Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku settled on an excuse for Konoha’s attack as Hyuga Kiyomi’s squad scouted Huichuan Town in the Rain Country. After finding far fewer Amegakure-nin than expected and no explanation for their lack of response, Kiyomi decided the squad would investigate deeper inland.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku agreed to claim Konoha was pursuing a Rogue ninja carrying classified documents if Amegakure questioned the invasion.
• Hyuga Kiyomi led Yuhi Kurenai, Hyuga Keita, and Inuzuka Hana on a scouting mission near Huichuan Town, assigning them to use their sensory abilities in shifts.
• The squad spent nearly two days scouting and found fewer than thirty Amegakure-nin in Huichuan Town, despite Konoha and Iwa-nin openly preparing for war.
• Hyuga Kiyomi proposed scouting farther inland to investigate Amegakure’s puzzling behavior, and Yuhi Kurenai and Inuzuka Hana supported her decision.
• Hyuga Keita agreed to follow Kiyomi’s plan but asked to cover the others’ retreat if they encountered danger.

Hyuga Kiyomi’s squad ambushed Biwa Juzo after identifying him as a likely member of Kirigakure’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Their coordinated attack left him trapped in Yuhi Kurenai’s Illusion Technique as Kurenai struck at his chest.

• Hyuga Kiyomi’s squad waited near the road to Huichuan Town and spotted Biwa Juzo carrying the Kubikiribōchō.
• Hyuga Kiyomi and her squad attacked Biwa Juzo, while he deflected their weapons and fought Hyuga Keita with his sword.
• Biwa Juzo trapped Hyuga Kiyomi in a Water Prison and blasted Inuzuka Hana away with the Great Waterfall Technique.
• Hyuga Kiyomi broke out of the Water Prison and struck Biwa Juzo with Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher, sending him crashing into a tree.
• Yuhi Kurenai’s Illusion Technique trapped Biwa Juzo with roots, and Kurenai emerged to stab him with a kunai.

The Uchiha Clan settled into the Saudi Federation, where Uchiha Tekka planned their integration and future service. On the Rain Country battlefield, Hyuga Kiyomi’s team returned with Biwa Juzo and valuable intelligence, while Yuhi Kurenai teased Kiyomi about her role in the capture.

• Elder Yasunori arranged high-rise residences, compensation, and other support for the Uchiha Clan, and Uchiha Tekka accepted the offer.
• Uchiha Tekka warned the clan against false compensation claims and planned for its members to join the Saudi Federation Military Police Force.
• Uchiha Tekka decided that Sasuke should attend the Ninja Academy and said he would speak with Uchiha Fugaku about joining the Federation’s forces.
• Hyuga Kiyomi’s team brought the wounded Biwa Juzo and intelligence about Amegakure back to the Konoha camp, earning praise from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Yuhi Kurenai asked Hyuga Kiyomi about the mission and drew attention to her curves, leaving Kiyomi indignant.

Konoha learned that Hanzo had died and Pain, wielder of the Rinnegan, now led Amegakure, while the Iwa-nin attacked a Rain Country iron mine and plundered its ore. Tsunade refused to become Fifth Hokage until Nara Suzaku falsely told her Kushina had been seriously injured, persuading her to return to Konoha.

• Nara Shikaku brought Sarutobi Hiruzen intelligence revealing Hanzo's death and Pain's leadership of Amegakure, and Hiruzen agreed to share it with the Iwa-nin while slowing Konoha's advance.
• Iwa-nin defeated the Amegakure guards at an iron mine, seized its unshipped ore, and sent scouts toward another target.
• Kimimaro protected Tsunade and Shizune from bandits, and Tsunade continued to appreciate his loyalty and combat skill.
• Nara Suzaku asked Tsunade to return to Konoha as Fifth Hokage, but she refused and began to leave with Shizune and Kimimaro.
• Suzaku claimed Kushina had been seriously injured, prompting Tsunade to agree to return to Konoha; afterward, Suzaku planned to seek a border assignment to avoid staying in the village.

Nara Shikaku secured Ōnoki’s agreement to exchange intelligence gatherers while Nagato and Konan moved to stop the Stone Ninja from taking steel stored in Rain Country. Nagato sent Pain’s Six Paths against a Stone Ninja squad, and the chapter ended with the Six Paths overwhelming the enemy as Konan led the rescued Amegakure ninjas away.

• Nara Shikaku shared intelligence about Akatsuki and negotiated an exchange of intelligence gatherers, which Ōnoki accepted.
• Konan told Nagato that the Stone Ninja were approaching their stored steel and that Biwa Juzo had gone missing.
• Nagato resolved to make Iwagakure feel Rain Country’s suffering and traveled toward the Stone Ninja with Konan.
• Nagato summoned Pain’s Six Paths after they encountered Stone Ninja squads pursuing Amegakure ninjas.
• Deva Path Pain repelled the Stone Ninja’s Earth Spears, and Human Path extracted their Jonin captain’s soul for intelligence.
• Konan instructed the rescued Amegakure ninjas to leave while Pain’s Six Paths continued attacking the remaining Stone Ninja.

Konan and Nagato attacked the Iwa-nin occupying Rain Country’s steel facilities, killing nearly thirty before learning that Ōnoki was bringing nearly a thousand more. In Rōran, Hyuga Mirai arranged for Kushina and Naruto to move to the Saudi Federation, where Naruto would attend the Ninja Academy.

• Konan killed the Iwa-nin guarding Rain Country’s steel facilities, while Animal Path summoned Human Path, Preta Path, and Naraka Path to help fight.
• Human Path extracted an Iwa-nin’s soul and learned that Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki was approaching with nearly a thousand Iwa-nin.
• Nagato told Konan to return to his real body so he could confront Ōnoki and the advancing Iwa-nin with Pain’s Six Paths.
• Hyuga Mirai told the recovered Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Naruto to prepare to leave for the Saudi Federation.
• Naruto agreed to go after learning that Sasuke would attend its Ninja Academy, and Kushina accepted so Naruto could become strong and protect her.

Nara Shikaku and his companions observed the Iwa-nin clash with Amegakure’s six Rinnegan-wielding leaders, while Ōnoki intervened after the Iwa-nin suffered heavy casualties. The battle was about to escalate as Shikaku’s group prepared to record the Rinnegan’s abilities.

• Ōnoki learned that the Iwa-nin had captured Rain Country’s largest steel warehouse, while Shikaku wondered why Amegakure had offered so little resistance.
• Homura spotted six Rinnegan-wielding figures confronting the Iwa-nin, and Shikaku arranged to observe the battle with Ōnoki’s permission.
• The Animal Path summoned two giant birds as the Iwa-nin struggled against the Six Paths’ abilities and suffered more than twenty casualties.
• Ōnoki killed the summoned birds with Dust Release and confronted Deva Path Pain, who challenged him to understand the suffering of small countries.
• Kitsuchi took command and positioned the Iwa-nin in squads, while Shikaku, Homura, and Shibi watched from high ground to gather intelligence.

Deva Path Pain overwhelmed the Iwa-nin with increasingly powerful Rinnegan abilities, then unleashed a vast Shinra Tensei that devastated the battlefield. Nara Shikaku survived and ordered Hyuga Homura to locate Ōnoki as Pain remained in the sky.

• Hyuga Homura reported that the five Pains had displayed several abilities as the Iwa-nin suffered heavy casualties, while Ōnoki's Dust Release ambush was absorbed by the Preta Path.
• Kitsuchi led the Iwa-nin in creating two giant stone constructs, but the Pains evaded their attacks.
• Nagato recalled the other Pains, and Deva Path Pain rose into the sky to gather Chakra for a massive Shinra Tensei.
• Deva Path Pain's Shinra Tensei flattened the surrounding terrain, killing many Iwa-nin and leaving Nara Shikaku, Hyuga Homura, and others buried in the ruins.
• Nara Shikaku found Hyuga Homura and Shibi Aburame dead, then ordered Homura to use his Byakugan to locate the Tsuchikage.

After Pain’s Shinra Tensei devastated the Iwa forces, Kitsuchi stayed behind to delay him while Ōnoki and the survivors retreated with Nara Shikaku and Hyuga Homura. Elsewhere, Hyuga Mirai traveled toward the Saudi Federation with Naruto and planned major political, industrial, and military reforms.

• Hyuga Homura and Nara Shikaku found Ōnoki badly injured, and Shikaku urged him to retreat with the surviving Iwa-nin.
• Kitsuchi volunteered to hold off Deva Path Pain while Ōnoki, the wounded Iwa-nin, and the Konoha Ninja escaped.
• Nagato recovered enough to send Deva Path Pain after the retreating group, but Kitsuchi trapped him with the Mountain Earth Technique.
• Ōnoki left with the survivors and considered stepping down as Tsuchikage, while Nara Shikaku promised to get them treatment at Konoha’s camp.
• Hyuga Mirai teased Naruto about his studies during the journey and planned cargo routes, expansion, and military reforms for the Saudi Federation.

Tsunade accepted the position of Fifth Hokage after insisting that she alone would lead Konoha, then assigned Kimimaro and Shizune new roles and faced the village’s administrative workload. Meanwhile, Hyuga Mirai’s delegation received a warm welcome from the Saudi Federation and finalized plans for Rōran to join it.

• Tsunade learned that Konoha had lost more than seventy Anbu and roughly eighty Root members, and angrily condemned the former leadership’s power struggles.
• Tsunade agreed to become Fifth Hokage after Konoha’s clan heads promised to recognize her as the village’s sole leader.
• Tsunade assigned Kimimaro to learn Anbu command duties under Kakashi and sent Shizune to apply her medical training with Kimura.
• Tsunade ordered preparations for her succession ceremony, summoned Kakashi, and received a large stack of village affairs to handle.
• Elder Yasunori welcomed Hyuga Mirai’s delegation, where Chiyo and Ebizo reunited with Sasori.
• Hyuga Mirai and the Saudi Federation settled Rōran’s incorporation terms, including positions for Kushina and Sasori, and the negotiations proceeded smoothly.

Sakura went to the Fifth Hokage Tsunade to ask about Sasuke and Naruto's disappearance, but Tsunade refused to tell her. Tsunade then reviewed an urgent request for medical support at the front and began assigning work as she took charge of Konoha's departments.

• Sakura asked Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji about Sasuke and Naruto, but none of them knew where the boys had gone.
• Sakura visited Tsunade at the Hokage Tower and asked about Sasuke and Naruto, but Tsunade sent her away and told her to focus on her studies.
• Kimura brought Tsunade an urgent request from the front line for medical supplies, equipment, and personnel, including support for wounded Iwa-nin.
• Tsunade approved the supplies as a final instance of support for the Iwa-nin and ordered Kimura to review future supply requests.
• Tsunade told Kimura to help Shizune prepare to take over Konoha Hospital and later assist her in running the Logistics Department.

Hyuga Mirai brought Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Naruto to visit Uchiha Mikoto in the Saudi Federation while waiting for Pakura's response to Rōran's merger. Mikoto revealed that Uchiha Fugaku had recently committed suicide, leaving his family in mourning.

• Hyuga Mirai took Kushina, Naruto, and Uzumaki Ayaka to visit old friends in the Federation.
• Hyuga Mirai considered researching the chakra of Naruto and Second Pillar and the secrets behind awakening the Rinnegan.
• Uchiha Hikari welcomed the group and directed them to Uchiha Mikoto's home, noting that Fugaku and his family rarely came out.
• Mikoto welcomed Kushina and the others, while Naruto asked where Sasuke was.
• Hyuga Mirai noticed incense and Mikoto's funeral-like clothing, then asked whether Fugaku was home.
• Mikoto said Fugaku had felt he failed his clansmen and had committed suicide a few days earlier.

Uchiha Mikoto asked Hyuga Mirai to transplant Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan, while Mirai learned that Mount Myoboku had been located and considered destroying it. On the Rain Country battlefield, Konoha prepared to treat the battered Iwa-nin, and Hyuga Kiyomi revealed to Yuhi Kurenai that Amegakure's leader had used the Rinnegan to defeat the Stone forces.

• Uzumaki Naruto asked to see Sasuke, and Uchiha Mikoto encouraged him to go upstairs while Uzumaki Kushina warned him to use the stairs.
• Uchiha Mikoto gave Hyuga Mirai Fugaku's body and Mangekyō Sharingan, asking him to perform a transplant so she could protect Sasuke.
• Android 18 reported that Mount Myoboku contained 213 intelligent toads and more than 730 ordinary ones, and Mirai said he would ask Ichikishimahime whether they wanted to eat toads before deciding whether to destroy the mountain.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen arranged tents and Medical-nin for the injured Iwa-nin Nara Shikaku had brought to the Konoha camp.
• Yuhi Kurenai moved into Hyuga Kiyomi's tent, and Kiyomi told her that Amegakure's leader had used the Rinnegan to devastate the Stone Ninja forces.

Konoha and Iwa prepared a force and tactics to fight Amegakure's leader, Pain, while Kimimaro went to claim Root under Tsunade's appointment. When Root guards refused to recognize his authority and threatened violence, Kimimaro killed them and entered the base.

• Hyuga Kiyomi warned Yuhi Kurenai that she might be called on to counter the Rinnegan, and the two teased each other about marriage.
• Nara Shikaku presented his analysis of Pain's abilities, and Sarutobi Hiruzen and Ōnoki joined the assembled leaders in planning an attack on Amegakure's leader.
• The commanders assigned Hyuga Kiyomi and Hyuga Keita to observe Pain, gave Yuhi Kurenai and other fighters supporting roles, and equipped participants with Healing Tags and Medical Ninja Uniforms.
• Kakashi accompanied Kimimaro and a squad of Anbu to Root so Kimimaro could take command with Tsunade's letter of appointment.
• Two Root guards refused Kimimaro's order and reached for their weapons, so Kimimaro killed them with Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets and took one guard's mask.

Kimimaro forced Root to recognize Tsunade's authority, killing the members who resisted and taking control of the base. After Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived, he agreed to provide Anbu personnel so Kimimaro could begin taking over Root.

• Kakashi followed Kimimaro into Root's base after ordering an Anbu member to alert Tsunade and gather reinforcements.
• Kimimaro killed Captain A, injured another Root ninja, and made two others submit to Tsunade's orders.
• Kimimaro entered the base alone as Kakashi and the Anbu guarded the Root members outside.
• Kimimaro's battle devastated the underground base, and he later reported killing twenty-one Root members while twenty-eight others remained alive and needed medical treatment.
• Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived with four Anbu squads, heard Kakashi's account, and agreed to lend Kimimaro Anbu personnel to take over Root.

Kimimaro seized Root for Tsunade and helped her drive Danzo and Mitokado Homura from the Hokage Tower, while Tsunade ordered him to take control of Root rather than dispose of its cursed-seal-marked members. Meanwhile, Hyuga Mirai uncovered his theory about the Sharingan and considered targeting Sasuke before Uchiha Mikoto arrived at his guest house.

• Kimimaro sealed Root's records and equipment, left Kakashi to guard the surviving Root Ninja, and reported to Tsunade that the traitors had been killed.
• Tsunade praised Kimimaro, rejected Danzo and Mitokado Homura's objections, and had Anbu escort them from the Hokage Tower.
• Tsunade discussed her succession ceremony and ordered Kimimaro to take control of Root, while she promised to find a way to remove the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
• Kimimaro identified Orochimaru's promised helper as Yakushi Kabuto, whose whereabouts were known only to Orochimaru.
• Hyuga Mirai concluded that the Mangekyō Sharingan's evolution involved genetic factors and considered taking Sasuke, then welcomed Uchiha Mikoto when she arrived.

Hyuga Mirai used a procedure and an emotional illusion to awaken Uchiha Mikoto’s Mangekyō Sharingan, which she succeeded in doing. Testing revealed that her eyes could create powerful barriers and pull anything in her line of sight directly in front of her, leaving Mirai intending to use his research to strengthen the Uchiha Clan.

• Hyuga Mirai explained the Mangekyō awakening procedure to Uchiha Mikoto, and she chose to try awakening her own eyes rather than transplanting Uchiha Fugaku’s.
• Hyuga Mirai restrained Uchiha Mikoto, examined her, and injected a substance to activate her inherited God Tree genes.
• Hyuga Mirai used the Hell Viewing Technique to make Uchiha Mikoto see Uchiha Itachi taking Sasuke away, and her Sharingan awakened into the Mangekyō as she tried to stop him.
• Uchiha Mikoto learned that her Mangekyō abilities were Tamasume no Mikoto, which created a powerful barrier, and Oyamatsumi, which moved anything in her line of sight in front of her.
• Hyuga Mirai, Uchiha Mikoto, Uzumaki Ayaka, and Uzumaki Kushina tested her abilities, and Mirai considered how her strength and his research could benefit the Uchiha Clan.

Kakuzu and Raiga Kurosuki destroyed an Iwagakure supply unit while Nagato prepared for possible conflict with Konoha. After signing an agreement that brought the Uzumaki Company into the Saudi Federation, Hyuga Mirai traveled to Konoha in response to Tsunade’s plea for help and met her at home.

• Kakuzu burned the Iwagakure logistics ninja, collected their Sealing Scrolls, and left with Raiga Kurosuki for their next mission.
• Nagato told Konan he would investigate Konoha’s plans and might use the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path if Pain’s Six Paths could not defeat them.
• Elder Yasunori signed an agreement with Hyuga Mirai, expanding the Saudi Federation and bringing the Uzumaki Company into it.
• Tsunade asked Hyuga Mirai for help with Konoha’s workload, and he promised to speak to Orochimaru and visit her with liquor.
• Hyuga Mirai traveled to Konoha, cleaned Tsunade’s house, and waited until she returned from the Hokage Tower.

Hyuga Mirai briefed Tsunade on the Federation’s expansion plans and prepared her to face Nagato by giving her the Gene Optimization Serum. As Suna-nin began attacking nobles in the Land of Fire to force Konoha into battle, Tsunade assigned the response to the Anbu, putting the Sarutobi Clan’s forces on the spot.

• Hyuga Mirai showed Tsunade Yakushi Kabuto’s file and urged her to recruit him as an assistant.
• Hyuga Mirai explained the Federation’s plans and warned Tsunade that she might need to fight Nagato if Konoha was defeated in Rain Country.
• Hyuga Mirai injected Tsunade with the Gene Optimization Serum, then left Konoha to pursue research into Indra and Asura’s Chakra.
• Pakura ordered twenty squads to attack nobles in the Land of Fire so Konoha would be forced to leave its defensive position at Kikyo Castle.
• After four nobles were attacked and demanded action, Tsunade decided to send the Anbu after the Suna-nin and called for the Anbu Captain.

Tsunade sent Sarutobi Shinnosuke and the Anbu to intercept Suna-nin while preparing to support the Rain Country front, where Konoha and Iwa-nin faced Amegakure’s Six Paths of Pain. As the battle began, Nara Shikaku’s deception let him trap Deva Path Pain with the Shadow Imitation Technique.

• Tsunade assigned Sarutobi Shinnosuke’s Anbu to intercept at least seventy or eighty Suna-nin near Kikyo Castle and kept Kakashi behind for another mission.
• Tsunade prepared to reach the Rain Country battlefield using the Flying Thunder God Technique and found that her strengthened body could fuse Water and Earth Chakra to grow a sapling.
• Amegakure assembled its troops against Konoha and Iwa-nin, and Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered an evacuation when a guard spotted Nagato approaching the camp.
• Hyuga Kiyomi warned Yuhi Kurenai that her genjutsu might fail against the Rinnegan, while Kurenai revealed she had trained in taijutsu and could open the Gate of Life.
• The Six Paths of Pain entered Konoha’s encirclement and confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen and Ōnoki, who vowed to avenge Kitsuchi and the Iwa-nin.
• Nara Shikaku used a Shadow Clone and a hidden position behind the Akimichi Clan to catch Deva Path Pain with the Shadow Imitation Technique.