Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru battled Sasori’s Iron Sand Shukaku with a series of powerful techniques, then revealed his Wood Release and tried to ensnare the airborne puppet. Sasori escaped the wooden vines by scattering Iron Sand Shukaku and rose above the battlefield, exposing his true appearance.

• Orochimaru used Earth, Water, and Lightning Release attacks against Iron Sand Shukaku, but Sasori countered with a devastating Wind Release that destroyed the Rashomon.
• Four Konoha Ninja raised an Earth Wall to shield the group, while Manda struck Iron Sand Shukaku before returning to Ryūchi Cave.
• Orochimaru used Fire Release and Earth Release attacks to try to trap and melt Iron Sand Shukaku, but Sasori took the puppet into the air and unleashed a Senbon Rain Curtain.
• Orochimaru survived the attack inside a wooden shell, revealing that he could use Wood Release.
• Orochimaru unleashed Wood Release: Forest Creation, but Sasori escaped the vines by scattering Iron Sand Shukaku and flew upward on a sphere of iron sand, revealing his true appearance.

Sasori tested the Puppet Heart’s power against Orochimaru, using a devastating combination of Magnet Release and Lightning Release that overwhelmed Orochimaru’s Wood Release. Orochimaru escaped with his companions, while Sasori left convinced he would win if they met again.

• Orochimaru realized Sasori’s iron-sand sphere was absorbing Nature Energy and watched as Sasori raised the Iron Sand Realm Sea and electrified it with Lightning Release.
• Sasori’s Iron Sand Lightning Realm struck Orochimaru, but Orochimaru survived by using a Wood Clone while hiding his real body inside a tree.
• Sasori unleashed Myriad Realms Falling Lightning, shattering Orochimaru’s Forest Creation with iron-sand lightning.
• Orochimaru emerged from a summoned giant snake and ordered the eight Konoha Ninja to retreat with him.
• Sasori stopped attacking, flew back to his fellow Sand shinobi, and reflected that only the Fourth Hokage might defeat him with certainty.

Orochimaru reflected on the limits of his newly acquired Wood Release and worried about hiding it from Danzo and Hiruzen. After Danzo learned the truth, he demanded Orochimaru be recalled, but Hiruzen refused because Orochimaru was needed to hold back Sasori of the Red Sands on the Land of Rivers front.

• Orochimaru realized his Wood Release was weaker than expected and considered seeking the mysterious Explosion Release ninja's test subject to improve it.
• Orochimaru worried that Danzo would discover his successful Wood Release transplant and cut off his access to Konoha's research projects.
• Danzo learned Orochimaru could use Wood Release, smashed his desk, and confronted Hiruzen at his home.
• Danzo and Hiruzen realized that neither had known about Orochimaru's transplant, and Hiruzen reconsidered Orochimaru as a possible future Hokage.
• Danzo demanded that Hiruzen recall Orochimaru, but Hiruzen refused because Sasori of the Red Sands was too dangerous and Orochimaru was needed at the front.

The Third Hokage and Danzo separately searched for Orochimaru’s secret laboratories and demanded information about his Wood Release Cell transplantation. Orochimaru realized Danzo might target him, while his repeated battles with Sasori ended in a stalemate that made both men famous as Kage-level powers.

• The Third Hokage rejected Danzo’s plan to pursue Wood Release, ordered him to focus on Root’s duties, then wrote to Orochimaru and sent Inoichi to investigate his laboratories.
• Danzo also searched for Orochimaru’s laboratories and secretly sent Root ninja to summon him or retrieve instructions for safely transplanting Wood Release Cells.
• Orochimaru received the Third Hokage’s letter, replied that his transplant method could not be replicated, and worried that Danzo might capture him for experiments.
• Orochimaru fought Sasori six more times over the following month, but neither could defeat the other; Sasori severed Orochimaru’s hands in one battle, while Orochimaru was badly wounded in the chest.
• Their clashes spread their reputations across the Shinobi World, earning Sasori recognition as a Kage-level powerhouse and Orochimaru the title Leader of the Three Sannin, to Jiraiya’s displeasure.

Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone mastered Iron Sand Lightning Realm and assessed Sasori’s weaknesses, while Fire Style Clone—Fugaku developed Amaterasu. The chapter ended with Mikoto calling Fugaku to a jonin meeting summoned by the Hokage.

• Danzo planned to infiltrate Sunagakure or ally with the Fourth Kazekage to find the Wood Release test subject and eliminate Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone demonstrated Iron Sand Lightning Realm and discovered that Sasori’s Puppet Heart was a fatal weakness.
• Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone worried that Orochimaru’s new Wood Release might change his interest in the Sharingan.
• After half a year, Fire Style Clone—Fugaku confirmed that his black Amaterasu flames had burned continuously for a month without Chakra input.
• Mikoto told Fugaku that the Hokage had summoned him to a jonin meeting.

Fugaku and White Fang were summoned to a jonin meeting as Konoha’s war effort reached a crisis. The Third Hokage decided to send newly graduated Academy students to the front, and Tsunade’s attempt to protect them by requiring medical ninja in every squad was rejected.

• Fugaku left for the jonin meeting after realizing the Third Hokage had summoned him because Konoha needed the Uchiha Clan to join the war.
• White Fang successfully created Destructive Lightning, which reduced a kunai to gray powder, then hurried to the meeting after Kakashi relayed the summons.
• The Third Hokage told the assembled jonin that Konoha was near destruction and would promote students who had mastered the Three Jutsu to genin before sending them to the battlefield.
• Tsunade objected to sending inexperienced children to war and offered to go to the front lines herself, but the advisors insisted Konoha had no other choice.
• Tsunade proposed assigning a medical ninja to every squad to reduce casualties, but the Third Hokage rejected the plan as a threat to each team’s combat strength.

The Lightning Style Clone—Konoha White Fang supported Tsunade’s proposal to assign medical ninja to inexperienced genin squads, persuading the Third Hokage to approve it. He was assigned to stabilize the Sunagakure front, while Tsunade followed him afterward and asked him to call her by her name.

• The Lightning Style Clone—Konoha White Fang argued that medical ninja could help inexperienced genin squads survive missions against similarly inexperienced enemies, and the Third Hokage approved assigning one emergency-treatment medic to each squad with members under twelve.
• The Third Hokage assigned the village’s jonin to rotate across the fronts, leaving no more than five in Konoha, and sent the Lightning Style Clone—Konoha White Fang to confront Pakura on the urgent Sunagakure front.
• The Third Hokage gave no battlefield assignment to the Fire Style Clone—Fugaku Uchiha and asked to speak with him privately after the meeting.
• Tsunade chased after the Lightning Style Clone—Konoha White Fang, blushed, and asked him to call her Tsunade rather than Princess Tsunade.
• The Lightning Style Clone—Konoha White Fang asked Tsunade what she needed from him.

The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang won Tsunade’s affection and walked her home while secretly planning to use her to spite the Third Hokage. Meanwhile, the Fire Style Clone—Fugaku discussed the Uchiha deployment list with the Third Hokage and continued plotting Li Yao’s path to power and revenge.

• The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang told Tsunade he wanted to end the war and protect his family, and Tsunade fell for him.
• The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang offered to walk Tsunade home, and she agreed; they grew closer during their walk.
• After leaving Tsunade, the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang celebrated the prospect of using her pregnancy to take revenge on the Third Hokage.
• The Fire Style Clone—Fugaku examined the Third Hokage’s deployment list, which assigned Radical Faction Uchiha clansmen to the war.
• The Fire Style Clone—Fugaku considered how Li Yao could use Tsunade, Orochimaru, the Uchiha Clan, and Izanami to seize the Hokage position and punish Danzo and the Third Hokage.

Fire Style Clone—Fugaku agreed to lead the Uchiha assigned to the Kirigakure front, while the Third Hokage secretly planned to weaken the clan and prevent Mangekyō Sharingan awakenings. At the village gates before the children departed for war, Lightning Style Clone—White Fang embraced Tsunade, leaving the onlookers convinced Jiraiya had lost the woman he loved.

• Fire Style Clone—Fugaku agreed to the Third Hokage's deployment plan and discussed his Kirigakure assignment.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu worried that sending hostile Uchiha into battle could lead to Mangekyō Sharingan awakenings, but the Third Hokage explained how he had arranged to limit that risk and intended to weaken the clan.
• At Konoha's gates, Obito asked whether he and Kakashi might serve alongside Konoha White Fang, while Rin explained why Kakashi would not be assigned to his father's side.
• Tsunade gave Lightning Style Clone—White Fang a scroll of antidotes for Sand ninja poisons, and he embraced her in a secluded corner.
• The gathered crowd saw Tsunade and Lightning Style Clone—White Fang together and lamented that Jiraiya had lost his chance with her, while Kakashi worried that his father's affection for him had been divided.

The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang saw Kakashi, Obito, and Rin leave for the Kumogakure front as the Third Great Ninja War continued. In Iwagakure, Shigan completed Earth Style—Mass Release, demonstrated his immense durability and strength, and prepared to face the Third Raikage and Third Tsuchikage.

• Tsunade blushed and ran off after telling the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang not to die, and he returned to his position amid congratulations from the others.
• The Third Hokage assigned teams and sent them to the fronts, with Kakashi, Obito, and Rin joining Minato Namikaze at the Kumogakure front.
• Kaitō brought breakfast to her junior apprentice brother Shigan while villagers criticized him for staying in his cave instead of fighting in the war.
• A powerful pull from Shigan's cave dragged Kaitō toward a mass of rocks, then Shigan burst out and flew above Iwagakure, triggering alarms with his sonic booms.
• Shigan announced that he had completed Earth Style—Mass Release, which gave his body the imagined mass and density of ten thousand tons.
• Shigan landed beside Kaitō, cracked the mountain ground, and drew the Anbu's respect as he declared he was ready to kill the Third Raikage.

Shigan, the Earth Style Clone, succeeded in developing his new ninjutsu and set out with Kaitō to reinforce Iwagakure’s critical Kumogakure front. Meanwhile, the White Fang, the Lightning Style Clone, joined Orochimaru on the Konoha front, where they planned how to counter Sasori while delaying his defeat.

• Shigan, the Earth Style Clone, revealed that he had successfully cultivated his new ninjutsu, then returned home with Kaitō as villagers angrily confronted him.
• Shigan, the Earth Style Clone, learned from the Advisor Elder that the Third Raikage’s advance made the Kumogakure front Iwagakure’s most critical battle.
• Shigan, the Earth Style Clone, cast the Super Lightweight Rock Technique on Kaitō and flew with her toward the Kumogakure front.
• The White Fang, the Lightning Style Clone, met Orochimaru at Orochimaru’s stronghold, where Orochimaru admitted he had been unable to overcome Sasori.
• The White Fang, the Lightning Style Clone, agreed to watch for Sasori’s true body and help Orochimaru attack, but he intended to keep the front stable rather than defeat Sasori before Obito awakened the Kamui Space Sharingan.

Madara ordered White Zetsu to arrange Obito’s injury and keep him under control, while Sasori went to confront Orochimaru and the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang, whom he believed was Hatake Sakumo. The chapter ended as Orochimaru and the clone approached Sasori, with Orochimaru creating a Wood Clone and burrowing underground.

• Madara told White Zetsu to make Obito gravely wounded, bring him to the base, and personally lurk inside his body without allowing him to fuse too thoroughly with White Zetsu cells.
• The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang sensed Sasori’s squad approaching Orochimaru’s base and prepared to test his Decay Lightning against Sasori’s Iron Sand Lightning Realm.
• After learning Hatake Sakumo had appeared, Sasori set out with a small squad to kill him, while Pakura ordered Sunagakure’s bases to attack and converge on the battle.
• Konoha’s perimeter guards spotted the approaching attack, and Orochimaru ordered the other bases to stay clear of his combat area and watch for a broader Sunagakure offensive.
• Orochimaru and the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang headed out to face Sasori, and Orochimaru created a Wood Clone before burrowing underground.

Orochimaru and Sakumo’s Lightning Style Clone—White Fang confronted Sasori, who had learned of Sakumo’s arrival and targeted him with Iron Sand Lightning Realm. As Sasori gathered iron sand for a far more powerful attack, Sakumo refused Orochimaru’s offer to handle the fight alone.

• Orochimaru sent a Wood Clone to fight Sasori while his real body stayed concealed, and Sasori learned through a sensor that Sakumo was nearby.
• Sasori and Orochimaru’s clones exchanged powerful Wind, Fire, and Water Release jutsu, filling the battlefield with steam.
• Sasori unleashed Iron Sand Lightning Realm at Sakumo, but Sakumo dodged every attack despite the obscured visibility.
• Orochimaru’s Wood Clone used Forest Creation, prompting Sasori to fly out of reach and gather more iron sand for a stronger assault.
• Orochimaru recognized that Sasori had specifically targeted Sakumo and urged him to leave, but Sakumo said he would handle Sasori while Orochimaru protected himself.

Sasori unleashed the Iron Sand Lightning Realm against the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang, but Sakumo erased the enormous attack with his Decay Lightning. Orochimaru was stunned by the technique and wrongly suspected it was a Hatake Clan Kekkei Genkai.

• Orochimaru warned the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang that Sasori's dense Iron Sand Lightning Realm could not be evaded, while his Wood Clone stayed nearby to protect him.
• Sasori used Myriad Thunder Descent to send more than ten thousand lightning bolts down on the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang and Orochimaru's Wood Clone.
• The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang released gray Decay Lightning, which spread through the Iron Sand Lightning Realm and transformed its clouds into gray stone powder.
• Sasori fled upward from the disintegrating clouds as his Sand companions watched in shock, while Orochimaru gaped at the power of the technique.
• The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang identified Decay Lightning as a secret technique he had developed, and Orochimaru wondered whether it came from the Hatake Clan's bloodline.

The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang defeated Sasori with Decay Lightning, and Konoha began celebrating the victory as Sand shinobi attacked its strongholds. At a northern stronghold, Pakura's elite squad launched a frontal assault, wounding Nara Usei as Konoha's defenders tried to hold them back.

• The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang destroyed Sasori's Puppet Heart with Decay Lightning, forcing Sasori to flee.
• Orochimaru asked whether they should pursue Sasori, but the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang declined and set out to support nearby strongholds.
• Konoha's defenders learned that Sasori had been driven away and celebrated the victory.
• Pakura led her ten-person elite squad in a frontal attack on an important northern Konoha stronghold.
• Nara Usei was struck by Pakura's heat ray and lost his lower leg, while Aburame Shikuroo and Nishiyama helped him.

Konoha’s attempt to develop heat-resistant insects to counter Pakura’s Scorch Release failed, leaving Hyuga Doukou’s outpost to delay her until reinforcements arrived. As Pakura attacked, she evaded the Nara Clan’s Shadow Imitation Jutsu and revealed a sudden increase in speed, killing a Konoha ninja.

• Aburame Shikuroo reported that Pakura’s Scorch Release had killed every heat-resistant insect before they could adapt.
• Hyuga Doukou ordered Nishiyama to take the wounded Nara Usei to the rear and seek reinforcements.
• Pakura led ten Sunagakure ninja through the outpost’s Earth Wall Formation as Nara Shimada tried to trap her with Shadow Imitation Jutsu.
• Pakura used a fireball to erase her shadow, then cut through Hyuga Doukou’s Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm with her heat blades.
• Pakura’s sudden burst of speed let her cut a Konoha special jonin in half, and Hyuga Doukou realized she had grown faster since their previous battle.

Pakura was trapped by Konoha ninja who combined a venomous insect swarm with Nara Shimada's Shadow Imitation Jutsu. As her enemies closed in, she activated her newly developed Scorch Release: Red Heat Mode.

• Aburame Shikuroo released venomous insects while Hyuga Doukou and the other Konoha ninja charged Pakura.
• Pakura killed or wounded several attackers with her heat blades, then used Scorch Release: Thermal Pressure to blind and burn the rest.
• Nara Shimada connected the Konoha ninja's shadows and immobilized Pakura as Hyuga Doukou and six others lunged to restrain her.
• Aburame Shikuroo's insects covered Pakura's legs, but Pakura activated Scorch Release: Red Heat Mode and radiated terrifying heat.

Pakura used Scorch Release: Red Heat Mode to kill the Konoha ninjas at the outpost and pursue the two who had escaped. After discovering the mode’s five-minute limit, she returned confident that she could now fight Kage-level opponents.

• Pakura activated Red Heat Mode and killed Aburame Shikuroo, Nara Shimada, and the other Konoha ninjas surrounding her.
• Pakura told the Sand ninja to wait, then chased Nishiyama and Nara Usei through the forest without changing clothes.
• Pakura caught and killed Nishiyama and Nara Usei, using Thermal Perception to track them.
• Pakura realized Red Heat Mode could damage her body if maintained for longer than five minutes, but felt ready to fight Kage-level opponents.

After receiving word that Sasori had lost to the Konoha White Fang, Pakura abandoned her attack on Konoha’s outpost and returned toward Sunagakure. Her Sand Ninja regained confidence in her strength and began looking forward to a fight between her and the White Fang.

• Pakura returned to her group after developing Red Heat Mode and ordered six Sand Ninja to continue toward Konoha’s outpost while two escorted the wounded back.
• A Messenger Hawk delivered a message reporting that Sasori had lost to the Konoha White Fang and escaped.
• Pakura reasoned that Sasori must have faced an attack capable of reaching him even in the air, and she eagerly wanted to test herself against the White Fang.
• Pakura turned back toward Sunagakure’s outpost, and her subordinates followed after reading the message.
• The Sand Ninja worried that Sasori’s defeat had shifted the war’s advantage to Konoha, but they regained confidence in Pakura’s speed and Scorch Release and anticipated her facing the White Fang.

Pakura and her Sand ninja group encountered the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang, who had intercepted them after defeating Sasori. Pakura faced him alone while her companions withdrew, and the chapter ended with her discovering some were still hiding nearby as she prepared to fight.

• A veteran Sand ninja recognized the white-haired man as the Konoha White Fang, and Pakura realized Sasori had been defeated faster than expected.
• The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang released his Chakra and identified Pakura, overwhelming the other Sand ninja with his presence.
• Pakura ordered her companions to retreat while she held off the White Fang; six went for reinforcements and four stayed nearby to assist.
• Pakura attacked with Scorch Release—Piercing Flash, but the White Fang dodged her rays with ease.
• Pakura activated Red Heat Mode and detected companions hiding in the forest, realizing their presence could obstruct her escape.