Chapter Summaries

As the Northern Lands attracted more visitors and wealth, foreign intruders launched attacks across Northern Land Village, keeping its security forces busy through the night. Zabuza and Kisame reached Northern Land Tower to survey the damage, but a voice below ordered them to help put out the fires.

• Zabuza complained about guarding the gate, then trained hard because Orochimaru's regular assessments kept the cadres competing for rank.
• Zabuza and other Northern Land cadres patrolled and fought intruders as attacks and fires broke out across the outer city.
• A masked Shadow Guard killed attackers, while Jirobo and Kidomaru collected bodies and searched them for money.
• Zabuza and Kisame raced to Northern Land Tower and discussed the fires and the damage caused by the night's attacks.
• Someone below rebuked Zabuza and Kisame for watching the scenery instead of helping put out the fires.

Northern Land Village endured a wave of espionage and sabotage as Orochimaru’s security forces worked around the clock. Orochimaru rewarded Zabuza with a Zanbatō and remained confident that the Five Great Nations would not unite against the village, before news from Konoha broke the tense stalemate a week later.

• Zabuza, Kisame, and Kakuzu handled spies and disturbances through the night, while Hozuki Mangetsu and other allies took over daytime security.
• Orochimaru summoned Zabuza and gave him a Zanbatō, which Zabuza gratefully accepted.
• Pakura worried that the Five Great Nations might unite against Northern Land Village, but Orochimaru argued that war was unlikely and that some nations would cooperate with them.
• Orochimaru and Pakura became intimate in his office after she teased him about taking in a married woman.
• A week later, news from Konoha shattered the stalemate as factions continued trying to uncover the Northern Lands’ situation.

Konoha’s plan to jointly hold the Chunin Exams with the Northern Lands drew in the other major ninja villages and expanded into an unprecedented gathering. Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the event for a year later, while Orochimaru welcomed the upheaval his actions had helped set in motion.

• Ōnoki saw Konoha’s invitation to the Northern Lands as a scheme to expose their strength, then ordered Iwagakure to participate.
• The Fourth Raikage and Sunagakure also agreed to join, bringing the Five Great Ninja Villages into the planned exams.
• Danzo urged Konoha’s leaders to accept the expanded event, and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to host it and invite Kirigakure.
• Konoha began preparing for the exams a year later, while Orochimaru anticipated the young generation confronting the Ninja World’s cruelty.

Northern Land Village expanded its roads and infrastructure while Orochimaru negotiated highway and trade projects with other ninja villages. He assigned Kakuzu additional work managing food reserves, agreeing to pay him five fresh hearts for the task.

• Northern Land Village developed new-energy vehicles, roads, and railways as relocated civilians settled into surrounding villages.
• Orochimaru asked Kakuzu whether Konoha had agreed to the Konoha–Northern Lands Highway proposal.
• Kakuzu reported that Konoha sought vehicles and equipment, and Orochimaru approved exports of vehicles, engineering and medical equipment, and electronics.
• Kakuzu said Kumogakure had responded positively, while Sunagakure and Iwagakure had not replied and Kirigakure remained at war.
• Orochimaru gave Kakuzu a document about agricultural harvests and expenditures, and Kakuzu demanded higher pay for taking on the work.
• Orochimaru and Kakuzu agreed on five fresh hearts as Kakuzu's salary for managing food reserves.

Fū and Northern Lands’ other genin prepared for the Chunin Exams, and Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza began selecting the village’s representatives. The second assessment sent the remaining candidates to the Blizzard Plains, where Anko and Guren were joined by Deidara, whom Orochimaru had assigned to support them.

• Fū told Shibuki she planned to take part in the Chunin Exams after passing the village’s assessment.
• Hozuki Mangetsu announced that nine genin would be chosen to represent Northern Lands, and Zabuza helped oversee the selection.
• The genin completed individual combat matches, and the strongest candidates advanced to the next round.
• Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza led the remaining genin to the Blizzard Plains for a team trial, accompanied by medical and scout ninja.
• Anko and Guren argued during the journey before Deidara arrived on a giant bird and offered them a ride.
• Deidara explained that Orochimaru had sent him to assist the group and provide aerial support.

Deidara activated the Immortal Army of the Northern Lands to make the Blizzard Plain assessment more challenging for the newly graduated genin. The teams set off to reach the platform, each needing to defeat at least three stone puppets, while Kazahana Koyuki and Ryuzetsu tried to steady their nerves.

• Deidara explained to Anko and Guren that new graduates faced annual assessments in dangerous locations until they advanced to chunin or completed three years of trials.
• Deidara activated the sealed stone puppets by placing a sphere of Mōryō's power into the platform and releasing its sealing jutsu.
• Hozuki Mangetsu announced the assessment rules: teams of three had to reach the platform, and each ninja had to defeat at least three stone puppets.
• Kidomaru, Dosu, Sakon, and other eager genin led their teams into the snowy field as the remaining groups followed.
• Kazahana Koyuki and Ryuzetsu worried that they lacked the others' battle spirit, and Koyuki joked that they could not afford to come in last.

Hozuki Mangetsu oversaw the three-day assessment on Blizzard Plain, where five genin teams passed and became candidates for the Konoha exam. At the training grounds, Ringo Ameyuri announced that the teams would face a year of training under three instructors, and Anko chose Kidomaru's team.

• Hozuki Mangetsu and the other staff patrolled Blizzard Plain while Deidara monitored the assessment from above.
• Five teams passed the assessment, and Hozuki Mangetsu brought the injured genin back to the village for treatment.
• The next day, the selected genin gathered at the training grounds, where Ringo Ameyuri warned them that passing the assessment did not mean they were ready for the exam.
• Ameyuri introduced three instructors who would train the candidates for a year, warning that anyone who could not endure the training would be sent to mine ore.
• Anko chose Kidomaru's team as her students, while the remaining teams hoped to train under one of the other two jonin.

Anko, Kimimaro, and Bai took charge of three newly formed teams, while Orochimaru arranged tailored training and power-enhancement plans for their students. The chapter ended with Orochimaru personally intensifying training for Team 9, whose members were especially weak.

• Dosu, Jirobo, and Kin Tsuchi chose Kimimaro as their instructor, while the other students joined Anko and Bai's teams.
• Anko named the teams Team 7, Team 8, and Team 9, and the instructors led them to their training grounds.
• Orochimaru supplied unusual scrolls and individualized plans, including Curse Marks for Sakon and Ukon and Kidomaru.
• Orochimaru considered asking Izumi Uchiha to share her genjutsu knowledge with Tayuya, while Ajisai continued developing her Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Orochimaru personally intensified Team 9's training because its members were not very capable.

Orochimaru modified the Sound ninja with Curse Marks, clan cells, drugs, and a Sharingan to make them stronger, then sent them into training under their instructors. The chapter ended with Naruto wondering whether he could combine the Tailed Beast Cloak with the Curse Mark.

• Orochimaru decided to reshape Jirobo, Kin Tsuchi, and Dosu into a stronger team, giving Jirobo winged Curse Mark abilities, Kin Tsuchi Kaguya Clan traits, and Dosu a Three Tomoe Sharingan and Hashirama Cells.
• Orochimaru planned further enhancements for talented trainees, including a Sharingan for Tayuya and possible upgrades for Karin, Fū, and Ajisai.
• At the start of Year 8 in the Northern Lands, Izumi Uchiha left after agreeing to teach Tayuya genjutsu, while Haku assigned Sakon, Ukon, and Ajisai to continue training.
• Team 9 trained under Kimimaro’s harsh orders, while Anko’s group trained more reasonably; Kidomaru asked Karin why Dosu and Tayuya had received personal guidance from Orochimaru.
• Naruto wondered what would happen if he combined the Tailed Beast Cloak with the Curse Mark.

Orochimaru visited Miroku in the hospital after she collapsed from overwork controlling the stone puppets powered by Mōryō’s energy. He brought food and comforted Miroku and Shion, then left the two wondering what Shion thought of him.

• Orochimaru apologized to Miroku for failing to account for the strain of controlling Mōryō-powered stone puppets, which had collapsed her.
• Orochimaru checked Miroku’s condition and brought her and Shion food he had cooked himself.
• Orochimaru invited Shion to call him Dean or Uncle Gold Snake, then affectionately patted her head and pinched her cheek.
• Orochimaru told Miroku to rest and promised to visit again that evening before leaving the hospital.
• Shion helped Miroku eat, and Miroku asked her what she thought of Uncle Gold Snake.

Orochimaru continued caring for Miroku and Shion as Miroku recovered, and Miroku accepted his invitation to share lunch with them from then on. After leaving the hospital, Orochimaru’s recent work on imposing village gate guardians was revealed.

• Miroku recovered enough to walk around the hospital park with Shion.
• Orochimaru brought Miroku and Shion lunch, and Miroku thanked him for caring for them.
• Orochimaru invited Miroku to have lunch with him regularly, and she accepted while Shion celebrated.
• Orochimaru said he would meet them in the cafeteria the next day and left after ruffling Shion’s hair.
• Orochimaru had built two ten-meter reinforced-concrete puppets modeled after Jiraiya and Tsunade to guard the village gate.

Orochimaru learned that Hoshigakure ninjas had attacked a Northern Lands caravan and decided to travel there with Hidan. He planned to relocate the village’s people and investigate its meteorite, which he suspected was dangerous and linked to the Ten-Tails.

• Orochimaru oversaw the completion of statues, Dragon Transformation Mountain, and Soul Severing Valley in the Northern Lands.
• A Shadow Guard reported that Hoshigakure ninjas had attacked a caravan carrying goods to the Land of Earth.
• Orochimaru considered whether Konoha, Iwagakure, or another major village had prompted the attack.
• Orochimaru summoned Hidan and ordered him to accompany him to Hoshikage Village the next day.
• Orochimaru planned to relocate the villagers and study their meteorite, which he suspected emitted harmful radiation and might be connected to the Ten-Tails.

Orochimaru and Hidan traveled from Northern Land Village to Hoshikage Village to persuade its people to join them and prosper. They met the Star Ninjas and were brought before the Hoshikage.

• Orochimaru and Hidan left Northern Land Village in passenger buses driven by their Shadow Clones.
• Orochimaru and Hidan crossed the Land of Gold, left their buses at a service station, and traveled on foot before Orochimaru carried them through the air to Hoshikage Village.
• Orochimaru warned Hidan not to kill the villagers because he wanted to recruit them, and Hidan put away his scythe.
• Three Star Ninjas stopped Orochimaru and Hidan, then one returned with a middle-aged ninja and invited them into the village.
• Hidan mocked the village as they walked to the central wooden house, where the Hoshikage waited to meet them.

Hidan and Orochimaru confronted Hoshikage over Hoshikage Village ninjas attacking their caravan, and Hidan presented the attackers’ Forehead Protectors as evidence. Hoshikage promised to investigate and explain, while Hidan insisted the village must admit its mistake.

• Hidan bluntly questioned Hoshikage and demanded to know why his village had attacked their caravan.
• Hidan accused Hoshikage Village of killing members of their caravan and threw the slain attackers’ Forehead Protectors onto the table.
• A nameless man urged the gathered ninjas to attack Hidan and Orochimaru, but Hoshikage ordered everyone to stand down.
• Hoshikage inspected the Forehead Protectors and said he would investigate and give their village an explanation if his ninjas were responsible.
• Hidan told Hoshikage to admit his mistake and accept the consequences.

Orochimaru and Hidan stayed overnight in Hoshikage Village, where the Hoshikage was found murdered the next morning. Accused by the villagers, Hidan attacked them while Orochimaru revealed he had taken the Star Stone, the Ten-Tails Fragment, and judged the village had no reason to survive.

• Orochimaru agreed to stay in Hoshikage Village for the night, and Akahoshi escorted him and Hidan to a house.
• Hidan complained openly about their hosts while Orochimaru stopped him from provoking the village and dismissed the ninjas assigned to watch them.
• The next morning, Hoshikage Village ninjas accused Hidan and Orochimaru of murdering the Hoshikage.
• Hidan denied responsibility, then charged at the villagers and vowed to offer them to Lord Jashin.
• Akahoshi led the attack, driven partly by the Star Stone that had disappeared from the village.
• Orochimaru put away the Ten-Tails Fragment and concluded that Hoshikage Village had no reason to continue existing.

Orochimaru and Hidan fought the Hoshikage Village ninja, and Orochimaru killed Akahoshi and the attackers who followed him. The surviving ninja surrendered and agreed to lead the villagers into joining the Northern Lands.

• Orochimaru left the room and saw Hidan battling more than twenty Hoshikagure ninja using the Mysterious Peacock Method.
• Akahoshi recognized Orochimaru and led a group of ninja to attack him, hoping to kill both intruders and secure his claim to become Hoshikage.
• Orochimaru seized Akahoshi, drained him until only his skin remained, then used his power to make the flying ninja fall to their deaths.
• Orochimaru threatened the remaining ninja with death unless they led the villagers into joining the Northern Lands, and Hidan complained that he had been deprived of his sacrifices.
• After Orochimaru killed a ninja who refused to surrender, the others laid down their weapons.

Orochimaru learned that Shiro had found Uchiha Madara’s hair in the underground refuge beneath the Valley of the End and took it to his laboratory. He planned to combine Madara’s cells with Hashirama Cells and Otsutsuki Toneri’s cellular tissue to advance his bloodline toward Kaguya’s level.

• Shiro returned to Orochimaru with news that he had found Uchiha Madara’s remains at an underground chamber beneath the Valley of the End.
• Orochimaru learned that only Madara’s hair remained and confirmed that Black Zetsu had not discovered Shiro.
• Orochimaru thanked Shiro, took the hair, and headed to the Biological Research Institute.
• Orochimaru received a culture dish from his Shadow Clone and planned to use Madara’s cells alongside Hashirama Cells and Otsutsuki Toneri’s cellular tissue to pursue a true Ōtsutsuki bloodline.

Orochimaru planned experiments to combine Madara’s and Hashirama’s cells, pursued the remaining chakra needed for his Ten-Tails ambitions, and decided to strengthen Hidan with the Star Stone. After work, he visited Miroku and spent the evening with her.

• Orochimaru speculated that the Sharingan or Byakugan could help Madara’s cells coexist with Hashirama’s, and summoned his clone to serve as a test subject.
• Orochimaru examined the Star Stone and planned to obtain the remaining Tailed Beast chakra before the Akatsuki could claim it.
• Orochimaru decided to give the Ten-Tails Fragment to Hidan to study with the Mysterious Peacock Method.
• Orochimaru left work and visited Miroku at her villa, where they became intimate.

Pain introduced Shinno as Akatsuki’s newest member and prepared the organization for a major operation. After discussing a possible plan with Konan and the Masked Man, Pain sent Zetsu and Tobi to investigate the Northern Hidden Village.

• Pain introduced Shinno to Akatsuki and assigned him to partner with Daibutsu.
• Pain told the gathered members to prepare for a major operation, then discussed the organization’s plans with Konan.
• The Masked Man arrived, and Zetsu joined Pain and Konan to discuss the Northern Hidden Village’s growing influence and its planned Chunin Exams with Konoha.
• Pain dismissed the Chunin Exams as unimportant but ordered Zetsu and Tobi to investigate the Northern Hidden Village’s true strength.

Obito and Zetsu arrived in the Northern Lands to scout the prosperous village before an infiltration, while Kakuzu counted the money collected by Northern Land Tower. Their rooftop reconnaissance was interrupted when a masked ninja confronted them.

• Two agents left on orders to reach the Northern Lands and infiltrate during the night.
• Kakuzu counted money at Northern Land Tower as workers delivered the day's collections.
• A group of revelers praised the tower's Golden Princess foot spa before deciding to visit another late-night spa.
• Obito and Zetsu appeared on the tower's rooftop and surveyed the Northern Lands.
• A masked ninja in white leapt onto the rooftop and shouted at Obito and Zetsu.