Chapter Summaries

Ye Zi rescued the wounded Orochimaru from the Raikage, but Orochimaru mistook her for a spy and the two parted as enemies. Ye Zi left determined to pursue her goal of collecting the tailed beasts, while Orochimaru kept her survival secret and vowed to kill her when they met again.

• Ye Zi escaped the Raikage with Orochimaru after smoke bombs covered their retreat, while the Raikage abandoned the pursuit and continued the invasion.
• Ye Zi used lightning to kill the snakes Orochimaru sent to bind her, and Orochimaru confronted her about her surviving severed arm and suspected identity.
• Orochimaru accused Ye Zi of being a spy who had infiltrated Konoha, stolen forbidden-technique scrolls, and killed Dan Katō, but Ye Zi refused to explain herself.
• Ye Zi thanked Orochimaru for bringing her to Konoha, declared that she had repaid her debt by saving him, and left.
• Orochimaru promised not to reveal that Ye Zi was alive but vowed to kill her at their next meeting, and Ye Zi accepted the challenge before vanishing.

Ye Zi withdrew from direct interference in the war and sent Shadow Clones toward separate battlefields. Meanwhile, A and Killer B fought Kushina, whose rapid regeneration and chains failed to stop B from unleashing a Tailed Beast Bomb; Ye Zi sensed its blast as a clone arrived at another battle where Konoha was losing.

• Ye Zi decided he could not act effectively without White Zetsu's intelligence and sent two Shadow Clones in different directions while he watched the war.
• Kushina released her Yin Seal and used Adamantine Sealing Chains as Killer B attacked and A tried to disable her limbs.
• A severed Kushina's right arm, but she regenerated it and used the Substitution Technique to evade his next strike as Killer B transformed and broke free of her chains.
• A told Killer B to fight without restraint, and Killer B fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at Kushina.
• The explosion engulfed a ten-li area, and Ye Zi sensed its Chakra while one of his Shadow Clones reached another battlefield where Konoha was at a disadvantage.

Kushina was overwhelmed by Killer B’s assault and asked the Nine-Tails for help from within her sealing space. When he refused, she resolved to die rather than let the Cloud ninja take or release him.

• Killer B dodged Kushina’s Adamantine Sealing Chains, slammed her into the ground, and repeatedly stomped her as her Chakra cloak weakened.
• A watched the beating and assured the Cloud ninja that Killer B knew his limits.
• Ye Zi saw Kushina being attacked and struggled to suppress his urge to intervene.
• As her consciousness faded, Kushina entered the sealing space and asked the Nine-Tails to help her stop the Cloud ninja.
• The Nine-Tails refused and offered to kill the Cloud ninja if Kushina released him, but she rejected the offer.
• Kushina accepted that she might die, and the Nine-Tails raged at her unwavering resolve.

Kushina nearly died at the hands of A and Killer B before Ye Zi’s Shadow Clone intervened, giving her hope that Ye Zi had returned. After learning of the clone’s actions, Ye Zi decided to cut off his ties to Kushina and Orochimaru as he pursued his goal of gathering the Tailed Beasts.

• Kushina prepared to use the Reaper Death Seal, but Ye Zi’s Shadow Clone struck Killer B and freed her.
• A attacked Ye Zi’s Shadow Clone, which vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Kushina convinced Ye Zi was hiding nearby.
• Kushina regained her resolve and planned to delay A and Killer B until reinforcements arrived.
• Far away, Ye Zi received the Shadow Clone’s memories and reflected on his decision to save Kushina.
• Ye Zi resolved to cut ties with Kushina and Orochimaru, then caught up with the Raikage’s forces.

The Cloud forces pushed toward Konoha while the village gathered its remaining forces for a final battle. Minato's reinforcements rescued Kushina from the A and B combination, and the Raikage met Tsunade and White Fang's forces as the fighting began.

• The Raikage's forces destroyed a city for supplies, reached the rendezvous point, and learned that Konoha's third interception force had been wiped out.
• Hiruzen's officials agreed to send Jiraiya's troops to join Tsunade, while Orochimaru continued toward Konoha and Jiraiya handed command to Uchiha Fugaku.
• Kushina stalled the A and B combination, whose attempt to capture her was hindered by her recovery and their fear of killing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Minato arrived with nearly a hundred Jonin, and his reinforcements attacked the Cloud forces guarding the battlefield.
• Minato and Kushina's forces began fighting the Cloud ninja, while the Raikage received the forces led by Tsunade and White Fang.

The Third Ninja War ended with Konoha narrowly defeating the Cloud ninja, and the five great villages signed a ten-year truce. After the postwar funeral, Hiruzen resigned, and Konoha began choosing its next Hokage, with Hiruzen recommending Minato Namikaze.

• Jiraiya and Orochimaru arrived with reinforcements, allowing Konoha to counterattack and narrowly drive back the Cloud ninja.
• Uchiha Fugaku's forces defeated the Mist ninja, and the five great ninja villages signed a ten-year truce.
• Ye Zi returned to the Land of Rain as the villages assessed their losses and recorded promising young ninja in their intelligence books.
• At the postwar funeral, Uchiha Itachi questioned Orochimaru about life's meaning, and Orochimaru said life mattered only if it could be eternal.
• After Hiruzen resigned, Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, and Uchiha Fugaku were nominated as Hokage candidates, and Hiruzen recommended Minato.

Minato Namikaze was chosen as the Fourth Hokage, while the village celebrated amid grief over those lost in the war. Days later, Kushina revealed that Ye Zi was alive and tied to an organization suspected of attacking Konoha and harming the Sand ninja, leaving the Hokage's office to confront the mystery of his motives and Lord Dan's death.

• Danzo supported Orochimaru, but Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura recommended Minato Namikaze, and the Daimyo named him Fourth Hokage.
• At Minato's celebration, Jiraiya lamented that the absent would not return, and Tsunade punched him through a table and the floor.
• Several days later, Minato gathered Kushina, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and retired Hiruzen to discuss Kushina's report that Ye Zi was alive and had saved her.
• Minato said Ye Zi was suspected of belonging to the organization that invaded Konoha and of releasing Shukaku, while Kushina interrupted when he raised Lord Dan's death.

Konoha's leaders debated whether Ye Zi had killed Dan and whether he should be declared a missing-nin, while Kushina pleaded for a chance to bring him back. The chapter ended with Orochimaru wondering about the consequences of his past choice and suggesting Tsunade already regretted hers.

• Tsunade said she would find Ye Zi and force him to explain who killed Dan, while Jiraiya volunteered to gather intelligence on the organization.
• Tsunade proposed telling Sunagakure that Ye Zi had freed Shukaku, but Hiruzen and Minato rejected the idea as too dangerous.
• Minato agreed that Ye Zi met the criteria to be treated as a missing-nin, prompting Kushina to blame Konoha's mistreatment of Ye Zi and plead to bring him back first.
• Minato maintained that Ye Zi's absence was his own decision, leaving Kushina's plea unresolved.
• Orochimaru walked through Root's base, wondered what consequences his past choice would bring, and remarked that Tsunade had likely regretted her decision.

Ye Zi learned that the Akatsuki wanted him to recruit Sasori of the Red Sands and set out from Amegakure with Konan. They headed toward the Land of Stone, with Ye Zi frustrated by how much Konan slowed their journey.

• White Zetsu told Ye Zi that Sasori of the Red Sands had killed the Third Kazekage and was in the Land of Stone.
• Konan arrived and told Ye Zi that Zero Burial had ordered her to accompany him to recruit Sasori.
• Ye Zi complained that Konan would be a burden, but she insisted they leave together.
• Ye Zi and Konan departed Amegakure for the Land of Stone while White Zetsu stayed behind to gather intelligence.
• After half a day of travel, Ye Zi urged Konan to speed up as her pace began to slow.

Ye Zi and Konan traveled through the Land of Stone to find Sasori of the Red Sands and recruit him into Akatsuki. After locating him at an abandoned mining area, Ye Zi bluntly asked him to join, and Sasori attacked them with weapons from beneath his robe.

• Ye Zi and Konan argued over continuing their journey, then rested overnight in the Land of Stone.
• Konan asked why Ye Zi had not returned with her group, and he explained that Orochimaru and Tsunade had brought him to Konoha.
• The next morning, Ye Zi and Konan reached a town, asked about Sasori of the Red Sands, and learned he was in an abandoned mining area to the south.
• Ye Zi and Konan found Sasori of the Red Sands gathering unusual ores at the mining area.
• Ye Zi told Sasori of the Red Sands to join Akatsuki, and Sasori fired weapons at them from beneath his robe.

Ye Zi and Konan confronted Sasori of the Red Sands to recruit him into Akatsuki, and Ye Zi overcame his attacks without destroying his puppet. Sasori agreed to join on the condition that he be allowed to kill Hatake Sakumo, though Ye Zi said not yet.

• Ye Zi knocked down Sasori's poisoned needles and urged him to join Akatsuki, but Sasori refused.
• Sasori attacked with a storm of needles and his puppet tail, while Ye Zi dodged, blocked the attacks, and shocked the puppet.
• Sasori asked how Ye Zi knew he had killed the Third Kazekage, and Ye Zi explained that Akatsuki had intelligence channels.
• Sasori recognized Ye Zi as the person who had released Shukaku and said fighting him offered no benefit, but still resisted joining.
• Ye Zi offered Sasori opportunities to kill and make puppets through Akatsuki, and Sasori agreed on the condition that he could kill Hatake Sakumo.
• Ye Zi accepted Sasori's condition but said the killing could not happen yet.

Ye Zi brought Scorpion into Akatsuki and took him to meet Nagato, where Scorpion received his ring and mission. Ye Zi also revealed his face after Nagato noted his identity was exposed, shocking Scorpion.

• Ye Zi agreed to help Scorpion find Black Iron Ore and led him and Konan toward the Land of Rain.
• Scorpion asked about Akatsuki’s goal, and Ye Zi said they intended to oppose the world.
• Ye Zi brought Scorpion to Amegakure, where Nagato welcomed him and said three members remained to be recruited.
• Nagato gave Scorpion the ring and the codename Jade Woman, and assigned him to gather funds until the next member was found.
• Nagato approved Ye Zi’s request to provide people to help Scorpion find ore, then told Ye Zi he could remove his mask.
• Ye Zi crushed his mask and revealed his face, and Scorpion recognized him.

Ye Zi and Scorpion were paired by Nagato and spent half a month carrying out a wealth-gathering mission. They then faced a force of nearly a hundred ninja in a nameless country, where the two smaller nations had hired Akatsuki to destroy the strongest country's military.

• Nagato assigned Ye Zi and Scorpion to work as a team, and neither objected.
• Konoha listed Ye Zi as an S-rank missing-nin after Danzo persuaded Minato to approve the classification, then Root began tracking him.
• Ye Zi and Scorpion spent half a month plundering wealth on Nagato's mission.
• Two small countries hired Akatsuki with the wealth taken from their people to attack the strongest of three countries in a disputed neutral territory.
• Scorpion spotted the approaching force of nearly a hundred ninja and asked Ye Zi to leave potential puppet material intact.
• Scorpion and Ye Zi leaped down from a boulder and advanced toward the force.

Ye Zi and Scorpion defeated a small country's forces after its ninjas injected an unknown drug that greatly increased their strength but left them withered. Ye Zi dismissed the drug itself but became interested in finding its creator, who might prove useful in the future.

• Ye Zi and Scorpion fought through nearly a hundred ninjas, while Ye Zi killed the middle-aged man who had ordered the others to inject themselves.
• About fifty ninjas injected a drug into their hearts, gaining strength and speed as their bodies swelled and their hair turned gray-white.
• Ye Zi used lightning-enhanced attacks and Scorpion fought more seriously as they killed the drugged ninjas, whose bodies later shrank and withered.
• Scorpion examined a syringe and the corpses, while Ye Zi judged the drug’s effects and side effects to be unimpressive.
• Ye Zi summoned Fish, who began devouring the corpses, and told Scorpion that he was interested in the drug’s creator.

Ye Zi and Scorpion finished their mission in the Land of Wilds, then changed course for the Land of Water to recruit a Kirigakure rogue ninja. In the Land of Wilds, the drug developer learned that her enhanced soldiers had been wiped out and began considering the drug’s side effects.

• Empty Success devoured the corpses, complained to Ye Zi about being fed dead bodies, and was sent back to his dimension.
• Ye Zi and Scorpion set out to find the drug developer, but Nagato contacted them and ordered them to recruit Fengqiao Xiulu in the Land of Water.
• Ye Zi agreed to help Scorpion collect specimens from a combative clan in the Land of Water, and they hurried toward the country.
• A scarred woman told the black-robed drug developer that the attack force had been wiped out and that only traces of burning and drug remained.
• The drug developer wondered whether the drug’s side effects had contributed to the defeat.

Ye Zi and Scorpion traveled through the Land of Waves to reach the Land of Water, where Scorpion killed a shipowner to seize a vessel. Root ambushed Ye Zi on the beach, but Ye Zi killed all seven attackers and summoned Fish.

• Ye Zi and Scorpion rested in the Land of Waves before Scorpion went to find a ship.
• Scorpion killed a shipowner who refused to give up his ship, then brought the vessel to Ye Zi.
• Seven Root members ambushed Ye Zi on the beach, and Scorpion withdrew from the fight.
• Ye Zi destroyed the Root members’ Shadow Clones, tracked down the attackers, and killed them one by one.
• Ye Zi killed the last attacker, a woman who had delivered messages for Danzo, and summoned Fish.

Ye Zi and Scorpion tracked down Fengqiao Xiulu and watched him defeat a Mist Anbu squad. After Xiulu refused to join Akatsuki and tried to escape in the fog, Ye Zi caught and immobilized him, demanding his answer again.

• Ye Zi and Scorpion searched the Land of Water’s islands for Fengqiao Xiulu and followed a clue to Luoshui Island.
• They watched Xiulu fight twelve Mist Anbu, and he emerged without a wound after killing them all.
• Ye Zi invited Xiulu to join Akatsuki, and Scorpion warned him to join or die.
• Xiulu appeared to agree, then used the Hidden Mist Technique to hide and taunt them.
• Ye Zi caught Xiulu by the neck and shocked him with lightning, then repeated his demand that Xiulu join Akatsuki.

Ye Zi and Scorpion forced Fengqiao Xiulu to join Akatsuki, then returned to the Land of Rain, where Xiulu received the ring marked "Three." Meanwhile, Danzo ordered another squad to pursue Ye Zi, while Ye Zi learned that Jiraiya might be searching for him and that Kushina still hoped to bring him back to Konoha.

• Ye Zi released Xiulu after nearly killing him, and Xiulu agreed to join Akatsuki.
• Ye Zi summoned Ku to consume the corpses, then took Xiulu with Scorpion to the Land of Rain.
• Nagato confirmed Xiulu's Chakra reserves and gave him the ring engraved with "Three," while Ye Zi noted that Akatsuki still needed two members.
• Danzo regretted driving Ye Zi from Konoha and ordered the Sixth Squad to pursue him, instructing them to leave someone behind to gather intelligence.
• Minato assigned Team 7 to Kushina as he handled Hokage duties, while Kushina continued asking to search for Ye Zi.
• Ye Zi learned through Kotoha that Jiraiya might have gone after him and that Konoha could send a team to retrieve him once it had enough manpower.

Jiraiya tracked a missing-eared Akatsuki member for a month and discovered him delivering bounty earnings to Kakuzu. He captured the man to question him, but the captive tried to kill himself rather than reveal Akatsuki intelligence.

• Jiraiya followed the missing-eared man through the Land of Fire and waited for him to meet another Akatsuki member.
• In Needlewood Forest, Kakuzu collected the man's bounty earnings and told him to continue the arrangement next month.
• Jiraiya decided to capture the missing-eared man instead of following Kakuzu, then pursued him out of the forest.
• Jiraiya trapped the man in the Great Rock Toad's stomach and bound him with his hair after the man's Wind Release failed to break free.
• The captive tried to bite through his tongue to avoid revealing information, and Jiraiya realized ordinary torture would not work.

Jiraiya failed to get Sage Shima’s help with genjutsu, while Ye Zi and Scorpion completed a kidnapping mission and went their separate ways. Ye Zi traveled to the Land of Wilds to find the medicine’s creator, learned the person was hidden beneath Lord Cheng’s castle, and headed there after killing the Daimyo.

• Jiraiya summoned Sage Shima to help extract information, but she scolded him and returned to Mount Myōboku.
• Ye Zi and Scorpion delivered a kidnapped girl to their client in the Land of Fire and collected their reward.
• Ye Zi and Scorpion split up, with Ye Zi traveling to the Land of Wilds and Scorpion heading toward the Land of Water.
• Ye Zi learned that the medicine had helped the Land of Wilds defeat and annex two neighboring countries, and considered using it to strengthen White Zetsu clones.
• Ye Zi infiltrated the capital, forced the Daimyo to reveal that the medicine’s creator was in an underground chamber beneath Lord Cheng’s castle, then killed him and set off for the chamber.