Chapter Summaries

Kushina chose to save Rin rather than pursue Ye Zi, then knocked out the Mist ninja when they tried to chase him. Ye Zi escaped with Kotoha and Shin, while Kushina and the others rescued Rin and decided to return to Konoha with their information.

• Kushina released the Mist ninja from her chains, but restrained them again when they tried to pursue Ye Zi and knocked them unconscious.
• Ye Zi's Shadow Clone vanished when its ten-minute limit expired, and Ye Zi left the island with Kotoha and Shin while Rin remained bound to a tree.
• Kushina, Obito, and Kakashi reached Rin, checked for traps, and freed her.
• Kushina decided they would return to Konoha and report what they knew to Minato instead of pursuing Ye Zi.

Kakuzu and Fengqiao Xiulu failed to capture Gaara in Sunagakure and fled separately, with Xiulu killed by Pakura. Ye Zi and the others recovered in the fallen Land of Whirlpools before Nagato summoned them, where Yagura lay unconscious beside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

• Kakuzu and Fengqiao Xiulu infiltrated Sunagakure to capture Gaara but were driven into retreat by the Sand ninja and the Fourth Kazekage.
• Fengqiao Xiulu fought through the pursuing Sand ninja with the Hidden Mist Technique as he tried to escape alone.
• Pakura blocked Fengqiao Xiulu's path, suppressed his mist with Scorch Release, and killed him by evaporating the liquid in his body.
• Kakuzu escaped Sunagakure at the cost of two hearts, and the mission was declared a failure.
• Ye Zi and the other two recovered in the fallen Land of Whirlpools, then answered Nagato's summons at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Ye Zi saw Yagura lying unconscious beside Nagato and Konan, and noticed that neither the One-Tail Jinchuriki nor Fengqiao Xiulu was present.

Nagato’s Akatsuki sealed the Three-Tails from Yagura after the mission to capture the One-Tail failed, and Ye Zi refused to give up Kotoha as Kakuzu’s new partner. Afterward, Kushina’s team returned to Konoha with information about Ye Zi and caught Jiraiya trying to leave them with the ramen bill.

• Nagato discussed the failed One-Tail mission, rejected Kakuzu’s suggestion to transfer Vermilion Bird, and chose an Amegakure elite to fill the vacant position.
• Nagato ordered Akatsuki to postpone targeting the One-Tail and begin sealing Yagura’s Three-Tails, which took three days and left Yagura dead.
• Ye Zi, Kotoha, and their companion rested before heading toward the Land of Earth, while Kushina’s Team 7 returned to Konoha with information about Ye Zi.
• Jiraiya invited Kushina’s team to Ichiraku Ramen, ate two bowls, and tried to slip away without paying.
• Kushina blocked Jiraiya with a golden chain and told him to pay the bill, but he pretended she had offered to treat them.

Kushina told Jiraiya that Ye Zi would not return to the village, and Jiraiya warned her to look beyond her feelings for him. At the Hokage's office, Minato shared Danzo's report that Ye Zi could use Wood Release, raising suspicion that Ye Zi had killed Dan.

• Kushina paid for Jiraiya's meal after he admitted he was out of money.
• Kushina told Jiraiya that Ye Zi would not come back, and Jiraiya advised her not to involve herself if she could not face him as an enemy.
• Jiraiya urged Kushina to pay attention to Minato, but she refused to accept him while she still had feelings for Ye Zi.
• Jiraiya and Kushina met Minato and Lujiu at the Hokage's office to discuss intelligence about the Akatsuki and Ye Zi.
• Minato reported that Danzo's intelligence said Ye Zi could use Wood Release and the First Hokage's Wood Release: Wood Forest, strengthening suspicion that Ye Zi had killed Dan.

Kirigakure’s elders debated how to respond to the Mizukage’s abduction, while Sunagakure sought an alliance with Konoha against Akatsuki. At Ye Zi’s stronghold, he continued teaching children as Kotoha and Uchiha Jin watched, with Kotoha openly accepting that Ye Zi might never return her feelings.

• Kirigakure’s elders postponed punishment for Mei Terumi, Ao, and Kisame and debated finding the missing Mizukage, preparing a successor, and pressuring Akatsuki.
• Kirigakure’s leaders suspected Akatsuki had taken the Mizukage’s tailed beast and considered sending scouts into the Land of Rain rather than risking war.
• Sunagakure chose to seek an alliance with Konoha and sent Pakura to negotiate.
• Ye Zi devoted his time at the Land of Earth stronghold to teaching the children, who respected him and wanted to become powerful ninjas.
• Uchiha Jin told Kotoha that her feelings for Ye Zi were obvious, and Kotoha said she was content simply to stay by his side.

Orochimaru watched Ye Zi teach the war orphans, then unexpectedly brought wine and scrambled eggs to share with him. Their drinking stirred memories of Root, while Kotoha arrived at the kitchen to find the eggs gone.

• Orochimaru paused at the training ground and watched Ye Zi teach the children, recalling how Ye Zi had come into his life.
• After the lesson, Ye Zi told Kotoha and Shin they were wasting time watching him, and Shin went to supervise the children as they sparred.
• Kotoha hurried to the kitchen, determined to succeed in making food for Ye Zi.
• Ye Zi encountered Orochimaru carrying wine as snakes brought more wine and scrambled eggs, and he followed him to his room.
• Ye Zi made a large table with Wood Release, and he and Orochimaru drank together while remembering their Root training.
• Kotoha reached the kitchen and found eggshells scattered across the floor, with no eggs left.

Ye Zi and Orochimaru shared drinks and discussed Ye Zi’s destination before Ye Zi returned to Kotoha. The chapter left Ye Zi resting in Kotoha’s embrace after she welcomed him close.

• Ye Zi and Orochimaru stopped drinking after sharing six jars of liquor and asked Ye Zi where he intended to go.
• Ye Zi said he wanted to go somewhere no one could reach, and Orochimaru considered bringing him along when he left to seek an answer to his experiments.
• Ye Zi left Orochimaru’s room and found Kotoha waiting in his room beside the cold meal she had prepared.
• Ye Zi pressed Kotoha against the wall and leaned toward her, but rested his head on her shoulder instead of kissing her.
• Kotoha relaxed, embraced Ye Zi, and gently stroked his hair as he asked to rest there.

While drunk, Ye Zi nearly acted on his desire for Kotoha, but stopped to ask whether she truly wanted to be with him. After Kotoha confessed her feelings and accepted the dangers ahead, Ye Zi pulled her into bed and fell asleep, leaving her to kiss him and vow to stay by his side.

• Ye Zi kissed Kotoha and touched her as desire overtook him, but he stopped when he sensed her nervousness.
• Ye Zi asked whether he liked Kotoha and why she was willing to give so much for him; Kotoha said he had saved her and confessed that she wanted to stay with him.
• Kotoha said she would not regret following Ye Zi even if she died, and Ye Zi asked her to stay with him for a while.
• Ye Zi pulled Kotoha into bed and quickly fell asleep while holding her.
• Kotoha watched Ye Zi sleep, kissed him, and vowed to stay with him until the end.

After a night of intimacy with Kotoha, Ye Zi accepted her feelings but stayed focused on his work. Orochimaru gave him the Impure World Reincarnation formula and warned him that Sunagakure might be joining forces with Konoha against Akatsuki, leaving Ye Zi to hurry to the Land of Rain to find Zetsu and confirm Nagato’s plans.

• Ye Zi woke with Kotoha on top of him and decided he would no longer reject her feelings, though he had no time for romance.
• Ye Zi completed his training, visited Nanako, and received Orochimaru’s improved Impure World Reincarnation formula.
• Orochimaru explained that Hashirama Cell clones made the best material for the technique, prompting Ye Zi to plan to master it.
• Orochimaru told Ye Zi that Sunagakure had sent people to Konoha, possibly to form an alliance against Akatsuki.
• Ye Zi declined to travel with Orochimaru and left for the Land of Rain to find Zetsu and learn Nagato’s intentions.

Ye Zi set out for the Land of Rain while Konoha and Sunagakure continued talks on a possible alliance. In Konoha, Pakura wandered the streets and encountered several young ninja, who treated her visit as a passing curiosity.

• Ye Zi made arrangements and headed alone for the Land of Rain as Orochimaru prepared to leave the next day.
• Pakura and Konoha reached a preliminary agreement to form an alliance, with another round of negotiations scheduled for the following day.
• Pakura explored Konoha and bought tricolor dango while Shisui and Itachi quietly watched her before heading to train.
• Pakura watched Obito challenge Might Guy, who refused to spar until he finished his handstand-walking laps.
• Might Guy sped off to complete his training, and Obito greeted Shisui and Itachi before jokingly asking Itachi to call him Obito-senpai.

Pakura negotiated an alliance between the Sand ninja and Konoha to strike at Akatsuki, agreeing to Konoha’s demands after Minato promised to include powerful ninja. Afterward, Minato prepared to leave Konoha for training with Jiraiya while Lujiu considered Ye Zi’s motives.

• Pakura watched Konoha’s talented young ninja and wondered whether they might become Ye Zi’s future opponents.
• Minato negotiated with Pakura, demanding compensation in exchange for Konoha’s help against Akatsuki.
• Minato promised to include Konoha’s White Fang and elite Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan ninja, and Pakura agreed to the alliance.
• After Pakura left, Lujiu questioned Ye Zi’s motives, and Minato said Ye Zi’s actions against Konoha could not be condoned.
• Minato told Lujiu he would compile the personnel list and then leave to train with Jiraiya, temporarily handing his duties to the Third Hokage.

Ye Zi confronted Nagato in Amegakure to ensure Akatsuki’s tailed-beast collection plan continued despite the Sand-Konoha alliance. Nagato promised the plan would proceed but asserted control over Ye Zi, who concealed his resentment and remained determined to take the Rinnegan.

• Ye Zi arrived at Amegakure and went to Nagato’s headquarters to ask about capturing the One-Tail.
• Nagato said Akatsuki would wait to learn more about the Sand ninja and Konoha’s cooperation before acting rashly.
• Ye Zi argued that the alliance should not prevent them from capturing the One-Tail, and Nagato insisted the plan would continue.
• Nagato warned Ye Zi that he had overstepped and ordered him to follow instructions, while Konan intervened to stop their confrontation.
• Ye Zi accepted Nagato’s authority outwardly, reassured that the plan would proceed, and kept his ambition to claim the Rinnegan hidden.

Ye Zi stayed in Amegakure and reviewed intelligence on elite forces from Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha that were moving against the Land of Rain. He focused on the threat posed by Hatake Sakumo, but also saw the coming battles as a chance to obtain corpses for Impure World Reincarnation.

• Ye Zi reflected that Nagato’s peaceful village was only a temporary step toward a larger goal.
• Konan brought Ye Zi to Nagato, where White Zetsu reported that a forty-seven-person Kirigakure force was heading toward the Land of Rain and had killed Rain ninja.
• White Zetsu reported that Sunagakure and Konoha had allied and sent teams of twenty-seven and thirty-two ninja, while Iwagakure continued gathering intelligence on Ye Zi.
• Ye Zi studied the scrolls and noted the danger of Kirigakure’s Mei Terumi and Kisame, Sunagakure’s Pakura, and Konoha’s Hatake Sakumo and clan elites.
• Ye Zi considered using Yagura’s corpse if needed and felt pleased that the approaching forces could provide bodies for Impure World Reincarnation.

Ye Zi prepared for Akatsuki’s confrontation with the three great ninja villages while studying Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation technique. He captured an Amegakure ninja as a living sacrifice and headed into the forest to experiment with reviving Yagura and Roshi.

• Nagato summoned Akatsuki’s members to Amegakure and agreed to fight alongside Ye Zi, though he decided the Pain Six Paths were not yet necessary.
• Ye Zi read Orochimaru’s scroll, memorized the technique, and planned to test how many reincarnated bodies he could control.
• Ye Zi left Amegakure to find a living sacrifice and encountered two exhausted Amegakure ninja returning from a mission.
• Ye Zi killed the older ninja, knocked the younger one unconscious, and buried the corpse with Dotonjutsu.
• Ye Zi carried the unconscious ninja toward a remote forest, intending to use him to revive Yagura and Roshi.

Ye Zi prepared the tools for Impure World Reincarnation and successfully revived Yagura using a young Rain ninja as the living sacrifice. Yagura realized he was under Ye Zi’s control and had lost Isobu, while Ye Zi told him he would be used as a tool.

• Ye Zi chose Yagura as the first person to reincarnate and carefully inscribed the required control talisman and summoning scroll.
• Ye Zi summoned Yagura’s corpse, took a piece of flesh from it, and placed an unconscious young Rain ninja in the summoning array.
• Ye Zi performed Impure World Reincarnation and inserted the control talisman into the back of Yagura’s head.
• Yagura awoke, recognized Ye Zi, and realized he could not move or sense Isobu inside him.
• Ye Zi told Yagura he would serve as his tool, while Yagura angrily vowed to kill him.

Ye Zi tested whether his Impure World Reincarnation could control an enraged Yagura, then confirmed that the revived Mizukage could not use tailed-beast transformation without the beast’s chakra. When the Mist ninja entered the Land of Rain, Nagato decided to confront them himself, giving Ye Zi a chance to observe the Rinnegan’s power.

• Ye Zi provoked Yagura and confirmed that his emotions could not break the control of Ye Zi’s Impure World Reincarnation.
• Ye Zi erased Yagura’s personality, tested his tailed-beast transformation, and found that he could not transform without the tailed beast’s chakra.
• Ye Zi sealed Yagura in a coffin and planned to prepare more Impure World Reincarnation bodies using White Zetsu’s help.
• White Zetsu reported that the Mist ninja had crossed into the Land of Rain, and Ye Zi went with him to meet Nagato.
• Nagato decided to confront the Mist ninja himself, while Ye Zi looked forward to observing the power of the Rinnegan.

A Kirigakure troop led by Ao advanced into the Land of Rain to investigate the Mizukage and strike at the Akatsuki, but Nagato intercepted them. Nagato repelled their opening assault with Shinra Tensei, leaving the Mist ninja shocked and two of them dead.

• Ao led forty-three Mist ninja toward Amegakure while four sensory ninja scouted ahead, unaware that White Zetsu was tracking them.
• Ao detected a powerful enemy approaching and ordered the troop to form an encirclement and prepare to attack.
• Nagato emerged from the forest and the Mist ninja launched a barrage of weapons and techniques, including Mei Terumi's Acidic Mist Technique.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to disperse the techniques and send the weapons flying back, killing two Mist ninja.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu watched from nearby after taking out the four sensory ninja.

Nagato fought more than forty Mist ninja, using summoned beasts and the Rinnegan to withstand their attacks and devastate Yun’s First Squad. He regrouped with his Shadow Clone as the remaining Mist ninja regrouped around the battlefield.

• Nagato summoned a Three-Headed Hellhound and a Yata Crow to block concealed weapons and crush three Mist ninja, while Yun assigned squads to contain the beasts and attack Nagato.
• Nagato’s chameleon concealed itself and carried his Shadow Clone around to the rear as Yun led the First Squad toward Nagato and found him missing.
• Nagato absorbed the Mist ninja’s combined attacks with the Preta Path while his Shadow Clone emerged behind them and prepared a missile strike.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to push the First Squad into the missiles, killing eleven ninja; Yun and two clan ninja escaped with the Substitution Technique.
• Nagato’s Shadow Clone returned to him as Mei Terumi’s squad nearly defeated the Yata Crow and the Mist ninja sealed both Three-Headed Hellhounds.

Ye Zi watched Nagato devastate the Mist ninja and began analyzing the limits of his Rinnegan abilities. Nagato remained untouched as the surviving Mist ninja regrouped, while Ye Zi suspected Shinra Tensei had a six-second cooldown.

• Mei Terumi and her companions killed the giant bird with Lava Release, while Kisame trapped the Three-Headed Hellhound in a Water Prison Technique.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu observed Nagato's battle and discussed his Rinnegan abilities as Ye Zi considered how to counter them.
• Nagato summoned a centipede and a rhinoceros, sending them against the Mist ninja's Second Squad while the Third Squad attacked him.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull more than a dozen Mist ninja together, then crushed them with Shinra Tensei.
• Ye Zi inferred that Shinra Tensei could not be used again for about six seconds, while the remaining Mist ninja struggled against Nagato's Summoning Beasts.

Nagato used his abilities and Shadow Clone to slaughter the Mist ninja force, leaving Kisame as the sole survivor to carry the battle’s intelligence back. Nagato left the battlefield while Ye Zi and White Zetsu watched in silence.

• The Mist ninja spread out, but Nagato’s missiles killed five, while Mei Terumi’s Acidic Mist and the others’ weapons failed to reach him.
• Nagato’s Shadow Clone killed four Mist ninja who attacked from behind, then cut down seven more pulled toward Nagato by Banshō Ten'in.
• Nagato and his Shadow Clone charged the remaining Mist ninja, killing Sora of the Yuki Clan and Ao while injuring Mei Terumi and Yukino Aoba.
• Yukino Aoba shielded Mei Terumi with Water Release, Water Wall, but the missiles overwhelmed it and an explosion engulfed them both.
• Kisame released the Water Prison Technique and fled to report what he had learned, while Nagato let him escape and left the battlefield.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu watched the aftermath as nearly all forty-seven Mist ninja Jonin elites lay dead.