Chapter Summaries

Asuma decided the Sarutobi Clan could not trust either side in Konoha’s power struggle and organized a departure to the Daimyo’s Mansion. He left Konoha with Kurenai, Konohamaru, Daigo Sarutobi, and a dozen clan members, while Hyuga Hayato watched them go.

• Asuma took Daigo Sarutobi to his courtyard, sent Ebisu away, and told Konohamaru to pack for a long-distance mission.
• Asuma told Daigo Sarutobi that they should leave Konoha for the Daimyo’s Mansion, and Daigo agreed to gather willing clan members.
• Asuma told Kurenai about his plan, and she agreed to leave with him and quickly packed her belongings.
• Daigo Sarutobi brought more than a dozen clan members to Asuma’s courtyard, where Konohamaru joined the group.
• Asuma split the group into smaller parties, and they left through Konoha’s eastern gate before gathering in the forest and heading toward the Daimyo’s Mansion.
• Hyuga Hayato watched Asuma’s group leave, deactivated his Byakugan, and jumped down from the city wall.

Natsuki continued developing a way to compress Sage Chakra while his companions trained in senjutsu. In the Land of Wind, Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to bring Sasori’s parents back, leaving Sasori reunited with them after years of waiting.

• Natsuki poured Sage Chakra into the Sun Seal’s acupoints and kept spiraling it to compress the chakra and expand his capacity.
• Haku, Naruto, and Shisui entered Sage Mode in turn, while Minato trained to refine Sage Chakra in battle and the Sound Four built a base.
• Naruto, Hinata, and Kushina left with the Storm Princess Film Crew, while Orochimaru’s group rested near Sunagakure.
• Chiyo brought Sasori and Natsuki’s Shadow Clone to Orochimaru, who explained Impure World Reincarnation to Natsuki and performed the jutsu.
• Sasori’s parents returned in the bodies of two Sand Ninja, recognized Chiyo and Sasori, and Sasori embraced his mother as he said he had been waiting for them.

Orochimaru and Natsuki arranged for the Sarutobi Clan to leave Konoha in a staged battle at the south gate, while Asuma and Kurenai had already departed for the Daimyo's Mansion. The clan escaped, but the news disrupted Gaara's ceremony preparations and sent Orochimaru back to Konoha.

• Kakashi gave Orochimaru intelligence that Asuma had taken Kurenai and others toward the Daimyo's Mansion, and Natsuki and Orochimaru confirmed the Sarutobi Clan would flee that night.
• Anko met Takashi Sarutobi at the clan compound and instructed him to create a diversion while leading the clan through Konoha's south gate.
• The Sarutobi Clan set fires and staged a fight with Orochimaru's Anbu, who used blood packs to make the escape look deadly as the clan fled.
• Villagers blamed the Sarutobi Clan for defecting, while Rasa and Gaara received news that the clan had escaped and more than forty Anbu had supposedly died.
• Orochimaru returned to Konoha and missed Gaara's ceremony, while Chiyo delayed her return to gather intelligence.

The Sarutobi Clan Members vanished during their journey out of Konoha, and Natsuki discovered that he could no longer sense the Flying Thunder God Marks he had placed on some of them. Natsuki and Orochimaru considered possible enemies and secured Orochimaru’s laboratory while preparing for Orochimaru to reincarnate and for the upcoming meeting with Sasori.

• Takashi Sarutobi led three thousand Sarutobi Clan Members toward their rendezvous point, but a vast shadow descended as they rested at dawn.
• Orochimaru and Natsuki returned to Konoha and learned that the Sarutobi Clan Members had disappeared without a trace.
• The Tracking Division found signs of a conflict at the group’s last campsite but could not determine whether the Sarutobi Clan Members had been transported, summoned, or killed.
• Natsuki discovered that he could no longer sense the Flying Thunder God Marks on several Sarutobi Clan Members and considered possible explanations and suspects.
• Natsuki advised Orochimaru to strengthen security around his laboratory, and Orochimaru said he would soon reincarnate and leave the site in Natsuki’s care.
• Natsuki agreed to handle Konoha’s affairs and prepare for the meeting with Sasori, whose deadline to preserve the soul was one week.

Orochimaru branded the Sarutobi Clan as rogue ninjas, while Jugo discovered mechanical spy flies that Natsuki identified as Otsutsuki technology belonging to Jigen. Natsuki then used Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to summon Hatake Sakumo, leaving Kakashi face-to-face with his father.

• Orochimaru declared the Sarutobi Clan traitors and offered remaining clan members property if they changed their surnames.
• Jugo brought Orochimaru and Natsuki two mechanical flies that his birds had caught and regurgitated.
• Natsuki identified the flies as Otsutsuki surveillance technology and warned Orochimaru that Jigen was far stronger than Urashiki.
• Natsuki and Orochimaru discussed the risk that spies had gathered information and considered ways to find or counter them.
• Natsuki performed Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and summoned Hatake Sakumo, whom Kakashi greeted as his father.

Obito and Dionysus assessed their forces after the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path recovered and discussed how to prepare for capturing the Tailed Beasts. Dionysus advised delaying the attack and watching for opportunities, especially when Jinchuriki left their villages.

• Afei returned with a palm bone identified as Hozuki Gengetsu’s, and Obito warned him not to expose the Disguise Technique again.
• Dionysus used Impure World Reincarnation to confirm the bone belonged to Hozuki Gengetsu, then released the Second Mizukage.
• Obito asked Dionysus whether they should begin capturing Tailed Beasts, and Dionysus advised waiting because an attack would confirm Natsuki’s warning.
• Obito and Dionysus reviewed their forces, including the mutated Poison White Zetsu, puppets, Sky Ninja, and their leading combatants.
• Dionysus suggested watching Roshi and other Jinchuriki who might leave their villages, giving Obito a direction for future operations.

Natsuki remained in the Land of Snow to cultivate while Minato, Kushina, Naruto, Hinata, and Shisui returned to their villages. As the Land of Snow prospered, Obito quietly tracked the Jinchuriki and waited for a chance to strike.

• Natsuki told Naruto to keep training and asked Minato to leave a Flying Thunder God Mark so they could communicate with his Shadow Clone.
• Natsuki instructed Shisui to arrange special training and have Dan Katō screen the selected people again before the group departed.
• The Sound Four built a base by the Rainbow Crystal Wall, trained in Sage Techniques, and guarded the area while Kazahana Koyuki supplied them.
• The Rainbow Crystal Wall and geothermal system warmed the Land of Snow, and Kazahana Koyuki supported its growing film industry.
• Obito followed Dionysus's advice and used White Zetsu to locate Jinchuriki as they gradually resumed their usual activities.

Amado killed another failed clone of his daughter while seeking a way to reproduce the perfect resurrection that brought Minato Namikaze back to life. After learning new intelligence about Konoha and the Sarutobi Clan, he joined Kara to pursue the resurrection method and was tasked with strengthening Boro and Depa.

• Amado tested Akebi Sannzu’s copied memories, then killed the clone when her mental state failed to meet his requirements.
• Amado burned the failed clones and considered how Minato Namikaze’s resurrection might reveal a path to perfect resurrection.
• Amado received Kara’s message that the Sarutobi Clan had joined the organization and brought intelligence about Dan Katō, Kushina Uzumaki, Natsuki, and Minato.
• Amado concluded that Natsuki and Orochimaru might possess a resurrection technique and contacted Kara to join them.
• Jigen welcomed Amado into Kara and asked him to strengthen Boro and Depa.

Obito attacked Roshi in the Land of Earth, subdued him, and used a White Zetsu to impersonate him while reading his memories. Roshi escaped suspicion among Iwagakure’s Anbu, who believed he had killed a Cloud Village intruder, and left for another location with a sinister smile.

• Obito tracked Roshi to his temporary dwelling and attacked him while he slept, stripping away his Lava Style and piercing his chest with Black Rods.
• Son Goku took control of Roshi’s body and partially transformed, but Obito suppressed the Tailed Beast Cloak with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Obito gave Roshi’s Chakra to a White Zetsu, then began reading Roshi’s memories as Iwagakure’s Anbu rushed to the scene.
• Iwa-kyu found Roshi beside a burned corpse, verified his identity with the password, and heard Roshi claim that a thief had attacked him.
• Iwa-kyu’s teammates identified the corpse as a Cloud Village ninja, while Roshi wrote the safety numbers on a messenger-bird scroll and left for another location.

Obito recovered his hand, extracted the Four-Tails from Roshi, and planned further captures while considering Sunagakure’s next moves. In Sunagakure, Gaara and Rasa agreed to host large-scale Chunin Exams and explored bringing in the Uchiha Clan to expand trade.

• Obito healed his left hand with the Dark Medical Technique and extracted the Four-Tails from Roshi over seven days, causing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to open another eye.
• Obito planned to target Han next and assigned Kakuzu and Sasori to handle Sunagakure, but an unexpected development made him add another target.
• Rasa proposed that Gaara hold large-scale Chunin Exams to showcase Sunagakure’s strength and improve its finances through trade.
• Gaara agreed and suggested inviting the Uchiha Clan to help transport Sunagakure’s goods to distant markets.

Sand Village invited other villages to hold the latter half of the Chunin Exams in the Land of Wind, and Natsuki declined Gaara’s invitation while offering Sand Village a list of goods for potential cooperation. In Takigakure, Fū persuaded the village head to let her attend the exams, then set off eagerly with Kagari and Yōrō protecting her in secret.

• Minato approved Sand Village’s request to host the latter half of the Chunin Exams in the Land of Wind.
• Natsuki declined Gaara’s invitation because his Shadow Clone needed to remain in Konoha, and he sent Sand Village a list of goods to guide possible cooperation.
• Fū told the Takigakure village head she wanted to see the outside world, and he agreed to officially recommend her for the exams while warning her to hide her Jinchuriki identity.
• The village head assigned Kagari and Yōrō to protect Fū in secret, and Fū left Takigakure ahead of them, flying and scattering phosphorescent powder for them to follow.
• A mass of white sank into a tree as Fū and her guards traveled away from the village.

Obito sent Kakuzu and Sasori to capture Gaara and Fū during the Sunagakure Chunin Exams, but Kakuzu sold the plan to Natsuki. Natsuki prepared to disrupt Obito’s operation and offered Kakuzu and Sasori reasons to join him, while Orochimaru’s reincarnation preparations continued in Konoha.

• Obito assigned Kakuzu and Sasori to cause chaos at the Sunagakure Chunin Exams and capture Gaara and Fū.
• Kakuzu and Sasori suspected Obito was hiding a larger plan, and Kakuzu contacted Natsuki with his Flying Thunder God Beacon.
• Natsuki sent a Shadow Clone to meet Kakuzu, learned Obito’s target, and decided to counter the operation and recruit Fū.
• Natsuki offered Kakuzu a position managing Radiant Country’s finances and offered Sasori two life-revival slots in exchange for ten years of service, including one for his grandmother.
• Natsuki’s Shadow Clone vanished, leaving Kakuzu and Sasori surprised that it had used the Flying Thunder God.

Orochimaru transferred his soul into an artificial embryo with an Otsutsuki bloodline, and Tsunade, Minato, and Kabuto Yakushi helped stabilize its development. The embryo survived and developed a heartbeat, while Natsuki received intelligence from his Shadow Clone in Sunagakure.

• Orochimaru began the reincarnation procedure as Kabuto Yakushi monitored for surveillance and Dan Katō prepared to assist.
• Dan Katō used the Spiritual Illusion Technique to occupy Orochimaru's discarded body while the formation compressed Orochimaru's soul into infant form.
• Dan Katō guided Orochimaru's soul into the artificial embryo, where it was absorbed.
• Tsunade accelerated the embryo's growth while Kabuto Yakushi controlled its nutrient supply, and Minato supplied Natural Energy when warning lights appeared.
• The embryo developed a heartbeat, and Tsunade stopped accelerating its growth to rest while the others left to recover.
• Natsuki received the intelligence gathered by his Shadow Clone in Sunagakure.

Obito learned that Sasori and Kakuzu had betrayed him and that an unknown force had recorded a conversation between Natsuki and Orochimaru. Meanwhile, Jigen reviewed Natsuki’s profile at Kara’s Amegakure base and confirmed that Obito had received the recording.

• Han left an inn in the Land of Earth with two Iwagakure squads while White Zetsu kept him under surveillance.
• Dionysus played Obito a recording implicating Sasori and Kakuzu as traitors who had supplied information and resources to Natsuki and Orochimaru.
• Obito and Dionysus concluded that an unknown force had infiltrated Konoha and discovered the Moon Organization, then Obito decided to contact Tobi and go himself.
• At Kara’s underground base in Amegakure, Jigen reviewed Natsuki’s abilities and measurements and asked whether Obito had received the recording.
• Ryunosuke Sarutobi confirmed to Jigen that Obito had received it.

Hoichi discovered that Bunpuku’s body had been stolen and met Elder Fuji, who tried to recruit him into a plan to replace Gaara as the One-Tail Jinchuriki. Hoichi agreed to help extract Shukaku during the upcoming Chunin Exams.

• Hoichi visited Bunpuku’s grave and found the grave opened and the coffin empty.
• Elder Fuji revealed that he had been watching the grave and did not know who had stolen Bunpuku’s body.
• Elder Fuji argued that Gaara and Rasa held too much power in Sunagakure and said Gaara should be replaced as the Jinchuriki.
• Elder Fuji told Hoichi that he was better suited to become the Jinchuriki and could use the power to investigate Bunpuku’s remains.
• Hoichi agreed to Elder Fuji’s plan, and Elder Fuji proposed extracting Shukaku during the Chunin Exams.

Kumogakure tested its newly developed Space-Time Chakra Cannon, which could strike targets across the Land of Water and much of the Land of Fire. With Killer B at the controls, the cannon fired at Takiyana Island, though the chapter ended before the result was shown.

• Yukubi reported that the Space-Time Chakra Cannon passed a half-power test and could reach the Land of Water and most of the Land of Fire.
• The Fourth Raikage chose Takiyana Island as the cannon’s first target and ordered a diplomatic letter prepared for the Mist Village.
• Killer B volunteered to operate the cannon, and the Fourth Raikage approved his request.
• The cloud ninjas moved the cannon to a mountain firing platform, secured it, and completed their inspections.
• Yukubi’s team locked onto Takiyana Island, and two hundred cloud ninjas fully charged the cannon.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered the cannon to fire, and Killer B pulled the control lever, launching its blast.

Kumogakure tested its Space-Time Chakra Cannon by destroying Takiyana Island, then bombarded Ryūgyoku Sea Port in retaliation for Hibaku’s attack. Mei Terumi learned that Kumogakure was responsible and received its demand for compensation, backed by a threat to strike Kirigakure again.

• The Space-Time Chakra Cannon destroyed Takiyana Island, killing the three Mist Ninja stationed there.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered a second shot at Ryūgyoku Sea Port, and Yukubi led the cannon crew through preparations before Killer B fired it.
• Mei Terumi questioned Ao about the attack on Takiyana Island, but Suigetsu interrupted to report that Ryūgyoku Sea Port had been bombed.
• The cannon blast devastated the port’s warehouses and ships, killing dozens and injuring hundreds, while Mei Terumi directed rescue efforts.
• Utakata told Mei Terumi that the shot had come from across the ocean, and Kumogakure soon claimed responsibility and demanded compensation within ten days or threatened to bombard Kirigakure.

After Kumogakure’s long-range bombardment of Kirigakure, Ōnoki and the Iwagakure elders assessed the threat and prepared for war. Obito’s faction also reconsidered its plans as Ōnoki recalled the Jinchuriki, forcing them to move against Han sooner.

• Ōnoki convened Iwagakure’s elders, and Ganfu concluded that Kumogakure’s weapon required an enormous supply of Chakra Metal, suggesting it had found a mine.
• Deidara argued that Iwagakure was protected by its mountains but urged the village to investigate Kumogakure and prepare for war.
• Ōnoki ordered an investigation into the weapon and summoned Roshi and Han back to Iwagakure.
• Obito celebrated the prospect of conflict, but Dionysus warned that the Uchiha Clan might intervene and noted that Sand Village’s Chunin Exams continued.
• A White Zetsu reported that Ōnoki was recalling the Jinchuriki, so Dionysus ordered the White Zetsu impersonating Roshi to disappear when necessary.
• Dionysus urged Obito to act against Han immediately, and Obito recognized that events were no longer under his control.

Minato and Natsuki planned to deter Cloud Village after its Space-Time Chakra Cannon struck Mist Village, while Natsuki’s real body continued refining Sage Chakra in the Land of Snow. Natsuki’s shadow clone set out with Minato and Hibaku’s token to gather their allies, leaving the real Natsuki about a month from completing his seclusion.

• Minato learned that Cloud Village’s new cannon could threaten Konoha, and Natsuki explained that it had appeared years earlier than expected.
• Natsuki, Minato, and Tsunade agreed to gather Konoha and Mist Village forces to deter Cloud Village, with Natsuki estimating the delay would buy them a year.
• Natsuki’s shadow clone traveled with Minato to the Land of Snow and asked the real Natsuki how much longer his training would take.
• The real Natsuki said he needed about a month, replenished the shadow clone’s Chakra, and gave it Hibaku’s token.
• Minato used Flying Thunder God to take Natsuki’s shadow clone and the disguised Hibaku toward Radiant Hidden Village to meet Shisui and the others.

Hibaku gathered Natsuki, Minato, Shisui, and Yōya to support Mist Village against Cloud Village’s long-range strikes, then led Mei Terumi and the group toward Cloud Village to confront them. Minato transported everyone to the Land of Lightning, and Natsuki estimated they could fly the remaining distance in about an hour.

• Hibaku greeted Hozuki Suigetsu at the Mist Village Branch Office and reassured him that Cloud Village would not act recklessly.
• Mei Terumi arrived with Zabuza and Ao, and Hibaku used his Elder Token before telling her that Natsuki and Minato would support Mist Village.
• Minato activated Kurama Mode and used Flying Thunder God to transport the group to the Land of Lightning, including Mei Terumi after connecting her to Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Natsuki surveyed the terrain, estimated Cloud Village was half a day away on foot, and applied the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique to let everyone fly there.