Chapter Summaries

Shimizu, Barry, and Harvey Dent entered the dark alternate world to help Batman, but their arrival drew the attention of its powerful villains. After rescuing civilians from Firefly, they fled from a gigantic Killer Croc.

• Barry appeared before Shimizu, and Harvey Dent explained that a doomed alternate world threatened theirs and that Batman had gone ahead to save Jason.
• Shimizu, Barry, and Harvey met Nightwing at the spatial gate, then crossed into the alternate world with Harvey leading the way.
• Firefly attacked fleeing civilians, so Barry rescued them while Shimizu froze Firefly with the White Warrior's Freeze Gun.
• Harvey warned Barry that he could not save everyone, and Shimizu reminded him that they needed to protect an entire world.
• The group spotted a towering Killer Croc approaching and quickly moved away to avoid him.

Shimizu, Barry, and Harvey Dent reached Arkham Asylum and discovered Batman battling Cthulhu Batman beneath the building. As Batman neared defeat, Shimizu and Barry raced in to help him.

• Shimizu, Barry, and Harvey Dent entered Arkham Asylum, where they found dead villains and a vast altar beneath the building.
• Batman fought Cthulhu Batman’s tentacles while Jason and Jewonni hung unconscious, connected to the creature.
• The otherworldly Harvey Dent explained that a dark being fed on the world’s fear and asked them to free Bruce by removing an unknown-metal Batarang.
• The otherworldly Harvey revealed that he had been Bruce’s childhood friend and Robin before becoming Two-Face.
• As Batman was about to be seized by a tentacle, Shimizu and Barry sped toward the battle in flashes of lightning.

Batman, Shimizu, and Barry fought Cthulhu Batman, working together to expose the Batarang lodged in his heart. After Batman pulled it free and stopped the tentacles, he tried to save the other Bruce, but Shimizu approached with his electric sword as Batman warned him not to kill anyone.

• Batman assessed the battlefield and ordered Wade to restrain Cthulhu Batman's tentacles while Barry carried him toward the enemy's main body.
• Shimizu and Barry held back the tentacles as Shimizu created a tornado, giving Batman an opening to attack Cthulhu Batman with Nth Metal blades.
• When Batman's armor ran out of power, Barry hurled a lightning spear that split part of Cthulhu Batman's tentacle suit and revealed Bruce Wayne's face.
• Batman tore open the tentacle armor, pulled the black Batarang from Cthulhu Batman's heart, and stopped the tentacles; Barry rescued Jason and Jewonni.
• Batman injected the wounded Bruce with adrenaline and prepared to treat his heart, while Shimizu approached with his electric sword and Batman warned him not to kill anyone.

Shimizu healed the alternate-universe Batman, who explained that Darkness Itself had resurrected and controlled him to offer his world as a source of fear. Though Barry tried to free the people and Bruce considered destroying the gateway, alternate-universe Harvey said the world could not be saved; alternate-universe Bruce chose to stay and promised to warn them if the worst came.

• Shimizu used the Mystical Palm Technique to heal the alternate-universe Batman, while Barry freed Jason and Jewonni by cutting the black tentacles with the Batarang.
• Alternate-universe Batman told Bruce that Darkness Itself had resurrected him and implanted the goal of offering his world as a source of fear.
• Shimizu finished healing alternate-universe Batman, but alternate-universe Harvey warned that the world and its people belonged to Darkness Itself and could not be saved.
• Barry tried repeatedly to cut the tentacle behind Harvey's neck, but it reconnected each time, and Harvey explained that destroying the gateway had only made another one appear.
• Alternate-universe Bruce told the others to return to their world and promised to send a warning if his world reached its worst moment.
• Shimizu asked how alternate-universe Bruce would contact them, suggesting Harvey as a possible link.

Batman, Shimizu, and Barry closed the portal between their worlds, while the otherworldly Batman and Harvey stayed behind to delay the danger threatening their world. In the Land of Rain, Yahiko celebrated news that the canal between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain would bring cooperation and peace.

• The two Batmen planned to use a pair of dark-matter Batarangs and Barry's speed to close the portal, while the otherworldly Batman and Harvey promised to buy their world time.
• Nightwing took Jason and Jewonni for examination after Batman warned that their consciousnesses had been eroded.
• Barry charged across the world and threw a Batarang into the other, triggering an explosion that closed the portal.
• Shimizu, Batman, and Barry confirmed the spatial anomaly had disappeared and found the portal gone from the ruined altar.
• Yahiko returned to Jiraiya's house with breakfast and a newspaper reporting that the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain would sign a navigation agreement.
• Jiraiya explained the canal's benefits and agreed with Yahiko that understanding between nations could bring peace.

The Third Kazekage and Hanzo formed an alliance as they opened the canal linking the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain. While Rasa investigated captured infiltrators and Shimizu and Pakura discussed chakra fusion, Shimizu noticed an Amegakure guard eavesdropping.

• The Third Kazekage and Hanzo signed an alliance agreement and opened the canal floodgates, sending water rushing into the downstream channel.
• A Sunagakure Anbu brought suspicious captives to Rasa, who doubted that their apparent Cursed Tongue Eradication Seals proved they were Root ninja.
• Rasa ordered the Sealing Squad to verify the seals and considered having Chiyo interrogate the captives as reports arrived of new Konoha infiltrators.
• The Third Kazekage and Hanzo discussed military cooperation, including jointly holding the Chunin Exams.
• Pakura told Shimizu about her difficulties fusing Fire Release and Wind Release, and Shimizu promised to share his ideas after they returned to the village.
• Shimizu noticed an Amegakure guard secretly listening to his conversation with Pakura.

Shimizu and Pakura survived an assassination attempt during their meeting with the Third Kazekage and Hanzo, discovering that the attackers were Konoha spies using Reverse Four Symbols Sealing. The Third Kazekage reprimanded Rasa and told Hanzo to apologize to the two young ninja.

• Shimizu spotted an Amegakure guard signaling and defended himself and Pakura when an assassin attacked.
• An Amegakure ninja trapped Shimizu, Pakura, and the attackers inside a lightning barrier while the Third Kazekage and Hanzo tried to break it.
• Shimizu killed one assassin with his sword, and Pakura burned the other, but the dead man's body began activating Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
• Shimizu and Pakura escaped the expanding seal with help from the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand and Hanzo's attack on the barrier.
• The Third Kazekage had an accomplice's corpse recovered and ordered Elder Chiyo to inspect it, then criticized Rasa for failing to investigate Amegakure.
• Hanzo apologized for the Konoha spies among his people, and the Third Kazekage told him to apologize to Shimizu and Pakura.

After Konoha's failed assassination attempt on Shimizu and Pakura, Sunagakure and Amegakure joined forces to pressure Konoha. In Konoha, Danzo defended the attack to Hiruzen Sarutobi and the elders, arguing that Shimizu and Pakura threatened the village.

• Hanzo offered Shimizu a swordsmanship scroll and ten million ryo in compensation, and Shimizu accepted half the payment while urging Hanzo to stand with Sunagakure against Konoha.
• The Third Kazekage praised Shimizu's judgment and worried that Shimizu and Rasa might eventually clash over Sunagakure's succession.
• Chiyo and Ebizo demanded that Konoha pay for the attack, then led several thousand Sand Ninja toward the Land of Rivers as Hanzo sent two thousand men toward the Land of Fire's border.
• Mitokado Homura confronted Danzo in Hiruzen Sarutobi's office about the assassination attempt, and Danzo insisted he had acted to protect Konoha.
• Danzo argued that Shimizu and Pakura would become threats to Konoha, citing their early promotions and Shimizu's role in Sunagakure's canal construction, while Hiruzen and the other elders read his intelligence scroll.

Hiruzen and Danzo argued over Konoha’s failed attempt to eliminate Shimizu and the prospect of war with Sunagakure and Amegakure. Hiruzen assigned Sakumo to command, but learned that Sakumo had died by seppuku, leaving Konoha’s leadership reeling.

• Hiruzen criticized Danzo for exposing Konoha’s role in the failed assassination and warned that the village lacked manpower for another war.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to let him gather clan elites and lead the fight, but Hiruzen refused and planned to negotiate with the clans himself.
• Hiruzen chose Orochimaru to command one front and Sakumo to go into battle, while noting Jiraiya and Tsunade were unavailable.
• Minato reported that Hatake Sakumo had committed seppuku and that his son, Hatake Kakashi, had found him.
• Hiruzen ordered Minato to seal off the news and bring Jiraiya back, then blamed Danzo for Sakumo’s death.
• Hiruzen lamented the recent losses of Sakumo, Tsunade’s health, and Dan Katō, and the decline of Konoha’s strength.

Hiruzen removed Danzo from leadership of Root and sent Mitokado Homura to negotiate with Sunagakure, while Shimizu and Sasori’s attempt to build a programmable control unit stalled over their processor. As Konoha’s envoy arrived, Sunagakure’s leaders began considering how to handle the negotiations, with the Third Kazekage asking Shimizu for his view.

• Hiruzen rejected Danzo’s demand to lead the war, sent Mitokado Homura to negotiate with the Third Kazekage, and appointed Orochimaru acting leader of Root.
• Hiruzen reviewed reports on Shimizu and Pakura and resolved to pass Minato Namikaze his teacher’s technique.
• Shimizu and Sasori failed to advance their Sealed Logic Control Unit because Sunagakure lacked sufficient knowledge to improve its processor.
• An Anbu informed Shimizu that Konoha’s envoys had arrived, and Shimizu left for the Kazekage’s Office Building.
• The Third Kazekage briefed Shimizu, Pakura, Rasa, Karura, and the elders on Konoha’s troop deployments and asked Shimizu how Sunagakure should handle negotiations.
• The Third Kazekage said Konoha wanted to prevent war because it lacked confidence of victory.

Shimizu advised Sunagakure to use peace negotiations with Konoha to obtain Sealing Technique, and the Third Kazekage accepted his proposal. In the Demon Slayer World, Shimizu tested a Daylight Lamp on demon blood and considered how to research demon-to-human medicine without risking Muzan's control.

• Shimizu explained that Sunagakure should set its negotiation goals and seek resources while avoiding demands that could provoke another war.
• Shimizu identified Sealing Technique as Sunagakure's greatest need, and the Third Kazekage agreed to let Shimizu and Pakura speak up during negotiations.
• Rasa agreed with Shimizu, while the Third Kazekage privately felt disappointed that Rasa had been surpassed by his junior.
• Shimizu instructed his Object Manifestation in the DC World to find a negotiation expert as soon as possible.
• Shimizu tested how a Daylight Lamp affected Gyokko's blood and recorded how Scarlet Iron sand might improve its spectrum.
• Shimizu examined his sealed, immortal flesh sample and rejected using Muzan's blood, deciding to investigate the medicine that could turn demons back into humans.

Shimizu and Shinobu Kocho discussed researching a cure to turn demons back into humans before testing Shimizu’s Daylight Lamp Flashlight on captured demons. The lamp proved capable of killing demons quickly, giving the Demon Slayer Corps hope, though Shimizu warned that its cost and manufacturing limits would make widespread use difficult.

• Shimizu sealed away the flesh sample and told Shinobu Kocho he was researching a medicine that could turn demons back into humans.
• Shinobu offered to help with the research and suggested studying Tanjiro’s sister, while Shimizu proposed involving biomedical scientists through his family connections.
• Shinobu told Shimizu that Sanemi and Uzui had captured demons for a Daylight Lamp test, and they went together to the wisteria forest.
• Shimizu used the Daylight Lamp Flashlight to kill the chained demons in seconds to half a minute, thrilling Ubuyashiki Kagaya and the Pillars.
• Shimizu explained that the flashlight had limited battery life and relied on materials and technology that could not yet be mass-produced, while Sanemi suggested equipping a small number of weaker Corps members.

Shimizu revealed that Crimson Blades could suppress demon regeneration, adding another weapon alongside the Daylight Lamp Flashlight in the fight against demons. Gyomei Himejima, Uzui Tengen, and Iguro Obanai each tried to turn their Nichirin Blades crimson, while Tokito Muichiro was told he was too young to learn Uzui's supposed method.

• Shimizu warned Ubuyashiki Kagaya and the Hashira that Daylight Lamps could not reliably kill stronger demons, then showed them how he turned his Nichirin Blade crimson.
• Shimizu explained that Crimson Blades suppressed demon regeneration, and Gyomei Himejima awakened one by swinging and striking his chained weapons together.
• Uzui Tengen claimed he had nearly awakened the Transparent World after sleeping with his three wives, but Rengoku Kyojuro told Tokito Muichiro that he was too young to learn that method.
• Uzui Tengen used Sound Breathing, First Form: Roar, to turn his golden twin blades crimson.
• Iguro Obanai borrowed Tokito Muichiro's Nichirin Blade and revealed that he had learned the Transparent World with guidance from Shimizu and Gyomei Himejima.

Shimizu proposed modifying Nichirin Blades with batteries so every Demon Slayer could wield a Crimson Blade, and Ubuyashiki Kagaya pledged support for the factory and materials. Shimizu's fortune progress reached 98.7 percent before the story shifted to Sunagakure, where its leaders celebrated a negotiation with Konoha that Shimizu had steered to their advantage.

• Iguro Obanai failed to forge a Crimson Blade, and his exchange with Tomioka Giyu nearly led to a fight before Shimizu intervened.
• Shimizu explained that batteries could heat Nichirin Blades and make mass-produced Crimson Blades possible for the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Ubuyashiki Kagaya pledged funds and influence to build a battery factory and gather materials for Daylight Lamps.
• Shimizu's fortune progress rose to 98.7 percent after his police rank had advanced to Assistant Inspector.
• In Sunagakure, Chiyo and the Third Kazekage celebrated their successful negotiation with Konoha and credited Shimizu with controlling its course.

The Third Kazekage reviewed the gains from Sunagakure’s negotiations and planned to use the revenue and resources to strengthen the village. Ebizo then shared intelligence suggesting Hatake Sakumo had died by suicide, leaving Chiyo uncertain whether she would ever get her revenge.

• The Third Kazekage assigned Chiyo to lead the Sealing Squad in mastering the acquired techniques and developing seals to suppress tailed beasts.
• Shimizu and the Third Kazekage discussed the benefits of the agreement, including the Land of Gold, mission shares, and a two-billion-ryo ore order from Konoha.
• Ebizo told Chiyo and the Third Kazekage that Konoha’s public criticism of Hatake Sakumo had followed his decision to rescue his comrades during the war.
• The Third Kazekage and Chiyo concluded that Konoha’s leaders had politically undermined Hatake Sakumo and would not use him in a war.
• Ebizo reported that Hatake Sakumo had not appeared for a long time and might have died by suicide, despite Konoha approving his son Kakashi’s early graduation.
• Chiyo fell silent as she considered that Hatake Sakumo’s possible death might leave her no chance to take revenge herself.

Shimizu secured a promotion and funding for Sunagakure before entering a new world as Clear Wade, a wealthy Osborn Group shareholder and Columbia doctoral student. He woke in a mansion beside two women and realized he had arrived in the Marvel Universe, where his advisor was Norman Osborn and his former advisor Bruce Banner had disappeared.

• The Third Kazekage planned to use Konoha's compensation to develop Sunagakure and assigned additional funds to the Puppet Force.
• The Third Kazekage appointed Shimizu captain of the Puppet Force's Sixth Division, and Shimizu accepted the post.
• After returning home, Shimizu sent his consciousness through the System Panel and entered a new world, gaining fortune points upon arrival.
• Shimizu woke in Clear Wade's body and learned that Clear was a Columbia doctoral student, an Osborn Group shareholder, and a billionaire.
• Shimizu recalled that Bruce Banner had disappeared during a military experiment and that Norman Osborn had become his doctoral advisor.

After taking over Wade’s body, Shimizu prepared to compete for leadership of Osborn Group following Norman Osborn’s death and began outlining a new energy plan. At the emergency shareholders’ meeting, Manken proposed cutting biomedical funding to stabilize the company, leaving Shimizu’s response pending.

• Shimizu reviewed Wade’s memories and scientific research materials, then created a document titled TSL New Energy Plan.
• Shimizu searched online and found evidence that this world included Tony Stark as Iron Man and Captain America as a historical figure, but no Spider-Man news.
• Shimizu attended Osborn Group’s emergency shareholders’ meeting, where ten-year-old Harry Osborn sat in the seat of honor.
• Manken described Osborn Group’s falling stock price and financial problems, then proposed cutting medical-sector funding and adopting a contraction strategy.

After Manken became Osborn’s new CEO, Shimizu challenged his plan to focus the company’s recovery on military contracts and proposed a new energy and electric vehicle partnership with Stark Group. The shareholders considered Shimizu’s pitch, while Manken weighed the threat it posed to his control of Osborn.

• Shimizu voted with the shareholders to appoint Manken as Osborn’s CEO, planning to build his own influence within the company.
• Manken proposed cutting most of Norman’s medical R&D departments and investing the recovered funds in military projects, including remote-controlled drones.
• Shimizu questioned the risks of relying on military contracts and presented a new energy battery project he claimed Norman had left as a contingency plan.
• When a shareholder warned that Osborn could not compete with Stark in energy, Shimizu argued that the companies could cooperate on electric vehicles.
• Shimizu predicted that a partnership with Stark Group could boost Osborn’s stock and make it a rule-maker in the energy and automobile industries, prompting Manken to consider Shimizu as a threat.

Shimizu secured funding and a leadership role at Osborn Group to develop new energy vehicles, while considering how to gain Harry Osborn’s support and Norman’s remaining legacy. Later, he and Lex Luthor inspected the first commercial TSL electric cars, and Victor Fries explained their performance and charging plans.

• Manken offered Shimizu $300 million in preliminary research funding and support if he could demonstrate the project’s potential.
• Shimizu secured the positions of Vice President of Product Development and head of the New Energy Electric Vehicle Department.
• Bernard invited Shimizu to Osborn Manor for lunch with Harry Osborn and to discuss staffing the new department.
• Victor Fries presented the first commercial TSL electric car models to Shimizu and Lex Luthor in Metropolis.
• Luthor asked how they would address charging, and Victor explained plans for private and public charging stations, with government support needed for the public network.

Shimizu, Lex Luthor, and Victor Fries received Zod’s demand to surrender Kal-El within twenty-four hours and discussed preparing Earth to resist the Kryptonians. Luthor argued that Shimizu could provide humanity’s strongest individual combat power, leaving them determined to face the alien threat rather than wait helplessly.

• As Shimizu, Lex Luthor, and Victor Fries discussed their company’s vehicles, their devices displayed a message from Zod demanding that Earth hand over Kal-El within twenty-four hours.
• Victor asked how they should respond if the aliens attacked, and Shimizu and Lex agreed that humanity could not entrust its survival to others.
• Lex reasoned that Zod’s forces would be vulnerable if they entered Earth’s atmosphere, but only a few humans had the power to fight them.
• Lex praised Shimizu’s abilities and asked whether he could still use the Speed Force, which he had used to defeat a Mechanical Warrior in Central City.
• Shimizu said his power had restrictions, and Lex concluded that he could still help humanity confront the Kryptonians.