Chapter Summaries

Natsuki, Minato, Hibaku, Mei Terumi, Yōya, and Shisui flew into Kumogakure and confronted the Raikage over his Space-Time Chakra Cannon and its threat to Mist Village. Natsuki warned that an attack on Mist Village would bring a combined response from Mist Village, Hidden Light Village, and Konoha.

• Natsuki's group flew over Kumogakure's defenses, and a Scout Eagle alerted the village to their arrival.
• The Raikage learned that the six had entered the village's alert zone and sent Killer B and Yugito to intercept them.
• Killer B and Yugito met the group before the Raikage arrived to confront Hibaku, Natsuki, and Minato.
• Hibaku said he had come to discuss compensation for the Seven-Colored Ore Vein that the Raikage had threatened to destroy.
• Natsuki said the Space-Time Chakra Cannon's range covered Mist Village, Hidden Light Village, and Konoha, and accused the Raikage of testing Mist Village before starting a war.
• Natsuki warned the Raikage that an attack on Mist Village would bring the combined assault of Mist Village, Hidden Light Village, and Konoha.

Natsuki prevented Cloud Village and Mist Village from going to war by proposing a one-year delay and arranging a contest between their fighters. The Raikage accepted, and the group headed to Cloud Village’s training grounds for the matches.

• Natsuki and Minato warned the Raikage that Konoha would support Mist Village if Cloud Village started a war, and Natsuki proposed delaying hostilities for one year.
• Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to demonstrate that Natsuki’s group could leave Cloud Village at will, weakening the Raikage’s leverage.
• Hibaku offered to compensate Cloud Village with a Seven-Colored Ore Vein if he defeated the Raikage, but Dodai stopped the Raikage from fighting him.
• Natsuki proposed that Yōya and Shisui fight Killer B and Yugito, with Cloud Village agreeing not to use the Spacetime Chakra Cannon or start a war for one year.
• The Raikage accepted Natsuki’s terms, and Dodai led the group toward the training grounds.

Yōya fought Yugito at the Cloud Village training grounds, escalating from a blade duel to a battle against her full Tailed Beast Transformation as Matatabi. After Yōya pierced Matatabi and used Susanoo to survive her counterattack, Yugito’s wounds began healing again, and the fight remained unresolved.

• Yōya challenged the Cloud Village Jinchuriki, and Dodai sent Yugito to fight him instead of Killer B.
• Yōya and Yugito traded high-speed attacks, using lightning techniques and Yugito’s Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Yugito transformed fully into Matatabi, while Yōya used Divine Condensation and Lightning Flash to evade her attacks.
• Matatabi filled the arena with flames and struck Yōya, who formed a skeletal Susanoo to withstand her tail.
• Yōya shattered Matatabi’s fireball, stabbed her in the waist, and used Lightning Release: Thunderclap to free his blade, but her wound began healing immediately.

Yōya used his Mangekyō Sharingan-enhanced swordsmanship to nearly kill Yugito before the Raikage intervened and ended the match. After Natsuki treated Yōya, he reassured him that Yugito would survive, leaving both fighters in their respective medical teams’ care.

• Yōya unleashed Godspeed, Lightning Roar Six Flashes and inflicted five severe wounds on Matatabi before aiming his final slash at Yugito’s heart.
• The Raikage broke Yōya’s sword and stopped the final strike, then conceded the match as Yugito reverted to human form and collapsed unconscious.
• Natsuki questioned the Raikage’s intervention and negotiated compensation for Yōya’s broken sword.
• Natsuki treated Yōya, covered his sore eyes with a medicated cloth, and told him that Yugito was fine.
• Yōya returned to his group, where Shisui praised him and Yōya declared the Uchiha Clan the strongest.

Uchiha Shisui defeated Killer B by combining his Phantom Body Flicker Technique, Genjutsu, and Sage Mode. Killer B conceded after Shisui held a sword to his neck, leaving the Raikage shocked that Shisui could use Sage Techniques.

• Killer B challenged Uchiha Shisui after Yugito was carried off the stage.
• Shisui used his Phantom Body Flicker Technique and Genjutsu to fool Killer B, who struck a Shadow Clone and flew beyond the arena.
• Gyuki broke the Genjutsu and transformed to pull Killer B back onto the arena.
• Shisui revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and Sage Mode, then used Sage-enhanced Genjutsu to control both Killer B and Gyuki.
• Shisui placed his sword at Killer B's neck, and Killer B conceded the match.

Natsuki’s group defeated Cloud Village’s jinchūriki and secured its agreement to end the dispute with Mist Village, then returned to Hidden Light Village. There, Hibaku revealed to Mei Terumi that he and two other elders had been dead for decades, leaving her to ask how they could be present.

• The Raikage accepted defeat and agreed to end the matter with Mist Village, while Natsuki insisted Yōya remain in the Land of Lightning until Cloud Village compensated him for his weapon.
• Natsuki left Yōya near Cloud Village with supplies and instructions, then returned with Minato and the others to Hidden Light Village.
• Mei Terumi thanked Natsuki and Hibaku for resolving the dispute, and Hibaku took her aside to explain a secret.
• Hibaku told Mei Terumi that he and the other two old men had died decades ago, back in the Warring States era, and she asked how he could be there now.

Hibaku revealed to Mei Terumi that he and the other clan elders had been resurrected by Natsuki and warned her of powerful enemies that would threaten the Ninja World. After explaining how their Kekkei Genkai would be passed to Kimimaro and Haku, Hibaku said he had little strength left and departed, leaving Mei Terumi to lead the Mist Village.

• Hibaku told Mei Terumi that he, Hyōri, and Kyōkotsu had died long ago and were resurrected through secret techniques tested by Uchiha Natsuki.
• Hibaku explained that Natsuki was trying to prevent a great Ninja World war because powerful enemies would soon threaten the world, and he urged Mei Terumi to watch over the Jinchuriki.
• Hibaku said Kyōkotsu had passed his energy to Kimimaro and Hyōri had left his Kekkei Genkai to Haku, while their souls had dissipated.
• Hibaku told Mei Terumi that his bones were nearly exhausted and he might only be resurrected once more, then advised her to seek help from Natsuki if the Mist Village faced trouble.
• Mei Terumi thanked Hibaku through tears, and Hibaku told her to lead the Mist Village before disappearing into the sea.

In Kumogakure, the Raikage and his advisors assessed the threat posed by Uchiha Yōya, Uchiha Shisui, and the Fourth Hokage after their battle. The Raikage ordered preparations to strengthen Kumogakure’s weapons and defenses while searching for Yōya and the Hokage’s Flying Thunder God marks.

• The Sensory Unit reported that the Fourth Hokage had displayed a Nine-Tails transformation cloak and that Uchiha Shisui used senjutsu to strengthen his Genjutsu.
• C reported that Yōya’s Mangekyō Sharingan had greatly increased his combat power, while Shisui’s silent Genjutsu had caught Killer B twice.
• C said Yugito had lost a dangerous amount of blood and that Yōya’s final slash had missed her heart by only two centimeters; Dodai apologized for sending her to fight Yōya.
• Dodai recommended forging Chakra Armor for the Raikage, who ordered the offensive parts prioritized and learned the armor would take about a month.
• Dodai proposed upgrading the Space-Time Chakra Cannon, and the Raikage ordered a search for Yōya, five improved swords for him, and checks for the Fourth Hokage’s Flying Thunder God marks.

The Sunagakure Chunin Exams proceeded despite the political tensions and missing instructors, while Gaara supervised the dangerous second round in the Desert of Demonic Sands. After learning that Fū’s teammates were disguised jonin, Gaara secretly investigated them and discovered Fū interfering with his Sand Eye.

• Sakura, Ino, and Choji secured exam recommendations from Tenzo after Asuma and Kurenai left Konoha, while Shikamaru served as an assistant examiner.
• Yashamaru questioned Rasa’s decision to make Gaara the exam supervisor, and Rasa vowed to protect his son while crushing the opposition.
• The examinees completed the written test in Konoha and began the second round, a race through the Desert of Demonic Sands to obtain the opposing scroll within seventy-two hours.
• Gaara learned that Fū’s teammates, Doki and Kimi, were actually Takigakure jonin named Kekki and Yuro, and ordered the information kept from Rasa.
• Gaara used Sand Eye to locate Kekki and Yuro, but Fū poked the eye with a stick and dispersed it before rejoining her teammates.

Obito ambushed Han’s returning Iwagakure team, defeated Han’s guards, and captured the Five-Tails Kokuō. He then caught up with Chūtai as he tried to escape underground, leaving the Iwa team’s mission in ruins.

• Sasori and Kakuzu discussed attacking Obito’s forces in the Desert of Demonic Sands and agreed to try to stop Tobi from escaping.
• Obito ambushed Han’s team, dragged Tuke and Toshi underground, and struck down Gansaki.
• Han fought Obito, but Obito used his intangibility and Wood Release to overwhelm the guards.
• Han threw Chūtai away to summon reinforcements, then transformed into Kokuō and attacked Obito.
• Obito repelled Kokuō, severed one of its legs with Kamui, and captured it.
• Chūtai escaped underground, but Obito caught up with him and pierced him with branches.

Elder Fuji blocked the Reconnaissance Team’s long-range perception and caused a massive sandstorm to sweep across the Chunin Exam grounds. As Sand Village shinobi began evacuating the examinees, Rasa, Chiyo, and Ebizo learned of the crisis, while Gaara remained confined in the stronghold and secretly shed sand from his body into the ground.

• Elder Fuji sealed off the Reconnaissance Team’s long-range perception, allowing a huge sandstorm to approach the examination grounds unnoticed.
• Kankuro and Temari suspended the exam and led Sand Village shinobi out to guide the examinees to shelter, while ordering guards to keep Gaara inside.
• An Anbu informed Rasa about the sandstorm and blocked perception, and Rasa learned that Temari and Kankuro had gone to help the examinees.
• Ebizo received news of the crisis and passed it to Chiyo, who decided to go investigate after suspecting Elder Fuji might be involved.
• The sandstorm trapped examinees and Sand Village shinobi alike, while Gaara sat calmly inside the stronghold and sand from his body slipped into the ground.

Fū rescued three Sunagakure examinees from quicksand during a massive sandstorm, and Gaara introduced himself after shielding them from the storm. Their conversation turned to how someone’s kindness had helped Gaara find acceptance, leaving Fū curious to hear more.

• Outside the examination grounds, Sasori and Kakuzu saw that the enormous sandstorm made reaching the exam site impossible and decided to head to their meeting point.
• Kankuro and Temari helped Sakura, Ino, and Choji through the storm after announcing that the second round had been suspended.
• Miyoshi and his two Sunagakure teammates sank into quicksand as Hoichi watched from a nearby dune and said the storm was coming.
• Fū heard the examinees’ cries, remembered the Village Head’s advice about protecting others, and flew away from her teammates to help.
• Fū pulled Miyoshi and his teammates from the quicksand, and Gaara raised sand walls to shelter them from the storm.
• Gaara introduced himself to Fū and explained that someone had once helped him control the power inside him and gain the love of those around him.

Fū helped Miyoshi’s team, then Gaara rescued them from Hoichi’s shadow attack as they headed for the Central Tower. Hoichi trapped Gaara with sealing chains and began extracting Shukaku, leaving Gaara weakened as Miyoshi’s team fled to seek aid.

• Fū offered Miyoshi’s team her Earth Scroll, but they refused it and chose to earn their own success before she flew away.
• Hoichi sensed Gaara, and Gaara left his lounge using a Sand Clone while the village reported that the examinees had reached shelters.
• After the sandstorm subsided, Hoichi attacked Miyoshi’s team with shadow puppets, but Gaara’s Shadow Clones stopped them and he ordered them to withdraw.
• Hoichi used Immortal Separation Absorption to bind Gaara with chains and drain his and Shukaku’s Chakra.
• Gaara’s chain caught on a nearby Four Symbols Seal, and Shukaku unleashed a violent burst of Chakra into the sky as Miyoshi’s team rushed to get help.

Sasori and Kakuzu met Tobi to receive the Puppet Scroll, but Obito arrived and confronted them after revealing their betrayal. Obito destroyed most of Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Sasori and Kakuzu waited for Tobi, who arrived late and handed them the Puppet Scroll before launching a surprise attack.
• Sasori and Kakuzu countered Tobi, and Kakuzu asked where Obito was; Obito then appeared and sent Tobi into the Kamui Dimension.
• Obito used Banshō Ten'in against Kakuzu and Sasori, but Kakuzu split into Earth Grudge Fear creatures while Sasori anchored himself and summoned the Hundred Puppet Technique.
• Sasori’s poisoned puppets forced Obito to respond with Shinra Tensei, and Kakuzu’s Lightning and Wind attacks failed against Obito’s armored Susanoo.
• Obito hurled Yasakani no Magatama at Kakuzu, destroying four Earth Grudge Fear creatures and wiping out eighty percent of Kakuzu.

Obito killed Sasori and pursued Kakuzu, but Rasa intervened to protect him. Obito defeated Rasa with Kamui after sensing Shukaku, leaving Rasa dying on the ground.

• Obito crushed Sasori's puppet body and pierced Sasori's true body with a blade, killing him as Chiyo rushed toward the battle.
• Obito used the Mayfly Technique to intercept Kakuzu, but Rasa arrived and shielded Kakuzu with gold dust.
• Kakuzu told Rasa that Obito was targeting Gaara and that he had infiltrated Obito's side for Natsuki.
• Rasa attacked Obito with gold dust, but Obito used Shinra Tensei and Susanoo to break through his defenses.
• After sensing Shukaku, Obito used Kamui to tear apart Rasa's lower body, and Rasa fell to the ground mortally wounded.

After Obito killed Sasori, Chiyo sacrificed her life to revive him, and Fū flew to help Gaara when she sensed Shukaku’s Chakra. Natsuki arrived, promised Sasori he could save Chiyo, then raced toward Gaara as Obito’s attack threatened the Sand Village’s Jinchuriki.

• Kakuzu returned to Sasori’s body, where Chiyo used Living Corpse Reincarnation to sacrifice herself and revive her grandson.
• Sasori awoke in a puppet body, realized Chiyo had died to save him, and left with Kakuzu as she had instructed.
• Fū sensed Shukaku’s Chakra and flew toward Gaara, leaving Kagari and Yōrō to chase after her.
• Natsuki’s Shadow Clone arrived, learned Obito had exposed their infiltration and was pursuing Gaara, and promised Sasori he could save Chiyo.
• Natsuki sensed Shukaku’s Chakra in the sky and sped off toward Gaara.

Hoichi’s chains began extracting the One-Tail and Seven-Tails from Gaara and Fū, but Fū slowed the process by enclosing them in a Chakra cocoon. Obito arrived, captured Hoichi, and discovered Gaara and Fū inside the cocoon before Natsuki’s voice suddenly called out to him.

• Hoichi’s chains broke apart Gaara’s Four Symbols Seal and began pulling Shukaku from his body, so Fū grabbed a chain and was struck by another.
• Hoichi used Immortal Separation Absorption to drain Gaara and Fū, and Fū formed a Chakra cocoon that slowed the chains’ absorption.
• Gaara and Fū remained trapped in the cocoon, while Fū tried to stay hopeful and Gaara wondered if his father would come to save him.
• Miyoshi reached the Central Tower and warned that the Kazekage was under attack.
• Obito found Hoichi and the cocoon, passed through Hoichi’s barrier, captured him, and realized Gaara and Fū were the Jinchuriki he had been searching for.
• Natsuki’s voice called out to Obito, who looked up in shock.

Obito extracted Shukaku and Chōmei from Gaara and Fū, then fled after Natsuki bluffed him into thinking he was in danger. Natsuki found Gaara and Fū dead and waited for Kankuro, telling him that Rasa was dead too before revealing Gaara could still be saved.

• Obito extracted Shukaku and Chōmei through the chains connected to Gaara and Fū, then escaped into the Kamui Dimension when Natsuki threatened him.
• Natsuki inspected the gourd, found Gaara and Fū dead, and summoned Aokimaru and a Crow to pass along information.
• Natsuki waited atop the gourd until Kankuro arrived with Sand Village elites, then sent Kankuro inside to see Gaara's body.
• Kankuro asked how Gaara had died, and Natsuki blamed Obito and said he had killed Rasa as well.
• Natsuki jolted the distraught Kankuro with a mental shock and told him Gaara could still be saved.

Natsuki revived Rasa with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu after Rasa was killed and Gaara was left gravely injured. Rasa learned Gaara could still be saved and heard that Obito planned to destroy the Ninja World.

• Kankuro sent two trusted Sand Ninja back to Sunagakure, announced that the exam was suspended, and flew with Natsuki toward Temari.
• Temari organized the recovery of Rasa's remains and gold dust, then took Rasa's corpse in a Storage Scroll and left with Kankuro and Natsuki.
• Kankuro and Temari led Natsuki to a hidden outpost, where Natsuki used a Sand Village prisoner as a sacrifice to revive Rasa.
• Rasa asked about Gaara, and Natsuki showed him Gaara's body before assuring him that Gaara could be saved.
• Natsuki reminded Rasa that he had warned him about a threat to Gaara and revealed that Obito intended to destroy the Ninja World.

Natsuki negotiated Gaara’s resurrection with Rasa and recruited Sasori and Kakuzu to serve him. Rasa returned to stabilize Sunagakure while Natsuki’s allies prepared to recover in the black market and await further plans.

• Natsuki offered to revive Gaara in exchange for ten years of service, and Rasa agreed to leave Gaara in his care while considering whether to accept a twenty-year term himself.
• Natsuki warned Rasa that his Impure World Reincarnation body would not last long, then asked him to stabilize Sunagakure and gave him instructions about Sasori, Chiyo, and the fallen Takigakure candidates.
• Rasa, Temari, and Kankuro left for Sunagakure after a signal flare appeared over the village.
• Natsuki used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Kakuzu and Sasori near the Land of Wind border.
• Sasori agreed to work for Natsuki, and Kakuzu accepted the role of Finance Minister of Hidden Light Village.
• Natsuki said Chiyo’s resurrection would take about a month, then dispelled his Shadow Clone; Kakuzu and Sasori headed to the black market to recover.