Chapter Summaries

Menma tested Ōnoki’s artificial humans, discovering that Void and Kirara were enhanced with natural energy from Mount Myoboku. After Kirara’s attempt to control his mind left her psychologically shattered, Menma prepared to fight Void, but an eruption of smoke in the VIP stand interrupted the match.

• Menma ordered Hinata and Naruto to handle Deidara while he faced Void and Kirara, then struck Void with a disguised kunai-and-kick attack.
• Void’s damaged face cracked open to reveal an artificial structure, then repaired itself with pale green energy that Menma recognized as natural energy.
• Kirara used a fragrant wind to confuse Naruto’s Shadow Clones and tried to control Menma with her eyes, but his mental world overwhelmed her and left her terrified and incapacitated.
• Menma turned toward Void and prepared to test how many punches he could withstand while Naruto’s Shadow Clones pressured Deidara.
• Smoke erupted from the VIP stand, two figures leaped out, and Menma wondered whether Orochimaru had acted already.

Sound Ninja launched a coordinated attack on Konoha during the Chunin Joint Exams, while Yukimi revealed that the Land of Stars was cooperating with Orochimaru to help the Uchiha reclaim their legacy. Orochimaru trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi inside a Four Violet Flame Formation and prepared to fight his former teacher as Konoha descended into chaos.

• Sound Ninja cast the Temple of Nirvana Technique over the arena, and Yakumo resisted its effects until Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi protected her from an attacker disguised as Anbu.
• Might Guy and Kakashi defeated two Sound Ninja, then Yukimi, Idasuke, and Neji appeared and confirmed that the Land of Stars was cooperating with Orochimaru to recover the Uchiha legacy.
• Yamato reached the VIP platform and found Raidō and Genma wounded while Hiruzen Sarutobi was missing; he discovered Orochimaru had taken Hiruzen hostage inside the Sound Four's Four Violet Flame Formation.
• Orochimaru revealed himself to Hiruzen and admitted that Otogakure was his creation and that the Land of Stars was cooperating with him for its own purposes.
• Orochimaru declared that he would end Hiruzen's tenure, and Hiruzen prepared to fight his former student and correct his past mistake.

Jiraiya questioned Iruka about Menma’s past and learned that Menma had been found as a blond baby on the night of the Nine-Tails Incident, leading Jiraiya to suspect he was Minato and Kushina’s missing child. Before he could investigate further, Konoha came under attack, and Jiraiya rushed to the Chunin Exams venue while Iruka evacuated the Academy students.

• Jiraiya visited Iruka at the Ninja Academy and asked about Menma’s relationship with Naruto and his origins.
• Iruka recounted how Menma befriended and supported Naruto, then explained that Yakushi Nonō had found Menma as a baby at the orphanage on the night of the Nine-Tails Incident.
• Iruka revealed that Menma’s hair had once been blond, prompting Jiraiya to connect him to the missing twin of Naruto, Minato, and Kushina’s child.
• Explosions struck Konoha’s main gate and the Chunin Exams venue as a giant purple three-headed serpent invaded the village.
• Jiraiya ordered Iruka to take the students to the underground shelter and raced toward the venue, while Iruka organized the evacuation.

Otogakure launched the Konoha Crush Plan, and Konoha shinobi rallied under Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi to resist the invasion. In Star City, Minato reviewed the Land of Stars’ war preparations and waited for news from Konoha.

• Otogakure shinobi blasted a breach in Konoha’s wall and invaded while a three-headed serpent rampaged through the village.
• Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi organized Konoha’s defenders, who regrouped and began pushing back the Sound Ninja.
• Minato told Kushina that Konoha’s collapse was part of the transition toward a new era, though he still felt grief for his former village.
• Hikari reported that the Land of Stars had placed its army on combat readiness, while Fuka confirmed the government was prepared to shift fully to wartime operations.
• Minato approved the preparations and waited for news from Konoha.

Sound Ninja and Land of Stars forces launched a coordinated assault on Konoha while the Chunin Exams were underway. As Sasuke and Boruto watched from the sidelines and the contestants struggled to respond, Gaara revealed overwhelming tailed-beast chakra and was identified as a Jinchuriki.

• Sound Ninja detonated explosives across Konoha as Star Ninja teams attacked the Anbu and Root bases, while Otsutsuki Toneri and Oyashiro Chino raided the Hokage Office Building's secret technique vault.
• Uchiha Shisui led Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku toward the former Uchiha grounds, while the young Sasuke refused Boruto's plea to intervene and said they would wait for Otsutsuki Urashiki.
• Menma, Naruto, and Hinata prepared to evacuate the arena, while Akatsuchi ordered Deidara, Void, and Kirara to leave Konoha and Gekko Hayate suspended the match.
• Sai and Shigaraki blocked Sasuke from joining the fighting, while Kirigakure and Kumogakure shinobi formed a temporary alliance in the contestants' rest area.
• Gaara told the other contestants and Jonin that they could not leave, then unleashed enormous chakra and sand as Ao recognized him as a Jinchuriki.

Gaara unleashed Shukaku’s chakra at the tournament venue, alarming the allied ninja as the Land of Stars’ forces prepared to fight. As Konoha struggled against the invasion, Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed cracks in Orochimaru’s face and suspected he had perfected Living Corpse Reincarnation.

• Gaara revealed his Jinchuriki power and demanded that the allied forces stay put while Temari, Kankuro, Karin, Kurotsuchi, and Ranmaru readied themselves for battle.
• Konoha ninja across the venue sensed Shukaku’s chakra, and Asuma ordered Kurenai Yuhi to lead the students to an underground shelter.
• Kakashi questioned Yukimi about bringing a Jinchuriki to Konoha, and she hinted that a greater surprise was still coming.
• Might Guy and Neji continued their high-speed taijutsu fight as Neji demonstrated skill close to Special Jonin level.
• Danzō received reports of the invasion, including Gaara’s Tailed Beast chakra, but kept Root idle beneath Hokage Rock.
• Inside the Four Violet Flame Formation, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw cracks appear on Orochimaru’s face and accused him of perfecting Living Corpse Reincarnation.

Orochimaru revealed that his youthful body was a clone made with his own cells, Hashirama Cells, and White Zetsu cells, then summoned Senju Hashirama and Tobirama Senju with Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. As the First and Second Hokage confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over the Uchiha purge and Konoha’s lack of reinforcements, Tobirama concluded that Hiruzen had lost the people’s support.

• Orochimaru tore off his mask and explained that his young body was a cloned vessel made with his cells, Hashirama Cells, and White Zetsu cells.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to summon Senju Hashirama and Tobirama Senju, shocking Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yamato.
• Senju Hashirama and Tobirama Senju recognized that Konoha was under invasion, and Hiruzen apologized for failing the village and allowing Orochimaru to become its enemy.
• Tobirama Senju rebuked Hiruzen Sarutobi for allowing the Uchiha clan’s persecution and purge to lead to a bloody tragedy.
• Tobirama Senju pointed out that Konoha had no organized reinforcements despite the ongoing invasion and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had lost the people’s support.

Hiruzen Sarutobi fought Orochimaru’s controlled Hashirama and Tobirama inside the Four Violet Flame Formation, summoning Enma and using ninjutsu to hold them off. As Hashirama prepared to unleash Wood Release, an enemy’s vast forest erupted outside the barrier, provoking Hashirama’s chakra to trigger a second forest inside and engulf Hiruzen.

• Tobirama and Hashirama criticized Hiruzen’s rule, and Hiruzen set aside his defenses and prepared to fight Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru controlled the resurrected Hokage, who struck Hiruzen and demonstrated how their Impure World Reincarnation bodies rapidly regenerated from damage.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma, who transformed into the Adamantine Staff, and used it to withstand Hashirama and Tobirama’s attacks.
• Tobirama launched a Water Dragon Bullet, and Hiruzen countered with a combination of Earth and Fire Release techniques that filled the barrier with steam.
• Hashirama warned Hiruzen that he would use Wood Release, but a vast forest suddenly erupted in the arena’s eastern stands; Orochimaru revealed its creator was not from Konoha.
• Hashirama’s shocked response and gathering chakra triggered Wood Release inside the barrier, where branches and spikes spread through the roof and surged toward Hiruzen.

Jiraiya arrived at the arena and discovered Orochimaru’s invasion, the Hokage trapped inside a barrier, and the Land of Stars’ forces fighting amid Wood Release. Meanwhile, Gaara overwhelmed the exam teams with Shukaku’s power, and as the mist concealed their attempted escape, Uzumaki Kaori moved to stop them with Adamantine Sealing Chains.

• Jiraiya sensed the One-Tail’s chakra at the arena, saw Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru inside the Four Violet Flame Formation, and rushed toward the battle.
• Ao and Samui warned their teams not to confront Gaara directly as Gaara formed four Sand Monstrous Arms and attacked the Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Konoha teams.
• Gaara’s attack knocked Choji unconscious and badly injured Atsui, while Samui and the others struggled to defend themselves.
• Karin demanded that Gaara leave the Kirigakure team to her, and Hozuki Suigetsu used the Hidden Mist Technique to cover the rest area.
• Samui and Shikamaru tried to withdraw with their injured teammates, but Uzumaki Kaori called out and prepared Adamantine Sealing Chains to stop them.

Karin trapped the Mist, Cloud, and Leaf teams inside an Adamantine Sealing Chains barrier, but Menma tore through it and entered with Naruto and Hinata. He left them in Gaara and Karin’s care before sensing Otsutsuki Urashiki and Jigen approaching, and Hinata revealed her bold, combative personality as Menma prepared to confront them.

• Karin formed a vast Adamantine Sealing Chains barrier that trapped the assembled teams, and Honoka and Samui identified the Uzumaki sealing technique.
• Menma arrived with Naruto and Hinata, then opened the supposedly unbreakable barrier with one finger and entered.
• Menma ordered Gaara and Karin to protect Naruto and Hinata and treat Choji, and their respectful obedience shocked the other teams.
• Menma sensed Otsutsuki Urashiki and Jigen near the arena and told Naruto and Hinata to wait while he dealt with the intruders.
• Hinata’s bold personality emerged, and she warned Karin and the others that she would defend Naruto.

Menma revealed to Naruto that he would soon learn the truth about his parents and origins, warned the gathered shinobi of enemies from beyond the heavens, and walked into the sky to confront them. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled against the reanimated Hashirama and Tobirama as Konoha’s defenders remained unable to reach him.

• Menma told Naruto that the truth about Konoha, his parents, and his origins would soon be revealed, then urged him to stay behind and watch what happened.
• Menma warned the Cloud, Mist, and Leaf shinobi that Otsutsuki invaders were approaching and urged their villages to choose whether to unite against the coming threat.
• Menma stepped through the golden barrier and walked up an invisible staircase into the sky, leaving Naruto and the other shinobi stunned.
• Orochimaru’s reanimated Hashirama and Tobirama relentlessly attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi inside the Four Violet Flame Formation, pushing him toward exhaustion.
• Yamato learned that Konoha’s Anbu and other forces were occupied or cut off, while Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma, and Shikaku could not break away to support Hiruzen.

Jiraiya arrived as Hiruzen Sarutobi fought Orochimaru and the reanimated Senju Hashirama and Tobirama Senju inside the Four Violet Flame Formation. As Hiruzen named Jiraiya his successor, Orochimaru revealed that Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina had returned to life in the Land of Stars, before Otsutsuki Urashiki and Jigen appeared above the barrier.

• Jiraiya arrived and learned that Orochimaru had trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi inside the barrier with the reanimated Senju Hashirama and Tobirama Senju.
• Tobirama Senju struck Hiruzen Sarutobi, who fell near the barrier before forcing himself to stand again.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage if he died, entrusting him with the Hidden Leaf and Naruto.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru whether Asura was Minato, and Orochimaru revealed that Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina had died but returned to life in the Land of Stars.
• Orochimaru began forming a seal to finish Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Otsutsuki Urashiki and Jigen appeared floating above the barrier.

Jigen and Urashiki appeared inside Orochimaru’s barrier during the Chunin Exam, searching for a hidden vessel and effortlessly countering the attacks of the resurrected Hashirama and Tobirama. The brothers were pinned to trees by Jigen’s black rods, which began destroying their Impure World Reincarnation bodies, while Jiraiya recognized Jigen from Amegakure.

• Jigen and Urashiki appeared inside the Four Violet Flame Formation without alerting the Sound Four, and Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized Urashiki from Jiraiya’s earlier report.
• Urashiki and Jigen discussed searching the arena for a vessel, while Orochimaru ordered the controlled Hashirama and Tobirama to attack them.
• Hashirama’s wooden shuriken were reflected by Urashiki’s red light sphere, and Jigen absorbed Tobirama’s Water Severing Wave with his Karma.
• Jiraiya recognized Jigen as the bald man who had once fought Pain and been dominated by Asura in Amegakure.
• Jigen struck Hashirama and Tobirama with black rods that immobilized them and disrupted their chakra and Impure World bodies.

Hashirama and Tobirama were destroyed by the Black Receivers, and Hiruzen Sarutobi died after entrusting Jiraiya with Konoha’s future and a search for the truth about Minato and Asura. As Jigen prepared to attack the Arena, Asuma fought Idasuke, who revealed a powerful chakra technique that resembled the Eight Inner Gates.

• The Black Receivers suppressed Impure World Reincarnation, causing Hashirama and Tobirama to disintegrate while Orochimaru studied the power and considered using White Zetsu as a sacrifice next time.
• Jigen’s Black Receivers pierced Sakon, Ukon, Kidomaru, and Tayuya, bringing down the Four Violet Flame Formation.
• Jiraiya reached the dying Hiruzen Sarutobi, who named Jiraiya as Konoha’s next Hokage, warned him not to trust Danzo, and urged him to investigate Minato and Asura before dying.
• Enma mourned Hiruzen Sarutobi as Jigen raised his hand toward the Arena and Urashiki said they needed to make the situation more chaotic to draw out their vessel.
• Asuma clashed with Idasuke, who wielded Kubikiribōchō and identified Asuma’s background before launching a powerful attack.
• Idasuke activated Seven Heavenly Breaths, surrounding himself with a pale-blue chakra cloak that made Asuma mistake it for the Eight Inner Gates.

Asuma fought Idasuke, who revealed the Land of Stars’ Seven Heavenly Breaths and overwhelmed him with a powerful sword strike, while Guy and Neji began a duel that escalated when Guy opened the Sixth Gate. In the forest, Yukimi invited Kakashi to join the Land of Stars and revealed that the offer came from Lord Minato.

• Idasuke explained that his pale-blue chakra came from the Seven Heavenly Breaths and seven rounds of Gene Modification Surgery, then attacked Asuma with a slash that cut through his ash and felled a dozen trees.
• Asuma evaded Idasuke’s strike with Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning, but Idasuke pursued him as their fight continued.
• Guy and Neji exchanged taijutsu, and Neji explained that he had hoped to face Hyuga Hiashi before Hiashi withdrew from the battlefield.
• Guy recalled how Neji’s father, Hizashi, had supported him after his father’s death, then opened the Sixth Gate to fight Neji seriously.
• Kakashi spotted Yukimi’s mist-form attack and confronted her among the trees.
• Yukimi invited Kakashi to join the Land of Stars, but Kakashi refused and reaffirmed his loyalty to Konoha; Yukimi then said the invitation was Lord Minato’s idea.

Jigen and Urashiki overwhelmed the defenders, leaving Sasuke badly wounded as Jiraiya prepared to hold them off. Menma arrived, was identified by Orochimaru as Asura, and unleashed Dark Kurama Chakra Mode against the two Otsutsuki.

• Jigen stopped Sasuke’s lightning strike with Black Receivers, then pierced and pinned him with more of them.
• Sasuke escaped using Amenotejikara and fell beside Jiraiya, Boruto, and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s body; Jiraiya ordered Yamato and the remaining Anbu to evacuate.
• Jiraiya and the injured Sasuke stayed behind while Jigen noticed Momoshiki’s Karma on Boruto and prepared a barrage of Black Receivers.
• Menma appeared on the rooftop, and Orochimaru called him Asura; Menma said Jigen and Urashiki had come for him.
• Menma taunted the two Otsutsuki and activated Dark Kurama Chakra Mode, revealing ten dark-red chakra tails.

Kakashi's group learned that Shura had confronted a mysterious enemy as immense Tailed Beast chakra erupted over the arena. Inside the sealed contestants' rest area, Naruto began losing control of the Nine-Tails and finally stared toward the sky, where another terrifying chakra source was active.

• Yukimi revealed that she knew Minato and Kushina, unsettling Kakashi, while Neji and Idasuke confirmed that Shura had personally entered the fight against the Celestial Enemies.
• Might Guy and Asuma joined Kakashi, and Asuma sensed that the Third Hokage was in danger as the group prepared to hold the perimeter.
• Karin healed Choji inside the Adamantine Sealing Chains barrier, and Choji woke up hungry while Karin and Hinata bickered.
• A surge of chakra from the arena shocked the trapped contestants; Ao identified ten tails of dark red chakra and feared it was a Ten-Tails.
• Naruto began manifesting the Nine-Tails' chakra cloak as the seal inside him shook, then looked toward the sky above the venue.

Karin used the Adamantine Sealing Chains to stop Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra, and Naruto remembered that Menma was the older brother from his recurring dreams. Above the venue, Menma revealed a ten-tailed dark-red chakra form, and Jigen identified him as Asura and confronted him with fury.

• Naruto’s chakra grew out of control, and the shinobi inside the barrier feared he would transform completely.
• Hinata told Karin that Naruto was Menma’s younger brother, prompting Karin to bind Naruto with the Adamantine Sealing Chains and suppress the Nine-Tails.
• Naruto passed out and dreamed of a familiar family home before facing the Nine-Tails behind the seal, which demanded to know who Menma was.
• Menma’s dark-red chakra manifested ten tails, and Jiraiya recalled rumors of a ten-tailed monster involved in the war between Sunagakure and the Land of Stars.
• Jigen activated his Karma, called Menma Kaguya’s backup plan and Asura, and declared that he had finally found him.

Jigen confronted Menma, whom he recognized as the Asura who had stolen his Ten-Tails Seedling five years earlier, and launched an attack with Urashiki. Menma effortlessly turned aside Jigen’s weapons and struck him down, then challenged both Otsutsuki to attack together.

• Jigen recalled how Asura had defeated him in Amegakure five years earlier, stolen his Ten-Tails Seedling, and forced him to delay his plans while seeking a new vessel.
• Jigen recognized Menma as Asura and activated the second stage of Karma after learning that Menma had absorbed the Ten-Tails Seedling.
• Jigen’s Black Receivers stopped against Menma’s invisible barrier, and Menma reflected them before closing in and clashing weapons with Jigen.
• Menma followed a whip kick with a chakra-tail strike that sent Jigen crashing through a roof, shocking Urashiki.
• Urashiki used his Byakugan to see that Menma had fused the Ten-Tails Seedling with the Nine-Tails, then joined Jigen in preparing to fight him.
• Menma beckoned to Jigen and Urashiki and told them to attack together because he was in a hurry.

Menma fought Jigen and Urashiki, overwhelming them with his taijutsu and revealing chakra that Urashiki’s tools could neither understand nor contain. Jigen then dropped enormous Daikokuten cubes onto Menma and the rooftop, forcing Sasuke, Boruto, and Jiraiya to leap clear as the impact buried the area in dust.

• Urashiki attacked Menma with his Red Light Fishing Rod, but Menma’s chakra tails shattered the hooks; Urashiki secretly scraped off some of Menma’s chakra and discovered it was strange and repelled by his Red Fishing Basket.
• Menma threw a Black Receiver at Urashiki and followed with a rapid assault, while Jigen intercepted Menma’s punch and joined the close-range fight.
• Menma’s attacks battered Jigen and sent him flying, and he absorbed the Lightning Release chakra Urashiki hurled at him before nearly striking Urashiki down.
• Jigen recovered and used Black Receivers to pin Menma in place, then summoned more than a dozen enormous black cubes with Daikokuten.
• Sasuke pulled Boruto to safety and Jiraiya leapt away as the cubes smashed through the rooftop and flattened the giant trees.