Recaps

Obito met with Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, defended his plans, and received intelligence on people who might be useful. In the Kamui Dimension, he spoke with the Box of Ultimate Bliss and said he expected Uchiha Kuro to become strong enough to face him in about five years.

• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu confronted Obito, and Black Zetsu criticized him for allowing Uchiha Kuro to grow stronger.
• Black Zetsu warned Obito to prioritize the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan and gave him a document containing intelligence gathered across the Ninja World.
• Obito invited the Zetsu to stay in Night City, but Black Zetsu refused and left with White Zetsu using the Mayfly Technique.
• Obito entered the Kamui Dimension and stood before Rin, Minato, and Kushina's preserved bodies, the Sharingan collection, and the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
• Obito told the Box that the plan was proceeding smoothly and that Uchiha Kuro would be ready to face him in about five years.

Kuro and Mei Terumi finalized plans to expand the Odd Jobs Agency after its success in the Land of Fire, but their secret investigation into the Moon Organization found no information. Kuro concluded that Obito did not trust him and looked forward to confronting him and avenging Minato and the Uchiha clan.

• Mei Terumi told Kuro that a thousand chunin and genin had joined the Odd Jobs Agency pilot program in the Land of Fire.
• Kuro and Mei Terumi completed plans to expand the agency into nearby smaller countries and prepare for later negotiations with other nations.
• Mei Terumi reported that neither Mist Village's intelligence network nor her family's contacts had found information about the Moon Organization.
• Kuro reassured Mei Terumi about the secret investigation, and she left his office with the expansion plan.
• After Mei Terumi left, Kuro watched the Mizukage Building and resolved to confront Obito, avenge Minato and the Uchiha clan, and face the real person he had once known.

Kuro expanded his organization by recruiting Hidden Star Village and the Tsuchigumo Clan, then renamed the Land of Rice Fields the Land of Rice while helping Mist Village flourish. After five years of growth, covert maneuvering, and intense training, Uchiha Kuro reached twenty-seven and became the strongest in the Ninja World.

• Kuro exposed the Mysterious Peacock Method’s life-shortening effects, subdued Akahoshi after he assassinated the Third Hoshikage, and recruited Hidden Star Village.
• Kuro used the same recruitment approach to incorporate the Tsuchigumo Clan, then named his organization Rice and renamed the Land of Rice Fields the Land of Rice.
• Kuro helped the Odd Jobs Agency succeed and secured foreign investment that fueled Mist Village’s rapid development, while keeping watch on Obito and searching for the Moon Organization.
• Raiga Kurosuki confirmed that Hiruko belonged to the Moon Organization, and Kuro intensified his training while sharing intelligence with Minato and occasionally advising Naruto and Sasuke.
• After five years, Kuro mastered a formidable array of techniques and abilities, including the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, the Seventh Gate, and Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode.

Five years after Mist Village transformed its economy, Kuro and Mei Terumi celebrated the first anniversary of Mist Village Logistics Company with their friends. The celebration turned to gossip when they revealed why Ringo Ameyuri had been recalled from Kumogakure: she had pursued twelve-year-old Killer B.

• Mist Village celebrated the first anniversary of its successful logistics company at a restaurant.
• Mei Terumi scolded Suigetsu for drinking as a minor, and Kuro agreed that he should set a good example.
• Suigetsu asked why Ringo Ameyuri had returned from Kumogakure after repeatedly applying to go back.
• Mei Terumi explained that Ringo had harassed a young man she liked, prompting Kumogakure to formally complain.
• Kuro revealed that Ringo had fallen for Killer B, the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, and Mei Terumi said he was only twelve.

At a Mist Village banquet, Kuro reassured Mei Terumi about the village’s future as Zabuza warned that the Land of Rice’s organization might be copying Mist Village’s reforms. Kuro reflected on his coming departure after learning that Akatsuki would begin capturing the tailed beasts early, alongside the planned Konoha Crush Plan.

• Mei Terumi drunkenly worried that other nations’ reforms might eventually threaten Mist Village’s advantage, and Kuro comforted her.
• Zabuza warned the group to watch the Land of Rice and its organization, which he thought operated much like Mist Village.
• Suigetsu dismissed the idea that the Rice Organization could rival Sora, while Zabuza insisted they remain vigilant.
• Kuro recalled learning at Akatsuki’s latest meeting that Rasa had hired Akatsuki to carry out the Konoha Crush Plan during the upcoming Chunin Exams.
• Kuro realized Akatsuki’s tailed-beast operation would begin ahead of schedule and resolved to prepare to confront Obito, knowing this might be his last gathering with Mist Village.

After seeing Mei Terumi home, Kuro learned that Akatsuki would send every member to attack Konoha during the Chunin Exams, while Obito planned to capture the Four-Tails and Five-Tails himself. Kuro reported the plan to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Minato, then declared that he would handle Akatsuki alone.

• Kuro helped the drunk Mei Terumi home, put her to bed, and left her house.
• Obito emerged from the shadows and told Kuro that every Akatsuki member would join the operation against Konoha in cooperation with Sand Village.
• Obito said he would personally capture the Four-Tails and Five-Tails while Akatsuki targeted tailed beasts in Konoha.
• Kuro used the Flying Thunder God to reach Konoha and told Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Minato about Akatsuki's plan.
• Kuro told Jiraiya to protect the Jinchuriki and declared that he alone would deal with Akatsuki.

As the Chunin Exams began, the Sand siblings encountered the mysterious force that had emptied Konoha’s main street: Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura approached, and Naruto recognized Kuro. Sakura also struggled with doubts about whether she was ready to become a chunin. The story left off as Kuro greeted Team 7.

• Konoha’s villagers abruptly fled the main street, leaving the visiting ninja behind.
• Kankuro and Temari wondered what had frightened the villagers, while Gaara became curious about the approaching person.
• Naruto and Sasuke argued about the written exam as they walked with Sakura toward the Chunin Exams.
• Sakura reflected on how little she had progressed compared with her teammates and questioned whether she was ready to become a chunin.
• Naruto spotted Kuro behind Sakura, greeted him excitedly, and Kuro waved to Team 7.

Kuro met Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in Konoha as Naruto prepared for the Chunin Exams. Their reunion was interrupted when Gaara appeared and identified Naruto and Sasuke as prey.

• Kuro greeted Naruto and Sasuke, and Naruto boasted that he would pass the Chunin Exams and become a Chunin.
• Sasuke teased Naruto about the written test, while Kuro encouraged Naruto and kept Minato and Kushina’s secret about the exam’s true focus.
• Sasuke questioned why Kuro was in Konoha without a disguise, and Kuro joked that his Kagami concealed his identity.
• Naruto and Sasuke sensed a threat and readied themselves as Sakura struggled to understand what was happening.
• Gaara appeared before the group, fixed his gaze on Naruto and Sasuke, and called them prey for his mother.

Kuro interrupted Gaara’s threatening encounter with Naruto and Sasuke, unnerving him until Temari calmed him down. As the group hurried toward the Chunin Exams, Naruto remembered he could use Flying Thunder God, while Sasuke renewed his resolve to kill Uchiha Itachi.

• Naruto and Sasuke sensed Gaara’s killing intent, but Kuro suddenly appeared beside Gaara and mistook his gourd for a product he was selling.
• Kuro placed a hand on Gaara’s shoulder, and Gaara grew terrified before lunging at him.
• Temari grabbed Gaara’s wrist and stopped his attack, after which Gaara left with Temari and Kankuro.
• Temari apologized and described Gaara as an excited genin, while Kuro played along with her explanation.
• Kuro told Naruto and Sasuke that Gaara’s situation was similar to Naruto’s, then disappeared as they prepared to reach the first exam.
• Naruto remembered he could teleport to the exam site with Flying Thunder God, and Sasuke vowed to kill Uchiha Itachi.

Kuro warned Fu to follow the plan and stay beside Naruto and Sasuke during the Chunin Ninja Exams, then joined Akatsuki in the forest outside Konoha. Pain outlined the coming assault on Konoha as Akatsuki’s opportunity to capture three Jinchuriki.

• Fu decided she would protect Naruto and Sasuke and become friends with them, but Kuro struck her head and warned her to follow the plan.
• Kuro told Fu to stay with Naruto and Sasuke during the third round and said Guren had prepared to protect her if chaos erupted.
• Kuro watched Fu leave for the first round, then vanished toward the forest outside Konoha.
• Deidara, Scorpion, Konan, Kakuzu, Hidan, Itachi, and Raiga Kurosuki waited in the forest until Pain returned and asked whether Kuro had arrived.
• Kuro reported that the One-Tail, Nine-Tails, and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki were all in Konoha for the exams.
• Pain said the Fourth Kazekage would join the plan, the Sand Village would attack Konoha during the third round, and Akatsuki would use the chaos to capture three Jinchuriki.

The Chunin Exams’ selection matches ended, with Naruto and Sasuke advancing to the finals and Gaara defeating Rock Lee after their brutal duel. After a month of separate training, the finalists gathered as the third-stage finals officially began.

• Naruto defeated Kiba in the selection match and advanced after humiliating him by teasing Akamaru.
• Gaara and Rock Lee fought a bloody match in which Lee opened the Fifth Gate, but Gaara was declared the winner after Lee collapsed unconscious.
• Naruto invited Sasuke to train with him, but Sasuke refused so they could prepare separately for their expected final showdown.
• After a month of solo training, Naruto and Sasuke arrived for the finals alongside the other competitors.
• Jiraiya and Rasa watched from the ceremonial platform as Hayate Gekko announced the start of the third-stage finals.

Fu reached the next round when Kankuro forfeited their match, leaving her disappointed and Sasuke exasperated by Naruto and Fu. Temari then entered the arena to face Shikamaru, while Rasa hinted to Jiraiya that the Sand Village had a surprise planned for the exams.

• Naruto and Fu teased Sasuke in the competitors' area, where he recalled Kuro asking him to look after Fu during the exams.
• Kankuro forfeited his match against Fu, making her the winner and leaving her disappointed that she did not get to fight.
• Naruto cheered Fu up by offering to tell her embarrassing stories about Sasuke's childhood.
• Rasa told Jiraiya that the Sand Village would give everyone a surprise during the exams.
• Temari prepared to fight Shikamaru and told Kankuro she was confident she would win.

Shikamaru surrendered to Temari after explaining that he had run out of chakra, while Rasa privately reaffirmed his plan to destroy Konoha. Naruto then began his match against Neji, as Kuro watched the arena and noted that Akatsuki's plan was close to starting.

• Shikamaru surrendered to Temari, and Hayate Gekko declared her the winner.
• Temari returned to Gaara and Kankuro, angry and uneasy about her father's plan, while Gaara eagerly watched Naruto and Sasuke.
• Hayate Gekko announced Naruto's match against Neji, disappointing Naruto when he learned Sasuke was not his opponent.
• Sasuke challenged Naruto not to lose, and Naruto vowed to win before leaping into the arena to face Neji.
• Kuro watched Naruto and Neji from the shadows and observed that only one match remained before Akatsuki's plan began.

Naruto faced Neji in the Chunin Exams arena as the Konoha crowd loudly urged Neji to defeat him. Neji attacked Naruto over his supposed mistreatment of Hinata, but Naruto evaded his techniques, and the fight continued with both opponents ready to engage.

• The Konoha crowd booed Naruto and cheered for Neji, while Hiashi and Hizashi worried about how the match would affect Neji.
• Neji accused Naruto of disrespecting him, but Naruto admitted he had been distracted and asked whether they had a grudge.
• Neji attacked Naruto with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, accusing him of toying with Lady Hinata's feelings.
• Naruto vanished from Neji's strikes and reappeared behind him, surprising Neji with his speed.
• Neji used Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, but Naruto escaped the chakra barrier with the Body Flicker Technique.
• Minato recognized Neji's technique, while Kushina scolded Naruto for not paying attention when his father had explained it before.

Naruto defeated Neji with the Rasengan, then misunderstood Neji’s attempt to reveal Hinata’s feelings as evidence that the Hyuga Clan was mistreating her. The chapter ended with Sasuke facing Gaara in the announced fourth match.

• Neji’s Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven failed to stop Naruto’s Rasengan, and Naruto defeated him.
• Neji admitted defeat, and Hayate Gekko announced Naruto as the winner of the third match.
• Neji tried to tell Naruto that Hinata liked him, but Hizashi Hyuga knocked him unconscious before he could finish.
• Naruto mistakenly concluded that Hinata was going hungry in the Hyuga Clan and vowed to save her, embarrassing Hinata and angering Hyuga Hiashi.
• Hayate Gekko announced Sasuke’s match against Gaara, and the two faced each other with hostility.

Sasuke dominated his Chunin Exams match against Gaara with lightning and fire techniques, then pierced Gaara with a Chidori Sharp Spear. Naruto warned Sasuke that something was wrong, and Sasuke saw Gaara undergo a strange transformation.

• Rasa anticipated the match between Sasuke and Gaara, while Gaara threatened Sasuke and attacked him with Sand Shower.
• Sasuke used his Sharingan and Chidori Senbon to neutralize the sand bullets, then struck Gaara's sand shield with Great Flame Dance.
• Sasuke used Swift Thunder to get past Gaara's defenses and punch him into a stone wall.
• Gaara unleashed a vast sea of sand, but Sasuke pierced his lower abdomen with a Chidori Sharp Spear before Gaara could attack.
• Naruto warned Sasuke not to lower his guard, and Sasuke saw Gaara undergo a drastic transformation.

Gaara transformed into the One-Tail Shukaku during the Chunin Exam, revealing Sand Village’s attack and prompting Konoha to evacuate the crowd. With Naruto and the others removed from the battlefield, Kuro watched as Jiraiya confronted Rasa and the real battle began.

• Gaara changed into Shukaku after Rasa ordered him to unleash the One-Tail’s power, while Jiraiya confronted Rasa about bringing a jinchuriki to Konoha.
• Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to move Sasuke and the other contestants to safety, then sent hundreds of Shadow Clones to evacuate the audience.
• Kuro told Naruto to carry out the plan Minato had given him, and Naruto left with Sasuke, Kaede, Shikamaru, and the others after asking Kuro to try to save Gaara.
• Jiraiya called on the audience to trust Naruto’s Shadow Clones, and the clones transported the spectators away from the collapsing arena.
• Jiraiya and the Anbu surrounded Rasa and his guards as Kuro watched one guard raise his head, signaling that the real confrontation was about to begin.

Rasa revealed that he had contracted Akatsuki, and Pain summoned the organization onto the viewing platform as Jiraiya confronted them. Pain set aside questions about the missing Kuro and ordered Akatsuki to capture the rampaging One-Tail.

• Jiraiya told Rasa that Sand Village’s attack had failed and urged him to reconsider, but Rasa insisted that Sand Village had not yet lost.
• Rasa called on Pain to fulfill their contract, and Animal Path revealed his Rinnegan before summoning Akatsuki onto the viewing platform.
• Jiraiya recognized Pain as Nagato, while Deidara and the other Akatsuki members wondered why Kuro was absent.
• Pain said Kuro might have pursued the Nine-Tails and Seven-Tails jinchuriki, then ordered Akatsuki to capture the One-Tail.

Akatsuki betrayed Rasa and moved to capture Shukaku, but Gaara returned to human form after an unknown Mangekyō power intervened. Pain revealed that Kuro had orchestrated the events, and the chapter ended with Akatsuki realizing he had deceived them.

• Hidan mocked Rasa for believing Akatsuki had come only to help the Sand Village, and Raiga Kurosuki restrained him when he tried to fight.
• Pain assigned Itachi to capture Shukaku, but Shukaku abruptly fell silent and displayed a Mangekyō pattern unlike Itachi's.
• Shukaku rapidly shrank back into Gaara, who collapsed unconscious in the ruined arena.
• Pain called out to Kuro, who appeared beside Gaara and greeted Akatsuki with a calm smile.
• Deidara questioned whether Kuro had controlled Shukaku, and Scorpion accused Kuro of hiding his abilities and leaking the operation's details to Konoha.

Jiraiya confronted Nagato and Konan about their plan, but Nagato refused to abandon it and insisted the tailed beasts could bring peace. Kuro stayed behind to face Akatsuki, and the chapter ended with him shielding Jiraiya and Gaara from Pain’s pull in his Third Stage Susanoo.

• Jiraiya called Pain by the name Nagato and urged him and Konan to stop before the conflict became a disaster.
• Nagato defended his plan to use the tailed beasts to force the nations of the Ninja World to reject war, despite knowing Uchiha Madara was using Akatsuki.
• Jiraiya warned Nagato that Uchiha Madara was manipulating them, but Nagato said he was using Madara in return.
• Kuro told Jiraiya to take the unconscious Gaara and leave while he handled the Akatsuki members.
• Pain used Banshō Ten'in to pull Jiraiya and Gaara toward him, but Kuro protected them with his Third Stage Susanoo and challenged Akatsuki to fight.

Kuro’s Susanoo devastated the area around the arena with a flaming strike, while Pain protected the Akatsuki and promised to explain his secrets after the mission. Pain acknowledged Kuro’s strength and prepared to fight him with his full power as Kuro raised the Great Ori Cutter.

• The Akatsuki members recognized Kuro’s Susanoo, and Itachi explained that he could use the technique but could not sustain it as effortlessly as Kuro.
• Pain ordered the Akatsuki to keep Konoha from taking the One-Tail jinchuriki and promised to answer their questions after the mission.
• Kuro sent a sea of flames toward the grandstand, and Pain used Shinra Tensei to repel most of the attack.
• The flames’ lingering wave reduced the grandstand and the surrounding area to scorched ruins, shocking the Akatsuki.
• Pain acknowledged Kuro’s strength and prepared to use his full power as the Animal Path joined him.
• Kuro’s Susanoo raised the Great Ori Cutter, a flaming divine weapon that could burn all things and command flames.

Kuro used Susanoo’s Azure Dragons to destroy Pain’s summoned beasts and four Paths, while Jiraiya took the opening to escape with Gaara and the Konoha Anbu. Pain’s full-power Shinra Tensei shattered the dragons and devastated the arena, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Kuro warned Jiraiya that Shinra Tensei had a five-second cooldown and urged him to retreat with Gaara, but the Six Paths of Pain appeared and blocked their routes.
• Nagato summoned enormous beasts to surround Susanoo and sent Yatagarasu to watch Jiraiya’s group as the Akatsuki members assessed the trap.
• Kuro transformed Susanoo into nine Azure Dragons, which seized the beasts and four Paths before burning them to ashes.
• Pain unleashed a full-power Shinra Tensei that shattered the dragons and ravaged the arena.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, who carried Gaara and the Konoha Anbu away from the ruins.

Pain ordered the Akatsuki members to split up, with some pursuing Jiraiya and the jinchuriki while the others held Kuro back, but Kuro restored Susanoo to full strength and used Eternal World to seal the arena and its surroundings. He trapped the Akatsuki forces inside the Susanoo barrier and vowed that none of his former colleagues would escape.

• Pain exhausted himself using Shinra Tensei to destroy Kuro's nine Azure Dragons, and Konan urged him to retreat after Jiraiya took the jinchuriki away.
• Pain identified Kuro's altered Susanoo as a Mangekyō Sharingan technique and ordered Konan, Hidan, Scorpion, and Raiga to retrieve the jinchuriki while Deidara, Kakuzu, Itachi, and he held Kuro back.
• Kuro's Susanoo suddenly regained its Crow Tengu armor and full strength, prompting Scorpion to accuse Itachi of misleading them about Kuro's power.
• Pain considered using another power as the Akatsuki members prepared to fight, but Kuro transformed Susanoo into a pillar of emerald light.
• Kuro used Eternal World to create four Susanoo-patterned pillars and a vast barrier around the arena, trapping the Akatsuki members inside.

Kuro was surrounded by Akatsuki after Susanoo became a barrier, but he swiftly killed Hidan and destroyed Scorpion’s hundred puppets. Kakuzu collapsed after losing four hearts, leaving seven Akatsuki members facing Kuro.

• Pain challenged Kuro’s ability to sustain the barrier while fighting Akatsuki, but the others hesitated to attack.
• Hidan urged Akatsuki to help him draw Kuro’s blood so he could use his curse, and Scorpion launched the Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets.
• Kuro used Lightning Release: Swift Thunder to appear beside Hidan and kill him with countless lightning-fast cuts.
• Kuro destroyed all one hundred of Scorpion’s puppets with crisscrossing lightning strikes.
• Kuro told Kakuzu that he had only one heart left, and Kakuzu collapsed after realizing four hearts had been destroyed.
• Kuro pointed Inazuma at the remaining Akatsuki members and counted seven opponents.

Kuro confronted Akatsuki and rejected Pain’s offer to join forces against Madara, while secretly draining chakra from Nagato through the Inari God. As Pain’s chakra dwindled, Kuro activated Sage Mode using natural energy from Ryūchi Cave.

• Scorpion, Deidara, Raiga Kurosuki, and Itachi chose not to fight Kuro, while Pain addressed him directly.
• Pain offered to abandon Akatsuki’s mission and ally with Kuro against Uchiha Madara in exchange for letting them leave safely.
• Kuro rejected Pain’s proposal, declaring that he intended to kill Akatsuki and Madara, and exposed Pain’s secret chakra gathering.
• Kuro continued draining Nagato’s chakra from afar through the Inari God while Pain recognized the ability.
• Kuro gathered natural energy from around the Susanoo barrier and activated Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode.