Recaps

After the Third Raikage disappeared, A decided Kumogakure must withdraw from the war while planning to avenge him with Killer B and possible Kirigakure assistance. At Konoha’s camp, Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya suspected a hidden hostile force had abducted the Raikage and possibly framed Minato.

• Kumogakure’s scouts reported that the Third Raikage’s trail had vanished, and A suspected Konoha and Namikaze Minato were responsible.
• A told Killer B that Kumogakure had lost the war and would withdraw, but vowed to avenge their father by killing Minato and Jiraiya.
• A proposed asking Araki and Kirigakure for a way to counter the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Killer B agreed to help.
• Namikaze Minato told Jiraiya that the Raikage’s disappearance bore signs of space-time ninjutsu and that their battle may have been watched.
• Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato considered that a concealed force hostile to Konoha or the Five Great Nations had abducted the Third Raikage and might be framing Minato.

Killer B asked Kirigakure to join Kumogakure’s plan to ambush Namikaze Minato, and Araki explained why countering the Flying Thunder God Technique would be difficult. After Killer B left, Araki asked En how his Ketsuryūgan had developed after receiving Araki’s blood.

• Araki met Killer B in Karatachi Yagura’s office and learned that A believed Namikaze Minato and Konoha shinobi were responsible for the Third Raikage’s disappearance.
• Killer B invited Kirigakure to join a small-scale ambush on Minato, while Yagura and Araki weighed the risk of Konoha discovering their involvement.
• Araki explained that Minato’s Flying Thunder God relied on marked coordinates and sensory abilities, making those abilities the likeliest target for a countermeasure.
• Killer B mentioned Kumogakure’s genjutsu, and Araki considered whether powerful genjutsu, Kirigakure’s Mirage, or the Ketsuryūgan could interfere with Minato’s sensing.
• Araki sent Killer B to rest while Kirigakure reviewed its options, then asked En how his Ketsuryūgan had developed after receiving Araki’s blood.

Oyashiro En demonstrated his Ketsuryūgan genjutsu to Araki and Karatachi Yagura as they considered how to ambush Namikaze Minato. Kana suggested the Uzumaki Clan's Yin-Sealing Formation might conceal them from sensory ninjutsu, and Araki went with her to test it.

• Oyashiro En showed Araki and Karatachi Yagura his Hell Valley genjutsu, which could alter perceived time and induce sleep with falling feathers.
• Araki and Karatachi Yagura discussed how the genjutsu might help them strike Namikaze Minato, while noting that his caution and skill would make him hard to catch off guard.
• Araki asked Kana whether Uzumaki Sealing Techniques could disrupt space or suppress sensory abilities, and she said she knew of no technique that affected space.
• Kana described the Yin-Sealing Formation, which hid those inside from external sensory ninjutsu while also blocking their view of the outside.
• Araki asked Kana to set up the formation in the neighboring room, and she left with him to prepare it for testing.

Araki and Karatachi Yagura planned to prolong the war by striking Konoha’s Northern Front and targeting Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya, while Obito struggled to defeat the Third Raikage in the Kamui Dimension. Black Zetsu spread rumors to turn Kumogakure against Nagato and his companions, and news that the Third Raikage was missing threatened to intensify the hostility.

• Kana caught Araki trying to leave while she inscribed the Yin-Sealing Formation, then let him wait next door.
• Araki and Karatachi Yagura discussed using the formation to trap Namikaze Minato and potentially kill Jiraiya, prolonging the war and drawing Hanzo into the conflict.
• Obito found that the starving Third Raikage was conserving chakra, but Obito still could not defeat him in combat.
• Black Zetsu spread rumors in Kumogakure that Nagato and his companions were Jiraiya’s Konoha-trained agents, leading villagers to treat them coldly.
• News reached Kumogakure that the Third Raikage had gone missing and was suspected of being killed by Konoha.

Black Zetsu manipulated Kumogakure veterans into kidnapping Yahiko and luring Nagato and Konan into an ambush, while Dodai sent Anbu to stop the pair from leaving the village. Nagato fought off the attackers, but Black Zetsu ended the chapter by forcing him to choose between Yahiko and Konan.

• Konan told Yahiko that people in Kumogakure had begun treating her with suspicion, and Yahiko offered to handle the grocery shopping himself.
• Black Zetsu, disguised as Kuradi, convinced Dimai and four other veterans to avenge the Third Raikage by targeting Jiraiya’s disciples.
• The veterans kidnapped Yahiko and sent Nagato and Konan a threat demanding that they come to Sharp Rock Mountain.
• Dodai learned that Nagato and Konan were heading toward the village outskirts and ordered elite Anbu to intercept them.
• At Sharp Rock Mountain, Nagato absorbed the Lightning Binding Formation and repelled the veterans’ attacks, while Konan helped him resist their assault.
• Black Zetsu threatened Yahiko and ordered Nagato to kill Konan if he wanted Yahiko spared.

Araki and the Kirigakure shinobi developed a layered sealing plan to counter Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique and prepared to lure him to an ambush. Minato accepted A's invitation to investigate the Third Raikage's disappearance, unaware that the trap was ready.

• Araki tested Kana's Yin-Sealing Formation and found that combining it with a Contract Seal could block his Lightning Stiletto-based teleportation.
• Kana proposed using the Four Red Yang Formation to prevent Minato from escaping or destroying the other seals, and Utakata proved able to maintain it for half an hour.
• Araki, Kana, Utakata, and the other participants began preparing to hunt Namikaze Minato at an ambush site near the northeastern border of the Land of Fire.
• Killer B told A that Araki's group had reached the ambush site, and A wrote Minato a letter asking him to help search for the Third Raikage.
• Jiraiya warned Minato that a hidden organization might be framing Konoha and urged him to protect the Cloud Village shinobi, but Minato agreed to go, confident in his Flying Thunder God Technique.

Namikaze Minato went with A and Killer B to investigate supposed traces of the Third Raikage, only to be betrayed and trapped inside a Four Red Yang Formation. As A attacked him, Killer B was ordered to destroy Minato’s special kunai, while the disguised Mist ninja remained outside the barrier.

• A met Namikaze Minato alone and took him east with Killer B and the sensory ninja Shira, concealing their plan to ambush him.
• Killer B distracted Minato with his rap while the group traveled to a scorched depression he had prepared as a false trail.
• When A and Killer B landed beside Minato, Kana activated the hidden Yin-Sealing Contract Formation, and the four Mist ninja raised the Four Red Yang Formation around them.
• A and Killer B revealed their betrayal, and A declared that Kumogakure would attack Konoha after dealing with Minato.
• Minato’s attempt to escape failed, and he fought A inside the barrier using Flying Thunder God and Rasengan.
• A struck Minato with a modified Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop and ordered Killer B to pull Minato’s marked kunai from the barrier and destroy them.

Namikaze Minato was trapped in the [Four Red Yang Formation] while Araki used the battle to draw Konoha’s rescuers away and Cloud Village prepared a surprise attack. Jiraiya’s rescue party reached the basin but was caught in a second [Four Red Yang Formation], while Danzo ambushed Shisui to take his Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Killer B and A pulled Namikaze Minato’s Flying Thunder God Kunai from the ground, forcing him to rescue them and leaving him with few teleportation markers.
• Araki left a Flesh Clone maintaining the barrier and headed toward the Konoha camp, while Inoichi Yamanaka spotted Minato’s predicament and reported it to Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya sent a message to Cloud Village and left with an elite team to rescue Minato; Omoi ordered the Cloud Village army to attack after Jiraiya departed.
• Alucard told Shimura Danzō that Shisui Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and demanded that Danzo obtain it.
• As Cloud Village attacked, Danzo used the [Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal] to immobilize Shisui, blinded him, and knocked him unconscious.
• Jiraiya’s party followed Minato’s scent to the basin, where a [Contract Seal] caught Jiraiya and a second [Four Red Yang Formation] trapped the group.

Jiraiya and his two companions were trapped inside the Four Red Yang Formation by Araki, who attacked them with wind-driven sword strikes. Araki killed Inuzuka Usu, while Jiraiya and Aburame Shimura remained in danger.

• Jiraiya identified the barrier as the Four Red Yang Formation and explained that it required four anchors with chakra reserves comparable to the Five Kage.
• Aburame Shimura realized that at least eight powerful opponents were surrounding their group and Minato’s group.
• Araki appeared, mocked Jiraiya, and attacked the group with a storm of azure sword light.
• Jiraiya and Aburame Shimura retreated as Araki changed direction midair and pursued Inuzuka Usu.
• Inuzuka Usu transformed with Yemaru into a two-headed wolf and tried to flee, but Araki’s sword storm swept him away and killed him.

Araki badly wounded Inuzuka Usu and Yemaru, then fought Jiraiya inside the Four Red Yang Formation as Jiraiya tried to exploit the confined battlefield. Elsewhere, A recognized that Namikaze Minato was running low on chakra, while an unseen voice praised Shimura Danzō after he erased the traces of his attack on Uchiha Shisui.

• Araki struck Inuzuka Usu and Yemaru with a rapid sword attack, and Jiraiya rescued them by sinking them underground while Aburame Shimura recalled his fire-vulnerable insects.
• Jiraiya’s oil-enhanced Great Flame Bullet failed to stop Araki, who split the flames and cut through Jiraiya’s Needle Jizō before Jiraiya escaped underground with the wounded pair.
• Aburame Shimura took Inuzuka Usu and Yemaru to be treated while Jiraiya assessed Araki’s abilities and attacked him with Earth Flow River inside the Four Red Yang Formation.
• Kana urged A, Killer B, and Namikaze Minato to hurry after she spotted Konoha’s reinforcements, and A accused Minato of conserving chakra as his Flying Thunder God marks dwindled.
• In Shimura Danzō’s room, Danzō erased the traces of the curse seal he had used on Uchiha Shisui, then heard an unseen voice tell him, “Well done!”

Araki revealed his full power and killed Jiraiya and the other Konoha shinobi inside the Crimson Flame Barrier, then sent the battle’s information to Alucard. Meanwhile, Danzo used Shisui’s disappearance to provoke a clash with the Uchiha, and Alucard approached the defenseless Inoichi Yamanaka to silence him.

• Alucard took Shisui and his Mangekyō Sharingan from Danzo while Cloud Village’s forces attacked Konoha’s camp.
• Araki revealed his wings and overwhelmed Jiraiya, killing him along with Aburame Shimura and the wounded Inuzuka Usu.
• Araki seized Inoichi Yamanaka’s hawk, traced its mental signal, and sent the information to Alucard.
• Uchiha shinobi accused Danzo over Shisui’s disappearance, and Danzo’s response led two Uchiha jonin to attack him.
• Alucard followed the signal to Inoichi’s room and placed his hand on the unconscious Yamanaka’s head.

Araki tightened the Four Red Yang Formation around Namikaze Minato while the AB Brothers fought him, blocking Minato’s attempt to escape with Flying Thunder God marks. Minato was eventually trapped by the brothers’ attacks in the shrinking barrier, with his defeat imminent.

• Araki returned after dealing with Jiraiya and the others and watched Namikaze Minato battle A and Killer B inside the barrier.
• Minato used the Five Elements Seal to suppress Killer B’s access to the Eight-Tails’ chakra and nearly struck him with a Rasengan, but A’s Hell Stab forced Minato to teleport away.
• Araki asked Kana to shrink the Four Red Yang Formation, and she calculated new positions for its four anchors.
• Minato tried to mark the barrier’s edge so he could escape when it shrank, but Araki placed Yin-Sealing Contract Formation scrolls inward and cut off Minato’s connection to those marks.
• As the barrier narrowed, A and Killer B spun with their arms extended and trapped Minato, leaving him unable to escape their attacks.

Araki explained why Kirigakure would let Kumogakure and Konoha weaken each other, then prepared to travel to Sunagakure with Black Bone. Meanwhile, Kumogakure captured Konoha’s northern fortress, prompting Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen to investigate the disappearances and mobilize reinforcements.

• Araki told Utakata and Kana that Kirigakure would avoid joining the fight and would instead strengthen Sunagakure to continue opposing Konoha.
• Black Bone begged to accompany Araki to Sunagakure, and Araki agreed, while Kana and Utakata were told to remain together in Kirigakure.
• A and Killer B returned as Kumogakure seized Konoha’s Northern Fortress, and Danzo retreated with two thousand battered troops after Konoha suffered heavy losses.
• Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen received news that Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya were missing, Uchiha Shisui had been abducted, and the northern front had fallen.
• Orochimaru suspected Kumogakure had allied with a hidden organization and ordered inquiries about ancient demons, reinforcements under Uzumaki Kushina, and expanded recruitment for Konoha.

After Yahiko sacrificed himself, Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and annihilated the Kumogakure pursuers, leaving Konan to flee with both him and Yahiko’s body. While the Evil Spirit tried to exploit Nagato’s grief, Nagato awakened and struck it with Shinra Tensei.

• Black Zetsu threatened Nagato with Yahiko’s life, and Yahiko slit his own throat to save Nagato and Konan.
• Yahiko died in Nagato’s arms, and Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, whose chakra dragon killed the kidnappers and arriving Kumogakure Anbu.
• The statue vanished after less than a minute, leaving Nagato frail and unconscious, so Konan carried him and Yahiko away toward the Land of Hot Water.
• The Evil Spirit sensed Nagato’s grief and followed Konan’s group, approaching their cave in Mui’s appearance and offering help.
• When Konan rejected the Evil Spirit and tried to leave, it attacked with the Heavenly Prison Fire Sword, but Nagato awakened and blasted it into a mountain wall with Shinra Tensei.

Obito Uchiha used genjutsu to send the Third Raikage back to Kumogakure and planned to approach Nagato and Konan. In the Land of Rice Fields, Nagato and Konan met Obito as he mourned Rin Nohara and offered him help.

• White Zetsu watched Nagato defeat Evil Spirit and said it was time to observe Obito's performance.
• The Third Raikage returned to Kumogakure, blamed Konoha for his fabricated ordeal, and ordered A and Killer B to keep up the pressure on Konoha.
• Obito and Black Zetsu discussed the Third Raikage's return and Obito's plan to approach Nagato and Konan.
• Konan encountered Obito carrying Rin Nohara's corpse and asked Nagato whether they should help him.
• Nagato and Konan approached Obito on a barren hill and introduced themselves as Akatsuki.

Araki and Kaguya Black Bone entered the Land of Rivers to investigate the fighting and sample its famous Life Curry. They found the country’s people living under the influence of Konoha and Sunagakure, and the chapter ended with Black Bone discovering that Granny Sansho’s curry was painfully spicy.

• Araki and Kaguya Black Bone crossed into the Land of Rivers and searched for traces of ninja fighting, but Black Bone found none with his Byakugan.
• Araki considered Mist Village’s opportunity to expand its influence in the Land of Rivers and led Black Bone toward the Life Curry House near Wood Sorrel Gold Mine.
• A miner directed Araki and Black Bone to Granny Sansho’s shop and warned them to ask for less chili pepper.
• Granny Sansho welcomed Araki and Black Bone, explained that the war had driven away customers, and spoke fondly of her grandson Karashi.
• Granny Sansho served the curry, and Araki realized they had forgotten to request less chili after Black Bone took a bite and screamed.

Araki and Kaguya Black Bone noticed Yamashiro Aotori tracking them and lured him into a trap. After defeating him and his crows, Araki ordered him to lead them to Konoha's camp.

• Araki and Black Bone met Yamashiro Aotori at Granny Sansho's curry house, where Araki posed as a traveling gourmet.
• After leaving the curry house, Araki had Black Bone use his Byakugan to find Yamashiro Aotori's chakra-bearing crow following them.
• Araki deliberately marked trees and rocks with suspicious symbols to convince Yamashiro Aotori that they were enemy scouts.
• Yamashiro Aotori pursued Araki and Black Bone, who waited for him and sprang their trap.
• Black Bone's Dance of the Seedling Fern pierced Yamashiro Aotori, while Araki killed the summoned crows and ordered him to take them to Konoha's camp.

Araki interrogated Yamashiro Aotori and learned that Hanzo of the Salamander had attacked Konoha, prompting medical ninja to return from the Land of Rivers. After assessing Konoha’s precarious position, Araki decided to preserve the balance of the war and return to Kirigakure without helping Sunagakure.

• Araki used genjutsu to make Yamashiro Aotori reveal his mission and report Hanzo of the Salamander’s attack on Konoha.
• Araki considered how Hanzo, Sunagakure’s poison users, and a possible Iwagakure intervention could push Konoha toward defeat, and decided not to hand Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato’s corpses to Sasori yet.
• Araki considered Konoha’s possible ways to survive, including prolonging the war and Orochimaru’s research into the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Araki had Black Bone observe the battle between Konoha and Sunagakure, then decided they would return to Kirigakure instead of helping Sunagakure.

Araki returned to Kirigakure and learned that the Third Raikage had reappeared, leaving Yagura convinced that Kumogakure had manipulated Mist Village. In Konoha, Orochimaru and Hiruzen learned from Gama Kosuke that Jiraiya and Minato’s contract names had faded, confirming their deaths.

• Araki returned to Kirigakure, where Yagura told him the Third Raikage had returned after Mist Village helped eliminate Jiraiya and Minato.
• Yagura suspected Kumogakure had tricked Mist Village and lamented the danger their actions had left Konoha in.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen that he believed the Third Raikage had faked his disappearance to catch Jiraiya off guard.
• Gama Kosuke arrived from Mount Myōboku and reported that Jiraiya and Minato’s names had faded from the contract scroll.
• Orochimaru learned that the Reverse Summoning Technique had failed and concluded that Jiraiya was dead.

Araki persuaded Karatachi Yagura to focus Kirigakure on development while Konoha and Cloud Village remained at war. They agreed to gather refugees, exploit resources in the Land of Rivers, and expand Kirigakure’s influence through sea exploration, with Araki assigned to lead the maritime effort.

• Araki argued that Konoha would blame Cloud Village for the war and could endure, easing Karatachi Yagura’s anger over the Third Raikage’s scheme.
• Araki and Karatachi Yagura agreed to settle incoming refugees around Kirigakure, integrate them into village life, and educate children at the Ninja Academy.
• Araki proposed using the Land of Tea as a base to secretly gather resources from the war-torn Land of Rivers.
• Araki urged Kirigakure to extend its influence across nearby neutral territories and explore unknown waters to train ninja, conceal forces, and search for resources.
• Karatachi Yagura assigned Sengetsu to handle the Land of Tea and Land of Rivers, gave Araki responsibility for sea exploration, and asked Aogiri to support him through the Ninja Academy.

Araki sent the Blood Blade Unit on a sea exercise to hunt pirates and deep-sea beasts while recording their routes. He assigned Hozuki Mangetsu a separate task: guide him to underwater mineral deposits so he could investigate the Land of Water’s marine resources.

• Mei Terumi provoked Zabuza by mocking him for falling behind Araki and Kaguya Black Bone, but Zabuza suppressed his anger and turned away.
• Araki addressed the Blood Blade Unit and explained that the field exercise would test their progress through hunting in the distant seas.
• Araki assigned the ninjas to three-person teams, and they boarded their ships and departed.
• Araki told Hozuki Mangetsu that he would not join the exercise because Araki had a separate assignment for him.
• Hozuki Mangetsu explained that the Hozuki Clan had found minerals thousands of meters below the sea, and Araki asked him to take him there.
• Mangetsu doubted Araki could withstand the deep-sea pressure without sheltering in a clam shell.

Kirigakure expanded its operations while Kumogakure committed more troops to the war, worsening Konoha’s position and weakening Orochimaru’s standing as acting Hokage. Seeking a victory over Amegakure’s Hanzo, Orochimaru followed Hiruko to his hidden laboratory, where Hiruko offered his plan to fuse multiple Kekkei Genkai.

• Hozuki Mangetsu set off with Araki to search for undersea minerals, while Hozuki Sengetsu oversaw Kirigakure’s resource seizure in the Land of Rivers and Kirigakure Anbu infiltrated nearby small nations.
• Obito sent three thousand more Kumogakure Ninja to the front, bringing Kumogakure’s deployed force to eight thousand despite Dodai’s objections.
• Orochimaru secured elite ninja from Konoha’s clans for the Northern and Western Fronts, then considered targeting Amegakure and defeating Hanzo to restore his standing.
• Hiruko visited Orochimaru and offered help, then led him to a hidden laboratory filled with animal experiments.
• Hiruko explained his plan to fuse multiple Kekkei Genkai, and Orochimaru asked to hear how far his earlier experiments had progressed.

Araki and Hozuki Mangetsu reached a rich mineral vein deep beneath the sea, where Araki endured crushing water pressure with his unusual immortality. After returning to the boat, Araki proposed using summoned clams to transport ore and demonstrated that he could cut the supposedly unbreakable mineral.

• Araki and Hozuki Mangetsu used clones to sail into unfamiliar waters, and Mangetsu located the mineral vein by tasting the seawater.
• Araki and Mangetsu descended with a summoned clam, which carried them thousands of meters to the seabed.
• Mangetsu found a vast metal vein and discovered that [Shibuki] could barely damage its surface.
• When Mangetsu opened the clam at the seabed, the pressure flattened Araki, but he survived and signaled Mangetsu to return to the surface.
• Araki suggested using summoned beasts to transport the ore and split a sample in two with his sword.

Araki urged Hozuki Mangetsu to develop Water Release techniques and use the Hozuki Clan’s ability to mine underwater resources to secure the clan’s place in Mist Village. Mangetsu struggled with the idea of becoming a miner, but Araki’s promise of a stronger future for the clan left him considering it.

• Hozuki Mangetsu tried to cut through ore with Exploding Blade Shibuki but only dented it, showing that even his strength was insufficient for mining.
• Araki asked about Mangetsu’s progress on a Water Release nature-transformed Rasengan and urged him to continue developing it.
• Mangetsu said his goals were to restore the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s prestige and revive the Hozuki Clan’s glory.
• Araki argued that the clan needed control of something vital to Mist Village, such as food or mineral resources, to prevent future leaders from suppressing it.
• Mangetsu realized Araki was trying to persuade him to mine underwater, and he agonized over whether to accept the opportunity for his clan.

Hozuki Mangetsu accepted Kirigakure’s chief mining captain post as the Water Country developed its mineral resources. After absorbing another Mangekyō Sharingan wielder’s soul power, Araki considered targeting the Great Tenseigan on the moon as a way to grow strong enough to devour the Shinigami.

• Hozuki Mangetsu accepted the post of Kirigakure’s chief mining captain and began researching the Hard Whirlpool Water Blade for mining.
• Over the next half year, the Land of Water raided islands for resources while four countries fought on land and the Land of Earth remained quiet.
• Black Zetsu delivered an unconscious Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingan aptitude to Alucard, who planned to extract Soul Crystal fragments from him.
• Black Zetsu warned Alucard that the Shrine Maiden’s accelerated pregnancy could end in less than a month, and Alucard decided to ask Moryo about it at the next monthly gathering.
• Araki absorbed another Soul Crystal fragment, judged his soul power still insufficient to challenge the Shinigami, and considered the moon’s Great Tenseigan as a future target.