Chapter Summaries

Nara Kaikei summoned Katsuyu from Shikkotsu Forest, apologized for adding his blood to the contract, and offered her a scroll about Six-Tails Saiken’s acidic-liquid ability. Tsunade arrived, confirmed Kaikei would be Shikkotsu Forest’s next contract holder, and told Katsuyu he wanted to learn its sage arts.

• Nara Kaikei greeted Katsuyu respectfully and explained that he had used Tsunade’s contract scroll to summon her.
• Kaikei apologized for marking the Shikkotsu Forest contract and offered Katsuyu a scroll describing the Lava Release Chakra Creation Method derived from Six-Tails Saiken.
• Katsuyu recognized Saiken and began asking Kaikei to take the scroll back, but Tsunade interrupted them.
• Tsunade introduced Kaikei as her disciple and said he would become Shikkotsu Forest’s next contract holder.
• Katsuyu accepted Kaikei as a contract holder, and Tsunade revealed that he wanted to see Shikkotsu Forest’s sage arts.

Nara Kaikei questioned Katsuyu about Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Arts and speculated that the slug sage might be connected to Six-Tails Saiken. He then consulted Five-Tails King about the Sage Lands and Gamamaru’s prophecies, leaving their possible origins uncertain.

• Nara Kaikei admitted his interest in Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Arts, but he and Tsunade declined Katsuyu’s offer to summon them there immediately.
• Nara Kaikei explained that his Lava Release scroll was meant as a gift for Katsuyu because he suspected she had a connection to Six-Tails Saiken.
• Nara Kaikei visited Five-Tails King and asked whether the tailed beasts or the Three Great Sage Lands had appeared first.
• Five-Tails King recalled Gamamaru’s prophecy to the Sage of Six Paths and warned Nara Kaikei to be wary of Mount Myōboku’s toads.
• Nara Kaikei told Five-Tails King that Gamamaru had prophesied about Jiraiya’s disciple, identifying Minato Namikaze as a figure many considered the Child of Prophecy.

Nara Kaikei discussed Minato Namikaze’s claim to being the Child of Prophecy with Kokuō and learned little about the connection between Saiken and Katsuyu. As the Third Shinobi World War wound down and Konoha transferred his allies away, Kaikei realized Dark Shadow had been left behind because it was no longer needed at the front, and prepared to face an enemy lurking in the darkness.

• Kokuō argued that Minato Namikaze was too weak to be the Child of Prophecy, while Nara Kaikei explained why others believed in him and noted that Naruto was the true prophesied child.
• Nara Kaikei asked Kokuō about Saiken, and Kokuō said their relationship was good despite not meeting for several hundred years.
• Nara Kaikei explained that he had signed a Summoning Contract with Shikkotsu Forest and wondered whether Katsuyu and Saiken were related, but Kokuō knew little about their connection.
• Nara Kaikei spent time traveling between the Land of Hot Water and Kikyo Castle while managing his research and other ongoing projects.
• As the Third Shinobi World War neared its end, Konoha transferred Uchiha Shisui, Hyuga Kiyoshi, Shizune, and Nara Shikaku away from the Land of Hot Water but kept Dark Shadow there.
• Nara Kaikei realized Konoha no longer needed Dark Shadow to earn battlefield glory and turned his attention to an enemy hiding in the darkness.

Nara Kaikei tracked down Uchiha Madara’s hidden base in the Land of Iron using Natural Energy sensing. As Madara questioned White Zetsu Tobi about Obito, Kaikei launched a surprise attack that blasted Madara’s head apart.

• Nara Kaikei found a Divine Tree Branch in the Land of Iron and used Natural Energy to locate a hidden entrance inside a mountain.
• Uchiha Madara sensed danger and summoned White Zetsu Tobi to ask whether anything unusual had happened outside.
• Madara asked about Uchiha Obito’s recovery after White Zetsu Tobi and Uchiha Setsuna captured and modified him with White Zetsu Cells.
• White Zetsu Tobi began explaining Obito’s condition when Nara Kaikei fired the Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon from the darkness and destroyed Madara’s head.

Nara Kaikei attacked Old Madara in Mountains' Graveyard, but Old Madara survived the apparent fatal blow through an illusion or other unknown technique. Old Madara tried to expose his hidden attacker and used Storm Release: Light Fang, while Nara Kaikei answered with another Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon.

• Nara Kaikei blasted Old Madara's head apart with Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon, and White Zetsu Tobi mourned over his headless body.
• Old Madara's corpse and the scattered remains vanished, then he reappeared unharmed and warned White Zetsu Tobi that an enemy had entered.
• Nara Kaikei remained hidden with Shadow Stealth Jutsu as Old Madara searched for him and guessed that the attacker was from the Nara Clan.
• Old Madara fired Storm Release: Light Fang at the spot where the first attack had come from, but Nara Kaikei had already moved.
• Nara Kaikei fired another Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon at Old Madara from the darkness.

Nara Kaikei attacked Old Madara with the [Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon], but Old Madara blocked it with Susanoo before pretending to weaken and drawing out his hidden attacker. The chapter ended as Old Madara targeted Nara Kaikei with Yin Release: Lightning Style.

• White Zetsu Tobi tried to defend Old Madara, but the [Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon] reached him before he could form hand seals.
• Old Madara activated Susanoo with his Three Tomoe Sharingan and blocked Nara Kaikei's attack.
• Old Madara coughed up blood, and his Susanoo shrank to a skeleton as Nara Kaikei realized his aged body could not sustain its power.
• Nara Kaikei fired another [Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon], and Old Madara revealed that his apparent weakness had been bait to locate him.
• Old Madara ignored the incoming attack and aimed Yin Release: Lightning Style at Nara Kaikei's hiding place.

Nara Kaikei avoided Old Madara’s Yin Release lightning by turning into an intangible shadow, then used Flame Release to target the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. White Zetsu Tobi blocked the flames with a wooden wall, but they surged over it and filled Mountains' Graveyard with purple light.

• Old Madara’s Yin Release lightning swept through the graveyard while Nara Kaikei’s Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon shattered a rib of his Susanoo and made him cough blood.
• Nara Kaikei avoided the lightning by transforming into an intangible shadow, then returned to his Shadow Clone form as an A-Rank mission to defeat or kill Uchiha Madara appeared.
• Nara Kaikei decided to attack the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path with Flame Release to cut off Old Madara’s chakra supply.
• Old Madara called for White Zetsu Tobi, who formed a Wood Golem Wall to block the incoming flames.
• The purple flames struck the wooden wall, surged over it, and cast a dim purple glow across Mountains' Graveyard.

Nara Kaikei fought Old Madara in Mountains' Graveyard, using Flame Release against White Zetsu Tobi and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path before changing tactics. He severed Old Madara's connection to the statue, dispersed his Susanoo, and received notice that he had killed the A-Rank mission target once.

• White Zetsu Tobi's Wood Style Wall burned under Nara Kaikei's Flame Release, revealing the flames' ability to keep burning until their target was reduced to ash.
• Nara Kaikei sent Flame Release: Searing Migraine toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but Old Madara countered with its roar and a Chakra Dragon that devoured the flames.
• Nara Kaikei dodged the Chakra Dragon with Flying Thunder God: Shadow Stream Blade and hid in the shadows as he prepared a different attack.
• Nara Kaikei used Water Release: Water Severing Wave to cut the wooden tube connecting Old Madara to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• The Chakra Dragon vanished, Old Madara's Susanoo dispersed, and Nara Kaikei's panel announced that he had killed the A-Rank Ninja Battle Mission target once and earned an A-Rank Ninja Scroll.

Nara Kaikei struggled to kill Old Madara after learning that Madara could use implanted Sharingan as repeated Izanagi revivals. Madara revived again, reconnected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and defended against Kaikei’s next attack while pulling White Zetsu Tobi into his Susanoo.

• Nara Kaikei realized Old Madara had survived two fatal attacks by using Izanagi and worried about how many implanted Sharingan remained.
• Nara Kaikei hid with Shadow Stealth Jutsu and waited for Izanagi to end while White Zetsu Tobi watched Madara’s corpse.
• Old Madara revived through Izanagi and reconnected the severed tubes to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, replenishing his Chakra.
• Nara Kaikei fired Water Release: Water Severing Wave at the connecting tubes, but Old Madara blocked it with Susanoo.
• Old Madara pulled White Zetsu Tobi into his Susanoo and ordered him to wrap around him.

Nara Kaikei watched White Zetsu Tobi merge with Old Madara, giving the dying Uchiha a mobile source of chakra and a more agile body. After Madara sent the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path away, Kaikei destroyed him and his White Zetsu Battle Suit with Dust Release, though the mission notification again counted the kill only once.

• White Zetsu Tobi merged with Old Madara, replacing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path as his chakra source and improving his mobility.
• Old Madara severed his connection to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and summoned it away from Mountains' Graveyard to protect it.
• Nara Kaikei trapped Old Madara and the White Zetsu Battle Suit in a Chakra cube and unleashed [Dust Release: World Splitter].
• [Dust Release: World Splitter] reduced Old Madara, his Susanoo, and White Zetsu Tobi to molecular form.
• The mission panel announced that Nara Kaikei had killed the A-Rank target once and received one A-Rank Ninja Scroll.

Nara Kaikei continued attacking Old Madara with Dust Release, but learned that Madara had survived by using Izanagi and White Zetsu Tobi’s Chakra. Madara had only one prepared Sharingan left and ordered Tobi to flee underground if they resurrected again.

• Nara Kaikei reasoned that Old Madara’s Izanagi depended on White Zetsu Tobi’s Chakra and hoped his Dust Release had destroyed Tobi.
• Old Madara reappeared with White Zetsu Tobi, confirming the biological armor had resurrected with him, though his left eye had closed.
• Nara Kaikei used Shadow Stealth Jutsu to approach Madara’s resurrection point and prepared another Dust Release: World Splitter.
• Old Madara failed to identify his attacker and suspected Iwagakure because the attacker had used Dust Release and an invisibility technique.
• Old Madara revealed that he had prepared only four Sharingan with Izanagi Transcription Seals, three of which he had already used.
• Old Madara ordered White Zetsu Tobi to escape underground immediately if they resurrected again and entrusted Tobi with his will.

Nara Kaikei repeatedly killed Old Madara with Dust Release while Madara used Izanagi to revive, and Madara created Black Zetsu before his final death. White Zetsu Tobi escaped underground with Black Zetsu, where a darker will merged with it to create complete Zetsu.

• Old Madara used Yin-Yang Release to create Black Zetsu and connect it to White Zetsu Tobi.
• Nara Kaikei struck Old Madara and White Zetsu Tobi with Dust Release, earning another mission reward after Madara revived with Izanagi.
• Nara Kaikei waited for Old Madara to revive again, then attacked as Madara calmly accepted the Dust Release.
• White Zetsu Tobi used the Mayfly Technique to escape underground with Black Zetsu while Old Madara was erased.
• A darker will merged with White Zetsu Tobi underground, creating complete Zetsu, as Nara Kaikei confirmed Old Madara's death.

After killing Uchiha Madara, Nara Kaikei failed to find White Zetsu Tobi underground and set plans in motion to draw him out. He opened four A-Rank Ninja Scrolls and discovered three powerful abilities and Black Receivers.

• Nara Kaikei sensed that White Zetsu Tobi had escaped underground, then decided to use Kenji and other pieces of Uchiha Madara's plans as bait to lure him out.
• Nara Kaikei ordered Shadow Clones to search Mountains' Graveyard for supplies and sent two clones to keep watch over Uchiha Obito's side.
• Nara Kaikei opened an A-Rank scroll and learned Yin Release - Lightning Style, a hand-signless technique that created and spread lightning.
• Nara Kaikei opened a second scroll and learned the Mayfly Technique, which allowed its user to move unseen through the earth and vegetation.
• Nara Kaikei found Black Receivers in the third scroll and Susanoo (Initial Form) in the fourth.

Nara Kaikei studied the A-Rank Susanoo scroll and recognized its research on ocular power, Mangekyō Sharingan, and chakra materialization as valuable for upgrading his Lacquer Eye and Black Warrior. He also examined the Black Receivers as a model for creating durable chakra weapons, then hoped Old Madara’s collected techniques would yield further discoveries.

• Nara Kaikei received the A-Rank Susanoo (Initial Form) scroll and learned that it described a skeletal Susanoo, ocular power, and the technique’s chakra structure.
• Nara Kaikei realized the scroll’s Mangekyō Sharingan research could help him improve Lacquer Eye and its materialization methods could strengthen the Black Warrior.
• Nara Kaikei reviewed his other gains, including Yin Release: Lightning Style and Mayfly Technique, and considered possible applications for them.
• Nara Kaikei inspected the Black Receivers and identified them as durable Yin-Yang Release chakra weapons that could guide his own weapon research.
• Nara Kaikei looked toward the working clones and hoped Old Madara’s ninjutsu collection would reveal more useful techniques.

Black Zetsu stopped White Zetsu Tobi from taking Uchiha Obito, wary of Nara Kaikei and his Dust Release. He reflected on his plan to revive Otsutsuki Kaguya and resolved to continue it later.

• White Zetsu Tobi burrowed toward Uchiha Obito while fearing Nara Kaikei's Dust Release.
• Black Zetsu emerged from White Zetsu Tobi and ordered it to stop the plan involving Uchiha Obito.
• White Zetsu Tobi obeyed Black Zetsu and sensed Nara Kaikei's clone near Uchiha Obito.
• Black Zetsu reviewed how he intended to use the Rinnegan, Divine Tree, and Tailed Beasts to unseal Otsutsuki Kaguya.
• Black Zetsu renewed his resolve to save his mother, though he put the plan off for later.

Nara Kaikei abandoned his attempt to lure out White Zetsu Tobi and infiltrated the cave where Uchiha Obito was recovering. He knocked Obito unconscious and killed the White Zetsu watching him, then faced the question of what to do with Obito.

• Black Zetsu dismissed Uchiha Obito as an unworthy candidate and fled with White Zetsu Tobi rather than risk confronting Nara Kaikei.
• Nara Kaikei gathered the collected ninjutsu materials and left Mountains' Graveyard after White Zetsu Tobi failed to appear.
• Nara Kaikei used Shadow Stealth Jutsu to reach the cave where Uchiha Obito was recovering under a White Zetsu's watch.
• Nara Kaikei knocked Uchiha Obito unconscious with a physical-type Genjutsu and killed the White Zetsu with Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullet.
• Nara Kaikei considered how to deal with the unconscious Uchiha Obito.

Nara Kaikei arranged for Uchiha Obito to be found by Konoha patrols and returned to the village, then studied Uchiha Madara’s collected jutsu scrolls. He learned the Black Rod Forging Method and discovered that its creations could work much like his Chakra Crystal.

• Nara Kaikei’s clone ordered Nara Suzaku to confirm Uchiha Obito’s identity and report his return to the village, the Uchiha Clan, and Minato Namikaze.
• Nara Kaikei left Obito’s fate to Konoha and went to the temporary Research Base with the Sealing Great Scroll.
• Nara Kaikei reviewed the scrolls from Uchiha Madara’s collection and found the Black Rod Forging Method among them.
• Nara Kaikei used Yin Release and Yang Release Chakra to forge a small Black Receivers pellet.
• Nara Kaikei tested the pellet and found that it could hold and channel Chakra to perform the Nara Clan’s Shadow Binding Technique.

Nara Kaikei studied Uchiha Madara’s vast ninjutsu collection and considered whether he could reverse Impure World Reincarnation to reach the Pure Land and confront the Sage of Six Paths. He decided to investigate Dan Katō’s Spirit Transformation Technique, then found evidence suggesting Madara had collected techniques from Kirigakure and the Uzumaki Clan.

• Nara Kaikei examined Madara’s Impure World Reincarnation scroll and recognized it as Tobirama Senju’s original version, then wondered whether the summoning technique could be reversed to enter the Pure Land.
• Nara Kaikei considered how to separate his soul from his body and identified Dan Katō’s Spirit Transformation Technique as his most promising option, but could not find it among Madara’s scrolls.
• Nara Kaikei resolved to learn more about Spirit Transformation Technique and considered asking the village, the Yamanaka Clan, or Shizune for information, while ruling out asking Tsunade.
• Nara Kaikei inspected Madara’s Fire Release, sealing, and Water Release techniques and suspected Madara had controlled the Third Mizukage and used Kirigakure to plunder Uzumaki Clan secrets.
• Nara Kaikei found the S-Rank Reverse Four Symbols Seal and Reaper Death Seal among Madara’s Uzumaki sealing techniques.

Nara Kaikei examined Uchiha Madara’s collection of forbidden techniques, focusing on the Death God summoned by [Reaper Death Seal] and the Shinigami Mask that served as its physical vessel. He found no mask-making instructions and set the material aside, intending to search in the village while considering how to adapt four Rinnegan techniques he could not use.

• Nara Kaikei read about [Reverse Four Symbols Seal Jutsu] and dismissed it as having little practical combat value because it required the caster’s death.
• Nara Kaikei studied [Reaper Death Seal] and concluded that its Death God was a special Chakra container rather than a conventional deity.
• Nara Kaikei learned from [Reaper Death Seal Release] that the Shinigami Mask was the Death God’s physical vessel and was required to release the sealed souls.
• Nara Kaikei searched Uchiha Madara’s scrolls for a Shinigami Mask Forging Method but found none, so he planned to look for it after returning to the village.
• Nara Kaikei reviewed [Planetary Devastation], [Tengai Shinsei], [Limbo: Border Jail], and [Rebirth of the Heavenly Soul Jutsu], deciding he might adapt them despite being unable to use them directly.

The Third Mizukage awoke from Uchiha Madara’s genjutsu and realized the Bloody Mist era had devastated Kirigakure. Despite his grave injuries and limited time, he ordered Kirigakure to halt its attacks and seek peace with Konoha.

• The Third Mizukage remembered that Uchiha Madara had controlled him and turned Kirigakure into the Bloody Mist Village.
• He recalled the damage caused by Momochi Zabuza’s graduation exam and the losses Kirigakure suffered in the Third Shinobi World War.
• The Third Mizukage coughed up blood and recognized that Madara’s Yin Release Chakra had irreversibly damaged his body.
• Karatachi Yagura entered the Mizukage Office and saw the blood on the floor.
• The Third Mizukage ordered Yagura to halt attacks in the Land of Waves, send envoys to Konoha, and withdraw Kirigakure from the war.