Chapter Summaries

Aizen and Black Zetsu devised a plan to attack the Hidden Stone Village and exploit the resulting crisis to capture the Tailed Beasts. Meanwhile, the demonic disaster had engulfed most of the Shinobi World, and the chapter left the villages facing an uncertain future.

• Aizen proposed concentrating their forces to severely wound the Hidden Stone Village, while Nagato said the Animal Path could summon them back if they were in danger.
• Aizen explained that sparing the Hidden Stone Village's leaders would make the other nations fear for themselves, and Black Zetsu proposed using Danzo to arrange a Five Kage Summit as a trap.
• Black Zetsu planned to expose the supposed summit trap to the Raikage, prompting a counter-ambush that would give the group a chance to attack the nations and capture the Jinchuriki.
• Yahiko agreed to gather everyone in Grass Country and prepare to attack the Hidden Stone Village.
• The demonic beasts had overrun nearly seventy percent of the Shinobi World's territory, while the expanded ninja ranks helped civilians survive and accelerated the integration of civilians and ninjas.

Obito persuaded Danzo to support Akatsuki’s plan to lure the other four Kage and Shimizu Soseki to a Five Kage Summit, claiming Akatsuki would seize Iwagakure and use controlled Kage to trap Soseki. Danzo agreed to help while secretly planning to expose the scheme and turn Akatsuki against Soseki.

• Obito told Danzo that Akatsuki would use the war and an attack on Iwagakure to arrange a Five Kage Summit and capture the other Kage and Shimizu Soseki.
• Obito showed Danzo photographs of Hanzō being controlled by Genjutsu and Demonic Beasts hidden in Amegakure to convince him the summit proposal would be credible.
• Obito claimed Akatsuki could control the four Kage with puppet insects and Aizen’s Genjutsu, then trap Soseki in the Four Red Yang Formation.
• Danzo concealed his alarm that Akatsuki might control him, told Obito he would cooperate, and watched him vanish with a spatial ability.
• After Obito left, Danzo decided Akatsuki could be used against Soseki and planned to reveal the Kage’s control before they could spring their trap.

Danzo planned to exploit Akatsuki’s attack on Iwagakure to undermine Shimizu Soseki and gain power, then called for a Five Kage Summit. In Iwagakure, Soseki healed the wounded, and Kitsuchi woke to learn that his father was out of danger and thanked Soseki.

• Danzo planned to expose Akatsuki, use photos to sway the other villages, and arrange for Soseki to track Akatsuki’s summoning technique with Flying Thunder God markings.
• Ryoma told Danzo that Akatsuki had attacked Iwagakure, badly wounded the Tsuchikage and Kitsuchi, and escaped after Soseki arrived.
• Danzo ordered Ryoma to invite the other four villages to a Five Kage Summit and send them copies of the photos.
• Soseki sustained his Rain of Serenity medical ninjutsu across Iwagakure as Kitsuchi regained consciousness.
• Kitsuchi learned that Soseki had saved him and that the Tsuchikage was out of danger, then thanked Soseki and noticed Deidara nearby.

After Akatsuki devastated Iwagakure, Shimizu Soseki urged Kitsuchi to help unite the villages against them. In Kumogakure, A and his allies suspected the Hokage’s photographs came from Akatsuki and planned to use the Five Kage Summit to expose the organization.

• Soseki warned Kitsuchi that other villages could be attacked and urged them to prepare and unite against Akatsuki.
• Kitsuchi vowed to persuade the other villages, using Iwagakure’s destruction as a warning, while Deidara asked Soseki to sew a mouth onto the back of his hand.
• In Kumogakure, A showed Dodai, Yugito, and Killer B photographs of an Akatsuki base and explained that their source and unusually clear angles suggested they came from Akatsuki.
• Dodai realized Akatsuki had released Danzo years earlier for a larger plan, and A proposed using the Five Kage Summit to draw Akatsuki into the open.
• A refused to bring Killer B and Yugito to the summit, while Dodai promised to warn the other Kage and Soseki about the ambush.

Danzo and the other Kage gathered in the Land of Iron to discuss an alliance against Akatsuki, while both sides waited for their secret plans to unfold. Danzo tried to provoke a fight, and A finally struck him, leaving the meeting’s ambush plan in motion.

• Danzo arrived at the Land of Iron with Kinoe and Ryoma and insisted that the Five Kage Summit begin early.
• Kitsuchi explained that Ōnoki was gravely injured and unconscious, then warned the Kage that Akatsuki threatened the entire Shinobi World.
• Danzo agreed to an alliance and pointed the other Kage toward Hidden Rain Village, while they debated how to deal with Akatsuki’s members and abilities.
• The summit proceeded normally as Danzo and the other Kage waited for their opposing plans to begin.
• A challenged Danzo about how he obtained the photographs, and Danzo spat at him and dared him to strike.
• A smashed the table into Danzo and sent him flying, while Danzo realized that A had actually hit him.

The Five Kage Summit descended into chaos as the four villages attacked Danzō, who accused them of being controlled by Akatsuki. Soseki stopped the fighting and revealed that Akatsuki had targeted the villages’ Jinchuriki, while Danzō had been used as a pawn; the story then shifted to Leaf Village, where young Naruto and Sasuke asked to graduate early.

• Ryoma, Kinoe, the Raikage, and shinobi from the Cloud and Stone Villages joined the fight against Danzō, while Mifune failed to calm them.
• Danzō claimed that Akatsuki had controlled the Four Kage and called on Mifune, Dodai, and the others to help him.
• Soseki stopped the fighting and explained that Akatsuki had targeted the villages’ Jinchuriki and discarded Danzō after using him as a decoy.
• Rasa and the other Kage asked about their villages, and Soseki said he had sent clones to support them.
• At the Ninja Academy, Naruto and Sasuke asked Yagami Kei to let them graduate early, but he suggested ways they could help the village without going to the battlefield.

Naruto and Sasuke discussed finding work for Naruto’s father, but Kurama sensed a familiar attacker as a battle erupted at the Uchiha clan grounds. Kushina realized she and Kurama were trapped in a powerful Genjutsu while Mikoto faced danger, and she tried to use Kurama’s ability to sense malice to identify the real threat.

• Naruto and Sasuke complained about being kept from graduating, then discussed having Naruto’s father work for the Police Department or help transport goods.
• Kurama sensed a battle and recognized the presence of someone who had returned, as an explosion set the Uchiha clan grounds ablaze.
• Kushina apologized to Mikoto for the destruction of her house, while the masked man threatened to use Mikoto as leverage and charged toward her.
• Kushina attacked Obito with Chakra Chains, but they passed through him, and Kurama warned her that she was under Genjutsu.
• Kurama revealed that the Genjutsu had affected him too and that he could not sense any malice from one of the attackers.
• Kushina told Kurama to ignore what she saw and heard and report only where he sensed malice.

Obito attacked Kushina, Mikoto, and the Uchiha clansmen, revealing his space-time ability and overwhelming them with Wood Release. Itachi protected Mikoto and nearly caught Obito with an explosive Shuriken, but Fugaku arrived with his Susanoo to shield them.

• Obito phased through the Uchiha clansmen’s attacks and tried to strike Mikoto, but Kushina’s Chakra Chains forced him to dodge.
• Minato arrived, and Obito used Wood Release to injure and pin several Uchiha clansmen while Mikoto escaped with a wound to her shoulder.
• Itachi attacked Obito and carried Mikoto away as Obito unleashed Deep Forest Emergence to pursue them.
• Itachi’s explosive Shuriken forced Obito to retreat into his other dimension, and Obito realized Itachi had understood his ability.
• Obito covered the trees in thorns and sent them against Itachi and Mikoto, but Fugaku’s purple Chakra skeleton shielded them.

Fugaku fought Obito while Sasuke and Naruto arrived at the battlefield, where Sasuke awakened the Sharingan and Itachi awakened a time-stopping ability. Obito escaped with Aizen as Naruto transformed into the Nine-Tails and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb, while Sasuke began considering making Naruto his Summoning Beast.

• Fugaku controlled Susanoo to attack Obito, forcing him to evade as the Uchiha clansmen cheered.
• Sasuke and Naruto arrived, and Sasuke awakened a tomoe in his Sharingan when he saw his injured parents.
• Obito fired an Impalement Technique at Sasuke, but time froze briefly, letting Sasuke dodge and awakening Itachi's ability to stop time and space.
• Naruto transformed into the Nine-Tails and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb, so Obito pulled Aizen away with his space-time power.
• Minato opened a Space-Time Barrier to intercept the Tailed Beast Bomb, while Sasuke considered making Naruto his Summoning Beast.

In the Kamui Dimension, Aizen let Obito explain Akatsuki’s plan to use the Gold and Silver Brothers as substitutes for the Nine-Tails while drawing Shimizu Soseki’s attention toward Kushina. Aizen revealed he had anticipated Obito’s trap and attacked him, displaying an uncanny ability to recover from injuries.

• Obito and Black Zetsu bound Aizen and Shisui in the Kamui Dimension, and Obito admitted he had injured Uchiha while claiming he wanted Akatsuki to return to its original path.
• Obito explained that Aizen’s information about the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu had helped him plan to use the Gold and Silver Brothers’ Nine-Tails Chakra as a temporary substitute.
• Aizen deduced that Obito planned to use an incomplete Ten-Tails to capture the Nine-Tails later and to keep Shimizu Soseki focused on Kushina.
• Aizen revealed that the bound figure was a clone and that he had entered the dimension prepared, then told Obito he had only stalled to play a game.
• Aizen charged Obito, smashed him through his Wood Release armor, and instantly regenerated his pierced hand.

Aizen overwhelmed Obito and his allies in the Kamui Dimension, while the Leaf learned Akatsuki had attacked Jinchuriki across the Five Great Shinobi Countries. Obito’s mask broke during the renewed fight, leaving his identity exposed.

• Obito ordered Shisui and Black Zetsu to support his assault on Aizen, but Aizen countered with a massive sword slash that forced Obito to pull all three into the Kamui Dimension.
• The Third Hokage and Minato learned that Akatsuki had targeted Jinchuriki in multiple villages while the Five Kage were away at the summit.
• Obito briefly returned with Shisui and Black Zetsu to the Leaf, where Itachi recognized Shisui among the Akatsuki members, before Obito escaped back into the dimension.
• Obito pierced Aizen’s chest with Wood Release, but Aizen healed instantly and continued beating him while Shisui’s Genjutsu and Black Zetsu’s spores failed.
• Aizen struck Obito hard enough to break his mask and send it falling to the ground.

Obito’s attempt to escape with Shisui and another captive failed when Aizen manipulated his exit coordinates, exposing Obito’s identity to the gathered shinobi. Obito fled again, while Minato revealed he could track him and Fugaku feared the incident would become an excuse to target the Uchiha.

• Aizen attacked Obito in the Kamui Dimension, and Obito escaped with Shisui and another person while leaving behind a threat.
• Obito reappeared in front of the gathered shinobi, who recognized him as Uchiha Obito and confronted him with their shock and anger.
• Obito panicked at being exposed and returned to the Kamui Dimension with his companions, while Black Zetsu feared Shimizu Soseki would uncover their plans involving Rin.
• Minato told the Third Hokage he had let Obito escape because a Flying Thunder God formula on him could lead them to Akatsuki’s main base.
• Fugaku worried that Obito and Shisui’s association with Akatsuki would give the Hokage a reason to purge the Uchiha.

After Aizen was trapped, Obito feared he and Black Zetsu could no longer return to the Akatsuki, but Black Zetsu attacked him and revealed that Rin might still be alive. Obito resisted Black Zetsu’s possession and drove him out with his furious determination to protect Rin.

• Obito told Shisui to rest, then worried that witnesses to Aizen’s disappearance would expose their involvement and force them to defect from the Akatsuki.
• Black Zetsu urged Obito to return to the Leaf Village, but Obito refused, so Black Zetsu punched through his abdomen and began taking over his body.
• Black Zetsu claimed Rin had survived, revealed that her coffin had been empty, and suggested that the Three-Tails’ resurrection was necessary to complete her return.
• Obito realized he had destroyed Rin’s chance of resurrection by killing the Three-Tails and broke down over his past actions toward Minato and Kushina.
• Black Zetsu declared he would take Obito’s place among his friends and claim Rin, but Obito’s fury strengthened his will and forced Black Zetsu out.

Obito decided to return to the Leaf Village to obtain help reclaiming the Three-Tails, unaware that Black Zetsu remained hidden inside him. At the Five Kage Summit, Soseki challenged Danzo to endure his genjutsu, trapping him in a memory of the Second Hokage’s final instructions.

• Obito resolved to ask his senior in the Leaf Village to capture Aizen and exchange him for the Three-Tails, then went to tell Shisui he was returning.
• Black Zetsu revealed he was hiding inside Obito and planned to let him act according to his own will to avoid exposing himself to Soseki.
• Shisui worried his cover might have been exposed, then heard Obito ask him to return to the Leaf Village with him.
• At the Five Kage Summit, Rasa, Mei Terumi, and Kitsuchi challenged Danzo over his ties to Akatsuki, while Danzo insisted he had cooperated for peace.
• Soseki told Danzo to resign and offered to leave the decision open if Danzo could withstand one genjutsu; Danzo accepted.
• Soseki cast Eternal Samsara, causing Danzo to believe he was listening to the Second Hokage’s final instructions.

Danzo was trapped in a genjutsu that made him relive countless lives in which he became Hokage, until the title filled him with revulsion. He emerged from the illusion alive but violently reacted whenever anyone said “Hokage.”

• When the Second Hokage chose Hiruzen as bait and named Danzo his successor, Danzo became Hokage and later united the shinobi world.
• After dying, Danzo was reborn repeatedly and kept becoming Hokage, while each cycle deepened his exhaustion and disgust with the position.
• Danzo tried resigning, hiding his identity, and even declaring himself a traitor, but the others kept returning him to the Hokage role.
• In later cycles, Danzo vomited, attacked the Second Hokage, and tried to kill himself whenever he heard that he would become Hokage.
• After Danzo finally came out of the genjutsu, Ryoma celebrated his victory, but Danzo vomited and begged everyone not to say “Hokage.”

Soseki explained that he had trapped Danzo in thousands of lives as Hokage, leaving Danzo mentally broken. Meanwhile, Uchiha clan members prepared a coup, and Fugaku learned they had already announced it just as Danzo lost the Hokage position.

• Soseki said Danzo had experienced several thousand illusionary lifetimes that all ended with him becoming Hokage, and Danzo collapsed after the experience.
• Uchiha radicals urged Fugaku to launch a coup against Danzo, arguing that the clan faced destruction if it did not act.
• Fugaku worried that the Uchiha’s anger and confidence could lead them to become reckless after a successful coup.
• Itachi told Fugaku that Danzo had been removed as Hokage over alleged ties to Akatsuki, and Fugaku expected Soseki to succeed him.
• Fugaku suggested canceling the coup, but a radical leader revealed that the clan had already been told to prepare for it.

Fugaku and Itachi failed to stop the Uchiha radicals from pursuing a coup and decided one of them would bear the blame to protect the clan. Two days later, Konoha’s people gathered at the gates, eagerly awaiting Soseki’s return and expecting him to become Hokage.

• The Uchiha radicals persuaded Fugaku to accept the coup and asked him to arrange contact with Shisui and help devise a plan.
• Fugaku and Itachi privately concluded that they might have to kill some of the radicals before the coup and take the blame themselves.
• Two days later, more than a thousand people gathered at Konoha’s gates after hearing Danzo intended to resign and that Soseki might become Hokage.
• Kurenai, Shizune, Asuma, and Kakashi voiced their excitement as they waited for Soseki to return.

Soseki returned to Leaf Village to a joyful welcome and promised to protect it from Akatsuki, while Danzo’s reaction cut the ceremony short. Away from the village, Shisui told Obito that the Uchiha Clan was planning a coup and urged him to use the plotters to regain their trust.

• Anko, Iruka, Hayate, and others gathered to welcome Soseki, while Neji struggled to hold Naruto and Sasuke above the crowd.
• Soseki promised the cheering villagers that he would protect Leaf Village from Akatsuki, and they called on him to become Hokage.
• Danzo vomited amid the crowd’s cries, and Soseki took him to the hospital, ending the ceremony.
• Shisui told Obito that Itachi had contacted him about the Uchiha Clan’s planned coup, despite Soseki’s expected rise to Hokage.
• Shisui urged Obito to use the coup plotters as a token of allegiance, but Obito said he only wanted them to wake Rin.

Soseki reunited with his friends after returning to Konoha, promised he would never leave again, and asked Kurenai and Shizune to stay with him forever. They accepted, and the gathering began celebrating their commitment while the war was still ongoing.

• Soseki visited Danzo in Konoha Hospital, where Danzo convulsed and vomited whenever he heard the word “Hokage.”
• Soseki left the hospital and reunited with his friends, promising Shizune that he would never leave Konoha again.
• Soseki revealed that Kurenai and Shizune were co-owners of his home, which they had kept clean during his absence.
• Soseki asked Kurenai and Shizune to stay with him forever after the war, and both women agreed.
• Asuma, Mizuki, Kakashi, and the others offered their blessings before Soseki invited everyone to begin the banquet.

At a celebratory gathering, Kakashi resolved to bring Obito back and make him answer for his actions. Later, Fugaku secretly told Soseki that the Uchiha planned a coup and proposed sacrificing himself to stop it, just as Shisui arrived.

• Soseki urged Kakashi to bring Obito back, and Kakashi resolved to do so.
• Kakashi apologized to Minato and Kushina on Obito’s behalf and promised to bring back both Obito and Rin.
• After the banquet, Fugaku told Soseki that the Uchiha planned to launch a coup.
• Fugaku proposed killing the radical leaders himself and being blamed as an Akatsuki spy to avert the coup and redirect the clan’s hatred.
• Soseki warned Fugaku that someone was approaching, and Fugaku transformed into a trash can to hide.
• Shisui entered Soseki’s room, and Fugaku recognized his voice.