Chapter Summaries

Suiken hid in Fū’s training ground and manipulated her into believing Shibuki was plotting against him and Elder Satoru. Fū agreed to follow Suiken’s plan, leaving him confident he could seize control of Takigakure.

• Suiken met Fū at her secluded training ground after she dismissed her escorts.
• Fū told Suiken that Shibuki’s answers had convinced her he was deceiving her, and she asked whether something had happened to Elder Satoru.
• Suiken falsely claimed Shibuki had blocked him from seeing Elder Satoru and accused Shibuki of seeking to seize all authority in the village.
• Fū grieved over the accusation and agreed to help Suiken make Shibuki recognize his supposed mistake.
• Suiken began explaining his plan to Fū and privately imagined taking over Takigakure and leading it to dominate the Shinobi World.

Suiken manipulated Fū into helping his coup plan, then met Amegakure reinforcements at Takigakure’s southern border. He found that Aoi, a former Konoha ninja carrying the Sword of the Thunder God, had come instead of the leader he expected.

• Suiken persuaded Fū that his plan was justified and sent her to keep Echizen and the others from interfering.
• Suiken met with the Horse-faced Man, who confirmed that their faction and the outside reinforcements were ready.
• Suiken and the Horse-faced Man traveled to Takigakure’s southern border, where Amegakure ninjas had gathered.
• Suiken greeted Aoi and learned that the former Konoha ninja had led the reinforcements in place of Kurin.

Suiken confirmed the plan to seize leadership of Takigakure with Aoi Rokushō and the Rain Ninja, while arranging to draw away Shibuki's supporters before the assault. After Aoi left, Suiken's followers questioned the alliance and his staged defection, but he could not admit that his choices had been mistakes.

• Aoi Rokushō pressed Suiken to confirm the plan's progress and warned that the Rain Ninja expected him to honor their agreement.
• Suiken assured Aoi that the operation was under control and promised to fulfill the Rain Ninja's conditions if he became leader of Takigakure.
• Aoi and Suiken reviewed the operation's details, then Aoi left with his subordinates before the final assault began.
• Suiken planned to lure away more than half of Shibuki's loyal shinobi before attacking Takigakure and vowed revenge on Shibuki and Old Ghost Wu.
• A horse-faced Waterfall Ninja asked Suiken whether allying with the Rain Ninja and staging a defection were wise, but Suiken kept his doubts to himself.

Suiken prepared to use the Rain Ninja and awaited Menma, whose actions had helped set Takigakure’s crisis in motion. Menma arrived near Takigakure with his allies, assigned them their roles, and went to meet Suiken in disguise.

• Suiken told the Horse-faced Man he had no intention of honoring his agreement with the Rain Ninja and revealed he had another measure prepared.
• Suiken waited for Menma, whose interference had helped catalyze the coming crisis in Takigakure.
• Menma’s group crossed the strait and arrived near Takigakure after three days of travel.
• Menma told Suigetsu and Tayuya to hold back until the end, then ordered Karin and Tayuya to stay on standby and signal if trouble arose.
• Menma and Suigetsu headed northeast after Menma learned from Orochimaru’s intelligence personnel that the situation remained stable.
• Menma transformed into his younger appearance at their agreed meeting place, and Suiken soon received word of his arrival.

Menma, posing as Ippo and claiming to represent the Land of Fire Daimyo, met with Suiken and reinforced his trust while secretly planning to exploit Takigakure’s internal conflict. Suiken prepared to move against Shibuki, unaware that Menma intended to use the turmoil to intervene.

• Menma met Suiken and warned him that Takigakure would have to follow the Daimyo’s orders on certain matters.
• Suiken reaffirmed his willingness to cooperate, convinced that Menma’s group offered trustworthy support and resources.
• Menma asked whether Shibuki had fallen into the trap, and Suiken said nearly a hundred of Shibuki’s loyal Waterfall Ninja had been sent away.
• Menma agreed that his side would handle the group Suiken had requested, while secretly mocking Suiken’s confidence.
• Suiken anticipated taking Takigakure’s leadership as Menma judged the plan ready to begin.

Shibuki hurried to Elder Satoru’s bedside after learning the old man had regained consciousness, seeking comfort amid Suiken’s defection and Fū’s danger. Mizuno Satoru regarded Shibuki with private disappointment, leaving their conversation—and Takigakure’s looming crisis—unresolved.

• Shibuki sent Ajun and several dozen elite Waterfall Ninja to search for Suiken and dispatched more guards to protect Fū, leaving few forces around himself.
• A Waterfall Ninja reported that Elder Satoru had awakened and asked Shibuki to come at once.
• Komoku warned Shibuki that Elder Satoru was frail and could not endure a long visit.
• Shibuki entered Elder Satoru’s room, helped him sit up, and addressed him as Grandpa Satoru.
• Mizuno Satoru reflected that Shibuki lacked the maturity and composure to lead Takigakure and silently felt disappointed in him.

Mizuno Satoru urged Shibuki to order Suiken killed to stabilize Takigakure, but grew alarmed after learning Fū had discovered and wounded Suiken. He demanded a full account of recent events involving Fū.

• Mizuno Satoru reassured Shibuki about leading Takigakure and asked whether Suiken had been captured.
• Shibuki said he had sent Ajun and others to pursue Suiken, and Mizuno Satoru ordered them to kill Suiken if he resisted.
• Shibuki hesitated because of his past relationship with Suiken and Fū, but agreed to issue the order after Mizuno Satoru stressed the village’s stability.
• Shibuki explained that Fū had discovered Suiken, severely wounded him when he tried to abduct her, and sent Echizen to report what happened.
• Mizuno Satoru suddenly became alarmed and demanded that Shibuki tell him everything that had recently happened involving Fū.

Mizuno Satoru warned Shibuki to flee Takigakure, but Menma appeared and revealed that Suiken was plotting to kill Shibuki and take the leadership. Menma said Fū had been deceived because of Elder Satoru, leaving Shibuki struggling to believe him.

• Shibuki told Mizuno Satoru that Fū had visited him and invited him to see her training, prompting Mizuno Satoru to order Shibuki to leave the village with Hero's Water.
• Menma entered the forbidden area and told Shibuki that he had come to save him, introducing himself to Mizuno Satoru as Accelerator, a ninja under the Land of Fire Daimyo.
• Menma said he had held Suiken back and that Suiken was working with the Rain Ninja to kill Shibuki and seize Takigakure's leadership.
• Menma revealed that Suiken had deceived Fū, and said the key to understanding her deception lay with Elder Satoru.

Menma exposed how Fū and Suiken had manipulated Shibuki and warned that Suiken was targeting him while leading forces toward Takigakure. Shibuki regained his resolve, and Menma declared he would support him against Suiken.

• Menma explained that Shibuki’s mistaken answer about Mizuno Satoru’s condition had allowed Fū to deceive him, and Shibuki realized Ajun and the others might be in danger.
• Menma reassured Shibuki that he had sent people to meet the dispatched Waterfall Ninja and warned that Suiken’s true target was Shibuki, who lacked reliable protection in the village.
• Mizuno Satoru rebuked Shibuki for panicking and giving up, and Shibuki recovered his resolve as village leader.
• Mizuno Satoru asked Menma whether he had a plan, and Menma openly pledged to work with Shibuki against Suiken.

Menma shared intelligence about Suiken’s preparations, and Mizuno Satoru and Shibuki agreed to cooperate with him. After Shibuki left to secure the Hero's Water and summon allies, Menma realized Mizuno Satoru might have a deeper purpose.

• Menma told Mizuno Satoru and Shibuki that Suiken had prepared to seize control of Takigakure and planned to deal with Fū last.
• Menma said he wanted Takigakure’s friendship and support, and Mizuno Satoru promised the village would help him where it could.
• Shibuki pledged to follow Mizuno Satoru’s position and support Menma under the same limits.
• Mizuno Satoru ordered Shibuki to retrieve the Hero's Water, refine their preparations, and summon Mori Takeshi and Daigo.
• Shibuki left, while Mizuno Satoru stayed behind to speak with Menma.

Menma revealed his identity to Mizuno Satoru and promised to protect and strengthen Takigakure rather than destroy it. After entrusting the village to Menma, Mizuno Satoru struggled to hold on as his life rapidly faded.

• After Shibuki left, Menma admitted his disguise and dispelled his Transformation Jutsu, revealing himself as the famous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Konohagakure defector.
• Mizuno Satoru praised Menma’s intelligence and courage, then asked him to spare Shibuki and preserve Takigakure.
• Menma assured Mizuno Satoru that he sought Takigakure’s future and intended to make it his own shinobi village.
• Mizuno Satoru entrusted Takigakure to Menma, who left to join Shibuki in dealing with Suiken and his followers.
• After Menma departed, Mizuno Satoru’s life force weakened rapidly as he tried to stay alive a little longer.

Menma prepared to deal with Suiken after securing Shibuki's support, while Mizuno Satoru's final burst of vitality had concealed how close he was to death. At Takigakure's gate, Suiken confronted Shibuki, who challenged him to a face-to-face battle that surprised Menma.

• Mizuno Satoru entrusted everything to Menma because he knew he was near death, though Menma mistook the elder's actions for a deliberate favor.
• Menma sensed Suiken approaching Takigakure with several dozen subordinates and found Shibuki waiting at the gate with his loyal followers.
• Suiken accused Shibuki and the village elders of denying him the Leader's position, then threatened to kill Shibuki and revealed he had sent people after Old Ghost Wu.
• Shibuki accepted Suiken's demand for the Leader's position and challenged him to a fair battle to the death.
• Menma watched from a nearby rooftop and was surprised that Shibuki's challenge did not match their agreed plan.

Menma watched as Shibuki fought Suiken, choosing not to intervene while Shibuki drank Hero’s Water and unleashed its power. Shibuki badly injured Suiken, but Suiken survived the exchange and struggled back to his feet.

• Menma noticed the Waterfall Ninja behind Suiken and decided to let Shibuki handle the fight himself.
• Suiken struck Shibuki hard enough to send him crashing to the ground, but Shibuki ordered his followers not to interfere.
• Shibuki drew Hero’s Water and drank it, causing his Chakra and fighting strength to surge.
• Shibuki caught Suiken’s fist, struck him in the abdomen, and kicked him away after Suiken broke free by snapping his own arm.
• Suiken’s subordinates watched as he rose unsteadily with a sunken abdomen and blood at his mouth.

Menma summoned Lizard Shitsu to stop Suiken’s followers while Shibuki fought Suiken with the power of Hero’s Water. Shibuki defeated Suiken, and Menma left the surviving Waterfall Ninja for Shibuki and his allies to deal with.

• Suiken ordered his men to attack Shibuki as Shibuki’s followers moved to protect their chief.
• Menma summoned Lizard Shitsu and offered to hold off Suiken’s men.
• Suiken recognized Menma and demanded to know why he had betrayed him, while Shibuki charged back into the fight.
• Shibuki overwhelmed Suiken, who collapsed and lost the ability to resist.
• Lizard Shitsu defeated the attacking Waterfall Ninja without killing them, and Shibuki’s remaining followers regarded Menma with awe.

Menma helped Shibuki defeat Suiken’s coup, but Fū attacked after believing Shibuki had betrayed Takigakure. Shibuki convinced her that Suiken had deceived her, and they set out to see the awakened Elder Satoru.

• Shibuki thanked Menma, ordered the captured rebels restrained and taken to the dungeon, and left Suiken for punishment by the village.
• Fū arrived with the Seven-Tails’ Chakra and attacked Menma and Shibuki, believing Shibuki had harmed Suiken and imprisoned Elder Satoru.
• Menma used Wind Release: Divine Wind Technique to scatter Fū’s Scale Powder Concealment Technique and drive her back.
• Shibuki told Fū that Suiken had deceived her and that Elder Satoru had awakened, then invited her to verify the truth herself.
• Fū lowered her guard and agreed to go with Shibuki to see Elder Satoru, while Menma considered her potential as combat power.

Fū, Shibuki, and Menma visited the dying Mizuno Satoru, who gave them his final instructions for Takigakure. Menma revealed his true identity, leaving Shibuki and Fū shocked to learn he was Uzumaki Menma, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Shibuki, Menma, and Fū brought the defeated Suiken to Mizuno Satoru’s bedside.
• Fū wept as Mizuno Satoru explained that his death was near and urged her to help protect the village with Shibuki.
• Mizuno Satoru warned Shibuki to learn from the coup and asked him and Fū to heed Menma’s judgment.
• Menma dispelled his Transformation Jutsu, revealing his youthful appearance.
• Shibuki recognized Menma as Uzumaki Menma, the rogue ninja from Konohagakure and Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Fū stared at him in shock.

Menma revealed his identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and joined Takigakure with Shibuki’s approval, while Mizuno Satoru entrusted the village’s future to Shibuki and Fū before dying. Menma then pursued the remaining Rain Ninja and killed Aoi Rokushō, taking the Sword of the Thunder God.

• Menma told Shibuki and Fū that he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and proposed helping Takigakure rise in exchange for its support.
• Mizuno Satoru urged Shibuki to trust Menma, and Shibuki welcomed Menma into Takigakure while Fū remained wary.
• Menma left to deal with the remaining Rain Ninja, and Mizuno Satoru entrusted Takigakure to Shibuki and Fū before passing away.
• Menma detected Hozuki Suigetsu pursuing Aoi Rokushō and two other ninja, then caught up with them.
• Menma struck Aoi Rokushō with Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere Technique, crushed his wrist, took the Sword of the Thunder God, and killed him.

Menma killed Aoi Rokushō and took the Sword of the Thunder God while Suigetsu and the others eliminated the attacking Rain Ninja. Menma met Ajun’s group and agreed to return to Takigakure with them, leaving his plans to deal with Suiken in motion.

• Menma killed Aoi Rokushō, claimed the Sword of the Thunder God, and ordered Suigetsu to rendezvous with Ajun’s group.
• Suigetsu reported that the attacking Rain Ninja had almost all been eliminated.
• Ajun’s Waterfall Ninja watched Tayuya and the others warily while Ajun decided to ask about their intentions.
• Menma and Suigetsu arrived, and Menma claimed they had come at Shibuki’s invitation to help execute Suiken.
• Ajun recognized Menma as Ippo-san, thanked him for the assistance, and Menma agreed to return to the village with him.

After Takigakure’s coup failed, Shibuki consolidated his authority, welcomed Menma and Karin into the village, and announced Elder Mizuno Satoru’s death. Menma agreed to serve as a Waterfall Ninja for now but planned to leave temporarily to settle unfinished business with Orochimaru.

• Shibuki welcomed Ajun, Menma, Karin, and the returning Waterfall Ninja after the coup was put down and reassured the village.
• Shibuki ordered Ajun and Fushimi to handle punishments for the coup, then announced that Menma and Karin had officially joined Takigakure.
• Shibuki revealed that Mizuno Satoru had died and assigned Doran to prepare the funeral, while the other Waterfall Ninja set aside thoughts of challenging Shibuki.
• Shibuki told the grieving Fū to remain in the village until the situation stabilized and Mizuno Satoru’s funeral was over.
• Menma told Shibuki he needed only a place to stay and would leave temporarily to meet Orochimaru and move his laboratory.

Menma secured a foothold in Takigakure, leaving Karin to establish a laboratory while he returned to Orochimaru’s base. He reaffirmed his alliance with Orochimaru by offering Nine-Tails Chakra and intelligence, and Orochimaru reacted with interest to the information.

• Shibuki agreed to provide Menma with a site, equipment, and supplies, while Menma assigned Karin to coordinate the arrangements.
• Menma and Karin attended Mizuno Satoru’s funeral, where Takigakure’s ninja welcomed Menma outwardly despite some distrust.
• Shibuki arranged a house and laboratory for Menma and Karin, and Menma left Karin to prepare experiments on cellular activation and physical enhancement.
• Menma returned to Orochimaru’s base with Suigetsu, Tayuya, and the others, and told Orochimaru he intended to maintain their alliance.
• Menma gave Orochimaru a portion of Nine-Tails Chakra and a scroll of intelligence, prompting Orochimaru to express surprise.