Chapter Summaries

Nara Kaikei brought the sleeping Gaara to Nara Forest rather than directly into Konoha, where Shukaku emerged and confronted Kokuō over its freedom. He arranged for Gaara and Shukaku to stay in the forest while Gaara adjusted to his new surroundings, and began considering a guardian for the boy.

• Nara Kaikei used a Shadow Stream Blade mark to bring Gaara from the Rōran Desert to Nara Forest, where Kokuō greeted them.
• Shukaku emerged from Gaara and angrily demanded that Nara Kaikei free it after seeing Kokuō living freely in the forest.
• Nara Kaikei told Shukaku that it could choose freedom once it and Gaara reconciled, and Kokuō explained that the other tailed beasts had accepted the same terms.
• Shukaku learned that Nara Kaikei's clansmen liked Kokuō and grew even more jealous of the great white deer.
• Nara Kaikei arranged for Gaara and Shukaku to stay in Nara Forest until Gaara became familiar with Konoha, and decided to find Gaara a guardian.

Nara Kaikei asked Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki to care for Gaara, and Kushina warmed to the red-haired child before learning he was the One-Tail Jinchuriki and the Fourth Kazekage’s biological son. The chapter ended with Kushina stunned by the revelations.

• Kushina Uzumaki stormed into Nara Kaikei’s office and demanded to know why he wanted her and Minato Namikaze to care for another child.
• Nara Kaikei showed Kushina a photograph of Gaara, and she softened when she saw his red hair and suspected he was an Uzumaki.
• Kushina praised Karin, whom she and Minato had been raising, and complained that she was easier to care for than their son, Minato Naruto.
• Nara Kaikei told Kushina that the child was named Gaara and might be an Uzumaki, then revealed that he was the One-Tail Jinchuriki and the Fourth Kazekage’s biological son.

Kushina Uzumaki questioned Nara Kaikei about Gaara, then decided to visit him in Nara Forest, where he was staying with Kokuō. As Kushina and Minato prepared to leave, the head of the Jonin Class arrived with a waterlogged letter from the Sannin.

• Kushina Uzumaki doubted that Gaara was the Fourth Kazekage's son, and Nara Kaikei told her Gaara was the One-Tail Jinchuriki who hated Rasa.
• Nara Kaikei said Gaara was staying with Kokuō in Nara Forest because his mental state was unstable, and Kushina worried the tailed beasts might provoke one another.
• Kushina recalled that Kurama had rampaged after seeing Kokuō's carefree life, but Nara Kaikei had suppressed him with the Shadow String Technique.
• Kushina asked Nara Kaikei for permission to visit Nara Forest, and he sent her to Big Brother Shikaku for authorization.
• As Kushina and Minato were about to leave, the head of the Jonin Class entered with a soaking-wet scroll containing a letter from the Sannin.

Nara Kaikei learned that Orochimaru had invited him and Tsunade to meet outside Kikyo Castle, and suspected the invitation concealed a reason tied to their past clash. He accepted the prospect of meeting Orochimaru without arranging an ambush.

• Minato Namikaze took Kushina Uzumaki away from the Hokage's Office after realizing Orochimaru had sent the letter.
• Nara Shikaku explained that Orochimaru had invited Nara Kaikei and Tsunade to talks in the forest outside Kikyo Castle, without stating the subject.
• Nara Kaikei recalled that Tsunade had once lured Orochimaru to the same forest, where he had suffered a beating and lost the use of his hands.
• Nara Shikaku offered to arrange an ambush for the meeting scheduled in three days, but Nara Kaikei refused, saying Orochimaru did not warrant the effort.

Nara Kaikei learned Orochimaru had invited him to meet and decided to turn the tables by visiting Orochimaru’s base first. He revealed that he had tracked Orochimaru in the Land of Fields for years and had used him to draw out Black Zetsu.

• Nara Kaikei declined to send anyone to Tsunade, saying he would visit her if Orochimaru had not contacted her and that he intended to respond to the invitation.
• Nara Shikaku offered to prepare Kikyo Castle for a possible battle, but Nara Kaikei rejected the plan and said he would seek out Orochimaru first.
• Nara Shikaku pointed out that Konoha lacked intelligence on Orochimaru’s whereabouts, and Nara Kaikei revealed that Orochimaru had a base in the Land of Fields.
• Nara Kaikei explained that a [Shadow Stream Blade] mark on Orochimaru’s severed hands had let him track Orochimaru’s location for years.
• Nara Kaikei revealed that he had kept Orochimaru around partly to draw out Black Zetsu.

Nara Kaikei discovered that Orochimaru had allied with Black Zetsu and learned that Orochimaru had invited both him and Tsunade to meet outside Kikyo Castle. Tsunade agreed to face her former comrade, and Nara Kaikei moved the confrontation forward to the next day.

• Nara Kaikei found evidence that Orochimaru had established a base in the Land of Fields and was working with Black Zetsu.
• Nara Kaikei considered Orochimaru, Sasori of the Red Sands, Uzumaki Naruto, Minato Naruto, and Second Pillar as potential bait for Black Zetsu, and was pleased that Black Zetsu had approached Orochimaru.
• Nara Kaikei told the Jonin Class leader he was going to Konoha New City and visited Tsunade at the Senju compound.
• Tsunade told Nara Kaikei that Orochimaru had invited her to meet outside Kikyo Castle in three days and agreed to face him with Nara Kaikei.
• Nara Kaikei told Tsunade they would travel to the Land of Fields the next day to settle things with Orochimaru.

Nara Kaikei and Tsunade traveled to the Land of Fields to confront Orochimaru at his secret base. After Tsunade announced their arrival with a powerful kick, Orochimaru appeared and was stunned to see Nara Kaikei, whose chakra he could not sense.

• Nara Kaikei told Tsunade about Orochimaru's defenses and abilities as they flew toward the Land of Fields, explaining that he had chosen not to bring other ninja.
• Nara Kaikei and Tsunade reached the area near Orochimaru's secret base and followed the position marked by the Shadow Stream Blade.
• Tsunade struck the ground with Chakra Enhanced Strength: Heavenly Pain Kick, creating a long fissure and alerting Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru left his core base and appeared in the clearing, recognizing Tsunade and then becoming shocked to see Nara Kaikei beside her.
• Nara Kaikei addressed Orochimaru and identified Sage Techniques from Ryūchi Cave as the source of his confidence.

Orochimaru confronted Nara Kaikei and Tsunade after mastering Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode and restoring his hands. He launched a Kusanagi Sword attack as a feint, then released Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation.

• Nara Kaikei sensed Natural Energy flowing toward Orochimaru and realized Orochimaru had mastered Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode.
• Orochimaru claimed the White Snake Sage had helped him evolve from a snake into a dragon, while secretly filling himself with Sage Chakra.
• Tsunade was surprised that Orochimaru had restored his hands and learned senjutsu.
• Nara Kaikei challenged Orochimaru to act, and Orochimaru launched a Kusanagi Sword from his throat.
• Nara Kaikei blocked the sword with Shadow Shield Technique, but Orochimaru used the clash as a feint and unleashed Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation.

Orochimaru trapped Nara Kaikei and Princess Tsunade in a stone forest with [Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation], but Kaikei escaped with the Shadow Creature. Orochimaru then unleashed a Wood Release Sage Art that filled the battlefield with pollen, leaving Tsunade shocked and Kaikei wary.

• Orochimaru used [Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation] to raise a forest of stone pillars around Nara Kaikei and Princess Tsunade.
• Nara Kaikei released the Shadow Creature and carried Tsunade into the sky, escaping the stone forest.
• Orochimaru recalled the Kusanagi Sword and swallowed it to keep Kaikei from taking it.
• Orochimaru used [Sage Art: Wood Style: Flower Tree World Descent] to grow a giant flower that spread pollen across the battlefield.
• Princess Tsunade questioned how Orochimaru could use Wood Release, and Nara Kaikei identified it as a Wood Release Sage Art.

Nara Kaikei tried to outlast Orochimaru’s five-minute Sage Mode by keeping his Shadow Creature beyond the range of Orochimaru’s Wood Release. Orochimaru concealed a new attack in a pollen fog, but Tsunade’s Water Release cleared it, revealing his White Agitation Technique.

• Nara Kaikei kept his Shadow Creature high in the sky to avoid Orochimaru’s Flower Tree World Descent and wait for his Sage Mode to expire.
• Orochimaru realized his Sage Chakra was being wasted and decided to use another ninjutsu to counter Nara Kaikei’s aerial advantage.
• Orochimaru thickened the pollen fog to conceal his next Sage Art, while Nara Kaikei asked Tsunade to use a wide-range Water Release.
• Tsunade used Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique to wash away the pollen and reveal Orochimaru beneath it.
• Orochimaru launched Sage Art: White Agitation Technique, sending a red Chakra Dragon into a black orb that erupted in blinding light and sound.

Nara Kaikei used a rubber barrier to withstand Orochimaru’s White Agitation Technique, then destroyed his Wood Style with lava and steam. Orochimaru transformed into Yamata no Orochi and survived Kirin, but Kaikei bound him with a sealing chain, leaving his capture—and the fate of Black Zetsu—unresolved.

• Nara Kaikei shielded himself and Tsunade from Orochimaru’s White Agitation Technique with Lava Release: Rubber Ball, then obliterated Flower Tree World Descent with Meteor Volcano.
• Orochimaru burrowed underground to escape the lava, while Kaikei and Tsunade returned to the devastated ground and watched for his next move.
• Orochimaru emerged as Yamata no Orochi using the Eight Branches Technique and roared at Nara Kaikei and Tsunade.
• Nara Kaikei struck Yamata no Orochi with Kirin, scorching its body, but Orochimaru emerged alive from the charred remains.
• Orochimaru declared that Yamata no Orochi could never be killed, and Nara Kaikei bound him with a black sealing chain.

Nara Kaikei sealed Orochimaru’s Eight Branches Technique with the Shadow String Technique and dragged him out of Yamata no Orochi. Orochimaru abandoned his captured body and emerged anew beside the serpent’s remains, accompanied by a coffin that Nara Kaikei recognized as evidence of Impure World Reincarnation.

• Nara Kaikei used the Shadow String Technique to suppress Orochimaru’s Chakra and sever his connection to Yamata no Orochi.
• Nara Kaikei dragged Orochimaru from the serpent and prepared to finish him, believing he had won the fight.
• Orochimaru told Nara Kaikei that he would activate another plan, then his presence faded as the Mental Energy left his body.
• Nara Kaikei stopped Tsunade from approaching and sensed that Orochimaru’s Mental Energy had disappeared.
• A new Orochimaru crawled out beside Yamata no Orochi’s remains, and a coffin emerged with him, prompting Nara Kaikei to identify Impure World Reincarnation.

Orochimaru summoned a specially modified Edo Uchiha Madara, whose revived body appeared capable of surpassing his living prime. Madara recognized Nara Kaikei and turned his Eternal Mangekyo against him.

• Tsunade recognized the Forbidden Jutsu Orochimaru used as Impure World Reincarnation.
• Uchiha Madara burst out of the coffin, and Nara Kaikei identified him as the legendary Uchiha.
• Madara recognized Nara Kaikei as the Nara clan ninja who had angered him before.
• Orochimaru tried to approach Madara with a curse-mark kunai, but Madara's overwhelming pressure stopped him.
• Orochimaru explained that his customized Impure World Reincarnation had restored Madara to his prime and might have made him stronger than he was in life.
• Madara focused his Eternal Mangekyo on Nara Kaikei and cast Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stake Technique.

Nara Kaikei countered Uchiha Madara’s genjutsu and Fire Style with his Lacquer Eye and violet-black Flame Release. Uchiha Madara then formed Susanoo as Nara Kaikei’s shadow extended a Chakra arm, leaving the two poised to continue their battle.

• Nara Kaikei met Uchiha Madara’s Shackling Stake genjutsu with Lacquer Eye, and neither ninja gained control over the other.
• Uchiha Madara praised Nara Kaikei’s eye power and attacked with Great Fire Annihilation.
• Nara Kaikei used Flame Release: Oni-bi to ignite and overwhelm Uchiha Madara’s fireball.
• Nara Kaikei shaped his violet-black flames into a giant cat and sent it at Uchiha Madara and Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Madara blocked the flames with Susanoo and continued forming the Chakra giant as Nara Kaikei extended a Chakra arm from his shadow.

Nara Kaikei and Uchiha Madara clashed with their hundred-meter-tall Shadow Release: Black Warrior and Complete Body Susanoo. Kaikei’s erosive Shadow Release began consuming Madara’s Susanoo, prompting Madara to awaken his Rinnegan.

• Nara Kaikei summoned the SS-Rank Shadow Release: Black Warrior, and Uchiha Madara expanded his Susanoo into its Complete Body form.
• Uchiha Madara attacked with his Susanoo’s giant sword, and Nara Kaikei blocked it with a shield shaped from Shadow Release Chakra.
• The collision sent a devastating shockwave across the Land of Fields base, forcing Orochimaru and Princess Tsunade to evade the debris.
• Nara Kaikei’s shield trapped Madara’s sword and spread Shadow Release across the Susanoo, eroding it with the technique’s five-nature Kekkei Tōta power.
• Uchiha Madara transformed his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan into the Rinnegan.

Nara Kaikei countered Uchiha Madara’s Rinnegan Chakra absorption by converting his Black Warrior into a Sage Art, poisoning Madara with Sage Chakra and dragging him from his Susanoo. As Kaikei’s Shadow Clone moved in to restrain him, Madara’s Limbo: Border Jail destroyed it.

• Uchiha Madara activated his Rinnegan and began absorbing the Shadow Style Chakra that had covered most of his Complete Body Susanoo.
• Nara Kaikei infused his Black Warrior with Sage Chakra, secretly transforming it into Sage Art: Kai Release Black Warrior.
• Uchiha Madara absorbed the Sage Chakra, which stiffened his body, and stopped devouring Chakra.
• Nara Kaikei used the black Chakra covering Madara’s Susanoo to rope him and pull him out of its protection.
• Nara Kaikei sent a Shadow Clone toward the restrained Madara, but Madara’s Limbo: Border Jail appeared and destroyed it.

Nara Kaikei used a concealed Shadow Clone to strike Uchiha Madara and followed with sealing chains, but Madara repelled the assault with Shinra Tensei. Kaikei exploited the technique’s cooldown to land a second attack that blew apart Madara’s head.

• Nara Kaikei hid a Shadow Clone with Shadow Stealth Jutsu and used Super Strength: Peerless to smash Uchiha Madara’s back, destroying much of his body.
• Nara Kaikei sent Shadow String Technique chains after Madara, but Madara used Shinra Tensei to repel them and dispel the attacking clone.
• Nara Kaikei attacked again with a Shadow Clone marked by Shadow Stream Blade while keeping track of Shinra Tensei’s cooldown.
• Nara Kaikei struck Uchiha Madara in the head with a power-gathered punch and blew it apart.

Nara Kaikei sealed Uchiha Madara after destroying most of his body, then turned his attention to Orochimaru. Orochimaru considered fleeing, but Kaikei appeared beside him and asked about his former partner.

• Nara Kaikei blasted apart Uchiha Madara’s head and upper body, leaving only his legs to regenerate.
• Kaikei used blood prepared for the Reverse Four Symbols Seal Jutsu to trap Madara in a sealing scroll.
• Kaikei stayed alert because Madara’s battle mission was SS-Rank, though he judged Edo Madara unable to reach Six Paths strength.
• Orochimaru watched Madara’s defeat and grew increasingly eager to flee from Kaikei.
• Kaikei appeared in Orochimaru’s shadow and asked whether he had other preparations, then requested an introduction to Orochimaru’s former partner.

Nara Kaikei subdued Orochimaru, who escaped by transferring his soul to his original body in a hidden laboratory. There, Kaikei captured Black Zetsu with the Amber Purifying Pot.

• Nara Kaikei immobilized Orochimaru with the Shadow Grip Technique, and Orochimaru used the Spirit Transformation Technique to flee to his original body.
• Orochimaru awakened in a laboratory in the Land of Fields and planned to escape and prepare stronger forces for a future fight with Nara Kaikei.
• Black Zetsu confronted Orochimaru and lamented that their plan had failed.
• Nara Kaikei appeared in the laboratory and called Black Zetsu the son of the Kaguya Clan.
• Black Zetsu answered Kaikei, who sealed it inside the Amber Purifying Pot.

Nara Kaikei sealed Black Zetsu in the Amber Purifying Pot, and Orochimaru captured White Zetsu Tobi to win favor with him. Their confrontation ended without a fight, completing Nara Kaikei’s combat missions and earning him an S-Rank and an SS-Rank Ninja Scroll.

• Nara Kaikei sealed Black Zetsu inside the Amber Purifying Pot and stored it in a Sealing Scroll.
• Orochimaru caught White Zetsu Tobi off guard, paralyzed it with a curse mark, and turned it into his puppet.
• Nara Kaikei considered Orochimaru’s many survival measures and wondered whether a death warrior could use the Reaper Death Seal against him.
• Orochimaru offered White Zetsu Tobi to Nara Kaikei and backed down from their challenge.
• Nara Kaikei’s combat missions for Sage Orochimaru and Edo Madara were completed, earning him an S-Rank and an SS-Rank Ninja Scroll.