Chapter Summaries

Sosuke returned to Konoha to a warm welcome from the villagers, then met with Danzo, who gave him a scroll of forbidden-technique research and ordered him to remain in the village. Sosuke destroyed the scroll after leaving, convinced Danzo had already lost.

• The villagers warmly greeted Sosuke and praised him as Konoha’s promising “Child of Konoha.”
• Sosuke visited Danzo, who praised his progress and bloodline ability.
• Danzo gave Sosuke the Scroll of Forbidden Arts and told him to stay in the village rather than take the field in the war.
• Sosuke accepted the scroll while privately suspecting Danzo was trying to win his favor.
• After leaving, Sosuke skimmed the scroll, burned it, and walked away as the ashes scattered.

Sosuke visited Sakuya in the forest to check on her Kido training, where she struggled to aim Hadō #31: Red Fire Cannon. He reunited with the giant bears he had warned to leave Sakuya alone, promised to visit her often, and looked toward the Land of Rain.

• Sakuya practiced Hadō #31: Red Fire Cannon but failed to hit her target precisely.
• Two giant bears emerged from the forest, and Sakuya recognized them as the bear that had attacked her before and its cub.
• Sosuke arrived and praised Sakuya for mastering Kido, reassuring her that he would guide her more often.
• The bear cub approached Sosuke and licked his hand, while its mother watched warily.
• Sosuke told the cub to return with its mother and promised to visit them again; the bears left, and he told Sakuya he would come back often.
• Sosuke gazed toward the Land of Rain.

Hanzo defended his decision to draw Sunagakure into the war while Kinnara and Yando clashed over their roles in the Rain Ninja Village. As Sand Ninja attacked a town, Konan’s grandmother hid her in a wardrobe, and a violent crash left Konan alone in the darkness.

• Yando warned that the war between Konoha and Sunagakure was devastating the Land of Rain, and Kinnara mocked his lack of accomplishments.
• Kagari stopped Kinnara and Yando’s argument, and Hanzo insisted that drawing the Sand Ninja into the war had been necessary to protect the Rain Ninja Village.
• A Sand Ninja unit entered the Land of Rain and its captain ordered his men to leave no survivors in a town while gathering supplies.
• Konan’s grandmother bought her shriveled apples, and Konan worried that her grandmother needed the money for medicine.
• After an explosion struck the town, Konan’s grandmother hid her in a wardrobe and went to investigate.
• A violent crash sounded outside while Konan remained hidden in the darkness.

Minato rescued Konan and her grandmother from Sand Ninja attacking their town, then reunited the two after killing the intruders. He resolved to protect the precious people in his life and destroy anyone who threatened them.

• Minato rushed into town after seeing smoke and hearing people cry out.
• A Sand Ninja tried to kill Konan's grandmother, but Minato burst into the house and stopped him.
• Minato killed the Sand Ninja and defeated the other attackers with his Byakugan and Eight Trigrams: Air Wall Palm.
• Minato found Konan hiding in a wardrobe and told her that her grandmother was still alive.
• Konan embraced her grandmother, while Minato reflected on Captain Aizen's words and turned his murderous gaze toward the attackers outside.

White Zetsu reported that he had modified a boy’s eyes for the old man, who ordered him to keep watching the child. In Konoha, Sosuke played with Nawaki and told Kyoka Suigetsu that the world held fascinating secrets.

• White Zetsu told the old man that he had modified the boy’s eyes so they would awaken naturally, and the old man ordered him to watch the boy closely.
• Sosuke easily foiled Nawaki’s attempt to touch Kyoka Suigetsu, then reassured the disappointed child that Tsunade would return soon.
• Kyoka Suigetsu asked Sosuke why he cared about Nawaki, and Sosuke said the boy had potential and hinted at secrets hidden in the world.

Minato, Konan, and an old woman left a ruined town after Minato rescued a child trapped beneath a collapsed house. Elsewhere in the Land of Rain, Uchiha Tokino revealed that he had lured a squad of Rain Ninja into a canyon so he could kill them without anyone finding out.

• Minato helped Konan put on her raincoat and led her and the old woman away from their ruined home.
• Konan asked Minato to save a child trapped beneath a collapsed house, and he cleared away the wreckage and carried the boy on his back.
• A squad of Rain Ninja pursued Uchiha Tokino through the forest and cornered him at a canyon cliff.
• Tokino revealed his strange three-bladed Sharingan and told the Rain Ninja that he had lured them to the canyon to kill them unseen.
• Tokino sprang into motion as the Rain Ninja faced him with growing unease.

Tokino unleashed Futsu-no-Mitama to withstand the Rain Ninja’s attacks, then devastated the battlefield with a massive lightning cannon. Back in Konoha, Sosuke defeated Shimura Kazumi at shogi, leaving her wondering how far ahead he had planned.

• Tokino evaded the Rain Ninja’s attacks and killed one of them with lightning.
• The Rain Ninja leader coordinated an assault, while Ameme used Super Heavy Water Binding Technique to restrict Tokino’s movements.
• Tokino summoned Futsu-no-Mitama, whose black chakra and lightning blocked the Rain Ninja’s techniques.
• Tokino formed Thunder-Roaring Takemikazuchi and fired a massive blast, leaving the Rain Ninja battlefield in ruins.
• In Konoha, Sosuke beat Shimura Kazumi at shogi, and Kazumi asked when he had planned his winning strategy.

Ōnoki moved to bring the Land of Earth into the war, but Roshi escaped Iwagakure rather than serve the village. In Konoha, Mito Uzumaki told Kushina that she would become the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki.

• Ōnoki persuaded the Land of Earth’s Daimyo and Rock Ninja that Iwagakure should enter the war against Konoha and Sunagakure.
• Kitsuchi reported that Roshi had escaped through Iwagakure’s barrier, and Ōnoki ordered a tracking squad to search for him.
• Roshi left Iwagakure and vowed not to serve Ōnoki or the village again.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo waited outside a house in Konoha while Mito Uzumaki spoke with Kushina.
• Mito told Kushina that Konoha needed to seal the Nine-Tails inside her.

Kushina learned that she would become the Nine-Tails' vessel, while the Land of Earth entered the war and Kumogakure's young A trained under the Third Raikage. Sosuke secured permission to return to the battlefield, having confirmed the Nine-Tails' location and deciding he no longer needed to remain in Konoha.

• Mito Uzumaki comforted Kushina and explained that sealing the Nine-Tails inside her was the Uzumaki Clan's duty.
• The Land of Earth joined the war, prompting the Third Raikage to tell his son A to grow strong enough to lead Kumogakure.
• A agreed to his father's demands, then challenged his younger brother Bee to spar.
• Sosuke asked Danzo to let him return to the battlefield, and Danzo agreed to explain his departure to the Third Hokage.
• Sosuke told Shimura Kazumi that he was returning to protect Konoha, then reflected that he had confirmed the Nine-Tails' location.

In the Land of Rain, Minato watched Konan and an old woman comfort the starving Yahiko as they shared porridge in a cave. In Konoha, Sosuke left for Iwagakure after saying goodbye to Dai and Shimura Kazumi, who wondered if his parting words had been a confession.

• Konan offered Minato the first bowl of porridge, and he accepted it gratefully.
• Konan and the old woman urged Yahiko to eat, and he drank the porridge while quietly sobbing.
• Sosuke said goodbye to Dai and Shimura Kazumi at Konoha's village entrance before departing into the fog.
• Dai warned Sosuke to be careful in Iwagakure, and Sosuke reassured him that he would return safely.
• Shimura Kazumi blushed after Sosuke left and wondered whether he had confessed his feelings to her.

In the Land of Rain, Minato agreed to teach Yahiko ninjutsu so he could protect those he loved, though Minato said he would leave soon. In Sunagakure, Chiyo comforted young Sasori as he asked when his parents would return, while Sosuke used Tenteikūra to locate someone near the Rock Ninja battlefield.

• Yahiko asked Minato to teach him ninjutsu, explaining that he wanted to protect the people around him after failing to save his mother.
• Minato agreed to teach Yahiko but said he would be leaving soon for something more important.
• Sasori explored the basement full of puppet parts, fell while hurrying upstairs, and Chiyo comforted him with candy.
• Sasori asked Chiyo when his parents would return, and she told him they had gone to a faraway land.
• Sosuke left the Konoha squads heading toward the Rock Ninja battlefield and used Bakudo #77: Tenteikūra to find someone.

Sosuke sent instructions to Kinnara, Minato, and Tokino as his operation neared its start. Kinnara prepared to carry out his mission in the Land of Rain, Minato committed himself to Aizen’s cause, and Tokino reacted with fear at the news that Aizen had emerged.

• Sosuke sent Kinnara, Minato, and Tokino instructions through a ring of light and said the operation was about to begin.
• Kinnara split his Rain Ninja squad into three groups and went alone through the forest, intending to finish his mission before confronting Captain Aizen.
• Minato received Sosuke’s instructions and vowed to become Aizen’s blade, while Yahiko trained desperately in the rain nearby.
• Tokino took charge of investigating a suspected Sand Ninja outpost, and Dan agreed to accompany him.
• After Dan mentioned that Sakumo had gone to the Sand Ninja battlefield, Tokino realized Aizen was already out and resolved to keep his identity hidden until an opportunity arose.

At the Land of Fire–Land of Earth border, Sosuke deduced that Iwagakure had sent its main forces to the Land of Rain. In the Land of Rain, Minato received intelligence from Kinnara about a possible hidden monster in Oborogakure and planned to investigate while Kinnara continued gathering information on Hanzo.

• Sosuke told Moonlight Shingo that Iwagakure's sparse border deployment suggested the main battlefield would be the Land of Rain, and Shingo confirmed intelligence that Iwagakure's forces were there.
• Yahiko struggled outside to train despite his weakness, determined to become strong enough to protect Konan and Grandma.
• Minato left Yahiko and confronted Kinnara in the forest, then demanded the intelligence he had brought.
• Kinnara gave Minato a scroll and reported rumors of a hidden monster in Oborogakure that might be a Tailed Beast.
• Minato said he would investigate Oborogakure and ordered Kinnara to delay his revenge and gather information on Hanzo for Captain Aizen.

The chapter recounted the changing wars and Konoha’s rising fighters before showing Sasori grieving for his dead parents with Chiyo. It then returned to Sosuke at the border outpost and began recounting the Rock Ninja’s attack two years earlier.

• The wars escalated after Iwagakure joined the fighting, while Konoha’s fighters, including Hatake Sakumo, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Dan Katō, and Uchiha Tokino, gained renown.
• Sasori broke down when Chiyo brought him candy, asking whether his parents would ever return and begging her to bring them back.
• Chiyo comforted Sasori until he fell asleep, then looked at his parents’ photograph and the puppet parts on the table with sorrow.
• Sosuke walked through the hidden outpost near the Land of Fire–Land of Earth border, where the ninja respected him as their captain.
• Sosuke’s reputation had grown after he faced the Iwagakure attack two years earlier, when Rock Ninja used the Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique against Konoha’s forest outposts.

Sosuke protected Konoha’s outpost by blocking the Rock Ninja’s enormous Mountain Earth Technique with Four Beast Gate, forcing them to abandon their attack. A month later, Konoha erected a memorial stone honoring the fallen, including Mitarashi Juma.

• Sosuke formed two massive hexagonal gates that stopped the mountains from crushing the outpost.
• The Rock Ninja ended their extermination mission and withdrew after Kumogakure launched a surprise attack on Iwagakure.
• Konoha’s ninjas praised Sosuke, but he called the comrades who died in the war the true heroes.
• Shingo Gekko thanked Sosuke and privately reflected on Juma and Konoha’s future.
• A month later, Konoha erected the Konoha Hero Memorial Stone, which listed Mitarashi Juma as having died in Year 32 of Konoha.

Sosuke tested Kyoka Suigetsu near the outpost and discovered White Zetsu spying on him. After questioning Zetsu and learning he was a clone that could transmit information, Sosuke watched him escape and wondered who was behind him.

• Sosuke drew Kyoka Suigetsu and activated its power in a secluded spot near the outpost.
• White Zetsu watched Sosuke from inside a tree, and Sosuke found him using his Kendo-based sense and trapped him with Six Rods of Light Prison.
• Sosuke and Zetsu exchanged names and discussed how Sosuke had detected him.
• Sosuke deduced that Zetsu was a clone capable of sending information back, and Zetsu praised his insight before bursting into spores.
• Sosuke burned the spores off his clothes with electricity and wondered who was behind Zetsu.

A young girl practiced Kido in Konoha Forest and scolded Little Bear for interrupting her time with Sosuke. After Little Bear crushed a giant python, Orochimaru sensed something was wrong but told Jiraiya nothing was amiss.

• The girl used Hado #73. Soren Sokatsui to scorch a rock wall, then trapped Little Bear with Bakudō #37. Tsuriboshi and laughed when it fell into a crater.
• The girl blamed Little Bear for keeping Sosuke from her, and Little Bear waddled away, hurt by her scolding.
• The Hogyoku continued evolving Little Bear, who had grown enormous because it loved eating.
• A giant python bit Little Bear's nose, and Little Bear smashed the snake and its remains into the ground before rubbing its injured nose.
• Orochimaru frowned, and when Jiraiya asked what was wrong, Orochimaru said nothing was wrong.

Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya returned to Konoha and reunited with Nawaki, who had been training in the Senju compound. Jiraiya's attempt to explain his bargain with Nawaki angered Tsunade and left him in danger of another beating.

• Tsunade punched Jiraiya into a wall after he presented Nawaki with an inappropriate manga magazine.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru headed to the Senju compound to surprise Nawaki and see how strong he had become.
• Nawaki startled himself by grabbing a snake during his training, and Tsunade and Orochimaru teased him before greeting him warmly.
• Nawaki hugged Tsunade and told her he had missed her, then greeted Orochimaru and Jiraiya with delight.
• Nawaki revealed that Jiraiya had offered him snacks in exchange for information about Tsunade, prompting her to confront Jiraiya.

Tsunade healed Jiraiya and apologized after learning Nawaki had been joking, then warned Jiraiya not to show Nawaki anything inappropriate again. Nawaki declared that he would touch Kyoka Suigetsu, earn Sosuke’s recognition, and become Hokage, and Tsunade entrusted him with their grandfather’s necklace.

• Tsunade healed Jiraiya’s bruised face and apologized for blaming him, while warning him not to show Nawaki anything inappropriate.
• Nawaki asked when Orochimaru and Sosuke would return and explained his promise to Sosuke: to touch Kyoka Suigetsu and prove himself a man.
• Jiraiya teased Nawaki about how difficult it would be to touch Sosuke’s sword, then encouraged him to pursue his goal of becoming Hokage.
• Tsunade praised Nawaki’s ambition and placed their grandfather’s keepsake necklace around his neck, entrusting him with its hopes.

Nagato witnessed Konoha Ninja kill his parents and awakened a power that killed them in turn. In a cave, the old man learned of Nagato’s awakening and ordered White Zetsu to watch Nagato and investigate the powerful Konoha ninja Sosuke.

• Konoha Ninja searching an abandoned village killed Nagato’s parents by mistake.
• Nagato erupted in rage and awakened an unknown power that killed the Konoha Ninja before he collapsed.
• White Zetsu told the old man that Nagato had awakened.
• The old man explained his plan to end war and asked White Zetsu about the immense chakra near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.
• White Zetsu identified the source as the Konoha ninja Sosuke, and the old man ordered him to investigate Sosuke and keep Nagato under surveillance.