Chapter Summaries

After Kakashi defeated Kakuzu, he ate with the Konoha group and wondered about Kakuzu’s apparent desire for him to win. With the afternoon final against Killer B approaching, Kakashi left to rest and prepare a secret technique.

• Kakashi wondered whether the mysterious Kakuzu had ties to Konoha because Kakuzu seemed to want him to win.
• Jiraiya suggested that Consultant Danzo might know Kakuzu’s identity, while Tsunade and the others discussed their old teammate Orochimaru.
• The Konoha group learned that Danzo would reimburse their meal and celebrate if Kakashi won the championship.
• Kakashi admitted he was unsure whether Killer B would use the Eight-Tails’ Chakra in their match.
• Tsunade said she would bet on Kakashi, so Jiraiya distracted her with wine while Kakashi left to rest.
• Kakashi walked out of the private room and decided he needed to prepare a secret technique.

Kakashi Hatake faced Killer B in the Battle Top Ninja Tournament final, using Silver Wolf against the Eight-Tails. After matching Killer B’s dance to break his rhythm, Kakashi launched a Lightning Cutter and appeared to win the match.

• Kakashi and Killer B released their Battle Tops, but the Eight-Tails repeatedly countered Silver Wolf’s attacks.
• Killer B rapped and danced as the Eight-Tails attacked in rhythm, making it difficult for Kakashi to focus.
• Kakashi revealed his Sharingan and copied Killer B’s dance, matching his rhythm while searching for an opening.
• Kakashi stopped dancing and ordered Silver Wolf to use Lightning Cutter against the Eight-Tails.
• The attack landed with a deafening crash, and the crowd cheered as Kakashi declared it was a Battle Top match, not a dance battle.

After the Battle Top Competition, Kakashi struggled with his sudden celebrity status and agreed to attend a victory banquet arranged by Danzo. Meanwhile, Tsunade bullied Jiraiya into writing her a ten-billion IOU, and Shizune learned that Tsunade fully intended to collect it.

• Kakashi hid from fans who recognized him after his dance, while Asuma teased him about his fame and reminded him to attend Danzo's victory banquet.
• Kakashi agreed to follow Danzo's arrangements, acknowledging that the Hokage had ordered him to do so.
• Tsunade demanded ten billion from Jiraiya, blamed him for her failed bet, and made him write an IOU for the amount.
• Shizune tried to tear up the IOU, but Tsunade stopped her and insisted Jiraiya repay the debt when he had money.

At Konoha’s victory banquet, Jiraiya asked Rasa how Sunagakure had helped Gaara and Shukaku coexist, and Rasa claimed love was the answer. Rasa then argued that Konoha’s history of mistreating the Tailed Beasts would make earning their trust much harder.

• Danzo hosted a lavish victory banquet, attracting business proposals from smaller ninja villages while Kakashi quietly enjoyed the food.
• Jiraiya asked Rasa whether Gaara’s companion was truly the One-Tail and whether ninjas could live happily alongside Tailed Beasts.
• Rasa told Jiraiya that Shukaku had been moved through love, and Jiraiya accepted the explanation with hope.
• Rasa reflected that love alone could not prevent a Tailed Beast from overpowering a Jinchuriki whose heart or body was vulnerable.
• Rasa warned that Konoha would struggle to win a Tailed Beast’s affection because Hashirama and Madara had beaten them, captured and sold them, and Konoha had blamed the Nine-Tails for its rampage.
• Jiraiya fell silent as Rasa’s account made Konoha’s treatment of the Nine-Tails sound difficult to excuse.

Black Zetsu and the White Zetsu plotted to sabotage the next day's competitions for Kaguya, but Tobi suggested using Tsunade's unlucky betting record instead. At the Astronomical Observatory, Jiraiya shared a quiet, drunken conversation with Tsunade before she fell asleep and the Star God appeared in the sky.

• Black Zetsu rejected the White Zetsu's ideas to poison, abduct, or replace their competitors because they could not risk angering the Kazekage or Kaguya.
• Tobi suggested getting Tsunade to bet on the competitors, and Black Zetsu and the White Zetsu agreed it was a good plan.
• Tsunade wondered who was thinking about her while drinking with Jiraiya at the Astronomical Observatory.
• Jiraiya asked Tsunade whether her blood phobia had gone away, and she insisted she was happy while admitting she had spent Nawaki's savings.
• Jiraiya began to ask Tsunade if she remembered something, but the sky brightened and he excitedly pointed out the Star God as Tsunade fell asleep.

Jiraiya recalled how his feelings for Tsunade had changed over the years, then arrived at the arcade tournament to find that he and Tsunade had been matched against each other. Their first-round game began with both choosing Tsunade, and the two exchanged taunts as the duel started.

• Jiraiya remembered growing up with Tsunade and Orochimaru, being beaten by Tsunade, and eventually falling in love with her before she rejected him.
• Jiraiya left for the competition venue and found Shiranui Genma, Asuma, and Izumo Kamizuki among the first-round participants, along with a match between himself and Tsunade.
• Rasa assured Director Danzo that the tournament draw was fair, and the participants took their places at the arcade machines.
• The participants selected their game characters, while the Fourth Raikage chose the Fourth Hokage and Jiraiya and Tsunade both chose Tsunade.
• Jiraiya greeted Tsunade and teased her about looking tired, and Tsunade threatened to beat him senseless.

Tsunade and Jiraiya faced accusations of throwing their arcade match, and Jiraiya discovered Tsunade’s poor play stemmed from her hemophobia. He deliberately defeated her to make her confront the game’s blood effects, but she smashed the arcade machine and screamed at him.

• Tsunade admitted she had bet on herself winning the championship despite not knowing any combos, and Jiraiya worried about fighting her seriously.
• Tobi accused the Konoha competitors of fixing the match, and the audience demanded that they be banned.
• Jiraiya realized Tsunade had not learned the game’s finishing moves because the blood effects triggered her hemophobia.
• Jiraiya launched a powerful combo that defeated Tsunade’s character and covered the screen in blood.
• Tsunade stayed conscious after the loss, then slammed into the arcade machine and screamed at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya won his match against Tsunade, but Shizune warned that Tsunade had not recovered and would likely attack him when she woke. As the first round continued into the night, a hidden group discussed using Tsunade’s hemophobia and lack of money to make her place bets.

• Jiraiya explained that Tsunade’s brief health recovery effect made his victory look like a gentlemanly match, but Shizune said Tsunade was still unconscious and warned him to leave Sunagakure.
• Izumo Kamizuki told Jiraiya and Asuma that the Fourth Raikage had defeated him while showing off the Fourth Hokage’s techniques.
• Jiraiya vowed to defeat the Fourth Raikage, while Asuma and the other ninjas predicted Tsunade would punish him.
• The first day of the Ninja Emperor Competition continued into the night, with the Fourth Raikage, Jiraiya, and Kaguya drawing attention for their performances.
• A hidden group identified Tsunade’s hemophobia and discussed opening an investment company to get her to place bets without exposing themselves.

A Sacred Tree Group representative recruited Tsunade as an investment consultant, promising her a large salary and betting funds. At the Ninja Emperor Competition, the second-round draw paired Jiraiya with Shiranui Genma, whom Tsunade had just threatened to bet on.

• A black-haired Sacred Tree Group representative persuaded Tsunade to take a betting consultant job, citing the Fourth Kazekage's recommendation and offering a ten-million-ryo bet.
• After Tsunade agreed, the representative told his associate that she would blame the Fourth Kazekage if things went badly and ordered him to arrange bets against her.
• Tsunade arrived at the competition in high spirits and told Jiraiya she had been hired to bet on matches.
• The second-round draw paired Jiraiya with Shiranui Genma, and Tsunade urged Genma to beat Jiraiya for her.

Konoha continued to suffer losses in the competition as Jiraiya defeated one of its ninja after another, while Tsunade tried to force him to lose. The day’s final match began with Killer B facing Kaguya Otsutsuki, whose choice of Madara Uchiha left Black Zetsu confident that she would win.

• Shisui Uchiha saw that he would face Jiraiya and accepted his likely defeat, while Asuma and the other Konoha ninja commiserated with him.
• Tsunade confronted Jiraiya, complained that his victories had cost her money, and demanded that he lose to Shisui.
• Shisui lost to Jiraiya, and Asuma learned that he would face the Fourth Raikage; Might Guy offered to let Asuma play as him instead.
• Black Zetsu warned Kaguya Otsutsuki that Kumogakure and Killer B were formidable, then revealed that he had recorded information about every contestant.
• Killer B chose the Fourth Raikage, while Kaguya Otsutsuki chose Madara Uchiha for the final match of the day.

Danzo challenged Sunagakure over Jiraiya repeatedly drawing Konoha opponents, so Rasa switched the matchups to a manual draw. The draw still paired Jiraiya with Asuma and set Might Guy against the Fourth Raikage, while Kakashi prepared to face the mysterious opponent again.

• Danzo accused Sunagakure of rigging the competition and demanded an explanation, but its technicians found no problem with the selection system.
• Rasa arranged for Danzo to draw the matchups by hand to reassure him.
• Danzo drew Jiraiya and Asuma Sarutobi as opponents, then left in humiliation.
• Jiraiya refused Asuma's suggestion to visit a monk and told him that fate had decided the match.
• Might Guy welcomed his match against the Fourth Raikage, while Kakashi's name appeared opposite the mysterious opponent he had faced before.

Kakuzu and Kakashi faced off in the arcade tournament while Yahiko and Nagato watched the matches. The chapter ended with Might Guy and the Fourth Raikage breaking their arcade machines during their duel, forcing both contestants to leave the stage.

• Kakuzu chose himself as his character for his match against Kakashi.
• Yahiko and Nagato discussed their early elimination, the tournament, and Kabuto’s strong performance.
• Kakashi revealed his Sharingan to keep pace with Kakuzu’s multiple hands at the controls.
• The Fourth Raikage recognized Might Guy as Might Duy’s son and increased his Lightning Release output.
• Might Guy opened more gates as the Fourth Raikage powered up, and their arcade machines cracked apart at the same time.
• Might Guy and the Fourth Raikage both exited the stage when their match ended.

Sunagakure celebrated as Kabuto and Kaguya reached the Ninja Emperor competition finals alongside Kakashi. That night, Itachi comforted Sasuke while Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed their losses, and Kakashi told Shizune that Tsunade and Jiraiya had no chance of getting together.

• Kabuto and Kaguya advanced to the final three with Kakashi, prompting Sunagakure to celebrate its strong showing.
• Sasuke complained to Itachi that Itachi had missed the top three through bad luck, and Itachi took him for a walk.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya that she had bet on him after her company instructed her to, and Jiraiya realized why he had lost.
• Shizune asked Kakashi whether Tsunade and Jiraiya could become a couple, and Kakashi said they had no chance.
• Shizune gave up spying after Tsunade apparently beat Jiraiya again, and Kakashi remarked that it was normal.

The Ninja Emperor Cup ended when Kakashi and Kaguya Otsutsuki were both eliminated, making Kabuto champion without a fight. As Sunagakure celebrated the end of its festival, a group planned to seize a casino operator’s betting money in the name of enforcing the law.

• Tsunade bet on Kakashi and then placed another bet on Kaguya Otsutsuki, despite Kakuzu warning her about gambling.
• Kakashi used Extreme Style—Mutual Destruction, eliminating himself and Kaguya at the same time and giving Kabuto the championship by default.
• Tsunade cursed her gambling luck, while the White Zetsu Gang realized she had bet on both sides and set off to confront her.
• Sunagakure’s second-year festivities ended, and shops held steeply discounted sales as visitors prepared to leave.
• A group near an inn discussed taking a casino operator’s ninja tool pouch and confiscating his betting money, claiming his gambling business was illegal.

Jiraiya discussed Naruto’s future with Asuma before leaving Sunagakure, while Rasa and Kabuto talked about Ebizo accompanying Sasori. Rasa assigned Kabuto to investigate an underground gambling den.

• Asuma asked Jiraiya whether he would return to Konoha with Tsunade, but Jiraiya said he still had things to do.
• Jiraiya urged Asuma to tell the Third Hokage that Naruto’s status as a Jinchuriki was already known and warned that Naruto needed support and training.
• Asuma and the other Konoha Ninjas departed, and Jiraiya wished Naruto well before entering Sunagakure.
• Rasa explained to Kabuto why he trusted Ebizo to accompany Sasori and said Sasori might not intend to escape.
• Rasa told Kabuto to inspect an underground gambling den under the pretense of cracking down on illegal casinos, and Kabuto reluctantly agreed.

Kakuzu was arrested in Sunagakure for running an illegal gambling den, and Rasa offered him a way to avoid a crushing fine. The chapter left Kakuzu considering Rasa’s promise of a legitimate way to get rich.

• Kakuzu learned that Sunagakure’s ninja had surrounded his inn and refused to open the door, but they blasted their way in to arrest him.
• Tsunade and Shizune heard the disturbance and learned that Sunagakure was cracking down on illegal gambling and seizing the proceeds.
• Sunagakure announced that dozens of gambling dens had been sealed, their owners arrested, and large sums of Silver Liang confiscated.
• Rasa revealed that he knew Kakuzu’s past and explained that Kakuzu had been arrested for operating an unauthorized gambling den, not for being a rogue ninja.
• Rasa told Kakuzu that he faced about three months in prison and a fine of at least one hundred million, while his gambling proceeds would be confiscated.
• Kakuzu protested that he could not pay, and Rasa asked whether he wanted to get rich the legitimate way.

Hiruzen visited Danzo’s newly built villa, where he learned about its surveillance cameras and saw how lavishly Danzo lived. Danzo appeared in a yukata after bathing, and Hiruzen was struck by how much his old friend seemed to have changed.

• Hiruzen arrived at Danzo’s villa and was astonished by its size and luxurious design.
• A masked Jonin explained that cameras monitored the gate and that Danzo was bathing.
• The Jonin led Hiruzen through the villa, where he noticed Shimura Clan members and expensive furnishings.
• Danzo descended the stairs in a yukata, and Hiruzen was surprised by his changed bearing.

Danzo and Hiruzen discussed the Nine-Tails, the Uchiha, and the arcade character update while playing golf. Meanwhile, Rasa completed Sunagakure’s arcade upgrade and prepared to notify the other villages, as the Land of Snow’s Daimyo traveled to Sunagakure seeking help.

• Danzo invited Hiruzen to play golf, and they discussed whether the Nine-Tails had been controlled and how much it might hate Konoha.
• Hiruzen asked about the Ninja Emperor character photo, and Danzo said its modifications might be ready in a few days.
• Rasa received a disc containing replacement arcade data and learned that the machines in Sunagakure had been updated.
• Rasa planned to notify the other ninja villages to upgrade their arcade machines after optimizing the graphics and character designs.
• The Land of Snow’s Daimyo traveled toward Sunagakure, hoping it could help his country prosper.

Rasa discussed Shukaku’s work and Gaara’s training before learning that the Daimyo of the Land of Snow had arrived seeking cooperation with Sunagakure. After seeing the village’s prosperity, Kazahana Sōsetsu arranged to explore it with a guide.

• Rasa questioned Shukaku about Gaara’s Sand Release training, and Shukaku insisted the boy was talented and would become an excellent ninja.
• Rasa rejected Shukaku’s suggestion to make Gaara a Jinchuriki and warned Shukaku to stay alert around White Zetsu.
• A Sand shinobi told Rasa that the Daimyo of the Land of Snow had arrived hoping to cooperate with Sunagakure, and Rasa ordered that the visitors be received well.
• Kazahana Sōsetsu admired Sunagakure’s busy streets and learned from a Grand Sail Hotel server that the village’s recent prosperity came under the Fourth Kazekage.
• Kazahana Sōsetsu asked to walk around Sunagakure, and the server went to arrange a tour guide.

Kazahana Sōsetsu visited Sunagakure with Asama Sandayu to explore whether cooperation could help the Land of Snow prosper, and a tour guide assured them that the Fourth Kazekage had accepted other proposals. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Danzo had invited Mito and Koharu to the Great Sail to discuss buying land, leaving him dismayed by how much Danzo had changed.

• Kazahana Sōsetsu toured prosperous Sunagakure and hoped it could help the Land of Snow despite the tour guide ordering an enormous barbecue meal.
• Asama Sandayu asked the tour guide about cooperation, and the guide said the Fourth Kazekage had agreed to proposals from other countries and ninja villages.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on Danzo’s wealth and summoned an Anbu Jonin to call Mito and Koharu to a meeting.
• The Anbu Jonin told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Danzo had invited Mito and Koharu to the Great Sail to discuss acquiring a plot of land in Konoha’s south.