Recaps

Shinji fought Otsutsuki Toneri on the moon while buying time for Neji to escape, but Toneri’s Giant Tenseigan absorbed Shinji’s attacks. Shinji halted its absorption by infusing Susanoo with Byakugan Chakra and brought the blade down on Toneri.

• Shinji recognized Toneri as a Six Paths-level threat and chose to protect the Giant Tenseigan rather than destroy it.
• Toneri repelled Shinji’s Complete Body Susanoo, which crashed into a belt of floating rubble as Neji fled.
• Shinji attacked Toneri with Amaterasu, but a Tenseigan puppet took the flames and Toneri absorbed them.
• Shinji charged Toneri with his Susanoo, but the Giant Tenseigan began absorbing its golden blade.
• Shinji infused Byakugan Chakra into his Susanoo to stop the absorption, then brought the blade down on Toneri.

Shinji damaged the Otsutsuki Branch Family’s castle and escaped its barrier with Neji, then fought Toneri while racing toward the passage through the illusion. The chapter ended with Karin opening a gap in the Giant Tenseigan’s veil as Toneri tried to close it and trap them.

• Shinji struck the Otsutsuki Branch Family’s castle, provoking Toneri to disable its barrier and blast Shinji outside.
• Neji escaped into the forest, and Shinji used Susanoo to cut Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s statue in half before rescuing him.
• Shinji and Neji raced toward the passage through the illusion with Toneri pursuing them.
• Karin used Adamantine Sealing Chains to open a gap in the Giant Tenseigan’s veil, and Toneri tried to close it as Shinji and Neji approached.

Shinji and Neji escaped Otsutsuki Toneri’s sealing barrier with Karin’s help, but Neji’s biological exoskeleton took control of him. When Kimimaro arrived to help, the exoskeletons on both him and Neji activated and fused them together.

• Karin unleashed her full Chakra to hold open the gap in the Giant Tenseigan’s barrier, allowing Shinji and Neji to escape before the gap closed.
• Shinji led Karin and Neji away from the illusion passageway, then accompanied Neji toward the Land of Fire to inspect his biological exoskeleton.
• Neji told Shinji he could no longer control the exoskeleton, which suddenly took over his body and tried to make him run back toward the Land of Moon.
• Shinji restrained Neji with Susanoo and decided to summon Kimimaro, hoping the seal in Kimimaro’s half-exoskeleton could control Neji’s.
• When Kimimaro met Shinji and Neji a few days later, both biological exoskeletons unlocked and fused Kimimaro and Neji together.

Shinji discovered that Neji, Kimimaro, and the biological exoskeleton had fused into a new living entity that could share chakra, senses, and control. Neji and Kimimaro began testing their strange shared body while Shinji worried about what would happen when the exoskeleton awakened.

• Shinji found Neji and Kimimaro fused back-to-back through their biological exoskeletons, which had broken through the seals on Kimimaro’s half.
• Neji and Kimimaro reported increased chakra and relief from Kimimaro’s Bloodline Disease, and Shinji realized all three could share chakra.
• Shinji concluded that the fusion had accidentally created a new flesh-and-blood life-form connected to the Giant Tenseigan.
• Neji and Kimimaro discovered they could control each other’s bodies and share senses, then practiced moving with their extra heads, hands, and feet.
• Shinji wondered who would control the fused body when the sentient biological exoskeleton woke from its slumber.

Shinji ended Neji and Kimimaro’s Fusion State after worrying that the sentient biological exoskeleton could control them, then sent them back to Konoha while he planned how to contain it. On the journey, Neji learned how little time Kimimaro might have left, but they parted without acknowledging each other’s identities.

• Shinji told Neji and Kimimaro to test whether they could undo their Fusion State, and they successfully separated the biological exoskeleton into its sealed halves.
• Kimimaro’s Bloodline Disease flared up after the fusion ended, and Shinji discovered that the sealing formulas on both exoskeletons had been erased.
• Shinji sent Neji and Kimimaro back to Konoha and decided to focus on controlling the now-sentient exoskeleton.
• Neji asked Kimimaro about his worsening illness, and Kimimaro said his body might last another three or four years.
• Neji questioned Kimimaro about the power he had used in the Grass Country, but Kimimaro did not press him about what he knew.
• Neji and Kimimaro reached Konoha, silently acknowledged each other, and went their separate ways without revealing that they knew each other’s identities.

Shinji investigated why the biological exoskeletons on Neji and Kimimaro had awakened and concluded that sealing them was no longer an option. He devised a plan to raise the exoskeleton’s authority over the Giant Tenseigan and brought out the corpse of an Otsutsuki Branch Elder.

• Shinji returned to Konoha, then left a Shadow Clone behind and went to his secret laboratory to review the biological exoskeleton’s records.
• Shinji realized the Four Symbols Seal could not restrain the Six Paths-level Tenseigan Chakra that had awakened the exoskeleton.
• Shinji reasoned that the Giant Tenseigan lacked an independent consciousness and that the Otsutsuki Branch Family was the real threat because they could control it.
• Shinji rejected hiding the exoskeleton from the Giant Tenseigan and decided to raise its authority over the weapon instead.
• Shinji unsealed the corpse of the Otsutsuki Branch Elder who had been killed in the Grass Country battle.

Shinji used Susanoo Lamp to fuse two pairs of pure Otsutsuki Clan Byakugan, hoping to advance his Tenseigan plan. The fusion proceeded smoothly but slowly, and he sensed the Giant Tenseigan on the moon without making contact.

• Shinji removed the Otsutsuki Branch Elder's Byakugan from the corpse and placed them in a nutrient tank.
• Shinji decided to risk everything on his fusion plan because the Bio-Exoskeleton was out of control.
• Shinji summoned Susanoo, removed Fugaku Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, and installed the Elder's Byakugan beside the other Otsutsuki pair.
• Shinji activated Susanoo Lamp and began fusing the two pairs of Byakugan.
• During the slow fusion, Shinji sensed the Giant Tenseigan on the moon and avoided resonating with it.

Shinji fused two pairs of pure Byakugan into a powerful enhanced pair and discovered that they let him communicate with the Giant Tenseigan from the Shinobi World’s surface. He planned to use that authority to protect his sentient biological exoskeleton from control by the lunar Otsutsuki Branch Family, then summoned Neji to Konoha.

• Shinji completed the fusion of two pairs of pure Byakugan through his Susanoo Lamp, creating an exceptionally powerful new pair.
• Shinji tested the enhanced Byakugan beneath the night sky and sensed the Giant Tenseigan on the moon from the Shinobi World’s surface.
• Shinji concluded that the enhanced Byakugan had the same level of authority as the lunar Otsutsuki Branch Family, though it could not overcome their additional bloodline privileges and curse seals.
• Shinji decided to use the enhanced Byakugan’s authority to change his sentient biological exoskeleton’s identity from a Tenseigan puppet to a member of the Otsutsuki Branch Family.
• Shinji returned to Konoha and sent a message through Naobi summoning Neji.

Shinji operated on Neji in a secluded cave, implanting enhanced pure Byakugan into the awakening biological exoskeleton to turn it into a sentient life-form. When it tried to take control of Neji, Shinji subdued it with genjutsu through its new eyes.

• Shinji took Neji to a secluded cave after learning that the biological exoskeleton was close to awakening.
• Shinji had Neji release the exoskeleton, causing it to cover Neji’s body and boost his Chakra.
• Shinji surgically implanted enhanced pure Byakugan into the exoskeleton while it began to awaken.
• The exoskeleton tried to seize control of Neji’s body, and Shinji used Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan genjutsu through its Byakugan to subdue it.

Shinji subdued the sentient biological exoskeleton with genjutsu, named it H, and ordered it to cooperate with Neji as part of the Akatsuki Organization. He reconsidered his Tenseigan Plan around H, Neji, and Kimimaro, while taking stock of his remaining Dojutsu and the risks of having no Byakugan.

• Shinji used his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to shape the biological exoskeleton’s beliefs and make it stop fighting Neji and connecting with the Giant Tenseigan.
• Shinji told Neji and the biological exoskeleton to work together, named the exoskeleton H, and made it a member of the Akatsuki Organization.
• After sending Neji away, Shinji returned home briefly and then went to the Ninja Academy, where he saw Neji and Kimimaro training.
• Shinji decided H could directly attempt to awaken the Tenseigan by drawing on Neji’s and Kimimaro’s Chakra and connecting to the Giant Tenseigan once they had stored enough Chakra.
• Shinji realized that without Byakugan he could no longer resist the Giant Tenseigan’s Chakra extraction or see through objects, and he reviewed the Dojutsu he still possessed.

Sasuke asked Kakashi for a mission but was told to focus on training while his body matured. At the Ninja Academy, Shion challenged him, and Sasuke agreed to fight her and Rock Lee together as students gathered to watch.

• Shinji decided to stay away from the Otsutsuki Branch Family for now and resumed optimizing the Type Three Aging Potion with Izanagi.
• Sasuke sparred with Kakashi, then asked for a mission; Kakashi promised to request a suitable assignment for him.
• Jiraiya told Kakashi that the Land of Iron had spotted Upper Moon Two and summoned him to a meeting at the Hokage Building.
• Sasuke ran into Rock Lee at the Ninja Academy and dismissed his training before Shion challenged Sasuke to a fight.
• Sasuke accepted Shion's challenge and invited Rock Lee to join her, drawing a crowd of students to the training field.

Shion and Rock Lee challenged Sasuke at the Ninja Academy, surprising everyone with their sudden strength and forcing Sasuke to fight seriously. Sasuke tried to use genjutsu to distract Shion and attack Rock Lee, but Shion broke in with a kick just before he could strike.

• Students guessed Shion had challenged Sasuke to compete with Yakumo, while Sasuke grew angry at being reminded that Yakumo had beaten him.
• Yakumo, Neji, Kimimaro, and Shinji watched as Shion and Rock Lee faced Sasuke; Neji warned H to stay hidden.
• Rock Lee's kick hit with unexpected force, and Shion followed with a rapid assault that astonished the spectators.
• Rock Lee joined Shion in pressuring Sasuke, who began dodging Lee's powerful blows instead of blocking them.
• Sasuke cast a minor genjutsu that made Shion pause, then charged at Rock Lee, but Shion suddenly broke in from the side and kicked at him.

Sasuke accidentally revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan during his spar with Shion, while the Konoha leadership planned an operation against the injured Upper Moon Two. The chapter left Sasuke barred from joining the mission because Third feared losing Konoha’s only Mangekyō Uchiha.

• Sasuke activated his Mangekyō Sharingan to evade Shion, and spectators realized he had broken his promise not to use the Sharingan.
• Naruto acknowledged that Shion had grown strong enough to possibly defeat him, while Haku wondered whether her Taijutsu resembled that of a Demon Swordsman.
• An Intelligence Squad ninja reported that the injured Upper Moon Two was hiding in the snowfields north of the Land of Iron, where Iwagakure and Kumogakure had sent forces led by their Kage.
• Tsunade agreed to lead Konoha’s operation against Upper Moon Two, and Third assigned Jiraiya to go with her.
• Kakashi reported Sasuke’s request to join the mission, but Third refused because Sasuke was too young and Konoha’s only Mangekyō Uchiha.

Kakashi learned that the Third would keep Sasuke off the battlefield because of his age, while Sasuke’s Academy challenge with Yakumo ended when class began. Shinji explained the next stage of the Breathing Technique, the “Curse Mark,” and said Yakumo’s exceptional body might not show its usual signs.

• Kakashi left the Hokage Building, worried that Sasuke would react badly to being barred from the mission.
• The class bell ended Yakumo’s challenge with Sasuke, and she promised to challenge him again after school.
• Tenten discovered that Rock Lee had fought Sasuke while still wearing his leg weights, and Neji resolved to keep improving.
• Shinji told Yakumo to train further in the Breathing Technique and described the “Curse Mark” stage, which could drain an ordinary swordsman’s life force.
• Yakumo worried about developing markings, and Shinji said he was unsure her body would develop the Curse Mark at all.

Shinji learned that Shion could likely use the Curse Mark without serious risk and joined Yakumo on a mission to the Land of Iron to capture Upper Moon Two. While a Shadow Clone traveled with Tsunade's team, Shinji stayed behind and used Izanagi to find a successful formula for improving the Type Three Aging Potion.

• Shinji reasoned that Shion's unusual constitution would let her withstand the Curse Mark's cost and encouraged her to keep training the Breathing Technique.
• Tsunade came to the Ninja Academy and assigned Yakumo and Shinji a mission to capture Upper Moon Two in the Land of Iron, where Iwagakure and Kumogakure had also sent teams.
• Sasuke was left behind despite having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, while Jiraiya joined Tsunade's team for the mission.
• Shinji sent a Shadow Clone with the team and concealed the difference by sealing away half of his real body's Chakra.
• Shinji used Izanagi in his laboratory to search thousands of possible potion formulas, found one successful branch, and began recreating its process.

Shinji completed the Type Four Aging Potion and warned Sasuke about the risks of rushing into another fight with Upper Moon Two. After Sasuke chose to face the demon again, Shinji took him to the Icefield north of the Land of Iron to begin the mission.

• Shinji confirmed that the Type Four Aging Potion had been successfully formulated and named it, though he could not measure how much stronger it was than Type Three.
• At a Konoha training ground, Sasuke demanded to know why Tsunade's team had not taken him to fight Upper Moon Two.
• Shinji cautioned Sasuke that his recovered Dojutsu could take months or longer to recover again and urged him to prepare a new strategy.
• The next night, Sasuke resolved to challenge Upper Moon Two again, and Shinji agreed to leave with him.
• Shinji had Sasuke leave a Shadow Clone in the village, then used his Lamp ability to teleport them to the Icefield north of the Land of Iron, where Sasuke announced his arrival.

Kokushibo escaped Mifune and the Land of Iron samurai, then attacked Sasuke when he encountered him with Shinji and Yakumo. As the Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Raikage moved their armies onto the snowfield to hunt Upper Moon Two, Sasuke and Shinji pursued him into the storm.

• Kokushibo killed several Land of Iron samurai before Mifune confronted him, then fled when a signal flare revealed the Iwagakure Ninja Army was nearby.
• Mifune decided the samurai should join the Iwagakure Ninja Army rather than pursue Upper Moon Two alone.
• Kokushibo recognized Shinji and Yakumo as Akatsuki members and launched a surprise attack on Sasuke, whose Susanoo blocked the strike.
• Kokushibo fled into the snowstorm, and Sasuke and Shinji chased after him.
• Mifune joined the Third Tsuchikage's forces, while the Fourth Raikage ordered the Kumogakure Ninja Army to search for Upper Moon Two before Iwagakure could claim him.

After three days of pursuing Kokushibo across the snowy plains, Sasuke was caught between the demon and the allied shinobi forces. The Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Raikage agreed to cooperate, but the fighting continued as the Raikage attacked Sasuke and Shinji confronted Kokushibo.

• Sasuke relentlessly pursued Kokushibo for three days while the allied forces surrounded them across the snowy plains.
• The Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Raikage agreed that Iwagakure would receive Kokushibo for research, while Kumogakure would help capture the two Akatsuki Organization members.
• The allied forces charged Kokushibo and Sasuke, and the Fourth Raikage forced both fighters to dodge his blow.
• The Fourth Raikage abandoned Kokushibo and attacked Sasuke, demanding to know where Yugito Nii was.
• Sasuke tried to evade the Raikage and return to the pursuit, but the Raikage blocked his path and attacked him.
• Shinji blocked Kokushibo after Kokushibo killed several Iwagakure shinobi.

Shinji tested the Type Four Aging Potion on Kokushibo during the snowstorm, using the Ketsuryūgan to restrain him long enough to inject it. As Kokushibo’s body decayed and his mind deteriorated, he fled with Shinji following, and they slipped through the Joint Force’s encirclement.

• Shinji approached Kokushibo after Iwagakure and Kumogakure began a joint operation, and Kokushibo attacked him with Moon Breathing, Tenth Form: Piercing Face Slash, Waning Moon.
• Shinji blocked Kokushibo’s blades with Susanoo, used the Ketsuryūgan to raise blood blisters on him, and injected him with the Type Four Aging Potion.
• Kokushibo fled into the storm as the potion took effect, causing him to spit blood, suffer bodily decay, and lose mental clarity.
• Kokushibo attacked and feasted on several Kumogakure ninja, while Shinji observed the potion’s apparent effect on his mind.
• Kokushibo fled on all fours with Shinji pursuing him, and the two passed through the Joint Force’s encirclement under cover of the storm.

Shinji pursued the deteriorating Kokushibo while Sasuke escaped the Fourth Raikage and later confronted the demon. Sasuke wounded Kokushibo with Chidori, but Kokushibo escaped after cutting Sasuke eleven times.

• Shinji tracked Kokushibo through the snowstorm and noted that the Type Four Aging Potion was still damaging his body after nearly fifteen minutes.
• Sasuke escaped the Fourth Raikage, then followed Shinji's guidance toward Kokushibo.
• Sasuke trapped Kokushibo in a concealed steel-wire net and prepared to finish him with Amaterasu.
• Kokushibo burst free with his Evil Blades and attacked Sasuke, who struck him with Chidori and blew away half his body.
• Kokushibo regenerated and fled into the blizzard, while Sasuke discovered he had suffered eleven blade wounds.

Shinji and Sasuke pursued the weakened Kokushibo across the snowfield as Shinji assessed the Type Four Aging Potion’s effects. A Konoha squad led by Tsunade encountered Kokushibo and the two Akatsuki members following him, and Shinji’s Shadow Clone attacked before the squad could intervene.

• Shinji confirmed that the Type Four Aging Potion had suppressed Kokushibo for twenty-five minutes and decided Sasuke could finish him off.
• Tsunade’s squad resumed its search across the snowfield after the blizzard eased, but the harsh conditions limited their scouting.
• Yakumo and Shibi Aburame spotted Kokushibo approaching with two Akatsuki members, whom the squad recognized as A and E.
• Tsunade ordered the squad not to move, but Shinji’s Shadow Clone charged at Kokushibo.
• Shinji’s Shadow Clone unleashed Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation, engulfing Kokushibo in flames.

Shinji’s Shadow Clone burned Kokushibo to ash, then Shinji fought Akatsuki Organization’s ‘A’ with powerful Fire Release and a carefully prepared Explosive Tag trap. As the Joint Force approached, ‘A’ and ‘E’ withdrew from the battlefield.

• Shinji’s Shadow Clone used Great Fire Annihilation to destroy the weakened Kokushibo, who died and turned to ash.
• Shinji confronted ‘A’, forcing him to evade a series of powerful Fire Release attacks while Tsunade’s team and Sasuke watched.
• Shinji’s Shadow Clone retreated and triggered steel wires linked to Explosive Tags, engulfing ‘A’ and his golden Susanoo in explosions.
• ‘A’ signaled ‘E’, and the two Akatsuki members withdrew before the approaching Joint Force arrived.

Shinji’s deception allowed him to destroy Upper Moon Two’s remains and withdraw with Sasuke, but the arriving Kage suspected Konoha had captured the demon and accused Sasuke of being Akatsuki’s ‘E’. The chapter ended with Tsunade and Jiraiya troubled by the Raikage’s evidence about ‘E’ and Sasuke’s Lightning Release skills.

• Shinji’s Shadow Clone told Tsunade he had gotten carried away, while the squad praised him for driving off Akatsuki’s ‘A’ and ‘E’.
• Shinji concealed that he had staged the battle and used Magatsu to supply his Shadow Clone with Chakra as it launched Fire Release attacks.
• The Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Raikage arrived and learned from Shinji that Upper Moon Two had turned to ash.
• The Joint Force found no trace of Upper Moon Two, leading the Kage to suspect Konoha had captured and sealed him.
• The Fourth Raikage accused Sasuke of being Akatsuki’s ‘E’, citing his purple Susanoo, inexperience, and skill with Lightning Release.

After the Kage refused to pay Shinji’s bounty for Upper Moon Two, Tsunade and Jiraiya reported the snowy plain events and questioned whether Sasuke was Akatsuki’s “E.” Back in Konoha, the Third ordered Kakashi to test Sasuke, and their spar began under his watch.

• The Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Raikage claimed they could not pay Shinji’s bounty until Upper Moon Two’s death was verified, then left.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed the similarities between Sasuke’s Susanoo and Akatsuki’s “E” before Jiraiya sent a report to Konoha.
• Sasuke returned to his apartment, frustrated that Shinji had killed the demon he had pursued for three days and nights.
• Kakashi attacked Sasuke at his apartment, and the two fought through the village until they reached a training ground.
• Kakashi revealed his Sharingan, and he and Sasuke began a Lightning Release-enhanced spar while the Third watched from a tree.

Kakashi tested Sasuke in a sparring match and, after recognizing Sasuke’s growing arrogance, used the fight to teach him practical ninja skills. Sasuke ended the chapter bound in a tree while the village leaders watched.

• Sasuke taunted Kakashi and claimed his speed and strength were beyond Kakashi’s, while Kakashi resolved to teach him a lesson.
• The Third, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura debated whether Sasuke was an impostor and why the Akatsuki might be involved.
• Sasuke attacked Kakashi with Fire Release techniques and ninja tools, binding him behind an earth wall before striking with Dragon Fire.
• Sasuke discovered that the Kakashi struck by his Chidori was a Lightning Clone, then was trapped by wires around a tree.
• Kakashi told the immobilized Sasuke that using ninja tools was his new lesson.