Chapter Summaries

Hozuki Mangetsu and Kisame teamed up against Killer B, whose Tailed Beast Chakra Samehada began absorbing. Elsewhere, Orochimaru traded powerful blows with A until an explosion sent the Raikage flying, prompting Killer B to fully transform.

• Hozuki Mangetsu struck Killer B with Hiramekarei, breaking several of his blades and sending him flying.
• Killer B entered Partial Tailed Beast Transformation and clashed with Kisame, but Samehada absorbed his Chakra while Hozuki Mangetsu forced him back.
• Gyūki urged Killer B to undergo Tailed Beast Transformation as the fight against Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu grew more dangerous.
• An explosion sent A flying, shocking the Hidden Cloud ninja and drawing Dodai and others toward the Raikage's battlefield.
• Orochimaru and A had exchanged powerful attacks across the bridge, river, and shore, while observers reconsidered the strength of the Northern Lands.
• As the Hidden Cloud ninja rushed toward A, Killer B fully transformed into an enormous figure before Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu.

Orochimaru crushed the Fourth Raikage, then arrived in time to absorb the Eight-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb and save Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Guren. After rewarding his team for cutting off two of the Eight-Tails’ tails, Orochimaru noticed that the beast had disappeared.

• Orochimaru defeated the Fourth Raikage in a clash of strength and sent him crashing through trees.
• Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails, but Guren trapped Gyūki with Crystal Release while Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu cut off two tails.
• The Eight-Tails broke free, formed a Tailed Beast Bomb, and fired it at Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Guren.
• Orochimaru appeared behind the trio and absorbed the Tailed Beast Bomb before it could hit them.
• Orochimaru praised the team and promised each member a sports car, then asked where the Eight-Tails had gone.

After Orochimaru defeated the Raikage and the fighting left the Hidden Cloud Village badly battered, the two sides faced off again in the rain. The Raikage admitted defeat for the day but warned that the conflict was not over.

• Dodai found the badly injured A, who ordered him to bring Killer B back and then rushed toward the Eight-Tails’ roar.
• Orochimaru teleported Kakuzu and Zabuza away from the battlefield as Killer B fled in his partial tailed-beast form.
• A and the Hidden Cloud ninjas reunited with Killer B, saw that two of his tails were missing, and learned how badly the battle had gone.
• Orochimaru and his companions confronted the Hidden Cloud force, and Guren said Orochimaru had spared A’s life.
• Orochimaru challenged A over whether he wanted to start a war, and A admitted defeat for the day while vowing to retaliate.
• Orochimaru said his side did not want to escalate the conflict but was ready to keep fighting if the Hidden Cloud was unsatisfied.

Orochimaru defeated the Hidden Cloud Village’s forces and sent them away, while the Raikage collapsed from severe internal injuries. News of the battle alarmed the major ninja villages, and Konoha’s leaders debated how to respond to the Northern Lands.

• Orochimaru warned the Hidden Cloud Village group, then let the Raikage lead his defeated forces away.
• Kisame explained that their intelligence advantage and Orochimaru’s strength had decided the battle, and Orochimaru cut down nearby scouts before flying back toward the Northern Lands with his group.
• After the Hidden Cloud Village forces left, A collapsed from his injuries, and Killer B and the Medical Ninja treated him before they rushed to return him to the village.
• Three days later, news of the defeat reached the major ninja villages and alarmed their leaders.
• In Konoha, the Third Hokage and Danzo argued over responsibility before Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura called for a reassessment of the Northern Lands.
• Konoha’s leaders discussed sending more people to probe the Northern Lands.

Konoha’s leaders moved toward a decision on the Uchiha clan while rival nations investigated the Northern Lands’ power and prosperity. Orochimaru’s entertainment industry continued to grow, and Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu arrived at the Golden Shadow’s office showing off their cars.

• Danzo urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to act against internal dissent, and Hiruzen ordered someone to summon Itachi.
• The Land of Earth and the Land of Wind sent investigators to Beidai Bridge and visitors to the Northern Lands, where they discovered the destruction and returned impressed by its technology and prosperity.
• Orochimaru gave Kazahana Koyuki stacks of sheet music and songs to build music groups and expand the Northern Lands’ entertainment industry.
• Kisame drove his sports car to the Golden Shadow’s office, where Anko greeted him.
• Hozuki Mangetsu arrived thirty seconds after Kisame, joked about his car, and went upstairs with him while Anko protested.

Orochimaru sent Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Anko to recruit the rogue ninja Deidara, ordering them to kill him if he refused. Meanwhile, Akatsuki discussed its need for recruits, and the Masked Man set out with Zetsu to approach Itachi of Konoha.

• Orochimaru gave Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Anko a file on Deidara and assigned them to recruit him for the Northern Lands.
• Orochimaru told the team to kill Deidara if he refused to join, and they departed on the mission.
• Shiro arrived with a scroll, prompting Orochimaru to realize that Akatsuki had made a move.
• The Masked Man told Pain and Konan that Akatsuki needed more members and proposed recruiting Itachi of Konoha.
• Pain left the recruitment mission to the Masked Man, who chose Zetsu to accompany him.

Orochimaru learned that the Uchiha massacre was approaching and considered raiding the clan compound for Sharingan and scrolls, but he was summoned to the casino when a stranger proved difficult for Kakuzu to defeat. Kakuzu revived his four hearts and broke the stranger’s ritual circle, leaving him vulnerable.

• Orochimaru inferred that the Uchiha massacre was near and decided to consider collecting Sharingan and Uchiha scrolls.
• A ninja reported that someone was causing trouble at the casino and Kakuzu could not subdue him.
• Kakuzu explained that the stranger had accused the casino of cheating, killed two staff members, and used a ritual to destroy three of Kakuzu’s masked monsters.
• The stranger stabbed himself with his scythe to destroy Kakuzu’s remaining masked monster, but Kakuzu restored all four hearts with a Sealing Scroll.
• Kakuzu smashed the ground beneath the stranger, knocking him outside the five-pointed ritual circle and ending his protected state.

Orochimaru stopped Hidan’s destructive fight with Kakuzu and forced the defeated rogue to choose between serving the Northern Lands or becoming an experimental subject. Hidan agreed to join, and Orochimaru left Kakuzu to reattach his severed limbs.

• Orochimaru intervened in Hidan and Kakuzu’s fight and pinned Hidan down with an immense force.
• Kakuzu approached Hidan, but Hidan suddenly attacked and lost an arm when Orochimaru cut it off.
• Orochimaru severed Hidan’s remaining arm and both legs, then offered him a choice between joining the Northern Lands and being used for research.
• Hidan agreed to serve Orochimaru, who ordered Kakuzu to stitch his limbs back on before heading to his office.

Orochimaru put Hidan under Kakuzu's supervision after the newcomer caused trouble, then turned his attention to Pakura. Meanwhile, Itachi sought Obito's help with exterminating the Uchiha clan and agreed to join the Akatsuki.

• Orochimaru assigned Hidan as Kakuzu's deputy and warned him not to run or cause more trouble.
• Kakuzu took Hidan away to settle him in, while Orochimaru welcomed Pakura into his office.
• Itachi approached the Masked Man, whom he recognized as the one calling himself Uchiha Madara, and asked for help.
• Obito agreed to help Itachi exterminate the Uchiha clan on the condition that Itachi join the Akatsuki.
• Itachi and Obito discussed the plan, and Obito vanished through a space-time vortex.

The Northern Lands entered a period of stable development as Orochimaru assigned its powerful fighters roles in managing industries. He then sent Zabuza and Haku to investigate Mōryō in the Land of Swamps and dispatched Kimimaro to find Jūgo.

• Deidara was captured by Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu and brought to the Northern Lands after they beat him nearly to death.
• Orochimaru assigned the Northern Lands' fighters work in areas such as waterworks, medicine, weapons development, and education.
• A Shadow Guard messenger summoned Zabuza, Kimimaro, and Haku to Orochimaru's office.
• Orochimaru ordered Zabuza and Haku to investigate Mōryō and sent Kimimaro to find Jūgo.

Itachi, Danzō, and the Masked Man carried out the Uchiha clan extermination under cover of a storm while Konoha’s other clans and Anbu did not intervene. Orochimaru and Kakuzu watched from above and prepared to claim Sharingan, scrolls, and hearts before Danzō and Obito could take everything.

• Itachi killed Uchiha clan members in their homes, using genjutsu to control them and pushing his Mangekyō Sharingan beyond its limits.
• The Masked Man slaughtered the guards and personnel at the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters.
• Danzō led Root through the Uchiha district, killing witnesses and heading for the Uchiha Shrine to seize Sharingan and secret techniques.
• Orochimaru and Kakuzu watched the massacre from above and decided to collect Uchiha Sharingan, ninjutsu scrolls, and hearts.

Orochimaru and Kakuzu looted the Uchiha compound’s archives, valuables, Sharingan, and hearts. Orochimaru encountered Danzo and defeated the Root ninja who attacked him, while Danzo fled.

• Orochimaru killed the guards and packed valuable Uchiha scrolls into Mask Space.
• Kakuzu searched the compound for Sharingan, hearts, cash, and jewelry, storing his haul in scrolls.
• Orochimaru saw Danzo arrive with masked Root ninja after finishing his search.
• Danzo ordered the Root ninja to attack Orochimaru, but Orochimaru crushed them with his Gravity Field.
• Danzo fled, and Orochimaru left without pursuing him.

Orochimaru rescued Izumi Uchiha from the Masked Man, then confronted him and exploited the limits of his intangibility ability. The Masked Man recognized Orochimaru as the one who had fought the Three-Tails, and Orochimaru taunted him.

• The Masked Man subdued Izumi Uchiha and prepared to kill her, but Orochimaru arrived and severed the chain binding her.
• Orochimaru knocked Izumi unconscious, handed her to a Water Clone, and dismissed her hope that Itachi would save her.
• The Masked Man attacked Orochimaru, but their bodies passed through each other until Orochimaru caught his sword and shattered it.
• Orochimaru evaded the Masked Man's suction technique, wounded him with rainwater projectiles, and tried to trap him with a Gravity Field.
• The Masked Man recognized Orochimaru as the person who had fought the Three-Tails, and Orochimaru insulted him.

Orochimaru fought Obito at the Uchiha compound while pretending to be Tobirama Senju, using his abilities to drive Obito off. After Obito vanished, Orochimaru stopped his attack, only for a timid voice to suddenly speak beside him.

• Orochimaru claimed to be Tobirama Senju and provoked Obito by saying he had killed Izuna Uchiha.
• Obito tried to pull Orochimaru into another dimension, but Orochimaru's Gravity Field crushed Obito's arm and forced him to retreat.
• Orochimaru used a Flying Thunder God kunai to deepen Obito's suspicion that he might really be Tobirama Senju.
• Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu failed to hold Orochimaru, whose Eight Inner Gates Seal began circulating on its own.
• Orochimaru made the rain attack the Uchiha compound, killing the remaining Uchiha ninja and preventing Obito from approaching.
• Obito abandoned his revenge and vanished, and Orochimaru stopped his attack before a timid voice spoke beside him.

Orochimaru and Kakuzu withdrew from the massacre of the Uchiha clan, taking Izumi Uchiha and looting valuables. Before leaving, Orochimaru struck the Hokage Residence with his Gravity Blade, forcing the Third Hokage and Itachi to flee as the building was destroyed.

• Orochimaru showed the bound Izumi Uchiha the devastated Uchiha compound, and she screamed and struggled before he knocked her unconscious.
• Orochimaru found Fugaku Uchiha’s home, took Fugaku’s eyes and tissue samples, and left the bodies behind.
• Orochimaru met Kakuzu, who had looted the compound, and told him to keep Izumi alive for the time being.
• Orochimaru saw Root shinobi looting the compound and decided to give Konoha a distraction before they left.
• Orochimaru used Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger against the Hokage Residence, and the Third Hokage and Itachi escaped before the building was destroyed.

Orochimaru gained advanced medical talent after recruiting Kabuto, who was devastated after killing Yakushi Nonō without recognizing her. At an Akatsuki meeting, Pain announced two new members, and Orochimaru received a message hinting that an unbelievable event had occurred.

• Orochimaru claimed the system’s Advanced Medical Ninjutsu Talent reward and grew more confident about treating Kimimaro.
• Orochimaru brought Kabuto back to the Land of Rain after Kabuto killed Yakushi Nonō, then told him to rest before helping with work.
• Pain summoned the Akatsuki and announced that two members would join the next day.
• Obito watched Orochimaru leave and suspected his strange techniques might be connected to someone else’s.
• Orochimaru summoned Shiro, read a message, and realized that something unbelievable had happened.

Orochimaru and the Akatsuki welcomed Uchiha Itachi and assigned him Jūzō Biwa as his partner. Hiruko then arrived, recognized Orochimaru, and showed interest in Itachi’s Sharingan.

• Pain welcomed Uchiha Itachi, gave him the Vermilion ring, and had Konan take him to change into the Akatsuki uniform.
• Pain assigned Jūzō Biwa to partner with Itachi, despite Jūzō Biwa’s reluctance.
• Hiruko arrived at the Akatsuki base, and Orochimaru recognized him as a former Konoha classmate.
• Orochimaru and Hiruko exchanged insults until Pain ordered them to follow the organization’s rules.
• Hiruko studied Itachi’s Sharingan, and Orochimaru suspected he was interested in Itachi’s Kekkei Genkai.

Orochimaru learned that Hiruko had joined the Akatsuki, while Obito identified the Northern Lands as a dangerous new threat and planned to visit them. News of the Uchiha Clan's destruction stirred celebration and strategic discussions in the other major ninja villages, while Konoha's situation remained unsettled.

• Orochimaru read his clone's report about Hiruko and decided to leave him alone unless he caused trouble.
• Zetsu told Obito that the Golden Snake Gentleman of the Northern Lands had defeated him and that the Northern Lands had recruited Kakuzu and Kisame.
• Obito ordered Zetsu to guide Nagato and declared that he would visit the Northern Lands himself.
• Ōnoki and Iwagakure officials celebrated the Uchiha Clan's destruction, then decided to have a mercenary organization probe the Northern Lands rather than act rashly.
• The Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Water also held meetings about the Northern Lands, while Konoha's atmosphere reversed amid the crisis.

Sasuke escaped the hospital and ran to the Uchiha compound while his friends and Konoha’s watchers followed. Meanwhile, Orochimaru attacked Itachi in Kirigakure, but Itachi’s bound body turned into crows.

• Sasuke remembered Itachi’s massacre and resolved to grow stronger and kill him.
• Sasuke fled the hospital for the Uchiha compound, with Sakura, Ino, Naruto, and Kakashi following.
• Konoha assigned Kakashi and Jiraisui to watch over Sasuke.
• Orochimaru approached Itachi in Kirigakure and warned him about human nature.
• Orochimaru’s Hidden Shadow Snake Hands bound Itachi, but Itachi’s body scattered into a flock of crows.

Orochimaru tested Itachi in a fierce fight, then gave him a Life Potion to help preserve his eyesight. Itachi was left wary but accepted the scroll as Orochimaru vanished.

• Orochimaru triggered a scenario to test Itachi and drew the Sword of Kusanagi.
• Itachi and Orochimaru clashed with weapons, taijutsu, and ninjutsu, ending in a fiery tornado.
• Orochimaru praised Itachi's reflexes and strength, and Itachi recognized his skill.
• Orochimaru gave Itachi a scroll containing a Life Potion made with Hashirama Cells to help preserve his eyesight.
• Orochimaru disappeared into the ground after telling Itachi not to die too early.