Recaps

Moriyue warned the Raikage that Akatsuki’s war against Konoha could plunge the Ninja World into chaos and give Kumogakure an opportunity to reshape relations among the ninja villages. As Akatsuki prepared to attack that night, Naruto and Jiraiya considered the coming battle and the forces behind it.

• Moriyue told the Raikage that Akatsuki’s challenge to Konoha could destabilize the Ninja World and suggested Kumogakure establish a new hierarchy among ninja villages.
• Zetsu reported that Konoha’s defenses were poor, while Deidara and the other Akatsuki members prepared for battle.
• Pain announced that Akatsuki would act that night, quieting the gathered members.
• Naruto recalled his disagreement with Pain over whether military deterrence could bring peace, and Sakura comforted him.
• Jiraiya feared Konoha would suffer against Pain and wondered whether Orochimaru was another reason Akatsuki had united.

Deidara and Tobi attacked Konoha, where hidden defenses destroyed their first wave of explosive clay spiders. Deidara then planted more spiders around the village from the clouds, preparing a large-scale explosion while Tobi fled on foot.

• Deidara and Tobi flew toward Konoha on a clay bird and sent explosive spiders toward its defenses.
• Konoha's defenses destroyed the spiders with explosions, and Tobi headed toward the main gate while Deidara assessed the traps.
• Tobi charged the gate with explosive-tag balls as the village sounded its alarm and residents moved toward the back mountain.
• Deidara drove off a gatekeeper ninja, flew into the clouds, and dropped spiders that concealed themselves around Konoha.
• Deidara prepared to detonate the hidden spiders, while Tobi ran away and tossed bombs behind him.

Kisame attacked Killer B in Kumogakure, but the Raikage joined the fight and drove him beyond the village. Kisame fused with Samehada and trapped A and Killer B in a moving water prison, leaving the brothers preparing to fight back.

• Kisame attacked Killer B, and Samehada absorbed chakra and injured his arm.
• A rushed to protect Killer B and punched Kisame out of the village.
• Killer B transformed and struck Kisame as the fight moved beyond Kumogakure.
• Kisame fused with Samehada after briefly restraining A and Killer B with Genjutsu.
• Kisame trapped A and Killer B in Water Prison Shark Dance, and the brothers prepared to counterattack.

Moriyue joined A and Killer B against Kisame and a mysterious cloaked man, who empowered Kisame and attacked Moriyue with a devastating technique. Moriyue survived, trapped the man, and killed him with the Reaper Death Seal.

• Kisame fought A and Killer B inside the Water Prison while a mysterious cloaked man watched and warned Kisame about their taijutsu.
• Moriyue entered the battle, and the mysterious man transferred power to Kisame before assigning him to fight A, Killer B, and Moriyue.
• The mysterious man attacked Moriyue with a black rod and warped space, seemingly reducing Moriyue to ashes, but Moriyue reappeared behind him and bound him with its tentacles.
• The mysterious man severed Moriyue's tentacles and summoned weapons from a Sealing Scroll, but Moriyue used the Reaper Death Seal to kill him.

After regaining his body, Orochimaru met Pain, who tested his loyalty and explained his plan to use forbidden weapons and fear to impose peace. Pain then ordered Konan to prepare for war and discussed intelligence about Moriyue of Kumogakure, who might possess forbidden techniques and another Tailed Beast’s Chakra.

• Orochimaru offered to use Impure World Reincarnation on Akatsuki members after their deaths, and Pain accepted his answer.
• Pain told Orochimaru that fear caused by forbidden weapons would restrain nations and bring peace, then left him to continue his research.
• Pain told Konan that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s reform-based plan was impossible and ordered her to prepare for war.
• Konan reported that Moriyue of Kumogakure had mastered many forbidden techniques and might carry another Tailed Beast’s Chakra.
• Pain said he would send someone to deal with Moriyue and ordered the Akatsuki to prioritize capturing the other Tailed Beasts.

Moriyue learned that Yugito Nii had been taken and left to protect her, while A and Killer B fought Kisame and a mysterious Akatsuki member. A was caught by the enemy’s genjutsu and clone, and Killer B was swallowed with Kisame by a giant water shark, leaving both battles unresolved.

• Ando told Moriyue that Yugito Nii had been taken, so Moriyue headed to protect her and trusted the Raikage and Killer B to handle their fight.
• A overwhelmed the mysterious Akatsuki member, but discovered the apparent victim was a clone and was caught in an explosive trap.
• Killer B attacked Kisame in his Tailed Beast Transformation, but Kisame drained his chakra through the water prison.
• Kisame summoned a giant water shark that swallowed both himself and Killer B.
• A tried to counter the man’s genjutsu, but the enemy vanished and reappeared while questioning whether A could tell illusion from reality.

The Six Paths of Pain attacked Konoha, and Sakura fought them with her martial arts while Kakashi and Naruto joined the battle. Sakura discovered the Pains’ shared vision and the King of Hell’s ability to restore them, then Human Path Pain struck her mind as Naruto asked if she was okay.

• Deva Path Pain used his pulling force and a black rod to attack Kakashi, but Kakashi escaped with a clone.
• Sakura charged Deva Path Pain, was repelled, and then attacked the other Pains, learning that they shared vision.
• The Animal Path Pain revealed its weapon-filled body and attacked Master Ye, while Sakura evaded its assault and defeated a hidden chameleon summon.
• Naruto arrived and hit a Pain with a Sage-powered Wind Style Shuriken, but the King of Hell restored the injured Pain.
• Deva Path Pain reproached Naruto over the sacrifices caused by the Nine-Tails, and Sakura planned to remove the black rods.
• Human Path Pain attacked Sakura’s consciousness as Naruto asked whether she was all right.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Konoha's defenders fought Pain and the Akatsuki as the attack continued to devastate the village. Tsunade destroyed Deva Path once, but Hell Path revived him, leaving the battle raging.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade arrived as Deva Path Pain attacked Sakura, and Tsunade summoned Katsuyu to treat Konoha's wounded.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta and fought Pain while searching for Nagato, as the summoned beasts battled across Konoha.
• Might Guy opened the Eight Inner Gates, and Tsunade entered the fight with her Strength of a Hundred seal activated.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade attacked Deva Path together, and Tsunade shattered him with her kick.
• Hell Path revived Deva Path, who repelled Jiraiya and the others as Konan's paper attacks and the battle continued to devastate Konoha.

Jiraiya and the Six Paths of Pain fought as Naruto entered Sage Mode and joined the battle. Naruto petrified Deva Path with Nature Energy, but Pain recovered his destroyed bodies, defeated Naruto, and pinned him to the ground.

• Jiraiya identified Pain’s black receivers as Nagato’s means of transmitting Chakra and fought off the Six Paths’ coordinated attack with help from Fukasaku and Shima.
• Naruto arrived in perfect Sage Mode and resisted Deva Path’s suction before attacking with clones and enormous Big Ball Rasengan.
• Deva Path absorbed Naruto’s Rasengan attack, but Naruto then injected Nature Energy into it and turned its body to stone.
• Jiraiya set the remaining Paths ablaze with oil and fire, but Hell Path restored the damaged bodies through the King of Hell.
• Pain interrupted Naruto’s attempt to summon clones from Mount Myōboku, pinned him with a black rod, and asked whether this was the result of his training.

Naruto confronted Pain over their competing ideas of peace, while Pain prepared a devastating attack on Konoha. Moriyue appeared near Pain after Naruto was defeated, leaving his next move unknown.

• Naruto rejected Pain’s plan for peace through revenge and terror, but admitted he did not know how to end hatred.
• Pain explained that he wanted to use the Nine-Tails to create a weapon that could destroy a country and restrain war through fear.
• Pain rose above Konoha and gathered a powerful repulsive force that threatened to crush the village.
• Teuchi accepted that he might die and went to make one last bowl of ramen for a hooded youth.
• Moriyue appeared near the fallen Naruto, called out to Pain, and flashed into the air before him.

Moriyue battled Deva Path Pain, using thunderclouds and lightning to resist Pain’s powers and defeat his Chibaku Tensei. After subduing Pain, Moriyue challenged his ideas about peace and connected to his body, prompting Nagato to hear Moriyue’s proposal from afar.

• Moriyue expanded his body with thunderclouds and lightning, then lifted Pain high into the sky despite the growing force of Shinra Tensei.
• Pain unleashed Chibaku Tensei, but Moriyue shattered its black sphere with invisible giant hands.
• Moriyue appeared before Pain, pinned him down, and used black tentacles to interfere with his control of Deva Path.
• Moriyue rejected Pain’s justification for capturing the Tailed Beasts and proposed eliminating Akatsuki, weakening the Five Great Nations, and creating a centralized state.
• Nagato opened his eyes in the distant cave and told Orochimaru that Moriyue was insane, though his idea had interested him.

The Raikage defeated Kisame after Killer B helped expose him in the Water Prison, and A declared war on the Akatsuki Organization. Moriyue ensured Yugito Nii was safe and began considering a plan to resolve the threat posed by Akatsuki.

• Moriyue used a Shadow Clone to stay on the battlefield while his real body slipped away under the Snake Talisman's invisibility.
• Killer B transformed partway into the Eight-Tails and used his tentacles to draw Kisame into a whirlpool.
• A severed Kisame's Water Prison and struck him with a lightning-charged punch, ending the fight.
• A recognized Moriyue's clone and told him to do what he needed while declaring war on the Akatsuki Organization.
• Moriyue confirmed Yugito Nii was safe and considered allying with Nagato and Konan while forming a new plan.
• Yugito Nii told Moriyue to be careful as she sensed he was about to cause trouble again.

Moriyue fought a mysterious powerhouse who wielded a Wolf Fang Club and overwhelmed him with immense strength and combat skill. The battle continued as Moriyue relied on black mist, chains, and feints to evade and counter the powerhouse, while Nagato and Orochimaru watched in confusion.

• A mysterious powerhouse descended into the battlefield and charged Moriyue with a Wolf Fang Club.
• Moriyue and the powerhouse clashed, and the powerhouse deflected Moriyue's blade radiance before smashing him backward with a powerful strike.
• Moriyue bound the powerhouse with Evil God Chains and used Notebook's ability to stagger him, then attacked with a Genjutsu-assisted flurry.
• The powerhouse broke through Moriyue's illusory blade strikes and cut his chest with a Wind Blade.
• Moriyue vanished into Black Mist and continued using guerrilla tactics, while Nagato and Orochimaru watched the battle and wondered who the powerhouse was.

Moriyue fought the mysterious expert in a fierce clash, using the Evil God Projection to wound him despite suffering heavy damage. As their battle continued, Deva Path Pain moved to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Konoha's young elites watched the battle between Moriyue and the mysterious expert, unable to intervene safely.
• Moriyue used the Evil God Projection to slow the mysterious expert's attack, close the distance, and drive his blade and chains into the expert's chest.
• The mysterious expert retaliated with fire, lightning, wind, and his Wolf Fang Club, but Moriyue kept evading and counterattacking.
• Moriyue wrapped black threads around the mysterious expert's calf and wounded him during an opening after the expert used Wind Blades.
• Deva Path Pain set out to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki while Moriyue and the mysterious expert continued fighting.

Moriyue and the mysterious powerhouse fought a brutal battle near Konoha, while Might Guy protected the villages from falling magma. After both fighters traded feints and blows, Moriyue trapped his opponent and prepared to unleash the molten energy his souls had absorbed.

• The mysterious powerhouse transformed into a magma-armored dragon, but Moriyue's ghosts eroded its shell and forced him to abandon the form.
• Might Guy intercepted the falling magma with his flaming wings and shattered it with Morning Peacock to protect Konoha.
• Moriyue battered the mysterious powerhouse with Soul Severing, then used the Notebook's scythe to expose him without falling for his trap.
• The mysterious powerhouse caught Moriyue with lightning chains, but Moriyue used the Snake Talisman to turn transparent and evade the attack.
• Moriyue revealed the molten energy his souls had absorbed, bound himself to the mysterious powerhouse with chains, and prepared to strike him with his own flames.

Deidara fought Gaara with dwindling Explosive Clay, then unleashed a vast field of microscopic bombs that threatened to destroy the allied ninja from within. Kakashi countered by creating a massive Fire Dragon Tornado, and Deidara’s attempt to detonate his bombs failed, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Deidara struggled against Gaara’s stronger sand control and nearly retreated, but Gaara’s dismissive remark provoked him into staying to demonstrate his art.
• Deidara created a clay clone that spread microscopic bombs through the air, and Naruto warned the allied ninja not to breathe as the bombs began destroying incoming attacks.
• Gaara ordered everyone to retreat and tried to clear the bombs with large-scale ninjutsu, but the effort barely slowed their spread.
• Kakashi appeared and expanded a tornado into a massive Fire Dragon Tornado, changing the atmosphere across the battlefield.
• Deidara shouted Katsu to detonate the clay clone, but the clone collapsed without exploding, and his second attempt also failed.

Moriyue stopped Deidara’s self-destruction and left the battlefield, then went to a cave where Konan guarded a frail red-haired man with the Rinnegan. The man called Moriyue inside, leaving him face to face with Nagato.

• Deidara tried to flee, but worsening weather blocked his route and Gaara’s taunts provoked him.
• Deidara revealed the sphere embedded in his chest and began his Ultimate Art, preparing to destroy himself and the surrounding land.
• Moriyue sealed Deidara’s explosion temporarily, kicked its light into the sky, and let it detonate at a distance.
• Moriyue failed to find Zetsu and left the battlefield using the Snake Talisman’s power.
• Moriyue reached a cave filled with concealed Explosive Tags, where Konan blocked his entrance until a weak voice from inside told her to let him in.
• Moriyue entered and saw a frail red-haired man with the Rinnegan seated in the cave.

Moriyue challenged Nagato’s belief that shared suffering could make people understand one another, then learned from Orochimaru that the people who attacked him belonged to the Hoshikage organization. The damaged Deva Path Pain returned to the cave carrying an unconscious figure.

• Moriyue argued that people could not truly understand one another just by experiencing what they considered pain, leaving Nagato shaken and prompting him to name Uchiha Madara as the one who had guided him.
• Orochimaru appeared in Sasuke’s body and told Moriyue he was interested in their earlier plan to join forces.
• Orochimaru revealed that the people who attacked Moriyue were members of the Hoshikage organization, though he did not know their purpose.
• Nagato pointed toward the cave entrance as Deva Path Pain returned, badly damaged and carrying an unconscious figure.

Moriyue questioned Nagato about the Akatsuki and offered to heal him, while learning that Orochimaru had been researching Zetsu and Naruto. After Moriyue absorbed some of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path’s power and hinted that Nagato’s beliefs had been manipulated, Orochimaru identified the technique as Kotoamatsukami.

• Nagato allowed Orochimaru to take Naruto, then told Moriyue that Orochimaru had researched Zetsu, whose body had traits of First Generation Cells.
• Moriyue learned that Nagato planned to revive the Ten-Tails and offered to heal him and extend his life.
• Moriyue vanished from Nagato’s senses and absorbed some of the Tailed Beast Chakra stored in the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Moriyue called the advance payment for Nagato’s surgery and claimed that Nagato’s path had been a scam he had not chosen himself.
• Orochimaru excitedly identified the technique as Kotoamatsukami.

Moriyue learned that Naruto had been controlled by Shisui's Kotoamatsukami and questioned Nagato and Orochimaru about their plans. As Konoha searched for Naruto, Moriyue began an attempt to reveal who Naruto really was.

• Orochimaru told Moriyue that Shisui's eye was likely in Danzo's hands, and Nagato questioned whether Naruto had been struck by Kotoamatsukami.
• Nagato remained uncertain about continuing to collect the Tailed Beasts, while Moriyue warned that someone might be using him and suggested the Hoshikage organization could be behind Itachi Uchiha's stolen corpse.
• Moriyue approached the unconscious Naruto and sent the phantom of the Black-faced Sheep into his body to deal with the Genjutsu.
• Orochimaru examined the Sharingan on Moriyue's tentacles, and Nagato asked what Moriyue planned to do.
• Moriyue opened his Sharingan and said they would see the real Naruto.

Moriyue entered Naruto’s dark inner world with Black-faced Sheep to find and undo the manipulation Danzo and Itachi had placed on him. After fighting Dark Naruto, Moriyue forced him to reveal where to go next.

• Moriyue explored Naruto’s endless, oppressive mire and suspected that Naruto’s dark side had been shaped by the Nine-Tails and Kotoamatsukami.
• Moriyue and Black-faced Sheep searched the inner world until they found Dark Naruto.
• Moriyue tried to talk to Dark Naruto, but Dark Naruto attacked him.
• Moriyue defeated Dark Naruto and asked whether he was Itachi’s crow.
• Dark Naruto pointed out the way, and Moriyue told him to lead on.

Ajisai infiltrated the Land of Fire Daimyo’s residence to propose a deal, but he found the Daimyo’s son, Ryota, instead. He asked Ryota to bring the Daimyo so they could discuss cooperation over the distribution of interests among the major nations.

• Ajisai used mist Genjutsu and sealing techniques to sneak past the Daimyo’s guards and barriers.
• Ajisai found Ryota in the main palace and subdued him, realizing he had mistaken the Daimyo’s son for the Daimyo.
• Ryota begged Ajisai not to hurt him, fearing Ajisai had come to kill him.
• Ajisai showed Ryota strange items and offered him benefits in exchange for cooperating.
• Ajisai told Ryota to bring the real Daimyo so they could discuss their proposed deal.

Ajisai threatened Ryota, the Daimyo’s descendant, and planted a dangerous blade in his back to keep him from revealing her plans. Meanwhile, Moriyue sent Yugito Nii and Kazeki to find Haku and Zabuza and uncover who had arranged their earlier encounter.

• Ajisai frightened Ryota into revealing details about his father and promised to spare him if he cooperated.
• Ajisai embedded a marked dagger near Ryota’s heart as insurance against betrayal, then escaped when her summoned beast warned her that others were approaching.
• Ryota heard people nearby discussing a beast tide and animals going mad as he lay injured in his room.
• Moriyue concluded that Haku and Zabuza had deliberately led Yugito Nii and the others to him when they took Itachi’s corpse.
• Moriyue sent Yugito Nii and Kazeki to find Haku and Zabuza and, if possible, capture their mysterious employer.

After Pain captured Naruto, Konoha formed a squad led by Gaara to pursue him while Jiraiya remained unconscious in the hospital. In Naruto’s dream, Moriyue searched for the eye sealed inside him and reached a sinister landscape where the search continued.

• Pain captured Naruto, but Might Guy stopped Deva Path Pain from unleashing a devastating Shinra Tensei on Konoha.
• Shima urged Fukasaku to focus on rescuing Naruto while Tsunade said Konoha was already handling the matter.
• Tsunade and Gaara assembled a pursuit squad with Hinata and Sakura, and Gaara led them after Pain’s trail.
• Gaara, Hinata, and Sakura set out to rescue Naruto, with Hinata hoping to confess her feelings and Sakura focused on saving him.
• Moriyue defeated Dark Naruto and searched for the Shisui eye Itachi had sealed inside Naruto.
• Moriyue carried the bound Dark Naruto through a dark mire until they reached a black lawn surrounded by dead trees and blood-eyed crows.

Ando deliberately got himself imprisoned in Kirigakure and found Haku and Zabuza in the neighboring cell. He gave them healing medicine and revealed that he intended to help them escape, though Zabuza doubted he could overcome the village’s defenses.

• Ando recalled that Yugito Nii had assigned him to find Haku and Zabuza, and that she had promised him a Lightning Blade training scroll.
• Ando asked to be moved to a drier cell, and the guards transferred him to a more heavily secured one beside Zabuza and Haku.
• Ando recognized Zabuza and saw that Haku was badly wounded, then secretly passed them healing cards from Ajisai’s scroll.
• Haku recognized Ando as someone from Kumogakure, and Zabuza accepted the medicine after Ando confirmed who he was.
• Ando told Zabuza that he had deliberately entered the prison to help them, but Zabuza doubted he could break them out past Kirigakure’s defenses.