Chapter Summaries

Yakushi Nonō was cornered by Sunagakure pursuers while carrying intelligence, and Kaedeji's rescue team fought its way to her. When Sandstorm Araki trapped Kaedeji, Kaedeji used a teleportation technique to escape and appeared near Araki, leaving him shocked.

• Yakushi Nonō fought off Sandstorm Araki's pursuit force but was wounded by a puppet and surrounded.
• Nonō released Salamander Poison and waited for reinforcements, while Araki redirected the poisonous mist with his sandstorm.
• Kaedeji and Terai's rescue squad arrived, and Araki's forces attacked them after recognizing Kaedeji's Dead Soul Technique.
• Kaedeji used zombies and explosive tags in the battle as the Konoha team tried to reach Nonō.
• Araki trapped Kaedeji with a sand vortex, but Kaedeji vanished and reappeared beside a zombie, prompting Araki to cry, "Flying Thunder God?!"

Kaedeji used his Corpse Body Replacement Technique to evade attacks, alarming both sides as they mistook it for the Flying Thunder God Technique. As the battle turned against Konoha, he reached the wounded Yakushi Nonō and asked her to hand over the intelligence so he could carry it back to Konoha.

• Kaedeji assessed the Chakra cost and limits of his Corpse Body Replacement Technique after using it in combat.
• Sandstorm Araki and the other ninjas mistook Kaedeji’s sudden movement for the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Konoha took advantage of their hesitation to kill two Sunagakure ninjas.
• Sandstorm Araki analyzed Kaedeji’s technique and attacked him with a gale of sand, while Terai used Wind Cutter to strike at Araki.
• Kaedeji used a zombie to block the wind and sand, then reached the severely injured Yakushi Nonō.
• Kaedeji told Yakushi Nonō he had no Chakra left to treat her injuries and asked her to give him the intelligence so he could bring it back to Konoha.

Kaedeji and the surviving Konoha ninjas fought to escape Sunagakure’s pursuit while carrying the intelligence, and Kaedeji lost half his palm protecting his neck. He revealed that he had prepared disguised corpses to mislead their enemies, leaving Terai to recognize the escape plan he had overlooked.

• Kaedeji put the intelligence scroll inside a zombie and retreated with Terai, Yakushi Nonō, Morino Ise, and the other Root ninjas as Sunagakure attacked.
• A Sunagakure ninja thrust a kunai at Kaedeji’s neck, and Kaedeji sacrificed half his palm to avoid a fatal wound before Terai killed the attacker.
• Tora stayed behind at Terai’s command to delay the pursuing enemies while Kaedeji continued fleeing on a zombie’s back.
• Kaedeji said he had prepared a rapid escape and summoned modified corpses disguised as the surviving squad members.
• Terai realized he had overlooked how Kaedeji’s Dead Soul Technique could use corpses as decoys, and he acknowledged Tora and Sheep’s sacrifices had helped create the chance to escape.

Kaedeji and his team escaped the Sunagakure pursuit after Root operatives and altered corpses delayed the enemy, though Kaedeji lost two fingers protecting Yakushi Nonō and the mission intelligence. The team reached Konoha Forest, and the chapter left Yakushi Nonō worried that Kaedeji’s injury would limit his future ninjutsu development.

• Tora sacrificed himself with Explosive Tags, and Sandstorm Araki discovered that the corpses his squad pursued were altered decoys that exploded.
• Sandstorm Araki’s forces were distracted by more altered corpses and stopped pursuing Terai’s group as it entered Konoha Forest.
• Yakushi Nonō healed Kaedeji’s injured hand and worried that losing two fingers would hinder his hand seals, but Kaedeji said the sacrifice had been worthwhile.
• Terai accepted the recovered intelligence and promised to report Kaedeji’s contributions to the village.
• Morino Ise suggested Kaedeji might eventually lead the Corpse Disposal Unit, and Yakushi Nonō warned him that his corpse-based technique could prevent him from becoming a celebrated war hero.

Kaedeji dismissed his injuries and hoped to use his mission success to gain access to human experimentation, while Yakushi Nonō warned him that Sasori of the Red Sands was interested in him. The mission’s intelligence reached Konoha’s leaders, and the Third Hokage began discussing Kaedeji’s talent with Danzō.

• Kaedeji reassured Yakushi Nonō that his injuries and lost fingers did not trouble him, and she insisted that Root owed him compensation for being pulled into the mission.
• Yakushi Nonō warned Kaedeji that Sasori of the Red Sands had traded Sunagakure’s confidential intelligence for information about him, and Kaedeji decided Sasori could help with an important plan.
• Konoha’s higher-ups received the mission results, including Sunagakure’s deployment maps and supply intelligence.
• The Third Hokage praised Yakushi Nonō’s work and criticized Danzō’s use of threats, while Danzō defended his methods.
• The Third Hokage told Danzō not to interfere with the War Orphans and said Yakushi Nonō would oversee them and receive subsidies.
• The Third Hokage presented a dossier and remarked that a talented ninja had emerged among the War Orphans.

The Third Hokage and Danzo discussed Kaedeji’s unusual Dead Soul Technique and agreed to promote him to head of the Corpse Disposal Unit after the war. As Tsunade returned to the front lines ahead of Konoha’s expected decisive battle with Sunagakure, Kaedeji considered expanding his Corpse Replacement technique and named its new system.

• The Third Hokage praised Kaedeji’s potential, while Danzo recognized that Root had overlooked him and wanted to study his corpse techniques.
• The Third Hokage warned Danzo not to coerce Kaedeji, and Danzo proposed making him head of the Corpse Disposal Unit after the war.
• The Third Hokage and Danzo discussed Tsunade’s return and criticized Jiraiya for remaining in the Land of Rain.
• Tsunade arrived at Konoha’s main camp with Dan Katō, and the gathered ninja celebrated her return.
• Kaedeji watched Tsunade arrive, considered how Corpse Replacement could improve his survival, and named his developing technique system Corpse Release: Corpse Transfer: Void Realm Technique.

During the decisive battle between Konoha and Sunagakure, Tsunade prepared the Medical Corps while Dan Katō discovered that the elderly Bunzaemon had joined Sunagakure’s forces. Kaedeji was targeted by Sandstorm Araki, and he prepared to use the virus already infecting Araki to turn him into a zombie.

• Tsunade sent Dan Katō to investigate Sunagakure, where he discovered Bunzaemon standing with Chiyo and Ebizo.
• Tsunade prepared antidotes for the battle and assigned Dan Katō to protect Konoha’s comrades while she and Hatake Sakumo handled their side.
• The armies began their battle with coordinated ninjutsu bombardments before advancing into close combat.
• Kaedeji joined the Medical Corps as it split into squads to accompany Konoha’s units.
• Sandstorm Araki broke through Konoha’s blockade and headed directly for Kaedeji’s medical squad.
• Kaedeji sensed that the Zombie Virus had infected Araki and formed a one-handed seal to begin turning him into a zombie.

Sandstorm Araki led an elite Sunagakure squad in a surprise attack aimed at capturing Kaedeji for his Human Puppet techniques. Kaedeji revealed his Void Realm Technique to protect his comrades and prepared to make Sandstorm Araki his trump card.

• Sandstorm Araki unleashed a sandstorm and led his squad through the Konoha ranks, targeting Kaedeji while creating quicksand and attacking with poisoned shuriken.
• Kaedeji summoned six zombies to defend himself as Kazematsuri Takuya and the surrounding Konoha Ninjas tried to stop Sandstorm Araki.
• Kaedeji stalled Sandstorm Araki with the zombies' ninjutsu, then told Kazematsuri Takuya to leave the fight to him.
• Sandstorm Araki beheaded a zombie, but Kaedeji used Corpse Transfer: Void Realm Technique to switch places with another one, stunning the Konoha Ninjas.
• Kaedeji watched another zombie self-destruct without harming Sandstorm Araki and resolved to make him his trump card.

Kaedeji used the Konoha Ninja’s attack on Sandstorm Araki as cover to infect and control the Elite Jonin with Corpse Manipulation. As Araki’s body began to slip from his control, Kaedeji hinted that the technique could affect more than just an Elite Jonin.

• Kaedeji reflected that the Zombie Virus spread far more slowly through Naruto World natives, especially ninjas, so he needed to rely on Chakra-based Corpse Manipulation.
• Kaedeji retreated from Sandstorm Araki and began forming hand seals while Konoha Ninja rushed to protect him and distract their enemy.
• Sandstorm Araki fought off the Konoha Ninja, but his heart began pounding, his body grew cold, and his agitation continued to worsen.
• When Sandstorm Araki met Kaedeji’s eyes, his breathing and Chakra flow changed, and he realized Kaedeji could use techniques on living people.
• As Araki’s wounds went numb and his movements slowed, Kazematsuri Takuya noticed Kaedeji smiling despite his pale, Chakra-drained face.
• Kaedeji thanked the Konoha Ninja for helping him take down Sandstorm Araki and suggested his achievement went beyond controlling an Elite Jonin.

Kaedeji was cornered by the dying Sandstorm Araki after using up nearly all his Chakra, but Dan Katō arrived and killed Araki with the Spirit Transformation Technique. Dan explained that Tsunade had sent him to support the unit and protect Kaedeji, leaving the Sunagakure force trapped and facing defeat.

• Kaedeji's forces surrounded Sandstorm Araki's Sunagakure squad, while Araki realized Kaedeji's technique affected living bodies and launched a final attack.
• Kaedeji ran out of Chakra and prepared to use the Void Realm Technique at the risk of exhausting himself to death.
• Dan Katō appeared before Kaedeji and said he would not let a companion Tsunade and Sakumo cared about die.
• Dan Katō used the Spirit Transformation Technique to invade Sandstorm Araki's mind and kill him.
• Dan Katō told Kazematsuri Takuya that Tsunade had assigned him to support the unit and protect Kaedeji.

Dan Katō praised Kaedeji’s character and potential after the battle, recognizing that his Dead Soul Technique had become the foundation of a new secret-technique system. Kaedeji considered how much he would need to accomplish to earn the right to read the Scroll of Seals.

• Dan Katō told Kaedeji that Konoha had sent him to protect Kaedeji and lure Sunagakure into attacking, and that Sandstorm Araki’s death was a major achievement.
• Kaedeji refused to claim credit for the victory and thanked Dan Katō and his comrades for helping him survive.
• Dan Katō explained that he had assessed Kaedeji during the battle and was satisfied with his modesty, loyalty, and conduct.
• Dan Katō recognized that Kaedeji’s Dead Soul Technique had developed into a new system with potential for Space-Time Ninjutsu and other techniques.
• Dan Katō encouraged Kaedeji to be confident and said the village and his comrades needed his strength.
• Kaedeji wondered how great an achievement he needed to earn before he could read the Scroll of Seals.

Kaedeji helped Konoha defeat the Sunagakure force while staying out of the main fighting and collecting the fallen. After the battle, Sasori of the Red Sands used a disguised puppet to contact him.

• Dan Katō warned Kaedeji to stay cautious as the fighting began, and Kaedeji sealed Sandstorm Araki's corpse into a scroll.
• Sunagakure's morale faltered when Konoha announced Sandstorm Araki's death, while Dan Katō's spirit aided Konoha and attacked the enemy.
• Kaedeji stayed near the rear as Konoha advanced, then avoided the pursuit and waited behind to search the battlefield and finish off wounded enemies.
• A corpse at the battlefield's edge moved and spoke through a modified puppet, and Kaedeji recognized Sasori of the Red Sands.

Kaedeji negotiated with Sasori of the Red Sands, who offered Sunagakure’s Human Puppet secret technique in exchange for Kaedeji’s techniques. Kaedeji asked Sasori to obtain Chiyo’s One’s Own Life Reincarnation, and Sasori left him a codebook before the contact ended.

• Sasori of the Red Sands contacted Kaedeji through a puppet and proposed trading the Human Puppet secret technique for Kaedeji’s techniques.
• Sasori explained that Kaedeji’s corpse-based techniques and his Human Puppets shared a purpose, and he sought Kaedeji’s Space-Time Ninjutsu to protect Puppet Masters.
• Kaedeji asked Sasori to obtain Chiyo’s One’s Own Life Reincarnation, which he said had been developed for Human Puppets.
• Sasori agreed to seek information about the technique and warned that he intended to kill Yakushi Nonō someday.
• Sasori gave Kaedeji their codebook, then made the puppet disappear with the Summoning Technique.

Kaedeji planned to obtain One's Own Life Reincarnation so he could use zombies to replenish his life force and Chakra, while Konoha decisively defeated Sunagakure. After the battle, Tsunade ordered Kaedeji to return to the village and recover.

• Kaedeji reasoned that zombies could use One's Own Life Reincarnation to transfer their life force to him, giving him a renewable supply of life force and Chakra.
• Kaedeji considered how Sasori might use revived corpses as Human Puppets and concluded that One's Own Life Reincarnation was key to overcoming his limitations.
• Konoha forces routed the Sunagakure army after Tsunade neutralized Chiyo's poison and Hatake Sakumo killed Bunzaemon.
• Tsunade complained that Konoha would not invade the Land of Wind, and Dan Katō explained that expanding the war would increase their losses.
• Tsunade asked Dan about Kaedeji, heard that his techniques and temperament were promising but that his weak body and missing fingers limited him, and ordered him to return to Konoha to recover.

After Konoha’s victory over Sunagakure, Kaedeji’s Dead Soul Technique and his new Space-Time Ninjutsu drew widespread attention. Tsunade examined his frail body, offered to teach him a Chakra-stimulating technique, and learned that he had named his evolved art Corpse Manipulation.

• Konoha’s ninja returned to camp after defeating Sunagakure, and news spread that Kaedeji had helped Dan Katō kill Sandstorm Araki.
• Kaedeji’s use of the Dead Soul Technique and Void Realm Technique astonished the Medical Ninja, who tried to learn the technique for themselves.
• Kaedeji told Tsunade that rumors calling him a genius exaggerated his abilities.
• Tsunade examined Kaedeji’s depleted physical condition and offered to teach him a technique to stimulate his body with Chakra.
• Kaedeji demonstrated that he could perform techniques through zombies and named his evolved secret art Corpse Manipulation.

Kaedeji obtained Tsunade’s Accelerated Cell Division Technique and continued preparing for his plans. After Sasori of the Red Sands arrived in Konoha Forest using a puppet clone, Kaedeji offered to trade his Void Realm Technique for part of One’s Own Life Reincarnation.

• Kaedeji told Tsunade that Sandstorm Araki would retain at least half his strength as a zombie, and Tsunade gave him the B-rank Accelerated Cell Division Technique in exchange for military merits.
• Kaedeji reflected that the technique could not replace his reliance on One’s Own Life Reincarnation and hoped Sasori of the Red Sands would obtain it.
• As the situation stabilized, Kaedeji avoided missions and used zombies to leave coded marks around Konoha Forest.
• After six days, Kaedeji found a new mark and met Sasori of the Red Sands, who was communicating through a puppet clone.
• Kaedeji offered the Void Realm Technique in exchange for part of One’s Own Life Reincarnation, and Sasori’s puppet produced a scroll.

Kaedeji traded the One's Own Life Reincarnation Technique for Sasori of the Red Sands' Void Realm Technique, while Sasori and Chiyo considered the risks and Kaedeji's future strength. Kaedeji returned to camp and began studying the difficult forbidden technique that he needed for his plans.

• Kaedeji and Sasori of the Red Sands exchanged scrolls after confirming the trade was safe.
• Sasori read the Void Realm Technique and discovered that it required mastery of the Corpse Transformation Technique, but he vowed to learn it.
• Chiyo confronted Sasori, learned he had traded her unfinished technique to Kaedeji, and warned that Kaedeji could become a dangerous enemy.
• Sasori argued that Kaedeji would struggle to make corpses with different physical traits perform the S-rank technique, then returned toward Sunagakure.
• Chiyo blamed Hatake Sakumo for the war and resolved to kill him in a future conflict.
• Kaedeji returned to camp and began painstakingly studying the One's Own Life Reincarnation Technique.

Kaedeji returned to Konoha after the fighting against Sunagakure and worried about the coming war with Iwagakure, which he hoped to avoid until he mastered One's Own Life Reincarnation. At the village welcome ceremony, he learned that he had been appointed head of the Corpse Disposal Unit.

• Kaedeji withdrew from the front lines and resolved to learn One's Own Life Reincarnation quickly so he could avoid the dangerous battles against Iwagakure.
• Kaedeji returned to Konoha with the troops and joined the villagers' welcome ceremony, while Kazematsuri Takuya reflected on his survival and Tsunade remained weighed down by Nawaki's death.
• Kaedeji received a new appointment from the village and asked Tsunade in surprise why he had been made head of the Corpse Disposal Unit.

Kaedeji secured a transfer to the Corpse Disposal Unit and learned that Root was interested in his corpse-manipulating jutsu. As he resumed collecting corpses under close surveillance, Danzo ordered an Explosion Release ninja’s body sent to him to test the technique’s limits.

• Tsunade signed Kaedeji’s transfer to the Corpse Disposal Unit and gave him a jutsu for stimulating the body with Chakra.
• Tsunade warned Kaedeji to avoid Aburame Ryoma and Root, use his secret technique sparingly in Konoha, and never use it on comrades.
• Kaedeji returned to the Corpse Disposal Unit, handled a new batch of corpses, and kept the valuable ones for himself while Konoha’s watchers reported his actions.
• Danzo learned that Kaedeji had taken all seventeen corpses in three days and ordered Aburame Ryoma to keep monitoring him without confronting Anbu.
• Aburame Ryoma told Danzo that Orochimaru had sent back the corpse of an Explosion Release ninja, and Danzo ordered it given to Kaedeji.

Kaedeji converted a dead Iwa Explosion Release shinobi into a zombie weapon while continuing experiments on the One's Own Life Reincarnation Technique. He demonstrated the zombie's combat ability to Root, seeking to prove his jutsu had practical value.

• Two Root shinobi delivered Tsuguto Masato's corpse and asked Kaedeji to modify it, while he recognized them as Root and refused to answer their questions about Sandstorm Araki.
• Kaedeji injected the corpse with his virus and estimated the conversion would take about twenty-four hours.
• Kaedeji studied Explosion Release and continued experimenting with the One's Own Life Reincarnation Technique, using zombies to test how to transfer life force.
• Kaedeji completed the Explosion Release zombie and showed it dodging a Root shinobi's attack before striking the blade and unleashing an explosion.
• Kaedeji judged the zombie weaker than it had been alive but stronger than an ordinary Chunin, then asked Root whether he had proved his abilities.