Chapter Summaries

Kusana arranged for Danzo to keep sending reinforcements toward Sunagakure, while the Four Great Ninja Villages debated how to support the Fourth Mizukage’s advance. As Ōnoki set out to reinforce the operation, a dying snake delivered a warning that left everyone stunned.

• Kusana told Kabuto to report Sunagakure’s capture to Danzo and request another large force, while Nagato questioned why they did not end the war immediately.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo learned that the Fourth Mizukage had captured Sunagakure but needed reinforcements after Amegakure and Kusagakure attacked his forces.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered another unit to support the Fourth Mizukage while the allied army intensified its attacks on the main front.
• The Fourth Mizukage sent another urgent request for reinforcements, and Danzo persuaded Ōnoki to go support him in person.
• A dying snake arrived at the leaders’ table and spat out a message telling them to run.

Kabuto learned that Orochimaru had escaped, and Lord Hanzō ordered the forces to the front lines to stop his beloved friend from getting away. At the Kage meeting, Danzo concealed the meaning of Orochimaru’s warning and pushed the Four Great Ninja Villages toward a full-scale offensive, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi to accept the grim choice.

• Kabuto told Lord Hanzō that Orochimaru had escaped and their plan might have been exposed.
• Lord Hanzō ordered everyone to assemble and rush to the front lines, revealing he was desperate to catch his dear friend.
• Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the warning “Run quickly,” and Danzo claimed it was a secret request for support.
• Danzo sent the Third Tsuchikage to reinforce the front and ordered a full-scale offensive while the Fourth Raikage arranged his troops.
• Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the choice was between severe losses for the Four Great Ninja Villages or even greater losses, and Hiruzen fell silent.

The Four Great Ninja Villages launched a full-scale assault on Kusagakure, where Nagato held off A as the battle intensified. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo planned to withdraw Konoha’s forces, but a Tailed Beast Ball suddenly threatened their camp.

• A led the allied forces in an assault on Kusagakure, and Nagato personally held him back with his strange abilities.
• As more small villages joined the fighting, Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Konoha had secretly withdrawn some wounded troops and urged him to retreat.
• Hiruzen agreed to leave that night and ordered preparations to receive the troops and lock down Konoha.
• Danzo and Hiruzen spotted a glowing sphere approaching and realized it was a Tailed Beast Ball.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma and warned everyone to defend themselves after the fox had urged a group of brats to fire at Konoha’s camp.

Kusana ordered a full-scale counterattack to end the war while demanding that Naruto and the other runaway children be brought back. Nagato then revealed that they had fired a Tailed Beast Ball at Konoha's camp, leaving Kusana scrambling to save his friends there.

• Kusana and Advisor Chiyo agreed to reprimand Naruto and the other children for sneaking onto the battlefield, and Kusana ordered them to write self-criticisms.
• Kusana ordered his forces to prevent the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō from escaping and to launch a full-scale counterattack.
• Nagato told Kusana that he had found Naruto and the others nearby with his sensory technique.
• Nagato revealed that Naruto and the others were aiming a charged Tailed Beast Ball at Konoha's camp, and the attack exploded there.
• Kusana ordered his people to save his friends in Konoha's camp.

A Tailed Beast Ball devastated Konoha’s camp as Kusagakure launched an all-out assault, leaving the Allied forces overwhelmed. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were rescued by Amang and Hanzō, but Danzō fainted again after recognizing them as Kusagakure ninja.

• Fourth Raikage A rallied the troops after the explosion and ordered them to defend against Kusagakure’s advancing forces.
• Kusagakure ninja charged the Allied line, and Nagato Uzumaki confronted A and demanded surrender; A attacked him with his Lightning Release Armor.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō fought to limit the damage to Konoha’s camp, but the blast knocked them unconscious and left Hiruzen believing the war was lost.
• Amang and Hanzō poured life force into Danzō and urged others to save him, then identified themselves as his friends.
• Danzō recognized Amang and Hanzō as Kusagakure ninja, pointed at them, and fainted again.

Kusagakure defeated the allied forces of the Four Great Ninja Villages, captured their Kage, and expanded its territory before Kusana brought the captives and the children home. He reunited with Kushina and the others at the village entrance.

• Konoha and Iwagakure’s forces retreated after the command headquarters was destroyed, while the Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Raikage were captured.
• Kusagakure defeated the allied forces, captured the leaders of all four great villages, and took control of Takigakure, the Land of Rivers, and Otogakure.
• Naruto and the other children were brought back and punished with eight-thousand-word self-criticisms for sneaking away and nearly causing a disaster.
• Kusana led the four Kage, the injured Danzo, Naruto, and the others home by special train, while Naruto and his companions worried about apologizing to their families.
• Kusana arrived at the village entrance and greeted Kushina and the others, including two babbling infants.

Naruto recovered from Kushina’s beating while Kusana considered his training and the work facing Kusagakure. Oyakamon reported that the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzo had awakened, and the two old men found themselves alive in Kusagakure’s medical ward.

• Kushina beat Naruto after he returned home, and Naruto showed up bruised the next day.
• Naruto said he planned to borrow the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to heal and invited Sasuke and Gaara to train with a new technique.
• Kusana reflected on Naruto’s progress, Sasuke’s Mangekyo concerns, and the burdens Pakura and others had handled during the war.
• Oyakamon told Kusana that the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzo had awakened.
• Shimura Danzo woke in Kusagakure’s medical ward, and the Third Hokage told him they were still alive.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo woke as prisoners of Kusagakure and resolved to protect Konoha, with Danzo offering himself in a bargain to secure Hiruzen’s release. Kusana rejected Danzo’s request and declared that Kusagakure would return both men to Konoha whole and intact.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo discussed Kusagakure’s rescue and worried about Konoha’s condition and the war’s outcome.
• Hiruzen urged Danzo to escape and return his Will of Fire to Konoha, entrusting the village’s future to him if necessary.
• Danzo offered to serve as a bargaining chip so Kusagakure would let Hiruzen return to Konoha.
• Danzo and Hiruzen insisted that Konoha needed the other to survive, and Danzo resolved to make the sacrifice himself.
• Kusana read Danzo’s request through Oyakamon and declared that Kusagakure would return both Konoha elders whole and intact.

Kusana learned how the great ninja villages were faring after their Kage were captured and planned to use the prisoners to demand territory and compensation. Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed a Kage Summit to confront Kusagakure, while he and Danzo resolved to stand together.

• Oyakamon reported that Konoha had unified under Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, Kumogakure had stabilized, and Kirigakure had fallen into clan conflict.
• Kusana ordered Kusagakure to demand territory and compensation from the Four Great Ninja Villages and countries, and to tell Konoha that they were close allies.
• Kusana agreed to let Hanzō return so the Half-God of the Ninja World could help with the coming negotiations.
• Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi wondered why Kusagakure had rejected Danzo and what the Grass Ninja Leader was planning.
• Hiruzen proposed a Kage Summit to discuss Kusagakure's demands, and Danzo agreed to attend while remaining loyal to Konoha.

The Fourth Raikage reluctantly accepted the planned Kage Summit after Kusagakure’s reporters threatened him with humiliating photographs, while Kusana saw the meeting as a chance to negotiate and promote Grass Ninja Jade Liquor. Kushina arrived in a secretary’s outfit to tell Kusana something important, and he eagerly guessed what she meant.

• The three captured Kage learned that the Third Hokage planned a Kage Summit and accepted that they had little choice but to attend.
• The Fourth Raikage recalled how BBC Reporters had threatened him with humiliating photographs, leaving him too ashamed to risk further trouble.
• The Fourth Raikage vowed not to compromise if Kusagakure’s demands threatened his village, then wondered whether the Hokage and Tsuchikage had also been photographed.
• Kusana agreed to the summit, intending to negotiate while using the gathering to advertise Grass Ninja Jade Liquor.
• Kushina entered Kusana’s office in a secretary’s outfit, locked the door, and announced that she had something important to tell him.
• Kusana stared at Kushina and eagerly guessed what she meant.

Kusagakure hosted the Second Kage Summit, drawing the attention of the Ninja World and putting the defeated Four Great Ninja Villages under intense publicity. After the Kage and Danzo arrived, Leader Mang ushered them into the conference room, while Hiruzen Sarutobi worried about a gift awaiting him.

• Kushina discussed personal and official matters with Kusana and persuaded him to let her work part-time as his secretary.
• The BBC Daily announced that the Kage Summit would take place in Kusagakure, which decorated the village and prepared its international hotel for the event.
• The four Kage and Danzo arrived at the hotel and faced intrusive BBC reporters asking about their capture and defeat.
• Leader Mang dismissed the reporters' questions as reckless, reassured the Kage that the footage would not air, and invited them into the conference room.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to begin the summit, then worried about the gift Leader Mang had prepared for him.
• The Second Kage Summit officially began in Kusagakure.

The Four Kage attended a Kage Summit hosted by Kusagakure, where Hanzō repeatedly obstructed their attempts to eat, toast, and discuss the villages’ demands. The chapter ended with the Kage realizing Hanzō was deliberately humiliating them.

• Hanzō enthusiastically served Danzo Kusagakure specialties while the captured Four Kage watched.
• The Four Kage tried to eat, but Hanzō repeatedly spun the dining table out of their reach.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a toast to Kusana and Hanzō, but Hanzō refused to drink because business still had to be discussed.
• Hiruzen tried to ask Kusana to state Kusagakure’s demands, but Hanzō interrupted to ask about Little Qin and Little Sang.
• The other Three Kage realized Hanzō was deliberately humiliating them.

Kusana presented the Four Kage with Kusagakure’s compensation demands, including territorial concessions, reparations, and access to its communications industry, but they rejected them. Kusana stopped Hanzō from escalating to violence and hinted at humiliating the Kage publicly, leaving them asking for time.

• Kusana began negotiations after the Four Kage demanded to know Kusagakure’s intentions.
• Kabuto handed each Kage a compensation agreement, and Hiruzen Sarutobi criticized Kusagakure for placing Kabuto near Orochimaru.
• The Four Kage read Kusagakure’s demands for land, reparations, trade access, and communications access.
• The Fourth Raikage, the Fourth Mizukage, Ōnoki, and Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected the agreement, saying their villages could not accept or afford it.
• Hanzō threatened the Kage, but Kusana stopped him and listed ways Kusagakure could humiliate them publicly.
• The Four Kage reacted angrily and asked Kusana to wait.

Kusana pressured the Four Kage and Danzo with threats of public humiliation as they negotiated Kusagakure’s demands. When the Kage refused to compromise, Kusana ordered the lights, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to urgently ask to keep talking, and they agreed.

• The Four Kage and Danzo struggled to respond to Kusagakure’s humiliating negotiation tactics while Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on the damage rumors had caused him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appealed to Kusana’s supposed experience with slander, but Kusana awkwardly denied spreading rumors and accused the Four Great Ninja Villages of starting the war.
• Kusana threatened to expose the Kage’s private lives and promised Kusagakure would help their families if they sacrificed themselves.
• The Fourth Raikage and the other Kage refused to accept Kusagakure’s demands, insisting they would not betray their villages’ interests.
• Kusana ordered someone to turn on the lights and began to leave, so Hiruzen Sarutobi called after him and the Kage agreed to continue talking.

Leader Mang forced the Four Kage to agree to negotiations with the Four Great Countries, then kept Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō behind to meet someone from their past. The chapter ended with a red-haired figure confronting them and thanking Hiruzen for caring for Naruto.

• Leader Mang blamed the Feudal Lord's Mansion for the war's consequences and offered to seek justice for the Four Great Ninja Villages.
• Leader Mang gave the Four Kage a choice between negotiating with Kusagakure or the Four Great Countries, and the Kage agreed to negotiate.
• The Five Kage Summit concluded with the Kage posing for a photograph before departing Kusagakure.
• Leader Mang stopped Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, saying someone wanted to see them.
• A red-haired figure arrived, and Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō recognized him as someone they thought was dead.

Naruto and Sasuke waited outside while Kushina beat Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, and Naruto explained why he was happier in Kusagakure than he had been in Konoha. Kushina left with the boys, while Hiruzen, battered in the wrecked room, accused Leader Mang of a fine scheme.

• Naruto and Sasuke squatted outside the room, joking about Kushina’s fight and discussing Naruto’s past in Konoha and his life in Kusagakure.
• Naruto said he believed his father had loved Konoha and been a responsible Hokage, and Sasuke remarked that Naruto might be happier than another version of himself.
• After several hours, Kushina emerged looking refreshed and led Naruto and Sasuke home for dinner.
• Kusana called for medical ninjas to treat the battered Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō while pretending to be concerned.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized Kusana as the man who had cheered on the beating and said Leader Mang had planned things well.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo left under Grass Ninja escort after learning Fourth Hokage's Wife was alive, while Kusana prepared Kusagakure's next political moves. Elsewhere, Orochimaru secretly returned to Guren's base and ordered her to keep him and the laboratory isolated, leaving her puzzled by his behavior.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Kabuto where Orochimaru was, then departed with Danzo under the Grass Ninja's escort after Kusana promised to take care of them.
• Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Fourth Hokage's Wife and the Uchiha Clan Head's wife made him reconsider old rumors, and Hiruzen realized Kusana's Good Wife rumors might be true.
• Kusana told his associates to rest before negotiations with the Four Great Nations and plans involving Kusagakure, Amegakure, and neighboring lands.
• Kabuto admitted to Kusana that he did not know where Orochimaru was, at least for the time being.
• Orochimaru secretly arrived at Guren's base, ordered her to prepare the laboratory and avoid outside contact, especially with Grass Ninja, then shut himself inside.
• Guren went to a locked room and heard recitations about unity and friendship, wondering whether the base had recently undergone reforms.

After Kusagakure’s demands drove a wedge between the Four Great Ninja Villages and their Feudal Lord’s Mansions, both sides joined negotiations and agreed to compensation without ceding territory. Kusana planned to send the Four Kage home after they took part in the merger of the Grass and Rain Countries.

• The Four Great Ninja Villages and Feudal Lord’s Mansions rejected the Four Kage’s initial compensation terms, while the BBC Daily published a photograph confirming the Kage were alive.
• Kusagakure sent Mujie to negotiate directly with the Four Great Nations’ Feudal Lord’s Mansions, which rejected its terms and urged the villages to prepare for war.
• Kusagakure accused the Feudal Lord’s Mansions of provoking conflict and declared war on the Four Great Nations while offering the villages Sunagakure’s status if they joined Kusagakure.
• The Feudal Lord’s Mansions and ninja villages agreed to negotiate jointly with Kusagakure and promised to help ransom their Kage.
• The parties settled on compensation paid by the villages and Feudal Lord’s Mansions, trade and communications access, and double compensation instead of territory.
• Kusana approved the agreement and said the Four Kage would return home after taking part in the merger of the Grass and Rain Countries.

The Grass and Rain Countries held a merger ceremony in Kusagakure’s great square, with Scorpion attending as a factory-worker representative and hoping to see the old woman who had left him there. The Four Kage were forced to attend as prisoners, and the ceremony began with them putting on strained smiles at Leader Hanzō’s insistence.

• Ninja citizens and workers from the Grass and Rain Countries gathered in Kusagakure’s great square for the merger ceremony.
• Scorpion, chosen as an outstanding employee from Factory Three, prepared to give a speech while wondering how the old woman would react when she saw him.
• The Four Kage arrived as prisoners and learned that the Grass and Rain Countries were merging into one country.
• Leader Hanzō urged the Four Kage to smile, and they forced themselves to comply as the ceremony began.

Kusana celebrated the merger of the Land of Rain into the Land of Grass, showcasing its growing power and the unity of its villages. The ceremony left the Four Kage humiliated and wary, while Hanzo arrived with his granddaughters and Chiyo came to take the babies.

• Kusana recalled the hardships and shared growth of the Grass and Rain Countries, then promised they would advance together.
• Hanzo of the Salamander announced that the Land of Rain would join the Land of Grass, with Amegakure retained as a region and village under Grass management.
• Kusagakure, Amegakure, and Sunagakure displayed their ninja forces, prompting the Four Kage to recognize the threat Kusagakure posed.
• The host briefly thanked the Four Kage before turning the ceremony toward speakers from the Land of Grass, leaving the visiting leaders feeling snubbed.
• Hanzo returned carrying his two granddaughters, and Advisor Chiyo approached to hold them.