Chapter Summaries

Shinji considered who could benefit from cultivating the Twelve Palaces and concluded that Shion was the best candidate. At Konoha’s Anbu headquarters, leaders questioned Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo about Akatsuki’s D after learning that D could control blood and had fought Karin’s B.

• Shinji ruled out Haku, Karin, Yakumo, Kimimaro, Neji, and Sasuke as unsuitable for cultivating the Twelve Palaces, leaving Shion as the only promising candidate.
• Shinji considered that the Twelve Palaces might develop Shion’s potential and help prepare her for her fated battle with Moryo.
• Kakashi brought Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo to Konoha’s Anbu headquarters, where village leaders reviewed a report on Akatsuki’s B and D fighting on the southern coast.
• Chiyo recognized that D could control blood and asked why D shared her ability.
• Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo were shocked to learn that B and D had fought, and Tsunade said witnesses believed B had the upper hand.

Yakumo learned that Chiyo belonged to the Chinoike Clan, while Konoha investigated the Akatsuki Organization’s blood-controlling ‘D.’ In the Land of Demons, Tanjiro saw something fall through a hole in the sky and found Nezuko in the forest.

• Ryūsetsuna revealed that Chiyo was the last surviving member of the Chinoike Clan and controlled blood with her Ketsuryūgan.
• Tsunade and the others considered whether Akatsuki’s ‘D’ was another Chinoike and discussed asking the Uchiha for information.
• Yakumo wondered about the connection between Chiyo’s Ketsuryūgan and the Red Dragon Eye in her eye sockets, then worried that the village would investigate her.
• Tanjiro saw a dark mass fall through a hole in the sky, grabbed his Nichirin Blade, and searched the forest for it.
• Tanjiro confronted a figure hiding behind a tree and recognized Nezuko.

Tanjiro encountered a figure who looked and smelled like Nezuko, but it entered his body and left him emotionless. In Konoha, Shion foresaw a mountain of bodies and warned Shinji that a strange presence had brought a major crisis to the Shinobi World.

• Tanjiro questioned whether the Nezuko who appeared before him was real, then realized she had no blood or signs of life.
• The false Nezuko turned into a shadow and slipped into Tanjiro, who later regained his expression but became indifferent and left into the forest.
• Shinji trained Shion and Nameless at the Konoha Military Police Force's training grounds while the Lamp alerted him that the Overlord's power was seeping into the Shinobi World.
• Shion collapsed after seeing a vision of blood and a mountain-sized pile of bodies, then told Shinji she sensed a strange presence and an impending crisis.
• Shinji explained Shion's death-foreseeing ability, and Nameless realized what he had been preparing for and guarding against.

Shinji learned that the Overlord of Fear had already sent power into the Shinobi World, so he decided to accelerate his plans to fight it. He began shaping a scheme to force the Ninja Village Allied Forces into war while concealing himself from the Overlord.

• Shinji urged Shion to master the Twelve Palaces, and she resolved to train as the Miko who protected the Shinobi World.
• Shinji told Nameless that the Overlord of Fear had breached the Shinobi World's defenses and considered speeding up his plans to revive the Ten-Tails and use Infinite Tsukuyomi.
• Shinji proposed starting the Shinobi World War early, using Itachi's intelligence on Dark Dawn hideouts to draw out the Fourth Mizukage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Shinji suspected the Overlord might be targeting him and decided to keep his identity hidden until he understood its methods.
• Karin reported that the village was investigating suspected infighting within Breaking Dawn, and Shinji realized the villages' wariness of his organization was another reason they had not acted.

Shinji helped receive the arriving Kage while the village leaders debated Itachi’s intelligence about Nagato and the Akatsuki Organization. Kirigakure reported Akatsuki infighting on the road, and Mei Terumi’s delegation encountered a fierce battle between Susanoo and the Ice Crystal Bodhisattva.

• Shizune informed Shinji that the Four Kage were due to arrive, and Shinji organized the police force to receive them and guard the village.
• The Fourth Raikage, Killer B, the Third Tsuchikage, and the Fifth Kazekage, Pakura, arrived in Konoha while Kirigakure’s delegation remained delayed.
• Tsunade and the other village leaders discussed whether Itachi’s report about Nagato controlling the Jinchuriki was trustworthy, and agreed to wait for Kirigakure before deciding what to do.
• An Intelligence Squad shinobi reported that Kirigakure had encountered Akatsuki infighting, with Akatsuki’s “B” being pursued and fleeing north.
• Mei Terumi’s delegation witnessed Susanoo shatter the Ice Crystal Bodhisattva’s right arm, leaving Chojuro, Suigetsu, Mei, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Zabuza stunned.

Kirigakure’s forces witnessed Akatsuki members C, D, and E pursue B, who fought back with Susanoo before escaping. The Four Kage arrived after the battle and learned that B had fled north, while the shinobi leaders considered exploiting the Akatsuki’s apparent infighting to attack Nagato.

• Mei Terumi’s Kirigakure forces watched C, D, and E attack B, and retreated when Susanoo sent a massive chunk of ice crashing toward them.
• After Kirigakure sent a distress signal, Kakashi recruited Shinji, who joined Konoha’s relief force with Nameless, Haku, and Karin.
• The Four Kage reached the devastated battlefield and learned from Mei Terumi that B had escaped north on Susanoo while C, D, and E pursued him.
• Tsunade and Yakumo found traces of Ice Release and Wood Release, and Tsunade told the Kage that D was likely from the vanished Chinoike Clan.
• The Third Tsuchikage proposed using the Akatsuki’s internal conflict as an opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Nagato.

Shinji staged a battle between members of Breaking Dawn to make the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Nagato, and Obito believe the organization was divided and posed no immediate threat. At the Kage Summit, the Five Kage agreed to vote on whether to act against the Akatsuki groups.

• Shinji used Shadow Clones, Haku, Karin, and an unnamed woman to stage a convincing fight between Akatsuki members on the southern coast of the Land of Fire.
• Shinji sent the staged battle’s participants north past Akatsuki hideouts so Nagato and Obito would hear about the supposed infighting.
• The Five Kage reconvened in Konoha, where Tsunade shared intelligence about the battle and the Akatsuki members’ use of Wood Release.
• The Third Tsuchikage argued that the Allied Forces had to decide whether to act before Nagato controlled the Jinchuriki, and proposed a vote.
• Tsunade, the Fourth Raikage, the Fifth Kazekage, and Mei Terumi agreed to hold a vote, which Tsunade scheduled for half an hour later.

The Five Kage voted to launch a full-scale war against the Akatsuki Organization, and the news spread throughout the Shinobi World. Meanwhile, corrupted by the Overlord, Tanjiro continued hunting and devouring people in the Land of Demons.

• Shinji and Konoha’s senior officials supported striking first against the Akatsuki Organization and rescuing the captured Jinchuriki.
• Tsunade represented Konoha in the final vote, and all five Kage voted to go to war against the Akatsuki Organization.
• The villages’ communications shinobi sent word of the decision across the Shinobi World.
• Tanjiro left a blood-soaked town in the Land of Demons and followed the scent of people toward another town.
• Tanjiro killed two wandering shinobi and devoured them, displaying the power he had gained by consuming people.

Orochimaru met Obito to negotiate cooperation against the Five Great Shinobi Villages, but demanded help taking 'B's eyes. When Obito refused to turn against 'A's group, Orochimaru revealed that he had summoned the real Madara Uchiha with Impure World Reincarnation, giving himself leverage to renew his offer.

• Obito approached Orochimaru in the Land of Rice Fields and proposed that they cooperate against the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
• Orochimaru said he wanted 'B's eyes, and Obito refused to attack 'A's group yet.
• Obito threatened Orochimaru and offered Shinji Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan if Orochimaru joined his side.
• Orochimaru summoned Madara Uchiha with Impure World Reincarnation, exposing Obito's false identity.
• Orochimaru repeated his offer to join Obito if he helped take 'B's eyes, and Obito reconsidered in the face of Madara's presence.

Obito agreed to partner with Orochimaru, but worried that Nagato’s growing strength threatened his own plans for the Ten-Tails. As the Five Kage gathered in Konoha, Obito ordered Akatsuki to prepare for war while Black Zetsu secretly pursued his own plan to revive Madara Uchiha.

• Obito agreed to work with Orochimaru and learned that Nagato had recovered from his injuries and grown stronger by controlling five Jinchuriki.
• Orochimaru revealed that the Five Kage had gathered in Konoha for a new Kage Summit, then left after discussing their partnership with Obito.
• Obito questioned Zetsu about Madara Uchiha’s Impure World Reincarnation, and Zetsu concealed that he had guided Orochimaru to Madara’s body.
• Black Zetsu viewed Madara as the best candidate to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, while Obito privately intended to use Madara and Nagato as stepping stones.
• Obito ordered Zetsu to alert Nagato and the other Akatsuki members to prepare for battle against the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

The Five Kage and shinobi from several villages used Shinji’s Takamagahara to practice fighting Akatsuki members before the decisive battle. Shion faced a simulated Moryo on her own, determined to prove she could overcome her dark side.

• The Five Kage and other elite shinobi entered Takamagahara and selected Akatsuki members as hypothetical opponents, with many choosing Hiruko.
• Jiraiya and Naruto faced the Six Paths of Pain, mistaking the simulated figures for Nagato, and Naruto activated Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro confronted Scorpion and his Third and Fourth Kazekage Human Puppets.
• Zabuza charged at the simulated Juzo Biwa to take back Kubikiribōchō.
• Ranmaru ambushed Ao and broke his neck, leaving Ringo Ameyuri, Suigetsu, and Chojuro unable to see through Ranmaru’s Shadow Release.
• Shion challenged a realistic simulated Moryo, refused the nameless one’s offer of help, and prepared to face the demon alone.

Shinji monitored the shinobi as they emerged from Takamagahara after fighting simulated opponents, while the nameless woman revealed she had secretly marked many powerful shinobi. As the villages prepared to pursue their targets, Yakumo told Shinji that their forces had finished assembling and set out.

• The nameless woman had used Yachihoko to mark the Five Kage and numerous elite shinobi while they were inside Takamagahara.
• The Five Kage and Jiraiya's group emerged after defeating the Six Paths of Pain, while other teams reported losses or difficult fights against their simulated opponents.
• Shinji warned the shinobi that Takamagahara's simulations did not guarantee victory against their real enemies and offered to activate the technique again in three hours.
• Yakumo told Shinji that the shinobi forces from each village had assembled and departed for their respective targets.

The Ninja Village Allied Forces launched simultaneous assaults on Akatsuki Organization bases using intelligence from Itachi Uchiha, destroying many outposts and capturing or killing peripheral members. The Five Kage learned the operation was proceeding smoothly, but they still awaited intelligence on Nagato and the Jinchuriki.

• Kumogakure’s Forty-Seventh Squad destroyed an Akatsuki Organization base that had served as one of Sasori of the Red Sands’ puppet workshops, then moved toward its next target.
• Ninja Village Allied Forces squads attacked hundreds of Akatsuki Organization bases across the Shinobi World, destroying nearly eighty percent and killing or capturing hundreds of peripheral members.
• Shikaku Nara reported to the Five Kage that forty-nine targets had been destroyed and no official Akatsuki Organization members had been encountered.
• Shikaku Nara said assaults on important bases in the Land of Iron and Land of Demons were underway and further intelligence might arrive the next day.
• Pakura remarked that the Akatsuki Organization had infiltrated the entire Shinobi World, and the Fourth Raikage vowed that it would soon become history.

A joint Allied Forces unit attacked an Akatsuki stronghold in the Land of Iron and discovered that Moryo and Shinnō were inside. Mifune dispatched a specialized force, and Shikaku Nara reported that it had a 72 percent chance of defeating them in Shinji’s Takamagahara simulations.

• A joint force of nearly a hundred shinobi approached an Akatsuki stronghold hidden in a Snow Peak cave and attacked under an Iwagakure Jonin’s command.
• A bloodied shinobi escaped the cave, shouted the code words “dark purple, dark green,” and was dragged back inside by a tentacle.
• The Intelligence Squad sent the code words by Ninja Crow and remained hidden near the Snow Peak to watch for reinforcements.
• Mifune identified the codes as Moryo and Shinnō, informed headquarters, and dispatched a specialized force to support the vanguard.
• Shikaku Nara told the Five Kage that the force had a 72 percent simulated chance of defeating Moryo and Shinnō.

After the Five Kage debated how many troops to send against Moryo and Shinnō, Shinji sent Shion and Haku to confront Moryo at Target Seven in the Land of Iron. As they left, Nameless asked Shinji for a code name, and he named her 'I.'

• The Fourth Raikage urged the Five Kage to send more encirclement forces against Moryo and Shinnō, but Tsunade left the decision to Mifune.
• After learning Moryo was at Target Seven in the Land of Iron, Shinji summoned Shion and told her about the opportunity to confront it.
• Shion volunteered to fight Moryo, and Shinji assigned Haku to accompany her and protect her.
• Haku and Shion left Konoha, while Karin saw them off and warned them to be careful.
• Nameless asked Shinji for a code name, and he named her 'I.'

Takahashi Ryūichi led the encirclement force to Target Seven, expecting to reinforce the vanguard and capture Moryo and Shinnō for special merit. Instead, he found the vanguard slaughtered and Moryo occupying its commander’s body, while an enemy struck down the messenger sent to warn the temporary camp.

• Takahashi Ryūichi and the Kirigakure and Sunagakure deputy commanders raced through the blizzard, discussing the vanguard’s strength and the rewards for earning special merit.
• The encirclement force reached Target Seven without finding the expected welcoming party, then entered the cave after deciding the vanguard might already be inside.
• Takahashi Ryūichi emerged into the mountain’s depths and found severed limbs and the vanguard commander atop a mound of corpses.
• Moryo revealed that it had taken possession of the vanguard commander’s body and complained that the body was too weak.
• Takahashi Ryūichi ordered an Intelligence Squad shinobi to report the vanguard’s defeat, but a shadow punched the messenger back into the mountain.

Moryo and Shinnō wiped out the encirclement force at Target Seven and prepared to attack Mifune’s arriving support force. Mifune struck first, severing both of Moryo’s hands, but the battle continued.

• Shinnō blocked the encirclement force’s escape and revealed that he had captured four of its members.
• Mifune led a support force into the mountain and found the encirclement force wiped out, with Moryo holding Takahashi Ryūichi’s chest impaled.
• Takahashi Ryūichi warned Mifune to run before Moryo tossed him onto the corpse pile.
• A Hyuga Branch Family ninja spotted a creature among the corpses, and Shinnō revealed that his Zero-Tails was feeding on negative emotions.
• Mifune charged Moryo with his samurai sword and severed both of his hands.

Mifune led the allied forces against Moryo, but discovered that Takamagahara had underestimated the demon’s restored power. Moryo devastated the troops and their sealing teams, leaving Mifune facing the consequences of the flawed simulation.

• Mifune attacked Moryo while the allied forces prepared traps, a barrier, and a sealing attempt.
• Moryo transformed into a massive monster and revealed that his tentacles could resist sword strikes while corroding Mifune’s blade.
• Moryo sent his tentacles past Mifune to strike the allied forces, destroying their formation and inflicting heavy casualties on the Barrier Squad and Sealing Team.
• Mifune realized Takamagahara’s simulation had been inaccurate because Moryo had recovered much of his former strength, while Shinnō had also grown stronger after mastering the Zero-Tails.

Mifune and the surviving samurai failed to stop Moryo and Shinnō from defeating them, while the Akatsuki members gathered through projections and learned the war against the ninja villages had begun. The Deva Path assigned teams to capture the Three-Tails, the Eight-Tails, and the other half of the Nine-Tails.

• Moryo broke Mifune’s sword, pinned him and the eight surviving samurai with its tentacles, and prevented them from bringing down the cavern.
• Shinnō used Hand Seals to help Moryo appear with him at the Akatsuki meeting through the Phantasmal Body Technique.
• Shinnō said the Ninja Village Allied Forces had attacked them and claimed Shinji Uchiha’s Takamagahara was ineffective, while Hidan and Kakuzu reported they had also faced an ambush.
• Scorpion reported that more than a dozen Akatsuki hideouts had been attacked or had lost contact, prompting Kakuzu and Konan to suspect the organization had a spy.
• The Deva Path declared the war against the ninja villages had begun and ordered teams to pursue the Three-Tails, the Eight-Tails, and the other half of the Nine-Tails.

Obito and Konan agreed that Shinji Uchiha was a major threat, and Obito arranged for Orochimaru to target him while he investigated the suspected spy. At Snow Peak, Haku arrived to save Mifune from Moryo, and another person approached through the tunnel.

• Obito warned the organization that Shinji Uchiha’s simulations could become more accurate as he gathered combat intelligence, and declared that Shinji must die.
• Obito said Orochimaru had agreed to fight Shinji, while he withheld Orochimaru’s plan to use Impure World Reincarnation on Madara Uchiha.
• Obito returned to the secret base with Zetsu, suspected Itachi of spying, and ordered Zetsu to ready the White Zetsu army.
• Moryo sensed Nagato’s immense Chakra through Deva Path’s Phantasmal Body Technique and decided he needed to stay cautious until he devoured the Miko.
• Moryo prepared to kill the wounded Mifune, but Haku arrived using Yakumo’s Red Dragon and severed the tentacle piercing him.
• Haku confronted Moryo and Shinnō in the bloodied mountain chamber as another set of footsteps sounded from the tunnel.