Chapter Summaries

Mei Terumi learned that Yagura had been controlled by a masked man using Sharingan Genjutsu, while the Hozuki Clan had knowingly helped conceal the truth and seize control of Kirigakure. Imprisoned and weakened, she tried to escape but found that her chakra and the prison chains made it impossible.

• Ao explained that his Byakugan had detected the masked man's chakra controlling Yagura, and Mei Terumi accepted that the Fourth Mizukage had been manipulated.
• Mei Terumi realized the Hozuki Clan had known about Yagura's control and had used the coup to take control of Kirigakure.
• Mei Terumi feared that her capture would prompt the Terumi Clan to fight the Hozuki Clan, while Ao warned that their chances of survival were poor whichever side won.
• Mei Terumi tried to stand and escape, but a secret drug had weakened her body and restricted her chakra.
• Mei Terumi used Lava Style to corrode her ankle shackles, but the prison chains resisted her chakra and left her with no reliable way to escape.

Trapped in prison, Mei Terumi decided to attempt fusing water, fire, and earth chakra natures to create a stronger release and escape her chains. Meanwhile, the Hoshigaki and Terumi factions launched a war against the Hozuki Clan, turning much of Kirigakure into a battlefield.

• Ao told Mei Terumi that she could not break the Iron Chains without dramatically increasing Lava Release's corrosive power, and Mei chose to attempt Kekkei Tōta fusion.
• Mei asked Ao to stand guard as she began combining water, fire, and earth chakra natures.
• The Hoshigaki Clan agreed to join the Terumi Clan in war against the Hozuki faction and the Mizukage's direct forces.
• At midnight, Hoshigaki and Terumi forces attacked the Hozuki Clan's base, where Hozuki Masamune's troops ambushed them outside the compound.
• The fighting spread across nearly half of Kirigakure, killing civilians and forcing neutral shinobi to fight for survival.

The Hozuki Clan’s defense faltered under attacks from Terumi and Kaki, so Hozuki Masamune requested help from the Mizukage. Tobi planned to prolong the civil war and search for Qi Shuang, while spies reported Kirigakure’s unrest to other villages.

• Hozuki Masamune sent a messenger to ask Yagura to dispatch troops and quell the fighting.
• Tobi told the messenger that reinforcements would come, but explained to Black Zetsu that he intended to prolong the war and exhaust Kirigakure.
• Tobi ordered White Half-Body to monitor Kirigakure and report any unfamiliar Ice Release shinobi, hoping to find Qi Shuang.
• Tobi used his right eye’s Void Vortex to leave with Yagura, and Black Zetsu sank into the floor.
• Spies from the other four villages sent reports about Kirigakure, while Ōnoki scolded his son Kitsuchi for calling him father.

Ōnoki and Konoha’s leaders chose to stay out of Kirigakure’s civil war while watching Kumogakure, but Danzo secretly ordered Konoha’s spies to unleash the Six-Tails. The spies began preparing to carry out his plan, leaving Kirigakure’s battlefield on the verge of a new crisis.

• Ōnoki told Kitsuchi that Iwagakure would avoid the conflict but might make a show of force if Kumogakure attacked Kirigakure, since Kirigakure’s survival would help restrain Kumogakure.
• Konoha’s leaders decided to stay out of Kirigakure’s civil war and monitor Kumogakure, hoping to exploit any opportunity against it.
• Danzo ordered Konoha’s spies in Kirigakure to release the Six-Tails, arguing that weakening Kirigakure would serve Konoha’s interests.
• Konoha’s spies in Kirigakure received Danzo’s order and began preparing to release the Six-Tails.

Kumogakure sent a small force to attack Kirigakure, while Tobi’s delayed reinforcements helped the Hozuki Clan repel Kaki Terumi’s forces. As the civil war drove most residents from the village and strengthened the Hozuki Clan, Mei Terumi continued experimenting with chakra fusion in prison, where her final attempt began to change.

• Fourth Raikage A compromised by keeping most of Kumogakure’s troops home and sending a small force to attack Kirigakure.
• Tobi’s Hidden Mist Direct Command broke through Kaki Terumi’s interception, forcing Kaki Terumi’s exhausted forces to withdraw from their attack on the Hozuki Clan at dawn.
• Hozuki Masamune questioned Tobi about the late reinforcements and the prison, then left to prepare for further battles.
• Kirigakure residents and scattered Mist Ninjas fled the devastated village, while many Mist Ninjas joined the Hozuki Clan and the Kaki and Terumi Clans contracted their defenses.
• Mei Terumi repeatedly attempted chakra fusion in prison despite her injuries and exhaustion, and the three chakra wisps in her palm began to change.

Mei Terumi created a new Kekkei Tōta that fused three chakra strands into corrosive gray-white mist, then used it to free herself and Ao from their chains. With fighting underway outside and the Terumi Clan in danger, they prepared to escape the dungeon, leaving the other prisoners behind.

• Mei Terumi fused three chakra strands into gray-white mist, but collapsed from mental exhaustion before she could explain her success to Ao.
• After waking, Mei Terumi repeatedly failed to recreate the new Ninjutsu before successfully producing the corrosive mist again.
• Mei Terumi used the mist to melt through her chains and began freeing Ao despite pain from her broken shoulder blade.
• Mei Terumi refused to rescue the other prisoners because her chakra was limited, she was injured, and they needed to escape quickly to expose the Fourth's manipulation.
• Ao told Mei Terumi that his suppressed chakra would let him maintain the Byakugan for only about ten seconds at a time.

Mei Terumi and Ao escaped the prison but were caught by searching guards before they could leave the cordoned area. Two Hidden Mist Anbu intervened, and Mei and Ao followed the tall ninja through the fog.

• Mei Terumi and Ao slipped out of the prison, but Black Zetsu learned of their escape and told Tobi that they were the fugitives.
• Tobi opened a Void Vortex and entered it after discovering that Mei Terumi and Ao had escaped.
• Mei Terumi and Ao evaded the guards with Ao's Byakugan, but their injuries and sealed chakra slowed them until guards surrounded them.
• A Hidden Mist Anbu used the Hidden Mist Technique to conceal Mei Terumi and Ao from the guards.
• Two masked Hidden Mist Anbu fought through the encirclement, and Mei Terumi and Ao followed the tall ninja while the shorter one covered their retreat with senbon.

Tobi let Mei Terumi and her companions escape so he could expose Yagura’s control and intensify the Mist’s civil war, while vowing to torment his enemy by killing friends one at a time. Mei Terumi’s group found shelter with Zabuza and Haku, and Zabuza revealed that he had rescued them only because it was convenient.

• Mei Terumi and her companions broke through the encirclement and fled toward the Terumi Clan’s territory.
• Tobi decided to let the escapees go, planning to reveal that he controlled Yagura and to prolong the war between the Mist clans.
• Mei Terumi and Ao collapsed from exhaustion and took shelter in a ruined residential building with the two Mist ANBU.
• Mei Terumi recognized Zabuza and Haku, and Ao praised Zabuza for finding a talented young companion.
• Mei Terumi teased Zabuza about rescuing his former companions, but Zabuza said he had saved them only because it was convenient.

Zabuza explained how the Anbu had collapsed after the Hozuki Clan's coup and Fuguki's death, then joined Mei Terumi, Ao, and Haku as they fled toward the Terumi Clan's base. Ao revealed that the Fourth Mizukage had been controlled by Genjutsu, but Tobi caught up with them, and Ao prepared to stay behind so Mei could escape.

• Zabuza told Mei Terumi that Fuguki's death had left the Anbu paralyzed and that he had been assigned to prison duty before helping her escape.
• Mei Terumi led Zabuza, Haku, and Ao toward the Terumi Clan's base, while Ao urged Zabuza to join Mei's faction.
• Zabuza chose to remain with the Anbu, but Ao revealed that the Fourth Mizukage was under Genjutsu and someone else was exercising his authority.
• Tobi appeared through a Void Vortex, and Ao identified him as the man who had controlled the Fourth and whom they had encountered before.
• Tobi caught up with the group and blocked their path, so Mei told Zabuza and Haku to flee while Ao offered to hold Tobi back.

Zabuza stayed behind to fight Tobi while Haku carried Mei Terumi away and Ao fled separately. Zabuza wounded Tobi and damaged his mask, but Tobi escaped underground and the two launched opposing Water and Fire Release attacks.

• Zabuza ordered Haku to take Mei Terumi and leave, while Ao chose to flee on his own so he would not burden them.
• Tobi let them escape because he planned to leave Mei Terumi until last, and Zabuza confronted him over their old grudge.
• Zabuza attacked with a swift draw slash, but Tobi used Phasing to avoid it and countered with a wooden spike.
• Tobi tried to use Sharingan Genjutsu, but Zabuza had his eyes closed and located him by sound, slicing away much of his mask and wounding him.
• Tobi sank underground to escape Zabuza's close-range pursuit, then emerged nearby as Zabuza attacked with a Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
• Tobi countered with a Fire Dragon Technique, sending a scarlet fire dragon toward Zabuza's water dragon.

Tobi lost an arm in his close-range clash with Zabuza, while Haku and Mei Terumi reunited with Terumi Clan ninja and sent them to support the fight. Zetsu targeted the exhausted Ao, who remained unaware as Zetsu crept up behind him.

• Tobi tried to strike Zabuza as he became tangible, but Zabuza reversed his blade and severed Tobi's right arm.
• Tobi phased into the ground to escape, and Zabuza found him and charged again.
• Haku carried Mei Terumi toward the Terumi Clan and met a group of Mist ninja who had come to help her.
• Mei Terumi sent Haku and most of the Mist ninja to support Zabuza and Ao while the rest escorted her to safety.
• Zetsu decided to kill Ao for his Byakugan and silently approached as Ao rested, exhausted and unaware.

Tobi retreated after Zabuza cut off his arm, while Black Zetsu revealed that he had killed Ao. Zabuza’s reinforcements arrived, and he discovered Ao’s headless corpse as another young shinobi descended onto the main island.

• Tobi escaped Zabuza’s attacks by phasing underground, and Black Zetsu emerged beside him.
• Black Zetsu showed Tobi Ao’s head, and Tobi accepted that his death fulfilled his desire for revenge.
• Tobi and Black Zetsu withdrew when Zabuza’s reinforcements approached.
• Haku reunited with Zabuza and explained that he had entrusted Mei Terumi to members of the Terumi clan.
• Haku’s group brought Ao’s headless corpse to Zabuza, who recognized him as his former squad leader.
• A young shinobi descended from the sky over the Land of Water and staggered onto the central main island.

After flying back to the Land of Water, Qi Shuang rested in the forest, killed a bear for food, and continued toward Kirigakure. On the way, he found many injured civilians fleeing and stopped a young man to ask what had happened.

• Qi Shuang reached the Land of Water after flying for roughly two days and set traps around a tree hollow before sleeping.
• A brown bear was caught in his traps, and Qi Shuang killed it with an ice spear using a technique derived from Torrential Rain Ice Kill.
• Qi Shuang roasted the bear meat, used sake to reduce its gamey smell, ate two paws, and left the rest behind before departing.
• A white figure emerged from a tree trunk after Qi Shuang left and smiled at the bear killed by Ice Release.
• Near Kirigakure, Qi Shuang saw injured civilians fleeing with their families and stopped a young man to ask where they were going.

Qi Shuang learned that refugees had fled Kirigakure after a devastating battle, then hurried back toward the village. Tobi heard that a young Ice Release shinobi might be Qi Shuang and set out to intercept him, hoping to find Rin's corpse.

• Qi Shuang frightened a group of refugees by revealing his Kirigakure forehead protector, then questioned a young man who explained that they had escaped a bloody battle in Kirigakure.
• Qi Shuang let the young man go and concluded that the Hōzuki, Terumi, and Kaguya forces had begun a full-scale war.
• Black Zetsu told Tobi that a young Ice Release shinobi had appeared, and Tobi decided to pursue him in case he was Qi Shuang.
• White Zetsu reported that Qi Shuang was moving toward Kirigakure from about one hundred kilometers away, and Tobi used his right eye to travel with Yagura to the village gate.
• Tobi emerged outside Kirigakure and asked a White Zetsu Clone how far away Qi Shuang was.

Qi Shuang confronted Tobi on the road to Kirigakure after Tobi learned that Rin Nohara was sealed in a scroll. Both men refused to negotiate without first testing their strength, and they prepared to fight over Rin and Kirigakure’s future.

• Tobi waited for Qi Shuang to arrive, while Black Zetsu warned him that Qi Shuang might wield Senjutsu and Sage Power.
• Tobi used his right eye to emerge from a Void Vortex beside the road as Qi Shuang approached Kirigakure.
• Qi Shuang and Tobi recognized each other and confirmed that Qi Shuang had Rin Nohara sealed in a scroll.
• Qi Shuang taunted Tobi by refusing to return Rin unless Tobi got on his knees and begged.
• Qi Shuang and Tobi rejected negotiation and prepared to fight, each hoping to defeat the other and achieve his own goal.

Tobi attacked Qi Shuang with Fire Release and Wood Style, but Qi Shuang’s Ice Release: Chakra Mode endured both techniques without harm. As Qi Shuang charged in, Tobi caught him in Sharingan Genjutsu, leaving him standing motionless as the observers expected Tobi to finish him.

• Tobi sent a Fire Dragon Tornado at Qi Shuang, who stood his ground and activated Ice Release: Chakra Mode.
• Tobi ensnared Qi Shuang with Wood Style: Hellish Landscape, but Qi Shuang broke free uninjured.
• Tobi decided to use Sharingan Genjutsu against Qi Shuang’s defenses as Qi Shuang charged at close range.
• Tobi caught Qi Shuang’s gaze and cast Sharingan: Genjutsu, causing Qi Shuang to stop moving as the white radiance around him faded.
• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu watched Qi Shuang stand motionless and expected Tobi to take advantage.

Qi Shuang revealed that his Dragon Heart Seal had automatically broken Tobi’s Sharingan Genjutsu, then attacked him with freezing chakra. Tobi escaped using his right eye’s phasing ability, leaving Qi Shuang holding an ice sculpture of his arm.

• Tobi approached the apparently genjutsu-bound Qi Shuang and reached for the scrolls in his clothes.
• Qi Shuang seized Tobi’s wrist and revealed that his Dragon Heart Seal had disrupted the genjutsu with Natural Energy.
• Qi Shuang explained that he had prepared the seal to activate whenever genjutsu caused abnormal chakra flow in his brain.
• Qi Shuang coated his body in pale-white radiance and sent freezing energy through Tobi’s wrist.
• Tobi phased away from the freezing attack, leaving an ice sculpture of his arm in Qi Shuang’s hand.

Qi Shuang countered Tobi’s Genjutsu and Wood Release with his powerful defenses, then used an ice field to try to catch him off guard. Their abilities left both fighters unable to land a decisive attack, and Tobi realized the ice let Qi Shuang move quickly beneath its surface.

• Black Zetsu concluded that Tobi’s best chance was to trap Qi Shuang in the Sharingan Pocket Dimension, though doing so would be difficult.
• Tobi identified Qi Shuang’s pale-white defensive aura as a technique similar to the Fourth Raikage’s Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• Qi Shuang spread ice across the battlefield and explained that the frozen field would help him deal with Tobi.
• Qi Shuang used Ice Release Body Flicker Technique to attack from behind, but Tobi phased through his punch.
• Tobi reviewed what his Sharingan had seen and realized Qi Shuang had moved through the ice to launch the ambush.

Qi Shuang and Tobi ended their battle without either being able to defeat the other, and Tobi returned to Kirigakure to request reinforcements under the pretext of capturing Tailed Beasts. Qi Shuang continued toward Kirigakure and arrived at its gate.

• Black Zetsu judged that Tobi would retreat rather than risk trapping Qi Shuang in his Sharingan's Pocket Dimension, and Tobi withdrew after promising to face him in Kirigakure.
• Qi Shuang let Tobi escape, kept his Fleeting Bloom technique secret, dispelled the Frozen Domain, and set out for Kirigakure.
• Tobi asked Zetsu to bring two reinforcements to help him deal with Qi Shuang, disguising his request as a plan to capture the Three-Tails and Six-Tails.
• White Zetsu told Tobi that they had located the Six-Tails and discovered Konoha Root spies investigating it; Tobi ordered them to watch the spies without stopping them.
• Qi Shuang reached Kirigakure's dilapidated village gate and said he was back.

Qi Shuang returned to Kirigakure and found the village devastated by civil war before heading to the Terumi Clan base to learn what had happened to Mei Terumi. Clan shinobi mistook him for an enemy and attacked, but his icy defense stopped their blades as they unleashed combined Water and Lightning Release techniques.

• Qi Shuang saw that Kirigakure had been reduced to ruins, with only the Mizukage Building and the bases of the Hōzuki, Karatachi, and Terumi Clans relatively intact.
• Qi Shuang went to the Terumi Clan base to find out what had happened to Mei Terumi, who he believed Tobi had captured.
• Terumi Clan shinobi demanded proof of Qi Shuang's identity, then attacked when he could not provide any.
• Qi Shuang's icy radiance repelled the shinobi's swords and froze one attacker solid.
• Two Terumi Clan shinobi combined Water Release and Lightning Release into an electrified torrent aimed at Qi Shuang.