Chapter Summaries

Kou challenged Obito’s faith in the Infinite Tsukuyomi and confronted him over the sacrifices made for it. Obito admitted he knew Madara had planned Rin’s death, leaving Kou’s last hope for him extinguished.

• Kou questioned the Infinite Tsukuyomi’s origins and feasibility, arguing that Obito and Madara had trusted an unverified stone tablet.
• Obito acknowledged that the tablet’s origin and claims could not be verified, but insisted the plan had to be carried through to test it.
• Obito said that if the Infinite Tsukuyomi failed, he would create another technique to bring about a peaceful world, without addressing the lives already sacrificed.
• Kou concluded that Obito had knowingly chosen the plan despite its risks and asked whether he knew the true cause of Rin’s death.
• Obito admitted that Uchiha Madara had planned Rin’s death from the beginning and that he had known the truth before Kou’s investigation five years earlier.

Kou confronted Obito after learning the truth and used his Mangekyō abilities to destroy him, but Obito survived with Izanagi. Obito recognized Kou’s techniques and challenged him to a second round.

• Kou declared that he would kill Obito and attacked him when Obito tried to strike with black chains.
• Kou used Space Collapse to immobilize and erase Obito and the surrounding space.
• Obito reappeared and unleashed a fire technique, but Kou absorbed the flames with Inari God.
• Kou realized Obito had survived through Izanagi and vowed not to let him replace his Sharingan.
• Obito identified Kou’s ocular abilities, summoned his Uchiha Gunbai, and began the second round.

Kou’s Shadow Clone tried to stall Obito in the Mizukage’s office, but Obito revealed a Body Activation Technique and Swift Release that let him overpower Kou. Obito struck through the clone’s abdomen and declared victory, while Kou realized Obito had also used Lightning Release: Swift Thunder.

• Kou decided the Shadow Clone’s goal was to exhaust Obito’s Izanagi and stall until the main body returned, then attacked with Lightning Release: Swift Thunder.
• Obito activated the Body Activation Technique, gained enough speed to counter Kou, and forced Kou to retreat with Swift Thunder: Annual Meeting.
• Kou recognized Obito’s Hashirama Cells might mitigate the Body Activation Technique’s strain, but believed his own speed still surpassed Obito’s.
• Obito vanished from Kou’s sight and appeared behind him, surrounded by Swift Release, then punched through Kou’s abdomen with Activation Fist.
• As the Shadow Clone began to disperse, Kou saw blue lightning around Obito and recognized Lightning Release: Swift Thunder.

Fifteen years earlier, Obito had resolved to become strong enough to protect Kou after seeing Kou’s Lightning Release: Swift Thunder technique. In the present, Obito revealed he had memorized its principles and was taking Yagura and the Three-Tails, but Kou appeared behind him and vowed to kill him.

• Obito, Rin, and Kakashi sorted through Kou’s messy room while worrying about his condition and admiring his new technique.
• Kakashi praised Lightning Release: Swift Thunder, and Obito imagined learning it after awakening the Sharingan so he could help protect Kou.
• In the Mizukage’s office, Obito recalled that he had memorized the technique’s principles but never learned it properly.
• Obito used his Mangekyō Sharingan to absorb Yagura and declared that the Three-Tails was already his and that he would next take Utakata and the Six-Tails.
• Kou appeared behind Obito and declared that Obito would die there.

Kou appeared behind Obito and struck him with Water Release: Spiral: Heavenly Tide, leaving him mangled and near death. Kou raised Firebirth to finish him, while Obito smiled, believing his plan had gone perfectly.

• Obito realized Kou was behind him and questioned how he could be in the Mist Village while his real body was supposedly in Konoha.
• Kou pressed Water Release: Spiral: Heavenly Tide into Obito's back, grinding apart his body and Hashirama Cells.
• Obito's mask shattered, his hair turned white, and he collapsed with only his head relatively intact as the Body Activation Technique's backlash set in.
• Kou drew Firebirth, declared that everything was about to end, and swung the blade at Obito's head.
• Obito looked at Kou and smiled, convinced that dying by Kou's hand meant his plan had gone perfectly.

Kou and Kisame faced off over Obito, but Obito died before either could strike. As the office collapsed, Yagura transformed into the Three-Tails, leaving Kirigakure in chaos.

• Kou urged Kisame to abandon Obito and protect the real future of Mist Village, but Kisame refused, saying he was a shinobi bound to Madara.
• Kou and Kisame prepared to fight, but they both sensed Obito’s final breath stop, and Uchiha Obito died.
• Kou sheathed Firebirth and told Kisame to leave, but he noticed Yagura’s body swelling and transforming.
• Yagura burst through the Mizukage Building’s roof, causing it to collapse and triggering alarms across Kirigakure.
• The Three-Tails, Isobu, emerged atop the ruins as shinobi rushed toward the building.

The Three-Tails rampaged through Mist Village, and Mei Terumi organized the evacuation while preparing to subdue it and support Sora. Kou absorbed the beast’s Tailed Beast Bomb and used his Mangekyō Sharingan to bring the Three-Tails under control.

• Mei Terumi, Zabuza, and Kimimaro arrived and helped calm the civilians as Suigetsu, Haku, and Jūzō Biwa led the evacuation toward Utakata’s barrier.
• Mei Terumi sent Kimimaro to hold off the Three-Tails while she and Zabuza moved to support Sora and guard against interference.
• Kou evaded the Three-Tails’ rampage as Kisame rescued Obito’s body, but a giant tail struck Kisame and sent him flying into the village.
• Kou used Inari God to absorb the Tailed Beast Bomb forming in the Three-Tails’ mouth.
• Kou’s Mangekyō Sharingan froze the Three-Tails and subdued it once again.

Kou defeated the Three-Tails and caught the unconscious Yagura, then reflected on the nine years he had spent in Mist Village as Shiina Sora. When Mei Terumi and Kimimaro confronted him, Kou revealed that the Shiina Sora they knew had never existed and that he had always been Uchiha Kou.

• Kou released the Three-Tails from Mangekyō Sharingan control, caught the unconscious Yagura, and confirmed that Mist Village had suffered no casualties.
• Kou sent a Shadow Clone to search for Kisame while he reflected on the nine years he had spent building his life in Mist Village as Shiina Sora.
• Mei Terumi and Kimimaro arrived, and Mei accused Kou of releasing the Three-Tails.
• Kimimaro prepared to attack, but Kou praised his growth and reminded him to care for his health, leaving Kimimaro confused by how familiar Kou felt.
• Mei reported that the evacuation had gone safely, then demanded to know what Kou had done to Sora.
• Kou told Mei that the Shiina Sora she knew had never existed and that he had been Uchiha Kou all along.

After Kisame survived Kou’s attack, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu took him and Obito’s battered corpse away before Kou’s Shadow Clone could capture them. Kou suspected they planned to use Nagato’s Rinne Rebirth to revive Obito and Madara, and hurried to rejoin his original body.

• Kisame recovered from his injuries and confronted White Zetsu and Black Zetsu as they approached Obito’s corpse.
• Black Zetsu blamed Obito’s failures and recognized that Kou’s strength rivaled or surpassed Madara’s, deciding to advance Madara’s revival plan.
• White Zetsu warned Kisame that Madara could still die, and Kisame joined them as Kou’s Shadow Clone approached.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu sank into the ground with Kisame and Obito’s corpse, escaping Kou’s Shadow Clone.
• Kou’s Shadow Clone suspected they would have Nagato revive Obito and Madara, then dispelled itself and sent its memories to Kou’s original body.

Kou confirmed to Mei Terumi that Shiina Sora had always been a false identity for Uchiha Kou, and Mei demanded to hear the whole truth before deciding whether to believe him. Just as Kou prepared to explain, new information reached him and he realized he had to leave.

• Kou told Mei Terumi that he and Shiina Sora were the same person, and that both he and the Fourth Mizukage had been used by the one controlling Yagura.
• Mei Terumi challenged Kou’s explanation, then recognized that he really was the Sora she had known.
• Kimimaro realized he could no longer turn to Kou as Lord Sora for answers.
• Mei Terumi asked Kou to tell her everything about Uchiha Kou so she could judge the truth for herself.
• Kou prepared to explain, but a flood of information reached him and he realized it was time to leave.

Amid the ruins of the Mizukage Building, Kou prepared to leave Mist Village without explaining his past, while Mei Terumi and Kimimaro tried to stop him. Kou vanished after promising to explain and apologize someday, leaving Mei Terumi staring at the empty sky.

• Mei Terumi refused to believe that her nine years with Sora and their work for Mist Village were meaningless, and demanded that Kou tell her the truth about himself.
• Kou apologized and said he had no time to explain, prompting Mei Terumi and Kimimaro to block his escape and insist that he stay.
• Kou recalled the people and moments he had shared with Mist Village, then told Mei Terumi and Kimimaro he had truly been happy and would explain everything someday.
• Mei Terumi and Kimimaro rushed toward Kou, but he vanished just before Mei Terumi could reach him.
• Mei Terumi heard Kou's farewell to Mist Village and wondered why his eyes had looked as though he were crying.

After Yagura regained control, he promised to explain what he knew about Uchiha Kou and called him the hero who saved Mist Village. Back in the Land of Rice, Kou prepared to recover the Rinnegan, but Karin reported that Orochimaru had disappeared.

• Zabuza arrived and demanded to know where Sora had gone, while Mei Terumi and Kimimaro struggled to explain.
• Yagura woke, and Kimimaro stopped Zabuza from attacking him.
• Yagura confirmed he had broken free of control and promised to reveal what he knew about Shiina Sora and Uchiha Kou.
• Yagura declared that Uchiha Kou was the hero who saved Mist Village.
• Kou returned to Inari City with Deva Path Pain's body and Deidara, intending to recover the Rinnegan.
• Karin rushed to Kou and told him that Orochimaru had disappeared.

After Orochimaru vanished from the Land of Rice, Uchiha Kou suspected Uchiha Madara had freed him and feared that their enemies had been manipulating events for years. Kou ordered a search and called for talks with the Five Great Nations, then resolved to keep pursuing the Rinnegan and uncovering the truth.

• Karin told Kou that Orochimaru had disappeared from his laboratory, with no injuries or missing research materials.
• Kou suspected that Uchiha Madara had freed Orochimaru and questioned how Madara could have known where he was.
• Kou ordered Karin to seal off the Land of Rice and search for signs of ocular techniques or genjutsu, especially in the core district.
• Kou instructed Karin to invite representatives of the Five Great Nations to talks about a threat to the Ninja World's survival.
• Alone in the hall, Kou wondered whether Obito and Madara had orchestrated events around Orochimaru for five years, then vowed not to give up.

Obito revived through Ryūzetsu's life-sacrificing technique after Kou defeated him, while Ryūzetsu died and Mui was killed. With Kou likely having taken Madara's Rinnegan, Obito directed Kisame and the others to recover his other Sharingan from Konoha.

• Kaneki Eito and Kaneki Mitero captured Mui, and Eito killed him after taunting him over Ryūzetsu's death.
• Obito awakened, ordered Eito to obey Kisame, and thanked Kisame for helping him survive.
• Black Zetsu blamed Obito for allowing Kou to grow stronger and urged him to revive the real Madara.
• Obito told Black Zetsu that Kou had defeated the Six Paths of Pain and likely taken Madara's Rinnegan from Nagato.
• Obito said Kou believed him dead and the Fourth Hokage's mark had been erased, then ordered the group to go to Konoha and reclaim his other eye.

Obito revealed his plan to retrieve his other eye and use Hiruko’s improved Chimera Technique to strengthen himself with the corpses of Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. He left the forest with his followers, determined to prepare for a confrontation with Kou and continue the Eye of the Moon Plan.

• Obito told Black Zetsu he planned to retrieve his left eye from Konoha, since Kou would soon have little reason to remain there.
• Black Zetsu warned that recovering the eye would expose Obito without giving him enough power to threaten Kou.
• Obito explained that the Moon Organization’s value lay in its use of Hiruko’s improved Chimera Technique, not its combat strength.
• Obito ordered Black Zetsu to search the Ninja World for the corpses of Uchiha clansmen who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Obito said the corpses could serve as sacrifices to enhance his Sharingan and help him fight Kou and reclaim the Rinnegan.
• Black Zetsu agreed to search, and Obito departed the forest with Kisame and the Kaneki Twins.

After learning the truth about Sora’s identity as Uchiha Kou, the people of Mist Village united behind Mei Terumi and urged her to bring him home. With Genji’s blessing, Mei Terumi set out to find Sora and Kou.

• Mei Terumi and Zabuza reflected on how Sora had saved Mist Village and discussed Yagura’s account of his identity as Uchiha Kou.
• Zabuza asked when Mei Terumi planned to leave, revealing that he wanted to bring Sora back too.
• Mist Village’s villagers gathered and pledged their support for Mei Terumi and their wish to bring Kou home.
• Genji arrived with Haku and Suigetsu and told Mei Terumi to bring their companion and family home.
• Mei Terumi promised the villagers that she would bring Sora and Kou back.

Kou received reports from Natsuhi and Hotaru, then ordered them to prioritize finding Nagato and Konan while continuing other security measures. Alone in the hall, he concluded that Nagato was probably dead and someone had taken the Rinnegan.

• Hotaru reported that inspections found no signs of genjutsu or ocular control in the Land of Rice or its allied lands.
• Natsuhi reported that Orochimaru remained missing, Uchiha Itachi was suspected to be in the Land of Wind, Kakuzu was near the Land of Hot Water, and Raiga Kurosuki was active in the Land of Lightning.
• Kou ordered Natsuhi to prioritize finding Nagato and Konan, keep watching Raiga Kurosuki, and reduce searches for the other Akatsuki remnants.
• Kou told Hotaru to continue mental inspections in Inari City and nearby core areas while the Fuma Clan patrolled the outer regions.
• After Natsuhi and Hotaru left, Kou recalled that his black rod had failed to reveal Nagato's location and reasoned that Nagato was likely dead and someone had taken the Rinnegan.

Kou worried that someone had taken Orochimaru and the Rinnegan, and decided he needed to unite the Five Great Nations to confront Uchiha Madara. When Karin told him that Mei Terumi and Utakata had arrived from the Mist Village to discuss an alliance, Kou panicked about facing the people he believed he had betrayed.

• Kou considered who had taken Orochimaru and the Rinnegan, then resolved to pursue an alliance with the Five Great Nations.
• Kou hesitated over how to approach the Mist Village because he felt guilty about deceiving its people as Lord Sora.
• Karin rushed in with news, and Kou tried to reassure her by boasting about his composure.
• Karin told Kou that Mei Terumi and Utakata had arrived to discuss an alliance and open Odd Jobs Agency and logistics company branches.
• Kou asked Karin whether it was too late to hide at Uncle Kakashi's place.

Hotaru guided Mei Terumi and Utakata through Inari City to meet Uchiha Kou, the leader of the Land of Rice. Kou and Mei Terumi reunited while pretending to be strangers, and he invited the Mist Village delegation to discuss an alliance.

• Hotaru led Mei Terumi and Utakata through Inari City, where a shopkeeper teased her about Utakata being her boyfriend.
• Mei Terumi told Hotaru that Mist Village had come to discuss an alliance, and Hotaru said Karin had gone to notify Kou.
• Karin arrived with Kou, and Utakata recognized him as Lord Sora before Mei Terumi stopped him from stepping forward.
• Mei Terumi introduced herself as the Mist Village envoy, and she and Kou shook hands while concealing their feelings at the reunion.
• Kou released Mei Terumi's hand and invited her and Utakata to discuss the alliance in the conference room.

Mei Terumi proposed an alliance between Mist Village and the Land of Rice to overcome small nations’ resistance to Mist Village’s Logistics Company expansion, offering favorable terms to the Land of Rice and the Land of Rivers. Kou invited Mei Terumi to stay for further talks, then asked Karin to leave so he could speak with Mei Terumi alone.

• Karin served Mei Terumi tea and teased Kou about choosing it, prompting him to scold her.
• Mei Terumi explained that small nations’ opposition to Mist Village’s Logistics Company expansion threatened its plans.
• Mei Terumi pointed out that the Land of Rice’s alliance with other small nations had encouraged resistance to great powers.
• Mei Terumi proposed an alliance with the Land of Rice and offered favorable terms to the Land of Rice and the Land of Rivers.
• Kou agreed to consider the proposal and invited Mei Terumi to stay in the Land of Rice for a few more days.
• Kou asked Karin to leave so he could discuss personal matters with Mei Terumi alone.