Chapter Summaries

Hinata searched for a way into Sky City, Ancor Vantian, and entered a cave she believed was its known entrance. She remained cautious about devices that could seal Chakra as she explored the cave.

• Hinata used her Byakugan to search for her target and spotted a place resembling an altar.
• Hinata headed to the entrance she knew, since the other entrances were difficult to distinguish from decoys.
• Hinata reasoned that she could wait for Sky City to rise and then find its true entrance if she could not reach it directly.
• Hinata considered the Chakra-sealing devices in Sky City and concluded they were only in prisons, so she could avoid them by staying cautious.
• Hinata entered the cave and found that it looked like an ordinary, spacious cave entrance.

Hinata discovered a hidden passage in the cave and evaded approaching Sky Ninja to reach a great hall. There, she suspected Shinnō had used mysterious patterns to absorb dark Chakra from Yuliu.

• Hinata found an irregular stone and pressed it, opening a concealed passage in the cave wall.
• Hinata sensed Sky Ninja guards approaching and slipped past them by using her Byakugan.
• Hinata navigated the passage and reached a great hall with a throne and a floor made of special stone.
• Hinata examined the hall’s mysterious patterns and suspected Shinnō had used them to absorb dark Chakra from Yuliu.

Hinata considered how Yuliu’s despair powered her Dark Chakra and reflected on the conflicts behind the shinobi world. Finding no suitable hiding place in the hall, she climbed into an air vent and concealed herself inside.

• Hinata realized Shinnō’s affection had made him Yuliu’s whole world, deepening her despair after that world collapsed.
• Hinata reflected on how the Uchiha clan’s conflicts and powerful eyes shaped much of Naruto’s story.
• Hinata searched the hall for a hiding place, opened a door onto a stair-filled corridor, and returned without finding a suitable spot.
• Hinata used Chakra to walk up the walls and across the ceiling, then opened an iron grille over an air vent.
• Hinata crawled into the vent and reinstalled the grille, feeling uncomfortable in the dim space.

Shinnō knocked Sakura unconscious and had Sky Ninjas carry her into a guarded cave, but Sakura had only pretended to be out. She attacked the guards, leaving two incapacitated as the others reacted.

• Shinnō struck Sakura from behind, blew into a flute-like device, and left her on the ground.
• Sky Ninjas arrived, picked Sakura up, and carried her into a cave after exchanging a password with the guards.
• Sakura suddenly opened her eyes and threw off the two Sky Ninjas supporting her.
• Sakura punched one Sky Ninja into a wall, leaving a huge crater.
• Sakura charged the other Sky Ninja and struck his head before he could use his weapon.

Sakura killed Shinnō after revealing that she had secretly resisted his attempt to knock her unconscious, then began investigating his connection to the Sky Ninja. She suspected Naruto might be the target of the conspiracy because his attackers could be trying to seize the Nine-Tails.

• Sakura wiped her hands, put on black gloves, and considered how she had prepared for Shinnō's attack.
• Sakura recalled that she had let Shinnō knock her down to see what he would do, while using her medical skills to avoid losing consciousness.
• Sakura found traces of the Sky Ninja and wondered what connection they had to Shinnō.
• Sakura decided to investigate the information at the scene before taking further action.
• Sakura trusted Hinata to make her own decisions but worried that Naruto and Yuliu might be involved in the plot.
• Sakura suspected Naruto was being targeted so the conspirators could seize the Nine-Tails.

Naruto and Yuliu continued through the fog-shrouded ruins after Yuliu transformed into Zero-Tails, while Sakura worried about the mission and considered how to uncover the Sky Ninja's purpose. When Naruto heard fighting nearby, he hurried toward it.

• Sakura worried about Naruto and hoped Hinata's Byakugan might reveal Shinnō's attack, then resolved to focus on discovering the Sky Ninja's purpose.
• Naruto recognized the danger after Yuliu transformed into Zero-Tails and stayed alert as they continued through the fog.
• Naruto noticed that their route led beyond the area they had been assigned to explore as they passed through deserted ruins.
• Naruto heard weapons clashing ahead and told Yuliu to go with him toward the fighting.
• Naruto wished Hinata were with them because the dense fog made it difficult to see.

Naruto and Yuliu found Shinnō under attack in the fog, but Yuliu’s shout distracted him and he was killed. As Yuliu mourned, Naruto worried about Sakura, who had been with Shinnō.

• Naruto and Yuliu hurried toward the fighting sounds through the fog.
• Yuliu recognized Shinnō and called out to him as he turned toward her.
• Shinnō paused, failed to evade the incoming Kunai and Shuriken, and fell down the steps.
• Yuliu rushed to Shinnō and cried out as Naruto stood stunned beside her.
• Naruto realized Sakura might also be in danger and grew anxious about her whereabouts.

After Shinnō died, Yuliu's grief overwhelmed her, and she rushed into the cave while Naruto followed. Naruto caught up with her at a large door deep within the cave.

• Naruto decided to wait while Yuliu grieved over Shinnō's death.
• Yuliu remembered how Shinnō had cared for her and blamed herself for his death.
• Yuliu stood up and entered the cave, following the direction from which the weapons had been fired.
• Naruto chased after Yuliu through a seemingly endless corridor.
• Yuliu's emotions produced dark Chakra, some of which Sky City absorbed while the rest sped up her movement.
• Naruto caught up with Yuliu in front of a large door.

Naruto and Yuliu discovered footage showing Shinnō killing Yuliu’s parents, and Shinnō revealed that he had raised her and implanted a monster inside her. Shinnō then called Yuliu to help him, leaving Naruto and Yuliu confronting his betrayal.

• Yuliu entered the room and froze when she saw footage playing on a screen.
• The footage showed a blade-wielding figure killing a married couple, and Naruto recognized the figure as the door slammed shut.
• Shinnō emerged from behind the screen and mocked Yuliu for trusting the person who had killed her parents.
• Shinnō revealed that he had planted a monster inside Yuliu without her knowledge.
• Shinnō dropped his gentle demeanor, laughed, and told Yuliu to come help him.

Shinnō revealed more of the past to Yuliu, leaving her devastated as she realized how thoroughly he had manipulated her. When Naruto attacked Shinnō, he transformed amid a burst of black light.

• Shinnō began recounting the past to Yuliu.
• Yuliu stood in shock, unable to hear Naruto's attempts to comfort her.
• Shinnō sensed the dark Chakra and muttered about it.
• Naruto charged at Shinnō and shouted at him to shut up.
• Shinnō transformed, his body swelling with muscle as black light burst around him.

Shinnō overwhelmed Naruto with his enhanced speed and strength, while Naruto struggled to rise and fight back. Naruto lay badly injured as Shinnō moved aside, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Shinnō struck Naruto into a wall and taunted him about his newfound strength.
• Naruto formed more than twenty shadow clones, but Shinnō dispersed them in seconds.
• Shinnō punched Naruto in the stomach, damaging his internal organs and causing him to collapse.
• Naruto relied on his Nine-Tails Jinchuriki status and Uzumaki Constitution to endure his injuries as Shinnō waited for him to get back up.

Naruto kept getting back up after Shinnō struck him, while Hinata watched from a vent and wondered how he repeatedly turned losing fights around. Shinnō sat on the throne and activated a colossal cannon aboard the flying Sky City, which began charging.

• Naruto stood back up after Shinnō's first punch and again after the second.
• Hinata watched from inside a vent and regretted not placing a needle on the throne as a prank.
• Shinnō lost interest in Naruto, walked to the throne, and sat down to do something.
• A huge cannon barrel rose from Sky City and began charging, gathering white light.

Shinnō destroyed the Sky Ninja ships and prepared to kill the badly wounded Naruto, but Sakura arrived just in time to stop him. Sakura looked between Naruto and Yuliu, leaving her next move unclear.

• Shinnō fired a beam that destroyed all the nearby Sky Ninja vessels.
• Shinnō approached the injured Naruto and taunted him as he prepared to strike.
• Naruto tried to raise his arm to block Shinnō’s fist, but he was too weak to stop it.
• Sakura leaped into the room, halting Shinnō’s fist just before it hit Naruto.
• Naruto called out to Sakura, who looked at him and then at Yuliu.

Sakura confronted Shinnō in Sky City after revealing that Hinata had witnessed his actions and gone to send a message. Hinata fired a signal flare and disappeared, while Sakura attacked Shinnō and missed as he dodged.

• Sakura told Shinnō that Hinata had seen what he did and had left to send a message.
• Hinata wondered whether Sakura meant her, then decided to stay out of the confrontation and watch.
• Hinata fired a signal flare from below Sky City and vanished in a puff of smoke.
• Shinnō turned his attention from Naruto to Sakura, who charged at him and threw a punch.
• Shinnō dodged Sakura's punch with great speed.

Sakura fought Shinnō after he injured Naruto, landing a powerful punch before his regeneration allowed him to resume the attack. As Sakura began to falter, Naruto charged in with a Rasengan but was kicked in the waist.

• Shinnō dodged Sakura's punches until he grew bored and attacked her.
• Sakura evaded Shinnō's punch and struck him in the abdomen, sending him into a wall.
• Sakura checked on Naruto, then treated his injuries with the Mystical Palm Technique.
• Shinnō regenerated and attacked Sakura, eventually striking her and leaving her struggling to dodge.
• Naruto formed a Rasengan and charged Shinnō, who kicked him in the waist.

Sasuke arrived during Shinnō’s fight with Naruto and Sakura, claiming Orochimaru had sent him to retrieve something. The chapter ended with Naruto tentatively calling out to Sasuke after Sasuke glanced at him without emotion.

• Sasuke emerged from the shattered wall and surveyed Sakura and Naruto.
• Shinnō asked who Sasuke was and why he had come.
• Sasuke said Orochimaru had sent him to retrieve something from Shinnō and offered not to interfere if Shinnō handed it over.
• Shinnō refused, insisting that Orochimaru had no right to treat him like a tool.
• Sasuke said he was there only to complete his mission, and Naruto tentatively called out to him.

Sasuke demanded that Shinnō hand over the item, but Shinnō refused and attacked him. Sasuke’s sword nearly struck Shinnō, leaving the fight poised to continue.

• Hinata watched from beside the ventilation shaft and wondered why the fighters had not started fighting.
• Shinnō realized Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura knew one another and were on the same side.
• Sasuke demanded the item and threatened to take it by force, then drew his longsword.
• Shinnō charged at Sasuke as Naruto and Sakura warned him to be careful.
• Sasuke slashed at Shinnō, who ducked just in time and recognized Sasuke as a serious opponent.
• Sasuke repeated his demand, but Shinnō refused.

Sasuke battled Shinnō while Naruto and Sakura watched and recovered. Sasuke held his own with skill, but Shinnō’s abnormal recovery threatened to wear him down, and Sasuke considered his trump card while glancing at Naruto.

• Sakura healed herself and then treated Naruto while both avoided intervening and recovered their strength.
• Sasuke and Shinnō fought at a level beyond ordinary shinobi, with Sasuke relying on skill against Shinnō’s savagery.
• Naruto and Sakura watched as Sasuke impressed them with his composure and strength.
• Shinnō’s endless recovery began to threaten Sasuke as the fight dragged on, and Shinnō mocked him after Sasuke retreated.
• Sasuke called Shinnō a loser, held back his trump card, and glanced at Naruto because he knew the Nine-Tails was inside him.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke teamed up to fight Shinnō and quickly overwhelmed him with coordinated attacks. Shinnō shattered the floor to raise a cloud of dust, obscuring their vision as the battle continued.

• Naruto and Sakura stood against Shinnō, while they recognized that eliminating Yuliu might be the only way to resolve the crisis.
• Naruto held Shinnō head-on, Sasuke attacked with killing blows, and Sakura harassed him, pushing him into a defensive position.
• Shinnō realized his lack of combat experience left him vulnerable to the trio's teamwork.
• Shinnō smashed the floor, causing it to crack and collapse as thick dust filled the area and obscured Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke's vision.

Shinnō escaped with Yuliu to a hidden room and placed him in a container of green liquid, while Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke pursued them. Hinata followed as well, and the chapter left Shinnō operating a mysterious machine.

• Shinnō grabbed Yuliu and fled through a door, prompting Naruto and Sakura to chase after them.
• Sasuke glanced toward Hinata’s hiding place, then hurried after the others.
• Hinata left the ventilation shaft, used her Byakugan to track the group, and followed them.
• Shinnō reached a dark room ahead of his pursuers and tossed Yuliu into a container filled with green liquid.
• Shinnō began operating an intricate machine in the room.