Chapter Summaries

Shinji used a blood clone and a staged patrol to slip out of Konoha while keeping the village’s watchers focused on him. With Karin’s help, he located Orochimaru’s hidden allies in a remote forest and met Kabuto Yakushi, Jugo, and Guren at their cave.

• Shinji sent Haku and Karin outside Konoha, then patrolled the village with Nameless to distract the ANBU monitoring him.
• Shinji used the red dragon to switch places with his blood clone and leave the village unseen.
• As leader “A,” Shinji ordered Karin to search for suspicious people near Konoha, and she detected several powerful chakra signatures in a remote forest.
• Shinji went to the forest with Haku and Karin providing backup and followed the signs of a recent slaughter to a cave.
• Kabuto Yakushi, Jugo, and Guren emerged from the cave, and Guren asked how Shinji had found them.

Shinji confronted Kabuto Yakushi, Jugo, and Guren and offered to help rescue Orochimaru in exchange for the half of the Nine-Tails sealed inside the Fourth Hokage. With no way to fulfill the demand themselves, Kabuto decided to reach Orochimaru by having Kimimaro join Konoha’s newly restarted Military Police Force.

• Shinji told Kabuto Yakushi, Jugo, and Guren he would help rescue Orochimaru if they gave him the half of the Nine-Tails inside the Fourth Hokage.
• Kabuto explained that the Nine-Tails half was sealed in the Reaper Death Seal and said Orochimaru might be able to help, but Shinji left before they could discuss it further.
• Jugo confirmed that no suspicious figures remained in the forest, while Kabuto warned that refusing the deal could endanger them and Orochimaru.
• Kabuto proposed having Kimimaro join Konoha’s Military Police Force so they could find a way to contact Orochimaru.

Shinji surveyed the area around Konoha while Karin and Haku kept watch, and Karin warned him that an elusive Chakra was approaching. Obito ambushed and sent A into Kamui Space, then fled to gather allies before A could escape.

• Shinji stayed outside Konoha to search for anyone else hiding nearby while maintaining his Naobi link with Karin.
• Karin sensed a strange, intermittent Chakra approaching Shinji and warned him through Naobi.
• Obito spotted A and decided to attack him to learn the identities of A's group.
• Obito appeared behind A, touched his shoulder, and used Kamui to pull him into Kamui Space.
• Obito left on foot to gather allies and attack A in Kamui Space, postponing his plans against Shinji.

Karin and Haku found that the lord’s Chakra signature had vanished and hurried toward its last known location. There, they encountered Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo, and the fight left the group stunned by Karin and Haku’s strength.

• Karin repeatedly sensed for the lord but could not detect his Chakra signature, while the Chakra signature that had approached him retreated.
• Jugo heard from a sparrow that a strange figure was outside the forest, so Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Jugo went to investigate.
• Kabuto Yakushi recognized Haku and decided the group had to attack him and Karin to keep Konoha from learning their whereabouts.
• Haku dodged Guren’s Crystal Style attack and struck her from behind, shattering the crystal she formed to protect herself.
• Jugo entered State Two and attacked Karin, but Karin met his punch head-on and sent him crashing into a tree.

Haku and Karin pursued the attacker who had taken Shinji while Kabuto, Guren, and Jugo avoided a fight and prepared to relocate. Inside Obito’s Kamui Space, Shinji explored the dimension and hoped that experiencing Kamui would help him awaken the space-time power of his Rinnegan.

• Karin identified Kabuto, Guren, and Jugo as unrelated to her target, then continued the pursuit while Haku held them off.
• Kabuto recognized Haku and Karin as Shinji Uchiha's subordinates, and he told Guren and Jugo to find another hideout and contact Orochimaru.
• Guren left for Konoha after Kabuto warned that the rebuilt Konoha Military Police Force could make her undercover work more difficult.
• Karin told Haku that the target was fleeing the Land of Fire, but she still could not sense the leader's chakra.
• Shinji explored Obito's Kamui Space and considered whether studying Kamui could help him discover the space-time Dojutsu hidden in his Rinnegan.

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.