Chapter Summaries

Kakashi's group realized Kabuto Yakushi had deceived them while Kurotsuchi and Darui cornered him in a canyon. Kabuto entered Sage Mode and overwhelmed the allied shinobi, leaving Darui stunned by the carnage.

• Yakumo and Kakashi concluded that Kabuto Yakushi had disguised himself as Orochimaru while the real Orochimaru escaped, and Kakashi sent Ringo Ameyuri, Ryūsetsuna, and Chiyo to support Kurotsuchi and Darui.
• Kurotsuchi and Darui pursued Kabuto Yakushi and cornered him in a canyon, where they demanded his surrender.
• Kabuto Yakushi entered Sage Mode, and Darui attacked him in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• Darui's strike cut apart a giant snake instead of Kabuto, who then struck Darui into a mountain wall.
• Darui crawled from the rubble and found the Iwagakure and Kumogakure shinobi scattered and bloodied as Kurotsuchi called for his help against Kabuto.

Kabuto Yakushi used Sage Mode to overwhelm Kurotsuchi, Darui, and Ringo Ameyuri, leaving all three badly injured. As he faced the remaining opposition, Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo appeared and attacked him.

• Kurotsuchi's Earth Release techniques failed to stop Kabuto Yakushi, who grabbed her by the throat until Darui intervened.
• Darui rescued Kurotsuchi, and Ringo Ameyuri arrived to join them against Kabuto Yakushi.
• Kabuto Yakushi used Sage Art: White Stimulus Technique to blind and disorient all three, then struck them with attacks strengthened by Natural Energy.
• Kurotsuchi, Darui, and Ringo Ameyuri fell injured and unable to get up.
• Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo appeared on the gorge's cliff wall, and a streak of blood slashed toward Kabuto Yakushi.

Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo confronted Kabuto on the canyon wall, where Chiyo held her own against his Sage Mode and Ryūsetsuna supported her with Fire Release. Kabuto retreated after secretly infusing Chiyo’s blood with Natural Energy, but Ryūsetsuna’s warning helped Chiyo avoid petrification, and they burned the remaining blood.

• Darui and Ringo Ameyuri warned Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo to flee as Kabuto charged, but Chiyo attacked him while Ryūsetsuna formed Hand Seals.
• Chiyo fought Kabuto in close combat as Ryūsetsuna’s Fire Release forced him to evade, before he used Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation to animate the mountainside.
• Chiyo defended and counterattacked with blood armor while Kabuto manipulated the rocks, then he retreated after spending much of his Senjutsu Chakra.
• Ryūsetsuna noticed something wrong with Chiyo’s blood, and Chiyo pulled out the portion she had returned to her body as it began turning to stone.
• Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo realized Kabuto had infused Chiyo’s unretrieved blood with Natural Energy, so Chiyo abandoned it and Ryūsetsuna burned the blood on the ground.

After Sasuke lost sight of Itachi, Menma encountered him in the forest and attacked with the Great Spiraling Ring. Their clash unleashed a huge shock wave that drew the attention of everyone nearby.

• Chiyo collapsed from blood loss, and Ryūsetsuna abandoned the pursuit of Kabuto Yakushi after seeing the wounded fighters.
• Scorpion and Deidara, accompanied by the Fourth Kazekage puppet, intercepted Kakashi and the others as Sasuke continued after Itachi.
• Sasuke lost sight of Itachi and searched for him from a tall tree.
• Menma’s Vermilion Bird was destroyed by Sasuke’s purple arrow, and Menma recognized Sasuke’s Susanoo.
• Sasuke ordered Menma to return to the village, but Menma attacked him with the Great Spiraling Ring.
• Sasuke raised Susanoo to block the attack, and the resulting shock wave flattened trees and drew everyone’s attention.

Menma defeated Sasuke with the Great Spiraling Ring but stopped short of killing him after Naruto interfered. Sasuke’s allies arrived to find Menma gone and concluded that Naruto was searching for the other half of the Nine-Tails.

• Menma approached the badly injured Sasuke after their clash and mocked him, then caught the Kunai Sasuke threw.
• Menma demanded that Sasuke beg for his life, but Sasuke refused, so Menma formed another Great Spiraling Ring to kill him.
• Naruto’s influence made Menma dispel the jutsu and spare Sasuke before leaping away.
• Kakashi and the others arrived, searched for Naruto, and found that Menma had already escaped.
• Sasuke told Kakashi that Naruto had attacked him with an unusual Rasengan, and Yakumo concluded Naruto was searching for the other half of the Nine-Tails.

Kakashi led his team to track Naruto while Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru near the Land of Iron border. Menma sensed the Nine-Tails as Orochimaru summoned the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage, and Hiruko headed toward the battle alone after Ranmaru spotted Wood Release.

• Tsume Inuzuka said her Ninja Dog had collected enough of Naruto's scent to track him, and Kakashi ordered the team to set out.
• Jiraiya urged Orochimaru to return, but Orochimaru rejected Konoha and said his true self was unlike the person Jiraiya believed in.
• Orochimaru summoned the Impure World Bodies of the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage and sent them to attack Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya summoned Gama Bunta to hold off the First's Wood Release and leaped toward Orochimaru to fight him.
• Menma sensed the Nine-Tails inside the Fourth Hokage's Impure World Body and flew toward the canyon on Vermilion Bird.
• Ranmaru spotted Wood Release near the canyon, and Hiruko steered the flying Chimera toward the fight without notifying the others.

Jiraiya fought Orochimaru and the Second and Fourth Hokage’s Impure World Bodies until Menma arrived to seize the half of the Nine-Tails sealed inside the Fourth. The Nine Masked Beasts helped Menma capture the regenerating Fourth Hokage’s body, leaving Orochimaru and Jiraiya facing Menma and his animal allies.

• Jiraiya used his hair to defend against Orochimaru’s snakes and restrain the Second and Fourth Hokage, but Orochimaru cut through it with a Grass Cutter Sword.
• Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku and Shima to help him enter Sage Mode as he continued fighting Orochimaru.
• Menma arrived and destroyed the Fourth Hokage’s Impure World Body with a Great Spiraling Ring, intending to take the half of the Nine-Tails sealed inside it.
• Orochimaru sent the Second Hokage’s Impure World Body after Menma, but Menma summoned the Nine Masked Beasts to repel it.
• The Celestial Maiden bound and sealed the regenerating Fourth Hokage’s Impure World Body while Menma faced Orochimaru and Jiraiya with his animal allies.

Menma escaped Jiraiya and Orochimaru with the Fourth Hokage's Impure World Body, intending to reclaim the Yin Nine-Tails, but Hiruko and Ranmaru intercepted him. Menma fought Hiruko one-on-one and destroyed Hiruko's right arm with a Great Spiraling Ring.

• Menma sealed the Fourth Hokage's Impure World Body, escaped Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and promised to come find them.
• Menma planned to retrieve the Yin Nine-Tails and fuse it with the Yang Nine-Tails.
• Menma encountered Hiruko and Ranmaru in the sky, and Hiruko chased him until both parties landed in a forest.
• Hiruko ordered Ranmaru to stay out of the fight and attacked Menma alone.
• Menma's Great Spiraling Ring bypassed Hiruko's Nether Release and erased Hiruko's right arm.

Hiruko used his Mangekyō Sharingan ability Umutada to overwhelm Menma’s unstable emotions and provoke his Tailed Beast Transformation. With Ranmaru’s help, he then used the Chimera Technique to forcibly extract the Yang Nine-Tails from Menma.

• Menma struck Hiruko with the Great Spiraling Ring, destroying his right arm despite Hiruko’s Swift Release and Steel Release.
• Menma summoned his Nine Masked Beasts to attack Hiruko, but Hiruko broke through their assault and confronted him directly.
• Hiruko activated Umutada through eye contact, intensifying Menma’s anger until Menma transformed into the Nine-Tails and rampaged through the forest.
• Hiruko and Ranmaru waited for Menma’s Chakra to weaken as nearby shinobi rushed toward the destruction.
• Hiruko and Ranmaru joined forces to use the Chimera Technique and forcibly pull the Yang Nine-Tails out of Menma.

Hiruko and Ranmaru extracted the Yang Nine-Tails from Menma, leaving him near death, and Shinji ordered Karin and Haku to stop them from taking the Yin Nine-Tails from the Fourth Hokage’s Impure World Body. Jiraiya and Orochimaru arrived at the battlefield and found themselves facing four Akatsuki members.

• Karin and Haku rushed to Menma after sensing the battle, but arrived after Hiruko and Ranmaru had extracted the Yang Nine-Tails and sealed it inside Hiruko.
• Karin and Haku informed Shinji that Menma was still alive, and Shinji ordered them to drive Hiruko and Ranmaru off without taking the Yin Nine-Tails from the Fourth Hokage.
• Karin and Haku positioned themselves between the Fourth Hokage’s Impure World Body and Hiruko and Ranmaru, who considered retreating rather than fighting.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru arrived, saw Menma near death, and recognized that the Akatsuki members had taken the Yang Nine-Tails.
• Jiraiya tried to charge at the Akatsuki, but Orochimaru stopped him and warned that they could not win against the four opponents.

Hiruko and the other Akatsuki members withdrew, leaving Jiraiya and Orochimaru to clash over the dying Menma and the Yin Nine-Tails. Minato broke free of Orochimaru’s control and went to save his son, while Karin and Haku hurried after Hiruko to ensure he took the Nine-Tails away.

• Hiruko, Ranmaru, Karin, and Haku retreated after completing their mission, leaving Jiraiya and Orochimaru behind.
• Jiraiya discovered that Menma was still alive and realized the Yin Nine-Tails inside Minato was the boy’s last chance to survive.
• Orochimaru refused to give up the Yin Nine-Tails, but Jiraiya begged him to save Menma and vowed not to fail another student.
• Minato regained his consciousness and broke free of Orochimaru’s control, then approached Menma to save his son.
• Karin and Haku watched Minato free himself, then hurried toward Hiruko after sensing Kakashi and the others had intercepted him and Ranmaru.

As Naruto and Menma faced death in their crumbling inner world, the Fourth Hokage appeared and promised Naruto still had a future. Meanwhile, Kabuto, Hiruko, Ranmaru, and Team Kakashi formed a three-way standoff, and Kakashi prepared to use Kamui against Hiruko.

• Menma found Naruto in the empty Nine-Tails prison and admitted he had made a mistake, while Naruto said he regretted not apologizing to Sasuke or saying goodbye to everyone.
• The Fourth Hokage appeared in Naruto and Menma's inner world and apologized for arriving late.
• Kabuto intercepted Hiruko and Ranmaru to reclaim the Nine-Tails Chakra, and his Sage Mode let him hold his own against them.
• Team Kakashi discovered the fight and confronted the three, believing Hiruko had taken the Nine-Tails from Naruto.
• Kakashi assigned Yakumo to face Ranmaru and Sasuke to occupy Kabuto, then prepared to use his Mangekyo Sharingan and Kamui against Hiruko.

Hiruko and Ranmaru faced Kakashi’s group as the battle threatened to begin, but Karin and Haku’s arrival let them escape without a fight. Kakashi was left wondering why the Akatsuki members intervened, while Ido complained that the leader favored 'B'.

• Ranmaru fired a signal flare, but Sasuke destroyed it with a purple arrow from Susanoo.
• Kabuto Yakushi tried to turn Ranmaru against Hiruko, briefly making Ranmaru doubt their alliance.
• Karin and Haku arrived, and Kabuto Yakushi immediately fled when he saw Karin.
• Haku signaled Hiruko and Ranmaru to leave, and they escaped while Karin and Haku held Kakashi’s group back.
• Karin and Haku withdrew without attacking, leaving Kakashi puzzled and prompting Ido to complain about the leader favoring 'B'.

Naruto and Menma learned that the Fourth Hokage was their father, reconciled with him, and received the Yin Nine-Tails. After Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi left, Naruto awoke, but Sasuke still suspected Menma was in control.

• The Fourth Hokage told Naruto and Menma that they were his sons and apologized for sealing the Nine-Tails inside them.
• Naruto and Menma accepted the Fourth Hokage's apology, and he transferred the Yin Nine-Tails into Naruto before disappearing.
• Naruto recovered as Orochimaru regained control of the Fourth Hokage's Impure World Body and left with Kabuto Yakushi.
• Kakashi and the others arrived and learned that the Akatsuki Organization had taken the Yang Nine-Tails, but the Fourth Hokage had saved Naruto with the Yin Nine-Tails.
• Naruto awoke and insisted Menma had returned control of his body, but Sasuke accused him of pretending, prompting Menma's Spirit Body to challenge Sasuke.

After Menma revealed himself to Naruto’s allies, he suspected Yakumo and Sasuke of secretly belonging to the Akatsuki Organization. Naruto promised to grow stronger while trusting his friends, and he and Menma turned to the Fourth Hokage’s legacy of training.

• Menma appeared as a Spirit Body and warned everyone not to bully Naruto before returning to Naruto’s mindscape.
• Menma told Naruto that Yakumo’s Inner Demon had attacked him at True Waterfall and might be the Akatsuki Organization’s mysterious member 'D'.
• Menma suspected Sasuke was the Akatsuki Organization’s member 'E', pointing to Sasuke’s use of Susanoo despite supposedly exhausting his Mangekyō Sharingan’s Dojutsu.
• Naruto insisted that he trusted Yakumo, Sasuke, and the others, and asked Menma to understand the bonds between people.
• Menma urged Naruto to grow stronger, and they recognized the Yin Nine-Tails as the keeper of the Fourth Hokage’s legacy, including Kurama Mode and Senjutsu training.

Yakumo resolved to stand by the leader despite the risks, while the allied forces regrouped after Kabuto Yakushi inflicted heavy losses and the battle for the Nine-Tails ended. Back in Konoha, reports of the failed operations and the loss of Yang Nine-Tails left the Hokage’s advisers convinced that Orochimaru could not be redeemed.

• Yakumo chose to remain loyal to the leader, and Ido urged her to prove herself against B and C.
• The Konoha group joined the battered Iwagakure and Kumogakure forces, learning that Kabuto Yakushi had nearly annihilated their group.
• Sasuke and Jiraiya failed to wake a Kumogakure Chunin trapped in Sharingan Genjutsu, so Jiraiya ordered him taken to Konoha for Tsunade to examine.
• The allied forces withdrew from the Land of Rice Fields, ending the battle over the Nine-Tails and restoring peace to the country.
• Battle reports reached the Hokage’s office, where Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura said Orochimaru could no longer be trusted, and Third remained silent.

Tsunade accepted that Orochimaru had become a threat and began preparing the allied villages for a final battle against the Akatsuki Organization. After injured members of the elite squad returned to Konoha, Naruto explained Menma’s origins to Tsunade, who faced the question of whether to let the hostile Inner Demon remain inside him.

• Tsunade agreed with the Third and the elders to convene another Kage Summit and begin mobilizing against the Akatsuki Organization.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha’s Intelligence Squad to leak information about Orochimaru, and messenger hawks carried encrypted summit proposals to the other villages.
• Tsunade examined the returning squad and told Kurotsuchi, Ringo Ameyuri, and Darui how long their recoveries would take.
• Tsunade praised Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo for their service and granted them the treatment and benefits of Konoha Jonin.
• Tsunade questioned Naruto about his Inner Demon, and Naruto explained Menma’s origins while concealing Yakumo’s secret.
• Menma appeared in Spirit Body form and challenged Tsunade as she considered what to do about him.

Tsunade learned that Menma could leave Naruto’s body and use powerful techniques, then turned her attention to a comatose Kumogakure shinobi whose mental world had been sealed by Itachi. Yakumo warned that forcing the seal open could harm him and suggested asking Shinji to help.

• Shizune explained Menma’s Spirit Body abilities, and Tsunade allowed him to remain with Naruto while arranging a confidential training ground for Naruto.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that a Kumogakure reconnaissance shinobi had fallen into a coma after a genjutsu attack, and Tsunade went to the hospital to investigate.
• Tsunade reviewed the report and learned from Sasuke that Itachi had likely trapped the shinobi in a Mangekyo Sharingan genjutsu.
• Yakumo examined the shinobi and found that the genjutsu had sealed his mental world, warning that breaking it by force could injure his Spirit Body and brain.
• Yakumo suggested asking Shinji, another Mangekyo Sharingan Uchiha, to try to break the seal.

Shinji and Nameless entered the Tsukuyomi planted in a Kumogakure ninja’s mind and recovered an encrypted scroll left by Itachi. Shinji turned the message over to Konoha’s Intelligence Squad without reading it, trusting Itachi’s judgment as the war against the Akatsuki Organization approached.

• Tsunade called Shinji and the Intelligence Squad to examine the genjutsu in the comatose Kumogakure ninja’s mind.
• Yakumo sensed Nameless’s extraordinary strength when she arrived with Shinji.
• Shinji entered the ninja’s mental world and recognized Itachi’s genjutsu as Tsukuyomi.
• Shinji brought Nameless into the mental world, and she used her Dojutsu to uncover Itachi’s Ninja Crow and its scroll.
• Shinji decided to hand the encrypted scroll to the Intelligence Squad without decrypting it and tossed it to one of its members.

Shinji confirmed that Yakumo was his subordinate 'D' and met her in secret after she feared Naruto might learn about Ido. When Shinji appeared, Yakumo realized he was 'A,' the person who had given her hope when she thought her ninja career was over.

• Shinji dispelled the genjutsu on the Kumogakure ninja, recovered an encrypted scroll, and left the ward with Nameless.
• Tsunade identified the scroll's encryption as an ANBU method, while Sasuke suspected the intelligence was an Akatsuki trap and Kakashi urged caution.
• Shinji told Nameless that Yakumo was his subordinate 'D,' and Nameless felt competitive with her.
• Yakumo reported on the Land of Rice Fields operation and worried that Naruto and Menma's reconciliation could expose her connection to Ido.
• Yakumo said she would defect if her identity as 'D' were exposed, and Shinji arranged to meet her in a grove.
• Yakumo recognized that Shinji was 'A' and remembered how he had brought her hope after refusing her request for help.