Chapter Summaries

Nagato captured Kato Tsukitani, who offered Akatsuki money in exchange for rescuing his son, and Konan negotiated compensation from him. At Hakoami Castle, Nagato searched for corpses for Sasori and killed three returning Konoha prison guards.

• Nagato pulled Kato Tsukitani from hiding, and Kato blamed Konoha for his opposition to Akatsuki and offered to fund the organization and commission a rescue for his son.
• Nagato accepted Kato Tsukitani’s offer and gave him a way to contact Akatsuki, while Konan arrived and demanded compensation for his actions against the Chikamatsu Family.
• Konan sent White Zetsu to take the corpses of Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Taniguchi Tomine, then negotiated payment from Kato Tsukitani.
• Nagato went to Hakoami Castle and asked where the Konoha Ninja corpses were, learning they had already been taken away.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to seize three returning Konoha prison guards and killed them with black Chakra receivers.

Sasori searched Tanzaku Street for materials to rebuild his Human Puppets and repair his Regeneration Core Shell, then visited Orochimaru’s secret base. He left his repair problem unresolved and demanded corpses from Orochimaru, who saw an opportunity to experiment on him.

• Sasori searched Tanzaku Street for herbs and rare materials, but found nothing suitable for a new Regeneration Core Shell.
• Uchiha Izumi spotted Sasori, but Ashishita Fū stopped her from confronting him while Jiraiya was away.
• Sasori used a visual trick to vanish from the street and headed for Orochimaru’s secret base to seek corpses and help repairing his Regeneration Core Shell.
• Orochimaru’s alert formation detected Sasori’s arrival, and Orochimaru left Kakuzu’s cultivation tank to meet him.
• Sasori demanded corpses from Orochimaru, who mocked his damaged state and considered experimenting on him.

Jiraiya discovered Orochimaru and Sasori entering a suspicious secret base and alerted Sarutobi Hiruzen, who began organizing a strike. Danzo pursued intelligence on Akatsuki and headed for Tanzaku Street to hunt Kakuzu, while Konoha formed an elite squad to investigate the base.

• Jiraiya followed Sasori to Orochimaru’s secret base, then sent messages to Sarutobi Hiruzen and his three disciples while keeping watch.
• Danzo bought Black Market intelligence about Kakuzu’s appearance near Tanzaku Street and set out there with Ida and four prison guards.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Konoha’s Four Advisors, Hozuki Leng Che, and Kakashi Hatake to discuss the secret base and Akatsuki.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Hozuki Leng Che requested that their clans’ Jonin join the assault, but Nara Shikaku argued that Konoha needed to retain enough defenders.
• The council selected Terumi Mei, Uchiha Shisui, Itachi Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Aburame Shibi, and Kosuke for the mission, with Kakashi as squad leader.

Obito Uchiha persuaded Kushina to remain in the Kamui Dimension, where she began researching ninjutsu instead of returning openly to Konoha. Anju used the time to train with Kurama’s new consciousness, though he remained concerned about his limited Sage Chakra and his inability to contact Kurama inside Naruto.

• Obito Uchiha told Kushina that he had convinced the leader to accept her imprisonment and urged her to stay hidden in the Kamui Dimension.
• Kushina agreed to remain in the dimension, research new ninjutsu, and use a Shadow Clone if she needed to visit Konoha or Naruto.
• Anju criticized Obito Uchiha for keeping Kushina there while concealing his motives, but accepted that the delay gave him time to study Space-Time Ninjutsu and Sage Jutsu.
• Kushina worked with Anju to develop her Phantom Array while Anju endured and refined malice and desire to strengthen his mental abilities.
• With Kurama’s new consciousness assisting him, Anju mastered several Sage Jutsu techniques but struggled to retain enough Sage Chakra.

Kushina returned to Konoha in a Shadow Clone to see Naruto, but their argument over Kurama escalated into a fight. She mistook Naruto’s resistance for Kurama taking control and transformed to subdue him, leaving Genma Shiranui on alert as her house collapsed.

• Kushina entered Konoha disguised as a villager and went to her home, where Naruto recognized her and brought her inside.
• Kushina learned Naruto was aware of her pregnancy and tried to seal his memories, but Naruto resisted and dispelled her Genjutsu.
• Kushina summoned her Adamantine Sealing Chains and insisted Kurama would eventually betray Naruto, while Naruto refused to let her control him.
• Kushina believed Kurama had seized Naruto’s body, took control of Anju’s Chakra, and entered Partial Tailed Beast Transformation to subdue him.
• Genma Shiranui sensed Tailed Beast Chakra as Kushina’s house collapsed, while Obito Uchiha realized her public return had jeopardized his plans.

Kushina's Shadow Clone confronted Naruto, mistaking his Sage Mode for a sign that the Nine-Tails had taken over, and their clash forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to intervene. After Hiruzen explained Naruto's abilities and graduation, Kushina and Naruto reconciled before her Shadow Clone vanished.

• Kushina's Shadow Clone attacked Naruto, who evaded her with Kurama Mode, and they battled through the nearby houses.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Enma's Staff to stop Kushina and Naruto, then questioned Kushina about her capture by Akatsuki and reviewed her intelligence scroll.
• Kushina claimed the Nine-Tails had taken over Naruto, but Hiruzen explained that Naruto's appearance came from Sage Face Markings and that he had graduated from the Ninja Academy.
• Kushina and Hiruzen argued over Naruto's duties to Konoha and the Will of Fire, with Kushina insisting she should bear the Hokage's responsibilities herself.
• Naruto embraced Kushina's Shadow Clone and told her he cared most about her safety; Kushina apologized and then disappeared.

Naruto and Konoha’s leaders reviewed intelligence about Akatsuki while Danzo gathered Jiraiya’s disciples and pushed to attack Akatsuki without waiting for reinforcements. After Kimimaro spotted Danzo’s guards, Orochimaru alerted his allies, leaving the intruders’ search on the verge of discovery.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed Kushina’s intelligence on Akatsuki with the advisors, Hozuki Leng Che, and Naruto, who considered how to rescue his mother.
• Danzo requisitioned Jiraiya’s three Genin disciples in Tanzaku Street, then used them to learn that Jiraiya was nearby.
• Danzo’s group found Jiraiya, and Jiraiya argued with Danzo over whether to wait for Konoha’s reinforcements or attack Akatsuki immediately.
• Kimimaro encountered Danzo’s prison guards while buying herbs and reported them to Orochimaru, who notified his two allies.

Jiraiya and Danzo’s group were ambushed by Kakuzu and Sasori, forcing Jiraiya to protect his disciples while fighting alongside summoned toads. Orochimaru watched the battle and summoned Manda, leaving Gamabunta caught between the snake and Kakuzu’s attacks.

• Kakuzu and Sasori revealed themselves in the Small Forest, and Danzo sent Ida’s Ink Painting Bird into the sky with the prison guards.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamaken to carry Uchiha Izumi and the other disciples to safety while Danzo attacked Sasori’s puppets from above.
• Kakuzu’s Fire and Wind Release attacks countered Jiraiya’s Yellow Springs Marsh, so Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to evade the flames.
• Gamabunta fought Kakuzu’s attacks and spotted Manda after Orochimaru summoned the snake into the battle.
• Jiraiya used flames to stop Manda from attacking Gamabunta, who released Manda’s tail and cut through Kakuzu’s Water Encampment.

Kimimaro and Jugo ambushed Jiraiya's three disciples as they traveled away from Tanzaku Street, and both sides fought fiercely. Kimimaro was caught in Ashishita Fū's explosive Earth Stone Dragon, while Uchiha Izumi remained locked in battle with Jugo as Shirakumo Seigetsu prepared to help.

• Ashishita Fū urged Uchiha Izumi and the others to leave Jiraiya, but Kimimaro and Jugo ambushed them on Gamaken's head.
• Uchiha Izumi used Fire Release and wire-bound shuriken to injure and restrain Jugo while Kimimaro battled Gamaken.
• Shirakumo Seigetsu deflected Kimimaro's bone spine, and Ashishita Fū's Exploding Tag-laden Earth Stone Dragon engulfed Kimimaro in explosions.
• Gamaken released his summoning after Kimimaro restrained him, while Uchiha Izumi bound Jugo again and attacked him with Dragon Fire Technique.
• Shirakumo Seigetsu moved to assist Izumi, but Ashishita Fū grabbed her hand and told her to wait.

Kimimaro’s Bone Spike Forest forced Uchiha Izumi, Shirakumo Seigetsu, and Ashishita Fū to fight for their lives. Seigetsu stayed behind to delay Kimimaro while Fū urged Izumi to escape, leaving their fate uncertain.

• Kimimaro unleashed Dance of the Seedling Fern, and Seigetsu used Wind Release to help herself, Fū, and Izumi escape the bone spikes.
• Izumi’s Dragon Flame Jutsu forced Kimimaro to abandon his attack and shield Jugo, who then escaped underground.
• Fū and Seigetsu regrouped with Izumi, but all three were low on Chakra, so Seigetsu stayed behind while Fū helped Izumi retreat.
• Kimimaro defeated Seigetsu, badly wounding her before pursuing Fū and Izumi.
• Fū tried to hold Kimimaro back with kunai, Steel Wire, and Exploding Tags as he told Izumi to keep running.

Uchiha Izumi escaped after her squad was attacked, and her grief over her teammates awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan. As Jiraiya fought Kakuzu and Sasori, Orochimaru intervened against Danzo and then summoned the Third Kazekage to battle Jiraiya.

• Uchiha Izumi met up with Itachi, Shisui, Kakashi Hatake, and Terumi Mei, then chose to return to Konoha while they continued to support Jiraiya.
• Kimimaro fled from the Konoha ninja, and Itachi and Shisui recovered Ashishita Fū's and Shirakumo Seigetsu's bodies as Izumi mourned her missing teammates.
• Uchiha Izumi unknowingly awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan, gaining the abilities Tears Swamp and Fire Rain.
• Sasori kept Danzo's attacks at bay while Jiraiya fought Kakuzu, and Danzo lowered his flying bird to launch a stronger attack.
• Orochimaru attacked Danzo's flying bird, forcing Danzo to jump down as Kakuzu and Sasori moved to surround him.
• Orochimaru stopped Jiraiya from helping Danzo, rejected Jiraiya's demand to return with him, and summoned the Third Kazekage to fight Jiraiya.

Danzo and his allies fought Sasori and Kakuzu, but Sasori’s Poison Mist incapacitated the prison guards and forced Danzo to flee alone. Kakuzu cornered Danzo, who revealed his Sharingan and countered Kakuzu’s combined attack with Wind Release.

• Danzo, his assistants, Ida, and the Byakugan ninja attacked Sasori and Kakuzu, but Sasori’s flames drove Danzo’s group away from the burning forest.
• Danzo stopped to help the slower Ida, then summoned the Dream Eater while Kubo concealed the group in a cloud of dust.
• Sasori’s Human Puppets released Poison Mist, and Danzo’s group was poisoned; Danzo fled while the Byakugan ninja and the other prison guards collapsed.
• Sasori killed An, who had disguised himself as Danzo, and collected the bodies to use as puppet materials.
• Kakuzu caught up with Danzo, who injected himself to sharpen his focus and revealed a Three Tomoe Sharingan.
• Danzo used Wind Barrier and Vacuum Sickle Weasel to deflect Kakuzu’s combined attack and cut apart his Wood Release branches.

Danzo battled Kakuzu and Sasori, destroying Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear masks before Sasori’s poison left him vulnerable. Kakuzu took Danzo’s heart, and Sasori claimed his corpse as Human Puppet material.

• Sasori realized he had lost many Human Puppets, while Kakuzu confronted Danzo on the ground.
• Danzo wounded Kakuzu and destroyed his Lightning, Water, Wind, and Fire Earth Grudge Fear masks with Wind Release attacks.
• Sasori’s puppets surrounded Danzo and poisoned him, while Kakuzu broke free of Danzo’s Sharingan-enhanced genjutsu.
• As the poison weakened Danzo, Kakuzu pierced his chest and removed his heart before Danzo could activate the Four Symbols Seal.
• Kakuzu agreed to pay Sasori twenty million ryo for an antidote, and Sasori took Danzo’s corpse as material.

Orochimaru escaped with Kakuzu and Sasori after Konoha’s reinforcements arrived, while Jiraiya learned that two of his disciples had died and Danzo had disappeared. Back in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen received the reports and rushed to investigate an explosion at the prison.

• Orochimaru warned Kakuzu and Sasori to leave as the Konoha reinforcements arrived, then escaped after abandoning the weakened Third Kazekage’s Impure World Reincarnation Body to delay Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya and the squad found no Akatsuki members at Danzo’s last known location, and Terumi Mei reported that Danzo had likely been captured.
• Itachi Uchiha gave Jiraiya the bodies of Shirakumo Seigetsu and Ashishita Fū and told him that Izumi had survived and returned to Konoha.
• Aburame Shibi failed to track the Akatsuki members, and Jiraiya left to consult his teacher after the squad’s search failed.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen received news that Danzo and the prison guard squad were missing, then hurried to inspect an explosion at Konoha Prison.

Nagato rescued Hidan from Konoha’s prison and confronted the village’s forces, identifying himself as Akatsuki’s leader, Pain. As the battle escalated, Naruto watched from the Uchiha Clan Residence and learned that Nagato was descended from the Uzumaki Clan, while Kurama warned him not to fight him yet.

• Black Zetsu sent Nagato to rescue Hidan and arranged for White Zetsu Clones to take Kato Kinzan amid the chaos.
• Nagato freed Hidan, endured his chatter, and sent him away with Black Zetsu to have Orochimaru prepare a body for him.
• Nagato faced Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha’s Jonin, repelled their attacks with Shinra Tensei, and revealed his Rinnegan when his mask fell.
• Nara Shikaku restrained Nagato with the Shadow Imitation Technique, but Nagato rose into the air and pushed back Akimichi Choza’s giant form.
• Kurama stopped Naruto from joining the battle and told him that Nagato was a descendant of Naruto’s mother’s Uzumaki Clan.
• Naruto promised to hold on to his principles, while Hinata and Sasuke watched the confrontation with him.

Nagato attacked Konoha with the power of the Rinnegan, overwhelming its defenders with gravitational techniques and black Chakra rods. After Uchiha Fugaku’s Amaterasu and Konoha’s coordinated counterattack weakened him, Nagato withdrew, leaving Konoha badly damaged and the Akatsuki openly at war.

• Nagato broke free of the Shadow Imitation Technique, repelled Konoha’s attacks, and began extracting Akimichi Choza’s soul, but Sarutobi Hiruzen struck him and rescued Choza while Yamanaka Inoichi’s mental intrusion briefly distracted him.
• Nagato used Planetary Devastation to lift Konoha’s defenders into the air, while Uchiha Fugaku hit him with Amaterasu and the Konoha Ninja destroyed the black sphere with a concentrated barrage.
• Nagato dispersed the Amaterasu with Shinra Tensei, then pierced more than a dozen falling Konoha Ninja with black Chakra rods as Hyuga Hiashi ordered his clan to rescue them.
• Nagato left Konoha on the Yatagarasu after dropping bombs on the village, and Sarutobi Hiruzen felt relieved that the depleted Nagato had withdrawn.

At the funeral for those killed in Nagato's invasion, Uchiha Izumi asked Jiraiya for harsher training and told him another outsider had a Three Tomoe Sharingan. Back at the Uchiha residence, Naruto explained Sage Jutsu to Sasuke, who ended by asking Naruto to teach him.

• At Konoha's funeral, Izumi asked Jiraiya to train her more harshly and said she wanted to surpass a powerful opponent.
• Izumi told Jiraiya that an outsider at the battle had also possessed a Three Tomoe Sharingan, and Jiraiya invited her to come with him.
• At the Uchiha residence, Sasuke challenged Naruto with the Great Fireball Technique, but Naruto destroyed it with Sage Guiding Finger.
• Naruto explained how Natural Energy worked and why he could not store Sage Chakra, while Sasuke questioned his account.
• Sasuke grabbed Naruto and asked him to accept him as a student so he could learn Sage Jutsu.

Naruto began teaching Sasuke and Hinata to sense Natural Energy using Kurama’s Tailed Beast Chakra, with a one-year limit for them to show potential. When they asked to feel Sage Chakra, Kurama warned it could turn them to stone, and Naruto refused to risk their lives.

• Naruto connected Kurama’s Tailed Beast Chakra to Sasuke and Hinata so they could try sensing Natural Energy, while Kurama set a one-year deadline.
• Naruto endured the chakra’s malice as the three children meditated at Training Grounds Number Four.
• Naruto stopped the meditation at noon and shared lunch with Sasuke and Hinata.
• Hinata asked Naruto to explain Natural Energy, so he offered to let them feel his Sage Chakra instead.
• Kurama warned Naruto that connecting his Sage Chakra to them could kill them or turn them to stone.
• Hinata and Sasuke agreed to try, but Naruto withdrew the offer and promised to find another way; Sasuke urged him to let him try.

Naruto warned Sasuke about the risks of Sage Jutsu and continued training him after Sasuke apologized. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Jiraiya to stabilize Konoha, bring Tsunade back, and help recover the missing Fifth Hokage as rival villages undermined Konoha.

• Naruto told Sasuke that failed Sage Jutsu training could turn him to stone, then postponed letting Sasuke experience Sage Chakra.
• Sasuke argued with Naruto during training, apologized after Hinata intervened, and resumed his lessons.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Jiraiya to serve as Acting Hokage because Konoha was losing missions, merchants, and influence to rival villages.
• Jiraiya examined border reports and recognized that other villages were sabotaging Konoha's missions.
• Jiraiya agreed to bring Tsunade back while he pursued Orochimaru, investigated Akatsuki, and searched for Kushina.

Obito told Kushina that Akatsuki had attacked Konoha, then steered her toward leaving the Kamui Dimension while concealing his motives. Kushina learned that Akatsuki had gained money and valuable spoils from Konoha, and Obito prepared to continue his ninjutsu research with her.

• Obito told Kushina that Akatsuki had attacked Konoha, and Anju suggested Obito could take her there.
• Obito claimed the leader was watching him, persuading Kushina not to leave the Kamui Dimension and risk his safety or another attack on Konoha.
• Kushina asked about Akatsuki's losses, and Obito revealed that the organization had gained three hundred million ryo, Danzo's heart and corpse, and over twenty other ninja corpses.
• Kushina recognized Kato Tsukitani as Akatsuki's investor, while Anju explained that Kato had once relied on her as a backer.
• Kushina set aside the intelligence and asked Obito about his ninjutsu research, as Obito hid a short Chakra Black Receiver in his sleeve.