Recaps

Zabuza secretly investigated the Land of Waves Production Base to see how Kirigakure’s investment was being used, but he discovered that Kusagakure had infiltrated the operation. The chapter ended with him realizing that the workers surrounding him were Kusagakure people too.

• Kirigakure joined the Land of Waves Production Base despite its financial troubles and the loss of funding from the Land of Water Feudal Lord's Mansion.
• Zabuza secretly traveled to the base to investigate whether Shimura Danzō had used Kirigakure's money as promised.
• Zabuza found the production lines busy and noticed a merchant carrying forehead protectors from several ninja villages.
• Zabuza realized the merchants were Kusagakure ninja using disguises to buy goods and exploit the production base.
• Zabuza exposed himself and ordered the workers to seal the base, but they surrounded him and discussed how to handle the discovery.
• Zabuza recognized that the workers were Kusagakure people and wondered how many of his own people had been infiltrated.

Danzo assured Hiruzen that his plan to defeat Kusagakure was succeeding, despite Konoha’s mounting costs. When Grass Ninja infiltrated the production base, Danzo fled and left Hiruzen behind.

• Danzo defended his investment in the Land of Waves Production Base, while Hiruzen worried that Konoha’s spending would damage its ties with the Feudal Lord’s Mansion.
• Danzo recalled their shared past and persuaded Hiruzen to trust his plan again, and Hiruzen promised to protect him if Kusagakure attacked.
• An explosion sent an injured Mist Ninja running from a workshop, where he warned that the area outside was full of Grass Ninja.
• Workers swarmed the Mist Ninja, and Hiruzen realized the danger and turned to urge Danzo to act.
• Danzo ran away without hesitation, leaving Hiruzen behind after insisting he would never abandon him.

Kusana learned that Danzo and the Third Hokage had escaped the Land of Waves Production Base, while the other great villages blamed Konoha and Kirigakure fell into turmoil. Karatachi Yagura rejected a letter from Konoha, but then stopped the Mist Ninja carrying it.

• Kusana received intelligence that a Mist Ninja had exposed the Land of Waves Production Base, while Danzo and the Third Hokage escaped under protection.
• Mujie told Kusana that Iwagakure and Kumogakure had declared war on Konoha, while Kirigakure was consumed by internal turmoil.
• Kusana ordered Mujie to keep gathering intelligence, strengthen border defenses, and arrange for the people in the Land of Waves to withdraw.
• Ninja clans in Kirigakure blamed Karatachi Yagura for their losses, and the Kaguya Clan called for the Mizukage's seat to rotate to them.
• Karatachi Yagura angrily rejected Konoha's letter, but a faint voice told the Mist Ninja to wait a moment.

Kusana and Hanzō agreed that Kusagakure and the Land of Rain should merge after Hanzō described the Land of Rain’s recovery and growing prosperity. Hanzō left in the snow, telling Kusana he would soon be living nearby.

• Kusana spent a winter day at home with Naruto, Sasuke, and the babies while Naruto and the Nine-Tails continued to bicker.
• Hanzō visited from Amegakure to see the children and regretted missing Kusagakure’s recent deal worth tens of billions.
• Hanzō described how the Land of Rain had recovered through infrastructure, stable work, new technology, and increased school enrollment.
• Hanzō told Kusana it was time to merge, and Kusana agreed.
• Hanzō left after saying he would soon live nearby and offering to help Kusana if difficulties arose.

As the Land of Grass secretly planned to merge with the Land of Wind after winter, Danzo tried to persuade Hiruzen to pursue a plan involving Kusagakure. Hiruzen refused, but Danzo revealed that the Kage of the Three Great Ninja Villages had been invited and forced him to choose between attacking Kusagakure and attacking them.

• The Land of Grass postponed its planned merger until after winter while secretly preparing to absorb the Land of Wind.
• The Four Great Ninja Villages suffered heavy losses from Grass Ninja Manufacturing and paused their plans to demand compensation from Konoha after receiving a letter.
• Danzo broke through the barrier outside Hiruzen's hospital room and found him lively, watching through the Telescope Technique.
• Hiruzen repeatedly refused Danzo's proposal, warning that Konoha could not handle the situation with Kusagakure yet.
• Danzo told Hiruzen that he had invited the Kage of the Three Great Ninja Villages and demanded that Hiruzen choose whether to attack Kusagakure or them.

Danzo persuaded the Kage of the Four Great Ninja Villages to unite against Kusagakure, and Kabuto helped prepare Otogakure’s infiltration of its bases. The following spring, the villages and Otogakure declared war on Kusagakure, bringing another great ninja war closer.

• Kabuto received Danzo’s invitation and wondered whether Danzo was secretly aligned with Kusagakure.
• Jugō told Kabuto that Orochimaru had extracted his ability and devised a way for people who lost control to master it.
• Kabuto told Jugō that he had identified Otogakure branch bases and lured their members into expecting improved benefits and education.
• Danzo apologized to the Four Kage, deflected their demands for compensation, and persuaded them to declare war on Kusagakure together.
• Danzo proposed that the Four Great Ninja Villages advance and retreat together, and the gathered shinobi pledged to fight Kusagakure.
• The following spring, the Four Great Ninja Villages and Otogakure declared war on Kusagakure in the name of avenging Zabuza.

The Four Great Ninja Villages and Otogakure formed an alliance to attack Kusagakure, with Danzo proposing a direct assault that the leaders approved. The plan stalled when Kusagakure used the captive Zabuza and a publicity campaign to pressure Kirigakure to withdraw.

• After winter negotiations, the Four Great Ninja Villages and Otogakure established the Ninja Alliance, naming the Fourth Raikage supreme commander and Hiruzen Sarutobi chief strategist.
• The alliance leaders rejected Danzo as chief strategist, assigning him and Kabuto as deputy strategists while Karatachi Yagura became commander-in-chief.
• Danzo proposed an all-out frontal assault on Kusagakure, and the Kage agreed to proceed with Karatachi Yagura leading the main force.
• A Ninja Alliance shinobi reported that Kusagakure had hung the still-living Zabuza at the border and offered to return him if Kirigakure withdrew.
• The alliance leaders learned that BBC Daily was promoting Zabuza's exploits and heard his plea to attack anyway, then angrily denounced Kusagakure.

The Four Kage and Danzo argued over whether to attack Kusagakure while Zabuza remained in its hands, as Yagura feared the consequences for Kirigakure. They agreed to ransom Zabuza and remove Yagura as commander-in-chief, appointing Ōnoki as acting commander.

• The Raikage and Ōnoki urged Yagura to order an attack, but Yagura objected because Zabuza was a celebrated hero and Kirigakure could not withstand more turmoil.
• Hiruzen warned the Kage that Kusagakure was trying to divide the alliance, and Danzo argued that they still had to rescue Zabuza to preserve Kirigakure’s trust.
• The Raikage proposed a rescue team, but Danzo and Hiruzen rejected the idea, recalling how Kusagakure had turned Danzo’s rescue into a costly trap.
• Danzo proposed ransoming Zabuza, with the villages sharing the expense, and insisted that Yagura step down as commander-in-chief in favor of Ōnoki.
• Yagura accepted the arrangement, and Kabuto agreed that Danzo was right.

Shikaku Nara helped Karatachi Yagura negotiate Zabuza’s release from Kusagakure, securing him for a large ransom. As the group prepared to leave, Yagura praised Shikaku’s talent, prompting Shikaku to reflect that he had grown used to such work.

• Shikaku warned Yagura to trust him, ignore Kusagakure’s ninja, stay out of the Land of Grass, and retreat if danger arose.
• Shikaku greeted Yahiko warmly, then offered escalating sums until Yahiko agreed to release Zabuza for seven hundred million.
• Yagura received the wounded Zabuza, who lamented being rescued and claimed Kusagakure’s ninja had stabbed him while treating his injuries.
• Shikaku urged Yagura to leave quickly, and Yagura thanked him for making the negotiations go smoothly.
• Yagura praised Shikaku as a talented Konoha ninja, and Shikaku replied that he had gotten used to it.

Kusagakure mobilized for the Four Great Ninja Villages’ invasion while Kusana prepared to head to the front and kept Naruto and Sasuke from joining the fight. At the border, Hanzō challenged the Fourth Mizukage to a one-on-one Water Release duel, but admitted he planned to have his forces swarm Yagura when he appeared.

• Shikaku Nara returned to his forces after meeting Kusagakure and warned that the village might suffer if it underestimated the alliance.
• Kusagakure entered wartime preparations, and Hanzō and Chiyo agreed to lead their forces to the front lines.
• Kusana read and burned Tsunade’s letter, then refused Naruto and Sasuke’s request to join the battlefield.
• Obito transported Kusana to the front lines while the Nine-Tails offered Naruto a way to go there too.
• Hanzō challenged Karatachi Yagura to a formal Water Release duel, then told Chiyo he intended for everyone to attack Yagura together.

Karatachi Yagura accepted Hanzo's challenge to protect his standing as Mizukage, while both sides secretly prepared to attack the other during the supposed duel. The chapter left Hanzo and Yagura unharmed after they dodged the surprise attacks, each accusing the other of treachery.

• Karatachi Yagura decided to face Hanzo's challenge after the other Kage encouraged him, despite Shimura Danzō's objections.
• Shimura Danzō secretly ordered Root to attack Hanzo with Explosive Tags, while Hanzo gave Advisor Chiyo the same instruction against Yagura.
• Hanzo and Karatachi Yagura met on the battlefield, where Hanzo chatted with Yagura as both sides waited for the signal to attack.
• Nagato warned Advisor Chiyo that the opposing side was preparing a sneak attack, and she threw her Explosive Tags as Hanzo fled.
• Karatachi Yagura dodged the incoming attack with Water Release, and he and Hanzo accused each other of launching a sneak attack.

Hanzō, Nagato, and Advisor Chiyo discussed how Leader Mang had financially crippled the Four Great Ninja Villages, while Danzo led the Ninja Alliance into another assault on Kusagakure. The fighting began, but Grass Ninjas soon discovered that some Alliance fighters were secretly on their side, leaving the battle’s course uncertain.

• Hanzō and Advisor Chiyo asked Nagato and Yahiko how Leader Mang had taken tens of billions from the Four Great Ninja Villages, and Yahiko explained the Land of Waves Production Base scheme.
• Advisor Chiyo warned that the Four Great Ninja Villages would not let the scheme go unanswered, just as two figures emerged from warped space.
• Karatachi Yagura asked Danzo what to do, and Danzo persuaded the Four Kage and Kabuto to continue with a direct attack and blockade Kusagakure.
• The Ninja Alliance attacked the Land of Grass, and Kusagakure sent its ninjas to defend the border.
• A Grass Ninja exchanged a secret code with an opposing Otogakure ninja, who revealed that he was on Kusagakure’s side and handed over a Ninja Alliance forehead protector.

As the Ninja Alliance gained ground, Danzo mistook the declining number of Grass ninja for battlefield casualties. Kusana and his allies learned that many had instead joined the Ninja Alliance, just as Danzo prepared to intensify the offensive.

• A Ninja Alliance subordinate told his captain that people from their side had joined the alliance.
• Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed their favorable progress against Kusagakure, and Danzo ordered Kabuto to summon Orochimaru when he emerged from seclusion.
• Kusana, Nagato Uzumaki, Hanzō, and Chiyo questioned why Kusagakure's personnel reports showed such a steep decline.
• Yahiko revealed that the missing Grass ninja had joined the Ninja Alliance, and the group blamed Kabuto's scheme.
• Yahiko reported that Kabuto had sent word of Danzo's plan to intensify the offensive.

Danzo persuaded the Four Great Ninja Villages to launch a surprise attack on Sunagakure while intensifying their assault on Kusagakure. As the attack force departed, Kusana declared that the war should come to an end.

• Danzo proposed sending the Fourth and Fifth Divisions to attack Sunagakure while the remaining forces kept Kusagakure under pressure, and Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Kage approved the plan.
• Karatachi Yagura led the surprise attack force toward the Land of Wind, with Kabuto and Zabuza assisting him.
• A Sound Ninja praised Zabuza for his earlier infiltration, and Zabuza dismissed his suspicions and vowed to make Kusagakure pay.
• The Ninja Alliance launched another fierce offensive as small ninja villages began considering joining the conflict.
• At Kusagakure's temporary battle command headquarters, Kusana said the war should come to an end.

Danzo’s alliance tried to hold Kusagakure’s forces at the front while Karatachi Yagura led a covert assault toward Sunagakure. Kabuto revealed his allegiance to Kusagakure, and the Mist force was ambushed, leaving Zabuza stabbed once again.

• Danzo ordered the allied forces to stall for time and draw Kusagakure’s attention while they waited for news from Yagura’s assault.
• Yagura and Kabuto led the Fourth and Fifth Divisions through the Land of Wind and approached New Sand Village unnoticed.
• Yagura admired Sunagakure’s rebuilding as Kabuto revealed that he was a Kusagakure graduate and declared Yagura had already lost.
• Sand and Rain Ninja attacked the Mist force, and Zabuza ordered everyone to break through.
• Zabuza was stabbed in the waist by the Sound Ninja beside him and realized the Grass Ninja had betrayed them.

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.