Chapter Summaries

The Third Hokage learned that Danzo had escaped and heard Orochimaru’s intelligence that the Fourth Mizukage was dead, Isobu was missing, and Utakata had defected. Meanwhile, Hidan remained buried in the Land of Hot Water, slowly recovering and trying to dig toward his body.

• The Third Hokage accepted that Danzo’s escape had left Konoha in a muddled situation after the Hyuga Clan blamed the deaths of its pursuers on an outside force.
• Jiraiya encountered Orochimaru and brought him to the Hokage Building to share important intelligence with the Third Hokage.
• Orochimaru told the Third Hokage that the Fourth Mizukage was dead, Isobu was gone, and Six-Tails Utakata had defected, adding that Natsuki had sold the information to Cloud Village.
• Orochimaru said he was staying as a guest of the Uchiha Clan and left the Third Hokage to deal with Cloud Village.
• Hidan slowly recovered underground in the Land of Hot Water and tried to dig toward his separated body.

Mei Terumi, Rasa, and Ōnoki received letters from Natsuki that revealed the Uchiha Clan had intelligence and offers concerning their villages. The leaders considered how to respond, with Ōnoki deciding to find out what the Uchiha Clan wanted.

• Mei Terumi received Natsuki's letter about the Uchiha Clan's elite squad and kept its offer in mind as Mist Village faced the risk of Yagura's death becoming known.
• Yashamaru returned to Sunagakure, reported Natsuki's words to Rasa, and delivered a letter claiming Natsuki knew who had killed the Third Kazekage.
• Rasa decided to visit Chiyo to discuss Natsuki's offer and the possibility of learning what had happened to the Third Kazekage.
• Kitsuchi reported to Ōnoki that Konoha and the Uchiha faction were irreconcilable and that Sound Village might be their puppet.
• Ōnoki read Natsuki's offer of information about Deidara and decided to see what the Uchiha Clan wanted.

After Danzō's prison break, the Uchiha grew stronger while the Third Hokage worried about their influence and Naruto's distance from him. Meanwhile, Cloud Village considered Uchiha Natsuki's proposal, and Nagato and Konan slowed Akatsuki's plans as Nagato searched for a safer way to use the medicine.

• The Uchiha Clan remained calm after Danzō's prison break, while Kabuto Yakushi returned to Sound Village with only a few people and more than a hundred Uchiha, including Uchiha Shisui, stayed behind.
• The Third Hokage worried about the Uchiha Clan's growing power and Naruto's closeness to them, but hoped Tsunade would continue to oppose a coup.
• Samui told A and Mabui that Uchiha Natsuki had ambitious plans, and Mabui concluded he likely wanted to establish the Uchiha independently.
• A decided Cloud Village should pursue the opportunity to gain a foothold in the Land of Water and ordered Samui to summon Dodai so they could discuss Natsuki's information.
• Konan and Pain agreed Nagato should delay taking the medicine because of its risks, while they discussed Akatsuki's finances, members, and slow progress toward capturing the tailed beasts.

Pain decided to trust Natsuki and contact him using his real body, while Natsuki continued training Sasuke and Naruto with the returned Uchiha clan members. The chapter ended with Kazuki and Katsura tied up and tormented by the smell of their favorite hot pot after losing a match.

• Pain told Konan that he would contact Natsuki with his real body, and Konan supported his decision to trust him.
• Natsuki made the returned Uchiha members spar with Sasuke and Naruto, and Sasuke and Naruto won their first matches.
• Natsuki tied up Kazuki and Katsura for losing after they held back, and ordered them to remain there until midnight without food.
• Natsuki had a pot of spicy hot pot placed beside Kazuki and Katsura, letting hungry clan members eat while the two prisoners could only smell it.

Third Elder Takuya asked Natsuki to find work for the idle Uchiha, and Natsuki explained that they would soon return to the village for a mission. Natsuki then met Nagato, who planned to delay using the Hashirama Cell Solution and asked him to protect Konan if he died; Natsuki revealed that the Three-Tails and Karatachi Yagura were already dead, complicating the Akatsuki’s plans to capture the Tailed Beasts.

• Third Elder Takuya told Natsuki that the returned Uchiha had no missions and were restless.
• Natsuki said he would have Orochimaru return to the village so the Uchiha could go back, then keep them on standby for an upcoming mission.
• Natsuki met Nagato in the cave, where Nagato appeared in his real body and said he would postpone fusing with the Hashirama Cell Solution.
• Nagato asked Natsuki to protect Konan if the fusion killed him, and Natsuki agreed that the situation might not be so bad.
• Natsuki told Nagato that Karatachi Yagura and the Three-Tails were dead, making it impossible for the Akatsuki to collect all the Tailed Beasts as planned.

Natsuki persuaded Nagato and Konan to use a coming war in the Land of Water to scatter the Akatsuki Organization and give Nagato time to recover. He arranged to profit from both Cloud Village and Mist Village, then asked about Kakuzu’s habit of killing teammates and hinted he knew someone who could help.

• Nagato told Natsuki that Zabuza and Hozuki Suigetsu had recently joined the Akatsuki Organization as rogue ninja from Mist Village.
• Natsuki proposed helping Cloud Village invade Mist Village, then having the Akatsuki Organization take a job from Mist Village so its members would be scattered and Nagato could recover.
• Nagato brought Konan into the discussion, and Natsuki explained the plan to her, including charging Mist Village with money, secret techniques, or land.
• Nagato and Konan offered Natsuki a ring so he could contact Nagato through the Illusionary Body Lamp Technique.
• Natsuki asked whether Kakuzu still killed his teammates and said he could introduce the group to someone buried underground.

Natsuki arranged for Orochimaru to pose as an undercover agent in Konoha and help advance the Uchiha Clan’s plans. He also checked on Kimimaro and Haku, preparing them to support Orochimaru while reminding them to protect themselves.

• Natsuki checked on the recovering Rikuto and learned Oura still could not move around freely; he was satisfied that the clansmen had watched Sasuke and the others’ punishment.
• Natsuki found Orochimaru guiding Keimei in research and praised Keimei’s promise as a potential assistant.
• Natsuki told Orochimaru he would send him to Konoha as an undercover agent to monitor the village, make it believe the Uchiha Clan sought independence, and earn achievements by appearing to betray Natsuki.
• Orochimaru agreed to the plan, and Natsuki gave him a proposal to present to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
• Natsuki visited Kimimaro and Haku, learned how Orochimaru was training them, and told them they would soon support Orochimaru publicly while taking care of themselves.

Natsuki welcomed Kakashi and Might Guy to the Uchiha compound, where Tsunade examined Kakashi’s damaged eye. Tsunade could not regenerate it yet, leaving Kakashi to consider an eye transplant as he departed with Guy.

• Natsuki greeted Might Guy and sent a clan member to show him around while he took Kakashi to Tsunade.
• Natsuki warned Kakashi that Tsunade had no immediate solution for his eye and might need considerable time to make progress.
• Tsunade examined Kakashi’s empty left eye socket and said she could not currently regenerate the eye.
• Kakashi thanked Tsunade and considered an eye transplant, while Tsunade cautioned that compatibility could not be known until after implantation.
• Kakashi and Guy left the compound, and Natsuki suspected Kakashi had also come to investigate the Uchiha Clan.

Kabuto Yakushi’s Sound Village party faced repeated bounty hunter attacks on the journey home, so he separated from the Sound Four to avoid putting them at risk. Near the Land of Rice border, he encountered Kakuzu and his Earth Grudge Fear creatures, leaving their confrontation poised to begin.

• Kabuto Yakushi’s group defeated fifteen Bounty Hunters, and he healed Jirobo’s kunai wound with the Mystical Palm Technique.
• Kabuto Yakushi told the Sound Four that he would travel alone because their weakness would hold him back, then vanished with a Body Flicker.
• The remaining Sound Village party entered the Land of Rice without further attacks while Kabuto Yakushi traveled ahead in stealth.
• Kabuto Yakushi sensed powerful, connected Chakra near the border and waited in a tree as Kakuzu’s traps failed to catch him.
• Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear creatures revealed themselves, and Kabuto Yakushi recognized Kakuzu as the bounty hunter pursuing his hundred-million-ryo head.

Kabuto Yakushi fought Kakuzu in Sage Mode and destroyed two of his hearts before Kakuzu escaped. Kabuto chose not to pursue him, while Kakuzu vowed to replenish his hearts and kill Kabuto next time.

• Kakuzu attacked Kabuto with his masked hearts, but Kabuto entered Sage Mode, dodged the assaults, and destroyed the Fire and Lightning masks.
• Kabuto and Kakuzu exchanged close-range attacks, and Kabuto severed Kakuzu’s hardened arms before healing through a powerful Water Cannon.
• Kakuzu used a compound Wind and Water attack, but Kabuto blocked it with Rashomon and struck what turned out to be a water clone.
• Kabuto sensed Kakuzu had fled south and abandoned pursuit because entering Sage Mode required time and stored Natural Energy.
• Kakuzu retreated after losing two hearts, resolved to replenish them, and reacted when the ring on his finger rippled.

The Land of Fire's daimyo raged over the poor reception of his copied cuisine and received a mysterious offer from one of Orochimaru's subordinates. In Konoha, the Third Hokage learned that Kabuto could use Sage Mode and reconsidered how talented Orochimaru's subordinate was.

• The Land of Fire's daimyo berated his attendants after envoys mocked the copied dishes and praised the Land of Rice's food.
• An attendant explained that Danzo had defected and the Uchiha Clan could not be forced to hand over its recipes, while the daimyo demanded a solution.
• A messenger told the daimyo that one of Orochimaru's subordinates had arrived with what the Land of Fire needed most.
• An Anbu reported to the Third Hokage that a black-market informant had sold intelligence about Kabuto for one million ryo.
• The Third Hokage learned that Kabuto could use Sage Mode and concluded that Danzo had driven away an exceptionally talented shinobi.

Natsuki negotiated Sand Village’s support for Uchiha independence with Chiyo, offering to capture Sasori alive in exchange. Stone Village sent Kurotsuchi with Ōnoki’s contact information, and Natsuki told her he had intelligence on Deidara before deciding to discuss the matter with Ōnoki directly.

• Natsuki told Chiyo that Sasori had killed the Third Kazekage and turned his body into a puppet, then offered to capture Sasori alive.
• Natsuki asked Sand Village to support the Uchiha Clan’s independence, and Chiyo agreed to the arrangement and the additional matter of Living Corpse Reincarnation.
• Chiyo departed to consult Rasa, while Natsuki considered how the Uchiha Clan could gain independence without provoking a costly war with Konoha.
• Kurotsuchi arrived from Stone Village carrying Ōnoki’s contact information, which she had given to Keimei to send by carrier pigeon.
• Natsuki told Kurotsuchi he had intelligence about Deidara but said he would discuss it with Ōnoki directly.

Natsuki negotiated with Dodai, who had secretly visited from Cloud Village, about supporting Cloud Village’s planned attack on Mist Village. Natsuki promised Uchiha experts and said his clan would keep Konoha and Stone Village occupied, while warning that Mist Village might hire formidable mercenaries.

• Natsuki received Dodai after Cloud Village’s envoy infiltrated the Uchiha Clan compound at night.
• Natsuki offered two Uchiha experts for Cloud Village’s campaign and promised to prevent Konoha from sending reinforcements.
• Natsuki warned Dodai that Mist Village might employ powerful mercenary groups, prompting Dodai to ask whether any could match Killer B and Yugito.
• Dodai raised the danger of Stone Village joining the war, and Natsuki assured him the Uchiha would block any large Stone Village force.
• Natsuki told Dodai that Sand Village was unlikely to intervene, and Dodai accepted his assessment.

Natsuki and Dodai finalized an alliance plan against the Land of Water, including Uchiha support and a claim to four islands. Meanwhile, Orochimaru openly returned to Konoha with his followers and was welcomed by the Third Hokage, leaving Anko to arrange their accommodations.

• Natsuki agreed to send Itachi and Shisui with other Uchiha elites while he kept Konoha in check, and he told Dodai both men possessed Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Natsuki claimed four islands west of Mist Village for the Uchiha Clan, and Dodai accepted the proposed division of benefits.
• Dodai explained that reconnaissance, transport, and preparations would take months, and Natsuki offered information about Mist Village’s forces before planning to send Itachi and Shisui to Sound Village.
• The Third Hokage went with Kakashi and Anbu to welcome Orochimaru, who entered Konoha openly with Kimimaro, Haku, Jugo, Karin, and his other followers.
• Orochimaru greeted the Third Hokage and reunited awkwardly with Anko, who then went to arrange accommodations for his people.

Anko settled Orochimaru’s subordinates into his former residence, while Minato assigned them work and planned his next steps. Orochimaru then told the Third Hokage that Uchiha Natsuki had sent him undercover, and the two prepared to wait for the Cloud Village conflict before acting.

• Anko assigned rooms to Orochimaru’s subordinates and mistakenly assumed Haku was a girl living with Kimimaro, before Karin corrected her.
• After Anko left, Minato assigned Karin to organize the laboratory, Haku to practice ninjutsu, Kimimaro to scout the area, and Jugo to stay under his watch.
• Minato reflected on his resurrection, his wish to see Naruto and Kakashi, and his gratitude and loyalty to Natsuki.
• Orochimaru told the Third Hokage that Natsuki had sent him to monitor Konoha and described the Uchiha Clan’s plans involving the Sound Village and the conflict between Cloud Village and Mist Village.
• The Third Hokage agreed to cooperate with Orochimaru, who said he would wait for the fighting to begin in Cloud Village before making a move.

Itachi and Shisui prepared to leave the Uchiha Compound for a mission, while Sasuke and Izumi said goodbye to Itachi. Natsuki arranged for Fugaku to visit Izumi’s mother after Itachi returned, and the Uchiha group departed.

• Sasuke asked Itachi to stay and train him, but Itachi told him to practice taijutsu and avoid using Chidori until he returned.
• Natsuki gave Shisui a booklet of mission intelligence and warned him to summon Natsuki if he encountered Obito.
• Izumi told Itachi that her mother had encouraged her to leave with him years earlier, and Natsuki interrupted their conversation.
• Natsuki told Izumi he would have Fugaku visit her home after Itachi’s mission, and Izumi accepted shyly.
• Itachi and Shisui said goodbye to the others, then led the Uchiha group out of the compound.

Natsuki sent Sasuke back to the Academy, then considered how to help him keep up with Naruto and handled clan affairs. He visited Fugaku and Mikoto to discuss Itachi's marriage to Izumi, leaving them to plan for Itachi's return.

• Natsuki ruffled Sasuke's hair and persuaded him to return to school, warning him that a ninja could not reveal his emotions or thoughts.
• Sasuke went to the Academy carrying the Kusanagi Sword, while Natsuki reflected on Naruto's growth and how he might help Sasuke grow stronger.
• Anbu watched Natsuki and Sasuke, and one of them went to report what they had learned to the Hokage's Office.
• Natsuki learned Orochimaru was working in his laboratory after the Third Hokage moved Root's equipment there, and he ordered over a thousand specially made kunai for Minato.
• Natsuki visited Fugaku and Mikoto and told Mikoto how Izumi had followed Itachi when he left the clan.
• Mikoto reproached Fugaku for not telling her about Izumi, and Natsuki suggested settling Itachi's marriage when he returned before making a quick exit.

Konan and Kakuzu revived Hidan and recruited him into the Akatsuki Organization. Meanwhile, Raikage A accepted Uchiha Natsuki’s terms and ordered Cloud Village’s spies to investigate Mist Village.

• Konan and Kakuzu unearthed Hidan’s body and reattached his head, reviving him.
• Hidan demonstrated his ritual ability by injuring Kakuzu through their blood link, and Konan stopped them from fighting.
• Konan told Hidan he had to join the Akatsuki Organization to pursue his mission.
• Dodai reported Uchiha Natsuki’s terms to Raikage A, including Uchiha support against Konoha and help attacking the front lines.
• Raikage A agreed to verify Natsuki’s claim that Karatachi Yagura was dead and ordered Mabui to send Cloud Village’s spies to Mist Village.

Orochimaru arranged for Sai’s critically ill older brother, Shin, to receive cloned lungs and recover from surgery. After Sai reunited with Shin, Orochimaru recruited him to work for him once Shin had recovered.

• The Third Hokage told Jiraiya that the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, had died and that Cloud Village and Mist Village might go to war, so Jiraiya had to remain in Konoha.
• Orochimaru asked Jiraiya to bring Sai from the Anbu, explaining that Shin’s surgery was complete and he needed someone to care for him.
• Jiraiya brought Sai to see Shin, who was awake after receiving cloned lungs, and Karin instructed Sai on how to care for him.
• Sai thanked Orochimaru for saving Shin, and Orochimaru offered him a job after Shin recovered.

Orochimaru agreed to examine Kakashi’s eye and revealed that his cloning research could produce replacement organs without rejection. Meanwhile, Sasori and Deidara prepared their equipment in the Land of Lightning, arguing over art as they anticipated a major Akatsuki operation.

• Orochimaru told the Third Hokage that his biological cloning research could create a replacement eye, and the Third Hokage sent for Kakashi.
• Orochimaru reported that Shisui and Itachi had arrived in Sound Village and that Cloud Village scouts were moving toward Mist Village, then estimated the war would begin in about two months.
• Kakashi arrived and followed Orochimaru into the laboratory for an examination of his eye.
• At a cave on the Land of Lightning’s border, Sasori repaired and poisoned his puppets while Deidara tested newly purchased explosive clay.
• Sasori and Deidara argued over whether art was eternal or fleeting, and Deidara declared that he would prove his art to Sasori.