Arc 14The Fourth Great Ninja War

Ueno Kei and the Five Kage faced Tobi’s declaration of war, while Ueno Kei protected Naruto and arranged for him to train with Killer B. As Naruto learned to control the Nine-Tails’ chakra, Ueno Kei confronted his inner self, uncovered Kisame’s intelligence, and learned that several threats were converging around Kaguya and Obito.

  • Sasuke fought the Fourth Raikage until Ueno Kei intervened, defeated Sasuke, and confirmed the truth about the Uchiha massacre.
  • Tobi transported Sasuke and Hawk away, revealed the Eye of the Moon Plan, and declared war after the Five Kage rejected his demand for the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails.
  • The Five Kage formed the Allied Forces, and Ueno Kei returned to Konoha before taking Naruto to a secret refuge shared with Kumogakure.
  • Naruto defeated Shizuka in their arranged duel, urged her to choose her own future, and helped her face her grief before Kabuto attacked.
  • Kabuto offered intelligence in exchange for Itachi’s corpse, but Ueno Kei refused and drove him off after Kabuto summoned reincarnated shinobi.
  • Ueno Kei and Naruto reached Kumogakure’s giant sea turtle, where Killer B began training Naruto and Ueno Kei faced and destroyed his dark counterpart beneath True Falls.
  • Ueno Kei exposed Kisame’s disguise and learned about Akatsuki’s forces, the stolen Rinnegan, and Kisame’s suspicion that Tobi was Uchiha Obito.
  • Black Zetsu encountered Momoshiki’s group while Obito enlisted Moryo, and Naruto emerged from training having met his mother as Ueno Kei sent him to handle an urgent matter before joining the battle.
Chapters 328–353 Vol. 4 Read

Ch. 328Sasuke's Strength

Sasuke fought the Fourth Raikage, using Susanoo to withstand his attacks and Amaterasu to burn his arm. The Fourth Raikage recovered and struck Susanoo hard enough to crack it, just as an unknown voice commented on Sasuke’s growth.

  • Sasuke’s Chidori Stream barely affected the Fourth Raikage, who demanded to know where B was and threatened him.
  • The Fourth Raikage rushed Sasuke with Heavy Bomb, but Sasuke protected himself with Susanoo and set the Raikage’s arm ablaze with Amaterasu.
  • Cee severed the burning part of the Fourth Raikage’s arm and treated his wound, while the Raikage sent Darui and Cee after Suigetsu and Jugo and ordered samurai to seize Karin.
  • Jugo told Suigetsu to protect Karin while he held off Darui and Cee, and the Fourth Raikage confronted Sasuke directly.
  • The Fourth Raikage struck Susanoo with Thunderstorm Heavy Fist, cracking its armor and alarming Sasuke.
  • An unknown speaker chuckled that Sasuke had grown considerably, startling both Sasuke and the Fourth Raikage.

Ch. 329Sasuke's Interrogation!

Ueno Kei arrived as Sasuke fought the Fourth Raikage and confronted Sasuke over his questions about Itachi and the Uchiha Clan massacre. He confirmed Tobi’s account of the massacre and insisted that Konoha had done nothing wrong, leaving Sasuke with no answers about Itachi’s body.

  • Ueno Kei and the other Kage arrived to watch Sasuke fight the Fourth Raikage.
  • Sasuke was shocked to see Ueno Kei alive and demanded to know where Itachi’s body was and what had happened to the Uchiha Clan.
  • Kakashi realized Sasuke had come to uncover information about Konoha, while the other Kage watched the confrontation.
  • Ueno Kei’s presence unsettled Sasuke and the Kage, and Sasuke wondered whether the gap between them was still immense.
  • Ueno Kei confirmed that Tobi had told Sasuke the truth about the massacre and claimed that Konoha had done nothing wrong.

Ch. 330Crushed in a Single Blow

Ueno Kei effortlessly defeated Sasuke and tried to calm him down, while Sasuke remained furious and unwilling to surrender. Tobi arrived at the Five Kage Summit, and Kei realized he would no longer need to decide how to secretly let Sasuke go.

  • Sasuke attacked Ueno Kei with his armored Susanoo, blaming Konoha for his clan’s destruction.
  • Ueno Kei blocked Sasuke’s Susanoo punch, shattered its armor, and sent Sasuke crashing to the ground with a single counterattack.
  • Jugo and Suigetsu rushed to Sasuke, while the Fourth Raikage recognized that Ueno Kei was far stronger than he was.
  • Ueno Kei asked Sasuke to calm down and considered how he might secretly let him escape, but Sasuke continued to resist.
  • Tobi appeared in a cloud-patterned robe and told Ueno Kei that he had underestimated him.

Ch. 331The True Purpose

Tobi rescued Sasuke and revealed himself as Uchiha Madara, then announced his Eye of the Moon Plan to the Five Kage and Ueno Kei. He claimed his goal was to create a world of peace through mutual understanding and love.

  • Tobi told Sasuke that he had been too impulsive, and Sasuke declared that he would soon take revenge on Konoha for the Uchiha Clan.
  • Tobi used space-time ninjutsu to transport Sasuke and the other members of Hawk away, then introduced himself to the Five Kage as Uchiha Madara.
  • Tobi explained that his power had been damaged after his battle with Hashirama and that he was gathering the Tailed Beasts to regain strength and achieve his goal.
  • Tobi announced the Eye of the Moon Plan and revealed that there were more than the nine Tailed Beasts everyone knew about.
  • Tobi denied wanting to rule the world and said he sought to create a world where people understood and loved one another.

Ch. 332Tobi's Declaration of War

Tobi explained that the Eye of the Moon Plan would use the Infinite Tsukuyomi to trap the world in a peaceful dream, but Ueno Kei and Gaara rejected his plan. Tobi declared war on the five great ninja villages and vanished, leaving the Fourth Great Ninja War imminent.

  • Tobi revealed that he intended to unite the tailed beasts, become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi over the world.
  • Tobi urged the Kage to surrender the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails, promising that people could regain their loved ones and live without conflict.
  • Ueno Kei argued that conflict came from human nature and that Tobi's plan would erase humanity, while Gaara rejected surrendering freedom.
  • Tobi formally declared the Fourth Great Ninja War against the five great ninja villages and vanished.

Ch. 333Reaching an Agreement

The Five Kage agreed to establish the Shinobi Allied Forces and share intelligence while protecting their villages’ interests. Five days later, Ueno Kei learned that he was being asked to guard Naruto and Killer B, and a sudden shout suggested Kakashi had found a way to get Naruto to cooperate.

  • The Fourth Raikage agreed that the Five Kage would jointly lead the Allied Forces, and Mei Terumi, Ōnoki, and Gaara confirmed their villages would join.
  • Kakashi said Konoha would share Akatsuki intelligence while safeguarding its own interests, and Ueno Kei reminded the Fourth Raikage that Killer B was still safe.
  • The Fourth Raikage left to search for Killer B, and Ueno Kei and Kakashi returned to Konoha after learning Yamato and Might Guy had brought Naruto back.
  • Five days later, Kakashi showed Ueno Kei a Kumogakure request to hide Naruto and Killer B, whose protection would be shared by Konoha and Kumogakure.
  • Shikaku explained that the Fourth Raikage had proposed Ueno Kei protect Naruto and Killer B, and Ueno Kei recognized the plan as a sensible way to keep them out of the war.
  • Naruto shouted excitedly about another S-rank mission, and Ueno Kei smiled at Kakashi’s apparent plan to get him to cooperate.

Ch. 334Anomaly! A Mysterious Figure!

A mysterious short man appeared in the Land of Rivers, tortured a Konoha ninja for information, and vanished, prompting Black Zetsu to investigate a powerful aura he recognized as Mother's. Tobi warned Sasuke to rest his overused Mangekyō, but Sasuke remained determined to recover Itachi's corpse and destroy Konoha.

  • Three white-robed figures appeared in the Land of Rivers, and their short leader ordered a subordinate to bring him a Konoha ninja.
  • The short man read the captured ninja's memories, then disappeared with his followers, leaving the ninja dead.
  • Black Zetsu sensed Mother's aura and resolved to investigate before the plan could be disrupted.
  • Tobi cautioned Sasuke that frequent Mangekyō use risked blindness and explained that Itachi's corpse was beyond their reach for now.
  • Sasuke vowed to retrieve Itachi's corpse himself and make Ueno Kei watch Konoha's destruction, then agreed to recover from his injuries in the cave.

Ch. 335Seaside

Ueno Kei, Naruto, Yamato, and Might Guy arrived at a harbor to meet Cloud Ninja for their mission, while Naruto excitedly saw the ocean for the first time. The next day, after Naruto ate twenty bowls of ramen, someone called out to the two Konoha ninja as they were leaving.

  • Naruto marveled at the ocean, and Ueno Kei reassured himself that Naruto had recovered from his troubled thoughts about the Uchiha Clan and the ninja world.
  • Ueno Kei confirmed with Yamato that Cloud Ninja would meet their group at the harbor in two days.
  • Shizuka and Tokiwa arrived in town, while a creepy man watched them and vowed not to give up pursuing the princess.
  • Naruto ate twenty bowls of ramen, leaving Ueno Kei upset about the cost.
  • A voice called for Ueno Kei and Naruto to wait as they were preparing to leave.

Ch. 336Nadeshiko Female Ninja

Naruto learned that Jiraiya had promised him in marriage to Lady Shizuka, a Nadeshiko female ninja, and struggled with whether to meet her. He decided to see her the next day, before his team departed on its secret mission.

  • Tokiwa told Naruto that Jiraiya had arranged his marriage to Lady Shizuka and asked him to fight her.
  • Ueno Kei teased Naruto about honoring the agreement, while Naruto worried about what Sakura would think.
  • Tokiwa insisted Naruto was obligated to fulfill the agreement, then left the inn.
  • Yamato reminded the group that their secret mission and Naruto's whereabouts must remain concealed, and said the Cloud Ninja contact would arrive the next evening.
  • Naruto told Ueno Kei he would meet his fiancée the next day before their departure.

Ch. 337Movements Exposed

Yakushi Kabuto planned to exploit the duel between Naruto and Nadeshiko Shizuka to capture Naruto and advance his own scheme. As Naruto went to the duel and Ueno Kei set out to investigate a suspicious presence, Kabuto released four figures from coffins to begin his attack.

  • Tokiwa told Nadeshiko Shizuka that Naruto had accepted the duel, and Shizuka scheduled it for the next day, saying she would follow the wedding ritual if he met their predecessors’ standards.
  • Yakushi Kabuto overheard that the Konoha ninja would be fighting and planned to seize Shizuka after they were exhausted, but Ueno Kei appeared and knocked him unconscious.
  • Kabuto revealed himself to be alive and transformed, and decided that Naruto’s Nine-Tails power and a way to restrain Ueno Kei would serve his plans.
  • The next morning, Naruto left the inn to meet Shizuka for the duel while Yamato stayed behind to await Kumogakure’s contact.
  • Ueno Kei and Might Guy went to investigate the powerful presence from the previous day, and Ueno Kei covertly noticed Kabuto watching them through a white snake.
  • Kabuto decided to test whether Ueno Kei had taken the bait, opened four coffins, and vanished with the figures as he declared the game had begun.

Ch. 338Naruto and Shizuka

Naruto fought Nadeshiko Shizuka over the marriage pact and defeated her decisively. After Shizuka accepted the pact, Naruto clarified that he had come to talk to her, not to marry her immediately.

  • Tokiwa announced that Naruto and Shizuka would duel with their marriage pact at stake.
  • Naruto tried to speak before the fight, but Shizuka attacked and insisted that they talk afterward.
  • Naruto effortlessly countered Shizuka's attacks as she fought to vent her grief over losing her former lover.
  • Naruto caught Shizuka's kunai and restrained her, forcing her to concede defeat.
  • Shizuka acknowledged that the pact was established and asked whether Naruto intended to marry her immediately.
  • Naruto denied that marriage was his purpose and said he had come to talk to Shizuka.

Ch. 339Shizuka's Admiration

Naruto urged Shizuka to reject a life chosen for her and find happiness on her own terms, sharing his own pain and regrets until she accepted his comfort. Their moment was interrupted by the arrival of Yakushi Kabuto and four others.

  • Naruto told Shizuka she should choose her own future instead of obeying the marriage agreement made by the previous village head and Master Jiraiya.
  • Naruto shared his feelings about unrequited love and losing a beloved family member, then encouraged Shizuka to seek her own happiness.
  • Shizuka remembered the man she had loved and the previous village head's apology, then leaned against Naruto and thanked him through tears.
  • Naruto sensed someone approaching, shielded Shizuka, and recognized Yakushi Kabuto among the five newcomers.

Ch. 340Yakushi Kabuto's Transformation

Naruto confronted a transformed Yakushi Kabuto, who revealed that he wanted to capture the Nine-Tails as leverage against Tobi. Ueno Kei and Might Guy arrived to support Naruto, and Ueno Kei faced Kabuto with killing intent.

  • Naruto warned Shizuka and Tokiwa to flee while he faced Kabuto, but Shizuka refused to leave him.
  • Kabuto unleashed a sinister aura, and Naruto blocked his attack while protecting Shizuka and Tokiwa.
  • Naruto asked Kabuto whether he was targeting the Nine-Tails, and Kabuto admitted he wanted Naruto as a bargaining chip against Tobi.
  • Ueno Kei and Might Guy appeared, and Ueno Kei accused Kabuto of becoming like Orochimaru.
  • Kabuto remained calm despite Ueno Kei's killing intent and said he had not lost anything.

Ch. 341Yakushi Kabuto's Deal!

Ueno Kei confronted Yakushi Kabuto and rejected his offer to trade secrets about Tobi and the Akatsuki for Itachi Uchiha's corpse. The standoff remained unresolved as Ueno Kei prepared to capture Kabuto and extract the information from him.

  • Ueno Kei sensed that Yakushi Kabuto was dangerous and told Might Guy to protect Shizuka, Tokiwa, and especially Naruto if a fight began.
  • Yakushi Kabuto offered to reveal secrets about Tobi and the Akatsuki in exchange for Itachi Uchiha's corpse.
  • Ueno Kei considered the value of Kabuto's information but refused because Itachi was alive and investigating Kaguya Otsutsuki for him.
  • Ueno Kei refused the deal, called Itachi Konoha's unsung hero, and said he would capture Kabuto to obtain the secrets.

Ch. 342Killing Intent and Retreat

Ueno Kei confronted Yakushi Kabuto over his offer of intelligence and refused to let him leave, but Kabuto escaped after revealing that his apparent body was a clone. Naruto and Ueno Kei then departed with Kumogakure’s people, while Shizuka promised to visit Naruto and resolved to grow stronger.

  • Yakushi Kabuto tried to bargain for Itachi Uchiha’s body and summoned Sasori of the Red Sands, Kakuzu, the Third Kazekage, and Rasa to block Ueno Kei.
  • Ueno Kei attacked Kabuto as the four reincarnated shinobi retreated into coffins, but his blade split a clone that turned into a white snake.
  • Ueno Kei warned Naruto to keep their whereabouts secret, and they prepared to leave with Kumogakure’s people.
  • At the harbor, Naruto admitted that Sakura liked Sasuke, and Shizuka told him she would visit Konoha after settling her affairs.
  • After the ship sailed, Shizuka resolved to become stronger so she could stand by Naruto.

Ch. 343The Moving Bunker

Ueno Kei and the Konoha group traveled with Kumogakure to its secret sea fortress, a gigantic sea turtle, where they reunited with Killer B. Naruto learned that Killer B would guide him in controlling the Nine-Tails’ power, and Killer B recognized the purpose of Naruto’s visit.

  • Motoi told Ueno Kei that Kumogakure’s secret facility was a giant sea turtle raised by the village and used to protect confidential items.
  • Ueno Kei and the others reached the enormous turtle, surprising him with its size.
  • Ueno Kei greeted Killer B, whom he had not seen since their battle over a year earlier.
  • Yamato told Naruto that Killer B was the Eight-Tails’ jinchuriki and would teach him to control the Nine-Tails’ power.
  • Ueno Kei introduced Naruto as Konoha’s Nine-Tails jinchuriki and asked Killer B to guide his training.

Ch. 344True Falls

Naruto arrived on the Cloud Ninja island and began training with Killer B at the True Falls, where he would face his true self. After sensing a strange resonance from the waterfall, Ueno Kei asked to try it too, and Killer B agreed.

  • The Nine-Tails sensed Gyuki on the island, and Gyuki told Killer B that Naruto had arrived.
  • Killer B eagerly offered to start Naruto's training, while Motoi took the seasick Might Guy and Yamato to rest.
  • Killer B led Naruto and Ueno Kei to the True Falls, where he instructed Naruto to sit before the waterfall.
  • Ueno Kei asked to try the True Falls after sensing a special resonance there.
  • Killer B bumped fists with Ueno Kei, and they felt a connection before Killer B encouraged him to try the waterfall.

Ch. 345Ueno Kei's Inner Heart

During the Waterfall of Truth trial, Ueno Kei entered an illusion of his former life and confronted a ruthless version of himself. His double revealed that they sought Kaguya Otsutsuki’s power to return to their original world, leaving Ueno Kei stunned.

  • Ueno Kei meditated at the waterfall and found himself in a familiar city from the soul’s former life.
  • Ueno Kei entered an old mansion and followed his memories to a room he had both feared and longed to visit.
  • Ueno Kei encountered his father and a second version of himself in the room.
  • The other Ueno Kei killed his father and claimed he was inseparable from Ueno Kei.
  • The other Ueno Kei said they could use Kaguya Otsutsuki’s power to return to their original world, and Ueno Kei stared at him in silence.

Ch. 346Ambition

Ueno Kei resisted his dark self’s temptation to use the Ten-Tails’ power to return to his previous world, knowing that agreeing would let the dark self replace him. He destroyed the dark self with the power of True Falls and saw his loved ones as he began to fade away.

  • Dark Ueno Kei urged Ueno Kei to gather the tailed beasts, revive the Ten-Tails, and return to his previous world.
  • Ueno Kei remembered Killer B’s warning that accepting would allow Dark Ueno Kei to take over his body and trap him in True Falls.
  • Dark Ueno Kei attacked Ueno Kei after he refused the offer.
  • Ueno Kei unleashed white light and destroyed Dark Ueno Kei, then saw his mother and his parents from this life smiling at him as he faded.

Ch. 347Sealing Grounds

Ueno Kei emerged from True Falls after confronting his inner self and followed Killer B and Naruto through the waterfall to Kumogakure’s tailed-beast facility. As they prepared to enter, Ueno Kei sensed someone hiding nearby and demanded they reveal themselves.

  • Naruto worried while Ueno Kei spent two hours confronting his other self beneath True Falls.
  • Ueno Kei opened his eyes, reassured Naruto, and moved on to the next stage of training.
  • Killer B led Ueno Kei and Naruto through True Falls to an ancient facility used by Kumogakure to control tailed beasts.
  • Ueno Kei reflected on his ambition to unify the ninja world under the Land of Fire and Konoha, an ambition disrupted by Akatsuki and Tobi.
  • As Killer B invited them farther inside, Ueno Kei sensed a hidden presence and called for it to come out.

Ch. 349Kisame Hoshigaki

Kisame Hoshigaki infiltrated the Cloud Ninja secret base by hiding inside Samehada, but Ueno Kei detected him and forced him to flee. Ueno Kei later found Kisame waiting in the forest, where Kisame revealed that Itachi had sent him to deliver intelligence.

  • Ueno Kei sensed Kisame Hoshigaki concealed inside Samehada, and Killer B drew the sword, exposing him.
  • Kisame blocked Ueno Kei's attack and escaped under cover of a genjutsu that Ueno Kei and Killer B quickly broke.
  • Ueno Kei told Killer B to continue Naruto's training, then followed Kisame away from the sealing grounds.
  • Ueno Kei found Kisame waiting in the forest and accused him of delivering intelligence on Itachi's behalf.
  • Kisame said he was acting as a double agent and had made use of Itachi.

Ch. 350Intelligence

Ueno Kei met Kisame Hoshigaki, who revealed Akatsuki’s military strength and shared two additional pieces of intelligence at Itachi’s request. Kisame began explaining the likely identity of Tobi, but the chapter ended before he named him.

  • Kisame Hoshigaki told Ueno Kei that Akatsuki had nearly a hundred thousand White Zetsu clones, Yakushi Kabuto’s Impure World Reincarnation forces, and Pain’s Rinnegan, which Tobi had taken after killing Konan.
  • Ueno Kei offered to meet any price for Kisame’s further intelligence, but Kisame said he needed no reward and was passing it on at Itachi Uchiha’s request.
  • Kisame said Nagato’s Rinnegan had been transplanted into him without his knowledge and that only Tobi knew whose eyes they had been.
  • Kisame said Tobi was not Madara and suggested that examining Uchiha Clan members who had disappeared without bodies left one person as the likeliest candidate, but he did not finish the explanation.

Ch. 351Verification of Identity

After learning that Tobi was almost certainly Uchiha Obito, Ueno Kei sent instructions to his allies and the Grand Elder to prepare for what came next. Meanwhile, Obito revived Moryo and forced him to agree to cooperate.

  • Kisame told Ueno Kei that Tobi was likely Uchiha Obito, then departed to sever ties with Akatsuki and find Itachi.
  • Ueno Kei summoned Shin and sent him with a sealed message for Jiraiya or Tsunade and instructions for the Grand Elder.
  • In ruins in the Land of Demons, Obito watched Moryo take human form and revealed that he had revived him for his plans.
  • Moryo claimed that no one could restrain him, but Obito used his Mangekyō Sharingan to drain Moryo's strength and frighten him.
  • Moryo agreed to cooperate with Obito in exchange for freedom after the plans were completed.

Ch. 352Otsutsuki!

Momoshiki Otsutsuki and his companions captured Black Zetsu to learn about Kaguya and his plan, unaware that he left behind a clone to warn Obito. As Hagoromo Otsutsuki declared his resolve to protect the world, Ueno Kei reaffirmed his determination to stop Obito and prevent Kaguya’s revival.

  • Momoshiki Otsutsuki recognized Black Zetsu as Kaguya’s creation and introduced Kinshiki Otsutsuki and Otsutsuki Toneri, whom Black Zetsu identified as Hamura’s descendant.
  • Black Zetsu told Momoshiki that Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura Otsutsuki had sealed Kaguya and claimed he was seeking a way to revive her, while mixing lies into his account.
  • Momoshiki ordered Kinshiki to take Black Zetsu away, not realizing that Black Zetsu had left a clone behind.
  • The Black Zetsu clone decided to inform Obito that the plan needed to change while the original stalled Momoshiki’s group.
  • Hagoromo Otsutsuki declared that he would defend the world and oppose his mother, Hamura, and his fellow clansmen if necessary.
  • Ueno Kei sensed the turning of fate, resolved that the future belonged to them, and focused on defeating Obito and keeping Kaguya sealed.

Ch. 353Naruto's Growth

Naruto emerged from training with Killer B having gained control of the Nine-Tails' chakra and resolved an emotional knot by seeing his mother. Ueno Kei told him to remain at True Falls until he completed the task described in a scroll, then join the war.

  • Ueno Kei waited outside the Cloud Ninja barrier while Naruto trained to control the Nine-Tails' chakra with Killer B.
  • Naruto emerged at great speed and surprised Ueno Kei, who recognized that his physical speed rivaled the Fourth Raikage's.
  • Killer B credited Naruto's hard work, and Naruto revealed that he had seen his mother.
  • Ueno Kei told Naruto that he had grown up, but ordered him to stay behind for now because his unfinished training and another urgent matter needed attention.
  • Naruto read the scroll Ueno Kei gave him and agreed to resolve its matter before joining the battle.
Arc 14 of 16