Chapter Summaries

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō plotted to weaken the Uchiha, but Shisui proposed mobilizing the entire clan, including its children, to foil them. As Konohagakure debated the Uchiha’s defiance, Naruto Uzumaki began transforming into the Nine-Tails, and Orochimaru was named as the person who had approached him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Torifu Akimichi, and Shimura Danzō discussed Kazuna’s victories and planned to send another thousand shinobi to the front lines.
• Fugaku Uchiha and the clan leaders received an order to send two hundred shinobi to the border, while the Sarutobi Four Clans planned to send one thousand.
• Uchiha Shisui urged the clan to mobilize everyone capable of fighting, including children, so Konohagakure’s leaders would not dare target them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi erupted in anger over the Uchiha’s proposal, while Torifu Akimichi warned that provoking them could bring disaster.
• Naruto Uzumaki entered Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, and a shinobi reported that Orochimaru had recently approached him.

Naruto Uzumaki lost control under the Nine-Tails’ influence, and Torifu Akimichi led Konohagakure’s leaders in subduing and sealing him. Afterward, Torifu demanded to know where Danzo was, while Hiruzen Sarutobi grew furious over rumors that Danzo had celebrated Biwako’s death.

• Ninjas identified Orochimaru as the likely attacker behind Naruto’s rampage, prompting Torifu Akimichi to order a village-wide search for him.
• Torifu Akimichi demanded Danzo’s presence, but the Uchiha refused to approach the Nine-Tails, citing Danzo’s suspicions of their clan.
• Torifu Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen Sarutobi fought Naruto as the Nine-Tails’ chakra gave him a growing Tailed Beast cloak.
• Torifu Akimichi knocked Naruto into the air while the Sealing Squad restrained and sealed him.
• Torifu Akimichi confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi about Danzo’s absence, and Hiruzen blamed Uchiha Kazuna for spreading rumors that Danzo had been glad when Biwako died.

Torifu Akimichi moved against Danzo while Kazuna fought the Raikage and Killer B, then warned Pakura that major upheaval was coming. At the command center, Shin'ichirō Sarutobi rejected Kazuna's suggested deployment and confidently chose a dangerous location, unaware of the trap Kazuna had anticipated.

• Torifu Akimichi suspected Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and others of plotting against him and decided to warn them.
• Kazuna and Pakura battled the Raikage and Killer B, forcing them to retreat after Kazuna shattered his Susanoo and unleashed a powerful Fire Style attack.
• Kazuna told Pakura the conflict would soon end and warned that chaos was about to begin, while criticizing Rasa for leaving Sunagakure's allies unsupported.
• Kazuna offered Shin'ichirō Sarutobi several deployment locations, but Shin'ichirō rejected them and chose a different spot that Kazuna knew was a deadly trap.
• After Kazuna's reaction made Shin'ichirō reconsider, he mistakenly interpreted Kazuna's expressions and confidently chose the trap location anyway.

Kazuna’s forces and the Fourth Raikage’s forces struck deals that devastated their enemies, while the deaths of Shin'ichirō Sarutobi and many Konoha ninja threatened to ignite a political crisis. A document portraying Shin'ichirō’s death as the result of his own reckless attack gave Kazuna a defense, and the chapter ended with him asking Uchiha Shinya whether Shin'ichirō’s wife had survived.

• Kazuna sent Uchiha Shinya, Pakura, and Might Guy to attack Dorom’s Kumogakure force, and Uchiha ninja ambushed the more than one thousand troops.
• The Fourth Raikage faced accusations over Dorom’s losses, then received Shin'ichirō Sarutobi’s head and learned that more than twelve hundred Konoha ninja had been killed.
• Kazuna denied arranging Shin'ichirō’s death as Kakashi and the others suspected a secret deal between Kazuna and the Fourth Raikage.
• Kazuna showed Kakashi a document claiming Shin'ichirō had ignored orders, pursued a Kumogakure supply route, and led his troops into an ambush; Kakashi and the others accepted the evidence after Kazuna offered to send witnesses and corpses to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• After sending the others away, Kazuna asked Uchiha Shinya whether Shin'ichirō’s wife had survived, claiming she carried a great secret.

Kazuna’s evidence prevented Konohagakure’s clans from blaming him for Shin'ichirō Sarutobi’s death, but his report raised suspicions that Setsuko Sarutobi was an enemy spy. Torifu Akimichi brought the allegation before the clan leaders, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi reeling and Danzo clashing with Torifu.

• Kazuna sent surviving Sarutobi subordinates, Kumogakure prisoners, and the dead Konoha Ninja’s heads back to Konohagakure as evidence about Shin'ichirō Sarutobi’s death.
• Kazuna held back Kumogakure’s A-B Combo in battle while Pakura inflicted heavy losses, strengthening Konohagakure’s position at the front.
• Shikaku Nara examined Kazuna’s report, and Torifu Akimichi summoned Konohagakure’s core ninja clan leaders to discuss the possibility that Setsuko Sarutobi was a spy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi described Setsuko’s background, and Torifu Akimichi announced that the evidence gave reason to suspect her of spying for an enemy village.
• Danzo questioned the source of the evidence, but Torifu Akimichi cut him off and threatened to beat him.

Torifu Akimichi forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to investigate Setsuko Sarutobi, while Kazuna halted his advance against Kumogakure as peace talks approached. Kazuna also set a plan in motion against the Kazekage, and Shisui faced Rasa as the attack began.

• Torifu Akimichi rebuked Hiruzen Sarutobi over Setsuko Sarutobi and Shin'ichirō Sarutobi, leaving Hiruzen under pressure to investigate her.
• Kazuna halted Konohagakure's offensive against Kumogakure, then told Uchiha Shinya to ready Fugaku and Shisui for their next move.
• Jiraiya checked on Naruto, refused Hiruzen Sarutobi's summons, and continued searching Konohagakure for Orochimaru.
• Pakura met Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Shisui, and Kakuzu near the border and helped them intercept Rasa.
• Rasa attacked with Gold Dust and charged toward Shisui, whose Three Tomoe transformed into a Windmill Shuriken.

Shisui, Fugaku, Kakuzu, and Pakura’s clone defeated Rasa, and Shisui used Kotoamatsukami to make him believe Konohagakure and Shimura Danzō were responsible for the attack. Rasa returned to Sunagakure and demanded an explanation from Konohagakure as its envoy arrived, adding another crisis as Konohagakure negotiated a ceasefire with Kumogakure.

• Shisui’s Susanoo and Kakuzu overwhelmed Rasa, and Fugaku and Pakura’s clone joined the fight until Rasa was left defeated.
• Shisui used Kotoamatsukami on Rasa, altering his attitude so he treated the attackers as allies.
• Rasa returned to Sunagakure with Kakuzu and told the elders that Shimura Danzō had impersonated an Uchiha to attack him, prompting Sunagakure to send an envoy to Konohagakure.
• Konohagakure and Kumogakure neared a ceasefire, but Kazuna demanded a sufficient price from Kumogakure for ending the war.
• Sunagakure’s envoy arrived in Konohagakure, creating a new crisis while Torifu Akimichi’s meetings about Kumogakure were underway.

At Konohagakure’s high-level meeting, Fugaku confronted Danzo over stolen Sharingan, and Torifu forced Danzo to surrender them while arranging compensation for Sunagakure. On the battlefield, Kazuna provoked the Fourth Raikage until Kumogakure retreated again, strengthening Kazuna’s standing among the Konoha forces.

• Danzo denied impersonating Uchiha and attempting to assassinate Sunagakure’s Kage, but Torifu and the other leaders demanded an explanation.
• Fugaku revealed his Mangekyo and demanded that Danzo hand over every Sharingan, arguing that Uchiha had been attacked with the eyes of their fallen clansmen.
• Torifu ordered Danzo to surrender the Sharingan and negotiated compensation for Sunagakure, leaving the Sarutobi Four Clans facing heavy losses.
• Rasa gave half of Sunagakure’s compensation to Uchiha, while Kazuna’s influence over Rasa and Pakura continued to grow.
• Kazuna taunted the Fourth Raikage and urged the Konoha forces to resume fighting, but Kakashi and the others restrained him.
• Killer B persuaded the Fourth Raikage to withdraw, and the Konoha forces cheered Kazuna as Kumogakure’s soldiers began doubting their leader.

Kazuna returned to Konohagakure after negotiating a peace agreement with Kumogakure and demanded that Hiruzen Sarutobi hunt down Orochimaru. He then urged Torifu Akimichi to join the Uchiha in eliminating the weakened Sarutobi Four Clans, but Torifu refused, and Kazuna left warning him that he would regret it.

• Torifu Akimichi ordered Kazuna to lead peace negotiations with Kumogakure, and Kazuna secured extensive concessions after Dodai took over for the absent Fourth Raikage.
• Kazuna returned to Konohagakure, mocked Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, and demanded that Hiruzen send a squad to capture or kill Orochimaru within a month.
• Kazuna privately warned Torifu that the Sarutobi Four Clans would retaliate after their heavy losses and proposed that they join forces against them.
• Torifu refused to ally with the Uchiha against the Sarutobi Four Clans, and Kazuna left telling him he would regret his decision.

Kazuna’s Dojutsu evolved to LV·6, strengthening his Susanoo, while Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed his bleeding eyes and secretly watched him. Kazuna headed to the Forest of Death, where he sensed surveillance, and Danzo began to suspect Hiruzen’s Telescope Technique could spy on him too.

• Torifu Akimichi, Shikaku, and Hezi failed to understand Kazuna’s proposal to join the Uchiha against the Sarutobi Four Clans and decided to stay vigilant.
• Kazuna returned to the Uchiha Clan Grounds, absorbed the ripened Dojutsu Fruit, and reached LV·6 as his Susanoo grew into the Yatengu.
• Danzo learned from a Kumogakure spy that Kazuna’s eyes had bled and suspected that Kazuna’s Mangekyo was going blind, then went to consult Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Kazuna sensed someone following him after leaving the Uchiha Clan Grounds, but the Uchiha Patrol Squad failed to catch the watchers.
• In the Forest of Death, Kazuna suspected Hiruzen Sarutobi was monitoring him with the Telescope Technique.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi showed Danzo Kazuna through a Crystal Ball, and Danzo grew alarmed that Hiruzen might be spying on him as well.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo decided to keep assigning Kazuna missions so he would exhaust his Mangekyo, despite the risk of strengthening his standing in the village. Kazuna evaded Hiruzen’s Telescope Technique and returned to his Secret Base, where he checked on the captive cultist and considered recruiting a mad scientist to solve his life-energy problem.

• Danzo demanded that Hiruzen promise not to spy on him, and Hiruzen accidentally revealed that he had spied on him before.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to act against Kazuna because his Mangekyo might be nearing blindness, but Hiruzen chose instead to keep Kazuna fighting and reward his achievements.
• Kazuna sensed Hiruzen’s gaze disappear, hurried to his Secret Base, and complained about the Telescope Technique.
• Kazuna spoke with Tekka and Inabi, who wanted to fight, and promised to find a way to let them out for a while.
• Tekka reported that the captive cultist had grown fat but only became temporarily weakened after Kazuna absorbed his life energy.
• Kazuna considered Orochimaru, Sasori, and Hiruko as possible researchers who could help him resolve his predicament.

Kazuna raised his Sage Art and met Kurenai Yuhi, whom he had known since the Ninja Academy, then tried to win her over with wine and a possessive declaration. Kurenai softened toward him but objected to making their relationship public, leaving Kazuna asking whether she would agree.

• Kazuna absorbed the Cultists' life energy, raised his Sage Art to LV·4, and tested how quickly he could enter Sage Mode.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo watched Kazuna through the Crystal Ball, discussed his visit to the Forest of Death, and began their plan.
• Kazuna encountered Kurenai Yuhi and persuaded her to enter a tavern by claiming he knew something about her father, Shinku Yuhi.
• Kazuna and Kurenai recalled how they had grown close as children and how Shinku had separated them, while Kurenai challenged Kazuna's account of their past.
• Kazuna offered Kurenai wine from the Land of Lightning Daimyo's Mansion, promised to keep her supplied, and revealed he had bought the tavern for her.
• Kurenai warned Kazuna that making their relationship public would cause a stir, and Kazuna asked whether she agreed to make it public.

Kazuna told Kurenai that Konoha's leaders may have allowed the Nine-Tails' attack to cause heavy losses, including her father's death, to undermine Minato Namikaze. Meanwhile, the Telescope Technique scandal reached the Hokage's office, where Torifu Akimichi broke down under the strain of serving as Acting Hokage.

• Kazuna admitted that he had chosen not to intervene on the Night of the Nine-Tails and told Kurenai that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō may have let the disaster worsen for political reasons.
• Kurenai considered Kazuna's claims about her father's death and became distressed by Hiruzen Sarutobi's and the elders' conduct during the attack.
• News spread that Hiruzen Sarutobi possessed the Telescope Technique, prompting ninjas to protest the threat to their privacy.
• Torifu Akimichi asked Hezi whether Tsunade had been found, then summoned Hiruzen Sarutobi over the protests against the technique.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other elders arrived at Torifu Akimichi's office intending to preserve the technique for monitoring the Uchiha, but Torifu burst into tears and clung to Hiruzen while lamenting his Acting Hokage duties.

Torifu Akimichi forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to seal the Telescope Technique, then assigned Uchiha Kazuna to lead a diplomatic mission to Sunagakure and establish Konohagakure’s authority. Kazuna planned to escort Pakura home, where Rasa’s survival and Kazuna’s intentions remained a source of tension.

• Torifu Akimichi clung to Hiruzen Sarutobi and cried until Hiruzen agreed to seal the Telescope Technique against use inside Konohagakure.
• Hiruzen explained the technique’s limits, and the Konoha F4 left the Hokage’s office after Torifu secured his demand.
• Kazuna argued with Torifu, Hezi, and Shikaku Nara about the technique before accepting a mission to lead a diplomatic party to Sunagakure.
• Torifu and Shikaku warned Hezi to stay away from Kazuna, while Kazuna winked at her before leaving.
• Kazuna told Pakura he would escort her back to Sunagakure, and she confronted him about keeping Rasa alive.

Kazuna planned to strengthen Sunagakure and prepared to travel there with Itachi, while Akatsuki discussed recruiting him and accelerating its plans. Orochimaru sought Kazuna after discovering a weakness in Living Corpse Reincarnation, and Obito convinced Pain to move their plan forward with money and additional recruits.

• Pakura warned Kazuna not to harm Sunagakure, and Kazuna assured her that his plans could help the village grow.
• After the war against Kumogakure, Kazuna received credit and benefits for the Uchiha, while other shinobi clans grew wary of the clan’s rising strength.
• Kazuna told Shiraha and Setsuna that Shibi Aburame was one of his people, then arranged for Itachi to accompany him to Sunagakure.
• Orochimaru discovered that Living Corpse Reincarnation was vulnerable to genjutsu and decided to seek Kazuna, whom he also coveted as a body.
• Pain assigned Orochimaru to approach Kazuna and sent Kisame Hoshigaki and Juzo Biwa to recruit Deidara.
• Obito urged Pain to move Akatsuki’s plan forward, offering money and new recruits, and Pain agreed.

Kazuna’s visit to Sunagakure began with loud antics and turned into a confrontation when he dragged a village ninja to the Kazekage Building. Rasa confronted him as Kakashi and Itachi realized the incident could threaten relations between the allied villages.

• Kazuna and Guy loudly proclaimed their youthful passion, then bumped fists after Kazuna praised Guy’s determination.
• Kazuna wandered around Sunagakure, caught a ninja following him, accused him of being a Konohagakure spy, and dragged him to the Kazekage Building.
• Kazuna caused a deafening blast at the Kazekage Building and demanded to see someone in charge.
• Rasa left his office in a fury, while Kakashi feared the incident could lead to war and Itachi tried to reassure him.
• Kakashi questioned whether Itachi had picked up his mannerisms from Kazuna, and Itachi worried that Kakashi had noticed too much.
• Rasa confronted Kazuna with a surge of Chakra and accused Konohagakure of provoking a war.

Kazuna fought Rasa in Sunagakure, then used a captured Anbu member as a pretext to end the confrontation and secure compensation from Konoha. After Rasa privately submitted to him, Kazuna headed for the Back Mountain to confront Chiyo and Ebizo, leaving the elders alerted by a cry that Hatake Sakumo was attacking.

• Rasa used Gold Dust against Kazuna, who countered with Susanoo and carved a huge fissure through Sunagakure before Pakura stopped the fight.
• Kazuna claimed the captured Sunagakure Anbu member was a Konoha spy, and Kakashi promised Konoha would pay for the damage.
• After the crowd dispersed, Rasa knelt before Kazuna and said he could suppress everyone in Sunagakure except Chiyo and Ebizo.
• Kazuna used the Body Flicker Technique to head for the Back Mountain, and Pakura hurried after him.
• A scream warned that White Fang was attacking Sunagakure, and an aged voice identified him as Hatake Sakumo.

Kazuna provoked Chiyo into fighting Kakashi in Sunagakure, then left after establishing Konoha’s strength and receiving word that Iwagakure was mobilizing shinobi. Back in Konohagakure, Kakashi reunited with Might Guy and challenged him to a match.

• Kazuna tricked Chiyo into mistaking Kakashi for his father, the White Fang, and Chiyo attacked Kakashi before Pakura clarified his identity.
• Kazuna introduced himself as Konoha’s envoy, confronted Chiyo with his Sharingan, and departed with Rasa after Chiyo and Ebizo chose to leave.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi received Kakashi’s costly bill and lamented the expenses of Kazuna’s mission.
• Kazuna received an urgent message that Iwagakure was gathering shinobi, returned to Konohagakure, and went with Setsuna to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.
• Kakashi reunited with Might Guy, learned Guy admired Kazuna’s praise, and challenged him to a match.

Kazuna met Orochimaru in disguise, negotiated a deal for information about Living Corpse Reincarnation in exchange for a thousand Sarutobi Clan heads, and returned to Konohagakure after escaping his genjutsu trap. At the Hokage Building, he accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of ordering Orochimaru to attack him.

• Kazuna recognized Orochimaru disguised as Setsuna and discussed how to overcome Living Corpse Reincarnation's weakness to genjutsu.
• Kazuna demanded one thousand Sarutobi Clan heads in exchange for helping Orochimaru, and Orochimaru accepted.
• Kazuna returned to Konohagakure, ending the Uchiha's search for him and prompting them to resume their usual duties without questioning him.
• Kazuna entered the Hokage's office and mocked Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō over Torifu Akimichi's deteriorated condition.
• After Shikaku Nara asked what had happened, Kazuna revealed Orochimaru had ambushed him and accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of ordering the attack.

Kazuna and Hiruzen Sarutobi argued over Orochimaru until Torifu Akimichi ended the dispute and ordered a village-wide search. After learning that Iwagakure had mobilized over three thousand shinobi following the abduction of Ōnoki’s disciple Deidara, Torifu assigned Kazuna to prepare for the threat, and Kazuna accepted before raising another demand that enraged him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi denied having ties to Orochimaru, but Torifu Akimichi silenced the argument and ordered the Konoha Military Police Force and Anbu to search the village.
• Torifu Akimichi reported that Ōnoki’s disciple had been abducted, and Kazuna realized Deidara was older than he had expected.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that Ōnoki had mobilized shinobi and that the situation could lead to another war.
• Torifu Akimichi asked Kazuna to lead Konohagakure’s preparations, and Kazuna accepted while joking that they were grooming him for Hokage.
• Torifu Akimichi ordered Kazuna to choose people and head for the border, but Kazuna made another request that turned Torifu’s face green.