Chapter Summaries

Hiko realized that the Third Hokage had publicly positioned him as Konoha’s next Hokage, making it difficult for him to leave without damaging the Uchiha Clan and the village. He vowed to hunt down the departing Shimura Clan and ordered the Uchiha to track their escape.

• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed the Shimura Clan’s flight and feared that Uchiha Hiko’s rise would make the Uchiha dominant in Konoha.
• The Uchiha celebrated the news that Hiko was expected to become the Fourth Hokage, while the elders congratulated him and Hiko angrily ordered them out.
• Hiko realized the Third Hokage had used the announcement to corner him and make him consider the Uchiha Clan’s position and Konoha’s future.
• Hiko vowed to destroy the Shimura Clan and ordered his people to watch the clan members fleeing Konoha, allowing only a small number to escape.

Uchiha Hiko abandoned plans to retreat from Konoha after being chosen as the Fourth Hokage, and he ordered the elders to oversee the Shimura Clan’s removal. As Konoha prepared for a leadership change amid a two-front war, Hatake Sakumo faced intensified attacks from Ōnoki after the Uchiha forces left the front.

• Hiko rejected the elders’ suggestion to continue the retreat and ordered them to watch the Shimura Clan members so none could escape.
• Jiraiya learned Hiko was set to become the Fourth Hokage and was relieved that the Uchiha Clan would remain in Konoha; Tsunade said Hiko could have taken the position earlier if he had wanted it.
• Tsunade warned Jiraiya that Sunagakure and Rasa remained concerns, while Hatake Sakumo struggled against Ōnoki’s attacks.
• Hatake Sakumo lamented that Hiko had left with the Uchiha Clan members, depriving the front line of its main force.
• Black Zetsu saw an opportunity amid Konoha’s turmoil.

Black Zetsu and Nagato planned their next Tailed Beast captures while the great villages were distracted by war and Konoha’s troubles. They chose Kirigakure as their first target, leaving Iwagakure for later.

• The wars and Konoha’s troubles drew the world’s attention away, giving Black Zetsu an opportunity to act.
• Black Zetsu and Nagato followed the required order for sealing Tailed Beasts and chose Kirigakure and Iwagakure as targets.
• The narrator described Kirigakure as mysterious and brutal, with fierce internal clan struggles that had destroyed many powerful clans.
• With Konoha occupied by its war on two fronts and Iwagakure focused on the fighting, Black Zetsu and Nagato set their sights on Kirigakure.

Akatsuki used Jyuuzou Biwa’s insider access to abduct the Three-Tails and Six-Tails Jinchuriki from Kirigakure without a serious battle. The Third Mizukage was interrupted by an urgent report just as the village’s theft came to light.

• Black Zetsu planned to capture Kirigakure’s Three-Tails and Six-Tails Jinchuriki together before the other villages could unite against Akatsuki.
• Jyuuzou Biwa used his authority to transfer the Jinchuriki’s watchers, then led Akatsuki into Kirigakure and helped them take both Jinchuriki quietly.
• Jyuuzou Biwa asked Black Zetsu why Akatsuki had left the watchers alive, and Black Zetsu explained that their deaths would help Kirigakure discover the attack sooner.
• A panicked messenger interrupted the Third Mizukage and announced that something terrible had happened.

After Jyuuzou Biwa helped an unknown organization abduct Kirigakure’s two Jinchuriki, the Third Mizukage ordered the guards punished and sent news to the other major shinobi villages. The Five Great Shinobi Villages were alarmed by the latest abduction, and Konoha’s Hokage called Hiko to an emergency meeting.

• An Intelligence Department member reported that Kirigakure’s Jinchuriki had gone missing after Jyuuzou Biwa sent their guards away.
• The Third Mizukage realized Jyuuzou Biwa had betrayed Kirigakure and ordered the negligent guards arrested and imprisoned.
• The Third Mizukage sent word to the other major shinobi villages, urging them to join forces against the organization capturing Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki.
• News of Kirigakure’s abduction shocked the Five Great Shinobi Villages and renewed their questions about the organization’s purpose.
• A messenger told Hiko that the Hokage had summoned him to an emergency meeting.

Hiko attended an urgent meeting about Kirigakure’s missing Jinchuriki and the Akatsuki Organization, then revealed that its leader, Nagato, had been Jiraiya’s student. He warned the Third Hokage and the other village leaders that Nagato could threaten all five great shinobi villages.

• Hiko arrived at the Meeting Room while eating flatbread and read the documents about Kirigakure’s missing Jinchuriki.
• Hiko agreed that the villages needed to unite but questioned whether Sunagakure and Iwagakure would end the war.
• The Third Hokage asked Hiko about his connection to the Akatsuki Organization, and Hiko said he had met its members and redirected questions to Jiraiya.
• Hiko identified the Akatsuki leader as Nagato, one of Jiraiya’s students and a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan.
• Hiko warned the Third Hokage and the other higher-ups that Nagato could bring down the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

The Third Hokage sent Konoha’s intelligence on Akatsuki to the other villages and ordered the war with Sunagakure and Iwagakure suspended. He made Hiko represent Konoha in negotiations, delaying the Hokage replacement, and the Five Great Shinobi Villages prepared to meet in Kumogakure.

• Hiko warned the leaders that Akatsuki threatened the Five Great Shinobi Villages, but many doubted his assessment.
• The Third Hokage ordered Konoha to distribute its intelligence, told Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo to suspend the war, and assigned Hiko to negotiate with the other villages.
• Hiko accepted the responsibility, and the Hokage replacement was postponed, disappointing the Uchiha Clan.
• The Third Raikage and Third Mizukage backed a coalition against Akatsuki, Rasa agreed, and Ōnoki reluctantly joined them.
• The war was suspended, and representatives of the Five Great Shinobi Villages gathered at Kumogakure’s Raikage Office Building.

The Five Great Shinobi Villages' representatives gathered in Kumogakure to discuss how to deal with Akatsuki, with Hiko attending for Konoha and bringing the Nine-Tails. Hiko explained Akatsuki's origins, leaving the Kage skeptical as he began describing how the organization was founded.

• The Third Raikage hosted the Third Mizukage, Ōnoki, Rasa, and Hiko in Kumogakure for a meeting about Akatsuki.
• Hiko told the Third Raikage that he had brought the Nine-Tails and asked that no one provoke it; the Third Raikage agreed to assign guards.
• The Third Raikage and Third Mizukage urged Ōnoki and Rasa to set aside their villages' conflicts during the meeting, and both agreed.
• The Third Mizukage opened the discussion by explaining that Akatsuki had been capturing Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki, and the Third Raikage called for the organization to be destroyed.
• Ōnoki questioned whether Akatsuki was truly as powerful as Konoha's intelligence claimed, and Hiko began recounting its origins in the Land of Rain and its founders' aim to end war and displacement.

Hiko let the other four villages plan a blitz against Akatsuki while he sought to keep Konoha out of the fighting and assign it to supply transport. Ōnoki welcomed the proposal as a sign that Konoha was afraid.

• Hiko withheld details about Akatsuki and listened as Ōnoki, Rasa, and the other Kage called for a swift, united attack.
• Hiko shook his head at their confidence, prompting Ōnoki to challenge whether he thought the plan was wrong or Konoha would refuse to participate.
• Hiko praised the Kage and proposed that Konoha transport supplies because it was already short on manpower and fighting on two fronts.
• Ōnoki smugly suggested that Konoha was afraid.

Hiko persuaded the Five Great Shinobi Villages to assign Konoha to supply transport while the other villages attacked Akatsuki. As the forces began assembling, Black Zetsu watched Hiko closely and anticipated a possible future clash over the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan.

• Hiko rejected Ōnoki's claim that Konoha was afraid and argued that Konoha should transport supplies while the other villages fought Akatsuki.
• The Third Hokage secured agreement that Konoha would handle supplies and the other four villages would attack, with each village deploying one thousand shinobi.
• Hiko returned to Konoha and selected one thousand mostly Genin to transport supplies, while the villages agreed to share the costs equally.
• Black Zetsu learned that the villages were gathering to attack the Land of Rain and concluded that Hiko would not interfere with the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan without cause.
• Black Zetsu anticipated that he might soon face Hiko directly and resolved to proceed with the plan if Hiko refused to cooperate.

Nagato learned that the Five Great Shinobi Villages would attack the Land of Rain within five days and prepared to defend it. While he and Konan focused on the coming war, Black Zetsu sent Kakuzu and Jyuuzou Biwa to capture Iwagakure’s Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

• White Zetsu told Nagato that several thousand shinobi would attack the Land of Rain within five days, including Uchiha Hiko on Konoha’s behalf.
• Nagato ordered Kakuzu and Jyuuzou Biwa to seize the Five-Tails Jinchuriki while Iwagakure’s forces were distracted by the war.
• Nagato grew enraged at the threat to the Land of Rain and feared that its civilians would suffer as he, Yahiko, and Konan once had.
• Konan resolved to stand with Nagato and protect the Land of Rain from the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
• Black Zetsu arranged for Kakuzu and Jyuuzou Biwa to leave the Land of Rain and head toward Iwagakure, while Nagato and Konan began preparing for the attack.

Hiko sent Konoha’s thousand-person Genin force to transport supplies while the other villages assembled elite troops to attack Akatsuki and the Land of Rain. The allies accepted Konoha’s role and entered the Land of Rain without choosing a supreme commander, leaving Konoha’s team behind to deliver supplies.

• Hiko dismissed the other villages’ concerns about Konoha’s weak-looking force and offered to send for replacements, but Ōnoki rejected the idea to avoid delays.
• The Third Hokage, the Third Raikage, the Third Mizukage, and Rasa agreed that Konoha’s people could handle supply transport.
• The four villages agreed to launch their attacks independently because none wanted another village’s leader to command the alliance.
• Konoha’s ninja complained after the other villages looked down on them, and Hiko ordered them to stop talking and deliver the supplies on time.
• Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure entered the Land of Rain while Konoha’s Genin stayed behind to transport supplies.

Hiko sent Konoha’s shinobi to transport supplies slowly while the other villages advanced into the Land of Rain, hiding his purpose as they mocked Konoha. The allied forces kept winning against Amegakure, and the other villages grew overconfident as they neared the village.

• Hiko ordered Konoha’s shinobi to deliver supplies despite their resentment, without revealing his intentions.
• Ōnoki, Rasa, the Third Mizukage, and the Third Raikage led their forces into the Land of Rain and slaughtered Amegakure’s shinobi.
• The Four Great Shinobi Villages won battle after battle with few casualties while Konoha’s forces moved supplies slowly.
• The other villages blamed Konoha for holding them back, while Hiko silently let them boast and expected their fortunes to change.
• As the allied forces approached Amegakure, their shinobi dismissed the need for tactics and complained again about Konoha’s slow deliveries.

Jyuuzou Biwa and Kakuzu captured Ban, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, after finding him outside Iwagakure. As they left, Kakuzu told Jyuuzou Biwa to spare some guards so they could report the capture and pressure the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

• Jyuuzou Biwa complained that Iwagakure had underestimated Akatsuki, while Kakuzu showed no concern.
• Kakuzu carried the injured Ban away after they captured him outside Iwagakure.
• The chapter explained that Ban had left the village because its residents feared and shunned him.
• Jyuuzou Biwa complained about his injuries from fighting Ban, but Kakuzu dismissed his frustration.
• Kakuzu told Jyuuzou Biwa to leave some guards alive to report the capture and put pressure on the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Akatsuki captured Iwagakure’s Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Ban, with little resistance while Ōnoki believed the war was going smoothly. When he learned the abduction had been carried out by only two attackers, Ōnoki erupted in fury, drawing the other Kage to his camp.

• Jyuuzou Biwa attacked the pursuing Iwagakure ninja and left survivors to report the slaughter while Kakuzu moved on.
• Akatsuki captured Ban, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, while Ōnoki remained with the allied forces and assumed their campaign was progressing smoothly.
• An Intelligence Department messenger told Ōnoki that Akatsuki had abducted Ban and that Iwagakure’s pursuit had failed.
• Ōnoki learned that only two Akatsuki members had attacked Ban’s guards, including Jyuuzou Biwa, and smashed things in anger.
• Rasa, the Third Raikage, and the Third Mizukage rushed over after hearing the crash and found Ōnoki enraged.

Ōnoki learned that Akatsuki had attacked Iwagakure and abducted its Jinchuriki just as the allied villages prepared to strike Amegakure. The leaders discussed Akatsuki’s hunt for the Tailed Beasts and left Kumogakure facing the urgent task of protecting the Eight-Tails.

• Ōnoki dismissed the Intelligence Department personnel and said he would punish those responsible for the failed mission.
• Ōnoki told Rasa, the Third Raikage, and the Third Mizukage that Akatsuki had attacked Iwagakure and abducted its Jinchuriki.
• Ōnoki revealed that only two Akatsuki members had carried out the attack, including Jyuuzou Biwa, a Kirigakure S-rank rogue ninja.
• The Third Raikage eased tensions between Ōnoki and the Third Mizukage, while the Third Mizukage privately cursed Jyuuzou Biwa for disgracing Kirigakure.
• Ōnoki and the other Kage reviewed the Tailed Beasts’ whereabouts and concluded that Kumogakure needed to protect the Eight-Tails.

Ōnoki and the other three Kage excluded Uchiha Hiko and Konoha from their discussion about Akatsuki, and Hiko learned of the slight while escorting supplies. He halted the convoy, ordered the other villages’ supplies dumped in the mud, and began building a camp for Konoha.

• Rasa suggested notifying Uchiha Hiko about the Kage’s discussion, but Ōnoki refused, and the Third Raikage and Third Mizukage let Hiko be excluded.
• Hiko continued escorting supplies through the rain while Konoha shinobi delivered necessary provisions ahead.
• The returning shinobi told Hiko that the Four Great Shinobi Villages had left him and Konoha out of their meeting.
• Hiko ordered the convoy to stop, keep Konoha’s supplies, dump the other villages’ supplies into the mud, and build a camp.
• More than a thousand Konoha shinobi carried out Hiko’s orders while Ōnoki, Rasa, the Third Mizukage, and the Third Raikage remained unaware of his retaliation.

After the leaders of the Four Great Shinobi Villages excluded Konoha, Hiko retaliated by dumping their supplies in the mud and halting Konoha’s advance. Ōnoki’s group learned about the strike when an Iwagakure subordinate reported Hiko’s attack on their men.

• Hiko ordered the Four Great Shinobi Villages’ supplies thrown into muddy ground and stopped Konoha’s people from advancing.
• Hiko had Konoha build a camp while the Four Great Shinobi Villages’ frontline forces continued to complain about Konoha’s slow supply transport.
• The leaders of the Four Great Shinobi Villages discussed their strategy for attacking Amegakure and agreed they should remain cautious about Akatsuki.
• An Iwagakure subordinate told Ōnoki that Konoha had dumped the supplies and that Hiko had beaten Iwagakure shinobi who confronted him.

After the Four Great Shinobi Villages’ people repeatedly mocked their Konoha counterparts, Hiko had their supplies discarded, leaving the allied forces short of provisions. The four Kage apologized to Hiko, but he refused to join their coming operation or provide supplies, leaving them to handle the war themselves.

• Ōnoki, Rasa, the Third Raikage, and the Third Mizukage learned that the discarded supplies were lost and investigated what had caused the conflict.
• Rasa and the other Kage discovered that their people had repeatedly looked down on and mocked Konoha’s supply transporters, contributing to Hiko’s response.
• The Third Raikage urged the Kage to talk to Hiko, restrain their people, and apologize to Konoha.
• The four Kage went to Hiko and apologized, but Hiko refused to join the coming operation or share Konoha’s supplies.

After the Four Kage failed to persuade Hiko to support their campaign, Akatsuki planned to strike first against the allied villages. Nagato prepared to attack with the Six Paths of Pain while Konan readied a devastating trap in Amegakure.

• Hiko refused to change his position, leaving the Four Kage furious and responsible for solving their own supply problems.
• Black Zetsu proposed that Nagato attack the allied forces with the Six Paths of Pain while Akatsuki’s other members continued their plans.
• Black Zetsu said Nagato’s attack depended on Hiko staying out of the fighting, believing Konoha would only transport supplies and watch from the rear.
• Konan agreed to sacrifice Amegakure if necessary and prepared to detonate countless Explosive Tags against the invading rank-and-file ninja.