Chapter Summaries

Tejima Shinichi returned home to a warm family dinner with his parents and little sister, Teshima Star. An Anbu delivered Uchiha Itachi’s intelligence that the Akatsuki had begun targeting jinchuriki and planned to attack Konoha, leaving Shinichi waiting for the storm to come.

• Tejima Shinichi came home and greeted his two-year-old sister, Teshima Star, who eagerly clung to him.
• Tejima Shinichi washed Star’s hands and joined Teshima Kazuto and Mori Chie for dinner.
• An Anbu arrived during dinner and gave Tejima Shinichi a scroll containing intelligence about the Akatsuki’s operations.
• Tejima Shinichi learned that the Akatsuki was targeting Sunagakure’s One-Tail jinchuriki and Kumogakure’s Two-Tails and Eight-Tails, and that Pain would attack Konoha.
• The Anbu told Tejima Shinichi that the Hokage did not know yet because she and Jiraiya were drunk at an izakaya, and Shinichi ordered him to keep things as they were.

Scorpion and Deidara reached Sunagakure, where Yura had opened the gates and reported that Gaara was still working at the Kazekage Building. Deidara flew into the village to capture the Fifth Kazekage himself, leaving Scorpion waiting at the gate.

• Deidara complained that Scorpion was traveling too slowly, but Scorpion explained that their route to Sunagakure was shorter than Hidan and his partner's route to the Land of Lightning.
• Scorpion assured Deidara that nothing unexpected would happen in Sunagakure, and Deidara praised Scorpion's knowledge of the village and his own explosive art.
• After night fell, Scorpion and Deidara saw Sunagakure's open gate and the corpses outside, where Yura waited for them.
• Yura told Scorpion that Gaara was likely still handling official duties at the Kazekage Building.
• Deidara created a Clay Bird and flew into Sunagakure to capture Gaara himself, while Scorpion stayed behind and told him not to take too long.

Deidara and Sasori abducted Gaara from Sunagakure, leaving Kankuro gravely injured. Baki sent word to Konoha for support, then went to seek Elder Chiyo after learning Sasori was among the attackers.

• Deidara infiltrated the Kazekage Building but Gaara confronted him, and they fought across the rooftops.
• Deidara returned to Sasori with Gaara captured and one arm missing, and Sasori led Deidara and Yura into the desert.
• Baki ordered a pursuit force to follow the abductors and sent a messenger to Konoha requesting support.
• Sunagakure's pursuit force returned at daylight without Gaara and with Kankuro gravely injured, reporting that Sasori of the Red Sands had attacked them.
• Baki decided Chiyo was their best hope of defeating Sasori and saving Gaara, and hurried to find her.

Chiyo and Ebizo resisted getting involved after Baki reported that Gaara had been abducted. When Baki revealed that Chiyo’s grandson Sasori was one of the attackers, Chiyo froze, poised to act.

• Chiyo and Ebizo enjoyed a quiet fishing session and agreed they did not want to interfere in Sunagakure’s troubles again.
• Baki told the elders that the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, had been abducted at dawn.
• Ebizo urged Sunagakure to send a pursuit force and choose another Kazekage if Gaara could not be recovered, since Konoha dominated the Ninja World.
• Baki revealed that one of Gaara’s attackers was Chiyo’s grandson, Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Chiyo froze in shock, and Ebizo realized she had made her decision.

Tejima Shinichi sent Asuma's team to investigate the Three-Tails in the Land of Water, and Ino invited him to dinner after they returned. Their mission plans were interrupted by urgent news that Akatsuki had abducted Gaara.

• Tejima Shinichi assigned Asuma, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji an A-rank mission to investigate the Three-Tails and warned them not to approach Akatsuki recklessly.
• Ino invited Tejima Shinichi to share a meal after the team returned, and he told her they would talk then.
• Asuma led his team out to begin the mission while Ino cheerfully said goodbye to Tejima Shinichi.
• An Anbu reported that Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, had been abducted by Akatsuki, with Deidara identified as the culprit.

After learning that the Akatsuki had abducted Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, Tejima Shinichi prepared to send Kakashi and Team 7 to aid Sunagakure. Kakashi suspected they would finally confront the Akatsuki and Tobi.

• An Anbu reported that Gaara had been abducted and that Deidara was confirmed as one of the attackers.
• Tejima Shinichi summoned Kakashi and Team 7 to his office.
• Naruto reacted with distress at Gaara's capture and recalled how Gaara had finally gained his village's acceptance.
• Kakashi calmed Naruto and urged him to focus on taking action.
• Tejima Shinichi announced that Sunagakure had requested aid and assigned Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to support them.
• Kakashi silently anticipated facing the Akatsuki Organization and Tobi.

Tejima Shinichi sent Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi to support Sunagakure after the Akatsuki captured Gaara, while Jiraiya questioned why he had let the organization act. Shinichi claimed his choices were for Konoha, leaving Jiraiya without an explanation of his true plan.

• Tejima Shinichi told Kakashi he was qualified to face a powerful opponent, and Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi rushed off to help Gaara.
• Jiraiya entered through the window and told Tejima Shinichi that he had heard from Mount Myōboku that the Akatsuki had captured Gaara.
• Tejima Shinichi said he had sent Kakashi's team to train Naruto and Sasuke through combat.
• Jiraiya challenged Tejima Shinichi over why he had not warned the other villages or stopped the Akatsuki from capturing the Tailed Beasts.
• Tejima Shinichi said he did not know how to answer, but insisted that everything he did was for Konoha.

Tejima Shinichi learned that Ōtsutsuki Urashiki had never appeared during Jiraiya and Naruto’s travels, so he chose Ōtsutsuki Kaguya as his first sacrifice rather than risk confronting Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. He persuaded Jiraiya to stay in Konoha for the year, and several days later Team 7 returned.

• Jiraiya told Tejima Shinichi that no one had attacked or spied on him and Naruto during their travels.
• Tejima Shinichi concluded that Ōtsutsuki Urashiki would not come and weighed the danger posed by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Tejima Shinichi chose Ōtsutsuki Kaguya as his first sacrifice because he considered Ōtsutsuki Isshiki too dangerous.
• Tejima Shinichi asked Jiraiya to remain in Konoha for the year, and Jiraiya agreed.
• Several days later, Team 7 returned to the Hokage's Office.

Team 7 returned to Konoha after rescuing Gaara, and Kakashi reported how they defeated Scorpion while Deidara self-destructed. Tejima Shinichi revealed that the Akatsuki had also targeted Kumogakure and sent Team 7 to support it, leaving Sasuke eager to face Uchiha Itachi.

• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi returned to the Hokage's Office and reported that Gaara had been rescued.
• Kakashi recounted how Team 7 and Chiyo fought Scorpion, while he and Naruto pursued Deidara, who self-destructed; Chiyo revived Gaara at the cost of her own life.
• Tejima Shinichi praised Team 7's growth but warned them that the Akatsuki's members were formidable.
• Tejima Shinichi revealed that Kakuzu, Hidan, Uchiha Itachi, and Yakushi Kabuto had gone to the Land of Lightning to target Kumogakure's Two-Tails and Eight-Tails.
• Tejima Shinichi ordered Team 7 to support Kumogakure, and Kakashi asked when they would leave.

Kakashi and Guy’s teams departed together for the Land of Lightning to confront the Akatsuki. After learning that the Three-Tails had revived in the Land of Water, Tejima Shinichi decided to go there himself.

• Tejima Shinichi assigned Kakashi’s team and Guy’s Team 3 to support each other on a mission to the Land of Lightning.
• Guy reunited with Kakashi, while Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten joined the mission as reinforcements.
• An Anbu arrived with urgent intelligence from Team 10 about the Three-Tails’ revival in the Land of Water.
• Tejima Shinichi declined to send reinforcements and chose to leave the village personally.
• Tejima Shinichi told the Anbu to inform the Hokage before he vanished from the office.

Kakuzu, Hidan, Kabuto, and Itachi received word that Scorpion had died and Konoha’s teams were heading to the Land of Lightning, then set out to pursue the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails. Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, Asuma’s team spotted a red-cloud-robed figure on a lake as they waited for support.

• Kakuzu, Hidan, Kabuto, and Itachi stared at the Giant Buddha left outside Kumogakure by Tejima Shinichi.
• Zetsu told the group that Scorpion was dead, Deidara had barely escaped, and Team 7 and Team 3 were approaching the Land of Lightning.
• Zetsu revealed that the Chief had gone to the Land of Water to capture the revived Three-Tails and gave the group the locations of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails jinchuriki.
• Hidan and Kakuzu set off toward Kumogakure, while Itachi and Kabuto departed in another direction.
• Asuma, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino waited beside an unnamed lake in the Land of Water, discussing their delayed mission and Konoha’s support.
• Asuma warned his team that someone was on the lake, and they saw a red-cloud-robed figure standing on a small island.

Asuma's squad spotted an Akatsuki member while guarding the Three-Tails and decided to retreat rather than risk a fight. Konan ambushed them before they could leave, revealing herself as the Akatsuki's White Tiger.

• Asuma considered whether to retreat after spotting an Akatsuki member near the Three-Tails, while Shikamaru argued that the unsupported squad should withdraw because their mission was complete.
• Asuma ordered the squad to retreat and keep the Akatsuki member under surveillance without engaging.
• Konan's paper weapons struck the squad from behind, but Asuma, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji blocked or dodged the attacks.
• Konan appeared overhead on wings made of paper and identified the group as Konoha ninja.
• Asuma recognized the hovering Akatsuki member as the White Tiger, Konan.

Konan attacked Asuma and Team 10 with explosive paper as Deva Path Pain prepared to capture the Three-Tails. Pain assembled the Six Paths, and Isobu rose from the lake.

• Konan recognized that Asuma knew her name and attacked him and Team 10 with paper shards carrying Explosive Tags.
• Asuma warned his companions, and the four scattered as his Fire Release detonated the tags in the air.
• Deva Path Pain saw the explosions and decided to begin his own operation against Konoha.
• The Asura Path emerged from the lake with the other Paths of Pain, revealing that it had caused the disturbance.
• Isobu, the Three-Tails, rose from the lakebed.

Asuma, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji struggled against Konan as they witnessed the Three-Tails and six figures on Lake Island. Shikamaru and Choji managed to land an attack, but Konan dispersed into paper to evade it and reformed in the air, leaving them with no way to counter her.

• Asuma saw the Three-Tails and six figures on Lake Island, then dodged a paper kunai and more of Konan’s explosive attacks.
• Shikamaru caught Konan with Shadow Possession Jutsu and called for Choji to strike.
• Choji launched his Human Bullet Tank and hit Konan, who burst into sheets of paper.
• Konan gathered the paper back into her body, and Shikamaru realized she had transformed into paper to avoid the attack.

Konan overwhelmed Asuma, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji, insisting that even Tejima Shinichi could not stop Akatsuki. Just as she prepared to kill them, an unseen attacker struck her from behind and sent her flying.

• Konan told Asuma, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji that their attacks could not touch her.
• Asuma and Ino defended Tejima Shinichi, citing his victories and enormous power.
• Konan formed a Paper Spear and announced she would get serious and kill them.
• A sudden impact struck Konan from behind, sending her flying and scattering paper from her body.

Tejima Shinichi arrived on the Wood Dragon and struck Konan out of the sky, then caught her by the throat. He challenged her claim that even he could not stop the Akatsuki.

• Asuma, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji watched in shock as Konan was suddenly sent flying by an unseen attacker.
• Shikamaru realized the blow had come from above, and Asuma recognized the enormous figure emerging from the darkness as Tejima Shinichi's Wood Dragon.
• Ino cheered when she recognized Shinichi, and Asuma welcomed his arrival.
• Shinichi leapt from the Wood Dragon and caught the injured Konan by the throat as she fell.
• Shinichi questioned Konan's claim that even he could not stop the Akatsuki.

Tejima Shinichi defeated Konan and took over the battle as the Akatsuki captured the Three-Tails. He headed toward the Six Paths of Pain, arriving as Deva Path Pain launched a final attack on the beast.

• Tejima Shinichi seized Konan in midair while Asuma and his team watched.
• Asuma told Tejima Shinichi that the Akatsuki were capturing the Three-Tails, and Tejima Shinichi ordered the injured team to withdraw.
• Asuma, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino retreated into the reed marsh.
• Tejima Shinichi carried Konan toward the Six Paths of Pain and said he was finally meeting Nagato.
• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei against the weakened Three-Tails.

Tejima Shinichi captured Konan and confronted the Six Paths of Pain after Deva Path Pain captured the Three-Tails. Nagato panicked at Konan’s capture as the Six Paths surrounded Tejima Shinichi, who addressed him directly.

• Deva Path Pain flipped the Three-Tails onto its back and declared its capture successful.
• Tejima Shinichi appeared carrying the helpless Konan by the neck.
• Nagato saw Konan in Tejima Shinichi’s grasp and cried out in panic.
• Deva Path Pain recognized Tejima Shinichi, and the Six Paths of Pain surrounded him in the air.
• Tejima Shinichi faced Deva Path Pain and greeted Nagato.

Tejima Shinichi confronted Nagato and the Six Paths of Pain, refusing Nagato’s offer to trade the Three-Tails for Konan. He launched a rapid assault that incapacitated four Paths, leaving Deva Path Pain and Naraka Path as the only ones still standing.

• Deva Path Pain offered to trade the Three-Tails for Konan, but Tejima Shinichi refused and said he wanted to test Nagato’s power.
• Tejima Shinichi released Konan into the care of a Wood Clone, then charged into the Six Paths’ formation.
• Tejima Shinichi swatted away Asura Path’s missiles and crushed Asura Path’s chest with a punch.
• Tejima Shinichi avoided Human Path’s attempt to seize his soul, struck it into Animal Path, and sent both tumbling into the lake.
• Tejima Shinichi met Preta Path’s punch head-on and blasted it into the lake, leaving only Deva Path Pain and Naraka Path standing.

Tejima Shinichi overwhelmed the Six Paths of Pain and withstood Deva Path Pain’s full-power Shinra Tensei, prompting Nagato to offer him the Three-Tails in exchange for Konan. After Konan was released and rescued, she warned Nagato how strong Tejima was, while Nagato reassured her.

• Tejima Shinichi broke through the Six Paths of Pain’s formation, defeated four of them, and took Deva Path Pain’s Shinra Tensei head-on.
• Deva Path Pain realized he had underestimated Tejima and offered him the Three-Tails if he let Konan go.
• Tejima Shinichi released Konan from the Wood Clone, and she fell into the lake before Animal Path rescued her.
• Konan woke, saw the battered Paths and dying Three-Tails, and warned Nagato that Tejima Shinichi was extremely strong.
• Deva Path Pain reassured Konan that he was there while facing Tejima Shinichi.