Chapter Summaries

Kushina took control of the Land of Fire while neighboring Daimyos and nobles undermined its trade and stability, and she prepared to confront Iwagakure’s forces. Naruto’s Shadow Clone went to the Land of Grass and attacked an Iwagakure unit led by Five-Tails Han, whose counterattack collided with the clone’s Flame Sun Courage spheres.

• Kushina ordered the Land of Fire’s ministers to submit all matters to her and heard reports of trade boycotts, missing city lords, and nobles opposing her rule.
• After learning that Iwagakure’s main force had entered the Land of Grass, Kushina told Shikaku to hold the border and decided to go herself.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone asked to confront Iwagakure in Kushina’s place, and she agreed after he offered to share her burdens.
• In the Land of Grass, Naruto’s Shadow Clone attacked a force of more than eight hundred Iwagakure ninja led by Five-Tails Han.
• Han used a repulsive-force array to deflect the clone’s Tailed Beast Ball, then fired his own as the clone’s four Flame Sun Courage spheres struck it.

Naruto's shadow clone fought Five-Tails Mukuro and the Iwagakure Vanguard Army, defeating Mukuro and leaving Han wounded. He decided to eliminate Han to delay the Akatsuki's plan to collect the Tailed Beasts.

• Naruto's shadow clone stomped Han into the ground, causing Five-Tails Mukuro to break through his seal.
• Naruto's shadow clone used Eye of the Typhoon to force Mukuro and the Iwagakure Vanguard Army to retreat toward the Repulsion Array.
• Naruto's shadow clone broke through the Repulsion Array and used Flying Dragon in the Sky to kill several Iwagakure Ninja and disrupt the formation.
• Naruto's shadow clone chased Mukuro and struck him with Petrification Ray, but Mukuro dodged most of the attack and hit only a tail.
• Naruto's shadow clone used Double Dragons Fetch Water to blow Mukuro apart, returning him to Han's seal and leaving Han on the ground.
• Naruto's shadow clone decided not to spare Han, believing that eliminating a Tailed Beast could delay the Akatsuki's plan.

Naruto's Shadow Clone ambushed an Iwagakure squad investigating Han's death and tried to delay them while allowing word of the missing Five-Tails to reach Ōnoki. He killed the squad's captain and the two Jonin who stayed behind, while the others escaped with Han's body.

• An Iwagakure squad found Han's corpse, sealed it in a scroll, and prepared to report his death and the missing Five-Tails to Lord Tsuchikage.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone triggered a forest trap and faced five Iwagakure Jonin, turning himself to stone to evade their attacks.
• The squad leader gave Han's body scroll to a companion and stayed behind as the others fled; Naruto's Shadow Clone killed him with Sage Guiding Path and an invisible Wind Blade.
• Two more Jonin stayed behind to cover the retreat, and Naruto's Shadow Clone killed them with Wind Blades after disrupting their ninjutsu.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone let the remaining Iwagakure ninja escape so they could deliver the news of Han's death and the missing Five-Tails to Ōnoki.

Ōnoki learned that Han had died and Mukuro had disappeared after Iwagakure’s vanguard was repelled, while Shikaku prepared Konoha’s outnumbered forces for Iwagakure’s advance. In Akatsuki’s tower, Nagato chose to suppress Konoha rather than destroy it because Yahiko’s corpse was there.

• Ōnoki heard that the vanguard had suffered few casualties but Han was dead and Mukuro was missing, then ordered Iwagakure’s army to advance on Konoha.
• Shikaku worried that Konoha’s small, undersupplied force could not face Iwagakure’s five thousand ninja and ordered scouts to watch for infiltration teams.
• An Anbu told Shikaku that Konoha had repelled Iwagakure’s vanguard and that Han had died, prompting Shikaku to prepare for an immediate move.
• Nagato learned that Konoha had disrupted his plans by eliminating a Jinchuriki, and Obito asked how Akatsuki should respond.
• Nagato said Akatsuki would suppress Konoha’s momentum but refused to destroy it because Yahiko’s corpse remained there.

Kushina responded to reports that Naruto had killed Iwagakure’s Jinchuriki and learned that Akatsuki had attacked a transport team. As she weighed the risks of war and questioned her growing political role, Anju warned her that Naruto’s influence had already spread far beyond Konoha.

• Kushina read a report that Naruto had killed Han and worried that the death could push Iwagakure into a prolonged war.
• An Anbu reported that a transport team had vanished and strange Blood Sacrifice Ritual markings suggested Akatsuki had returned.
• Kushina gave Reanimated Minato a Flying Thunder God Formation Mark scroll and sent him to find Akatsuki, while reflecting on how their relationship had changed.
• Kushina asked Anju why the Land of Fire had restricted funding to Konoha, and Anju explained that Daimyos restrained ninja villages to protect their own interests.
• Anju warned Kushina that stepping down could jeopardize Naruto and revealed that the Sky Ninja, Rōran, and Kushina’s vassal families had already invested in him.

Terumi Mei confronted Kisame when he arrived as an envoy for Karatachi Yagura, whose offer of reconciliation she rejected. Their negotiations turned into a fight beneath the sea, where Kisame escaped Terumi Mei’s attempt to trap him in acid, and the battle remained unresolved.

• Terumi Mei spotted Kirigakure’s concealed fleet and ordered the coastal defenders to prepare for an attack.
• Karatachi Yagura sent Kisame and several Kirigakure Anbu to offer goodwill and ask the former Kirigakure members to make way.
• Terumi Mei refused Kisame’s offer, declaring that Konoha would not retreat and was ready for war.
• Kisame attacked Terumi Mei with Five Eating Sharks, and she countered with her Lava Release before both fighters went underwater.
• Terumi Mei tried to trap Kisame in Acidic Liquid with Dissolving Monster Prison, but he escaped the danger and stopped fighting her.

Karatachi Yagura withdrew Kirigakure’s fleet after Terumi Mei refused to let it pass, while Kushina waited in the Land of Fire Capital as Anju questioned whether Minato would call on her. Anju then asked Naruto to capture a Tailed Beast and seal it inside Kushina so he could escape, but Kurama raised the problem of Naruto attacking a Jinchuriki.

• Kisame ended negotiations with Terumi Mei and reported her refusal to Karatachi Yagura, who ordered Kirigakure’s fleet to relocate toward Kumogakure.
• Kisame urged Karatachi Yagura to defeat Terumi Mei’s forces, but Karatachi Yagura rejected the idea and told him to carry out the relocation.
• Terumi Mei declined to pursue Kirigakure’s retreating fleet, avoiding the risk of an ambush.
• Kushina asked Anju whether she should teach Karatachi Yagura a lesson and whether she should wait in the Land of Fire Capital; Anju advised her to remain patient and predicted Minato would not summon her.
• Anju considered using a Tailed Beast to replace himself, then entered Naruto’s Sealing Space and asked Naruto to capture one and seal it inside Kushina.
• Kurama said Naruto could capture the One-Tail, but questioned whether Naruto would agree to attack its Jinchuriki.

Naruto agreed to send a Shadow Clone to investigate Kirigakure’s forces after Anju argued that they were the only village threatening Konoha without suffering losses. Kurama then reclaimed Keychain Kurama after explaining that the stronger clone had been draining his mental power.

• Naruto learned that his Shadow Clone had killed the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and heard from Anju that Karatachi Yagura had led Kirigakure’s forces toward Konoha.
• Anju pointed out that Iwagakure and Kirigakure had entered the conflict while Kumogakure and Sunagakure had not crossed their borders, persuading Naruto to send a Shadow Clone to investigate Kirigakure.
• Kurama explained that Keychain Kurama’s growing Chakra body had been siphoning his mental power and competing for Nine-Tails’ share of Natural Energy.
• Anju admitted he had given Keychain Kurama the equivalent of three tails’ worth of Chakra, and Kurama took the clone back with him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and his advisors realized they could not make decisions about Konoha’s looming conflict without Naruto Namikaze, whose experience and influence Utatane Koharu acknowledged. Meanwhile, Naruto’s Shadow Clone pursued intelligence on the Three-Tails and prepared to seal a Tailed Beast.

• Mitokado Homura warned that Konoha might face an invasion by five thousand Iwagakure shinobi, while Utatane Koharu said their era of influence had passed.
• Utatane Koharu praised Kushina’s strength and Naruto’s abilities, and urged Sarutobi Hiruzen to include Naruto in their discussion.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed that Naruto had once traveled back to Konoha Year 38, worked as Loulan’s Minister of Military Affairs, and funded Konoha’s development.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone ordered Root to keep tracking the Three-Tails Jinchuriki and sent intelligence about Akatsuki members to the Third Hokage.
• Hozuki Leng Che gave Naruto’s Shadow Clone Root contact points near the coast, and the clone left to prepare tools for sealing the Three-Tails.

Naruto told Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other elders that Konoha could resolve its conflict with the other villages by encouraging their leaders to break from the daimyo. He left them with the reminder that Kushina had approved his plans, while the elders accepted that decision-making was no longer theirs.

• An Anbu brought Naruto to the Hokage Office, where Utatane Koharu told him Kakuzu and Hidan had attacked Fugaku's grain convoy.
• Naruto said his father could handle the attackers and explained that Konoha could exploit the conflict to encourage the other villages' leaders to challenge their daimyo.
• Naruto revealed he had contacted Rasa and said the Land of Wind Daimyo's death would soon become known, while the Land of Fire Daimyo was alive at Hakoami Castle.
• Mitokado Homura objected to Naruto's actions, but Naruto said Kushina had approved the plan and challenged Homura to handle the next Akatsuki threat himself.
• After Naruto left, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura acknowledged that they no longer controlled Konoha's decisions and returned to their government work.

The Land of Wind Daimyo decided to replace Rasa after he refused to attack Konoha, while Rasa secretly allied with Cang Xia and Rōran. Sky Ninja attacked the Daimyo Residence, and Shen Nong confronted the daimyo’s Samurai as the assault began.

• The Land of Wind Daimyo rejected the Minister of Finance’s suggestion to increase Rasa’s compensation and agreed with the Minister of Military Affairs to remove Rasa as Kazekage.
• After receiving a report about the daimyo’s decision, Rasa met with Cang Xia and agreed to cooperate in a surprise attack on the Daimyo Residence.
• Cang Xia left for the Sky Fortress, where Shen Nong and the Sky Ninja prepared to attack the Land of Wind Capital.
• The Minister of Finance noticed dark clouds and approaching figures, warned the Daimyo Residence guards, and rushed to alert the daimyo.
• The Land of Wind Daimyo ordered a Samurai to take him to a secret passage, but a Sky Ninja broke through the roof and Shen Nong attacked.
• The Samurai struck Shen Nong with his sword, but Shen Nong’s muscles trapped the blade and blasted the Samurai away.

Shen Nong captured the Land of Wind Daimyo, and Rasa took control of the country while offering the Daimyo a chance to disappear and live under a new identity. The next day, news of the Daimyo’s supposed death unsettled the Ninja World, especially the Land of Lightning Daimyo.

• Shen Nong attacked the Daimyo Residence, where Cang Sha used Sage Guiding Path to interrupt him despite having no Chakra.
• Shen Nong seized the Land of Wind Daimyo, then summoned Cang Xia after learning Cang Sha was a Dragon Vein Samurai.
• Rasa arrived and told the Daimyo he could leave the Land of Wind under a new identity while Rasa learned what he knew about governing.
• Cang Xia asked Rasa to spare Cang Sha, and Rasa promised to spare the Daimyo's family, including Cang Sha.
• News spread that the Land of Wind Daimyo had been killed by invaders and that Rasa would govern, leaving the Land of Lightning Daimyo anxious about his own position.

Reanimated Minato intervened when Kakuzu and Hidan ambushed Konoha’s third supply convoy, defeating and sealing both Akatsuki members. The convoy continued toward its destination after Minato declared the route safe.

• Kakuzu and Hidan prepared to ambush Konoha’s third supply convoy, while a White Zetsu Clone reported that twelve ninja were approaching.
• The Inuzuka ninja tried to summon Minato with his Flying Thunder God Kunai, but Kakuzu’s Space-Time Sealing Array prevented the technique from working.
• Reanimated Minato attacked Kakuzu with Dragon-Shaped Chakra Streams and Rasengan, forcing Hidan to flee underground with a White Zetsu Clone.
• Minato blasted the underground White Zetsu Clones to the surface, then used Yin-Yang Sealing Bind to capture Kakuzu and Hidan.
• The Inuzuka ninja led the supply convoy onward after Minato said the route was safe.

Ōnoki rallied Iwagakure and Akatsuki against Konoha after learning Rasa had taken control of the Land of Wind, while Terumi Mei and Karatachi Yagura received news of attacks and shifting alliances. Yagura contacted Raikage A to reconsider Kirigakure’s role, unaware that Reanimated Minato was on his way to confront him.

• Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure to launch a full-scale assault on Konoha, contacted Raikage A, and told En to enlist Akatsuki.
• Terumi Mei learned that two supply convoys had vanished, and Reanimated Minato told her Akatsuki had also attacked the Iwagakure army camp.
• Terumi Mei sent four Chunin to search for Akatsuki members after Reanimated Minato promised to deal with them.
• Kisame told Karatachi Yagura that Rasa had taken over the Land of Wind, then relayed Ōnoki’s invitation to join the fight against Konoha.
• Karatachi Yagura asked Kisame to contact Raikage A about Kirigakure’s next move, unaware that Reanimated Minato was heading toward him.

Naruto's Shadow Clone learned that Kirigakure's fleet had reached the Land of Hot Water, while Raikage A mobilized Kumogakure forces and Ōnoki marched on Konoha. Kushina responded to Iwagakure's attack on the main camp, leaving the battle underway.

• Naruto's Shadow Clone learned that Kirigakure's fleet had anchored east of the Land of Hot Water and hurried off to find Karatachi Yagura.
• Raikage A began moving three thousand Kumogakure shinobi into the Land of Hot Water after receiving Ōnoki's letter and learning that Kirigakure's fleet was nearby.
• Uchiha Fugaku mobilized Konoha forces toward the Land of Hot Water, while Ōnoki led five thousand Iwagakure shinobi to the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire.
• Nara Shikaku told Kushina that Konoha had sealed over a hundred Impure World Reincarnation Bodies but had found no trace of Orochimaru.
• Nara Shikaku reported that Iwagakure forces were attacking the main camp from the west and north, and Kushina ordered him to defend the camp while she went to fight.
• Kushina fired Tailed Beast Balls at the western Iwagakure forces, whose commander raised a semicircular Earth Release barrier as Ōnoki advanced with the northern force.

Kushina confronted Ōnoki, then let Anju take over when her attacks could not break through Dust Release. As Iwagakure, Orochimaru’s forces, and Nagato’s Pain joined the assault on Konoha Main Camp, Anju disrupted Ōnoki’s flight and chakra, leaving him panicked in midair.

• Kushina attacked Ōnoki with a Rasengan and Dragon-Shaped Chakra Stream, but Dust Release destroyed the Rasengan and resisted the stream.
• Kushina called Anju for help, and Anju took control as Iwagakure’s Earth Shield blocked the Tailed Beast Ball and delayed the western assault.
• Reanimated Minato charged the Iwagakure Shinobi Army, while Ōnoki’s signal flare brought Impure World Reincarnation Bodies to the east of Konoha Main Camp.
• Orochimaru pressured Hiruko into handing over a scroll of research materials, which Orochimaru accepted without inspecting.
• Nagato and Konan arrived south of Konoha Main Camp, and Nagato sent the Six Paths of Pain forward with summoned creatures.
• Anju used Sage Guiding Path on Ōnoki, disrupting his flight and repeatedly interrupting his chakra flow as he tried to stay airborne.

Anju evaded Iwagakure’s gravity and space-time arrays while Kushina kept Ōnoki occupied, as Naruto’s Shadow Clone attacked the Western Iwagakure Unit with a Tailed Beast Ball. Elsewhere, Orochimaru’s powerful Impure World Reincarnation forces clashed with Konoha’s Mobile Unit, and Kiesuna Shota set off to investigate the explosion.

• Iwagakure’s Supergravity Array disrupted Anju’s Sage Jutsu and restricted his movement, but he escaped Ōnoki’s Dust Release with Sage Art: Picture Scroll, causing backlash to the array’s controller.
• The Space-Time Sealing Array failed to lock down Anju, while Kushina continued tying down Ōnoki and Iwagakure suffered heavy losses against Konoha’s prepared forces.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone appeared behind the Western Iwagakure Unit, halted its advance, and fired a Tailed Beast Ball after its Storm Tornado Bullet was overwhelmed by Earth Release attacks.
• Kitsuchi recognized Naruto as Konoha’s crown prince, and an Earth Shield blocked the Tailed Beast Ball’s explosion, revealing another Jinchuriki on the battlefield.
• Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation forces ambushed Konoha’s Mobile Unit, killing three Chunin and inflicting heavy losses through Sasori’s puppet-controlled fighters.
• Kiesuna Shota formed Iron Sand wings and went to investigate the Tailed Beast Ball explosion, despite Sasori of the Red Sands objecting.

Kiesuna Shota's Reanimated Body broke free of Orochimaru's control and attacked Konoha Main Camp, killing more than a hundred ninjas before Minato Namikaze's Reanimated Body lured him toward Iwagakure. As Kiesuna Shota began attacking the Iwagakure forces, Konoha struggled to contain the other Reanimated Bodies.

• Kiesuna Shota used Sand Transformation Brain Control to expel the control talisman and free himself from Orochimaru.
• Kiesuna Shota flew over Konoha Main Camp, but Nara Shikaku's Gravity Array brought him down, and his Iron Sand World Method killed more than a hundred Konoha Ninja.
• Minato Namikaze's Reanimated Body attacked Kiesuna with a lightning-charged Rasengan, then led him away from the camp toward Iwagakure to limit further casualties.
• Nara Shikaku, Nara Shikaku's allies, and Akimichi Choza shattered three Reanimated Bodies, but they reformed before the Sealing Team could seal them.
• Kiesuna Shota launched Iron Sand Shower at Minato and the Iwagakure forces, while Kitsuchi hesitated to confront the Yellow Flash and the strongest Kazekage in history.

New Pain attacked Konoha Main Camp with Planetary Devastation while the Iwagakure forces pressed Konoha’s defenses. As the battle turned against them, Kushina begged Anju to help, and he reluctantly agreed despite the danger posed by Ōnoki and Nagato.

• New Pain cast Super Planetary Devastation over Konoha Main Camp, and Nara Shikaku activated the Gravity Interference Formation to slow its damage.
• Reanimated Minato tried to destroy the black sphere with two Rasengan, but Planetary Devastation absorbed them, while Kiesuna Shota’s Iron Sand World Method was trapped by Iwagakure’s Earth Release attacks.
• The Iwagakure forces broke through Konoha’s northern defenses and overwhelmed its shinobi, leaving nearly a hundred Konoha Ninja dead.
• Kushina urged Anju to help the collapsing army, but Anju warned that Ōnoki and Nagato could exploit their exposure.
• Kushina pleaded that she had brought the shinobi army to the battlefield, and Anju agreed to help despite the danger.

Anju used Sage Art: Nine Twists Interlocking against Ōnoki but only depleted his Dust Release before turning back to defend Konoha Main Camp. Kushina took over and arrived at the camp as it was collapsing, then deployed sealing chains and defensive arrays.

• Kushina begged Anju to save Konoha Main Camp as its northern line and defenses began to fail.
• Anju used Person in the Painting to evade Ōnoki’s attacks and launched nine Sage Chakra-infused Flame Sun Courage with Sage Art: Nine Twists Interlocking.
• Ōnoki and the Iwagakure troops raised mountain defenses, but the Flame Sun Courage melted through them and destroyed Ōnoki’s Dust Release cube.
• Anju stopped fighting Ōnoki when Konoha’s retreating troops and Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation bodies entered the failing camp.
• Anju dispelled his Tailed Beast Cloak and let Kushina take over, and she used the Flying Thunder God Formation to reach Konoha Main Camp.
• Kushina deployed Adamantine Sealing Chains, Iron Arm Array, and Impenetrable Iron Wall Array to strengthen the camp’s defenses.