Chapter Summaries

Hozuki Masamune questioned Tobi’s authority over Sasori and Kakuzu while Qi Shuang prepared to face Sasori. Sasori summoned the Third Kazekage Human Puppet and launched it at Qi Shuang, who stood his ground and began forming hand seals.

• Hozuki Masamune recognized Sasori and Kakuzu and asked Tobi who he was, but Tobi called himself a wandering spirit from the past.
• Kakuzu offered to help Sasori, but Sasori refused and told him to guard the area while he handled Qi Shuang himself.
• Qi Shuang judged that his Ice Release could freeze Sasori’s puppet mechanisms and that Sasori’s poisoned weapons could not pierce his Chakra Cloak.
• Sasori summoned the Third Kazekage Human Puppet, and Qi Shuang recognized it while Kakuzu realized it was the missing Kazekage’s corpse.
• Sasori sent the puppet’s many mechanical arms surging toward Qi Shuang, who stood still and calmly formed hand seals.

Qi Shuang used Ice and Water Release to counter Sasori’s poison and trap him in a freezing wave. Sasori escaped by sacrificing his lower body, while Kakuzu remained out of the fight.

• Qi Shuang froze Sasori’s puppet arms, but Sasori released poisonous smoke from them, forcing Kakuzu and Qi Shuang to avoid breathing it.
• Qi Shuang froze himself inside the ice and used Water Release to wash away the poison, destroying the courtyard and nearby houses as the wave swept Sasori away.
• Qi Shuang transformed the wave into ice, catching Sasori before he could escape with the Kazekage Puppet.
• Sasori abandoned his frozen lower body and let the Kazekage Puppet carry his upper body out of the wave.

Qi Shuang nearly defeated Sasori, but Sasori escaped by abandoning part of his puppet body and replacing it with another puppet. Meanwhile, Kaki Keiichi spread the news of Mei Terumi’s abduction to weaken the Terumi Clan, and Kakuzu joined the fight against Qi Shuang.

• Hozuki Mangetsu and Tobi watched as Sasori escaped Qi Shuang’s ice by abandoning half of his puppet body.
• At the Kaki Clan headquarters, Kaki Keiichi ordered the news of Mei Terumi’s abduction spread and told his forces to hold back.
• The news destabilized the Terumi Clan’s troops, and the Hozuki Clan launched a counterattack as the Kaki Clan quietly shifted pressure onto the Terumi Clan.
• Sasori replaced his damaged lower body with parts from another puppet and told Kakuzu to do whatever he thought best.
• Kakuzu attacked Qi Shuang with Lightning Release: False Darkness, but Qi Shuang dodged behind him and struck.

Qi Shuang fought Sasori and Kakuzu, enduring their attacks while avoiding the most dangerous strikes. As Kakuzu unleashed his four mask clones, Qi Shuang dove into the ice to conserve chakra and remain ready for Tobi, who had yet to appear.

• Kakuzu hardened his body with Earth Release: Earth Spear, but Qi Shuang punched him and sent him sliding across the ice.
• Sasori attacked with the Third Kazekage Puppet’s iron-sand pyramid, but Qi Shuang escaped underground with Ice Release Body Flicker Technique.
• Sasori transformed the pyramid into Iron Sand Drizzle, which struck Qi Shuang’s Chakra Cloak without penetrating it.
• Kakuzu revealed the four mask monsters created by Earth Grudge Fear and explained that they let him use multiple powers and possess five lives.
• Kakuzu’s water and lightning mask clones combined their attacks, and Qi Shuang dove into the ice rather than spend chakra blocking them.

Qi Shuang used Ice Release clones and the battlefield’s mist to evade Kakuzu while setting up an ambush. After Kakuzu broke free of an ice seal and struck another clone, Qi Shuang emerged from the ice and lunged at Sasori.

• Kakuzu and his masked clones searched the ice field, then combined Fire and Wind Release to engulf an Ice Release clone.
• Kirigakure guards raised Water Formation Walls to contain the flames, filling the battlefield with steam and obscuring visibility.
• Kakuzu sensed the white figure in the flames and seized it with his tendril arms, but crushed only an Ice Release clone.
• Qi Shuang emerged from beneath the ice and trapped Kakuzu’s legs with Ice Sealing Technique.
• Kakuzu hardened his body with Earth Spear and shattered the ice around his legs, but the figure beneath the ice also proved to be a clone.
• Qi Shuang burst from the ice and lunged at Sasori while Kakuzu was distracted.

Qi Shuang tried to exploit Sasori’s vulnerable Core of Regeneration while Kakuzu and his clones pursued him through Sasori’s Iron Sand World Formation. He found a way to use Kakuzu’s water attack against the iron-sand forest and began an Ice Release technique.

• Qi Shuang sent clones to distract Kakuzu and attacked Sasori, targeting the weakness in Sasori’s Puppet Body: the Core of Regeneration in his chest.
• Sasori unleashed Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Formation to keep Qi Shuang from reaching him, spreading poisoned iron sand across the battlefield.
• Kakuzu’s Water and Lightning Mask Clones pursued Qi Shuang through the iron-sand forest, clearing a path as they attacked.
• Sasori called on Kakuzu to control his clones, so Kakuzu stopped the Lightning Clone’s attack and chased Qi Shuang with his Wind and Fire Clones.
• Kakuzu’s Water Clone fired a high-pressure Water Cone through the iron-sand forest, and Qi Shuang raised his hand and used Ice Release: Ice Sealing Technique.

Qi Shuang countered Sasori and Kakuzu’s attacks by freezing their Water Release techniques and striking back with a Water Dragon Bullet. As Kakuzu closed in and launched his reinforced arms, Qi Shuang waved from beside an icicle, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Qi Shuang froze the Water Cone and Sasori’s high-pressure Water Blades, while the Kazekage Puppet’s Iron Sand spears failed to harm him.
• Sasori ended his Water Blade technique to avoid being frozen, and Qi Shuang sent a Water Dragon Bullet through the Iron Sand forest toward him.
• Sasori used the Kazekage Puppet’s Iron Sand wings to shield himself, but the water dragon sent the puppet flying and froze it.
• Kakuzu charged through the Iron Sand forest, reached within five meters of Qi Shuang, and launched his Earth Spear-reinforced arms at him.
• Qi Shuang placed a hand on an icicle and told Kakuzu, “Sorry, you're late again!”

Qi Shuang used Ice Release Body Flicker Technique to reach Sasori and attack him inside the Iron Sand jungle. Tobi intervened as Sasori’s puppet body scattered, but Qi Shuang seized Sasori’s Core of Regeneration.

• Qi Shuang teleported across the Iron Sand jungle to the Ice Dragon, while Kakuzu sent his masked clones to support Sasori from outside.
• Black Zetsu urged Tobi to act, and Tobi entered the Pocket Dimension to support Sasori.
• Sasori attacked Qi Shuang with Hellfire Array, but Qi Shuang endured the flames and reached him with Ice Sealing Technique.
• Sasori dispersed his Puppet Body to escape being frozen, and a Void Vortex opened as the One-Eyed Mask snatched his head.
• Qi Shuang let the One-Eyed Mask take Sasori’s head and grabbed the Core of Regeneration engraved with “Sasori.”

Qi Shuang destroyed Sasori’s true Core of Regeneration, killing Sasori, then revealed that he knew Tobi was Obito Uchiha. Obito and Black Zetsu recognized that Qi Shuang had prepared for the confrontation, while Hozuki Masamune and his son learned their ally’s identity.

• Tobi grabbed Sasori’s head while Qi Shuang seized the Core of Regeneration and used Ice Release to pierce and destroy it.
• Qi Shuang explained that Sasori had transferred his consciousness to the Core of Regeneration, and Tobi used his Sharingan to confirm he had taken the wrong component.
• Qi Shuang called Tobi Obito Uchiha, shocking Obito, White Half-Body, and Black Zetsu.
• Black Zetsu realized Qi Shuang had hidden Rin Nohara’s remains to target Obito and noted that three figures were approaching from the east.
• Hozuki Masamune and his son learned that their ally was an Uchiha, while Masamune wondered whether Obito intended to overthrow Kirigakure.

After Kakuzu recognized Obito Uchiha, Qi Shuang revealed that he held Rin Nohara’s soul and remains. Obito’s first gift arrived: Zabuza appeared with Mei Terumi held at swordpoint, while Obito and Kakuzu’s forces blocked Qi Shuang from reaching them.

• Kakuzu regrouped with Obito and recognized him as Obito Uchiha, not Madara Uchiha.
• Qi Shuang told Obito that Rin Nohara’s soul and corpse were in his possession, and Kakuzu paused to recover.
• White Zetsu emerged and announced his arrival, prompting Obito to call him the first of three gifts for Qi Shuang.
• Qi Shuang saw Zabuza approaching with Mei Terumi at his sword and realized Zabuza had betrayed them.
• Obito vanished into his Pocket Dimension, then appeared ahead of Qi Shuang as Kakuzu and his clones attacked.
• Kakuzu’s four masked clones unleashed combined ninjutsu that engulfed Qi Shuang and blocked his path to Mei and Haku.

Obito revealed that Zabuza had betrayed Qi Shuang and brought Mei Terumi to force a battle in exchange for joining Obito’s organization. Zabuza confirmed the betrayal, leaving both Qi Shuang and Mei Terumi stunned and disillusioned.

• Zabuza and Haku brought the captured Mei Terumi to Obito, who promised to explain why she had been taken.
• Obito stopped Kakuzu’s attack on Qi Shuang and revealed that he had offered Zabuza a chance to fight Qi Shuang and join his organization.
• Hozuki Masamune ordered Hozuki Mangetsu to bring Mei Terumi back, and Mangetsu headed onto the battlefield.
• Obito explained that Zabuza had brought Mei Terumi to force Qi Shuang to fight at full strength.
• Qi Shuang demanded confirmation from Zabuza, and Zabuza admitted that Obito’s explanation was true.

Obito Uchiha refused Hozuki Mangetsu’s demand for Mei Terumi and urged Zabuza to fight Qi Shuang, but Zabuza and Haku suddenly attacked him instead. Obito’s body proved intangible, and he revealed that he had anticipated Zabuza’s betrayal and was guarding against his weakness.

• Obito Uchiha presented Zabuza with the Kubikiribōchō, while Hozuki Mangetsu grew eager to test the swordsman’s skill.
• Hozuki Mangetsu tried to take Mei Terumi, but Haku blocked him, and Obito refused to hand her over.
• Obito Uchiha told Zabuza to fight Qi Shuang and placed his hand on Mei Terumi to absorb her into his Pocket Dimension.
• Zabuza and Haku attacked Obito, and Mei Terumi joined in with her Lava Style Mucus.
• Obito’s attackers passed through his intangible body, and he explained that he had never trusted Zabuza and had prepared for his betrayal.

Obito’s fire attack was stopped by Mei Terumi, while Qi Shuang summoned Tagorihime during the Kirigakure civil war. The battle continued as Tagorihime rose out of Kakuzu’s reach, and Qi Shuang moved to help Zabuza and the others.

• Zabuza and the others retreated from Obito, who sent a fire dragon tornado after them with Fire Release: Exploding Wind Dance.
• Mei Terumi blocked and suppressed Obito’s attack with Water Release: Water Pillar, forcing him to cancel his technique.
• Qi Shuang summoned Tagorihime and explained that a civil war had devastated Kirigakure.
• Qi Shuang asked Tagorihime for help with another matter as he ran to assist Mei Terumi and the others.
• Kakuzu attacked Qi Shuang with a sea of fire, but Tagorihime swept away the flames near her and floated beyond Kakuzu’s attack range.

Qi Shuang regrouped with Mei Terumi while Obito trapped Zabuza and Haku inside the Uchiha Flame Formation. The battle continued on two fronts, with Zabuza deciding they had to kill Obito to escape and Qi Shuang shielding Mei Terumi from Kakuzu’s attacks.

• Qi Shuang ignored Kakuzu’s attacks and rushed toward Zabuza, Haku, and Mei Terumi as Obito opened a Void Vortex to intercept them.
• Qi Shuang warned the others about Obito’s Flame Barrier, but Zabuza struck Mei Terumi with Kubikiribōchō and sent her clear as Obito raised the Uchiha Flame Formation around Zabuza and Haku.
• Mei Terumi and Haku tried to damage the barrier, but her Lava Style Mucus burned away and Haku’s Kunai melted.
• Zabuza told Haku that they had to kill Obito to escape the Flame Barrier.
• Qi Shuang regrouped with Mei Terumi and blocked Kakuzu’s Lightning and Water attacks with an Ice Wall while she fought Kakuzu’s clones.

Obito attacked Zabuza and Haku inside the Flame Barrier while Qi Shuang and Mei Terumi faced Kakuzu and Hozuki Mangetsu outside. Qi Shuang created a clone and flew Mei Terumi over the barrier, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Kakuzu held back against Qi Shuang and Mei Terumi while Hozuki Mangetsu waited for a chance to strike Mei.
• Obito refused to spare Zabuza and Haku in exchange for Rin Nohara’s remains, then unleashed a barrage of ninja tools at them.
• Zabuza protected himself and Haku with Water Release: Water Formation Wall as Obito phased through the water curtain.
• Qi Shuang warned Mei Terumi not to use her unpracticed Corrosion Release, then proposed flying into the barrier but worried about leaving her outside.
• Qi Shuang cast Hidden Mist Technique, created a clone, and flew Mei Terumi over the barrier with his Floating Technique.

Qi Shuang and Mei Terumi raced toward the top of the Flame Barrier while Zabuza and Haku fought Obito inside it. Zabuza evaded Obito’s fireball, but Obito seized the opening to attack him with a lethal Wood Style thorn.

• Qi Shuang climbed the Flame Barrier with Mei Terumi, who urged him to hurry and help Zabuza against Uchiha Obito.
• Kakuzu led his four clones cautiously into the fog, while Hozuki Mangetsu stayed confident that the trapped enemies could not escape the surrounding shinobi.
• Obito phased through Zabuza’s water curtain, avoided Haku’s senbon, and used a Great Fireball against Zabuza.
• Haku formed ice mirrors to shield Zabuza, who used one as a foothold to leap over the fireball and strike at Obito.
• Obito dodged Zabuza’s greatsword and fired a Wood Style thorn at Zabuza as he landed and momentarily weakened.

Obito used Wood Style to drive Zabuza toward the Flame Barrier while Haku tried to protect him with Ice Release attacks. Zabuza struck the barrier and screamed in pain as flames engulfed his back.

• Haku emerged from an ice mirror to deflect Obito’s wooden spike, then attacked him with a barrage of senbon that passed harmlessly through his body.
• Zabuza charged Obito, but Obito used Wood Style: Hellish Landscape to unleash a massive vine dragon and force Zabuza to retreat.
• Zabuza’s Water Formation Wall failed to stop the vine, and Haku’s attempt to distract Obito was driven back by wooden spikes.
• As Zabuza evaded the vine dragon, he struck the Flame Barrier, fell onto the sand, and desperately tried to extinguish the fire on his back.

Obito killed Haku and moved to finish off the wounded Zabuza before Qi Shuang and Mei Terumi could reach them. Zabuza countered Obito’s phased attack with a surprise third slash, leaving Obito wounded.

• Haku used his Ice Release to shield Zabuza, but the vine dragon shattered his mirrors and drove him into the flames; he died as Zabuza cried out.
• Obito severed his burning vines, declared Zabuza next, and dodged Mei Terumi’s mud bullets as she and Qi Shuang descended.
• Zabuza steadied himself despite his grief and burns, then waited for Obito to attack at close range.
• Zabuza’s first slash passed through Obito, and his second missed as Obito phased through him and prepared a wooden-thorn strike.
• Zabuza transferred his sword between hands and unleashed a faster third slash as Obito became tangible, drawing blood.

Obito Uchiha killed Momochi Zabuza after exploiting the Executioner’s Blade’s weight to counter his attack. Zabuza died regretting that he would not see the Hidden Mist rebuilt, and Qi Shuang charged Obito in grief and fury.

• Obito Uchiha used Zabuza’s slower swing with the Executioner’s Blade to block his strike and stab him with a wooden spike.
• Obito escaped Qi Shuang and Mei Terumi’s arriving attack, then used Wood Style: Impaling Forest to pierce Zabuza with wooden spikes.
• Mei Terumi and Qi Shuang reached the dying Zabuza, who apologized for bringing them into danger and admitted he had wanted to defeat Obito.
• Zabuza died wishing he could see the war end and the Hidden Mist rebuilt, while Mei Terumi wept.
• Obito taunted Qi Shuang and defended his revenge, and Qi Shuang formed an ice spear and charged him.

Qi Shuang revealed that Zabuza’s massacre had been intended to change the Mist’s graduation rules and that his later actions were meant to protect the village and kill Obito. Mei sealed Zabuza’s remains and Haku’s bones, while Obito phased toward her and found the floor covered in her corrosive Lava Style Mucus.

• Qi Shuang explained that Zabuza had killed his classmates to force the Mist’s leaders to end the graduation exam’s killing rule, and Obito realized Zabuza had planned to assassinate him for the Mist.
• Qi Shuang and Mei Terumi understood that Zabuza’s apparent betrayal and rivalry had concealed his efforts to protect the Mist.
• Mei found Haku’s remaining bones, carried them to Zabuza’s remains, and sealed both in a scroll.
• Obito grew bored of watching Qi Shuang attack him and phased into the ground toward Mei.
• Mei covered the floor inside the Flame Barrier with Lava Style Mucus, and Obito emerged nearby without deactivating Phasing.