Chapter Summaries

Aburame Tetsumaru learned from Otsutsuki Kaguya about Ōtsutsuki Isshiki’s powerful abilities, especially his Portal Divine Technique, and concluded that they needed a way to stop him escaping. The Advents devised a plan to disrupt space using the Heavenly Transfer Gate, but it would take two months to prepare, delaying their chance to attack until around August.

• Aburame Tetsumaru gathered firsthand intelligence from Otsutsuki Kaguya about Ōtsutsuki Isshiki’s Byakugan, Golden Eye, spatial techniques, and other abilities.
• Aburame Tetsumaru warned the Advents that they had to counter Isshiki’s Portal Divine Technique before attempting to capture or kill him.
• The Advents rejected using the Kamui Dimension because it was unstable and Uchiha Obito could interfere, then decided to research the Dragon Vein and explore other options.
• Alchemy proposed collapsing space with the Heavenly Transfer Gate, and the group planned to test the approach on Jupiter with Butler’s Vibration Release as support.
• Alchemy estimated that adapting the Heavenly Transfer Gate would take two months, pushing the planned opportunity to attack Jigen to around August, near Konoha’s Chunin Exams.

Aburame Tetsumaru tested a Space Anchor that disrupted teleportation long enough to kill an incoming user, then studied Nagato’s connection to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Tests revealed the statue had Chakra capacity and output about one hundred thousand times greater than Tetsumaru’s Insect Swarm State, leaving him wary of the God Tree’s potential danger.

• Aburame Tetsumaru tested the Space Anchor with Shadow Clones and found that it destroyed most teleported materials, while teleportation succeeded after roughly forty-five minutes of disruption.
• Aburame Tetsumaru praised Alchemy for building the Space Anchor and discussed how its crude design still effectively prevented teleportation.
• Nagato underwent a controlled Chakra-output test while Ash Bone monitored him and Konan watched anxiously; Nagato adapted to the increased burden without being harmed.
• Aburame Tetsumaru examined the test results and learned that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had roughly one hundred thousand times his Insect Swarm State’s Chakra capacity and output.
• Aburame Tetsumaru and the Avatar concluded that the God Tree’s immense energy was likely intended for production and defense rather than combat, and Tetsumaru recognized that its danger exceeded what he could safely handle.

Ash Bone finished treating Nagato, measured his Chakra limits, and gave him a transforming bracer before Nagato and Konan returned to Amegakure. Their difficult journey home left them with an even greater, if mistaken, impression of Zenith Civilization’s power.

• Nagato recovered in the weightless environment, and Ash Bone confirmed that his health and Chakra output had improved enough for him to live much longer.
• Aburame Tetsumaru discussed Nagato and Konan with Ash Bone, who judged that both lived for others, while Tetsumaru concluded that Nagato could not be helped by force.
• Two months later, Ash Bone gave Nagato a bracer that displayed his Chakra output and transformed into an enormous battle form, which Nagato eagerly tested.
• Nagato and Konan used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and a Shinobi World Sphere to travel back to Amegakure, enduring a confusing seven-day journey through space and the atmosphere.

Aburame Tetsumaru's Avatar found the Dragon Vein sealed by Namikaze Minato and gathered help to study the seal, which appeared to have changed under the Dragon Vein's influence. He also located Queen Sara and her small band of Rōran survivors, and rushed to meet her.

• Aburame Tetsumaru's Avatar followed Konoha mission records to Rōran and found its ruins eerily devoid of life despite pools of water.
• The Avatar used a Byakugan Insect to trace Chakra to the Dragon Vein and identified Minato's composite sealing array, which might include a time-related technique.
• After two days of study, the Avatar concluded the array combined at least three techniques and summoned Aburame Tetsumaru, Politician, and the Station Master for help.
• Aburame Tetsumaru judged that the Dragon Vein's pressure had altered the seal and arranged for Turing and other volunteers to help decipher it.
• Aburame Tetsumaru told the Avatar to find Rōran's people and Queen Sara, whose royal bloodline might help with the Dragon Vein research.
• The Avatar used the insect surveillance system to locate Sara's caravan, found only 443 survivors, and hurried toward their camp.

Torch Dragon discovered Queen Sara’s refugees being exploited by Sunagakure and learned how the people of Rōran had been driven into exile after their water vanished. After Sara explained that she could never reunite her scattered people, Torch Dragon offered her safe, fertile land in exchange for something, leaving her to wonder if he was the devil.

• The Suna Ninja extorted Queen Sara’s refugees, and Sara invoked Uzumaki Naruto before realizing the name no longer frightened them.
• Hidden beneath a wagon, Aburame Tetsumaru’s Avatar recognized the name Uzumaki Naruto as evidence of parallel timelines and named himself Torch Dragon.
• Torch Dragon approached Sara at dinner and asked why the Rōran refugees were in such desperate circumstances.
• Sara told Torch Dragon that Rōran’s water vanished, forcing its people to flee, and recounted how her followers dwindled after they were turned away and struggled to survive.
• Sara explained that she had used Naruto’s name to deter the Suna Ninja until they began extorting her even more harshly.
• Torch Dragon offered Sara a safe, fertile piece of land in exchange for something, and she asked if he was the devil.

Torch Dragon recruited Queen Sara to help research Rōran’s Dragon Vein and secretly relocated her people to an island, while the Advents tested a Space Anchor by triggering a volcano and tsunami. Months later, Sara’s people rebuilt Rōran on the island and celebrated their first abundant harvest.

• Torch Dragon persuaded Sara to help research the Dragon Vein in exchange for land and money, then used a Genjutsu to hide her departure from her attendants.
• A Giant Ant disaster concealed the disappearance of Rōran’s survivors from the Land of Wind.
• Alchemy activated the Space Anchor, and Aburame Tetsumaru’s Shadow Clone successfully transported a God Tree fragment using Flying Thunder God.
• Warhammer detonated Little Ivan, triggering a volcanic eruption and a tsunami that struck several nations and flooded the island intended for Rōran’s people.
• Uzumaki covered the island in Creep to restore its land, and Sara’s people settled there, rebuilt their lives, and celebrated a bumper harvest three months later.

Jigen inspected Volcano Island after a space storm, while the Zenith Civilization’s members confirmed their plan could proceed and prepared for the upcoming Joint Chunin Exams. The Five Great Ninja Villages chose their participants amid political tensions and uneven fortunes, and the chapter ended with Itachi being urged to fight at full strength.

• Jigen emerged through a Portal above Volcano Island, investigated the space storm, and left after deciding the eruption was probably a natural phenomenon.
• Aburame Tetsumaru and the others confirmed Jigen had not noticed the Zenith Civilization, then shifted their attention to training for the plan in August.
• Namikaze Minato’s invitation brought all Five Great Ninja Villages into the Joint Chunin Exams, prompting their leaders to select teams and prepare their young talents.
• Ōnoki sent Deidara and selected Iwagakure teams, while the Fourth Raikage chose Darui, Atsui, and Karui alongside more Genin teams.
• Hozuki Mangetsu and Genji selected Hozuki Gengetsu, Chojuro, and Kaede for Kirigakure, while the Fourth Kazekage struggled to find an elite team for Sunagakure.
• Weary Bird told Politician that Kaguya Kimimaro would meet Itachi at the exams, and Politician urged Itachi to defeat every opponent without holding back.

The Land of Water delegation arrived in Konoha for the joint Chunin Exams, where Kimimaro overwhelmed Zabuza and Kisame ordered his Genin to prepare to fight him. As the gathered ninja groups entered Konoha, Aburame Tetsumaru and the others discussed Uchiha Itachi’s opponents and departed to face an undisclosed enemy.

• Aburame Tetsumaru and Politician watched Konoha’s elaborate exam decorations before Weary Bird and the Fourth Mizukage’s delegation arrived at the gate.
• Kisame Hoshigaki challenged Weary Bird, and Zabuza Momochi stepped forward to insult him before Kimimaro attacked Zabuza with Shikotsumyaku.
• Kimimaro’s Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets battered Zabuza’s sword until it shattered, and Weary Bird led the Land of Water delegation into Konoha.
• Kisame told Hozuki Suigetsu, Kaede, and Chojuro to fight Kimimaro together if they met him during the exams, while Darui identified Uchiha Itachi as his own target.
• Aburame Tetsumaru and Politician warned Uchiha Itachi not to kill anyone in the exams and said he would learn about their enemy only after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Aburame Tetsumaru, Eighth Master, Politician, and Butler used the Flying Thunder God Technique to leave for their mission.

Uchiha Itachi’s first Chunin Exam round and the candidates’ preparations for the Forest of Death unfolded as Zenith Civilization’s fighters prepared an ambush for Jigen. The chapter ended with Jigen entering Kara Organization’s base, the countdown beginning, and a devastating hailstorm breaking over the battlefield.

• Uchiha Itachi entered the Chunin Exam while students and candidates from other villages reacted to his reputation and prepared to compete.
• Aburame Tetsumaru assembled Zenith Civilization’s fighters and arranged an ambush for the Kara Organization, with Warhammer burying a Primarch beneath its base.
• The first Chunin Exam round eliminated many candidates, leaving 152 of 440 to advance; village leaders then briefed their Genin and handed out rewards.
• The surviving candidates entered the Forest of Death to collect Yin and Yang scrolls, and battles began across the forest.
• Jigen arrived at Kara Organization’s base as Aburame Tetsumaru ordered the Space Anchor and Primarch detonations to begin their timed countdown.
• White Fang prepared his bone blade while the fighters held their positions, and enormous hailstones battered the battlefield with ten seconds remaining.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was ambushed with the Primarch bomb and struck down by Aburame Tetsumaru, while Uchiha Itachi advanced through the Forest of Death using Genjutsu. The chapter ended with Kaguya Kimimaro cutting Deidara into six pieces.

• Ōtsutsuki Isshiki sensed danger as a Space Storm destroyed Kara's base, then the Primarch bomb detonated and devastated the underground facility.
• Aburame Tetsumaru found the badly injured Isshiki and struck him into the shattered earth with Sage Art: Insect Swarm: Tathagata after Sukunahikona failed to shrink the attack.
• Uchiha Itachi fooled three Kiri Ninja with Genjutsu, took their scroll marked with "Yang," and continued toward the Forest of Death's finish tower.
• Namikaze Minato praised Itachi's performance while visiting Jonin watched several enormous explosions rise from the forest.
• Kaguya Kimimaro emerged unharmed from Deidara's explosions and used Dance of the Camellia to cut Deidara into six pieces.

Kimimaro neutralized Deidara’s clay, while Uchiha Itachi faced Kumogakure’s team and used Genjutsu to control the encounter. Elsewhere, Tetsumaru and his allies weakened Ōtsutsuki Isshiki with a coordinated assault, but Politician’s attempt to strike him with his eyes left him screaming in pain.

• Kimimaro pierced Deidara’s detonating clay with Lightning Release, stopping it from expanding, and Deidara retreated.
• Darui challenged Uchiha Itachi, who questioned why he should fight under unfavorable conditions before Atsui, Karui, and Darui attacked him together.
• Tetsumaru restrained Ōtsutsuki Isshiki with a net of willpower as Butler and Warhammer damaged him with Vibration Release and Nuclear Release attacks.
• Warhammer’s Big Explosion injured Isshiki and triggered the radiation already inside his body, while Butler and Tetsumaru kept him under pressure.
• Politician trapped Isshiki with his Susanoo, but the Space-Time Storm destroyed the objects Isshiki summoned, and Politician’s attempt to use his eyes made him scream in pain.
• Itachi revealed that he had kept Darui, Atsui, and Karui under Genjutsu since they first saw him, then disappeared after declaring that he alone decided whether they fought.

Darui admitted defeat to Itachi after escaping his Genjutsu, while Politician’s attack forced Isshiki’s Tomb Spirit to save him and the Advents pressed their assault. White Fang decapitated Isshiki, but he survived and began healing as the group attacked again.

• Darui explained how checking his Chakra let him notice Itachi’s Genjutsu and vowed to challenge him again after training.
• Politician struck Isshiki’s mental sea with his ocular power, triggering the Tomb Spirit and blasting away nearby Advents.
• Eighth Master and Kakuzu attacked Isshiki with colossal elemental constructs while Tetsumaru revealed that radiation-feeding spores were damaging him.
• Tetsumaru trapped Isshiki in invisible nets, and Warhammer’s Nuclear Release: Laser forced him to evade.
• White Fang emerged from scattered wind and severed Isshiki’s head, but Isshiki survived and began healing at the cost of his remaining life.
• Tetsumaru, Warhammer, White Fang, Kakuzu, Eighth Master, and Butler attacked Isshiki from different directions.

Aburame Tetsumaru and the others defeated Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, but his dangerous Kama remained after his body turned to ash. Meanwhile, Konoha’s second-stage exam ended, and Namikaze Minato took Uchiha Itachi as his disciple, bringing him into the future competition for Hokage.

• Aburame Tetsumaru rallied the fighters while Politician returned, and the group used their power-up poses to distract Ōtsutsuki Isshiki as Ash Bone struck him three times.
• Ōtsutsuki Isshiki turned to ash, leaving behind Kama runes that the group debated capturing; Eighth Master volunteered to study them despite the risks.
• Konoha’s second-stage exam ended with twenty-nine ninjas qualifying, and sixteen advanced to the public matches after forfeits and six brutal fights.
• Namikaze Minato drew the next day’s match order, then offered to become Uchiha Itachi’s teacher and accepted him as a disciple.
• Uchiha Itachi told his father Fugaku about the offer, and the Uchiha celebrated the news that Itachi could compete for Hokage.

Uchiha Itachi became Namikaze Minato’s apprentice, while Minato explained why he chose Itachi and discussed the future of Sasuke and Hatake Kakashi. Later, Minato learned that a huge pillar of light had appeared near the borders of the Land of Wind, the Land of Bears, and the Land of Rivers, and dispatched ninja to investigate as several leaders headed toward the site.

• Uchiha Fugaku celebrated Itachi’s apprenticeship, while Dodai considered whether Kumogakure should seek alliances to counter Konoha’s growing strength.
• Namikaze Minato told Uzumaki Kushina that Itachi was a suitable future Hokage candidate, while Sasuke and Hatake Kakashi were not.
• An Anbu ninja summoned Minato to the Hokage’s office after a pillar of light, an earthquake, and a blast struck a remote valley.
• Nara Shikaku reported that a massive barrier surrounded the valley and that Konoha’s Jonin could not breach it.
• Minato ordered Hizashi Hyuga, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shibi to investigate with Flying Thunder God Kunai.
• The Kazekage and Hoshigakure’s Star Shadow set out for the site, while Minato and Ōnoki waited for more reports.

The Fourth Kazekage confronted Butler and Warhammer, who defeated him and used Sunagakure’s reputation to clear the surrounding small-village ninja away. Aburame Tetsumaru then revealed that their attempts to collect the object inside the barrier had failed, so Eighth Master would try the final method while Warhammer stayed with him.

• The Fourth Kazekage attacked Butler and Warhammer with Gold Dust, but Warhammer killed five Kage Guard ninja and the pair overwhelmed the Kazekage without killing him.
• Butler and Warhammer carried the unconscious Fourth Kazekage to the battlefield and used familiar Sunagakure tactics to drive the small-village ninja away.
• Aburame Tetsumaru told Butler and Warhammer that the object inside the barrier had resisted every collection method they had tried.
• Warhammer volunteered to enter the barrier and stay with Eighth Master while Tetsumaru led the others to clear the surrounding area.

After the hunt for Ōtsutsuki Isshiki ended, Eighth Master studied his Kama, Warhammer sought a defense for his Nuclear Release, and Aburame Tetsumaru planned to strengthen his Senjutsu. As Konoha prepared for the Chunin Exams’ elimination matches, Aburame Tetsumaru settled on Psychokinesis as the direction for his future development.

• Aburame Tetsumaru’s group finished clearing the battlefield, captured White Zetsu, and sent Eighth Master to the Moon Experimental Base to study his Kama.
• The group split up to return to their duties, while Eighth Master examined the Kama and reasoned about how it could overwrite its host’s will.
• Warhammer concluded that his Nuclear Release techniques needed stronger protection and decided to study the Chakra Pathway Technique and develop a defensive field.
• Aburame Tetsumaru returned to Konoha, considered how to improve his Senjutsu, and found Rin and Kakashi preparing for the elimination matches.
• Hatake Senior and another voice discussed Kakashi’s lack of interest in Rin before deciding to watch Uchiha Itachi compete.
• Aburame Tetsumaru chose Psychokinesis and began planning ways to develop his spiritual power into a stronger offensive force.

Uchiha Itachi defeated Chojuro in a controlled swordsmanship match, then revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan when he faced Kaguya Kimimaro. Kimimaro unleashed his Shikotsumyaku bone wings and began a high-speed aerial assault, leaving Itachi facing a thorn-covered opponent.

• Uchiha Itachi overwhelmed Chojuro's Great Waterfall Technique with Majestic Destroyer Flame, then disarmed him and ended their match.
• Uchiha Itachi's first match inspired the following competitors to fight at full strength, but seven consecutive bouts ended quickly and drew little audience enthusiasm.
• Kaguya Kimimaro asked Uchiha Itachi to fight seriously, and Itachi agreed before Kimimaro drank from a baby bottle and prepared for battle.
• Uchiha Itachi revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, shocking the spectators and his parents, while Kimimaro covered himself in bone armor and unfurled three pairs of bone wings.
• Kimimaro launched thousands of bone feathers, and Uchiha Itachi deflected them with thrown weapons but suffered cuts before healing his hands.
• Kimimaro regrew his bone feathers, flew at high speed, and formed blades across his body as Uchiha Itachi prepared to face his Shikotsumyaku attack.

The Man of Culture survived a failed faster-than-light launch and rejoined Shooting Star, while the Avatars gathered to watch a Konoha match. Uchiha Itachi trapped Kaguya Kimimaro in hardened mud, but Kimimaro transformed into a gigantic bone creature and left Deidara dreading a possible fight against it.

• The Man of Culture recalled that a solar storm had knocked his spacecraft off course and that he had survived its crash through the Heavenly Transfer Gate; he then made a tracking signal so Shooting Star could find him.
• The Man of Culture and Shooting Star returned to Star Sea Hall, where they and other Avatars settled in to watch Politician's live perspective of the match.
• Kaguya Kimimaro attacked Uchiha Itachi with Bone Feathers and bone wings, but Itachi used Earth Release to hide underground and lure Kimimaro into a water-filled earthen tower.
• Uchiha Itachi trapped Kimimaro in a muddy swamp, churned it with an Earth Dragon, and hardened the arena into ceramic clay with Fire Release.
• Kaguya Kimimaro broke through the hardened arena and emerged as a gigantic creature made entirely of bones, leaving Deidara praying that Uchiha Itachi would win.

Uchiha Itachi won his match against Kaguya Kimimaro after their teachers stopped the dangerous fight, and Deidara defeated Karui with an explosive clay trap. Darui gained the upper hand against Hozuki Suigetsu, but Suigetsu struck him with Water Gun: Twin Nails as both fighters went down.

• Kaguya Kimimaro conceded when Weary Bird intervened, and Namikaze Minato declared Uchiha Itachi the winner.
• Deidara overwhelmed Karui with explosive clay puppets and a concealed explosion, leaving her unconscious with broken bones and burns.
• Hozuki Suigetsu reluctantly faced Darui, who attacked him with Storm Release and Lightning Release.
• Suigetsu surprised Darui with Water Release: Water Gun Technique, then fought back with his great blade and Water Gun: Twin Nails.
• Darui struck Suigetsu in the waist with the great blade as Suigetsu hit Darui with a water bullet, sending both fighters down.

Aburame Tetsumaru brought Warhammer to Shikkotsu Forest so he could begin cultivating Senjutsu to withstand Nuclear Release, while Katsuyu rested before the planned expedition to the Tree Shepherd Civilization. At the Chunin Exam, Darui defeated Hozuki Suigetsu, and Uchiha Itachi used Genjutsu to disarm and defeat Deidara.

• Aburame Tetsumaru took Warhammer to Shikkotsu Forest, where Warhammer signed a contract with Katsuyu and began slowly cultivating Senjutsu.
• Aburame Tetsumaru learned that Katsuyu was hibernating to recover before joining the expedition to the Tree Shepherd Civilization.
• Darui survived Hozuki Suigetsu's Water Iron Shot, and the referee declared Darui the winner as medical shinobi carried Suigetsu away for treatment.
• Deidara prepared a large supply of Explosive Clay for his match against Uchiha Itachi, who warned that Deidara was dangerous to others.
• Uchiha Itachi trapped Deidara in a Genjutsu from the start of their match, took his equipment, and won without allowing him to explode.