Chapter Summaries

Ye Zi tortured Uchiha Fugaku with the Moon Reading, killed him, and took his eyes. Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in grief, but Obito rescued him as Ye Zi prepared to leave.

• Ye Zi ended the Moon Reading, leaving Uchiha Fugaku drained and kneeling before him.
• Ye Zi killed Uchiha Fugaku and removed both of his eyes.
• Ye Zi took a piece of Fugaku's flesh as Itachi watched in shock and grief.
• Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and charged at Ye Zi, who tried to kill him.
• Obito appeared and used the Flying Thunder God to escape with Itachi.
• Ye Zi decided to leave with his collected Sharingan and looked toward White Zetsu.

Ye Zi killed Uchiha Fugaku, stole Sharingan eyes, and escaped Konoha despite pursuit by Minato, Obito, and Kushina. The Uchiha mourned their dead as Itachi awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and confronted the weight of his father’s death.

• Obito rescued Itachi from Ye Zi, but Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and insisted on going after him.
• Uchiha members arrived to find Fugaku dead, while Shisui activated Susanoo and Minato and Kushina joined the confrontation.
• Ye Zi escaped by liquefying into the ground, and White Zetsu fled Konoha separately.
• Minato, Obito, and Kushina pursued Ye Zi, but he outran them and met White Zetsu at a lakeshore, where White Zetsu confirmed he had secured the eyes.
• Konoha discovered more than thirty additional Uchiha victims missing their eyes, while the clan gathered to mourn and Itachi struggled with hatred and concern for his family.

Ye Zi equipped Snake Team with Three-Tomoe Sharingan and transplanted Uchiha Fugaku's left Mangekyō into himself, discovering that its ocular technique amplified genjutsu. He gave Fugaku's other Mangekyō to Orochimaru and revealed that he had kept the first eye for himself.

• Ye Zi had Nanako transplant Three-Tomoe Sharingan into the Snake Team members who lacked them, leaving Karin without an eye because she had no Hashirama Cells.
• Ye Zi named the group Snake Team and told its members to adapt to their Sharingan before an upcoming combat mission.
• Ye Zi replaced his left eye with Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan and learned that its ocular technique amplified genjutsu.
• Ye Zi decided to give Fugaku's spare Mangekyō to Orochimaru rather than Uchiha Jin, whom he expected to awaken his own Mangekyō.
• Ye Zi gave the spare eye to Orochimaru and revealed that Fugaku's other Mangekyō was now in his own left eye.

Ye Zi sent Snake Team on its first real mission to eliminate 126 Jonin-level intelligence agents near the Land of Rain. Uchiha Jin organized the team into seven squads while Ye Zi and Karin prepared to pursue a separate mission to prevent casualties and ensure no enemies escaped.

• White Zetsu identified the intelligence agents' movements and identities, and Ye Zi used the information to plan missions for Snake Team.
• Ye Zi told Snake Team to kill all 126 enemies and ordered Uchiha Jin to divide the members into seven squads.
• Uchiha Jin appointed Kimimaro, Jugo, Yokoyama Na, Kohaku Kose, Igarashi Haruki, Uno Shigeki, and Shimizu Kozue as squad captains and assigned the teams their targets.
• The seven squads left the training grounds to await further orders, while Uchiha Jin and Karin Uzumaki remained behind.
• Shin told Karin to follow him on a mission to prevent casualties and stop every enemy from escaping.

Ye Zi sent the Snake Team out to test their combat abilities, while Jiraiya secretly watched them through his Toad Concealment Technique. After seeing their transplanted Sharingan, Jiraiya connected them to Ye Zi’s past attack on Konoha and grew wary of what the group was planning.

• Ye Zi refused Kotoha’s request to join the mission and told her to stay at the base.
• Ye Zi sent the Snake Team’s members in different directions, then ordered Uchiha Jin and Karin to go together and protect her.
• Ye Zi and his Sharingan clone disappeared underground after the teams left the base.
• Jiraiya watched the Snake Team pass through a woodland while concealed inside an ordinary toad.
• Jiraiya saw that every Snake Team member had a three-tomoe Sharingan and linked the eyes to those taken from Uchiha Clan members after Ye Zi attacked Konoha.

Jiraiya investigated Takigakure after suspecting Ye Zi had taken control of it, but Ye Zi ambushed him before he could reach the village. Jiraiya summoned Shima and Fukasaku to help him escape, while Ye Zi prepared to confront all three.

• Jiraiya suspected Ye Zi had occupied Takigakure and sent his speculation to a messenger toad before heading toward the village.
• Ye Zi emerged from the ground near the river, and Jiraiya fled after recognizing him as a threat.
• Ye Zi tracked Jiraiya through the woods and used a combined Inorganic Reincarnation Technique and Wood Release attack, forcing Jiraiya to escape the crushed forest.
• Jiraiya summoned Shima and Fukasaku and entered incomplete Sage Mode as Ye Zi allowed him time to prepare.
• Shima and Fukasaku urged Jiraiya to run, and Ye Zi taunted the three by declaring that they were toads while he was a snake.

Ye Zi relentlessly pursued Jiraiya and the two Great Toad Sages, breaking through their strongest techniques as they tried to reach a cliff and escape. With the cliff still hundreds of meters away and their tongues severed, Jiraiya’s group remained in grave danger.

• Ye Zi’s Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu briefly caught Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima, but their Blood Contract Seal connection helped them dispel it.
• Jiraiya fled toward a cliff while Fukasaku and Shima used wind, water, and the Inorganic Reincarnation Technique to hinder Ye Zi.
• Shima’s dust storm let Fukasaku trap Ye Zi in the Great Rock Toad’s stomach barrier, but Ye Zi broke out almost immediately.
• Fukasaku and Shima used Toad Duet, but Ye Zi destroyed his own hearing to resist the auditory genjutsu.
• With Jiraiya still nearly three hundred meters from the cliff, Fukasaku and Shima attacked with Tongue Battle Slash, and Ye Zi sliced off both of their tongues.

Ye Zi killed Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, leaving Jiraiya to face him without Sage Mode. Jiraiya charged into a final clash with Ye Zi, who promised he would live to see the disaster that came afterward.

• Ye Zi cut through Sage Fukasaku’s petrified arms and killed him with his Black Lightning Style blade.
• Jiraiya dispelled the Blood Contract Seal and threw Sage Shima toward the cliff, but Ye Zi’s thrown blade pierced her abdomen.
• With both sages dead, Jiraiya lost Sage Mode and confronted Ye Zi while asking about Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya and Ye Zi formed Rasengan, with Ye Zi’s infused with Black Lightning Style, and charged at each other as Jiraiya’s Explosive Tags ignited.
• Their Rasengan collided in a violent explosion that swallowed them in dust.

Ye Zi killed Jiraiya, recovered the remains of Fukasaku and Shima, and sent his Snake Teams to purge enemy intelligence personnel. The teams overwhelmed their targets, while Ye Zi followed Kimimaro’s team.

• Jiraiya relived memories of his life as he died in Ye Zi’s explosion, and Ye Zi found his body among the rubble.
• Ye Zi healed his burned arm, ordered a clone to retrieve his sword and Shima’s corpse, collected DNA from Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima, and buried them.
• Ye Zi sent Wood Clones after the seven Snake Teams and followed the team led by Kimimaro.
• Yokoyama Na, Kohaku Kose, Igarashi Haruki, Uno Shigeki, Jugo, and their teammates overwhelmed enemy forces in coordinated attacks.
• Kimimaro used Early Fern Dance to kill enemies with bone spikes and then looked toward another battlefield.

Mount Myōboku learned that Sage Fukasaku, Sage Shima, and Jiraiya had died, and the Great Toad Sage identified Black Snake as their killer. In Konoha, Minato received Jiraiya’s intelligence about Ye Zi and decided to summon his teacher back, unaware that Jiraiya was already dead.

• Toad Yuzu discovered that Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima’s names had vanished from the toad clan register, and Gamabunta confirmed that Jiraiya’s name was gone from the summoning contract.
• Gamabunta told the Great Toad Sage that the two sages and Jiraiya had died, and the Great Toad Sage named Black Snake as their killer.
• The Great Toad Sage told Gamabunta to leave revenge to the Child of Prophecy, Minato.
• Minato read Jiraiya’s report about Ye Zi’s Sharingan unit, likely base in Takigakure, and possible Hashirama Cells.
• Minato decided to call Jiraiya back without seeking further confirmation and sent a reply through the messenger toad.
• Minato considered how to use the intelligence against Ye Zi when a yellow toad appeared in a cloud of white smoke.

After Gamatsume told Minato that Jiraiya and the two Great Toad Sages had died, Minato grieved and suspected Ye Zi was responsible. He discussed joining forces against Ye Zi and Amegakure with Shikaku Nara, who warned that they were missing an opportunity.

• Gamatsume told Minato that the two Great Toad Sages and Jiraiya were dead, and Minato broke down in grief.
• Minato asked whether Ye Zi was responsible, and Gamatsume said his father blamed Black Snake.
• Minato sent Gamatsume back, informed the relevant people of Jiraiya's death, and summoned Shikaku Nara.
• Minato told Shikaku Nara that Ye Zi had to be eliminated and proposed joining forces with the other villages.
• Shikaku Nara agreed that they could not face Ye Zi and Amegakure alone, but said they were missing an opportunity.

Minato and Lujiu planned to share intelligence about Ye Zi and Amegakure with other villages in hopes of forming an alliance. Hiruzen learned that Jiraiya had been killed and was left grieving over the news and the broken teacup Jiraiya had given him.

• Lujiu explained to Minato that they needed an opportunity and a motive to persuade other villages to oppose Ye Zi or Amegakure.
• Minato agreed to share their intelligence, including information about the tailed beasts, and assigned Lujiu to negotiate with the other villages.
• An Anbu member informed Hiruzen that Jiraiya had been killed on a mission.
• Hiruzen shattered the teacup Jiraiya had given him, dismissed the Anbu member, and quietly gathered the pieces, saying it could still be glued.

Tsunade grieved Jiraiya’s death at home while Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka traveled to Sunagakure to seek an alliance. After facing the Sand ninja’s lingering hostility and a fierce sandstorm, they continued toward the village without delay.

• Tsunade ended her medical-ninja lesson early, returned home, and wept over Jiraiya’s death.
• Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka set out for Sunagakure to discuss an alliance.
• A Sand ninja at an outpost made the Konoha team wait outside in a sandstorm while he sought the Kazekage’s response.
• The Sand ninja let the team shelter in the outpost, where Shikaku and his companions accepted water and food.
• Shikaku said the matter could not wait, and the Ino-Shika-Cho team followed the Sand ninja into the storm toward Sunagakure.

Ino-Shika-Cho sought Sunagakure’s support for Konoha’s proposed alliance against Ye Zi and Amegakure, then traveled to Iwagakure to continue negotiations. Meanwhile, Ye Zi prepared to use Impure World Reincarnation to revive Uchiha Fugaku, Jiraiya, and two toads.

• Lujiu presented Rasa with intelligence about Ye Zi and Amegakure and proposed that the major ninja villages unite against them.
• Rasa agreed that Sunagakure would join if Konoha convinced the other villages, though he preferred to target Ye Zi alone.
• Ino-Shika-Cho left Sunagakure and traveled to Iwagakure, where Ōnoki received them under heavy guard.
• Ye Zi praised the Snake Team’s strength, particularly Kimimaro’s, after their latest test.
• Ye Zi prepared to revive Uchiha Fugaku, Jiraiya, and two toads with Impure World Reincarnation, after informing Orochimaru.

Ye Zi revived Uchiha Fugaku, Jiraiya, and the two great sage toads through Impure World Reincarnation, then stored them away for future use. Meanwhile, Ino-Shika-Cho secured Iwagakure’s agreement to Konoha’s alliance proposal and presented it to the Third Raikage, whose response remained undecided.

• Ye Zi revived Uchiha Fugaku and suppressed his consciousness before placing him in a coffin in the summoning space.
• Ye Zi revived Jiraiya and the two great sage toads, suppressed their consciousnesses, and stored them away after Orochimaru declined to see Jiraiya awaken.
• Ye Zi rested while preparing to capture the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in Kumogakure.
• Ōnoki agreed to Konoha’s alliance proposal after Lujiu accepted the Stone ninja’s conditions for the return of their Tailed Beast.
• Ino-Shika-Cho traveled to Kumogakure and presented Konoha’s proposal and intelligence to the Third Raikage.
• The Third Raikage read the intelligence and passed it to Dodai, leaving Ino-Shika-Cho waiting for his decision.

Konoha’s Ino-Shika-Cho trio waited in Kumogakure while the Third Raikage considered whether to join their alliance against Amegakure. The Third Raikage revealed that he coveted the Nine-Tails, while Nagato quietly prepared to act in Amegakure.

• The Third Raikage accepted Konoha’s intelligence and asked Lujiu, Haiyi, and Choza to wait several days for his answer about the alliance.
• Lujiu and Haiyi assessed their lodging and the guards nearby, then the trio arranged their usual watch rotation despite being free to move around Kumogakure.
• Dodai returned to the Raikage’s office, where the Third Raikage ordered him to kill the trio if they made suspicious moves.
• The Third Raikage admitted he was considering taking Amegakure’s tailed beast, but said he wanted Konoha’s Nine-Tails even more.
• Nagato watched the rain in Amegakure and murmured that it was time.

Nagato restarted Akatsuki’s tailed-beast plan and assigned Ye Zi and White Zetsu to capture Kumogakure’s Two-Tails and Eight-Tails while the others targeted Kirigakure’s Six-Tails. The meeting ended with Scorpion objecting that Ye Zi’s assignment was unreasonable.

• Nagato summoned Akatsuki’s core members through the Illusionary Body Technique and announced that the tailed-beast plan would resume.
• Nagato said he would take Konoha’s Nine-Tails after the others brought the Six-Tails, Two-Tails, and Eight-Tails to Akatsuki.
• Ye Zi volunteered to capture Kumogakure’s Two-Tails and Eight-Tails with White Zetsu, while the others went after Kirigakure’s Six-Tails.
• Nagato ordered the members to gather before six o’clock that evening and said the mission could not fail.
• Scorpion objected that assigning Ye Zi to capture two tailed beasts in Kumogakure was unreasonable.

Ye Zi and White Zetsu traveled to the Land of Lightning to capture the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails while the rest of the Akatsuki team headed for the Land of Water. As night approached, Ye Zi prepared to infiltrate Kumogakure, determined not to fail, while White Zetsu reflected on his growing interest in how Ye Zi’s story would unfold.

• Ye Zi and Uchiha Jin left the Land of Waterfalls stronghold, and Nagato sent Konan to prepare for the team’s rendezvous in Amegakure.
• The Akatsuki members gathered in Amegakure before six o’clock, then split up, with Ye Zi and White Zetsu heading for the Land of Lightning and Konan leading the others toward the Land of Water.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu reached a mountain outside Kumogakure and planned to infiltrate the village at night, capture the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, then go to Cloud-Thunder Gorge for the Eight-Tails.
• White Zetsu warned Ye Zi that a noisy infiltration could leave him facing Kumogakure’s full military force, but Ye Zi insisted he would not fail and rejected using the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• As they waited for nightfall, White Zetsu privately considered how he had become invested in Ye Zi’s journey and wanted to see whether its expected ending could change.

Ye Zi began his mission to capture Yugito Nii and Killer B by infiltrating Kumogakure, but Yugito Nii woke before he could take her quietly. The chapter ended with her activating her tailed-beast cloak.

• Ye Zi entered Sage Mode and set out for Kumogakure with White Zetsu, while Black Zetsu urged them to keep moving.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu slipped past Kumogakure's guards and approached Yugito Nii's residence using White Zetsu's intelligence.
• Ye Zi entered Yugito Nii's room intending to knock her unconscious and abduct her without raising an alarm.
• Matatabi warned Yugito Nii of Ye Zi's presence, allowing her to wake before he could act.
• Yugito Nii activated her tailed-beast cloak, disrupting Ye Zi's plan.

Ye Zi infiltrated Kumogakure to capture Yugito, but his ambush failed and their battle drew the village’s attention. As reinforcements rushed toward them, the Third Raikage and A set out to confront the attacker, while Lujiu, Haiyi, and Choza also went to investigate.

• Yugito attacked Ye Zi with a Mouse Tail Ball, but he blocked the blast with a wooden wall as she escaped outside.
• Ye Zi revealed himself to Yugito, who recognized him as the Konoha missing-nin and Akatsuki member known as Thunder Blade.
• Ye Zi transformed trees into pythons and attacked Yugito, beginning their battle as she waited for reinforcements.
• The Third Raikage and A heard the explosion and used the Lightning Body Flicker Technique to rush toward its source.
• Haiyi sensed the clash between two powerful Chakra signatures, and Lujiu, Haiyi, and Choza set out to investigate.