Chapter Summaries

Akaseki escaped Sunagakure with Sasori as a hostage, then returned the five-year-old unharmed after reaching safety. The Third Kazekage pursued him with Sand Iron, and Akaseki broke through a Sand Iron Wall as their confrontation began.

• Akaseki used Sasori as a hostage to stop Chiyo and the Sand Ninja from pursuing him while his real body fled west.
• Akaseki reassembled Sasori and returned him to Chiyo after escaping Sunagakure.
• The Third Kazekage returned to the devastated village, learned Chiyo had let Akaseki escape, and declared Akaseki an enemy of Sunagakure.
• Akaseki taunted the Third Kazekage, who restrained Chiyo’s puppets with Sand Iron and revealed he had tracked Akaseki with a clone.
• The Third Kazekage ambushed Akaseki with a Sand Iron Wall, but Akaseki used Susanoo to punch through it and continue fleeing.

Akaseki and Tanuki Treasure fought the Third Kazekage, whose Iron Sand repeatedly blocked their escape and attacks. Akaseki used a Mirror Clone to create an opening, and two Susanoo arms struck the Third Kazekage from both sides, leaving him severely injured as they fell.

• The Third Kazekage recognized Akaseki's crimson armor as Susanoo and tried to capture him with waves of Iron Sand.
• Akaseki's Mirror Clone attacked with Lightning Arrow, but the technique shattered against the Iron Sand.
• The Third Kazekage knocked the Mirror Clone's fan away and focused his attacks on Akaseki and Tanuki Treasure.
• Akaseki and Tanuki Treasure charged through an Iron Sand wall weakened by Tanuki Treasure's flames, bringing Akaseki within striking range.
• The Third Kazekage pinned Akaseki with Iron Sand spikes, but Akaseki split into two and struck him from both sides with Susanoo arms.
• The Third Kazekage fell from the sky with severe injuries, while the fallen Mirror Clone disappeared.

Akashi escaped the Third Kazekage by tricking him with a Mirror Clone that used Susanoo, and the Kazekage ordered Sunagakure to treat Akashi as an A-rank threat. As Akashi fled, he recognized that his unusually high Dojutsu Power let him and his Shadow Clones use and practice Susanoo without spending Mangekyō Dojutsu Power.

• Akashi’s real body fled while his Mirror Clone misled the Third Kazekage, who failed to capture him and was left wounded and depleted.
• Akashi’s Mirror Clone mocked the Sand Ninja by suggesting their Kazekage had been defeated, until Chiyo dispelled it.
• The Third Kazekage returned without Akashi and ordered Sunagakure to raise Akashi’s alert level to A-rank and avoid direct engagement by ordinary Jonin.
• Akashi considered how his high base Dojutsu Power let his Shadow Clones use Susanoo without Mangekyō Dojutsu Power, and realized he could practice the technique routinely.

Akaseki escaped Sunagakure and reached Yugakure, where he learned that Hatake Sakumo had taken command of the Land of Rain front and Konoha was pressing its advantage. He also heard that Ranwu had tried to enter the Land of Wind to rescue him but had been stopped and sent back to the village.

• After crossing out of the Land of Wind in disguise, Akaseki reached Yugakure and met Gumu, Uchiha Jie, and Uchiha Yang.
• Jie and Yang told Akaseki that rumors claimed he had released the One-Tail, killed Mohu, and escaped the Third Kazekage, while Sunagakure had labeled him an A-rank threat.
• Jie and Yang reported that Hatake Sakumo had replaced Orochimaru as overall commander and led increasingly successful offensives against Sand Ninja strongholds.
• Akaseki learned that Hanzō's Rain Ninja were pinned down at Lingering Rain Mountain while fighting Iwagakure in the northwest.
• Jie told Akaseki that Ranwu had tried to sneak into the Land of Wind to rescue him, but Minato Namikaze stopped her and Tsunade confined her before transferring her back to Konoha.
• Yang said that Ranwu had encouraged the people of Forest Street to support Hatake Sakumo's aggressive campaign, and Jie reported that Akaseki's escape and victory had delighted the Uchiha.

After Sunagakure reported Akashi Uchiha’s escape and costly raid, Hiruzen Sarutobi welcomed him back as a hero and kept him away from the battlefield. Akashi returned to Konoha, met with Hiruzen, and went to pay his respects at a fallen comrade’s wake while looking for Ranwu.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Danzo’s proposal to send Akashi Uchiha to Root and decided to let him recover in Konoha while promoting the Akaseki Spirit.
• On October 15, Mitokado Homura, Ninja Academy students, and villagers welcomed Akaseki back to Konoha as Danzo watched resentfully.
• Akaseki praised Hiruzen Sarutobi’s wartime exploits as the inspiration for his escape, and Hiruzen let him rest before submitting a report.
• Akaseki went to Forest Street to find Ranwu and learned from Lanjun that she was attending a funeral wake for her cousin’s husband, who had died in battle.
• Lanjun gave Akaseki a white mourning flower, and Akaseki prepared to pay his respects.

Akaseki attended Sō Katō’s memorial and learned about his death in Sunagakure’s counteroffensive, then discussed the Katō child’s surname and Forest Street’s nameless custom with Ranwu. Their conversation turned to the consequences of Konoha’s clan policies and the Hyuga family’s worsening tensions, leaving Akaseki lamenting that the village had missed its chance to intervene.

• Akaseki attended Sō Katō’s memorial, offered Dan Katō his condolences, and heard how Sō had died during Sunagakure’s counteroffensive in the Land of Rain.
• Natsu told Dan that Sō had named their unborn child Shizuma or Shizune and wondered whether the child should bear the Katō surname; Dan said Sō had willingly respected Forest Street’s nameless custom.
• Ranwu explained that the Senju encouraged descendants to give up surnames, and Akaseki understood why Natsu had raised the question with Dan.
• Akaseki lectured Ranwu about how Sunagakure’s nameless policy had strengthened powerful clans and hurt village cohesion and civilian ninja.
• Ranwu told Akaseki that Hizashi had grown distant from Hiashi, and Akaseki complained that the First had not addressed the Hyuga Clan’s problems after founding the village.

Akaseki returned to the Uchiha Clan grounds and asked Clan Elder Chizuru about Susanoo, revealing that he could activate it with ordinary Dojutsu Power. Chizuru explained Susanoo’s stages and how Akaseki’s different eyes could give him three spirit weapons at the second stage.

• Akaseki returned to the clan grounds and learned that Clan Elder Chizuru was handling important matters in the clan head’s absence.
• Akaseki told Chizuru he could activate Susanoo without awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan and said he could use Great Fire Annihilation around two hundred times.
• Chizuru said her Three-Tomoe Sharingan had reached its limit at one hundred and fifty uses of Great Fire Annihilation, leading Akaseki to conclude that his exceptional Dojutsu Power was difficult for other Uchiha to replicate.
• Akaseki asked Chizuru how to train Susanoo, and she suggested practicing it like a special kind of Taijutsu.
• Chizuru explained Susanoo’s progression from a rudimentary form through four stages, then said second-stage Susanoo could summon spirit weapons.
• Chizuru told Akaseki that his Ninjutsu Eye and Genjutsu Eye could each summon a spirit weapon and could combine to summon a third.

Akaseki learned how Sharingan power and dojutsu strength affected Susanoo’s stages, then planned a safer way to train its movements. He left to prepare for taijutsu practice with Might Duy and intended to use his time off to improve his Sharingan and keep trying to repair his spare eye.

• Clan Elder Chizuru explained that Akaseki’s mixed Mangekyo Sharingan pairing weakened Susanoo’s coordination, while an enhancement eye could strengthen Susanoo and resist side effects.
• Akaseki worked out that Susanoo’s later stages required major increases in dojutsu power, and Chizuru advised him not to rush his progress.
• Akaseki asked whether the Mangekyo Sharingan could awaken one eye at a time, then left Chizuru’s courtyard, wrote a report, and went to sleep.
• The next day, Akaseki ordered a wooden training tool resembling his rudimentary Susanoo from Auntie Cat’s Cat Ninja Tool Shop.
• Akaseki visited Might Duy and arranged to train with him in three days, planning to use the tool to practice Susanoo movements safely.
• Akaseki planned to use his time off to master Susanoo, adapt to his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and continue trying to repair his spare eye.

Akaseki trained with Might Duy in the Forest of Death and discovered that Duy possessed a hidden power capable of making him a genuine sparring partner for Susanoo. Their fight left Akaseki surprised by Duy’s speed, strength, and unexpected Fire Style attacks.

• Akaseki’s wooden Susanoo frame broke during training with Might Duy, convincing Akaseki that he needed a real sparring partner to test his Susanoo.
• Might Duy asked Akaseki to check that no one was nearby, then revealed a powerful state that surrounded him with green steam and surging chakra.
• Akaseki activated Susanoo, and Might Duy’s rapid kick cracked its ribs while Akaseki countered with a heavy arm strike that twisted Duy’s arm and sent him flying.
• Might Duy emerged from the dust and launched several high-speed fireballs at Akaseki, who dodged or redirected them into Susanoo’s ribcage.

Akaseki learned that Might Duy’s extraordinary burst of power came from the Eight Gates Technique, a forbidden Taijutsu technique taught by the Second. Duy explained how he had secretly trained for eight years and speculated that the technique’s progress depended on both bodily depletion and recovery; Akaseki then asked to examine its severe side effects.

• Might Duy’s fireballs battered Akaseki’s Susanoo Ribcage before Duy collapsed from opening the Sixth Gate.
• Akaseki asked about Duy’s power, and Duy revealed that it was the Eight Gates Technique, which the Second had taught him.
• Duy explained that the Second abandoned his research after Duy made little progress and warned him to stop, but Duy continued training in secret without medicine.
• Duy described how he opened his first three gates while overtraining, then advanced faster after he began recovering and using the Uchiha Clan’s secret medicine.
• Akaseki asked about the technique’s side effects, and Duy agreed to show him.

Might Duy shared his Eight Gates Technique research with Akaseki, who studied its origins and potential uses before deciding to postpone training in it. Hell Yama King revealed that Ashura, Indra’s brother, had created the technique, but withheld the rest of Ashura’s history from Akaseki.

• Might Duy gave Akaseki the Eight Gates Technique scroll and asked him to keep the technique secret, and Akaseki promised to report it to the Hokage if disclosure became necessary.
• Akaseki arranged for Might Duy to receive medicinal preparations for his Taijutsu training and then studied Duy’s extensive notes on the technique.
• Akaseki identified the brain regions involved in the first two gates and considered whether opening them could reduce the side effects of deep immersion, but chose to prioritize his other training.
• Akaseki asked Hell Yama King about the technique, and Hell Yama King said it had been created by a powerful-bodied person who lived in Indra’s era and was Indra’s brother.
• Hell Yama King recalled that Ashura developed the Eight Gates Technique by removing his body’s restrictions, but stayed silent about Ashura’s role in Ninshu to avoid Akaseki’s reaction.

Akaseki and Minato discussed the Sky Ninja’s devastating surprise attacks on Konoha’s forces before visiting Kushina for New Year’s Eve. Akaseki also considered how Setsuna’s restored Mangekyo Sharingan could protect him if he went to the front, and planned to ask Grandma Chizuru for another spare eye.

• Akaseki and Minato walked to visit Kushina while discussing how the Sky Ninja’s airborne attacks and flying village had helped Sunagakure inflict heavy losses on Konoha.
• Minato explained that the Sky Ninja’s floating village could fire chakra blasts as powerful as a Tailed Beast Ball, and that several hundred ninja used flying devices to raid Konoha’s bases.
• Akaseki and Minato avoided telling Kushina about the battlefield situation, and they stayed at her home until Tian Lu chased them out.
• Akaseki recalled that his eye surgery had restored Setsuna’s right eye and that Setsuna’s Mangekyo Sharingan ability was now available to him.
• Akaseki planned to consult Grandma Chizuru about eventually returning Setsuna’s eye and obtaining another spare eye for his possible trip to the front.

Akaseki arranged for the Uchiha elders to attend Hiruzen Sarutobi’s New Year speech, drawing the villagers’ sympathy and Danzo’s suspicion. He then told Chizuru that his sight had partly returned through Setsuna’s eye and explained its limited powers, leaving Chizuru to warn him to keep the revelation secret.

• Akaseki persuaded Chizuru to bring the Uchiha elders to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s New Year speech, where their presence moved villagers and unsettled other clans.
• Danzo accused the Uchiha of seeking credit, but Hiruzen pointed out that Danzo had complained the previous night that the clan was ostracized.
• Akaseki visited Chizuru and revealed that Setsuna’s eye had restored some of his sight, though his vision remained blurry and he could not sense ordinary Sharingan Dojutsu Power from it.
• Akaseki explained that Setsuna’s eye retained Mangekyo Dojutsu Power and that he could use its Towa ability for just over ten minutes.
• Chizuru told Akaseki not to reveal the eye’s restoration to anyone.

Akaseki agreed to join the Uchiha Clan’s mission against the Sky Ninja Village, while Chizuru entrusted him with her left Sharingan so he could repair it. Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Elephant and Yakushi Nonō to accompany Akaseki, leaving him suspicious that Konoha intended to monitor the Uchiha team.

• Chizuru agreed to let Akaseki repair her left eye and told him to keep his ability secret from the clan and outsiders.
• Chizuru explained that her Forked Deity let her explore several possible futures and choose one seven seconds in advance.
• Akaseki sparred with Might Duy in the Forest of Death, but an Anbu arrived and summoned him to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen told Akaseki that Clan Head Jiancheng had volunteered the Uchiha Clan to attack the Sky Ninja Village’s floating fortress and had requested Akaseki for the mission.
• Akaseki accepted the mission, and Hiruzen assigned Elephant and Yakushi Nonō to accompany him.

Akaseki traveled with Yakushi Nonō and Guan Ze to the Uchiha Clan’s Special Countermeasure Force base to report on the mission against Sky Ninja Village. He learned that Sky Ninja Village’s fortress had stopped above a mountain, and Jiancheng had deliberately sent the Hyuga ninja away.

• Akaseki checked Guan Ze’s identity and learned that he specialized in gathering and analyzing intelligence as a Yamanaka Clan ninja.
• Akaseki drove the team through a forced march, while Nonō warned him that others criticized Uchiha team leaders for sacrificing their teammates’ rest.
• Akaseki appointed Guan Ze vice-captain after Nonō’s warning, then insisted on keeping watch himself.
• Akaseki reached the Special Countermeasure Force base on January 8 after following the Uchiha Clan’s markings to Sky Ninja Village’s moving fortress.
• Jiancheng confirmed the fortress had stopped above a mountain and explained that the Uchiha Clan could counter its flying ninja tools.
• Guan Ze asked about the missing Hyuga ninja, and Jiancheng said they had left because they were too arrogant.

Akaseki joined the Uchiha Clan’s Special Countermeasure Force as it tracked the Sky Ninja Village’s airborne fortress and prepared to strike. Jiancheng postponed a full assault so Akaseki could rest and the force could investigate the fortress first.

• Jiancheng explained that the Uchiha had tracked the Sky Ninja fortress and could use Sharingan genjutsu to bring airborne Sky Ninja down.
• Guan Ze described the Uchiha’s long-range genjutsu while the Uchiha mocked the Hyuga Clan and praised their own effectiveness.
• Gong Zhijiu told Akaseki that the fortress had remained nearby for over two hours and that the force had delayed infiltrating it until he arrived.
• Jiancheng considered launching a full-scale assault, and Akaseki urged him to mobilize everyone against the Sky Ninja’s possible plan.
• Nonō told Jiancheng that Akaseki had kept watch at night and had hardly rested, so Jiancheng ordered him to rest while the force investigated the fortress.

Akaseki pursued the airborne Sky Ninja Village Fortress with Nonō and Guan Ze while Jiancheng and the other Uchiha were inside. The Hell Yama King recognized the fortress as the spaceship once used by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, but Akaseki’s mist entered an ambush without revealing anyone, leaving the Sky Ninja waiting.

• Jiancheng, Yangyong, and Gong Zhijiu went to scout the fortress while Akaseki rested at their base.
• The fortress rose into the air, and Akaseki took Nonō and Guan Ze after it on Tanuki Treasure, using the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Akaseki showed the fortress’s mechanical underside to the Hell Yama King, who recognized it as the spaceship associated with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Akaseki used his Sharingan to knock down the Sky Ninja who flew out to intercept them and guided Tanuki Treasure toward their opening.
• Karura, Rasa, and Yashamaru prepared an ambush inside the opening, but the mist entered and cleared without Akaseki or his companions appearing.

Akaseki and his team infiltrated the Land of Sky’s ancient fortress, where he learned more about Tanuki Treasure’s masks and detected a hidden ambush. The chapter ended with Akaseki suspecting Sunagakure ninja were waiting ahead.

• Akaseki used Tanuki Treasure’s Sky Serpent form to bypass the fortress wall, then changed it into Heavenly Maiden to explore the passage.
• Guan Ze explained Tanuki Treasure’s Nuo Transformation and its potential, while Akaseki noted that his chakra could not sustain multiple forms at once.
• Akaseki learned from the Hell Yama King that the nine masks held weaker Demon Gods sealed by Ashura.
• At a fork in the passage, Akaseki chose to pursue the route toward the Sky Ninja’s entrance and counterambush the hidden enemies.
• Heavenly Maiden sensed unusual sand in the air, and Akaseki concluded that Sunagakure ninja were likely ahead.

Akaseki’s team attacked Rasa, Karura, and Yashamaru, turning the fight into a standoff between sand control, mental techniques, and powerful Fire Style. Akaseki discovered that sustained heat was making Rasa’s gold dust fall away, while Guan Ze’s commentary provoked Yashamaru.

• Karura deflected Tanuki Treasure’s ribbon attack and emerged from a sand serpent to attack it, but Nonō intercepted her.
• Akaseki used an enormous Great Dragon Fire Technique against Rasa and Yashamaru, while Rasa raised gold-dust mounds to block the flames.
• Guan Ze tried to use the Mind Body Switch Technique on Karura, but Yashamaru used his clan’s mental technique to challenge him.
• Rasa broke Akaseki’s genjutsu and boasted that Uchiha techniques were ineffective against him.
• Akaseki kept heating Rasa’s gold dust until it glowed red and began falling to the ground, exposing a weakness in Rasa’s Magnet Release.
• Guan Ze commented on the apparent weakness, and Yashamaru angrily told him to focus on their mental battle.

Akaseki fought Rasa, Karura, and Yashamaru aboard the Floating Fortress, using a powerful combined Fire, Wind, and Water technique before identifying the secrets behind their sand abilities. After the Sand Ninja retreated, Akaseki and his companions hurried deeper into the fortress, suspecting that senior Sand leaders had come to negotiate.

• Akaseki overwhelmed Rasa with his Fire Style, while Yashamaru mocked Rasa until his sand body shattered and his consciousness returned to his own body.
• Akaseki used Fire, Wind, and Water clones to unleash Blazing Torrent Consecutive Bullets, and Karura and Rasa combined sand and gold dust to block the attack.
• Akaseki deduced that Rasa's Magnet Release differed from the Third Kazekage's and that the Ao Clan's sand control relied on mental power rather than Magnet Release.
• Rasa, Karura, and Yashamaru retreated from the Floating Fortress, while Akaseki falsely claimed that the Third Kazekage was not the Second Kazekage's successor.
• Akaseki's group suspected the Sand Ninja had come to negotiate and hurried deeper into the fortress, fearing their own leaders were in danger.