Chapter Summaries

Tamura Hiroshi and Uchiha Hikari led Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou to the Jashin Cult’s hidden lair and uncovered a sealed Evil God Skeleton beneath its altar. After defeating it and destroying the cult’s base, they returned to camp with materials and records to study.

• Tamura Hiroshi and the others followed Kumogakure’s intelligence and Uchiha Hikari’s genjutsu to locate the Jashin Cult’s underground lair.
• Tamura Hiroshi, Uchiha Hikari, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uzumaki Kousou defeated the cult’s followers and reached the altar, where Tamura Hiroshi destroyed the traps and mechanisms.
• The High Priest of Jashin sacrificed himself to break the altar’s seal, releasing the twenty-meter-tall Evil God Skeleton from the blood pool.
• Uchiha Hikari split the Evil God Skeleton with her Heavenly Cloud-Cutting Sword, and Tamura Hiroshi sealed it away while the Little Ten-Tails consumed its soul.
• Tamura Hiroshi absorbed the blood pool’s energy, recovered the cult’s books and scrolls, and collapsed the lair; the group returned to camp to study the skeleton’s materials.

Konoha’s opposing-front command discussed the growing threat from Kumogakure and the other villages, while Fugaku Uchiha revealed his increased power and the contest to become the next clan head. The meeting ended with Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Naori facing the grim prospect of a war in which Konoha had fewer troops and no usable Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Uchiha Naori presented intelligence about the reinforcements and described Uchiha Hikari, prompting Fugaku Uchiha to explain her history and implanted Mangekyō techniques.
• Fugaku Uchiha clashed with Uchiha Naka, demonstrated his immense chakra, and told the gathering that Tamura Hiroshi was exceptionally powerful and dangerous.
• Fugaku Uchiha revealed that Tamura Hiroshi had traded Senjutsu power for the clan head’s eyes, then announced that the Uchiha with the most war merit could become clan head.
• Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Naori warned that enemy Jinchuriki could devastate the front, while Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki were too young to control their power.
• Uchiha Kagami confirmed that no reinforcements were coming and that his force faced twice as many Cloud ninja, then dismissed the meeting without a workable plan.

Tamura Hiroshi delivered Kumogakure’s challenge to a duel of generals and used a Tailed Beast Bomb to destroy part of Konoha’s defenses, forcing Uchiha Kagami’s side to accept the coming fight. As Kumogakure prepared its exhausted Eight-Tails fragment Jinchuriki, Kagami decided to risk transplanting his father’s Mangekyo eyes to gain power for the war.

• Tamura Hiroshi and Uchiha Hikari arrived at the Konoha camp, where Tamura challenged its leaders to battle on Kumogakure’s behalf.
• Uchiha Kagami rejected the challenge, but a Tailed Beast Bomb struck the camp and destroyed a key point in its second line of defense.
• Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Naori concluded they had to accept the challenge, suspected their intelligence had leaked, and planned to choose their opponents if possible.
• Uchiha Kagami decided to transplant his father’s Mangekyo Sharingan, and Uchiha Naori agreed to help after he promised not to overuse their powers.
• Tamura Hiroshi returned to Kumogakure’s camp, where Yozuki A and Fukai discussed the eight exhausted Eight-Tails fragment Jinchuriki and prepared to refine their Combat Plan.

Tamura Hiroshi analyzed the Uchiha threat and prepared to use the Jashin Cult’s immortality ritual as a new weapon. After testing the ritual on prisoners and refining its method, he began the first improved procedure on Fukai, leaving its outcome unknown.

• Tamura Hiroshi discussed the likely tactics and Mangekyō abilities of Uchiha Kagami, Uchiha Naori, Uchiha Baru, Uchiha Naka, and Fugaku Uchiha, while assigning potential matchups to his allies.
• Tamura Hiroshi studied the Jashin Cult’s immortality and blood-based curse techniques and asked Yozuki A to provide volunteers for experiments.
• Tamura Hiroshi used an altar infused with the Evil God’s power and Greer Energy to test the immortality ritual, but the first volunteer died during the transformation.
• Tamura Hiroshi concluded that the ritual’s soul damage could be reduced at the cost of greater and prolonged pain, and he began an improved ritual on Fukai.
• Fukai endured intense pain as Tamura Hiroshi guided the Evil God’s power to fuse his soul and body.

Tamura Hiroshi completed the Evil God Ritual on Fukai, Yozuki A, and Uchiha Hikari, then welcomed Mifune as the impartial referee for the coming champion duels. As both sides prepared for the battles, Hiruzen Sarutobi and his allies discussed exploiting the war to target the Uchiha and Senju, while seeking a way to contain the Third Raikage.

• Tamura Hiroshi performed the Evil God Ritual on Fukai, Yozuki A, and Uchiha Hikari, while he and Uchiha Hikari told Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou to wait until the ritual was refined.
• Tamura Hiroshi explained that the ritual could eventually support many candidates but should be limited to carefully vetted Jonin, and Fukai and Yozuki A planned to adapt before the champion duels.
• Mifune arrived to serve as the impartial witness and referee, confirmed Tamura Hiroshi had attained the Unity of Man and Sword, and then visited Uchiha Kagami's camp.
• Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Naori discussed the difficulty of adapting his transplanted Dojutsu Power and Kumogakure's apparent reluctance to fight decisively.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura agreed to delay their plans against the Senju, weaken the Uchiha, and consider using the Four Red Yang Formation against the Third Raikage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked how close Minato Namikaze and the other Nine-Tails Jinchuriki were to mastering the Tailed Beast Bomb.

Hiruzen Sarutobi worried about Minato Namikaze's growing power, Madara Uchiha's survival, and his own need to become stronger. After learning that Hiruzen had helped destroy Uzushio Hidden Village, Minato resolved to change Konoha and began seeking Senjutsu training, while Tamura Hiroshi and his allies cultivated Sage's Talent.

• Utatane Koharu warned Hiruzen Sarutobi not to make Minato Namikaze too powerful, and Hiruzen considered ways to restrain him and strengthen himself.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi weighed becoming a Jinchuriki, learning Senjutsu, and acquiring a bloodline, then focused on seeking Orochimaru's help with Dust Release.
• Mito Uzumaki confirmed to Minato Namikaze that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had conspired against Uzushio Hidden Village.
• Minato Namikaze resolved to change Konoha through strength and summoned a toad to learn about Mount Myōboku's Senjutsu training.
• Tamura Hiroshi cultivated the monk lineage's Sage's Talent as Uchiha Hikari, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uzumaki Kousou developed their own forms of the practice.

Tamura Hiroshi’s forces and the Konoha Ninja Army began their champion duel, with the early matches testing the fighters on both sides. Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou faced Uchiha Baru, whose Mangekyo-enhanced fire and wind attack met their next finishing move as the chapter ended.

• Tamura Hiroshi had Hikari hypnotize Yozuki A and Fukai to help them endure their heightened sensitivity during combat.
• Kumogakure and Konoha assembled at the battlefield, where Mifune announced the rules for the champion duels.
• Uchiha Ryosuke won the first match for Konoha, and the two sides continued exchanging fighters through the day.
• Tamura Hiroshi sent Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou to fight a Three-Tomoe Uchiha, who retreated from their long-range attacks.
• Uchiha Baru took over and used his Mangekyo-enhanced Wind and Fire Style to advance and launch a spiraling pillar of fire at the two women.
• Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou unleashed their second-stage finishing move as Uchiha Baru’s attack began.

Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou defeated Uchiha Baru with a Taiji Rasengan, and Uchiha Hikari captured him before confronting Uchiha Naori in her genjutsu. As Tamura Hiroshi and Uchiha Naka prepared to fight, Hikari began gathering power for a sword strike to break Naori’s illusion.

• Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou fused their Rasengan into a Taiji Rasengan that damaged Uchiha Baru’s Susanoo and forced him to flee.
• Uchiha Hikari used her Mangekyō Sharingan to control and capture Uchiha Baru, then returned him to Tamura Hiroshi, who sealed him away for the Little Ten-Tails.
• Uchiha Naori challenged Uchiha Hikari with Izanami-no-Mikoto, trapping her in a genjutsu where injuries became real, and the two began fighting with swords and taijutsu.
• Tamura Hiroshi entered the battlefield to support Uchiha Hikari, while Uchiha Naka challenged him and Uchiha Kagami considered how to rescue Baru.
• Uchiha Hikari studied Naori’s illusion, gathered her sword energy and killing intent into the Heavenly Cloud-Cutting Sword, and prepared to strike at its weakness.

Uchiha Hikari broke Uchiha Naori’s visual genjutsu, and Tamura Hiroshi defeated Uchiha Naka with his new Flash of Lightning technique. Uchiha Fugaku intervened with a third-stage Susanoo, survived Tamura’s Eight Sword Flashes by using Izanagi, and both men withdrew while concealing their true condition.

• Uchiha Hikari cut through Uchiha Naori’s visual genjutsu, forcing Naori to retreat with an injured eye, while Tamura Hiroshi and Uzumaki Kushina pulled Hikari to safety.
• Tamura Hiroshi used Flash of Lightning to destroy Uchiha Naka’s Shadow Clone, then battered Naka’s Susanoo with Infinite Strikes until Uchiha Fugaku joined the fight.
• Uchiha Fugaku formed a third-stage Susanoo, and Tamura Hiroshi fused with Enma and raised the Seven Day Breathing Method to its seventh level.
• Tamura Hiroshi unleashed Eight Sword Flashes and cut through Fugaku and his Susanoo, but Fugaku survived by using Izanagi.
• Tamura Hiroshi conceded the round and withdrew, while Uchiha Fugaku dispelled Susanoo and retreated, hiding that he had used Izanagi.

Tamura Hiroshi and his allies fought a series of champion battles, where Fukai was trapped by Kurenai Yuhi’s Red Sunset genjutsu and Yozuki A defeated Kurenai Yuhi before losing an arm while fighting Uchiha Kagami. The group returned to camp to recover, learned that Tamura Hiroshi had gained two dōjutsu from Uchiha Baru, and received a sealed bottle from the village whose contents remained unexplained.

• Tamura Hiroshi recovered from his injuries while Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou treated him and scolded him for overexerting himself.
• Fukai fought Kurenai Yuhi, identified the sunset as Red Sunset’s genjutsu medium, and escaped by breaking free of Uchiha Hikari’s hypnosis through intense pain.
• Yozuki A used Cloudslicer to force Kurenai Yuhi back, then fought Uchiha Kagami, who struck his chest with a Mangekyō genjutsu; Yozuki A severed Kagami’s arm before retreating and ending the day’s champion battles.
• Tamura Hiroshi’s group returned to camp, where he and Uzumaki Kousou explained that Samehada had gained Kagutsuchi and Shinatsuhiko from Uchiha Baru.
• Fukayi gave Tamura Hiroshi a sealed bottle sent from the village, and Tamura Hiroshi found a small piece of gravel inside.

Tamura Hiroshi tested the Star meteorite fragment and used its chakra-altering power to advance his training with the Sage's Talent. Meanwhile, Konoha's battered officers assessed Cloud Village's strength, requested reinforcements, and prepared for the next battles of champions.

• Fukai explained that the Star meteorite stimulated chakra but eroded the body, and Tamura Hiroshi agreed to test the fragment first.
• Tamura Hiroshi found that the fragment strengthened and altered chakra, and he allowed Uchiha Hikari, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uzumaki Kousou to train with it cautiously.
• The four transformed their chakra and incorporated it into their techniques, while Tamura Hiroshi used it to refine his Sage's Talent and absorb Susanoo fragments.
• Kurenai Yuhi said she could no longer reliably counter Cloud Village's fighters, and the Konoha officers agreed to request White Fang and other reinforcements or retreat if none arrived.
• Uchiha Kagami's officers discussed the enemy's unusual chakra, Uchiha Hikari's abilities, and Tamura Hiroshi's explosive strength as they prepared for the next battles.

Uchiha Kagami and Hiruzen Sarutobi weighed the threat from Kumogakure, while Hiruzen made wartime decisions to preserve Konoha’s strength and keep the Uchiha front under control. Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō arranged experiments involving Kagami’s Mangekyō Sharingan and bloodline transplants, and Danzō ordered Yakushi Nonō to pursue a promising new transplant method.

• Uchiha Kagami warned Uchiha Naori that the Third Raikage was the central threat, and Naori resolved to save her Izanami for the decisive moment.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to send Jiraiya to the Land of Hot Water front and announced that achievements in the Great Ninja War would determine the Fourth Hokage candidates, including Uchiha Kagami.
• Hiruzen ordered Orochimaru to send a Shadow Clone with a sealed arm to Kagami, while Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō negotiated an exchange involving Kagami’s eyes and a Wood Release arm.
• Orochimaru sent the Shadow Clone toward the front, and Shimura Danzō asked him to compile the results of his Impure World Reincarnation research for testing.
• Yakushi Nonō explained her plan to infuse Root shinobi limbs with kekkei genkai chakra by first transplanting them onto kekkei genkai users, and Shimura Danzō ordered her to focus on the research and promised to find a genjutsu user.

Uchiha Kagami traded his father's Sharingan for a Senju arm that eased the strain of his Mangekyō, while Tamura Hiroshi traded Hashirama's living Chakra to Orochimaru for the White Snake Sage's Senjutsu energy. Orochimaru began pursuing a perfect clone and experimenting on Kagami's eyes, while Shimura Danzō received a transplanted arm and prepared to test it against the Box of Paradise's dark power.

• Orochimaru offered Uchiha Kagami a life-force-rich Senju arm in exchange for his father's Three Tomoe Sharingan, and Kagami accepted before Orochimaru transplanted the arm.
• Orochimaru met Tamura Hiroshi, who gave him Hashirama's living Chakra in exchange for Orochimaru's promise to obtain the White Snake Sage's Senjutsu energy.
• Orochimaru took the Chakra to his laboratory and resolved to use it to create a perfect clone, then restored Kagami Uchiha's Mangekyō power to his eyes through Impure World Reincarnation experiments.
• Orochimaru implanted Kagami Uchiha's Mangekyō into a Senju test subject's arm and stabilized its power alongside the First Hokage's cells with Uzumaki sealing chains.
• Shimura Danzō had Yakushi Nonō transplant the prepared arm and planned to use the Box of Paradise's dark power to force its different powers into harmony.

Shimura Danzō fused the Box of Paradise’s dark power with Susanoo and accepted Yakushi Nonō’s plan to develop a summoning-beast vessel that could contain it. On the Land of Hot Water front, Jiraiya investigated Kumogakure’s influence, met Tamura Hiroshi, and left for the camp after their argument.

• Shimura Danzō used Susanoo to absorb the Box of Paradise’s dark energy, transforming it into a larger black Susanoo with wings and a corrupted arm.
• Yakushi Nonō warned Shimura Danzō that the power could erode his mind and proposed using a senjutsu-capable summoning beast, First Hokage cells, and Uchiha power as a vessel; Shimura Danzō authorized the research.
• A split body of Black Zetsu watched Shimura Danzō and considered having Tamura Hiroshi interfere with the plan.
• Tsunade warned Jiraiya about Kumogakure and the Uchiha before he traveled to the Land of Hot Water to gather intelligence.
• Jiraiya learned from a woman in a city near the front that Kumogakure had suppressed local criminal groups, and he suspected the village was preparing to occupy the Land of Hot Water.
• Tamura Hiroshi confronted Jiraiya about his indecision, Minato’s future, and the deaths of Gamabunta and the other toads; Jiraiya then left for the camp, warning that Mount Myōboku would take revenge.

Tamura Hiroshi planned to turn the Zero-Tails into a Greer Energy-enhanced phoenix for Danzo and to cultivate a World-Destroying Black Lotus using a God Tree remnant. As the third duel approached, Jiraiya summoned Mount Myōboku’s Great Sage Toads, and both armies prepared for a battle that could draw in the Great Toad Sage and the Third Raikage.

• Tamura Hiroshi directed Black Zetsu to grow a bird of prey with Greer Energy so the Zero-Tails could possess it, and proposed planting a Temple of Fire lotus seed in the God Tree remnant to cultivate an alternative God Tree.
• Tamura Hiroshi received records confirming the Six Yang Seal’s completion and the Nine Yang Seal’s framework, then anticipated fighting Jiraiya to study Mount Myōboku’s Senjutsu.
• Hatake Sakumo, Uchiha Kagami, and the Konoha fighters assigned opponents for the third duel, while Jiraiya was kept in reserve to face the perfect Jinchuriki if needed.
• Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku and Shima, who agreed to fight Kumogakure to avenge Mount Myōboku’s fallen toads.
• Tamura Hiroshi and the Third Raikage prepared for the Great Toad Sage’s possible arrival, and Tamura assured the Third Raikage that his group could handle Fukasaku and Shima.

Yozuki A and Uchiha Naka fought Kumogakure swordsmen to a standstill before Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou challenged Uchiha Fugaku. The girls broke through Fugaku’s Susanoo and forced him to reveal his foresight Dōjutsu, while the observers discovered that their Adamantine Sealing Chains carried unfamiliar energy.

• Yozuki A fought Uchiha Kagami for half an hour, and both withdrew after neither could gain an advantage.
• Fukai challenged Hatake Sakumo, then chose Uchiha Naka; their prolonged duel ended when Naka’s eyes and body were badly strained.
• Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou bound Uchiha Fugaku’s Third Form Susanoo with four Star Energy-enhanced Adamantine Sealing Chains and pierced its armor with a focused Taiji Rasengan.
• Uchiha Fugaku used Omokane to accelerate his thinking and Futodama to foresee the next three seconds, escaping the girls’ follow-up attack after his Susanoo was sealed.
• Fukasaku and Shima sensed Natural Energy and another unfamiliar power in the girls’ chains, identifying the latter as the monks’ Sage’s Talent.

Uchiha Hikari and Uchiha Naori fought to another draw, then Tamura Hiroshi battled Hatake Sakumo in a fierce sword fight. Tamura used the clash to study Hatake's swordsmanship and temper his murderous sword intent, while Hatake's White Fang Ninja Sword began to break.

• Uchiha Fugaku retreated after failing to break through Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kousou's defense, and the two girls withdrew after sealing their Yin Seals.
• Uchiha Hikari fought Uchiha Naori within a genjutsu; both emerged badly strained, and their battle ended in a draw.
• Jiraiya recognized Enma's power in Tamura Hiroshi's armor, while Sage Fukasaku and Shima sensed that Tamura wielded power from all Three Great Sage Lands.
• Tamura withdrew his armor and Sage Jutsu Curse Mark, revealing overwhelming killing intent, then accepted Hatake Sakumo's challenge to a sword fight.
• Tamura and Hatake fought at extreme speed, each learning from the other's swordsmanship as Tamura's murderous sword intent darkened the Masamune.
• Hatake continued attacking despite the growing damage to his White Fang Ninja Sword, which was close to breaking.

Tamura Hiroshi unveiled his enormous Heavenly Buddha Statue and fought Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima, while Uchiha Lei awakened his Mangekyo and demanded his brother’s eyes back. The battle ended on the brink of Fukasaku and Shima’s sound-based illusion and Tamura Hiroshi’s counterattack.

• Tamura Hiroshi slipped a small gift into Hatake Sakumo’s jacket after their duel ended with White Fang broken, then challenged Jiraiya.
• Tamura Hiroshi transformed his Guanyin Dharma Image into a fifty-meter-tall Heavenly Buddha Statue infused with murderous aura and the power of Uchiha Baru’s Mangekyo.
• Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima animated a giant stone toad and attacked the Heavenly Buddha Statue with Senjutsu Lava Release and a sealing sword.
• Uchiha Lei awakened the Mangekyo and told Uchiha Kagami that he intended to reclaim his brother’s eyes.
• Tamura Hiroshi dodged the stone toad’s attacks, then used Wind Body Flicker Slash to cut it in half and swept his sword toward Jiraiya.
• Fukasaku and Shima restrained the statue’s arm and began Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant as Tamura Hiroshi made his move.

Tamura Hiroshi captured Fukasaku, Shima, and Uchiha Rai during the battle, while the Great Toad Sage was badly injured and Jiraiya escaped. Back at the Kumogakure camp, the group discussed the coming conflict and Tamura prepared to study the Great Toad Sage’s senjutsu and claim Rai’s weapon.

• Tamura used the Nine Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima, but the Great Toad Sage intervened and tried to take them away.
• Third Raikage and Uchiha Hikari wounded the Great Toad Sage, while Tamura sealed Fukasaku, Shima, Rai, the toad arm, and its blood; the Great Toad Sage took Jiraiya away.
• Uchiha Rai attacked Tamura with lightning techniques, but Tamura suppressed Rai’s Mangekyo with Tsukuyomi and sealed him for the Little Ten-Tails to devour.
• Mifune ruled that the toad’s intervention had broken the duel’s rules, and Third Raikage warned Konoha before leading the Kumogakure forces away.
• At camp, Tamura and Third Raikage discussed the Evil God Ritual, the Great Toad Sage, and Uchiha Kagami’s dojutsu fusion.
• Tamura explained Rai’s Take Mikazuchi and Sword Soul dojutsu, then prepared to seal Rai’s Futsu-no-Mitama into the Masamune Sword.

After the Great Toad Sage gave Minato Namikaze the Talisman of the Sage, the Nine-Tails offered him power in exchange for recovering its stolen tail. Meanwhile, Tamura Hiroshi returned to Kumogakure to develop lightning-based Senjutsu and recruited Mikoto Uchiha to help preserve her clan, while revealing his plans to bring Nawaki and Tsunade under Kumogakure’s influence.

• The Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya that Fukasaku and Shima had been killed, then gave Minato Namikaze a Talisman of the Sage to strengthen his body and help him train in Senjutsu.
• The Nine-Tails offered Minato power if he recovered the tail Kumogakure had taken, while Mito Uzumaki grew suspicious of the Great Toad Sage’s motives.
• Tamura Hiroshi studied the Talisman of the Sage’s secrets and returned to Kumogakure to experiment with lightning-based Senjutsu in Cloud Thunder Gorge.
• Mikoto Uchiha agreed to help her father send suitable Uchiha children to Kumogakure after Tamura Hiroshi warned that Fugaku Uchiha had little chance of taking power in Konoha.
• Tamura Hiroshi revealed that he planned to awaken Wood Release in Nawaki and use the Senju children to draw Tsunade to Kumogakure, and Mikoto called out his scheme.