Chapter Summaries

Rasa agreed that Sunagakure should try to bring Pakura back as Konoha’s growing strength made her power more valuable. Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, and Aoba revealed his own Wood Release before presenting her with a mysterious congratulatory gift.

• Ebizo told Rasa and Chiyo that Pakura was alive, had mastered Magnet Release, and had warned off Sunagakure’s scouts, so Ebizo urged Rasa to persuade her to return.
• Hiruzen and the two advisers found Kushina absorbing Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra after she had used Wood Release, and Kushina nervously greeted them.
• Hiruzen handed Tsunade the Hokage hat, and Tsunade accepted her role as the Fifth Hokage before the cheering villagers.
• Dan watched Tsunade’s inauguration and quietly thanked her for fulfilling the dream he had once shared with her.
• Hiruzen asked Aoba about Kushina’s Wood Release, and Aoba demonstrated that he could also use it without cell transplants, explaining that Kekkei Genkai could be synthesized through chakra control.
• Aoba entered Tsunade’s office, found her already overwhelmed by paperwork, and placed a thick scroll on her desk as a gift for her succession.

Aoba persuaded Tsunade to fund his research by offering a guide to artificially fusing Kekkei Genkai, and Tsunade approved hidden cloning research framed as treatment for disabled ninja. After Kumogakure attacked Kirigakure, Aoba proposed using mercenaries and other unaffiliated fighters to intervene without breaking Konoha’s alliance with Kumogakure.

• Aoba gave Tsunade a Chakra Nature Transformation—Fusion Guide and argued that future enemies would require Konoha to strengthen its forces beyond conventional ninja.
• Tsunade agreed to support Aoba’s research in exchange for the guide, provided cloning work was concealed as limb restoration for injured ninja.
• Aoba told Tsunade that the meteor attack had been caused by a Tenseigan controlled by someone he suspected was Uchiha Obito or Black Zetsu, and asked to accompany her to the Hyuga Clan.
• Tsunade received intelligence that Kumogakure had breached three Kirigakure border outposts less than six hours after signing an alliance with Konoha.
• Aoba explained that Kumogakure was targeting Kirigakure for resources and Kekkei Genkai, then suggested hiring unaffiliated fighters to intervene without Konoha violating its treaty.

Aoba convinced Nagato that Akatsuki should intervene in the war between Kumogakure and Kirigakure to appear as a threat that could unite the shinobi nations, and promised to address Nagato’s injuries. As Kumogakure’s assault met resistance from Yagura, Aoba recruited Kisame for a mission back to the Land of Water and left him wondering what Aoba was preparing for.

• Aoba told Nagato that Akatsuki would enter the Kumogakure–Kirigakure war and serve as an apparent enemy to unite the shinobi nations, while also promising to remove the Black Rods in Nagato’s back.
• Kumogakure’s Jinchuriki Killer B and Omoi attacked Kirigakure’s defenses, but former Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura arrived and halted their advance.
• Yagura fought Killer B and Omoi while Kirigakure’s shinobi shifted to guerrilla tactics, slowing Kumogakure’s offensive.
• Aoba found Kisame after his training and ordered him to return to the Land of Water for a mission.
• Kisame asked what Aoba was guarding against, and Aoba asked him what he thought was the essence of war.

Aoba sent Kisame to the Land of Water to prolong the war at a controlled intensity, while Kirigakure struggled against Kumogakure’s advance and its Tailed Beasts. Akatsuki accepted a paid mission to support Kirigakure, and Kisame and Pakura arrived on the battlefield as reinforcements.

• Aoba told Kisame to buy time by keeping the war going and promised to strengthen him before he faced Kumogakure’s A-B Duo.
• Mei Terumi and Karatachi Yagura struggled to hold back Kumogakure, while Ōnoki considered how Iwagakure might profit from the conflict.
• Pain announced that Akatsuki had accepted Kirigakure’s five-hundred-million payment to restrain important Kumogakure personnel, and he warned the members not to harm two new allies already on the battlefield.
• As Isobu fought Gyūki and Matatabi, Mei Terumi received word that Aoba’s side was ready and summoned a giant lizard to bring in Kisame and Pakura.
• Mei Terumi stopped the Kirigakure ninja from attacking Kisame and Pakura, after which Kisame headed for Gyūki and Pakura flew toward Matatabi.

Pakura restrained Matatabi with Iron Sand and a sealing scroll, but Darui destroyed the scroll and freed Omoi. Meanwhile, Kisame used a Cursed Seal to overpower Eight-Tails Gyūki and trapped him in a water sphere filled with sharks, forcing Gyūki to retreat into Killer B.

• Pakura bound Matatabi with Iron Sand chains, and Yagura used the opening to recover from Eight-Tails’ attack.
• Pakura tried to seal Matatabi with a scroll, but Darui’s curving Storm Release lasers destroyed it and freed Omoi.
• In Aoba’s laboratory, Aoba reported that splitting off a soul fragment had caused no significant side effects, and he wondered whether Kimimaro had found his target.
• Killer B launched miniature Tailed Beast Balls at Kisame, who recovered with Samehada before activating Curse Seal State One.
• Kisame endured another barrage, severed one of Gyūki’s tentacles with Samehada, and trapped Eight-Tails inside a vast water sphere.
• Kisame summoned countless sharks inside the sphere, and Gyūki retreated into Killer B to end his Tailed Beast transformation.

Aoba brought Orochimaru to meet Nagato and asked him to examine the Black Rods and the seal on Nagato’s heart. After Orochimaru determined the seal could not be safely removed, Aoba proposed removing Nagato’s heart with it, and Nagato agreed to trust him.

• Darui attacked Pakura with lightning, but her Iron Sand shield blocked it, while Killer B was trapped in Kisame’s water sphere and shocked himself to escape the sharks.
• Kisame fused with Samehada and transformed into a much larger half-shark form, preparing to attack Killer B.
• The Fourth Raikage drove a speedboat toward the battlefield at extreme speed by channeling lightning into its motor.
• Obito stored the Giant Tenseigan in his space-time dimension and opened a passage from the moon to the Shinobi World with Kamui.
• Aoba and Orochimaru met Nagato and Konan in the Land of Whirlpools, where Orochimaru examined Nagato’s Black Rods and heart seal.
• Aoba proposed removing Nagato’s heart along with the seal, and Nagato agreed before they changed locations.

Kimimaro brought Jugo to Yamashiro Aoba, while Orochimaru recognized Jugo’s Sage Transformation as a power suited to his Cursed Seal. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted Shimura Danzō over human experimentation, and Danzō revealed a Sharingan as he prepared to act.

• Kimimaro restrained Jugo during a rampage in a cave and persuaded him to come to Lord Aoba’s place, promising to keep him from harming others.
• Yamashiro Aoba arrived at the Pale Swamp with Nagato, Konan, and Orochimaru, where Jugo’s mutation surfaced and Orochimaru recognized its compatibility with his Cursed Seal.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen learned where Shimura Danzō was hiding and led Anbu into a nearby Root base, finding former Anbu members among the resisting Root shinobi.
• Tsunade learned that Hiruzen had gone after Danzō and chose to leave the old man’s grudge to him; she also stopped the investigation into the advisors’ hidden accounts.
• Hiruzen found Danzō conducting human experiments and urged him to surrender, but Danzō defended his actions and accused Tsunade of underestimating threats to Konoha.
• Danzō invoked Senju Tobirama’s warning about the Uchiha, then uncovered his right eye to reveal a three-tomoe Sharingan.

Obito attacked Danzo’s fleeing Root force with the Tenseigan, but Danzo escaped and Sarutobi Hiruzen found no trace of him. Meanwhile, Aoba calmed Jugo’s Sage power and prepared Nagato for surgery after restoring his strength with tailed-beast chakra.

• Obito used the Tenseigan to devastate Danzo’s group, while Danzo escaped with a Shadow Clone left behind.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen searched the ruins but found no body or trace of Danzo, and Tsunade worried about the unknown attacker’s destructive power.
• Aoba suppressed Jugo’s violent power with the Ketsuryūgan, prompting Orochimaru to marvel at Jugo’s natural ability to absorb Natural Energy.
• Aoba gave Nagato access to Han’s Five-Tails chakra and the sealed Seven-Tails, and Nagato restored his strength by absorbing part of Han’s chakra.
• Nagato noticed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path draining him through his Black Rods, so Aoba put him to sleep and prepared to remove them.

Aoba guided Kimimaro and Jugo toward medical ninjutsu while overseeing the removal of Nagato’s Black Rods. After Jugo entered Sage Mode under Aoba’s control, he regenerated Nagato’s shattered heart, and Aoba began teaching Jugo to control the ability himself.

• Aoba warned Kimimaro against overusing Shikotsumyaku and urged him to learn to control other people’s bones for both combat and healing.
• Orochimaru removed eleven of Nagato’s Black Rods, but stopped when the final rod’s connection to Nagato’s heart made it dangerous to remove.
• Aoba explained that Jugo could transfer his Natural Energy and biological energy to heal others, then took control of Jugo’s body with the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Aoba guided Jugo into Sage Mode while Orochimaru removed the final Black Rod, triggering the seal and leaving Nagato’s heart shattered.
• Jugo used his Sage Body to rebuild Nagato’s heart, which began beating again within seconds.
• Aoba let Jugo experience and take over Sage Mode, but the transformation soon ended.

Nagato woke after Aoba removed the Black Rods from his back and learned that he was recovering on Forgotten Island. Meanwhile, Obito and Black Zetsu captured Danzo, and Konoha’s leaders confronted the consequences of Root’s experiments, leaving Tsunade to decide Danzo’s fate.

• Nagato woke in a hospital on Forgotten Island, confirmed that the Black Rods were gone, and heard from Konan that Aoba had performed his surgery.
• Obito destroyed Danzo’s Baku, then Black Zetsu suppressed and captured Danzo, explaining that Nagato’s signal had vanished and his actions seemed unusual.
• Aoba discussed Danzo’s influence over Konoha with Tsunade and reassured her that Kirigakure could withstand Kumogakure’s invasion.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura about Root’s records of more than seven hundred human experiments, but they defended Danzo’s actions and accused Hiruzen of sharing responsibility.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura asked how Danzo’s situation would be handled, and Sarutobi Hiruzen said Tsunade would decide while the Shimura Clan would not be punished for Danzo’s crimes.

Kumogakure secured its foothold on the islands but paused its advance against Kirigakure, while new Akatsuki members Deidara and Sasori met Kisame and Pakura. Aoba offered Mei Terumi a way to make a new Perfect Jinchuriki, gave her an improved Cursed Seal, and the chapter ended with Karui recognizing Biwa Jūzō as he attacked her squad.

• The Raikage ordered Dodai to identify the organization employing Kisame and Pakura and find its leader and base.
• Deidara and Sasori encountered Kisame and Pakura in the fog, exchanged a brief confrontation, and received their mission scroll.
• Aoba told Mei Terumi that Utakata was alive and that he had removed the Six-Tails, then offered to transfer it to a suitable candidate and help them become a Perfect Jinchuriki.
• Aoba planted an improved Heaven Cursed Seal on Mei Terumi and left, while Mei felt the mark changing her chakra.
• Karui's squad was ambushed by a barrage of kunai and senbon, and Karui recognized the attacker as Biwa Jūzō.

Akatsuki launched coordinated attacks on Kumogakure, destroying its supply depot and inflicting heavy losses before the Fourth Raikage ordered a withdrawal and called for reinforcements. Deidara survived the destruction of the outpost, but someone caught him as he tried to leave.

• Biwa Jūzō attacked Karui, stopping her from signaling for help and revealing that he belonged to the red-cloud organization.
• Sasori fought Darui in Hiruko, then summoned the Third Kazekage Puppet after Darui broke Hiruko's shell.
• Deidara planted clay spiders throughout Kumogakure's supply depot and detonated the supplies, then battled the Two-Tails and other Kumogakure ninja.
• Killer B struck Deidara's clay bird with a lightning-charged blade, and Omoi fired a Tailed Beast Ball at the falling Deidara.
• The Fourth Raikage found the outpost destroyed and ordered the wounded evacuated, the perimeter secured, and reinforcements and supplies dispatched.
• Deidara emerged from the earth after Kumogakure withdrew, but an unseen figure struck him with lightning and knocked him unconscious.

Yamashiro Aoba captured Sasori by disguising himself as Deidara and took Sasori’s Regeneration Core for Orochimaru to study. At Kirigakure’s camp, Mei Terumi accepted Zabuza’s challenge to prove her strength and revealed a range of powerful abilities, leaving the duel unresolved.

• Yamashiro Aoba disguised himself as Deidara, shattered Sasori’s Puppet body, and seized Sasori’s Regeneration Core.
• Mei Terumi faced growing doubt over her appointment as the next Mizukage, and Momochi Zabuza challenged her in front of the gathered Kirigakure ninja.
• Mei Terumi accepted the challenge, declined Chōjūrō’s offer of a sword, and dispersed Zabuza’s Hidden Mist Technique with Wind Release.
• Mei Terumi countered Zabuza with Water Release and Lava Release, then activated the Cursed Seal’s second form and formed a water whip.
• Zabuza attacked with Hiramekarei, but Mei Terumi used the Water Transformation Technique to let the strike pass through her unharmed.

Mei Terumi overwhelmed Zabuza with her Water Release, while Obito learned that Nagato had likely betrayed him and ordered Zetsu to find him. Aoba revived Sasori’s parents to persuade Sasori to cooperate, and Pakura negotiated with Chiyo to return the Third Kazekage Puppet in exchange for One’s Own Life Reincarnation.

• Mei Terumi controlled Zabuza’s Water Dragon Bullet and summoned a giant water monster, leaving him unable to fight back.
• Obito learned that Deidara, Sasori, and Kakuzu had vanished and concluded that Nagato had betrayed him, so he ordered Zetsu to find Nagato.
• Aoba restored Sasori’s ability to move and summoned Sasori’s parents with Impure World Reincarnation, revealing that Sasori had turned himself into a Puppet.
• Pakura met Chiyo and Ebizo at the Land of Water border and rejected their request to return to Sunagakure.
• Pakura offered to return the Third Kazekage Puppet in exchange for One’s Own Life Reincarnation, and Chiyo gave her the technique and explained its life-for-life cost.

Pakura completed a deal with Chiyo and revealed that Sasori was alive, while Aoba recruited Sasori by offering him contact with his parents and a chance at true resurrection. At a harbor in the Land of Water, Pain tried to stop Kumogakure’s invasion, but the Raikage attacked and the Six Paths of Pain turned the harbor into chaos.

• Pakura accepted the forbidden technique scroll, and Chiyo asked whether she would return if made Kazekage; Pakura left without answering.
• Sasori reunited with his Impure World Reincarnation parents until Aoba sealed them away, then agreed to work with Aoba and support Pakura’s bid to become Kazekage.
• Aoba gave Sasori a contract scroll that allowed him to summon his parents and promised to research restoring Sasori’s body and truly resurrecting them.
• Pain arrived at Kumogakure’s harbor and asked the Fourth Raikage to withdraw from the war, but the Raikage rejected the plea and attacked.
• Pain repelled the Raikage and the Kumogakure ninja, then revealed the other five Paths; the Preta Path absorbed Darui’s ninjutsu as summoned beasts descended on the harbor.

Obito discovered that Nagato was behind the Six Paths of Pain after the Deva Path Pain devastated Kumogakure’s harbor with Super Shinra Tensei. Nagato confronted Obito after recovering his body, exposed Obito’s manipulation, and Obito vowed to take back the Rinnegan.

• Obito searched for Nagato’s real body while Darui led Kumogakure’s shinobi in defeating five of the Six Paths of Pain.
• The Deva Path Pain unleashed Super Shinra Tensei, destroying Kumogakure’s harbor and sinking its fleet.
• Obito grabbed the Deva Path Pain, traced its chakra through a Black Rod, and found Nagato hidden inside the Chameleon Lizard.
• Darui ordered the surviving Kumogakure shinobi to rescue the wounded while Mei Terumi and Ao watched the devastation from a cliff.
• Konan carried Yahiko’s corpse away as Obito confronted Nagato, who revealed that Obito had manipulated him and arranged Yahiko’s death.
• Obito admitted his deception and vowed to reclaim the Rinnegan from Nagato.

Nagato and Konan trapped Obito, but he used the Rinnegan to regain control of Nagato before Aoba intervened and drove Black Zetsu away. Nagato tore out his eyes, and Aoba and Obito each seized one; with Nagato unconscious and Konan fleeing, Aoba faced Obito and revealed a matching Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Nagato attacked Obito after removing the seal on his heart, and he and Konan lured Obito into a pit lined with Explosive Tags.
• Obito escaped the trap, used the Rinnegan to control Nagato, and Black Zetsu possessed Nagato's body.
• Aoba sealed Nagato with a Four-Symbols Seal, forcing Black Zetsu to sever part of himself and flee.
• Nagato tore out his Rinnegan, but their repulsive force blasted everyone away; Obito and Aoba each recovered one eye.
• Aoba sent the unconscious Nagato away with Konan, then fought Obito and revealed a Mangekyō Sharingan matching Obito's.

Yamashiro Aoba used his one-eyed Susanoo against Obito, then overwhelmed him with Sage Art: Radiance Release: Flame Demon. When Obito’s Mangekyō power surged and destabilized, he revealed a hidden golden chakra sword that split the Flame Demon and the island in two.

• Obito recognized Aoba’s Mangekyō pattern as fake, but Aoba summoned a second-stage Susanoo and fought Obito’s evenly.
• Obito advanced his Susanoo to its third stage and overpowered Aoba, who retreated on a Sand Cushion while gathering Natural Energy.
• Aoba entered Sage Mode and summoned the enormous Flame Demon, prompting Mei Terumi to order Kirigakure’s forces to retreat.
• The Flame Demon swatted aside Obito’s Susanoo and pummeled it while Aoba taunted Obito about Rin.
• Obito’s ocular power surged, but his eye bled and his Susanoo destabilized as he approached his limit.
• Obito formed a golden chakra sword and cleaved the Flame Demon and the island in half, leaving seawater pouring into the fissure.

Yamashiro Aoba followed Obito into the Kamui Dimension, interrupted his attempts to escape, and took back one of Obito’s eyes before Obito fled. Aoba then headed for the Tenseigan as Kirigakure launched a surprise attack on the battered Kumogakure forces.

• Aoba ambushed Obito, destroyed Susanoo’s head, and grabbed Obito’s wrist as Obito pulled them both into the Kamui Dimension.
• Aoba resisted the dimension’s disorienting transfer, then used a Flying Thunder God mark and his Sharingan to stop Obito from escaping and interrupt his access to the Tenseigan’s power.
• Aoba gouged out Obito’s left eye, but Obito formed Susanoo and escaped when Aoba’s Time Seal caused severe pain in his eye.
• Aoba sealed the stolen eye and raced toward the Tenseigan inside the Kamui Dimension.
• Mei Terumi ordered Kirigakure to counterattack, while the Raikage prepared Kumogakure to defend the ruined harbor.
• Kirigakure’s mist engulfed the harbor, and its forces launched a barrage of explosive-tag kunai at Kumogakure.

Kirigakure attacked the stranded Kumogakure forces with repeated Explosive Tags while Aoba studied the Giant Tenseigan in the Kamui Dimension and devised a way to transplant eye techniques. The chapter left Aoba trying to force ocular power from the Tenseigan with his Chakra Absorption Technique.

• Kirigakure ninjas ambushed the Kumogakure defenders with Explosive Tags, and the Raikage charged them but could not catch the ninjas diving beneath the sea.
• Mei Terumi challenged the Raikage in her Siren Form, used Hydrification Technique to survive his strike, and spread mist that corroded his Lightning Release Armor.
• Darui ordered the Kumogakure forces to retreat inland, while Killer B faced Kisame and Omoi encountered Pakura.
• Aoba struggled to draw power from the Giant Tenseigan and concluded that his lack of Otsutsuki bloodline prevented him from using it smoothly.
• Aoba theorized that accumulated ocular power could awaken or transplant eye techniques, then activated Chakra Absorption Technique on the Giant Tenseigan.