Chapter Summaries

Uzumaki Kuming learned he had been appointed an Anbu squad leader and accepted a mission with Hatake Sakumo to investigate Sunagakure’s large-scale search operation. The team prepared to leave for Sunagakure, while Hiruzen Sarutobi tasked Shimura Danzō with finding out how Kuming knew about the Anbu.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed that Uzumaki Kuming had been appointed an Anbu squad leader and assigned him a mission with Hatake Sakumo.
• After hearing that Sunagakure had deployed a large force, Kuming suspected the operation was connected to the Third Kazekage’s disappearance and asked whether Sasori of the Red Sands remained in the village.
• Hatake Sakumo said Sasori was still in Sunagakure and had withdrawn from missions to research the Puppet Technique.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi introduced Aburame Shibi, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza as teammates, naming Hatake Sakumo the mission leader and Kuming his deputy.
• After Kuming and the others left to prepare, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Shimura Danzō to investigate how Kuming knew about the Anbu.
• Kuming returned home to prepare for the mission to Sunagakure.

Hatake Sakumo’s reconnaissance team entered the Land of Rivers while Pakura’s Sunagakure squad searched for the missing Third Kazekage. The two groups closed in on each other, and Uzumaki Kuming spotted more than twenty people approaching as his team filled their canteens.

• Hatake Sakumo ordered his team to hide their Konoha insignia and dress like ordinary civilians in the Land of Rivers.
• Pakura learned that her search party had found no trace of the Third Kazekage and ordered the search expanded.
• Pakura’s subordinates reported six suspicious shinobi near Turbulent Town, and she went to investigate them.
• Hatake Sakumo’s team stopped at a river to replenish their water before entering Turbulent Town.
• Uzumaki Kuming noticed a group of more than twenty people approaching from the woods.

Uzumaki Kuming and Hatake Sakumo's team were ambushed by Sunagakure shinobi while Aburame Shibi was poisoned. Ichikawa Zo attacked Hatake Sakumo to avenge his brother, and the chapter ended with Kuming and the others enveloped in poisonous yellow smoke.

• Aburame Shibi escaped across the river after being attacked and poisoned by Sunagakure shinobi.
• Nara Shikaku prepared to inject Shibi with an antidote, but Uzumaki Kuming urged them to let Shibi's Kikaichū adapt to the poison.
• Pakura arrived with more than twenty Sunagakure shinobi, and Ichikawa Zo declared that he would fight Hatake Sakumo to avenge his brother.
• Ichikawa Zo's Snake Puppet fired a barrage of senbon, which split apart and released yellow gas when Uzumaki Kuming shattered them with a purple lightning barrier.
• Ichikawa Zo laughed as the yellow smoke covered Kuming and the Konoha shinobi.

Uzumaki Kuming ambushed the Sunagakure forces but failed to kill their leader, Pakura, whose Scorch Release forced him to retreat. After creating Shadow Clones to mislead pursuit, he headed after Hatake Sakumo’s retreating squad.

• A Sunagakure sensory ninja detected the Konoha team hiding in the forest, but Uzumaki Kuming struck from above and killed him.
• Uzumaki Kuming used Ten-Step Kill to attack Pakura, but she dodged and a puppeteer pulled her clear of his lightning attack.
• Pakura’s Scorch Release scorched the ground and threatened Uzumaki Kuming, who escaped across the river and into the woods.
• Uzumaki Kuming decided to avoid fighting Pakura without backup, created Shadow Clones, and set off to rejoin Hatake Sakumo’s retreating squad.

Hatake Sakumo’s squad fought its way toward the Land of Wind while Sunagakure continued tracking them, and Nara Shikaku suspected poison was leading the pursuers to Aburame Shibi. Shibi confirmed the only way to break the trail was for Kuming to kill him, leaving Sakumo’s squad stunned.

• Uzumaki Kuming rejoined Hatake Sakumo’s squad after his explosive trap devastated Pakura’s pursuing force, and Pakura ordered reinforcements to continue the chase.
• Over four days of pursuit, Hatake Sakumo carried the unconscious Aburame Shibi while the squad fought off more Sunagakure scouts.
• Nara Shikaku observed that Sunagakure kept finding them despite sending weaker pursuers and suspected Shibi’s poisoned wound was being used to track the squad.
• Kuming proposed killing Shibi to end the tracking, and Shibi agreed, asking Kuming to tell his father not to grieve or hate.

Uzumaki Kuming staged an apparent execution of Aburame Shibi before Hatake Sakumo intervened, and the group continued into the Land of Wind. At the desert border, Sunagakure forces ambushed them, leaving Hatake Sakumo’s team surrounded by Rasa, Karura, Pakura, and Ichikawa Zo.

• Uzumaki Kuming raised his blade over Aburame Shibi, but Hatake Sakumo stopped him and carried Shibi onward with the team.
• Hatake Sakumo led the group across the Land of Wind border, where Rasa attacked with Gold Dust and briefly buried him.
• Uzumaki Kuming fired a Lightning Arrow at Rasa, but Karura blocked it with a Sand Wall as Hatake Sakumo emerged with only superficial injuries.
• Pakura and Ichikawa Zo appeared behind the Konoha team while Rasa and Karura approached from the desert, surrounding them.
• Rasa identified the group as surrounded and demanded that the Konoha shinobi drop their weapons and surrender.

Hatake Sakumo’s squad was ambushed by Rasa, Karura, Pakura, and Ichikawa Zo, but Uzumaki Kuming’s sudden attacks disrupted Sunagakure’s plan. Kuming turned his assault toward Pakura as Sakumo began fighting Rasa and Karura, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Hatake Sakumo ordered Yamanaka Inoichi and the others to retreat while he and Uzumaki Kuming held off the Sunagakure ninja.
• Uzumaki Kuming stabbed Ichikawa Zo, but the apparent victim was a puppet that counterattacked with Senbon.
• Kuming’s Shadow Clone vanished after Pakura dodged its strike, while his Lightning Release clones failed to harm Rasa and Karura.
• Kuming attacked Pakura through her Scorch Release heat, but Ichikawa Zo pulled her out of the way; the impact still badly injured her.
• Kuming unleashed lightning toward Pakura and Ichikawa Zo as Hatake Sakumo shoved Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi aside and attacked Rasa and Karura.

Hatake Sakumo tried to hold off Rasa and Karura while Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi escaped with the injured Aburame Shibi. Uzumaki Kuming trapped himself, Pakura, and Ichikawa Zo inside a Four Violet Flames Formation, while Hatake Sakumo’s attack failed to pierce Karura’s Gold Dust Armor.

• Hatake Sakumo charged Rasa and Karura while Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi carried the injured Aburame Shibi toward the forest.
• Rasa and Karura flew toward Uzumaki Kuming, who created four Shadow Clones and used them to form a Four Violet Flames Formation around himself, Pakura, Ichikawa Zo, and the others.
• Rasa failed to break through the barrier, and Hatake Sakumo explained that Uzumaki Kuming’s Chakra made it too powerful for Rasa and Karura to overwhelm.
• Hatake Sakumo attacked Rasa and Karura, but Rasa’s Gold Dust Armor protected Karura from his blade and repaired the mark it left.
• Hatake Sakumo realized his weapon could not pierce the Gold Dust Armor and was left at a loss.

Uzumaki Kuming trapped Pakura and Ichikawa Zo in a barrier and defeated them with Lightning Armor, but Ichikawa Zo sacrificed himself to protect Pakura. Kuming and Hatake Sakumo retreated from the battlefield, leaving Pakura alive and grieving.

• Uzumaki Kuming darkened the Four Violet Flames Formation and prepared to fight Pakura and Ichikawa Zo inside it.
• Uzumaki Kuming used Lightning Armor to destroy Ichikawa Zo's puppets and launch a high-speed attack, while Pakura tried to intercept him with Scorch Release.
• Uzumaki Kuming's attack pierced Ichikawa Zo, who shielded Pakura and injected her with a vial before dying.
• Ichikawa Zo's shattered snake puppet released poisonous smoke, and Pakura escaped into it as Kuming dispelled the barrier and fled into the forest.
• Rasa dispersed the poison and found Ichikawa Zo dead and Pakura badly injured, while Kuming rejoined Hatake Sakumo.
• Uzumaki Kuming and Hatake Sakumo withdrew from the battlefield as Pakura wept over Ichikawa Zo's body.

Kuming and Sakumo rejoined Shikaku’s group, but a renewed Sunagakure pursuit brought them face-to-face with Shukaku and a force of more than a hundred shinobi. The chapter ended with Chiyo appearing and declaring she would pay any price for revenge.

• Rasa and Karura stayed behind to stabilize the gravely injured Pakura instead of pursuing Kuming and Sakumo.
• Kuming and Sakumo reunited with Shikaku’s group at a forest campsite, where Sakumo revealed that Kuming had killed the puppet master and grievously wounded Pakura.
• Kuming sensed pursuing Sunagakure shinobi and led Sakumo to confront them while Shikaku carried the poisoned Shibi away with Inoichi.
• Kuming and Sakumo encountered Shukaku, whose growing form attacked them with sand bullets and a wind technique.
• Sakumo used Lightning Style to break free after Shukaku turned the ground into quicksand, while Rasa and Karura emerged from the forest.
• Chiyo arrived with more than a hundred Sunagakure shinobi and vowed to pay any price for revenge.

Kuming and Hatake Sakumo were surrounded by Sunagakure forces led by Chiyo, Rasa, and Karura. As Sakumo fought Chiyo’s puppets, Kuming tried to reach the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Baishi, but the battle shifted when dark clouds gathered overhead and Kuming prepared a sealed scroll.

• Chiyo confronted Hatake Sakumo over the deaths of her son and daughter-in-law, while Rasa attacked Kuming with Gold Dust.
• Sakumo charged Chiyo, who summoned Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets, and Karura helped block his attack.
• Kuming activated Lightning Armor, broke away from Rasa, and rushed toward Baishi to release Shukaku.
• Kuming struck Baishi and nearby Sunagakure ninja with lightning, but two puppets ambushed him before he could seize the Jinchuriki.
• Sunagakure ninja protected Baishi behind an Earth Style wall and attacked Kuming as dark clouds gathered overhead.
• Kuming spread out a scroll bearing the seal for “man” and declared that one strike would be enough.

Uzumaki Kuming used Sage Mode and lightning techniques to defeat Sunagakure’s shinobi and free Shukaku from Baishi’s seal. After Shukaku attacked him, Kuming decided to capture it and released the seal on the Heavenly Feather Blade.

• Uzumaki Kuming used Reverse Summoning to return a Shadow Clone carrying Senjutsu Chakra, then entered Sage Mode and survived the Sunagakure shinobi’s attacks.
• Uzumaki Kuming killed several shinobi, escaped Rasa’s Gold Dust, and struck Baishi’s earthen fort with lightning, causing Baishi to transform into Shukaku.
• Uzumaki Kuming’s lightning knocked Rasa unconscious, and Kuming killed more Sunagakure shinobi as Shukaku completed its transformation.
• Shukaku attacked Uzumaki Kuming and injured him, but Kuming dodged its next strike and released the Yin Seal to replenish his Chakra.
• Uzumaki Kuming decided to capture Shukaku and released the seal on the Heavenly Feather Blade, turning it into a spirit-particle state.

Uzumaki Kuming was badly wounded by Rasa's surprise attack and retreated after Rasa sealed Shukaku. Hatake Sakumo also escaped Chiyo and Karura's forces, leaving Sunagakure to regroup and mourn its dead.

• Uzumaki Kuming nearly struck Shukaku with the Heavenly Feather Blade, but Rasa pierced him with a Gold Dust Spear and knocked him from Shukaku's head.
• Rasa sealed Shukaku inside a Gold Dust pyramid while Kuming survived his chest wound and realized Rasa had escaped his earlier lightning strike.
• Kuming reduced his bleeding, resealed the Heavenly Feather Blade, and escaped Rasa's Gold Dust bullets with the Reverse Summoning Technique.
• Hatake Sakumo noticed the storm clouds fading and the chakra clash ending, then broke through the Sunagakure forces and retreated.
• Rasa joined Chiyo and Karura, and the Sunagakure ninja went to the battlefield where Rasa and Kuming had fought instead of pursuing Konoha's forces.

After Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, Danzō used the crisis and Uzumaki Kuming’s disappearance to demand Hiruzen step down and nominate Orochimaru as the Fourth Hokage. The meeting ended with Jiraiya revealing that Kuming was recovering at Mount Myoboku, undercutting Danzō’s plan.

• Hiruzen received reports that Sunagakure had attacked Hatake Sakumo’s squad and declared war on Konoha over the missing Third Kazekage.
• At the Jonin meeting, Danzō warned that the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning might exploit the crisis to attack Konoha.
• Danzō revealed that Uzumaki Kuming had gone missing and blamed Hiruzen, then demanded that he step down as Hokage.
• Danzō nominated Orochimaru to become the Fourth Hokage, and Orochimaru welcomed the proposal.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya told Orochimaru that Kuming was recovering at Mount Myoboku, news that threatened to derail Danzō’s plan.

As Sunagakure declared war, Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Konoha's leaders to prepare for multiple fronts. At Mount Myoboku, Uzumaki Kuming recovered from his wounds, decided to enter the conflict, and traveled to Turbulent Town to gather information.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi declared Konoha was entering a state of war and assigned Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Hatake Sakumo, and others to prepare for threats from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure.
• Shimura Danzō asked to serve under Orochimaru, and Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed him as an advisor in the Land of Rain.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi called Jiraiya to his office after the war council and asked about Uzumaki Kuming.
• Uzumaki Kuming trained with his blade at Mount Myoboku, reflected on his fight with Rasa, and decided to return and get involved in the war.
• Uzumaki Kuming concluded he needed to build influence in Konoha and traveled in disguise to Turbulent Town to gather information.

Uzumaki Jiuming drew Rasa and the Sunagakure ninja after him from Turbulent Town, then ambushed their squad in the mountains and escaped when reinforcements approached. Rasa realized Jiuming had been wary of the main force and ordered the Sunagakure ninja to pursue him.

• Uzumaki Jiuming sensed Rasa monitoring him in Turbulent Town, then left town before the Sunagakure ninja could surround him there.
• Rasa led more than ten Sunagakure ninja to intercept Jiuming in the mountains and ordered them to attack.
• Jiuming killed the squad in a single exchange, but Rasa blocked his sword thrust with a Gold Dust shield.
• Jiuming warned Rasa not to pursue him and fled into the forest as Karura and Granny Chiyo arrived with reinforcements.
• Rasa realized Jiuming had been bluffing about his confidence and ordered the Sunagakure ninja to chase after him.

Uzumaki Kuming was cornered by Granny Chiyo, Rasa, and hundreds of Sunagakure ninja after they trapped him with a Sealing Barrier. Poisoned during his charge at Chiyo, he released his Yin Seal and fired Lightning Arrows at her and the surrounding forces.

• Uzumaki Kuming fled through the woods while Sunagakure squads pursued him, then fought off Granny Chiyo's Chikamatsu Ten Puppets coated in Rasa's Gold Dust.
• Granny Chiyo and Rasa surrounded Uzumaki Kuming with hundreds of Sunagakure ninja and blocked his Reverse Summoning Technique with a Sealing Barrier.
• Uzumaki Kuming charged Granny Chiyo, cut off her right arm, and was struck by her poison mist.
• Uzumaki Kuming released his Yin Seal to counter the poison's effects and fired dozens of Lightning Arrows at Granny Chiyo and the Sunagakure ninja rushing to protect her.

Uzumaki Kuming attacked Elder Chiyo with Lightning Release, then wounded her in a close fight before Rasa trapped him inside a Gold Dust pyramid. The Sunagakure shinobi believed Kuming was sealed, but he used Shadow Clones to conceal himself inside a Four Violet Flames Formation and began gathering Natural Energy to escape.

• Uzumaki Kuming unleashed Lightning Arrows at Elder Chiyo, and Sunagakure shinobi sacrificed themselves to shield her.
• Kuming charged Chiyo, pierced her chest with Sharp Spear, and was struck down by her Puppets as Rasa's Gold Dust sealed him in a pyramid.
• Rasa sent the badly wounded Chiyo away for medical treatment while Karura asked whether Kuming had been killed.
• Inside the pyramid, Kuming hid behind a Four Violet Flames Formation formed by four Shadow Clones and prepared to enter Sage Mode.

Konoha's scouts discovered a mysterious Gold Dust pyramid, and Hatake Sakumo sent Minato Namikaze to investigate. Inside the pyramid, Uzumaki Kuming broke free of Rasa's seal and escaped toward Konoha, badly injured and poisoned, while Rasa and Karura pursued him.

• A Konoha scout reported a hollow golden structure in the Land of Rivers, and Hatake Sakumo ordered Minato Namikaze to investigate it.
• Uzumaki Kuming gathered enough Natural Energy to enter Sage Mode inside the Gold Dust pyramid.
• Rasa reinforced the pyramid's barrier, but Uzumaki Kuming struck through it with lightning and killed several Sunagakure ninja.
• Uzumaki Kuming shattered the pyramid and escaped toward Konoha, warning Rasa that he would repay him next time they met.
• Karura and Kamaitachi attacked Uzumaki Kuming with Wind Style, breaking his lightning armor and leaving him bloodied, but the wind sped his escape.
• Rasa ordered the Sunagakure ninja to pursue Uzumaki Kuming and kill him before he reached Konoha.

Uzumaki Kuming was carried toward Konoha after being poisoned, and Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God to take him to a front-line base for treatment. Sunagakure spread an exaggerated account of Kuming’s exploits, making him famous across the Shinobi World, while he remained critically ill in Konoha Hospital.

• The Messenger Toad warned Minato that Kuming had been poisoned and was being pursued by Sunagakure ninjas, so Minato sent his team to investigate the pyramid and teleported to Gamahiro.
• Kuming briefly woke and held Heavenly Feather Blade to Minato’s throat before recognizing him, then fell unconscious again.
• Minato wrapped Kuming in his robe and used the Flying Thunder God to take him away, while Gamahiro and the Messenger Toad returned to Mount Myoboku.
• Rasa ordered Sunagakure to publicize and exaggerate Kuming’s escape and battle, calling him the Thunderclap of Konoha.
• News of Kuming’s exploits spread across the Shinobi World, prompting other villages to investigate and Hiruzen Sarutobi to assign ANBU to protect him.
• Kuming remained gravely ill in Konoha Hospital, and Hiruzen urgently summoned Tsunade to return and treat him.