Chapter Summaries

Monsters from Hell emerged through a shattered sky and attacked Aizen, who explained that their power could free him from the chair restraining him. After breaking free and destroying the monsters with his spiritual pressure, Aizen headed toward a palace with Sosuke following.

• Sosuke asked Aizen about the creatures emerging from the sky, and Aizen explained that they came from Hell and hunted the power of those trapped there.
• Aizen revealed that the creatures could serve as a key to breaking the restraints of his black chair, and Sosuke sensed a connection between them and the Hogyoku.
• A monster attacked Aizen but withered into dust, and repeated attacks helped Aizen free one hand and shatter his restraints.
• Aizen destroyed the remaining monsters by immobilizing them with his spiritual pressure and breaking their masks.
• Aizen invited Sosuke to investigate the palace among the clouds, and Sosuke followed him.

Sosuke followed Aizen into the enormous palace, where Aizen explained that their souls had been one from the beginning and that they could see fragments of each other’s experiences. The chapter ended with Sosuke joining Aizen on the stone dais as Aizen remarked on the spatial power of Sosuke’s world.

• Sosuke and Aizen reached the palace, and Aizen opened its massive doors with a glow from his palm.
• Aizen reassured Sosuke that Suigetsu could not easily return while he was in control of the palace, and the two walked inside.
• In the central hall, Sosuke saw a stone chair on a high dais and asked Aizen why he had been sealed away.
• Aizen said he remained under his enemies’ supposed control and explained that he and Sosuke shared one soul rather than existing as clones.
• Aizen described their soul’s resonance and the fragments of each other’s worlds they had seen, then invited Sosuke to sit beside him.
• Sosuke used spatial power to appear beside Aizen on the dais, and Aizen praised the value of Sosuke’s world.

Sosuke learned from Aizen about the powerful creatures depicted in the palace, the Hogyoku, and his own connection to it. After Aizen vanished, Sosuke accepted the Hogyoku fragment and claimed the name Sosuke Aizen, while Kyoka Suigetsu welcomed him back.

• Sosuke examined the carvings of Hollows and learned from Aizen that the highest-ranked creatures could create and destroy worlds.
• Aizen explained that the Hogyoku had helped create Sosuke and that its fragment could show him Aizen’s past experiences.
• Aizen gave Sosuke the Hogyoku fragment, then was engulfed by black substance and vanished after promising to return.
• Sosuke sat alone in the palace until Kyoka Suigetsu returned and found him awake.
• Sosuke declared that his name was Sosuke Aizen, and Kyoka Suigetsu knelt and welcomed him back.

Aizen left Turtle Island after considering how to use the world's power and potential recruits to achieve his ambitions. In Konoha, a one-armed white-haired man ate ramen for seven fallen companions and apologized to them.

• Aizen invited Kyoka Suigetsu out of his inner world, comforted her, and calmed her jealousy toward the Hogyoku.
• Aizen resolved to claim the power at the root of the Ninja World and considered raising powerful beings, then found nothing else of value in the cave ruins.
• Aizen demonstrated a potent chakra-powered Kido attack near Turtle Island but spared the giant turtle and departed through a space-time rift.
• At Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi served a disheveled, one-armed white-haired man seven bowls of ramen.
• The man named his fallen companions as he ate and tearfully apologized to Captain Kojika for bringing them there.

Jiraiya and Minato discussed Sakumo’s resignation and Jiraiya’s determination to bring Sosuke back, while Aizen returned to Amegakure and prepared for a coming war. The chapter ended with Kinnara wondering whether he had made the right choice.

• Jiraiya told Minato that he still believed in Sosuke and would bring him back, even at the cost of his life.
• Minato finished his ramen while Jiraiya spoke, and Jiraiya ordered another bowl as he remembered Sosuke.
• Aizen returned to Amegakure and praised Kinnara for helping the village prosper.
• Kinnara told Aizen that Minato and the children were hiding at Feudal Lord Tamako’s residence in the Royal Capital of the Land of Fire.
• Aizen ordered Kinnara to prepare promising candidates for a coming war, and Kinnara told Meng to recruit talented children.
• After Aizen disappeared, Kinnara looked at the stormy sky and wondered whether he had made the right choice.

Tamako expanded her influence in the Land of Fire and planned to use the Akimichi Clan to pressure the Nara Clan into cooperating on medicinal herbs. Aizen returned to her estate, leaving Tamako overwhelmed with relief.

• Nobles feared Tamako because rumors linked her to Konoha's military ration pill and ninja equipment production.
• Tamako shared tea with Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato, and encouraged Konan as they talked.
• Ghost reported that the Nara Clan had discovered Tamako's medicinal-herb negotiations and refused to cooperate.
• Tamako told Ghost to strengthen ties with the Akimichi Clan, secure their military ration pill formula, and use their influence to pressure the Nara Clan.
• Aizen appeared at the estate and told Tamako he had been away for quite a while; Tamako welcomed him back with tearful relief.

Aizen reunited with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, then agreed to test their progress after a year of training. He asked Oni to spar with the children, leaving them disappointed that they would not face Aizen himself.

• Aizen greeted Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato and joined Tamako at the Lake Pavilion for tea.
• Aizen asked where Minato and Nawaki were, and Tamako explained that they were hiding near the Land of Fire's underground black market.
• Yahiko claimed that the three children had grown much stronger, and Aizen challenged them to prove their progress.
• Aizen told Oni to spar with the children, and Oni agreed.

Aizen watched Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato undergo a dangerous test against the masked man, rescuing Yahiko from a lethal explosion. The children left chastened and determined to improve, while Aizen suspected Nagato’s Rinnegan had briefly revealed its power.

• Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato attacked the masked man, who countered their techniques and criticized their lack of real combat experience.
• The masked man detonated his katana with Ninja Art: Iron Plow Blast, and Nagato’s Rinnegan briefly surged as he feared Yahiko had been killed.
• Yahiko appeared safely beside Aizen, who had rescued him, then promised the masked man he would defeat him next time.
• Aizen told the three children their performance had disappointed him, leaving them ashamed and determined to grow stronger.
• Tamako asked Aizen why he had discouraged the children, and he explained that pressure would draw out their potential.
• Aizen praised the masked man, promised him a gift, and privately wondered whether Nagato’s fleeting surge of power had come from the Rinnegan.

Minato and a younger companion visited the underground black market in the Land of Hot Water to find a missing-nin from Takigakure. Recognized as Lord White Tapir, Minato obtained information identifying Kakuzu and left after paying a discounted fee.

• Minato and his companion passed through a hidden entrance into the underground black market, a gathering place for missing-nin.
• At the counter, Minato asked for information about a Takigakure missing-nin with blue-green eyes and the ability to use more than three chakra natures.
• The clerk recognized Minato as Lord White Tapir, and Minato told his companion that he had once killed people in the market before meeting Konan and others and believing in Aizen's rule.
• The clerk returned with matching records, and Minato found a file on Kakuzu listing his many completed bounties and enormous earnings.
• The clerk offered the information for four million ryo instead of eight million, and Minato paid before leaving with his companion.

Minato and Nawaki tracked down Kakuzu in the Land of Hot Water and ambushed him, but he reacted quickly and survived their opening attacks. The battle continued as Minato noticed something unusual about Kakuzu’s body.

• A Gold Field employee identified a disguised visitor as the ninja seeking information on Fengsuo and suspected he was headed to meet Lord White Tapir.
• Minato told Nawaki they planned to recruit Kakuzu, or kill him if he refused, and Nawaki wondered when Aizen would return.
• Minato spotted Kakuzu ahead and confirmed his identity with the Byakugan.
• Nawaki attacked Kakuzu with Wood Release as they passed, and Kakuzu dodged before countering with a powerful fire technique.
• Minato broke off Kakuzu’s arm with Secret Technique: Rending Elephant and used Eight Trigrams Palm: Heavenly Spin to deflect the flames away from Nawaki.
• Nawaki emerged unharmed, and Minato observed that something was wrong with Kakuzu’s body.

Minato and Nawaki confronted Kakuzu, who revealed his five hearts and his history fighting the First. As the battle threatened to begin, a mysterious figure emerged from a tear in space beside Minato, leaving him visibly excited.

• Kakuzu reattached his severed arm with black threads, and Minato warned Nawaki that Kakuzu had five hearts.
• Minato asked Kakuzu to assist a certain lord, but Kakuzu refused and said he wanted Nawaki's Wood Release heart and Minato's Byakugan.
• Nawaki attacked Kakuzu with Wood Release, but Kakuzu's Lightning Style destroyed the thorny vines.
• Kakuzu claimed he had fought the First, and Minato reasoned that Kakuzu could be much older than he appeared.
• A mysterious person stepped through a rip in space beside Minato, who reacted with visible excitement.

Aizen returned and reunited with Minato and Nawaki, then let Nawaki face Kakuzu. Nawaki used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence against Kakuzu, who recognized it as Hashirama's technique.

• Aizen emerged from a space-time passage and greeted Minato and Nawaki.
• Nawaki explained that Kakuzu had tried to take his and Minato's hearts, and Aizen asked Nawaki to show how much he had improved.
• Kakuzu recognized Aizen as the rogue ninja from Konoha and became eager to claim his heart.
• Nawaki provoked Kakuzu by saying Hashirama had never mentioned him, drawing out Kakuzu's anger and memories of his failed assassination mission.
• Kakuzu charged at Nawaki, who unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence and sent massive tree trunks surging across the battlefield.
• Kakuzu recognized the jutsu as one Hashirama had used.

Nawaki used Wood Release to bind Kakuzu, but Kakuzu escaped with his Earth Grudge Fear technique and revealed four monstrous heart-bearing forms. Aizen recognized the ability’s potential as Kakuzu prepared to attack again.

• Nawaki attacked Kakuzu with Deep Forest Emergence, and Kakuzu broke through the trees to strike at him.
• Nawaki trapped Kakuzu in expanding trees that drained chakra, but Kakuzu escaped and shattered the bindings.
• Kakuzu revealed Earth Grudge Fear, displaying four black-threaded monsters that protected his hearts.
• Kakuzu began forming hand seals as Nawaki braced for another attack, while Aizen considered Earth Grudge Fear a useful ability.

Aizen protected Nawaki from Kakuzu’s attacks and demanded Kakuzu’s allegiance, but Kakuzu refused and challenged him to fight. Aizen drew Kyoka Suigetsu and began releasing it.

• Kakuzu and his masked monsters unleashed a barrage of ninjutsu at Nawaki, who countered with Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence before collapsing from exhaustion.
• A masked monster emerged behind Nawaki, but Aizen struck it into the forest and blocked the remaining attacks with Danku.
• Aizen offered to spare Kakuzu in exchange for his allegiance, but Kakuzu refused to submit before Aizen defeated him.
• Aizen drew Kyoka Suigetsu and told Kakuzu to watch his movements before saying, “Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu.”

Aizen demonstrated his ability to appear behind Kakuzu and tried to recruit him to a force that would overthrow the Five Great Ninja Villages and remake the shinobi world. Kakuzu remained doubtful, but Aizen promised that their new civilization would endure because they would become eternal.

• Aizen appeared behind Kakuzu without being detected and used the demonstration to make him stop and talk.
• Aizen said he wanted to gather allies who shared his ideals and overturn the shinobi system.
• Kakuzu rejected the plan, saying money was the only thing worth trusting after his faith in his village had been betrayed.
• Aizen argued that people could trust one another in a new age and said absolute power would destroy the old system and establish a new civilization.
• Kakuzu questioned whether the new order would eventually fade, and Aizen answered that they would become eternal.

Aizen persuaded Kakuzu to join his plan to bring about a new era, promising greater power and inviting him to witness it firsthand. After Kakuzu agreed, the group left the clearing through a spatial tunnel opened by Aizen.

• Aizen asked Kakuzu whether he was satisfied with his current power and offered to help him overcome the limits of Earth Grudge Fear.
• Kakuzu accepted Aizen's offer but warned that he would drag Aizen to Hell if the promised new era proved to be a lie.
• Aizen stopped Minato from reacting to Kakuzu's threat and welcomed him into the group.
• Kakuzu explained that he had come to hunt a Sand Ninja rogue, but that his bounty mission no longer mattered now that he was following Aizen.
• Aizen opened a dark spatial tunnel, and Minato, Nawaki, and Kakuzu entered it with him.

Fuguki received Samehada from the Third Mizukage as Kirigakure prepared to expand onto the mainland, while Tokino and Zetsu discussed Madara’s plans and the search for Nagato. Tokino remained in control of the Mizukage and ordered Zetsu to search for Sosuke, while privately wondering whether Aizen had appeared.

• The Third Mizukage congratulated Fuguki on acquiring Samehada and told him Kirigakure would need his help to begin a campaign on the mainland.
• After Fuguki left, White Zetsu emerged and said the Third Mizukage was only a puppet and that Madara had captured the Three-Tails.
• Tokino asked Zetsu whether he had found Sosuke, and Zetsu said there had been no sign of him for a year.
• Tokino said he would use Kirigakure’s resources to help Madara find Nagato and told Zetsu to keep watching for Sosuke.
• After Zetsu left, Tokino wondered whether Aizen had appeared and resolved to endure until he awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Aizen met Tokino outside Kirigakure and revealed that he had uncovered the identity of the man behind Zetsu Curtain. Tokino confirmed Aizen’s deduction that the hidden figure was Madara Uchiha.

• Tokino met Aizen in a fog-shrouded forest outside Kirigakure and noted that Aizen’s presence and appearance had changed.
• Aizen removed modified Zetsu spores from Tokino’s body and deduced that they had resisted Tokino’s Lightning Style.
• Aizen questioned Tokino about Zetsu Curtain’s organization and reasoned that its hidden leader was a former Konoha figure with an interest in the Uchiha and the entire Ninja World.
• Aizen identified the hidden man as Madara Uchiha, and Tokino reluctantly confirmed his deduction.

Aizen learned from Tokino that Madara Uchiha was seeking the Tailed Beasts and Nagato’s Rinnegan, and ordered Tokino to observe Madara’s plans. After leaving Tokino, Aizen reunited with Kyoka Suigetsu and continued through the forest with her at his side.

• Tokino told Aizen that Madara Uchiha was alive, seeking the Tailed Beasts, and searching for Nagato and his Rinnegan.
• Aizen told Tokino to stay beside Madara and report what he intended to do.
• Tokino revealed that Madara controlled Kirigakure through the Third Mizukage and had taken the Three-Tails, Isobu.
• Aizen opened a space-time passage and departed, while Tokino vowed to find a way to kill him.
• In a forest in the Land of Fire, Kyoka Suigetsu appeared beside Aizen and held onto his arm as they walked together.

Kimura Ono began telling Minato and Kushina about Sosuke's past after they asked what he had been like as a child. He described Sosuke as a hopeful, humble orphan, leaving Minato and Kushina eager to hear more.

• Kimura Ono watched his students celebrate the end of class and worried they might sneak into Konoha Forest to catch Far-Sight Bugs.
• Minato and Kushina asked Kimura Ono to tell them about his former student, Sosuke, and he invited them to Ichiraku Ramen.
• At the restaurant, Kimura Ono recalled that Sosuke had not had a girlfriend and had been humble and self-respecting.
• Kimura Ono explained that Sosuke was an orphan taken in after the war and that his gentle, hopeful nature reminded him of Minato.
• Kushina teased Minato about resembling Sosuke, and Kimura Ono separated them.