Chapter Summaries

Seiji revealed that the Trio had defeated only one of his Shadow Clones, praised their teamwork, and decided they would graduate as Genin rather than be promoted directly to Chunin. After the academy exams, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan placed first, second, and third, and received their Hidden Mist headbands at the graduation ceremony.

• Seiji revealed his concealed Shadow Clone and praised Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan for defeating his other clone together.
• Third Mizukage Hyou suggested making the Trio Chunin, but Seiji decided they should begin as Genin and complete that stage of their growth.
• The next day, Seiji reviewed the academy results: Nagato ranked first, Yahiko second, and Konan third.
• Seiji addressed the graduates at the ceremony and awarded Hidden Mist headbands to the top three students.
• Seiji said the graduates' class assignments would be announced the following morning.

Seiji appointed Otsutsuki Tenshin as the Jonin team leader for Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, then examined Otsutsuki Gara’s fetus and discovered its exceptionally pure bloodline threatened her life. He used Yang Release Chakra to supply the fetus with life energy, reassuring the couple that he would keep both mother and child safe.

• Seiji asked Otsutsuki Tenshin to lead his three disciples, and Tenshin accepted.
• Seiji used the Tenseigan to examine Otsutsuki Gara’s fetus and found its bloodline had undergone an ancestral reversion.
• Seiji warned Otsutsuki Tenshin and Otsutsuki Gara that the fetus might drain Gara’s energy or suffer a congenital defect.
• Seiji infused Otsutsuki Gara with Yang Release Chakra, easing her burden and nourishing the fetus.

Seiji learned that Otsutsuki Tenshin and Otsutsuki Gara had named their son Otsutsuki Toneri, while Urashiki Otsutsuki set out alone to investigate Kaguya Otsutsuki’s aura. Two months later, Seiji was training to use his Jōgan and Tenseigan abilities at the same time.

• Otsutsuki Tenshin told Seiji that she and Otsutsuki Gara had named their son Otsutsuki Toneri.
• Urashiki Otsutsuki dismissed the Chakra Fruit he had retrieved and decided to investigate Kaguya Otsutsuki’s aura without informing Momoshiki Otsutsuki.
• Urashiki Otsutsuki opened a Yomotsu Hirasaka portal and traveled toward the Ninja World alone.
• Two months later, Seiji trained in the Otsutsuki Ruins while his Shadow Clone handled affairs in the Mizukage Office.
• Seiji worked to combine his Jōgan and Tenseigan abilities so he could use their powers simultaneously.

Seiji received Shimura Danzō’s request for Kirigakure to ambush Hatake Sakumo’s team after a secret mission in the Land of Hot Water. He recognized the chance to deal Konoha a major blow, while Danzō’s mission details remained undisclosed.

• Hozuki Chino and Karatachi Yagura brought Seiji a letter from Shimura Danzō proposing another collaboration with Kirigakure.
• Seiji reflected on how Danzō used Konoha’s funds to hire Hidden Mist Ninja, weakening his own people while protecting Root and gathering intelligence.
• Seiji read that Hatake Sakumo would lead a team to the Land of Hot Water on a top-secret mission next month.
• Danzō asked Kirigakure to intercept and kill Sakumo’s team on its return to the Land of Fire.
• Seiji recognized that killing Sakumo could sharply weaken Konoha and saw the request as a major opportunity for Kirigakure.

Seiji sent Otsutsuki Tenshin and his disciples to find Kakuzu and negotiate an employment arrangement, with Seiji prepared to intervene if talks failed. Ten days later, they waited in Hot Spring Town for Kakuzu, who arrived there at dusk.

• Seiji accepted Danzō’s proposal to target Hatake Sakumo but chose to keep Kirigakure’s main forces out of the operation.
• Seiji assigned Tenshin, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan an A-rank mission to find Kakuzu and hire him, handing them intelligence and a scroll containing his Shadow Clone.
• Seiji told Tenshin to consult the Third, who had fought Kakuzu several years earlier.
• Tenshin led the team to the Land of Hot Water after Anbu intelligence tracked Kakuzu there through the Underground Exchange.
• The team waited in Hot Spring Town for updated information, and a masked rogue ninja wearing a slashed Takigakure forehead protector approached at dusk.

Nagato sensed Kakuzu approaching the hot spring town, and Otsutsuki Tenshin confirmed his identity with the Byakugan. Kakuzu mistook Tenshin’s group for Konoha shinobi and attacked them outside town; after trading blows and withstanding their combined assault, he faced Tenshin’s next counterattack.

• Nagato detected an unusual Chakra presence, and Otsutsuki Tenshin used his Byakugan to identify Kakuzu near the town.
• Kakuzu collected his one million ryo bounty at the Underground Exchange while the other bounty hunters warned rookies to avoid provoking him.
• Kakuzu left town and spotted Otsutsuki Tenshin, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan waiting outside.
• Kakuzu mistook the group for Konoha shinobi and attacked Tenshin, who blocked the first strike before Kakuzu landed further blows.
• Tenshin used Eight Trigrams: Revolving Heaven to repel Kakuzu, and Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan struck him with a coordinated attack.
• Kakuzu hardened his body with Earth Release: Earth Spear and survived the bombardment, while Tenshin ordered the others back and launched two Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palms.

Otsutsuki Tenshin and Kakuzu fought fiercely, with Tenshin destroying one of Kakuzu’s hearts before Kakuzu activated Earth Grudge Fear Mode. Kakuzu’s combined Final Shot broke Tenshin’s hurried Revolving Heaven and sent him crashing to the ground with a wounded shoulder.

• Otsutsuki Tenshin used Byakugan: Pressure to interrupt Kakuzu’s hand seals, then pierced Kakuzu’s Earth Spear defense and destroyed his Water Release heart with Mountain Shattering Strike.
• Kakuzu expelled the shattered heart, summoned his Fire, Wind, and Lightning masks, and activated Earth Grudge Fear Mode.
• Otsutsuki Tenshin shattered Kakuzu’s black threads with One Blow Body and clashed with Kakuzu until they both retreated from the stalemate.
• Kakuzu used Earth Flow Wall and a Fire-Wind combination attack, but Otsutsuki Tenshin pierced the flames with Divine Air Strike and charged toward him.
• Kakuzu’s masks unleashed Final Shot despite Byakugan: Pressure, and the attack broke through Tenshin’s Revolving Heaven.
• Otsutsuki Tenshin twisted aside so Final Shot only grazed his shoulder, but its force hurled him to the ground as Kakuzu’s blast exploded nearby.

Otsutsuki Tenshin used Kakuzu’s own black threads to destroy his Earth Release heart, but Kakuzu revived and launched another attack. Konan summoned Seiji’s Shadow Clone, and as Kakuzu began retreating, Seiji faced his Final Shot.

• Kakuzu attacked the wounded Otsutsuki Tenshin with Earth Grudge Fear, but Tenshin sent a chakra strike through the connecting threads and shattered Kakuzu’s Earth Release heart.
• Tenshin broke free and retreated to Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, while Kakuzu revived by absorbing his Lightning Release mask.
• Kakuzu attacked Tenshin again, and Tenshin revealed that he and his companions were not Hyuga or Konoha ninja.
• Nagato and Yahiko used a water-and-wind combination technique to hold back Kakuzu’s flames while Konan unsealed Seiji’s Shadow Clone.
• Seiji assessed the battle and praised the group for destroying two of Kakuzu’s hearts.
• Kakuzu launched his Final Shot and began retreating as Seiji and the others stood their ground.

Seiji defeated Kakuzu and revealed that he wanted to hire him to sabotage Hatake Sakumo’s mission. Kakuzu accepted for thirty million ryō, while Seiji planned for Hidden Mist forces to follow as backup and intercept Sakumo if the chance arose.

• Seiji absorbed Kakuzu’s attacks, struck him with a powerful Wind Release, and slammed him into a crater with gravity techniques.
• Seiji identified Kakuzu and revealed that he was the Fourth Mizukage, prompting Kakuzu to recognize him as the heir whose assassination he had once helped plot.
• Seiji offered Kakuzu a job sabotaging Hatake Sakumo’s classified mission in the Land of Hot Water one month later.
• Kakuzu demanded a higher fee, and Seiji raised the reward to thirty million ryō, which Kakuzu eagerly accepted.
• Seiji planned to use Kakuzu to disrupt Sakumo’s mission while Hidden Mist forces followed behind and prepared a second interception.

After Kirigakure's Anbu found traces of Shennong in the Land of Fire, Seiji ordered Suikazan Fuguki and Uzumaki Shinji to help track him down. The chapter explained Shennong's history as the leader of the Empty Ninja Village and revealed that its surviving forces and Angkor Fortress had been hidden underground since Konoha destroyed their supposed homeland.

• Hozuki Chino brought Seiji a telegram reporting traces of Shennong near the Land of Bears in the Land of Fire.
• Seiji assigned the mission to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and called for Uzumaki Shinji's sensory abilities.
• The chapter recounted how the Empty Ninja Village used Chakra-powered aircraft and weapons to attack Konoha during two Shinobi World Wars.
• Konoha destroyed the Empty Ninja Village's apparent homeland, but the real village survived inside the buried Angkor Fortress.
• Seiji, who wanted to acquire the Empty Ninja's technology, learned of Shennong's location through Kirigakure's Anbu.

An ANBU agent uncovered Doctor Shennong as the leader of the Empty Ninja Village after sensing his immense Chakra and reporting back to Kirigakure. Uzumaki Shinji and Suikazan Fuguki led a mission to capture Shennong alive, and Shinji located him from more than a hundred kilometers away.

• An ANBU agent detected Doctor Shennong's immense Chakra and covertly confirmed his identity as the leader of the Empty Ninja Village.
• The ANBU agent reported his discovery to Kirigakure, where Ken ordered him to continue his original mission while Uzumaki Shinji and Suikazan Fuguki received orders to capture Shennong alive.
• One week later, Suikazan Fuguki led the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and Uzumaki Shinji into the southern Land of Fire.
• Uzumaki Shinji used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to locate Shennong about 160 kilometers to the southwest.

Uzumaki Shinji tracked down Doctor Shennong and confronted him as the leader of the Empty Ninja Village. Shennong denied the accusation, but realized Shinji already knew his identity.

• Shennong traveled through the Land of Fire while secretly seeking a way to control the Zero-Tail Void.
• Uzumaki Shinji used sensory perception to find Shennong and blocked his path.
• Shiniji confirmed that the man was Doctor Shennong before identifying him as the Empty Ninja Village's leader.
• Shennong tried to deny his identity, but Shinji silently watched as his rebuttal faltered.

Shennong revealed his identity and used Body Revitalization to attack Uzumaki Shinji, but the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist joined the fight. Their coordinated assault broke through Shennong’s defenses and ended with Jinin Akebino severing his arm.

• Shennong shed his disguise, activated Body Revitalization, and lunged at Uzumaki Shinji.
• Kushimaru Kuriarare used Nuibari to pull Uzumaki Shinji clear of Shennong’s punch, revealing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist waiting in ambush.
• Suikazan Fuguki urged Uzumaki Shinji to notify the Mizukage as Juzo Biwa and Saito Kage attacked Shennong with a Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.
• Shennong shattered the combined technique with his Divine Transformation Fist, but Jinin Akebino and Munashi Jinpachi charged in behind it.
• Jinin Akebino blocked Shennong’s defense with Kabutowari and struck its hammer against the blade, severing Shennong’s arm.

Shennong survived the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist’s attacks by regenerating his injuries and restoring his severed arm, then unleashed the Eight Inner Gates against them. The battle continued as he opened the Seventh Gate of Wonder.

• Jinin Akebino severed Shennong’s arm, and Munashi Jinpachi blasted him away with Exploding Blade Shibuki.
• Ken delivered Uzumaki Shinji’s telegram to Seiji, reporting that the group had found Shennong and that he had fought back.
• Shennong used Medical Forbidden Art: Flesh Regeneration to heal his wounds and regrow his arm despite Kushimaru Kuriarare piercing him with Nuibari.
• Shennong activated the Sixth Gate of View and struck Jinin Akebino, who escaped the punch with the Substitution Technique.
• Hozuki Chizuru, Munashi Jinpachi, and Saito Kage attacked Shennong, but he emerged from the explosion and opened the Seventh Gate of Wonder.

Shennong used Flesh Incarnation to open all eight gates without suffering their usual damage and attacked Suikazan Fuguki. After Shennong overwhelmed Fuguki, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen coordinated to interrupt his finishing blow and give Fuguki time to recover.

• Shennong entered the Eight Inner Gates Formation state, with his green aura turning blue.
• Shennong recognized Suikazan Fuguki as the captain of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and charged him.
• Shennong broke Fuguki's arms with a punch and struck him into a crater with his Vitality Fist.
• Kushimaru Kuriarare used Nuibari's wire to bring Samehada to Fuguki while Saito Kage's Lightning Ball briefly interrupted Shennong's descent.
• Samehada restored Fuguki by returning stored chakra to his body.

Shennong was trapped and badly injured by Suikazan Fuguki, Saito Kage, and Hozuki Chizuru’s combined attacks. He opened the Eighth Gate of Death and began transforming as a devastating red storm spread through the forest.

• Suikazan Fuguki’s Water Clone became a Water Prison that restrained Shennong, and Saito Kage struck him with Lightning Fang.
• Suikazan Fuguki detonated the water around Shennong with Water Burst Technique, combining it with Saito Kage’s lightning to unleash Thunder Fang Burst.
• Hozuki Chizuru hit Shennong with Crescent Moon Sky Piercer, driving his battered body through the forest and snapping trees.
• Shennong recovered with Flesh Incarnation and opened the Eighth Gate of Death, unleashing a red chakra storm that tore through the forest.

Shennong opened the Gate of Death and overwhelmed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, defeating four of them in a rapid assault. Suikazan Fuguki fused with Samehada and launched a water-based attack against him, leaving their fight unresolved; the chapter then discussed inconsistencies in Shennong’s portrayal and his Eight Gates technique.

• Shennong opened the Gate of Death and charged the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Shennong struck Saito Kage and Hozuki Chizuru, then broke Juzo Biwa’s Kubikiribōchō before Juzo escaped with Water Replacement.
• Munashi Jinpachi detonated Exploding Tags around himself and Shennong, but Shennong endured the blast and sent him flying with a punch.
• Suikazan Fuguki unleashed Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave and formed a massive water prison around himself and Shennong.
• Suikazan Fuguki fused with Samehada and rushed toward Shennong underwater.

Suikazan Fuguki drained Shennong’s Dark Chakra inside the Water Prison Shark Dance Technique, ending his Flesh Incarnation and forcing his Eight Gates to close. Uzumaki Shinji sealed the weakened Shennong, who had survived only by closing the Gate of Death in time.

• Shennong fought Suikazan Fuguki inside the water prison, while each collision drained his Dark Chakra.
• Shennong used the Super God-Transforming Fist, but Suikazan Fuguki absorbed the Dark Chakra surrounding his punch.
• Shennong’s Dark Chakra ran out, ending his Flesh Incarnation and closing his Eight Gates as Suikazan Fuguki released the water prison.
• Shennong closed the Gate of Death with his final trace of Dark Chakra and fell toward the ground.
• Uzumaki Shinji sealed Shennong with Adamantine Chains and mocked him for refusing to talk before fighting.

Shennong surrendered to Uzumaki Shinji and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who prepared to return to Kirigakure. Seiji examined Shimura Danzō’s intelligence about Hatake Sakumo’s mission and grew suspicious that the mission was a trap.

• Shennong failed to refine Chakra and surrendered to Uzumaki Shinji and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, while secretly hoping to escape Kirigakure’s control later.
• Juzo Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki mocked Shennong, and the group set out for Kirigakure with Marumune carrying their captive.
• Suikazan Fuguki asked Uzumaki Shinji to watch for Konoha Anbu as they traveled through the Land of Fire.
• Shimura Danzō sent Kirigakure details about Hatake Sakumo’s mission to meet a Konoha spy in the Land of Hot Water ten days later.
• Seiji questioned how Danzō knew the mission’s timing and meeting place months in advance and doubted the spy and stolen intelligence were genuine.

Seiji suspected that Shimura Danzō had arranged a mission to eliminate Hatake Sakumo, then returned to Kirigakure with Shennong and took control of him. Seiji claimed Angkor Fortress and its Zero-Tail, leaving Shennong to gather the Empty Ninja and power the fortress.

• Seiji concluded that Shimura Danzō had set a trap for Hatake Sakumo to suppress or kill him on behalf of the Hokage faction.
• Seiji passed intelligence about the mission to an Anbu, who relayed it to Kakuzu, and then withdrew from the matter.
• Uzumaki Shinji and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist returned to Kirigakure with Shennong, and Seiji used the Tenseigan to turn him into a loyal subordinate.
• Seiji followed Shennong to Angkor Fortress and stored the Zero-Tail Void with Takamagahara as food for the Small Ten-Tails.
• Seiji left Shennong at Angkor Fortress to gather the remaining Empty Ninja and have them power the fortress now that Zero-Tail was gone.