Chapter Summaries

Yun Chi sent Haku back to the Land of Rice Paddies base, then went to Konoha disguised as Orochimaru to meet Kabuto. After contacting Ren for instructions, Kabuto brought Orochimaru to a laboratory basement to help conceal his identity, but Orochimaru refused to use the Vanishing Facial Copy Technique.

• Yun Chi ordered Haku to return to the Land of Rice Paddies base without revealing his existence, then followed after him.
• Kabuto met Orochimaru in Konoha and, surprised by Ren's arrangements, contacted Ren using the Ninja Cat Clan contract.
• Ren told Kabuto to shelter Orochimaru without exposing his identity and to use the Heavenly Eye to search the sea between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Iron for the Eight-Tails.
• Kabuto gave Orochimaru a hooded robe and led him to a basement where civilian prisoners served as test subjects.
• Kabuto offered Orochimaru a skin suit for a disguise, but Orochimaru refused and said he would modify himself instead.

Kabuto discovered that Shisui’s alteration had made Orochimaru deeply reverent toward life, leaving him unwilling to take part in much of Konoha’s research. Ren questioned Shisui about the change, then learned that Shisui had acted out of concern for him.

• Kabuto brought Orochimaru to his laboratory and offered him a place to work while a better-equipped laboratory was prepared.
• Kabuto helped Orochimaru undergo cosmetic surgery and discovered that he had become exceptionally kindhearted and resistant to biological experiments.
• Kabuto sent Ren a report, and Ren worried that Orochimaru’s changed personality had made him unsuitable for research.
• Ren summoned Shisui and asked whether he had changed anything else about Orochimaru’s will.
• Shisui admitted that he had made Orochimaru deeply reverent toward life and told Ren that he was the one Shisui truly worried about.

Shisui confronted Ren about how he had changed, prompting Ren to examine his recent choices and question whether power had altered him. By dawn, Ren still could not explain why he had killed an uninvolved woman, since the act had brought him no benefit.

• Shisui told Ren that he and others, including Mina and Natsuri, had noticed a change in him and warned him that he was becoming like the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō.
• Shisui admitted he had used Kotoamatsukami as an excuse to make Ren take his warning seriously, then left before Ren could respond.
• Ren realized Shisui had deliberately left him speechless and reflected that Shisui had grown, too.
• Ren reviewed his recent actions involving Hiruzen Sarutobi, Itachi Uchiha, Tobirama Senju, and Jiraiya, focusing on his killing of an unrelated woman.
• Ren stayed awake until dawn trying to understand his motive for killing the woman, but none of his explanations convinced him because the act had brought him no benefit.

Ren used five Shadow Clones to unleash a massive Majestic Destroyer Flame against a mountain, exhausting himself but clearing the haze in his mind. He realized that someone had influenced his behavior after he returned from Orochimaru's base, and suspected that the entity behind Natsuri had targeted him; he left grateful to Shisui, Natsuri, Mina, and Takuma for helping him.

• Ren left the inn and traveled to a desolate mountain range to test his power.
• Ren created five Shadow Clones and had them combine their Majestic Destroyer Flame, setting the mountain aglow and scorching its stone into glasslike crystals.
• Villagers in a nearby village saw the red-lit mountain and decided that a god had descended.
• Ren felt his Heavenly Eye watching him, then continued until his Shadow Clones vanished and his flames died out.
• Looking at the scorched mountain, Ren felt his mind clear and realized his recent emotional choices had begun after his return from Orochimaru's base.
• Ren suspected that he had been targeted through Natsuri and thanked Shisui, Natsuri, Mina, and Takuma for helping him.

Ren flew to an uninhabited island and severed a tentacle from the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, before leaving with the sealed piece. Darui intercepted Ren aboard a Hidden Cloud Village warship and asked to speak with him, and Ren agreed.

• After resting in a cave, Ren learned that Heavenly Eye had found the Eight-Tails and flew toward its location.
• Ren crossed the Land of Iron openly, alarming Mifune and leaving Darui conflicted about how the Hidden Cloud Village should respond.
• Ren reached an island and used Hellfire to cut off one of Gyūki's tentacles, then stored it in a sealing scroll and left as the Eight-Tails grew agitated.
• Darui brought a Hidden Cloud Village team by warship to intercept Ren and ask for a word.
• Ren stopped in midair and agreed to speak with Darui.

Ren revealed that he had come to observe the Eight-Tails’ revival, then dodged Gyūki’s attacks while the Hidden Cloud forces approached. Darui and Dodai tried to calm Gyūki, but when Gyūki demanded that they kill Ren, Darui ordered the capture operation to begin.

• Ren told Darui he had come to see the Eight-Tails revive and hinted that Gyūki was ahead of the ship.
• Gyūki attacked Ren with Tailed Beast Balls, which Ren dodged as Darui ordered the Hidden Cloud forces to advance.
• Darui asked Gyūki to stop fighting and explained that Kumogakure and Konoha had reconciled.
• Dodai invoked Killer B’s sacrifice to calm Gyūki, who stopped gathering a Tailed Beast Ball and pointed at Ren, demanding that he be killed.
• Darui chose to protect Kumogakure from provoking Ren and ordered the recovery operation to begin.

Darui and the Hidden Cloud ninja restrained Gyūki and began sealing him, but their incomplete sealing techniques failed to hold the Eight-Tails. Gyūki broke free and attacked as the Hidden Cloud forces retreated.

• At Darui's command, the Hidden Cloud ninja struck Gyūki with a combined Lightning Release technique that slowed his movements.
• Darui trapped the Eight-Tails in a Water Prison while the sealing squad spread scrolls and covered his body in sealing marks.
• Darui dispelled the Water Prison after the sealing marks appeared to take hold, hoping to conserve chakra.
• Gyūki's chaotic chakra made the sealing marks fade, and he regained control of his body.
• Dodai and Darui ordered the Hidden Cloud forces to retreat as Gyūki lashed out with Tailed Beast Eight-Spin.

Darui used Storm Release: Black Panther to break apart the Eight-Tails' waterspout, giving some Hidden Cloud ninjas time to escape, though the sealing squad was lost. With the Eight-Tails still spinning and his forces in danger, Darui asked Ren to save the survivors and help capture the beast, agreeing to Ren’s three conditions.

• The Eight-Tails' rotation created a vast sea vortex that dragged Hidden Cloud ninjas toward it.
• Darui unleashed Storm Release: Black Panther, shattering the waterspout and giving some of his subordinates a chance to flee.
• The sealing squad passed its scrolls to nearby comrades before being swept toward the Eight-Tails.
• Darui realized Ren was present and asked him to save the Hidden Cloud ninjas and help capture the Eight-Tails.
• Ren demanded three conditions, and Darui agreed immediately.

Ren used his Complete Body Susanoo to defeat and cripple the Eight-Tails, then let the Hidden Cloud Village capture it. After collecting the severed limbs as his spoils, he announced his second condition: one billion ryō, with at least half paid in cash.

• Ren formed a golden Susanoo arm, summoned the Twilight Sword, and slashed the Eight-Tails’ limbs from its body.
• Ren retrieved the severed limbs and sealed them away as his first condition while the Hidden Cloud ninja watched in shock.
• Darui recovered first and ordered the Hidden Cloud ninja to continue the retrieval mission, and they successfully sealed the weakened Eight-Tails.
• Ren flew above the Hidden Cloud ninja and demanded one billion ryō, at least half in cash, as his second condition.

Ren set the terms for Kumogakure to recover the Eight-Tails, leaving Darui to accept a crushing debt and Konoha’s demands. After Ren departed, Darui ordered a tally of the operation’s losses.

• Ren demanded that Kumogakure pay one billion ryō, half in cash and the rest through labor, and the Hidden Cloud shinobi accepted without protest.
• Ren required Kumogakure to stay in step with Konoha in all matters concerning the shinobi world during his tenure as Hokage.
• Darui promised Kumogakure would fulfill the terms, and Ren said no written agreement was necessary because he trusted the Raikage.
• Ren congratulated Kumogakure on recovering the Eight-Tails and flew away without waiting for a reply.
• Dodai tried to comfort Darui by recalling how earlier generations had endured Konoha’s dominance, and Darui ordered a tally of the operation’s losses.

Ren caught up with Sasori and Kakuzu as they fled by boat and greeted his former employee, Sasori, before offering Kakuzu a business deal. The chapter left Kakuzu suspiciously refusing the offer while Sasori wondered why Ren had not tried to recruit him back.

• Ren changed course after sensing people watching the battle and recognizing Sasori aboard a speedboat.
• Sasori and Kakuzu fled after seeing the Eight-Tails rampage in the Hidden Cloud Village, but Ren caught up and landed on their boat.
• Sasori declared that freedom mattered most to him, hoping Ren would invite him back to Konoha or use force.
• Ren accepted Sasori's decision to remain with Akatsuki and offered Kakuzu a business deal instead.
• Kakuzu suspected Ren's offer was a trap and refused it, leaving Sasori confused and jealous.

Ren pitched Kakuzu on becoming Konoha’s partner for expanding trade in the small nations, presenting the opportunity as a vast untapped market. Kakuzu was persuaded by the prospect of making money and asked how much the partnership would cost.

• Kakuzu blurted out that he wanted to know who they would be killing for a deal worth one hundred million ryo.
• Ren explained that Konoha’s low-priced goods barely sold in small nations because noble agents had little interest in serving commoners.
• Ren portrayed the small nations as an untapped market and said he needed a strong, reliable partner without ties to another great nation.
• Ren argued that Kakuzu’s strength, origins, and Akatsuki connections made him an ideal partner for Konoha.
• Kakuzu imagined earning money without fighting and asked Ren how much it would cost to become Konoha’s partner.

Ren persuaded Kakuzu to become Konoha’s business partner and paid him a promised advance of one hundred million ryo. As Ren prepared to leave, Sasori asked to join the partnership to obtain Konoha-specific puppet materials, and Ren proposed discussing a shareholding system.

• Ren convinced Kakuzu to sign a partnership contract with Konoha, overlooking its loopholes.
• Ren offered Kakuzu a one-year advance of one hundred million ryo, and Kakuzu and Sasori traveled with him to the Land of Fire.
• At a town bank, Kakuzu counted the full payment, and Ren said farewell to him and Sasori.
• Sasori called Ren back and asked to become Konoha’s partner so he could acquire materials for his puppets, offering to pay.
• Ren refused to let Konoha’s materials leak out but suggested a possible solution and asked Sasori whether he knew about a shareholding system.

Ren sold shares in Konoha’s business venture to Sasori and Kakuzu, then left town for Konoha. In a forest, he stopped after hearing someone accuse another person of planting spies within Akatsuki.

• Sasori used his untouched salary savings to buy ten percent of the shares, with the proceeds earmarked for materials.
• Kakuzu demanded shares as well, negotiated for twenty percent, and signed a contract after Ren offered him an internal price.
• Ren received 150 million ryo from Sasori and 200 million ryo from Kakuzu, including the return of the 100 million ryo he had previously given Kakuzu.
• Sasori and Kakuzu left full of ambition, while Ren headed toward Konoha feeling uneasy about the deal.
• In a forest, Ren heard a strange voice ask, “Do you not trust me? You planted so many pieces within Akatsuki!”

Yushu placated Black Zetsu after his actions risked exposing information, then returned to Konoha. In the Land of Rice Paddies, Kakuzu tried to reassure himself that his investment with Yushu would pay off, while Sasori described Yushu as rich, generous, and foolish.

• Yushu told Black Zetsu that his actions showed trust in Akatsuki, and Black Zetsu warned him to be more careful before leaving.
• Yushu flew back to Konoha after Black Zetsu departed.
• Kakuzu reconsidered losing his savings to Yushu's investment and tried to convince himself that the promised returns were real.
• Kakuzu asked Sasori what he thought of Yushu, and Sasori called him powerful, sinister, and otherwise lacking in redeeming qualities.
• Sasori described Yushu as extremely rich and generous but stupid with money, leaving Kakuzu determined that the investment had to succeed.

Kakuzu struggled to sell Konoha’s goods in the Land of Rice Paddies, where a corrupt official and his hired adviser secretly sabotaged the Red Horn Trading Company. After Sasori helped him uncover the scheme, Kakuzu destroyed their hideout and concluded that a market could only exist within the range of ninjutsu.

• Kakuzu killed civilians who disrupted his sales, but the crowds continued to drive the Red Horn Trading Company out of town.
• Kakuzu followed his adviser’s suggestion to try each town in the Land of Rice Paddies, but the goods failed to sell anywhere.
• After half a month, Kakuzu fired his staff and set off alone for the Land of Hot Water.
• Sasori appeared and persuaded Kakuzu to stay secretly in the Land of Rice Paddies.
• Kakuzu caught his former adviser meeting with a high-ranking official and destroyed the residence after learning they had sabotaged his business.

Ren arranged for Natsuri, Sasuke, and Naruto to graduate early so they could participate in Konoha’s upcoming Joint Chūnin Exams. Iruka brought the three students to their specially arranged graduation assessment, where the chapter ended as it began.

• Ren reviewed the new genin list and decided to arrange teammates for Natsuri while having Naruto and Sasuke graduate early.
• Iruka summoned Natsuri, Sasuke, and Naruto from class and explained that the Hokage wanted more Konoha genin to join the Joint Chūnin Exams.
• Sasuke and Naruto argued over why they had been called out, while Natsuri dismissed Naruto’s attempt to recruit her as an ally.
• Iruka led the three children to the Ninja Academy training grounds for their specially arranged graduation assessment.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Natsuri prepared to endure a five-minute test against three Uchiha jonin. Iruka was allowed to watch after promising not to interfere, and Ebisu started the test.

• Ebisu announced that the three children had to hold out for five minutes against three Uchiha jonin, and Iruka protested that the test was too dangerous.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Natsuri agreed that Natsuri would command them and quietly devised a plan.
• Ebisu had a Konoha Military Police Force ninja stop Iruka from interrupting the test, and Iruka eventually agreed to leave the students in the jonin's care.
• Naruto reassured Iruka that he was strong, and Natsuri asked Ebisu to let Iruka stay and watch.
• Ebisu allowed Iruka to remain on the condition that he not interfere, then started the test.

Natsuri, Naruto, and Sasuke faced the first stage of their assessment against three Uchiha jonin, resisting their killing intent and responding to a barrage of ninja tools and a shared illusion. After Naruto and Sasuke broke free and recovered some chakra, the jonin began the real battle.

• Ren watched the assessment from the Hokage's Office as the three Uchiha jonin released their killing intent, which Natsuri and Naruto ignored while Sasuke overcame his fear.
• The jonin attacked with ninja tools, and Naruto deflected them, Sasuke traded volleys, and Natsuri gracefully dodged them with her Sharingan active.
• The jonin cast a shared illusion with three Majestic Destroyer Flames, and Natsuri escaped it while Naruto and Sasuke remained trapped.
• Naruto and Sasuke awakened new signs of power, broke free of the illusion, and began refining chakra after reuniting.
• After a brief recovery, the three Uchiha jonin left their positions and began the real battle.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Natsuri faced three Uchiha jonin in a practical examination while Ren watched from his office. The children turned the fight around with poisoned smoke bombs, and the squad leader ended the examination and asked Natsuri for the antidote.

• The Nine-Tails chakra surged from Naruto, alarming Iruka and drawing curious thoughts from Sasuke and Natsuri.
• Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clones to block the jonin's ninja tools, then the children escaped the jonin's fire techniques with transformations.
• The jonin subdued three Shadow Clones, but Naruto, Sasuke, and Natsuri launched a surprise barrage of ninjutsu and ninja tools.
• Natsuri filled the training ground with smoke bombs, and the children used a wind technique to clear the smoke and close in on the jonin.
• Natsuri revealed that her grandfather's smoke bombs contained poison, so the squad leader ended the examination and asked her for the antidote.