Chapter Summaries

Naruto sealed Minato after speaking with him about the Nine-Tails and Kushina, while Sasuke’s battle with Itachi ended with Itachi dying. Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara set off for the Land of Grass, and the Four Great Ninja Villages’ alliance plan failed.

• Minato realized Naruto had sensed the Nine-Tails himself, accepted defeat, and asked Naruto to leave his half of the beast to Konoha.
• Naruto told Minato that Kushina was pregnant, and Minato angrily cursed the Grass Ninja Leader before the sealing finished.
• Gaara arrived and noted that Sasuke had finished his battle too.
• Itachi asked Sasuke for forgiveness, learned that Mother and Little Qin were well, admitted he regretted his choices, and died.
• Naruto and Sasuke decided to go home to the Land of Grass, while Sasuke stored Itachi away and ignored the hidden Konoha ninja.
• The Four Great Ninja Villages' alliance plan failed.

Kusana and the Land of Grass ninjas struggled to devise a way to let the Four Great Ninja Villages stall for time while creating White Zetsu. Just as Kusana wondered whether Danzo might have a solution, a letter from him arrived and left Kusana stunned.

• Kusana asked the gathered ninjas how they could let the Four Great Ninja Villages stall for time after the Fourth Kazekage, the Fourth Hokage, and Itachi Uchiha had been dealt with.
• Naruto suggested that the Land of Grass simply stay out of the fight, but Sasuke mocked him and Gaara explained that the other side might suspect a trick if they went quiet.
• Kusana asked Madara whether Impure World Reincarnation caused painful hunger, and Madara said its restraints should force others to endure it.
• A Grass ninja delivered a letter from Konoha's Hokage's Assistant, Shimura Danzō, and Kusana stared at it in shock.
• Earlier that morning, Danzo asked the Four Great Ninja Villages' army how they could stall for time without the Land of Grass discovering their White Zetsu project.

Danzo and the allied Kage agreed to launch the final battle against the Land of Grass after Hashirama insisted he would handle the threat. The next day, Hashirama spotted Madara on the battlefield and eagerly ran toward him, leaving the alliance stunned.

• Danzo lamented losing Konoha’s Mangekyō Sharingan and abandoned his plan to delay the war, while the allied ninjas discussed how to buy time for White Zetsu production.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed using small Impure World Reincarnation forces to harass the Land of Grass, and Ōnoki, the Fourth Mizukage, and the Fourth Raikage supported the plan.
• Hashirama Senju rejected the delay strategy and repeatedly insisted that he would take on the Land of Grass himself, with Tobirama Senju backing his confidence.
• Danzo warned Hashirama about the Grass Ninja Leader, Nagato Uzumaki, and the Land of Grass’s powerful forces, but he eventually agreed to launch the final battle.
• The allied forces assembled the next day, but Hashirama spotted Madara across the battlefield and eagerly ran toward him.

Hashirama and Madara reunited during the war, leaving the Allied Forces of the Four Great Ninja Villages unsure what to do. Tobirama and Danzo tried to reassure the gathered ninjas, but they too ended up rushing after Hashirama, and Danzo was left lamenting that their side had tried.

• Hashirama and Madara ran toward each other across the battlefield, calling out one another’s names and startling both armies.
• Tobirama told the Allied Forces that Hashirama had old grievances with Madara and urged them to wait while keeping watch on Madara.
• Hiruzen noticed Hashirama was leaving with Madara, prompting Tobirama to angrily rush after his brother.
• Danzo tried to reassure the gathered ninjas, but Hiruzen pointed out that Tobirama had gone with them too.
• Danzo staggered, steadied himself with Hiruzen’s help, and lamented that their side had tried before shouting in frustration.

Kusana and his allies watched as Madara took Hashirama and Tobirama away, leaving the Four Great Ninja Villages’ alliance shaken. Danzo insisted he had prepared for the setback, but Orochimaru revealed that he could no longer sense the two Hokage, as if they had been sealed.

• Kusana, Hanzō, and Robin reacted to Madara taking both Hashirama and Tobirama, while Naruto asked whether they should still fight.
• The allied shinobi’s morale faltered after the First and Second Hokage left, and Yagura suppressed his doubts as the Kage asked Danzo for a plan.
• Danzo claimed he had prepared for the unexpected and ordered Orochimaru to sense the locations of Hashirama and Tobirama.
• Orochimaru told Danzo that the signal to the two Hokage had been cut off completely, as if they had been sealed.
• Danzo insisted he had prepared for this too, though his voice trembled.

Danzo ordered the allied forces to begin their assault on the Land of Grass while keeping their strongest fighters in reserve. Hyuga Hiashi sent his clan to harass the enemy, insisting they would remain loyal to Konoha despite his private unease as he looked toward the Grass Ninja Leader.

• Danzo told the village Kage to hold their positions and proceed with the original plan, and the allied forces began their attack with White Zetsu and Impure World Reincarnation troops.
• Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to delay the enemy and try to bring back the First Hokage and Danzo’s teacher; Hiruzen said Jiraiya was on his way and Tsunade had not replied.
• Hiruzen said the Hyuga Clan would operate separately and harass the enemy, while Danzo warned that he still suspected they might be hiding something.
• Hyuga Hiashi ordered his clan to carry out the harassment plan and struck down a clansman who suggested defecting to Kusagakure.
• Hiashi reaffirmed the Hyuga Clan’s loyalty to Konoha, then privately sighed as he looked toward the Land of Grass and murmured about the Grass Ninja Leader.

Hyuga Hiashi prepared for a costly battle while worrying that Konoha would punish the Hyuga Clan if they failed to prove their loyalty. Kusana ordered the Land of Grass’s forces to encircle the Allied Forces of the Four Great Ninja Villages, then demanded an attack when Robin identified the Sarutobi Clan on the front line.

• Hyuga Hiashi recalled rejecting an Otsutsuki ninja’s invitation to join the Land of Grass and feared Konoha would suspect the Hyuga Clan during the coming battle.
• Hyuga Hiashi told Hyuga Hinata to return to the village if she encountered danger, then admitted that the battle would be very difficult for the Hyuga Clan.
• Kusana ordered the Land of Grass’s forces to wait for the Allied Forces of the Four Great Ninja Villages to enter the defensive line, then encircle them with the White Zetsu army and Grass ninjas.
• Kusana said the Otsutsuki Clan had been sent to stop the Hyuga Clan and asked his forces to find Tsunade and summon her to the Land of Grass.
• Robin reported that the Sarutobi Clan was on the front battlefield, and Kusana immediately ordered ninjas to attack them.

Hawkeye Mihawk followed Land of Grass soldiers out to sea and discovered Madara Uchiha and Hashirama battling in enormous forms. Watching their fight, he decided he should persuade Shanks to bet his remaining hand on the Straw Hat brat before the next wave nearly overturned his raft.

• Hawkeye Mihawk walked through the prosperous Land of Grass and reflected on its swordsmanship academy and his agreement to teach swordsmanship.
• Hawkeye Mihawk saw soldiers heading toward the docks and followed them after an announcement canceled southwest-bound trains and ships.
• Hawkeye Mihawk watched Land of Grass soldiers run across the water, then rowed after them on a small raft.
• Hawkeye Mihawk reached a sea crowded with people and saw Madara Uchiha’s giant fighting an equally enormous wooden giant.
• Hawkeye Mihawk recognized the other giant’s opponent as Hashirama and resolved to persuade Shanks to bet his remaining hand on the Straw Hat brat.

Nagato kept Tobirama Senju under watch while Tobirama questioned the Grass Ninja about the strange situation, as Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju continued fighting. In the shinobi world, the allied Kage urged their forces to endure until reinforcements arrived, but a casualty report revealed devastating losses for the Sarutobi Clan.

• Nagato ordered his subordinates to seal off the area and watched Tobirama Senju while Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju fought.
• Tobirama Senju concluded he could not return to the shinobi world and called the red-haired Grass Ninja over to talk.
• Ōnoki warned that the allied villages were losing too many forces, while Hiruzen Sarutobi said they should hold out for the First Hokage and his teacher to return.
• Shimura Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi urged the allied forces to endure and avoid further accidents.
• A Konoha ninja delivered the casualty report, and Hiruzen discovered that the Sarutobi Clan's losses were severe before telling Danzō they could not continue like this.

Karatachi Yagura questioned whether the alliance could win the war and spotted a White Zetsu pretending to sleep before it resumed acting wild. Meanwhile, Kusana learned that Tsunade had been found and taken captive after asking to see the Third Hokage.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the decision to continue the alliance’s original strategy despite the Sarutobi Clan’s losses.
• Karatachi Yagura asked Kisame Hoshigaki whether the alliance could win, and Kisame said Konoha’s God of Shinobi might give them a chance.
• Karatachi Yagura noticed a White Zetsu resting among the rampaging creatures, and it spoke to him before pretending to go wild again.
• A Grass Ninja told Kusana that Tsunade had asked to see the Third Hokage, so the Grass Ninja had knocked her out and taken her away.

Kusana learned that the White Zetsu army’s cover had been exposed, but the Fourth Mizukage had secretly considered bringing Kirigakure over to Kusagakure, and Kabuto’s letter had reached Orochimaru. With several major players aligned or potentially aligned with Kusagakure, Kusana declared it was time to close the net and end the war.

• Kusana discussed the stalled effort to persuade the Hyuga Clan to join Kusagakure and the need to purge entrenched factions in the Four Great Ninja Villages.
• A White Zetsu reported that the White Zetsu army’s undercover operation had been exposed after one of them slacked off in public.
• Kusana ordered the White Zetsu army to retreat if the allied forces posed a danger, but learned the Fourth Mizukage had secretly asked about preferential terms for Kirigakure joining Kusagakure.
• Robin confirmed she had delivered Kabuto’s letter to Orochimaru, who had been fascinated by her hand created with her ability.
• Kusana reflected that the White Zetsu army, Kirigakure, and possibly Orochimaru and Danzo were on his side, then announced it was time to close the net and end the war.

Shimura Danzō saw the White Zetsu army swell to tens of thousands after Orochimaru accelerated production, and he declared victory certain as the Land of Grass’s defenses continued to retreat. The chapter ended with Kusana surveying the battlefield and agreeing that the overall situation had been decided.

• Shimura Danzō received a large, low-quality batch of White Zetsu and ordered Orochimaru to keep producing them despite the soaring costs.
• Shimura Danzō told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Sarutobi Clan’s heavy casualties were due to its strength and its ninjas’ eagerness to fight.
• A ninja reported that Orochimaru had optimized production and organized nonstop shifts, producing nearly twenty thousand more White Zetsu in half a day.
• Shimura Danzō declared victory certain, and Karatachi Yagura agreed as the White Zetsu army headed for the battlefield.
• Kusana sneezed, looked over the battlefield, and said the overall situation had been decided.

Kusana’s plan to lure the Allied Shinobi Forces into a trap seemed to be working, while Orochimaru concealed his change of allegiance from Danzo. The White Zetsu army then revealed it had understood the ninjas’ insults, leaving the battlefield’s next move uncertain as the war neared its planned end.

• Kusana ordered the White Zetsu army to draw the Allied Shinobi Forces into the Land of Grass’s trap.
• The Allied Shinobi Forces followed the White Zetsu after it changed direction, assuming the creatures were defective and using them as shields.
• Orochimaru told Danzo that White Zetsu production was nearly finished, while privately resolving to side with Konoha after hearing Kabuto’s news.
• The Grass Ninja intensified their attack and began encircling the Allied Shinobi Forces from both sides.
• The White Zetsu army stopped, turned around together, and grinned at the ninjas who had called them stupid.

The Four Great Ninja Villages' alliance was trapped by the Land of Grass, whose White Zetsu forces and controlled Past Kage turned against them. Danzō tried to direct a retreat, but the Grass leader appeared before the Kage could escape.

• The Kage realized the allied forces had been surrounded and Danzō accused Orochimaru of being a Grass traitor.
• The Third Hokage suspected Danzō, so the Fourth Raikage ordered guards to watch Shimura Danzō.
• The Past Kage revealed they had been controlled and surrounded the Kage and Danzō.
• Danzō urged the alliance to abandon the surrounded forces and retreat, but the Fourth Mizukage's forces moved to surround them.
• Danzō told the Kage to escape and seek the First Hokage, but the Land of Grass's leader appeared behind them.

Kusana confronted the defeated Kage and their forces, using threats against their surrounded ninja to force them to hear his offer. Hashirama and Tobirama confirmed they would not interfere, and the Kage reluctantly accepted that their villages had lost and might have to join the Land of Grass.

• Kusana thanked Danzo for helping the Land of Grass win, prompting Danzo to deny any involvement as Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with the other Kage.
• Hashirama Senju admitted the allied forces had lost, while Tobirama Senju said he and Hashirama would not interfere and that Kusana would speak with the Kage.
• Kusana asked whether the surrounded Cloud Ninja should be killed, and the Third Raikage quickly told him to spare them.
• Kusana posed the same threat to the Mist Ninja, and Byakuren asked him not to kill them; Ishikawa also relented before Kusana could ask.
• Hashirama urged the Kage to join the Land of Grass, saying Kusana had promised to treat their villages well and reminding them that they had lost.
• The Third Raikage agreed to continue negotiations and challenged Kusana to show magnanimity.

Kusana defeated the Past Kage with his Sage Art: Paper Release: Thousand-Armed Diga and secured their agreement to talk, effectively ending the war. As the sides faced the aftermath, Tobirama Senju asked Kusana to spare Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, but Kusana and Hanzō insisted they would never harm their dear friends.

• The Past Kage demanded that Kusana prove himself in a fight, and Kusana revealed Sage Mode and summoned Thousand-Armed Diga.
• Kusana used Thousand-Armed Diga to overwhelm the Past Kage, who agreed to talk, and the gathered ninja recognized that the war had ended.
• Hashirama Senju invited Madara Uchiha to explore the New World, then learned that Madara had written the books himself.
• Tobirama Senju asked Kusana to spare Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, but Kusana and Hanzō denied that they would harm their brothers-in-arms.

After the Fifth Great Ninja War, Kusana oversaw the Land of Grass's takeover of the Four Great Ninja Villages and addressed disputes involving the Great Nations, Konoha, and the Hyuga Clan. With the ninja world settling under Grass control, Kusana took a break and visited the moon before the Land of Grass turned its attention to the sea.

• The Land of Grass detained shinobi from the Four Great Ninja Villages, stationed troops in their villages, and brought the villages under preliminary control.
• Kusana arranged for the BBC Daily to restore the Fourth Hokage's reputation and criticize the Third Hokage and the other leaders who had monopolized Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi convinced the resisting Hyuga Clan that Konoha had surrendered, and Kusana negotiated to abolish the main and branch family system and free branch members from the Caged Bird seal.
• Kusana had Orochimaru release the Impure World Reincarnation shinobi who wished to return to the Pure Land, then sent Orochimaru, Hashirama Senju, Madara, and other curious shinobi to the sea.
• After taking time to rest, Kusana traveled to the moon to check on Elder Yang Zheng and visit Black Zetsu's mother.

Kusana left the moon after visiting Kaguya and telling Black Zetsu that his mother wanted him to behave. Meanwhile, Mihawk met Shanks and revealed that Luffy was still in the East Blue, working at a construction site in the Land of Grass.

• Kusana visited Kaguya in her mental space and told Black Zetsu that she wanted him to study, behave, and become useful to the Land of Grass.
• Kusana looked over the increasingly deserted moon and prepared to leave as his phone rang.
• Mihawk arrived at the Red-Haired Pirates’ island and joined Shanks, bringing him wine from Foosha Village.
• Mihawk told Shanks that he had met Luffy and found him unexpectedly interesting.
• Mihawk revealed that Luffy had not gone to sea and was working at a construction site in the Land of Grass.

After Pakura killed a Celestial Dragon, Kusana dismissed Vivi’s fears about the World Government’s response. When the Navy launched a Buster Call against the Land of Grass, Kusana said he would handle the threat and sent Nagato, Obito, and Sasuke to Mary Geoise.

• Mihawk left Shanks after telling him about the Straw Hat Kid and read a newspaper reporting on the Land of Grass’s actions.
• Kusana teased Pakura about a dramatic BBC Daily account of her supposed revenge against the Celestial Dragons, while Vivi warned that Pakura could be declared a pirate.
• Vivi said her father, Cobra, had gone to seek a settlement with the World Government and offered to shelter Land of Grass citizens if the Navy attacked.
• A Grass ninja reported that the Navy had launched a Buster Call against the Land of Grass and that its main force was approaching the East Blue.
• Pakura offered to leave on a mission to protect the Land of Grass, but Kusana refused and said he would deal with the threat himself.
• Kusana sent Nagato, Obito, and Sasuke to the World Government’s Holy Land, Mary Geoise.

The Navy fleet arrived to confront the Land of Grass after a Celestial Dragon was killed, while Garp told Sengoku he expected to be restrained if the fighting reached his hometown. When the Land of Grass’s king arrived alone and asked to talk, Sengoku turned to Colonel Kabuto for advice.

• Sengoku scolded Garp for delaying action against the Land of Grass, and Garp admitted he hoped Sengoku would hold him back when the fighting began.
• The Navy fleet spotted a single ship flying the Land of Grass’s flag, and Sengoku wondered why it had come alone.
• Roswald demanded that the Navy attack the Land of Grass, while the king sent word asking to talk and claiming the Navy’s new hero was his friend.
• Sengoku ignored Roswald’s demands and asked Colonel Kabuto what he thought.