Chapter Summaries

Summary: “Two-Pronged Preparations”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Obito reflects on how his original plan—using Nagato and the Akatsuki to capture the Tailed Beasts, become the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki, and control the Infinite Tsukuyomi—has collapsed.
• Madara’s eventual revival would strip Obito of control over the Eye of the Moon Plan, potentially reducing him to a disposable victim of the Divine Tree.
• Obito’s situation has become desperate: Kakashi still possesses Kamui, the Akatsuki has disintegrated, Nagato has been defeated, and the Rinnegan has fallen into Uchiha Genya’s hands.
• Because Genya and Konoha have overwhelming strength, Obito concludes that summoning Uchiha Madara is his only remaining chance.
• Black Zetsu agrees, though he prefers Obito because Obito is easier to manipulate. He nevertheless believes Madara may now be necessary.
• Obito questions how Madara can be revived without the Rinnegan. Black Zetsu explains that forbidden techniques might make revival possible, though restoring Madara to his youthful strength would require a great deal of Six Paths Power.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen proposes using the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu instead of fully reviving Madara. Since the technique can theoretically include a control formula, Madara could be forced to obey.
• Hiruzen admits, however, that he only memorized the incomplete version of the technique and does not know how to perform it. His version would likely fail to restore Madara’s full power.
• Obito becomes furious, but Black Zetsu prevents the conflict from escalating and decides to obtain Orochimaru’s improved version of the technique.
• Black Zetsu orders Obito and Hiruzen to search for other resurrection techniques and recruit additional allies.
• He then leaves using the Mayfly Technique, privately deciding to create multiple backup plans rather than rely entirely on Obito and Hiruzen. He begins considering Uchiha Genya as another possible asset.

Character Developments

• Obito: Becomes increasingly desperate and recognizes that his own ambitions have been ruined. He is forced to accept Madara’s return as his only viable strategy, despite fearing that Madara would replace him.
• Black Zetsu: Reveals his pragmatic and manipulative nature. He sees Obito and Hiruzen as useful but incompetent tools and decides that relying on them alone is too risky. His interest in Genya suggests a new contingency.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen: Demonstrates that he still possesses extensive knowledge of forbidden techniques, but his limitations and inability to execute Impure World Reincarnation expose his reduced effectiveness.
• Uchiha Madara: Though absent, Madara becomes the central objective of the villains’ plans because of his overwhelming power.
• Uchiha Genya: Gains importance as the force responsible for destroying Obito’s plans and defeating Nagato. Black Zetsu begins considering him as a possible alternative to Obito or Madara.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and loss of control: Obito’s original vision has been dismantled, leaving him dependent on Madara and unable to dictate the future.
• Contingency planning: The chapter emphasizes the need for multiple strategies when a primary plan fails. Black Zetsu specifically commits to “two sets of preparations.”
• Power versus obedience: Madara offers immense strength but is difficult to control, while Obito and Hiruzen are easier to manipulate but far less capable.
• Manipulation and expendability: Black Zetsu views both Obito and Hiruzen as tools, valuing them only for their usefulness and controllability.
• The limits of knowledge: Hiruzen’s familiarity with a technique’s theory does not translate into practical mastery, highlighting the difference between memorization and true ability.

Character Interactions

• Obito and Black Zetsu jointly assess their hopeless position and agree that Madara’s summoning is their only realistic option.
• Obito challenges Black Zetsu about how Madara can be revived without the Rinnegan.
• Hiruzen interrupts with the suggestion of using Impure World Reincarnation, prompting both Obito and Black Zetsu to recognize its potential.
• Obito pressures Hiruzen to act, but Hiruzen admits he cannot use the incomplete technique effectively, provoking Obito’s anger.
• Black Zetsu restrains Obito and redirects the group toward obtaining Orochimaru’s improved technique and other resurrection methods.
• After leaving, Black Zetsu privately distances himself from both allies and begins planning around their likely failures, including the possibility of using Genya.

Key plot points and events

• Black Zetsu considers what to do if Madara cannot defeat Genya. He contemplates earning Genya’s trust by betraying Obito and Hiruzen, as he once did with Madara.
• Konoha’s leaders gather after the operation. Most Akatsuki members have been captured, though Obito escapes with Hiruzen. Kakuzu mainly regrets missing out on their bounties.
• Genya reveals that Kabuto and Hidan were Konoha’s undercover agents in Akatsuki, and tells the leadership to treat them as allies, even in battle.
• Genya assigns Kabuto a further mission and offers him a promotion. Kabuto declines the higher department-head rank, preferring the lighter responsibilities of a deputy. Hidan accepts a post as captain of an Anbu special-operations team.
• After the meeting, Genya keeps Fugaku, Hizashi, and Longchuan behind. He tells Fugaku that, after five years as head of the Security Division, it is time for him to step down.

Character developments and interactions

• Black Zetsu shifts toward contingency planning, recognizing that Genya may be a threat even to Madara.
• Obito is now cautious and fearful of Genya, rather than openly confident; after failing to take Kakashi’s eye, he flees with Hiruzen instead of confronting Genya.
• Kabuto accepts his place in Konoha despite being used in Genya’s schemes, showing pragmatism and little resentment. He chooses a less demanding promotion.
• Hidan is willing to serve in Konoha so long as he avoids working under Orochimaru.
• Genya rewards his former agents and integrates them into Konoha’s leadership structure, while retaining direct control over their assignments.
• Fugaku anticipates the announcement and appears reluctant, while Hizashi and Longchuan seem interested in what Genya has planned.

Significant themes

• Power and political calculation: Black Zetsu and Genya both maneuver strategically, weighing loyalty and betrayal.
• Trust and reintegration: Former infiltrators are publicly welcomed back, though their roles remain tied to Genya’s authority.
• Duty versus personal cost: Kabuto avoids a prestigious but burdensome position, while Hidan accepts work largely for its practical terms.
• Changing status and succession: Fugaku’s five-year tenure is ending, hinting at a shift in Konoha’s leadership.

Key plot points and events

• Fugaku reflects on how much the Security Division has grown under his leadership. It now spans the Land of Fire and commands more than fifty thousand personnel, making his captaincy far more powerful than his old village-level post.
• Xuanye insists that Fugaku step down as captain, as previously agreed. Fugaku accepts the decision but is visibly unhappy about losing the authority he has built over five years.
• Recognizing that the change affects Fugaku’s family, Xuanye offers compensation—though he will not reconsider the transfer of the Security Division.
• Fugaku asks for Sasuke to join Orochimaru’s Crash Course, hoping it will accelerate his son’s development. Xuanye refuses, saying the course places too much strain on the mind and that he has another training plan for Sasuke.
• Fugaku then asks about Itachi’s damaged ocular power after the recent battle. Xuanye promises to restore it and says he will guide Itachi’s Mangekyō into the Eternal Mangekyō, while also treating the early signs of Itachi’s Bloodline Disease.

Character developments

• Fugaku reluctantly accepts that his political power is ending, but shifts his hopes toward the next generation by advocating for Sasuke and Itachi.
• Xuanye demonstrates that he will keep agreements and protect those affected by them, while balancing personal compensation against broader political priorities.
• Itachi is revealed to have overused his Mangekyō while defending Konoha, leaving his right eye depleted and his health beginning to suffer.
• Sasuke does not appear, but Xuanye’s mention of a separate training plan suggests he intends to shape Sasuke’s development himself.

Character interactions

• Xuanye directly confronts Fugaku’s reluctance but acknowledges the sacrifice and offers him a chance to request compensation.
• Fugaku appeals to Xuanye first for Sasuke’s advancement, then for Itachi’s recovery.
• Xuanye rejects Fugaku’s request for Sasuke to attend the Crash Course, but readily commits to helping Itachi, whom he trusts and values.

Significant themes

• Power and sacrifice: Fugaku’s expanded authority makes relinquishing his post far more painful than his earlier departure from Konoha’s smaller Security Division.
• Political loyalty and fairness: Xuanye holds firm to the larger plan while trying to compensate people who bear its costs.
• Generational hopes: With his own career winding down, Fugaku turns to his sons’ futures.
• The costs of power: Itachi’s Mangekyō abilities have damaged his health, though Konoha’s resources may now make such consequences reversible.

Key events

• After Fugaku departs, Xuanye weighs Hizashi and Longchuan as possible successors to the retiring Security Division captain. The post would bring influence but also criticism and would limit the holder’s future opportunities.
• Xuanye initially favors neither outright: Hizashi is a longtime ally, while Longchuan’s appointment could signal to outsider clans that newcomers can rise in Konoha.
• Hizashi proposes Might Guy instead, arguing that Guy’s strength, recent victory over the Six Paths of Pain, and ordinary background make him broadly acceptable. Xuanye agrees, though the formal appointment is delayed until Fugaku’s retirement can help address other issues.
• Outside the keep, Hizashi explains to Longchuan that the coming Fourth Shinobi World War may be their rare chance to earn military distinction. A five-year captaincy could keep Longchuan from taking part.
• Longchuan apologizes for suspecting Hizashi of blocking his promotion. Hizashi privately sees a chance to gain influence through Guy, who may hold the title while leaving much of the work to others.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanye makes a calculated appointment, balancing loyalty, merit, and the political value of demonstrating openness to outsiders.
• Hizashi appears selfless by recommending Guy, but his private thoughts reveal personal ambition: he hopes to shape the division’s operations and provide for his son, Neji.
• Longchuan wants the post partly because it would strengthen his clan’s standing, but accepts Hizashi’s reasoning and promises to prioritize the Shogun’s will.
• Might Guy is chosen as a respected, non-elite candidate whose record makes the promotion defensible, despite his lack of administrative experience.
• The conversation between Hizashi and Longchuan shifts from resentment to apparent reconciliation, though both men retain private calculations.

Significant themes

• Merit and inclusion: Elevating Guy—and considering Longchuan—can reassure civilians and outsider clans that advancement is not limited by background.
• Ambition beneath loyalty: Public service and devotion coexist with personal goals, especially for Hizashi.
• War as opportunity: The impending conflict shapes career choices, since military achievements may determine future status and wealth.
• Power and appearances: A formal leader may not control the work in practice, while public appointments can serve broader political purposes.

Chapter summary

Plot points

• After handling other business, Xuanye meets privately with Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Hidan to plan the next stage of the conflict.
• Orochimaru reveals an improved Impure World Reincarnation technique and an army of dozens of reanimated elite fighters, including former Kage and Jinchūriki. They were secretly obtained from graves across the Ninja World.
• Xuanye orders Kabuto to return undercover to the weakened Akatsuki Organization and help Obito Uchiha and Sarutobi Hiruzen start the Fourth Shinobi World War against the other Four Great Ninja Villages.
• To prove his loyalty, Kabuto is given one Rinnegan and told to claim he recovered it while escaping Konoha. He is also to explain that Hidan helped him escape but was captured.
• The plan is to make the Akatsuki, aided by its White Zetsu army and the reanimated fighters, exhaust the other villages while Konoha avoids the main losses. Kabuto may secretly take control of the reanimated army and betray Obito if needed.
• Xuanye warns Kabuto to be wary of Black Zetsu. Before leaving, Kabuto asks about his mentor, Nonō; Xuanye reassures him that she is safe in the Castle Keep, where she is helping Tsunade.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanye demonstrates his strategic ruthlessness: he is willing to return a valuable Rinnegan to the enemy if it will make the Akatsuki trust Kabuto and keep Konoha’s ninja out of the fighting.
• Kabuto is initially alarmed by the dangerous assignment and doubtful that the Akatsuki will trust him. Once he sees how the reanimated army and Rinnegan support the deception, he embraces the plan and shows his own willingness to betray his former allies again.
• Orochimaru supports Xuanye by preparing the reanimation technique and army in secret.
• Hidan is relieved to learn that he is not being sent back undercover.
• Kabuto’s concern for Nonō reveals his continuing attachment to his former mentor; Xuanye’s reassurance allays it.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and manipulation: The plan depends on exploiting suspicion, offering the Rinnegan as bait, and turning allies against one another.
• Sacrifice for strategic advantage: Xuanye accepts the loss of a powerful asset to protect Konoha and weaken its rivals.
• Power and moral cost: The reanimated army is formidable, but its creation involves violating graves across the Ninja World.
• Loyalty and personal ties: Amid the political schemes, Kabuto’s concern for Nonō shows that personal bonds still matter to him.

Key plot points and events

• Karin enters Genya’s office and calls him “Daddy,” startling Kabuto, who had no idea she was treated as Genya’s daughter. Orochimaru slips away rather than risk hearing private family gossip.
• Karin reveals that her Mind’s Eye of the Kagura let her discover Genya’s intimate relationship with her mother. Genya hurriedly silences her, while Kabuto flees with Hidan and vows to pretend he heard nothing.
• Left alone with Karin, Genya forbids her from using her sensory ability to spy around Konoha or the Castle Keep—and orders her to keep the secret quiet.
• Karin tries first to blackmail Genya, then to appeal to his affection as her stepfather. Genya recognizes she has come to ask for something.
• Karin says older students have bullied her, calling her a tomato and throwing stones at her. The chapter ends with Genya incredulous that anyone would dare target her.

Character developments

• Genya is revealed as embarrassed and protective: Karin’s discovery threatens to expose his affairs, but he also treats her as family and takes her complaint seriously.
• Karin shows sharp instincts, strong sensory and sealing abilities, and a mischievous, calculating streak. Beneath her teasing, she is still a child seeking help and sympathy.
• Kabuto demonstrates self-preservation, quickly withdrawing from dangerous gossip; he privately suspects Genya has grown close to other women in the Castle Keep.
• Orochimaru avoids involvement, leaving Kabuto to learn that snooping into a superior’s private life is unwise.

Significant themes

• Secrecy and gossip: The adults scramble to avoid having Genya’s private life exposed.
• Family and affection: Karin’s “Daddy” label is playful but reflects her closeness to Genya and her place in the Uchiha household.
• Power and vulnerability: Despite Karin’s exceptional abilities, she can still be hurt by ordinary school bullying.
• Protectiveness and responsibility: Genya’s reaction suggests he will take the threat to Karin seriously.

Character interactions

• Karin embarrasses Genya by revealing what she sensed; he reprimands her and imposes limits on her spying.
• Kabuto and Orochimaru both retreat rather than get caught up in the scandal, with Kabuto also removing Hidan.
• Karin alternates between teasing, threatening, and pleading with Genya, who sees through her tactics and eventually hears her real problem.

Plot points and events

• Karin is a gifted young student training early in Monster Strength, the Yin Seal, and sealing techniques. She attends an unusually talented Ninja Academy class alongside Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and other prodigies.
• Karin tells Xuanye that older students have been giving her and several classmates cruel nicknames and bullying them. Mentioning that Xuanye is her father made the bullies back off, but did not resolve the broader problem.
• Xuanye becomes angry but rejects the idea of retaliating against children himself. He decides instead to address the bullying at its source, apparently planning to involve the school’s leadership and possibly enlist Fugaku.
• Later, Xuanye finds Tsunade and Uchiha Hikari waiting together in his room, an unexpected pairing whose purpose is left unexplained.

Character developments and interactions

• Karin is capable and outspoken, but her complaint also shows concern for the students bullying her; she worries Xuanye might overreact.
• Xuanye shows his fierce protectiveness, then chooses a systemic response rather than personal violence. He recognizes that threats and punishment alone will not fix the problem.
• Naruto has become a Taijutsu prodigy because the Nine-Tails no longer interferes with his chakra, though his academic performance remains poor. He, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata are among those targeted.
• Tsunade and Hikari appear together at Xuanye’s room, creating an unresolved mystery. Hikari’s Ninja Cat, Big Yellow, hisses at Tsunade.

Significant themes

• Bullying and social difference: Children may target peers simply for being disliked or unusually talented, making bullying difficult to explain or prevent.
• Protection versus retaliation: Xuanye wants to defend Karin and the other students, but understands that punishing children directly could worsen matters.
• Talent and pressure: The Academy’s extraordinary concentration of gifted students makes the class highly competitive and may intensify social tensions.

Chapter Summary: “Xuanye Cells”

Plot Points and Events

• Hikari stops sulking and begins pampering Genya by massaging his shoulders and back, hoping to persuade him to give her the second Rinnegan.
• Genya reveals that the Rinnegan given to Orochimaru was merely bait and that he never intended to give the other one to Hikari. Hikari is furious that her servile behavior was wasted.
• Hikari then asks for Orochimaru’s Otsutsuki Cells, hoping they will eventually help her awaken a Rinnegan and become strong enough to challenge Genya’s authority.
• Genya firmly refuses, warning that the cells cause severe side effects and require grotesque body modifications. He says he may give her “Xuanye Cells” instead.
• Tsunade realizes that “Xuanye Cells” is Genya’s suggestive euphemism for his own cells and angrily accuses him of targeting Hikari.
• When Tsunade attacks him verbally and tries to intervene, Genya uses his Sharingan to take control of her body. Hikari takes the opportunity to flee, abandoning Tsunade.
• Hikari escapes in panic but then becomes secretly pleased by the implication that Genya may be attracted to her.

Character Developments

• Genya: Displays his manipulative, domineering personality, enjoying Hikari’s attempts to flatter him and deliberately teasing her. He also shows a possessive or protective attitude by rejecting the dangerous Otsutsuki Cells for her.
• Uchiha Hikari: Remains determined to gain power and overturn Genya’s control, seeking the Rinnegan or cellular enhancements. Her fear of Genya’s intentions clashes with her private satisfaction at the possibility that he likes her.
• Tsunade: Becomes increasingly hostile toward Genya and more sympathetic to criticism of the “evil Uchiha.” Despite being physically controlled, she continues resisting him verbally and tries to protect Hikari.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: Hikari’s schemes center on escaping Genya’s control, while Genya repeatedly reinforces his authority over both her and Tsunade.
• The dangers of pursuing strength: Otsutsuki Cells promise power but come with severe physical consequences, contrasting with Genya’s more selective approach.
• Manipulation and unequal relationships: Genya uses teasing, withheld rewards, and bodily control to maintain dominance.
• Comedy through misunderstanding and embarrassment: The term “Xuanye Cells” creates a lewd misunderstanding that turns Hikari’s power-seeking conversation into a chaotic confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Hikari performs exaggeratedly affectionate “little sister” behavior toward Genya, while he exploits her desperation and mocks her.
• Genya and Tsunade clash over his intentions toward Hikari; Tsunade acts protectively, while Genya silences her by controlling her body.
• Hikari abandons Tsunade to escape, but her fear quickly mixes with romantic wishful thinking when she interprets Genya’s remark as evidence of affection.

Key plot points and events

• Genya releases Hikari after Tsunade interrupts him, but his predatory interest in her remains. Hikari vows to become strong enough to retaliate and then realizes her summoning cat, Big Yellow, is missing.
• Tsunade remains restrained and argues with Genya, protesting that he should leave Hikari alone. Genya taunts her over a promise she made earlier and overpowers her resistance.
• Big Yellow stays behind, watching the pair. A Mangekyō pattern briefly appears in the cat’s eyes, hinting that it may have a hidden ability or significance.
• After losing his Security Division captaincy, Fugaku goes home and drinks. Mikoto recognizes that something has happened but gives him space.
• Hizashi returns home in high spirits, expecting a change in the Security Division leadership. Hiashi, who has come to ask about the appointment, learns that Hizashi will not become captain, though the role will not go to another ninja clan.
• During their private conversation, Hiashi senses that Hizashi’s relaxed manner reflects not reconciliation but a loss of respect for Hiashi’s former authority. He suspects Hizashi may no longer be subject to the Caged Bird Seal, but cannot bring himself to test it.

Character developments

• Hikari shifts from feeling flattered by Genya’s attention to recognizing the danger he poses and resolving to resist him.
• Genya is portrayed as manipulative and domineering, while his behavior toward Tsunade and Hikari suggests his power over them remains a source of conflict.
• Tsunade tries to protect Hikari despite being unable to protect herself, and her protests reveal both defiance and concern about Genya’s influence over their household.
• Hiashi confronts the possibility that the Caged Bird Seal no longer controls Hizashi, but his hesitation shows that he is unwilling—or afraid—to confirm it.
• Hizashi appears comfortable with Hiashi in a way he was not before, suggesting a major change in their relationship and in how he sees his brother.
• Fugaku absorbs the humiliation of losing his post for the sake of his family’s stability.

Significant themes

• Power and control: Genya’s dominance over Tsunade and Hikari contrasts with the possible weakening of the Hyuga clan’s control over Hizashi.
• Family, authority, and resentment: The brothers’ interaction shows how hierarchy can distort family bonds, and how freedom from that hierarchy may alter them.
• Patience and resistance: Hikari’s vow to grow stronger and Tsunade’s protests emphasize resistance against those who exploit their power.
• Uncertainty and hidden change: Big Yellow’s unusual eyes and Hiashi’s suspicion about the seal suggest that important shifts may be occurring beneath the surface.

Character interactions

• Genya and Hikari: He lets her go for now, while she privately vows to repay him once she is stronger.
• Genya and Tsunade: They trade accusations and taunts; Tsunade tries to shield Hikari, while Genya uses her earlier promise to pressure her.
• Hiashi and Hizashi: A shared meal reveals a more informal dynamic, but Hiashi senses that Hizashi’s ease comes from no longer viewing him as superior.
• Hiashi and Neji: Hiashi’s memory of Neji receiving the Caged Bird Seal fuels his suspicion about Hizashi, though Neji is kept away from the brothers’ private discussion.

Key plot points

• Hiashi discovers that Hizashi’s Caged Bird seal has been removed. He suspects Xuanye is responsible and realizes that revealing a safe way to remove the seal could shake the Hyuga Clan.
• Hizashi refuses to explain or share the method, making clear that he does not trust Hiashi with the secret.
• Hizashi urges Hiashi to reform the clan before Hinata and Hanabi are subjected to the same system. Hiashi agrees to let Branch Family jonin study the Gentle Fist secret art and to allow exceptionally talented Branch members to learn Main Family techniques.
• Hiashi says he will stand by the reform even if the Main Family elders oppose it. Hizashi offers military support and warns that the elders should not threaten his son, Neji.
• After reaching an understanding, the brothers turn to Hiashi’s reason for visiting: he worries that Hinata’s timidity makes her unfit to lead the clan and wants a way to help her. He suggests the training class at Orochimaru’s, prompting Hizashi to worry about how harsh it might be for her.

Character developments

• Hiashi moves from hesitation toward decisive reform, especially once he considers the consequences for his daughters. He also shows concern for both Hinata and Hanabi.
• Hizashi remains guarded and distrustful of Hiashi, but is willing to cooperate when his brother commits to change. His readiness to defend Neji underscores his growing independence from the Main Family.
• Hinata, though absent, is described as shy and easily frightened; Hiashi fears this could jeopardize her future as a shinobi and clan heir.

Significant themes

• Inherited oppression and reform: The Caged Bird system threatens the next generation, making change urgent.
• Family versus clan authority: Hiashi’s love for his daughters pushes him to challenge the rules he upholds as clan head.
• Trust and power: Hizashi’s secrecy reflects how little he trusts Hiashi, while his offer of support shows that cooperation is possible.
• Gradual change: Hiashi proposes expanding access to training as a first step rather than immediately abolishing the system.

Character interactions

• Hizashi pressures Hiashi by invoking the fate of Hinata and Hanabi; Hiashi responds with a concrete reform plan.
• The brothers’ tense negotiation softens into a more familiar exchange, symbolized by their shared drink.
• Hizashi offers protection and support, while Hiashi asks for advice about Hinata—though his proposed solution leaves Hizashi uneasy.

Key plot points and events

• Hiashi considers where Hinata should intern after graduation. Hizashi advises against the harsher training environment with Xuanye and Orochimaru, suggesting instead that she join the Security Division under his supervision. Hiashi agrees.
• Xuanye leaves Tsunade hiding beneath the covers after a difficult night, while Hong Dou privately takes satisfaction in Tsunade’s humiliation.
• Xuanye weighs how to handle the captured Akatsuki members and Gaara: he expects threats, rewards, or Orochimaru’s methods to work on the prisoners, but plans to restrain and monitor Gaara.
• Jiraiya returns to Konoha and goes directly to the Finance Department to seek Kakuzu’s help, apparently hoping money might improve his chances of intervening for Nagato and Konan.
• Jiraiya reflects on the failed attack and begins doubting the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy. He blames himself for his former students’ choices, but accepts that Konoha’s interests come first and will not attempt a prison break.

Character developments and interactions

• Hizashi acts protectively toward Hinata, while Hiashi listens and agrees to his plan. Their relationship is cordial, though Hiashi seems to have unresolved feelings he does not voice.
• Xuanye is confident and pragmatic, but distrustful of Jiraiya and unwilling to grant him influence simply because of his past service.
• Jiraiya is troubled by the consequences of his students’ actions and questions the prophecy he once followed. His concern for Nagato and Konan remains strong, yet it does not outweigh his loyalty to Konoha.
• Kakuzu is initially reluctant to meet Jiraiya, suspecting he wants something, but ultimately agrees to see him.
• Tsunade is shown in a vulnerable, embarrassed state; Hong Dou responds with spiteful amusement.

Significant themes

• Loyalty versus personal attachment: Jiraiya cares deeply for his former students, but places Konoha first.
• Prophecy versus personal judgment: The gap between the prophecy’s promise and its apparent failures makes Jiraiya question whether fate can be trusted.
• Power and political reality: Xuanye’s dominance has reshaped the era, limiting even exceptional figures such as Minato and Nagato.
• Family care and responsibility: Hizashi’s intervention for Hinata contrasts with the harsher treatment expected elsewhere.

Plot points and events

• Jiraiya seeks help to save his former students Nagato and Konan, imprisoned after their attack on Konoha. He recognizes that few villagers would support them, given the damage they caused and their sheltering of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• He approaches Kakuzu, hoping money will persuade him to intervene. Kakuzu rejects Jiraiya’s offer of ten million ryō as far too little, though he is willing to help only if the payment is sufficient.
• Uchiha Genya (Xuanye), Konoha’s Shogun, arrives and learns why Jiraiya is there. Jiraiya argues that Nagato and Konan are no longer a threat because Nagato has lost the Rinnegan, and asks that they be allowed to live in prison.
• Xuanye says they may have a chance to survive because they still have value. Jiraiya agrees to persuade them to surrender, and Xuanye takes him to the Anbu Prison.
• The chapter ends as Xuanye enters the prison and learns that Deidara has been loudly demanding to see him since his capture.

Character developments

• Jiraiya shows his guilt and loyalty toward his students by pleading for people who attacked his own village. His anxiety around Xuanye underscores how dangerous and unpredictable he considers him.
• Kakuzu remains bluntly transactional: he treats aid as a matter of payment and quietly pockets Jiraiya’s rejected check anyway.
• Xuanye maintains control of the situation, offering only conditional hope and expecting Jiraiya to read the political realities.
• Deidara is furious and humiliated by his capture, convinced he was defeated before he could show his full ability.

Significant themes

• Mercy versus accountability: Nagato and Konan may be spared, but their survival depends on surrender and continued usefulness.
• Pragmatism and power: Kakuzu measures help in money, while Xuanye makes decisions according to strategic value and authority.
• Loyalty amid conflict: Jiraiya’s care for his former students persists despite their crimes against Konoha.

Character interactions

• Kakuzu dismisses Jiraiya’s attempt to negotiate and makes clear that money is the only likely basis for his help.
• Jiraiya submits his plea to Xuanye, who gives him guarded hope and assigns him the task of persuading Nagato and Konan to surrender.
• Itachi and Guy respectfully greet Xuanye as they guard the prisoners; they report that Deidara has been persistently disruptive.

Plot points and events

• Xuanye notices that Itachi’s right eye is badly clouded and learns that Itachi used Tsukuyomi on Kisame within another illusion, making Kisame experience centuries of imagined life. The technique nearly exhausted Itachi’s eye and could cause permanent blindness if repeated.
• Xuanye examines the captured Akatsuki members. Kisame, bound far more thoroughly than the others, insists that the situation is an illusion and claims to be the Sage of Six Paths who ended the Ninja World’s wars.
• Itachi explains that, inside the illusion, Kisame conquered Konoha, took the Akatsuki leader’s Rinnegan, and ruled a peaceful world for centuries before being abruptly returned to reality. Kisame now doubts which world is real and appears mentally shattered.
• Xuanye orders Kisame gagged again and dismisses him as expendable, suggesting Orochimaru could use him as a test subject if he cannot be controlled.
• Deidara tries to bargain with Xuanye, offering to surrender and work for him in exchange for freedom and instruction in Xuanye’s technique. Xuanye points out that, as a prisoner, Deidara has no leverage.
• Sasori warns Deidara that capture by Xuanye leaves no room even for suicide. Sasori himself has repeatedly tried to die, but his sealed Chakra and damaged puppet body prevent it. Deidara angrily snaps back, while Sasori refuses to engage.

Character developments

• Itachi reveals both the immense cost of his experimental Tsukuyomi and his capacity for psychological cruelty.
• Kisame has lost his grip on identity and reality after an illusion that dwarfed his real life in length and significance.
• Xuanye is pragmatic and unsentimental: he considers Kisame replaceable and treats captured enemies as assets under his control.
• Deidara remains boastful and impulsive, misjudging his bargaining position.
• Sasori is resigned and bitter, having learned that captivity can be worse than death.

Significant themes

• Reality and identity: Kisame cannot reconcile his centuries of vivid memories with the life he actually lived.
• The psychological cost of illusion: Itachi’s technique devastates its victim while also endangering its user.
• Power and control: Xuanye’s captives have little agency, and even death is beyond Sasori’s control.
• Replaceability and utility: Xuanye evaluates people chiefly by how useful or controllable they are.

Character interactions

• Xuanye questions Itachi about his damaged eye and the fate of Kisame, then criticizes Itachi’s ruthlessness lightly.
• Itachi explains his illusion and remains quiet when Xuanye comments on its cruelty.
• Kisame desperately tries to persuade those around him that his imagined world is real; Xuanye has him silenced.
• Deidara pleads with Xuanye for release and training, but Xuanye dismisses his offer.
• Sasori bluntly discourages Deidara’s bargaining, prompting Deidara to insult him; Sasori ignores the outburst.

Plot points and events

• Jiraiya visits Konan and Nagato, imprisoned in adjoining cells in Konoha. Their wounds have been treated and Nagato is physically stable, but he is emotionally devastated.
• Konan is relieved to see Jiraiya, who is the first visitor they have had, though she feels ashamed that he is showing them compassion after their hatred of Konoha.
• Xuanye interrupts their reunion and makes clear that Konan will be expected to repay the damage the Akatsuki caused Konoha.
• He tests Deidara’s willingness to serve him. Deidara agrees only if he can pursue his explosive art and avoid fighting Iwagakure; Xuanye rejects those conditions and warns him to reconsider.
• Xuanye questions Sasori about his Human Puppet technique, poisons, and Sunagakure, offering a quick death in exchange. Sasori refuses to cooperate.
• To break Sasori’s resolve, Xuanye orders Itachi to throw Sasori’s puppets—made from his parents—into a dung pit. Sasori, previously detached, erupts in anger.

Character developments and interactions

• Nagato is shown as physically recovering but emotionally crushed after his defeat.
• Konan shifts from fear and despair to hope at Jiraiya’s arrival, while her hatred of Xuanye deepens.
• Jiraiya grieves for his former students and reaches out to them despite their past hostility toward Konoha.
• Xuanye is portrayed as ruthless and manipulative: he uses threats, coercion, and psychological pressure to control prisoners.
• Deidara remains defiant and protective of his artistic freedom and loyalty to Iwagakure.
• Sasori appears indifferent to his fate until Xuanye threatens the puppets made from his parents, revealing that he still has a deep emotional attachment.
• Itachi follows Xuanye’s order to carry out the threat.

Significant themes

• Compassion versus vengeance: Jiraiya’s concern contrasts with Konan and Nagato’s history of hatred toward Konoha.
• Coercion and power: Xuanye treats prisoners as assets to be controlled, tested, or exploited.
• Hidden attachments: Sasori’s reaction shows that even a seemingly emotionless person has vulnerabilities.
• Loyalty and artistic freedom: Deidara’s conditions expose the conflict between personal ambition and demanded allegiance.
  The chapter ends with Sasori’s anger breaking through, leaving the outcome of Xuanye’s pressure unresolved.

Plot points and events

• Uchiha Genya (Xuanye) tries to force Sasori to reveal the Puppet Technique, threatening him with Granny Chiyo. Sasori refuses, unwilling to let his power be used against his grandmother or strengthen Genya’s ambitions.
• Genya remarks that he never killed Sasori’s parents, inadvertently aggravating Sasori further. Itachi privately recognizes Genya’s talent for provoking people.
• When Sasori will not cooperate, Genya uses his Rinnegan’s Asura Path to seize control of Sasori’s Regeneration Core and soul. Sasori’s independent will disappears, and he becomes a puppet within Genya’s Rinnegan.
• The Akatsuki members, including Nagato, are shaken by Sasori’s fate. Deidara, frightened that death could mean eternal enslavement, immediately agrees to cooperate.
• Genya asks whether Deidara knows Dust Release. Deidara admits he never learned it, so Genya orders him to record the Explosion Corps’ training methods and join Konoha’s Anbu. Genya warns that the marks on Deidara prevent him from escaping.

Character developments and interactions

• Sasori remains defiant, but his attachment to Granny Chiyo helps explain why he refuses to surrender the technique. His defeat turns the puppeteer into a puppet, underscoring his loss of autonomy.
• Genya treats the interrogation partly as amusement, but demonstrates the terrifying reach of his Rinnegan by taking control of Sasori’s body and soul.
• Itachi observes Genya’s abrasive, provocative manner and silently thinks he might have had more success recruiting Sasori himself.
• Deidara shifts from confidence to fear and compliance after witnessing Sasori’s fate. He provides his knowledge in exchange for his life, though he hopes Ōnoki might eventually secure his release.
• Nagato and the Akatsuki recognize Sasori’s transformation as a warning: Genya can make even death another form of servitude.

Significant themes

• Control versus autonomy: Sasori’s ultimate defeat is not simply death, but the complete erasure of his independent will.
• Power and coercion: Genya uses threats, intimidation, and supernatural force to obtain obedience.
• Irony and retribution: The master of puppets becomes one himself.
• Family and loyalty: Sasori’s concern for Granny Chiyo remains a rare emotional bond, while his sense of what she would expect also reinforces his refusal to betray the village.

Plot points and events

• Deidara agrees to reveal Iwagakure’s Explosion Release secrets rather than risk becoming Uchiha Genya’s eternal puppet. He worries that this will brand him a traitor, but believes he has no real alternative.
• Hiruko surrenders to Orochimaru and is taken to Konoha’s Research Department. Though still a prisoner, he is valued for his Chimera Technique, which can fuse as many as five Kekkei Genkai.
• Biwa Juzo also submits, convinced that resistance to Genya and Konoha is futile. Genya orders that Juzo receive a Cursed Seal and join Anbu; Itachi releases his restraints and returns his sword, Kubikiribōchō.
• Juzo eagerly embraces his new role, while Itachi privately reflects on how readily Kirigakure’s former ninja seem to change allegiances.
• Nagato and Konan remain the final Akatsuki leaders to confront. Jiraiya silently hopes they will surrender rather than die.
• Juzo tries to intimidate Nagato into pledging loyalty, but Genya stops him and addresses Nagato directly. Genya points out that the Rinnegan have nearly killed him and calls his condition—and his belief in the eyes’ origin—foolish. Nagato angrily insists that the eyes awakened in childhood and declares himself the Sage of Six Paths’ reincarnation, destined to bring peace.

Character developments and interactions

• Deidara chooses survival over loyalty to Iwagakure, reluctantly accepting the consequences of betraying its secrets.
• Hiruko shifts from captive to useful research asset, earning Orochimaru’s respect for his scientific achievement.
• Juzo openly abandons the Akatsuki and becomes an eager servant of Konoha, motivated by self-preservation and a desire to prove his value.
• Itachi observes Juzo’s sudden loyalty with skepticism and considers whether other former Kirigakure ninja might be similarly opportunistic.
• Nagato remains defiant despite being captured and deprived of the Rinnegan; Genya’s criticism provokes him to reaffirm his grand sense of destiny. Konan’s position remains unresolved, while Jiraiya watches them with concern.

Significant themes

• Power and submission: The captured Akatsuki members’ choices are shaped by Genya’s overwhelming strength.
• Loyalty as pragmatism: Deidara and Juzo prioritize survival over former allegiances, though Juzo’s opportunism is especially blatant.
• The cost of ambition: Nagato’s borrowed eyes have devastated his body, raising doubts about the ideals and destiny he claims to embody.
• Knowledge as a weapon: Deidara’s secret technique and Hiruko’s research could both give Konoha powerful advantages.

Key events

• Xuanye challenges Nagato’s belief that the Rinnegan is his and that he is Jiraiya’s prophesied child of destiny. He argues that the eyes were transplanted, continually drained Nagato’s chakra and vitality, and could not be controlled because Nagato’s body was not suited to them.
• Xuanye presents his own awakened Rinnegan as evidence, explaining that his eyes evolved alongside his body, while Nagato’s have functioned as a burden.
• Nagato recognizes that Xuanye’s claims match what he has experienced, but rejects them at first. Accepting them would mean confronting the possibility that his life, the Akatsuki’s mission, and Yahiko’s death were all shaped by someone else’s scheme.
• Konan increasingly believes Xuanye, recalling her suspicions about the self-proclaimed Madara and Zetsu, as well as their absence when the Akatsuki was destroyed.
• Nagato finally stops arguing and collapses into grief. Konan, though shaken, asks Xuanye why he has chosen to reveal this rather than simply kill them.
• Xuanye states his purpose: he wants Nagato and Konan to swear loyalty to him. He appeals to their connection to Konoha through Jiraiya and claims they owe him because he killed Danzo, whom he blames for Yahiko’s death.

Character developments and interactions

• Nagato moves from stubborn denial toward painful recognition. The possibility that his defining power and life’s purpose were imposed on him devastates him, echoing Kisame’s earlier collapse after discovering his own life was built on a falsehood.
• Konan shifts from doubt to belief in Xuanye’s account. Unlike Nagato, she is willing to face the possibility that the Akatsuki’s sacrifices were manipulated.
• Xuanye uses intimate knowledge of the Rinnegan and Nagato’s physical deterioration to break Nagato’s remaining defenses. He then turns that psychological victory into a demand for allegiance.
• Konan and Xuanye engage in a wary exchange: she identifies that his revelation must serve a purpose, and he confirms that he intends to recruit them.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and stolen agency: Nagato may have been used as a vessel for the Rinnegan, while the Akatsuki’s ideals may have been exploited.
• The collapse of identity: Accepting the truth threatens to make Nagato’s sacrifices—and Yahiko’s death—seem meaningless.
• Truth versus denial: Nagato resists reality to preserve his sense of purpose; Konan chooses to examine the evidence.
• Power and its cost: The Rinnegan grants immense abilities but drains Nagato’s body and life, turning apparent strength into a hidden burden.

Plot points and events

• Konan and Nagato are forced to consider surrendering to Konoha: they are prisoners of Uchiha Genya, and refusal could cost them their lives.
• Xuanye argues that Konoha has already punished Danzo and can help Nagato recover. He claims Konoha’s Wood Release technology could restore Nagato’s failing body and extend his life.
• Xuanye hints that Nagato has little value to him beyond his Uzumaki bloodline and his usefulness as leverage over Konan.
• Misreading Xuanye’s intentions, Nagato believes Konan is in danger and desperately pounds on his cell door, despite his injuries and inability to use chakra. He begs her not to sacrifice herself for him.
• Xuanye reveals his actual demand: Konan is to direct Konoha’s Explosive Tag Printing Factory and meet a monthly production quota. In exchange, he will prolong Nagato’s life.
• Konan is not reassured by the clarification. She is furious that Xuanye is using Nagato to coerce her into working for Konoha.

Character developments and interactions

• Konan remains loyal to Nagato and refuses to abandon him, but her loyalty leaves her vulnerable to Xuanye’s bargaining tactics. Her fear turns to anger when she learns that he intends to exploit her Paper Release abilities.
• Nagato shows how deeply he cares for Konan, regardless of whether their bond is romantic. Having already lost Yahiko, he would rather die than see Konan harmed for his sake. His weakness and helplessness make him unable to protect her.
• Xuanye/Uchiha Genya uses the threat to Nagato’s life as leverage, presenting coercion as a practical bargain. He values Konan for her abilities and treats Nagato as both a hostage and a means of preserving the Uzumaki bloodline.
• Jiraiya is relieved when he realizes Xuanye is after Konan’s skills rather than her beauty, though he recognizes that the arrangement is still exploitative.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and sacrifice: Nagato and Konan’s devotion to one another is rooted in their shared past and the loss of Yahiko.
• Coercion disguised as a bargain: Xuanye offers Nagato’s treatment in exchange for Konan’s labor, making the deal “useful” but not freely chosen.
• Powerlessness and exploitation: Nagato’s physical condition and Konan’s abilities become tools for others to control them.

Key events

• Xuanye recruits Konan to work for him, offering to keep Nagato safe while she works off the Akatsuki’s crimes. Konan accepts, though she distrusts his promises.
• Nagato panics when Konan leaves prison, convinced Xuanye has coerced her. Xuanye reveals that he has placed Flying Thunder God marks on both captives so they cannot escape.
• Xuanye plans to revive Nawaki soon, both to pressure Orochimaru and Tsunade and to attract people hoping to resurrect loved ones. He wonders whether seeing this will motivate Konan to seek Yahiko’s revival.
• Gaara, captured by Kabuto and brought to Konoha, finds himself treated far better than he was in Sunagakure. A new seal quiets Shukaku enough for him to sleep peacefully.
• When Xuanye visits, Gaara asks if he is going to die. Xuanye says Rasa lied to him and invites him to join Konoha as his “lackey,” promising a better future and the chance to meet other children. Gaara rejects the offer of friendship but does not clearly reject joining Konoha.

Character developments and interactions

• Konan quickly sets aside her anger and accepts the arrangement as the best way to protect Nagato. Her years in the Akatsuki have made her pragmatic and wary of relying on anyone’s word.
• Nagato remains emotionally attached to Konan and fears for her safety, but his protests cannot change their situation.
• Xuanye treats people as useful assets, combining threats with incentives. He expects Konan to comply because Nagato is in his power, and he is curious about how the possibility of resurrection might affect her.
• Gaara is still isolated and distrustful, but Konoha’s kindness and the quiet inside him bring him an unfamiliar sense of peace. He sees Xuanye’s bluntness as preferable to Rasa’s cruelty, though he remains reluctant to trust anyone or form attachments.

Significant themes

• Control disguised as opportunity: Xuanye’s offers come with coercion and surveillance, leaving others to choose within limits he controls.
• Trust and pragmatism: Konan accepts help without believing in promises, while Gaara responds to Xuanye’s honesty despite his suspicion.
• Isolation and the possibility of belonging: Gaara has begun to experience safety, but his rejection of friendship shows how deeply his mistreatment has shaped him.
• The hope and cost of resurrection: Xuanye’s plan to revive Nawaki raises the prospect of restoring lost loved ones—and the possibility that this hope could be used to influence people.

Plot points and events

• Xuanye recognizes that Gaara’s childhood abuse has left him deeply distrustful. Rather than expect him to bond with others immediately, Xuanye gives him time to settle in and plans to send him to school.
• Xuanye loosens Gaara’s seal, releasing Shukaku. The One-Tail starts to form a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Xuanye subdues him with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Shukaku refuses to accept human control, despite Matatabi warning him that resistance will bring trouble. Xuanye decides Gaara will need Shukaku’s help keeping his violent impulses in check.
• Xuanye opens a path to the Plane of Euthymia, where Kurama is being held by Raiden Ei. Kurama begs to be released and offers valuable powers and knowledge, but Xuanye ignores him.
• Shukaku hears Kurama’s desperate pleas and mistakes them for a request to be rescued. Ei continues tormenting Kurama, deciding to punish him for still trying to escape her control.

Character developments

• Gaara remains wary and hostile toward the prospect of friendship; his trauma is still central to how he responds to Xuanye.
• Xuanye shows a pragmatic, controlling approach: he makes no promise of instant trust and uses force to bring Shukaku under control.
• Shukaku is proud and defiant, though he becomes unsettled when he hears Kurama’s humiliating cries.
• Matatabi is more sympathetic toward her fellow Tailed Beasts, warning Shukaku even though she expects him to ignore her.
• Kurama has been psychologically broken by his captivity and now sees being sealed inside a Jinchūriki as preferable to Ei’s control.
• Raiden Ei treats Kurama as a disobedient pet and plans increasingly harsh “training.”

Themes and character interactions

• Trauma and trust: Gaara’s abuse has lasting consequences; trust cannot be won with a few reassuring words.
• Power and resistance: Xuanye controls Shukaku through the Mangekyō, while Shukaku insists that Tailed Beasts should never be slaves.
• Humiliation and reversal: Kurama’s former pride contrasts sharply with his terror of Ei, leaving Shukaku shocked by his weakness.
• Sibling concern: Matatabi warns Shukaku out of concern, while Kurama’s cries briefly make Shukaku feel a sense of kinship.
• Key interactions: Xuanye manages Gaara and dominates Shukaku; Matatabi tries to caution Shukaku; and Ei responds to Kurama’s defiance with further punishment.