Chapter Summaries

Akatsuki captured the Seven-Tails and discussed using it as a Jinchuriki, while Shiro and Fugaku arranged for the Six-Tails to rampage through Kirigakure. Black Zetsu and Yao began preparing to act as the story’s competing plans continued to shift.

• Jiying and Akatsuki defeated Takigakure’s forces, and Nagato had the Animal Path use a Contract Seal to capture the Seven-Tails.
• Nagato proposed making one of Akatsuki’s members the Seven-Tails’ Jinchuriki, but everyone declined.
• Shiro extracted some of the Six-Tails’ Chakra, and Fugaku used his Mangekyo Sharingan to hypnotize the Jinchuriki and the beast.
• Shiro altered the Six-Tails’ seal, and Fugaku arranged for the Jinchuriki to return to Kirigakure under his ocular suggestion.
• A few days later, Shiro watched the Six-Tails attack Kirigakure’s camp, while Black Zetsu and Yao prepared to act.

Watanabe Asahi and his three Jonin teammates fought Doma Umaru in Orochimaru’s forest, using careful tactics and Earth Release to counter his traps. Doma Umaru exploited the strength of his revived body and killed all four Iwa-nin.

• Watanabe Asahi’s squad cautiously entered the forest and defeated an Eight-Headed Snake Demon without falling for its apparent weakness.
• Doma Umaru approached the team, and his invisible spider threads cut apart their decoys after they used the Substitution Technique.
• Watanabe revealed the spider threads with Earth Release: Mud Flow, while his squad evaded Doma Umaru’s attacks using the Fish Projection Technique.
• Doma Umaru disrupted their movement with Earth Wave and killed three teammates with Clay Ants as Watanabe confronted him.
• Watanabe’s Rock Clone and Explosive Tags failed to deceive Doma Umaru, who countered with a Clay Clone and attacked with Lava Release.
• Doma Umaru stopped the four Iwa-nin from forming hand seals with Thread Stitching Technique and burned them to ash with magma.

After defeating the Raikage and rescuing Minato’s team, Uzumaki Tiezhu returned to Konoha’s camp, where the commanders planned how to handle the Raikage’s speed. Jiraiya volunteered to confront him using a new Sage Art, and Tsunade received orders to head to the Land of Lightning battlefield to save a reckless idiot.

• Tiezhu noticed that Killer B had escaped from the Eight-Tails’ empty shell, then helped Minato’s team seal it and return to camp.
• Minato’s side learned that Orochimaru had stopped the Land of Earth’s offensive and that Kirigakure’s Six-Tails Jinchuriki had lost control, easing pressure on the Land of Lightning front.
• Homura and Koharu questioned how Konoha could counter the Raikage’s speed, and Jiraiya offered to fight him with a new Sage Art guided by the Great Toad Sage.
• The elders insisted that Tiezhu test Jiraiya before approving his plan, and the group conducted a secret exercise while White Zetsu withdrew from the area.
• Tsunade received orders to prepare for the Land of Lightning battlefield, destroyed the order in anger, and told Shizune they were going to save a reckless idiot.

Ryoka and Suzune defeated a group of Mist ninja, while Shisui, Ayue, and Soji were trapped in a battle with Kushimaru Kuriarare, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Ayue enclosed Kuriarare in her Mirror Barrier and used it to reposition Shisui and Soji, but Kuriarare adapted to their attacks and began countering them more quickly.

• Ryoka used Time Alter while Suzune supported her with silver threads, and they killed the Mist ninja they encountered after their mission target had already escaped.
• Shisui, Ayue, and Soji defeated several Mist ninja, then faced Kushimaru Kuriarare, who demanded to know which Konoha ninja had the Lightning Blade.
• Ayue activated her Mirror Barrier, trapping Kuriarare in a distorted space while Shisui and Soji watched from spatial faults.
• Ayue shifted Shisui and Soji around the barrier to launch repeated attacks, but Kuriarare blocked or countered them and grew increasingly familiar with their pattern.

Gari defeated and sealed several Impure World ninja on the Land of Earth battlefield as Iwa-nin explosions advanced their terrain-alteration plan. Mori agreed to help Orochimaru and questioned Hagoromo’s absence, while Kitsuchi trapped several Edo Tensei ninja—until one burst free and attacked him.

• Gari killed the reckless Impure World ninja with Explosion Release, then defeated and sealed the old man and another opponent.
• After signal flares appeared, Gari triggered a massive explosion that advanced the Iwa-nin terrain-alteration plan by a tenth.
• Mori discussed his unusual condition with Chiyo and Ebizo, declined to intervene in the war, and agreed to retrieve something for Orochimaru.
• Kitsuchi used a chain of Earth Release techniques to crush and seal several Edo Tensei ninja.
• One blood-red figure burst out of an earthen pillar and lunged at Kitsuchi.

Ayue, Shisui, and Soji abandoned their attack on Kushimaru and withdrew, but Kushimaru pursued them until Taichi intercepted and sealed his water clone. Taichi escorted the three back to camp while the real Kushimaru stayed hidden, wary of Taichi.

• Ayue pulled Shisui and Soji out of the Mirror Barrier after they ran low on Chakra and could not overcome Kushimaru.
• Kushimaru triggered the Explosive Tags and chased the three children as they retreated toward camp.
• Shisui sent a distress signal, and Taichi appeared to confront Kushimaru, sealing his water clone before it could attack.
• Taichi explained that the sealing technique could capture a clone’s consciousness and warned the children to beware of similar techniques.
• Taichi took the children back to camp and said he would tell Shiro about their actions, while the real Kushimaru stayed hidden and watched them leave.

Shiro observed that the Six-Tails Chakra extract had stabilized Natural Energy, advancing his experiments into the connection between Natural Energy, Tailed Beast authority, and Age of Gods Magecraft. He sealed the sample and began looking for magecraft knowledge to trade with Orochimaru for access to Eight-Tails Chakra.

• Shiro reassured Gray Snake that Taichi and Ayue could handle the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, while explaining that Ayue should limit her Mystic Eyes use until she understood their growth and could bear their burden.
• Gray Snake discovered that the Six-Tails extract had made Natural Energy stable and gentle, allowing Chakra to gather into Sage Art Chakra with little control.
• Shiro revealed that he was studying the relationship between Natural Energy and Mana Source, and how Tailed Beast authority might enable Age of Gods Magecraft, rather than trying to learn Sage Art.
• Shiro concluded that his experiments with the One-Tail and Six-Tails extracts supported his theory that Tailed Beast substances could neutralize or manipulate authority within Natural Energy.
• Shiro sealed the successful Six-Tails sample and searched for magecraft knowledge to trade with Orochimaru for his Eight-Tails Chakra.

Kitsuchi fought a pseudo-Jinchuriki on the Land of Earth battlefield and prepared to take him back to Iwagakure. Mori appeared, subdued Kitsuchi, and struck him into a near-death state while approaching the pseudo-Jinchuriki.

• Kitsuchi pinned the pseudo-Jinchuriki with a Rock Golem and used the Super-Weighted Rock Technique to restrain him.
• Mori cut the sealing cloth with Shuriken and said he had come to take the pseudo-Jinchuriki away.
• Kitsuchi recognized the name Emiya and refused to surrender his captive, while Mori waited as Kitsuchi refined Chakra.
• Mori used Chakra manipulation to immobilize Kitsuchi, who broke free and charged at him.
• Mori shattered Kitsuchi's rock fist with a blue-Chakra punch and blasted him hundreds of meters away, leaving him near death.

Mori defeated the pseudo-Jinchuriki and brought him to Orochimaru’s camp, where he learned Orochimaru and Shiro had been researching Tailed Beasts with magecraft materials. Mori left to plan how to give the world more chances, while Orochimaru considered changing his Tailed Beast research after discovering Shiro’s Divine Magecraft.

• Kitsuchi ordered the Rock Golem to free the pseudo-Jinchuriki and attack Mori, but Mori smashed the golem apart.
• The pseudo-Jinchuriki attacked Mori, who kicked him into the ground, dispersed his Tailed Beast Cloak, and bound him with a Chakra Chain.
• Mori ignored the wounded Kitsuchi and carried the captured pseudo-Jinchuriki to Orochimaru’s camp.
• Mori praised Orochimaru’s Tailed Beast research, hinted that it might offer a slim chance of survival, and then left to plan his next steps.
• Orochimaru read the magecraft materials Shiro had exchanged with him and considered changing his Tailed Beast plan after learning of Shiro’s Divine Magecraft.

Shiro learned that his former teammates Seiyu and Chosuke had been killed in action, while Ryoka and Suzune died after exhausting their limited life force to help him. With Kirigakure approaching, Shiro ordered that he would fight alone.

• Shisui, Soji, and Ayue found a casualty report naming Seiyu and Chosuke and went to tell Shiro.
• Shiro explained that Ryoka and Suzune had only three years to live and had spent their remaining life force helping him on the Land of Water battlefield.
• Shisui told Shiro that Seiyu and Chosuke had been killed in action, and Shiro said he had long expected their deaths but had not expected them so soon.
• Fugaku arrived and warned Shiro that Kirigakure was approaching.
• Shiro ordered Fugaku to tell the others that he would fight alone, and Fugaku agreed while promising the Konoha forces would intervene if needed.

Shiro remembered his friends Chosuke and Seiyu telling him they planned to marry before the war, and asking him to end the fighting quickly. He arrived at the front line with a golden ripple opening behind him, privately admitting he would disappoint them.

• Shiro recalled Ryoka and Suzune learning Magecraft and daily customs, then remembered talking with Chosuke and Seiyu before the war.
• At an izakaya, Shiro learned that Chosuke and Seiyu were getting married and understood their fear that the war might take their lives.
• Shiro offered to help them, but Chosuke declined and asked him to end the war quickly while keeping himself safe.
• Shiro reached the front line as a golden ripple unfolded behind him, and he thought he would disappoint Chosuke.

Shiro fought alone against Kirigakure to keep the war from ending too quickly, using Enkidu, taijutsu, and magecraft to overwhelm the Mist ninja. After surviving their attacks and countering the Kaguya and Yuki clan members, he emerged from the steam and announced that round two had begun.

• Shiro advanced toward the Kirigakure formation, and Orochimaru’s consciousness appeared as a white snake to remind him to follow their plan to prolong the war.
• Shiro used Enkidu to pierce charging Mist ninja, then fought the ones who broke through with Reinforcement Magecraft and powerful taijutsu.
• Six Mist ninja trapped Shiro with Water Release attacks, but he countered with the Five Elements Great Barrage Technique and survived the water dragons using Zeroing.
• Shiro dodged and endured a barrage of Water Release attacks while killing Mist ninja, then clashed with a Kaguya clan member and a Yuki clan member.
• Shiro triggered the battlefield’s Magecraft position, blasting the two clan members with flame and steam before emerging unharmed and declaring round two had begun.

Akatsuki’s Jiying, Sasori, and the Human Path attacked the Fire Daimyo’s wartime shelter, where Konoha ninja and the Fire Temple abbot mounted a defense. The Human Path overwhelmed the ordinary guards but was battered by the abbot’s Thousand-Armed Murder technique.

• Nagato accepted a lucrative contract to assassinate the Fire Daimyo and divided Akatsuki into teams targeting the Daimyo, Konoha, and rival mercenaries.
• Jiying, Sasori, and the Human Path advanced toward the Daimyo’s shelter, while the abbot prepared to defend him alongside Konoha ninja and Might Duy.
• The Human Path blocked a Konoha ninja’s attack as Jiying clashed with Duy and Sasori sent human puppets against the defenders.
• The abbot struck the Human Path with Raigo: Thousand-Armed Murder, but the Human Path recovered and attacked the Konoha guards, disabling several with black rods.
• The Human Path defeated the remaining guards and charged the abbot again, who unleashed One Hundred Hands and overwhelmed it with invisible strikes.

Kushina stopped an Akatsuki-led attack on Konoha and captured the surviving attacker, though White Zetsu secretly removed evidence afterward. Elsewhere, Xun offered Kakuzu money to kill Meichuan, and Kakuzu called Meichuan over.

• Kushina arrived in Tailed Beast Mode and protected Konoha’s ninja from Hiruko’s test subjects and an Akatsuki attacker.
• Kushina’s Chakra hands overwhelmed the test subjects, and Hiruko killed them remotely to conceal his experiments.
• Kushina captured the Akatsuki attacker, while White Zetsu later removed clues linking the attackers to Akatsuki.
• Kakuzu and Xun faced off on the battlefield, and Xun offered Kakuzu forty million to kill Meichuan.
• Kakuzu questioned Xun’s offer, then loudly called Meichuan over.

Meichuan and Kakuzu confronted Xun’s squad while the Akatsuki’s attack on the Daimyo’s forces reached its climax. Duy unleashed the Gate of Wonder against Jiying, but the Animal Path used a Summoning Technique to pull Jiying and two others away from his Daytime Tiger.

• Meichuan charged to Kakuzu, who tore out his heart to claim a forty-million bounty, but Meichuan remained alive and complained about the treatment.
• Kakuzu offered Xun’s squad a deal for Meichuan’s body, but Xun recognized the trap and prepared to fight; Kakuzu let Meichuan handle them.
• Jiying activated Body of Black Steel and fought Duy, eventually gaining the advantage with Body of Black Steel: Extreme.
• Duy opened the Gate of View and struck Jiying, then opened the Gate of Wonder after seeing Konoha’s forces being overwhelmed.
• The Animal Path used a Summoning Technique to remove Jiying, two others, and a corpse just before Duy’s Daytime Tiger devastated the battlefield.

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin prepared for a mission to destroy a Cloud Village outpost, while Kakashi reconsidered his reliance on powerful ninjutsu after seeing Tiezhu’s techniques. Kakashi subdued the outpost’s defenders, but Obito became locked in a drawn-out fight with Karu.

• Kakashi rethought his training and decided to study low-level ninjutsu more seriously, while Obito and Rin continued strengthening their existing skills.
• Kakashi, Obito, and Rin investigated a Cloud Village outpost and waited several days for a chance to strike, unaware that a hidden threat was closing in.
• When Karu left on patrol with two genin, Kakashi and Obito split their attack between the patrol and the four ninja remaining at the outpost.
• Kakashi used the Hidden Mist Technique and water clones to trap the four defenders in Water Prison Techniques, then poisoned them and began clearing the camp’s traps.
• Obito’s Sharingan helped him counter Karu, but an early disruption left him in a prolonged fight as Karu prepared to boost his speed and strength with Lightning Release.

Obito defeated Karu and returned to the stronghold, where Kakashi told him Rin had vanished. As Kakashi and Obito set out to find her, Black Zetsu’s plan to abduct Rin succeeded, leaving the schemes around their squad in motion.

• Obito used hidden threads and fire techniques to kill Karu, then took a detour back to the stronghold.
• Obito found Kakashi there and learned Rin had disappeared, then grabbed Kakashi in disbelief before Kakashi urged him to focus on rescuing her.
• Kakashi and Obito packed up and departed to deliver the intelligence and search for Rin.
• After preparing medical supplies, Rin began training, but a concealed White Zetsu seized her and carried her underground.
• Black Zetsu told Yao to wait for Obito to return and lose hope in Konoha before making their next move.

Shiro’s victory on the Land of Water battlefield pushed Kirigakure toward retreat and threatened to end the war ahead of schedule. He met with Orochimaru and Azu to discuss their plans, then challenged Azu’s assumption that ninja were better experiment subjects than bandits, leaving Orochimaru to explain why they avoided using bandits.

• Shiro overwhelmed the remaining Mist ninjas with territory magecraft, and the Mizukage ordered Kirigakure to retreat after realizing the battle was lost.
• Shiro killed the abandoned Mist ninjas and concluded that Kirigakure would soon seek peace, so he contacted Orochimaru to adjust their plans.
• A crow carrying Azu’s will delivered intelligence to Shiro, who used it to speak privately with Azu and Orochimaru.
• Shiro and Orochimaru discussed the approaching end of the war, their shortage of living ninja subjects, and a risky plan Shiro was preparing to attempt.
• Azu asked why they needed ninja for experiments instead of bandits, and Shiro explained that ninja were no better than bandits before inviting Orochimaru to explain the choice.

Orochimaru explained why chakra made bandits unsuitable for experiments while Konoha launched surprise attacks on Kumogakure and Kirigakure. On the Iwagakure battlefield, Mori tested Orochimaru’s combat strength and discovered his experiments aimed to fuse multiple chakra natures.

• Orochimaru explained to Azu that everyone possessed chakra, but differences in its quantity made ordinary people unsuitable as experimental subjects.
• The Third Hokage led Anbu toward Kumogakure to attack its exposed base and seize its ninjutsu records.
• Danzo ordered Root to stop concealing themselves and charge into Kirigakure, despite the casualties and heightened defenses.
• Orochimaru reduced the Cursed Forest’s growth so Iwagakure’s forces could advance and the battle could end before the Third Hokage’s attack was complete.
• Mori demanded to see Orochimaru’s strength, and Orochimaru revealed six chakra-nature clones and discussed pursuing Kekkei Mōra through fusion experiments.

Orochimaru told Mori about his experiments toward creating Kekkei Mōra, and Mori shared what he knew about the Otsutsuki and warned him about Emiya Shiro. Mori then revealed a powerful bloodline ability as they approached the Iwagakure forces, where Ōnoki launched a Dust Release attack.

• Orochimaru explained that he was struggling to fuse three or more chakra types and described how his Undying Snake and Orochimaru Network aided his experiments.
• Mori admitted he knew little about Kekkei Mōra but agreed to tell Orochimaru what he knew, including information about the Otsutsuki, the world’s changing situation, and the Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release.
• Mori warned Orochimaru to be careful of Emiya Shiro, but Orochimaru remained confident in their cooperation and listened as Mori shared more about chakra and Tailed Beast chakra.
• Mori walked toward the Iwagakure Shinobi and changed his aura, revealing to Orochimaru that the Emiya Clan’s power was a bloodline rather than a secret art.
• Mori and Orochimaru approached Ōnoki’s forces, and Ōnoki’s decoy was exposed before the real Ōnoki attacked with Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu.