Chapter Summaries

Zetsu’s attack on the Cloud camp sparked a clash between the Cloud and Kirigakure forces before A captured him. In the sky, Konan blasted through Rasa’s Golden Sand with Explosive Tags, but Rasa continued to pursue and surround her.

• Zetsu dodged Kitsuchi and Akatsuchi’s attacks as he ran toward the center of the Cloud camp.
• Utakata attacked Zetsu with Bubble Technique, but Zetsu countered with Wood Release and sent branches toward the gathered forces.
• A sent the Cloud ninja to take over the fight, then charged into the smoke and returned holding Zetsu captive.
• Mei Terumī held back her anger and withdrew the Kirigakure ninja after A mocked their inability to capture Zetsu.
• Rasa trapped Konan amid walls of Golden Sand, but Konan used Paper Person of God Technique to turn her paper into Explosive Tags and blast open a path.
• Konan flew through the opening as Rasa continued directing Golden Sand to surround her.

Aozora and Nagato fought to a stalemate as Aozora sealed Nagato’s Limbo Clones and Nagato drained his Spiritual Artifacts. Nagato announced that he would end the battle and began a technique resembling Planetary Devastation, leaving Aozora preparing to respond.

• Nagato’s Human Path attack revealed that Aozora was a Fire Clone, which exploded in Golden Blaze and forced Nagato to sacrifice his right arm to stop the flames spreading.
• Aozora’s Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger, Immortal Slaying Sword, and two reforged Flying Swords attacked Nagato, who defended himself with a Black Rod and Asura Path arms.
• Aozora teleported beside the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger and used Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind Nagato’s Limbo Clone, while Nagato drained the Chakra from Aozora’s three Spiritual Artifacts.
• Aozora warned Nagato that Konan was losing to the Fourth Kazekage, and Nagato said he wanted to end the battle because Konan and Zetsu were in danger.
• Nagato flew into the sky and formed a strange black sphere that exploded outward, prompting Aozora to recognize a technique like Uchiha Madara’s Planetary Devastation and ready his golden Chakra.

Nagato unleashed a vastly strengthened Planetary Devastation against the gathered ninja forces, forming more than ten celestial bodies that he sent crashing down as meteors. Aozora and the Five Kage coordinated their defenses to destroy the falling meteors, while Nagato and Konan escaped.

• Nagato formed numerous black spheres that drew in rubble and trapped ninja from several villages inside floating celestial bodies.
• Aozora used Setting Sun to ignite some spheres, then stabilized the stone mountain sheltering the Konoha Ninja with the Weighted Boulder Jutsu.
• Nagato sent the celestial bodies crashing down, and Aozora, Ōnoki, Mei Terumī, A, and the other leaders rallied their forces to destroy the meteors and shield against falling debris.
• Aozora destroyed the last meteor headed for Konoha and watched Nagato and Konan retreat atop Satori, while the other Five Kage felt relieved.

At the Kage Summit, the Five Kage questioned A about Akatsuki remnants found near the Cloud camp, while Aozora downplayed his ability to stand against Akatsuki’s leader. The meeting ended with Fugaku asking to join Cloud’s interrogation of its captured prisoner.

• Suigetsu tried to stay unnoticed as A accused the other villages of surrounding Cloud’s camp, and the Kage debated why Akatsuki remnants had been found nearby.
• Shi corrected Ōnoki’s wording, and A nearly attacked him after Ōnoki insulted him, but Shi and the other Kage stopped the confrontation.
• A claimed Cloud had no ties to Akatsuki and said it had captured one of its remnants; Rasa and Fugaku recalled the destructive battle with Akatsuki’s leader.
• Mei Terumī asked how Aozora had stopped the leader, and Aozora said he had only harassed him with survival techniques and could not prevent his escape.
• Fugaku asked A to let the other villages participate in interrogating Cloud’s captured Akatsuki remnant.

At the Five Kage meeting, the villages interrogated a captured White Zetsu, who accused Aozora of being an Akatsuki member. The prisoner transformed into a tree before the interrogation began, and Aozora used his ring to locate the Akatsuki hideout, where he appeared beside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

• A, Fugaku, Ōnoki, Rasa, and Mei Terumī agreed to interrogate the captured Zetsu together after arguing over Kumogakure’s role in the operation.
• White Zetsu claimed another Akatsuki core member was among those present, and Aozora jokingly identified himself before White Zetsu accused him of once being the Vermilion Bird.
• As Aozora prepared to use Sharingan genjutsu, White Zetsu shut his eyes, transformed into a tree, and left the Kage realizing they had captured a decoy without a ring.
• Aozora explained that Akatsuki core members had rings and used his own ring to activate the Phantasmal Body Technique.
• Aozora connected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path in a cave, canceled the technique, and the ring exploded in his hand.

Nagato learned that Aozora had awakened a Rinnegan-like dōjutsu and decided the Akatsuki Organization must prioritize capturing Tailed Beasts. At the Kage Summit, the villages agreed to fight the Akatsuki Organization, but A challenged Aozora’s fitness to command the joint team, leaving Aozora considering whether to give up the position.

• Nagato told Konan and Zetsu that Aozora had injured him with Blaze Release and possessed a Rinnegan-like dōjutsu, Flying Thunder God Technique, and other dangerous abilities.
• Nagato ordered Zetsu to monitor Akita City and report when the Kumogakure team departed, as the Akatsuki Organization planned to target Kumogakure’s Tailed Beasts.
• At the Kage Summit, Aozora reported that the Akatsuki Organization had discovered the group, and the Five Great Shinobi Villages agreed to work together to eliminate it.
• Ōnoki proposed adding Kirigakure and Kumogakure ninja to the joint team, and Mei Terumī and A agreed to participate.
• A objected to Aozora serving as Commander, arguing that he had sacrificed a chance to stop Nagato to protect Konoha’s ninja.
• Aozora wondered whether to give up the Commander position.

Aozora relinquished command of the joint force, and Shi of Kumogakure became its Captain. Shi persuaded the Kage that Akatsuki was targeting the Tailed Beasts and proposed testing the theory, while Aozora worried that stronger protections would hinder his own plans.

• Aozora gave up command of the joint force, and the Kage argued over who should replace him.
• The Kage reconvened and appointed Shi of Kumogakure Captain after Kumogakure agreed to send more personnel.
• Shi questioned Akatsuki’s motives, pointing out that its members had gathered at the summit and captured multiple Tailed Beasts.
• Shi concluded that Akatsuki wanted the Tailed Beasts, and the Kage discussed protecting the remaining Jinchūriki.
• Aozora challenged the theory, but Shi proposed testing Akatsuki to confirm its target.

Nagato, Konan, and Zetsu ambushed a Cloud force in a gorge, but discovered it was made up of Shadow Clones and failed to capture Killer B. The Akatsuki regrouped and decided to draw the Five Great Shinobi Villages away by targeting their Daimyo and stirring up trouble.

• Nagato and Konan attacked the Cloud force with an avalanche and Shinra Tensei, but the shinobi proved to be Shadow Clones.
• Aozora arrived with Ōnoki and absorbed Killer B, while the real A and the Third Tsuchikage returned to Akita City.
• Nagato, Konan, and Zetsu regrouped in a cave and discussed how the Five Great Shinobi Villages threatened their Jinchūriki capture plans.
• Zetsu proposed hiring bounty hunters and rogue samurai through the Black Market to harass the villages and attack the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations.
• Nagato and Konan approved Zetsu's plan and agreed to increase the organization's intelligence funding.

The Five Kage debated how to protect their Jinchūriki and agreed that each village would guard its own while the joint capture force stayed in Akita City. After the Kage returned safely to their villages, Aozora concluded that Nagato and the Akatsuki Organization planned to attack the villages directly.

• Shi reported that the Akatsuki Organization was using Black Market bounties to draw out shinobi and pressure the nations’ Daimyos.
• The Five Kage agreed to withdraw from the Land of Waterfalls and continue searching for the Akatsuki Organization’s whereabouts.
• Shi proposed placing all remaining Jinchūriki in one safe area, but Fugaku, A, Mei Terumī, and Rasa each insisted their villages could protect their own.
• The Five Kage agreed to keep the joint capture force in Akita City to support villages under attack, while the major shinobi forces withdrew.
• No attacks were reported before the Five Kage reached their villages, and Aozora burned intelligence confirming Fugaku’s safe arrival in Konoha.
• Aozora concluded that Nagato and the others intended to attack the shinobi villages directly to capture the Jinchūriki.

Aozora told Fugaku that he and Pain were evenly matched, and Fugaku realized Aozora was concealing his strength while using the Akatsuki Organization to weaken the other villages. Fugaku appointed Aozora as Team 7’s guiding Jonin, assigning him Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.

• Aozora reported that Cloud’s meetings about finding the Akatsuki Organization had been pointless because Nagato’s group was difficult to track and too powerful for the other villages to challenge.
• Fugaku asked Aozora how he compared with Pain, and Aozora said neither could defeat the other decisively.
• Fugaku deduced that Aozora was hiding his true strength and planned to use the Akatsuki Organization to weaken the other villages, then warned him that Nagato’s danger could make the plan spiral out of control.
• Fugaku gave Aozora an appointment letter naming him Team 7’s guiding Jonin after Naruto and Sasuke passed their early graduation exams.
• Aozora saw that Hyuga Hinata had been assigned as Team 7’s third member, and Fugaku explained that he had placed her there for protection.

Aozora extracted White Zetsu’s essence blood and absorbed it to strengthen his body and advance his Tomoe Rinnegan. The process succeeded, leaving him with a Five Tomoe Rinnegan.

• Fū complained to Roshi about being unable to fly and visit Kabuto, while Aozora briefly scolded her for wearing a short skirt.
• Aozora went to his cultivation room and released the White Zetsu corpse he had kept since the Five Kage Summit.
• Aozora burned and refined White Zetsu’s body, producing milky white essence blood rich in Yang Release Chakra.
• Aozora injected the essence blood and absorbed its energy, transforming his cells without harming his Iron Body.
• A black Tomoe appeared on the outer ring of Aozora’s Four Tomoe Rinnegan, advancing it into a Five Tomoe Rinnegan.

Aozora reunited with Shisui, discussed White Zetsu clones and Shisui’s new Ino-Shika-Cho team, then became a Jonin instructor himself. He formed a team with Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata after secretly making Naruto and Sasuke kiss in front of the class.

• Aozora told Shisui to capture or kill White Zetsu clones and learned that Shisui would lead Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino.
• At the Academy, Naruto and Sasuke argued until Aozora used a repulsive force to make them kiss.
• Sasuke stopped the girls from attacking Naruto and insisted that only he could beat him.
• Shisui took the new Ino-Shika-Cho team, while Aozora assigned Second Pillar, Uzumaki Naruto, and Hyuga Hinata to his team.
• Naruto and Sasuke objected to being teamed together, but Aozora warned they could repeat their studies, and they reluctantly joined him.

Aozora brought Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata to Training Ground 6, where they introduced themselves and shared their dreams. He ended their first meeting by saying they were too weak for a teamwork test and would train there starting the next day.

• Aozora chose Training Ground 6 as Team 7's meeting place and told the children to call him Teacher.
• Aozora, Naruto, and Sasuke introduced themselves and described their strengths, likes, and ambitions.
• Hinata said she wanted to become a strong ninja and earn her father's approval, and Sasuke mocked her.
• Naruto defended Hinata and promised that she could succeed; Hinata encouraged Naruto to become Hokage, and they bumped fists.
• Aozora dismissed the idea of a teamwork test, called the children too weak, and told them to meet the next day for training.

Aozora tested Naruto and Sasuke, easily countered their attacks, and taught them about shinobi ranks and the dangers of the world. After Aozora left, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata planned to get a meal together, and Naruto turned to Hinata when Sasuke refused to lend him money.

• Naruto challenged Aozora to a fight, but Aozora effortlessly blocked his attacks and knocked him into a tree with a finger flick.
• Sasuke attacked Aozora with Shuriken and a hand-seal-free Great Fireball Technique, but Aozora deflected the Shuriken and inhaled the fireball.
• Aozora explained that shinobi ranks did not perfectly measure combat strength, warned the three rookie Genin about powerful enemies, and told them to gather at eight the next day.
• After Aozora vanished, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata discussed his strength and Naruto complained that he had planned to get Ichiraku Ramen.
• Sasuke refused to lend Naruto money, so Naruto began flattering Hinata after she said she had money.

Aozora spent half a month training Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata, teaching each techniques suited to their talents and helping them grow stronger. After observing their progress with Itachi, Aozora planned a Sharingan awakening ritual for Sasuke and asked Itachi to help stage it.

• Aozora decided to train Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata for half a month before assigning them more difficult missions.
• Aozora taught Naruto the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and began training him in the Rasengan and Nine Breaths Qi Assimilation.
• Aozora taught Sasuke the Lightning Fire Golden Body and Control of Five Thunders, while Hinata learned the Yin-Yang Eye and Aozora's Body Tempering technique.
• Aozora encouraged Hinata to become braver and guided her in using Gentle Fist to protect those she cared about.
• After the training period, Aozora and Itachi watched the students train, and Aozora said Sasuke had mastered Chidori and learned to use Lightning Release to stimulate his cells.
• Aozora told Itachi that Sasuke was ready to awaken the Sharingan and asked him to help stage a trial without genjutsu; Itachi offered suggestions.

Naruto defeated Sasuke in a training-ground duel by overwhelming him with Shadow Clones and Rasengan, while Itachi deliberately praised Naruto to provoke Sasuke. The humiliation awakened two Tomoe in each of Sasuke’s eyes, leaving his Sharingan newly developed.

• Aozora proposed a no-restrictions duel after Naruto and Sasuke argued over who was stronger, and his Chakra display reassured them that he could handle any injuries.
• Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu to surround Sasuke, whose taijutsu initially defeated several clones before they overwhelmed and knocked him down.
• Sasuke strengthened himself with Lightning Release Chakra, blasted Naruto into a tree, and used Fire Release to destroy many clones, but Naruto returned with dozens of Rasengan.
• Aozora declared Naruto the winner, and Itachi showered Naruto with praise while telling Sasuke that he had disappointed him.
• Sasuke, devastated by his first defeat and Itachi’s apparent rejection, awakened two Tomoe in each eye.

Sasuke awakened a Two Tomoe Sharingan after his battle with Naruto, but Aozora ended the fight and reprimanded both boys. Team 7 then began low-level missions under Aozora’s guidance, while the team grew through practical work and training.

• Sasuke awakened a Two Tomoe Sharingan and challenged Naruto to fight again, but Aozora insisted the battle was over and warned them about their recklessness.
• Aozora dismissed Team 7 and told them missions would begin the next day; Itachi went after Sasuke, while Naruto invited Hinata to eat ramen.
• Aozora led Team 7 through low-level missions, teaching them how such work supported Konoha and training them with extra weight and restrictions on powerful techniques.
• Team 7’s missions helped Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata gain experience and mature, while Aozora mastered more of his Tomoe Rinnegan abilities and nurtured two divine sparks.

Aozora sought Golden Droplets and planned to take Team 7 to the Land of Waves, where Gato had begun seizing control. He selected a protection mission that would send the team abroad, and Hinata worried her father might forbid her from going.

• After learning that Gato had begun taking over the Land of Waves, Aozora wrote to Kisame and considered whether Momochi Zabuza was in place for Team 7's training.
• Team 7 finished a beast-expulsion mission and shared a huge roasted wild boar before returning to Konoha's mission hall.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata asked Aozora for a more important mission instead of another low-level assignment.
• Aozora chose a C-Rank protection mission to escort Gai to the Land of Waves and protect bridge-builder Tazuna.
• Hinata worried that she could not leave the village, and Aozora assured her that her father would agree because he was leading the team.

Team 7 began its first mission outside Konoha escorting Gai, but two Kirigakure ninja ambushed them on the road. The children fought back, and Aozora prepared to interrogate the surviving attackers.

• Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Aozora set out with Gai, who had hired them to protect the bridge builders in the Land of Waves.
• Sasuke noticed an abnormal puddle, and Aozora led the group past it without revealing that he had detected the ambush.
• Two Kirigakure ninja emerged from the puddle, bound and apparently tore apart an Aozora decoy, then attacked Naruto.
• Sasuke pinned the attackers’ chains with his weapons and drove them back with his Great Fireball Technique, while Naruto used Shadow Clones to overwhelm them.
• Aozora stopped Naruto from killing the defeated ninja, praised Hinata, and advised Sasuke to alert his teammates when he noticed danger.
• Aozora grabbed one battered mist ninja and activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan to begin questioning the attackers.

Aozora’s team learned the truth behind Gai’s escort mission and chose to continue to the Land of Waves despite the danger. As they approached the unfinished bridge, Sasuke questioned why Gato had not simply destroyed it with Explosive Tags, while Aozora speculated about Gato’s motives.

• Aozora burned the captured Mist ninja to ashes with his Golden Blaze, then absorbed the flames back into his hand.
• Gai admitted he had concealed the danger of the mission and asked the team to protect bridge expert Tazuna, then offered to let them return to Konoha.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata each chose to continue after Aozora warned them that he might not be able to protect them from stronger enemies.
• Aozora and the others boarded a boat with Gai and traveled toward the Land of Waves, where they saw the bridge under construction.
• Sasuke wondered why Gato had not used Explosive Tags to destroy the bridge, and Aozora guessed that Gato might be keeping it as bait or saving it for future development.