Chapter Summaries

Obito Uchiha tricked the allied forces into freeing Yugito, then used her rampage to create an opening to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path back to his base. The Three Kage resealed the Two-Tails, Yugito recovered, and Shikaku Nara suspected Obito’s genjutsu had weakened because summoning the statue had exhausted him; with their alliance against Iwagakure agreed, the forces prepared to disband.

• A White Zetsu clone returned Yugito to the Fourth Raikage, but another clone awakened her and fled after drawing attention to the ring on its left hand.
• Yugito transformed into the Two-Tails and charged the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, killing or injuring many Konoha Sealing Ninja as the Fourth Raikage, Rasa, and Katsuyu tried to stop her.
• A White Zetsu clone reported the breach to Obito Uchiha, who summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to his base and collapsed from the strain; Black Zetsu arranged for him to receive life force through the statue’s tubes.
• The Fourth Raikage, Rasa, and Katsuyu restrained the Two-Tails, and sealing specialists from the three villages sealed it again; Tsunade treated Yugito, who regained consciousness.
• Yugito told the group that the genjutsu controlling her and Matatabi had weakened, and Shikaku Nara suspected Obito Uchiha’s summoning of the Ten-Tails’ body had drained him.
• The leaders recognized that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path could no longer be obtained and that their preliminary alliance against Iwagakure had been reached, so they prepared to disband.

Yichen and the Iwagakure leaders planned to ambush the recovering Fourth Raikage after learning that Yugito had been subdued. Meanwhile, the Three Kage discussed the Akatsuki Organization’s strength and its ties to Iwagakure, leaving Tsunade weighing an offer to help suppress Konoha’s internal strife.

• Yichen inferred that Obito Uchiha had controlled Yugito and proposed ambushing the Fourth Raikage’s group instead of starting a war with Kumogakure.
• Mei checked Yichen’s injuries, and Yichen, Ōnoki, Roshi, Kawakita, and Ikura prepared to intercept the returning Kumogakure force.
• Ōnoki returned to Iwagakure with Roshi and Kawakita, and Yichen’s group flew toward the Land of Hot Water.
• Tsunade, Rasa, and the Fourth Raikage identified the ring worn by the disguised Obito as an Akatsuki Organization ring and discussed the organization’s powerful members.
• Tsunade explained that the Tsuchikage had once saved the Akatsuki Organization’s founders from a scheme involving Danzo and Hanzo.
• Rasa and the Fourth Raikage offered to help Tsunade suppress Konoha’s internal strife, but she hesitated after seeing Kakashi’s reaction.

Yichen and Ōnoki ambushed the Fourth Raikage’s group on the coast of the Land of Hot Water, then pursued and trapped him with repeated attacks and Porcelain Release. The Fourth Raikage remained surrounded by mud as Yichen’s sealing technique disrupted Yugito’s attempt to help him.

• Yichen detected the Fourth Raikage’s group traveling by sea and brought Ōnoki to join the ambush.
• Yichen and Ōnoki opened the attack with Dust Release and Light Release, but the Fourth Raikage escaped inland carrying Yugito.
• Yichen and Ōnoki used the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique to catch up, while Ikura and the others blocked the Fourth Raikage with Earth Release.
• Yichen’s Porcelain Mud and Ōnoki’s Dust Release repeatedly slowed the Fourth Raikage until he was trapped among Earth walls and surrounded by mud.
• Yugito used a small amount of the Two-Tails’ Chakra to clear the mud, but Yichen’s sealing technique disrupted her tentacle and left the Fourth Raikage in danger again.

Yichen’s group fought Tsunade, Kakashi, Rasa, Ryosuke, and the Fourth Raikage, but Kakashi’s Mangekyō Sharingan forced Yichen to retreat and deceive him with clones. After Kakashi exhausted his eye with Kamui, Yichen prepared to descend and resume the attack.

• Yichen’s group failed to kill the Fourth Raikage, but Yichen confirmed Yugito was dead and the Raikage had lost an arm.
• Tsunade, Kakashi, Rasa, and Ryosuke joined the battle, and Yichen ordered his ranged fighters to focus their attacks on Ryosuke.
• Tsunade summoned Katsuyu to shield her group from the attacks, allowing them to reach the ground.
• Kakashi used Kamui, so Yichen blocked his line of sight and led his group away from the spatial attack.
• Yichen sent clones and a false Porcelain Platform into Kakashi’s view, causing Kakashi to waste Kamui on the decoy.
• Tsurugi reported that Kakashi’s Sharingan had reverted to Three Tomoe, and Yichen prepared to descend and attack again.

Yichen's forces drove Tsunade's group to escape to Shikkotsu Forest, then returned to Iwagakure instead of attacking the enemy villages. Obito Uchiha woke and learned of the battle's outcome, Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan, and Iwagakure's strength, prompting him to seek subordinates.

• Tsunade used the Reverse Summoning Technique to take her group to Shikkotsu Forest, and Yichen called off the attack.
• Yichen and the others gathered Rasa's gold dust and returned to Iwagakure to rest.
• Obito Uchiha woke beneath the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and learned that Yugito had been subdued and the Three Great Ninja Villages had fled to Shikkotsu Forest.
• Black Zetsu told Obito Uchiha that Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan had become a Mangekyō Sharingan with a space-time technique, and suggested reclaiming it.
• After learning Iwagakure had deployed five Kage-level combatants, Obito Uchiha said they needed to recruit subordinates.

After Iwagakure’s victory over Kumogakure, Yichen planned to use the village’s growing influence to reclaim occupied territories and strengthen ties with the Akatsuki Organization and Kirigakure. The chapter ended with him agreeing to help Konan host a Joint Chunin Exams in the Land of Rivers.

• Black Zetsu urged Obito Uchiha to recruit powerful rogue ninja into Dark Akatsuki, and Obito began recovering from his injuries.
• Yichen gathered Iwagakure’s leaders, learned the gold dust could fund the Takigakure branch, and declared that killing Yugito had secured Iwagakure’s position.
• Yichen ordered Ikura to send elites to remove Cloud and Sand ninja from occupied countries, using requests for aid as justification.
• Yichen proposed a Joint Chunin Exams with the Akatsuki Organization and Kirigakure, and instructed Tomoko to continue the ninja sword trade.
• Yichen contacted Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to discuss the exams, and Konan asked to host them in the Land of Rivers.
• Yichen agreed to persuade Iwagakure’s upper ranks to let the Akatsuki Organization host the exams.

Yichen proposed an exchange student system to help River Ninja Village develop stronger ninja and considered elevating it to the Sixth Great Ninja Village. Back in Iwagakure, he investigated the White Zetsu clones’ movements and then gave his students new training guidance.

• Yichen proposed sending students between Iwagakure and River Ninja Village, and Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato welcomed the idea.
• Yichen considered how promoting River Ninja Village and granting Yahiko the title of Kage could strengthen his position in the ninja world.
• Yichen used the White Zetsu clones’ departure direction to draw a line on a map and infer that Obito Uchiha and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path might be somewhere along it.
• Yichen met with Team Six and offered to take Sasagawa Ayumi to learn from Konan about Chakra techniques like Super Beast Imitation Drawing.
• Yichen told Chiga to investigate the limits of her Blood Sense and its ability to trace a person through their relatives, offering Anbu support for her experiments.

Yichen brought Sasagawa Ayumi to Kanako for help with Super Beast Imitation Drawing, and Kanako’s advice helped Ayumi understand how to infuse her drawings with Chakra. Yichen discovered Kanako could control the Exploding Tags she made, classified the ability as a village secret, and assigned her an S-rank mission to test its limits.

• Yichen told Sokai to train on his own and focus on mastering the B-rank Genjutsu.
• Yichen brought Sasagawa Ayumi to Kanako, who gave her three stacks of Exploding Tags and explained principles that could help with Super Beast Imitation Drawing.
• Kanako taught Ayumi how her Paper Style Jutsu worked, and Ayumi’s questions showed that she had grasped the problem more clearly.
• Yichen learned that Kanako could control her Exploding Tags, then ordered her to keep the ability secret and record its range, capacity, and vulnerability to Sealing Jutsu as an S-rank mission.
• Yichen returned Ayumi to the Training Ground, where she shared the Exploding Tags with Sokai and Chiga, who recognized Kanako as one of Yichen’s celebrated students.

Yichen arranged to sell Kanako’s Exploding Tags while concealing their ability to be disabled, then traveled to the Land of Bears as Iwa forces ambushed Sunagakure ninja. The White Cat Squad defeated the enemy squads in a town and split up to search nearby villages before regrouping.

• Yichen told Mei not to supply Kanako’s Exploding Tags to Iwagakure and explained that Kanako could control or disable them, so Mei began planning how to sell them without raising suspicion.
• Yichen learned about Ikura’s operation against Sunagakure and Cloud ninja, then flew to the Land of Bears and entered Sage Mode along the way.
• Suda Himezuki and Fenghuo helped ambush and kill a four-person Sunagakure patrol outside a town in the Land of Bears.
• Shironeko led the White Cat Squad and two other squads against twelve Sunagakure ninja, and Suda Himezuki and Fenghuo helped turn the battle against them.
• Dango and Shironeko killed the Sunagakure leader, and the Iwa forces defeated the remaining Jonin, though six Chunin escaped.
• Shironeko ordered the squads to search nearby villages separately and return to the town to regroup.

Yichen tracked White Zetsu clones across the Land of Bears and the Land of the Moon to narrow down the location of Obito Uchiha's new base. In the Land of the Moon, Uzumaki Riori's Shadow Clone attacks devastated the Cloud ninja camp, and Yichen waited for the White Zetsu clones to leave with their gathered intelligence.

• Yichen secretly followed a White Zetsu clone as it scouted villages near the Land of Bears, then used its departure direction to mark a likely location for Obito Uchiha's new base.
• Yichen flew to the Land of the Moon and found Iwa ninja besieging a Cloud ninja camp, where Uzumaki Riori had inflicted heavy losses with waves of Shadow Clones and Great Fireball Jutsu.
• Purple Lightning taught Uzumaki Riori to coordinate her Shadow Clones, and their repeated attacks left only three Cloud ninja Elite Jonin in the camp.
• The three Elite Jonin charged at Uzumaki Riori, but Purple Lightning had her create hundreds of Shadow Clones, and the Iwa ninja killed the attackers before they could find her real body.
• Uzumaki Riori and her Shadow Clones confused everyone by failing to identify the real body until Purple Lightning ordered them all to release themselves.
• Yichen waited after the Iwa ninja left, then watched more than a dozen White Zetsu clones investigate the battlefield and head underground in the same direction.

Yichen located Obito Uchiha’s new base in the Land of Earth but held off on exposing it, then advanced plans for River Ninja Village to host the Joint Chunin Exams. He also began investigating the Ghost Fire in a heavily secured laboratory and discovered a speck of black substance inside its jar.

• Yichen used the White Zetsu clones’ routes to locate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path beneath the Land of Earth and returned to Iwagakure without revealing his discovery.
• Yichen wrote to Fugaku Uchiha to ask for advice on training Sokai, who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Tomoko reported that Kirigakure had agreed to join the Joint Chunin Exams and let River Ninja Village host it, and Yichen told Nagato and Yahiko the news.
• Yichen warned Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to prepare strong defenses for the exams and promised to attend.
• Yichen entered the completed Ghost Fire laboratory with Ogura Saki, summoned Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei, and had the barriers activated before unsealing the jar.
• Yichen saw Ghost Fire spread through the laboratory and noticed a tiny speck of black substance at the bottom of the jar.

Yichen captured a fragment of Black Zetsu and discovered that the blue Ghost Fire fed on souls. He sealed both entities away after deciding the risks outweighed their immediate research value.

• Yichen trapped the moving black matter in a bottle and confirmed that Katsuya's Soul Sealing Jutsu restrained it more effectively than an elemental seal.
• Yichen recognized the matter as part of Black Zetsu's body and stored it behind protective seals, postponing research until their soul-sealing techniques improved.
• Yichen examined the jar and concluded it was an ordinary container for the being inside rather than a sealed object.
• Yichen's Shadow Clone opened the jar and tested the blue flame, finding that water and other ninjutsu weakened it while it attacked living creatures.
• Yichen confirmed that the blue flame devoured souls to grow brighter, then returned it to the jar and had Katsuya place a Soul Seal on it.

Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu learned that the Akatsuki Organization planned to hold Joint Chunin Exams, while the Three Kage received invitations and considered their villages’ participation. In Konoha, Tsunade briefed the high-level officials on her trip and discussed the Uchiha Clan, leaving Danzo to accept a plan for Shisui to help train Anbu and Root against the Sharingan.

• Black Zetsu told Obito Uchiha that the Tsuchikage had found a sealed piece of his body, and they learned that Yahiko planned to hold Joint Chunin Exams in one month.
• A White Zetsu clone reported that the Akatsuki Organization would offer the Exploding Blade Shibuki as a prize, prompting Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu to infer that Iwagakure and Kirigakure would participate.
• After the Three Kage returned to their villages, Mabui told the Fourth Raikage that Iwagakure and Kirigakure would likely join the exams, and he declined to start a war against Iwagakure.
• Tsunade briefed Konoha’s high-level officials on her trip and alliance agreements, while Shikaku Nara filled in missing details and Danzo remained distracted by Hiruzen Sarutobi’s absence.
• Utatane Koharu reported that Fugaku Uchiha was teaching Izumi Uchiha, and Danzo urged preparations for a possible Uchiha rebellion by training Root and Anbu to fight the Sharingan.
• Tsunade proposed that Shisui replace the recovering Kakashi as a training partner and suggested that Hiruzen speak with Itachi Uchiha; Danzo agreed to bring Itachi to visit his former teacher.

Yichen negotiated with Obito Uchiha, trading secrecy about his whereabouts for Madara Uchiha’s training scrolls and then demanding regular rent for occupying the Land of Earth. After giving up several scrolls, Obito decided to recruit rogue ninja and talented children and chose Kirigakure as a target for provoking war.

• Fugaku Uchiha read Yichen’s request for help training Sokai and sent back detailed guidance.
• Yichen took Team Six and Kanako to Obito Uchiha’s base, where Obito agreed to trade training insights for Yichen keeping his location secret.
• Obito gave Yichen scrolls covering the Five Attributes and Yang Release, replaced a duplicate Fire Release scroll, and later handed over Wood Release insights.
• Yichen demanded rent for Obito’s occupation of the Land of Earth, and Obito paid with another scroll after Sokai’s Mangekyō Sharingan made him disappear from Yichen’s perception.
• Obito ordered White Zetsu to find rogue ninja and recruit talented children, then chose Kirigakure as the village to target for provoking conflict.

Yichen visited River Ninja Village with his disciples and advised Yahiko and Nagato on attracting visitors and improving the village’s Ninja Academy. The chapter ended with Yichen planning to spar with Nagato, whom he considered a Super Kage-level ninja.

• Yichen and his disciples arrived at River Ninja Village, where Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan welcomed them, and Konan attacked Yichen with Exploding Tags after he tried to hug her.
• Yahiko showed Yichen the village, and Yichen advised him to add entertainment, distinctive local attractions, and shops that would draw wealthy visitors.
• Yahiko immediately began renovating the village streets while Yichen and Nagato continued their tour.
• Yichen criticized the Ninja Academy textbooks for lacking guidance on a ninja’s way, and Nagato went to discuss changing the curriculum with Yahiko.
• Konan arranged sparring matches between River Ninja Village Genin and Yichen’s disciples, while Yichen planned to test himself against Nagato.

Yichen tested his Sage Mode against Nagato in a spar, using swordsmanship, lightning, elemental Ninjutsu, and Porcelain Release while Nagato countered with Rinnegan abilities and summons. The battle left Nagato’s remaining summons facing Yichen’s attacks, with neither fighter having gone all out.

• Yichen opened the spar with sword attacks and Sage Art Water Pressure Line Jutsu, but Nagato evaded and blocked them with a Black Rod.
• Yichen struck with a Sage Art Lightning Release Rasengan, which Nagato absorbed more slowly than ordinary Ninjutsu, then forced Nagato to use Shinra Tensei against Chidori Flow.
• Yichen overwhelmed Nagato in a long-range exchange by rapidly casting Sage Art Ninjutsu and using Shadow Clones, prompting Nagato to rely on Shinra Tensei.
• Yichen launched Porcelain Release Kunai Rain, and Nagato used Earth Release walls and summoned beasts to defend himself and maneuver around the attacks.
• Yichen defeated or drove off Nagato’s Giant Rhinoceros, Giant Bull, Giant Chameleon, and Yata Mirror with Sage Art attacks while the Giant Centipede carried Nagato away from the Kunai Rain.

Yichen defeated Nagato’s Limbo: Border Jail clone by sensing and sealing it, then returned to Iwagakure to share Madara Uchiha’s training scrolls with the village leaders. With the Joint Chunin Exams approaching, he trained in River Ninja Village with Nagato and helped his disciples improve, leaving his Five-Attribute Ninjutsu strong enough to force Nagato to use advanced Rinnegan Dojutsu.

• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull Yichen close, but Yichen turned the force against him and sent Kunai Rain toward Nagato.
• Yichen sensed Nagato’s Limbo: Border Jail clone and sealed it with mud, after which he and Nagato ended their sparring match.
• Nagato explained Limbo: Border Jail to Yahiko and Konan, and Yichen released the clone and the Three-Headed Hellhounds before returning to their lodgings.
• Yichen traveled to Iwagakure that night, showed the village leaders Madara Uchiha’s training insights, and took two Anbu intelligence ninja back to River Ninja Village.
• Yichen studied Madara Uchiha’s scrolls and trained daily with Nagato, while Sokai, Chiga, Sasagawa Ayumi, and Kanako worked on their own skills.
• Yichen’s Five-Attribute Ninjutsu improved enough that he could force Nagato to use advanced Rinnegan Dojutsu.

Yichen analyzed the coming war for Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, then persuaded the Akatsuki Organization to support Iwagakure’s side. The chapter ended with Akatsuki agreeing to help while keeping its leaders in River Ninja Village and using the Six Paths of Pain if needed.

• As the Joint Chunin Exams began, Yichen identified Konoha, Sunagakure, and the Cloud ninja as likely gathering intelligence for a coming war.
• Yichen told Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan that the ninja world had formed two opposing factions and compared the Kage-level fighters on each side.
• Yichen proposed that Sasori and Kakuzu tie up Orochimaru, offering Kakuzu a large reward, and urged the alliance to avoid risks.
• Yichen promised to push for River Ninja Village to become the Sixth Great Ninja Village after victory, linking its rise to spreading Akatsuki’s ideals.
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan agreed to keep Akatsuki’s leaders in River Ninja Village and let the Six Paths of Pain act against Konoha or Sunagakure if necessary.

Yichen secured an alliance among Iwagakure, Kirigakure, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Rain, then learned that Konoha and Sunagakure had attacked Kirigakure as the Cloud ninja also prepared to move. He sent the Six Paths of Pain to help hold off Konoha and ordered Iwagakure’s forces to attack the Land of Wind, setting out for the Land of Bears with his disciples.

• Yichen mediated the alliance negotiations, and the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain agreed to form a joint power that signed a treaty with Iwagakure and Kirigakure.
• Yichen returned to his residence, contacted Iwagakure, and then said farewell to Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan before spending time with Konan.
• An intelligence ninja told Yichen that Konoha and Sunagakure had attacked Kirigakure and that the Cloud ninja might be moving by sea.
• Yichen asked Nagato to send the Six Paths of Pain to restrain Konoha’s two Kage-level fighters, while Nagato ordered Sasori of the Red Sands and Kakuzu to kill Orochimaru.
• Yichen left Kanako in charge of protecting the Chunin Exam finalists and ordered Ōnoki and Kawakita to lead Iwagakure’s forces into the Land of Wind.
• Ōnoki and Kawakita joined forces with the Land of Snow and Land of Demons branches to assemble five thousand ninja in the Land of Bears, where Yichen headed with his three disciples.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo responded to reports of Nagato’s avatars entering the Land of Fire, while Tsunade remained in Konoha as Kisame led Kirigakure’s forces into battle. Kirigakure’s divisions deployed against the Cloud, Sunagakure, and Konoha, and Hozuki Mangetsu’s division encountered Kakashi first.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo learned that six of Nagato’s avatars had entered the Land of Fire and departed for the Land of Rivers border with one thousand troops, leaving Tsunade two thousand in Konoha.
• Uchiha clansmen urged Shisui Uchiha to lead a coup, but he urged them not to act rashly and was denounced as a traitor when they left.
• Kisame rallied seven thousand Mist ninja and divided them into three divisions under himself, Mei Terumi, and Hozuki Mangetsu to face the Cloud, Sunagakure, and Konoha.
• Matsutani Shinya divided Yichen’s Iwa reinforcements between Mei Terumi’s and Hozuki Mangetsu’s divisions.
• Kisame left Genji in charge of Kirigakure and led the First Division out, while Hozuki Mangetsu’s Third Division became the first to meet the enemy and faced Kakashi.