Chapter Summaries

Sasuke defeated Orochimaru in their battle of souls by using Susanoo and Kagutsuchi’s black flames. After Orochimaru burned away, Sasuke laughed maniacally.

• Orochimaru transformed into his eight-headed white serpent using the Eight Branches Technique.
• Sasuke summoned Susanoo in its fourth form and created a sword surrounded by Purple Electricity.
• Sasuke summoned eight lightning spears that pierced the serpent’s heads and pinned Orochimaru to the ground.
• Sasuke formed a black-flaming katana with Kagutsuchi and thrust it through Orochimaru, burning him to nothing but a black, Glaze-like crystal.
• Sasuke fell silent, then laughed more and more wildly.

Sasuke revealed that he had killed Orochimaru and taken his power, then persuaded Yakushi Kabuto to help him take control of Otogakure in exchange for Orochimaru's corpse after three years. After Kabuto agreed, Sasuke used Kotoamatsukami to manipulate him into cooperating without realizing his will had been altered.

• Sasuke told Yakushi Kabuto that Orochimaru was dead and that he had absorbed Orochimaru's power and knowledge.
• Yakushi Kabuto asked how Sasuke would deal with him, and Sasuke offered to spare him if he helped take control of Otogakure and served as an experimental assistant.
• Sasuke promised to give Yakushi Kabuto Orochimaru's corpse after three years, and Yakushi Kabuto agreed to the terms.
• Sasuke opened the Mangekyō Sharingan on his forehead and used Kotoamatsukami on Yakushi Kabuto.
• Yakushi Kabuto, unaware that his will had been altered, began discussing how to help Sasuke take control of Otogakure.

Sasuke and Yakushi Kabuto planned to conceal Orochimaru’s death and use Kabuto’s disguise to help Sasuke take control of Otogakure. Sasuke then asked Kabuto to use the village’s intelligence network to find Yomi, the leader of the Yomi Sect.

• Sasuke asked Yakushi Kabuto how to secure Otogakure’s loyalty, and Kabuto warned that many followers would resist if they learned Orochimaru was dead.
• Kabuto proposed hiding Orochimaru’s death, postponing the reincarnation ritual for three years, and presenting Sasuke as Orochimaru’s direct disciple with authority over Otogakure’s resources.
• Sasuke agreed to the plan, and Kabuto volunteered to impersonate Orochimaru while disappearing from his usual role as an intelligence operative.
• Sasuke dismissed concerns about possible challengers and said he would make them submit.
• Sasuke asked Kabuto to investigate the whereabouts of Yomi, the leader of the Yomi Sect.

After taking Orochimaru’s memories, Sasuke mastered Impure World Reincarnation and considered which shinobi he could revive, while planning for his eventual encounter with Itachi. He also discovered that Kinkaku and Ginkaku were descendants of the Sage of Six Paths and that their hostility toward Konoha stemmed from their clan’s destruction.

• Sasuke reviewed Orochimaru’s memories and quickly learned to perform Impure World Reincarnation, raising an empty coffin because he had prepared no sacrifice or dead shinobi’s cells.
• Sasuke assessed Orochimaru’s version of the forbidden technique and considered using enhanced Yamato Cells to create sacrifices for future summonings.
• Sasuke realized he could not summon the First or Second Hokage because their souls were sealed by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, and he lacked the knowledge to undo it.
• Sasuke anticipated facing Uchiha Itachi and wondered how Itachi would react to seeing a former friend again.
• Sasuke discovered in Orochimaru’s memories that Kinkaku and Ginkaku were Hagoromo Kinkaku and Hagoromo Ginkaku, descendants of Otsutsuki Hagoromo who hated Konoha for destroying their clan.

Sasuke prepared to fuse First Hokage Cells with his own, planning to add Naruto’s cells and eventually obtain Hagoromo Clan cells to strengthen his bloodline. After studying Orochimaru’s research, he began the First Hokage cell transplant in an underground laboratory.

• Sasuke planned to combine First Hokage Cells, Naruto Cells, and his Uchiha bloodline to pursue the Rinnegan and all five elemental chakra natures.
• Sasuke decided he also wanted Hagoromo Kinkaku and Hagoromo Ginkaku’s cells, and considered capturing Uchiha Shin after learning about his unusual ability to fuse tissue and evolve transplanted Sharingan.
• Sasuke reviewed Orochimaru’s memories and research, including the location of Uchiha Shin and extensive studies of the First Hokage Cells.
• Several days later, Sasuke studied Root and Orochimaru’s First Hokage cell research in Orochimaru’s underground laboratory.
• Sasuke created five Shadow Clones; four raised the Four Violet Flames Formation while the fifth prepared the cell solution and activated the transplant machine.
• Sasuke entered a tank of nutrient fluid, closed his Eternal Mangekyo, and began the First Hokage Cells injection into his bone marrow.

Sasuke injected First Hokage Cells into his bone marrow and used Yin Release to fuse them with his own cells, creating a small number of new Sasuke Cells. He decided to study the fused cells and accelerate their growth before attempting further experiments or pursuing the Rinnegan.

• Sasuke endured a bone marrow biopsy and had First Hokage Cells injected while a Shadow Clone monitored his vital signs and recorded his sensations.
• Sasuke used his Eternal Mangekyo's Yin Release power to balance and fuse with the cells' Yang Release power, and his abnormal heartbeat and blood pressure returned to normal.
• Sasuke confirmed the First Hokage Cells had become bone marrow stem cells, creating tens of thousands of Sasuke Cells and slightly increasing his vitality and ocular power.
• Sasuke reasoned that the new cells would need to multiply and replace many of his body's cells before he could pursue awakening the Rinnegan, which might require more than combining Yin and Yang Release.
• Sasuke declined the Shadow Clone's suggestion to inject Naruto's cells, choosing to study the new cells first, then rested after the clone recorded the experiment data.

Sasuke recruited Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo into his team by offering Suigetsu help finding the Seven Ninja Swords, Karin Uzumaki sealing techniques, and Jugo a chance to see Kimimaro. The team left Orochimaru’s base together, with Sasuke promising to restrain Jugo if his violent urges returned.

• Sasuke freed Suigetsu and convinced him to join by offering to help him find the Seven Ninja Swords; he also gave him a Lightning Blade Technique training scroll.
• Sasuke visited Karin, who eagerly accepted his invitation to join the team, and gave her a scroll of Uzumaki Clan sealing techniques.
• Sasuke led Suigetsu and Karin to Jugo’s prison and subdued him after Jugo charged at them.
• Jugo recognized Sasuke as Second Pillar and agreed to leave with him after Sasuke said he could ask Kimimaro about his fate.

Sasuke defeated the Sound Four and established his authority over them before learning that Kimimaro was dying. He ordered Kabuto to keep Kimimaro alive and send his tissue to the laboratory so he could investigate the unusual illness.

• Karin sensed the Sound Four approaching Otogakure's entrance, and Sasuke chose to face them himself.
• Sasuke defeated all four Sound Four members, who then accepted his authority and pledged to obey his orders.
• Yakushi Kabuto told Sasuke that Kimimaro was unconscious and near death, and that neither medicine nor attempts to use First Hokage Cells or Karin's blood had helped him.
• Kabuto said Kimimaro might live for less than a month, and Sasuke ordered him to prolong Kimimaro's life and send cell tissue to the laboratory.

Sasuke studied Kimimaro’s cells and discovered that his Shikotsumyaku could counter the healing of God Tree-derived bloodlines, leading him to distinguish the Ten-Tails bloodline from the Otsutsuki bloodline. He concluded that the two bloodlines could not safely be combined without a way to balance them, and realized that only powerful Otsutsuki eyes could cure Kimimaro’s illness.

• Sasuke tested Kimimaro’s cells against Naruto’s and saw Kimimaro’s cells overcome Naruto’s despite both being badly damaged.
• Sasuke deduced that Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku hindered powerful healing and that All-Killing Ash Bones could destroy even a Six Paths Sage Body.
• Sasuke concluded that the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha inherited the God Tree Ten-Tails bloodline, while the Hyuga, Kaguya, and Moon Otsutsuki inherited Otsutsuki Kaguya’s bloodline.
• Sasuke decided to complete the God Tree Ten-Tails bloodline but postpone pursuing Otsutsuki Hamura’s bloodline until he understood how the two bloodlines could be fused safely.
• Sasuke realized that Kimimaro’s illness could be balanced with Otsutsuki Sage Eyes, but ordinary Hyuga Byakugan were not powerful enough and he had no way to obtain suitable eyes.

Sasuke suspected Senjutsu could help fuse the God Tree Ten-Tails and Otsutsuki bloodlines, and decided to learn it. He assigned missions and training in Otogakure before heading west to obtain the Star Meteorite in Hoshigakure.

• Sasuke theorized that Senjutsu might allow the God Tree Ten-Tails and Otsutsuki bloodlines to fuse without conflict.
• Sasuke ordered Guren and the Sound Four to investigate the Box of Ultimate Bliss near Kusagakure and withdraw if exposed.
• Sasuke told Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin to stay in Otogakure and master the techniques he had taught them.
• Yakushi Kabuto promised to manage Otogakure while Sasuke was away and reported that Yomi's current whereabouts were unknown.
• Sasuke left Otogakure and traveled toward Hoshigakure in the Land of Bears to obtain the Star Meteorite.

Sasuke traveled to Hoshigakure to seize the star meteorite for his artificial Tailed Beast plan. He arrived during Akahoshi’s attack, killed him, and claimed the meteorite while rescuing Hinata.

• Sasuke planned to combine the star meteorite, Takigakure’s God Tree remnants, and the nine Tailed Beasts’ chakra to create an artificial Tailed Beast.
• Sasuke flew toward the Land of Stars, hoping to obtain the meteorite before Naruto destroyed it.
• Akahoshi absorbed the meteorite and used its power to defeat the Star Ninja, knock away Kiba and Akamaru, and incapacitate Hinata.
• Sasuke arrived and cut through Akahoshi’s Chakra Dragon, while the meteorite tore free from Akahoshi and flew to him.
• Sasuke vaporized Akahoshi, caught the meteorite, and rescued Hinata before greeting Shino, whom he mistakenly called Shiho.

Sasuke rescued Hyuga Hinata, collected her blood, and took the Meteorite before leaving the area. He tested the Meteorite’s power in the night sky and transformed his Susanoo into its Complete Body form.

• Sasuke apologized to Aburame Shino, admitted he had come to retrieve something, and left Hinata with him before vanishing.
• Sasuke examined Hinata’s blood and reflected that he still needed Otsutsuki Toneri’s bloodline to complete his collection.
• Sasuke confirmed the Meteorite came from the Ten-Tails and sensed it increasing his ocular power.
• Sasuke used the Meteorite’s power to fly above the clouds, activated his Eternal Mangekyo, and formed Complete Body: Susanoo.

Sasuke used the Ten-Tails Flesh Meteorite to unleash Complete Body: Susanoo and fly back to Otogakure, but its influence nearly drove him to attack Nagato. He sealed the Meteorite and postponed his Artificial God Tree Ten-Tails plan until he could investigate its dangers and hidden origins.

• Sasuke transformed into Complete Body: Susanoo and flew over the Land of Rain, where he struggled to suppress the Meteorite’s killing intent and passed over Amegakure without attacking Nagato.
• Deva Path Pain sensed a disturbance in the storm clouds, but dismissed it as an illusion and continued listening to Konan’s report.
• Sasuke reached Otogakure and realized the Meteorite’s power was feeding him primitive, bloodthirsty desires, so he sealed it in a scroll.
• Sasuke suspected the Ten-Tails Flesh and Takigakure’s God Tree Remains might be schemes left by Otsutsuki Kaguya or the Sage of Six Paths.
• Sasuke postponed creating an Artificial God Tree Ten-Tails and decided to resolve the Meteorite’s negative effects before retrieving the God Tree Remains.

After Guren and the Sound Four botched their scouting mission, Sasuke set up a future challenge with Guren to obtain her Shoton and planned to pursue Kusagakure’s Box of Ultimate Bliss himself. He learned that a Cell Fusion Agent had stabilized Kimimaro, then heard that Yomi had been found as Shion dreamed of Moryo’s revival and a pair of crimson eyes behind it.

• Sasuke dismissed the Sound Four from undercover work and told them to focus on training and Otogakure’s construction.
• Sasuke challenged Guren to defeat him for the chance to become Orochimaru’s personal disciple, with her Shoton as the price if she lost; Guren accepted.
• Sasuke decided to seek Kusagakure’s Box of Ultimate Bliss himself after his subordinates’ exposure likely tightened its security.
• Yakushi Kabuto reported that Kimimaro’s vital signs had stabilized after Sasuke injected him with a Cell Fusion Agent made using Hyuga Hinata’s blood cells, and Sasuke tasked Kabuto with recording his changes.
• Yakushi Kabuto told Sasuke that Yomi had been found.
• Shion awoke from a dream of Moryo breaking free with a vast Terracotta Army, and saw eerie crimson eyes behind the creature.

Sasuke secured Yomi’s cooperation in releasing Moryo, offering Otogakure’s help in exchange for witnessing the demon’s power. In Konoha, Tsunade kept Team 7 together, appointed Sakura its captain, and announced a new member who knew Sasuke.

• Sasuke defeated Yomi’s four guards and proposed an alliance to free Moryo.
• Yomi accepted Sasuke’s offer, swearing that the Yomi Sect would reward Otogakure after the seal was lifted.
• Tsunade told Sakura and Naruto that Team 7 would remain intact and promoted Sakura to captain while Kakashi was absent.
• Naruto objected to adding someone to Team 7 because he wanted Sasuke’s place kept open.
• Tsunade said the new member had met Naruto and Sakura before and had also known Sasuke.

Tsunade added Kurama Yakumo to Team 7, and Yakumo began telling Naruto and Sakura how she had first met Sasuke. Meanwhile, Shion sought help against her vision of Moryo’s return, deciding to hire Konoha and the Akatsuki.

• Tsunade introduced Kurama Yakumo as a gifted Genjutsu user and assigned her to Team 7 alongside Naruto and Sakura.
• Sakura asked Yakumo about Sasuke, and Yakumo said she had first met him about five years earlier but could not reveal some secrets.
• Shion told Taruho about her nightmare in which Moryo and its Ghost Army returned under the control of a red-eyed figure.
• Shion rejected Iwagakure and Sunagakure as allies and decided to request aid from Konoha.
• Taruho recommended a successful mercenary organization, and Shion ordered him to contact the Akatsuki.

Nagato accepted the Land of Demons’ sixty-million-ryō mission after arranging for Akatsuki to intervene only if Konoha’s shinobi were defeated. Meanwhile, Sasuke trained with the reanimated Kazekage and then summoned Shisui with Impure World Reincarnation.

• Konan told Nagato that the Shrine Maiden of the Land of Demons had hired Akatsuki to defend the Sealing Altar alongside Konoha, and Nagato initially rejected the mission.
• Nagato called an Akatsuki meeting, where Kakuzu volunteered after learning the commission paid sixty million ryō, and Kazuma reluctantly agreed to accompany him.
• Sasuke trained by fighting the reanimated Third Kazekage and Fourth Kazekage, then released them after the sparring session.
• An Otonin reported that Yomi’s sect expected to locate the Sealing Temple within fifteen days, and Sasuke planned to retrieve the Box of Ultimate Bliss from Kusagakure before then.
• Sasuke used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Shisui, who awoke confused, and Sasuke greeted him.

Sasuke summoned Uchiha Shisui and told him that Itachi had massacred the Uchiha clan, then tested whether his Kotoamatsukami could affect Shisui’s Edo Tensei body. After preparing sacrifices for his upcoming trip to Kusagakure, Sasuke invited Karin along and learned that she regarded the entire village as her enemy.

• Uchiha Shisui awoke as an Edo Tensei and learned from Sasuke that Itachi had killed the Uchiha clan five years earlier.
• Sasuke explained that he understood Itachi’s motives, rejected Shisui’s appeal for mutual understanding, and used Kotoamatsukami on him to test its effect.
• Sasuke discovered that Kotoamatsukami could not control Edo Tensei Shisui, then returned him to his coffin.
• Sasuke prepared Yamato clone sacrifices for the Third Kazekage and Fourth Kazekage and planned to use them during his trip to Kusagakure.
• Sasuke asked Karin to accompany him to Kusagakure, and Karin declared that everyone there was her enemy.
• Sasuke told Karin to kill them all.

Sasuke agreed to punish Kusagakure for how it had exploited Karin and her mother, then traveled with Karin to the village. On the way, Karin explained Kusagakure’s leadership and revealed little about the Box of Ultimate Bliss, while Sasuke asked whether she could sense the village’s higher-ups.

• Karin urged Sasuke not to kill Kusagakure’s ninja, and he agreed to punish them instead.
• Karin mistakenly believed Sasuke’s plan was motivated by his affection for her, while he privately framed it as revenge and a chance to take Kusagakure’s treasure.
• At dawn, Sasuke and Karin left Otogakure and hurried toward Kusagakure.
• Karin described Kusagakure’s twelve-member council, its powerful village chief, and its interest in other countries’ ninjutsu and diplomacy.
• Karin said she knew little about the Box of Ultimate Bliss, and Sasuke asked whether she remembered the chakra of Kusagakure’s higher-ups.

Sasuke and Karin reached Kusagakure and located four councilors who knew how to activate the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Sasuke sent the Third Kazekage and Rasa to attack the village and create a diversion.

• Karin told Sasuke she could recognize the chakra of Kusagakure’s councilors, and Sasuke explained that he wanted to find Shenhou, Weiyang, Wuma, and Chuniu for information about the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
• Sasuke and Karin raced to Kusagakure, where Karin used the Mind’s Eye of the Kagura to locate Weiyang and Wuma together and Shenhou and Chuniu elsewhere in the village.
• Sasuke summoned the Third Kazekage and Rasa and told them to cause a huge disturbance in Kusagakure.
• The Third Kazekage and Rasa flew toward Kusagakure using Iron Sand and Gold Dust.