Arc 8Chapters 179–204
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Uzumaki Kuming's forces drove the Stone Ninjas from the Land of Birds after capturing the Four-Tails, but Kuming and his commanders disagreed over what to do with the beast. Two days later, the Third Hokage ordered Kuming to withdraw and send the Four-Tails to Orochimaru, while Team Minato received a mission to destroy the Kannabi Bridge and Kakashi was promoted to Jonin.
Orochimaru received the sealed Four-Tails from Uzumaki Kuming and prepared to attack the Stone Ninja to support Minato Squad’s mission. Meanwhile, Kuming withdrew his forces from the Land of Wind to reinforce Jiraiya’s front, and Minato Squad received an order to rescue a Konoha unit before destroying Kannabi Bridge.
After Orochimaru received the sealed Four-Tails, he read a secret message from Uzumaki Kuming and prepared to attack the Stone Ninja. Meanwhile, Kuming withdrew his forces from the Land of Wind, and Minato’s team received a new order to rescue a Konoha squad instead of destroying Kannabi Bridge.
Minato split his team and assigned Kakashi, Obito, and Rin to destroy Kannabi Bridge while he went to aid a trapped Konoha squad. After Minato left them to proceed alone, Stone Ninja captured Rin, and Kakashi insisted that he and Obito continue the mission.
Obito rejected Kakashi’s decision to continue the mission without Rin and went alone to rescue her, but Kakashi changed his mind and followed. As Kakashi and Obito confronted the Stone Ninja outside Rin’s cave, Kakashi was wounded protecting Obito, and Uzumaki Kuming appeared from the scroll Kakashi had thrown.
Uzumaki Kuming arrived in time to stop the Stone Ninja from killing Rin, while Obito awakened his two-tomoe Sharingan and fought to protect his teammates. Kuming rescued Rin and killed both Stone Ninja, leaving Kakashi and Obito stunned by his strength.
Uzumaki Kuming protected Kakashi, Rin, and Obito from a Stone Ninja unit, killing nearly fifty attackers and capturing their leader. After the battle, Rin transplanted the captured leader’s eye into Kakashi, and Kuming led the group away from the battlefield.
Key Plot Points and Events
Character Developments
Significant Themes
Character Interactions
Uzumaki Kuming protected Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, then returned to Konoha’s Surprise Attack Force as it withdrew from the Land of Earth. After learning that scouts had encountered the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, he led twenty Jonin to intercept them in the Land of Fire.
Uchiha Fugaku led Ebisu, Gekko Hayate, and Might Guy on a mission when they found slain Konoha ninja and were ambushed by Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Fugaku freed his squad from a trap, but the seven enemies confronted them as the chapter ended.
Uchiha Fugaku and Might Duy joined forces against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist while trying to protect their young teammates. After Duy rescued the children and sent them away, he opened the Sixth Gate to fight alongside Fugaku.
Might Duy and Uchiha Fugaku fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and Duy killed Munashi Jinpachi before the enemy split them apart. As Fugaku was surrounded and Duy was trapped by the others, Duy opened the Seventh and Eighth Gates, while Uzumaki Kuming sensed his Chakra and rushed toward the battlefield.
Might Duy sacrificed himself to defeat the Mist Ninja threatening Uchiha Fugaku, and died in Fugaku’s arms. Duy’s death awakened Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, while Uzumaki Kuming arrived too late to save him.
After Might Duy died fighting the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Uzumaki Kuming returned to Konoha with Uchiha Fugaku and arranged for Guy to live with him. The Hokage summoned Kuming to report, while Guy remained at home with his father's body and funeral arrangements underway.
Uzumaki Kuming returned to Konoha and reported that Might Duy and Uchiha Fugaku had defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, with Duy dying in the battle. Kuming demanded that Duy's son Guy receive four of the recovered blades and Fugaku receive Thunder Blade: Fang, and Hiruzen accepted after Kuming overwhelmed the office with his Chakra.
Kuming met with Hiruzen after Homura and Koharu left, explained his limited control over the Nine-Tails, and promised to join the front lines after Dai’s burial. At Dai’s memorial, Kuming gave Guy four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s blades and encouraged him to surpass his father.
After waking in Konoha Hospital, Uchiha Fugaku learned that Might Duy had died and visited Duy’s son, Guy, to apologize. Fugaku then revealed to Uzumaki Kuming that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and Kuming gave him the Thunder Blade Fang before they prepared to leave Konoha.
At Might Duy’s funeral, Uzumaki Kuming offered Uchiha Shisui a chance to become his student and agreed to train Uchiha Itachi when he turned four. Hiruzen Sarutobi then told Kuming that Ōnoki had demanded he represent Konoha in peace talks, and Kuming agreed to go despite suspecting a Stone Ninja conspiracy.
Uzumaki Kuming led Uchiha Fugaku and ten elite Uchiha toward the Land of Rain, but Ōnoki ambushed them with a large Stone Ninja force. As Fugaku tried to lead the Uchiha to safety, stone hands trapped Kuming while Ōnoki prepared Dust Release.
Uzumaki Kuming fought Ōnoki and the Stone Ninja, struggling against the Tsuchikage’s Dust Release, earth techniques, and tactical feints. Badly injured and weighed down by Ōnoki’s technique, Kuming launched his Adamantine Sealing Chains at the approaching Tsuchikage as the battle continued.
Uzumaki Kuming escaped Ōnoki’s trap and joined Fugaku’s group, but the Tsuchikage’s technique left him slowed as they fled through the Land of Rain. Fugaku used his new Mangekyō Sharingan ability, Wakahirume-no-Mikoto, to remove the effect, and the group continued their escape.
Uzumaki Kuming and the Uchiha escaped the Stone Ninja, while Ōnoki ordered his forces to retreat through the Land of Birds. At dawn, Kuming encountered Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, founders of the Akatsuki, and entered a town with them under disguise.
Uzumaki Kuming and Uchiha Fugaku learned that Yahiko and Akatsuki were traveling to meet Hanzo of the Salamander, whom Kuming warned intended to kill them. Kuming joined their journey to General Mountain, while Orochimaru investigated a battle inside the Land of Fire and searched for Kuming's group.
Akatsuki gathered at General Mountain expecting to meet Hanzo of the Salamander, while Uzumaki Kuming sensed an ambush approaching. Hanzo arrived with a large force of Rain Ninja, and Yahiko realized the meeting was not peaceful.
Hanzo of the Salamander trapped Akatsuki, captured Konan, and forced Nagato to choose between killing Yahiko and letting her die. Just as Yahiko prepared to sacrifice himself, Uzumaki Kuming revealed his disguise and confronted Shimura Danzō.