Chapter Summaries

Simu perfected the Yin-Yang Seal with Sasori’s help and tested it by separating Yin and Yang Release Chakra from subjects infused with Tailed Beast Chakra. His experiments confirmed that each separated mass formed a distinct consciousness, and he prepared to apply what he learned to Shukaku.

• Pain ordered Simu to return with the captured One-Tail, and Simu agreed to come back as soon as possible.
• Simu hurried his sealing research with Sasori, then mastered the Yin-Yang Seal five days later.
• Simu used modified test subjects infused with Tailed Beast Chakra to practice the seal and observed that Uzumaki were especially suited to becoming Jinchuriki.
• Simu sealed the Yin Release and Yang Release Chakra inside a test subject separately with two Chakra swords.
• Simu concluded that both separated Chakra masses retained part of the original soul and developed distinct consciousnesses and personalities.

Simu and Sasori unsealed Shukaku in the desert to begin an experiment, but Shukaku broke their agreement and tried to flee. Simu summoned Greed and Fear to pursue him, leaving Shukaku facing two enormous opponents.

• Simu reassured Sasori that their preparations could keep Shukaku from escaping, and they began the plan by unsealing him from Gaara.
• Shukaku emerged in his giant form and immediately attacked Simu and Sasori, but Sasori used the Third Kazekage puppet and Iron Sand to block his strikes.
• Shukaku fled after realizing he could not win, while Simu stopped Sasori from intervening and summoned Greed and Fear.
• Greed and Fear appeared in the desert, sensed Simu's anger, and prepared to punish Shukaku.

Simu and his Human Clones overwhelmed Shukaku with a sustained barrage of attacks, despite Shukaku trapping one Simu in a Genjutsu and unleashing a Tailed Beast Bomb. Shukaku saw both Simus emerge unharmed and fell into deep self-doubt.

• The Apostle of Desire used a mental attack and Genjutsu to disorient Shukaku, but Shukaku recognized the illusion and broke free.
• Simu's Apostle of Desire punched Shukaku repeatedly while Simu and another Human Clone blasted it with combined Wind and Lightning Release techniques.
• Shukaku's battered body launched a Tailed Beast Bomb at Simu, leaving a huge crater where he had stood.
• Simu reassured Sasori and revealed himself alongside another unharmed Simu, leaving Shukaku questioning its strength.

Simu restrained Shukaku and extracted a portion of his soul and chakra for an experiment, while Shukaku's separated soul was transformed into a believer of Lord Jashin. Simu sealed Shukaku back into Gaara, leaving the new Little Shukaku inside himself praising Jashin.

• Simu's sealing clone bound Shukaku, and Simu forced him to accept the experiment without bargaining.
• Simu used a Yin-Yang Seal to extract roughly one-tenth of Shukaku's soul and chakra and transfer it into his body.
• The Apostle of Desire's praises destabilized Little Shukaku's soul until it became a believer of Lord Jashin.
• Shukaku accused Simu of breaking their agreement, but Simu reminded him that Shukaku had broken faith first.
• Sasori suppressed Shukaku with Iron Sand, and Simu sealed him back into Gaara.

Sunagakure used a border clash with rebels from the Land of Rivers to unveil its Scorpion Jade technique and Special Military Ration Pill. The battle turned against the rebels, but a Root Jonin discovered the new power and was forced to face a berserk Sand Shinobi.

• Hara Jiro recognized that the Land of Rivers rebels were trained fighters and suspected another hidden village was testing Sunagakure.
• Hara Jiro ordered the Sand Shinobi to use Scorpion Jade and Special Military Ration Pills to demonstrate Sunagakure's strength.
• The Sand Shinobi grew scorpion-like legs and tails, turning the close-quarters battle against the rebels.
• A Root Jonin observed the technique and planned to report it to Danzo, then trapped and poisoned a charging Sand Shinobi.
• The wounded Sand Shinobi crushed his Special Military Ration Pill, unleashed a surge of Yang Release Chakra, and attacked the Root Jonin in a berserk state.

A Root Jonin captured a Sand Village shinobi and uncovered intelligence about the Sand Village’s Scorpion Jade technique and Military Ration Pills. Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Root to investigate their origins and the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild, while reassuring Konoha’s advisors that Konoha was developing new technology of its own.

• A Root Jonin subdued a Sand Village shinobi, learned of his rapid healing and enhanced strength, and sent a retreat signal before carrying him away for interrogation.
• The Sand Village defeated the rebels, destroyed several strongholds in the Land of Rivers, and announced that its forces had entered the country to help suppress the rebellion.
• Shimura Danzō told Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu that Sand Village shinobi widely used Scorpion Jade and the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild’s Military Ration Pills.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Root to investigate the origins of Scorpion Jade, the merchant guild, and the truth behind the Shukaku incident, and approved an increase to Root’s quota.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu warned that the Land of Wind might grow too powerful, but Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured them that Konoha was also advancing its technology.

Simu brought Sasori and Gaara to Akatsuki’s headquarters, where Sasori joined the organization and met its members. Pain welcomed Sasori and introduced Orochimaru as a new recruit, leaving Sasori impressed by Akatsuki’s strength.

• Hidan started a fight with Sasori over the last piece of fried pork, and Simu stopped them by beheading Hidan and stuffing his mouth with wood.
• Simu used his Akatsuki ring to open the hidden entrance to headquarters, then carried Hidan inside while Sasori carried Gaara.
• Tobi greeted the newcomers and asked why Hidan had been beheaded again; Simu also noticed Tobi had replaced his mask.
• Pain welcomed Sasori to Akatsuki and called on Orochimaru to greet the group.
• Orochimaru introduced himself as Akatsuki’s new member, codename Empty Chen, then approached Simu and said they had met before.

Simu broke Orochimaru’s genjutsu and made him wary during their first encounter as Akatsuki colleagues. After Sasori joined the organization, Konan began a meeting about capturing the Tailed Beasts, and Sasori revealed that he had Gaara.

• Orochimaru tried to trap Simu in a genjutsu, but Simu escaped and subjected Orochimaru to an illusion of centuries passing before releasing his hand.
• Orochimaru recognized Simu as a dangerous rival and returned to his place in Akatsuki.
• Pain gave Sasori his uniform and a choice of rings, and Sasori chose the Jade Maiden ring to become an official member.
• Sasori moved beside Simu, while Tobi complained about remaining an intern and Pain told him he would need to defeat an Akatsuki member to be promoted.
• Konan announced that the meeting would turn to business, and Simu confirmed that Sasori had brought the One-Tail Jinchuriki before Sasori lifted Gaara into view.

Pain captured Gaara and scheduled the One-Tail sealing for seven days later. Simu showed Orochimaru his laboratory and explained that he believed abandoning humanity was the way to gain enough time to pursue the truth.

• Pain lifted Gaara into the air, confirmed he was the One-Tail Jinchuriki, and announced that Akatsuki would seal the beast in seven days.
• Konan distributed sealing scrolls to the Akatsuki members, including Tobi, whom Pain said was only filling a spot for the technique.
• Orochimaru asked to see Simu's laboratory, and Simu brought him there with Sasori and Hidan.
• Orochimaru examined Simu's blood pool and experimental creatures, then asked about Simu's views on life and the pursuit of truth.
• Simu inferred that Orochimaru feared the limits of time, and told him that shedding humanity could provide more time to seek the truth.

After the Jashin Cult’s attack on Sunagakure made it famous, Simu upgraded his system and created new combat units, including a parasite that stored Tailed Beast Chakra. He tested the parasite on Hidan, while large-scale use remained impossible until the cult captured more Tailed Beasts.

• Orochimaru and Simu parted on friendly terms, and Sasori began studying the Sealing Technique Pain had given him while Simu’s clone studied sealing and his main body analyzed Tailed Beast Chakra.
• The Jashin Cult’s raid on Sunagakure boosted its reputation, prompting the great nations to intensify their searches even as the cult spread among the poor in smaller countries.
• Simu’s upgrade added the Three-Headed Evil-Faced Ghost Snake, an enhanced Harpy, the Desert Doghead, and Tailed Beast · Kara to his producible races.
• Simu designed the Desert Doghead as a commander for a combat corps intended to test his units in the Land of Wind alongside Ghost-Faced Wind Scorpions, Poison-Blade Centipedes, and Desert Dragonflies.
• Simu implanted an enhanced Tailed Beast · Kara into Hidan, letting him use a Tailed Beast Chakra cloak, but the limited supply of Little Shukaku’s Chakra prevented wider deployment.

Simu and the Akatsuki began extracting Shukaku from Gaara with the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals. Simu arranged to save Gaara by transferring his soul into a suitable body, while the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path absorbed Shukaku’s Chakra and opened one of its eyes.

• Pain explained that seven Akatsuki members could perform the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals, though it would take seven days instead of three.
• Simu asked Pain how Gaara could survive having Shukaku extracted, and Pain said Gaara’s soul could be transferred into another body.
• Simu agreed to find a body for Gaara, and Pain led the Akatsuki in beginning the sealing technique.
• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path released nine Chakra dragons that seized Gaara and began absorbing Shukaku from him.
• Simu watched the Demonic Statue absorb Shukaku’s Chakra and concluded that it was the Divine Tree, though he did not know how it would transform into one.

After the Akatsuki sealed Shukaku, Simu used a cloned body and Pain’s Rinnegan-powered technique to restore Gaara. Gaara woke three days later, learned that his father and uncle had truly tried to kill him, and recognized Simu as the shopkeeper.

• The Akatsuki completed the seven-day sealing of Shukaku, and Simu sensed that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had gained some vitality.
• Simu produced a body cloned from Gaara’s genes, and Pain used his Rinnegan clone to transfer Gaara’s soul into it.
• Simu took Gaara home and placed him in the Blood Pool while he recovered.
• Gaara woke three days later and asked Simu who he was.
• Simu told Gaara that Rasa and Yashamaru had truly tried to kill him, and Gaara recognized Simu as the shopkeeper.

Simu removed Shukaku from Gaara and placed his soul in a newly created body, revealing that Karura’s chakra had been controlling the sand that protected him. After learning that Rasa arranged Yashamaru’s assassination attempt, Gaara asked Simu to help him become strong enough to destroy Sunagakure and everything Rasa protected.

• Simu told Gaara that Shukaku was gone and showed him the sand gourd, whose sand still responded to him.
• Simu explained that Gaara’s new body contained chakra left by Karura, and that her chakra had protected him through the sand.
• Gaara realized the sand was his mother’s legacy and held it as he mourned her.
• Gaara asked Simu about Yashamaru, and Simu revealed that Rasa had arranged the assassination attempt to test Gaara as a Jinchuriki.
• Gaara asked Simu to help him become strong enough to destroy Sunagakure and everything Rasa protected, and Simu agreed.

Simu offered Gaara ways to grow stronger, and Gaara chose to pursue Magnet Release and Sand Manipulation so he could defeat the man who had wronged him. Meanwhile, Nagato ordered Akatsuki to keep recruiting after sealing the One-Tail, and Orochimaru learned that Danzo had arrived at his base.

• Simu offered Gaara the options of becoming a Jinchuriki again, gaining Magnet Release, or training in Sand Manipulation, and Gaara chose the latter two.
• Simu agreed to implant Magnet Release genes after Gaara's soul had adapted to his body and gave him a scroll on controlling sand.
• Nagato told Konan to continue recruiting Akatsuki members and begin capturing the remaining Tailed Beasts once the organization had ten members.
• Konan said Madara Uchiha planned to recruit Itachi Uchiha, while Nagato doubted Itachi would leave Konoha but agreed to wait and see.
• Nagato authorized Konan to target nobles in the Land of Rain to address Akatsuki's shortage of funds.
• Orochimaru returned to his base near the Land of Fire and was told that Danzo had arrived.

Orochimaru delivered Danzo an arm implanted with Wood Release cells and ten Sharingan in exchange for test subjects and increased funding. His later experiments showed that Sharingan could partially restrain Hashirama Cells, but he continued seeking a powerful body for his research.

• Orochimaru met Danzo and exchanged the promised arm for one hundred test subjects and increased Root funding.
• Aburame Ryoma inspected the bandage-wrapped arm and confirmed it was safe before Danzo took it.
• Orochimaru began experimenting on Danzo's test subjects, but Hashirama Cells overwhelmed and killed nearly all of them.
• Orochimaru found that Sharingan could partially suppress the cells' growth, while Danzo refused to provide Uchiha test subjects.
• Orochimaru continued pursuing Wood Release experiments, caring only that he obtain a sufficiently powerful body.

Orochimaru suspended his Hashirama Cell experiments after losing more test subjects, then considered cooperating with Simu. Simu awakened Gaara’s Magnet Release gene and gave Sasori a Flesh Core that let him control dozens of puppets, leaving Sasori eager to modify his body further.

• Orochimaru’s Hashirama Cells consumed another test subject, and he learned that thirty-six of Danzo’s one hundred test subjects remained.
• Orochimaru found no way to make the test subjects merge with the Hashirama Cells, suspended the experiment, and considered cooperating with Simu.
• Simu activated Gaara’s Magnet Release gene and explained that Gaara would need to learn Magnet Release ninjutsu after waking.
• Simu showed Sasori a Flesh Core, which Sasori implanted into his chest and used to control forty-six puppets.
• Sasori decided that he wanted to modify his body further after seeing the Flesh Core’s capabilities.

Simu received Orochimaru’s invitation to join research on Hashirama Cells and traveled to one of his hideouts. The chapter ended as Simu met Orochimaru and shook his cold hand.

• Simu welcomed Uzumaki Rii, Xianai, and Jugo back from their mission in the Land of Wind, where they had helped spread the Jashin Cult among the poor.
• Simu sent Uzumaki Rii and Xianai into the Blood Pool, then Jugo showed him a message delivered by Orochimaru’s snake.
• Simu read Orochimaru’s invitation to collaborate on research into Hashirama Cells and left Jugo in charge of the base, asking him to guide Gaara’s training.
• Simu flew to Orochimaru’s hideout in the Land of Fire, where two shinobi escorted him to meet Orochimaru.
• Simu greeted Orochimaru and clasped his cold hand.

Simu and Orochimaru agreed to cooperate on research into Hashirama Cells in exchange for Orochimaru arranging Simu’s entry into Konoha. The deal left Orochimaru seeking two Wood Release bodies and Simu requesting cells from Hashirama’s original body.

• Orochimaru asked Simu to help prevent test subjects from dying after being implanted with Hashirama Cells, and Simu agreed to investigate.
• Simu asked Orochimaru to get him into Konoha through suitable channels.
• Orochimaru agreed, on the condition that Simu create a Wood Release ninja for Danzo’s task and a Wood Release clone capable of carrying Orochimaru’s soul.
• Simu accepted the conditions and requested Hashirama Cells taken from the original body for analysis.
• Orochimaru said original cells were precious but agreed to discuss obtaining them with Danzo, and Simu noted the name Shimura Danzō.

Simu tested Hashirama Cells and discovered their rapid growth, Chakra absorption, and ability to suppress Tailed Beast Chakra, while confirming they could still be damaged by ninjutsu. Danzo sent Orochimaru a sample of Hashirama’s cells and, hoping to gain Wood Release forces and the Hokage position, attended Konoha’s upper-rank meeting while concealing his new powers.

• Simu studied Hashirama Cells in his Blood Pool and found that they rapidly proliferated by consuming nutrients and Chakra, suppressed Tailed Beast Chakra, and could be injured by ninjutsu.
• Danzo agreed to send Orochimaru a sample of Hashirama’s cells, warning that he would reconsider their cooperation if Orochimaru failed again.
• Danzo anticipated that Orochimaru’s success would give him an army of Wood Release ninja and bring the Hokage position within reach.
• At Konoha’s upper-rank meeting, Utatane Koharu asked about Danzo’s bandages, and Danzo dismissed his injuries as the result of an insignificant battle.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked if Danzo was all right, and Danzo claimed that overconfident assassins had tried to undermine Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered Konoha’s leaders to address Sunagakure’s advances in the Land of Rivers and revealed Quinque, weapons made from Ghoul tissue, as Konoha’s new secret art. The leaders went to a training ground to test the weapons against Kakashi.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that Konoha needed a decisive victory over Sunagakure without escalating the conflict into another war.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi introduced Dr. Fang Zhu and Arima, a Yugakure survivor, and presented their new weapons to Konoha’s leaders.
• Arima produced a silver-blue electric lance, while Fang Zhu revealed a crimson whip that moved around him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that the weapons, called Quinque, had been made from the tissues and organs of the Ghouls that destroyed Yugakure.
• Danzo said the Quinque needed real combat testing, so the leaders went to a training ground near the Forest of Death with Kakashi as the opponent.