Chapter Summaries

Ying defeated Naruto Uzumaki after overpowering his five-tailed Nine-Tails cloak with a sustained Dark Chakra blast. She exhausted nearly all her Dark Chakra but demonstrated strength comparable to the Five Kage, while Orosuke Hime continued to covet Amakawa Mingren’s body.

• Orosuke Hime watched Amakawa Mingren and focused on obtaining his body, while Kabuto recovered from his wounds and observed the battle.
• Ying and five-tailed Naruto Uzumaki fought at full strength, but Naruto’s Tailed Beast Cloak left him unharmed by her close-range attacks.
• Ying and Naruto charged their strongest attacks, then Ying’s black beam overpowered Naruto’s Tailed Beast Bomb and engulfed him in a massive blast.
• The explosion left a vast crater, with Naruto unconscious at its center and his Tailed Beast Cloak gone.
• Ying panted after nearly exhausting her Dark Chakra, and someone praised her performance.

Mingren defeated Naruto’s side and warned that he would destroy Konoha in less than a year, while Sasuke and Orosuke Hime set out to pursue the Six-Tails. Back with Team 7, Kakashi promised to help Naruto develop the Rasengan’s true form, and Yamato reported that Sai had gone to find Orochimaru.

• Orosuke Hime chose not to challenge Mingren, who announced that he would destroy Konoha in less than a year and judge its past sins.
• Sasuke and Orosuke Hime decided to head to the Land of Water to pursue the Six-Tails, but Sai approached them with a request from Danzo.
• Sakura treated Naruto as he recovered from his defeat, and Kakashi urged him to develop a new technique by completing the Rasengan’s true form.
• Yamato told Kakashi that Sai was missing and had likely gone to find Orochimaru.

After returning to Amegakure, Mingren planned to use Akatsuki’s coming attack on Yugito Nii to create an opportunity to save her and place a pawn inside Kumogakure. Pakura asked him how to grow stronger, and he prompted her to rediscover the passion behind her former strength.

• Kakashi told Naruto and Sakura to return while he followed Orochimaru, and he left Naruto’s chakra-nature training to Yamato.
• Mingren returned to Amegakure with Ying and ordered word sent to Kumogakure and Kirigakure that Akatsuki might target their Tailed Beasts.
• Mingren explained that warning Kumogakure could establish grounds for rescuing Yugito Nii and gaining a pawn within the village.
• Pakura followed Mingren and asked him to help her become stronger.
• Mingren urged Pakura to remember why she had once been powerful, and she identified her former driving force as pride.

Mingren trained Pakura in a way that gave her a sense of superiority over Ying and Asuka, while the Akatsuki prepared to capture the Tailed Beasts. After learning Kirigakure had protected Utakata, Pain changed the plan and decided to pursue the Six-Tails himself.

• Mingren told Pakura he could help her regain her pride, and she agreed to his difficult training method.
• Ying returned home boasting to Tsuchigumo Cocoon that she had defeated Naruto Uzumaki after he unleashed five tails and was now the strongest in the Amegakure Allied Forces beneath Mingren and the Demigod.
• A dispatched ANBU to protect Yugito, while Mei Terumi ordered guards to watch over the Three-Tails and kept Utakata in Kirigakure for protection.
• White Zetsu clones reported Kumogakure and Kirigakure's responses to the Akatsuki at its old hideout in the Land of Rain.
• Pain learned Kirigakure had protected Utakata and ordered Orochimaru to capture the Three-Tails while he personally went after the Six-Tails.

Pain announced that he would personally invade Kirigakure to capture the Six-Tails, giving Orosuke Hime a reason to hurry toward the Land of Water and watch for a chance to take the Rinnegan. Meanwhile, Pakura grew closer to Amakawa Mingren and regained her pride, while Asuka continued training with Hanzo and received a new suggestion for improving her skills.

• Pain declared that he would storm Kirigakure alone and seize the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, confident that the Rinnegan made him stronger than the entire village.
• Orosuke Hime decided to hasten her journey to the Land of Water, deal with the Three-Tails, and observe Pain for a possible opportunity to seize the Rinnegan.
• After spending a day and night cultivating with Amakawa Mingren, Pakura woke sore, ate breakfast, and asked him what their relationship was before he kissed her.
• Pakura returned to the others with renewed pride, dismissed Ying's challenge, and prepared to adapt to the new Zero-Tails formed through her Dark Chakra Jutsu.
• Asuka trained with Hanzo in the private Training Room, and Hanzo suggested that she try Chakra Flow.

Asuka trained her Chakra Flow while Hanzo considered adapting Water Clone training for broader use, and Ying pushed herself to grow stronger after Ringo Ameyuri provoked her. Mingren told Pakura that Akatsuki had reached the Land of Lightning to capture the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, whose life was in danger because of Kumogakure’s flawed response.

• Hanzo judged Asuka’s Chakra Flow to be A-rank and suggested Shadow Clone training, then considered improving Water Clone as an alternative.
• Ying grew suspicious of Pakura’s changed behavior, and Ringo Ameyuri challenged her to measure herself against Hashirama Senju’s legendary strength.
• Pakura trained late into the night, drank Gelel-infused nutrient fluid, and recovered from her fatigue.
• Mingren informed Pakura that Akatsuki had arrived in the Land of Lightning to take the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and warned that Kumogakure’s strategy would get her killed.

Mingren took Pakura to the Land of Lightning to confront Yugito Nii, giving Pakura a self-repairing combat suit before they left. At a town inn, Pakura challenged Yugito while Kumogakure’s ANBU guarded her, and Yugito realized the strangers might be Akatsuki members.

• Mingren gave Pakura a self-repairing Chakra Armor combat suit and trained her before their mission.
• Ying visited Pakura’s training ground the next morning but found her gone, as Mingren had taken her to the Land of Lightning.
• Yugito rested at a town inn under the protection of twenty Kumogakure ANBU while they waited for Akatsuki to appear.
• Pakura and Mingren entered the inn, and Pakura openly identified Yugito as Kumogakure’s Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Yugito rose and suspected Pakura and Mingren were Akatsuki members, then corrected Pakura by saying she was Kumogakure’s second strongest.

Mingren and Pakura challenged Yugito’s belief that she was Kumogakure’s second-strongest ninja and criticized the village’s emphasis on individual heroism. Yugito rejected their argument and lured them into an abandoned mining area, leaving the encounter poised for a trap.

• Pakura provoked Yugito by arguing that Killer B was stronger because he was a Perfect Jinchuriki, while Yugito could not control the Two-Tails.
• Pakura and Yugito agreed to fight outside, and Yugito sped away from the twenty Kumogakure Anbu to draw the two pursuers away alone.
• Mingren told Yugito that Kumogakure’s individual-hero values had damaged the village and recalled the conflict between the Second Raikage and the Gold and Silver Brothers.
• Yugito dismissed Mingren’s lecture and continued leading her pursuers away, convinced they were Akatsuki terrorists.
• Yugito entered an abandoned mining area with empty office buildings and residences.

Mingren and Pakura confronted Yugito before she could enter the building, and Yugito transformed into the Two-Tails' Complete Tailed Beast Form. Pakura resisted Yugito's flames and activated Dark Scorching Release Chakra Mode to counterattack.

• Mingren stopped Yugito from entering the building, and Pakura challenged her to fight one-on-one.
• Yugito transformed into the Two-Tails' Complete Tailed Beast Form and attacked Mingren and Pakura.
• Yugito struck at Mingren, then engulfed Pakura's position in a giant fireball, but Pakura emerged unharmed.
• Pakura bombarded Yugito with Scorch Release fireballs, forcing Yugito to rely on a fast, powerful claw strike.
• Pakura activated Dark Scorching Release Chakra Mode, moved behind the Two-Tails, and hurled a huge dark fireball at Yugito.

Pakura defeated Yugito after her full Tailed Beast Form drained her strength, and Mingren revealed himself and branded her with Dark Chakra. He left Yugito to be captured by Kakuzu and Hidan, setting his plan to influence Kumogakure in motion.

• Yugito exhausted herself in her Two-Tails form, and Pakura's Scorch Release penetrated the Cat Demon's body and forced her to revert.
• Mingren revealed his identity to the unconscious Yugito and branded her with Dark Chakra.
• Mingren planned to use Yugito as a means to influence Kumogakure and further his goal of unifying the Ninja World.
• Mingren and Pakura concealed themselves, and Yugito awoke healed without noticing anything unusual.
• Kakuzu and Hidan arrived to capture Yugito, and she was defeated again.

After Yugito was defeated and captured, Mingren revealed that he had planted a Dark Shadow inside her and planned to exploit her apparent death. He then took Pakura toward the Land of Fire as Kakuzu and Hidan headed there to target Chiriku, while Naruto rapidly advanced his Wind Release training.

• Kakuzu overwhelmed Yugito, who regretted ignoring warnings before losing consciousness.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu took Yugito away while Kakuzu and Hidan left for the Temple of Fire to hunt Chiriku.
• Mingren told Pakura that a Dark Shadow was inside Yugito and planned to use her apparent death to mislead Akatsuki.
• Mingren and Pakura headed for the Land of Fire to witness what he called another layer of Konoha's darkness.
• Kakuzu and Hidan attacked the Temple of Fire, killed Chiriku, and took his body.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to train Wind Release with Kakashi and Yamato, quickly cutting through a leaf and completing the first stage.

Naruto advanced his Wind Release training while Tsunade sent squads to pursue Kakuzu and Hidan after Chiriku's death. Kurenai suspected the orders were meant to get Asuma killed and sought Kakashi's support, but he rejected her accusations.

• Naruto asked Asuma for Wind Release advice, then began training to cut through a waterfall under Kakashi's supervision.
• Tsunade ordered squads to find Kakuzu and Hidan and told them to capture or kill the Akatsuki members.
• After learning Chiriku had been killed, Kurenai questioned Tsunade's decision to divide the pursuit force, but Tsunade dismissed her concerns.
• Kurenai told Kakashi she suspected Konoha's leadership was sending Asuma to his death, and Kakashi warned her to follow orders.
• Kurenai claimed Tsunade might be taking revenge on the Third Hokage by targeting his son, and Kakashi said he no longer understood her.

Kurenai Yuhi failed to get Kakashi’s help for Asuma and decided to seek aid from the man who had marked her. In the Land of Water, Orosuke Hime met Hiruko, who was collecting Kekkei Genkai, and considered making a deal with him.

• Kurenai Yuhi asked Kakashi to join her, but he refused because he had orders to supervise Naruto’s training.
• Kurenai Yuhi realized her former companions would not help and decided to ask the man who had marked her to save Asuma.
• Orosuke Hime, Sasuke, Kabuto Yakushi, and Karin arrived in the Land of Water and found Hiruko capturing a mist ninja with Dark Release.
• Hiruko explained that he was using the Chimera Technique to collect Kekkei Genkai and become immortal, and revealed that he needed the Sharingan.
• Orosuke Hime considered helping Hiruko in exchange for having him break the Eight Trigrams Seal on her body.

Orosuke Hime brought Sasuke and Hiruko face-to-face with Obito Uchiha, while Nagato’s Akatsuki invaded Kirigakure and captured Utakata. A day and a half later, Naruto finished his waterfall-cutting training, and Kakashi began teaching him about the unfinished technique that combined nature and shape transformation.

• Orosuke Hime introduced Obito Uchiha, calling him “Madara Uchiha,” to Sasuke and Hiruko as he appeared behind the controlled Yagura.
• Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain attacked Kirigakure, overwhelmed its defenders, and demanded the Six-Tails.
• Utakata transformed and charged Pain, but the Outer Path absorbed his Tailed Beast Chakra, and the Pains immobilized him with black rods.
• Konan wrapped up Utakata and carried him away, prompting Mei Terumi to order Kirigakure to seek Amegakure’s protection.
• Naruto completed waterfall-cutting training, and Kakashi began explaining the challenge of combining nature transformation with the Rasengan’s shape transformation.

Kurenai Yuhi asked Amakawa Mingren to save Asuma in exchange for joining Amegakure, and Mingren instead ordered her to become a disguised operative. She helped Mingren approach Asuma and Hidan, where he secretly marked Asuma before Asuma attacked Hidan.

• Kakashi told Naruto he believed Naruto could surpass Minato, and Naruto left to train.
• Kurenai Yuhi caught up with Amakawa Mingren and Pakura and offered to join Amegakure if Mingren saved Asuma.
• Mingren rejected Kurenai Yuhi's proposed bargain, gave her a disguise and Restraint Tool, and took her along as an operative.
• Pakura left the inn to scout the area near Asuma's team.
• Kurenai Yuhi used Genjutsu to distract Asuma and Hidan while Mingren touched Asuma and placed a Dark Chakra Jutsu on him.
• Asuma hurled a Shuriken at Hidan as the brief distraction ended.

Asuma and his team fought Hidan and Kakuzu, but the Akatsuki members overwhelmed them and Hidan pierced Asuma’s heart. As Hidan and Kakuzu left for urgent business, Kurenai carried Asuma away, while his death ended the dispute over who would become the Sixth Hokage.

• Kakuzu broke Shikamaru’s Shadow Binding Technique, and Asuma urged his team to fight aggressively because retreat would leave Konoha facing a greater threat.
• Asuma could not match Hidan in taijutsu, and Hidan used his blood curse to turn the battle against Asuma’s team.
• Shikamaru deciphered Hidan’s technique and cut off his head, but Kakuzu reattached it and helped Hidan defeat the team.
• Hidan pierced Asuma’s heart, and he and Kakuzu left to handle the sealing of the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Six-Tails.
• Asuma’s death weakened the Sarutobi Clan and cleared the way for Kakashi Hatake to become the Sixth Hokage.
• Kurenai carried Asuma away as Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino watched in the rain.

After Asuma was reported dead, Kurenai disappeared from Konoha, while Kakashi explained their relationship to Tsunade. Kurenai had secretly taken Asuma to Amegakure, where Amakawa Mingren had revived him and forced Kurenai to become a spy in Konoha; the chapter then shifted to Kakuzu and Hidan arriving at Mount Sumeru.

• Shikamaru and the others returned to Konoha and reported Asuma's death, while Tsunade discovered Kurenai had not come back with them.
• Naruto developed an initial form of A-rank Wind Release: Rasengan, but Yamato soon told him and Kakashi that Asuma had been killed in battle.
• Kakashi told Tsunade that Kurenai had loved Asuma and suggested grief had driven her to disappear, prompting Tsunade to worry about Amakawa Mingren's planned attack on Konoha.
• Kurenai visited Asuma, who was alive in a Life Support Pod in Amegakure, and Amakawa Mingren told her she would become his spy in Konoha.
• Kakuzu and Hidan arrived at Mount Sumeru in the Golden Wheel Mountain Range.

Kakuzu and Hidan joined Akatsuki as Hiruko completed the Six-Tails sealing and prepared a ritual to gain a perfect immortal body. As the organization began sealing the Two-Tails, Konoha’s team prepared to avenge Asuma, while Itachi questioned the village’s motives and his own past choices.

• Kakuzu and Hidan arrived at the ancient castle, where Pain introduced Hiruko as a new Akatsuki member and the Six-Tails sealing ended.
• Obito revealed that he had sacrificed Yagura to help Hiruko, while Pain ordered the Akatsuki to seal Yugito and extract Matatabi.
• Hiruko explained that he needed the Golden Wheel Solar Ring, Mount Sumeru, and Sharingan to complete his Chimera Technique, then vowed to challenge Pain and Tobi.
• Tsunade tried to stop Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino from seeking revenge for Asuma, but Kakashi volunteered to join their squad.
• Three days later, Itachi reflected on Asuma’s death, Tsunade’s possible political motives, and his belief that exterminating his clan had been a mistake.

Itachi decided to keep his Akatsuki intelligence from Tsunade and considered Naruto a better future Hokage. Hiruko completed his Chimera Technique fusion and challenged Amakawa Mingren, who arrived at the castle with Asuka and dismissed Hiruko’s bloodline obsession as trash.

• Itachi decided not to tell Tsunade about his intelligence on Akatsuki and planned to judge Naruto’s fitness to become Hokage before entrusting him with Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami eye.
• Hiruko completed the extraction of the Two-Tails from Yugito, then used the annular solar eclipse ritual to fuse the Sharingan and four Kekkei Genkai into his body.
• Hiruko emerged as a young, seemingly immortal ninja with five Kekkei Genkai and declared that he would challenge Amakawa Mingren.
• Shikamaru and Kakashi’s group were discovered, but Amakawa Mingren and Asuka arrived first and announced their identities to the assembled Akatsuki members.
• Mingren praised the Chimera Technique’s versatility but called Hiruko’s ideas and bloodline obsession trash.

Hiruko unleashed his stolen kekkei genkai against Amakawa Mingren, but Mingren endured every attack without injury. The battle continued with the Akatsuki members and Asuka heading toward their own opponents.

• Hiruko blasted half the castle apart with a massive Chakra eruption, while Mingren shielded Asuka and remained unharmed.
• Asuka went after Hiruko’s three subordinates, while Kakuzu and Hidan pursued Shikamaru and the others.
• Hiruko used Dark Release to absorb and return Mingren’s attack, then struck him repeatedly with Swift Release, Steel Release, and Sharingan, but Mingren was unharmed.
• Hiruko fired his S-rank Evil Self-Destruction Battle technique, and Mingren emerged from the smoke with his Chakra Armor intact.