Chapter Summaries

Hashirama’s Wood Style forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to protect his allies and prepare a powerful five-nature attack, but new battles erupted around Iwagakure before he could use it. The chapter ended with the Raikage and Ōnoki fighting Pain and Konan while Mei Terumi’s group faced Kakuzu and focused on gathering intelligence.

• Hashirama Senju unleashed Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence, and Xing Ran carried Hiruzen Sarutobi’s two Anbu to safety as the forest spread.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma, used the Adamantine Sealing Technique to shield his allies, and prepared Five Release Ninjutsu: Great Exploding Bullet against Orochimaru and the reanimated Hokage.
• A Tailed Beast Ball exploded near the forest, but the masked Space-Time Ninja emerged unharmed.
• Ōnoki battled Konan while Raikage A fought Deva Path Pain, and Deidara clashed with Asura Path as Roshi’s group struggled against the Six Paths of Pain.
• Mei Terumi’s group confronted Kakuzu and his five Earth Grudge Fear clones, while Mei told Ao and Chojuro that gathering intelligence mattered more than defeating him quickly.

Mei Terumi assessed the Akatsuki Organization’s threat as a massive blast devastated Iwagakure and revealed the First and Second Hokages. Yamanaka Xingran attempted to transfer Roshi away, but Deva Path Pain redirected his Flying Thunder God kunai and attacked him, only for Xingran to escape with the Substitution Technique.

• Mei Terumi realized the Akatsuki Organization’s assignments showed that it no longer considered the Eight-Tails a target, leaving only three Tailed Beasts in the Five Great Nations’ hands.
• A tremendous explosion flattened much of Iwagakure, but the Third Hokage and Yamanaka Xingran survived inside a battered cage, and the First and Second Hokages reappeared from the dust.
• Orochimaru emerged from a crater alive and accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of nearly killing him with his powerful ninjutsu.
• Xingran threw a Flying Thunder God kunai beside Roshi to transfer the Four-Tails, but Deva Path Pain used Banshō Ten'in to pull the kunai away and draw Xingran toward him.
• Deva Path Pain tried to stab Xingran with a Black Rod, but Xingran used the Substitution Technique and reappeared near Roshi.

Xing Ran and the Kage fought to stop the Akatsuki from capturing Roshi as Pain’s Planetary Devastation drew the battlefield into the sky. The chapter ended with Obito teleporting beside Roshi before Xing Ran could reach him.

• Tobirama Senju broke free of Orochimaru’s control and turned his Water Severing Wave against him, while Hashirama Senju’s Wood Dragon Technique struck Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Pain used Planetary Devastation, pulling the Kage, the Akatsuki, Roshi, and the surrounding terrain toward its core.
• Xing Ran opened the Sixth Gate and smashed through the floating rocks as he charged toward Roshi.
• Obito used Kamui to appear beside Roshi, blocking Xing Ran’s attempt to reach and rescue him.

Yamanaka Xingran faced a split-second choice between saving Roshi from Obito and rescuing Hiruzen Sarutobi from Orochimaru’s attack. As both men’s lives and Konoha’s future hung in the balance, Xingran prepared to act while keeping his abilities and Hai Yi’s family in mind.

• Ōnoki prepared to use Dust Release on Roshi, while the Raikage urged him to kill Roshi rather than let the Akatsuki Organization take him.
• Xing Ran entered Obito’s Kamui vortex to reach Roshi, then sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi in danger below.
• Reanimated Tobirama Senju broke free of Orochimaru’s control, dispelled the Impure World Reincarnation, and vanished after injuring Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru directed Reanimated Hashirama Senju to pursue Hiruzen and destroy the rocks he might use as footholds while wooden spears threatened him.
• Hiruzen and Xing Ran exchanged glances as Xing Ran realized he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique to save only Hiruzen or Roshi in the time available.
• Xing Ran rejected using heat vision because it could expose his identity and put Hai Yi’s family at risk, then prepared to choose whom to save.

Xing Ran rescued Hiruzen Sarutobi from Chibaku Tensei but failed to save Roshi, who Obito took into Kamui. They returned to the battlefield, where Iwagakure’s furious ninja fought the Akatsuki as Obito appeared to cover the retreat.

• Xing Ran used Flying Thunder God to save Hiruzen Sarutobi while his marked kunai struck Roshi and was pulled into Kamui with him.
• Xing Ran and Hiruzen Sarutobi escaped to a mountain forest, where Xing Ran realized Obito had taken Roshi and the Four-Tails.
• Xing Ran and Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the battlefield and found Orochimaru and Hashirama gone, while the Akatsuki began withdrawing.
• Xing Ran’s news that Roshi was lost enraged Iwagakure’s ninja, who blamed him and Hiruzen Sarutobi and renewed their attacks.
• The Six Paths of Pain covered Konan, Kisame, and Kakuzu as they retreated, then Obito appeared before the fighters.

Xing Ran used his new Wind Style: Rasenshuriken during the battle against the Akatsuki Organization, but its members escaped and the Four-Tails was captured. At the Five Kage Summit, Rasa tried to ease the tension between Ōnoki and the Hokage as the leaders considered the threat of another Akatsuki attack.

• Xing Ran launched two Rasenshuriken at the gathered Akatsuki Organization members, creating enormous craters.
• Xing Ran told the stunned ninja that the Akatsuki Organization members had all escaped, and the battle ended after they left behind six Pain corpses and captured the Four-Tails.
• The Kage and their allies gathered at the Five Kage Summit in a tense mood after the battle.
• Rasa, worried Sunagakure could be targeted next, urged Ōnoki to return to Iwagakure and defuse his anger toward the Hokage.

At the Summit of the Five Kage, Ōnoki blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha for the failed battle, while Hiruzen and Xing Ran defended their actions. The argument remained unresolved as the Kazekage pushed the leaders to turn to a plan against the Akatsuki Organization.

• Ōnoki demanded an explanation from Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Raikage urged them to settle their dispute and discuss the Akatsuki Organization.
• Hiruzen argued that Ōnoki and the others had no right to blame him for how Xing Ran acted, while Mei Terumi stayed silent.
• Ōnoki accused Hiruzen of being useless and threatened to end cooperation with Konoha, prompting Kakashi to challenge his insults.
• Ōnoki disparaged Kakashi's father, and Xing Ran defended Kakashi and Konoha by arguing that they had no duty to rescue the Four-Tails.
• The Kazekage forcefully interrupted the argument and called for the leaders to discuss a concrete plan against the Akatsuki Organization.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that he would step down as Hokage, Jiraiya proposed bringing Tsunade back to become the Fifth Hokage. Danzo pushed for an Acting Hokage as a backup in case Tsunade refused, leaving Konoha’s leaders to consider his proposal.

• Danzo tried to claim the Hokage position, but Jiraiya argued that the aging Danzo was unsuited to face the ninja world’s crisis.
• Jiraiya suggested Tsunade as the next Hokage, and Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura agreed.
• Hiruzen worried that Tsunade might refuse to return, while Jiraiya promised to persuade her.
• Danzo proposed choosing an Acting Hokage to lead Konoha until Tsunade agreed to take the position.
• Shikaku Nara, Yamanaka Hai Yi, Yamanaka Xingran, Hyuga Hiashi, and other officials discussed Danzo’s proposal.

Konoha’s leaders argued over who would serve as Acting Hokage, while Jiraiya asked Xing Ran to teleport him to Tsunade. At Xing Ran’s base, he continued preparing for a future assault on the Akatsuki and tested his newly acquired Boiling Release as Han watched.

• Yamanaka Hai Yi nominated Shikaku Nara for Acting Hokage, but the Third Hokage noted that Shikaku lacked sufficient personal strength for the role.
• Hyuga Hiashi offered his clan’s full cooperation if he became Acting Hokage, and the Third Hokage then recommended Kakashi.
• Danzo proposed taking the Acting Hokage position himself, while Jiraiya asked Xing Ran to teleport him to Tsunade so they could get her decision.
• At his base in the Land of Marshes, Xing Ran delayed the plan to attack the Akatsuki while he prepared his allies, refined his Spiritual Power, and waited for his Boiling Release clone body to take shape.
• Xing Ran tested Boiling Release techniques on a steel target as Han watched with fervent, bloodthirsty interest.

Xing Ran sent Revival Alliance Organization members to alert the Five Great Nations that the Akatsuki Organization’s lair had been found, while Konoha’s leaders continued arguing over an Acting Hokage. Pakura then informed Hiruzen Sarutobi that the alliance had confirmed the lair’s location, and he asked where it was.

• Xing Ran tested Han’s Boil Release abilities and reflected that his strength gains from spiritual and physical integration were nearing a limit.
• Xing Ran learned that Jiraiya had failed to persuade Tsunade to become Hokage and that Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to appoint an Acting Hokage.
• Xing Ran sent Pakura, Retsu, Shamon, Ci, and Han to secretly contact the Five Great Nations and arrange an Akatsuki Organization encirclement in the Land of Iron.
• An Anbu interrupted Konoha’s unresolved Acting Hokage meeting to announce that a Revival Alliance Organization ninja had urgent intelligence.
• Pakura told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Revival Alliance Organization had confirmed the Akatsuki Organization’s lair, and he asked for its location.

The Third Hokage learned that the Revival Alliance Organization had located the Akatsuki hideout and was ordered to gather elite forces in the Land of Iron. Meanwhile, Toneri and his father secretly watched Hinata before an international force assembled to prepare for the operation, where tensions flared as Xing Ran observed.

• Pakura relayed Xing Ran's confidential instructions to the Third Hokage, who was upset that the prize money had slipped away and was told to send elite forces to the Land of Iron.
• Toneri and his eyeless father watched Hinata from a grove, and his father told him he would marry her in ten years.
• Toneri's father threw a kunai at a hidden presence, then took Toneri away; Zetsu emerged from the shadow where the kunai had landed.
• Several days later, Cloud, Rock, and Konoha ninja argued in a Land of Iron valley while they waited for the assault to begin.
• Xing Ran watched the assembled ninja quarrel as Mabui offered his Shadow Clone a huge bowl of Ration Pills.

After confirming that the Akatsuki Organization's main members had gathered in Amegakure, Yamanaka Xingran began the Ninja Alliance's surprise operation to encircle and exterminate them. The chapter ended as Deva Path Pain sensed the invading forces and announced the enemy attack, while the Akatsuki members were still discussing their plans.

• Mabui tried to feed Xing Ran a chicken-flavored Ration Pill, but Xing Ran's original body appeared and she hurried off to her assignment duties.
• Yamanaka Xingran confirmed that the Akatsuki Organization's key members had assembled and signaled the start of the operation.
• Xing Ran used the Flying Thunder God to transport the Ninja Alliance's elite ninjas to locations outside and within Amegakure.
• Deva Path Pain sensed unfamiliar Chakra appearing throughout the rain and announced an enemy attack.
• Kakuzu, Kisame, Orochimaru, Konan, and Obito discussed possible targets and tactics before realizing the Alliance had arrived.

Ōnoki and Killer B launched a surprise assault on the Akatsuki hideout, killing most of its peripheral members but failing to destroy its core. As the Akatsuki scattered, Xing Ran tried to search for Nagato but was intercepted by Obito, who charged through the steam from their clash.

• The Deva Path warned the Akatsuki that attackers were coming, and Ōnoki fired Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu at the hideout.
• The Deva Path launched Planetary Devastation, and the two techniques collided and vanished without an explosion.
• Killer B struck the tower with a Tailed Beast Ball, killing nearly eighty percent of the Akatsuki members inside while the core members escaped.
• Xing Ran searched for Nagato as the Akatsuki scattered, but Obito fled directly into his path.
• Obito and Xing Ran countered each other's fire and water techniques, filling the area with steam.
• Obito advanced through the steam toward Xing Ran, using his Sharingan to guide his attack.

Yamanaka Xingran fought Obito with a rapid series of attacks, but Kakashi’s lightning strike interrupted the battle before Xingran could defeat him. Xingran left to search for Nagato, discovered that Nagato was not in Amegakure, and decided to track him using a Black Rod taken from a living Pain.

• Yamanaka Xingran cut off three of Obito’s fingers and struck him with a sequence of Flying Thunder God, Rasengan, and Wind Release attacks.
• Obito entered the Kamui state to avoid Xingran’s attacks, but Xingran injured his shoulder and left him badly weakened.
• Kakashi pierced Obito’s chest with a lightning-wreathed hand, and Xingran left the two men to continue fighting.
• Yamanaka Xingran searched Amegakure for Nagato but found no sign of him, even as Kitsuchi and Chi Tu fought the Hell Path nearby.
• Yamanaka Xingran decided to use a Black Rod taken from a living Pain to track Nagato and sped away.

Xing Ran killed the Hell Path, tracked the signal from its Black Rod toward Nagato, and encountered Kisame fighting Killer B inside a water-prison barrier. With the trapped fighters losing their chakra, Xing Ran opened the Seventh Gate to confront Kisame.

• Xing Ran crushed the Hell Path with a powerful kick and explained its death to Kitsuchi and Chi Tu as the result of the Super Strength Technique disrupting its Chakra.
• Xing Ran pulled a Black Rod from the Hell Path and sensed a faint signal coming from the west, though he could not trace it far.
• Xing Ran ran past fleeing Amegakure civilians and ignored local ninja who attacked him.
• Kisame's water-prison barrier engulfed Xing Ran as Kisame's Great Shark Bullet Technique swallowed Killer B and absorbed his Chakra.
• Xing Ran decided to kill Kisame and opened the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates.

Xing Ran used Day Tiger to break Kisame’s water prison and defeat him, then left Killer B to guard the captured ninja while he continued searching for Nagato. The chapter ended with Kisame badly injured and Killer B responsible for preventing his escape or suicide.

• Xing Ran unleashed Day Tiger, which pierced Kisame’s Great Shark Bullet and struck him, bursting the water prison and flooding Amegakure.
• The force of Xing Ran’s attack swept through the village, killing civilians and toppling damaged buildings.
• Xing Ran pinned Kisame, who tried to escape with a Water Shark Bullet Technique, but Xing Ran shattered the shark and smashed him into the ground.
• Killer B approached after recovering from the attack, while Gyuki grew angry at B’s rap about their defeat.
• Xing Ran warned Killer B to stop Kisame from committing suicide, left him in charge of the prisoner, and vanished to search for Nagato.

Xing Ran followed the Black Rod to Deva Path Pain, where Ōnoki and Rasa struggled against him, while battles raged across the ruins. Orochimaru faced a large Konoha force led by Jiraiya, and the chapter ended as Orochimaru prepared to rely on Impure World Reincarnation.

• Killer B restrained the captive as Xing Ran released the Eight Gates and raced toward the Black Rod’s signal.
• Xing Ran reached the ruins and found Deva Path Pain, who had just repelled a combined attack from Ōnoki and Rasa with Shinra Tensei.
• Pakura and Deidara pursued Konan through the air, forcing her to intercept their attacks with explosive-tag feathers.
• Orochimaru taunted Jiraiya while surrounded by Konoha ninja and other fighters, then rejected Jiraiya’s offer to surrender and return to the village.
• Orochimaru prepared to use Impure World Reincarnation: Art of the Ninja World's Greats.

Orochimaru summoned eight powerful shinobi with Impure World Reincarnation, turning the battle against the allied forces into a crisis. Meanwhile, Xing Ran arrived to challenge Deva Path Pain and take over the fight from Ōnoki and Rasa.

• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Mu, A, Karatachi Yagura, Roshi, Yugito, and Utakata, while several other targets failed to appear.
• Jiraiya summoned Shima and Fukasaku as the Konoha shinobi and the Raikage and Mizukage moved to face the reincarnated Kage and jinchuriki.
• Xing Ran left the battle near Deva Path Pain and used the Body Flicker Technique to reach Ōnoki and Rasa.
• Ōnoki struggled with his injured back, while Deva Path Pain's abilities countered Rasa's gold dust, so the two Kage let Xing Ran take the lead.
• Deva Path Pain recognized Xing Ran as Konoha's Flying Thunder God user and regarded him as a threat that needed to be eliminated.

Xing Ran tried to negotiate with Deva Path Pain, then evaded Shinra Tensei and activated the Byakugou Seal to conceal his strength while attacking. Deva Path used a modified Universal Pull to drag Xing Ran high into the sky.

• Xing Ran tried to persuade Deva Path Pain to pursue peace, but Pain accused Konoha of betrayal.
• Deva Path attacked Xing Ran with Shinra Tensei, and Xing Ran dodged the repulsive force.
• Xing Ran activated the Byakugou Seal, which he had received from Konoha as a reward for saving Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Xing Ran charged at Deva Path, who used a modified Universal Pull to drag him upward.

Yamanaka Xingran used Flying Thunder God anchors and a powerful punch to smash the Deva Path into the ground, but the Deva Path survived by blocking with a Black Rod. The Deva Path then activated a space-time barrier to counter Flying Thunder God, and Xingran prepared to continue fighting without it.

• The Deva Path launched Black Rods at Xing Ran as Banshō Ten'in sent him flying uncontrollably into the air.
• Xing Ran scattered Flying Thunder God anchors, teleported around the Deva Path, and struck him with a punch that drove him into the ground.
• The Deva Path survived by blocking with a Black Rod, which bent under Xing Ran's punch.
• The Tsuchikage and Kazekage watched Xing Ran's strength with shock and newfound respect.
• The Deva Path opened a scroll and activated a space-time barrier across much of Amegakure, preventing Xing Ran from using Flying Thunder God.