Recaps

Sasuke challenged Shinji to prove he deserved to be the top student, but Shinji easily outmatched him in their opening exchange. Sasuke escalated to ninjutsu and a wire-and-kunai lightning trap, only for Shinji to appear behind him.

• Sasuke interrupted Rock Lee and Haku's spar and challenged Shinji, drawing the spectators' attention.
• Shinji accepted the challenge, and Sasuke used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him.
• Shinji swiftly overpowered Sasuke in Taijutsu and taunted him to use his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke fired a Great Fireball Technique, then threw wire-tied Kunai through the smoke.
• Sasuke sent lightning racing along the steel wires and engulfed the training ground, but Shinji's voice came from behind him.

Shinji dominated Sasuke in their challenge, forcing the Mangekyō Uchiha to activate Susanoo. As the onlookers expected Sasuke to win, Shinji calmly approached and promised to teach Haku and Karin how to deal with Susanoo.

• Sasuke used a web of wired kunai to channel Lightning Release across the training ground, but Shinji appeared behind him and pressed him to reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke charged Shinji in taijutsu, but Shinji easily countered and sent him crashing to the ground, astonishing the spectators and onlookers.
• Shinji continued to overpower Sasuke, who struggled back to his feet and grew increasingly furious.
• Sasuke activated Susanoo, prompting the Jonin and ANBU to clear the spectators away as they judged the challenge decided.
• Shinji walked toward Sasuke without changing his pace and told Haku and Karin that he would teach them how to deal with Susanoo.

Shinji demonstrated how to fight Sasuke’s 'Susanoo' by knocking it back with Taijutsu and then revealing that he had learned Rasengan. As Sasuke grew hysterical, Shinji appeared before 'Susanoo' with a 'Rasenshuriken' in hand.

• Shinji rushed Sasuke’s skeletal 'Susanoo' and punched it back several meters, astonishing Sasuke and the spectators.
• Shinji reflected that his Taijutsu was less destructive than Tsunade’s or the Fourth Raikage’s, while the watching ninja debated what technique he had used.
• Sasuke retaliated with a 'Susanoo' punch, but Shinji struck back and knocked it away again.
• The spectators recognized the glowing sphere in Shinji’s hand as 'Rasengan', and Jiraiya reasoned that Shinji had learned it by watching Naruto.
• Shinji appeared before Sasuke’s 'Susanoo' once more, this time wielding a 'Rasenshuriken'.

Shinji used a Rasenshuriken to blast a hole through Sasuke's Susanoo, then explained how to exploit weaknesses in the technique. Sasuke insisted on continuing, but Shinji struck him inside the damaged Susanoo and forced it to disappear.

• Shinji used his improved Chakra control to create a Rasenshuriken and throw it at Sasuke's Susanoo.
• The Rasenshuriken tore a hole through the Susanoo's chest, shocking the watching villagers, students, and Jonin.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade watched from afar as Jiraiya recognized that Shinji had developed a powerful technique based on the Rasengan.
• Shinji taught Haku and Karin that a Susanoo's defense depended on its caster and could be overcome by targeting a weakness with powerful ninjutsu.
• Sasuke stood up and demanded to continue, so Shinji entered the damaged Susanoo and punched him in the abdomen.
• Sasuke fell to his knees, and his damaged Susanoo dissipated.

Shinji defeated Sasuke’s Susanoo, prompting Yakumo to decide that Shinji was finally an opponent worth challenging with her full strength. Sasuke then activated State Two of the Heavenly Curse Mark and began a fierce fight against Shinji.

• Shinji easily defeated Sasuke’s Susanoo, astonishing the spectators and earning praise from Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai.
• Shizune tried to stop Yakumo from challenging Shinji, but Yakumo said she wanted to face him at full strength.
• Sasuke roared and activated the Heavenly Curse Mark, transforming into its State Two form.
• Kakashi sensed the sinister Chakra radiating from Sasuke and became alarmed.
• Sasuke attacked Shinji with greatly enhanced abilities and taunted him as their fight intensified.

Shinji defeated Sasuke after the Heavenly Curse Mark transformed him into a powerful, unstable form. He ordered the ANBU to take Sasuke away for treatment and examination, leaving the watching students cowed by his strength.

• Kakashi suspected Sasuke’s transformation was connected to the earlier attack on his shoulder, while the other spectators watched Shinji and Sasuke continue fighting.
• Sasuke’s Stage Two Cursed Seal boosted his strength, but Shinji met his attacks directly with the Twelve Palaces and matched him in a fierce Taijutsu exchange.
• Shinji recognized the Natural Energy behind the Cursed Seal and decided to have Tsunade’s team examine Sasuke rather than study the energy himself.
• Shinji used Shrinking Step to appear before Sasuke, struck him in the abdomen, and threw him into the center of the field.
• Shinji ordered the ANBU to take Sasuke down, and the students lowered their eyes as he surveyed them.

The Third and the Elder advisers discussed Sasuke’s punishment and whether to continue investigating Shinji, while Tsunade examined Sasuke’s mysterious Cursed Seal. The chapter ended with Tsunade reassuring Yakumo that she still had better than a sixty percent chance of defeating Shinji.

• Utatane Koharu called for Sasuke to be punished, while Mitokado Homura urged a thorough investigation of his abnormal Chakra, and the Third assigned the matter to Tsunade.
• The Third agreed to end the investigation into Shinji for now, and Shinji’s order led Koharu’s ANBU to escort Sasuke away as Kakashi and the other Jonin followed.
• Shizune stopped Yakumo from challenging Shinji, and Shinji reassured Haku and Karin that he would handle the village’s suspicions about their defeat of Root.
• Tsunade examined Sasuke and found a foreign mass of Chakra linked to a Cursed Seal, which she temporarily suppressed with a Sealing Technique.
• Tsunade praised Shizune for preventing Yakumo’s challenge and told Yakumo that her chances of defeating Shinji remained above sixty percent.

Kabuto told Orochimaru that Shinji had defeated Sasuke, prompting Orochimaru to take an interest in Shinji as a potential vessel. In Konoha, Sasuke faced treatment and interrogation while his defeat spurred others to train, and Naruto left the village with Jiraiya without saying goodbye to Sakura and Sasuke.

• Kabuto reported Sasuke's defeat to Orochimaru and explained that Shinji's Rasenshuriken had pierced Sasuke's Susanoo.
• Orochimaru ordered Kabuto to keep an eye on Shinji, whom he considered a better candidate than Sasuke.
• Sasuke recovered in the hospital as ANBU interrogated him, and Tsunade led a temporary team to study his Heavenly Curse Mark.
• Yakumo, Neji, Rock Lee, and Shikamaru increased their training after Shinji's victory.
• Sakura asked Shion to get Shinji to forgive Sasuke, and Shion agreed.
• Naruto left the village with Jiraiya, upset that he could not say goodbye to Sakura and Sasuke.

Jiraiya took Naruto away from the village to train him, explaining that he could build on the Rasengan to learn Shinji Uchiha’s Rasenshuriken. Meanwhile, Nagato and Obito’s Akatsuki planned simultaneous attacks on Iwagakure’s Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Jiraiya persuaded Naruto to leave with him by promising training to help Naruto defeat Sasuke.
• Naruto told Jiraiya that his attempts to master the Rasenshuriken had failed and injured his arm.
• Jiraiya assessed the Rasenshuriken as an S-rank technique but said Naruto’s Rasengan foundation would make it easier for him to learn.
• Konan told Pain that Madara had found the hiding places of Iwagakure’s two Jinchuriki.
• Pain ordered Itachi and Juzo Biwa to capture the Four-Tails Jinchuriki at Iwamon Valley and Moryo and Shinnō to capture the Five-Tails Jinchuriki at Red Maple Forest.

Itachi and Juzo Biwa captured Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, while Moryo defeated Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, with Shinnō’s help. The Akatsuki teams left Earth Country with their captives, and Moryo asked Shinnō to find him a new host body.

• Itachi and Juzo Biwa confronted Rōshi and fought him in a rugged valley.
• Itachi stepped in when Rōshi overwhelmed Juzo, and they defeated him and prepared to leave with him alive.
• Moryo and Shinnō found Han in northern Earth Country and tried to take him for the Akatsuki Organization.
• Moryo fought Han, defeated him, and damaged the body he was possessing.
• Shinnō carried the unconscious Han away and promised to find Moryo a suitable new body after they left Earth Country.

Iwagakure discovered that Akatsuki Organization had defeated and abducted Rōshi and Han, prompting Ōnoki to seek help from other villages. In Konoha, the Third Hokage convened the leadership, and they decided they had to attempt a rescue despite Itachi Uchiha’s involvement.

• Kitsuchi arrived at the battlefield and learned that Akatsuki Organization had likely captured Rōshi.
• Ōnoki concluded that Han had been defeated and abducted despite using Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, then ordered an urgent plea for help sent to the other villages.
• Shinji attended a high-level meeting in Konoha while his Shadow Clone studied Medical Ninjutsu at home.
• The Third Hokage told the village leadership that Iwagakure’s Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki had been attacked, and the Communications Squad identified Itachi Uchiha and Juzo Biwa as the suspected attackers in the south.
• The Third Hokage, Kakashi, Tsunade, and the others agreed that Konoha had to send reinforcements and try to rescue both Jinchuriki.

Konoha chose Kakashi to lead a mission to support Iwagakure in rescuing two Jinchuriki captured by Akatsuki, and he selected Shinji and several young ninja to join him. The team gathered at the village gates, leaving Shinji aware that the supposed rescue party included six Akatsuki members.

• The Third appointed Kakashi to lead Konoha's support mission after Jiraiya was found to be away and Tsunade was needed in the village.
• Kakashi requested and received authority to choose his team, then selected Shinji, Yakumo, Kimimaro, and Neji.
• The Third approved Shinji's participation despite Utatane Koharu's concerns, and Kakashi ordered the team to gather at the village gates in thirty minutes.
• Shinji asked to bring Haku and Karin, and Kakashi agreed if they were willing; both accepted the mission to Earth Country.
• Yakumo, Kimimaro, and Neji arrived at the gates, where Shinji realized that he and the other selected ninja were secretly Akatsuki members.

Kakashi led a large force, including Shinji, Yakumo, and Kimimaro, to support Iwagakure and rescue its abducted Four-Tails Jinchuriki from the Akatsuki. At Konoha Hospital, Sasuke learned that Itachi was involved and that his Cursed Seal contained dangerous Natural Energy, while Tsunade explained that Senjutsu Chakra was mastered by only one and a half ninjas.

• Kakashi led more than thirty ninjas, including Shinji and other Academy students, out of Konoha to support Iwagakure and rescue the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Shion told Sasuke that Kakashi, Yakumo, Kimimaro, and Shinji had joined the mission against the Akatsuki Organization.
• Tsunade revealed that Itachi had attacked Iwagakure's Four-Tails Jinchuriki and that Kakashi's mission was to rescue him.
• Sasuke tried to leave the hospital to join the mission but collapsed, and Tsunade warned that his Cursed Seal's Natural Energy was corroding his body.
• Tsunade explained that excessive Senjutsu Chakra could turn someone to stone, make them explode, or transform them into a beast.
• Tsunade said only one and a half ninjas had mastered Senjutsu, naming Jiraiya as the half and the First as the one.

Sasuke left Konoha with Sakura and Shion to pursue revenge against Itachi before his failing vision and Cursed Seal left him unable to fight. Meanwhile, Shinji’s Konoha reinforcements reached Earth Country, where Kurotsuchi briefed Kakashi on the Akatsuki attacks and Iwagakure’s plan to rescue Han.

• Tsunade explained that harnessing natural energy was rare and said they needed to find the person who had placed Sasuke’s Cursed Seal to learn how to remove it.
• Sasuke told Sakura and Shion that his Dojutsu was failing and he needed to avenge himself while Itachi was being pursued by Iwagakure; he agreed to take them with him.
• Sakura helped Sasuke evade the hospital guards and leave Konoha with Shion, and the three set out toward Earth Country.
• Shinjin’s Konoha reinforcements crossed Grass Country and entered Earth Country after two and a half days of travel.
• Kurotsuchi told Kakashi that the Akatsuki group that attacked Rōshi had escaped south to Bird Country, while the group that attacked Han was trapped in Earth Country.
• Kurotsuchi identified the attackers as Moryo and Shinnō and said Iwagakure planned to defeat the trapped group, rescue Han, and then pursue the other group.

Kakashi and the Konoha team arrived in Iwagakure to help rescue Han, while Moryo and Shinnō escaped with the Five-Tails Jinchuriki after Zetsu created a Spores Clone to divert the Tsuchikage. The Akatsuki forces split up, and Kurotsuchi warned Kakashi that one group was heading toward the Konoha team.

• Kurotsuchi asked Kakashi and the Konoha team to help rescue Han, and Kakashi agreed after requesting time to rest and real-time intelligence.
• Moryo and Shinnō escaped the devastated battlefield carrying the unconscious Han while Iwagakure survivors discovered their attackers had vanished.
• Zetsu made a Spores Clone that copied Han and absorbed his Chakra, then used it to draw the Tsuchikage and Iwagakure's main force away.
• Zetsu told Moryo and Shinnō to break south, warning that Kakashi and Kurama Yakumo were among the Konoha reinforcements.
• Moryo and Shinnō forced their way through Iwagakure blockades as Zetsu led the Tsuchikage away with the Spores Clone.
• Kurotsuchi told Kakashi that the Akatsuki had split into two groups and that one was heading toward the Konoha camp, while Han's whereabouts remained uncertain.

Kakashi led Konoha and Iwagakure forces toward Moryo and Shinnō after failing to confirm whether Shinnō held the real Five-Tails Jinchuriki. As Kakashi’s Jonin and ANBU charged into battle, Kurotsuchi stayed behind with Shinji’s trainees and vowed to protect him, even at the cost of her life.

• Kakashi decided to attack Moryo and Shinnō because the Five-Tails Jinchuriki might be in their hands.
• Konoha and Iwagakure forces reached the battlefield and saw Moryo slaughter Iwagakure Ninja and take over one of their bodies.
• Yakumo and Neji examined the captive Five-Tails Jinchuriki but could not determine whether he was real or a clone.
• Kakashi ordered the Jonin and ANBU to attack while the Intelligence Squad, Medical Team, and trainees stayed back with Kurotsuchi.
• Kurotsuchi promised Shinji that she would protect him even if she died.

Shinji’s group pursued Shinnō after Yakumo, Kimimaro, and Neji intercepted him while he fled with the unconscious Five-Tails Jinchuriki. Shinnō revealed himself as the Zero-Tails’ first Jinchuriki and opened the Eight Gates, leaving the surrounding forces facing his full power.

• Kumogakure reported that the Raikage was leading reinforcements toward Kurotsuchi’s forces as Moryo fought Kakashi’s team and Shinnō escaped with the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Yakumo rushed after Shinnō, followed by Kimimaro and Neji, and Shinji, Haku, Karin, and Kurotsuchi’s Iwagakure forces joined the pursuit.
• Yakumo’s group caught Shinnō in a forest, where he was surrounded and threw the unconscious Jinchuriki to the ground.
• Shinnō unleashed the Zero-Tails’ Chakra, revealing that he had become the artificial beast’s Jinchuriki.
• Shinnō activated the Eight Gates while releasing the Zero-Tails’ Chakra.

Shinnō opened the Seventh Gate and overwhelmed Yakumo, Neji, and Kimimaro with his speed and strength. Yakumo contained his corrosive mist with Wood Release, but Shinnō charged at her directly, while Shinji remained ready to intervene.

• Shinnō opened the First, Fifth, and Sixth Gates, and the force of his chakra and physical power alarmed Yakumo, Neji, Kimimaro, and the Iwagakure Ninja.
• Kurotsuchi urged Shinji to retreat, but Shinji stayed calm and said he would handle Shinnō.
• Shinnō opened the Seventh Gate, struck Kimimaro through several trees, and sent Neji flying after breaking through Rotation.
• Yakumo unleashed a vast Wood Release forest, and Shinnō countered it with Super-Concentrated Acid Mist that withered the trees it touched.
• Yakumo's forest contained the mist, so Shinnō used Body Regeneration and charged straight at her.

Shinnō overwhelmed Yakumo, Kimimaro, and Neji after activating the Gate of Wonder, forcing Yakumo to consider revealing Ido. Shinji intervened and struck Shinnō with a Rasenshuriken, sending him flying.

• Shinnō smashed through Yakumo’s Wood Release forest, but Kimimaro intercepted him and fought with the third Eight Gates open.
• Neji joined Kimimaro and Yakumo, but Shinnō knocked Neji out and dislocated Kimimaro’s arm.
• Yakumo met Shinnō’s punch with her Superhuman Strength Punch, then struggled against his rapid regeneration and considered releasing Ido.
• Shinji flashed in to face Shinnō and hit him with a Rasenshuriken, sending him flying.

Shinji ambushed Shinnō after Shinnō defeated Yakumo, Kimimaro, and Neji, then used a hidden chakra trap to overcome him in a second fight. Shinnō escaped with the unconscious Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Shinji struck Shinnō by surprise with the Twelve Palaces and Seventh Form, sending him crashing through the forest.
• Shinnō survived the attack using his regeneration, and Yakumo offered to help Shinji fight him.
• Shinji told Yakumo to step aside and fought Shinnō hand-to-hand while secretly using chakra and Banshō Ten'in to block his chakra pathways.
• Shinnji weakened Shinnō and kicked him beside the unconscious Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Shinnō grabbed the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and fled.

Shinji led the pursuit of Shinnō while secretly allowing him time to recover, but Shinnō overwhelmed the Kumogakure reinforcements after the Fourth Raikage left to aid another battlefield. The group reached the wounded survivors, and everyone looked to Shinji to decide whether to continue the pursuit.

• Shinji waited until Shinnō had time to recover, then ordered the squad to pursue him.
• Yakumo and Neji noticed that Shinnō was speeding up as his body recovered.
• Yakumo spotted Kumogakure reinforcements intercepting Shinnō, but the Fourth Raikage was not with them.
• Shinnō overran Darui's force, leaving several Kumogakure Ninja dead or wounded.
• Darui warned Kurotsuchi and the others to wait for the Raikage, but they looked to Shinji for orders.

Shinji and the allied ninja caught up with the weakened Shinnō, who was holding the Five-Tails Jinchuriki hostage. Hiruko and Raiga Kurosuki arrived to rescue him, leaving Shinji’s group facing the Akatsuki members.

• Shinji led the Konoha, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure ninja in pursuit of Shinnō, and Kurotsuchi told Darui that Shinji had defeated Shinnō after he activated the Eight Gates.
• Yakumo and Neji detected that Shinnō had slowed down and his Chakra was weakening, and Shinji realized his Body Regeneration technique had worn off.
• Shinji’s group found Shinnō with the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and Shinnō threatened to kill the Jinchuriki if they approached.
• Hiruko and Raiga Kurosuki arrived on a giant bird, using explosive feathers to drive back the surrounding ninja and rescue Shinnō.
• Hiruko confronted Shinji’s group, and Yakumo identified him as a rogue ninja from Konoha before Hiruko remarked that Shinji still remembered him.

Shinji recognized that Hiruko had likely completed the Chimera Technique ritual and become a formidable fighter, while the Akatsuki’s increased strength explained its renewed activity. Hiruko effortlessly defeated Darui and Kurotsuchi, leaving the gathered ninja to face the threat as another Akatsuki member watched from above.

• Shinji concluded that Hiruko had probably completed his ritual and might have absorbed five Kekkei Genkai, possibly including the Sharingan.
• Kurotsuchi demanded that the Akatsuki return Iwagakure’s Jinchuriki, and Darui attacked Hiruko with a Water and Lightning compound jutsu.
• Hiruko absorbed Darui’s attack and struck him into the air.
• Kurotsuchi charged Hiruko with her rock-covered fist, but Hiruko’s hardened arm overpowered her and sent her crashing into a tree.
• The gathered ninja were stunned by Hiruko’s strength as another Akatsuki member remained atop the flying Chimera.

Shinji and the other Konoha ninja confronted Hiruko, whose fused abilities made him a formidable opponent. The battle left Hiruko surrounded by Konoha and allied ninja, and he prepared to demonstrate his Storm Release.

• Shinji deduced that Hiruko had fused Nether Release, Swift Release, and Steel Release, and suspected his remaining abilities were Storm Release and the Sharingan.
• Hiruko attacked Shinji, but Haku caught his punch while Karin launched a pincer attack, prompting Yakumo, Kimimaro, and Neji to join the fight.
• Raiga Kurosuki watched from the Chimera with Ranmaru, who identified several Konoha ninja as having more Chakra than Raiga.
• Hiruko held his own against the five Konoha ninja, and the recovered Darui and Kurotsuchi joined them.
• Darui fired Storm Release: Laser Circus, which Hiruko dodged with Swift Release before announcing that he would show them his Storm Release.

Hiruko unleashed a devastating Storm Release attack, then confronted Shinji with a pair of Sharingan altered by his Chimera Technique. Shinji and Hiruko trapped each other in genjutsu, and Shinji declared he would take Hiruko’s eyes back.

• Hiruko summoned thunderclouds and struck the battlefield with Storm Release, killing and injuring nearby Iwagakure and Kumogakure ninja as the others escaped.
• Yakumo asked what to do, and Shinji stepped forward to face Hiruko himself.
• Hiruko revealed Sharingan with dark circular patterns resembling Mangekyō Sharingan, shocking the assembled shinobi.
• Shinji and Hiruko cast genjutsu on each other and stood motionless as their allies watched anxiously.
• Shinji reached toward Hiruko and said he would take the Sharingan back.