Chapter Summaries

Naruto showed Hyuga Hiashi Konoha’s new Scientific Research Department and proposed developing a specialized long-range weapon for the Hyuga Clan. The chapter ended with Naruto describing how a chakra-enhanced kunai launcher could kill powerful opponents from several thousand meters away.

• Naruto guided Hiashi through the research facility and showed him rapid-fire launchers based on technology from the destroyed Sky Ninja Village.
• Katasuke told Naruto that chakra nature transformations were damaging the launchers’ components, but promised to develop a practical solution within a month.
• Naruto assured Katasuke that he would provide whatever resources the research required.
• Hiashi asked Naruto why he had brought him to see research unrelated to the Hyuga Clan’s Gentle Fist and Byakugan.
• Naruto proposed creating a Hyuga-exclusive launcher that fired chakra-enhanced kunai at targets from several thousand meters away.

Naruto explained to Hyuga Hiashi how the Byakugan could support long-range assassination missions, while Sasuke considered accepting help to pursue revenge against Itachi. Itachi and Kisame infiltrated Konoha and were detected by Naruto’s Anbu, leaving them aware they had been watched.

• Naruto described how Hyuga clansmen could use the Byakugan to guide long-range attacks, and Hiashi recognized the tactic’s potential to protect weaker members of his clan.
• Sasuke reflected on Naruto’s advice that he did not need to shoulder revenge alone, though he still wanted to lead the fight against Itachi.
• Itachi and Kisame evaded Konoha’s barriers and patrols, entered the village, and observed its recovery and changes under Naruto’s leadership.
• Itachi led Kisame to a dango shop, where Naruto’s Anbu secretly monitored them and reported their presence to the Hokage’s office.
• Itachi noticed the surveillance and left the shop, while Kisame remarked that Konoha had welcomed them.

Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki were intercepted by Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and Konoha Anbu on the village outskirts, where Itachi faced questions about the Uchiha massacre. Sasuke arrived and attacked Itachi with Chidori, leaving the confrontation poised to begin.

• Itachi led Kisame toward Konoha's outskirts, where they encountered Kakashi and Might Guy blocking the road.
• Kakashi and Guy confronted the pair, and Guy accused Itachi of joining Shimura Danzō in massacring the Uchiha Clan.
• Itachi denied Danzō's involvement, while Kakashi demanded that he and Kisame come to the interrogation division.
• Dozens of Konoha Anbu surrounded Itachi and Kisame, and Kisame prepared to fight.
• Sasuke heard villagers discussing the cloaked men, rushed to the outskirts, and recognized Itachi.
• Sasuke declared he would avenge the Uchiha Clan and charged at Itachi with Chidori.

Sasuke fought Itachi after using Naruto’s advice to anticipate his attacks, but Itachi’s greater strength still gave him the advantage. The confrontation ended with Sasuke kicked several meters away as Kakashi ordered the others to move.

• Sasuke used a Lightning Release: Shadow Clone to surprise Itachi and cut his arm with a shuriken.
• Sasuke told Kakashi that Naruto had taught him to fight less recklessly, then asked to face Itachi alone, and Kakashi agreed.
• Itachi told Kisame Hoshigaki not to interfere and wondered what Naruto had taught Sasuke.
• Sasuke predicted Itachi’s feint and turned to attack him with a kunai, but Itachi dodged and kicked him several meters away.
• Kakashi shouted for the others to move after Sasuke was knocked back.

Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki fought Kakashi’s forces and Might Guy in Konoha, where coordinated Anbu tactics steadily wore Itachi down. With reinforcements closing in and escape routes sealed, Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan as the battle reached a critical point.

• Might Guy engaged Kisame Hoshigaki while Kakashi and dozens of Anbu surrounded Itachi Uchiha using coordinated tactics against his Sharingan.
• Itachi evaded waves of Anbu attacks and countered with Fire Release, but their relentless pressure drained his stamina and Chakra.
• Kakashi struck at Itachi with Lightning Blade, and an Anbu explosive-tag attack left a small cut on Itachi’s cheek.
• Sasuke watched from the sidelines, exhausted, as he recognized that Itachi was being steadily worn down.
• Might Guy opened the Seventh Gate and battled Kisame inside Kisame’s massive water prison while Konoha reinforcements arrived.
• Itachi realized retreat was becoming impossible and activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Konoha’s forces captured Kisame after Might Guy overwhelmed him with Daytime Tiger, while Itachi tried to break through the Anbu’s encirclement using Susanoo. Itachi’s failing health and Naruto’s plan left him trapped as his escape attempts weakened him.

• Itachi activated Susanoo, and the Anbu withdrew while maintaining their encirclement according to Naruto’s instructions.
• Kisame launched Great Shark Bullet at Might Guy, but Guy destroyed it with Daytime Tiger and sent Kisame crashing out of the water prison.
• Yamato restrained the injured Kisame and blocked his jaw to prevent him from killing himself, explaining that Naruto had ordered the precaution.
• An Anbu explained to Kakashi that Naruto had predicted Itachi’s illness and ordered them to stall him rather than fight Susanoo head-on.
• Yamato told Kakashi he had left the Anbu and asked to be called Yamato instead of Tenzō.
• Itachi tried repeatedly to break through the Anbu’s lines, but his attacks and worsening illness slowed Susanoo as he saw that Kisame had been captured.

Naruto watched as Konoha’s forces wore down Itachi and Kisame, confident that his preparations would capture them. Near defeat, Itachi chose to die rather than be captured and deliberately opened a gap in Susanoo to give Sasuke a chance to strike.

• Hiashi spotted Itachi’s Susanoo outside the village, and an Anbu reported that Itachi and Kisame had infiltrated Konoha.
• Naruto told Hiashi that the pair would soon be in Konoha Prison and stayed behind as Konoha’s forces continued their planned assault.
• Kakashi noticed Itachi’s Susanoo weakening and ordered the Anbu to keep attacking while avoiding a desperate forbidden technique.
• Itachi saw that Sasuke still hated him and concluded that Sasuke did not know the truth behind the Uchiha massacre.
• Itachi decided he could not be captured alive and feigned a final charge before cutting off Susanoo’s chakra to expose its flank to Sasuke.

Sasuke defeated and captured Itachi, refusing to kill him so the truth behind the Uchiha Clan massacre could be exposed. As Itachi was taken into custody, Konoha removed his Mangekyō Sharingan and entrusted them to Sasuke.

• Sasuke pierced Itachi’s left shoulder with a shaped Chidori, forcing Susanoo to disappear and leaving Itachi kneeling.
• Sasuke told Itachi he had recognized his deliberate opening and wanted the dealings between Itachi, Shimura Danzō, and Konoha’s leaders revealed.
• The Anbu restrained Itachi with shadow techniques, chains, and Yamato’s Wood Release.
• Yamato removed Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan and said he would be responsible for detaining him.
• Yamato revealed that Naruto Uzumaki knew about Shisui Uchiha’s other eye and asked Itachi to hand it over.
• Yamato gave Itachi’s removed eyes to Sasuke on the Hokage’s orders.

Zetsu concluded that Konoha had anticipated Itachi Uchiha’s actions, while Sasuke struggled with his unresolved feelings after Itachi’s capture. At Konoha Prison, Naruto and Sasuke visited Itachi, who challenged Naruto over the consequences of revealing the truth about the Uchiha massacre.

• Black Zetsu decided he and White Zetsu had to report Itachi Uchiha’s capture and Konoha’s preparations to Madara.
• An Anbu directed Sasuke to Konoha Prison, where Naruto was waiting to explain Itachi’s punishment.
• Sasuke heard Konoha ninja condemn Itachi and reflected on his lingering feelings and unrelenting anger toward his brother.
• Naruto and Sasuke entered Itachi’s cell, where Itachi questioned Naruto’s decision to expose the truth about the massacre and warned that it could damage Konoha and provoke war.

Naruto and Sasuke confronted Itachi about the massacre, his choices, and Naruto’s plan to unify the Shinobi World. Sasuke left committed to Naruto’s reforms, while Itachi remained imprisoned to await a trial by the people affected by his actions.

• Naruto told Itachi he planned to abolish the daimyo and unify the Shinobi World, and admitted that Kotoamatsukami could help accelerate his plans.
• Itachi refused to surrender Shisui’s eye, insisting Naruto’s reforms and the war they would bring were wrong.
• Sasuke condemned Itachi for sacrificing the Uchiha clan without consulting him, withholding information about the masked man, and trying to control Sasuke’s will.
• Itachi maintained that the massacre had been the best choice available, and Sasuke said they could not reconcile their opposing views.
• Naruto told Itachi he would face a public trial by those affected; Sasuke left with Naruto, vowing to help build a unified nation.
• Yamato agreed to guard Itachi, with Hyuga shinobi scheduled to seal his chakra points as an added precaution.

Sasori and Deidara investigated Konoha’s border defenses for Ōnoki, while Sasori discovered a Sunagakure team approaching his abandoned hideout. He captured the squad’s captain and forced him inside, leaving the reason for the team’s mission unknown.

• Deidara flew above the Land of Fire and observed numerous Konoha patrols that appeared organized for defense rather than an attack.
• Sasori found four Sunagakure ninja following a map toward his old hideout and suspected they were searching for it.
• Sasori lured the squad into his traps, restrained all four, and poisoned the three chunin unconscious.
• Sasori controlled the jōnin captain, took the map, and led him through the concealed entrance to the hideout.

Sasori interrogated a Sunagakure jonin and learned that Chiyo had ordered teams to investigate him, the Third Kazekage’s disappearance, and Akatsuki. He and Deidara finished their mission, then received Pain’s summons to an urgent meeting.

• Sasori forced the Sunagakure jonin to reveal that Chiyo had sent teams to search for clues about Sasori and the Third Kazekage’s disappearance.
• The jonin explained that the teams were also ordered to prioritize any information about Akatsuki, and Sasori killed him after questioning him.
• Sasori took useful items from the hideout and rejoined Deidara, who reported that Konoha’s border deployments were defensive.
• Sasori told Deidara to return to the Land of Rain and report the new intelligence to Pain immediately.
• Pain summoned Sasori and Deidara, along with the other members, to a meeting through the Astral Projection Technique.

Akatsuki learned that Itachi and Kisame had been captured in Konoha and that Sunagakure was also targeting the organization, prompting Pain to accelerate the Tailed Beast capture plan. Pain assigned Sasori and Deidara to capture Gaara while Akatsuki increased surveillance of Naruto and prepared to target other Jinchuriki.

• Pain announced that Itachi and Kisame had failed their mission and been captured in Konoha, raising concerns about leaked intelligence and Akatsuki's plans.
• Sasori reported that Sunagakure had mobilized its intelligence network against Akatsuki, and Zetsu linked its actions to Konoha and the Fifth Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki.
• Pain declared Naruto a major threat and ordered the Tailed Beast capture plan to proceed immediately.
• Deidara reported that he had prepared a border deployment map of the Land of Fire for Ōnoki, and Pain ordered Sasori and Deidara to capture Gaara and investigate Sunagakure's leadership.
• Pain assigned Kakuzu and Hidan to select other Jinchuriki targets and told Zetsu to monitor Konoha and Naruto without drawing attention.

Nagato ordered Akatsuki to accelerate its tailed beast capture plan after concluding that Konoha had an unusual source of intelligence. In Sunagakure, Joseki and Dragon Sand debated making Gaara the Fifth Kazekage while keeping him under their control, as Uchiha Hikari arrived above the village in her Complete Body Susanoo.

• Nagato told Konan that Akatsuki had to eliminate the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki before he unified the Five Great Nations and ordered the remaining core members to advance the tailed beast capture plan.
• Nagato reasoned that Konoha's intelligence likely came from a special source rather than an infiltrator, and Konan agreed to focus on their operations instead of hunting for one.
• Joseki and Dragon Sand discussed the lack of suitable Kazekage candidates and weighed Gaara's strength and popular support against the danger of Shukaku losing control.
• Dragon Sand proposed installing Gaara as Fifth Kazekage while using his standing to stabilize Sunagakure and retaining the village's actual control.
• Uchiha Hikari arrived above Sunagakure inside her Complete Body Susanoo and watched the village from the sky.

Uchiha Hikari attacked Sunagakure in Susanoo, killing the higher-ups and spies Naruto had identified while the village’s defenses proved powerless. Gaara confronted her, and the chapter ended as he raised the Shield of Shukaku against her descending sword.

• Uchiha Hikari arrived above Sunagakure in Susanoo and ignored the village’s attacks while locating her targets.
• Hikari split Joseki’s estate with a sword strike, killing Joseki, Dragon Sand, and the ninja gathered there.
• Hikari struck Yura with a Chakra shockwave and killed Centipede with black flames as she continued eliminating the identified higher-ups and spies.
• Chiyo and Ebizo watched from the village’s edge while Hikari continued her assault and Gaara rose to confront her.
• Gaara gathered sand around Susanoo’s legs, but Hikari scattered it with Susanoo’s wings and swung her sword at him.
• Gaara thrust both hands forward and used the Shield of Shukaku to defend against Hikari’s strike.

Gaara exhausted himself defending Sunagakure from Uchiha Hikari’s Susanoo, which defeated his attacks but spared him before flying away. As Sasori and Deidara sensed the disturbance from their camp, the red giant appeared in the sky and flew straight toward them.

• Gaara blocked Susanoo’s sword with Shukaku’s Shield, then attacked and tried to seal Uchiha Hikari with sand, but Susanoo broke free.
• Uchiha Hikari swung Susanoo’s sword at the powerless Gaara, then stopped it above his head and mocked Sunagakure before flying away.
• Sunagakure’s shinobi and villagers praised Gaara for protecting the village despite their defeat.
• Sasori sensed that the Subconscious Mind Manipulation Sand implanted in Yura and the other spies could no longer be detected, deepening his suspicions.
• Deidara spotted the red giant flying toward their camp, and Sasori prepared for battle.

Uchiha Hikari encountered Akatsuki members Sasori and Deidara while flying across the Land of Wind and fought them with her Complete Body Susanoo. After their attacks failed to stop her, she cut Deidara and his clay bird in two.

• Uchiha Hikari spotted Sasori and Deidara's camp and recognized their Akatsuki cloaks as she descended in Susanoo.
• Deidara attacked with explosive clay while Sasori fired poisoned needles, but Susanoo's armor deflected both attacks.
• Uchiha Hikari struck at Sasori and shattered his Hiruko puppet, while Deidara escaped into the air on a clay bird.
• Deidara dropped C3: No. 18 onto Susanoo, but its damaged armor repaired itself and protected Uchiha Hikari.
• Sasori used Flame Prison: Unparalleled Formation against Susanoo's legs, but his flames failed to penetrate its defenses.
• Uchiha Hikari pursued Deidara in Susanoo and cleaved both him and his clay bird in two with a sword aura.

Uchiha Hikari defeated Deidara and Sasori after they combined their abilities against her Susanoo. She captured Deidara and Sasori’s core, intending to bring both back to Naruto.

• Sasori summoned the Third Kazekage Puppet and used Iron Sand to pressure Hikari’s Susanoo while Deidara prepared C4 Garuda.
• Deidara detonated C4, damaging Susanoo with microscopic clay bombs, but Hikari restored it with her remaining Chakra.
• Hikari used Amaterasu to set Deidara, Sasori, and their clay bird ablaze, then caught Deidara and knocked him unconscious with Tsukuyomi.
• Sasori escaped Susanoo’s grasp by transferring his core into a new puppet, but Hikari identified his core and trapped him with Kagutsuchi.
• Hikari sliced Sasori’s puppet body apart, picked up his core, and prepared to take him and Deidara back to Naruto.

After Gaara collapsed from exhaustion, Sunagakure’s leaders met to address the attack’s casualties and choose a new Kazekage. Chiyo and Ebizo backed Baki’s proposal to appoint Gaara as the Fifth Kazekage.

• Temari caught Gaara as he fell, while Sunagakure’s survivors looked on with gratitude and respect.
• Baki ordered an emergency meeting, where officials reported that the attack had killed seven senior officials, around twenty jonin, and twenty-three chunin.
• Baki urged the officials to appoint Gaara the Fifth Kazekage, citing his lineage, strength, and actions defending the village.
• Chiyo supported Gaara, saying he had proved himself during the attack and could unite and protect Sunagakure.
• Ebizo agreed that Gaara was the only suitable candidate for Kazekage.

Gaara became the Fifth Kazekage after Sunagakure's leaders and higher-ups backed him. Akatsuki suspended its Tailed Beast capture plan in response to the mysterious attacker, while Naruto confronted Kakuzu and Hidan near Kumogakure.

• Baki, Chiyo, and Ebizo supported Gaara's succession, and Sunagakure's higher-ups approved him as the Fifth Kazekage.
• Zetsu told Akatsuki that Sasori and Deidara had been attacked and disappeared, likely by the same Mangekyō Sharingan wielder who attacked Sunagakure.
• Pain ordered Akatsuki to suspend the Tailed Beast capture plan, conceal its members, and investigate the mysterious attacker and Konoha.
• Nagato asked Konan for news of Madara, but she had none.
• Kakuzu and Hidan discussed returning from Kumogakure when Naruto appeared behind them and identified himself.