Chapter Summaries

Seiji fought Orochimaru and the Konoha Jonin in the heavy rain, using his abilities and Hiramekarei to kill four Jonin and the Aburame Clan ninja. Orochimaru’s snakes briefly restrained Seiji, but Seiji escaped with Sukuna Hikona; Orochimaru realized the Dojutsu could shrink Seiji’s body.

• Seiji blocked the incoming ninjutsu with Water Formation Wall, then used Lightning Release: Earth Run to paralyze four Konoha Jonin while Orochimaru and the Aburame Clan ninja evaded.
• Seiji used Hiramekarei to kill the four paralyzed Jonin with Chakra spikes aimed at their hearts.
• The Aburame Clan ninja trapped Seiji in an insect tornado as Orochimaru fired a Wind Release: Vacuum Great Bullet, but Seiji countered with Hiramekari Release and located the Aburame ninja through the smoke.
• Seiji bound and killed the Aburame Clan ninja with Shikotsumyaku, while Orochimaru caught Seiji with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
• Seiji pierced Orochimaru’s snakes with bone spikes, then used Sukuna Hikona to escape their grasp and reappear in the same spot.
• Orochimaru deduced that Seiji’s Dojutsu could shrink his body and steadied himself for the fight.

Seiji fought Orochimaru with his bone techniques and a lightning-infused water dragon, forcing Orochimaru to summon Manda. Seiji attacked the giant snake with Takamagahara, but Manda dodged every strike as Seiji retreated and prepared another technique.

• Orochimaru unleashed a huge swarm of snakes, and Seiji skewered many of them with Earth Release: Earth Spike Spears.
• Seiji used Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Seedling Fern to wipe out the remaining snakes, prompting Orochimaru to flee.
• Seiji pursued Orochimaru with a Lightning Water Dragon Bullet, but Orochimaru blocked it with Rashomon.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda and bargained with him for living-human sacrifices in exchange for attacking Seiji.
• Seiji used Takamagahara against Manda, but the giant snake dodged every black cube while Seiji retreated and formed hand seals.

Seiji used the Black Rain Technique and Fire Release to destroy Mansha’s shed skin, then nearly killed Mansha with a Water Severing Wave before Orochimaru canceled the summoning. Seiji incapacitated Orochimaru with Takamagahara, but Orochimaru escaped by Reverse Summoning, leaving Seiji to recover and return in disguise.

• Seiji coated Mansha in oil with the Black Rain Technique and set it ablaze with Garuda, but his Jōgan revealed that Mansha had shed its skin and burrowed underground.
• Mansha burst from the ground to attack Seiji, who dodged and unleashed a Water Severing Wave; Orochimaru canceled the summoning to save Mansha from being decapitated.
• Orochimaru approached Seiji, who used Takamagahara to pierce Orochimaru with black rods and leave him unable to move.
• Seiji prepared to kill Orochimaru with an Ash Bone, but a hidden giant snake swallowed Orochimaru and escaped using Reverse Summoning.
• Seiji reflected on Orochimaru’s escape, entered Takamagahara Space to change clothes and remove his mask, then returned to the battlefield disguised.

After surveying the destruction left by the battle, Seiji returned to the cave and reunited with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato. Black Zetsu noticed Seiji’s unfamiliar abilities, realized he might have been detected, and fled underground.

• Seiji reflected on the town’s devastation and resolved to gain enough power to bring peace to the shinobi world.
• Seiji used Body Flicker to reach The Trio’s cave, startling them and catching Black Zetsu’s attention.
• Konan recognized Seiji’s voice, and Yahiko and Nagato came out to greet him.
• Seiji examined Nagato’s Rinnegan, reassured him with a gesture, and gave The Trio food and told them to rest.
• Black Zetsu saw Seiji use Takamagahara, accidentally revealed his presence, and fled underground.

After discovering that Black Zetsu had fled, Seiji helped rebuild a war-damaged town and strengthened his resolve to bring peace to the Ninja World. He returned to the cave, reunited with The Trio, and shared a meal with them.

• Seiji sensed Black Zetsu fleeing after he had monitored the Rinnegan, but chose not to pursue him.
• Seiji saw the town’s devastation and used Earth Release to raise new homes for the returning civilians.
• The sight of the civilians’ relief strengthened Seiji’s resolve to improve his bloodline, plant the tree, obtain the Chakra Fruit, and bring peace to the Ninja World.
• Konan clung to Seiji when he returned to the cave, afraid he had abandoned The Trio.
• Seiji prepared meat porridge for Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, and they ate together.

Seiji accepted Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan as his disciples after Konan revealed her Paper Style ability. He began their introductions and planned to take them to Kirigakure, while Yahiko shared his dream of ending war and bringing peace.

• Yahiko asked Seiji to teach the trio ninjutsu, and Seiji examined their potential.
• Konan created a paper flower with her Chakra, revealing her Paper Style Kekkei Genkai, and gave it to Seiji.
• Seiji accepted Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan as his disciples, and all three respectfully called him Teacher.
• Seiji introduced himself as a Kirigakure Jonin, told his disciples not to betray him, and asked them to share their likes, dislikes, and dreams.
• Yahiko asked whether the trio would go to Kirigakure with Seiji, then introduced himself and declared his dream of ending war and bringing peace.

Seiji bonded with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato as they shared their hopes for peace. In Hidden Mist Village, a Root spy and his handler were caught by ANBU, and the handler detonated an Exploding Tag while the ANBU escaped with their captive.

• Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato introduced themselves to Seiji and described their dreams, while Little One joined in and made them laugh.
• Mikishōto met Washio in Sanki Tavern and reported overheard talk linking Hidden Mist to the Land of Rain, the Land of Whirlpools, and the Uzumaki Clan.
• Washio told Mikishōto that Hidden Mist Ninja had already appeared in the Land of Rain and praised him for suspecting an attack on the Land of Whirlpools.
• Dark led Hidden Mist ANBU into the tavern courtyard and ordered them to capture Washio and Mikishōto alive.
• The ANBU subdued Mikishōto, while Washio fought them and detonated an Exploding Tag in the courtyard; Dark and the others escaped with their captive.

An reported that Kirigakure had recovered information about a plot against the Land of Whirlpools before it could be passed on. Seiji brought Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and Little One back from the Land of Rain to Kirigakure, where he introduced his three disciples as new people of the village.

• Washio detonated all his Exploding Tags, destroying the Sanki Tavern as An and his subordinates escaped with Mikishōto.
• Kirigakure's Anbu interrogated Mikishōto despite his Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and obtained the information they needed.
• An learned that Kirigakure's plot against the Land of Whirlpools had nearly been exposed, then ordered his subordinates to report to Lord Ken while Lord Kagami was away.
• Seiji led Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and Little One through the Land of Rain before preparing to return them to Kirigakure.
• Seiji used Takamagahara to teleport the group to his home, where the others collapsed from the journey.
• Seiji told Gonbei that Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were his disciples and that they were now people of Kirigakure.

Seiji returned to Kirigakure, learned that Konoha Root was active in the Land of Whirlpools, and persuaded Third Mizukage Hyou to seek cooperation with Shimura Danzō. He then revealed his Space-Time dojutsu to Hyou, who predicted Seiji could become the next Mizukage after the war.

• Seiji had Heiji Fujiwara remove the recorded barrier anomaly from monitoring, then visited Ken to review intelligence about Mikishōto and the Land of Whirlpools.
• Seiji connected reports of Konoha Root activity and Konoha’s purchases of Uzumaki intelligence, concluding that Shimura Danzō was secretly pursuing the Uzumaki Clan and their Sealing Technique.
• Seiji proposed cooperating with Danzō, and he explained his reasoning to Third Mizukage Hyou and Ken.
• Hyou approved the plan and ordered Ken to send word to Shadow to contact Danzō at the Konoha Camp.
• Seiji revealed his Space-Time dojutsu, the Jōgan, to Hyou, who said Seiji might become the next Mizukage after the Great Shinobi War.

Seiji secured Danzō’s cooperation and returned to the Land of Rain as tensions mounted between Konoha and Amegakure. Hanzō launched a poison-filled assault on Konoha’s camp, and Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade rushed to face him.

• Danzō agreed to hinder aid from Konoha to the Land of Whirlpools in exchange for copies of the Mist’s acquired Sealing Techniques, then handed command of the Land of Rain battlefield to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s disciples and returned to Konoha.
• Seiji led the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist toward the Land of Bears and left The Trio with Elder Genji for training.
• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade struggled to prepare for Amegakure’s attack without reliable intelligence after Danzō left them in command.
• Hanzō summoned Ibuse and raided Konoha’s camp, filling it with poisonous mist that felled weaker Konoha Ninja.
• Jiraiya called to Orochimaru, and the two began forming hand seals as they prepared to respond to Hanzō.

Hanzo defeated Choza Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka while Jiraiya and Orochimaru cleared the poison mist from the Konoha camp. The chapter ended with Jiraiya grieving the battlefield losses as Orochimaru and Tsunade arrived.

• Jiraiya and Orochimaru combined Wind Release techniques to disperse the poison mist, while Tsunade treated poisoned survivors.
• Choza Akimichi threw Salamander Ibuse out of the camp, and Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka joined him in confronting Hanzo.
• Shikaku interrupted Hanzo’s Water Release with Inoichi’s Mind Confusion Technique, but Hanzo broke Shikaku’s shadow restraint and killed Choza with his scythe.
• Inoichi sacrificed himself to hold Hanzo for Shikaku’s attack, but poison weakened him; Hanzo killed him and detonated Exploding Tags attached to his body, killing Shikaku as well.
• Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade arrived to find the dead ninja, and Jiraiya collapsed in grief and anger.

Hanzo’s attack forced Konoha’s surviving forces to retreat, while Imo led an elite Sunagakure force into the Land of Fire. After Konoha discovered the invasion, Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Hatake Sakumo to intercept them.

• Hanzo’s follow-up attack failed after Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade led Konoha’s survivors to the Land of Fire border and requested reinforcements.
• Imo, Pakura, and Minazuki attacked two Konoha patrol squads, killing or capturing their members before the squads could send word.
• Imo led the fifty-man Sunagakure force deeper into the Land of Fire.
• Konoha detected Sunagakure’s movements and relayed the news to the village before afternoon.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Hatake Sakumo, the Head of ANBU, to lead an ANBU squad and intercept the invaders.

Kumogakure invaded the Land of Whirlpools and demanded the Uzumaki Clan surrender its sealing arts. Ashina Uzumaki delayed Third Raikage A long enough to retreat and prepare the village’s defenses, while A ordered an assault for the next morning.

• Kumogakure’s forces, led by Third Raikage A, swept through the Land of Whirlpools and reached the outskirts of Uzushio Village, while Kirigakure established a camp across the sea.
• Ashina Uzumaki refused A’s demand to hand over the clan’s sealing arts, and the two fought with Adamantine Chains and Black Panther lightning.
• Ashina sent a shadow clone to warn the village to seek Konoha’s aid and reinforce its Barrier, then used clones to trap A in the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• A broke through the formation with his Four-Finger Nukite, but Ashina escaped to make defensive preparations after sensing Third Mizukage Hyou and Kirigakure’s forces nearby.
• A ordered the Cloud Forces to attack Uzushio Village the next morning and sent Dodai to press Kirigakure to contribute to the assault.

Madara Uchiha headed for the Land of Whirlpools after learning Kumogakure had attacked, while Black Zetsu investigated Seiji’s mysterious eyes in Kirigakure. Seiji arrived in Uzushio Village by summoning and met the infiltrated Anbu agent Mu as his mission began.

• White Zetsu told Madara Uchiha that Kumogakure had moved against the Land of Whirlpools, so Madara summoned Tobi and used genjutsu to make him provide life force.
• Madara Uchiha wrapped himself in Tobi and traveled underground toward the Land of Whirlpools using the Mayfly Technique.
• Black Zetsu decided to investigate the mysterious Hidden Mist ninja and his sky blue eyes, then merged with the White Zetsu original and set out for Kirigakure.
• Third Mizukage Hyou gave Seiji Shimura Danzō’s warning and a summoning scroll that would transport him past Uzushio Village’s barrier.
• Seiji used the scroll to arrive in Uzushio Village and met Mu, an Anbu agent who had infiltrated the village in disguise; Seiji told him to remain hidden.

Seiji secretly visited Ashina Uzumaki and proposed cooperation between Kirigakure and the Uzumaki Clan if Konoha failed to help them. Ashina accepted a wager over Konoha’s response, leaving the clan’s alliance with Kirigakure as a possible escape route from Kumogakure’s attack.

• Seiji entered Ashina Uzumaki’s home, where Ashina confronted him after sensing his arrival.
• Seiji said he had come to negotiate cooperation with Kirigakure, not to assassinate Ashina.
• Seiji wagered that Konoha would not rescue the Uzumaki Clan, while Ashina trusted Mito Uzumaki and Konoha’s longstanding alliance.
• Ashina accepted that he would consider cooperation with Kirigakure if Konoha abandoned the clan.
• Seiji vanished using his Jōgan’s Takamagahara, and Ashina recognized that he had used a Space-Time ninjutsu and a dojutsu.
• Ashina reconsidered the risks of relying on Konoha and treated the wager as a chance to prepare an escape route.

Hatake Sakumo confronted Imo and Minazuki after they massacred Konoha squads in the Land of Fire, forcing them to use their joint ten-puppet technique. The battle continued as their puppets launched their first coordinated attacks against him.

• Imo ordered the Hidden Sand Ninjas to withdraw, but Hatake Sakumo arrived and attacked him.
• Imo used a puppet substitute to evade Sakumo’s strike, while Minazuki filled the area with poison smoke that Konoha Anbu dispersed.
• Sakumo drove Imo and Minazuki into a desperate move, and Imo’s puppets exploded as they rushed to Minazuki’s side.
• Imo and Minazuki activated the White Secret Technique: Ten Puppet Manipulation, coordinating ten puppets for offense and defense.
• The couple sent a tiger-shaped puppet firing senbon and another wielding a poisonous greatsword at Hatake Sakumo.

Hatake Sakumo fought Imo and Minazuki, surviving their trap and combined puppet technique despite suffering serious internal injuries. He changed tactics and destroyed four of their specially crafted puppets, leaving six as their chakra reserves dwindled.

• Hatake Sakumo used Shadow Clones and Crescent Moon Dance to attack Imo and Minazuki, but they destroyed the clones with poisoned puppet attacks.
• Hatake Sakumo struck Imo, only to discover that Imo had used a puppet as bait and trapped him inside a giant puppet.
• Imo and Minazuki launched their White Secret Technique: Machine Barrage, forcing Hatake Sakumo to break free with Lightning Release Chakra and escape the poison-coated blades.
• Hatake Sakumo, injured and coughing blood, decided to keep fighting and began dismantling the puppets instead of targeting the pair directly.
• Hatake Sakumo destroyed four puppets, leaving six, while Imo and Minazuki's control faltered as their chakra ran low.

Kakuzu arrived to cover Imo and Minazuki’s retreat, but he also targeted Hatake Sakumo for his 95-million-ryo bounty. After overpowering Sakumo with his Earth Grudge Fear techniques, Kakuzu engulfed him in a combined fire-and-wind attack.

• Imo and Minazuki recognized the powerful newcomer as the reinforcements Chiyo had hired to aid their retreat.
• Kakuzu identified Hatake Sakumo as a 95-million-ryo bounty and signaled Imo and Minazuki to leave.
• Kakuzu attacked Sakumo with Tentacle Fist and used Earth Spear to withstand Sakumo’s sword slash.
• Kakuzu seized Sakumo and kicked him away, then released his Fire and Wind masked monsters.
• Kakuzu’s combined Blazing Wind Disturbance swallowed Sakumo in a sea of flames.

Seiji returned to Kirigakure’s camp, reported his meeting with the Uzumaki Clan to Hyou, and received Hoshigakure’s Star. Examining it later, he recognized it as a fragment of a Ten-Tails, though its origin remained unknown.

• Seiji brought Mu back to Kirigakure’s camp and rested until morning.
• Seiji met Chino and Yagura at Hyou’s quarters, where Hyou gave him Hoshigakure’s Star.
• Seiji told Hyou that Ashina Uzumaki still hoped for Konoha’s help and mentioned Mito Uzumaki’s survival.
• Seiji reunited with Chino and Yagura after leaving Hyou’s quarters.
• Seiji examined the Star with his Jōgan and concluded that it contained a fragment of a Ten-Tails from an unknown source.

Seiji fed the Ten-Tails fragment "Star" to his Small Ten-Tails, which grew stronger after consuming it. In Konoha, Hatake Sakumo reported his battle with Kakuzu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered him to lead the war against Sunagakure.

• Seiji took "Star" to the Small Ten-Tails, which swallowed it and grew larger as it digested the fragment.
• Hatake Sakumo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Imo, Minazuki, and Pakura had escaped after Kakuzu intervened in the pursuit.
• Hatake Sakumo explained that Kakuzu survived a pierced heart because he had five hearts, each of which had to be destroyed to kill him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Kakuzu's abilities recorded and the Jonin notified that he had attacked Konoha's ninja.
• Hatake Sakumo revealed that Kakuzu claimed to have fought the First Hokage, and Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled Takigakure's failed assassination attempt on Hashirama Senju.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Hatake Sakumo to hand his Anbu duties to Shinnosuke and lead Konoha's war against Sunagakure.