Recaps

Tsunade and Jiraiya fought Kirigakure forces while Araki used the Mizukage’s past assassination to deflect the Third Kazekage’s invitation and deepen other villages’ resentment of Konoha. At a meeting to plan the Anti-Konoha Alliance, the Kage disputed how to divide the spoils, and Ōnoki put Araki on the spot about Sarutobi Hiruzen’s value as a former Kage.

• Tsunade struggled to break through Kaguya Steel Bone and five Kaguya jonin, whose Shikotsumyaku let them endure her attacks and keep restraining her.
• Jiraiya’s Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon devastated Kirigakure’s ranks, and he clashed with Hozuki Sengetsu’s Hiramekarei before Sengetsu called for Xiu Bing and Juzo.
• Araki refused the Third Kazekage’s invitation by saying he had to protect the Third Mizukage, who Konoha ninjas had previously tried to assassinate.
• Araki’s account prompted the Third Kazekage and Ōnoki to condemn Konoha, while the final individual match of the Chunin Exams concluded.
• The Third Raikage, Ōnoki, and the Third Kazekage outlined their troop contributions and argued over how to divide the benefits of the war against Konoha.
• Ōnoki asked how former Kage should count toward the proposed score and then asked Araki to judge Sarutobi Hiruzen’s worth.

Araki confirmed to the Kage that he had severed Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō’s arms, leaving the other villages impressed and wary of Kirigakure’s young fighter. On his final night in Kumogakure, he met Sasori, who showed him a life-energy mixture designed to incapacitate its target.

• Araki realized the Kage were testing whether he had injured Sarutobi Hiruzen and decided to reveal the truth.
• Araki said Sarutobi Hiruzen deserved only twenty points and admitted that he had personally chopped off Sarutobi Hiruzen’s and Shimura Danzō’s arms.
• The Third Kazekage, Third Tsuchikage, and Third Raikage reacted with shock, then praised Araki and the Third Mizukage.
• On his last night in Kumogakure, Araki asked Sasori whether he had developed the substance they discussed.
• Sasori showed Araki a green liquid that caused excessive life energy to make a person sluggish before they blissfully fainted.

Araki and Sasori tricked the disguised Third Mizukage into drinking Sasori’s life-energy medicine, leaving him helpless for Sasori to handle. In Konoha, Orochimaru responded to Kumogakure’s declaration of war by assigning Namikaze Minato and the Uchiha Clan to defend the northern border.

• Araki dismissed the ship’s crew, then told Sasori that the Third Mizukage was an impostor and proposed giving him the medicine directly.
• Araki convinced the Third Mizukage that Sasori’s medicine was a healing remedy, then force-fed him the entire bottle.
• The medicine left the Third Mizukage limp and dazed, and Araki told Sasori to do as he wished with him.
• Orochimaru informed Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō that Kumogakure had declared war after accusing Konoha of attacking the Land of Lightning with Wood Release.
• Orochimaru ordered Namikaze Minato to lead three thousand ninja, backed by the Uchiha Clan, to the northern border, then went to consult the Second Hokage’s notes.

Araki and Sasori staged the Third Mizukage’s death in a fabricated attack, then brought Karatachi Yagura to witness it. Yagura blamed Konoha and returned to Mist Village with the body, while Araki remained confident he would face no consequences.

• Sasori extracted the Third Mizukage’s chakra and began preparing to turn him into a Human Puppet, but Araki told him to preserve the body until they reached Mist Village.
• Araki returned to Mist Village ahead of the ship and persuaded Karatachi Yagura to come with him to investigate an urgent matter at sea.
• Sasori and Araki staged an attack on the ship, and Sasori told the others that the Third Mizukage had been injured while fighting four mysterious assailants.
• A wooden spike impaled the Third Mizukage in front of Karatachi Yagura, who blamed Konoha and ordered the body taken back to Mist Village.
• Araki urged Zabuza, Mei Terumi, and the others to keep the Mizukage’s death secret, then explained to Sasori that Yagura would not hold him responsible.

After Araki revealed the Third Mizukage’s death and White Zetsu’s involvement, Karatachi Yagura planned to inherit the Three-Tails to secure his succession. As Yagura met with his grandfather, Elder Qingquan gathered allies and plotted to stop him, naming Suikazan Fuguki as a weapon against Araki.

• Araki explained to Karatachi Yagura that the Third Mizukage had been killed by White Zetsu and disclosed his deal with Sasori, prompting Yagura to approve his actions and entrust Sasori’s supervision to him.
• Araki urged Yagura to take the Mizukage’s position, but Yagura explained that elders could obstruct his succession and decided to gain the Three-Tails’ power instead.
• White Zetsu reported losing contact with the one in the Land of Water, while Uchiha Madara told him to focus on preparing Obito to inherit his plans.
• Yagura visited his grandfather, the current Three-Tails Jinchuriki, and asked Araki to guard the house while they spoke alone.
• Elder Qingquan inferred that the Third Mizukage had died and persuaded Elders Shuiya and Zhuoliu to oppose Yagura’s succession before he gained the Three-Tails.
• Qingquan proposed using Suikazan Fuguki against Araki, whom the elders viewed as Yagura’s powerful ally.

Suikazan Fuguki and Jinin Akebino learned that Araki held their former swords and joined Elder Qingquan’s effort to stop Karatachi Yagura from taking the Three-Tails. At the Three-Tails Jinchuriki’s residence, Fuguki confronted Araki and declared his intention to reclaim what he had lost.

• Jinin Akebino told Suikazan Fuguki that Araki had taken possession of Samehada, leaving Fuguki determined to prove he could take it back.
• Elder Qingquan told Fuguki and Jinin that Karatachi Yagura planned to contain the Three-Tails and seize the Mizukage’s position while the Third Mizukage was missing.
• Qingquan persuaded Fuguki and Jinin to help stop Yagura, promising to support them as leaders of the commoner ninja in exchange for their help.
• Qingquan’s group approached the Three-Tails Jinchuriki’s residence, but Araki blocked their way and warned them that the area was off-limits.
• Fuguki stepped forward and told Araki that he had come only to take back what he had lost.

Araki stopped the elders’ attempt to interfere with Karatachi Yagura’s work, letting Suikazan Fuguki reclaim Samehada before defeating Jinin Akebino and five guards. Karatachi Yagura emerged from the room, and Araki realized the matter was settled.

• Araki gave Samehada to Suikazan Fuguki, who abandoned the elders’ plan and stood aside with the sword.
• Elder Qingquan accused Araki of manipulating Suikazan, but Suikazan refused to rejoin the elders.
• Jinin Akebino and five guards surrounded Araki, and Araki swiftly knocked out the guards and restrained Jinin.
• Suikazan drained much of Jinin’s chakra with Samehada while Araki refused to disclose Anbu-confidential information about Karatachi Yagura.
• Karatachi Yagura stepped out of the room, and Araki understood that the situation was settled.

Karatachi Yagura secured support to become the Fourth Mizukage after revealing the Third Mizukage's death and demonstrating his control of Isobu's chakra. He accepted the Mizukage's hat, while Araki remained in the Anbu and recommended Oyashiro En for the Shadow Guard.

• Karatachi Yagura told Araki that he had transferred Isobu's seal and could draw on the Three-Tails' power, though he had not mastered it fully.
• Yagura offered Araki a place as Shadow Guard captain, but Araki declined and recommended Oyashiro En for his Ketsuryūgan.
• Yagura gathered Mist Village leaders, clan representatives, and other influential ninja to announce that the Third Mizukage had died from injuries after a Konoha ambush.
• When attendees demanded proof and challenged Yagura, he released Isobu's chakra to silence the conference room.
• The great clans and elders supported Yagura's nomination, and he accepted the Mizukage's hat as the Fourth Mizukage.

Karatachi Yagura appointed Araki commander of Kirigakure’s Hunter-nin Squad and used the confiscation of Samehada to shield him from further attacks over the Third Mizukage’s death. He told Araki he wanted to reorganize the squad into a battlefield force capable of becoming Kirigakure’s trump card.

• After the Third Mizukage’s corpse revealed White Zetsu tissue and a wooden spike wound, Kirigakure’s officials demanded revenge against Konoha.
• Karatachi Yagura appointed Araki commander of the Anbu Hunter-nin Squad, prompting Quanliu to question why Araki had survived the mission that killed the Mizukage and Shadow Guard.
• Yagura punished Araki by confiscating Samehada and returning it to Suikazan Fuguki, using the public transfer to blunt criticism of Araki.
• Karatachi Yagura announced further appointments and scheduled his succession ceremony for three days later.
• In private, Yagura told Araki he planned to reorganize the Hunter-nin Squad as Kirigakure’s elite battlefield force.

Araki discovered that the Wind Sword and Sword of the Thunder God had fused into a compact hilt that projected a chakra-powered blade, and he accepted the new weapon despite not naming it. He then took Sasori to Kirigakure’s Intelligence and Interrogation Department to choose Konoha corpses for his puppets.

• Araki found a small azure-gold object in the Water Refining Pool and learned that the Wind Sword had broken apart during its fusion with the Sword of the Thunder God.
• Hozuki Ryuzuki fitted the object into a hilt, and Araki activated it to produce a sharp blade of adjustable length and chakra-based color.
• Araki left without naming his new sword after Hozuki Ryuzuki asked him to choose a name.
• Araki told Sasori that the Third Mizukage’s corpse would be buried first and that they could retrieve it later for modifications.
• Araki brought Sasori to the Intelligence and Interrogation Department to select Konoha ninja corpses for his Konoha Ten Puppets.

Araki and Sasori searched Konoha’s morgue and selected ten corpses for Sasori’s puppet research, including one from the rare Kurama Clan. At Araki’s new home, Sasori began setting up his workshop while Araki tested his new sword and challenged Sasaki Kojiro in the Consciousness Space.

• A Torture Division ninja led Araki and Sasori through the underground morgue, where Araki found corpses from many prominent Konoha clans.
• Sasori chose six corpses, including members of the Akimichi, Nara, Aburame, Inuzuka, and Hyuga clans, before Araki persuaded him to take a Kurama Clan corpse as a genjutsu puppet candidate.
• Araki and Sasori registered ten corpses, sealed them into scrolls, and brought them to Araki’s new residence.
• Sasori summoned the ten corpses in the courtyard and began establishing his Puppet Workshop as Araki tested his new sword beneath the cherry blossom tree.
• Araki entered the Consciousness Space and crossed blades with Sasaki Kojiro after they introduced themselves and their swords.

Araki fought Sasaki Kojiro to a near-mutual destruction, then absorbed Kojiro’s experience and gained Clear Mirror Still Water, complete Mind’s Eye, and Secret Sword: Swallow Reversal. He emerged with a stronger close-combat repertoire and immunity to genjutsu, and began incorporating Kojiro’s swordsmanship into his own.

• Araki and Sasaki Kojiro traded close-range attacks until Kojiro cut off half of Araki’s left forearm, and Araki forced him back with a dramatically extended chakra sword.
• Araki and Kojiro unleashed their ultimate techniques, Wind-Thunder Symbiosis: Wheel-Turning Sword and Secret Sword: Swallow Reversal, and both suffered severe wounds.
• Kojiro turned into feathers of light that merged into Araki, healing his wounds and guiding him into the realm of Void Self.
• Araki realized his Mind’s Eye had reached its complete form, tested a twofold version of Swallow Reversal, and reviewed his new abilities.
• Araki recognized that Clear Mirror Still Water gave him true immunity to genjutsu and that Mastery of Soji let him use repeated sword techniques without exposing their weaknesses.
• Araki began practicing his sword forms while integrating the insights he had gained from Kojiro.

Araki took command of Kirigakure's Hunter-nin Squad, renamed it the Blade of the Bloody Mist, and ordered its members to abandon their masks. He began testing their battlefield skills by fighting groups of ten, leaving the squad astonished by his swordsmanship and Rain Cutter technique.

• Araki arrived at the Hunter-nin Squad's training ground and silenced the gathered ninja with a massive strike from his extended Light Sword Yachiru.
• Araki introduced himself as the squad's new jonin commander and remained unfazed when the members responded with killing intent.
• Araki ordered the squad to remove their masks and announced that it would leave Anbu command and become the Blade of the Bloody Mist, an elite unit for fighting Kirigakure's enemies.
• Araki told the squad to form groups of ten and attacked the first group, swiftly knocking down three ninja with precise sword strikes.
• The remaining seven ninja combined taijutsu and Water Release: Water Whip to restrain Araki, but he cut through their attacks with Rain Cutter, astonishing the spectators.

Araki challenged the Hunter-nin Squad and demonstrated how powerful swordsmanship could be, defeating more than a hundred ninja to establish it as the foundation of his Blade of the Bloody Mist. The battered squad eagerly agreed to learn, and Araki began by assigning them daily practice of nine basic sword forms.

• Amamiya explained that Araki had combined Water chakra nature transformation with shape transformation to perform the Rain Cutter Technique through swordsmanship.
• Amamiya led Yanliu, Suilian, and seven others against Araki, but Araki adapted his chakra sword to the rain and swiftly defeated them in close combat.
• Araki defeated successive groups from the Hunter-nin Squad using swordsmanship, leaving them convinced that blades could be central to their fighting style.
• Araki revealed that he intended swordsmanship to be the foundation of the Blade of the Bloody Mist and inspired the squad to learn from him.
• Araki taught the names of nine basic sword forms and ordered the squad to practice each one a thousand times a day before he would teach them his Ninja Swordsmanship.

Araki put the [Blood Blade Unit] through grueling foundational training while seeking a Water-nature sword style for them. He challenged Yamamoto Takeshi in the [Book of Sword Masters] and began testing Shigure Soen Ryu against his own techniques.

• Araki made the [Blood Blade Unit] run, stretch, and swing their swords under his supervision, and none of them quit.
• Araki concluded that Water-nature swordsmanship would suit the unit and returned home to begin another sword challenge.
• Araki met Yamamoto Takeshi, who explained that he wielded Shigure Soen Ryu for protection rather than killing.
• Yamamoto Takeshi attacked with Shigure Soen Ryu techniques, and Araki blocked or saw through each move while studying the style.
• Yamamoto Takeshi unleashed Swallow's Beak, and Araki countered with a barrage of [Slash Wave: Sengetsu] crescents.

Araki defeated Yamamoto Takeshi and studied Shigure Soen Ryu, while Konoha and Mist Village weighed their next moves after Mist’s retreat from Bluefish Island. Tsunade proposed striking Mist Village and forcing another change of Mizukage.

• Yamamoto Takeshi used Shigure Soen Ryu’s evasive and special forms against Araki, but Araki defeated him with Secret Sword: Swallow Reversal and absorbed the light feathers.
• Araki analyzed Shigure Soen Ryu’s techniques and considered how the Blood Blade Unit could adapt the school to the Shinobi World.
• Konoha ninja recovered their dead on Bluefish Island as Mist Village retreated, and Hozuki Sengetsu rebuked Kaguya Steel Bone over the clan’s losses.
• Hozuki Sengetsu explained that Mist Village was facing mounting disadvantages and chose to retreat rather than trade casualties before other villages entered the war.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Kumogakure had mobilized and Sunagakure and Iwagakure were stirring, while Minato was holding off Kumogakure’s forces.
• Tsunade proposed going to Mist Village to exploit unrest over its new Mizukage and retaliate for the accusation that she had assassinated the Third Mizukage.

Tsunade persuaded Jiraiya to join her in infiltrating Kirigakure and killing the Mizukage, using the death as justification to retreat from the sea and draw the fighting onto land. Meanwhile, Sasori demonstrated his Konoha Ten Puppets to Karatachi Yagura, who promised him more materials in exchange for killing Konoha shinobi.

• Tsunade explained that she planned to claim responsibility for the Third Mizukage's death and use the story to justify withdrawing from the sea battlefield.
• Jiraiya agreed to accompany Tsunade on a mission to infiltrate Kirigakure and warned her to escape with the Reverse Summoning Technique if she encountered danger.
• A green toad washed ashore and hopped toward the village.
• Sasori demonstrated his Konoha Ten Puppets and their clan techniques to Karatachi Yagura and Araki.
• Karatachi Yagura offered Sasori enough materials for his research in exchange for killing twice as many Konoha shinobi on the battlefield.

Jiraiya and Tsunade infiltrated Kirigakure and planned to use Araki to lure out the Mizukage. Araki sensed the pair, recognized Tsunade, and sent Sasori to identify her companion before deciding how to respond.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade entered Kirigakure disguised as an ordinary couple and discussed how to draw the Mizukage out.
• Tsunade proposed capturing Araki and using him to lure the Mizukage, and Jiraiya agreed the plan was worth trying.
• Araki noticed Jiraiya and Tsunade covertly watching him and used Mind's Eye to sense their forms.
• Araki identified one of the intruders as Tsunade and signaled Sasori to send a scouting puppet toward them.

Araki discovered that Jiraiya and Tsunade had secretly infiltrated Kirigakure, so he and Karatachi Yagura stalled them while Kirigakure prepared to attack Konoha’s leaderless forces. The standoff ended with Jiraiya and Tsunade trapped between Araki and Sasori on one side and Yagura’s Anbu on the other, just as battle was about to begin.

• Sasori’s Puppet Mouse photographed Jiraiya and Tsunade, and Araki identified them from the image.
• Araki sent a message to Karatachi Yagura, who ordered Hozuki Sengetsu to attack Konoha’s forces while Jiraiya and Tsunade were away.
• Araki and Sasori stayed at the restaurant to delay Jiraiya and Tsunade, who waited for Araki to leave so they could subdue him.
• After noticing the restaurant and streets had become unusually quiet, Jiraiya pulled Tsunade out rather than fight in a prepared location.
• Araki followed Jiraiya and Tsunade outside, where Karatachi Yagura and Kirigakure Anbu had sealed the area and trapped them between the two groups.

Karatachi Yagura, Araki, and Sasori of the Red Sands attacked Tsunade and Jiraiya, using Human Puppets to exploit the Konoha shinobi’s surprise at seeing supposedly dead comrades. The chapter left Jiraiya immobilized and struck by Yamanaka Haiji’s Mind Disturbance Technique as Yagura’s Coral Palm closed in on his back.

• Tsunade lost focus when she thought of her dead brother Nawaki, and Araki launched a sudden sword thrust at her.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamaken to block Araki’s attack, but Sasori’s Akimichi Clan Human Puppet used Multi-Size Technique to smash Gamaken into the ground.
• Tsunade destroyed the giant puppet with an upward punch, then recognized it as the supposedly dead Akimichi Todome.
• Jiraiya tried to reach Gamaken, but Sasori’s Nara Rumei Human Puppet trapped him with Shadow Possession Technique.
• Sasori’s Yamanaka Haiji Human Puppet struck Jiraiya with Mind Disturbance Technique as Karatachi Yagura attacked his back with Coral Palm.

Jiraiya and Tsunade used layered disguises to ambush Sasori, but his Puppet Clone saved him from Jiraiya’s Rasengan. After Sasori revealed that he had turned Jiraiya’s missing subordinates into puppets, Jiraiya confronted him over their bodies.

• Tsunade’s disguised Wood Clone was captured by Karatachi Yagura and Yamanaka Haiji while the real Jiraiya hid in its shadow.
• Jiraiya emerged and struck Sasori with a Rasengan, but Sasori’s body was a Puppet Clone that took the blow in his place.
• Sasori revealed that Akimichi No. 1, Nara No. 1, and Yamanaka No. 1 were puppets made from Jiraiya’s missing subordinates.
• Jiraiya accused Sasori of desecrating the dead, and Sasori insisted that turning them into puppets was his art.

Jiraiya fought Sasori of the Red Sands and his human puppets, which had been made from fallen Konoha ninja, while Karatachi Yagura intervened to protect Sasori. Jiraiya disrupted the puppets’ formation and summoned Gamabunta, but Sasori’s remaining puppets attacked through poison gas, leaving Jiraiya facing a poisoned strike from Inuzuka O.

• Sasori of the Red Sands released seven more human puppets, and Jiraiya recognized them as fallen Konoha ninja and resolved to kill Sasori.
• Jiraiya’s attacks clashed with the puppets’ coordinated techniques, so he summoned the Iwayado Toad’s stomach wall and turned the ground beneath them into the Swamp of the Underworld.
• Sasori used the Akimichi Puppet to rescue the other puppets from the swamp, but the puppet sank beneath the mire, and Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to attack Sasori.
• Karatachi Yagura blocked Gamabunta with the Water Mirror Technique, giving Sasori time to regroup and release a wall of poison gas.
• Inuzuka O burst from the poison mist with Fang Over Fang, and Jiraiya met him with a Rasengan before poison gas sprayed from the puppet’s claws.

Araki fought Tsunade to a standstill until Gamabunta intervened, but Araki wounded the toad and forced him to retreat. Sasori poisoned Jiraiya, and Tsunade escaped with him; Jiraiya then revealed his plan to lure Kirigakure into attacking a prepared trap.

• Sasori poisoned Jiraiya with a toxin released by the Inuzuka Puppet, leaving him gravely weakened as Gamabunta carried him toward Tsunade.
• Araki and Tsunade remained locked in combat until Gamabunta arrived and attacked Araki to give Tsunade time to help Jiraiya.
• Araki severed Gamabunta’s leg, forcing him to return to Mount Myōboku, but Tsunade escaped with Jiraiya before Araki’s sword could strike them.
• Araki encountered Sasori and Karatachi Yagura, learned Sasori had poisoned Jiraiya, and followed them in pursuit.
• Tsunade used Katsuyu to suppress Jiraiya’s poison, and Jiraiya shared intelligence about Sasori before explaining his plan with Shikaku to lure Kirigakure into a prepared attack.

Jiraiya and Tsunade hid inside the Gourd Toad while Mist Village scrambled to respond to their presumed return to the front. As a massive Mist assault approached Bluefish Island, Jiraiya completed his transformation into Sage Mode, ready to end the battle.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade concealed themselves inside the Gourd Toad, causing Sasori to lose track of the poison he had left in Jiraiya.
• Karatachi Yagura feared Konoha had drawn Mist Village’s commanders away from the front, but kept Araki and Sasori with him to guard the village and sent Araki to reinforce Hozuki Sengetsu.
• Hozuki Sengetsu led nearly four thousand Mist ninja toward Bluefish Island, where Kisame Hoshigaki and over a thousand ninja unleashed the Super Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
• Nara Shikaku reassured the uneasy Konoha forces as they prepared to counter the approaching wave without Jiraiya or Tsunade in sight.
• Inside the Gourd Toad, Jiraiya entered Sage Mode and told Tsunade he would bring the battle to an end.

Konoha’s forces began losing ground on Bluefish Island as Kirigakure’s strongest fighters overwhelmed them, prompting Nara Shikaku to summon Jiraiya and Tsunade back. In Kirigakure, the two vanished through Reverse Summoning just as Araki grabbed Karatachi Yagura and Sasori, then used Stellar Restoration to follow Tsunade’s marked location.

• Floodwaters covered much of Bluefish Island, and Hozuki Sengetsu, Kaguya Steel Bone, and Xiu Bing inflicted heavy losses on Konoha’s forces.
• Hozuki Sengetsu killed Gekko Hoshino after overpowering Hyuga Yukiki’s Rotation, while Kaguya Steel Bone charged through Konoha’s formation and knocked back an Inuzuka jonin with Passing Fang.
• Yamanaka Inoichi urged Nara Shikaku to act, and Shikaku asked Sage Fukasaku to use Reverse Summoning to bring Jiraiya back.
• In Kirigakure, Jiraiya entered Sage Mode and forced Karatachi Yagura to reveal his Three-Tails transformation, while Tsunade tried to switch opponents with Jiraiya.
• Reverse Summoning pulled Jiraiya and Tsunade away; Araki grabbed Karatachi Yagura and Sasori, then used Stellar Restoration to pursue Tsunade’s Lightning Stiletto.