Chapter Summaries

Minato and Hiruzen discussed Nawaki’s appointment to lead the Konoha Military Police Force and the threat of his influence growing into a claim to the Hokage position. Hiruzen worried that Nawaki had inherited Aizen’s ideals and might know that Aizen was still alive, leaving Minato responsible for handling the situation.

• Minato asked Hiruzen about Nawaki’s appointment, and Hiruzen said Nawaki’s heritage made the position reasonable despite opposition from Ritsu Kugi, Wuchuan Jue, and their clans.
• Minato warned that the Ritsuku Clan and Wuchuan Clan might use their control over production to obstruct Nawaki.
• Hiruzen told Minato that the village would choose Nawaki over him as Hokage because Nawaki was the First’s grandson and had inherited Wood Release.
• Hiruzen worried that Nawaki’s sudden interest in village affairs reflected Aizen’s ideals and questioned whether Aizen was truly dead.
• Minato promised to handle everything concerning Nawaki, and Hiruzen apologized for placing that burden on him.

Naruto completed a training session with the help of the Nine-Tails' power, and White Tiger warned him to keep his distance from Sasuke. White Tiger left Naruto wondering whether something was wrong with his teammate.

• Naruto evaded White Tiger's surprise attacks and struck him with a Rasengan after sensing his chakra among several clones.
• Naruto admitted that the Nine-Tails' power helped him identify White Tiger, who said Jiraiya had hoped Naruto would learn to use it against Akatsuki.
• White Tiger advised Naruto to be more understanding of Minato, and Naruto reluctantly accepted his words.
• White Tiger warned Naruto to stay away from Sasuke, saying Sasuke was not like him, then departed.
• Naruto wondered whether something was wrong with Sasuke.

Aizen completed extracting the Tailed Beast power from three Jinchuriki and prepared to summon his former subordinates. As Nagato and Konan discussed the captives, Gin and Jia Jin spoke about the Tailed Beasts and the person who had sealed them.

• Aizen drew the remaining chakra from three Jinchuriki into a massive sphere of energy, leaving them collapsed in the canyon.
• Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato watched Aizen, and Konan warned Nagato not to interfere with Aizen's plan or act without orders.
• Gin and Ulquiorra observed the ritual with Monk Jia Jin, who recalled the Tailed Beasts' fearsome reputation.
• Gin told Jia Jin that Nawaki had sealed the Tailed Beasts and that the child who inherited his power served Aizen.
• Jia Jin reacted with fervor and praised Aizen as the savior.

Aizen began using the Hogyoku to manifest three of his former subordinates in the human world. Nagato saw their forms through his Rinnegan as they slowly took shape, while Gin, Ulquiorra, and Jia Jin watched from above the canyon.

• Gin and Ulquiorra discussed Aizen's plan to return to the Soul Society, and Ulquiorra vowed to destroy anyone who interfered with it.
• Jia Jin eagerly asked Gin whether he could go to the Soul Society, and Gin said Aizen might eventually bring everyone in this world there.
• Aizen commanded his former subordinates to manifest in the human world as a brilliant blue light burst from his chest.
• Nagato sensed that Aizen had compressed the Tailed Beasts' immense energies into human forms, which existed in another space visible to his Rinnegan.
• Nagato saw three tall figures taking shape in the canyon: a man dressed like Las Noches, a dreadlocked man with cloth over his eyes, and a large bald man.

Aizen summoned Starrk, Yammy Llargo, and Kaname Tosen into the strange world, where they discovered their powers had changed. Tosen immediately attacked Aizen, but Aizen stopped his blade with one hand.

• Aizen watched the energy before him shrink, then three figures emerged through a tear in space.
• Jia Jin transformed into a gaunt figure wielding a scarlet scythe and threatened the newcomers, but Gin and Ulquiorra warned him not to interfere with Aizen's plans.
• Jia Jin returned to his handsome monk appearance and apologized for losing control.
• Starrk, Yammy Llargo, and Kaname Tosen awakened and realized they had entered a strange world with altered powers.
• Aizen greeted the three, and Kaname Tosen charged at him, but Aizen caught his blade with one hand.

Kaname Tosen attacked Aizen, but Aizen easily stopped his strike and knocked him into the ground. As Starrk and Yammy stood down at Aizen’s order, Aizen approached Tosen and remarked on his hatred.

• Kaname Tosen rushed at Aizen and struck at his head while the observers watched in shock.
• Ulquiorra prepared to intervene, but Gin Ichimaru reminded him that Tosen’s attack was part of Aizen’s plan, so Ulquiorra stood down.
• Aizen caught Tosen’s Zanpakuto in his hand, then bent and flicked it back, slamming Tosen into the ground.
• Starrk and Yammy confronted Tosen, but Aizen ordered them to stand down and said he would answer Starrk’s questions about Lilynette later.
• Aizen approached the fallen Tosen and remarked that it had been a long time since he had seen such hatred.

Aizen confronted Kaname Tosen and forced him to remember how the death of the woman he loved drove him to seek power in the name of justice. The memory ended with Tosen awakening Suzumushi and meeting Sosuke Aizen.

• Aizen asked Kaname Tosen whether he had forgotten the justice he once believed in, and Tosen recalled a woman in Rukongai who had dedicated herself to helping its people.
• The woman told Tosen that the Death Gods did not care about Rukongai and revealed that she was getting married, then stopped visiting him.
• Tosen learned that the woman had died and heard that her husband had killed her, though nobles blamed her death on dissatisfaction with Seireitei's rule.
• Tosen blamed his lack of strength for her fate and swore to gain power to bring peace and become justice himself.
• Tosen's Zanpakuto responded to his vow, transformed into countless knives, and Sosuke Aizen introduced himself and asked whether Tosen was satisfied with his power.

Aizen confronted Kaname Tosen with the promise Tosen had made years earlier to uphold justice, exposing how Tosen had betrayed his own ideals. After Tosen accepted his death as deserved, Aizen offered him a chance to begin again.

• Aizen recalled meeting Tosen after the death of the woman who inspired his pursuit of justice and offered to help him gain power.
• Tosen vowed to kill Death Gods who defied justice, and Aizen directed him to report to Shin'o Academy while warning him not to break their agreement.
• In the canyon, Aizen challenged Tosen to remember his vow, and Tosen admitted he had repented before those he once opposed.
• Aizen said he had stripped Tosen of his power and life because Tosen broke their agreement, while Tosen called his death a mercy.
• Aizen asked Tosen whether he was willing to seize the chance to begin again.

Aizen offered Kaname Tosen a chance to redeem himself in a new world and gave him a reagent that could restore his power. Starrk and Yammy learned they had been reborn in human bodies, and Aizen urged them to enjoy their human lives before returning to their Hollow forms.

• Aizen persuaded Kaname Tosen to accept another chance and gave him a syringe that could help restore his Suzumushi's Bankai.
• Ulquiorra and the others arrived, and Yammy joyfully reunited with Ulquiorra.
• Aizen explained that Starrk and the others had human bodies, and that Lilynette could not appear until Starrk became a Hollow again.
• Starrk realized that his human heart let him understand the companionship he shared with Aizen, Yammy, and Ulquiorra.
• Aizen gave Starrk and Yammy reagents to regain their Hollow powers but advised them to wait and make use of their human lives.
• Aizen appointed Gin to guide the group and told Starrk that they would learn about the new world later.

The Chunin Exams began in Konoha, where Sunagakure’s team arrived with the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara. As Kotetsu and Izumo considered the coming clash with Naruto and Nawaki’s growing influence in the Military Police Force, Kakashi told Team 7 they would take the exams.

• Baki led Temari, Gaara, and another Sunagakure ninja into Konoha for the Chunin Exams.
• Kotetsu and Izumo recognized Gaara as the Fourth Kazekage’s youngest son and discussed his potential matchup with Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Izumo pointed out that Nawaki’s arrival in the Konoha Military Police Force had led to Senju-emblem inspection posts around the village.
• Kakashi told the reunited Team 7 that they would take the Chunin Exams, surprising Naruto and his teammate.

Kakashi told Team 7 that they would take a special Chunin Exam prompted by the danger of Orochimaru’s human experiments and possible Las Noches involvement. The team agreed to compete for the chance to receive personal guidance from all five Kage.

• Naruto and Sasuke reacted with surprise when Kakashi announced they would take the Chunin Exams, while Sakura asked if they were ready so soon after graduating.
• Kakashi revealed that Tsunade and Nawaki had uncovered Orochimaru’s successful human experiments and suspected Las Noches might be involved.
• Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura that Jiraiya had warned him to flee if he ever encountered Aizen, and Kakashi said even he would have no chance of escaping Aizen.
• Kakashi explained that the five Kage had agreed to personally guide every ninja who passed the unusual Chunin Exams.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all agreed to participate, and Kakashi warned them that some of the other entrants were far from ordinary.

In Las Noches, Gin Ichimaru questioned whether Kaname Tosen remained loyal to Aizen after Aizen had killed him. Tosen reaffirmed his devotion to Aizen and his promise to uphold justice, while Gin resolved to keep others from interfering with Aizen.

• Kaname Tosen sensed Gin Ichimaru hiding in a corridor of Las Noches and confronted him.
• Gin asked whether Tosen would still serve Aizen after Aizen had killed him.
• Tosen attacked Gin with Suzumushi, but Gin dodged the strike and the blades returned to Tosen's sword.
• Tosen declared that Aizen had saved him and that he would uphold justice, warning Gin not to give him grounds to act against him.
• After Tosen left, Gin said he would not let anyone interfere with Aizen again.

Aizen visited Las Noches’ underground research facility, where researchers had discovered the cause of changes in the Hollows’ bodies. He praised Shigeki-ji Go and invited him to participate in his next experimental project, leaving the other researchers wondering what Aizen would create next.

• Aizen arrived at the underground research facility, where researchers greeted him with reverence.
• Aizen asked about the cause of the Hollows’ bodily changes, and the researchers introduced Shigeki-ji Go as the one who had discovered it.
• Aizen praised Shigeki-ji Go, said Las Noches needed talent like him, and invited him to join the next experimental project.
• Shigeki-ji Go excitedly accepted and led Aizen into the inner laboratory to show him the research results.
• The researchers discussed Shigeki-ji Go’s opportunity and wondered what achievement Aizen’s next experiment would bring.

Aizen examined Shigeki-ji Go’s findings on the blood of Kimimaro and Kidomaru, whose bodies had changed after taking the DX-G2 reagent. Shigeki-ji Go proposed that the reagent concealed the blood’s true strength, then applied Datura Mist Grass venom to a sample as Aizen watched.

• Shigeki-ji Go led Aizen to his laboratory’s deepest section and showed him the blood samples and microscope.
• Shigeki-ji Go explained that the blood of the transformed Kimimaro, Kidomaru, and others appeared no different from ordinary human blood.
• Aizen observed that the red blood cells looked identical and asked whether the reagent had caused the change.
• Shigeki-ji Go argued that DX-G2 had disguised the blood’s power, since Kimimaro and the others remained far stronger than ordinary people.
• Shigeki-ji Go dripped Datura Mist Grass venom into the blood sample, and something unusual happened.

Aizen and Shigeki-ji Go observed Kimimaro's blood evolve when exposed to poison, confirming that intense stimulation could trigger a transformation. Aizen concluded that pain and hardship might provide a way to strengthen Hollows created from humans.

• Shigeki-ji Go added poison to Kimimaro's blood, causing it to expand into a white mass before contracting into hard, bone-like fragments around a more scarlet drop of blood.
• Aizen praised Shigeki-ji Go's research and said the result confirmed his suspicions about Hollows' weaknesses.
• Aizen explained that Hollows grew stronger by consuming one another, but human-made Hollows lacked that ability despite retaining intelligence.
• Aizen concluded that intense physical or emotional hardship could trigger human-made Hollows to evolve and grow stronger.

Aizen decided to send Las Noches’ Hollows into the outside world after Shigeki-ji Go’s research showed that pain could accelerate their growth. After learning that the Five Great Nations would gather at Konoha’s Chunin Exam, Aizen chose it as the destination for the first group, including Kimimaro and the others.

• Aizen told Shigeki-ji Go that his discovery had changed Las Noches’ strategy and that its Hollows would be sent out one by one.
• Aizen ordered Shigeki-ji Go to keep their discussion secret, and Shigeki-ji Go agreed.
• Aizen told Orochimaru and Kazumi that he would send out the first batch of Hollows because of Shigeki-ji Go’s research.
• Orochimaru reported that the Five Great Ninja Villages would send gifted ninja to Konoha’s Chunin Exam, where the five Kage would guide those who passed.
• Aizen decided to send Kimimaro and the others to Konoha and have them help Nawaki’s side.

Kimimaro led his group toward Konoha to take part in the Chunin Exams on Lord Aizen’s orders, though they feared the mission would expose them to the Five Great Ninja Villages. He insisted they would obey and try to conceal their abilities, but Jugo remained uncertain as the group continued toward Konoha.

• Kimimaro warned Sakon and Kidomaru to stop arguing and threatened to deal with anyone who jeopardized Lord Aizen’s first mission for them.
• After the group crossed the Gobi and entered a forest, Jugo used birds to confirm they could reach Konoha before dawn.
• Jugo questioned why Lord Aizen had sent them to the Chunin Exams when Tsunade had already seen them and the Five Great Ninja Villages would be watching.
• Kimimaro admitted he did not know the reason but declared that they must obey the order and obtain Chunin status, even if it cost their lives.
• Kimimaro proposed concealing their abilities and disguising their identities, while Jugo wondered whether that plan would really work.

Temari and Kankuro explored Konoha’s night market while their teacher Baki told them to relax before the Chunin Exams. After Gaara wandered off, he encountered a black-haired youth and asked his name.

• Temari scolded Kankuro for enjoying the night market instead of focusing on defeating Konoha’s shinobi.
• Baki explained that they could explore Konoha as long as it did not affect their performance in the matches.
• Temari realized Gaara was missing, and she and Kankuro split up to search for him.
• Gaara watched moths circle a streetlight before noticing a black-haired youth emerge at a nearby street corner.
• The black-haired youth walked past Gaara, who asked him what his name was.

Sasuke met Gaara on a quiet street, where Gaara recognized his loneliness, but Sasuke rejected the idea and reaffirmed his determination to gain enough power to kill his brother. Back at home, Naruto learned that his father planned to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique before the Chunin Exams, then apologized to his mother after she struck him for complaining.

• Sasuke asked the red-haired boy his name, and Gaara told him that they were both lonely.
• Sasuke rejected Gaara's claim and walked away, while Gaara watched him leave until Temari found him.
• Temari reassured Gaara and tried to coax him back to their lodgings, but he refused her offers of grilled squid.
• Sasuke recalled Gaara's words, declared that they would not shake his resolve to kill his brother, and anticipated facing Gaara.
• Naruto learned that his father would teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique before the Chunin Exams and protested that it could make him seem to have passed through connections.
• Naruto's mother punched him for complaining, and he knelt to apologize.

Naruto learned that mastering Flying Thunder God was meant to protect him from the danger posed by Las Noches and Akatsuki, while Minato vowed to give his life rather than let anyone take him. The next morning, Kimimaro and his disguised companions entered Konoha as Otogakure ninjas ahead of the competition.

• Minato sided with Kushina as Naruto apologized, and Kushina insisted he learn Flying Thunder God for his safety.
• Kushina admitted she regretted making Naruto the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, and Minato apologized to both her and Naruto.
• Minato told Naruto that learning Flying Thunder God was a precaution and vowed to die before allowing anyone to take him.
• Kushina explained Konoha's findings about Las Noches and Akatsuki, leaving Naruto stunned by their connection to him.
• At dawn, Kimimaro led his disguised companions to Konoha and warned them to keep their identities hidden until the competition began.
• The gate inspector checked the group's documents, accepted them as Otogakure ninjas, and dismissed the killing intent he thought he sensed.