Chapter Summaries

Senju Hashirama crushed Danzo’s guards with Wood Release, but Danzo escaped and Hashirama’s temporary vessel began to collapse. Elsewhere, Kagura encountered another Akatsuki member and recognized him with irritation.

• Senju Hashirama unleashed a massive Wood Release attack that killed Danzo’s three guards.
• Danzo fled before the attack struck, and Hashirama realized he could not pursue him as his vessel began to disintegrate.
• Orochimaru recorded data on the flawed, short-lived vessel, while Hashirama vanished without learning anything.
• Kagura encountered a man in a Red Cloud Black Robe and complained that she had run into him again.

After learning that Jūzō Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki’s deaths counted toward his system mission, Kagura hurried to aid the other squads and ran into Kakuzu. A new emergency mission rewarded him for killing Kakuzu, and Kagura’s eager stare left Kakuzu wondering if he had been mistaken for easy prey.

• The system told Kagura that Jūzō Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki had died, reducing his Rinnegan evolution time by two years.
• Kagura realized he could earn mission progress when others killed Akatsuki members and set off to support the other Konohagakure squads.
• Kagura encountered Kakuzu, who had been assigned to delay him despite their history and Kakuzu’s past defeat.
• The system issued Kagura an emergency mission to kill Kakuzu for an additional three-year reduction, and Kagura smiled eagerly at him.
• Kakuzu instinctively stepped back and wondered whether Kagura had mistaken him for easy prey.

Kagura attacked Kakuzu with Lightning Armor and Flying Thunder God, combining the techniques to overcome Kakuzu’s shared vision. The fight continued as Kagura targeted Kakuzu’s blue-masked clone.

• Kagura decided to kill Kakuzu to earn a reward that would shorten the time until his eyes evolved.
• Kagura activated Lightning Style: Nintaijutsu and struck Kakuzu, first cutting his hood and wounding his temple, then severing his head.
• Kakuzu’s head and body split into five masked monsters that surrounded Kagura and shared their vision to track his movements.
• Kagura formed Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite and threw marked kunai in every direction.
• Kagura combined Nintaijutsu with Flying Thunder God, appeared before the blue-masked clone, and thrust his lightning blade toward its mask.

Kagura destroyed one of Kakuzu’s hearts, but Kakuzu revealed hundreds of backup hearts that let him repeatedly revive. Realizing Kakuzu was only trying to stall him, Kagura chose to keep fighting, though he wondered how he could possibly kill Kakuzu over five hundred times.

• Kagura used Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite to destroy the blue-masked clone’s heart, leaving Kakuzu with four clones.
• Kakuzu admitted Kagura had become stronger but said killing him four more times would not be enough.
• Hundreds of White Zetsu pods emerged around them, and a red-masked clone took a living ninja’s heart to restore Kakuzu’s fifth clone.
• Kakuzu revealed that he and White Zetsu had buried 518 backup hearts, meaning Kagura would need to kill him 523 more times.
• Kagura realized Kakuzu’s mission was to delay him and decided to prioritize killing Kakuzu, despite the enormous number of backup hearts.

Kagura abandoned his exhausting plan to wear Kakuzu down and revealed five Tailed Beasts to counter Kakuzu’s strategy of using hundreds of spare hearts. Kakuzu ended the chapter stunned as the Beasts faced his clones.

• Kagura realized Kakuzu had prepared hundreds of spare hearts and positioned his monsters to prevent him from destroying all five hearts at once.
• Kagura released his Lightning Armor, concluding that fighting with Nintaijutsu and Flying Thunder God would exhaust him before he could kill Kakuzu.
• Kakuzu threatened to slaughter people in the mountain range if Kagura fled, but Kagura declared that he would not let Kakuzu go.
• Kagura asked Kakuzu whether he had seen a Tailed Beast Bomb before, then revealed that five Tailed Beasts could fire them together.
• Five Tailed Beasts emerged from Kagura and grew to enormous size, terrifying Kakuzu as they glared at his clones.

Kagura used five Tailed Beasts to overwhelm and kill Kakuzu, confirming that a coordinated attack could exploit the range limit he suspected in Kakuzu’s Clones. After the System confirmed his victory and reduced his Rinnegan evolution time, Kagura worried that Kakuzu had delayed him long enough for Akatsuki and Hanzo to carry out their plans.

• Kakuzu wondered whether Kagura’s five Tailed Beasts were real, but the sight of them left his Clones frozen in place.
• Kagura ordered the Tailed Beasts to fire five Tailed Beast Bombs at Kakuzu and his Clones.
• Kakuzu’s five Chakra beams briefly halted the bombs before they were overwhelmed, and the blasts erased the forest and killed Kakuzu.
• Kagura considered whether Kakuzu’s Clones had a distance limit and confirmed Kakuzu’s death when System announced his mission rewards.
• Kagura worried that Kakuzu’s delay had given Akatsuki and Hanzo time to advance their plans.

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin patrolled the Dense Forest, where Kakashi’s greater strength and vigilance contrasted with Obito’s relaxed attitude. The team spotted two figures ahead, leaving their identities unknown.

• Kakashi led Obito and Rin on patrol, wary of enemies despite their recent victories.
• Obito said the area seemed clear and admitted he missed home, while Rin warned him not to lower his guard.
• Obito promised Rin he would protect her, and Rin continued watching Kakashi.
• Kakashi signaled for the team to stop when he spotted two figures in the forest shadows.

Kakkō and Higure confronted Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, who chose to stand together rather than flee. Just as the two Iwagakure Jonin prepared to attack, Kakashi noticed someone had appeared behind them.

• Kakkō and Higure arrived at the location identified by Hanzo's intelligence and found Kakashi, Obito, and Rin instead of the expected Yellow Flash.
• Kakashi recognized the two as Iwagakure Jonin and urged Obito and Rin to escape while he held them off.
• Obito and Rin refused to abandon Kakashi, insisting that they fight together as Companions.
• Kakkō and Higure watched the trio decide to face them, then Kakkō said their discussion had been pointless.
• Kakashi sensed someone behind the three and turned to look.

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin attacked three Iwagakure Jonin but were swiftly defeated. Higure took Kakashi’s short blade and recognized it as the White Fang’s, while Team Minato lay beaten in the dust.

• Kakashi launched a Chidori attack at Higure while Obito and Rin charged Mahiru.
• Higure knocked Kakashi’s Chidori aside, overpowered him, and sent him crashing into a tree.
• Higure recognized Kakashi’s short blade as the White Fang’s and said he would keep it.
• Mahiru split Obito’s Great Fireball with his Katana and then kicked Rin away.
• Mahiru struck Obito beneath the chin, leaving all three members of Team Minato defeated.

Kakashi used a Shadow Clone and a modified Chidori to kill Higure and recover his father's short blade. As Kakashi searched Higure's body, an unseen attacker appeared behind him with a kunai.

• Higure defeated Kakashi in close combat, cutting his chest and taking the short blade Sakumo had given him.
• Kakashi created a Shadow Clone and charged Higure with two Chidoris, drawing Higure away from Kakkō.
• Kakashi extended lightning between the two Chidoris and sliced through Higure's abdomen, killing the Iwagakure Jonin.
• Kakashi recovered the Silver Short Blade from Higure's body while Kakkō watched in shock.
• A transparent figure appeared behind Kakashi and stabbed at his back with a kunai.

Kakashi killed Higure with his Chidori technique, but Taiseki used his camouflage jutsu to sneak up and stab him. As Obito rushed to help Kakashi, Mahiru knocked him down and turned his blade on Rin.

• Kakashi used Thunder Transmission to kill Higure, then searched the corpse for his father's short blade while exhausted.
• Taiseki emerged from hiding and stabbed Kakashi in the waist with a black Kunai.
• Obito saw Kakashi bleeding and rushed toward him, but Mahiru intercepted him and kicked him to the ground.
• Mahiru taunted Obito while Rin, badly injured, stood against him with a Kunai.
• Mahiru swung his enormous Katana at Rin as Obito shouted for him to stop.

Obito awakened his Two-Tomoe Sharingan as Mahiru attacked Rin, then used his newfound speed to fight back and wound him. As Mahiru drove Obito away with a wind technique, Taiseki turned toward Obito and Kakkō charged at the helpless Kakashi, leaving both teammates in danger.

• Obito awakened his Two-Tomoe Sharingan after fearing Rin would be killed by Mahiru.
• Obito rescued Rin from Mahiru’s katana and evaded his attacks while carrying her.
• Obito struck Mahiru’s left shoulder with a Kunai, but Mahiru blasted him away with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
• Taiseki abandoned Kakashi to approach Obito, while Kakkō charged at Kakashi with his weapon.

Kakashi lay close to death while Obito struggled against Mahiru, but Minato arrived in time to save Kakashi. Minato then struck Kakkō with a powerful repulsive force, leaving him mortally wounded.

• Kakashi gave up hope as Kakkō raised his sword to kill him, while Obito could not get past Mahiru.
• Minato teleported to Kakashi and blocked Kakkō's blade with a kunai just as it cut Kakashi's neck.
• Minato attacked Kakkō with a blue sphere and sent him crashing through the forest into a boulder.
• Minato said Kakkō had talked too much, citing Teacher Kagura's advice that villains die from talking too much.

Minato killed Mahiru and Kakkō with a flashbang-assisted Flying Thunder God technique, then Obito killed the invisible Taiseki before collapsing from the strain of his newly awakened Sharingan. Minato was left with Obito and Kakashi unconscious or exhausted after the battle.

• Mahiru lost his sight to Minato’s flashbangs, and Minato used the Flying Thunder God to kill him.
• Minato revealed his new technique, which he called Spiral Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three.
• Obito charged Minato and stabbed the invisible Taiseki, killing him with his newly awakened Sharingan.
• Obito’s Sharingan faded, and he collapsed from exhaustion.
• Kakashi finally collapsed from his severe injuries, leaving Minato to wonder whether they had won.

Minato feared Kakashi would die from blood loss, but Qianyu used Medical Ninjutsu to stop the bleeding and stabilize him. With Kakashi able to survive the journey to the rear, Jiraiya explained that his team had captured Iwagakure Special Jonin Sumashi.

• Minato found Kakashi bleeding heavily and worried that he could not get him to the rear in time.
• Jiraiya's team arrived, and Minato asked for help treating Kakashi.
• Qianyu used Medical Ninjutsu to close Kakashi's wound and stop the bleeding, though he said Kakashi still needed treatment at the rear.
• Qianyu checked Rin and Obito and found that they had only collapsed from exhaustion.
• Minato asked about the captive Yamato was dragging, and Jiraiya identified him as Sumashi, an Iwagakure Special Jonin whose team his group had defeated.

Minato and Jiraiya questioned the purpose of the attacks on Konoha squads, and Qianyu used his Three Tomoe Sharingan to interrogate the captive Sumashi. Sumashi revealed information that left the group grim-faced, though the chapter did not disclose what he said.

• Minato and Jiraiya wondered why Iwagakure and Akatsuki were attacking Konoha squads if they could not eliminate the strongest teams.
• Qianyu suggested asking their captive Sumashi directly, and Jiraiya admitted ordinary interrogation might not work on a Jonin.
• Qianyu took Sumashi from Yamato and slapped him until he woke.
• Qianyu activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan, shocking Minato, Jiraiya, and Kurenai Yuhi.
• Qianyu used his Sharingan to control Sumashi and make him reveal the operation's purpose, and the listeners' expressions darkened.

Yahiko found Hanzo waiting on the empty battlefield, where the former Amegakure leader revealed he had captured Konan and demanded that Yahiko come alone. Yahiko faced the choice of following Hanzo into a trap to save her.

• Yahiko arrived at the frontline and found no Iwagakure Ninja, prompting him to suspect a hidden plan.
• Hanzo approached Yahiko’s forces, and the Amegakure Ninja recognized their former leader.
• Nagato called Hanzo an enemy, rallying the Ninja to protect Yahiko.
• Hanzo threw Konan’s paper flower at Yahiko and said he could save her by coming alone.
• Hanzo walked away into the rain, leaving Yahiko and Nagato to realize Konan had been taken as bait.

Hanzo and Danzo had targeted Yahiko, using Konan’s kidnapping to draw him out and undermine New Amegakure. Yahiko and Nagato followed Hanzo’s trail and found Konan restrained among Hanzo’s forces, where Hanzo watched them arrive.

• Hanzo and Danzo’s infiltrators kidnapped Konan, forcing Yahiko to choose between rescuing her and protecting himself.
• Nagato tried to dissuade Yahiko, but Yahiko insisted he would not abandon a companion and set off after Hanzo.
• Nagato joined Yahiko, reminding him of their vow never to abandon a companion.
• Yahiko and Nagato followed Hanzo’s footprints through the rain to a large boulder, where they found Konan held by Hanzo’s men.
• Nagato recognized two of the guards as infiltrators from New Amegakure, and Hanzo watched Yahiko with a calculating expression.

Yahiko came to Hanzo to save Konan, but Hanzo offered him a place in Akatsuki instead of demanding his death. Yahiko refused to give up on the Land of Rain, insisting that its future could be changed through their efforts.

• Hanzo reflected on Yahiko's willingness to risk his life for a companion as Konan struggled against the two Jonin holding her.
• Yahiko confirmed that he had come as Hanzo requested and asked how he could save Konan.
• Hanzo changed his plan and asked Yahiko to join Akatsuki, surprising his subordinates and Yahiko.
• Yahiko considered his memories of the Land of Rain and refused to abandon its people or disappoint the country again.
• Hanzo said he had already seen the Land of Rain's future and believed the great nations would destroy it.
• Yahiko insisted that the future could change if they acted and said he believed in the country and himself.

Jiraiya and Minato arrived in time to stop Yahiko from sacrificing himself to save Konan. With Konan rescued and Danzo’s plan disrupted, Jiraiya reassured Yahiko that he and his allies would help.

• Hanzo prepared to fight Yahiko, but Danzo returned and warned that they were running out of time.
• Danzo threatened Yahiko with Konan’s life, and Yahiko chose to die so Nagato and Konan could survive.
• Jiraiya reached Yahiko and stopped him from thrusting the Kunai into his throat.
• Danzo ordered Hanzo’s subordinates to kill Konan, but Minato used a golden flash to rescue her.
• Jiraiya told Yahiko, “This time, you have us.”