Chapter Summaries

Black Zetsu approached Ōnoki with an offer to cooperate against Konoha, claiming that Akatsuki was controlled by someone behind the scenes. Ōnoki tested Zetsu by pretending to leave, but froze when Zetsu called him back.

• Ōnoki questioned Zetsu’s identity and purpose, while denying that he planned to act against Konoha.
• Zetsu introduced himself and demonstrated White Zetsu’s ability to infiltrate and monitor the ninja world.
• Zetsu claimed Akatsuki’s leader was a puppet and that a hidden controller wanted to cooperate with Ōnoki.
• Ōnoki considered who might control Akatsuki, then pretended to reject Zetsu’s story and leave to test him.
• Zetsu called Ōnoki back, and Ōnoki turned with chakra flaring before suddenly freezing.

Black Zetsu turned against Yushu and persuaded Obito to target Natsuri as a way to control him. After Nagato rejected Obito’s offer to cooperate, Obito interrupted Black Zetsu’s negotiations with Ōnoki and introduced himself as Madara Uchiha.

• Black Zetsu told Obito that Yushu had stopped Nagato’s tailed beast capture plan and suspected Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi Uchiha had informed Yushu.
• Obito proposed killing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi Uchiha, but Black Zetsu argued that Yushu was the real obstacle and suggested using Natsuri to threaten him.
• Obito and Black Zetsu concluded that they needed more help to capture Natsuri.
• Obito visited Nagato the next day and asked him to join forces, but Nagato refused.
• After learning Iwagakure had designs on Konoha, Obito appeared during Black Zetsu’s negotiations with Ōnoki and declared that his name was Madara Uchiha.

Obito and Black Zetsu confronted Ōnoki, who attacked them with Dust Release and concluded Obito was not Uchiha Madara. Obito’s attempt to explain his survival only confirmed Ōnoki’s suspicion that he was an idiot.

• Obito bragged to Ōnoki, while Black Zetsu worried about escaping and recalled Madara defeating Ōnoki and Mū in the past.
• Ōnoki attacked Obito and Zetsu with Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique, but Obito evaded it with Kamui and Black Zetsu survived by merging with a new White Zetsu.
• Obito told Ōnoki they had come to seek cooperation, believing his display had intimidated him.
• Ōnoki watched Zetsu closely and used a feigned reaction to probe Obito’s claim that he was Uchiha Madara.
• Obito claimed he had faked his death after fighting Hashirama but was now gravely injured and powerless, confirming to Ōnoki that he was not Madara.

Ōnoki and Obito agreed to cooperate, while the final preliminary match began in Konoha between Natsuri and Temari. Temari countered Natsuri’s opening attacks, but Ren realized she had already lost.

• Ōnoki and Obito reached an outward agreement to have Iwagakure’s team gather intelligence in Konoha while Obito’s side took action.
• Black Zetsu considered how to make the agreement useful, while Obito anticipated that Ren would be furious when his plan succeeded.
• The preliminary matches concluded, with Kabuto, Jūgo, one Hidden Cloud Village member, and two Iwagakure members winning their respective bouts.
• Ren watched the matches without his former excitement and judged that Sasuke Uchiha’s loss to Chojuro had been inevitable.
• Natsuri attacked Temari with ninja tools and a Great Fireball Technique, but Temari blocked them with her fan and countered with Wind Release: Kamaitachi.
• Ren recognized that Temari had already lost despite her successful counter.

Natsuri defeated Temari after destroying her wind techniques with her chakra-coated fists. The spectators wondered whether Ren had taught her a new taijutsu style, while Ren silently reviewed the fight.

• Natsuri's Great Fireball Technique overwhelmed Temari's wind blades and burned most of Temari's right hand.
• Temari refused to surrender and attacked Natsuri with Wind Release: Hanging Net.
• Natsuri tore through the wind net with her chakra-coated fists, suffering cuts from the scattered blades.
• Natsuri struck Temari with two punches and knocked her unconscious.
• The spectators wondered whether Ren had taught Natsuri a new taijutsu style, while Ren replayed the fight recorded by the Sharingan.

Ren discussed the colorful chakra samples with Orochimaru, who said they had opened a new research direction but needed more chakra samples to confirm his theories. The chapter left Ren considering killing the Eight-Tails again if research stalled, while Ōnoki grew furious over a newspaper portraying him as afraid of Ren.

• After Natsuri won her match, Ren left the dueling grounds while Natsuri accepted congratulations and noticed he was gone.
• Ren showed Orochimaru observations of chakra from people at the arena, and Orochimaru said the samples resembled chakra produced by his laboratory.
• Orochimaru asked Ren to obtain actual chakra samples, but could not give him a timeline for a breakthrough.
• Orochimaru told Ren that the newly revived Eight-Tails offered little research value, prompting Ren to consider killing it again if progress stalled.
• Ōnoki read a newspaper claiming he had trembled in fear of Ren and decided Konoha had to be taught a lesson.

Ren finalized the exhibition matchups and began overseeing special training for Natsuri and Sasuke while sending Naruto to Turtle Island with Shisui, Kakashi, and Guy. He explained the tailed beasts and jinchuriki to the two remaining students as their training was about to begin.

• Ren finalized the ten-person match schedule, including Naruto versus Gaara and Natsuri versus Chojuro, while Deidara and Jūgo withdrew.
• Ren arrived at the training ground with Shisui, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy and announced that he would oversee the students' training before the exams.
• Ren assigned Shisui, Kakashi, and Guy to take Naruto to Turtle Island for special training, and Naruto reluctantly said goodbye to Natsuri and Sasuke.
• Ren explained to Natsuri and Sasuke that the tailed beasts were powerful creatures formed from concentrated chakra and described jinchuriki and their importance to the villages.

Ren reassured Natsuri and Sasuke after they learned Naruto would grow far stronger, then used elaborate claims about the Sharingan to build their confidence. He left Sasuke convinced that his goal was to surpass the Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Natsuri and Sasuke felt envious and unsettled about Naruto's coming strength, but agreed he deserved it after considering his hardships.
• Ren encouraged them to use Naruto's strength as motivation and claimed he was the strongest person in the ninja world because of the Uchiha bloodline.
• Ren explained the Sharingan's stages, Mangekyō powers, and ability to restrain tailed beasts, prompting Natsuri and Sasuke to ask how to awaken the Mangekyō.
• Ren said Mangekyō awakening depended on individual talent and falsely claimed one of his ocular techniques let him see every Uchiha's talent.
• Ren praised Natsuri's prospects and told Sasuke he was the most talented Uchiha he had ever seen, urging him to aim beyond the Mangekyō.

Ren began training Natsuri and Sasuke Uchiha, tailoring lessons to their abilities as their strength steadily improved. More than ten days later, Naruto’s group reached the Land of Lightning, where Yugito Nii welcomed them and prepared to guide them onward.

• Ren used Shadow Clones to teach Natsuri ninjutsu and help her use chakra more efficiently.
• Ren taught Sasuke Uchiha chakra nature and shape transformation theory, hoping to develop his Lightning Release talent.
• Under Ren’s guidance, Natsuri and Sasuke steadily improved over the next ten days.
• Naruto’s group arrived in the Land of Lightning, where Yugito Nii received them again for their mission.
• Shisui introduced Kakashi Hatake as the operation’s captain and Naruto Uzumaki as the genin who would undergo the Turtle Island trial.
• Yugito Nii told the group to follow her and warned that the tight mission deadline meant they would need to hurry.

Yugito Nii led the group at full speed toward the port, while Shisui used the Flying Thunder God to keep Naruto close behind. Naruto struggled with the sudden jumps and was handed over to Might Guy, who carried him the rest of the way.

• Yugito Nii transformed into her partial tailed beast form and sprinted ahead toward the port.
• Kakashi followed with lightning chakra around his legs, and Might Guy opened the Gate of Life to catch up.
• Shisui used the Flying Thunder God to bring Naruto along, leaving Naruto dizzy and dry-heaving from the sudden changes in scenery.
• Shisui brought Naruto behind Might Guy and asked him to carry Naruto for the rest of the journey.
• Might Guy opened the Gate of Limit, slung Naruto over his shoulder, and raced onward as Naruto cried out and dry-heaved.

Ren collected chakra samples from nearly everyone in Konoha, and Orochimaru finished organizing the data and began analyzing the civilian samples. Meanwhile, Orochimaru, Yun Chi, discovered a mysterious glowing pool in a cave and, after investigating it, suspected it concealed something more than a natural wonder.

• Ren collected chakra from almost all Konoha residents, while Orochimaru recorded the samples in a database.
• Orochimaru waited for the equipment to analyze and match the chakra data, then carefully reviewed the civilian results.
• Orochimaru, Yun Chi, failed to summon Madara's Impure World Reincarnation body and resumed wandering in search of a way to restore his original body.
• Orochimaru, Yun Chi, discovered a strange glowing pool in a cave, returned to Otogakure to prepare, and came back to investigate it.
• Orochimaru, Yun Chi, examined the pool down to its illuminated bottom and smiled as he packed away his detection instruments.

Yugito Nii led Naruto, Kakashi, Shisui, and Might Guy by ship to Turtle Island after an exhausting journey. Once they reached the island, Yugito took the Konoha ninja to the Waterfall of Truth, where Kumogakure had concluded that the waterfall worked properly and Konoha’s visitors had caused the earlier trouble.

• Yugito Nii brought Naruto and the others to a ship, where they rested after traveling at full speed from the Land of Lightning.
• Naruto woke the next afternoon, ate food Shisui had saved for him, and unknowingly made Guy’s seasickness worse by offering him dry rations.
• After two days, the group caught up to Turtle Island, and Yugito led the four Konoha ninja ashore while the Cloud ninja stayed behind to steer the ship.
• Yugito led the group to the Waterfall of Truth, where Kumogakure had determined that the waterfall was not malfunctioning and that Konoha’s visitors were the problem.

Kakashi’s team tested the Waterfall of Truth, which remained inactive for Guy and Yugito Nii but manifested dark counterparts for Shisui and Kakashi. Kakashi confronted his dark self, who condemned his cowardice and urged him to join in cleansing Konoha, and both prepared to attack.

• Kakashi asked Guy to test the Waterfall of Truth, but nothing happened after ten minutes.
• Yugito Nii faced the waterfall next, and it remained unchanged, leaving her frustrated.
• Shisui’s dark counterpart emerged and blamed their friend for treating them like tools, but Shisui struck it down.
• Kakashi inferred that the waterfall’s different reactions were connected to changes in the people facing it.
• Kakashi’s dark counterpart emerged, accused him of forgetting Konoha’s darkness, and urged him to merge with it.
• Kakashi and his dark counterpart formed Lightning Cutter and charged at each other.

Orochimaru verified a pattern in Konoha residents’ chakra data and began applying it to the ninja database. Meanwhile, Orochimaru (Yun Chi) unlocked a hidden passage beneath a strange pool, awakening a child in a lunar palace.

• Orochimaru confirmed that the chakra data of Konoha’s ordinary residents matched the pattern he had derived.
• Orochimaru injected himself with solutions to keep working despite severe exhaustion, then applied the pattern to Konoha’s ninja database.
• Orochimaru (Yun Chi) identified the pattern in the strange pool and activated several locations by injecting chakra into them.
• The pool floor revealed intricate sealing patterns that gathered light around Orochimaru (Yun Chi) and opened a passage.
• A white-haired child in an empty palace on the moon opened his eyes and exclaimed that the passage had been opened.

Kakashi, Might Guy, and Shisui fought Kakashi’s dark side at the Waterfall of Truth, but their teamwork failed to stop his incredible speed. Kakashi recognized that his dark side had made real a forbidden technique he had once abandoned, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Kakashi’s dark side pierced him with a stronger Lightning Cutter, but Kakashi turned into lightning and trapped his opponent with the Water Prison Technique.
• Kakashi’s dark side escaped the water prison using a Sharingan, and Shisui and Might Guy joined Kakashi in a coordinated attack.
• Kakashi, Shisui, and Might Guy attacked from three directions, but Kakashi’s dark side retreated with a flash of lightning and appeared far away.
• Kakashi recognized the movement as a forbidden technique he had once imagined, combining Chidori, the Eight Gates, and Lightning Release to achieve extreme speed.

Kakashi’s dark side used overwhelming speed to attack Shisui and Might Guy, while Kakashi realized he could not match the technique. Watching his comrades in danger awakened a new pattern in Kakashi’s eyes, and he offered to let the dark side replace him.

• Shisui and Might Guy believed Kakashi could fight the dark side, but Kakashi admitted he could not use its dangerous lightning-speed technique.
• The dark side charged at Shisui, who escaped with the Flying Thunder God and appeared beside Naruto.
• The dark side then attacked Might Guy, but Shisui used Susanoo to block the strike and was kicked away with Guy.
• Kakashi felt helpless as his comrades were attacked, and his eyes developed a complex new pattern.
• Kakashi called out to the dark side and offered not to resist its attempt to replace him.

Kakashi awakened Kamui through his resolve to protect his companions and erased Dark Side, but collapsed alongside Shisui and Might Guy. Naruto was left bewildered, while Nine-Tails doubted Naruto would gain control of its power.

• Dark Side changed targets from Shisui to Kakashi after sensing Kakashi's willingness to sacrifice himself for his companions.
• Kakashi recalled Obito's teachings and resolved not to let Dark Side become him.
• Kakashi used Kamui to make Dark Side's head vanish, then collapsed as he thanked Obito.
• Tobi saw a puddle of water appear in the couple's space as Kakashi, Shisui, and Might Guy hit the ground.
• Naruto stood guard in confusion, while Nine-Tails decided Naruto would likely return without gaining its power.

Shisui and Might Guy found Kakashi unconscious from chakra exhaustion and decided to continue the mission rather than take him back across the sea. Naruto began his trial at the Waterfall of Truth, where his dark side confronted him about their shared memories and Naruto’s painful past.

• Shisui and Might Guy pulled Kakashi from the water and determined that he had passed out from chakra exhaustion.
• Shisui, Might Guy, and Naruto decided to stay and continue their mission while Kakashi remained unconscious, and Yugito kept her distance.
• Shisui and Might Guy brought Naruto before the Waterfall of Truth, where Dark Naruto emerged.
• Naruto challenged Dark Naruto, who argued that they were the same person because they shared the same memories.
• Dark Naruto mentioned the looks Naruto had received in the past, and Naruto fell silent with a downcast expression.

Naruto confronted his dark side, accepted the pain they shared, and absorbed him without gaining control of the Nine-Tails’ power. After Shisui and Might Guy judged that Naruto had passed the test, Shisui led Naruto to the temple where Utakata had become a perfect jinchuriki.

• Naruto’s dark side used Nine-Tails chakra and urged him to kill or merge with him for power and recognition.
• Naruto empathized with his dark side, apologized for making him endure their shared pain, and merged with him.
• Shisui and Might Guy watched Naruto safely overcome the test, and Shisui closed his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Shisui led Naruto and Might Guy through the Waterfall of Truth to the temple where Utakata had become a perfect jinchuriki.
• Naruto opened a glowing dark chamber, and he and Shisui entered while Might Guy stayed outside with the unconscious Kakashi.

Shisui and Naruto entered Turtle Island’s sealing space to permanently take and purify some of the Nine-Tails’ chakra. After the Nine-Tails rejected Naruto’s offer to cooperate, Naruto used Minato’s key to undo the seal, and the Nine-Tails burst through the gate to confront them.

• Shisui brought the key to Minato’s seal, which Ren had obtained from Jiraiya, to the sealing space on Turtle Island.
• Naruto asked the Nine-Tails to willingly let him use its chakra, but the Nine-Tails mocked him and refused.
• Embarrassed by the Nine-Tails’ insults in front of Shisui, Naruto abandoned his guilt and prepared to take its chakra by force.
• Naruto pressed the key to his stomach seal and twisted it, causing the seal markings on the gate to disappear.
• The Nine-Tails shoved the gate open and declared that Shisui could not protect Naruto.