Recaps

Shinji tested the limits of his abilities in Kamui Space and realized he needed to train his control of the Six Tomoe Rinnegan. He returned to the village barbecue restaurant and called Haku and Karin back, leaving the details of his operation unclear.

• Shinji confirmed that Naobi's connection could not cross dimensions, while his sense of the Red Dragon could.
• Shinji examined his experience of Kamui and considered whether his single Rinnegan limited his ability to use space-time techniques.
• Shinji realized that his Six Tomoe Rinnegan had grown faster than his ability to control it and resolved to train more before the coming battle.
• Shinji decided not to leave anything in Kamui Space or kill Obito, since that could delay the Akatsuki Organization's revival of the Ten-Tails.
• Shinji returned to the village barbecue restaurant, contacted Haku and Karin through Naobi, and told the Nameless One that he had figured out a few things.

Guren told Kimimaro that the Akatsuki Organization wanted Orochimaru’s knowledge of the Reaper Death Seal and asked him to infiltrate the Konoha Military Police Force to make contact. Meanwhile, Shinji tested the Susanoo Lamp, removed Karin’s Rinnegan and Yakumo’s Red Dragon Eye from his control, and resolved to master his Six Tomoe Rinnegan before becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Guren entered Konoha under the pretext of posting a commission and met Kimimaro in a grove.
• Guren explained that “A” had offered half of the Nine-Tails in exchange for Orochimaru, and said they needed Orochimaru to understand the Reaper Death Seal.
• Guren asked Kimimaro to infiltrate the Konoha Military Police Force and contact Orochimaru; Kimimaro agreed despite worrying that the plan could endanger Shinji Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha.
• Shinji left a Shadow Clone in his apartment and secretly went to his underground training ground.
• Shinji activated the Susanoo Lamp and sensed that controlling Karin’s Rinnegan and Yakumo’s Red Dragon Eye alongside his own Six Tomoe Rinnegan caused discordance.
• Shinji deactivated his control over the other eyes and decided he had to master his Six Tomoe Rinnegan before becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.

Shinji returned Karin’s Rinnegan and warned her to master its hidden Space-Time Dojutsu, then found a way to bring Kimimaro closer to Orochimaru. He planned to use Sasuke’s Cursed Seal to request a special interrogation of Orochimaru.

• Shinji transplanted Karin’s Rinnegan back to her and urged her to uncover its Space-Time Dojutsu so she could defend herself against enemies like Obito.
• Shinji learned that Guren had asked Kimimaro to join the Konoha Military Police Force so he could find a chance to contact Orochimaru, and he approved the plan.
• Shinji realized Sasuke’s Cursed Seal could provide a reason to request permission to interrogate Orochimaru without freeing him.
• Shinji approved Kimimaro’s application and assigned him to Sasuke’s squad.
• After learning Sasuke still could not remove his Cursed Seal, Shinji told him he would request a special interrogation of Orochimaru.

Tsunade reviewed Konoha’s progress preparing to fight Akatsuki and decided to share some assignments with the other villages because Konoha lacked manpower. The chapter ended when an ANBU brought her Shinji Uchiha’s request to interrogate Orochimaru about Sasuke’s Cursed Seal.

• Kakashi reported that the groups had made limited progress against Hiruko, Ranmaru, Moryo, Shinnō, Itachi, Scorpion, and Deidara, while Might Guy’s group had improved its odds against Kakuzu and Hidan to over fifty percent.
• Kurenai requested Yakumo’s help against Itachi, but Tsunade refused to risk Yakumo and approved Kakashi’s suggestion to add Sasuke to the group.
• Kakashi reported that Scorpion might turn the Fourth Kazekage’s corpse into a Human Puppet, prompting Tsunade to acknowledge that Konoha could not handle the entire Akatsuki alone.
• Tsunade decided to assign some Akatsuki targets to the other villages and keep six targets for Konoha: Hiruko, Ranmaru, Kakuzu, Hidan, Itachi Uchiha, and Juzo Biwa.
• An ANBU delivered Shinji Uchiha’s request to conduct a special interrogation of Orochimaru to resolve Sasuke Uchiha’s Cursed Seal trouble, and Tsunade questioned the request.

Sasuke and Kimimaro interrogated Orochimaru about removing Sasuke’s Cursed Seal, while Kakashi monitored the questioning. Orochimaru claimed it could not be removed and hinted that Tsunade had concealed its true nature, prompting Kakashi to pull Sasuke from the cell.

• Tsunade approved Shinji’s request for a special interrogation after Kakashi agreed to attend.
• Shinji sent Sasuke and Kimimaro to question Orochimaru without him, allowing Kimimaro a chance to meet his former master.
• Kakashi joined Sasuke and Kimimaro at the secret prison, where Sasuke controlled his anger after seeing Danzo in his cell.
• Sasuke asked Orochimaru how to remove the Cursed Seal, and Orochimaru said removal was impossible but offered to explain how to control it.
• Orochimaru asked whether Tsunade had told Sasuke what the Cursed Seal really was, so Kakashi pulled Sasuke out of the cell.

Kakashi ended Sasuke’s interrogation of Orochimaru after Orochimaru provoked him about the village withholding information on his Cursed Seal. Shinji learned that Orochimaru and Kimimaro had likely made contact and planned to force Orochimaru to choose how to complete their deal, while continuing to train inside Takamagahara.

• Kakashi pulled Sasuke from Orochimaru’s cell and warned him that Orochimaru was trying to sow discord.
• Sasuke challenged Kakashi about the village hiding information on his Cursed Seal, then agreed to wait for an explanation rather than damage relations between the Uchiha Clan and the village.
• Kakashi ended the interrogation, and Sasuke reported its failure to Shinji.
• Shinji concluded that Orochimaru and Kimimaro had likely made contact and planned to pressure Orochimaru into either helping Kabuto Yakushi break the Reaper Death Seal or escaping Konoha to complete the deal himself.
• Shinji returned to training his spiritual control inside Takamagahara, where he accelerated time to improve his practice.

Obito brought news of capturing “A” to Nagato, who gathered his new Jinchuriki-based Five Paths of Pain and Akatsuki members to confront the captive in Kamui Space. They found the space empty, while Shinji arranged for Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo to meet Kabuto and carry forward Orochimaru’s deal.

• Obito summoned Nagato, Konan, and the five living Jinchuriki who had become Nagato’s new Five Paths of Pain, then explained that he had trapped “A” in Kamui Space.
• Nagato and Konan agreed to bring more Akatsuki members before entering Kamui Space with Obito, while Konan stayed outside.
• Obito and the others entered Kamui Space but found no sign of “A,” whose Blood Clone had collapsed after Shinji stopped controlling the Red Dragon Eye.
• Kimimaro told Guren that Orochimaru would make a deal with Akatsuki only if they helped him escape, and Kabuto decided they should wait for Akatsuki to contact them.
• Shinji sent Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo out of Konoha in Akatsuki cloaks to meet Kabuto and his companions at their hideout.

Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo met with Kabuto Yakushi and the others, who said Orochimaru would cooperate if the Akatsuki Organization rescued him first. After Shinji decided to delay the rescue and train in Takamagarahara, he continued working to improve his control over the Six Tomoe Rinnegan.

• Ryūsetsuna asked Kabuto Yakushi for Orochimaru's answer, and Kabuto said Orochimaru would cooperate if the Akatsuki Organization rescued him from the Reaper Death Seal first.
• Ryūsetsuna replied, "Wait," and left with Chiyo; Kabuto concluded that the Akatsuki Organization had accepted Orochimaru's terms.
• Shinji confirmed Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo had returned safely, then decided to wait at least two days before rescuing Orochimaru so Konoha's higher-ups would not grow suspicious.
• Shinji entered Takamagarahara and fought a virtual Itachi to study his tactics and improve his control over his power.
• Shinji reflected that his Six Tomoe Rinnegan control was improving, but that Takamagarahara's limitations meant it could not replace real combat.

Tsunade sent two ANBU squads to capture Kabuto Yakushi after a patrol spotted him near Konoha, but Guren’s Crystal Style helped Kabuto and Jūgo escape. When the trio doubled back, they found Karin waiting for them and directing them to follow her, as the Akatsuki planned to use them in a rescue of Orochimaru.

• Tsunade ordered the ANBU to capture Kabuto after learning he had been spotted near Konoha.
• Two ANBU squads surrounded Kabuto, Jūgo, and Guren, but Guren broke their trap with Crystal Style and the trio escaped using smoke bombs and Shadow Clones.
• Kabuto led Jūgo and Guren back to their original hideout to check whether the Akatsuki had exposed them.
• Karin appeared in an Akatsuki cloak and fox mask, and Kabuto recognized her as the feared operative known as B.
• Karin told the trio to follow her, and Guren concluded they would have to rescue Orochimaru themselves.

Karin led Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo into Konoha to rescue Orochimaru, while Tsunade learned that the attempted capture of Kabuto’s group had failed. That night, Karin outlined a plan to ambush three interrogators and use their identities to enter Orochimaru’s secret prison, leaving the problem of obtaining its password unresolved.

• Karin guided Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo past Konoha’s patrols and hid them in an empty house.
• Tsunade learned that Guren’s Crystal Style had helped Kabuto’s group escape an ANBU capture attempt, and she ordered an investigation into Guren’s visits to the village.
• At dusk, Karin gave the group ordinary black robes and showed them a map of the secret prison, its guards, and nearby patrols.
• Karin told Kabuto, Guren, and Jugo that three members of Konoha’s interrogation squad would travel to the prison that night.
• Kabuto proposed ambushing the interrogators and disguising themselves as them, while Guren raised the issue of the prison’s special password.
• Karin told the group not to worry about obtaining the password.

Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo infiltrated Konoha’s secret prison with Karin’s help and freed Orochimaru from his cell. Orochimaru ordered them to release every prisoner to create chaos and help their escape.

• Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo ambushed three Interrogation Squad ninjas and took their prison pass.
• Karin extracted a captive ninja’s Spirit Body to obtain the temporary password, then watched as Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo disguised themselves and entered the prison.
• Kabuto Yakushi persuaded the ANBU guarding Orochimaru’s cell to step away, and the three revealed themselves to Orochimaru.
• Kabuto Yakushi removed the seals he could undo, and Orochimaru ordered them to open every cell.
• Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo knocked out the cell guard and began releasing the prisoners.

Orochimaru and his allies broke out of Konoha’s secret prison, using the resulting prisoner riot to cover their escape. As they fought toward the village outskirts, Kabuto Yakushi stayed behind to face Sasuke while Orochimaru continued on.

• Orochimaru found Danzo still sitting in his open cell, and Danzo warned him that he would not escape.
• Kabuto Yakushi, Jugo, and Guren fought through the prison guards as Orochimaru freed Kidomaru and Tayuya.
• The prison gates were breached, and Karin watched the escape while Tsunade and Shinji learned of the attack; Shinji secretly sent Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo to assist Karin.
• The released prisoners surged toward the exit, creating chaos that let Orochimaru and his group break through the prison district.
• Konoha Ninja blocked Orochimaru’s escape, and his allies fought them until only Kabuto Yakushi remained beside him.
• Sasuke confronted Orochimaru, but Kabuto Yakushi intercepted him so Orochimaru could continue toward the outskirts.

Sasuke fought Kabuto Yakushi while trying to pursue Orochimaru, but Kabuto used Sakura as a hostage before fleeing and drawing Konoha’s forces after him. With Kabuto surrounded outside Konoha, Sasuke continued after Orochimaru as Kabuto revealed a strange transformation that greatly increased his Chakra.

• Sasuke attacked Kabuto Yakushi with Fire Release and a lightning-charged Kunai, but Kabuto survived behind a summoned gray snake.
• Kabuto seized Sakura and held a Kunai to her throat, forcing Sasuke to stop pursuing him.
• Asuma and Kurenai arrived, and Kabuto released Sakura before fleeing as the Konoha ninjas gave chase.
• Konoha’s forces surrounded Kabuto in a forest outside the village, and Sasuke left Asuma to pursue Orochimaru.
• Kabuto removed his glasses and transformed, growing horns as his Chakra surged several times over.

Sasuke caught up with Orochimaru while Shinji and the Konoha Military Police Force stopped Orochimaru’s subordinates from joining him. With Jugo, Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Guren captured or defeated, the village’s fighting neared its end as Sasuke confronted Orochimaru outside Konoha.

• Sasuke used the Body Flicker Technique to pursue Orochimaru and caught sight of him, believing he was strong enough to defeat him.
• Haku and the Konoha Ninja defeated and captured Jugo after a fierce struggle.
• Nameless defeated Kidomaru and Tayuya and ordered the Konoha Ninja to take them for treatment.
• Shinji stopped Guren at Konoha’s outer wall, shattered her Crystal Dragon with the Twelve Palaces, and knocked her unconscious.
• Shinji surveyed the nearly settled fighting and noted that Sasuke had caught up with Orochimaru.

Kakashi arrived at the battlefield and learned that Kabuto Yakushi had defeated Asuma, Kurenai, and their team with startling speed, while Sasuke was missing. Sasuke then confronted Kabuto, whose Sage Mode astonished Orochimaru.

• Kakashi and his reinforcements found Asuma and the Konoha Ninja badly wounded, and Asuma identified Kabuto Yakushi as their attacker.
• Kakashi examined the wounds, concluded that Kabuto had overwhelmed the team using ninja tools, and ordered the pursuit to continue.
• An ANBU reported that Sasuke had joined the pursuit but was missing, so Kakashi sent word to the Hokage and led the remaining Ninja onward.
• Sasuke encountered Kabuto and turned to attack Kimimaro with Chidori.
• Orochimaru recognized Kabuto's transformation as Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode and grew eager to study it.

Kabuto Yakushi defeated Sasuke with his Sage Art: White Stimulus Technique and left him injured while Orochimaru continued toward his exchange with the Akatsuki Organization. Kakashi arrived and resumed the pursuit with Sasuke, while Orochimaru met with “B” to begin the exchange.

• Sasuke charged Kabuto Yakushi, but Kabuto used Sage Art: White Stimulus Technique to blind and disorient him before slamming him into the ground.
• Kabuto held Sasuke while Orochimaru asked whether he had gone to Ryūchi Cave, then ordered him to release Sasuke.
• Orochimaru left Sasuke behind to avoid complications with the Akatsuki Organization deal, and Sasuke struggled to recover from his injuries.
• Kakashi's reinforcements arrived, and Kakashi warned Sasuke against pursuing Orochimaru alone before continuing the chase with him.
• Orochimaru met “B,” and Karin agreed to begin the exchange.

After Orochimaru escaped Konoha, Kabuto Yakushi defeated the pursuing force while Karin watched from the shadows. The three reached the ruins of Uzushio Village to seek a way to break the Reaper Death Seal, leaving Karin moved by the remains of her clan’s home.

• Karin watched Kabuto Yakushi and his allies help Orochimaru escape, then joined Orochimaru and Kabuto on their journey east to Uzushio Village.
• Konoha’s leaders learned that Kabuto Yakushi had infiltrated the prison using stolen passes and passwords, suggesting someone inside the village had helped him.
• An ANBU operative reported that Kabuto Yakushi had routed the force pursuing Orochimaru, heavily injured Asuma and Kurenai, and left Sasuke Uchiha missing.
• Tsunade ordered reinforcements to support Kakashi and bring Orochimaru back, while Utatane Koharu urged her to find the traitor.
• Days later, Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Karin arrived at Uzushio Village’s ruins, where Karin felt depressed seeing the former home of the Uzumaki Clan.

Karin met with Orochimaru to learn how to break the Reaper Death Seal, and he used Impure World Reincarnation to question a dead Uzumaki about the clan’s secrets. Orochimaru discovered that the Shinigami mask storehouse was near Konoha, while Karin decided to persuade the leader to return him to prison after their deal.

• Orochimaru explained that he needed time to research the Reaper Death Seal, and Karin warned him to finish before their patience ran out.
• Orochimaru took Karin to a graveyard in the ruins of Uzushio Village and had Kabuto find Uzumaki remains.
• Orochimaru used two nearby men as sacrifices to summon two dead Uzumaki with Impure World Reincarnation, then questioned one of them.
• Orochimaru learned that the storehouse for the Shinigami masks was near Konoha and said they would have to return there.
• Karin recognized how dangerous Orochimaru was and decided to persuade the leader to send him back to Konoha’s prison.

After Orochimaru escaped with help from a mole in Konoha, Shinji accused Danzo and offered to interrogate him, increasing pressure on the village’s senior officials. Konoha also confirmed that Kabuto Yakushi had mastered Senjutsu, leaving Tsunade worried about the threat he posed as they awaited Jiraiya’s return.

• Tsunade demanded that the ANBU identify the mole who helped Orochimaru escape, while the senior officials considered whether Danzo was involved.
• Shinji received an additional grant for the Konoha Military Police Force’s role in capturing Guren and Jugo.
• Shinji told Tsunade that Danzo was the likely mole and offered to use his Mangekyō Sharingan to interrogate him.
• The senior officials recognized that Shinji’s accusation was retaliation and worried that bringing down Danzo would increase Shinji’s influence.
• Tsunade confirmed that Kabuto Yakushi had likely learned Senjutsu from Ryūchi Cave, and the officials awaited Jiraiya’s return.

Shinji reviewed how he had concealed his role in Orochimaru's escape and warned Kimimaro to be ready to withdraw, while Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Karin searched an Uzumaki storehouse for the Shinigami mask needed to undo the Reaper Death Seal. Karin identified the mask she believed was the right one, leaving Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi unaware of her Uzumaki heritage and special ability.

• Shinji relied on his genjutsu suggestions to keep captured Guren and Jugo from revealing Kimimaro's identity and used Naobi to warn Kimimaro to prepare to withdraw.
• Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Karin found an abandoned Uzumaki Clan storehouse near Konoha that held Shinigami masks.
• Orochimaru explained that the Uzumaki Clan had fallen after refusing to adapt to the hidden-village era and becoming a target for multiple villages seeking its Sealing Techniques.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi examined the masks and discussed how to identify the one connected to the Fourth Hokage's Reaper Death Seal.
• Karin sensed a faint trace of Chakra on one mask with her Mind's Eye of the Kagura and confidently pointed it out as the one they needed.

Karin, Orochimaru, and Kabuto prepared to summon the Fourth Hokage using a Shinigami mask, while secretly planning to betray one another. Orochimaru began the ritual at Northern Base Three, and the Shinigami appeared behind him as the chapter ended.

• Karin identified the Shinigami mask in the Uzumaki Clan storehouse, and Orochimaru said he would use it to summon the Fourth Hokage.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto to find young Chunin-level sacrifices, then led Karin to Northern Base Three.
• Karin discovered Orochimaru’s living subjects and realized he and Kabuto were preparing to betray her, while her allies Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo waited nearby.
• Orochimaru used four of his test subjects as sacrifices and put on the Shinigami mask to begin the ritual.
• A surge of cold Chakra surrounded Orochimaru, and a gigantic Shinigami phantom appeared behind him.

Orochimaru freed the Fourth Hokage’s spirit from the Reaper’s stomach, then summoned the First and Second Hokage and transferred all three spirits into prepared sacrifices. He used Living Corpse Reincarnation to escape the Reaper’s contract and the village’s restrictions, then turned against Karin and the Akatsuki Organization.

• Orochimaru cut open the Reaper’s stomach with a contract-bound jutsu and drew out the Fourth Hokage’s spirit, while the contract rapidly drained his life force.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the spirits of the First and Second Hokage and place all three Hokage in prepared sacrifices.
• Orochimaru transformed into a white snake, entered another sacrifice, and used Living Corpse Reincarnation to emerge in a new body as his former body died.
• Shinji watched through Naobi and realized Orochimaru had used enhanced experimental subjects as sacrifices for the Hokage.
• Orochimaru told Karin he wanted a more interesting offer, while Kabuto Yakushi prepared to fight; Orochimaru had decided to turn on the Akatsuki Organization after gaining the three Hokage and removing his restrictions.

Karin confronted Orochimaru after he betrayed their deal and gathered Kabuto Yakushi and three Hokage Impure World Bodies, but Shinji ordered her to withdraw rather than risk the Nine-Tails plan. When Orochimaru demanded she bring him Shinji, Karin attacked and used Adamantine Sealing Chains to overwhelm the Hokage.

• Orochimaru turned against Karin and offered to trade the Nine-Tails for Shinji Uchiha.
• Shinji decided Karin should retreat once Orochimaru freed the Fourth Hokage's sealed Spirit Body, leaving the Akatsuki Organization to pursue the Nine-Tails.
• Karin refused to back down after Orochimaru targeted Shinji and unleashed Adamantine Sealing Chains as Orochimaru ordered an attack.
• Karin bound the Second and Fourth Hokage's Impure World Bodies and crushed the First Hokage's Wood Release with her chains.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi realized Karin's chains threatened to bind the First Hokage as well.

Karin endured Kabuto Yakushi’s White Stimulus Technique and stopped his attack, then fought Orochimaru and the reanimated Hokage with Wood Release. She left the underground laboratory in ruins and stood above the battlefield as Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi stared in shock at her Wood Release.

• Kabuto Yakushi used Sage Art: White Stimulus Technique, disrupting Karin’s senses and causing her Adamantine Sealing Chains to dissipate.
• Kabuto Yakushi rushed in to strike Karin, but she recovered enough to catch his full-strength punch and declared she was no Sasuke.
• Orochimaru ordered the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage to attack Karin again as the Second used Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and the First used Wood Release.
• Karin unleashed Wood Release, sending vines through the ceiling and crushing the underground laboratory as she rose to the surface.
• The Second Hokage’s darkness technique ended, and Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi saw Karin standing above the ruins and reacted in shock to her Wood Release.

Karin, posing as Akatsuki Organization’s “B,” fought Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi while displaying Wood Release, and Orochimaru released the First, Second, and Fourth Hokages from his control. The Hokages learned that Akatsuki was collecting the Tailed Beasts and turned their attention to Karin, with the First wondering how powerful she was.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi were shocked when “B” revealed her Wood Release, and Orochimaru suspected a First Hokage cells transplant.
• The First, Second, and Fourth Hokages emerged from the collapsed laboratory, and Shinji watched Karin’s fight through Naobi without intervening.
• Orochimaru released the Hokages from his control, allowing them to regain their awareness and speak with one another.
• The Fourth identified himself as Minato Namikaze and explained that he had died sealing the Nine-Tails.
• Orochimaru told the Hokages that Karin was an Akatsuki member seeking the Nine-Tails, and that Akatsuki had already captured six other Tailed Beasts.
• The First noticed Kabuto Yakushi’s Senjutsu Chakra and wondered how powerful Karin was to make Orochimaru and Kabuto wary.