Chapter Summaries

Kagura and his companions traveled toward Takigakure, where they planned to investigate a dangerous mission target. During their first night in the forest, Kagura revealed his Wood Release to the others and asked them to keep it secret.

• Kagura reflected on Takigakure's unusual history, its Tailed Beast, and the powerful Ninja it had produced.
• After a day of travel, Kagura and his companions stopped in a forest to rest for the night.
• Kagura used Wood Release to raise a large wooden house from the ground, surprising Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.
• Kagura explained that he could not say how he gained Wood Release, but assured his companions it had nothing to do with Madara or a conspiracy and asked them to keep it secret.
• Jiraiya accepted Kagura's explanation and asked what the technique was called, so Kagura named it Wood Release: Four Rooms and One Hall Technique.

Kagura and his companions rested in a wooden house he created before continuing their journey. After three days, they reached Takigakure, where the ninja meant to meet them was missing.

• Kagura showed Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade the four-bedroom wooden house he had made, and they cooked dinner outside.
• Jiraiya asked Kagura to make furniture, and Kagura used Wood Release to create a desk and chair for him.
• Orochimaru asked for Kagura's blood to study Wood Release, and Kagura agreed to give him a jar when they returned to Konohagakure.
• Tsunade visited Kagura because she could not sleep, and they quietly talked before she returned to her room.
• After resting overnight, Kagura and the others traveled for three days and arrived in Takigakure.
• The group found that the Takigakure ninja who was supposed to meet them was missing.

Kagura and his team waited for Takigakure’s contact, only to discover that Kakuzu and Obito had reached him first and entered the hidden village. After learning the danger they faced inside Takigakure, Kagura asked the wounded Chunin how to get in.

• Kagura and his team waited near Takigakure’s waterfall, but their expected contact failed to appear.
• Kagura sensed someone nearby, and his team hid as a wounded Takigakure Chunin crawled from the pond.
• Tsunade treated the Chunin overnight, and he explained that Kakuzu and Obito had attacked him at the meeting place before entering Takigakure.
• Jiraiya asked whether Kakuzu and Obito had entered the village, and the Chunin confirmed Kakuzu knew the way inside.
• Kagura weighed the risks of fighting Kakuzu in his home territory, then asked the Chunin how to enter Takigakure.

Kagura and three Konohagakure ninja entered Takigakure and learned from Hikiko why Kakuzu and Uchiha Shizuka had not yet attacked: the village coexisted peacefully with the Seven-Tails, which lived by its Tree of Life. Hikiko revealed that the beast came to drink the village’s Hero’s Water once a month.

• Kagura pressured the injured Takigakure Chunin into revealing the secret route into the village.
• Kagura and the other three followed the underwater passage and emerged inside the hidden cavern surrounding Takigakure.
• Takigakure’s patrol guards brought the visitors to Hikiko after Kagura identified them as Konohagakure ninja seeking to meet the village’s leaders.
• Kagura told Hikiko that Kakuzu and Uchiha Shizuka had infiltrated the village and were likely targeting the Seven-Tails, Chōmei.
• Hikiko explained that the Seven-Tails lived near Takigakure’s Tree of Life and peacefully coexisted with the village.
• Hikiko said the Seven-Tails came to the village altar once a month to drink its offering of Hero’s Water.

Kagura learned that Takigakure’s Hero’s Water was offered monthly to the Seven-Tails, and joined the village in preparing to stop Kakuzu and Obito from capturing it. He used two bottles of the water to nourish his Snow-white Egg and discovered that it was absorbing the liquid’s energy.

• Hikiko explained that Hero’s Water came from the Tree of Life and served as a tonic for the Seven-Tails, though it was dangerous for human Ninja to drink.
• Kakuzu and Obito waited in Takigakure, planning to capture the Seven-Tails when it came to the Altar for its monthly offering.
• Kagura and his companions agreed to cooperate with Hikiko’s group to protect the Seven-Tails and rescue Uchiha Shizuka.
• Kagura bought two bottles of Hero’s Water and poured them into a basin with his Snow-white Egg.
• Kagura watched as the Snow-white Egg shook and absorbed the water’s star-like particles.

Kagura and the Takigakure forces ambushed the Seven-Tails, but Obito and Kakuzu turned the trap against them. After Obito freed Uchiha Shizuka from his possession, he merged with Chōmei to face Kagura in a Tailed Beast's body.

• Kagura and the others waited beneath Takigakure's altar for the Seven-Tails to arrive.
• Chōmei landed on the altar, drank the Hero's Water, and was captured by a Giant Buddha and White Zetsu branches.
• Kakuzu revealed that he knew about the ambush, so the Takigakure Jonin attacked him while Kagura and his companions confronted Obito.
• Obito released Uchiha Shizuka from his possession and threw her toward Kagura.
• Obito merged with the restrained Seven-Tails, breaking free and challenging Kagura to fight him in its body.

Kagura and the Summoned Beasts struggled against Obito, who possessed the Seven-Tails and attacked alongside the Giant Buddha. As the beasts neared their limits, Kagura proposed a plan to kill Obito, and they prepared to counterattack.

• Kagura carried the unconscious Uchiha Shizuka away as Katsuyu took her into the forest, while Tsunade, Jiraiya, and their Summoned Beasts faced the Seven-Tails and the Giant Buddha.
• The Seven-Tails wounded Gamatatsu, and Manshe later saved him from the Giant Buddha’s Five-Colored Light as the monsters bickered.
• Obito’s sustained attacks devastated the forest and injured the Summoned Beasts, while Kagura watched for a chance to intervene.
• Kagura urged the beasts to restrain the Seven-Tails so he could kill Obito, and Gamatatsu proposed luring the enemy down.
• Manshe agreed to act as bait, Katsuyu took an attacking stance, and Gamatatsu drew his short sword to begin their counterattack.

Tsunade, Gamatatsu, Manshe, and Kagura brought down Obito’s Seven-Tails form, but the battle turned when Kakuzu appeared and attacked the others. Tsunade rushed to the injured Kagura while Jiraiya and Orochimaru lay unconscious, leaving Kakuzu’s arrival as the story’s latest threat.

• Tsunade used Katsuyu’s acid to break through the Giant Buddha’s arm defense, then shattered its head with a powerful punch.
• Manshe attacked the headless Giant Buddha while the Seven-Tails charged at it, but Gamatatsu intercepted the Seven-Tails with his tongue.
• Kagura used Amaterasu on the Seven-Tails, forcing Obito to crash to the ground as the black flames engulfed him.
• Kagura collapsed from the strain, and Tsunade rushed to help him while Orochimaru and Jiraiya turned their attention to his condition.
• Kakuzu struck Gamatatsu and Manshe with red and blue energy attacks, ending their summons and knocking Jiraiya and Orochimaru unconscious.
• Kakuzu appeared above them and mocked Obito for failing to defeat the group.

Kakuzu defeated Takigakure’s Jonin and sealed the Black Flames from Obito, then refused Kagura’s offer to end the fight after learning Madara wanted Kagura’s Sharingan. As Kakuzu attacked Kagura, Tsunade took his Fire Release dragon head-on and was left unconscious.

• Kakuzu wiped out most of Takigakure’s Jonin, and Tsunade sent Katsuyu to treat the wounded.
• Kakuzu sealed the Black Flames burning Obito and criticized him for losing despite using the Seven-Tails’ power.
• Kagura offered to let Kakuzu take Obito and the Seven-Tails in exchange for bringing Uchiha Shizuka back to Konohagakure.
• Kakuzu revealed Madara’s interest in Kagura and attacked him, targeting his Sharingan.
• Kakuzu struck Kagura with a Fire Release dragon, and Tsunade shoved Kagura aside and took the attack herself.
• Tsunade was blasted through the forest and lay unconscious after the smoke cleared.

After Tsunade was knocked aside, Kagura flew into a berserk Tailed Beast Transformation and clashed with Kakuzu, devastating the battlefield. Kagura was left gravely injured as Kakuzu approached, but a tremor from his Summoning Contract hinted that the egg had finally moved.

• Kagura saw Tsunade lying injured and transformed into a berserk, tailed beast-like state.
• Kagura struck Kakuzu through the forest, and Kakuzu retaliated with Black Veins.
• Kagura and Kakuzu fired a Tailed Beast Bomb and a white energy attack that fused and exploded, flattening the battlefield.
• Kagura returned to normal, badly wounded, while Kakuzu survived with three shattered masks and hearts.
• Kakuzu walked toward Kagura and declared that Madara might want him alive as Kagura sensed movement through his Summoning Contract.

Kagura summoned a golden beast that grew into a powerful, Kirin-like creature and repelled Kakuzu’s attacks. Kakuzu split his remaining hearts to distract the beast and attack Kagura, only to find Kagura’s bloodied Sharingan awaiting him.

• Kagura used the Summoning Contract and revealed a palm-sized, puppy-like beast.
• The beast transformed into a two-meter-tall golden creature with a horn and a powerful body.
• Kakuzu attacked the creature with his Vessel Tentacles, but its fur deflected them.
• The golden beast rammed Kakuzu and sent him flying backward.
• Kakuzu split his remaining hearts into two Black Body Monsters, sending one after the beast and the other toward Kagura.
• The monster rushing Kagura saw his bloodied Sharingan.

After defeating Kakuzu’s remaining attacks, Kagura collapsed from exhaustion and later woke in Konoha Hospital, where he reunited with Tsunade. He learned that Obito and Kakuzu had escaped, and realized Uchiha Madara would now know about his Tailed Beasts, but resolved to face the danger alongside his companions.

• Kagura used the Two-Tails’ Chakra and his Mangekyō Sharingan’s Black Flames to burn Kakuzu’s Black Body Monster, while Kakuzu’s last body fled the battlefield.
• Kagura collapsed after Kakuzu escaped, and his exhausted Summoned Beast returned home; as he lost consciousness, he saw Uchiha Madara’s Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Kagura woke in Konoha Hospital, found Tsunade recovering in another room, and embraced her while Orochimaru and Jiraiya awkwardly watched from the doorway.
• Kagura learned that Takigakure Jonin had found and treated him and his companions, and that Uchiha Shizuka had returned home with no memory of her captivity.
• Kagura learned that Obito and Kakuzu had escaped and realized Kakuzu would tell Uchiha Madara about his Tailed Beasts, but chose to face Madara with his companions.

Uchiha Kagura returned to Konohagakure after a long stretch of missions to attend Hatake Sakumo’s wedding with Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. As the ceremony began, Kagura wondered about Kakashi and Obito’s future before someone greeted the group from behind.

• Uchiha Kagura returned to Konohagakure and reunited with Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya at the village entrance.
• Tsunade embraced Kagura and told him she had already chosen a wedding gift for him to bring.
• Kagura and his companions arrived at Hatake Sakumo’s wedding and took seats as the ceremony began.
• Kagura watched Hatake Sakumo on the wedding stage and wondered whether Kakashi and Uchiha Obito would soon be born.
• A voice behind Kagura, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya greeted them as rivals.

At Hatake Sakumo’s wedding, Kagura reflected on the approaching war and resolved to save Nawaki, then encouraged Might Dai to pursue his own path. An Anbu summoned Kagura and Tsunade to meet the Hokage, interrupting their banquet.

• Kagura reunited with Might Dai at Hatake Sakumo’s wedding and thought about Dai’s future son, Guy.
• Watching Tsunade long for marriage, Kagura resolved to save her younger brother, Nawaki, from dying before the coming war.
• Hatake Sakumo asked Kagura about the worsening clashes at the Frontline, and Kagura warned that war was drawing near.
• Might Dai asked Kagura to take him on a Frontline mission, but Kagura declined and encouraged him to persist with taijutsu and make his own choices.
• An Anbu summoned Kagura and Tsunade to meet the Hokage, and Kagura left his meal behind.

Kagura and Tsunade learned that the Akatsuki organization was operating in the Land of Wind and planning an attack on Sunagakure. Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned them a secret infiltration mission to monitor and stop the group, and Kagura agreed to go.

• Kagura and Tsunade met Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo at the Hokage Office Building.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu explained that mysterious red-cloud-cloaked figures had been stirring conflicts and were connected to Uchiha Madara.
• Danzo revealed that the group was called Akatsuki, and Hiruzen Sarutobi showed Kagura a portrait of Uchiha Setsuna, a former Konoha Jonin who had escaped prison.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said Akatsuki members were in the Land of Wind and likely planning an operation against Sunagakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Kagura and Tsunade to infiltrate the Land of Wind, monitor the Akatsuki, and stop them if necessary.
• Kagura accepted the mission and prepared to travel with Tsunade.

Kagura reviewed how he had grown stronger, including awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan after nearly dying in a trap. As Kagura and Tsunade prepared to leave for their secret mission in Sunagakure, Hiruzen Sarutobi told Kagura that a young woman with a child was waiting to see him.

• Kagura reflected on his Mangekyō Sharingan, which awakened when he was trapped and close to death two years earlier.
• Kagura worried that using the Mangekyō Sharingan might eventually make him blind, and noted that his taijutsu, Chakra, and Three-Tails fusion had progressed slowly.
• Kagura recalled how the System issued missions for new mission ranks, world-changing events, or threats to his life, and rewarded him with powerful Ninjutsu.
• Kagura and Tsunade put away the Mission Scroll and prepared to leave for their secret mission to stop Akatsuki's plot against Sunagakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped them and told Kagura that a young woman with a child had specifically come to see him.

Kagura discovered that Uzumaki Fusou had come to Konoha with her family to seek refuge, including her son Nagato. He also met a young Uzumaki Kushina, leaving him stunned by her introduction.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Kagura that a young woman with a child had come to see him, making Tsunade suspicious.
• Kagura and Tsunade went downstairs and found Uzumaki Fusou with her young son and a red-haired girl.
• Kagura recognized Fusou and learned that she had brought her family to Konoha after the Uzumaki Clan’s destruction.
• Fusou confirmed that the boy in her arms was Nagato, and Tsunade realized Kagura had not been hiding a secret child.
• Kagura asked the red-haired girl who she was, and she proudly introduced herself as Uzumaki Kushina.

Tsunade introduced Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Fusou to Uzumaki Mito, confirming they were unrelated to Kagura. Later, Tsunade went to Kagura’s home, where dinner and a romantic moment softened her anger.

• Tsunade recognized Uzumaki Kushina and took her and Uzumaki Fusou to meet Uzumaki Mito.
• Uzumaki Mito welcomed the Uzumaki Clan members and spoke with them about their past.
• Tsunade confirmed that Fusou and her child had no connection to Kagura, then headed to his home that evening.
• Kagura served Tsunade a candlelit steak dinner, and they ate together after she insisted she was still upset with him.
• Kagura and Tsunade kissed, and Tsunade blushed when he whispered something she blamed on Jiraiya.

Kagura realized Uchiha Madara had already awakened the Rinnegan and suspected the mission to the Land of Wind was tied to Madara’s plans. Meanwhile, Madara and Black Zetsu prepared a new body for Madara and hoped their effort to capture the One-Tails would succeed.

• Kagura remembered meeting Nagato and realized Uchiha Madara must have awakened the Rinnegan while Nagato was still a child.
• Kagura planned a disguise for his mission with Tsunade and decided the noodles he had cooked would serve their purpose.
• Uchiha Madara watched a body grown from a tree trunk as Black Zetsu explained that it needed more time to become ready for Madara’s transfer.
• Uchiha Madara reflected on how Black Zetsu had helped him summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and devise a reincarnation method using Hashirama Cells.
• Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu looked toward the Land of Wind, hoping the plan to seize the One-Tails would advance their goals.

Kagura and Tsunade entered Sunagakure under false identities and opened an Ichiraku Ramen shop to blend in while investigating Akatsuki’s plans. Tsunade learned that Sunagakure’s experiments with Shukaku had caused repeated disasters and pointed to a cave north of the village, while Kagura’s investigation was interrupted by their growing closeness.

• Kagura and Tsunade passed through Sunagakure’s guarded entrance using the Transformation Technique.
• Kagura opened Ichiraku Ramen with Tsunade, and the shop quickly drew long lines of customers.
• After the shop closed, Tsunade told Kagura that Sunagakure’s attempts to study Shukaku had repeatedly failed and caused explosions and rampages.
• Tsunade reported that villagers’ accounts placed Shukaku in a cave north of Sunagakure.
• Kagura reflected on the Second Kazekage Shamon’s contributions to Sunagakure before pulling Tsunade close and closing the shop.