Chapter Summaries

Kawafune returned to Konoha’s camp after injuring the Third Kazekage, reunited with Tsunade, and discussed a future offensive against Sunagakure. He then told Sakumo about the fight, and Sakumo asked how badly the Kazekage had been hurt.

• The Third Kazekage admitted that his attempt to defeat Kawafune had failed, and he asked Bunbuku to save Rasa if Sunagakure’s situation became desperate.
• Pakura rebuked a Sand Ninja who suggested retreat, while the Third Kazekage ordered the others to focus on surviving the battlefield.
• Several nights later, Kawafune returned to Konoha’s camp with supplies and embraced Tsunade after confirming she was unharmed.
• Kawafune and Tsunade agreed that Konoha should prepare to attack, then shared a kiss before he left her tent.
• Kawafune visited Sakumo and said he had injured the Third Kazekage, prompting Sakumo to ask whether the Kazekage was seriously hurt.

Kawafune reunited with Sakumo and prepared Minato and Nawaki as Konoha readied a full assault on Sunagakure. The Third Kazekage, fully recovered, learned Konoha was preparing for war and ordered his forces to meet them.

• Kawafune told Sakumo that Duy had nearly recovered and would join them in a few days, then teased his brother about Kakashi.
• Kawafune promised to teach Minato the Flying Thunder God and urged Nawaki to keep practicing Tobirama's Water Release.
• At Tsunade's meeting, Yamanaka Hayato reported that the Third Kazekage had returned to the Sand camp and was suspected to be injured.
• Kawafune urged an immediate assault to exploit the chance to confirm the Third Kazekage's condition, and most of the Konoha ninja supported Tsunade's plan.
• The Third Kazekage learned Kawafune had arrived and Konoha was preparing to attack, then ordered Sunagakure's forces to meet the enemy.

The battle between Konoha and the Sand began, with Tsunade confronting Shukaku and Kawafune facing the Third Kazekage. Minato and Nawaki gained the upper hand against Rasa at first, but Rasa took to the air and continued attacking them.

• Tsunade met Shukaku head-on as the Third Kazekage led the Sand forces against Konoha.
• Kawafune fought the Third Kazekage, using a lightning Shadow Clone to shock him before being hit by iron sand that caused pain and impaired his control.
• Kawafune expelled the iron sand from his body, healed, and recovered while the Third Kazekage also regrouped.
• Nawaki's Water Release: Severing Wave cut through Rasa's Gold Dust Wall, and Minato struck Rasa while he tried to escape.
• Rasa used Sand Cushion to fly and launched Gold Dust Spears at Minato and Nawaki, who dodged the attack.

Kawafune and the Third Kazekage fought alongside Tsunade and Shukaku, who was controlled by Bunbuku. The Third Kazekage and Shukaku sealed Tsunade in a pyramid, but Kawafune pinned Shukaku with his Gate of the Great God and began striking him with lightning as the Third Kazekage’s attack reached the pyramid.

• Kawafune attacked the Third Kazekage with Nine Heavens Divine Lightning, but the Kazekage evaded most of it by merging into the desert sand.
• The Third Kazekage changed tactics and flew to Shukaku, forcing Kawafune to leave Tsunade’s side and protect her from an iron sand attack.
• The Third Kazekage and Shukaku used wind and iron sand to bind Tsunade, then sealed her inside a pyramid with Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal.
• Kawafune used Gate of the Great God to immobilize Shukaku and began sealing his Chakra, disrupting the pyramid’s curse markings.
• The Third Kazekage launched Iron Sand Spinners at the pyramid while Kawafune struck Shukaku with lightning, and the pyramid began to collapse as the attack arrived.

Tsunade revealed that she had become a perfect Jinchuriki and joined Kawafune in confronting the Third Kazekage. The Third Kazekage died unleashing a final attack that devastated Konoha’s forces, while Shukaku escaped with Rasa.

• Tsunade transformed completely into Chōmei and reassured Kawafune that she remained in control.
• The Third Kazekage swallowed Chiyo’s life-burning pill and prepared to sacrifice himself with a massive Iron Sand attack.
• Kawafune struck the Third Kazekage’s throat as Tsunade’s Chōmei split his body, but the Iron Sand wave swept across the battlefield.
• Shukaku seized Rasa and escaped with him while Bunbuku fled, and Kawafune rescued two young Konoha ninja from the attack.
• Tsunade and Sakumo organized a rescue, but by nightfall the Third Kazekage’s final attack had killed or wounded most of Konoha’s forces.

Iwagakure joined the war and sent Han with a force toward the Land of Wind, forcing Konoha’s camp to prepare for another front. At the front lines, Tsunade broke down after treating wounded ninja, and Kawafune comforted her.

• The Third Tsuchikage ordered Han to lead Iwa Ninja toward the Land of Wind and began preparing to strike Konoha’s supply camp.
• Konoha scouts discovered Iwagakure’s advance and sent word to Yūhi Shinku and the front lines.
• Yūhi Shinku ordered the camp to prepare for the enemy, and Might Duy agreed to stay and help defend it.
• Tsunade collapsed after treating the wounded and told Kawafune she had let them down.
• Kawafune held Tsunade and reassured her that she had done well.

After the Third Kazekage’s defeat left Tsunade devastated and Sunagakure in ruins, Kawafune helped Tsunade rest while Pakura became the village’s acting Fourth Kazekage. The Land of Wind’s Daimyo sought peace, but Konoha’s strength made the outcome uncertain, leaving the Daimyo fearing his country could be swallowed.

• Kawafune carried the grieving Tsunade to her tent, comforted her, and stayed until she fell asleep.
• Bunbuku and Sunagakure’s leaders debated who should lead the defeated village, and Rasa agreed to yield the position to Pakura until he was older.
• Pakura accepted the role of acting Fourth Kazekage, promised to protect the villagers, and ordered the Sand Ninja to gather intelligence while awaiting the Daimyo’s negotiations.
• The Land of Wind’s Daimyo sent envoys to seek peace after learning of the Third Kazekage’s death and Sunagakure’s crushing defeat.
• News spread that Kawafune had killed Hanzō and Tsunade had become the Seven-Tails’ Jinchuriki, while Konoha’s advantage made the Land of Fire’s Daimyo unwilling to accept peace.

Tsunade’s war council learned that Iwagakure had attacked Konoha’s supply camp, so the Konoha forces hurried to reinforce it. At the border, Might Duy fought Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and their duel remained unresolved.

• Tsunade’s council debated whether to retreat or attack until a scout reported that about a thousand Iwagakure ninja had attacked the supply camp.
• Kawafune ordered the Konoha forces to reinforce the camp, and Sakumo went ahead because he was worried about Might Duy.
• Tsunade and Kawafune led the wounded and other Konoha ninja toward the Land of Wind’s border, where Konoha and Iwagakure were already fighting.
• Yūhi Shinku used Genjutsu to help Konoha defeat several Iwagakure Jonin.
• Might Duy exchanged powerful kicks with Han, discovered that Han was the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and continued their duel after both were forced back.

Might Duy and Han fought to a mutual defeat after escalating their attacks with the Seventh Gate and Han’s partial Tailed Beast Transformation. The battle ended with both incapacitated, and Yūhi Shinku guarded Might Duy as Konoha ninja rushed to protect them.

• Might Duy and Han exchanged powerful close-range attacks until Duy used Morning Peacock to injure Han and gain the upper hand.
• Han entered a partial Tailed Beast Transformation, knocked Might Duy away, and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at him.
• Might Duy opened the Seventh Gate and used Daytime Tiger to meet Han’s Tailed Beast Bomb in a massive explosion.
• Might Duy tricked Han into attacking and used Thousand Years of Death, sending Han flying and disrupting his Chakra.
• Han rejected Kokuō’s offer to take control, and both Han and Might Duy collapsed after their transformations ended.
• Yūhi Shinku reached Might Duy and joined Konoha ninja in guarding him while the two sides rushed toward the fallen fighters.

After Might Duy wounded Han and stopped Iwagakure’s attack, Konoha’s commanders weighed retreat as Sakumo arrived at the supply camp. A few days later Tsunade and reinforcements gathered there, while the Third Tsuchikage approached and Sunagakure recovered with the Daimyo’s support, leaving Konoha facing a widening war.

• Han ordered Iwagakure to retreat after Might Duy fought him off, and Yūhi Shinku gathered Konoha’s forces and arranged treatment for the wounded.
• Sakumo arrived at the camp, learned that Might Duy had been injured again, and discussed Iwagakure’s Jinchuriki and the possibility of Konoha retreating with Yūhi Shinku.
• Han took his force into the Land of Birds, where he rested after suppressing Kokuō and waited for the Third Tsuchikage to arrive.
• Kawafune and Tsunade reached the supply camp with their troops as the Third Tsuchikage’s force neared the border of the Land of Birds.
• Sunagakure’s ninja emerged from their underground caves, and Pakura reestablished contact with the Daimyo, who sent financial support and supplies.

After heavy losses and the threat of Iwagakure and Sunagakure, Tsunade’s forces decided to evacuate to the Land of Fire. In Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen approved reinforcements for the front, including the Uchiha Clan and elites from every clan.

• Hayato reported that Sunagakure had regrouped with strong Daimyo support and Iwagakure was advancing toward the Land of Birds with the Third Tsuchikage.
• Kawafune urged a retreat, and Tsunade agreed to evacuate the wounded while her remaining forces covered the rear.
• Kawafune told Hayato to keep watch on the Third Tsuchikage, and Tsunade ordered the unit to withdraw toward the Land of Fire.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Konoha’s leaders that Iwagakure had joined the war and that Tsunade’s unit and the Land of Fire needed support.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen approved deploying the Uchiha Clan and elites from every clan, while Uchiha Fugaku privately resented the clan’s exclusion from Konoha’s core leadership.

Fugaku's Uncle rallied the Uchiha Clan to support Tsunade's battlefield mission, persuading them that cooperation could improve the clan's standing in Konoha. The clan agreed to deploy under his personal leadership, with strict orders to avoid conflict with their fellow village ninjas.

• Fugaku returned from the war council and joined the assembly where his Uncle prepared the Uchiha for the support mission.
• Several clansmen objected to the deployment and questioned whether Tsunade and Hatake Kawafune could be trusted.
• The Clan Head listened to the objections, then spent two hours explaining why the mission was an opportunity for the Uchiha.
• The Uchiha clansmen accepted his vision and shouted their support for the clan's future.
• The Clan Head ordered everyone to prepare and warned that he would show no mercy if they fought Konoha's ninjas on the battlefield.

Konoha’s reinforcements set out as Kawafune and Tsunade led the wounded toward the Land of Rain, wary that Ōnoki might pursue them. After learning Konoha was retreating, Ōnoki ordered his forces to move against them.

• The Uchiha Clan Head led his clan’s elites alongside Konoha’s other forces, while Fugaku asked whether they would follow Hatake Kawafune’s commands and promised to keep training.
• Konoha’s reinforcements departed, with the Uchiha and Hyuga clans at the front and ordinary shinobi following behind.
• Kawafune and Tsunade continued escorting the wounded, and Kawafune comforted Tsunade after she refused to leave any injured comrades behind.
• Ōnoki learned from Han that Might Duy had badly injured him, then heard Konoha’s forces were withdrawing toward the Land of Rain.
• Ōnoki declared it was too late for Konoha to escape, took to the air, and led Han and the Iwa shinobi in pursuit.

Kawafune and Tsunade led Konoha ninja to intercept Ōnoki’s Iwa forces, and the two sides began a fierce battle. Kawafune wounded his arm while evading Dust Release, healed it with the Slug Sage, and unleashed a powerful lightning technique against Ōnoki as the fight continued.

• Chōmei sensed Kokuō approaching, and Kawafune led the Konoha ninja to confront Ōnoki and the Iwa forces.
• Ōnoki attacked with Dust Release, but Kawafune warned the Konoha ninja, who evaded the blast before both sides charged into battle.
• Tsunade fought Han away from the main forces while Kawafune clashed with Ōnoki, evading his earth techniques and reaching him with a lightning-fast attack.
• Ōnoki struck Kawafune with Dust Release, removing part of his right arm, but Kawafune healed it with his own ability and the Slug Sage.
• Ōnoki summoned a rock monster and trapped Kawafune’s sword in its head; Kawafune abandoned the weapon to escape the Dust Release attack.
• Kawafune used Sage Art: Nine Heavens Divine Lightning against the airborne Ōnoki.

Kawafune battered Ōnoki and then used a powerful Sage Art punch to destroy Han’s Tailed Beast Bomb without harming the Konoha ninja behind him. With Sage Mode spent and Ōnoki recovered, Tsunade pursued the injured Han.

• Ōnoki destroyed Kawafune’s rock giant with Dust Release, but Kawafune’s lightning struck him and a Thunderclap Fist sent him crashing to the ground.
• Han fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at Kawafune to save Ōnoki, giving Tsunade an opening to kick Han and send him and Kokuō flying.
• Kawafune charged the Tailed Beast Bomb and shattered it with Sage Art: Lightning Style: Crushing Fist, though the blast wounded him before the Slug Sage healed him.
• Kawafune exhausted his senjutsu Chakra and left Sage Mode, while Ōnoki climbed out of the crater and avoided flying again.
• Tsunade caught up with Han as he descended, ready to attack him while he was down.

Han lost control of his body, allowing Kokuō to emerge and fight Tsunade while Ōnoki remained locked in battle with Kawafune. Tsunade and Kokuō exchanged powerful attacks as Kawafune thwarted Ōnoki’s attempt to reach them, then used Flying Thunder God to join Tsunade.

• Kokuō broke through Han’s mental defenses, took control, and emerged in his complete form to attack Tsunade.
• Tsunade struck Kokuō between his horns, but he flung her away and left a severe wound in her leg that Creation Rebirth began healing.
• Tsunade used Chōmei’s Chakra to transform, and her Tailed Beast Bomb collided with Kokuō’s in a massive explosion.
• Ōnoki trapped Kawafune with Earth Style techniques, but Kawafune escaped with Flying Thunder God and injured Ōnoki in their next clash.
• Ōnoki flew toward Kokuō to try to save Han, while Kawafune, low on senjutsu Chakra, used Flying Thunder God to reach Tsunade on Chōmei’s back.

Kawafune negotiated with Ōnoki for two Earth Style secret techniques in exchange for helping rescue Han from rampaging Kokuō. After Ōnoki handed over the scrolls and lifted his weight technique, he trapped Kokuō in a swamp and warned Kawafune and Tsunade not to kill him.

• Kawafune failed to dispel Ōnoki's Added-Weight Rock Technique as Kokuō rampaged and attacked the surrounding fighters.
• Ōnoki offered to take Han back to Iwagakure if Kawafune and Tsunade helped deal with Kokuō, and Kawafune demanded Earth Style secret techniques as compensation.
• Ōnoki gave Kawafune scrolls containing the Lightweight Rock Technique and Added-Weight Rock Technique, then released the weight technique affecting him.
• Ōnoki used Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld to trap Kokuō's legs and urged Kawafune and Tsunade to hold back.

Kawafune and Tsunade helped Ōnoki subdue Kokuō and extract Han, but Tsunade sealed Kokuō inside him with a Four Symbols Seal. Ōnoki withdrew with the Iwa ninjas, and the Konoha forces prepared to return.

• Ōnoki used Dust Release to counter Kokuō's Tailed Beast Bomb while Kawafune and Tsunade waited for an opening.
• Chōmei rammed Kokuō, and Kawafune struck him, leaving the trapped Tailed Beast unconscious.
• Tsunade used the Four Symbols Seal to extract Han and restrict Kokuō, angering Ōnoki.
• Kawafune told Ōnoki to take Han and leave, and Ōnoki flew away with him.
• Ōnoki ordered the Iwa ninjas to retreat, and Tsunade and Kawafune led the Konoha forces back.

Kawafune and Tsunade caught up with the retreating Konoha forces after defeating their pursuers, then rejoined Nawaki, Minato, and the wounded at the Land of Rain border. Kawafune offered Nawaki and Minato two Earth Style techniques taken from Ōnoki, while Tsunade urged Kawafune to learn them too.

• Kawafune and Tsunade discussed Han's injuries and the danger posed by Iwagakure's Four-Tails Jinchuriki as they pursued the retreating troops.
• Tsunade punched Kawafune after noticing his suggestive stare, and he chased after her while keeping his distance.
• Kawafune and Tsunade caught up with the Konoha forces at the Land of Rain border, where Nawaki and Minato were carrying injured ninja.
• Kawafune told Nawaki and Minato he had acquired two of Ōnoki's Earth Style techniques, including one that allowed its user to fly.
• Nawaki eagerly agreed to train, and Minato asked whether the techniques suited him.
• Tsunade encouraged Kawafune to learn the techniques himself, pointing out that his Earth affinity could make them useful.

Tsunade, Kawafune, Minato, and Nawaki returned safely after defeating the Iwa ninja, while Sakumo urged them to keep their guard up and hurry to the Land of Fire. Back at the Iwa camp, Ōnoki had the injured Han treated and ordered his Sealing Squad to study Tsunade’s seal.

• Tsunade punched Nawaki and Kawafune for mocking her, then took Minato with her as Nawaki rushed after them.
• Sakumo arrived, learned that the group had defeated the Iwa ninja, and told them not to trust Ōnoki’s words completely.
• Tsunade agreed with Sakumo, and Konoha’s forces advanced from the Land of Rain toward the Land of Fire.
• Ōnoki brought the unconscious Han to the Iwa camp and ordered the Sealing Squad and medical ninja to examine him.
• The medical ninja stabilized Han’s injuries but said he would not wake soon, while Ōnoki ordered the Sealing Squad to study Tsunade’s seal.