Recaps

Ueno Kei urged Jiraiya to let Naruto train to control the Nine-Tails’ chakra before Akatsuki could threaten Konoha. Jiraiya instead planned for Naruto to master senjutsu first, and Kei agreed after learning how quickly Naruto had sensed natural energy.

• Ueno Kei abandoned the plan to mass-produce Nine-Tails jinchuriki and told the researchers to clean up without harming Sora.
• Ueno Kei told Jiraiya that Naruto needed to begin training to control the Nine-Tails’ chakra because Akatsuki left Konoha little time to prepare.
• Ueno Kei discussed Konoha’s need to strengthen Naruto, Neji, Lee, and Shikamaru, noting that Shikamaru was being cultivated as a strategist.
• Ueno Kei urged Jiraiya to give Naruto the key to training with the Nine-Tails, but Jiraiya refused and proposed that Naruto learn senjutsu under Lord Fukasaku first.
• Jiraiya revealed that Naruto had sensed natural energy in under three hours at Mount Myoboku, and Ueno Kei agreed to follow Jiraiya’s plan.

Asuma led Kotetsu, Izumo, and Yamato to hunt the Akatsuki members who had killed Chiriku, driven by grief and a desire for revenge. They encountered Hidan near Konoha, and the two sides began fighting.

• Asuma asked where the nearest black market was as he set out to avenge Chiriku, and Kotetsu pointed out their destination on a map.
• Hidan complained that he and Kakuzu had been forbidden to pursue Konoha ninja, then spotted Asuma and welcomed the chance to fight.
• Asuma questioned Hidan about his companion while keeping watch for an ambush, and Hidan noticed Asuma's former Guardian Ninja marking and thought of his bounty.
• Yamato used Wood Release to send vines at Hidan as Izumo and Kotetsu moved in from both sides, but Hidan blocked the vines and became excited by Yamato's Wood Release.

Asuma led Kotetsu, Izumo, and Yamato to a black-market location while pursuing the Akatsuki members who had killed Chiriku. They confronted Hidan, and Yamato opened the fight with Wood Release as the team tried to capture him.

• Asuma asked Kotetsu where the nearest black market was, driven by grief and a desire to avenge Chiriku.
• Kotetsu identified the location, and Asuma continued toward it with Kotetsu, Izumo, and Yamato watching over him.
• Hidan complained that he had been forbidden from seeking out Konoha ninja, then spotted the approaching team and welcomed the chance to fight.
• Asuma questioned Hidan about his partner Kakuzu while checking for an ambush, and Hidan recognized Asuma as a valuable bounty target.
• Yamato used Wood Release—Vine Technique to attack Hidan as Izumo and Kotetsu moved to flank him, and Hidan blocked the vines and became excited by Yamato's Wood Release.

Kakuzu and Hidan confronted Asuma, Yamato, Izumo, and the injured Kotetsu after Kakuzu recognized Asuma as a fifty-thousand-ryo bounty target. As Kakuzu and Hidan overwhelmed Asuma and Yamato, the Konoha team appeared close to defeat.

• Kakuzu kicked Kotetsu into a wall, severely injuring him, and Hidan blamed Kakuzu for drawing the Konoha ninja to them.
• Kakuzu identified Asuma as the son of the Third Hokage and a fifty-thousand-ryo bounty, then claimed him as his target.
• Asuma ordered Izumo to protect Kotetsu while he and Yamato fought Kakuzu and Hidan.
• Kakuzu quickly overpowered Asuma with a punch and used Earth Release to crack the ground around them.
• Hidan attacked Yamato with his scythe, forcing Yamato to focus on delaying him with Wood Release.
• Asuma and Yamato struggled against their opponents, and the Konoha team seemed close to defeat.

Kakashi sent Shikamaru, Neji, Ino, and Choji to hunt the Akatsuki members who had infiltrated the Land of Fire. As they departed, Kakashi and his advisers discussed sharing more intelligence with the other villages to convince them of Akatsuki’s threat and secure a Five Kage Summit.

• Kakashi briefed Shikamaru, Neji, Ino, and Choji on the Akatsuki infiltration and ordered them to find the two members, prioritizing their own safety.
• Shikamaru and the others left Konoha and headed for the designated area.
• Kakashi asked how the Cloud, Mist, and Rock Ninja had responded to Konoha’s proposal for a Five Kage Summit.
• Shizune reported that the Mist had not responded, while the Cloud and Rock saw no need for a summit and doubted Akatsuki’s threat.
• Shikaku advised Kakashi to disclose more intelligence, and Kakashi agreed to inform the other villages about Akatsuki’s power.

Shikamaru’s team located the distress signal and rushed to support Asuma, who was being overwhelmed by Kakuzu. Asuma tried to send Izumo and Yamato away, but Kakuzu struck him down before reinforcements arrived.

• Ino asked Shikamaru to locate Asuma, and Shikamaru identified a likely black market where the Akatsuki members were operating.
• Neji used his Byakugan to confirm a distress signal at Shikamaru’s predicted location, and the support team raced toward it.
• Izumo returned to help Asuma after moving the wounded Kotetsu to safety, but he could barely slow Kakuzu’s assault.
• Asuma told Izumo to retreat with Yamato and rejoin the support unit, expecting to hold Kakuzu off alone.
• Kakuzu caught Asuma by surprise, slammed him to the ground, and pinned his chest beneath a foot.

Shikamaru's team rescued Asuma and joined the fight against Kakuzu and Hidan. As the Konoha shinobi gained the advantage over Hidan, Kakuzu revealed four masked monsters and prepared to attack Shikamaru and Neji.

• Neji struck Kakuzu with an Air Palm, and Shikamaru's team arrived in time to save the badly wounded Asuma.
• Ino began healing Asuma while Shikamaru ordered her to move him and Kotetsu to safety.
• Shikamaru sent Choji and Izumo to support Yamato, whose Wood Release and their help let them suppress Hidan.
• Kakuzu recalled his earlier encounter with Ueno Kei, then tore open his robe and released four masked monsters.

Shikamaru and Neji fought Kakuzu and his four masked monsters, testing their abilities and coordinating a plan. After creating two Shadow Clones, Shikamaru began the next stage of their attack, confident they could defeat Kakuzu.

• Neji blocked Kakuzu’s lightning and fire attacks with his improved Eight Trigrams Palm—Heaven and Earth Wall while Shikamaru tried to restrain Kakuzu with Shadow Imitation Technique.
• Neji charged Kakuzu but fell into an Earth Release trap and escaped the combined water and lightning attack; a masked monster forced Shikamaru to release his hold.
• Neji struck Kakuzu with Mountain-Shattering Strike, but the yellow-masked monster took the blow and quickly regenerated.
• Neji and Shikamaru regrouped, assessed the monsters’ autonomy and Kakuzu’s chakra natures, and devised a plan.
• Shikamaru created two Shadow Clones as Kakuzu braced for their next attack.

Ueno Kei brought Naruto to the Forest of Death to meet the Nine-Tails inside him and asked it to let Naruto freely use its power. The Nine-Tails rejected the request, and Ueno Kei left the encounter intending to help Naruto master that power in the future.

• Ueno Kei, Jiraiya, and Tsunade took Naruto to Training Ground 21, where Naruto worried that Ueno Kei had devised another painful training method.
• Ueno Kei reassured Naruto that he only wanted to meet the Nine-Tails, then had Naruto close his eyes and entered his mental world.
• Ueno Kei found the Nine-Tails behind the seal and spoke with it, while the beast acknowledged that it already knew about him through Naruto's experiences.
• Ueno Kei asked the Nine-Tails to let Naruto draw freely on its power, but the Nine-Tails sneered at the request.
• Ueno Kei treated the conversation as preparation for helping Naruto master the Nine-Tails' power in the future.

Ueno Kei met the chakra remnant of Namikaze Minato inside Naruto and told him about the masked man and Akatsuki. Minato recognized Kei’s bond with Naruto and asked whether Kei planned to help Naruto master the Nine-Tails’ power.

• The Nine-Tails challenged Ueno Kei, who entered Sage Mode and called for Namikaze Minato to appear.
• Minato appeared, quieted the Nine-Tails, and recognized Kei as someone who had often stayed beside Naruto.
• Kei introduced himself as Naruto’s close friend and explained that he had learned senjutsu from a summoning beast.
• Kei told Minato about Akatsuki and the masked man who had released the Nine-Tails during Kushina’s childbirth.
• Minato suspected the masked man might have been Uchiha Madara, then asked if Kei intended to help Naruto master the Nine-Tails’ power.

Ueno Kei learned from Minato how the Eight Trigrams Seal and its key could help Naruto control the Nine-Tails. After Minato entrusted Naruto to him, Ueno Kei returned to find Naruto had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

• Ueno Kei told Minato that Naruto would learn Sage Arts and train to master the Nine-Tails' chakra.
• Minato explained that the Eight Trigrams Seal restrained the Nine-Tails' chakra and that Jiraiya held a key that could control or release the seal.
• Ueno Kei questioned Minato about the seal and its key, then decided Naruto could begin Nine-Tails control training after mastering Sage Arts.
• Minato chose to save his remaining chakra for a future meeting with Naruto and asked Ueno Kei to look after his son.
• Ueno Kei left Naruto's seal, and Jiraiya caught Naruto as he swayed and fell asleep from exhaustion.

Ueno Kei told Jiraiya and Tsunade about Minato’s chakra imprint in Naruto, and Jiraiya decided to take Naruto to Mount Myoboku. Before they could turn to Akatsuki, they learned that Asuma, Shikamaru, and Neji had returned with Hidan captured and Kakuzu dead.

• Ueno Kei explained what had happened inside Naruto, including Minato’s chakra imprint, and reflected on the village’s complicated past and his hopes for Konoha’s future.
• Jiraiya said he would take Naruto to Mount Myoboku, while Ueno Kei postponed dealing with Akatsuki until Naruto and the village’s affairs were settled.
• An Anbu reported that Asuma, Shikamaru, and Neji had killed one Akatsuki member and captured another alive.
• Ueno Kei, Tsunade, and Jiraiya went to the interrogation room after arranging for Naruto to return home and rest.
• The group learned that the captured Akatsuki member was Hidan and that Kakuzu had been brought back dead, with Neji severely injured in the fight.

Pain agreed to let Tobi capture the Eight-Tails while Itachi and Kisame pursued the Nine-Tails. Afterward, Tobi revealed to Black Zetsu and White Zetsu that Pain had become an obstacle and that he intended to reclaim certain things.

• Konan told Pain that Kakuzu was dead and Hidan had been captured by Konoha, leaving Akatsuki short four official members.
• Tobi appeared before Pain and Konan and offered to capture the Eight-Tails, warning that Itachi and Kisame might struggle to capture the Nine-Tails in Konoha.
• Pain agreed to Tobi's proposal for the sake of Akatsuki's plans, and Konan said she would send the intelligence to Itachi and Kisame.
• Tobi went to a secret location filled with White Zetsu and confirmed to Black Zetsu and White Zetsu that Pain had accepted his plan.
• Tobi said Pain had been a useful assistant but was now an obstacle, and declared it was time to reclaim certain things.

The Fourth Raikage worried about the Akatsuki threat and B’s disappearance, and considered cooperating with the other villages despite Kumogakure’s distrust of Konoha. After receiving Konoha’s proposal for a Five Kage Summit, he decided to consult the village elders.

• The Fourth Raikage demanded that Mabui send more ninja to find B, who had gone missing again.
• The Fourth Raikage considered joining forces against Akatsuki, but weighed Kumogakure’s mistrust of Konoha and the political obstacles to cooperation.
• Mabui told the Fourth Raikage that Konoha had proposed convening a Five Kage Summit and handed him the diplomatic document.
• The Fourth Raikage decided to gather the village elders to discuss Konoha’s proposal.

Ueno Kei, Jiraiya, and Tsunade learned that a powerful seal in Hidan’s brain prevented Konoha from extracting information safely. The chapter left them unable to decide what to do before the seal detonated.

• Jiraiya asked Inoichi Yamanaka how the interrogation of Hidan had gone.
• Inoichi reported that a powerful seal near Hidan’s brain resisted his probing and could make Hidan explode if disturbed.
• Ueno Kei and Jiraiya considered how Akatsuki could have placed seals on core members such as Hidan and Kakuzu.
• Tsunade suggested asking sealing specialists from the five major villages to examine Hidan at the Five Kage Summit.
• Inoichi warned that the seal would automatically detonate after a set time if it was not released, leaving the group without a safe plan.

Ueno Kei temporarily suppressed the seal in Hidan’s mind so Inoichi could search it, but the attempt yielded almost no intelligence. Ueno Kei recovered without serious injury, while Hidan’s mind was left practically blank.

• Ueno Kei asked Inoichi whether he could extract Hidan’s information if the seal was held back for three minutes, and Inoichi agreed to try.
• Ueno Kei summoned Red Feather and used a blood seal to suppress the seal as Inoichi searched Hidan’s mind.
• As Hidan’s body began to swell, Tsunade ordered the researchers to evacuate and activated the sealing barrier.
• Ueno Kei maintained the seal for three minutes, then released it and passed Tsunade’s examination without serious injury.
• Inoichi reported that Hidan’s mind contained almost no intelligence, disappointing Ueno Kei, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.

After Hidan’s mind was destroyed, Inoichi revealed that Hidan suspected a masked Mangekyō Sharingan user was Uchiha Madara. Jiraiya took Naruto to Mount Myoboku for training, but Naruto was soon summoned back to Konoha after Orochimaru’s death was reported, and Ueno Kei assigned a mission to bring Sasuke back.

• Inoichi told Ueno Kei, Jiraiya, and Tsunade that Hidan’s memories suggested a masked Mangekyō Sharingan user was Uchiha Madara, and they sent Hidan’s corpse to Konoha’s researchers.
• Jiraiya took Naruto to Mount Myoboku, where Naruto began learning to absorb natural energy in less than three days.
• Naruto and Sakura were summoned to the Hokage’s office and learned that Orochimaru was dead, while Sasuke was searching for Itachi Uchiha rather than returning to Konoha.
• Ueno Kei announced an S-rank mission to apprehend Second Pillar and bring him back to the village, with Ueno Kei as team captain.

Ueno Kei led a Konoha team with Might Guy to retrieve Second Pillar, while Itachi and Kisame prepared to find Sasuke. Sasuke entered the Uchiha clan’s forbidden area as the masked man and Ueno Kei’s group arrived nearby.

• Kakashi assigned Ueno Kei and Might Guy to lead Naruto, Sakura, Lee, Kiba, Hinata, and Shino on a mission to bring back Second Pillar.
• Itachi and Kisame visited a forbidden area of the Uchiha clan, where Itachi took two items before leaving.
• Itachi confronted Kisame about speaking with someone, then trusted him and said they would find Sasuke.
• Sasuke told Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo to wait outside the forbidden area while he went inside.
• The masked man and Ueno Kei’s group arrived in the area where Sasuke had entered.

Itachi gave Ueno Kei Shisui's eye and asked him to promise Sasuke could live safely in Konoha, and Ueno Kei accepted. As he traveled with Naruto and Sakura, Ueno Kei worried about the Uchiha massacre's secrets and the risk that Sasuke might be turned against Konoha, while remaining committed to letting Naruto handle Sasuke.

• Itachi told Ueno Kei that Shisui's eye was inside the item he gave him and asked for a promise to protect Sasuke.
• Ueno Kei accepted after considering Sasuke's record and Itachi's plea for his younger brother to live peacefully.
• While traveling through the forest, Ueno Kei worried that the truth about the Uchiha massacre could drive Sasuke to turn against Konoha.
• Ueno Kei considered the risks of relying on Shisui's eye and reaffirmed that he would neither kill Sasuke nor let him harm Konoha.
• Sakura asked about Ueno Kei's troubled expression, and he reassured her that they were nearing their destination and would bring Sasuke back.

Ueno Kei’s team searched a trade city for Sasuke while Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched events unfold. Sasuke and Itachi began their long-awaited battle, as Ueno Kei and Might Guy were confronted by the masked man, Deidara, and Kisame, leaving Ueno Kei worried about protecting his teammates.

• Ueno Kei split the search party with Might Guy and led Naruto, Hinata, and Lee to search the city’s surroundings.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu observed Ueno Kei’s team and decided to watch Sasuke and Itachi’s confrontation.
• Sasuke and Itachi met at an abandoned Uchiha forbidden ground and began fighting after trading threats.
• Ueno Kei and Might Guy encountered the masked man, Deidara, and Kisame, who warned them not to proceed.
• The masked man threatened Ueno Kei’s companions, and Ueno Kei hesitated because he feared he could not shield them from the masked man’s space-time ninjutsu.

Ueno Kei and Might Guy confronted the masked man, Deidara, and Kisame Hoshigaki as Naruto launched an attack. Meanwhile, Jiraiya left for Amegakure to investigate Akatsuki, promising Tsunade he would return.

• The masked man used Hyuga Hinata and the others to pressure Ueno Kei, while Inuzuka Kiba recognized how badly outmatched their team was.
• Naruto attacked the masked man with a Big Ball Rasengan, and Ueno Kei and Might Guy engaged Deidara and Kisame Hoshigaki as two battles began.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Akatsuki had captured seven tailed beasts and that he needed to go to Amegakure ahead of schedule.
• Tsunade warned Jiraiya about the Rinnegan and the mysterious Mangekyō Sharingan wielder, but Jiraiya promised he would return and departed.

Zetsu watched Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke fight in the Uchiha Clan's forbidden grounds and recalled Tobi's plans for Sasuke and Pain. Black Zetsu predicted Sasuke would ultimately win, hinting that the fight served Tobi's objective.

• Half a month earlier, Tobi conducted experiments with stored Sharingan and told Zetsu that Sasuke was a chess piece who might complement the plan.
• Tobi told Zetsu to follow the original plan for Pain and Sasuke, while Black Zetsu privately considered Tobi and others to be Mother's chess pieces.
• As Zetsu watched Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke fight, he reflected on Itachi's strength and how his love for Sasuke made him vulnerable to manipulation.
• White Zetsu asked who would win, and Black Zetsu said Itachi was stronger but Sasuke would be the ultimate victor.
• White Zetsu realized that Sasuke's victory was connected to Tobi's objective.

Sasuke’s battle with Itachi showed how badly outmatched he was, even after gaining Orochimaru’s power. Itachi revealed Susanoo and pressed him toward defeat while secretly struggling to keep his chakra stable.

• Sasuke reflected on why he had challenged Itachi before awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, then resolved to keep fighting for his clan and parents.
• Itachi attacked Sasuke and demanded his eyes, while Sasuke’s Chidori Stream failed to damage him.
• Itachi manifested Susanoo and struck at Sasuke with its massive sword.
• Sasuke escaped the blow but was injured by its shockwave, and he decided to save his prepared jutsu for a better moment.
• Itachi noticed his chakra becoming unstable, concealed it, and thought that he had little time left.

After Itachi Uchiha died in his battle with Sasuke, Tobi and Zetsu tried to take Itachi’s corpse and Sasuke away. Naruto and Ueno Kei intervened, and Ueno Kei stopped Zetsu from reaching Itachi as Tobi escaped with Sasuke.

• White Zetsu reported that Sasuke had won and Itachi Uchiha had died, prompting Tobi and the others to withdraw.
• Naruto and Ueno Kei raced to Sasuke, who awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, heard Naruto call to him, and fainted.
• Tobi ordered Zetsu to take Itachi Uchiha’s corpse and carried Sasuke away from Naruto’s attack.
• Ueno Kei struck Zetsu with lightning and drove him back, guarding Itachi’s body.
• Tobi used his Mangekyō Sharingan to draw Sasuke into a special space and escaped, while Ueno Kei remained beside Itachi.

Ueno Kei and Naruto confronted Tobi over Sasuke and Itachi’s body, but Tobi’s space-time ninjutsu and the Great Elder’s presence made the standoff risky. Tobi abandoned his attempt to retrieve Itachi’s corpse and vanished with Zetsu, leaving Ueno Kei and Naruto behind.

• Tobi realized Ueno Kei and Naruto had grown stronger and reconsidered whether to seize Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan or capture Naruto.
• Naruto attacked Tobi with shadow clones and a senjutsu Rasenshuriken, but Tobi let the attack pass through him and chains dispelled the clones.
• Ueno Kei stopped Naruto from rushing after Tobi and reminded him that Sasuke might not agree to return to Konoha.
• The Great Elder guarded Itachi’s corpse, recognized Tobi’s unusual space-time ability, and considered studying him if he could be captured.
• Tobi judged the situation too dangerous, ordered Zetsu to retreat, and disappeared with him.