Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru verified Bane’s Scroll of Sealing and agreed to stay in Ryuchi Cave to help research the integration of spirit and flesh. In Konoha, Sasuke Uchiha, frustrated by his stalled growth and desperate to avenge his parents, listened as Kabuto Yakushi offered him Orochimaru’s apprenticeship.

• Bane gave Orochimaru the Scroll of Sealing to authenticate and invited him to remain in Ryuchi Cave as a research partner and tutor for Nami.
• Orochimaru confirmed that the scroll was genuine, examined Bane’s work on spiritualizing the body, and agreed to settle in Ryuchi Cave.
• Sasuke Uchiha reflected on becoming a Chunin, his rejected request to join the Sunagakure front, and his fear that he was falling behind Naruto Uzumaki and Itachi Uchiha.
• Kabuto Yakushi arrived at Sasuke’s home and said Orochimaru wanted to take him as a disciple and pass on his legacy.
• Sasuke let Kabuto inside and, despite suspecting Orochimaru had ulterior motives, felt tempted by the chance to become stronger.

Sasuke Uchiha agreed to leave Konoha with Kabuto Yakushi and travel to Ryuchi Cave to meet Orochimaru. After saying goodbye to Sakura Haruno and departing openly from the village, he met Kabuto at the ravine and prepared to set out.

• Sasuke Uchiha chose to leave Konoha openly, planning to leave a letter and meet Kabuto Yakushi outside the village.
• Kabuto Yakushi told the Sound Four that Sasuke had agreed to go, and they left to take the gravely ill Kimimaro to Ryuchi Cave on Orochimaru's orders.
• Sasuke packed his belongings and left Konoha, pausing to remember Naruto Uzumaki and promising himself he would not lose to him again.
• Sasuke encountered Sakura Haruno, refused her offer to come along, and exchanged a brief farewell with her.
• Sasuke registered at the village gate, left Konoha, and met Kabuto Yakushi near the ravine.

Borsalino discovered a massive World-Crossing Gate at Whole Cake Island and secured the area while the Marines investigated it. After prisoners returned safely from the other side, Vice Admiral Doll entered the gate to scout and attempt to contact Bane and his companions.

• Sengoku and Kuzan discussed who might succeed Sengoku as Chief Administrator, and Sengoku said Bane's support could overcome opposition to Dragon.
• Borsalino called Sengoku to report a huge World-Crossing Gate at the ruins of Whole Cake Island.
• Borsalino and Vice Admiral Doll evacuated the island and sealed off the surrounding waters while Sengoku ordered Marine forces to gather and head there.
• Vice Admiral Maynard sent death-row prisoners through the gate, and each returned alive, reporting a dark forest with no people in sight.
• Borsalino decided someone needed to scout the other side, and Vice Admiral Doll entered the gate carrying a Den Den Mushi to try to contact Bane and his companions.

Vice Admiral Doll crossed a newly opened World-Crossing Gate from Whole Cake Island into The Empire and contacted Zephyr in New Dar, where he and the others shared intelligence and planned to reinforce her. After confirming that communication worked only between people who had already crossed, Borsalino began preparing a large-scale Marine deployment as Sakazuki called for another World Military Draft.

• Vice Admiral Doll emerged in a mountain forest, found that she could contact Zephyr but not Bane or the others, and reported her situation to him.
• Zephyr explained that Bane and the others were away and briefed Doll on The Empire, while Doll shared what she knew about the gate and her arrival.
• Zephyr urged Doll and Borsalino to send forces through the gate, secure it, and identify their location, and Doll recorded New Dar's coordinates as a fallback.
• Doll returned through the gate to Whole Cake Island while she and Zephyr counted to test their connection, and Borsalino confirmed that he could not contact Garp until crossing over.
• Dr. Genus proposed bringing a signal relay and Mother Flame Source energy device, while Borsalino assembled the garrison and alerted Marine leaders.
• Sakazuki called for another World Military Draft as Marine Headquarters and Mary Geoise began mobilizing for the expedition.

After Borsalino discovered an activated World-Crossing Gate on Whole Cake Island, the Marines redirected supplies and summoned powerful allies to prepare for operations in another world. Their expedition began establishing a base and sending intelligence agents into the Empire, while Bane remained unaware of the invasion plan.

• Sengoku ordered Dragon to send construction materials and workers meant for Mary Geoise and the East Blue bridge to Whole Cake Island, then left Dragon in charge as acting Commander-in-Chief.
• Hina ordered Meruvio's weapons and controlled supplies shipped to Whole Cake Island, and told Tashigi that the plan to conquer another world had begun.
• Borsalino, Sakazuki, Sengoku, and Kuzan coordinated forces and supplies through the Den Den Mushi, summoning available fighters including Hancock, Mihawk, Magellan, Jinbe, Kuma, the Seraphim, and Aramaki.
• Vice Admiral Doll oversaw the construction of a defensive camp beyond the World-Crossing Gate as Stussy arrived with Spandine and her intelligence team.
• Stussy set out to infiltrate the Empire and gather intelligence while the Marines' conquest plan advanced without Bane's knowledge.

Nami trained with Orochimaru by fighting him using the Eight Gates and her martial arts, demonstrating her rapid progress and Phoenix healing. After Kabuto Yakushi and Sasuke Uchiha arrived and Kabuto mistakenly attacked her, Nami departed to train alone while Orochimaru told Sasuke his interest in him had waned.

• Sasuke Uchiha and Kabuto Yakushi arrived near Ryuchi Cave and saw Nami battling Orochimaru.
• Nami opened her Fifth Gate, smashed Orochimaru’s Double Rashomon, and fought through his clone, underground attack, and giant snake technique before recovering with her Phoenix flames.
• Nami practiced the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, but Kabuto Yakushi mistook her for an enemy and struck her with weapons and Water Style needles.
• Nami healed her injuries, greeted Kabuto Yakushi and Sasuke Uchiha, and introduced herself as Phoenix Nami.
• Nami transformed into a Phoenix and flew away to train alone, while Orochimaru told Sasuke Uchiha that he was no longer as interested in him.

Orochimaru brought Kabuto Yakushi and Sasuke Uchiha to meet Bane, who heard how Konoha’s war with Sunagakure had ended and considered Sasuke’s request to become his disciple. Bane then tested whether absorbing spiritualized Sharingan could grant him their abilities, but the pair proved too weak to affect his soul.

• Orochimaru led Kabuto Yakushi and Sasuke Uchiha into Ryuchi Cave to meet Bane.
• Kabuto Yakushi reported that Konoha and Sunagakure had signed a peace treaty, and he shared rumors portraying Orochimaru as having secretly engineered Sunagakure’s defeat.
• Sasuke Uchiha asked Bane to make him a disciple so he could gain power for revenge, and Bane told him to train under Orochimaru first.
• Bane spiritualized a pair of Sharingan and absorbed them into his soul, but found their influence too insignificant to give him the Sharingan Kekkei Genkai.
• Orochimaru suggested that Bane try absorbing many more Sharingan or stronger ones such as Mangekyo.

Zoro and Wyper encountered Yugito Nii being pursued by Kakuzu and Hidan in an underground facility near Cloud Hidden Village. Zoro cut down the Akatsuki members, but they revived, while Yugito transformed into Matatabi and attacked Wyper.

• Zoro and Wyper argued as they explored an underground facility near Cloud Hidden Village and encountered Yugito Nii fleeing Kakuzu and Hidan.
• Yugito proposed joining forces against the Akatsuki, but Zoro rushed forward and cut Kakuzu and Hidan in half before turning his attention to her.
• Kakuzu and Hidan revived, and Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear threads pierced Zoro but failed to affect his lightning body.
• Zoro cut Hidan into dozens of pieces while Yugito tried to escape by attacking Wyper.
• Wyper overpowered Yugito and hurled her into a wall, but she emerged in her full Matatabi form and fired a massive fireball at him.

Wyper and Zoro defeated Kakuzu and Hidan and captured Yugito Nii, while Nagato ordered Itachi Uchiha and Kisame to retrieve Matatabi. As Wyper planned to return Yugito to Bane, Zoro decided to visit the Cloud Hidden Village alone despite Wyper questioning whether he knew the way.

• Wyper used Super Reject and Rokushiki techniques to defeat Yugito Nii and knock her out of her Tailed Beast transformation.
• Zoro killed Kakuzu by destroying his final heart, then reduced Hidan's scattered body parts to ashes with lightning.
• Nagato learned that Kakuzu and Hidan had died and sent Itachi Uchiha and Kisame to bring Matatabi back.
• Konan told Nagato that a mysterious entity called the Spirit Venerable had taken Shukaku, and that Naruto Uzumaki was traveling with Jiraiya.
• Wyper carried the unconscious Yugito out of the underground facility and proposed returning to Ryuchi Cave to hand her over to Bane.
• Zoro proposed going to the Cloud Hidden Village alone, and Wyper asked whether he even knew the way.

The Fourth Raikage investigated the battle site where Yugito Nii vanished and ordered inquiries into the powerful groups targeting Tailed Beasts. In the Land of Water, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki completed their intelligence mission, then learned they were being sent to the Cloud Hidden Village and that Sasuke Uchiha had left Konoha to follow Orochimaru.

• The Fourth Raikage examined Kakuzu's corpse and the battle traces, concluding that a powerful third party had defeated Yugito Nii and killed her pursuers.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered the Anbu to investigate the rogue ninja from Takigakure, search for sword-wielding suspects, and contact other villages about attacks on their Jinchuriki.
• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki learned that Kirigakure had no Tailed Beast Jinchuriki in the village and asked Black and White Zetsu to locate the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and the lake hiding the Three-Tails Isobu.
• Black and White Zetsu told Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki that Kakuzu and Hidan had died during their mission in the Cloud Hidden Village, and Pain assigned the pair to go there next.
• Black Zetsu told Itachi Uchiha that Sasuke Uchiha had left Konoha to follow Orochimaru, prompting Itachi to leave angrily.

Tsunade returned to Konoha and discovered Hiruzen Sarutobi had faked his grave condition to lure her back. After confronting him, she reluctantly agreed to become the Fifth Hokage.

• Tsunade, Jiraiya, Naruto Uzumaki, and Shizune arrived at Konoha, where Shikaku Nara and the other jonin welcomed them.
• Kakashi told Naruto Uzumaki that Sasuke had left the village to seek out Orochimaru as an undercover agent.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi pretended to be near death so Tsunade would return and accept the position of Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's healthy complexion, exposed his deception, and smashed his bed before sending Jiraiya crashing through the wall.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shikaku Nara urged Tsunade to lead Konoha, and the jonin joined them in asking her to become Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade reluctantly agreed to take the position, and Hiruzen Sarutobi promised to guide her.

Tsunade became Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, and Jiraiya told her he planned to take Naruto to Mount Myoboku before investigating Akatsuki’s suspected base in Amegakure. Tsunade gave him the Spirit Venerable’s scroll and her Yin Seal for protection, while Kakashi went to discuss Team 7’s future with her.

• Tsunade officially succeeded Hiruzen Sarutobi as Fifth Hokage, and Jiraiya told her he planned to train Naruto at Mount Myoboku and scout Amegakure.
• Tsunade showed Jiraiya intelligence about the missing Two-Tails Jinchuriki and asked him to explain Akatsuki and the Spirit Venerable.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade he suspected Akatsuki was based in Amegakure and that he wanted Naruto away from Konoha to prevent a conflict from endangering the village.
• Tsunade gave Jiraiya a scroll containing the Spirit Venerable’s Natural Energy and Chakra, along with her Yin Seal, so he could use them if needed.
• Jiraiya met Kakashi outside the Hokage Office and left to collect Naruto, while Kakashi entered the building to discuss Team 7 with Tsunade.

At Ryuchi Cave, Nami cared for the unconscious Kimimaro while Sasuke Uchiha meditated to control his Cursed Seal. Sasuke activated Sage Mode on his twenty-sixth day of training, while Orochimaru continued his research and prepared a cloned vessel for himself.

• Yugito Nii complained as she swept Orochimaru's cavern, but said she obeyed because the Spirit Venerable would decide her fate.
• Nami checked Kimimaro's stable condition and used her Blue Flames to sustain him.
• Sasuke Uchiha complained about Orochimaru's Sharingan research and teaching, then meditated as his Cursed Seal power flared and began to subside.
• Nami recognized that Sasuke was nearing Sage Mode, and Yugito Nii said she wanted to learn it but would not betray the Cloud Hidden Village or Lord Fourth Raikage.
• Sasuke Uchiha activated Sage Mode, and Nami praised him for mastering it in twenty-six days.
• Orochimaru looked at his cloned body, deciding to ask the Spirit Venerable to transfer his soul into it and to spare Sasuke's life.

Sasuke mastered Sage Mode while Wyper awkwardly pursued Matatabi through Yugito, who studied Ryuchi Cave’s freely shared techniques despite being a prisoner. Outside Bane’s secluded training cave, Bane finally emerged after nearly three months and teased Wyper about romance.

• Wyper praised Sasuke for mastering Sage Mode and agreed to train Rokushiki with him.
• Yugito studied the Great Dragon Fire Technique and other techniques, while Orochimaru explained that Spirit Venerable might not prevent her from leaving Ryuchi Cave.
• Wyper brought lunch to Ain outside Bane’s cave and discussed his feelings for Yugito and Matatabi.
• Bane emerged from seclusion after nearly three months and teased Wyper about talking about romance.

Bane demonstrated his new soul-flesh technique by removing Matatabi from Yugito Nii without killing her, then transformed into a soul-form entity that Orochimaru identified as existing on a higher dimension. Meanwhile, Jiraiya infiltrated Amegakure to investigate the Akatsuki, but Pain detected his arrival.

• Bane extracted Yugito Nii's soul, released Matatabi, and suppressed the Two-Tails' Chakra.
• Bane reshaped Matatabi into a small Homie, sealed away its immense Chakra, and returned Yugito Nii's soul to her body unharmed.
• Bane revealed his revised Spirit Transformation Technique and demonstrated his soul-form, which Orochimaru explained could only be harmed by power involving the soul.
• Jiraiya traveled to the Land of Rain to gather intelligence on the Akatsuki and approached Amegakure through the rain.
• Deidara complained to Deva Path Pain after he and Sasori returned with Chōmei, but Pain sensed that Jiraiya had entered the range of his Rain Tiger at Will Technique.

Jiraiya infiltrated Amegakure and discovered the captured Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, whom he decided to rescue. Nagato detected him inside the prison and sent Konan and the Six Paths of Pain to stop him.

• Jiraiya investigated Amegakure, then used a toad to enter the village leader’s building through its drainage pipes.
• Jiraiya found the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, a badly injured man from Takigakure, imprisoned in a secure room.
• Jiraiya suspected that Deidara had captured the Jinchuriki and began inspecting the man’s seals and the room for traps.
• Nagato sensed Jiraiya in the prison cell and sent Konan to intercept him.
• Nagato warned the Akatsuki members in Amegakure and sent the Six Paths of Pain toward the building.

Jiraiya infiltrated Akatsuki’s hideout to free the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, but Obito and Konan confronted him. Jiraiya fought Konan until the Six Paths of Pain intervened, then summoned Gamabunta and turned the cramped corridor into a battlefield of rubble.

• Obito appeared behind Jiraiya, introduced himself as Tobi, and took the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki away while Jiraiya prepared to face Konan.
• Konan revealed that she served Yahiko’s organization and attacked Jiraiya with her Paper Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
• Jiraiya countered Konan’s paper attacks and trapped her in the corridor with a combined Earth, Fire, and Wind Style assault.
• Konan defended herself with a Water Wall, but the Preta Path absorbed Jiraiya’s flames as the Asura Path attacked him from behind.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, who crushed the Asura Path and sent Konan and the Preta Path flying through the building’s ruins.

Jiraiya confronted Pain and the Six Paths, but was overwhelmed by their Rinnegan abilities and pinned to a wall. Just as Deva Path Pain claimed godhood, Jiraiya summoned Bane, whose Haki swept across Amegakure and left Pain caught by the throat.

• Jiraiya recognized the Rinnegan in Pain and demanded that Konan explain what had happened to Nagato.
• Deva Path Pain declared himself a god and attacked Jiraiya, whose fire technique and summons were countered by the Six Paths.
• Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku and Shima, but Pain pulled him back, absorbed his Rasengan, and pinned him to a wall with black rods.
• Fukasaku and Shima briefly trapped Deva Path Pain with Frog Song, but he broke free and blasted Jiraiya away.
• Jiraiya activated a summoning scroll, and Bane appeared; his Haki incapacitated people across Amegakure as he seized Deva Path Pain by the throat.

Bane arrived to save Jiraiya and effortlessly withstood Nagato’s Almighty Push, then destroyed the Deva Path Pain with a single throw. Enraged by the destruction of Yahiko’s body, Nagato unleashed Chibaku Tensei as Bane watched with interest.

• Bane appeared in Amegakure, grabbed the Deva Path Pain, and asked Jiraiya whether his entrance had looked impressive.
• The Deva Path Pain unleashed Almighty Push, flattening half of Amegakure while Bane shielded the area behind him and remained unharmed.
• Bane identified the Deva Path Pain as a corpse and hurled it into the crater, pulverizing Yahiko’s body.
• Konan grieved over Yahiko’s destroyed body, while Nagato awoke in his hideout and ignored Obito Uchiha’s warning.
• Nagato lost control and cast Chibaku Tensei, drawing everything toward a black sphere as Bane observed the technique’s pull.

Bane defeated Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei, located his secret chamber, and attacked him before Nagato summoned the Gedo Statue. Bane then created his own Sage Art: Chibaku Tensei, sealed Nagato and the statue inside it, and began lifting the growing sphere into the sky as Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki watched from afar.

• Bane used Darkness Power to shield himself and Jiraiya from Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei, then destroyed the enormous sphere with Star Explosion Fist.
• Bane located Nagato’s underground chamber and punched through its roof, while Obito Uchiha escaped using Kamui and Nagato was buried in the collapsing ruins.
• Deidara, Sasori, and Konan watched from a deep fissure as Nagato summoned the Gedo Statue and fused with it.
• Bane created his own Sage Art: Chibaku Tensei, which dragged the Gedo Statue and Nagato into the air and sealed them within the growing sphere.
• Bane guided the expanding sphere higher into the sky, while Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki saw it from a distant forest and wondered if it was Pain’s technique.