Chapter Summaries

Yagura invited Kumogakure to jointly hold the Chunin Exams, prompting the Third Raikage and Dodai to fear the reputational cost of losing. They planned to test Kirigakure’s strength and potentially involve Iwagakure, but A pointed out that they could invite Iwagakure immediately.

• Yagura presented Kirigakure’s invitation to jointly hold the Chunin Exams, and the Third Raikage deferred his decision.
• After Yagura’s group left with guide Yugito, Dodai warned the Third Raikage and A that a public loss could damage Kumogakure’s reputation.
• The Third Raikage proposed a three-versus-three match to test Kirigakure before deciding whether to hold the exams.
• Dodai suggested involving Iwagakure because of its grudge against Kirigakure, and the Third Raikage agreed they could use rumors to pressure Ōnoki.
• A asked why they needed to test Kirigakure first instead of inviting Iwagakure directly, stopping the Raikage and Dodai’s laughter.

Araki and the Kirigakure delegation toured Kumogakure with Yugito Nii, the village’s Two-Tails jinchuriki, as their guide. After Yugito falsely claimed that two villagers caught in an intimate moment were Konoha spies, Araki stopped Kaguya Black Bone from attacking them, and Yugito grew flustered by Araki’s kindness.

• Yugito Nii introduced herself as the delegation’s guide, and Yagura introduced the Kirigakure group.
• Yugito offered to show them the Sea of Clouds or the Thunder Pool, and the delegation chose the Sea of Clouds.
• At the Sea of Clouds, the group overheard two villagers together behind a boulder, and Yugito knocked them down before claiming they were Konoha spies.
• Kaguya Black Bone prepared to attack the supposed spies, but Araki stopped him and told Yugito that Kirigakure would not interfere with Kumogakure’s handling of them.
• Yugito thanked Araki awkwardly and blushed as she lowered her head.

Yugito showed Araki and the Mist Village group around Kumogakure and treated them to a feast before leading them to meet the Third Raikage. The villages agreed to include Iwagakure in a joint Chunin Exam, and the Raikage proposed a genin exchange as his final condition.

• Yugito took the Mist Village group to the Sea of Clouds while a woman secretly altered an unconscious Kumogakure man's memory and then left.
• Yugito treated the visitors to a roasted calf feast, and a masked Kumogakure Anbu summoned them to the Raikage Office.
• The Third Raikage demanded that Iwagakure be invited to the joint Chunin Exam, provoking Hozuki Sengetsu because of the villages' history.
• Karatachi Yagura persuaded Hozuki Sengetsu to accept the condition, and Yagura agreed that Kumogakure would invite Iwagakure.
• The Third Raikage proposed that the Mist Village's three genin exchange with Kumogakure genin.

The Kirigakure and Kumogakure genin teams began an internal sparring match at Cloud-Thunder Gorge, with Kaguya Black Bone facing Toroi. Black Bone’s explosive bone bullets injured Toroi, and the chapter left their match ongoing.

• The Third Raikage and Karatachi Yagura agreed to a genin exchange match at Cloud-Thunder Gorge.
• Araki identified Samui and suspected that Toroi used Magnet Style, then sent Kaguya Black Bone to fight him.
• Toroi used Magnet Style to control his diamond-shaped shuriken and intercept Black Bone’s bone bullets.
• Black Bone detonated the intercepted bullets, shattering some shuriken and grazing Toroi’s cheek with bone fragments.
• Kisame Hoshigaki asked Araki whether he had taught Black Bone the explosive technique, and Araki credited Black Bone’s talent.

Kaguya Black Bone used his newly developed Ten-Finger Bullet to wound Toroi and overwhelm him at range, prompting Toroi to unleash his Magnet Style weapons. Black Bone advanced through Toroi’s barrage in bone armor, leaving Toroi unable to stop his approach.

• Kaguya Black Bone fired Ten-Finger Bullets that fragmented inside Toroi and then launched another volley at him.
• The Third Raikage praised Black Bone’s ranged combat, while Karatachi Yagura downplayed his abilities.
• Toroi formed a Magnet Style Square Iron Wall, summoned ten gigantic square shuriken, and attacked Black Bone with Hornet Flying Blade.
• Black Bone charged through the spinning shuriken after covering himself in bone armor, which deflected their blows as he steadily approached Toroi.

Kaguya Black Bone defeated Toroi with his bone armor and forced him to surrender, then forfeited his match against Samui. Araki took his place and evaded Samui’s lightning-charged attack, leaving their fight underway.

• Kaguya Black Bone broke through Toroi’s Magnet Style: Square Iron Wall, but Dodai stopped his bone sword before it struck Toroi, who surrendered.
• Samui volunteered to fight Kaguya Black Bone, but he forfeited because he would not fight women, and Kisame accepted the round as a loss.
• Araki stepped in to fight Samui, following the plan to conceal Kaguya Black Bone’s chakra limits by rotating fighters.
• Samui attacked with Cloud Style: Flying Blade, and Araki used Wind Style: Body Flicker Technique to vanish from her sight.
• Samui dashed from her position with Lightning Style: Shadow Lightning Thrust as Araki’s chakra-edged longsword cut through her afterimage.

Araki defeated Samui in a sword fight after countering her lightning techniques with wind and overwhelming her with a wide-area attack. The Third Raikage praised Araki’s swordsmanship, and the Cloud shinobi accepted Samui’s defeat.

• Samui used the Body Flicker Technique to escape Araki’s strike and counterattacked with Cloud Style: Inner Slash.
• Araki countered Samui’s lightning-wreathed blade with Wind Sword, then evaded her Sun and Moon Slash and struck her with Whirlwind Slash.
• Samui’s Substitution Technique failed to escape the tornado, and Araki’s Last Breath left her unconscious and covered in cuts.
• Dodai carried Samui away and confronted Araki, who said he had held back; the Raikage and Cloud shinobi acknowledged Samui’s fair defeat.
• The Third Raikage praised Kirigakure’s swordsmanship genius and reflected on Kumogakure’s strong swordsmanship tradition.

Darui faced Araki in Kumogakure’s final exchange match, carrying the responsibility of avenging Samui despite doubting he could win. Their fight began with Araki’s wind-fast sword attack and ended with both fighters launching powerful techniques at each other.

• Dodai urged Darui to fight Araki and avenge Samui, while Darui reluctantly agreed.
• Darui introduced himself to Araki and said he had a responsibility to avenge his injured teammate.
• Araki used Wind Instant Body Technique to close the distance and slash at Darui.
• Darui raised a Water Formation Wall and electrified it with Lightning Style: Wave of Inspiration, forcing Araki to retreat.
• Araki launched Slash Wave: New Moon, and Darui dispelled his water defense and countered with Storm Style: Laser Circus.

Araki defeated Darui by using wind currents to disrupt the Storm Style lasers and striking him at close range. After the spar, the Third Raikage vowed to train new talent before the Chunin Exams, while Samui admired Araki’s strength.

• Araki dodged Darui’s controllable Storm Style lasers by moving onto a hill, then charged through their attacks with a circular wind slash.
• Araki deflected the lasers with his sword, reached Darui, and defeated him with Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki.
• Darui asked how Araki had disrupted his Storm Style, but Araki refused to explain and left.
• The Third Raikage lamented Kumogakure’s losses, discovered he was the Ninja Academy principal, and decided to personally train new talents.
• Samui saw Darui return to the hospital and recalled Araki’s swordsmanship, saying that the fighters from Mist Village were cool.

Danzo ordered Aburame Ryoma to hire Kakuzu to kill Karatachi Yagura and Hozuki Sengetsu, while Yakushi Nonō activated Konoha’s spies in Kumogakure to attack the Kirigakure delegation. Nonō then left the village and waited for the plan to unfold.

• Danzo ordered Aburame Ryoma to offer Kakuzu fifty million ryo for the heads of Karatachi Yagura and Hozuki Sengetsu.
• Yakushi Nonō received a message telling her to keep the Kirigakure delegation in Kumogakure, while Karatachi Yagura told Kisame Hoshigaki to consider setting personal goals.
• Yakushi Nonō used a recognition code to deliver Danzo’s order to Nakamura Yato to assassinate members of the Kirigakure delegation the next day.
• Yakushi Nonō activated several Konoha spies across Kumogakure, then quietly left the village to await the outcome.

Araki, Kaguya Black Bone, and Zabuza visited Kumogakure’s Thunder Pool, where they met Killer B. Outside, three undercover agents plotted to attack them once Killer B left.

• Karatachi Yagura, Hozuki Sengetsu, and Kisame Hoshigaki began discussing the joint examination arrangements with the Raikage and the others, leaving the genin with nothing to do.
• Araki took Kaguya Black Bone and Zabuza to visit the Thunder Pool, and Killer B welcomed them inside.
• Araki saw the lightning-filled lake and guessed that Kumogakure used it to train shinobi in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• Nakamura, Miki, and Takei followed the three to the Thunder Pool and decided to wait until Killer B left before attacking Araki first.

Araki and his companions toured Thunder Pool while Black Bone soaked in its electrified water, and Araki tried to learn where Kumogakure obtained its ore. Three undercover Anbu entered the pool and attacked, leaving Takei swinging a hidden hammer at Araki’s chest.

• Black Bone tested Thunder Pool’s water and then jumped in, while Killer B stayed nearby to help if needed.
• Araki asked Killer B about Kumogakure’s blacksmiths and ore, but Killer B knew little about the subject.
• Takei, Nakamura, and Miki grew impatient waiting outside and decided to enter Thunder Pool and target Araki’s group.
• The three undercover Anbu approached Araki and Zabuza while pretending to offer help rescuing the two people in the water.
• Takei revealed his attack and swung a small iron hammer toward Araki’s chest.

Araki killed two of the three attackers at the Thunder Pool and left Takei alive for interrogation. Killer B brought Takei to the Raikage’s office, interrupting the debate over the Joint Chunin Exams and reporting the attack.

• Araki used [Wind Sword] and his scabbard to incapacitate and kill Takei after Takei attacked him with a hammer.
• Nakamura and Miki charged Araki and Zabuza, but both were killed.
• Killer B dragged Kaguya Black Bone ashore and learned that the three men had tried to assassinate them.
• Killer B carried the unconscious Takei to the Raikage’s office, where Yagura, A, Dodai, and Hozuki Sengetsu were discussing the Joint Chunin Exams.
• Killer B reported that three unidentified people had attacked them at the Thunder Pool.

After an attack on Araki and his companions, Yagura and the Mist Village group blamed Konoha and hoped the incident would help them gain leverage with Cloud Village over the Chunin Exam rules. The Third Raikage ordered a stronger investigation and patrols, then focused on Kaguya Black Bone’s resilience and forced injured Darui back into training.

• A rushed to check on Killer B, while Yagura anxiously asked Araki, Zabuza, and Black Bone whether they were hurt.
• The Third Raikage ordered Anbu to interrogate the captured attacker and promised Yagura that Cloud Village would investigate and explain the attack.
• Araki identified Konoha as the likely culprit, and Yagura and Hozuki Sengetsu discussed using the incident to unite Cloud Village against Konoha and gain advantages in the exam rules.
• The Third Raikage ordered faster interrogations and more patrols, then learned from Killer B that Kaguya Black Bone had endured Thunder Pool without preparation.
• The Third Raikage went with Killer B to Cloud Village Hospital, where he accused Darui of slacking and ordered him to train at Thunder Pool until he reached beginner level in [Lightning Release Chakra Mode].

After securing favorable Chunin Exam terms, Karatachi Yagura and the Kirigakure delegation headed home, where Araki was teased about Samui before the group encountered the bounty hunter Kakuzu. The chapter ended as Kakuzu attacked with Lightning Style: False Darkness and Araki raised a Wind Wall to defend the team.

• Karatachi Yagura accepted Kumogakure's insistence on holding the Chunin Exams three months later after Kirigakure gained favorable rules in negotiations.
• Samui told Araki she admired his fighting and would work harder before they met again in three months, then hugged him.
• Karatachi Yagura and Kaguya Black Bone teased Araki about Samui, and Araki claimed that having no women in his heart made his swordsmanship strong.
• Zabuza sensed someone approaching, and the Kirigakure delegation formed a defensive formation as Kakuzu emerged from the forest and named a fifty-million-ryo bounty.
• Kakuzu attacked with Lightning Style: False Darkness, and Araki countered by raising a Wind Wall.

Kakuzu battled Araki, Karatachi Yagura, Hozuki Sengetsu, and their allies, shrugging off their attacks with powerful Earth Style defenses. After Hozuki Sengetsu sent him crashing into the forest, the group regrouped and wondered whether Kakuzu was an Iwagakure ninja in disguise.

• Kakuzu's Lightning Style attack failed against Araki's Wind Wall, so he split the battlefield with Earth Style techniques.
• Kisame Hoshigaki flooded the battlefield, allowing Hozuki Sengetsu to use Water Release: Body Flicker Technique and attack Kakuzu with Hiramekarei.
• Kakuzu hardened his arm with Earth Spear Technique and blocked Hiramekarei, then punched Hozuki Sengetsu, who evaded harm with Hydrification.
• Hozuki Sengetsu strengthened his arm with Great Water Arm Technique and sent Kakuzu flying into the forest, but suspected his strike had not injured him.
• Karatachi Yagura and the others regrouped, and Yagura wondered whether Kakuzu was an Iwagakure ninja in disguise because of his powerful defensive technique.

Kakuzu unleashed a devastating attack against Karatachi Yagura’s group, then withdrew when Yagura reflected it. Aburame Ryoma and Root ambushed Kakuzu to reclaim their deposit, but Kakuzu revealed his masked hearts and turned the fight against them.

• Aburame Ryoma learned that Kakuzu was at a disadvantage and ordered Root to wait until both sides were wounded before attacking.
• Kakuzu used Earth Grudge Fear: Ultimate Shot against Karatachi Yagura’s group, but Yagura reflected the attack with Water Style: Water Mirror Technique.
• Karatachi Yagura stopped Hozuki Sengetsu from pursuing Kakuzu and ordered the group to withdraw.
• Aburame Ryoma confronted Kakuzu and demanded the return of the mission deposit while Root prepared an ambush.
• Root immobilized Kakuzu with a sealing-and-lightning assault, but Kakuzu escaped the attack by releasing his masked tentacle creatures and counterattacked.

Kakuzu killed Unya and Sota, but Aburame Ryoma escaped after tricking Kakuzu with an insect clone. In the Land of Hot Water, Karatachi Yagura and his companions discussed the powerful three-element technique they had faced and blamed Konoha for interfering with their mission.

• Kakuzu killed Unya with a single technique, leaving Aburame Ryoma and Sota without their close-combat specialist.
• Aburame Ryoma gave Kakuzu a scroll containing forty million ryō, but Kakuzu killed Sota and then discovered Ryoma’s body was an insect clone.
• Aburame Ryoma received a message from a Kikaichū and left the forest after learning Kakuzu had wiped out the others.
• Karatachi Yagura relaxed in a hot spring with Zabuza, Hozuki Sengetsu, Araki, and other men, explaining that he had not been injured but had been drained by the technique.
• Hozuki Sengetsu suspected Konoha had ordered the attack, while the group wondered who the Takigakure shinobi involved might have been.

Araki’s group exposed Root’s surveillance and captured Yamanaka Taku, Yamashiro Matsu, and their companion after Zabuza detected them. Karatachi Yagura planned to take the three Root operatives to Kirigakure for interrogation.

• Araki speculated that Danzo might have been behind Kakuzu’s actions and worried that blame falling on Konoha could change the cause of the Third Shinobi World War.
• Yamanaka Taku and two Root operatives confirmed that Karatachi Yagura and Hozuki Sengetsu were present, then argued over whether to attack despite their support-focused roles.
• Yamanaka Taku claimed the Mist Village might discover secrets in Aburame Ryoma’s remains, but Yamashiro Matsu realized Root’s Cursed Seals would destroy a dead operative’s brain.
• Karatachi Yagura, Hozuki Sengetsu, Kaguya Black Bone, and Araki confronted the Root squad and quickly overwhelmed them.
• Araki’s group cut off the operatives’ hands and captured all three alive after Zabuza detected Yamashiro Matsu’s unusual footsteps.

Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted Shimura Danzō over Root shinobi captured by Mist Village, but Danzō denied responsibility and proposed an assassination to silence them. Hiruzen also questioned Orochimaru about alleged experiments in the Land of the Sea, and Orochimaru denied involvement as Konoha prepared to reject both accusations.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen presented Shimura Danzō with a report and accused him of sending Root shinobi to attack Mist Village shinobi without authorization.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura criticized Danzō while trying to mediate, but Danzō denied the captured shinobi belonged to Root.
• Danzō suggested eliminating the prisoners in Mist Village, and Hiruzen ordered someone to summon Hatake Sakumo for the mission.
• Hiruzen questioned Orochimaru about alleged human experiments and biological weapons research in the Land of the Sea, but Orochimaru denied ever going there.
• Hiruzen decided Konoha would deny both accusations and rely on Sakumo to remove the captured shinobi as evidence.