Chapter Summaries

Ye Zi attacked Konan in Yahiko’s resting place, surviving her explosive traps and pressing her with lightning-fast strikes. Just as he moved in to kill her, an unknown figure suddenly appeared.

• Konan used Explosive Tags to blast Ye Zi inside a wooden shelter, then wrapped Yahiko’s body and coffin in paper and sank them beneath the sea of paper flowers.
• Ye Zi emerged unharmed, intercepted Konan as she tried to escape, and severed half of her wing before she dodged his lightning-wreathed Shuriken.
• Ye Zi pursued Konan and split her body in two, but she turned into paper; more than a hundred Explosive Tags then detonated around him.
• Konan spotted Ye Zi bursting from the smoke and attacked with hundreds of Paper Shuriken, but he endured the barrage and closed in with his blade.
• As Ye Zi moved to strike Konan, someone suddenly appeared without warning.

Minato rescued Konan from Ye Zi and brought her toward the Land of Fire, hoping to learn what she knew. After Minato confirmed Nagato was dead, Konan grieved the loss of her closest companions.

• Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to rescue Konan from Ye Zi and escape beyond Ye Zi's Sage Mode perception.
• Ye Zi realized Konan's knowledge could reach Konoha and left Amegakure, deciding to see whether Akatsuki's core members would help him.
• Konan agreed to travel with Minato so she could seek a chance to avenge Nagato and Yahiko.
• Minato and Konan left the Land of Rain and reached the border of the Land of Fire a day later.
• Konan asked whether Nagato was dead, and Minato confirmed that he was.
• Konan wept as she remembered losing her family, Yahiko, and Nagato, saying they had only wanted a peaceful world without war.

Minato questioned the grieving Konan after rescuing her, learning that the Akatsuki planned to use the Ten-Tails to force peace and that Ye Zi had driven the plan forward for different ends. Minato concluded that Ye Zi intended to control the Ten-Tails and prepared to take Konan back to Konoha for questioning.

• Minato told Konan that her grief did not excuse the deaths caused by her actions, and admitted he had rescued her to obtain intelligence.
• Konan agreed to share everything she knew because she wanted revenge on Ye Zi, who had killed Nagato.
• Konan explained that the Akatsuki intended to seal all the Tailed Beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and restore the Ten-Tails as a weapon to force the villages to submit.
• Konan confirmed that controlling the Ten-Tails required the Rinnegan and said Ye Zi had helped bring the plan about, though his objectives differed from theirs.
• Minato suspected Ye Zi planned to control the Ten-Tails and told Konan to rest before they returned to Konoha.

After losing Konan to Minato, Ye Zi recruited Kisame and Scorpion and returned to the base to review preparations for his coming battle. With forty thousand clones ready but potions for only thirty thousand, he committed to proceeding rather than waiting for a safer plan.

• Minato rescued Konan, and Ye Zi abandoned the pursuit and offered Kakuzu, Juzo, Kisame, and Scorpion a place in his plans; Kisame and Scorpion accepted.
• Ye Zi left Amegakure with Kisame and Scorpion, who said they joined for battle and for access to Konoha's powerful people as materials.
• Five days later, Ye Zi reached the base and learned from Orochimaru that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had produced roughly forty thousand clones, with about two thousand five hundred more made each day.
• Orochimaru warned that the laboratory could produce potions for only about thirty thousand clones and urged Ye Zi to wait for a safer solution.
• Ye Zi insisted the risky plan was worth it and left Orochimaru, resolved not to repeat Nagato's failure.

Ye Zi replenished Gotenjin's genjutsu energy by having the Snake Team and then Impure World Reincarnation bodies use genjutsu on him. After a week, the energy was full, leaving him ready to transplant the Rinnegan and continue preparing to capture the Nine-Tails.

• Ye Zi gathered twenty-six Snake Team members skilled in genjutsu and ordered them to use genjutsu on him until their Chakra ran out.
• The Snake Team members exhausted themselves attacking Ye Zi, but their genjutsu restored less than one-tenth of Gotenjin's energy.
• Ye Zi returned to his room and had ten Impure World Reincarnation Uchiha use genjutsu on him without rest.
• After a week of nonstop genjutsu, Ye Zi fully replenished Gotenjin's energy and prepared to proceed with his planned eye transplants.

Ye Zi transplanted the Rinnegan and tested its powers before telling Uchiha Jin that the Reanimation Technique could revive Kotoha at the cost of the user's life. He offered Jin the chance to use it, leaving Jin to weigh the sacrifice.

• Ye Zi removed his Mangekyo eye, transplanted the Rinnegan, and tested its chakra effects and abilities.
• Ye Zi struggled to control Banshō Ten'in, wrecked a wooden bed, then replaced it with Wood Release.
• Ye Zi visited Uchiha Jin late at night and said he wanted to revive Kotoha.
• Ye Zi explained that the Reanimation Technique required the Rinnegan and would revive the dead by consuming the user's life.
• Uchiha Jin realized Ye Zi was offering him the Rinnegan and fell silent as he considered the choice.

Ye Zi offered Uchiha Jin the Rinnegan and asked him to give up his life to revive Kotoha; Jin accepted after questioning why Ye Zi could not do it himself. With the five ninja villages united for the coming battle, Ye Zi sealed Kotoha in a coffin to keep her from joining the fight, then faced the conflict ahead.

• Ye Zi asked Uchiha Jin to sacrifice his life to revive Kotoha, and Jin hesitated over the choice.
• Uchiha Jin asked why Ye Zi could not sacrifice himself and what Ye Zi would do if he refused; Ye Zi said he could not do it himself and would use every means necessary if Jin refused.
• Uchiha Jin agreed to give his life so Kotoha could be happy, and Ye Zi handed him the Rinnegan.
• The next day, Nanako helped implant the Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan in Uchiha Jin.
• White Zetsu reported that the five ninja villages had united, and Ye Zi prepared his group for battle.
• Kotoha insisted on joining the battle, but Ye Zi suppressed her consciousness, placed her in a coffin, and sealed her underground.

Ye Zi dismissed the threat posed by the Five Great Ninja Villages and continued preparing his forces while sending White Zetsu to gather information. The Allied Forces assembled in the ruined Konoha to plan their campaign against Ye Zi, and the chapter left the village leaders gathered to coordinate their response.

• White Zetsu reported that the Five Great Ninja Villages had united, and Ye Zi ordered him to infiltrate their forces while preparing roughly seventy thousand enhanced clones and Impure World Reincarnation fighters.
• White Zetsu traveled toward the Land of Fire as Black Zetsu worried that Ye Zi was slipping beyond his control.
• The Five Great Ninja Villages redirected their gathering from Amegakure and Akatsuki to a campaign targeting Ye Zi, whom they branded a public enemy.
• The Allied Forces assembled in devastated Konoha, where the villages set up separate camps and prepared to combine their fighters into specialized teams.
• Pakura surveyed the ruined village and feared that Akatsuki and Ye Zi might bring the same devastation to Sunagakure.
• The leaders of the Five Great Ninja Villages gathered in a guarded house below Hokage Rock to discuss the battle against Ye Zi.

The Five Kage and their representatives gathered to plan the Allied Forces’ battle against Ye Zi, but old grievances sparked a heated dispute. Minato defended Konan’s place as Amegakure’s representative and urged the alliance to focus on the battle that would decide the shinobi world’s future.

• Ōnoki and A blamed Konoha for letting Ye Zi’s threat grow, while the other villages’ representatives recalled the devastating losses Ye Zi had inflicted on them.
• Ōnoki and A’s accusations derailed the team-allocation discussion as Minato silently endured their anger.
• A challenged Konan’s right to attend, and Minato explained that she represented Amegakure and could command its forces.
• A dismissed Amegakure as a small village, so Minato stood and urged him to focus on winning the battle that concerned the future of the shinobi world.

The five great ninja villages agreed on a command structure for their alliance against Ye Zi and began selecting unit leaders. The chapter left the Kage reviewing candidates, with Tsunade unanimously chosen to lead the medical force and Ōnoki reflecting on how Ye Zi’s defection had weakened Konoha.

• Konan chose to use Amegakure’s strength to help Konoha kill Ye Zi after sharing the intelligence she knew.
• Minato proposed dividing the allied forces into assault, logistics, and mobility units, and the Kage accepted the conventional structure despite concerns about coordination.
• Minato distributed Konoha’s personnel files, and the other villages supplied their own candidates for the Kage to review.
• Ōnoki, Rasa, and A unanimously agreed that Tsunade should lead the medical force.
• Ōnoki considered how powerful Konoha might have become if Ye Zi had not defected, and wondered whether he should be grateful for the defection.

The Allied Forces organized their commanders and prepared to mobilize against Ye Zi, while Kakashi and Might Guy agreed to compete to defeat their former teacher. Just before the army set out, the barrier team reported an intruder.

• Might Guy invited Kakashi to compete to reach Ye Zi, and Kakashi changed the challenge to a contest to defeat him.
• An Anbu summoned Kakashi, who learned that he had been appointed captain of the close-combat force.
• The assembled leaders assigned captains to the logistics and medical, intelligence and communications, sensory, special, close-combat, mid-range, long-range, and surprise-attack forces.
• Harusame was appointed captain of the sealing unit, while Kushina remained in the rear under protection.
• The Allied Forces began preparing to mobilize, and the barrier team reported an intruder just before they were ready to set out.

Ye Zi prepared his forces and launched his campaign against Konoha, determined to complete his plan at any cost. As he left the base, Nanako sensed she might never see him again, while Ye Zi left guards behind to protect her.

• White Zetsu failed to infiltrate Konoha and returned to report that the Allied Forces had discovered him.
• Ye Zi and Orochimaru discussed the fifty selected Impure World Reincarnation bodies, reaffirmed their trust, and recalled the promise Orochimaru had made.
• After White Zetsu returned, Ye Zi assembled his clone army, Impure World Reincarnation forces, and Snake Team members to attack Konoha.
• Ye Zi asked the Snake Team whether they feared the coming battle, and they answered that they were ready to fight for him.
• Nanako watched Ye Zi depart with a foreboding feeling, while Ye Zi left ten people at the base to protect her.

The Allied Forces advanced into the Land of Fire to confront Ye Zi, while their leaders tried to understand why he appeared to be alone. At Sunset Hill Forest, Ye Zi faced the First Division and confirmed that White Zetsu’s forces were in position, setting the stage for the battle.

• The Allied Forces organized their divisions and communications network as they marched toward the enemy, with Kakashi leading the First Division and Konan leading the aerial surprise-attack force.
• Inoichi Yamanaka reported that the reconnaissance team had found only Ye Zi near Sunset Hill Forest, prompting Minato to order the First Division to stay alert and avoid acting rashly.
• The First Division reached Sunset Hill Forest and halted before Ye Zi, while Kakashi and Might Guy watched him cautiously.
• Ye Zi drew Blood and declared that he would succeed, then White Zetsu emerged and told him their forces were in position.

Ye Zi and his allies attacked the Allied Forces’ vanguard while White Zetsu reported that Kushina was absent and the other divisions had been intercepted. As Ye Zi charged into battle, Kimimaro and the Impure World Reincarnation fighters engaged the enemy, and Hatake Sakumo appeared to face Kakashi.

• Ye Zi learned that White Zetsu had not found Kushina and left Nagato, controlled by Orochimaru, to fight the vanguard while he searched for her elsewhere.
• Kimimaro caught up with Ye Zi and agreed to help hold back the Allied Forces alongside the Impure World Reincarnation fighters.
• Orochimaru summoned eighteen Impure World Reincarnation bodies as the First Division learned that three other divisions had been intercepted by a huge White Zetsu army.
• Ye Zi charged at the Allied Forces without using Sage Mode or Lightning Release Armor, and Kimimaro intercepted Might Guy after Guy opened the Sixth Gate.
• Hatake Sakumo blocked Kakashi’s attack and asked his son if he was all right.

Uchiha Madara broke free of Orochimaru’s control after being revived in an aged body, then absorbed White Zetsu’s clone to regain a younger appearance. Meanwhile, Ye Zi charged into the Allied Forces as her clones erupted from the ground, and Madara watched the other reincarnated figures awaken.

• Uchiha Madara released the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and escaped Orochimaru’s control while remaining in his aged body.
• White Zetsu’s clone told Uchiha Madara that Orochimaru was controlling the reincarnated bodies and that his main body was with Ye Zi.
• Uchiha Madara absorbed White Zetsu’s clone with the Rinnegan, changing his appearance to his younger years without restoring his depleted Chakra.
• Orochimaru realized Uchiha Madara had broken free and decided to wait until Ye Zi released the remaining reincarnated bodies before informing her.
• Kimimaro and Hatake Sakumo blocked Might Guy and Kakashi as Ye Zi charged toward the Allied Forces.
• Pale clones burst from the ground among the Allied Forces, throwing the shinobi into chaos as they attacked Ye Zi.

Ye Zi used his exceptional vision and swordsmanship to tear through the Cloud ninja formation, killing enemies with precise counters and rapid attacks. He continued advancing through the battlefield, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

• Ye Zi dodged three Cloud ninjas' coordinated sword thrusts and killed them with a single sweep of his blade.
• Ye Zi read a wave of attacks in advance, turning the enemies' strikes against one another and killing the attackers around him.
• Ye Zi skewered six incoming Shuriken on his blade and flung them into six approaching ninjas.
• Ye Zi hurled his sword through five ninjas and struck down the Shuriken user with its remaining force.
• Ye Zi pulled his bloodied sword free and continued charging through the enemy formation.

Ye Zi cut through nearly ten thousand enemies while his clone army fought the Allied Forces, and Orochimaru’s eighteen Impure World Reincarnation bodies emerged to join the battle. Hashirama realized Orochimaru was suppressing him and began searching for a chance to break free as the reincarnated fighters attacked the First Division.

• Ye Zi crossed the battlefield, killing hundreds with taijutsu and swordsmanship while the clone army held the Allied Forces in place.
• The Seven Ninja Swordsmen and legendary Kage, including Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, emerged from eighteen coffins.
• The First Division suppressed the clone army, while Orochimaru kept control of the reincarnated fighters and watched Hashirama closely.
• Hashirama and Madara recognized each other, and Hashirama realized Madara had broken free of the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Orochimaru’s controlled reincarnated fighters attacked the First Division, while Hashirama searched for an opening to escape his control.

Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation forces devastated the Allied Forces’ First Division with powerful area attacks. Meanwhile, Might Guy and Kimimaro continued their fierce duel, ending with Kimimaro’s bone forest surrounding Guy after Guy shattered the nearby spikes.

• Hashirama, Mu, Hozuki Gengetsu, the Third Kazekage, and Hanzo attacked the First Division, killing hundreds of shinobi and turning the battle in Orochimaru’s favor.
• Might Guy fought Kimimaro with the Sixth Gate open, while Kimimaro relied on his Sharingan and Shikotsumyaku to withstand Guy’s attacks.
• Kimimaro resolved to clear an obstacle for Ye Zi and unleashed Dance of the Dead Fern, raising a forest of bone spikes across a kilometer.
• Might Guy dodged the rising bones and used Morning Peacock to smash the spikes around him before landing inside the bone forest.

Kimimaro sacrificed his life to unleash his final attack on Might Guy, hoping to remove a powerful enemy from Ye Zi’s path. As the bone pillars swallowed Might Guy, Ye Zi heard the battle behind him and continued toward the fighting ahead with a sense of loss.

• Kimimaro repeatedly ambushed Might Guy from within the bone forest, but Might Guy dodged his attacks and destroyed the bone pillars.
• Exhausted and unable to harm Might Guy, Kimimaro announced his final move and poured his remaining Chakra and life force into the ground.
• Kimimaro vanished into the earth, and more than a thousand bone pillars surged toward Might Guy from every direction.
• Might Guy opened the Seventh Gate as the bone pillars crashed down and engulfed him in smoke and bone powder.
• Ye Zi heard the battle behind him, looked back at the drifting bone ash, then continued toward the distant clash between the Allied Forces and the clone army.

Kimimaro spent his life force on a final attack against Might Guy, while Ye Zi left without seeing the bone flower his death created. Kakashi fought his father Hatake Sakumo and, as he struggled to find his own path, was driven back under Sakumo’s relentless attacks.

• Kimimaro unleashed his final Dance of the Dead Fern against Might Guy, and his shattered bones formed a brief flower of white dust as his consciousness faded.
• Ye Zi turned away before the bone flower bloomed, while Kakashi glanced toward Might Guy and nearly lost his life to Hatake Sakumo’s slash.
• Hatake Sakumo gained the upper hand against Kakashi and pointed out that Kakashi had not yet found a swordsmanship path of his own.
• Kakashi forced Sakumo’s blade aside and rushed into close range, but Sakumo cut through his forehead protector and kicked him away.
• Hatake Sakumo pressed his attack as Kakashi rose, leaving Kakashi to face him while wondering about his own path.