Chapter Summaries

The Four Kage learned that Kushina and Mikoto were alive in Kusagakure, then watched Scorpion give a speech as a factory worker. Scorpion saw Chiyo and Hanzō with their babies and accepted that his grandmother had built a new life while he found his own.

• The Four Kage learned that Chiyo and Ebizo had joined the Land of Grass and regretted their villages’ role in driving Sunagakure away.
• Hanzō revealed that Kushina and Mikoto were with him, shocking the Fourth Raikage, Fourth Mizukage, and Third Tsuchikage.
• The Three Kage suspected the rumors about Kusagakure’s leaders and their relationships were true, and the Fourth Raikage moved away from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Scorpion took the stage to speak about his work at Factory Three, while Chiyo watched him proudly and Ebizo realized he was there.
• Hanzō called Scorpion his grandson, and Scorpion saw Chiyo and Hanzō holding babies before turning to his colleagues and beginning his speech.

After the Grass and Rain Countries merged, the four Kage were released and escorted to the Land of Fire border, where their villages' ninja welcomed them back. The Grass ninja departed, leaving the four villages to take their Kage home.

• Scorpion chose to return to factory work, and Ebizo and his sister respected his decision without disturbing him.
• Hanzō asked Danzo to stay in the Land of Grass longer, but Danzo refused because he wanted to return to Konoha.
• Ninja from the four villages gathered at the Land of Fire border to receive their Kage.
• A Konoha ninja spotted the returning group, which included the Third Hokage, Third Tsuchikage, Fourth Raikage, Fourth Mizukage, and Danzo.
• Yahiko handed the Kage over to the waiting ninja and led the Grass ninja away.
• The four villages' ninja welcomed their Kage back and prepared to escort them to their villages.

Kusana ordered Kusagakure’s leaders to take control of Takigakure and Otogakure while the other villages retrieved their Kage. The Kage returned to find their villages in varying states, and the Fourth Raikage chose to keep wearing his prisoner clothes as Kumogakure headed home.

• Kusana assigned Kakuzu, Kabuto, and Kusagakure’s leaders to help absorb Takigakure and Otogakure, whose branch bases remained unaccounted for after Orochimaru escaped.
• Shikaku Nara reported that Konoha had stayed stable and united while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were missing, prompting Hiruzen to vow to lead the village forward.
• The Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Mizukage learned that conflicts had erupted in their villages and hurried back to restore order.
• Killer B welcomed the Fourth Raikage with his favorite white cloak, but the Raikage refused it and chose to return to Kumogakure in his black-and-white striped clothes.

Kusana and Elder Yang Zheng prepared to launch Kusagakure’s first chakra-signaling satellite while the village expanded its postwar trade and technology. Kusana learned that Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure had rejected Konoha’s proposal to maintain their alliance.

• Kusana reviewed Kusagakure’s postwar gains, including new trade access and plans to extend communications across the four great nations.
• Elder Yang Zheng praised Scorpion’s contributions to the satellite’s design, while Kusana noted that Scorpion had settled into factory work.
• Kusana and Elder Yang Zheng agreed to attempt a satellite launch after considering possible accidents, including encounters with people on the moon.
• Kusana received news that Konoha’s Third Hokage had proposed continuing the alliance among the Four Great Ninja Villages, and Kusana warned that they might unite against Kusagakure.
• Mujie told Kusana that Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure had already rejected Konoha’s alliance proposal and seemed disgusted by it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to understand why Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure had refused his proposal to renew their alliance. He ordered Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to contact the other Kage again, while suspecting Danzo's failed escape plan might have caused the refusal.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed the Three Great Ninja Villages' refusals and worried about Konoha's losses, internal troubles, and threats from Kusagakure and the Feudal Lord's Mansion.
• Hiruzen asked Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu why the other villages had rejected an alliance, but none of them could explain it.
• Hiruzen recalled that the Fourth Raikage was shy and conservative, prompting Homura to redirect the discussion to the alliance refusals.
• Mitokado Homura suggested that Danzo's escape plan might have been discovered, and Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu realized they had overlooked that possibility.
• Hiruzen ordered Homura and Koharu to ask the Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Mizukage again about an alliance.

The Fourth Raikage rejected Konoha’s alliance proposal after learning that Kusagakure’s claims about Konoha and the Grass Ninja were true. He ordered Kumogakure to avoid Grass Ninja and tighten security, then tried to keep his distance when Killer B came to bathe with him.

• The Three Great Ninja Villages refused Konoha’s renewed alliance proposal, and Samui asked the Fourth Raikage why he had rejected it.
• The Fourth Raikage gave Samui a newspaper, and she mistakenly concluded that the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō’s relationship was real.
• The Fourth Raikage corrected the mix-up and revealed that Kusagakure’s warnings were true, leading Samui to understand his refusal of Konoha’s proposal.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered Kumogakure’s ninja to avoid Grass Ninja, reject Kusagakure’s demands if they threatened the village, and kill anyone wearing another village’s headband.
• After Samui left, the Fourth Raikage sighed about the elusive Grass Ninja, and Killer B arrived asking to bathe with him.

Kusana enjoyed a day off with Kushina and the babies while Naruto and Sasuke were away on a mission in Takigakure. After Obito arrived, Kusana tricked him into babysitting and sent him off; in Takigakure, Black Zetsu announced his authority over the local ninja.

• Kusana played with Little Qin and Little Sang while Kushina doted on them and worried about Naruto and Sasuke in Takigakure.
• Kusana reassured Kushina that the mission was safe because Kakuzu had gone along to help.
• Obito arrived and asked Kusana for extra pay, but Kusana assigned him to watch the babies and shut the door on him.
• Obito took the babies outside, then remembered that Black Zetsu had also gone to Takigakure.
• Black Zetsu told the Takigakure ninja to call him Brother Black and obey Kusagakure's arrangements or face his threats.

Kusana learned that Black Zetsu had helped the Grass Ninja take control of Takigakure through tireless work and a speech that won over the villagers. Black Zetsu secretly hoped to rescue his mother, and Naruto promised to help him.

• Kusana read Mujie's report and heard that Black Zetsu had calmed Takigakure's villagers, uncovered a plot, and worked hard to help manage the village.
• Kusana left Kakuzu to decide how to arrange Takigakure and reflected that Black Zetsu was trying to earn his favor to rescue his mother.
• Black Zetsu looked at the moon and resolved to keep working for Kusana, hoping he might eventually be allowed to see his mother.
• Naruto found Black Zetsu and heard him say that he missed his mother, while Sasuke suspected Naruto would make a promise.
• Naruto firmly promised Black Zetsu that they would help him see his mother again.

Sasuke reluctantly joined Naruto, Gaara, and Gaara’s siblings in agreeing to help Black Zetsu reunite with his mother, while Kakuzu oversaw Takigakure’s takeover by Kusagakure. The chapter ended with Takigakure formally becoming part of Kusagakure and Kakuzu returning to the encampment.

• Sasuke concealed his doubts about Black Zetsu and agreed to help him after Naruto invited him.
• Kakuzu reviewed intelligence on Takigakure and judged its leaders and declining strength harshly.
• Naruto and the others arrived for a meeting where Kakuzu presented plans to rebuild and reform Takigakure under Kusagakure’s control.
• Kakuzu told Shibuki that Kusagakure would take over Takigakure, help fund its reconstruction, and manage the Hero’s Water.
• Kakuzu arranged for Fū to study in Kusagakure and ordered Daibutsu’s engineering team to support construction in Takigakure.
• Kakuzu reflected on returning to the village before heading back to Kusagakure’s encampment as Takigakure became part of Kusagakure.

The Land of Grass expanded its territory and announced reforms allowing children to choose among its ninja academies. Elder Yang Zheng stayed behind after the national conference to ask Kusana for the latest progress on cultivating the Sage Art Curse Mark.

• The Land of Grass consolidated control over the Land of the Falls and the Land of Rivers and began rebuilding them with roads and Green Trains.
• The Land of Grass emphasized patriotic education and treated its ninja villages as specialized academy cities that children could choose among.
• Kusana convened a national conference and presented a five-year plan focused on cooperation among ninja academies and reforms to ninja education.
• Leader Mang's proposal shocked the attendees, who nevertheless set about carrying out their assigned tasks.
• Elder Yang Zheng asked Kusana to demonstrate the latest progress in cultivating the Sage Art Curse Mark.

Kusana and Elder Yang Zheng reviewed the improved Sage Art Curse Mark Version 2.0 and prepared to begin public testing, including inviting children to try it voluntarily. Meanwhile, at one of Orochimaru’s experimental bases, Guren read her essay about dreaming of a peaceful, simple life.

• Kusana deactivated Sage Art Curse Mark Mode after testing showed that Version 2.0 lasted longer, caused less corrosion, and circulated Senjutsu Chakra more smoothly.
• Elder Yang Zheng proposed public testing, and Kusana agreed on the condition that no one be forced to participate.
• Kusana suggested Nagato, Naruto, Sasuke, and other interested children could try the technique, while Elder Yang Zheng questioned whether Naruto and Sasuke were too young.
• Elder Yang Zheng asked about Orochimaru, and Kusana said the situation was unclear but Kabuto had gone out after receiving intelligence.
• At Orochimaru’s experimental base, Guren read her essay, saying she dreamed of living a peaceful and simple life.

Guren read an essay about her dream of living a peaceful, simple life, while she and Yugimaru wondered whether their new life in Orochimaru’s base could last. After Guren left with Yugimaru, Kabuto told an orange-haired boy that it was time to prepare to close the net.

• Guren read her essay to the class, and Kabuto praised it as an outstanding essay.
• Kabuto urged the students to find their own dreams, then led them in reading aloud before class ended.
• Yugimaru told Guren that his dream was to stay with her and asked whether their peaceful life might suddenly end.
• Guren reassured Yugimaru that their new life was real, then noticed Kabuto greeting the base’s ninja.
• An orange-haired boy quietly asked Kabuto what they should do, and Kabuto said it was time to prepare to close the net.

Kabuto and Jugō prepared to take control of Orochimaru’s base before Konoha could reach him, while Hiruzen hoped Kakashi’s team would bring Orochimaru back. Orochimaru emerged from his laboratory and discovered Kabuto had infiltrated the base too, leaving him furious.

• Jugō questioned Kabuto’s plan to move quickly because many people at the base still supported Orochimaru, but Kabuto warned that Konoha already knew Orochimaru was there.
• Hiruzen worried about Konoha’s weakened position, Kusagakure’s growing power, and the dissolution of the Four Great Ninja Villages’ alliance, and he urged Kakashi to bring Orochimaru back.
• Orochimaru completed a powerful experiment and left his laboratory to find food, expecting Guren to be guarding the base.
• Orochimaru encountered a Sound Ninja who directed him toward the cafeteria and recognized that the food arrangements seemed familiar.
• Kabuto appeared and greeted Orochimaru, who realized Kusagakure had infiltrated another of his bases and cursed in frustration.

Kabuto and Kusagakure’s allies confronted Orochimaru and tried to force him to come to Kusagakure. Orochimaru countered with a summoning technique that raised two coffins, leaving their contents to be revealed.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto exchanged greetings before Kabuto revealed that he had called for help.
• Hanzo of the Salamander, Obito Uchiha, and another masked Grass Ninja emerged and joined Kabuto in confronting Orochimaru.
• Hanzo invited Orochimaru on a Kusagakure tour, then attacked him alongside the others when Orochimaru refused.
• Orochimaru summoned two coffins, and Kabuto recognized the danger and tried to stop him.
• The coffin lids opened, and a voice from within one asked where they were and whether it was the Pure Land.

Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, then manipulated them into fighting Kabuto and the others. The Hokage kept believing the impostors’ stories about being Konoha ninja and Hanzo’s friendship with Danzo, while Orochimaru grew increasingly frustrated and ordered them to kill the group.

• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju with Impure World Reincarnation, and Tobirama Senju recognized that he was being controlled.
• Tobirama Senju intercepted Obito Uchiha’s attack on Orochimaru, then Orochimaru forced both Hokage to fight Kabuto, Jugō, and Obito Uchiha.
• Kabuto claimed that his group were Konoha ninja sent by the Third Hokage to capture Orochimaru, and Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju initially believed him.
• Orochimaru exposed the group as Kusagakure ninja, but Hanzo of the Salamander claimed to be Danzo’s close friend and showed the Hokage a photograph as proof.
• A female ninja reported that Orochimaru’s base had been attacked and the Sound Ninja had been poisoned, prompting Orochimaru to prepare to leave.
• Orochimaru again controlled Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju and ordered them to kill Kabuto’s group, while the two Hokage continued coaching their opponents.

Kabuto abandoned his plan to capture Orochimaru and ingratiated himself with the reanimated Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, while Lord Hanzō also won Tobirama’s respect. The group then realized Orochimaru had disappeared and Hashirama had regained control of himself.

• After seeing Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju appear, Kabuto scrapped his capture plan and joined them, posing as a loyal Konoha ninja alongside Jugō.
• Kabuto praised the Hokage and Konoha’s education, earning Tobirama’s approval as the Second Hokage reflected on the village’s progress.
• Tobirama recognized Lord Hanzō’s Water Release and heard how he had become close friends with Danzo during the war.
• Jugō noticed Orochimaru had vanished, and Hashirama realized the restraints had weakened enough for him to control himself.

Kabuto stopped Tobirama Senju from killing Guren and persuaded the Hokage to leave the Sound ninja to Konoha’s younger generation. Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju departed after praising Kabuto and the others, just as Konoha reinforcements arrived and witnessed the bewildering scene.

• Kabuto accepted the failed mission to capture Orochimaru and told Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju that Konoha’s younger ninja would handle him.
• Tobirama Senju moved to kill Guren, but Kabuto asked him to spare her and argued that Orochimaru’s abandoned followers deserved another chance.
• Tobirama Senju spared Guren, praised Kabuto as a potential Hokage, and sensed that Konoha’s reinforcements had arrived.
• Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju praised Kabuto, Jugō, and Obito before vanishing and leaving two unrecognizable ninja corpses behind.
• The arriving Konoha ninja saw the vanished Hokage’s aftermath and stared in confusion at the Grass bandits they had apparently approved.

Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Kakashi’s report about the failed search for Orochimaru and the appearance of the First and Second Hokage, then ordered the information kept secret while Konoha focused on recovery. Kusana learned that Orochimaru had escaped Kabuto’s group and turned his attention to Kaguya One’s upcoming launch.

• Kakashi reported that he and Guy had retreated after encountering Kusagakure, and Hiruzen Sarutobi suspended the search for the Sannin while ordering the news about the First and Second Hokage concealed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi wondered whether Kusagakure was connected to the Hokage’s appearance and noticed a BBC Daily announcement about the successful development of the Kaguya One satellite.
• Kusana learned from Kabuto’s intelligence that Orochimaru had escaped despite the efforts of Hanzō, Obito, and the others.
• Kusana recalled that Kakashi’s team had fled from Kabuto’s group, with Might Guy opening the Sixth Gate to carry his companions away.
• Kabuto used Guren to pacify the Sound Ninja, blamed Hanzō for the poisoning incident, and stayed behind with Jugō to help integrate the base into Otogakure.
• Kusana noted that Kaguya One’s launch was approaching and suspected Hanzō did not want to miss it.

Kusagakure prepared to launch its first satellite, Kaguya One, in a public broadcast near Sunagakure. As the gathered crowd watched, Naruto praised the Land of Grass’s achievements, while Black Zetsu recognized the satellite and stared at it uneasily.

• Kusana named Kusagakure’s first satellite Kaguya One after Elder Yōsei declined to name it after himself.
• Kusagakure prepared a public satellite launch before winter and planned to broadcast the attempt throughout the country.
• Shibuki and several Taki ninja arrived at the launch site beside Sunagakure and marveled at the Land of Grass’s prosperity.
• Naruto told the visitors that the Land of Grass trusted its own people rather than a Child of Destiny or ultimate weapons, impressing the Taki ninja.
• Black Zetsu stared darkly at a newspaper image of Kaguya One, recognizing the enormous mechanical eyeball.

Kusagakure launched Kaguya One, the ninja world’s first satellite, as reporters and spectators watched. The satellite reached its designated orbit, while Black Zetsu and Naruto promised to protect Black Zetsu’s mother.

• White Zetsu reported on Kaguya One and interviewed Elder Yōsei, who credited two unnamed ninja talents with helping develop it.
• Elder Yōsei completed the launch checks and pressed the ignition button as the countdown ended.
• Kaguya One launched toward the sky while Black Zetsu watched with a melancholy expression.
• Naruto promised Black Zetsu they would beat anyone who bullied his mother, and Black Zetsu thanked him.
• The broadcast announced Kaguya One had entered its designated orbit, and the crowd cheered as Elder Yōsei smiled.