Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen considered whether the intelligence that Uchiha Obito was alive could be verified, while Kakashi insisted he had seen Obito die. In Amegakure, Obito revealed his identity to Nagato and Konan, preserved his alliance with Akatsuki, and agreed with Nagato to accelerate their plans.

• Danzo explained that he believed a hostile Uchiha traitor called Obito existed and planned to exploit the conflict between Iwagakure and Kirigakure for his ambitions.
• Hiruzen asked Kakashi whether the intelligence about Obito was credible, and Kakashi insisted that Obito had died in front of him.
• Hiruzen considered using Impure World Reincarnation to test whether Obito was dead, but chose to wait and ordered Kakashi to monitor suspicious activity.
• Obito met Pain and Konan in Amegakure, revealed that he was Uchiha Obito, and explained how Madara had saved him and why he had used Madara's name.
• Nagato maintained Akatsuki's alliance with Obito because the organization needed his power and intelligence, and they agreed to speed up their plans.
• After Obito left, Nagato told Konan that he did not trust Obito but intended to use him, confident that the Rinnegan would let him control the outcome.

Obito planned to recruit more powerful members and provoke a war between Kumogakure and Iwagakure so Akatsuki could prepare for its Tailed Beast Capture Plan while avoiding Shōji. Meanwhile, Shōji devoted himself to experiments aimed at strengthening himself and advancing his clan’s abilities, with the Rinnegan and Kaguya’s power as his ultimate goals.

• Obito told Black Zetsu that Nagato’s belief in their intelligence did not matter as long as he continued the Tailed Beast Capture Plan, and ordered him to help recruit more members.
• Obito decided to seek out two people whose locations Black Zetsu had confirmed and to incite conflict between Kumogakure and Iwagakure, hoping to draw the Five Great Shinobi Villages into war.
• Obito resolved to destroy Shōji and the Uchiha Clan, while Shōji remained unaware of Obito’s plans and focused on experiments in Iwagakure.
• Shōji investigated Zero-Tail, the Dragon Vein, Shinnō’s and Orochimaru’s research, Shikotsumyaku, and other materials to improve his Wood Release research and pursue the Rinnegan.
• Shōji treated White Zetsu cells as supplementary research material and sought a way to help Mangekyō Sharingan users such as Shisui and Itachi overcome their Dōjutsu Power depletion.

Shōji advanced his research by harnessing the Dragon Vein and stabilizing a fusion of White Zetsu cells with the Sharingan, while bringing Yakushi Kabuto into the core experiments under concealed safeguards. After taking Neji Hyuga, Uzumaki Karin, and Yuki Haku to the Ninja Academy, he was summoned by Ōnoki, who revealed that Kumogakure had shifted forces toward Iwagakure’s Western Front.

• Shōji used the Dragon Vein’s power to strengthen his ninjutsu while reducing its Chakra cost, then prepared to test it with Susanoo.
• With Yakushi Kabuto’s help, Shōji achieved a stable balance between White Zetsu cells and the Sharingan after nearly two months of experiments, but secretly planted genjutsu suggestions in Kabuto as a precaution.
• Shōji took Neji Hyuga, Uzumaki Karin, and Yuki Haku to the Ninja Academy, where Uchiha Sasuke also enrolled early at his own request.
• An Anbu summoned Shōji to meet Ōnoki, where he encountered Kitsuchi and Four-Tails Jinchuriki Rōshi.
• Rōshi and Ōnoki reported that Kumogakure had moved supplies and troops toward the border and likely transferred forces from the Land of Hot Springs to the Western Front.

Ōnoki, Kitsuchi, Mister Rōshi, and Shōji debated how Iwagakure should respond to Kumogakure’s movements, and they agreed to pressure it through Kirigakure and the Snow Country rather than launch a war. Ōnoki decided Shōji was the best choice to succeed him as Fourth Tsuchikage, though the appointment would wait until Shōji came of age.

• Mister Rōshi warned Ōnoki that Kumogakure was preparing for war and urged Iwagakure to strike first, while Kitsuchi argued for restraint.
• Shōji supported Kitsuchi’s cautious approach, citing Iwagakure’s need to recover and complete mass deployment of its Chakra Armor.
• Shōji proposed using Kirigakure and the Snow Country to pressure Kumogakure without starting a war, and Ōnoki approved the plan despite Mister Rōshi’s objections.
• Shōji argued that Iwagakure could benefit if Kumogakure made the first move by drawing the attention of Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure.
• Ōnoki resolved to appoint Shōji as Fourth Tsuchikage, but planned to wait until Shōji turned twenty and the village’s transition could be arranged.

Ōnoki decided that Uchiha Shōji would succeed him as the Fourth Tsuchikage and used Iwagakure’s response to Kumogakure’s probing to strengthen ties with Kirigakure. Faced with pressure on two fronts, the Fourth Raikage ordered Kumogakure to pause its plans and withdraw its forces from Snow Country.

• Ōnoki assigned Shōji oversight of new units and related military projects, then told Rōshi that Shōji was more suited than Kitsuchi to become the next Tsuchikage.
• Ōnoki secretly recorded Shōji as the Fourth Tsuchikage on Iwagakure’s succession scroll, while Kitsuchi arranged for Ido, an elite force, and two Anbu squads to go to Snow Country.
• Karatachi Yagura, after consulting Genji, sent nearly three thousand Kiri Ninja under Terumi Mei to the northern island chain to support Iwagakure’s pressure on Kumogakure.
• The Fourth Raikage became furious at Iwagakure and Kirigakure’s moves, but Dodai urged him to delay action and pursue contacts with Sunagakure instead.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered Kumogakure to suspend its plans and told its forces in Snow Country to withdraw quickly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to verify the claim that Uchiha Obito was alive, and the failed summoning confirmed it. Kakashi awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan as he faced the truth about Obito, while Hiruzen warned him to protect the village and ordered preparations for rising tensions among the great nations.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen convened a secret meeting and used Kakashi’s Sharingan cells and a condemned prisoner to perform the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• The technique failed to summon Obito, confirming that he was alive, and Kakashi’s grief over Obito’s betrayal awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to prepare against the Uchiha Clan and the Iwagakure-Kirigakure alliance, but Hiruzen ordered him not to act without authorization and told the others to keep the test secret.
• Hiruzen told Mitokado Homura to pursue an alliance with Sunagakure and asked Utatane Koharu to watch Danzo and restrain him.
• Hiruzen warned Kakashi not to leave the village alone and reminded him that Obito was responsible for the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack; Kakashi accepted that Obito was now Konoha’s enemy.

Shōji oversaw Iwagakure’s Chakra Armor and weapons research as the village prepared for a possible war during a period of uneasy peace. Meanwhile, Obito recruited new members for Akatsuki and accelerated preparations to capture the Tailed Beasts.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen kept Konoha quiet while he investigated Obito’s motives and gathered intelligence.
• Shōji inspected Iwagakure’s improved Chakra Armor, ordered tighter security around its researchers, and delayed wider deployment.
• Shōji reviewed Iwagakure’s cannons, bombs, and flight equipment, while researchers reported they could not yet replicate the Land of the Sky’s floating fortress.
• Shōji spent more than half a month at Iwagakure’s research facilities as the village consolidated its preparations and the shinobi world entered a temporary peace.
• Obito recruited allies for Akatsuki, including Hidan and Hiruko, as he and Nagato prepared to begin capturing the Tailed Beasts ahead of schedule.

Obito returned to Konoha to take back his Sharingan from Kakashi, but Danzo betrayed him and led him into a prepared ambush. The battle erupted with Obito unleashing Wood Release, and its outcome remained uncertain as news of the clash spread through the shinobi world.

• Obito recruited Hiruko into Akatsuki by promising him the Kekkei Genkai he wanted, including Sharingan, and the organization began preparing its plans.
• Obito decided to reclaim his eye from Kakashi and infiltrated Konoha in June of Konoha Year 52, relying on Danzo’s covert assistance.
• Obito and Black Zetsu reached Kakashi’s residence, where Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kakashi, and over a hundred Konoha elites ambushed them.
• Danzo watched from a distance with Root elites, intending to profit whether Obito or Hiruzen fell in the battle.
• Hiruzen and Kakashi attacked Obito, who unleashed Wood Release as explosions and screams erupted around the encirclement.
• The battle’s shockwaves alarmed Konoha’s residents, and spies carried news of the clash to villages across the shinobi world.

Shōji and Ōnoki concluded that Obito had led the attack on Konoha with Akatsuki and White Zetsu support, then focused Iwagakure on gathering intelligence and preparing for war. The other villages made their own plans, while Obito left Konoha wounded in his objective: Kakashi no longer had Obito’s eye.

• Shōji identified Obito as the likely attacker and persuaded Ōnoki that Kamui and outside assistance could explain his escape from Konoha.
• Shōji urged Iwagakure to gather intelligence on Obito and his eye, while Ōnoki assigned Ogata to investigate and ordered Shōji, Kitsuchi, Ido, and others to watch the borders.
• Shōji decided to avoid unnecessary moves while developing Iwagakure’s equipment, pursuing his research, and training in senjutsu.
• The Fourth Raikage prepared Kumogakure to join Sunagakure in pressuring Iwagakure and demanded a Mangekyō Sharingan, while Karatachi Yagura expected Kirigakure to remain largely inactive.
• Obito returned from Konoha without reclaiming his eye because Kakashi no longer had it.

After failing to recover his Sharingan, Obito abandoned the attempt and accelerated plans to provoke conflict between Iwagakure and Kumogakure while preparing Akatsuki’s Tailed Beast capture operation. A year and a half passed as tensions rose, Kirigakure appointed Terumi Mei as Fifth Mizukage, and Kusagakure’s remaining elders prepared to rebuild their village using the Box of Paradise.

• Obito returned to his base without Kakashi’s Sharingan and refused Black Zetsu’s suggestion to have Nagato attack Konoha, instead ordering efforts to ignite war between Iwagakure and Kumogakure and gather intelligence on Uchiha Shōji.
• Obito went to the Rain Country to coordinate Akatsuki’s assignments for capturing the Tailed Beasts, while Shōji focused on strengthening himself and managing Iwagakure.
• A year and a half passed, and clashes between Kumogakure and Iwagakure began along their border as Kumogakure also sent ninja into the Snow Country.
• Karatachi Yagura died, and Terumi Mei became Kirigakure’s Fifth Mizukage with Genji’s support; Kirigakure had already transferred the Three-Tails to Chojuro.
• Kusagakure’s four elders gathered in a secret base in the Land of Rivers and prepared to rebuild their village, relying on Mui’s preliminary control of the Box of Paradise.

Kusagakure’s four elders agreed to use Kumogakure and the Box of Paradise to pursue their plan, while Fourth Raikage A treated their alliance request as a means to test Iwagakure’s strength. Kumogakure dispatched a special operations force toward the former Land of Grass, and the elders began preparing their own operation.

• The four Kusagakure elders agreed to proceed with their plan, contact Mammoth, and keep Mui’s son involved as they prepared to open the Box of Paradise.
• Fourth Raikage A burned Kusagakure’s alliance request and discussed with Dodai and Mabui the threat posed by Iwagakure’s Chakra Armor.
• A ordered Dodai to use Kusagakure to test Iwagakure, and selected Yugito rather than Killer B as the Jinchuriki for the mission.
• Dodai assembled a force of more than a hundred Kumo Ninja, with Darui as deputy commander, and led them toward the former Land of Grass.
• The Kusagakure elders received advance word of Kumogakure’s movement and began preparing their own operation as the story shifted toward the former Kusagakure region.

Dodai led Kumogakure and the Kusa Ninja in an assault that drove Iwagakure’s defenders from Kusagakure, while Kumogakure limited its pursuit to test Iwagakure’s strength. As Mui prepared for the Box of Paradise ritual, Akatsuchi arrived with reinforcements and readied to fight the allied forces.

• The Iwagakure scouts discovered the Kumo Ninja’s trail after the Kusa Ninja elders’ force was exposed, prompting Dodai to launch a swift attack on Kusagakure.
• Mui led the Kusa Ninja into battle, and Darui’s Kumo Ninja joined them to overwhelm the Iwagakure defenders and kill their commander.
• The surviving Iwagakure Ninja retreated, while Darui halted the Kumo Ninja’s pursuit and Mui’s Kusa Ninja continued chasing them.
• The four Kusagakure elders challenged Dodai over the pursuit, but Dodai insisted they focus on reclaiming the village and opening the Box of Paradise; Mui then headed to prepare the ritual.
• Akatsuchi met the retreating Iwagakure troops, learned that Kumo had joined forces with the Kusa Ninja and possibly brought Yugito, and ordered his reinforcements to prepare for battle.

Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara convinced Akatsuchi to let them investigate the Kumo and Kusa forces threatening Iwagakure’s former Kusagakure region. As the trio set out and Akatsuchi prepared to draw enemy attention, Ōnoki and Shōji concluded that Kumo’s invasion had a hidden purpose.

• Akatsuchi prepared to advance against the Kumo Ninja after learning that their force might include the Two-Tailed Jinchuriki.
• Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara arrived, and Itachi proposed that Akatsuchi hold the defensive line while the trio gathered intelligence.
• Akatsuchi resisted sending the young ninja on a dangerous mission, but Itachi and Deidara demonstrated their abilities and persuaded him to agree.
• Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara departed to investigate, while Akatsuchi reorganized his troops and led a small elite group to draw enemy attention and support them.
• Ōnoki and Shōji reviewed the invasion reports at the Tsuchikage Building and agreed that Kumo’s attack had an ulterior motive.

Shōji and Ōnoki treated Kumogakure’s move into the Land of Grass as a probing attack and sent Shōji with reinforcements to respond. Meanwhile, Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara infiltrated Kusagakure to investigate the enemy forces, leaving their next step focused on finding a suitable target for questioning.

• Shōji told Ōnoki that the Fourth Raikage was likely testing Iwagakure, possibly using intelligence about the Box of Paradise, and Ōnoki ordered Shōji to lead reinforcements toward Kusagakure.
• Ōnoki ordered the border forces to remain vigilant and authorized them to kill any enemy who entered the Land of Earth with hostile intent.
• Shōji departed with Anbu elites while Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara joined Akatsuchi’s operation and split off to scout Kusagakure.
• After Akatsuchi’s squad drew the Kumo Ninja’s attention, Deidara used small clay creatures to find a weak point in the village’s patrols.
• Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara infiltrated the deserted Kusagakure and began looking for a Kusa Ninja or Kumo Ninja suitable for capture and interrogation.

Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara uncovered Kusagakure’s alliance with Kumogakure and the Box of Paradise while infiltrating the front. Shōji arrived, killed Darui, and turned toward Kusagakure when a monstrous creature appeared above the village, which he recognized as Satoru.

• Itachi’s team ambushed a Kusa Ninja patrol, and Itachi learned that Kusagakure and Kumogakure were linked to the Box of Paradise.
• Itachi ordered Kurotsuchi and Deidara to stay alert as the team pushed deeper into dangerous territory.
• Darui’s Storm Release kept Akatsuchi occupied until Shōji arrived and told Akatsuchi to rejoin the larger battle.
• Shōji defeated Darui, extracted intelligence from him with genjutsu, and killed him.
• A huge winged monster appeared over Kusagakure, and Shōji recognized it as Satoru.

Mui and the four elders used Mammoth as a sacrifice to summon the Box of Paradise, then relied on Yugito’s chakra to open it. A monstrous creature emerged, swallowed the blue-robed elder, and attacked indiscriminately as Itachi’s team and Dodai’s group confronted the chaos.

• Mui and the four elders restrained Mammoth and sacrificed him in the underground ritual array to summon the Box of Paradise.
• The four elders welcomed Dodai and Yugito, and Yugito released her Two-Tails chakra to open the Box of Paradise.
• A winged monster burst from the underground chamber, swallowed the blue-robed elder, and struck Mui against a wall.
• Mui recognized the monster as his son Muku, whom he had hoped to revive through the Box of Paradise.
• Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi retreated as the monster erupted through the ground, while Dodai ordered the Kumo Ninja to pull back and observe.

Shōji arrived at Kusagakure as Dodai, the Kusagakure elders, and Itachi’s team converged on the injured Mui, who was connected to the rampaging Satoru and the Box of Paradise. He killed the elders, blocked Dodai and Yugito’s retreat, and launched an attack as Yugito released her power.

• Dodai ordered the Kumo Ninja to withdraw and moved to seize Mui, while the Kusagakure elders also charged toward him to regain control of the Box of Paradise.
• Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara tried to capture Mui, but they encountered Dodai, Yugito, and the three Kusagakure elders and prepared to retreat.
• Shōji arrived and told Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara to fall back before confronting Dodai, Yugito, and the Kusagakure elders.
• Dodai tried to flee with Yugito, but Shōji intercepted them while his Shadow Clone killed the three Kusagakure elders.
• Shōji attacked Dodai and Yugito with Thunder Marsh, and Dodai ordered Yugito to stop holding back as she unleashed her scarlet Chakra.

Shōji overwhelmed Yugito’s Two-Tails transformation with Susanoo, then pursued Matatabi and Satoru beyond Kusagakure and inflicted severe injuries on Satoru. Back in the village, Iwagakure’s forces secured control while Dodai struggled to escape and reconsidered Kumogakure’s plans.

• Yugito transformed into the Two-Tails and fired a Tailed Beast Ball, but Shōji’s Susanoo caught and neutralized it.
• Shōji’s Susanoo split Matatabi’s flames, severed her left forelimb, and sent her flying beyond Kusagakure along with Satoru.
• Shōji pursued Matatabi and Satoru, while Dodai fought Itachi and Akatsuchi’s reinforcements helped Iwagakure take control of Kusagakure.
• Shōji cut off Satoru’s hands and wings, then pinned him to the ground with Lightning Release: Sealing Technique.

Shōji defeated and controlled Yugito and Matatabi, testing his Bishamonten Gate Technique and confirming that it could trap a Tailed Beast. He returned to Kusagakure as the battle cleanup ended, leaving Akatsuchi astonished that he had taken control of the Two-Tails.

• Shōji cut through Matatabi’s blue-flame attacks and withstood her claws using Susanoo.
• Shōji used the Bishamonten Gate Technique to trap Yugito and Matatabi in his alternate-dimensional domain, then controlled them with his Sharingan.
• Shōji turned to Satoru and spent the next two hours dealing with the monster while it endured the sealing Thunderbolt Needle’s destruction and regeneration cycle.
• While Shōji was away, Itachi defeated Dodai with genjutsu, and Iwagakure’s forces captured or subdued the remaining Kusa Ninja and Kumo Ninja.
• Shōji returned to Kusagakure with Yugito under his control and told Akatsuchi that he had handled the Two-Tails and the monster.

Shōji revealed that he had contracted the Box of Paradise and secured control of Satoru, while Iwagakure confirmed Kumogakure’s attack had been a probing operation. News of Iwagakure’s victory and the Two-Tails’ capture spread across the shinobi world, prompting Rasa to seek an agreement with Konoha as the Third Hokage faced renewed pressure from the conflict.

• Itachi reported that the Box of Paradise had vanished after forming a contract with the Kusa Ninja prisoner Mui, and Shōji explained that he had contracted it and could command Satoru.
• Itachi’s intelligence from Dodai confirmed that Kumogakure had not mobilized for a full-scale war, and Akatsuchi relaxed after Iwagakure’s reinforcements arrived.
• Shōji regretted that Kumogakure had not started a frontal war, but expected the Fourth Raikage to retaliate after Iwagakure captured Dodai, Yugito, and Darui.
• Iwagakure publicized its victory and the Two-Tails’ capture, stirring the shinobi world and damaging Kumogakure’s reputation.
• Rasa ordered Baki to monitor Kumogakure and inform the Third Hokage that Sunagakure accepted the terms of their previous negotiations.
• Terumi Mei and Genji kept Kirigakure out of the conflict, while the Third Hokage received a report that fleeing Kusa Ninja and their Iwagakure pursuers were entering the Land of Fire.