Chapter Summaries

Sasuke questioned Yakushi Kabuto about Hiruko’s scroll and heard his plans to improve the Chimera Technique through cloning and Shin’s cells. Sasuke tasked Kabuto with testing the idea and sent him to Ryūchi Cave to learn Senjutsu, offering Orochimaru’s corpse if he succeeded.

• Sasuke read Hiruko’s scroll and challenged Yakushi Kabuto after learning he had inspected it without being asked.
• Yakushi Kabuto identified rejection and imbalance as the Chimera Technique’s fatal flaws.
• Yakushi Kabuto proposed cultivating compatible, equally strong clan clones and using Shin’s cells to create a more effective Chimera.
• Sasuke approved the proposal and told Yakushi Kabuto to conduct the experiment.
• Sasuke sent Yakushi Kabuto to Ryūchi Cave to learn Senjutsu and promised him Orochimaru’s corpse if he succeeded.

Sasuke planned to use the Chimera Technique as a test of Kabuto Yakushi’s bloodline-fusion research and devised a long-term method to nurture an Otsutsuki Clone. After taking the God Tree Branch from Takigakure, he discovered it and the Star Meteorite violently attacked each other, leaving him to wonder whether Big Sister Kaguya had developed a split personality.

• Sasuke considered letting Kabuto Yakushi test bloodline fusion while withholding knowledge of the Moon Otsutsuki Clan, the Hagoromo Clan, and the Sage Curse Mark.
• Sasuke studied the Chimera Technique and planned to combine formations, the Rainbow Ice Wall, and the Flaming Mountain to nurture an Otsutsuki Clone, though he still lacked a Heaven Talent Formation and a way to achieve harmony among people.
• Sasuke took the God Tree Branch from the Takigakure giant tree, unknowingly depriving it of the ability to produce Hero’s Water.
• A mysterious middle-aged man sensed that Sasuke had taken the branch and recognized him as Indra’s reincarnation, Second Pillar, but could not inspect the sealed branch.
• Sasuke released the God Tree Branch and Star Meteorite, and they immediately attacked each other until he suppressed them.
• Sasuke wondered whether Big Sister Kaguya had developed a split personality.

After the Star Meteorite and God Tree Branch violently clashed, Sasuke guessed they carried the wills of Otsutsuki Kaguya and a mysterious Otsutsuki whom she had killed. He decided to exploit their hatred for his Artificial Ten-Tails Plan and set out to find Shinnō, but Denka arrived with news about the chakra mineral vein.

• Sasuke suppressed the berserk Star Meteorite and God Tree Branch, sealed them away, and tried to determine why they had attacked each other.
• Sasuke suspected the Star Meteorite carried Otsutsuki Kaguya's will and theorized that the God Tree Branch contained the data of an unknown Otsutsuki whom Kaguya had killed.
• Sasuke realized he could make the two sets of consciousness data fight to claim the Star Meteorite and God Tree Branch for his Artificial Ten-Tails Plan, but needed a way to fuse them without destroying them.
• Sasuke concluded that Shinnō and his Artificial Tailed Beast Method might provide the means to fuse the items, so he changed course to search for Shinnō.
• Denka appeared beside Sasuke and reported that they had found the chakra mineral vein he had asked them to locate.

Sasuke followed reports of the Gelel Remnants to the Land of Wind, while Akatsuki secretly arranged a trap to lure him toward the Gelel Ore Vein. Sasuke arrived at the attacked caravan and found survivors, but Gaara and his team appeared before he could treat them.

• Denka told Sasuke that the Gelel Remnants were heading for a caravan near the southern border of the Land of Wind, and Sasuke set out to find them.
• Sasuke’s Sage Clone also flew toward the Land of Wind to test its combat strength, while a White Zetsu clone overheard Denka report Sasuke’s departure to Nekomata.
• Jūzō Biwa led the reanimated Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and Heide’s group toward Takachiho Gorge, while Kazuma and Tobi watched nearby.
• Obito and Black Zetsu confirmed that Sasuke had taken the bait and planned to ambush him at the Gelel Ore Vein, with Nagato heading there ahead of them.
• Sasuke reached the caravan site and found survivors among the corpses; when sand rose behind him, he warned against attacking, and Gaara appeared with Kankuro, Temari, and Baki.

Sasuke treated the survivors of an attack near the Land of Wind and learned that their attackers were seeking the Gelel Ore Vein at Takachiho Gorge. After recognizing a wound that pointed to a trap involving the Akatsuki, he flew there anyway, while his Sage Clone entered Yinglong Sage Mode over the sea near the Land of Waves.

• Gaara's team arrived at the attack site, and Sasuke dismissed their suspicions about Orochimaru while treating the injured survivors.
• The caravan leader's grandson explained that the Gelel Remnants had attacked because Hiko knew the location of a Gelel Ore Vein near Takachiho Gorge.
• Sasuke recognized a wound resembling Ringo Ameyuri's swordsmanship and concluded that the Akatsuki had set a trap for him at Takachiho Gorge.
• Sasuke flew toward the gorge to pursue the Gelel Ore Vein and confront the Akatsuki, while Baki's group followed with the survivors.
• Sasuke's Sage Clone transformed into Yinglong Sage Mode and accelerated across the sea toward the Land of Waves.

Heide’s group was massacred at the entrance to the Gelel Ore Vein, and Nagato learned that Gelel Stones could restore his failing body. He began absorbing the vein’s energy in the underground ruins, but the power caused mutations and violent impulses, forcing him to slow down his recovery.

• Heide betrayed Jūzō Biwa and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen at the cave entrance, but Jūzō’s group turned on him and slaughtered the Gelel Remnants, sparing Temujin.
• Human Path Pain read Heide’s memories, learned that Temujin was a royal descendant with a unique constitution, and took the Gelel Stone from Heide.
• Nagato absorbed Heide’s Gelel Stone and discovered that its life energy improved his body, so he decided to enter the ruins and recover using the Gelel Ore Vein.
• Obito objected to Nagato changing the plan, but Black Zetsu supported him and warned Obito that Second Pillar was the greater threat.
• Nagato opened the seal above the underground chamber and absorbed the Gelel Ore Vein’s energy, visibly recovering as Konan’s body began to mutate.
• Nagato recognized that absorbing the energy too quickly caused physical mutation and destructive urges, so he told Konan to leave and slowed his recovery.

Akatsuki planned to counter Sasuke with Fuinjutsu and Yang Release, assigning Uchiha Obito and Six Paths Pain to attack while Kazuma supported them with Reanimated shinobi. Sasuke destroyed their barrier in the Gelel Ruins, but Uchiha Obito stopped his strike with a Wood Dragon as a mysterious golden light approached Takachiho Gorge.

• Zetsu explained Sasuke’s Sharingan abilities and proposed using Fuinjutsu and Yang Release to counter his regeneration and other ocular powers.
• Akatsuki assigned Six Paths Pain and Uchiha Obito to lead the attack while Kazuma used his Reanimated Army to restrain and support them.
• Sasuke spotted the barrier in the gorge and dove toward the abyss instead of landing on the trapped stone platform.
• Sasuke’s Black Flame blade shattered the barrier, but Uchiha Obito’s Wood Dragon caught the strike and regenerated as the flames burned it.
• Sasuke greeted Uchiha Obito and praised his improved Wood Release while a dark golden light raced toward Takachiho Gorge.

Sasuke fought Uchiha Obito and Akatsuki’s forces in the underground Gelel Ruins, using Lightning Style Chakra Mode to gain the upper hand before the Six Paths of Pain surrounded him. A golden lightning attack then disrupted the battle, and its arrival revealed a mysterious figure who identified himself as Yinglong of Ryūchi Cave.

• Sasuke countered Uchiha Obito’s Wood Release and defeated his strength advantage with Lightning Style Chakra Mode, then interrupted Uchiha Reflection and injured him.
• Ringo Ameyuri attacked Sasuke with Heaven-Splitting Lightning Snake while Hanzo the Salamander struck from behind, but Sasuke deflected the lightning into Kirin and pierced Hanzo with Chidori Sharp Spear.
• The Preta Path absorbed Sasuke’s Kirin, and the Six Paths of Pain emerged to attack him with Chains of the Demonic Statue as Obito recovered.
• A golden lightning greatsword crashed into the underground battlefield, tore apart the Preta Path, and clashed with Deva Path Pain’s Shinra Tensei.
• The mysterious golden-scaled attacker appeared with dragon-like wings and horns and introduced himself as Yinglong of Ryūchi Cave.

Sasuke’s Sage Clone, posing as Ryūchi Cave’s Cherry Blossom Dragon, fought the Six Paths of Pain and quickly destroyed two of them. As Nagato’s Paths proved stronger than before, the clone summoned the Three Great Snake Princesses, entered Perfect Yinglong Sage Mode, and launched a powerful combined Wind and Lightning attack.

• Deva Path Pain recognized the Sage Clone’s Ryūchi Cave chakra, while Sasuke explained that the White Snake Sage had sent him to help.
• The Animal Path and Asura Path attacked, but the Sage Clone used Muki Tensei to destroy their centipede summon and rocket fist.
• The Sage Clone vanished with Phantom Shift and Feishen Tuoji, then decapitated the Asura Path and struck down the revived Preta Path.
• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei to blast the Sage Clone away, but the clone regenerated his damaged scales and wing.
• The Sage Clone summoned Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime, who merged with him to create Perfect Yinglong Sage Mode.
• The Sage Clone unleashed Sage Art: Lightning Strike Tornado against the Six Paths of Pain.

Sasuke used the Seven-Star Sword’s hidden sealing power against Obito, who believed Sasuke’s Word Spirit would let him seal him away. After summoning the Third Raikage to hold off the Reanimated Army, Sasuke outmaneuvered Obito with Flying Raijin: Level Two and struck him from behind with Chidori.

• Obito wounded Sasuke with the Grim Reaper Scythe, but Sasuke regenerated his severed arm with Izanagi-no-Mikoto and struck the chain linking Obito’s weapons.
• Sasuke realized the chain was the Seven-Star Sword’s golden rope, and contact between the Seven-Star Sword and his fused Futsu-no-Mitama Sword caused him to release a Word Spirit.
• Obito laughed under the Seven-Star Sword’s influence and prepared to use it with the Crimson Gourd to seal Sasuke, while Black Zetsu watched from the battlefield.
• Sasuke summoned the Third Raikage to fight the Reanimated Army, then faced Obito alone as they charged at each other.
• Obito phased through Sasuke’s thrown Futsu-no-Mitama Sword and tried to strike Sasuke’s Word Spirit, but Sasuke vanished and appeared behind him with Flying Raijin: Level Two, piercing him with Chidori.

Sasuke used Flying Raijin and the Sharingan Jade to injure Obito while he was intangible, then reclaimed the Grim Reaper Scythe and Gunbai. As Obito fought him with a Wood Golem, Black Zetsu turned to the battle against Pain, where a flash of white light and a golden streak left Pain apparently defeated.

• Sasuke wounded Obito with a Chidori-assisted Flying Raijin attack, and Obito questioned how Sasuke had learned the technique.
• Sasuke used the Sharingan Jade to control the Grim Reaper Scythe and Gunbai across space, piercing Obito while he was intangible and taking the weapons back.
• Obito argued that the weapons belonged to Madara, but Sasuke claimed they belonged to the Uchiha clan head and then provoked Obito into fighting again.
• Obito drew on Tobi's power and summoned a giant Wood Golem, while Sasuke attacked it with Black Flame and Susanoo.
• Black Zetsu abandoned the fight between Sasuke and Obito to focus on Nagato, hoping Pain could still stop Sasuke.
• A white dragon and golden Dragon Ball filled the underground with light, and Black Zetsu glimpsed an Akatsuki-cloaked figure falling as golden light raced toward the Underground Palace.

Nagato explained that Cherry Blossom Dragon from Ryūchi Cave had defeated the Six Paths of Pain with Hakugeki no Jutsu, then revealed that absorbing the Gelel Ore Vein had restored more than half of his health and exposed Uchiha Obito’s identity. As the Sage Clone reached the palace, Nagato absorbed his attack and blasted him into a wall with a powerful Shinra Tensei, but the injured clone began regenerating.

• Nagato told Konan that Cherry Blossom Dragon had defeated the Six Paths of Pain with a light-and-sound Senjutsu, and that the attacker’s energy resembled the Gelel Ore Vein.
• Nagato withdrew the Black Receivers from his back, revealed that his body had recovered more than halfway, and declared himself invincible.
• Nagato told Konan that the man posing as Uchiha Madara was actually Uchiha Obito, then sensed Cherry Blossom Dragon approaching.
• The Sage Clone and the Three Great Snake Princesses discussed how their Dragon Balls had strengthened Hakugeki no Jutsu, and the clone resolved to share the Gelel Ore Vein with Ryūchi Cave.
• The Sage Clone burst into the palace, but Nagato absorbed his golden attack with Preta Path: Fūjutsu Kyūin and struck him with a powerful Shinra Tensei.
• The Sage Clone rose from the wreckage as his wounds regenerated and the Blue Chakra Short Sword at his waist began to glow.

The Sage Clone struggled against a healthy Nagato, whose Gelel Stone-powered body and Rinnegan made him far stronger than expected. As Nagato moved in for the kill, Sasuke ambushed him with Purple Electricity, leaving Nagato badly wounded but rapidly healed and facing Sasuke.

• Nagato pursued the regenerating Sage Clone with Banshō Ten'in and close-combat attacks, while the Clone realized the Gelel Stone had restored Nagato's strength.
• The Sage Clone used Sage Art: Hakugeki no Jutsu, but Nagato countered with an invisible repulsive force and kept pulling him closer.
• Sasuke's lightning shortsword distracted Nagato, and Sasuke appeared beside it to strike him with Purple Electricity.
• Nagato blocked part of Sasuke's attack with a Black Receiver, but the strike pierced his abdomen and blasted him backward.
• Nagato absorbed the lingering lightning with the Preta Path and healed his wound, then turned his cold gaze toward Uchiha Sasuke.

Sasuke confronted Nagato inside the palace and shattered his Chibaku Tensei, but Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to block Sasuke’s lightning sword. As Nagato weakened, he released the seal over the Gelel Ore Vein.

• Obito, nearly out of chakra after fighting Sasuke’s Sage Clone, saw Chibaku Tensei form in the distance and rushed toward Nagato.
• Sasuke used a Flying Raijin Crystal Dagger to reach Nagato and drew his attention while the Sage Clone concealed itself near the giant Gelel Stone.
• Nagato unleashed Chibaku Tensei against Sasuke, who shattered its black sphere with Susanoo and a strike empowered by the Star Meteorite.
• Nagato restored the sphere and dragged Sasuke toward it, but Sasuke broke free with a devastating Black Flame blade strike that destroyed Chibaku Tensei.
• Gaara and the Sunagakure group witnessed Sasuke’s power from outside Takachiho Gorge and decided to wait rather than intervene.
• Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to block Sasuke’s Amefunokumo, then released the sealing array over the Gelel Ore Vein.

Nagato absorbed the Gelel Stone’s energy and, after White Zetsu possessed him, gained enough strength to fight Sasuke with a Wood Dragon and a Wood Golem formed around the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Sasuke answered with Sage-Mode Susanoo, which Black Zetsu recognized as Indra.

• Nagato absorbed energy from the Gelel Stone, but the Shouki Lizard swallowed the stone and escaped after the Sage Clone’s defense weakened Nagato’s Shinra Tensei.
• Sasuke clashed with Nagato’s Demonic Statue of the Outer Path as Black Zetsu sent White Zetsu to possess Nagato and restore his strength.
• White Zetsu’s possession healed Nagato and amplified his power, allowing him to combine the Demonic Statue’s chakra dragon with Wood Release and attack Sasuke with a Wood Dragon.
• Black Zetsu urged Nagato to use the Demonic Statue as the core of a Wood Golem, and Nagato transformed it into a three-headed, six-armed figure that resembled Asura.
• Sasuke combined Susanoo with the Sage Clone’s Senjutsu, transforming it into Sage-Mode Susanoo, and Black Zetsu identified the figure as Indra.

Sasuke and Nagato fought with towering Susanoo and Wood Golem avatars in Takachiho Gorge, while Sasuke forged a new bow and arrow from his Uchiha weapons. The chapter ended as Sasuke unleashed Indra's Arrow at Nagato, who chose to face it head-on.

• Nagato summoned the Asura Wood Golem as Sasuke confronted him with Sage-Mode Susanoo, and their clash terrified the Sunagakure group.
• Sasuke’s Susanoo broke through Nagato’s wooden defenses, restrained the Wood Golem with lightning dragons, and gained the upper hand in close combat.
• Nagato struck back with Super Shinra Tensei, sending Sage-Mode Susanoo flying, but Sasuke’s lightning restraints returned before Nagato could absorb them.
• Sasuke merged the Grim Reaper Scythe and Gunbai into Susanoo and formed the Ame no Makako Bow and Ame no Kaguya arrow.
• Sasuke drew the bow high above the battlefield as Baki ordered the Sunagakure group to flee and Obito offered to take Nagato away.
• Nagato refused to flee, declared himself a god, and combined elemental attacks as Sasuke released Indra’s Arrow toward him.

Sasuke defeated Nagato with Indra's Arrow, destroying Takachiho Gorge and leaving Nagato incapacitated before Obito extracted him and Konan. After witnessing the battle, Sunagakure sent reports to Konoha and Kumogakure that assessed Sasuke as “Modern Uchiha Madara!”

• Sasuke's Indra's Arrow broke through Nagato's Five-Nature Chakra Cannon and Shinra Tensei, then struck the Asura Wood Golem after Nagato lost consciousness.
• Indra's Arrow devastated Takachiho Gorge, and Gaara and the Sunagakure group were stunned by the destruction.
• Sasuke confronted the injured Nagato and Konan while concealing how close he was to exhaustion.
• Black Zetsu suspected Sasuke was Indra himself, and Obito used Kamui to take Nagato and Konan away before Black Zetsu and Sasuke also vanished.
• Chiyo and Ebizo heard the Sunagakure group's report, then sent ninja hawks to Konoha and Kumogakure with the assessment “Modern Uchiha Madara!”

Tsunade and Konoha’s elders reacted to Sunagakure’s report that Second Pillar had become a modern-day Uchiha Madara, while other villages prepared to verify the news. In Amegakure, Kazuma recognized the corpse Black Zetsu had delivered as Uchiha Madara.

• Tsunade read Sunagakure’s intelligence and struggled to believe that thirteen-and-a-half-year-old Second Pillar had risen to power beyond the Five Kage.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu warned Tsunade that Second Pillar could become a threat, then urged the village to devote its resources to training Naruto as Konoha’s own Senju Hashirama.
• Tsunade refused to favor one young person over the others and ordered shinobi to confirm Sunagakure’s report at Takachiho Gorge in the Land of Rivers.
• The Fourth Raikage received the same intelligence and ordered his people to Takachiho Gorge.
• In Amegakure, Kazuma saw the corpse Black Zetsu had brought and identified it as Uchiha Madara.

Sasuke created an Artificial Ten-Tails by combining a Star Meteorite with a God Tree Branch and claiming the resulting creature as his own Vessel. Its emergence drew the attention of Kaguya, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, and the Sage of Six Paths, who vanished from the Pure Land after seeing Sasuke make a move.

• Sakura explained Uchiha Madara's strength to Naruto and said she no longer understood Sasuke's motives.
• Naruto left to train, and Jiraiya told him to go to Mount Myoboku to learn Senjutsu.
• Sasuke used Shinnō's method to combine a Star Meteorite and a God Tree Branch, then covered the cocoon with his Sage Curse Mark.
• A Ten-Tails emerged, and Sasuke sensed that it had become his exclusive Vessel.
• Kaguya, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, and the Sage of Six Paths sensed the Ten-Tails; Ōtsutsuki Isshiki decided to let Sasuke draw attention from Kaguya's children.
• The Sage of Six Paths saw Sasuke make a move and disappeared from the Pure Land.

Sasuke tried to implant the Yomotsu Eye into the eyeless Mini Ten-Tails, but the Sage of Six Paths appeared and warned him that the eye would give it life. After their argument, the Sage let Sasuke proceed but left without giving him any promised power or weapons.

• Sasuke prepared to place the Yomotsu Eye into the Mini Ten-Tails, prompting the Sage of Six Paths to pull him into a mysterious void.
• The Sage of Six Paths warned Sasuke that the Sharingan would give the lifeless Ten-Tails spirituality and allow it to grow into a true Ten-Tails.
• Sasuke challenged the Sage’s plans, arguing that he needed the Ten-Tails’ power to face the Celestials and accusing the Sage of trusting Asura over Indra.
• The Sage of Six Paths admitted his past mistakes, told Sasuke not to lose himself to power, and said he would not interfere.
• Sasuke asked the Sage of Six Paths to leave him something behind, but the Sage vanished without bringing him any gifts.