Chapter Summaries

Bai Yue left a lively dinner gathering and met with Orochimaru, who had come to Konoha after the Akatsuki Organization intensified its hunt for him. Orochimaru had found clues about the descendants of Mōryō's followers but no further leads, and he appeared to be seeking Bai Yue's protection.

• Toneri agreed to spar with Kiba Inuzuka, and Jiraiya called Sasuke and Toneri over to join the gathering.
• Neji brought Bai Yue to the gathering, but Bai Yue said he was busy and vanished before Naruto arrived with Kushina.
• Naruto enthusiastically greeted Sakura, who said she was studying Medical Ninjutsu under Shizune, while Ino praised her appearance.
• Jiraiya, Kushina, Guy, Asuma, and the others began dinner without Bai Yue, and the gathering continued amid laughter and cheer.
• Bai Yue met Orochimaru, who said he had found clues about Mōryō's followers' descendants and that the Akatsuki Organization had intensified its efforts to track him down.

Sasuke searched for Root after Bai Yue gave him a secret mission to kill Danzo, but Jiraiya and Toneri discovered him and joined the plan. They headed toward Root with Sasuke insisting that Danzo was his prey.

• Danzo complained that Konoha’s celebration funds should have gone to Root or other departments.
• Sasuke searched Konoha for Root’s base, believing the hunt was a test from Bai Yue.
• Jiraiya revealed that he knew Root’s entrance and that Toneri had been following Sasuke.
• Sasuke told Jiraiya that Bai Yue had ordered him to kill Danzo, Root’s leader.
• Jiraiya offered to take Sasuke to Root and help if needed, and Toneri joined after agreeing to follow orders.
• Sasuke agreed to go with them but warned that Danzo was his prey and neither could interfere.

Sasuke, Jiraiya, and Toneri infiltrated Root to confront Danzo, while Bai Yue and Orochimaru watched from behind. Root’s defenses stopped Sasuke from advancing, and the chapter left the group fighting through waves of reinforcements.

• Jiraiya led Sasuke and Toneri toward Root, while Bai Yue and Orochimaru followed and discussed Toneri’s strength and Danzo’s hidden Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Root ninja attacked the group at the entrance, and Sasuke struck one down with Chidori.
• Jiraiya used Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld to swallow several Root ninja, allowing Sasuke to run deeper into the base.
• Root raised the alarm and sent reinforcements against the intruders, forcing Sasuke into a stalemate.
• Jiraiya reappeared and mocked Sasuke for failing to push farther into Root.

Sasuke and Jiraiya attacked Danzo’s Root base, where Danzo and his elite subordinates fought back. Sasuke revealed the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Danzo ordered the passage blown up as he began undoing the seal on his arm.

• Sasuke charged at the Root ninja, and Jiraiya joined him to help with the assault on Danzo.
• Danzo arrived and ordered his Root subordinates to attack Sasuke and Jiraiya after noticing Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke defended himself with Susanoo and drove back Root ninja with Chidori Raging Waves while Jiraiya attacked alongside him.
• Jiraiya summoned toads to eat Ryoma Aburame’s Kikaichū, but Aburame Torune’s poisonous Rinkaichū injured them and forced them to return to Mount Myōboku.
• Jiraiya fought Ryoma Aburame and Aburame Torune while Sasuke used Amaterasu to burn several Root ninja to ashes.
• Danzo ordered his men to blow up the passage and began undoing the seal on his arm.

Sasuke and his allies attacked Danzo, whose Sharingan-powered Izanagi repeatedly brought him and Root back from defeat. Bai Yue intervened, took control of the situation, and heard Danzo accept his plan to lead Konoha into incorporating the other Ninja Villages.

• Toneri used Repulsion and Pressure to cripple most of Root, and Sasuke pierced Danzo's heart with a Lightning Release attack.
• Danzo and the fallen Root members revived through Izanagi, which Bai Yue explained sacrificed Sharingan to rewrite unfavorable events.
• Bai Yue used Genjutsu to make Danzo forget his Mangekyō Sharingan, then ordered Root to abandon its resistance in the Hokage's name.
• Danzo asked Bai Yue why he had arranged the assassination, and Bai Yue said Sasuke had been sent to kill him and settle his emotional burden.
• Danzo asked how Bai Yue would handle the other Ninja Villages, then expressed relief and confidence in Bai Yue's plan to incorporate them.

Danzo attempted to destroy Sasuke with a suicide sealing technique, but Bai Yue rescued the Root members and Danzo died alone. Bai Yue explained the Uchiha Clan’s emotional nature to Sasuke, then ordered the Root members to join the celebration as the new Anbu Corps under Ryoma Aburame.

• Danzo condemned the Uchiha Clan and activated the Inner Four Symbols Seal in an attempt to take Sasuke and himself down.
• Bai Yue released the sealing technique, saved the Root members, and watched Danzo vanish.
• Sasuke questioned why Danzo hated the Uchiha Clan, and Bai Yue explained that Uchiha could become extreme when they lost their bonds.
• Bai Yue told the Root members that they would become the new Anbu Corps and appointed Ryoma Aburame to command them.
• Bai Yue offered to remove the Root members’ Curse Marks before they went to the celebration.

Bai Yue ordered Konoha to prepare for war against Iwagakure while leaving Kumogakure to Nagato’s plans. He instructed Orochimaru to cooperate with an Akatsuki scheme, then went to the Land of Rain and found Nagato’s group attacking Kumogakure to capture Killer B.

• Bai Yue ordered Shikaku to assemble Konoha’s forces at the Land of Grass border and said the victory banquet would be held in Iwagakure.
• Bai Yue told Orochimaru to monitor Mōryō’s descendants and wait for the Akatsuki Organization, then revealed his Tobi disguise and demanded Orochimaru cooperate when he approached.
• Bai Yue returned to the Akatsuki Organization’s base and discovered Nagato, Konan, Kakuzu, and Kisame had left.
• Bai Yue tracked Nagato’s group to Kumogakure and found them fighting to capture Killer B.
• Black Zetsu asked Bai Yue, disguised as Tobi, whether he could capture the Nine-Tails, and Bai Yue claimed Hyuga Baiyue had thwarted his attempt.

Black Zetsu discussed a backup plan with Bai Yue, then Bai Yue watched the Akatsuki attack Kumogakure. The battle left Darui incapacitated, while Fourth Raikage A and Killer B struggled against Pain and Kisame.

• Black Zetsu told Bai Yue that Deidara had been captured by Hyuga Baiyue and proposed reviving Kinkaku and Ginkaku as an alternative for the Moon Eye Plan.
• Bai Yue ordered Black Zetsu to find Orochimaru and locate Kinkaku and Ginkaku's remains, then watched Kumogakure from the sidelines.
• Kisame, Kakuzu, Konan, and the Six Paths of Pain attacked Kumogakure, and Deva Path Pain repeatedly repelled Fourth Raikage A.
• Killer B entered Tailed Beast Mode and charged Deva Path Pain, but Kisame drained much of his chakra with Samehada.
• Fourth Raikage A and Darui attacked Pain with lightning techniques, but Shinra Tensei hurled them and Killer B away, and Pain's Black Receivers pinned Darui to the ground.
• Killer B warned Fourth Raikage A that their enemies wielded the Rinnegan, and the Raikage realized six pairs of the legendary eyes had appeared.

Fourth Raikage A and Killer B fought Pain's forces in Kumogakure, but the Paths steadily countered their attacks and pinned A down. Killer B remained under attack as he tried to protect his brother and Gyuki.

• Fourth Raikage A and Killer B teamed up to attack Deva Path Pain, but Shinra Tensei blasted them away.
• Killer B used their midair coordination to launch Fourth Raikage A at Konan, whose body turned out to be a paper clone.
• Gyuki warned Killer B that the invaders seemed to be targeting him, and Killer B asked Gyuki for more power.
• Deva Path Pain interrupted Killer B's Tailed Beast Ball while Fourth Raikage A struck Asura Path Pain with a Liger Bomb.
• Asura Path Pain seized A's opening and pinned him down with Chakra Black Rods, sealing his Chakra.
• Killer B rushed to help A, but Deva Path Pain pulled him in and blasted him away with Shinra Tensei.

Bai Yue returned after failing to capture the Nine-Tails, while Pain’s forces prepared to retreat from Kumogakure with Killer B. As Pain moved to kill the wounded Fourth Raikage, Dodai and Samui rushed to stop him.

• Gyuki urged Killer B to flee, but Bai Yue knocked Killer B out of the ruins and Pain’s black rods pinned both him and Fourth Raikage A.
• Bai Yue told Pain that the Nine-Tails capture had failed and said he had another method, then warped away.
• Pain ordered the Akatsuki to retreat, and the Cloud Ninja tried to block their escape despite the Raikage and Killer B being defeated.
• The Animal Path loaded the Akatsuki onto a giant bird while Pain repelled the Cloud Ninja’s attacks and rose into the air.
• Pain spotted that Fourth Raikage A was still alive and dived toward him with a black rod, prompting Dodai and Samui to attack and the Asura Path to summon missiles.

After Deva Path Pain crippled the Fourth Raikage, Kumogakure struggled to treat him and restore order, while Kakuzu considered taking his bounty. Tang Niu arrived as Konoha’s messenger and openly mocked the damaged village, leaving the Cloud Ninja confronting him.

• Deva Path Pain said the Fourth Raikage was as good as dead, and Kakuzu decided to seek a chance to claim his bounty.
• Konan left, while Dodai arranged medical care for the Fourth Raikage and went to help Mabui stabilize Kumogakure.
• Tang Niu saw Kumogakure’s ruins, sent Ono, Ishikawa, and Kusanagi back to report, and continued toward the village alone.
• Cloud Ninja confronted Tang Niu, who identified himself as Konoha’s messenger and mocked them for how damaged Kumogakure was.

Tang Niu delivered Konoha’s hostile message to Kumogakure while the Fourth Raikage remained unconscious. After Tang Niu was escorted away, Dodai and Mabui faced the village’s lack of leadership and feared they could not manage the crisis.

• The Cloud Ninja beat Tang Niu after he provoked them, then brought him to the Raikage Office Building.
• Dodai and Mabui received Tang Niu, who refused to hand over Hokage-sama’s letter unless the Raikage came to see him.
• Mabui returned disguised as the Raikage, and Dodai read Konoha’s declaration that it was ready for war.
• Tang Niu told the Cloud Ninja that Konoha denied responsibility for the Two-Tails Jinchuriki’s disappearance and threatened to attack Kumogakure after dealing with Iwagakure.
• The disguised Raikage ordered Anbu to take Tang Niu away, and Mabui and Dodai worried that no one in Kumogakure could take charge while the Fourth Raikage and other leaders were incapacitated.

Bai Yue found the Evil God hidden in a sealed dimension, freed it, and quickly captured it in the True Illusionary Realm. After beating it into submission, he learned it was a native creature that had forged an immortal body through a dark path combining Natural Energy with human souls, flesh, blood, and malice.

• Tang Niu suspected the Fourth Raikage was absent or seriously injured and considered how to send that intelligence back.
• Bai Yue located the Evil God during the Jashin Cult’s sacrificial ceremony and defeated most of the cultists who attacked him.
• Bai Yue captured the surviving cultists in the True Illusionary Realm and reinforced the spatial seal around the Evil God.
• Bai Yue undid the seal, bound the emerging Evil God with Adamantine Sealing Chains, and brought it into the True Illusionary Realm.
• Bai Yue beat the Evil God into submission and learned how it had developed its own dark path and durable immortal body.

Bai Yue dismissed the Evil God, then joined Black Zetsu to recruit Orochimaru for the Ten-Tails’ revival. When Jiraiya entered the Land of Rain, Bai Yue revived Minato Namikaze to help protect him.

• Bai Yue decided to postpone investigating the Box of Paradise and returned to the Land of Rain to oversee the Ten-Tails’ revival.
• Black Zetsu told Bai Yue that Orochimaru had been found hiding in the Land of Rice Fields, and they traveled to his lair.
• Orochimaru demanded test subjects in exchange for using Impure World Reincarnation on the two White Bones, and Black Zetsu offered him one hundred White Zetsu.
• Bai Yue sensed that Jiraiya had entered the Land of Rain and decided he needed help protecting him.
• Bai Yue projected his mind into the True Illusionary Realm and revived Minato Namikaze, who woke up confused.

Minato Namikaze was revived and sent by Bai Yue to rescue Jiraiya from the Six Paths of Pain. Minato arrived just as Pain was about to kill Jiraiya, who mistook him for a vision taking him to the afterlife.

• Minato met the Yang Nine-Tails, exchanged a fist bump with him, and learned about Bai Yue's efforts to protect Naruto and revive his parents.
• Bai Yue asked Minato to rescue Jiraiya from a dangerous area and warned him not to fight the enemy.
• Minato used the Yin Nine-Tails' chakra to travel to Jiraiya's location, where Asura Path Pain had crushed Jiraiya's throat.
• The Six Paths of Pain prepared to stab Jiraiya with their Chakra Black Receivers, but Minato appeared in a golden flash.
• Jiraiya saw Minato and, believing he had come to take him away, smiled and entrusted Naruto's future to him.

Minato Namikaze rescued Jiraiya and Sage Fukasaku from Nagato’s attack, then rushed the gravely wounded Jiraiya back to Konoha. He arrived at Konoha Hospital and demanded the best Medical Ninjas treat his teacher.

• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in on Minato, but Minato escaped with Flying Thunder God and then returned to rescue Sage Fukasaku.
• Nagato and Konan worried that Minato’s return and Konoha’s growing strength threatened their plans, and Nagato told Konan to gather the others.
• Minato saw that Jiraiya’s throat and windpipe were badly injured and hurried toward Konoha using his Flying Thunder God Marks.
• Shizune and the Medical Ninjas were stunned to see Minato appear at Konoha Hospital with Jiraiya.
• Minato demanded the best Medical Ninjas, and Shizune told him to put Jiraiya down so they could treat him.

Jiraiya was rushed to Konoha Hospital with serious injuries, while Sakura summoned Tsunade and told Naruto that Minato had returned. Kushina and Minato reunited at the hospital as Tsunade went to treat Jiraiya, and Bai Yue’s Shadow Clone arrived, saying Jiraiya’s injuries should be manageable.

• Shizune examined Jiraiya, began emergency treatment, and sent Sakura to fetch Tsunade.
• Sakura told Tsunade that Jiraiya was gravely injured and revealed to Naruto and Kushina that Minato had returned.
• Tsunade, Naruto, and Kushina hurried to Konoha Hospital, with Naruto carrying his mother.
• Kushina and Minato embraced at the hospital while Tsunade asked where Jiraiya was being treated.
• Bai Yue’s Shadow Clone arrived with Shikaku and Sakura, said Tsunade could handle Jiraiya’s injuries, and Shikaku dispersed the growing crowd.

Minato Namikaze learned that Bai Yue had become the Fifth Hokage and transformed the shinobi world while he was gone. Meanwhile, Bai Yue’s unruly Shadow Clone entered the operating room and provoked Tsunade as she treated Jiraiya.

• Shikaku dismissed the gathered ninja and explained that the Third Hokage and Kushina had recovered in secret before leaving on classified missions.
• Minato thanked Shikaku, then learned that Kumogakure had declared war and Konoha had responded by declaring war on Iwagakure.
• Shikaku told Minato that Bai Yue had subdued Sunagakure and Kirigakure and that the Hyuga Clan had likely broken the Caged Bird seal.
• Minato asked Shikaku, Kushina, and Naruto to tell him what had happened during his absence, while the Shadow Clone went to check the operating room.
• The Shadow Clone teased Suki, then challenged Tsunade for directing Jiraiya’s treatment with her eyes closed.

Bai Yue oversaw Jiraiya’s treatment and traveled with Black Zetsu to Orochimaru’s base to collect Kinkaku. After negotiating for the remaining reincarnated ninja, Bai Yue left with Kinkaku while Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi departed the base.

• Shizune treated Jiraiya while the Shadow Clone returned to the Hokage Building, and Minato Namikaze heard about Konoha’s changes from Shikaku and Kushina.
• Bai Yue decided to take Kinkaku and Ginkaku to the Land of Rain, and Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Kinkaku.
• Orochimaru withheld the second reincarnated ninja until he received his reward and was out of danger, while Black Zetsu summoned over a hundred White Zetsus as payment.
• Bai Yue accepted Orochimaru’s terms and left with Black Zetsu and Kinkaku through a spatial vortex.
• Orochimaru wondered about Bai Yue’s plans, then left the base with Kabuto Yakushi.

Bai Yue learned that Minato Namikaze had returned and worried that Konoha had become a greater threat, while he continued his experiments with Zero-Tails. In Iwagakure, Ōnoki ordered Kitsuchi to investigate Kumogakure’s silence and urged his village to stand firm.

• The Animal Path told Bai Yue and Black Zetsu that Minato Namikaze had appeared and rescued Jiraiya, leaving Black Zetsu alarmed.
• Bai Yue and Black Zetsu agreed that they needed to obtain the Nine-Tails’ chakra quickly, and Black Zetsu went to search for Orochimaru.
• Bai Yue found Killer B, implanted a normal Zero-Tails in him, and left him outside the range of the Rain Tiger At Will Technique.
• Ōnoki learned that Iwagakure’s teams had lost contact with Kumogakure and ordered Kitsuchi to investigate before Konoha began its war.
• Ōnoki silenced Kurotsuchi when she began suggesting surrender, then called on Iwagakure to remain steadfast.