Chapter Summaries

Shimizu and Lex Luthor agreed to work together to find Superman and prepare for the threat from his kind. Shimizu then questioned Lois Lane, but already knew Kryptonite was Superman’s weakness and left to search for it near Smallville.

• Shimizu and Lex Luthor agreed to cooperate, with Shimizu offering armor blueprints and Luthor promising resources to find Lois Lane.
• Lex Luthor offered Nth Metal to enhance Shimizu’s armor, and Shimizu agreed to let him modify it after planning to remove key components.
• Shimizu met Lois Lane in a military-base interrogation room and asked her about Superman’s weakness.
• Shimizu declared that Superman’s kind feared Kryptonite and suggested samples might be near Smallville, leaving Lois confused.

Shimizu received Lex Luthor’s upgrades to the White Warrior and shared information about Kryptonite, Superman’s weakness, with him. The next day, Luthor joined American forces near a Kansas military base as Superman faced Zod’s descending spaceship.

• Luthor coated the White Warrior with an Nth Metal composite, added weapons and thrusters, and offered Shimizu the Lexos AI.
• Shimizu accepted the USB drive but planned to inspect Lexos and dismantle the armor after the crisis because he distrusted Luthor’s modifications.
• Shimizu told Luthor that Kryptonians grew powerful under a yellow star and could be weakened by Kryptonite, which might be found in Smallville or aboard Zod’s ship.
• Luthor welcomed Shimizu’s information and said it improved their chances of defeating the aliens.
• The next day, American soldiers and helicopters gathered outside a Kansas military base as Superman confronted Zod’s descending spaceship, while Luthor joined the operation as a military scientific consultant.

Shimizu and Lex Luthor prepared for the Kryptonians’ arrival while Superman fought Zod in Metropolis. Zod was rescued by Faora after Superman and the military attacked him, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Lex Luthor told Dr. Emil that humanity had to win and secretly contacted Shimizu while arranging to search Smallville for more Kryptonite.
• Shimizu prepared the White Warrior with Kryptonite weapons and flew toward the fighting after learning two alien ships had arrived above Kansas.
• Shimizu reached the shattered farmhouse where Lois Lane was protecting Martha, then activated the Speed Force Dagger and sped away.
• Superman fought Zod in Metropolis and cracked his helmet, leaving Zod in pain from Earth’s environment.
• Fighter jets bombed Superman and Zod, but two figures destroyed the jets as Superman rescued a pilot.
• Faora carried Zod aboard the descending ship.

Shimizu joined Superman in fighting Zod’s Kryptonians while the military assessed the new armored figure and the alien ship’s planetary threat. At LexCorp, Batman prepared the Heavy Particle Collider for Barry to use with the Cosmic Treadmill as the Kryptonians began altering Earth.

• Shimizu arrived and fired an Energy Cannon at Faora as Superman attacked Nam-Ek.
• The U.S. pilots reported the battle, and the military reviewed footage of Shimizu fighting the Kryptonians.
• Luthor identified the armor as Nth Metal and described its capabilities to the lieutenant general.
• The alien ship split apart, with one section stopping over Metropolis and the other racing toward the Indian Ocean.
• Mr. Freeze told Batman that the Kryptonians were using a gravitational field weapon to transform Earth, and Batman said the modified Heavy Particle Collider was ready for Barry.

Batman prepared to use the Heavy Particle Collider and Dark Matter Metal to stop the Kryptonian engines, while Shimizu defeated and secured the Kryptonian Nam. The chapter left Superman ready to destroy the engine above the Indian Ocean as Batman’s allies targeted the one over Metropolis.

• Batman explained that colliding the engines would create a singularity, then assigned Flash to power the Heavy Particle Collider and Mr. Freeze to cool and extract the Dark Matter Metal.
• Shimizu used the White Warrior’s Speed Force, Nth Metal armor, and Kryptonite weapons to kill Nam, then stored the corpse and armor at a guarded mountain hideout.
• Shimizu returned to the battlefield after Batman called him back to provide cover for Flash.
• Batman met Superman and told him to destroy the planet-transforming engine above the Indian Ocean while Batman’s allies targeted the one above Metropolis.

Shimizu fought Zod in Metropolis as Zod rapidly grew stronger under the yellow sun, and Shimizu used a freezing ray and Kryptonite to blind one of his eyes. A Kryptonian spaceship interrupted the attack, and more ships arrived as US fighter jets moved to assist.

• Shimizu confronted Zod after learning that Zod was seeking revenge for Nam’s death.
• Zod overwhelmed Shimizu in close combat, while Shimizu’s Speed Force reserves rapidly dwindled.
• Shimizu froze half of Zod’s body and stabbed one of his eyes with a Kryptonite short sword.
• A Kryptonian spaceship struck Shimizu with an energy cannon, letting Zod break free, while Batman reported that his fighter had crashed.
• More Kryptonian spaceships descended, and the US military sent fighter jets to engage them as Zod’s remaining eye began to glow red.

Shimizu and Superman stopped Zod’s attempt to transform Earth, while Batman prepared a plan to end the fight. As Superman battled Zod above Metropolis, Batman hid Shimizu in the Batwing and fired Kryptonite bullets, leaving Shimizu as the final safeguard if the battle went wrong.

• Zod pursued Shimizu with heat rays until Superman returned after destroying the planetary transformation engine, and the two Kryptonians resumed their fight.
• Barry used the Batwing as a foothold to hurl a Speed Force-charged Batarang, causing the engine to explode and much of it to vanish into a spatial singularity.
• Barry began rescuing people injured in the battle as Batman met Shimizu and said Zod would grow stronger if the fight continued.
• Batman told Shimizu to hide in the Batwing’s lead-lined compartment and be ready to kill Zod, or Superman if necessary, while Batman used other means to restrain them.
• Batman used the Batcomputer’s projections and a modified launcher to fire bullets containing Kryptonite at the battling Kryptonians.

Superman snapped Zod’s neck to save Batman, while Shimizu concealed his role in the rescue and pretended to be injured. Faora chose to flee Earth and become Krypton’s new general, and the group decided to entrust Zod’s body to Superman.

• Zod fired heat vision at Batman, whose grappling line snapped and sent him falling.
• Superman killed Zod and saved Batman, while Shimizu watched from the Batwing and disabled his rescue device.
• Shimizu pretended he had been injured and looked for supplies in the jet, and Superman believed him.
• Tor-An persuaded Faora to use the ship’s reserve energy to escape Earth, and Faora ordered the Kryptonians to prepare to leave as she took the title of General.
• Shimizu and Superman agreed that Superman would hide Zod’s body in the Fortress of Solitude, while Batman asked Barry what he thought.

After the battle, Shimizu learned that Congress had ordered a nuclear strike on Metropolis and watched Superman carry the bomb into space before it detonated. Once the group ate together, Shimizu called Luthor to find out who had demanded the launch.

• Shimizu disabled the signal jammer, and Luthor warned him that Congress had ordered a one-megaton Nuclear Bomb launched at Metropolis.
• Superman found the missile and carried it beyond the atmosphere, where it exploded safely in space.
• Superman, Batman, The Flash, and Shimizu went to a barbecue restaurant and ate together after the danger passed.
• Shimizu called Luthor and asked who had demanded that Congress launch the Nuclear Bomb.

Muzan learned of a discovery that could let him deal Ubuyashiki a devastating blow and ordered Kokushibo to act. At the new Swordsmith Village, Shimizu improved the Corps’ weapons before rushing to the Ubuyashiki Residence, where he found Kagaya critically ill.

• Muzan promoted Nakime to Upper Rank Six and, after reading her memories, ordered her to summon Kokushibo for an attack on the Ubuyashiki Clan.
• Shimizu and Kanamori Kanzō tested Crimson Blade batteries, and Shimizu proposed modifying Shinobu Kocho’s sword to preserve its poison while heating its tip.
• A Kakushi told Shimizu that Ubuyashiki Kagaya was critically ill and had called an emergency Hashira meeting.
• Shimizu hurried to the Ubuyashiki Residence, where Gyomei Himejima and Tokito Muichiro had already arrived.
• Shimizu placed his hand on Kagaya’s body and used a green glow as Kagaya greeted the gathered Hashira.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya told Shimizu that the Ubuyashiki line was ending after Kiriya and two of Kagaya’s daughters were killed by Upper Rank One. With his own death approaching, Kagaya named Shimizu acting head of the Demon Slayer Corps and laid out conditions for him to inherit leadership.

• Shimizu told Kagaya and Amane that Kagaya’s condition had worsened and he likely had less than a year to live.
• Amane revealed that Kiriya, Koharu, and Kaina had been killed by Upper Rank One while hiding at Osaka-ya.
• Kagaya mourned the end of the Ubuyashiki line and rejected Gyomei Himejima’s suggestion that a son-in-law succeed him.
• Kagaya explained that the Corps needed a capable leader with knowledge and connections, then chose Shimizu to take over.
• Kagaya made Shimizu acting head of the Corps and asked him to eradicate Muzan, become the true head after Kagaya’s death, and marry Shinobu Kocho within the month to have children.

Shimizu agreed to inherit the Demon Slayer Corps and continue the Ubuyashiki bloodline, while in the Naruto World he and Chiyo completed testing a weaponized Fear Gas. The gas could incapacitate most shinobi in a unit, and Chiyo proposed testing its effects on a powerful Jonin and extracting antibodies.

• Ubuyashiki Kagaya asked Shimizu to marry Hinagi and Nika and pass the Corps inheritance to their children, and Shimizu agreed.
• Ubuyashiki Kagaya asked Gyomei Himejima to help the other Hashira accept Shimizu as the Corps' successor, and Gyomei agreed.
• Shimizu saw his Destiny Value rise to 47% in the Naruto World as he and Chiyo observed a Kusagakure deserter suffering from the completed Fear Gas.
• Chiyo concluded that the Fear Gas could incapacitate most of a shinobi unit, while Shimizu warned that strong-willed Jonin might resist it.
• Chiyo proposed testing the gas on a powerful Jonin and extracting antibodies, and Shimizu nervously protested that he was not yet fourteen.

Chiyo and Shimizu tested a poison on Sunakami Sayama before inspecting the automated ninja tool production line Shimizu and Sasori had completed. The line produced usable kunai, showing how Sunagakure could manufacture weapons in large quantities during wartime.

• Chiyo ordered Sunakami Sayama to test Shimizu's poison, then had Shimizu treat him and gave him an antidote for another test.
• Chiyo invited Sayama to see the new Puppet Technique Shimizu and Sasori had developed.
• At the Sixth Division's base, Miyaki explained how the production line smelted steel and used programmed puppets to forge ninja tools.
• Chiyo tested the finished kunai and judged it sharp and usable.
• Chiyo recognized that additional production lines could let Sunagakure rapidly manufacture large quantities of ninja tools during wartime.

Sasori demonstrated the Clairvoyant Eye, a reconnaissance puppet developed by Shimizu, and Shorty, his inexpensive, easy-to-operate combat puppet, to Chiyo and Sunakami Sayama. Chiyo approved of the Clairvoyant Eye for further development and was astonished by Shorty’s potential to strengthen Sunagakure’s Genin Puppeteers.

• Sasori explained how the Clairvoyant Eye could fly a preset route and record images for distant reconnaissance.
• Sasori demonstrated the bird’s footage, and Chiyo judged it a valuable supplement to the Sensory Unit.
• Sasori introduced Shorty as a cheap puppet with preloaded commands that most Ninja Academy students who studied Puppet Technique could operate.
• Chiyo realized that Shorty could substantially increase the combat strength of Sunagakure’s many Genin Puppeteers.

Sasori told Chiyo that he and Shimizu had spent nearly half the family’s money developing new puppet technology, prompting her to summon the Third Kazekage to secure support for their work. At the Kazekage’s office, Rasa requested one hundred million ryo to rebuild the Anbu training base, but an urgent message from Chiyo interrupted the discussion.

• Sasori explained that stronger puppets were possible but costly to produce, and revealed that he had spent nearly half the family’s money on research with Shimizu.
• Chiyo ordered Sunakami Sayama to summon the Third Kazekage so she could report their latest achievement and seek funding.
• The Third Kazekage considered Rasa’s recent shortcomings as Rasa requested one hundred million ryo to renovate the Anbu training base.
• The Third Kazekage explained that village funds were already committed to sealing research, barrier repairs, medical ninjas, and the Ninja Academy.
• An Anbu reported that Chiyo had summoned the Third Kazekage to the Puppet Force to present an extremely important result.

In Sunagakure, the Third Kazekage tasked Rasa with raising funds for the new Puppet Technique while Chiyo warned Shimizu to be wary of Rasa's ambition. In the Marvel World, Shimizu funded Dr. Connors's gene-editing project and learned about the mathematical problem blocking its progress.

• The Third Kazekage left Chiyo and Shimizu to coordinate the new Puppet Technique and took Rasa to raise money for the project.
• Chiyo warned Shimizu that Rasa wanted to become Kazekage, was prone to dangerous shortcuts, and could not be underestimated.
• Shimizu met Dr. Connors at Osborn Tower and agreed to fund his gene-editing project.
• Connors explained that the project's central obstacle was a decay-rate algorithm tied to an equation left by the missing Richard Parker.
• Shimizu listened as Connors described Norman's idea of treating genetic systems as biological fluids and comparing mutations to singularities in the Navier-Stokes equations.

Shimizu discussed Osborn’s electric car and potential partnerships with Manken, then learned that Vibranium could be obtained through Ulysses Claw at an enormous price. After agreeing to investigate Hammer Industries’ expo, Shimizu focused on preparing a powerful puppet armor suit.

• Manken told Shimizu that the electric car’s debut at the Paris International Motor Show had drawn cooperation requests from more than twenty companies, while Stark Industries awaited Tony Stark’s approval.
• Shimizu and Manken watched Ivan attack Tony Stark during a Monaco race, and Shimizu considered the value of the Arc Reactor and the possibility of dealing with Ivan.
• Manken said he could arrange three ounces of Vibranium from Ulysses Claw for one hundred million dollars per ounce, and Shimizu told him to have it delivered to his home.
• Manken asked Shimizu to scout Hammer Industries’ expo in a week, and Shimizu agreed.
• Shimizu left the lounge to prepare a powerful puppet armor suit using materials he had gathered through Osborn.

Shimizu completed Lightning, a new armored combat puppet built with advanced materials and modern weapons, and gave it a personal summoning seal. He tested the seal by summoning Lightning and finished the chapter wearing the A+ rated armor.

• Shimizu planned Lightning's weapons and power system, relying on his Lightning Release Chakra because he had not mastered Lex Luthor's Graphene Battery technology.
• After a week of construction, Shimizu dismantled the completed puppet into modules and prepared to add a summoning function.
• Shimizu mixed his blood with ink and inscribed a one-way summoning seal on his wrist so only he could summon Lightning.
• Shimizu used the Summoning Technique to summon the puppet components and assemble them into the Lightning armor.
• Shimizu reviewed Lightning's specifications and noted that its defenses and energy weapons were weaker than the White Warrior's.

Shimizu attended the Hammer Industries Expo, where Justin Hammer unveiled his Drone Armor and Tony Stark arrived to confront him about Ivan. When Ivan took control of the machines and sent them attacking the crowd, Shimizu summoned Lightning as a Drone Armor approached a child.

• Shimizu finished modifying his watch to conceal the summoning seal and summon Lightning.
• At the Hammer Industries Expo, Shimizu and Pepper Potts agreed to begin discussions on cooperation between Stark and Osborn.
• Justin Hammer unveiled his Drone Armor and introduced Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes in the Variable Threat Response Suit.
• Tony Stark arrived and demanded that Hammer tell him where Ivan was.
• Ivan seized control of the Drone Armor and Rhodes's suit, causing them to attack the expo crowd as Iron Man drew some machines away.
• Shimizu told his bodyguards the machines were not targeting him and summoned Lightning near a child in an Iron Man mask.

Shimizu collected three Arc Reactors from the defeated Drone Armor units and sent them to his laboratory while the battle continued. He then went to Hammer Industries headquarters, where he identified himself to Happy and Natasha, who remained wary of his armor.

• Shimizu helped destroy Drone Armor units, met Peter Parker, and told him to go home to his family.
• After the civilians fled, Shimizu froze the Drone Armor wreckage and removed three Arc Reactors for research.
• Shimizu gave the reactors to his bodyguards and promised them higher pay if they delivered the package safely to his laboratory.
• Shimizu arrived at Hammer Industries headquarters and reassured Happy that he was on their side.
• Shimizu found Natasha operating Ivan's computer and revealed himself, but she viewed his armor with suspicion.