Chapter Summaries

Shisui fought the fake Danzo and the black-clad attackers, discovering that a barrier trapped him in the clearing and that the attackers displayed strange, clan-specific abilities. He continued cutting through them, but their identities and the truth behind Twilight remained unclear.

• Shisui escaped the black-clad men's first encirclement, struck the fake Danzo with Uchiha Style—Sword Leap Flame, and tried to reach the forest.
• Shisui discovered that a barrier blocked the forest and realized the attackers had maneuvered him into a prepared clearing.
• Shisui killed several black-clad men, noting that they showed no pain and had lifeless eyes.
• A black-clad man used the Nara Clan's Shadow Bind Technique, and another used the Akimichi Clan's Partial Multi-Size Technique, deepening Shisui's suspicions.
• Shisui kept fighting and killing the attackers while wondering who they were and what had happened to Shinnosuke.

Shisui fought his way through the fake Danzo’s forces and broke out of the barrier, determined to warn Konoha about the threat. As he fled with severe injuries, poisonous spores overtook him, and his pursuers moved to take his Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Shisui used Fire Style techniques to create an opening, then awakened Susanoo and attacked the black-clad men and the barrier.
• A White Zetsu emerged beneath Susanoo and absorbed Shisui’s chakra while the fake Danzo’s Wind Style attacks broke through his defense.
• Shisui destroyed the barrier, burned White Zetsu off himself, and escaped toward Konoha despite his wounds.
• Shisui vowed to avenge Kagami and Teacher Shinnosuke and warned himself that the ninja villages could be defeated if they searched for Twilight separately.
• Poisonous spores grew from Shisui and encased him as his pursuers declared they would take his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Obito and Ruri rescued Shisui after he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, then confronted a clone of Danzo sent by Dusk. Ruri explained that darkness could not be permanently eliminated and ordered Obito to defeat Danzo while preserving the body for study.

• Obito saved Shisui from the Spore-ified White Zetsu, and Ruri annihilated it after it ensnared Obito.
• Ruri confirmed that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes and had passed out from exhaustion.
• Fake Danzo arrived with black-clad men, and Ruri identified him as a clone rather than the original Danzo.
• Ruri explained Dusk's advanced cloning technology and connected it to the Spore-ified White Zetsu.
• Ruri told Obito that darkness would persist even if its current agents were killed, then ordered him to kill the weaker Danzo clone and leave the body intact.

Ruri and Obito discovered that Danzo and his black-clad followers were Clones, then escaped with Shisui to the Valley of the End. After healing Shisui, Ruri built a wooden house, leaving Shisui startled by Zero’s apparent Wood Style.

• Ruri concluded that the Clones shared chakra and some techniques with their originals but lacked their memories, experience, and bloodline abilities.
• Obito inspected the disfigured black-clad bodies, then used Kamui to take Ruri, Shisui, and the bodies to the Valley of the End.
• Ruri considered the danger Dusk’s cloning operation could pose if it learned to reproduce bloodline-limit ninja.
• Obito reflected that he needed to work harder to protect his peaceful life with Rin and oppose Dusk.
• Shisui awoke healed and urged Ruri and Obito to alert the United Nations and the major ninja villages about Danzo and the Clones.
• Ruri summoned a wooden house with Wood Style, and Shisui wondered how Akatsuki’s leader, Zero, could use it.

Ruri revealed that Twilight had attacked Shisui to study whether it could clone Sharingan and other Kekkei Genkai, and warned that its Clones were nearly impossible to distinguish from the originals. He told Shisui to keep the incident secret and began entrusting him and Obito with a mission.

• Ruri removed his mask and Shisui recognized him as the First Takikage.
• Ruri explained that Twilight's Clones could copy secret techniques and might be trying to learn how to reproduce Kekkei Genkai.
• Shisui wanted to report Twilight, but Ruri warned that revealing the Clones' existence would cause panic because they were indistinguishable from their originals.
• Shisui agreed to keep the incident secret and asked Ruri what he should do.
• Ruri invited Obito to join them, and Obito removed his mask and greeted Shisui.

Ruri assigned Obito and Shisui a mission connected to the Dusk Organization after confirming Shisui's Mangekyō ability. He explained the origins of chakra and the history of the Shinobi World, leaving both men absorbing revelations about the past.

• Shisui recognized Obito as alive and learned that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and joined Akatsuki as Three Platforms.
• Ruri asked Shisui to reveal his Mangekyō ability, and Shisui described Kotoamatsukami while withholding some of its power.
• Ruri confirmed Shisui's eye ability and said it would help with the mission, since Obito was not skilled at genjutsu.
• Ruri recounted Kaguya Otsutsuki's arrival, the God Tree, and her eventual sealing by the Sage of Six Paths and his brother.
• Ruri described the Warring States Period and explained how Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, and he had changed the way ninja lived.

Ruri explained his resolve to protect the Shinobi World and sent Shisui and Obito to search for the spaces Kaguya Otsutsuki had left behind. He warned Shisui that Dusk might have spies inside Konoha, then went to Orochimaru to seek a way to distinguish the organization’s Clones from the originals.

• Ruri told Shisui and Obito that generations of ninja had improved the Shinobi World and that he would stop the Dusk Organization from destroying it.
• Ruri ordered Shisui and Obito to use their spatial abilities to find Kaguya Otsutsuki’s remaining spaces and uncover information about the Otsutsuki Clan.
• Ruri said he would handle Dusk himself and advised Shisui to fake his death because Dusk might have infiltrated Konoha.
• Shisui accepted the mission, and Ruri destroyed the wooden hut before sending him and Obito on their way.
• Ruri took the Clone corpses to Orochimaru, hoping his research would reveal how to tell the originals from their Clones.

After Shisui’s reported death, Itachi grieved and briefly awakened an uncontrollable Mangekyō Sharingan. Meanwhile, Ruri gave Orochimaru new Dusk Organization Clone corpses, and Orochimaru rapidly advanced his cloning research.

• Itachi mourned Shisui and briefly awakened a Mangekyō Sharingan before collapsing into sleep.
• Ruri visited Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Orochimaru’s preserved Clone organs were nearing the end of their usefulness.
• Ruri supplied Orochimaru with new Clone corpses, including Danzo’s Clone, as test subjects.
• Orochimaru completed his research within three days and showed Ruri his greatly expanded organ-cloning results.

Orochimaru explained that new stem cells had made full-body cloning possible, though a clone would lack a soul. Ruri agreed to let Orochimaru clone him, intending to develop a way to identify clones before destroying the technology.

• Orochimaru explained that cloned organs had short lifespans because chakra-driven cell division exhausted their life force.
• Orochimaru said he had found cells with strong vitality and low rejection, allowing him to create viable clones.
• Orochimaru explained that a cloned person would lack a soul, and Ruri realized his Yin-Yang Release could create one.
• Ruri joked about cloning Jiraiya, then learned Jiraiya might have a daughter with the leader of Nadeshiko Village.
• Orochimaru proposed cloning Ruri, and Ruri agreed to provide his cells and chakra.

Ruri watched Orochimaru extract his cells and chakra, then begin a cloning experiment while they discussed why Kekkei Genkai were difficult to reproduce. A research paper by Kabuto gave Ruri an idea, and he abruptly left the laboratory using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Ruri cooperated as Orochimaru extracted his cells and chakra for a cloning experiment, then told him to proceed.
• Ruri teased Orochimaru about cloning a wife, but Orochimaru focused on preparing the experiment.
• Orochimaru explained that Kekkei Genkai chakra broke down into ordinary chakra natures during cloning, making inheritance unlikely and potentially harmful to a clone.
• Orochimaru showed Ruri Kabuto's research paper, “Geography and Kekkei Genkai,” in United Nations Weekly.
• After reading the paper, Ruri told Orochimaru to wait and left the laboratory using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Ruri and Orochimaru tested whether a clone could develop Kekkei Genkai, but the rapidly grown body retained only wind- and lightning-attribute chakra. Ruri gave the six-year-old artificial human a soul, and Orochimaru began removing him from the culture vessel.

• Ruri gave Orochimaru the Third Raikage's heart and a heart from a failed Hashirama Cells transplant to try cloning Wood Style.
• Orochimaru grew a clone in the Forest of Death, where it reached roughly six years of age within days but failed to develop a Kekkei Genkai.
• Orochimaru explained that the clone had no soul and asked whether Ruri wanted to give it one before it grew into an adult.
• Ruri decided to give the clone a soul while it was still a child, allowing it to grow and learn among others.
• Ruri used the Rinnegan to infuse the clone with a soul he had prepared, and Orochimaru drained the vessel to take the artificial human out.

Ruri and Orochimaru brought a clone android to life, and Orochimaru named him Taki. As enrollment approached at Shinobi United University, Kakashi read that Jiraiya might teach a novel-writing elective and set out to find him.

• The Clone Android struggled to breathe after emerging from the petri dish, but he eventually took his first breath and began moving and babbling.
• Orochimaru explained that the clone was a newborn who needed time to adapt, then named him Taki at Ruri's suggestion.
• With enrollment at the Shinobi United University Affiliated School less than two days away, newspapers reported on the Dusk Organization, enrollment news, and rumors from across the Shinobi World.
• Kakashi arrived at United Nations headquarters and bought newspapers because he lacked virtual access privileges.
• Kakashi read that Jiraiya might teach a novel-writing elective, tucked away the newspaper, and headed to meet him.

Kakashi visited Jiraiya to ask for guidance writing erotic novels, and Jiraiya took him to a Pingkang Quarter shop to gather material. The chapter ended with Kakashi dodging two women who tried to wipe spilled Cola from his pants, then glaring at Jiraiya.

• Kakashi found Jiraiya's unlocked villa in disarray and discovered Jiraiya asleep on the floor.
• Kakashi told Jiraiya he wanted to learn writing and showed him his own booklets.
• Jiraiya critiqued Kakashi's writing and said he needed real experience to convey deeper feelings.
• Jiraiya brought Kakashi to a Pingkang Quarter shop to gather material.
• Two women spilled sour Cola on Kakashi's pants and tried to wipe them, but Kakashi used the Substitution Technique to evade them.

Jiraiya took Kakashi to a pleasure district to teach him how gathering material could improve both his writing and intelligence work. Kakashi learned about Jiraiya’s research and a possible link between the Dusk Organization and Konoha, then discovered Jiraiya had left him with the bill.

• Jiraiya ordered his special Mount Myōboku Cocktail and left Kakashi to talk with Guri while he went to the bathroom.
• Guri explained that Jiraiya had researched the women’s lives for Tsukuyomi Story, which helped her parents understand her work.
• Jiraiya taught Kakashi to gather material for writing and intelligence, then disclosed that the Dusk Organization might be connected to Konoha.
• Kakashi chatted with the women and learned that a new student named Amamiya Taki was among the notable children at Shinobi United University Affiliated School.
• Guri told Kakashi that Jiraiya had left and handed him the bill, explaining that Jiraiya was short on money after being swindled out of three million ryō.

Ruri brought Taki to Kakuzu for help preparing for the Shinobi United University Affiliated School entrance exam, then the two secretly followed him to his first day of school. Ruri altered the students’ paper records before returning to the opening ceremony, while Kakuzu considered the promising new students.

• Ruri introduced Taki to Kakuzu and asked him to help the boy study for the entrance exam; Kakuzu supplied books and reminisced with Ruri about their work and the search for Twilight.
• After admissions ended, Taki attended the school’s first day while Ruri and Kakuzu followed in disguise.
• Kakuzu pointed out promising students, including Jugo and Kaede, and asked Ruri about making Kaede a jinchūriki; Ruri told him to wait until she graduated.
• Ruri and Kakuzu used genjutsu to enter the archives, where Ruri changed the paper records to match the electronic schedules he had already revised.
• Ruri and Kakuzu returned to the sports field after the first lesson had begun, leaving Iruka unaware that he had been caught in genjutsu.

Ruri watched Hanzo address the new students, then reflected on Hanzo's aging and urged him to rest. After Hanzo promised he would live to see Yahiko's wedding, the academy's opening ceremony moved into the students' first battle.

• Ruri saw Hanzo deliver an enthusiastic speech to the new students and went backstage to speak with him afterward.
• Ruri noticed Hanzo had grown old and told him to rest and let others share his burdens.
• Hanzo told Ruri that Yahiko and Konan would marry in the village in three months, and Ruri planned to attend.
• Hanzo promised Ruri he would live to see that day, and Ruri left to watch the children.
• The new students entered a pseudo-Infinite Tsukuyomi mental virtual space for their first battle as their parents watched a live broadcast.

Students were chased by weapon-using puppets during the school year's first battle, an exam that barred chakra use. Naruto and Sasuke intervened with ninjutsu, and the group escaped into the forest, where Naruto showed them an iron wrist device.

• Haku and the others suspected the first battle was a survival exercise that could affect their class assignments.
• Kiba and Shikamaru joined the group with Akamaru and Kurotsuchi, and Shikamaru proposed sharing information and cooperating.
• Puppets attacked again, and Karin tackled Sayu out of the way but was grazed by a Senbon.
• Naruto burned a puppet with Fire Style, and Sasuke used Wind Style to stop the pursuing puppets and rescue Karin and Sayu.
• Haku and Kimimaro led everyone into the forest, where Shikamaru asked how Naruto and Sasuke had used chakra, and Naruto showed them an iron wrist device.

Naruto, Sasuke, and their companions discovered that Scientific Ninja Tools could let them use limited ninjutsu without chakra, then set out to find others in the survival exercise. After reuniting with two more people, they were caught in a sudden, blinding gust of wind.

• Naruto and Sasuke exchanged Scientific Ninja Tools so each could use a ninjutsu suited to his abilities.
• Kimimaro had Sayu bandage Karin's injured arm while the group prepared to leave the unsafe area.
• Kiba followed Akamaru's sense of smell toward nearby people, and Naruto impulsively ran ahead with him.
• Shikamaru had Sasuke burn a patch of grass and planted a branch marker to help others find the group.
• Shikamaru and Sasuke caught up with the others, who had found two more people, but a fierce gust of wind scattered dust and leaves around them.

Naruto and the others fled a swarm of Killer Bees after Naruto provoked them and exhausted the Scientific Ninja Tool’s three uses. At the river, they discovered a Giant Water Bug waiting beneath the surface, leaving them trapped between two threats.

• Naruto used the Scientific Ninja Tool’s Wind Style to attack the Killer Bees, provoking the swarm to chase the group.
• Shino stayed behind to hold off the bees, but Kimimaro pulled him away as Haku worked out that Naruto’s tool could be used only three times.
• The group reached a river, where Haku stopped Sasuke from spending the team’s remaining Fire Style use and Shikamaru jumped in to check for danger.
• Sayu identified a Giant Water Bug in the river, and Naruto tackled Kiba out of the way of its attack.
• Shikamaru returned to the bank and dodged the Giant Water Bug while the group remained caught between it and the pursuing Killer Bees.

Shikamaru led the group onto a boat to escape the Killer Bees, but the Giant Water Bug trapped them midriver. After Sasuke’s flames set the boat alight, the group struck the creature with their oars and jumped into the water to cross the river.

• Shikamaru urged everyone to board the boat, and the children followed despite Suigetsu’s suspicions about the Giant Water Bug.
• The group rowed into the river while most of the Killer Bees held back, and the Giant Water Bug attacked Naruto from underwater.
• Haku deflected the Giant Water Bug’s strike, while Kidomaru realized it had lured them to the river’s middle where they could not escape.
• Shikamaru told Sasuke to use Fire Style on the river, and Sasuke’s Plain Burn Technique spread flames across the water and ignited the boat.
• Haku spotted the Giant Water Bug’s shadow, and the group hurled their oars at it, driving it underwater before everyone jumped into the river to swim across.