Recaps

Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Yuki-onna escaped the collapsing Iwagakure base and learned that the Shadow Organization might be extending its influence through a trade proposal in the Land of Whirlpools. They returned to the village and found Nagato meeting with the suspicious merchants.

• The four escaped the collapsing base after destroying its research data, while the Shadow Organization fled with the injured Masked Man.
• An Iwagakure squad treated Karin’s wound and thanked the group for destroying an illegal research base, but warned them that its owner might seek revenge.
• On their journey home, Sasuke received word that suspicious merchants had proposed investing in a factory and trade port in the Land of Whirlpools.
• Yuki-onna suspected the merchants were part of the Shadow Organization’s economic infiltration, and the four hurried back to the village.
• The group arrived at dusk and found Nagato meeting with the finely dressed merchants in the village meeting room.

Naruto and the others grew suspicious of a merchants' offer to build a trade port, and Yuki-onna discovered the merchants were Shadow Organization members planning to infiltrate the village. After overhearing their plans and a call to headquarters, she was discovered and faced three merchants.

• Sasuke and Karin sensed unusual chakra from the merchants, and the group learned they wanted an office and staff in the village as part of their trade port proposal.
• Yuki-onna volunteered to investigate the merchants at their inn that night.
• Yuki-onna overheard the merchants discuss infiltrating the village and establishing a base, while identifying Sasuke as a likely Uchiha with the Sharingan.
• Yuki-onna heard a merchant report to Shadow Organization headquarters that they expected to establish a base within three days.
• A floorboard creaked as Yuki-onna tried to leave, and three merchants rushed out to confront her.

Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Yuki-onna exposed three Shadow Organization members and fought them, forcing the battle outside the village to protect the guests. As both sides unleashed their full strength, the lead enemy drank a Human Enhancement Potion and claimed his strength had increased tenfold.

• Yuki-onna was trapped by the disguised merchants until Naruto arrived with Shadow Clones, and the merchants revealed they belonged to the Shadow Organization.
• Sasuke and Karin revealed they had recognized the enemies earlier, and the four allies surrounded the three Shadow Organization members.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Yuki-onna, and Karin fought the enemies; Sasuke discovered that his opponent had a mechanical implant that enhanced his body.
• When inn guests came outside, Naruto protected them with Shadow Clones, and the four allies drew the battle beyond the village.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode, Sasuke activated Mangekyō Sharingan, Karin expanded her sensory range, and Yuki-onna unleashed her strongest Ice Release technique.
• The lead enemy drank a Human Enhancement Potion, transformed, and claimed his strength had increased tenfold.

Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Yuki-onna defeated three Shadow Organization members who had taken an enhancement drug, with Nagato stopping their explosive attack. After interrogating the captives, the group discovered the organization was collecting Chakra data for an Artificial Tailed Beast and learned that two branches remained active.

• The three drug-enhanced enemies attacked the group, but Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Yuki-onna exploited their reduced agility and gradually overwhelmed them.
• The leader activated an Explosive Tag Formation, but Nagato used Chibaku Tensei to contain the blast before it could seriously harm the group.
• Sasuke tried to interrogate the captured enemies, but Yuki-onna revealed that she had once been known as Yuki-hime in the Shadow Organization.
• Nagato found a Chakra Collector among the enemies' equipment, and Yuki-onna explained that the organization wanted Chakra data to develop an Artificial Tailed Beast.
• Yuki-onna told the group that the Shadow Organization had branches in the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Water, though she did not know where its headquarters was.

Yuki-onna warned Naruto, Sasuke, and the others that the Shadow Organization had powerful biologically modified fighters, then revealed that an elite force called the Black Shadow Unit was approaching the Land of Whirlpools. The defenders prepared a deception at the village entrance, but the twelve attackers split up and entered the village.

• Yuki-onna explained that the Shadow Organization had more than thirty Jonin-level members, three advanced subjects capable of fighting tailed beasts, and mysterious funding.
• A villager reported at least fifty enemy ninja and strange ships near the coast, and Nagato ordered the village to prepare for battle.
• A prisoner revealed that the attackers included the Black Shadow Unit, twelve Elite Jonin who had undergone extensive biological modification.
• The Black Shadow Unit's captain ordered his twelve members to capture the village's ninja alive if possible, while keeping half their strength in reserve.
• Karin sensed the twelve approaching, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Yuki-onna used Shadow Clones, genjutsu, and icy mist to make the village appear heavily defended.
• The Black Shadow Unit reached the village entrance, split into three groups, and entered from different directions as Karin warned the defenders.

Nagato and the others fought off the Black Shadow Unit, whose members used bio-modifications and Dark Chakra. After Naruto healed Karin, Yuki-onna revealed the Shadow Organization had a branch at sea near the Land of Water, giving the group a possible target for a counterattack.

• Naruto's Shadow Clones overwhelmed the Black Shadow Unit's left squad temporarily, while Sasuke struggled against a member who transformed into Steel Form.
• Nagato fought the captain, who transformed into Shadow Form, and trapped him in Chibaku Tensei despite his attempt to escape with a Super Explosive Tag.
• Naruto called out that Karin was injured, allowing the captain to escape, and the Black Shadow Unit retreated.
• Yuki-onna identified the black smoke on Karin's arm as corrosive Dark Chakra, and Naruto used golden Senjutsu Chakra to heal her.
• Naruto proposed striking first, and Yuki-onna revealed the Shadow Organization had an offshore branch in the Land of Water, beyond Kirigakure's jurisdiction.

Naruto, Sasuke, Nagato, Karin, and their allies sailed toward the Shadow Organization’s offshore branch, using disguises to slip past its patrol boats. They reached the artificial island and prepared to gather intelligence and sabotage the facility, while Yamada waited with the boat.

• Nagato decided Yuki-onna would stay behind to defend the village while the others went after the offshore branch.
• Yamada volunteered to guide the group by boat, and they set off under cover of darkness with information Yuki-onna had provided.
• Karin sensed six patrol boats manned by biologically modified ninjas, so the group disguised themselves as fishermen and passed the patrol unnoticed.
• The group reached the brightly lit artificial island and detected around a hundred ninjas, including about a dozen powerful Chakra signatures.
• Nagato outlined their goals of gathering intelligence, destroying facilities, and capturing prisoners if possible, while Yamada stayed behind with the boat.

Sasuke infiltrated the Shadow Organization’s artificial island and discovered large-scale human modification experiments using Chakra data collected from villages. After his cover was blown, Nagato and the others launched an assault that let Naruto rescue him, and Sasuke reported what he had learned.

• Sasuke slipped past the island’s sensors and found a laboratory where researchers were modifying people into cyborgs using Chakra data from various villages.
• A Black Ninja detected Sasuke and attacked him, while an alarm brought guards to the laboratory.
• Sasuke destroyed much of the laboratory with a Great Fireball Technique and broke through a wall with Chidori as guards surrounded him.
• Nagato and the others assaulted the island, using Chibaku Tensei as a distraction to help Sasuke escape.
• Naruto drove off Sasuke’s pursuers with a Super Giant Ball Rasengan, and Sasuke told him about the experiments and stolen Chakra data.

Naruto, Sasuke, and their allies returned to the Land of Whirlpools to find the village under attack and Yuki-onna badly injured. As they faced a powerful modified member of the Shadow Organization, Yuki-onna unleashed her Absolute Zero technique.

• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to drive off the pursuers, and Yamada spotted the village burning as they sailed home.
• Kisame and Kirigakure ninjas joined them, explaining that the Shadow Organization’s base threatened the Land of Water.
• Karin sensed Yuki-onna’s weak Chakra, and Nagato sent Naruto, Sasuke, and Yamada to rescue her while he and Karin dealt with other enemies.
• Naruto and Sasuke found Yuki-onna fighting three Shadow Organization members, including a core member with a powerful advanced modified form.
• The modified enemy destroyed Naruto’s Shadow Clones and knocked Yamada unconscious, then advanced on Naruto and Sasuke.
• Yuki-onna rose and unleashed Ice Release Secret Technique: Absolute Zero, freezing the ground and crystallizing moisture in the air.

Yuki-onna defeated several Black Shadow Unit members with Absolute Zero, then joined Naruto, Sasuke, Nagato, and Karin against a stronger captain. Kisame stopped the captain’s explosive from reaching the village, but the captain transformed into a Shadow Demon King capable of rivaling a Tailed Beast, leaving Naruto eager to fight despite Nagato’s warning.

• Yuki-onna used Absolute Zero to freeze the Black Shadow Unit members, captured their leader alive, and sealed all three prisoners’ acupoints with Ice Senbon.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Yuki-onna joined Nagato and Karin, whose attacks forced the captain to end his ghostification transformation.
• The captain threw an explosive toward the village, but Kisame caught it in a mass of seawater, reducing its blast.
• The captain transformed into his Ultimate Modified Form, the Shadow Demon King, and Yuki-onna warned that it could rival a Tailed Beast.
• Naruto wanted to use the Nine-Tails’ power against the captain, but Nagato warned that he could not fully control it.

The Shadow Demon King overwhelmed the battlefield with phasing, energy absorption, and regeneration, leaving the group unable to damage him. Naruto activated Nine-Tails Chakra Mode but lost control of the chakra, and the chapter ended as the Demon King prepared to unleash Shadow Annihilation.

• Nagato attacked the Shadow Demon King with gravitational and repulsive forces, but the Demon King phased through them and struck him with Shadow Claw Strike.
• Naruto’s Rasenshuriken was absorbed, Sasuke’s black flames passed through the Demon King, and a joint assault by Yuki-onna, Kisame, and Sasuke left him unharmed.
• The Shadow Demon King used Shadow Storm to attack the group, hitting Karin and forcing everyone else to dodge.
• Naruto activated Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and wounded the Demon King with a Rasengan, but the wound healed immediately as Naruto’s chakra burned his body.
• The Demon King provoked Naruto by comparing Tailed Beast power to modification, and the Nine-Tails began to overwhelm Naruto before the Demon King struck him and ended his chakra cloak.
• The Shadow Demon King prepared Shadow Annihilation as Sasuke rushed toward the injured Naruto.

Nagato used the Rinnegan’s Six Paths to counter the Shadow Demon King, but the demon king’s backlash damaged Nagato’s mind. As the demon king prepared to finish him, Nagato summoned a Three-Headed Dog with the Animal Path.

• Nagato used the Human Path to attack the Shadow Demon King’s soul, but Ultimate Modification blocked the technique.
• Nagato absorbed the demon king’s physical and energy attacks with the Preta Path, then healed the strain with the Hell Path.
• Nagato used the Asura Path to damage the demon king, but the strain of switching techniques left him weakened.
• Nagato used the Human and Preta Paths through separate eyes to break the demon king’s defenses, but black energy surged back and injured Nagato’s mind.
• The Shadow Demon King prepared to kill Nagato, but Nagato summoned a Three-Headed Dog with the Animal Path.

Nagato, Sasuke, Naruto, and their allies discovered the Shadow Demon King's regeneration core and used Heavenly Hand Power to position him for a close-range blast. The core went dark, leaving the wounded Demon King unable to regenerate as the group prepared to counterattack.

• Karin identified the Demon King's chest as the source of his regeneration, and he attacked her before Naruto took the blow meant for her.
• Nagato detonated hidden bombs while Sasuke used Heavenly Hand Power to switch the Demon King's position with the trap, damaging his regeneration core.
• The Demon King took to the sky and unleashed a storm of black energy spheres, preventing the group from counterattacking.
• Nagato used Chibaku Tensei to hold the Demon King in place, and Sasuke swapped him with a boulder so the Three-Headed Dog could pin him down.
• Nagato attached a point-blank bomb to the Demon King's chest, destroying the regeneration core and leaving him unable to heal.

Naruto and Kurama united Sage Mode with the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, allowing Naruto to defeat the Shadow Demon King with a Five Element Rasenshuriken. The attack stripped away the Demon King’s modifications, revealing Konoha Chunin Ichiro Tanaka and exposing the Shadow Organization’s cyborg army.

• Nagato used the Preta Path to absorb the Demon King’s self-destruct energy, then the Demon King charged Naruto.
• Kurama taught Naruto to combine Sage Mode with the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, and Naruto awakened Sage Fox Mode.
• Sasuke explained the five elemental transformations to Naruto, who formed a Sage Art: Five Element Big Ball Rasenshuriken.
• Naruto struck the Demon King with the Rasenshuriken, destroying his modifications but leaving him alive.
• The restored man identified himself as Ichiro Tanaka, and Nagato said the group needed to warn the villages about the Shadow Organization’s cyborg army.
• Naruto’s Sage Fox Mode ended, and Kisame realized the young men’s growth could change the balance of power across the Shinobi World.

After the Shadow Organization’s attack, the Land of Whirlpools formed a strategic alliance with the Mist Village and began rebuilding. Kisame departed impressed by the Land of Whirlpools’ potential to become a great power.

• Karin reported that Yamada had a severe concussion, and Ichiro Tanaka recalled being captured and forcibly transformed by the Shadow Organization.
• Kisame apologized for the Mist Village’s late arrival and presented an alliance treaty recognizing the Land of Whirlpools’ independence.
• Nagato agreed to share intelligence on modified humans in exchange for the Mist Village investigating the Shadow Organization’s funding in the Land of Water.
• Kisame mentioned an ancient Ice Release clan, prompting Yuki-onna to react briefly before dismissing the connection.
• The Mist Village sent supplies and construction crews as Naruto trained his five-element Rasenshuriken and Nagato and Konan planned the village’s development.
• Kisame told Nagato that he now saw the Land of Whirlpools as a potential great power before leaving.

Sasuke used Tsukuyomi to break Ichiro Tanaka’s Mental Seal and uncovered the Shadow Organization’s plans and its leader’s connection to the Ōtsutsuki Clan. The chapter ended as Lord Shadow took control of Tanaka and spoke to Sasuke’s group.

• Sasuke entered Tanaka’s memories with his Rinnegan, but a Mental Seal blocked him and threatened to destroy Tanaka’s mind.
• Sasuke trapped Tanaka in Tsukuyomi and tortured him until his mental defenses broke.
• Tanaka revealed that the Shadow Organization’s headquarters was an underground city in the Land of Heaven, where it had made at least a thousand Cyborgs.
• Tanaka said Lord Shadow wielded space ninjutsu and a strange Byakugan, and planned to revive the God Tree by gathering the Tailed Beasts’ Chakra.
• Tanaka sensed Lord Shadow watching them, and Lord Shadow took control of his body and addressed the group.

Yuki-onna used Absolute Zero to stop Tanaka’s explosive attack, but the technique caused fatal ice crystallization that gave her a month to live. Nagato discovered an ancient account of the Spring of Life in Rōran, and the group agreed to prepare a journey there in hopes of saving her.

• Tanaka’s body began swelling, so Yuki-onna froze him with Absolute Zero and trapped the explosion inside the ice.
• Karin discovered that Yuki-onna’s chakra was draining, and Yuki-onna explained that Absolute Zero caused her body to crystallize and left her a month to live.
• Naruto used Yang Release chakra to slow the crystallization, while Sasuke and Nagato discussed whether Yin-Yang Release could provide a cure.
• Yuki-onna gave Nagato her intelligence on the Shadow Organization and planned to teach Ice Release basics to the village’s young people.
• Nagato found an Uzumaki scroll describing the Spring of Life in Rōran, and Sasuke said his Rinnegan could reach it using the recorded spatial coordinates.
• Naruto wanted to leave immediately, but Yuki-onna and Nagato called for preparations first, and Sasuke agreed to gather supplies and information.

The Sky Country’s envoy Sora offered the Land of Whirlpools advanced technology in exchange for Kekkei Genkai samples and chakra data, claiming they could help his gravely ill leader. Nagato reserved judgment as Yuki-onna considered the promised treatment for her crystallization, and he decided to gather information before answering.

• On the third day of reconstruction, silver aircraft arrived, and Sora introduced himself to Nagato as the Sky Country’s chief scientist and diplomatic envoy.
• Sora demonstrated a flying aircraft and an automated combat puppet, then said the Sky Country wanted to combine technology and ninjutsu with the Land of Whirlpools.
• Sora revealed that his country wanted samples and chakra data from Kekkei Genkai, including the Rinnegan and the Nine-Tails, to help develop treatment for its dying leader.
• Sora offered a Life Support Device and a treatment plan for Yuki-onna’s crystallization in exchange for cooperation, then left to wait for Nagato’s answer.
• Sasuke warned that Sora was dangerous, while Yuki-onna considered the offer and Naruto urged her not to trust the Sky Country.
• Nagato decided to gather information before responding to Sora’s offer.

Sasuke uncovered evidence that the Sky Country was connected to the Shadow Organization and searching for the Dragon Vein, while Sora offered to treat Yuki-onna’s crystallizing arm. The chapter ended as Sora prepared a device to temporarily slow the condition.

• Sasuke tried to inspect the Sky Country’s technology with his Rinnegan, but its devices interfered with his detection.
• Sasuke used Heavenly Hand Power on a crate to plant a hidden mental mark and later received information from it when Sora opened the crate.
• Sasuke learned that the devices’ human-modification data came from the Shadow Organization Laboratory and that the Sky Country was a major sponsor.
• Sasuke discovered that the Sky Country was searching for the Dragon Vein, which was connected to its leader’s illness.
• Yuki-onna agreed to provide a blood sample for treatment but asked to see it work first, so Sora prepared a device to temporarily slow her crystallization.

After learning that the Shadow Organization may have controlled a high-ranking official, Nagato decided to attend the Five Kage Summit while Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin searched for a cure for Yuki-onna in Rōran. The two teams departed separately, with Kakashi’s warning about Root’s remnants hanging over the summit mission.

• Ichiro Tanaka warned that the Mind Weaver had controlled a high-ranking official and that the Five Kage Summit was a trap, just as Naruto received the summit invitation and Kakashi’s note about the ghosts of Root.
• Nagato decided to attend the summit to expose the Shadow Organization, while Sasuke proposed that the others search for the dragon veins and Spring of Life in Rōran.
• Nagato assigned Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin to travel to Rōran, while he, Konan, Yuki-onna, and Kisame headed for the Five Kage Summit.
• Sasuke and Naruto discussed the dangers of splitting up, and Naruto repeated Kakashi’s warning about Root’s remnants.
• The two teams said goodbye the next morning, and Yuki-onna gave Naruto an ice-crystal talisman for protection.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin opened the Space-Time Rift beneath the desert and fought the Space-Time Guardian Beast that guarded Rōran. Sasuke swapped himself with the beast’s Energy Core, disabling its time-manipulation ability and leaving Naruto poised to attack.

• Sasuke located the hidden entrance to Rōran and used the ancient technique to open the Space-Time Rift.
• The Space-Time Guardian Beast emerged and attacked the group with time-slowing and mental abilities.
• Naruto used Sage Fox Mode to find the weak point on the beast’s left head, and Sasuke teleported Naruto’s Rasengan directly into it.
• Sasuke drew the beast’s attention and used Heavenly Hand Power to swap places with its Energy Core, causing its time-manipulation ability to fail.

Nagato attended the Five Kage Summit and tried to unite the nations against the Shadow Organization, despite escalating tensions over rogue ninja. As Yuki-onna sensed a familiar chakra in the hall, Shimura Danzō arrived and backed a hunt for rogue ninja using Root.

• Nagato faced the Raikage’s accusation over taking Yugito and argued that the nations should focus on the threat lurking in the shadows.
• Nagato warned that the Shadow Organization exploited rogue-ninja hunts to obtain test subjects and proposed a joint monitoring system.
• Kisame confronted the Raikage and Mei Terumi over the Land of Whirlpools sheltering him, while the Kage prepared to fight before Nagato’s proposal calmed the standoff.
• Gaara supported Nagato’s plan, and the Raikage agreed to hear its details.
• Yuki-onna sensed chakra like that of the Shadow Organization member who had modified her, but could not identify its source.
• Shimura Danzō arrived late and supported hunting rogue ninja, offering Root’s forces to assist.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin entered the ancient city of Rōran through the stabilized time-space rift but were separated by temporal turbulence. Naruto fought the city's puppet defenses while Sasuke and Karin uncovered Sky Country's plan to reach the dragon veins and resurrect Rōran's last queen.

• Sasuke took the guardian beast's Energy Core, and the three entered the time-space rift.
• Temporal turbulence separated Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin as they crossed into the floating city of Rōran.
• Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra provoked Rōran's puppets, and he struggled against their attacks.
• Sasuke and Karin found a Sky Country Logbook describing the dragon veins beneath the pyramid and a plan called 'Queen's Heart' to resurrect Rōran's last queen.
• Sasuke and Karin joined Naruto's fight, and Sasuke noticed the puppets reacted strangely to the Nine-Tails' Chakra.

At the Five Kage conference, Danzo accused Nagato of secretly creating the Shadow Organization threat, but Nagato revealed memories proving Danzo had worked with the organization and experimented on Ichiro Tanaka. Danzo’s plot collapsed, and Nagato pulled his soul from his body, though the hall remained sealed by a spatial barrier.

• Danzo accused Nagato of secretly orchestrating the Shadow Organization and used intelligence about Ichiro Tanaka to support his claim.
• Nagato projected Ichiro Tanaka’s memories, revealing Danzo operating on him and seeking Hashirama Cell transplantation technology from Lord Shadow.
• Danzo exposed the Sharingan implanted in his arm and attacked the gathered leaders, while the controlled Ōnoki targeted the Raikage with Dust Release.
• Nagato repelled Ōnoki’s attack, absorbed his next Dust Release technique, and revealed that his shadow clone had dealt with the Root ninjas outside.
• Danzo activated a spatial lockdown and began preparing a self-destructing forbidden technique, but Nagato used Human Path to extract Danzo’s soul.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin reached the Dragon Vein core beneath Rōran’s pyramid, where Sara revealed that the Vein was contaminated and Naruto’s royal blood could purify it using the Time-Space Key. Sora appeared to seize the key as Sara warned that purification could cost Naruto his life.

• Sasuke deduced that the puppets were guarding the pyramid, and Naruto opened its entrance using Uzumaki Runes.
• Sasuke and Naruto crossed the Runes-covered chamber by combining Heavenly Hand Power with Senjutsu and reached the contaminated Dragon Vein.
• Sara appeared and explained that Sky Country’s royal ancestor had betrayed Rōran, while its current leader sought to become an artificial Otsutsuki.
• Sara revealed that Naruto’s Uzumaki bloodline could purify the Dragon Vein and gave him the Time-Space Key, warning that using it could drain his life force.
• Sora emerged through a teleportation ring and declared that he had been waiting for the Time-Space Key.