Chapter Summaries

Kushina fought the Nine-Tails with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, subdued him, and tried to draw him into conversation. As she spoke about wanting to know his name, Pain Six Paths descended upon Konoha again.

• Kushina used Sage Mode to control her Adamantine Sealing Chains and charge at the Nine-Tails.
• The Nine-Tails knocked Kushina into the air, but golden chains lifted her out of reach and let her bind him from above.
• Kushina corrected the Nine-Tails when he called her a woman, then released his chains and asked him to tell her his name.
• The Nine-Tails ignored Kushina while listening to her chatter, reflecting on her unusual kindness and her reasons for training.
• Pain Six Paths once again descended upon Konoha.

Minato used a Shadow Clone and Sage Mode to catch Pain Six Paths off guard and defeat Preta Path, giving Konoha’s forces the chance to launch a coordinated attack. Nagato sacrificed Animal Path and Hell Path to protect the remaining Paths and prepared Deva Path to use Shinra Tensei.

• Minato sent the Third Hokage, Kakashi, Obito, Rin, Kurenai, and Asuma to attack Nagato while he led Konoha’s defenses against Pain Six Paths.
• Animal Path summoned the other five Paths as they landed together in Konoha, and Minato attacked Deva Path with a Wind Release: Rasengan.
• Preta Path absorbed Minato’s Rasengan and joined Deva Path in restraining him, but the captive Minato proved to be a Shadow Clone.
• Minato appeared in Sage Mode and struck Preta Path from behind with Frog Strike, then escaped Deva Path’s counterattack with Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Konoha’s ninja launched a coordinated wave of ninjutsu at the remaining Paths after Minato eliminated Preta Path.
• Nagato had Asura Path throw Animal Path and Hell Path toward the incoming ninjutsu and prepared Deva Path to release Shinra Tensei.

Nagato's Pain Six Paths struggled against Konoha, and Minato defeated Deva Path with the Flying Thunder God Technique. As the Third Hokage's team arrived, Nagato confronted them personally and unleashed Shinra Tensei, sweeping the entire Konoha force away.

• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to repel Konoha's combined ninjutsu and blast away the nearby attackers, while Hell Path moved to repair Preta Path.
• Minato confronted Deva Path, used Flying Thunder God marks to strike from unexpected angles, and defeated him with two Rasengan.
• Nagato recalled Deva Path as Konan sensed the approaching Konoha force; Nagato ordered her to take Yahiko's corpse and return to Amegakure.
• Konan left with Yahiko while Nagato prepared to face the approaching team led by the Third Hokage.
• Nagato floated toward the Konoha team and unleashed Shinra Tensei, sending the ninja, trees, and earth flying in a vast wave.

Ye Zi watched Nagato’s assault on Konoha from the sidelines and insisted that Kushina would return, though White Zetsu doubted him. Meanwhile, Nagato entered the battlefield and confronted Minato, leaving the fate of the Third Hokage’s unit uncertain.

• Ye Zi gathered intelligence through White Zetsu and learned that Kushina was not in Konoha.
• Ye Zi chose to wait, believing Kushina would return, and declared that he would obtain the Nine-Tails regardless.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to flatten the forest, then prepared to summon the Animal Path from Konoha.
• The Animal Path emerged with Nagato from the chameleon’s mouth as Minato realized that the young man with the Rinnegan was the real mastermind.
• Nagato asked Minato whether he was worried about the more than five hundred comrades in the Third Hokage’s unit.

Nagato attacked Konoha’s remaining forces with the abilities of the Six Paths, while Minato returned from checking on Kakashi’s battered force and ordered most ninja to withdraw. In the Shikkotsu Forest, Kushina failed to win the Nine-Tails’ trust again, then learned Konoha was under attack and immediately wondered whether Ye Zi was involved.

• Minato vanished with the Flying Thunder God Technique as Nagato revealed his Rinnegan and prepared to fight him.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to seize a Konoha ninja and drain his Chakra, then killed him.
• Minato found Kakashi and more than five hundred fighters amid a devastated forest, confirmed the damage from Shinra Tensei, and returned to Konoha.
• Might Guy warned Minato that Nagato could use the previous enemies’ abilities, including controlling people in midair and absorbing Chakra.
• Minato ordered ninja skilled in taijutsu to stay while Nagato moved to seize another target.
• Kushina failed to gain the Nine-Tails’ acceptance, then learned from the divided summoning beast slug that Akatsuki was attacking Konoha and asked whether Ye Zi was there.

Kushina learned that Konoha was under attack by a man with the Rinnegan and asked Katsuyu to send her back. In Konoha, Might Guy wounded Nagato with Morning Peacock, but Nagato repelled the surrounding ninjas, allowing Minato to teleport into position and throw a marked Kunai at him.

• Kushina asked Katsuyu to return her to Konoha after learning that a man with the Rinnegan was attacking the village.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in and the Preta Path to drain a Konoha ninja's Chakra as Minato positioned his forces to create an opening.
• Might Guy opened the Sixth Gate and charged Nagato, while Nagato's Wind Release cut down more than ten Konoha ninjas.
• Might Guy struck Nagato with Morning Peacock, piercing his absorption barrier and sending him flying into a trench.
• Nagato unleashed Shinra Tensei, blasting away the Konoha ninjas around him, but Might Guy endured the force and Minato teleported past it.
• Minato threw a marked Kunai at Nagato and began forming hand seals.

Minato and Might Guy fought Nagato, who used summons, hidden attacks, and powerful techniques to injure them while Minato spent chakra evading him. Nagato’s real target was revealed to be Kushina as she arrived with reinforcements, while Ye Zi watched from outside Konoha.

• Minato spread Kunai across the battlefield with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, then teleported near Nagato while Might Guy charged him.
• Nagato used a hidden chameleon to ambush Minato and Banshō Ten'in to pull him into range, but Minato and Might Guy coordinated an attack that injured Nagato and left both of them wounded.
• Nagato countered with Lightning Release and continued targeting Might Guy, forcing Minato to spend more chakra teleporting them to safety.
• Itachi, Shisui, Tsunade, and Anbu arrived beside Minato and Might Guy, followed by Kushina.
• Nagato identified Kushina as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and revealed that she was his real target, while White Zetsu and Ye Zi observed from outside Konoha.

Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path before Konoha’s defenders, revealing that he intended to capture Kushina and the Nine-Tails. As Nagato prepared to use the statue, the Nine-Tails realized that the other eight Tailed Beasts had already been captured, while Ye Zi, White Zetsu, and Black Zetsu watched from outside the village.

• Tsunade treated Minato and Might Guy as Kushina and the arriving Konoha ninja gathered to protect her from Nagato.
• Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, whose immense Chakra stunned the Konoha defenders.
• The Nine-Tails sensed the other eight Tailed Beasts’ Chakra within the statue and realized it was Nagato’s target.
• Nagato stood atop the statue and prepared to use its power to capture the Nine-Tails and complete his plan.
• Ye Zi, White Zetsu, and Black Zetsu watched Nagato’s actions from outside the village.

Nagato used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to threaten Konoha and force Kushina to choose between fleeing and staying. Kushina refused to leave, activated Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode, and sent her Adamantine Sealing Chains after Nagato’s spirit dragons.

• Nagato impaled himself with black rods to channel his life force into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and unleashed a massive surge of Chakra.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu used the Earth Mayfly Technique to enter Konoha while the village was distracted.
• Minato urged Kushina to flee, but Nagato released nine Chakra dragons that tore the souls from dozens of Konoha ninja.
• Nagato made Kushina choose between leaving and watching him slaughter Konoha’s ninja, and Kushina firmly refused to leave.
• Kushina activated Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode and launched her Adamantine Sealing Chains at the nine Dragon Spirit Bodies as Shisui and Itachi released their Chakra.

Nagato used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and its Dragon Spirit Bodies to attack Konoha, while Kushina, Itachi, and Shisui tried to stop him. The chapter ended with Nagato unleashing a devastating Shinra Tensei that blasted nearly everyone across Konoha away and reduced the village to ruins.

• Kushina sent her Adamantine Sealing Chains after a Dragon Spirit Body, but Nagato's chains intercepted them and began dragging her toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Itachi and Shisui summoned their Susanoo and charged the statue; Itachi's Totsuka Blade absorbed a Dragon Spirit Body.
• Shisui advanced toward Nagato while Itachi dealt with the Dragon Spirit Body, and Nagato continued targeting Kushina with his chains.
• Nagato recalled the Dragon Spirit Body and unleashed Shinra Tensei at full force, crushing Shisui's spear and blasting the Konoha ninja, Minato, and others away.
• Shinra Tensei swept through Konoha, destroying houses and leaving the village in ruins while Kushina remained restrained by the statue's chains.

Nagato’s Shinra Tensei devastated most of Konoha, leaving Kushina furious and struggling against the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path’s chains. As she neared capture, the Nine-Tails offered to cooperate, and Kushina accepted with a smile.

• Nagato unleashed a powerful Shinra Tensei that destroyed four-fifths of Konoha, then suffered severe aftereffects from the technique.
• Nagato’s chains dragged Kushina toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path while she raged over the destruction of the village.
• Minato rallied the Konoha ninja who could still fight, and Tsunade released all of her Chakra as survivors advanced toward Nagato and Kushina.
• Kushina realized she could not break free from the statue’s chains, and the Nine-Tails offered to cooperate.
• Kushina accepted the Nine-Tails’ offer, smiling as their consciousnesses connected.

Kushina accepted Kurama’s power and entered Nine-Tails Mode, stopping Nagato from dragging her toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Nagato realized he would have to pay an even greater price to overcome her.

• Kurama gave Kushina the key to his seal, and she opened his prison so he could step out.
• Kurama told Kushina that the other tailed beasts were inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and warned that he could not be pulled inside.
• Nagato’s chains dragged Kushina closer to the statue while White Zetsu and Black Zetsu watched from hiding.
• Kushina’s golden Chakra surged into a new cloak, and Nine-Tails Mode halted the chains’ pull.
• Kurama warned Kushina that the mode would not last long, while Nagato decided to pay an even greater price.

Nagato nearly captured Kushina with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but Minato rescued her with the Flying Thunder God Technique. As Kushina and Minato prepared to counterattack, Ye Zi killed a squad of Konoha ninja on the way to support them, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Nagato sacrificed more of his life force to strengthen the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and drag Kushina toward it.
• Minato teleported in, rescued Kushina, and moved her a kilometer away, causing the statue's chains to retract.
• Kushina and Minato coordinated an attack using Adamantine Sealing Chains and technique-marked Kunai as Minato charged Nagato.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu emerged near a ten-man Konoha squad, and Ye Zi killed all ten with earthen spikes.
• Ye Zi sensed powerful Chakra at Kushina's location and at the edge of Konoha Village, then watched Kushina's battle from afar.

Minato and Kushina fought Nagato, but he trapped them inside Chibaku Tensei before Minato could save them. Ye Zi approached the exhausted Nagato as the Dragon Spirit Body entered the stone sphere to reach Kushina, leaving the outcome—and the next battle—undecided.

• Nagato used Chibaku Tensei to pull Kushina and Minato into a growing stone sphere, despite Minato's attempt to move Kushina out of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's chains.
• Kushina and Minato were buried inside the sphere, while Nagato prepared to use the Dragon Spirit Body to absorb the Nine-Tails' Chakra.
• Ye Zi and White Zetsu walked toward the battlefield as Nagato's strength dwindled.
• The Dragon Spirit Body entered the stone sphere and headed for Kushina, setting up a decisive confrontation between Nagato and Ye Zi or Konoha.

Kushina broke free from Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei in a controlled Nine-Tails transformation, leaving Nagato defeated and powerless. Ye Zi killed Nagato and prepared to take the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while Kushina learned that he might eventually kill her because she was a Jinchuriki.

• Kushina sealed the Dragon Spirit Body’s approach with a surge of Chakra and transformed into the controlled Nine-Tails, breaking free of the Chibaku Tensei with Minato unharmed.
• Ye Zi approached Nagato, weighed whether to attack Kushina or retreat with Nagato and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and chose to seize Nagato.
• Ye Zi crushed Nagato’s neck in front of Kushina and Minato, then absorbed Nagato’s body into the space inside his palm.
• Minato accused Ye Zi of seeking the tailed beasts and vowed to protect Kushina, while Kushina asked whether Ye Zi intended to kill her.
• Ye Zi told Kushina that he might kill her one day, and she realized he was targeting her because she was a Jinchuriki.
• Ye Zi placed his hand on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, intending to absorb it and escape with it.

Ye Zi absorbed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and returned to his base, where he ordered Orochimaru and Nanako to expand the clone army. He refused to explain how he would revive Madara, prompting Black Zetsu and White Zetsu to suspect that Ye Zi was straying from their plan while Black Zetsu resolved to force the outcome in his favor.

• Ye Zi absorbed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and left Konoha with the Mayfly Technique, while Kushina and Minato stayed behind to treat Tsunade, aid the wounded, and assess the village’s destruction.
• Five days later, Ye Zi brought the statue to his base and ordered Orochimaru and Nanako to use it to cultivate more clones and produce matching strengthening potions.
• Black Zetsu demanded to know how Ye Zi planned to revive Madara, and Ye Zi said he would decide the plan’s direction and ordered the Zetsus to gather intelligence.
• After leaving the base, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu agreed that Ye Zi might not cooperate, and Black Zetsu resolved that Madara would be revived whether Ye Zi agreed or not.

Ye Zi obtained Nagato’s Rinnegan and planned how to use it, arrange Kotoha’s revival, and control Uchiha Jin if necessary. She began reincarnating Nagato, but had not yet sealed him in a coffin.

• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu discussed Ye Zi’s efforts and the intelligence gathering that could help their plan succeed.
• Ye Zi removed Nagato’s Rinnegan, saved a sample of his flesh for Impure World Reincarnation, and sealed his corpse in a scroll.
• Ye Zi decided to implant one Rinnegan herself and give the other to Uchiha Jin, whom she intended to make revive Kotoha with the Outer Path—Reanimation Technique.
• Ye Zi planned to seal genjutsu inside her left Mangekyo and use it to control Uchiha Jin, then considered replenishing Gotenjin’s genjutsu energy.
• Ye Zi prepared a clone as a sacrifice and used Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to transform it into Nagato.

Ye Zi tested Nagato’s abilities after reviving him with Impure World Reincarnation, then set out for Amegakure to kill Konan. In Konoha, Minato and the returned Ino-Shika-Cho discussed the village’s destruction and planned to use Minato’s Flying Thunder God mark to gather intelligence on Akatsuki.

• Ye Zi tested Nagato’s Reanimation Technique, then confirmed he could use the Rinnegan abilities Banshō Ten'in and Shinra Tensei.
• Ye Zi sealed Nagato in a coffin and left alone for Amegakure, intending to kill Konan.
• Ino-Shika-Cho returned to Konoha and saw that much of the village had been reduced to barren land and ruins.
• Minato explained that Akatsuki had attacked Konoha for Kushina, and Lujiu recognized that Minato had marked the captured puppet with Flying Thunder God.
• Lujiu urged Minato to help gather intelligence before the allied villages’ meeting, despite the risk.

Minato and Konoha’s leaders arranged a five-village mobilization against Ye Zi while Minato prepared to retrieve the Akatsuki woman for intelligence. Before leaving for the Land of Rain, Minato told Kushina she could not join the campaign because she still could not treat Ye Zi as an enemy, and he insisted that Ye Zi had to die.

• Lujiu proposed that Minato use the Flying Thunder God mark to capture the woman with paper wings and obtain intelligence from her.
• Minato set a meeting in Konoha for seven days later and agreed that the villages should prepare to attack while he sought the woman in the Land of Rain.
• The Third Hokage and Lujiu put village rebuilding on hold and tasked themselves with organizing the allied forces.
• Minato visited Kushina and asked her to regard Ye Zi as a true enemy before the five-village campaign.
• Minato barred Kushina from participating because she could not let go of Ye Zi, and he answered that Ye Zi had to die.

Ye Zi found Konan in Amegakure beside Yahiko’s coffin and told her that he had killed Nagato. As Konan grieved and confronted him, Ye Zi drew his blade, leaving their conflict about to begin.

• Minato left the village for a crucial mission after failing to get the answer he wanted.
• Konan brought Yahiko’s corpse to Amegakure and waited at his funeral, still hoping Nagato would return.
• Ye Zi overcame Nagato’s barrier and found Konan beside Yahiko’s coffin.
• Konan asked about Nagato, and Ye Zi told her he was dead and described killing him.
• Konan unfolded her wings and confronted Ye Zi, who called her a loser and drew his blade.