Chapter Summaries

Tsunade, Jiraiya, Minato, and Kushina were ambushed by Rasa, who revealed that Sunagakure had joined the Rock Ninja in attacking Konoha. As the battle spread, Sakumo left home to fight, while Aizen summoned allies and announced that the assault was beginning.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade realized the Konoha Ninja sent to the forest might have been killed, then Jiraiya stopped Rasa's Gold Dust attack with Fire Style: Flame Curtain.
• Rasa identified himself and said Sunagakure had joined the Rock Ninja in attacking Konoha, then launched Gold Dust Shuriken at Tsunade and the others.
• Jiraiya told Minato to protect Kushina while he and Tsunade faced Rasa.
• Sakumo took up his sword and left home to fight, telling his worried wife to care for Kakashi.
• Aizen used Bakudo #77: Tenteikūra to summon allies to his location and declared that a new chapter was beginning; a haughty old man in another forest woke and complained that it was finally starting.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Minato planned to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Tsunade within striking distance of Rasa. Elsewhere, a green-clad Konoha fighter defeated several Rock Ninja and set out to bring Sosuke back, running in the wrong direction from Aizen.

• Rasa used Earth Release: Sandstone Flow to turn the battlefield into quicksand and located Jiraiya and Tsunade beneath the trees.
• Rasa launched golden Shuriken and followed them with Magnet Release: Sand Gold Funeral, but Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport Jiraiya and Tsunade to safety.
• Jiraiya asked Minato to take Tsunade to Rasa while he created an opening, and Minato agreed despite his limited chakra.
• A green-clad Konoha fighter used powerful taijutsu to defeat a group of Rock Ninja and accused them of brainwashing Sosuke.
• The fighter vowed to bring Sosuke back and ran off, unknowingly heading away from Aizen.

Jiraiya and Minato used a trick with transformed kunai to get Tsunade close enough to strike Rasa. Tsunade’s punch shattered his Gold Dust and sent him crashing into the forest, but Rasa rose from the wreckage, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Jiraiya attacked Rasa with Great Flame Bomb, but Rasa’s Gold Dust shield blocked the flames.
• Rasa spread his Gold Dust to counter the kunai Jiraiya threw, while Jiraiya revealed that he had drawn Rasa’s attention away from their real plan.
• Tsunade and Minato transformed from the kunai and appeared beside Rasa after Minato’s close-range throw forced him to dodge.
• Tsunade struck Rasa with Heavenly Hunting Fist, shattering his Gold Dust and blasting him through the trees.
• Jiraiya and Kushina joined Tsunade and Minato, but Tsunade warned them not to celebrate because Rasa was not finished.
• Rasa slowly rose from the wreckage, bloodied and covered in shattered Gold Dust fragments.

Rasa escaped after fighting Jiraiya and Tsunade and warned that Aizen’s plan could destroy Konoha. As the invasion intensified, Sarutobi prepared to defend the village while Aizen and Sasori waited for someone before launching their own move.

• Rasa rose from the ruins, revealed that delaying Jiraiya and Tsunade had served his purpose, and flew away while warning that Konoha might not survive the night.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade suspected that Rasa’s warning referred to Aizen and grew uneasy about Konoha’s chances.
• An Anbu ninja reported to Sarutobi that nearly half the Anbu had been killed or wounded and that the enemy’s numbers remained unknown.
• Sarutobi concluded that the Rock Ninja and Sand Ninja intended to destroy Konoha with Aizen’s help, then left the Hokage Office to fight for the village.
• Aizen told Sasori that they would wait for someone to arrive before making their move and revealing Las Noches.

Sarutobi confronted Ōnoki and the Rock Ninja as they prepared to attack Konoha, but a disturbance elsewhere interrupted their clash. Shukaku appeared in Konoha and began rampaging through the village.

• Sarutobi tried to persuade Ōnoki to stop the Rock Ninja’s attack, but Ōnoki declared that Konoha had to be destroyed.
• Ōnoki ordered the Rock Ninja to attack Sarutobi, who used Enma and the Adamantine Staff to block their Earth Release techniques.
• Ōnoki prepared to use Dust Release as a crash shook Konoha, and he realized his plan had begun.
• Shukaku emerged from the dust, crushed a Konoha Ninja with its tail, and rampaged through the village.
• Several Konoha Ninja arrived and identified the monster as the One-Tail, Shukaku.

Shukaku rampaged through Konoha until Orochimaru summoned Manda to confront it. Manda agreed to carry Orochimaru toward Shukaku in exchange for two hundred corpses, then surged at the beast.

• Shukaku destroyed houses and killed several Chunin while Konoha's remaining ninja struggled to stop it.
• Orochimaru arrived, spotted a Jinchuriki atop Shukaku, and realized he would need to deal with the host.
• A wounded figure hidden nearby used a talisman and Hand Seals, causing Shukaku to stop before its beastly consciousness emerged and it resumed its rampage.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda and asked it to fight Shukaku or carry him to its head.
• Manda refused to fight until Orochimaru offered corpses, then demanded two hundred and charged at Shukaku with Orochimaru.

A blond Konoha shinobi killed a Rock Ninja while worrying about the attack on the village. Elsewhere, Aizen led his group toward Konoha, and Captain Kugi recognized him as the returning Lord Sosuke and urged his squad to warn the village.

• The blond shinobi killed a Rock Ninja hiding in a tree and turned his attention toward the distant crash near Konoha.
• Aizen and his group walked openly through a forest toward Konoha as hidden Konoha shinobi watched them.
• Captain Kugi trembled with fear and told his squad that Lord Sosuke had returned.
• Aizen glanced toward the concealed Konoha shinobi, leaving them terrified after he and his group passed.

Aizen sent Minato to retrieve Zongji while he and his party entered Konoha, where Orochimaru and Manda fought the One-Tail Shukaku. Shukaku sensed someone whose scent reminded it of an old humiliation and turned its fury toward that part of the village.

• Aizen asked Minato to find Zongji at the Hyuga Clan's gathering place and keep him from being caught in the battles ahead.
• Aizen's party entered Konoha as Orochimaru and Manda battled Shukaku among the village ruins.
• Shukaku pinned Manda with bands of sand, but Orochimaru protected them from its Air Bullet with Triple Rashomon.
• Orochimaru asked Manda to carry him to Shukaku's head so he could deal with its Jinchuriki, and Manda reluctantly agreed.
• Shukaku recognized a familiar scent from someone who had humiliated it before and vowed to kill him.

Orochimaru tried to reach Shukaku’s jinchuriki, but Rasa intervened and revealed himself as the one controlling the One-Tail. After Rasa and Orochimaru exchanged threats amid Konoha’s ruins, both prepared to kill the other.

• Rasa watched Shukaku through the Sand Eye and realized it was trying to leave the battlefield as Bunpuku’s consciousness was suppressed.
• Manda stopped Shukaku’s leap long enough for Orochimaru to climb onto its head, then vanished after demanding two hundred corpses.
• Orochimaru found the jinchuriki and used the Twin Snakes Mutual Death Technique, but Rasa’s golden Kunai pinned the snakes and forced Orochimaru to retreat.
• Rasa descended on Gold Dust and introduced himself as the one controlling Shukaku, while Orochimaru recognized him as the cause of Konoha’s destruction.
• Rasa and Orochimaru traded threats, each resolving to kill the other.

Shukaku rampaged across the battlefield and sensed Aizen nearby, then found him and his group walking through Konoha. Aizen greeted the furious One-Tail, congratulating it on being free again for a little while.

• Shukaku unleashed towering waves of sand at Orochimaru and Rasa, who dodged away as it rampaged across the battlefield.
• Shukaku sensed Aizen nearby and became enraged at the thought of him.
• Aizen's group strolled through Konoha while Kakuzu questioned Nawaki about his beliefs and Nawaki reaffirmed his faith in Aizen.
• Shukaku's attack sent a blast of sand and debris toward the group, and Nawaki used Wood Release to shield them.
• Shukaku confronted Aizen and threatened to tear him apart, while the Las Noches group reacted with surprise.
• Aizen calmly greeted Shukaku and congratulated it on being free again, at least for a little while.

Aizen faced Shukaku as the One-Tail attacked, while Minato, Nawaki, and Sasori briefly restrained it. After Shukaku believed it had killed Aizen, Aizen reappeared unharmed, revealed the Sand Ninja had used Shukaku as part of a plan, and launched a Boil Release attack.

• Shukaku recognized Aizen and attacked, but Minato, Nawaki, and Sasori blocked its blow with their techniques.
• Aizen stopped the three from wasting their energy, and Shukaku struck the ground where he had stood, believing it had killed him.
• Barragan mocked Shukaku, and Ulquiorra explained that the creature was a body formed from only part of the One-Tail's power.
• Aizen reappeared behind Shukaku and revealed that he had planned with the Sand Ninja to use Shukaku against Konoha.
• Shukaku fired Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet at Aizen, but Aizen dodged again and launched Boil Release: Boiling Amber.

Aizen wounded Shukaku with Kokuō’s Boil Release and faced the Konoha shinobi who had gathered to confront him. After learning Nawaki had chosen to stay with him, Aizen summoned a creature and proposed moving the fight elsewhere, leaving the current battlefield to others.

• Aizen struck Shukaku with a droplet of Kokuō’s Boil Release, badly corroding its belly.
• Aizen told Shukaku that its presence served a purpose and hinted that he intended to collect something from it.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Hatake Sakumo, and Might Duy arrived, and Sakumo declared that he had come to kill Aizen.
• Aizen provoked Sakumo, but Tsunade stopped him from losing control.
• Tsunade urged Nawaki to stop helping Aizen, but Nawaki said he had chosen to follow Aizen and pursue his grandfather’s dream.
• Aizen questioned the Third Hokage’s absence, performed a Summoning Jutsu, and suggested that the Konoha shinobi move elsewhere to settle their differences.

Aizen summoned Kumamoto to face Shukaku, then withdrew with the Konoha shinobi while Ulquiorra and Las Noches prepared to carry out Aizen’s plan. Kumamoto and Shukaku began their battle, with Shukaku striking first and Kumamoto charging at its tail.

• Aizen introduced Kumamoto, who eagerly greeted him before turning its attention to Shukaku.
• Aizen told the Konoha shinobi to leave the field and instructed Ulquiorra to close the net; Ulquiorra agreed to carry out his orders.
• Barragan questioned Aizen’s plan, and Ulquiorra explained that they should simply follow Aizen’s orders.
• Shukaku taunted Kumamoto and demanded that it leave, but Kumamoto became angry and roared back.
• Shukaku whipped its massive tail toward Kumamoto, which planted its forepaws and charged at the attack.

Kumamoto fought Shukaku while refusing to release its tail, despite being badly injured by sand and wind attacks. When Shukaku tore away the distinctive white fur on Kumamoto’s chest, the revealed Art Seal stirred memories of Aizen’s lesson about preserving its uniqueness.

• Shukaku struck Kumamoto with an Air Bullet, but Kumamoto seized its tail again and bit down on it.
• Shukaku turned the ground to sand and used streams of sand to bind and tear at Kumamoto, but Kumamoto kept biting its tail.
• Shukaku targeted Kumamoto’s white chest fur and tore it away, exposing a red Art Seal.
• Kumamoto remembered Aizen telling it that preserving its uniqueness was part of its cultivation and that becoming like every other bear would mean disappearing into the crowd.
• Kumamoto understood Aizen’s words as the torn white fur fell away.

Kumamoto unleashed a surge of strength and turned the fight against Shukaku, leaving the watching Konoha ninja stunned by his power. He battered Shukaku until the beast began crumbling into sand.

• Kumamoto stirred and clamped a paw onto Shukaku’s tail as Shukaku taunted him.
• Kumamoto’s body swelled with crimson chakra, and he lifted Shukaku by the tail and hurled him into the village.
• Kumamoto broke free of the sand bindings and charged through Shukaku’s wind attacks without being seriously hurt.
• Kumamoto knocked Shukaku down, wounded him with his claws, and struck him repeatedly until his body began crumbling into sand.
• The watching Konoha ninja wondered whether human strength could subdue a monster like Kumamoto.

Kumamoto defeated Shukaku’s sand form while Aizen confronted the Konoha shinobi and admitted he had betrayed Sakumo’s squad. Aizen declared that he would destroy the forces controlling the Ninja World, slay its gods, and establish new rules, leaving everyone stunned.

• Kumamoto smashed Shukaku’s re-formed head, returned to his ordinary bear form, and noticed a nearly dead person buried in the sand.
• Aizen stopped near the forest and told the Konoha shinobi that their conflict would be settled there.
• Aizen admitted he had arranged to remove Sakumo because Sakumo’s loyalty and insight threatened his plans.
• Sakumo accused Aizen of giving his squad false orders and wasting Kojika and the others’ lives, while Jiraiya and the others restrained him.
• Aizen called Konoha and the Ninja World corrupted and claimed that unseen beings had interfered with the world.
• Aizen announced that he would slay the gods and establish new rules, stunning everyone present.

Jiraiya, Sakumo, Orochimaru, and Tsunade confronted Aizen, and Might Duy arrived to join them. Their coordinated attack began, but Aizen caught Sakumo's White Fang barehanded, repeating the move that had cost Sakumo an arm years earlier.

• Jiraiya declared that he and the others would stop Aizen, while Sakumo, Orochimaru, and Tsunade took positions around him.
• Might Duy burst into the clearing and joined the group, but Aizen dismissed his offer to return to the village and challenged them to fight.
• Sakumo, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Duy, and Tsunade launched a coordinated attack against Aizen.
• Sakumo swung White Fang at Aizen, who calmly caught the blade in his bare hand, leaving Sakumo stunned.

Tsunade let White Fang pierce her so she could strike Aizen, but he stopped her attack and survived the combined assault. As Aizen walked away, Tsunade accused him of manipulating her and others, and he left her stunned by saying he had never really lied to her.

• Aizen seized White Fang and turned it against Tsunade and Dai as they attacked him.
• Dai dodged the blade, but Tsunade let it pierce her waist so she could land a close-range blow on Aizen.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru joined the attack, and the battlefield disappeared beneath flames and smoke.
• Aizen emerged unharmed with Tsunade's fist in his hand, then released her as she collapsed from her wound.
• Tsunade accused Aizen of faking Minato and Nawaki's deaths and lying to her, and Aizen replied that he had never really lied to her.

Aizen faced Jiraiya and the others, who tried to buy Jiraiya time to enter Sage Mode. Aizen’s Kyoka Suigetsu left Jiraiya and his allies seeing different things, and Jiraiya realized the Toad Sages had witnessed Aizen attacking him.

• Aizen challenged Jiraiya, Sakumo, Dai, and Orochimaru to attack him together.
• Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima and prepared to use Sage Mode while the others held Aizen off.
• Sakumo, Dai, and Orochimaru attacked Aizen, but their blows passed through him because they had fallen under a genjutsu.
• Sage Fukasaku warned Jiraiya to move, but Aizen struck him with Kyoka Suigetsu and sent him crashing through several trees.
• Jiraiya asked the Toad Sages what they had seen, and they said they saw Aizen dodge the others and attack him.

Dai revealed a secret technique designed to hold Aizen back, while Jiraiya prepared to enter Sage Mode. The chapter ended as Dai unleashed Secret Technique: Raging Bear and the battlefield collapsed beneath its force.

• Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, then asked Sakumo, Dai, and Orochimaru to buy him time to prepare a counterattack.
• Aizen’s illusion caused Sakumo, Dai, and Orochimaru to miss their attacks, and Aizen struck Jiraiya before the toad sages warned him.
• Dai told Sakumo and Orochimaru he would fight Aizen so they could study his methods, then unveiled a technique he had created specifically to keep Aizen there.
• Dai opened the fourth gate and attacked Aizen with Secret Technique: Crouching Tiger, but Aizen countered with Jieluoshiya and sent him flying.
• Dai opened the sixth gate and unleashed Secret Technique: Raging Bear, causing the battlefield to collapse into a vast chasm.