Chapter Summaries

Li Yao agreed to help Black Zetsu resurrect Kaguya Otsutsuki, then restored his four clones and left with Little Yezi and the Tsunades. Meanwhile, Pakura’s Sand Ninja comrades searched the ruins after a Wood Human attack and found her emerging from molten earth.

• Black Zetsu panicked when Li Yao revealed that he knew Kaguya Otsutsuki’s name, but Li Yao promised to help with her resurrection.
• Li Yao explained that he would let Black Zetsu proceed with his plans while he prepared to grow stronger and face the Otsutsuki Clan.
• Li Yao released his four sealed Shadow Clones, who reclaimed their bodies and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to their villages.
• Li Yao flew away with Little Yezi and the two Tsunades, while Little Yezi sought his attention aboard the Ink Great Bird.
• A Wood Human devastated a forested plain in the Land of Rivers, burying Pakura and several Sand Ninja beneath the ruins.
• The Sand Ninja searched for Pakura and found her emerging from the rubble as the surrounding earth and rocks melted into lava.

Pakura held off Orochimaru’s Wood Golem Technique while the Sand Ninja retreated, but her dwindling Chakra left her unable to defeat him. Watching from afar, Li Yao sent a Shadow Clone to help her fight.

• Orochimaru advanced on Pakura and six Sand Ninja with his Wood Style Giant, confident that his Wood Release and Chakra reserves gave him the advantage.
• Pakura ordered the six Sand Ninja to retreat and protect as many people as they could while she faced Orochimaru alone.
• The six Sand Ninja obeyed Pakura and withdrew, leaving her to hold Orochimaru back.
• Li Yao observed that Pakura had advanced her Scorching Style High Temperature to affect the matter around her, but that her Chakra reserves still limited her.
• Li Yao created a Shadow Clone and sent it to help Pakura fight Orochimaru.

Li Yao reassured Little Yezi that he would never abandon her while Pakura fought Orochimaru alone. Facing capture, Pakura unleashed a catastrophic version of Scorching Style High Temperature, and Li Yao's Shadow Clone appeared before her as she reached an irreversible state.

• Li Yao told Little Yezi that Pakura was famous and promised he would never abandon her.
• Pakura cursed Li Yao's Wind Style Clone while dodging Orochimaru's attacks and resisting his attempts to capture her.
• Rather than let Orochimaru take her alive, Pakura drove her Scorching Style High Temperature inward until her body became a searing source of heat.
• Pakura's heat vaporized the surrounding area and burned Orochimaru, who escaped using the Great Snake Substitute Technique.
• Li Yao's Shadow Clone arrived, recognized Pakura's power, and transformed into a Wind Style Clone before her.

Li Yao Shadow Clone saved Pakura from her self-destructive Scorch Release technique, then teased her after she recovered and found herself naked. Pakura attacked him and revealed her Kekkei Tōta-level Scorch Release, which Li Yao immediately copied.

• Li Yao Shadow Clone used Six Paths Yang Power to stop Pakura's high-temperature particles from exploding and carried her to nearby open ground.
• Pakura realized she had survived and recovered, but her clothes had been destroyed, so Li Yao Shadow Clone gave her clothes from Tsunade.
• Pakura dressed and kicked at Li Yao Shadow Clone, who blocked her attack with a hand as hot as her own Scorch Release.
• Pakura unleashed Scorch Release—Domain Expansion, turning matter within a hundred meters into heat sources while keeping it intact.
• Li Yao Shadow Clone copied Pakura's Kekkei Tōta-level Scorch Release Chakra and entered a high-temperature state.

Li Yao gave Pakura a Puppet Heart Seal so she could replenish her Chakra, then left her to continue the war. In Sunagakure, Yōi was imprisoned by guards plotting against her and Pakura, until an unfamiliar arrival interrupted them.

• Li Yao inscribed a Puppet Heart Seal on Pakura, allowing her to replenish her Chakra, and Pakura resolved to use her Scorch Release against Orochimaru.
• Li Yao Shadow Clone vanished, and Pakura returned to the battle, blaming Orochimaru for her humiliation.
• In Sunagakure, two guards kept Yōi trapped in a sealed house on the Council of Elders' orders and revealed that they expected Pakura not to return.
• Guard B boasted that he would claim Yōi and fantasized about doing so in front of the Fourth Kazekage, then realized a familiar voice had spoken behind him.

Li Yao's Wind Style Clone returned to Sunagakure, freed Yōi, and learned that the three great families were pushing to elect a Fifth Kazekage. As the village leaders watched two identical colossal creatures fight in the desert, Li Yao and Yōi remained hidden nearby.

• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone used genjutsu to make two guard ninjas walk toward their homes against their will.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone reunited with Yōi, removed the seal in her body, and assured her that Pakura was safe.
• Yōi explained that the three great families had discovered the Fourth Kazekage's disappearance, confined her, and were trying to elect a successor.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone took Yōi to the village wall, where Elder Chiyo, Ebizo, and the families' supporters watched a battle in the distance.
• Two identical colossal creatures fought in the desert, and each began gathering a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Li Yao's Wind Style Clone watched Sasori battle Shukaku while keeping Yōi in a special space, and heard Granny Chiyo accuse him of arranging the attack that weakened the great clans. He decided to defeat Sasori and crush Chiyo's confidence, leaving his return to the fight imminent.

• Sasori's Shukaku puppet clashed with the real Shukaku, while Li Yao's Wind Style Clone protected Yōi inside a special space and waited to see what Sasori would do.
• Yōi worried that Sasori might gain support and threaten her husband's control of Sunagakure, but Li Yao's Wind Style Clone told her not to rush.
• Ebizo asked Granny Chiyo whether they should support Sasori as Fifth Kazekage, and she insisted the Fourth had colluded with enemies and targeted the great clans in the earlier attack.
• Granny Chiyo argued that the Fourth had faked a battle breakthrough and said Sasori's strength made her confident he could challenge him.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone overheard them and decided to defeat Sasori himself and gradually torment Granny Chiyo and the others.

Sasori suppressed Shukaku with the Iron Sand Lightning Realm, winning support as a candidate for Fifth Kazekage, but he could not seal Shukaku while maintaining control. The Sealing Teapot’s flaw, created by Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone, made sealing Shukaku far harder, and Chiyo insisted Sasori prove himself by doing it alone.

• Sasori covered the desert with the Iron Sand Lightning Realm, paralyzed Shukaku, and bound him tightly enough to stop him from using a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Granny Chiyo and the assembled ninja praised Sasori’s strength, and many supported him becoming the Fifth Kazekage.
• The crowd noticed Sasori had not sealed Shukaku, and Granny Chiyo realized he had no attention to spare for operating the Sealing Teapot.
• Granny Chiyo blamed Fūgyō for modifying the Sealing Teapot’s formula, which made sealing Shukaku from outside the teapot much more difficult.
• Although Granny Chiyo could have taken over the teapot, she urged Sasori to seal Shukaku alone so he could prove he was no weaker than the Fourth Kazekage.

Sasori struggled to seal Shukaku while Granny Chiyo and the three major clans watched, hoping he would become the Fifth Kazekage. Li Yao's Wind Style Clone revealed that Mechanical Ascension gave Sasori unlimited Chakra but not the mental will needed to produce enough instantaneous power to seal Shukaku.

• Granny Chiyo and the three major clans expected Sasori to seal Shukaku alone and prove himself worthy of becoming the Fifth Kazekage.
• Sasori reflected that the Fourth Kazekage was far stronger than Shukaku and resolved not to become Kazekage, planning instead to wait for Li Yao's Wind Style Clone to return.
• Sasori focused on suppressing Shukaku while using the sealing teapot, but the Sealing Jutsu Formula barely affected the beast.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone observed Sasori's strained appearance and explained that his puppet body only simulated physical exertion.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone concluded that Mechanical Ascension's unlimited Chakra provided endurance, but Sasori's limited mental will prevented him from generating enough instantaneous power to seal Shukaku.

Sasori realized that his soul and will limited how much Chakra he could control, but he found a new purpose in strengthening them to pursue an endless art. He refused to keep fighting Shukaku and asked Chiyo to seal him, while Chiyo insisted Sasori prove he could do it alone before becoming Fifth Kazekage.

• Sasori realized he could not control enough Chakra to seal Shukaku, and Li Yao decided to spare him so he could research ways to strengthen the soul.
• Sasori concluded that eternity meant endlessly breaking through limits and resolved to strengthen his soul and will.
• Sasori released Shukaku, then bound him again and offered to let him go if he stopped attacking Sunagakure.
• Shukaku refused to spare humans, so Sasori sent a Bird Puppet to ask Chiyo to seal him.
• Chiyo told Sasori he had to seal Shukaku alone to become Fifth Kazekage without provoking opposition or civil conflict.

Sasori rejected Chiyo’s plan to make him Kazekage and revealed he had known Li Yao's Wind Style Clone was behind the attacks on Sunagakure’s clans. Chiyo then disclosed that she had imprisoned Yōi to force a rift between Sasori and Li Yao's Wind Style Clone, while Li Yao's Wind Style Clone watched from hiding and assessed her scheme.

• Sasori's Bird Puppet refused to become Kazekage and insisted that the Fourth Kazekage was the only one.
• Sasori revealed that he had known Li Yao's Wind Style Clone was involved in the attacks that killed the Third Kazekage and weakened the Three Great Clans.
• Chiyo and Ebizo were shocked when Sasori confirmed he had understood the truth from the beginning.
• Chiyo disclosed that she had imprisoned Yōi and planned to use her capture to set Sasori against Li Yao's Wind Style Clone.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone recognized Chiyo's scheme but concluded that her plans could not overcome absolute strength and that she had misjudged Sasori.

Li Yao's Wind Style Clone appeared during the Sunagakure coup, rescued the Fourth Kazekage's wife, and ended the rebellion without punishing the conspirators. Chiyo and Ebizo withdrew from public life, while Sasori returned to researching how to overcome the limits of Mechanical Ascension.

• Sasori released Shukaku and let him flee toward Sunagakure, then prepared to suppress Chiyo and her allies.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone appeared beside Chiyo, immobilized her, and caused Ebizo's barrier to collapse.
• Sasori abandoned his pursuit of Shukaku, apologized to Li Yao's Wind Style Clone for failing to protect Madam, and received his praise.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone ordered the gathered ninja to disperse and called for an elders' council, quelling the coup without killing or punishing its supporters.
• Li Yao's Wind Style Clone encouraged Sasori to focus on his eternal art, and Sasori left to continue his research.
• Shukaku returned to Sunagakure with Li Yao's Shadow Clone on his head, while Chiyo told Ebizo they should withdraw from the world.

Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone secured the elders’ submission and announced plans to end the war and develop Sunagakure. After the elders resisted his orders to take over the Land of Wind’s mines, he used Kotoamatsukami to make them stop opposing him.

• Ebizo and Chiyo recognized how helpless they were against Li Yao’s power, while Shukaku entered his sealed teapot and Yōi eagerly took the miniature Tailed Beast into her arms.
• Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone told the gathered elders he would not pursue their past actions, and Chiyo and Ebizo resigned from village affairs.
• Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone announced that he would go to the Land of Earth, Pakura would handle Konoha, and Sunagakure would end the war within a month.
• The elders yielded to Li Yao’s orders to end the war, but they objected when he told them to take over all the mines in the Land of Wind, including those owned by the Feudal Lord’s Mansion.
• Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone used Kotoamatsukami on the elders, ending their opposition.

Li Yao’s clones secured Chiyo’s promise to hand over Living Corpse Reincarnation and used Kotoamatsukami to settle resistance in Iwagakure. After his Lightning Style Clone returned to Konoha’s front, Li Yao placed Orochimaru under Kotoamatsukami and wondered whether he would retain his drive to research ninjutsu.

• Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone asked Chiyo to deliver Living Corpse Reincarnation when she finished developing it, and she agreed under Kotoamatsukami.
• Li Yao’s Wind Style Clone gave two guard ninjas’ relatives the transformed men as little dogs and instructed them to feed the dogs only waste.
• Shigan used Kotoamatsukami to persuade Iwagakure’s opponents to his plan to seize mineral resources from the Feudal Lord’s Mansion.
• Tsunade learned that White Fang had returned and rushed to Konoha’s headquarters to find him.
• Orochimaru questioned White Fang about his month-long disappearance, and Li Yao used Kotoamatsukami to make Orochimaru address him as Master.

The Lightning Style Clone—White Fang reunited with Tsunade, whose feelings for him became clear, while Li Yao considered how to torment Hiruzen Sarutobi after reaching Konoha. Hiruzen, fearing White Fang would replace him as Hokage, ordered the war intensified and planned to bring White Fang back to the village.

• Tsunade rushed to embrace the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang after he emerged from Orochimaru's commander's tent, and he returned her affection.
• Li Yao watched Tsunade and the Lightning Style Clone—White Fang from above, then continued toward Konoha with the two Tsunades and Little Yezi.
• Three days later, Li Yao arrived above Konoha and considered what Hiruzen Sarutobi cared about and feared most as he planned to torment him.
• Hiruzen read reports about White Fang's return and relationship with Tsunade, and feared White Fang would become the next Hokage.
• Hiruzen ordered Orochimaru to send White Fang back to the village and invade the Land of Wind, while directing the other fronts to launch all-out attacks to prolong the war.

The Third Hokage worried that Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, making the Uchiha Clan a threat to his authority. He resolved to find a way to recall the clan from the battlefield, though he had no convincing pretext.

• The Third Hokage ordered Anbu to keep searching for Fugaku Uchiha and White Fang, who had disappeared and returned around the same time.
• The Third Hokage learned that Fugaku Uchiha's black flames were Amaterasu and concluded that Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• The Third Hokage reviewed Shisui Uchiha's report and suspected the ten-year-old had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after wiping out a Kirigakure battalion.
• The Third Hokage decided the Uchiha Clan could not remain on the battlefield and considered how to summon its forces back without provoking upheaval.
• The Third Hokage wished Konoha would be attacked by mysterious Explosion Release shinobi so he could claim the Uchiha were needed to defend the village.

Li Yao infiltrated the Hokage’s office, immobilized Third Hokage, and confronted him about his fear of the Uchiha Clan and his role in Li Yao’s past. He took Third Hokage to the secret torture chamber and began recreating the torment Li Yao had once endured, while a Shadow Clone transformed into Third Hokage.

• Li Yao entered the Hokage’s office, revealed that he had already subdued the Anbu, and read the intelligence reports on the Uchiha Clan.
• Third Hokage recognized Li Yao, tried to summon Enma, then shouted for help but remained trapped by Li Yao’s technique and barrier.
• Li Yao questioned whether Third Hokage feared the Uchiha Clan or losing his Hokage seat, then threatened to make him suffer without being able to die.
• Li Yao brought Third Hokage to the underground torture chamber where he had once been tortured, and Anbu delivered a box of torture tools without noticing Li Yao.
• Third Hokage hoped Biwako would notice his absence and have Enma rescue him, while Li Yao created a Shadow Clone that transformed into Third Hokage.

Li Yao used a Shadow Clone that copied the Third Hokage’s appearance and memories, then restrained the real Hokage and tortured him with amplified pain. The chapter ended with Li Yao washing the Third Hokage with a burst of cold water, jolting him awake.

• Li Yao’s Shadow Clone transformed into the Third Hokage, and Li Yao read the Hokage’s memories with the Rinnegan to make the impersonation convincing.
• Li Yao restored the Third Hokage’s injured soul, then forced him onto a bed, bound him, and sealed his Chakra.
• Li Yao amplified the Third Hokage’s senses and pierced his fingers with needles while asking him to subtract seven from one thousand.
• The Third Hokage screamed and repeatedly answered Li Yao’s arithmetic questions as Li Yao pierced each of his fingers.
• After the Third Hokage wet himself, Li Yao washed him with a Water Release Jutsu, and the cold water jolted him awake.

Li Yao continued torturing the Third Hokage by stitching him up, then captured Biwako when she arrived. He transported the couple to their bedroom, where they realized he was the mysterious Explosion Release ninja and understood how difficult he would be to defeat.

• Li Yao stitched up the bound Third Hokage while making him answer subtraction questions.
• Li Yao's Shadow Clone disguised as the Third Hokage brought Biwako to Li Yao, who sealed her Chakra and restrained her.
• Biwako recognized Li Yao and demanded to know how he had survived Ōnoki's Dust Release.
• Li Yao healed the Third Hokage's wound and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring him and Biwako to their bedroom.
• The Third Hokage and Biwako realized Li Yao was the mysterious Explosion Release ninja who had taken the Scroll of Seals, and considered Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha their only possible opponents.

Li Yao tortured Biwako in front of the Third Hokage, forcing Hiruzen Sarutobi to relive the helplessness Li Yao had suffered. The chapter ended with Sarutobi Tenchu entering the room and seeing what was happening.

• Li Yao controlled Biwako and whipped her while the Third Hokage watched helplessly and begged him to stop.
• Li Yao reminded Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had once tortured Ayase Sarutobi in front of Sarutobi Tenchu, and demanded that Hiruzen recount his past actions.
• Li Yao continued torturing Biwako, waking her whenever she fainted, while Hiruzen shifted from begging to threatening revenge.
• Hiruzen realized that Li Yao had been responsible for Emi's pregnancy and regretted failing to confirm that Li Yao had survived.
• A knock came at the door, and Sarutobi Tenchu entered after Li Yao invited him in, then froze at the sight before him.