Chapter Summaries

After a powerful Grass ninja defeated several Konoha genin outside the hospital, Sasuke stepped forward while the other villages gathered to watch. Tsunade sent Shizune to fetch Yakumo, who agreed to intervene as the challenge continued.

• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro joined Kurotsuchi and the Iwagakure ninja on their way to watch the challenge outside Konoha Hospital.
• Chiyo defeated Choji and Hinata after Kiba and Shino had already lost, leaving Konoha's young ninja unable to stop her.
• Sasuke entered the field to face Chiyo, while Shikamaru sent Sakura to find Yakumo.
• Tsunade judged that Sasuke was unlikely to win in his injured condition and ordered Shizune to bring Yakumo from the training ground.
• Shizune told Yakumo that Konoha needed her help, and Yakumo agreed to go.

Chiyo used her full speed to knock Sasuke Uchiha out of the arena with one punch, shocking the spectators who had expected the Mangekyō Uchiha to win. Kakashi reached Sasuke as the crowd mocked him, while Chiyo struggled to understand how her attack had landed so easily.

• Sasuke entered the arena despite Kakashi’s concern that he was injured and had depleted his Mangekyō power.
• Chiyo activated her Ketsuryūgan and pushed the Twelve Palaces within her to their limit before charging at Sasuke.
• Sasuke hesitated at Chiyo’s speed, and her punch sent him flying into Choji, who was also hurled into a pillar.
• Chiyo wondered why Sasuke had been unable to avoid her attack, unaware that his vision and tracking ability had deteriorated.
• Kakashi checked on Sasuke, who spat blood, while spectators jeered at him for losing.

After Sasuke was defeated by Chiyo, Yakumo entered the challenge and led her opponent to the Forest of Death, where the two were followed by a crowd. The Third and the Elder Advisors worried about Kusagakure's provocations and what would happen if Yakumo also lost.

• Sasuke tried to rise for another fight, but Kakashi stopped him as the Cursed Seal began to spread.
• Shizune and Yakumo arrived at the hospital rooftop, where Tsunade warned Yakumo about Chiyo's powerful Taijutsu and possible Kekkei Genkai.
• Yakumo challenged Chiyo and recognized that they should fight away from the hospital, then raced toward the Forest of Death.
• Chiyo pursued Yakumo after recognizing the Ketsuryūgan, and Ryūsetsuna, Kurotsuchi, Gaara, other shinobi, and Ringo Ameyuri followed them.
• The Third and the Elder Advisors discussed Kusagakure's challenge, and Utatane Koharu asked what they would do if Yakumo lost.

Yakumo’s Wood Release initially overwhelmed Chiyo in the Forest of Death, but Chiyo revealed her Ketsuryūgan and used blood blades to counterattack. The fight became a fierce stalemate, leaving the watching ninja surprised as Chiyo pushed back against Yakumo.

• The Third and Mitokado Homura agreed to wait before deciding whether Shinji should fight to restore Konoha’s honor.
• Yakumo and Chiyo began fighting in a clearing in the Forest of Death, and Yakumo attacked with Wood Release.
• Chiyo dodged Yakumo’s advancing trees until she was wounded and her colored contact lens fell out, revealing her Ketsuryūgan.
• Chiyo used her Ketsuryūgan to gather blood into blades and detonating droplets, turning Yakumo’s Wood Release into a much less effective threat.
• Hinata told the gathered ninja that Chiyo had begun counterattacking, and Tsunade grew tense as the fight continued.

Chiyo fought Kurama Yakumo in the Forest of Death, revealing the power of her Ketsuryūgan and pushing Yakumo to her limits. As the battle left both fighters exhausted, Shinji secretly channeled Karin’s chakra into Chiyo.

• Hinata and the others watched the battlefield, and Shikamaru realized the Grass Ninja had challenged them to draw Yakumo out.
• Other villages’ Ninja recognized Kusagakure’s apparent strength, while Konoha ANBU began openly monitoring Kusagakure’s lodgings.
• The Kusagakure Jonin discovered Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo were missing and learned that a Kusagakure Ninja had challenged Konoha outside the hospital.
• Chiyo used her Ketsuryūgan to form a long Blood Blade and devastate Yakumo’s Wood Release battlefield.
• Chiyo and Yakumo both neared their limits, and Shinji secretly sent Karin’s chakra to Chiyo through Magatsu.

Shinji sent Chiyo more Chakra so she could push the Ketsuryūgan further, and Chiyo launched a renewed assault on Yakumo. Their close-range battle ended with both fighters knocked down, leaving the match's result uncertain.

• Shinji chose not to make Yakumo lose and used Naobi to replenish Chiyo's Chakra, hoping to see how far her Ketsuryūgan could develop.
• Chiyo resumed her attack with a Blood Blade, forcing Yakumo to abandon her strategy of evasion.
• Yakumo blocked Chiyo's Blood Blade with her Kunai and moved in to fight her with Taijutsu.
• Chiyo and Yakumo traded powerful blows and were both sent crashing down.
• Ryūsetsuna rushed onto the battlefield, followed by Tsunade, Kakashi, and the others.

Chiyo defeated Kurama Yakumo in the Forest of Death, worsening Konoha’s standing after its recent losses. The Third learned of Yakumo’s defeat and ordered Chiyo’s file brought to him.

• Ryūsetsuna treated Chiyo while Tsunade examined Yakumo and found her badly injured.
• Kakashi secured the battlefield, and Chiyo emerged ready to continue fighting, revealing her victory over Yakumo.
• Kakashi announced Chiyo’s win, and shinobi from the other villages reacted with shock before dispersing.
• Kakashi worried that Yakumo’s defeat would damage Konoha’s reputation and mission business.
• An ANBU told the Third that Yakumo had lost, and the Third ordered Chiyo’s file brought to him.

Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo returned to Kusagakure's lodgings after Chiyo defeated Kurama Yakumo, shocking their Jonin and raising suspicions in Konoha. With other villages' powerful contestants looming, the Third Hokage considered how to respond and whether to rely on Shinji.

• The Kusagakure Jonin found Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo returning unharmed, then scolded them for leaving their lodgings and challenging a Konoha ninja.
• Ryūsetsuna revealed that Chiyo had defeated Kurama Yakumo, stunning the Kusagakure shinobi and Orochimaru, who was disguised as Shinji Kotera.
• Konoha's Intelligence Squad reported that Chiyo had joined Kusagakure only last month and that they knew nothing about her past.
• Tsunade reported that Chiyo had cut down Yakumo's Wood Release trees with powerful Taijutsu and a ninjutsu that controlled blood.
• The Third and his advisors discussed the threat of other villages' fighters challenging Konoha and disagreed over whether to pressure or appease Shinji.
• The Third told Tsunade to warn Kusagakure to keep a low profile, while Tsunade worried about how Konoha could manage the other villages.

After standing firm against Utatane Koharu, Shinji effortlessly defeated three Otogakure shinobi who challenged him. He assessed how Konoha’s strongest candidates had been sidelined, leaving him as the village’s only available fighter, while the Sound Four plotted to provoke him into a fight.

• Shinji rejected Utatane Koharu’s warning and insisted that the Third should learn to ask him for help.
• When Zaku challenged him on the street, Shinji knocked out Zaku, Kidō Maru, and Dosu without stopping.
• Back at his apartment, Shinji concluded that the smaller villages had brought powerful techniques and equipment to the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Shinji realized that injuries, secrecy, and his own actions had left him as Konoha’s only available fighter.
• After Konoha Anbu returned the unconscious shinobi, Kidomaru proposed challenging another Konoha ninja to force Shinji to fight.

At the Kage Summit, the Third Hokage revealed a lead connecting Hiruko’s missing Kekkei Genkai victims to the Land of Iron, while the Kage agreed to restrain their ninjas until the Chunin Ninja Exams began. The summit ended abruptly when the Third Hokage received troubling news, as Kidomaru and the other Sound Ninja blocked Konoha Hospital and taunted its injured occupants.

• The Third Hokage told the other Kage that missing Bloodline Ninjas led Konoha to suspect Hiruko was hiding in the Land of Iron.
• The Kage agreed to keep their ninjas from issuing further challenges before the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the Third Hokage left after an ANBU whispered news to him.
• Kidomaru blocked Konoha Hospital while Sakon Ukon, Tayuya, and Jirobo watched and taunted Konoha’s ninjas.
• Yakumo considered fighting, but Shizune told her to stay in bed until she had fully recovered.
• Sasuke wanted to confront the Sound Ninja, but Sakura stopped him and said Shion and Hinata had gone to find Naruto.

Jiraiya pushed Naruto through dangerous summoning training, and Naruto successfully summoned Gamabunta. After returning to Konoha, Naruto accepted Kidomaru's challenge while the Third and the elder councilors watched events unfold.

• Jiraiya kicked Naruto off a cliff and ordered him to use Summoning Jutsu to save himself.
• Naruto summoned Gamabunta and proudly introduced himself as the toad's master.
• Tsunade arrived with Hinata, Ino, and Shion and explained that Kidomaru had challenged Konoha's ninja at the hospital.
• Kidomaru defeated Tenten and taunted the gathered Konoha ninja while Shikamaru urged them to wait for a stronger opponent.
• Naruto arrived at the hospital and accepted Kidomaru's challenge.
• An ANBU operative informed the Third that Naruto and Kidomaru were fighting, as Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura sat silently nearby.

Third’s plans to strengthen Konoha’s leadership were disrupted by repeated challenges from other villages, and he suspected a rival village was inciting them. As Naruto’s fight with Kidomaru grew more dangerous, Third accepted Shinji’s demands and sent Utatane Koharu to inform him.

• Third suspected Kumogakure or Iwagakure of encouraging Kusagakure and Otogakure to challenge Konoha.
• Naruto attacked Kidomaru with Shadow Clones and Rasengan, while Kidomaru lured him into the woods and used Spider Nest Domain to track him.
• Naruto began destroying the trees to break Kidomaru’s web-covered home ground, alarming the spectators as the battle intensified.
• Third watched the fight with the Telescopic Technique, then told Utatane Koharu to inform Shinji that Konoha accepted his demands.
• Mitokado Homura criticized Third for delaying, while Third defended his decision as an effort to uphold the village’s rules.

Utatane Koharu warned Shinji that his demands could harm his prospects, but Shinji said his strength had forced the Third to yield and embraced an unruly public persona. After reaching the woods, he defeated Sakon Ukon, Tayuya, and Jirobo in an instant, then asked why they had wanted to change the venue.

• Utatane Koharu told Shinji the Third had accepted his demands and warned that his insistence could damage his chances of promotion.
• Shinji told Utatane Koharu that the Third had yielded because Shinji was strong, then left to deal with Kidomaru at the hospital entrance.
• Kidomaru hid in the woods and aimed a Spider Silk bow at Naruto while trying to identify his real body among the Shadow Clones.
• Shinji arrived, and Sakon Ukon challenged him; Shinji told Sakon Ukon, Tayuya, and Jirobo to attack him together.
• Shinji knocked Sakon Ukon away, trapped Tayuya in a genjutsu, and kicked Jirobo away before asking why they had wanted to change the venue.

Shinji defeated Sakon Ukon and Jirobo with precise strikes, then headed into the woods while the Sound Ninja gave up fighting. There, Kidomaru identified the real Naruto and fired an arrow at him before he could dodge.

• Shinji stunned the onlookers by defeating three Sound Ninja with Taijutsu and genjutsu.
• Sakon Ukon and Jirobo struggled to fight after Shinji damaged their vital organs, and Sakon Ukon decided they would not activate their Cursed Seals.
• Shinji walked toward the woods where Naruto and Kidomaru were battling, leaving the Sound Ninja unable to challenge him.
• Kidomaru eliminated Naruto’s clones with arrows and chose one Naruto as the real one.
• Kidomaru fired an arrow at Naruto from a tricky angle, leaving Naruto unable to dodge.

Shinji saved Naruto from Kidomaru’s arrow and swiftly defeated him in the woods. He warned the remaining Sound Four not to challenge anyone again before the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Kidomaru nearly shot Naruto, but Shinji caught the arrow and sent Naruto ahead.
• Shinji tracked Kidomaru through the trees with his killing intent perception, despite Kidomaru repeatedly changing hiding places.
• Kidomaru confronted Shinji, who grabbed him, slammed him into the ground, and rendered him unconscious.
• Shinji emerged from the woods carrying Kidomaru, astonishing the onlookers and surprising Tsunade and Jiraiya with his strength.
• Shinji returned Kidomaru to Sakon Ukon and warned him, Jirobo, and Tayuya not to challenge anyone before the exams; they agreed.

Hiruko conducted an improved Bloodline Fusion Ritual for Ranmaru during a volcanic eruption, and Ranmaru successfully fused with four Bloodline Ninjas. The chapter ended with Ranmaru emerging from concealment in front of a baffled Hiruko.

• Hiruko brought Ranmaru to a volcanic mountain peak, where an eruption would help power the ritual.
• As the volcano erupted, Ranmaru used the Chimera Technique to release a Demon Seed and swallow the four bound Bloodline Ninjas.
• Ranmaru recalled the Demon Seed into his body, enduring severe pain as the ritual fused the four Bloodline Ninjas with him.
• Hiruko reached the ritual site and found Ranmaru missing, despite sensing that someone was watching him.
• Ranmaru gradually appeared less than a meter in front of Hiruko.

After his successful Chimera Technique ritual, Ranmaru discovered that his Shadow Release had become powerful enough to conceal him from Hiruko, while hiding his suspicion that Hiruko coveted his Red Eye. When the Akatsuki Organization summoned Hiruko, Ranmaru secretly followed him to a gathering near the Land of Fire, where someone suddenly spoke beside him.

• Ranmaru revealed that his ritual had succeeded, and Hiruko realized his Shadow Release had been greatly enhanced.
• Ranmaru lied that his Red Eye had not changed, concealing his discovery that Hiruko was planning an eye-transplantation surgery.
• A black crow summoned Hiruko, and Ranmaru followed him despite being told to remain in the laboratory.
• Hiruko joined Hidan and the other Akatsuki Organization members in a secluded woods near the Land of Fire.
• Ranmaru watched the gathering from hiding until an indifferent voice asked him what he was looking at.

Deva Path recruited Ranmaru into the Akatsuki Organization and ordered him to watch Hiruko. At a meeting, Scorpion proposed exploiting tensions among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, while a reconnaissance squad discovered an Akatsuki hideout and sensed a Tailed Beast within.

• Deva Path found Ranmaru, accepted him into the Akatsuki Organization, and assigned him to keep an eye on Hiruko.
• Deva Path told the Akatsuki Organization that the Five Great Shinobi Villages had gathered the remaining Jinchuriki in Konoha.
• Hiruko, Scorpion, Hidan, Shinnō, and Moryo argued over the threat before Deva Path silenced them and demanded a plan.
• Scorpion proposed using the captured Iwagakure Jinchuriki to force the Five Great Shinobi Villages to split their forces.
• A reconnaissance squad from the Five Great Shinobi Villages located a concealed cave entrance in the Land of Demons and decided to report it to the Five Kage.
• A rumble came from inside the cave, followed by a terrifying Tailed Beast presence.

A report of an Akatsuki base in the Land of Demons forced the Five Kage to weigh rescuing the captured Jinchuriki against the risk of an attack on Konoha. They agreed to secretly stage a counterambush, while Suikazan Fuguki asked after Kisame Hoshigaki and learned he was on a secret mission for the Mizukage.

• A reconnaissance team reported that it had sensed a Tailed Beast inside a cave in the Land of Demons, where the Akatsuki had subdued a rampaging Jinchuriki.
• The Third Hokage and the advisors considered whether the intelligence was an Akatsuki trap and called a Kage Summit to discuss the threat to their alliance.
• The Fourth Raikage proposed using the suspected trap to ambush the Akatsuki, and the Five Kage agreed to secretly mobilize an elite force while staging a false departure from Konoha.
• At dusk on the third day, the elite force slipped out of Konoha through a secret passage as some members left Shadow Clones behind.
• At Kirigakure's temporary base, Suikazan Fuguki asked where Kisame Hoshigaki was and learned that he had gone on a secret mission for the Mizukage.

Suikazan Fuguki revealed to Kabuto Yakushi that the Fourth Mizukage might have secretly left Konoha, hoping the Akatsuki Organization would kill him and clear Fuguki's path to power. Kabuto passed the intelligence to Orochimaru and then Scorpion, who reported that the Akatsuki's preparations were complete; Pain ordered the operation to begin.

• Suikazan Fuguki suspected the Fourth Mizukage had secretly left the camp and contacted the Akatsuki Organization.
• Kabuto Yakushi met Fuguki in an izakaya, explained that the previous contact had been captured, and learned about the Mizukage's possible departure.
• Fuguki left, and Kabuto reported the intelligence to Orochimaru, who approved passing it to the Akatsuki Organization.
• Kabuto sent the news to Scorpion, who concluded that the bait in the Land of Demons had drawn the Five Great Shinobi Villages' elite forces away from Konoha.
• Scorpion told Pain that the preparations were complete, and Pain ordered all members to begin the operation.