Recaps

Araki used Uzumaki Kushina’s body to provoke the Nine-Tails into attacking Konoha’s forces, while Sasori disrupted the sealing squad and Iwagakure considered exploiting the chaos. Namikaze Minato sensed the danger and teleported to the battlefield, where he made the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb disappear just before it fired.

• Araki tossed Uzumaki Kushina’s body toward Torifu Akimichi, and the Nine-Tails transformed and attacked him with a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Araki and Sasori watched from the air as Torifu ordered the Konoha ninja to retreat and protect the sealing squad; Sasori sent disguised corpses into the panicked crowd.
• Higashishini ordered Roshi, Han, Kitsuchi, and Hikō to seize Uzumaki Kushina, but they reconsidered their plan after seeing the Nine-Tails’ explosion in the distance.
• Namikaze Minato sensed the Nine-Tails’ chakra rising and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to leave the northern battlefield and reach Uzumaki Kushina.
• Namikaze Minato appeared atop the Nine-Tails and used a tri-pronged kunai to make its nearly formed Tailed Beast Bomb vanish.

Araki saw Namikaze Minato use Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder and considered studying its spatial principle to develop a dimensional slash. After Minato resealed the Nine-Tails and left with Kushina, the chapter shifted to Danzō’s battle with the AB Brothers and the destruction of Kusagakure’s Grass Seed outpost.

• Araki watched Namikaze Minato divert the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb and considered whether the technique could lead to a dimensional slash powerful enough to kill the Ghost King.
• Minato spotted Araki and Sasori, but Araki deflected his Flying Thunder God Kunai and denied responsibility for Kushina’s injury; Torifu Akimichi confirmed Araki had brought Kushina back.
• Minato resealed the Nine-Tails inside Kushina and took her away, while Torifu asked him to send her back once her injuries improved.
• Minato returned to the northern Land of Fire and saved Shimura Danzō from the AB Brothers, then traded barbs with Danzō as nearby Uchiha jonin laughed.
• A Kusagakure shinobi reported that the Grass Seed outpost had been destroyed and Maeda and most of its jonin and chunin had been killed, prompting the leader to summon the four elders and Mui.

Kusagakure’s leader decided to accelerate the opening of the Box of Ultimate Bliss by targeting Tailed Beasts and ordered the elders to gather intelligence. On their way back, Araki and Sasori spotted Iwagakure’s forces advancing and stopped to wait for Torifu Akimichi.

• Kusagakure’s leader announced that Maeda had died and the Grass Seed base had been devastated, then questioned Mui about the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
• Mui revealed that the Box was less than one-tenth full and said a Tailed Beast could provide enough chakra to open it sooner.
• Kusagakure’s leader ordered Mui to bring the Box back and use the prisoners, sent the Monkey-Headed and Ox-Headed Elders to gather intelligence on Konoha’s Nine-Tails and Iwagakure’s Four-Tails and Five-Tails, and tasked the Sheep-Headed Elder with scouting Takigakure’s Seven-Tails.
• Araki and Sasori saw Iwagakure’s forces moving through the mountains, and Sasori stopped their flight to wait for Torifu Akimichi.

As Iwagakure’s overwhelming force pursued Konoha into the Land of Fire, Torifu Akimichi ordered a retreat and Aburame Shino’s clan stayed behind to counter the Kamizuru trackers. Meanwhile, Mui brought Kusagakure’s Box of Ultimate Bliss underground toward the battle, where it began absorbing energy from the fighting shinobi.

• Hyuga Homura spotted Iwagakure’s massive advance, and Torifu Akimichi ordered Konoha’s force to retreat east while laying traps.
• When the Kamizuru Clan’s Ninja Bees kept tracking Konoha, Aburame Shino asked Torifu to let his clan stay behind and confront them.
• After three days of pursuit, Konoha and Iwagakure entered the Land of Fire, where the Aburame counterattack inflicted heavy losses on the Kamizuru Clan.
• Mui and three Kusagakure elders carried the Box of Ultimate Bliss underground toward the battlefield after discovering it gained activation energy near combat.
• Mui ignored the elders’ warnings and advanced toward the fighting as the Box glowed and drew streams of black-and-red energy from the shinobi above.

Araki and Sasori observed the fighting between Konoha and Iwagakure grow unusually violent as the Box of Ultimate Bliss absorbed the fallen ninjas’ rage. After Mui opened the box and wished for the Land of Grass to rule the world, he emerged transformed into a monster and flew toward the battlefield to feed.

• Araki noticed the fighting intensify from west to east and wondered whether a large-scale genjutsu was causing it, while Sasori said he knew of no such technique.
• As the Box of Ultimate Bliss absorbed more fallen ninjas’ rage, its Ghost Mask of Wrath glowed red and became ready to open.
• Mui opened the box and wished for the Land of Grass to regain its glory and rule the world.
• The box swallowed Mui, then released him with the power to restore Kusagakure’s glory; he transformed into a towering red-and-black monster.
• Mui burst through the earth, hovered above the battlefield, and called on the ninjas below to offer him their rage as food; Black Zetsu sensed his emergence from a distant cave.

Black Zetsu sensed the return of an Evil Spirit from Kaguya’s past and explained its history to White Zetsu. On the Konoha-Iwagakure battlefield, Mui transformed into the Sha of Anger, driving nearby ninjas into a frenzy and turning the battle into a massacre.

• Black Zetsu sensed the aura of an Evil Spirit near the Konoha-Iwagakure battlefield and ordered White Zetsu to gather a report.
• Black Zetsu told White Zetsu that Kaguya had once fought demons and sealed an Evil Spirit that fed on Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Fear.
• Black Zetsu decided that Hagoromo and his descendants should deal with the Evil Spirit, while White Zetsu worried it might seek revenge on Kaguya.
• Mui transformed into the Sha of Anger, whose presence amplified people’s anger and drove ninjas on both sides to attack one another.
• Torifu Akimichi and three other fighters launched a combined attack, but the Sha of Anger dodged it and continued spreading madness as it flew.

Araki identified Mui’s rampaging transformation as the Sha of Anger connected to the Box of Ultimate Bliss, while Black Zetsu planned to recruit ancient demons to distract Hagoromo. After the creature devastated the battlefield, it returned to Kusagakure, where the box’s whispers began drawing villagers and civilians into its masks.

• Araki suspected the Sha of Anger was a monster from the Box of Ultimate Bliss as it inflamed the battlefield and evaded Konoha and Iwagakure’s strongest fighters.
• Black Zetsu recognized the Evil Spirit and decided to help it unseal other ancient demons, forming an organization to oppose the ninja and distract Hagoromo.
• Araki and Sasori watched from above instead of intervening, and the Sha of Anger eventually flew away after the combined forces had suffered heavy losses.
• Araki and Sasori followed the creature to Kusagakure, where it placed the Box of Ultimate Bliss in the plaza and chanted over it.
• The box’s Ghost Masks whispered to the gathered Kusagakure ninja and civilians, who began walking in orderly lines toward the masks’ open mouths.

Mui transformed into the Sha of Anger and began absorbing Kusagakure’s people into the Box of Ultimate Bliss, while Araki and Sasori watched from hiding. In Konoha, Jiraiya was summoned to Mount Myōboku, where the Great Toad Sage prophesied that ancient monsters would soon threaten the world.

• The Sha of Anger revealed that he was Mui, said the three elders had sacrificed themselves, and attacked Kusagakure’s leader.
• Mui dodged the leader’s Hair-Breaking Palm and kicked him into the Box of Ultimate Bliss, then urged Kusagakure’s people to join the village’s revival.
• Araki recognized that Kusagakure was finished and left with Sasori after Mui sensed their hiding place.
• Orochimaru showed Jiraiya a complaint accusing Minato of abandoning the northern front, but Jiraiya vanished through reverse summoning before he could respond.
• Fukasaku and Shima brought Jiraiya to the Great Toad Sage, who prophesied the return of the Petrification Legion, the Undying Demon, and the Hell Fiends, and urged him to unite the Child of Prophecy without relying on outsiders.

The Sage of Six Paths decided to awaken Asura early as a safeguard against the Evil Spirit released from the Box of Ultimate Bliss, while Jiraiya struggled to understand the prophecy and plan an alliance. Meanwhile, Konoha and Iwagakure’s forces tracked the Sha of Anger to an eerily empty Kusagakure.

• The Sage of Six Paths judged the Evil Spirit’s release a growing threat and decided to let Asura reincarnate early in a suitable child.
• Jiraiya discussed the Great Toad Sage’s warnings with Sage Fukasaku and Shima, who agreed that the Five Great Nations should unite against the disaster.
• Jiraiya proposed persuading Mist Village to join the effort first, despite the recent bloodshed between it and Konoha.
• Jiraiya wondered whether the Child of Prophecy was already in Konoha, but Sage Fukasaku and Shima could not explain the Great Sage’s hint.
• Konoha and Iwagakure’s elite forces followed the Sha of Anger to Kusagakure and found its streets empty, with meals and household tasks left unfinished and almost no signs of battle.

Araki trained his subordinates while pursuing mastery of Rain Cutter Technique, studying Dark Release, and developing Sage Breathing. Kana showed him that she had learned Mystical Palm Technique, prompting him to consider restarting a long-delayed surgery.

• Araki trained Mist Village ninjas to use Water Breathing by slashing at waves along the coast.
• Araki enlisted Sasori and a Nara Clan puppet to practice Rain Cutter Technique against Shadow Possession Technique.
• Araki offered Xiedou Miesheng a chance to rebuild the Xiedou Clan in exchange for explaining the principles of Dark Release.
• Araki's Shadow Clones practicing Sage Breathing suffered dangerous transformations and petrification, forcing him to destroy them and exhaust much of his chakra.
• Kana demonstrated her Mystical Palm Technique to Araki, who stopped her from cutting herself and told her to practice on a fish.
• Araki recognized Kana's medical skill and considered restarting a surgery that had been delayed for lack of reliable medical ninjas.

Araki prepared to transplant the Byakugan into Kaguya Black Bone, believing it could help control his Kekkei Disease and unlock new abilities. Black Bone eagerly agreed, while his grandfather Kaguya Steel Bone suggested the transplant could usher in a new era for the Kaguya Clan.

• Kana demonstrated her healing skill by repeatedly injuring and treating a fish, and Araki praised her before assigning her to help with an operation the next day.
• Kaguya Black Bone showed Araki how quickly he had advanced in Breathing Technique training by punching apart a reef.
• Araki offered to transplant the Byakugan into Kaguya Black Bone, explaining it could free him from the burden of Kekkei Disease and might grant him Hyuga abilities.
• Kaguya Black Bone agreed to the transplant and went to tell his grandfather, Kaguya Steel Bone.
• Kaguya Steel Bone told Black Bone that the Kaguya Clan's future depended on how he performed, leaving Black Bone confused.

Kaguya Black Bone received Byakugan in an eye transplant, triggering a powerful change in his body that combined the Byakugan with his Shikotsumyaku. After Black Bone demonstrated his new abilities at the training grounds, Araki proposed testing whether he could launch the bone forest at enemies.

• A lead surgeon implanted two Byakugan in Kaguya Black Bone, and the eyes connected themselves to his optic nerves.
• Black Bone's Shikotsumyaku erupted uncontrollably, but Karatachi Yagura and Araki restrained him with the Water Mirror Technique and Water Prison while Oyashiro En used the Ketsuryūgan to calm him.
• At the Anbu training grounds, Black Bone sparred with Kaguya Steel Bone and showed that his Byakugan had improved his perception and close-combat ability.
• Black Bone used Dance of the Seedling Fern to create a vast bone forest, and Kaguya Steel Bone noted that he seemed free of the bloodline disease.
• Black Bone demonstrated Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm and described new chakra control and changes in his bones, prompting Araki to suggest launching the bone spears at enemies.

Black Zetsu and Sha of Anger reached Moryo’s seal and began negotiating his return, while Jiraiya brought the Great Toad Sage’s warning of an impending disaster to Konoha. As the villages weighed how to unite against the demons, Sunagakure’s worsening losses left Chiyo urging the Third Kazekage to recall Sasori.

• Black Zetsu and Sha of Anger infiltrated the tower in the Land of Demons and tore down the talismans guarding Moryo’s gateway.
• Moryo recognized the Box of Ultimate Bliss on Sha of Anger and suspected that Evil Spirit had sent them to deceive him, but Black Zetsu began trying to persuade him.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and warned Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen that the Great Toad Sage had prophesied the Shinobi World’s destruction; an intelligence report confirmed Kusagakure had vanished and Konoha and Iwagakure had suffered devastating losses.
• Jiraiya identified Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan, as the Child of Prophecy, and Orochimaru directed him to seek an alliance with Mist Village.
• In the Land of Rivers, Tsunade’s forces kept Sunagakure under heavy pressure, and Chiyo urged the Third Kazekage to call Sasori back.

Araki pushed Sun Breathing to the brink to awaken a Demon Slayer Mark, hoping to strengthen his body and increase his chakra capacity. After succeeding, he discovered his greatly enhanced strength and demonstrated it by sending a waterfall surging upward with a sword strike.

• Araki continued training at a waterfall in Kirigakure and decided to improve his physique to increase his chakra reserves.
• He recalled that awakening a Demon Slayer Mark required pushing his Breathing Technique beyond his body's limits, with a dangerously high heartbeat and temperature.
• Araki took nine consecutive breaths, enduring intense pain as his body grew red-hot and his heartbeat thundered.
• Flame-like marks appeared on both of Araki's cheeks, and a warm current began strengthening his bones and muscles with every breath.
• Araki tested his new power with a punch, then struck the waterfall with an ordinary longsword and sent its water bursting upward.

Araki watched Kirigakure’s ninja test their Breathing Technique training and identified how it disrupted their combat rhythm. He introduced Total Concentration: Constant Breathing with gourd-blowing exercises, then received a summons from the Mizukage.

• Yagura learned that Jiraiya and Fengzuan had arrived as envoys from Konoha and Sunagakure, and ordered that their letters be brought to him while they rested at an inn.
• Araki paired the ninja for sparring and noticed their fights relied on rigid, repeated bursts of strength rather than adaptable tactics.
• Hozuki Mangetsu described feeling restricted in combat, and Araki explained that the ninja over-relied on their breathing boosts and had gaps between breaths.
• Araki introduced Total Concentration: Constant Breathing and told the ninja to practice by blowing up tough gourds.
• Kaguya Black Bone celebrated the exercise while Luo Bing collapsed after learning that later gourds would be about half a person tall.
• An Anbu ninja arrived and told Araki that the Mizukage had summoned him.

Araki, Karatachi Yagura, and Hozuki Sengetsu examined Konoha’s request for an alliance and doubted the prophecy about threats to the Shinobi World. They decided Konoha had to prove the prophecy was genuine, and Jiraiya arrived to explain it.

• Araki read Konoha’s alliance request and the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy about world-ending monsters.
• Araki dismissed the Great Toad Sage’s earlier predictions as guesses or vague statements and questioned whether it could truly see the future.
• Araki and Hozuki Sengetsu agreed with Yagura that Konoha needed to provide evidence before Kirigakure believed the prophecy.
• Yagura summoned Jiraiya to explain the prophecy while Araki and Sengetsu joked about eating Mount Myōboku’s toads.
• Yagura said Kirigakure should treat Mount Myōboku as a potential enemy and account for its full strength.
• An Anbu shinobi announced that Jiraiya had arrived.

Jiraiya explained Mount Myōboku and Sage Mode to Araki and the Mist Village leaders while seeking support for an alliance against the world-ending threat. Araki obtained information about Sage Mode, and Jiraiya left believing he had made progress toward winning Kirigakure over.

• Araki noticed Jiraiya's severed fingers had healed and learned that a sage from Mount Myōboku had treated him.
• Araki questioned why Mount Myōboku had never chosen a Kirigakure shinobi, and Jiraiya explained that its toads avoided the sea and favored the Land of Fire.
• Jiraiya described Mount Myōboku's leaders and summoned toads, including the Great Toad Sage, Fukasaku, Shima, Iwayado Toad, and Gamabunta.
• Jiraiya explained that Sage Mode combined Natural Energy with chakra to create powerful Sage Chakra, and he offered to share knowledge after an alliance was formed.
• Araki learned the Sage Chakra mixing ratio, and Hozuki Sengetsu ended the discussion by asking Jiraiya to return to the inn while the Mist Village considered the information.

Araki used the Sage Mode principles he learned from Jiraiya to create Breathing of the Sage, giving Kirigakure a way to produce Sage Chakra through each breath. Karatachi Yagura then revealed Sunagakure’s proposal for reinforcements and a marriage alliance, leaving Araki and Hozuki Sengetsu eager to learn who was involved.

• After Jiraiya left, Hozuki Sengetsu suggested taking Sage Mode from him by force, but Araki clarified that he meant researching it themselves.
• Araki explained that he had learned the chakra-to-Natural-Energy ratio from Jiraiya and used a Shadow Clone to demonstrate Sage Mode.
• Araki combined Natural Energy absorption with the Breathing Technique and successfully created Sage Chakra, naming the method Breathing of the Sage.
• Karatachi Yagura agreed to keep Jiraiya around to ask about Mount Myōboku, demons, and the Six Paths, then told Araki that Sunagakure wanted reinforcements in exchange for Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Karatachi Yagura revealed that Sunagakure’s message also proposed a marriage alliance, prompting Araki and Hozuki Sengetsu to ask what kind.

Araki persuaded Kirigakure not to trade Sasori for a political marriage and instead arranged for Sasori to return to Sunagakure, expecting him to become disillusioned and come back. Sasori left after Kirigakure gave him a heartfelt farewell, but he admitted that he had begun to like the village.

• Araki read Sunagakure’s proposal to exchange Sasori for a Kirigakure ninja who would marry into Sunagakure, with Araki as its preferred candidate.
• Araki convinced Karatachi Yagura and Hozuki Sengetsu to wait for Sasori to become frustrated with Sunagakure rather than send another ninja in exchange.
• Araki told Sasori that Sunagakure wanted him back because of the war with Konoha, and Sasori agreed to return.
• Karatachi Yagura, Araki, and many Kirigakure ninja held a farewell banquet to honor and thank Sasori.
• Sasori told Araki that he had started to like Kirigakure, and Araki promised that he would always be welcome back.

Araki tested his strength against Tanjiro in the Consciousness Space and repeatedly overwhelmed him with Sage Mode and his golden sword. Tanjiro transformed into the Ghost King, but Araki cut through his attacks and engulfed him in a final slash.

• Araki summoned Tanjiro and defeated his Water Breathing attacks with superior strength and swordsmanship.
• Tanjiro transformed his Nichirin Sword and attacked with Sun Breathing, but Araki extended Yachiru and pierced Tanjiro and Nezuko's box.
• Nezuko emerged fully demonized and attacked Araki, who dodged her and kicked her back toward Tanjiro.
• Tanjiro became the Ghost King after Nezuko was hurt, and Araki severed his spinal whips with Slash Wave: Ring Cut.
• Tanjiro grew seventeen whip tubes and attacked from all directions, but Araki dodged and cut through them before reaching him.
• Araki unleashed a cascading golden sword strike that engulfed Tanjiro.

Araki defeated Demon King Tanjiro and Nezuko with his Infinite Moon sword technique, then absorbed their power and underwent a demon-fueled transformation that greatly strengthened his body and life force. As his transformation continued, he wondered whether Muzan Kibutsuji could possess every Blood Demon Art, including abilities that controlled space.

• Araki struck Tanjiro's head and destroyed his whip-like tubes, then cut off his toothed arm while kicking Nezuko away.
• Araki gathered Natural Energy and unleashed Slash Wave: Infinite Moon, shredding Tanjiro and Nezuko until they turned to ash.
• Golden feathers of light entered Araki, and a strange energy transformed his blood, bones, muscles, skin, and cells.
• Araki realized the transformation had given him abundant life energy and solved his weakness of having only an average amount of Chakra.
• While resting through the transformation, Araki wondered whether Muzan Kibutsuji could wield the Blood Demon Arts of demons such as Doma and Nakime.

After gaining the Ghost King Body, Araki tested his new demonic abilities and recreated several Blood Demon Arts, including one that could strengthen the Blood Blade Unit’s weapons. When Jiraiya pressed Kirigakure for an alliance against ancient monsters, Araki refused, leaving the Land of Water to handle its own affairs.

• Araki discovered his Demon Eyes, bone-spike abilities, and improved capacity for creating Shadow Clones.
• Araki recreated Blood Demon Arts based on Kokushibo, Nakime, and Rui, including a way to coat weapons in Demon Blood.
• Araki decided to transform the Blood Blade Unit so its members could strengthen ordinary swords with Demon Blood.
• An Anbu summoned Araki to the Mizukage’s office, where Jiraiya asked Kirigakure for a definite answer about an alliance.
• Araki told Jiraiya that Kirigakure refused to ally with Konoha, and Karatachi Yagura ordered Anbu to escort Jiraiya out.

After Jiraiya left Kirigakure, Araki revealed his newly awakened Kekkei Genkai, named it Demon Eye, and gave the Mizukage a vial of his blood for research. Karatachi Yagura promised to keep the research secure, until an urgent message arrived from the Land of Demons.

• Jiraiya left Kirigakure after failing to secure an alliance with the village.
• Araki told Karatachi Yagura and Hozuki Sengetsu that he had awakened an ocular Kekkei Genkai that enhanced his physical abilities and recovery.
• Araki demonstrated how quickly his wound healed and named his ability Demon Eye.
• Araki gave Karatachi Yagura a vial of his blood so the village hospital could study the Kekkei Genkai.
• Karatachi Yagura promised to restrict access to the research and keep its results confidential.
• A messenger delivered an urgent report from the Land of Demons.

Shrine Maiden Miroku learned that Moryo had escaped his seal early and asked the Five Great Nations for aid. Mist Village assigned Kisame Hoshigaki to protect her, and Araki gave him an eyeball that would let him observe the mission.

• Miroku sensed Moryo and two ominous figures, then ordered Taruho to request aid under the ancient oath with the Five Great Nations.
• Karatachi Yagura explained Mist Village’s obligation to help the Land of Demons and asked Araki and Hozuki Sengetsu to choose a team.
• Araki proposed Kisame Hoshigaki and Kaguya Black Bone, but Hozuki Sengetsu said Black Bone was being kept by the Kaguya Clan to improve their bloodline.
• Karatachi Yagura appointed Kisame captain and ordered him to choose two teammates for the mission.
• Araki told Kisame to protect Miroku by killing threats, and Kisame chose Kaguya Mangotsu and Kaguya Yingotsu.
• Araki removed his left eyeball, gave it to Kisame, and said it would let him watch the mission.

Araki created a powerful flesh clone named Alucard and sent him to the Land of Hot Water to investigate Jashin. In Yugakure, a mysterious cultist lured Hidan into an underground cave, while Alucard arrived on the coast and set out to find the village.

• Araki formed a flesh clone, named him Alucard, and gave him a new appearance so he could investigate Jashin without revealing Araki's identity.
• In Yugakure, Hidan threatened Izumi after hearing him insult him, and a jonin sent Hidan to the confinement room.
• During Hidan's three-day confinement, a mysterious voice repeatedly urged him to follow it and discover the meaning of life.
• After leaving confinement, Hidan met a robed figure bearing a red triangle-and-circle symbol, who led him to an underground cave and told him he would find what he desired inside.
• Alucard emerged from the sea along the Land of Hot Water's coast and went to look for Yugakure.