Chapter Summaries

Xu Fan arranged for Tazuna to negotiate the mission reward with the Land of Waves' daimyo, while planning to bring the country under his control. As Team 7 entered the foggy forest, Zabuza ambushed them and demanded Tazuna, then froze when Kakashi looked toward Xu Fan.

• Xu Fan told Tazuna to discuss the mission payment with the Land of Waves' daimyo, and Tazuna accepted the mission.
• Xu Fan planned to use the Great Naruto Bridge and Root to bring the Land of Waves under his control.
• Xu Fan's group traveled by boat to the Land of Waves and continued through a forest as thick fog rose around them.
• Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō flew past Team 7 and struck a tree, while Sasuke protected Tazuna and Naruto tackled Sakura out of danger.
• Kakashi identified Zabuza as a rogue shinobi from Kirigakure and warned Team 7 that he was far more dangerous than the Ghost Brothers.
• Zabuza demanded that Kakashi hand over Tazuna, but Kakashi refused and looked toward Xu Fan, causing Zabuza to freeze.

Zabuza recognized Xu Fan as a shinobi so dangerous that Kirigakure’s files ordered an immediate retreat upon encountering him, but Xu Fan instead proposed a spar against Team 7. The chapter ended with Xu Fan wagering Tazuna against Gato’s head if Zabuza lost.

• Zabuza noticed Xu Fan and froze in fear, recognizing him as the shinobi named in Kirigakure’s files.
• Zabuza explained that the Hidden Mist Assassination Squad was ordered to abandon its mission and retreat immediately if it encountered Xu Fan.
• Zabuza prepared to abandon his mission and leave, but Xu Fan interrupted him and proposed that he spar with Team 7.
• Xu Fan offered Tazuna as Zabuza’s stake if Zabuza won and demanded Gato’s head if Zabuza lost.

Xu Fan had Zabuza fight Naruto and Sasuke instead of Kakashi, while allowing Zabuza to target Tazuna. Zabuza attacked Tazuna from within his mist, but Naruto entered Sage Mode, sensed him, and caught the Kubikiribōchō before it struck.

• Xu Fan told Zabuza he would not attack him and called Kakashi to his side, leaving Naruto to prove himself against Zabuza.
• Sasuke stepped up to fight beside Naruto, while Sakura watched nervously and Kakashi questioned Xu Fan’s plan.
• Xu Fan permitted Zabuza to target Tazuna during the fight, and Zabuza created a thick mist that obscured everyone’s vision.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode and sensed Zabuza as he approached Tazuna from behind.
• Zabuza swung the Kubikiribōchō at Tazuna, but Naruto appeared and caught the blade with one hand.

Naruto protected Tazuna by stopping Zabuza’s attack, shattering the Kubikiribōchō, and defeating him. Just as the team reacted to Naruto’s victory, a masked figure killed Zabuza with senbon and claimed to have been waiting for a chance to do so.

• Naruto entered Sage Mode, caught Zabuza’s Kubikiribōchō barehanded, and shattered it with his strength.
• Naruto shifted into Golden Form Mode, shielded Tazuna from the sword fragments, and struck Zabuza’s left shoulder with a Rasengan.
• Naruto used a Chakra Hand to knock Zabuza into a tree and disperse the mist, leaving Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna astonished.
• A masked figure shot three senbon into Zabuza’s neck, causing him to collapse.
• The masked figure landed beside Zabuza and said they had been searching for an opportunity to kill him.

Haku carried the seemingly dead Zabuza away after the battle, while Xu Fan escorted Tazuna home. Zabuza revealed he had survived and explained Xu Fan’s power to Haku, then decided they should leave the area.

• Haku identified himself as a Kirigakure hunter-nin, took Zabuza’s body, and retreated from Kakashi and the others.
• Naruto complained that Haku had stolen his kill, and Kakashi reassured him before leading the team to escort Tazuna home.
• Xu Fan watched Haku’s escape and decided to find Zabuza after he recovered.
• Haku prepared to handle Zabuza’s body, but Zabuza suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed his wrist.
• Zabuza told Haku that Xu Fan had deliberately let him go and described Xu Fan’s role in Kirigakure’s Bloody Mist Village.
• Zabuza considered what to do next, then told Haku they should leave the area.

Gato decided to hire a mercenary group to kill Tazuna, Zabuza, and the Konoha Shinobi after Zabuza failed to assassinate the bridge builder. His guard recommended the Akatsuki Organization, which Gato ordered to send several core members.

• Haku threatened Gato's two samurai when they moved to attack Zabuza, forcing Gato to flee the hut.
• Haku told Zabuza they should wait until he recovered before killing Gato, to avoid being hunted again.
• Gato decided to hire stronger ninja to eliminate Tazuna, Zabuza, and the Konoha Shinobi.
• Gato's personal guard recommended a powerful mercenary group whose core members were S-rank rogue ninja and had conquered a country.
• Gato ordered his guard to summon several core members of the Akatsuki Organization.

At Tazuna’s house, Kakashi suspected Zabuza had survived, and Xu Fan warned that Gato—not Zabuza—was the real threat. Sasuke and Naruto asked Xu Fan to train them, leaving Xu Fan to consider their requests.

• Kakashi explained that the hunter-nin’s handling of Zabuza’s body and weapon seemed suspicious, leading him to conclude that Zabuza might still be alive.
• Xu Fan agreed but said Gato was the true problem because he would keep sending attackers until he was dead.
• Naruto declared that he would protect Sakura and looked forward to fighting Gato’s next opponent, while Sakura remained close to Sasuke.
• Sasuke asked Xu Fan to train him, and Naruto immediately asked for training too.
• Sasuke pleaded with Xu Fan not to let the opportunity pass.

Xu Fan agreed to train Sasuke and Sakura while assigning Kakashi to help Naruto develop a new technique. As he explained Chakra control to Sasuke, Xu Fan revealed that he had a Three Tomoe Sharingan, leaving Sasuke shocked.

• Sasuke asked Xu Fan to train him, and Xu Fan accepted while telling Naruto to develop a new technique with Kakashi instead.
• Xu Fan showed Kakashi a Rasengan and assigned him to guide Naruto in completing it.
• Kakashi encouraged Sakura to train with Sasuke, and Xu Fan took them to the forest near Tazuna's home.
• Xu Fan explained that poor Chakra control could make it difficult to sustain a fight and maintain the Sharingan.
• Xu Fan revealed his Three Tomoe Sharingan, and Sasuke was stunned that someone outside the Uchiha Clan had it.

Zabuza and Haku set out to kill Gato and take his wealth, but Kakuzu and Hidan ambushed them, revealing that Gato had hired them to kill Zabuza. Hidan drew Zabuza’s blood with his scythe, leaving the battle poised to turn in his favor.

• After recovering, Zabuza decided to abandon his plan to kill Tazuna and take Gato’s head and fortune instead.
• Kakuzu and Hidan burst into Zabuza and Haku’s hideout and confronted them.
• Zabuza recognized Kakuzu as a dangerous rogue ninja, while Kakuzu explained that Zabuza’s bounty exceeded their payment for the job.
• Zabuza attacked Hidan and cut his chest, but Hidan trapped the Kubikiribōchō and drew his triple-bladed scythe.
• Zabuza dropped his sword and dodged Hidan’s strike, but the scythe grazed his left shoulder and Hidan licked his blood.

Zabuza and Haku fled from Kakuzu and Hidan, but Hidan’s ritual transferred his injuries to Zabuza and left him badly wounded. Haku carried Zabuza onward until Kakuzu caught up with them.

• Zabuza sensed danger from Hidan’s ritual and had Haku block the Akatsuki members with senbon before they escaped.
• Hidan began his Evil God Ritual by cutting his own ankle, while Kakuzu chased after Zabuza to claim the bounty.
• Zabuza’s ankle and abdomen were suddenly wounded, and he realized Hidan was transferring his injuries to him.
• Zabuza urged Haku to leave him, but Haku hoisted him onto his shoulder and continued fleeing.
• Kakuzu appeared beside Haku and asked where he was taking his bounty.

Haku fought Kakuzu to protect the badly injured Zabuza, but Kakuzu’s strange body and powerful techniques overwhelmed them. Haku trapped Kakuzu in his Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals and urged Zabuza to escape and live on.

• Kakuzu caught up with Haku and Zabuza, knocked them both down, and ignored Haku to pursue the wounded Zabuza for his bounty.
• Haku attacked Kakuzu with senbon while Zabuza used his remaining Chakra to create mist, but Kakuzu dispelled it with Wind Release.
• Haku used the Silent Killing Technique to stab Kakuzu in the chest, but Kakuzu survived by sacrificing one of his lives and burned Haku with Fire Release.
• Haku realized he could not defeat Kakuzu and feared Hidan would arrive, so he told Zabuza to live on and formed ice mirrors to trap Kakuzu.
• Haku called himself Zabuza’s tool and begged him to abandon him and escape.

Zabuza fled after Haku trapped Kakuzu, but his injuries and memories of the Bloody Mist Village left him collapsing near Sakura, Sasuke, and Xu Fan. Xu Fan treated him and learned he had begged for Haku’s rescue, while Kakuzu defeated Haku and considered taking his Kekkei Genkai.

• Zabuza left Haku behind and ran toward the Land of Waves harbor, then collapsed from his injuries after recalling the Bloody Mist Village exam and his lost bonds.
• Sakura and Sasuke found Zabuza after he fell from a tree, and Xu Fan confirmed he was real and badly wounded.
• Zabuza grabbed Xu Fan’s wrist and begged him to save Haku, so Xu Fan began treating him and asked what had happened.
• Kakuzu shattered Haku’s Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and sent him flying, while Hidan arrived and learned Zabuza had escaped.
• Kakuzu noted Haku’s rare Kekkei Genkai and considered taking it to replace one of his hearts.

Kakuzu and Hidan attacked Haku and Zabuza, but Xu Fan arrived with Sasuke and Sakura and stopped Kakuzu from taking Haku’s heart. Sasuke confronted Kakuzu after Kakuzu recognized his Sharingan and asked about his relationship with Itachi, while Xu Fan intervened when Hidan attacked Sasuke.

• Kakuzu decided to take Haku’s heart to replace the one he had lost, while Hidan mocked him for underestimating Haku.
• Xu Fan, Sasuke, Sakura, and Zabuza returned, and Xu Fan pinned Kakuzu’s hand to the ground with a kunai.
• Zabuza rescued Haku and warned Xu Fan and the others that Kakuzu and Hidan seemed to have immortal bodies.
• Sasuke stepped forward and revealed his Sharingan, prompting Kakuzu to ask what his relationship with Itachi was.
• Sasuke rushed at Kakuzu to demand information about Itachi, but Hidan attacked him with his scythe.
• Xu Fan blocked Hidan’s weapon and struck him in the abdomen, sending him flying.

Xu Fan and Sasuke fought Kakuzu and Hidan, whose immortality and blood-based ritual made him especially dangerous. More allies arrived as Xu Fan declared that he was Hidan’s weakness.

• Xu Fan kicked Hidan away, and Kakuzu struck Sasuke before trying to use him as bait to draw Xu Fan out.
• Sasuke revealed his Lightning Release Chakra Mode and knocked Kakuzu down with a sweeping kick.
• Xu Fan praised Sasuke’s progress but warned that his impulsiveness could have let Hidan’s ritual kill him.
• Hidan returned to Kakuzu and challenged Xu Fan, while Zabuza explained Hidan’s apparent immortality and blood-circle technique.
• Kakashi, Naruto, and Gato’s samurai arrived, and Xu Fan announced that his existence was Hidan’s weakness.

Gato arrived at the Great Naruto Bridge with samurai and mafia underlings, only to find Xu Fan's group and Kakashi confronting him after Zabuza switched sides. As Xu Fan faced Hidan, he revealed a Wood Release Clone and sent it at him with an Explosive Tag.

• Zabuza told Kakashi that Gato had hired new assassins and now wanted to eliminate him and Haku as well as Tazuna.
• Kakashi explained that Naruto and he had left a clone to protect Tazuna, and Naruto said he had sensed danger while training.
• Naruto and Sasuke volunteered to fight, but Xu Fan told them to leave Hidan to him because Hidan's ability was unusual.
• Gato sent some men around the confrontation toward Tazuna while he and Kakuzu watched Xu Fan and Hidan.
• Xu Fan explained that Hidan's immortality had limits, then created a Wood Release Clone that rushed at Hidan holding an Explosive Tag.

Xu Fan revealed that his seemingly ordinary Explosive Tag was the first step in an improved Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag technique. The blasts trapped and overwhelmed Hidan, while Kakuzu retreated and the onlookers watched in shock as the explosions continued.

• Kakashi, Sasuke, Zabuza, and the others recognized the Explosive Tag Xu Fan threw at Hidan and doubted it could harm him.
• Hidan grabbed Xu Fan's Wood Release Clone and used it as a shield when the Explosive Tag detonated.
• Xu Fan revealed several more tags and named his improved technique the Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag: Second Generation.
• Hidan tried to use the clone as a shield again, but its branches bound him as repeated explosions began.
• Xu Fan's rapidly multiplying Explosive Tags engulfed Hidan, forcing Kakuzu to retreat while the onlookers watched in astonishment.

Xu Fan’s Mutual Explosion Tag Technique annihilated Hidan, but Kakuzu dismissed it as a costly attack that Xu Fan could not repeat. Kakuzu revealed that he had once tried to assassinate Hashirama, leaving Xu Fan to mock the claim.

• Xu Fan’s Mutual Explosion Tag Technique detonated hundreds of millions of Explosive Tags until Hidan vanished without a trace.
• Kakashi, Sasuke, Naruto, Zabuza, and Gato’s men were stunned by the technique’s scale and destruction.
• Kakuzu activated Earth Grudge Fear and argued that Xu Fan had exhausted his supply of Explosive Tags.
• Xu Fan said he could not use the technique again but had no weakness, while Kakuzu claimed he had fought Wood Release users stronger than Xu Fan.
• Kakuzu revealed that he had once accepted a mission to assassinate Hashirama, and Xu Fan mocked him by asking whether he had thrown a kunai from eight hundred miles away.

Kakuzu unleashed his Final Shot at Xu Fan and his allies, but Xu Fan survived inside Susanoo and revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan. As Kakuzu questioned how a Senju could wield the Uchiha power of Madara, Xu Fan asked when he had begun thinking he was not under genjutsu.

• Kakuzu gathered his masks and fired his devastating Final Shot at Xu Fan and the others.
• Gato cheered for Kakuzu, who declared that no one could survive the blast.
• The smoke cleared to reveal Xu Fan unharmed inside a massive skeletal Susanoo.
• Xu Fan revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and named Madara Uchiha, stunning Sasuke and Kakuzu.
• Kakuzu wondered if he had been caught in genjutsu, and Xu Fan asked when he had thought he was not under it.

Xu Fan defeated Kakuzu and Gato, then let Zabuza kill them. After ordering Zabuza to take the injured Haku for treatment, Xu Fan headed to Tazuna’s house with something to discuss, leaving Zabuza uneasy about his past attacks on Konoha.

• Xu Fan revealed he had only been bluffing about using genjutsu, then slashed Kakuzu with his Susanoo and devastated Gato’s samurai forces.
• Zabuza asked Xu Fan to leave Gato to him, and Xu Fan agreed; Zabuza killed Gato for hurting Haku.
• Xu Fan restrained Kakuzu while Zabuza destroyed his remaining hearts, killing the Immortal Duo.
• Xu Fan told Zabuza to take Haku for treatment and said he had something to discuss with him, then headed toward Tazuna’s house.
• Zabuza picked up Haku and followed Xu Fan, worrying that he would answer for attacking Konoha shinobi and being a rogue shinobi.

Pain, Black Zetsu, and Obito discussed the Akatsuki Organization’s losses and how to respond to Xu Fan’s growing threat. They decided that Obito would handle Konoha while Itachi and Kisame pursued the Eight-Tails, and that the Nine-Tails would be captured last.

• Black Zetsu told Pain that Kakuzu and Hidan had died after Xu Fan defeated Hidan with Mutual Destruction Rasengan.
• Pain asked Obito and Black Zetsu how the Akatsuki Organization should proceed against Xu Fan.
• Black Zetsu revealed that Orochimaru was planning to attack Konoha and proposed using the opportunity to capture the Eight-Tails, Two-Tails, and Nine-Tails.
• Obito rejected the full plan, assigning Itachi and Kisame to capture the Eight-Tails and taking responsibility for Konoha himself.
• Obito told Pain to keep his power hidden and said the Nine-Tails must be captured last, while he first found a way to bring Yugito Nii back.