Chapter Summaries

Kushina and Anju fought to protect the Konoha Main Camp from Pain’s Planetary Devastation while Naruto rushed to help. Anju’s Nine Stars Ring Jewel collided with the black sphere and opened a hole showing the apartment from his former world.

• Kushina used her Steel Arms and their arrays to shield the Konoha Main Camp, but Pain’s Planetary Devastation threatened to pull it into the sky.
• Kushina asked Anju for Sage Chakra, and Anju contacted Naruto to tell him that Iwagakure and Akatsuki were attacking the camp.
• Naruto ended Hinata and Sasuke’s training and flew toward the Land of Grass border at nearly supersonic speed.
• Anju combined nine Flame Sun Courage with a Tailed Beast Ball to create the Nine Stars Ring Jewel and launched it at Pain’s black sphere.
• The Nine Stars Ring Jewel collided with Planetary Devastation, twisting space and opening a hole that showed Anju’s apartment from his former world.

Kushina and Anju helped defend the Konoha Main Camp as Iwagakure’s forces advanced from the north and west. Kiesuna Shota chose to obstruct Iwagakure for the Land of Wind’s sake, while Nagato exposed a weakness in Sage Guiding Path but was caught off guard by Anju using all nine tails.

• Kushina dispelled Planetary Devastation’s threat and used Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind Impure World Reincarnation shinobi for Konoha’s Sealing Team.
• Kiesuna Shota left the Iwagakure advance, reunited with Naruto’s Shadow Clone, and learned that Sunagakure had joined Konoha in overthrowing its Daimyo and adopting the new system.
• Kiesuna Shota decided to help Konoha and delayed Kitsuchi’s Iwagakure Unit with Iron Sand World Method, forcing it to cross the hills as Konoha’s western forces retreated to the main camp.
• New Pain used Banshō Ten'in to pull hundreds of Konoha Ninja into the air, and Anju took control of Kushina to counter him with Sage Guiding Path.
• Nagato’s Sealing Technique Absorption Seal shield let Banshō Ten'in persist after Sage Guiding Path struck, but Anju used all nine tails to disrupt Deva Path Pain’s Chakra and free the Konoha Ninja.

Kushina and Konoha’s remaining forces were surrounded as Iwagakure attacked the main camp and Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain captured the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio. Nagato and Konan left after achieving their objective, while Kushina trapped Ōnoki and hundreds of Iwagakure shinobi in her Super Phantom Array.

• Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure’s forces to attack the Steel Arms, and Minato intercepted his Dust Release attack on Kushina.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten’in to capture Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza, then had the Chameleon swallow them.
• Nagato told Konan they had fulfilled their purpose by capturing the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio, and they left without defeating Ōnoki.
• Kushina used a Gravity Array to force Ōnoki to land, then activated the Bewitching Super Phantom Array around him and more than three hundred Iwagakure shinobi.

Kushina’s Phantom Array failed to save Konoha Main Camp, which fell to Iwagakure after heavy casualties. Anju escaped with the surviving Konoha ninja, while Naruto returned to Konoha to rally allies and rebuild its forces.

• Kushina grieved over Konoha’s defeat, so Anju took control of her body, dispelled the Phantom Array, and carried six surviving Konoha ninja out of the camp.
• Minato Namikaze’s Impure World Reincarnation Body activated the Space-Time Interference Array and escaped, while Ōnoki failed to stop Anju and ordered Iwagakure to collect the spoils.
• Kiesuna Shota’s Impure World Reincarnation Body withdrew, and Naruto’s Shadow Clone dispelled itself after saying goodbye to him.
• Naruto learned of Kushina’s defeat and returned to Konoha to gather an army and contact an ally, while planning to bring back the Three-Tails.
• Orochimaru received Nagato’s order to retreat and agreed to help Hiruko research ninjutsu, while Ōnoki noticed Iwagakure ninja among the departing Impure World Reincarnation unit.

Naruto's Shadow Clone lured Karatachi Yagura into a fight and defeated him to seize the Three-Tails Isobu. The clone extracted the Tailed Beast and sealed it in a talisman-covered jar.

• Naruto's Shadow Clone ordered Ghost Face and the other Konoha spies to flee after sensing that Kirigakure forces had surrounded their inn.
• Karatachi Yagura led Kirigakure Anbu in an attack on the inn, where Naruto's Shadow Clone confronted him and declared its intent to take the Three-Tails Isobu.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone overcame Karatachi Yagura's Water Mirror Technique with Sage Art: Sage Guiding Finger.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone evaded Karatachi Yagura's Coral Palm and struck him with a Sage Art: Dragon Vein Rasengan.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone killed Karatachi Yagura, extracted the Three-Tails Isobu, and sealed it with Dragon Hold Tailed Beast Sealing Jutsu.

Rasa met with the reincarnated Third Kazekage, Kiesuna Shota, and debated whether Sunagakure should join the war after Konoha’s defeat. After warning that Akatsuki could overwhelm any shinobi army, Kiesuna Shota urged Rasa to send troops, and Konoha’s demand for Sunagakure to attack Iwagakure pushed Rasa toward action.

• Rasa redeployed Sunagakure’s troops toward the Land of Rain border after taking control of the Daimyo Residence.
• Kiesuna Shota met Rasa and learned that Konoha’s main camp had been defeated, while Rasa explained Sunagakure’s limited manpower and his plan to wait until Iwagakure was weakened.
• Kiesuna Shota warned Rasa that Akatsuki’s reincarnated fighters could destroy Konoha and then purge Sunagakure if it stayed out of the war.
• Rasa questioned why Kushina had not used her ability to transfer Konoha’s troops away from the camp, and Kiesuna Shota agreed that the defeat seemed strange.
• A Sunagakure Anbu read Konoha’s demand that Sunagakure enter the Land of Earth and harass Iwagakure or face consequences.
• Kiesuna Shota urged Rasa to send troops, and Rasa reluctantly agreed.

Kushina remained withdrawn after Konoha’s defeat, while Kato Tsukitani told the former Land of Fire Daimyo about Naruto’s plans to reinforce the western front. Naruto used a supposed Akatsuki hostage-exchange offer to prompt Kushina to act, and she agreed to leave the exchange to Root, though she still questioned why Anju was urging her to return.

• Kato Tsukitani told the former Land of Fire Daimyo that Iwagakure and the Akatsuki had attacked Konoha’s main camp and captured Nara Shikaku and the others.
• Kato Tsukitani explained that Naruto had arranged reinforcements for the west, including the Sky Fortress, the Third Hokage, and a deployment from Sunagakure.
• Anju tried to comfort Kushina in her Sealing Space, but she remained withdrawn despite listening to him.
• Naruto told Anju to claim the Akatsuki wanted to exchange Nara Shikaku for Deva Path Pain’s corpse, hoping the offer would motivate Kushina.
• Kushina agreed to let Root handle the hostage exchange, and Anju urged her to return to Konoha and take charge.
• Kushina said she no longer wanted to be Hokage or daimyo, then asked whether Konoha had already chosen a new Hokage.

After Konoha’s crushing defeat, Sarutobi Hiruzen assembled a thousand-man force and confronted Ōnoki’s advancing army, while Naruto’s allies and the Sky Ninja arrived to reinforce the battle. The chapter ended with Iwagakure’s forces sheltering beneath Kitsuchi’s Earth Prison Dome, which also prevented them from attacking Konoha.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen recruited more than five hundred Sarutobi clan ninja and mobilized Konoha ninja and Ninja Academy students to form an army.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen led a thousand Konoha ninja west to block Ōnoki’s force of more than four thousand Iwagakure troops.
• Konoha’s combined Fire Release clashed with Iwagakure’s Earth Release, and the mudslide broke through the sea of flames before striking a barrier.
• A masked, silver-haired group arrived south of the Iwagakure army as the Sky Ninja dropped bombs from above.
• Ōnoki destroyed some bombs with Dust Release, while Kitsuchi raised an Earth Prison Dome that shielded Iwagakure’s troops but also stopped them from attacking Konoha.

Ōnoki’s attack on the Sky Fortress failed when Shen Nong used the Zero-Tails Chakra Cannon to force him back to the ground. As Iwagakure and Konoha battled below, Cang Xia went to help Kakashi’s struggling forces while Ōnoki secretly used a Mud Clone and the Camouflage Concealment Technique to approach the Sky Fortress.

• Ōnoki flew up toward the Sky Fortress, but Shen Nong fired the Zero-Tails Chakra Cannon and forced him to retreat.
• Cang Xia and Shen Nong ordered the Sky Ninja to resume bombing Iwagakure as the battle on the ground continued.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen coordinated another Fire-Wind Tornado while Kitsuchi’s forces countered with an Earth Flow River mudslide.
• Kakashi’s exhausted Konoha forces joined the melee, and Iwagakure began bringing down the Konoha Ninja flying overhead.
• Shen Nong sent Cang Xia down to assist Kakashi’s forces and prepared the cannon to stop an approaching mass of Chakra.
• Ōnoki left a Mud Clone with Kitsuchi and secretly flew toward the Sky Fortress using the Camouflage Concealment Technique.

Naruto wounded Ōnoki in battle, forcing Iwagakure to retreat and saving Kakashi’s Konoha forces from further losses. Afterward, Naruto directed Sarutobi Hiruzen to pursue only as far as the border and reassured Kakashi that his decision to charge had been right.

• Ōnoki abandoned his attempt to board the Sky Fortress and charged the Konoha New Army, where Naruto arrived and confronted him.
• Naruto evaded Ōnoki’s Dust Release and struck him while targeting the Iwagakure forces, seriously injuring him.
• Ōnoki used Dust Release to drive Naruto back, then lost consciousness, prompting Kitsuchi to order Iwagakure to retreat.
• Naruto emerged from Person in the Painting safely with Kurama’s help, and Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Kakashi to take the wounded back to the village.
• Naruto told Sarutobi Hiruzen not to pursue Iwagakure beyond the border and assured Kakashi that charging to aid the allied forces had been the right choice.

Naruto visited Kushina in Hakoami Castle after Iwagakure retreated and found her recovering through research on a new Phantom Array. When he revealed he had captured the Three-Tails and expected An Ju to be freed, Kushina asked to keep An Ju with her until her research was complete.

• Naruto met Kato Tsukitani and learned that Kushina was studying the human body and tattooing arrays onto the Maids.
• Naruto visited Kushina, who explained that An Ju had encouraged her to develop her combat strength by improving the Phantom Array.
• Naruto told Kushina that Iwagakure had retreated and asked her to return to Konoha, but she refused for now.
• Naruto revealed that he had captured the Three-Tails and planned to deliver it to Hakoami Castle so An Ju could be freed.
• Kushina asked Naruto to store the Three-Tails with her and keep An Ju until she finished researching the new ninjutsu, while An Ju protested from the Sealing Space.

Naruto rejected Akatsuki’s proposed exchanges for the captured Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads and planned to negotiate using Deva Path Pain’s corpse and two imprisoned Akatsuki members. Meanwhile, Raikage A launched a coup, annexed the Land of the Moon and the Land of Hot Water, and reshaped the political landscape before Naruto met Six Paths of Pain at the Land of Rain–Land of Fire border.

• Naruto returned to Konoha while his Shadow Clone delivered the jar containing Isobu to Kushina and began teaching her how to undo its seal.
• Naruto told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura that he would not accept Akatsuki’s terms, but would seek to ransom the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads by offering Deva Path Pain’s corpse and two additional prisoners.
• Naruto ordered Minato to go to Kushina because he feared Akatsuki might target her, while he dismissed concerns about Kumogakure’s movements.
• Raikage A ordered Kumogakure forces to capture and kill the Land of Lightning Daimyo, then seize the Daimyo Residences of the Land of the Moon and the Land of Hot Water.
• Raikage A won the Land of Lightning nobles’ support by promising them land and benefits in the annexed territories.
• After learning that Raikage A had overthrown the daimyo, Naruto met Six Paths of Pain at the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire.

Naruto negotiated with New Pain, arranging a prisoner exchange and hiring the Akatsuki to assassinate the daimyo of the Land of Earth. After coordinating Konoha’s next moves, Naruto left, and Obito and Black Zetsu discussed his control over Konoha and Obito’s wish for a world with Rin.

• Naruto rejected the Akatsuki’s original terms, and he and New Pain argued over exchanging the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio for Kakuzu and Hidan.
• After learning that A had taken control of the Land of Lightning and two smaller countries, Naruto agreed to exchange the trio for Yahiko’s corpse and Kakuzu, offering to return Hidan as well.
• Naruto hired the Akatsuki to assassinate the daimyo of the Land of Earth, and New Pain accepted the job and set the exchange for noon three days later.
• Naruto learned that Sunagakure demanded logistical support before joining Konoha against Iwagakure, then ordered Terumi Mei and Kakashi to replace the Third Hokage at the border.
• Naruto received updates on Fugaku and Kirigakure’s remaining forces, ordered his plans to proceed, and departed.
• Obito and Black Zetsu watched Naruto’s departure and discussed how he had taken control of Konoha, while Obito reaffirmed his desire for a world with Rin.

Nagato accepted Iwagakure’s request for help and set a date to trade three prisoners with Konoha. Meanwhile, the Sunagakure-Konoha alliance prepared for its next moves, and Minato received an urgent S-Rank mission from Naruto.

• Nagato agreed to accept Iwagakure’s commission, scheduled the prisoner exchange with Konoha for three days later, and planned to bury Yahiko’s body when it returned.
• Kiesuna Shota confronted Minato at the allied camp, but Minato ignored him and told Hiruzen that Ōnoki had awakened after Naruto injured him.
• Hiruzen urged Minato to visit Kushina, but Minato explained that he was keeping his distance so she could move on from his death.
• Hiruzen told Minato that Konoha had assigned him a secret mission and that Naruto could explain it.
• Naruto gave Minato an urgent S-Rank mission scroll, explaining that Akatsuki had also received the commission and that Minato had three days to complete or abandon it.

Kitsuchi urged Ōnoki to withdraw from the war, but Ōnoki waited for the Akatsuki to arrive before deciding how to reduce Iwagakure’s losses. Obito and Black Zetsu’s staged assassination of the Land of Earth Daimyo became a real killing when an unknown attacker struck, and Obito suspected his teacher was responsible.

• Kitsuchi told Ōnoki that Iwagakure had lost its allies and urged him to withdraw, but Ōnoki said he lacked a suitable excuse and asked whether the Akatsuki had arrived.
• Obito appeared at the Land of Earth Daimyo Residence, claimed to have a mission to protect the daimyo, and bypassed the Iwagakure guards while Black Zetsu subdued the ninja inside.
• Obito told the Land of Earth Daimyo that the Akatsuki would stage an assassination, but the daimyo was killed by a shuriken as a Lightning Rasengan attack forced Obito into the Kamui Dimension.
• The residence’s staff found the daimyo and the dead Iwagakure ninja, then concluded that the Akatsuki had killed him.
• Obito told Black Zetsu he suspected his teacher had carried out the real assassination, then left to attend to other matters.

After the Akatsuki killed the Land of Earth’s daimyo, Ōnoki accepted that Konoha had forced him into becoming the new daimyo and ordered Iwagakure to retreat. Naruto exchanged prisoners with the Akatsuki, but Nagato confronted him and attacked, leaving Naruto in danger.

• Kitsuchi told Ōnoki that the Land of Earth’s daimyo had been assassinated, and Pain admitted the Akatsuki had killed the guards but blamed Minato Namikaze for the daimyo’s death.
• Ōnoki accepted Pain’s explanation, ordered Iwagakure to withdraw, and decided to go to the capital and take over as daimyo.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone learned the war was ending and left to notify his mother, while Naruto’s original body prepared for the prisoner exchange.
• Naruto exchanged Kakuzu and Hidan for the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, restored the prisoners, and sent the trio away.
• Nagato questioned Naruto about his return to the past and his ideas about peace, then used attraction to seize him and prepared to attack with Chakra Black Receivers.

Naruto rejected the Akatsuki’s deal and fought Nagato with Kurama’s help. Naruto’s Sage Art drained both fighters before Nagato withdrew, leaving Naruto exhausted as well.

• Naruto transformed with Kurama’s Tailed Beast Cloak and attacked Nagato, Kakuzu, and Hidan.
• Kurama combined Flame Sun Courage and Wind Release techniques to disrupt Nagato’s Shinra Tensei and force Kakuzu and Hidan to retreat.
• Naruto entered Kurama Mode, drew on Sage Chakra gathered by his Shadow Clones, and charged toward Nagato.
• Naruto used Sage Art: Picture Scroll, which drained his Sage Chakra and Nagato’s Chakra until Nagato blasted him away with Super Shinra Tensei.
• Naruto lost Kurama Mode, while Nagato became haggard and left with Konan.

After Naruto returned to Hakoami Castle, Kushina went back with him to Konoha, leaving Isobu’s sealed jar behind. Anju then proposed that she study how her arrays could use Natural Energy, opening a new direction for her research.

• Anju told Kushina that Naruto had fought Nagato after exchanging hostages, and reassured her that Naruto was safe and heading to Hakoami Castle.
• Kushina continued developing the Phantom Mother Array with Anju’s help while the lord’s manor suffered from the effects of the desire she had gathered.
• Naruto met Kushina at Hakoami Castle and persuaded her to return to Konoha to continue her research there.
• Kushina teleported herself and Naruto home with the Flying Thunder God Formation, but forgot to bring back Isobu’s jar.
• Anju asked Kushina to help research arrays that drew on Natural Energy, and she agreed to study the energy and find ways to use it.

Naruto consolidated Konoha’s power and helped transform the Land of Fire while neighboring nations followed suit. After a year of political work, he began teaching Sasuke and Hinata, and Sasuke challenged him only to be decisively defeated.

• After Iwagakure invaded the Land of Grass, Naruto occupied the Land of Rivers, while nearby countries joined or allied with Konoha.
• Naruto developed the Land of Fire’s economy, and Konoha established a system that let nobles pay to deploy ninja; the Land of Wind and Land of Lightning later imitated it.
• Ōnoki sought an alliance with the Land of Iron, but Mifune refused to get involved, while the Land of Water fell into civil war after its daimyo was assassinated.
• Naruto resumed training Sasuke and Hinata, and Sasuke’s growing skill made him confident enough to challenge Naruto.
• Naruto overwhelmed Sasuke in their fight, then offered to teach him Nintaijutsu and ninjutsu, which Sasuke eagerly accepted.

The Ninja World entered a period of peace and rapid development as Zabuza Momochi became Mizukage and Akatsuki transformed into a village. In Konoha, Kushina and Anju discussed their Natural Energy talisman research before setting out to see how the village had changed.

• Zabuza Momochi became Mizukage with support from Genji, the Kekkei Genkai Families, and Kisame Hoshigaki, then began building trade relations with Konoha.
• Nagato turned Akatsuki into a ninja village in the Land of Rain, while Biwa Juzo taught Akatsuki Ninja and Chikamatsu Kawahei expanded his business.
• Ninja across the Ninja World helped eliminate outlaws, develop technology, and increase food production, while Kushina's Natural Energy talismans became available to ordinary people who could afford them.
• Anju urged Kushina to learn Sage Jutsu so she could research talismans without his help, but Kushina insisted she could not sense Natural Energy by herself.
• Kushina asked Hinata where Naruto had gone, then left with Anju to visit Konoha's Commercial District and see its changes.