Chapter Summaries

Taiichi warned the Nine-Tails that the Akatsuki might be seeking to restore the Ten-Tails, prompting the fox to reveal his name and explain Kurama Mode. Later, Konoha considered protecting Takigakure’s Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, and Hiruzen volunteered for the mission as Taiichi offered to recruit Tsunade; the chapter ended as Minato read new intelligence and grew grim.

• Taiichi warned the Nine-Tails that the Akatsuki might be collecting tailed beasts to restore the Ten-Tails, and the fox revealed that his name was Kurama and explained the requirements for Kurama Mode.
• Taiichi told Minato about Kurama Mode, but Minato joked about its name before saying he would also pursue Sage Mode.
• Minato summoned Taiichi and Hiruzen Sarutobi to discuss Takigakure’s request for Konoha shinobi to protect its Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Taiichi assessed the Akatsuki’s known members, and Hiruzen volunteered to take the mission while Taiichi offered to persuade Tsunade to accompany him.
• Kawata arrived with new intelligence, and Minato’s expression darkened as he read it.

After the Akatsuki stole the Three-Tails’ sealed object, Minato sent Taiichi to recruit Tsunade for Konoha’s mission to protect Takigakure’s Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. Kakuzu and Hiruko attacked Fu’s canyon, and the remaining Waterfall Village guards drank Hero Water as the battle escalated.

• Minato told the Third Hokage and Taiichi that the Three-Tails’ sealed object had disappeared, then sent Taiichi to ask Tsunade to join the mission to Takigakure.
• Taiichi interrupted Tsunade and Orochimaru’s drinks, persuaded Tsunade to go, and gave her a Special Kunai linked to his Flying Thunder God technique.
• The Third Hokage and Tsunade prepared to depart for Takigakure while Taiichi realized Minato had expected him to give Tsunade the kunai.
• Zetsu reported that Fu was guarded by eight Waterfall Village ninja, and Kakuzu and Hiruko headed for her canyon.
• Hiruko killed the sentry and three more guards, prompting the remaining Waterfall Village ninja to drink Hero Water and unleash powerful chakra.

Hiruko and Kakuzu defeated the Takigakure guards and reached Fu, who persuaded the Seven-Tails to cooperate and take control of her body. The transformed Seven-Tails fought back fiercely, injuring Hiruko and battling Kakuzu as the fight continued.

• Hiruko used Swift Release and Storm Release to kill the five Takigakure ninja while Kakuzu urged him to hurry and capture Fu.
• Fu entered her mental space, met the Seven-Tails in a field of flowers, and asked it to help her fight the attackers.
• Fu offered the Seven-Tails control of her body, and it accepted, transforming her into the complete Seven-Tails.
• Kakuzu and Hiruko reached the canyon center and faced the transformed Seven-Tails, which attacked them with wind, scales, and an Air Bullet.
• The Seven-Tails severed Hiruko's left arm, and Kakuzu summoned his masked monsters and fought back with elemental techniques.
• Kakuzu distracted the Seven-Tails while Hiruko recovered, and the Seven-Tails charged at Kakuzu's earth-nature mask, cutting through its earthen wall with its horn.

Kakuzu and Hiruko captured Fu after defeating her Seven-Tails form, while Takigakure’s leaders refused to send help. When Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade arrived as Konoha reinforcements, they learned the Jinchuriki had already been taken and set out in pursuit.

• The Seven-Tails destroyed Kakuzu’s earth- and fire-attribute masked monsters before a lightning trap crippled him and water and lightning attacks subdued him.
• Kakuzu sealed Fu, reattached Hiruko’s severed hand, and withdrew with her after the fight left Kakuzu missing three hearts.
• Takigakure’s chief and elders refused to investigate or send aid, arguing that doing so would endanger the village and its secrets.
• A messenger reported that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade had arrived, prompting the leaders to ask them to recover the captured Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade questioned the leaders about the attack, then prepared to pursue Akatsuki with the Jonin Suien as their guide.
• After leaving the reception hall, Hiruzen Sarutobi sensed someone watching from a nearby shadow, but found no one there.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Suien pursued Kakuzu and Hiruko after they captured the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, while Zetsu helped the Akatsuki escape and arranged reinforcements. Tsunade tracked the fugitives with Sage Mode, and after Kakuzu wounded Suien and lost a heart to Tsunade’s punch, the pursuit ended with the three Konoha ninja caught in a new ambush.

• Tsunade identified Kakuzu and Hiruko as the Akatsuki attackers, and Hiruzen Sarutobi led the pursuit north.
• Zetsu warned Kakuzu and Hiruko that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade were chasing them, then tried to erase their trail as they fled with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Tsunade used Sage Mode and Life Detection to track Kakuzu and Hiruko despite Zetsu’s efforts, while Zetsu reported their situation and requested reinforcements.
• Kakuzu stayed behind to delay the pursuers, attacked them with Wind Release, wounded Suien, and lost one of his lives when Tsunade struck him with Chakra Enhanced Strength.
• Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Suien resumed chasing Kakuzu, who repeatedly attacked from a distance before fleeing until a fire dragon and water column struck at the three pursuers.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his companions fought the Akatsuki, but Obito’s Space-Time Ninjutsu turned the battle against them until Taiichi arrived. Taiichi confirmed Obito’s identity and drove him to flee with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, leaving Kakuzu and Hiruko behind to face him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and his companions were surrounded by Obito, Suikazan Fuguki, Kakuzu, Hiruko, and Zetsu, and Hiruzen identified the masked leader as Obito Uchiha.
• The Akatsuki attacked, and Obito’s intangibility and surprise strikes shifted the battle in their favor; Suien was struck by Samehada and left motionless.
• Tsunade activated Taiichi’s Flying Thunder God Kunai, and Taiichi appeared to block Obito’s attack.
• Taiichi used Soul Sight to confirm Obito’s identity, and Obito removed his mask before attacking Taiichi.
• Taiichi countered Obito’s attacks and badly injured him, but Zetsu, Suikazan Fuguki, and Obito escaped with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Kakuzu and Hiruko were left behind, and Taiichi refused Hiruko’s implied surrender when he had no intelligence to offer.

Taichi killed Kakuzu and Hiruko after the Akatsuki retreated, then joined Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi in pursuing Obito with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. The Akatsuki began sealing the Seven-Tails in the Land of Earth after Pain destroyed Taichi’s tracking mark, but Taichi still knew roughly where the mark had stopped.

• Taichi killed Kakuzu and Hiruko, then treated the badly injured Suien while Tsunade treated Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Taichi told Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade that he had placed a rough tracking mark on Obito, and the three followed its northward direction.
• Obito brought the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki and Suikazan Fuguki to Pain’s cave, where Pain questioned him about Kakuzu and Hiruko’s absence and Taichi’s mark.
• Pain found the damaged Flying Thunder God Mark on Obito’s back and cut away and destroyed the marked flesh.
• Pain summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and the Akatsuki began sealing the Seven-Tails.
• Taichi realized the mark had been destroyed, but told Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi that he knew roughly where it had stopped and urged them to hurry.

Taiichi and his companions found Akatsuki hiding in a cave near the summit, where Pain fought Taiichi while the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki lay dying. Taiichi defeated Pain and, with Tsunade, saved the girl, though what to do next remained uncertain.

• After Tsunade suggested Akatsuki might be hiding above ground, Taiichi used Soul Vision to find their chakra near the mountain summit.
• Pain transformed an unconscious Rock Ninja into a new body, dismissed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and stayed behind as the other Akatsuki members left.
• Taiichi, Tsunade, and Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the cave and found the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki apparently lifeless as Pain invited Taiichi to join his plan.
• Pain pinned Taiichi’s Shadow Clone to the rock wall, but Taiichi revealed the deception, wounded Zetsu, and defeated Pain’s Rock Ninja body.
• Tsunade treated the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki while Taiichi used the Dyad Seal to stabilize her life, leaving her survival secured but her future unresolved.

Taiichi, Tsunade, and Hiruzen treated Fu after Akatsuki extracted the Seven-Tails, then returned her to Takigakure as its elders argued over the mission. At Akatsuki's meeting, Pain ordered members to prioritize surviving encounters with Taiichi, recruited a Byakugan scout, and assigned Obito to capture the Six-Tails.

• Taiichi examined the cave's traces and concluded Akatsuki had summoned a massive object to extract and seal the Seven-Tails.
• Fu awoke, learned the Seven-Tails had been taken, and thanked the Konoha ninja who had saved her.
• At Takigakure, the elders blamed one another and Fu for the village's losses while Suien listened and began to feel ambition take root.
• Pain addressed Akatsuki's losses, ordered members to prioritize survival if they encountered Taiichi, and approved Zetsu's proposal to recruit a former Moon Otsutsuki Clan elder with a Byakugan.
• Pain assigned the new recruit to search the Land of Wind for the One-Tail and sent Obito to capture Kirigakure's Six-Tails.
• After the meeting, Konan asked whether Pain would hold Obito accountable, and Pain said Obito's identity made him easier to deal with than the real Madara Uchiha.

After returning Fu to Takigakure, Taiichi and Tsunade saw its leaders reject her once they learned the Seven-Tails had been extracted, so Taiichi took her to Konoha. There, Minato, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Taiichi discussed warning other villages and seeking cooperation against the Akatsuki.

• Fu grew quiet when the group entered the Land of Waterfalls, and Tsunade noticed her change in mood.
• Kui Mu and Takigakure's elders welcomed the Konoha ninja, then turned against Fu after Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that the Seven-Tails had been extracted.
• The Fourth Elder grabbed Fu and threw her aside, so Tsunade comforted her and Taiichi rebuked Takigakure's leaders.
• Taiichi said Fu needed his Sealing Jutsu to survive and took her to Konoha, where Tsunade became her guardian.
• Minato, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Taiichi agreed that Konoha should share information about the Akatsuki and considered warning the Mist Village and proposing a Five Kage Summit.

The Mist Village lost its Six-Tails Jinchuriki to the Akatsuki, while Kakashi trained with Taiichi to become strong enough to face Obito. Taiichi neared a Six Paths-level breakthrough, briefly creating a disturbance that caught Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s attention, but Hagoromo could not locate its source.

• The Mist Village learned that the Akatsuki had captured its Six-Tails Jinchuriki, but the other villages refused to join a Five Kage Summit, leaving it unable to respond.
• Konoha and the Hyuga Clan classified the missing Yuto Hyuga as a rogue ninja and ordered the Anbu to search for him.
• Kakashi trained with Taiichi, endured five minutes of Lightning Release Chakra Mode combat, and vowed to keep growing stronger so he could bring Obito back.
• Taiichi encouraged Kakashi’s progress in Senjutsu while teasing him about how long it had taken him to learn its basics.
• Taiichi’s Fire Nature Transformation training briefly burned a fissure in space, releasing power that reached the Six Paths Level.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki sensed the unfamiliar power, scanned the Ninja World with his Six Paths Staff, and failed to identify its source.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s world-spanning scout disturbed the sages and alerted Jigen, who decided to recruit subordinates and search for vessels. In Konoha, Taiichi’s training caused a disturbance that drew Kakashi and the Anbu, and the chapter ended with Guy joining Taiichi and Kakashi for barbecue.

• The Great Toad Sage, the White Snake Sage, and the Katsuyu Sage awoke or stirred when Hagoromo Otsutsuki scouted the Ninja World, and the White Snake Sage ordered Ichikishimahime to monitor events.
• Jigen recognized Hagoromo’s scouting and decided to recruit subordinates to find suitable vessels, while vowing revenge against Kaguya.
• Taiichi sensed an unexplained feeling of being watched, and Kakashi rushed to his side after detecting a surge of Chakra, only to find him unharmed.
• Taiichi explained the disturbance to Kakashi and the Anbu, who had come at Minato’s request to ask whether an enemy had appeared.
• Taiichi made Kakashi pay for dinner at Konoha Q’s Barbecue Restaurant, and Guy accepted their invitation after his stomach growled.

Taiichi and Orochimaru linked strange reactions from the Three Great Sage Regions to a powerful surveillance across the Ninja World, and Minato agreed to consider Orochimaru’s request to research Impure World Reincarnation. Meanwhile, Black Zetsu found the hidden One-Tail, Shukaku, in the Vast Sea Great Desert.

• Taiichi and Orochimaru connected the White Snake Sage’s inquiry and the Great Katsuyu Sage’s sudden awakening to the surveillance Taiichi had sensed.
• Taiichi and Orochimaru reported their findings to Minato, who summoned Sage Fukasaku, but Fukasaku could not confirm what the Great Toad Sage had sensed.
• Fukasaku hinted that powerful beings beyond the Three Holy Lands might exist among the dead, prompting Orochimaru to request permission to research Impure World Reincarnation.
• Minato supported Orochimaru’s research in principle and told Taiichi to keep the surveillance report between them.
• Taiichi went to work at Konoha Hospital, reflecting that his sixth sense had detected a ninjutsu cast by the Sage of Six Paths.
• White Zetsu found Shukaku hidden beneath the desert, but Black Zetsu took control and identified the One-Tail’s sealed, cat-sized form.

Akatsuki captured One-Tail after Hyuga Yuto rushed into battle and was killed, while Moryo, Blood Crow, and Zetsu worked together to defeat and seal the beast. The next day, Rasa and Sunagakure's scouts confirmed Akatsuki had captured One-Tail.

• Black Zetsu guided Moryo and Blood Crow to One-Tail's hiding place, and Yuto Hyuga joined them in the capture attempt.
• Yuto Hyuga charged Shukaku but was crushed by the beast's enormous paw.
• Moryo fought Shukaku while Zetsu restrained it with thorny vines, allowing Blood Crow to strike it with Evil God Style: Evil Light Cannon.
• The three Akatsuki members weakened Shukaku, sealed One-Tail in a scroll, and fled the battlefield.
• Rasa and Sunagakure's scouts examined the battlefield and confirmed that Akatsuki had captured One-Tail.

After the Akatsuki captured the One-Tail, the Fourth Raikage decided to visit Konoha and discuss protecting the Eight-Tails. At Taiichi’s home, Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi earned his approval to graduate early by defeating the Nine-Tails, though Taiichi had intended the fox to make their test harder.

• The Fourth Raikage grew angry when the other villages refused to help the Cloud Village and Konoha offered to shelter Killer B; he decided to travel to Konoha himself.
• Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi asked Taiichi to let them graduate early, arguing that school had nothing left to teach them.
• Taiichi set a test for the three students and chose the Nine-Tails as their opponent.
• The students coordinated their attacks, entered Sage Mode, and defeated the Nine-Tails.
• Taiichi agreed to their early graduation, then learned that the Nine-Tails had mistaken his signal to fight harder for a request to go easy.

Taiichi’s three students graduated as Genin, began a string of dull D-rank missions, and were left with a shadow clone when an Anbu summoned Taiichi. At the Hokage’s Office, Taiichi joined Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Fourth Raikage A to plan a trap for the Akatsuki using Killer B as bait.

• Taiichi’s three students passed Konoha’s assessment, received their Ninja IDs and headbands, and celebrated their graduation with Tsunade at Q’s Barbecue Restaurant.
• Taiichi invited Kakashi and Might Guy to join the celebration, where they entertained the new Genin with stories from their ninja careers.
• Taiichi led his squad through several mundane D-rank missions, and when an Anbu summoned him to the Hokage’s Office, he sent a shadow clone to keep the students working.
• Taiichi met Fourth Raikage A at the Hokage’s Office, where A proposed that Konoha and the Cloud Village cooperate to trap the Akatsuki.
• Minato Namikaze explained that he was Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki but could not serve as bait, so A agreed to use Killer B if Taiichi would try to save him should the Akatsuki extract his tailed beast.

Minato and the Raikage arranged to use Killer B’s journey to Konoha as bait for the Akatsuki, while Taiichi taught his students about the realities of ninja missions. A month later, the plan began, with Taiichi preparing to follow Killer B and intervene only after the Akatsuki took him to their base.

• Minato proposed that the Cloud Village let the Akatsuki learn Killer B was traveling to Konoha, giving them a chance to attack him on the way.
• Taiichi helped Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi care for a child, then taught them to take missions seriously and minimize casualties when choices became difficult.
• At the Akatsuki base, White Zetsu and Black Zetsu reported Killer B’s planned journey, and Obito decided the Akatsuki should attack him en route.
• Taiichi met with Fourth Raikage A, Killer B, and Mabui and confirmed that he would wait until the Akatsuki took Killer B away before intervening.
• Killer B left Kumogakure alone, and Taiichi prepared to send the Raikage updates every half hour as he followed him.

Taiichi followed Killer B as he served as bait, while Obito, Suikazan Fuguki, and Blood Crow ambushed and captured him. When Fourth Raikage A set out with a pursuit force, the Akatsuki attacked Kumogakure, forcing him to stay and defend the village.

• Taiichi tracked Killer B into the Land of Hot Water and reported that the Akatsuki had taken the bait.
• Obito, Suikazan Fuguki, and Blood Crow attacked Killer B, using Samehada and Blood Crow's curse technique to wear him down.
• Obito sealed the unconscious Killer B and took him, Suikazan Fuguki, and Blood Crow into the alternate dimension.
• Taiichi sent the capture intelligence to Kumogakure, where Fourth Raikage A prepared a twenty-one-man pursuit force.
• Four explosions and further attacks struck Kumogakure as Fourth Raikage A's team departed, so he abandoned the pursuit to defend the village.

Pain attacked Kumogakure while Akatsuki captured Killer B, and Moryo led the Ghost Legion against the Capital of Fire. Minato recalled Taiichi from the planned operation against Akatsuki and sent him to aid the capital, where its defenders struggled to hold Moryo back.

• Pain devastated Kumogakure with the Six Paths while Fourth Raikage A’s forces fought back, and Akatsuki captured Killer B.
• Taiichi reported Killer B’s capture to Minato, who ordered Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza to join the assault team in the Land of Hot Water.
• Minato learned that Moryo and the Ghost Legion were attacking the Capital of Fire, recalled Taiichi and Shikaku’s team, and discovered that Pain had also attacked Kumogakure.
• Moryo transformed into a fifty-meter monster and sent earthen puppets toward the Capital of Fire as the city raised its alarm.
• The capital’s soldiers and ninja intercepted Moryo, but their attacks barely slowed him, leaving its five jonin struggling to protect the city.

Taiichi reached the devastated Capital of Fire too late to stop the Akatsuki, then warned the Daimyo that the group threatened the secular governments and secured 300 million ryo for Konoha. Minato sent him to Kumogakure to coordinate after the failed operation, where Taiichi learned that the Cloud Village had also been attacked.

• Taiichi arrived at the Capital of Fire and learned that Moryo had withdrawn less than half an hour earlier.
• The Daimyo met Taiichi after an hour of waiting, and Taiichi explained the Akatsuki’s goals and obtained 300 million ryo in funding.
• The Daimyo ordered the Grand Minister to strengthen the Mansion’s own ninja forces.
• Taiichi returned to Konoha, reported the devastation, and agreed to visit Kumogakure at Minato’s request.
• Taiichi reached Kumogakure and met Dodai, who was surprised to hear that Konoha had also been attacked.