Chapter Summaries

Shisui Uchiha used his Susanoo and genjutsu to defeat Setsuna Uchiha and Raikou Uchiha, while Itachi Uchiha killed Gon Uchiha. With the attackers dead, Shisui turned his attention toward the Uchiha Fire Flame Formation surrounding the area.

• Setsuna Uchiha tried to interfere with Shisui Uchiha using genjutsu, but Shisui reflected it back and summoned Susanoo to strike Gon Uchiha away.
• Shisui trapped Setsuna in Tsukuyomi, leaving him bleeding and collapsed as Raikou fled.
• Shisui fired Susanoo: Ninety-Nine at Raikou, killing him as he tried to escape.
• Itachi pulled his tachi from Uchiha Kishi and killed Gon with a stab to the heart.
• Shisui's Susanoo dissipated, and he looked toward the distant Uchiha Fire Flame Formation.

Fugaku and Shisui broke Obito’s barrier and used their Mangekyō abilities against him, but he escaped as the Uchiha clan’s internal rebellion came to light. Elsewhere, Orochimaru found Tsunade and the children gambling with snacks and learned that Yuu kept winning.

• Fugaku used Susanoo to attack Obito, while a second Susanoo outside the barrier helped shatter it.
• Shisui trapped Obito in Tsukuyomi, but his Mangekyō power was nearing its limit.
• Fugaku and Shisui pinned Obito with their swords, but black liquid covered him and he escaped through a twisting space.
• Yashiro told Fugaku that several members of the Radical Faction had rebelled, and Orochimaru, Shikun Mitarashi, and Minato arrived.
• Orochimaru discovered dice behind Tsunade and watched Yuu win Qiong’s last snack before giving it back to her.

Orochimaru received an invitation to the Hyuga Main Family’s heir confirmation and considered whether to intervene in the Caged Bird Seal, while Yuu showed him a telescope that inspired plans for space exploration. At a railway construction site, an Iwagakure spy detonated an explosive and began an attack.

• Shikaku Nara gave Orochimaru an invitation from Hiashi to the Hyuga Main Family’s heir confirmation, and Orochimaru considered the Caged Bird Seal’s effect on Neji.
• Yuu showed Orochimaru a large astronomical telescope and asked whether people could survive on the moon, prompting Orochimaru to consider spaceflight and launching satellites.
• Kurenai Yūhi, Asuma, Anko, and Shisui watched workers build a railway to the northern border outpost, while Anko’s snake bit Asuma during their argument.
• Shiba, an Iwagakure spy disguised as a worker, judged Orochimaru’s young ninja to be careless and detonated an Explosive Tag on the completed railway.
• Shiba used the explosion to draw attention away, discarded his disguise, formed hand seals, and slammed his palms onto the ground.

Asuma, Shisui, Kurenai Yūhi, and Anko fought Iwagakure ninja led by Kitsuchi, who attacked the railway mission with powerful Earth Release techniques. Shisui overwhelmed the Iwa squad while the others battled Kitsuchi and his Stone Golem, leaving Manda pinned but still fighting thanks to his modifications.

• Shiba split the earth beneath Asuma and the others, but Manda shielded them from the falling rocks.
• Kitsuchi and several Iwa Shinobi confronted the group, while Shisui used speed and Genjutsu to kill multiple opponents.
• Kitsuchi gained the upper hand against Asuma, Kurenai Yūhi, Anko, and Manda with his Earth Release and Stone Golem.
• Asuma struck what he thought was Kitsuchi with a Wind Release blade, but Kitsuchi revealed it had been an Earth Replacement and appeared atop the Stone Golem.
• Kitsuchi’s earth dragon was shattered by Manda’s electric drill horn, but the Stone Golem seized Manda at the seven-inch point without stopping him.

Manda used his new laser weapon to split Kitsuchi’s Stone Golem, but Kitsuchi then created crushing mountains to cover his escape with the remaining Iwa Shinobi. Anko and the others escaped with Manda’s help, though Manda got trapped in the earth and was sent back to Ryūchi Cave for treatment.

• Manda fired a powerful laser that cut Kitsuchi’s Stone Golem in two and carved a deep fissure through the earth.
• Kitsuchi judged that Shisui and the others were gaining the upper hand, then used Earth Release: Earth Mountain Technique to create two mountains that threatened to crush them.
• Kitsuchi forced Shisui back, gathered the remaining Iwa Shinobi, and escaped underground as the earthen mountains closed in.
• Anko stopped Shisui from overusing his eyes, and Manda carried the group away while using propellers and missiles to blast through the mountains.
• Manda’s rear half became trapped in the earth, and Anko sent him back to Ryūchi Cave with the Reverse Summoning Technique for treatment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the elders confronted Orochimaru over his years of resource mobilization, fearing he was preparing for war. Orochimaru showed them his projects, including rockets, satellite surveillance, a powerful reactor, and improved crops, leaving them to see that his plans served more than military purposes.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura asked Hiruzen Sarutobi what Orochimaru was doing with the resources he had mobilized.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to take the elders to see Orochimaru, trusting that his former student had a reason for his actions.
• Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura to a plain outside Konoha.
• Orochimaru showed them a rocket and a screen displaying a magnified view of the Daimyo's Mansion, explaining that satellites could observe other nations.
• Orochimaru showed them a Giant Ark Reactor capable of powering Konohagakure for a year, Super Hybrid Rice, and upgraded Gold Dust Fertilizer.

Ōnoki rebuked Kitsuchi for failing to destroy the Land of Fire railway, then considered an alliance against Konohagakure. Three years later, Orochimaru showed Tsunade his human-developed Sage Mode, which stored Sage Chakra in a Sage Seal and might extend lifespan.

• Ōnoki scolded Kitsuchi for losing men and failing the railway mission, then wondered whether the Raikage's proposal to unite the great ninja villages against Konohagakure was worth considering.
• Three years later, Tsunade examined the purple Sage Seal on Orochimaru's forehead as he explained how he had developed a human-compatible Sage Mode by combining chakra and Natural Energy.
• Orochimaru explained that the Sage Seal stored Sage Chakra and that his new cultivation method might strengthen the body and soul and extend lifespan.
• Tsunade asked whether the new Sage Mode could truly increase lifespan, and Orochimaru confirmed that it could.
• Tsunade asked whether cultivating it required entering Sage Mode, and Orochimaru reacted with confusion.

Orochimaru defeated Tsunade in an exhausting sparring match, but she accused him of using a potion to gain an unfair advantage. He explained who had commissioned and bought the potion, then revealed that Guy and Dai mistakenly used it as a training drink.

• Orochimaru used his Eight Gates, Sage Seal, and practiced counter-techniques to overpower Tsunade in a prolonged sparring match.
• After they collapsed from exhaustion, Tsunade accused Orochimaru of taking a Forbidden Medicine and demanded an explanation for his blue potion.
• Orochimaru admitted that Senior Biwako had originally requested the potion for Shin'nosuke, and that Zixiao, Minato, Dai, and others had later bought some.
• When Tsunade asked why Dai needed the potion, Orochimaru explained that Guy had once mistaken it for a drink and run ten thousand laps around Konohagakure.
• Orochimaru said Guy and Dai continued drinking the potion because they believed it replenished energy for training, leaving Tsunade stunned.

Orochimaru reflected on how his drug had become a training aid for the Might family father and son and Minato, then helped prepare for Yu and Qiong’s Ninja Academy enrollment. A month later, Yu and Qiong collapsed during practical combat class, and Orochimaru rushed to the infirmary to examine them.

• Orochimaru recalled the Might family father and son’s absurd ad campaign for his drug and how they used it to train.
• Minato sought Orochimaru’s advice and acquired the drug after learning about Asuma Sarutobi’s experience and Kushina’s Yin Seal training.
• Tsunade offered to take Yu and Qiong to the Ninja Academy, but Orochimaru reminded her he had to give the new students a speech.
• A month later, Hiruzen Sarutobi alerted Orochimaru that Yu and Qiong had fainted during practical combat class and remained unconscious.
• Orochimaru teleported to the Ninja Academy infirmary and examined the flushed, rapidly breathing children as Naruto, Sasuke, Choji, Shikamaru, Sakura, and Ino gathered outside.

Tsunade and Orochimaru discovered that you and Qiong had awakened Wood Release and arranged to protect and strengthen them. Meanwhile, Obito Uchiha assembled the Four Kage in the Land of Craftsmanship to discuss an alliance against Konohagakure, and the summit began amid disputes over leadership.

• Tsunade arrived at the Ninja Academy infirmary and, with Orochimaru, confirmed that you and Qiong were awakening Wood Release; Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the incident kept secret and Iruka to secure the scene.
• Orochimaru persuaded Tsunade to let him use a drug modified from White Zetsu's cells on the children, hoping to improve their constitutions and Chakra reserves while they developed Wood Release.
• Obito Uchiha brought the Fourth Mizukage, Rasa, Ōnoki, and the Fourth Raikage to the Land of Craftsmanship for a meeting about resisting Konohagakure.
• Ōnoki tried to preside over the summit, but the Fourth Raikage challenged him and smashed the table; Kusagakure and Rasa urged them to focus on the alliance.
• The Fourth Kage set aside their quarrel and began contentious talks, with Rasa mediating as Sunagakure struggled under Konohagakure's growing influence and shrinking funding.

At Sasuke's graduation exam in Konoha Year 60, Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on how he had guided the Uchiha boy, while Sasuke and Naruto showed off their skills. Itachi and Shisui watched the lively ceremony, which ended with Naruto and Sasuke accidentally kissing and the children erupting into chaos.

• Rasa judged that the Kage meeting had formed a loose alliance that could restrain Konoha and give Sunagakure room to recover mission share.
• Sasuke earned full marks on his Transformation Jutsu exam, and Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him a Konoha forehead protector.
• Naruto Namikaze impressed Iruka by producing many clones and challenged Sasuke, while the other students cheered and bickered.
• Itachi Uchiha watched Sasuke's graduation from outside, and Shisui appeared beside him.
• Naruto and Sasuke accidentally kissed while roughhousing, leaving Hiruzen clutching his forehead as the children descended into chaos.

Shisui told Itachi that Kusagakure’s Grass Seed Faction planned to give the Box of Paradise to Kumogakure, and asked him to handle the mission. Their discussion revealed that the great nations were preparing for war against Konoha, leaving Itachi facing a mission amid rising tensions.

• Shisui told Itachi that Kusagakure’s Grass Seed Faction intended to defect to Kumogakure and offer it the Box of Paradise.
• Shisui explained that Itachi was chosen because he knew the Land of Grass and had earned the village’s trust.
• Itachi questioned why Iwagakure was allowing Kumogakure to move against Kusagakure, and Shisui said Konoha’s growing strength had alarmed the other great nations.
• Shisui and Itachi recognized that the other nations were likely to start a war to halt Konoha’s development.
• Shisui described Kumogakure’s hostility toward Orochimaru after he killed the Third Raikage, making Kumogakure a likely instigator of war.

Itachi learned that he would lead Izumi and Kabuto Yakushi on a mission to infiltrate Hozuki Castle and retrieve the Box of Paradise. After Sasuke graduated as the top student, Itachi had to tell him that his new mission would keep him from spending the next day together.

• Itachi learned that the Box of Paradise was sealed inside Hozuki Castle and that he would captain a team with Izumi and Kabuto Yakushi.
• Sasuke graduated from the Ninja Academy as the top student and ran to greet Itachi, who had come to pick him up.
• Sasuke told Itachi about his classmates, including Naruto, and showed him his new forehead protector.
• Sasuke asked Itachi to keep him company the next day, but Itachi struggled to explain that he had another mission.
• Sasuke blamed Shisui for taking Itachi away again, and Itachi tapped Sasuke's forehead with two fingers.

Itachi encouraged Sasuke to train with Shisui and explained that Sasuke would need to pass Kakashi’s assessment to become his Disciple. Itachi hoped Sasuke would grow strong enough to face the dangers of the Shinobi World alongside him.

• Itachi suggested that Sasuke train with Shisui, who had helped Itachi grow stronger and could teach him the Will of Fire.
• Sasuke objected to training with Shisui and said he would ask his future Team Leader Jōnin for guidance instead.
• Itachi and Shisui warned Sasuke that Kakashi’s assessment would be difficult and that failing could send him back to the Ninja Academy.
• Itachi recalled that Kakashi would become Sasuke’s Team Leader Jōnin and that he had asked Kakashi to train Sasuke strictly.
• Itachi reflected that he could not protect Sasuke forever, so Sasuke needed to become strong enough to withstand the dangers and unrest of the Shinobi World.

Kabuto Yakushi outlined the plan to infiltrate Hozuki Castle and investigate the Box of Paradise. At the academy, Sakura and Ino argued over Sasuke, and Kakashi and Shisui arrived to meet their new students, leaving Sasuke eager to learn about his brother’s past.

• Kabuto Yakushi introduced himself to Itachi and Izumi and explained that he would infiltrate Hozuki Castle to investigate the Box of Paradise and signal the others if it threatened Konohagakure.
• Iruka assigned the academy students to teams, and Sakura celebrated being placed with Sasuke while Ino renewed their rivalry.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, Sai, A, and Qiong waited for their Jōnin instructors as Sai bluntly called Sakura ugly.
• Naruto set a chalkboard eraser above the classroom door, and Kakashi arrived with Shisui after brushing dust from his head.
• Sasuke recognized Kakashi as his brother’s former superior and decided he could learn more about his brother by following the path he had taken.

Itachi Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha fought Mui, the lord of Hozuki Castle, and used their copied Fire Release techniques and teamwork to bring him to his knees. As Mui began laughing and Itachi stayed alert for a last attack, several figures burst through the roof of a nearby pavilion.

• Sasuke learned that Kakashi Hatake had once served as Itachi Uchiha’s superior and admired Kakashi’s achievements.
• Itachi Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha battled Mui, who used Fire Release techniques against them.
• Itachi and Izumi copied Mui’s Ghost Lantern technique, then pressed the attack with taijutsu and other Fire Release techniques.
• Itachi and Izumi used their combined ninjutsu, Chaotic Snow Moon Flower, to overwhelm Mui and leave him kneeling and bleeding.
• Mui laughed manically as Itachi stopped Izumi from approaching, and several figures burst through the roof of a nearby pavilion.

Itachi Uchiha, Izumi Uchiha, and Kabuto Yakushi tried to stop Mui and the four Kusagakure elders from opening the Box of Paradise, but Mui betrayed the elders and sacrificed them to bring back his son, Muku. Muku emerged from the box and stabbed Izumi, leaving Itachi crying out as she fell.

• Kabuto Yakushi joined Itachi Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha in fighting the four masked Kusagakure elders who guarded the Box of Paradise.
• Mui began opening the box while the elders fought to protect him, and Kabuto warned that it might be a powerful weapon.
• Mui bound the four elders with his Great Fire Prison technique and revealed that he planned to sacrifice them to bring back his son, Muku.
• Mui dragged the elders into the Box of Paradise, then chanted as the box filled with their Chakra.
• Izumi stabbed Mui, but Muku emerged from the box and pierced Izumi through the abdomen before Itachi could stop him.

Muku revealed himself as Satori, the ancient monster sealed in the Box of Paradise, and killed Mui before Manda drove him away. Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan as Kabuto treated Izumi, while Satori transformed and battled Manda above Hozuki Castle.

• Muku confessed that he was Satori, who had eaten the real Muku, and pierced Mui's heart; Manda rammed Satori away, and Mui died.
• Itachi carried the wounded Izumi to safety, and she began to speak to him before Kabuto started treating her injuries.
• Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after seeing Izumi near death, and Kabuto left him to face Satori while he treated her.
• Satori transformed into a huge winged monster and dodged Manda's destructive laser beam.
• Manda launched missiles at Satori, who countered by sending a storm of bladed feathers into them.

Itachi defeated Satori by sealing him with Susanoo’s Totsuka Blade, then learned that Izumi’s injuries had left her unable to preserve both her fertility and her ability to fight as a ninja. Back in Konoha, Naruto beat Sasuke in a sparring match, while Sasuke remained troubled by what had happened to Itachi and Izumi.

• Itachi used Amaterasu and Susanoo’s Totsuka Blade to seal Satori in its gourd after Manda restrained him.
• Itachi learned from Kabuto that Izumi’s damaged reproductive organs meant she might have to choose between retaining her fertility and continuing as a ninja.
• Itachi told Izumi to move into the clan head’s residence after her treatment, and she understood what his offer meant.
• Naruto pinned Sasuke during a sparring match, and Kakashi observed that Sasuke’s heart was unsettled.
• Sasuke stayed silent about his worries after Itachi had reported the events involving himself and Izumi to the family.

Kakashi attended an emergency Jōnin meeting after the Hokage summoned every Jōnin in Konoha. Orochimaru revealed that the other four villages had proposed a joint Chunin Exam, and the meeting ended with the Jōnin suspecting that war was near.

• Kakashi learned from Uzuki Yugao that Orochimaru had called an emergency meeting of Konoha’s Jōnin.
• Kakashi arrived early at the conference room, where Orochimaru and the retired Hiruzen Sarutobi were seated at the head of the meeting.
• Orochimaru distributed documents describing a proposed joint Chunin Exam among the five villages, ostensibly to ease tensions and settle disputes over interests.
• Orochimaru invited the Jōnin to share their thoughts, and they whispered among themselves, sensing that the exam proposal concealed a threat of war.