Chapter Summaries

Nara Kaikei investigated the strange deaths of attackers whose bodies had withered after a battle with Minato Squad. Their claim that they served Jashin led him to ask Minato Namikaze to investigate the Jashin of the Land of Hot Water.

• Nara Kaikei examined the desiccated corpses as Nohara Rin reported that their Physical Energy and cellular tissue had been exhausted.
• Hatake Kakashi recounted how his Chidori pierced an attacker’s heart without stopping him, and how the attackers later died after their bodies failed.
• Minato Namikaze praised Kakashi for adapting Chidori to close-range combat after discussing the technique’s risks.
• Nara Kaikei questioned Hatake Kakashi about the attackers while Uchiha Obito bragged about awakening the Two-Tomoe Sharingan and interrupted the discussion.
• Hatake Kakashi said the attackers had promised to offer the team to Lord Jashin, and Nara Kaikei restrained Uchiha Obito with the Shadow Strangulation Technique.
• Nara Kaikei asked Minato Namikaze to investigate Jashin of the Land of Hot Water.

Minato Namikaze's team investigated the Immortal Ninjas and found a miasma-filled valley where people fought and a chakra-devouring pool consumed corpses. Nara Kaikei identified the location as the Valley of Hell and suspected the Jashin Cult's immortals were connected to the Chinoike Clan, deciding to investigate himself.

• Nara Kaikei assigned Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Obito, Inuzuka Gakku, and Hyuga Kiyoshi an A-Rank Mission to investigate the Immortal Ninja.
• Uchiha Obito guided the team to the site of the earlier attack, where Yellow Ball picked up the enemy's scent.
• Yellow Ball led the team to a poisonous, miasma-shrouded valley, and Hyuga Kiyoshi saw people killing one another and a pool devouring a corpse's chakra.
• Minato Namikaze marked the valley with the [Sword of Ninja Love] and returned with the team to report their findings.
• Nara Kaikei identified the location as the Valley of Hell and connected the Jashin Cult's blood-related immortality to the Chinoike Clan.

Nara Kaikei took Uchiha Shisui, Hyuga Kiyoshi, and Shizune to investigate the Valley of Hell, where they discovered that slain ninjas emerged anew from a pool. The squad cleared the valley’s miasma, and Shisui began testing the apparent immortals’ resistance to attacks.

• Nara Kaikei created an S-Rank mission to investigate the Valley of Hell and eliminate potential dangers, then chose to bring his squad.
• Nara Kaikei and his squad reached the valley, where Hyuga Kiyoshi observed that its ninja population had not decreased despite the ongoing slaughter.
• Hyuga Kiyoshi saw a headless ninja’s chakra swallowed by a pool and a new figure emerge from it.
• Uchiha Shisui used his Three-Star Fan to clear the miasma and reveal the blood-covered valley and its fighting inhabitants.
• Uchiha Shisui attacked the Blood People with shuriken and a Great Fireball, but they kept advancing despite their wounds and burns.

Uchiha Shisui tried to restrain and use genjutsu on the Blood People, but their explosions triggered a valley-wide riot. One Blood Person fell into the blood pool and gained control of it, summoning a monstrous Blood Pool Blood Dragon as the others’ attacks continued.

• Uchiha Shisui bound the charging Blood People with a Fuma Shuriken technique, but they exploded, and he escaped with the Crow Clone Technique.
• Uchiha Shisui used Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique on a Blood Person, who exploded and triggered the remaining Blood People to charge.
• Nara Kaikei sent a Shadow Clone into the Blood People with [Spiral Shadow Mimic Bullet] and briefly captured one using [Shadow Binding Technique].
• The Blood People changed direction and set off a chain of explosions, while Nara Kaikei dispelled his Shadow Clone to escape the blast.
• Hyuga Kiyoshi reported that a Blood Person had fallen into the blood pool and appeared to control it.
• The Blood Person rose atop a massive Blood Pool Blood Dragon and proclaimed it the power of Lord Jashin.

Nara Kaikei defeated the Jashin Cult priest’s blood dragon and captured him, discovering that the priest’s power and age depended on his proximity to the Valley of Hell. After questioning him, Nara Kaikei learned who had arranged the attack on Hatake Kakashi’s team and recovered scrolls containing Chinoike Clan techniques, including a rumored immortality ninjutsu.

• Nara Kaikei smashed the blood dragon with a Boil Release-enhanced punch, then used the Shadow Creature to catch the Jashin Cult priest before he fell into the blood pool.
• Nara Kaikei discovered that the priest rapidly aged and weakened when taken away from the Valley of Hell, so he returned and restrained him without letting him reach the blood pool.
• Nara Kaikei questioned the priest, who said he had been an ordinary Yugakure ninja before gaining Jashin’s favor and founding the Jashin Cult.
• The priest admitted that someone had offered him a reward and provided the route taken by Hatake Kakashi’s team, then revealed the reward was hidden in the Valley of Hell.
• Uchiha Shisui sent a Shadow Clone to retrieve the scrolls, and the priest identified the old scrolls as Chinoike Clan blood-based ninjutsu, including a technique for immortality.

Nara Kaikei investigated the Jashin Cult priest’s claim that the Chinoike Clan had developed an immortality jutsu and discovered the S-rank Blood Pool’s gruesome method of preserving consciousness. He learned that the jutsu was incomplete and interrogated the priest about the masked man who had supplied the scrolls.

• Nara Kaikei questioned the Jashin Cult priest’s claim of immortality, and the priest insisted that the Chinoike Clan had developed an immortality jutsu despite failing to achieve eternal life.
• Nara Kaikei sealed the Chinoike Clan jutsu scrolls without opening them and asked the priest who had provided them.
• The priest described a black-robed elderly man with a white, swirl-patterned one-eyed mask, and Nara Kaikei ordered Uchiha Shisui to interrogate him with genjutsu.
• Nara Kaikei examined the Blood Pool and learned it used large quantities of blood to anchor a ninja’s consciousness, allowing them to return after fatal injuries as long as the pool remained.
• Nara Kaikei realized the Blood Pool jutsu was incomplete and inspected the related Blood Pact and Bloodline Curse techniques.

Nara Kaikei examined the Chinoike Clan jutsu and questioned Uchiha Shisui about the Jashin Cult, learning of its ties to the Masked Man and its bloody rituals. After sealing the Blood Pool, Kaikei returned to Konoha with the priest’s corpse, completed the mission, and received research materials on blood and the Ketsuryūgan.

• Nara Kaikei studied the Blood Pool and Chinoike Clan jutsu, wondering how Hidan gained his immortal body and how Shikigami Blood worked.
• Uchiha Shisui reported that the Masked Man had guided the Jashin Cult priest, supplied him with jutsu, and sent him to attack without warning.
• Uchiha Shisui said the priest believed Jashin was hidden in the Blood Pool and had led followers to slaughter one another as an offering.
• Nara Kaikei sealed the Blood Pool with the Four Symbols Seal, and Shizune reported that the priest had suddenly died after the pool absorbed his remaining Chakra.
• Nara Kaikei brought the priest’s corpse back to the Konoha camp, completed the S-Rank mission, and received an S-Rank scroll containing the Chinoike Clan’s research on blood, cells, and the Ketsuryūgan.

Nara Kaikei studied the Chinoike Clan’s S-rank blood research and realized it could help him upgrade Lacquer Eye, then handed Nara Shikaku intelligence linking Yugakure, the Jashin Cult, and a planned ambush on Kakashi’s team. Meanwhile, Nara Raikage negotiated with the One-Eyed Uchiha over Kumogakure’s support and rejected the offered Kekkei Genkai research as inadequate.

• Nara Kaikei examined Study of Blood and found that its research on eye cells and chakra capacity might advance Lacquer Eye.
• Nara Kaikei gave Nara Shikaku two scrolls, including intelligence recorded by Shisui and Kakashi’s team’s route, and Nara Shikaku concluded that enemy access to Konoha intelligence required an investigation.
• Nara Shikaku planned to report the intelligence only to the Third Lord and to account for Minato’s recent strange incidents.
• Nara Kaikei teleported to the research base near Kokuō, while Nara Raikage considered sending the weakening Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito Nii toward the battlefield to secure the Amber Purifying Pot.
• The One-Eyed Uchiha offered Nara Raikage scrolls containing Lava Release and Ice Release research, but Nara Raikage refused, saying the payment was not enough for Kumogakure’s commitment.

One-Eyed Uchiha negotiated with Nara Raikage for Kumogakure’s help in killing the Dark Shadow, but Nara Raikage demanded valuable Kirigakure clans, techniques, and sealing knowledge as payment. One-Eyed Uchiha reluctantly agreed to provide some information and was finally allowed to present his battle plan.

• Nara Raikage demanded to know whether Kirigakure was confident it could kill the Dark Shadow, and One-Eyed Uchiha claimed they had gathered intelligence and prepared targeted arrangements.
• One-Eyed Uchiha revealed that the Dark Shadow’s Nara Clan shadow techniques could not be used in absolute darkness, but Nara Raikage asked him for a specific battle plan.
• Nara Raikage interrupted negotiations to demand Snow Clan ninja, Kaguya Clan ninja, Hozuki Clan techniques, and the Three-Tails and Six-Tails from Kirigakure.
• One-Eyed Uchiha refused to provide the tailed beasts and Kaguya Clan, but offered information on Snow Clan locations and said he would ask the Mizukage about the Hozuki Clan’s Water Transformation Secret Technique.
• Nara Raikage also demanded the Uzumaki Clan’s other secret techniques, and One-Eyed Uchiha agreed to report the request to the Mizukage before being invited to explain his battle plan.

Nara Kaikei uncovered an insider’s role in the enemy’s planned decapitation strike and prepared a counterplan while experimenting with newly acquired Kekkei Genkai. He successfully created an acid-mist version of Boil Release and then began developing another nature mask.

• Nara Kaikei reviewed the enemy’s plan and concluded that a traitor had revealed secret information about his abilities and his contract with Five-Tails Kokuō.
• Nara Kaikei devised a counter-decapitation strategy, sent instructions to Nara Raikage, and examined the Lava Release and Ice Release methods he had received.
• Nara Kaikei compared Lava Release and Boil Release and found that their water-and-fire Chakra ratios were reversed.
• Nara Kaikei tested his theory with Shadow Clones and created a Boil Release Mask that produced acid mist.
• Nara Kaikei began an experiment with Scorch Release and produced a new Nature Mask identified as Swift.

Nara Kaikei completed his self-created Yin-and-Earth Kekkei Genkai, Kai Release, and discovered that reversing the Yin Release ratio destabilized his experiments. He collected several more opposing bloodlines and turned his attention to researching Wood Release and the Kekkei Tōta he hoped to create.

• Nara Kaikei examined the Swift Release Mask and considered how opposing bloodlines could expand his collection of Kekkei Genkai.
• Nara Kaikei revealed that he had created Kai Release by combining Yin and Earth Chakra, then demonstrated its defensive Kai Release: Armament.
• Nara Kaikei tried reversing Kai Release’s Yin and Earth Chakra ratios, but the Blank Mask shattered; he concluded Yin Release became unstable when its fusion ratio was reversed.
• Nara Kaikei successfully created a Steel Release Mask as the opposing bloodline of Explosion Release, then formed Crystal Release and Toton Masks as opposing bloodlines of Lava Release and Ice Release.
• Nara Kaikei counted twelve Kekkei Genkai in his collection and identified Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release as material for researching Water-and-Earth fusion.

Nara Kaikei learned that Kirigakure forces had entered the Land of Hot Water and arranged for Kagami Uchiha to lead a unit against them, while Kaikei gave new jutsu scrolls to his teammates. One-Eyed Uchiha saw the resulting split between Konoha’s forces as a chance to advance his plan and brought Nara Raikage the techniques and intelligence he had requested.

• Nara Shikaku told Nara Kaikei that Kirigakure forces had moved into the Land of Hot Water, and Kaikei tasked Shikaku with choosing personnel for Kagami Uchiha’s unit.
• Nara Kaikei offered Uchiha Shisui, Hyuga Kiyoshi, and Shizune a choice of assignments, then gave Shisui the Blood Pact scroll, Hyuga Kiyoshi an Earth Release scroll, and Shizune the Water Release: Heavenly Weeping scroll.
• Kagami Uchiha led a unit southeast with Nara Squad and Minato Squad members to resist Kirigakure, while Nara Kaikei and Minato Namikaze remained against Kumogakure.
• One-Eyed Uchiha realized that Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Obito had been separated from Nara Kaikei and Minato Namikaze, creating an opportunity for his plan.
• One-Eyed Uchiha gave Nara Raikage the Uzumaki sealing technique, the Hozuki water-transformation secret technique, and intelligence on the Snow Clan, and Nara Raikage asked when they would move.

Nara Raikage agreed to Kirigakure’s plan to lure Dark Shadow and the Yellow Flash away while the allied villages attacked Konoha. After Nara Kaikei prepared Konoha for the assault, he and Minato Namikaze confronted Nara Raikage, A, and Killer B, and Kaikei set a new S-Rank mission to defeat the allied forces.

• Nara Raikage briefed A, Killer B, and Dodai on Kirigakure’s plan to lure Dark Shadow and the Yellow Flash away from Konoha’s camp while the allied forces attacked.
• Nara Raikage warned that Kumogakure’s main force should not commit until the battle’s outcome was clear, and assigned A and Killer B to hold back the Yellow Flash.
• Kagami Uchiha’s forces clashed with Kirigakure in the Land of Hot Water, confirming the intelligence Nara Kaikei had given Konoha.
• Nara Kaikei told Nara Shikaku to lead Konoha’s response, then sensed Nara Raikage approaching and rushed out with Minato Namikaze.
• Nara Kaikei faced Nara Raikage while Minato prepared to fight A and Killer B, and Kaikei set the S-Rank mission to defeat the allied assault.

Nara Raikage and Nara Kaikei fought while Minato Namikaze faced A and Killer B, using Flying Thunder God to outmaneuver the brothers. Minato struck A with a Rasengan and marked him with Flying Thunder God, leaving A vulnerable to a follow-up attack.

• Nara Raikage attacked Nara Kaikei with a thick-backed blade, dodged his Shadow Binding Technique, and continued their staged fight using Cloud Style Swordsmanship.
• Killer B used Eight-Tails ink to disrupt Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Kunai as A charged at him in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• Minato Namikaze evaded A's attack and used Flying Thunder God to appear before Killer B, forcing Killer B to deflect his kunai.
• Minato Namikaze reappeared beside A through the Flying Thunder God Kunai and struck him at close range with a Rasengan.
• Minato Namikaze's Rasengan sent A flying and left a Flying Thunder God mark on his chest and abdominal wound.

Minato Namikaze fought A and Killer B while Nara Kaikei and Nara Raikage lured Dark Shadow into an underground trap. As the ambushers attacked in the cave, Nara Raikage turned on them with Black Lightning.

• Minato Namikaze struck A with the Rasengan, but A survived and began healing with Lightning Release Chakra.
• A and Killer B entered their strongest states and attacked Minato Namikaze, who evaded them with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Nara Raikage lured Nara Kaikei into a prepared area, where his heavy sword strike collapsed the ground and sent them into an underground cave.
• Ishikawa sealed the cave entrance with Lime Solidifying Technique, while Ishikawa and Hozuki Ketsuzuki attacked Nara Kaikei with Lava Style and Water Style techniques.
• Nara Raikage approached the underground river and unleashed Black Lightning as Hozuki Ketsuzuki recognized him as the Third Raikage.

Nara Kaikei and his Raikage clone captured Hozuki Ketsuzuki and Ishikawa, then Kaikei was summoned by Five-Tails King to confront Ōnoki. The chapter ended with Ōnoki fleeing as Kaikei received an S-Rank mission to stop Iwagakure from reclaiming the Five-Tails.

• Nara Raikage incapacitated Hozuki Ketsuzuki with Black Lightning and used Ranshinshou to disrupt Ishikawa's movements before knocking him unconscious.
• Nara Kaikei told Nara Raikage to take the captives to Kumogakure and promised to replace the clone's core after the incident.
• Nara Kaikei returned to the Konoha camp, then Five-Tails King summoned him to the Land of Hot Water because Ōnoki had arrived.
• Nara Kaikei received the S-Rank mission to defeat Iwagakure's invading forces and prevent them from reclaiming the Five-Tails.
• Ōnoki saw Nara Kaikei atop Five-Tails King and fled, while Kaikei called for Kokuō to stop him.

Nara Kaikei pursued Ōnoki with the Five-Tails Kokuō after the Third Tsuchikage fled, and Ōnoki destroyed one of Kaikei’s Shadow Clones. As Ōnoki stopped in the air, Kaikei used a hidden second clone to approach and began controlling him with Shadow Manipulation Technique.

• Ōnoki cursed the other villages as he fled through the sky, while the Five-Tails Kokuō chased him alongside Nara Kaikei.
• Nara Kaikei fired a Spiral Shadow Mimic Bullet at Ōnoki, but Ōnoki dodged it and destroyed the Shadow Clone it revealed with Earth Style: Bullet Rock Cannon Technique.
• Ōnoki stopped in midair and considered how to use his flight and Dust Release against the Five-Tails.
• Kokuō suggested that it and Kaikei use Kirin to attack Ōnoki, but Kaikei said he had a simpler plan.
• Before Ōnoki destroyed the first clone, it had transferred its Yin Release Chakra to a second invisible Shadow Clone, which silently approached him.
• Nara Kaikei extended a Shadow Thread from his fingertip and began using Shadow Manipulation Technique on Ōnoki.

Nara Kaikei used the Shadow Manipulation Technique to control Ōnoki and secured Iwagakure’s threat, then set out with Five-Tails King to confront Kirigakure. He headed toward the southeastern Land of Hot Water, where Kirigakure’s forces and their hidden masterminds awaited.

• Nara Kaikei’s Shadow Clone controlled Ōnoki, completing the S-Rank mission and earning an S-Rank Ninja Scroll.
• Nara Kaikei explained to Five-Tails King that he had controlled Ōnoki, then marked Ōnoki with the Flying Thunder God Technique and kept him alive for his Dust Release.
• Nara Kaikei returned to Five-Tails King using the Flying Thunder God Technique after his summoning ended, and Five-Tails King declined to learn the technique.
• Nara Kaikei ordered Nara Ōnoki to find Nara Raikage and question the captured Lava Release ninja for information about Iwagakure’s camp.
• Nara Kaikei and Five-Tails King headed toward the Kirigakure-Konoha battlefield, where the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Hozuki Ketsuzuki, the One-Eyed Uchiha, and White Zetsu Tobi were involved.

Kagami Uchiha fought Kirigakure’s Three-Tails Jinchuriki while Suikazan Fuguki and Samehada tried to counter his Susanoo. The dying Jinchuriki broke the seal holding Isobu, leaving Kagami Uchiha facing the true Three-Tails.

• Kagami Uchiha used Susanoo to clash with the fully transformed Three-Tails Jinchuriki, then flew into the sky as Suikazan Fuguki approached with Samehada.
• Kagami Uchiha attacked with Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation, and the Three-Tails Jinchuriki countered with Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique, filling the battlefield with mist.
• Kagami Uchiha used Water Release: Water Severing Wave to attack Suikazan Fuguki and pressure the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, whose shell resisted the water jet while his Chakra drained away.
• The Three-Tails Jinchuriki withdrew the Tailed Beast’s Chakra, broke his seal with his final strength, and released the true Isobu onto the battlefield.
• Kagami Uchiha realized that the roaring creature below was the true Three-Tails, not a Jinchuriki’s transformation.

Kagami Uchiha struggled to hold back the newly freed Three-Tails while Suikazan Fuguki used Samehada to drain Susanoo’s chakra and protect himself from Kagami’s attacks. As Kagami prepared to intercept Isobu again, Nara Kaikei and the Five-Tails King arrived at the Mist Village Battlefield.

• Kagami Uchiha realized Kirigakure had intended to unleash the Three-Tails against Konoha’s defensive line.
• Isobu rolled toward the crowded battlefield, and Kagami used Susanoo to stop its charge.
• Suikazan Fuguki attacked Susanoo with Samehada, draining its chakra as Isobu restrained it with Coral Palm.
• Kagami dispelled Susanoo and attacked Isobu and Suikazan Fuguki with Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song.
• Isobu prepared to charge again, but Nara Kaikei and the Five-Tails King arrived at the battlefield.