Chapter Summaries

Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure moved against Uzushio Hidden Village while the Uzumaki prepared to defend their home and evacuate the young. Meanwhile, Dodai and an Uzumaki Ashina Shadow Clone tricked Kirigakure’s ANBU into believing the Third Mizukage had orchestrated the recent battle, setting the stage for unrest in Kirigakure.

• Chiyo ordered Sunagakure’s forces to attack Uzushio Hidden Village once Konoha and Kumogakure engaged, while Gari led Iwagakure’s army toward the village.
• Uzumaki Masahiko ordered the children and women under thirty-five to escape through the tunnels, then rallied the remaining elders to defend Uzushio.
• The Cloud Ninja Army prepared to face Shimura Danzō and Konoha’s forces at the Kirigakure camp.
• Dodai and Uzumaki Ashina’s Shadow Clone gave a Kirigakure ANBU squad leader a Tailed Beast Sealing Technique and claimed it was part of the Third Mizukage’s plan.
• The ANBU squad leader sailed back to Kirigakure, while a hidden Hozuki ninja overheard the conversation and left to warn his clan and the other clans against the Third Mizukage.

Shimura Danzō used his hidden Sharingan to gain the upper hand against the Third Raikage while Konoha’s forces clashed with the Cloud Ninjas. As the Sand and Rock armies attacked Uzushio Hidden Village, Kō San unleashed a concealed insect poison and prepared explosive tags, but Cloud ANBU spotted him and moved to kill him.

• Shimura Danzō revealed his Three Tomoe Sharingan and used it to enhance his Wind Style swordsmanship, wounding the Third Raikage.
• Sarutobi and Shimura clan ninjas worked together against the Cloud Ninjas while two Cloud brothers watched Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Izumi Shimura.
• The Sand and Rock armies charged into Uzushio Hidden Village, where Masahiko Uzumaki and four elders trapped them inside the Four Red Yang Formation.
• Ebizo spread poison mist through the village as the Rock Ninjas used Earth Style to counter the Uzumaki barriers and Bashosen attacks.
• Kō San released nano-sized venomous insects and prepared one hundred thousand Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags to destroy the village.
• A Cloud ANBU team spotted Kō San and ordered a swift long-range attack to kill him.

Tamura Hiroshi foiled Hozuki Jagetsu’s attempt to assassinate Yozuki A and killed the wounded Kirigakure commander. After explaining his new ability to sense hostile intent, he was confronted by a red-haired girl who asked why he had his grand-aunt’s ability.

• Tamura Hiroshi sensed Hozuki Jagetsu’s ambush and kicked Yozuki A and Fukai clear while bombarding the attacker with explosive tags.
• Fukai pinned Hozuki Jagetsu with a lightning-infused sword, and Tamura Hiroshi’s explosive tags killed the badly wounded commander.
• Dodai confirmed Hozuki Jagetsu’s identity and praised Tamura Hiroshi for saving Yozuki A and killing a Kage-level opponent.
• Tamura Hiroshi told Dodai that fusing Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s chakra had given him the ability to sense intent within ten meters.
• A red-haired girl emerged from behind a boulder and asked Tamura Hiroshi why he had her grand-aunt’s ability, and he complained that she had not been tied up.

Tamura Hiroshi subdued Uzumaki Kushina and demonstrated that her Adamantine Sealing Chains could not suppress his chakra. Dodai then sent Tamura Hiroshi to use his Good-Evil Perception ability to identify threats within Kumogakure, and Tamura reported the people harboring malice.

• Uzumaki Kushina attacked Tamura Hiroshi with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, but he grabbed them and electrocuted her with the Sword of the Thunder God.
• Dodai stopped Tamura Hiroshi from continuing to torment Uzumaki Kushina, who demanded to know why he was not afraid of her chains.
• Dodai asked Tamura Hiroshi to disguise himself as Yozuki A and identify people in Kumogakure with malicious intentions.
• Dodai explained that Kumogakure would not intervene in Uzushio Hidden Village's war because it had to protect the evacuated Uzumaki clan members.
• Tamura Hiroshi transformed into Yozuki A, assessed the village ninjas, and reported those harboring malice to Dodai.

Uzumaki Ashina tried to end the battle against Sunagakure and Iwagakure with a forbidden soul-sealing jutsu, but Konoha’s hidden poison incapacitated all three armies first. As the enemy commanders agreed to a truce, explosive tags erupted across Uzushio Hidden Village, destroying the village and breaking the Four Red Yang Formation.

• Uzumaki Ashina decided the Uzumaki clan had to defeat the Sand and Rock forces quickly and began forming a forbidden jutsu that would summon the Grim Reaper.
• Masahika Uzumaki warned his second uncle, while Gari called Rōshi back from the fight as the Uzumaki elders prepared to cast the jutsu.
• Uzumaki Ashina, Masahika, and fighters from all three armies suddenly collapsed after being poisoned, and Ashina accused Konoha of secretly using the Aburame clan’s insects.
• Ebizo proposed a truce against Konoha, and Gari declared Iwagakure’s ceasefire as the poisoned armies struggled to survive.
• Explosive tags appeared among the corpses and detonated throughout Uzushio Hidden Village, destroying buildings and causing the Four Red Yang Formation to shatter.

Rasa and Rōshi escaped the destruction of Uzushio Hidden Village while Gari stayed behind, and the Cloud forces trapped Shimura Danzō’s army inside a Five Elements Barrier. As the Konoha ninja faced slaughter, Sarutobi Shinnosuke summoned Enma and asked him to break the barrier.

• Rasa escaped with Chiyo, Ebizo, and Pakura, while Karura remained behind in the burning village.
• Gari ordered Rōshi to return to Ōnoki with news of the disaster, then staggered away as poisonous insects weakened him.
• Dodai led the Cloud forces toward Uzushio Hidden Village as Tamura Hiroshi prepared Samehada to feed on the dead ninja’s Chakra.
• The Third Raikage severed Shimura Danzō’s right arm and blocked the barrier’s exit while the Five Elements Barrier sealed the Konoha forces inside.
• Sarutobi Shinnosuke swallowed a Secret Medicine, summoned Enma, and asked him to transform into the Adamantine Staff and break the barrier.

Enma helped Sarutobi Shinnosuke escape the barrier, but the Third Raikage knocked him unconscious, and genjutsu users captured Enma and searched his memories. The Third Raikage’s forces revealed their victory was part of a larger plan, and Uzumaki Ashina’s Shadow Clone sealed the Sarutobi Clan names from the Monkey Clan’s summoning scroll.

• Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff and broke through the barrier, helping Sarutobi Shinnosuke send Izumi Shimura to Shimura Danzō before the Third Raikage kicked him away.
• Shimura Danzō knocked Izumi Shimura unconscious and fled with her, while genjutsu-specialist twins used their implanted Three Tomoe Sharingan to capture Enma and probe his memories.
• The Third Raikage revealed that he had feigned weakness, and Dodai’s Shadow Clone arranged medical treatment and prepared to publicly condemn Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• The twins controlled Enma into summoning the Monkey Clan’s Contract Scroll and sent information from Enma’s memories to the Third Raikage and Uzumaki Ashina’s Shadow Clone.
• Dodai persuaded Uzumaki Ashina’s Shadow Clone not to summon and kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, so the Shadow Clone used the Contract Seal to seal the Sarutobi Clan names from the scroll.

The Third Raikage slaughtered the Sarutobi Clan’s monkeys in their Summoning Realm while Tamura Hiroshi and the Kumogakure forces reached the ruins of Uzushio Hidden Village. The surviving Uzumaki elders betrothed Uzumaki Kushina to Tamura and showed him how to open their sealed scrolls before Masahiko Uzumaki died.

• The Third Raikage used the twin brothers’ technique to enter the Monkey Clan’s Summoning Realm and began killing the monkeys.
• Tamura Hiroshi arrived at Uzushio Hidden Village with the main force and had Dodai use a genjutsu ninja to control an injured youth and put the poison insects into dormancy.
• Tamura Hiroshi and Uzumaki Kushina found Masahiko Uzumaki and Uzumaki Aloe near death inside a barrier, with poison insects ravaging their bodies.
• Masahiko Uzumaki used an Adamantine Sealing Chain to pull Tamura Hiroshi close, but backed down when Tamura threatened to mistreat Kushina in the future.
• Uzumaki Ashina declared Kushina Tamura’s fiancée, and Tamura accepted after learning the sealed scrolls could be opened only with Uzumaki sealing methods and Chakra.
• Masahiko Uzumaki demonstrated the hand signs for opening the scrolls and warned Tamura that the wrong method would trigger the Explosive Tags inside.

After Uzushio Hidden Village was destroyed, Tamura Hiroshi promised to preserve the Uzumaki clan’s teachings and considered how Kumogakure could learn from the disaster. Yozuki A pursued the fleeing Iwagakure commander to obtain Earth Release techniques, while Hiroshi sensed someone hiding nearby.

• Tamura Hiroshi sealed away the inherited teachings, and Masahiko Uzumaki and Uzumaki Ashina died as Uzumaki Kushina mourned.
• Tamura Hiroshi knocked Kushina unconscious, and the returning Uzumaki clansmen grieved over the ruined village and blamed Konoha.
• Tamura Hiroshi, Yozuki A, and Fukai discussed Kumogakure’s weaknesses as Samehada devoured chakra from the corpses.
• Tamura Hiroshi urged Yozuki A to pursue the wounded Iwagakure commander and obtain his gravity-reducing or flight techniques; Fukai followed and sent a clone to inform Lord Dodai.
• Tamura Hiroshi continued searching the bodies with Samehada, then raised it as a shield and threatened to throw an Explosive Tag at someone hiding in a nearby house.

Tamura Hiroshi used the Kaguya Phantom’s chakra to convince Black Zetsu that he was connected to Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, then questioned him about Kaguya and the chakra he absorbed. Black Zetsu explained Kaguya’s history and identified figures Tamura drew, while Tamura began asking about Jinchuriki.

• Tamura Hiroshi mimicked Ōtsutsuki Kaguya’s maternal affection, causing Black Zetsu to call him “Mother” and believe he carried Kaguya’s chakra.
• Tamura Hiroshi claimed Kaguya had appeared in his mind as his sister, and Black Zetsu explained that she was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and demanded that he help rescue her.
• Black Zetsu recounted Kaguya’s history and identified Tamura Hiroshi’s first drawing as Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and his second as Hagoromo.
• Tamura Hiroshi asked Black Zetsu whether he knew about Jinchuriki like the First Hokage’s wife.

Tamura Hiroshi had Black Zetsu create a hidden sealing space in his body and transferred the Kaguya Phantom into it, strengthening her. He questioned Black Zetsu’s plan to revive Kaguya and sought other ways to build power, ending by proposing a plan to obtain Nine-Tails flesh and blood.

• Tamura Hiroshi asked Black Zetsu to create a concealed sealing space, and Black Zetsu carved a Yin-Yang Release seal into his abdomen.
• Tamura Hiroshi transferred the Kaguya Phantom into the space, where she grew more solid and gained control of it; Black Zetsu recognized her as his mother.
• Tamura Hiroshi warned Black Zetsu that the Sage of Six Paths might still be alive and could be watching his plan to use Madara Uchiha to awaken the Rinnegan.
• Tamura Hiroshi asked Black Zetsu to help him surpass the Sage of Six Paths and provide God Tree branches and Tailed Beast chakra; Black Zetsu agreed to send branches and explained that ordinary Nine-Tails chakra would not improve his perception.
• After Black Zetsu explained that only the Nine-Tails’ Origin Power could enhance Good-Evil Perception, Tamura Hiroshi proposed targeting the Nine-Tails during its transfer from the First Hokage’s wife with help from the Third Raikage and Kumogakure.

Tamura Hiroshi told Black Zetsu about his firearms plan and warned that the Sage of Six Paths and the Ōtsutsuki Clan could threaten their effort to rescue Kaguya. After studying Black Zetsu’s intelligence, Tamura suspected the Sage was hiding in the Pure Land and urged Black Zetsu to watch the Uchiha clan for signs of Indra’s next reincarnation.

• Tamura Hiroshi explained that Kumogakure’s mass-produced firearms could be strengthened with elemental Ninjutsu and used to build an army.
• Black Zetsu approved the firearms plan and warned Tamura that the God Tree could draw hostile Ōtsutsuki to the world.
• Tamura argued that Kaguya was vulnerable in combat and proposed secretly preparing a backup plan while Black Zetsu pursued his own scheme.
• Black Zetsu transferred his intelligence on the Five Great Ninja Villages to Tamura, who connected the First Hokage, Tobirama Senju’s Impure World Reincarnation, and Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan to the Sage of Six Paths’s plans.
• Tamura concluded that the Sage might be hiding in the Pure Land and warned that Indra’s next reincarnation could require an Uchiha with an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Black Zetsu agreed to keep watch over the Uchiha clan.

Tamura Hiroshi learned from Black Zetsu that he could cultivate chakra nature transformations and fuse them into stronger bloodlines, potentially building power beyond his Lightning Release. After Tamura sent the Little Ten-Tails to consume Uzumaki remains, its growth strengthened both it and the Kaguya Phantom, and he accepted his alliance with Black Zetsu and Kaguya.

• Black Zetsu delivered the God Tree remains and a White Zetsu, helping Tamura Hiroshi create a Little Ten-Tails with improved chakra simulation.
• Black Zetsu explained that Tamura could fuse chakra natures into new bloodlines, cultivate all seven forms of chakra power, and develop beyond his existing Lightning Release.
• Tamura asked about the Third Raikage’s Black Lightning, and Black Zetsu said it represented an early stage of Lightning Release cultivation.
• Black Zetsu urged Tamura to have the Little Ten-Tails consume Uzumaki corpses to strengthen its Origin Power, then left the Sealing Space.
• Tamura connected the Little Ten-Tails to the Uzumaki burial mound, allowing it to consume bloodline power and helping the Kaguya Phantom grow more solid and spiritual.
• Tamura decided he was comfortable siding with Black Zetsu and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya rather than the Sage of Six Paths.

Tamura Hiroshi tested the Ten-Tails’ new Adamantine Sealing Chains and discussed the spoils from the battle with Yozuki A. He arranged to learn Uzumaki Sealing Techniques after returning to the village and asked what they had learned about young talents from other villages.

• Tamura Hiroshi revealed the Ten-Tails’ Adamantine Sealing Chains, then knocked out Uzumaki Kushina when she approached him and returned her to the ruins’ caretakers.
• Yozuki A gave Tamura Hiroshi a scroll containing the battle’s bodies and Danzo’s arm, and reported that they had captured Iwagakure commander Gari.
• Yozuki A explained that Gari knew Iwagakure secrets, including that Roshi had been sent to the Land of Whirlpools as the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Yozuki A credited Tamura Hiroshi with an S-rank mission contribution and agreed to arrange Sealing Technique lessons for him, including study that could help him learn the chakra-storing Yang Seal.
• Tamura Hiroshi showed his early progress in Lightning Release Nature Transformation and asked whether they had found information about talented young shinobi in other villages.

Tamura Hiroshi and Yozuki A discussed the strengths of other villages before joining the Third Raikage’s war council. The council decided to send Sarutobi Shinnosuke to Sunagakure, while Tamura considered how to ensure he could never return to Konoha.

• Yozuki A told Tamura Hiroshi about notable shinobi from other villages, including Minato Namikaze, whom Tamura suspected had an impressive lineage.
• Yozuki A brought Tamura Hiroshi to the Third Raikage’s tent to hear the council’s final discussion.
• Dodai proposed sending Sarutobi Shinnosuke to Sunagakure with the bodies of fallen Konoha shinobi, while another council member favored Iwagakure.
• The Third Raikage chose to send Sarutobi Shinnosuke to Sunagakure, partly because he wanted the Senju clan to perish in the coming war.
• Tamura Hiroshi considered maiming Sarutobi Shinnosuke so he could not return to Konoha.

The other great villages declared war on Konoha after the Land of Whirlpools conflict, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō scrambled to contain the scandal over the Uzumaki clan and Danzō’s Sharingan. Mito Uzumaki rejected their excuses and declared that the Uzumaki clan’s alliance with Konoha was over.

• The Third Kazekage sent forces toward Konoha’s border, Iwagakure dispatched an army, Kumogakure strengthened its defenses, and Hanzo of the Salamander declared war on Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō over the failed mission, the exposed Sharingan, and the pressure from Konoha’s clans.
• Shimura Danzō claimed that the eye beneath his bandages was a Ketsuryūgan, giving the leaders a way to deny Kumogakure’s accusations.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō went to the Senju Clan Land to meet Mito Uzumaki.
• Mito Uzumaki ordered Konoha to remove the Uzumaki symbols and declared that the Uzumaki clan was no longer Konoha’s ally.

Mito Uzumaki questioned whether Hashirama’s village system had brought peace as the Second Great Ninja War loomed. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō negotiated with Uchiha Retsuyō, then planned to reinforce the failing Land of Rivers front while Hiruzen turned his anger toward the Raikage and the Uzumaki.

• Mito Uzumaki reflected that the village system had failed to prevent war and feared the Uzumaki clan would not be the last victim.
• Uchiha Retsuyō identified Shimura Danzō’s transplanted Ketsuryūgan as newly implanted and demanded the return of Uchiha Sharingan held by the Senju and their allies.
• Shimura Danzō agreed to return some Sharingan, while keeping valuable eyes for research, and he and Hiruzen Sarutobi left the Uchiha Territory.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Shimura Danzō to take command on the Land of Rivers front, and Danzō requested Ino-Shika-Cho support and said he would bring Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi resolved to seek the Ino-Shika-Cho clans’ aid and privately vowed vengeance against the Raikage and the Uzumaki.

Shimura Danzō recruited Orochimaru to transplant a Swift Release ninja’s arm and offered him access to research on the First Hokage’s cells. Danzō also tried to turn Orochimaru against Hiruzen by suggesting Hiruzen was grooming a gifted child to become the next Hokage.

• Shimura Danzō met Orochimaru at the Root Base and offered him a chance to research the First Hokage’s cells in exchange for restoring Danzō’s strength.
• Orochimaru examined a captive Swift Release ninja and demanded access to Sharingan research as an additional reward.
• Shimura Danzō agreed to Orochimaru’s terms, and Orochimaru promised to transplant the arm and give it some of Swift Release’s power.
• Shimura Danzō told Orochimaru that Hiruzen might not recommend him for the Fourth Hokage and pointed out that Hiruzen had chosen Jiraiya to mentor an exceptional child.
• Shimura Danzō concluded that Hiruzen was preparing the child to become the next Hokage, deepening his resentment and suspicion.

Shimura Danzō recruited Orochimaru by offering him research opportunities and support on the front lines. Meanwhile, Black Zetsu stole the Uchiha Clan’s stockpile of Sharingan and planned to frame Shimura Danzō before heading toward Kumogakure.

• Shimura Danzō persuaded Orochimaru to cooperate by promising him First cells, Sharingan, and prisoners of war for experiments.
• Orochimaru accepted Shimura Danzō’s invitation and looked forward to researching the powers he was offered.
• Uchiha Retsuyō stored the Sharingan sent by Shimura Danzō in the clan’s secret grounds and reflected on the clan’s history and Madara Uchiha’s eyes.
• Black Zetsu entered the secret grounds, stole the Sharingan, and planned to make Uchiha Retsuyō suspect Shimura Danzō.
• Black Zetsu used a summoned rabbit to reunite with his main body, then headed toward Kumogakure while postponing his attempt to take Hashirama Senju’s corpse.

Tamura Hiroshi discovered that Dr. Os carried a hidden Cursed Seal bearing Ōtsutsuki Isshiki’s chakra, suggesting Kara had infiltrated Kumogakure’s research efforts. After warning Dodai and discussing the threat with Yozuki A and Fukai, Tamura visited the badly injured Karura in the hospital.

• Tamura Hiroshi sensed a disturbing presence around Dr. Os, who led Kumogakure’s Chakra Cannon research, and Dodai arranged to have him secretly brought in.
• Tamura examined Dr. Os and found a covert Cursed Seal in his brain that carried Ōtsutsuki Isshiki’s chakra.
• Dodai ordered everyone to keep the discovery secret and said he would report it to the Third.
• Tamura Hiroshi, Yozuki A, and Fukai discussed the hidden threat and then set out to train harder.
• Tamura visited Karura in the hospital and brought her flowers, fruit, and Eight Treasure Porridge, but she remained despondent over her severe injuries.