Chapter Summaries

Shinji narrowly avoided a confrontation with the mysterious man, who was hunting the Lantern Bearer. The man found Nagato’s true body and pursued him through several spaces, leaving Nagato and Obito face-to-face with their attacker in Kamui Space.

• Shinji recognized the mysterious man as the Lantern Bearer’s hunter, but the man passed him without recognizing him or detecting the lantern’s presence.
• Nagato and the Five Paths of Pain overwhelmed the six transformed pillars while Konan warned Nagato that nearby ghosts suggested a trap.
• The mysterious man broke into Nagato’s residence, identified him as the Lantern Bearer, and attacked Konan before Nagato repelled him with Shinra Tensei.
• Juzo Biwa’s biwa note shifted Nagato, Konan, and the mysterious man into another room, where the attacker nearly struck Nagato.
• Obito pulled Nagato into Kamui Space, but the mysterious man followed a Lantern Shadow through a passage into the space and appeared before them.

The mysterious man trapped Nagato and Obito inside Kamui Space and interfered with Obito’s ability to use Kamui. As forces converged on the Infinite Castle, Tsunade’s team, Karin and Ido, and Haku and Sasuke entered it, while the Fourth Mizukage’s Kirigakure forces arrived outside.

• The mysterious man used his lantern’s fading light to interfere with Obito’s Kamui, leaving Obito trapped in Kamui Space with Nagato.
• Tsunade, Shizune, and Yakumo reached the Infinite Castle and learned the Sunagakure Ninja Army and Akatsuki were likely trapped inside.
• Karin and Ido arrived on Shinji’s orders and entered the castle ahead of Tsunade’s team.
• The Fourth Mizukage halted Kirigakure’s elite after they spotted Sasuke and Haku heading toward the castle in Akatsuki cloaks.
• Haku warned Sasuke to stay alert, and the two entered the Infinite Castle.

Neji and Kimimaro entered the Infinite Castle, followed by the Third and Konoha's elite, while Shinji searched for the mysterious figure. After finding Pain's five Paths collapsed and being confronted by six demonized Pillars, Shinji left Karin and Ido to fight them, and Karin crushed all six with Susanoo.

• Neji and Kimimaro encountered the Third's elite force, and Orochimaru watched them while disguised as an ANBU.
• Neji and Kimimaro entered the Infinite Castle, and the Third led the Konoha shinobi in after them.
• Shinji searched for the mysterious figure, then found the six demonized Pillars, several Sunagakure shinobi, and Pain's five collapsed Paths.
• The six Pillars blocked Shinji from leaving, so Karin and Ido arrived and answered Shinji's order to take them out.
• Ido used the Red Dragon Eye to immobilize the six Pillars, and Karin's Susanoo stomped them into a pulp.

Karin used her complete Susanoo to overwhelm the Six Pillars, whose attacks shattered against its armor. She trapped them in Black Flame, and they gave up resisting as the flames engulfed them.

• Karin's enormous Susanoo drew the attention of forces throughout the Infinite Castle, including Konoha, Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and the Upper Rank demons.
• The Six Pillars recovered from being crushed and launched coordinated attacks against Karin's Susanoo.
• The Pillars' weapons broke on Susanoo, leaving them shocked and despairing as their attacks failed to damage it.
• Ido urged Karin to finish the Six Pillars, but Karin ignited Black Flame across the street and sealed off their escape.
• The Six Pillars stopped resisting and allowed the Black Flame to spread over them.

Karin’s Perfect Susanoo destroyed the Six Pillars, while Sasuke and Haku encountered Itachi and Juzo Biwa in the streets. Sasuke pursued Itachi alone and struck him with Chidori, but Itachi revealed he had used a Crow Clone and prepared to test Sasuke’s Sharingan.

• Karin’s Amaterasu burned the demonized Six Pillars to ash, and Tanjiro and Kokushibo sensed their deaths.
• Itachi and Juzo Biwa watched Karin’s Susanoo as Sasuke and Haku rushed toward them.
• Sasuke attacked Itachi, who fled, while Haku blocked Juzo Biwa from interfering and began fighting him.
• Sasuke caught up with Itachi at a secluded mansion and pierced his chest with Chidori.
• Itachi’s body scattered into crows and re-formed, and he challenged Sasuke to show how much his Sharingan had grown.

Sasuke challenged Itachi with his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, but Itachi easily outmatched him and warned him about using Susanoo carelessly. While Haku fought Juzo Biwa, he grew worried about Sasuke and left to pursue him.

• Sasuke revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and attacked Itachi, who subdued him in a few moves.
• Sasuke summoned Susanoo and fired an arrow at Itachi, but the target was a Shadow Clone.
• Itachi criticized Sasuke for revealing his abilities and explained that Susanoo consumed too much ocular power.
• Juzo Biwa caught Haku off guard with a slash that nicked his Dog Mask.
• Haku formed Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals, then used them to escape and pursue Sasuke.

Haku found Sasuke trapped in Itachi’s genjutsu and led him away, while Sasuke became unsettled by Karin’s colossal Susanoo. Itachi reunited with Juzo Biwa and worried about the Akatsuki’s divisions, as Neji and Kimimaro encountered Upper Moon One.

• Juzo Biwa began breaking free of Haku’s Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals while Haku searched the Infinite Castle for Sasuke.
• Haku found Sasuke dazed in a mansion, released him from the genjutsu, and told him Itachi was gone.
• Sasuke realized his apparent battle with Itachi had been an illusion and questioned whether Karin possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan after seeing her full-body Susanoo.
• Itachi reunited with Juzo Biwa and reflected on the warning and Mangekyō techniques he had tried to pass to Sasuke through genjutsu.
• Neji and Kimimaro approached Karin’s Susanoo but were stopped by Upper Moon One.

Kimimaro released his biological exoskeleton and opened the first six gates to fight Demonized Tanjiro as Upper Moon One. His Bloodline Disease flared before he could continue, and Neji returned to offer his Chakra.

• Kumogakure elites arrived, saw Kimimaro and Neji facing Upper Moon One, and fired a distress flare.
• Neji left to seek B's help while Kimimaro released his biological exoskeleton and opened the first six gates.
• Kimimaro and Upper Moon One clashed, demolishing streets and buildings before they separated with Kimimaro holding his own.
• Kimimaro's Bloodline Disease flared, and Upper Moon One turned away after sensing his weakness.
• Neji returned, told Kimimaro he feared he would die, and released his own biological exoskeleton to add his Chakra.

Neji returned to help Kimimaro when his Bloodline Disease weakened him, and their linked biological exoskeletons transmitted Chakra that fused their powers and awakened a new ability in Kimimaro. Kimimaro charged Upper Moon One with his temporary power as an Otsutsuki Branch Elder on the moon sensed the change.

• Neji turned back and found Kimimaro fighting Upper Moon One with the sixth gate open.
• When Kimimaro's Bloodline Disease flared up, Neji sent him Byakugan Chakra and Tenseigan Chakra through their resonating biological exoskeletons.
• The fused Chakra suppressed Kimimaro's Bloodline Disease and transformed him into an ideal vessel for awakening the Tenseigan.
• Kimimaro awakened a powerful vision and realized the borrowed Chakra sustaining it would not last.
• Kimimaro attacked Upper Moon One, while an Otsutsuki Branch Elder on the moon opened his eyes in shock.

The Otsutsuki Branch Elder sensed a Tenseigan in the Shinobi World and descended from the moon to investigate, while Shinji realized Kimimaro had awakened the Tenseigan and discovered that Nagato and the mysterious man were fighting in Kamui Space. Nagato trapped the mysterious man in Planetary Devastation, but the sphere suddenly began to crack.

• The Otsutsuki Branch Elder sensed a Tenseigan in the Shinobi World and blamed the Hyuga Clan, then left Otsutsuki Toneri to descend from the moon.
• The Otsutsuki Branch Elder detected the Tenseigan's location near the Grass Country and sped toward it.
• Shinji noticed that Kimimaro had broken the seal on his biological exoskeleton and awakened the Tenseigan.
• Shinji spotted a beam of light and realized the mysterious man and Nagato were fighting in Kamui Space.
• Nagato used Planetary Devastation to trap the mysterious man as an injured Obito watched, but the sphere began to crack.

The mysterious man broke free of Nagato’s Planetary Devastation and unleashed a costly blood-based attack against Nagato and Obito. Obito saved Nagato by sending him through a Kamui rift, then survived the blood waterfall with Izanagi and confronted the furious mysterious man.

• The mysterious man used a dim yellow light from his lantern to break apart Nagato’s Planetary Devastation.
• The mysterious man unleashed Blood Demon Art: Endless Blood Feud, turning his body into a blood waterfall that rushed toward Nagato and Obito.
• Obito opened a narrow Kamui rift and shoved Nagato through it to safety in the Infinite Castle.
• The blood waterfall swallowed Obito, and the mysterious man believed his attack had killed him.
• Obito reappeared nearby, revealed that the lantern’s ability to restrain his Kamui was weakening, and survived through Izanagi.

Shinji ambushed the mysterious Lantern Bearer after he escaped Kamui Space, but the man regenerated from the attack and shrugged off Amaterasu. Shinji’s allies gathered around him, and the chapter ended with the Lantern Bearer facing their assembled strength.

• The mysterious man escaped Kamui Space, leaving Obito too shaken to pursue him.
• Shinji attacked the mysterious man inside the Infinite Castle with Amaterasu and Susanoo, crushing him beneath a golden blade.
• The mysterious man regenerated and shed the flesh burning with Amaterasu, while Shinji remained on guard.
• Nagato and Konan joined the scene, and Nagato confirmed that Shinji was A.
• The mysterious man told Shinji to move aside, but Shinji said he wanted to kill him.
• Karin, Ido, Sasuke, Haku, Neji, and Kimimaro arrived, and the mysterious man sensed that they were dangerous opponents.

Shinji and his allies trapped the mysterious Demon King in a cycle of attacks, but Narume transported the Five Great Shinobi Villages’ shinobi into the Infinite Castle and sent Nagato and Konan elsewhere. The Demon King escaped as scattered flesh and re-formed in Nagato and Konan’s courtyard, confronting Nagato.

• Shinji ordered Ido and the others to attack the mysterious man, and Ido’s Red Dragon Eye immobilized him while Shinji’s Susanoo and the Amaterasu flames tore apart and burned his body.
• Ido repeatedly interrupted the Demon King’s attempts to re-form, allowing Shinji’s attacks and Amaterasu to keep him trapped in a cycle of attrition.
• Narume used her biwa to bring shinobi from the Five Great Shinobi Villages into the Infinite Castle and transport Nagato and Konan away.
• The Demon King scattered his flesh and fled while Shinji, Haku, and the others tried to stop him, but some pieces escaped.
• Nagato and Konan arrived in a courtyard, where the Demon King re-formed and told Nagato not to think he could escape.

Nagato used Super Almighty Push to repel the mysterious man's Blood Demon Art and destroy Infinite Castle, scattering the fighters across the Grass Country. As the survivors assessed the devastation, the mysterious man reformed as a blood waterfall, and a meteor began falling toward the battlefield.

• Konan attacked the pursuing mysterious man with Explosive Tags, but he transformed into a blood waterfall and surged toward Nagato.
• Nagato unleashed Super Almighty Push, sending the blood waterfall flying and destroying Infinite Castle along with the surrounding area.
• Shinji, Karin, Kimimaro, Ido, Sasuke, Haku, Neji, and the shinobi from the Five Great Villages were scattered by the shock wave, which killed many Chunin and Genin.
• Nagato told Konan he was fine, while the mysterious man gathered his blood and reformed into a vast waterfall in the sky.
• A meteor fell toward the battlefield where the survivors had gathered.

The Otsutsuki Branch Elder mistook Nagato’s power for the Tenseigan and brought down a meteorite to destroy the battlefield. Karin, Haku, Yakumo, and the shinobi of the Five Great Shinobi Villages helped her Susanoo withstand it, while the mysterious blood-waterfall man attacked the Elder and sent him plunging from the sky.

• The Otsutsuki Branch Elder used the Giant Tenseigan to summon a meteorite, believing Nagato’s Super Almighty Push threatened the Otsutsuki Clan.
• The mysterious man in his blood-waterfall state dodged the meteorite and charged at the Otsutsuki Branch Elder.
• Karin raised her Complete Body Susanoo to shield the battlefield, while Haku added ice armor, Yakumo added wooden armor, and the shinobi reinforced it with Earth Release walls.
• Karin’s Susanoo caught the meteorite, losing its armor but surviving the impact and protecting everyone inside.
• The Otsutsuki Branch Elder scattered the blood waterfall with repulsive force, but blood drops struck him and caused him to fall from the sky.

After Karin’s Susanoo stopped the meteor, the village leaders hesitated to attack Akatsuki Organization and chose to wait for reinforcements. Shinji spotted an opportunity in the falling Otsutsuki Branch Elder and flew up to retrieve his Byakugan.

• Yakumo, Tsunade, and Shizune discussed how Karin’s Susanoo and Yakumo’s Wood Release had helped stop the meteor and preserve the villages’ standing.
• Jiraiya reported Konoha’s casualties to the Third Hokage, who weighed the three villages’ forces against Akatsuki Organization and Karin’s Susanoo.
• A communications ninja told the Third Hokage that Kumogakure and Iwagakure would arrive in an hour, so he asked Kirigakure and Sunagakure to hold position until then.
• The Fourth Mizukage and Elder Chiyo agreed not to act without Konoha, while Nagato and Konan watched Karin’s Susanoo warily.
• Shinji recalled seeing the mysterious man knock down the Otsutsuki Branch Elder and realized the Elder’s Byakugan could help his Tenseigan plan.
• Shinji activated his fully realized Susanoo and flew toward the falling Otsutsuki Branch Elder.

Shinji revealed his Perfect Susanoo and used the Giant Tenseigan to attack the mysterious person hiding inside the dead Otsutsuki Branch Elder. As the rejection reaction erupted, Otsutsuki Toneri sensed another consciousness controlling the Giant Tenseigan and began investigating.

• Shinji revealed his flying Perfect Susanoo, astonishing the shinobi and Sasuke.
• Shinji caught the Otsutsuki Branch Elder's corpse and used Naobi to ask Kimimaro to contact the Giant Tenseigan.
• Otsutsuki Toneri sensed the Great Elder's death through the Giant Tenseigan and searched the Shinobi World for the killer.
• Otsutsuki Toneri noticed another consciousness controlling the Giant Tenseigan and held back to observe.
• Kimimaro guided the Giant Tenseigan's Chakra into the corpse, triggering a destructive rejection reaction against the mysterious person hidden inside.

Shinji weakened the mysterious man by forcing Tenseigan Chakra into the Otsutsuki Branch Elder's corpse, then pursued him as he tried to feed and escape. Shinji disrupted the man's portal and brought Susanoo's blade down on him, ending the chapter with their lanterns clashing.

• The mysterious man escaped the Otsutsuki Branch Elder's corpse as Tenseigan Chakra tore his body apart, and Shinji burned him with Amaterasu before sealing the corpse.
• Shinji warned his subordinates that the weakened mysterious man might try to replenish himself by devouring ninjas.
• Jiraiya raised an Earth Style Wall to block the mysterious man's charge, while the Barrier Squad and Sealing Team prepared to stop him.
• The mysterious man retreated, swallowed a demon hiding underground, and raised his lantern to open a portal to the Demon Slayer World.
• Shinji revealed himself as the true Lantern Bearer, disrupted the portal, and struck the mysterious man with Susanoo's blade as the man defended himself with his lantern.

Shinji shattered the mysterious man’s lantern, gathered its embers, and chose not to pursue him into the Demon Slayer World while his allies remained at risk. With the battlefield factions holding back, Shinji and his group withdrew, and the Third Hokage declined to stop them.

• Shinji’s Susanoo shattered the mysterious man’s lantern, and the lantern at his waist absorbed the golden ash as embers.
• Shinji detected the Demon Slayer World’s coordinates but decided not to pursue the mysterious man, judging it safer to wait until he and his allies were stronger.
• Shinji returned to Karin, Haku, Sasuke, Kimimaro, Neji, and Ido, then told them to withdraw as reinforcements converged.
• Shinji told Karin that he had cut off the demons’ invasion route and that they could deal with the remaining infiltrators later.
• Shinji and his group left the battlefield without provoking either faction, and the Third Hokage rejected Asuma’s suggestion to stop them.

After Shinji's group and Nagato's forces withdrew, the shinobi villages were left unable to pursue them and began tracking the retreating Akatsuki members. In Kamui Space, Obito recovered Nagato's Six Paths of Pain and examined the mysterious Omega-class restraint device, while wondering who A and his group really worked for.

• Konan urged Nagato to retreat, and they flew from the battlefield before Itachi and Juzo Biwa also withdrew.
• The shinobi villages held back from pursuing Nagato, and the Third Hokage learned the Kumogakure and Iwagakure forces would arrive in thirty minutes.
• The Akatsuki members and Upper Ranks disappeared, leaving the villages to track the retreating forces and clear the battlefield.
• Zetsu recovered the Six Paths of Pain for Obito, who examined the broken Omega-class restraint device that had disabled the Deva Path.
• Zetsu told Obito that Moryo and Shinnō had escaped and were wreaking havoc in Kusagakure, so Obito ordered them to withdraw.
• Obito and Zetsu questioned whether A and his group were allied with Nagato, Obito, or someone else.