Chapter Summaries

Aozora proposed temporarily replacing Kisame’s heart so Kabuto could remove it and eradicate Sasori’s poison, then brought Kisame to Konoha. At Ichiraku Ramen, Kisame met Naruto and outate him, leaving Naruto vowing to win next time.

• Aozora explained that Kisame could not survive without his heart and proposed temporarily replacing it so Kabuto could detoxify it.
• Kabuto agreed he could eradicate the poison after the heart was removed, and Kisame agreed to accompany Aozora to Konoha.
• A few days later, Aozora brought Kisame to Ichiraku Ramen, where Naruto had discovered he could not find his spending money.
• Aozora introduced Kisame to Naruto, and Kisame startled Naruto with a show of killing intent before Aozora told them not to damage the shop.
• Naruto and Kisame competed to eat ramen, but Kisame finished more bowls, and Naruto promised to beat him next time.

Aozora and Kisame discussed Kisame’s recovery and his investigation into Shennong, then prepared to search for Sky Ninja Village’s hidden base. Kisame set out for the eastern coast while Aozora headed to the Hokage Building, considering how to tell Fugaku about recruiting Konoha shinobi for Heavenly Court.

• Kisame said his surgery had left him weaker and slower at extracting Chakra, and Aozora treated him and Samehada to more ramen.
• Kisame told Aozora that Shennong was an ordinary physician who had bought machinery through the Black Market, with a delivery scheduled near Yokohama Coast the following week.
• Aozora and Kisame agreed to pursue Shennong and find Sky Ninja Village’s base, while Aozora warned Kisame to hide his identity from the Akatsuki Organization.
• Kisame left to investigate the eastern coast, and Aozora decided he would speak honestly with Fugaku about building Heavenly Court and recruiting members from Konoha.

Aozora announced that he wanted to research the Path to Godhood and asked Fugaku to help recruit people for the project. Fugaku approved the research but refused to let Kisame Hoshigaki participate because he was not a Konoha ninja.

• Aozora told Fugaku that Kisame Hoshigaki's heart transplant had gone smoothly and that Kisame had left Konoha without joining the village.
• Aozora explained that Nine Breaths Qi Assimilation was difficult but safe, and told Fugaku and Kyūdai to keep practicing.
• Aozora declared that his next goal was to become a figure like the Six Paths Sage, and Fugaku approved his research project.
• Aozora asked to recruit Shisui, Itachi, Kabuto, Tsunade, and Kisame Hoshigaki for the research; Fugaku approved the first three and told him to invite Tsunade himself.
• Fugaku refused to let Kisame participate because he was not a Konoha ninja, and Aozora shook his head at the suggestion of recruiting Water Release ninja instead.

Aozora persuaded Fugaku to approve an independent organization for recruiting Kage-level ninja to research a Path to Godhood. He argued that the organization could also help the Uchiha unify the Shinobi World, then left to begin recruiting.

• Aozora told Fugaku and Kyūdai that he wanted to establish an organization unaffiliated with any village and recruit Kage-level experts to research a Path to Godhood.
• Fugaku suspected Aozora of planning to defect, but Aozora compared his organization to ninja secretly trained by major clans and argued that he had already turned Kisame from the Akatsuki Organization.
• Aozora argued that Konoha could gain more from the research than it risked losing through leaked intelligence, and Fugaku agreed to let him establish the organization while warning him to protect Konoha's secrets.
• Aozora urged Fugaku to look beyond the village system and pursue unification of the Shinobi World, arguing that his organization could recruit and turn ninja from other villages.
• Aozora left the Hokage's Office after obtaining Fugaku's approval so he could begin recruiting people.

Aozora recruited Itachi, Kabuto, and Tsunade into the Heavenly Court, an organization devoted to researching godhood and immortality. He then took Tsunade and Kabuto toward the eastern coast of the Land of Fire to capture Shennong and seize the Sky Ninja’s legacy, including their flying fortress.

• Aozora invited Itachi and Kabuto to join the Heavenly Court, and both agreed after he explained its purpose.
• Tsunade joined the organization after Aozora described its research into godhood and immortality.
• Aozora assigned Tsunade and Kabuto code names, then set out with them for the eastern coast of the Land of Fire.
• Aozora explained that they would capture Shennong and claim the Sky Ninja’s legacy, especially their flying fortress, as the Heavenly Court’s base.
• Tsunade recognized Shennong as a renowned healer and condemned his secret ties to the Sky Ninja remnants.

Aozora and his team prepared to ambush the Sky Ninja, whose leader Shennong was buying materials to restore the Sky Fortress. The trade was interrupted when a golden-haired figure crashed into the beach, blasting both sides away.

• Tsunade, Kisame, and Aozora watched the Sky Ninja scout ahead and discussed how their flying devices worked.
• Aozora assigned Kisame to attack the carrier fleet and ordered Tsunade and Kabuto to capture Shennong during the trade.
• Shennong studied the Sky Fortress blueprint and planned to restore Ancor Vantian using the arriving materials and the Zero Tailed Beast's Chakra.
• Shennong met Lord Toda and the Black Market representatives on the beach to exchange money for machines and parts.
• A Sky Ninja spotted a figure falling from the sky, and the impact blasted the assembled ninjas across the beach.
• A golden-haired figure stood in the crater left by the explosion.

Kabuto, Kisame, and Tsunade attacked the Sky Ninja forces from the sea and shore. Tsunade confronted Shennong after defeating his troops, while the assault on the aircraft carriers continued.

• Aozora sent Kabuto to fight the Sky Ninja, and Kabuto crushed their boats with Buddha's Palm before poisoning the survivors in the water.
• The Sky Ninja captain sent three squads to support Shennong, but Kisame and his Water Clones attacked the aircraft carriers without destroying them.
• The Black Market men recognized Tsunade and fled, abandoning the money buried in the sand.
• Shennong revealed that he knew the Sky Ninja had been discovered and ordered his troops to attack Tsunade.
• Tsunade dodged the kunai barrage, defeated the Sky Ninja at close range, and turned to face Shennong.

Shennong revealed his Body Activation technique and used it to open the Eight Inner Gates up to the sixth gate, challenging Tsunade to a brutal fight. Though Tsunade held her own at first, Shennong’s body grew stronger through regeneration, leaving her on the defensive as defeat loomed.

• Shennong transformed with the power of the Zero Tailed Beast and explained that his Body Activation technique let him open the Eight Inner Gates.
• Shennong opened the gates up to the sixth and charged Tsunade, who attacked before he could advance further.
• Tsunade and Shennong traded punches, both suffering broken bones, and Tsunade reset her hand with Medical Ninjutsu.
• Shennong claimed that destroying and regenerating his muscles made him progressively stronger, then attacked Tsunade again.
• Tsunade dodged Shennong’s sweeping kick and countered, but his increasing strength and speed gradually forced her onto the defensive.

Aozora and his allies subdued the Sky Ninja forces while Tsunade fought Shennong, who revealed his mastery of the Eight Inner Gates. Tsunade crippled Shennong by secretly damaging his chakra points, but he began another transformation as Aozora intervened with golden chains.

• Kabuto reported that he had defeated the enemy troops without letting anyone escape, and Kisame said he had captured more than a dozen Sky Ninja for questioning.
• Aozora explained to Kisame and Kabuto that Shennong had opened the sixth of the Eight Inner Gates, and described how the technique's power depended on the user's strength.
• Shennong opened the Seventh Gate and unleashed a storm of chakra, but Aozora recognized that he had already lost.
• Tsunade revealed that she had damaged Shennong's chakra points during their fight, disrupting his body's regeneration and leaving him withered.
• Shennong prepared to transform into a massive black creature, and Aozora shot four golden chakra chains from his palm.

Aozora stopped Shennong by sealing the Zero Tailed Beast with Adamantine Sealing Chains, then used his Tomoe Rinnegan to extract Shennong’s memories and soul. He absorbed the Zero Tailed Beast and left Tsunade, Kisame, and Kabuto stunned by his abilities.

• Aozora subdued Shennong by sealing the Zero Tailed Beast inside him with Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Shennong offered Aozora the carrier controls, his Body Activation Technique, and the method for creating Artificial Tailed Beasts, but Aozora demanded information about Ancor Vantian.
• Shennong tried to kill himself and then resisted questioning, so Aozora used the Human Path to read his memories.
• Aozora pulled Shennong’s soul from his body and had Yama absorb it, then extracted the Zero Tailed Beast and had Yama absorb that as well.
• Tsunade questioned Kabuto about Aozora’s techniques, while Kabuto and Kisame admitted they knew little about the full extent of his power.

Aozora handed the captured Sky Ninja fleet to Shingo and traveled with Tsunade, Kisame, and Kabuto to explore the hidden Sky Fortress in the Land of Hot Water. They discovered captives being used to feed Shennong’s monster, and Aozora’s group freed and treated them.

• Aozora briefed Shingo on the captured ships, assigned him to take them over and interrogate the Sky Ninja, and asked him to investigate their control of the Land of Hot Water.
• Aozora flew with Tsunade, Kisame, and Kabuto to the ruins concealing Sky Ninja Village’s Sky Fortress.
• Aozora’s Sharingan incapacitated two Sky Ninja guards as the group made its way toward the fortress core.
• Aozora and his companions found imprisoned people who had been kept as food for the vengeful souls inside Shennong.
• Aozora freed the prisoners and unsealed food for them while Kisame maintained order and Tsunade and Kabuto checked their condition.

After the Heavenly Court rescued the villagers, Aozora gathered Tsunade, Kisame, and Kabuto at the Sky Fortress and formally established the organization at its new base, Lingxiao Palace. He set their next goal as pursuing the Six Paths Sage’s secrets and Tailed Beasts, then assigned everyone work repairing and cleaning the fortress.

• Aozora led the group to the fortress’s central hall, where he used mysterious powers to provide chairs and praised Tsunade and Kisame for their work on the mission.
• Aozora awarded each member ten million ryō and gave Tsunade and Kisame the Nine Breaths Qi Assimilation Sage Jutsu, explaining its benefits and how Slug fluid could help them begin.
• Aozora formally established the Heavenly Court and renamed the fortress Lingxiao Palace.
• Aozora declared that the organization would investigate the Six Paths Sage and seek related intelligence, divine artifacts, and Tailed Beasts; he gave the others a Henge technique to conceal their identities.
• Aozora told the members to wear black robes with red clouds and painted nails to shift blame for their Tailed Beast operations onto Akatsuki.
• Aozora assigned Kisame to clean Lingxiao Palace and sent Tsunade and Kabuto with him to repair the power system.

Aozora, Tsunade, and Kabuto repaired Lingxiao Palace’s power system, then Kisame supplied the Chakra needed to launch the fortress. Aozora flew it to a mountain near Konoha and installed the modified Zero Tailed Beast as its new power source.

• Aozora, Tsunade, and Kabuto repaired and improved Lingxiao Palace’s sealing array over three days.
• Aozora asked Kisame to power the fortress, and Kisame filled its energy reserve with his Chakra.
• Aozora activated Lingxiao Palace, and the fortress rose into the sky as Tsunade, Kabuto, and Kisame watched.
• Aozora flew Lingxiao Palace toward Konoha and brought it to a hover above a nearby mountain.
• Hell Path finished modifying the Zero Tailed Beast into a Nether Dragon, and Aozora made it Lingxiao Palace’s new power source.
• Kisame stayed aboard to cultivate Nine Breaths Qi Assimilation while Aozora, Tsunade, and Kabuto returned to the village.

Aozora warned Fugaku that Amegakure had the strength to challenge the Five Great Shinobi Villages and that the Akatsuki Organization might be pursuing Jinchūriki. He reported on Shennong’s defeat, handed over Artificial Tailed Beast research, and sold Fugaku and Kyūdai materials for Sage Jutsu training.

• Tekka reported that Han had fought an explosion specialist in Bird Country, and Aozora suggested Deidara and the Akatsuki Organization might have been involved.
• Aozora and Fugaku discussed Amegakure’s strength and the possibility of the Akatsuki Organization capturing Jinchūriki, prompting Fugaku to order Tekka to investigate Han’s fate.
• Fugaku scolded Aozora for issuing a Super S-Rank mission and advancing its commission, then let him collect the payment after hearing about the threat posed by Shennong and the Sky Ninja.
• Aozora explained Shennong’s Body Activation Secret Technique and Zero Tailed Beast, then gave Fugaku a scroll containing Artificial Tailed Beast technology.
• Aozora offered Fugaku and Kyūdai materials to help them begin Sage Jutsu training, and both agreed to pay ten million Ryo.

Aozora received intelligence on the Two-Tails and Four-Tails Jinchūriki and arranged to pursue his plans without involving ANBU. He secured village funding for Lingxiao Palace’s weapons repairs, then returned to the palace to cultivate and study the Life Reaper Death Seal with Tsunade and Kabuto.

• Tekka told Aozora that Yugito Nii was in Black Stone City and Roshi was traveling as a wandering monk.
• Aozora told Tekka to keep tracking the Jinchūriki and to monitor the Akatsuki Organization through the Black Market with Shingo’s help.
• Aozora arranged for Konoha to owe him one hundred million ryo and assigned the village to buy materials for Lingxiao Palace’s weapons system.
• Utatane Koharu accepted Aozora’s arrangement, while Mitokado Homura objected and she warned him that their position depended on yielding to the strong.
• Aozora met with Taiyi at the Sleeping Dragon Team base, then traveled to Lingxiao Palace and resumed cultivation.
• Tsunade and Kabuto returned to Lingxiao Palace, where Aozora studied the Life Reaper Death Seal with them while guiding Kisame and the others in cultivation.

The Akatsuki sealed the Five-Tails into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while Nagato gained new strength and vowed to revive Yahiko. At Aozora’s laboratory, his intervention restored a dead man’s heartbeat after a failed attempt to revive him, leaving the experiment on the verge of success.

• The Akatsuki completed the three-day sealing of Han, and Kakuzu and Hidan destroyed his heart and burned his corpse.
• Sasori and Deidara planned to pursue the Four-Tails after replenishing their supplies and gathering intelligence.
• Nagato surveyed Amegakure with Konan and vowed to bring peace to the Shinobi World and revive Yahiko.
• A condemned prisoner’s attempt to revive a corpse failed, but Aozora determined that the body had regained vitality while its soul could not return.
• Aozora used Hell Path to force the dead man’s Spirit Body into his corpse, then stimulated his heart until it began beating.

Aozora’s experiment restored a dead ninja’s bodily functions but left him unconscious, leading Aozora to consider combining several techniques to achieve true resurrection. He then introduced the Heavenly Court’s Good Deeds Points system and revealed that members could exchange points for techniques and godhood positions.

• Tsunade and Kabuto found that Aozora’s experiment had revived a corpse’s vital functions, but the ninja remained unconscious with an incomplete soul.
• Aozora explained that resurrection required both Yang Release to restore the body and Yin Release to retrieve the soul, and proposed using Impure World Reincarnation and the Human Path to improve the process.
• Kisame arrived to remind Aozora that the Heavenly Court’s members had gathered for a meeting, so Aozora left the laboratory with Tsunade and Kabuto.
• Aozora announced that divine authority was limited and introduced Good Deeds Points, which members could earn through missions and exchange for rewards.
• Aozora displayed the Water Element Godhood Position, explaining that it granted the Three-Tails’ life force and control of Water Element Chakra, alongside other exchangeable techniques and items.

Aozora established the Heavenly Court’s exchange system, tasks, rules, and Divine Cards, then defended his plan to capture Tailed Beasts against Shisui’s concerns about provoking war. He left Shisui facing Aozora’s resolve to end the existing order and create a new era, even if it required bloodshed.

• Aozora showed the Heavenly Court’s exchange lists, tasks, and rules, including rewards for capturing Tailed Beasts and a path to obtain Godhood Positions.
• Aozora gave Kisame, Tsunade, Kabuto, Shisui, and Itachi Divine Cards that displayed their Good Deeds Points when charged with Chakra.
• Kisame exchanged techniques for Good Deeds Points, then left to pursue the Four-Tails Jinchūriki and the Water Element Godhood Position.
• Shisui questioned Aozora’s plan to capture Jinchūriki because it could spark war, and Aozora argued that the Heavenly Court would use Tailed Beast power to benefit the Shinobi World.
• Aozora told Shisui that war could not be avoided by preserving the current order and declared his intention to create a new era despite the bloodshed.

After Shisui returned from his training leave, he asked Aozora for advice on teaching and then challenged him to a spar. The two arrived at a barren mountain outside Konoha, where Shisui opened with his Phantom Clone technique and Aozora drew the Blood Drinking Sword.

• Aozora assigned talented death-row prisoners to begin cultivating the Life Reaper Death Seal, then returned home and set Shadow Clones to training.
• Shisui reported that the Hokage had assigned him solo missions before he would lead a team of students, and he named Hyuga Kae, Inuzuka Takashi, and Koizumi Nobuhide as standout students.
• Aozora advised Shisui to tailor training to students’ strengths and weaknesses and to prioritize their moral education.
• Shisui said his Sage Jutsu training had progressed and challenged Aozora to spar, so they traveled to a barren mountain outside Konoha.
• Shisui attacked with more than a hundred Phantom Clones wielding blades, and Aozora drew the Blood Drinking Sword to train his swordsmanship.

Aozora and Shisui tested their combat abilities, with Shisui revealing a Nature Energy-enhanced Susanoo. Aozora answered by summoning a much larger golden Susanoo and teasing Shisui about its height.

• Shisui attacked Aozora with Phantom Clones, but Aozora blocked every strike and eventually sent Shisui flying with a stronger clash.
• Shisui praised Aozora’s taijutsu, and Aozora said that two people still surpassed him.
• Shisui manifested an emerald-green Karasu Tengu Susanoo powered by Nature Energy.
• Aozora summoned a golden, winged Divine General that grew to twice the Karasu Tengu’s size and disrupted Shisui’s Susanoo.
• Aozora gestured above the Karasu Tengu and asked Shisui to compare their Susanoo heights, frustrating him.