Chapter Summaries

As the Kage Summit approached, Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Asuma’s proposal to cooperate with Orochimaru, but Asuma secretly agreed to join Orochimaru’s plot against the Uchiha. Meanwhile, Naoto warned Uchiha Kazuna that a surge of missions was drawing Konohagakure’s shinobi away, and Kazuna left the village’s plans unchanged as the danger grew.

• Kazuna left preparations for the Kage Summit to his subordinates as Konohagakure grew tense and shinobi returned to the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused Asuma’s request to cooperate with Orochimaru and said they should wait for Danzo to act after Orochimaru and the Uchiha weakened each other.
• Asuma secretly met Orochimaru and agreed to cooperate, expecting Sarutobi shinobi to force Hiruzen to join them later.
• Naoto warned Kazuna that a discreet increase in missions had drawn dozens of Jonin and many other shinobi out of Konohagakure.
• Kazuna kept the village’s current plans in place, and Naoto chose to trust him and carry on with his duties.

As the Five Kage gathered in Konoha for the Chunin Exams and summit, Kazuna prepared for the possibility of an attack while keeping his plans secret. Naruto defeated Neji, and the Kage agreed to continue the exams with Sasuke and Gaara’s match next, as hostile forces assembled outside the village.

• The Five Kage admired Konoha’s prosperity and Kazuna’s leadership while Rasa questioned whether hosting them together showed boldness or confidence.
• Kazuna reassured his women and Naoto that he had prepared for the summit, despite many Konoha ninja being away on missions and Shisui being sent to protect Yasakana Magatama.
• Naruto and Sasuke worried that the summit could turn violent as the Five Kage took their seats, while Shikamaru watched them in silence.
• Hostile figures gathered outside Konoha and eagerly anticipated attacking the village as the Chunin Exams began.
• Naruto defeated Neji without using the Nine-Tails’ power, prompting Kazuna to question whether the exams should continue.
• Mei Terumi pressed for the exams to go on, and Rasa revealed that Gaara was Sunagakure’s Jinchuriki before Kazuna agreed to continue.

Sasuke and Gaara’s match escalated into a fierce battle, but a genjutsu attack interrupted the Kage Summit and revealed a conspiracy against Konohagakure. As Orochimaru appeared behind Kazuna, Shikamaru and Ino-Shika-Cho turned against Naruto and Shino, declaring that they meant to set Konohagakure right.

• Sasuke and Gaara fought at full strength, and Gaara used his vast sand and One-Tails power to trap Sasuke and counter his Chidori.
• Kazuna noticed snowflakes from a genjutsu, accused the other Kage, and then heard Orochimaru claim responsibility as he appeared behind him with a Kunai.
• A genjutsu put most spectators to sleep, forcing Konoha Ninja to protect the nobles while Naruto and other Genin broke free.
• Shikamaru bound Naruto with his shadow technique and said the Nara clan was trying to set Konohagakure right by opposing Kazuna.
• Shikamaru ordered Ino and Choji to fight Shino, while Sakura confronted Ino and challenged her to settle their unfinished match.

Shikamaru and Asuma led a rebellion against Uchiha Kazuna’s rule, targeting Naruto and sparking a battle across Konohagakure. As the fighting spread, Rasa appeared behind Kazuna with a kunai at his throat, while Temari and Kankuro and the gathered foreign forces watched without knowing whom to support.

• Shikamaru ordered Ino to take control of Shino, then redirected her to Naruto; the attempt failed when the tailed beast inside Naruto overwhelmed her and broke free of its restraints.
• Naruto charged Shikamaru, but Choji struck him with a Human Bullet Tank; Kiba, Neji, and Sasuke arrived as a Nara ninja accused Shikamaru and Ino-Shika-Cho of treason.
• Kakashi and Might Guy confronted Shikamaru, Asuma, the Hyuga Main Family led by Hyuga Hiashi, and more than a thousand allied ninja; Asuma’s forces demanded Naruto, and Kakashi fought him when he refused.
• The Sarutobi-led rebels began their operation to seize Naruto and provoke the Nine-Tails, while Kakashi struggled to understand why the Hyuga Clan and the rest of Konohagakure were acting as they were.
• Temari and Kankuro watched the conflict from the stands as Rasa appeared behind Uchiha Kazuna and pressed a kunai to his throat; foreign ninja and samurai continued watching without intervening.

Orochimaru and the other villages launched a coordinated attack on Konohagakure, but Kazuna revealed that he had anticipated their betrayal and infiltration. As Konoha’s forces fought back across the village, Kazuna confronted the enemy Kage and explained that their elaborate plan had played into his hands.

• Orochimaru took Kazuna hostage and tried to escape with him, but Kazuna broke free with Susanoo and slammed Orochimaru into the ground.
• The Raikage, Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and Mifune openly joined Orochimaru against Kazuna, and Mei Terumi attacked after Kazuna mocked her age.
• Orochimaru revealed that allied forces were attacking Konoha throughout the village, and Tsunade, Itachi, Yashiro Uchiha, and Fugaku led Konoha fighters against them.
• Kazuna told the enemy leaders that he had anticipated the infiltration, the border deployment, the nobles’ arrival, and the betrayals by Rasa, Asuma Sarutobi, the Hyuga, and Ino-Shika-Cho.

Orochimaru and the allied Kage launched their attack on Konohagakure, but Kazuna revealed the village had far more forces than they expected. Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju with Impure World Reincarnation, and Kazuna told them that the enemies planned to destroy Konohagakure.

• Orochimaru admitted that his forces had killed Rasa, then sent giant Ryūchi Cave snakes to attack Konohagakure.
• Jiraiya summoned a giant toad to fight the snakes while Pakura battled Kimimaro, and Kazuna revealed that more than five thousand Konohagakure shinobi remained ready to fight.
• Yazo held off the Kage's guards, but Orochimaru trapped Kazuna's group inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, who recognized that they were in Konohagakure.
• Kazuna jokingly claimed to be Madara Uchiha before identifying himself as Uchiha Kazuna and explaining that Orochimaru and the allied Kage meant to destroy the village.

Orochimaru explained how Uchiha Kazuna became Hokage and revealed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had been overthrown before unleashing Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju against him. Kazuna fought the revived Hokage, summoned the Slug to free himself, and prepared to face Orochimaru and the other Kage as they joined the battle.

• Orochimaru gave Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju one minute to talk, then revealed that Kazuna was the Fifth Hokage and had overthrown Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Orochimaru said Kazuna admired Tobirama Senju, but Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju warned Kazuna to fight them without holding back before Orochimaru took control of their bodies.
• Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju attacked Kazuna, who countered with taijutsu and ninjutsu as they used Water Release and Wood Style against him.
• Kazuna summoned the Slug while trapped in Hashirama Senju's trees, and the Slug melted the restraints and returned Kazuna's Kusanagi Sword.
• Kazuna challenged Orochimaru, who drew his own Kusanagi Sword and told the Raikage and the other Kage to help him.

Kazuna and Konohagakure’s forces overwhelmed the invading armies, while Kazuna crushed Orochimaru and the resurrected Senju brothers. As the Kage launched a coordinated assault on Kazuna, a mysterious attacker pierced him with a huge blade of sword light.

• Ōnoki, the Raikage, the Mizukage, and Mifune raised a Barrier that weakened Kazuna, but he still tore Hashirama Senju’s arms off and beat Orochimaru and Tobirama Senju.
• Kazuna revealed that Konohagakure’s forces were winning battles across the village, while Fugaku used Susanoo to rout Sunagakure’s troops and corner Grandma Chiyo.
• Kazuna taunted the Kage over their failed invasion and grabbed the battered Orochimaru as the Raikage, Mei Terumi, and Ōnoki prepared to attack.
• Ōnoki fired Dust Release at Kazuna, but Kazuna dodged and Orochimaru survived the blast with half his body destroyed.
• The Raikage struck Kazuna with Liger Bomb as Mei Terumi attacked with Lava Style, cracking Kazuna’s skeletal armor before an unknown attacker pierced him with a blade of sword light.

Uchiha Kazuna used his Mangekyo and Totsuka Blade to overwhelm the Kage-level force attacking him, sealing Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju before turning on the remaining fighters. As Ōnoki urged a retreat and Orochimaru prepared an escape plan, Mei Terumi suddenly stabbed Orochimaru with an ice sword.

• Kazuna blocked Mifune's Iaido Slash, knocked him into the ground, and revealed his crimson Susanoo against the assembled Kage-level fighters.
• Kazuna pierced Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju with the Totsuka Blade, then sealed them after discussing Konohagakure and Nawaki's death.
• Kazuna countered Orochimaru's snakes and the Raikage's, Ōnoki's, and Mifune's attacks, defeating Mifune again and taunting the remaining fighters.
• Ōnoki proposed withdrawing and ordered Orochimaru to summon Impure World Reincarnation fighters to help them escape.
• Mei Terumi stabbed Orochimaru through the body with a longsword made of ice as he began to answer Ōnoki.

Mei Terumi revealed that Kirigakure had sided with Konohagakure from the start, exposing the Raikage and Ōnoki’s plans as Kazuna fought to stop their retreat. The enemy escaped after a devastating attack nearly struck Kazuna, who suspected Hiruzen Sarutobi had launched it and vowed to retaliate.

• Mei Terumi revealed that Kirigakure had secretly supported Konohagakure and misled the Raikage and Ōnoki about its forces and plans.
• Kazuna and Mei Terumi fought the Raikage, Ōnoki, and Orochimaru, but the leaders used Impure World Reincarnation and coordinated attacks to cover their retreat.
• Kazuna pursued the fleeing group while Mei Terumi and the arriving Konohagakure reinforcements confronted them.
• A powerful attack shattered Kazuna’s Susanoo and engulfed him, but he reappeared unharmed as the enemy escaped.
• Kazuna recognized the attack’s fusion of five attributes and suspected Hiruzen Sarutobi, then vowed to repay him.

After Konohagakure defeated the invading forces, Kazuna organized the village’s response and prepared a counterattack at the borders. With Rasa dead and Sunagakure weakened, he sent Pakura to help Gaara take control, while Kumogakure faced a renewed war against Konohagakure and Kirigakure.

• Hyuga Hiashi revealed that he had been Hokage-sama’s informant and ordered that captured Hyuga Main Family members be spared so they could receive the Caged Bird Seal.
• Yazo reported her captures, including Kurotsuchi and the Kazekage’s children, and told Kazuna that Gaara had gone to Sunagakure’s border to confront its army.
• Pakura arrived and reported that Kimimaro had escaped; Kazuna then directed her to assist Gaara in leading Sunagakure after Rasa’s death.
• Kazuna praised Jiraiya’s role in the battle, assigned the village’s leaders to security and medical work, and ordered the border forces to attack.
• Konohagakure publicly accused the other villages of using the Chunin Exams and Kage Summit to cover their invasion, and Kirigakure joined Konohagakure in a renewed attack on Kumogakure.

Kazuna assigned Konoha forces to the Iwagakure border, Kumogakure front, and Land of Iron while Sunagakure descended into turmoil after Kakuzu’s campaign of sabotage. Pakura and Gaara exposed Ebizo and Chiyo’s alleged plot against Rasa, but Ebizo accused the elders of sharing responsibility for the attack on Konohagakure.

• Kazuna ordered Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Might Guy to command seven thousand shinobi at the Iwagakure border, sent Fugaku, Shisui, and Itachi with the Three-Tails and thirty Uchiha Jonin to aid the attack on Kumogakure, and dispatched Zongyi to the Land of Iron.
• Kakuzu’s withdrawal and covert campaign stirred protests, assassinations, and shortages in Sunagakure, leaving Ebizo unable to control the growing crisis.
• Baki called for an explanation of Sunagakure’s sudden break with Konohagakure, and Ebizo accused the elders of betraying the village.
• Pakura and Gaara entered the council and accused Ebizo and Chiyo of plotting with Orochimaru to kill Rasa and impersonate him.
• Gaara said he had witnessed Orochimaru admit to killing Rasa, while Pakura revealed that the forty-three Jonin who followed Chiyo into battle had died and Chiyo alone had escaped.
• An elder blamed Ebizo for the disaster, but Ebizo retorted that the other elders had also agreed to attack Konohagakure.

After Rasa’s death, Gaara became Sunagakure’s Fifth Kazekage and committed the village’s forces to fighting Iwagakure alongside Konohagakure. As the war intensified, Orochimaru offered Ōnoki his Impure World Reincarnation army, while Nagato openly opposed Obito’s plans and agreed to pursue the Eight-Tails.

• Pakura rejected the Kazekage position and declared that the Hokage had ordered Gaara to succeed Rasa, silencing the elders’ objections.
• Sunagakure announced Gaara as Fifth Kazekage, restored its trade with Konohagakure, and deployed Eight Thousand Ninja to attack Iwagakure under Gaara’s command.
• Ōnoki learned that Konohagakure had also pinned down the Land of Iron and that Kirigakure was reinforcing the attack on Kumogakure, leaving Iwagakure under pressure.
• Orochimaru appeared before Ōnoki and offered his prepared Impure World Reincarnation army to help fight Uchiha Kazuna’s forces.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to repel Obito, refused to let him target Uchiha Kazuna, and told him to capture the Eight-Tails while Nagato pursued its whereabouts.

Obito and Black Zetsu prepared to capture the Eight-Tails while worrying that Kazuna might know their secrets. As the war spread, Kazuna confronted Hiruzen and Danzo at the Sarutobi Compound, took Konohamaru, and faced Naruto, who had come to stop him.

• Obito agreed to capture the Eight-Tails, while he and Black Zetsu feared Kazuna had discovered their secrets.
• Kirigakure and Sunagakure joined Konohagakure in the war against Kumogakure and Iwagakure, while Kazuna went to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Kazuna found Hiruzen and Danzo’s Shadow Clones at the Sarutobi Compound, learned their real bodies had fled, and threatened to hunt them as Rogue Ninja.
• Kazuna entered the compound, took Konohamaru, and said he would use him in an experiment involving Senju and Uchiha powers.
• Naruto arrived to defend Konohamaru, and Kazuna ordered him to leave as Hokage while Danzo prepared to respond.

Kazuna confronted Danzo and Hiruzen over the Uchiha Clan’s abuses and accused Hiruzen of causing Minato’s death, while Naruto protected Konohamaru. Kazuna spared Konohamaru but vowed to target members of the Sarutobi Clan, and Jiraiya prepared to take Naruto on an S-rank mission.

• Jiraiya intervened when Kazuna reached for Konohamaru, and Danzo tried to turn Naruto against Kazuna by claiming the Hokage was targeting the Sarutobi Clan.
• Kazuna accused Hiruzen and Danzo of experimenting on Uchiha and argued that Naruto’s childhood showed Hiruzen had betrayed Minato’s wishes for him.
• Kazuna suggested Hiruzen had arranged Minato’s death during the Nine-Tails attack, and Jiraiya began to suspect the accusation was true.
• Naruto stopped Kazuna from taking Konohamaru, so Kazuna spared the child but threatened to investigate and punish other Sarutobi Clan members.
• Kazuna destroyed Hiruzen’s and Danzo’s Shadow Clones, and Jiraiya told Naruto that his words had prompted Kazuna to settle accounts with the Sarutobi Clan.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that they had an S-rank mission, and Naruto eagerly celebrated while Jiraiya suspected the assignment was meant to get them away from the village.

Kazuna ordered harsh punishments for Konohagakure’s captured rebels, then reconsidered how many people would be affected and spared some for now. After surveying the village and reflecting on the suffering behind its victories, he encountered the reanimated Hashirama Senju on Hokage Rock.

• Jiraiya persuaded Naruto to leave Konohamaru at home, and Naruto promised to return for him.
• Kazuna ordered Shikamaru Nara sent to the laboratory and kept Shikaku Nara alive to witness the punishment of Ino-Shika-Cho.
• Yazo warned Kazuna that the crackdown could affect more than twenty thousand people, so he agreed to spare some who were unimportant or still useful.
• Kazuna walked through Konohagakure, reflected on the pain concealed by its victories, and used the Body Flicker Technique to reach Hokage Rock.
• Hashirama Senju appeared before Kazuna as a man revived through Impure World Reincarnation.

Kazuna revived Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, berated Hashirama over his failure to prevent future wars, and ordered him to go to the Temple of Fire to protect a child. As Kazuna prepared to confront external threats, Obito used Kumogakure’s losses to provoke Killer B into fighting on Turtle Island.

• Kazuna explained that his Impure World Reincarnation had reached LV·5 and revived Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju after Konohagakure had stabilized.
• Kazuna argued that Hashirama’s decision to leave the Shinobi World divided and distribute the Tailed Beasts had enabled later wars, while Tobirama reflected on Konohagakure’s decline under Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.
• Kazuna told the Senju brothers they could choose whether to follow his orders, then instructed Hashirama to go to the Temple of Fire to protect a child.
• Kazuna turned his attention to the coming external conflict and anticipated that Obito’s plan was entering its second phase.
• Obito told Killer B that Kumogakure had suffered heavy losses, its Raikage had been captured, and Konohagakure was preparing an assault with Kirigakure’s help.
• Killer B armed himself with seven blades and faced Obito as the Eight-Tails warned him to be careful.

Obito and Black and White Zetsu captured the Eight-Tails and decided to seal it whole, while Sasuke persuaded Fugaku and Kazuna to let him pursue becoming a Jinchuriki. As Konoha and its allies massed against Iwagakure and Kumogakure, the Seven-Tails arrived with Konoha's forces, leaving Kumogakure's elders stunned.

• Obito defeated the Eight-Tails with Black and White Zetsu's help, and they decided to seal the entire beast rather than make another deal with Uchiha Kazuna.
• Sasuke convinced Fugaku to bring him to Kazuna and ask to become a Jinchuriki, despite Fugaku's objections and Kazuna's offer to train him personally.
• Jiraiya brought Naruto to the Iwagakure border, where he found Kakashi, Might Guy, and eight thousand Sunagakure shinobi led by Fifth Kazekage Gaara; he and Kakashi planned their response as Ōnoki worried about Konoha's growing force.
• Kazuna agreed to consider Sasuke for his Jinchuriki squad, sent intelligence to Jiraiya, and told Fugaku to prepare to act against Kumogakure.
• Kirigakure and Konoha assembled a large force outside Kumogakure, whose elders argued over their captured Raikage and who should lead the village.
• The Seven-Tails flew in and landed among Konoha's forces, shocking Kumogakure's elders.

Kumogakure prepared to fight as the Eight-Tails was sealed at Amegakure, while Killer B confronted Kazuna to demand the Raikage's release. After Killer B threatened Konohagakure with Tailed Beast Bombs, Kazuna summoned a colossal Susanoo and prepared to strike.

• Darui rallied Kumogakure's elders to mobilize for war, while Shi subtly influenced their emotions and Mabui watched him.
• Pain and Akatsuki discovered that they had sealed only an Eight-Tails tentacle; Obito learned that the real Eight-Tails was at Konoha's outskirts and set off to find him.
• Killer B attacked Kazuna, but the Eight-Tails warned him that Kazuna had not yet fought seriously and urged him to retreat.
• Killer B transformed and offered an alliance in exchange for the Raikage, then used tentacle clones to threaten Konohagakure with Tailed Beast Bombs.
• Kazuna summoned a colossal Susanoo, towering over the Eight-Tails, and drew its sword as he warned Killer B not to die.

Kazuna drove off the Eight-Tails, but Obito and Kisame failed to capture Killer B after being fooled by a decoy. As the Fifth Shinobi World War began, Jiraiya attacked Iwagakure with Gaara, and Naruto and Gaara’s tailed beasts started arguing before Nine-Tails surged with power.

• Kazuna told Konoha’s gathered ninja that he had driven off the Eight-Tails and said they should not pursue it because someone else was already following it.
• Killer B escaped Obito, Kisame, and Black and White Zetsu by using a decoy, so Obito decided they would try to capture the Eight-Tails during the war.
• The Daimyo secretly supported both sides as alliances formed, and the Fifth Shinobi World War erupted with Jiraiya leading an attack on Iwagakure.
• Gaara used Sandstorm Flow and two Tailed Beast Bombs against Iwagakure, prompting Ōnoki to prepare his shinobi for battle.
• Naruto and Gaara’s tailed beasts argued over One-Tails’ strength, and Nine-Tails began flooding Naruto with Chakra before attacking Iwagakure.