Recaps

Liao Wu demonstrated Raikiri and nearly killed Kakashi before Obito intervened and revealed that he was alive. After the old friends reunited, Liao Wu experimented with Hong’s illusion technique and learned to use it.

• Liao Wu poured more Chakra into Chidori, transformed it into Raikiri, and pointed it at Kakashi while reflecting Hong’s Tree Binding Kill back at her and hypnotizing Rin.
• Obito emerged from the ground, begged Liao Wu to spare Kakashi, and broke free of Afei’s control long enough to plead for his friend.
• Liao Wu drained Kakashi’s Chakra, but Kakashi rejoiced at finding Obito alive, and Liao Wu let Obito speak with him.
• Liao Wu freed Hong from her illusion, bound and controlled her, then copied Tree Binding Kill while absorbing its Chakra.
• Liao Wu trapped Kakashi in the copied illusion, and Hong cursed him after realizing he had stolen her technique.

Liao Wu tortured Kakashi, Obito, Rin, and Hong in a cave before Minato tracked them down through Kakashi’s Flying Thunder God Kunai. After Liao Wu escaped with Hong and Obito, Minato learned how his village’s failure to help Liao Wu had helped drive him into becoming a rogue Ninja.

• Liao Wu interrogated the captured Kakashi, Obito, Rin, and Hong, then humiliated Kakashi by finding his adult book in his Ninja Tool Bag.
• Liao Wu discovered Minato’s Flying Thunder God Kunai, but Minato arrived before he could finish warning the others.
• Liao Wu escaped underground with Hong and Candy, while Tobi and Black Zetsu took Obito; Minato failed to stop them.
• Kakashi told Minato that Liao Wu had copied and completed Chidori, naming the jutsu Raikiri.
• Rin asked whether the village could have prevented Liao Wu’s defection by curing his Kekkei-genkai Illness, prompting Minato to consider how its treatment of the Uchiha had shaped events.

Minato chose to rescue Kurenai and Obito rather than abandon his comrades, leaving Ryoma to watch Kakashi and Rin. After learning that Nagato had the Rinnegan, Ryoma took Kakashi and Rin toward Rain Village to report the intelligence to Danzo.

• Kakashi pleaded with Minato to rescue Kurenai and Obito, and Minato promised not to abandon them.
• Minato stayed behind to care for Kakashi after Kakashi fainted, then Ryoma arrived and agreed to watch him and Rin.
• After Minato left, Kakashi woke and Rin told him Minato had gone to rescue Obito and Kurenai and investigate Nagato's Rinnegan.
• Ryoma learned that Nagato might possess Madara Uchiha's transplanted Rinnegan and carried Kakashi and Rin toward Rain Village to inform Danzo.

Liao Wu returned to Akatsuki after abducting Yūhi Kurenai, while Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato grew more suspicious of his methods. After learning that Minato was heading for the base, Liao Wu prepared to evade him with the Mayfly Technique.

• Liao Wu had Candy hide Yūhi Kurenai in a Snake Skin Pocket and sent the Snow Leopard to carry her back to Akatsuki.
• Liao Wu returned to Akatsuki, whose growing membership and market reflected the crowds drawn by his medical clone.
• Konan confronted Liao Wu about his womanizing, then fled when he teased her; Yahiko and Nagato decided they needed to control him after Nagato spotted the captive in the Snake Skin Pocket.
• Liao Wu rested while Candy told him that Minato Namikaze was heading for Akatsuki, information she had received through the White Zetsu Spores monitoring Kakashi and his companions.
• Liao Wu said he would hide in a bathroom if Minato arrived and reasoned that Minato could not follow him through a crack while he used the Mayfly Technique.

Liao Wu tortured Kurenai for mission intelligence, but she refused to betray the Leaf, and Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan intervened. Liao Wu defended his actions and his role in Akatsuki, leaving the conflict between him and its founders unresolved.

• Black Zetsu warned Liao Wu that Minato was heading for Akatsuki’s base to relocate Nagato, while Liao Wu electrocuted Obito and threatened Kurenai.
• Liao Wu slashed Kurenai’s forehead protector and declared her a rogue Ninja, but she refused to share mission intelligence or join him.
• When Liao Wu ordered Candy and Snow Leopard to strip Kurenai, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan burst in, and Konan freed and shielded her.
• Yahiko condemned Liao Wu’s conduct and reminded him that Akatsuki stood for peace, while Liao Wu argued that he was a Leaf rogue Ninja and had helped build the organization.
• Liao Wu blamed Akatsuki’s leaders for taking credit for his work and defended absorbing spies as a way to gain Chakra for treating the Land of Rain’s many patients.

Liao Wu clashed with Nagato after Yūhi Kurenai revealed her identity and Akatsuki learned that Minato was nearby. Liao Wu and his allies brought Nagato down and held him at knifepoint, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Liao Wu accused Yahiko and Akatsuki of hypocrisy, while Kurenai decided Nagato's Rinnegan had to be kept from Madara Uchiha.
• Konan asked Kurenai's name, and Kurenai identified herself as a Leaf Chunin hunting Uchiha Ryobu with Minato.
• Yahiko ordered Nagato to capture Liao Wu, and Nagato blasted him outside Akatsuki's cave with Shinra Tensei.
• Liao Wu, Snow Leopard, and Candy fought Nagato with ninjutsu and weapons as Yahiko and Konan stayed back to protect the others.
• Black Zetsu warned that Minato was nearly there, and Liao Wu absorbed the chakra and experience of his Spore Clones.
• Liao Wu used a Spore Clone to exploit Shinra Tensei's cooldown, tripped Nagato, and held a Rasengan near his head while Snow Leopard and Candy threatened him with weapons.

Ryobu defeated Nagato, then left him alive and returned his chakra before warning the Akatsuki that Kurenai had come for the Rinnegan. Minato arrived, and as he questioned Yahiko and Konan about Ryobu, Ryobu hid underground and sent a Spore Clone to provoke a fight.

• Ryobu exploited Shinra Tensei's cooldown to defeat Nagato, absorbed his chakra, and then restored Nagato's chakra and injuries.
• Ryobu accused Kurenai of seeking Nagato's Rinnegan and vanished underground as Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko turned against her.
• Minato appeared and introduced himself as Jiraiya's student, prompting Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to cautiously lower their guard.
• Ryobu stayed hidden underground and sent a Spore Clone in an Akatsuki uniform to provoke Minato and Nagato into fighting.
• Minato told Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan that Madara Uchiha had been revived and that Ryobu had nearly killed Jiraiya.
• Yahiko explained that Ryobu had infiltrated the Akatsuki as Yao Kanluo, and Minato warned Yahiko and Konan that Ryobu served Madara.

Minato tried to warn Nagato that Madara Uchiha had placed the Rinnegan in him, but Liao Wu framed Minato for killing him and turned Akatsuki against the Leaf ninja. Minato escaped after Nagato attacked him and Liao Wu tried to seize Red, leaving the conflict unresolved.

• Minato told Nagato that Madara Uchiha had likely transplanted the Rinnegan into him, while Yahiko rejected the claim.
• Liao Wu used a Spore Clone to pose as his corpse and accuse Minato of killing him, prompting Akatsuki members to attack.
• A disguised Akatsuki member stabbed himself and blamed Minato, escalating the crowd's anger; Yahiko tried to defend Minato and Nagato.
• Minato attempted to take Nagato to the Leaf for protection, but Nagato struck him with Shinra Tensei, and Yahiko and Konan shielded Nagato.
• Liao Wu grabbed Red and tried to take her away, but Minato used the Flying Thunder God to rescue her and drove Liao Wu underground.
• Minato and Liao Wu both left Akatsuki, and the fighting there subsided.

Liao Wu’s attempt to radicalize the Akatsuki’s new recruits drove them away, leaving Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to confront doubts about Nagato’s Rinnegan and plan their next move with Hanzō. The chapter ended with Liao Wu plotting revenge underground while the trio prepared to face the conflict Madara Uchiha’s return might bring.

• Liao Wu’s Spore Clone urged the Akatsuki’s new members to spread Explosive Tags across the Great Nations, but they fled and left the old members behind.
• Nagato destroyed Liao Wu’s remaining Clones, and Yahiko explained to the loyal Akatsuki that Liao Wu was Uchiha Ryobu and had used deadly Evil Arts to gain his medical skills.
• Liao Wu monitored the Akatsuki from underground and ordered Candy to put impotence pills in Yahiko’s food after hearing Yahiko condemn him.
• Yahiko reassured Nagato that his Rinnegan belonged to the Sage of Six Paths, while Konan stood by both of them.
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan discussed cooperating with Hanzō and deciding what the Akatsuki should do after Madara Uchiha’s revival.

Minato told Danzo that Nagato possessed the Rinnegan and described his failed attempt to persuade Akatsuki, forcing him to seek Root’s support. Danzo insisted the Leaf’s interests came before Jiraiya’s prophecy, and the chapter ended with him proposing that the village teach its summoning beasts the Will of Fire.

• Ryoma Aburame relayed Kakashi and Rin’s report about Nagato’s Rinnegan to Danzo, who demanded to know whether it was true.
• Minato arrived with Hong, and he explained that Nagato’s Rinnegan technique and Akatsuki’s resistance had forced him to retreat from his mission.
• Danzo considered how to seize Nagato’s Rinnegan while Minato focused on convincing Nagato to go to the Leaf Village.
• Danzo accused Jiraiya of hiding Nagato’s identity and rebuked Minato for prioritizing the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy over the village’s interests.
• Danzo proposed establishing a Summoning Class to teach summoning beasts the Will of Fire, while Minato held back the Contact Toad from confronting him.

Danzo and Minato prepared to join Hanzō in wiping out Akatsuki and capturing Nagato's Rinnegan, while Minato's team recovered from their encounter with Liao Wu. As Minato promised to rescue Obito the next day, Liao Wu had Obito dig an underground space beneath Akatsuki's base.

• Danzo told Minato that Root and Rain Village Anbu would attack Akatsuki when Hanzō assembled them the next day, and he left with Ryoma to request more Rain Village Jonin.
• Rin treated Minato and checked Hong, who worried that Liao Wu's scratch through her Forehead Protector made her a rogue ninja.
• Hong lamented that she could not defeat Liao Wu, so Minato suggested she request the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique from the Scroll of Seals.
• Kakashi discovered that Liao Wu had stolen his Smut Book, and Minato promised to rescue Obito the next day.
• Snow Leopard made the exhausted Obito dig an underground space beneath Akatsuki's base while Candy listened in on events between Akatsuki and Minato.
• Liao Wu read Kakashi's Smut Book and reached toward Candy.

Liao Wu trained for the coming battle while Madara Uchiha finished recovering and prepared to travel to the Land of Rain with Tsunade. Madara dismissed Kusagakure’s offer of allegiance until he learned its gift involved someone from the Uzumaki Clan.

• Candy destroyed Liao Wu’s smut book and urged him to train, so he created Spore Clones and focused on developing a Fire Style Rasengan.
• Liao Wu learned that Madara’s poison had nearly been purged and asked Candy to arrange a brothel visit for Yahiko and Nagato.
• Shikaku Nara rejected Senju Mōmō’s plan to rescue Tsunade, while Hizashi reported that Madara had trapped her with Wood Style.
• Madara woke after the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path purged the Snake Venom, learned that Liao Wu had stopped Minato Namikaze from taking Nagato, and decided to head for the Land of Rain with Tsunade.
• Madara told Tsunade he intended to match her with Liao Wu, but she refused, and Cai Lai and Fish Ball drenched and taunted her.
• Madara rejected Kusagakure’s offer to pledge allegiance until a White Zetsu Clone said the village had brought him someone from the Uzumaki Clan.

Madara Uchiha received Karin Uzumaki from Kusagakure and learned the Grass Fruit faction wanted to pledge allegiance to him. After sparing Karin and extracting information about the Box of Paradise, he drove off a Leaf Village scouting team and led his forces toward the Land of Rain.

• Wu Wei introduced Karin Uzumaki to Madara and explained that Kusagakure had exploited her healing ability by biting her for Chakra and recovery.
• Tsunade saw Karin’s bite marks and angrily confronted the Grass Village ninja, while Cai Lai and Fish Ball restrained her.
• Madara ordered the White Zetsu Army to kill the Grass Village delegation but stopped when Wu Wei revealed the Box of Paradise.
• Madara sensed the Leaf Village Scouting Team outside Kusagakure and attacked them with Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique, forcing them to flee.
• Madara ordered his forces to move out toward the Land of Rain.

Tsunade treated Karin and learned how Hagi Chiho had protected her, while Akatsuki prepared to walk into a trap despite Liao Wu’s warning. Konan thanked Liao Wu but chose to follow Yahiko and Nagato, leaving Liao Wu unable to stop them.

• Tsunade used Fish Ball’s chakra to treat Karin and discovered that her body had been severely weakened by pregnancy and hardship.
• Fried Rice brought Karin fish soup, and Tsunade apologized for the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools; Karin said the Leaf Village had done its best.
• Hagi Chiho explained that she had protected Karin and that Kusano Hana had been forced into the Hawk Faction’s decision to side with Madara Uchiha.
• Cai Lai joked that Karin and Hagi Chiho should bear children for Wuzi, and Tsunade picked it up and flung it away.
• Liao Wu warned Yahiko, Nagato, and Akatsuki that their departure was a trap, but Yahiko led the group onward.
• Konan gave Liao Wu a paper carnation, thanked him, and kissed him before rejecting his plea to stay and joining Yahiko and Nagato.

Liao Wu left Akatsuki after saying goodbye to Konan, while Yahiko and the others went to meet Hanzō, unaware that he planned to betray them. Hanzō exposed his pursuit of Liao Wu and ordered Akatsuki killed, and the chapter ended with Yahiko captured by Danzo’s insect cloud.

• Liao Wu accepted Konan’s paper flower, then chased Candy away and left Akatsuki’s base.
• Yahiko led Akatsuki to meet Hanzō in the Hills, hoping to receive an Envoy Token and mediate the war.
• Hanzō learned that Akatsuki had driven away Yao Kanluo, revealed his desire to seize Liao Wu’s technique, and ordered Rain Village sealed until Liao Wu was found.
• Hanzō summoned Rain Village Anbu and ordered Danzo to strike, exposing the meeting as a trap.
• Nagato dispersed Danzo’s insect cloud once, but it turned toward Konan, and Yahiko shoved her aside before the cloud captured him.

Hanzō and Danzo cornered Akatsuki and forced Konan to choose between killing Nagato and letting Yahiko die. Minato and his companions watched from hiding without intervening, and Konan faced the impossible choice.

• Ryoma Aburame captured Yahiko and delivered him to Hanzō, while Danzo focused on Nagato’s Rinnegan.
• Hanzō and Danzo explained that Akatsuki threatened Hanzō’s rule, and Hanzō dismissed Yahiko’s hopes for peace.
• Hanzō threatened Yahiko and ordered Konan to kill Nagato; Yahiko struggled to stop her, but Hanzō held him at knifepoint.
• Minato, Kakashi, Rin, and Hong watched from the forest, and Minato chose not to rescue Akatsuki.
• Konan picked up the Kunai as she looked at Yahiko, torn between obeying Hanzō and protecting him.

Liao Wu took the Kunai meant for Nagato, dying after saving him and sparing Konan from killing her comrade. His sacrifice sent Nagato into a rage against Rain Village and Root, while Liao Wu secretly twitched his fingers as he pretended to be dead.

• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull Konan and Hanzō's Kunai toward himself, intending to make Konan choose between him and Yahiko.
• Liao Wu rushed in front of Nagato and took the Kunai through his chest, explaining to Konan that he wanted to spare her the guilt of killing a comrade.
• Danzō and Hanzō reacted with shock, while Danzō recalled his past hesitation and Hanzō lamented losing the chance to use Liao Wu's abilities.
• Konan tried to heal Liao Wu with the Mystical Palm Technique, but the wound was fatal, and she kissed him before he died.
• Nagato blamed Akatsuki's mistrust for Liao Wu's apparent death and vowed to kill Rain Village and Root.
• Liao Wu secretly twitched his fingers and scratched his dermatitis while continuing to pretend to be dead.

Nagato unleashed the Rinnegan’s power against Hanzō and the Rain Village, while Minato exposed Liao Wu’s feigned death. As Danzo attacked the Akatsuki and Madara’s forces arrived, Liao Wu struck back and empowered Konan, who chose to stay with her comrades.

• Nagato transformed with the Asura Path and fired Laser Cannons at Hanzō’s forces and Root, while Danzo led Root down the hills to attack the Akatsuki.
• Minato struck at Liao Wu’s apparent corpse, but Liao Wu revived, blocked his Rasengan with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai, and admitted he had fooled everyone again.
• Konan slapped Liao Wu for tricking her, then embraced him; Nagato halted his attack, and Hanzō offered to spare the Akatsuki if Liao Wu joined the Rain Village.
• Danzo ordered Root to attack despite Hanzō’s protest, while Black Zetsu told Liao Wu that Lord Madara had entered the Land of Rain; Tobi appeared and claimed he would sever Obito’s bonds.
• Liao Wu killed a Root Jonin with one punch, then offered to evacuate Konan, but she refused to leave her comrades behind.
• Liao Wu gave Konan a Life Spore, allowing her to perform Paper Dance and turn her body into paper fragments.

Liao Wu kept Minato occupied while Konan and Nagato went to rescue Yahiko, as the fighting spread across the battlefield. After Yahiko revealed that Nagato possessed the Rinnegan, Hanzō turned against Danzo and threatened Nagato with Yahiko’s life.

• Liao Wu sent Snow Leopard and Candy to help Akatsuki, while Konan flew with Nagato to rescue Yahiko.
• Liao Wu used genjutsu and a Fire Style attack against Minato, then fought him with a devastating kick that Minato escaped using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Hanzō mistook Minato’s arrival as an attempt by Danzo to assassinate him, while Yahiko accused Hanzō of being deceived about the Leaf Village’s true goal.
• Yahiko revealed that Nagato’s eyes were the Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths, and Hanzō realized why Danzo had brought Minato.
• Hanzō turned on Danzo, seized Yahiko, and threatened to kill him unless Nagato handed over the Rinnegan.

Yahiko sacrificed himself to save Nagato and Konan, and Nagato unleashed the Rinnegan’s power and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. After a female Root Ninja died in an explosion meant to free her, Minato and Liao Wu turned against each other as Nagato’s summoning overshadowed theirs.

• Liao Wu took a Root Ninja hostage to force Minato to withdraw, but Minato refused to abandon the mission, and Nagato reached for his eyes.
• Liao Wu’s hidden clone shocked Hanzō and freed Yahiko, but Ryoma Aburame blocked Nagato’s attempt to pull Yahiko to safety.
• Yahiko detonated an Explosive Tag, killing himself and leaving Nagato devastated.
• Nagato unleashed the Rinnegan’s power and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path despite Konan’s warning.
• The female Root Ninja detonated the Explosive Tags on her body, and Minato recognized her as a woman who had once admired him.
• Minato vowed to kill Liao Wu, who threatened to take everything Minato loved, while both prepared summoning techniques and Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and fought Hanzō's forces while Madara headed for the Land of Rain to reclaim his eyes. Elsewhere, Kakashi's team struggled against Tobi, who learned he was a piece of shit from the statue.

• Madara realized Nagato had awakened the implanted Rinnegan, and Tsunade concluded he was heading to the Land of Rain to reclaim his eyes.
• Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, which drained his chakra and life force as Konan grieved over Yahiko and Nagato's state.
• Minato and Gama Bunta identified the statue as the Ten-Tails' husk, while Liao Wu fed chicken soup to Fried Rice and fled Bunta's attempt to steal it.
• Kakashi's team struggled against Tobi, whose White Zetsu body gave him powerful chakra and Wood Style abilities.
• Black Zetsu told Tobi he was a piece of shit from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Tobi happily accepted the explanation.

Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and unleashed a Phantom Dragon against Hanzō and Danzo, while Obito struggled to stop Tobi from killing Kakashi. Danzo sent Ryoma to bring Minato to the battlefield, where Minato and Gama Bunta continued fighting Liao Wu.

• Black Zetsu told Tobi that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was not his mother, while Obito fought Madara's control and urged Kakashi to kill him.
• Nagato released a Phantom Dragon that passed through the Rain Village Anbu's attacks and drained the chakra and souls of those it touched.
• Danzo ordered Ryoma Aburame to bring Minato and told Hanzō to stall Nagato until his Forbidden Technique expired.
• Hanzō argued with Danzo over Yahiko's death and his own decision to pursue the Rinnegan, then prepared to confront Nagato.
• Ryoma flew toward Minato and Liao Wu as Minato and Gama Bunta battled Liao Wu, whose heavy armor let him withstand Minato's attacks.

Minato and Liao Wu fought while Gamabunta was driven back to Mount Myōboku, and Minato entered Sage Mode. As Liao Wu hid underground, Minato watched Nagato struggle against Hanzō and Danzo on the distant battlefield.

• Gamabunta bound Liao Wu with Wood Style, but Liao Wu struck him with Raikiri and sent him back to Mount Myōboku.
• Minato pierced Liao Wu's armor and heart with a Wind Style-charged Kunai, then entered Sage Mode and caught Liao Wu's counterpunch.
• Liao Wu repaired his heart with a Life Spore and escaped underground with the Mayfly Technique, leaving Minato unable to reach him.
• Minato and Liao Wu questioned each other about their choices, including why Minato had spared Liao Wu's head and why Liao Wu had spared Kakashi and Hong.
• Minato watched Hanzō and Danzo use Ibuse, Baku, and Poison Mist against Nagato, who drained his life to control the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Minato and Ryobu fought over whether Nagato’s Rinnegan would be destroyed, while Obito struggled against Tobi’s control. Ryobu unleashed his forbidden Fire Style: Crimson Jade Rasengan, leaving Minato and Ryoma’s fate unclear as Nagato weakened from poison and the strain of his Rinnegan.

• Ryoma told Minato that Madara could arrive at any moment and urged him to destroy Nagato’s Rinnegan with Flying Thunder God.
• Obito begged Kakashi and Kurenai to kill him before Tobi took control, but Tobi regained control of Obito’s body and Black Zetsu ordered him to kill Rin.
• Ryobu threatened to kill Rin and Kakashi if Minato attacked Nagato, but Minato threw a Flying Thunder God kunai toward Nagato after Ryoma offered to hold Ryobu back.
• Ryobu emerged from underground and unleashed his forbidden Fire Style: Crimson Jade Rasengan, creating a huge explosion between Minato and Ryoma.
• Kakashi, Danzo, Hanzō, Konan, and Nagato noticed the explosion as Nagato continued to suffer from Ibuse’s poison and the strain of controlling the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Nagato weakened after using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while Hanzō and Danzo raced to seize his Rinnegan. Liao Wu recovered from his Forbidden Technique, and Minato reached Nagato first, intending to destroy the eyes as the chapter ended.

• Nagato told Konan to take his Rinnegan and escape, but Konan begged Liao Wu to save him with his Forbidden Technique.
• Hanzō outmaneuvered Danzo and charged toward Nagato, while Nagato’s Rinnegan began reacting violently.
• Liao Wu regenerated from the damage caused by his Forbidden Technique as Minato and Ryoma emerged from the rubble, with Ryoma missing an arm.
• Minato teleported toward Nagato, and Liao Wu told Ryoma that Madara Uchiha had arrived.
• Candy and Snow Leopard tried to stop Hanzō from reaching Nagato, but Hanzō trapped them in a Water Prison and kicked Konan aside.
• Minato arrived before Hanzō and raised his Kunai to destroy Nagato’s Rinnegan.