Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Setsuna and his team struggled to find a way to capture Sunagakure’s One-Tails, whose security had tightened after the Three-Tails Incident. After a month of failed attempts, an opportunity finally appeared, leaving Setsuna ready to act.

• Uchiha Setsuna recalled his failed rebellion against Konoha and how he pledged himself to Uchiha Madara after escaping prison.
• Juzō Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki defected from Kirigakure after Kakuzu defeated their squads, then joined Akatsuki.
• Kakuzu kept the two former Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and they teamed up with Uchiha Setsuna for Akatsuki missions.
• Uchiha Setsuna’s team located the One-Tails but found it guarded by at least thirty shinobi near the Kazekage Building.
• Sunagakure repeatedly stopped the team’s attempts to exploit the One-Tails Jinchuriki’s rampages, until a new opportunity arrived.

Ono Shota’s year of torment as the One-Tails Jinchuriki ended when Shukaku seized control of his body. Shukaku escaped into Sunagakure, leaving the village facing the beast’s return.

• Ono Shota fell asleep after forcing himself to stay awake all night, and Shukaku appeared before him in a dream.
• Shukaku revealed that Ono Shota had already lost control of his body, after Uchiha Setsuna and the others had weakened him with drugs and manipulated guards.
• Shukaku declared that Ono Shota would watch as it destroyed everything he cherished.
• Sand engulfed Ono Shota and swallowed two nearby guards as his body transformed inside the cave.
• Shukaku burst out in its complete form and announced that it had escaped into Sunagakure.

Kagura served Chiyo, Ebizo, and baby Sasori at Ichiraku Ramen while Ebizo questioned him about his arrival in Sunagakure. Their meal ended when an explosion outside revealed the One-Tails Shukaku, leaving Chiyo and Ebizo rushing toward the disturbance.

• Kagura recognized Chiyo and Ebizo, realizing that the baby she held was Sasori.
• Ebizo questioned Kagura about his background and reasons for coming to Sunagakure, but Kagura answered with prepared explanations.
• Kagura and Tsunade served ramen to Chiyo and Ebizo, and Kagura brought Sasori a small bowl of rice porridge.
• A huge explosion sounded outside the shop, and Chiyo and Ebizo rushed out to investigate.
• Ebizo saw a figure amid the dust and identified it as the One-Tails Shukaku.

Shukaku broke free and rampaged through Sunagakure, forcing the Third Kazekage and Chiyo to confront him. As Chiyo summoned her Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, Kagura and Tsunade secretly headed toward the battle, where two red-clouded strangers appeared.

• Shukaku attacked Sunagakure with a Tailed Beast Bomb after breaking free of his restraints.
• The Third Kazekage flew to the battlefield and used Iron Sand to bind Shukaku, but Shukaku broke the chains.
• Chiyo sent Ebizo to evacuate the villagers and protect Sasori, then rushed to help the Third Kazekage.
• Kagura and Tsunade disguised as villagers left the ramen shop and stealthily headed toward Shukaku.
• Chiyo summoned the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, but a wave stopped them as two people in black robes with red clouds appeared.

Juzō Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki fought Chiyo in Sunagakure, using a coordinated attack to wound her despite the disadvantage of the desert environment. As the Third Kazekage faced the One-Tails, it began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb aimed at Sunagakure.

• Chiyo sent her ten White Puppets to attack Juzō Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki, forcing the two Kirigakure swordsmen onto the defensive.
• Juzō Biwa used Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique, and Chiyo’s Puppets formed a Chakra barrier that protected her from the torrent.
• Suikazan Fuguki hid in the water and struck Chiyo with Samehada, grazing her waist and draining her Chakra.
• Chiyo recognized the danger posed by the two swordsmen and faced them with renewed caution.
• The One-Tails began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb aimed at Sunagakure while the Third Kazekage could not leave his fight.

The Third Kazekage defended the village against One-Tails Shukaku but fell after the beast battered him with a relentless assault. Shukaku advanced toward the village until an intricate-patterned Sharingan stopped it.

• The Third Kazekage shielded the village from Shukaku's Tailed Beast Bomb, but the blast shattered his Black Iron Sand pyramid.
• Shukaku struck the Third Kazekage from the air and relentlessly attacked him on the ground while Chiyo struggled to approach.
• The Third Kazekage collapsed, and Shukaku turned toward the village as Chiyo prepared to confront it.
• Juzō Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki blocked Chiyo, then told her she no longer needed to fear an attack on the village.
• Shukaku stopped in its tracks when it saw an intricate-patterned Sharingan.

Uchiha Setsuna used his transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan to control One-Tails Shukaku and tried to leave with it. Kagura and Tsunade confronted them, and Kagura revealed his Susanoo as it struck Shukaku.

• Uchiha Setsuna controlled One-Tails Shukaku with his transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan, though using the eye made it bleed and drained him.
• Setsuna entered Shukaku's body and ordered Chiyo and the Ninja Sword Duo to handle the rest while he took the target away.
• Kagura and Tsunade appeared at the valley summit and blocked Shukaku's escape.
• Setsuna recognized Kagura and mocked him, insisting that they could not stop him while he was inside the Tailed Beast.
• Kagura leaped down and summoned his Purple Giant Susanoo, which stomped on Shukaku's face.

Kagura used Susanoo to battle Uchiha Setsuna, who controlled the One-Tails, and blocked the beast’s attacks before striking it. The chapter ended as Setsuna realized Kagura’s sword had done something unexpected to the One-Tails.

• Kagura summoned Susanoo after deciding his other options could not stop the One-Tails.
• Uchiha Setsuna attacked with a wave of sand, but Kagura blocked it with Susanoo’s shield and damaged the beast with purple energy blasts.
• Setsuna launched a Tailed Beast Bomb, which Kagura deflected into the sky with Susanoo’s shield.
• Kagura charged through the blinding explosion and slashed the One-Tails from its shoulder through its abdomen.
• Uchiha Setsuna began to boast that the attack would do little damage, then stopped in confusion as he noticed its effect.

Kagura explained how his Susanoo's Totsuka Blade had sealed One-Tails into Ono Shota, but Suikazan Fuguki and Juzō Biwa escaped with the Jinchuriki. After clashing with Chiyo over Sunagakure's response, Kagura took Uchiha Setsuna's Mangekyō Sharingan and left with Tsunade, prompting Chiyo to fear he would become Sunagakure's enemy.

• Kagura's Totsuka Blade had sealed One-Tails into Ono Shota, causing its sand body to collapse as the Jinchuriki fell.
• Suikazan Fuguki swallowed Ono Shota with Samehada and fled toward Sunagakure with Juzō Biwa, while Kagura's strike hit Fuguki's Water Clone.
• Chiyo blocked Kagura from pursuing the fleeing Akatsuki members, and Kagura dispelled Susanoo and said he did not want to fight Sunagakure.
• Kagura suddenly took Uchiha Setsuna's Mangekyō Sharingan as Setsuna tried to escape under genjutsu.
• Kagura returned to Tsunade and left, while Chiyo watched them go and worried he might become Sunagakure's enemy.

After reporting the failed mission to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kagura resolved to protect Nawaki from the fate awaiting him in the coming war. He visited Orochimaru with Uchiha Setsuna’s Mangekyō Sharingan, which stunned the researcher.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted Kagura and Tsunade’s account of the mission and sent them to rest, while noting that Akatsuki had succeeded and Uchiha Setsuna had escaped Sunagakure.
• Kagura teased Tsunade about being her brother-in-law, and she punched him into a wall before pulling him free and apologizing.
• Kagura remembered that Nawaki would die in a trap before the Second Great Ninja War and resolved to prevent it.
• Kagura visited Orochimaru, who drew blood from Kagura for his research.
• Kagura showed Orochimaru the Mangekyō Sharingan he had taken from Uchiha Setsuna, and Orochimaru reacted with astonishment.

Kagura lent Orochimaru a Mangekyō Sharingan for research, then used Kotoamatsukami to make him stay away from Danzo. Kagura left exhausted, convinced his safeguard would keep Orochimaru from being drawn into Danzo’s influence.

• Kagura gave Orochimaru a Mangekyō Sharingan to study, warning him not to damage it because he might need it back.
• Kagura used Kotoamatsukami on Orochimaru and made him resolve to avoid Danzo.
• Orochimaru agreed to stay away from Danzo without realizing Kagura had altered his will.
• Kagura left after recovering from the blood draw and the strain of using Kotoamatsukami, whose full power required a cooldown of about three months.

Kagura reflected on Danzo’s influence over Orochimaru and resolved to keep the two apart while supporting Orochimaru’s research. After meeting Fugaku at a tavern, Kagura returned home, where Tsunade arrived the next morning with Kushina and a blond youth he recognized as the future fastest man in Hokage.

• Kagura considered how Danzo had helped lead Orochimaru toward darkness and decided to keep them separated.
• Kagura encountered Fugaku and Uchiha Yashiro at a tavern, where Fugaku asked him to join the Military Police Force.
• Kagura rejected Fugaku’s invitation and advised him to care for his future children and keep them away from bad influences.
• Tsunade arrived at Kagura’s home with Uzumaki Kushina and a blond youth, whom Kagura recognized as the fastest man in Hokage.

Kagura joined Tsunade in taking Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato around Konoha, where Kushina delighted in experiencing the village’s peaceful, prosperous streets. The outing ended with Kagura watching Minato and Kushina grow closer and hoping their future relationship remained unchanged.

• Tsunade explained that Uzumaki Mito had asked her to show Uzumaki Kushina around Konoha, and Kagura agreed to join them with Namikaze Minato.
• While they waited for Kagura to wash up, Minato teased One-Tails and got bitten, while Tsunade and Kushina petted Two-Tails.
• Kagura took Tsunade, Kushina, and Minato out to explore Konoha’s shops and streets.
• Uzumaki Kushina excitedly admired the village, enjoying its peacefulness despite having lived there for nearly a month.
• Namikaze Minato watched Kushina with an indulgent smile, and Kagura hoped the pair would still get together.

Kagura gave Tsunade a silver necklace and asked for the First Hokage's Necklace in return, resolving to change the fate associated with it. After shopping and eating ramen with Tsunade, Kushina, and Minato, the group headed home with plans to share Kagura's cooking.

• Kagura and Minato carried Tsunade and Kushina's shopping bags through Konohagakure before the group stopped at a ramen restaurant.
• Tsunade disliked the ramen and told Kagura she wanted to eat his cooking, so Kagura gave her a silver necklace he had bought for her.
• Kagura asked Tsunade for the emerald necklace she had always worn, and she gave him the First Hokage Senju Hashirama's relic instead of saving it for her younger brother Nawaki.
• Kagura accepted the necklace and resolved to prevent Nawaki's coming fate from turning it into a cursed necklace.
• Kushina wished she could meet a man like Kagura, while Minato silently resolved to become like him.
• As the group left the restaurant at sunset, Tsunade teased Kagura about not visiting that night, and Kagura offered to cook for her; Minato asked to join, and Kagura told him to get lost.

After the One-Tails was extracted from Ono Shota, Uchiha Madara had Black Zetsu possess Uchiha Setsuna and discussed plans to plunge the Shinobi World into chaos with a mysterious Akatsuki member. The mysterious figure left to complete a final task as Madara anticipated the Second Great Ninja War.

• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path absorbed the One-Tails from Ono Shota, who died after the extraction.
• Black Zetsu reported that the body growing inside the tree trunk would be ready in no more than ten years, and Uchiha Madara looked forward to obtaining it.
• Uchiha Setsuna knelt before Uchiha Madara after losing his Mangekyō Sharingan to Kagura, and Madara placed him under his Sharingan's control.
• Uchiha Madara told Black Zetsu to take Uchiha Setsuna, and Black Zetsu possessed the right half of his body.
• A mysterious figure told Uchiha Madara that the plans to escalate conflicts were ready and left to complete a final task.
• Uchiha Madara watched the mysterious figure leave and predicted that the Second Great Ninja War was about to begin.

As the Second Great Ninja War began, Konoha sent Kagura to eliminate a Kumogakure squad infiltrating the Land of Fire and capture its captain. Kagura returned with Yintang Gang unconscious, leaving the remaining mission details to another Konoha squad.

• The Great Nations declared war, and the Land of Rain became the main battlefield as the Second Great Ninja War began.
• Kumogakure Jonin Yintang Gang led ten men into the Land of Fire, but a hidden Konoha attacker killed his teammates one by one.
• Kagura revealed himself to Yintang Gang, explaining that he had used the screams to lure him into exposing his position.
• Kagura used his Mangekyō Sharingan to incapacitate Yintang Gang and took him captive.
• Kagura delivered the unconscious Yintang Gang to a waiting Konoha squad and headed back toward the village.

Kagura returned to Konoha after capturing a Konohagakure squad leader and reflected on the early outbreak of the war and her plans to protect Nawaki. At a strategy meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that Hanzo of the Salamander had declared war on the Land of Fire.

• Kagura captured the enemy squad's Jonin leader and brought him back to the waiting squad.
• Kagura decided she would try to prevent Nawaki from dying by keeping close to him after he graduated.
• Kagura attended a strategy meeting and reunited with Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade, who were strained by the war and its casualties.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the gathered Jonin that Hanzo of the Salamander had declared war on the Land of Fire.

At a war council, Tsunade proposed assigning Medical Ninja to frontline squads, and Kagura urged Konoha to prepare for Hanzo of the Salamander’s poisonous abilities. After the meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Kagura for the intelligence extracted from a captured Kumogakure Jonin and said he had a mission for him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Jonin that Hanzo of the Salamander had declared war on every force in the Land of Rain and asked for suggestions on the ongoing war.
• Tsunade proposed assigning a Medical Ninja to every frontline squad, and Kagura supported her, but Hiruzen Sarutobi deferred implementation because Medical Ninja were scarce.
• Kagura warned that Hanzo and his Ibuse Summoned Beast could release deadly poison and recommended precautions and sending detoxification specialists to the Frontline.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted Kagura’s warning, and the Jonin continued sharing ideas until the meeting ended two hours later.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Kagura to stay, praised his work the previous night, and said he had a mission for him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Kagura to the Land of Rice front, where he was expected to confront Kumogakure’s Two-Tails Jinchuriki. Before leaving, Kagura joined Tsunade in celebrating Nawaki’s graduation and gave him a protective charm for the battlefield.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Kagura that the Third Raikage had sent the Two-Tails Jinchuriki to the front and asked him to head to the Land of Rice.
• Kagura spent the afternoon with Tsunade, and they went together to Nawaki’s Ninja Academy graduation.
• Jiraiya tried to give Nawaki a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, so Tsunade punched him, tore up the book, and kicked him.
• Tsunade gave Nawaki a replacement graduation gift, and Kagura gave him a protective charm and urged him to keep it with him on the battlefield.

Kagura headed to the frontline to search for the current Two-Tails Jinchuriki, whose identity and whereabouts were unknown. On a grassland in the Land of Rice, he intervened in a three-way battle and saved Konoha commander Nara Sora from a Kirigakure attack.

• Kagura left the village for the frontline, unsure how to find the Two-Tails Jinchuriki without any information about them.
• Nara Sora led a Konoha team that became trapped in a battle against Kirigakure and Kumogakure forces on a grassland in the Land of Rice.
• As the fighting wore down all three teams, the Kirigakure leader targeted Nara Sora with a coordinated Water Dragon Bullet attack.
• Kagura arrived and raised an Earth Wall to protect Nara Sora from the Water Dragon Bullets.
• Nara Sora recognized Kagura by his Mangekyō Sharingan and Konoha headband, and Kagura said he had arrived just in time.