Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya and Tsunade discovered Root abducting civilians and traced the operation to the Utatane Clan, then planned to expose Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō during the Chunin Exams. At an Akatsuki meeting, Tobi confronted the suspicious and ill Uchiha Itachi about helping with the failed Uchiha Clan massacre.

• 04 sensed that someone was watching his Root team, but his men found no spy and led the abducted civilians into the Utatane Clan grounds.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade revealed themselves after the Root ninja left, and they concluded that Konoha's senior advisors and their clans were involved in the conspiracy.
• Tsunade urged Jiraiya to act against Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō for targeting civilians, and Jiraiya proposed exposing them during the Chunin Exams.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade agreed to use the Chunin Exams as cover to infiltrate and uncover the truth, then left together.
• At an Akatsuki meeting in the Spiritual World, Tobi teased Uchiha Itachi about his poor health and reminded him that he had helped with the Uchiha Clan massacre.

In Akatsuki’s mental space, the newly recruited Yamanaka Brothers mocked the weakened Itachi and Kisame, prompting Itachi to trap them in a terrifying Genjutsu. Nagato ended the illusion, and Itachi demanded that the brothers apologize to Kisame.

• Itachi admitted that Tsunade could not cure his illness, while Tobi teased him about his condition.
• Yamanaka Riki and Yamanaka Batsu mocked Itachi and Kisame, and Kisame grew angry.
• Itachi stopped Kisame and used his Mangekyo Sharingan to trap the brothers in a Genjutsu.
• Nagato severed the connection and freed the frightened brothers from the illusion.
• Itachi ordered Riki and Batsu to apologize to his teammate.

Uchiha Itachi forced the Yamanaka Brothers to apologize for insulting Kisame, and Yahiko assigned Itachi to investigate the unusual Konoha Chunin Exams. Yahiko also began Akatsuki’s accelerated plan to capture the Tailed Beasts, sending the Yamanaka Brothers toward Gaara while Sasori and Kakuzu volunteered to join them.

• Uchiha Itachi threatened the Yamanaka Brothers with his Mangekyo Sharingan after they refused to apologize to Kisame.
• Tobi tried to calm the dispute, but Yahiko ordered the Yamanaka Brothers to apologize to Itachi.
• Yahiko asked for someone to investigate the unusually large Konoha Chunin Exams, and Itachi volunteered to go to Konoha.
• Yahiko announced Akatsuki’s plan to capture the Tailed Beast inside Gaara, who had left the Land of Wind.
• The Yamanaka Brothers volunteered to capture Gaara, then Sasori and Kakuzu offered to accompany them, but the brothers insisted they could handle it alone.

Yahiko assigned Sasori, the Yamanaka Brothers, and Kakuzu to capture a Tailed Beast, then explained that the Akatsuki would combine all nine into a weapon to enforce peace through deterrence. The chapter left the Akatsuki members stunned by Yahiko’s plan to destroy any village that resisted.

• Sasori and the Yamanaka Brothers argued over who would capture the Tailed Beast first until Yahiko ordered them to work together with Kakuzu and warned them not to act near Konoha.
• Uchiha Itachi asked why the Akatsuki wanted to capture all the Tailed Beasts, hoping to learn its objective before his planned trip to Konoha.
• Yahiko said the Akatsuki would gather the Tailed Beasts to bring peace to the Shinobi World through overwhelming military power.
• Yahiko revealed that he intended to fuse the Tailed Beasts into a weapon that would intimidate the Shinobi World.
• Yahiko declared that the Akatsuki would wipe out any village that resisted the Tailed Beast Weapon.

Yahiko revealed the Akatsuki’s plan to create a Tailed Beast Weapon capable of destroying a village, drawing support from several members and alarm from Uchiha Itachi. After the meeting, Yahiko sent Zetsu to investigate Konoha, while Yamanaka Batsu and Yamanaka Riki returned to their hideout in the Land of Fire and punished a fleeing maid.

• Yahiko argued that fear of a village-destroying Tailed Beast Weapon could bring peace, while Uchiha Itachi worried about the weapon going berserk.
• Tobi, Zetsu, and the Yamanaka Brothers supported Yahiko’s plan, while Sasori and Kakuzu gave no clear response.
• After the others left the Mental Space, Yahiko asked Zetsu to secretly investigate Konoha’s intentions during Uchiha Itachi’s visit.
• Yamanaka Batsu and Yamanaka Riki awakened in their residence, and Batsu killed a maid who tried to flee.
• Yamanaka Riki warned Batsu that his violent behavior could displease the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Yamanaka Batsu wanted to challenge Konoha, but Yamanaka Riki insisted they follow their organization's plan. Meanwhile, the Fire Country Daimyo ordered the brothers to seize goods from the Uchiha Merchant Guild, leaving his spy stunned.

• Yamanaka Batsu mistreated the maidservants given to him and suggested visiting Konoha to make a name for themselves.
• Yamanaka Riki refused to go to Konoha and reminded Batsu to follow the organization's plan to gather the Tailed Beasts.
• Yamanaka Batsu said he wanted to capture the Nine-Tails himself when the plan began.
• A spy told the Fire Country Daimyo that the Yamanaka Brothers were tormenting maidservants, and the Daimyo ordered more maidservants sent to them.
• The Fire Country Daimyo ordered the Yamanaka Brothers to seize goods from the Uchiha Clan's merchant guild, and the spy was stunned by the order.

The Fire Country Daimyo planned to seize the Uchiha Merchant Guild and ordered the Yamanaka Brothers to prepare, while Shadow privately feared the Uchiha Clan's retaliation. Elsewhere, Sasori and Kakuzu headed toward the Land of Wind, and Itachi and Kisame continued toward the Chunin Exams.

• The Fire Country Daimyo dismissed and killed his spy for warning him against moving on the Uchiha Clan, then ordered the spy's family killed as well.
• The Daimyo asked Shadow whether the Uchiha Clan would resist and, reassured by Shadow, declared that he would seize the Merchant Guild if they did.
• The Daimyo ordered Shadow to tell the Yamanaka Brothers to be ready to act, while Shadow considered leaving the Daimyo's service.
• Sasori decided to return to the Land of Wind, and Kakuzu chose to accompany him.
• Itachi refused Kisame's suggestion to rest and continued toward the Chunin Exams despite coughing.

Uchiha Itachi returned to Konoha with Kisame despite his worsening illness, while Xuanyu decided to let Itachi see the village before confronting him. Itachi encountered Xuanyu soon after entering Konoha and realized Xuanyu had noticed him immediately.

• Itachi told Kisame he might not survive the trip to Konoha and urged him to leave Akatsuki and live quietly.
• Kisame asked Itachi to avoid Konoha and recuperate, but Itachi insisted on going despite coughing blood.
• Xuanyu learned that Itachi had returned, stopped Hua Yu from killing him, and set out with Hua Yu and Zhong Kui to meet him.
• Itachi and Kisame entered Konoha in disguise, bypassing the guards after Itachi used Tsukuyomi on them.
• Itachi admired Konoha's prosperity, then stopped when he saw Xuanyu, Hua Yu, and Zhong Kui approaching.

Uchiha Xuan Yu urged Itachi to tour all of Konoha before judging its prosperity. Itachi’s visit to the Sarutobi Police Force’s jurisdiction left him stunned by how desolate it was compared with the Uchiha Police Force’s area.

• Uchiha Xuan Yu told Itachi he would not attack him yet, then challenged him to see Konoha for himself.
• Itachi praised Konoha’s prosperity, while Xuan Yu dismissed the idea that Sarutobi Hiruzen had caused its changes and advised Itachi to tour the whole village.
• Itachi warned Kisame not to oppose Xuan Yu, then toured the Uchiha Police Force’s jurisdiction and admired its hospital and lively residents.
• A Sarutobi Police Force guard briefly recognized Itachi but soon forgot the encounter after Itachi and Kisame passed.
• Itachi entered the Sarutobi Police Force’s jurisdiction and found desolate streets and listless residents, leaving him shocked by the contrast.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame explored the Sarutobi Police Force’s jurisdiction in Konoha, where Itachi saw the force’s abuse and began questioning his past choices. After Itachi captured two officers in a Mangekyo-enhanced genjutsu, one started to reveal why the area was so desolate.

• Kisame condemned Konoha’s outward prosperity after seeing the desolate district, while Itachi explained that it belonged to the Sarutobi Police Force.
• Itachi saw the Sarutobi Police Force mistreat villagers and questioned whether he had been wrong to trust Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Two Sarutobi Police Force members stopped Itachi and Kisame, recognized Itachi, and tried to call for help.
• Itachi trapped the officers in genjutsu and led them into a secluded alley to question them about the missing residents.
• Itachi strengthened the genjutsu with his Mangekyo Sharingan despite Kisame’s warning, and one officer began to answer.

Uchiha Itachi interrogated Sarutobi Police Force members and learned that Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen were involved in abducting civilians for Impure World Reincarnation experiments. Shaken by the revelation, Itachi left with Kisame and planned to stay in Konoha and confront Hiruzen within days.

• Uchiha Itachi used Genjutsu to learn that some Sarutobi Police Force members had moved into the Uchiha Police Force's territory, while others had been taken by Danzō for experiments.
• A Sarutobi Clan Member revealed that Danzō was researching Impure World Reincarnation and that Sarutobi Hiruzen was involved.
• Uchiha Itachi's belief in Konoha's Will of Fire collapsed, and he wondered aloud whether he had been wrong.
• After the two men regained their senses, Uchiha Itachi warned them to tell Sarutobi Hiruzen that he would find him within days, then left with Kisame.
• Uchiha Itachi entered an inn, and Kisame realized that Itachi remained connected to Konoha, as Tobi had suspected.

Kisame confronted Itachi and learned that his defection from Konoha had been a cover for investigating Akatsuki, while Itachi admitted his role in the Uchiha Clan massacre. Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Itachi had returned to Konoha and was told that Itachi planned to visit him soon.

• Kisame asked Itachi whether Konoha had planted him in Akatsuki, and Itachi admitted that he had joined to investigate the organization.
• Itachi told Kisame that he had massacred the Uchiha Clan under orders after the clan planned a coup, and Kisame challenged his reasons for killing everyone.
• Itachi reflected on his hypocrisy and the choices he had made, while Kisame took him into an inn.
• Two Sarutobi Police Force members reported Itachi's return to Sarutobi Hiruzen and said Itachi had cast a genjutsu on them.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Itachi intended to visit him, and the police members asked whether they should capture him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Uchiha Itachi had returned and decided to avoid attacking him, hoping to control Sasuke and use him to keep Itachi in check. He postponed the second Impure World Reincarnation until after the Chunin Exams, while Kisame noticed that Sarutobi Police Force members were watching his inn.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered two Sarutobi Clan Members not to pursue Uchiha Itachi and told them to keep their encounter secret.
• Shimura Danzō arrived, and Sarutobi Hiruzen told him that Uchiha Itachi had returned and might come to question him.
• Shimura Danzō urged Sarutobi Hiruzen to kill Uchiha Itachi, but Sarutobi Hiruzen refused and decided to keep Sasuke under their control instead.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen postponed the second Impure World Reincarnation until after the Chunin Exams, and Shimura Danzō said Sasuke would remain under Root's control.
• Kisame noticed Sarutobi Police Force members watching the inn where he was staying.

Uchiha Itachi returned to Konoha with Kisame as Sarutobi Hiruzen’s people watched them, while Tsunade and Jiraiya suspected Uchiha Xuan Yu would kill Itachi during the Chunin Exams. As the exams approached, Darui, Omoi, and Karui learned the first round was a written test and panicked.

• Kisame complained that Konoha was watching them, while Uchiha Itachi said Sarutobi Hiruzen would not act against them and resolved to stay in Konoha.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya that Uchiha Itachi had returned and warned that Uchiha Xuan Yu would not let him leave alive.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade grew concerned that something would happen during the Chunin Exams and discussed whether Zhatian was Uchiha Xuan Yu.
• Samui told Darui, Omoi, and Karui that the Chunin Exams began with a written test, which they had not prepared for.
• Omoi asked Samui whether she had the written exam questions.

Samui and Gaara prepared their teams for Konoha’s written Chunin Exam by advising them to cheat without getting caught. Gaara’s analysis impressed Temari and Kankuro, while Chōjūrō learned that he would have to take the exam too.

• Samui told Omoi, Karui, and Darui to cheat on the exam and avoid being caught.
• Gaara told Temari and Kankuro that the exam tested their ability to spy on others’ answers, as long as they kept their methods subtle.
• Kankuro and Temari praised Gaara’s sharp thinking and imagined him becoming the next Kazekage.
• Chōjūrō reacted with dismay when he learned that he still had to take an exam for a Chunin position.

Chōjūrō and Kurotsuchi prepared their teams for Konoha’s written Chunin Exam while Xuanyu reunited with Shisui and Hashirama. Xuanyu planned to strengthen Hashirama with Jugo’s Cells and a curse mark, while Shisui returned intent on killing Danzo.

• Chōjūrō told his teammates to adapt during the written exam as they investigated Konoha’s strength.
• Kurotsuchi agreed to take the exam despite her team’s concerns and remained frustrated that Deidara had not appeared.
• Shisui and Hashirama returned to Xuanyu, who praised their progress and told them to seek Hua Yu after the exams for Jugo’s mark and Cells.
• Shisui questioned Itachi’s return, and Xuanyu said he wanted Itachi to live long enough to regret his actions before dying.
• Shisui condemned Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen for using villagers in Impure World Reincarnation and said he had returned to kill Danzo.

Xuanyu prepared for the coming conflict with Konoha’s former Hokage and told Hashira and Uchiha Shisui to rest before the Chunin Exams. He planned to enter the exams himself, and the chapter ended as the exam day arrived.

• Xuanyu assigned Hashira to fight a reincarnated Hashirama Senju and learn from his Wood Release techniques if the chance arose.
• Xuanyu told Hashira and Uchiha Shisui that he would take part in the Chunin Exams and asked them to cheer for him.
• Xuanyu teased Uchiha Shisui about his feelings for Yuhi Kurenai and said his father could propose marriage after the exams.
• Xuanyu sent Hashira and Uchiha Shisui away to rest, then focused on advancing his Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Time passed, and the day of the Chunin Exams arrived.

Xuanyu walked through Konoha and was warmly welcomed by its villagers as Jiraiya and Tsunade prepared to expose Sarutobi Hiruzen’s crimes. Itachi warned Kisame that Xuanyu had once defeated him and revealed that Xuanyu had taken Kisame’s Samehada.

• Wood Bull, Shisui, and Hua Yu admired Konoha’s prosperity and credited the Uchiha Clan’s rule for improving the village.
• Villagers greeted Xuanyu and wished him luck in the Chunin Exams, while Jiraiya and Tsunade discussed the Uchiha Clan’s reasons for acting and planned to strike at Sarutobi Hiruzen’s laboratory in two days.
• Itachi watched Xuanyu and told Kisame not to offend him, calling him the Uchiha Clan’s hope and the reason the clan could not be destroyed.
• Itachi recalled that Xuanyu had defeated him when Xuanyu was seven, despite Itachi and Tobi’s efforts.
• Itachi told Kisame that Xuanyu had taken his Samehada, leaving Kisame stunned.

Kisame learned from Itachi that Xuanyu had taken Samehada and was too dangerous to challenge, while Itachi urged Kisame to leave the Shinobi World after his death. Xuanyu and his companions passed them without attacking, and Jiraiya and Tsunade recognized Itachi and Kisame nearby.

• Itachi told Kisame that Xuanyu had taken Samehada and could absorb Chakra with his Black Flames, so he did not need the sword.
• Itachi warned Kisame to withdraw from the Shinobi World after leaving Konoha, and Kisame agreed that he wanted to retire.
• Hua Yu offered to capture Itachi, but Xuanyu refused and led his companions away.
• Itachi identified Phantom Tiger and Wood Bull to Kisame and explained that Xuanyu's other companions were dangerous as well.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade recognized Phantom Tiger among Xuanyu's group, then spotted Itachi and Kisame in Cloud Pattern Clothes and Straw Hats.

Uchiha Itachi watched Sasuke leave for the Chunin Exams and discovered that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō were using masked shinobi to threaten him through Sasuke. He stopped Kisame from intervening and decided to confront Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.

• Tsunade and Jiraiya recognized Itachi watching from a rooftop, and he silently met their gaze.
• Itachi and Kisame watched Sasuke walk alone toward the Chunin Exams venue, and Itachi mourned how isolated his brother had become.
• Itachi noticed masked shinobi following Sasuke with kunai and accused Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō of breaking their promise.
• Kisame offered to rescue Sasuke, but Itachi warned that acting recklessly could get his brother killed and ordered Kisame not to interfere.
• Itachi resolved to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen and handle the threat to Sasuke himself.