Chapter Summaries

After Shikamaru deciphered Jiraiya’s coded message as “without a true body,” Kakashi realized it might reveal something about Pain, though Tsunade insisted the investigation would take time. Kakashi encouraged Uchiha Cheng to train at Mount Myōboku, and Cheng set out to master his power as he continued to grieve Jiraiya.

• At Jiraiya’s grave, Shikamaru deciphered the numbers on Jiraiya’s scroll as the words “without a true body.”
• Uchiha Cheng and Shikamaru brought the clue to Kakashi, who recognized a possible connection to Pain and took them to Tsunade.
• Tsunade said Jiraiya’s and Pain’s bodies still needed careful examination, frustrating Uchiha Cheng with the slow pace of the investigation.
• Shikamaru followed Uchiha Cheng and understood that he wanted to avenge Jiraiya but felt helpless to change what was happening.
• Kakashi urged Uchiha Cheng to train in Sage Chakra at Mount Myōboku, and Cheng agreed to go there and strengthen his control.
• Uchiha Cheng arrived at Mount Myōboku and saw the toads who had guided him before, along with the Little Toads.

Uchiha Cheng trained with Toad Oil to reach a higher level of Sage Mode, struggling to sense nature and abandoning a harmful shortcut after the Toad Sage warned him. The Toad Sage introduced a new balance exercise on sharp stones, while Akatsuki began preparing its attack on Konoha.

• Uchiha Cheng met the Toad Sage, who sent him to train with Toad Oil in pursuit of a higher level of Sage Mode.
• Toad Oil taught Uchiha Cheng to remain still and sense the world, but Uchiha Cheng struggled and repeatedly turned into a toad when he lost his balance.
• Uchiha Cheng tried forcefully absorbing natural energy to make faster progress, and Toad Oil reported the dangerous method to the Toad Sage.
• The Toad Sage warned Toad Oil that the shortcut could seriously harm Uchiha Cheng, and Uchiha Cheng stopped training that way.
• Akatsuki's leader announced that the group's target was Konoha and urged its members to show their abilities.
• The Toad Sage led Uchiha Cheng to a field of sharp stones and told him to practice keeping his balance on them, and Uchiha Cheng stepped onto the stones.

Uchiha Cheng completed the final stage of Sage Mode training at Mount Myōboku, but the Toad Sage told him he could not return to Konoha until the village needed him. Meanwhile, Shikamaru’s investigation of Pain stalled, and Pain escaped captivity as Uchiha Cheng renewed his resolve to avenge Jiraiya.

• Uchiha Cheng gathered and condensed his Chakra into wind, entered Sage Mode, and surpassed the level Jiraiya had reached.
• Uchiha Cheng asked to return to Konoha, but Toad Oil said the Toad Sage had to decide; the Toad Sage told him his training would reach its peak in seven days, not that he could leave.
• Shikamaru deciphered Uchiha Cheng’s code and investigated Pain with Kakashi, but could not break through the restriction in Pain’s mind.
• Shizune removed and ground up Pain’s chakra receiver, but Pain later revived, destroyed his holding space, and escaped.
• Uchiha Cheng dreamed of Jiraiya, vowed to master his training and avenge him, then began another day of training with Toad Oil.

Konoha struggled to defend itself against Pain as Tsunade decided to summon Uchiha Cheng from Mount Myōboku. While Cheng continued training with Toad Oil, Kakashi and the other ninja fought multiple Pains, and reinforcements began to reach Kakashi.

• Shikamaru coordinated Konoha’s response as Kakashi, Sakura, and Tsunade helped defend the village and treat its many wounded.
• Tsunade overruled the Elders’ objections and sent for Uchiha Cheng, believing his training could help in the battle.
• Shizune discovered that a substance extracted from Pain’s body could control corpses, and Tsunade suspected an outside controller was directing them from within a limited range.
• Kakashi rescued Iruka but found that Pain’s Rinnegan countered his Sharingan and injured his eye; Sakura treated him while Neji and Sai held the enemy back.
• A second Pain joined the fight against Kakashi, and Choji and Chōza arrived with reinforcements after repairing temporary shelters.
• Uchiha Cheng trained with Toad Oil and asked him about the regrets and pain in his life as Kakashi’s situation on the battlefield eased.

Konoha struggled against Pain as Tsunade learned that Kakashi and Choza had been killed, while Danzo moved to seize the Hokage’s position. Uchiha Cheng finally gained permission to leave Mount Myōboku and return to the village, but discovered that something Jiraiya had given him was missing.

• Pain killed Kakashi and Choza, and Tsunade tore up the report before ordering reinforcements and heading to the battlefield.
• Danzo arranged to stop Uchiha Cheng’s messenger frog from returning and prepared to take the Hokage’s position.
• Inoichi extracted important information from a captured Pain while Ibiki stayed behind to hold off another Pain and help him escape.
• Uchiha Cheng worried that Konoha was in danger, and the Toad Sage gave him permission to return to the village.
• Konohamaru agreed to help evacuate villagers after Moegi warned that they would be no match for Pain.
• While packing to leave, Uchiha Cheng realized that something Jiraiya had given him was missing.

Uchiha Cheng recovered his belongings from Toad Oil and hurried toward Konoha after hearing the village was in danger. As Pain escalated his assault and demanded that Tsunade hand Cheng over, Konohamaru froze in fear before the enemy.

• Toad Oil returned Uchiha Cheng's package and offered to fight alongside him, but Cheng set out for Konoha alone.
• Konohamaru split up from Moegi and their companion to help evacuate villagers, then encountered Pain and was rescued by Konoha shinobi who died protecting him.
• Shizune continued researching Pain's bodies while Tsunade went to the front lines, and Kiba and his mother guarded a recovered corpse from another Pain.
• Uchiha Cheng learned from travelers that Konoha was in trouble and rushed ahead toward the village.
• Yahiko's Pain negotiated with Tsunade, demanding Uchiha Cheng in exchange for sparing Konoha; Tsunade refused, and the negotiations ended.
• Pain gathered above the village to prepare a devastating attack, while Konohamaru remained frozen in fear after seeing fallen shinobi.

Pain destroyed Konoha while demanding that Tsunade surrender Uchiha Cheng, but Uchiha Cheng returned and fought to protect the survivors. As the villagers rallied to rescue the injured, Pain focused his forces on capturing him.

• A Jonin helped Konohamaru escape as Uchiha Cheng hurried toward the village and sent Toad Oil to investigate.
• Sakura discovered a way to address the crisis and sought Tsunade, while Pain and the other Pains gathered in the sky and unleashed a massive attack that reduced Konoha to ruins.
• Pain confronted Tsunade and demanded Uchiha Cheng; Uchiha Cheng arrived and accepted the fight, despite Tsunade's protests.
• Uchiha Cheng attacked Pain, protected Tsunade from the other Pains, and sent Shadow Clones to fight while Tsunade healed the wounded.
• Shikamaru organized the villagers to search for injured people, and Uchiha Cheng denounced Pain as the Pains prepared to capture him.

Uchiha Cheng battled the Pains, using Sage Mode and a massive Wind Release: Rasenshuriken before discovering that the Rinnegan let them absorb attacks and cover one another. With help from Sai, Gamabunta, Lord Jūza, and the village ninja, he defeated several Pains, but the remaining Yahiko-faced Pain trapped him with Banshō Ten'in after his Sage Mode faded.

• Uchiha Cheng gathered the Pains and entered Sage Mode, then launched a giant Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, while the village ninja helped protect the villagers from its blast.
• Shikamaru explained that the Pains' Rinnegan let them see in all directions and protect one another, and Lord Jūza and Gamabunta joined Uchiha Cheng to help counter them.
• Uchiha Cheng and Sai darkened the battlefield with ink, letting Uchiha Cheng exploit the summoning Pain's weakness and remove the black magnetic object controlling him.
• Uchiha Cheng defeated another Pain and removed its control device, leaving only two Pains as his Sage Mode ran out.
• The Yahiko-faced Pain used Banshō Ten'in to immobilize Uchiha Cheng, who accused him of waiting until his Sage techniques were gone.

Uchiha Cheng escaped Pain’s chakra absorption when the absorbing Pain turned into stone, but the Yahiko-form Pain proved far stronger and kept fighting him. After Uchiha Cheng drew the battle away from the village, Pain immobilized him again, and Hinata stepped forward to fight beside him.

• Pain tried to absorb Uchiha Cheng’s chakra while the village’s ninjas attacked to buy him time, but Rock Lee drew the enemy’s attention with taijutsu.
• The chakra-absorbing Pain took in too much Sage Chakra and turned into a toad fossil, freeing Uchiha Cheng and leaving the Yahiko-form Pain as his opponent.
• Uchiha Cheng realized Pain was hesitating because the battle could affect his true body, then attacked with Rasenshuriken as he recovered natural energy.
• The Yahiko-form Pain overpowered Uchiha Cheng, who led him away from the village to limit damage to the villagers.
• Pain immobilized Uchiha Cheng with the black magnetic substance, and Hinata stood in front of him and announced she would fight alongside him.

Hinata risked herself trying to free Uchiha Cheng from Pain’s metal rods, then confessed her love before Pain knocked her unconscious. Enraged by her injuries, Uchiha Cheng awakened the Nine-Tails’ power and lost control, while Yamato waited for a chance to act without helping Pain.

• Hinata repeatedly rose after Pain knocked her down, using her Trigram Complete Art to attack the rods restraining Uchiha Cheng, despite his insistence that she leave.
• Hinata confessed her love to Uchiha Cheng, but Pain lost interest and struck her down so severely that she could no longer get back up.
• Uchiha Cheng became furious at Pain for hurting Hinata and awakened the Nine-Tails’ Chakra.
• The medical ninja carried Hinata away for treatment as Uchiha Cheng’s Nine-Tails Chakra erupted into multiple tails.
• Pain failed to control Uchiha Cheng because only one of the six Pains remained, while Yamato held back from sealing the Nine-Tails and aiding Pain.