Chapter Summaries

Might Guy and Lee fought Konan and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei while Danzo warned Konoha’s advisors that Pain had attacked and was targeting Naruto. Tsunade rejected their attempt to keep Naruto away, insisting that he was a ninja who could protect the village, and the chapter ended with her accusing the advisors of lacking the power to believe.

• Neji realized Konan and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei were luring their pursuers into a trap, but Might Guy charged ahead and was caught by Tsukikyuu Shang Mei’s Shadow Binding Barrier as Konan prepared to strike.
• Lee opened the Gate of Limit and shielded Might Guy with his bandages, giving Might Guy time to break free and destroy the trees connected to his shadow.
• Tsukikyuu Shang Mei said she would activate the grand formation, and Might Guy warned Lee to be careful.
• Danzo told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura that Pain had attacked Konoha and was targeting Uzumaki Naruto while Akira Kurama remained away.
• Tsunade decided to summon Naruto back, but Mitokado Homura objected, so Tsunade defended Naruto’s ability and right to protect Konoha.

Yuexi fought Kisame while Qing Yan searched the hot spring town for Konan and found no one. Qing Yan concluded that the man calling himself Madara Uchiha might have deceived the Young Master’s Genjutsu, leaving the Young Master in serious danger.

• Qing Yan and Yuexi arrived at the hot spring, where Kisame attacked them and Yuexi stayed behind to fight him while Qing Yan went searching.
• Yuexi froze Kisame’s water attacks and trapped him in an Ice Coffin, but the Kisame inside was a Water Clone and the real Kisame nearly struck her with Samehada.
• Kisame sent a swarm of shark projectiles after Yuexi, knocking her from the sky, but her icy-petal substitution let her counter with Frost Nova and freeze him.
• Qing Yan smashed through buildings as he searched the town, but he found neither Konan nor anyone else.
• Qing Yan reasoned that Madara Uchiha might have fooled the Young Master’s Genjutsu and feared that the Young Master was in danger.

Kakashi and Konoha's support team battled Deva Path Pain and learned to exploit the brief gap between his repulsive attacks. Meanwhile, Ming Jing kept Obito, Sasuke, Suigetsu, Kabuto, and Jugo trapped in a Genjutsu and confronted Obito with an illusion of Rin.

• Choza Akimichi arrived to help Kakashi, but Deva Path Pain survived their coordinated attack and repelled the support team's assaults with Shinra Tensei.
• Kakashi explained that Deva Path Pain could attract or repel attacks but needed a brief interval before using the technique again, then asked Choza to assist with a plan.
• At the Valley of the End, Ming Jing sensed that his Chakra was sufficient to keep Obito, Sasuke, Suigetsu, Kabuto, and Jugo trapped in his Genjutsu.
• Ming Jing brought an illusion of Rin before Obito and accused him of wanting to destroy the world and village she cherished.

Obito and Sasuke fought Akira Kurama, only to realize he had trapped them in a powerful genjutsu while using their battle to stall for time. Sasuke found a way back to reality, leaving him and Obito facing Ming Jing again above the lake.

• Obito and Sasuke joined forces against Ming Jing, who spread their fire attack across the lake and forced the flames underwater.
• Obito realized that Ming Jing’s response was part of a powerful genjutsu that manipulated their senses, and Sasuke confirmed it by unleashing Amaterasu.
• Obito explained that Ming Jing was using them to buy time and did not truly intend to save Konoha.
• Sasuke noticed that the genjutsu was drawing the Amaterasu flames into the lake and deliberately sank beneath the water to return to reality.
• Sasuke and Obito regained consciousness in the real world, and Ming Jing praised their escape.

Kakashi and the Akimichi clan fought Deva Path Pain, but Kakashi was gravely wounded and used Kamui to help Choji escape with vital intelligence. Elsewhere, Yami rescued Hinata from Pain, and Hinata ordered the remaining ninjas to evacuate the wounded and hold Pain back.

• Kakashi, Choza Akimichi, and Choji Akimichi trapped Deva Path Pain with chains, but Pain used Shinra Tensei to crush the ruins and incapacitate them.
• Choji survived thanks to the chest mirror Shikamaru had given him, and Kakashi urged him to report Pain's abilities to Lady Tsunade.
• Kakashi used Kamui to destroy part of Animal Path's monstrous bird so Choji could run to the Hokage Building, then collapsed and lost consciousness.
• Deva Path Pain grabbed Hinata, but Chiyo and Yami intervened, and Yami carried Hinata clear of Pain's Shinra Tensei.
• Hinata saw that many of her ninjas were injured and ordered those still able to move to evacuate the wounded while the others held Pain back.

Yami, Taichi, and Chiyo fought Deva Path Pain while protecting Hinata, but even their strongest attacks did not defeat him. Hinata left with Hinata Takashi as the three stayed behind to continue the battle.

• Deva Path Pain identified Hinata and questioned why Akira Kurama was drawn to her, but Yami pulled her out of the way of his attraction ability.
• Hinata Takashi noticed that Deva Path Pain moved his hands when using his powers, and Taichi and Chiyo attacked him together but were knocked back.
• Yami endured Deva Path Pain's Shinra Tensei and struck him with Morning Peacock, but Hinata saw that he had survived.
• Taichi, Chiyo, and Yami urged Hinata to leave, and she ordered them to stay alive as Hinata Takashi escorted her away.

Yami and the Kurama Clan defenders fought Deva Path Pain to prevent him from capturing Hinata and using her to provoke Akira Kurama. Pain defeated Chiyo and then Yami, who died believing she had kept her promise to her Young Master.

• Taichi, Chiyo, and Yami confronted Deva Path Pain, who said he wanted Akira to experience pain rather than capture Hinata as leverage.
• Pain repelled Taichi and Chiyo’s attacks, then impaled Chiyo with a black rod and knocked Taichi and Yami away.
• Yami rescued Chiyo by sending her to Taichi, then used the Gate of View to kick Pain hundreds of meters away.
• Yami opened the Gate of Wonder and attacked Pain with Daytime Tiger, but Pain’s Shinra Tensei overwhelmed her and crushed her into a crater.
• Yami recalled how Ming Jing had saved her and given her four happy years before she died; Pain left, promising to relay her last words to Akira Kurama.

Tsunade confronted Deva Path Pain on the Hokage Building while he demanded Naruto’s whereabouts and tried to recruit Konoha into his plans. Elsewhere, Taichi learned Yami might have died after using the Seven Gates, but he still set out to bring her home.

• Mirai sent Karin to treat Chiyo and learned that Yami was using the Seven Gates to protect Taichi and Chiyo.
• Karin explained that Yami’s condition made opening the Seven Gates fatal, and Chiyo blamed herself for being too weak to help.
• Taichi left the hospital to try to save Yami, despite Karin’s warning that Yami was probably already dead.
• Deva Path Pain appeared before Tsunade as she treated the wounded from atop the Hokage Building and demanded Naruto’s location.
• Tsunade rejected Pain’s offer and threatened to defeat him with Konoha’s strength, declaring that Naruto was strong.

Pain withdrew his forces and unleashed Shinra Tensei, devastating Konoha. Ming Jing appeared as a weakened clone to protect Hinata and the hospital, then asked her to evacuate the wounded while he faced the threat.

• Deva Path Pain learned Naruto was at Mount Myōboku, recalled his forces, and warned Tsunade before rising into the sky.
• The Animal Path summoned the other Paths and Konan away from the village as Neji realized the withdrawal likely meant Konoha was in danger.
• Tsunade ordered Katsuyu to protect everyone while Taichi carried Yami toward the Kurama Clan compound.
• Konan learned Nagato was using a technique that would shorten his lifespan, but Deva Path Pain unleashed Shinra Tensei and reduced Konoha's buildings to rubble.
• Ming Jing's clone protected Hinata and the hospital from the attack, then told Hinata to evacuate the wounded while he handled the rest.

Sage Naruto arrived in the devastated Konoha and confronted Pain after rescuing Tsunade from an attack. As Naruto began fighting the assembled Paths, Ming Jing’s clone stayed behind to help protect the wounded.

• Sakura and Mirai found the Konoha Hospital shielded by Ming Jing’s clone, who explained that Ming Jing was still fighting Sasuke and the man posing as Madara Uchiha.
• Hinata blamed herself for the casualties, but Ming Jing’s clone urged her to treat the wounded while he stayed to help.
• Naruto arrived in Sage Mode with the toads, and the Six Paths of Pain gathered before him in the cratered village.
• Tsunade stepped forward to face Pain, but Naruto destroyed Asura Path when it attacked her and told her to leave the fight to him.
• Naruto asked Tsunade about Kakashi, then fought off a summoned rhinoceros while Gama Kichi carried her to the hospital.
• Ming Jing’s clone supported Tsunade at the hospital, where she seized him by the collar and demanded to know why he had not stopped the destruction.

Naruto fought Pain in Sage Mode while Ming Jing's clone put the exhausted Tsunade to sleep. Naruto's Sage Chakra began to run low as the battle continued, and Sage Shima moved to disrupt Pain's shared vision.

• Ming Jing's clone subdued the exhausted Tsunade, transferred Chakra to her, and handed her to Utsuki Yūhi to take to the hospital.
• Naruto and the toads trapped Pain's summoned beasts with Sage Art: Frog Song, and the Gama brothers joined the fight.
• Naruto used Frog Kumite to strike the Deva Path Pain with an invisible blow and learned that Pain had been Jiraiya's student.
• Naruto attacked Pain with a Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, but the Animal Path summoned another beast while the other paths evaded or endured the blast.
• The two-headed dog split apart, Naruto's Sage Chakra began to run low, and Sage Shima launched Sage Art: Wind Style Sandstorm to cut off Pain's vision.

Naruto defeated the Animal Path and, after using a reverse summoning to restore Sage Mode, took down the Hell Path. Deva Path Pain recovered and repelled Naruto’s attack, leaving Naruto to plan around the five-second interval between Deva Path Pain’s uses of Shinra Tensei.

• Sage Shima’s wind and Gama Bunta’s help let Naruto trap and kill the Animal Path, which Gama Bunta spat out with Naruto after the Split Dogs vanished.
• After Naruto’s Sage Mode ran out, Sage Fukasaku used a scroll to summon Naruto’s Sage Mode clone from Mount Myōboku and restore his Sage Chakra.
• Naruto shattered Deva Path Pain’s black rod and threw a Rasenshuriken, but the Hell Path revived the defeated Deva Path, who absorbed Naruto’s attack.
• Naruto used a clone disguised as a Rasenshuriken to strike the Deva Path, then hit the Hell Path with two Rasengans.
• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei to blast Naruto and his clones away, and the Slug Clone explained that the technique had an interval of roughly five seconds.

Qing Yan and Yuexi defeated Kisame in the Land of Hot Water, while Ming Jing watched Obito withdraw with Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Kabuto. The chapter ended with Obito leaving and Jugo still facing Ming Jing.

• Qing Yan transformed into his golden state, withstood Kisame's attacks, and knocked him away before taking up Samehada.
• Kisame trapped Qing Yan inside Water Prison Shark Dance and fused with Samehada, expecting to drown him.
• Yuexi recovered her strength and used Ice Release: Goddess of Dawn's Forgiveness to freeze Kisame inside a gigantic iceberg.
• Qing Yan escaped the water prison at high speed and checked on Yuexi, who said she needed to rest after using her technique.
• Obito pulled Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Kabuto into Kamui Space as Ming Jing watched, while Jugo remained in his way.
• Obito asked Ming Jing why he had let events unfold, then left as Ming Jing smiled.

Naruto and Ming Jing’s clone worked together against Deva Path Pain, and Naruto turned Pain’s attempt to drain his chakra against him. Pain eventually pinned Naruto down and explained that he sought peace and justice, leaving Naruto and Pain arguing over who had the right to claim those goals.

• Ming Jing’s clone saved Konoha Hospital from Gama Bunta and agreed to cast Genjutsu while Naruto stalled Deva Path Pain.
• Deva Path Pain pulled Naruto in with Banshō Ten'in, struck him, and drained his chakra until Naruto left Sage Mode.
• Naruto absorbed Sage Chakra from nature, causing Deva Path Pain to turn into a stone frog, then broke free from his petrified arms.
• Deva Path Pain pinned Naruto to the ground with Black Rods and said he wanted to fulfill Jiraiya’s legacy by achieving peace and justice.
• Naruto condemned Pain’s destruction of Konoha, and Pain argued that Konoha had inflicted the same suffering on his family, companions, and village.

Naruto struggled to answer Deva Path Pain’s arguments about hatred and peace, but refused to accept Pain’s plan to use a Tailed Beast weapon. Ming Jing’s clone rescued Naruto and trapped Deva Path Pain in a genjutsu, leaving Naruto to search for Pain’s real body.

• Deva Path Pain argued that revenge perpetuated hatred and explained his plan to create peace through fear of a devastating Tailed Beast weapon.
• Naruto remembered Jiraiya’s faith in a future where people could understand one another, but admitted he did not yet know how to overcome hatred.
• Deva Path Pain pinned Naruto with Black Rods and drove off Sage Fukasaku and Shima, then prepared to take Naruto away.
• Ming Jing’s clone trapped Deva Path Pain inside an inverted pyramid with Genjutsu: Heavenly Jade Spear and removed the Black Rods from Naruto.
• Naruto reaffirmed that understanding Pain did not mean agreeing with him, then left to find Pain’s real body while Ming Jing’s clone held Pain for half an hour.

Hinata planned to watch Pain’s attack and protect the hospital while Ming Jing’s clone fought Deva Path Pain. Naruto found Inoichi, Shikaku, and Hizashi in the forest, then set out alone to speak with Pain’s main body after Shikaku agreed to trust him.

• Hinata left the hospital to monitor the battlefield, and Neji warned that Ming Jing would still have to rescue her if she endangered herself.
• Ming Jing’s clone resumed fighting Deva Path Pain, countering his attacks with Water Style and Lightning Style techniques but worrying that the clone lacked enough power.
• Naruto met Inoichi, Shikaku, and Hizashi while tracking Pain’s main body and said he wanted to speak with him alone.
• Inoichi objected, but Shikaku let Naruto go, citing his son Shikamaru’s strong faith in him.

Naruto confronted Nagato, admitted he could not forgive him, and asked why Jiraiya’s former disciples had chosen different paths before agreeing to hear Nagato’s story. Meanwhile, Ming Jing’s true body arrived in Konoha to face Deva Path Pain, who asked whether Jiraiya was well.

• Naruto entered Nagato’s hideout, resisted Nagato’s attempt to provoke him, and acknowledged that he wanted revenge and could not forgive him.
• Naruto explained that he wanted to understand why Nagato and the others had changed after being Jiraiya’s disciples, and Nagato agreed to show him their despair.
• In Konoha, Deva Path Pain destroyed Ming Jing’s clone and confronted Neji as Ming Jing’s true body arrived.
• Ming Jing suggested they rest while Nagato was occupied, and Deva Path Pain asked whether Jiraiya was well; Ming Jing said he did not know.

Naruto answered Nagato’s despair by holding to Jiraiya’s beliefs and refusing to give up on peace, reminding Nagato of the ideals he once shared with Jiraiya. Nagato chose to believe in Naruto and used the Rinnegan’s life-giving technique, while Deva Path Pain collapsed in Konoha.

• Nagato told Naruto how the great nations’ peace had been built on the suffering of small nations, and Naruto admitted he understood but would not forgive him.
• Naruto refused to kill Nagato and vowed to pursue the peace Jiraiya had believed in, prompting Nagato to recall his own youthful conviction.
• Naruto explained that Jiraiya’s book had been inspired by Nagato and that his own life was the book’s sequel, convincing Nagato to believe in him.
• Nagato released his hands and performed Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, telling Konan to live a new life.
• Konan explained that Nagato’s Rinnegan could control life and death, while Deva Path Pain collapsed in Konoha and asked Ming Jing whether this was his plan.

Yami awoke after Taichi and Kanon mourned her, while Nagato died after entrusting his hopes to Naruto. Konan and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei chose to remain in Amegakure with Naruto, and Ming Jing warned Konan that the Masked Man was after Nagato’s eyes.

• Taichi apologized to Yami, and a beam of light brought her back to consciousness; she immediately asked about the Young Master, and Kanon assured her everything was fine.
• Ming Jing used Wind Release to bring Yahiko’s body to Konan as Nagato explained the pain and hatred of war to Naruto before dying with hope for the future.
• Konan left Akatsuki and declared that she would pursue Nagato and Yahiko’s dream alongside Naruto, who said he had inherited their names, determination, and pain.
• Ming Jing sent Naruto away, and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei decided to accompany Konan to Amegakure rather than return to the Land of Fire with her teacher.
• Ming Jing warned Konan that the Masked Man wanted Nagato’s eyes, then Konan left with Tsukikyuu Shang Mei and the bodies of Nagato and Yahiko.

Konan confronted Obito in Amegakure to protect Nagato’s Rinnegan and avenge Akatsuki’s betrayal. After revealing a lake filled with six hundred billion Explosive Tags, she trapped Obito in an attack designed to outlast his intangibility.

• Obito came to Amegakure searching for Nagato’s body, and Konan led him to the lake outside the village.
• Konan rejected Obito’s claim to Akatsuki and the Rinnegan, and Obito revealed that he had prompted Yahiko to found Akatsuki and had given Nagato the eyes.
• Obito caught Konan and began using Kamui to absorb her, but thousands of Explosive Tags detonated and injured him.
• Konan explained that she had studied Obito’s limits and revealed that the lake was filled with six hundred billion Explosive Tags.
• Konan interrupted Obito’s Kamui with repeated explosions and declared that Yahiko and Nagato had acted on their own convictions as the tags began detonating across the lake.