Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya worried about Aoba’s absence and the risks of his battlefield fame while Tsunade learned of his victory and returned a sealed scroll to Shizune. In Pale Swamp, Aoba completed his research into chakra-fusion Kekkei Genkai and prepared to test his new drug.

• Jiraiya worried that Aoba’s fame would attract enemies and considered having someone impersonate him at the outpost while the Land of Grass front remained quiet.
• Shizune told Tsunade that Aoba had defeated Iwagakure’s Four-Tails Jinchuriki, and Tsunade praised his growth despite refusing to return to Konohagakure.
• Tsunade took Shizune’s money pouch and found Aoba’s sealed scroll, then returned it after Shizune explained that Aoba had left it for her.
• In Pale Swamp, Aoba used the Lizard Clan’s sacred ground as a laboratory and completed his research into Lava Release and chakra-fusion Kekkei Genkai.
• Aoba mixed a dark-red serum into a nutrient solution, confirmed its stability with Chip, and carried the drug toward the other side of the cave.

Aoba successfully awakened Lava Release in an Iwagakure test subject and mastered the technique through the Spirit Transformation Technique. Before returning to the front lines after nearly a month away, he visited the Lizard Clan’s chief and learned that the clan’s Senjutsu inheritance had been lost except for its last surviving Sage.

• Aoba injected a prepared medicine into Test Subject Number Twenty-Seven and used the Spirit Transformation Technique to observe his Fire and Earth chakra merging painfully.
• The test subject awakened Lava Release, suffered burns from his own lava, and survived Aoba’s treatment long enough for Aoba to test the Scorching Current Rock Technique.
• Aoba mastered Lava Release, returned to his own body, and decided to leave Pale Swamp before his absence led to accusations of desertion.
• Aoba crossed the barren swamp and greeted the Lizard Clan members on his way to visit their chief.
• The Old Lizard transformed into a hunched old man and revealed himself as the Lizard Clan’s last surviving Lizard Sage, whose Senjutsu inheritance depended on special ore that had been lost.

Aoba returned from Pale Swamp after persuading the Lizard Clan to relocate, then learned that the Third Raikage’s death had intensified the war between Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Back at the Land of Grass front, Jiraiya appointed Aoba deputy commander to counter Iwagakure’s raids, while Pakura captured a Kirigakure stronghold on an island off the Land of Water.

• Aoba deciphered the Lizard Clan’s murals, learned their history, and convinced the Old Clan Chief to relocate the clan from Pale Swamp.
• Aoba collected the Old Clan Chief’s blood and scales, returned through the Dragon Vein ruins, and bought intelligence about the Shinobi World.
• Aoba learned that the Third Raikage had died fighting Iwagakure and that the Fourth Raikage, A, had declared war on Iwagakure.
• Jiraiya explained that Iwagakure squads were raiding villages along the Land of Fire’s borders, then appointed Aoba deputy commander over a large patrol area.
• Pakura and Sunagakure forces eliminated the remaining Kirigakure troops on an island and began turning their captured stronghold into a defensive position and supply point.

Rasa used Pakura’s victory in the Land of Water to secure military funds and prepare an offensive while seeking to stabilize relations with Konoha. In the Land of Grass, Aoba organized a surveillance and rapid-response network that began trapping Iwagakure raiders.

• Rasa recognized that Pakura’s growing prestige could threaten his position, but decided to exploit her island conquest as an opportunity to expand Sunagakure’s influence.
• Rasa persuaded the Daimyo of the Land of Wind to fund his plans and ask the Land of Fire to reopen alliance negotiations.
• Rasa returned to Sunagakure, gathered troops, and prepared to push into the Land of Water.
• Aoba assessed Iwagakure’s suicidal raiding tactics and organized Konoha’s thirty-seven available Shinobi into teams supported by Hyuga scouts, Chameleon Lizards, and Puppet Clones.
• Aoba’s surveillance network helped Konoha teams locate and surround two Iwagakure raiders after they looted a village, while one raider fell under Genjutsu.

Aoba wiped out the Iwagakure infiltration squads using his sand and a Byakugan-equipped crow, then considered how his wartime successes might affect Minato’s chances of becoming Hokage. Meanwhile, Pakura received orders to hand over command and return to Sunagakure, where Rasa’s subordinate Rekishi had arrived to replace her.

• Jiraiya reviewed reports of the dwindling Iwagakure infiltration squads and credited Aoba’s summoned beast with helping stop the raids.
• Aoba crushed an Iwagakure ninja with Sand Binding Coffin before he could detonate his Explosive Tag, then ordered Konohagakure ninja to clean up.
• Aoba used a crow implanted with Hyuga Soya’s Byakugan to scan the area and confirmed that the Iwagakure squads there had been eliminated.
• Aoba reflected that taking some of Minato’s wartime achievements might affect Minato’s bid for Hokage, and considered whether Orochimaru could become Fourth Hokage instead.
• Pakura received orders to hand over command and return to Sunagakure, while Rekishi arrived with the reinforcements to take over.

After Sunagakure’s disastrous invasion of the Land of Water, Rasa faced the Daimyo’s fury and harsh alliance terms from Konohagakure. He unexpectedly agreed to the terms but demanded that Konohagakure withdraw its troops from the Land of Rivers border before Sunagakure signed.

• Rekishi took command from Pakura on Rasa’s orders, and Pakura left the island questioning whether Sunagakure was still worth serving.
• Rekishi expanded Sunagakure’s foothold to four islands before Kirigakure’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen and Anbu annihilated the occupying forces.
• The Land of Wind’s Daimyo blamed Rasa for the defeat and said Pakura might be better suited to become Kazekage, provoking Rasa’s fury.
• At renewed alliance negotiations, Konohagakure demanded that the Land of Wind halve its tax rate and cede control of border resource sites.
• Rasa accepted Konohagakure’s terms but demanded that its troops first withdraw from the Land of Rivers border.

Rasa accepted Konohagakure’s terms, then secretly sought an alliance with Kirigakure, which demanded Pakura as the price of peace. Rasa manipulated Pakura into accepting a mission to Kirigakure, and the chapter ended as she opened a jar containing a Sand Lizard.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed to withdraw Konohagakure’s troops from the Land of Rivers border, humiliating Rasa.
• Rasa secretly contacted Kirigakure to propose an alliance, and Kirigakure demanded that Sunagakure hand over Pakura.
• Rasa sidelined Pakura with menial assignments while she focused on training her disciple Maki.
• Rasa apologized to Pakura and persuaded her to travel to Kirigakure as Sunagakure’s envoy for peace talks.
• Pakura packed her ninja gear, then opened a jar and woke a Sand Lizard.

Pakura traveled by ship toward Kirigakure for peace talks while doubting that Sunagakure had sent her on a genuine diplomatic mission. At the Land of Grass front, Aoba learned of Konohagakure’s planned alliance with Sunagakure and secretly set out to reach Pakura, appearing in her cabin at the chapter’s end.

• Pakura fed the Sand Lizard, told it she was going to Kirigakure for peace talks, and left; the lizard later escaped its jar and vanished into the sand.
• Jiraiya told Aoba that Konohagakure was negotiating an alliance with Sunagakure and would withdraw troops from the Land of Rivers to reinforce the front in the Land of Grass.
• Aoba urged Jiraiya to recommend leaving a small garrison in the Land of Rivers as an early-warning force, and Jiraiya agreed to pass the suggestion to the Hokage.
• Aoba used the Spirit Transformation Technique to possess a White Zetsu body, then traveled underground with the Mayfly Technique.
• Pakura lay awake aboard the ship, suspecting that Rasa had sent her into a trap rather than on genuine peace talks.
• A pale figure emerged through Pakura’s cabin wall, and Aoba told her not to be nervous because it was him.

Aoba helped Pakura fake her death during a mission arranged to hand her over to Kirigakure. After witnessing Sunagakure’s betrayal, Pakura cut her forehead protector and asked Aoba what he needed her to do.

• Aoba used his transformation ability to make himself look like Pakura before she set out alone for the meeting on a remote island in the Land of Water.
• Kirigakure ninja ambushed and killed a White Zetsu disguised as Pakura, then buried the body while mocking Sunagakure for sacrificing its own hero.
• Aoba and Pakura emerged after the ambush, and Aoba revealed that the buried corpse was White Zetsu.
• Pakura accepted that Rasa had betrayed her and that her sacrifice would not bring peace between Sunagakure and Kirigakure.
• Pakura slashed the symbol on her Sunagakure forehead protector, declared herself no longer a ninja of the village, and asked Aoba what he needed her to do.

Aoba recruited the betrayed Pakura into his new organization, the Shadow Council, and gave her her first mission. After Pakura left the island, Aoba seized a lurking White Zetsu, learning that Madara’s influence likely extended into Kirigakure.

• Pakura renounced Sunagakure and agreed to join Aoba’s organization as his first companion.
• Aoba named the organization the Shadow Council, chose the codename Number One before settling on Valmont, and Pakura chose Azure.
• Aoba handed Pakura a mission scroll, then his Puppet Shadow Clone disappeared and left the puppet behind.
• Pakura collected the White Zetsu remains and the puppet, then left the island through the mist.
• White Zetsu emerged to report to Lord Madara that a Konohagakure ninja had discovered them, but Aoba possessed its body and scattered its consciousness.
• Aoba concluded that Madara had probably infiltrated Kirigakure because White Zetsu had been present when Kirigakure ninja ambushed Pakura.

Aoba uncovered more of Uchiha Madara’s manipulation of events around Obito but chose to stay hidden, while Madara prepared to begin his plan. In Sunagakure, Rasa learned that Kirigakure’s demands had not ended with Pakura’s death and, facing a political and financial crisis, began plotting a major raid into the Land of Fire.

• Aoba inferred that Uchiha Madara had infiltrated Kirigakure and orchestrated the events meant to make Obito witness Nohara Rin’s death, then used Mayfly Technique to leave.
• Uchiha Madara learned that a White Zetsu had lost contact and focused on Uchiha Obito as his plan approached.
• A Sunagakure Anbu told Rasa that Pakura had died, and Kirigakure’s secret letter demanded money and supplies before it would consider negotiations.
• Rasa rejected Kirigakure’s demands and dismissed its threats, while privately feeling relieved that Pakura could no longer threaten his position.
• After reviewing intelligence about Iwagakure’s raids in the Land of Fire, Rasa decided Sunagakure should launch a major robbery there to solve its financial crisis.

Rasa secretly prepared to attack Konohagakure, securing Kumogakure’s agreement to exploit an opening in Konoha’s defenses. He rallied Sunagakure by blaming Iwagakure for Pakura’s death, and as the army marched north, Ōnoki began to suspect a larger plot involving Kumogakure.

• Rasa dismissed Sunagakure’s proposed alliance with Konohagakure as a deception and secretly asked the Fourth Raikage to join an attack.
• A consulted Dodai after intelligence confirmed Konohagakure had reinforced its border against Kumogakure, and agreed to wait for Sunagakure to strike first.
• Rasa announced that Pakura had been killed by Iwagakure and used the news to stir Sunagakure’s civilians and shinobi toward revenge.
• Sunagakure assembled its forces and marched north under the pretext of avenging Pakura.
• Ōnoki learned that Sunagakure was advancing on Iwagakure, insisted his village had not killed Pakura, and recalled unusual Kumogakure troop movements.

Ōnoki realized Sunagakure and Kumogakure had joined forces, while Aoba continued handling frontline duties for Jiraiya and received a message from Cang. Aoba met Pakura at the Land of Wind border, learned she had found a camp containing a clue to the Gelel Stone, and quietly put the camp to sleep.

• Ōnoki connected the movements of Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Konohagakure and concluded that Rasa planned to use an attack on Iwagakure as cover for a strike on the Land of Fire.
• Aoba reflected on Jiraiya's efforts to train him by giving him responsibility for frontline operations.
• Green Lizard delivered a message from Cang, and Aoba used the Spirit Transformation Technique to control White Zetsu and travel to Pakura.
• Aoba explained White Zetsu's abilities to Pakura, who led him to a desert caravan camp with a clue to the Gelel Stone.
• Aoba used the Demonic Illusion: Temple of Nirvana Technique to put the camp's sentries, occupants, and livestock to sleep.

Aoba and Pakura found the hidden Gelel ruins and reached the Sealing Chamber, where they discovered ancient records and a vast Gelel Stone vein. They began collecting the valuable healing mist, leaving the ore vein and its secrets before them.

• Aoba read Heyan's memories to find the Gelel Stone's location, then sealed away Heyan's memories of it.
• Aoba and Pakura traveled to the ruins, activated the ancient stone elevator, and descended into the Sealing Chamber.
• Aoba and Pakura studied the murals depicting how the ancient people discovered and used the Gelel Stone.
• Aoba blasted open the chamber's dome, releasing pale-blue healing mist, and Pakura began sealing the mist into a scroll.
• Aoba climbed above the chamber and found an enormous glowing Gelel Stone vein beneath a pale-blue pool, which Pakura also saw.

Aoba and Pakura harvested the Water of Life from a Gelel Ore vein, and Old Lizard identified the ore as the Lizard Clan’s Sage Ore. Meanwhile, Rasa revealed to Chiyo and Ebizo that he planned to raid the Land of Fire, and Aoba eventually fell asleep from exhaustion at Konohagakure’s frontline headquarters.

• Aoba brought high-grade Sealing Scrolls, and he and Pakura drained the pool of Water of Life above the Gelel Ore vein.
• Aoba summoned Old Lizard, who recognized the Gelel Ore as Sage Ore.
• Chiyo and Ebizo investigated Rasa’s military campaign after suspecting that his appeal to avenge Pakura concealed another purpose.
• Rasa told Chiyo and Ebizo that he planned to join forces with Kumogakure and raid the Land of Fire for resources.
• Chiyo and Ebizo agreed to support Rasa despite his plan’s risks.
• At Konohagakure’s frontline headquarters, Aoba fell asleep after weeks of military work and nighttime research.

Aoba warned Jiraiya that Sunagakure planned to use its march against Iwagakure as cover for a surprise attack on the Land of Fire. When Iwagakure reinforced its front, confirming that it meant to pin down Konohagakure’s forces, Aoba proposed taking the initiative with the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.

• Jiraiya found Aoba asleep, praised his efforts to develop new ninjutsu, and assigned Nara Ensu to help with his workload.
• A newly arrived intelligence report said Sunagakure was marching north toward the Land of Earth in response to Pakura’s death, and Aoba warned that its real target was the Land of Fire.
• Aoba argued that Sunagakure’s large-scale march made little sense as revenge and was likely a pretext for an attack, though Jiraiya lacked evidence to redeploy troops.
• An Anbu ninja reported that Iwagakure had abnormally reinforced its front lines, and Jiraiya and Aoba concluded that Ōnoki meant to keep Konohagakure’s forces tied down.
• Aoba suggested taking the initiative, and Jiraiya recognized that he meant using the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.

Aoba devised a plan to counter the threats from Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure, then led a covert mission to strike Iwagakure’s Jinchuriki. Sarutobi Hiruzen received Jiraiya’s report, approved of Aoba’s strategy, and resolved to mobilize Konoha’s senior leaders as the operation approached Rōshi’s camp.

• Aoba proposed attacking the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki, sending forces to intercept Sunagakure, and warning Minato to watch for a possible Kumogakure offensive, and Jiraiya approved the plan.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen recognized the danger posed by Iwagakure and Kumogakure’s troop movements, then received Jiraiya’s report praising Aoba’s analysis and summoned the three advisers.
• Jiraiya confirmed the locations of Rōshi and Han and assigned Aoba to attack Rōshi while Might Duy and the Sealing Squad targeted Han.
• Aoba entered Iwagakure territory under cover of darkness, used a crow’s Byakugan to avoid patrols, and silently killed an Iwagakure liaison near Rōshi’s camp.
• Aoba transformed himself into the liaison and headed toward Rōshi’s camp.

Aoba ambushed Rōshi and gained the upper hand with Strength of a Hundred and Lava Release, but Rōshi’s Four-Tails chakra took over and turned the fight against him. With Rōshi’s partial transformation gaining more tails, Aoba realized he could not keep trading blows.

• Aoba disguised himself as Rōshi’s liaison officer, struck him with Strength of a Hundred, and revealed his identity.
• Rōshi activated Lava Release Chakra Mode and attacked Aoba, but discovered Aoba had also mastered Lava Release.
• Aoba threw Rōshi to the ground and battered him until the Four-Tails chakra took over, forming three tails.
• Rōshi’s partial Tailed Beast transformation grew to four tails, and he exchanged punches with Aoba, whose arm was outmatched by Rōshi’s multiple attacks.
• Aoba realized that trading blows with Rōshi would only leave him taking several hits for every punch he landed.

Aoba defeated and sealed Rōshi after preventing his full transformation into the Four-Tails, then headed toward Might Duy’s battle with Han. The chapter left Duy fighting Han in a prolonged taijutsu clash, with Han betting that Duy’s power would not last.

• Aoba used the Body Flicker Technique and heavy strikes to overwhelm Rōshi, who countered with a Tailed Beast Ball fired as a destructive beam.
• As Rōshi began transforming fully, Aoba summoned three Dragon-Headed Serpent Monsters and used sand to restrain him.
• Aoba and his three Shadow Clones cast the Four-Symbols Seal, suppressed the Four-Tails, and left Rōshi unconscious.
• Aoba concluded that he had reached Kage Level and flew toward the other battlefield with Rōshi.
• Might Duy opened the Fifth Gate and fought Han, whose Steam Armor helped him withstand Duy’s attacks.
• Han recognized that Duy’s body could not sustain his power for long and resolved to outlast him.

Might Duy opened the Seventh Gate and used Aoba's Air Cannon technique against Han and the Five-Tails Kokuō while Aoba carried the sealed Rōshi toward the battlefield. Aoba redirected Kokuō toward Iwagakure's frontline and used two Puppet Clones to knock it down, leaving the beast exposed to his plan.

• Might Duy opened the Sixth and Seventh Gates, blocked Han's path to the Sealing Squad, and battered Han with Air Cannons until Han erupted in Tailed Beast chakra.
• Ōnoki led Iwagakure's elite ninjas toward the Jinchuriki, but Jiraiya intercepted him and prepared to stall the rescue force.
• Aoba rode a Sand Cushion toward the battlefield with the sealed Rōshi and found Might Duy fighting the fully transformed Five-Tails Kokuō.
• Aoba decided to lure Kokuō toward Iwagakure's defensive line, and Might Duy drew the beast after him by retreating and firing Air Bullets at its face.
• Aoba's two Puppet Clones used Ninja Art: Inukai Takeru no Mikoto to make rock dragon heads bite Kokuō's forelegs, sending the charging beast crashing to the ground.