remaining Sunagakure ninja lost track of Xiuyi as he crossed the rock wall and escaped.

Katsuki fought his way toward Sunagakure, enduring the village shinobi’s attacks and narrowly escaping a crushing quicksand technique. Badly burned and injured, he dodged further attacks while waiting for his wounds to heal.

• Sleeve departed under the protection of Katsuki’s shadow clone, and Katsuki charged toward Sunagakure after breaking through the earth.
• The Kan'in Clan Head ordered the shinobi to stop Katsuki, who dodged their attacks and struck back with Earth Release techniques.
• Katsuki burrowed underground, but the Kan'in Family shinobi trapped him in compressed quicksand and used Sand Burial to crush him.
• Katsuki burst out of the quicksand with extensive burns, surprising the Kan'in Family shinobi, who renewed their assault.
• Katsuki’s wounds split open when he tried to raise his arm, so he used Lightning Flash Turn to evade the attackers while waiting for them to heal.

Katsuki battled Sand ninja in Sunagakure and wrecked part of the village before a mountain of iron sand fell from the sky. He survived the impact but was badly injured, and the Third Kazekage arrived to attack him.

• Katsuki evaded Sand ninja through Sunagakure and killed several pursuers with his lightning and close-combat skills.
• Katsuki unleashed Earth Release, Earth Splitting Palm, collapsing buildings and tearing up the village.
• Katsuki sensed a flaming iron sand mountain descending and fled before it struck the ground, though the shockwave badly injured him.
• Katsuki recognized the attacker as the Third Kazekage, who descended and fired Iron Sand Shower at him.
• Katsuki used Lightning Dragon to shatter the iron sand, but realized his injuries left him at a disadvantage against the Third Kazekage.

Katsuki escaped Sunagakure aboard Thunderclap Chariot after devastating much of the village, while the Third Kazekage failed to catch him. With Konoha capturing key oases and Sunagakure badly damaged, Ebizo urged the village elders to surrender.

• Katsuki fled the Third Kazekage and the pursuing Sand ninja while his severe internal injuries slowly healed.
• The Third Kazekage recalled the heavy casualties, including Chiyo’s son and daughter-in-law, and continued attacking Katsuki with Iron Sand.
• Katsuki summoned Thunderclap Chariot and escaped Sunagakure at great speed, leaving roughly half the village’s buildings destroyed.
• The Third Kazekage abandoned the pursuit and returned to the Kazekage’s Office Building, where he learned Konoha had captured the four foremost oases.
• Ebizo urged the elders to surrender, and the others silently weighed his proposal amid Sunagakure’s losses.