Chapter Summaries

Shadow and Nagato found Karin’s mother dead from Kusagakure’s abuse, and Shadow used his power to extract and bind her soul. He sent her to take revenge on Kusagakure, leaving Karin and Nagato behind as he turned the village’s cruelty back on its perpetrators.

• Karin tried to protect her mother from Nagato, but Kakuzu lifted her away and reassured her.
• Shadow examined Karin’s mother and told Nagato that her vitality was gone and her body could not be saved.
• Shadow asked Nagato to leave Kusagakure’s people to him, and Nagato agreed.
• Shadow spent 2,000 points to extract Karin’s mother’s soul and bind it to him.
• Shadow urged the woman’s soul to devour Kusagakure’s people and take revenge.

A Hollow attacked Kusagakure, devouring the souls of its shinobi while they failed to harm it. Shadow, Nagato, and Kakuzu watched from outside a Five Seal Barrier as the village’s inhabitants were trapped with the advancing creature.

• Kusagakure shinobi mocked Karin and her mother while drinking at a night watch post.
• A Hollow appeared and devoured the soul of a Kusagakure Jonin, then killed the shinobi inside the post.
• The Hollow spread through Kusagakure, killing shinobi without distinction as survivors tried and failed to fight it.
• Kusagakure shinobi discovered the Hollow and attacked with weapons and Ninjutsu, but their strikes passed through it.
• Shadow, Nagato, and Kakuzu watched from high ground as the Five Seal Barrier trapped Kusagakure’s fleeing survivors with the Hollow.

Aoki returned to Kusagakure and found the village’s ninja slaughtered, while civilians had survived by hiding. Evidence pointed to the dead Uzumaki Clan woman and an invisible soul-devouring monster, leaving Aoki and the survivors terrified of her curse.

• Aoki entered Kusagakure with his returning squad and found streets filled with the corpses of the village’s ninja.
• The squad discovered civilians emerging from hiding, and one survivor described an invisible monster that had killed everyone.
• Aoki and his subordinates found no wounds or poison on the corpses, but one body had a missing heart and a message carved into its back.
• Aoki recognized the message as evidence against the Uzumaki Clan woman and ordered the squad to pursue her.
• A subordinate revealed that the woman was already dead and her body had been burned, convincing the survivors that her vengeful spirit had cursed the village.

Shadow took Karin in after the destruction of Kusagakure and planned to reunite her with her transformed mother. Meanwhile, Obito returned to Black Zetsu after losing the false identity of Madara, leaving him unsure how he could control Nagato.

• Nagato, Kakuzu, and Shadow left Kusagakure after delivering their final words, and Shadow said the massacre was only the beginning.
• Shadow comforted Karin and offered to take her with him, promising she might see her mother again; Karin grasped his hand and followed him.
• Shadow reflected that the plan had cost points but gained him Karin and her mother's Hollow, which might eventually regain its human form.
• Black Zetsu confronted the injured Obito, who replaced his blinded Sharingan with the eye Madara had left him and insisted only his Madara disguise had been exposed.
• Black Zetsu pointed out that without Madara's identity Obito had no leverage over Nagato, and Obito blamed the black figure who had stabbed and immobilized him.
• Black Zetsu reacted with surprise when Obito described the black figure who had pierced him.

Black Zetsu learned that the mysterious figure may be an ancient Ōtsutsuki who could not act directly, so he planned to seek another pair of Rinnegan while keeping himself hidden. Meanwhile, Konoha renewed its attacks in the Land of the Moon, leaving Samui uneasy as rain fell over the battlefield.

• Obito told Black Zetsu about a powerful, black figure who had caught him and forced him to use Izanagi to escape.
• Black Zetsu suspected the figure was a will-created being like himself and realized that Nagato’s Rinnegan might be the target.
• Obito showed Black Zetsu a rubbing from the Underground Palace, revealing the figure’s ancient Ōtsutsuki origins and history of conflict with Kaguya.
• Black Zetsu decided to stay concealed and set out with Obito to find another pair of Rinnegan.
• Samui and Yugito discussed Konoha’s repeated attacks, Hyuga Yunchuan, and the Ninja Tools recovered from the Underground Palace.
• Rain began falling as Samui watched the darkened battlefield and felt increasingly uneasy.

Hyuga Yunchuan led Konoha’s Surprise Attack Squad into the storm as Konoha intensified its assault on Kumogakure’s defenses. On the battlefield, Atsui noticed something strange about a fallen Konoha ninja and rushed to bring the corpse to his sister.

• Jiraiya warned Hyuga Yunchuan to prioritize his safety before Yunchuan and the Surprise Attack Squad prepared to depart.
• Hyuga Yunchuan spread his white wings and led the squad into the storm clouds while Jiraiya watched them leave.
• Konoha launched a fierce attack on Kumogakure, using heavy explosions and fire techniques against the defenders.
• Atsui killed a Konoha ninja but realized he had glimpsed an unusual detail about the corpse.
• Atsui carried the headless corpse toward the rear base, intending to show it to his sister.

Samui discovered that Konoha was using Fire Release and Exploding Tags to heat the battlefield, build storm clouds, and prepare to harness lightning. As lightning rods fell from the sky, Yugito pulled her away from the impact zone.

• Samui failed to get intelligence from a captured Konoha Jonin and remained uneasy about Konoha's intentions.
• Atsui pointed out that Konoha was using Exploding Tags unusually often, prompting Samui to inspect the battlefield herself.
• Samui realized that the explosions and numerous Fire Release techniques were heating the air and rapidly building clouds.
• Atsui noticed Konoha ninja were wearing rubber-soled shoes, and Samui concluded they planned to use the weather's lightning.
• Yugito pulled Samui aside as Konoha shinobi dropped lightning rods from the sky.

Konoha used flying ninja beasts and Water Release to trap and soak the Kumogakure forces, setting the battlefield for Hyuga Yunchuan’s lightning attack. As Yugito Nii released the Two-Tails, Yunchuan unleashed Takemikazuchi, a colossal white strike connecting the sky and earth.

• The Yamanaka Clan sent a message that prompted Konoha’s ninja to withdraw from combat with the Kumogakure forces.
• Konoha’s flying ninja beasts dropped spikes and flooded the battlefield with Water Release techniques, slowing the Kumogakure forces.
• Samui warned the Kumogakure ninja to flee from the coming Lightning Style attack, while Yugito Nii sensed the threat gathering in the storm clouds.
• Yugito Nii released the seal within her body and transformed into the Two-Tails as Hyuga Yunchuan prepared Takemikazuchi with Hatake Kakashi watching the lightning.
• Hyuga Yunchuan brought down Takemikazuchi, unleashing a blinding white lightning strike across the battlefield.

Hyuga Yunchuan’s attack devastated the battlefield in the Land of the Moon, destroying Kumogakure’s main force and leaving Samui and the Two-Tails, Matatabi, badly injured. Samui realized Atsui was dead, while Matatabi fixed her rage on Yunchuan.

• Hyuga Yunchuan’s white, lightning-filled attack struck the battlefield, forming a vast crater and vaporizing nearby Kumogakure shinobi.
• The blast hurled retreating Konoha shinobi away, and survivors saw the scorched battlefield and the wreckage left behind.
• Samui crawled out from beneath the rubble and discovered that Matatabi had shielded her but suffered severe burns.
• Samui saw the dead and wounded Kumogakure shinobi and recognized Atsui’s nearly melted sword.
• Samui screamed in despair, and Matatabi roared at Hyuga Yunchuan as he looked down from above.

Rasa and Sunagakure’s leaders discussed the Daimyo’s continued cuts to village funding and the loss of confidence in their military. With Gaara too unstable to control Shukaku, Rasa concluded that Sunagakure needed an overwhelming victory and implied they would return to battle.

• Rasa told the leaders that the Daimyo had decided to cut Sunagakure’s military funding and material allocations again.
• Sunagakure’s leaders argued that the cuts would leave the village unable to prepare for the shifting balance among the Five Great Nations.
• Chiyo said the Daimyo had lost confidence in Sunagakure after its defeats in the previous Shinobi World Wars.
• Rasa explained that Gold Dust could no longer sustain the village and that mastering Shukaku might restore the Daimyo’s trust.
• Chiyo reported that Gaara had lost control and killed a ninja, making him an unstable weapon.
• Rasa declared that Sunagakure needed an unquestionable victory, implying that the village would rejoin the battlefield.

Rasa received anonymous intelligence urging Sunagakure to attack Konoha through the Land of Rain and decided to verify Hanzo’s condition before acting. Meanwhile, Black Zetsu identified Uchiha Itachi as a likely new reincarnation of Indra’s Chakra, though Itachi’s birth year gave it pause.

• Rasa returned home after a meeting where Sunagakure’s leaders discussed attacking Konoha through the Land of Rivers, and he sensed an unknown intruder inside his residence.
• A half-white, half-black Ghost Shadow emerged from Rasa’s shadow, showed him a letter claiming Hanzo had grown fearful and would not resist an invasion through the Land of Rain, then vanished.
• Rasa used Gold Dust to open the letter and decided to send scouts to Amegakure to verify the intelligence, while planning to leak it to Hanzo as well.
• In the Uchiha Clan compound, Black Zetsu observed Uchiha Itachi’s Two-Tomoe Sharingan and judged that he was the new reincarnation of Indra’s Chakra after Uchiha Madara.
• Black Zetsu questioned its conclusion because Uchiha Itachi’s birth year did not seem to match the time of Uchiha Madara’s death.

A Konoha patrol found the child Gaara in the forest, and his fear gave way to a violent release of Shukaku. Shukaku emerged and began forming a devastating attack aimed at a Konoha border outpost.

• Jonin Yamada and three Chunin discovered a sobbing child beneath a tree during their border patrol.
• Yamada recognized the red-haired child’s forehead mark and realized he was Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchuriki.
• Gaara’s Chakra erupted, and quicksand killed the three Chunin and blasted Yamada into the mud.
• Shukaku emerged from the sand, celebrated its release, and declared that Konoha would be its target.
• Shukaku formed a dark-purple sphere and aimed its attack toward the Konoha outpost.

Hyuga Yunchuan received visits from admiring Konoha shinobi while recovering in the hospital, earning Reality Points from their conviction in his heroic image. Hyuga Aoi then visited on behalf of the Main Branch, and his cool response earned him even more points as she reacted emotionally.

• Konoha shinobi visited Hyuga Yunchuan with flowers and praised his service on the Land of the Moon front.
• After the visitors left, Hyuga Yunchuan gained 500 Reality Points from their intense belief in his gentle hero persona.
• Hyuga Aoi entered with a thermos and said she had come on behalf of the Main Branch to ask about his injuries.
• Hyuga Yunchuan answered Hyuga Aoi with polite indifference, which earned him 1000 Reality Points when she became emotionally affected.

Hyuga Yunchuan received care from Hyuga Aoi while recovering from his battlefield injuries, then Sarutobi Hiruzen visited and asked him to speak before Konoha's ninja at the Memorial Stone. Yunchuan's heroism continued to earn admiration as he prepared for a public address.

• Hyuga Aoi brought food to Hyuga Yunchuan and tried to feed him, while Yunchuan recognized that her feelings for him had changed.
• Medical staff changed Hyuga Yunchuan's painful, serious bandages, and Hyuga Aoi watched in distress as his injuries convinced her and others of his sacrifice.
• Hyuga Yunchuan reflected on how he had used the battle to establish his prestige and hoped Sunagakure would keep the war from ending quickly.
• After the medical staff left, Hyuga Aoi resumed feeding Hyuga Yunchuan, but Sarutobi Hiruzen entered the ward.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped Hyuga Yunchuan from rising and asked him to address all the Konoha ninja before the Memorial Stone.

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Hyuga Yunchuan to speak at Konoha’s Memorial Stone, and Yunchuan agreed. Meanwhile, Hizashi Hyuga continued impersonating his brother and revealed the real Hyuga Hiashi imprisoned beneath the clan residence.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Hyuga Yunchuan to address the shinobi at the Memorial Stone, and Yunchuan agreed.
• Hizashi Hyuga watched the hospital from the clan residence while hiding the Caged Bird Cursed Seal beneath his bandages.
• Hinata Hyuga brought Hizashi tea, but his cold response discouraged her from staying.
• Hizashi Hyuga entered a concealed underground chamber and found the real Hyuga Hiashi chained and pierced with needles.

Hizashi visited his imprisoned brother Hiashi and forced him to confront the pain he had inflicted on the Branch Family, insisting that Hiashi live to witness the Hyuga Clan’s future. Meanwhile, Neji searched the Forbidden Library and found the mysterious book he had been seeking.

• Hizashi told Hiashi that the Branch Family was prospering while the Main Branch had rotted, and said he had chosen to be Neji’s father rather than remain Hiashi’s subordinate.
• Hizashi fed Hiashi despite his resistance and reminded him of the pain and helplessness Hiashi had once inflicted on him.
• Hizashi told Hiashi to live and witness the Hyuga Clan’s future, then left him chained in the dark chamber.
• Neji searched the Forbidden Library for a book identified by a code and found a thick volume marked I247.5632.

Hyuga Neji discovered a hidden account of a Branch Family member who had nearly wiped out the Main Branch and apparently escaped the Caged Bird seal. When the Forbidden Library’s guardian returned, Neji killed him and dug out his Byakugan, believing they might be the key to breaking his own cage.

• Hyuga Neji used his Byakugan to reveal a secret history describing a Branch Family member who slaughtered Main Branch members and had the dead’s eyes removed.
• Neji connected the account to the eyes in his dreams and suspected that the stolen Byakugan held a way to break the Caged Bird seal.
• Hearing the guardian return, Neji hid in the shadows and decided he could not let the old man discover him.
• Neji ambushed the guardian, crushed his throat, and killed him despite recoiling from taking his first life.
• Neji dug the guardian’s Byakugan from his eye sockets and clutched them as though they were the key to escaping the Caged Bird.

After Hyuga Kurozuka was found murdered with his Byakugan removed, Hizashi Hyuga, disguised as Hyuga Hiashi, led the investigation and ordered the clan sealed. Hyuga Riwo pushed to scrutinize the Branch Family, deepening tensions as the killer remained unknown.

• Hyuga clansmen discovered Hyuga Kurozuka's body in the Forbidden Library, with his Byakugan gouged out.
• Hizashi Hyuga arrived disguised as Hyuga Hiashi and ordered the crowd to stop speculating about the Branch Family.
• The investigators found no missing books and learned that Kurozuka had been killed around two in the morning with a single crushing blow.
• The examiner judged the eye removal crude, making Orochimaru an unlikely culprit and raising suspicion that the killer was within the clan.
• Hizashi ordered the clan sealed and guards questioned, while Hyuga Riwo demanded an investigation of the Branch Family and threatened to punish anyone who resisted.

Hizashi Hyuga realized that Neji had killed Hyuga Kurozuka, but chose to stand by his son and bear the consequences rather than stop him. The chapter ended at a war memorial ceremony, where Hyuga Riwo saw his daughter standing behind Hyuga Yunchuan instead of with the Hyuga Clan.

• Hizashi Hyuga recalled seeing Neji steal the Forbidden Library seal release and concluded that Neji had killed Hyuga Kurozuka.
• Hizashi Hyuga resolved to support Neji's choices, regardless of whether they led to right or wrong, life or death.
• A Main Branch ninja informed Hizashi Hyuga and the elders that the Third Hokage had summoned them to pay respects at the Memorial Stone.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen presided over a war memorial ceremony as Konoha's fallen were remembered.
• Hyuga Riwo spotted his daughter standing behind Hyuga Yunchuan and grew furious.

Hyuga Yunchuan turned an urgent report of Sunagakure’s invasion into a fiery call for Konoha to fight, rallying the crowd and prompting Sarutobi Hiruzen to mobilize reinforcements. As Konoha prepared to march, Yunchuan gained Reality Points and learned that his clone had secured the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen yielded the Memorial Stone’s speaking position to Hyuga Yunchuan, who addressed Konoha’s grief and the cost of war.
• An Anbu ninja reported that the One-Tail had broken free and wiped out the border garrison, while Sunagakure forces invaded through the Land of Rain.
• Hyuga Yunchuan condemned Sunagakure and Kumogakure, turning the crowd’s panic into anger and urging them to fight.
• Hyuga Yunchuan tore open his injured arm and commanded the crowd to kill their enemies, and the Konoha ninja answered with a unified battle cry.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Konoha’s forces to form up and prepare supplies and sealing techniques for the march to the Land of Rain.
• Hyuga Yunchuan gained 11,000 Reality Points and learned that his clone had secured the Box of Ultimate Bliss.